Effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion. MethodsFrom February to October, 2023, 30 stroke patients with lateropulsion in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 15) randomly. The control group received routine rehabilitation and sham galvanic vestibular stimulation, and the experimental group received routine rehabilitation and true galvanic vestibular stimulation, for two weeks. They were assessed with Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP), subjective visual vertical (SVV), Line Cancellation Test (LCT), Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 2.461, Z > 3.000, P < 0.05), except the SVV orientation, SVV certainty and SCT in the control group; while the SCP, SVV certainty, LCT and FAC were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.189, Z = -2.862, P < 0.05), and the differences before and after intervention were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.382, P < 0.05), except LCT. SCP was correlated with SVV orientation, SVV certainty, SCT, BBS, BI and FAC (|r| > 0.381, P < 0.05). ConclusionGalvanic vestibular stimulation can improve the lateropulsion, balance, walking function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, which may be related to improvement for spatial cognitive function, especially vertical perception.

Effect of modified Baduanjin exercise on cardiopulmonary function, motor function and activities of daily living for stroke patients / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of modified Baduanjin exercise, as an rehabilitation exercise, on cardiopulmonary function, motor function and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. MethodsFrom January to September, 2023, 42 stroke patients in the Nanjing Qixia District Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 21) and experimental group (n = 21). The control group received routine rehabilitation, and the experimental group received modified Baduanjin exercise in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), peak oxygen pulse (VO2peak/HR), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremities (FMA-UE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after intervention. ResultsVO2peak, AT, and the scores of FMA-UE, BBS and MBI improved in the control group after intervention (|t| > 2.256, |Z| > 2.936, P < 0.05); while VO2peak, AT, VO2peak/HR, FVC, FEV1, PEF, and the scores of FMA-UE, BBS and MBI improved in the experimental group (|t| > 4.390, |Z| > 3.451, P < 0.001); and all the indexes were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 4.136，|Z| > 2.751，P < 0.01), except the scores of BBS and MBI. ConclusionModified Baduanjin exercise can improve the cardiopulmonary function and upper limb motor function for stroke patients.

Effectiveness of whole-body vibration training on exercise ability and quality of life of COPD patients: a Meta-analysis / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of whole-body vibration training on exercise ability and quality of life in patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:Randomized controlled trials on the application of whole-body vibration training in COPD patients were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, EMbase, Web of Science, Wanfang, VIP, CNKI, Chinese biomedical literature database, and the literature was independently screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the data were extracted, a literature quality evaluation was performed, and the data were meta analyzed by using RevMan5.3.Results:A total of 9 RCTs was included in this study. Meta-analysis results showed that whole-body vibration training could improve the exercise endurance in COPD patients ( WMD=41.65, 95%CI 6.68-76.63, P=0.02), and improve their balance ability ( WMD=-2.31, 95%CI-3.38--1.23, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in improving BODE index, quality of life and lung function in COPD patients ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Whole-body vibration training helps improve exercise endurance and balance in COPD patients as a complementary or alternative exercise method for COPD patients. The impact on BODE index, quality of life, and lung function still needs further evaluation through clinical multicenter, large sample, high-quality research.

Clinical characteristics and related factors of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated by obstructive sleep apnea / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and related factors of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Methods:The clinical data of 153 patients with COPD who received treatment in Xiangyang First People's Hospital from July 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 101 patients with complete data regarding pulmonary function and polysomnography who met inclusion criteria were selected. They were divided into simple COPD (COPD group, n = 33) and COPD + OSA (OS group, n = 68) groups according to whether they developed OSA. General clinical data, pulmonary function indexes and polysomnography indexes were compared between the COPD and OS groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the degree of airflow limitation and the related factors of COPD combined with OSA. Results:There were more males than females in each group. In the OS group, the proportion of males, body mass index, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), forced expiratory volume in 1 second percent predicted (FEV 1%pred), the ratio of FEV 1 to forced vital capacity (FVC), apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index in the OS group were 92.6%, 24.0 (23.4, 24.8) kg/m 2, 1.2 (1.2, 1.5) L, 50.0 (49.6, 59.4)%, 49.1 (46.9, 53.0)%, 15.4 (16.4, 25.3) times/h, 14.8 (17.3, 25.6) times/h, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the COPD group [75.8%, 23.0 (21.6, 23.7) kg/m 2, 0.9 (0.9, 1.1) L, 41.0 (38.3, 49.1) %, 41.9 (39.5, 49.24)%, 1.9 (1.6, 2.4) times/h, 4.0 (3.7, 9.7) times/h, t or U = 4.246, 1 399.000, 1 544.500, 1 483.000, 1 407.000, 2 244.000, 1 915.000, all P < 0.05]. The lowest oxygen saturation at night in the OS group was significantly lower than that in the COPD group [81.5 (79.4, 82.6) % vs. 87.0 (80.2, 86.6) %, U = 758.500, P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in age, smoking index and forced vital capacity between COPD and OS groups ( t = - 0.963, 1 150.000, - 1.954, all P > 0.05). Correlation and Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of severe or very severe airflow limitation was lower in the OS group than in the COPD group ( OR = 0.392, P < 0.05). BMI, FEV 1, FEV 1%pred were the risk factors of COPD combined with OSA ( OR = 1.185, 5.554, 1.034, all P < 0.05). BMI and FEV 1 were the independent risk factors of COPD combined with OSA ( OR = 1.168, 5.248, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:COPD and OSA are more common in males and in patients with higher BMI. OSA patients tend to develop lower degree of airflow limitation and more severe hypoxemia and apnea-hypopnea at night than COPD patients. Apnea-hypopnea index is the protective factor against airflow limitation in COPD. BMI, FEV 1 and FEV 1%pred are the risk factors of COPD combined with OSA. BMI and FEV 1 are the independent risk factors of COPD combined with OSA.

In Vitro Activity of the Novel Tetracyclines, Tigecycline, Eravacycline, and Omadacycline, Against Moraxella catarrhalis

Background@#Tigecycline, eravacycline, and omadacycline are recently developed tetracyclines. Susceptibility of microbes to these tetracyclines and their molecular mechanisms have not been well elucidated. We investigated the susceptibility of Moraxella catarrhalis to tigecycline, eravacycline, and omadacycline and its resistance mechanisms against these tetracyclines. @*Methods@#A total of 207 non-duplicate M. catarrhalis isolates were collected from different inpatients. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the tetracyclines were determined by broth microdilution. Tigecycline-, eravacycline-, or omadacycline-resistant isolates were induced under In Vitro pressure. The tet genes and mutations in the 16S rRNA was detected by PCR and sequencing. @*Results@#Eravacycline had a lower MIC50 (0.06 mg/L) than tigecycline (0.125 mg/L) or omadacycline (0.125 mg/L) against M. catarrhalis isolates. We found that 136 isolates (65.7%) had the tetB gene, and 15 (7.2%) isolates were positive for tetL; however, their presence was not correlated with high tigecycline, eravacycline, or omadacycline ( ≥ 1 mg/L) MICs.Compared with the initial MIC after 160 days of induction, the MICs of tigecycline or eravacycline against three M. catarrhalis isolates increased ≥ eight-fold, while those of omadacycline against two M. catarrhalis isolates increased 64-fold. Mutations in the 16S rRNA genes (C1036T and/or G460A) were observed in omadacycline-induced resistant isolates, and increased RR (the genes encoding 16SrRNA (four copies, RR1-RR4) copy number of 16S rRNA genes with mutations was associated with increased resistance to omadacycline. @*Conclusions@#Tigecycline, eravacycline, and omadacycline exhibited robust antimicrobial effects against M. catarrhalis. Mutations in the 16S rRNA genes contributed to omadacycline resistance in M. catarrhalis.

Staging and typing of chest CT images: A quantitative analysis based on an ambispective observational cohort study of 125 patients with COVID-19 in Xiangyang, China

BackgroundThe stage of CT images was rarely studied and the relationship between the severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and CT images has not been studied based on systematic quantitative analysis currently. PurposeTo investigate the staging duration and classification of CT images of patients with COVID-19 based on quantitative analysis. Materials and MethodsThis is an ambispective observational cohort study based on 125 patients with COVID-19 from Jan 23 to Feb 28, 2020. The stage of CT and pulmonary lesion size were quantitatively analyzed. The categorical regression analysis based on optimal scale (CATREG) was performed to evaluate the association of CT score, age, and gender with the clinical type. ResultsThe CT images of 125 patients with COVID-19 (50.13 {+/-} 16.91 years, 66 women) were analyzed in this study. Except for pre-early stage, the duration of early, progression-consolidation, and dissipation stage of CT images was 3.40 {+/-} 2.31, 10.07 {+/-} 4.91, and 20.60 {+/-} 7.64 days, respectively. The median CT score was 5.00 (2.00-8.50) during the first 30 days, which reached a peak on the 11th day. Significant differences were found between the median CT scores of different clinical types (P<0.05). Besides, the age was correlated with the clinical type (P<0.001), the CT scores of 0.00-11.50, 11.50-16.00, and 16.00-20.00 were separately correlated with the moderate, severe, and critical type with the output accuracy 69.60%. ConclusionThe four-stage staging method based on quantitative analysis is consistent with the change rules of staging features and COVID-19. Quantitative study by scoring pulmonary lesion sizes accurately revealed the evolvement of pulmonary lesions and differences between different clinical types. SummaryQuantitative study of the stage duration and classification of chest CT images can objectively reveal the relationship between Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and chest CT images. Key Results1. A four-stage staging method was proposed. Except for pre-early stage, the duration of early, progression-consolidation, and dissipation stage of CT images was 3.40 {+/-} 2.31, 10.07 {+/-} 4.91, and 20.60 {+/-} 7.64 days, respectively. 2. The severer the disease, the higher the median CT scores and their peak value. 3. The CT scores of 0.00-11.50, 11.50-16.00, and 16.00-20.00 were separately correlated with the moderate, severe, and critical type.

A quantitative exploration of symptoms in COVID-19 patients: an observational cohort study

BackgroundAs the spreading of the COVID-19 around the global, we investigated the characteristics and changes of symptoms in COVID-19 patients. MethodsThis was an ambispective observational cohort study, and 133 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and all symptoms over the course were analyzed qualitatively. The symptoms, their changes over the course in the cohort and in the different clinical types, etc. were illustrated. Differences in different periods and severities were analyzed through Chi square test, association with severity was analyzed through LASSO binomial logistic regression analysis. Inter-correlation and classification of symptoms were completed. Major symptoms were screened and their changes were illustrated. ResultsA total of 43 symptoms with frequencies as 6067 in this cohort. Differences of symptoms in different stages and clinical types were significant. Expectoration, shortness of breath, dyspnea, diarrhea, poor appetite were positively but vomiting, waist discomfort, pharyngeal discomfort, acid reflux were negatively correlated with the combined-severe and critical type; dyspnea was correlated with the critical type. The 17 major symptoms were identified. The average daily frequency of symptoms per case was decreased continuously before the transition into the severe type and increased immediately one day before the transition and then decreased. It was decreased continuously before the transition date of the critical type and increased from the transition into the critical type to the next day and decreased thereafter. Dyspnea (P<0.001), shortness of breath (P<0.01) and chest distress (P<0.05) were correlated with death and their corresponding coefficient was 0.393, 0.258, 0.214, respectively. ConclusionThe symptoms of COVID-19 patients mainly related to upper respiratory tract infection, cardiopulmonary function, and digestive system. The mild type and the early stage in other types mainly related to upper respiratory tract infection. The cardiopulmonary function and digestive system associated symptoms were found in all other types and stages. Dyspnea was correlated with critical type and dyspnea, shortness of breath, and chest distress were correlated with death. Respiratory dysfunction (or incompleteness) associated symptoms were the characteristic symptoms. The changes of symptoms did not synchronously with the changes of severity before the transition into the severe or critical type.

