Based on whole-genome identification of the TPS gene family in Perilla frutescens and screening, cloning, bioinformatics, and expression analysis of the synthetic enzyme for the insect-resistant component germacrene D, this study lays the foundation for understanding the biological function of the TPS gene family and the insect resistance mechanism in P. frutescens. This study used bioinformatics tools to identify the TPS gene family of P. frutescens based on its whole genome and predicted the physicochemical properties, systematic classification, and promoter cis-elements of the proteins. The relative content of germacrene D was detected in both normal and insect-infested leaves of P. frutescens, and the germacrene D synthase was screened and isolated. Gene cloning, bioinformatics analysis, and expression profiling were then performed. The results showed that a total of 99 TPS genes were identified in the genome, which were classified into the TPS-a, TPS-b, TPS-c, TPS-e/f, and TPS-g subfamilies. Conserved motif analysis showed that the TPS in P. frutescens has conserved structural characteristics within the same subfamily. Promoter cis-element analysis predicted the presence of light-responsive elements, multiple hormone-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements in the TPS family of P. frutescens. Transcriptome data revealed that most of the TPS genes in P. frutescens were highly expressed in the leaves. GC-MS analysis showed that the relative content of germacrene D significantly increased in insect-damaged leaves, suggesting that it may act as an insect-resistant component. The germacrene D synthase gene was screened through homologous protein binding gene expression and was found to belong to the TPS-a subfamily, encoding a 64.89 kDa protein. This protein was hydrophilic, lacked a transmembrane structure and signal peptide, and was predominantly expressed in leaves, with significantly higher expression in insect-damaged leaves compared to normal leaves. In vitro expression results showed that germacrene D synthase tended to form inclusion bodies. Molecular docking showed that farnesyl pyrophosphate(FPP) fell into the active pocket of the protein and interacted strongly with six active sites. This study provides a foundation for further research on the biological functions of the TPS gene family in P. frutescens and the molecular mechanisms underlying its insect resistance.
Perilla frutescens/chemistry* ; Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Multigene Family ; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane/metabolism* ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/chemistry* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical symptoms and MRI outcomes of patients with ruptured lumbar disc herniation(LDH) through a multicenter randomized controlled study, and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Huoxue formula() in the treatment of this disease. METHODS: A total of 160 outpatients and inpatients with ruptured LDH admitted to 4 medical centers from January 2023 to June 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the Yiqi Huoxue formula group and the control group, with 80 patients in each group. In the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, there were 43 males and 37 females, with an age of (41.03±9.56) years and a disease duration of (10.45±25.37) days, and the patients were treated with Yiqi Huoxue formula. In the control group, there were 34 males and 46 females, with an age of (42.14±8.73) years and a disease duration of (11.31±21.14) days;during the acute phase, patients in this group could take celecoxib capsules orally, and methylcobalamin orally at the same time. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), changes in the volume of herniated disc tissue on MRI, herniation rate, and absorption rate were recorded at the time of enrollment and during follow-ups at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients completed the clinical follow-up, and 4 patients withdrew midway. The clinical symptoms of all patients who completed the study were relieved to varying degrees, and reabsorption of herniated disc tissue was observed in all patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group after treatment. For the JOA score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (10.73±2.76) points before treatment and (24.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (11.01±1.20) points before treatment and (17.07±3.26) points at the 12th month after treatment. For the ODI score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (26.21±3.55) points before treatment and (5.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (27.92±2.51) points before treatment and (9.09±2.15) points at the 12th month after treatment. At the 12th month after treatment, the JOA and ODI scores of both groups were better than those before treatment, and the scores of the Yiqi Huoxue formula group were better than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In terms of the herniated disc volume and herniation rate on MRI, the Yiqi Huoxue formula group was superior to the control group, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). Reabsorption occurred in 56.96%(45/79) of patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, which was significantly higher than the 37.66%(29/77) in the control group. CONCLUSION After treatment with Yiqi Huoxue formula, patients with ruptured LDH show significant improvement in clinical symptoms and a marked reduction in the volume of herniated discs. During the follow-up period, no obvious adverse drug reactions are observed in patients, and no recurrence of symptoms is found at the last follow-up, indicating that the formula has safe and reliable efficacy.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/drug therapy* ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and socioeconomic factors influencing the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Guangdong Province between 2010 and 2019. METHOD: Spatial and temporal variations in TB incidence were mapped using heat maps and hierarchical clustering. Socioenvironmental influencing factors were evaluated using a Bayesian spatiotemporal conditional autoregressive (ST-CAR) model. RESULTS: Annual incidence of TB in Guangdong decreased from 91.85/100,000 in 2010 to 53.06/100,000 in 2019. Spatial hotspots were found in northeastern Guangdong, particularly in Heyuan, Shanwei, and Shantou, while Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Foshan had the lowest rates in the Pearl River Delta. The ST-CAR model showed that the TB risk was lower with higher per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Relative Risk ( RR), 0.91; 95% Confidence Interval ( CI): 0.86-0.98], more the ratio of licensed physicians and physician ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.98), and higher per capita public expenditure ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97), with a marginal effect of population density ( RR, 0.86; 95% CI: 0.86-1.00). CONCLUSION The incidence of TB in Guangdong varies spatially and temporally. Areas with poor economic conditions and insufficient healthcare resources are at an increased risk of TB infection. Strategies focusing on equitable health resource distribution and economic development are the key to TB control.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Bayes Theorem ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Socioeconomic Factors

