It is one of key scientific problems to identify the effective compounds in the study on new TCM. Because of the integrity of the effects of TCM, the diversity of constituents, the complexity of the targets and the unpredictability of the interaction among the components, the efficiency of the traditional efficacy substance research method is generally not high. Based on the research thought of quantitative composition-activity relationship, there are inevitable quantitative correlation between chemical compositions and its biological activity. The quantitative composition-activity relationship research is an effective method to detect the effective compounds. This article reviewed the common methods and technologies used in the quantitative composition-activity relationship research, with a purpose to provide some references for the study on basic effective components in TCM.

Objective To establish a UV spectrophotometry method and an HPLC method respectively for the determination of the total content of coumarin and contents of four main constituents of coumarin in Fraxini Cortex extract.Methods UV spectrophotometry was used for the determination of the content of total coumarin in Fraxini Cortex extract. The reference substance was Aesculin, and the maximum ultraviolet absorption wavelength was 334 nm. The HPLC method was used to determine the contents of Aesculin, Fraxin, Aesculetin and Fraxetin in Fraxini Cortex extract, using gradient elution with acetonitrile-phosphate solution (0.01%) as mobile phase on Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 chromatographic column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5μm) at room temperature.Results For the UV method, the linear range of the mass concentration of Aesculin was 5.76-23.04μg/mL (r=0.999 9), and the average recovery was 100.6% (RSD=1.8%). For the HPLC method, the linear ranges of the mass of Aesculin, Fraxin, Aesculetin and Fraxetin were 0.055 0-3.850 0μg (r=0.9997), 0.053 9-3.773 0μg (r=0.999 8), 0.060 0-0.660 0μg (r=0.999 9), and 0.056 2-0.618 2μg (r=0.999 9), respectively, and the average recoveries were 96.97% (RSD=1.26%), 100.80% (RSD=2.22%), 99.04% (RSD=2.47%), and 98.77% (RSD=1.94%), respectively.Conclusion Both of the two methods are simple, accurate and reliable, and can be used for the quality control of total coumarin and the main constituents of coumarin in Fraxini Cortex extract.

“Multi-component Chinese medicine” was derived from effective clinical prescriptions, which is similar to natural medicines, and its form is similar to the fixed-dose compounds. The adaptable indications mainly cast chronic, intractable, and complex diseases. Its research targets of pharmacology mostly are diseases, symptoms or pathological process. Vivo and vitro experiments can be used in its researches. Its dose-effect relationship mostly shows non-linear relationship, and three elements (dose, efficacy and syndrome) are involved. However, the comprehensive evaluation method is still in the exploratory stag. In the safety evaluation, there were few general pharmacological researches, and the basis of toxicity and the relationship between amount and toxicity need further study. In combined optimization aspect, including identification of components and component ratio optimization, many methods have been developed, but it still needs to be developed in theory and systemic integration. Pharmacological mechanism researches focus on the multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-pharmacodynamics aspects, combined with new ideas and new technologies, such as systems biology, network pharmacology, etc. But as multi-component medicine, it should also be studied about the correspondence and network relationships of component and target, with a purpose to explain the contribution of each component in overall mechanism.

Objective To establish a method to analyze the composition and content of monoses in the garlic polysaccharide by ion chromatography. Methods The monoses in the solution of garlic polysaccharide hydrolysised by trifluoroacetic acid were determined by amino PAC column, eluted by gradient hydroxide sodium and identified by ampere detector (AU as working electrode, Ag/AgCl as reference electrode). Results The garlic polysaccharide was mainly composed by arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose and fructose. Good resolution could be achieved among the above mentioned five kinds of monoses. Their linear correlations over the investigated concentration were above 0.998, while the average recovery rates were in the range of 95%-105%. Conclusion The ion chromatography method is fast, accurate, simple and reliable, and can be applied in the content determination and quality control of garlic polysaccharide.

Objective To settle the "bottleneck" disputes existed in the key aspect of emergency treatment care of emergency department, long delayed time of medical workers or patients, perplexity of first-aid personnel, less standard in medical records. Methods Comparison experiment was carried out with the traditional model of emergency care in contrast with the new model, besides the service attitude was improved,the awareness of responsibility was strengthened and the first-aid technique was increased. Number of nursing errors and disputes, hospitalization time, satisfaction degree of patients and record trace-ability were observed. Results The nursing errors and disputes reduced by 46%, hospitalization time re-duced by an average of (7.2±0.2) minutes, satisfaction degree of patients increased by 10.99%, leaving 1673 record traceability of care. Conclusions The application of new management processes of nursing interface in emergency department can settle the "bottleneck" disputes of key interface, make the green passage of emergency patients more convenient and is conducive to safe care, less mortality, high work effi-ciency, which proves to be a reference for fellows.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in a mouse model and to analyze the possible mechanism.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups and respectively given normal diet (ND group), high-fat diet (HFD group), HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (HFD+L) (2.2×109 CFU/ml), HFD containing FOS (HFD+FOS) (4 g/kg per day) and HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS for 16 consecutive weeks.Levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum samples from each group were measured.Expression of tight-junction proteins (Claudin-1 and Occludin), p38 and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) in intestinal tissues were analyzed.Results Compared with the HFD group, the HFD+FOS+L group showed decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL, LPS and DAO in serum samples, but increased serum HDL level (P<0.05).Moreover, combined treatment with Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS alleviated liver lipid deposition, significantly increased the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in intestine and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 (P<0.05).Conclusion Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS may increase the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin through inhibiting the phosphorylation of intestinal p38, which is conducive to maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity and alleviating NAFLD.

“Multi-component Chinese medicine” (MCC Medicine) is a new TCM concept in recent ten years. It is a new formed TCM product accepted and approved by the new mode (component compatibility of medicines) for TCM research and development, which originated from TCM research and development and TCM pharmaceutics. MCC Medicine contains massive historical accumulation of TCM and distinctive characteristics of the times, which is closely connected with the TCM theory, current trend of the TCM development, clinical treatment requirements, and the development of modern science and technology. In order to promote the development of MCC Medicine, this article reviewed its original background and future trend, with a purpose to make clear the direction for the development of MCC Medicine.

Objective To study the effects of different extraction processes on extraction rate of cortex fraxini total coumarin and active constitute percentage of major coumarin;To establish a proper extraction process.Methods Orthogonal design method was applied to set comprehensive index cortex fraxini total coumarin extraction rate as inspecting index. Water and alcohol were used as solvent respectively to optimize the extraction process of cortex fraxini.Results Optimal water extraction process:cortex fraxini decoction pieces mixed with nine times of water, decocted for three times, 90 mins each time. The pasty fluid generating rate of cortex fraxini was 28.87%, total coumarin percentage was 19.26%, extraction rate was 5.56%, total percentage of Aesculin, Aesculetin, Fraxin, Fraxetin was 13.47%, when water was used as solvent. Optimal alcohol extraction process:cortex fraxini decoction pieces mixed with eight times of 75% ethyl alcohol, refluxed twice, two hours each time. The pasty fluid generating rate of cortex fraxini was 30.47%, total coumarin percentage was 21.72%, extraction rate was 6.62%, total percentage of Aesculin, Aesculetin, Fraxin, Fraxetin was 15.29%, when alcohol was used as solvent. It was found that using alcohol as solvent had a 5.54% higher pasty fluid generating rate, a 12.77% higher total coumarion percentage, a 19.06% higher total coumarin extraction rate, and a 13.51% higher percentage of total four coumarin constitutes than using water, with statistical significance. Conclusion Extraction process by using alcohol as solvent is better than using water. So the optimal and stable extraction process of cortex fraxini total coumarin is using 75% alcohol as solvent.

Objective To investigate the effects of two cholesterol-lowering probiotics, DM9054 (Lac-tobacillus Rhamnosus GG, LGG) in combination with 86066 (Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, LP), on the metabolism of bile acid via a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the possible mecha-nism. Methods Twenty-one SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups including control group, NAFLD model group and probiotics intervention group. Rats in the control group received normal diet. The rat model of NAFLD was established by feeding rats with chronic high fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat di-et) for 20 weeks. Rats in the probiotics intervention group were given high fat diet together with cholesterol-low-ering probiotics through oral gavage. General indexes of each group including body weight and the levels of tri-glyceride, cholesterol and CK18-M30 in serums samples were detected. The expression of cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxy-lase (CYP7A1), fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), fibroblast grwoth factor 15 (FGF15) and apical sodium-dependent bile acid transparter(ASBT) at mRNA level were de-tected by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of CYP7A1, FXR in liver tissues and ASBT in ileum tissues. The expression of FXR in liver and ileum tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results Rats with NAFLD showed loss of body weight and decreased levels of the serological markers after treating with the probiotics (P<0. 05). Compared with the rats in model group, enhanced expression of CYP7A1 and inhibited expression of FXR in liver tissues, activated FXR-FGF15 pathway in ileum tissues as well as down-regulated expression of ASBT in ileum tissues were detected in rats receiving probiotics intervention (P<0. 05). No significant difference in the expression of FGFR4 at mRNA level was observed between NAFLD rats with or without probiotics intervention (P>0. 05). Conclusion Probiotics intervention might up-regulate the expression of CYP7A1 by suppressing the FXR path-way in liver tissues and inhibiting the expression of ASBT in ileum tissues. Treating NAFLD rats with cholester-ol-lowering probiotics could activate the FXR-FGF15 pathway in ileum tissues and enhance the metabolism of bile acid, which contributed to the alleviation of NAFLD.

Objective To analyze the roles and mechanisms of lactitol and Bifidobacterium infantis in the treatment of rat constipation and to investigate their effects on aquaporin3 (AQP3) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in colon tissues.Methods Thirty SD male rats were recruited in this study,6 of which were randomly selected as the control and the rest were given 4 mg/kg.d of loperamide for 5 consecutive days to construct the rat model of constipation.The rats with constipation were randomly divided into four groups including model group,lactitol treatment group,Bifidobacterium infantis treatment group and lactitol in combination with Bifidobacterium infantis treatment group.General indexes including food intake,water intake,body weight,fecal water content and intestinal transit rate of each rat were measured after receiving corresponding treatments for 7 consecutive days.The levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in serums samples were detected by ELISA.The expression of protein kinase A (PKA) and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1) at mRNA level in colon tissues were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR).Western blot assay and real-time PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of AQP3 and c-kit at protein and mRNA levels,respectively.Results Compared with the rats in model group,the levels of fecal water content and intestinal transit rate,the concentrations of SP and VIP in serums samples,the expression of PKA and NK-1 at mRNA level and the expression of AQP3 and c-kit at mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in rats from the three treatment groups (P＜0.05).The most effective treatment was lactitol in combination with Bifidobacterium infantis,followed by the lactitol treatment and then the Bifidobacterium infantis treatment.Conclusion The combination therapy with lactitol and Bifidobacterium infantis increased the serum levels of SP and VIP in rats with constipation.SP could enhance the contraction of gastrointestinal smooth muscles and improve the intestinal motility by binding to the NK-1 receptor on the membrane of ICC.VIP could promote the absorption of water in intestinal tracts,soften stools and alleviate constipation by upregulating the expression of AQP3 at both protein and mRNA levels via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-PKA (cAMP-PKA) signaling pathway.