[Overview of research in ginsenosides glycosyltransferase].

Glycosyltransferases(UGTs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides, which can catalyze the transfer of glycans from donor molecules to acceptor molecules, and form a variety of biologically active glycoside compounds. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, a large number of medicinal plant genome and transcriptome sequences have been catalyzed, while more and more UGT genes have been discovered and verified. The methods of discovering UGT genes include differential expression analysis, homologous sequence screening, gene cluster screening, chemical proteome screening. This paper summarized the research progress of UGT genes screening and functional verification of three valuable Panax medicinal materials P. notoginseng, P. ginseng, and P. quinquefolius, so as to provide a reference for the study of UGT genes in natural products.

Changes of ion absorption, distribution and essential oil components of flowering Schizonepeta tenuifolia under salt stress / 中国中药杂志

In this paper, a pot experiment using quartz sands was conducted to study the effects of different concentrations of NaCl (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mmol·L⁻¹) on the ion absorption, distribution and essential oil components of flowering Schizonepeta tenuifolia. The results showed that as NaCl concentration increased, Na⁺ content of root, stem, leaf and flower increased significantly, and that of the aerial parts was in a higher level than in the root. Regarding the K⁺ content, it decreased in the root but increased in stem, leaf and flower. Some changes were detected in the Ca²⁺ content, but not significant on the whole. The value of K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²⁺/Na⁺ reduced as a result of increasing NaCl concentrations. The content of essential oil increased under medium salt treatment (50 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl). However, the synthesis and accumulation of essential oil was inhibited by the serious salt treatment (100 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl). Over 98% of the essential oil components were terpenes, in which pulegone and menthone were the most two abundant compounds. Varieties of essential oil components did not change significantly under salt stress but their relative proportions did. The transformation of pulegone to menthone was enhanced and the value of pulegone/menthone based on their relative contents decreased with NaCl concentration increasing. Consequently, menthone ranked the most abundant compound by replacing pulegone. Relative content of D-limonene increased under medium and serious salt stress, and that of β-caryophyllene only increased under mild treatments. So our research could provide references for the standard cultivation on saline soil of S. tenuifolia.

Clinical observation of coil embolization of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular embolization of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms. Methods: The clinical data of 11 patients with ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysm were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were diagnosed by CT and microcoil embolization was performed after being confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Results: Circled digit oneNine patients had anterior communicating artery aneurysm, 1 had anterior choroidal artery aneurysm, and 1 had pericallosal artery aneurysm. At admission, the Hunthess grade I was 3 cases, grade II was 5, grade III was 2, and grade IV was 1. Circled digit twoAll the patients were embolized successfully, 6 of them were embolized completely, and 5 were embolized incompletely (during 3 to 6 months DSA follow-up, they were all obliterated completely). The GOS were 5 in 9 patients, GOS 4 in 1 patient, and 1 patient died after the procedure. No technology-related complications were observed. Circled digit threeAt 3 to 6 months after procedure, 6, 2, and 2 patients were followed up with DSA, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or telephone respectively. The aneurysms were all obliterated completely, the GOS were 5 in all patients, and no rebleeding occurred. Conclusion: Endovascular embolization of ruptured tiny intracranial aneurysms in intracranial anterior circulation is safe and feasible, and the result of short-term follow-up is good.

The risk factors and preventions in keyhole minimally invasive approaches of intracranial aneurysms / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the risk factors and study the methods of prevention and treatment for the ruptures of aneurysms in keyhole minimally invasive approaches.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1999 to 2005, 115 cases of intracranial aneurysms were divided into 2 classes according to the risk factors of aneurysm rupture. Forty-three cases of lower risk underwent microsurgical procedures as keyhole approaches, including pterional approach in 20 cases, supraorbital approach in 18 cases, interhemispheric approach in 5 cases. Seventy-two cases, rest of microsurgical procedures, were performed as conventional craniotomy, including pterional approach in 31 cases, supraorbital approach in 11 cases, interhemispheric approach in 7 cases, pterional-supraorbital in 10 cases, pterional-interhemispheric in 6 cases, supraorbital-interhemispheric in 4 cases, pterional-supraorbital-interhemispheric in 3 cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six aneurysms leaked and 3 ruptured (rupture rate 7.0%) treated with keyhole approaches during operations. No one died by keyhole approaches. Eighteen aneurysms leaked and 9 ruptured (rupture rate 12.5%) treated with conventional approaches during operations. Two patients died by conventional approaches.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Keyhole approaches as a time-saving, trauma-reducing procedure could improve the postoperative outcomes, but these approaches still exist probability of aneurysm rupture. It is possible that keyhole-bone flap becomes a limitation to deal with huge or ruptured aneurysms. And it is important to make a specially preventive strategy for aneurysm rupture.</p>