Z-Ligustilide, a major phthalide isolated from a widely used traditional Chinese medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong, possesses various pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and vasorelaxing effects. However, it is unstable and inclined to degrade in natural conditions, which limits its study and application greatly. In this study, degradation behavior of Z-ligustilide and its degradation products stored at room temperature under direct sunlight were investigated and structure elucidated by HPLC-UV, UPLC-QTOF-MS and NMR. Z-ligustilide degradation and total five degradation products were generated and detected. Two degradation products were unequivocally identified as senkyunolide I and senkyunolide H by comparison with reference compounds. Another two degradation products were further isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and structure elucidated as (E)-6, 7-trans-dihydroxyligustilide and (Z)-6, 7-epoxyligustilide by 1H and 13C NMR, respectively. The degradation pathways of Z-ligustilide were finally proposed. Oxidation, hydrolysis and isomerization are the major degradation reactions.

Objective To establish HPLC fingerprint for evaluating and controlling the quality of Gastrodia elata. Methods HPLC Analysis and similarity calculation were used for establishing fingerprint chromatogram and classifying 18 different original samples; LC-MS and pure compound comparisons were employed for the fingerprint peaks identification. Results HPLC Fingerprint chromatogram was cons- tructed with 27 fingerprint peaks, 17 of which were common fingerpring peaks and 12 main compounds were identified. According to the similarity to standardize herbal medicine, 18 samples could be classified three groups, Anhui-Henan, Shanxi-Sichuan, and Yunnan habitats. The two critical points were 0.80 and 0.58 for correlation coefficient and 0.88 and 0.73 for cosine values. Conclusion The selected fingerprint peaks are diagnostic for G. elata and the constituted HPLC fingerprint chromatogram could be used for identifying different habitats and served as a powerful tool for further quality control of G. elata.

This is to report the screening, extracting and validating antitumor components and compounds from Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data. In this work, different components from Stellera chamaejasme L. were collected by HPD macroporous resin and polyamide resin column, and their antitumor activity on A549 were tested by MTT assay. Activity results indicate that activity of components at 30-39 min is more potent than that of Stellera chamaejasme L. extract, and the activity of components at 33.97 min is equivalent to positive drug, cis-platinum at 100 microg x mL(-1), but with totally different mode of action. Under the case of discrete activity, the weight analysis is capable of screening active components and compounds from natural products.

Objective To discuss the clinical effect of music adjunctive therapy (MAT) on patients with persistent vegetative state (PVS) after brain injury. Methods One hundred and eighty-nine patients with PVS after brain injury, admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to January 2018, were divided into two groups: 93 patients in a control group underwent routine treatment, medication (nerve cell nutritional agents, arousal medicine, and vasodilator)+rehabilitation (massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy); 96 patients in a treatment group were treated by routine treatment plus MAT for 6 months. Abnormal rate of middle latency auditory evoked potential (ML-AEP) and clinical effects were compared between the two groups one, two, 4 and 6 months after treatment. Results (1) The abnormal rate of ML-AEP 4 and 6 months after treatment was significantly decreased as compared with that before treatment in both two groups (P<0.05); the abnormal rate of ML-AEP in control group 4 and 6 months after treatment (77.42％ and 65.59％) was significantly higher than that in the treatment group (55.21％ and 40.63％). (2) Total effective rate in the treatment group (91.18％) was significantly higher than that in the control group (79.57％, P<0.05). Conclusion MAT can promote the recovery of consciousness and neurological function in PVS patients after brain injury, and it is simple in operation, which is worthy of further clinical application.

Objective: : Dermoid cysts are uncommon in spinal cord tumors, and the phenomenon of their spontaneous rupture into the syrinx cavity is quite rare. We aimed to analyze the imaging characteristics and etiologies, and propose some surgical strategies, for this uncommon phenomenon. Methods: : We retrospectively reviewed 14 cases with spinal dermoid cysts that ruptured into the cervical and thoracic syrinx cavity. There were six male and eight female cases, aged 21 to 46 years, who had lipid droplets in the syrinx cavity from C1 to L3. The dermoid cysts were always located at the conus. Based on patients’ complaints, clinical manifestations, and imaging results, we adopted tumor excision and/or syrinx cavity aspiration in one stage or multiple stages. Results: : Three patients had only a syrinx cavity aspiration surgery due to a history of dermoid cyst excision. Eight patients had dermoid cyst resection and syrinx cavity aspiration in one stage. One patient was operated upon in two stages due to the development of new symptoms at nine months follow-up. Two patients underwent only tumor resection since they did not show similar symptoms or signs caused by the cervicothoracic syrinx. The axial magnetic resonance imaging indicated that the lipid droplets were always not at the center but were eccentric. The clinical effect was satisfactory during the follow-up period in this group. Conclusion : The lipid droplets filled the spinal syrinx cavity, not entirely confined to the central canal. Based on the chief complaints and associated signs, we adopted different surgical strategies and had satisfactory clinical results.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Phenotype ; Risk Factors