Antioxidant activity of different white teas: Comparison of hot and cold tea infusions

The study investigates the antioxidant characteristics of various white teas steeped in either hot or room-temperature water in relation to grade of tea and brewing conditions. Antioxidant activity, chelating activity, total phenol (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), theaflavins and individual catechin content were examined. The results confirm that extraction of tea leaves carried out with water at room temperature leads to the formation of infusions particularly rich in compounds with antioxidant activity. In fact, for all the white teas studied, cold infusions had a higher content of phenols (4.77–7.63 mmol/L Gallic Acid Equivalents, GAE), flavonoids (1.47–2.53 mmol/L Catechin Equivalents, CE) and catechins (441.5–1328.2 μg/mL) compared to hot infusions (1.43–4.02 mmol/L GAE, 0.70–1.13 mmol/L CE, 83.4–534.8 μg/mL, respectively). The same trend was also observed for antioxidant activities examined using the ABTS assay (cold: 17.09–34.23; hot: 5.26–17.07 mmol/L Trolox Equivalents) and by monitoring the effects of the infusions on LDL oxidation (lag time, cold: 172.4–271.2; hot: 88.4–145.9 min). A general trend in antioxidant activity and in polyphenolic compound content can be delineated between Chinese teas, i.e. Bai Mu Dan ≥ Xue Ya ≥ White Lung Ching > Anji Needle Mao Feng > Yhin Zhen Bai Hao and between African teas, i.e. White Salima Peony > Thyolo Bsp > Bvumbwe Bsp. Concerning metal chelating activity, all the white teas displayed similar levels (0.3–0.6 mmol/L EDTA Equivalents) with no significant differences between the hot and cold infusions (except Bvumbwe Bsp and Thyolo Bsp). This paper contains key information on the antioxidant properties, TPC, TFC, and individual catechin content of several white teas commercially available and the outcomes suggest that preparing tea infused in room temperature water for approximately 2 h may constitute an alternative tea beverage potentially richer in healthful bioactive compounds compared to the more commonly consumed hot tea infusions.     

肛肠术后患者尿潴留原因分析及护理对策

目的：分析肛肠术后尿潴留的原因。方法：对300例肛肠术后患者采取积极的排尿诱导及心理护理。结果：本组病例中有10例男性患者因前列腺增生最终行导尿治疗,50例患者用开塞露刺激肠蠕动排出尿液,其余240例患者经过采取积极的排尿诱导及心理护理均达到了自主排尿的目的。结论：对肛肠术后患者采取积极的排尿诱导、针对性的护理措施及心理护理,减少了肛肠术后患者尿潴留的发生率,减轻了患者痛苦,有利于患者肛肠疾病的早日恢复。     

The Relationship Between Vulnerable Attachment Style,Psychopathology, Drug Abuse,and Retention in Treatment Among Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients

The relationship between vulnerable attachment style, psychopathology, drug abuse, and retention in treatment among patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was examined by the Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and drug abuse urine tests. After six years, retention in treatment and repeated urine test results were studied. Patients with vulnerable attachment style (a high VASQ score) had higher rates of drug abuse and higher psychopathology levels compared to patients with secure attachment style, especially on the interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation scales. Drug abstinence at baseline was related to retention in treatment and to higher rates of drug abstinence after six years in MMT, whereas a vulnerable attachment style could not predict drug abstinence and retention in treatment. Clinical Implications concerning treatment of drug abusing populations and methodological issues concerning the VASQ’s subscales are also discussed.     

Substance Abuser Impulsivity Decreases with a Nine-Month Stay in a Therapeutic Community

Background: Substance abuse continues to be a major public health problem. Keeping substance abusers in treatment is a challenge, and researchers continue to investigate ways to increase retention. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between impulsivity in substance abusers and length of stay in the context of therapeutic community. Methods: The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale– 11 (BIS-11) was used to assess impulsivity in 138 substance abusers at admission and at nine months in a therapeutic community. Results: Impulsivity significantly decreased in subjects who completed nine months in the therapeutic community. Legal stipulation increased length of stay, on average, by three months. On admission, female participants were on average more impulsive than their male counterparts. Conclusion: Impulsivity decreased in subjects who remained in therapeutic community for nine months although self-reported impulsivity at baseline did not seem to be associated with retention. Scientific Significance: Therapeutic community factors contribute to a decrease in self-reported impulsivity and these factors might be enhanced to increase retention in therapeutic community.     

The Impact of an Outpatient Program for Women with Substance Use-Related Disorders on Retention

Meeting the needs of women manifesting substance-use disorders is a goal in developing treatment programs for this population. As retention in treatment is positively related to treatment outcome, the length of stay in outpatient treatment of alcohol- and other drug-dependent women in Brazil was compared between two programs. Data were analyzed from 181 women entering a Mixed-Gender Program from 1986 to 1996 and from 80 women entering a Women-Only Program from 1997 to 1998. A greater 3-month retention rate was observed in the Women-Only as opposed to the Mixed-Gender Program. Moreover, the impact was more significant among the alcohol-dependent women. This finding suggests that the heterogeneity of women with substance-use disorders has to be taken into account when developing appropriate treatment strategies.     

留置导尿新方法在男性尿潴留患者中的应用

目的探索提高急性尿潴留导尿困难患者导尿成功率的措施。方法回顾性分析2011年1月至2011年12月我院常规导尿术失败的男性急性尿潴留患者62例,通过适当的局麻和充分的润滑后采用内置输尿管导管的Foleys导尿管进行再次导尿,成功52例;失败10例中7例借助带半鞘的尿道镜直视下留置尿管成功。结果除3例患者留置尿管导尿失败后行耻骨上膀胱穿刺造瘘术外,其余59例通过新方法再次导尿均获成功,并且无明显血尿及尿道疼痛,成功率达95.16%。结论应用新方法导尿置管有助于提高男性尿潴留患者留置尿管的成功率。     

Skin permeation and retention of topical bead formulation containing tranexamic acid

The objective of this study is to develop a topical bead formulation of tranexamic acid (TA) which can be used concomitantly with laser treatment. The bead formulation of TA (TAB) was successfully prepared by fluidized bed drying method. Physicochemical properties of the TAB were evaluated in terms of chemical stability of TA and differential scanning calorimetry. TA in the bead was stable up to six months at 25°C and existed as amorphous state. In vitro skin permeation and in vivo skin retention of TA in the beads were significantly higher compared to a commercial product. When the bead was dissolved into distilled water and applied concomitantly with laser treatment, the amount of TA retained in the skin in the in vivo study was inversely proportional to the energy levels of laser treatment, indicating absorption into subcutaneous tissue and drainage to systemic circulation. Therefore, when laser treatment is used concomitantly with TAB, energy level should be very carefully monitored to avoid possible adverse events associated with systemic side effects of TA.