A Nickel Anchored Covalent Organic Framework as Unimolecular Metallaphotocatalyst for Visible Light Driver C-P Bond Coupling Reaction.

The urgent need to develop a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing organophosphine compounds is underscored by their extensive applications in organic synthesis, coordination chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and photoelectric materials. Metalated covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), which seamlessly integrate the inherent photo properties of COF with the catalytic capabilities of metal ions, offer an optimal material for efficient transformation of organics sustainably. In this study, we introduce a simple COF with nickel anchorages (Bpy-COF-NiCl2 ) as a unimolecular metallaphotocatalytic system for effective C-P bond formation. This heterogeneous photocatalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance, achieving yields of up to 95 %, and demonstrates broad substrate tolerance and functional group reactivity. Notably, the metallaphotocatalytic system has demonstrated the capability to process aryl bromides to produce the desired product, a feat not previously reported. Finally, the production and reusability test at the gram scale attests to its superior practicality for designing future organic cross-coupling reactions.

TAT delivery of a PTEN peptide inhibitor has direct cardioprotective effects and improves outcomes in rodent models of cardiac arrest.

We have recently shown that pharmacologic inhibition of PTEN significantly increases cardiac arrest survival in a mouse model, however, this protection required pretreatment 30 min before the arrest. To improve the onset of PTEN inhibition during cardiac arrest treatment, we have designed a TAT fused cell-permeable peptide (TAT-PTEN9c) based on the C-terminal PDZ binding motif of PTEN for rapid tissue delivery and protection. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TAT-PTEN9c peptide significantly enhanced Akt activation in mouse cardiomyocytes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Mice were subjected to 8 min asystolic arrest followed by CPR, and 30 mice with successful CPR were then randomly assigned to receive either saline or TAT-PTEN9c treatment. Survival was significantly increased in TAT-PTEN9c-treated mice compared with that of saline control at 4 h after CPR. The treated mice had increased Akt phosphorylation at 30 min resuscitation with significantly decreased sorbitol content in heart or brain tissues and reduced release of taurine and glutamate in blood, suggesting improved glucose metabolism. In an isolated rat heart Langendorff model, direct effects of TAT-PTEN9c on cardiac function were measured for 20 min following 20 min global ischemia. Rate pressure product was reduced by >20% for both TAT vehicle and nontreatment groups following arrest. Cardiac contractile function was completely recovered with TAT-PTEN9c treatment given at the start of reperfusion. We conclude that TAT-PTEN9c enhances Akt activation and decreases glucose shunting to the polyol pathway in critical organs, thereby preventing osmotic injury and early cardiovascular collapse and death.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have designed a cell-permeable peptide, TAT-PTEN9c, to improve cardiac arrest survival. It blocked endogenous PTEN binding to its adaptor and enhanced Akt signaling in mouse cardiomyocytes. It improved mouse survival after cardiac arrest, which is related to improved glucose metabolism and reduced glucose shunting to sorbitol in critical organs.

Identification of altered microRNAs and mRNAs in the cumulus cells of PCOS patients: miRNA-509-3p promotes oestradiol secretion by targeting MAP3K8.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women and is characterised by polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. Although the clinical and biochemical signs of PCOS are typically heterogeneous, abnormal folliculogenesis is considered a common characteristic of PCOS. Our aim is to identify the altered miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the cumulus cells of PCOS patients to investigate their molecular function in the aetiology and pathophysiology of PCOS. In this study, the miRNA expression profiles of the cumulus cell samples isolated from five PCOS and five control patients were determined by an miRNA microarray. At the same time, the altered mRNA profiles of the same cumulus cell samples were also identified by a cDNA microarray. From the microarray data, 17 miRNAs and 1263 mRNAs showed significantly different expression in the PCOS cumulus cells. The differentially expressed miRNA-509-3p and its potential target gene (MAP3K8) were identified from the miRNA and mRNA microarrays respectively. The expression of miRNA-509-3p was up-regulated and MAP3K8 was down-regulated in the PCOS cumulus cells. The direct interaction between miRNA-509-3p and MAP3K8 was confirmed by a luciferase activity assay in KGN cells. In addition, miRNA-509-3p mimics or inhibitor transfection tests in KGN cells further confirmed that miRNA-509-3p improved oestradiol (E2) secretion by inhibiting the expression of MAP3K8 These results help to characterise the pathogenesis of anovulation in PCOS, especially the regulation of E2 production.

[Evaluation and cumulative characteristics of heavy metals in soil-Uncaria rhynchophylla system of different functional areas].

