Effect of Konjac Food on Blood Glucose Level in Patients with Diabetes

Seventy-two type II diabetic subjects were given Konjac food for 65 days. The data analyzed by multiple F test indicate that the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and the 2-h postprandial blood glucose (PBG) on the 30th and the 65th days after the food was ingested were significantly reduced (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively), as was the glycosylated hemoglobin level at the end of the trial (P < 0.05). The final FBG and PBG of the subjects with initial FBG-O >200 mg% decreased on the average by 51.8 and 84.6 mg%. respectively; those with FBG-0 150-200 mg% decreased by 24.1 and 68.7 mg%; and those with FBG-O < 150 mg% decreased by 4.8 and 21.4 mg%. No significant changes in blood lipid indexes were observed, except that the triglycer-ide values of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (>200 mg%) significantly decreased by 118.7 mg%. It was concluded that Konjac food is very useful in the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemia. (C)1990 Academic Press. Inc.

Effects of topiramate and carbamazepine on thyroid hormone level in adults with epilepsy

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that traditional antiepileptics, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine (CBZ), phenobarbital, etc., can result in the decrease of thyroid hormone of epileptic patients. However, there is still no sufficient evidence for the studies about the effect of new-type antiepileptics, such as topiramate (TPM), on thyroid hormones. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of TPM and CBZ on the level of thyroid hormones in serum of adults with epilepsy. DESIGN: A comparative observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 100 outpatients or inpatients newly diagnosed to have epilepsy were selected from the Department of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from July 2003 to August 2005, including 60 males and 40 females, aged 18-70 years. All the patients were accorded with the standard for the classification of epilepsy set by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 1981; Had been Informed and agreed with the detection; Had no history of thyroid gland disease; Had not taken any drugs could affect the thyroid function. Meanwhile, 40 adult healthy examinees were selected from our hospital as the control group, including 24 males and 16 females, aged 18-65 years. METHODS: ① The 100 epileptic patients were randomly divided into TPM group (n =50) and CBZ group (n =50), and they were treated with TPM (Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical, Ltd.; Batch number: 03AS032, Norm: 25 mg/tablet) and CBZ (Shanghai Sunve Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Batch number: 030201, Norm: 100 mg/tablet) respectively. The initial dosage of TPM was 25 mg per day, increased by 25 mg every week, the objective dosage of 100-200 mg per day was maintained when the symptoms were satisfactorily controlled. The dosage of CBZ was 6-8 mg/kg per day. All the patients were administrated for 1 year. ② The serum levels of total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the epileptic patients were detected by means of chemiluminescence before treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment respectively. ③Standards for judging curative effects: Controlled by without seizure, the frequency of seizure reduced by ≥ 75% was taken as significant effect, reduced by 50%-74% as effect, and reduced by < 49% as invalid, whereas increased by more than 20% was taken as aggravation. ④ The intergroup and intragroup differences of the measurement data were compared by the analysis of variance and paired t test respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum levels of thyroid hormones before treatment and at different time points after treatment of TPM and CBZ. RESULTS: All the 100 epileptic patients and 40 healthy subjects were involved in the analysis of results. ① Changes of serum levels of thyroid hormones: The serum levels of TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4 and TSH were close between the epileptic patients and normal subjects before treatment (P > 0.05). In the CBZ group, the serum levels of FT4 at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment [(16.87±3.77), (16.34±3.98) , (16.97±3.95) pmol/L] were significantly decreased as compared with those before treatment [(18.00±3.54) pmol/L, t =2.74, 3.50, 2.26, P < 0.05]; The levels of TT3 at 3, 6 and 12 months [(2.09±0.54), (1.99±0.49), (1.84±0.47) nmol/L] were significantly decreased as compared with those before treatment [(2.22±0.63) nmol/L, t =2.73, 2.78, 5.18, P < 0.05]. The levels of TT3 at 6 and 12 months [(109.65±23.98), (107.72±23.90) nmol/L] were significantly decreased as compared with those before treatment [(118.98±28.48) nmol/L, t =3.11, 3.30, P < 0.05]. TT4 level in serum at 3 months and the levels of FT3 and TSH at each time point after CBZ treatment had no obvious changes as compared with those before treatment (P > 0.05). In the TPM group, the levels of thyroid hormones at each time point had no obvious changes as compared with those before treatment (P > 0.05). ② Curative effects: Of the 100 epileptic patients, it was controlled in 12 cases, significantly effective in 30 cases, effective in 39 cases and invalid in 19 cases, the total effective rate was 81% (81/100). CONCLUSION: CBZ treatment can lead to the decreases of thyroid hormones in adult epileptic patients. Epilepsy itself and TPM treatment cannot change the thyroid hormones in adult epileptic patients, which suggests that TPM treatment is safer for the thyroid function of adult epileptic patients.

Effect of Quasi-Fermi Level on the Degree of Electron Spin Polarization in GaAs

With spin-polarized-dependent band gap renormalization effect taken into account, the energy-dependent evolu- tion of electron spin polarization in GaAs is calculated at room temperature and at a low temperature of 1OK. We consider the exciting light with right-handed circular polarization, and the calculation results show that the degree of electron spin polarization is dependent strongly on the quasi-Fermi levels of ｜1/2） and ｜- 1/2） spin conduction bands. At room temperature, the degree of electron spin polarization decreases sharply from 1 near the bottom of the conduction band, and then increases to a stable value above the quasi-Fermi level of the ｜- 1/2） band. The greater the quasi-Fermi level is, the higher the degree of electron spin polarization with excessive en- ergy above the quasi-Fermi level of the ｜- 1/2） band can be achieved. At low temperature, the degree of electron spin polarization decreases from 1 sharply near the bottom of the conduction band, and then increases with the excessive energy, and in particular, up to a maximum of i above the quasi-Fermi level of the ｜1/2） band.

Bismuth Effects on Electronic Levels in GaSb(Bi)/AlGaSb Quantum Wells Probed by Infrared Photoreflectance

GaSb（Bi）/Alo.2Gao.sSb single quantum wells are characterized by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer- based photoreflectance method at 77K. Spatially direct and indirect transitions between the electronic levels at and above the effective band gap are well resolved. The shifts of the electronic levels with Bi incorporation are identified quantitatively. The results show that the upshift of the valence band edge is clarified to be dominant, while the Bi-induced downshift of the conduction band edge does exist and contributes to the band gap reduction in the GaSbBi quantum-well layer by （29±6）%.

Effect of Increasing CO_2 on the Stratospheric Level of CO and O_3

Production and destruction processes of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) are examined in the light of increasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). It is found that doubling of CO2 will increase the stratospheric concentration of CO and will have positive effect on O3 concentration.

Effects of Sub-chronic Intoxication of 1,8-cineole on Blood Biochemical Indexes of Mice

[ Objective] Effects of sub-chronic intoxication of 1,8-cineole on body weights, routine blood indexes and biochemical indexes of mice were investigated. [Method] One hundred and sixty mice with body weights of 15 -17 g were randomly divided into four groups （forty mice per group）. Mice were injected to 1, 8 - cineole with doses of 192.45,64. 15 and 21.38 mg/kg body weight （ test groups） and the water solution of tween-80 with a volume fraction of 0.5% （ control group） respectively. Each mouse was administered orally at the dose of 0.2 mL per 10 g body weight once a day consecutively for 90 d. The body weight, routine blood indexes and serum biochemical indexes of mice were determined on the 30^th d, 60^th d, 90^th d and the 30^th d after stopping the administration of 1,8-cineole. [ Result] The effects of 1, 8-cineole on the body weight, routine blood indexes and serum biochemical indexes of mice with the doses of 64.15 and 21.38 mg/kg body weight had no statistically significant difference compared with the control group （P 〉0.05 ）. 1, 8-cineole with the dose of 192.45 mg/kg body weight exhibited different influences on routine blood indexes and serum biochemical indexes of mice after the oral administration of 1,8-cineole for 60 d and 90 d, and statistically significant differences in many blood biochemical indexes were observed （P 〈 0.05 ）. However, the differences in routine blood indexes and serum biochemical indexes were not statistically significant between the test groups and the control group at the 30＇h d after stopping the administration of 1, 8-cineole （ P 〉 0.05）. [Condusion] 1,8-cineole had sub-chronic oral toxicity to mice. The no observed adverse effect level （NOAEL） of 1,8-cineolc was 64.15 mg/kg body weight and the lowest observed adverse effect level （LOAEL） of 1,8-cineole was 192.45 mg/kg body weight. Effects of 1, 8-cineole on blood biochemical indexes of mice were in short term and reversible.

