Salvia miltorrhiza Bge. is a perennial deciduous flowering plant. Its medicinal root and rhizomes part is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify 4832 genome SSR loci with length longer than or equal to 40 bp from the draft genome assembly of S. miltorrhiza. The re-sults showed that the dinucleotide repeat motifs and trinucleotide repeat motifs constitute the main types of genome SSR loci, accounting for 37.3% and 61.3% respectively. SSR types enriched with A/T bases showed significantly higher abundance than other types, including AT/TA AAT/ATT, ATA/TAT, TAA/TTA, accounting for 30.5%, 21.6%, 17.1%, 20.4% of the total number of SSR loci, respectively. 1079 primer pairs were designed for these genome SSR loci. These primers can be used for genomic diversity analysis, genetic map construction, genetic marker screening. These data could lay the foundation for population genetics and genomics research of S. miltorrhiza.

20 first mandibular premolars were randomly divided into 2 groups(n =10).The teeth in experimental group were treated by fi-ber main post in combination with auxiliary pile,in control group by single fiber main post,and then were restored by metal crown.They were fixed in universal testing machine.The fracture load(N)of experimental and control group was (846.50 ±40.33)and (437.90 ±41.15) respectively(P <0.01).

RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a newly-developed method in transcriptome research, it can afford more accurate transcription information and be more quickly by using Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. RNA-Seq has been widely used in various biological fields. Genuine traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), with good quality and therapeutic effect, were always praised highly and used by famous physicians. The geo-herbalism formation of TCM is based on the product of the gene expression at specific space and time. So it has been a research hotspot to analyze the mechanism of biosynthesis through RNA-Seq in the study on the secondary metabolism of medicinal plant. This article mainly illustrates the RNA-Seq and its advantages, it also discusses the potential application in genuine TCM, and it can provide useful information for other researchers.

Objective To analyze the relationship between baseline serum γ?glutamyltransferase (GGT) and risk of the metabolic syndrome (MS). Method A total of 4 935 adults from health checkup population in Shenzhen were enrolled into a 10?year follow?up study, of these adults 81.84%were male and 18.16% were female, the average age was 60.54 ± 10.38 years.The follow?up outcome measure was the occurrence of MS. The proportional hazards model was adopted to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95%confidence intervals (95%CI) to analyze the association of GGT with the development of MS. Reslut The mean follow up period was 5.0 ± 2.9 years, and there were 24 713 person?years of follow?up, and 1 689 subjects developed MS. During the follow?up, the cumulative incidence and incidence density of MS were 34.22%and 68.34/1 000 person?years, respectively. For both genders, the association between GGT and MS presented dose?response relationship trend (male: M?C χ2=32.78, P<0.001; female: M?C χ2=18.80, P<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high?density lipoprotein cholesterol, low?density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and fasting blood glucose in Cox regression model, the HR for MS in quartiles 3 and 4 level of GGT was 1.45 (95%CI:1.08-1.85) and 1.52 (95%CI:1.15-1.99), respectively. Conclusion The GGT level could be an important risk factor and predictor for the development of MS.

BACKGROUND Sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Early prediction is critical for reducing injury. As approximately 36% of sepsis occur within 24 h after emergency department (ED) admission in Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV), a prediction system for the ED triage stage would be helpful. Previous methods such as the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) are more suitable for screening than for prediction in the ED, and we aimed to find a light-weight, convenient prediction method through machine learning. METHODS We accessed the MIMIC-IV for sepsis patient data in the EDs. Our dataset comprised demographic information, vital signs, and synthetic features. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) was used to predict the risk of developing sepsis within 24 h after ED admission. Additionally, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was employed to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the model's results. Ten percent of the patients were randomly selected as the testing set, while the remaining patients were used for training with 10-fold cross-validation. RESULTS For 10-fold cross-validation on 14,957 samples, we reached an accuracy of 84.1%±0.3% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.92±0.02. The model achieved similar performance on the testing set of 1,662 patients. SHAP values showed that the five most important features were acuity, arrival transportation, age, shock index, and respiratory rate. CONCLUSION Machine learning models such as XGBoost may be used for sepsis prediction using only a small amount of data conveniently collected in the ED triage stage. This may help reduce workload in the ED and warn medical workers against the risk of sepsis in advance.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of hydrotalcite chewable tablets in treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia epigastric pain syndrome(EPS), and to investigate the onset time of hydrotalcite after the first dosage and whether use of hydrotalcite in EPS is a costeffective strategy. Methods A multicenter, randomized, open, positive controlled clinical trial was carried out in 240 patients with EPS. The subjects randomly received eigher hydrotalcite or omeprazole for 2 weeks. The improvemcnt and the disappear time of symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment and cost-effective was analyzed between two groups. Results It was demonstrated that both hydrotalcite and omeprazole could relief symptoms after treatment. After treatment for 2 weeks, the total effective rate was 85. 71% in hydrotalcite group and 90. 43% in omeprazole group with no significant difference (P＞0.05). The median onset time of hydrotalcite after first dosage was 0.417 h. The overall direct cost per patient was RMB ￥122. 29 for hydrotalcite treatment and RMB ￥242.95 for omeprazole treatment. The main adverse events included diarrhea, thirst, bloating,headache and belching. No severe adverse event was found in two groups. Conclusions Hydrotalcite has fast effect on relief of EPS symptoms. Use of hydrotalcite is a cost-effective strategy in the management of EPS. It is a safe and effective medicine in treatment of EPS.

