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

To explore the feasibility of applying magnetic stimulation technology to the movement control of animal robots, the influence of coil radius, number of turns and other factors on the intensity, depth and focus of magnetic stimulation was simulated and analyzed for robot pigeons. The coil design scheme was proposed. The coil was placed on the head and one of the legs of the pigeon, and the leg electromyography (EMG) was recorded when magnetic stimulation was performed. Results showed that the EMG was significantly strengthened during magnetic stimulation. With the reduction of the output frequency of the magnetic stimulation system, the output current was increased and the EMG was enhanced accordingly. Compared with the brain magnetic stimulation, sciatic nerve stimulation produced a more significant EMG enhancement response. This indicated that the magnetic stimulation system could effectively modulate the functions of brain and peripheral nerves by driving the coil. This study provides theoretical and experimental guidance for the subsequent optimization and improvement of practical coils, and lays a preliminary theoretical and experimental foundation for the implementation of magnetic stimulation motion control of animal robots.
Animals ; Columbidae ; Robotics ; Motion ; Brain ; Magnetic Phenomena

【Objective】 To analyze the basic characteristics of whole blood donors from blood stations before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. 【Methods】 After excluding invalid data, data related to the basic characteristics of whole blood donors collected from 26 blood stations in China during 2018 to 2021 were statistically analyzed, including the trend of total whole blood donors, the number of repeated blood donors, the frequency of blood donation, the average age of donors and the recruitment of first-time blood donors. 【Results】 Affected by the epidemic, 8 out of 14 indicators were with large variations, accounting for 57%. The overall growth rate of total whole blood donors during the epidemic was higher than before the epidemic (P<0.05).The number of repeated blood donors has shown an increased trend, with a higher number during the epidemic than before (P<0.05). The frequency of blood donation was lower during the epidemic than before(P<0.05).Average ages of blood donors and female blood donors fluctuated widely during the epidemic, both higher than those before the epidemic(P<0.05).The donation rate of first-time blood donors <25 years old and ≥25 years old varied widely and irregularly during the epidemic (both P<0.05). The percentage of first-time blood donors fluctuated irregularly during the epidemic, with overall percentage lower than that before the epidemic(P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Whole blood donors from 26 blood stations increased after the outbreak of COVID-19, and some indicators in certain areas showed significant fluctuations during the epidemic.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between related indexes of serum lipid and insulin resistance and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 262 middle-aged and elderly patients with a Montreal Cognitive Function Scale (MoCA) cognitive score greater than or equal to 18 points who underwent physical examination in the Health Management Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 1 to July 31, 2021 were selected as subjects. According to the cognitive function and MoCA score, the patients were divided into MCI group (143 cases) and normal cognition group (119 cases). Basic data, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, apolipoprotein E(ApoE) genotype and other clinical indicators were collected. Hypothesis test was used to compare the differences in basic data, related indicators of blood lipid and insulin resistance between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between related indicators of blood lipid and insulin resistance and MoCA score in the two groups.Results:The age and the proportion of patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes in the MCI group were all significantly higher than those in normal cognition group [(54.83±8.29) vs (50.76±6.34) years, 37.76% vs 31.93%, 4.20% vs 0.84%, 16.08% vs 8.40%] (all P<0.05). The elevation of serum TG ( r=-0.50, 95% CI:-0.88--0.12), TG glucose product index (TyG) ( r=-0.75, 95% CI:-1.29--0.20) and TG to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) ( r=-0.52, 95% CI:-0.91--0.13) were all negatively correlated with MoCA score (all P<0.05). After adjusting for age and gender, the elevation of TG ( r=-0.39, 95% CI:-0.75--0.31) and TG/HDL-C ( r=-0.43, 95% CI:-0.80--0.05) were both still negatively correlated with MoCA score (both P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between all indexes and MoCA scores in the normal cognition group (all P>0.05). The elevated TG was negatively correlated with MoCA score in the MCI group ( r=-0.70, 95% CI:-1.23-0.16, P=0.017). There was no significant correlation between elevated TG and MoCA score in patients carrying ApoE ε2 and ApoE ε3 genotypes in MCI group (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Elevated related indexes of blood lipids and insulin resistance are negatively correlated with cognitive scores in middle-aged and elderly people with MCI, and it′s more obvious in patients with ApoE ε4 genotype.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of bacillary dysentery with multiple-onset in Henan province from 2005 to 2020. Methods: The reported cases of bacillary dysentery (including confirmed cases and clinically diagnosed cases) in Henan Province from January 2005 to December 2020 were collected through China's National Disease Supervision Information Management System. The main information included gender, age, home address, date of onset and date of diagnosis. The interval between two episodes of the same case was more than 15 days, which was judged as two episodes. The incidence characteristics of bacillary dysentery patients with two or more cases in Henan Province from 2005 to 2020 were analyzed, and the regional distribution map of cases was drawn using ArcGIS software. Results: From 2005 to 2020, a total of 250 430 cases of bacillary dysentery were reported in Henan Province, with a cumulative incidence rate of 228.66/100 000. There were 2 342 cases with two or more attacks. The incidence of recurrent cases of bacillary dysentery increased year by year (χ²_trend=2 932.28, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of two or more cases of different sexes (χ²=0.39, P=0.540). There was significant difference in the incidence among different age groups (χ²=438.40, P<0.001). The incidence of two or more cases in the 60-69 age group was relatively high (1.70%). The shortest time interval between the onset of the disease was 16 days, and the longest was 5 579 days, with M (Q₁, Q₃) about 428 (237, 843) days. Compared with healthy people, those with a history of bacterial diseases had a higher risk of developing bacillary dysentery (RR: 4.12, 95%CI: 3.95‒4.29). Conclusion: The proportion of patients with multiple-onset shows an increasing trend, and there is an age difference.
Humans ; Dysentery, Bacillary/diagnosis* ; Incidence

