Medicinal plants， with diverse species， high heterozygosity， and special breeding objectives， can be hardly bred with conventional hybridization techniques. Plant genetic transformation is highly selective and can specifically change the traits of plants， serving as an important technical means for the breeding of medicinal plants. The commonly used plant genetic transformation technologies include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most widely used method， while it is not applicable to all medicinal plants due to the high specificity. Although not specific， particle bombardment is limited in application due to the low conversion efficiency and external force damage to cells and tissue. With the rise and development of nanotechnology， the emerging nanomaterial-mediated transformation has solved the problems of the above two technologies. However， limited by its late development， the mechanism of nanomaterial-mediated introduction of genetic materials into plant cells remains unclear， and thus this technology is rarely used in medicinal plants. This article summarizes the development status of several commonly used or emerging plant genetic transformation technologies such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation， particle bombardment， and nanomaterial-mediated transformation， as well as their application in different medicinal plants. Furthermore， this article looks forward to the development trend of genetic transformation technologies for plants and their application prospects in medicinal plants and Chinese materia medica resources， aiming to provide new technical ideas for the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of medicinal plants and inject new impetus into the sustainable development of Chinese materia medica resources.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms， they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years， the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors， regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways， alleviating oxidative stress， modulating immune system functions， inhibiting bone destruction， and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， and immunomodulatory activities， flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace， this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field， systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids， provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications， and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms， they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years， the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors， regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways， alleviating oxidative stress， modulating immune system functions， inhibiting bone destruction， and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， and immunomodulatory activities， flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace， this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field， systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids， provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications， and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.

Zedoary turmeric oil， volatile oil extracted from zedoary turmeric， composed mainly of monoterpenes （including α-pinene， β-pinene， etc.） and sesquiterpenes （including β-elemene， zedoary alcohol， zedoary ketone， etc.）， and has been used in clinical practice to treat various malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer， cervical carcinoma， colorectal cancer， lung cancer and liver cancer. Zedoary turmeric oil regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and nuclear factors- κB， signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways to play a role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing tumor cell apoptosis， and blocking cell cycle. However， due to its insolubility in water and poor stability， its clinical application is limited； the application of new formulations and technologies such as liposomes， microspheres， and nanoemulsion improves the solubility and stability of zedoary turmeric oil. This paper summarizes recent research progress on the chemical composition， anti-tumor effects， and formulations of zedoary turmeric oil， both domestically and internationally， providing a reference for further expanding the clinical application and formulation development of zedoary turmeric oil in the anti-tumor field.

Zedoary turmeric oil， volatile oil extracted from zedoary turmeric， composed mainly of monoterpenes （including α-pinene， β-pinene， etc.） and sesquiterpenes （including β-elemene， zedoary alcohol， zedoary ketone， etc.）， and has been used in clinical practice to treat various malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer， cervical carcinoma， colorectal cancer， lung cancer and liver cancer. Zedoary turmeric oil regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and nuclear factors- κB， signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways to play a role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing tumor cell apoptosis， and blocking cell cycle. However， due to its insolubility in water and poor stability， its clinical application is limited； the application of new formulations and technologies such as liposomes， microspheres， and nanoemulsion improves the solubility and stability of zedoary turmeric oil. This paper summarizes recent research progress on the chemical composition， anti-tumor effects， and formulations of zedoary turmeric oil， both domestically and internationally， providing a reference for further expanding the clinical application and formulation development of zedoary turmeric oil in the anti-tumor field.

