Many clinical studies showed that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in stroke have been dynamically changing since the onset of the disease. The changing of TCM syndromes can be attributed to multiple correlative factors such as age, sex, area distribution, underlying diseases, and constitutional factor. Data-driven methods involving multivariate statistical methods and descriptive approach have been used to analyze the regularity of dynamically changed TCM syndromes of stroke. However, expressing non-linear relationship between symptom or correlative factors and syndrome patterns by data-driven models is challenging. Model-driven methods involving artificial neural networks and Bayesian networks are new methods for studying the changes in TCM syndromes in patients with stroke. In this review, the authors summarized the studies of dynamically changed patterns of stroke syndromes based on data-driven methods and some clinical trials on TCM syndromes based on model-driven methods. Further studies are needed to improve the understanding of the dynamically changing regularity of TCM syndromes for stroke by using model-driven methods so as to develop appropriate and timely TCM treatments.

In this paper, the chloroplast psbK-psbI intergenic spacers of 18 species of Dendrobium and their adulterants were amplified and sequenced, and then the sequence characteristics were analyzed. The sequence lengths of chloroplast psbK-psbI regions of Dendrobium ranged from 474 to 513 bp and the GC contents were 25.4%-27.6%. The variable sites were 71 while the informative sites were 46. The inter-specific genetic distances calculated by Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) of Dendrobium were 0.006 1-0.058 1, with an average of 0.028 4. The K2P genetic distances between Dendrobium species and Bulbophyllum odoratissimum were 0.093 2-0.120 4. The NJ tree showed that the Dendrobium species can be easily differentiated from each other and 6 samples of the inspected Dendrobium species were identified successfully through sequencing the psbK-psbI intergenic spacer. Therefore, the chloroplast psbK-psbI intergenic spacer can be used as a candidate marker to identify Dendrobium species and its adulterants.
Chloroplasts ; DNA, Chloroplast ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; classification ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics

Objective To investigate the characteristics of plaque morphology of the patients with unstable angina(UA)by intravascular ultrasound(IVUS). Methods24 patients with stable angina pectoris(SA)and 33 patients with unstable angina(UA)were examined by coronary coronary arteriograph(CAG)and intravascular ultrasound(IVUS).The culprit lesions about the characteristic of the plaque were studied,the external elastic membrane cross-sectional area and lumen cross-sectional area were measured,the plaque area,plaque burden,eccentricity index were calculated,and the remodeling index was examined. ResultsExternal elastic membrane area,plaque area and vascular remodeling ratio were significantly greater at target lesions in UA patients than in patients with SA(P＜0.05).Positive remodeling and soft plaque were predominantly in UA patients(P＜0.05). ConclusionThe morphological features of coronary artery plaques in UA group were significantly different from those in SA group.More soft plaque,plaque rupture,thrombus formation,and positive remodeling were found in UA patients compared with SA patients.

In order to identify Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions of Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants were amplified and bidirectionally sequenced based on the Principles for Molecular Identification of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica Using DNA Barcoding, which has been promulgated by Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by Codon Code Aligner V3. 7.1. The relevant data were analyzed by MEGA 5. 0. Species identification analyses were performed by using the nearest distance methods and neighbor-joining (NJ) methods. The result showed that the ITS2 sequence lengths of Peucedani Radix were 229-230 bp and the average intra-specific genetic distances were 0.005. The ITS2 sequence lengths of Peucedani Decursivi Radix were 227 bp and the sequences contained no variation site. The average inter-specific K2P genetic distance of Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants species were 0.044 and 0.065 respectively. The minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence of Peucedani Decursivi Radix. The nearest distance methods and NJ trees results indicated that Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants species could be identification clearly. The ITS2 regions can stably and accurately distinguish Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants.
Apiaceae ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Drug Contamination

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of three different fixation methods via muscle-splitting approach for the treatment of single segmental lumbar vertebral diseases.Methods All of 90 patients with the single segmental lumbar vertebral diseases were treated from June 2012 to June 2013,including 34 males and 56 females,at the age of 27-76 years old,averagely (53.37± 15.41) years.Twenty-seven patients were treated with unilateral pedicle screws via unilateral muscle-splitting approach (unilateral fixation group).Thirty-three patients were treated with unilateral pedicle screws and contralateral translaminar facet screw via unilateral muscle-splitting approach (combined fixation group).Thirty patients were treated with unilateral pedicle screws via bilateral muscle-splitting approach (bilateral fixation group).Observe and compare the imaging and clinical results of these three groups.Results There were no significant difference in incision length and postoperative wound drainage between these three groups.The operation time was shortest in unilateral fixation group,while longest in bilateral fixation group.In the intraoperative blood loss,the unilateral fixation group was the same as the combined fixation group,while less than the bilateral fixation group.No infection was found after operations.Seven patients experienced epidermal necrosis of the incision,including 1 patient of unilateral fixation group,4 patients of combined fixation group and 2 patients of bilateral fixation group.Three patients suffered from nerve injury,including 2 patients of combined fixation group and 1 patients of bilateral fixation group.The follow-up time was from 12 to 36 months,averagely 25.5 months.The intervertebral height of lesion segments was apparently recovered after surgery,and maintained during the follow-up in these three groups.No significant changes of area and grade of multifidus muscle were detected at 1 year after surgery compared with preoperative.Seven patients experienced endplate cutting and cage partially embedded into vertebral body,including 3 patients of unilateral fixation group,3 patients of combined fixation group and 1 patient of bilateral fixation group.There was no loosening,displacement,breakage or cage shifting.Except 5 patients (2 patients of unilateral fixation group,2 patients of combined fixation group and 1 patient of bilateral fixation group),the remaining cases had well interbody fusion.At the final follow-up time,the JOA score significantly increased compared with preoperative.Besides,unilateral fixation group and combined fixation group were superior to bilateral fixation group.Conclusion Three different fixation methods via muscle-splitting approach for the treatment of single segmental lumbar vertebral diseases had well clinical results.The unilateral fixation and combined fixation via muscle-splitting approach had more advantages.The combined fixation via muscle-splitting approach is an innovation in approach,exposure and fixation aspects.

In this paper, the chloroplast psbK-psbI intergenic spacers of 18 species of Dendrobium and their adulterants were amplified and sequenced, and then the sequence characteristics were analyzed. The sequence lengths of chloroplast psbK-psbI regions of Dendrobium ranged from 474 to 513 bp and the GC contents were 25.4%-27.6%. The variable sites were 71 while the informative sites were 46. The inter-specific genetic distances calculated by Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) of Dendrobium were 0.006 1-0.058 1, with an average of 0.028 4. The K2P genetic distances between Dendrobium species and Bulbophyllum odoratissimum were 0.093 2-0.120 4. The NJ tree showed that the Dendrobium species can be easily differentiated from each other and 6 samples of the inspected Dendrobium species were identified successfully through sequencing the psbK-psbI intergenic spacer. Therefore, the chloroplast psbK-psbI intergenic spacer can be used as a candidate marker to identify Dendrobium species and its adulterants.

OBJECTIVETo identify the Cynomorii Herba and its analogues species using DNA barcoding technique.

METHODTotal genomic DNA extracted from all materials using the DNA extraction kit. The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and purified PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed using the CodonCode Aligner 3.7.1. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances and GC content were computed using MEGA 5. 0. Species identification analyses were conducted through the species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and neighbor-joining (NJ) trees.

RESULTThe ITS2 sequence lengths of Cynomorii Herba were 229 bp. The average intra-specific genetic distances of Cynomorii Herba were 0.003. The average inter-specific genetic distances between Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species were 0.760. The results showed that the minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence. The species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and NJ trees results indicated that Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species can be easily identification.

CONCLUSIONThe ITS2 region is an efficient barcode for identification of Cynomorii Herba, which provide a new technique to ensure clinical safety in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine.

DNA barcoding is a rapidly developing frontier technology in the world and will be useful in promoting the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, many studies concerning DNA barcoding have focused on leaf samples but rarely on Chinese herbal medicine. There are three issues involved in DNA barcoding for traditional Chinese medicinal materials: (1) the extraction methods for total DNA of the rhizomes of the medicinal materials; (2) intra-specific variation among samples from different places of origin; (3) accuracy and stability of this method. In this study, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was used to verify the stability and accuracy of DNA barcoding technology. Five regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, and ITS) were tested for their ability to identify 86 samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix and their adulterants. After improving the DNA extraction method, genomic DNA from all samples was successfully obtained. To evaluate each barcode's utility for species authentication, PCR amplification efficiency, genetic divergence, and species authentication were assessed. Among all tested regions only ITS2 locus showed 100% of PCR amplification and identification efficiencies. Based on the established method, we successfully identified two samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix bought in pharmacy to the original species.

Adolescent ; Apolipoproteins E ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; complications ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Thrombosis ; pathology

ghest. Conclusion In general, both the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Chinese minority students were comparatively low. However, in some minority groups the prevalence had already become higher, which demands early prevention.