An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) combined with reference herb method was developed to rapidly screen commercial sulfur-fumigated ginseng. Sufur-fumigated ginseng reference herb was prepared using genuine ginseng by conventional procedure. Then the reference sulfur-fumigated ginseng sample was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS to identify characteristic marker components. 25-hydroxyl-Re sulfate with higher abundance was se- lected as marker compound from 8 characteristic components identified in sulfur-fumigated ginseng reference herb. The fragmentation of 25-hydroxyl-Re sulfate was extensively investigated, fragment ion m/z 879.44 with higher intensity was chosen as the characteristic ion of sulfur-fumigated ginseng. The response of ion m/z 879. 44 was improved by optimizing the MS conditions so that this ion could be used as the characteristic marker ion for screening purpose in ion extracting screening mode. The established approach was successfully applied to inspect 21 commercial ginseng samples collected from different cities in China It was found that the chemical profiles of 9 samples were similar to that of sulfur-fumigated ginseng reference herb, and the characteristic ion m/z 879. 44 of 25-hydroxyl-Re sulfate was also detected in these samples, suggesting that there were nearly 43% ginseng samples analyzed being sulfur-fumigated. This findng agreed well with the results of sulfur dioxide residues of these 21 commercial ginseng samples determined with the method documented in Chinese Pharmacopeia Compared with the method documented in Chinese Pharmacopeia, the proposed approach is more rapid and specific for screening sulfur-fumigated ginseng. SFDA of China should strengthen the enforcement to prohibit ginseng being sulfur-fumigated, so that ginseng and it preparations could be effectively and safely benefit to the health of human beings.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; standards ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Panax ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; standards ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the predictive value of sperm chromatin integrity test (SCIT) in assisted reproductive technology (ART) by analyzing the relationship of sperm chromatin integrity (SCI) with the outcomes of IVF-ET and ICSI.

METHODSSperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was performed to test SCI in 187 ART cycles, and the results were expressed as DNA fragmentation index (DFI). According to the level of DFI, the 187 cycles were allocated to a high DFI group (DFI > or = 30% ) and a low DFI group (DFI < 30%), each of which was again divided into an IVF and an ICSI subgroup. Comparisons were made between the IVF and ICSI subgroups of the high and low DFI groups in the fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo quality, and clinical pregnancy rate.

RESULTSThe clinical pregnancy rate of ICSI was significantly higher than that of IVF in the high DFI group, while the clinical outcomes showed no significant differences between the high and low DFI groups in either the IVF or the ICSI subgroup.

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA damage affects the outcome of ART, and therefore SCIT can be used as a supplementary option to standard semen analysis in choosing the method for ART.

Adult ; Chromatin ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of the combined therapy of the Chinese medicine Compound Xuanju Capsule and vitamin E on sperm chromatin damage in idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe assigned 50 infertile men with seminal abnormality to a control group (n = 26) and a trial group (n = 24) to receive vitamin E and the combined therapy of Compound Xuanju Capsule plus vitamin E, respectively, both treated for 3 months. Before and after the treatment, we detected semen routine parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation indexes (DFI) by computer aided semen analysis (CASA) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no obvious difference between the percentage of progressively motile sperm in the trial group and that in the control group (21.55 +/- 8.68 vs 21.47 +/- 11.53, P > 0.05). The trial group showed a significantly decreased sperm DFI after medication as compared with pre-medication (29.57 +/- 12.19 vs 34.09 +/- 10.32, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of Compound Xuanju Capsule and vitamin E can effectively improve seminal quality and reduce sperm chromatin damage in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

Adult ; Capsules ; Chromatin ; drug effects ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; DNA Fragmentation ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze obese children serum lipid level in order to understand the relationship between serum lipid and cardiovascular disease in obese children.Methods One hundred and fifty-three children(109 male and 44 female)aged 4-16 years old with obesity who attended the outpatient clinic of Beijing Children′s Hospital were collected.Percentage body fat (%BF),body fat (BF),fat-free mass (FFM) was estimated by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and calculate.Waist and hip circumference,waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was estimated by soft tape measure and calculate.Skinfold thickness of scapular bone below (S) and triceps muscle (T),S/T rate was estimated by skin fold meter and calculate.Serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),apolipoprotein(Apo) AI and Apo B levels were also measured.SPSS 11.0 software was used to analyzed the data.Results The cardiovascular disease related was the prevalence of high TC levels(3.3%)or high LDL-C level(6.0%) and high TG level(24.7%) was rather low.HDL-C level was reduced in 31.3% of obese children.In children over 10 years old,%BW and %BF showed a weak correlation with HDL-C(r=-0.202,-0.211).Conclusions In obese children,serum lipid as well as Apo level should be exa-mined in order to evaluate angiocardiopathy.

Objective To evaluate preliminarily the significance of dynamic detection of Wilms'tumor gene(WT1)expression level on monitoring minimal residual disease(MRD)and predicting clinical relapse in patients of malignancy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).Methods WT1 expression level WaS measured with real.time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RQ-RT-PCR)method on 102 bone marrow specimens from 31 patients following allo.HSCT.WT1 expression level was determined as the ratio of WT1 mRNA to ABL mRNA times 100%.Resuits The levels of WT1 expression showed significant difference between the relapsed group and the non-relapsed group(P＜0.01),with 0.80%and 0.17%as their median expression level respectively.After dynamic measuring WT1 expression level on patients in the relapsed group.the level was found to increase significantly as compared with those during or before the clinical hematological relapse.both being＞1.0%.The level at the time of relapse Was significantly higher than the latest previous one(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dynamic detection of WT1 expression level with RQ-RT-PCR may be of help in monitoring MRD and warning clinical relapse Oil the patients following allo-HSCT.

BACKGROUNDLiver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage acute or chronic hepatic disease. Bile duct complications are common events after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood supply of the human bile duct and identify the underlying mechanisms of bile duct complications after liver transplantation.

METHODSThe duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and blood supply of extrahepatic bile duct system were re-evaluated through selective hepatic angiography from 600 patients. In addition, 33 cadavers were injected with latex casting material into the common hepatic artery, then the extrahepatic bile duct and the branches from the common hepatic artery were carefully dissected to visualize the gastroduodenal artery and its branching to the extrahepatic bile duct.

RESULTSThe bile duct artery arose from the branch of the gastroduodenal artery in 8.1% (49/600). Of these 49 individuals, the bile duct artery was supplied by the gastroduodenal artery (61.22%, 30/49), the proper hepatic artery (14.29%, 7/49), or both the gastroduodenal artery and the proper hepatic artery (24.49%, 12/49). In our study of 33 cadavers, the percentage that the bile duct artery arose from the gastroduodenal artery was 27.27%. The blood supply to the bile extrahepatic bile ducts was divided into different segments and formed longitudinal and arterial network anastomosed on the walls of the duct.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a close relationship between the duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and the blood supplying patterns of the extrahepatic bile duct system. In liver transplant surgery, the initial part of the gastroduodenal artery is preferred to be preserved in the donor liver. It is of great significance to improve the success rate of operation and reduce complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDDespite psycho-oncological concerns and studies having thrived these past decades, sparse reports illustrate to what extent Chinese cancer patients are involved and influenced by comorbid mental health problems. To investigate the mental health condition of cancer patient, as well as its possible impacts on prognosis, the first large-scale survey was performed in the west of China.

METHODSFor standardizing and facilitating the assessment of mental illness in inpatients with cancer, a multidisciplinary rating flow was designed and established. On the basis of this system, between May 1st and 31st 2009, 2279 cancer inpatients from nine medical centers received preliminarily screening executed by oncologists using screening scales Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MHSQ), Zung self-rating depression scales (SDS), Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and posttraumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version (PCL-C). Further analyses of the ones screened positively were conducted by psychiatrists applying corresponding symptom-rating scales (HAMA/HAMD/BPRS). We summarized the overall proportion of patients with impaired mental health based on the data acquired from preliminary screening, and then calculated occurrence rates of each clinical syndrome of mental disorder according to symptom conclusions. The impact of comorbid mental illness was evaluated through the follow-up scheduled 1 year later, by comparing the survival rate, progression of disease, and quality of life (QoL) between subgroup patients with or without clinical syndrome of mental disorder.

RESULTSIn preliminary screenings, 26.1% (595/2279) yielded positive results. Further symptom conclusions confirmed 15.8% (359/2279) with clinical syndrome of mental disorder. Regarding specific type of syndrome, the occurrence rates of depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, and stress-related disorders were 13.3%, 10.2%, 2.8%, and 1.4%, respectively. Follow-up assessments were successfully performed in 1918 subjects (84.2%). Further analyses indicated that although insignificant influence was observed in terms of 1-year survival rate and disease progression, cancer patients with a clinical syndrome of mental disorder obtained significantly lower levels (P < 0.05) in five domains of QoL (scored by QLQ-C30).

CONCLUSIONIn China, at least 26% of cancer patients experienced impaired mental health, of which 60% already had a detectable clinical syndrome of mental disorder, which could significantly undermine their QoL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; Mental Health ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; psychology

AIMTo establish an HPLC-MS method for determination of octreotide in plasma and study the relative bioavailability of domestic and imported octreotide injections.

METHODSOctreotide in plasma samples were extracted with a Waters solid-phase extraction mini column. HPLC-MS was carried out using a Waters Xetrra C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of CH3 OH-1% HAc (80 : 20), the flow rate was 0.2 mL x min(-1), and the internal standard was 6, 7, 4'-OH-isoflavone, the SIR ions for quantification were m/z 1 014.4 for octreotide and m/z 317.6 for internal standard. A single dose of 200 microg of domestic or imported preparations was intramuscularly given to 18 healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. Octreotide concentration in plasma was determined by LC-MS method. The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability were studied.

RESULTSThe regressive curve was linear (r = 0.9997) within the range of 0.5 - 40 microg x L(-1) for octreotide. The pharmacokinetics parameters of domestic and imported injection were reply to one compartment model. The mean C(max) were (19 +/- 10) microg x L(-1) and (19 +/- 11) microg x L(-1), T(max) were (0.50 +/- 0.15) h and (0.52 +/- 0.20) h, T1/2 were (1.5 +/- 0.8) h and (1.5 +/- 0.8) h, AUC(0-7 h) were (50 +/- 25) h x microg x L(-1) and (50 +/- 25) h x microg x L(-1), respectively. The relative bioavailability of domestic to imported injection was 101% +/- 10%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is accurat and sensible for assay of plasma octreotide concentration. The results of statistics showed the two preparations were bioequivalent.

Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cross-Over Studies ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Octreotide ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Male

Objective To discuss the MRI features of sophorae subprostrate intoxication.Methods Four cases with sophorae subprostrate intoxication underwent conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)with a 1.5 T MR system.Results In four cases,all cerebellar dentate nuclei showed symmetric patchy hyper-intensity on T_2 weighted images and iso-intensity on diffusion-weighted images as well as hyper-intensity on ADC maps.The bilateral dorsum of the brain stem and thalamus were involved in one ease.Symmetric long T_1 and T_2 signals and high DWI signals with low ADC values in bilateral basal ganglia area were demonstrated in one case with severe symptoms.After treatment,repeated MR images in two cases showed the abnormal signals of dentate nucleus disappeared,and the lesions of basal ganglia area in one case tended to be cystie with longer T_1 and T_2 signals and low DWI signals.Conclusion It is specific for intoxication of sophorae subprostrate to affect the dentate nuclei and lentiform nuclei.MRI and DWI is helpful for the early diagnosis,differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of this disease.