Relationship between Azathioprine metabolites and therapeutic efficacy in Chinese patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are demyelinating autoimmune diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) that are characterized by a high relapse rate and the presence of anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG) in the serum. Azathioprine (AZA) is a first-line immunomodulatory drug that is widely used for the treatment of patients with NMOSD. However, the efficacy and safety of AZA vary in different individuals.

Polyketide derivatives from a marine-sponge-associated fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis.

Twelve previously undescribed polyketide derivatives, heterocornols A-L, and seven known analogues were isolated from a culture of the fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis associated with sponge. Their structures were elucidated by a comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and CD Cotton effects. These compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic and antibacterial activities in vitro.

Production, characterization and structural modification of exopolysaccharide-based bioflocculant by Rhizobium radiobacter SZ4S7S14 and media optimization.

Synthesis of the exopolysaccharide-based bioflocculant Rhizobium radiobacter SZ4S7S14 was researched and medium optimized for enhanced production of bioflocculant. D-Mannose and yeast extract were found to be best carbon and nitrogen sources for maximal yield of bioflocculant. The bioflocculant samples obtained in different media with different carbon and nitrogen sources were further analyzed by SEM-EDX and FT-IR.

Isobenzofuranones and Isochromenones from the Deep-Sea Derived Fungus Leptosphaeria sp. SCSIO 41005.

Four new isobenzofuranones, leptosphaerins J-M (-), including an unusual naturally-occurring centrosymmetric dimer skeleton (), and two new isochromenones, clearanols I-J (-), were obtained from a culture of a deep-sea sediment-derived fungus sp. SCSIO 41005, together with four known isobenzofuranones (-) and six known isochromenones (-). These structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of electronic circular dichroism and optical rotations data comparison.

Vaccinols J-S, ten new salicyloid derivatives from the marine mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis vaccinii.

Ten new salicyloid derivatives, namely vaccinols J-S (1-10), along with five known compounds (11-15) were isolated from Pestalotiopsis vaccinii (cgmcc3.9199) endogenous with the mangrove plant Kandelia candel (L.) Druce (Rhizophoraceae).

Ochracenes A-I, Humulane-Derived Sesquiterpenoids from the Antarctic Fungus Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis.

Nine new humulane-derived sesquiterpenoids, ochracenes A-I (1-9), were isolated from the Antarctic fungus Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis SCSIO 05702. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, Mosher's method, and electronic circular dichroism analysis. Compared with previous humulane-type sesquiterpenoids, ochracenes A-I (1-9) featured novel carbon skeletons with corresponding methyl migration, ring cleavage, and carbon loss.

Three new polyketides from the marine sponge-derived fungus Trichoderma sp. SCSIO41004.

Three new polyketides named trichbenzoisochromen A (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-3-methyl -2-(2-oxopropyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione (2) and 7-acetyl-1,3,6-trihydroxyanthracene-9,10- dione (3) together with six known compounds (4-9) were isolated from a sponge-derived fungus Trichoderma sp. SCSIO41004. The structures of three new polyketides (1-3) were determined by the extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS data.

Postictal apnea as an important mechanism for SUDEP: A near-SUDEP with continuous EEG-ECG-EMG recording.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is one of the most frequent causes of death among patients with epilepsy. Most SUDEP or near-SUDEP are unwitnessed and not observed or recorded during video-EEG recording in epilepsy monitoring units. This report describes a young woman with post ictal apnea and generalized EEG suppression (PGES) after a secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure (sGTCS).

Platycodin D, a triterpenoid saponin from Platycodon grandiflorum, suppresses the growth and invasion of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via the NF-κB pathway.

This work was undertaken to explore the effects of platycodin D, a triterpenoid saponin from Platycodon grandiflorum, on the growth and invasiveness of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Platycodin D caused a significant, concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability and induced significant apoptosis in OSCC cells. Moreover, platycodin D significantly inhibited OSCC cell invasion.

Biotransformation of RDX and HMX by Anaerobic Granular Sludge with Enriched Sulfate and Nitrate.

  RDX and HMX are widely used energetic materials and they are recognized as environmental contaminants at numerous locations. The present study investigated the biotransformation of RDX and HMX by anaerobic granular sludge under sulfate- and nitrate-enriched conditions. The results showed that RDX and HMX could be transformed by anaerobic granular sludge when nitrate was present.

Pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in healthy pigs and in pigs experimentally infected with .

A comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) study of tilmicosin (TIL) was conducted in 6 crossbred healthy pigs and 6 crossbred pigs infected with (.) following oral administration of a single 40 mg/kg dose. The infected model was established by intranasal inoculation and confirmed by clinical signs, blood biochemistry, and microscopic examinations.

New Metabolites and Bioactive Chlorinated Benzophenone Derivatives Produced by a Marine-Derived Fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis.

Four new compounds, including two isocoumarins, pestaloisocoumarins A and B (, ), one sesquiterpenoid degradation, isopolisin B (), and one furan derivative, pestalotiol A (), together with one known isocoumarin, gamahorin (), and three chlorinated benzophenone derivatives, pestalachloride B (), pestalachloride E () and a mixture of pestalalactone atropisomers (), were isolated from a culture of the fungus associated with sponge . These new chemical structures were established using NMR and MS spectroscopic data, as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis and CD Cotton effects. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.

Comparison of 6-mercaptopurine with 6-thioguanine for the analysis of thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity in human erythrocyte by LC-MS/MS.

Thiopurines (TPDs) are first-line drugs in treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Evaluation of thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity (TPMT), a major determinant of TPD toxicity, before TPD treatment using 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) as substrate was suggested. However, the equivalent of the two substrates in TPMT activity evaluation was unknown, and an alternative substrate was required in TPMT activity evaluation in patients who were already taking 6-MP or 6-TG.

Vehicle emission trends in China's Guangdong Province from 1994 to 2014.

Exploring vehicle emission trends within and outside the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region during a long period was scientific and practical, for the economic rapid unbalanced development, continuous implements of severe reducing vehicle emissions measures in Guangdong province. Multi-year inventories of vehicle emissions from 1994 to 2014 were estimated based on the emissions factors of different emissions standards and vehicle kilometers travelled for all types of vehicles. The trends and characteristics of the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NO), fine particulate matter (PM) and course particulate matter (PM) were then analyzed within and outside the PRD region.

Structurally diverse secondary metabolites from a deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum SCSIO 41001 and their biological evaluation.

Five new compounds, including a cytotoxic dimeric isocoumarin, bipenicilisorin (1), a merosesquiterpenoid, yaminterritrem C (2), a citrinin dimer, penicitrinone F (3), a alkaloid, terremide D (4), and a δ-valerolacton, (E)-4-(propen-1-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (5), along with ten known compounds (6-15) were isolated from a deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum SCSIO 41001. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR spectra, MS, CD, optical rotation, X-ray crystallography, and compared with literature data. Biological evaluation results revealed that 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against K562, A549, and Huh-7 cell lines with IC values of 6.

Assessment of Co-benefits of vehicle emission reduction measures for 2015-2020 in the Pearl River Delta region, China.

Vehicle emissions have become one of the key factors affecting the urban air quality and climate change in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, so it is important to design policies of emission reduction based on quantitative Co-benefits for air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG). Emissions of air pollutants and GHG by 2020 was predicted firstly based on the no-control scenario, and five vehicle emissions reduction scenarios were designed in view of the economy, technology and policy, whose emissions reduction were calculated. Then Co-benefits between air pollutants and GHG were quantitatively analyzed by the methods of coordinate system and cross-elasticity.

Antitubercular Marine Natural Products.

Due to the importance of nature as a source of new drug candidates, the purpose of this article is to emphasize the marine natural products, which exhibit antitubercular activity, published between January 2000 and May 2016, with 138 quotations to 250 compounds obtained from marine resources. These metabolites are organized by chemical constitution and named as simple alkyl lipids derivatives, aromatics derivatives, peptides, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, macrolides, and polycyclic polyketides.

Antituberculosis compounds from a deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO Ind09F01.

Eleven diketopiperazine and fumiquinazoline alkaloids (1-11) together with a tetracyclic triterpenoid helvolic acid (12) were obtained from the cultures of a deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO Ind09F01. The structures of these compounds (1-12) were determined mainly by the extensive NMR, ESIMS spectra data and by comparison with previously described compounds.

LC-MS/MS Analysis of Erythrocyte Thiopurine Nucleotides and Their Association With Genetic Variants in Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders Taking Azathioprine.

Background: Azathioprine is a first-line drug in treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). To exhibit its bioactivity, azathioprine needs to be converted to thiopurine nucleotides (TPNs) including 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGNs) and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides (6-MMPNs) that are affected by genetic polymorphisms. This study aims to develop an LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of erythrocyte concentrations of TPNs and to evaluate their associations with variants of various genes (MTHFR, TPMT, HLA, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, SLC28A3, ABCB1, and ABCC4) in patients with NMOSD.

Atypical MRI features in familial adult onset Alexander disease: case report.

Background: Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare neurological disease, especially in adults. It shows variable clinical and radiological features.

Case Presentation: We diagnosed a female with AxD presenting with paroxysmal numbness of the limbs at the onset age of 28-year-old, progressing gradually to spastic paraparesis at age 30.

Antimicrobial Compounds from Marine Invertebrates-Derived Microorganisms.

It is known that marine invertebrates, including sponges, tunicates, cnidaria or mollusks, host affluent and various communities of symbiotic microorganisms. The microorganisms associated with the invertebrates metabolized various biologically active compounds, which could be an important resource for the discovery and development of potentially novel drugs. In this review, the new compounds with antimicrobial activity isolated from marine invertebrate-derived microorganisms in the last decade (2004-2014) will be presented, with focus on the relevant antimicrobial activities, origin of isolation, and information of strain species.

Risk factors for fatigue in patients with epilepsy.

Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with epilepsy and has a major impact on quality of life, but little data is available on its effects and management in epilepsy. To identify the incidence and risk factors of fatigue in patients with epilepsy, 105 epilepsy patients (45 women and 60 men) were enrolled in our study. Demographic and clinical data were collected and psychological variables including fatigue, sleep quality, excess daytime sleepiness, anxiety, and depression were measured by Fatigue Severity Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively.

Many Is Better Than One: An Integration of Multiple Simple Strategies for Accurate Lung Segmentation in CT Images.

Accurate lung segmentation is an essential step in developing a computer-aided lung disease diagnosis system. However, because of the high variability of computerized tomography (CT) images, it remains a difficult task to accurately segment lung tissue in CT slices using a simple strategy. Motived by the aforementioned, a novel CT lung segmentation method based on the integration of multiple strategies was proposed in this paper.

Antitubercular and cytotoxic tigliane-type diterpenoids from Croton tiglium.

Five new tigliane diterpene esters (1-5), highly oxygenated tetracyclic diterpenoid carbon skeleton, together with three known analogues (6-8) were isolated from the leaves of Croton tiglium. Extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis were used to elucidate their structures. Most of the isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic and antitubercular activities.