[P.F. von Siebold and his destiny with Chinese materia medica (Ben Cao)].

P. F. von Siebold (1796-1866) was a physician at the Dutch Business Centre (Shang Wu Hui Guan) located at Nagasaki, Japan, in the Edo period. He collected a great amount of botanical and mineral specimens, books, and living wares when he stayed in Japan. He brought these materials to Europe and kept some of them at the Japan Museum Siebold Huis in Leiden in Netherlands. This collection showed the role of Siebold in connecting scientific and cultural exchanges between East and West and provided references in the research of the transmission of traditional Chinese medicine worldwide in the 19th century.

Dual-energy CT perfusion imaging for differentiating invasive thymomas, thymic carcinomas, and lymphomas in adults.

AIM: To evaluate the role of dual-energy computed tomography perfusion (DECTP) imaging in differentiating invasive thymomas (ITs), thymic cancers (TCs), and lymphomas in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five patients with solid masses in the prevascular mediastinum who underwent DECTP examinations were enrolled in this study. The perfusion parameters (blood flow, BF; blood volume, BV; mean transit time, MTT; permeability surface, PS) and spectral parameters (water concentration, WC; iodine concentration, IC; normalised iodine concentration, NIC; the slope of spectral radiodensity [Hounsfield units] curve, λHU) of the lesions were analysed. RESULTS: There were no differences in the MTT or WC values among ITs, TCs, and lymphomas (all p>0.05). The IC, NIC, and λHU values in the optimal arterial and venous phases and PS values of TCs were higher than those of ITs and lymphomas (all p<0.05), and there were no differences between ITs and lymphomas (all p>0.05). The BF and BV values of lymphomas were lower than those of ITs and TCs (all p<0.05), and there were no differences between ITs and TCs (all p>0.05). The cut-off values for BF and BV used to differentiate lymphomas from ITs and TCs were 42.83 ml/min/100 g and 4.66 ml/100 g, respectively (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.847 and 0.839; sensitivity, 80.6% and 82.1%; specificity, 75% and 71.4%; accuracy, 78.9% and 81.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The perfusion and spectral parameters of DECTP imaging help to identify ITs, TCs, and lymphomas, and BF and BV values help to differentiate lymphomas from ITs and TCs.

[Quantitative analysis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on MRI proton density fat fraction in the coastal region of Qingdao].

Objective: To explore the clinical application value of MRI-PDFF on different liver segments for the evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: 178 volunteers from March 2019 to February 2020 were included. PDFF values ​​of all nine segments of the liver were measured using CSE3.0T MRI scan. The obtained average value was used to represent the average liver fat content. PDFF values of each or combined liver segment were equally compared with the average value to observe the representativeness of fat content. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic performance of each liver segment, and the Youden index was used to calculate the cutoff value. Paired-sample t-test or non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare measurement data among groups. Results: 178 volunteers average liver fat content ranged from 0.89% to 42.61% with MRI-PDFF, and 71.35% (127/178) of the volunteers had PDFF > 5%. There was no significant difference between SIII, SIVb, SV, and SVIII liver segments when compared with the average value (P > 0.05). PDFF values ​​of SI, SII, and SIV a liver segments were all lower than the average value, while the PDFF values ​​of SVI and SVII liver segments were all higher than the average value (P ​​< 0.05). MRI-PDFF sensitivity value for diagnosing liver steatosis of nine liver segments was 85.8% ~ 94.5%, and the specificity was higher than 96.0%. Among them, the SV liver segment had the highest sensitivity (94.5%), and the corresponding optimal diagnostic threshold value was 5.13%. Compared with single and combined liver segment, the PDFF value of SII, SV, SVI combined liver segment had the highest diagnostic performance for fatty liver, with the sensitivity and specificity of 96.9%, and 100%, respectively, and the corresponding optimal diagnostic threshold value was 5.17%. Conclusion: Compared with single and other combined liver segments, MRI-PDFF values of SII, SV, and SVI combined liver segments have higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of NAFLD, and it can be used as the first choice for the determination of liver fat content with MRI.

[Looking for the roots of Wa Na Qi].

Wa Na Qi(), is a traditional-curing male impotence medicinal. We have made several conclusions through a field investigation to Antarctica, material medica literature research, and current market investigation. Throughout history, Wa Na Qi (also known ashaigou shen) was a word of vague connotation which was not the meaning of a specific product. However, the most common meaning of Wa Na Qi was the penises of several different species of seals. The name Wa Na Qi was adapted from a foreign word, and it is believed to sound like walrus, which has also been credited as a source for Wa Na Qi. In Chinese, Wa Na was a reference to the roundness of the walrus but eventually became a general description of heaviness. Later, it became a name for fur seals. The Song Dynasty Materia Medica Bencao Tujing(, Illustration of Materia Medica) and the Ming Dynasty Materia Medica Bencao Pinhui Jingyao(, Collected Essentials of Species of Materia Medica) both had animal illustrations resembling fur seals. The illustrations in the Compendium of Materia Medica, or Bencao Gangmu, Jinling edition also had characteristics of a fur seal. However, in the Buyi Leigong Paozhi Bianlan(, Lei Gong's Guide to Drug Preparation with Addenda) and later materia medica works, the animal illustrations became distorted and almost myth-like. After a field investigation in Antarctica, we learned that historically, name Wa Na Qi probably originated from seals, such as fur seals. This information matches the current medicines available on the market.

[Short-term effect of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate on potassium lowering in chronic kidney disease patients with hyperkalemia].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate on emergency correction of hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease patients. Methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May to June 2020 were selected. Those who had hyperkalemia and took sodium zirconium cyclosilicate powder were finally included. The patient's clinical data and laboratory results were collected. Results: A total of 24 results were included from 21 patients. The age of patients was (48.9±13.5) years old. Fourteen patients were male, and 7 patients were female. After 2 hours of administration, the venous potassium level decreased from (5.85±0.52) mmol/L to (5.15±0.43) mmol/L (P<0.001, n=21), with an average decline of (0.71±0.43) mmol/L. Meanwhile, the arterial potassium level decreased from (5.50±0.40) mmol/L to (4.88±0.33) mmol/L (P<0.001, n=10), with an average decline of (0.62±0.29) mmol/L. Based on the initial venous potassium level, the patients were further divided into three groups. The average potassium decrease in<5.5 mmol/L group (4 patients), 5.5-<6.0 mmol/L group (11 patients) and ≥6.0 mmol/L group (6 patients) was (0.46±0.26) mmol/L, (0.62±0.38) mmol/L and (1.04±0.45) mmol/L, respectively. There was statistically significant difference of potassium reduction among the three groups (P=0.045). Moreover, the extent of potassium reduction was positively correlated with baseline venous potassium level (r=0.603, P=0.004, n=21). The study did not reveal any treatment-related adverse event. Conclusion: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate powder can rapidly and effectively reduce the serum potassium level in chronic kidney disease patients with hyperkalemia.

[Investigation of Compendium of Materia Medica in Japan].

Published in the Ming Dynasty around 1593 to 1596, the Jinling Edition of the Compendium of Materia Medica is considered the earliest engraved version. This edition has considerable literary and academic value. Only a handful of copies remain as they had to survive more than 400 years of human conflict and environmental damage such as mold and mildew. Throughout history, many ancient books, including herbal materia medica, have been exported to overseas, following the expansion of trade and cultural exchange. In Japan, many of these books are still well preserved. The author conducted a field investigation to Tohoku University in Sendai, Tokyo's Oriental Library, the Cabinet Library of the National Archives, and the National Diet Library to study four very well-preserved Jinling Editions of the Compendium of Materia Medica to fully understand the development of traditional medicine in Japan.

[A forgotten and unnoticed Museum of Chinese medicine].

Kam Wah Chung Company, located in the Oregan State in the northwestern United States, was co-created by Dr. Ing Hay and Mr. Lung On. In 1952, when Dr. Ing Hay passed away, his entire clinic building and collections were donated to the government and had been set up as a Museum for later generations to understand the history. The pictures, objects and videos used in the Museum to vividly and objectively compress and reproduce the process and history of early generation of Chinese immigrants crossing the ocean, travelling to northwestern United States and started their new life more than 100 years ago. The precious Chinese medicine materials in the Museum are of great significance to the research and the dissemination of Chinese Medicine culture overseas.

Influence of lateral position and pneumoperitoneum on oropharyngeal leak pressure with two types of laryngeal mask airways.

BACKGROUND: An important parameter to monitor adequate ventilation for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is its oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP). This study was designed to evaluate and compare the effect of lateral position and pneumoperitoneum on the OLP and ventilation efficiency between LMA™ Proseal (PLMA) and LMA™ Supreme (SLMA). METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either the PLMA or the SMLA. The OLP was assessed in both the supine position and the lateral position with or without pneumoperitoneum. Minute ventilation was increased to maintain normal EtCO2 as far as possible. Ventilatory efficiency was scored as Class I (optimal, EtCO2 35-45 mmHg), Class II (suboptimal, EtCO2 45-55 mmHg) and Class III (poor, EtCO2 >55 mmHg). Adverse events associated with LMA such as blood staining on the mask and sore throat were also recorded. RESULTS: Within each group, the OLP was higher in the supine position than that in the lateral position with or without pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.01). However, pneumoperitoneum did not further decrease the OLP. The OLP with PLMA was higher compared with SLMA regardless of the position and pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in the number of patients in Class I/II/III for ventilation scores in the lateral position with pneumoperitoneum (83/7/2 in PLMA group and 76/14/2 in SLMA group, respectively). The incidence of adverse events was comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that the PLMA has a higher OLP in comparison with the SLMA in the lateral position for laparoscopic surgery. Both devices provide comparably adequate ventilatory efficiency.

Rapid and specific determination of DNA adducts for clinical diagnosis of poisoning and disease associated with aristolochic acid.

1. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed to detect and characterise aristocholic acid-DNA adducts in biological samples. 2. The detection of DNA adducts in plasma, urine or the cells found in urine may be useful to support the diagnosis and monitoring of aristocholic acid-associated poisoning and disease. 3. Efforts should be made to improve the sensitivity and specificity of this approach for the detection and characterisation of exposure to other mutagens/carcinogens.

Geochemistry and environmental assessment of major and trace elements in the surface sediments of the Wei River, China.

The development of western China in the past decade has led to increased discharges of wastewater and river pollution. The Wei River is the largest tributary of the Huang He River, but its geochemistry has not been thoroughly investigated. Sixty-three bed-surface sediment samples were collected from the Wei and analyzed for 24 elements by WDXRF; objectives for the study were to investigate the geochemical properties of the sediments; identify sources, and assess pollution levels and environmental risks. Major and trace element concentrations were comparable with those in other large rivers in China, but potentially hazardous trace elements (PHTEs) were lower than in the Yangzi or Pearl Rivers; most likely due to dilution of contaminants by the large sand inflows into the Wei and a lower level of industrialization. Nonetheless, pollution and risk analyses demonstrate slight contamination of Cr, Mn, Nb, Ni and Zn, moderate contamination of Cu and Pb, and strong contamination of As at some locations. Adverse biological effects from Ni and Cu are possible and are likely from As. Statistical and spatial analyses indicate that agriculture runoff and industrial wastewater discharge contribute to the contamination of this river. A comprehensive environmental management strategy, realistic national standards for wastewater discharge, and rigid enforcement are needed to address river pollution in China.

Characterization of the methylation patterns of MS4A2 in atopic cases and controls.

BACKGROUND: It is largely unknown whether epigenetic modifications of key genes may contribute to the reported maternal effects in atopy. The aim of this study was to characterize the methylation patterns of the membrane-spanning 4-domains, subfamily A, member 2 gene (MS4A2) (beta-chain of the IgE high-affinity receptor), a key gene in the allergic cascade. METHODS: Mass spectrometry and bisulphite sequencing were used to measure the methylation of two potential substrates for epigenetic regulation of MS4A2, namely a predicted promoter and a CpG-rich AluSp repeat. Methylation was measured in DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 38 atopic cases and 37 controls. Cases were positive for atopy, asthma, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and had high IgE levels. Both parents of eight atopic cases were also tested. RESULTS: The AluSp element was highly methylated across all individuals (mean 0.92, range 0.87-0.94), a pattern inconsistent with classical imprinting. Variation in methylation at this locus was not associated with age, sex, daily steroid use or atopic status, and there were no differences in methylation between mothers and fathers of atopic cases. Bisulphite sequencing analysis of the promoter region showed that it was also not imprinted, and there was no evidence for allele-specific methylation, but we were unable to test for association with atopy status. CONCLUSIONS: Methylation levels at the AluSp repeat analysed in MS4A2 were inconsistent with classical imprinting mechanisms and did not associate with atopy status. The promoter region was less methylated but further analysis of this region in larger cohorts is warranted to investigate its role in allergic disease.

European and Polynesian admixture in the Norfolk Island population.

The Norfolk Island population in the South Pacific is primarily the product of recent admixture between a small number of British male and Polynesian female founders. We identified and genotyped 128 Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) spread across the autosomes, X/Y chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA genome, to explore and quantify the current levels of genetic admixture in the Norfolk Islanders. On the basis of autosomal AIMs, the population shows mean European and Polynesian ancestry proportions of 88 and 12%, respectively. However, there is a substantial variation between individuals ranging from total European ancestry to near total Polynesian origin. There is a strong correlation between individual genetic estimates of Polynesian ancestry and those derived from the extensive pedigree and genealogical records of Islanders. Also in line with historical accounts, there is a substantial asymmetry in the maternal and paternal origins of the Islanders with almost all Y-chromosomes of European origin whereas at least 25% of mtDNAs appear to have a Polynesian origin. Accurate knowledge of ancestry will be important in future attempts to use the Island population in admixture mapping approaches to find the genes that underlie differences in the risk to some diseases between Europeans and Polynesians.

Association and interaction analyses of eight genes under asthma linkage peaks.

BACKGROUND: Linkage studies have implicated the 2q33, 9p21, 11q13 and 20q13 regions in the regulation of allergic disease. The aim of this study was to test genetic variants in candidate genes from these regions for association with specific asthma traits. METHODS: Ninety-five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located in eight genes (CD28, CTLA4, ICOS, ADAM23, ADAMTSL1, MS4A2, CDH26 and HRH3) were genotyped in >5000 individuals from Australian (n = 1162), Dutch (n = 99) and Danish (n = 303) families. Traits tested included doctor-diagnosed asthma, atopy, airway obstruction, total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels and eosinophilia. Association was tested using both multivariate and univariate methods, with gene-wide thresholds for significance determined through simulation. Gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment analyses were also performed. RESULTS: There was no overall evidence for association with seven of the eight genes tested when considering all genetic variation assayed in each gene. The exception was MS4A2 on chromosome 11q13, which showed weak evidence for association with IgE (gene-wide P < 0.05, rs502581). There were no significant gene-by-gene or gene-by-environment interaction effects after accounting for the number of tests performed. CONCLUSIONS: The individual variants genotyped in the 2q33, 9p21 and 20q13 regions do not explain a large fraction of the variation in the quantitative traits tested or have a major impact on asthma or atopy risk. Our results are consistent with a weak effect of MS4A2 polymorphisms on the variation of total IgE levels.

Family-based mitochondrial association study of traits related to type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in adolescents.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: There has been much focus on the potential role of mitochondria in the aetiology of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and many case-control mitochondrial association studies have been undertaken for these conditions. We tested for a potential association between common mitochondrial variants and a number of quantitative traits related to type 2 diabetes in a large sample of >2,000 healthy Australian adolescent twins and their siblings, many of whom were measured on more than one occasion. METHODS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first mitochondrial association study of quantitative traits undertaken using family data. The maternal inheritance pattern of mitochondria means established association methodologies are unsuitable for analysis of mitochondrial data in families. We present a methodology, implemented in the freely available program Sib-Pair for performing such an analysis. RESULTS: Despite our study having the power to detect variants with modest effects on these phenotypes, only one significant association was found after correction for multiple testing in any of four age groups. This was for mt14365 with triacylglycerol levels (unadjusted p = 0.0006). This association was not replicated in other age groups. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We find little evidence in our sample to suggest that common European mitochondrial variants contribute to variation in quantitative phenotypes related to diabetes. Only one variant showed a significant association in our sample, and this association will need to be replicated in a larger cohort. Such replication studies or future meta-analyses may reveal more subtle effects that could not be detected here because of limitations of sample size.

Inhibitions of mast cell-derived histamine release by different Flos Magnoliae species in rat peritoneal mast cells.

Flos Magnoliae (FM) is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb for symptomatic relief of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and headache. A number of FM species have been used as substitutes or adulterants for clinical application, although the differences in their pharmacological actions have not been reported. The present study investigated the effects of six identified FM species M. biondii, M. denudata, M. kobus, M. liliflora, M. sargentiana and M. sprengeri, as well as the marker compounds magnolin and fargesin on compound 48/80-induced histamine release in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) in vitro. Ethanolic extracts of all FM species produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of compound 48/80-induced histamine release in RPMC. The rank order of the IC(50)s was M. biondii

The pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

Both antigen-specific and non-specific mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). Antigen-specific mechanisms in OLP include antigen presentation by basal keratinocytes and antigen-specific keratinocyte killing by CD8(+) cytotoxic T-cells. Non-specific mechanisms include mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in OLP lesions. These mechanisms may combine to cause T-cell accumulation in the superficial lamina propria, basement membrane disruption, intra-epithelial T-cell migration, and keratinocyte apoptosis in OLP. OLP chronicity may be due, in part, to deficient antigen-specific TGF-beta1-mediated immunosuppression. The normal oral mucosa may be an immune privileged site (similar to the eye, testis, and placenta), and breakdown of immune privilege could result in OLP and possibly other autoimmune oral mucosal diseases. Recent findings in mucocutaneous graft-versus-host disease, a clinical and histological correlate of lichen planus, suggest the involvement of TNF-alpha, CD40, Fas, MMPs, and mast cell degranulation in disease pathogenesis. Potential roles for oral Langerhans cells and the regional lymphatics in OLP lesion formation and chronicity are discussed. Carcinogenesis in OLP may be regulated by the integrated signal from various tumor inhibitors (TGF-beta 1, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12) and promoters (MIF, MMP-9). We present our recent data implicating antigen-specific and non-specific mechanisms in the pathogenesis of OLP and propose a unifying hypothesis suggesting that both may be involved in lesion development. The initial event in OLP lesion formation and the factors that determine OLP susceptibility are unknown.

Mast cell/T cell interactions in oral lichen planus.

Lichen planus is a disorder characterized by lesions of the skin and oral mucous membranes. Although many patients have involvement of both skin and oral mucosa at some stage during the progress of the disease, a larger group has oral involvement alone. It has been reported that oral lichen planus (OLP) affects one to two percent of the general population and has the potential for malignant transformation in some cases (1, 2). Like many chronic inflammatory skin diseases, it often persists for many years. Numerous disorders may be associated with OLP such as graft-vs.-host disease and Hepatitis C virus infection (3), however, it is unclear how such diverse influences elicit the disease and indeed whether they are identical to idiopathic OLP. Available evidence supports the view that OLP is a cell-mediated immunological response to an induced antigenic change in the mucosa (4-6). Studies of the immunopathogenesis of OLP aim to provide specific novel treatments as well as contributing to our understanding of other cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. In this paper, the interactions between mast cells and T cells are explored from the standpoint of immune regulation. From these data, a unifying hypothesis for the immunopathogenesis of OLP is then developed and presented.

Expression of RANTES and CCR1 in oral lichen planus and association with mast cell migration.

BACKGROUND: T lymphocytes and mast cells infiltrate the lamina propria in oral lichen planus (OLP). Chemokines and their receptors are involved in T cell and mast cell migration and accumulation during the inflammatory process. METHODS: In the present study, we investigated the role of RANTES and its receptors in OLP using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and an in vitro chemotaxis assay. RESULTS: RANTES and CCR1 were expressed on T cells and mast cells in OLP, while OLP lesional T cell supernatants stimulated CCR1 mRNA expression in a human leukemia mast cell line (HMC-1). TNF-alpha stimulated CCR1, CCR4 and CCR5 mRNA expression in the same cell line. OLP lesional T cell supernatants stimulated HMC-1 migration, which was partly inhibited by anti-RANTES antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows, for the first time, the distribution of RANTES and CCR1 in OLP. It is hypothesized that RANTES and CCR1 may play important roles in mast cell trafficking and related events in OLP.