[Quality evaluation of Astragali Radix through chemical pattern recognition of fingerprint by HPLC-dAD-ELSD].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for detecting the fingerprint of Astragali Radix and evaluate the quality through similarity calculation and chemical pattern recognition. METHOD: Separation was performed at 25 degreeC on an Agilent Zorbax ODS C18 column(4.6 mm x250 mm,5 microm). Gradient elution was performed with the mobile phases of acetonitrile and water containing 0. 2% formic acid. The flow rate was 0. 8 mL min-1 , and sample size was 10 microL. The UV detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. The drift tube temperature for ELSD was set at 110 degreeC , and the nebulizing gas flow rate was 3.0 L min-1. The similarity calculation and chemical pattern recognition were used for fingerprint analysis. RESULT: The HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for chromatographic fingerprint of Astragali Radix showed better results of stability, precision and repeatability. The reference chromatographic fingerprint of Astragali Radix was established on the eighteen Astragali Radix samples from different sources. The results of similarity calculation were higher than 0. 83, which was in accordance with the result of chemical pattern recognition analysis. CONCLUSION: Fingerprint and chemical pattern recognition analysis could effectively distinguish Astragali Radix from different source, which could be applied to the quality control of Astragali Radix.

[Prognostic analysis of stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer patients treated by traditional chinese medicine].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy is a treatment for stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the efficacy is not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain effect on NSCLC. This study was to investigate various factors that affect the prognosis of advanced NSCLC, and evaluate the role of TCM in enlonging survival time of patients with stage III-IV NSCLC. METHODS: The NSCLC patients who meet the inclusive criteria were randomized into TCM group, combination (TCM plus NP regimen) group, and chemotherapy group, and received relevant treatments. The median survival time (MST) was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognosis of the patients was analyzed by COX regression method. RESULTS: A total of 294 stage III-IV NSCLC patients were enrolled, of which 99 were in TCM group, 103 in combination group, 92 in chemotherapy group. The MST were 292 days in TCM group, 355 days in combination group, and 236 days in chemotherapy group; the cumulative survival rates were 45.38%, 48.86%, and 42.17%, respectively (P>0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that therapy, gender, disease course, erythrocyte sedimentation, KPS score, tumor size, and patient's weight were independent prognostic factors of stage III-IV NSCLC. CONCLUSION: Compare with chemotherapy alone, TCM combined with chemotherapy may prolong the survival time of stage III-IV NSCLC patients.