Biocatalytic Hydrogen-Borrowing Cascade in Organic Synthesis.

Biocatalytic hydrogen borrowing represents an environmentally friendly and highly efficient synthetic method. This innovative approach involves converting various substrates into high-value-added products, typically via a one-pot, two/three-step sequence encompassing dehydrogenation (intermediate transformation) and hydrogenation processes employing the hydride shuffling between NAD(P) and NAD(P)H. Represented key transformations in hydrogen borrowing include stereoisomer conversion within alcohols, conversion between alcohols and amines, conversion of allylic alcohols to saturated carbonyl counterparts, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to saturated carboxylic acids, etc.

Moutan Cortex polysaccharide ameliorates diabetic kidney disease via modulating gut microbiota dynamically in rats.

Growing evidence suggests that polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine positively affect diabetic kidney disease (DKD) mainly through modulating gut microbiota. Previously, we demonstrated that supplementation with the polysaccharide from Moutan Cortex (MC-Pa) alleviated DKD in rats. The study intends to investigate the dynamic modulation of MC-Pa on DKD from the gut microbiota perspective.

Combination of ShuangDan Capsule and Sorafenib Inhibits Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Via PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 Pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high mortality liver cancer. The existing treatments (transplantation, chemotherapy, and individualized treatment) with limitations. However, drug combination provides a viable option for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

[Protective effects of Moutan Cortex polysaccharides components on renal injury in diabetic nephropathy rats].

This study investigated the protective effects of Moutan Cortex polysaccharides components(MCPC) on the renal tissues of diabetic nephropathy(DN) rats and explored their regulation effect on inflammatory response and oxidative stress. The DN rat model was induced by high-glucose and high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin(STZ), and then the rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive group and MCPC high(120 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), low(60 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) dose groups. After 12 weeks treatment, blood was taken from the orbit of the rats, and then they were sacrificed before the kidney tissues were collected.

Stereoselective Synthesis of β-Branched Aromatic α-Amino Acids by Biocatalytic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution*.

β-Branched noncanonical amino acids are valuable molecules in modern drug development efforts. However, they are still challenging to prepare due to the need to set multiple stereocenters in a stereoselective fashion, and contemporary methods for the synthesis of such compounds often rely on the use of rare-transition-metal catalysts with designer ligands. Herein, we report a highly diastereo- and enantioselective biocatalytic transamination method to prepare a broad range of aromatic β-branched α-amino acids.

The adverse effects of acrylamide exposure on the early development of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) and its mechanisms.

Acrylamide (AA) can have deleterious effects on freshwater fish. However, its adverse effects on euryhaline fish are still unknown. In this study, embryos of Oryzias melastigma were exposed to different concentrations of AA to investigate its effect on early developmental disorders.

The impact of multi-person virtual reality competitive learning on anatomy education: a randomized controlled study.

Background: Anatomy is one of the core subjects in medical education. Students spend considerable time and effort on learning the requisite anatomy knowledge. This study explored the effect of a multiple-player virtual reality (VR) gaming system on anatomy learning.

Oxymatrine Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Metastasis via Attenuating PKM2-Mediated Aerobic Glycolysis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC), a type of highly occurred intestinal cancer at present, is prone to metastasis at the later stage of chemotherapy. Looking for the anti-metastatic agents from natural compounds attracted much concern. Here, it aims to demonstrate whether oxymatrine, an anti-cancer natural compound, has anti-metastatic activity and its potential significance in clinic.

Divergent synthesis of complex diterpenes through a hybrid oxidative approach.

Polycyclic diterpenes exhibit many important biological activities, but de novo synthetic access to these molecules is highly challenging because of their structural complexity. Semisynthetic access has also been limited by the lack of chemical tools for scaffold modifications. We report a chemoenzymatic platform to access highly oxidized diterpenes by a hybrid oxidative approach that strategically combines chemical and enzymatic oxidation methods.

[Structural characteristics of pharmacodynamical components in genuine Moutan Cortex].

Guided by the theory of "component structure", we analyzed the structural characteristics of pharmacodynamical components in genuine Moutan Cortex. The compositions of organic small molecules were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) for 20 batches of genuine Moutan Cortex and 12 batches of non-genuine Moutan Cortex. By means of similarity analysis, clustering analysis(CA), principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), the elements in structural characteristics of the pharmacodynamical components were extracted as follows: terpene glycosides components(oxidized paeoniflorin, paeoniflorin,galloyl paeoniflorin, benzoyloxy paeoniflorinand benzoyl paeoniflorin), tannin components(1,3,6-tri-O-galloside acyl glucose, pentagalloyl glucose), and phenolic acid components(methyl gallate, paeonol).

[Practice and development of structural characteristics and quality control of multi-dimensional structure of basic components of genuine material of Moutan Cortex].

Traditional Chinese medicine is the product of clinical medication practice of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. Its material basis is the key to reveal the essence of the roles of traditional Chinese medicine, and the fundamental guarantee to solve the difficulties in the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine. However, the material basis of traditional Chinese medicine is to exert the overall pharmacodynamic effect through multi-targets, multi-approaches and mutual cooperation, resulting in unclear quality control index.

Stereoselective access to [5.5.0] and [4.4.1] bicyclic compounds through Pd-catalysed divergent higher-order cycloadditions.

Medium-sized rings, including those embedded in bridged and fused bicyclic scaffolds, are common core structures of myriad bioactive molecules. Among various synthetic strategies towards their synthesis, intermolecular higher-order cycloaddition provides great potential to build complex medium-sized rings from simple building blocks. Unfortunately, such transformations are often plagued with competitive reaction pathways and low levels of site- and stereoselectivity.

Scaling relationships and volcano plots of homogeneous transition metal catalysis.

Linear scaling relationships and volcano plots have served as powerful tools for catalyst design and screening in heterogeneous catalysis. Recently, this approach has been introduced in homogeneous catalysis. Seminal reports found that the complicated thermodynamic and kinetic energy profiles of homogeneous catalysis can be successfully described by using very limited energetic descriptors based on linear scaling relationships.

Reactivity Profiles of Diazo Amides, Esters, and Ketones in Transition-Metal-Free C-H Insertion Reactions.

Vinyl cations derived from diazo ketones participate in transition-metal-free C-H insertion reactions, but the corresponding amide and ester analog exhibit divergent reactivity profiles. Whereas cations formed from diazo ketones undergo a rearrangement and C-H insertion sequence, those from diazo amides do so less efficiently and tend to be competitively trapped before the insertion step occurs. Diazo esters undergo several rearrangement steps and fail to insert.

Palladium-Titanium Relay Catalysis Enables Switch from Alkoxide-π-Allyl to Dienolate Reactivity for Spiro-Heterocycle Synthesis.

Reported herein is the divergent syntheses of [5,5] and [6,5] spiro-heterocycles under Lewis-acid-assisted palladium catalysis. In particular, an unprecedented switch from alkoxide-π-allyl to dienolate reactivity was achieved by the use of palladium-titanium relay catalysis, and represents umpolung reactivity of vinylethylene carbonates. This method uses a simple procedure and commercially available catalysts, and delivers both classes of spiro-heterocycles, bearing three contiguous stereocenters, in high yield and uniformly excellent diastereoselectivity.

Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective [6+4] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Oxetanes with Azadienes to Access Ten-Membered Heterocycles.

We report herein the first enantioselective cycloaddition of vinyl oxetanes, the reaction of which with azadienes provided unprecedented access to ten-membered heterocycles through a [6+4] cycloaddition. By using a commercially available chiral Pd-SIPHOX catalyst, a wide range of benzofuran- as well as indole-fused heterocycles could be accessed in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. A unique Lewis acid induced fragmentation of these ten-membered heterocycles was also discovered.

Methotrexate-induced epidermal necrosis: A case series of 24 patients.

Background: Methotrexate-induced epidermal necrosis (MEN) is a rare but life-threatening cutaneous reaction that mimics Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Objectives: To investigate the clinicopathology, risk factors, and prognostic factors of MEN.

Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with MEN and 150 controls and analyzed the demographics, pathology, and plasma concentrations of methotrexate (MTX).

Construction of Nine-Membered Heterocycles through Palladium-Catalyzed Formal [5+4] Cycloaddition.

The first catalytic formal [5+4] cycloaddition to prepare nine-membered heterocycles is presented. Under palladium catalysis, the reaction of N-tosyl azadienes and substituted vinylethylene carbonates (VECs) proceeds smoothly to produce benzofuran-fused heterocycles in uniformly high efficiency. Highly diastereoselective functionalization of the nine-membered heterocycles through peripheral attack is also demonstrated.

Toward evidence-based practice in acne: consensus of an Asian Working Group.

Acne vulgaris is common throughout the world and often perceived by both patients and clinicians as an inconsequential disease of adolescence. In reality, however, acne is a chronic medical disease that lasts for years and causes a considerable impact on quality of life. Many patients with acne experience emotional problems due to their disease, which can lead to reduced social interactions and even a lower likelihood of employment.

Prurigo pigmentosa: a clinicopathological study and analysis of associated factors.

Background: Prurigo pigmentosa (PP), a rare inflammatory disease of the skin, is mostly reported in the ethnic Japanese population. Its pathogenesis remains unclear. The chronic and recurrent nature of PP implies a possible role of viral infection in the pathogenesis.

Intravenous immunoglobulin-induced, non-eczematous, vesiculobullous eruptions in Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has emerged as a promising treatment that interrupts the progression of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Our patient experienced an uncommon adverse effect, non-eczematous, vesiculobullous eruptions, after treatment with IVIG. These new lesions developed rapidly on the palms while most previous SJS bullous lesions subsided.

Bullous pemphigoid in a renal transplant recipient: a case report and review of the literature.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease with chronic, recurrent bullous eruptions. BP has been reported to be associated with drugs, physical stimuli, malignancies, and immune abnormalities. Its association with renal transplant is rare and only four cases have been reported.