Isolation of C-29 oxygenated oleanane triterpenoids and a (+)-muurolene type sesquiterpenoid from the fruiting bodies of Fuscoporia torulosa and their bioactivities.

Basidiomycetes with a wide variety of skeletons of secondary metabolites can be expected to be the source of new interesting biological compounds. During our research on basidiomycetes, two new C-29 oxygenated oleanane-type triterpenes (1 and 2) and torulosacid (3), a muurolene type sesquiterpenoid with a five-membered ether ring along with nine known compounds (4-12), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Fuscoporia torulosa. The structures of 1-3 were determined by NMR and HREIMS analysis.

[Impact of migraine on family members: an investigation by Impact of Migraine on Partners and Adolescent Children (IMPAC)].

Using the Japanese version of the Impact of Migraine on Partners and Adolescent Children (IMPAC) and Family Question prepared based on IMPAC, we investigated the impact of migraine on family members from the perspectives of both patients and their family members. Our results showed that migraine had an impact on the family members living with the patients in Japan as well, and the perception of migraine differed partially between patients and their family members. We also found that the Japanese version of the IMPAC showed a correlation with existing instruments to evaluate impact of migraine, indicating its validity.

Galcanezumab Efficacy Through the Dosing Interval in Japanese Patients with Episodic Migraine: Post Hoc Analysis of a Phase 2 Randomized Trial.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of galcanezumab as a preventive treatment in Japanese patients with episodic migraine was demonstrated in a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (conducted December 2016-January 2019). This post hoc analysis assessed the consistency of galcanezumab efficacy through the monthly dosing interval.

Methods: Patients with 4-14 migraine headache days/month were randomized (2:1:1, stratified by baseline migraine frequency) to subcutaneous placebo (n = 230), 120-mg galcanezumab (with 240-mg loading dose; n = 115) or 240-mg galcanezumab (n = 114) once monthly for 6 months.

Ternifolipyrons A-J: new cytotoxic α-pyrones from (D. Don) Kudô.

(D.Don) Kudô is an important Asian herb used in traditional medicine against several diseases. Nineteen compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane-methanol (1 : 1) extract of roots, including ten new α-pyrone derivatives, named ternifolipyrons A-J.

Bifusicoumarins A-D: Cytotoxic 3S-dihydroisocoumarins from the entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps bifusispora (NBRC 108997).

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi with some of them being edible and/or having a long tradition in Chinese medicine. The chemical characterization of a solvent extract of the entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps bifusispora afforded four undescribed coumarins, bifusicoumarin A-D (1-4), along with previously reported metabolites (5-8). Structural elucidation was performed via NMR, UV and HRMS analyses, X-ray single crystal diffraction and experimental ECD.

Facile formation of barium titanium oxyhydride on a titanium hydride surface as an ammonia synthesis catalyst.

Oxyhydrides are promising compounds as supports for ammonia synthesis catalysts because they suppress hydrogen poisoning on the catalyst surface and enhance the ammonia synthesis activity. Herein, we developed a facile method for preparing BaTiOH, a perovskite oxyhydride, on a TiH surface the conventional wet impregnation method using TiH and Ba hydroxide. Scanning electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that BaTiOH crystallized as nanoparticles of 100-200 nm on the TiH surface.

A Complex of Type I Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) Catalytic Subunits Switches from α1/α2 Heterodimer to α2/α2 Homodimer during Adipocyte Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Cells.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) hydrolyzes an acetyl ester at the sn-2 position of platelet-activating factor (PAF), thereby mediating a variety of biological functions. PAF-AH is found in three isoforms: Type I PAF-AH (PAF-AH I) and Type II PAF-AH (PAF-AH II) are intracellular enzymes whereas plasma PAF-AH is characterized by association with lipoprotein in plasma. PAF-AH I forms a tetramer constituted by two catalytic subunits (α1 and α2) with β regulatory subunits.

Antimicrobial metabolite of Cordyceps tenuipes targeting MurE ligase and histidine kinase via in silico study.

Cordyceps spp. are widely healthy foods around the world with several traditional uses and bio-functionalities. The chemical characterization of ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps tenuipes NBRC 111,630 afforded two new metabolites with 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.

Sex and Age Stratified Voice Data in Japanese Vocally Healthy Individuals: Vocal Capacity.

Objective: There is no normative voice dataset regarding the vocal capacity of Japanese speakers in the English literature. We collected age- and sex-stratified data on the vocal capacity of vocally healthy Japanese speakers.

Methods: In total, 111 vocally healthy Japanese speakers (42 men and 69 women) were divided into the young (13 men and 30 women), middle-aged (18 men and 27 women), and elderly (11 men and 12 women) groups.

Total Syntheses of Proposed Structures of 4,10-Dihydroxy-8,12-guaianolides.

The first total syntheses of two 4,10-dihydroxy-8,12-guaianolides that were reported to be natural products were achieved. Toward the syntheses of a collection of related guaianolides, the typical 5,7-fused system of 8,12-guaianolides was constructed by a ring expansion reaction of a hydroxylated coronafacic acid analogue that can be practically synthesized and optically resolved. The total syntheses of these compounds revealed that the previously reported structures of both natural products were incorrect.

Enhanced ammonia synthesis activity of Ru-supported cerium-lanthanum oxide induced by Ti substitution forming mesopores.

Ru/CeLaTiO solid solutions with cubic fluorite structure were successfully synthesized the polymerized complex method. While the Ti substitution enhanced Ce reducibility by compensating for oxygen vacancies, the reducibility showed no correlation with ammonia synthesis activity. However, Ru/CeLaTiO showed the highest activity originating from the facilitated formation of mesopores.

The impact of sarcopenia on low back pain and quality of life in patients with osteoporosis.

Purpose: Osteoporosis combined with sarcopenia contributes to a high risk of falling, fracture, and even mortality. However, sarcopenia's impact on low back pain and quality of life (QOL) in patients with osteoporosis is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate low back pain and QOL in osteoporosis patients with sarcopenia.

Gender- and Age- Stratified Normative Voice Data in Japanese-Speaking Subjects: Analysis of Sustained Habitual Phonations.

Introduction: There is no normative voice dataset for Japanese speakers in the English literature. We constructed age- and gender-stratified normative voice data with the assistance of vocally healthy Japanese speakers.

Methods: A total of 111 vocally healthy Japanese speakers (42 men, 69 women) were divided into young (13 men, 30 women), middle-aged (18 men, 27 women), and elderly (11 men, 12 women) groups.

Grip Strength as a Predictor of the Functional Outcome of Hip-Fracture Patients.

Background: Patients with hip fracture are limited as to physical activity. It is difficult to evaluate the physical function of the legs at admission; however, it is easy to measure grip strength, which has been reported to be correlated with systemic muscular strength and physical function. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of grip strength in predicting functional outcome after hip fracture.

FADS2-dependent fatty acid desaturation dictates cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis and permissiveness for hepatitis C virus replication.

The metabolic oxidative degradation of cellular lipids severely restricts replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a leading cause of chronic liver disease, but little is known about the factors regulating this process in infected cells. Here we show that HCV is restricted by an iron-dependent mechanism resembling the one triggering ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death, and mediated by the non-canonical desaturation of oleate to Mead acid and other highly unsaturated fatty acids by fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2). Genetic depletion and ectopic expression experiments show FADS2 is a key determinant of cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis.

Multivariate Analysis of Vocal Fold Vibrations in Normal Speakers Using High-Speed Digital Imaging.

Introduction: Little is known about the normal variations in vocal fold vibrations. We conducted a prospective study on normal subjects using high-speed digital imaging (HSDI) to elucidate key parameters regarding age/gender-related normal variations.

Methods: Forty-six healthy adult volunteers were divided into young (aged ≤35 years) male, young female, elderly (aged ≥65 years) male, and elderly female subgroups.