Recent Advances of Electroplating Additives Enabling Lithium Metal Anodes to Applicable Battery Techniques

Lithium(Li)metal batteries have long been deemed as the representative high-energy-density energy storage systems due to the ultrahigh theoretical capacity and lowest electrochemical potential of Li metal anode.Unfortunately,the intractable dendritic Li deposition during cycling greatly restrains the large-scale applications of Li metal anodes.Recent advances have been explored to address this issue,among which a specific class of electrolyte additives for electroplating is deeply impressive,as they are economic and pragmatic.Different from the conventional additives that construct solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)layer on anodes,they make dendrite-free Li metal anodes feasible through altering Li plating behavior.In this research news article,the interlinked principles between industrial electroplating and Li deposition are firstly illustrated.The featured effects of electroplating additives on regulating Li plating morphology are also summarized and mainly divided into three categories:co-deposition with Li cation,coordination with Li cation,and leveling effect of Li films.Furthermore,the mechanism exploration or derivative use of electroplating additive for dendrite suppression and potential research directions are proposed,with emphasizing that industrial electroplating might enable Li metal anode to scalable battery techniques and spread to metal battery systems beyond Li.

Mechanism of Suppressing ASR Using Ground Reactive Sandstone Powders instead of Cement

In order to understand the effect of powders ground from reactive sandstone replacing cement on reducing or suppressing alkali-silica reaction（ASR）, and to identify the mechanism of suppressing ASR by this powders, mortar and paste containing reactive sandstone powders of four replacement levels ranging from 10wt% to 40wt% and four specific surfaces areas ranging from 210 m^2/kg to 860 m^2/kg were studied. The experimental results showed that incorporation of 40wt% reactive sandstone powders could suppress ASR effectively except for mortar containing reactive sandstone powders with specific surface area of 610 m^2/kg, which disagreed with the most results reported that the higher reactive powder specific surface area, the smaller ASR expansion. By means of fl ame photometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR） and thermo gravimetric analysis（TG）, the mechanism of reactive sandstone powders on reducing or suppressing ASR was soluble alkalis type of reactive sandstone powders and the competition of liberating and bonding alkali of cement paste containing reactive sandstone powders,when the ability of alkali bonding was greater than the ability of alkali liberation, ASR caused by reactive sandstone was supressed effectively.

The reactivity of O_(2) with copper cluster anions Cu_(n)^(-)(n = 7-20):Leveling effect of spin accommodation

The activation of molecular oxygen is an important step in metal-catalyzed oxidation reactions and a hot subject for the research of gas-phase metal clusters.It is known that the Ag and Au clusters readily re-act with O_(2)when they have open shell electronic structures.Distinct from this,here we observed Cu_(n)^(-)(n=7−20)clusters of both open and closed shells possess high reactivity with O_(2)with few exceptions.In a combination with ab initio calculations,we demonstrate that the activation of O_(2)on the even-and odd-sized Cu_(n)^(-)clusters follows the single and double electron transfer models,respectively.Such phe-nomenon of metal clusters with different basicity to activate oxygen is enabled by the leveling effect of spin accommodation.The activity of Cu_(n)^(-)clusters is correlated to the HOMO level,and for the close-shell clusters is also governed by the vertical spin excitation energy(VSE).In encountering the attack of dioxygen,the activity of the copper cluster anions not only depends on their basicity to donate electrons,but also closely associated with the cluster sizes.Small copper clusters Cu_(n)^(-)(n=7−13)can dissociate O_(2)spontaneously,while large clusters require extra energies and display close relationship between the reaction rates and electronic vertical detachment energies(VDE).Our work illuminates a novel reaction mechanism between Cu_(n)^(-)clusters and O_(2),which sheds light in manipulating the activity and stability of coinage clusters by controlling the spin and charge states.

