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We evaluated the effects of the seed saponins of Thea sinensis L. on alcohol absorption and metabolism in rats and mice. An ethanolic extract from the seeds of T. sinensis was orally administered to the rats 1 hr before or 0.5 hr after administration of ethanol (2 g/kg), and the blood ethanol assayed 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr after ethanol administration. The ethanol level decreased after both pre- and post-administration of the extract. The extract was further purified to obtain a saponin fraction which was orally administered to mice 1 hr before ethanol administration. Blood, liver, and stomach were obtained 0, 1, 3, and 6 hr after ethanol administration, and the ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetate, and acetone concentrations in each specimen were measured by head space gas chromatography. The saponin fraction decreased the ethanol levels in the blood and liver but increased that in the stomach five-fold over the control level, suggesting inhibition of alcohol absorption. The ethanol disappearance time from the blood was shortened, suggesting the promotion of alcohol disappearance. The acetate and acetone levels were unaffected. However, the acetaldehyde level decreased in the blood, liver, and stomach. The decreases in the ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in the liver suggested the protective effects of the seed saponins on the liver. The saponins did not directly inhibit hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity. The seed saponins of T. sinensis seem to suppress alcohol absorption by slowing gastric emptying and by inhibiting absorption across the cell membranes of the digestive tract.

We evaluated the effects of the seed saponins of Thea sinensis L. on alcohol absorption and metabolism in rats and mice. An ethanolic extract from the seeds of T. sinensis was orally administered to the rats 1 hr before or 0.5 hr after administration of ethanol (2 g/kg), and the blood ethanol assayed 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr after ethanol administration. The ethanol level decreased after both pre- and post-administration of the extract. The extract was further purified to obtain a saponin fraction which was orally administered to mice 1 hr before ethanol administration. Blood, liver, and stomach were obtained 0, 1, 3, and 6 hr after ethanol administration, and the ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetate, and acetone concentrations in each specimen were measured by head space gas chromatography. The saponin fraction decreased the ethanol levels in the blood and liver but increased that in the stomach five-fold over the control level, suggesting inhibition of alcohol absorption. The ethanol disappearance time from the blood was shortened, suggesting the promotion of alcohol disappearance. The acetate and acetone levels were unaffected. However, the acetaldehyde level decreased in the blood, liver, and stomach. The decreases in the ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in the liver suggested the protective effects of the seed saponins on the liver. The saponins did not directly inhibit hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity. The seed saponins of T. sinensis seem to suppress alcohol absorption by slowing gastric emptying and by inhibiting absorption across the cell membranes of the digestive tract.

Yeast volatiles double starvation survival in Drosophila .

Yeast volatiles double starvation survival in Drosophila .

Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) is a new therapeutic option for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). In the present study, the acute and follow-up results of PTSMA were evaluated. From August 1997 to March 2003 27 medically refractory patients (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class 2.9+/-0.6) with HOCM underwent PTSMA. The target septal branch was determined by probationary ballooning in 3 and by myocardial contrast echocardiography in 24 patients. The mean resting left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (PG) was reduced from 70+/-44 to 24+/-22 mmHg (p<0.0001); the peak concentration of creatine kinase was 1545+/-686 IU/L. Although transient trifascicular block was observed in 14 patients, permanent pacemaker implantation was not required. There were no major adverse cardiac events during the hospital stay; the mean clinical follow-up was 2.2+/-1.7 years. Repeated PTSMA was needed in 1 patient; however, symptomatic improvement had been well preserved in all patients (NYHA class 1.2+/-0.4). Follow-up echocardiographic examination showed sustained improvement in PG, septal and left ventricular posterior wall thicknesses, and the grade of systolic anterior movement and regurgitation of the mitral valve. In conclusion, PTSMA is a safe and effective therapeutic option for medically refractory patients with HOCM.

Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) is a new therapeutic option for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). In the present study, the acute and follow-up results of PTSMA were evaluated. From August 1997 to March 2003 27 medically refractory patients (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class 2.9+/-0.6) with HOCM underwent PTSMA. The target septal branch was determined by probationary ballooning in 3 and by myocardial contrast echocardiography in 24 patients. The mean resting left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (PG) was reduced from 70+/-44 to 24+/-22 mmHg (p<0.0001); the peak concentration of creatine kinase was 1545+/-686 IU/L. Although transient trifascicular block was observed in 14 patients, permanent pacemaker implantation was not required. There were no major adverse cardiac events during the hospital stay; the mean clinical follow-up was 2.2+/-1.7 years. Repeated PTSMA was needed in 1 patient; however, symptomatic improvement had been well preserved in all patients (NYHA class 1.2+/-0.4). Follow-up echocardiographic examination showed sustained improvement in PG, septal and left ventricular posterior wall thicknesses, and the grade of systolic anterior movement and regurgitation of the mitral valve. In conclusion, PTSMA is a safe and effective therapeutic option for medically refractory patients with HOCM.

In recent years, food security, especially supply, has been an important issue in China’s agricultural production. The stability of grain prices is related to the stability and development of the grain market. Based on agricultural production data from 1970 to 2015, this paper explores the influence of agricultural product price fluctuation on grain production by using the cobweb theory and vector error correction (VEC) model. The results show that changes in grain production in China are affected by fluctuations in agricultural product prices, that the production change lags behind the price change, and that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between grain yield and agricultural product price. A Granger causality test shows that the change in agricultural product price is the Granger cause of grain yield change.

In recent years, food security, especially supply, has been an important issue in China’s agricultural production. The stability of grain prices is related to the stability and development of the grain market. Based on agricultural production data from 1970 to 2015, this paper explores the influence of agricultural product price fluctuation on grain production by using the cobweb theory and vector error correction (VEC) model. The results show that changes in grain production in China are affected by fluctuations in agricultural product prices, that the production change lags behind the price change, and that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between grain yield and agricultural product price. A Granger causality test shows that the change in agricultural product price is the Granger cause of grain yield change.