Clinical features of COVID-19-related optic neuritis: a retrospective study.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical features of optic neuritis associated with COVID-19 (COVID-19 ON), comparing them with neuromyelitis optica-associated optic neuritis (NMO-ON), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated optic neuritis (MOG-ON), and antibody-negative optic neuritis (antibody-negative ON). Methods: Data from 117 patients (145 eyes) with optic neuritis at the Shantou International Eye Center (March 2020-June 2023) were categorized into four groups based on etiology: Group 1 (neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis, NMO-ON), Group 2 (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein optic neuritis, MOG-ON), Group 3 (antibody-negative optic neuritis, antibody-negative ON), and Group 4 (optic neuritis associated with COVID-19, COVID-19 ON). Characteristics of T2 and enhancement in orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared before treatment, at a short-term follow-up (14 days), and at the last follow-up after treatment. Results: The COVID-19-associated optic neuritis (COVID-19 ON) group exhibited 100% bilateral involvement, significantly surpassing other groups (P < 0.001). Optic disk edema was observed in 100% of COVID-19 ON cases, markedly differing from neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON) (P = 0.023). Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed distinctive long-segment lesions without intracranial involvement in T1-enhanced sequences for the COVID-19 ON group compared to the other three groups (P < 0.001). Discrepancies in optic nerve sheath involvement were noted between the COVID-19 ON group and both NMO-ON and antibody-negative optic neuritis (antibody-negative ON) groups (P = 0.028). Before treatment, no significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) existed between the COVID-19 ON group and other groups. At the 14-day follow-up, BCVA in the COVID-19 ON group outperformed the NMO-ON (P < 0.001) and antibody-negative ON (P = 0.028) groups, with no significant difference observed compared to the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein optic neuritis (MOG-ON) group. At the last follow-up after treatment, BCVA in the COVID-19 ON group significantly differed from the NMO-ON group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Optic neuritis associated with COVID-19 (COVID-19 ON) predominantly presents with bilateral onset and optic disk edema. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrates that COVID-19 ON presents as long-segment enhancement without the involvement of the intracranial segment of the optic nerve in T1-enhanced images. Glucocorticoid therapy showed positive outcomes.

Evaluation of the quality of Gastrodia elata Bl. by HPLC-DAD/MS / 药学学报

The chromatographic fingerprint of Gastrodia elata Bl. (Tianma) was developed to compare the quality of Tianma samples from different habitats and processing methods. The above analysis method was established by HPLC-DAD technique. And an HPLC method was used to analysis the contents of gastrodin (GAS) and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA) in Tianma from different habitats and processed methods. Experiments of chromatographic fingerprint analysis were carried out with a Zorbax XDB C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous acetic acid in gradient elution mode. The column was maintained at 25 degrees C. Detection was set at 270 nm. The mass spectra were recorded using as ESI source in the negative mode with ion spray voltage at 3500 V, source temperature at 335 degrees C, gas spray at 8.3 kPa and gas flow rate at 9 L x min(-1). The HPLC methods of quantitative analysis were the same as those of chromatographic fingerprint analysis except the mobile phase, which consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous acetic acid in isocratic elution mode with the ratio of 4.5 to 95.5 (v/v). Data of chromatographic fingerprint were analyzed by the "similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM (Version 2004 A)" software to compare the quality of Tianma. Samples from different habitats with the same processing method were of high similarity, though a few samples showed evident difference in fingerprint graphics. For Tianma samples with different processing methods, the contents of common peaks were different and the processing method of freezing to dry was better than others. With HPLC-MS technique, 8 major common peaks in the fingerprint of Tianma were identified by their MS spectra and comparison with the reference standards. The results of similarity analysis for chromatographic fingerprint were basically consistent with those of quantitative analysis. The established HPLC-DAD/MS methods can be used to evaluate the quality of Tianma.

Quality analysis and evaluation of Rhizoma Coptidis under different cultivation conditions / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To develop methods for the fingerprint analysis of Rhizoma Coptidis and the determination of berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine in Rhizoma Coptidis, and analyze the contents of these three alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis under different cultivation conditions, from different areas and processed with different methods.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two methods (HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS) have been developed and used in fingerprint analysis of Rhizoma Coptidis. An HPLC method was used to determine the contents of three alkaloids.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With HPLC-MS techniques, seven major chromatographic peaks in the fingerprint analysis of Rhizoma Coptidis were identified by their MS spectra and compared with the reference standards. In different cultivation conditions, shading conditions and growing ages have obvious influence on the contents of three alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis, while planting density was not the major factor that influenced the contents of three alkaloids. The contents of three alkaloids of Coptidis samples were almost higher than those of Coptidis reference material. For Coptidis samples from different cultivation area, the contents of these three alkaloids were different greatly. For Coptidis samples processed with different methods, the contents of three alkaloids were not influenced obviously by processing methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that the ecology cultivation method to replace the traditional shading method was feasible and provided the theoretical foundation for scientifically processing Rhizoma Coptidis.</p>