Oxidative Cleavage and Fluoromethylthiolation of C═C Bonds: A General Route toward Mono-, Di-, and Trifluoromethylthioesters from Alkenes.

A novel oxidative cleavage and fluoromethylthiolation reaction of C═C bonds has been developed that represents the first and general method for the preparation of mono-, di-, and trifluoromethylthioesters from alkenes. The protocol features excellent product selectivity and substrate suitability. Various observations suggested that the protocol proceeded via a two-step radical process and that aldehyde was the key intermediate. What's more meaningful is that this route provides a new direction for converting alkenes into higher-value-added carbonyl-containing chemicals.

[Correlative Analysis between Production of Platelet HLA-â Antibody and HLA-A, B Genes in Patients with Malignant Hematological Diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the production of platelet HLA-Ⅰ antibody and HLA-A, B genes in patients with malignant hematological diseases, and explore the susceptible gene for producing platelet HLA-Ⅰ antibody. METHODS: Patients with malignant hematological diseases who had received multiple platelet transfusion were selected as the research objects in the Department of Hematology of our hospital. Platelet HLA-I antibody were screened by ELISA, and the patients were divided into positive and negative groups according to the results. HLA-A and B genes were sequenced after genomic DNA was extracted, and the frequencies of them were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The positive rate of platelet HLA-I antibody was 22.95%. A total of 13 HLA-A alleles and 14 HLA-B alleles were obtained after the HLA-A and B genes sequencing in 100 cases. The frequencies of HLA-A*24, HLA-A*30, and HLA-B*13 were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). Frequencies of HLA-A*30 and HLA-B*13 in the positive group were lower than those in the negative group (RR=0.107, 0.387), but HLA-A*24 was higher (RR=1.412). After high-resolution typing of HLA-A*24, HLA-A*30, and HLA-B*13, frequencies of HLA-A*24∶02, HLA-A*30∶01, and HLA-B*13∶02 were significantly different between the two groups, the RR value was 1.412, 0.107, and 0.125, 95%CI was 0.961-2.075, 0.016-0.721, and 0.300-0.515, respectively. CONCLUSION: HLA-A*24∶02 may be a susceptible gene for producing platelet HLA-Ⅰ antibody in patients with malignant hematological diseases, while HLA-A*30∶01 and HLA-B*13∶02 may be two protective genes.

Excessive activation of IL-33/ST2 in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes invasion and metastasis in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is highly prevalent and has high mortality rates due to metastasis and relapse. The cross communication between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer-associated macrophages (CAMs) in the ovarian tumor microenvironment leads to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. However, the role of overproduction of IL-33/ST2 in the CAFs of ovarian cancer is still unclear. The expression of IL-33, ST2, apoptosis-related proteins and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was measured by western blotting. Primary normal fibroblasts and CAFs from ovarian cancerous tissue were isolated and cultured in vitro, and the medium was used to stimulate blood-derived monocytes. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the frequency of M2-like macrophages in blood-derived monocytes from patients with ovarian cancer. Cell invasion were evaluated using Transwell assays. A xenograft model was used to study tumor growth in ST2-knockout and wild-type NOD-SCID mice. The results demonstrated higher expression of IL-33 and ST2 in carcinoma tissues compared with in para-carcinoma tissues, and there was a survival improvement associated with elevated IL-33. IL-33 and culture supernatants from CAFs, rather than normal ovarian fibroblasts, led to a higher expression of M2 macrophage marker genes in human blood-derived monocytes. Invasion and migration were aggravated in COC1 cells co-cultured with CAF-induced CAMs, and the EMT marker genes were upregulated. It was reported that EMT marker genes were downregulated and tumor volumes were significantly reduced in ST2-deficient mice. Overall, the IL-33/ST2 axis in ovarian cancer might integrate IL-33-expressing CAFs with M2 type-like CAMs, which aggravated invasion and metastasis by promoting EMT.

Strepyrazinone, a tricyclic diketopiperazine derivative with cytotoxicity from a marine-derived actinobacterium.

Strepyrazinone (1), a tricyclic diketopiperazine derivative with a carbon skeleton unprecedented in natural products, was isolated from the marine-derived Streptomyces sp. B223. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and electronic circular dichroism calculation. Compound 1 showed cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 0.34 µM.

[Nitrogen Removal Performance and Nitrogen/Carbon Balance of Oligotrophic Aerobic Denitrifiers].

Due to the problems of low nitrogen removal efficiency and unclear electron transfer during biological denitrification treatment of an oligotrophic drinking water reservoir, the nitrogen removal characteristics, environmental adaptability, and electron transfer during denitrification were systematically studied using the aerobic denitrifier Acinetobacter junii ZMF5, which has efficient nitrogen removal ability. The results showed that:① Strain ZMF5 exhibited efficient heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification ability, with an ammonia removal rate of 0.211 mg·(L·h)-1 and a nitrate removal rate of 0.236 mg·(L·h)-1, and the nitrification intermediates were not accumulated during the treatment process. ② According to analysis of the nitrogen removal efficiency and growth kinetics of strain ZMF5, the strain can effectively utilize different types of carbon source, and show efficient nitrogen removal efficiency under the conditions of low C/N, low pH, and low temperature. ③ Analysis of nitrogen balance showed that carboxylate compound, compared with carbohydrate, could promote the process of aerobic denitrification and change the nitrogen removal pathway of strain ZMF5, i.e., 38.81% of nitrogen was transformed into gas, higher than the 29.81% for assimilation. ④ Analysis of carbon balance indicated that most carbon sources were used as electron donors in the denitrification process, but fewer electrons were used for nitrate reduction, and with respect to different carbon sources, electron transfer to the nitrate respiratory chain was regulated by different reduction potentials, electron donor abundance, and molecular weight. Acinetobacter junii ZMF5 could be used to control nitrogen pollution in drinking water reservoirs.

Isolation, stereochemical study, and racemization of (±)-pratenone A, the first naturally occurring 3-(1-naphthyl)-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one polyketide from a marine-derived actinobacterium.

(±)-Pratenone A (1), the first representative of natural 3-(1-naphthyl)-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one polyketides, was isolated from a marine-derived Streptomyces pratensis strain KCB-132 together with three other new analogues (2-4). Its structure was assigned by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of the two enantiomers separated by high-performance liquid chromatography were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism calculations. The solvent-induced racemization of 1 and a proposed biogenetic pathway to 1-4 from the co-isolated angucyclinone precursor, as well as their biological activity, are also discussed.

Circ_016719 plays a critical role in neuron cell apoptosis induced by I/R via targeting miR-29c/Map2k6.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Rac-MAPK kinase 6 (Map2k6) plays important roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role played by Map2k6 in stroke injury and the underlying mechanism of action remain unknown. METHODS: Mice received cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. HT22 cells were subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) to simulate an I/R injury. Subsequently, the levels of circ_016719, miR-29c and Map2k6 expression were determined, and their interactions were examined by luciferase assays. Circ_016719 knockdown, miR-29c inhibition or Map2k6 overexpression was induced in HT22 cells; after which, the cells were examined for their viability, apoptosis, autophagy and proliferation, as well their levels of Map2k6, p38, p53, LC3B-I, LC3B-II, Beclin 1, and p62 expression. RESULTS: Significantly increased levels of circ_016719 and Map2k6, and decreased levels of miR-29c were observed in both in vivo and in vitro I/R injury models. In HT22 cells, circ_016719 knockdown significantly increased miR-29c expression and cell proliferation, but decreased Map2k6 expression and cell apoptosis. Additionally, significant increases in LC3B-I and p62 levels and decreased LC3B-II levels were observed, indicating that circ_016719 knockdown had significantly inhibited autophagy. Furthermore, additional inhibition of miR-29c markedly suppressed the effects of circ_016719 knockdown; however, that suppression was significantly attenuated by Map2k6 overexpression. Additionally, Map2k6 was identified as a direct target of miR-29c, which in turn, might be sponged by circ_016719. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that circ_016719 directly targets miR-29c, and thereby regulates the expression and functions of Map2k6, which significantly contributes to the pro-apoptotic role of circ_016719.

