The Relationship between PPP2R5C and Molt-4 Cell Viability, HSP90-GR Signal in Childhood Acute T Lymphocytic Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of PPP2R5C to the activity of Molt-4 cells in childhood acute T lymphocytic leukemia and its mechanism.@*METHODS@#The small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology targeting PPP2R5C gene was used to down-regulate the expression of PPP2R5C in Molt-4 cells. At the same time, a blank control group, a negative control group and a 17-DMAG group were set up. The cells in the negative control group were transfected with siRNA-NC, the cells in 17-DMAG group were treated with the HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG at a final concentration of 6.4 μmol/L for 48 h. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect transfection efficiency; CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activity of the cells in each group, EdU was used to detect the proliferation level of the cells in each group, flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle distribution ratio of the cells in each group, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to detect the apoptosis of the cell, RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression changes of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) of the cells in each group.@*RESULTS@#After Molt-4 cells were transfected with siRNA-PPP2R5C, the expression of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein in the cells were down-regulated significantly compared with those in the blank control group and the si-NC group (P<0.05); compared with cells in the blank control group and the si-NC group, the proliferation activity of the cells in the siRNA-PPP2R5C group and the 17-DMAG group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the rate of EdU positive cells was significantly reduced (P<0.05); the proportion of the cells in G1 phase decreased while the proportion of the cells in G2 phase increased (P<0.05), the apoptosis rate of the cells also increased significantly (P<0.05); in addition, the expression of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein of the cells in siRNA-PPP2R5C group was significantly down-regulated compared with those in the blank control group and si-NC group (P<0.05). The expressions of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein in the 17-DMAG group were also significantly down-regulated compared with those in the blank control group and si-NC group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Down-regulation of PPP2R5C gene expression can inhibit Molt-4 cell activity in childhood acute T lymphocytic leukemia, block the cells in G2 phase, and promote cell apoptosis, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of HSP90-GR signaling pathway.

DNA barcoding identification of original plants of a rare medicinal material Resina Draconis and related Dracaena species / 中国中药杂志

Resina Draconis, a rare and precious traditional medicine in China, is known as the "holy medicine for promoting blood circulation". According to the national drug standard, it's derived from the resin extracted from the wood of Dracaena cochinchinensis, a Liliaceae plant. In addition, a variety of Dracaena species all over the world can form red resins, and there is currently no molecular identification method that can efficiently identify the origin of Dracaena medicinal materials. In this study, seven species of Dracaena distributed in China were selected as the research objects. Four commonly used DNA barcodes(ITS2, matK, rbcL and psbA-trnH), and four highly variable regions(trnP-psaJ, psbK-psbI, trnT-trnL, clpP) in chloroplast genome were used to evaluate the identification efficiency of Dracaena species. The results showed that clpP sequence fragment could accurately identify seven species of Dracaena plants. However, due to the long sequence of clpP fragment, there were potential problems in the practical application process. We found that the combined fragment "psbK-psbI+ trnP-psaJ" can also be used for accurate molecular identification of the Resina Draconis origin plants and relative species of Dracaena, which were both relatively short sequences in the combined fragment, showing high success rates of amplification and sequencing. Therefore, the "psbK-psbI+ trnP-psaJ" combined fragment can be used as the DNA barcode fragments for molecular identification of Resina Dracon's origin plants and relative species of Dracaena. Research on the identification of Dracaena species, the results of this study can be used to accurately identify the original material of Resina Draconis, and providing effective means for identification, rational development and application of Resina Draconis base source.

Professor 's experience in treatment of alopecia areata with the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs based on theory / 中国针灸

Professor -'s clinical experience of treating alopecia areata with combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs based on theory was summarized. Professor divides alopecia areata into disease and disease. Alopecia areata belonging to disease locates on the skin and is related to the lung and kidney, and belonging to disease locates in the meridians and is related to the heart, spleen and stomach. Acupuncture is chosen when the disease locates in the skin and meridians. If both viscera and meridians suffered, acupuncture and Chinese herbs should be combined. As for the acupuncture, professor used the method of harmonizing needling to treat alopecia areata, which includes regulating the origin of , regulating the deficiency and excess of and regulating the operation of local . As for the Chinese herbs, disease can be washed out by Chinese herbs of relieving exterior wind and activating meridians and collaterals. The disease can be washed out by Chinese herbs in mild condition, and long course of disease can be given Guizhi decoction as the base, add or subtract according to syndrome.

