Identification of growth years of Hengshan imitative wild culture Astragali Radix and investigation into the accumulation rules of flavonoids and saponins / 药学学报

Currently, the specification grading standard for Astragali Radix can not accurately reflect growth years. The aim of this study is to identify the growth ring number of different parts of 1 to 6 year Hengshan imitative wild culture Astragali Radix, in order to get a different absolute growth years, to classify the accumulation rules of the content of flavonoids and saponins, and to lay the foundation for evaluating quality of Astragali Radix. Observing growth ring numbers of 1-6 years Astragali Radix by means of hand sections and paraffin sections in the study, and analyzing the number of different growth years and different diameter. At the same time, HPLC-UV-ELSD was used to analyze the 12 index components of the samples with absolute growth years of 2 to 6 years. The results indicated that the growth ring number excepting hollow part is consistent with the actual growth period of Astragali Radix and the number of growth rings gradually decreased from the upper to lower. The results of HPLC-UV-ELSD determination showed that the saponins content of 3-year-old Astragali Radix was the highest while the flavonoids content of the 4-year-old reached the maximum. The study provided the basis for foundation of the specification grading standard for Astragali Radix and clinical rational use drug.

Quality comparison between traditional and cultivated Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus grown in Shanxi Hengshan area / 中草药

Objective: To compare the chemical constituents difference between the cultivated Astragali Radix (AR) and those grown in traditional way in Hengshan area of northern Shanxi Province. Methods: 1H-NMR based metabolomics approach combined with content determination based on HPLC-UV-ELSD was used to compare the primary and secondary metabolites in AR of different growing pattern. Results: Twenty-five metabolites were identified in the NMR spectra, and the major metabolites in the aqueous methanol fraction were the primary metabolites, such as amino acids and organic acids, while the fatty acids derivatives were present in the chloroform fraction; Multivariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two kinds of AR for the primary metabolites, but 8, 2'-dihydroxy-7, 4'-dimethoxyisoflavan was only detected in AR grown in traditional way. The results of content determination of six major isoflavonoids and four saponins revealed that the contents of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, ononin, and astragaloside III were higher in AR grown in the traditional way, but astragaloside I was significantly higher in the cultivated AR. Conclusion: The major differences between the cultivated AR and those grown in traditional way are in the secondary metabolites, which indicates that the growing pattern is important for the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolite in AR. The results lay the scientific foundation for the rational utilization of the AR resources in Hengshan Area.

Analysis on rationality of medicinal product commodity specifications from determination of chemical components in Astragalus Radix / 中草药

By summarizing the results of the determination of index chemical composition in the samples of product specification and growth period of Astragalus Radix, we analyze the reason for the contradictions of determination results as follows: The actual growth years of the sample are not clear, the test samples mixed, and we draw the conclusion that the existing commodity classification is not scientific. Proposing a set of methods to identify actual growth years of Astragalus Radix and to carry out the research by comparing the chemical and biological effects with the subjects which we have known the exact growth years. Aiming to get the exterior features associated with its chemical compositions and biological effects to interpret the meaning of "assessing the quality by distinguishing the features of CMM". Finally, to establish the kinds of standards that not only embody the actual growth years of Astragalus Radix, but also for applicable to market transactions

Diagnostic implications of atypical squamous cells of unknown significance with abnormal DNA ploidy for early cervical lesions / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical significance of atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS) with abnormal DNA ploidy in the early diagnosis of cervical lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight thousand four hundred and forty-eight patients were included in this study and all had DNA quantitative analysis and cervical liquid-based cytology. Among 1041 cases with DNA aneuploidy and/or abnormal cervical liquid-based cytology and additional cervical biopsy, histological review was performed in 247 ASCUS cases with abnormal DNA ploidy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Among 8448 cases, 7877 were normal or benign, 426 were ASCUS, 45 were ASC-H, 55 were LSIL and 22 were HSIL by TBS diagnosis. The presence of 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells was detected in 15.3% (65/426) of ASCUS, 11.1% (5/45) of ASC-H, 9.1% (5/55) of LSIL, and 0 (0/22) of HSIL. The presence of ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells was detected in 39.0% (166/426) of ASCUS, 75.6% (34/45) of ASC-H, 76.4% (42/55) of LSIL, and 95.5% (21/22) of HSIL. (2) A total of 67 cases of CIN 2, CIN 3 or cancers were found in 247 patients with ASCUS by colposcopy biopsies, of which 13.9% (5/36) had 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells, 45.5% (56/123) had ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and 6.8% (6/88) had normal DNA polidy. ASCUS with 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and with ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells were compared. The difference was statistically significant (χ(2) = 11.79, P < 0.01). But the difference between ASCUS with 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and normal DNA ploidy had no statistical significance (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ASCUS with ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells has higher risk for developing CIN 2, CIN 3 or invasive carcinoma. The application of DNA quantitative analysis and cervical liquid-based cytology test can help in guiding clinical follow-up and treatment options in patients with ASCUS.</p>

Expression of HER2/neu in meningiomas: an immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization study / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of HER2/neu, Ki-67 and TK1 protein in meningiomas in correlation with tumor grades and recurrence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty cases of each of the following types of meningiomas were selected for the study, namely: the benign non-recurrent, recurrent benign, atypical and malignant, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) histological classification of nervous system, 2007. Immunohistochemistry study for HER2/neu, Ki-67 and TK1 protein was performed. HER2/neu gene amplification was detected using FISH. Cases with HER2 protein overexpression were studied by immunohistochemistry staining. The results of the biomarker assays were also used to study the correlationship with the tumor grades and tumor recurrency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive rates of HER2 expression in non-recurrence benign group, recurrence benign group, atypical group and malignant group were 3 cases (15%), 6 cases (30%), 7 cases (35%), and 10 cases (50%), respectively (P < 0.05). A higher tumor grade was correlated with a higher rate of HER2/neu expression. The Ki-67 and TK1 labeling index (LI) in non-recurrence group were lower than those in the atypical or malignant group (P < 0.05), whereas the atypical group had lower LI than that of the malignant group (P < 0.05). Higher levels of LI of Ki-67 and TK1 were correlated with higher tumor grades and recurrence of the benign meningiomas (P < 0.05). Expression of HER2 was positively correlated with Ki-67 and TK1 (r = 0.445, P < 0.01; r = 0.501, P < 0.01, respectively), and there was a positive correlation between Ki-67 and TK1 (r = 0.450, P < 0.01) as well. HER2/neu gene copy amplification in 7 of 26 cases (26.9%) of HER2 immunopositive meningiomas. The rates of HER2/neu gene amplification were 0 in tumors with 1+ immunopositivity, 4/6 in tumor with 2+ immunopositivity and 3/4 in tumor with 3+ immunopositivity. HER2/neu gene amplification in 3+ and 2+ immunopositive cases had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Aneuploidy of chromosome 17 existed in 9 of 26 of HER2 immunopositive meningiomas (34.6%). However, the rates of chromosome 17 aneuploidy had no significant difference among tumors with variable HER2/neu imumopositivity (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High levels of HER2 and Ki-67 or TK1 expression correlate with the increase of tumor grades and tumor recurrence. HER2/neu gene amplification is seen in a subset of meningiomas with the protein expression (26.9%). A combination of biomarker study including HER2/neu, Ki-67 and TK1 may be useful in predicting the biological behavior of meningiomas.</p>