Corrigendum: An integrative serum pharmacology-based approach to study the anti-tumor activity of B. Paniculatum aqueous bulb extract on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7404.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01261.].

A systematic approach to decode the mechanism of Cornus in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Cornus Officinalis (Cornus), the dried pulp of mature Cornus, is used to treat liver diseases. However, the pharmacological mechanism of Cornus in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been systematically studied. The chemical compounds and the bioactive chemical compounds of Cornus were screened through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Gene Cards database was used to explore the targets in liver cancer pathogenesis. The disease-drug Venn diagram was constructed using the VENN 2.1 and the STRING database was used to analyze protein-protein Interaction Network (PPI). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed using the R package. Molecular docking was performed using Discovery Studio were assessed using Pymol and Discovery Studio 2016. Cell survival of BEL-7404 cells treated by Hydroxygenkwanin (HGK) were valued through CCK-8 assay. Expressions of caspase-3 and cleaved PARP was detected through Western blot. Pharmacological network diagrams of the Cornus compound-target network and HCC-related target network were successfully constructed. A total of 20 active compounds, 1841 predicted biological targets of Cornus, and 7100 HCC-related targets were identified. 37 target genes between Cornus and HCC were screened trough the network pharmacology. Molecular docking studies suggested that HGK has the highest affinity with caspase-3. HGK could induce apoptosis of HCC cells and significantly activate the caspase-3 protease activity in BEL-7404. This study systematically elaborated the mechanism of Cornus in the treatment of HCC and provided a new perspective to exploit Antineoplastic from Cornus.

Systems Pharmacology-Based Identification of Mechanisms of Action of Bolbostemma paniculatum for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine has widely used Bolbostemma paniculatum to treat diseases, including cancer, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential pharmacological mechanisms of "Tu Bei Mu" (TBM), the Chinese name for Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma, the dry tuber of B. paniculatum, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS The active components and putative therapeutic targets of TBM were explored using SwissTargetPrediction, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and Search Tool for Interactions of Chemicals (STITCH). The HCC-related target database was built using DrugBank, DisGeNet, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). A protein-protein interaction network of the common targets was constructed, based on the matches between TBM potential targets and HCC-related targets, using Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of the cluster networks were used to elucidate the biological functions of TBM. RESULTS Pharmacological network diagrams of the TBM compound-target network and HCC-related target network were successfully constructed. A total of 22 active components, 191 predicted biological targets of TBM, and 3775 HCC-related targets were identified. Through construction of an HCC-related target database and a protein-protein interaction network of the common targets, TBM was predicted to be effective in treating HCC mainly through the PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, p53, and PPAR signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS The PI3K/Akt, HIF1, p53, and PPAR pathways may play vital roles in TBM treatment of HCC. Also, the potential anti-cancer effect of TBM on HCC appears to stem from the synergetic effect of multiple targets and mechanisms.

Effects of Fish Oil Combined with Selenium and Zinc on Learning and Memory Impairment in Aging Mice and Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aß) peptide into plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Aß peptide is generated by the cleavage of the ß-amyloid precursor protein (APP) by ß- and γ-secretase. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of fish oil (or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), selenium, and zinc on learning and memory impairment in an aging mouse model and on APP. We performed the Morris water maze and platform recorder tests on male Kunming mice (10/group) grouped as control and D-galactose-induced aging model mice treated with vehicle, fish oil, fish oil + selenium, fish oil + selenium + zinc, and positive control (red ginseng extract). Fish oil + zinc + selenium for 7 weeks significantly improved learning and memory impairments in aging model animals in the Morris water maze and platform recorder tests, as evidenced by shortened incubation periods and number of errors. In vitro analysis of Aß1-40 content in APP695-transfected CHO cells revealed a decrease after treatment with EPA, DHA, and their combinations with selenium or selenium and zinc. Assaying ß- and γ-secretase activities revealed a decrease in PC12 cells and mouse serum as well as a decrease in ß-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 and presenilin 1 protein levels in the PC12 cells and mouse serum. Taken together, our results show that fish oil combined with selenium and zinc inhibited APP processing and alleviated learning and memory impairment in a mouse model of aging.

Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Guchang Zhixie Wan for Treating Ulcerative Colitis by Comprehensive Network Pharmacological Approaches and Molecular Docking Validation as Well as Cell Experiments.