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Objective To construct reference ranges of cardiac size and morphologic parameters in low-risk fetuses at 28-39 gestational weeks using two-dimensional speckle tracking technique.Methods A prospective collection of 453 low-risk singleton pregnancies with echocardiography at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University was used to assess the size(length,width,and area)and morphology(sphericity index,i.e.,the ratio of length to width)of the fetal four-chamber view and two ventricles using two-dimensional speckle tracking technique.Repeated inter-and intra-observer agreement of measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs).Statistical analysis of cardiac measurement parameters was performed to establish reference ranges of values for cardiac size and morphology in low-risk fetuses.Results The inter-and intra-group ICCs for reproducibility tests of fetal cardiac parameters measurements were 0.691 to 0.980.Fetal four-chamber view and ventricular size increased with gestational week(all P<0.001),the end-diastolic length of the left ventricle was larger than that of the right ventricle,and the end-diastolic diameter was smaller than that of the right ventricle(both P<0.001),while there was no significant difference in the end-diastolic area of the two ventricles(P= 0.050).The spherical index of four-chamber view did not correlate with gestational week(P=0.811).The sphericity index of the basal and intermediate segments of the left ventricle was greater than that of the right ventricle,and the sphericity index of the apical segment was less than that of the right ventricle,the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.01).Conclusion The two-dimensional speckle tracking technique for measuring fetal cardiac parameters has good reproducibility.The reference ranges for cardiac size and morphology in low-risk fetuses developed in this study will be useful for prenatal evaluation of cardiac remodeling.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of long intramedullary nails versus short intramedullary nails in the treatment of AO/OTA 31-A3 intertrochanteric fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients with AO/OTA 31-A3 intertrochanteric femur fractures treated between March 2019 and August 2022. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (the long nail group and the short nail group). Thirty-four patients were treated with long intramedullary nails, including 16 males and 18 females, aged 68.41±17.84 years old (range 31-96 years). Twenty-six patients were treated with short intramedullary nails, including 13 males and 13 females, aged 72.23±13.97 years old (range 31-90 years). The causes of injury, fracture classification (AO/OTA classification), intraoperative blood loss, operation time, fracture healing time, imaging indexes (fracture reduction quality, postoperative neck trunk angle, and medial support), Harris score of the hip joint at the last follow-up, one-year mortality rates and complications were compared between the two groups.Results:The follow-up time was 24.26±6.67 months in the long nail group and 24.31±5.60 months in the short nail group, and the general information of the two groups were comparable. Between the long nail and short nail group, the intraoperative blood loss was 281.47±235.28 ml vs. 121.92±84.14 ml and the operation time was 110.44±24.63 min vs. 81.15±28.54 min with significant differences ( P<0.05). While the length of hospital stay was 12.35±4.81 d vs. 10.89±4.30 d, the good rate of fracture reduction was 55.9% vs. 61.53%, the fracture healing time was 120.44±16.43 d vs. 128.07±18.33 d, the presence rate of medial support was 67.6% vs. 79.4%, and the excellent rate of Harris score was 65.4% vs. 65.4% with no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). One-year mortality rates was 5.3% vs. 7.1% and complications was 11.7% vs. 15.4% with no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both long intramedullary nails and short intramedullary nails are effective in the treatment of AO/OTA 31-A3 intertrochanteric femur fractures. However, surgical time and intraoperative blood loss was less in the short nail group.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)combined with serum Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1(SMURF1)detection for thyroid cancer.Methods A total of 144 suspected thyroid cancer patients admitted to Lishui branch of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from February 2019 to February 2020 were selected as the study subjects.Based on the histopathological results,they were divided into the thyroid cancer group(76 cases)and the benign group(68 cases).All patients underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination and serum SMURF1 level detection;the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters,serum SMURF1 detection alone,and the combination of the two methods for thyroid cancer were analyzed.Results Contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters peak intensity(PI),mean perfusion intensity(SImean)and maximum perfusion intensity(SImax)in the thyroid cancer group were lower than those in the benign group,and the level of SMURF1 mRNA was higher than that in the benign group(P<0.05).The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameter SImax in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 82.89%,the specificity was 72.06%,the accuracy was 77.78%,and the Kappa value was 0.552.The sensitivity of serum SMURF1 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 65.79%,the specificity was 94.12%,the accuracy was 79.17%,and the Kappa value was 0.589.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and Kappa value of SImax combined with serum SMURF1 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer were 97.37%,85.29%,91.67%and 0.832,respectively,which were higher than those of SImax and SMURF1 alone(P<0.05),the AUC of the combination of the two methods was 0.927,which was significantly higher than that of the two methods alone(Zcombined vs.SImax=3.999,P<0.001;Zcombined vs.SMURF1=3.270,P=0.001).Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with serum SMURF1 detection can improve the diagnostic efficiency of thyroid cancer,which may avoid the over-diagnosis on the premise of ensuring the effective diagnosis of thyroid cancer patients.

