Prognostic significance of compliance with fractional flow reserve guidance on diverse vessel-related clinical outcomes.

Background: In patients underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment, a noteworthy proportion of adverse events occur in vessels in which FFR has not been measured. However, the effect of these non-target vessel-related events on the evaluation of FFR-related benefits remains unknown. Methods and results: In this retrospective study, vessels subjected to FFR measurement were grouped as FFR-based approach and non-compliance with FFR based on whether they received FFR-based treatment. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to account for potential confounding, we investigated the association between compliance with FFR and 5-year target vessel failure (TVF) non-target vessel failure (NTVF) and vessel-oriented composite endpoints (VOCEs). Of the 1,119 vessels, 201 did not receive FFR-based treatment. After IPTW adjustment, a significantly lower hazard of TVF was observed in the FFR-based approach group (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.34-0.92). While, the intergroup difference in hazard of NTVF (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.45-2.31) and VOCEs (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.45-1.05) were nonsignificant. Conclusions: In patients with CAD subjected to FFR, the FFR-based treatment yields a sustained clinical benefit in terms of the risks of target vessel-related events. The dilution of non-target vessel-related events renders the difference favoring the FFR-based approach nonsignificant.

Ceramides and metabolic profiles of patients with acute coronary disease: a cross-sectional study.

Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a rapidly growing medical problem worldwide and is characterized by a cluster of age-related metabolic risk factors. The presence of MS increases the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis and significantly raises the morbidity/mortality rate of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Early detection of MS is crucial, and biomarkers, particularly blood-based, play a vital role in this process. This cross-sectional study focused on the investigation of certain plasma ceramides (Cer14:0, Cer16:0, Cer18:0, Cer20:0, Cer22:0, and Cer24:1) as potential blood biomarkers for MS due to their previously documented dysregulated function in MS patients. A total of 695 ACS patients were enrolled, with 286 diagnosed with MS (ACS-MS) and 409 without MS (ACS-nonMS) serving as the control group. Plasma ceramide concentrations were measured by LC-MS/MS assay and analyzed through various statistical methods. The results revealed that Cer18:0, Cer20:0, Cer22:0, and Cer24:1 were significantly correlated with the presence of MS risk factors. Upon further examination, Cer18:0 emerged as a promising biomarker for early MS detection and risk stratification, as its plasma concentration showed a significant sensitivity to minor changes in MS risk status in participants. This cross-sectional observational study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational cohort study (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, https://www.who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform/network/primary-registries/chinese-clinical-trial-registry-(chictr), ChiCTR-2200056697), conducted from April 2021 to August 2022.

The relation between autonomy support and music enjoyment in online learning for music undergraduates in the post-COVID-19 era.

Music enjoyment is considered to predict music-related academic performance and career choice. Although relevant research in non-music fields has demonstrated the association between teachers' autonomy support and students' academic enjoyment, it remains unknown whether this association is valid in the music discipline. In addition, in the post-COVID-19 era, online education has become a common way of teaching and learning for music undergraduates. In the form of online learning, the mechanisms mediating teachers' music autonomy support and students' music academic enjoyment are also unknown. This study draws on Pekrun's theory of achievement emotions and control values to explore the mediating role of attributions and values in the association between autonomous support and academic achievement. In this study, 270 undergraduates majoring in music eventually completed the online surveys. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that autonomy support positively predicted music enjoyment and that attributions (i.e., internal attribution and external attribution) and values (i.e., intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value) mediated the association between autonomy support and music enjoyment. The findings also provide insights into possible avenue for promoting music enjoyment emotion during online teaching in the post-COVID-19 era. Implications and limitations are discussed in the study.