Hydroxychloroquine in patients with COVID-19: an open-label, randomized, controlled trial

ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) plus standard-of-care (SOC) compared with SOC alone in adult patients with COVID-19. DesignMulticenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Setting16 government-designated COVID-19 treatment centers in China through 11 to 29 in February 2020. Participants150 patients hospitalized with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were included in the intention to treat analysis. 75 patients were assigned to HCQ plus SOC and 75 to SOC alone. InterventionsHCQ was administrated with a loading dose of 1, 200 mg daily for three days followed by a maintained dose of 800 mg daily for the remaining days (total treatment duration: 2 or 3 weeks for mild/moderate or severe patients, respectively). Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was whether participants had a negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 by 28 days, and was analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Adverse events were analyzed in the safety population in which HCQ recipients were participants who actually received at least one dose of HCQ and HCQ non-recipients were those actually managed with SOC alone. ResultsAmong 150 patients, 148 were with mild to moderate disease and 2 were with severe disease. The mean days ({+/-} standard deviation, min to max) from symptoms onset to randomization was 16.6 ({+/-}10.5 days, 3 to 41 days). The negative conversion probability by 28 days in SOC plus HCQ group was 85.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 73.8% to 93.8%), similar to that in the SOC group 81.3% (95%CI 71.2% to 89.6%). Between-group difference was 4.1% (95%CI -10.3% to 18.5%). In the safety population, adverse events were recorded in 7 (8.8%) HCQ non-recipients (N=80) and in 21 (30%) HCQ recipients (N=70). The most common adverse event in the HCQ recipients was diarrhea, reported in 7 (10%) patients. Two HCQ recipients reported serious adverse events. ConclusionsThe administration of HCQ did not result in a significantly higher negative conversion probability than SOC alone in patients mainly hospitalized with persistent mild to moderate COVID-19. Adverse events were higher in HCQ recipients than in HCQ non-recipients. Trial registrationChiCTR2000029868 What is already known on this topic-- The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposes substantial burdens on individuals, communities, health-care facilities, markets, governments, etc. globally. -- There is no specific treatment approved for COVID-19 or vaccine to prevent infection with the novel coronavirus. -- During the urgent pandemic, media headlines the utility of drugs without solid evidence but buries the side-effects of these drugs. What this study adds-- In this randomized clinical trial of patients mainly with persistent mild to moderate COVID-19, exposure to hydroxychloroquine led to a similar probability of virus elimination comparing to the current standard-of-care. -- Adverse events, mostly gastrointestinal related, were significantly increased in patients who received hydroxychloroquine. -- Overall, the results from our trial do not support the use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with persistent mild to moderate COVID-19. Print abstractO_ST_ABSStudy questionC_ST_ABSTo assess the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) plus standard-of-care (SOC) compared with SOC alone in adult patients with COVID-19. MethodsThis is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in 16 government-designated COVID-19 treatment centers in China through 11 to 29 in February 2020. A total of 150 patients hospitalized with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were included in the intention to treat analysis. Among them, 75 patients were assigned to HCQ plus SOC and 75 to SOC alone. HCQ was administrated with a loading dose of 1, 200 mg daily for three days followed by a maintained dose of 800 mg daily for the remaining days (total treatment duration: 2 or 3 weeks for mild/moderate or severe patients, respectively). The primary outcome was whether participants had a negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 by 28 days, and was analyzed according to the intention to treat principle. Adverse events were analyzed in the safety population in which HCQ recipients were participants who actually received at least one dose of HCQ and HCQ non-recipients were those actually managed with SOC alone. Study answer and limitationsAmong 150 patients, 148 were with mild to moderate disease and 2 were with severe disease. The mean days ({+/-} standard deviation, min to max) from symptoms onset to randomization was 16.6 ({+/-}10.5 days, 3 to 41 days). The negative conversion probability by 28 days in SOC plus HCQ group was 85.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 73.8% to 93.8%), similar to that in the SOC group 81.3% (95%CI 71.2% to 89.6%). Between-group difference was 4.1% (95%CI -10.3% to 18.5%). In the safety population, adverse events were recorded in 7 (8.8%) HCQ non-recipients (N=80) and in 21 (30%) HCQ recipients (N=70) with two serious adverse events. The most common adverse event in the HCQ recipients was diarrhea, reported in 7 (10%) patients. Two HCQ recipients reported serious adverse events. What this study addsOur trial does not support the use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with persistent mild to moderate COVID-19 due to limited effects on virus eliminating and significantly increased adverse events. Funding, competing interests, data sharingThis work was supported by the Emergent Projects of National Science and Technology (2020YFC0844500), National Natural Science Foundation of China (81970020, 81770025), National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0901104), Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty (shslczdzk02202, shslczdzk01103), National Innovative Research Team of High-level Local Universities in Shanghai, Shanghai Key Discipline for Respiratory Diseases (2017ZZ02014), National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for Significant New Drugs Development (2017ZX09304007), Key Projects in the National Science and Technology Pillar Program during the Thirteenth Five-year Plan Period (2018ZX09206005-004, 2017ZX10202202-005-004, 2017ZX10203201-008). All authors declared no competing interests. Anonymized datasets can be made available on reasonable request after approval from the trial management committee. Study registrationChiCTR2000029868

The cross-sectional study of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Xiangyang, Hubei province

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized patients and to offer suggestions to the urgent needs of COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis and treatment. MethodsWe included 102 confirmed COVID-19 cases hospitalized in Xiangyang No.1 peoples hospital, Hubei, China until Feb 9th, 2020. Demographic data, laboratory findings and chest computed tomographic (CT) images were obtained and analyzed. FindingsAll cases were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR, including 52 males and 50 females with a mean age of 50.38 years (SD 16.86). Incubation time ranged from one to twenty days with a mean period of 8.09 days (SD 4.99). Fever (86[84.3%] of 102 patients), cough (58[57%]), fatigue (28[27%]), shortness of breath (24[23%]), diarrhea (15[15%]), expectoration (13[12%]), inappetence (11[10%]) were common clinical manifestations. We observed a decreased blood leukocyte count and lymphopenia in 21 (20.6%) and 56 (54.9%) patients, respectively. There were 66 (68%) of 97 patients with elevated C-reactive protein levels and 49 (57.6%) of 85 with increased erythrocytes sedimentation rate. Higher levels of procalcitonin and ferritin were observed in 19 (25.3%) of 75 and 12 (92.3%) of 13 patients, respectively. Eight patients were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), six developed respiratory failure, three had multiple organ failure and three died. The cumulative positivity rate over three rounds of real-time RT-PCR was 96%. One-hundred patients were found with typical radiological abnormalities in two rounds of chest CT scans, indicating a 98% consistency with real-time RT-PCR results. InterpretationMost COVID-19 patients in Xiangyang were secondary cases without sex difference, and the rate of severe case and death was low. Middle-to-old-age individuals were more susceptible to the virus infection and the subsequent development of severe/fatal consequences. The average incubation period was longer among our patients. We recommend prolonging the quarantine period to three weeks. Three times real-time RT-PCR plus two times CT scans is a practical clinical diagnosis strategy at present and should be used to increase the accuracy of diagnosis, thereby controlling the source of infection more effectively.

