[Effects of temperature and humidity on infection of Fusarium oxysporum in seedlings of Salvia miltiorrhiza].

Wilt disease is a major disease of cultivated Salvia miltiorrhiza, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Since the infection process of F. oxysporum in plants is affected by environment factors, this study was conducted to reveal the relationship between disease severity and concentration of the pathogen in plants in the infection process of F. oxysporum in seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza by pot experiments and to reveal the effects of temperature and humidity on the infection process. The results showed that, after inoculation of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings with F. oxysporum, the pathogen in different parts was detected at different time, and it was first detected in substrates. With the continuous propagation of the pathogen(4-5 d), it gradually infected the roots and stems of the seedlings, and the plants had yellowing leaves and withering. The number of the pathogen reached the maximum in each part after 7-8 d, and then gradually decreased in the later stage of the disease. The concentration of the pathogen in substrates, roots and stems of S. miltiorrhiza showed a trend of decreasing after increasing with the aggravation of the disease and reached the maximum in the samples of moderate morbidity, while the concentration in the samples of severe morbidity decreased. In addition, the infection of F. oxysporum in seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza was affected by temperature and humidity. The suitable temperature was 25-30 ℃ and the suitable humidity was 80%-90%. This study could provide guidance for the experiments on pathogenicity of F. oxysporum, screening of biocontrol bacteria and controlling of wilt.

Gongning granules plus low dose hormone in pubertal functional uterine hemorrhage: Analysis of hemodynamics and clinical efficacy.

To evaluate the clinical effect of Gongning granules combined with low-dose hormone therapy in pubertal dysfunctional uterine bleeding (PDUB) and its effect on uterine hemodynamics. A total of 164 PDUB patients who were treated in the gynecological outpatient department of our hospital from December 2018 to June 2020 were randomized into study group and control group, with 82 cases each. The control group received estrogen progesterone, and the study group received Gongning granules plus. The clinical efficacy and uterine arterial hemodynamics were compared. The clinical efficacy of the study group was superior to the control group (91.46% vs. 76.83%, P<0.05). The study group yielded shorter bleeding control time and complete hemostasis time than the control group (P<0.05). The amount of menstrual bleeding and duration of menstruation in both groups decreased significantly with time and the study group was significantly lower than the control group (all P<0.05). The endometrial thickness in the study group was significantly thinner than the control group, and the maximum follicle diameter was significantly longer than that in the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the platelet count, hemoglobin level of peripheral blood, uterine arterial blood flow and mean flow velocity in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in adverse drug reaction (ADR) between the two groups (P>0.05). In PDUB patients, Gongning granules plus low-dose hormone can significantly relieve bleeding symptoms, improve hemodynamic status and has good safety.

DHI Increases the Proliferation and Migration of Schwann Cells Through the PI3K/AKT Pathway and the Expression of CXCL12 and GDNF to Promote Facial Nerve Function Repair.

The facial nerve is one of the vulnerable nerves in otolaryngology. Repair and recovery of facial nerve injury have a high priority in clinical practice. The proliferation and migration of Schwann cells are considered of great significance in the process of nerve injury repair. Danhong injection (DHI), as a common drug for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, has been fully certified in neuroprotection research, but its role in facial nerve injury is still not clear. Our study found that DHI can promote the proliferation and migration of RSC96 cells, a Schwann cell line, and this effect is related to the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, inhibits the proliferation and migration of RSC96 cells. Further studies have found that DHI can also promote the expression of CXCL12 and GDNF at gene and protein levels, and CXCL12 is, while GDNF is not, PI3K/AKT pathway-dependent. Animal experiments also confirmed that DHI could promote CXCL12 and GDNF expression and promote facial nerve function recovery and myelin regeneration. In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that DHI could promote the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway and increase the expression of CXCL12 and GDNF to promote facial nerve function repair.

Regime shifts in trophic status and regional nutrient criteria for the Bohai Bay, China.

Identifying trophic status shift and developing nutrient criteria were considered important for controlling coastal eutrophication. Based on data from 1980 to 2018, we used sequential t-test analysis of regime shifts and assessment of coastal trophic status models to detect regime shifts in trophic status in Bohai Bay (China). We identified four distinct periods: unimpaired (1980-1984), minimally impacted (1985-1994), tipping point (1995-1999) and severely degraded (2000-2018). Using the reference conditions at different trophic status, a frequency distribution analysis was performed to develop candidate nutrient criteria. By considering other factors, such as the quantity and quality of data and long-term nutrient variations, we determined recommended criteria for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (15.3 µmol L-1) and phosphorus (0.42 µmol L-1) in Bohai Bay. This study provides a novel and feasible approach to determine reference conditions for the determination of nutrient criteria for coastal waters.

Fully physically crosslinked pectin-based hydrogel with high stretchability and toughness for biomedical application.

Hydrogels derived from natural polymers have been extensively investigated in the biomedical field, while inherent brittleness and poor stability limit their applications. In this study, a tough pectin-Fe3+/poly (acrylamide-co-stearyl methacrylate) (P(AAm-co-SMA)) double physical crosslinking (DPC) network hydrogel is prepared using a three-step method. The first HPAAm network is formed via hydrophobic associations among the PSMA segment in P(AAm-co-SMA), and trivalent ions (Fe3+) crosslinked pectin network as the second network. Due to the reversibility of dual physical cross-linking structures, the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm hydrogel exhibit excellent toughness (1.04-11.20 MJ m-3). In addition, the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm DPC hydrogels have tunable mechanical properties (tensile strength: 0.97-1.61 MPa, elongation: 133-1346%, elastic modulus: 0.30-2.20 MPa) via adjusting the ratio of pectin network and HPAAm network. To explore their potential application in tissue engineering, ATDC5 chondrocytes were seeded on the prepared DPC hydrogels. Results suggest that the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm DPC hydrogels can support the adhesion and proliferation of ATDC5, moreover, the ATDC5 cells can penetrate into the hydrogel. It is concluded that the prepared hydrogels exhibit potential application in the load-bearing tissue repair field.

A facile deoxyuridine/biotin-modified molecular beacon for simultaneous detection of proteins and nucleic acids via a label-free and background-eliminated fluorescence assay.

Simultaneous detection of different types of cancer biomarkers (nucleic acids and proteins) could facilitate early diagnosis of cancer and clinical treatment. Herein, a simultaneous detection platform of proteins and nucleic acids has been developed using a single substrate probe combining a label-free and background-eliminated fluorescence assay. Telomerase and telomerase RNA (TR) were chosen as the models. The molecular beacon (dU-BIO-HP) that contains deoxyuridine/biotin in its side arm, a TR recognition sequence in the loop and a telomerase substrate primer at the stem end was ingeniously designed. In the presence of telomerase, the stem of dU-BIO-HP is elongated by the addition of telomere repeats complementary to the assistant DNA. Furthermore, the formed dsDNA performed as engaging primers to initiate a SDA reaction, generating abundant G-quadruplex monomers. Similarly, on TR, the hybridization between TR and dU-BIO-HP can open its stem, triggering another SDA reaction, producing abundant short ssDNAs. With the G-quadruplex binding with ZnPPIX and ssDNA binding with SG for specific fluorescence responses, the label-free multiple detection can be achieved. In our strategy, the deoxyuridine of dU-BIO-HP acts as a barrier to block the DNA extension due to its strong inhibitory effects on DNA polymerase activity and to make sure that the two SDA reactions occurred independently. The biotin of dU-BIO-HP enables the reduction of the background from the binding between SG, ZnPPIX and dU-BIO-HP through streptavidin-biotin interaction. This method showed an excellent sensitivity with telomerase and TR detection limit of 2.18 HeLa cells per mL and 0.16 × 10-12 M, respectively. Furthermore, the telomerase and TR in different cell lines have been evaluated as powerful tools for biomedical research and clinical diagnosis.

Long-term changes in nutrient regimes and their ecological effects in the Bohai Sea, China.

The nutrient regime has changed significantly in the Bohai Sea (BS) during the past six decades because of anthropogenic perturbations. Specifically, the concentration of DIN increased by about 7-fold from the end of the 1950s to the mid-2010s, while DIP and DSi concentrations decreased from the end of the 1950s to the beginning of the 1990s, and have since increased again. Unsynchronized changes in nutrient levels have led to changes in the nutrients structure, which has caused a series of ecological effects. Phytoplankton biomass increased by 6-fold from the 1960s to the mid-2010s. Additionally, phytoplankton composition shifted from a diatom-dominated to a dinoflagellate-dominated system, and the dominant species of macrozoobenthos changed. Red tides rarely occurred before the 1980s, but have occurred periodically and frequently since the 1990s. Finally, the BS ecosystem has shifted from an N-limited oligotrophic state before the 1990s to a potentially P-limited eutrophic state.

Evaluation of ITS2 for intraspecific identification of Paeonia lactiflora cultivars.

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is an important ornamental and medicinal plant. DNA barcodes can reveal species identity via the nucleotide diversity of short DNA segments. In this study, two main candidate DNA barcodes (ITS2 and psbA-trnH) were tested to identify twenty-one cutting cultivars of P. lactiflora and their wild species. The efficacy of the candidate DNA barcodes was assessed by PCR amplification, sequence quality, sequence diversity, rate of correct identification, and phylogenetic analysis. ITS2 was easy to be amplified and sequenced among the samples. The identification by Blastn and phylogenetic analysis was 95.4% and 63.6%, respectively. For psbA-trnH, the presence of poly A-T led to sequencing failure which limited its use as DNA barcode candidate. Moreover, the authentic efficiency of psbA-trnH was lower than ITS2. The results showed that ITS2 is suitable as a candidate DNA barcode for the intraspecific identification of P. lactiflora cultivars.

Artemisia Extract Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Up-Regulating Adiponectin.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has affected a great number of pregnant women worldwide. Artemisia extracts have been found to exhibit a potent antidiabetic effect in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to examine the effects of Artemisia extract on insulin resistance and lipid profiles in pregnant GDM patients. Patients in their second trimester were randomly assigned to the Artemisia extract group (AE) or to a placebo group (PO). They were instructed to consume either AE or PO daily for a period of 10 weeks. Glucose and insulin profiles and adiponectin level were assessed at baseline (week 0) and after the treatment (week 10). Compared to the PO group, fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin levels, homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and ß-cell function (HOMA-B) were significantly reduced in the AE group participants. Moreover, levels of circulating adiponectin were also significantly up-regulated in the AE group, which also positively contributed to improved insulin sensitivity. Daily administration of Artemisia extract improves insulin sensitivity by up-regulating adiponectin in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Effect of a 5-mo nutritional intervention on nutritional status and quality of life for patient with 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-coenzyme A hydrolase deficiency: A case report.

3-Hydroxy-isobutyryl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydrolase (HBICH) deficiency is a rare cerebral organic aciduria caused by disturbance of valine catabolism that leads to the accumulation of toxic metabolites, methacrylyl-CoA. The major feature exhibited by a patient with HBICH deficiency includes multiple congenital malformations and abnormal neurologic findings. However, the pathophysiology of this disease remains unknown. The major treatment for HBICH deficiency involves a low-protein diet, especially restricting valine, supplemented with micronutrients and carnitine. To our knowledge, only four patients with HBICH deficiency have been reported. These patients were boys and presented with different clinical, biochemical, and genetic features than our patient. In this report, we described what was to our knowledge the first genetically confirmed girl with HBICH deficiency in China. A 5-mo nutritional intervention was given to the patient by a nutritional support team. On this regimen, the patient's symptoms were alleviated and her quality of life was improved.

