A nickel-mediated oxidative α-C(sp(3))-H functionalization of amides with allylic alcohols terminated by radical 1,2-aryl migration.

A Ni-mediated oxidative C(sp(3))-H functionalization of N,N-substituted amides with α,α-diaryl allylic alcohols through a radical 1,2-aryl migration process has been developed. This process features a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. Notably, γ-amino ketones containing an all-carbon quaternary center were synthesized under these conditions in moderate to good yields.

LDL receptor knock-out mice show impaired spatial cognition with hippocampal vulnerability to apoptosis and deficits in synapses.

Background: Evidence from clinical studies support the fact that abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the brain leads to progressive cognitive dysfunction. The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is well-known for its role in regulating cholesterol metabolism. Whether LDLR involved in this impaired cognition and the potential mechanisms that underlie this impairment are unknown.

miR-199a-5p regulates the expression of metastasis-associated genes in B16F10 melanoma cells.

MicroRNAs are regulatory factors that play important roles in tumor development, invasion and metastasis. Previously, we showed that miR-199a is abnormally expressed in clinical melanoma specimens and expression was closely associated with clinical features of metastasis. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which miR-199a-5p influences melanoma invasion and metastasis remains unclear.

MiR-199a inhibits the ability of proliferation and migration by regulating CD44-Ezrin signaling in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the second most common form of human cancer, is an epithelial skin tumor, which can result in metastasis with lethal consequences accounting for about 20% of all skin cancer-related deaths. The metastasis is the main reason for cSCC-related deaths with an overall 5-year survival rate < 30% in cases that spread systemically. The role of miRNAs has been involved in SCC of different origins.

Resveratrol prevents pathological but not physiological cardiac hypertrophy.

Unlabelled: The mechanisms responsible for how resveratrol inhibits pathological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) but not physiological LVH have not been elucidated. Herein, we show that in rat cardiomyocytes, lower concentrations of resveratrol (0.1 and 1 μM) are efficient at selectively inhibiting important regulators involved in pathological LVH (such as nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)) while not affecting pathways involved in physiological LVH (Akt and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K)).

Expression of polycystins and fibrocystin on primary cilia of lung cells.

Mutations in polycystin-1, polycystin-2, or fibrocystin account for autosomal dominant or recessive polycystic kidney disease. Renal cystogenesis is linked to abnormal localization and function of these cystoproteins in renal primary cilia. They are also expressed in extrarenal tissues in which their functions are unclear.

Differential regulation of proteins in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under iron deficiency.

Sixty-three proteins were identified to be differentially accumulated due to iron deficiency in shoot and root. The importance of these proteins alterations on shoot physiology is discussed. Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and its accumulation affects the quality of edible plant organs.

Wire 'missing': a rare presentation of preoperative localization wire system dislocation.

A full account is presented of a 53-year-old Chinese woman with a small subpleura nodule in the right upper lobe, which was successfully localized by a Dualok-wire system under computed tomography guidance preoperatively. However, during operation, the hook wire was 'missing', neither in the thorax, nor in the lung. With the help of bed-side chest film, the missing wire, which was twisted in the patient's chest wall, was localized and removed through another small incision.

Subject-specific estimation of central aortic blood pressure via system identification: preliminary in-human experimental study.

This paper demonstrates preliminary in-human validity of a novel subject-specific approach to estimation of central aortic blood pressure (CABP) from peripheral circulatory waveforms. In this "Individualized Transfer Function" (ITF) approach, CABP is estimated in two steps. First, the circulatory dynamics of the cardiovascular system are determined via model-based system identification, in which an arterial tree model is characterized based on the circulatory waveform signals measured at the body's extremity locations.

Lower intensified target LDL-c level of statin therapy results in a higher risk of incident diabetes: a meta-analysis.

Background: A recent meta-analysis has reported that intensive-dose statin drug increases the risk of incident diabetes. However, doubling of the statin dose generates only a further 6% decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) on average. This study aimed to determine whether statin therapy with lower intensive-target LDL-c level contributes to higher risk of new-onset diabetes.

TRIM72 is required for effective repair of alveolar epithelial cell wounding.

The molecular mechanisms for lung cell repair are largely unknown. Previous studies identified tripartite motif protein 72 (TRIM72) from striated muscle and linked its function to tissue repair. In this study, we characterized TRIM72 expression in lung tissues and investigated the role of TRIM72 in repair of alveolar epithelial cells.

Intravascular cell delivery device for therapeutic VEGF-induced angiogenesis in chronic vascular occlusion.

Site specific targeting remains elusive for gene and stem cell therapies in the cardiovascular field. One promising option involves use of devices that deliver larger and more sustained cell/gene payloads to specific disease sites using the versatility of percutaneous vascular access technology. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) engineered to deliver high local concentrations of an angiogenic molecule (VEGF) were placed in an intravascular cell delivery device (ICDD) in a porcine model of chronic total occlusion (CTO) involving ameroid placement on the proximal left circumflex (LCx) artery.

A randomized controlled trial of daclizumab versus anti-thymocyte globulin induction for heart transplantation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy and safety of daclizumab (DZM) versus anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) as a component of induction therapy in heart transplant recipients.

Methods: Thirty heart transplant patients were randomized to receive either ATG or DZM during induction therapy. Patients in the DZM group received an initial dose of 2 mg/kg intravenous (IV) at the time of transplant and 1 mg/kg IV on postoperative day 4.

A Mn(III)/TEMPO-co-mediated tandem azidation-1,2-carbon migration reaction of allylic silyl ethers.

A novel Mn(III)/TEMPO-co-mediated tandem azidation-1,2-carbon migration reaction of allylic silyl ethers with an unactivated C=C bond has been explored, generating α-aryl-alkyl β-azido ketones with an α-quaternary stereocenter.

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes.

A copper-catalyzed Markovnikov-type intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes has been developed to give a series of α-azido-propanenitriles in moderate to good yields. This method may provide a potential strategy for the synthesis of corresponding 3-amino-2-arylpropanoic acid.

Cloning and characterization of a cold-adapted endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanase from Paenibacillus polymyxa and rational design for acidic applicability.

AbnZ1, with optimal pH of 6.0 and optimal temperature of 40 °C, is a cold-adapted endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanase encoded by the gene abnZ1 from Paenibacillus polymyxa Z6. The specific activity of AbnZ1 remained 54.

Downregulation of PPP2R5E expression by miR-23a suppresses apoptosis to facilitate the growth of gastric cancer cells.

PPP2R5E belongs to the phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B family and acts as a tumor suppressor in human cancer. However, the role of PPP2R5E in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer is unclear. Here, we declare that PPP2R5E is downregulated by miR-23a and induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Regioselective C3 alkenylation of 4 H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones via palladium-catalyzed C-H activation.

A general and efficient palladium-catalyzed direct C3 alkenylation of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones using AgOAc/O2 as the oxidant has been developed. A variety of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones were successfully coupled with acrylate esters, styrenes, methylvinylketone, and acrylamide in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction exhibited complete regio- and stereoselectivity.

[Improvement of survival quality of the patients with hemodialysis treated with moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach functions: multi-central randomized controlled study].

Objective: To discuss the impacts of moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function on the survival quality of the patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Methods: One hundred and nine cases of uremia with MHD from 3 hemodialysis centers were randomized into an observation group (58 cases) and a control group (51 cases). The regular hemodialysis and conventional medication were used in the two groups.

Optimal target range for blood glucose in hyperglycaemic patients in a neurocritical care unit.

Background: Hyperglycaemia is common among patients with critical neurological injury, even if they have no history of diabetes. The optimal target range for normalizing their blood glucose is unknown.

Methods: Retrospective data were extracted from 890 hyperglycaemic individuals (glucose > 200 mg/dL) admitted to neuroscience critical care unit (NCCU) and these patients were divided into two groups: intensive glucose control group with target glucose of < 140 mg/dL achieved and moderate control with glucose levels 140-180 mg/dL.

Proteomic analysis of proteins related to rice grain chalkiness using iTRAQ and a novel comparison system based on a notched-belly mutant with white-belly.

Background: Grain chalkiness is a complex trait adversely affecting appearance and milling quality, and therefore has been one of principal targets for rice improvement. Eliminating chalkiness from rice has been a daunting task due to the complex interaction between genotype and environment and the lack of molecular markers. In addition, the molecular mechanisms underlying grain chalkiness formation are still imperfectly understood.

Propargylic cation-induced intermolecular electrophilic addition–semipinacol rearrangement.

A novel propargylic electrophile-induced tandem intermolecular addition-semipinacol rearrangement was developed efficiently under mild conditions. Various allylic silylether substrates as well as Co-complexed propargylic species were applicable to this protocol and gave a series of synthetically useful β-propargyl spirocyclic ketones in moderate to good yields. Its synthetic application was also demonstrated by an efficient construction of the key tricyclic moiety of daphlongamine E.

MicroRNA expression profiling of the fifth-instar posterior silk gland of Bombyx mori.

Background: The growth and development of the posterior silk gland and the biosynthesis of the silk core protein at the fifth larval instar stage of Bombyx mori are of paramount importance for silk production.

Results: Here, aided by next-generation sequencing and microarry assay, we profile 1,229 microRNAs (miRNAs), including 728 novel miRNAs and 110 miRNA/miRNA* duplexes, of the posterior silk gland at the fifth larval instar. Target gene prediction yields 14,222 unique target genes from 1,195 miRNAs.

Spiro-fused six-membered N-heterocyclic carbene: a new scaffold toward unique properties and activities.

A six-membered N-heterocyclic carbene fused with a spiro-scaffold is designed. The new NHC shows stronger σ-donation ability than typical 5-membered NHCs. This property leads to interesting reactivities of this spiro-fused six-membered NHC.

A polysaccharide from pomegranate peels induces the apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peels, as one of the most valuable by-products of the food industry, has attracted much attention due to its wide range of bioactivities. In this study, the potential anticancer effect of a polysaccharide from pomegranate peels (PPP) on human osteosarcoma cancer cells was investigated.