The main producing areas of Cistanche spp. in Neimongol, Ningxia, Gansu and Xingjiang were surveyed. Plant specimens and samples of 4 species and a new variety, named C. salsa var.albiflora P.F.Tu et Z.C.Lou, were collected and identified. Their distribution and abundance of resources are reported,and measures of exploiting and protecting comdined with sand-control are suggested.

ObjectiveTo analyze the correlations between bone mineral density and biochemistry data of health checkup receivers.MethodsA total of 3025 sets of medical measurements,including blood glucose,lipid profiles,blood uric acid,blood pressure and bone mineral density,were collected from January 2008 to November 2010 in Medical Examination Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra 1 - 4 (L1-4) and hip were recorded.Linear correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between bone mineral density and other factors. Results In multiple regression analysis,age,body weight,and alkaline phosphatase level were found to be related to male hip bone mineral density; age,body weight,alkaline phosphatase,and glutamyltranspetidase level were related to male L2-4 bone mineral density; age,body weight,alkaline phosphatase,and glutamyltranspetidase level were indicated to be related to female hip bone mineral density; age,body weight,alkaline phosphatase,and the ratio of neutrophile granulocyte were related to female L2-4 bone mineral density.ConclusionIn thisstudygroup, bodyweightwaspositivelycorrelatedwithbonemineraldensity, although alkalinephosphatase was negatively associated with bone mineral density.The role of blood glucose and lipid in the regulation of bone mineral density remains inconclusive.

Objective To employ Borrelia burgdorferi( B. burgdorferi) , a culturable and genetical-ly transformable spirochete, as a surrogate system to study Treponema pallidum ( T. pallidum) gene function. Methods Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the T. pallidum gene tp0111 encodes the putative sigma factor RpoN. We constructed a B. burgdorferi shuttle vector harboring tp0111. The shuttle vector was then trans-formed into the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant strain. The phenotype of the resulting B. burgdorferi strain was then determined. Results We successfully constructed the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant carrying the T. palli-dum gene tp0111. We found that tp0111 could partially complement the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant. Con-clusion This work provides the first experimental evidence showing that tp0111 is the rpoN gene of T. palli-dum. It also demonstrates that B. burgdorferi can be used as a surrogate system for studying T. pallidum gene function.

Objective To evaluate the value of dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DSC)in evaluation of brain tumor after operation.Methods 41 cases with brain tumors verified histologically,including 8 cases of high-grade gliomas,16 of low-grade gliomas,7 of metastases and 10 of meningiomas underwent DSC examination.All the cases at 3.0T MR unit.All primitive data were sent to ADW4.3 workstation for post-processing.The mean maximal rCBV and rCBF ratios of tumors,1 cm and 2 cm regions of peri-tumor were obtained respectively.The relativity of MR perfusion parameters(rCBV and rCBF)between diferent tumors were statistically evaluated by using Pearson correlative analysis.Results In the　solid region of tumors,rCBV and rCBF were statistically significant differences (P<0.05)between low-grade gliomas and the other three groups of tumors; in 1 cm region of peri-tumor between high-grade gliomas and the other three groups,and between low-grade gliomas and metastases,between the solid region and both regions of 1 cm and 2 cm peri-tumors at the same tumor were all of statistically significant differences(P<0.05),between 1 cm and 2 cm region of peri-tumors at high-grade gliomas and metastases,the rCBV and rCBF were also of statistically significant differences.Pearson correlative analysis showed that there were significant positive correlations between the mean maximal rCBV and rCBF　ratios at the same region in the same tumor's group.Conclusion DSC is very valuable in evaluation of the histopathological grade and the differentiation of brain tumor.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture at Houxi(SI3)and Huantiao(GB30)on the expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),and nitric oxide(NO)of NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway in L5 spinal nerve root of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)model rats and explore the mechanism of acupuncture in LDH treatment.Methods:Forty specific-pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,a model group,acupuncture group 1,and acupuncture group 2,with 10 rats in each group.The non-compression nucleus protrusion model was made by puncturing L4-L5 spinous process space and injecting autologous nucleus suspension.Acupuncture at bilateral Shenshu(BL23),Dachangshu(BL25),and Weizhong(BL40)was carried out in acupuncture group 1,and acupuncture at bilateral Houxi(SI3)and Huantiao(GB30)in acupuncture group 2.All rats were treated with balanced reinforcing and reducing needling manipulations,and the needles were retained for 30 min/time with one episode of needling manipulation every 10 min,once a day,14 times in total.The threshold value of paw withdrawal pain was measured by a thermal stimulation pain instrument;the serum NF-κB,iNOS,and NO levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The pathomorphological changes of spinal nerve roots were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect iNOS mRNA expression in spinal nerve roots;the NF-κB and iNOS protein expression in spinal nerve roots was detected by the immunofluorescence method.Results:Compared with the sham operation group,the threshold of paw withdrawal pain in the model group was decreased,and the expression levels of serum NF-κB,iNOS,and NO were increased;HE staining showed many degenerated and dissolved Schwann cells in spinal nerve roots with vacuolar changes;meanwhile,the expression levels of NF-κB and iNOS proteins,and the iNOS mRNA in spinal nerve roots were increased.Compared with the model group,the paw withdrawal pain thresholds in acupuncture group 1 and acupuncture group 2 were increased,and the increase in acupuncture group 2 was greater(P<0.05);the expression levels of serum NF-κB,iNOS,and NO in acupuncture group 1 and acupuncture group 2 were decreased,especially in acupuncture group 2(P<0.01);the vacuolar changes of spinal nerve roots,and the degeneration and lysis of Schwann cells in acupuncture group 1 and acupuncture group 2 were decreased,which were more obvious in acupuncture group 2;the NF-κB and iNOS protein expression and the iNOS mRNA expression levels in spinal nerve roots of acupuncture group 1 and acupuncture group 2 were decreased,especially in acupuncture group 2(P<0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture at Houxi(SI3)and Huantiao(GB30)can improve the morphology of spinal nerve roots,inhibit the NF-κB and iNOS protein expression levels in spinal nerve roots and the serum NO level,and relieve the pain caused by inflammation of spinal nerve roots,which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture in LDH treatment.

AIM: The experiment was designed to study the effect of compound Danshen dripping pills (DSDP) on myocardium with anoxin/reoxygenation. METHODS: The myocardial anoxin/reoxygenation model was made in perfused isolated rat heart. DSDP and isosorbide dinitrate (ID) were given at the time of pre-perfusion and reperfusion, then HPLC and H-600 electron microscope were used to detect the change of high energy phosphate and the ultrastructure of myocardial cell. RESULTS: ① The contents of AMP, ADP, ATP and AN in myocardium in only anoxin/reoxygenation group were obviously lower than those in the control group (P0.05). ③ In the groups with ID, the contents of AMP, ADP, ATP and AN were distinctively lower than those in the control group (P

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the EtOAc extract of Armillaria gallica 012m. METHODS: The chemical constituents of the EtOAc extract of A. gallica 012m were isolated and purified by various column chromatography and their structures were elucidated on the basis of the 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS data. Cytotoxicity of all isolates against A549, HCT-116, M231 and W256 human tumor cells was determined by the MTT method. RESULTS: A new sesquiterpene aryl ester, armimelleolide C ( 1), and eight known ones including armillarivin ( 2), melleolide F ( 3), 6'-chloromelleolide F ( 4), melleolide ( 5), melleolide K ( 6), melledonol ( 7), 13-hydroxydihydromelleolide ( 8), and armillane ( 9), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of A. gallica 012m. All isolates showed potential cytotoxic activities against at least one of the human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from (3.17 ± 0.54) to (17.57 ± 0.47) μmol/L. Compound 1 showed significant inhibitory activity against M231 with an IC₅₀ value of (7.54 ± 0.24) μmol/L compared with paclitaxel as the positive control. Compounds 2, 3, and 7, 9 showed obvious inhibitory activity against HCT-116 and were better than that of the positive control. CONCLUSION The chemical constituents including a new sesquiterpene aryl ester armimelleolide C ( 1) from the EtOAc extract of A. gallica 012m have a variety of structures and potential antitumor activities.