Chronic kidney disease after adrenalectomy in a patient with primary aldosteronism / 北京大学学报(医学版)

We report one case of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline after taking unilateral adrenalectomy due to aldosterone adenoma. A 60-year-old male with 23-year history of hypertension was reported to the endocrinologist due to hypokalemia (serum potassium 3.01 mmol/L). Urine microalbumin/creatinine (ALB/CR) was 70.15 mg/g, serum creatinine was 82 μmol/L and eGFR was 89.79 mL/(min·1.73 m2). Random serum aldosterone was 172.2-203.5 ng/L, and random plasma rennin activity was 0-0.17 μg/(L·h). His captopril challenge test suggested that his aldosterone le-vels were suppressed by 8% (< 30%) and the adrenal enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a left adrenal tumor. The patient was diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism (PA), aldosterone adenoma and underwent left laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Histological examination confirmed adrenal cortical adenoma. One week after the operation, his serum creatinine was increased to 127 μmol/L compared with preoperative level; eGFR was 32.34 mL/(min·1.73 m2). His systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 110 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 60 mmHg (hypotensive drugs discontinued), and serum potassium level was 5.22 mmol/L. At the end of the 2-year follow up, the serum creatinine of this patient remained at 109-158 μmol/L and eGFR fluctuated from 63.28-40.12 mL/(min·1.73 m2). PA is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Several studies have reported renal function deterioration of PA patients after unilateral adrenalectomy, like the patient in this article. Age, preoperative plasma aldosterone concentration, albuminuria and preoperative potassium level might be significant predictors of a decrease in the eGFR. Growing evidence suggests that aldosterone could contribute to structural kidney damage, arterial injury and hemodynamic disorder. At the same time, patients with PA exhibit glomerular hyperfiltration and glomerular vascular hypertension, leading to the misinterpretation of renal function in PA patients as subtle kidney damage may be masked by the glomerular hyperfiltration before treatment. After a unilateral adrenalectomy, glomerular hyperfiltration by aldosterone excess is resolved and renal damage can be unmasked. In conclusion, kidney function deterioration after adrenalectomy can be detected in some patients with PA. Thus, accurate evaluation of kidney function in patients with PA may be essential, especially for those with preoperative risk factors for postoperative renal impairment. After unilateral adrenalectomy, close monitoring of renal function and adequate management are required for PA patients.

Effects of High Temperature Stress on Growth Characteristics of Armillaria / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of high temperature stress on the growth characteristics of different Armillaria strains，and to provide guidance for screening excellent Armillaria strains with high-temperature resistance. Method:14 strains of Armillaria from different G. elata producing areas were used as experimental materials to observe the growth characteristics and conduct phenotypic classification for the strains. rDNA-IGS sequence analysis was used for molecular identification to further determine the genetic relationship of the tested strains.The strain growth rate, biomass，mycelial length and other indicators under the condition of 23 ℃ （CK） and 30 ℃ high temperature stress were recorded. Result:All the 14 strains of Armillaria had the highest similarity and the closest relationship with Armillaria gallica，but there were significant differences in growth characteristics among different G. elata producing areas. The 14 strains of Armillaria were classified into Ⅳ groups，and the growth status was groupⅠ>group Ⅱ>group Ⅲ>group Ⅳ. After treatment with high temperature stress，the tolerance of each strain to high temperature also showed obvious differences，as shown in the average growth rate of the mycelial was GZ16>SX1>GZ1. The rank of relative mycelial length was GZ16>SX1>GZ3 and the relative biomass was GZ16>SX4>GZ1>HB1>AH2. Conclusion:Under high temperature stress，GZ16 was best in growth rate，relative length of mycelial，relative biomass and growth state，followed by SX1 and GZ1 strains. The results indicate that strains GZ16，SX1 and GZ1 have the strong resistance to high temperature and excellent growth characteristics at normal temperature，so these three strains are suitable to be produced in main G. elata producing areas in China.

Effect of Gastrodia elata Planting on Soil Microbial Community Structure / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the changes of soil microbial community structure before and after planting Gastrodia elata in different producing areas，and to investigate the response of soil microorganisms to the planting of G. elata. Method:ITS and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technologies were used to detect fungal and bacterial community compositions in the soil，including the soil without planting G. elata（CK1，CK2），the soil around G. elata（GE1，GE2）before harvesting, and the soil around the rhizomorph of Armillaria（AGE1，AGE2） in Dafang, Guizhou and Jinzhai, Anhui respectively. Result:Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the soil microorganisms changed significantly after G. elata planting as compared with the control soil. The sequencing results showed that the planting of G. elata increased the OTUs number of fungi and bacteria. As compared with the control soil，the diversity and abundance of fungal and bacterial communities showed an increase trend after the cultivation of G. elata in soil of Dafang, Guizhou， such changes of fungal communities were not significant, but the abundance of soil bacteria communities increased in Jinzhai, Anhui as compared with the control soil. The abundance of genera Ilyonectria and Nitrospira increased，while genera Russula decreased significantly both in the soil of Guizhou and Anhui. Furthermore，the abundance of Fusarium and Mortierella increased significantly in the soil of Dafang, Guizhou. Conclusion:The soil microorganisms were out of balance after planting of G. elata, and the abundance of pathogenic microorganisms such as Ilyonectria and Fusarium increased，which may be related to the plant diseases and insect pests of G. elata.

Comparison of agronomic traits of Panax notoginseng between traditional cultivated fields and new cultivated fields / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to provide scientific basis for introduction breeding and production regionalization of Panax notoginseng, the environment of producing area, agronomic traits and medicinal material output were investigated.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Using field survey sampling at harvest time, agronomic traits indicators of leaf segment, stem segment and roots segment etc. of commodity P. notoginseng, longitude and latitude, elevation, soil type, landform of producing area were measured and observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The P. notogiseng cultivation was expanding from traditional area like Wenshang to new areas as Honghe, Kunming, Qujing at large scale. Comparing with traditional cultivated fields, the elevation of new fields, which are red soil of moderate or low mountain slopes and gentle hills between 1 800-2 130 m, increases markedly. The agronomic traits of new cultivated fields such as plant height, stem diameter, the ground and underground biomass were better than those of traditional cultivated fields in varying degree. Furthermore, the root weight, taproot weight, taproot length and other agronomic index augmented more than 20%. Comparison among different cultivated fields showed P. notoginseng of Honghe Shiping Niujie, Kunming Shilin Guishan, Honghe Jiangshui Guanting etc. had better agronomic traits, the plant were thick and tall, the taproot and the top of reed were large, the number of root was more. Inversely, P. notoginseng of Kunming Guandu Xiaoshao, Guangxi Jingxi Lutong, Wenshang Yanshan Jiangna were thin and small. Cluster analysis showed that cultivated fields of P. notoginseng which was across clustered by traditional and new cultivated fields can be divided into three groups, including a high-yielding region insist of three new cultivated fields Honghe Shiping Niujie, Kunming Shilin Guishan, Honghe Jiangshui Guanting and one traditional cultivated field Wenshan Yanshan Jiangna. Correlation analysis indicated that the size and weight of taproot and top of reed were significantly positive correlated with plant height, stem diameter, leaf size, leaf weight and stem weight. Regression analysis pointed out that stem diameter, leaf width, leaf length/width, leaf weight were the main factors affecting the dry weight of taproot, and the main factors influencing the dry weight of top of reed were plant height, petiole, leaf length, leaf width and other agronomic traits.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>From agronomic traits, P. notoginseng in new cultivated fields were more robust than that in traditional fields, but besides the length of taproot, the difference of rest agronomic traits didn't reach the significant level. It is suggested that, in the west and the north of traditional area, the red soil land of moderate or low mountain slopes and gentle hills where the elevation is between 1 800-2 130 m is suitable for cultivating P. notoginseng. Honghe Shiping Niujie, Honghe Jianshui Guanting, Kuming Shilin Gongshan can be used as vital development area for commodity P. notoginseng.</p>

Double mulching application for Panax notoginseng growing seedlings / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to improve the irrigation for Panax notginseng growing seedlings, different mulching ways were carried out to investigate the effects of double mulching.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Field experiment was applied to study soil moisture, soil temperature and bulk density of different mulching ways while the germination rate and seedlings growth also were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the traditional single mulching with pine leaves or straw, double mulching using plastic film combined with pine leaves or straw could reduce 2/3 volumes of irrigation at the early seedling time Double mulching treatments didn't need to irrigate for 40 days from seeding to germination, and kept soil moisture and temperature steady at whole seedling time about 30% and 9.0-16.6 degrees C, respectively. The steady soil moisture and temperature benefited to resist late spring cold and germinate earlier while kept germination regularly, higher rate and seedlings quality. In contrast, single mulching using pine leaves or straw had poor soil moisture and temperature preserving, needed to irrigate every 12-day, meanwhile dropped the germination and booming time 14 days and 24-26 days, respectively, reduced germination rate about 11.3%-8.7%. However, single pine leaves mulching was better than straw mulching. In addition, though better effects of soil moisture and temperature preserving as well as earlier and higher rate of germination with single plastic films mulching had, some disadvantages had also been observed, such as daily soil temperature changed greatly, seedling bed soil hardened easily, more moss and weeds resulted difficulty in later management.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To the purpose of saving water and labor as well as getting higher germination rate and seedlings quality, double mulching using plastic films combined pine leaves at the early time and single mulching removing plastic films at the later time is suggested to apply in the growing seedlings of P. notoginseng.</p>

Different proportion of potassium chloride and potassium sulphate application on cultivation of Panax notoginseng / 中国中药杂志

In order to make sure whether Panax notoginseng is sensitive to chloridion and guide fertilization in planting of P. notoginseng, the effects of the different proportion of potassium chloride (KCl) and potassium sulfate (K2SO4) on the yield, quality of P. notoginseng were studied. The results showed that K fertilizer significantly improved the growth of P. notoginseng and increased the biomass per plant or per pot and the content of N, P, K and the content of saponin. In cases of conditions such as potassium, and the effects of K2SO4 on increasing the petiole length, leaf size, rhizome length, root length, and content and accumulation of Ginsenoside Rg1 were better than those of KCl. While compared with K2SO4, KCl was more conducive to augmenting height, root width, the biomass of shoot, rhizome, root and the content of Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd. There was not remarkable difference in agronomic characters, biomass and the content of N, P, K among KCl, K2SO4 and the combination of KCl and K2SO4. However, the content of saponin of the treatment with combination of KCl and K2SO4 was significant higher than that of single KCl or K2SO4 treatments. K fertilizer significantly increased yield and the content of saponins. And P. notoginseng was not sensitive to chloridion. KCl increased the yield and the content of saponins of P. notoginseng as well as K2SO4, and the combination treatment was superior to single treatment. It is recommended that the KCl should be adopted in production, to reduce the cost of potash fertilizer.