Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of androgen receptor (AR) and embryonic stem cell associated transcripts 4 (NANOG) in breast cancer patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) over-expression, and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathologic features of breast cancer. Methods 143 breast cancer patients with HER-2 over-expression were selected from the screening of 1052 cases of invasive breast cancer according to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER-2 status. The protein expression of AR and NANOG was assayed by using immunohistochemistry.The relationship between AR expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed by χ2 test. The correlation between AR expression and NANOG expression was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results The positive expression of AR was 35.7 % (51/143). The AR expression was not associated with age and menstruation status (both P>0.05), and was associated with tumor size, clinical TNM staging and lymphatic metastasis (all P< 0.05). The positive rate of NANOG were 53.1 %(76/143), and NANOG proteins were negative in adjacent normal breast tissue and benign breast lesions. The positive rate of AR was 27.6%(21/76) in NANOG-positive cases, whereas the positive rate of AR was 44.8%(30/67) in NANOG-negative cases, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.526, P=0.033). There was an inverse correlation between NANOG and AR expressions (r= -0.255, P= 0.002). Conclusion AR and NANOG may be new targets for endocrine therapy and molecular biological therapy.

Objective To study the quality difference of various processing methods about Angelica dahurica. Methods Samples were selected from different places, clean silt by washing and brushing, cut slices and cut blocks in equal division, dried and comminution, to determine total ash, ethanol thermal extract, imperatorin content and HPLC fingerprint similarity. Results The content of total ash was the lowest in “washed”and “washed & cut slice” sample, dilute ethanol thermal extract was the highest in“cut blocks”and“washed&cut blocks”sample, imperatorin content was the highest in“non-washed”and“non-washed & cut slice” sample. Conclusion Washed and cut process is not suitable in place of origin about Angelica dahurica.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of temperature, lightness, storage method, storage time, and gibberellin on seed germination of Gentiana rigescens.

METHODThe germination rates of G. rigescens in different treatments were observed.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe most suitable temperature for the seed germination was 25 degrees C, at which the germination rate was 76.33%. The effect of lightness on the seeds was significantly; the germination rate of the seed was very low. Under the natural condition, the best storage method was dry storage (within 6 months), which could promote the after-ripening of the seed. 100-1 000 mg x L(-1) gibberellic acid could significantly reduce the seed germination time, and 500 mg x L(-1) gibberellic acid increased the germination rate of the seed to 95.00%.

Gentiana ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Germination ; drug effects ; Gibberellins ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Sunlight ; Temperature

OBJECTIVEThe interrelation of yield and agronomic traits of Gentiana rigescens was studied for the germplasm and breeding variety of this species.

METHODTwelve agronomic traits, root diameter, root length, root number, root biomass, stem diameter, plant height, the first branch number, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/leaf width ratio, calyx length, and calyx number of G. rigescens from 26 wild populations in Yunnan were determined for correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis.

RESULTCorrelation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlation between the traits of aboveground part and the length, diameter, number, and biomass of the root. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that length, width, and number of root, plant height, the first branch number, and the calyx number were the main factors that affected the root biomass. Path analysis showed that the diameter, length, and number of the root, the stem height, and the first branch number had a direct positive effect on the root biomass.

CONCLUSIONThe traits, such as high and strong stem, high number of first branch number and shrubby shape could be selected for the breeding and high yielding of G. rigescens.

Gentiana ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diversity of germplasm resources of Artemisia annua and provide the basis for improving utilization of germplasm resources, the agronomic traits of germplasm resources of A. annua were studied in Yun-Gui plateau.

METHODThe agronomic traits of 67 A. annua germplasm resources were measured by the visual observation and measurement methods. And the germplasm resources were clustered using flexible-beta method to analysis their genetic background.

RESULTThe result showed that 67 germplasm resources had a relatively wide variation on the 22 agronomic traits. Among 22 agronomic traits, the dry weight of branch had the greatest coefficient of variation, which was 53. 63, and the next were the dry weight of leaf, total plant weight, the length of pinnules and the length of leaflet, which were 42.74, 41.61, 39.54 and 39.22 respectively. The smallest coefficient of variation was the leaf corlor. Based the result of cluster analysis, these 67 germplasm resources were classed into 5 groups, and each group had its respective character. The first group showed early-maturing resources, dwarf stalk, slender rod, long bipinnata, high leaf-stem ratio and moderate leaf weight The third group showed late-maturing resources, tall and thick stalk, much-branch, bushy accessory pinna, high leaf weight and yield. The fifth group showed very late-maturing resources, strong lateral shoot, high leaf yield.

CONCLUSIONThere were significant genetic difference and diversity in the germplasm resources of A. annua. The result of cluster analysis showed that the resources of group 1, group 3 and group 5 were suitable as breeding material of A. annua.

Artemisia annua ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; China ; Cluster Analysis

OBJECTIVETo provide the basis for improving utilization of Artemisia annua germplasm resources and breeding variety, the interrelations between artemisinin content, artemisinin yield and agronomic traits of A. annua were studied.

METHODThe artemisinin content and each agronomic trait of 63 A. annua germplasm resources were measured by the visual observation and measurement methods. And the correlation analysis, regression analysis and path analysis were adopted.

RESULTThe result showed that there were significant differences in the artemisinin content and yield of 63 germplasm resources from the main production region of A. annua. Correlation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlation between leaf weight and artemisinin yield with stem and branch characters, but there were negative correlation between artemisinin content with leaf characters of A. annua plant. The artemisinin content of A. annua increased with the increasing of primary branch number, bottom secondary branch number, and bottom stem diameter, etc. On the other hand, it decreased with the increasing of top secondary branch number, secondary leaf axis length, and bottom branch diameter, etc. The artemisinin yield of A. annua increased with the increasing of artemisinin content, leaf weight, and bottom secondary branch number, etc., and decreased with the increasing of bottom branch diameter, middle secondary branch number, and stem weight, etc. Path analysis showed that the primary branch number and bottom secondary branch number had a direct positive effect on the artemisinin content of A. annua. But the top secondary branch number had a direct negative effect on the artemisinin content of A. annua. The leaf weight and artemisinin content had a direct positive effect on the artemisinin yield and the ratio of leaf/stem, branch weight and stem weight had a direct negative effect.