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to construct an optimal dynamic nomogram for predicting malignant brain edema (MBE) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after endovascular thrombectomy (ET). Methods: We enrolled AIS patients after ET from May 2017 to April 2021. MBE was defined as a midline shift of >5 mm at the septum pellucidum or pineal gland based on follow-up computed tomography within 5 days after ET. Multivariate logistic regression and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression were used to construct the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decisioncurve analysis were used to compare our nomogram with two previous risk models for predicting brain edema after ET. Results: MBE developed in 72 (21.9%) of the 329 eligible patients. Our dynamic web-based nomogram (https://successful.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/) consisted of five parameters: basal cistern effacement, postoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, brain atrophy, hypoattenuation area, and stroke etiology. The nomogram showed good discrimination ability, with a C-index (Harrell’s concordance index) of 0.925 (95% confidence interval=0.890–0.961), and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, p=0.386). All variables had variance inflation factors of <1.5 and tolerances of >0.7, suggesting no significant collinearity among them. The AUC of our nomogram (0.925) was superior to those of Xiang-liang Chen and colleagues (0.843) and Ming-yang Du and colleagues (0.728). Conclusions Our web-based dynamic nomogram reliably predicted the risk of MBE in AIS patients after ET, and hence is worthy of further evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

【Objective】 To learn the production efficient of platelet components among prefecture-level blood stations in China, to provide supporting data for those blood stations to optimize the production mode of platelet components and continuously improve production efficiency and supply capacity. 【Methods】 The data from 2017 to 2020 was obtained from 24 prefecture-level blood stations who were the members of the practice comparison network for blood institutes in China. The collection units of apheresis platelets, the number of dual-collections of apheresis platelets and plasma, the average apheresis units of one platelet apheresis procedure, the discarded rate of apheresis platelets, the amount of expired apheresis platelets and the amount of apheresis platelets issued were collected. For concentrated platelets, the prepared amount of platelet concentrates and the amount of expired platelet concentrates were collected; both the quantity of qualified and issued concentrated platelets were submitted for statistical analysis.The total output and efficiency of platelet components were calculated based on the collected data. 【Results】 The average annual growth rate of apheresis platelets collection in 24 prefecture-level blood stations was 12.23%, accounting for 99.80% of the total platelet output; the average collection unit of one platelets apheresis procedure was 1.75; from 2019 to 2020, only 5 blood stations performed dual-collection of platelet and plasma during one apheresis procedure; the discarded rate of apheresis platelets was 0.28%, of which 0.007% was due to expiration. A total of 1 621.2 therapeutic units of concentrated platelets were prepared, and 13.03% of them was discarded due to the expiration. The production efficiency of platelet components was 97.56%, of which the production efficiency of apheresis platelets was 97.61% and the production efficiency of concentrated platelets was 74.43%. 【Conclusion】 There are large regional differences in the supply capacity of platelet components in prefecture-level blood stations. Apheresis platelets are the main resource of platelet components product, and the collection capacity is increasing over the years with the characteristics of high production efficiency and low expiration scrapping rate. However, the preparation of concentrated platelets are still limited with relatively low production and high expiration discarded rate.