Eicosapentaenoic acid prevents inflammation induced by acute cerebral infarction through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

OBJECTIVE: Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is the most common type of acute cerebrovascular diseases resulting in high rate of death and disability. Numerous evidences show that inflammation is the leading cause of ischemic brain injury, thus anti-inflammatory therapy is an attractive candidate for ischemic brain damage. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) exerts anti-inflammatory activity in lots of human inflammatory diseases, whereas its effect in ACI is left to elucidate. METHOD: Nlpr3-/- mice, Gpr40-/-; Gpr120-/- mice and mice with right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were used to detect NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by Western Blot and the release of proinflammatory cytokines by ELISA. To estimate the acute ischemic condition in vitro, oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was induced in BV2 microglia cells. Transfection of the shRNA targeting GPR40 and GPR120 mRNA into BV2 cells was also assessed. Apoptosis in ischemic cerebral tissues and BV2 cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry. RESULT: Here we show that EPA suppresses ACI-induced inflammatory responses through blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In addition, EPA inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation through G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and GPR120. Importantly, EPA ameliorates ACI-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: EPA exerts beneficial effect on ACI-induced inflammation through blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation by GPR40 and GPR120. Our findings suggest the potential clinical use of EPA in ACI.

Positive correlation between cognitive impairment and renal microangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy: a multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to explore the correlation between cognitive impairment and renal microangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) by detecting changes in cognitive function and cerebral metabolism in these patients with different stages of T2DN. METHODS: Prospectively maintained databases were reviewed from 2006 to 2017. Blood biochemical indexes and the urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were measured in all participants. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). Cognitive impairment was the primary endpoint. Renal microangiopathy was the secondary endpoint. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess correlations. RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were divided into three groups according to their UAER: T2DM without nephropathy (n=72), early T2DM with nephropathy (n=74), and the clinical stage of early T2DM with nephropathy (n=70). Healthy participants were selected as the normal control group (n=70). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the total MMSE and MoCA score was negatively correlated with the UAER (r=-0.327) and positively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (r=0.428) in patients with T2DN. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed a positive correlation between cognitive impairment and renal microangiopathy in patients with T2DN.

MiR-375 attenuates injury of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion via targetting Ctgf.

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability and deaths worldwide. MiRNAs have been shown to play an important role in development and pathogenesis of the nervous system. However, the precise function and mechanism of miRNAs are not fully understood in the brain injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Herein, our study showed that miR-375 expression was significantly down-regulated in the rat I/R brain. With the in vivo and in vitro I/R stroke models, we found that miR-375 mimic provides significant protection from injury to cerebral I/R, which is reflected by reduced infarct volumes and cell apoptosis, and increased proliferation and migration of PC12 cells. Mechanistically, our findings showed that miR-375 binds to 3'-UTR region of Ctgf mRNA, subsequently leading to the decreased expression of Ctgf in the I/R brain. Furthermore, we showed that miR-375/Ctgf-mediated protective effects are associated with p21/PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Our findings thus provide a new insight into the mechanism of cerebral I/R injury and pave a potential new way for the therapy of cerebral I/R injury.

[Clinical Trials for Thyroidectomy Under Acupuncture-aided Anesthesia by Using Electroacupuncture or Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation of Different Acupoints].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) or electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of different acupoints in combination with anesthetics in the management of thyroidectomy patients, so as to choose a better stimulating method and most effective acupoints for thyroidectomy. METHODS: A total of 216 thyroidectomy patients (ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ grades) with thyroid gland adenoma, thyroid cyst or thyroid nodules from 3 hospitals (3 research centers) were randomized into 6 groups, i.e., local anesthesia (LA, n=34), Futu (LI 18)-EA (n=36), Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6)-TAES (n=34), LI 4-PC 6-EA (n=36), Yanglingquan (GB 34)-EA (n=36) and non-acupoint (NA, about 1.5 cm latero-posterior to KI 9)-EA (n=34) groups according to the hospitalizition sequence. For patients of the LI 18-EA, LI 4-PC 6-TAES/EA, GB 34 and non-acupoint-EA groups, EA or TAES (2 Hz/100 Hz) was applied to the abovementioned bilateral acupoints or non-acupoint till the termination of the surgical operation. The surgery was conducted under anesthesia by local injection of 0.5% lidocaine and midazolam, and intravenous injection of fentanyl (for severe pain cases) 20 min after beginning of TAES or EA. The patients' scores of visual analogue scale (VAS),mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) at the time-points of pre-anesthesia (T 0), skin-incision (T 1), skin flap-freeing (T 2), anterior cervical muscle traction (T 3), thyroid upper/lower-pole-sectioning (T 4/T 5), and thyroidectomy (T 6), and the dosages of the administered fentanyl and lidocaine were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with the corresponding time-points of the non-acupoint group, the VAS scores at T 1 and T 4 time-points in the LI 18-EA group and LI 4-PC 6-EA group, at T 1, T 5 and T 6 time-points in the LI 4-PC 6-TAES group were significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared with the corresponding time-points of the LA group, the VAS scores at T 2, T 3, T 5 and T 6 time-points in the LI 18-EA group and LI 4-PC 6-EA group, at T 3, T 5 and T 6 in the LI 4-PC 6-TAES group, and the MAP levels at T 2, T 3, T 4 and T 6 time-points in the LI 18-EA group, at T 3, T 4 in the LI 4-PC 6-EA group, at T 3, T 4, T 6 in the LI 4-PC 6 TAES group, as well as the HR levels at T 4, T 5 and T 6 in the LI 18-EA group, and at T 5, T 6 in the LI 4-PC 6-TAES group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The dosages of fentanyl in the LI 18-EA and LI 4-PC 6-TAES groups, and those of lidocaine in the LI 18-EA, LI 4-PC 6-EA and TAES groups were significantly lower relevant to the LA group and non-acupoint group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the LA and GB 34-EA groups, and between the LA and non-acupoint groups, as well as between the LI 4-PC 6-EA and LI 4-PC 6-TAES groups in the VAS scores, the MAP and HR levels, the dosages of lidocaine and fentanyl consumption (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA stimulation of both LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 and TAES of LI 4-PC 6 combined with anesthetics have a better effect in inducing analgesia and controlling MAP and HR, and need lower dosages of anesthetics for patients undergoing thyroidectomy, for which LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 are evidently superior to GB 34 and non-acupoint. Hence, combined EA or TAES and anesthetics is highly recommended for thyroidectomy.

Ischemic stroke damages the intestinal mucosa and induces alteration of the intestinal lymphocytes and CCL19 mRNA in rats.

The immunoreaction has a pivotal effect on ischemic stroke. It has been demonstrated that intestinal lymphocytes infiltrate into the brain and aggravate tissue injury after stroke. However, less attention has been paid to the influence on the intestinal immunology as well as morphology. Here, we utilized a rat permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model to investigate the influences on intestinal mucosa, lymphocytes of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), and the intestinal expression of CCL25 mRNA and CCL19 mRNA of stroke. Rats were randomly divided into stroke, sham, and control groups. Stroke and sham groups were further divided into interval groups of 6h, 12h, and 24h after surgery. Intestinal pathophysiological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The lymphocyte numbers were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CCL25 mRNA and CCL19 mRNA was tested with the PCR technique. We found significant necrosis and shedding of the epithelium after stroke. Moreover, the lesion aggravated with time. In addition, there was a significant increase of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches (PPs), especially at 12h and 24h after stroke, while no differences in the number of B lymphocytes and the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) were found. The data displayed no alteration of CCL25 mRNA expression. In contrast, an upregulation of CCL19 mRNA expression was detected at 6h after stroke. This study showed that ischemic stroke significantly damaged the intestinal epithelium and activated intestinal immunity.

The use of information technology to enhance patient safety and nursing efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Issues in patient safety and nursing efficiency have long been of concern. Advancing the role of nursing informatics is seen as the best way to address this. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine if the use, outcomes and satisfaction with a nursing information system (NIS) improved patient safety and the quality of nursing care in a hospital in Taiwan. METHOD: This study adopts a quasi-experimental design. Nurses and patients were surveyed by questionnaire and data retrieval before and after the implementation of NIS in terms of blood drawing, nursing process, drug administration, bar code scanning, shift handover, and information and communication integration. RESULTS: Physiologic values were easier to read and interpret; it took less time to complete electronic records (3.7 vs. 9.1 min); the number of errors in drug administration was reduced (0.08% vs. 0.39%); bar codes reduced the number of errors in blood drawing (0 vs. 10) and transportation of specimens (0 vs. 0.42%); satisfaction with electronic shift handover increased significantly; there was a reduction in nursing turnover (14.9% vs. 16%); patient satisfaction increased significantly (3.46 vs. 3.34). CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of NIS improved patient safety and nursing efficiency and increased nurse and patient satisfaction. Medical organizations must continually improve the nursing information system if they are to provide patients with high quality service in a competitive environment.

Comparative embryogenesis of Mecoptera and Lepidoptera with special reference to the abdominal prolegs.

The eruciform larvae of holometabolous insects are primarily characterized by bearing a varying number of abdominal prolegs in addition to three pairs of thoracic legs. However, whether the prolegs are evolutionarily homologous among different insect orders is still a disputable issue. We examined the embryonic features and histological structure of the prolegs of the scorpionfly Panorpa byersi Hua and Huang (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to investigate whether the prolegs are homologous between these two holometabolous insect orders. In the scorpionfly, paired lateral process primordia arise on abdominal segments I-VIII (A1-A8) in line with the thoracic legs in early embryonic stages, but degenerate into triangular protuberances in later stages, and paired medial processes appear along the midventral line before dorsal closure and eventually develop into unjointed, cone-shaped prolegs. Histological observation showed that the lumina of the prolegs are not continuous with the hemocoel, differing distinctly from that of the basic appendicular plan of thoracic legs. These results suggest that the prolegs are likely secondary outgrowths in Mecoptera. In the armyworm, lateral process primordia appear on A1-A10 in alignment with the thoracic legs in the early embryonic stages, although only the rudiments on A3-A6 and A10 develop into segmented prolegs with the lumina continuous with the hemocoel and others degenerate eventually, suggesting that the prolegs are true segmental appendages serially homologous with the thoracic legs in Lepidoptera. Therefore, we conclude that the larval prolegs are likely not evolutionarily homologous between Mecoptera and Lepidoptera.

Theoretical study of acene-bridged dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The electronic structures and absorption spectra for a series of acene-based organic dyes and the adsorption energy and optical properties for these dyes adsorbed on (TiO2)38 have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods. The effects of acene units and different substitution positions of electron donors on the optoelectronic properties of the acene-modified dyes are demonstrated. The photophysical properties of tetracene- and pentacene-based dyes are found to be tuned by changing the size of acene and the substitution position of the donor. The donor sites have a significant influence on the absorption wavelength mainly because of different molecular orbital (MO) contributions of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) on the bridging acene units, and the increasing MO contribution would lead to the red shift in the absorption spectra. Meanwhile, the donor is located close to the center of the π-conjugated bridge, and the absorption spectra are extended. The adsorption energy and optical properties of tetracene- and pentacene-based dyes adsorbed on (TiO2)38 suggest that acene-bridged dyes could be adsorbed on the TiO2 surface and inject electrons into semiconductors effectively. Then the results obtained from the hexacene-based dyes confirm the conclusions proposed from the tetracene- and pentence-based dyes. This study will provide a useful reference to the future design and optimization of acene dyes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.

Potentiometric sensor for determination of neutral bisphenol A using a molecularly imprinted polymer as a receptor.

The aim of this paper is to develop a potentiometric sensing methodology for sensitive and selective determination of neutral phenols by using a molecularly imprinted polymer as a receptor. Bisphenol A (BPA), a significant environmental contaminant, is employed as the model target. The BPA-imprinted polymer is synthesized by the semi-covalent technique and incorporated into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane doped with the tridodecylmethylammonium salt. The present electrode shows a linear anionic potential response over the concentration range from 0.1 to 1 µM with a detection limit of 0.02 µM, and exhibits an excellent selectivity over other phenols. The proposed approach has been successfully applied to the determination of BPA released from real plastic samples. It offers promising potential in development of potentiometric sensors for measuring neutral phenols at trace levels.

[Effect of Shuxuetong injection on neuron-specific enolase of serum and recovery of function in patients with acute cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect and the influences of Shuxuetong injection on serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level, the neurological deficit and activities of daily living in patients with acute cerebral infarction. METHOD: The 80 patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into Shuxuetong treatment group (40 cases) and routine control group (40 cases), both received routine treatment, while Shuxuetong injection was given additionally to treatment group. The serum NSE level, the National Insitute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and the clinical effect were observed pre-and post-treatment. The Barthel Index (BI) was evaluated after one month. RESULT: The serum NSE level and NIHSS scores in two groups of post-treatment decreased obviously than those of pre-treatment, and after treatment in Shuxuetong treatment group the serum NSE level and NIHSS scores were significantly lower than those in control group, the differences were significant (P<0.05). Effective rate of Shuxuetong treatment group was 87.5%, and control group was 65%, the difference of the clinical effect between the two groups was significance (P<0.05). After one month BI of post-treatment in two groups improved than those of pre-treatment, and Shuxuetong treatment group was significantly better compared with control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Shuxuetong injection has the remarkable neuronal protective effect, can decrease the serum level of NSE after acute cerebral infarction, promote recovery of nerve function, reduce disability rate, and improve quality of life and prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction.