Sixty-three morphological traits from 743 specimens of the 41 taxa within the cultivated Lonicera japonica were observed and measured, such as the height of plants, the length of leaf, the width of leaf, the length of anther, the alabastrum's number of one branch, the color of alabastrum and so on. A numerical taxonomy is presented by using the cluster analysis, principal components analysis (PCA) and factor analysis. Sixteen of 63 characters were screened by means of PCA and used for cluster analysis of 41 taxa with the method of Ward linkage and average euclidean distance. The cluster analysis showed that the 41 taxa could be divided into 5 groups when the Euclidean distance coefficient was 11.84. The factor analysis indicated that the shape of leaf, color of alabastrum, the pilosity and color of twiggery were of significance for the cultivated L. japonica classification. The results of this study will be a base for the core collection and breeding of L. japonica.
Breeding ; China ; Flowers ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci

We collected 22 cultivated population of Lonicera japonica from 17 areas. The characteristics of non-glandular hairs were observed and measured by the scanning electron microscopy. The principal components analysis and correlation analysis were conduct based on length and density of L. japonica. The results showed a significant negative correlation between length and density of non-glandular hairs, and the characteristics of non-glandular was not corrrelated significantly with latitude. The correlation results indicated that the density was a key to separate "Damaohua" and "Jizhuahua". The contribution of climate and soil was important to the cultivated population. This reminded that the characteristics of non-glandular hairs were affected by environmental and genetic interaction.
Lonicera ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; ultrastructure

To clarify the origin and development of the traditional Chinese medicine "Duhuo" and "Qianghuo" with medicinal literatures. Medical literatures of past dynasties were analysed and combined with the modern material. The "Duhuo" in Herbal writing Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing include traditional Chinese medicine "Duhuo" and "Qianghuo", "Qianghuo" was separated from "Duhuo" due to the distinguish of clinical application. The origin of "Qianghuo" is Notopterygium incisum and N. forbesii, However, The origin of "Duhuo" is very complex, Angelica pubescens f. biserrata as authentic "Duhuo" was used from Song Dynasty. "Qianghuo" was originated from "Duhuo".
Angelica ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Geography ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research ; Species Specificity

This paper employed UPLC-Electrospray Ionization /Quadrupole-Time of Flight-Mass /Mass Spectrometry( UPLC-ESI/Q-TOF-MS/MS) to analyze the chemical constituents in the stems of Nelumbo nucifera. The stems of N. nucifera were extracted with 75% methanol, and we applied an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.8 μm) to UPLC analysis with water methanol-water( containing 0.05% formic acid) in gradient as mobile phase. The eluates were then detected by ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Results indicated that 22 benzylisoquinoline alkaloids were indendified. Among them, one alkaloid may be a new compound and a component was found in the Lotus for the first time. We fully identify the composition of the Lotus stems for the first time, Which could provides theoretical foundation for further study and utilization of the medicinal resources.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

To clarify the origin and application development of the traditional Chinese medicine " Zi-hua Qianhu" and " Qianhu", the medicinal literatures of past dynasties and modern researches were analysed. The plant Angelica decursivum was used as a substitute for traditional Chinese medicine "Angelica sinensis Radix" for a long historical period, it is used incorrectly for traditional Chinese medicine "Qianhu" due to origin research in modern times. The plant origin of "Qianhu" is Peucedanum praeruptorum. There are significant differences in clinical applications and chemical composition of the two drugs. The same efficacy description of "Zi-huaQianhu" and "Qianhu" could not stop "Zi-huaQianhu" used as "Qianhu" in practical application. Therefore, we need to further research for the plant A. decursivum, delimit its medicinal attribution.
Angelica ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; pharmacology ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Pharmacopoeias as Topic ; history ; Phytotherapy ; history

Through the investigation of Phellodendron Cortex on the market, and 28 batches of samples were collected. By using spectrophotometer the color values of outer surface, inner surface and cross - section of these samples were measured. These measured color data was translated into 3D structure diagram by using the Lab color space tool. The level difference value, the mean value and the threshold value were calculated based the measured color data of these different batches of samples. All 28 groups measured data was analyzed using the methods of Ward linkage and average Euclidean distance. At the same time, we invited Professor Jin Shiyuan, the "Chinese medicine master", to identify, quality-evaluate and grade these 28 batches of Phellodendron Cortex samples base on the traditional experience, then compared the traditional empirical results with the spectrophotometer measurement results. The result showed that, the Phellodendron Cortex could be divided into Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex by color numerical clustering, and classified according to quality. The classification result has a high degree of consistency with the traditional experience.
China ; Color ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Spectrophotometry

Objective To identify potential serum biomarkers specific for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Eighty-one patients wilh hepatitis B-related HCC and 80 healthy controls were randomly divided into a training set (48 HCC,47 controls) and a testing set (33 HCC,33 controls).Serum proteomic profiles were measured using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-offlight mass spectroscopy (SELDI-TOF-MS).A classification tree was established by the Biomarker Pattern Software.Candidate biomarkcrs were separated by HPLC and identified by MA1DI-MS/MS and database searching.Forty-eight patients with HCC,54 cirrhotic patients and 42 healthy subjects were clinically validated using candidate biomarkers by SELDI-Immunoassay.Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to observe GRO-1 and Thrombin in 55 HCC tissues and 13 normal hepatolage tissues.Results Two up-regulated protein peaks were automatically chosen as a classification tree in the training set.These biomarkers were identified as thrombin light chain and CXC chemokines ligand 1 (GRO-1).The sensitivity and specificity of this classification tree were 89.6％.The multivariate model using the two biomarkers and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) resulted in a sensitivity of 91.7％ and specificity of 92.7％,which was significantly better than AFP alone.The mRNA expression of GRO-1 and Thrombin were found in all HCC tissues.There were significant associations between GRO-1 gene expression and some clinical and pathological findings such as metastasis and recurrence (P＜0.05).Significant differences of 5-year survival rates wee observed among subgroups according to the expression of GRO-1 (P＜0.05).There were significant associations between Thrombin gene expression and some clinical and pathological findings such as recurrence and AFP (P＜0.05).Significant differences of 5-year survival rates were observed among the subgroups according to the expression of THROMBIN (P＜0.05).A positive correlation was found between GRO-1 and Thrombin (r=0.73,P＜0.01).Conclusion Thrombin light chain and GRO-1 are potential biomarkers of HCC.The expression of GRO-1 in HCC tissues was a valuable indicator in estimating metastasis and recurrence in HCC patients.

AlM:To investigate the effects of pirfenidone ( PFD) on the proliferation and transfomring growth factor-β1 ( TGF-β1 ) expression in vitro culture rat corneal stromal cells.METHODS: Corneal stromal cells from 8 to 10wk SD rats were isolated, cultured and treated with different concentrations of PFD 0mg/mL (control group), 0. 15mg/mL (experimental group▏), 0. 3mg/mL (experimental group‖), 1mg/mL (experimental group Ⅲ) for 48h. CCK-8 assay was performed to assess cell proliferation, while immunocytochemistry and Western Blot were used to detect the expression of ki-67 and TGF-β1 expression, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with control group, PFD significantly inhibited the proliferation in a dose -dependent manner ( all P < 0. 05 ), so was protein expression of ki-67. PFD significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner (P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON: Pirfenidone can significantly inhibit the proliferation of rat corneal stromal cell by down regulating TGF-β1 expression, therefore, it has potential prospect in lightening the corneal wound healing reaction.

Objective:To observe the clinical effects of tuina plus Western medication for functional dyspepsia (FD) due to liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.Methods:A total of 72 patients in conformity with the inclusion criteria of FD were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group based upon the random number table,36 cases in each group.The control group was treated with mosapride citrate dispersible tablets,and the observation group was treated with the same tablets plus tuina.Before the treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment,the clinical symptoms,quality of life (QOL) and depression severity were observed by the scale,and were followed up two months later after the treatment for assessment of the clinical effects.Results:After the treatment and at the follow-up,the symptom scores of FD and the sores of Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) in both groups decreased,and the scores in Chinese version of quality of life questionnaire for functional digestive disorders (Chin-FDDQL) increased,with statistically significant differences in comparison with the same group before the treatment (all P＜0.05).In comparison between the two groups at the same time point after the treatment,the scores of FD symptoms,HAMD and Chin-FDDQL were improved better in the observation group than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).The total effective rates at the follow-up were 91.7％ in the observation group and 75.0％ in the control group,without statistical difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).The rate of clinical cure and remarkable effect was 66.7％ in the observation group,higher than 41.7％ in the control group,it is higher in the observation group than that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Tuina plus Western medication is precise in the therapeutic effects for FD due to liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency and can effectively relieve clinical symptoms,elevate the QOL and alleviate depression severity of the patients.Moreover,it's better than the treatment by Western medication alone in the long-term therapeutic effects.

Objective To detect the efficiency and function of NK cell differentiation from human umbilical cord he?matopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro. Methods CD34+hematopoietic stem cells were isolated from human umbilical cord blood, and inoculated into SCGM medium containing 20 μg/L FMS like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt-3L), stem cell fac?tor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-7, IL-15 and IL-21. And CD34+HSCs were differentiated into NK cells in directional inducing. The growth state of cells was observed. The expressions of CD56, NKG2D, NKp46, CD3, CD19 and CD34 were detected by flow cytometry in the differentiation of 7, 14, 21 and 28 d. In the differentiation of 21 d and 28 d, the differentiation cells were used as effector cells, and K562 cells as target cells. The ratios of effector cells and target cells were 8∶1, 4∶1, 2∶1 and 1∶1. The killing activity of the differentiated cells was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cell toxicity assay and 7AAD/CFSE labeling method. Results CD34+HSCs derived from human umbilical cord blood can proliferate in vitro under appropriate condition. There were no significant differences in the expression of CD3 and CD19 between different differentia?tion stages (7, 14, 21 and 28 d, P>0.05). The expressions of CD56, NKG2D and NKp46 were significantly different (P<0.05), and the ultimate expression amount was (72.57±1.60)%, (32.83±1.29)%and (29.53±2.40)%. The expression of CD34 decreased gradually, and the lowest was (12.13 ± 2.01)%. The maximum killing activity detected by LDH cell toxicity assay and 7AAD/CFSE labeling method reached(49.91±2.76)%and (40.87±1.12)%.The killing activity of NK cells was decreased in the order of 8∶1, 4∶1, 2∶1 and 1∶1 groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the killing activity between NK cells of 28 d and 21 d. Conclusion Human umbilical cord hematopoietic stem cells can differentiate into NK cells un? der appropriate conditions in vitro, and the NK cells induced from differentiation are with killing activity.