ObjectiveTo explore the differences between the ancient decocting methods and modern decocting method of Yihuangtang by taking the dry extract rate， the content of active ingredients and the fingerprint information as indicators， so as to provide reference for the preparation of benchmark samples and the development of compound preparations of this famous classical formula. MethodAccording to the three decocting methods recorded in Paozhi Dafa and Jianming Yigou and Management Specifications of Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction Chambers in Medical Institutions， the Yihuangtang was decocted respectively. The polysaccharide content in the samples was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer （UV） at 488 nm， and the contents of alkaloids （berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine） in the samples and their fingerprint profiles were determined by high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）， and the dry extract rate was combined to compare the differences of the three decocting methods of Yihuangtang. Among them， the fingerprint was gradient eluted with acetonitrile （A） -0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution （B） as mobile phase （0-10 min， 5%-8%A； 10-35 min， 8%A； 35-45 min， 8%-12% A； 45-75 min， 12%-17%A； 75-105 min， 17%-35%A； 105-110 min， 35%-100%A； 110-112 min， 100%-5%A； 112-122 min， 5%A）， and the detection wavelength was 230 nm. ResultWhen the decoction was carried out according to the method described in Paozhi Dafa， the content of polysaccharides was higher than that of the modern decocting method and the method described in Jianming Yigou. However， the contents of berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine were the highest in the modern decocting method. Meanwhile， the number of peaks in fingerprint of the samples prepared by the three decocting methods was basically the same， and 13 common peaks were matched， and the three common peaks of berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine were identified. However， the relative peak areas of the common peaks in the fingerprint of the samples prepared by the three decocting methods varied greatly， suggesting that there were differences in the extracting effects of different decocting methods. In addition， there were also differences in the dry extract rate among the three decocting methods of Yihuangtang， and the highest value was obtained by decocting the samples according to the method recorded in Paozhi Dafa. ConclusionDecocting method can affect the dry extract rate， fingerprint information and active ingredient content of Yihuangtang， among which the modern decocting method is conducive to the extraction of alkaloids and the preparation transformation of this famous classical formula， and it is recommended to determine its preparation process by optimizing the modern decocting method.

Objective:The present study was designed to strengthen the education of research integrity, and to improve the awareness of academic misconduct and academic literacy of medical post-graduate students.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted with master post-graduate students of a university affiliated hospital, and statistical analysis on the education of research integrity and the perception of academic misconduct among the survey respondents was performed.Results:Academic master post-graduate students′ cognitions of the misconduct in scientific research process and overall academic misconduct were better than that of professional master post-graduate students, and there were significant differences ( P<0.05). The more times of participation in research integrity training, the better cognition of misconduct of scientific research process, research results publication process, and overall academic misconduct, with significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The education on scientific research integrity of medical post-graduates should be carried out systematically, while the content should be improved and the form should be enriched for scientific research integrity education, so that the medical post-graduates can have a deeper understanding of the code of academic practices, and an education model of scientific research integrity for medical post-graduate which is suitable for China′s national conditions can be gradually developed.

