In this study, we investigate the bioaccessibility of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, As, Cd and Hg) in wild Artemisia annua and use target hazard quotients (THQ) proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency to assess the health risk under the heavy metal exposure. The results showed that the bioaccessibility of Cu, Pb, As, Cd and Hg in A. annua are 0.77, 0.66, 0.46, 0.68 and 0, respectively, and that the value of THQ for adults and children were 0.030 and 0.025 calculated by risk assessment model. The results indicated that the heavy metals in A. annua were not able to be completely absorbed by human body and that their contents were in a safe range. In this study, by combining the bioavailability of heavy metal and health risk assessment, we assessed the security of heavy metals of wild A. annua, which will provide reference for the standard of heavy metals for medicinal materials.
Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Consumer Product Safety ; Drug Contamination ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; metabolism ; Risk Assessment ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis ; metabolism

Based on the ecological and economic problems in Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) of Chinese material medica, we introduced the origin, concept, features and operative technology of eco-agriculture worldwide, emphasizing its modes on different biological levels of landscape, ecosystem, community, population, individual and gene in China. And on this basis, we analyzed the background and current situation of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica, and proposed its development ideas and key tasks, including: (1) Analysis and planning of the production pattern of Chinese material medica national wide. (2) Typical features extraction of regional agriculture of Chinese materia medica. (3) Investigation of the interaction and its mechanism between typical Chinese materia medica in each region and the micro-ecology of rhizosphere soil. (4) Study on technology of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica. (5) Extraction and solidification of eco-agriculture modes of Chinese materia medica. (6) Study on the theory of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica. Also we pointed out that GAP and eco-agriculture of Chinese material medica are both different and relative, but they are not contradictory with their own features. It is an irresistible trend to promote eco-agriculture in the GAP of Chinese material medica and coordinate ecological and economic development.
Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of panax notoginsenosides (PNS) on the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in mice with immune-mediated aplastic anemia.

METHODSBalb/c mice model of immune-mediated aplastic anemia was established by radiation with sublethal dose of 60Co following the intravenously infusing lymphocytes of DBA/2 mice. Model mice in the treated groups were treated separately with high, middle and low dose of PNS, 3.2 mg, 1.6 mg and 0.8 mg per day respectively by intraperitoneal injection. Model mice in the control group and normal mice in the normal control group were treated with normal saline. The peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and pathological examination of bone marrow were carried out 12 days later, the bone marrow was taken to be incubated in semi-solid culture system for observing proliferation of HPC.

RESULTSPNS could (1) increase peripheral WBC count: as compared with that in the model control, WBC in the high, middle and low dose PNS groups was raised by (34.3 +/- 2.9)%, (29.2 +/- 1.7)% and (14.5 +/- 1.6)% respectively, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05; (2) improve the bone marrow inhibition: pathological examination showed in the model group, the hematopoietic structure was destroyed and replaced by fatty tissue, while in the PNS treated groups, the structure of marrow was rather complete and filled with abundant hematopoietic cells; (3) promote the proliferation of HPC: as compared with the model group, the colony formation of CFU-GM were increased by (64.4 +/- 2.8)%, (67.3 +/- 2.4)% and (21.9 +/- 1.8)% respectively and that of CFU-E increased by (31.9 +/- 3.6)%, (20.7 +/- 2.4)% and (12.8 +/- 2.6)% respectively in the three PNS treated group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPNS could enhance hematopoiesis by promoting proliferation of CFU-GM and CFU-E progenitors so as to improve the hematopoietic function in mice of immune-mediated aplastic anemia.

Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; etiology ; immunology ; Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Panax ; Radiation Injuries ; Random Allocation

A cDNA sequence of Arnebia euchroma AP2/ERF named AeAP2/ERF was cloned by in silico cloning in this study, using ACX71873 sequence from Lithospermum erythrorhizon as the probe sequence. Some characters of the AP2/ERF gene and encoded protein sequences were predicted and analyzed by the bioinformatics methods, including general physical and chemical properties, hydrophobieity, signal peptide, secondary structure, localization sites in cells. Results showed that the 876 bp long gene included a 1 077 bp ORF and encoding 205 amino acid. The AeAP2/ERF protein had no signal peptide, it was a hydrophilic proteins located in nucleus. The function of the AP2/ERF protein was mainly involved with metabolism controlling and signal transduction.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Boraginaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Transcription Factors ; chemistry ; genetics

Base on the traditional Chinese medicinal materials list that include Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Dao-di Herbs, the common used herbs, endangered species, to analyze the key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list was analysed. Results displayed that the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is 894, the variety number of Dao-di Herbs is 495, the variety number of the common use is 326, the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials from endangered species is 280, and during the third national survey of Chinese material medica resources the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials that were analysed is 360. In the list of Dao-di Herbs and common used herbs over 85% are in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, in the list of the common used herbs over 80% are in the list of Dao-di Herbs, in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and Dao-di Herbs over 10% are in the list of endangered species. The key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list includes three part, the first part includes 563 variery traditional Chinese medicinal materials that need to statistics quantity of resource by field investigation, the second part includes 457 variery that need to monitor the changing situation, the third part includes 280 variery that need to estimated endangered situation.
Animals ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; economics ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; instrumentation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

LB.

Objective: To explore the protective mechanism of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) by observing the effects of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia on miRNA-204 and its target gene expressions in CIRI rat brain tissues. Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a blank control group, a sham operation group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a mild hypothermia group and an acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group according to the random number table method (n=10). Except for the blank control group and the sham operation group, rats in the other 4 groups received CIRI modeling. After the model was successfully established, rats in the blank control group were bred routinely for 72 h without any interventions; rats in the sham operation group and the model group were bred routinely for 72 h, and only received binding without other interventions after surgery; rats in the acupuncture group were bred routinely for 72 h, and received acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20) and Shuigou (GV 26) after binding; rats in the mild hypothermia group were bred routinely for 72 h, and received mild hypothermia intervention for 72 h after binding; rats in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group were bred routinely for 72 h, followed by receiving acupuncture as in the acupuncture group and mild hypothermia therapy as in the mild hypothermia group after binding. The neurological impairment score, cerebral infarction area ratio, the expressions of miRNA-204 and its target genes including Map3k8, Ntrk2 and Ppp3r1 in the ischemic hippocampus of each group were observed after 72 h of intervention. Results: Before intervention, compared with the blank control group and the sham operation group, the neurological impairment scores and the infarction area ratios of the modelled rats were statistically significantly increased (all P<0.01), indicating that the model was successful. After intervention, compared with the model group, the neurological impairment scores of the three intervention groups were significantly reduced (all P<0.01); compared with the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group, the infarction area ratio in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group was significantly reduced (both P<0.01); compared with the model group, the three intervention groups showed significant inhibition of miRNA-204 expression in brain tissues (all P<0.05), which was most significant in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group (P<0.01); compared with the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group, the Map3k8 expression in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group was significantly increased (both P<0.01), but there were no significant differences in Ntrk2 and Ppp3r1 expressions between groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture, mild hypothermia, and acupuncture plus mild hypothermia reduced the neurological impairment score and the cerebral infarction area in CIRI rats, while acupuncture plus mild hypothermia showed the most significant effect. In regulating miRNA-204 target gene expressions, acupuncture plus mild hypothermia showed the same effect on Ntrk2 and Ppp3r1 expressions, while better effect on Map3k8 expression compared with either acupuncture or hypothermia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for predicting the development of CMV disease.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty one allo-HSCT patients performed in the past 2 years were analyzed retrospectively. PCR-CMV was used to monitor CMV viremia and vireuria once a week after transplantation.

RESULTSIn the dynamic detection, CMV viremia was positive for at least one chance in 89 patients, vireuria did in 99 patients. Thirty-seven patients developed CMV disease with an accumulative incidence of 32.5%. The incidence of CMV disease was 15.6% in plasma CMV-PCR negative group, 31.3% in positive once group, and 47.3% in positive over twice group. There was significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.0126). The incidence of CMV disease was 24.8% in urine CMV-PCR negative group, 43.5% in positive once group, and 33.0% in positive over twice group, being no significant difference among them (P = 0.845). On analysis, viremia could predict the development of CMV disease: the PPV (positive predictive value) is 40.5%, NPV (negative predictive value) is 84.4%, sensitivity is 75.0%, and specificity is 69.2%.

CONCLUSIONSDetected by CMV-PCR, MCV viremia may predict the development of CMV disease, but MCV vireuria cannot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; etiology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo discuss the feasibility of perforator flaps in the middle segment of posterolateral forearm for dorsal defects at the lower forearm.

METHODS30 specimens of adult upper limbs, perfused with red latex, were dissected. The course, origin, distribution and branches of major perforator artery in the middle segment of posterolateral forearm were observed and measured. 8 cases with dorsal defects at the lower forearm were treated with the perforator flaps.

RESULTSAll the 8 flaps survived completely with primary healing. The patients were followed up for 2-28 months with good flap texture, color and appearance.

CONCLUSIONSThe perforator flap in the middle segment of posterolateral forearm has constant and rich blood supply which is originated from the main artery. It is suitable for defects at the dorsal side of lower forearm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Forearm ; surgery ; Forearm Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforator Flap ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult

In this paper, the RP-HPLC specific chromatography was adopted, with DIKMA-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) as the chromatographic column, with a gradient elution compose of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid at flow rate of 0.8 mL · min(-1), the detection wavelength was 220 nm. The difference of the HPLC specific chromatograms between the Lu Dangshen and other different base sources and different producing area of Codonopsis Radix was compared, involved in the similarities and differences of the number and the relative peak area of characteristic peaks in the HPLC specific chromatograms. The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen was established and the relative retention times of seven peaks was determined, and the peaks of codonopyrrolidium B, syringin, lobetyolin, tangshenoside I and atractylenoide III were identified; The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen provided a method for scientific evaluation and effective control the quality of Lu Dangshen from Shanxi famous-region.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Phenylpropionates ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control