The quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions (TCMPs) is critical to clinical efficacy; however, evaluating their consistency and identifying sources of variability remain challenging. This study proposes an integrated strategy to assess the quality of 100 widely sold TCMPs. A "one-for-all" chromatographic method was employed to analyze 645 sample batches. This large-scale data collection enabled statistical evaluations, such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and similarity heatmap, to identify quality inconsistencies. The introduction of a TCM-specific mass spectrometry (MS) database allowed for rapid, automated annotation of chemicals across 100 prescriptions and facilitated the tracing of raw material sources. Results indicate that 19% of prescriptions exhibited chemical inconsistencies, which are associated with high market value, low pricing, and substantial price disparities. The MS database allowed rapid annotation of 761 and 673 compounds in positive and negative modes, respectively, in 100 TCMPs, with 73 prescriptions reported for the first time. The tracing efforts succeeded in identifying >40% of the raw material sources for 51 prescriptions. P93 (Yinianjin (YNJ)) is a case in which the chromatographic profiles from three manufacturers displayed inconsistencies. Analysis using the database traced divergent peaks to Rhei Radix et R hizoma (RRER). Verification with self-prepared samples confirmed that manufacturers utilized three distinct botanical sources. This integrated strategy provides a scalable framework for quality control in TCMPs.

OBJECTIVES: With the increasing detection rate of lung nodules, the qualitative problem of lung nodules has become one of the key clinical issues. This study aims to evaluate the value of combining dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI based on time-resolved imaging with interleaved stochastic trajectories-volume interpolated breath hold examination (TWIST-VIBE) with T₁ weighted free-breathing star-volumetric interpolated breath hold examination (T₁WI star-VIBE) in identifying benign and malignant lung nodules. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 79 adults with undetermined lung nodules before the operation. All nodules of patients included were classified into malignant nodules (n=58) and benign nodules (n=26) based on final diagnosis. The unenhanced T₁WI-VIBE, the contrast-enhanced T₁WI star-VIBE, and the DCE curve based on TWIST-VIBE were performed. The corresponding qualitative [wash-in time, wash-out time, time to peak (TTP), arrival time (AT), positive enhancement integral (PEI)] and quantitative parameters [volume transfer constant (Ktrans), interstitium-to-plasma rate constant (Kep), and fractional extracellular space volume (Ve)] were evaluated. Besides, the diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity and specificity) of enhanced CT and MRI were compared. RESULTS: There were significant differences in unenhanced T₁WI-VIBE hypo-intensity, and type of A, B, C DCE curve type between benign and malignant lung nodules (all P<0.001). Pulmonary malignant nodules had a shorter wash-out time than benign nodules (P=0.001), and the differences of the remaining parameters were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After T₁WI star-VIBE contrast-enhanced MRI, the image quality was further improved. Compared with enhanced CT scan, the sensitivity (82.76% vs 80.50%) and the specificity (69.23% vs 57.10%) based on MRI were higher than that of CT (both P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS T₁WI star-VIBE and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI based on TWIST-VIBE were helpful to improve the image resolution and provide more information for clinical differentiation between benign and malignant lung nodules.
Adult ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plasma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Lung

Objective To observe the expression of high mobility group A 1(HMGA1)protein in pituitary adenoma(PA)and explore its relationship with the aggressiveness and recurrence of PA .Methods The labeling index(LI)of HMGA1, detected by immunohistochemistry staining , was compared between aggressive and non-ag-gressive PA, recurrent and non-recurrent PA.Results The expression of HMGA1 were observed in all 52 cases of PA and homogenously distributed in nuclear of tumor cells .The LI of HMGA1 showed no significant difference between functioning and nonfunctioning PA (P=0.79), as well as among different immunophenotypical variants of PA(P=0.28).The expression of HMGA1 was significantly higher in the aggressive PA than in the nonaggres-sive PA(0.50 ±0.20 vs 0.24 ±0.17, P=0.000).Patients with a recurrent PA had a higher value of HMGA 1 than patients with a non-recurrent PA(0.60 ±0.20 vs 0.24 ±0.18, P=0.000).The expression of HMGA1 in-creased stepwise with the tumor size, as the highest was present in macro-sized PA(0.52 ±0.20)and the lowest was in micro-sized PA(0.18 ±0.17).A similar trend was found in Hardy's grade I(0.18 ±0.17),II(0.30 ± 0.20)and III-IV(0.50 ±0.20)(P=0.003).The area under the ROC curve was 0.918(>0.90).When the LI reached 49.2%, the predicting specificity was 90.5%and the sensitivity was 71.4%.Conclusions The LI of HMGA1 has a positive correlation with the tumor size , aggressiveness and recurrence of PA and also has a valua-ble predicting efficacy for PA recurrence .The characteristics of HMGA 1 in PA can help pathologists make repro-ducible evaluation on prognosis of PA .