Impact of micro-environmental factors on survival, reproduction and distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis japonica is a chronic parasitic disease that seriously harms people's health. Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. The micro-environmental factors surrounding the snail have a great impact on the survival, growth and reproduction of O. hupensis, but there are few relevant systematic analyses until the present. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize the micro-environmental factors that greatly affect O. hupensis, and to find gaps in research thus to provide directions for future in-depth studies. MAIN BODY: This scoping review searched databases with search terms of the combinations of "Micro(-)environment", "Oncomelania" and their expanded aspects. A total of 133 original articles were recruited. Predefined data fields were extracted including research methods, influencing factors, and their effects on O. hupensis. Most studies focused on vegetation factors (54.1%), and other factors noted were soil composition (27.8%), water environmental factors (24.1%), and predator (3.0%), respectively. The factors with positive impacts included water level, pH value, soil temperature, soil humidity, the coverage and height of vegetation at suitable levels. This could provide more detailed information for O. hupensis habitat identification and prediction. The factors with negative impacts included plant extracts, snail control and disease prevention forests, and microorganisms with molluscicidal activities. It revealed a potential application as ecological molluscicides in the future. Factors such as physico-chemical properties of water, soil chemistry showed a gap in scientific studies, thus required further extensive research. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-environmental factors including water quality, soil composition as well as the technology and application of biomolluscicides (plant extracts and microorganisms) deserve more attention. Relative study findings on micro-environment have good potentials in snail control applications. Further studies should be implemented to investigate the impact of micro-environmental factors on snails and close the research gaps.

[Mechanism of ursolic acid in regulating colorectal cancer cell HCT116 autophagy through hedgehog signaling pathway].

To prove that ursolic acid(UA)could activate the autophagy of colorectal cancer HCT116 cells by inhibiting hedgehog signaling pathway. The effect of UA on the viability of HCT116 cells was determined by MTT assay. The effect of UA on the proliferation and migration of HCT116 cells was detected by crystal violet staining and scratch test. In the study on autophagy, the time points were screened out first: the autophagy fluorescence intensity of UA acting on HCT116 at different time points were detected by Cell Meter~(TM) Autophagy Assay Kit; Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagy protein P62 at different time points. Then, Cell Meter~(TM) Autophagy Assay Kit was used to detect the effect of UA on autophagy fluorescence intensity of HCT116 cells. The effect of different doses of UA on the expressions of LC3Ⅱ and P62 proteins in HCT116 cells were detected by Western blot. Further, AdPlus-mCherry-GFP-LC3 B adenovirus transfection was used to detect the effects of UA on autophagy flux of HCT116 cells; UA combined with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine(CQ) was used to detect the expression of LC3Ⅱ by Western blot. In terms of mechanism, the effect of UA on hedgehog signaling pathway-related proteins in HCT116 cells was detected by Western blot. The results showed that UA inhibited the activity, proliferation and migration of HCT116 cells. UA enhanced the fluorescence intensity of autophagy in HCT116 cells, while promoting the expression of LC3Ⅱ and inhibiting the expression of P62, in a time and dose dependent manner. UA activated the autophagy in HCT116 cells, which manifested that UA resulted in the accumulation of fluorescence spots and strengthened the fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes; compared with UA alone, UA combined with autophagy inhibitor CQ promoted the expression of LC3Ⅱ. UA reduced the expressions of PTCH1, GLI1, SMO, SHH and c-Myc in hedgehog signaling pathway, while increased the expression of Sufu. In conclusion, our study showed that UA activated autophagy in colorectal cancer HCT116 cells, which was related to the mechanism in inhibiting hedgehog signaling pathway activity.

Does vitamin D improve symptomatic and structural outcomes in knee osteoarthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and new targets for clinical prevention and treatment of KOA. METHOD: The PubMed, Embase, Web of science, Wanfang, CNKI and SinoMed databases were retrieved to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on patients with KOA. The search time was from databases establishment to 15 November 2020. RevMan5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The results were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 1599 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were included in the study, which involved six articles. The results of the meta-analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation is statistically significant for WOMAC score (SMD = - 0.67, 95% CI - 1.23 to - 0.12) in patients with KOA, including WOMAC pain score (SMD = - 0.32, 95% CI - 0.63 to - 0.02), function score (SMD = - 0.34, 95% CI - 0.60 to - 0.08) and stiffness score (SMD = - 0.13, 95% CI - 0.26 to - 0.01). In subgroup analysis, vitamin D supplementation less than 2000 IU was statistically significant for the reduction of stiffness score (SMD = - 0.22, 95% CI - 0.40 to - 0.04). Vitamin D supplements can reduce synovial fluid volume progression in patients with KOA (SMD = - 0.20, 95% CI - 0.39 to - 0.02). There was no statistical significance in improving tibia cartilage volume (SMD = 0.12, 95% CI - 0.05 to 0.29), joint space width (SMD = - 0.10, 95% CI - 0.26 to 0.05) and bone marrow lesions (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI - 0.26 to 0.31). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplements can improve WOMAC pain and function in patients with KOA. But there is a lack of strong evidence that vitamin D supplementation can prevent structural progression in patients with KOA.

Rules of Meridians and Acupoints Selection in Treatment of Parkinson's Disease Based on Data Mining Techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To help selecting appropriate meridians and acupoints in clinical practice and experimental study for Parkinson's disease (PD), the rules of meridians and acupoints selection of acupuncture and moxibustion were analyzed in domestic and foreign clinical treatment for PD based on data mining techniques. METHODS: Literature about PD treated by acupuncture and moxibustion in China and abroad was searched and selected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure and MEDLINE. Then the data from all eligible articles were extracted to establish the database of acupuncture-moxibustion for PD. The association rules of data mining techniques were used to analyze the rules of meridians and acupoints selection. RESULTS: Totally, 168 eligible articles were included and 184 acupoints were applied. The total frequency of acupoints application was 1,090 times. Those acupoints were mainly distributed in head and neck and extremities. Among all, Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (DU 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Hegu (LI 4) and Chorea-tremor Controlled Zone were the top five acupoints that had been used. Superior-inferior acupoints matching was utilized the most. As to involved meridians, Du Meridian, Dan (Gallbladder) Meridian, Dachang (Large Intestine) Meridian, and Gan (Liver) Meridian were the most popular meridians. CONCLUSIONS: The application of meridians and acupoints for PD treatment lay emphasis on the acupoints on the head, attach importance to extinguishing Gan wind, tonifying qi and blood, and nourishing sinews, and make good use of superior-inferior acupoints matching.

Risk factors and clinical characteristics of tacrolimus-induced acute nephrotoxicity in children with nephrotic syndrome: a retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: Acute nephrotoxicity is a common adverse reaction of tacrolimus therapy; however, its risk factors in pediatric nephrotic syndrome (NS) remain to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors and characteristics of tacrolimus-induced acute nephrotoxicity in children with NS. METHODS: Past records of children with NS admitted to our hospital from 2014 to 2018 were reviewed. The incidence and characteristics of nephrotoxicity were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of nephrotoxicity. A clinically applicable risk score was developed and validated. RESULTS: Tacrolimus-induced nephrotoxicity occurred in 25 of 129 patients, 13 patients were grade 1, and the renal function was recovered in 22 patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the maximum trough concentrations (C12h) of tacrolimus (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.88; P < 0.001), huaiqihuang granules (OR, 0.095; 95% CI, 0.014 to 0.66; P = 0.017), and diarrhea (OR, 22.00; 95% CI, 1.58 to 306.92; P = 0.022) were independently associated with tacrolimus-induced nephrotoxicity. The maximum C12h were significantly higher in patients with nephrotoxicity (median 9.0 ng/ml) and the cut-off value for acute nephrotoxicity was 6.5 ng/ml. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.821 for the proposed model based on the observations used to create the model and 0.817 obtained from k-fold cross-validation. CONCLUSIONS: High trough concentration of tacrolimus and diarrhea can potentiate the risk of tacrolimus-induced acute nephrotoxicity in children with NS, while huaiqihuang granules can protect this condition.

[Experience of professor LI Yingkun treating tic disorder with acupuncture].

Professor LI Yingkun establishes "scalp acupuncture line" guided by the scalp acupuncture points of international standardization and traditional meridian theory, which can be used to treat tic disorder. With a case, professor LI Yingkun's needling experience for tic disorder is introduced in detail and summarized in order to provide reference for the treatment of the disease.

Constructed wetland using corncob charcoal substrate: pollutants removal and intensification.