Guchang Zhixie Wan (GZW) is a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). This research explored the potential pharmacological mechanism of GZW in UC. The active ingredients, potential targets, and UC-related genes of GZW were retrieved from public databases. The pharmacological mechanisms including key components, potential targets and signal pathways were determined through bioinformatics analysis. The results of this study were verified through virtual molecular docking and cell experiments. Network analysis revealed that 26 active GZW compounds and 148 potential GZW target proteins were associated with UC. Quercetin, kaempferol and ß-sitosterol were identified as the core active ingredients of GZW. IFNG, IL-1A, IL-1B, JUN, RELA, and STAT1 were indicated as key targets of GZW. These key targets have a strong affinity for quercetin, kaempferol, and ß-sitosterol. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that GZW target proteins are highly enriched in inflammatory, immune, and oxidative stress-related pathways. This study confirmed the therapeutic effect and revealed potential molecular mechanism of GZW on UC. And the protective effects of GZW on inflammatory bowel disease pathway were also revealed through STAT3/NF-κB/IL-6 pathway. The findings of this study enhanced our understanding of GZW in the treatment of UC and provided a feasible method for discovering potential drugs from traditional Chinese medicine formulations.

Effect of regulating menstruation and promoting pregnancy acupuncture therapy on negative emotion in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the influence of regulating menstruation and promoting pregnancy acupuncture therapy on negative emotions in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with POI were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated with regulating menstruation and promoting pregnancy acupuncture therapy at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), etc. once a day, 5 times a week for 3 months. The western medication group was treated by oral administration of climen. The drug was given 1 tablet a day for 21 days and was stopped for 1 week as a course. The treatment was required 3 consecutive courses. The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, modified Kupperman index (KI) score, agitated and depressive symptom scores in KI and serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the SAS scores, KI scores and serum levels of FSH in the two groups and the scores of agitated and depressive symptom in the acupuncture group were lower than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Regulating menstruation and promoting pregnancy acupuncture therapy can effectively improve the negative emotions of patients with POI and reduce serum level of FSH .

Effects of Dance Activity on Negative Emotion in Older Adults: A Systematic Review / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the rehabilitation effects of dance activity on negative emotion in older adults, and clarify the multiple factors that determine the dose-effect of emotional rehabilitation. Methods:The electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang data were searched from inception to December 31, 2020. The authors, countries, years, samples, study designs, interventions, measurement instruments and outcomes were extracted. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of included literatures. Results:A total of 672 studies were retuned, out of which twelve were selected including 808 individuals. These studies were published in ten countries, and most in journals related to clinical medicine, exercise rehabilitation, psychotherapy and gerontology. Study designs included randomized controlled trial (RCT), quasi-experimental study and pre-post study. The mean PEDro score was 5.58. There were four types of dance activity, including social dance, dance movement therapy, leisure dance and folk dance. The latter two types were the main rehabilitation interventions. Dance was found to significantly reduce anxiety and depression levels, as well as distress and stress in older adults. Effect of dance activity on negative emotion in older adults was related to intensity, frequency and duration variables, and needed more researches with well-controlled designs, standardized assessments and longitudinal follow-ups. Community was the primary field for the elderly to participate in dance activities. Integrating dance activities into the community rehabilitation service system might contribute to their emotional adjustment and mental health. Conclusion:Dance activity is feasible and effective to alleviate negative emotion, promote psychological healthy and improve quality of life for older adults.

A new research paradigm in modernization of traditional Chinese medicine: single cell pharmacology / 药学学报

Single cell "omics" technology enables the capture of genome, transcriptome, proteome and other omics information in a high-throughput and unbiased manner at single-cell resolution, allowing the characterization of the functional state of individual cells to reveal their heterogeneity and differential responses to drug treatment. This technology has wide application in pharmacological research, facilitating drug screening, efficacy evaluation, and mechanistic studies. We envision that, in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), single cell omics technology can be applied in the identification of active ingredients and drug targets, and elucidation of drug mechanism of action. In this article, we briefly introduce the single cell omics technology - particularly single cell transcriptome sequencing, and review its application in the field of modern drug research. Based on that, we propose the concept of "single cell pharmacology" and articulate how it can be applied to transform the pharmacological research of TCM and promote TCM modernization.

An Integrative Serum Pharmacology-Based Approach to Study the Anti-Tumor Activity of B. paniculatum Aqueous Bulb Extract on the Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line BEL-7404.

