[Tracking analysis of three extraction processes of Arenaria Polytrichoides by Fourier transform infrared spectrocopy].

In order to develop a process analysis method to guide extraction process of Arenaria polytrichoides (AP) based on tracking analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), IR spectra of petroleum ether extracts (PE-E), ethyl acetate extracts (EtOAc-E), n-butanol extracts (n-BuOH-E) and water extracts (H2O-E) of AP from three extraction methods were recorded. The FTIR and corresponding second derivative infrared (SDIR) spectra were analyzed comparatively from two aspects, namely, different extracts from a same extraction process and the same extracts from different methods. The spectral analysis results show that different extracts obtained from a same extraction process have distinctly different spectral absorbance character. Although the IR spectral absorption characteristics of the same extracts from different methods are rather similar in holistic, some explicit spectral differences still could be found among each other. In extraction process one (M1), main flavonoids and their glycosides of AP migrated to EtOAc-E and the rest part of them shift to n-BuOH-E according to FTIR peaks such as 1,603 and 1,123 cm(-1). However, the circumstances in method two (M2) and method three (M3) were just the reverse. Moreover, a few flavonoid glycosides got into H2O-E. The relative content of all kinds of aglycones and higher saturated alkyl are much higher in EtOAc-E of M2 than that of M1 and M3 according to the relative absorption intensive of peak at 2,850 cm(-1). Similarly, n-BuOH-E of M3 has relative rich contents of glycosides: and polysaccharides than those of M1 and M2 by peaks, such as 1,066 and 2,927 cm(-1). These results demonstrate that the migration rules of AP components are not always same in different extrac- tion process. The substance migration information during the extraction process could be recorded and disclosed in an intuitive way by FTIR tracking analysis of corresponding extracts. Consequently, FTIR tracking analysis is a fast, efficient, low-carbon and environment-friendly process analysis method. The method has important macro guiding significance for quality control and process optimization of extraction and isolation process of medicinal plant including AP.

[Clinical application of cardiac output monitoring in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease].

OBJECTIVE: Significant cardiac dysfunction has been found in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease and heart failure is the major cause of death in these patients. Evaluation of cardiac function is essential for the treatment of severe cases. This study evaluated the clinical value of cardiac output monitoring in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease. METHODS: A total of 107 children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from April 2011 to September 2011 were enrolled and divided into three groups by clinical stage: 73 cases in stage 2, 23 cases in stage 3 and 11 cases in stage 4. Cardiac output and stroke volume were measured by ultrasonic cardiac output monitors (USCOM). Ninety-five children received MRI scanning and were grouped according to the results of MRI: 41 cases (medulla oblongata involvements in 9 cases) in abnormal MRI group and 54 cases in normal MRI group. Cardiac output was compared between the children in different clinical stages and between different MRI results. RESULTS: Compared with children in clinical stages 2 and 3, cardiac output in children in clinical stage 4 decreased significantly (P<0.05). There was no differences in cardiac output between the normal and abnormal MRI groups, however cardiac output was significantly lower in children with medulla oblongata involvement than in those with other involvements and normal MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Significant decrease in cardiac output suggests critical conditions and medulla oblongata cardiovascular center involvement in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease. Dynamic measurement of cardiac output is valuable for treatment of the disease.

[Valproic acid versus lamotrigine as a monotherapy for absence epilepsy in children].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of valproic acid (VPA) and lamotrigine as a monotherapy for absence epilepsy in children. METHODS: A randomized, open-label design was used. Childhood absence epilepsy was diagnosed based on the presence of typical seizures and video-EEG findings. Eligible patients were randomly treated with VPA or lamotrigine. All patients were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: Forty-five out of 48 eligible children completed the study. There were 23 children in the VPA group and 22 children in the lamotrigine group. Seventeen children were seizure-free in the VPA group 12 months after treatment. Fifteen out of the 17 children showed normal EEG (no epileptic-formed discharge). Twelve children were seizure-free in the lamotrigine group 12 months after treatment. The proportion showing normal EEG in the lamotrigine group (6/22, 27.3%) was significantly lower than that in the VPA group (15/23, 65.2%) (P<0.05). Severe adverse effects were not found in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both VPA and lamotrigine are safe and efficacious for treatment of absence seizures in children. VPA appears to be better than lamotrigine in tapering epileptic-formed discharge.