Characterization and quantitation of aristolochic acid analogs in different parts of Aristolochiae Fructus, using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS.

Aristolochiae Fructus, a Chinese herbal medicine derived from the fruit of Aristolochia contorta Bge., contains nephrotoxic aristolochic acid analogues (AAAs). According to ancient medical texts, various medicinal parts of the fruit of A. contorta were ever used. In order to reveal which part could be safely and effectively used, it is necessary to analyze the chemical profiles of different medicinal parts. Herein we compared the chemical compositions and determined aristolochic acid I (AA-I) and aristolochic acid II (AA-II) in the four parts viz. outer pericarp, inner pericarp, septum, and seed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was applied for chemical profiling. Ultra-high performance liquid coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) was employed to quantify AA-I and AA-II in different parts. It was found that the chemical compositions of the four parts varied both qualitatively and quantitatively. A total of 10 AAAs, including 5 aristolochic acids and 5 aristolactams, together with 3 alkaloids, were unambiguously or tentatively identified by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. The quantitatively analytical results obtained by UHPLC-QqQ-MS showed that AA-I and AA-II exclusively accumulate in the seeds of A. contorta. These findings provide supporting data for the rational selection of medicinal parts.

Philadelphia chromosome-negative non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia: A case report and literature review.

The current study reports the case of a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic phase (CP) Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that also possessed characteristic enlarged lymph nodes. A lymph node biopsy resulted in the diagnosis of CP-CML, in addition to T-lymphoblastic cell NHL with negative break point cluster/Abelson tyrosine kinase fusion genes in the lymph node of the patient, which was diagnosed as Ph- NHL. A review of the literature was performed in the present study to investigate the genetic differences between Ph- NHL and Ph+ NHL in patients with CML. The median age of patients with NHL and CML was 41 years. The follow-up time of patients with Ph+ NHL was significantly shorter (mean, <6 months) compared to the follow-up time of patients with Ph- NHL (mean, >15 months). Therefore the present study concludes that Ph+ NHL may be more aggressive compared with Ph+ NHL. The present study suggests that additional studies are required to assess the clinical and genetic characteristics of NHL patients with CML.

Distinguishing Foeniculum vulgare fruit from two adulterants by combination of microscopy and GC-MS analysis.

Foeniculum vulgare fruit (FVF) is a widely used traditional medicine. However, two adulterants, namely Anethum graveolens fruit (AGF) and Cuminum cyminum fruit (CCF), have been found in use as FVF in China owing to similar appearance and odor. For the purpose of accurate differentiation of the three herbal medicines, extensive anatomical examination and chemical profiling were conducted. Using light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, the macroscopic and microscopic features of the three species were compared. It was found that some microscopic characteristics, including transverse shape of mericarp, presence or absence of reticulate cells and non-glandular hairs, as well as fluorescence of endocarp, were of diagnostic significance. Moreover, essential oils were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyzed using GC-MS. The analytical results indicated significant chemical variations in different species: in FVF, trans-anethole (83.20%) was the predominant volatile compound followed by estragole (5.03%) and limonene (3.45%), while in AGF, the first, second and third compounds with highest content were carvone (42.58%), apiol (20.76%) and limonene (20.32%), and in CCF were cuminlaldehyde (36.00%), 2-caren-10-al (23.25%) and γ-terpinene (9.65%), respectively. In conclusion, the proposed light microscopy coupled with fluorescence microscopy and/or GC-MS analysis allowed successful distinguishing FVF from AGF and CCF.

[Investigation on measles cases of new genotype D8 in Beijing, 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of measles cases of new genotype D8 in Beijing from January to June, 2013. METHODS: Epidemiological survey and descriptive analysis was conducted. RESULTS: 661 suspected measles were reported from January to June, 2013. 416 were confirmed measles cases by serology and etiology detection. 28 measles cases were caused by genotype D8 measles virus by genotype identification. There were 2 measles outbreak including 14 cases and 14 sporadic cases. The incidence peak was during April and May. 25 cases (89.3%, 25/28) occurred in downtown and suburban districts. 22 cases (78.5%, 22/28) were adults aged 15-39 years and 19 cases (67.9%, 19/28) were migrant population. 12 cases (85.7%, 12/14) in outbreak were migrant population working in clothing sales. There was epidemiological association between 2 outbreaks. CONCLUSION: Measles cases of genotype D8 were found for the first time in Beijing. Genotype D8 virus mainly infected migrant adults and caused local outbreak and endemic.