Highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for determination of trace gold in geological samples with 5-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylazo)rhodanine.

A excellent sensitive and selective method for spectrophotometric determination of trace gold has been developed, the method is based on the color reaction of gold(III) with new reagent 5-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylazo)rhodanine (HNAR). Under optimal conditions, HNAR reacts with gold(III) to form a 1:5 orange complex, which has an maximum absorption peak at 480 nm. Maximum enhancement of the absorbance of the complex was obtained in the presence of the mixed surfactant of Triton X-100 and CTMAB; the reaction completed rapidly and the absorbance is stable for 5 h at least at 20 degrees C; 0-48 microg L(-1) Au(III) obeyed Beer's law.

Leukocyte angiotensin II levels inpatients with essential hypertension:relation to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Angiotensin (Ang) converting enzyme inhibitors and Ang II type 1 receptor antagonists improve insulin resistance in patients with essential hypertension, which suggest that tissue Ang II is involved in insulin resistance in patients with hypertension. To investigate the participation of tissue Ang II in insulin resistance associated with hypertension, we evaluated the Ang II-generating system in leukocytes and its relation to insulin resistance in patients with essential hypertension.

Determination of trace molybdenum in vegetable and food samples by spectrophotometry with p-carboxyphenylfluorone.

A new highly sensitive and selective chromogenic reagent, p-carboxyphenylfluorone (p-CPF), was studied for spectrophotometric determination of trace molybdenum. In 0.36 mol L(-1)phosphoric acid medium, p-CPF reacts with molybdenum(VI) to form a 1:3 red complex, which has a sensitive absorption peak at 531 nm.

Phenotypic modulation by fibronectin enhances the angiotensin II-generating system in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

We previously demonstrated that homogeneous cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from spontaneously hypertensive rats produce angiotensin II (Ang II) in response to increases in the levels of angiotensinogen, cathepsin D, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The change of VSMCs from the contractile to the synthetic phenotype increased the amount of synthetic organelles, resulting in the production of proteases and growth factors. To evaluate the contribution of the synthetic phenotype to the generation of Ang II, we examined the effect of fibronectin (FN), which reportedly induces the synthetic phenotype, on the Ang II-generating system in VSMCs.

Psychoactive substance use in three sites in China: gender differences and related factors.

One year prevalence rates for psychoactive substance use are reported based on a community survey in Hunan, Helongjiang and Jiangsu. Data were gathered on more than 14,000 respondents (15-65 years old). The drinking rates ranged from 58.