Objective: In the paper, the principle of determining similarity of chromatographic fingerprints of TCM has been introduced. Methods: In the chromatographic fingerprint analysis of TCM, the whole fluctuation of the chemical composition of TCM products could be estimated by the comparison between their chromatographic fingerprints. Two methods, which determine the similarity between chromatographic fingerprints using peaks area or data points of chromatogram, have been investigated by the simulation and experiments. Results: The results both suggest that compared with the method for determining similarity using data points, the method using peaks area is more robust and its calculating results is more reliable. Conclusion: Peaks area method is more suitable for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM.

Objective To study on the diagnosis methodology of breast cancer using integrated analysis of proteomics and metabonomics approach.Methods The serum samples from the 14 breast cancer patients and 7 healthy people were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis in order, to find differential expressed proteins. On the other hand, an HPLC-based urinary metabonomics profiling was employed to pick out chemical patterns between breast cancer patients and healthy people.Results Glutathione S-transferase M5 was found highly expressed in the breast cancer patients′serum.The concentration pattern of S-Adenosylmethionine, Orotidine, 1-Methyladenosine and N2-Methylguanosine in patients′ urine were peculiarly different from that in the healthy people.Conclusion There are peculiar chemical pattern differentiae between the body fluid of breast cancer patients and the body fluid of healthy people. Synthetic study of cancer proteomics and metabonomics can contribute not only to prognosis of cancer but also to the pathogenesis of cancer.

Objective To isolate and purify high-purity neohesperidin from Fructus Aurantii extract.Methods Fructus Aurantii extract was treated by macroporous resin and extracted by n-butanol, then concentrated and some solid was precipitated.After crystallizing the precipitate three times, neohesperidin was obtained.The concentration of n-butanol extract was optimized, which was of great importance in the whole preparation.Results The yield of neohesperidin was 48.6% and purity of neohesperidin was up to 98.7% in Fructus Aurantii extract.Conclusion High-purity neohesperidin could be prepared feasibly and economically by proposed method.

Objective Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy was used to develop a fast quality assessment method by simultaneous material identification and moisture quantification of Radix Ginseng Rubra (RGR). Methods The sample was identified by the comparison of its spectrum with a standard NIR spectral library. Similarity measurement was used as the discriminating parameter. The moisture content of sample was quantified by a partial least square (PLS) calibration model, correlative spectrum calculation was used for wavelength selection and multiplicative signal correction (MSC) was applied for pretreatment in the calibration model. Primary reference data were obtained using the traditional loss on drying (LOD) method. Results The NIR library can distinguish RGR from the counterfeit successfully. The optimized eight-factor PLS calibration model of NIR spectra has a high correlation coefficient (R=(0.999 7).) Conclusion The proposed method is rapid, accurate and can be used routinely in the traditional Chinese materia medica manufacturers for quality control of raw materials.

Objective To select the optimum conditions of the vacuum belt drying process of Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza(RSM) extract.Methods The process was studied by using orthogonal test design and grading method for multi-index on the parameters of the water content of dried product and drying rate of RSM extract,the average quantity of vapour during unit time span,as the index.Results The optimum process determined by the grading method was listed as follows: water content of the extract before drying was 40%,the feeding speed was 1.5 mL/s,the belt speed was 5 cm/min.Conclusion This technology can increase the average quantity of vapour during unit time span and the drying product has high quality with lower water content and desirable drying rate.

Objective Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used as a fast analytical technique in the ethanol reflux-extraction process of red ginseng. Methods The NIR spectra of the extracting solution of red ginseng were obtained and the reference measurements of the active constituent in the extracting solution were performed by the colorimetric method. Firstly, the interference information in the spectra was detected by orthogonal signal correction (OSC) method. Then a calibration model between NIR spectra and reference measurements was established by partial least square regression. Results The results showed that the predictive accuracy of NIR calibration model used for the determination of ginsenoside in ethanol extracting process of red ginseng was good. Conclusion NIR Spectroscopy could be applied to the fast analysis for ethanol extracting processes of red ginseng.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the water extractives of regulating qi and blood prescription (WQBP) had effects on early atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (ApoE-mice) at the age of 19 weeks or not, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Forty ApoE-mice, six weeks of age, were given high-fat diet and randomly divided into four groups: high-dose WQBP-treated group (360 mg/kg), low-dose WQBP-treated group (72 mg/kg), simvastatin-treated group (25 mg/kg) and untreated group, with ten mice in each group. Meanwhile, ten C57BL/6 mice of same genetic background were allocated to normal control group. Mice in the high- and low-dose WQBP-treated groups and simvastatin-treated group were administered with corresponding drugs from the 15 to 19 weeks. Mice in the untreated and normal control groups were administered with isovolumic water. Sacrificed at 19 weeks, the level of blood-lipid, the plaque construction, plaque integral, and the contents of plaque macrophages and vessel smooth muscle cells of the mice were analyzed by immunohistochemical method and a computer picture processing system. RESULTS: Compared to the untreated group, high-dose WQBP group could obviously decrease the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Simvastatin group could decrease the levels of LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC) (P<0.01). In high-dose WQBP-treated group and simvastatin-treated group, the thickness of fiber cap and the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells increased (P<0.05), the quantities of plaque macrophages and the ratio of lipid and plaque reduced (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: WQBP and simvastatin can interfere in early atherosclerosis of ApoE-mice, attenuate and stabilize plaque in some extent. The mechanisms may include adjusting blood lipid, decreasing macrophage number and increasing the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells.

Monomer component extracted from the herb is the main effective component of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Topical administrations of monomer component of TCM has attracted more and more attention due to the convenience of administration and the concentration enrichment in lesion. The main task for the studies of topical drug delivery system is to design the methods which can promote the penetration of the drugs. Currently, the main methods used to improve the penetration of monomer component of TCM includes the synthesis of different dosage forms and the application of physical and chemical techniques to facilitate the penetration of the drugs. This review summarizes the progress in different indications and mechanisms of diverse monomer components of TCM, different dosage forms, and physicochemical techniques used to facilitate drug penetration.

Objective To investigate microbial characteristics and predisposing factors in gram-negtive bacteria blood stream infection. Methods A descriptive retrospective study was conducted. Patients diagnosed as sepsis with blood culture of G- bacilli and without sepsis were enrolled. The patients were all admitted to ICUs of Guangdong General Hospital from October, 2012 to December, 2014. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the predisposing factors for sepsis of G- bacilli. Results A total of 148 patients suffered from sepsis of G-bacilli including Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were enrolled. Single-factor analysis showed that patients with sepsis of G- bacilli infection had older ages, higher incidence of coronary heart diseases or congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases or chronic renal insufficiency, hypertension, also higher incidence of longer length of hospital stay before blood was drawn for culture, and higher incidence using of vasoactive agents and pre-admission intravenous antibiotics and lower plasma albumin level (P < 0.05). Conclusions Coronary heart disease or congestive heart failure, chronic renal insufficiency and pre-admission intravenous antibiotics were independent predisposing factors for sepsis of G-bacilli.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of blood stream infection in patients of intensive care unit (ICU).Methods Clinical data of all patients with culture-positive sepsis were collected from all ICUs of Guangdong General Hospital from October 12th, 2012 to December 1st, 2014 for retrospective study.Physiological characteristics and laboratory data were compared between patients with blood culture-positive sepsis group and patients without sepsis of control group.Logistic regression analysis was made to identify the risk factors for blood stream infection.Patients with blood culture-positive sepsis group were further divided into survivor and non-survivor groups according to the clinical outcomes.Physiological and laboratory data were compared between two groups.Logistic regression analysis was also performed to identify the risk factors for mortality.Results There were 299 patients with positive blood culture sepsis admitted in the ICUs in two years.Of them, 250 patients infected with Gram positive cocci including staphylococcus haemolyticus, staphylococcus epidermidis, staphylococcus capitis and staphylococcus aureus accounting for the majority.There were 174 patients infected with Gram negative bacilli including acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniaesubsp.pneumoniae accounting for the majority.A univariate analysis demonstrated that there were significant differences in hypertension (P =0.001), diabetes (P =0.01), coronary heart diseases and heart failure (P =0.000), chronic renal insufficiency (P =0.000), prolonged mechanical ventilation (P =0.000), pre-admission intravenous administration of antibiotics (P =0.000), and hypoalbuminemia (P =0.008) between culture positive group and control group.A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes [OR =2.158, 95％ CI (1.230, 3.787), P =0.007], chronic renal insufficiency [OR =13.410, 95％ CI (1.715, 104.879), P =0.013], pre-admission intravenous administration of antibiotics [OR =8.375, 95％ CI (5.267, 13.317), P=0.000] were independent risk factors for bloodstream infections in ICU.In patients with positive blood culture, the non-survivor group had patients with higher advance of old age, higher rate of hypertension, coronary heart diseases or congestive heart failure, tumor and chronic renal insufficiency, prolonged mechanical ventilation and higher incidence of surgery and pre-admission intravenous administration of antibiotics compared with the survivor group.The advance of old age [OR =1.023, 95％ CI (1.008-1.037), P =0.002], prolonged mechanical ventilation [OR =1.055, 95％ CI (1.024, 1.088), P =0.000] and hypoalbuminemia [OR =0.933, 95％ CI (0.898, 0.971), P =0.001] were independently associated with mortality of bloodstream infection in ICU.Conclusions Diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency and pre-admission intravenous administration of antibiotics were associated with the development of blood stream infection in ICU.The advance of old age, prolonged mechanical ventilation and hypoalbuminemia were independent risk factors for mortality in patients with culture-positive sepsis in ICU.