Optimization of Three Extraction Methods and Their Effect on the Structure and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides in Dendrobium huoshanense.

Dendrobium huoshanense is a famous edible and medicinal herb, and polysaccharides are the main bioactive component in it. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) combined with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), ultrasound-microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE), and hot water extraction (HWE) conditions and obtain the polysaccharides named DHP-E, DHP-UM, and DHP-H. The effects of different extraction methods on the physicochemical properties, structure characteristics, and bioactivity of polysaccharides were compared. The differential thermogravimetric curves indicated that DHP-E showed a broader temperature range during thermal degradation compared with DHP-UM and DHP-H. The SEM results showed that DHP-E displayed an irregular granular structure, but DHP-UM and DHP-H were sponge-like. The results of absolute molecular weight indicated that polysaccharides with higher molecular weight detected in DHP-H and DHP-UM did not appear in DHP-E due to enzymatic degradation. The monosaccharide composition showed that DHPs were all composed of Man, Glc, and Gal but with different proportions. Finally, the glycosidic bond types, which have a significant effect on bioactivity, were decoded with methylation analysis. The results showed that DHPs contained four glycosidic bond types, including Glcp-(1→, →4)-Manp-(1→, →4)-Glcp-(1→, and →4,6)-Manp-(1→ with different ratios. Furthermore, DHP-E exhibited better DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. These findings could provide scientific foundations for selecting appropriate extraction methods to obtain desired bioactivities for applications in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

Measurement of Cumulative fission product yields on 235U induced by 2.8 MeV neutrons.

Off-line gamma-ray spectrometry was used to accurately measure the Cumulative fission product yields (CFPYs) of fission products in the 235U (n, f) reaction induced by 2.8 MeV neutrons. The 2.8 MeV quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam was produced by the CPNG-600 Cockcroft Walton accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy （CIAE）and the gamma spectra were measured by the HPGe γ-ray Spectrometer. After fully considering and revising the sources of uncertainty, high-precision CFPYs of 4 fission products were obtained. This study has important applications in reactor design and operation and is conducive to the establishment of an evaluated nuclear database.

[Effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on cell apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on cell apoptosis and the content of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI), so as to explore their mechanisms underlying improvement of MIRI. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, sham, ischemia reperfusion (IR) and EA groups, with 20 rats in each group. Rats of the control, sham and IR groups were just banded on the boards for 30 min, once daily for 7 days. Before modeling, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Neiguan" (PC6), "Zusanli" (ST36), "Guanyuan"(CV4) for 20 min, once daily for 7 successive days in the EA group. The MIRI model was established by occlusion of the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery for 20 min, followed by reperfusion for 30 min. Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) score was used to evaluate arrhythmia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the level of CK-MB. DHE staining was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The gene expression levels of cytochrome C (Cyt-C), Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, VA score, serum CK-MB content, ROS content in heart tissue and Cyt-C, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 gene expression were significantly up-regulated in the MIRI group (all P<0.01). Following the intervention, the increased VA score, serum CK-MB content, ROS content in heart tissue, Cyt-C, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 gene expression were all reversed in the EA group compared with the MIRI group (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The protective effect of EA preconditioning on MIRI may be based on the regulation of ROS mediated-apoptosis pathway.

[Prokaryotic Expression and Immunogenicity Analysis of a Fusion Protein Containing Cell Epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2660c, Rv2460c, Rv3875 and Rv3804c Genes].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the immunogenicity of a fusion protein containing cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes Rv2660c, Rv2460c, Rv3875 and Rv3804, and to evaluate the feasibility of using it as a novel target antigen for developing multi-stage TB vaccines. METHODS: Cell epitopes of Rv2660c, Rv2460c, Rv3875 and Rv3804c were fused in series to form a new antigen gene (named msv). Then msv was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pEASY-Blunt E1. The fusion protein msv was expressed by pEASY-Blunt E1 under the induction of isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Purified the protein by affinity chromatography and identified the protein by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. To evaluate the immunogenicity of the protein, the mice were immunized with the purified fusion protein, and the titer of the antibody in mice serum was evaluated by ELISA. Besides, splenocytes of immunized mice were separated and splenocytes proliferation was determined under the stimulation of the protein. RESULTS: The prokaryotic expression plasmid carrying msv gene was constructed successfully and msv protein could be expressed by the plasmid under the induction of IPTG. SDS-PAGE and Western blot results confirmed that a purified protein (relative molecular mass was 41.3×103) was obtained. ELISA result indicated that the titer of the antibody in msv immunized mice serum was about 1:81 920.The spleen lymphocyte proliferation assay showed that after immunization with msv protein, significant proliferation of antigen-sensitized lymphocytes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The fusion protein msv was successfully expressed and purified, which can induce humoral and cellular immunity in mice. It may be used as an antigen component for the development of TB vaccine in the future.

The mitochondrial genome of Platencyrtus parkeri Feriere (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).

The mitochondrial genome of the Platencyrtus parkeri Feriere (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was obtained via next-generation sequencing. The assembled mitogenome is 13,393 bp in length, which contains 33 classical eukaryotic mitochondrial genes with three tRNA genes and rrnS gene missing. All the 13 PCGs begin with typical ATN codons. The 19 detected tRNAs range from 58 to 70 bp in length with typical cloverleaf structure except for trnS1, whose dihydrouridine (DHU) arm forms a simple loop. Meanwhile, they have six tRNAs inserted between nad2 and nad3 compared with Encyrtus infelix. Phylogenetic analysis highly supported the monophyly of Pteromalidae. Eupelmidae and Encyrtidae have a close relationship. Within Encyrtidae, Platencyrtus parkeri Feriere and Encyrtus infelix are close to each other.

Influence of body shape on the short-term therapeutic effects of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a multicentre retrospective study (A report of 506 cases) / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy and influence of body shape on the short-term therapeutic effects.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 506 patients (328 males and 178 females,average age 60 years with the range of 24-85 years) who underwent laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy+D2 lymph nodes dissection in the 8 clinical centers between March 2016 and November 2018 were collected,including 143 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,66 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,66 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University,64 in the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University,54 in the Affiliated Hangzhou First people's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine,48 in the Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,35 in the Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University,30 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College.The maximum thickness of subcutaneous fat at the level of umbilicus (USCF),the maximum vertical distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UTD),the maximum verticaldistance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the.anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XTD),the distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the root of celiac artery (CAD) and the maximum horizontal distance at a right angle to CAD (CATD) were measured using preoperative imaging examinations.Observation indicators:(1) intraoperative and postoperative situations;(2) follow-up situations;(3) risk factors analysis of perioperative complications;(4) influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery:① Pearson univariate correlation analysis,② liner regression model analysis.Followup using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to December 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range).Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Comparisons of ordinal data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test.Risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy were analyzed by Logistic regression model.Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery was analyzed by Pearson univariate correlation analysis and liner regression model.Results (1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations:all the 506 patients underwent successful laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,including 103 with Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis,140 with Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis,201 with Billroth Ⅱ + Braun anastomosis,62 with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.The operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph nodes dissected,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for initial fluid diet intake,time for initial semi-fluid diet intake and duration of postoperative hospital stay were (233±44)minutes,(102±86)mL,34±13,(3.6±1.5)days,(5.8±3.3)days,(8.3±3.8)days,(12.2±5.7)days respectively in the 506 patients.Of 506 patients,196 were defined as pathological stage Ⅰ,122 were defined as pathological stage Ⅱ and 188 were defined as pathological stage Ⅲ postoperatively.Of 506 patients,93 had 106 times of perioperative complications,including 33 times of pulmonary and upper respiratory infection,12 times of incisional infection,11 times of anastomotic leakage,11 times of abdominal infection,8 times of intestinal obstruction,8 times of gastroplegia,6 times of abdominal hemorrhage,5 times of bacteremia,3 times of anastomotic hemorrhage,3 times of lymph fluid leakage,2 times of pancreatic leakage,1 time of urinary infection,1 time of anatomotic stenosis,1 time of deep venous thrombosis and 1 time of pulmonary embolism;the same patient can merge multiple complications.Eleven patients were in the Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲ.(2) Follow-up situations:465 of 506 patients were followed up for 1-32 months with a median time of 12 months.During the follow-up,451 had postoperative survival and 38 had tumor recurrence or metastasis.(3) Risk factors analysis of perioperative complications.① Results of univariate analysis showed that age,body mass index (BMI),preoperative hemoglobin,preoperative serum albumin and XAPD were related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (x2 =10.289,7.427,5.269,5.481,4.285,P＜ 0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that age,BMI,preoperative serum albumin were independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (odds ratio =1.033,1.118,0.937,95％ interval confidence:1.011-1.057,1.025-1.219,0.887-0.990,P＜0.05).(4) Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery.① Results of Pearson univariate correlation analysis showed correlations between UAPD,XAPD,CAD,CATD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r=0.107,0.169,0.179,0.106,P＜0.05),between UAPD,XAPD,CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r=-0.137,-0.143,-0.173,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r =0.122,0.109,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD,CAD and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.132,0.108,0.132,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.116,0.100,P＜0.05).② Results of liner regression model analysis showed a positive correlation between CAD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r =6.776),a negative correlation between CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r =-0.841),with statistically significant differences (t =2.410,-1.992,P＜ 0.05);a positive correlation between USCF and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r=0.170),between USCF and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.365),between USCF and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.636) respectively,with statisticallysignificant differences (t =2.188,1.981,2.107,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Abdominal shape can influence intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,but cannot increase risks ofperioperative complications.Age,BMI and preoperative serum albumin are independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

[Analysis of delayed infection of proximal junctional zone after posterior spinal internal fixation and its treatment strategy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the features and treatment strategy of delayed infection of proximal junctional zone after posterior spinal internal fixation. METHODS: The clinical data of 1325 patients underwent posterior spinal internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. Delayed infection occurred in 10 patients, among which 4 infections occurred at the proximal junction (non-operative site). And these 4 patients were treated with combined broad-spectrum antibiotics. Their clinical symptoms and signs, lab tests, MRI findings, pathology findings, and clinical effects were analyzed. RESULTS: All four patients were followed up from 6 months to 4 years. No infection recurrence was found. All patients obtained satisfactory results after hospital discharge. No nerve injury was found. One patient developed kyphosis in the proximal junctional zone 2 years after the operation. According to the criteria of N.Nakano and T.Nakano, 3 cases obtained excellent results, while 1 poor. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of delayed infections was rare after spinal operation. Delayed infections occurred in proximal junctional zone may be attributed to the stress concentration of adjacent segments after fixation and the degeneration of adjacent segments, thus forming inflammation areas. For refractory lumbar and back pains, an elevated blood sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, MRI manifestation and focal pathology would be helpful for establishing a definite diagnosis. Full course of combined broad-spectrum antibiotics in treating the infection can lead to satisfactory clinical results.

Short-term clinical effects of selecting duodenal transection timing on laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy: a multicentre retrospective study (A report of 239 cases) / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the short-term clinical effects of selecting duodenal transection timing on laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 239 gastric cancer (GC) patients undergoing LADG in the 5 medical centers between March 2016 and March 2018 were collected,including 104 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,45 in Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,35 in Quanzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,30 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College,25 in Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University.Of 239 patients undergoing LADG + D2 lymph node dissection,107 receiving duodenal transection and then lymph node dissection in the upper region of pancreas after lymph node dissection in the lower region of pylorus and 132 receiving lymph node dissection in the upper region of pancreas and then duodenal transection were respectively divided into anterior approach group and posterior approach group.Sixty-four,8,16,14 and 5 patients in the anterior approach group and 40,37,19,16 and 20 patients in the posterior group respectively came from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,Quanzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College and Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative situations;(2) postoperative complications;(3) stratified analyses of surgical and postoperative situations in patients with different TNM staging,body mass index (BMI) and maximum tumor dimension;(4) follow-up and survival.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative overall survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to April 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (-x)±s,and comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent-samples t test.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (Q),and comparison between groups was analyzed using the nonparametric test.Comparisons of count data were analyzed using chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Comparison of ordinal data was done by the rank-sum test.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative situations:all the patients underwent successful operation,without perioperative death.Number of lymph node dissection in the upper region of pylorus in the anterior and posterior approach groups were respectively 3.9±2.6 and 3.0±2.5,with a statistically significant difference between groups (t=2.778,P＜0.05).Cases with Billroth Ⅰ,Billroth Ⅱ,Billroth Ⅱ +Bruan and Roux-en-Y of digestive tract reconstruction,operation time,dissected times of lymph nodes in greater curvature of stomach,lower region of pylorus,upper region of pancreas and lesser curvature of stomach,cases with visible port vein,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of overall lymph node dissection,numbers of lymph node dissection in greater curvature of stomach,lower region of pylorus,upper region of pancreas and lesser curvature of stomach,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for postoperative fluid diet intake,time for postoperative semi-fluid diet intake,intraperitoneal drainage-tube removal time and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively 16,32,47,12,(233.0±41.0)minutes,(14.6±5.4)tninutes,(21.9±6.3)nminutes,(32.7±6.8) minutes,(7.4±2.9)minutes,74,(87±73)mL,35.0±10.0,8.5±4.1,4.8±4.2,13.3±5.2,4.3± 3.3,(4.1±2.6)days,(5.4±2.8) days,(7.9± 3.5) days,(8.9± 2.9) days,(11.7± 4.5) days in the anterior approach group and 17,47,61,7,(243.0±44.0) minutes,(15.7±5.2) minutes,(23.1±8.0) minutes,(34.2±7.1) minutes,(7.9±2.8)minutes,79,(93±57)mL,33.0±10.0,8.1±4.8,5.3±4.9,12.5±5.6,3.8±2.4,(3.8±3.3)days,(5.0±3.6)days,(7.5±4.0) days,(8.5±3.8)days,(11.3±5.7) days in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2 =3.431,t =-1.836,-1.546,-1.324,-1.634,-1.228,x2=2.552,t=-0.684,1.630,0.797,-0.871,1.148,1.314,0.954,0.951,0.884,1.065,0.694,P＞0.05).(2) Postoperative complications:cases with overall complications,anastomotic leakage,anastomotic stenosis,anastomotic bleeding,pancreatic fistula,postoperative gastroparesis,intra-abdominal hemorrhage,incision infection,pneumonia,intra-abdominal infection,bacteremia,intestinal obstruction,endolymphatic leakage,Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,Ⅲb and Ⅳa of postoperative complications were respectively 15,1,1,1,0,3,1,2,3,0,1,3,0,3,9,1,2,0 in the anterior approach group and 25,3,0,1,2,2,2,5,7,3,2,3,1,6,14,1,2,2 in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=1.027,0.643,0.022,0.479,0.161,0.765,0.921,0.161,0.063,Z=-1.055,P＞0.05).Patients in 2 groups with complications were cured by symptomatic treatment.(3) Stratified analyses of surgical and postoperative situations in patients with different TNM staging,BMI and maximum tumor dimension:operation time,dissected times of lymph nodes in upper region of pancreas,cases with visible port vein,number of overall lymph node dissection,numbers of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus and upper region of pancreas were respectively (236.0±41.0)minutes,(33.9±6.2) minutes,32,36.0±12.0,3.8±3.0,13.4±5.5 in patients of the anterior approach group with Ⅲ stage of TNM staging and (253.0± 45.0) minutes,(36.5 ±7.0) minutes,29,31.0±t9.0,2.5±2.0,11.4±4.6 in patients of the posterior approach group with Ⅲ stage of TNM staging,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =-1.988,-2.066,x2 =4.686,t =2.472,2.757,2.016,P＜0.05).Numbers of overall lymph node dissection and number of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus were respectively 37.0± 12.0,3.6±3.1 in patients of the anterior approach group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and 30.0±7.0,2.0± 1.3 in patients of the posterior approach group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =2.211,2.205,P＜0.05).Volume of intraoperative blood loss and number of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus were respectively (80±45) mL,4.0±2.6 in patients of the anterior approach group with maximum tumor dimension ≥ 3.3 cm and (110±67)mL,2.8± 1.8 in patients of the posterior approach group with maximum tumor dimension ≥ 3.3 cm,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =-2.320,2.589,P ＜ 0.05).(4) Follow-up and survival:of 239 patients,202 were followed up for 2-24 months,with a median time of 12 months,including 89 in the anterior approach group and 113 in the posterior approach group.During the follow-up,cases with overall survival,tumor recurrence and metastasis were respectively 85,3,8 in the anterior approach group and 109,3,11 in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=0.032,0.089,0.119,P＞0.05).Conclusions Both of anterior approach and posterior approach are safe and feasible in LADG,with equivalent short-term efficacies.The anterior approach in LADG has an advantage of the lymph node dissection in the upper region of pylorus compared with posterior approach,and it also is better for patients with later tumor staging,higher BMI and bigger tumor.

