Comprehensive evaluation of Pinellia ternata germplasm resources based on phenotypic trait classification / 中国中药杂志

The evaluation of germplasm resources is the prerequisite for the development, utilization, and conservation of Chinese medicinal resources. The selection of excellent germplasm is the key to the breeding and orderly production of Pinellia ternata. In this study, 21 germplasm materials of P. ternata from major production areas in China were collected and analyzed for population diversity after phenotypic preliminary screening. The results have revealed that the P. ternata population has abundant phenotypic variation, and the phenotypic changes could be divided into five phenotypes in terms of organ trait variation. Further analysis of variation in 20 quantitative traits of the population revealed that the coefficient of variation for adenosine content(339.05%) was the largest, while the coefficient of variation for the underground plant height(16.35%) was the smallest. Correlation analysis showed that there was a strong correlation among various traits, with 52 pairs of traits showing highly significant correlation(P<0.01) and 19 pairs of traits showing a significant correlation(P<0.05). The 21 germplasms in the test could be classified into three major clusters by cluster analysis, with Cluster Ⅱ having the highest number and content of nucleosides, making it suitable for the selection and breeding of P. ternata varieties with high content of nucleosides. The yield in Cluster Ⅲ was higher than that in other groups, making it suitable for the selection and breeding of P. ternata varieties with a high yield. All trait indicators could be simplified into five principal component factors through principal component analysis, and the cumulative contribution rate was up to 86.04%. Further, comprehensive analysis using membership function and stepwise regression analysis identified nine traits, such as plant height, main leaf length, and underground plant height as characteristic indicators for the comprehensive evaluation of germplasm resources of P. ternata. BX007, BX008, and BX005 were identified as germplasms with both high yield and high uridine content, with BX007 having the highest uridine content of 479.51 μg·g~(-1). It belonged to the germplasm of P. ternata with double bulbils and could be cultivated as a potential good variety. Based on the phenotypic classification of P. ternata, systematic resource evaluation was carried out in this study, which could lay a foundation for the excavation of genetic resources and the breeding of new varieties of P. ternata.

Association between the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio and New-onset Subclinical Macrovascular and Microvascular Diseases in the Chinese Population / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#The association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases has been less investigated. We sought to examine the association between NLR and new-onset subclinical macrovascular and microvascular abnormalities in the Chinese population.@*METHODS@#From a community cohort, we included 6,430 adults aged ≥ 40 years without subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases at baseline. We measured subclinical macrovascular and microvascular abnormalities separately using the ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and albuminuria.@*RESULTS@#During a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, 110 participants developed incident abnormal ABI, 746 participants developed incident elevated baPWV, and 503 participants developed incident albuminuria. Poisson regression analysis indicated that NLR was significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset abnormal ABI, elevated baPWV, and albuminuria. Compared to overweight/obese participants, we found a much stronger association between NLR and subclinical vascular abnormalities in participants with normal weight. Furthermore, we found an interaction between the NLR and body mass index (BMI) on the risk of new-onset abnormal ABI ( P for interaction: 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#NLR was associated with subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases in the Chinese population. Furthermore, in participants with normal weight, the association between NLR and subclinical vascular abnormalities was much stronger.

Effect of a novel phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, CPD1, on vasoconstriction in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of CPD1 , a novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, on contractile ten- sion of pulmonary artery and aorta in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ) .Methods MCT- induced PAH was generated by a single intraperitoneal injection of MCT(50 mg • kg"1) in rats.Seven days after MCT injection, the rats were treated with CPD1 ( 10 mg • kg-1 • d"1) for 14 days.The tension of vascular rings was examined in MCT-induced PAH rats.Results MCT treated rats exhibited profound PAH when examined 3 weeks after injection.In contrast, gavage administration of CPD1 led to significant decrease in the right ventricle systolic pressure ( RVSP) and right ventricular mass index (RVMI), as well as MCT-induced pulmonary arterial wall thinning and enlarged lumen, indicating that CPD1 inhibited the de- velopment of PAH.Cavage administration of CPD1 also reduced phenylephrine and endothelin-1-induced pulmonary artery contraction and aorta contraction in MCT-treated rats.Conclusions Treatment with CPD1 attenuates vascular reactivity, lessens vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and remodeling, and inhibits PAH via inhibition of non-voltage dependent Ca2∗ channels in normal and PAH rats.

An analysis on metabolic indices among diabetic patients in different seasons / 预防医学

Objective To analysis the metabolic index among diabetic patients in community in summer and winter,and to provide evidence for disease management.Methods During June and December,119 diabetic patients were seleted from communities living for more than a year by the method of stratified cluster sampling.The metabolic indexes were compared usingpaired t test ,and the rate of biochemical indicators were analyzed by McNemar 's test between two seasons .Results The values of HbA1c,GLU and HDL -C were higher in winter than in summer (P <0.01).The mean values of TC in summer and winter were the same.The detection values of triglyceride and low density lipoprotein were lower in winter than in summer,but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05 ).The control rate of HbA1c was 56.36% in summer,and the control rate was 44.54% in winter,the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05).In summer, the control rate was 59.66%,higher than 45.38% in winter,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The control rate of blood pressure was better than that in winter,while triglyceride and low density lipoprotein control was better than that in summer,but which was not statistically significant (P >0.05).Conclusion The metabolic index of diabetic patients in Zhoushan urban community was significantly affected by seasonal changes.Most indexes were better in summer than that in winter,which suggested that the intervention of diabetics should be enhanced in winter.

Comparison of different definitions on metabolic syndrome in obese children / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese children, according to three commonly used 'Pediatric MS definitions': (1) the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), (2) Cook, et al, and(3)da Silva, et al, in order to choose an appropriate one for the Chinese obese children. It was also intended to assess the variances of American or Chinese cutoff values on MS prevalence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was performed in obese children from Obesity Outpatient Service Program from January 2004 to December 2008. Subjects were eligible if they met the following criteria: (1) aged 7 to 18 years, (2) with no following conditions as hereditary endocrine or metabolic diseases, secondary obesity, hepatic or renal disease, using medication that alters blood pressure or glucose or lipid metabolism etc., (3) data were complete on the variables of interest. Height, weight and waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting lipid profiles, blood sugar and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). American or Chinese cutoff values were used to identify central obesity and hypertension. The prevalence rates of MS under three definitions were calculated and compared by Kappa test to determine the degree of agreement.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>136 patients with 103 males and 33 females were enrolled in the study. According to the American cutoff value, 19.2%, 34.6%, 52.9% of the subjects were classified as MS under definitions of IDF, Cook, et al, da Silva, et al respectively, matching well with 19.2%, 43.4%, 58.1% when the Chinese cutoff value was used (Kappa = 1, 0.79, 0.90). The degrees of agreement according to the Kappa statistics between Cook, et al and da Silva, et al (0.52, American cutoff value/0.51, Chinese cutoff value) were better than the others (0.24 - 0.4). Children who were diagnosed as MS under the definitions of Cook, et al. or da Silva, et al. appeared to have had serious insulin resistance when compared to those without MS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome appeared to be high among the obese pediatric outpatients, which was probably due to the definition being chosen. The use of definitions provided by Cook, et al and da Silva, et al might be more suitable for MS diagnosis in obese children in the outpatient department, if insulin resistance was under consideration. Both American and Chinese cutoff value could be used for MS diagnosis in the Chinese obese children.</p>