Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acid species from the chlorination of algal organic matter and bromide

Bromide and algal pollution are important factors influencing disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation and speciation in reservoir water in coastal areas. In this study, the chlorination of model algal cellular compounds (bovine serum albumin, fish oil and starch), Microcystis aeruginosa and its extra-cellular organic matter (EOM) were conducted in the absence and presence of bromide. The main aim of the present study is to explore their potential as precursors for trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acid (HAAs) speciation upon chlorination in the presence of bromide. The results showed that all brominated THMs species were generated, whereas only bromochloroacetic acid (BCAA) or/and dibromoacetic acid (DBAA) was/were produced as for brominated HAAs (Br-HAAs) from the three model compounds in the presence of bromide. The effect of bromide on Br-HAAs speciation upon fish oil chlorination was more evident than with BSA and starch. There was a good correlation between the species predicted from the model compounds and those obtained from specific algal species. Br-HAAs and Br-THMs species from Microcystis aeruginosa cells or EOM were the same as those from bovine serum albumin in the presence of bromide.

Selective removal of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from aqueous solution by triolein-embedded composite adsorbent

A novel composite adsorbent (CA-T) was used for the selective removal of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was composed of the supporting activated carbon and the surrounding triolein-embedded cellulose acetate membrane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption isotherms and fluorescence methods were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of CA-T. Triolein was perfectly embedded in the cellulose acetate membrane and deposited on the surface of activated carbon. The adsorbent was stable in water and no triolein leakage was detected during the test periods. Some organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as dieldrin, endrin, aldrin, and heptachlor epoxide, were used as model contaminants and removed by CA-T in laboratory batch experiments. The adsorption isotherm followed the Freundlich equation and the kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order reaction model. Results also indicated that CA-T appeared to be a promising adsorbent with good selectivity and satisfactory removal rate for lipophilic OCPs from aqueous solutions when present in trace amounts. The adsorption rate and removal efficiency for lipophilic OCPs were positively related to their octanol-water partition coefficients (log K(ow)). Lower residual concentrations of OCPs were achieved when compared to granular activated carbon (GAC).

[Clinical observation of shexiang baoxinwan for treatment of coronary heart disease with angina pectoris]

Two hundred and ten patients with angina pectoris in coronary heart disease were randomly assigned to receiving Shexiang Baoxinwan (SXBXW), the protecting heart musk pills (110 patients), or receiving isosorbide dinitrate (100 patients) for 2 weeks. They were well matched for age, anginal types, complications and cardiac functional grading. The results demonstrated that both agents not only could reduce significantly the frequencies of anginal episodes and the consumption amount of nitroglycerin per day, they also could result in significant improvement of the sigma ST segment depression in electrocardiogram. Furthermore, the SXBXW had better efficacy than that of isosorbide dinitrate in the total improvement rate of symptoms of angina pectoris and of ECG, and in the reduction of incidence of headache, i.e. 90.0% vs. 76.0%; 58.6% vs. 40.8%; 0.9% vs. 17%, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In addition, the onset of action of both agents was rapid, within five minutes (83.4% in patients using SXBXW vs. 86.3% in control group, P > 0.05).

[Study on heart-protecting musk pill in improving myocardial ischemia evaluated by nuclear myocardial imaging]

The effect of Heart-protecting Musk Pill (HMP) on blood perfusion of the ischemic myocardium by intravenous dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in 17 patients with coronary heart disease was observed. Results showed that sublingual administration of HMP prior to injection of dipyridamole could remit the cardiac symptoms induced by dipyridamole, such as angina, chest distress, etc. With a remission rate of 85%. HMP could also improve the SPECT image defect significantly, 8 of 11 cases with reversible image defects and 4 of 6 irreversible image defects were improved. It suggested that HMP could improve the blood perfusion of the ischemic myocardium, the total effective rate was 70.6%. No adverse reaction was found.

[Nuclear cardiology study on effective ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus in treating heart failure]

The experimental study has testified that among the various effective constituents gained from Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is the main component. Nineteen patients with heart congestive failure were treated with effective ingredient of AM, the astragaloside IV (XGA) injection.

RESULTS

After 2 weeks of treatment the symptoms of chest distress, dispnea in 15 patients was alleviated, their capability of exercise reinforced. Radionuclide ventriculography showed that left ventricular modelling improved, left ventricular end-diastolic volume diminished by 11.74 +/- 18.39 ml, left ventricular end-systolic volume by 9.35 +/- 18.01 ml, with statistical significance. HR slowed from 88.21 +/- 17.19 to 64.55 +/- 13.06 beats/min, P < 0.05; PER increased from 1.80 +/- 0.86 to 1.95 +/- 0.85 u/second, P < 0.05. Left ventricular EF, PFR increased also at some extent without statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Effective ingredient of AM, XGA injection is efficient positive inotropic drug, and could improve the left ventricular modelling and ejection function in patients with congestive heart failure after continuous administration of XGA injection for two weeks.

