OBJECTIVE: To screen differentially expressed gene (DEG) related to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and explore the core genes and pathogenesis of MDS by analyzing the biological functions and related signaling pathways of DEG. METHODS: The expression profiles of GSE4619, GSE19429, GSE58831 including MDS patients and normal controls were downloaded from GEO database. The gene expression analysis tool (GEO2R) of GEO database was used to screen DEG according to | log FC (fold change) |≥1 and P<0.01. David online database was used to annotate gene ontology function (GO). Metascape online database was used to enrich and analyze differential genes in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed by using STRING database. CytoHubba and Mcode plug-ins of Cytoscape were used to analyze the key gene clusters and hub genes. R language was used to diagnose hub genes and draw the ROC curve. GSEA enrichment analysis was performed on GSE19429 according to the expression of LEF1. RESULTS: A total of 74 co-DEG were identified, including 14 up-regulated genes and 60 down regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis indicated that BP of down regulated genes was mainly enriched in the transcription and regulation of RNA polymerase II promoter, negative regulation of cell proliferation, and immune response. CC of down regulated genes was mainly enriched in the nucleus, transcription factor complexes, and adhesion spots. MF was mainly enriched in protein binding, DNA binding, and β-catenin binding. KEGG pathway was enriched in primary immunodeficiency, Hippo signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, transcriptional mis-regulation in cancer and hematopoietic cell lineage. BP of up-regulated genes was mainly enriched in type I interferon signaling pathway and viral response. CC was mainly enriched in cytoplasm. MF was mainly enriched in RNA binding. Ten hub genes and three important gene clusters were screened by STRING database and Cytoscape software. The functions of the three key gene clusters were closely related to immune regulation. ROC analysis showed that the hub genes had a good diagnostic significance for MDS. GSEA analysis indicated that LEF1 may affect the normal function of hematopoietic stem cells by regulating inflammatory reaction, which further revealed the pathogenesis of MDS. CONCLUSION Bioinformatics can effectively screen the core genes and key signaling pathways of MDS, which provides a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of MDS.
Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Ontology ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/genetics*

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS in Fuyang City, Anhui Province. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Fuyang City, Anhui Province in 2016. The demographic and socioeconomic status, and the lifestyle and production style were collected using a questionnaire survey. B. hominis DNA was detected in subjects’stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T lymphocyte count and HIV viral load were measured in the subjects’ blood samples. The risk factors of B. hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 398 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 49.3 years, a mean body weight of 55.9 kg and a mean height of 164.4 cm. The prevalence of B. hominis infection was 6.78% in the study subjects, and no gender- (χ² = 1.589, P = 0.207), education level- (χ² =0.508, P = 0.776), marital status- (χ² = 0.419, P = 0.811) or occupation-specific prevalence (χ² = 2.744, P = 0.615) was detected. Among the patients with HIV/AIDS, there were no significant differences in the age (t = 0.370, P = 0.712), height (t = 1.587, P =0.113), body weight (t = 0.516, P = 0.606), CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count (t = 1.187, P = 0.230) or HIV viral load (t = 0.193, P =0.496) between B. hominis-infected and uninfected individuals. Dinking non-tap water [OR = 6.554, 95% CI: (1.876 to 22.903)] and keeping dogs [OR = 5.895, 95% CI: (2.017 to 17.225)] were identified as risk factors for B. hominis infection in patients with HIV/AIDS. Conclusion The prevalence of B. hominis infection is high in HIV/AIDS patients, and drinking non-tap water and keeping dogs are risk factors for B. hominis infection among HIV/AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the related factors affecting the long-term prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) children with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1. METHODS: The clinical data of 63 chlidren with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1 AML treated by BCH-AML 05 regimen in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The level of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 was detected at the time of initial diagnosis (T), after the first induction treatment (T), after the second induction treatment (T), after the first consolidation treatment (T), after the second consolidation treatment (T) and after the third consolidation treatment (T). According to the fusion transcript levels of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 the AML children were divided into low-expression group and high-expression group; the threshold values for grouping were 10 copies/10 β-glucuronidase (GUS), 10 copies/10 GUS, 10 copies/10 GUS, 10 copies/10 GUS, 1 copies/10 GUS and 0 copies respectively. The gained data were enrolled in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: 23 cases of 63 children died during the follow-up period, and the median follow-up time of the remaining 40 children were 30.04 (11-60) months. There were statistically significant differences in CD15 positive rate between low-expression group and high-expression group (P<0.05), however, there were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, FAB typing, platelet (Plt) count, hemoglobin (Hb) and white blood cell (WBC) count and the ratio of bone marrow immature cells at T2 between the two groups (P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that sex, Plt counts at T and fusion transcript levels at T, T and T correlated with the 5-year overall survival rate (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that fusion transcript level >10 copies/10 GUS at T was an independent risk factor for 5-year overall survival rate (HR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.04-7.78)(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The fusion transcript level after the first induction therapy in RUNX1-RUNX1T1-positive AML children is an independent factor influencing the long-term prognosis.
Child ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; Prognosis ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Retrospective Studies

Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii is a rare and endangered Chinese medicine. In the collection of Notopterygium franchetii fruits, we collected a sample of N. forrestii , which is a spurious breed. Fruits of N. franchetii and N. forrestii are very similar in morphology and can be easily confused. Until now the morphological identification of the fruits of Notopterygium has not been reported. To provide a scientific basis for the identification of N. franchetii and N. forrestii fruits, the morphology and microscopic identification were studied in this paper. In this study, stereomicroscope and paraffin sections were used to compare the morphological characteristics and microscopic characteristics of these two fruits. Our results showed that these two fruits were different in size, surface texture and the number of vertical edges on the back. These traits can be used as diagnostic characteristic of these two fruits. The difference between the number of tubing and the endosperm cell contents can be used as microscopic identification features. The above discriminative characteristics can distinguish the two fruits and provide scientific basis for the identification and germplasm evaluation of Notopterygium fruits.

By comparing the effects of soil pH on the efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza， the study is aimed to provide guidance for the use of mycorrhiza in the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza. In this experiment, the inoculant treated and the non-inoculant treated control were grown in different soil pH. The data was collected after 60 days of cultivation including rate of mycorrhizal infection, biomass, and three chemical constituents with known medicinal action. The results showed that Glomus versiforme was more apt to infect S. miltiorrhiza (F>94.00%; M>69.45%; m>73.66%) and promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza under pH 5-9 soil. The mycorrhizal contribution to the growth of S. miltiorrhiza was the highest when grown in pH 8 soil. Plants grown with mycorrhiza in pH 8 soil had above-ground biomass more than 2 times and root biomass more than 5 times. The uninoculated plants grew better under acidic and neutral conditions, but the inoculated plants grew better under alkaline (pH 8) conditions. This result showed mycorrhiza can play a role in the adaptability of S. miltiorrhiza to the environment. Inoculation of mycorrhiza significantly increased the accumulation of rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, and dihydrotanshinone by 6.59,5.03 and 2.20-folds. Based on our results alkaline soil (pH 8) is most suitable for the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza by inoculation with the mycorrhiza G. versiforme.

