Comprehensive analysis of different types of ginsenosides in the different parts of American ginseng by targeted and nontargeted MS/MS scanning.

To comprehensively study the ginsenosides distribution in the various tissues of American ginseng, the qualitative and quantitative-targeted and nontargeted mass spectroscopic methods were established using the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Qtrap triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QtrapQQQ-MS). The total ginsenosides of the root, stem, and leaf of American ginseng were determined by a colorimetric method, and the contents showed the order from high to low root, stem, and leaf. Eighty-two kinds of ginsenosides were detected in the different parts of American ginseng by enhanced mass scan-information-dependent data acquisition (IDA)-enhanced product ion (EPI) scan mode, including 69 from the root, 62 from the stem, and 48 from the leaf. An HPLC-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method was established, and 28 representative ginsenosides were further quantified in the three parts. Nearly all ginsenosides had the highest contents in the root and the lowest content in the leaf. Three types of ginsenosides (protopanaxadiol [PPD]-, protopanaxatiol [PPT]-, and oleanolic acid [OA]-types) were analyzed by precursor ion-IDA-EPI and MRM-IDA-EPI scan modes. Root had the most abundant ginsenosides in PPD- and PPT-type ginsenosides. Meanwhile, the OA-type ginsenosides are significantly enriched in the stem and leaf of American ginseng. The results provided a supplement to the quality assessment of American ginseng. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The distribution profile of ginsenosides in the parts of American ginseng is different. Except for the root, the stem, and leaf of American ginseng have the most abundant ginsenosides in oleanolic acid type. The results reported herein can help the manufacturers choose appropriate materials to extract the ginsenosides.

[Respiratory Tract Infection Pathogen Spectrum Study of 376 Pneumoconiosis Inpatients in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of infections caused by respiratory pathogens and the patterns of infections caused by pathogens in different seasons, age groups and stages of pneumoconiosis so as to explore the pathogen spectrum of respiratory tract infections in pneumoconiosis patients. METHODS: The sputum samples of 376 pneumoconiosis patients admitted to an occupational disease hospital in Chengdu between January, 2017 and October, 2019 were collected. Clinical information of the patients was collected and lab tests were conducted to check for 23 kinds of common respiratory viruses, bacteria and fungi in the sputum. The relationship between seasons, ages, and different stages of pneumoconiosis and the pathogen detection rate was analyzed. RESULTS: In the 376 sputum samples, the detection rates of pathogens, viruses, bacteria and fungi were 42.29% (159/376), 32.98% (124/376), 9.57% (36/376) and 6.12% (23/376), respectively. The six pathogens with the highest detection rates were parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida krousei. The severity of respiratory tract infection did not show significant difference in different seasons, age groups, and pneumoconiosis stages. CONCLUSION: The pathogen spectrum of respiratory tract infections in patients with pneumoconiosis is complicated and the proportion of viral infection is high. However, the severity of the infection is not associated with age, seasonal, or pneumoconiosis staging differences.

[Spatial niche of major fish species in spring in the coastal waters of central and southern Zhejiang Province, China]. / 浙江中南部近岸海域春季主要鱼类空间生态位.

The relative importance index (IRI), mean crowding, niche breadth, and niche overlap (Qik) of major fish species were calculated based on two fishery resource surveys from April to May 2016 (spring) in the coastal waters of central and southern Zhejiang Province. The results showed that there were 24 major fish species (IRI:100), the niche breadth values of which differed greatly and were positively correlated with IRI. The niche overlaps of fishes were extremely low in spring. The total amount of species pairs with niche overlap 0.6 (Qik :0.6) were six in April and five in May, which represented 3.9% and 4.8% of the total pairs, respectively. Results from the redundancy analysis showed that the distribution of major fish species were mainly affected by temperature, salinity, water depth, and dissolved oxygen, which caused ecological differentiation of fish species.