Unknown Substance Research Articles

A novel system for separation and purification of egg pigments from the nondiapause red-egg mutant Re-nd in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Re-nd, which was induced from the wild-type C108 by the chemical mutagen N-methane-N-methylnitrourea, is a nondiapause red-egg mutant of silkworm Bombyx mori. The special significance of the Re-nd mutant is that it is an independent dominant mutant. The aim of this study was to establish the type of pigment responsible for the red coloration in the Re-nd mutant eggs in silkworm. We compared the eggs of Re-nd mutants with those of the other B. mori egg color strains and confirmed that the Re-nd mutant is the only strain with red color and red pigment granules in nondiapause, showing this mutant belongs to the pigmentation in the serosa. We speculated that the red substance, which contributed to the bright red pigmentation for nondiapause eggs of the Re-nd mutant, could potentially be a novel pigment according to its solubility, optimum absorption peak, and oxidation-reduction reaction. Moreover, we have successfully constituted the system for enrichment, extraction, and purification of the red substance responsible for the Re-nd mutant, providing a new method for the separation and purification of other known and unknown pigments or substances.

Chemotype variations among lichen ecotypes of Umbilicaria aprina as revealed by LC-ESI-MS/MS: a survey of antioxidant phenolics.

In the present study, we characterized the phytochemical properties, which were specifically associated with phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in six distinct ecotypes of Umbilicaria aprina Nyl. from Iran (including Kivarestan, Mishan, Takht-e Nader, Tochal, Sabalan, and Sahand) to detect diversities within the species. Total phenolic concentration (TPC) and radical scavenging capacities of U. aprina ecotypes were evaluated. Moreover, qualitative differences between chemical profiles were surveyed using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Relatively moderate TPCs (Kivarestan = 36.12 ± 2.1, Mishan = 41.59 ± 2.2, Takht-e Nader = 31.85 ± 1.3, Tochal = 37.55 ± 2.3, Sabalan = 28.91 ± 2.5, and Sahand = 31.59 ± 2.2) were observed for ecotypes, but a very strong correlation (r = -0/842) was obtained between TPCs and IC50 values. Based on the results of LC-ESI-MS/MS, the following chemical substances were identified: orsellinic acid (1), lecanoric acid (2), evernic acid (3), gyrophoric acid (4), umbilicaric acid (5), hiascic acid (6), stictic acid (7) methyl hiascic acid (8), and an unknown substance (9). The MS/MS fragmentation scheme for each substance was determined and proposed. Wide discrepancies were observed in the chemical profiles of lichen ecotypes, which may corroborate the influence of ecological locality conditions, for example, altitude and slope aspects on secondary metabolism of lichen species U. aprina. The north-facing and east-facing ecotypes (Sabalan and Mishan, respectively) lacked depsidones (stictic acid) mainly because they receive the least direct radiation. Mishan ecotype, as the only east-facing ecotype, showed the most different chemical profile.

Analysis of unknowns in recycled LDPE plastic by LC-Orbitrap Tribrid HRMS using MS3 with an intelligent data acquisition mode

A new automated approach has been developed for the fast investigation of unknown substances (NIAS/IAS) in recycled LDPE plastic that could be used for food contact material (FCM). The pipeline setup includes an intelligent data acquisition with AcquireX™ linked to LC-Orbitrap Tribrid-HRMS (MS3) and coupled to Compound Discoverer data processing. Twenty-eight unknown compounds were tentatively identified using very restrictive criteria that includes exact mass, isotopic profile, MS2 match, retention time and MS3 match. Most of the identified compounds were additives, mainly plasticizers, used in different plastic applications. To check for the safety of the migration of these compounds for food contact material applications of the LDPE recycled plastic, a risk assessment was performed using mainly the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) approach. The migration of the identified compounds does not represent a risk.

Temporal changes in non-fatal opioid overdose patterns among people who use drugs in a Canadian setting

Background and Aims: Little is known about how the expansion of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and emergence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply in North America has influenced non-fatal opioid overdose (NFOD) risk. Therefore, we sought to identify patterns of substance use and addiction treatment engagement (i.e., OAT, other inpatient or outpatient treatment) prior to NFOD, as well as the trends and correlates of each pattern among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, Canada. Methods: Data were derived from participants in three prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver in 2009–2016. Observations from participants reporting opioid-related NFOD in the previous six months were included. A latent class analysis was used to identify classes based on substances used at the time of last NFOD and addiction treatment engagement in the month prior to the last NFOD. Multivariable generalized estimating equations estimated the correlates of each class membership. Results: In total, 889 observations from 570 participants were included. Four distinct classes were identified: (1) polysubstance use (PSU) and addiction treatment engagement; (2) PSU without treatment engagement; (3) exposure to unknown substances, mostly without treatment engagement; and (4) primary heroin users without treatment engagement. The class of exposure to unknown substances appeared in 2015 and became the dominant group (76.9%) in 2016. In multivariable analyses, the odds of membership in the class of primary heroin users decreased over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68–0.81). Conclusions: Changing profiles of PWUD reporting opioid-related NFOD were seen over time. Notably, there was a sudden increase in reports of overdose following exposure to unknown substances since 2015, the majority of whom reported no recent addiction treatment engagement. Further study into patterns of substance use and strategies to improve addiction treatment engagement is needed to improve and focus overdose prevention efforts.

An Amputated Tongue—The Consequences of a Human Bite

Drug-related hospital admissions are common, and up to 25% of patients presenting to emergency departments with injuries test positive for alcohol and drug use. This case reports on a 55-year-old male who attended the emergency department (ED) at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK. He presented after sustaining significant soft tissue trauma to his tongue, following recreational drug use of an unknown substance. His injuries included the amputation and loss of the anterior third of his tongue, having suffered a bite from another individual. This unusual case describes the patient’s injuries and subsequent management, both in the emergency department and during follow-up. This case will be of benefit to clinicians from many disciplines including dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons and speech and language therapists.

Using fiber-optic sensors to give insight into liquid-solid phase transitions in pure fluids and mixtures

Fiber optic sensors offer a new and unique way to detect and analyze phase transitions, due to their small thermal mass and inert material. This paper presents and demonstrates a dual-sensor system to detect and analyze phase transitions in pure water and aqueous ethanol mixtures. With a multi-mode interferometer based on a thin-core fiber, and a fiber Bragg grating sensor, it is possible to differentiate between refractive index, temperature and strain in the sample system. The three parameters supply important information during a phase transition, but also in the characterization of the liquid and solid phases. Binary mixtures at non-eutectic concentrations are expected to separate into a solid phase consisting of only one constituent, and the sensors are demonstrated to be able to estimate the concentration in the remaining liquid phase. For pure water and low ethanol concentrations, the progression of the phase transition was found to be limited by heat transfer, whereas for higher concentrations the process becomes mass transfer limited. In pure water, strain due to thermal expansion of the ice hinderes temperature measurements in the solid phase. The reflection-based geometry enables insertion probes that measure the properties inside the samples, with little or no disturbance of the system. By interpreting the sensor response in a known system, the sensing capabilities in unknown substances can be evaluated. The sensor system is able to capture the dynamics of the phase transition, which can be difficult to predict theoretically due to the multitude of contributing effects. Analysis of the combined signal from the two sensors enables the determination of the ethanol mixture melting points in agreement with the literature, within the uncertainty of the system (0.25 K).

