Effect of exposure to a country liquor (Toddy) during gestation on lipid metabolism in rats

The objective of this study was to determine theeffects of country liquor Toddy and its equivalentquantity of ethanol on lipid metabolism duringgestation in rats. Female rats weighing an average of125 g were exposed to Toddy (24.5 ml/body weight/day)and ethanol (0.52 ml/kg body weight/day) for 15 daysbefore conception and throughout gestation. On the19th day of gestation, altered liver function andhyperlipidemia was seen in both the treated groups.Altered liver function was evidenced by the increasedactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehydedehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase oraspartate amino transferase (GOT), glutamic pyruvictransaminase or alanine amino transferase (GPT) andgamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Hyperlipidemiawas caused by increased biosynthesis and decreaseddegradation of lipids. The incorporation of ¹⁴Cacetate in lipids and activities of HMG CoA reductaseand lipogenic enzymes were elevated and activity ofLPL and bile acids contents were decreased. Toddytreated rats were more severely affected than thosereceiving an equivalent quantity of ethanol. Toddyseemed to potentiate the toxicity induced by alcoholindicating the role of the nonethanolic portion.Hepatic functions were also affected.     

Carvedilol in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by reduced systolic function, heightened sympathetic tone, and high morbidity and mortality. Little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of beta-blocker treatment in dogs with DCM. HYPOTHESIS: Carvedilol improves echocardiographic and neurohormonal variables in dogs with DCM over a 4-month treatment period. METHODS: Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomized study. Dogs with DCM underwent echocardiography, ECG, thoracic radiographs, and neurohormonal profiling, followed by titration onto carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg q12h) or placebo over a 4-week period and subsequently received 3 months of therapy. Primary study endpoints included left ventricular volume and function. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs received carvedilol and 7 received placebo. At study end, 13 carvedilol dogs and 5 placebo dogs were alive. There was no difference in the mean percentage change in left ventricular volume at end-diastole (LVVd), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVVs), and ejection fraction (EF) between treatment groups, suggesting that both groups experienced similar amounts of disease progression. Carvedilol treatment did not result in significant changes in neurohormonal activation, radiographic heart size, heart rate, or owner perceived quality-of-life. Baseline B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicted dogs in the carvedilol-treated group that maintained or improved their EF over the study duration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Carvedilol administration did not improve echocardiographic or neurohormonal indicators of heart function. The lack of effect may be related to severity of disease, carvedilol dose, or brevity of follow-up time. Statistical power of the present study was adversely affected by a high fatality rate in study dogs and small sample size.     

On a New Lower Order Exact Penalty Function

For the inequality constrained nonlinear programming problem, the antnors propose a new lower order penalty function, which combines the classical l1 penalty function and the lower order exact penalty function introduced in thoy some papers, and then illustrate that it has the merits of the two penalty functions. In additional, we propose a solution method for solving the inequality constrained nonlinear programming problem and prove its global convergence.     

Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.     

93份叶用枸杞农艺性状分析及综合评价

为客观评价叶用枸杞种质资源多样性和筛选综合性状优异种质,初步筛选出综合性状优异的叶用枸杞新品种。以93份叶用枸杞种质8个农艺性状,利用变异系数、模糊数学隶属函数和聚类分析方法进行分析。变异系数分析显示变异系数范围为5.25%～73.52%,其中变异系数最大的为单株产量, 最小的为叶鲜干比,Shannon多样性指数范围为1.77～5.73,其中Shannon多样性指数最大的为地径,最小的为茎鲜干比;相关性分析显示单株产量与叶面积、叶鲜干比、株高和地茎显著正相关（P ≤0.05）,与叶形指数、茎鲜干比和叶/茎显著负相关（P ≤0.05）;隶属函数分析显示筛选出综合性状优异的叶用枸杞新品种9份,即Z88、Z76、Z100、Z58、Z32、Z54、Z57、Z85和Z69;聚类分析将种质分为五类,第Ⅰ类材料的特征为单株产量最高,株高、地径和叶面积等较大,包含品系Z88和Z76等,第Ⅱ类材料特征为地径最大,株高、叶形指数和叶面积等较大,包含品系Z58和Z32等,第Ⅲ类材料特征为叶面积最大,株高、叶鲜干比等较大,包含品系Z57和Z85等,第Ⅳ类材料特征为叶鲜干比最大,叶形指数和单株产量等较大,第Ⅴ类材料特征为叶/茎最大,叶形指数、茎鲜干比和株高等较大。93份通过杂交获得的叶用枸杞种质资源较为丰富,单株产量、地径、叶面积、叶鲜干比和叶/茎性状是作为评价叶用枸杞种质的重要农艺性状指标,模糊数学隶属函数和聚类分析方法能够准确、可靠地综合评价叶用枸杞种质资源。     

不同剂量伊曲康唑制剂对犬血常规及肝肾功能的影响

旨在评价不同剂量伊曲康唑-环糊精制剂通过皮下注射途径对健康比格犬肝肾功能及血常规的影响.选用体重±10 kg的健康纯种比格犬32只,按试验要求随机分为4组,每组8只,建立稳定的生活制度.分别按照0.25 mg/kg、0.75 mg/kg和1.25 mg/kg剂量,皮下注射伊曲康唑制剂,3日1次,连续7次,对照组注射生理...     

华北土石山区不同林分结构与功能的研究

在调查北京八达岭林区刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)、侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)及其混交林生长量、土壤理化性质、水源涵养能力、病虫害的基础上,研究其结构与功能关系.结果表明,混交林比纯林具有更好的生长量,土壤理化性质得到进一步改善,从而提高水源涵养能力.另外,混交林还能够提高林分抵抗病虫害的能力.采用混交的方式为:1行刺槐3行侧柏循环混交,刺槐株数不超过1/4.本项研究以期对北京市森林健康经营具有一定的指导意义.