Didehydroisobenzofuran: A New Reactive Intermediate for Construction of Isoacenofuran.

An efficient generation method of didehydroisobenzofuran, a new heteroaryne species, was developed by bromine/lithium exchange of the dibromoisobenzofuran. The reactive intermediate, thus generated, was trapped by appropriate arynophile to give the [2+2], [2+3], and [2+4] cycloadducts, respectively. Moreover, the reaction could be applied to the syntheses of isoanthracenofurans (anthra[2,3-c]furans), a new class of heteroacenes, with isoelectoronic structure to the corresponding acenoheteroles (anthra[2,3-b]furans).

Echocardiographic screening for congenital heart disease in 8819 children: A report from local community events for children's healthcare.

BACKGROUND: We had the opportunity to perform echocardiographic screening of children at local community events for children's healthcare sponsored by the prefectural government. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of echocardiographic screening by measuring the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) and abnormal findings in children without history of diagnosed CHD. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 8819 infants and preschool children (1 month to 6 years) who underwent echocardiographic examination at public events from 2001 to 2013. Children with known CHD were excluded. RESULTS: We performed echocardiographic screening on 752 (range: 464-993) children at each event. At a total of 12 events, subjects consisted of 3175 infants less than one year (36%), 2292 one-year-olds (26%), 1058 two-year-olds (12%), 794 three-year-olds (9%), and other children up to age six years. We identified echocardiographic abnormalities in 137 children (15.5/1000 subjects), and 89 children (10.1/1000 subjects) were diagnosed with CHD. The prevalence of an echocardiographic abnormality did not change over the 12-year period (Kendall's tau=-0.272, p=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: CHD which could not be identified by prenatal echocardiography and neonatal auscultation could be detected in a substantial number of young children by echocardiographic screening. Echocardiographic screening may be useful for early diagnosis of CHD. However, our study is based on cross-sectional data without follow-up. Larger prospective studies are needed to verify the utility of echocardiographic screening with follow-up data in this cohort.

An efficient synthetic route to 1,3-bis(arylethynyl)isobenzofuran using alkoxybenzocyclobutenone as a reactive platform.

An efficient synthetic method of 1,3-bis(arylethynyl)isobenzofurans is developed. Nucleophilic addition of alkynyllithium to benzocyclobutenone and subsequent oxidative ring cleavage of the four-membered ring gave a keto-aldehyde, which, in turn, accepted the second nucleophile to produce isobenzofurans after acid treatment.

Reliability of the peptide nucleic acid-locked nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction clamp-based test for epidermal growth factor receptor mutations integrated into the clinical practice for non-small cell lung cancers.

Gefitinib is an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Accumulating evidence suggests that gefitinib may provide a survival benefit to EGFR mutation-positive non-small lung cancer patients. We have established a clinical test that can detect EGFR mutations from cytological specimens or paraffin-embedded tissue specimens that are contaminated by normal cells. This test is based on the peptide nucleic acid, locked nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction clamp method that can detect G719S, G719C, L858R, L861Q and seven different exon 19 deletions in the presence of 100-1000-fold wild-type alleles. Consequently, using a small aliquot of samples isolated to establish a cancer diagnosis, the EGFR mutation status is determined soon after the diagnosis of cancer is made. We investigated the EGFR mutation status in 86 patients using a variety of cytological specimens (59 bronchoscopy specimens, 16 pleural effusion, 9 sputum, and 2 pericardial effusion) and in 46 patients who had a disease relapse and paraffin-embedded tissues were available. Forty-five patients (34%) were positive for mutation (29 exon 19 deletions, 16 L858R and 1 L861Q). The sensitivity and the specificity of this test was 97% and 100%, respectively. EGFR mutation status thereby obtained was used to determine each patient's therapeutic regimen. This test is easily integrated into the normal clinical practice for lung cancer, while allowing the medical staff to select therapeutic regimen depending on the EGFR mutation status.