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Background The endangered rate of medicinal plant exceeds that of endangered plant species. However, blindly introducing medicinal plants in regions without comprehensively considering the involved environmental factors results in diseases and insect pests and the consequent overproof pesticide residue as well as reduces the quality of herbal medicine produced. Methods Global Medicinal Plant Geographic Information System (GMPGIS) was developed to analyze environmental information of ecologically suitable regions, thus guiding the conservation and introduction of medicinal plants. This system is based on theories and methods from multiple disciplines, including computer science, geoinformatics, ecology, and traditional herbal medicine. Using a range-based method, the previously established ecologically suitable regions were evaluated. This new method effectively resolved the problem of outlier points, and its functions were implemented in Python. The system automatically calculates the Euclidean distance of climatic factors and intersection of soil factors, thus identifying regions with high ecological similarity and those are climatically and edaphically suitable for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Results These results, validated using real-world regions, revealed that GMPGIS is highly accurate in screening ecologically suitable regions for the cultivation of medicinal plants worldwide. Conclusions Overall, because of these features, the GMPGIS is considered as a suitable distribution analysis system for global medicinal plant cultivation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-019-0226-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fritillaria naturally grows in the temperate region of Northern Hemisphere and mainly distributes in Central Asia, Mediterranean region, and North America. The dried bulbs from a dozen species of this genus have been usually used as herbal medicine, named Beimu in China. Beimu had rich sources of phytochemicals and have extensively applied to respiratory diseases including coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Fritillaria species have alkaloids that act as the main active components that contribute multiple biological activities, including anti-tussive, expectorant, and anti-asthmatic effects, especially against certain respiratory diseases. Other compounds (terpenoids, steroidal saponins, and phenylpropanoids) have also been identified in species of Fritillaria. In this review, readers will discover a brief summary of traditional uses and a comprehensive description of the chemical profiles, biological properties, and analytical techniques used for quality control. In general, the detailed summary reveals 293 specialized metabolites that have been isolated and analyzed in Fritillaria species. This review may provide a scientific basis for the chemical ecology and metabolomics in which compound identification of certain species remains a limiting step.

BackgroundAccurate determination of intrahepatic anatomy remains challenging for laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy (LAH). Laparoscopic augmented reality navigation (LARN) is expected to facilitate LAH of primary liver cancer (PLC) by identifying the exact location of tumors and vessels. The study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of our independently developed LARN system in LAH of PLC.MethodsFrom May 2018 to July 2020, the study included 85 PLC patients who underwent three-dimensional (3D) LAH. According to whether LARN was performed during the operation, the patients were divided into the intraoperative navigation (IN) group and the non-intraoperative navigation (NIN) group. We compared the preoperative data, perioperative results and postoperative complications between the two groups, and introduced our preliminary experience of this novel technology in LAH.ResultsThere were 44 and 41 PLC patients in the IN group and the NIN group, respectively. No significant differences were found in preoperative characteristics and any of the resection-related complications between the two groups (All P > 0.05). Compared with the NIN group, the IN group had significantly less operative bleeding (P = 0.002), lower delta Hb% (P = 0.039), lower blood transfusion rate (P < 0.001), and reduced postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.003). For the IN group, the successful fusion of simulated surgical planning and operative scene helped to determine the extent of resection.ConclusionsThe LARN contributed to the identification of important anatomical structures during LAH of PLC. It reduced vascular injury and accelerated postoperative recovery, showing a potential application prospects in liver surgery.

Purpose: To establish a valid prediction model to prognose the occurrence of microvascular invasion (MVI), and to compare the efficacy of anatomic resection (AR) or non-anatomic resection (NAR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight patients with HCC who underwent surgical treatment were enrolled. Their hematological indicators, MRI imaging features, and outcome data were acquired.Result: In the multivariable analysis, alpha-fetoprotein >15 ng/mL, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio >3.8, corona enhancement, and peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase were associated with MVI. According on these factors, the AUROC of the predictive model in the primary and validation cohorts was 0.884 (95% CI: 0.829, 0.938) and 0.899 (95% CI: 0.821, 0.967), respectively. Patients with high risk of MVI or those with low risk of MVI but tumor size >5 cm in the AR group were associated with a lower rate of recurrence and death than patients in the NAR group; however, when patients are in the state of low-risk MVI with tumor size >5 cm, there is no difference in the rate of recurrence and death between AR and NAR.Conclusion: Our predictive model for HCC with MVI is convenient and accurate. Patients with high-risk of MVI or low-risk of MVI but tumor size >5 cm executing AR is of great necessity.

