The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is the core issue to ensure the modernization,industrialization and internationalization of TCM.Compared with other detection methods,electrochemical analysis method has many advantages such as high sensitivity,fast detection speed and low cost,making it an important means of quality control for TCM and having broad development prospects.This article reviewed the research progress of electrochemical methods in quality control of TCM in recent years,discussed the application of electrochemical fingerprinting technique in identification of TCM,and comprehensively summarized the application of electrochemical technology in analyzing effective components and harmful substances in TCM,including flavonoids,alkaloids,quinones,glycosides,heavy metals and pesticide residues.Finally,the development prospects of electrochemical methods in the field of quality control of TCM were discussed.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the carrier rate, genotype and phenotype of α-thalassemia fusion gene in Huadu district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China, and provide data reference for the prevention and control of thalassemia. METHODS: A total of 10 769 samples who were screened for thalassemia in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Huadu District from July 2019 to November 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Blood cell analysis and hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis were performed. Thalassemia genes were analyzed by gap-PCR and PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization (PCR-RDB). RESULTS: A total of 9 cases with α-thalassemia fusion gene were detected in 10 769 samples (0.08%). There were 7 cases with fusion gene heterozygote, 1 case with compound of α-thalassemia fusion gene and Hb G-Honolulu, 1 case with compound of α-thalassemia fusion gene and Hb QS. The MCV results of 4 samples of blood cell analysis were within the reference range, the Hb A2 value of 1 case was decreased, and there were no other abnormalities found. CONCLUSION The α-thalassemia fusion gene is common in Huadu district of Guangzhou, and heterozygotes are more common, and current screening methods easily lead to misdiagnosis.
Humans ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Heterozygote ; China ; Mutation

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Senescence is an inevitable natural life process that involves structural and functional degeneration of tissues and organs. Recently, the process of skin aging has attracted much attention. Determining a means to delay or even reverse skin aging has become a research hotspot in medical cosmetology and anti-aging. Dysfunction in the epidermis and fibroblasts and changes in the composition and content of the extracellular matrix are common pathophysiological manifestations of skin aging. Reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinases play essential roles in this process. Stem cells are pluripotent cells that possess self-replication abilities and can differentiate into multiple functional cells under certain conditions. These cells also possess a strong ability to facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. Stem cell transplantation has the potential for application in anti-aging therapy. Increasing studies have demonstrated that stem cells perform functions through paracrine processes, particularly those involving exosomes. Exosomes are nano-vesicular substances secreted by stem cells that participate in cell-to-cell communication by transporting their contents into target cells. In this chapter, the biological characteristics of exosomes were reviewed, including their effects on extracellular matrix formation, epidermal cell function, fibroblast function and antioxidation. Exosomes derived from stem cells may provide a new means to reverse skin aging.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of monoammonium glycyrrhizinate on the stem cell-like characteristics, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells NB4. METHODS: CCK-8 method was used to detect the viability of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells NB4, and the appropriate dose was screened; Cloning method was used to detect the proliferation rate of NB4 cell; Western blot was used to detect the expression of cell cycle-related protein; flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and sort NB4 stem cells positive (CD133⁺); Stem cell markers (Oct4, ABCG2, Dclk1) were detected by RT-PCR; ROS was detected by fluorescence; The kit was used to detect the level of oxidative stress markers (MDA); The flow cytometry was used to detect the change of mitochondrial membrane potential; Western blot was used to detect the expression of mitochondrial damage index-related proteins (Bax/BCL-2). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, if the concentration of MAG was less than 5 μmol/L, the cell NB4 viability showed no significant difference; if the concentration was higher than 5 μmol/L, the inhibitory effect on the growth of cell NB4 increased and showed significant difference (P<0.05), according to the results of CCK-8 experiment, four groups were set based on the concentration of MAG 0 μmol/L, MAG 5 μmol/L, MAG 10 μmol/L, and MAG 20 μmol/L; compared with the control group (MAG 0 μmol/L), the cells in MAG 5 μmol/L group showed no significant difference, while the proliferation rate, cyclin expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, stem cell CD133⁺ ratio, and marker mRNA level ( Oct4, ABCG2, Dclk1) of NB4 cell were significantly reduced (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species, MDA content and Bax/BCL-2 expression of NB4 cell significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate has a significant inhibitory effect on acute promyelocytic leukemia cells NB4, which may be related to the regulation of stem cell-like characteristics, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doublecortin-Like Kinases ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Mitochondria ; Oxidative Stress ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of magnetic resonance imaging water-fat separation (Dixon) technique in patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: A total of 41 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who underwent Dixon in The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from April 2019 to April 2021 were included in this study. Patients were divided into observation group and control group according to whether Dixon performance was normal or not. The differences of clinical data and fat fraction (FF) between the two groups were compared. The correlation between FF and clinical data, disease stages and differences before and after treatment were also compared. The receiver operator characteristic curve of patients was drawn to analyze the diagnostic value of FF combined with serum alkaline phosphatase for bone destruction in patients with multiple myeloma. RESULTS: Among the 41 patients, there were 12 cases in the control group and 29 cases in the observation group. There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups. In the observation group, β2-microglobulin concentration and M protein were significantly higher than those in the control group, while serum alkaline phosphatase and FF were lower (P<0.05). In all 41 patients included in the study, there was a significant negative correlation between FF value and β2-microglobulin concentration (r=-0.57), and a significant positive correlation between FF value and serum alkaline phosphatase (r=0.31). After treatment, FF value increased, while myeloma cell percentage, β2-microglobulin concentration and M protein decreased in 11 patients who completed 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and the differences before and after treatment were statistically significant (P<0.05). The value of serum alkaline phosphatase combined with FF value in predicting bone destruction is higher than that of FF value or serum alkaline phosphatase alone. CONCLUSION Dixon's different imaging manifestations can reflect the severity of the disease. FF value is correlated with clinical examination results and R-ISS staging, and there is a significant difference before and after treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase combined with FF value is better than two indicators alone in predicting bone destruction.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple Myeloma/diagnostic imaging* ; Technology ; Water

An UPLC-MS/MS method was developed to simultaneously determine complanatoside A and complanatoside B in rat plasma with rutin as the internal standard and applied to examine the effect of salt-processing on pharmacokinetics of these two flavonoid glycosides. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using DAS 3.2.6 and subjected to independent sample t-test with SPSS 23.0. No significant difference in T_(max) of complanatoside B was observed between the raw and processed groups; however, in the processed group, C_(max) and AUC_(0-12 h) of complanatoside B increased obviously(P<0.05), while MRT_(0-12 h) decreased from(3.34±0.44) h to(1.81±0.36) h(P<0.05). C_(max) [(14.72±11.13) μg·L~(-1)] and MRT_(0-24) [(3.93±0.26) h] of complanatoside A in the raw group were statistically different from those [(35.64±21.99) μg·L~(-1),(1.43±0.24) h] in the processed group(P<0.05). As a result, salt-processing can facilitate the in vivo adsorption and accelerate the excretion of complanatoside A and complanatoside B.
Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Glycosides ; Rats ; Semen ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective::To study on the content change and transformation rule of eight main characteristic components in stir-frying process of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Method::The contents of liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, isoliquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were determined simultaneously by HPLC. The chromatographic conditions were Waters Symmetry® C₁₈ column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), and the mobile phase of acetonitrile (A)-0.05%phosphoric acid solution (B) for gradient elution (0-9 min, 19%-25%A; 9-18 min, 25%-34%A; 18-38 min, 34%-51%A; 38-58 min, 51%-89%A), the flow rate of 1 mL·min^-1, the detection wavelengths at 320 nm (0-16 min), 276 nm (16-25 min), 370 nm (25-28 min), 254 nm (28-58 min), the injection volume of 10 μL and the column temperature at 30 ℃. Result::After stir-frying, the total content of three components with dihydroflavone as mother nucleus was decreased, while the total content of three components with chalcone as mother nucleus showed an upward trend, the content change of glycyrrhizic acid was not obvious, but glycyrrhetinic acid content showed a slight upward trend. When the monomer heating temperature reached 130 ℃, dihydroflavones and chalcones could be isomerized with each other, and with the increase of temperature, the isomerization became more obvious. When the heating temperature rose to 180 ℃ (isoliquiritin apioside was 130 ℃), in addition to the isomerization, the glucosidic bond of flavonoid glycosides began to break and gradually transformed into the corresponding secondary glycosides or aglycones. Glucosidic bond of glycyrrhizic acid could also be broken to form glycyrrhetinic acid, which was detected at 150 ℃. Conclusion::The change of chemical composition is complex during stir-frying process of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, in addition to the isomerization and glucosidic bonds breaking observed in this experiment, there may be other complex reactions. The content of one compound in the herb is affected by many factors during its processing, such as the time and temperature of frying, the stability of the compound itself and so on.