Secondary analysis of neurotransmitter metabolism and cognitive function in first-diagnosed, drug-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder.

Background & Aims: Growing evidence suggests that neurotransmitters may be associated with cognitive decline in MDD. This study primarily investigated the differences in cognitive functions between MDD patients and healthy controls, and explored the potential association between neurotransmitters and cognitive function of MDD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 87 first-diagnosed and drug-naïve patients with MDD and 50 healthy controls.

Correlation between sarcopenia and esophageal cancer: a narrative review.

Background: In recent years, the research on the relationship between sarcopenia before and after the treatment of esophageal cancer, as well as its impact on prognosis of esophageal cancer, has increased rapidly, which has aroused people's attention to the disease of patients with esophageal cancer complicated with sarcopenia. This review examines the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with esophageal cancer, as well as the relationship between sarcopenia (before and after surgery or chemotherapy) and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. Moreover, we summarized the potential pathogenesis of sarcopenia and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation improves memory in first-diagnosed, drug-naïve patients with depression: Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Cognitive impairments are found in most patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). It is believed that low Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) level raise the risk of anxiety, depressive symptoms and cognition dysfunction. Since our previous research has found n-3 PUFAs supplementation improves anxiety in MDD, this study was to further explore the effectiveness on cognitive impairment among depressed patients.

Dysfunction of neurotransmitter metabolism is associated with the severity of depression in first-diagnosed, drug-naïve depressed patients.

Background & Aims: Biochemical changes of neurotransmitters underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) are unknown. This study preliminarily explored the association between neurotransmitters with MDD and the possibility of objective laboratory prediction of neurotransmitter involvement in MDD.

Methods: A total of 87 first-diagnosed, drug-naïve patients with depression and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the cross-sectional study.

Potential antidepressant-like effects of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids through inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Rationale: The growing evidence has demonstrated the importance of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the pathophysiology of depression. ERS genes were considered to be potential novel therapeutic targets for depression.

Objectives: To clarify the mechanisms of the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced ERS response and the potential contributing pathways in depression, and further investigate the potential link between N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and stress-induced ERS disturbances.

Gastric Cancer with Sarcopenia: an Area Worth Focusing On.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, which seriously endangers human health. A number of studies have shown that sarcopenia occurs more frequently in patients with gastric cancer than in the general population and can significantly affect the disease status and survival of patients, which is of great significance in predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer. Patients with gastric cancer may suffer sarcopenia no matter before or after surgery, and the pathogenesis is complex.

Design, Synthesis, and Antileukemic Evaluation of a Novel Mikanolide Derivative Through the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK Pathway.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) accounts for a major cause of death in adult leukemia patients due to mutations or other reasons for dysfunction in the ABL proto-oncogene. The ubiquitous BCR-ABL expression stimulates CML by activating CDK1 and cyclin B1, promoting pro-apoptotic, and inhibiting antiapoptotic marker expression along with regulations in RAS pathway activation. Thus, inhibitors of cyclins and the RAS pathway by ERK are of great interest in antileukemic treatments.

Exploiting an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization/dehydro-aromatization sequence for the total syntheses of ellipticines and calothrixin B.

The tetracyclic and pentacyclic skeletons of pyrido and quinolinocarbazole alkaloids have been synthesized via a unified strategy. The prominent key step involved a Diels-Alder intramolecular cyclization/dehydro-aromatization sequence. From these carbazole-lactam cores, linear syntheses have been developed for ellipticines and calothrixin B.