In November 2023, the seventh National Nucleic Acid Vaccine Conference was held to deeply discuss the immune mechanism, safety risks, advantages, and disadvantages of nucleic acid vaccines, and review the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines developed by nucleic acid vaccine technology. Some prospectives were formed in the meeting that in the post-pandemic era, nucleic acid vaccine technology will play a role in the following areas: dealing with pathogens that are difficult to be prevented by traditional vaccines, promoting the upgrading of traditional live attenuated vaccines, contributing to the development of multivalent and combined vaccines, and rapid response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. These views point out the direction for the future development of nucleic acid vaccine technology.

The essential oil from Curcuma longa L. (CLEO) was extracted by steam distillation. In this study, vasorelaxant activity and mechanism of CLEO was explored. Firstly, the experimental results of isolated rat thoracic aorta ring showed that the CLEO had vasorelaxant activity. By removing the endothelium of aorta ring and pre-incubating inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), it was found that the vasorelaxant activity of CLEO was endothelium-dependent and related to eNOS. By human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) model, it was found that the CLEO could promote the production of nitric oxide (NO) in HUVECs, further indicating that the vasorelaxant activity of CLEO was related to eNOS. The results of Western blot showed that CLEO could up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) and eNOS. In summary, the CLEO has vasorelaxant activity, and its mechanism is related to activating the endothelial PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. All animal experiments in this paper were approved by the Committee of Laboratory Animal Welfare Ethics of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval No. 2020-04).

Misuse of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-containing herbs is the major cause of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) in China. And diuretics are among the most commonly used medications for the treatment of PA-induced HSOS in clinical practice. As a traditional diuretic in traditional Chinese medicine, the diuretic mechanism of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) has not been fully clarified, and there is no report on AR ameliorating PA-induced HSOS from a diuretic point of view. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) against acute liver injury induced by senecionine (a representative toxic PA) in mice, and to further elucidate its effect on impaired water-liquid balance in mice exposed to PA. All experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Registration number: PZSHUTCM220808017). Animal welfare and the animal experimental protocols were strictly consistent with related ethics regulations of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Model of mice was induced by a single oral exposure of senecioine (50 mg·kg^-1) (SEN group), and AB23A (40 mg·kg^-1) intervention group (AB23A+SEN group), solvent control group (Ctrl group) and AB23A control group (AB23A group) were set up. The results showed that AB23A could significantly attenuate the levels of serum biochemical indices of liver functions in senecioine-induced acute liver injury mice, as evident by alleviated hepatocyte necrosis and hepatic sinusoidal stasis. AB23A also improved kidney function of mice exposed to senecionine, fascinated urinary excretion and repaired electrolyte disorders, as well as decreased content of senecioine metabolites. Further, the protein and mRNA expression of genes related to the water balance pathway were measured. AB23A could significantly down-regulate the elevated protein and mRNA expression levels of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor, and inhibit the transport of AQP2 to the apical plasma membrane induced by senecionine exposure. AB23A also significantly decreased serum levels of angiotensin II. In vitro studies further confirmed that AB23A regulates AQP2 expression in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells 3 (IMCD3). These data indicate that AB23A regulates the expression of AQP2 in renal medulla, thereby affecting its water reabsorption in mice with senecionine-induced acute liver injury. This work achieves a better understanding of the diuretic effect of AR, and provides experimental foundation and theoretical basis for the treatment of PA-induced acute liver injury by AR in clinics.