"Six-step strategy" for effective compounds in Chinese medicinal prescriptions based on in vitro-in vivo integration and its application in research on component-based Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

The discovery and identification of effective components are pivotal in the research on Chinese medicinal prescriptions. Given two basic conditions for effective components in Chinese medicinal prescriptions, i.e., active structure and a certain level of drug exposure in the body(including the intestine), a "six-step strategy" for the effective compounds in Chinese medicinal prescriptions based on in vitro-in vivo integration(SSS for short) has been proposed and established, as well as the key technologies. SSS contains qualitative and quantitative analyses of components in five steps, including those in Chinese medicinal extract, intestinal contents, portal vein blood, liver, and peripheral blood. The components(prototype components and metabolites) with a certain exposure level(including in the intestine) and those with large differences between in vitro content and in vivo exposure or in exposure among various parts in the body are selected as the minority prioritized candidates. The sixth step is to screen the pharmacological activity of candidate components specifically extracted from Chinese medicinal materials or artificially synthesized. SSS can significantly narrow the screening range, enhance the hit rate, and speed up the identification of effective components specifically targeting indications. Based on the effective components identified by the SSS, the "upstream" can be linked(mechanism research based on the effective components with clear structures) and the "downstream" can be combined(development of innovative component-based Chinese medicine with definite pharmacodynamic composition). In this study, the concept of component-based Chinese medicine and specific applications of SSS in the development of component-based Chinese medicine are also introduced.

Screening for neonatal inborn errors of metabolism by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and follow-up / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the impact of expanded newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on the overall detection rate of inborn errors of metabolism in Zhejiang province and to assess the outcome of the patients who were diagnosed.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Blood spots were collected between days 3 and 6 of life from the newborns. All samples were subjected to MS/MS analysis using Waters Quattro API. Confirmation tests included amino acid analysis, urinary organic acids by GC-MS, routine blood analysis, biochemistry, blood gas analysis, blood glucose and ammonia tests, blood homocysteine, lactate and pyruvate tests, urine acetone tests, biotin and biotin enzyme profile and DNA analysis. Standard treatment protocol was given to the patients. Protein restricted diet, special powdered formula and medicines recommended for the patients with amino acidemias. Protein restricted diet and L-carnitine, folic acid and Vitamin B12 supplementation were given for the patients with organic acidemia. L-carnitine was given to the patients with primary carnitine deficiency. The overall epidemiology, prognosis, follow-up of the screening program were also investigated in the neonates.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A total of 129 415 neonates were investigated for 26 inborn errors of metabolism during the period. Twenty-three newborns were confirmed as having inborn errors of metabolism, including 13 with amino acidemias, 6 with organic acidemias and 4 with fatty acid oxidation disorders. The prevalence was 1:5626. Positive predictive value was 2.10%, specificity was 99.72% and sensitivity 100%. Seventeen children remain asymptomatic during the follow-up. Five patients had motor and mental developmental delay. One patient presented metabolic disorders during the follow-up. No death occurred in this series of patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This strategy represents a valuable preventive medicine approach by enabling diagnosis and treatment before the onset of symptoms.</p>

Chemical structure of fructosan from Condonopsis pilosula / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the polysaccharide of Condonopsis pilosula.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The polysaccharide, CPP-1, was purified by DE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel column chromatography. Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharide were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and degradation, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR methods were adopted to elucidate the chemical structure.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The molecular weight of CPP-1 was estimated to be 7.5 x 10(4), and the structure of CPP-1 was a beta-(2 --> 1) linked beta-D-fructosan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CPP-1 was a neutral homosaccharide.</p>