A comparison of plant and animal stem cells can highlight core aspects of stem-cell biology. In both kingdoms, stem cells are defined by their clonogenic properties and are maintained by intercellular signals. The signaling molecules are different in plants and animals stem cell niches, but the roles of argonaute and polycomb group proteins suggest that there are some molecular similarities.
Animals ; Plant Cells ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy ofHejie Fenxiao Decoction on damp-heat patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods Totally 68 patients were divided into the control group and the treatment group according to the patients’ willings. Both groups were given treatment, such as elimination of the incentives and symptomatic treatment. Besides, patients of the treatment group acceptedHejie Fenxiao Decoction for 30 days. The changes of renal function indexes, such as serum creatinine (SCr), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB) and integral of TCM syndrome, were observed, and recovery ratio and clinical endpoints were compared.Results SCr and eGFR of both group were improved on day 14 (P<0.05). After treatment, the renal function recovery ratio and renal replacement ratio in the two groups showed obvious differences (P<0.05);although survival rate of treatment group was higher than control group, it showed no statistical significance (P>0.05);clinical endpoints analysis of the two groups showed statistical significance (P<0.05). The difference of integrals of TCM syndrome between the two groups showed statistical significance (P<0.05) on day 14.ConclusionHejie Fenxiao Decoction combined with basic regular Western medicine can better improve the clinical symptom, recover the renal function, and decrease the rate of renal replacement and death of AKI damp-heat patients.

OBJECTIVETo construct plant expression pCAMBIA1301-PMI by substituting PMI for hygromycin resistance gene in pCAMBIA1301 and obtain transgenic Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba using PMI-mannose selection system.

METHODThe 6-phosphomannose isomerase gene (PMI) of Escherichia coli was amplified by PCR. Sequence analysis showed that it shared 100% amino acids identities with the sequences of PMI genes isolates reported in the NCBI. Based on pCAMBIA1305, the plant expression pCAMBIA1305-PMI was constructed successfully by substituting PMI for hygromycin resistance gene in pCAMBIA1305. pCAMBIA1305-PMI was transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, and then the leaves of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were inoculated in LBA4404 with pCAMBIA1305-PMI.

RESULTPlant expression pCAMBIA1301-PMI was successfully constructed and the leaves of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba inoculated in LBA4404 with pCAMBIA1305-PMI were selected on medium supplemented with a combination of 20 g x L(-1) mannose and 10 g x L(-1) sucrose as a carbon source. The transformation efficiency rate was 23.7%.

CONCLUSIONGenetic transformation was confirmed by PCR, indicating that a new method for obtaining transgenic S. miltiorrhiza f. alba plants was developed using PMI-mannose selection system.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers ; Cinnamates ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hygromycin B ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Mannose-6-Phosphate Isomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

Objective: To compare aortic annular diameter measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with severe aortic stenosis, and to evaluate the impact on selection of prosthetic valve type in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: Clinical data of 138 patients with severe aortic stenosis referred for TAVI between January 2014 and June 2016 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The difference of aortic annular diameter measured by TTE, TEE, and MSCT were compared.TTE was performed after TAVI to evaluate the accuracy of measurement before TAVI. Results: (1) Aortic annular diameter was (23.37±2.22) mm by TTE and (23.52±1.70) mm by TEE (P=0.12). Pearson correlation analysis showed that aortic annular diameter measured by TTE was correlated to that measured by TEE (r=0.87, P<0.05). (2)The long-axis diameter and the short-axis diameter measured by MSCT multiplanar reconstruction were significantly different ((27.86±2.87) mm vs. (21.91±2.53) mm, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters and the diameter derived from cross-sectional area by MSCT ((24.92±2.38) mm vs. (24.84±2.25) mm, P=0.08). However, the diameter derived from the circumference ((25.35±2.34) mm) was significantly larger than the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters and the diameter derived from cross-sectional area by MSCT, and the difference were (0.43±0.62) mm and (0.51±0.62) mm respectively(both P<0.05). (3) Measurements of the aortic annulus diameter by MSCT including the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters, diameter derived from cross-sectional area, and diameter derived from the circumference were larger than the measurement by TTE and TTE (all P<0.05). (4) Implantation was successful in all patients.Moderate to severe paravalvular leakage was detected in 3 patients at 7 days post TAVI, and 1 patient developed severe prosthetic valve restenosis at 6 months post TAVI and received valve-in-valve implantation. Conclusions In severe aortic stenosis patients referred for TAVI, the aortic annular diameter derived from TTE and TEE measurements are smaller than that from MSCT.In the absence of a gold standard, selection of prosthetic valve type in TAVI procedure should rely on comprehensive considerations, which is of importance to get good clinical results for severe aortic stenosis patients underwent TAVI.

OBJECTIVEStudying the gene expression profiling of different stage hairy root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, in order to find functional genes.

METHODThe contents of second metabolites were determined by HPLC and gene expression profiling was detected by cDNA microarray. cDNA labeled with a fluorescent dye (Cy5 and Cy3-dCTP) was produced by Eberwine's linear RNA amplification method and subsequent enzymatic reaction. The microarrays were scanned with a ScanArray Express scanner using ScanArray 2.0 software and quantified by signal intensities of individual spots from the 16-bit TIFF images using GenePix Pro 4.0. The linear normalization method was used for data analyze. Northern blot was used to test the gene expression results obtained by microarray. Different expressed genes were sequenced and analyzed by gap4 software, and then they were analyzed with BLASTX, BLASTN, GO and KEGG.

RESULTGrowth rate and second metabolites analysis indicated that the stage from 30 d to 45 d was the growth stage, while the stage from 45 d to 60 d was the second metabolites accumulation stage. Accordingly 30 d hairy root was chosen as a reference, which was hybridized with 45 d and 60 d hairy root separately. Total 203 different expressed genes were obtained. Northern blot showed that the result was identical with the microarray result. After sequenced, there were 172 genes clustered into 114 clusters (Unigenes). Among them, 62 unigenes had known functions, 34 unigenes were hypothetical protein, 9 unigenes were homologues with no similarity and 9 unigenes were unidentified protein with low similarity. Total 67 genes were classified into cellular component ontology, molecular function ontology and biological process ontology based on GO analysis. Total 26 genes, which represented 29 metabolic-related enzymes, were located in metabolic maps based on KEGG pathway classification.

CONCLUSIONSeveral important functional genes related to second metabolite synthesis were cloned such as P450 and copalyl diphosphate synthase genes. cDNA microarray was a useful tool for functional genomics of traditional Chinese medicine.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genomics ; methods ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the habitat characteristics for the growth of Atractylodes lancea.

METHODThe leading factors for the growth of A. lancea are determined after stepwise regression, and the limiting factor are determined by field study, literature search,and weather records. The mean values of leading factors and the limiting factors of A. lancea for 30 years were applied to do spatial interpolation using IDIRIEIW softwares. An overlay was prerformed using data obtained in Mt. Maoshan and the general habitat of A. Iancea.

RESULTIt was found that precipitation is one of the dominant climate factors that affects the quality of A. lancea. High temperature was one of the limiting factor which influences the living of A. lancea. The best habitat was determined to be: annual mean temperature more than 15 degrees C, monthly mean minimum temperature between - 2- -1 degrees C, monthly mean maximum temperature about 32 degrees C, lowest tolerable temperature - 17- -15 degrees C, drought season 1 - 2 months, annual mean precipitation between 1000 - 1160 mm.

CONCLUSIONMt. Maoshan was characterized by having high temperature, short drought season and adequate precipitation. The growth of A. Lancea is a result of environmental stress.

Atractylodes ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; Geographic Information Systems ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rain ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study on the chemical stability of Salvia miltirrhiza hairy root.

METHODThe rolA gene was detected by PCR in DNA and the chemical contituent variances were detected by HPLC.

RESULTThe rolA gene was found in all the 10 batches of the culfured hairy root. The similarities of the chromatographic fingerprints of the 10 batches are higher than 0. 95.

CONCLUSIONThere are no significant differences of the chemical constituents in 10 hairy root samples.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Genes, Plant ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

AIMTo explore the differentially expressed proteins between hypobaric hypoxic delayed preconditioning (HHDP) and normal mouse hippocampus.

METHODSAfter the animal model of HHDP was constructed, hippocampal proteins were obtained by a series of abstraction with lysis solution containing high concentration urea. As soon as isoelectric focusing and SDS-PAGE was performed. The resolved proteins in the 2-DE gels were visualized by Coomassie blue R-250. The gels were scanned, and the images were processed with PDQuest software. Differential proteins were exactly excised from the gels, destained and digested with trypsin. The peptides were isolated and sent for MALDI-TOF-MS testing. Database searching was performed using peptide masses obtained from MALDI-TOF-MS.

RESULTSAverages of 481 +/- 38 and 477 +/- 21 protein spots were detected in control gels and preconditioning gels, respectively. 169 +/- 6 protein spots were matched between these two types of gels. Among the matched spots, while the quantities of 21 +/- 12 spots in control gels increased by above 2 times than that in preconditioning one, the quantities of 33 +/- 10 spots in preconditioning gels increased by the same times than that in control one. The correlation coefficient between these two patterns were 0.7748 +/- 0.0267. 12 spots in preconditioning gels significantly increased compared with the control (P < 0.05, n = 4). Among 12 spots excised from the gels, perfect peptide mass fingerprinting spectrums of 8 spots were acquired. The results showed that one protein was fructose biphosphate aldolase A. Three proteins matched nothing might be new proteins. The other four proteins just matched the partial sequences of the proteins of database were no coincidence to it's isoelectric point and molecular weight. So they might be homological proteins.

CONCLUSIONMany proteins, for example fructose biphosphate aldolase A, has been differentially expressed in hippocampus of mice during HHDP. This may be one of the molecule mechanisms of HHDP.

Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Hypoxia, Brain ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Proteome ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the accumulation and release of tanshinones in suspension cultures of Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots.

METHODAfter 18 day's suspension culture of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834, the chemical elicitor--methyl jasmonat was added into 6-7V suspension cultures and at the same time, tanshinones contents (including cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II(A)) on the day 2, 6 and 9, after dealing with MJ, was quantified by HPLC.

RESULTAfter dealing with MJ on the day 2, 6 and 9, the concentration of cryptotanshinone reached to 0.039, 0.204, 0.571 mg x g(-1) respectively,and tanshinone II(A) reached 0.251, 0.601 and 1.563 mg x g(-1) respectively. After 9 day's treatment by MJ, the maximum increase of cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II(A) were 23.8 fold and 6.2 fold higher than that of the control respectively.

CONCLUSIONMJ could stimulate the accumulation of tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza and have released them into the culture medium.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Culture Techniques ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism