Shaanxi has a long history and profound cultural heritage. It has been referred to as “Qin” for a long time in history. Shaanxi is rich in medicinal plant resources, various main Chinese medicines such as Fraxini cortex, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, Ten “Qin medicine” (Astragali Radix in Zizhou County, Bupleuri Radix in Baoji, Corydalis Rhizoma in Yang County, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in Shangluo, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in Hanzhong; Eucommiae Cortex in lueyang County; Gastrodiae Rhizoma in Ningshan County; Polyporus in Ningshan County; Scutellariae Radix in Chengcheng County; Corni Fructus in Foping County; Polygonati Rhizoma in Lueyang County) and “Taibaiqi medicine” are typically species of “Qin medicine”. In history, “Qin medicine” represents genuine medicinal materials produced from Shaanxi Province and the surrounding region. In recently, the industry of “Qin medicine” becomes one of the most valuable resources in Shaanxi, which also contributes to the integral part of Chinese medical and health services. Here, the research progress on germplasm resources, cultivation techniques, plantation base construction, variety breeding, bioactive compounds, and quality control of “Qin medicine” were integrated and reviewed, and its future development of “Qin medicine” was also prospected.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important signaling transduction components well conserved in eukaryotes and play essential roles in various physiological, developmental and hormonal responses in plant. In the present study, a MAPK gene, designated as DoMPK4 (GenBank accession No. JX297597), is identified from a rare endangered medicinal orchid species D. officinale using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The full length cDNA of DoMPK4 is 1 518 bp in length and encoded a 369 aa protein with a molecular weight of 42.42 kD and an isoelectric point of 5.55. DoMPK4 protein contained a serine/threonine protein kinase active site (158-170), a MAP kinase site (71-174), and eight conserved motifs. DoMPK4 had a transmembrane (214-232) but no signal peptide. Multiple sequence alignment showed that DoMPK4 shared high identities (74.9%-80.6%) with MAPK proteins from various plants. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that DoMPK4 belonged to group A of the MAPK evolutionary tree, and is closely related to monocots. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoMPK4 is differentially expressed among the five organs including leaf, stem, root, seed, and protocorm-like body (PLB). The transcription level of DoMPK4 is the highest in the PLBs with 17.65 fold, followed by seeds, roots, and stems with 5.84, 2.28, and 1.64 fold, respectively. The progressive enhancement of DoMPK4 transcripts in the developing PLBs compared to that in the germinating seeds, suggests a role of DoMPK4 during the development of embryogenic PLBs formation in D. officinale.
Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; metabolism ; Seeds ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the clinical application of one-stage repair of hypospadias using pedicled penis and scrotal septal symphysis skin flap.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-nine cases of hypopadias were treated with the skin flap and followed up.

RESULTSAfter the operation, one hundred and twenty-two cases of patients obtained satisfactory outcomes, twenty-seven cases happened urethral leakage and preputial uredema were observed, and three cases suffered from urethral-skin fistula.

CONCLUSIONSThis technique was an optimal choice to penis hypospadias, Penoscrotal hypospadias and light-duty scrotal hypospadias. It was simple and convenient and could prevent infection but manage of drain must be done postoperatively.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Penis ; surgery ; Scrotum ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the relaxant effect of ethanol on the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum and its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe tension of isolated smooth muscle strips was recorded by the platform physiological graphed, and the concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the rabbit corpus cavernosum were measured by 125I radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe 1.25% (V/V) ethanol significantly augmented the corporal relaxation induced by isoprenaline (10(-9) - 10(-5) mol/L). Ethanol-induced relaxation was inhibited by 100 micromol/L and 300 micromol/L SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor). Emax was depressed from (105.12 +/- 3.39) % to (97.00 +/- 2.57) % in the presence of 100 micromol/L SQ22536 or (91.09 +/- 2.42) % in the presence of 300 micromol/L SQ22536. EC50 was increased from (1.18 +/- 0.09)% (V/V) to (1.36 +/- 0.10) % in the presence of 100 micromol/L SQ22536 (P < 0.05) or (1.68 +/- 0.13) % (in the presence of 300 micromol/L SQ22536) (P < 0.05) respectively. Ethanol significantly elevated the level of cAMP but not that of cGMP in the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum, and it also significantly enhanced the activity of the adenylate cyclase (AC) extracted from the rabbit corpus cavernosum in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONEthanol has a relaxant effect on the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum, which may be associated with the cAMP signaling pathway.

Animals ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle Relaxation ; drug effects ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo further investigate the action mechanisms of berberine (Ber), and assess the effects of Ber on the in vitro formation of cGMP and cAMP in the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum.

METHODSIsolated segments of the rabbit corpus cavernosum were exposed to different concentrations of Ber, and, the dosage-dependent accumulations of cGMP and cAMP were determined in the tissue samples by means of 125I radioimmunoassay. Responses of the isolated tissue preparations to Ber were compared with those obtained with the reference compound sildenafil (Sil).

RESULTSBer increased cGMP concentrations directly (P < 0.05). In the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a stimulatory agent of cGMP, both Ber and Sil increased cGMP with increasing dosage (P < 0.01), the EC, values being 1.32 and 0.67 micromol/L respectively. With the same concentration, neither Ber nor Sil influenced the cAMP level significantly (P > 0.05). In the presence of PGE1, a stimulator of cAMP, Ber and Sil also raised the cAMP level concentration (P < 0.01 ), the EC, values being 4.90 (Ber) and 6.53 (Sil) micromol/L respectively.

CONCLUSIONBer can increase cGMP and cAMP concentrations in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscles, which may contribute to its action of relaxing corpus cavernosum smooth muscles.

Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Penis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Radioimmunoassay

Objective To learn the prevalence, distribution and risk factors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among elderly in Zhoushan City, and to provide the reference for MCI control. Methods A total of 1801 elderly people aged 60 to 79 years old from six districts of Zhoushan City were sampled by method of stratified random sampling. After self-evaluated with Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) and screened with Screening Scale for Mild Cognitive Impairment (sMCI), the diagnosis by specialists was conducted for that positive to AD8 and sMCI. Results of 1801 respondents, 873 (48.47％) people were male, and the other 928 (51.53％) people were female; 38.65％ of the people selected aged 60-<65; 90.28％ had a primary school education or were illiterate; 78.51％ had legitimate and healthy wives. A total of 122 elderly people were diagnosed with MCI, and the prevalence of MCI was 6.77％. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male elderly people (OR=0.53, 95％CI:0.28-1.00) were less likely to develop MCI compared to the female, and the illiterate (OR=2.09, 95％CI: 1.16-3.77) were more likely to develop MCI compared to the educated . Conclusion The prevalence of MCI among the elderly in Zhoushan was 6.77％; the female and the illiterate were more likely to develop MCI.

The present study utilized LC-MS and HPLC approaches to characterize the metabolites of neferine in rat liver after an oral administration of 20 mg x kg(-1), and investigated the involvement of CYP450 isoforms in the metabolism of neferine by their selective inhibitors in vitro, separately. In positive ionization mode, besides neferine, four metabolites (M1-M4) were detected. M2 (the major metabolite) and M4 were identified as liensinine and isoliensinine by comparison with reference substances. Moreover, according to the analysis of metabolic rule of parent drug (neferine), M1 and M3 may be desmethylliensinine and desmethyl-isoliensinine, respectively. Furthermore, the metabolism of neferine in rat liver microsomes showed that the percentage inhibition of the major metabolism (liensinine) formation was 80.5% by quinidine (10 micromol x L(-1), selective CYP2D1 inhibitor) and 25.7% by ketoconazole (1 micromol x L(-1), selective CYP3A1 inhibitor). Neferine was mainly metabolized by CYP2D1 or CYP3A1 to liensinine, isoliensinine, desmethyl-liensinine and desmethyl-isoliensinine.
Administration, Oral ; Alcohol Oxidoreductases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Benzylisoquinolines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P450 Family 2 ; Isoquinolines ; metabolism ; Ketoconazole ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Phenols ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quinidine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

AIMTo explore the effects of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) induced delayed preconditioning (PC) on hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury of cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), and to investigate the potential role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) participated in the protective mechanism.

METHODSHCAECs were incubated for 2 h in a hypoxic atmosphere and reoxygenated for 4 h in a normoxic atmosphere. The delayed PC was induced by pretreatment with LTA (30 or 300 microg x L(-1)) for 4 h before 24 h recovery. The extent of cellular injury after reoxygenation was assessed by the percentage of cellular injury with Trypan blue exclusion and by the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture media. The NO level of the culture media was measured spectrophotometrically. Furthermore, HCAECs were exposed to 300 microg x L(-1) of LTA for 4 h, and to detect the expression of eNOS mRNA by RT-PCR method after cells were recovered from different points.

RESULTSLTA pretreatment significantly decreased the percentage of the killed cell and the concentration of LDH in media. Also, LTA pretreatment obviously raised the concentrations of NO in culture media. The protective effects of LTA were abrogated by pretreatment with N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Moreover, the expression of eNOS mRNA was significantly upregulated after HCAECs exposure to LTA for 4 h following 2 h or 4 h recovery.

CONCLUSIONLTA could induce the delayed protection against H/R induced endothelial injury and dysfunction of cultured HCAECs. NO produced by eNOS acts initially as a trigger and subsequently as a mediator of delayed PC.

Adult ; Cell Death ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Vessels ; cytology ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Staphylococcus aureus ; chemistry ; Teichoic Acids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of activated carbon nanoparticles for guiding lymphadenectomy in lung cancer.

METHODSFourty-two lung cancer patients were divided into two groups: the control group (22 cases) and experiment group (20 cases) who received activated carbon nanoparticles injection around the tumor either by endoscopic injection or intraoperative subserosal injection. The number of dissected lymph node, black-stained lymph node, positive lymph node and the side effect of the procedure were analyzed, respectively.

RESULTSNo severe complication was observed in the experiment group. The operative time was not prolonged significantly in the experiment group either. However, the number of average lymph nodes dissected in the experiment group (25.5) was significantly more than that in the control group (14.6) (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONLocal injection of activated carbon nanoparticles around the tumor during surgical exploration is effective, safe and easy to do for guiding lymphadenectomy in lung cancer patient.

Adult ; Aged ; Charcoal ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nanoparticles ; Pneumonectomy

Objective To explore the strategy and countermeasures of Oncomelania hupensis snail control and evaluate the effect in inside-embankment areas of lake-type schistosomiasis endemic area,for providing the effective method for controlling and interrupting the schistosomiasis transmission. Methods The data of schistosomiasis epidemic and its control and preven-tion were collected in Junshan District,Hunan Province,and the effect of snail control countermeasures were evaluated and the trend of indexes of snails was drafted in the inside-embankment areas of Junshan District,Hunan Province from 1998 to 2007. Results The area with snails in the inside embankment areas of Junshan District decreased by 98.43%,from 1496.66 hm2 in 1998 to 23.48 hm2 in 2017. The occurrence rate and average density of of living snails decreased from 20.61%and 0.45 snail/0.1 m2 in 2003 to 2.06%and 0.03 snail/0.1 m2 in 2017. The highest area with schistosome infected snails was found in 2001 and the total area was 79.36 hm2,however,no infected snails were found since 2007. The total fiscal investment for schistosomiasis pre-vention and control was 398.857 million RMB in Junshan District,including molluscicide(81.7709 million RMB)and environ-ment reform(213.5 million RMB)respectively. Conclusion The comprehensive measures,mainly including the combination of molluscicide and environment reform have gotten a significant effect in snail control and elimination in the inside-embankment areas,but the snail surveillance still need to be strengthened in the historic areas with snails.