Influence of tillage methods combined with mulching on soil physical properties and potato yield in dry farming area under different precipitation years.

We conducted a field experiment in the dry farming area in south Ningxia from 2018 to 2021, to explore the influence of tillage methods combined with mulching on soil bulk density, aggregate content, soil water storage and potato yield under different precipitation years. There were four tillage methods (15 cm depth ploughing, and 30 cm, 40 cm and 50 cm depth subsoiling) and three mulching measures (mulching with oat straw, plastic film and no mulching), with the ploughing depth of 15 cm without mulching as control. The results showed the combination of tillage and mulching effectively reduced soil bulk density in 0-60 cm layer after three years of farming compared with that prior to the experiment. Under the same tillage mode, the best effect was achieved in mulching with oat straw under different precipitation years. To be specific, the best effect in 20 cm and 40 cm soil layers was achieved in mulching with oat straw for 30 cm depth subsoiling, in 60 cm soil layer for 15 cm ploughing in wet year, and for 40 cm depth subsoiling in 20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm soil layers in normal and dry years. In 0-20 cm soil layer, the content of >0.25 mm soil aggregate was the highest for 40 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mul-ching in all the three years. In 20-40 cm soil layer, the content was the highest for 15 cm depth ploughing with oat straw mulching in wet year, and for 40 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in normal and dry years. In 40-60 cm soil layer, content was the highest for 15 cm depth ploughing with plastic film mulching, 30 cm depth subsoiling with plastic film mulching, and 30 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in wet, normal and dry years, which was increased by 18.8%, 27.0%, and 35.8%, respectively, compared with the control. In the key growth stage (from squaring to tuber expansion) of potatoes, soil water storage in 0-100 cm layer was optimal for 30 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in wet year and for 40 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in normal and dry years, with an increase of 19.4%, 19.5%, and 23.7%, respectively. Potato yield was the highest for 30 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in wet year and for 40 cm depth subsoiling in normal and dry years, with an increase of 84.6%, 81.7%, and 106.3%, respectively. The correlation analysis showed that improved soil physical properties played a significant role in increasing potato yield, with the most significant role of soil bulk density and soil water storage at the squaring stage. Potato yield was high at a tillage depth of 34.67-36.03 cm. We concluded that the combination of tillage method and mulching could effectively improve soil physical pro-perties and increase soil water storage in the growth stage of potatoes, thereby significantly increa-sing potato yield. Potato yield in dry farming area could be enhanced through 30 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in wet years, and 40 cm depth subsoiling with oat straw mulching in normal and dry years.

First Report of Erysiphe astragali Causing Powdery Mildew on Astragalus mongholicus in China.

