Based on the research goal of "traditional Chinese medicine standards lead in the international standard-setting", scientific strategies for the elaboration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) comprehensive quality standard system were introduced. TCM is a complex multi-component system which was used under the guidance of traditional Chinese medical theory. The present paper has put forward the basic principle of " deep research and simplified standard" to construct the quality standards of TCM. " Deep research" refers to systematic, thorough investigations on active constituents and biological mechanisms. On the basis of deep research, "simplified standard" means to establish a scientific and feasible standard, which should be practical and less complicated, to control the quality of Chinese herbs. Three key issues related to the elaboration of the quality standards are suggested. For reference substances, we propose the research methodology using reference extract to develop the qualitative and quantitative determination methods. Compared with that of using reference compounds, the preparation of reference extract is more accessible, economical and practical. Moreover, compared with reference crude drugs, the reference extract showed better batch-to-batch consistency. For identification, in addition to conventional methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), chemical fingerprints and characteristic chromatogram are proposed, in which more major marker compounds are monitored. And then LC-MS technique is employed to comprehensively analyze and characterize the peaks in the fingerprint. For multi-component quantification, the method of single standard to determine multi-components (SSDMC) is suggested, providing solutions for the lack of reference standards in quality evaluation. The SSDMC method uses a single reference standard to simultaneously determine the content of multiple compounds. In general, the integrate quality control standard of TCM is established based on combining innovative technology with practical applications.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective To approach therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children.Methods The therapy of seven children diagnosed as ALL complicating ARDS was analyzed, who were treated by anti-infection, methyllprednisolone, ambroxol and constant positive airway pressure (CPAP) assisted ventilation.Results Six cases were recovery and one was death. The cure rate was 85.7%. Conclusion The cure rate is high, when employing combined therapy to treat ALL complicating ARDS.

1.0 mmol/L).The clinical side effects after medication circa were compared between two groups.Results There was no significant difference in myelosuppression,liver functional lesion,gastrointestinal tract reaction and infection in 2 groups.But following the increase of MTX blood drug level,the incidence rate of skin mucosa contamination,electrocardiographic abnormality,the cardiac creatase abnormity and nervous system symptoms significantly increased.Conclusions In the course of child ALL treatment with HD-MTX+CF,the side effects are common and individual difference is obvious.Specific treatment on individuals is suggested.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):170-171

Abstract Objective:To explore homology in mage-A family and find some common epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) to oppose tumor escape.Methods:The amino acid sequence,differents open reading frame(ORF) and the known CTL epitope of themember of MAGE-A family,were analyzed using DNAstar software, and phylogenetic tree is also constructed. Results: MAGE-A family shareidentity nucleotide 57.6% - 98.0%,the phylogenetic tree showed that they are derived from a common ancestor at different time, as well asfound some CTL epitopes high similarity. Conclusion: MAGE-A family come from common an ancestor, but they bave many differences in thepattern of expression in tumor.This study can help to find the best CTL epitope vaccine to cure tumor.

Objective To predict the B cell epitopes for S protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. Methods Based on SARS coronavirus genome sequence and the analysis of the flexible regions of secondary structure for S protein, the B cell epitopes for S protein were predicted by methods of Kyte Doolittle hydrophilicity plot, Emini, and Jameson Wolf. Results The computer predicted most possible epitopes for S protein were located within or nearby its N terminal No. 91-98, 1121-1153 and 185-193. The N terminal No. 1050-1059, 752-765, 41-50, 666-674, 264-287, 340-348, 408-416, and 424-439 may be the possible B cell epitopes. Conclusion Prediction of the B cell epitopes for the S protein based on multiple parameters is helpful for the identification of B cell epitopes using experimental methods.

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for determining epichlorohydrin in the workplace air by gas chromatograph-electron capture detector (GC-ECD).

METHODSEpichlorohydrin in the workplace air was collected by activated charcoal tubes, desorbed using acetone, and analyzed by GC-ECD.

RESULTSA good linearity was obtained in the range of 1.0-50 µg/mL (r=0.999 7). The detection limit was 0.012 µg/ml, while the recovery rate was 88.1% and relative standard deviation ranged from 1.11% to 3.57%. The samples could be stored for seven days at room temperature.

