Fast Identification of Cyathula officinalis and Its Adulterant and Doped Adulterant Based on Properties and Foam Test / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To rapidly identify Cyathula officinalis and its adulterant C. capitata and C. officinalis*C. capitata and doped adulterant. Method: Properties combined with foam test method were used for identifying C.officinalis, its adulterant and doped adulterant. In the aspect of properties,6 aspects including shape,size,texture,color,smell and taste,were observed, smelled and tasted. In the aspect of foam test,the volume of foam produced was used as the determination index to investigate the sample amount,water amount, shaking time,particle size,water temperature,repeatability,adulteration ratio and its stability. Result: In the aspect of properties,C. officinalis and its adulterant showed obvious difference in the shape,size,color,texture,smell and taste,especially the red color and bitter taste of its adulterant. In the aspect of foam test,the optimum parameters were as follows:sample particle (screened with 3 sieves) 0.3 g,a test tube with plug and scale,water 10 mL and airtight,forced shaking up and down for 1 min,settling for 5 min. Such method can be used to identify C. officinalis, its adulterant and doped adulterant. The volume of foams produced by C. officinalis and its adulterant and different ratio of doped adulterant showed no change within 5-30 min,slightly decreases after 9 h; the higher adulteration ratio; the larger volume of foam and better stability. The 8 batches of C. officinalis and 8 batch of adulterants proved that the volume of the foams produced was all less than 2 mL in the C. officinalis,more than 13 mL in the adulterant is,and more than 5 mL in 5% doped adulterant, showing statistical difference. From the properties combined with foam test,5 specific identification elements were obtained for identifying C. officinalis, its adulterant and doped adulterant. Conclusion: Through the 5 specific identification elements,the properties combined with foam test can be used to distinguish the C. officinalis from its adulterant C. officinalis and C. officinalis*C. capitata and doped adulterant,characterized by accuracy,simpleness,short time,low cost and feasibility. It can provide a new method and reference for identifying C.officinalis from its adulterant and doped adulterant.

Foam test on gastric aspirates in the prediction of respiratory distress syndrome

Philippine statistics show that 66 percent of babies are delivered outside the hospital. Thus, the need for a simple and rapid screening test done immediately after birth to identify those babies who will develop Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and may subsequently require referral to a tertiary care unit, is evident. Foam test was done on samples of amniotic fluid and gastic aspirate within one hour after collection on 61 deliveries, 35 term and 26 premature. Results of the foan test were correlated with the incidence of RDS. Of the 61 subjects, 39 gave a positive foan test, none of whom developed RDS. Six had an intermediate foam test, also none of whom developed RDS. Results of the foam test on gastric aspirate showed a parallelism with those done on amniotic fluid in 60 out of 61 subjects. Statistical analysis showed that the foam test has a 100 if positive. These data showed that the foam test on gastric aspirate has a high predictive accuracy in the assessment of fetal lung maturity.