Transcriptome sequencing and gene expression analysis revealed early ovule abortion of Paeonia ludlowii.

BACKGROUND: Paeonia ludlowii (Stern & G. Taylor D.Y. Hong) belongs to the peony group of the genus Paeonia in the Paeoniaceae family and is now classified as a "critically endangered species" in China. Reproduction is important for this species, and its low fruiting rate has become a critical factor limiting both the expansion of its wild population and its domestic cultivation. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated possible causes of the low fruiting rate and ovule abortion in Paeonia ludlowii. We clarified the characteristics of ovule abortion and the specific time of abortion in Paeonia ludlowii, and used transcriptome sequencing to investigate the mechanism of abortion of ovules in Paeonia ludlowii. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, the ovule abortion characteristics of Paeonia ludlowii were systematically studied for the first time and provide a theoretical basis for the optimal breeding and future cultivation of Paeonia ludlowii.

Large left atrial appendage predicts the ablation outcome in hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation can be influenced by many factors. This study sought to investigate whether left atrial appendage (LAA) volume can predict the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation in hypertensive patients. METHODS: 108 hypertensive patients(aged 63.1 ± 8.1 years, 53.7% male) with paroxysmal or persistent AF undergoing a first catheter ablation were retrospectively evaluated. Contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) was performed in all enrolled patients prior to ablation for assessment of LAA volume and left atrium (LA) anatomy. Patients were followed up for 12 months to analyze the clinical outcomes after AF catheter ablation. RESULTS: 24 patients had AF recurrence after a mean follow-up of 12 months. Patients with AF recurrence (24, 22.2%) exhibited significantly larger (longer) LAA volume, LAA orifice area, LAA orifice short axis, LA volume, LA diameter and higher level of N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) compared to those without AF recurrence. LAA volume correlated with type of AF, LA volume, LA diameter and the level of NT-proBNP. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that LAA volume was an independent predictor of post-ablation AF recurrence in hypertensive patients. Furthermore, LAA volume > 9.99 ml served as a valuable independent predictor of AF recurrence, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 66.7% (area under the curve = 0.733). CONCLUSIONS: LAA volume derived from cardiac CT was an independent predictor of AF recurrence after catheter ablation in hypertensive patients.

Mechanism of Anti-lung Cancer Effect of Xiao Chaihutang Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To predict the action targets of anti-lung cancer active ingredients of Xiao Chaihutang, in order to explore the " multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways" mechanism using network pharmacology. Method::The active ingredients of Xiao Chaihutang that obtained through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), traditional Chinese medicine integrative database for herb molecular mechanism analysis(TCMID) and literature were used to predict the targets by the reversed pharmacophore matching method.To screen out optimization targets, we chose elbow point analysis by using self-developed software TCMKD1.0, and screened out lung cancer-related targets by searching databases, such as Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) and GeneCards, and reviewing literatures.Then components-target network, protein-protein interaction network and targets-pathways network were constructed.The pathway information was acquired with STRING.The Cytoscape 3.6 software was used to construct the ingredients-targets-pathways network of Xiao Chaihutang. Result::The 162 active components in Xiao Chaihutang were obtained, involving 71 anti-lung cancer targets and 11 related pathways.Through topological network analysis, 96 important components, such as quercetin, ginsenosideRh2, formononetin and β-sitosterol were obtained, 28 key targets, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (KDR), cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3), mitogen-activated protein kinase1(MAPK1), hepatocyte growth factor (MET) were received, and 61 core pathways, such as non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, ErbB signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway were acquired. Conclusion::The result suggests that the active components of Xiao Chaihutang against lung cancer may include quercetin, ginsenoside Rh2, 6-shogaol, formononetin, β-sitosterol.And the mechanism may be related to ErbB signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and VEGF signaling pathway.This research provides a scientific basis for further elucidation of the anti-lung cancer pharmacological mechanism of Xiao Chaihutang.

Research on Differential Feature Elements and Characteristic Spectrum of Inorganic Elements Between Calcined Alumen and Its Counterfeit Processed Products Based on ICP-OES/ICP-MS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To provide the new quality control means for Alumen by investigating the elemental differences between calcined Alumen and its counterfeit processed products of ammonium alum, and establishing their characteristic chromatogram. Method: The contents of 22 inorganic elements both in calcined Alumen and processed products of ammonium alum were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-optical emission spectrometer-mass spectrometry (ICP-OES/ICP-MS),SPSS 16.0 was used for cluster analysis (CA) while SIMCA-P 13.0 with t-test and Rank-Sum test was used to identify the differential inorganic elements. In addition, the characteristic spectrum of the inorganic elements for calcined Alumen and counterfeit calcined alumen were established. Result: Calcined Alumen had highest contents of K and Al while counterfeit calcined Alumen has highest contents of Al and Fe;Cr,Sr,and Mn contents in calcined Alumen were relatively higher,while Mn,Ti,and Ga contents in processed products of ammonium alum were relatively higher. The content of K in calcined Alumen was about 205 times of that of counterfeit products. On the contrary,the average contents of Fe,Ti,Mn and Ga in counterfeit products of ammonium alum were much higher than those in calcined Alumen,33,46,38, 27 times, respectively. A total of 18 samples were clustered into two categories in CA:calcined Alumen and processed products of ammonium alum. 18 inorganic elements showed significant difference in contents(PConclusion: This method can be used for quality control of calcined Alumen.

SEM and XRD Identification of Mineral Chinese Medicine Alumen, Calcined Alumen, and Their Processed Products / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: Ammonium alum is a common counterfeit of Alumen,and the processed product of ammonium alum is a common counterfeits of calcined Alumen. This paper aims to establish a method for identifying Alumen,calcined Alumen,ammonium alum and their processed products. Method: The samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X ray diffraction (XRD) in this paper. Result: Ammonium alum and Alumen showed obvious changes in morphology after processing. Both Alumen and ammonium alum showed obvious differences in morphology at×250 and×1 000 times microscope. Alumen presented irregular fragments,clear edge corners,smooth surface,scattered irregular small particles,occasional holes and longitudinal edges. Ammonium alum presented irregular clumps,blunt edges,not obvious edges and corners,uneven surface,scattered smaller and round-like particles. The difference in morphology was not obvious at×250 times microscope between Alumen and ammonium alum processed products. While at×1 000 times,the surface of calcined Alumen was uneven with coarse particles; the surface of counterfeit calcined Alumen was flat,and the coarse particle characteristics were not obvious. XRD can be used to rapidly and accurately identify the primary phase of Alumen,calcined Alumen,ammonium alum and ammonium alum processed products:KAl(SO4)2·12H2O,NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O,KAl(SO4)2,and NH4Al(SO4)2 respectively, with 2θ angle characteristic value of 23,12,22 and 5 respectively for XRD peak. Conclusion: SEM and XRD techniques can be used for the identification of Alumen,calcined Alumen,ammonium alum and their counterfeit products.

Clinical application of DR and spiral CT in the diagnosis of emergency thoracic and abdominal trauma / 中国现代医生

Objective To study the clinical application effect of X-ray computed tomography (DR) and spiral CT in the diagnosis of emergency thoracic and abdominal trauma. Methods A total of 174 patients with emergency thoracic and abdominal trauma admitted in our hospital from November 19, 2016 to November 19, 2017 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent DR and spiral CT examinations. The pathological diagnosis coincidence rate between the two diagnostic methods and the satisfaction with the diagnostic methods between the two groups was compared. Results In terms of pathological diagnosis, the coincidence rate of spiral CT in subcutaneous emphysema, rib fractures, scapular fractures, clavicle fractures, pulmonary contusion, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, atelectasis, mediastinal emphysema, liver injury, spleen injury, kidney injury, pancreas injury, celiac hemorrhage, mesentery laceration and diaphragmatic injury was 100. 00％. Except for pulmonary contusion, mediastinal emphysema, hematoma and kidney injury and pancreatic injury, the pathological diagnosis coincidence rate of spiral CT in the other chest trauma was higher than that of DR diagnosis, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 05). The patients' satisfaction score of spiral CT diag nosis was significantly higher than that of DR diagnosis(P＜0. 05). Conclusion The spiral CT in the diagnosis of emer gency thoracic and abdomen trauma is better, which can improve the clinical diagnosis of coincidence rate, and is worthy of further recommendation.

Diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CTin patients with emergency chest pain / 中国现代医生

Objective To analyze the diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CTin patients with emergency chest pain. Methods 81 patients with chest pain admitted in the Department of Emergency in our hospital from October 27, 2016 to October 27, 2017 were investigated. All patients underwent multi-slice spiral CTexamination. The examination results of multi-slice spiral CTexamination were compared with those of conventional coronary angiography. At the same time, the patient's heart rate and satisfaction during different examinations was compared. Results There were 64 patients with coronary artery stenosis, 9 patients with aortic dissection, 8 patients with pulmonary embolism were detected by multi-slice spiral CT, accounting for 79. 01％, 11. 11％ and 9. 88％ respectively. There were 64 cases of coronary artery stenosis, 10 cases of aortic dissection and 7 cases of pulmonary embolism detected by routine coronary angiography examination, accounting for 79. 01％, 12. 35％ and 8. 64％, respectively. There was no significant difference between the results of the two examination methods (P＞0. 05). There was no significant difference in the level of heart rate between patients with multi-slice spiral CTand those with conventional coronary angiography(P＞0. 05). The patient's satisfaction with multi-slice spiral CTwas 96. 30％, which was significantly higher (P＜0. 05). Conclusion For patients with emergency chest pain, the detection of multi-slice spiral CTis similar to that of routine coronary angiography in the cause of the disease, and has little influence on the patient's heart rate, which is an ideal method for clinical diagnosis of chest pain.

