Objective: To develop a convenient, direct, and highly sensitive method for screening trace chemical additives in complex Chinese patent medicines, thereby addressing core technological bottlenecks in pharmaceutical analysis and quality control. Methods: A brush ionization probe device was independently designed and constructed, and an efficient detection method was established through systematic optimization of key parameters. Twenty-three Chinese patent medicine samples, representing 6 dosage forms (capsules, tablets, pills, granules, powders, and liquid preparations), were analyzed using 10 common chemical additives as target analytes. Results: All samples were successfully analyzed without complex pretreatment, and 5 chemical additives were detected in 7 Chinese patent medicines. The brush ionization probe device exhibited cost-effectiveness (~0.2 USD per probe), operational simplicity, rapid analysis (~10s per sample), high efficiency, and minimal reagent consumption (~10 μL per sample). Conclusion: This advancement is expected to provide an innovative scientific tool for improving the generality and convenience of on-site quality control, while promoting technological progress in disciplines such as pharmacology and traditional Chinese medicine.

Accurate characterization of the chemical composition of complex traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is an essential foundation for the modern scientific interpretation of TCM principles.Mass spectrometry is the most dominant technique in current research on the material basis of TCM,offering the highest sensitivity and the richest information provision.Establishing mass spectrometry databases represents the most effective approach to facilitating the structural analysis of TCM chemical components.This paper systematically searches and reviews literature published from January 2005 to January 2025 through online databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure,PubMed,and Web of Science,using"mass spectrometry database"and"traditional Chinese medicine"as keywords.It reviews the current status of seven TCM chemical component mass spectrometry databases and seven natural product mass spectrometry databases.The key advancements of these mass spectrometry databases for natural products are summarized,detailing their characteristics,search methodologies,included information,and data sources.Additionally,challenges related to data quality,standardization,timely updates,database interaction,retrieval functionality,and data sharing and security are discussed in depth.Furthermore,the paper explores prospective development directions for TCM mass spectrometry databases,emphasizing the importance of open data sharing,technological innovation,and data security.Through this analysis,the paper aims to offer theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for the precise identification of TCM components,as well as for the construction and application of these databases.

Accurate characterization of the chemical composition of complex traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an essential foundation for the modern scientific interpretation of TCM principles. Mass spectrometry is the most dominant technique in current research on the material basis of TCM, offering the highest sensitivity and the richest information provision. Establishing mass spectrometry databases represents the most effective approach to facilitating the structural analysis of TCM chemical components. This paper systematically searches and reviews literature published from January 2005 to January 2025 through online databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and Web of Science, using “mass spectrometry database” and “traditional Chinese medicine” as keywords. It reviews the current status of seven TCM chemical component mass spectrometry databases and seven natural product mass spectrometry databases. The key advancements of these mass spectrometry databases for natural products are summarized, detailing their characteristics, search methodologies, included information, and data sources. Additionally, challenges related to data quality, standardization, timely updates, database interaction, retrieval functionality, and data sharing and security are discussed in depth. Furthermore, the paper explores prospective development directions for TCM mass spectrometry databases, emphasizing the importance of open data sharing, technological innovation, and data security. Through this analysis, the paper aims to offer theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for the precise identification of TCM components, as well as for the construction and application of these databases.

Accurate characterization of the chemical composition of complex traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is an essential foundation for the modern scientific interpretation of TCM principles.Mass spectrometry is the most dominant technique in current research on the material basis of TCM,offering the highest sensitivity and the richest information provision.Establishing mass spectrometry databases represents the most effective approach to facilitating the structural analysis of TCM chemical components.This paper systematically searches and reviews literature published from January 2005 to January 2025 through online databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure,PubMed,and Web of Science,using"mass spectrometry database"and"traditional Chinese medicine"as keywords.It reviews the current status of seven TCM chemical component mass spectrometry databases and seven natural product mass spectrometry databases.The key advancements of these mass spectrometry databases for natural products are summarized,detailing their characteristics,search methodologies,included information,and data sources.Additionally,challenges related to data quality,standardization,timely updates,database interaction,retrieval functionality,and data sharing and security are discussed in depth.Furthermore,the paper explores prospective development directions for TCM mass spectrometry databases,emphasizing the importance of open data sharing,technological innovation,and data security.Through this analysis,the paper aims to offer theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for the precise identification of TCM components,as well as for the construction and application of these databases.

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic comparative study on wild and cultivated Codonopsis pilosula（CP） from three aspects， including characters， microscopy， and contents of primary and secondary metabolites. MethodWild and cultivated CP samples were collected， their characters were measured using vernier caliper， tape measure and balance， the paraffin sections were stained with safranin-fixed green dyeing， and their microstructure were observed under the optical microscope. The content of alcohol-soluble extracts in wild and cultivated CP was determined according to the method for determination of extract under CP in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， the starch content was determined by anthrone colorimetry， the content of total polysaccharides was determined by kit method， Fiber analyzer was used to determine the content of fiber components， and ultra performance liquid chromatography（UPLC） was used to determine the content of monosaccharides， disaccharides and some secondary metabolites. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were employed to screen key differential components between wild and cultivated CP on the basis of variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1 and P<0.05. ResultIn terms of morphological characteristics， the "lion's head-like" shape， longitudinal wrinkles， and circumferential wrinkles below the root cap of wild CP were more pronounced in wild CP compared to the cultivated ones. Regarding transverse sectional features， wild CP had more fissures on the outer side of the cortex and a larger duramen. Under microscopic examination， wild CP had more stone cells， a larger proportion of xylem， and the presence of cork cells arranged in rings in the xylem， while cultivated CP has a larger proportion of phloem， smaller vessel diameters， and a more loosely arranged vascular system. In terms of primary metabolites， the contents of 45% ethanol-soluble extract and total polysaccharides in cultivated CP were significantly higher than those in the wild ones（P<0.05）， the contents of lignin， hemicellulose， cellulose， fructose and glucose in wild CP were significantly higher than those in the cultivated ones（P<0.05）， while sucrose content in the cultivated CP was significantly higher than that in the wild ones（P<0.05）. Concerning secondary metabolites， the contents of tryptophan and tangshenoside Ⅰ in cultivated CP were significantly higher than those in the wild ones（P<0.05）， whereas the contents of lobetyolinin， lobetyol and atractylenolide Ⅲ in wild CP were significantly higher than those in the cultivated ones（P<0.05）. ConclusionThere are significant differences between wild and cultivated CP in terms of morphological characteristics， microscopic features and chemical composition. Glucose， fructose， sucrose， tangshenoside Ⅰ， tryptophan and cellulose components are the key differential components between wild and cultivated CP. Wild CP contains more polyacetylenes and fructose， whereas cultivated CP has higher levels of tangshenoside Ⅰ and sucrose， with noticeably lower cellulose content. These distinctions may be related to their growth conditions， growth years and cultivation techniques. Based on the results of this study， it is recommended to increase polyacetylenes and the content ratio of fructose to sucrose as an indicators to characterize different production methods of CP， in order to guide the high-quality production of CP.

ObjectiveTo compare wild and cultivated Paeoniae Radix Rubra（PRR） in three aspects， including character， microscope， determination of primary and secondary metabolites. MethodSeventeen batches of wild and nine batches of cultivated PRR were collected，their character data were measured by vernier caliper and scales， and their paraffin sections were made by safranin-fixed green dyeing for the observation of microscopic features. The content of ethanol-soluble extracts and total tannin from wild and cultivated PRR was determined by the method of general principle 2201 and 2202 in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， the content of polysaccharides was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method. Anthrone colorimetry was used to determine the content of starch， and Van Soest method of washing fiber was used to determine the content of fiber. The contents of fructose， glucose and sucrose in wild and cultivated PRR were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography evaporative light scattering detection（UPLC-ELSD）， and the secondary metabolites（gallic acid， methyl gallate， catechin， oxypaeoniflorin， albiflorin， paeoniflorin， ellagic acid， 1，3，4，6-tetragalloylglucose， galloylpaeoniflorin， 1，2，3，4，6-O-pentagalloylglucose， naringenin， benzoylpaeoniflorin and benzoylalbiflorin） were determined by UPLC. Principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were used to analyze the data of wild and cultivated PRR， the contribution of different factors to the difference was determined according to the variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1 and P<0.05. ResultIn term of characters， wild PRR showed the traditional characteristic of Zaopi Fencha， its outer skin was loose and easy to fall off， its surface had longitudinal furrow and wrinkle， but the outer skin of cultivated PRR was not easy to fall off， and its surface was relatively smooth. The radial texture of xylem of wild PRR cross-section was more obvious， showing radial striations， vacuoles and more cracks， while the radial texture of xylem of cultivated PRR cross-section was not obvious， dense and some had cracks. Microscopically， the number of radial vessels arranged in the xylem of wild PRR was more than that of cultivated PRR， the number of calcium oxalate clusters in the phloem and xylem of wild PRR was more than that of cultivated PRR， while the number of starch grains was significantly higher in cultivated PRR. In terms of the content of primary chemical constituents， the contents of polysaccharides and starch of cultivated PRR were significantly higher than those of wild PRR（P<0.05）， while the contents of cellulose， lignin， fructose and glucose of wild PRR were significantly higher than those of cultivated PRR（P<0.05）. The results of determination of 13 secondary metabolites showed that the contents of paeoniflorin， methyl gallate， catechin and oxypaeoniflorin in wild PRR were significantly higher than those in cultivated PRR（P<0.05）， while the contents of albiflorin， gallic acid， ellagic acid， naringenin， benzoylpaeoniflorin and benzoylalbiflorin were significantly lower than those of cultivated PRR（P<0.05）. A total of 10 variables contributing to the differentiation between wild and cultivated PRR were screened， including albiflorin， cellulose， benzoylpaeoniflorin， oxypaeoniflorin， naringenin， ellagic acid， starch， lignin， paeoniflorin and total tannins. ConclusionThere are significant differences between wild and cultivated PRR in characters， microscopic characteristics， contents of primary and secondary metabolites. It is suggested that the content ratio of paeoniflorin and albiflorin， the contents of oxypaeoniflorin and cellulose can be used as indicators to characterize production methods of PRR so as to improve the quality standard of PRR. This study can provide reference for the improvement of quality standard of PRR and the guidance of high quality production of PRR.

The rapid and accurate authentication of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs)has always been a key scientific and technical problem in the field of pharmaceutical analysis.Herein,a novel heating online extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(H-oEESI-MS)was developed for the rapid and direct analysis of extremely complex substances without the requirement for any sample pretreatment or pre-separation steps.The overall molecular profile and fragment structure features of various herbal medicines could be completely captured within 10-15 s,with minimal sample(＜0.5 mg)and solvent consumption(＜20 μL for one sample).Furthermore,a rapid differentiation and authentication strategy for TCMs based on H-oEESI-MS was proposed,including metabolic profile characterization,characteristic marker screening and identification,and multivariate statistical analysis model validation.In an analysis of 52 batches of seven types of Aconitum medicinal materials,20 and 21 key compounds were screened out as the characteristic markers of raw and processed Aconitum herbal medicines,respectively,and the possible structures of all the characteristic markers were comprehensively identified based on Com-pound Discoverer databases.Finally,multivariate statistical analysis showed that all the different types of herbal medicines were well differentiated and identified(R2X＞0.87,R2Y＞0.91,and Q2＞0.72),which further verified the feasibility and reliability of this comprehensive strategy for the rapid authentication of different TCMs based on H-oEESI-MS.In summary,this rapid authentication strategy realized the ultra-high-throughput,low-cost,and standardized detection of various complex TCMs for the first time,thereby demonstrating wide applicability and value for the development of quality standards for TCMs.

On March 24, 2017, a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) characterized by bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma and pancreatic tumors was admitted to our hospital, who underwent simultaneous pancreatic body and tail tumor resection, bilateral adrenal tumor resection and Omentum transplantation of the right adrenal gland.Intraoperative hormone therapy was used. Part of the normal adrenal tissue was preserved and embedded in the omentum, but an adrenal crisis occurred on the first day after the operation.The hormone replacement was used. Postoperative hormone replacement therapy was performed for 6 months. After 4 years of follow-up, blood pressure was normal, no cortical dysfunction, no tumor recurrence or other related lesions appeared. The preserved part of adrenal tissue during simultaneous multi-organ tumor resection for such patients can reduce long-term hormone replacement after surgery and prevent late adrenal cortex dysfunction.

Objective: To observe the effects of oxymatrine(OM) on the expression and release of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) in rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR42J stimulated by hydrogen peroxide. Methods: MTT method was used to detect the effects of H₂O₂ in different concentrations on the survival of AR42J cells. AR42J cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group, H₂O₂ group and H₂O₂+ OM group. An equal volume of H₂O₂(final concentration 0.16 mmol/L) was added in H₂O₂ group and H₂O₂+ OM group, respectively, while an equal volume of triple distilled water was added in control group. In H₂O₂+ OM group, OM(final concentration 0.5 g/L)was added 0.5 h before the addition of H₂O₂, and cell samples and supernatant were collected after 24 h culture. The expression of HMGB1 protein was detected by Western blotting, the level of HMGB1 protein in cell supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the intracellular distribution of HMGB1 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: In the H₂O₂ group, the expression of HMGB1, the secretion of HMGB1 in the supernatant and the proportion of cytoplasmic HMGB1 in the total HMGB1 were significantly higher than those in the control group[1.04±0.04 vs 0.69±0.02, (4.84±0.13)μg/L vs (2.68±0.07)μg/L, (35.7±2.5)% vs (10.7±1.9)%], and all the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After OM intervention, HMGB1 protein expression, secretion and cytoplasmic proportion were [0.82±0.02, (3.97±0.10)μg/L and (27.3±1.7)%], respectively, which were obviously lower than those in the H₂O₂ group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions H₂O₂ can induce the expression and release of HMGB1 in rat pancreatic acinar cells; OM treatment could alleviate the severity of oxidative stress injuries induced by H₂O₂ in AR42J cells.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the clinical effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted agents in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. MethodsEMbase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of EGFR-targeted therapies for advanced pancreatic cancer. Eligible RCTs were screened out based on quality and related criteria, and RevMan 5.3 and STATA 12.0 were used to perform the meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 8 RCTs were included, with 2382 patients in total. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the experimental group had no increases in overall survival time (hazard ratio ［HR］=0.86, 95% confidence interval ［CI］: 0.74-1.02, P＞0.05) and objective response rate (risk ratio ［RR］=1.00, 95%CI: 0.76-1.32, P＞0.05), but had significant increases in progression-free survival time (HR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.62-0.98, P＜0.05) and disease control rate (RR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.04-1.43, P＜0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that after the source of heterogeneity was identified and the studies with high heterogeneity were excluded, the experimental group had a significant increase in overall survival time (HR=0.85, 95%CI: 0.77-0.94, P＜0.05), and the patients with rash appeared to be more sensitive to the therapies (HR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.54-0.92, P＜0.05). ConclusionFor patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, EGFR-targeted therapies can effectively prolong overall survival time and improve quality of life.