The usefulness of measuring n-butyric acid concentration as a new indicator of blood decomposition in forensic autopsy

In forensic medicine, although various alcohols have been reported as indicators of decomposition in collected blood, no studies have examined short-chain fatty acids as indicators. In this study, the blood n-butyric acid concentration was quantified, and the association between n-butyric acid and decomposition was investigated to determine whether the detection of n-butyric acid could be a new indicator of decomposition. Among the forensic autopsies performed from 2016 to 2018 in our laboratory, the cases were divided into decomposed (n = 20) and non-decomposed (n = 20) groups based on macroscopic findings. Blood samples collected at the time of autopsy were derivatized with 3-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride after solid-phase extraction. The n-butyric acid concentration was measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, ethanol and n-propanol were measured using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the concentrations of n-butyric acid between the decomposed and non-decomposed groups (0.343 ± 0.259 [0.030–0.973] and 0.003 ± 0.002 [0.001–0.007] mg/mL, respectively). In the decomposed group, n-butyric acid was detected at high concentrations, even in cases where n-propanol was low. These results suggest that n-butyric acid is more likely to be an indicator of blood decomposition than n-propanol.     

Redox active or thiol reactive? Optimization of rapid screens to identify less evident nuisance compounds

Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity are routinely encountered in assays at various stages of drug discovery. We observed that assays for the investigation of thiol-reactive and redox-active compounds have not been collected in a comprehensive review. Here, we review these assays and subject them to experimental optimization to improve their reliability. We demonstrate the usefulness of our assay cascade by assaying a library of bioactive compounds, chemical probes, and a set of approved drugs. These high-throughput assays should complement the array of wet-lab and in silico assays during the initial stages of hit discovery campaigns to pursue only hit compounds with tractable mechanisms of action.     

Transdermal permeation of curcumin promoted by choline geranate ionic liquid: Potential for the treatment of skin diseases

The transdermal permeation of curcumin aided by choline and geranic acid ionic liquid (CAGE-IL) was addressed as a potential treatment for skin diseases. An in-depth analysis of the effect of CAGE-IL concentration in the enhancement of transdermal permeation of curcumin was performed, and the results were modelled via nonlinear regression analysis. The results obtained showed that a low percentage of CAGE-IL (viz. 2.0%, w/w) was effective in disrupting the skin structure in a transient fashion, facilitating the passage of curcumin dissolved in it.     

Pentobarbital overdose: A case of contract killing

Suicides by pentobarbital overdose have increased since about 2012, which appear to be influenced by technical information on active euthanasia that has spread over the Internet. We encountered a pentobarbital poisoning case of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A caregiver found the patient unconscious immediately after two visitors left the room. The patient was immediately transferred to the emergency hospital but eventually declared dead. A fatal concentration of pentobarbital was detected in peripheral blood samples collected in the emergency hospital and during autopsy (53.8 μg/mL and 29.4 μg/mL, respectively). Because the ratios of pentobarbital concentrations between the gastric contents and peripheral blood were 35 and 29 in the hospital and autopsy samples, respectively, it is likely that pentobarbital was administered via the gastrostomy tube. The patient had contacted the visitors through social media. Although the patient had requested the doctor perform active euthanasia and expressed a desire to end their life on social media, nobody had noticed the plan to commit suicide.     

蒲地蓝消炎口服液联合氢定乳膏治疗PICC局部湿疹临床观察

目的观察蒲地蓝消炎口服液联合应用氢定乳膏治疗PICC局部湿疹的疗效。方法采用病例对照研究的方法,选择PICC门诊2014年1月-2018年12月PICC局部湿疹患者80例,随机分为实验组39例和对照组41例,观察组用蒲地蓝消炎口服液联合氢定乳膏加局部敷料开窗法进行护理。对照组用氢定乳膏加局部敷料开窗法,比较2组的临床疗效。结果观察组39例,总有效34例(87.18%);对照组41例,总有效23例(56.10%)。2组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论蒲地蓝消炎口服液联合氢定乳膏治疗PICC局部湿疹的效果优于对照组。     

地黄不同炮制品薄层色谱鉴别方法的建立

目的:建立地黄不同炮制品的薄层色谱鉴别方法。方法:以D-果糖、梓醇、蔗糖、棉子糖、水苏糖、蜜二糖及甘露三糖为对照品,考察提取溶剂(水,20%甲醇,50%甲醇,80%甲醇),展开剂(正丁醇-甲醇-三氯甲烷-冰乙酸-水,乙酸乙酯-吡啶-冰乙酸-水,正丁醇-冰乙酸-水),显色剂(苯胺-二苯胺-磷酸溶液,茚三酮溶液),点样量(2,4,6μL),检视条件(日光,日光底部灯,365 nm和254 nm)对薄层色谱分析的影响,确定生地黄及熟地黄饮片的供试品溶液制备方法和最佳薄层色谱条件。结果:采用薄层色谱高效硅胶G板,以正丁醇-甲醇-三氯甲烷-冰乙酸-水(13∶5∶5∶1∶2)为展开剂展开,喷以苯胺-二苯胺-磷酸溶液,110℃下加热显色,于日光底部灯下进行检视,所得地黄不同炮制品薄层色谱分离效果和显色效果较佳,斑点清晰且特征性好。结论:该薄层色谱鉴别方法操作简便易行,定性特征明显、结果直观,可有效鉴别地黄不同炮制品,并可为熟地黄的炮制终点确定提供实验依据。     

高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定性早熟女童血浆中双酚A和4-壬基酚的含量

目的：建立高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定性早熟女童血浆中双酚A和4-壬基酚含量的方法。方法：采用Shim-pack VP-ODS C18色谱柱（150 mm×4.6 mm，5 μm），流动相为乙腈∶水=70∶30，流速1 mL/min，柱温30 ℃，检测激发波长275 nm，发射波长315 nm，外标法定量检测血浆中双酚A和4-壬基酚含量。结果：双酚A和4-壬基酚分别在1.45~5 937.50 ng/mL （r2=0.999 9，n=7），1.53~6 250.00 ng/mL（r2=0.998 8，n=7）范围内线性关系良好；日内、日间RSD均<7.83%，方法回收率均>94.6%。结论：本法简便、快速、灵敏、准确，适用于同时测定性早熟女童血浆中双酚A和4-壬基酚的含量和临床血样常规检测。     

利用聚多巴胺制备丹参注射液缓释制剂的研究

目的:利用聚多巴胺(PDA)对丹参注射液中多成分进行负载,构建丹参注射液(SMI)缓释制剂(PDA-SMI)。方法:建立丹参注射液的原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸和丹酚酸B3种成分的分析方法并进行含量测定;制备PDA,在pH值2.5的条件下对SMI进行负载,制备PDA-SMI;对PDA-SMI体外释放行为进行考察。结果:SMI中原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸、丹酚酸B的浓度分别为0.344、0.214、0.262 mg/mL;PDA-SMI对原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸、丹酚酸B的载药量分别为8.59%,15.90%和20.57%;PDA-SMI中原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸、丹酚酸B体外累计释放率分别为84.05%,77.57%和63.12%。结论:PDA可以负载SMI的多种成分,载药量较高,并具有良好的缓释效应。     

Nobiletin and its derivatives overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer: total synthesis and discovery of potent MDR reversal agents

Our recent studies demonstrated that the natural product nobiletin (NOB) served as a promising multidrug resistance (MDR) reversal agent and improved the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy in vitro. However, low aqueous solubility and difficulty in total synthesis limited its application as a therapeutic agent. To tackle these challenges, NOB was synthesized in a high yield by a concise route of six steps and fourteen derivatives were synthesized with remarkable solubility and efficacy. All the compounds showed improved sensitivity to paclitaxel (PTX) in P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpressing MDR cancer cells. Among them, compound 29d exhibited water solubility 280-fold higher than NOB. A drug-resistance A549/T xenograft model showed that 29d, at a dose of 50 mg/kg co-administered with PTX (15 mg/kg), inhibited tumor growth more effective than NOB and remarkably increased PTX concentration in the tumors via P-gp inhibition. Moreover, Western blot experiments revealed that 29d inhibited expression of NRF2, phosphorylated ERK and AKT in MDR cancer cells, thus implying 29d of multiple mechanisms to reverse MDR in lung cancer.