Gillespiecross8951

Phytochemical investigation on the roots of Aconitum pseudostapfianum resulted in the isolation of three new aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, pseudostapines A-C (1-3). Their structures were determined by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, NOESY and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated alkaloids were tested in vivo for their antinociceptive potential. As a result, pseudostapine C (3) showed 2-fold more potent antinociceptive effect (ID50 = 60.3 μmol/kg) than the positive control drugs aspirin and acetaminophen.Six natural products (1-6) were isolated from the fresh leaves of Carissa carandas including ursolic acid (1), ursolic acid-γ-lactone (2), 27-O-Z-p-coumaroyl ursolic acid (3), 23-hydroxy ursolic acid (4), uvaol (5) and ursolic aldehyde (6). Their structure elucidation was done by modern spectroscopic techniques including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and comparison with reported data. All compounds were known, while 2-4 were isolated for the first time from the genus Carissa. Isolated compounds were screened for their cytotoxic via MTT assay and anti-inflammatory potential via luminol-enhanced chem-iluminescence assay. Compounds 3 and 4 showed potent activity against lung cancer cell line (NCI-H460), and 4 showed potent anti-inflammatory activity against reactive oxygen species production from human whole blood phagocytes. Compound 5 displayed good selective cytotoxicity against NCI-H460 and did not provoke cytotoxicity against normal cell line upto 250 μM. Compounds 3-5 were identified as potential anti-cancer drug leads.More than 30 proteins and peptides have been found to form amyloid fibrils in human diseases. Fibrils formed by transthyretin (TTR) are associated with ATTR amyloidosis, affecting many vital organs, including the heart and peripheral nervous system. Congo red staining is the gold standard method for detection of amyloid deposits in tissue. However, Congo red staining and amyloid typing methods such as immunofluorescence labelling are limited to relatively large deposits. Detection of small ATTR deposits present at an early stage of the disease could enable timely treatment and prevent severe tissue damage. In this study, we developed an enhanced ATTR amyloid detection method that uses functionalised protein nanofibrils. Using this method, we achieved sensitive detection of monomeric TTR in a microplate immunoassay and immunofluorescence labelling of ex vivo tissue from two patients containing ATTR aggregates. The system's utility was confirmed on sections from a patient with AA amyloidosis and liver sections from inflamed mouse. These results suggest that the detection system constitutes important new technology for highly sensitive detection of microscopic amounts of ATTR amyloid deposited in tissue.Seven benzophenone compounds were synthesized in one or two steps, then their antitumor activity was evaluated. The total yields ranged from 9% to 44%. Compounds 3c-5c exhibited obvious antitumor activity. Among them, compounds 3c and 4c exhibited excellent and broad-spectrum antitumor activity. Compound 3c exhibited much stronger inhibitory activities against fourteen cancer cells than cisplatin. In particular, compound 3c exhibited stronger cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells than Taxol, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 0.111 μM. learn more These results demonstrated that compounds 3c, 4c and 5c were very promising antitumor leads for further structural modification.Two C25 steroids with bicyclic [4.4.1] A/B rings were successfully separated from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. LS116 by a two-step high-speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC). Petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (5.51157, v/v) and petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (5657, v/v) were selected as two optimum two-phase systems to purify two C25 steroids, neocyclocitrinol B (1) and threo-23-O-methylneocyclocitrinol (2). The purity of two compounds was over 94%. Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic techniques. This is the first report about rapid separation and identification of C25 steroids with bicyclic [4.4.1] A/B rings by HSCCC.Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism) is a developmental disorder that impedes the social and communication capabilities of a person through out his life. Early detection of autism is critical in contributing to better prognosis. In this study, the use of home videos to provide accessible diagnosis is investigated. A machine learning approach is adopted to detect autism from home videos. Feature selection and state-of-the-art classification methods are applied to provide a sound diagnosis based on home video ratings obtained from non-clinicians feedback. Our models results indicate that home videos can effectively detect autistic group with True Positive Rate reaching 94.05% using Support Vector Machines and backwards feature selection. In this study, human-interpretable models are presented to elucidate the reasoning behind the classification process and its subsequent decision. In addition, the prime features that need to be monitored for early autism detection are revealed.

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with postpartum acute kidney injury (PPAKI).

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentations, laboratory examinations, treatments, and outcomes of patients with PPAKI admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. We then analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognoses of the mothers and their infants.

Of 37 patients diagnosed with PPAKI, 26 (70.3%) received treatment in the intensive care unit, mainly for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome (28/37, 75.7%), pre-eclampsia (26/37, 70.3%), and postpartum hemorrhage (22/37, 59.5%). Twenty patients required renal replacement treatment (RRT), but renal recovery times were similar in the RRT and non-RRT groups. Renal function recovered completely in 30 patients (81.1%) and partially in one patient (2.7%), and was not re-examined in two patients (5.4%). Three patients (8.1%) were lost to follow-up. Only one patient (2.7%) remained dialysis-dependent, and no maternal deaths occurred.