Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herbaceous plant of Asteraceae, with rhizomes for medical use. However, A. lancea plants from different habitats have great variability, and the germplasm resources of A. lancea are unclear and mixed during production. Therefore, it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. lancea. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of new plant varieties is the foundation of plant variety protection, and the DUS testing guidelines are the technical basis for variety approval agencies to conduct DUS testing. In this study, the phenotypic traits of 94 germplasm accessions of A. lancea were investigated considering the breeding and variety characteristics of A. lancea in China. The traits were classified and described, and 24 traits were preliminarily determined, including 20 basic traits that must be tested and four traits selected to be tested. The 20 basic traits included 3 quality traits, 5 false quality traits, and 12 quantitative traits, corresponding to 1 plant traits, 2 stem traits, 8 leaf traits, 6 flower traits, and 3 seed traits. The measurement ranges and coefficients of variation of eight quantitative traits were determined, on the basis of which the grading criteria and codes of the traits were determined and assigned. The guidelines has guiding significance for the trait evaluation, utilization, and breeding of new varieties of A. lancea.
Atractylodes/growth & development* ; China ; Phenotype ; Guidelines as Topic ; Plant Breeding

To investigate the impact of preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on the probability of testicular sperm retrieval, we conducted a study of nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with different testicular volumes (TVs) who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). A total of 177 NOA patients undergoing micro-TESE for the first time from April 2019 to November 2022 in Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively reviewed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on average TV quartiles. Serum hormone levels in each TV group were compared between positive and negative sperm retrieval subgroups. Overall sperm retrieval rate was 57.6%. FSH levels (median [interquartile range]) were higher in the positive sperm retrieval subgroup compared with the negative outcome subgroup when average TV was <5 ml (first quartile [Q1: TV <3 ml]: 43.32 [17.92] IU l -1 vs 32.95 [18.56] IU l -1 , P = 0.048; second quartile [Q2: 3 ml ≤ TV <5 ml]: 31.31 [15.37] IU l -1 vs 25.59 [18.40] IU l -1 , P = 0.042). Elevated serum FSH levels were associated with successful micro-TESE sperm retrieval in NOA men whose average TVs were <5 ml (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.06 per unit increase; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.011). In men with TVs ≥5 ml, larger TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval (adjusted OR: 0.84 per 1 ml increase; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98; P = 0.029). In conclusion, elevated serum FSH levels were associated with positive sperm retrieval in micro-TESE in NOA men with TVs <5 ml. In men with TV ≥5 ml, increases in average TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/surgery* ; Sperm Retrieval/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis/pathology* ; Microdissection ; Organ Size

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Objective:To investigate the vaccination status, characteristics and prognosis of patients suffering from a combination of COVID-19 and chronic lymphocytic anemia (CLL) in China.Methods:Clinical data of 328 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were first diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated in the Department of Hematology of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital between November 2022 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis of data of patients with severe/critical COVID-19 were conducted by applying the binary logistic regression model.Results:The median age of the CLL patients was 60 (24-87) years. 23.5% (77/328) of these patients suffered from severe/critical COVID-19 infection. Univariate analysis of the data demonstrated that a combination of factors including age >67 years ( OR=2.15, 95% CI 1.24- 3.73, P=0.006), diabetes ( OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.05-4.20, P=0.037), chronic hepatitis B ( OR=2.91, 95% CI 1.30-6.51, P=0.010), CLL progressive ( OR=3.79, 95% CI 1.57-9.15, P=0.003) and CD20 antibody-based treatments within three months prior to the COVID-19 infection ( OR=2.79, 95% CI 1.35-5.77, P=0.006) were the risk factors for severe/critical COVID-19. According to the multivariate analysis, CLL progressive ( OR=2.98, 95% CI 1.10-8.10, P=0.033) was an independent risk factor for severe/critical COVID-19 and administration of the BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase) inhibitor monotherapy might exert a protective effect and influence a positive outcome of the COVID-19 infection ( OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.90, P=0.028). Among the 242 patients who were followed up until October 2023, 9.1% (22/242) had multiple subsequent COVID-19 infections (≥3), and 2.1% (5/242) had persistent COVID-19 infections (patients with persistent positive test for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing until missing follow-up for any reason). The peak value of the anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG titres was observed between three and four months post symptom onset (median: 3.511 S/CO vs 1.047 S/CO, P<0.05). The levels of immunoglobulin A gradually decreased following infection with COVID-19, and its trough levels were attained between two to four weeks post infection (median: 0.30 g/L vs 0.74 g/L, P<0.05). According to this study the mortality of patients suffering from a combination of COVID-19 infection and CLL was 2.7% (9/328), and the main reason for their death was respiratory failure and heart failure. Conclusions:A low rate of COVID-19 vaccination and a high rate of severe/critical COVID-19 infection was observed in the CLL patients. CLL progressive was associated with severe/critical COVID-19. Anti-CD20-based treatments received within the past three months might be a risk factor for exacerbation of COVID-19 infection, whereas a monotherapy with BTK inhibitors exert a protective effect and improve outcome of COVID-19 infection.

Purpose::Vibrio vulnificus ( V. Vulnificus) infection is characterized by rapid onset, aggressive progression, and challenging treatment. Bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge for clinical anti-infection treatment and is thus the subject of research. Enhancing host infection tolerance represents a novel infection prevention strategy to improve patient survival. Our team initially identified cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) as an important target owing to its negative modulation of the body's infection tolerance. This study explored the superior effects of the CYP1A1 inhibitor bergamottin compared to antibiotic combination therapy on the survival of mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus and the protection of their vital organs. Methods::An increasing concentration gradient method was used to induce multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus development. We established a lethal infection model in C57BL/6J male mice and evaluated the effect of bergamottin on mouse survival. A mild infection model was established in C57BL/6J male mice, and the serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on liver and kidney function. The morphological changes induced in the presence of bergamottin in mouse organs were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney tissues. The bacterial growth curve and organ load determination were used to evaluate whether bergamottin has a direct antibacterial effect on multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus. Quantification of inflammatory factors in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression levels of inflammatory factors in liver and kidney tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on inflammatory factor levels. Western blot analysis of IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα, p65, and phosphorylated p65 protein expression in liver and kidney tissues and in human hepatocellular carcinomas-2 and human kidney-2 cell lines was used to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway. One-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results::In mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus, bergamottin prolonged survival ( p = 0.014), reduced the serum creatinine ( p = 0.002), urea nitrogen ( p = 0.030), aspartate aminotransferase ( p = 0.029), and alanine aminotransferase ( p = 0.003) levels, and protected the cellular morphology of liver and kidney tissues. Bergamottin inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in serum (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.029, TNF-α: p = 0.025) and inhibited the protein expression of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in liver (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.037) and kidney (IL-1β: p = 0.016, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.008) tissues. Bergamottin did not affect the proliferation of multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus or the bacterial load in the mouse peritoneal lavage fluid ( p = 0.225), liver ( p = 0.186), or kidney ( p = 0.637). Conclusion::Bergamottin enhances the tolerance of mice to multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus infection. This study can serve as a reference and guide the development of novel clinical treatment strategies for V. Vulnificus.

Sleep-wake disorder is one of the most common nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Melatonin has the potential to improve sleep-wake disorder, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Our data showed that melatonin only improved the motor and sleep-wake behavior of a zebrafish PD model when melatonin receptor 1 was present. Thus, we explored the underlying mechanisms by applying a rotenone model. After the PD zebrafish model was induced by 10 nmol/L rotenone, the motor and sleep-wake behavior were assessed. In situ hybridization and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of melatonin receptors and lipid-metabolism-related genes. In the PD model, we found abnormal lipid metabolism, which was reversed by melatonin. This may be one of the main pathways for improving PD sleep-wake disorder.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Melatonin/pharmacology* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Rotenone/pharmacology* ; Sleep Wake Disorders/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Motor Activity/drug effects* ; Sleep/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcome indexes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and moxibustion for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) so as to provide a reference for the protocol design and the construction of a core outcome set in relevant clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion for MCI. METHODS: From CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science, RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion for MCI were searched, and the time duration was ranged from January 1st, 2018 to October 31th, 2023. The general information and outcome indexes of the included studies were collected and analyzed through literature screening and data extraction. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies were eligible, with 2 072 samples and 18 diagnostic criteria involved. The outcome indexes were categorized into 7 domains according to functional attributes, including clinical symptoms/signs, TCM symptoms/syndromes, physical and chemical examination, quality of life, psychiatric and mental health, safety assessment, and patient satisfaction. Eighty-four outcome indexes were reported, with the use frequency of 237. Currently, RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion for MCI were limited in the big difference in neuropsychological assessment tool, the inadequate reports on educational degree/educational years, the diversity of physical and chemical detection indexes, the inconsistency of the time points for outcome evaluation, the insufficient application of primary and secondary outcomes, the lack of the application of TCM diagnosis, pattern/syndrome differentiation and outcomes, and the shortage in long-term prognosis and economic assessment. CONCLUSION It is recommended to specify and develop the core outcome set of acupuncture and moxibustion for MCI to advance the standardization of related research design, the rational selection of outcome indexes, and the reliability of the research results.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with penile cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 362 patients with penile cancer who underwent surgery in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from January 2005 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was (57.0±0.7) years. According to the clinical N stage classification, 239 patients were in N 0 stage, 57 patients in N 1 stage, 37 patients in N 2 stage, and 29 patients in N 3 stage. All these patients had no metastasis. Based on tumor size and location, 50 patients underwent extended circumcision, 283 patients underwent partial penectomy, and 29 patients underwent total penectomy. One hundred and eighty-three patients underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy and 47 patients underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy. Tumor pathology, tumor size, HPV subtype, postoperative pathological stage, overall survival (OS) and prognosis were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to analyse the factors which could affect the survival of patients. 5-year OS rate of these patients were also calculated. Results:In the pathological T classification, 137 cases were in T 1a stage, 24 cases in T 1b stage, 51 cases in T 2 stage, 136 cases in T 3 stage, and 14 cases in T 4 stage. In the pathological N classification, 235 cases were in N 0 stage, 54 cases in N 1 stage, 31 cases in N 2 stage and 42 cases in N 3 stage. The most common tumor type was squamous cell carcinoma (300 cases, 83%), followed by verrucous carcinoma (40 cases, 11%), sarcomatoid carcinoma(7 cases), carcinoma in situ (6 cases), basal-like carcinoma (6 cases), and adenosquamous carcinoma (3 cases). The most common tumor grade was mild (160 cases, 44%), followed by moderate differentiation (130 cases, 36%), poor differentiation (46 cases, 13%), and unclear differentiation (26 cases). The tumor sizes were < 3 cm in 135 patients and ≥ 3 cm in 142 patients. The tumor size was unclear in 85 patients. 173 cases (48%) were HPV positive and 189 cases (52%) were HPV negative. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the 5-year OS rate of HPV-positive group was higher than that of HPV-negative group (79% vs. 72%) but no significant difference was found ( P=0.09). The 5-year OS rate of patients whose tumor ≥ 3 cm (69%) was lower than those tumor < 3 cm (85%) and significant difference could be found ( P = 0.02). The 5-year OS rate of wild and moderate and poor grade were 85%, 70% and 58%, and significant difference could be found in the three groups ( P<0.01). The 5-year OS rates of patients with stage T 1a, T 1b, T 2, T 3and T 4 were 90%, 67%, 71%, 68% and 37% respectively( P<0.01). The 5-year OS rates of patients with stage N 0, N 1, N 2, and N 3 were 91%, 62%, 57%, and 30%, respectively( P<0.01). N stage could significantly affect the prognosis. The 5-year OS rate of T 1b patients was lower than that of T 1a and T 2 stage (67% vs. 90% vs. 71%, P=0.003). Of the 24 patients with T 1b stage, 17 cases received inguinal lymphadenectomy and 7 cases not. The 5-year OS rate of T 1b who received lymphadenectomy, who not and T 2 group were 73%, 57% and 71% respectively ( P=0.22). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that N stage ( HR =4.55, 95% CI 2.64-7.85, P<0.01) and tumor grade ( HR =2.09, 95% CI 1.09-4.02, P=0.03) were independent factors which could affect the prognosis. Conclusions:N stage and tumor grade were independent factors which could affect the prognosis. The poorer the tumor grade, the worse the prognosis. Inguinal lymphadenectomy could improve the prognosis of patients with T 1b stage.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with penile cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 362 patients with penile cancer who underwent surgery in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from January 2005 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was (57.0±0.7) years. According to the clinical N stage classification, 239 patients were in N 0 stage, 57 patients in N 1 stage, 37 patients in N 2 stage, and 29 patients in N 3 stage. All these patients had no metastasis. Based on tumor size and location, 50 patients underwent extended circumcision, 283 patients underwent partial penectomy, and 29 patients underwent total penectomy. One hundred and eighty-three patients underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy and 47 patients underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy. Tumor pathology, tumor size, HPV subtype, postoperative pathological stage, overall survival (OS) and prognosis were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to analyse the factors which could affect the survival of patients. 5-year OS rate of these patients were also calculated. Results:In the pathological T classification, 137 cases were in T 1a stage, 24 cases in T 1b stage, 51 cases in T 2 stage, 136 cases in T 3 stage, and 14 cases in T 4 stage. In the pathological N classification, 235 cases were in N 0 stage, 54 cases in N 1 stage, 31 cases in N 2 stage and 42 cases in N 3 stage. The most common tumor type was squamous cell carcinoma (300 cases, 83%), followed by verrucous carcinoma (40 cases, 11%), sarcomatoid carcinoma(7 cases), carcinoma in situ (6 cases), basal-like carcinoma (6 cases), and adenosquamous carcinoma (3 cases). The most common tumor grade was mild (160 cases, 44%), followed by moderate differentiation (130 cases, 36%), poor differentiation (46 cases, 13%), and unclear differentiation (26 cases). The tumor sizes were < 3 cm in 135 patients and ≥ 3 cm in 142 patients. The tumor size was unclear in 85 patients. 173 cases (48%) were HPV positive and 189 cases (52%) were HPV negative. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the 5-year OS rate of HPV-positive group was higher than that of HPV-negative group (79% vs. 72%) but no significant difference was found ( P=0.09). The 5-year OS rate of patients whose tumor ≥ 3 cm (69%) was lower than those tumor < 3 cm (85%) and significant difference could be found ( P = 0.02). The 5-year OS rate of wild and moderate and poor grade were 85%, 70% and 58%, and significant difference could be found in the three groups ( P<0.01). The 5-year OS rates of patients with stage T 1a, T 1b, T 2, T 3and T 4 were 90%, 67%, 71%, 68% and 37% respectively( P<0.01). The 5-year OS rates of patients with stage N 0, N 1, N 2, and N 3 were 91%, 62%, 57%, and 30%, respectively( P<0.01). N stage could significantly affect the prognosis. The 5-year OS rate of T 1b patients was lower than that of T 1a and T 2 stage (67% vs. 90% vs. 71%, P=0.003). Of the 24 patients with T 1b stage, 17 cases received inguinal lymphadenectomy and 7 cases not. The 5-year OS rate of T 1b who received lymphadenectomy, who not and T 2 group were 73%, 57% and 71% respectively ( P=0.22). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that N stage ( HR =4.55, 95% CI 2.64-7.85, P<0.01) and tumor grade ( HR =2.09, 95% CI 1.09-4.02, P=0.03) were independent factors which could affect the prognosis. Conclusions:N stage and tumor grade were independent factors which could affect the prognosis. The poorer the tumor grade, the worse the prognosis. Inguinal lymphadenectomy could improve the prognosis of patients with T 1b stage.

Chinese medicinal resources are the cornerstone of the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine industry. However, due to the fecundity of species, over-exploitation, and limitations of artificial cultivation, some medicinal plants are depleted and even endangered. Tissue culture, a breakthrough technology in the breeding of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, is not limited by time and space, and can allow the production on an annual basis, which plays an important role in the protection of Chinese medicinal resources. The present study reviewed the applications of tissue culture of medicinal plants in the field of Chinese medicinal resources, including rapid propagation of medicinal plant seedlings, breeding of novel high-yield and high-quality cultivars, construction of a genetic transformation system, and production of secondary metabolites. Meanwhile, the current challenges and suggestions for the future development of this field were also proposed.
Sustainable Development ; Plants, Medicinal/genetics* ; Plant Breeding ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Technology