To investigate the feasibility of using corncob charcoal substrate in constructed wetlands, four laboratory-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) were built. Effluent pollutant (chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+-N, total phosphorus (TP)) concentrations during the experiment were determined to reveal pollutant removal mechanisms and efficiencies at different stages. In the stable stage, a VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration attained higher COD (95.1%), and NH4+-N (95.1%) removal efficiencies than a VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate (91.5% COD, 91.3% NH4+-N) under aeration, but lower TP removal efficiency (clay ceramisite 32.0% and corncob charcoal 40.0%). The VFCW with raw corncob substrate showed stronger COD emissions (maximum concentration 3,108 mg/L) than the corncob charcoal substrate (COD was lower than influent). The VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate performed much better than the VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration when the C/N ratio was low (C/N = 1.5, TN removal efficiency 36.89%, 4.1% respectively). These results suggest that corncob charcoal is a potential substrate in VFCWs under aeration with a unique self -supplying carbon source property in the denitrification process.

EFFECT OF TRIPTOLIDE ON PROLIFERATION AND APOPTOSIS OF ANGIOTENSIN II-INDUCED CARDIAC FIBROBLASTS IN VITRO: A PRELIMINARY STUDY.

BACKGROUND: The effect of triptolide (TPL) on cardiac fibroblasts (CFbs) and cardiac fibrosis remain unknown till now. This study was conducted to explore the effects of TPL on proliferation and apoptosis of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced CFbs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ang II was used to promote proliferation of CFbs. Two dosages of TPL (10ng/ml and 100ng/ml) were chosen. MTT assay was used to detect cell survival rate in vitro. Flow cytometer was performed to analyze apoptosis of CFbs. Hydroxyproline concentration was detected with hydroxyproline assay kit. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad3 mRNA. RESULTS: Ang II promoted CFbs proliferation significantly. Compared to Ang II group, TPL markedly reduced the viability of CFbs and its Hydroxyproline concentration (P<0.05). Besides, TPL can significantly promote apoptosis of CFbs (P<0.05). Furthermore, TPL reduced the expressions of TGF-ßΙ and Smad3 mRNA in Ang II-induced CFbs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TPL can inhibit the proliferation of CFbs in rats by down-regulating TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway. TPL might be a promising therapeutic drug for myocardial fibrosis.

Bioactive Benzofuran Derivatives from Cortex Mori Radicis, and Their Neuroprotective and Analgesic Activities Mediated by mGluR1.

Four new benzofuran-type stilbene glycosides and 14 known compounds including 8 benzofuran-type stilbenes and 6 flavonoids were isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine, Cortex Mori Radicis. The new compounds were identified as (9R)-moracin P 3'-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), (9R)-moracin P 9-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2), (9R)-moracin P 3'-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (3), and (9R)-moracin O 10-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (4) based on the spectroscopic interpretation and chemical analysis. Three benzofuran-type stilbenes, moracin O (5), R (7), and P (8) showed significant neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced cell death in SK-N-SH cells. In addition, moracin O (5) and P (8) also demonstrated a remarkable inhibition of the acetic acid-induced pain. The molecular docking with metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) results indicated that these neuroprotective benzofuran-type stilbenes might be the active analgesic components of the genus Morus, and acted by mediating the mGluR1 pathway.

[Quality standard study on Mori Cortex liquid extract].

A reasonable and practicable quality standard was developed for mori liquid extract from different sources by TLC, HPLC and fingerprint technology. In TLC method, the compounds were separated on polyamide film using glacial acetic acid-water (1: 3) as mobile phase at a UV wavelength of 365 nm. All qualified samples had the spots of the same color as the control herb and substance. The RP-HPLC method was used to determine the content of mulberroside A with mobile phase of methanol-water (25: 75) at a wave-length of 326 nm. The mulberroside A was in good linear with a regression equation of Y = 46.965X (r = 0.999 6) in the range of 4.6 - 228 mg x L(-1). In 14 batches of samples, the mulberroside A in 4 batches of them was less than 0.5 g x L(-1), and was more than 2.0 g x L(-1) in the other batches. It was suggested that the content limit of mulberroside A should be no less than 1.5 g x L(-1). The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated by the similarities. It has found that the similarities of different mori liquid extracts were very low and the chemical diversity of mori cortex was the major factor of similarity. Moreover, the process impact was minimal. Thus the fingerprint was not included in this quality standard.

