[IgG4-related diseases of retroperitoneum in urinary and male reproductive system: a clinicopathological analysis of eleven cases].

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features of IgG4-related diseases (RD) of retroperitoneum and the urinary and male reproductive system (IgG4-RUMR). Methods: A total of 11 IgG4-RUMR cases from January 2013 to March 2021 were retrospectively collected at Peking University Third Hospital and Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong First Medical University. The clinicopathologic features, laboratory and imaging findings were analyzed and scored according to the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for IgG4-RD. Results: The 11 patients (male:female is 9∶2; mean age 59 years, range from 44 to 83 years) were initially admitted to the Deparment of Urology/Kidney Transplantation (10 cases) and the Department of Oncology (1 case). All patients had urogenital disorders or imaging abnormalities. Three of the 11 patients had a history of IgG4-RD such as lacrimal gland engorgement, salivary gland engorgement and IgG4-associated pancreatitis. Abnormal retroperitoneal soft tissue and hydronephrosis were found in eight cases, while epididymal and spermatic cord masses were found in one case, simple renal mass in one case, and"benign prostatic hyperplasia"in one case. In the 10 patients tested for serum IgG4, the serum IgG4 level was 0.8-14.4 g/L. Histologically, all cases showed significant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and storiform fibrosis, and some were accompanied by obliterative phlebitis. The number of IgG4 positive plasma cells was 12-155 per high-power field, and the IgG4/IgG ratio was 15%-77%. According to the 2019 ACR/EULAR IgG4-RD classification standard 11 cases scored 20-48 points, all of which met the diagnostic criteria of IgG4-RUMR. Therapeutically, the patient with a simple renal mass underwent partial nephrectomy. The patient with prostate lesion underwent transurethral resection of prostate and was initially diagnosed as nonspecific chronic prostatitis. Later, the patient was admitted again because of salivary gland swelling, and the pathologic diagnosis was amended. The patient with epididymal and spermatic cord masses participated in a clinical trial about retroperitoneal fibrosis. The remaining eight patients received symptomatic treatment such as adhesiolysis and stent placement. All the patients were subsequently treated with glucocorticoid/immunosuppressant and symptoms relieved. Conclusions: IgG4-RUMR is uncommon. In clinical practice, information from clinical, serologic, radiologic and pathologic evaluations must be integrated. IgG4-RUMR should be considered in the differential diagnosis of urinary and male reproductive diseases. The 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for IgG4-RD, while relatively complex, are objective and practical in the diagnosis of IgG4-RUMR.

Urban-rural disparity of preventive healthcare utilisation among children under the universal health insurance coverage in Taiwan: a national birth cohort analysis.

OBJECTIVE: In the context of universal health insurance coverage, this study aimed to determine whether urban-rural inequality still exists in preventive health care (PHC) amongst children in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 184,117 mothers and their children born in 2009 were identified as the study cohort. The number of children born in urban, satellite and rural areas was 40,176, 57,565 and 86,805, respectively. All children were followed for 7 years, before which a total of seven times PHC were provided by Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) programme. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to associate urbanisation level with the frequency of PHC utilisation. Stratified analyses were further performed in accordance with the children's birth weight and the mothers' birthplace. RESULTS: Children from satellite areas had higher utilisation for the first four scheduled PHC visits. Children living in urban areas received more PHC for the fifth and sixth scheduled visits. Compared with those from rural areas, children in satellite areas exhibited a small but significant increase in odds in PHC utilisation, with a covariate-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.04 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.02-1.06. By contrast, no significant difference was observed between rural and urban areas (aOR = 1.01). Further stratified analyses suggest more evident urban-rural difference in PHC utilisation amongst children with low birth weight and foreign-born mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Given a universal health insurance coverage and embedded mechanisms in increasing the availability of healthcare resources in Taiwan, a slight urban-rural difference is observed in PHC utilisation amongst children. Hence, sociodemographic inequality in utilisation of PHC still exists. This issue should be addressed through policy intervention.

Pithecellobium clypearia extract enriched in gallic acid and luteolin has antibacterial activity against MRSA and reduces resistance to erythromycin, ceftriaxone sodium and levofloxacin.

AIMS: Antibiotic adjuvants can give a second life to the antibiotics to which bacteria are highly resistant. We evaluated the antimicrobial effects of extracts from Pithecellobium clypearia against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and also the potential for synergy with several antibiotics. METHODS AND RESULTS: For this study, four extracts from P. clypearia were tested on MRSA using the broth microdilution method for activity assessment. The ethyl acetate fraction (S20b) had the strongest antibacterial activity against MRSA among the fractions tested. In all, 14 compounds such as gallic acid and luteolin in S20b were analysed by UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. S20b combined with erythromycin showed synergy effects against MRSA and combined with ceftriaxone sodium and levofloxacin showed additive effects against MRSA. Electron microscopy showed that extract S20b damaged the MRSA cell wall and K+ efflux measurements indicated that extract S20b increased cell membrane permeability. Moreover, S20b suppression of PBP2a expression was assessed by Western blot. Furthermore, an in vivo study was used to investigate the therapeutic potential of S20b based on a mouse pneumonia model. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro study results have shown that S20b not only inhibits MRSA growth directly but also reduces the resistance of MRSA to the evaluated antibacterial agents. Based on the in vivo study, it can be concluded that S20b can treat pneumonia in the mouse model. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first research to demonstrate that S20b can inhibit MRSA growth and reduce drug resistance of clinical isolates to antibiotics. S20b has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent against MRSA and treatment for MRSA pneumonia.

Effects of diets with different energy and bile acids levels on growth performance and lipid metabolism in broilers.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of bile acids (BAs) on the growth performance and lipid metabolism of broilers fed with different energy level diets. 480 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers (45.01 ± 0.26 g) were allotted to a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of energy (basal or high-energy level) and 2 levels of BAs (with or without BAs supplementation), resulting in 4 groups of 8 replicates; the experiment lasted 42 d. High-energy diets decreased the feed/gain ratio (F/G) from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05), and increased the liver index and abdominal fat percentage at 42 d (P < 0.05). The serum total triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 42 d were increased by high-energy diets (P < 0.05), while the hepatic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity at 21 and 42 d was decreased (P < 0.05). BAs supplementation increased the body weight at 21 d and decreased the F/G during entire period (P < 0.05), as well as improved the carcass quality reflected by decreased abdominal fat percentage at 42 d and increased breast muscle percentage at 21 and 42 d (P < 0.05). The serum TG at 21 and 42 d were decreased by BAs (P < 0.05), and the hepatic LPL activity at 42 d was increased (P < 0.05). In addition, high-energy diets increased the expression of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase (P < 0.05), while BAs diets decreased these genes expression (P < 0.05). Moreover, BAs supplementation also increased the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (P < 0.05), which was increased in high-energy groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BAs supplementation could increase growth performance, elevate carcass quality, and improve lipid metabolism in broilers.

Combination of arginine, glutamine, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements for perioperative enteral nutrition in surgical patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): A prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Background: Perioperative enteral nutrition (EN) enriched with immune-modulating substrates is preferable for patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery. In this study, perioperative EN enriched with immune-modulating nutrients such as arginine, glutamine, and omega-3 fatty acids was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory efficacy in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) receiving curative surgery. Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study recruited 34 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or gastric GIST undergoing elective curative surgery. These patients were randomly assigned to the study group, receiving immune-modulating nutrient-enriched EN, or the control group, receiving standard EN from 3 days before surgery (preoperative day 3) to up to postoperative day 14 or discharge. Laboratory and inflammatory parameters were assessed on preoperative day 3 and postoperative day 14 or at discharge. Adverse events (AEs) and clinical outcomes were documented daily and compared between groups. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in selected laboratory and inflammatory parameters, or in their net change, before and after treatment. AEs and clinical outcomes, including infectious complications, overall complications, time to first bowel action, and length of hospital stay after surgery, were comparable between treatment groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: Immune-modulating nutrient-enriched EN had no prominent immunomodulation effect compared with that of standard EN.

