1.Herbal Textual Research and Modern Research Progress of Ostreae Concha
Hongyi ZHANG ; Bin WANG ; Jiawen LIU ; Yuan HU ; Lin CHEN ; Youping LIU ; Hongping CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):223-234
By consulting relevant literature of ancient herbal books and processing specifications, this paper made a systematic research and analysis of Ostreae Concha, including the name, producing area, harvesting, quality, historical evolution of processing, relevant processing specifications, modern processing technology, and changes in chemical composition and pharmacological effects before and after processing, in order to provide documentary evidence for the research on processing technology and the establishment of quality standards. According to the textual research, it is known that Ostreae Concha has a long history of being used in medicine, and there have been many aliases and local names in each historical period. Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shennong Bencaojing) began to use Muli as the correct name, which has continued to use to today, and there were also aliases such as Muge, Zuogu Muli and Haoke. Ostreae Concha has a wide range of localities and irregular harvesting periods. The ancients believed that its left shell was of superior quality, but this has not been seen in modern. And there were many kinds of processing methods of Ostreae Concha, such as grinding, roasting, calcining, frying, simmering, quenching and so on, and the calcining was still in use. The different editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia from 1963 to 2020 contain only calcined Ostreae Concha, and the local processing specifications mainly include three kinds of processed products(calcined products, salt-soaked products and vinegar-soaked products). Modern processing research mainly focuses on process optimization, changes in chemical composition and pharmacological effects, and the research methods are relatively single. Overall, there are currently issues such as inconsistent processing standards, unclear process parameters and imperfect quality standards, which are not conducive to the quality control and standardized clinical use of Ostreae Concha. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate the pharmacological substance basis of Ostreae Concha and its processed products in order to elucidate the processing mechanism, standardize the processing technology and improve the quality standard.
2.Simultaneous determination of 13 aromatic amine compounds in workplace air by high performance liquid chromatography
Weimin XIE ; Ruibo MENG ; Zuofei XIE ; Jing YUAN ; Jiaheng HE ; Jiawen HU ; Weifeng RONG
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(2):182-187
Objective To establish a liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of 13 aromatic amine compounds (AAs) in workplace air. Methods A total of 13 AAs in both vapor and aerosol phases were collected in workplace air using a new GDH-6 sampling tube. Samples were desorbed and eluted with methanol, separated using a Symmetry Shield™ RP18 reversed-phase liquid chromatography column, and detected with a diode array detector. Quantification was performed using an external standard method. Results The linear range of the 13 AAs measured by this method was 0.02-373.60 μg/L with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 0. The minimum detection concentration was 0.09-14.37 μg/m3, and the minimum quantitative concentration was 0.31-47.90 μg/m3 (both calculated based on sampling 15.0 L of air and 3.0 mL of elution volume). The average desorption and elution efficiency ranged from 97.46% to 101.23%. The within-run relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.10%-5.99%, and the between-run RSD was 0.17%-2.71%. Samples could be stably stored in sealed conditions at 2-8 ℃ for more than seven days. Conclusion This method is suitable for the simultaneous determination of 13 AAs in workplace air, including both vapor and aerosol phases.
3.Simultaneous determination of four thiol derivatives in workplace air by gas chromatography
Ruibo MENG ; Jing YUAN ; Jiawen HU ; Jiaheng HE ; Jingjing QIU ; Zuokan LIN ; Ziqun ZHANG ; Weifeng RONG ; Banghua WU
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(2):188-192
Objective To establish a method for simultaneous determination of four high-molecular-weight thiol derivatives (TDs) in workplace air by gas chromatography. Methods The four kinds of vapor-phase macromolecular TDs (1-pentanethiol, 1-hexanethiol, 1-benzyl mercaptan, and n-octanethiol) in the workplace air were collected using the GDH-1 air sampling tubes, desorbed with anhydrous ethanol, separated on a DB-FFAP capillary column, and determined by flame ionization detector. Results The quantitation range of the four TDs was 0.30-207.37 mg/L, with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 00. The minimum detection mass concentrations and minimum quantitation mass concentrations were 0.18-0.32 and 0.60-1.05 mg/m3, respectively (both calculated based on the 1.5 L sample and 3.0 mL desorption solvent). The mean desorption efficiencies ranged from 87.07% to 103.59%. The within-run and between-run relative standard deviations were 1.92%-8.22% and 1.89%-8.45%, respectively. The samples can be stored at room temperature or 4 ℃ for three days and up to 7 days at -18 ℃. Conclusion This method is suitable for the simultaneous determination of four vapor-phase TDs in workplace air.
4.Improved gas chromatographic method for biphenyl detection in workplace air
Jiaheng HE ; Weifeng RONG ; Jiawen HU ; Jing YUAN ; Anping MA ; Ruibo MENG ; Banghua WU
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(4):445-449
Objective To improve the national standardized method for determining biphenyl in workplace air, which was based on activated carbon tube sampling, carbon disulfide desorption, and gas chromatography, by developing a method using GDX-502 tubes for sampling, toluene for desorption, and gas chromatography. Methods Workplace air samples were collected using GDX-502 sampling tubes and desorbed with toluene, followed by determination with gas chromatography. Results The improved method demonstrated good linearity for biphenyl concentrations ranging from 0.33 to 330.00 mg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 9. The detection limit and lower limit of quantification were 0.06 and 0.21 mg/L, and the minimum detection concentration and minimum quantification concentration were 0.04 and 0.14 mg/m3 (based on 1.5 L air sample volume), respectively. The average desorption efficiency ranged from 96.6% to 101.1%. The within-run and between-run relative standard deviations were 0.6%-1.4% and 1.4%-3.3%, respectively, with 100.0% sampling efficiency. Samples remained stable for at least 14 days at room temperature. Conclusion The improved method for biphenyl detection demonstrates rapid and accurate performance, with the advantages of low detection limits and high sampling and desorption efficiency.
5.Effect of Liangxue Tuizi Formula (凉血退紫方) on RAF/MEK/ERK Pathway in Skin Tissue and Serum NETs Biomarkers in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Model Rats with Blood Heat Syndrome
Yingying JIANG ; Manxiang YANG ; Zhenhua YUAN ; Leying XI ; Mingyang CAI ; Diya MA ; Yifan LI ; Yuhang NIU ; Runze LIU ; Jiawen CAO ; Xilin CHEN ; Xianqing REN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2475-2483
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Liangxue Tuizi Formula (凉血退紫方, LXTZF) in treating Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) by examining its regulatory effect on neutrophil extracellular trap (NETs) dysregulation via the rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase (RAF)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy Wistar rats were randomly allocated into a blank control group (n=14) and a modeling group (n=56). Rats in the modelling group underwent an eight-week modelling period to establish HSP rat models with blood-heat syndrome via modified ovalbumin (OVA) induction method combined with oral administration of heat-property Chinese herbal medicine. Fifty successfully modeled rats were subsequently randomly divided into five groups (n=10 per group), model group, compound glycyrrhizin group, LXTZF group, RAF inhibitor group, and LXTZF + RAF agonist group. Additionally, 10 rats were selected from the original blank control group for the final experiment. From the 11th week of modelling, rats in the blank control group and the model group received 1 ml/(100 g·d) ultrapure water via oral administration, in addition to 0.5 ml/(kg·d) 0.9% sodium chloride solution via intraperitoneal injection. The LXTZF group and the compound glycyrrhizin group received 7.5 g/(kg·d) LXTZF granule suspension via gavage, 13.5 mg/(kg·d) compound glycyrrhizin suspension via gavage, respectively. The RAF inhibitor group received 1 mg/(kg·d) GW5074 suspension via intraperitoneal injection and ultrapure water via oral administration; the LXTZF + RAF agonist group received 7.5 g/(kg·d) LXTZF granule suspension via gavage and 1 mg/(kg·d) paclitaxel suspension via intraperitoneal injection. All administrations were performed once daily for 4 weeks. After intervention, skin tissue histopathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposition was assessed via immunofluorescence, serum levels of neutrophil elastase (NE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) level was determined by a colorimetric assay; the mRNA expression levels of RAF, MEK, and ERK in skin tissue were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR); and the protein expression of RAF, MEK, ERK, as well as phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), were analyzed by Western Blot. ResultsSkin tissue in the blank control group rats remained normal, whereas the model group exhibited neutrophil infiltration and haemorrhage with red blood cell rupture. In all drug intervention groups, neutrophil infiltration and haemorrhagic exudation reduced markedly, with LXTZF group demonstrating the most pronounced improvement. Compared with the blank control group, rats in the model group exhibited enhanced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue, elevated serum levels of NE, MPO, TNF-α and VCAM-1, increased mRNA expression of RAF, MEK, ERK1 and ERK2, as well as heightened RAF protein levels and p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK ratios (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the drug intervention groups exhibited reduced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue, along with decreased serum levels of NE, MPO, TNF-α, and VCAM-1 (P<0.05). In LXTZF group and RAF inhibition groups, reduced mRNA expression of RAF, MEK, ERK1, and ERK2 was observed in rat skin tissue, alongside decreased RAF protein levels and reduced p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK ratios (P<0.05). Compared with LXTZF + RAF agonist group, the compound glycyrrhizin group, LXTZF group, and RAF inhibitior group exhibited reduced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue, decreased serum NE, MPO, TNF-α, and VCAM-1 levels, and decreased MEK mRNA expression and p-MEK/MEK ratio (P<0.05). ConclusionThe potential mechanism by which LXTZF treats Henoch-Schönlein purpura with blood heat syndrome may involve blocking the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in skin tissue, and suppressing excessive formation of NETs, thereby reducing IgA deposition in dermal microvessels and attenuating systemic inflammatory responses.
6.Analyzing the monitoring results of occupational hazards in the workplace of key industries in Guangdong Province, 2020-2023
Weifeng RONG ; Zuofei XIE ; Jiaheng HE ; Jing YUAN ; Jiawen HU ; Ruibo MENG ; Banghua WU
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(1):54-59
ObjectiveTo understand the monitoring result of occupational hazard in the workplace of key industries in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2023. Methods The data of occupational hazards in the workplace of 20 key industries in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2023 were collected from the “Workplace Occupational Hazard Monitoring System” of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control System subsystem. The monitoring result of occupational hazard factors, occupational health training, occupational health examination, occupational protection, detection of occupational hazardous agents such as dust, chemical substances and noise were analyzed. Results A total of 13 058 enterprises from key industries were recruited as the monitoring subjects in Guangdong Province. There were 290 large-, 1 342 medium-, 7 635 small-, and 3 791 micro-enterprises, with small and micro-enterprises accounting for 58.5% and 29.0% of the total, respectively. A total of 7 542 enterprises exceeded the national standard in the detection of occupational hazards, with a rate of 57.8%. A total of 1 942 517 workers from 13 058 enterprises were recruited, with 835 567 workers were exposed to occupational hazards, with a rate of 43.0%. The rate of occupational health training for enterprise leaders, occupational health management personnel, and workers was 71.9%, 73.8%, and 86.5%, respectively. The abnormal rate of occupational health examinations for workers exposed to noise, dust, and chemical agents was 2.0%, 0.6%, and 1.0%, respectively. The distribution rate of dust masks, anti-poisoning masks or face masks, and noise prevention earplugs or earmuffs was 83.3%, 71.3%, and 77.8%, respectively. The rate of installation of dust prevention facilities, anti-poisoning facilities, and noise prevention facilities was 85.6%, 81.2%, and 50.1%, respectively. The rate of exceeded the national standard of dust, noise in the worksites/types and workplaces showed a decreasing trend year by year (all P<0.01), while the rate of exceeded the national standard of chemical agents in worksites/types and workplaces showed an increasing trend year by year in various occupational hazards (all P<0.01). Conclusion Occupational hazards in the workplace of key industries in Guangdong Province are relatively common. The proportion of workers exposed to occupational hazards is relatively high. It is necessary to further improve the use of noise prevention facilities and protective equipment, strengthen occupational health training for enterprises throughout the province and regularly monitor occupational hazards to reduce the risk of occupational diseases.
7.Causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization
Jiawen YUAN ; Dexiang WANG ; Yuhao HANG ; Qinyun LU ; Jian WANG ; Jun LU ; Lu CHENG
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(7):734-739
Objective:To explore the causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis based on the bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:The genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset were selected to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with thyroid dysfunction as instrumental variable (IV) for genetic variation, using hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism as exposure factor and sepsis as outcome factor. Potential causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis was analyzed using a bidirectional two-sample MR method primary analysis method of inverse-variance weighted (IVW). Potential pleiotropic analysis of SNP was performed using the MR Egger regression intercept test. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the "leave one out" test. Reverse MR method was used to prove the causal relationship.Results:The GWAS data were screened based on the three main assumptions of MR, resulting in 101 SNP strongly associated with hypothyroidism and 10 SNP strongly associated with hyperthyroidism entering the MR analysis. The results of the MR using the IVW method showed that the risk of sepsis in individuals with hypothyroidism was 2.293 times higher than those without hypothyroidism [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.293, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.199-4.382, P = 0.012]. There was no significant difference in the risk of sepsis between hyperthyroid and non-hyperthyroid populations ( OR = 1.049, 95% CI was 0.999-1.100, P = 0.560). MR Egger regression intercept test showed that the included SNP did not have pleiotropy, and the MR-PRESSO test did not find outliers. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of MR were stable. The results of the reverse MR analysis showed that the reverse causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and sepsis was not proved ( OR = 0.996, 95% CI was 0.988-1.004, P = 0.338), which further confirmed the robust MR analysis result. Conclusion:The results of the bidirectional two-sample MR analysis show that hypothyroidism can increase the risk of sepsis onset, while there is no causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and sepsis.
8.Qualitative analysis of volatile organic components in chemicals using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Ruibo MENG ; Weifeng RONG ; Jiawen HU ; Jiaheng HE ; Jing YUAN ; Jingjing QIU ; Zuokan LIN ; Ziqun ZHANG ; Banghua WU
China Occupational Medicine 2023;50(3):325-329
Objective To establish a rapid qualitative analysis method for volatile organic components in chemicals. Methods Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to qualitatively determine 19 volatile organic components, including benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and n-hexane, in chemicals. Different sample amounts, heating temperatures, heating times, and sample volumes were analyzed to assess their effects on detection results and optimize sampling conditions. Results Based on the set chromatography, the optimal sampling process of this method was as follows: 5.0 g sample in a 20.0 mL headspace bottle, incubated at 40 ℃ for 30 minutes in a constant-temperature drying incubator, and a 1.00 mL headspace gas injection. The within-run and between-run relative standard deviations of all components ranged from 0.00% to 21.05% and 0.00% to 33.33%, respectively. The samples stored in sealed glass containers were stable at room temperature for at least 60 days. Conclusion This method offers simplicity, good reproducibility, and stability, making it suitable for rapid qualitative analysis of volatile organic components in chemicals.
9.Simultaneous determination of six aniline compounds in workplace air by high performance liquid chromatography
Ruibo MENG ; Jingjing QIU ; Weifeng RONG ; Weimin XIE ; Jing YUAN ; Jiaheng HE ; Jiawen HU ; Ziqun ZHANG ; Zuokan LIN ; Fan WU ; Banghua WU
China Occupational Medicine 2023;50(4):441-446
Objective To establish a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of six aniline compounds (ADs) in workplace air. Methods GDH-1 air sampling tube was used to collect six co-existing ADs such as aniline, o-toluidine, N-methylaniline, m-methylaniline, p-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline in the vapor and aerosol of workplace air. The samples were desorbed and eluted using a methanol solution containing 1.00% ammonia water, followed by separation on a C18 chromatographic column and detection using a diode array detector. Results The quantification range of the method was 0.19 -253.50 mg/L, with the correlation coefficient of 0.999 9 for all six ADs. The minimum detection range was 0.02-0.06 mg/m3, and the minimum quantitation range was 0.04-0.19 mg/m3 [both calculated for a 15.0 L sample with a desorption (elution) solution volume of 3.00 mL]. The average desorption and elution efficiencies were 92.15%-104.41% (silica gel) and 94.29%-104.29% (filter membrane). The intra-assay relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 0.90%-9.72% (silica gel) and 0.57%-6.96% (filter membrane). The inter-assay RSD ranged from 2.03%-9.78% (silica gel) and 2.50%-8.62% (filter membrane). The samples were stable at room temperature for seven days. Conclusion This method can be used for the simultaneous determination of six ADs in workplace air.
10.Analysis of the regular monitoring of occupational hazards in Guangdong Province in 2022
Zuofei XIE ; Zuokan LIN ; Jiaheng HE ; Jing YUAN ; Jiawen HU ; Ruibo MENG ; Weifeng RONG ; Banghua WU ; Chuan WU
China Occupational Medicine 2023;50(4):466-471
Objective To analyze the overall situation of regular monitoring of occupational hazards in enterprises in Guangdong Province in 2022. Methods Analysis and quality sampling from enterprises were conducted on the occupational hazard regular monitoring reports submitted by various occupational health institutions through the Guangdong Province Occupational Health Quality Control Platform for the year 2022. Results In 2022, a total of 40 129 enterprises in Guangdong Province conducted regular monitoring of occupational hazards, accounting for 5.9%. More than 4.85 million workers were enrolled, of which more than 1.99 million workers were exposed to occupational hazards, with an incidence of 41.1%. The incidence of exposure to chemicals, dust, and noise were 18.2%, 11.9%, and 23.5%, respectively. The incidence of exceeding national standard for chemical substances, dust and noise in enterprises were 2.7%, 3.3%, and 42.7%, respectively. The incidence of exceeding national standard for all occupational hazards increased with the scale of enterprises from micro, small, medium to large enterprises (29.1% vs 46.7% vs 61.3% vs 65.4%, all P<0.05). The top three key industries, with more enterprises exceeding national standard, were metal furniture manufacturing, wooden furniture manufacturing, and other metal daily necessities manufacturing. The concentration of 97 chemical hazardous agents such as silica dust and benzene in work site exceeded the national standard, but less than 1.0% chemical hazardous agents exceeded national standard in most of the chemical-exposed work site. The incidence of noise exceeding national standard was 45.4%, while the incidence of silica dust exceeding national standard was 17.3%. Conclusion The percentage of regular monitoring of occupational hazards in enterprises in Guangdong Province is relatively low. The main occupational hazard that exceeds the national standard was noise, indicating the need for special attention on noise protection in workplace.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail