Publications by authors named "Christopher M Liu"

Background: Aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) with or without Kommerell's diverticulum (KD) is a rare anatomic aortic arch anomaly that can cause dysphagia and/or life-threatening rupture. The objective of this study is to compare outcomes of ASA/KD repair in patients with a left versus right aortic arch.

Methods: Using the Vascular Low Frequency Disease Consortium methodology, a retrospective review was performed of patients ≥18 years old with surgical treatment of ASA/KD from 2000 to 2020 at 20 institutions.

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Objective: Aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) and Kommerell's diverticulum (KD) are rare vascular anomalies that may be associated with lifestyle-limiting and life-threatening complications. The aim of this study is to report contemporary outcomes after invasive treatment of ASA/KD using a large international dataset.

Methods: Patients who underwent treatment for ASA/KD (2000-2020) were identified through the Vascular Low Frequency Disease Consortium, a multi-institutional collaboration to investigate uncommon vascular disorders.

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Relative abundances of bacterial species in the gut microbiome have been linked to many diseases. Species of gut bacteria are ecologically differentiated by their abilities to metabolize different glycans, making glycan delivery a powerful way to alter the microbiome to promote health. Here, we study the properties and therapeutic potential of chemically diverse synthetic glycans (SGs).

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Synthesis of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan requires glycosyltransferase enzymes that transfer the disaccharide-peptide from lipid II onto the growing glycan chain. The polymerization of the glycan chain precedes cross-linking by penicillin-binding proteins and is essential for growth for key bacterial pathogens. As such, bacterial cell wall glycosyltransferases are an attractive target for antibiotic drug discovery.

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A total synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloids (+)-fendleridine and (+)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine is detailed, providing access to both enantiomers of the natural products and establishing their absolute configuration. Central to the synthetic approach is a powerful intramolecular [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition cascade of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole in which the pentacyclic skeleton and all the stereochemistry of the natural products are assembled in a reaction that forms three rings, four C-C bonds, and five stereogenic centers including three contiguous quaternary centers, and introduces the correct oxidation state at C19 in a single synthetic operation. The final tetrahydrofuran bridge is subsequently installed in one step, enlisting an intramolecular alcohol addition to an iminium ion generated by nitrogen-assisted opening of the cycloadduct oxido bridge, with a modification that permits release of useful functionality (a ketone) at the cleavage termini.

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Aldol reactions of methyl ketone lithium enolates proceed via chairlike Zimmerman-Traxler transition states with 7:1 to 50:1 preference over alternative, boatlike transition structures, as determined by studies involving the configurationally stable deuterium-labeled enol silane 18 as the lithium enolate precursor.

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