New method for quantification of gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide in biological matrices by LC-MS/MS.

Hydrogen sulfide exists widely in mammalian tissues and plays a vital role in physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, striking differences with orders of magnitude were observed for the detected hydrogen sulfide concentrations in biological matrices among different measurements in literature, which lead to the uncertainty for examination the biological relevance of hydrogen sulfide. Here, we developed and validated a liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of hydrogen sulfide in various biological matrices by determination of a derivative of hydrogen sulfide and monobromobimane named sulfide dibimane (SDB). 36S-labeled SDB was synthesized and validated for using as an internal standard. This method has been successfully used to measure hydrogen sulfide levels in a broad range of biological matrices, such as blood, plasma, tissues, cells, and enzymes, across different species. Moreover, a novel mode that hydrogen sulfide could loosely and non-covalently bind to human serum protein (HSA) and hemoglobin (HB) was revealed by using the developed method.

Identification and pharmacokinetics of multiple constituents in rat plasma after oral administration of Yinchenzhufu decoction.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Yinchenzhufu decoction (YCZFD) is a classical Chinese herbal formula and has been used to treat severe jaundice in chronic liver injuries since the Qing Dynasty (18th century CE). To identify the components absorbed into the blood in YCZFD and explore their pharmacokinetic profile for understanding the effective ingredients of YCZFD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After rats were given YCZFD by intragastric administration, the plasma was processed by precipitation of protein. The compounds in YCZFD extract and the plasma were identified by using high-resolution mass spectrometry with a database-directed strategy. The pharmacokinetics of multiple compounds from YCZFD in rat plasma was studied by using the established UPLC-MS/MS method. RESULTS: Forty compounds in YCZFD extract and 21 prototype compounds with 11 metabolites in rat plasma were detected after oral administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetic acid, cinnamic acid, ononin, atractylenolide III, and liquiritin from YCZFD were obtained in rats. CONCLUSIONS: The identified constituents and the pharmacokinetic features of YCZFD are helpful for understanding the material bases of its therapeutic effects.

Optimization model research on efficacy in treatment of chronic urticaria by Chinese and Western medicine based on a genetic algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential rules and knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine (WM) treatment on chronic urticaria (CU) based on data-mining methods. METHODS: Sixty patients with chronic urticaria, treated with TCM and WM, were selected. Gray correlation analyses were adopted to determine therapeutic efficacy. Association algorithms were utilized to ascertain the correlation between the disease course and treatment results. A genetic algorithm was applied to discover the optimization model in the TCM and WM treatment on CU. RESULTS: The total symptom scores after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment in the TCM spleen-strengthening group correlated highly with the pretreatment total symptom score. The duration of treatment showed the greatest impact on the total symptom score. A quartic equation was established (y = - 1.6403 x 10 - 6 x(4) + 0.00025576x(3) + 0.0012819 x2 - 1.024x + 79.5879, and x = 106.9518, y = 83.0036) using the genetic algorithm. CONCLUSION: TCM treatment had a better effect in the later stage, whereas WM was better in the early stage. The duration of disease course had an impact on the effects of treatment. If the average total symptom score before treatment was < or = 83.0036, TCM or WM treatment could achieve better efficacy.