Endoscopic ultrasonography improving the operation effect for detecting precisely the origin and histology characteristics of esophageal leiomyoma / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate whether assessment of the tumor origin and histological features through endoscopic ultrasonography could improve the operative efficacy of endoscopic resection of esophageal leiomyoma. Methods The clinical data of patients with esophageal submucosal tumor who were treated in our department and diagnosed as leiomyoma pathologically from January 2016 to June 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 58 patients with esophageal leiomyoma underwent endoscopic resection following evaluation of endoscopic ultrasonography. The en bloc resection rate, operation time, hospitalization day, and complications were evaluated. Results Preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography showed that leiomyoma originated from muscularis mucosa in 39 cases and muscularis propria in 19 cases. The mean tumor size was 1.50 (0.2-6.5) cm, and 20 cases underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), 32 cases underwent endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE), and 6 cases underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER). The overall en bloc rate was 96.6%. The mean operation time was 38.29 (15-100) min. The postoperative complication rate was 15.5% (9/58), and all were recovered after conservative treatment. Among the 39 cases originated from the muscularis mucosa, 20 cases underwent EMR and 19 cases underwent ESE. There were no significant differences in tumor size and complications between the two groups, but the operative time and the length of postoperative hospitalization in the EMR group were significantly shorter (P < 0.05). Among the 19 patients originated from the muscularis propria, 13 cases underwent ESE and 6 cases underwent STER. There were no significant differences in tumor size, operative time, the length of postoperative hospitalization and complications between the two groups. Conclusion Preoperastive endoscopic ultrasonography could precisely detect the origin and histology characteristics of esophageal leiomyoma and improves the operation effect.

Transcriptome characterization of Ephedra sinica with 454 ESTs / 中国中药杂志

Using the latest 454 GS FLX platform and Titanium regent, a substantial expressed sequence tag (ESTs) dataset of Ephedra sinica was produced, and the profile of gene expression and function gene of which were investigated. A total of 48 389 reads with an average length of 373 bp were generated. These 454 reads were assembled into 18 801 unigenes, which were all 454 sequencing identified. A total number of 10 531 unigenes(56.0%) were annotated using BLAST searches (E-value≤1×10⁻⁵) against the Nr, Nt, TAIR, SwissProt and KEGG databases. With respect to genes related to ephedrine biosynthesis, 19 unigenes(encoding 9 enzymes) were found. A total of 97 putative genes encoding cytochrome P450s were also discovered. Data presented in this study will provide an important resource for the scientific community that is interested in the functional genomics and secondary metabolism of E. sinica.

Cloning and bioinformatic analysis of PqERF1 gene in Panax quinquefolius / 药学学报

ERF family transcription factor (TF) represented ethylene-responsive protein which harbored a conserved AP2 domain. After searching the plant transcription factor database, a total of 75 unigenes was found which contained AP2 domain from the transcriptome dataset of Panax quinquefolius L. One unique sequence of ERF transcript, named as PqERF1, was cloned with entire open reading frame of 933 base pairs (bp). Protein prediction result indicated that the gene was localized in nucleus and had a conserved AP2 domain. PqERF1 gene could be induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) which was consistent to the inducing profile of triterpene ginsenosides. InterproScan prediction indicated that PqERF1 was probably a pathogenesis-related gene. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated PqERF1 was with high identity and had relative close relationship to the NtERF4 (Nicotiana tabacum), PhERF12 (Petunia x hybrida) and DcERF1 (Daucus carota) which was related to plant defense, regulation of secondary metabolism and the flower senescence respectively. Therefore, the gene was likely involved in regulation of secondary metabolism, plant defense and physical processes which would provide gene resource for further study on secondary metabolite synthesis and molecular breeding of P. quinquefolius.

Strategies of the study on herb genome program / 药学学报

Herb Genome Program (HerbGP) includes a series of projects on whole genome sequencing (WGS) and post-genomics research of medicinal plants with unique secondary metabolism pathways or/and those of great medical and pharmaceutical importance. In this paper, we systematically discussed the strategy of HerbGP, from species selection, whole-genome sequencing, assembly and bioinformatics analysis, to postgenomics research. HerbGP will push study on Chinese traditional medicines into the front field of life science, by selecting a series of plants with unique secondary metabolism pathways as models and introducing "omics" methods into the research of these medicinal plants. HerbGP will provide great opportunities for China to be the leader in the basic research field of traditional Chinese medicine. HerbGP shall also have significant impacts on the R&D of natural medicines and the development of medicinal farming by analysis of secondary metabolic pathways and selection of cultivars with good agricultural traits.