Astragalus mongholicus Bge. [A. membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao] is a highly valuable perennial medicinal plant mainly distributed in China, whose dry roots are known as Huangqi in traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing vital energy, strengthening superficial resistance, and promoting tissue regeneration (Lin et al. 2000). A. mongholicus roots of high quality are produced in Northwest and North China. Since July 2021, powdery mildew outbreaks happened annually on the leaves of A. mongholicus in a plantation (123° 56' 40'' E, 47° 22' 20'' N) in Qiqihar city, Heilongjiang Province, China. Disease incidence reached 100% by October (Fig. 1A-C), causing severe impairment of growth. Powdery mildew spots of circular or irregular shapes emerged on upper surface of leaf, resulting in plentiful lesion specks. Dense white hyphae appeared chaotically intertwined. Hyphae were hyaline and highly flexuous, 5.3 - 10.7 µm in diameter (n = 20). Chasmothecia were globose or slightly ovoid-shaped and turned dark brown when matured. Chasmothecia (diameter: 135.2 - 222.9 µm, n = 20) existed abundantly on the diseased leaves in the fields. Conidiophores were 89.0 - 129.9 µm in length (n = 20) and composed of one cylindrical, straight foot cell, followed by two cells and one to three conidia. Conidia were slim ellipsoid-shaped, occasionally ovoid-shaped, measuring 14.6 - 24.7 µm by 6.4 to10.4 µm, length/width ratio was 1.8 - 3.0 (n = 30). Hyphal appressoria were nipple-shaped and appeared in singular, occasionally in pairs. Unbranched germ tube emerged reaching out of the germinating conidia while forming an acute angle with the long axis. Comprehensively, the pathogen exhibited micro-morphology of the genus Erysiphe. For molecular identification, pathogen was carefully scraped off diseased leaves for DNA extraction. We used the DNA samples of three biological replicates for the sequencing of the ITS rDNA fragment (primers by (White et al. 1990). All the samples resulted in an identical ITS sequence (deposited in GenBank as OQ390098.1). It displayed 99.83% identity with OP806835.1 of an E. astragali voucher collected in Iran (Fig. 1D-M, O). Hence, our pathogen was identified as an E. astragali stain. Additionally, we amplified the Mcm7 sequence (using primers by (Ellingham et al. 2019), deposited as OQ397582.1). We propagated 40-day-old A. mongholicus plants via germinating seeds in pot soil and performed pathogenicity tests. Firstly, we incubated detached healthy leaves of propagated plants with severely symptomatic leaves collected from the fields in petri dishes under saturated moisture content and room temperature. Powdery mildew symptoms emerged on each healthy leaf (n = 5) after two weeks. Further, we infected healthy plants (n = 5) by gently pressing and rubbing symptomatic leaves on each healthy leaf, and kept them in a greenhouse (24 ℃, 80% humidity, 16/8-hour light/dark cycle). After a month, symptoms emerged on a number of leaves of each infected plant. We performed micromorphology observation (Fig. 1N-P) and ITS sequencing to confirm that the results fulfilled Koch's postulates. Powdery mildew caused by E. astragali on A. strictus in Tibet (Wang and Jiang 2023) and on A. scaberrimus in Inner Mongolia (Sun et al. 2023) have been reported. Here we report powdery mildew caused by E. astragali on Astragalus mongholicus for the first time. These Astragalus spp. are all acknowledged to have medicinal values in China but their usages are quite different.

Clinical efficacy of Bupleurum inula flower soup for immune damage intervention in Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Background: Antibody-mediated humoral immune response is involved in the damage process in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Although the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula bupleurum inula flower soup (BIFS) is often used in HT treatment, it has not been evaluated through high-quality clinical research. Rigorously designed randomized, double-blind, prospective clinical studies are urgently needed to evaluate BIFS for intervening in the HT immune damage process, and to improve clinical prognosis and patient quality of life. Methods: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of BIFS. Fifty participants diagnosed with HT with hypothyroidism were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the BIFS (levothyroxine with BIFS) or control (levothyroxine with placebo) group. Participants received 8 weeks of treatment and were followed for 24 weeks. They were monitored for: levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH); scores for depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); thyroid volume; safety indicators including routine blood tests, liver and kidney functions, and electrocardiogram; and levothyroxine dose. Results: Forty-eight participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. At baseline, there were no significant between-group differences in the observed indicators (p > 0.05). Post-treatment, compared with the control group, the BIFS group had significantly lower levels of TPOAb (275.77 ± 132.98 vs. 441.78 ± 195.50, p = 0.001), TgAb (385.92 ± 281.91 vs. 596.17 ± 282.26, p = 0.013), and TSH (6.57 ± 3.73 vs. 9.63 ± 5.34, p = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the BIFS group's scores improved significantly for depression (47.00 ± 5.12 vs. 51.04 ± 3.22, p = 0.002), anxiety (43.21 ± 4.22 vs. 48.08 ± 2.81, p = 0.005), and HRQoL physical (62.08 ± 5.97 vs. 57.96 ± 4.71, p = 0.011) and psychological (60.17 ± 5.94 vs. 55.75 ± 7.09, p = 0.024) subscores. At 24-week follow-up, levothyroxine combined with TCM allowed a significantly reduced levothyroxine dose (0.58 ± 0.43 vs. 1.02 ± 0.45, p = 0.001). The post-treatment clinical efficacy rates differed significantly (p = 0.03), with 75% (18/24) for the BIFS group and 46% (11/24) for the control group. There were no significant between-group differences in thyroid volume or safety indicators after eight treatment weeks or at the 24-week follow-up (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The TCM BIFS can effectively reduce thyroid titer, relieve clinical and emotional symptoms, and improve HRQoL in patients with HT. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR1900020987.