Laboratory monitoring of patients with hereditary tyrosinemia type I

BackgroundThe prognosis of patients with Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 (HT-1) has greatly improved with early detection through newborn screening and the introduction of nitisinone (NTBC) therapy. A recent guideline calls for periodic monitoring of biochemical markers and NTBC levels to tailor treatment; however, this is currently only achieved through a combination of clinical laboratory tests. We developed a multiplexed assay measuring relevant amino acids, succinylacetone (SUAC), and NTBC in dried blood spots (DBS) to facilitate treatment monitoring. MethodsTyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, NTBC and SUAC were eluted from DBS with methanol containing internal standards for each analyte and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry over 6.5 min in the multiple reaction monitoring positive mode. ResultsPre-analytical and analytical factors were studied and demonstrated a reliable assay. Chromatography resolved an unknown substance that falsely elevates SUAC concentrations and was present in all samples. To establish control and disease ranges, the method was applied to DBS collected from controls (n = 284) and affected patients before (n = 2) and after initiation of treatment (n = 29). In the treated patients SUAC concentrations were within the normal range over a wide range of NTBC levels. ConclusionsThis assay enables combined, accurate measurement of revelevant metabolites and NTBC in order to simplify treatment monitoring of patients with HT-1. In addition, the use of DBS allows for specimen collection at home to facilitate more standardization in relation to drug and dietary treatment.

Anomalous fluorescence of white hair compared to other unpigmented keratin fibres.

To demonstrate that the tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence of natural white hair is much weaker than other unpigmented keratin fibres such as wool, cashmere, rabbit hair and mink fur, and to explore possible reasons for this behaviour. The origin of the blue visible fluorescence (~450nm) excited by UVA radiation in the range 360-380nm, often associated with Trp degradation products, is also discussed and compared to other fibrous and globular proteins. As the fluorescence spectrum of keratin fibres usually contains at least two major features, a visual comparison is more effectively demonstrated by creating a 3D contour plot of excitation versus emission wavelength, which is sometimes referred to as an excitation emission matrix (EEM). The Trp fluorescence from white hair is very much weaker than for wool, cashmere, rabbit hair and mink fur, but its visible fluorescence emission is stronger. Oxidation and reduction have little effect on the Trp intensity, which suggests quenching by cystine is not a major factor. Decuticulation of hair fibres had no effect on the Trp intensity showing that the increased number of cuticle scales surrounding the fibre cortex is not responsible. Trp fluorescence is very sensitive to exposure to UVB wavelengths, so possibly its low intensity in hair is due to greater levels of environmental exposure to sunlight than the other fibres examined. Trp fluorescence from natural white hair is either extremely weak or completely absent, in contrast to the four other keratin fibres examined. It is possible that environmental exposure to UV wavelengths presents in sunlight contributes to a reduction in the Trp fluorescence intensity of white hair. However, another explanation is that Trp is quenched, by either an unknown substance introduced into hair during keratinization or as a result of regular exposure to personal care products, which may interact with Trp or tyrosine residues and disrupt the energy transfer process involved in keratin fluorescence. Further studies will be required to definitively determine the cause.

Development of an Electrochemical Method Employing Carbon Screen-Printed Electrodes (C-SPEs) for Detection and Study of MDMA Redox Process

According to ONU reports, the use of abusive drugs has increased, requiring sensitive techniques for the detection of these substances [1]. This interconnection brings a scenario in which chemical detection of narcotics by conventional, low-cost methods is necessary for drug control. Thus, instrumental analytical techniques appear as indispensable tools for analysis of unknown substances in the forensic field because of their ability to bring low detection limits and selectivity. Thus, the carbon Screen-Printed electrode was elected to develop an electroanalytical method and to study the electrochemical behavior of MDMA for its drug detection potential, low cost, and easy applicability. So, our objective was to develop an electrochemical method with Carbon Screen-Printed electrodes for MDMA detection and study of its redox processes.Palmsens ® Screen-Printed electrodes were utilized in this work. The behavior de the redox processes of MDMA were carried out with a 1.3×10-3 mol L-1 solution in 0.1 mol L-1 phosphate buffer (PBS) at 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0 pH, since MDMA structure can be protonated at the amino group and turns easier the π orbitals delocalization [2]. The MDMA quantification method development utilized PBS 0.1 M at pH 9.0. The absence of cathodic peaks narrowed the sweeps just as anodic. Thus, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Linear Sweep Stripping Voltammetry (LSSV), Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPSV), and Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry (SWSV) were employed. Adulterants such as caffeine (0.31 mmol L-1), lidocaine (0.25 mmol L-1), acetaminophen (0.66 mmol L-1), AAS (0.28 mmol L-1) and phenacetin (0.56 mmol L-1) were utilized to observe possible interference in the MDMA detection.The scan rate study indicated that the anodic peak currents are directly proportional the square root of the scan speed in the range from 5 to 100 mV s-1, indicating that the electron transfer reaction of the MDMA on the electrode is diffusion controlled, as predicted by Randles-Sevcik equation. Using carbon SPE, the influence on the change of electrolyte pH through CV was evaluated. Its It was observed that the best currents are obtained at pH 9.0 with supporting electrolyte in 0.1 mol L-1 concentration. For the development of the analytical method, the investigation of the redox processes of MDMA were obtained with LSSV, SWSV and DPSV. The LSSV modality presented the best peak resolution (1.92 ×10-4 AV-1) when compared to SWSV (9.26 × 10-5 AV-1) and DPSV (1.7 × 10-5 AV-1) ). Using LSSV, the equilibrium time parameter was optimized (2.5 to 80 s), such as MDMA preconcentration potential (-1 to 1 V), electrodeposition time (20 to 600 s), and scan speed (5 to 100 mV.s-1) in the potential range from 0.2 to 1.2 V. The best oxidation currents of MDMA were observed at 10 s equilibrium time, -0.5 V preconcentration potential, and electrodeposition time of 20s, using ν = 20 mV.s-1. The merit figures for the developed method were evaluated through analytical curves. PBS solutions at pH 9.0 were prepared with MDMA concentrations ranging from 8.0×10-5 to 1.3×10-3 mol L-1. The analytical curve showed a linear range in this concentration range with detection limit of 7.3×10-5 mol L-1, amperometric sensitivity of 1.43×10-2 A.mol-1.L and linear correlation coefficient of 0.998. Just lidocaine and phenacetin showed electroactivity in this method, but did not demonstrate interference at MDMA response. The results indicated that the analytical method proposed using linear sweep stripping voltammetry showed good analytical performance indicating that the proposed electrode are able to the detection and determination of MDMA in ecstasy samples. Acknowledgements FAPESP (process n°2019/04439-3, and 2016/23825-3) and CAPES (Pro-Forenses 25/2014).

Mass-Spectrometry-Based Identification of Synthetic Drug Isomers Using Infrared Ion Spectroscopy.

Infrared ion spectroscopy (IRIS), a mass-spectrometry-based technique exploiting resonant infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD), has been applied for the identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Identification of the precise isomeric forms of NPS is of significant forensic relevance since legal controls are dependent on even minor molecular differences such as a single ring-substituent position. Using three isomers of fluoroamphetamine and two ring-isomers of both MDA and MDMA, we demonstrate the ability of IRIS to distinguish closely related NPS. Computationally predicted infrared (IR) spectra are shown to correspond with experimental spectra and could explain the molecular origins of their distinctive IR absorption bands. IRIS was then used to investigate a confiscated street sample containing two unknown substances. One substance could easily be identified by comparison to the IR spectra of reference standards. For the other substance, however, this approach proved inconclusive due to incomplete mass spectral databases as well as a lack of available reference compounds, two common analytical limitations resulting from the rapid development of NPS. Most excitingly, the second unknown substance could nevertheless be identified by using computationally predicted IR spectra of several potential candidate structures instead of their experimental reference spectra.

Potential endocrine disrupting properties of toys for babies and infants.