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Repeat Positivity - Beijing, China, June-September 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Repeat positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following COVID-19 initial viral clearance (re-positivity) poses a public health management challenge. The objective was to determine factors associated with neutralizing antibody (Nab) level and re-positivity among patients infected with a single strain SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: During a single strain SARS-CoV-2 cluster in Beijing, China, longitudinal individual clinical, virological, and immunological data were collected from 368 infections from June 13 to September 22, 2020. Factors associated with Nab level and re-positivity were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 353 (96%) SARS-CoV-2 infections had demographic, clinical, and laboratory data available. Among the 353 infections, 55 (15.5%) were re-positive, and blood draws were taken from 346 individuals (98.0%) during hospitalization and/or during the follow-up period. Symptoms were milder for the second-time admission for the re-positives, although 36.4% of re-positives presented with radiographic appearance of pneumonia manifestation. Compared to non-re-positive patients, NAb titers were lower among re-positives; NAb was positively associated with clinical severity. Samples from the lower respiratory tract manifested higher viral load than that from the upper respiratory tract. Multivariable analysis showed re-positivity was positively associated with being female [odd ratio (OR)=1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.8] and being aged <18 years (OR=5.2, 95% CI 1.5-18.1); having initially asymptomatic infection (OR=13.7, 95% CI 1.6-116.3); and negatively associated with a higher NAb level (OR=0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.7). CONCLUSIONS: NAb may be important for sustained viral clearance. Lower respiratory tract infection was associated with higher viral load among all infections when compared to upper respiratory tract infection. Continuous lower respiratory and intermittent upper respiratory viral shedding among COVID-19 infections may occur.

Biodegradable Biomaterial Arterial Stent in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical application value of two materials, drug-eluting stent, and biodegradable stent, in the treatment of coronary heart disease. The results show that the therapeutic effects of drug-eluting stents and biodegradable stents are similar. Both treatment methods have high safety and effectiveness. The ideal coronary artery stent should have good biocompatibility, safety, and possibility.

Zwitterionic Alternating Polymerization to Generate Semicrystalline and Recyclable Cyclic Polythiourethanes.

Synthesis of cyclic, semicrystalline, and recyclable polythiourethanes was realized via the catalyst-free zwitterionic alternating copolymerization of N-alkyl aziridines with carbonyl sulfide (COS) under mild conditions. The copolymerization proceeded efficiently at room temperature and generated copolymers with fully alternating linkages in more than 99% selectivity in 5 min under solvent-free conditions. Notably, the copolymers are typical semicrystalline thermoplastics with melting temperatures up to 137 °C (n-butyl-substituted) or 170 °C (ethyl-substituted). The resulting polythiourethanes are predominantly cyclic as evidenced by 1H NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopies. Remarkably, the cyclic copolymers could be recycled into N-substituted cyclic thiourethanes in quantitative yield by heating at 250 °C for 2 h.

Switchable Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenations of Unsaturated Carbonyls Using Copper(I) N-Donor Thiolate Clusters.

Unsaturated alcohols and saturated carbonyls are important chemical, pharmaceutical, and biochemical intermediates. We herein report an efficient transfer hydrogenation protocol in which conversion of unsaturated carbonyl compounds to either unsaturated alcohols or saturated carbonyls was catalyzed by Cu(I) N-donor thiolate clusters along with changing hydrogen source (isopropanol or butanol) and base (NaOH or K2CO3). Mechanistic studies supported by DFT transition state modeling indicate that such a chemoselectivity can be explained by the relative concentrations of Cu(I) monohydride and protonated Cu(I) hydride complexes in each catalytic system.

Ligand-Controlled Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Secondary and Primary Alcohols to α-Alkylated Ketones, Pyridines, and Quinolines.

One hexanuclear Cu(I) cluster of 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2-thiolate efficiently catalyzes the dehydrogenative cross-coupling of secondary and primary alcohols to α-alkylated ketones with high selectivity. This transformation proceeds through a one-pot sequence of dehydrogenation of alcohols, condensation of aldehydes and ketones, hydrogenation of the resulting α,ß-unsaturated ketones, and dehydrogenation of the α-alkylated alcohols to generate α-alkylated ketones. This catalytic system also displays high activity for the annulation reaction of secondary alcohols with γ-amino- and 2-aminobenzyl alcohols to yield pyridines and quinolines, respectively.

Syntheses and structures of copper complexes of 3-(6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)pyrazol-1-ide and their excellent performance in the syntheses of nitriles and aldehydes.

Reactions of a pincer ligand 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (pzpypzH) with Cu(NO3)2, Cu(ClO4)2, CuSO4, CuCl2 or CuI produced three dinuclear Cu(ii) complexes [{Cu(NO3)}(µ-pzpypz)]2 (1), [{Cu(ClO4)}(µ-pzpypz)]2 (2), [Cu2(µ-SO4)(µ-pzpypz)2]·2MeOH (3·2MeOH), one mononuclear Cu(ii) complex [CuCl2(pzpypzH)] (4) and one trinuclear Cu(i)/Cu(ii) complex [(ICu)(µ-I)2Cu2(µ-pzpypz)2] (5), respectively. Treatment of 4 with two equiv. of AgNO3 in DMF also gave rise to 1. Complexes 1-5 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 or 2 has a dimeric structure in which two {Cu(X)} (X = NO3, ClO4) fragments are interconnected by two µ-pzpypz(-) ligands. 3 also adopts a dimeric structure in which two Cu(ii) centers are interconnected by a pair of µ-pzpypz(-) ligands and one µ-SO4(2-) ion. The Cu(ii) center in 4 is five-coordinated by three N atoms of the pzpypzH ligand and two Cl atoms. In 5, two Cu(ii) centers are bridged by two µ-pzpypz(-) ligands and one CuI3(2-) unit, forming a unique trinuclear structure. Complexes 1-5 displayed high catalytic activity toward the ammoxidation of alcohols to nitriles and the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes in H2O. The nitrile or aldehyde products could be readily separated from the catalytic system by extraction and the residual aqueous solution containing 1 retained good activity for several cycles.

Steroidal glycosides from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and their antiplatelet aggregation activity.

Five new steroidal glycosides, timosaponin J ( 1), timosaponin K ( 2), (25 S)-karatavioside C ( 5), timosaponin L ( 6), and (25 S)-officinalisnin-I ( 8), together with eight known steroidal saponins, timosaponin E (1) ( 3), purpureagitosid ( 4), timosaponin BII ( 7), timosaponin B III ( 9), anemarrhenasaponin I ( 10), anemarrhenasaponin III ( 11), anemarrhenasaponin A (2) ( 12), and timosaponin A III ( 13), were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. The aglycones of compounds 1 and 2 are new aglycones. Compounds 1- 13 were evaluated for their platelet aggregation activities, and compound 13 exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation.

Structure elucidation and complete NMR spectral assignments of glucosylated saponins of cantalasaponin I.

Five new glucosylated steroidal glycosides, cantalasaponin I-B(1) (1), I-B(2) (2), I-B(3) (3), I-B(4) (4) and I-B(5) (5), were isolated and purified from the transformed product of the cantalasaponin I by using Toruzyme 3.0 l as biocatalyst. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, one-dimensional ((1) H and (13) C NMR) and two-dimensional [COSY, heteronuclear single-quantum correlation (HSQC), HMBC and HSQC-TOCSY] NMR spectral analyses and chemical evidence.

Characterization of steroidal glycosides from the extract of Paris Polyphylla var. Yunnanensis by UPLC/Q-TOF MSE.

Steroidal saponins in Rhizoma Paridis attract scientific attentions for their structural diversity and significant bioactivities. In this work, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) was used to rapidly separate and identify steroidal saponins from the extract of the rhizome of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (PPY). The fragment ions from glycosidic and cross-ring cleavages offered a wealth of structural information that is indicative to the aglycones, sugar types and the connecting sequence of sugar units. Based on the exact mass information, the fragmentation characteristics, and the LC retention times of 21 reference steroidal saponin standards, 98 constituents were tentatively identified with their structures proposed, which covered more than 30 types of steroidal aglycones. The 98 constituents consist of 22 pairs of structural isomers, and 40 steroidal glycosides that are identified for the first time from the nature.

Spirostanol saponins derivated from the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum by ß-glucosidase hydrolysis and their inhibitory effects on rat platelet aggregation.

Nine spirostanol saponins (1-9) and seven mixtures of 25 R and 25 S spirostanol saponin isomers (10-16) were obtained from the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum after enzymatic hydrolysis of the furostanol saponin fraction by ß-glucosidase. Their structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopy. Among them, 1- 4, 6, 8, and 9 were new compounds and five, 11B, 12A, 13B, 14A, and 14B, were new structures observed from seven mixtures. In addition, the inhibitory effects of all saponins on rat platelet aggregation were evaluated.