Triptolide alleviates isoprenaline-induced cardiac remodeling in rats via TGF-ß1/Smad3 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Triptolide (TPL) is a diterpene triepoxide with potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. It is the main effective component of the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and has been used in China for centuries to treat immune-related disorders. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of TPL on cardiac remodeling in rats. Age matched male Wistar rats were used in this study. Cardiac remodeling rat model was established by hypodermic injection of isoprenaline for ten days. The rats were treated with TPL (20 or 100 µg/kg/d) for six consecutive weeks. At the end of the study, the cardiac function, collagen volume fraction, perivascular collagen area and hydroxyproline concentration were studied. Echocardiography, Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed. The protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 3 (Smad3) and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were analyzed. The results indicated that TPL treatment significantly reduced the collagen volume fraction, perivascular collagen area, ventricular weight/body weight ratio and hydroxyproline concentration in myocardial tissue compared with the model group. In addition, it also improved the cardiac function. TPL attenuated cardiac remodeling in rats by down-regulating the p38 MAPK and TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathways. TPL treatment significantly attenuated cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function through suppressing the p38 MAPK and TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway in isoprenaline-induced cardiac remodeling rats. Our findings suggested that TPL might be a novel complementary medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure.

[Protective effects and mechanisms of xin'ganbao capsule on STZ induced early kidney injury in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the protective effects of Xin'ganbao Capsule (XC) on early kidney injury in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and its mechanisms. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were selected to establish STZ induced diabetes mellitus (DM) model. After modeling they were randomly divided into the model group,the XC group (at the daily dose of 0.5 g/kg), and the benazepril group (at the daily dose of 4 mg/kg), 8 in each group. Another 8 rats were chosen as the blank control group. Rats in the model group and the blank control group were administered with equal volume of normal saline by gastrogavage for 8 successive weeks. The blood glucose was monitored by the end of the 4th week and the 8th week. The 24 h urine protein (24 hUP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected by the end of the 8th week. The transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), laminin (LN), collagen IV (Col-IV) expression were detected using immunohistochemical assay. The mRNA expressions of renal TGF-beta1, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were detected using RT-PCR. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed by HE, PAS, and Masson stain methods. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, weight loss, emaciation, dry and dim body hair, and irritability appeared in the diabetic rats. After 8 weeks the symptoms of the two medication groups were attenuated. When compared with the blank control group, the 24 hUP, SCr, blood glucose, Col-IV, LN, TGF-beta1 positive expression ratio, the levels of TGF-beta1, TIMP-1, PAI-1 mRNA, the area of glomerular (GA), extracellular matrix (ECM), and ECM/GA all increased in the model group with statistical difference (P<0.01). The pathological changes showed obvious glomerular enlargement, the capillary loop expansion, the proliferation of the mesangial cells, increased mesangial matrix, widen and thicken glomerular basement membrane (GBM), and tubular derangement. The vacuolar degeneration and shedding could be seen in partial epithelial cells. The protein cast could also be seen with infiltration of interstitial inflammatory cells. Compared with the model group, each index of the two medication groups decreased with statistical difference (P<0.01). The pathological changes were less in the two medication groups. The mesangial cells were slightly proliferated and the mesangial matrix slightly increased. The mRNA expressions of SCr and PAI-1 were lower in the XC group than in the benazepril group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the other indices between the two medication groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions XC had some protective effects and anti-glomerulosclerosis effects on early kidney injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Its mechanisms might be associated with down-regulating the mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, TIMP-1, PAI-1, and Col-IV, reducing ECM and urine protein.

[The renal protective effect of xinganbao capsule in adriamycin induced nephropathy rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the renal protective effect of Xinganbao Capsule on rats with adriamycin induced nephropathy (AIN). METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal control group (N), the AIN model group (M), the Benazepril group (B),and the Xinganbao Capsule group (X). AIN rat model was established by left unilateral nephrectomy and repeated caudal vein injection of adriamycin. Gastric perfusion of xinganbao Capsule (at the dose of 500 mg/kg per day) and Benazepril (at the dose of 4 mg/kg per day) was given to rats in the X group and the B group respectively one week after nephrectomy. Rats were sacrificed at the 8th week after medication. The 24-h urinary protein excretion (24 h-UP) and blood biochemical indices were determined. Renal tissues were collected for pathological changes under light and electron microscopes. Expressions of fibronection (FN), collagen IV (COL-IV), and osteopontin (OPN) in renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured by fluorescent Real-time PCR. RESULTS: When compared with the model group, 24 h-UP, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr), and blood lipids levels were significantly lowered in the X group. The mesangial matrix percentage was less in the X group than in the M group. Renal FN, COL-IV, and OPN expressions more significantly decreased in the X group than in the M group. Similarly mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1,, TIMP-1, PAl-1 in renal tissues obviously decreased. CONCLUSION: Xinganbao Capsule could exert its renal protective action possibly through reducing the urinary protein excretion, correcting lipid metabolic disturbance, inhibiting excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, decreasing the expression of fibrosis factors, and improving the pathological damage of kidneys in the AIN rat model.

Euthyroid sick syndrome and nutritional status are correlated with hyposelenemia in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients have altered levels of thyroid hormone (TH) in euthyroid sick syndrome, along with low T3 levels and several nutritional metabolic disturbances. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for living organisms, which has been shown to play a major role in thyroid hormone levels and the nutritional metabolism. The aims of the present study were to assess the changes in serum levels of selenium and their correlation with disorders of the endocrine and nutritional metabolism in HD patients. METHODS: Fifty-three uremic patients with hemodialysis were evaluated; 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. Baseline serum concentrations of total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and free thyroxine (FT4) were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured by a sensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Serum selenium was analyzed using Hitachi Z- 2000 polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Other metabolic variables were measured in all patients and control subjects. Multiple correlation analysis was performed among variables. RESULTS: Higher serum triglyceride, LDL-C, ApoB and lower albumin, HDL-C levels were found in subjects with HD. Mean serum selenium concentration was significantly lower in the HD group than in the control group (p<0.01). The levels of serum TT3 and FT3 in HD patients were significantly lower than in healthy control subjects (p<0.01; p<0.05, respectively), but TT4, FT4 and TSH were not different. However, serum iPTH levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.01). In the group of HD patients, serum selenium levels were significantly positively correlated with albumin, HDL-C, TT3 and FT3 ; and negatively correlated with triglyceride (TG), LDL-C, ApoB and iPTH. Both serum TT3 and FT3 levels were significantly positively correlated with HDL-C; and negatively correlated with TG, LDL-C and ApoB. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hyposelenemia in HD patients correlated with euthyroid sick syndrome with low T3 levels, and nutritional status with hyperlipidemia and hypoalbuminemia which might be involved in dysfunction in the endocrine and nutrition metabolism in dialysis patients.

Fabrication and characterization of CMOS-MEMS thermoelectric micro generators.

This work presents a thermoelectric micro generator fabricated by the commercial 0.35 µm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process and the post-CMOS process. The micro generator is composed of 24 thermocouples in series. Each thermocouple is constructed by p-type and n-type polysilicon strips. The output power of the generator depends on the temperature difference between the hot and cold parts in the thermocouples. In order to prevent heat-receiving in the cold part in the thermocouples, the cold part is covered with a silicon dioxide layer with low thermal conductivity to insulate the heat source. The hot part of the thermocouples is suspended and connected to an aluminum plate, to increases the heat-receiving area in the hot part. The generator requires a post-CMOS process to release the suspended structures. The post-CMOS process uses an anisotropic dry etching to remove the oxide sacrificial layer and an isotropic dry etching to etch the silicon substrate. Experimental results show that the micro generator has an output voltage of 67 µV at the temperature difference of 1 K.

[Characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with acute ischemic stroke of yin or yang syndrome: a multicenter trial].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the composition characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in patients with acute ischemic stroke of yin or yang syndrome by investigating the characteristics of TCM syndromes at different periods after onset. METHODS: One thousand two hundred and forty-six patients with acute ischemic stroke were admitted in twenty hospitals. According to the "diagnostic criteria of syndrome differentiation of stroke", the characteristics of syndromes in the patients were investigated at the periods of 1-3 days, 4-10 days and 11-30 days after they had ischemic stroke. General distribution of six basic syndromes was compared between the patients with yin syndrome and the patients with yang syndrome at the three periods. The six basic syndromes were wind syndrome, pathogenic fire syndrome, phlegm syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, qi deficiency syndrome, and syndrome of yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity. RESULTS: The percentages of wind, pathogenic fire, and phlegm syndromes in the patients were decreased at the period of 11-30 days as compared with the period of 1-3 days (87.1% vs 79.3%, 52.1% vs 38.7% and 67.1% vs 57.4% respectively, P<0.01). However, the percentages of the syndromes of blood stasis, qi deficiency, and yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity were similar at the three periods (P>0.05). There were no differences in the distribution of yin and yang syndromes among the three periods (P>0.05). The percentages of syndromes of wind, pathogenic fire, phlegm, and yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity were higher (P<0.01), and the percentages of syndromes of blood stasis and qi deficiency were lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in patients with yang syndrome than in patients with yin syndrome. The complex of three syndromes was the most frequent composition pattern in the patients at the three periods. The percentages of complex syndromes of four or five syndromes were higher, and the percentages of single-syndromes and complex syndromes of two syndromes were lower in patients with yang syndrome than in patients with yin syndrome (P<0.05, P<0.01). The most frequent complex syndromes in patients with yin syndrome were complex syndrome of wind, phlegm, blood stasis and qi deficiency, and complex syndrome of wind, phlegm and qi deficiency; while the most frequent complex syndromes in patients with yang syndrome were complex syndrome of wind, pathogenic fire, phlegm and qi deficiency, and complex syndrome of wind, pathogenic fire and phlegm. CONCLUSION: The main discrimination between the yin and yang syndromes is that the yang syndrome is characterized by pathogenic fire. The syndromes of phlegm, qi deficiency, and blood stasis are not associated with the diagnosis of yin or yang syndrome.

The wheat TaGI1, involved in photoperiodic flowering, encodes an Arabidopsis GI ortholog.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important crop and requires long day and short night to flower. To study the molecular mechanism of photoperiodic regulation of flowering in this species, we isolated a wheat TaGI1 gene, an ortholog of GIGANTEA (GI) in Arabidopsis. RNA blot hybridization revealed that TaGI1 is expressed in leaves in a rhythmic manner under long day and short day conditions and its rhythmic expression is regulated by photoperiods and circadian clocks. Further study demonstrated that the TaGI1 rhythmic expression in the leaves of seedlings is initiated by photoperiods, implying that TaGI1 does not show circadian regulation until after being entrained in a light/dark cycle. Interestingly, TaGI1 mRNA was detected in adaxial epidermal cells right above the vascular bundles of leaves, suggesting that the localization of TaGI1 transcripts in leaves may function to regulate flowering in response to photoperiods. Since overexpression of TaGI1 altered flowering time in wild type and complemented the gi mutant in Arabidopsis, it confirmed that TaGI1 is an ortholog of GI in Arabidopsis.

[Effect of yirong oral liquid on the reperfusion injury in rats with cerebral infarction undergoing thrombolysis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yirong Oral Liquid (YROL) on reperfusion injury in rats with cerebral infarction undergoing thrombolysis. METHODS: Clinical reperfusion under thrombolysis was simulated by applying thrombolysis on reversible local cerebral ischemic rat model. In the rat model, effect of YROL on parameters concerning anti-oxidation capability, cerebral edema and ultrastructure of brain were observed. RESULTS: YROL could alleviate the cerebral edema after reperfusion, markedly increase the activity of superoxide dismutase in blood plasma, decrease the content of malonyldialdehyde, inhibit the post-reperfusion lipid peroxidation, and significantly reduce the ischemia/reperfusion injury of nerve cells in brain of rat. CONCLUSION: YROL has definite protecting effect on brain.

[Effect of bushen yizhi recipe on neurotransmitter release in A beta segment neurotoxin induced NG108-15 cellular model of Alzheimer disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Bushen Yizhi Recipe (BSYZR) on neurotransmitter release in A beta segment neurotoxin induced NG108-15 cellular model of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: The levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, synapsin and functional synapse formation rate in the cellular model treated with BSYZR containing serum were determined by Western blot analysis, immunoradiometric assay and electrophysiologic technique. RESULTS: BSYZR containing serum treatment could cause increase of ChAT activity and synapsin level in model cells, as compared with those in normal control model cells treated with non-drug containing serum, it also could regulate the release capacity of transmitter and raise the functional synapse formation. CONCLUSION: BSYZR could reduce the reaction of cell to A beta neurotoxin, indicating that it could be antagonistic to the pathological development of AD by means of raising the neurotransmitter release capacity.