The progress of research on the herbology, geographical distribution, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects and gene regulation of snow lotus: A review.

Bibliometric analysis of Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials in China since 2000

Three kinds of “Snowlotus” including Saussurea involucrate, Saussurea medusa and Saussurea laniceps had been prescribed as folk medicine interchangeably in Tibet and Uygur, China. To verify the feasibility of this phenomenon, a HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS method was developed in this study to determine the flavonoid compounds from three Saussurea species qualitatively and quantitatively. The LODs and LOQs ranged from 0.0263–0.1172 µg/mL and 0.0862–0.3867 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD × 100%) of the validation for the instrument precision was below 2.03%, while the RSD × 100% values for the method precision were below 5.73%, respectively. The recoveries ranged from 92.98–101.79%. These results further demonstrated that this method was precise and practical for determining flavonoid compounds from three Saussurea species. In this study, 14 kinds of constituents were simultaneously identified according to the ESI-MS data and previous studies. The contents of total flavonoids and eight components were determined with spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD methods, respectively. The results demonstrated that the total flavonoids in S. involucrate had the hightest value and there were some differences in the content of eight flavonoids. For S. involucrate, a proportion of rutin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and hispidulin were detected. For S. laniceps, Arctiin, apigenin, and arctigenin were the major flavonoid compounds. For S. medusa, seven types of compounds were detected and arctiin presented the highest value, whereas apigenlin exhibited the lowest value. This comparative study may promote the differentiation in use of three kinds of snowlotus.

Four species of Saussurea, namely S. involucrata, S. orgaadayi, S. bogedaensis, and S. dorogostaiskii, are known as the “snow lotus,” which are used as traditional medicines in China (Xinjiang), Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia (Southern Siberia). These species are threatened globally, because of illegal harvesting and climate change. Furthermore, the taxonomic classification and identification of these threatened species remain unclear owing to limited research. The misidentification of medicinal species can sometimes be harmful to health. Therefore, the phylogenetic and genomic features of these species need to be confirmed. In this study, we sequenced five complete chloroplast genomes and seven nuclear ITS regions of four snow lotus species and other Saussurea species. We further explored their genetic variety, selective pressure at the sequence level, and phylogenetic relationships using the chloroplast genome, nuclear partial DNA sequences, and morphological features. Plastome of the snow lotus species has a conserved structure and gene content similar to most Saussurea species. Two intergenic regions (ndhJ–ndhK and ndhD-psaC) show significantly high diversity among chloroplast regions. Thus, ITS and these markers are suitable for identifying snow lotus species. In addition, we characterized 43 simple sequence repeats that may be useful in future population genetic studies. Analysis of the selection signatures identified three genes (rpoA, ndhB, and ycf2) that underwent positive selection. These genes may play important roles in the adaptation of the snow lotus species to alpine environments. S. dorogostaiskii is close to S. baicalensis and exhibits slightly different adaptation from others. The taxonomic position of the snow lotus species, confirmed by morphological and molecular evidence, is as follows: (i) S. involucrata has been excluded from the Mongolian flora due to misidentification as S. orgaadayi or S. bogedaensis for a long time; (ii) S. dorogostaiskii belongs to section Pycnocephala subgenus Saussurea, whereas other the snow lotus species belong to section Amphilaena subgenus Amphilaena; and (iii) S. krasnoborovii is synonymous of S. dorogostaiskii. This study clarified the speciation and lineage diversification of the snow lotus species in Central Asia and Southern Siberia.

In spite of the high economic value of the Saussurea species in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), the potential of most of the species is yet to be investigated. Therefore, an attempt has been made to study the diversity, distribution, habitat preference, nativity, endemism, status and indigenous uses of Saussurea species in the IHR. A total of 62 species were recorded from the IHR; of these, 37 species were native to the Himalayan region, 8 were endemic and 21 were near endemic to the IHR. Twenty-seven of the 28 species that were known to have indigenous uses also had medicinal value and are used for the treatment of various diseases/ailments. Many species, e.g., S. affinis (Ganga Mula*), S. auriculata (Pachak Kut), S. bracteata (Prerak Mul), S. costus (Kuth), S. gossypiphora (Kasturi Kamal) and S. obvallata (Brahm Kamal), have multiple uses. The genus showed high habitat specificity in that 16 species were recorded to be restricted to one or two habitats only. As many as 44 species were identified as rare in the study region. Considering the high industrial demand for raw materials and the endangered status of S. costus, S. gossypiphora, S. obvallata and S. simpsoniana (Fen Kamal), these species should be prioritized for conservation (in situ and ex situ) throughout the IHR. Population assessment of the rare-endangered, native, endemic and economically important species using standard ecological methods has been suggested for the quantification of the existing stock of these species in their natural habitats. Further, phyto-chemical investigations for the identification of active ingredients are suggested. Propagation and cultivation techniques are lacking for most of the species of Saussurea except for S. costus, S. obvallata and S. medusa (Snow Lotus). Furthermore, the native communities need to be sensitized to the sustainable use and conservation value of the species in this genus. * Local names given in parentheses throughout are in the Pahari language, spoken by native communities in the Himalayan region.

Isotopic and elemental composition of selected types of Italian honey

In this work, we present a new NMR study, coupled with chemometric analysis, on nonvolatile organic honey components. The extraction method is simple and reproducible. The 1H NMR spectra of chloroform extracts acquired with a fast and new pulse sequence were used to characterize and differentiate by chemometric analysis 118 honey samples of four different botanical origins (chestnut, acacia, linden, and polyfloral). The spectra collection, processing, and analysis require only 30 min. The 1H spectrum provides a fingerprint for each honey type, showing many characteristic peaks in all spectral regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and projection to latent structures by partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were performed on selected signals of the spectra to discriminate the different botanical types and to identify characteristic metabolites for each honey type. A distinct discrimination among samples was achieved. According to the distance to model criterion, there was no overlap between the four models, which proved to be specific for each honey type. The PLS-DA model obtained has a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.67 and a validation correlation coefficient Q2 of 0.77. The discriminant analysis allowed us to classify correctly 100% of the samples. A classification index can be calculated and used to determine the floral origin of honey as an alternative to the melissopalinology test and possibly to determine the percentage of various botanical species in polyfloral samples. Preliminary data on the identification of marker compounds for each botanical origin are presented.

To evaluate the effectiveness of ultra-long protocol on reproductive and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation outcome in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) in infertile women with endometriosis versus long protocol. We retrieved articles without language restrictions in the Elsevier ScienceDirect, Embase, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platform and China Science and Technology Journal Database from inception to August 2020. RCTs including the comparison of reproductive outcome of infertile patients with endometriosis who underwent ultra-long protocol and long protocol were selected. Data extraction was conducted using RevMan 5.3. A total of nine RCTs in compliance with the standard literature were included. This meta-analysis suggested that ultra-long protocol with a 3-month downregulation could increase clinical pregnancy rate of infertile women with endometriosis (RR=1.31, 95% CI:1.11 ~ 1.55, P = 0.002) versus long protocol. However, subgroup analysis found the different protocol provided no significant difference in improving clinical outcomes in patients with different disease stage of endometriosis. The ultra-long protocol could improve the clinical pregnancy rate of infertile women with endometriosis compared with long protocol with a 3-month downregulation. And ultra-long protocol could be effective to increase the ongoing pregnancy rate compared to long-protocol. But, the efficacy of ultra-long protocol is not different between early and advanced stage of endometriosis.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU), characterized by excessive and compulsive engagement with smartphones, is significantly shaped by the family environment. Recent studies have shown that childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with increased PSU. Despite this growing recognition, comprehensive, quantitative evaluations of this connection remain scarce. The present meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing quantitative evidence on the relationship between PSU and CM. We systematically searched databases including Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Weipu for studies published up to March 1, 2025. Eligible papers were quantitative, peer-reviewed studies that allowed statistical calculation of the relationship between PSU and CM. Across 51 studies (99effect sizes), a moderate positive correlation was found between CM and PSU (r = 0.264, 95% CI[0.226, 0.301], p < 0.001). Notably, as age increases, the impact of physical and sexual abuse on individuals appears to diminish, whereas this age-related effect was not observed for other forms of maltreatment. No significant moderating effects were observed for maltreatment type, measurement tools, study design, gender, sample type (college vs. non-college), or publication type. The findings highlight the family environment's key role in PSU. Children who experience maltreatment require special attention to their smartphone usage, along with targeted interventions to address both the harms of maltreatment and excessive smartphone use.

A critical review of human internal exposure to short-chain chlorinated paraffins and its concerning health risks.

Scrub typhus is an important febrile disease in Asia, and antibiotics have been used to treat this disease. The purpose of this study was to generate large-scale evidence of the efficacy of different antibiotic regimens for treating scrub typhus using a meta-analysis. PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang (Chinese) were searched to identify relevant articles. The data from eligible citations were extracted by two reviewers. All analyses were performed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager 4.2 and Stata 10.0 software programs. We conducted a meta-analysis of 17 separate studies that evaluated the efficacy of treatment with the different antibiotic regimens for scrub typhus. The median time (h) to clearance of fever in the azithromycin-treated group was longer than that in the chloramphenicol-treated group (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 12.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26,23.06). Adverse events were 2.95 (95%CI: 1.32, 6.61) times more likely to occur in the azithromycin-treated group than in the chloramphenicol-treated group. The clearance time (days) for the main symptoms (including fever, headache, rash and lymphadenectasis) in the doxycycline-treated group was shorter than that in the chloramphenicol-treated group (WMD = -0.4, 95%CI: -0.53, -0.26) in five trials. Adverse drug events occurred significantly less frequently in the azithromycin-treated group than in the doxycycline-treated group (relative risk [RR] = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.31,0.71). Doxycycline was found to act more quickly, but more adverse drug events occur when using this regimen compared to azithromycin and chloramphenicol.

Association between acrolein exposure and respiratory hazards: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Reports of an association between enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) or fast-track surgery (FTS) and the perioperative period of acute gastrointestinal perforation are inconsistent. Therefore, we systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERAS or FTS in the perioperative of acute gastrointestinal perforation. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) or controlled clinical trial (CCT) on the application of ERAS/FTS in the perioperative management of acute gastrointestinal perforation was conducted by PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Ovid, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Wanfang Data, and WHIP. The methodology quality and data extraction were evaluated by two researchers, and meta-analysis was performed by Stata 11 software. A total of 20 RCTs and 7 CCTs were included in the study, involving 1,864 patients-917 in the ERAS/FTS group and 947 in the control group. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the stress response CRP and complication rate of the ERAS/FTS group were significantly lower than those of the traditional treatment group, the time of first out-of-bed activity and the time of postoperative first exhaust and eating were advanced, and the cost and the length of hospital stay were decreased (p < 0.05). Egger's test showed no publication bias (p > 0.1). However, only two and three studies mentioned operative time and pain management, respectively, so the meta-analysis could not be performed. The application of ERAS/FTS in perioperative management of acute gastrointestinal perforation is safe and effective.

ObjectiveOvarian cancer patients are more likely to have mental disorders than other patients. However, to our knowledge, there has been no systematic analysis of its global epidemiology. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to identify the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in ovarian cancer patients in different countries.MethodWe searched PubMed, Embase, Elsevier ScienceDirect, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and Duxiu Academic Search Platform to identify observational studies on depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in patients with ovarian cancer published up to 30 June 2024. We estimated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in ovarian cancer patients worldwide and by region, country, research period, and assessment scales.ResultsA total of 31 studies were identified involving 8315 ovarian cancer patients. The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were 35% and 37%, respectively. In China, the prevalence of suicidal ideation of ovarian cancer patients was 32%. Ovarian cancer patients in Asia had the highest prevalence of depression, while those in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) had the lowest. Additionally, the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety increased considerably worldwide after 2000 and have gradually stabilized since then.ConclusionThis study found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety was high (more than one-third) among ovarian cancer patients. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive study to address mental health problems in these patients, including the determination of incidence rates, investigation of regional differences, and assessment of comorbidities and treatment strategies.

Due to the vulnerability and exposure of agriculture, farmers' adaptive strategies to climate change are important to food security and sustainable environment development. However, a systematic review is still absent, though there are many studies about farmers' adaptations to climate change, and few studies discuss their potential impacts on climate change. This article analyses farmers' adaptation strategies and their heterogeneities across regions in China via a systemic literature review. Then we also discuss possible driving factors of these adaptations and their potential impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. We follow the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines to identify and screen publications. A total of 448 relevant records were identified from the Web of Science, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). We include peer-reviewed publications focusing on farmers engaged in crop farming in China, with survey data and specific adoption ratio analysis of adaptations to climate change. After screening, 27 articles were finally analysed. Our results show that crop variety management, rescheduling farming, increasing production inputs, increasing irrigation, and crop structure management are prevalent strategies reported in the existing literature. However, sustainable adaptations such as improving farmland's ecological environment and agronomic water-saving irrigation gain less attention. Besides, farmers in northern China adapt to climate change more actively compared to their counterparts in southern China. Moreover, some adaptations with high adoption ratios, such as increased chemical inputs, might increase greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate climate change. Our findings have important implications for food security and sustainable agricultural development.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is associated with acute and chronic complications and poses a large economic, social, and medical burden on patients and their families as well as society.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the direct economic burden of type 2 diabetes in China. Data source: systematic review on cost of illness, health care costs, direct service costs, drug costs, and health expenditures in relation to type 2 diabetes was conducted up to 2014 using databases such as Pubmed; EBSCO; Elsevier ScienceDirect, Web of Science; and a series of Chinese databases, including Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the China Science and Technology Journal Database. Factors influencing hospitalization and drug fees were also identified. Study eligibility criteria: (1) estimation of the direct economic burden including hospitalization and outpatient cost of type 2 diabetes patients in China; (2) evaluation of the factors influencing the direct economic burden. Articles only focusing on the cost-effectiveness analysis of diabetes drugs were excluded.ResultsThe direct economic burden of type 2 diabetes has increased over time in China, and in 2008, the direct medical cost reached $9.1 billion, Both outpatient and inpatient costs have increased. Income level, type of medical insurance, the level of hospital care, and type and number of complications are primary factors influencing diabetes related hospitalization costs. Compared to urban areas, the direct non-medical cost of type 2 diabetes in rural areas is significantly greater.ConclusionsThe direct economic burden of type 2 diabetes poses a significant challenge to China. To address the economic burden associated with type 2 diabetes, measures need to be taken to reduce prevalence rate and severity of diabetes and hospitalization cost.