Folium Perillae (FP) is a traditional Chinese materia medica, which has been used for treating inflammatory diseases. In order to clarify the material basis of FP' s pharmacological activity and anti-inflammatory mechanism, we presented a review about some of the primary chemical components in FP, such as volatile oils, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, glycosides, triterpenes and steroids, and about the anti-inflammatory activity of FP extract and its major mechanism, such as regulating the viability and function of innate immune cells, controlling the balance of helper T cells, based on related research in recent years. This study aims to provide reference for further research and development of new drugs based on FP.

In order to have a better understanding of the species diversity of medical plants in Enshi, Hubei of China, extensive field investigations and specimen collections were conducted in Enshi and adjacent regions. Based on field observations of plants in their living habitats and comparative morphological studies on specimens in herbarium of Hubei minzu University and other available herbaria as well, three new records of medical plants in Hubei, Scutellaria yunnanensis, Alangium faberi var. heterophyllum, and Drymaria diandra, were reported in this paper.
China ; Plants, Medicinal ; Records as Topic

Objective: To identify Rehmanniae Radiuxand its closely related species using the ITS2 barcode and to guarantee the quality and clinical curative effect of this medical material. Method: The sequences has been ana-lyzed and assembled using corresponding software. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances were calculated and NJ (neighbor-joining) tree was established based on the K2P methods to identify the Rehmanniae Radix. Results:The length of the ITS2 sequence of Rehmanniae Radix was 231 bp. The average intra-specific genetic distances of Rehmanniae Radix were 0.0004. The average inter-specific genetic distances between Rehmanniae Radix and its closely related species were 0.0312. The minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence. The Rehmanniae Radix can be identified using the NJ trees method. Conclusions: The ITS2 sequence can be used as DNA barcode to identify Rehmanniae Radix and its closely related species, which will lay the foundation for the clinical medication safety of Rehmanniae Radix.

ObjectiveTo study of the impact on dose distribution by electron width of energy spectrum and angular distribution using Monte Carlo simulation.MethodsThe simulated electron energy spectrum and angular distributions was as the input parameters and percentage depth dose (PDD) and offaxis curves were simulated by a modified PENELOPE code package. Results PDD and off-axis dose distribution curves are almost the same and are not sensitive to energy spectrum width and angular distribution with the exception of energy spectrum width of 2.5 MeV with obviously different curves.ConclusionsIn the situation of clinical treatment,spectrum and angular distributions can be ignored when their width are not very large.It is helpful to save about 9％ time by using monoenergy beams in treatment planning system development.

Objective To investigate the association between arsenic(+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Methods Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-RFLP-SSCP) technology was performed to detect mutations of AS3MT gene intron 8 and exon 9 in genome DNA of the 79 cases and 110 controls.PCR products with abnormal band forms were further sequenced to find the types and sites of mutation.Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic analyses were conducted.Results The incidence of the 9149 base mutation(A→C) in AS3MT gene intron 8(AS3MT-9149) in case group(19.0％,15/79) was lower than that in control group (23.6％,26/110).The incidence of the codon 287 mutation(ATG→AT/CG) in AS3MT gene exon 9(AS3MT-287)in case group(10.1％,8/79) was lower than that in control group (11.8％,13/110).However,statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in both mutations between two groups[AS3MT-9149:odds ratio(OR) =0.59,95％ confidence interval(CI):0.26-1.31,P =0.195; AS3MT-287:OR =0.85,95％ CI:0.32-230,P =0.751].Conclusions There are no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms of AS3MT-9149,AS3MT-287 and the susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Similarly,due to small sample amount,we can not exclude the possibility that these gene polymorphisms are related to susceptibility to endemic arsenism.

Objective To investigate the expression of antinuclear antibodies(ANA) ,anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti‐CCP) in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) ,and analyze its relation with depression .Methods ANA ,anti‐CCP were detected in 58 elderly RA patients ,50 non‐RA and 50 healthy people .Self‐rating Depression Scale(SDS) was used to assess the incidence of depression .Results The positive rate of anti‐CCP in RA group was significantly higher than that in control group and non‐RA group(P<0 .05) ,while there was no significantly difference in positive rate of ANA compared between RA group and non‐RA group(P>0 .05) .The positive rates of anti‐CCP and ANA in active stage were significantly higher than those in stable stage(P<0 .05) .The positive rates of anti‐CCP and ANA in RA complicated with depression were significantly higher than those in RA without depression(P<0 .05) .Multiple linear regression analysis showed that positive rates of anti‐CCP and ANA were all in‐dependent influence factors of depression in elderly RA patients(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Anti‐CCP and ANA in elderly RA patients over express ,and the positive rates are positively related with disease activity and depression .

Objective To explore the perihematomal perfusion typing and spot sign on computed tomography angiography (CTA) source images in order to assist in individualizing therapeutic decisions for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage by possibly forecasting perihematomal ischemia and hematoma enlargement.
Methods We examined 58 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage by computed tomography perfusion and CTA within 6 hours after symptom onset. Hematoma volumes were determined from non-contrast CT images and compared between first and second CT images. The perfusion of hematoma region and perihematoma region was evaluated for presence or absence of the perihematomal penumbra. Three kinds of perihematoma perfusion typing were defined according to the perfusion of hematoma region and perihematoma region. CTA source images was reviewed to make sure presence or absence of the spot sign.
Results Finally, 53 patients (34 males, 19 females) were enrolled in our study according to exclusion criteria. Finally, 21 patients were classified into the normal group, 23 patients were classified into the mild group, and 9 patients were classified into the severe group. There were significant differences in hematoma size between the presence and absence of the perihematomal penumbra group (P<0.05). Thirteen (24.5%) patients presented with spot sign. Hematoma expansion occurred in 15 (28.3%) patients on follow-up. In which 12 patients were with spot sign. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for expansion were 80.0%, 97.4%, 92.3%, and 92.5%, respectively.
Conclusion In acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients, the perihematoma perfusion typing and CTA spot sign provide more radiological information that might assist in individualizing therapeutic decisions for patients by possibly forecasting perihematomal ischemia and hematoma enlargement.

Objective To observe the distribution of oligodexynucleotide (ODN)MT01 in main organ tissues of the rats at different time points and to discuss the regularity of the distribution of MT01 preliminarily. Methods 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental group(n=30)and control group(n=30). The rats in experimental group was locally injected with Cy5 labeled MT01 in gingival mucosa,whereas the rats in control group were injected with MTO1.The samples of rat lung,liver spleen,kidney,heart,and brain tissues were collected at 15 min,1 h,4 h,8 h,16 h,1 d,2 d,3 d,4 d,and 5 d after injection,and the distribution of MT01 fluorescence was observed by laser scanning confocal microscope.The ratio of fluorescence positive cells indicated the amount of MT01 that had been taken up by different organs.Results No positive fluorescence cells were observed in control group.Whereas,in experimental group ,the positive fluorescence cells were detected in the tissue samples of lung,liver,spleen and kidney but not in the tissue samples of heart and brain.The positive fluorescence cells distributed focally in kidney tissue and presented primarily in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells.The ratios of positive fluorescence cells changed regularly with time in liver, spleen and kidney tissues and the highest level was detected at 4,3 and 4 d after injection.No distinct regularity of the ratio of positive fluorescence cells was observed in lung tissue.Conclusion MT01 can be taken up by liver,spleen and lung tissue and primarily by kidney with regularity in distribution.

Objective To investigate the associations of baseline serum uric acid, bilirubin levels with short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods The clinical data in successive patients with acute ischemic stroke were colected, including the serum levels of uric acid and bilirubin on admission, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge or at day14 (mRS 0-2 was defined as good outcome, > 2 was defined as poor outcome). Results A total of 162 patients with ischemic stroke were enroled, including 114 in the good outcome group and 48 in the poor outcome group. There were significant differences in proportions of the patients with diabetes melitus (51. 75% vs. 75. 00% ; χ2 = 7. 526, P = 0. 006), previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (18. 42% vs. 50. 00% ; χ2 = 17. 790, P = 0. 001), as wel as the baseline diastolic blood pressure (87. 061 ± 12. 245 mmHg vs. 82. 375 ± 10. 949 mmHg; t = 2. 293, P = 0. 023; 1 mmHg =0. 133 kPa), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1. 604 ± 0. 299 mmol/L vs. 1. 265 ± 0. 206 mmol/L; t =3. 227, P = 0. 002), fasting glucose (2. 875 ± 0. 438 mmol/L vs. 8. 160 ± 0. 592 mmol/L; t = - 4. 761, P <0. 001), uric acid (289. 365 ± 77. 168 μmol/L vs. 248. 206 ± 66. 206 μmol/L; t = 3. 111, P = 0. 002), total bilirubin (14. 673 ± 2. 213 μmol/L vs. 10. 395 ± 2. 714 μmol/L; t = 3. 779, P = 0. 001 ), direct bilirubin (6. 036 ± 1. 392 μmol/L vs. 4. 956 ± 1. 379 μmol/L; t = 2. 088, P = 0. 038), and indirect bilirubin (8. 634 ± 2. 307 μmol/L vs. 5. 439 ± 1. 223 μmol/L; t = 4. 219, P < 0. 001) levels between the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the previous history of stroke or TIA (odds ratio [ OR ] 3. 751, 95% confidence interval [CI ] 1. 395-10. 091; P = 0. 009) and baseline NIHSS score (OR 2. 723, 95% CI 1. 093-6. 783; P = 0. 031) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome of ischemic stroke; while uric acid (OR 0. 357, 95% CI 0. 141-0. 900; P = 0. 029), high-density lipoprotein (OR 0. 262, 95% CI 0. 079-0. 870; P = 0. 029), and indirect bilirubin (OR 0. 117, 95% CI 0. 025-0. 539; P = 0. 006) were independently correlated with good outcome. Conclusions The increased baseline uric acid and indirect bilirubin levels are the favorable factors for good outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) on liver furiction and morphology in rat with precancerous lesion of hepatic cellular cancer MCC).

METHODSA total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (10 rats), a model group (20 rats), a 20-day treatment group (15 rats) and a 40-day treatment group (15 rats). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats in the normal group received no treatment. Rats in the model group were treated with fixation. Rats in the 20-day treatment group and 40-day treatment group were treated by moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day, for 20 days and 40 days, respectively. Blood sample in each group was collected 1 d before model establishment, 20 d, 40 d and 84 d after model establishment. Chemical method was applied to test the activity of ALT (alamine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate transaminase) and GGT (glutamyl transpeptidase); at the end of model establishment, all the rats were sacrificed to observe the liver morphology changes.

RESULTSAfter the first therapeutic course, the. content of ALT and AST in the 20-day treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0. 05); after the second therapeutic course, the content of ALT, AST and GGT in the 40-day treatment group was insignificantly lower than that in the model group (all P>0. 05). Under light microscope, the slice of liver tissue indicated that primary tumor was induced in the model group, and the tumor cells were stained and irregular; the cytoplasm in the 20-day treatment group was even, and the tumor cells were few with several nodules alone. In the 40-day treatment group the liver morphology was normal and the staining was even; the tumor cells were few without nodules or a few. Conclusion Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) could reduce the serum content of ALT, AST and GGT in rats with HCC, which could protect the liver and: delay the DEN-induced precancerous lesion on some levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood