Crossmodal Transfer and Its Cognitive Neural Mechanisms / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Crossmodal transfer is the ability to apply the knowledge acquired in one sensory modality to another. Researches on crossmodal transfer investigate how the brain represents information from different sensory modalities, and provide new insights to improve cognitive processing efficiency and reduce repeated learning. To clarify the characteristics and mechanism of crossmodal transfer, this article first introduced the crossmodal transfer effect in different field of research, such as object recognition, category learning, and time perception. After that, the theoretical researches on the representation type of crossmodal transfer were reviewed, mainly including multisensory theory and multisensory mental imagery theory as well as the supportive and opposite findings. The research progresses on the neural mechanism of crossmodal transfer using ERP and fMRI techniques were introduced, mainly including metamodal theory, and multisensory reverse hierarchy theory as well as the supportive and opposite findings. The objective and subjective factors which influenced crossmodal transfer effect were sorted out, in which we suggested that the modality dominance phenomenon supports the metamodal theory, while other factors such as sensory experience, age, setting of learning tasks and stimulus features support theories such as the multisensory hypothesis. Finally, we described the potential applications of the current research findings on crossmodal transfer and pointed out future research questions in this field.

Iodine nutritional status of population before and after system reform of salt industry in Gansu Province / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To understand the impact of system reform of salt industry on iodine nutrition of people in Gansu Province, and to provide a scientific basis for policy adjustment of relevant departments. Methods The investigation period (2014-2021) was divided into two sub-periods: before system reform of salt industry (2014-2016) and after system reform of salt industry (2017-2021). Thirty counties were selected according to the method of “population proportional probability sampling (PPS)” in 2014. According to the iodine deficiency disease monitoring program of Gansu Province, from 2016 to 2021, children aged 8-10 years and pregnant women were taken as research objects to collect urine samples for urine iodine detection. Children in 2014 and 2018 were selected to measure thyroid volume. Results A total of 90 989 children urine iodine samples were investigated, and the median urinary iodine (MUI) of children was 194.70µg/L; 7 663 and 83,326 children's urinary iodine samples were investigated in the two periods, the MUI was 180.73 µg/L and 196.00 µg/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). A total of 44 741 pregnant women's urinary iodine samples were investigated, and the MUI of pregnant women was 176.50 µg/L; 4 480 and 40 261 pregnant women's urinary iodine samples were investigated in the two periods, the MUI was 160.61 µg/L and 178.10 µg/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The thyroid volume of 1 555 children and 8 509 children was investigated in the two periods, the median thyroid volume was 2.70 mL and 2.55 mL , respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The rates of goiter in children were 3.15% and 1.26%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The iodine nutrition of people in Gansu Province has not fluctuated significantly after the reform of salt industry system and has maintained an appropriate level. It is necessary to pay attention to the potential risk of insufficient iodine nutrition level and thyroid health of key populations such as children and pregnant women and strengthen health education of scientific iodine supplementation.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 depletion suppresses de novo fatty acid synthesis and mitochondrial ß-oxidation in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells.

Cancer cells, including those of prostate cancer (PCa), often hijack intrinsic cell signaling to reprogram their metabolism. Part of this reprogramming includes the activation of de novo synthesis of fatty acids that not only serve as building blocks for membrane synthesis but also as energy sources for cell proliferation. However, how de novo fatty acid synthesis contributes to PCa progression is still poorly understood. Herein, by mining public datasets, we discovered that the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA), which encodes acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), was highly expressed in human PCa. In addition, patients with high ACACA expression had a short disease-free survival time. We also reported that depletion of ACACA reduced de novo fatty acid synthesis and PI3K/AKT signaling in the human castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) cell lines DU145 and PC3. Furthermore, depletion of ACACA downregulates mitochondrial beta-oxidation, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction, a reduction in ATP production, an imbalanced NADP+/NADPhydrogen(H) ratio, increased reactive oxygen species, and therefore apoptosis. Reduced exogenous fatty acids by depleting lipid or lowering serum supplementation exacerbated both shRNA depletion and pharmacological inhibition of ACACA-induced apoptosis in vitro. Collectively, our results suggest that inhibition of ectopic ACACA, together with suppression of exogenous fatty acid uptake, can be a novel strategy for treating currently incurable CRPC.

Effects of Platycodonis Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma on oral nanoparticle uptake and in vitro inhibition against breast cancer metastasis / 中国中药杂志

This study combined the herbal pair Platycodonis Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma(PR-CR) possessing an inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation and metastasis with the active component of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) silibinin-loaded nanoparticles(NPs) with a regulatory effect on tumor microenvironment based on the joint effect on tumor cells and tumor microenvironment to inhi-bit cell metastasis. The effects of PR-CR on the cellular uptake of NPs and in vitro inhibition against breast cancer proliferation and metastasis were investigated to provide an experimental basis for improving nanoparticle absorption and enhancing therapeutic effects. Silibinin-loaded lipid-polymer nanoparticles(LPNs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The NPs were spherical or quasi-spherical in shape with obvious core-shell structure. The mean particle size was 107.4 nm, Zeta potential was-27.53 mV. The cellular uptake assay was performed by in vitro Caco-2/E12 coculture cell model and confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM), and the results indicated that PR-CR could promote the uptake of NPs. Further, in situ intestinal absorption assay by the CLSM vertical scanning approach showed that PR-CR could promote the absorption of NPs in the enterocytes of mice. The inhibitory effect of NPs on the proliferation and migration of 4T1 cells was analyzed using 4T1 breast cancer cells and co-cultured 4T1/WML2 cells, respectively. The results of the CCK8 assay showed that PR-CR-containing NPs could enhance the inhibition against the proliferation of 4T1 breast cancer cells. The wound healing assay indicated that PR-CR-containing NPs enhanced the inhibition against the migration of 4T1 breast cancer cells. This study enriches the research on oral absorption of TCM NPs and also provides a new idea for utilizing the advantages of TCM to inhibit breast cancer metastasis.

DNA barcoding in herbal medicine:Retrospective and prospective / 药物分析学报

DNA barcoding has been widely used for herb identification in recent decades,enabling safety and innovation in the field of herbal medicine.In this article,we summarize recent progress in DNA bar-coding for herbal medicine to provide ideas for the further development and application of this tech-nology.Most importantly,the standard DNA barcode has been extended in two ways.First,while conventional DNA barcodes have been widely promoted for their versatility in the identification of fresh or well-preserved samples,super-barcodes based on plastid genomes have rapidly developed and have shown advantages in species identification at low taxonomic levels.Second,mini-barcodes are attractive because they perform better in cases of degraded DNA from herbal materials.In addition,some mo-lecular techniques,such as high-throughput sequencing and isothermal amplification,are combined with DNA barcodes for species identification,which has expanded the applications of herb identification based on DNA barcoding and brought about the post-DNA-barcoding era.Furthermore,standard and high-species coverage DNA barcode reference libraries have been constructed to provide reference se-quences for species identification,which increases the accuracy and credibility of species discrimination based on DNA barcodes.In summary,DNA barcoding should play a key role in the quality control of traditional herbal medicine and in the international herb trade.

Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicines on Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis in Long-Term Management: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the factors related to pregnancy of endometriosis and whether Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with endometriosis in long-term management.@*METHODS@#This multicenter cohort study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of endometriosis patients with fertility needs from January 2019 to November 2019. A total of 252 patients with endometriosis from 5 level-III Grade A hospitals in Beijing were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for the relevant factors. The propensity score matching (PSM) function of SPSS software was used to match the CHMs group with the non-CHMs group. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The results of univariate analysis showed that age, disease course, presence of infertility, presence of adenomyosis, time after surgery or use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), use of CHMs and follow-up time were influencing factors of pregnancy in endometriosis patients (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that age, presence of adenomyosis, time after surgery or use of GnRH-a, use of CHMs and follow-up time were independent factors affecting pregnancy in endometriosis patients, among which, age ⩾35 years old, presence of adenomyosis and follow-up time >6 months were independent risk factors (OR=0.445, 0.348, 0.140, respectively, P<0.05), time after surgery or use of GnRH-a ⩽6 months and use of CHMs were independent protective factors (OR=3.839, 3.842, respectively, P<0.05). After PSM, 99 pairs of two groups were matched successfully. The pregnancy rate of the CHMs group was higher than that of the non-CHMs group [55.56% (55/99) vs. 36.36% (36/99), P<0.05]. The live birth rate of the CHMs group was higher than that of the non-CHMs group [49.49% (49/99) vs. 35.35% (35/99), P<0.05].@*CONCLUSION@#CHMs can effectively improve clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of patients with endometriosis in the chronic disease management.