The herb Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae family), also known as Tu-Bei-Mu (TBM) in Chinese, has shown curative effects to treat several types of cancer as an adjunctive therapy. Thereby we intend to find its effect on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to understand the pharmacological mechanism behind it. In this study, an integrative serum pharmacology-based approach linking serum pharmacology and bioinformatics prediction was employed. Firstly, we used the serum taken introgastrically from the rats dministered by TBM aqueous bulb extract to culture the HCC cell line BEL-7404 and detect its anti-tumor effects. Secondly, the TBM putative targets were predicted using the ETCM database and known therapeutic targets of NPC were collected from the OMIM database. Then, a TBM-HCC putative targets network was constructed using the DAVID and STRING databases. Thirdly, key gene targets were obtained based on topological analysis and pathway enrichment analysis. The expression of 4 representative key targets were validated by Western blotting. As a result, 36 TBM targets and 26 known therapeutic targets of HCC were identified. These key targets were found to be frequently involved in 13 KEGG pathways and 4 biological processes. The expression of four representative key targets: TP53, CASP3, BCL2 and BAX further supports the suppression of TBM on HCC. In general, our study shows the curative effects of TBM against HCC. By using this integrative approach, we may find novel potential therapeutic targets to suppress HCC using TBM as an adjunctive therapy. And it could also help us understand the mechanism of HCC treatments in response to TBM.

Effects and safety of Buyang-Huanwu Decoction for the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We designed this study to assess the effects and safety of Buyang-Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) for the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: Electronic databases of Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, VIP Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure will be comprehensively and systematically searched from initial time of each electronic database to the present without limitations of language and publication status. Randomized controlled trials on BYHWD alone against any other interventions for the treatment of AIS will be included. All process of study selection, data collection, and methodological quality assessment will be independently undertaken by 2 investigators. Cochrane risk of bias tool and RevMan 5.3 software will be utilized for the performance of methodological quality assessment and statistical analysis, respectively. RESULTS: This study will summarize most recent high quality evidence on investigating the effects and safety of BYHWD alone against any other interventions for the treatment of patients with AIS. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will provide helpful evidence for the clinical practice for patients with AIS using BYHWD, as well as the relevant future researches.Study registration number: INPLASY202040169.

Genome-wide identification of abscisic acid (ABA) receptor pyrabactin resistance 1-like protein (PYL) family members and expression analysis of PYL genes in response to different concentrations of ABA stress in Glycyrrhiza uralensis / 中国天然药物

As abscisic acid (ABA) receptor, the pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYR/PYL) protein (named PYL for simplicity) plays an important part to unveil the signal transduction of ABA and its regulatory mechanisms. Glycyrrhiza uralensis, a drought-tolerant medicinal plant, is a good model for the mechanism analysis of ABA response and active compound biosynthesis. However, knowledge about PYL family in G. uralensis remains largely unknown. Here, 10 PYLs were identified in G. uralensis genome. Characterization analysis indicated that PYLs in G. uralensis (GuPYLs) are relatively conserved. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GuPYL1-3 belongs to subfamily I, GuPYL4-6 and GuPYL10 belong to subfamily II and GuPYL7-9 belongs to subfamily III. In addition, transcriptome data presented various expression levels of GuPYLs under different exogenous ABA stresses. The expression pattern of GuPYLs was verified by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The study proved that GuPYL4, GuPYL5, GuPYL8 and GuPYL9 genes are significantly up-regulated by ABA stress and the response process is dynamic. This study paves the way for elucidating the regulation mechanism of ABA signal to secondary metabolites and improving the cultivation and quality of G. uralensis using agricultural strategies.

Molecular genetics of medicinal plants, past achievement, and new era / 中国中药杂志

Unraveling the genetic basis of medicinal plant metabolism and developmental traits is a long-standing goal for pharmacologists and plant biologists. This paper discusses the definition of molecular genetics of medicinal plants, which is an integrative discipline with medicinal plants as the research object. This discipline focuses on the heredity and variation of medicinal plants, and elucidates the relationship between the key traits of medicinal plants(active compounds, yield, resistance, etc.) and genotype, studies the structure and function, heredity and variation of medicinal plant genes mainly at molecular level, so as to reveal the molecular mechanisms of transmission, expression and regulation of genetic information of medicinal plants. Specifically, we emphasize on three major aspects of this discipline.(1)Individual and population genetics of medicinal plants, this part mainly highlights the genetic mechanism of the domestication, the individual genomics at the species level, and the formation of genetic diversity of medicinal plants.(2)Elucidation of biosynthetic pathways of active compounds and their evolutionary significance. This part summarizes the biosynthesis, diversity and molecular evolution of active compounds in medicinal plants.(3) Molecular mechanisms that shaping the key agronomic traits by internal and external factors. This part focuses on the accumulation and distribution of active compounds within plants and the regulation of metabolic network by environmental factors. Finally, we prospect the future direction of molecular genetics of medicinal plants based on the rapid development of multi-omics technology, as well as the application of molecular genetics in the future strategies to achieve conservation and breeding of medicinal plants and efficient biosynthesis of active compounds.

Analysis of classical prescription Jinshui Liujun Jian based on ancient literature / 中国中药杂志

To provide the ancient literary evidence support for the clinical application and development of classical prescription based on systematical collection and analysis of the ancient Chinese medical literature containing Jinshui Liujun Jian, including its origin and development. Bibliometric analysis was used and information of Jinshui Liujun Jian in ancient Chinese medical literature was then collected for statistical analysis of formula compositions, main indications, dosage, preparation methods, etc. A total of 151 valid items of data were obtained from 48 ancient Chinese medicine books. Jinshui Liujun Jian was first recorded in Jingyue Quanshu written by ZHANG Jiebin. This prescription consisted of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Pinelliae Rhizome, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Poria and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome Praeparata cum Melle, and it was mainly used to treat the deficiency of lung and kidney, edema and excess production of phlegm, or Yin deficiency in the old, insufficient blood-qi, wind-cold evil, cough and disgusting, asthma and excessive phlegm. Doctors in later dynasties mostly followed the prescription compositions, dosages and indications in Jingyue Quanshu, and extended the clinical application of this prescription.

Mechanism action of Chinese herbal compound and target network pharmacology of / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore compounds, targets and mechanism of @*METHODS@#The known effective Chinese herbal compound of YG pill was searched from traditional Chinese medicine integrated database(TCMID). Bioinformatics analysis tool for molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (BATMAN-TCM) was used to predict target of components;DisGeNET and artificial literature reading were used to obtain targets of osteoporosis and bone remodeling;Cytoscape 3.7.1 software and its plug-ins BiN-GO and ClueGO were used to enrich the GO annotation and pathwaysof the related targets, and validation of the predicted target of YG pill were validated by 87 differentially expressed proteins in postmenopausal osteoporosis and postmenopausal osteoporosis disease models in postmenopausal patients with normal bone mass from the previous serum proteomics data.@*RESULTS@#Totally 392 compounds were retrieved from YG pill, including 83 sovereign drugs (monkshood, cinnamon, deerhorn gelatin), 127 ministerial drugs (prepared rehmannia root, dogwood, wolfberry fruit and Chinese yam) and 182 supplementary drugs (cuscuta chinensis, eucommia ulmoides and Chinese angelica). Among them, there were 4 same compounds between sovereign drug and ministerial drug, 1 same compound between sovereign drug and supplementary drug, and 14 same compounds between ministerial drug and supplementary drug. Totally 2 112 trusted targets were identified, included 775 sovereign drugs, 1 483 ministerial drugs and 1 491 supplementary drugs;227 targets were selected from YG pill for treating osteoporosis, which participate in nearly 20 process of metabolic process, cell differentiation and biology, and data mining revealed that the process involved bone remodeling and bone mineralization. Acting site of cell mainly inclded 9 kinds of cell which had 13 molecular function. Results of KEGG metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed 137 signal passages were obviously enriched. Among them, classical osteoclast differentiation signal passages and relative estrogen regulates signaling pathways of menopause were widely distributed in 27 signal passages. Sixtargets were screened by target validation, such as AGT, FGA, APOE, DKK3, P4HB and RAB7A.@*CONCLUSION@#The characteristics of multi-targets and multi-pathways of YG pill for the treatment of osteoporosis were clarified, which provided a clear direction for the in-depth research. The pharmacodynamic components of YG pill include 36 compounds, and their main action targets include FGA, AGT, APOE, DKK3, P4HB and RAB7A.

Deciphering the Pharmacological Mechanism of the Herb Radix Ophiopogonis in the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Integrating iTRAQ-Coupled 2-D LC-MS/MS Analysis and Network Investigation.