Background Diosgenin, mainly extracted from wild diosgenin-contained Dioscorea species, is a well-known starting material of steroidal and contraceptive drugs. However, due to large market demand and increasingly ecological damage, wild Dioscorea species resources available have been gradually declining. Therefore, identification of new potential ecological distribution of diosgenin-contained Dioscorea species is necessary for diosgenin production. Methods In this study, a large occurrence dataset (1808 data points) of diosgenin-contained Dioscorea species was obtained from Eastern Asia, Southern North America and Southern Africa. Along with the data for six critical environmental parameters and one soil factor, Geographic Information System for Global Medicinal Plant was applied to predict the potential suitable distribution of Dioscorea species. Results The results showed that the potential distribution of these Dioscorea species covered a wide field, and that new ecological suitability areas were mainly distributed in the central region of South America, the southern part of the European and coastal region of Oceania. Jackknife test indicated that annual precipitation and annual mean radiation were the important climatic factors controlling the distribution of Dioscorea species. Conclusions The suitable areas and critical climatic factors will serve as a useful guide for diosgenin-contained Dioscorea species conservation and cultivation in ecological suitable areas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-018-0215-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hepatectomy is the optimal method for liver cancer; the virtual liver resection based on three-dimensional visualization technology (3-DVT) could provide better preoperative strategy for surgeon. We aim to introduce right posterior lobe allied with part of V and VIII sectionectomy assisted by 3-DVT as a promising treatment for massive or multiple right hepatic malignancies to retain maximum residual liver volume on the basis of R0 resection.Among 126 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy, 9 (7%) underwent right posterior lobe allied with part of V and VIII sectionectomy. 21 (17%) underwent right hemihepatectomy (RH). The virtual RH was performed with 3-DVT, which provided better observation of spatial position relationship between tumor and vessels, and the more accurate estimation of the remnant liver volume. If remnant liver volume was40%, right posterior lobe allied with part of V and VIII sectionectomy should be undergone. Then, the precut line ought to be planned on the basis of protecting the portal branch of subsegment 5 and 8. The postoperative outcome of patients was compared before and after propensity score matching.Nine patients meeting the eligibility criteria received right posterior lobe allied with part of V and VIII sectionectomy. The variables, including the overall mean operation time, blood transfusion, operation length, liver function, and postoperative complications, were similar between two groups before and after propensity matching. The postoperative first, third, fifth, and seventh days mean value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), and total bilirubin had no significant difference compared with preoperative value. One patient in each group had recurrence six months after surgery.Right posterior lobe allied with part of V and VIII sectionectomy based on 3-DVT is safe and feasible surgery way, and can be a very promising method in massive or multiple right hepatic malignancy therapy.

Objective Root or rhizome of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) is known for its eutherapeutic effects. Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidicus, called Yesanqi or Yuenan sanqi by local residents, is also commercially available. They are similar in morphology, leading to serious safety problems in clinical medication. It is necessary to find the rapid and efficient methods to identify them. Methods P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus were identified by DNA barcoding based on the ITS2 sequence. Notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenosides (Rb1, Rg1, Re, Rd, Rc, and Rb2) were analyzed in the roots, fibrils, stems, leaves, and flowers of P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus were separated into branches of divergent clusters, and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus and Panax vietnamensis were clustered into a clade with 98% similarity according to DNA barcoding analysis. The chemical compositions of P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus were similar in roots; while their compositions and contents of notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenosides in flowers, leaves, stems, and fibrils were different. Conclusion ITS2 is a rapid and efficient method to identify P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus. HPLC analysis indicated that pharmacological action might be different between P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidicus.

Ephedrae Herba and Ephedrae Radix et Rhizoma (Mahuang) have been used as Chinese herbal medicines. Ephedra plants mainly live in deserts and have good governance of desertification. Despite their important medicinal and environmental protection value, dietary supplements containing ephedrine from Ephedra species may threaten the health of people. Morphological resemblance amongst species causes difficulty in identifying the original species of Ephedra herbs. Chloroplast (CP) genome shows good prospects in identification and phylogenetic analysis. This study introduced the structures of the CP genomes of three Ephedra species and analysed their phylogenetic relationships. Three complete CP genomes of Ephedra showed four-part annular structures, namely, two single-copy regions and two inverted repeat regions. The entire CP genomes of three Ephedra species in terms of size were 109,550 bp (E. sinica), 109,667 bp (E. intermedia), and 109,558 bp (E. equisetina). Each CP genome of the three Ephedra species encoded 118 genes, including 73 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Eleven high-variation regions were screened through mVISTA to be potential specific DNA barcodes for identifying Ephedra species. Maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony trees showed that CP genomes could be used to identify Ephedra species. The Ephedra species had a close phylogenetic relationship with Gnetum species and Welwitschia mirabilis. This research provided valuable information for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of gymnosperms and drug safety of Ephedra.