CONCLUSIONThis method effectively eliminates the interferences of alkanes on determination of epichlorohydrin and improves the sensitivity by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude, which can solve the problem of detection limit above standard in GBZ/T 160.58-2004.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Charcoal ; Chromatography, Gas ; Epichlorohydrin ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the effects of dibutylphthalate (DBP) on the proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 leukemic cells and to study its mechanism to purge leukemic cells.Methods The effects of DBP on proliferation of HL-60 leukemic cells were measured by cell culture method. The effects on apoptosis were measured by the percentage of the apoptotic cells in morphology and of the DNA fragmentation and by DNA gel electrophoresis. The intracellular free Ca~(2+) concentration ([Ca~(2+)]i) of leukemic cells were measured by Fura-2AM method. The protein expressions of c-myc and bcl-2 genes of leukemic cells were measured by immunohistochemical assay.Results DBP could suppress the proliferation of HL-60 leukemic cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner and induce them to die via apoptosis.It could elicit a intracellular Ca~(2+) redistribution and a potent extracellular calcium influx. It also down-regulated the protein expressions of c-myc and bcl-2 genes of HL-60 leukemic cells.Conclusion DBP can purge (HL-60) leukemic cells in vitro by increasing [Ca~(2+)]i of cells to initiate apoptosis and down-regulating bcl-2 and c-myc proto-gene expressions to promote cell apoptosis.

Objective To study the incidence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and its impact on the clinical manifestations of patients with Parkinson' s disease (PD). Methods One hundred and twenty-four PD patients were included into this study and each of them was given the non motor symptoms questionnaire (NMSquest) to investigate the incidence of RBD. The PD patients were then divided into the RBD group and non RBD group, according to their answers to the NMSquest. Then the clinical differences were investigated between PD patients with and without RBD on the aspects of demographic characters, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, the scores of Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) sub-items, the incidence of non motor symptoms, and the dysfunctions of non motor systems (cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders ). The evaluation tools of non motor functions include Mini Mental State Exam ( MMSE), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Parkins' s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Results ( 1 ) 62.9% (78/124) of the PD patients have been experiencing RBD. (2) The course of the disease in RBD group ( 3.8 ± 2.8 ) was significantly shorter than non RBD group (5.0 ± 2.5, t = - 1. 972, P = 0. 048 ) while the sex, age, onset age and the mode of onset, Levodopa dose equivalents (LDE) and the kinds of medicines showed no difference between the two groups. (3) H-Y stage, the scores of UPDRS sub-items and the incidence of motor complications showed no difference between RBD and non RBD group. (4) Most of the non motor symptoms, including the gastrointestinal dysfunctions, autonomic dysfunctions, mood disorders and sleep disturbances, occurred much frequently in RBD group, however, the scores of MMSE, HAMD, HAMA,PDSS and ESS showed no difference between the RBD and non RBD group. Conclusion RBD commonly occurred in PD patients, and PD patients with RBD have a tendency to suffer from dysfunction of non motor systems.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of ethanol extracts from Sedum sarmentosum (ESB) on STAT-3 signaling and its probable molecular mechanism in inducing apoptosis.

METHODMTT assay was used to detect the impact of ESB on HepG2 cell proliferation. FITC-Annexin V-FITC /PI double-labeling were used to investigate the impact on hepatoma carcinoma cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to test the expression levels of cell apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9, PARP, P-STAT-3 (Tyr705) , STAT-3, Bcl-2, Mcl-1.

RESULTESB could notably inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cells, and induce HepG2 cell apoptosis, with the dose-dependent inhibitory effect. In addition, ESB could inhibit STAT-3 signaling, down-regulate Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 expressions, and induce degradation/activation of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 and PARP degradation in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONESB inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by inhibiting STAT-3 signaling and Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 expressions.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Sedum ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Time Factors

The marine biological source of mineral drugs recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version) mainly including pearl, nacre, clam shell, common oyster shell, ark shell, cuttle bone, and sea-ear shell are widely used in clinical. Calcium carbonate and a small amount of protein are the main components in this type of drugs. In this paper, a systematical and comparable study were carried out by determination of calcium carbonate by EDTA titration method, the crystal of calcium carbonate by X-Ray powder diffraction and the total amino acids (TAAs) of the hydrolyzed samples by ultraviolet spectrophotometry method. As a result, the crystal structure is calcite for common oyster shell, mixture of calcite and aragonite for nacre and sea-ear shell, aragonite for the other drugs. The content of calcium carbonate ranged from 86% to 96%. Cuttle bone has the highest amount of TAAs among the seven drugs which reached 1.7% while clam shell has the lowest content of 0.16% on average. In conclusion, an effective method was developed for the quality control of marine mineral drugs by comprehensive analysis of calcium carbonate and TAAs in the seven marine mineral drugs.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; analysis ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; X-Ray Diffraction