【Objective】 To understand the current situation of blood components distribution in domestic prefecture-level blood stations through analyzing the components distribution data of 24 prefecture-level blood stations in China. 【Methods】 The data of components distribution of 24 blood stations from 2017 to 2020 as well as the data of blood deployment of 24 blood stations from 2019 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. 【Results】 From 2017 to 2020, positive annual growth in red blood cells, plasma and cryoprecipitate was observed in 22, 19 and 15 out of the 24 blood stations, and the annual growth median rate of above three components was 5.24%, 3.80% and 3.25%, respectively. Among the 24 prefecture-level blood stations, 23 carried out the preparation of cryoprecipitate. 【Conclusion】 The distribution of red blood cells, cryoprecipitate and plasma in prefecture-level blood stations is increasing year by year. However, there is a overstock of plasma, and most blood stations need blood employment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of Zhuang medicine medicated thread moxibustion (ZMTM) on psoriasis vulgaris. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial was designed. A total of 241 outpatients with psoriasis vulgaris were randomly divided into a control group (120 cases) and a treatment group (121 cases) using a central block randomization from June 2015 to May 2018. The control group was treated with Western medicines alone including pidotimod dispersible tablets, vitamin B compound tablets, and compound cod liver oil-zinc oxide ointment. The treatment group was treated with ZMTM every 2 days combined with Western medicines. The two groups received continuous intervention for 30 days. The primary outcome was Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and the secondary outcomes included Itch Rating Scale, Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), as well as PASI response rate. Meanwhile, adverse events were evaluated during the whole clinical trial. Follow-up was carried out 30 days after treatment. RESULTS: There were 5 cases of shedding in this trial. In intention-to-treat analysis, 236 cases were included and each group contained 118 cases. On the 30th and 60th days, PASI scores of patients in each group were significantly lower than that at baseline (P<0.01) and the PASI score reduction of the treatment group was greater than that of the control group (P<0.01). Itch Rating Scale, DLQI, and HAMA scale were decreased in both groups after treatment, and the treatment group showed a better therapeutic effect (P<0.01). The response rates of PASI 50 and 75 were significantly higher than those in the control group [81.4% (96/118), 43.2% (51/118) vs. 41.5% (49/118), 11.0% (13/118), respectively, P<0.05]. During follow-up, the improvements in scores of PASI, Itch Rating Scale, DLQI, and HAMA of the treatment group were significantly greater than those of the control group (P<0.01). The response rates of PASI 50 and 75 in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group, respectively (both P<0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was found in either group. CONCLUSION ZMTM combined with Western medicines showed a better therapeutic effect in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris without obvious adverse reaction. (Trial Registration No. ChiCTR-IOR-16008159).
Humans ; Moxibustion/adverse effects* ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Quality of Life ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome