Simultaneous detection and quantitation of organic impurities in methamphetamine by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry,a complementary technique for methamphetamine profiling

The analysis of organic impurities plays an important role in the impurity profiling of methamphetamine, which in turn provides valuable information about methamphetamine manufacturing, in particular its synthetic route, chemicals, and precursors used. Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC – MS/MS) is ideally suited for this purpose due to its excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and wide linear range in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. In this study, a dilute‐and‐shoot UHPLC – MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous identification and quantitation of 23 organic manufacturing impurities in illicit methamphetamine. The developed method was validated in terms of stability, limit of detection (LOD), lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), accuracy, and precision. More than 100 illicitly prepared methamphetamine samples were analyzed. Due to its ability to detect ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and its high sensitivity for critical target markers (eg, chloro‐pseudoephedrine, N‐cyclohexylamphetamine, and compounds B and P), more impurities and precursor/pre‐precursors were identified and quantified versus the current procedure by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC – MS). Consequently, more samples could be classified by their synthetic routes. However, the UHPLC – MS/MS method has difficulty in detecting neutral and untargeted emerging manufacturing impurities and can therefore only serve as a complement to the current method. Despite this deficiency, the quantitative information acquired by the presented UHPLC – MS/MS methodology increased the sample discrimination power, thereby enhancing the capacity of methamphetamine profiling program (MPP) to conduct sample‐sample comparisons.     

"六经为川,肠胃为海"内涵探析

基于中医学整体观念,运用取象比类的方法,借自然界"川""海"之象进一步阐释"六经"之经与腑的双重含义,以及"肠胃为海"在气血化生、津液输布、糟粕传化、扶正培本方面的内涵.指出"六经"与"肠胃"在生理上彼此依存、病理上相互影响.在现代肠道研究中,肠道消化吸收营养物质、排泄代谢废物,体现了肠胃为"气血生化之海""津液输布之海""糟粕传化之海".肠道菌群促进肠黏膜免疫系统的发育并参与调节机体免疫,体现了肠胃为"扶正培本之海".肠神经系统与内分泌系统通过脑-肠轴的双向调控,如同六经与肠胃之间的海川循环,彼此依存、生生不息.通过探析"六经为川,肠胃为海"在肠道各功能网络中的内涵,揭示象思维在中西医整合医学发展中的重要作用,为挖掘经典及科研创新开辟思路.     

Comparison of phosphotungstate and dextran sulfate-Mg2+ precipitation procedures for determination of high density lipoprotein cholesterol

Because of the controversy over the best method for assaying high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the clinical laboratory, a commonly used phosphotungstate method for precipitating low density and very low density lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL) was compared with a recently recommended dextran sulfate precipitation method. The accuracy and precision of HDL cholesterol determinations were similar for both methods. Either of these procedures would appear to be equally satisfactory for the assay of HDL cholesterol in the clinical laboratory.     

Conventional Versus Computer-Assisted Technique for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Minimum of 5-Year Follow-up of 200 Patients in a Prospective Randomized Comparative Trial

In the literature, studies of computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) after mid-term period are not conclusive and long-term data are rare. In a prospective, randomized, comparative study 100 conventional TKAs (group REG) were compared with 100 computer-assisted TKAs (group NAV). Minimum follow-up was 5 years. No difference in implant failure was found with 1.1% in group NAV versus 4.6% in group REG (P = 0.368). Group NAV showed a significantly less mean deviation of mechanical limb axis (P = 0.015), more TKAs (90% versus 81% in group REG) were within 3° varus/valgus and a higher tibial slope and lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA) accuracy was found (P ≤ 0.034). Clinical investigational parameters showed no differences (P ≥ 0.058). Insall and HSS score total were also higher in group NAV (P ≤ 0.016).     

A gender-based comparison of academic rank and scholarly productivity in academic neurological surgery

The number of women pursuing training opportunities in neurological surgery has increased, although they are still underrepresented at senior positions relative to junior academic ranks. Research productivity is an important component of the academic advancement process. We sought to use the h-index, a bibliometric previously analyzed among neurological surgeons, to evaluate whether there are gender differences in academic rank and research productivity among academic neurological surgeons. The h-index was calculated for 1052 academic neurological surgeons from 84 institutions, and organized by gender and academic rank. Overall men had statistically higher research productivity (mean 13.3) than their female colleagues (mean 9.5), as measured by the h-index, in the overall sample (p < 0.0007). When separating by academic rank, there were no statistical differences (p > 0.05) in h-index at the assistant professor (mean 7.2 male, 6.3 female), associate professor (11.2 male, 10.8 female), and professor (20.0 male, 18.0 female) levels based on gender. There was insufficient data to determine significance at the chairperson rank, as there was only one female chairperson. Although overall gender differences in scholarly productivity were detected, these differences did not reach statistical significance upon controlling for academic rank. Women were grossly underrepresented at the level of chairpersons in this sample of 1052 academic neurological surgeons, likely a result of the low proportion of females in this specialty. Future studies may be needed to investigate gender-specific research trends for neurosurgical residents, a cohort that in recent years has seen increased representation by women.     

药品检验用营养琼脂培养基的质量评价

目的:研究我国当前药品检验用营养琼脂培养基的整体质量水平,探索敏感性强的培养基质量评价方法。方法:以生长率和菌落直径为指标,使用5种质控菌对国内外7个培养基厂商的营养琼脂培养基进行质量评价,并与对照培养基进行比较。结果:所有培养基对5种质控菌株的生长率均大于0.7;被检培养基中有1个厂家的产品在菌落直径指标上劣于对照培养基,且对2种产色细菌的色素生成量和速度均弱于对照培养基。结论:我国当前药品检验用营养琼脂培养基整体质量还缺乏稳定性;菌落形态大小是判断营养琼脂培养基质量优劣的一种敏感性强的方法。     

2013年江苏省医药产业发展报告

目前,江苏省医药产业发展位居全国前列,但仍存在诸多不足,极大地影响了其可持续发展。通过资料查询．将江苏省与山东、河南、广东、浙江等医药产业重点省份进行比较,多方位分析江苏省医药产业发展现状,揭示眼下全省医药产业发展中的主要问题所在,为全省医药产业健康发展建言献策。