[Effects of bortezomib alone or combined with arsenic trioxide on the apoptosis of Jurkat cells and expression of livin mRNA].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of bortezomib alone or combined with arsenic trioxide on the apoptosis of Jurkat cells and expression of livin mRNA. The Jurkat cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of bortezomib, arsenic trioxide or their combination for 24 hours. Then, the expression of livin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, the cell proliferation was analyzed with MTT assay and flow cytometry. The results showed that 5 - 25 nmol/L bortezomib could effectively inhibit Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner, the group of bortezomib combined with arsenic trioxide showed more inhibitory effect on Jurkat cells than the effect of bortezomib alone or arsenic trioxide alone on Jurkat cells. The expression of livin mRNA in Jurkat cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner after treated with bortezomib, which was downregulated significantly after combined treatment. It is concluded that bortezomib and arsenic trioxide can induce apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of livin mRNA in Jurkat cells. The combination of bortezomib with arsenic trioxide displays a synergistic effect.

[Identification of chemical constituents in qiliqiangxin capsule by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)].

In order to clarify the chemical constituents in Qiliqiangxin capsule, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography/orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)) method was established. Forty peaks were identified on line using this method. The herbal sources of these peaks were assigned. The results implied that triterpenoid saponins, flavonoid glycosides, C21-steroids and phenolic acids were included in the main components of Qiliqiangxin capsule. The method is simple and rapid for elucidation of the constituents of Qiliqiangxin capsule and the results are useful for the quality control of Qiliqiangxin capsule.

Enzymatic synthesis of alpha-glucosyl-timosaponin BII catalyzed by the extremely thermophilic enzyme: Toruzyme 3.0L.

Timosaponin BII (BII), a steroidal saponin showing potential anti-dementia activity, was converted into its glucosylation derivatives by Toruzyme 3.0L. Nine products with different degrees of glucosylation were purified and their structures were elucidated on the basis of (13)C NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and FAB-MS spectra data. The active enzyme in Toruzyme 3.0L was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by tracking BII-glycosylase activity and was identified as Cyclodextrin-glycosyltransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) by ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. In this work, we found that the active enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of alpha-(1-->4)-linked glucosyl-BII when dextrin instead of an expensive activated sugar was used as the donor and showed a high thermal tolerance with the most favorable enzymatic activity at 100 degrees C. In addition, we also found that the alpha-amylases and CGTase, that is, GH13 family enzymes, all exhibited similar activities, which were able to catalyze glucosylation in steroidal saponins. But other kinds of amylases, such as gamma-amylase (GH15 family), had no such activity under the same reaction conditions.

Saponins from the processed rhizomes of Polygonatum kingianum.

Two new spirostanol saponins, named kingianoside H (1) and kingianoside I (2), were isolated from the processed rhizomes of Polygonatum kingianum, along with a known triterpenoid saponin ginsenoside-Rc (3), four known spirostanol saponins Tg (4), (5), polygonatoside C(1) (6) and ophiopogonin C' (7). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical methods. Compounds 3 and 5 were first reported from the genus Polygonatum. Compounds 4, 6 and 7 are reported for the first time from the processed Polygonatum kingianum.

Three new saponins from the fresh rhizomes of Polygonatum kingianum.

Further studies on the fresh rhizomes of Polygonatum kingianum led to the isolation of one new spirostanol saponin (25R)-kingianoside G (1), and two pairs mixture of 25R and 25S stereoisomeric spirostanol saponins (25R, S)-pratioside D1 (2a, 2b) and (25R, S)-kingianoside A (3a, 3b), among them 2b and 3b were new spirostanol saponins, together with another two known compounds, disporopsin (4) and daucosterol (5). The structures of the new saponins were determined by detailed analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and chemical evidences.

Steroidal saponins from the rhizome of Paris polyphylla and their cytotoxic activities.

Two new furostanol saponins and one new spirostanol saponin were isolated from the rhizome of Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis, together with 18 known steroidal saponins. The structures of the new steroidal saponins were elucidated as 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5-ene-furost-3 beta, 17 alpha, 22 alpha, 26-tetrol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2, parisyunnanoside A), 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5, 20 (22)-diene-furost-3 beta, 26-diol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7, parisyunnanoside B), and (25R)-spirost-5-ene-3 beta, 12 alpha-diol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13, parisyunnanoside C) by MS and 1 D and 2 D NMR analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Our results showed that the spirostanol framework of the aglycone and the terminal alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl with 1-->2 linkage to the sugar chain of saponins at C-3 are essential for their high cytotoxicity, whereas the hydroxy group substitution at C-12 or C-17 of the aglycone causes a reduction in their activity.