Molecular Identification of 22 Species of Lauraceae by DNA Barcoding / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:DNA barcodes suitable for Lauraceae plants were screened，and 22 Lauraceae plants were identified and classified. Method:The DNA of 22 species of Lauraceae was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction（PCR） with different DNA barcoding primers，followed by electrophoresis and sequencing. Codon Code Aligner was used to proofread，splice， and remove the forward and reverse primer sequences. The sequence was imported into DNAMAN for multiple sequence alignment，and the base mutation sites were analyzed. The Kimura 2-Parameter（K2P） distance of different plants was calculated by MEGA，and the variation degree was analyzed according to the genetic distance. The phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the adjacency method. Result:Three pairs of DNA barcoding primers were used to amplify and sequence the DNA of 22 species of Lauraceae，and 20 species were identified by comparing the specific base sites of gene sequences<bold>.</bold> Conclusion:Four <italic>Litsea</italic> plants could be identified by <italic>matK</italic>， three <italic>Phoebe</italic> plants except for<italic> Cinnamomum validinerve </italic>by<italic> rbcL</italic>， and 20 Lauraceae plants by the combination of<italic> matK</italic>， <italic>rbcL</italic>， and <italic>rpoB</italic>，which provided a theoretical basis for the identification and development of Lauraceae plants. Among them，<italic>matK</italic> was predominant in the identification of Lauraceae plants，and the results also showed that the combination of sequences for plant identification could achieve a better result in DNA barcoding. This study investigated the genetic relationship between Lauraceae plants at the molecular level，aiming at providing a basis for the investigation，cultivation，development，protection， and utilization of medicinal plant resources.

Selection and Validation of Appropriate Reference Genes of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum cassia var. macrophyllum / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To screen out stable internal reference genes suitable for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） analysis of different parts of<italic> Cinnamomum cassia</italic> and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var. <italic>macrophyllum</italic>，in order to provide stable internal reference genes for gene expression analysis of three different parts of and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var.<italic> macrophyllum</italic> branches and leaves. Method:With 6 different tissues and organs， such as bark，branches and leaves of two plants of <italic>C. cassia</italic> and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var. <italic>macrophyllum</italic> as experimental materials，Real-time PCR technology was used to detect the five internal reference genes， namely glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase（GAPDH），actin，ubiquitin-ligase enzymes（UBE），histone and tubin（TUB）. The analysis of the expression of the data. Furthermore， three commonly used internal reference gene analysis software，namely geNorm，NormFinder and BestKeeper，was used to analyze and evaluate the stability of the candidate internal reference gene. Result:The internal five reference genes were expressed in the bark，branches and leaves of the two plants，but with differences in stability. Comprehensive analysis showed that the expression stability of candidate internal reference genes was in the order of GAPDH>actin>UBE>histone>TUB. The internal reference genes of the two plants were analyzed separately，and the optimal internal reference gene was still GAPDH，indicating that GAPDH was the most suitable internal reference gene. TUB and histone ranked low in the three software，and should be eliminated in the screening of reference genes. They were not suitable for gene expression analysis of <italic>C. cassia </italic>and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var. <italic>macrophyllum</italic>. Conclusion:The most suitable internal reference gene for different parts of cinnamon，branches，and leaves of <italic>C. cassia</italic> and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var. <italic>macrophyllum</italic> was GAPDH. In this study，a screening system for internal reference genes of Real-time PCR of <italic>C. cassia</italic> and <italic>C. cassia</italic> var. <italic>macrophyllum</italic> was established to provide theoretical basis for studying functional regulation and expression of genes during the accumulation of effective components in different parts.

Systematic review and Meta-analysis of safety of Sanfu acupoint herbal patching in randomized controlled trial / 中国中药杂志

In order to systematically evaluate the safety of Sanfu acupoint herbal patching, CNKI, SinoMed, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Medline, EMbase, and Cochrane Library were searched in accordance with PICOS principles, with a time limit from database establishment to December 2019. Meta-analysis was used for a single-group rate analysis and a weighted combination of these two groups on rates of adverse reactions. A total of 9 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis, involving 2 119 patients. The single-group rate Meta-analysis showed that the adverse reactions incidence was 9% in the treatment group(OR=0.10,95%CI[0.06, 0.19], P<0.000 01), and 9% in the control group(OR=0.10, 95%CI[0.07, 0.13], P<0.000 01). In combined statistics of all samples OR=1.81, 95%CI[1.04, 3.15], P=0.04, the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was slightly higher than that of the control group. In the subgroup analysis, the incidence of adverse reactions in terms of both single-group rate and weighed rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group in the asthma subgroup, rhinitis subgroup, ≥18 years old subgroup, and application time 2 h subgroup, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). The results of the Meta-analysis and systematic review suggested that the incidence of adverse reactions in clinical use of the Sanfu acupoints herbal patching was relatively low. The main types of adverse reactions were skin ulcers, blisters and other skin symptoms. The symptoms were relatively mild, which could be relieved by drug withdrawal or symptomatic treatment. It shows that the safety of the Sanfu acupoint herbal patching was relatively high, and the occurrence of adverse reactions was related to the original disease and age, mainly in asthma and rhinitis or patients over 40 years old. Affected by clinical heterogeneity, the conclusions of the application time subgroup need to be further improved.

Advances in quality research of Cinnamomum cassia / 中国中药杂志

Cinnamomum cassis is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in China. Its genuine producing areas distribute in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. As an important edible herb and export variety of China, the quality control and internationalization of quality standards of C. cassis is extremely significant. In the recent years, with the development of the cinnamon industry, relevant academic research and the upgrade of the international standards, it is necessary to summarize the quality-related progress of C. cassis. In the present review, the germplasm resources, specific quality marker(Q-marker) and quality standards of C. cassis were summarized on the basis of published research during the last 10 years.

Joint development of evidence-based medical record by doctors and patients through integrated Chinese and Western medicine on digestive system diseases / 中国结合医学杂志

Building the clinical therapeutic evaluation system by combing the evaluation given by doctors and patients can form a more comprehensive and objective evaluation system. A literature search on the practice of evidence-based evaluation was conducted in key biomedical databases, i.e. PubMed, Excerpt Medica Database, China Biology Medicine disc and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. However, no relevant study on the subjects of interest was identified. Therefore, drawing on the principles of narrative medicine and expert opinion from systems of Chinese medicine and Western medicine, we propose to develop and pilot-test a novel evidence-based medical record format that captures the perspectives of both patients and doctors in a clinical trial. Further, we seek to evaluate a strategic therapeutic approach that integrates the wisdom of Chinese medicine with the scientific basis of Western medicine in the treatment of digestive system disorders. Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of remedies under the system of Chinese medicine is an imperative ongoing research. The present study intends to identify a novel approach to assess the synergistic benefits achievable from an integrated therapeutic approach combining Chinese and Western system of medicine to treat digestive system disorders.

Effect of data management quality on clinical research evidence evaluation / 中国中西医结合杂志

Current clinical evaluation of literature quality has various ways. Most of them lay special emphasis on the evaluation of the design quality, but the evaluation of the implementation process quality is not perfect. Especially data management is not fully emphasized during the enforcement of clinical trials. Data from clinical research were bases for evaluating clinical findings. Although strict specifications and requirements for data management might be strictly written clearly in research protocols, they were not embodied in current clinical research evidence evaluation system. Data management is an important part of implementing the whole clinical trial process, which is a comprehensive reflection of data collecting, logging, sorting, and managing. Its objective is to obtain high quality research data for statistical analysis, thereby coming to a true and reliable conclusion. In order to overall evaluating clinical design and implement, we suggest that present quality evaluation indicators of clinical trails should be completed, and add data management quality evaluation during the whole implement process. Data management plans, standards and requirements for data checking, and management regulations for disobeying data and exception data should be added in quality evaluation indicators for clinical research evidence. The effect of data management quality on clinical research evidence evaluation should be emphasized.

Differentiation of smooth muscle progenitor cells in peripheral blood and its application in tissue engineered blood vessels / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>A major shortcoming in tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) is the lack of healthy and easily attainable smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Smooth muscle progenitor cells (SPCs), especially from peripheral blood, may offer an alternative cell source for tissue engineering involving a less invasive harvesting technique.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SPCs were isolated from 5-ml fresh rat peripheral blood by density-gradient centrifugation and cultured for 3 weeks in endothelial growth medium-2-MV (EGM-2-MV) medium containing platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF BB). Before seeded on the synthesized scaffold, SPC-derived smooth muscle outgrowth cell (SOC) phenotypes were assessed by immuno-fluorescent staining, Western blot analysis, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cells were seeded onto the silk fibroin-modified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (SF-PHBHHx) scaffolds by 6x10(4) cells/cm2 and cultured under the static condition for 3 weeks. The growth and proliferation of the seeded cells on the scaffold were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SOCs displayed specific "hill and valley" morphology, expressed the specific markers of the SMC lineage: smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin, calponin and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM MHC) at protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels. RT-PCR results demonstrate that SOCs also expressed smooth muscle protein 22alpha (SM22alpha), a contractile protein, and extracellular matrix components elastin and matrix Gla protein (MGP), as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). After seeded on the SF-PHBHHx scaffold, the cells showed excellent metabolic activity and proliferation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SPCs isolated from peripheral blood can be differentiated into the SMCs in vitro and have an impressive growth potential in the biodegradable synthesized scaffold. Thus, SPCs may be a promising cell source for constructing TEBVs.</p>

Construction of tissue-engineered heart valves by using decellularized scaffolds and endothelial progenitor cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tissue-engineered heart valves have the potential to overcome the limitations of present heart valve replacements. This study was designed to develop a tissue engineering heart valve by using human umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and decellularized valve scaffolds.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Decellularized valve scaffolds were prepared from fresh porcine heart valves. EPCs were isolated from fresh human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation, cultured for 3 weeks in EGM-2-MV medium, by which time the resultant cell population became endothelial in nature, as assessed by immunofluorescent staining. EPC-derived endothelial cells were seeded onto the decellularized scaffold at 3 x 10(6) cells/cm(2) and cultured under static conditions for 7 days. Proliferation of the seeded cells on the scaffolds was detected using the MTT assay. Tissue-engineered heart valves were analyzed by HE staining, immunofluorescent staining and scanning electron microscopy. The anti-thrombogenic function of the endothelium on the engineered heart valves was evaluated by platelet adhesion experiments and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EPC-derived endothelial cells showed a histolytic cobblestone morphology, expressed specific markers of the endothelial cell lineage including von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31, bound a human endothelial cell-specific lectin, Ulex Europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1), and took up Dil-labeled low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL). After seeding on the decellularized scaffold, the cells showed excellent metabolic activity and proliferation. The cells formed confluent endothelial monolayers atop the decellularized matrix, as assessed by HE staining and immunostaining for vWF and CD31. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the occurrence of tight junctions between cells forming the confluent monolayer. Platelets adhesion experiments suggested that the neo-endothelium was non-thrombogenic. The expression levels of eNOS and t-PA genes in the neo-endothelium were quite similar to those in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EPCs isolated from the human umbilical cord blood can differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro and form a functional endothelium atop decellularized heart valve scaffolds. Thus, EPCs may be a promising cell source for constructing tissue-engineered heart valves.</p>