The herb Radix Ophiopogonis (RO) has been used effectively to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) as an adjunctive therapy. Due to the complexity of the traditional Chinese herbs, the pharmacological mechanism of RO's action on NPC remains unclear. To address this problem, an integrative approach bridging proteome experiments with bioinformatics prediction was employed. First, differentially expressed protein profile from NPC serum samples was established using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) coupled 2-D liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS analysis. Second, the RO putative targets were predicted using Traditional Chinese Medicines Integrated Database and known therapeutic targets of NPC were collected from Drugbank and OMIM databases. Then, a network between RO putative targets and NPC known therapeutic targets was constructed. Third, based on pathways enrichment analysis, an integrative network was constructed using DAVID and STRING database in order to identify potential candidate targets of RO against NPC. As a result, we identified 13 differentially expressed proteins from clinical experiments compared with the healthy control. And by bioinformatics investigation, 12 putative targets of RO were selected. Upon interactions between experimental and predicted candidate targets, we identified three key candidate targets of RO against NPC: VEGFA, TP53, and HSPA8, by calculating the nodes' topological features. In conclusion, this integrative pharmacology-based analysis revealed the anti-NPC effects of RO might be related to its regulatory impact via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, and the cAMP signaling pathway by targeting VEGFA, TP53, and HSPA8. The findings of potential key targets may provide new clues for NPC's treatments with the RO adjunctive therapy.

Effect of low-selenium diet on expressions of CCR7, CD206 and CD163 in the liver and kidney of rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of low-selenium diet on the liver and kidneys of rats and explore the role of macrophage polarization into M1 and M2 phenotypes in liver and kidney injuries.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four rats (12 female and 12 male) were randomly divided into control group and low-selenium group and fed with normal chow (dietary selenium of 0.18 mg/kg) and low-selenium diet (dietary selenium of 0.02 mg/kg) for 109 days. After the feeding, the rats were sacrificed for HE staining to observe liver and kidney pathologies, and immunohistochemistry was performed for analyzing CCR7, CD206, CD163-positive cell numbers in the liver and kidneys.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rats in low-selenium group showed severer fibrosis in the liver and kidney than the control group. In either male or female rats in low-selenium group, CCR7 and CD206 expressions in the liver were comparable with those in control group, but CD163 expression was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05 for both female and male rats). In the kidney, the proximal tubule showed a slightly higher while the distal tubule showed a slightly lower CCR7 expression in low selenium group than in the control group (P>0.05). In low-selenium group, a significantly lower CD163 expression in the distal tubule and a significantly higher CD206 expression in the proximal tubule were noted as compared with the control group (P<0.05 in both female and male rats). Compared with the control rats, the male rats in low-selenium group, but not the female rats, showed a significantly lower CD163 expression in the proximal tubule of the kidney (P<0.05); the female but not the male rats in low-selenium group show a higher CD206 expression in the distal tubule (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low-selenium diet can cause liver and kidney fibrosis in rats and may inhibit macrophage activation into the M2 phenotype.</p>

Dynamic changes of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg in radiation-injured rat brain and radioprotective effect of MgSO4 / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the contents of brain water and Ca,Fe,Cu,Zn,Mg and microvascular damage in hippocampal tissue of radiation-injured rat brain.Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group,protective group (with intraperitoneal injection of 10％ MgSO4,400 mg/kg body weight + a single dose of 20 Gy electron beam irradiation in whole brain) and irradiation alone group (with intraperitoneal injection of normal saline,400 mg/kg body weight + a single dose of 20 Gy electron beam irradiation to the entire brain) with 18 rats assigned to each group and 3 rats sampled at each time point.Radiation-induced brain injury (RBI) was modeled by irradiating the rat' s whole brain with 5 MeV electrons.A dry-wet weight method was used to detect brain water content (BWC),and the level of microvascular damage was detected with HE staining of brain tissue slices,and the contents of Ca,Fe,Cu,Zn,Mg in hippocampus were detected with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy at different time points after radiation.Results BWC in the irradiated rats at 7,14 and 30 d post-irradiation was higher than that of control group (t =3.21,-2.11,2.82,P ＜0.05),andBWC in the protective group was less than that in the irradiated group (t =2.84,4.33,1.90,P ＜ 0.05).Microvascular thrombosis was induced in the radiated brain but this thrombosis was reduced by MgSO4.Thecontents of Ca and Fe in the brain tissue after 1,3,7 d of irradiation was higher than that of control group(t =11.41,6.81,14.03,17.17,6.89,9.12 and 5.43,5.66,3.60,P ＜ 0.05),and the content of Cain the protective group at various time post-irradiation was less than that in the irradiated group (t =5.35,5.28,11.02,14.26,5.68,9.10,P ＜0.05).The content of Cu (1,7,14,60 d post-irradiation) andZn (1,7,14,30,60 d post-irradiation) of the irradiated group was less than that of the control group(t =4.24,3.76,4.76,3.86 and 5.25,4.78,26.53,6.67,11.37,P ＜ 0.05),and the content of Cuin the protective group at different time points post-irradiation was less than that of the irradiated alonegroup (t =4.23,3.57,4.01,4.73,3.78,3.44,P ＜0.05),the content of Zn in the protective group(14 d post-irradiation) was higher than that of the irradiated group (t =6.21,P ＜ 0.05).The content ofMg in the irradiated group (7 d post-irradiation) was less than that of the control group (t =5.85,P ＜0.05).Conclusions The contents of Ca,Fe,Cu and Zn were imbalanced in the radiation-injured ratbrain,and the supplement of MgSO4could recover the balance of Ca,Fe,Cu and Zn content and alleviateradiation-induced brain injury.

Biosynthesis and Regulation of Active Compounds in Medicinal Model Plant Salvia miltiorrhiza / 中草药·英文版

Natural products from plant secondary metabolits are a major source of clinical drugs and industrial chemicals. Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the most important plants in traditional Chinese medicine. Its dried roots and rhizomes are highly valued for use in the treatment of vascular diseases and for their anti-oxidative activities. Furthermore, S. miltiorrhiza is described as a medicinal model plant mainly due to its biosynthesis of active compounds. Here, we reviewed the research on S. miltiorrhiza in genomics, transcriptomics, biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids, biotic and abiotic elicitors, and regulation of transcription factors. This will provide a solid foundation for new breeding and synthetic biology approaches to produce and study natural products.

Comparative Study of Three Commonly Used Methods for Hospital Efficiency Analysis in Beijing Tertiary Public Hospitals, China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tertiary hospitals serve as the medical service center within the region and play an important role in the medical and health service system. They are also the key targets of public hospital reform in the new era in China. Through the reform of health system, the public hospital efficiency has changed remarkably. Therefore, this study aimed to provide some advice for efficiency assessment of public hospitals in China by comparing and analyzing the consistency of results obtained by three commonly used methods for examining hospital efficiency, that is, ratio analysis (RA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), and data envelopment analysis (DEA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The theoretical basis, operational processes, and the application status of RA, SFA, and DEA were learned through literature analysis. Then, the empirical analysis was conducted based on measured data from 51 tertiary public hospitals in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average values of hospital efficiency calculated by SFA with index screening and principal component analysis (PCA) results and those calculated by DEA with index screening results were relatively stable. The efficiency of specialized hospitals was higher than that of general hospitals and that of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. The results obtained by SFA with index screening results and the results obtained by SFA with PCA results showed a relatively high correlation (r-value in 2009, 2010, and 2011 were 0.869, 0.753, and 0.842, respectively, P < 0.01). The correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results and results obtained by other methods showed statistical significance, but the correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results was lower than that between results obtained by SFA with index screening results and PCA results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RA is not suitable for multi-index evaluation of hospital efficiency. In the given conditions, SFA is a stable efficiency analysis method. In the evaluation of hospital efficiency, DEA combined with PCA should be adopted with caution due to its poor stability.</p>

Identification of antler powder components based on DNA barcoding technology / 药学学报

In order to authenticate the components of antler powder in the market, DNA barcoding technology coupled with cloning method were used. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were obtained according to the DNA barcoding standard operation procedure (SOP). For antler powder with possible mixed components, the cloning method was used to get each COI sequence. 65 COI sequences were successfully obtained from commercial antler powders via sequencing PCR products. The results indicates that only 38% of these samples were derived from Cervus nippon Temminck or Cervus elaphus Linnaeus which is recorded in the 2010 edition of "Chinese Pharmacopoeia", while 62% of them were derived from other species. Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus was the most frequent species among the adulterants. Further analysis showed that some samples collected from different regions, companies and prices, contained adulterants. Analysis of 36 COI sequences obtained by the cloning method showed that C. elaphus and C. nippon were main components. In addition, some samples were marked clearly as antler powder on the label, however, C. elaphus or R. tarandus were their main components. In summary, DNA barcoding can accurately and efficiently distinguish the exact content in the commercial antler powder, which provides a new technique to ensure clinical safety and improve quality control of Chinese traditional medicine