Background Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a rare calcifying disorder of the brain with extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Its prevalence is underestimated due to clinical selection bias (compared with symptomatic PFBC patients, asymptomatic ones are less likely to undergo genetic testing). Methods A total of 273 PFBC probands were enrolled in a multicenter retrospective cohort study by two different approaches. In Group I (nonsystematic approach), 37 probands diagnosed at our clinic were enrolled. In Group II (systematic approach), 236 probands were enrolled by searching the medical imaging databases of 50 other hospitals using specific keywords. Genetic testing of four genes known to be causative of autosomal dominant PFBC was performed in all probands using cDNA. All identified variants were further confirmed using genomic DNA and classified according to ACMG-AMP recommendations. Results Thirty-two variants including 22 novel variants were detected in 37 probands. Among these probands, 83.8% (31/37) were asymptomatic. Two probands with homozygous pathogenic SLC20A2 variants presented more severe brain calcification and symptoms. Based on the variant detection rate of probands in Group II, we extrapolated an overall minimal prevalence of PFBC of 6.6 per 1,000, much higher than previously reported (2.1 per 1000). Conclusions We identified a higher proportion of genetically confirmed PFBC probands who were asymptomatic. These patients would be overlooked due to clinical selection bias, leading to underestimation of the disease prevalence. Considering that PFBC patients with biallelic variants had more severe phenotypes, this specific condition should be focused on in genetic counseling.

From the prehistoric era until the publishing of the Compendium of Materia Medica and the first scientific Nobel Prize in the Chinese mainland for Tu’s discovery on anti-malarial tablets, each milestone and stepping stone in the developmental history of herbal medicine involved intrepid exploration, bold hypothesis formulation, and cautious verification. After thousands of years of discovery and development, herbal research has entered a new era—the era of herbgenomics. Herbgenomics combines herbal and genomic research, bridging the gap between traditional herbal medicine and cutting-edge omics studies. Therefore, it provides a general picture of the genetic background of traditional herbs, enabling researchers to investigate the mechanisms underlying the prevention and treatment of human diseases from an omics perspective.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of actual resected liver volume (ARLV) in anatomical liver resections (ALRs) guided by 3-dimensional parenchymal staining using fusion indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (IGFI). METHODS Patients eligible for hepatic resection were enrolled in the current study from January 2016 to November 2017. All patients underwent surgery planning based on Medical Image Three-Dimensional Visualization System (MI-3DVS) before the operation, in which predicted resected liver volumes (PRLVs) were calculated. Under 3-dimensional guidance by fusion IGFI, ALRs were performed and ARLVs were measured. Simple linear regression, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to evaluate the relationship and agreement between PRLV and ARLV. RESULTS Of the 27 patients who achieved valid demarcation by fusion IGFI, 12 (44.4%) received hemihepatectomy, while 10 (37.0%) and five (18.5%) underwent sectionectomy and segmentectomy, respectively. The relationship and agreement between PRLV (481.37 ± 189.47 cm³) and ARLV (450.57 ± 205.19 cm³) were then evaluated. The simple regression equation obtained was PRLV = 0.874 × ARLV + 87.75 (R = 0.946; P = 0.000). Meanwhile, ARLV (ICC = 0.943) achieved an excellent agreement with PRLV ( P

Amomum villosum is an important medicinal and edible plant with several pharmacologically active volatile oils. However, identifying A. villosum from A. villosum var. xanthioides and A. longiligulare which exhibit similar morphological characteristics to A. villosum, is difficult. The main goal of this study, therefore, is to mine genetic resources and improve molecular methods that could be used to distinguish these species. A total of eight complete chloroplasts (cp) genomes of these Amomum species which were collected from the main producing areas in China were determined to be 163,608&ndash, 164,069 bp in size. All genomes displayed a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (29,820&ndash, 29,959 bp) that separated a large single copy (LSC) region (88,680&ndash, 88,857 bp) from a small single copy (SSC) region (15,288&ndash, 15,369 bp). Each genome encodes 113 different genes with 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. More than 150 SSRs were identified in the entire cp genomes of these three species. The Sanger sequencing results based on 32 Amomum samples indicated that five highly divergent regions screened from cp genomes could not be used to distinguish Amomum species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cp genomes could not only accurately identify Amomum species, but also provide a solid foundation for the establishment of phylogenetic relationships of Amomum species. The availability of cp genome resources and the comparative analysis is beneficial for species authentication and phylogenetic analysis in Amomum.

Background Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The hepatectomy is the most effective and the only potentially curative treatment for patients with resectable neoplasm. Precisely preoperative assessment of remnant liver volume is essential in preventing postoperative liver failure. The aim of our study is to report our experience of using a medical image three dimensional (3D) visualization system (MI-3DVS), which was developed by our team, in assisting hepatectomy for patients with liver cancer. Methods Between January 2010 and June 2016, 69 patients with liver cancer underwent hepatic resection based on the MI-3DVS were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent CT scan 5 days before the surgery and within 5 days after resection. CT images were reconstructed with the MI-3DVS to assist to perform hepatectomy. Simple linear regression, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to evaluate the relationship and agreement between actual excisional liver volume (AELV) and predicted excisional liver volume (PELV). Results Among 69 patients in this study, 62(89.85%) of them were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma by histopathologic examination, and 41(59.42%) underwent major hepatectomy. The average AELV was 330.13 cm 3 and the average PELV was 287.67 cm 3 . The simple regression equation is AELV = 1.016 × PELV+30.39(r = 0.966; p Conclusions The MI-3DVS has advantages of simple usage and convenient hold. It is accurate in assessment of postoperative liver volume and improve safety in liver resection.