Effects of ecological factors on shape and ginsenoside of Panax ginseng / 中国中药杂志

The ecological environment is closely related to the growth and quality of authentic medicinal materials. Ginseng is very strict with its natural environment and grows mostly in the damp valleys of forests, and the appearance and chemical composition of ginseng under different growth environments are very different. This article reviews the effects of different ecological factors(including light, temperature, altitude, moisture, soil factors, etc.)on the appearance and chemical composition(mainly ginsenosides) of ginseng. Through systematic review, it is found that soil physical factors are the most important ecological factors that affect the appea-rance of ginseng, and soil bulk density plays a key role; temperature affects ginsenosides in ginseng medicinal materials The dominant ecological factors for the accumulation of chemical ingredents; strong light, high altitude, high soil moisture, low soil nutrient and strong acid soil can influence the accumulation of secondary metabolites in ginseng. Environmental stress can also stimulate the formation and accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. Appropriate low temperature stress, high or low water stress, acid or alkali stress can also promote the accumulation of ginsenosides. This article systematically reviews the ecological factors that affect the appearance and chemical composition of ginseng, and clarifies the dominant ecological factors and limiting factors for the formation of ginseng's appearance and quality, as well as beneficial environmental stress factors, in order to provide a theoretical basis for ginseng ecological planting and ginseng quality improvement.

Cultivation strategy on cluster brand of ecological agriculture of Dao-di herbs / 中国中药杂志

The cluster brand is the embodiment of the core competitiveness of an industry. Developing and cultivating cluster brand of ecological agriculture of Dao-di herbs not only helps to optimize the value chain of the Chinese medicinal materials(CMMs) industry cluster, realize the value-added of the CMMs industry cluster, but also enhance the visibility and influence of the industrial cluster, enhance the core competitiveness of the industrial cluster. This has important practical significance for promoting the "orderly" "safe" and "effective" development of the Dao-di herbs. Based on the industry development status of CMMs, this article introduces several concepts related to cluster brands and their relationships, and focuses on the cultivation models and strategies of cluster brand in the CMMs industry. Based on the current status of the development of the CMMs industry, this article introduces several concepts related to cluster brands and their interrelationships. It discusses the cultivation models and strategies of cluster brands in the CMMs industry, industry associations, Chinese medicine companies and individual growers as the support, insists on the ecological cultivation of authentic medicinal materials and the cultivation of cluster brands. Finally, it points out the direction for the high-quality development of the ecological agriculture of CMMs.

Differential diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in calcified thyroid nodules / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in calcified thyroid nodules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 179 cases with calcified thyroid nodules between February 2009 and September 2012 underwent CEUS by injection of microbubbles via superficial vein was included in the study. Pathological diagnosis as a gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive and diagnostic coincidence rate of CEUS were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 110 cases of benign nodules, 62 cases were nodular goiter (46 cases with macrocalcification and 16 cases with microcalcification); 29 cases were adenoma (28 cases with macrocalcification and 1 case with microcalcification); 17 cases were Hashimoto's thyroid (13 cases with macrocalcification and 4 cases with microcalcification); and 2 cases were granuloma with microcalcification. Among 69 cases of malignant nodules (t = 14.33, P < 0.05), 68 cases were papillary carcinoma (60 cases with microcalcification and 8 cases with macrocalcification), and 1 case of medullary carcinoma with microcalcification. Malignant nodules mainly showed weak inhomogeneous enhancement, with the mean; peak intensity (51.38 ± 14.33)dB that was lower than that (92.37 ± 33.36)dB in benign nodules, and benign nodules showed isoenhancement or hyperenhancement, with significant differences compared to malignant nodules (t = 14.33, P < 0.05) , however, there were significant differences in the enhanced time and the time to peak between benign and malignant nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive and diagnostic coincidence rate of CEUS for the diagnoses of thyroid nodules were 92.75%, 90.91%, 86.49%, 95.24% and 91.62%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEUS has high value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant calcified thyroid nodules.</p>

Logistic regression analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) and ultrasonic elastography (UE) in diagnosis of thyroid nodules by a binary Logistic regression model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total 149 cases with thyroid nodules were examed by CEUS and UE and were confirmed by surgical pathology. A Logistic model was obtained on the basis of ultrasonographic features. Receiver operator characteris(ROC) curve was constructed to assess the performance of the Logistic model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four ultrasonographic features including calcification, enhancement degree, biggest perfusion strength and elastic score were finally entered into the Logistic model. The percentage of correct prediction was 91.90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both CEUS and UE have high value in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the Logistic regression model has high diagnostic rate.</p>