Pharmaceutical Terminology in Ancient and Medieval Time - andrachne, chrysocolla and Others

Ancient and medieval pharmacological and medical texts contain a substantial amount of plant and mineral names. In some cases, the identification is straightforward. But for the majority of the data, we are unable to identify these ingredients with high certainty. In this paper, we discuss a selection of plant and mineral names both from a humanities and sciences point of view. In one case, the scientists were even able to examine a plant in situ. The conclusion of our paper is that a close collaboration between sciences and humanities is essential to avoid mistakes in the identification of materia medica.

[Classification, diagnosis and treatment status of pulmonary hypertension from 2012 to 2019: a single center study in Yunnan province]

Objective: To analyze the classification, diagnosis and treatment status of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Yunnan province. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Hospitalized patients with PH at Yan'an Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2012 to December 2019 were enrolled. The clinical data of enrolled patients, including demographic data, comorbidities, targeted drug therapy, echocardiography and right heart catheterization results, were obtained through the electronic medical record system. The composition ratio of PH, diagnosis and treatment were analyzed. Results: A total of 13 590 patients with PH were enrolled, accounting for 3.09% (13 590/440 056) of the total number of hospitalizations during the same period. The composition of PH was predominantly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (55.50% (7 542/13 590)), followed by pulmonary hypertension (PH) caused by left heart disease (24.16% (3 284/13 590)). Among them, PAH could be subdivided into four types: idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), PAH associated with connective tissue disease, PAH associated with portal hypertension, and PAH associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH), with CHD-PAH as the predominating type (98.09% (7 398/7 542). Patients with PAH were predominantly adolescents. In hospitalized patients with PH, from 2012 to 2019, the proportion of children and adolescents showed a decreasing trend from year to year, and the proportion of middle-aged and older adults showed a significant increasing trend, and the proportion of female patients showed a gradual decreasing trend, and the proportion of patients with comorbid hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and pneumonia showed an increasing trend. A total of 1 034 patients (7.61% (1 034/13 590)) underwent right heart catheterization. The concordance rate between echocardiographic and right heart catheterization findings was (86.98% (875/1 006)). A total of 2 574 (18.94%) of PH patients were treated with PAH targeted drugs, of which 58.16% (1 497/2 574) were treated with monotherapy. Among the PH patients treated with PAH targeted drugs, the majority of patients were PAH patients (86.44% (2 225/2 574)), and 83.53% (2 150/2 574) patients treated with PAH targeted drugs were CHD-PAH. Conclusions: Hospitalized PH patients in our center between 2012 and 2019 are predominantly CHD-PAH, and the proportion of patients receiving right heart catheterization and targeted drug therapy is relatively low. The percentage of middle-aged and elderly PH patients shows an increasing trend from year to year, as well as the percentage of those with concomitant comorbidities.

Colletotrichum shisoi sp. nov., an anthracnose pathogen of Perilla frutescens in Japan: molecular phylogenetic, morphological and genomic evidence

Species of the fungal genus Colletotrichum are among the most devastating pathogens of agricultural crops in the world. Based on DNA sequence data (ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, ACT, TUB2) and morphology, we revealed Colletotrichum isolates infecting the oil crop Perilla frutescens, commonly known as shiso, to represent a previously unknown species of the C. destructivum species complex and described it as C. shisoi. We found that C. shisoi appears to be able to adopt a hemibiotrophic lifestyle, characterised by the formation of biotrophic hyphae followed by severe necrotic lesions on P. frutescens, but is less virulent on Arabidopsis, compared to its close relative C. higginsianum which also belongs to the C. destructivum species complex. The genome of C. shisoi was sequenced, annotated and its predicted proteome compared with four other Colletotrichum species. The predicted proteomes of C. shisoi and C. higginsianum, share many candidate effectors, which are small, secreted proteins that may contribute to infection. Interestingly, C. destructivum species complex-specific secreted proteins showed evidence of increased diversifying selection which may be related to their host specificities.

Genome Sequence Resources for Four Phytopathogenic Fungi from the Colletotrichum orbiculare Species Complex

Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex fungi are hemibiotrophic plant pathogens that cause anthracnose of field crops and weeds. Members of this group have genomes that are remarkably expanded relative to other Colletotrichum fungi and compartmentalized into AT-rich, gene-poor and GC-rich, gene-rich regions. Here, we present an updated version of the C. orbiculare genome, as well as draft genomes of three other members from the C. orbiculare species complex: the alfalfa pathogen C. trifolii, the prickly mallow pathogen C. sidae, and the burweed pathogen C. spinosum. The data reported here will be important for comparative genomics analyses to identify factors that play a role in the evolution and maintenance of the expanded, compartmentalized genomes of these fungi, which may contribute to their pathogenicity.

Epidemiological investigation and risk factors of Peste des petitis ruminants (PPR) in yaks (Bos grunniens) and cattle in five regions of China

To investigate the prevalence of Peste des petitis ruminants in yaks and cattle in poorly studied areas of China. A total of 1202 and 560 blood samples were collected from yaks and cattle, respectively and processed using a commercial ELISA kit. Multivariable logistic regression model was piloted to find the variables, potentially associated with exposure of PPR infection in yaks and cattle. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of PPR in yaks was 11.2%. A total 66 (11.8%) out of 560 were examined out to be positive to PPR in cattle in Jiangxi province. According to conditional stepwise logistic regression, region, age and gender were found to be the more influencing risk factors in yaks, while region and age were found to be the potential risk factors in cattle. The current results reported the prevalence and associated risk factors of PPR in bovine for the first time in China.

Draft Genome Assembly of Colletotrichum chlorophyti, a Pathogen of Herbaceous Plants

Colletotrichum chlorophyti is a fungal pathogen that infects various herbaceous plants, including crops such as legumes, tomato, and soybean. Here, we present the genome of C. chlorophyti NTL11, isolated from tomato. Analysis of this genome will allow a clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal host range and pathogenicity.

[Effects of tetrahydrobiopterin on the angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) on the angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: BALB/c-nu mice were subcutaneously injected with HepG-2 cells and randomly divided into control and BH4 groups. The BH4 group and control group received 20 mg/kg BH4 or saline by intraperitoneal injection daily for two weeks, respectively. The level of BH4 was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the level of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by Griess test array, the transcriptional level of K-ras was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein expressions of guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase Ⅰ(GTPCH), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phospho-Akt and Akt were determined by Western blot. Results: BH4 level in the tumor tissues of BH4 group was (0.24±0.02) μg/ml, significantly higher than the (0.17±0.01) μg/ml in the control group (P<0.01). The level of NO in the tumor tissues of BH4 group was (51.44±2.90) mmol/L, significantly higher than the (24.77±0.54) mmol/L in the control group (P<0.01). The tumor volume of BH4 group was (191.05±8.70) mm3, significantly higher than the (103.10±5.03) mm3 in the control group (P<0.01). The expressions of CD34, K-ras, phospho-eNOS, phospho-Akt and GTPCH were significantly up-regulated in the tumor tissues of BH4 group when compared with those of the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: BH4 recognized as an essential cofactor of eNOS can increase tumor-produced NO by activating the wild-type Ras-PI3K/Akt pathway, thus induces angiogenesis. This might provide a novel and promising way to control the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through targeting BH4 synthesis pathway and inhibiting angiogenesis.

Anarchic hand syndrome following resection of a frontal lobe tumor

Anarchic hand syndrome (AHS) is a rare disorder characterized by unwilled, but seemingly purposeful movements of the affected upper limb which are perceived by the patients not to be under their control. It often interferes with goal-directed movements and bimanual tasks. At present there is no effective method of treatment of AHS. We report here a case of AHS following resection of a frontal lobe tumor and describe its effects on the patient's functional activities. The patient used avoidance behavior and mental concentration to overcome the disabling effect of AHS. These strategies appear to be useful in the management of AHS.

Permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery upregulates expression of cytokines and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the spinal cord and urinary bladder in the adult rat

The expression pattern of proinflammatory cytokines, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in the spinal cord and the bladder in response to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was investigated. In this connection, the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 in the lumbosacral spinal cord and the bladder as determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction was upregulated. In the spinal cord, the immunoreactivity of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta was mainly localized in the ventral horn motoneurons contralateral to MCAO. In the bladder, TNF-alpha was mainly expressed in the inflammatory cells. The expression of nNOS immunoreactivity as well as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) staining in the spinal cord and bladder was also markedly increased in response to MCAO. Furthermore, the temporal and spatial expression of nNOS paralleled that of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the spinal cord. On the other hand, there was no noticeable change in gene expression and immunoreactivity of SP and CGRP. The present results have shown that cytokines and nNOS expression are elevated in areas far removed from the primary site of ischemic infarct, namely, the lumbosacral spinal cord and bladder. This together with some neuronal deaths maybe linked to the dysfunction of the latter in a clinical stroke. On the other hand, the apparent lack of SP and CGRP changes following MCAO suggests that the two neurotransmitters are not directly involved.

[Experiment of biodegradation of chlorobenzenes]

Four strains of microorganisms which were able to grow at the presence of 1,4-dichlorobenzene 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and hexachlorobenzene were isolated from the sludge collected from two different sites after incubating about 2 months. During the growth of the mixed microorganisims on chlorobenzenes, the accumulating consumption of oxygen, the microbial population curve and the concentration of released Cl- were investigated. The result showed that the mixed microorganisms were able to utilize 1,4-dichlorobenzen and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene as sole carbon source and energy source. The concentration of released Cl- may depend strongly on the activity of the living cells. The order in which the chlorobenzenes were readily degraded was 1,4-dichlorobenzenez[356.7 micrograms/(L.d)] > 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene[110.4 micrograms/(L.d)] > hexachlorobenzene[approximately 6 micrograms/(L.d)]. The number of the substituted chlorine on the chlorobenzenes directly resulted in the resistance to biodegradation.

[The relationship between the mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene 677C-->T and the diabetic microangiopathy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the mutation of methylenetetra- hydrofolate reductase gene 677C-->T and the diabetic microangiopathy(DMA) in diabetes mellitus(DM).

METHODS

A total of 168 subjects were divided into control group, DM group and DMA group(including diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy). PCR-restrictive fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis was conducted to examine mutation, and then the frequency of mutation was statistically computed.

RESULTS

Markedly elevated mutation was observed in patients with diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy as compared with non-microangiopathy diabetes mellitus and normal people (20.8% vs 8.3% and 7.3%, P<0.01). The odds ratio of the TT genotype for DMA was 3.36, P<0.001.

CONCLUSION

It was found that the mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene 677C-->T was an impressibility factor of diabetic microangiopathy.

Effect of captopril on renal hemodynamics and renal prostaglandins in early type II diabetic patients with normo-or microalbuminuria

In this study, we investigated the effect of captopril (CPT) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), filtration fraction (FF), urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and daily urinary excretion of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto- prostaglandin F1a (6-keto-PGF1a) in 29 normotensive non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) patients without clinically discernible nephropathy. Before treatment, urinary excretion 6-keto-PGF1a was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 29 NIDDM patients compared with 25 health subjects matched for age and sex. The values of GFR and FF were significantly higher (P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively) in NIDDM than in normal volunters, whereas ERPF was comparable in both groups. Meanwhile we observed that UAE of early NIDDM was increased before treatment. After CPT treatment, GFR, FF, UAE and urinary excretion of 6-keto-PGF1a were significantly reduce (all P < 0.005) compared with those of NIDDM before treatment. These data indicated that CPT is effective in lowering glomerular filtration pressure and ameliorating microalbuminuria in the normotensive early NIDDM.