Objective:To investigate whether it is by regulating interleukin 1β ( IL-1β) gene expression that androgen receptor (AR) in macrophages affects hyperphosphate-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Methods:The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment was used to determine whether AR was bound to the androgen receptor element (ARE) sequence of IL-1β promoter in THP-1 cells. Whether the AR regulated IL-1β gene expression was detected by luciferase assay experiments. AR of THP-1 cells was silenced and transfected by lentivirus with vector or shRNA. Flow cytometry was used to select positive transfected cells THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi (AR silencing) with fluorescent markers. Western blotting was used to detect AR protein levels of THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi cells (AR silencing in monocytes). Macrophages MФARsc (control) or MФARsi (AR silencing) were induced by 50 ng/ml phorbol ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-1β expression levels of MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium. The human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were cultured in MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium with phosphate (2.5 mmol/L final concentration of sodium dihydrogen phosphate), and Alizarin red S staining was used to analyze HASMC calcification degree. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2 (osteoblast marker) and SM22α (HASMC marker), and neutralization assay was performed to test IL-1β-mediating effect of macrophages AR on HASMC calcification. Results:AR was bound to ARE sequence of IL-1β promoter and regulated IL-1β gene expression. The expression level of IL-1β protein in conditioned medium of MФARsi cells decreased significantly compared to MФARsc cells ( P<0.001). Compared with MФARsc conditioned medium group, HASMC calcium deposition in MФARsi conditioned medium group decreased significantly, RUNX2 protein decreased and SM22α protein increased (all P<0.05). The degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group significantly, and the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased significantly than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group; while the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group and MФARsi conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Macrophage AR regulates IL-1β expression by binding to ARE sequence within IL-1β promoter, and IL-1β mediates the effect of macrophage AR on hyperphosphate-induced HASMC calcification.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of consolidation chemotherapy combined with microtransplantation in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods:The clinical data of 45 elderly patients with AML in Suzhou Yongding Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. After 1 or 2 courses of induced chemotherapy, the patients achieved complete response (CR). Among them, 20 patients were given consolidation chemotherapy (single group), and 25 patients were given consolidation chemotherapy combined with microtransplantation (combined group). After 3 courses of treatment, the minimal residual disease (MRD), quantitative expression of WT1 gene and adverse reactions were compared between 2 groups; the quality of life before treatment and after treatment was evaluated by quality of life-BREF (QOL-BREF). The patients were followed up to November 1, 2020, and the median follow-up was 30 months. The overall survival and progress-free survival (PFS) were recorded.Results:The MRD negative rate and WT1 gene negative rate after treatment in combined group were significantly higher than those in single group: 60.00% (15/25) vs. 25.00% (5/20) and 52.00% (13/25) vs. 20.00% (4/20), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The recovery times of neutrophils and platelets in combined group were significantly shorter than those in single group: 10 (8, 12) d vs. 16 (13, 20) d and 14 (11, 17) d vs. 24 (19, 30) d, and there were statistical differences ( Z = 3.152 and 4.285, P<0.05). No adverse reactions such as liver and kidney abnormalities or gastrointestinal reactions occurred in 2 groups; and no specific graft versus host disease (GVHD) occurred in the combined group. The each item scores of QOL-BREF after treatment in combined group were significantly higher than those in single group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The 2-year overall survival rate and PFS rate in combined group were significantly higher than those in single group: 60.00% (15/25) vs. 35.00% (7/20) and 52.00% (13/25) vs. 25.00% (5/20), and there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 4.235 and 4.742, P = 0.040 and 0.029). Conclusions:Consolidation chemotherapy combined with microtransplantation is effective and safe in the treatment of elderly patients with AML. It can significantly improve the quality of life, and improve the overall survival rate and PFS rate.

In order to explore the microbial communities and functions of activated sludge in an Anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A²/O) process under the start-up of Actinic reaction enzyme system (ARES) system and to understand the impact of the ARES system in domestic sewage treatment process, the activated sludge microbial community structure in the A²/O process system before and after ARES system start-up was analyzed by Illumina-HiSeq 2000 high-throughput sequencing platform. By combining with the main parameters related to the effect of sewage treatment, we analyzed the environmental functions of the microbial communities. The microbial community structure of activated sludge was significantly different before and after the ARES system start-up. There were 9 main bacterial phyla in the system (average relative abundance ≥1%), accounting for 96%-98% of the total bacteria sequenced. After the ARES system was started, the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria and Chlorobi increased by 3.45%-3.85% and 0.45%-2.61%, respectively. In the anaerobic unit, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes increased by 12.97%, while the Actinobacteria and Firmicutes decreased by 9.60% and 1.45%, respectively. At the genus level of bacteria, the relative abundance of Denitratisoma increased by 0.80%-3.27%, while the Haliangium and Arcobacter decreased by 3.36%-4.52% and 1.48%-3.45%, respectively. The relative abundance of bacteria was significantly different before and after the ARES system start-up. There were 7 abundant fungi phyla (average relative abundance ≥1%) in the system. After the ARES system was started, the relative abundance of Rozellomycota decreased by 42.71%-46.77%. In the anaerobic unit, the relative abundance of Ascomycota decreased by 13.39%, while the relative abundance of Glomeromycota increased by 13.86%. At the genus level of fungi. The relative abundance of Entomophthoraceae sp. and Glomcromycota sp. increased by 31.35%-36.50% and 6.27%-13.84%, respectively, while the Rozellomycota sp. and Xylochrysis lucida decreased by 42.71%-46.77% and 3.67%-5.54%, respectively. Our results showed that the application of ARES system caused the response of the microbial community to environmental changes, especially for the fungi communities, in the meanwhile, improved the effluent quality, especially the removal rate of total nitrogen.
Anaerobiosis ; Ascomycota ; Bioreactors ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid