Regulation of extracellular ATP onchlorophyll content and fluorescence characteristics of Angelica sinensis seedlings under drought and low temperature stress / 中国中药杂志

As an important signal molecule, extracellular ATP(eATP) can regulate many physiological and biochemical responses to plant stress. In this study, the regulation of extracellular ATP(eATP) on chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Angelica sinensis seedlings were studied under drought and low temperature stress. The results showed that all the chlorophyll content, the actual photochemical efficiency [Y(Ⅱ)], the electron transfer rate(ETR), the photochemical quenching coefficient(qP and qL) of A. sinensis leaves were significantly decreased under drought and low temperature stress, respectively. At the same time, non-photochemical quenching(NPQ and qN) were also all significantly increased, respectively. The application of eATP alleviated the decrease of chlorophyll content, Y(Ⅱ), ETR, qP and qL of A. sinensis leaves under drought and low temperature stress, and eliminated the increase of qN and NPQ. The results indicated that eATP could effectively increase the open ratio of PSⅡ reaction centers, and improve the electron transfer rate and light energy conversion efficiency of PSⅡ of A. sinensis leaves under drought and low temperature stress. It is beneficial to enhance the chlorophyll synthesis and the adaptability of PSⅡ about A. sinensis seedlings to drought and low temperature stress.

Physiological effects of cadmium stress on Astragalus membranaceus seedlings and alleviative effects of attapulgite clay on cadmium stress / 中国中药杂志

In this study we investigate the effects of cadmium stress on Astragalus membranaceus seedlings and the alleviative effects of attapulgite clay in growth substrate on cadmium stress to A. membranaceus seedlings. The results showed that the Y (Ⅱ) (effective photochemical quantum yield of PSⅡ photosynthetic), qP(photochemical quenching coefficient), ETR(the rate of non-cyclic electrontransport through PSⅡ), and chlorophyll content of the leaves were significantly decreased with the increase of cadmium concentrations, while the cadmium content, non-photochemical quenching(NPQ, qN) of the leaves and cadmium content, MDA content, plasma membrane permeability, and the damage degree of root apical membrane of the roots were significantly increased. Simultaneously, the activities of APX(ascorbate peroxidase), SOD(superoxide dismutase), POD(peroxidase), CAT(catalase), soluble protein content, and soluble sugar content of roots were increased first but then decreased with the increasing cadmium concentration. Under the condition of without Cd stress, the attapulgite clay into the growth substrate did not significantly affect above physiological indexes of leaves, but significantly increased SOD activity and soluble sugar content of roots and decreased the MDA content, damage degree of root apical membrane of roots, while other physiological indexes did not significantly change. Under cadmium stress, the presence of attapulgite clay in the growth substrate significantly alleviated the cadmium-induced decreases Y (Ⅱ), qP, ETR and chlorophyll content of leaves, and the CAT activity, soluble protein content, and soluble sugar content of roots. Under condition with cadmium stress, the presence of attapulgite clay significantly alleviated the cadmium-induced increases of leaves cadmium content, qN and NPQ, and the cadmium content, MDA content, plasma membrane permeability, damage degree of root apical membrane, SOD, POD, and APX activity of the roots. And, the alleviative effects of attapulgite clay on cadmium stress to A. membranaceus roots were more obvious with the increase of cadmium stress time. The above results showed that the addition of attapulgite clay into the growth substrate has certain alleviative effect on the cadmium stress to A. membranaceus seedlings.

Correlation analysis of internal jugular vein abnormalities and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a special form of stroke with multiple causes and risk factors. However, there are still a portion of cases with unknown reasons. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between internal jugular vein (IJV) abnormalities and the development of CVST.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 51 CVST patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. The diameter, the maximum velocity (Vmax) and the reflux time in bilateral IJVs were measured by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). The paired t test was used to compare the numeric values between the bilateral IJVs. The Pearson chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between IJV abnormality and CVST, IJV abnormality and IJV reflux, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 51 CVST patients, 20 (39%) patients were with normal IJV and 31 (61%) patients were with abnormal IJV. The types of IJV abnormality included annulus stenosis 19 cases (61%), hypoplasia 9 cases (29%), thrombosis 2 cases (7%) and anomalous valve 1 case (3%). In patients with unilateral IJV abnormality, the minimum diameter of the IJV on the lesion side was significantly smaller than that of the contralateral side (P < 0.0001). When compared with contralateral side, the Vmax of the lesion side with unilateral annulus stenosis was significant higher, however, it was obvious lower in patients with unilateral hypoplasia (P < 0.05). Furthermore, among 27 cases with unilateral IJV abnormality, all the CVST occurred on the same side as the IJV lesions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IJV abnormality closely correlated with the development of CVST, which is a newly identified risk factor for CVST.</p>