Bulbar conjunctival vascular lesion combined with spontaneous retrobulbar hematoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Orbital hemorrhage can be classified as traumatic or spontaneous depending on its cause. Spontaneous orbital hemorrhage refers to an internal orbital hemorrhage without apparent cause. Therefore, we aimed to describe a case of an orbital hematoma after a severe cough the night before due to inhalation of cooking oil fumes. CASE SUMMARY: A 46-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of exophthalmos accompanied with blurred vision, pain, binocular diplopia, and dizziness lasting for 5 h noted on waking in the morning. She also experienced nausea and vomiting due to high pressure of orbit and dizziness. Based on the auxiliary examination and her medical history, the patient was finally diagnosed with bulbar conjunctival vascular lesion combined with spontaneous retrobulbar hematoma. The patient was administered tobramycin and dexamethasone eye ointment, and applied pressure dressing on the left eye to stop the bleeding. Simultaneously, we administered intravenous etamsylate, oral Yunnan Baiyao capsule, intravenous mannitol to reduce orbital pressure, and intravenous dexamethasone injection at 10 mg/dL combined with neurotrophic therapy to reduce tissue edema. Among them, the Yunnan Baiyao capsule is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine to remove stasis and stop bleeding; thus, it promotes blood circulation and relieves pain resulting in reduced edema of the lesion site. The symptoms did not improve significantly during the first 2 d of treatment. We speculate that high orbital pressure and binocular diplopia induced frequent nausea and vomiting in the patient, causing increased pressure on the superior vena cava and leading to repeated orbital bleeding. After the second day, the symptoms started gradually improving. CONCLUSION: This case further emphasizes the importance of comprehensive, detailed medical history and careful ophthalmic examination of the patient.

Multiple exposures to high concentrations of selenate significantly improve selenate tolerability, red elemental selenium (Se0) and selenoprotein biosynthesis in Herbaspirillum camelliae WT00C.

Herbaspirillum camelliae WT00C is a gram-negative endophyte isolated from the tea plant. It has an intact selenate metabolism pathway but poor selenate tolerability. In this study, microbiological properties of the strain WT00C were examined and compared with other three strains CT00C, NCT00C and NT00C, which were obtained respectively from four, six and eight rounds of 24-h exposures to 200 mM selenate. The selenate tolerability and the ability to generate red elemental selenium (Se0) and selenoproteins in H. camelliae WT00C has significantly improved by the forced evolution via 4-6 rounds of multiple exposures a high concentration of selenate. The original strain WT00C grew in 200 mM selenate with the lag phase of 12 h and 400 mM selenate with the lag phase of 60 h, whereas the strains CT00C and NCT00C grew in 800 mM selenate and showed a relatively short lag phase when they grew in 50-400 mM selenate. Besides selenate tolerance, the strains CT00C and NCT00C significantly improved the biosynthesis of red elemental selenium (Se0) and selenoproteins. Two strains exhibited more than 30% selenium conversion efficiency and 40% selenoprotein biosynthesis, compared to the original strain WT00C. These characteristics of the strains CT00C and NCT00C make them applicable in pharmaceuticals and feed industries. The strain NT00C obtained from eight rounds of 24-h exposures to 200 mM selenate was unable to grow in ≥ 400 mM selenate. Its selenium conversion efficiency and selenoprotein biosynthesis were similar to the strain WT00C, indicating that too many exposures may cause gene inactivation of some critical enzymes involving selenate metabolism and antioxidative stress. In addition, bacterial cells underwent obviously physiological and morphological changes, including gene activity, cell enlargement and surface-roughness alterations during the process of multiple exposures to high concentrations of selenate.

[Dragon-tiger fighting needling therapy in treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical therapeutic effect on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) between dragon-tiger fighting needling and pregabalin capsules. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with PDPN were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. On the base of treatment with routine anti-hyperglycaemic measures and nutritional neurotherapy, the dragon-tiger fighting needling was exerted at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Xuehai (SP 10) in the observation group, once daily. Pregabalin capsules were prescribed for oral administration in the control group, 75 mg, twice a day. The treatment for 2 weeks was as one course and 2 courses of treatment were required in total. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS), the score of MOS item short form health survey (SF-36) and nerve conduction velocity before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, VAS score was reduced as compared with before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). The reducing range of VAS score in the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of median nerve and posterior tibial nerve were all improved as compared with before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). SNCV and MNCV in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the score of each item in SF-36 was increased as compared with before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and the score of each item in SF-36 in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group, better than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The dragon-tiger fighting needling therapy relieves painful symptoms, improves the quality of life and increases nerve conduction velocity in the patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and the therapeutic effect is better than oral administration of pregabalin capsules.

[Establishment of adventitious root culture system and scale-up fermentation of Tripterygium wilfordii].

Using MS as basic medium, supplemented with 1.0 mg · L(-1) IBA, the adventitious roots of Tripterygium wilfordii were induced, and the good adventitious root culture system was established by leaves or callus induced by leaves as explants. The adventitious roots were also induced with 2.0-4.0 mg · L(-1) NAA and the good adventitious root culture system established by using suspension cells from callus as materials to induce adventitious root. The content of triptolide of three adventitious roots culture system were exceeded in the natural root bark. The content of triptolide of AR3 adventitious roots was the highest about 5.3 times as that in the natural root bark. By using 5 L stirred fermentor during pilot enlarge cultivation, compared with 250 mL flask cultivation, the adventitious roots increment and secondary metabolites content per liter medium showed no significant difference. The accomplishment of this analysis laid a foundation by tissue culture production of the secondary metabolites of T. wilfordii.

[Effects of amino acid on growth and secondary metabolites contents of adventitious roots of Tripterygium wilfordii].

The adventitious root of Tripterygium wilfordii was used as experiment material to study effects of various concentration of aspartic acid, isoleucine, cysteine and arginine in MS medium on the growth and triptolide, wilforgine, wilforine contents of the adventitious roots. The results showed that compared with the control, supplemented with 0.25 mmol x L(-1) aspartic acid at 3rd week, the growth of the adventitious roots only accounted for 80%, but the content of triptolide of the adventitious roots and the medium was 1.36, 1.30 times, the content of wilforgine was 1.16, 1.37 times, the content of wilforine was 1.22, 1.63 times, respectively. At 3rd week 0.05 mmol x L(-1) isoleucine, the growth of adventitious roots was 97.3%, wilforgine of adventitious roots and medium 1.02, 1.27 times, wilforine 1.36 times and 1.15 times. At 1st week 0.25 mmol x L(-1) cysteine, the growth of the adventitious roots comprised 77.5% of the control, while content of triptolide of adventitious roots reached 1.87 times. At 2nd week 1.00 mmol x L(-1) cysteine, the growth of adventitious roots was 44.6% of the control, the content of wilforine in medium was 2.97 times. At 3rd week 0.50 mmol x L(-1) arginine, the growth of adventitious roots was 124.2%, the content of wilforgine and wilforine was 1.3, 1.4 times, respectively.

In vitro effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis on expression of collagen type I and type III mRNA and protein of cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts / 药学学报

This study aims to investigate the effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) on the mRNA and protein expression of collagen type I and III of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and explore its anti-myocardial fibrosis molecular mechanism. Neonatal rat CFs were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats (1-3 d after birth). The expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The study showed that stimulation of neonatal rat CFs with 100 nmol.L-1 of Ang II for 72 h resulted in a significant increase of the expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein. The changes on the expression level were blocked by TFFC. The results demonstrated that TFFC can inhibit myocardial fibrosis induced by Ang II in rats, which is probably associated with the collagen type I and III mRNA and protein levels up-regulated by Ang II, and TFFC was shown to decrease the expression levels of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein.

Emodin regulates apoptotic pathway in human liver cancer cells.

Emodin, a natural anthraquinone, has been reported to possess antiproliferative effects in many cancer cell lines. However, anticancer mechanism against human liver cancer remains unclear. In this study, we observed that emodin induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells and caused a significant accumulation of cells in the G1 phase. Western blot data showed that emodin treatment caused the increasing of release of cytochrome c into cytosol from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-9, which suggest that the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways could be involved. Emodin treatment also resulted in a dose-dependent accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, emodin increased the protein level of p53 and decreased the protein level of NF-κB/p65 in HepG2 cells, which indicated these two regulators might play a role in emodin-induced apoptosis. Computational modeling showed that emodin could directly bind to the BH3 domain of Bcl-2 through forming one hydrogen bond with Ala146 residue in Bcl-2. From these examinations, emodin not only significantly downregulated expression of Bcl-2 but also inhibited the heterodimerization of Bcl-2 with Bax because of strong interaction between emodin and Bcl-2. These suggest that emodin induces apoptosis in liver cancer cell line through a multifaceted complex cascade of events.

Activation of apoptosis by ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of Dianthus superbus in HepG2 cell line.

Dianthus superbus L. is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine. We recently showed that ethyl acetate fraction (EE-DS) from ethanol extract of D. superbus exhibited the strongest antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. In this study, we examined apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by EE-DS, and the mechanism underlying apoptosis was also investigated. Treatment of HepG2 cells with EE-DS (20-80 µg/ml) for 48 h led to a significant dose-dependent increase in the percentage of cells in sub-G1 phase by analysis of the content of DNA in cells, and a large number of apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were observed in cells treated with 80 µg/ml of EE-DS for 24 h by using Hoechst 33258 staining. These data show that EE-DS can induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Immunoblot analysis showed that EE-DS significantly suppressed the expressions of Bcl-2 and NF-κB. Treatment of cells with EE-DS (80 µg/ml) for 48 h resulted in significant increase of cytochrome c in the cytosol, which indicated cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Activation of caspase-9 and -3 were also determined when the cells treated with EE-DS. The results suggest that apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by EE-DS could be through the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data showed that the composition of EE-DS is complicated. Further studies are needed to find the effective constituents of EE-DS.

Study on the complex prescription compatibility law of the cold and hot nature of Mahuang Decoction and its categorized formulae based on the cold-hot pad differentiating assay / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the complex prescription compatibility law of the cold and hot nature of Mahuang Decoction (, MHD) and Maxing Shigan Decoction (, MXSGD), both categorized both categorized MHD) and Maxing Shigan Decoction (both categorized MXSGD), both categorized formulas but with different hot/cold natures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Oxygen consumption of mice was determined among three groups: MHD, MXSGD and the control; a cold-hot pad differentiating assay was used to observe the variability of temperature tropism among the groups of mice which was treated with MHD, MXSGD, and their compositions. Meanwhile, the total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC) activity were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After administration of MHD, the mice showed increased oxygen consumption (P<0.01). Compared with MHD group, the remaining rate of MXSGD mice on the hot pad was found to be significantly increased with the cold-hot pad differentiating assay (P<0.05). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the remaining rates of MXSGD, MXSGD with high dose Gypsum Fibrosum (MXHGF) group, and MXSGD with low dose Gypsum Fibrosum (MXLGF) group mice. Compared with the MHD group, T-AOC activity of the mice in the Consensus Compositons group was significantly decreased (P=0.0494). Compared with the MXSGD group, T-AOC activity of Gypsum Fibrosum (GF) group was increased significantly (P=0.0013).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The differences in cold and hot nature could be represented objectively between MHD with a hot nature and MXSGD with a cold nature. The reason may be the Gypsum Fibrosum which decreased the efficacy of the consensus compositions. However, increasing or decreasing the dose of Gypsum Fibrosum will not change the cold and hot nature of MXSGD.</p>

Thinking and practice of animal ethology in study of cold and hot nature of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

From the view of macroscopic animal ethology combined with computer and modem image processing technique, by monitoring the temperature tropism of animal affected by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with different Cold and Hot natures and obtaining many behavior parameters which were difficult to assess in direct observation, the differences between the Cold and Hot nature of TCM were evaluated and presented. This method could real-time, intuitively and objectively, qualitatively and quantitatively monitor the temperature tropism of experimental animals with no disturbance. Further, the Cold and Hot nature of TCM can be expressed from the whole animal level. This method met to the application peculiarity of TCM and suited for the TCM theoretical system. It is a attempt for the study of drug nature of TCM. It also contributed to elucidate the objective authenticity and scientific connotation of Cold and Hot nature of TCM, and express the inherent connection of this nature and the temperature tropism of animal. In this review, a new point and technology platform was provided for establishing an objective method for evaluating the Cold and Hot nature of TCM, which are corresponding with the feature of the application of TCM.

Investigation of differences between cold and hot nature of Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction based on cold/hot plate differentiating assay / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the objectivity and authenticity of the difference of the Cold and Hot nature between Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction based on the cold/hot plate differentiating assay.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The measuring time and dosage of Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction were investigated before the compliance experiment. Meanwhile, the activities of adenosine triphosphatase were detected in order to probe into the mechanism of their action.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>It was found that the drug dose should be 10 times amount to human dose (0.80 g x kg(-1) of Mahuang decoction and 2.26 g x kg(-1) of Maxing Shigan decoction) and the measuring time should be from 30 min to 60 min after administering. Compared with the control group, the remaining ratio of the mice treated with Mahuang decoction on the hot pad significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with Mahuang decoction, the remaining ratio of the mice treated with Maxingshigan decoction on the hot pad significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Na(+) -K(+) -ATPase activity of liver tissue of the mice treated by Mahuang decoction significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the activity of Na(+) -K(+) -ATPase and Mg(2+) -Ca(2+) -ATPase of liver tissue of the mice treated by Maxingshigan decoction reduced significantly (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study showed that the differences of Cold and Hot nature of Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction were objectively existent from animal ethology, which was consistent with the traditional theroy of Chinese medicine. And the changes of ATPase activity of liver tissue might be the mechanism of drug action.</p>

COLD or HOT natural attribute of Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan based on temperature tropism of mice / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the authenticity between COLD and HOT natural attribute in the famous Chinese medicine formulas--Zuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 6 : 1) and Fanzuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 1 : 6) based on mice temperature tropism, and establish an objective method to estimate the difference of two natural attribute by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. The results indicated that the COLD nature Zuojinwan could decrease significantly the remaining rate of HOT-symptom rat on warm pad (P < 0.05). That was not notable to COLD-symptom rat. The interference result of COLD-HOT temperature tropism to COLD/HOT symptom rat in Fanzuojinwan was the reverse with the COLD nature Zuojinwan. Meanwhile, biochemical indicators which are relative to energy metabolism such as ATPase enzyme activity and total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC), had corresponding change in the organism. In the study, the COLD and HOT natural tendency in Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan which were composed by the same herbs with different proportion could be expressed qualitatively, quantitatively, objectively and directly with applying animal temperature tropism, and be verified to philosophical idea of treating disease theory with "expelling heat with cold herbs and cryopathy requiring warm prescription", not "expelling heat with heat herbs and cryopathy requiring cold prescription" in ancient traditional Chinese medicine, which brings a new approach in investigation of the nature theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

COLD or HOT natural attribute of Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan based on temperature tropism of mice / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the authenticity between COLD and HOT natural attribute in the famous Chinese medicine formulas--Zuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 6 : 1) and Fanzuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 1 : 6) based on mice temperature tropism, and establish an objective method to estimate the difference of two natural attribute by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. The results indicated that the COLD nature Zuojinwan could decrease significantly the remaining rate of HOT-symptom rat on warm pad (P < 0.05). That was not notable to COLD-symptom rat. The interference result of COLD-HOT temperature tropism to COLD/HOT symptom rat in Fanzuojinwan was the reverse with the COLD nature Zuojinwan. Meanwhile, biochemical indicators which are relative to energy metabolism such as ATPase enzyme activity and total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC), had corresponding change in the organism. In the study, the COLD and HOT natural tendency in Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan which were composed by the same herbs with different proportion could be expressed qualitatively, quantitatively, objectively and directly with applying animal temperature tropism, and be verified to philosophical idea of treating disease theory with "expelling heat with cold herbs and cryopathy requiring warm prescription", not "expelling heat with heat herbs and cryopathy requiring cold prescription" in ancient traditional Chinese medicine, which brings a new approach in investigation of the nature theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

[Assessment of farmland soil quality under different utilization intensity in arid area].

Based on the 2005-2007 experimental data in Cele oasis in the southern margin of Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, the soil quality of four typical types of farmland with different utilization intensity, i.e., farmland with high input, farmland with normal input, newly reclaimed farmland, and farmland in oasis' interior, was analyzed and assessed by using sustainable yield index, soil improvement index, and soil quality synthesis index. Among the farmlands, there were significant differences in the contents of soil organic matter, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus. Newly reclaimed farmland had the lowest level of soil quality, while the farmland in oasis' interior had relatively higher soil quality. This study could help the reasonable exploitation and utilization of farmlands in Cele oasis, and the protection of local farmland eco-environment.

[Study on growth and dry substance accumulation of Curcuma longa].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the growth characteristics of Curcuma longa, and provide basis for standardized cultivation. METHOD: Plant samples were collected and investigated periodically. RESULT: According to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of C. longa, the development of C. longa could be divided into five stages: emergence of seedlings, seedling, leaf, root tuber expansion, and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. In terms of number, leaf of C. longa increases gradually from one at first to eight at the final stage. Leaf size increases at a very low speed at the stage of seedling. However, leaves expands their sizes at a much higher speed at the stage of leaf. The dry substance in different parts accumulates increasingly with the development of C. longa dry substance mainly accumulates in leaves at the stage of leaf, and in rhizome at the stage of root tuber expansion. At the final stage, it mainly accumulates in root tuber. CONCLUSION: Cultivation technologies of C. longa and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of C. longa and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stages.

Comparison of ancient and modern Clonorchis sinensis based on ITS1 and ITS2 sequences.

In 1975, an ancient corpse buried in 167 BC was found at Jiangling County, Hubei Province of China. The eggs of Clonorchis sinensis found in the gall bladder of the corpse were preserved well. In the present paper, we extracted the genomic DNA from the ancient eggs and modern eggs, respectively, and the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) at ribosomal RNA genes were studied. The results show that ITS2 sequences from the ancient sample were identical with those from modern samples, but in ITS1 differences in 15 nucleotide positions were found between the ancient and modern samples. The results demonstrated that it is possible to extract and sequence DNA from ancient parasite eggs. The ITS1 sequence obtained differed from all modern ones available to date. This might indicate sequence divergence through time, or might reflect a sequence polymorphism that may eventually be found also in modern samples.

Effects of the extract of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus cheng f. (JA1) on induction of apoptosis of HepG2 in vitro and its molecular mechanisms / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and the mechanisms of extract from a leguminous plant (Ammopiptanthus mongolicus cheng f.) (JA1) in northwest China on inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cell in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HepG2 cell line was used as target cells. The effect of JA1 on HepG2 cell growth was detected by microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT), flow cytometry assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and transmission electronic microscopy. The expressive effect of the wt-p53 in HepG2 cells was analyzed with p53 protein test-reagent.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>JAI not only had significant anti-proliferative effects depending upon time and dosage, but also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Apoptotic typical morphological changes were observed in JA1-treated HepG2 cells under transmission electronic microscope, "Sub-G1" phase peak occurred in flow cytometry and DNA "ladder" was found in DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of the wt-p53 increased in vitro, and JA1-treated HepG2 and the positive cell percentage of the wt-p53 protein also increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>JA1 could obviously induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro, and these effects are closely related with the increase of wt-p53 expression. JA1 can be used as a good source of medicinal plant for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma.</p>