[Study on prediction model of Angelicae sinensis yield per unit in Min County].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a prediction model of Angelicae sinensis yield per unit in Min County, and the forecasting information can be provided to correlated department and organization. METHODS: With the basis of the Angelicae sinensis yield statistics in Min County from 1995 to 2009 and weather data of development phase of each ten days, polynomial forecasting modeling was used and the stimulation forecasting of Angelicae sinensis yield in Min County was carried out. RESULTS: The results showed that the average accuracy of prediction model was reached to 97.2%, which basically met the demand for yield prediction. CONCLUSION: The prediction model of Angelicae sinensis yield per unit in Min County has good accuracy and relatively correct forecasting information about Angelicae sinensis yield, which provides methodology and important references for dynamic forecasting in the progress of Chinese medicinal materials production.

Risk factors and mortality of pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients: Evidence based on fifty observational studies.

BACKGROUND: At present, many studies have described acute pulmonary embolism (PE) as a frequent and prognostically relevant complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Thus we performed the present analysis of 50 studies to evaluate the risk factors and mortality of PE in COVID-19 patients. METHOD: Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched to October, 2021. Odds ratio (OR), mean difference (MD) or standard MD was used to evaluate the outcomes. The primary outcomes were the difference of mortality between PE and non-PE COVID-19 patients as well as relevant risk factors of PE in COVID-19 patients. All statistical analyses were performed using the standard statistical procedures provided in Review Manager 5.2. RESULT: A total of 50 studies including 10053 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Our results indicated that COVID-19 patients with PE experienced significantly higher mortality than non-PE patients (21.9% vs. 10.7%), with a pooled OR of 2.21 (95% CI 1.30 - 3.76; P = .003). In addition, COVID-19 patients with PE also experienced more mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.30 - 3.75; P = .003) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR 3.58; 95% CI 2.47 - 5.20; P < .0001) respectively. Univariate analysis (UVA) results indicated the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, time to deep venous thrombosis (DVT), nonintensive care unit (non-ICU) patients and no anticoagulation as risk factors of PE for COVID-19 patients. In addition, multivariate analysis also found that SOFA score, D-dimer, BMI > 30 kg/m2 and history of PE were risk factors of PE for COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: The present analysis indicated that PE increased the mortality of COVID-19 patients. Mechanical ventilation, especially invasive mechanical ventilation, is correlated with an increased incidence of PE in patients with COVID-19. The incidence of PE for COVID-19 patients may be multifactorial and further researches focused on risk factors were needed in the future.

[Influence of different processing methods on Angelica sinensis polysaccharides from same origin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influences of different processing methods on the content of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (APS) from the same origin. METHOD: The contents of neutral polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides in various samples of A. sinensis were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid and carbazole-sulfuric acid method, respectively. The proliferation ability of lymphocyte was detected by MTT method after the cells were cultured with different concentrations of APS from two samples processed by different methods. RESULT: The different processing methods had different effects on the contents of polysaccharide. The maximum content of APS (26.03%) was found in the sample processed by microwave drying medium-fired, but the minimum content of APS (2.25%) was found in the sample processed by vacuum drying at 50 TC. Furthermore, the APS (high concentration group, P < 0.01) processed by microwave drying medium-fired could both accelerate proliferation of spleen lymphocytes directly and increase proliferation of T cells of mice induced by Con A. However, the APS processed by far-infrared drying did not show conspicuous immune enhancement activity. CONCLUSION: Different processing methods have different effects on the contents of APS and the proliferation ability of lymphocytes.

[Correlation analysis and evaluation of inorganic elements in Angelica sinensis and its correspondence soil from different regions].

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the relationship between the inorganic elements and the genuineness, invigoration efficacy of this medicinal material by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the inorganic elements in Angelica sinensis and its correspondence soil. METHODS: The contents of 14 kinds of inorganic elements from 40 samples from 4 main habits of Angelica sinensis in China were determined by the method of ICP-AES. RESULTS: In Angelica sinensis and its correspondence soil, significant positive correlations existed between each pair of Ca, Na, Ni. The enrichment coefficients of Mg by Angelica sinensis was a certain peculiarity. The analysis showed that Zn, Cu, Mn, Mg were distincter to Angelica sinensis's geo-authentic than other elements. The results seemly confirmed that the Mingui was considered as geo-authentic crude drugs by traditional knowledge. CONCLUSION: The inorganic elements in Angelica sinensis may be correlated with its geo-authentic certainly. This result can provide scientific basis for understanding of Angelica sinensis's geo-authentic nature and the active material base.

[Study on feasibility of cutting process of fresh Angelica sinensis Radix].

OBJECTIVE: To study on the feasibility of cutting process of fresh Angelica sinensis. METHOD: Qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis methods were used to evaluate the quality of different cutting processed A. sinensis. RESULT: The contents of ligustilide and ferulic acid in the fresh cutting processed were both lower than the traditional cutting process, and the similarity of fingerprints of two different cutting processed A. sinensis were basically above 90%. CONCLUSION: The method of cutting process of fresh A. sinensis was not suitable apparently, and the effect on clinical application of these two different cutting processed A. sinensis need more study.

cDNA-AFLP analysis of gene expression differences between the flower bud and sprout-shoot apical meristem of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels.

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Umbelliferae) is a well-known medicinal plant mainly distributed in Gansu Province of China. Its local and global demand is significant because of its food and medicinal applications. However, the early bolting rate of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels reaches 20%-60%, which seriously affects its food and medicinal qualities. Thus, differences in gene expression between the flower bud and sprout-shoot apical meristem underwent analysis, by means of cDNA-amplified restriction fragment length polymorphism, to better understand the flowering mechanism. 64 primer sets, each of which amplified to 60 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs), were used. Among these TDFs, 26 were expressed specifically in the flower bud. After cloning and sequencing, 32 distinct sequences were obtained from these 26 TDFs, and 25 were found with homologous sequences in databases. Confirmation of differential expression of 13 sequences was obtained by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, their showing higher expression levels in flower buds. These homologous sequences encode transposable elements, pentatricopeptide repeat-containing proteins, DNA-binding transcription factors, zinc finger (B-box type) family proteins, NADP-dependent sorbitol 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (S6PDH), amongst others.

Two new α-pinene derivatives from Angelica sinensis and their anticoagulative activities.

Two new α-pinene derivatives (1-2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Angelica sinensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods to be 6ß,9-dihydroxy-(+)-α-pinene (1) and 9-hydroxy-(+)-α-pinene-6ß-O-D-glucoside (2). In the anticoagulative assay, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antithrombin activity and strong antiplatelet aggregation activity in vitro.

Assessment and comparison of immunoregulatory activity of four hydrosoluble fractions of Angelica sinensisin vitro on the peritoneal macrophages in ICR mice.

Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels, a traditional oriental herbal medicine, is known to have immunostimulatory and antitumor effects. In this paper, four hydrosoluble fractions were obtained and purified from A. sinensis including: Angelica polysaccharide, oligosaccharides (Angelica oligosaccharide and Angelica sucrose) and Angelica total amino acid, named APS, AOS, AS, and TAA, respectively. Moreover, the immunomodulatory activity of these four fractions on murine peritoneal macrophages were assessed and compared from various aspects including cell proliferation, phagocytic activity, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) release, induced nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) and lysozyme (LZM) activity, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on cell surface and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene expression. Although APS exhibited the most obvious growth facilitative activity, AOS did better in activation of H(2)O(2) release; TAA exerted the best activation of phagocytic activity, production of NO and ICAM-1 expression. Furthermore, we found that the action mode of the four fractions was similar to that of LPS and the mechanism may be related to the upregulation of TLR4 mRNA. These results demonstrated that oligosaccharide and amino acid fractions, as well as polysaccharide fraction of Radix A. sinensis, could serve as immunomodulator and TLR4 as one of the immune receptors may play important role for this action.