A Study of LPS Mediated Inflammatory Oxidation Reaction of Three Types of Rodents / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective By comparing with the SD rats mixed glial cells, C57 mice mixed glial cells and Kunming mice mixed glial cells and exploring the expression of inflammatory factor of three mixed glial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the study aimed to explore the application value of three kinds of mice and find the ideal model of inflammation. Methods We used LPS as inducers, and NO, IL － 1β, COX－2and iNOS as anti－inflammatory antioxidant index. After cutting the head and taking the brain, we cultured the mixed glials. Then we used Greiss assay to detect the expression of NO and used western blot to detect the expression of protein of IL－1β, COX－2, and iNOS protein.Finally we compared the mixed glial cells from SD rats, C57 mice mixed glial cells and Kunming mouse mixed glial cells and selected the best inflammation model from three mixed glial cells. Results The results showed that the morphological changes of the mixed glial cells in SD rats were treated with N2－ free medium. Compared with the control group, the quantity of NO of LPS group of three mixed glial cells increased significantly (P＜0.01) . The LPS group of SD rats released the highest concentration of NO. Western blot was used to detect the expression of IL－1β, Cox－2 and iNOS in three kinds of rodents. Compared with the blank control group, the expression of COX－2 protein, iNOS and IL－1β in the LPS group of the three mice increased significantly. The results showed that LPS could successfully stimulate the release of inflammatory cytokines in three kinds of mice,among which the SD rats were more sensitive and it could be used in the study of AD inflammation model. Conclusion The results showed that LPS could induce the release of NO and the expression of IL－1β, iNOS and COX－2 in C57BL/6 mice,Kunming mice and SD rats to induce inflammatory response. Thus,LPS can induce the formation of inflammatory oxidation models of the original mixed glial cells of the three mice. Moreover, the SD rats were more sensitive.

Distribution of methamphetamine concentration in saliva and urine samples and the analysis of the initial screening / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To obtain methamphetamine concentration profiles in saliva and urine samples of drug addicts and to screen the colloidal gold strip. Methods Methamphetamine concentration in saliva and urine samples of drug addicts was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The initial screening was obtained by colloidal gold strip test. The results were compared and analyzed. Results using the method of protein and fluid MRM scan method to detect direct precipitation, saliva is linear in the range of 1~100ng/mL, the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9987, the detection limit is 0.1ng/mL, the limit of quantification was 1ng/mL, the urine is linear in the range of 1~100ng/mL, the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9943, the detection limit is 0.5ng/mL, the limit of quantification was 1ng/mL. Saliva and urine samples diluted, the concentration in the linear range. Saliva and urine samples of four types of methamphetamine colloidal gold reagent strip were screened directly, and the results were judged visually. Conclusion the detection rate of colloidal gold strip is about 79%, the detection rate of saliva is about 81%, and the detection rate can be increased to more than 93% by using two reagent strips. Combined with the initial screening results and the instrument confirmation concentration, it can be found that the gray zone setting and sensitivity setting have certain influence on the detection rate, and it is suggested to improve the sensitivity to meet the needs of screening.

Use of Chinese herbal medicine therapies in comprehensive hospitals in central China: A parallel survey in cancer patients and clinicians / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), as the largest application category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is widely accepted among cancer patients in China. Herbal slice (HS) and Chinese patent drug (CPD) are commonly used CHM in China. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of CHM among clinicians and cancer patients in central China. Five hundred and twenty-five patients and 165 clinicians in 35 comprehensive hospitals in central China were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that was designed to evaluate the use of CHM. The results showed that 90.74% clinicians and 72.24% cancer patients used CHM during cancer treatment. The educational backgrounds of the clinicians and the age, education level, annual income, and cancer stage of the cancer patients were related to use of CHM. More than 90% clinicians and cancer patients had used CPD. Comparatively, the percentage of HS use was 10% lower than that of CPD use among clinicians and cancer patients. More clinicians preferred to use CHM after surgery than cancer patients did (20.41% vs. 5.37%). Enhancing physical fitness and improving performance status were regarded as the most potential effect of CHM on cancer treatment (85.71% among clinicians and 94.07% among cancer patients), in comparison with directly killing tumor cells (24.49% among clinicians and 31.36% among patients). As for refusal reasons, imprecise efficacy was the unanimous (100%) reason for clinicians' rejection of CHM, and 95.58% patients objected to using CHM also for this reason. Furthermore, the side effects of CHM were more concerned by clinicians than by patients (33.33% vs. 15.81%). In conclusion, our survey revealed that CHM was popularly accepted by clinicians and cancer patients in central China. The reasons of use and rejection of CHM were different between clinicians and cancer patients.