Dysambiol, an Anti-inflammatory Secomeroterpenoid from a sp. Marine Sponge.

An unusual secomeroterpenoid, dysambiol (), was isolated from a sp. marine sponge collected from the South China Sea. Dysambiol features an unprecedented secomeroterpene scaffold with a rare lactone bridge.

Gene Therapy Activates Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Proliferation for Age-related Macular Degeneration in a Mouse Model.

Objective: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative retinal disease. The degeneration or death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells is implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD. This study aimed to activate the proliferation of RPE cells in vivo by using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector encoding β-catenin to treat AMD in a mouse model.

A Hypoxia-Regulated Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Specific Gene Therapy Vector Reduces Choroidal Neovascularization in a Mouse Model.

Background: Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is characterized by the presence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Although there are some clinical drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inhibiting CNV, two major side effects limit their application, including the excessive activity of anti-VEGF and frequent intraocular injections. To explore better treatment strategies, researchers developed a hypoxic modulator retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)- specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector expressing endostatin to inhibit CNV.

Evaluation of the predictive performance of Bayesian dosing for warfarin in Chinese patients.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy and predictive performance of Bayesian dosing for warfarin in Chinese patients.

Materials & Methods: Six multiple linear regression algorithms (Wei, Lou, Miao, Huang, Gage and IWPC) and a Bayesian method implemented in Warfarin Dose Calculator were compared with each other.

Results: Six multiple linear regression warfarin dosing algorithms had similar predictive ability, except Miao and Lou.

Emodin suppresses angiogenesis and metastasis in anaplastic thyroid cancer by affecting TRAF6‑mediated pathways in vivo and in vitro.

Emodin has been recognized to be an anti‑cancer agent against a number of types of human cancer. It was demonstrated that TNF receptor‑associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was correlated with cancer angiogenesis and metastasis. The present study confirmed the association between TRAF6 and the angiogenesis/metastasis of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

Dysiarenone, a Dimeric C Meroterpenoid with Inhibition of COX-2 Expression from the Marine Sponge Dysidea arenaria.

Dysiarenone (1), a dimeric C meroterpenoid featuring an unprecedented 2-oxaspiro[bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9,1'-cyclopentane] carbon skeleton, was isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea arenaria.

Dysivillosins A-D, Unusual Anti-allergic Meroterpenoids from the Marine Sponge Dysidea villosa.

Four unusual meroterpenoids, dysivillosins A-D (1-4), were isolated from an organic extract of the marine sponge Dysidea villosa collected from the South China Sea. Their planar structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS techniques, while the relative and absolute configurations were elucidated by NOESY experiments and comparison between the calculated and experimental ECD spectra. To the best of our knowledge, dysivillosins A-D are the first examples of terpene-polyketide-pyridine hybrid metabolites from the nature.

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on all-dielectric metasurface.

In this paper, a novel kind of sensors for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on all-dielectric metasurfaces is proposed. The metasurfaces are constructed by an array of silicon nanoblocks on top of the bulk fused silica substrate. We used three-dimensional full wave electromagnetic field simulation by finite integral method to accurately calculate the transmission spectrum of the metasurfaces.

An Alternative Strategy for Treatment of Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmotic Disruption: A Technical Note.

Metal screws are the most widely used in treating syndesmotic injuries; however, failure and the rigidity of the screws can threaten the success of the treatment and increase the cost of care. We performed open reduction and internal fixation of a fibula fracture followed by fixation of the tibiofibular joint with an olive wire and one half of an external fixator. We present a review of 1 patient treated with this material.

Dysiherbols A-C and Dysideanone E, Cytotoxic and NF-κB Inhibitory Tetracyclic Meroterpenes from a Dysidea sp. Marine Sponge.

Four new tetracyclic meroterpnes, dysiherbols A-C (1-3) and dysideanone E (4), were isolated from a Dysidea sp. marine sponge collected from the South China Sea. Their complete structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously determined by a combination of NMR spectroscopic data, ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Clinical characteristics and neurologic recovery of patients with cervical spinal tuberculosis: should conservative treatment be preferred? A retrospective follow-up study of 115 cases.

Objective: To present the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of neurologic recovery in patients with cervical spinal tuberculosis (CST).

Methods: General description and multivariate analysis were used to detect possible predictors of the outcome of patients with neurologic deficit. Follow-up data were used to generate a Kaplan-Meier curve of neurologic recovery.

(±)-Quassidines I and J, two pairs of cytotoxic bis-β-carboline alkaloid enantiomers from Picrasma quassioides.

(±)-Quassidines I (1) and J (2), two pairs of new bis-β-carboline alkaloid enantiomers, were isolated from the stems of Picrasma quassioides. Their structures were determined by the analysis of spectroscopic data, including HRESIMS and 2D NMR, and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The racemic mixtures of 1 and 2 were resolved into two pairs of enantiomers, (+)-S-1a and (-)-R-1b and (+)-S-2a and (-)-R-2b, by HPLC using a chiral Daicel IB-3 column, respectively, which represents the first successful example to resolve bis-β-carboline racemic mixtures.

Dysidinoid A, an unusual meroterpenoid with anti-MRSA activity from the South China Sea sponge Dysidea sp.

An unusual meroterpenoid, dysidinoid A (1), was isolated from the South China Sea sponge Dysidea sp. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and 2D NMR, and its absolute configuration was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Dysidinoid A (1) is the first meroterpenoid from Nature bearing a 9,4-friedodrime skeleton and a 2,5-dionepyrrole unit.

Morphological changes in Schlemm's canal in treated and newly diagnosed untreated glaucomatous eyes.

A custom built 1310 nm center wavelength swept source optical coherence tomography instrument was used to measure morphological changes in treated and newly diagnosed untreated glaucomatous human Schlemm's canal (SC). Thirty-seven primary open-angle glaucoma patients were divided into two groups depending on the patients having been treated or not. The statistical results showed that there were significant differences between the treated and untreated groups' SC areas (treated, 7935.

[Determination of chlorogenic acid and baicalin in Yinhuang film-coated tablets by HPLC isocratic elution].

Objective: To establish an HPLC method for determination of chlorogenic acid and baicalin in Yinhuang film-coated tablets.

Method: HPLC isocratic elution was adopted, with the C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) as the chromatographic column, methanol-water-phosphoric acid (45: 55: 0.

[²⁰¹TI and (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy in evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma].

Objective: To evaluate the application of ²⁰¹TI and (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy in assessment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with osteosarcoma underwent both ²⁰¹TI and (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy. According to tumor necrosis rate (TNR), 22 patients were classified into three groups: Group 1(necrosis less than 50%), Group 2(50% ≊ 89% necrosis) and Group 3(necrosis greater than 90%).

[Value of (99m)Tc-MIBI/(18)F-FDG-dual-isotope simultaneous acquisition in diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the value of(99m)Tc-MIBI/(18)F-FDG-dual-isotope simultaneous acquisition (DISA) in diagnosis and treatment of patients with myocardial infarction.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with myocardial infarction who underwent DISA before and after treatment were enrolled in the study. All cases were divided into subgroups based on different treatment and myocardial viability: Group A1 (n = 16) with coronary revascularization and viable myocardium, A2 (n = 9) same as A1 but no viable myocardium; B1 (n = 6) with coronary revascularization + stem cell transplantation and viable myocardium, B2 (n = 7) same as B1 but no vital myocardium; C1 (n = 8) with stem cell transplantation and viable myocardium, C2 (n = 17) same as C1 but on viable myocardium.

Fluorescence quenching of CdSe quantum dots by nitroaromatic explosives and their relative compounds.

CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in oleic acid and octadecene medium under high-temperature and dispersed in chloroform. Nitroaromatic explosives and their relative compounds, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), nitrobenzene (NB), 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNBCl) and p-nitrotoluene (NT) can obviously cause the fluorescence quenching of the synthesized QDs. Under the optimum conditions, a nonlinear response was observed over the concentration range of 10(-8) to 10(-5) M for them all.

[Efficient isolation of chondrocytes from rabbit articular cartilage with three-step enzymatic digestion and observation of their biological characteristics during cultivation in vitro].

Objective: To observe the effect of isolating the chondrocytes from articular cartilage with the method of three-step enzymatic digestion, and the biological characteristics of the isolated chondrocytes during cultivation in vitro in order to evaluate their biological activity.

Methods: The method of three-step enzymatic digestion was designed that the articular cartilage was digested one by one with the 1 g/L trypsin and 1 g/L EDTA, 1 g/L hyaluronidase and 2 g/L collagenase I in the culture medium to isolate chondrocytes. The harvesting and viability rate of the primary chondrocytes were detected.

Investigating the role of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To investigate the role of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT in diagnosis and assessing severity of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with primary, tentative diagnosis of PD and eighteen age-matched normal controls were studied with 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging. The regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn manually on cerebellum (CB), occipital cortex (OC) and three transverse plane slice-views of striatums, the semiquantitative BG (background)/[(OC+CB)/2] were then calculated.