A Concise Total Synthesis of Dehydroantofine and Its Antimalarial Activity against Chloroquine-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum.

The total synthesis of dehydroantofine was achieved by employing a novel, regioselective, azahetero Diels-Alder reaction of easily accessible 3,5-dichloro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one with 14 a as a key step. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that dehydroantofine is a promising candidate as a new antimalarial agent in a biological assay with chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum.

The Relationship Between Baseline Clinical Symptom Characteristics and Working Ability in Japanese Patients Treated for Major Depressive Disorder and Painful Physical Symptoms.

Purpose: The objective of this post hoc analysis was to explore the relationship, including changes over time, between baseline clinical symptom characteristics and working ability, judged by investigators, after 12 weeks of antidepressant monotherapy in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and painful physical symptoms (PPS) in a real-world clinical setting.

Patients And Methods: This prospective, observational study in patients treated with duloxetine or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was conducted from 2014 to 2016. Both treatment groups were pooled and divided into 2 groups, "working ability recovered" or "working ability not recovered," based on working ability at the end of the study.

Design and synthesis of dual active neovibsanin derivatives based on a chemical structure merging method.

A hybrid compound consisting of neovibsanin and trans-banglene was designed according to a structure merging method and synthesized via a sequence of key steps including a Diels-Alder cycloaddition, stereoselective alkynylation, and intramolecular oxa-Michael addition reaction. The biological activity of the synthetized acetal compound and its hemiacetal analogue was investigated in PC12 cells. These studies revealed that the designed hybrid compounds displayed neuritogenic activity.

New alkaloidal metabolites from cultures of entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps takaomontana NBRC 101754.

Two new alkaloidal metabolites, cordytakaoamides A (1) and B (2), as well as, 2-[(2-hydroxyethyl) amino] benzoic acid (3) and 2E-decenamide (4), and three known compounds (5-7) were isolated from ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble portions of the entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps takaomontana NBRC 101754. Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated here for first time from natural resources. The chemical structures were established depending upon spectroscopic techniques such as 1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses and Structure Elucidations of (+)-Eurotiumide F and (+)-Eurotiumide G.

Asymmetric total syntheses of dihydropyran containing natural products, (+)-eurotiumide F and (+)-eurotiumide G have been described. These total syntheses revealed the absolute configuration of eurotiumide F and G, and confirmed the reported structure of eurotiumide F and revised the reported structure of eurotiumide G. Highlight of these syntheses is thermal rearrangement with 4-methoxyisochroman-1-one derivative having propargyl ether on phenolic ether under thermal condition to construct dihydropyran ring.

Marylosides A-G, Norcycloartane Glycosides from Leaves of Great Flower 'Marylaurencin'.

Seven novel norcycloartane glycosides, maryloside A-G (-), were isolated from the leaves of Great Flower 'Marylaurencin', along with a known norcycloartane glycoside, cymbidoside (). These structures were determined on the basis of mainly NMR experiments as well as chemical degradation and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The isolated compounds (- and ) were evaluated for the inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.

Analysis of HAM-D scores and working ability in an observational study of Japanese patients with major depressive disorder and painful physical symptoms treated with duloxetine or SSRI monotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score and psychiatrists' judgment of working ability in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and painful physical symptoms.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational, 12-week study in patients who received duloxetine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Patients were ≥20 years old, resided in Japan, and had at least moderate depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology ≥16) and at least moderate painful physical symptoms (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form average pain ≥3).

Factors related to difficult self-expandable metallic stent placement for malignant colonic obstruction: A post-hoc analysis of a multicenter study across Japan.

Background And Aim: Colorectal cancer patients often present with large bowel obstruction. Elective placement of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) can relieve obstruction, but can be challenging. Previous studies have compared cases by outcomes only, but the present study investigated successful cases only to identify factors related to prolonged and difficult SEMS placement in patients with malignant colonic obstruction.