Ovarian tissue cryopreservation after graft failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: first report and literature review.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an approach that has significantly improved the prognosis and survival of hematological patients. However, ovarian dysfunction and infertility following HSCT have gained increasing attention. Live births have been reported following ovarian tissue cryopreservation prior to HSCT and subsequent retransplantation of these tissues. Still, the feasibility of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) following graft failure (GF) of HSCT remains unknown. In this study, we report the first case of OTC following a GF of allogenic HSCT (allo-HSCT), as well as the cryopreservation of four MII oocytes via in vitro maturation with informed consent. Despite the lack of clinical outcomes after cryopreserved ovarian tissue retransplantation, we documented an interesting case in a woman after GF of allo-HSCT exhibiting functional ovaries and emphasized a clinical dilemma: whether OTC should be offered to women suffering from GF of HSCT. Case presentation: A 22-year-old woman with severe aplastic anemia who had suffered GF of allo-HSCT from her sibling brother [HLA allele match (7/10)] with a reduced dose conditioning regimen including fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin came to our reproductive center for fertility preservation, as she was about to receive the second allo-HSCT. We evaluated the ovarian reserve of this patient. Hormone assessments showed an anti-Müllerian hormone level of 3.921 ng/mL, a follicle-stimulating hormone level of 5.88 IU/L, a luteinizing hormone level of 10.79 IU/L, and an estradiol level of 33.34 pg/mL. Antral follicle counts accessed transvaginally showed 12-15 follicles. All assessments indicated a well-protected ovarian reserve. Due to the urgency of the second allo-HSCT, the patient decided to undergo ovarian cryopreservation. Laparoscopic surgery proceeded. Ovarian tissues were successfully cryopreserved using vitrification technology, and histologic evaluation demonstrated a follicle density of 20 per 2 × 2 mm2 biopsy with good viability. Four MII oocytes were obtained via in vitro maturation technology and cryopreserved. After the second HSCT, the patient relieved from aplastic anemia but suffered iatrogenic premature ovarian failure as predicted. Conclusion: OTC is applicable to fertility preservation in those undergoing GF of HSCT with benign hematological disorders and especially those who are about to receive the second HSCT.

Characterization of flavour components and identification of lipid flavour precursors in different cuts of pork by phospholipidomics.

The lipids and volatile compounds in pork from different parts, including the loin, belly, shoulder and hind leg were analyzed by triple quadrupole tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF/MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS), respectively. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and Pearson correlation analysis were utilized to establish the relationship between the lipids and volatile compounds. A total of 8 main flavour substances, 38 main phospholipids, and 32 main fatty acids were identified. The results showed that the key flavour compounds were mainly derived from unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids containing unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid (C18:2n6c), α-Linolenic acid (C18:3n3), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), PE O (18:1/20:4), PE O (18:2/20:4), and PE O (18:2/18:2), etc. Understanding the relationship between flavour compounds and lipids of pork will be helpful to control the quality of pork.

Utilization and affordability of health insurance coverage for rare disease drugs in a first-tier city in Northeast China from 2018 to 2021: a study based on the health insurance claims database.

OBJECTIVE: The accessibility issue of orphan drugs in China is prominent. Based on real-world data from a tier-one city in Northeast China, this study aims to analyze the current usage and affordability of orphan drugs for rare diseases. METHODS: The data was sourced from the health insurance claims data of a certain city from 2018 to 2021, including a total of 16 orphan drugs. The utilization of orphan drugs is assessed using four indicators: frequency of medical insurance claims, medication cost, defined daily doses (DDDs), and defined daily drug cost (DDDc). Affordability is measured using the concept of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). RESULTS: Between January 2018 and December 2021, there were a total of 2,851 medical insurance claims in the city, with a total medication costs of $3.08 million. Overall, during the study, there was a year-on-year increase in the utilization frequency of individual rare disease drugs in the city, with DDDs rising from 140.22 in 2018 to 3983.63 in 2021. Additionally, the annual medication costs of individual drugs showed a consistent upward trend, increasing from $10,953.53 in 2018 to $120,491.36 in 2021. However, the DDDc of individual drugs decreased from $398.12 in 2018 to $96.65 in 2021.The number of sales and the amount of sales for orphan drugs in community pharmacies have significantly increased. Prior to medical insurance coverage, out of the 16 orphan drugs, 9 drugs had annual treatment costs exceeding CHE for urban residents, and 15 drugs had annual treatment costs exceeding CHE for rural residents. After medical insurance coverage, there were no drugs with out-of-pocket costs exceeding CHE for urban residents, while 8 drugs had out-of-pocket costs exceeding CHE for rural residents. Furthermore, both before and after medical insurance coverage, the four treatment drugs for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension were more affordable compared to the four treatment drugs for multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION: The usage frequency of orphan drugs in a certain city increased gradually, but the disease burden remained heavy. More policy support should be provided to the priority rare disease populations, and the rare disease medical security and diagnosis and treatment systems should be improved.

Health-related quality of life and influencing factors of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in China.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare blood disorder, leading to various complications and impairments in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Limited research has been conducted to evaluate the HRQOL of Chinese patients with PNH. Understanding the HRQOL in this specific population is crucial for providing effective healthcare interventions and improving patient' health outcomes. This study aimed to assess HRQOL of Chinese patients with PNH, and identify key determinants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2022 to recruit patients with PNH in China. The study population was recruited from PNH China, one of the largest public welfare PNH patient mutual aid organization in China. Data were collected via an online questionnaire including the EQ-5D-5L (5L), and social-demographic and clinical characteristics. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the characteristics of the participants and their HRQOL. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were adopted to explore key factors affecting HRQOL. RESULTS: A total of 329 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 35.3 (10.0) years, with 52.3% of them being male. The patients reported more problems in Anxiety/Depression (81.5%) and Pain/Discomfort (69.9%) dimensions compared to the other three 5L dimensions. The mean (SD) of 5L health utility score (HUS) and EQ-VAS score were 0.76 (0.21) and 62.61 (19.20), respectively. According to multiple linear regression, initial symptoms (i.e., Anemia [fatigue, tachycardia, shortness of breath, headache] and back pain) and complication of thrombosis were significant influencing factors affecting 5L HUS. Total personal income of the past year, initial symptom of hemoglobinuria and complication of thrombosis were significantly influencing factors of VAS score. Social-demographic and clinical characteristics, such as gender, income, and thrombosis, were also found to be significantly related to certain 5L health problems as well. CONCLUSION: Our study manifested the HRQOL of PNH patients in China was markedly compromised, especially in two mental-health related dimensions, and revealed several socio-demographic and clinical factors of their HRQOL. These findings could be used as empirical evidence for enhancing the HRQOL of PNH patients in China.

HERC5-catalyzed ISGylation potentiates cGAS-mediated innate immunity.

The cytosolic DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is essential to elicit type I interferon cascade response; thus, the activity of cGAS must be strictly regulated to boost the antiviral innate immunity. Here, we report that cGAS is responsible for the DNA-induced ISG15 conjugation system. The E3 HERC5 catalyzes the ISGylation of cytoplasmic cGAS at lysine 21, 187, 219, and 458, whereas Ubl carboxy-terminal hydrolase 18 removes the ISGylation of cGAS. The interaction of cGAS and HERC5 depends on the cGAS C-terminal domain and the RRC1-4 and RRC1-5 domains of HERC5. Mechanically, HERC5-catalyzed ISGylation promotes DNA-induced cGAS oligomerization and enhances cGAS enzymatic activity. Deficiency of ISGylation attenuates the downstream inflammatory gene expression induced by the cGAS-STING axis and the antiviral ability in mouse and human cells. Mice deficient in Isg15 or Herc6 are more vulnerable to herpes simplex virus 1 infection. Collectively, our study shows a positive feedback regulation of the cGAS-mediated innate immune pathway by ISGylation.

Integrated proteomics and phosphoproteomics profiling reveals the cardioprotective mechanism of bioactive compounds derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza Burge.

BACKGROUND: Natural products are an important source for discovering novel drugs due to their various pharmacological activities. Salvia miltiorrhiza Burge (Danshen) has been shown to have promising therapeutic potential in the management of heart diseases, making it a candidate for cardiovascular drug discovery. Currently, there is limited quantitative analysis of the phosphorylation levels of Danshen-derived natural products on a proteome-wide, which may bias the study of their mechanisms of action. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the global signaling perturbation induced by Danshen-derived bioactive compounds and their potential relationship with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury therapy. STUDY DESIGN: We employed quantitative proteome and phosphoproteome analysis to identify dysregulated signaling in IR injury hearts from mice. We compared changes induced by Danshen-derived compounds based on IR-associated phospho-events, using an integrative approach that maps relative abundance of proteins and phosphorylation sites. METHODS: Isobaric chemical tandem mass tags (TMT) labeled multiplexing strategy was used to generate unbiased quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics data. Highly accurate and precise TMT quantitation was performed using the Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid Mass Spectrometer with synchronous precursor selection MS3 detection mode. Mass spectrometric raw files were analyzed with MaxQuant (2.0.1.0) and statistical and bioinformatics analysis was conducted with Perseus (1.6.15). RESULTS: We quantified 3661 proteins and over 11,000 phosphosites in impaired heart tissue of the IR mice model, expanding our knowledge of signaling pathways and other biological processes disrupted in IR injury. Next, 1548 and 5545 differently expressed proteins and phosphosites were identified by quantifying the proteome and phosphoproteome of H9c2 cells treated by five Danshen bioactive compounds respectively. Results revealed the vast differences in abilities of five Danshen-derived bioactive compounds to regulate phosphorylation modifications in cardiomyocytes, with dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) showing potential for protecting against IR injury by modulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a new strategy for analyzing drug/natural product-regulated phosphorylation modification levels on a proteome-wide scale, leading to a better understanding of cell signaling pathways and downstream phenotypic responses.

The Establishment of Evaluation Models for the Cooking Suitability of Different Pork Muscles.

Pork is the main meat consumed by Chinese people. In this study, the sensory quality of four muscles (loin, shoulder, belly, and ham) under three cooking methods (boiling, scalding, and roasting) was examined, and the edible quality and nutritional quality of fresh meat were determined at the same time. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, correlation analysis, and analysis of the coefficient of variation were used to determine key quality indicators, from which comprehensive quality evaluation equations were established. The results showed that, when meat was boiled, the comprehensive quality evaluation model was Y=0.1537X1+0.1805X2+0.2145X3+0.2233X4+0.2281X5 (X1~X5 are a*, fat, odor, tenderness, and flavor, respectively) and the most suitable muscle was belly; when meat slices were scalded in a hot pot, the comprehensive quality evaluation model was Y=0.1541X1+0.1787X2+0.2160X3+0.2174X4+0.2337X5 (X1~X5 are a*, fat, odor, tenderness, and flavor, respectively) and the most suitable muscle was belly; when meat was roasted, the comprehensive quality evaluation model was Y=0.1539X1+0.1557X2+0.1572X3+0.1677X4+0.1808X5+0.1845X6 (X1~X6 are flavor, marbling, elasticity, cooked flesh color, tenderness, and flesh color, respectively), and the most suitable muscles were belly and shoulder.

Analysis of the Differences in Volatile Organic Compounds in Different Muscles of Pork by GC-IMS.

As the main consumed meat of Chinese residents, pork has a unique flavor, but the internal volatile organic compounds that cause the flavor differences between pork muscles are not clear at present. In this study, four muscles of Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs (loin, ham, shoulder and belly) were used as experimental subjects. Through the analysis of volatile organic compounds in four muscles of pork, the internal volatile organic compounds of different muscles of pork were discussed. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry was employed to analyze the four muscles, and volatile organic compounds in these muscles were analyzed and identified. A total of 65 volatile organic compound peaks were obtained by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. From the qualitative database, a total of 49 volatile organic compounds were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. With the variable importance for the projection greater than 1 and significance level less than 0.05 as the criterion, the organic compounds with significant differences were screened by partial least squares-discriminant analysis and significance difference analysis. It was determined that 2-pentylfuran, 2-butanone (M), pentanal (M), butanal (D), (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal (D), 1,2-propanediol and 2-methylpropanal were the differential organic compounds that distinguish the four pork muscles.

Comparison of Absolute Expression and Turnover Number of COX-1 and COX-2 in Human and Rodent Cells and Tissues.

Objective: We aim to quantify the absolute protein expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in various cells and tissues to determine the relative contribution of COX-1 and COX-2 to PGE2 production. Methods: An LC-MS method was developed and validated, then used for quantifying the absolute amounts of COX-1 and COX-2 in recombinant human COX-1 and COX-2, lysates from different cells, tissue microsomes of rodents and humans, Pirc rat colonic polyps, and biopsy specimens from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. The COX-1 and COX-2 turnover numbers were subsequently calculated based on apparent formation rates of PGE2. Results: A robust LC-MS method for quantification of COX-1 and COX-2 was developed and validated and then used to calculate their apparent turnover numbers. The results showed that COX-1 expression levels were much higher than that of COX-2 in all the tested tissues including the colonic epithelium of F344 (28-fold) and Pirc rats (20-fold), colonic polyps of Pirc rats (8-fold), and biopsy specimens of SCC patients (11-17-fold). In addition, both COX-1 and COX-2 were higher in polyps when compared to adjacent mucosa of Pirc rats. The turnover number of recombinant human COX-2 was 14-fold higher than that of recombinant human COX-1. LPS stimulation increased COX-2 protein expression in three cell lines (Raw 264.7, SCC9 and EOMA) as expected but unexpectedly increased COX-1 protein expression (13.8-fold) in EOMA cells. Conclusion: In human oral cancer tissues and cells as well as Pirc rat colon, COX-1 plays an unexpectedly but more important role than COX-2 in abnormal PGE2 production since COX-1 expression is much higher than COX-2. In addition, COX-1 expression levels are inducible in cells, and higher in polyps than surrounding mucosa in Pirc rat colon. These results indicate that targeted suppression of local COX-1 should be considered to reduce colon-specific PGE2-mediated inflammation.

Characterization and identification of pork flavor compounds and their precursors in Chinese indigenous pig breeds by volatile profiling and multivariate analysis.

Chinese indigenous pigs are favored for their rich flavor, which is generated through complex reactions involving lipid-oxidation-related flavor precursors. In this research, we characterized the aroma compounds and fatty acids of representative Chinese pig breeds by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS) and GC-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) with multivariate analysis. A total of 79 volatile compounds were identified, among which 15 compounds were selected as odorants in pork. According to multivariate statistical analysis, some odorants, including hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 2,3-octanedione, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal and dodecanal could be discriminative compounds explaining breed-originated differences in flavor profiles. As confirmed by partial least squares regression (PLS-R), some fatty acids, including C18:1n9c, C22:6n3 and C18:3n3, were major precursors for the formation of rich flavor in indigenous pig breeds. These results revealed that fatty acids and volatile compounds were breed-dependent, and the differences in flavor were related to the variance in the fatty acid content.

Burden and trends of multiple sclerosis in China from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the burden of multiple sclerosis disease indicators in the Asia-Pacific countries, China and globally through the Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD2019) Database, and to analyse the changes of multiple sclerosis disease burden in China from 1990 to 2019. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study based on the Global Burden of Disease. SETTING: The relevant incidence, prevalence, death and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates and corresponding age-standardised rates (ASRs) and sociodemographic index (SDI) in China, globally and in Asia-Pacific countries were extracted from the GBD2019 Database to further study the age-standardised incidence, prevalence and mortality, and the relationship between DALY rate and SDI. RESULTS: Various disease burden indicators of multiple sclerosis in China are at low level in the world, and the prevalence, incidence and DALY rates have slowly increased from 1990 to 2019. During this period, the age-standardised prevalence rate (ASPR) of multiple sclerosis in China showed an upward trend, while the age-standardised death rate (ASDR), age-standardised DALY rate (ASR-DALY) and age-standardised incidence rate all decreased to varying degrees, which were roughly consistent with the global amplitude changes, and all indicators are similar to most countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As the value of the SDI increases, the ASPR of multiple sclerosis was trending upward, and the ASDR was trending downward. CONCLUSION: Compared with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China is in a low state of disease burden indicators. However, as a developing country and the most populous country in the world, the total number of patients is not small, and as a rare disease, the treatment cost is relatively expensive, and the treatment cost of the complications caused by the disease is not low. The construction of the medical security system should be strengthened to reduce its burden on individuals, families and society.

Pharmacokinetic Characterization and Bioavailability Barrier for the Key Active Components of Botanical Drug Antitumor B (ATB) in Mice for Chemoprevention of Oral Cancer.

This study aims to characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles and identify important bioavailability barriers and pharmacological pathways of the key active components (KACs) of Antitumor B (ATB), a chemopreventive agent. KACs (matrine, dictamine, fraxinellone, and maackiain) of ATB were confirmed using the antiproliferative assay and COX-2 inhibition activities in oral cancer cells. The observed in vitro activities of KACs were consistent with their cell signaling pathways predicted using the in silico network pharmacology approach. The pharmacokinetics of KACs were determined after i.v., i.p., and p.o. delivery using ATB extract and a mixture of four KACs in mice. Despite good solubilities and permeabilities, poor oral bioavailabilities were estimated for all KACs, mostly because of first-pass metabolism in the liver (for all KACs) and intestines (for matrine and fraxinellone). Multiple-dose PK studies showed 23.2-fold and 8.5-fold accumulation of dictamine and maackiain in the blood, respectively. Moreover, saliva levels of dictamine and matrine were found significantly higher than their blood levels. In conclusion, the systemic bioavailabilities of ATB-KACs were low, but significant levels of dictamine and matrine were found in saliva upon repeated oral administration. Significant salivary concentrations of matrine justified its possible use as a drug-monitoring tool to track patient compliance during chemoprevention trials.

Hydroquinone redox mediator enhances the photovoltaic performances of chlorophyll-based bio-inspired solar cells.

Chlorophyll (Chl) derivatives have recently been proposed as photoactive materials in next-generation bio-inspired solar cells, because of their natural abundance, environmental friendliness, excellent photoelectric performance, and biodegradability. However, the intrinsic excitation dynamics of Chl derivatives remain unclear. Here, we show sub-nanosecond pump-probe time-resolved absorption spectroscopy of Chl derivatives both in solution and solid film states. We observe the formation of triplet-excited states of Chl derivatives both in deoxygenated solutions and in film samples by adding all-trans-ß-carotene as a triplet scavenger. In addition, radical species of the Chl derivatives in solution were identified by adding hydroquinone as a cation radical scavenger and/or anion radical donor. These radical species (either cations or anions) can become carriers in Chl-derivative-based solar cells. Remarkably, the introduction of hydroquinone to the film samples enhanced the carrier lifetimes and the power conversion efficiency of Chl-based solar cells by 20% (from pristine 1.29% to 1.55%). This enhancement is due to a charge recombination process of Chl-A+/Chl-D-, which is based on the natural Z-scheme process of photosynthesis.

A novel strategy for screening bioavailable quality markers of traditional Chinese medicine by integrating intestinal absorption and network pharmacology: Application to Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill.

BACKGROUND: Major components are often used as marker compounds for quality control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). However, these compounds may not necessarily bioavailable and active in vivo, thereby, failing to control the "quality". PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel strategy integrating absorption and activity deduced from network pharmacology to identify more reasonable markers for quality control of TCM formulas using Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill (WJBFP) as an example. STUDY DESIGN: Human Caucasian colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell transport studies and a bioavailability-enhanced network pharmacological approach were integrated to identify better phytochemical markers for quality control. METHODS: The absorption of multiple components in WJBFP was evaluated by a Caco-2 cell culture model. Nine databases were used to identify potential targets in the network pharmacology analysis. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was employed for the network data integration, visualization, and centrality analysis. Molecular docking was carried out to investigate the binding affinity of the identified markers to their candidate targets. RESULTS: The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) and efflux ratio (ER) of 66 compounds were determined. Five hundred and two putative targets and 187 primary dysmenorrhea (PD) related targets were identified. Twenty-two candidate targets interacting with 20 potential active compounds were screened with the putative PD related targets intersection network using Degree Centrality (DC) ranking. By integrating absorption, 16 candidate targets interacting with 8 potential active compounds were identified. Besides, 53 compounds hitting candidate targets were divided into two classes according to their DC values. Then each of the two classes of DC was stratified into two groups based on the Papp for a total of four classes. Finally, five compounds belonging to Class 1 with higher DC and higher Papp, formononetin, ferulic acid, isoliquiritigenin, neocryptotanshinone and senkyunolide A, were identified as potential bioavailable phytochemical markers for the quality control of WJBFP against PD. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis validated the interplay between candidate targets and marker ingredients. CONCLUSION: A novel strategy combining intestinal absorption with network pharmacology analysis was successfully established to identify bioavailable and bioactive markers for quality control of WJBFP against PD.

Charge transfer dynamics in chlorophyll-based biosolar cells.

We fabricated a chlorophyll (Chl)-based biosolar cell with H2Chl-sensitized TiO2 as an acceptor and (ZnChl)n as a donor. This solar cell gives a relatively high quantum yield from the absorption spectral contribution from both the donor and acceptor species. We employed subpicosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy (TAS) to study the excited state dynamics at the Chl interface. A charge transfer (CT) state between TiO2-H2Chl and (ZnChl)n was observed at 640 nm after excitation at the Qy peaks, 680 nm and 720 nm. This CT state is entirely different from the CT states observed for either TiO2-H2Chl (TiO2-H2Chl/spiro-OMeTAD) or TiO2-(ZnChl)n systems. Due to the slower charge transfer process from H2Chl+ to TiO2 as compared to that from (ZnChl)n+ to H2Chl, the CT lifetimes of H2Chl--(ZnChl)n+ (τ1 = 0.1 ps, τ2 = 1.4 ps) excited at 720 nm are slightly shorter than that excited at 680 nm (τ1 = 0.2 ps, τ2 = 5.6 ps). The TAS results suggest that the interface of TiO2-H2Chl and (ZnChl)n not only transfers holes as spiro-OMeTAD does, but also provides a built-in field for charge dissociation between the two Chl species.

Simultaneous quantification combined with multivariate statistical analysis of multiple chemical markers of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill (WJBFP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) complex formula, which has been widely used in the treatment of various gynecological disorders. However, the quality control of multiple components in WJBFP is challengeable by using the methods applicable to analysis of several phytochemicals in single herbs or simple herbal preparations. The purpose of this study is to establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of 20 bioactive compounds in WJBFP. The modified chromatographic conditions were achieved on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column with a gradient elution consisted of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v). All analytes were determined using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in positive or negative ionization modes with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. An UHPLC-MS/MS method was optimized and validated for linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, repeatability, stability and recovery. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of 20 compounds in 19 batches of commercial WJBFP products. principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to evaluate intrinsic quality and to identify chemical markers most responsible for quality evaluation. In conclusion, the established method offered speedy and sensitive determination for 20 compounds and is helpful for chemical standardization of commercial WJBFP products.

2D MXenes as Co-catalysts in Photocatalysis: Synthetic Methods.

Since their seminal discovery in 2011, two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides known as MXenes, that constitute a large family of 2D materials, have been targeted toward various applications due to their outstanding electronic properties. MXenes functioning as co-catalyst in combination with certain photocatalysts have been applied in photocatalytic systems to enhance photogenerated charge separation, suppress rapid charge recombination, and convert solar energy into chemical energy or use it in the degradation of organic compounds. The photocatalytic performance greatly depends on the composition and morphology of the photocatalyst, which, in turn, are determined by the method of preparation used. Here, we review the four different synthesis methods (mechanical mixing, self-assembly, in situ decoration, and oxidation) reported for MXenes in view of their application as co-catalyst in photocatalysis. In addition, the working mechanism for MXenes application in photocatalysis is discussed and an outlook for future research is also provided.

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the rapid analysis of constituents in the traditional Chinese medicine formula Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill.

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method in both positive and negative ion modes was established in order to comprehensively investigate the major constituents in Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill. Briefly, a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS C18 column was used to separate the aqueous extract of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill. A total of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid v/v were used as the mobile phase. All analytes were determined using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization source in positive and negative ion modes. At length, a total of 173 components including flavones and their glycosides, monoterpene glycosides, triterpene saponins, phenethylalchohol glycosides, iridoid glycosides, phthalides, tanshinones, phenolic acids, sesquiterpenoids and cyclopeptides were identified or tentatively characterized in Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill in an analysis of 16.0 min based on the accurate mass and tandem mass spectrometry behaviors. The developed method is rapid and highly sensitive to characterize the chemical constituents of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill, which could not only be used for chemical standardization and quality control of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill, but also be helpful for further study in vivo metabolism of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill.

Comparative Study on Health-Related Quality of Life of Farmers and Workers.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between Chinese farmers and workers and study the relationships between the sociodemographic factors and HRQOL of the 2 populations. METHODS: We conducted 2 cross-sectional surveys in Zhejiang Province in China by using multistage cluster sampling; we applied the EuroQOL 5-dimensions 3-level (EQ-5D-3L) self-report questionnaire to assess the HRQOL of farmers and workers through face-to-face interviews. The χ2 test, 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression models were used to compare the HRQOL between farmers and workers and identify the factors that influence HRQOL. RESULTS: We included 3675 farmers and 2836 workers in the analysis. The HRQOL differed between the 2 populations. The most prevalent problems reported were Pain/Discomfort and Anxiety/Depression; workers reported significantly more Pain/Discomfort and Anxiety/Depression compared with farmers (P < 0.001). The mean EQ-5D index scores were 0.987 for farmers and 0.959 for workers (P < 0.001), and the EQ-VAS scores were 83.59 for farmers and 81.11 for workers (P < 0.001), indicating that farmers had better HRQOL compared with workers. Sex, age, marital status, education level, and personal monthly income were reported to influence the HRQOL of farmers, whereas marital status and education level were reported to influence that of workers. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL of farmers was better than that of workers. To improve the HRQOL, it is important to pay more attention to mental health, especially in workers.

The impact of expanded health system reform on governmental contributions and individual copayments in the new Chinese rural cooperative medical system.

In 2002, the Chinese central government created a new rural cooperative medical system (NCMS), ensuring that both central and local governments partner with rural residents to reduce their copayments, thus making healthcare more affordable. Yet, significant gaps in health status and healthcare utilization persisted between urban and rural communities. Therefore, in 2009, healthcare reform was expanded, with (i) increased government financing and (ii) sharply reduced individual copayments for outpatient and inpatient care. Analyzing data from China's Ministry of Health, the Rural Cooperative Information Network, and Statistical Yearbooks, our findings suggest that healthcare reform has reached its preliminary objectives-government financing has grown significantly in most rural provinces, especially those in poorer western and central China, and copayments in most rural provinces have been reduced. Significant intraprovincial inequality of support remains. The central government contributes more money for poor provinces than for rich ones; however, NCMS schemes operate at the county level, which vary significantly in their level of economic development and per capital gross domestic products (GDP) within a province. Data reveal that the compensation ratios for both outpatient and inpatient care are not adjusted to compensate for a rural county's level of economic development or per capita GDP. Consequently, a greater financial burden for healthcare persists among persons in the poorest rural regions. A recommendation for next step in healthcare reform is to pool resources at prefectural/municipal level and also adjust central government contributions according to the GDP level at prefectural/municipal level.