Spirostanoids with 1,4-dien-3-one or 3ß,7α-diol-5,6-ene moieties from Solanum violaceum.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CHCl3 layer of Solanum violaceum areal parts methanolic extract led to the isolation of four new steroidal sapogenins, indiosides L-O (1-4), along with eight known steroids, one lignin, and a coumarin. Indioside L is a rare spirostanoid possessing a 1,4-dien-3-one moiety in ring A. Moreover, compounds 3 and 4 represent rare examples of spirostene with the 3ß,7α-diol-5,6-ene moiety compared to the normal 3ß,7ß-diol-5,6-ene derivatives. The cytotoxic activity of the isolates (5-14) was evaluated against human hepatoma (HepG2 and Hep3B), human lung carcinoma (A549), and human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7).

Comparative analysis between high-grade serous ovarian cancer and healthy ovarian tissues using single-cell RNA sequencing.

Introduction: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common histological subtype of ovarian cancer, and is associated with high mortality rates. Methods: In this study, we analyzed specific cell subpopulations and compared different gene functions between healthy ovarian and ovarian cancer cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq). We delved deeper into the differences between healthy ovarian and ovarian cancer cells at different levels, and performed specific analysis on endothelial cells. Results: We obtained scRNA-seq data of 6867 and 17056 cells from healthy ovarian samples and ovarian cancer samples, respectively. The transcriptional profiles of the groups differed at various stages of ovarian cell development. A detailed comparison of the cell cycle, and cell communication of different groups, revealed significant differences between healthy ovarian and ovarian cancer cells. We also found that apoptosis-related genes, URI1, PAK2, PARP1, CLU and TIMP3, were highly expressed, while immune-related genes, UBB, RPL11, CAV1, NUPR1 and Hsp90ab1, were lowly expressed in ovarian cancer cells. The results of the ScRNA-seq were verified using qPCR. Discussion: Our findings revealed differences in function, gene expression and cell interaction patterns between ovarian cancer and healthy ovarian cell populations. These findings provide key insights on further research into the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Dependence, misuse, and beliefs regarding use of hypnotics by elderly psychiatric patients taking zolpidem, estazolam, or flunitrazepam.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the prevalence rates and correlates of dependence on, misuse of, and beliefs regarding use of hypnotics in elderly psychiatric patients with long-term use of zolpidem, estazolam, or flunitrazepam. METHODS: A total of 139 psychiatric outpatients 65 or more years of age who used zolpidem, estazolam, or flunitrazepam for at least 3 months were studied. The levels of hypnotic dependence and beliefs regarding hypnotic use (necessity and concern) were assessed. Three patterns of hypnotic misuse in the past 1 month were also explored. The correlates of high dependence, misuse, and unfavorable attitude and high concern toward hypnotic use were examined using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 28.8%, 7.9%, 12.2%, and 22.3% of participants reported high dependence on, misuse of, unfavorable attitude toward, and high concern toward hypnotic use, respectively. Males were more likely to report unfavorable attitude toward hypnotic use than females. Elders with significant depression were more likely to report high concern toward hypnotic use than those without significant depression. Elders with high concern toward hypnotic use were more likely to report high dependence on hypnotics than those with low concern. Elders with significant depression and taking zolpidem were more likely to misuse hypnotics than those without significant depression and taking estazolam or flunitrazepam, respectively. DISCUSSION: Clinicians should monitor the possibility of dependence on and misuse of hypnotics among elderly psychiatric patients who had the correlates identified in this study.