Effectiveness of acupuncture combined mecobalamin in the treatment of elderly diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although previous studies have reported the effectiveness of acupuncture combined mecobalamin (AM) in the treatment of elderly diabetic peripheral neuropathy (EDPN), no systematic study has assessed its effectiveness and safety. Thus, this study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of AM for the treatment of patients with EDPN.

Methods: Bibliographic electronic databases will be searched as follows: Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, WANGFANG, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

Linear Peptides Containing d-Leucine with Neuroprotective Activities from the Leech Whitman.

Three new linear peptides containing d-leucine, named whitmantides A-C (-), were isolated from the dried whole bodies of Whitman. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by Edman degradation, mass spectrometry, Marfey's analysis, and solid-phase synthesis. It is the first time that peptides containing d-amino acid in leeches were discovered.

Gelsecorydines A-E, Five Gelsedine-Corynanthe-Type Bisindole Alkaloids from the Fruits of Gelsemium elegans.

Five monoterpenoid bisindole alkaloids with new carbon skeletons, gelsecorydines A-E (1-5), together with their biogenetic precursors were isolated from the fruits of Gelsemium elegans. Compounds 1-5 represent the first examples of heterodimeric frameworks composed of a gelsedine-type alkaloid and a modified corynanthe-type one. Notably, compound 2 featured an unprecedented caged skeleton with a 6/5/7/6/5/6 heterohexacyclic ring system, which possessed a pyridine ring that linked the two monomers.

Gelsekoumidines A and B: Two Pairs of Atropisomeric Bisindole Alkaloids from the Roots of Gelsemium elegans.

Two pairs of atropisomeric bisindole alkaloids, gelsekoumidines A (1) and B (2), with a new carbon skeleton, were isolated from the roots of Gelsemium elegans. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first examples of seco-koumine-gelsedine type alkaloids, which feature an unprecedented 20,21-seco-koumine scaffold fused with a gelsedine framework via a double bond. Their structures including absolute stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation.