Total Synthesis of (+)-Medicarpin.

(+)-Medicarpin has been synthesized asymmetrically for the first time in a linear scalable process with an overall yield of 11%. The two chiral centers were constructed in one step via condensation using a chiral oxazolidinone auxiliary. This method will likely accelerate research on medicarpin as an erythropoietin inducer for erythropoietin-deficient diseases.

Activating mitochondrial function and haemoglobin expression with EH-201, an inducer of erythropoietin in neuronal cells, reverses memory impairment.

Background And Purpose: Memory impairment can be progressive in neurodegenerative diseases, and physiological ageing or brain injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are critical components of these issues. An early clinical study has demonstrated cognitive improvement during erythropoietin treatment in patients with chronic renal failure. As erythropoietin cannot freely cross the blood-brain barrier, we tested EH-201 (2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside, also known as TSG), a low MW inducer of erythropoietin, for its therapeutic effects on memory impairment in models of neurodegenerative diseases, physiological ageing or brain injury.

Internal ribosome entry site of bFGF is the target of thalidomide for IMiDs development in multiple myeloma.

Although new analogues of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are being developed for MM, the molecular mechanism of these drugs remains unclear. In the current study, we used MM cell lines as a model to investigate the molecular mechanism of thalidomide and to compare its potency with IMiDs such as pomalidomide. We determined that thalidomide did not inhibit cell proliferation of RPMI8226 and U266 MM cells, whereas pomalidomide showed a significant inhibitory effect on these two MM cell lines.

Activation of mitochondrial function and Hb expression in non-haematopoietic cells by an EPO inducer ameliorates ischaemic diseases in mice.

Background And Purpose: Many organs suffer from ischaemic injuries that reduce their ability to generate sufficient energy, which is required for functional maintenance and repair. Erythropoietin (EPO) ameliorates ischaemic injuries by pleiotropic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of a small molecule EH-201, and found it as a potent EPO inducer and its effect in non-haematopoietic cells for therapeutic potential in ischemic disorders.

Mining three-dimensional anthropometric body surface scanning data for hypertension detection.

Hypertension is a major disease, being one of the top ten causes of death in Taiwan. The exploration of three-dimensional (3-D) anthropometry scanning data along with other existing subject medical profiles using data mining techniques becomes an important research issue for medical decision support. This research attempts to construct a prediction model for hypertension using anthropometric body surface scanning data.