Usage of ethnomedicine on COVID-19 in China / 中国中药杂志

In December 2019, an outbreak of viral pneumonia began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which caused the spread of infectious pneumonia to a certain extent in China and neighboring countries and regions, and triggered the epidemic crisis. The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease listed as a B infectious disease, which is managed according to standards for A infectious disease. Traditional Chinese medicine and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine have played an active role in the prevention and control of this epidemic. China's ethnomedicine has recognized infectious diseases since ancient times, and formed a medical system including theory, therapies, formula and herbal medicines for such diseases. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Chuxiong Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan, Qiandongnan Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou have issued the prevention and control programs for COVID-19 using Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, Yi and Miao medicines. These programs reflect the wisdom of ethnomedicine in preventing and treating diseases, which have successfully extracted prescriptions and preventive measures for the outbreak of the epidemic from their own medical theories and traditional experiences. In this paper, we summarized and explained the prescriptions and medicinal materials of ethnomedicine in these programs, and the origin of Tibetan medicine prescriptions and Mongolian medicine prescriptions in ancient books were studied. These become the common characteristics of medical prevention and treatment programs for ethnomedicine to formulate therapeutic programs under the guidance of traditional medicine theories, recommend prescriptions and prevention and treatment methods with characteristics of ethnomedicine, and focus on the conve-nience and standardization. However, strengthening the support of science and technology and the popularization to the public, and improving the participation of ethnomedicine in national public health services and the capacity-building to deal with sudden and critical diseases are key contents in the development of ethnomedicine in the future.

Identification of medicinal plants within the Apocynaceae family using ITS2 and psbA-trnH barcodes / 中国天然药物

To ensure the safety of medications, it is vital to accurately authenticate species of the Apocynaceae family, which is rich in poisonous medicinal plants. We identified Apocynaceae species by using nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and psbA-trnH based on experimental data. The identification ability of ITS2 and psbA-trnH was assessed using specific genetic divergence, BLAST1, and neighbor-joining trees. For DNA barcoding, ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions of 122 plant samples of 31 species from 19 genera in the Apocynaceae family were amplified. The PCR amplification for ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences was 100%. The sequencing success rates for ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were 81% and 61%, respectively. Additional data involved 53 sequences of the ITS2 region and 38 sequences of the psbA-trnH region were downloaded from GenBank. Moreover, the analysis showed that the inter-specific divergence of Apocynaceae species was greater than its intra-specific variations. The results indicated that, using the BLAST1 method, ITS2 showed a high identification efficiency of 97% and 100% of the samples at the species and genus levels, respectively, via BLAST1, and psbA-trnH successfully identified 95% and 100% of the samples at the species and genus levels, respectively. The barcode combination of ITS2/psbA-trnH successfully identified 98% and 100% of samples at the species and genus levels, respectively. Subsequently, the neighbor joining tree method also showed that barcode ITS2 and psbA-trnH could distinguish among the species within the Apocynaceae family. ITS2 is a core barcode and psbA-trnH is a supplementary barcode for identifying species in the Apocynaceae family. These results will help to improve DNA barcoding reference databases for herbal drugs and other herbal raw materials.

Geometric features of proximal cllosing wedge osteotomy in the treatment of hallux valgus / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: With the wide application of the proximal closing wedge osteotomy in treatment of hallux valgus deformity, the metatarsal shortening and metatarsal elevation are constantly being mentioned. Scholars even think that the operation is complicated, the technical requirements are high, and the incidence of complications is high, and other osteotomy should be used instead. However, through literature research and clinical experience, it is found that the facts are not completely the case. OBJECTIVE: To perform geometric study of the plane and the physical model of the proximal closing wedge osteotomy so as to reasonably evaluate the effect of this technique on metatarsal shortening and metatarsal elevation. METHODS: The research was divided into four stages, in which the first three stages were plane geometric researches, with weight-bearing frontal image of the patient with hallux valgus as the research materials; the fourth one was solid geometric research, with plaster model of the first metatarsal bone as the research material. In research I (Stage I), the changes in 1/2 inter-metatarsal angle, length of the first metatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angle were learnt through angle adjustment after clipping when the distance from the wedge osteotomy vertex to medial border of the first tarsometatarsal joint was different (B, A, C, D respectively from the near to the distant, with a distance of 10 mm). In research II (Stage II), the changes in 1/2 inter-metatarsal angle, length of the first metatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angle were learnt through angle adjustment after clipping when the distance from the wedge osteotomy vertex to medial and lateral connection of the first tarsometatarsal joint was same, and the distance from the wedge osteotomy vertex to axis of the first metatarsal bone was different. In research III (Stage III), the changes in the above-mentioned research indexes were studied through angle adjustment after clipping when the wedge osteotomy vertex and wedge angle were fixed, but the proximal osteotomy line slope was different. Research IV (Stage IV) was the simulated osteotomy comparison, osteotomy perpendicular to metatarsal backbone or perpendicular to the horizontal plane was conducted on the model through plaster casting, and then osteotomy section was closed; the changes in elevation of the metatarsal head, 1/2 inter-metatarsal angle and length of the first metatarsal bone were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Results of plane geometry: The closer the wedge osteotomy vertex was to the proximal end, the larger the correction gained was and the smaller the changes in the distal metatarsal articular angle were, but the shortening was more obvious. Moreover, the closer the wedge osteotomy vertex was to the axis of the metatarsal bone, the smaller the shortening was; if only the proximal osteotomy line was different, the indices were the same. (2) Results of stereoscopic geometry: In the case of the same osteotomy angle, the cuneiform bone of the same angle was intercepted, and the degree of correction was obviously greater than that of the plane geometry. This should be related to the thickness of the osteotomy saw and the loss of bone mass caused by the osteotomy. The metatarsal bone was significantly higher after correction when perpendicular to the metatarsal stem compared with that perpendicular to the horizontal surface. In 1/2 inter-metatarsal angle, the difference between the two was only 1°. In metatarsal shortening, it was smaller when perpendicular to the metatarsal stem compared with that perpendicular to the horizontal surface. (3) In conclusion, a. the optimal wedge osteotomy vertex is not at the medial border of the joint but is 1 cm from the medial border of the joint; then, it will approach the axis of the metatarsal. In this way, good correction, steady fixation and further reduction of metatarsal shortening can be achieved. b. The optimal direction of the oscillating saw blade is perpendicular to horizontal plane; however, an approximately perpendicular position to the horizontal plane is acceptable. It does not affect the effect of orthopedics, and further reduces the metatarsal shortening. When the bony closure is closed, the distal end of the metatarsal bone is taken to avoid the elevation of the metatarsal bone with a 2 mm step with the proximal end. c. The angle selection of proximal osteotomy surface can be placed on the metatarsal stem according to the internal fixation condition, and it can also form an acute angle with the metatarsal stem, so that the effect of osteotomy will not be changed.

Effect of Daunorubicin on Release and Procoagulant Activity of Microparticles Derived from Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of daunorubicin on the number and procoagulant activity of Microparticles derived from acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>APL cells were isolated from bone Marrow of 5 newly diagnosed APL patients, the bone marrow mononuclear cells were collected from 5 patients with iron deficiency anemia as control.APL cells were treated with different concentration of daunorubicin(0.1,0.5,1.0 and 2.0µmol/L) for 24 h. Microparticles were extracted from the cell culture medium for qualitative anaysis of the extracted microparticles.The morphologic features of the microparticles were observed by transmission electron microscopy.The number of microparticles was detected by flow cytometry.The procoagulant activity of microparticles was measured by recalcification time assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Under a transmission electron microscope, theextracted microparticles took a round or oval morphology with a transparent center,and their diameters were arund 100nm, consistent with the morphological characteristics of microparticles. Compared with bone marrow mononuclear cells-derived microparticles,the counts of the bone marrow APL cells-derived microparticles significantly increased(P<0.05).Daunorubicin increased the shedding of microparticles in a dose-dependent manner(r=0.73,P<0.01).Compared with normal bone marrow mononuclear cells-derived microparticles,bone marrow APL cells-derived microparticles showed higher procoagulant activity(P<0.05).Daunorubicin treatment enhanced the prccoagulant activity of APL cells-derived microparticles which paralleled the increasing drug concentrations(r=-0.78,P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Daunorubicin can promote the release of APL cells-derived microparticles and enhance their related procoagulan activity.</p>