Research Development in Biosynthesis and Metabolic Regulation of Tetracyclic Triterpenoid Saponins in Medicinal Plants / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Triterpenoid saponins is an important secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, and the tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins, as one of the main categories, have very high medicinal value and market demand. However, there is no systematic review on the research. Thus, the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway and metabolism of the medicinal plant tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins has important theoretical significance and broad application prospects.In this review, the biosynthetic pathway and metabolic regulation of medicinal plant of tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins were discussed. My focus in this paper was to introduce the research development of several metabolic biosynthetic pathways of tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins centered on dammarane type, and the gene improvement by methods such as metabolic pathway and other technological methods. This study provides references on secondary metabolic framework of medicinal plants of tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins, accurately locating secondary metabolism and its key enzymes, and promoting the sustainable uses of medicinal plant resources.

Progress of Symbiosis between Medicinal Plants And Microorganisms / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Medicinal plants and microorganisms show a close relationship,both of which are from the plantmicroorganism symbiont system and interact mutually.Microorganisms are closely related to the growth,reproduction and secondary metabolic activities of medicinal plants.The symbiotic relationship between medicinal plants and microbes is the hotspot of medicinal plants in recent years.This paper summarized the relationship between medicinal plants and microorganisms.It reviewed the effects of medicinal plant species and root exudates on the microbial community composition and diversity,the effects of medicinal plant rhizosphere microbes on plant growth,the specificity of microorganism and the molecular recognition mechanism of medicinal plants and microorganisms.This article also provided the basis for excavation and utilization of the mechanism of interaction between medicinal plants and microorganisms,which were significance for the effective use of microbial growth mechanism to improve the stress resistance of medicinal plants,to increase the yield and to improve the quality of medicinal plants.

Major Diseases of Panax notoginseng And Their Control Strategies / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

The occurrence of Panax notoginseng diseases seriously constrains its economic yield,which has becoming one of the main factors that hinders the development of P.notoginseng.For the sustainable development of P.notoginseng industry,this study summarized the pathogens,incidence conditions,transmissions and control methods of main P.notoginseng diseases.This paper elaborated that the prevention of major P.notoginseng diseases should be a comprehensive strategy based on agricultural,chemical and biological control.The disease prevention-control system of focusing on prevention and comprehensive management should be established.The breeding of new varieties should be strengthened to improve the disease resistance and to promote the sustainable development of P.notoginseng industry.

Pollen viability and stigma receptivity of Angelica dahurica from Sichuan and Hebei province / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide theoretical basis for artificial cross breeding of Angelica dahurica from Sichuan and Hebei Province, the characteristics of stigma receptivity and the viability and life-span of pollen were studied.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The viability and life-span of pollen were evaluated by TTC (2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazlium chloride) test, and the stigma receptivity was estimated by benzidine-H2O2 method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The pollen viability of A. dahurica from Sichuan and Hebei provinces was increased gradually since the bud stage, but those levels had since subsided after the pollen release from craze antheral. There was a little difference in the pollen viability of A. dahurica from Sichuan at different branches. While the order of the pollen viability of A. dahurica from Hebei was main stem < first-order branching < second-order branching. At room temperature, the pollen viability of both decreased during time of anthers dehiscing but also above 50% after 5 days. Compared with 4 degrees C and room temperature, conservation at - 20 degrees C could extend life of the pollen. The stigma had receptivity in 4th day and reached the highest level in the 6th day after blooming.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The optimum artificial pollination times of A. dahurica was 6 days after blooming and choose the pollen in the peak stage of anthers dehiscing.</p>

Dynamic research of growth, N, P, K and active ingredients in Angelica dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the absorption and transformation of N, P, K and plant growth as well as the accumulation of active ingredients in Angelica dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province and provide basis for rational fertilization.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Samples were collected in different growth phrases, and correlative morphological indexes, the contents and accumulations of N, P, K and active ingredients were determined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The vegetative growth period of A. dahurica var. formosana sowed in autumn could be preliminarily divided into three phases: seedling period, aerial-part peak growth period and root peak growth period. With the development, the plant height and aerial part dry weight increased at the earlier stage, and then decreased. But the root length, root diameter, and root dry weight increased. The absorptive capacity of N, P and K varied among different developing stages. In general, the absorptive capacity of N and K was the higher than that of P. The order of total nutrition accumulation was N > P > K, the accumulation of N, P and K in aerial part decreased gradually during the growth period, while the accumulation of N, P and K in root increased gradually. The concentration of imperatorin and isoimperatorin showed decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing trend, while the accumulation of them increased gradually. And the correlation analysis results showed that the accumulation of P and K in aerial part had positive correlation with the concentration of imperatorin in root, the accumulation of N, P and K in root had positive correlation with the concentration of isoimperatorin in root.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>From late April, A. dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province entered root peak growth period and the accumulation of N, P, K, imperatorin and isoimperatorin in root increased rapidly. So the balanced application of fertilizer should be considered.</p>

Drought resistance of Angelica dahurica during seedling stage under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-simulated drought stress / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the optimum conditions of simulated drought stress, and screen the indexes of drought resistance and comprehensively assess the drought resistance of the Angelica dahurica resources during seedling stage.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Investigations were carried out on the changes of height, root length, root-shoot ration, contents of soluble sugar, proline and malondialdehyde under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-simulated drought stress. A comprehensive evaluation on the drought resistance of different (varietal) species of A. dahurica during seedling stage was applied by using the method of subordinate function. And the drought resistance indexes were selected out by applying the method of grey correlative degree analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Drought stress of 9 days with 20% PEG was the optimum condition for the simulation of drought stress. The results showed that the drought resistant capability decreased in the order as follows, A. dahurica from Sichuan province, A. dahurica from Henan province, A. dahurica from Hebei province and A. dahurica from Zhejiang province. And the order of correlative degree of drought resistance and indexes was: soluble sugar > root length > proline > root-shoot ration > total content of chlorophyll > chlorophyll b > chlorophyll a > height > malondialdehyde.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Osmotic adjustment substance and the indexes related to the root have more influence on the drought resistance of A. dahurica during seedling stage. A. dahurica from Sichuan province shows the highest drought resistance during seedling stage.</p>

Effect of kidney and spleen-tonifying and blood flow-promoting traditional Chinese prescription on serum interleukin-6 in rats with senile osteoporosis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the effects of cytokines on osteoporosis have Received much attention, and of these cytokines, interleukin-6(IL-6) is considered to play an important role in the regulation of bone absorption.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of bone mineral density(BMD) and serum IL-6 rats with in senile osteoporosis after reperfusion with kidney and spleen-tonifying and blood flow-promoting prescription of traditional Chinese medicine.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental study based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Second Department of Cadre, Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA; department of regimen and rehabilitation in a college of traditional Chinese medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Center of Experimental Animals, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May and August 2003. Thirty 15-month-old Wistar rats(15 males and 15 females) were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology.METHODS: According to random number table method, 30 rats were divided into normal control group, pathological control group and traditional Chinese prescription treatment group. Rat models of senile osteoporosis were established in the latter two groups by injection with 2.5 mg/kg dexamethasone given twice a weeks for 6 consecutive weeks. Rats in normal control group and pathological control group were given oral administration of saline,and those in the treatment group were treated with the traditional Chinese prescription. After 6 weeks of treatment, blood samples were obtained from all rats by removing the eyeballs and the serum was separated by centrifugation,followed by truncation of the right hindlimb for dissection of the femoral bone. Serum IL-6 was measured by radioimmunoassay and BMD determined by means of displacement of acetone.MAIN OU TCOME MEASURES: BMD of the femoral bone and serum IL-6 level.RESULTS: The BMD of the pathological control group was significantly lower ( P < 0.01), but the serum IL-6 level was significantly higher( P < 0.01 ) than those of the normal control group. The BMD of the treatment group was significantly higher but serum IL-6 level significantly lower than those of the pathological control group ( P < 0.01 for both comparisons).CONCLUSION: The traditional Chinese prescription can decrease the production of IL-6 and lower serum IL-6 level to reduce the bone loss in senile rats.