Objective To analyze the histological changes of bone diseases and to investigate the noninvasive measurements for diagnosing renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in maintenance dialysis patients . Methods Ninety-one patients were selected to receive bone biopsy . The bone samples were stained with HE, toluidine blue and Masson, and were examined with light microscopy . The levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteoprotegerin (OPG),sRANKL and osteocalcin (OCN) were determined in the patients enrolled from 2004 to 2006 . The level of iPTH was measured by radioimmunoassay . OPG and sRANKL were measured by ELISA,and OCN was measured by chemiluminescence . Results The incidence of ROD in the maintenance patients was 100% . According to the histological appearance, 50 cases (54 .9%) were high turnover bone disease (secondary hyperparathyroid bone disease), 9 cases (9 .9%) were low turnover bone diseases(osteomalacia and adynamic bone disease), and 32 cases(35 .2% ) were mixed bone disease . The level of iPTH in patients with ROD was significantly increased compared with healthy controls . It was the lowest in low turnover bone diseases . There was no difference among three types of ROD . OPG level was significantly increased compared with healthy controls [(2176 .58±1576 .08) pmol/L vs (1310 .46±1254 .00) pmol/L, P＜0 .05] . The level in high turnover bone diseases was higher than that of the healthy controls [(2261 .85±1712 .22) pmol/L vs (1310 .46±1254 .00) pmol/L, P＜0 .05] . There was no difference among three types of ROD .sRANKL level in high turnover bone disease was significantly increased compared with healthy controls [(0 .328±0 .524)pmol/L vs (0 .084±0 .190) pmol/L, P＜0 .05] . OCN level was also higher than that of the healthy controls (P＜0 .05), and the OCN level in low turnover ROD was the lowest among three types of ROD . OCN level in mixed ROD was dramatically increased as compared to low turnover ROD [(226 .633±66 .455) pmol/L vs (193 .03±104 .269) pmol/L, P ＜0 .05] .Conclusions The histological changes of bone disease can be indicated by iPTH level, but the types of ROD can not be distinguished according to iPTH level neither be differentiated by the levels of OPG, sRANKL and OCN . Bone histomorphometry is still the golden standard for diagnosing renal osteodystrophy .

Objective To compare the efficacy of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD) on polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods Retrospective analysis was made on 29 patients with PKD who carded out dialysis therapy for over 3 months in our department from January 2001 to December 2007. They were divided into the CAPD group (10 cases, 34.5%) and HD group (19 cases, 65.5%). Ten cases of non-PKD CAPD patients were randomly selected as the control, who matched the CAPD group in terms of age and gender. The patient information was recorded, such as general data, initial dialysis data, comphcations, survival time, quit of dialysis or death, etc. Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were adopted to analyze the survival rate. Results The survival rates of 1-, 3- and 5-year for the CAPD group were 90%, 75% and 25% respectively, while for the HD group were 94.4%, 67.6%, and 48.3%, and for the control were 83.3%, 44.4% and 22.2% respectively, with no significant differences among 3 groups (P>0.05). group and the control were quite similar. The incidence of peritonitis for the CAPD group (0.62 times/patient year) was similar to that for the control (0.30 times/patient year)(P>0.05). The duration of the lust peritonitis[(23.5±4.0) months vs (20.0±15.8) months] and the catheter exit-site infection (0 time vs 1 time) for two groups were similar as well (P>0.05). One patient had hernia in CAPD group and no patient in control group had hernia. The incidence of peritoneal dialysate leakage was similar between these two groups. In the HD group, two patients (10.5%) had cerebral hemorrhage resulting in death, and 10 patients (52.6%) had cystic hemorrhage, 5 out of whom underwent operation due to repeated cystic hemorrhage and 2 cases received unilateral nephrectomy because of severe hemorrhage. No patient in CAPD group had cerebral hemorrhage but 1 patient (10%) had cystic hemorrhage and recovered after conservative treatment. The hemorrhage complication incidence of CAPD group was significantly lower than that of HD group (P<0.05). Conclusions The prognosis and complication incidence in PKD and non-PKD patients treated with CAPD are similar. The prognosis of PKD patients treated with CAPD or HD is also similar, and the risk of hemorrhage complications of PKD patients treated with CAPD may be decreased compared with those treated with HD. PKD patients can choose HD or PD as the initial therapy of ESRD unless existence of hernia or intolerance. PKD is not the contraindication of PD.

Objective To compare the efficacy between the two-cuff swan neck catheter and the Tenckhoff catheter in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients prospectively. Methods One hundred and ten patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were selected as candidates, who received catheter implantation and CAPD therapy for the first time. Patients were divided into group A (swan neck catheter group) and group B (Tenckhoff catheter group), 55 patients for each group. Catheters of beth groups had a straight end and were implanted by routine surgical procedure. One-year follow-up was performed and information was recorded such as complications, survival time, quit of dialysis, death, etc. Survival analysis was carried out by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank tests. Results At the end of follow-up, 17 patients died, 3 received renal transplantation, 8 were transferred to hemodialysis, 3 went to other hospitals, and 79 patients (71.8%) remained in our department for CAPD. Twenty-six patients of both groups had peritonitis with a total of 35 occurrences. The total incidence of peritonitis was 0.32 times/patient year, with the detailed figure of 0.35 times/patient year for group A and 0.29 times/patient year for group B respectively (P0.05). The time interval between the catheter implanting and the onset of peritonitis was (30±29) weeks and (29±24) weeks for group A and group B respectively (P0.05). The risk of developing peritonitis in both groups was 26.97% within 1 year. Tunnel infection occurred in 2 patients and exit-site infections in 9 patients of two groups. The incidence of tunnel plus exit-site infections was 0.1 times/patient year. Incidence of tunnel infection and the exit-site infection for group A was lower than that of group B (0 vs 0.036 times/patient year and 0.06 times/patient year vs 0.11 times/patient year respectively). However, the difference was not significant (P0.05). Mechanical complications of catheter (catheter migration, omcntum wrapping, leakage of peritoneal dialysates, slip out of outer cuff), incidence of inguinal hernia and bellyache between two groups were not significantly different (P0.05). There were 4 cases of catheter drawing in each group. Both two groups had the same 12-month technical survival rate as 92.73%. Of 17 dead cases, 7 were in group A and 10 in group B (P0.05). The main death causes were cardiocerebral events (47.1%) and infections (23.5%). The 12-month survival rate was 86.34% for group A and 80.68% for group B (P0.05). Conclusions There are no significant differences of infection, mechanical complications, technical survival rate and patients' survival rate between two groups. The efficacy of swan-neck catheter is similar to Tenckhoff catheter in CAPD patients.

Quality variation and ecotype classification of Chinese herbal medicine are important scientific problems in Daodi herbal medicine research. The diversity of natural environmental conditions has led to form unique multi-Daodi, multi-product areas that produce particular Chinese herbal medicine. China is one of three big American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) producing areas worldwide, with over 300 years of application and 40 years of cultivation history. Long-term production practice has led to the formation of three big advocate produce areas in China: Northeast province, Beijing and Shandong. P. quinquefolium L. grown under certain environmental conditions will develop long-term adaptations that will lead to more stable strains (different ecotypes). P. quinquefolium L., can vary greatly in quality; however, the ecological mechanisms causing this variation are still unclear. Root samples were collected from four-year-old cultivated P. quinquefolium L. plants in the three major genuine (Daodi) American ginseng-producing areas of Northeast province, Beijing and Shandong province, China. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the contents of eight ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg2). Data for nine ecological factors, including temperature, moisture and sunlight, were obtained from the ecological database of Geographic Information System for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Soil samples from the sampling sites were collected. Effective boron and iron, available nitrogen and potassium, as well as other trace elements and soil nutrients, were determined by conventional soil physicochemical property assay methods. Analytical methods of biostatistics and numerical taxonomy were used to divide ecotypes of the three main Panax quinquefolium L. producing areas in China based on ginsenoside content, climate, soil and other ecological factors. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ecological division of P. quinquefolium L. producing areas in China has ever been conducted. The results show that there are two chemoecotypes of P. quinquefolium L. in China: ginsenoside Rb1-Re from outside Shanhaiguan, and ginsenoside Rg2-Rd from inside Shanhaiguan. Similarly, there are two types of climatic characteristics: inside Shanhaiguan (Beijing, Shandong) and outside Shanhaiguan (Northeast). This suggests that the formation and differentiation of chemoecotypes of P. quinquefolium L. is closely related to variability of the climatic and geographical environment. Additionally, ecological variation of the three main producing areas, characteristics of two climatic ecotypes, and soil characteristics are also discussed and summarized. These results provide experimental scientific evidence of the quality variation and ecological adaptation of P. quinquefolium L. from different producing areas. They also deepen our understanding of the biological nature of Daodi P. quinquefolium L. formation, and offer novel research models for other multi-origin, multi-Daodi Chinese herbal medicines ecotypes. In addition, the results demonstrate the critical need for improving quality, appropriate ecological regionalization and promoting industrialized development of P. quinquefolium L.