LC-MS/MS determination of ginsenoside compound K and its metabolite 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol in human plasma and urine: applications in a clinical study.

Aim: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is considered to be a potential therapeutic drug for rheumatoid arthritis because of its good anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this work was to establish a rapid, sensitive and specific method for determination of CK and its active metabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD). Materials & methods: The analytes and internal standards were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction.

Relationship between polymorphisms of the lipid metabolism-related gene PLA2G16 and risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese population.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in the lipid metabolism-related gene PLA2G16 encoding Group XVI phospholipase A2 and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Chinese population. A total of 185 patients with CRC and 313 healthy controls were enrolled. Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PLA2G16 were genotyped with SNPscan™.

Association between polymorphisms in and genes and development of obesity in Chinese subjects.

Introduction: The small peptide transporter 1 (PepT-1) and adipose phospholipase A2 (AdPLA) play a key role in the development of obesity. However, there are no data assessing the impact of PepT-1 () and AdPLA () variants on obesity susceptibility. Therefore, we assessed the contribution of 9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between these two genes on obesity susceptibility in Chinese subjects.

Regulation profile of the intestinal peptide transporter 1 (PepT1).

The intestinal peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) was first identified in 1994. It plays a crucial role in the absorption of small peptides including not only >400 different dipeptides and 8,000 tripeptides digested from dietary proteins but also a repertoire of structurally related compounds and drugs. Owing to its critical role in the bioavailability of peptide-like drugs, such as the anti-cancer agents and anti-virus drug, PepT1 is increasingly becoming a striking prodrug-designing target.