Soil and Uncaria rhynchophylla in different functional areas were selected for the study,the content of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Hg in soil and U. rhynchophylla was discussed, the characteristics of their accumulation in the U.rhynchophylla was analyzed, the contamination levels of heavy metals in soil in different functional areas was evaluated. The results showed that content of Cu, As, Pb and Cr in soil was being cropland>woodland>wasteland, content of Cd was being woodland>cropland>wasteland, content of Hg was being cropland>woodland>wasteland. According to quality standard of soil environment, soil Cd in woodland, cropland and wasteland all exceeded the state-level standards, soil Cd in woodland exceeded the secondary standard, soil Hg in cropland and wasteland all exceeded the state-level standards. According to technical conditions of green food producing area, soil Cd in woodland exceeded the limit value of standard. According to Green Trade Standards of Importing Exporting Medicinal Plants Preparations,the content of heavy metals of U.rhynchophylla in cropland,woodland and wasteland were correspond to the specification. From the single factor pollution index, the soil in woodland was polluted by Cd. From the comprehensive pollution index, the soils in different functional areas were not contaminated by heavy metals. The enrichment coefficient of heavy metals such as As, Cu, Cr, and Pb in hook of U.rhynchophylla was being wasteland>woodland>cropland, the enrichment coefficient of Cu in hook of U. rhynchophylla in wasteland was more than 1. Except Cu, the enrichment coefficient of other heavy metals was low.

Phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric classic Passerini reaction.

An efficient enantioselective classic three-component Passerini reaction with a broad substrate scope in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst has been developed. This represents the general example for classic three-component Passerini reaction with good to excellent enantioselectivies involving aromatic aldehydes and the bulky pivalaldehyde under mild reaction conditions. The feature of this method is highlighted by using a chiral phosphoric acid to activate carboxylic acid, aldehyde, and isocyanide for the facile construction of widely useful complex compounds.

[Determination of Six Ingredients in Gardenia jaminoides Fruits with Quantitative Analysis of Muti-components by Single Marker].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method of quantitative analysis of multi-components, by single marker(QAMS)for simultaneously determining six ingredients in Gardenia jasminoides fruits. METHODS: A multi-wavelength segmentation detection method was used. A methodological mode was found to analysis six ingredients in Gardenia jasminoides fruits by quantitative analysis of QAMS. Taken geniposide as reference to create RCF with gardenia acid, chlorogenic acid, crocin I, crocin II and crocin III. RESULTS: The good reproducibility and acceptable durability of method was validated between two HPLC systems and three columns. 20 batches of Gardenia jaminoides fruits was analysis, and the results showed good linear correlation compared to external standard method (r > 0. 999). CONCLUSION: QAMS can be used as quality evaluation method of multi-component Gardenia jaminoides fruits.

Multicomponent reaction of chalcones, malononitrile and DMF leading to γ-ketoamides.

An efficient synthesis of γ-ketoamides was developed by the one-pot multicomponent reaction of chalcones, malononitrile and DMF (as both the reactant and solvent) in the presence of NaOH (3.0 equiv.). The reaction features high atom economy, easily available starting materials, operational simplicity, and good tolerance with diverse functional groups.

Hypervalent iodine(III)-mediated cyclopropa(e)nation of alkenes/alkynes under mild conditions.

Hypervalent iodine(III)-mediated dioxygenation and diamination of alkenes have been previously developed. In this study, the potential application of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent was successfully extended to the dialkylation and cyclopropa(e)nation of unsaturated alkenes and alkynes. The reactions of alkenes with malononitrile and other active methylene compounds as the carbon nucleophiles give access to multisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives in moderate to excellent yields. Both electron-rich and electron-deficient alkenes are suitable substrates. Alkynes, no matter terminal or internal alkynes, work well, affording the corresponding highly functionalized cyclopropenes efficiently. A plausible mechanism of iodo(III)cyclopropanation, ring opening attack by the carbon-nucleophile, and recyclization was proposed for the cyclopropanation of trans-alkene substrates. The cyclopropenation was thought to proceed via iodo(III)cyclopropanation, ring-opening attack by the carbon-nucleophile, recyclization into a four-membered iodo(III)cyclobutene and final reductive elimination. The protocol might provide a complementary route to cyclopropanation/cyclopropenation.

Otherwise inert reaction of sulfonamides/carboxamides with formamides via proton transfer-enhanced reactivity.

NBS-mediated addition-elimination reaction of sulfonamides/carboxamides and formamides afforded N-sulfonylamidines and N-formylarylamides, respectively, depending on the different mechanism of elimination. Hydrogen bond-induced proton transfer leads to enhanced reactivities and was proposed as the key driving force for the reaction to take place. The protocol demonstrates the possibility of constructing chemical bonds based on a proton transfer strategy induced by noncovalent hydrogen bond interaction.

Halonium-initiated double oxa-cyclization cascade as a synthetic strategy for halogenated furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones.

The reaction of 1-alkenoylcyclopropane carboxylic acids with NBS or NIS was investigated, which provides an efficient route to biologically important 7-halogenated furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones in a one-pot transformation. The major pathway for the formation of the O-O heterocycles was proposed as a halo-oxa-cyclization, HBr elimination, cyclopropane ring-opening and recyclization (intramolecular oxa-cyclization), and bromination cascade. The double-oxa-cyclization represents a novel synthetic strategy towards functionalized furo[3,2-c]pyranones.

Nicotinamide restores tissue NAD+ and improves survival in rodent models of cardiac arrest.

Metabolic suppression in the ischemic heart is characterized by reduced levels of NAD+ and ATP. Since NAD+ is required for most metabolic processes that generate ATP, we hypothesized that nicotinamide restores ischemic tissue NAD+ and improves cardiac function in cardiomyocytes and isolated hearts, and enhances survival in a mouse model of cardiac arrest. Mouse cardiomyocytes were exposed to 30 min simulated ischemia and 90 min reperfusion. NAD+ content dropped 40% by the end of ischemia compared to pre-ischemia. Treatment with 100 µM nicotinamide (NAM) at the start of reperfusion completely restored the cellular level of NAD+ at 15 min of reperfusion. This rescue of NAD+ depletion was associated with improved contractile recovery as early as 10 min post-reperfusion. In a mouse model of cardiac arrest, 100 mg/kg NAM administered IV immediately after cardiopulmonary resuscitation resulted in 100% survival at 4 h as compared to 50% in the saline group. In an isolated rat heart model, the effect of NAM on cardiac function was measured for 20 min following 18 min global ischemia. Rate pressure product was reduced by 26% in the control group following arrest. Cardiac contractile function was completely recovered with NAM treatment given at the start of reperfusion. NAM restored tissue NAD+ and enhanced production of lactate and ATP, while reducing glucose diversion to sorbitol in the heart. We conclude that NAM can rapidly restore cardiac NAD+ following ischemia and enhance glycolysis and contractile recovery, with improved survival in a mouse model of cardiac arrest.

A cell-penetrating PHLPP peptide improves cardiac arrest survival in murine and swine models.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the US, with a mortality rate over 90%. Preclinical studies demonstrate that cooling during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is highly beneficial, but can be challenging to implement clinically. No medications exist for improving long-term cardiac arrest survival. We have developed a 20-amino acid peptide, TAT-PHLPP9c, that mimics cooling protection by enhancing AKT activation via PH domain leucine-rich repeat phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) inhibition. Complementary studies were conducted in mouse and swine. C57BL/6 mice were randomized into blinded saline control and peptide-treatment groups. Following a 12-minute asystolic arrest, TAT-PHLPP9c was administered intravenously during CPR and significantly improved the return of spontaneous circulation, mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral blood flow, cardiac and neurological function, and survival (4 hour and 5 day). It inhibited PHLPP-NHERF1 binding, enhanced AKT but not PKC phosphorylation, decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphorylation and sorbitol production, and increased ATP generation in heart and brain. TAT-PHLPP9c treatment also reduced plasma taurine and glutamate concentrations after resuscitation. The protective benefit of TAT-PHLPP9c was validated in a swine cardiac arrest model of ventricular fibrillation. In conclusion, TAT-PHLPP9c may improve neurologically intact cardiac arrest survival without the need for physical cooling.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of α-ketoamides from methyl ketones, amines and NIS at room temperature.

A simple, efficient and practical copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of α-ketoamides from aryl methyl ketones, aliphatic amines and N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) has been developed. The one-pot reaction may proceed smoothly at room temperature in the open air. The possible mechanism for the formation of α-ketoamides was proposed. Molecular oxygen in air functions as both an oxidant and an oxygen source.

Multi-component anion relay cascade of 1-acetylcyclopropanecarboxamides, aldehydes and acrylonitrile: access to biscyanoethylated furo[3,2-c]pyridinones.

A highly efficient multi-component anion relay cascade reaction based on 1-acetylcyclopropanecarboxamides, aldehydes and acrylonitrile has been developed, which provides strategically novel and atom-economic access to biologically important biscyanoethylated furo[3,2-c]pyridinones. In this one-pot transformation, up to five bonds (one C-N, one C-O and three C-C bonds) were constructed.

Aza-oxy-carbanion relay via non-Brook rearrangement: efficient synthesis of furo[3,2-c]pyridinones.

An aza-oxy-carbanion relay via tandem Michael addition/ring opening of cyclopropane and recyclization/carbanion migration/electrophile trapping has been developed by the utilization of 1-cinnamoylcyclopropanecarboxamides to react with various electrophiles. This represents the first example of anion relay chemistry via non-Brook rearrangement. This novel protocol has been applied in the facile and efficient synthesis of biologically active bicyclic furo[3,2-c]pyridinone compounds.

VCAM-1 blockade delays disease onset, reduces disease severity and inflammatory cells in an atopic dermatitis model.

We investigated the functions of critical adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in a keratin-14 IL-4-transgenic (Tg) mouse model of atopic dermatitis, the skin lesions of which are characterized by prominent inflammatory cell infiltration, significantly increased mRNAs and proteins of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, and PSGL-1, and significantly increased numbers of dermal vessels expressing these adhesion molecules. We tested the hypotheses that deletion or blockade of these molecules may impede the inflammation by examining the disease progresses in the Tg mice crossed with ICAM-1-knockout mice and Tg mice received anti-VCAM-1-neutralizing antibody. Although the findings of the ICAM-1-knockout Tg mice (Tg/ICAM-1(-/-)) developed skin lesions similar to wide-type ICAM-1 Tg mice (Tg/ICAM-1(+/+)) were surprising, a compensatory mechanism may account for it: the frequency of VCAM-1 ligand, CD49d, on CD3(+) T cells in the lesional skin significantly increased in the Tg/ICAM-1(-/-) mouse, compared with the Tg/ICAM-1(+/+) mice. In contrast, anti-VCAM-1-treated Tg/ICAM-1(-/-) or Tg/ICAM-1(+/+) mice had significantly delayed onset of skin inflammation compared with isotype antibody-treated groups. Moreover, anti-VCAM-1 significantly reduced the skin inflammation severity in Tg/ICAM-1(+/+) mice, accompanied with reduction of mast cell, eosinophil, and CD3(+) T cell infiltration. VCAM-1 is more critical in developing skin inflammation in this model.

Enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives via chiral-at-metal rhodium complex catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition.

An asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with α,ß-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by a chiral-at-metal rhodium complex has been developed. The corresponding C-1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were obtained in high yields (>90%) with excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99% ee and >20 : 1 dr). The reaction can be conducted on a gram-scale using a low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%) with high yield and selectivity.

A visible-light-activated rhodium complex in enantioselective conjugate addition of α-amino radicals with Michael acceptors.

We report an efficient enantioselective conjugate addition of photogenerated α-amino radicals to Michael acceptors catalyzed by a newly prepared chiral-at-metal rhodium complex. This protocol shows that a single Rh(iii) complex can serve not only as a Lewis acid but also as a photoredox catalyst to control the stereoselectivity during the bond formation.

miR-182, of the miR-183 cluster family, is packaged in exosomes and is detected in human exosomes from serum, breast cells and prostate cells.

Members of the microRNA (miR)-183 family are expressed at high levels in the majority of cancer types, including breast and prostate, and are considered 'oncomiRs'. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of exosomes in cell-to-cell transfer of the miR-183 family, which includes miRs-96, -182 and -183. Despite highly detectable levels of these three miRs within prostate and breast cells in vitro, only miR-182 was detectable in exosomes isolated from cell culture supernatant. Similar to the in vitro results, miR-182 was the only miR detected in exosomes isolated from fresh human serum. The packaging of miR-182 into exosomes was examined in MDA-MB-231 (MDA-182) breast cancer cells with miR-182 overexpression. Levels of mature miR-182 increased in exosomes in a dose-dependent manner compared to intracellular expression. Furthermore, co-culture of MDA-182 cells with naïve MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in an increase in mature miR-182 in the naïve cells, which was blocked by a chemical inhibitor of microvesicle formation. In summary, the present study demonstrates that of the miR-183 family members, miR-182 is preferentially packaged in exosomes, detectable in exosomes from human sera and may be transferred between cells via a microvesicle-dependent mechanism.