Plastic toys mouthed by children may be a source of exposure to endocrine active substances. The purpose of this study was to measure hormonal activity of substances leaching from toys and to identify potential endocrine disruptors causing that activity. For this purpose, migration experiments of toys were conducted in saliva simulants. The CALUX® assays were used to detect (anti-) estrogenic and (anti-) androgenic activity of 18 toys. Chemical trace analysis-namely, GC-MS and HPLC-MS- was used to identify which compounds may be responsible for endocrine activity in the sample migrates. Nine out of 18 tested toys showed significant estrogenic activity. For two samples, the detected estrogenic activity could be well explained by detecting the known endocrine active substance bisphenol A (BPA). For all identified substances, including BPA, a risk assessment for human health was performed by comparing the exposure dose, calculated based on the determined substance concentration, to toxicological reference values. Using worst-case scenarios, the exposure to BPA by mouthing of the two estrogen active, BPA-containing toys could be above the temporary TDI that EFSA has calculated. This demonstrates that some toys could significantly contribute to the total exposure to BPA of babies and infants. For seven out of nine estrogen active samples, the source of the estrogen activity could not be explained by analysis for 41 known or suspected endocrine active substances in plastic, indicating that the estrogen activities were caused by currently unknown endocrine active substances, or by endocrine active substances that would currently not be suspected in toys.

An analytical study of iboga alkaloids contained in Tabernanthe iboga-derived products offered by ibogaine treatment providers

Abstract Background Therapeutic properties of ibogaine in the treatment of addiction are attracting both clinicians and patients to its use. Since ibogaine is not an authorized medicine, the quality of these products is not always known, increasing the probability of adverse reactions. Objective This study collects different types of iboga-derived samples from treatment providers, vendors and online buyers to analyse their content. Methods Analysis of iboga products (n = 16) was performed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry methods (GC/MS). Products included Iboga root bark, Total Alkaloids (TA), Purified Total Alkaloids (PTA HCl), ibogaine hydrochloride (ibogaine HCl) and one Voacanga africana root bark. Results The content of ibogaine was highly variable, ranging from 0.6% to 11.2% for products sold as iboga root bark, from 8.2% to 32.9% for products sold as TA, 73.7% for one sample sold as PTA and from 61.5% to 73.4% for products sold as ibogaine HCl. One sample did not show any iboga alkaloids. Other alkaloids and unknown substances were found in almost all samples. Discussion The purity of iboga products is highly variable. These results should be taken into consideration by suppliers and users, especially regarding correct dosing to avoid overdose, as well as potential interactions with other substances.

A role for metabolomics in the antidoping toolbox?

Evidence of the continuous rise of novel doping agents and novel doping strategies calls for the development of more accurate multi-target screening methods. Direct multi-target screening approaches are restricted to the targeted substances and their turnover. The development of effective "indirect" screening methods requires a priori a deep understanding of the metabolism of the substance. The biological passport has been demonstrated to be very effective, but it is limited to about 20 indirect parameters. The standard antidoping analytical methods are hence targeted and do not aim directly to identify unknown substances. Also, the detection of doping agents is limited by the excretion of the substance. This study considers metabolomics for the screening of performance enhancing hormone abuse by athletes, based on the following pieces of evidence: (1) hormones have a strong influence on human metabolism, changing several parameters in many tissues, organs, and bio-fluids; (2) metabolomics has been demonstrated to be a very accurate tool to depict the metabolic status of several organisms, tissues, and for several human diseases, including hormone deficiencies; (3) metabolomics has been demonstrated to be able to distinguish hormone-treated animals from controls in many species, without the need for a priori knowledge of the metabolism for the specific substance. The literature shows that metabolomics could be an appropriate tool to detect hormone abuse, keeping in mind the strength and the limitation of such an approach.

Investigation of Temporal Apparent C4 Sugar Change in Manuka Honey.

New Zealand manuka honeys are known for their propensity to increase apparent C4 sugar content during storage. Depending on the particular storage regime and the initial content of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in honey, the ready-to-market product often fails the C4 sugar test because of the above phenomenon. We have used DHA labeled with a radioactive 14C isotope in a set of honeys subject to an incubation experiment. These honeys were analyzed for DHA, methylglyoxal (MG), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), apparent C4 sugars, and 14C scintillation counts over a period of 18 months. The major conclusion of this experiment is that neither DHA nor MG is responsible for the δ13C shift in the honey protein extract. There must be some other yet unknown substance of manuka honey, which binds to the protein and causes negative δ13C shift. One identified candidate for such a binding is carbon dioxide.

Types and clinical outcomes of chemical ingestion in emergency departments in South Korea (2011-2016).

This study aims to provide basic data on the types and frequency of chemical ingestions and the clinical outcomes of chemical ingestion injury. This study retrospectively analyzed the data obtained from the Emergency Department-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (South Korea) from 2011 to 2016. Patients ingesting chemicals aged ≥ 18 years were included, but those ingesting unknown chemical substances or with unknown clinical outcomes were excluded. This study included 2,712 (47.2% were men and 52.8% were women, mean age, 47.05 years) patients ingesting chemicals. Unintentional and intentional ingestions were reported in 1,673 (61.7%) and 1,039 (38.3%), respectively. The most commonly ingested chemical substances were hypochlorites, detergents, ethanol, and acetic acid. In the unintentional ingestion group, the most common chemicals upon admission were hypochlorites (74), glacial acetic acid (60), and detergent (33). The admission rates were 60% for glacial acetic acid, 58.3% ethylene glycol, and 30.4% other alkali agents. In the intentional ingestion group, the most common chemicals upon admission were hypochlorites (242), glacial acetic acid (79), ethylene glycol (42), and detergent (41). The admission rates were 91.9% for glacial acetic acid, 87.5% ethylene glycol, 85.7% potassium cyanide, and 81.4% hydrochloric acid. In total, 79 deaths (10 unintentional ingestions, 69 intentional ingestion) were reported, and glacial acetic acid had an odds ratio of 9.299 for mortality. We compared the intentional and unintentional ingestion groups, and analyzed the factors affecting hospital admission and mortality in each group. The types and clinical outcomes of chemical ingestion varied depending on the purpose of chemical ingestion. The findings are considered beneficial in establishing treatment policies for patients ingesting chemicals.

Evaluation of the Suitability of Mammalian In Vitro Assays to Assess the Genotoxic Potential of Food Contact Materials.

Background: Non-targeted screening of food contact materials (FCM) for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) reveals a great number of unknown and unidentified substances present at low concentrations. In the absence of toxicological data, the application of the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) or of EU Regulation 10/2011 requires methods able to fulfill safety threshold criteria. In this review, mammalian in vitro genotoxicity assays are analyzed for their ability to detect DNA-damaging substances at limits of biological detection (LOBD) corresponding to the appropriate safety thresholds. Results: The ability of the assays to detect genotoxic effects varies greatly between substance classes. Especially for direct-acting mutagens, the assays lacked the ability to detect most DNA reactive substances below the threshold of 10 ppb, making them unsuitable to pick up potential genotoxicants present in FCM migrates. However, suitability for the detection of chromosomal damage or investigation of other modes of action makes them a complementary tool as part of a standard test battery aimed at giving additional information to ensure safety. Conclusion: improvements are necessary to comply with regulatory thresholds to consider mammalian genotoxicity in vitro assays to assess FCM safety.

RcLS2F - A Novel Fungal Class 1 KDAC Co-repressor Complex in Aspergillus nidulans.

The fungal class 1 lysine deacetylase (KDAC) RpdA is a promising target for prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infection. RpdA is essential for survival of the most common air-borne mold pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. In A. nidulans, RpdA depletion induced production of previously unknown small bioactive substances. As known from yeasts and mammals, class 1 KDACs act as components of multimeric protein complexes, which previously was indicated also for A. nidulans. Composition of these complexes, however, remained obscure. In this study, we used tandem affinity purification to characterize different RpdA complexes and their composition in A. nidulans. In addition to known class 1 KDAC interactors, we identified a novel RpdA complex, which was termed RcLS2F. It contains ScrC, previously described as suppressor of the transcription factor CrzA, as well as the uncharacterized protein FscA. We show that recruitment of FscA depends on ScrC and we provide clear evidence that ΔcrzA suppression by ScrC depletion is due to a lack of transcriptional repression caused by loss of the novel RcLS2F complex. Moreover, RcLS2F is essential for sexual development and engaged in an autoregulatory feed-back loop.

Clinical Prescription-Protein-Small Molecule-Disease Strategy (CPSD), A New Strategy for Chinese Medicine Development: A Case Study in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Chinese medicine is a national treasure that has been passed down for thousands of years in China. According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, there are currently four billion people in the world who use Chinese medicine to treat diseases, accounting for 80% of the world’s total population. However, the obscurity of its theory, its unmanageable quality, its complex compositions, and the unknown effective substances and mechanisms are great obstacles to the internationalization of Chinese medicine. Here, we propose a new strategy for the development of Chinese medicine: the clinical prescription (C)-protein (P)-small-molecule (S)-disease (D) strategy, namely the CPSD strategy. The strategy uses clinical prescriptions as the source of medicine and uses computer simulation technology to find small-molecule drugs targeting therapeutic proteins for treating specific diseases so as to deepen awareness of the value of Chinese medicine. At the same time, this article takes cardiovascular drug development as an example to introduce the application of CPSD, which will be instrumental in the further development, modernization, and internationalization of Chinese medicine.

Identification of ‘Voodoo’: an emerging substance of abuse in Egypt

ABSTRACT Background: ‘Voodoo’ is a new substance of abuse that recently spread among youth in Egypt. It has numerous potentially dangerous effects on humans. However, to date the composition of the main constituents of this compound is unknown. Purpose: We sought to identify the active components of this unknown substance”voodoo”. Methods: Three samples were collected and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Results: HPLC-PAD analysis showed that samples 1 and 2 had some common major peaks, the same retention time, and similar spectra, whereas sample 3 showed different peaks. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of various putatively identified bioactive compounds, including quinazolines, morphinan alkaloid, cannabinoids, penitrem A, and the well-known synthetic cannabinoid FUB-AMB (methyl(2S)-2-{[1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}-3 methylbutanoate). UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of common compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, tramadol, and oxazepam. Conclusion: We concluded that Voodoo is a mixture of substances of abuse at varying concentrations.

Hyperspectral Band Selection for Spectral–Spatial Anomaly Detection

Owing to significantly improved spectral resolution, a hyperspectral imaging sensor can now uncover many unknown subtle material substances. In many cases, anomalies are usually embedded in the background. To develop a means through which these anomalies may be detected and separated from the background, we propose a spectral-spatial anomaly detection method based on a selected band subset. To be specific, we constrain an unsupervised network by making full use of the underlying physical characteristics which are beneficial to hyperspectral anomaly detection. Based on that, a selection criterion is constructed to adaptively select a subset of bands that essentially contain discriminative and informative features between the anomaly and background in an unsupervised manner. Then, the selected bands are simultaneously inputted into the spatial detector and spectral detector. To overcome the deficiencies of detecting anomalies in only one aspect, an adaptive combination of spatial result and the spectral result is introduced. Finally, a simple and powerful iterative suppression is conducted on the initial detection map to further reduce false alarm rate while ensuring detection capability. Extensive empirical researches performed on eighteen publicly available hyperspectral images (HSIs) of different sizes over different scenes demonstrate that our proposed method can achieve an average detection capability of 0.99564, and the average false alarm rate is one order of magnitude lower than the second one.