Structurally diverse 1,2-diarylpropanes from the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida and the investigation on their mirror-image ECD spectra with the same absolute configurations.

1,2-diarylpropanes are a kind of abundant natural products formed by radical coupling. On account of molecular flexibility, it was challenged in the identifications of relative and absolute configurations of the 1,2-diarylpropanes. In this research, fourteen pairs of enantiomeric 1,2-diarylpropanes (1a/1b-14a/14b), comprising twelve previously undescribed pairs (1a/1b-4a/4b, 6a/6b-10a/10b, and 12a/12b-14a/14b), were isolated from the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida. Their structures were determined through multiple NMR spectral analyses, empirical NMR rules, X-ray crystallography, and the comparison of experimental ECD spectra with calculated data. In addition, the analysis of ECD spectra revealed that substituent effects could generate an inverted chiroptical response, exhibiting in mirror-image ECD signals. This phenomenon was investigated by conformational analysis, molecular orbital analysis, the transition density matrix and hole/electron distributions. Moreover, a potential experimental rule was proposed for the rapid determination of the absolute configurations of the 1,2-diarylpropanes.

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Viral Shedding in Patients with COVID-19 was Associated with Delayed Initiation of Arbidol Treatment and Consulting Doctor Later: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study data about SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding and clarify the risk factors for prolonged virus shedding. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in Wuhan Union Hospital. We compared clinical features among patients with prolonged (a positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA on day 23 after illness onset) and short virus shedding and evaluated risk factors associated with prolonged virus shedding by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 238 patients, the median age was 55.5 years, 57.1% were female, 92.9% (221/238) were administered with arbidol, 58.4% (139/238) were given arbidol in combination with interferon. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding was 23 days (IQR, 17.8-30 days) with a longest one of 51 days. The patients with prolonged virus shedding had higher value of D-dimer (P=0.002), IL-6 (P<0.001), CRP (P=0.005) and more lobes lung lesion (P=0.014) on admission, as well as older age (P=0.017) and more patients with hypertension (P=0.044) than in those the virus shedding less than 23 days. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that prolonged viral shedding was significantly associated with initiation arbidol >8 days after symptom onset [OR: 2.447, 95% CI (1.351-4.431)], ≥3 days from onset of symptoms to first medical visitation [OR: 1.880, 95% CI (1.035-3.416)], illness onset before Jan. 31, 2020 [OR: 3.289, 95% CI (1.474-7.337)]. Arbidol in combination with interferon was also significantly associated with shorter virus shedding [OR: 0.363, 95% CI (0.191-0.690)]. CONCLUSION: Duration of SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding was long. Early initiation of arbidol and arbidol in combination with interferon as well as consulting doctor timely after illness onset were helpful for SARS-CoV-2 clearance.

A cluster of health care workers with COVID-19 pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, Hubei, China, spreads across national and international borders. METHODS: We prospectively collected medical records of 14 health care workers (HCWs) who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, in neurosurgery department of Wuhan Union Hospital, China. RESULTS: Among the 14 HCWs, 12 were conformed cases, the other 2 were suspected cases. Most of them were either exposed to the two index patients or infected coworkers, without knowing they were COVID-19 patients. There were 4 male and 10 female infected HCWs in this cohort, whose mean age was 36 years (SD, 6 years). The main symptoms included myalgia or fatigue (100%), fever (86%) and dry cough (71%). On admission, 79% of infected HCWs showed leucopenia and 43% lymphopenia. Reduced complement C3 could be seen in 57% of the infected HCWs and IL-6 was significantly elevated in 86% of them. The proportion of lymphocytes subsets, concentrations of immunoglobulins, complement C4, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ were within normal range in these 14 infected HCWs. The most frequent findings on pulmonary computed tomographic images were bilateral multifocal ground-glass opacifications (86%). CONCLUSIONS: Human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 pneumonia has occurred among HCWs, and most of these infected HCWs with confirmed COVID-19 are mild cases. Our data suggest that in the epidemic area of COVID-19, stringent and urgent surveillance and infection-control measures should be implemented to protect doctors and nurses from COVID-19 infection.

DNA Extraction with TRIzol Reagent Using a Silica Column.

TRIzol is a monophasic solution of phenol and guanidine isothiocyanate used for the extraction of RNA, DNA and proteins from tissues or cells. However, few studies have described its application to DNA extraction due to its time-consuming procedure. We present a TRIzol-modified method of extracting DNA from tissues using the TRIzol reagent and a silica column, which requires only one-third of the time required for the classic extraction procedure. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that the 260/280 and 260/230 nm optical density ratio of the DNA extracted using the TRIzol-modified method is ideal and equal to that obtained by the classic method and commercial DNAiso methods. The DNA extracted by the TRIzol-modified method had the same performance in a restriction enzyme digestion and quantitative PCR as that extracted using the classic method. Using the TRIzol-modified method saves time, simplifies the DNA extraction procedure, and facilitates various molecular biology assays.

Diarrhea Is Associated With Prolonged Symptoms and Viral Carriage in Corona Virus Disease 2019.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We compared clinical, laboratory, radiological, and outcome features of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) with pneumonia, with vs without diarrhea. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, single-center analysis of 84 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Wuhan Union Hospital, China, from January 19 through February 7, 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Blood samples were analyzed for white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and in some cases, immunoglobulins, complement, lymphocyte subsets, and cytokines. Virus RNA was detected in stool samples by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Of the 84 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, 26 (31%) had diarrhea. The duration of fever and dyspnea in patients with diarrhea was significantly longer than those without diarrhea (all P < .05). Stool samples from a higher proportion of patients with diarrhea tested positive for virus RNA (69%) than from patients without diarrhea (17%) (P < .001). As of February 19, a lower proportion of patients with diarrhea had a negative result from the latest throat swab for SARS-CoV-2 (77%) than patients without diarrhea (97%) (P = .010), during these patients' hospitalization. Of 76 patients with a negative result from their latest throat swab test during hospitalization, a significantly higher proportion of patients with diarrhea had a positive result from the retest for SARS-CoV-2 in stool (45%) than patients without diarrhea (20%) (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: At a single center in Wuhan, China, 31% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia had diarrhea. A significantly higher proportion of patients with diarrhea have virus RNA in stool than patients without diarrhea. Elimination of SARS-CoV-2 from stool takes longer than elimination from the nose and throat.

Anthocyanin accumulation and biosynthesis are modulated by regulated deficit irrigation in Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis Vinifera L.) grapes and wines.

Anthocyanins contents and compositions play an important role in grape berries and wines. Grapevines are widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas, and water shortage restricts the development of wine industry. The aim of this work was to gain insight on the effect of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the accumulation and biosynthesis of anthocyanins in Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis Vinifera L.) grapes and wines. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for anthocyanins profiles analyses and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for the genes expressions measurement. The grapevines were treated with 60% (RDI-1), 70% (RDI-2), 80% (RDI-3), 100% (CK, traditional drip irrigation) of their estimated evapotranspiration (ETc) respectively. RDI treatments significantly reduced titration acid and increased pH with higher total soluble solids. RDI-1 treatment increased total anthocyanins contents in berries and wines in both two vintages. RDI-1 and RDI-2 treatments significantly increased the contents of acylated anthocyanins in berries and wines, especially Malvidin-3-acetly-glucoside. RDI treatments significantly increased non-acylated anthocyanins contents in wines, such as Delphinidin-3-gliucoside and Malvidin-3-glucoside. RDI treatments upregulated the expressions of VvPAL, VvC4H, VvCHS, VvF3'H, VvF3'5'H, VvLDOX, and VvOMT in both two vintages. Correlation analysis showed the accumulation of anthocyanins was closely related to the key genes expressions, including VvPAL, VvF3'H, VvF3'5'H etc. The present results provided direct evidence and detailed data to explain that RDI treatments regulated the accumulation of anthocyanins by regulating genes expressions in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway.