Platycodi radix aqueous extract salvages doxorubicin-induced senescence by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species reduction in umbilical cord matrix stem cells.

Platycodi radix is a widely used herbal medicine that contains numerous phytochemicals beneficial to health. The health and biological benefits of P. radix have been found across various diseases.

Synthetic Cathinone-Induced Myocarditis and Psychosis: A Case Report.

Psychoactive substances are a diverse group of chemical substances that are ever-evolving structurally. Novel psychoactive substances are being reported in and are becoming increasingly popular in East and Southeast Asia, with synthetic cathinones becoming the drugs of choice. The use of synthetic cathinones has increased significantly over the years.

1,4-Bis((9H-Carbazol-9-yl)Methyl)Benzene-Containing Electrochromic Polymers as Potential Electrodes for High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices.

Four 1,4-bis((9H-carbazol-9-yl)methyl)benzene-containing polymers (PbCmB, P(bCmB--bTP), P(bCmB--dbBT), and P(bCmB--TF)) were electrosynthesized onto ITO transparent conductive glass and their spectral and electrochromic switching performances were characterized. The PbCmB film displayed four types of color variations (bright gray, dark gray, dark khaki, and dark olive green) from 0.0 to 1.

Hypoxic mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate acute kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury via enhancing renal tubular autophagy.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an emerging global healthcare issue without effective therapy yet. Autophagy recycles damaged organelles and helps maintain tissue homeostasis in acute renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Hypoxic mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs) represent an innovative cell-based therapy in AKI.

Electrodeposited Copolymers Based on 9,9'-(5-Bromo-1,3-phenylene)biscarbazole and Dithiophene Derivatives for High-Performance Electrochromic Devices.

A 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene derivative (BPBC) was synthesized and its related homopolymer (PBPBC) and copolymers (P(BPBC--BT), P(BPBC--CDT), and P(BPBC--CDTK)) were prepared using electrochemical polymerization. Investigations of polymeric spectra showed that PBPBC film was grey, iron-grey, yellowish-grey, and greyish-green from the neutral to the oxidized state. P(BPBC--BT), P(BPBC--CDT), and P(BPBC--CDTK) films showed multicolor transitions from the reduced to the oxidized state.

Electrosynthesis of Electrochromic Polymer Membranes Based on 3,6-Di(2-thienyl)carbazole and Thiophene Derivatives.

Five carbazole-containing polymeric membranes (PDTC, P(DTC--BTP), P(DTC--BTP2), P(DTC--TF), and P(DTC--TF2)) were electrodeposited on transparent conductive electrodes. P(DTC--BTP2) shows a high Δ (68.4%) at 855 nm.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIPAPILLARY INTRACHOROIDAL CAVITATION IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES: The Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center-Brien Holden Vision Institute High Myopia Cohort Study.

Purpose: To characterize peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation (PICC) in highly myopic participants and its associated risk factors.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study recruited 890 Chinese participants with bilateral high myopia, defined as ≤-6.00 diopters spherical power.

Progression of Myopic Maculopathy in Highly Myopic Chinese Eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the 2-year changes in myopic maculopathy and its associations in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: This was a longitudinal, observational cohort study involving 657 Chinese participants with bilateral high myopia (≤ -6.00 diopters spherical power), who were followed for 2 years.

Aluminum complexes containing biphenolate phosphine ligands: synthesis and living ring-opening polymerization catalysis.

This report describes the synthesis, structure, and reactivity of aluminum complexes containing tridentate biphenolate phosphine ligands of the type [RP(2-O-3,5-CHtBu)] (R = tBu (2a), Ph (2b)). Alkane elimination of AlMe with one equiv. of H[2a] or H[2b] in THF at 0 °C cleanly affords colorless crystalline [2a]AlMe(THF) (3a) and [2b]AlMe(THF) (3b), respectively.

Structural basis of antizyme-mediated regulation of polyamine homeostasis.

Polyamines are organic polycations essential for cell growth and differentiation; their aberrant accumulation is often associated with diseases, including many types of cancer. To maintain polyamine homeostasis, the catalytic activity and protein abundance of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the committed enzyme for polyamine biosynthesis, are reciprocally controlled by the regulatory proteins antizyme isoform 1 (Az1) and antizyme inhibitor (AzIN). Az1 suppresses polyamine production by inhibiting the assembly of the functional ODC homodimer and, most uniquely, by targeting ODC for ubiquitin-independent proteolytic destruction by the 26S proteasome.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Conditioned Medium Attenuates Acute Kidney Injury by Downregulating the Oxidative Stress-Related Pathway in Ischemia-Reperfusion Rats.

Teratoma-like formation addresses a critical safety concern for the potential utility of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Therefore, therapy utilizing iPSC-derived conditioned medium (iPSC-CM) for acute kidney injury (AKI) has attracted substantial interest. A recent study showed that iPSC-CM effectively alleviated ventilator-induced lung injury in rats.

Using an in situ proximity ligation assay to systematically profile endogenous protein-protein interactions in a pathway network.

Signal transduction pathways in the cell require protein-protein interactions (PPIs) to respond to environmental cues. Diverse experimental techniques for detecting PPIs have been developed. However, the huge amount of PPI data accumulated from various sources poses a challenge with respect to data reliability.

Adipose-derived stem cells exhibit antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties to rescue ischemic acute kidney injury in rats.

Background: Acute kidney injury is a major challenge in critical care medicine, with high rates of in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Stem cell therapy has emerged as an evolving technology that could have a substantial impact on acute kidney injury outcomes in the critical care environment. Therefore, the authors investigated the therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells in ischemic acute kidney injury in rats.

Preparation of superparamagnetic Mn(x)Fe(1-x)O nanoparticles from low-index-facet cubes to high-index-facet concave structures and their catalytic performance in aqueous solution.

We report the synthesis of concave magnetic Mn(x)Fe(1-x)O nanoparticles with high-index facet structures by a thermal decomposition approach. The particle morphology varies from cubic shape under pure Ar, to star-like shapes with exposure to air during the reaction. The oxidative etching in the presence of air (O2) strongly affects the exposed facets on the surface.

The Aurora kinases inhibitor VE-465 is a novel treatment for glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common and aggressive types of primary brain tumor. After complete surgical resection combined with radiation and chemotherapy, approximately 10% of patients survive for more than 5 years. Therefore, a novel therapy for GBM is needed.

Divergent synthesis of 48 heparan sulfate-based disaccharides and probing the specific sugar-fibroblast growth factor-1 interaction.

Several biological processes involve glycans, yet understanding their ligand specificities is impeded by their inherent diversity and difficult acquisition. Generating broad synthetic sugar libraries for bioevaluations is a powerful tool in unraveling glycan structural information. In the case of the widely distributed heparan sulfate (HS), however, the 48 theoretical possibilities for its repeating disaccharide call for synthetic approaches that should minimize the effort in an undoubtedly huge undertaking.

Trifluoperazine, an antipsychotic agent, inhibits cancer stem cell growth and overcomes drug resistance of lung cancer.

Rationale: Cancer stem cell (CSC) theory has drawn much attention, with evidence supporting the contribution of stem cells to tumor initiation, relapse, and therapy resistance.

Objectives: To screen drugs that target CSCs to improve the current treatment outcome and overcome drug resistance in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: We used publicly available embryonic stem cell and CSC-associated gene signatures to query the Connectivity Map for potential drugs that can, at least in part, reverse the gene expression profile of CSCs.

Induced pluripotent stem cells without c-Myc attenuate acute kidney injury via downregulating the signaling of oxidative stress and inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion rats.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have potential for multilineage differentiation and provide a resource for stem cell-based treatment. However, the therapeutic effect of iPS cells on acute kidney injury (AKI) remains uncertain. Given that the oncogene c-Myc may contribute to tumorigenesis by causing genomic instability, herein we evaluated the therapeutic effect of iPS cells without exogenously introduced c-Myc on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced AKI.

A terminal nickel(II) anilide complex featuring an unsymmetrically substituted amido pincer ligand: synthesis and reactivity.

This work describes preparation and reaction chemistry of a terminal nickel(II) anilide complex supported by an unsymmetrically substituted diarylamido diphosphine ligand, [N(o-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(o-C(6)H(4)P(i)Pr(2))](-) ([Ph-PNP-(i)Pr](-)). Treatment of NiCl(2)(DME) with H[Ph-PNP-(i)Pr] in THF at room temperature produced [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiCl as green crystals in 82% yield. Salt metathesis of [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiCl with LiNHPh(THF) in THF at -35 °C generated cleanly [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiNHPh as a greenish blue solid.

Comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia in healthy and disabled children.

Background: Differences in dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) in healthy and disabled children are rarely reported. This retrospective study evaluated the characteristics and treatment modalities performed under general anesthesia in pediatric dental patients at Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2004 and 2005, and compared the different treatment patterns performed in healthy children and children with special health care needs.

Methods: The data were reviewed in pediatric patients from 1 to 18 years old who underwent dental treatment performed under general anesthesia from January 2004 to December 2005.

A novel accelerator for improving the handling properties of dental filling materials.

Introduction: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) fulfills many of the ideal properties of a root end filling material and repair material for furcal perforation. However, its low cohesive property often makes it difficult to handle. To improve the handling properties of MTA root canal filling materials, MTA-like cement was made, and calcium lactate gluconate (CLG) aqueous solution was used to shorten the setting time and enhance the paste viscosity.

Synthesis and structural characterization of five-coordinate aluminum complexes containing diarylamido diphosphine ligands.

A series of five-coordinate aluminum complexes supported by o-phenylene-derived amido diphosphine ligands, [N(o-C(6)H(4)PR(2))(2)](-) ([R-PNP](-); R = Ph, (i)Pr) and [N(o-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(o-C(6)H(4)P(i)Pr(2))](-) ([Ph-PNP-(i)Pr](-)), have been prepared and structurally characterized. Alkane elimination reactions of trialkylaluminum with H[Ph-PNP] (1a), H[(i)Pr-PNP] (1b), and H[Ph-PNP-(i)Pr] (1c) in toluene at -35 degrees C respectively produced the corresponding dialkyl complexes [Ph-PNP]AlR(2), [(i)Pr-PNP]AlR(2), and [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]AlR(2) (R = Me (2a-c), Et (3a-c), (i)Bu (4a-c)) in high isolated yield. The dihydride complexes [Ph-PNP]AlH(2) (6a), [(i)Pr- PNP]AlH(2) (6b), and [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]AlH(2) (6c) were prepared in one-pot reactions of in situ prepared dichloride precursors (5a-c) with LiAlH(4) in THF at room temperature.

Terminal nickel(ii) amide, alkoxide, and thiolate complexes containing amido diphosphine ligands of the type [N(o-C6H4PR2)2]- (R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy).

A series of nickel(ii) complexes of the type [R-PNP]Ni(ER') ([R-PNP](-) = [N(o-C(6)H(4)PR(2))(2)](-); R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy; E = NH, O, S; R' = Ph, (t)Bu) featuring unsupported, covalently bound pi-donor ligands have been prepared and characterized. The metathetical reactions of [R-PNP]NiCl (R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy) with LiNHPh, NaOPh, or NaSPh, respectively, produced the corresponding anilide [R-PNP]Ni(NHPh), phenolate [R-PNP]Ni(OPh), and thiophenolate [R-PNP]Ni(SPh) derivatives. Treatment of [Ph-PNP]NiCl with either LiNH(t)Bu or NaO(t)Bu generated tert-butyl amide [Ph-PNP]Ni(NH(t)Bu) and tert-butoxide [Ph-PNP]Ni(O(t)Bu), respectively.

Nickel(II) complexes containing bidentate amido phosphine ligands derived from alpha-iminophosphorus ylides: synthesis and structural characterization.

The reactions of prop-2-ynyltriphenylphosphonium bromide with a series of primary aromatic or aliphatic amines in refluxing acetonitrile generated the corresponding 2-hydrocarbylaminoprop-1-enyltriphenylphosphonium bromide [RNHC(Me)=CHPPh(3)]+Br- (R = 2,6-C(6)H(3)iPr(2) (1a), 2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2) (1b), Ph (1c), t-Bu (1d)) as crystalline solids. Deprotonation of 1a-d with NaH in THF at -35 degrees C afforded the alpha-iminophosphorus ylides RN=C(Me)CH=PPh(3) (2a-d) in high yield. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data of 2 suggest a strong intramolecular interaction between the imino nitrogen and the phosphorus atom.