Conversion of Acids to S-Alkyl Dithiocarbamates by Decarboxylative Sulfuration Using Visible-Light Photocatalysis.

S-Alkyl dithiocarbamates, as an important class of sulfur-containing compounds, play pivotal roles in diverse fields, yet methods for the synthesis that start from simple, readily available feedstocks and exhibit mild conditions and structurally diverse products are scarce. In this work, we developed an efficient approach for the synthesis of various S-alkyl dithiocarbamates via visible-light photocatalysis with readily available and structurally diverse alkyl carboxylic acids (primary, secondary, and tertiary acids, amino acids, etc.) and disulfide tetraalkylthiuram as the starting materials. This protocol features high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance. Potential applications are further demonstrated by a sunlight experiment, H2O as a solvent, gram-scale synthesis, and facile synthesis of bioactive molecules.

Glyoxylic Acid Monohydrate-Promoted Formation of the C-SO2 Bond Starting from Maleimides/Quinones and Sodium Sulfinates.

By using glyoxylic acid monohydrate as a promoter, a wide range of substances containing a C-SO2 bond could be obtained from N-substituted maleimides or quinones and sodium sulfinates. The protocol features mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and good atomic economics, which provides an alternative protocol for the α-sulfonylation of α,ß-unsaturated ketones.

Four New Species of Russula Subsection Sardoninae from China.

Four new species of Russula subsection Sardoninae from northern and southwestern China under coniferous and deciduous trees are proposed as R. begonia, R. photinia, R. rhodochroa, and R. rufa. Illustrations and descriptions of R. gracillima, R. leucomarginata, R. roseola, and the above four new species are provided based on evidence of morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), as well as the multi-locus of mtSSU, nLSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1-α. The relationships between these new species and allied taxa are discussed.

Three new Russula species in sect. Ingratae (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from southern China.

Three new species of Russulasection Ingratae, found in Guizhou and Jiangsu Provinces, southern China, are proposed: R.straminella, R.subpectinatoides and R.succinea. Photographs, line drawings and detailed morphological descriptions for these species are provided with comparisons against closely-related taxa. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region supported the recognition of these specimens as new species. Additionally, R.indocatillus is reported for the first time from China and morphological and phylogenetic data are provided for the Chinese specimens.

Immunological mechanism of prednisone in the treatment of infantile spasm / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the immunological mechanism of prednisone in the treatment of infantile spasm (IS) by evaluating the immune function of IS children before and after treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty children with IS were enrolled as IS group. Thirty healthy infants who underwent physical examination were enrolled as healthy control group. Fasting venous blood was collected for both groups before and after prednisone treatment. Chemiluminescence was used to measure serum levels of interleukin-1B (IL-1B), interleukin-2R (IL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Immunoturbidimetric assay was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8). The clinical outcome and electroencephalographic findings were evaluated for all IS children after prednisone treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IS group had significantly higher serum levels of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α than the healthy control group before treatment (P<0.05). The mean number of daily ictal clusters was positively correlated with the levels of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α in IS children, the mean number of total daily seizures was positively correlated with IL-8 level, and any two indices out of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α were positively correlated with each other (P<0.05). Among the 30 IS children treated with prednisone, 19 achieved seizure control; electroencephalography showed that 18 children achieved complete remission of hyperarrhythmia. After treatment, the IS group had significant reductions in the numbers of daily ictal clusters and total daily seizures, significant improvement in developmental quotient (P<0.05), and significant reductions in serum levels of IL-2R, L-8, and TNF-α, the percentage of CD4T lymphocytes, and CD4/CD8ratio (P<0.05), as well as a significant increase in the percentage of CD8T lymphocytes (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IS children have immune dysfunction. Prednisone can control seizures in IS children, possibly by regulating and improving immune dysfunction.</p>

Gene silencing of Rac1 with RNA interference mediated by ultrasound and microbubbles in human LoVo cells: evaluation of cell invasion inhibition and metastatic.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the change of cytoskeleton and cell cycle in LoVo (human colorectal cancer) cell via gene silencing of Rac1 with RNA interference mediated by microbubble (SonoVue) and ultrasound (US). METHODS: The compound of plasmid Rac1-shRNA, LoVo cells, and SonoVue was exposed to US (1 MHz, 2 W/cm(2), 5 min). The expression of Rac1 mRNA and Rac1 protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cytoskeleton was taken by confocal microscope in a random fashion. Cell invasion was assayed using modified Boyden chambers, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry in LoVo cells. RESULTS: Rac1 gene is overexpressed in human colorectal cancer cells, gene silencing of Rac1 with RNA interference mediated by microbubble and US strongly inhibited lamellipodia formation, cell invasion, and delayed cell cycle, as well as enhanced cell apoptosis of LoVo cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: Silencing Rac1 gene mediated by microbubble and US may become a new treatment option for the inhibition of the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.

Changes of cytoskeleton and cell cycle in Lovo cells via deletion of Rac1.

BACKGROUND: Rac1, the better characterized Rac subfamily member, can regulate a large variety of different functions, including the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, cell migration, cell cycle progression, and cell survival through engagement of specific effectors. However, very little is currently known about the expression of Rac1 in colorectal cancer cells and the roles of Rac1 in the cell cycle progression and cell survival of human colorectal cancer cells. OBJECTIVE: To assess the change of cytoskeleton and cell cycle in Lovo (human colorectal cancer) cell via deletion of Rac1 with RNA interference. METHODS: Rac1 protein of all selected human colorectal cancer cells and in human colorectal tissue was detected by Western blotting, Rac1-shRNA was used to silence the Rac1 to reduce its expression specifically in Lovo cells. RESULTS: Rac1 protein was overexpressed in human colorectal cancer cells and in human colorectal tissue, RNA interference-mediated deletion of Rac1 strongly prolonged cell cycle progression and enhanced cell apoptosis of Lovo cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: depletion of Rac1 by the use of RNAi can arrest Lovo Cells in G_{0}/G_{1} and induce LoVo cells apoptosis.

Inhibition of migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via deletion of Rac1 with RNA interference.

Cell migration and invasion are triggered by a number of chemoattractants that stimulate intracellular signaling pathways through regulating reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Rac1, an intracellular signal transducer, regulates a variety of cell functions, including the organization of the cytoskeleton, cell migration, and invasion. However, currently, very little is known about the roles of Rac1 in the cytoskeleton formation and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells. In our study, Rac1-shRNA was used to silence the Rac1 to reduce its expression specifically in Lovo cells. Our studies showed that RNA interference-mediated deletion of Rac1 strongly inhibited lamellipodia formation, cell migration, and invasion of Lovo cells in vitro. The deletion of Rac1 can serve as an alterative therapy to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.