Curcumin attenuates heat-stress-induced oxidant damage by simultaneous activation of GSH-related antioxidant enzymes and Nrf2-mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme systems in broiler chickens.

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on modulating the glutathione (GSH)-related antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant responses via NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in heat-stressed broiler chickens. A total of 400 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks was reared in an environmentally controlled room. At 21 d, broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups and were fed one of 4 diets under 2 temperature conditions: 22°C + a basal diet (CON treatment); 34°C for 8 h (0900-1700) + a basal diet supplemented with 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg curcumin (HS, CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 treatments, respectively). The heat treatment lasted for 20 consecutive days. The results showed that heat stress significantly increased (P < 0.05) the weekly rectal temperature and average head and feet temperature. Compared to the HS treatment, feed conversion was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments. CMN1 administration significantly improved (P < 0.05) the pH24 of muscle. The abnormal changes of serum malonaldehyde and corticosterone concentrations were prevented (P < 0.05) by curcumin. Mitochondrial GSH concentration in the liver was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments compared with the HS treatment. The CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 supplementations significantly increased (P < 0.05) γ-GCL, GSH-Px, and GST activities. Curcumin significantly increased (P < 0.05) the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and γ-GCLc in the liver as compared to the CON diet. The expression of Cu/ZnSOD and CAT were increased (P < 0.05) by feeding CMN2, respectively, as compared to the HS treatment. It was concluded that curcumin supplementation enhanced the resistance of broilers to heat stress, as evidenced by reversing the FC, increasing the GSH content and GSH-related enzyme activities, and inducing the expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2-mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme genes.

Effects of supplementing sow diets with fermented corn and soybean meal mixed feed during lactation on the performance of sows and progeny.

In the present study, two experiments were performed to study the effects of feeding fermented corn and soybean meal mixed feed (FMF) with Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium to lactating sows on the performance of the sows and their progeny. In experiment 1, 60 sows were allocated to the following three dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a corn and soybean meal basal diet (control) from day 3 before parturition to weaning, 2) sows fed a diet with 7.5% FMF, and 3) sows fed a diet with 15% FMF. Results indicated that feeding 15% FMF significantly improved (P < 0.05) the sows' ADFI, the individual piglet weaning weights, and piglet weight gain and reduced (P < 0.05) the backfat loss of sows compared with the control group. However, the 7.5% FMF treatment did not alter the performance of the sows or their progeny. Therefore, we considered the level of 15% FMF to be more efficient than 7.5% FMF. To verify the results of experiment 1, we performed experiment 2, in which 60 sows at 111 d of gestation were allocated into the following two dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a basal lactation diet (control) from d 111 of gestation to weaning and 2) sows fed a basal diet with 15% FMF. Compared with the control group, 15% FMF inclusion significantly increased (P < 0.05) the sows' ADFI, litter weight gain, and individual piglet weight gain during lactation and markedly decreased the backfat loss of sows (P < 0.05) and piglet diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05). Additionally, the milk yield and IgA contents of the milk in sows fed 15% FMF were greater (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. Furthermore, the apparent total tract digestibility of GE, DM, and total P of sows was increased (P < 0.05) with 15% FMF supplementation. Therefore, the present study indicates that supplementing sow diets with 15% FMF from parturition to weaning has the potential to 1) increase sow ADFI, milk production, milk IgA content, and nutrient digestibility and promote sow reproductive performance by shortening the weaning-to-estrous interval and 2) promote the growth performance of their progeny and decrease diarrhea incidence.

Effects of dietary l-methionine supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and muscular antioxidant capacity and myogenic gene expression in low birth weight pigs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary Met supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and muscular antioxidant capacity and myogenic gene expression in low birth weight (LBW) pigs. Thirty normal birth weight (NBW) and 60 LBW female piglets were selected at birth. In each litter, after weaning, 1 of the LBW piglets (LBW-CON group) and 1 of the NBW piglets (NBW-CON group) were fed the basal diets and 1 LBW littermate was fed the basal diet supplemented with Met (LBW-MET group). Thus, all pigs were distributed into groups of 3 treatments × 6 replicates (pens) × 5 piglets per replicate up to 180 d of age. Compared with NBW-CON pigs, LBW-CON pigs had decreased ADG ( = 0.004) and ADFI ( < 0.001) during the postweaning period and greater backfat thickness ( = 0.015) at slaughter. In addition, LBW-CON pigs exhibited compromised meat quality, as evidenced by a greater drip loss at 24 h postmortem( = 0.037) and a lower pH at 45 min postmortem ntents of malondialdehyde (MDA; = 0.046) and protein carbonyl ( = 0.028) in the LM. The LBW pigs fed the Met-supplemented diets had a greater amount of reduced glutathione (GSH; = 0.009) but a lower level of MDA ( = 0.015) in the LM compared with the LBW-CON pigs. Methionine supplementation increased the pH at 24 h postmortem (pH) value ( = 0.004) but reduced the drip loss at both 24 ( = 0.016) and 48 h ( = 0.005) postmortem of LBW-MET pigs in comparison with the LBW-CON pigs. The Met-supplemented diets increased the -adenosyl-methionine content ( = 0.006), DNA methyltransferase activity ( = 0.007), and CpG methylation levels of the sites +27 ( = 0.008) and +160 ( = 0.009) of myostatin (MSTN) exon 1 but decreased the mRNA expression of MSTN ( = 0.011) in the LM of the LBW-MET group compared with the LM of the LBW-CON group. Additionally, when compared with the LBW-CON group, the area of LM ( = 0.037) was significantly increased in the LBW-MET group, in parallel with the upregulated mRNA abundance of myogenin ( = 0.025), myocyte enhancer factor 2A ( = 0.036), and myocyte enhancer factor 2D ( = 0.015). In conclusion, Met supplementation increases pH and decreases drip loss in the LM of LBW-MET pigs, along with a greater GSH content but a lower MDA accumulation. Also, the LBW-MET pigs showed a greater LM area, which may be associated with the improved expression of myogenic genes.

Diagnostic dilemma: treatment outcomes of tuberculosis patients with inconsistent rifampicin susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective clinical trial to evaluate treatment outcomes in adults with smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) and discordant rifampicin (RMP) resistance results. DESIGN: A total of 2156 smear-positive TB patients underwent both conventional and Genechip drug susceptibility testing (DST) for RMP resistance. All 49 patients with discordant results treated with either a first-line or second-line regimen were analysed. RESULTS: Of 30 Type I cases (Genechip-resistant, conventional DST-susceptible) receiving the first-line regimen, 4 had a favourable outcome and 5 failed treatment. The 21 remaining Type I cases were treated with the second-line regimen, of whom 18 had a favourable outcome. Second-line regimen thus resulted in significantly more favourable outcomes than first-line treatment (P = 0.032). Among Type II cases (Genechip-susceptible, conventional DST-resistant), 13/19 received the first-line regimen, and 7 had a favourable outcome. The six Type II cases treated with the second-line regimen all had favourable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Patients with discordant RMP DST results who receive second-line regimens may have a better clinical response than those treated with the first-line regimen. Patients infected with fluoroquinolone-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were observed to have a significantly higher treatment failure rate.

Comparison of therapeutic results in sudden sensorineural hearing loss with/without additional hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a retrospective review of 465 audiologically controlled cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the necessity of routine application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN/SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective chart review looked at 465 patients, with 353 of them receiving pharmacologic treatments alone. Among these patients, 76 underwent systemic steroid treatment only (steroid group) and 277 received systemic steroids and dextran (steroid-dextran group). The remaining 112 patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygen in addition to pharmacologic agents (steroid-dextran-hyperbaric oxygen group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome was determined by comparing the difference of pure-tone thresholds and absolute hearing gains after treatment calculated at each audiometric octave frequency or grouped frequencies of audiograms. On the basis of the severity of initial hearing loss, patients were classified at three scales of hearing impairments measured in decibels hearing level (dBHL): ≦ 70 dBHL, less severe; 71-90 dBHL, severe; and ≧ 91 dBHL, profound. The outcomes of their hearing recovery were classified into three recovery grades: good, fair and poor. RESULTS: In those patients with initial hearing loss >90 dBHL, the addition of hyperbaric oxygen to steroid-dextran gave a significant hearing gain difference (P = 0.030) by showing a greater hearing gain of 24.5 ± 2.7 dB compared with steroid only (12.9 ± 3.7 dB) or steroid-dextran (15.6 ± 2.7 dB). This outcome was confirmed when we compared the outcome using the recovery grading; steroid-dextran-hyperbaric oxygen group showed that more patients with initial profound (≧ 91 dBHL) hearing loss responded to hyperbaric oxygen treatment by exhibiting good and fair recoveries (2% and 70%) as compared with steroid only (0% and 42%) or steroid-dextran (8% and 46%) groups (P = 0.043), while the patients with initial severe (71-90 dBHL) and less severe (≦ 70 dBHL) hearing loss responded to the addition of hyperbaric oxygen treatment with less favourable recoveries. Furthermore, the addition of dextran in steroid-dextran group showed no significant benefit compared with the steroid group (P = 0.435). CONCLUSIONS: When applied as an adjuvant to pharmacologic agents, hyperbaric oxygen benefits patients with initial profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Therefore, we recommend the routine application of hyperbaric oxygen in conjunction with pharmacologic agents for those patients. The addition of dextran to steroid has no benefit and cannot be recommended.

Evaluation for synergistic suppression of T cell responses to minor histocompatibility antigens by chloroquine in combination with tacrolimus and a rapamycin derivative, SDZ-RAD.

The 4-aminoquinolines, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, can suppress chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) in mice and humans, respectively. We hypothesized that chloroquine in combination with tacrolimus and the rapamycin derivative SDZ-RAD can synergistically suppress T cell responses and antigen-presenting cell (APC) function in vitro. We used the APC-dependent C57BL/6 anti-BALB.B T cell response and APC-independent anti-CD3epsilon antibody-induced response to evaluate the role of synergism between chloroquine and tacrolimus or SDZ-RAD on each component of a T cell response to minor histocompatibility antigens. We found that chloroquine with tacrolimus had a greater synergistic suppression of APC-dependent compared to the APC-independent T cell responses, with a combination index (CIx) for 50% inhibition by mean effect analysis of 0.16 and 0.50, respectively (a lower number indicates greater suppression). By contrast, chloroquine with SDZ-RAD had a similar CIx between the two responsed 0.50 vs0.45) suggesting only T cell suppression. Synergy between chloroquine and SDZ-RAD involved a direct effect on T cell cytokine production, whereas synergism between chloroquine and tacrolimus was due to an effect on both T cells and APCs. We conclude that the renal-sparing 4-aminoquinolines may be used syneristically with immunosuppressive drugs currently used for BMT.

Gossypol, a component in cottonseed, induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ levels in Chang liver cells.

The effect of gossypol, a compound found in cottonseed, on intracellular free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+](i)) in Chang liver cells were evaluated using fura-2 as a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. Gossypol (0.2-5microM) increased [Ca2+](i) in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC(50) value of 1.5microM. The [Ca2+](i) response was composed of an initial rise and a slow decay to a sustained phase within 5min after drug application. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ markedly reduced the [Ca2+](i) signals by 80+/-2%. Preincubation with 0.1mM La3+ or 10microM nimodipine abolished the Ca2+ influx. Gossypol (5microM)-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ was reduced by 75% by pretreatment with 1microM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor) to deplete the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+. Conversely, pretreatment with gossypol abolished thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ release. After pretreatment with 5microM gossypol in Ca2+-free medium for several min, addition of 3mM Ca2+ induced a [Ca2+](i) increase of a magnitude nine-fold greater than control. Gossypol (5microM)-induced Ca2+ release was not affected by inhibiting phospholipase C with 2microM 1-(6-((17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122). Together, this study shows that gossypol induced significant [Ca2+](i) increases in Chang liver cells by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular pools in a phospholipase C-dissociated fashion and by causing La3+- and nimodipine-sensitive Ca2+ influx.

Antitumor and antifungal activities in endophytic fungi isolated from pharmaceutical plants Taxus mairei, Cephalataxus fortunei and Torreya grandis.