CURRENT STUDIES ON BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LOW LEVEL INTERNAL IRRADIATION

The biological effects of relative low level internal irradiation were introduced. 1. Life span studies on carcinogenesis. Pacific Northwest Laboratory observed 3782 rats given a single inhalation of 239Pu O2 at initial lung burden ranging from 0.25 to 180 nCi. Significant life span shortening was found at lung dose > 8 Gy and it was indicated that the presence of a 'possible' threshold of about 1 Gy for lung tumor formation. 2. Health effects of radon and its progeny. Both experimental and epidemiological survey were studied. The nominal probability coefficient (fatality) for the public and workers are 7.90×105 per mJhm-3 (2.77 ×10~4 per working level month, WLM). 3. Health effects of 3H on postnatal brain development and neurobehavior, genetic effects, carcinogenic effects and adaptive effects of 3H were investigated. 4. Study on the effects of neuroendocrine system under low level irradiation of 75Se (Auger electron emitter) and 35S (β-particles emitter). The results showed that the neuroendocrine system is very sensitive to small dose of internal irradiation.

Effect of Atorvastatin on the levels of adiponectin and leptin and adiponectin-leptin ratio in the elderly and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes and combined hyperlipidemia

Objective To evaluate effects of Atorvastatin on the levels of adiponectin and leptin and adiponectin-leptin ratio in the elderly and middle-aged patients with type 2diabetes and combined hyperlipidemia.Methods Totally80 elderly and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes and combined hyperlipidemia were treated with Atorvastatin(10 mg/d)for 12 weeks.Fasting plasma levels

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment on Levels of Blocking Antibody, β-hCG, Progesterone and Estradiol in Spontaneous Abortion

Objective: To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on abnormalmaternal-fetal immune and endocrine in 24cases of threatened abortion (TA) and 68 cases of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods: The levels of blocking effect (BE),antiidiotype antibody (AIA), cytotoxin antibody (CTA), β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG), progesterone (P), estradiol (E2)were measured in all 92 patients. Results: Incidence rates of the lack of BE, AIA and CTAin 92 cases were 60. 87%, 57. 61 % and 72.83% respectively. The lower levels of BE,AIA and CTA were elevated significantly (P< 0. 05 ～0. 01 ), and the serial levels β- hCG, P and E2 were markedly increasing (P< 0. 01 ) in all successful pregnant patients.The rate of the successful pregnancy of 92 cases was 89. 13 % (to TA 91. 67%, to RSA 88.24 % respectively). Conclusions: It suggeststhat the lack of blocking antibody (BA) andendocrine hormone deficiency may result inspontaneous abortion during early pregnancy.The therapeutic mechanism of those herbs intreating spontaneous abortion was associatedwith the growing levels of BA and hormone byregulating the maternal-fetal immunity and endocrine.

The effects of enhanced external counterpulsation on the serum level of C-reactive protein and endothelin-1 in patients with ischemic stroke

Objective To explore the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on the serum level of C-reactive protein and endothelin-1 in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke,to provide clinical evidence for the treatment and secondary prevention of patients with serebral ischemic stroke.Methods Total 187 patients with ischemic stroke and enrolled measure the serum level

A three-parameter logistic regression model

Dose–response experiments and data analyses are often carried out according to an optimal design under a model assumption.A two-parameter logistic model is often used because of its nice mathematical properties and plausible stochastic response mechanisms.There is an extensive literature on its optimal designs and data analysis strategies.However,a model is at best a good approximation in a real-world application,and researchers must be aware of the risk of model mis-specification.In this paper,we investigate the effectiveness of the sequential EDdesign,the D-optimal design,and the up-and-down design under the three-parameter logistic regression model,and we develop a numerical method for the parameter estimation.Simulations show that the combination of the proposed model and the data analysis strategy performs well.When the logistic model is correct,this more complex model has hardly any efficiency loss.The three-parameter logistic model works better than the two-parameter logistic model in the presence of model mis-specification.