Hemodynamics alteration after the vertebral artery stenting in patients with bilateral vertebral artery severe stenosis and its relationship with restenosis / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the effect of contralateral vertebral arterial hemodynamics after unilateral vertebral artery stenting and its relationship with restenosis. Methods: A total of 155 patients with severe stenosis (70-99%) at the origin of unilateral vertebral artery confirmed by digital subtract angiography (DSA) and underwent stent implantation were recruited in the study. According to the contralateral vertebral artery lesions, they were divided into 3 groups: normal group (n = 71), severe stenosis group (n = 29 ) and occlusion group (n = 55). Carotid color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and transcranial Dopper (TCD) were performed before stenting, within 1 week, and 1 year after stenting. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) of vertebral arteries at the original part (OS), intervertebral segment(IV) and intracranial (IC) segments were recorded. Results: Circled digit oneCompared to the normal group within 1 week after stenting, the PSVOS and EDV OS of the original part of the stent side vertebral artery in the severe stenosis group increased slightly, but there were no significant differences; the PSVOS and EDVOS in the occlusion group increased significantly (P < 0.05). The PSV and EDV of the intervertebral and intracranial segments at the stent side in the severe stenosis group and the occlusion group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05). The above parameters on the stent sides in the occlusion group were slightly higher than those in the severe stenosis group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Circled digit twoOne year after stenting, 79 patients were followed up with ultrasound. There were 35 patients in the normal group, 15 in the severe stenosis group, and 29 in the occlusion group. The severe stenosis group and occlusion group were combined and analyzed (lesion group). PSVos and EDVos of stent side in the lesion group were significantly higher than those in the normal group; the restenosis rate of stent side in the normal group was 34.3% (12/35), while that in the lesion group was 56.8% (25/44). There were significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Circled digit threeMultivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the severe lesion (severe stenosis or occlusion) of the contralateral vertebral artery was an independent risk factor for restenosis on the stent side (OR, 3.261, 95% CI: 1.174 to 9.058). Conclusion: When there is severe lesions at the original part of bilateral vertebral artery, the stent side of vertebral artery after stenting may immediately play a compensatory role for the blood flow on the non-stent side, however, this compensatory role is also one of the risk factors for occurring in-stent restenosis.

Effects of anterior communicating artery patency on the hemodynamic alteration of contralateral extracranial-intracranial artery after severe unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective: To study the effects of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) patency on the hemodynamic alteration in contralateral extracranial-intracranial artery after severe stenosis (70% to 99%) or occlusion of unilateral extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight patients with severe unilateral ICA stenosis or occlusion and normal or stenosis <50% (referred to relatively normal) of the contralateral ICA were enrolled in the study. Among them, there were 113 patients with and 115 without patent ACoA. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was used to measure the diameters of bilateral proximal ICA, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), the end-diastolic flow velocity (EDV), and the vascular resistance index (RI). Transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used to measure the PSV, EDV, and pulsatility index (PI) of the bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA). The effects of ACoA patency on the hemodynamics of ICA, MCA and ACA of the relatively normal side were analyzed. Results: Circled digit oneThere was no significant difference in the diameter of ICA on the relatively normal side between the ACoA unpatent group and the ACoA patent group. The PSV and EDV on the relatively normal side in the ACoA patent group were higher than those in the ACoA unpatent group (P < 0.000) while the RI was lower than that in the ACoA unpatent group (P = 0.001). Circled digit twoThe PSV and EDV of MCA and ACA on the ICA relatively normal side in the ACoA patent group were higher than those in the ACoA unpatent group (P = 0.000) and the PI was lower than that in the ACoA unpatent group, however, there was significant difference only in PI of ACA between the two groups (P = 0.007). Circled digit oneThe correlation analysis showed that the mean velocity of MCA and ACA on the relatively normal side was positively correlated with that of ICA (r = 0.587, 0.346, P = 0.000). Conclusion: When one side of ICA is severely stenotic or occlusion, the ACoA patency will directly influence the hemodynamic alteration of the extracranial ICA as well as MCA and ACA on the other side.

Evaluation of the effect of atorvastatin on preventing restenosis after vertebral artery stenting with color Doppler flow imaging / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on the prevention of restenosis after vertebral artery origin stenting with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). Methods: A total of 59 patients with complete clinical data underwent unilateral vertebral artery origin stenting were recruited in the study. The patients were divided into drug (n =29) and non-drug (n =30) groups according to whether they took atorvastatin (20 mg/d) or not. All the patients were detected by CDFI before and at 1, 6, and 12 months after stenting. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) at the proximal (PSVOS) and intervertebral segments of vertebral artery (PSVIV) were recorded and the ratio of PSVOS/PSVIV was calculated. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed that the in-stent stenosis rate ≥50% was determined as postoperative restenosis. The incidence of restenosis and hemodynamic changes were compared between the two groups. Results: Circled digit oneThe restenosis rates of the drug and non-drug groups at 6 months after stenting were 20.7% (6/29) and 36.7% (11/30) respectively (P >0.05); the restenosis rate (50.0%) of the non-drug group(50%) was significantly higher than that of the drug group (20.7%) at 12 months after stenting (P < 0.05). Circled digit twoThe PSV OS and PSVOS/PSVIV of the patients in both groups at 1 month after stenting were improved more significantly than those before the procedure. PSVOS(187±18 cm/s, 179±20 cm/s) and PSVOS/PSVIV(3.93±0.59, 3.24±0.48) were relatively increased in the non-drug group at 6 months after the procedure, but there was no significant difference. PSVOS (209±21 cm/s, 159±16cm/s) and PSVOS/PSVIV (4.34±0.65, 2.86±0.36) in the non-drug group at 12 months after stenting were significantly higher than those in the drug group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Atorvastatin can decrease the restenosis rate after vertebral artery stenting. With the prolonged time of drug treatment, it may affect the hemodynamic changes in the abnormal vessels.

RP-HPLC determination of betulinic acid in Callicarpa macrophylla / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an RP-HPLC method for determination of betulinic acid in Callicarpa macrophylla, a commonly used herbal in Yunnan.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A Kromasil-C18 column (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm) and a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid (63: 37) were used. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the UV detector wavelength was 205 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Betulinic acid was well separated from other compounds in C. macrophylla. The content of betulinic acid in C. macrophylla from different origins showed apparent differences, the content of betulinic acid in C. macrophylla from Yunnan was the highest. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.016 6-0.332 mg x mL(-1) of betulinic acid with correlation coefficient 0.999 8. The average recovery of betulinic acid was 98.5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and is suitable for the quality control of C. macrophylla.</p>