Characterization and quantitation of aristolochic acid analogs in different parts of Aristolochiae Fructus, using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS / 中国天然药物

Aristolochiae Fructus, a Chinese herbal medicine derived from the fruit of Aristolochia contorta Bge., contains nephrotoxic aristolochic acid analogues (AAAs). According to ancient medical texts, various medicinal parts of the fruit of A. contorta were ever used. In order to reveal which part could be safely and effectively used, it is necessary to analyze the chemical profiles of different medicinal parts. Herein we compared the chemical compositions and determined aristolochic acid I (AA-I) and aristolochic acid II (AA-II) in the four parts viz. outer pericarp, inner pericarp, septum, and seed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was applied for chemical profiling. Ultra-high performance liquid coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) was employed to quantify AA-I and AA-II in different parts. It was found that the chemical compositions of the four parts varied both qualitatively and quantitatively. A total of 10 AAAs, including 5 aristolochic acids and 5 aristolactams, together with 3 alkaloids, were unambiguously or tentatively identified by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. The quantitatively analytical results obtained by UHPLC-QqQ-MS showed that AA-I and AA-II exclusively accumulate in the seeds of A. contorta. These findings provide supporting data for the rational selection of medicinal parts.

Investigation on measles cases of new genotype D8 in Beijing, 2013 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of measles cases of new genotype D8 in Beijing from January to June, 2013.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological survey and descriptive analysis was conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>661 suspected measles were reported from January to June, 2013. 416 were confirmed measles cases by serology and etiology detection. 28 measles cases were caused by genotype D8 measles virus by genotype identification. There were 2 measles outbreak including 14 cases and 14 sporadic cases. The incidence peak was during April and May. 25 cases (89.3%, 25/28) occurred in downtown and suburban districts. 22 cases (78.5%, 22/28) were adults aged 15-39 years and 19 cases (67.9%, 19/28) were migrant population. 12 cases (85.7%, 12/14) in outbreak were migrant population working in clothing sales. There was epidemiological association between 2 outbreaks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Measles cases of genotype D8 were found for the first time in Beijing. Genotype D8 virus mainly infected migrant adults and caused local outbreak and endemic.</p>