Objective To prepare F7 thermosensitive liposome and evaluate its physicochemical properties, then investigate its cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro. Methods The F7 thermosensitive liposome was prepared by the pH gradient active drug loading method using dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine myristoyl lyso-phosphocholine and 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy (polyethylene glycol)-2000 as membrane materials. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were determined for the F7 thermosensitive liposome by HPLC. The phase transition temperature of F7 thermosensitive liposome was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry;the liposome morphology was observed by atomic force microscopy;the drug release of liposome was examined by dialysis;and the particle size and zeta potential were measured through Malvern particle size analyzer. The cytotoxicity of F7 and F7 thermosensitive liposome was determined by the MTT method, and the freeze-drying process was optimized using the designexpert software. Results The encapsulation efficiency of F7 thermosensitive liposomes was (97.56±0.22) ％, and the drug loading ratio was (1.51±0.01) ％. The phase transition temperature of F7 thermosensitive liposome was 39.9℃, the zeta potential was (-15.10±0.85) mV, the particle size was (86.94±1.21) nm, and the poly disperse coefficient was 0.17±0.01. Compared with the F7 injection, the F7 thermosensitive liposomes showed a stronger, dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the growth of lung cancer H1299 and breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The freeze-dried powder of liposomes dissolved well with the encapsulation efficiency of 95％ and the particle size of approximately 130 nm. Conclusion The F7 thermosensitive liposome prepared by the pH gradient active drug loading method has high encapsulation efficiency and good stability. The preparation method is simple and feasible for further development of the F7 preparation.

Lepidium meyenii（maca）was a herbaceous plant of the family Cruciferae. It is native to the andes region of South America where the local people had been growing and consuming maca for centuries. The unique chemical composition and physiological function of maca were widely concerned worldwide. It was introduced to China in 2002, and were cultivated successfully in Yunnan, Tibet, Sichuan, Jilin and other places with a certain size. Maca contained not only rich nutrition such as protein, vitamin and mineral matter, but also lots of secondary metabolites as maca alkaloids, glucosinolates, volatile oils, sterols polyphenols and macaenes. Numerous studies suggested that maca may serve effects in resisting oxidation, fatigue resistance, raising fertility, regulating endocrine, enhancing immunity, tumour suppression, treating osteoporosis, regulate blood sugar and protection of nervous system. Maca was approved by the Ministry of Health as a new resource food in 2011, and its related products include food, health foods, cosmetics, etc. Certain exploratory researches were carried to take better advantage of maca's medicinal value. This paper briefly reviewed the research and application progress of maca in recent years from the aspects of botany, chemical composition, function, resources situation and related products development, which was supposed to provide reference for scientific research and utilization of maca.
China ; Lepidium ; Plant Extracts

Traditional Chinese medicine industry product a lot of herb residue. Herb residue was treated as household waste. This treatment leads to environmental pollution and resource waste. For this case, we study the effect of different herb residues on the growth and active ingredient content of Licorice by random control experiment. Our results showed that the effects of different herb residues were difference. Atractylodes macrocephala residue and Forsythia suspense residue had the stronger effect and the effect of A. macrocephala residue was inferior to the effect of F. suspense residue. A.macrocephala residue significantly improved the shoot biomass banch number, leaf number, root diameter and root biomass by 0.53-1.81 fold. A. macrocephala residue also increased the glycyrrhizic acid content of root by 1.54 fold. F. suspense residue significantly improved the shoot biomass,branch number, root diameter and root biomass by 0.43-1.13 fold. Four kind herb residues all improved the shoot biomass by 0.43-1.81fold. So, the authors recommand to considered that we can apply A. macrocephala residue and F. suspense residue in Licorice cultivation.

Herb residue is post-decoction material that can be used as organic fertilizer. Unfortunately, it is currently disposed of as solid waste. This method of disposal is a waste of this resource and a source of environmental pollution. For this case,we studied effects of six different herb residues compost on growth and phenols of Perilla frutescens by pot experiment. Our results show that all six herb residues can improve the growth of P. frutescens. The order of their efficiencies was as follows： Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix residue>Hordei Fructus germinates residue>Forsythia fructus residue>Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome residue＞Sophorae Flavescentis Redix residue and Moutan cortex residue. Effects of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix residue and Moutan Cortex residue weren't significantly different from CK. Six herb residue all improve root system architecture and leaf area. To phenols of P. frutescens, six herb residues all increased the rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid content of root, and accumulation of four phenols. All the analysis showed herb residues compost can improve the growth and four phenols accumulation of P. frutescens, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix residue had the most pronounced effect on P. frutescens.