[Intervention of lidocaine and Astragalus membranaceus on ventricular late potentials]

16 and 22 patients with positive ventricular late potentials (LP) recorded on signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECG) were treated with lidocaine 100 mg iv. or Astragalus membranaceus 24 g iv. drip for 2 weeks respectively. As a result, the SAECGs of 2 (12.5%) and 3 (13.6%) of them normalized respectively. Compared with baseline, there were no significant changes in average HFQRSD, LAS and RMS 40 after treatment of lidocaine. HFQRSD and LAS were shortened significantly 115.9 +/- 29.9 vs 125.1 +/- 29.4 ms (P < 0.001); and 44.8 +/- 15.4 vs 52.8 +/- 15.4 ms (P < 0.001), and RMS 40 was enlarged 20.0 +/- 18.6 vs 12.8 +/- 19.0 microV (P < 0.05) only after treatment of Astragalus membranaceus. It is suggested that the duration of LP was shortened.

[Further studies on the factors influencing the onset of acute myocardial infarction]

Distribution of hospitalized cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in ten major hospitals in Shanghai during the period of 1970-1989 was studied. A definite seasonal trend in admission rates of AMI was found, with the lowest in July and August and the peak in January, which suggested a negative relationship between number of admissions and average air temperature of the month. Onset of AMI occurred most at 6-12 o'clock in the morning, with the peaks at 8 in the morning, 2 afternoon, and 8 evening. Precipitating factors, such as physical exertion, emotional upset, could be identified in 42.03% of the patients, and existed more frequently in those occurred during the day than during the night. Based on the above findings, ways to prevent the onset of AMI were discussed in the paper.

[The twenty-year trend in hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction in Shanghai and the responsible factors. Shanghai Cooperative Group of Myocardial Infarction]

The hospital mortality rates of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to 10 main hospitals in Shanghai during the period of 1970-1989 were compared with those of different time periods (year 1970-1974, 1975-1979, 1980-1984 and 1985-1989) and the results disclosed a decreasing trend in mortality in later years. The distribution of major prognostic factors were compared among patients admitted in different time periods and no trend to naturally reduced infarct severity on admission was found. On the contrary, the predicted hospital mortality derived from the prognostic function tends to increase in 1980s. It is, therefore, concluded that the recent decline in hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction observed is the result of progress and improvement in medical care. The way through which mortality was decreased was discussed.

[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease(CHD). 67 cases of CHD was randomly divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG), TG (45 cases) were treated with AM intravenous 24 g/d infused into 5% glucose 250 ml, CG (22 cases) with 5% glucose 250 ml. After a curable stage of 14 days, results showed that the erythrocyte sodium content was markedly decreased and the sodium pump activity was significantly increased (P less than 0.01 respectively) in TG; but no significant difference in membrane permeability to sodium was observed. There were no difference in erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in CG. It was suggested that AM had the effects to increase erythrocyte activity of sodium pump.

[Primary research on the clinical significance of ventricular late potentials (VLPs), and the impact of mexiletine, lidocaine and Astragalus membranaceus on VLPs]

The body surface signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) was recorded on 316 cardiac patients, 84% (266 patients) of whom were also taken 24-hour Holter ECG. VLPs were detected positively in 6.1%, 25%, 25.7%, 14.3% and 5.5% of patients with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia of unknown origin respectively, and the patients with complex ventricular arrhythmia had more VLPs positive determination definitely (P less than 0.05). The specificity of VLPs in the prediction of complex ventricular arrhythmia was greater than 80%, and the positive predictive accuracy was 70-80%. 5, 5 and 10 patients with VLPs were treated with Mexiletini Hydrochloridum, Lidocaini Hydrochloridum and Injection of Astragalus membranaceus respectively. As a result of treatment, the transfer of VLPs positive to negative was unsuccessful, but only the intervention of Astragalus membranaceus Injection made the duration of VLPs shortened significantly (39.8 +/- 3.3 ms versus 44.5 +/- 5.9 ms, P less than 0.01).

[Preliminary study of atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with cardiac deficiency and its clinical significance]

Immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) has been measured in 24 patients of various cardiac diseases by radioimmunoassay. According to the TCM, these patients were divided into 4 groups: cardiac energy deficiency mild (A) and severe (B) groups; simple cardiac deficiency (C); and the control (D). The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification of cardiac function in 5 cases of group A were all degree IV; in 6 cases of group B were 2 of degree IV and 4 of degree III; in 6 cases of group C were 1 of degree III, 3 of degree II and 2 of degree I; and in 6 cases of group D were all degree I. The results of chest X-ray and echocardiogram suggested that the classification of cardiac function was objective. The quantity of irANP in group A-D and NYHA IV-I decreased gradually and was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.87, P less than 0.01). The average amounts of irANP in the different TCM groups A-D were at the equivalent levels in the groups NYHA IV-I. Meanwhile it was found that the cardiac energy deficiency patients had abnormality in some parameters of hemorrheology, but no correlation with irANP. It suggested that the diagnosis of cardiac deficiency by TCM was correlated with the different degree of NYHA in the sense of biochemical index of irANP. The irANP might be considered as one of the objective signs of the cardiac energy deficiency, which also might represent the severity of the disease.

Validation of a coronary prognostic index for the Chinese--a tale of three cities

In order to confirm the efficacy of a new coronary prognostic index for the prediction of mortality of acute myocardial infarction in the Chinese in general, this index was applied to 886 patients from six general hospitals in Hong Kong (435 patients), Guangzhou (212 patients) and Shanghai (239 patients), respectively. They could be successfully stratified into seven clinical subsets with stepwise increasing mortality. The overall mortality tallied with that predicted by the original coronary prognostic index. The efficacy of this prognostic index for the prediction of mortality from acute myocardial infarction among the Chinese is verified and its application in the objective assessment of patients with acute myocardial infarction is recommended.