Objective To make a rapid determination of ferulic acid and identification of its structure in rhizome of Phragmites communis (RPC). Methods The chemical constituents were extracted by solvent and the relative content and structure of ferulic acid in RPC were determined and identified using GC-TOFMS technique. Results By GC-TOFMS, the ferulic acid was successfully isolated from the extracts of RPC in a relative content of 5%. According to the exact masses and corresponding elemental compositions of molecular ion and eight characteristic ions, a possible fragmentation pathway of the ferulic acid molecule was proposed, by which the molecular structure was confirmed. Conclusion GC-TOFMS technique is a rapid, accurate, sensitive, and reliable method for determination of the relative content of ferulic acid in RPC and identificatiion of its structure.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofTiaozhong YifeiPrescription combined with Western therapy for treatment of cough variant asthma (CVA) remission. Methods Totally 90 patients with CVA remission were randomly divided into TCM group, Western therapy group and TCM and Western therapy group, 30 cases in each group. TCM group was givenTiaozhong YifeiPrescription, 1 dose per day, morning and evening; Western therapy group was given salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate powder for inhalation, each 1 suction, 2 times a day, inhalation; a mixture ofTiaozhong YifeiPrescription and xinafoate and fluticasone propionate powder for inhalation was given to TCM and Western therapy group, the same as above, continuous treatment for 12 weeks. TCM syndrome score, EOS, IgE, pulmonary function and safety index were observed in the three groups before and after treatment. The recurrence rate and the number of colds after three-month treatment were observed.Results TCM syndrome scores in the three groups decreased after treatment (P<0.05). There was statistical significance between TCM group and TCM and Western therapy group after treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate of TCM group was 96.67% (29/30), 100.00% (30/30) of Western therapy group, 76.67% (23/30) of TCM and Western therapy group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). After three-month treatment, 1, 0 and 11 cases relapsed in TCM group, TCM and Western therapy group and Western therapy group, respectively, with statistical significance (P<0.001). Compared with the Western therapy group, the number of colds in the TCM group and TCM and Western therapy group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, IgE decreased significantly (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in EOS among the three groups before and after treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the maximum expiratory flow in TCM and Western therapy groupwas higher than that before treatment and lower than that in the Western therapy group (P<0.01), and the other lung function indexes were not statistically significant (P>0.05). 1 mild adverse reaction was found in the TCM and Western therapy, and no obvious adverse reactions were found in other groups (P<0.05).ConclusionTiaozhong Yifei Prescription has good clinical efficacy for CVA.

OBJECTIVEA novel bHLH-like gene, designated SmbHLH1, was isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, in order to identify a bHLH gene in related to danshinone biosysnthesis.

METHODSmbHLH1 was isolated by RT-PCR,and Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression level.

RESULTThe full length of SmbHLH1 cDNA has an open reading frame of 999 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SmbHLH1 has 332 amino acid residues which forms a 36 kDa polypeptide with a calculated pI of 5.4. SmbHLH1 gene was expressed at high level in root, but low level in stem, leaf and flower of S. miltiorrhiza. The transcripts of SmbHLH1 was suppressed when the plants were treated with exogenous MeJA, Yeast + Ag+. The transcripts of SmbHLH1 constitutively accumulated in response to exogenous ABA and low concentration of salicylic acid.

CONCLUSIONSmbHLH is a new member of the S. miltiorrhiza bHLH family, and its possible roles in brassinosteriods signaling responses.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics

PURPOSE: Duodenal stump leakage (DSL) is a potentially fatal complication that can occur after gastrectomy, but its underlying risk factors are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and management of DSL after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant data were collected from several prospective databases to retrospectively analyze the data of GC patients who underwent Billroth II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction after laparoscopic gastrectomy from 2 institutions (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences). The DSL risk factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis regression. RESULTS: A total of 810 patients were eligible for our analysis (426 with R-Y, 384 with B-II with Braun). Eleven patients had DSL (1.36%). Body mass index (BMI), elevated preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and unreinforced duodenal stump were the independent risk factors for DSL. DSL was diagnosed in 2–12 days, with a median of 8 days. Seven patients received conservative treatment, 3 patients received puncture treatment, and only 1 patient required reoperation. All patients recovered successfully after treatment. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors of DSL were BMI ≥24 kg/m², elevated preoperative CRP level, and unreinforced duodenal stump. Nonsurgical treatments for DSL are preferred.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of cy cloastragenol （CAG） on carbon tetrachloride （CCl4）-induced hepatic fibrosis（HF）and glycolysis in mice. METHODS Male ICR mice were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，CAG low-dose，medium-dose and high-dose groups （60，120，240 mg/kg），with 6 mice in each group. Except that blank group was given olive oil intraperitoneally ，the mice in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 10％CCl4-olive oil solution （5 mL/kg） three times a week for 8 weeks to induce HF model. From the 4th week after modeling ，mice in each drug group were given corresponding drug solution intragastrically （10 mL/kg），and mice in blank group and model group were given 0.5％ sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution intragastrically （10 mL/kg），once a day for 4 weeks. During the experiment ，the body weight of mice were weighted ；after last gastrogavage ，the liver weight was weighted and liver indexes of mice were calculated. The changes of hepatic injury indexes [aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）]， related indexes of HF [hematoxylin-eosin （HE）staining score ，Masson and Picrosirius red staining collagen volume fraction ，collagen Ⅰ，α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）] and related indexes of glycolysis [lactic acid （LD），hexokinase（HK），phosphofructokinase（PFK）， pyruvate kinase （PK）] were all detected. RESULTS Compared with model group ，the collagen deposition and fibrosis of mice in each drug group were reduced ，and the body weights of mice （except for CAG low-dose group ）were increased to some extent （P＜0.05）. Liver indexes ，serum levels of ALT and AST ，HE staining score of liver histopathology ，Masson and Picrosirius red staining collagen volume fraction ，protein expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA，serum content of LD ，the levels of HK ，PFK and PK in serum and hepatic tissues （except for hepatic tissue of CAG low-dose group ）were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS CAG can improve HF in mice induced by CCl 4，and reduce the levels of key enzymes and products of glycolysis.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharide from atractylodes atractylodes(PAMK) on rheumatoid arthritis(RA) rats and its effect on Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B(TLR4/NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods: RA rat model was induced by type Ⅱ collagen, after successful modeling, the rats were divided into model group, positive drug group(Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablet), PAMK low-dose and high-dose groups, normal control group was also set, with 12 rats in each group. Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablets or Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide were administered intragastric administration, once a day for 4 weeks. The body weight, paw swelling rate and arthritis index of rats were measured; the thymus index and spleen index were calculated; HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of synovial membrane of ankle joint; The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in serum and synovial tissue of ankle were determined by ELISA; The expression levels of total protein TLR4, MyD88, phosphorylated NF-κB p65(Ser536) and nuclear protein NF-κB p65 in synovial tissue of ankle were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the normal control group, synovial hyperplasia and unclear layers were observed in the model group, body weight decreased(P<0.05), paw swelling rate, arthritis index, thymus index and spleen index increased(P<0.05), the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and synovial tissue of ankle, and the protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 in synovial tissue of ankle increased(P<0.05). Compared with model group, the histomathological changes of synovial of ankle joint in positive drug group and PAMK high-dose group were significantly improved, body weight increased(P<0.05), paw swelling rate, arthritis index, thymus index and spleen index decreased(P<0.05), the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and synovial tissue of ankle, and the protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 in synovial tissue of ankle decreased(P<0.05), however, there were no significant differences in the above indexes between PAMK low-dose group and model group(P>0.05). Conclusion PAMK can reduce the inflammatory response and improve RA, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway activation.