Objective To access the diagnostic value of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS version 2)for prostate cancer (PCa) in prostate specific antigen (PSA) grey zone(4-10 ng/mL).Methods Treatment naive PCa and BPH patients with an increase of PSA 4-10 ng/mL from 2200 patients underwent prostate MRI from 2012 to 2016 were included,multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) prior biopsy or prostatectomy and clinical data were obtained,mp-MRI were retrospectively analyzed quantitatively by a radiology expert with 15 years experience in urogenital system imaging diagnosis and a doctor with 5 years experience in radiology diagnosis blind to the pathology results according to PIRADS v2,PIRADS v2 score and lesion zone were recorded respectively,in case of disagreement,dicision was made through discuss.TRUS guided biopsy or prostatectomy pathology serves as gold reference.Diagnostic value of PIRADS v2 for PSA grey zone PCa was calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,logistic regression analysis was used to access the risk factors of PCa.Results 15 PCa and 30 BPH patients were in eluded.There was no significant difference between these two groups in age,tPSA,fPSA,f/tPSA,prostate volume and PSA density.The area under ROC curve of PIRADS v2 in diagnosing PCa was 0.932[95 ％ CI 0.822-0.984],P＜0.01.Using a cutoff PIRADS＞4,the diagnosis sensitivity was 88.89 ％,specificity 87.10 ％,and positive predictive value 80 ％,negative predictive value 93.10％,respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that PIRADS v2 score was an independent risk factor for predicting PCa,with a hazard ratio 17.847[3.745-85.078],P＜0.01.There was a positive correlation between PIRADS v2score and gleason score,r=0.585,P=0.022.Conclusion PIRADS v2 has a significantly high diagnosis value in diagnosing PSA grey zone PCa and a good correlation with pathology results.

OBJECTIVETo establish a RRLC-UV method for simultaneous determination of nine phenolic acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza.

METHOD3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid was used as internal standard, and analysis was carried out on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 microm) column with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution as mobile phases in gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.3 mL x min(-1), and the UV detector was monitored at 286 nm.

RESULTAll calibration curves showed good linear regression within test ranges (r > or = 0.999 5); and the overall recoveries were in the range of 98.2%-102.6%, with RSD less than 3.1% (n = 3). The overall RSD of precision test were less than 2.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe developed method was simple, rapid, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for the quality control of S. miltiorrhiza.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of readout-segmented EPI (RS-EPI) and that of standard single-shot echo-planar imaging (SS-EPI) in patients with scrotal diseases. Methods Initial diagnosis of scrotal diseases were included in the prospective study, all patients underwent scrotum routine MRI and RS-EPI, SS-EPI sequence at 3.0 T. A total of 38 patients were recruited qualitative assessment ,and 29 patients proved by operation and pathology (malignant 21 cases and benign 8 cases) were included quantitative analysis.For qualitative comparison of image quality, two readers independently assessed the two sets of DWI, which consisted of identification of structure and geometric distortion of scrotum (epididymis,testes, lesion) using a 5-point Likert scale. For assessment of image parameters, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR),apparent diffusion coefficient value of normal testis and testis distortion ratio of anatomical(T2WI)/DWI fusion image were calculated. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with the Kappa statistics, the differences of scores of
RS-EPI and SS-EPI were compared by using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and image parameters were compared by using paired sample t test. Results There was good reader agreement in the scores, the Kappa value were 0.77, 0.74, 0.80, 0.87. The difference of identification of structure and geometric distortion on RS-EPI and SS-EPI had statistic significance, the RS-EPI was superior to SS-EPI in image quality (all P<0.05).The SNR, contrast of benign lesion for two sequences had no statistic significance(P values were 0.352, 0.124, respectively), but the difference of CNR had statistic significance(P<0.05). The SNR,contrast and CNR of malignant lesion for two sequences had statistic significance (all P<0.05). The mean size of the testis was (35.61 ± 9.78)mm, the mean distance in fusion image of RS-EPI or SS-EPI with T2WI were (3.80 ± 1.32)mm and (7.54 ± 2.62)mm, and the mean distortion ratios of the two set were (11.1 ± 0.6)% and (22.4 ± 19.2)%, respectively, the difference of two sets had statistic significance(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the ADC obtained by using either DWI method(t=0.396,P=0.796), the mean ADC values of normal testes for RS-EPI and SS-EPI, respectively, were (1.18 ± 0.06) × 10-3mm2/s, (1.24 ± 0.11) × 10-3mm2/s.Conclusion RS-EPI DWI images is a feasible technique in the scrotum for producing high-resolution DWI with reduced geometric distortion and offers potentially superior image quality compared to SS-EPI at 3.0 T.

In order to better control the quality of Flos Puerariae(FP),qualitative and quantitative analyses were initially performed by using chemical fingerprint and chemometrics methods in this study.First,the fingerprint of FP was developed by HPLC and the chemical markers were screened out by similarity analysis(SA),hierarchical clustering analysis(HCA),principal components analysis(PCA),and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA).Next,the chemical constituents in FP were profiled and identified by HPLC coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(HPLC-FT-ICR MS).Then,the characteristic constituents in FP were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC.As a result,31 common peaks were assigned in the fingerprint and 6 of them were considered as qualitative markers.A total of 35 chemical constituents were detected by HPLC-FT-ICR MS and 16 of them were unambiguously identified by comparing retention time,UV absorption wavelength,accurate mass,and MS/MS data with those of reference standards.Subsequently,the contents of glycitin,genistin,tectoridin,glycitein,genistein,and tectorigenin in 13 batches of FP were detected,ranging from 0.4438 to 11.06 mg/g,0.955 to 1.726 mg/g,9.81 to 57.22 mg/g,3.349 to 41.60 mg/g,0.3576 to 0.989 mg/g,and 2.126 to 9.99 mg/g,respectively.In conclusion,fingerprint analysis in combination with chemometrics methods could discover chemical markers for improving the quality control standard of FP.It is expected that the strategy applied in this study will be valuable for further quality control of other traditional Chinese medicines.

OBJECTIVETo study the constituents of Artemisia anomala.

METHODThe constituents were isolated by chromatographic methods, their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic evidences.

RESULTEleven flavonoids and two flavanolignans were purified and their structures were identified.

CONCLUSIONCompound 12 and 13 were isolated from the Compositae family for the first time. Compound 5 and 9 were firstly isolated from the genus Artemisia. Compounds 4, 7, 11 were isolated from A. anomala for the first time.

Artemisia ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Decoction piece is the basic unit of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions, and it is also the main material basis for clinical efficacy of TCM. The clinical efficacy of TCM decoction pieces is very important for the overall efficacy of TCM prescriptions. However, the current quality evaluation of TCM decoction pieces mainly focuses on the amount of intrinsic substances and compositions. The basic researches such as toxicology and pharmacology are deeply, but lacking with the evidences from clinical evaluation. Therefore, the current decoction pieces quality evaluation system is difficult to objectively reflect the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine, forming the only componential theory or blindly pursuing the large volume and heavy weight of medicine materials. The quality standard of Chinese decoction pieces is biased,with concerns that "TCM will die from Chinese medicine". Therefore, this paper proposes that it is urgent to clinically evaluate the TCM decoction pieces,and regard the clinical evaluation as a starting point and a foothold for the quality evaluation of TCM decoction pieces, based on the origin identification, origin evaluation, product evaluation, content evaluation, and harmful substance detection as an auxiliary support. Finally a new quality evaluation system for TCM decoction pieces with a clinical evaluation as the core is formed, which is composed of six steps, aiming to promote the quality improvement of TCM decoction pieces. Of course, because there is no mature experience in the clinical evaluation of TCM decoction pieces, the quality evaluation system has some challenges such as complex processes and high cost, but it is essential for maintaining the quality of medicinal materials and life safety. Therefore, it is of importance and urgency to construct and implement the quality evaluation system.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

This study is to establish the HPLC specific chromatogram and determine four main effective components of Lamiophlomis Herba and its counterfeit.Chlorogenic acid, forsythoside B, acteoside and luteoloside were reference substance.HPLC analysis was performed on a Waters XSelect C₁₈ column (4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm).The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.5% phosphoric acid solution (18∶82) with isocratic elution.The flow rate was 1.0 mL•min⁻¹, the detection wavelength was 332 nm and the column temperature was 30 ℃.Chemometrics software Chempattern was employed to analyze the research data.HPLC specific chromatogram of Lamiophlomis Herba from different samples were of high similarity, but the similarity of the HPLC specific chromatogram of its counterfeit were less than 0.65.Both of cluster and principal component analysis can distinguish certified products and adulterants.The HPLC specific chromatogram and contents of four effective components can be used for the quality control of Lamiophlomis Herba and its preparations.It provided scientific basis to standardize the use of the crude drug.

In order to isolate and purify the reference compounds and improve the quality standard of ethnic medicine of Radix of Cynanchum otophyllum, the ethanol extracts were isolated by column chromatography onsilica gel, C₁₈ reverse-phase silica gel, and semi-preparative HPLC. Twelve compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxyphenylethanone(1), 4,6-dihydroxy-2-methoxyphenylethanone(2), p-hydroxyacetophenone(3), baishouwubenzophenone(4), 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone(5), 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone(6), otophylloside A(7),otophylloside B(8), caudatin-3-O-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-digitoxopyranoside(9),caudatin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-digitoxopyranoside(10),qingyangshengenin-3-O-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside(11),caudatin-3-O-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside(12) on the basis of spectral analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the genus Cynanchum for the first time, and compounds 3-4, 9-12 were obtained from this plant for the first time.These compounds are main active components of Radix of C.otophyllum and can be used as reference substances for the quality control of this ethnic medicine.

Twelve compounds were isolated from alcohol extracts of the rhizome of Homalomena occulta by using various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography onsilica gel and C₁₈ reverse-phase silica gel, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analysis as 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-cadin-4-ene (1), 3-oxofabiaimbricatan (2), 3β, 4α-dihydroxy-7-epi-eudesm-11(13)-ene (3), integrifonol A(4), 1β, 6β-dihydroxy-7-epi-eudesm-11(13)-ene (5), 4β, 7β, 11-enantioeudesmantriol (6), epi-guaidiol (7), oplopanone(8), (-)-1β, 4β, 6α-trihydroxy-eudesmane (9),2α-hydroxyhomalomenol(10), (-)-T-muurolol (11) and hamalomenol A(12). Compounds 1-7 were obtained from the genus Homalomena for the first time and 11-12 were firstly reported from the species. Additionally, compounds 3, 5 and 8 displayed inhibitory effects against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 6.51, 3.25, 7.78 μmol•L⁻¹, respectively.