Estrogen-induced and Expression Repressed via Estrogen Receptor Beta in MC3T3-E1 Cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Estrogen, as an important hormone in human physiological process, is closely related to bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of estrogen on osteoblasts metabolism in MC3T3-E1 cells.</p><p><b>Methods</b>We treated the MC3T3-E1 cells with different concentrations of β-estradiol (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 nmol/L), observed the morphological changes of the cells, and detected the cell's proliferation and apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells. Two transcriptome libraries were constructed and sequenced. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to confirm the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then treated the MC3T3-E1 cells with estrogen receptor (ER) inhibitors α and β, respectively, and then examined the expression of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes. The promoter of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a gene was analyzed, and the ER response elements were identified. Finally, ChIP was used to verify the binding of ER to Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a promoter.</p><p><b>Results</b>In the high-concentration β-estradiol treatment group (1 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L), there was no significant difference in the morphology of the cells under the microscope, 1 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L treated group appeared statistically significant difference in cell apoptosis and proliferation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). We found 460 DEGs compared with the control group. Among the DEGs, there were 66 upregulated genes and 394 downregulated genes. Gene ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that many bone metabolism-related biological processes and cell signaling pathways were disordered. The qRT-PCR verification showed that the expressions of Tgfbr1- and Bmpr1a-related genes in bone metabolism pathway in the 10 nmol/L treatment group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). ER β was involved in the inhibitory effect of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes. The bioinformatics of the promoter found that there were three ER response elements in the promoter of Tgfbr1, and there were two ER response elements in Bmpr1a promoter regions. ChIP experiments showed that estrogen could enhance the binding of ERs to Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Estrogen can promote the apoptosis and proliferation of osteoblasts simultaneously, and the mechanism may be the joint action of transforming growth factor-beta, Wnt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor-kappaB bone metabolism-related signaling pathway. Estrogen inhibits the expression of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes through ER β and affects the metabolism of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.</p>

Endemic plants for medicine use in China / 中国中药杂志

Based on plant species databases, species lists and literature records, general situation of the Chinese medicinal endemic plant (vascular plant) has been systematically summarized, and its quantity and distribution characteristics of Chinese medicinal endemic plants are presented in this paper. The results showed that 3 150 endemic species are Chinese medicinal plants belonging to 785 genera in 153 families, which includes 38 species of 22 genera in 12 families of pteridophyta, 42 species of 14 genera in7 families of gymnosperms, and 3 070 species of 749 genara in 134 families of angiosperms. The top four families involving medicinal endemic species are Asteraceae (218 species), Ranunculaceae (182 species), Labiatae (151 species), and Liliaceae (133 species). The top four provincial administration distributed medicinal endemic species are Sichuan (1 568 species), Yunnan (1 533 species), Guizhou (955 species) and Hubei (930 species).On the regional scale, the most abundant one is the southwest region (2 465 species), followed by the central region (1 226 species) and the northwest region (949 species). Localization characteristics for domestication and artificial cultivation of medicinal endemic species are more prominent due to their narrower and limited distribution areas, indicating it is possible for these species acting as local potential resource for reasonable economic development.

Quality of commercial Amomum villosum / 中国中药杂志

In recent years, with the price rise of Amomum villosum, the quality of A. villosum in the market has been in disorder. To understand the quality status of A. villosum in the market and provide reference for the commercial size fifty-seven samples were collected from different producing areas or markets from August 2013. The samples were detected with evaluation on appearance quality, determination of the contents of bornyl acetate, determination of pesticide residues and heavy metals residues based on Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015. The results showed that the pesticide residues and heavy metals residues met the requirments, all the samples from different producing areas were qualified except one sample from Fujian province. The qualified rate of native products and imports products samples from market were 43.75% and 14.29%, respectively, the qualified rate of the samples of Yunnan province from producing areas was higher than that from the market. There are two ports at the national level in Yunnan province, where the southern herbs from. A. villosumis one of import medicines from Southeast Asia, and lots of A. villosum samples import to China from Yunnan ports. Most of pharmacists believed that all of the samples from Yunnan province produced in Yunnan. The great majority of commercial species was A. villosum, but A. longiliglare was scarce. Through the survey, it isfound that the main factors affecting the quality of Amomi Fructus was source, lots of A. villosum samples have been replaced by the Amomi Fructus, so the source of imports Amomi Fructus was not clear, which was also more difficult to identify. The quality of A. villosum needs to protect, optimize germplasm, strict control of medicinal sources, specification for medicinal harvesting and processing technology.

Effects of icariin on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell induced by ox-LDL via impacting MAPK signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This paper was aimed to study the effects of icariin (ICA) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and the molecular mechanism of the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and MAPK signaling pathway. In this study, VSMC was induced by ox-LDL (50 mg•L⁻¹),the effect of ICA on the proliferation of VSMC was detected by MTT assay, Western blot and Real-time PCR. The results showed that after stimulation of ox-LDL, the proliferation activity of VSMC was increased, S phase, G₂/M phase cells were increased, G₀/G₁ phase cells were decreased, PCNA protein expression was enhanced; ICA (40, 20, 10 μmol•L⁻¹) could effectively inhibit ox-LDL-induced VSMC proliferation, S phase and G₂/M phase cells were decreased, the percentage of cells in G₀/G₁ phase were increased, PCNA expression was decreased, p38MAPK and ERK1/2 activation were inhibited. These results indicate that ICA can inhibit the proliferation of VSMC by reducing the expression of PCNA and blocking the p38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Investigation, collation and research of traditional Dai medicine of China / 中国中药杂志

In order to find out the composition, characteristics and traditional utilization characteristics of Dai medicine and promote the rational protection, inheritance and utilization of the resources and traditional knowledge of Dai medicine in China, the resources of traditional Dai medicine have been investigated systematically and the traditional knowledge of Dai medicine have been analyzed in the article. We found out that there were altogether 1 077 kinds of traditional Dai medicine in China and among which 272 were the first time recorded in the condition of Dai folk medical uses. There were 1 053 plant medicines which belong to 169 family and 694 genus. These plant medicines mainly distributed in the southern, west southern and east southern area of Yunnan province, the southern area of Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian province and tropical, subtropical district as Taiwan, and more than 94.49% plant medicines could be found in Yunnan province. From the point of plant life form, they were major herbaceous or shrubby plants; When it is used as medicinal part, root and rhizome of plants account for the highest proportion, the next were whole plant and leaves. From nature, flavor and channel tropism points of view, the largest proportion of Dai medicines were cool, bitter-tasted and possesses water element. In terms of treatment of disease types, most of the drugs can treat gastrointestinal diseases, next were drugs that could be used to treat upper respiratory infection, traumatological and rheumatic diseases, urinary infection, gynecological diseases, hepatopathy, puerperium fever and diseases caused by poisonous insects and beast of prey bite. The study revealed that the resources of traditional Dai medicine and traditional knowledge of application were abundant in China, but the resources of traditional Dai medicine and traditional knowledge of application were faced with the risk of gradually reduce and loss. The article suggested that we should take measures to strengthen the study of protection and utilization of important traditional Dai medicine and endangered resources along with the protection and transmission of traditional knowledge of Dai nationalistic medicine.

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect in patients with aortic valve prolapse and mild aortic regurgitation: Feasibility and preliminary outcome

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in patients with aortic valve prolapse (AVP) and mild aortic regurgitation (AR). Methods: Between January 2008 and July 2014, transcatheter closure of VSD was attempted in 65 patients. Results: The total intermediate closure successful rate in all subjects was 96.9%. During the perioperative period, no death, major bleeding, pericardial tamponade, occluder dislodgement, residual shunt or hemolysis occurred. Two procedures had been forced to suspend due to significant aggregation of device related aortic regurgitation, three cases of transient complete left bundle branch block occurred but did not sustain. At 1-year follow-up, no patients had residual shunts and complications. Furthermore, grade of residual AR were relieved in 61.9% (39/63) cases and degree of AVP were ameliorated in 36.5% (23/63) patients;. Conclusions: Transcatheter closure VSD in selected patients with AVP and mild AR is technically feasible and highly effective. Long term safety and efficacy needs to be assessed.

Research status, development and utilization of traditional Dai medicine in China / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide a reference for the development and utilization of Dai medicine by investigate the present situation and existing problems of traditional Dai medicine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Combined with the previous relevant investigations and literature in the field, the key and the development direction of traditional Dai medicine were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The textual research, history, species, distribution, endangered resources, protection status etc. were elaborated and the key strategy of further investigation was expounded.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dai medicine resources should strengthen the basic research, such as the protection of traditional knowledge, the textual research, quality standard, chemical composition, biological activity, exploration of medicinal resources, especially monographic study on protection of major endangered medicinal resources should be intensified, which will be rise the level of development and utilization of Dai medicine resources.</p>

