Thrixspermumtaeniophyllum (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from southwest China, based on molecular and morphological evidence.

Thrixspermumtaeniophyllum is described as a new orchid species from Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of southwest China. It is morphologically similar to T.japonicum, but it differs from the latter in having branched stems, slightly fleshy strap-shaped leaves, longer inflorescences with 3-6 flowers and a capitate gynandrium with a lip-shaped mouth opening. Its species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and three chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH and trnL-F), which showed distinct systematic boundaries from the most morphologically similar T.japonicum and their morphological relatives T.saruwatarii and T.pygmaeum.

Gastrochilusheminii (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from Sichuan, China, based on molecular and morphological data.

Gastrochilusheminii (Orchidaceae), a new orchid species from Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles G.affinis and G.yei, but differs markedly from the former in having a thinner and slightly rolled downwards reniform epichile and the central thickened purple-red mat with irregular folds (vs. subtriangular epichile curves upwards, with 2 thick, brown to purplish-brown median ridges from base to apex), and can be clearly distinguished from the latter by having reniform epichile with lobed apex and subconical hypochile with bilobed apex that splits into two conical protrusions (vs. semi-rounded epichile not lobed and subconical hypochile not bilobed). The results of molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH, psbM-trnD, and trnL-F) of 36 Gastrochilus species showed that G.heminii was closely related to G.affinis and G.distichus.

Identification of the complete mitochondrial genome of the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus (Sphenisciformes: Spheniscidae: Aptenodytes).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus was firstly determined. The mitogenome is 17,477 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region. The total nucleotide composition is 31.0% A, 22.2% T, 33.1% C, and 13.8% G, with a total A + T content of 53.2%. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrates a close relationship between A. patagonicus and A. forsteri. These results provide fundamental information for further phylogeny and genetic studies on Aptenodytes genus.

[Treatment of Mild-to-moderate Bronchial Asthma (Heat Wheezing Syndrome) Patients at Acute Onset with Western Medicine Combined Danlong Oral Liquid: a Multi-center, Randomized Double- blinded, Positive-controlled Clinical Trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset. METHODS: Totally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated. RESULTS: The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: DOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

[Treatment of upper respiratory infection by fangfeng tongsheng granule: a randomized controlled study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Fangfeng Tongsheng Granule (FTG) in the treatment of upper respiratory infection (superficial cold and interior heat syndrome, exterior and interior excess syndrome). METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, multi-centered, placebo-parallel-controlled clinical trial was adopted. Totally 324 patients were enrolled and assigned to two groups, 216 patients in the treatment group and 108 patients in the control group. Those in the treatment group took FTG at the daily dose of 3 g, twice per day, the therapeutic course being 3 days. Those with axillary temperature more than 37 degrees C took one more time before medication. Those in the control group took simulated agent granules the same dose and dosage as the treatment group. The effect of Chinese medical syndrome (ECMS), the rate of temperature-dropping-to-normal (RT), the time of temperature-dropping-to-normal (TT), the curative effect of single symptom (CESS) and adverse reactions were observed. RESULTS: Totally 203 completed the trial in the treatment group and 101 in the control group. In the treatment group, the cured-effective rate was 55.67% (113/ 101), the total effective rate was 93.10% (189/101), the ECMS score decreased by 9.24 +/- 4.46, while they were 5.94% (6/101), 36.63% (37/101), and 3.27 +/- 3.29, respectively in the control group (P < 0.01). The RT was 87.50% (98/112) in the treatment group and 58.49% (31/53) in the control group (P < 0.01). The TT in the treatment group was superior to that of the control group (P < 0.01). As for CESS, all of the three primary symptoms and nine secondary symptoms were improved more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group. The integral decreased obviously, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The decrease was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was no adverse event related to FTG. CONCLUSION: FTG was effective and safe in treating upper respiratory infection (superficial cold and interior heat syndrome, exterior and interior excess syndrome).

Three new dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer.

Three new dammarane-type triterpene ginsenosides, together with six known ginsenosides, were isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The new saponins were named as ginsenoside Rh11, ginsenoside Rh12, and ginsenoside Rh13. Their structures were elucidated as (20S)-3ß,6α,12ß,20-tetrahydroxydammara-25-ene-24-one 20-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1), (20S)-3ß,12ß,20,24,25-pentahydroxydammarane 20-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2), and (20S,23E)-3ß,12ß,20,25-tetrahydroxydammara-23-ene 20-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectra. The known ginsenosides were identified as ginsenoside M(7cd), ginsenoside Rg6, ginsenoside Rb3, gypenoside XVII, gypenoside IX, and 20-(E)-ginsenoside F4.

Chinese herbs in treatment of influenza: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Antiwei, a traditional Chinese prescription, in the treatment of influenza. METHODS: In a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited 480 adults aged 18 to 65 years within 36 h of onset of influenza-like symptoms. There were 225 patients with confirmed influenza. Eligible patients were randomly assigned 6 g of Antiwei (n = 360) or placebo (n = 120) twice daily for three days. All patients recorded their temperature and symptoms on diary cards during treatment. Analyses were performed in both the influenza-like population and the influenza-confirmed population. RESULTS: Antiwei increased patients' recovery by 17% (P < 0.001), and reduced the severity of illness measured by the median symptom score by 50% (P < 0.001) in both the influenza-like and the influenza-confirmed populations, compared to placebo. The influenza-confirmed patients reported reductions in the severity of fever (P = 0.002), cough (P = 0.023) and expectoration (P = 0.004) after one-day of treatment with Antiwei, compared to placebo. The adverse event profiles were similar for Antiwei and placebo. CONCLUSION: Antiwei was effective and well tolerated in treatment of natural influenza infection in adults. Antiwei represents a clinically valuable intervention in the management of influenza.