Following the release of the Technical Requirements on Quality Control and Standard Establishment of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Granules by the National Medical Products Administration in 2021, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission has promulgated 296 national drug standards so far, and most provinces have started the work of establishing provincial standards as supplements. The promulgation of standards fostered high-quality development of the industry. Since the implementation of national and provincial standards for more than three years, enterprises have gained deep understanding and hands-on experiences on the characteristics, technical requirements, production process, and quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formula granules. Meanwhile, challenges have emerged restricting the high-quality development of this industry, including how to formulate quality control strategies for medicinal materials and decoction pieces, how to reduce manufacturing costs, and how to improve the pass rate and product stability under high standards. Based on the work experiences from standard management and process research, this article analyzed the distribution of sources, processing methods, dry extract rate ranges, process requirements for volatile oil-containing decoction pieces, control measures of safety indices, characteristics and trends of setting characteristic chromatograms or fingerprints, characteristics and trends of setting content ranges, and main differences between national standards and provincial standards. On the one hand, this article aims to present main characteristics for deeply understanding different indicators in standards and provide basic ideas for establishing quality and process control systems. On the other hand, from the perspective of industrial practice, suggestions are put forward on the important aspects that need to be focused on in the quality and process control of TCM formula granules.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; China ; Drug Industry/standards*

Stroke is the main cause of disability in adults.With the progress of stroke diagnosis and treatment technology,the mortality rate of stroke patients has decreased significantly,but its incidence keeps increasing,and there is an increasing number of stroke survivors develop chronic neurological disorders.At present,there is no clear drug to promote functional repair after stroke.Several studies have shown that gut microbiota can improve stroke prognosis by regulating neuroactive molecules and immune cell functions,enhancing neural network plasticity,and reducing neuroinflammation.Based on a review of previous studies,this paper describes the mechanism of action of gut microbiota on neural network plasticity and neuroinflammation after stroke and its impact on functional recovery after stroke and explores its clinical value and feasibility in improving neurological dysfunction after stroke.

Objective:To monitor the changes in donor gene chimerism ratio after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with severe beta-thalassemia using third-generation sequencing, and to explore the value of this technology in monitoring the proportion of donor genes chimerism in the early stage of postoperative allo-HSCT.Methods:Case analysis. Three beta-thalassemia patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University during June-July 2022 who had undergone allo-HSCT with genotypes IVS-Ⅱ-654/CD41-42, IVS-Ⅱ-654/IVS-Ⅱ-654 and CD41-42/CD41-42 were included in this study. "Visual" analysis of the readouts of recipient DNA using third generation sequencing was used to monitor the genetic chimerism of the donor DNA and to compare with Sanger sequencing results. Post-transplantation follow-up was performed in the three patients to monitor the blood statistics and assess their implantation status and hematopoietic reconstitution.Results:The results of donor DNA chimerism status after allo-HSCT in the three patients detected by third generation sequencing were consistent with the Sanger sequencing results. The chimeric state of donor DNA gradually shifted to complete donor gene chimerism as the number of days after transplantation increased. Recipient 1 had 95.5% and 100% donor DNA chimerism at 10 and 20 d post-transplantation, respectively; recipient 2 had 100% donor DNA chimerism at 30 and 40 d post-transplantation; recipient 3 had 69.5% donor DNA chimerism at 1 d post-transplantation, and 100% donor DNA chimerism at 10 and 20 d post-transplantation. All patients achieved full donor gene chimerism within 30 d post-transplantation. Stable implantation of granulopoiesis, platelets, and erythropoiesis with hematopoietic reconstitution were obtained in all 3 patients within 1 month after transplantation.Conclusions:In this study, we developed a new method to detect the chimerism ratio of donor DNA using third-generation sequencing technology, enabling us to monitor the gene chimerism status of donor DNA at an early stage.

OBJECTIVE To analyze and identify the metabolites of isoimperatorin in normal rats in vivo. METHODS After the rats were intragastrically administered, the plasma, urine and feces samples of rats in normal and dosed groups were collected, and the samples were processed by solid phase extraction. Then, UHPLC-HRMS(Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) high- resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze biological samples, and the metabolites were screened and identified. RESULTS In both positive and negative ion modes, a total of 32 metabolites were accurately analyzed and identified based on the precise molecular masses obtained, chromatographic retention behavior, control mass spectral cleavage patterns, characteristic fragment ions, and relevant literature reports. The main metabolic pathways were furan ring opening, lactone hydrolysis, oxidation, methylation, glucuronidation, sulfation and their complex reactions. Among them, the glucuronidation product was discovered for the first time. CONCLUSION This study comprehensively clarifies the transformation pathways of isoimperatorin in rats, which can provide a basis for its pharmacodynamic study and metabolism study analysis of the other furocoumarins.

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between processing time, chroma value and UPLC fingerprint map of Dipsaci Radix. METHODS Established the UPLC fingerprint of Dipsaci Radix. Monitored the changes of chemical components in the processing process of wine and salt processed Dipsaci Radix, spectrophotometer was used to objectively quantify the chroma value of different processed products. SPSS 20.0 and SIMCA 14.0 statistical software was used to analyze the correlation between processing time and chroma value and fingerprint. RESULTS In the process of processing, the decoction pieces color of the powder deepened and L*, b* and E* values decreased. The correlation analysis showed that the processing time was significantly correlated with the chroma value and fingerprint of decoction pieces. CONCLUSION The method of UPLC fingerprint is stabled and reliabled, combines with the objective discriminant analysis of the chroma value of the Dipsaci Radix processed products, which lay the foundation for standardizing the processing technology of wine and salt processed products and evaluating the quality of Dipsaci Radix.

Background: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), the causative agent of classical swine fever (CFS), is a highly contagious disease that poses a serious threat to Chinese pig populations. Objectives: Many provinces of China, such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, and Liaoning provinces, have reported epidemics of CSFV, while the references to the epidemic of CSFV in Yunnan province are rare. This study examined the epidemic characteristics of the CSFV in Yunnan province. Methods: In this study, 326 tissue samples were collected from different regions in Yunnan province from 2015 to 2021. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), sequences analysis, and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the pathogenic detection and analysis of these 326 clinical specimens. Results: Approximately 3.37% (11/326) of specimens tested positive for the CSFV by RTPCR, which is lower than that of other regions of China. Sequence analysis of the partial E2 sequences of eleven CSFV strains showed that they shared 89.0–100.0% nucleotide (nt) and 95.0–100.0% amino acid (aa) homology, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these novel isolates belonged to the subgenotypes 2.1c and 2.1d, with subgenotype 2.1c being predominant. Conclusions The CSFV was sporadic in China’s Yunnan province from 2015 to 2021. Both 2.1c and 2.1d subgenotypes were found in this region, but 2.1c was dominant.

Localized peripheral neuropathy amyloidosis is a rare disease that mainly occurred in elder people who present with focal neurological symptoms. AL is the main type of amyloid protein. Biopsy is the golden standard for diagnosis. Mass spectrometry and immunohistochemical analysis help to confirm the type of amyloid protein. This paper retrospectively analyzes the clinical and imaging data, auxiliary examinations, histological, and immunohistochemical markers. The patient, a 34-year-old woman, presented with a right neck mass and weakness of the right arm. Brachial plexus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tumor-like lesion in the nerve root at C5 and C6 and in upper trunk. Electrophysiological studies revealed damage in the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Positive staining with Congo red was found in brachial plexus biopsy. Mass spectrometry showed that the type of amyloid protein was AHL(G-λ). The patient underwent nerve graft for treatment. Meanwhile, literature review revealed that the average onset age of localized spinal nerve amyloidosis was 62.4 years old.The radial nerve was the most susceptible, followed by the lumbosacral plexus. Fifty percent of the type of amyloid protein is AL.Until now, no consolidated treatment is available. Here, we summarize the clinical characteristics of localized peripheral neuropathy amyloidosis in order to raise the awareness of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for fetal sex chromosome anomalies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 20 802 women undergoing NIPS screening. For 165 cases suspected for fetal sex chromosomal anomalies, the results of invasive prenatal diagnosis were obtained. RESULTS: Among the 165 cases suspected for fetal sex chromosome anomalies, 129 have accepted invasive prenatal diagnosis, and 45 were confirmed, which yielded a positive predictive value of 34.88%. These included 16 cases of 47,XYY, 10 cases of 47,XXY, 6 cases of 45,X/46,XX, 5 cases of 47,XXX, 3 cases of 45,X, 1 case of 45,X/46,X,i(X)(q10), 1 case of 45,X/46,X,del(X)(q22), 1 case of 46,X,del(X)(q22), 1 case of 46,X,del(X)(p11) and 1 case of Xp22.31 1.2 Mb deletion. CONCLUSION NIPS has limited value for detecting fetal sex chromosome anomalies. Karyotyping analysis combined with other diagnostic techniques can offer effective prenatal diagnosis for suspected cases.
Aneuploidy ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Chromosomes/genetics* ; Trisomy

A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the etiologic agent for the COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, effective treatment options remain very limited for this disease; therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new anti-COVID-19 agents. In this study, we screened over 6,000 compounds that included approved drugs, drug candidates in clinical trials, and pharmacologically active compounds to identify leads that target the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro). Together with main protease (M
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Binding Sites ; COVID-19/virology* ; Coronavirus Papain-Like Proteases/metabolism* ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Repositioning ; High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods* ; Humans ; Imidazoles/therapeutic use* ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Naphthoquinones/therapeutic use* ; Protease Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification* ; SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification*

Objective:To investigate the pathological characteristics and the clinical significance of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (termed by WHO as coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19).Methods:Minimally invasive autopsies from lung, heart, kidney, spleen, bone marrow, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, thyroid and skin were performed on three patients died of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Chongqing, China. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE), transmission electron microcopy, and histochemical staining were performed to investigate the pathological changes of indicated organs or tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells as well as the expression of 2019-nCoV proteins. Real time PCR was carried out to detect the RNA of 2019-nCoV.Results:Various damages were observed in the alveolar structure, with minor serous exudation and fibrin exudation. Hyaline membrane formation was observed in some alveoli. The infiltrated immune cells in alveoli were majorly macrophages and monocytes. Moderate multinucleated giant cells, minimal lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils were also observed. Most of infiltrated lymphocytes were CD4-positive T cells. Significant proliferation of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia and focal desquamation of alveolar epithelia were also indicated. The blood vessels of alveolar septum were congested, edematous and widened, with modest infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes. Hyaline thrombi were found in a minority of microvessels. Focal hemorrhage in lung tissue, organization of exudates in some alveolar cavities, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were observed. Part of the bronchial epithelia were exfoliated. Coronavirus particles in bronchial mucosal epithelia and type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia were observed under electron microscope. Immunohistochemical staining showed that part of the alveolar epithelia and macrophages were positive for 2019-nCoV antigen. Real time PCR analyses identified positive signals for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. Decreased numbers of lymphocyte, cell degeneration and necrosis were observed in spleen. Furthermore, degeneration and necrosis of parenchymal cells, formation of hyaline thrombus in small vessels, and pathological changes of chronic diseases were observed in other organs and tissues, while no evidence of coronavirus infection was observed in these organs.Conclusions:The lungs from novel coronavirus pneumonia patients manifest significant pathological lesions, including the alveolar exudative inflammation and interstitial inflammation, alveolar epithelium proliferation and hyaline membrane formation. While the 2019-nCoV is mainly distributed in lung, the infection also involves in the damages of heart, vessels, liver, kidney and other organs. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism underlying pathological changes of this disease.