Electrical stimulation of deep peroneal nerve mimicking acupuncture inhibits the pressor response via capsaicin-insensitive afferents in anesthetized rats.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the inhibitory modulation of blood pressure by stimulation of the deep peroneal nerve (DPN) and to determine the involvement of nociceptive fibers in the modulation. METHODS: All the animals were divided into six groups (A-F). The rats in groups A and B received no pretreatment. The rats in groups C and D received subcutaneous injection of capsaicin or control vehicle, respectively, near the DPN for 2 days. Those in groups E and F had the DPN exposed to capsaicin or control vehicle, respectively, for 20 min. Subsequently, pressor responses were induced by stimulation of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) either electrically (groups A and C C-F) or chemically via injection of glutamate (group B). After two stable pressor responses (baseline), all groups were subject to 5-min DPN stimulation followed by PVN stimulation for 10 s. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram were recorded. The pressor response was calculated as the difference in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) before and after PVN stimulation, and changes from baseline in pressor response after DPN stimulation were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Increases of MAP of 22.88±2.18 mm Hg and 20.32±5.25 mm Hg were induced by electrical (group A) or chemical (group B) stimulation of the PVN, respectively. These pressor responses were inhibited by stimulation of the DPN, and the MAP was reduced to 12.00±2.10 mm Hg in group A (n=6, P<0.01) and 7.00±2.85 mm Hg in group B (n=6, P<0.01). Subcutaneous injection of capsaicin (125 mg/kg) near the DPN in group C (n=7) had no effect on the inhibitory effect of DPN stimulation compared with the group D (n=9), and neither did blockade of nociceptive fibers with capsaicin in group E (n=6) compared with group F (n=8). CONCLUSION: Stimulation of the DPN mimicking acupuncture has an inhibitory effect on the pressor response, and the effect is mediated by capsaicin-insensitive afferent fibers in the DPN.

[Critical appraisal of randomized clinical trials in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion from 2000 to 2006].

To assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Manually retrieve RCT papers published in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion from 2000 to 2006 and use "the extraction form of acupuncture and moxibustion randomized clinical trial report data" to evaluate the quality of RCTs. Six hundred and eighty-six RCTs were enrolled. The methodological quality was lower than the international standard and only one RCT paper described the trial technological process. And there were a less reports about influencing RCT quality, such as acupuncturist's qualification and education background (3.06%), adverse reaction (4.23%), blind method (5.98%) and follow-up (14.43%). RCTs on acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion need to be improved in trial design, conduction and report.

Corticothalamic synchronization leads to c-fos expression in the auditory thalamus.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between c-fos expression in the auditory thalamus and corticofugal activation. The contribution of neurotransmitters and related receptors, the involvement of thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and the role of neuronal firing patterns in this process were also examined. The principal nuclei of the medial geniculate body (MGB) showed c-fos expression when the auditory cortex (AC) was activated by direct injection of bicuculline methobromide. However, no expression was detectable with acoustic stimuli alone. This indicated that c-fos expression in the principal nuclei of the MGB was triggered by the corticofugal projection. c-fos expression could be elicited in the MGB by direct injection of glutamate. Direct administration of acetylcholine, alternatively, had no effect. Bicuculline methobromide injection in the AC also triggered synchronized oscillatory activities sequentially in the AC and MGB. Cortically induced c-fos expression in the MGB was not mediated by a pathway involving the TRN because it remained intact after a TRN lesion with kainic acid. The present results also conclude that c-fos expression is not simply associated with firing rate, but also with neuronal firing pattern. Burst firings that are synchronized with the cortical oscillations are proposed to lead to c-fos expression in the principal nuclei of the MGB.

Corticofugal modulation of acoustically induced Fos expression in the rat auditory pathway.

To investigate the corticofugal modulation of acoustic information ascending through the auditory pathway of the rat, immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the functional expression of Fos protein in neurons. With auditory stimulation at different frequencies, Fos expression in the medial geniculate body (MGB), inferior colliculus (IC), superior olivary complex, and cochlear nucleus was examined, and the extent of Fos expression on the two sides was compared. Strikingly, we found densely Fos-labeled neurons in all divisions of the MGB after both presentation of an auditory stimulus and administration of a gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) antagonist (bicuculline methobromide; BIM) to the auditory cortex. The location of Fos-labeled neurons in the ventral division (MGv) after acoustic stimulation at different frequencies was in agreement with the known tonotopic organization. That no Fos-labeled neurons were found in the MGv with acoustic stimuli alone suggests that the transmission of ascending thalamocortical information is critically governed by corticofugal modulation. The dorsal (DCIC) and external cortices (ECIC) of the IC ipsilateral to the BIM-injected cortex showed a significantly higher number of Fos-labeled neurons than the contralateral IC. However, no difference in the number of Fos-labeled neurons was found between the central nucleus of the IC on either side, indicating that direct corticofugal modulation occurs only in the ECIC and DCIC. Further investigations are needed to assess the functional implications of the morphological differences observed between the descending corticofugal projections to the thalamus and the IC.

[Protective effect of effective parts of Zingiber Offecinal on vascular endothelium of the experimental hyperlipidemic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of effective parts of Zingiber Officinale on serum IL-6, TNF-alpha in oroler to investigate the protective effects of the effective parts of Zingiber Officinal (EPZ) on endothelium of the experimental hyperlipidemic rats and the mechanism of its effects. METHODS: The hyperlipidemia model of rats was constructed by feeding high-fat forage and filled with the effective parts of Zingiber Officinale 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg every day for 13 weeks. Blood was drawn to determine both the level of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha. All the aortaes were taken to oberserve morphologic change and the intima-media thickness were detected. RESULTS: The effective parts of Zingiber Officinale could markedly decrease intima-media thickness, but had no marked influence in the level of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: The Effect Parts of Zingiber Officinale has the effect of protection of the endothelia of hyperlipidemia rats, which has nothing with the level of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

[Studies on dissolution rate in vitro of silymarin dropping pill].

OBJECTIVE: To test the dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill as well as to be compared with other three commercial products of the silymarin. METHOD: By UV spectrophotometry, we studied the dissolution conditions of silymarin dropping pill and compared its dissolution rate with Yiganling tablets (film-coating, sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule which are available in the market. RESULT: The dissolution parameters T50 and Td of silymarin dropping pill, Yiganling tablet (film-coating), Yiganling tablet (sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule are 6.78, 9.85 min, 51.01, 73.78 min, 74.35, 86.97 min and 53.10, 72.65 min. CONCLUSION: The dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill is superior to that of two kinds of Yiganling tablets and Legalon capsule.

[Study on the association between reduced folate carrier gene polymorphism and congenital heart defects and cleft lip with or without cleft palate].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between reduced folate carrier gene (RFC1) polymorphism and congenital heart defects (CHD) as well as cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) and to provide epidemiological evidence on genetic markers of CHD and CLP. METHODS: RFC1 (A80G) genotype was detected using RFLP-PCR for blood DNA of the 67 triads with nonsyndromic CHD-affected child, the 82 triads with child-affected cleft lip with or without CLP and the 100 control families without child-affected birth defects. We performed a family-based association test and analyzed the interaction between RFC1 A80G genotype and maternal periconceptional supplementation of folic acid. RESULTS: Offspring of mothers who did not take folic acid had an elevated risk for CHD when comparing with offspring of mothers who did (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.14 - 6.41). There was a statistical association between the risk of CHD and maternal periconceptional folic acid supplementation (chi(2) = 6.213, P < 0.05). In the family-based association test, G allele was positively associated with an increased risk for children CHD (Z = 2.140, P < 0.05) while G allele of RFC1 (A80G) polymorphism might increase the risk for CHD. Elevated risks for either CLP group were not observed between RFC1 genotype using or not using folic acid. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the G allele was likely to be a genetically susceptible allele for CHD. There was possible association between offspring with GG, GA genotype and maternal periconceptional folicacid deficiency.

[Distributions of COD and petroleum hydrocarbons and their relationships with occurrence of red tide in East China Sea].

Based on the data of COD and petroleum hydrocarbons collected in the cruise from April 25 to May 2, 2002 in intensive red tide occurrence areas in East China Sea, the distribution of COD, and petroleum hydrocarbons and the eutrophication index(EI) were analyzed. The results showed that the EI and COD value were both high in coastal water, and decreased gradually away from shore. After the preliminary study on the relationships between correlative factors and occurrence of red tide, it was found that high EI and COD were necessary. There would be great chances for the red tide to break out under conditions that the EI was between 2.5 and 15 and COD concentration was between 0.8 to 1.4 mg.L-1 in seawater, along with the favorable temperature and salinity.