CONCLUSIONOn the breeding A. annua variety, it can take into account both high leaf yield and high artemisinin content. And it was strongly recommend that the plant with moderate plant height and crown, shortness pinnae and secondary leaf axis, less middle and top secondary branch, strong stem, higher primary branch number and bottom secondary branch number, and higher ratio leaf/stem could be selected for breeding new varieties with high leaf yield and high artemisinin content.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Artemisinins ; analysis ; Biomass ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the origin， scientific name， medicinal parts， quality evaluation， harvesting and processing and other aspects of Tsaoko Fructus by consulting ancient materia medica， medical books， prescription books in the past dynasties and combining with the modern literature， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing Tsaoko Fructus. According to the research， the name of Caoguo（草果） was first used in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang（《太平惠民和剂局方》） in the Northern Song dynasty， Tsaoko Fructus is the correct name of the herbal medicine in all dynasties， and there are also aliases such as Caokou， Doukou， Loukou， Laokou and Caodoukou. The mainstream source of Tsaoko Fructus used in the past dynasties is the dried mature fruit of Amomum tsaoko of Zingiberaceae， but Tsaoko Fructus was often used as a nickname for Amomi Fructus Rotundus or Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen during the Song dynasty. Bencao Pinhui Jingyao（《本草品汇精要》） in the Ming dynasty was the earliest materia medica that recorded Tsaoko Fructus as a separate medicinal herb in sections. Under the influence of early ancient books， there were some books that confused Tsaoko Fructus with other Zingiberaceae plants during the Qing dynasty， it was not until modern times that Tsaoko Fructus was distinguished from other plants. The origin of Tsaoko Fructus is Yunnan and Guangxi， and then gradually expanded to Guizhou and other places. Now Yunnan is the province with the largest planting area of Tsaoko Fructus， and has become the main producing area. Since modern times， it has been recorded in the literature that the quality of Tsaoko Fructus is mainly characterized by large， full， red-brown and strong in smell. According to ancient records， the harvest time of Tsaoko Fructus was in the eighth month of the lunar calendar， and they were mostly used for peeling or simmering. Currently， the harvest period of Tsaoko Fructus is October to November， and then sun-dried or dried after harvesting. The records of the properties and functional indications of Tsaoko Fructus are basically consistent with the ancient and modern documents， which is warm in nature， pungent in flavor， belonging to the spleen and stomach meridians， moderate in dryness and dampness， intercepting malaria and eliminating phlegm， used for internal resistance of cold and dampness， abdominal distension and pain， fullness and vomiting， malaria cold and fever， and plague fever. Based on the research results， it is suggested that A. tsaoko should be used as the medicinal base for the development of famous classical formulas containing Tsaoko Fructus， processing method can be according to the requirements of the prescription， and if the requirements of concoction are not indicated， it can be used in the form of raw products.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， scientific name evolution， medicinal parts， producting area， harvesting and processing， clinical efficacy of Paridis Rhizoma by consulting the ancient materia medica， medical books and prescription books， combined with modern literature， in order to provide a reference for the development of famous classical formulas containing Paridis Rhizoma. According to research， it can be verified that Paridis Rhizoma was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing with the name of Zaoxiu， and this name has been used for ancient materia medica in the past generations. The name of Chonglou was first appeared in Xinxiu Bencao of the Tang dynasty， and has gradually become the rectification of name， with it being the correct name in modern legal names at all levels. The mainstream source of Paridis Rhizoma used in ancient times was the dried rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis， but due to the similarity plant morphology of the genus Paris， there was much confusion， and the same genus of plants with thick rhizomes were also used as Paridis Rhizoma， such as P. polyphylla， P. polyphylla var. stenophylla. Since modern times， P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis has also been included as one of the mainstream sources of Paridis Rhizoma. The origin recorded in ancient materia medica are mainly in Shandong， Anhui， Jiangsu， Jiangxi， Yunnan and other regions， which are collected in the wild for medicinal purposes， modern cultivation is more prevalent in southwestern regions， such as Yunnan， Sichuan， Guizhou and Guangxi. In ancient times， the harvest time was mostly root harvesting in April and May of the lunar calendar， while in modern times， they are mostly harvested throughout the year or in autumn. Autumn harvesting is the best choice， with roots removed from the production area， washed， and dried in the sun. In ancient times， Paridis Rhizoma was processed by baking， grinding and other methods， but in modern times， sliced raw products were mainly used as medicine. Paridis Rhizoma has a slightly cold nature， a bitter taste， and a small toxicity. It can regulate the liver meridian， clear heat and detoxify， reduce swelling and pain， cool the liver and calm convulsions. It is used for symptoms such as boils and carbuncles， throat swelling and pain， snake and insect bites， and its flavor and efficacy are basically consistent in ancient and modern records. Based on the results of the textual research， it is recommended that the dried rhizomes of P. polyphylla var. chinensis or P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis should be used in the development of famous classical formulas containing Paridis Rhizoma， the processing method is selected according to the requirements of the formula， and the raw product is recommended to be used as medicine if not specified.

In this paper， the name， origin， quality evaluation， producing area and processing methods of Lablab Semen Album in the famous classical formulas were researched by reviewing the ancient materia medica， medical books， prescription books and modern literature. The results showed that the name of Lablab Semen Album in the past dynasties was mostly derived from its shape and color， called Biandou and Baibiandou. The mainstream origin used in the past dynasties was Lablab purpureus， the medicinal parts were mainly white mature seeds， with the addition of the leaves in the Song dynasty and the flowers in the Ming dynasty. Since modern times， the authentic producing areas of Lablab Semen Album are Suzhou， Zhejiang and other places， and now mainly produced in Chuxiong and Xinping， Yunnan and Panzhihua， Sichuan. The traditional quality evaluation of Lablab Semen Album is evaluated as large， solid， full and white. The harvesting time of this herb is recorded from the eighth to the ninth lunar month in related literature， the pods are picked when the seeds are ripe， and the seeds are dried in the sun. In ancient times， the processing of Lablab Semen Album mainly consisted of frying the seeds with skin and then pulverizing for use， or soaking and peeling seeds for raw use. Based on the conclusion of the textual research， it is recommended that the seeds or flowers of the white flowering plants of L. purpureus， a member of the leguminosae， should be used in the famous classical formulas， and the dried seeds or dried flowers of Lablab Semen Album can be used as medicine if the formula did not clearly indicate processing requirements.