The purpose of this work was to screen the endophytic fungi having antitumor or antifungal activity, which were isolated from the inner barks of three kinds of pharmaceutical plants, Taxus mairei, Cephalataxus fortunei and Torreya grandis, collected from Fujian province, China. Antitumor activity was studied by the MTT assay and antifungal activity was determined by observing fungal growth inhibition. 13.4% of endophytic fungi fermentation broths displayed cytotoxic activity on HL-60 cells at and below a dilution of 1:50, and 6.4% on KB cells. 52.3% of endophytic fungi fermentation broths displayed growth inhibition on at least one pathogenic fungi, such as Neurospora sp., Trichoderma sp. and Fusarium sp. Among all endophytic fungi isolated, the genus Paecilomyces sp. has the highest positive rate of antitumor and antifungal activity. These results indicate that endophytic fungi could be a promising source for antitumor and antifungal bioactive agents.

Recent developments on ketolides and macrolides.

Recent semi-synthetic studies of erythromycin A culminated in the discovery of two ketolide drug candidates, HMR-3647 and ABT-773, for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial infections caused by both macrolide- and beta-lactam-susceptible and -resistant S. pneumoniae, gram negative bacteria, and intracellular atypical pathogens. The discovery of ketolides has rekindled interest in macrolides, and recent efforts have also led to a novel class of 4''-carbamates with activity against macrolide-resistant organisms. This review is an account of recent developments on ketolides and macrolides in terms of both chemistry and antibacterial activity.

[Application of fingerprint analysis and computer pattern interpretation in identification and quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines].

The fingerprint analysis technique used in the quality control of TCM through identifying charactreristics and evaluating stability is set up with the rapid development of instrument analyses and computer pattern interpretation. There are many kinds of methods for establishment of fingerpirnt of TCM mainly including chromatography, spectroscopic method, x-ray diffraction and molecular biological technique. The methods of computer pattern interpretation in fingerprint of TCM includes fuzzy information analysis, artificial neural networks and gray relational grade cluster.

[The identification of flos magnoliae by TLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a TLC identification method for Flos Magnoliae. METHOD: Selecting optimum TLC conditions. RESULTS: A TLC identification method of Flos Magnoliae has been established. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and reliable.

Taxol from Tubercularia sp. strain TF5, an endophytic fungus of Taxus mairei.

The diterpenoid taxol is an important anticancer agent used widely in the clinic. The purpose of this work was to identify a taxol-producing endophytic fungus (strain TF5) isolated from Taxus mairei and study its anticancer activities. Strain TF5 was identified as a Tubercularia sp. according to the morphology of the fungal culture, the mechanism of spore production and the characteristics of the spores. Strain TF5 produced taxol, when grown in potato dextrose liquid medium and analyzed by thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. The fungal taxol, which was isolated from the organic extract of the TF5 culture, had strong cytotoxic activity towards KB and P388 cancer cells in vitro, tested by the MTT assay. Observed with immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, the fungal taxol enhanced microtubule stability and bundling in culture cells and induced tubulin polymerization in vitro similar to the authentic taxol.

[Study on quality evaluation of Forsythia suspensa with grey pattern recognition].

In this paper, based on the grey relative relation grade, a new pattern recognition model for quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine was presented. As an example, the model was used to evaluate the quality of Forsythia suspensa, the results are satisfactory.

[Study on lipids and other volatile constituents in Pheretima aspergillum].

To study chemical constituents in Pheretima aspergillum, three kinds of fractions were obtained from this drug by soxhlet extraction with different solvents, and the chemical structures of thirty-six volatile components were identified by means of GC-MS. The eleven in ether fraction were all lipids and the relative content of non-saturated fatty acid was the highest(27.70%) such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosatrienoic acid; There were eight lipids in acetone fraction (35.75%), which included one kind of nonsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid); There were thirteen lipids in ethanol fraction (72.09%), which non-saturated fatty acid has never been detected. This study has determined the lipid composition in Pheretima aspergillum, especially non-saturated fatty acid, and afforded chemical base to cardio-cerebro-vascular therapy.