Dinuclear Titanium(III)-Catalyzed Radical-Type Kinetic Resolution of Epoxides for the Enantioselective Synthesis of cis-Glycidic Esters.

Glycidic esters represent pivotal constituents in synthetic chemistry, offering enhanced versatility for tailoring toward a diverse array of molecular targets in comparison with simple epoxides. While considerable progress has been made in the asymmetric synthesis of trans- and trisubstituted glycidic esters, achieving enantioselective preparation of cis-glycidic esters has remained a long-standing challenge. Here, we demonstrate a selectivity-predictable modular platform for the asymmetric synthesis of cis-glycidic esters via a novel dinuclear (salen)titanium(III)-catalyzed radical-type kinetic resolution (KR) approach. This radical KR protocol operates under mild conditions and demonstrates a wide substrate scope, facilitating the synthesis of alkyl- and aryl-substituted cis-glycidic esters with high levels of regioselectivity and enantioselectivity, along with hydroxy ester byproducts representing synthetically valuable motifs as well. This study presents a unique exploration of radical-type KR applied to epoxides, effectively overcoming the steric challenges inherent in conventional nucleophilic-type methodologies typically employed in epoxide chemistry.

[Anti-tumor mechanism of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma on inducing ferroptosis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells].

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma in inducing the ferroptosis of MCF-7 cells and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of breast cancer with total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was employed to examine the effects of different concentrations of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. A phase contrast inverted microscope was used to observe the morphological changes of MCF-7 cells. The colony formation assay was employed to test the colony formation of MCF-7 cells. The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release test was conducted to determine the cell membrane integrity of MCF-7 cells. The cell scratch assay was employed to examine the migration of MCF-7 cells. After that, the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in MCF-7 cells was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope, and the content of Fe~(2+) in MCF-7 cells was detected by the corresponding kit. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure of MCF-7 cells. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, such as p53, solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11), glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4), and transferrin receptor protein 1(TFR1) in MCF-7 cells. The results showed that 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 µg·mL~(-1) total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, with the IC_(50) of 4.12 µg·mL~(-1). Total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma significantly damaged the morphology of MCF-7 cells, leading to the formation of vacuoles and the gradual shrinkage and detachment of cells. Meanwhile, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma inhibited the colony formation of MCF-7 cells, destroyed the cell membrane(leading to the release of LDH), and shortened the migration distance of MCF-7 cells. Total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma treatment significantly increased the content of ROS, induced oxidative damage, and led to the accumulation of Fe~(2+) in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma changed the mitochondrial structure, increased the mitochondrial membrane density, led to the decrease or even disappear of ridges, promoted the expression of p53 protein, down-regulated the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and up-regulated the expression of ACSL4 and TFR1. In summary, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 cells and destroy the cell structure by inducing ferroptosis.

Activation of GPR55 Ameliorates Maternal Separation-Induced Learning and Memory Deficits by Augmenting 5-HT Synthesis in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus of Juvenile Mice.

Maternal separation (MS) represents a profound early life stressor with enduring impacts on neuronal development and adult cognitive function in both humans and rodents. MS is associated with persistent dysregulations in neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonin (5-HT) pathway, which is pivotal for mood stabilization and stress-coping mechanisms. Although the novel cannabinoid receptor, GPR55, is recognized for its influence on learning and memory, its implications on the function and synaptic dynamics of 5-HT neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) remain to be elucidated. In this study, we sought to discern the repercussions of GPR55 activation on 5-HT synthesis within the DRN of adult C57BL/6J mice that experienced MS. Concurrently, we analyzed potential alterations in excitatory synaptic transmission, long-term synaptic plasticity, and relevant learning and memory outcomes. Our behavioral assessments indicated a marked amelioration in MS-induced learning and memory deficits following GPR55 activation. In conjunction with this, we noted a substantial decrease in 5-HT levels in the MS model, while GPR55 activation stimulated tryptophan hydroxylase 2 synthesis and fostered the release of 5-HT. Electrophysiological patch-clamp analyses highlighted the ability of GPR55 activation to alleviate MS-induced cognitive deficits by modulating the frequency and magnitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents within the DRN. Notably, this cognitive enhancement was underpinned by the phosphorylation of both NMDA and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. In summary, our findings underscore the capacity of GPR55 to elevate 5-HT synthesis and modify synaptic transmissions within the DRN of juvenile mice, positing GPR55 as a promising therapeutic avenue for ameliorating MS-induced cognitive impairment.

[Sinomenine inhibits PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway to reduce RA-FLS migration induced by NETs].

This study aims to decipher the mechanism of sinomenine in inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor receptor(PDGF/PDGFR) signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis-fibroblast-like synoviocyte(RA-FLS) migration induced by neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs). RA-FLS was isolated from the synovial tissue of 3 RA patients and cultured. NETs were extracted from the peripheral venous blood of 4 RA patients and 4 healthy control(HC). RA-FLS was classified into control group, HC-NETs group, RA-NETs group, RA-NETs+sinomenine group and RA-NETs+sinomenine+CP-673451 group. RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq) was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes between HC-NETs and RA-NETs groups. Sangerbox was used to perform the Gene Ontology(GO) function and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment. Cytoscape was employed to build the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network. AutoDock Vina and PyMOL were used for molecular docking of sinomenine with PDGFß and PDGFRß. The cell proliferation and migration were determined by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and cell scratch assay, respectively. Western blot was employed to determine the protein level of PDGFRß. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was carried out to determine the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs). The results revealed that neutrophils in RA patients were more likely to produce NETs. Compared with HC-NETs group, RA-NETs group showed up-regulated expression of PDGFß and PDGFRß. Compared with control group, RA-NETs group showed increased cell proliferation and migration and up-regulated protein level of PDGFRß and mRNA levels of PDGFß, PDGFRß, MMP1, MMP3, and MMP9(P<0.05). Compared with RA-NETs group, RA-NETs+sinomenine group presented decreased cell proliferation and migration and down-regulated protein and mRNA level of PDGFRß and mRNA levels of MMP1, MMP3, and MMP9(P<0.05). Compared with RA-NETs+sinomenine group, the proliferation ability of RA-NETs+sinomenine+CP-673451 group decreased(P<0.05). The findings prove that sinomenine reduces the RA-NETs-induced RA-FLS migration by inhibiting PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway, thus mitigating RA.

Quaternary Stereocenters via Catalytic Enantioconvergent Allylation of Epoxides.

The development of catalytic and enantioselective transformations for the synthesis of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters has long been recognized as a significant challenge in organic synthesis. While considerable progress has been made in asymmetric allylations, their potential to functionalize the commonly used synthon, epoxide, remains largely underexplored. Here we demonstrate the first highly regio- and enantioselective allylation of epoxides that delivers a range of quaternary stereocenters in the face of potentially problematic elimination and protonation reactions. The reaction proceeds via a radical approach under mild conditions and benefits from the use of earth-abundant titanium with a highly sophisticated salen ligand, which facilitates remarkable enantiocontrol and suppresses undesired side reactions. The resulting allylation products are multifunctional building blocks that can be elaborated chemo- and stereoselectively to a broad array of stereodefined structural motifs.

A Nuclearity-Dependent Enantiodivergent Epoxide Opening via Enthalpy-Controlled Mononuclear and Entropy-Controlled Dinuclear (Salen)Titanium Catalysis.

A nuclearity-dependent enantiodivergent epoxide opening reaction has been developed, in which both antipodes of chiral alcohol products are selectively accessed by mononuclear (salen)TiIII complex and its self-assembled oxygen-bridged dinuclear counterparts within the same stereogenic ligand scaffold. Kinetic studies based on the Eyring equation revealed an enthalpy-controlled enantio-differentiation mode in mononuclear catalysis, whereas an entropy-controlled one in dinuclear catalysis. DFT calculations outline the origin of the enantiocontrol of the mononuclear catalysis and indicate the actual catalyst species in the dinuclear catalytic system. The mechanistic insights may shed a light on a strategy for stereoswichable asymmetric catalysis utilizing nuclearity-distinct transition-metal complexes.

Application of remimazolam transversus abdominis plane block in gastrointestinal tumor surgery.

BACKGROUND: Transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) is a block of the abdominal afferent nerve fibers between the internal oblique muscle and the transverse abdominal muscle achieved with local anesthetics. It can effectively block the conduction of the anterior nerve of the abdominal wall and exert a good analgesic effect. However, the effect of combining the block with remimazolam on anesthesia in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery is still unclear. AIM: To examine the effects of combining TAPB with remimazolam on the stress response and postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal tumor surgery patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 102 individuals diagnosed with gastrointestinal malignancies who underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia between April 2020 and June 2023. The patients were categorized into a control group (n = 51), receiving remimazolam for general anesthesia, and an observation group (n = 51), receiving TAPB combined with remimazolam for general anesthesia. A comparison was made between both groups in terms of hemodynamic parameters, stress markers, pain levels, recovery quality, analgesic effects, and adverse reactions during the perioperative period. RESULTS: The observation group had significantly higher heart rates at time points 1 min after induction and upon leaving the operating room than the control group (P < 0.05). The mean arterial pressure at time point T1 in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Five minutes after extubation, the levels of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline in the observation group were considerably lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). At 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h following surgery, the visual analog scale scores of the observation group were considerably lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group had shorter awakening and extubation times and lower Riker sedation-agitation scale scores than the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group exhibited considerably fewer effective pump presses, lower fentanyl dosages, and lower incidences of rescue analgesia within 24 h following surgery than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application effect of TAPB combined with remimazolam general anesthesia in anesthesia of patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery is good, which is helpful to promote faster recovery after operation.

(Salen)Titanium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogen Atom Transfer for Epoxides Reduction.

Asymmetric hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) represents arguably one of the most straightforward access to the significant chiral tertiary carbon centers, however, remains a long-standing challenge. Herein, the first example of catalytic coordination-induced asymmetric HAT reaction has been developed relying on a sequential (salen)TiIII -initiated radical generation and (salen)TiIV -controlled enantioselective HAT process. The reaction transforms easily accessible glycidic esters, thioesters and amides to synthetically valuable formal formaldehyde aldol adducts in an enantioconvergent manner, along with broad scope and highly regio- and enantioselectivities.

Corrosion-Resistance Mechanism of TC4 Titanium Alloy under Different Stress-Loading Conditions.

Titanium alloys have now become the first choice of tubing material used in the harsh oil- and gas-exploitation environment, while the interaction of force and medium is a serious threat to the safety and reliability of titanium alloy in service. In this paper, different stresses were applied to TC4 titanium alloy by four-point bending stress fixture, and the corrosion behavior of TC4 titanium alloy was studied by high-temperature and high-pressure simulation experiments and electrochemical techniques, and the microscopic morphologies and chemical composition of the surface film layer on the specimen were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to reveal the corrosion-resistance mechanism of TC4 titanium alloy under different stress-loading conditions. The results showed that the pits appeared on the specimens loaded with elastic stress, but the degree of pitting corrosion was still lighter, and the surface film layer showed n-type semiconductor properties with cation selective permeability. While the pits on the specimens loaded with plastic stress were deeper and wider in size, and the semiconductor type of the surface film layer changed to p-type, it was easier for anions such as Cl- and CO32- to adsorb on, destroy, and pass through the protective film and then to contact with the matrix, resulting in a decrease in corrosion resistance of TC4 titanium alloy.

Lonicerae japonicae flos ameliorates radiotherapy-induced mesenteric artery endothelial dysfunction through GTPCH1/BH4/eNOS pathway.

BACKGROUND: As a traditional Chinese medicine, Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) and its main component chlorogenic acid (CGA) have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor effects. However, there is no research on the potential of LJF for vascular protection in radiotherapy. PURPOSE: To elucidate the potential and possible mechanisms of the LJF extract and CGA in alleviating endothelial dysfunction caused by abdominal radiotherapy. METHODS: LJF was extracted with water and the CGA content was analyzed by HPLC. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received abdominal radiotherapy for 21 days. Seven days after irradiation, Laser Doppler and ex vivo vascular tension experiments were performed. Nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion levels and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) content were detected. Western blot, flow cytometry and molecular docking were used. RESULTS: In the radiotherapy group, the mesenteric arterial blood perfusion, NO, and superoxide anion levels were significantly reduced; rats treated with the LJF extract or CGA showed a certain extent of recovery of these indicators. Vascular tension experiments showed that CGA and the LJF extract improved the vasodilation of mesenteric arteries. Cell experiments demonstrated that CGA increased the NO content and reduce superoxide anion production and cell apoptosis. The expression levels of GTPCH1/BH4/eNOS signaling pathway were significantly increased due to the use of the LJF extract or CGA in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated for the first time that LJF and its main component, CGA could prevent abdominal radiotherapy-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction via GTPCH1/BH4/eNOS pathway. LJF could be a potential therapeutic herbal agent.

Microvascular decompression by interposition method for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: a retrospective single-center study.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare disease that can be challenging to treat. The objectives of this study are to investigate the characteristics of patients with TN due to VBD and to analyze the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) by the interposition method for treatment of the condition. From 2010 until 2020, the data of 30 patients with TN due to VBD who were treated with MVD by the interposition method were analyzed retrospectively. The characteristics of the patients were compared with those of patients with non-VBD TN (n = 815). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to determine pain-free survival. The 30 patients (21 males, 9 females; mean age, 63.03 years) accounted for 3.55% of all patients with TN during the study period. In 30 patients, the offending vessel was the basilar artery (BA) in 1 patient, the vertebral artery (VA) in 6 patients, the VA plus the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) in 6 patients, the VA plus the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) in 12 patients, and the VA + SCA + AICA in 5 patients. Compared to non-VBD TN patients, those with TN due to VBD were significantly more likely to be male, to have TN of the left side, and to have hypertension (all P < 0.001). Mean age at surgery (P = 0.057) and symptom duration (P = 0.308) were comparable between the two groups. All 30 patients had immediate relief of facial pain after MVD and could stop medication. There were no postoperative complications. Over mean follow-up of 76.67 months, 3 patients had recurrence. The mean duration of pain-free survival was 70.77 months. In conclusions, TN due to VBD appears to be more likely in males, in those with hypertension, and to involve the left side. The interposition method performed by experienced and skilled neurosurgeons is a safe and effective treatment for TN due to VBD. Further studies are needed to analyze the associated long-term results and the pain recurrence rate among this special population.

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction: A review.

INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is an effective surgical method for the treatment of lateral patellar instability. At present, there is not much controversies regarding the femoral attachment, however, the controversies regarding patellar attachment versus attachment, number of graft strands, tension, isometry and so on. The following electronic databases will be searched: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Medline. We will consider articles published between database initiation and March 2021. MPFL in the subject heading will be included in the study. Language is limited to English. Research selection, data extraction, and research quality assessment were independently completed by 2 researchers. CONCLUSIONS: MPFL reconstruction is a reliable technique for the treatment of patellofemoral instability. The Schöttle point is still the mainstream method for locating the femoral attachment, the patellar attachment for single-bundle is located at the junction of the proximal one third and the distal two third of the longitudinal axis of the patella. For double-bundles, one is located in the proximal one third of the medial patellar edge and another is in the center of the patellar edge. Meanwhile, the adjustment of graft tension during operation is very important.

Enhanced Strength and Plasticity of CoCrNiAl0.1Si0.1 Medium Entropy Alloy via Deformation Twinning and Microband at Cryogenic Temperature.

The synthesis of lightweight yet strong-ductile materials has been an imperative challenge in alloy design. In this study, the CoCrNi-based medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) with added Al and Si were manufactured by vacuum arc melting furnace subsequently followed by cool rolling and anneal process. The mechanical responses of CoCrNiAl0.1Si0.1 MEAs under quasi-static (1 × 10-3 s-1) tensile strength showed that MEAs had an outstanding balance of yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation were increased from 480 MPa, 900 MPa, and 58% at 298 K to 700 MPa, 1250 MPa, and 72% at 77 K, respectively. Temperature dependencies of the yield strength and strain hardening were investigated to understand the excellent mechanical performance, considering the contribution of lattice distortions, deformation twins, and microbands. Severe lattice distortions were determined to play a predominant role in the temperature-dependent yield stress. The Peierls barrier height increased with decreasing temperature, owing to thermal vibrations causing the effective width of a dislocation core to decrease. Through the thermodynamic formula, the stacking fault energies were calculated to be 14.12 mJ/m2 and 8.32 mJ/m2 at 298 K and 77 K, respectively. In conclusion, the enhanced strength and ductility at cryogenic temperature can be attributed to multiple deformation mechanisms including dislocations, extensive deformation twins, and microbands. The synergistic effect of multiple deformation mechanisms lead to the outstanding mechanical properties of the alloy at room and cryogenic temperature.

Study on the Hg0 removal characteristics and synergistic mechanism of iron-based modified biochar doped with multiple metals.

An iron-based composite adsorbent with biochar as the support was prepared by coprecipitation and the sol-gel method. Both single-iron-based modified biochar without doping with other metals and iron-based modified biochar doped with multiple metals (Ce, Cu, Co, Mn) were synthesised. The adsorption kinetics were analysed, and temperature-programmed desorption measurements were performed to reveal the inherent difference in mechanism between the oxidation and adsorption of Hg0 by the modified biochar and to elucidate the key mechanism of Hg0 removal. The results show that the removal of Hg0 by the modified biochar mainly includes adsorption and oxidation processes. The adsorption process is divided into two stages, external and internal mass transfer, both of which occur via multilayer adsorption. HgO and Hg-OM are the main forms of Hg0 present on the modified biochar surface. Doped metal oxides can play a synergistic role in enhancing the mercury removal performance of the modified biochar.

Predictors of chemotherapy tolerance and survival benefit in a geriatric patient population with advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: It is challenging to identify robust elderly patients suitable for systemic chemotherapy. The goal of this study was to ascertain clinical characteristics that may best predict the most benefit of systemic chemotherapy for geriatric patients (aged ≥80 years) with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of advanced solid tumors patients treated with systemic chemotherapy. We divided the patients into chemotherapy tolerant and intolerant groups. We assessed the efficacy, adverse reactions, progression-free survival, and overall survival of patients treated with chemotherapy. We accounted for comorbidities, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS), activities of daily living (ADL), and routine serologic lab metrics. We compiled survival curves for the two groups, and Cox regression univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors that influenced survival. RESULTS: We included 84 patients in the analyses. Comorbidities ≤3, medications ≤4, ADL score ≥90, and PS score ≤1 were associated with chemotherapy tolerance (P < 0.05). Normal D-Dimer and serum albumin concentrations were associated with chemotherapy tolerance (P < 0.05). The median overall survival was 15.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.8 - 17.2) in the tolerant group and 7.0 months (95% CI: 4.3 - 9.7) in the intolerant group (P < 0.05). Thus, most tolerant patients (79.6%) benefited from chemotherapy. PS, ADL, normal albumin, and chemotherapy tolerance were statistically correlated with overall survival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Some clinical characteristics were associated with chemotherapy tolerance. The overall survival time of elderly patients with good tolerance to chemotherapy was longer.

Phase transition enhanced superior elasticity in freestanding single-crystalline multiferroic BiFeO3 membranes.

The integration of ferroic oxide thin films into advanced flexible electronics will bring multifunctionality beyond organic and metallic materials. However, it is challenging to achieve high flexibility in single-crystalline ferroic oxides that is considerable to organic or metallic materials. Here, we demonstrate the superior flexibility of freestanding single-crystalline BiFeO3 membranes, which are typical multiferroic materials with multifunctionality. They can endure cyclic 180° folding and have good recoverability, with the maximum bending strain up to 5.42% during in situ bending under scanning electron microscopy, far beyond their bulk counterparts. Such superior elasticity mainly originates from reversible rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition, as revealed by phase-field simulations. This study suggests a general fundamental mechanism for a variety of ferroic oxides to achieve high flexibility and to work as smart materials in flexible electronics.

[Value of Head and Neck CT Angiography in the Clinical Evaluation of Intraoperative Bleeding Volume of Carotid Body Tumours].

Objective To investigate the value of head and neck CT angiography(CTA)in the evaluation of intraoperative hemorrhage of carotid body tumours. Methods Head and neck CTA images of 36 patients with carotid body tumours confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups based on the intraoperative bleeding volume:<500 ml and≥500 ml groups.The patient's age,sex,Shamblin classification,size of the lesion,number of blood supply arteries,course of the disease,plain scan,and enhanced CT value between two groups were compared and analyzed.Logistics regression equation was established based on the CTA parameters with significant differences between the two intraoperative bleeding volume groups,and combined parameter was acquired.The receiver operating characteristic curve was established based on CTA single and combined parameters. Results The bleeding volume during the operation of carotid body tumors was significantly correlated with the age of patients(P=0.019),the maximum diameter of tumours on axial images(P=0.003),the maximum upper and lower diameters(P=0.004),Shamblin classification(P=0.012),and number of blood supply arteries(P<0.001).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the number of feeding arteries,the maximum diameter of axial images,maximum upper and lower diameters,Shamblin classification,and combined parameters were 0.865,0.781,0.806,0.766,and 0.927,respectively.When the optimal critical value was 0.408,the Youden index was 0.794,and the corresponding accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.919,0.909,and 0.923,respectively. Conclusions Preoperative head and neck CTA can be used to evaluate the intraoperative blood loss.Combined parameters has the best diagnostic performance compared with single parameters.

Molecular characterization of a voltage-gated calcium channel and its potential role in the acaricidal action of scopoletin against Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

The carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval), is a polyphagous agricultural pest with an extensive host plant range. Scopoletin is a promising acaricidal compound whose acaricidal mechanism may occur by disrupting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and calcium signaling pathways. However, the underlying mechanism of scopoletin for specific target locations of T. cinnabarinus remains unclear. In this study, a full-length cDNA of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (TcLTCC) subunit gene from T. cinnabarinus was cloned and characterized. The expression pattern of the TcLTCC gene in all developmental stages of T. cinnabarinus was analyzed. The gene was highly expressed in larval and nymphal stages and was significantly upregulated after treatment with scopoletin. Knocking down the TcLTCC transcript reduced the sensitivity of T. cinnabarinus to scopoletin. Homology modeling and molecular docking were also conducted. The interaction between scopoletin and TcLTCC showed that scopoletin inserted into the cavity bound to the site of the TcLTCC protein by the driving force of hydrogen bonding. This study provides insights into the mechanism by which scopoletin interacts with TcLTCC. Results can improve the understanding of the toxicity of scopoletin to T. cinnabarinus and provide valuable information for the design of new LTCC inhibitors.

Author Correction: The Apostasia genome and the evolution of orchids.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.