Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; therapy ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Rituximab

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the infection following the lymphocytes deleted agent (ATG) and IL-2 receptor antagonists (Basilixinab and Daclizumab)-based induction therapy after renal trausplantation.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 701 kidney transplant recipients between Jan. 1,2005 to Dec.31,2010.According to exclusive and inclusive criteria,finally 549 patients were evaluated,including 429 patients treated with ATG (ATG group) and 120 patients with anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies (monoclonal antibodies group; 86 patients with Basiliximab,and 34 patients with Daclizumab).The incidence of acute rejection,infection rate,infection time,hospital stay,severe infection rate and mortality were analyzed.After operation,the patients received an immunosuppression therapy including Tacrolimus (cyclosporine A),Mycophenolate-Mofetil and prednisone to present rejection. Part of the patients were treated with ganciclovir and sulfamethoxazole sulfadiazine and trimethoprim for infection prevention.Results The acute rejection rate in ATG group and monoclonal antibodies group was 15.9％ (68/429) and 10.0％ (12/120),and there was no statistically significant difference (P＞0.05).The infection rate in ATG group was 11.9％ (51/429),including 13.7％ (7/51) with severe infection,and mortality was 7.8％(4/51).The infection rate was 15.0％ (18/120) in monoclonal antibodies group,including 11.1％ (2/18) with severe infection,and mortality was 5.6％ (1/18).There was no statistically significnat difference in infection rate,severe infection rate and mortality between two groups (P＞0.05).The hospital stay in ATG group and monoclonal antibodies group was 25.8 days and 19.1 days respectively (P＜0.05).Dead cases had not received regular anti-infection treatment,and the patients age was over 50 years.Conclusion The infection risk and mortality between these two induction therapies are identical,but hn comparison to the patients using ATG,the infection of patients using anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies is easier to control.Anti-infection prophylaxis is important to reduce infection rate and decrease infectious mortality.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality of Schisandra chinensis, and thus provide the useful reference data for its quality standard establishment and standardized cultivation.

METHODBase on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literature relating to S. chinensis, the appearance, water-soluble extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and volatile oil of 10 S. chinensis sampes collected from different producing sites in northeast China were studied or determined, and the contents of major active lingans were measured by HPLC.

RESULTThe content of total ash and acid-insoluble ash in S. chinensis was less than 7.0%, 1.0%, respectively. The contents of water-soluble extractive were higher than 45.0%. HPLC analyses showed that the content of schisandrol A was higher than 0.40%. All these results in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia were published in 2010.

CONCLUSIONThe differences of the appearance and the internal quality are different for the samples collected from different areas. And the establishment of a scientific and comprehensive quality standard system will be very important role in ensuring the quality of S. chinensis.

China ; Cyclooctanes ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Lignans ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVEAn UPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality of Paeoniae Radix by simultaneously determining four components, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol in Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces.

METHODThe UPLC chromatographic column was ACQUITY UPLC® HSS T3. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid water with gradient elution. The column temperature was 30 °C and detection wavelength was 230 nm with a flow rate of 0.4 mL · min(-1). A linear model was obtained through principal component analysis (PCA), and PCA scores were used to evaluate the quality of Radix Paeoniae Alba decoction pieces comprehensively.

RESULTPaeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol could be well separated from other components, and the results of specificity, precision, repeatability, linearity, recovery rate and stability reached the standards, respectively. The content of paeoniflorin in 9 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces was below the standard given by Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). Using the comprehensive scoring method with principal component analysis, the results showed that the samples from Zhejiang province have better quality than those from Anhui and Shandong provinces.

CONCLUSIONThe method established in this study can effectively determine the content of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol, which could be used for quality control of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis

After studying the discipline of chemical components distribution in peony root, it was found that the content distribution of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol was inhomogeneous in different parts of peony root, as same as in different roots belonging to a same plant. Therefore, in order to minimize the effects of different qualities of materials on experimental result, the content changing percentages of four chemical components was chosen as indicators to study processing method of Paeoniae Radix Alba. The processing technique of Paeoniae Radix Alba was put peony roots in the boiled water for at most ten minutes, and cut them into 2-3 mm slices after peeling the root bark, finally dry them in a oven under 55 degrees C, which was similar to the traditional processing method used in Bozhou. And the peeling, boiling and drying methods would affect the contents of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol on several levels.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

A new flavonoid glycoside, (-)-2S-8-methyl-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with five known ones, quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-α-L-arabinoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-arabinoside (3), guaijaverin (4), trifolin (5) and hyperin (6), was isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus robusta. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD spectra data and physicochemical methods. In addition, 2-6 were isolated from E. robusta for the first time.
Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo optimize formulas of Quban gel.

METHODThe U6 (6(2) x 3) uniform design was adopted to optimize gel formulas, with rheological parameters, such as viscosity and yield value in room temperature, viscosity and yield value in average temperature of skin, thixlotropy.

RESULTThe optimum proportion of matrix was made of 1.0 g carbomer 940, 5 mL glycerin and pH value 5-6.

CONCLUSIONThe regression model for gel matrix quality and gel rheological parameters was established to directly reflect the impacting effect of various factors, and provide certain preference basis for the screening of gel matrix formulas. Quban gel prepared by the method was evenly distributed, moderately viscous and highly thixotropic

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gels ; Quality Control ; Regression Analysis ; Viscosity

To ensure the stability of chemistry components and the convenience of operation, ultrasound method was chosen to study in this investigation. As the total common peaks area in chromatograms was set to be evaluation index, the influence on the technology caused by extraction time, ethanol concentration and liquid-to-solid ratio was studied by using single factor methodology, and the extraction technology of Paeoniae Radix Alba was optimized by using response surface methodology. The results showed that the extracting results were most affected by ethanol concentration; liquid-to-solid ratio came the second and extraction time thirdly. The optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were as follow: the ultrasonic extraction time was 20.06 min, the ethanol concentration in solvent was 72.04%, and the liquid-to-solid ratio was 53.38 mL · g(-1), the predicted value of total common peaks area was 2.1608 x 10(8). Under the extraction conditions after optimization, the total common peaks area was 2.1422 x 10(8), and the relative deviation between the measured and predicted value was 0.86%, so the optimized extraction technology for Paeoniae Radix Alba is suitable and feasible. Besides, for the purpose of extracting more sufficiently and completely, the optimized extraction technology had more advantages than the extraction method recorded in the monogragh of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which will come true the assessment and utilization comprehensively.
Paeonia ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of integrative medical therapy on the prognosis of patients suffering from yin syndrome type acute ischemic stroke (YS-AIS).

METHODSA multi-center, prospective, random and parallel controlled clinical trial was carried on 606 patients of YS-AIS. Excepting the 15 patients being excluded and dropped out in the trial period, all patients were assigned to the treatment group (274 patients) treated with integrated medical protocol (i. e. Chinese medical therapy plus conventional Western medical treatment), and the control group (263 patients) treated with conventional Western medical treatment plus placebo. Patients' quality of life (QOL) and their disability level were assessed by scoring based on SS-QOL and modified Rankin scale (mRS) respectively at the terminal of the 21-day treatment (T1) and at the ends of 60-day (T2) and 90-day (T3) following-ups.

RESULTSPatients' disability level, showed by mRS scores, was not significantly different between the two groups at T1 and T2 (P > 0.05), but with significant difference at T3 (P < 0.05). The recovery in the treatment group were more significant. Although the SS-QOL scores showed no statistical significant difference between groups (P > 0.05), improvement of QOL could be seen in the treatment group and the difference between groups was more significant as the time went by.

CONCLUSIONIntegrative medical therapy could reduce the severe disability rate in patients after YS-AIS, and showed an improving trend on patients' QOL at T3.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; therapy