[Chemical constituents of the leaves of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N. E. Br]

Compounds were isolated from the aqueous extract of the leaves of Crataegus pinnatifida var. major and seven of them were identified as 2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)malic acid, quercetin, hyperin, vitexin, rhamnosylvitexin, diethylamine hydrochloride and sorbitol respectively by UV, IR, NMR, MS, some chemical techniques by comparison with the standard spectra of known compounds.

Imaging 2-D objects with a grating interferometer: two methods

Grating interferometric imaging has some unique advantages. The theory developed has been for 1-D objects only. The 2-D imaging methods reported are either complex or have low SNR. Two new methods for 2-D interferometric imaging are presented in this paper. The first is that an object composed of discrete points is imaged with a grating interferometer composed of three or more 1-D grating interferometers of which the grating line directions are different. The second is that a 2-D continuous distribution object is imaged with a 1-D grating interferometer by sampling line byline. These two methods are simple and may be practical for real time processing.

[Treatment and prevention of asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation with huoxue huayu prescription]

The purpose of this study was to observe the therapeutical and preventive effect of the compound prescriptions of Huoxue Huayu (promoting blood circulation to remove stasis, PBCRS) and Yiqi Huoxue, replenishing Qi to remove stasis, RQRS) on experimental intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) caused by passive smoking during pregnancy in rats. The fetal average birth weight and the erythrocyte deformability were found to be significantly reduced in the smoke-exposed group compared with the control group. However, there was a significant increase of blood viscosity (at both shear rates), Hb, Ht, MCV, MCH levels and the erythrocyte fragility in the smoke-exposed group in comparison with the control group. After the mother-rats were given PBCRS and RQRS prescriptions during gestation, the fetal average birth weight and erythrocyte deformability were markedly increased. The blood viscosity, Hb, Ht, MCV, MCH levels and erythrocyte fragility of pregnant rats were decreased. No differences were found in the control group and the two treated groups. The electronic microscope observation of erythrocyte shape shows there were some protrusions on the surface of red cells in the smoke-exposed group. The protrusions were significantly reduced in the two treated groups, which was similar to the control group. The erythrocyte deformability, the blood viscosity, Hb, Ht, MCV, MCH levels indicate that there was a significant correlation between them and the fetal average birth weight respectively. This study indicates that blood stasis is one of the pathogenetic mechanisms of asymmetrical IUGR and that the PBCRS recipe could improve intrauterine growth environment of fetal which could treat and prevent IUGR in obstetrics.

[An observation of the anticancer activity of mitoxantrone hydrochloride injection]

Experimental results of anticancer activity of DHAQ.HCl are reported in this paper. It was discovered that DHAQ.HCl, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, had an obvious anticancer effect on the experimental tumor strains:Ehrlich ascites cancer, Sarcoma-180, Leukemia P388, etc., and that it was more effective to Leukemia P388 than to other strains. The anticancer activity of DHAQ.HCl was better than DHAQ (P less than 0.05). No side effect was observed on the local sites (s.c.) of tumor planted or drug injected. And also a good anticancer effect was observed on the sites of tumor planted by local injection. It is suggested that this observation can provide some information on the choice of routes of administration of this drug clinically.

[Analgesic and sedative effects of the Chinese drug rhizoma Paridis]

The analgesic and sedative actions of Chinese drug Rhizoma Paridis are reported. All of the 6 experimented species and varieties in common use are obviously effective. Among them Paris polyphylla var. chinensis, P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis are stronger in analgesic action. Sedative action of P. fargesii, P. polyphylla var. chinensis, P. thibetica is also strong. In addition, pariphyllin A and gracillin were also used in the experiment.

[Normal radiologic anatomic variants and X-ray findings of hypervitaminosis D of the ulna, radius and carpal bones in children]

The forearm and wrist radiographs in 400 children with age ranging from 2 months to 2 1/2 years were analyzed. Comparatively, x-ray films and their correlated macrosections of the wrist of 14 children's cadavers about the same age were studied. Alternate lines of increased, decreased, and increased density at the distal metaphysis of the ulna and radius were accountable. All these are normal variants of the development of the ulna and radius of infants. A series of abnormal x-ray signs were demonstrated in children administered over 100,000 IU of vitamin D every month on the average. These signs are blurred cortical bone with linear periosteal reaction, disorganization of the cortical bone, osteoporosis, cortical thickening and sclerosis of the ulna and radius, dense and thick calcified ring of ossification nuclei of the carpale, and dense metaphyseal band of the ulna and radius. The more vitamin D was administered, the more frequently abnormal x-ray signs occurred. These signs coincide with the results of radiopathologic and microangiographic correlations of hypervitaminosis D in animals, an experiment we had made before. The x-ray findings of hypervitaminosis D are very complicated. Only based on a series of x-ray signs rather than a single dense metaphyseal band could a radiologic diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D be made.

Asynchronous optical sampling: a new combustion diagnostic for potential use in turbulent, high-pressure flames

Asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) is a pump-probe method that has strong potential for use in turbulent, high-pressure flames. We show that rapid measurement of species number density can be achieved by maintaining a constant beat frequency between the mode-locking frequencies of the pump and probe lasers. We also describe the instrumental timing parameters for ASOPS and consider the optimization of these parameters. Measurement of the nanosecond decay for electronically excited sodium in an atmospheric flame demonstrates the viability of the ASOPS technique in highly quenched flame environments.

Pump/probe method for fast analysis of visible spectral signatures utilizing asynchronous optical sampling

We report the results from a new pump/probe spectrometer for potential use in combustion diagnostics that employs asynchronous optical sampling. The instrument consists of two frequency-doubled mode-locked Nd:YAG lasers operating at slightly different repetition rates, synchronously pumping two dye lasers (rhodamine 6G) to generate the pump and probe beams. The spectral and temporal capabilities of the instrument are examined by obtaining a spectrum and an excited state decay of rhodamine B. The instrument response is shown to be proportional to pump power, probe power, and sample absorptance. Different frequency synthesizers and different modes of triggering are used to study their effect on signal stability.

Treatment of urgency and urge incontinence with flavoxate in the People's Republic of China

Flavoxate is a smooth muscle relaxant widely used to treat urgency and urge incontinence. It has been used in an unblinded, uncontrolled clinical trial in 14 urology departments in universities and major hospitals in the People's Republic of China involving 361 patients with urgency/incontinence of various types. Patients were given 200 mg three times daily, orally, for 2 weeks, although 33 patients received a daily dosage of 1200 mg. Frequency, urgency, dysuria, nocturia and incontinence were assessed and scored clinically prior to and after treatment. Three departments also included urodynamic investigations, e.g. monitoring of the end-residual volume. Results from 336 evaluable patients indicate that 228 (67%) were completely cured of urgency/incontinence symptoms, 66 (20%) were improved and 42 (13%) patients were unchanged. Flavoxate was also effective in 77.4% of patients refractory to previous anti-cholinergic treatment. Treatment did not increase the end-residual volume and adverse events occurred only in four (1.3%) patients, two (0.6%) of which discontinued the therapy. The 1200 mg dose produced a complete cure in 82% of patients and improvement in the remaining 18%, with no side-effects. In conclusion, flavoxate is an effective and well tolerated treatment for urgency/incontinence of various causes.

Studies on fertility control-the formation and antifertility effect of polyvinyl-pyrolidone-gossypol complex

In this study, PVP-gossypol complexes with different molecular weights and compositions were synthesized. UV and NMR spectra revealed the presence of hydrogen bonds in these complexes. The dissolution rates of various PVP-gossypol complexes in water at 37 degrees C were determined. The results showed that the presence of PVP in the complex enhanced the dissolution rate of gossypol in water greatly. In addition, the in vitro spermicidal activity on human semen, antifertility effect on male rats, and the toxic reaction of male mice by taking large dosage were preliminarily studied. The experimental results indicated that the PVP-gossypol complexes not only possessed the similar antifertility effect and acute toxicity to male mice as gossypol-acetic acid, but also reduced the irreversibility of the fertility as well. Thus, certain species of PVP-gossypol complex may have potential as new and better male oral contraceptive with recoverability in fertility.

Effect of intracerebral microinjection of naloxone on acupuncture- and morphine-analgesia in the rabbit

Although there are unequivocal evidences indicating the participation of endogenous opiate-like substances in acupuncture analgesia, their exact sites of action remain to be elucidated. From the results of localization studies by injecting minute amount of narcotic antagonist naloxone into discrete brain areas and assessing its effect on acupuncture analgesia in rabbits it is concluded that nuclei accumbens, amygdala, habenula and periaquaductal grey are the strategic sites for endogenous opioids to exert their analgesic effect. These brain areas are also of extreme importance for the realization of morphine analgesia.