[Construction of model for multidimensional evaluation of value and risk of Chinese patent medicine].

It is the core of the development for Chinese patent medicine enterprises to cultivate large varieties of Chinese patent medicine, and the selection of potential "seed" products is the prerequisite for the cultivation strategy. By constructing the evaluation model from multiple dimensions of value and risk, we can conduct specialized evaluation of Chinese patent medicines to effectively, professionally and objectively select the "seed" products with large variety cultivation potential. In this paper, the establishment of a multidimensional evaluation system would be discussed from the aspects of drug naming and prescription composition, safety risk and supply guarantee of raw materials and medicinal materials, competition situation, access to policy catalogue, scientific and technological support, clinical evidence and recognition, systematical and standardized collection of information on product instructions, quality standards, policy catalogue, scientific and technological literature, market competition and clinical application of Chinese patent medicines. Through the objective evaluation index and the range of objective index, the multi-dimensional evaluation model on values and risks of Chinese patent medicine products was discussed. Based on this model, a batch of Chinese patent medicine products can be quickly and comprehensively analyzed, and quantitative comparison can be formed among different types and fields of products. According to the evaluation results of the model and the comprehensive evaluation of experts, high-quality "seed" products can be selec-ted, laying a solid foundation for the next step of large variety cultivation. With use of this model, we can further clarify the external competitive advantages and internal priority levels of each product, and provide support for enterprises to optimize product structure and improve product strategic layout.

[Analysis of patent data of Panax notoginseng and enlightenment of industrial development].

In order to find the trends in Panax notoginseng industries of China, a combination of data analysis and empirical analysis was applied to analyze the application of global P. notoginseng patents, the innovation field, the distribution of patent assets, the patent citation network, the distribution of enterprises, the talent team, the competition and cooperation situation based on the financial big data platform of intellectual property industry. From the perspective of industrial technology hotspots, the clinical application of P. notoginseng is becoming more and more widespread, and its clinical treatment field is further expanding. From the perspective of industrial fields, the P. notoginseng industry has gradually expanded from the traditional Chinese medicine field to food, cosmetics, beverages, tea and other daily consumer goods. From the perspective of patent quality, the average maintenance life of P. notoginseng patents of China is lower than the global level, and the value and quality of patents need to be further improved. And the quality of P. notoginseng of China related patent applications has gradually improved in recent years. We analyzed the technology, capital, and talent issues of P. notoginseng industry of China, and summarized and forecasted the status and trends of P. notoginseng industry development of China. It is considered that scientific and technological innovation has become the core engine for the development of the P. notoginseng industry and intellectual property, especially patent protection, escorted the sustainable development of the P. notoginseng industry. Based on the above analysis, several suggestions were put forward to promote the high-quality development of the P. notoginseng industry. It should strengthen scientific and technological support, especially the need for a large number of high-quality scientific and technological output, expand multi-party cooperation, build a high-level technological innovation platform for the P. notoginseng industry, guide long-term capital to continuously and stably invest, and help the P. notoginseng industry to revitalize.

Role of cyclic strain frequency in regulating the alignment of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.

The arterial system is subjected to cyclic strain because of periodic alterations in blood pressure, but the effects of frequency of cyclic strain on arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the potential role of the cyclic strain frequency in regulating SMC alignment using an in vitro model. Aortic SMCs were subject to cyclic strain at one elongation but at various frequencies using a Flexercell Tension Plus system. It was found that the angle information entropy, the activation of integrin-beta1, p38 MAPK, and F/G actin ratio of filaments were all changed in a frequency-dependent manner, which was consistent with SMC alignment under cyclic strain with various frequencies. A treatment with anti-integrin-beta1 antibody, SB202190, or cytochalasin D inhibited the cyclic strain frequency-dependent SMC alignment. These observations suggested that the frequency of cyclic strain plays a role in regulating the alignment of vascular SMCs in an intact actin filament-dependent manner, and cyclic strain at 1.25 Hz was the most effective frequency influencing SMC alignment. Furthermore, integrin-beta1 and p38 MAPK possibly mediated cyclic strain frequency-dependent SMC alignment.

[The protective effects and mechanism of hypercapnia on acute lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of hypercapnia on acute lung injury (ALI) and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy New Zealand white rabbits were involved in this study, and randomly divided to three groups, a control group, a therapeutic group, and a prophylactic group (n=8, each). Lipopolysaccharide (1 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to establish the ALI model. Blood gas analysis and artery pressure were monitored. IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), wet weight/dry weigh (W/D), index of quantitative assessment of histological lung injury (IQA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in the lung tissue were measured. Apoptosis index of neutrophils were determined. RESULTS: (1) The mean artery pressure, heart rate, PaCO2, and PaO2/FiO2 changed in the ALI model of the therapeutic group and the prophylactic group [(79+/-6) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), (180+/-10)/min, (99+/-13) mm Hg, 250+/-26, (80+/-9) mm Hg, (181+/-12)/min, (95+/-11) mm Hg, 241+/-56, respectively]. In the control group, they were (66+/-10) mm Hg, (139+/-13)/min, (31+/-4) mm Hg, 182+/-35, respectively. The differences were significant compared with the control group (t=4.05, 26.32, 5.36, 28.15, 12.54, 11.07, 16.13, 12.36, P<0.05, 0.01). (2) The levels of W/D, MPO, and MDA in the therapeutic group and the prophylactic group were 1.98+/-0.28, 1.87+/-0.30, (6.1+/-1.6) U/g, (5.8+/-1.5) U/g, (20+/-5) mg/L, (19+/-4) mg/L; while in the control group, they were [2.43+/-0.26, (9.0+/-1.3) U/g, (36+/-8) mg/L] respectively. The difference was significant (t=11.07, 24.46, 2.35, 9.63, 12.34, 25.32, P<0.05, 0.01). (3) The levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the serum and BALF and the apoptosis index in the three groups were (50+/-8) ng/ml, (103+/-49) ng/ml, (94+/-16) ng/ml, (44+/-9) ng/ml, (38+/-9)%, (56+/-5)%, (49+/-7) ng/ml, (96+/-50) ng/ml, (91+/-14) ng/ml, (39+/-6) ng/ml, (39+/-10)%, (55+/-10)%, (91+/-43) ng/ml, (177+/-60) ng/ml, (162+/-15) ng/ml, (67+/-7) ng/ml, (19+/-7)%, (43+/-7)%, respectively. The difference was significant among the three groups (t=7.12, 5.55, 7.30, 3.93, 13.08, 8.00, P<0.05, 0.01 respectively). (4) The apoptosis index of neutrophils was negatively correlated with the levels of IL-8 in the serum and BALF (r=-0.73, -0.72, -0.52, -0.64, -0.73, -0.56, all P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-alpha in the serum and BALF (r=-0.57, -0.78, -0.69, -0.75, -0.82, -0.84, all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypercapnia does not affect hemodynamics and has protective effects on ALI.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Tamarisk gerbil, Meriones tamariscinus (Rodentia: Muridae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Tamarisk jird, Meriones tamariscinus, was sequenced. The 16,389bp genome contains 37 genes, typical for rodent mitogenomes, including 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 13 protein-coding genes. The total GC content of the mitochondrial genome is 36.8%, with a base composition of 34.0% A, 24.5% C, 12.3% G, and 29.2% T. The phylogenetic analysis showed that M. tamariscinus was classified in the genus Meriones, Muridae.

[Effects of interleukin 27 and its receptor on TGFßinduced murine pulmonary fibroblast proliferation and transformation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of interleukin-27 (IL-27) and its receptor (WSX-1) on the proliferation, transformation and collagen synthesis of the mouse lung fibroblasts. METHODS: Cultured mouse lung fibroblasts were treated with TGF-ß1, recombinant murine IL-27, a IL-27 receptor (IL-27R) overexpression vector IL-27R/pCDNA3.1, IL-27 and IL-27R, or all the 3 combined. MTT assay was used to assess the proliferation of the cells, and RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to examine the mRNA and protein expressions of a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and types I and III collagen; immunofluorescence assay was used to test the expression and location of α-SMA. RESULTS: TGF-ß1 promoted the cell proliferation and obviously enhanced α-SMA expression and types I and III collagen synthesis in the fibroblasts. Both IL-27 and IL-27R significantly inhibited the proliferation of the pulmonary fibroblasts and obviously decreased their α-SMA expression and types I and III collagen synthesis, but when combined,they produced no obvious inhibitory effect on TGF-1-induced proliferation and transformation of pulmonary fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Both IL-27 and IL-27R alone can suppress the proliferation, transformation, and collagen synthesis of mouse pulmonary fibroblasts, but their combined treatment produces no such inhibitory effect because of the neutralization of exogenous IL-27 by IL-27R to result in the failure of activating the cell signaling pathways.