Chinese materia medica resource (CMM resource) is the foundation of the development of traditional Chinese medicine. In the study of sustainable utilization of CMM resource, adopting innovative theory and method to find new CMM resource is one of hotspots and always highlighted. Pharmacophylogeny interrogates the phylogenetic relationship of medicinal organisms (especially medicinal plants), as well as the intrinsic correlation of morphological taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, chemical constituents, and therapeutic efficacy (ethnopharmacology and pharmacological activity). This new discipline may have the power to change the way we utilize medicinal plant resources and develop plant-based drugs. Phylogenomics is the crossing of evolutionary biology and genomics, in which genome data are utilized for evolutionary reconstructions. Phylogenomics can be integrated into the flow chart of drug discovery and development, and extends the field of pharmacophylogeny at the omic level, thus the concept of pharmacophylogenomics could be redefined in the context of plant pharmaceutical resources. This contribution gives a brief discourse of knowledge pedigree of pharmacophylogeny, epistemology and paradigm shift, highlighting the theoretical and practical values of pharmacophylogenomics. Many medicinally important tribes and genera, such as Clematis, Pulsatilla, Anemone, Cimicifugeae, Nigella, Delphinieae, Adonideae, Aquilegia, Thalictrum, and Coptis, belong to Ranunculaceae family. Compared to other plant families, Ranunculaceae has the most species that are recorded in China Pharmacopoeia (CP) 2010. However, many Ranunculaceae species, e. g., those that are closely related to CP species, as well as those endemic to China, have not been investigated in depth, and their phylogenetic relationship and potential in medicinal use remain elusive. As such, it is proposed to select Ranunculaceae to exemplify the utility of pharmacophylogenomics and to elaborate the new concept empirically. It is argued that phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of medicinally important tribes and genera within Ranunculaceae could be elucidated at the genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic levels, from which the intrinsic correlation between medicinal plant genotype and metabolic phenotype, and between genetic diversity and chemodivesity of closely related taxa, could be revealed. This proof-of-concept study regards pharmacophylogenomics as the updated version of pharmacophylogeny and would enrich the intension and spread the extension of pharmacophylogeny. The interdisciplinary knowledge and techniques will be integrated in the proposed study to promote development of CMM resource discipline and to boost sustainable development of Chinese medicinal plant resources.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Knowledge ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo review the mechanisms of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its role in the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were obtained mainly from the studies of EMT reported from 2000-2006.

STUDY SELECTIONRelevant articles on studies of EMT in tubulointerstitial fibrosis were selected. Data were mainly extracted from the 45 articles listed in the reference section of this review.

RESULTSThe process of EMT has gained wide recognition as candidate mechanism in progression of chronic fibrotic disorders. New markers were identified and facilitate the observation of EMT. EMT is regulated by many factors through activation of kinase-dependent signaling cascades. Recent findings suggest that EMT is a reversible process, which can be controlled by factors for their epithelial inducing activities.

CONCLUSIONRemarkable progresses of EMT research have been made recently. Preventing or reversing EMT is a promising strategy against renal fibrosis.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Disease Progression ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Mesoderm ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factors ; metabolism

Objective To isolate,purify and identify pancreatic duct derived stem cells (PDSCs) from the pancreatic duct of rats,and culture in the three-dimension cell culture system.Methods Adult male Wistar rats underwent perfusion with collagenase V via the pancreatic duct,then the pancreas was surgically procured,digested,followed by discontinued density gradient centrifuge to isolate ductal tissue from islets.The acinar and ductal tissue was cultivated in serumcontaining medium in the three-dimension cell culture to obtain adherent cells,as PDSCs,which were expanded by consecutive passages.The morphology and characterization of PDSCs on phenotype were examined.Results PDSCs could be obtained through in situ collagenase V digestion,discontinued density gradient centrifuge,and culture in the three dimension cell culture system.Morphologically,PDSCs had remarkable size,most with one nucleus.PDSCs grew in many layers in three-dimension cell culture system.PDSCs was revealed to express CD29,CD73,CD90,CD105,but not CD14,CD19,CD34,CD45 by FACS,in agreement with MSCs.Conclusion PDSCs of rats could be obtained through in situ collagenase V digestion,discontinued density gradient centrifuge,and culture in the three-dimension cell culture system.PDSCs lines were successfully established.

Objecive To explore the significance of RECK expression in breast cancer .Methods Im-munohistochemical staining was used to analyze RECK expression levels in patients with breast cancer .We com-pared these data with the clinicopathological features of these patients .Rseults Breast cancer patients with nega-tive RECK expression had significantly lower DFS and 5-year survival rates than patients with positive RECK expression.In addition,for node-negative breast cancer ,negative RECK expression indicated markedly unfavor -able survival rate than positive arm .Multivariate analysis further confirmed that RECK expression was an inde -pendent prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer .Conclusion The loss of RECK expression indicates un-favorable survival rate for patients with breast cancer .RECK expression is a new ,important risk factor for recur-rence in breast cancer .

BACKGROUND:Pedicle screw is the major instrumentation of surgery in thoracic spine. However, there have been few reports about pedicle morphology relevant to screw insertion tracts, and few reports comparing the normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. OBJECTIVE:To compare the morphologic characteristics of the thoracic pedicle with regard to safe thoracic pedicle screw placement in normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS: Thoracic pedicles of thirty-five normal adolescents and thirty-five adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were measured with three-dimensional reconstruction CT images. Measured parameters include (1) critical distance: the shortest distance from an entry point to the ventral cortex of the lamina. (2) Safe distance: the distance from the entry point to the tangent of the spinal canal at the medial wal of the pedicle. (3) Pedicle screw length. (4) Pedicle width. (5) Pedicle transverse angle. The dangerous area was defined as the distance between the critical distance and the safe distance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean critical distance was (9.2±1.0) mm for the normal adolescents, and (9.4±1.2) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Safe distances were significantly less in normal adolescents (14.7±0.8) mm than that of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group (15.4±1.4) mm (P < 0.001). The dangerous area was (5.4±0.7) mm for the normal adolescents, which was significantly less than that of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients (6.0±1.0) mm (P < 0.001). Pedicle screw length was (36.6±4.1) mm for the normal adolescents and (37.1±5.3) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Pedicle width was (5.8±1.2) mm for the normal adolescents and (5.7±1.7) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. No significant difference in critical distance, pedicle screw length and pedicle width was found between the two groups (P=0.382, 0.135, 0.293). Pedicle transverse angle decreased gradualy from T1 to T12 in both groups. These results verify that pedicle morphology of many parameters is different between normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients, especialy in the apical area of the thoracic curve.

The study is aimed to understand the resource and the current situation of the use of Cibotii Rhizoma and provide the basis for protecting and utilization. The method of literature survey, field survey and quality assessment were applied in the study. The results showed that all the Cibotii Rhizoma came from wild resource and was mainly founded in Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Zhejiang, etc. It contains over 5 000 000 kg in the area which total is about 7 000 hm2. The annual output is over 850 000 kg. At present, there is no cultivated resources. Based on the investigation and market sampling analysis from various regions, the results showed that the quality of the collected crude drugs conformed with the regulations of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. However the qualification rate of decoction pieces of Cibotii Rhizoma in market was only 56.4%. At present, the resource of Cibotii Rhizoma could meet the needs of medinal uses. It is important to protect the wild resource which is less and less because of the environmental factors. It also need to make a standard of processing method to ensure the safety, and solve quality problem of the decoction pieces.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Ferns ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study clinical effects of the over-articular external fixator combined with limited internal fixation for the treatment of Pilon fractures caused by high energy.

METHODSFrom September 2003 to April 2011, 36 patients with Pilon fractures caused by high energy were treated with the over-articular external fixator combined with limited internal fixator. There were 25 males and 11 females, ranging in age from 16 to 72 years old,with an average of 38 years old. The diagnoses of all patients were determined by conventional X-ray examination or three-dimensional spiral CT examination. The AOFAS scoring criteria was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects. The patients with comminuted fractures were treated with screw or Kirschner wire fixation without uncovering periost so as to enhance stability between fracture end and bone blocks,followed by the fixation with over-articular external fixators.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 4 to 27 months, with an average of 13 months. Thirty-two patients got wound healing at the first stage. And the bone union duration ranged from 2 to 6 months, with a mean of 3 months. According to the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot subjective scoring standard, 13 patients got an excellent result, 20 good and 3 fair, with an score of 88.2 +/- 3.6. Twelve patients had infections at pinhole, 5 patients had pinhole pain. One patient had the fixator broken induced by over loading, who was cured after treatment. There were no complications such as nerve or vascular injuries, or osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSIONThe over-articular external fixation combined with limited internal fixation for the treatment of Pilon fractures caused by high energy is an ideal method, which has such advantages as reliable fixation, simple operation, coincidence with principles of biomechanical fixation, and benefit for fracture healing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Situational teaching method was implemented in clinical teaching of obstetrics and gynecology. The basis of situational teaching was established through the establishment of a typical teaching case library. Students' impression of disease diagnosis and treatment was strengthened by simulation. The students' enthusiasm was improved by their own diagnosis and treatment through the teacher's guidance. With the method of situational teaching, students had better knowledge of obstetrics and gynecology, and their clinical diagnosis and treatment capacity was improved. Situational teaching method can improve the quality of teaching and it is worthy being popularized in clinical teaching of obstetrics and gynecology.

ObjectiveTo investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 6q in bladder tumor.MethodsD6S404 and D6434 microsatellite markers near 6q21 were tested by PCR-SSLP-stain method on tumor DNA from 31 cases of bladder tumor.ResultsAmong these 31 cases of bladder tumor,LOH was detected in tumor tissues on site for D6S404 (35.5%) and D6S434(22.6%).ConclusionOne or more tumor suppressor gene near 6q21 maybe relevant for the development of bladder tumor.

OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out on application of CODIS loci (FGA, vWA, CSF1PO, TH01, TPOX, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51 and D21S11) in 100 cases of excluding paternity. METHODS: The PCR amplified products of Profiler Plus and Cofiler amplification kit were injected into a capillary on the ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer. GeneScan software analyzed the collected data, which can then be imported into Genotyper software for genotyping of alleles. RESULTS: In the group of Mother-Child-Alleged Father, more than 3 STR loci incompatibilities between alleged father and child were found in all observed cases, the mean incompatibility was 6.63; In the group of Alleged Father-Child, 94.0% of all cases observed was found more than 3 STR loci incompatibilities, the mean incompatibility was 5.01. CONCLUSION The results showed that CODIS loci had good application to excluding paternity, and the choice of hyperpolymorphic markers in investigation, which were valued by DP, H and PE, had direct relation with the augmentation of incompatibilities in excluding paternity.
Adult ; Alleles ; Child ; DNA/genetics* ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Paternity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tandem Repeat Sequences