Printed circuit board ion trap mass analyzer: its structure and performance.

An ion trap (IT) mass analyzer can be simply built with low cost material-the printed circuit board (PCB). A printed circuit board ion trap (PCBIT) can perform ion trapping, mass analysis, and tandem mass spectrometry as a conventional ion trap mass analyzer. In a PCBIT, each PCB electrode was fabricated to specially designed patterns with several separate electric strips. The strips' electrodes were insulated from each other and applied with different voltages during the experiment. Therefore, the electric field distribution inside the ion trap region may be adjusted and optimized by simply adjusting the voltage on each strip. The performance of the PCBIT can also be optimized since the property of an ion trap is strongly dependent on the field distribution. The fabrication, operation, and performance of the PCBIT are described and characterized in this paper. A prototype PCBIT was built with two pairs of 64 mm × 12 mm PCB rectangular plates and one pair of 10 mm × 10 mm stainless steel square plates. A mass analysis with a resolving power of over 1500 and a mass range of around 3000 Th was observed. The mass-selected isolation and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of ions were also tested using the homemade PCBIT system. The adjustable electric field distribution, simple structure, and low cost of PCBIT make it certainly suitable for the further miniaturization of the portable mass spectrometer.

Chemical components of essential oils from Meconopsis oliverana and their antioxidant activity / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical components of essential oils from Meconopsis oliverana and their antioxidant activity.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation, and GC-MS analysis was used to identify its constituents. The OH free radical scavenging activity of the essential oils was evaluated with an enzyme mark instrument by assay of the ability of DPPH free radical scavenging. BHT was used as positive control.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Forty-seven compounds, account for 91.866% of the essential oils, were identified. The ability of scavenging OH and DPPH radicals of the essential oils is stronger than that of BHT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The main chemical constituents of the essential oils from M. oliverana are n-hexadecanoic acid (27.653%) and 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (16.330%). And the essential oils showed strong antioxidant activity.</p>

[The analysis of the eugenic culture in ancient China].

There was a centuries-old culture of eugenics in ancient China. We should have comprehensive and objective cognition of this tradition. The ancient people did not generally advocate marrying at a mature age as do people of modern times. They not only considered the prepotency, but also were influenced by other complicated social factors on the problem of mate selection. Although advocates of coition techniques claimed the purpose of prepotency, the eugenic effect of coition techniques deserved to be suspect. Regarding the aspect of embryo conservation and care, the most significant thing was not so-called "prenatal education", but various antenatal care methods which were proposed by TCM scholars. By making a comparison with modern eugenics, the ancient eugenics had the characteristics of valuing the male child only, commiserating with deformity and being based on familial values.

Studies on the non-covalent interactions between cyclodextrins and aryl alkanol piperazine derivatives by mass spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The non-covalent complexes of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta-CDs) with two aryl alkanol piperazine derivatives (Pipe I and Pipe II) have been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The ESI-MS experimental results demonstrated that Pipe I can conjugate to beta-CD and form 1:1 or 1:2 stoichiometric non-covalent complexes, and Pipe II can only form 1:1 complexes with alpha- or beta-CD. Fluorescence spectra indicated that the fluorescence intensities of Pipe I and Pipe II can be enhanced by increasing the content of beta-CD. The mass spectrometric titration experiments showed that the dissociation constants K(d1) were 5.77 and 9.52 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) for the complexes of alpha-CD with Pipe I and Pipe II, respectively, revealing that the binding of alpha-CD-Pipe I was stronger than alpha-CD-Pipe II. The K(d1) and K(d2) values were 9.81 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) and 1.11 x 10(-7) (mol L(-1))(2) for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of Pipe I with beta-CD, respectively. The K(d) values obtained from fluorescence spectroscopy were in agreement with those from ESI-MS titration.

Use of serial analysis of gene expression to reveal the specific regulation of gene expression profile in asthmatic rats treated by acupuncture.

BACKGROUND: Asthma has become an important public health issue and approximately 300 million people have suffered from the disease worldwide. Nowadays, the use of acupuncture in asthma is increasing. This study intended to systematically analyze and compare the gene expression profiles between the asthmatic and acupuncture-treated asthmatic rat lung, and tried to gain insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the early airway response (EAR) phase of asthma treated by acupuncture. METHODS: Four tag libraries of serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) were established from lung tissues of control rats (CK), asthmatic rats (AS), asthmatic rats treated by acupuncture (ASAC), and control rats treated by acupuncture (CKAC). Bioinformatic analyses were carried out by using the methods including unsupervised hierarchical clustering, functional annotation tool of the database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery (DAVID), gene ontology (GO) tree machine, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. RESULTS: There were totally 186 differentially expressed tags (P < 0.05, P(CK/AS)) between the libraries of CK and AS, 130 differentially expressed tags between libraries of AS/ASAC (P < 0.05, P(AS/ASAC)), and 144 differentially expressed tags between libraries of CK/CKAC (P < 0.05, P(CK/CKAC)). The gene expression profiles of AS and ASAC were more similar than other libraries via unsupervised SAGE clustering. By comparison of P(CK/AS) and P(AS/ASAC), the DAVID genes functional classification was found to be changed from "immune response" to "response to steroid hormone stimulus", and the GO term "antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen" disappeared in P(AS/ASAC). Totally 3 same KEGG pathways were found among the three groups. Moreover, 21 specific tags of the acupuncture in treating asthma were detected using Venn diagrams. CONCLUSION: Our SAGE research indicates that the gene expression profile of the EAR phase of asthma could be effectively and specifically regulated by acupuncture, which suggests that the gene expression of immune response and steroid hormone may play an important role in the treatment.

Overview of Pharmacological Research on Eggshell Membrane / 国际中医中药杂志

In the basis of a large amount of literatures, this article sumed up the characteristics and application of eggshell membrane.

Serial analysis of gene expression in a rat lung model of asthma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis and molecular mechanism underlying asthma remain undetermined. The purpose of this study was to identify genes and pathways involved in the early airway response (EAR) phase of asthma by using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). METHODS: Two SAGE tag libraries of lung tissues derived from a rat model of asthma and controls were generated. Bioinformatic analyses were carried out using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and IntegratedDiscovery Functional Annotation Tool, Gene Ontology (GO) TreeMachine and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. RESULTS: A total of 26 552 SAGE tags of asthmatic rat lung were obtained, of which 12 221 were unique tags. Of the unique tags, 55.5% were matched with known genes. By comparison of the two libraries, 186 differentially expressed tags (P < 0.05) were identified, of which 103 were upregulated and 83 were downregulated. Using the bioinformatic tools these genes were classified into 23 functional groups, 15 KEGG pathways and 37 enriched GO categories. CONCLUSIONS: The bioinformatic analyses of gene distribution, enriched categories and the involvement of specific pathways in the SAGE libraries have provided information on regulatory networks of the EAR phase of asthma. Analyses of the regulated genes of interest may inform new hypotheses, increase our understanding of the disease and provide a foundation for future research.

Characterization of the genetic basis for yield and its component traits of rice revealed by doubled haploid population.

Main-effect QTL, epistatic effects and their interactions with environment are important genetic components of quantitative traits. In this study, we analyzed the QTLs, epistatic effects and QTL by environment interactions (QE) underlying nine traits of yield and yield-component, using a doubled-haploid (DH) population consisted of 190 lines from the cross between an indica parent Zhenshan 97 and a japonica parent WYJ 2, and tested in two-year replicated field trials. A genetic linkage map with 179 SSR (simple sequence repeat) marker loci was constructed. A mixed linear model approach was applied to detect QTLs, digenic interactions and QEs for the nine traits. In total, 57 QTLs of main effects, 41 digenic interactions, eight QEs and seven interactions of epistasis by environment were detected. Each of the main-effect QTLs individually explained 1.3 % to 25.8% of the phenotypic variations. And they collectively explained 11.5% to 66.8% of the phenotypic variations for these traits. Most of the traits (except seed setting) had the QTLs simultaneously detected in two years. Many of the traits shared same QTLs with each other, which is consistent with their significant phenotypic correlations. The pleiotropism or tight linkage of QTLs for different traits might be the important genetic base for trait correlations. The environmental influences on the stability of the trait performance were also discussed.