Ginsenoside Rh1 inhibits the invasion and migration of THP-1 acute monocytic leukemia cells via inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway

Ginsenoside Rh1 has been reported to possess antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities, but its effects on monocytes remain to be determined. Herein, we investigated the effects of Rh1 on the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2, activation of MAPK signaling, and chemotaxis of monocytes. Treatment of Rh1 decreased the levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 and the expression of VLA5 and activated β1 integrin on the cell surface, and attenuated the phosphorylation of MAPKs. Based on these results, the inhibitory effects of Rh1 on monocyte function should be regarded as a promising new anti-inflammatory response with a potential therapeutic role against inflammation-dependent diseases.     

因地制宜发展安徽节水灌溉

分析了当前灌溉工作中存在的一些问题，提出了发展节水灌溉要遵循的原则，阐述了安徽省不同地区发展节水灌溉的指导思想和主要措施。     

Formation of volatile branched chain esters in bananas (Musa sapientum L.)

Substrates controlling the formation of branched chain volatile esters in ripening bananas were investigated by the application of alcohol and amino acid precursors to whole fruit and tissue samples. The resulting changes in the profile of the volatile esters were determined using SPME and GC. These changes revealed the selectivity characteristics of the esterification enzyme AAT, the availability of acyl CoA's for ester formation, and the role of substrate supply on volatile production. The results obtained suggest that substrate supply is a major determinant of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the resulting aroma profile.     

Nematicidal activity of plant essential oils and components from coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils against pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)

Commercial essential oils from 28 plant species were tested for their nematicidal activities against the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Good nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus was achieved with essential oils of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), and valerian (Valeriana wallichii). Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the identification of 26, 11, and 4 major compounds from coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) oils, respectively. Compounds from each plant essential oil were tested individually for their nematicidal activities against the pine wood nematode. Among the compounds, benzaldehyde, trans-cinnamyl alcohol, cis-asarone, octanal, nonanal, decanal, trans-2-decenal, undecanal, dodecanal, decanol, and trans-2-decen-1-ol showed strong nematicidal activity. The essential oils described herein merit further study as potential nematicides against the pine wood nematode.     

Traumatic injuries in agriculture

The National Coalition for Agricultural Safety and Health (NCASH) in 1988 addressed issues in agriculture and noted "a sense of urgency... arose from the recognition of the unabating epidemic of traumatic death and injury in American farming . . ." This article provides an update to the NCASH conference on traumatic injuries in agriculture, a history on how the facts and figures were arrived at for the NCASH conference, and a current report on the status of traumatic injuries in agriculture in the U.S. Fatal and nonfatal injuries are addressed along with national and regional surveillance systems. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) was used for reporting national agricultural production fatal injuries from 1992-1998 (25.8 deaths per 100,000 workers), the Traumatic Injury Surveillance of Farmers (TISF) 1993-1995 was used to report nonfatal injuries occurring nationally (7.5/100 workers), and Regional Rural Injury Studies I and II (RRIS-I and RRIS-II) were used to illustrate a regional approach along with in-depth, specific analyses. Fatality rates, which showed some decline in the 1980s, were fairly constant during the 1990s. Changes in nonfatal injury rates for this sector could not be assessed due to a lack of benchmark data. The main concerns identified in the 1989 NCASH report continue today: tractors are the leading cause of farm-related death due mostly to overturns; older farmers continue to be at the highest risk for farm fatalities; and traumatic injuries continue to be a major concern for youth living or working on U.S. farms. Fatal and nonfatal traumatic injuries associated with agricultural production are a major public health problem that needs to be addressed through comprehensive approaches that include further delineation of the problem, particularly in children and older adults, and identification of specific risk factors through analytic efforts. Continued development of relevant surveillance systems and implementation of appropriate interventions are the primary challenges for the current decade.     

DDE in eggs of two crocodile species from Belize

Organochlorine (OC) residues were recently detected in nonviable Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) eggs from northern Belize. To further the assessment of contaminant exposure in Belizean crocodiles, nonviable Morelet's crocodile eggs (n = 11) from southern Belize and American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) eggs (n = 12) from the coastal zones of Belize were screened for 20 OCs. Results indicated p,p-DDE to be the most prevalent OC (96% occurrence) in eggs examined, with concentrations ranging from 5 to 372 ng/g. These concentrations are similar to those observed in crocodile eggs (10-180 ng/g) from northern Belize. A general trend toward higher DDE concentrations in Morelet's crocodile eggs (mean = 103 ppb) compared with American crocodile eggs (mean = 31 ppb) was observed. However, this trend may be due to site-specific contamination rather than differences in interspecific susceptibility to chemical exposure. Other OCs detected in crocodile eggs included the parent compound, p,p-DDT, and its metabolite, p, p-DDD.     

Dietary intake and the insulin-like growth factor system: effects of migration in two related populations in India and Britain with markedly different dietary intake

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: We report the effects of total energy intake on the IGF system in two populations with markedly different dietary macronutrient intake and cardiovascular event rate. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Dietary macronutrient intake was measured in a specific Gujarati migrant community in Sandwell, UK (n=205) compared with people still resident in the same villages of origin in India (n=246). Fasting IGF-I, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-3, insulin and glucose (0 and 2-hour) were measured. RESULTS: Total energy and total fat intake were higher in UK migrants, as were IGFBP-3 and IGF-I (mean (95% confidence interval): 145.9 (138.1-153.6) vs. 100.9 (94.6-107.3) ng ml(-1); F=76.6, P<0.001). IGFBP-1 was lower in UK migrants (29.5 (25.9-33.0) vs. 56.5 (50.6-62.5) microg l(-1); F=48.4, P<0.001). At both sites, IGF-I correlated positively with total energy (Spearman's rho=0.45, P<0.001) and total fat (rho=0.44, P<0.001) as did IGFBP-3 with total energy (rho=0.21, P<0.05) and fat (rho=0.26, P<0.001). Conversely, in Indian Gujaratis, IGFBP-1 fell with increasing total energy (rho=-0.27, P<0.001) and fat intake (rho=-0.26, P<0.01) but not in UK Gujaratis. Multiple linear regression modelling showed that increasing quartiles of fat intake were associated with higher IGF-I (beta=0.42, P=0.007) independent of age, body mass index, plasma insulin, fatty acids and 2-hour glucose. CONCLUSION: In these genetically similar groups, migration to the UK and adoption of a different diet is associated with marked changes in the IGF system, suggesting that environmental factors profoundly modulate serum concentrations and actions of IGFs.     

安徽砀山县域土壤有机质现状调查分析

应用统计学的分析技术,对砀山县城内各土属土壤有机质含量及土壤有机质水平分布特征进行了分析。结果表明,砀山土壤有机质平均含量差异较大,最高淤土属有机质含量为1.09%,最低飞沙土属有机质含量仅为0.42%。砀山土壤有机质含量普遍较低,4、5、6级占分布面积的82.59%,平均为5级。相关分析显示,土壤有机质与土壤水分呈极显著正相关关系,相关系数为0.843,与pH值呈中等负相关,相关系数为-0.697,与土壤客重呈显著的负相关关系,相关系数为0.809。     

Phase behavior and component partitioning in low water content amorphous carbohydrates and their potential impact on encapsulation of flavors

The compositions at which amorphous ethanol-maltose-water mixtures exhibit liquid-liquid separation have been determined in the temperature range from 20 to 80 degrees C. At water contents below approximately 20% w/w two phases were observed, with the maltose-rich phase slightly richer in water. Partition coefficients of organic nonelectrolytes ranging in hydrophobicity from 1, 2-ethanediol and 1,2-propanediol to benzyl alcohol and propyl acetate have been measured for octanol/sorbitol, benzyl alcohol/sorbitol, and 1-butanol/sorbitol mixtures. Linear correlations were found between the log partition coefficients in the various solvent systems. Replacing water with sorbitol results in more organic partitioning into the octanol. Replacing octanol with benzyl alcohol or 1-butanol also results in more organic partitioning into the hydrophobic phase. The results establish a relationship with partition coefficients for octanol/water mixtures, which are well studied experimentally and for which predictive approaches exist. The implications of these results for flavor retention and encapsulation are discussed.