Inhibition of Alveolar Macrophage Pyroptosis Reduces Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pyroptosis is the term for caspase-1-dependent cell death associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The role of alveolar macrophage (AM) pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) remains unclear.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>C57BL/6 wild-type mice were assigned to sham, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + vehicle, LPS + acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl- alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone (Ac-YVAD-CMK) and LPS + Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone groups. Mice were given intraperitoneal (IP) injections of LPS. Drugs were IP injected 1 h before LPS administration. Mice were sacrificed 16 h after LPS administration, and AMs were isolated. Western blot analysis for active caspase-1 and cleaved caspase-3, evaluation of lung injury and a cytokine release analysis were performed. AMs were treated with LPS and adenosine triphosphate (ATP); caspase-1-dependent cell death was evaluated using flow cytometry; the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) pyroptosomes were examined by immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of activated caspase-1 in AMs was enhanced following LPS challenge compared with the sham group. In the ex vivo study, the caspase-1/propidium iodide-positive cells, caspase-1 specks and ASC pyroptosomes were up-regulated in AMs following LPS/ATP stimulation. The specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and pyroptotic cell death. Ac-YVAD-CMK also reduced the lung injury, pulmonary edema and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, Ac-YVAD-CMK significantly inhibited interleukin-α2 (IL-1α2) release both in serum and BALF and reduced the levels of IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α± (TNF-α±), High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in BALF during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study reported AM pyroptosis during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS in mice and has demonstrated that Ac-YVAD-CMK can prevent AM-induced pyroptosis and lung injury. These preliminary findings may form the basis for further studies to evaluate this pathway as a target for prevention or reduction of ALI/ARDS.</p>

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect in patients with aortic valve prolapse and mild aortic regurgitation: feasibility and preliminary outcome

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in patients with aortic valve prolapse (AVP) and mild aortic regurgitation (AR).@*METHODS@#Between January 2008 and July 2014, transcatheter closure of VSD was attempted in 65 patients.@*RESULTS@#The total intermediate closure successful rate in all subjects was 96.9%. During the perioperative period, no death, major bleeding, pericardial tamponade, occluder dislodgement, residual shunt or hemolysis occurred. Two procedures had been forced to suspend due to significant aggregation of device related aortic regurgitation, three cases of transient complete left bundle branch block occurred but did not sustain. At 1-year follow-up, no patients had residual shunts and complications. Furthermore, grade of residual AR were relieved in 61.9% (39/63) cases and degree of AVP were ameliorated in 36.5% (23/63) patients;@*CONCLUSIONS@#Transcatheter closure VSD in selected patients with AVP and mild AR is technically feasible and highly effective. Long term safety and efficacy needs to be assessed.

Analysis phylogenetic relationship of Gynostemma (Cucurbitaceae) / 中国中药杂志

The sequences of ITS, matK, rbcL and psbA-trnH of 9 Gynostemma species or variety including 38 samples were compared and analyzed by molecular phylogeny method. Hemsleya macrosperma was designated as outgroup. The MP and NJ phylogenetic tree of Gynostemma was built based on ITS sequence, the results of PAUP phylogenetic analysis showed the following results: (1) The eight individuals of G. pentaphyllum var. pentaphyllum were not supported as monophyletic in the strict consensus trees and NJ trees. (2) It is suspected whether G. longipes and G. laxum should be classified as the independent species. (3)The classification of subgenus units of Gynostemma plants is supported.

Original plant identification of Dai nationality herb "Daibaijie" / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the original plant of "Daibaijie", commonly used Dai herb.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The literature review, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology, chemistry were used to analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Daibaijie's historical scientific name, Dregea sinensis Hemsl., was mistakenly given "Daibaijie" and D. sinensis have significant differences from the distribution, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology and chemical composition. "Daibaijie" matches with the characteristics of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in English.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Daibaijie's original plant is M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon. The description and illustration of M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in China are wrong. The illustration of M. tenacissima in Flora of China in English is wrong too.</p>

Comparison between content of saponins of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis in different areas of Yunnan province / 中国中药杂志

Six kinds of saponins (I, II, VII, PA, H) content of 22 samples of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis collected from different regions of Yunnan province were determined by HPLC, data was analyzed by SPSS 17. The results showed that the effect of altitude on saponin content was not significant, and the effect of growth area of saponins in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis was significant, saponin content in sample from west Yunnan was significantly higher than that of samples from other regions.