Genotypic and environmental variation in Cd, Cr, As, Ni and Pb concentrations of grains, and the relationships between these heavy metals and Fe, Zn were investigated using 9 rice genotypes grown in 6 locations for two successive years. Significant genotypic variation was detected in the five heavy metal concentrations in grains, indicating the possibility to reduce the concentration of these heavy metals in grains through breeding approach. The environmental effect varied with metal, with Pb and Ni having greater variation than the other three metals. There was significant genotype-environment (location) interaction of the concentrations of all five heavy metals in grains, suggesting the importance of cultivar choice in producing rice with low heavy metal concentrations in grains for a given location. Correlation analysis showed that Cd and As, Cr and Ni, and As and Pb concentrations in rice grains were closely associated, and that Ni concentration in grains was negatively correlated with Zn concentration.
Arsenic ; analysis ; Cadmium ; analysis ; Chromium ; analysis ; Edible Grain ; chemistry ; genetics ; Environment ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Genotype ; Lead ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Nickel ; analysis ; Oryza ; chemistry ; genetics ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis

The quality of Chinese medicinal materials relates greatly to the clinical curative effect and security. In order to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese medicinal materials, a systematic and operable traceability system needs to be established. It can realize the whole process of quality and safety management of Chinese medicinal materials "from production to consumption" through recording and inquiring information and recalling defective products, which is an important direction for the future development of traditional Chinese medicine. But it is still at the exploration and trial stage. In this paper, a framework of Chinese medicinal materials' quality and safety traceability system was established on the basis of the domestic and international experience about the construction of food and agricultural products traceability systems. The relationship between traceability system of Chinese medicinal materials' quality and GAP, GMP, GSP was analyzed, and the possible problems and the corresponding solutions were discussed.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

To study the chemical constituents of K. oblongifolia, silica gel column chromatography, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 were used to separate the 70% acetone extract of the stems of K. oblongifolia. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of physicochemical and NMR spectroscopic evidence as well as ESI-MS in some cases. Twenty compounds were obtained and identified as heteroclitalignan A (1), kadsulignan F (2), kadoblongifolin C (3), schizanrin F (4), heteroclitalignan C (5), kadsurarin (6), kadsulignan O (7), eburicol (8), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (9), kadsufolin A (10), tiegusanin M (11), heteroclitin B (12), (7'S)-parabenzlactone (13), angeloylbinankadsurin B (14), propinquain H (15), quercetin (16), kadsulignan P (17), schizanrin G (18), micrandilactone C (19) and (-)-shikimic acid (20). Compouds 1, 5, 8, 11-15, 18 and 20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Toxicity of compounds 1-10 were evaluated with zebrafish model to observe the effect on its embryonic development and heart function. The results showed that compounds 7, 9 and 10 caused edema of zebrafish embryo and decreased the heart rate of zebrafish, which exhibited interference effect on heart development of zebrafish.
Animals ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; drug effects ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Kadsura ; chemistry ; Lignans ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; toxicity ; Triterpenes ; toxicity ; Zebrafish ; embryology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of arginine modified chitosan or hexadecylated modified chitosan as gene carriers on the cellular uptake by vascular smooth muscle cells and its in vitro cytotoxicity. METHODS Plasmid DNA was labeled with alpha-32P-dATP and complexed with the modified chitosans or unmodified chitosan to form nanoparticle complexes by complex coacervation method. Uptake of all kinds of chitosan/ DNA nanoparticle complexes (CNC) by A10 cells was measured by beta-liquid scintillation counting. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the CNC was evaluated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe diameters of the CNC ranged from 55.9-174.9 nm and the zeta potentials were from 10. 8 mV for the arginine modified chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (ACNC) to 1.8 mV for the hexadecylated chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (HCNC). The cellular uptake of the modified chitosan/ DNA nanoparticle complexes (MCNC) by A10 cells increased significantly when compared with the unmodified chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (UCNC) (P < 0.05), with the HCNC at N/P ratio of 1:1 and the ACNC at ratio of 8:1 showing the highest cellular uptake (1.3 fold higher than UCNC, P < 0.05). MCNC were much less cytotoxic when compared with Lipofectamine 2000-DNA nanoparticles.

CONCLUSIONDNA nanoparticle complexes prepared with either arginine or hexadecylated modified chitosan can improve the cellular uptake of the DNA, while the in vitro cytotoxicity of both of the modified chitosan is much less than that of Lipofectamine 2000.

Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Citric Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; DNA ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Nanoparticles ; Rats

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclosporine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Fibronectins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; PPAR gamma ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the possible clonal origin of neuroendocrine cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSTwenty-six microsatellite loci were screened using laser capture microdissection, DNA extraction and whole genome amplification. Microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in adenocarcinoma cells and neuroendocrine cells amongst 30 cases of colorectal carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation were detected using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP)-silver staining. The mutation status of p53 was evaluated by PCR-sequencing. The clonal origin of neuroendocrine cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma was determined.

RESULTSAmongst the 30 cases studied, the prevalence of MSI was 16.9% while that of LOH was 8.5%. The rate showed no statistically significant difference between adenocarcinoma cells and neuroendocrine cells. In 6 cases, the microsatellite alteration was entirely consistent. In 23 cases, the rate of microsatellite alteration consistency was greater than that of inconsistency. In 1 case, the consistency and inconsistency rates were identical. There was statistically significant difference between consistency and inconsistency of microsatellite alteration. The prevalence of p53 mutation was 16.7% which was the same for both adenocarcinoma cells and neuroendocrine cells.

CONCLUSIONSAdenocarcinoma cells and neuroendocrine cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation have similar biologic changes. It is likely that they are of identical origin.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Microsatellite Instability ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the impact of alcohol dehydrogenase-2 (ADH2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) polymorphisms on the susceptibility of esophageal cancer. Methods A case-control study including 221 cases of esophageal cancer and 191 controls was carried out in Taixing city of Jiangsu province. ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes were tested by PCR and denaturing high -- performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Results (1) Compared with ALDH2 G/G carriers, ALDH2 A/A (OR=5.69, 95%CI: 2.51-12.18) and ALDH2 G/A (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.08-2.68) carriers showed a significantly elevated risk of developing esophageal cancer, especially among alcohol drinkers with ALDH2 A/A (OR=8.63,95% CI: 2.07-35.95). (2) Statistical relation was not found between ADH2 genotypes and the risk of esophageal cancer, with regard to the status of alcohol consumption. (3) Whether subjects with whatever ADH2 genotype, ALDH2 G/A or A/A carriers was found to have significantly increased the risk of developing esophageal cancer, with ALDH2 A/A carriers appeared having higher esophageal cancer risk than those ALDH2 G/A carriers. (4)Compared those non-drinkers with both ALDH2 G/G and ADH2 A/A , drinkers with ALDH2 G/A or A/A and ADH2 C,/A or G/G genotypes showed a significantly elevated risk of developing esophageal cancer (OR=8.36, 95% CI: 2.98-23.46). Conclusion These results revealed that it was not ADH2 but ALDH2 polymorphisms and drinking alcohol had a significant interaction with the development of esophageal cancer, suggesting that in order to help lowering the risk of esophageal cancer, individuals who are carrying ALDH2 A/A or G/A genotypes should be encouraged to reduce their consumption of alcohols.

OBJECTIVES: Infants with slight/mild or late-onset hearing impairment might be missed in universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS). We identified the mutation hot spot of common deaf gene in the newborns in Jinan area population by screening the mutation spot with neonate cord blood, in order to make clear whether the neonate cord blood for screening is feasible. METHODS: Six hundred and forty-six newborns were subjected to both UNHS and genetic screening for deafness by using neonate cord blood. The newborn genetic screening targeted four deafness-associated genes, which were commonly found in the Chinese population including gap junction beta-2 protein (GJB2), gap junction beta-3 protein (GJB3), solute carrier family 26 member 4 (SLC26A4), and mtDNA 12S rRNA. The most common 20 spot mutations in 4 deaf genes were detected by MassARRAY iPLEX platform and mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G and C1494T mutations were sequenced using Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Among the 646 newborns, 635 cases passed the UNHS and the other 11 cases (1.7%) did not. Of the 11 failures, two cases were found to carry homozygous GJB2 p.R143W pathogenic mutation, one case was found to have heterozygous GJB2 235delC mutation, and another one case carried heterozygous GJB3 p.R180X pathogenic mutation. Six hundred and thirty-five babies passed the newborn hearing screening, in which 25 babies were identified to carry pathogenic mutations, including 12 heterozygotes (1.9%) for GJB2 235delC, eight heterozygotes (1.3%) for SLC26A4 IVS7-2A>G, one heterozygote (0.2%) for p.R409H, two homozygotes (0.3%) for m.1494C>T, and two homozygotes (0.3%) for m.1555A>G. CONCLUSION: Newborn genetic screening through the umbilical cord blood for common deafness-associated mutations may identify carriers sensitive to aminoglycoside antibiotic, and can effectively prevent or delay hearing loss occurs.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China* ; Deafness* ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Fetal Blood ; Gap Junctions ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Heterozygote ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mass Screening*

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status by the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and its association with the long-term prognosis in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Methods: This prospective monocentric study consecutively enrolled patients admitted to our hospital for AHF from April 2012 to May 2016. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the CONUT score at admission: normal (0-1), mild malnutrition (2-4) and moderate-severe malnutrition (5-12) groups. Baseline information was obtained and recorded within 24 hours after admission. All patients were followed up every 3 months by outpatient visit or telephone call until March 2019. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test were used to compare all-cause mortality between groups. Variables showing statistical significance in the univariate analysis were incorporated into multivariate Cox regression model to analyze the independent risk factors for all-cause mortality after discharge. Results: A total of 396 patients were enrolled in this study, including 114 patients with normal nutritional status, 200 patients with mild malnutrition and 82 patients with moderate-severe malnutrition. One hundred and fifty-eight patients died during a median follow-up of 34 (18, 46) months. The mortality was 32.4% (37/114), 39% (78/200) and 52.4% (43/82) in normal, mild malnutrition and moderate-severe malnutrition groups, respectively. The mortality was significantly higher in the moderate-severe malnutrition group than in normal nutrition group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in mortality between normal and mild malnutrition group as well as between mild and moderate-severe malnutrition group (both P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that patients with high CONUT score group was at higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with those with low CONUT score (P=0.002). Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that the risk of all-cause mortality of moderate-severe malnutrition group was significantly higher than that of normal nutrition group (HR =1.648, 95%CI 1.021-2.660, P=0.041). Conclusions: The CONUT score of patients with AHF at admission is associated with the long-term prognosis. High CONUT score is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in AHF patients after discharge.
Heart Failure ; Humans ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

To provide a scientific evidence for the quality control of Codonopsis Radix, a method was established for determining the content of three free carbohydrates of Codonopsis Radix. The developed method showed good linearity. The calibration curves were linear within the range of 2.312 5-18.500 0 μg for sucrose, 1.500 0-12.000 0 μg for glucose, and 2.000 0-16.000 0 μg for fructose, resgectwely. The recoveries varied between 96.31%-101.8%. The method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for determining the content of sucrose, glucose and fructose of Codonopsis Radix. The results showed that different cultivation measures had an effect on the content of three free carbohydrates of Codonopsis Radix. According to the content of sucrose, using Zhuanggenling>not using Zhuanggenling. While, not pinching, shelving>not pinching, not shelving>pinching, not shelving>pinching, shelving. According to the content of glucose and fructose, not using Zhuanggenling>using Zhuanggenling. While, pinching, shelving>not pinching, not shelving>not pinching, shelving>pinching, not shelving. In consideration of the differences of sweetness and content of the three free carbohydrates in Codonopsis Radix, we recommend that the content of free carbohydrates could be considered as the marker to evaluate the quality of Codonopsis Radix.