[Recommendations on quality standards of Andrographis Herba and its processed slices in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition)].

To improve and perfect the quality standards and propose recommendations for the revision of quality standards for Andrographis Herba and its processed slices in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(ChP)(2020 edition) based on the problems and limitations in ChP(2015 edition). TLC identification method with andrographolide and control herbs as references was established using silica gel G thin layer plate, with chloroform-methylbenzene-methanol(8∶1∶1) as developing solvent, and 10% sulfuric acid ethanol solution as colour-developing agent. This method has good reproducibility, strong specificity and high sensitivity. As compared with the original method in ChP 2015, this method has better development effect and clearer spots. Based on the previous research, a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS) method with andrographolide as the internal reference substance was developed to simultaneously determine the contents of 4 diterpene lactones: andrographolide(S), neoandrographolide(A), 14-deoxyandrographolide(B), and dehydroandrographolide(C). The relative correction factors of f_(A/S), f_(B/S), and f_(C/S) were determined as 1.12, 0.79, and 0.63, respectively. The relative retention time of t_(A/S), t_(B/S), and t_(C/S) was 1.95, 2.18, and 2.25, respectively. According to the content determination results in 46 batches of crude drugs and 38 batches of processed slices, it was stipulated that the total contents of 4 diterpene lactones should not be less than 1.5% and 1.2% in crude drugs and processed slices, respectively. As compared with the original method in ChP 2015, the present QAMS method could not only reduce the detection cost and improve the efficiency, but also can be used to evaluate the quality of Andrographis Herba and its processed slices more comprehensively and objectively. Diterpene lactones are generally recognized as the effective components in Andrographis Herba, and their contents in leaves were much higher than those in stems. However, almost all of the current commercial processed slices are processed from stems, so their quality is gene-rally poor and the efficacy is hard to be guaranteed. Therefore, the weight percentage of leaves should be added into the inspection items of the processed slices and it should not be less than 25%.

[Clinical, biochemical and gene mutation characteristics of short chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency by neonatal screening].

Objective: To investigate the incidence, clinical, biochemical and gene mutation characteristics of short chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD). Method: From January, 2009 to October, 2015, a retrospective analysis of the urine organic acids and acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (ACADS) gene mutation characteristics of patients diagnosed as SCADD by newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry in Department of Genetics and Metabolism (Newborn screening Center of Zhejiang Province), Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Dietary guidance, life management and supplementation of L-carnitine were conducted, and growth and intelligence development were observed during follow-up among the SCADD patients. Result: A total of 1 430 024 neonates, seventeen cases were diagnosed with SCADD with an incidence of 1/84 117. All patients had no clinical symptoms, and intelligence and physical development were normal. Blood butylacyl-carnitine (C4) levels and the ratios increased, C4 0.713.14 µmol/L(reference value 0.03-0.48 µmol/L), C4/C2 0.07-0.23(reference value 0.01-0.04), C4/C3 0.65-2.04(reference value 0.05-0.39). Thirteen with increased urinary ethyl malonic acid (9.30-90.99 mg/g creatinine (reference value 0-6.20 mg/g creatinine )), one patient was accompanied by increased methyl succinic acid (12.33 mg/g creatinine(reference value 0-6.40 mg/g creatinine)), one subject with increased acetylglycine (3.52 mg/g creatinine(reference value 0-0.70 mg/g creatinine)). A total of 13 known mutations were detected in the ACADS gene, 1 homozygous mutation (c.1031A>G), the others are compound heterozygous mutations. One frameshift mutation (c.508_509delGC) and 12 missense mutations were detected. Common mutation were c. 1031A>G(35.3%), c. 164C>T(20.6%) and c. 991G>A(11.8%). SCADD in newborn screening program had no clinical symptoms and normal growth development after 8-42 months follow-up. Conclusion: Cases with SCADD had no clinical symptoms with an incidence of 1/84117. The c. 164C>T and c. 1031A>G may be the common mutations.

Pre-treatment of Stegomyia aegypti mosquitoes with a sublethal dose of imidacloprid impairs behavioural avoidance induced by lemon oil and DEET.

The present study was conducted to determine whether imidacloprid can impair the avoidance behaviour of the mosquito Stegomyia aegypti. Laboratory investigations using a T-maze apparatus showed that St. aegypti mosquitoes present long term avoidance behaviour when they are exposed to repetitive trials with lemon oil and DEET. The present study tested the effect of a sublethal dose of imidacloprid on the avoidance behaviour of St. aegypti mosquitoes over a 48 h period. Data suggest that 0.5 ng of imidacloprid/mosquito reduces the avoidance behaviour of mosquitoes exposed to lemon oil, on the first day of exposure, after the second trial; whereas imidacloprid affected DEET repellency only the first day of exposure, after the second trial. Imidacloprid was toxic against St. aegypti mosquitoes, and at sublethal doses was able to impair the repellency induced by lemon oil and DEET. The present data were consistent with the finding that St. aegypti mosquitoes exhibit long term avoidance behaviour, and treatment of mosquitoes with a sublethal dose of imidacloprid under DEET application can affect the repellency of DEET against St. aegypti.