Stereodivergent Synthesis of Alkaloid (±)-223A and (±)-6--223A via Rh-Catalyzed Hydroformylation Double Cyclization.

A stereodivergent approach toward total syntheses of alkaloids 223A and 6--223A is described. The approach features a concise construction of an indolizidine skeleton by Rh-catalyzed domino hydroformylation double cyclization and sequential stereocontrolled transformations such as reductive alkylation or -selective α-alkylation of the 5-oxoindolizidine. These stereoselective reactions afford the desired stereochemistry in the targets.

CDN1163, a SERCA activator, causes intracellular Ca leak, mitochondrial hyperpolarization and cell cycle arrest in mouse neuronal N2A cells.

Objective: Activity or expression of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase (SERCA) is diminished in some disease states such as cardiac failure and diabetes mellitus. A newly developed activator of SERCA, CDN1163, reportedly rescued or alleviated pathological conditions attributed to dysfunctional SERCA. We examined whether CDN1163 could relieve mouse neuronal N2A cell growth inhibition caused by cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, SERCA inhibitor).

Rh-Catalyzed Hydroformylation-Initiated Bicyclization: Construction of Azabicyclic Systems.

Here, we describe the recent progress toward construction of 1-azabicyclic structures using a domino hydroformylation double cyclization strategy of an amide bearing the trisubstituted alkene functionality. The method provides a rapid and atom-economic access to alkaloid structures under mild conditions, especially for quinolizidine and pyrrolidine-fused azepane skeletons with yields up to 82% and good diastereoselectivity. Subsequent oxidative cleavage conditions are developed for the synthesis of alkaloid epi-epiquinamide.

Patients with oral cancer do not undergo surgery as primary treatment: A population-based study in Taiwan.

Background: There are still oral cancer patients without surgery. To improve the survival, it is necessary to know the causes of the oral cancer patients without surgery.

Methods: 23,217 patients with a newly-diagnosed oral cancer in Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) database between 2011 and 2015 were enrolled.

Diagnostic value of tumor markers in lung adenocarcinoma-associated cytologically negative pleural effusions.

Background: Cytology fails to detect neoplastic cells in approximately 40% to 50% of malignant pleural effusions (PEs), which commonly accompany lung adenocarcinomas. The diagnostic accuracy of various tumor markers in lung adenocarcinoma-associated cytologically negative pleural effusions (LAC-CNPEs) has been poor. The current study attempted to maximize diagnostic efforts in distinguishing LAC-CNPEs from benign PEs.

Is the SF-12 version 2 Health Survey a valid and equivalent substitute for the SF-36 version 2 Health Survey for the Chinese?

Rationale And Objectives: The scoring algorithm of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was revised in the second version (SF-12v2), but information on its psychometric properties is lacking. This study determined whether the SF-12v2 was a valid and equivalent substitute for the SF-36v2 Health Survey (version 2) for the Chinese.

Methods: A total of 2410 Chinese adults in Hong Kong completed the SF-36 Health Survey by telephone.

[Treatment of facial pigmentation after burns with traditional Chinese medicine mask and skin care].

Objective: To observe the effects of traditional Chinese medicine mask combined with skin care in the treatment of facial pigmentation after burns.

Methods: Forty-one patients with facial pigmentation after burns hospitalized from January 2009 to June 2010 were enrolled and divided into treatment group (n = 26, odd number) and control group (n = 15, even number) according to the visiting order. After cleaning, massaging, and steam spraying to faces, patients in treatment and control groups were respectively treated with traditional Chinese medicine mask developed by physicians in our hospital and common commercial beauty mask.

Diagnostic value of Her-2/neu, Cyfra 21-1, and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in malignant pleural effusions of lung adenocarcinoma.

Aims: Cytology fails to detect neoplastic cells in 40-50% of cases of malignant pleural effusion, a condition that frequently accompanies lung adenocarcinoma. Published reports of diagnostic sensitivity of various tumour markers are inconsistent, and optimal cut-off points have not been determined. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of three markers to discriminate lung adenocarcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusion (LAC-MPE) from benign effusion.

Homozygous deletion of MTAP gene as a poor prognosticator in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Purpose: Chromosome 9 is frequently deleted in high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), whereas its specific tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are less understood. We did an integrative study of MTAP gene at 9p21 to analyze its implication in GISTs.

Experimental Design: To search TSGs on chromosome 9, we used ultrahigh-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization to profile DNA copy number alterations of 22 GISTs, with special attention to MTAP gene.

Primary urothelial carcinoma of the upper tract: important clinicopathological factors predicting bladder recurrence after surgical resection.

The aim of the present study was to further characterize potential clinicopathological predictors for urinary bladder recurrence-free survival (UBRFS) in patients with primary urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UUT-UC). The present series included 385 cases of surgically treated primary localized UUT-UC without previous or concurrent urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Among the 374 patients with follow-up information, clinicopathological features and therapeutic information including whether they received a laparoscopy-assisted nephroureterectomy (LNU) and adjuvant chemotherapy were correlated with UBRFS.

Ezrin overexpression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: an independent adverse prognosticator associated with the non-gastric location.

Ezrin, a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family, acts as a link between the cell membrane and actin cytoskeleton to integrate cell adhesion-mediated signaling. It implicates tumor progression, metastatic dissemination, and adverse outcomes in several cancer types, including pediatric and adult sarcomas. Although ezrin upregulation was shown by cDNA expression profiling, no study has systematically evaluated the significance of ezrin expression in a large cohort of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Predicting factors in the last week of survival in elderly patients with terminal cancer: a prospective study in southern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The proportion of elderly persons among terminal cancer patients is around 60% in Taiwan. Prediction of the last week of survival can be significant in palliative care units for planning patient management, fulfilling patients' wishes at the end of life, and meeting the needs of relatives. We aimed to find out the predictive factors for the last week of survival in elderly terminal cancer patients.

Heat shock protein 90 overexpression independently predicts inferior disease-free survival with differential expression of the alpha and beta isoforms in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Purpose: Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors harbor a mutated KIT or PDGFRA receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a chaperone mediating the folding and stabilization of many oncoproteins, including KIT. An Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-AAG, can attenuate KIT activation and proliferation of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell lines.

Immunohistochemical and biogenetic features of diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors: the potential roles of cyclin A, P53, and deletion of 15q in sarcomatous transformation.

Purpose: Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TSGCT) is an aggressive proliferation of synovial-like mononuclear cells with inflammatory infiltrates. Despite the COL6A3-CSF1 gene fusion discovered in benign lesions, molecular aberrations of malignant D-TSGCTs remain unidentified.

Experimental Design: We used fluorescent in situ hybridization and in situ hybridization to evaluate CSF1 translocation and mRNA expression in six malignant D-TSGCTs, which were further immunohistochemically compared with 24 benign cases for cell cycle regulators involving G(1) phase and G(1)-S transition.

Human herpesvirus type 8 in patients with cirrhosis: correlation with sex, alcoholism, hepatitis B virus, disease severity, and thrombocytopenia.

Immunologic abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis strongly correlate with severity of liver cirrhosis. The association between cirrhosis and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infection is unclear. Plasma samples were obtained from 74 healthy control subjects and 59 patients with cirrhosis.

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction in primary localized myxofibrosarcoma: correlations with clinicopathological factors, Skp2 expression, and patient survival.

Background: Histological assessment for prognostication of myxofibrosarcomas remains challenging. We previously reported independent prognostic value of Skp2, an oncoprotein promoting S-phase progression (Clin Cancer Res 2006;12:487-98).

Methods: We evaluated S-phase fraction (SPF) and ploidy of myxofibrosarcomas and the association between SPF and Skp2.

[Rescue and treatment for the mass burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion].

Objective: To summarize the characteristics and treatment of burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion, so as to share the experiences in emergency treatment.

Methods: By analyzing the data related to this accident, the characteristics of the injury and experiences of treatment for mass burn casualties from yellow phosphorous explosion were summarized.

Results: Eighty-one patients, 72 males and 9 females, were injured in a yellow phosphorus explosion.

Malignant diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors: a series of 7 cases comparing with 24 benign lesions with review of the literature.

Background: Malignant diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TSGCT), an unusual sarcoma with concurrent or previous benign D-TSGCTs, poses challenges to diagnosis and prognostication.

Methods: We described the radiologic, clinicopathologic, and immunophenotypical findings of 5 primary and 2 metachronous malignant D-TSGCTs and reviewed published cases to better delineate their morphologic spectrum and behavior. Twenty-four benign D-TSGCTs were also statically compared to analyze the diagnostic values of various variables.

A modification of NIH consensus criteria to better distinguish the highly lethal subset of primary localized gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a subdivision of the original high-risk group on the basis of outcome.

Background: By reappraising the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria, we worked on establishing a modified scheme to identify highly lethal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), which have an imperative demand for sequencing analysis to assess the suitability of an adjuvant imatinib trial.

Methods: Clinicopathologic features, including NIH and modified schemes, were retrospectively analyzed for 289 patients with localized GISTs. We combined the very low/low-risk GISTs into a single "risk level I" group ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cultural adaptation and application of the IBS-QOL in China: a disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and episodic illness characterized by altered bowel habits and associated abdominal pain. At present, IBS is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders affecting countries around the world. Surveys have found that patients with IBS have a significantly lower health-related quality of life.

Skp2 is an independent prognosticator of gallbladder carcinoma among p27(Kip1)-interacting cell cycle regulators: an immunohistochemical study of 62 cases by tissue microarray.

Despite improvement in surgical techniques, prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma remains poor. It is desirable to identify prognostic biomarkers to aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Two SCF(Skp2) ubiquitin ligase-related proteins, Skp2 and cyclin-dependent kinase subunit 1 (Cks1), are involved in post-transcriptional degradation of p27(Kip1) tumor suppressor, which inhibits both cdk2/cyclin E and cdk2/cyclin A complexes and thus prevents transition to the S phase.

Immunohistochemical expression of p16INK4A, Ki-67, and Mcm2 proteins in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: prognostic implications and correlations with risk stratification of NIH consensus criteria.

Background: Inactivation of p16(INK4A) promotes G1/S progression of cell cycle. Minichromosome maintenance protein-2 (Mcm2), a novel cell proliferation marker, is known to better correlate with clinical outcomes than Ki-67 in many carcinomas. Since gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) sometimes remains challenging in prognostication, we analyzed the utility of these three markers in GISTs.