Outcomes and measurements of randomized controlled trial for traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of endometriosis / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to analyze the outcomes and measurements of randomized controlled trial(RCT) for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) treatment of endometriosis(EM) and provide a basis for the building of the core outcome set(COS) of EM. The RCT for TCM treatment of EM was retrieved from medical literature databases with the time interval from inception to February 3, 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was employed to evaluate the risk of bias of the included RCT, and descriptive analyses of the extracted information were carried out. A total of 519 RCTs were included, with the sample sizes ranging from 28-582 patients and 239 outcome indicators(8 outcome indicators per RCT on average). According to the functional properties, the reported outcome indicators were classified into 7 indicators: clinical efficacy assessment, indicators of clinical symptoms and signs, TCM symptom efficacy indicators, physical and chemical examinations, quality of life, long-term prognosis, and safety events. All the 519 RCTs had problems, such as the lack of differentiation between primary and secondary outcome indicators(1.73% RCTs reported such differen-tiation), poor quality, confused criteria for composite outcome indicators and arbitrary combination of indicators(45 criteria for the single outcome indicator of efficiency), and messy measurements(as many as 18 measurements for TCM symptom score). In addition, as a chronic disease, EM requires long-term management. The outcome indicators vary for the patients in different disease stages, such as EM pain, EM infertility, and post-operative EM, while the specific outcome indicator sets for different EM populations remain to be developed. In addition, the time point of measurement for EM long-term outcomes remains unclear, and the definition of TCM syndromes lacks standards. The RCT for TCM treatment had a variety of problems, such as the lack of differentiation of outcome indicators, confusion in criteria and measurements, lack of specific outcome indicator sets for different EM populations, and unclear time points for long-term outcomes. Therefore, the studies about COS need to be carried out urgently.

Application progress on data-driven technologies in intelligent manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine extraction / 中国中药杂志

The application of new-generation information technologies such as big data, the internet of things(IoT), and cloud computing in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)manufacturing industry is gradually deepening, driving the intelligent transformation and upgrading of the TCM industry. At the current stage, there are challenges in understanding the extraction process and its mechanisms in TCM. Online detection technology faces difficulties in making breakthroughs, and data throughout the entire production process is scattered, lacking valuable mining and utilization, which significantly hinders the intelligent upgrading of the TCM industry. Applying data-driven technologies in the process of TCM extraction can enhance the understanding of the extraction process, achieve precise control, and effectively improve the quality of TCM products. This article analyzed the technological bottlenecks in the production process of TCM extraction, summarized commonly used data-driven algorithms in the research and production control of extraction processes, and reviewed the progress in the application of data-driven technologies in the following five aspects: mechanism analysis of the extraction process, process development and optimization, online detection, process control, and production management. This article is expected to provide references for optimizing the extraction process and intelligent production of TCM.

Protective effect of resveratrol on rat cardiomyocyte H9C2 cells injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation by regulating mitochondrial autophagy PTEN-induced putative kinase protein 1/Parkinson disease protein 2 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of resveratrol on cardiomyocytes after hypoxia/ reoxygenation intervention based on PTEN-induced putative kinase protein 1/Parkinson disease protein 2 (PINK1/PARKIN) signaling pathway. METHODS: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte-trazolium bromide was used to detect the effect of resveratrol on the viability of H9C2 cells; the hypoxia/ reoxygenation (H/R) model was established in tri-gas incubator; 2', 7'-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining was used to measure the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS); the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential was determined by 5,5',6,6'-Tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide staining; the changes of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity was evaluated by enzyme activity kits; flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of apoptotic cells; transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure of H9C2 cells; Western blot was used to detect the protein changes of mitochondrial 20 kDa outer membrane protein (TOM20), translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane 23 (TIM23), presenilins associated rhomboid-like protein (PARL), PINK1, PARKIN and mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), phosphotyrosine independent ligand for the Lck SH2 domain of 62 kDa (P62), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3B); the mRNA levels of PINK1 and PARKIN was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; immunoprecipitation assay was used to detect the interaction between PARKIN and Ubiquitin. RESULTS: Resveratrol could inhibit the proliferation of H9C2 cells in a time- and concentration- dependent manner; however, pretreatment with low cytotoxic resveratrol could reduce the H/R-induced increase in cellular ROS levels, alleviate the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by H/R, inhibit H/R-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells, and protect the mitochondrial structure and respiratory chain of H9C2 cells from H/R damage. Resveratrol could further increase the levels of p62, PINK1, PARKIN protein, the expression of PINK1, PARKIN mRNA and the ratio of LC3BⅡ/LC3BⅠin H/R-induced H9C2 cells, inhibit the interaction between PARKIN and Ubiquitin in H/R-induced H9C2 cells, and further reduce the expression of TOM20,TIM23, PARL, Mfn1 and Mfn2 protein in H/R-induced H9C2 cells. The effect of resveratrol is consistent with that of autophagy activator on H/R-induced H9C2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol can protect H9C2 cells from H/R injury, which may be related to resveratrol promoting mitochondrial autophagy by activating PINK1/PARKIN signaling pathway.

IRE1 signaling regulates chondrocyte apoptosis and death fate in the osteoarthritis.

IRE1 is an important central regulator of unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) because of its ability to regulate cell fate as a function of stress sensing. When misfolded proteins accumulated in chondrocytes ER, IRE1 disintegrates with BIP/GRP78 and undergoes dimer/oligomerization and transautophosphorylation. These two processes are mediated through an enzyme activity of IRE1 to activate endoribonuclease and generates XBP1 by unconventional splicing of XBP1 messenger RNA. Thereby promoting the transcription of UPR target genes and apoptosis. The deficiency of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) in chondrocytes downregulates prosurvival factors XBP1S and Bcl-2, which enhances the apoptosis of chondrocytes through increasing proapoptotic factors caspase-3, p-JNK, and CHOP. Meanwhile, the activation of IRE1α increases chondrocyte viability and reduces cell apoptosis. However, the understanding of IRE1 responses and cell death fate remains controversial. This review provides updated data about the role IRE1 plays in chondrocytes and new insights about the potential efficacy of IRE1 regulation in cartilage repair and osteoarthritis treatment.

Identification of Andrographis Herba and its common products using mini-barcode / 中国天然药物

Andrographis Herba, the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae), has a wide geographic distribution and has been used for the treatment of fever, cold, inflammation, and other infectious diseases. In markets, sellers and buyers commonly inadvertently confuse with related species. In addition, most Chinese medicinal herbs are subjected to traditional processing procedures, such as steaming and boiling, before they are sold at dispensaries; therefore, it is very difficult to identify Andrographis Herba when it is processed into Chinese medicines. The identification of species and processed medicinal materials is a growing issue in the marketplace. However, conventional methods of identification have limitations, while DNA barcoding has received considerable attention as a new potential means to identify species and processed medicinal materials. In this study, 17 standard reference materials of A. paniculata, 2 standard decoctions, 27 commercial products and two adulterants were collected. Based on the ITS2 sequence, it could successfully identify A. paniculata and adulterants. Moreover, a nucleotide signature consisting of 71 bp was designed, this sequence is highly conserved and specific within A. paniculata while divergent among other species. Then, we used these new primers to amplify the nucleotide signature region from processed materials. In conclusion, the DNA barcoding method developed in the present study for authenticating A. paniculata is rapid and cost-effective. It can be used in the future to guarantee the quality of Andrographis Herba of each regulatory link for clinical use.

Bioinformatics analysis of nasal epithelial cell gene expression in seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) and perennial AR, so as to obtain the differences in the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells between seasonal AR and perennial AR. Methods: The human nasal epithelial cell line(HNEpC) was cultured in vitro, treated with 100 μg/ml mugwort or house dust mite (HDM) extracts for 24 hours. Total cell RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). From November 2019 to November 2020, 3 seasonal AR patients, 3 perennial AR patients, and 3 healthy controls who attended the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were analyzed. The patients' primary nasal epithelial cells were cultured in vitro, treated with corresponding allergens for 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the sequencing results were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results: The qPCR results showed that the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and TSLP of HNEpC treated with mugworts extracts and HDM extracts had the same trend of change. After the nasal epithelial cells from patients with seasonal AR and perennial AR were treated with corresponding allergens, there were differences in biological processes and signal pathways between those and control. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in AR patients allergic to mugwort were mainly enriched in the oxidation-reduction process, the negative regulation of apoptosis process, and the cell adhesion; the DEG in AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cell adhesion, the negative regulation of cell proliferation and the response to drug. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway showed that the DEG of AR patients allergic to mugwort were significantly enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism, p53 signaling pathway and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, while the DEG of AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cells cycle, Fanconi anemia pathway and DNA replication. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that the inflammatory response, TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway and IL-2/STAT5 signaling pathway were significantly up-regulated in AR patients allergic to mugwort, indicating the promotion of inflammatory response; and AR patients allergic to HDM had significant down-regulation of G2M, E2F, and MYC, indicating the inhibition of cell proliferation. The protein-protein interaction network showed that TNF and CDK1 were the most interacting proteins in mugwort and HDM allergic AR patients, respectively. Conclusion: Seasonal AR and perennial AR may affect the different biological processes and signal pathways of nasal epithelial cells, leading to differences in the occurrence and development of AR.

Effect of Electro-acupuncture on Vasomotor Symptoms in Rats with Acute Cerebral Infarction Based on Phosphatidylinositol System / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on vasomotor symptoms in rats with acute cerebral infarction, by observing the changes in the expression of factors related to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) system.@*METHODS@#Forty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table: the control group (n=6), the model group (n=18) and the EA group (n=18). The EA group was given EA treatment at Shuigou (GV 26) instantly after modeling with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method, while the model and control groups were not given any treatment. The degrees of neurological deficiency were evaluated using neurological severity scores (NSS) and the brain blood flow was evaluated by a laser scanning confocal microscope. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of G-protein subtype (Gq) and calmodulin (CaM). Competition for protein binding was conducted to detect the expression level of inositol triphosphate (IP3). Thin layer quantitative analysis was conducted to detect the expression level of diacylglycerol (DAG). The expression level of intracellular concentration of free calcium ion ([Ca@*RESULTS@#The NSS of the model group was significantly higher than the control group at 3 and 6 h after MCAO (P<0.01), while the EA group was significantly lower than the model group at 6 h (P<0.01). The cerebral blood flow in the model group was significantly lower than the control group at 1, 3 and 6 h after MCAO (P<0.01), while for the EA group it was remarkably higher than the model group at the same time points (P<0.01). The expressions of Gq, CaM, IP3, DAG and [Ca@*CONCLUSION@#EA treatment at GV 26 can effectively decrease the over-expression of related factors of PI system in rats with acute cerebral infarction, improve cerebral autonomy movement, and alleviate cerebral vascular spasm.

Protective effect of Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide against acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and alcohol in mice.

Studied the optimum extraction process of polysaccharide from Phaeoporus obliquus and the effect of Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- or alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. The main factor in influencing the extraction rate of Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide were extraction power and time, which was a kind of pyran glucose by infrared spectroscopy. CCl4 and alcohol were employed respectively to establish CCl4 and alcohol-induced acute liver injury mouse models. Compared with model groups mice, Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide treatment at the doses of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg exhibited an obvious reduction liver index, ALP, ALT, AST levels, MDA content and TNF-α level (p<0.01) and SOD activity was increased, which was in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group, the necrosis degree of hepatocytes was obviously reduced and the small fat droplets were formed in some cytoplasm, especially in high dose group, which the liver cells recovered to the level of normal group. Rt-PCR results showed that the expression of CYP2E1 mRNA in liver tissues of Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide groups were significantly reduced, and the difference were statistically significant compared with the model group (p<0.05). These results demonstrated that Phaeoporus obliquus polysaccharide has significantly hepatoprotective effect on CCl4 and alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Analysis on YABBY Transcription Factor Family of Original Plant Cannabis sativa of Traditional Chinese Medicine Cannabis Fructus / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the sequence characteristics，chromosomal location，gene structure，conserved motifs，phylogenetic evolution and differential gene expressions of the <italic>Cannabis sativa</italic> YABBY transcription factor family，in order to provide a molecular basis for in-depth study of <italic>YABBY</italic> gene function and theoretical support for the selection and breeding of superior hemp varieties. Method:The bio-informatics method was used to identify and analyze the <italic>CsYABBY </italic>gene family of the original hemp seed plant. PlantTFDB，ExPASy，MEME，CELLO，PLANTCARE and other online websites and TBtools，MEGA，DNAMAN and other software were used for prediction，visualization and analysis. Result:<italic>C. sativa</italic> contains 6 <italic>YABBY</italic> gene members distributed on 5 chromosomes，in which 5 members are localized in the nucleus and 1 in extracellular， they consist of 185-235 amino acids， and the isoelectric point is between 5.05 and 9.34， the molecular weight is between 20 582.45-26 282.7 Da. All of CsYABBY proteins contain two conserved domains， namely Zinc finger domain and YABBY domain. <italic>CsYABBY</italic> genes have multiple cis-acting elements，and their expressions differ in different tissues and cultivars. Conclusion:The expressions of CsYABBY may be affected by hormones and externally environmental factors. <italic>CsYABBY</italic> gene expressions are tissue-specific. In addition，YABBY transcription factor family may play an important role in regulating the development of <italic>C. sativa</italic> female flowers，and subfamilies YAB1 and YAB5 may be involved in the synthesis of cannabinoids.

Guanxin Zhitong Capsules attenuate human endothelial cell damage induced by palmitic acid via MAPK signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

The present study observed the effect of Guanxin Zhitong Capsules(GXZT) on the lipotoxicity of vascular endothelial cells and investigated the mechanism of GXZT in atherosclerosis treatment. The lipotoxicity model in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) was induced by palmitic acid(PA) stimulation. These cells were divided into a normal control group(NC, 15% normal serum), a model group(PA, 0.6 mmol·L~(-1) PA+15% normal serum), a high-dose GXZT group(GXZT-H, 0.6 mmol·L~(-1) PA+15% GXZT-medicated serum), a medium-dose GXZT group(GXZT-M, 0.6 mmol·L~(-1) PA+10% GXZT-medicated serum+5% normal serum) and a low-dose GXZT group(GXZT-L, 0.6 mmol·L~(-1) PA+5% GXZT-medicated serum+10% normal serum). HUVECs were detected for cell viability by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) by JC-1 labeled laser scanning confocal microscopy, and total and phosphorylated proteins of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK1/2 in the mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) signaling pathway by Western blot. The phosphorylated level was calcula-ted. Compared with the NC group, the PA group showed decreased cell viability and MMP(P<0.01, P<0.01), elevated apoptosis(P<0.01), and up-regulated phosphorylated levels of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK1/2(P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01). Compared with the PA group, the GXZT-H, GXZT-M, and GXZT-L groups showed increased cell viability and MMP(P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01), reduced apoptosis(P<0.01), and down-regulated protein expression and phosphorylated levels of p38, ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway(P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01). In conclusion, the results suggest that GXZT functions via blocking MAPK signaling pathway to relieve the damage of HUVECs induced by PA.

Research progress on mechanism of phytohormones in regulating flavonoid metabolism / 中国中药杂志

Phytohormones play an important role at all stages of plant growth, influencing plant growth and development and regulating plant secondary metabolism, such as the synthesis of flavone, flavonol, anthocyanin, and other flavonoids. Flavonoids, a group of important secondary metabolites ubiquitous in plants, have antioxidative, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities and thus have a wide range of potential applications in Chinese medicine and food nutrition. With the development of biotechnology, phytohormones' regulation on flavonoids has become a research focus in recent years. This study reviewed the research progress on the mechanism of common phytohormones, such as abscisic acid, gibberellin, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid, in regulating flavonoid metabolism, and discussed the molecular mechanism of the synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids, aiming at clarifying the key role of phytohormones in modulating flavonoid metabolism. The result is of guiding significance for improving the content of flavonoids in plants through rational use of phytohormones and of reference value for exploring the mechanism of hormones in regulating flavonoid metabolism.

Focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy with centrifugal exercise for the treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical efficacy of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy with centrifugal exercise in the treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome.@*METHODS@#From September 2017 to June 2019, 53 eligible cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome were randomly divided into observation group (29 cases) and control group (24 cases). In observation group, there were 8 males and 21 females, aged from 38 to 62 years old with an average of (49.96±6.39) years old; the course of disease ranged from 6 to 13 months with an average of (8.58±1.99) months;treated with focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy with centrifugal exercise. In control group, there were 5 males and 19 females, aged from 39 to 62 years old with an average of (52.79±5.86) years old;the course of disease ranged from 6 to 14 months with an average of (9.04±2.51) months;treated with centrifugal exercise alone. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and hip Harris score were measured before ESWT treatment and at 1, 2, and 6 months to evaluate relieve degree of pain and functional recovery of hip joint, respectively.@*RESULTS@#At 1 month after treatment, there were no significant differences in VAS, hip Harris score and treatment success rate (all @*CONCLUSION@#In treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome, focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy with centrifugal exercise could significantly relieve symptoms of lateral hip pain, improve functional recovery of hip joint with good safety. This treatment strategy is worthy of application and promotion in clinical practice.

[Genome-wide analysis of LBD(lateral organ boundaries domain) gene family in Cannabis sativa of traditional Chinese medicine hemp seed].

LBD(lateral organ boundaries)transcription factors play an important role in the regulation of plant growth, development and secondary metabolism. In order to explore the function of LBD genes in cannabis, the Cannabis sativa genome and transcriptome were used to identify the C. sativa LBD gene family, and analyzed their expression patterns. Our results showed that the cannabis LBD contains 32 members, which were divided into two major categories, seven sub-families. Class Ⅰ was divided into 5 sub-families, named Class Ⅰ_a to Class Ⅰ_e, while Class Ⅱ was divided into 2 sub-families, including Class Ⅱ_a and Class Ⅱ_b. Analysis showed that the number of amino acids encoded LBDs was between 172 and 356, and the isoelectric point was between 4.92 and 9.43. The mole-cular weight of LBD was between 18 862.92 Da and 40 081.33 Da, and most members are located in the nucleus. Chromosome positioning of LBD showed that 32 members were unevenly distributed on 10 chromosomes of C. sativa LBD transcription factor domain, gene structure and motifs are relatively conservative, and the characteristics of different class members are similar. The upstream promoter region of the gene contains a variety of cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and environmental factors, C. sativa LBD genes have different expression patterns in the stems, leaves, and flowers of ZYS varieties(low tetrahydrocannabinol, high cannabidiol). The members of the LBD gene family are mainly expressed in the flowers and stems of ZYS varieties, while members expressed in the leaves very few; Class Ⅱ members CsLBD21 and CsLBD23 are expressed in flowers and stems, and CsLBD8 and CsLBD18 are expressed in flowers, stems and leaves. These genes may participate in the growth and development of cannabis and affect the biosynthesis of cannabinoids. This study laid the foundation for the subsequently functional research of the cannabis LBD gene family.