Five brasilane-type sesquiterpenoids with neuroprotective activities from Xylaria nigripes.

Five brasilane-type sesquiterpenoids, including four previously undescribed compounds named xylaribrasilaids A-D, along with a known analogue, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of solid fermentation from Xylaria nigripes. X. nigripes, a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus utilized for treating various ailments such as insomnia, trauma, and depression, has garnered attention due to its pharmacological potential.

Heterodimeric diketopiperazine alkaloids from MA147 and their cytotoxicity.

Four previously undescribed heterodimeric diketopiperazine alkaloids, expansines A-D, were identified from the solid rice medium fermented by MA147, along with one new resorcylic acid derivative and five known compounds. Their structures and relative/absolute configurations were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data, quantum chemical calculations, and chemical conversion. Some obtained compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against a triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, and expansine C showed an IC value of 3.

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and CD44 variant exon 6 in primary tumors and corresponding lymph node metastases of colorectal carcinoma with Dukes' stage C or D.

Aim: To study changes in characteristics of colorectal carcinoma during the metastatic process and to investigate the correlation between cell proliferation activity and metastatic ability of patients with Dukes' stage C or D.

Methods: Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded materials of primary tumors and corresponding lymph node metastases resected from 56 patients with Dukes' stage C or D of colorectal carcinoma were stained immunohistochemically with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and CD44 variant exon 6 (CD44v6).

Results: Thirty-one of 56 patients (55.