OBJECTIVETo obtain geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene of Salvia miltiorrhiza, and conduct bioinformatic and transcript expression analysis of the cloned SmGGPS1 gene.

METHODThe degenerate primers were designed based on the conservative regions of GGPS protein sequences from public databases. The target gene was obtained from root of S. miltiorrhiza by use of homologous cDNA amplification and RACE technologies. The sequence alignment was performed using BLAST. The open reading frame was identified by use of the ORF Finder. The protein domains were defined by use of Prosite software and the signal peptide sequence was predicted by Target P1.1. MEGA4.0 was used to conduct multiple amino acid sequence alignment and construct the phylogenetic tree. Roots and leaves at the seedlings stage and roots, stems, leaves, buds and flowers in the flowering stage were sampled for transcript analysis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression level. The complete gene of GGPS was obtained from S. miltiorrhiza genomic DNA by PCR using the cDNA-derived specific primer. The gene structure of GGPS was analyzed by comparison of the genomic DNA and its cDNA.

RESULTThe obtained 1 298 bp SmGGPS1 cDNA sequence contains an 1095 bp ORF, encoding 364 amino acids. It is predicted that it has a plastid targeting signal peptide of approximately 52 amino acid at the N-terminal end. It is to believe that this is the polyprenyl synthetase signature, and nucleic acid sequence comparison revealed that SmGGPS1 ORF has more than 60% identity to the reported GGPS. RT-PCR semi-quantitative analysis showed that the gene expresses in the all tested tissues, and with much higher level of expression in the leaves in the flowering stage. SmGGPS1 has a 397 bp intron.

CONCLUSIONFor the first time the cloning of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene from S. miltiorrhiza was reported, and it provides a good basis for further functional study of SmGGPS1.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Farnesyltranstransferase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics

As the transportation of O2 and CO2 inside human body is an integrated aspect of Qi-blood transportation, a hemodynamic model is established based on the analysis of the respiratory and circulation system. The results of such model show that the abnormality of the circulatory and respiratory parameters always lead to a reduction of Po2 (O2 pressure) in tissue fluid, and then a Lung Qi-Deficiency Syndrome (QDS). This model can be used to quantitatively explain, to some extent, the physiological phenomena of Lung QDS, and could combine all the discoveries of in clinical researches, on Lung QDS. The measurement of Po2 in tissue fluid as an index to analyze Lung QDS is in accordance with TCM and TMM (the theory of modern medicine). This model may provide a new approach in clinical research of Lung QDS.
Hemodynamics ; Lung Diseases ; physiopathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Biological ; Qi ; Respiratory Mechanics

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium mesh as repair materials in the cranioplasty for cranial defect patients, and to screen the independent factors for postoperative complications of cranioplasty.Methods:A total of 95 patients with cranial defects admitted to our hospital from June 2012 to June 2019 were selected for this study. According to the different repair materials used in cranioplasty, these patients were divided into PEEK group ( n=36) and titanium mesh group ( n=59). General data (hospitalization cost, hospital stay, et al), postoperative complications (intracranial hemorrhage, subcutaneous effusion, infection, seizures, and implant exposure), postoperative plastic satisfaction, and improvement of postoperative neurological function (differences of Glasgow outcome scale [GOS] scores and Mini-mental State Examination [MMSE] scores before and 6 months after surgery) were compared between the 2 groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to screen the independent factors for postoperative complications of cranioplasty. Results:The patients in the PEEK group had significantly higher hospitalization cost but significantly shortened length of hospital stay as compared with those in the titanium mesh group ( P<0.05). The overall incidence of complications in PEEK group was significantly lower than that in titanium mesh group ( P<0.05); the incidence of subcutaneous effusion in PEEK group was significantly lower than that in titanium mesh group ( P<0.05). The PEEK group had significantly higher proportion of patients with good satisfaction in postoperative plasticity, and significantly higher proportions of patients having increased GOS and MMSE scores as compared with the titanium mesh group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that repair material was an independent factor for postoperative complications of cranioplasty ( OR=4.550, P=0.019, 95%CI: 1.281-16.161). Conclusion:As compared with titanium mesh, PEEK costs more, but its clinical application effect is better, especially in reducing postoperative complications; selection of appropriate repair materials can be used as one of the methods to reduce postoperative complications.

Cardiac deficiency of qi(vital energy) is one of the main syndromes in terms of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Based on our analysis of blood-tissue fluid circulation, we set up a hemodynamics model describing cardiac deficiency of qi. The model's theoretical results can reflect the manifestations of cardiac deficiency of qi, and are identical to those of clinical experimental discoveries, therefore it has substantiated our theory-cell's abnormal physiological function caused by undernourishment of tissue fluid is the reason of qi-deficiency.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Qi ; Rabbits

We report an important but long-overlooked manifestation of low-resolution power of 16S rRNA sequence analysis at the species level, namely, in 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic trees polyphyletic placements of closely-related species are abundant compared to those in genome-based phylogeny. This phenomenon makes the demarcation of genera within many families ambiguous in the 16S rRNA-based taxonomy. In this study, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationship for more than ten thousand prokaryote genomes using the CVTree method, which is based on whole-genome information. And many such genera, which are polyphyletic in 16S rRNA-based trees, are well resolved as monophyletic clusters by CVTree. We believe that with genome sequencing of prokaryotes becoming a commonplace, genome-based phylogeny is doomed to play a definitive role in the construction of a natural and objective taxonomy.
Genome ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA