Rapid classification and identification of chemical constituents in Leonurus japonicus Houtt based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS combined with data post-processing techniques.

Leonurus japonicus Houtt (LJH) is a bulk medicinal material commonly used in clinical practice, but its complex constituents have not been completely understood, posing challenges to pharmacology, pharmacokinetic research, and scientific and rational drug use. As a result, it is critical to develop an efficient and accurate method for classifying and identifying the chemical composition of LJH. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole electrostatic field-orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) was successfully established, along with two data post-processing techniques, characteristic fragmentations (CFs) and neutral losses (NLs), to quickly classify and identify the chemical constituents in LJH. As a result, 44 constituents of LJH were identified, including four alkaloids, 20 flavonoids, two phenylpropanoids, 17 organic acids, and one amino acid. The method in this paper enables classification and identification of chemical compositions rapidly, providing a scientific foundation for further research on the effective and toxic substances of LJH.

Post-Processing Techniques for the Improvement of Liposome Stability.

Liposomes have been utilized as a drug delivery system to increase the bioavailability of drugs and to control the rate of drug release at the target site of action. However, the occurrence of self-aggregation, coalescence, flocculation and the precipitation of aqueous liposomes during formulation or storage can cause degradation of the vesicle structure, leading to the decomposition of liposomes. To increase the stability of liposomes, post-processing techniques have been applied as an additional process to liposomes after formulation to remove water and generate dry liposome particles with a higher stability and greater accessibility for drug administration in comparison with aqueous liposomes. This review covers the effect of these techniques including freeze drying, spray drying and spray freeze drying on the stability, physicochemical properties and drug encapsulation efficiency of dry liposomes. The parameters affecting the properties of liposomes during the drying process are also highlighted in this review. In addition, the impact of using a protective agent to overcome such limitations of each process is thoroughly discussed through various studies.

A Complete Study of Farrerol Metabolites Produced in Vivo and in Vitro.

Although farrerol, a characteristically bioactive constituent of Rhododendron dauricum L., exhibits extensive biological and pharmacological activities (e.g., anti-oxidant, anti-immunogenic, and anti-angiogenic) as well as a high drug development potential, its metabolism remains underexplored. Herein, we employed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with multiple data post-processing techniques to rapidly identify farrerol metabolites produced in vivo (in rat blood, bile, urine and feces) and in vitro (in rat liver microsomes). As a result, 42 in vivo metabolites and 15 in vitro metabolites were detected, and farrerol shown to mainly undergo oxidation, reduction, (de)methylation, glucose conjugation, glucuronide conjugation, sulfate conjugation, N-acetylation and N-acetylcysteine conjugation. Thus, this work elaborates the metabolic pathways of farrerol and reveals the potential pharmacodynamics forms of farrerol.

Preoperative evaluation of stage T3, central-type non-small cell lung cancer with double sleeve lobectomy under complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using spiral computed tomography post-processing techniques.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the estimated value of spiral computed tomography (CT) post-processing techniques in preoperative stage T3, central-type non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with double sleeve lobectomy under complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (c-VATS). METHODS: Preoperative clinical date and CT reconstructed data of 10 patients who underwent double sleeve lobectomy with upper lobe stage T3, central-type NSCLC were retrospectively analysed and compared to surgical pathological results and cross-sectional CT data. The diagnostic criterions of tumour invasion of pulmonary artery and bronchus were divided into five grades, which included estimation of upper lobe pulmonary arteries and bronchi (40 branches, respectively). RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of cross-sectional CT images of pulmonary artery tumour invasion were 78.57%, 58.33%, 81.48%, 53.85%, and 72.50%, respectively, while the respective values for CT reconstructed images were 93.55%, 87.50%, 96.67%, 70.00%, and 90.00%, showing statistical significance (χ(2)=4.021, P=0.045). Similarly, the evaluate, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of cross-sectional CT images of bronchial tumour invasion were 82.76%, 45.45%, 80.00%, 50.00%, and 72.50%, respectively, while the respective values for CT reconstructed images were 97.06%, 66.67%, 94.29%, 80.00%, 92.50%; these results were also statistically significant (χ(2)=5.541, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the spiral CT post-processing techniques were better than cross-sectional CT images in estimating the extent of tumour invasion in the pulmonary arteries and bronchi of central-type NSCLC. CT post-processing techniques are essential tools in preoperative examination and operative method selection of central-type lung cancer with double sleeve lobectomy under c-VATS.

Accessory articulation of elongated anterior transverse process: a rare anatomical variant of the cervical spine depicted with CT and post-processing techniques.

There are several described anatomical variants of the cervical spine, ranging from common to extremely rare, which may have different clinical implications. We present the case of an extremely rare anatomical variant of the cervical spine, in a symptomatic patient, consisting of a unilateral accessory articulation between the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae, due to elongated anterior transverse processes. Our search found only three cases in the English literature describing similar findings to the case here reported. Our case is, to our knowledge, the first report of this anatomical variant imaged with computed tomography including post-processing images (volume rendering technology and multiplanar reformations), which contribute greatly to a better understanding and depiction of the anatomical variant.

The role of multi-slice spiral CT in diagnosis and treatment of lumbar hernia / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the imaging appearances and the value of multi-slice CT (MSCT)with post-processing tech-niques in diagnosis and treatment of lumbar hernia (LH).Methods The imaging and clinical data of 1 6 patients with LH which were confirmed by surgery were analyzed retrospectively.Results In 1 6 patients,1 7 lesions of LH were revealed by MSCT.There were superior lumbar hernias in 13 (76.5%),inferior lumbar hernias in 3 (1 7.6%)and diffuse lumbar hernia in 1 (5.9%).Hernia ring in diameter ranged from 1.5 to 9.3 cm,and the hernia sac size ranged from 1.8 cm×2.4 cm to 1 1.3 cm× 6.2 cm.MSCT showed oval or flask shaped mass of extraperitioneal fat with or without peritoneum and visceral contents protruded through the de-fecting fascia floor into lumbar triangle.Superior lumbar hernia was bounded by the 12th rib superiorly,the erector spine muscle medially and the internal oblique muscle laterally.Inferior lumbar hernia was bounded by latissimus dorsi muscle medially,the ex-ternal oblique muscle laterally and the iliac crest inferiorly.Hernia contents included colon in 3 patients and small bowel in 2 with in-carcerated hernia with small bowel obstruction in 1,and adipose tissue and mesentery in other 12.All patients received surgery treatment,and the appropriate surgical methods were selected according to the MSCT findings.The surgical findings were consistent with MSCT results.No recurrence was found during follow-up.Conclusion LH has characteristic CT manifestations.MSCT volu-metric scanning with post-processing techniques can clearly display the type of LH,the size of abdominal wall defect,hernia contents and their complications.It is helpful for diagnosis of the LH and differentiation from other diseases,which may provide important information for clinical surgery.

Spontaneous intramural full-length dissection of esophagus treated with surgical intervention: multidetector CT diagnosis with multiplanar reformations and virtual endoscopic display.

Intramural esophageal dissection (IED) is an uncommon disorder characterized by separation of the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus. Iatrogenic intervention is the most common cause of IED, but spontaneous dissection is rare. We report an unusually complicated case of spontaneous IED that involved the full-length of the esophagus that necessitated surgical intervention due to infection of the false lumen. In this case, chest computed tomography successfully established the diagnosis and aided in pre-operative evaluation with the use of various image post-processing techniques.

Spontaneous Intramural Full-Length Dissection of Esophagus Treated with Surgical Intervention: Multidetector CT Diagnosis with Multiplanar Reformations and Virtual Endoscopic Display

Intramural esophageal dissection (IED) is an uncommon disorder characterized by separation of the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus. Iatrogenic intervention is the most common cause of IED, but spontaneous dissection is rare. We report an unusually complicated case of spontaneous IED that involved the full-length of the esophagus that necessitated surgical intervention due to infection of the false lumen. In this case, chest computed tomography successfully established the diagnosis and aided in pre-operative evaluation with the use of various image post-processing techniques.

A control study of CT colon scans in normal adults and patients with intractable constipation after air enema for measuring colon length / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the difference of colon length between patients with intractable constipation and normal peo-ple.Methods 40 patients with intractable constipation and 35 cases of normal control group received air enema CT scan,post-pro-cessing techniques-curved planar reformation and volume rendering were used to measure the length of colon.Results Colon length of normal people and constipation patients were (1 230±33)mm and (1 605±47)mm,respectively.There was significant difference between normal people and constipation patients (t=163,P=0.015).Conclusion CT air enema technique can be used to measure the length of colon obj ectively for diagnosing and treating redundant colon.

The diagnostic value of MSCT's post-processing techniques in small peripheral lung cancer / 中国基层医药

Objective To evaluate the value of post-processing techniquos of multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT) in diagnosis of small peripheral lung cancer. Methods 36 patients with small peripheral lung cancer(≤20mm in di-ameter) who had been proved by pathology were eoueeted. After MSCT scanning ,3D reconstruction images were made by MPR,SSD and VR,then compared with axial thin-slice images. Results The sensitivity of MPR on vascularnotch sign,lobulation and spiculated sign was higher than that of axial thin-slice images. The sensitivity of SSD on peural sign was higher than that of axial thin-slice images. The sensitivity of VR on vascularnotch sign and lobulation was higher than that of axial thin-slice images. Conclusion The post-processing techniques of MSCT have high value on diagnosis of small peripheral lung cancer. More information could be collected when many kinds of post-processing techniques were used.