Secupyritines A-C, Three Natural Propellane Securinega Alkaloids: Structure Elucidation and Total Synthesis Based on Biogenetic Building Blocks.

Secupyritines A-C are unique polycyclic Securinega alkaloids isolated from medicinal plant Flueggea suffruticosa. They feature a distinctive 6/6/6/5/6 fused pentacyclic ring system with a highly strained 2-oxa-6-aza[4.4.

Sophflarines B-E, four distinctive matrine alkaloids from Sophora flavescens with potential neuroprotective activities.

The four matrine-derived alkaloids, namely sophflarines B-E (1-4), with distinct skeleton types, were isolated from Sophora flavescens. Compounds 1 and 2 possess rare 1-aza-11-oxatricyclo[5.3.

Antiviral C-geranylated flavonoids from Artocarpus communis.

Ten C-geranylated flavonoids, along with three known analogues, were isolated from the leaves of Artocarpus communis. The chemical structures of these compounds were unambiguously determined via comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, and quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations. Structurally, artocarones A-I (1-9) represent a group of unusual, highly modified C-geranylated flavonoids, in which the geranyl chain is cyclised with the ortho-hydroxy group of flavonoids to form various heterocyclic scaffolds.

Biomimetic Synthesis of an Antiviral Cinnamoylphloroglucinol Collection from Cleistocalyx operculatus: A Synthetic Strategy Based on Biogenetic Building Blocks.

A synthetic strategy based on biogenetic building blocks for the collective and divergent biomimetic synthesis of cleistoperlones A-F, a cinnamoylphloroglucinol collection discovered from Cleistocalyx operculatus, has been developed. These syntheses proceeded successfully in only six to seven steps starting from commercially available 1,3,5-benzenetriol and involving oxidative activation of stable biogenetic building blocks as a crucial step. Key features of the syntheses include a unique Michael addition/ketalization/1,6-addition/enol-keto tautomerism cascade reaction for the construction of the dihydropyrano[3,2-d]xanthene tetracyclic core of cleistoperlones A and B, and a rare inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition for the establishment of benzopyran ring in cleistoperlones D-F.

Preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio and prognostic nutritional index predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer: a retrospective study.

The immunonutritional status has important effects on outcomes for cancer patients. Albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) are often used to assess the immunonutritional status of cancer patients. However, the clinical significance of these factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear.

Incidence and risk factor analysis for swelling after apical microsurgery.

Background: Swelling after apical microsurgery is a postoperative reaction and may reduce quality of life during healing.

Aim: To evaluate periapical swelling after apical microsurgery and determine potential risk factors.

Methods: Ninety-eight apical microsurgery patients were selected for this study.

Discovery and Biomimetic Synthesis of a Polycyclic Polymethylated Phloroglucinol Collection from .

Inspired by a previously reported biomimetic synthesis study, four new naturally occurring phloroglucinol trimers with unusual 6/5/5/6/6/6-fused hexacyclic ring systems, along with two known analogues ( and ) and two known biogenetically related dimers ( and ), were isolated from . Their structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism calculation. By mimicking two potentially alternative biosynthetic pathways, the first asymmetric syntheses of and the racemic syntheses of and were achieved in only five to six steps without the need for protecting groups.

Discovery of Neuritogenic Securinega Alkaloids from Flueggea suffruticosa by a Building Blocks-Based Molecular Network Strategy.

A combined strategy of building blocks recognition and molecular network construction, termed the building blocks-based molecular network (BBMN), was first presented to facilitate the efficient discovery of novel natural products. By mapping the BBMN of the total alkaloid fraction of Flueggea suffruticosa, three Securinega alkaloids (SEAs) with unusual chemical architectures, suffranidines A-C (1-3), were discovered and isolated. Compound 1 characterizes an unprecedented 8/5/6/5/6/6/6/6-fused octacyclic scaffold with a unique cage-shaped 3-azatricyclo[6.

Rhodomentosones A and B: Two Pairs of Enantiomeric Phloroglucinol Trimers from and Their Asymmetric Biomimetic Synthesis.

Rhodomentosones A and B ( and ), two pairs of novel enantiomeric phloroglucinol trimers featuring a unique 6/5/5/6/5/5/6-fused ring system were isolated from . Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and ECD calculation. The bioinspired syntheses of and were achieved in six steps featuring an organocatalytic asymmetric dehydroxylation/Michael addition/Kornblum-DeLaMare rearrangement/ketalization cascade reaction.

Molecular mechanisms of bufadienolides and their novel strategies for cancer treatment.

Bufadienolides are cardioactive C24 steroids with an α-pyrone ring at position C17. In the last ten years, accumulating studies have revealed the anticancer activities of bufadienolides and their underlying mechanisms, such as induction of autophagy and apoptosis, cell cycle disruption, inhibition of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness, and multidrug resistance reversal. As Na/K-ATPase inhibitors, bufadienolides have inevitable cardiotoxicity.

Absolute Configurations and Stereochemical Inversion Mechanism of Epimeric Alkaloids from .

Three pairs of alkaloid epimers with a piperidin-2-yl moiety (-) were isolated from , and their structures including absolute configurations were definitely characterized. An interconvertible C-2' epimerization process within each pair of epimers was observed. The following comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrated an unusual stereochemical inversion mechanism of an N-substituted carbon stereogenic center, which was evidenced to be a protic solvent mediated process involving a tandem 1,4-elimination/1,4-addition as the key step.

Leptosperols A and B, Two Cinnamoylphloroglucinol-Sesquiterpenoid Hybrids from : Structural Elucidation and Biomimetic Synthesis.

Leptosperols A and B ( and ), two cinnamoylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpenoid hybrids featuring unprecedented 1-benzyl-2-(2-phenylethyl) cyclodecane and 2-benzyl-3-phenylethyl decahydronaphthalene backbones, along with their biosynthetic precursor (), were isolated from . Compounds and represent the first example of phloroglucinol derivatives biogenetically constructed by a De Mayo reaction. The biomimetic synthesis of leptosperol B () was achieved using the proposed biosynthetic pathway.

Cleistocaltones A and B, Antiviral Phloroglucinol-Terpenoid Adducts from .

Two novel phloroglucinol-terpenoid adducts ( and ), featuring a rare 2,2,4-trimethyl-cinnamyl-β-triketone unit, were isolated from the buds of . Their structures with absolute configurations were established by spectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations. Structurally, compound represents a new carbon skeleton possessing a densely functionalized tricyclo[11.

Hunterines A-C, Three Unusual Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from .

Three new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), hunterines A-C (-), were isolated from Compound possesses a unique skeleton with an unprecedented azabicyclo[4.3.1]decane ring system.

Catalytic asymmetric total syntheses of myrtucommuacetalone, myrtucommuacetalone B, and callistrilones A, C, D and E.

Herein, we describe a concise catalytic approach to the first asymmetric total syntheses of myrtucommuacetalone, myrtucommuacetalone B, and callistrilones A, C, D and E. The syntheses proceed in only 5-7 steps from the readily available compound , without the need for protecting groups. Key features of the syntheses include a unique organocatalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts-type Michael addition with high enantioselectivity and a broad substrate scope, a novel Michael-ketalization-annulation cascade reaction, and an oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition.

Correlation between Electroencephalogram Alterations and Frontal Cognitive Impairment in Esophageal Cancer Patients Complicated with Depression.

Background: Some esophageal cancer patients complicated with depression exhibit cognitive impairments. Frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) may be used as a reliable biomarker for prefrontal-mediated cognitive functions. This study was to investigate alterations of EEG and frontal cognitive impairment in esophageal cancer patients complicated with depression and to assess their correlation.

A Simple HPLC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Tryptophan, Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid in Human Serum and its Potential for Monitoring Antidepressant Therapy.

The kynurenine pathway, in which tryptophan is metabolized to kynurenine and kynurenic acid, has been linked to depression. A rapid and highly reproducible liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method were established for determining tryptophan, kynurenine and kynurenic acid in human serum. Biological samples were precipitated with methanol before separation on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18.

Abnormal cerebral functional connectivity in esophageal cancer patients with theory of mind deficits in resting state.

Objective: To explore the function of the default mode network (DMN) in the psychopathological mechanisms of theory of mind deficits in patients with an esophageal cancer concomitant with depression in resting the state.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-five cases of esophageal cancer with theory of mind deficits (test group) that meet the diagnostic criteria of esophageal cancer and neuropsychological tests, including Beck depression inventory, reading the mind in the eyes, and Faux pas, were included, Another 25 cases of esophageal cancer patients but without theory of mind deficits (control group) were enrolled. Each patient completed a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Clinical trial of thalidomide combined with radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the short-term efficacy and tolerability of radiotherapy plus thalidomide in patients with esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Serum samples from 86 EC patients were collected before, during, and after radiotherapy, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was examined by ELISA. According to the change in serum VEGF level during radiotherapy, the patients were divided into two groups: in the drug group, VEGF level was increased or remained unchanged, and thalidomide was administered up to the end of radiotherapy; in the non-drug group, VEGF level was decreased and radiotherapy was given alone.

Coronary heart disease risk equivalence in diabetes and arterial diseases characterized by endothelial function and endothelial progenitor cell.

Aims: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), Carotid Artery Disease (CAD), and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) were considered as "Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk equivalents". Vascular endothelial dysfunction was recognized as an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. Involved in neovasculogenesis and maintenance of vascular homeostasis, endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) has been considered as a biological marker of cardiovascular disease.

Theory of mind deficits in patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression.

Aim: To characterize the two components of theory of mind (ToM) in patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression.

Methods: Sixty-five patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression (depressed group) and 62 normal controls (control group) were assessed using reading the mind in the eyes test, faux pas task, verbal fluency test, digit span test and WAIS IQ test. The depressed group was divided into two subgroups including psychotic depressed (PD) group (32 cases) and nonpsychotic depressed (NPD) group (33 cases).

Additional use of an aldosterone antagonist in patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Aldosterone antagonists (AldoAs) have been used to treat severe chronic heart failure (CHF). There is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of using AldoAs in mild to moderate CHF with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications of I to II. This study summarizes the evidence for the efficacy of spironolactone (SP), eplerenone (EP) and canrenone in mild to moderate CHF patients.