Preoperative ultrasound for runoff-venous decompression of peripheral nerves for arteriovenous access-related pain in the upper limb.

Introduction: Arteriovenous access (AVA)-related pain treated successfully with runoff-venous decompression of the causative nerve, following ultrasound (US)-assisted preoperative evaluation, has never been reported.

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old man suffering from constant exhausting pains along the outflow cephalic vein of the radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula at the wrist and the antecubital fossa, was treated surgically after the diagnosis of AVA-related pain derived from cephalic vein compression on two peripheral cutaneous nerves, the superficial radial nerve (SRN) and the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN).

Technique: The SRN and LACN, which ran along and/or provided sensory innervation to the painful regions in the upper limb, were traced using ultrasonography in the short axis and proved to be compressed by and in contact with veins where the pain existed, at the wrist and the antecubital fossa.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and effects of esomeprazole on the quality of life related to reflux and dyspepsia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms has not been investigated in patients on maintenance hemodialysis in Japan, and few studies have reported the effect of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in hemodialysis patients with GERD symptoms. Here, we investigated the prevalence of GERD symptoms and the effects of the PPI esomeprazole on the quality of life related to reflux and dyspepsia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional/cohort study of hemodialysis outpatients implemented in 10 Japanese medical facilities from October 2012 to March 2014.

Relationship between vascular function indexes, renal arteriolosclerosis, and renal clinical outcomes in chronic kidney disease.

Aim: Hypertension contributes critically to the development of renal arteriolosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the impact of vascular function indexes including central blood pressure on renal arteriolosclerosis has not been investigated. We determined whether vascular function indexes were related to renal arteriolosclerosis and renal clinical outcomes in CKD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was implemented in our hospital.

Monoterpene glucosides from Ziziphora clinopodioides (Labiatae).

Three new monoterpene glucosides, ziziphoroside A (1), B (2), and C (3), together with fifteen known compounds were isolated from the whole herb of Z. clinopodioides. The structures of new compounds were determined primarily from 1D-, 2D-NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic analyses.

Studies on the constituents of Lagochilus leiacanthus (Labiatae).

Two flavanones, 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone (1), 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavanone (2) and their 2'-O-β-D-glucosides (3, 4), and a neoclerodane-type diterpene, 15-demethoxyscupolin I (5), together with twenty-eight known compounds were isolated from the extracts of Lagochilus leiacanthus. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The two new flavanones and some known flavonoids showed the inhibitory activity on the release of β-hexosaminidase from RBL-2H3 cells.

Terpenoids and phenethyl glucosides from Hyssopus cuspidatus (Labiatae).

Monoterpenoids (3 and 4), sesquiterpenoid (2), diterpenoid (1) and four phenethyl glucosides (5-8), together with fourteen known compounds, were isolated from the whole herb of Hyssopus cuspidatus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means. The abietane-type diterpenoids (1, 9, 10), rosmarinic acid (15) and salvigenin (17) inhibited leukotriene (LT) C(4) secretion from primary alveolar cells of Wistar rats.

Five new pregnane glycosides from the stems of Marsdenia tenacissima.

Activity-guided fractionation of the stems of Marsdenia tenacissima led to the isolation of five new pregnane glycosides, namely marstenacissides E (1), F (2), G (3), H (4), and I (5). Their structures were determined on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR, COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and FABMS experiments.

Ferrearin C induces apoptosis via heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in neuroblastoma.

We investigated the cytotoxicity of six neolignans (1-6), which are similar in structure to furanocyclohexenone with an angular allyl group, in human neuroblastoma cell lines (IMR-32, LA-N-1, NB-39, SK-N-SH) and normal cells [human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)] using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Two neolignans, ferrearin C (1) and 2, showed significant cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells. Typical morphologic features of apoptosis were observed for the ferrearin-type neolignans using Hoechst 33342, and apoptotic cytoplasmic membrane inversion was also induced by ferrearin-type neolignans in IMR-32.

Oxyfunctionalization of unactivated C-H bonds in triterpenoids with tert-butylhydroperoxide catalyzed by meso-5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinate osmium(II) carbonyl complex.

A system consisting of meso-5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinate osmium(II) carbonyl complex [Os(TMP)CO] as a precatalyst and tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxygen donor is shown to be an efficient, regioselective oxidant system for the allylic oxidation, ketonization and hydroxylation of unactivated C-H bonds in a series of the peracetate derivatives of penta- and tetracyclic triterpenoids. Treatment of the substrates with this oxidant system afforded a variety of novel or scarce oxygenated derivatives in one-step. Structures of the isolated components, after chromatographic separation, were determined by spectroscopic methods including GC-MS and shift-correlated 2D-NMR techniques.

Induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cell (Jurkat) by neolignans isolated from seeds of Licaria puchury-major.

Ethanol extract of the seeds of Licaria puchury-major, a Brazilian herbal medicine, was found to inhibit cell proliferation in human leukemia cell line (Jurkat) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active components led to the isolation of one phenylpropanoid (1) and ten neolignans (2-11). The apoptosis-inducing activity of the compounds showing cytotoxicity in Jurkat cells was assessed by flow cytometric analysis.

Effects of synthetic para-nonylphenol isomers administered chronically throughout pregnancy and lactation on reproductive system of mouse pups.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of synthetic para-nonylphenol isomers administered chronically throughout pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive system of mouse pups. The two synthetic isomers used in this study showed higher (3E22NP) or lower (44NP) estrogen receptor (ER) binding activity on in vitro yeast assay than a commercial NP (NPmix). Female mice were implanted with a tube filled with one of three NPs and estradiol-17 β (E2) before mating.

Relative inhibitory activity of bile acids against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation, and chenodeoxycholic acid inhibition of tumour promotion in mouse skin two-stage carcinogenesis.

Objectives: Bile acids are present in Bezoar Bovis and Fel Ursi, traditionally used as antipyretics and antispasmodics. However the anti-inflammatory activity of individual bile acids and related compounds has not yet been investigated. In this paper, we report the structure-activity relationships influencing the anti-inflammatory activity of a variety of structurally different bile acid derivatives and also the inhibitory activity of chenodeoxycholic acid against tumour promotion.

Separation, synthesis and estrogenic activity of 4-nonylphenols: two sets of new diastereomeric isomers in a commercial mixture.

Two sets of new diastereomeric 4-nonylphenol (NP) isomers [4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-4-yl)phenol (344NP, NP-J, L) and 4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-3-yl)phenol (343NP, NP-K, P)] were separated from a commercial NP mixture. The mixture of these diastereomers was synthesized at the same time by a single Friedel-Crafts reaction of 3,4-dimethyl-4-heptanol and phenol, and the mixture was separated into individual NPs by HPLC equipped with Hypercarb column. For the first time, in this study the stereostructure-estrogenic activity relationship of NP diastereomers was investigated.

Syntheses and estrogenic activity of 4-nonylphenol isomers.

Eight branched 4-nonylphenol (NP) isomers, which were identified from commercially available NP reagent, 4-(1-ethyl-1,4-dimethylpentyl)phenol (NP-C), 4-(1,1-dimethyl-3-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-D), 4-(1,3-dimethyl-1-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-E(G)), diastereomeric mixture), 4-(1,1,4-trimethylhexyl)phenol (NP-F), 4-(1-methyl-1-n-propylpentyl)phenol (NP-H), 4-(1,1-dimethyl-2-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-I), 4-(1,1,2-trimethylhexyl)phenol (NP-M), and 4-(1-ethyl-1-methylhexyl)phenol (NP-N), were synthesized by two different synthetic methods starting from 4-benzyloxyacetophenone or phenol. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by MS and NMR spectroscopy. The estrogenic activities of these synthetic NP isomers were tested and exhibited different activities on the recombinant yeast screen system.

Lupane triterpenes with a carbonyl group at C-20 induce cancer cell apoptosis.

We evaluated the effects of various lupane triterpenes on B16 2F2 mouse melanoma cell differentiation and proliferation. All of the compounds tested (numbered 1-6) induced melanogenesis of B16 2F2 cells, a marker of melanoma cell differentiation. Compounds 4-6, which have a carbonyl group at C-20, markedly inhibited the growth of B16 2F2 cells by the induction of apoptosis.

Estrogen equivalent concentration of 13 branched para-nonylphenols in three technical mixtures by isomer-specific determination using their synthetic standards in SIM mode with GC-MS and two new diasteromeric isomers.

Thirteen isomers of branched para-nonylphenols (para-NP) in three technical mixtures were isomer-specifically determined using their synthesized standards by SIM of structurally specific ions, m/z 135, 149 or 163 with GC-MS. Of the 13 isomers, four isomers, 4-(2,4-dimethylheptan-4-yl)phenol, 4-(4-methyloctan-4-yl)phenol, 4-(3-ethyl-2-methylhexan-2-yl)phenol (3E22NP) and 4-(2,3-dimethylheptan-2-yl)phenol synthesized for their determinations were first used as standard substances. The 13 isomers in the technical mixtures individually occurred at mass percent portion of more than 2%.

Studies on panax acetylenes: absolute structure of a new panax acetylene, and inhibitory effects of related acetylenes on the growth of L-1210 cells.

A new Panax acetylene, 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1), was isolated from Panax quinquefolium. The absolute configurations of 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1) and PQ-1 (2) were determined to be (9R,10R) and (3R,9R,10R), respectively, by synthesizing 1 and 2 starting from D-(-)-diethyl tartrate, and by synthesizing their stereoisomers from L-(+)-diethyl tartrate. The growth inhibitory effects of Panax acetylenes (1-8) and their stereoisomers against leukemia cells were tested.

Oxyfunctionalization products of terpenoids with dimethyldioxirane and their biological activity.

Oxyfunctionalization of the bioactive terpenoids, ursolic acid acetate (1), oleanolic acid acetate (5), lupeol acetate (12), and kaurenic acid (17), with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) was investigated. Treatment of the terpenoids with DMDO under mild conditions afforded a variety of oxidation and oxydegradation products to yield naturally occurring and/or novel compounds in one step. After chromatographic separation, the structures of the individual isolated products were determined using spectroscopic methods including several homonuclear (1H-1H) and heteronuclear (1H-13C) shift-correlated 2D-NMR techniques.

Regioselective oxyfunctionalization of unactivated carbons in steroids by a model of cytochrome P-450: osmiumporphyrin complex/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system.

tert-Butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by (5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinate) osmium(II) carbonyl [Os(TMP)CO] complex was found to be a highly efficient versatile oxidant for C-H carbons in steroid substrates. When reacted with representative steroids with an estrane, pregnane, 5beta-cholane, or 5alpha-cholestane structure, regioselective oxyfunctionalization and/or oxidative degradation occurred to give a variety of novel and uncommon derivatives in one step.

Studies on the constituents of the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae) and their cytotoxic activity.

A new sesquiterpene, named baccharisketone (1), and a new monoterpene, p-methoxythymol acetate (2), were isolated from the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia along with seventeen known compounds (3-19). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The growth inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds against leukemia cells (L 1210) was tested and three terpene phenols (4, 6, 17) and five sesquiterpene alcohols (8, 10, 11, 13, 16) were found to exhibit strong cytotoxic activity.

Norditerpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum manshuricum.

A new norditerpenoid alkaloid, manshuritine (1) has been isolated from Aconitum manshuricum, together with seven known alkaloids; beiwudine (2), beiwutine (3), 16-epi-pyromesaconitine (4), mesaconitine (5), aconitine (6), hypaconitine (7) and 14-benzoylmesaconine (8). The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical correlations.

A direct method for the separation and quantification of bile acid acyl glycosides by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector.

A direct method for the separation and quantification of a series of bile acid acyl glycosides using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) is described. Complete separation of each of 15 bile acid acyl 24-alpha-glucosides and their 24-beta-anomers and 24-beta-galactosides was achieved by the stepwise gradient elution mode on a C18 column using a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol (8:2, v/v) and 1% aqueous acetic acid as the mobile phase. 24-beta-Galactosides were always eluted faster than the corresponding 24-beta-glucosides, which eluted after the corresponding 24-alpha-anomers.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid multi-conjugates: unusual bile acid metabolites in human urine.

Complete 1H and 13C resonance assignments were made for a new type of 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid doubly conjugated with sulfuric acid at C-3 and N-acetylglucosamine at C-7 and its glycine- and taurine-amidated triple-conjugates by the combined use of several homonuclear and heteronuclear shift-correlated 2D NMR techniques. The effects of sulfation at C-3, N-acetylglucosaminidation at C-7, and aminoacyl amidation at C-24 on the 1H and 13C chemical shifts and signal multiplicity were clarified. The shielding data serving to characterize each of the bile acid multi-conjugates are also discussed.

Incorporation of selective population transfer and homo-spin decoupling into selective one-dimensional experiments.

The incorporation of selective population transfer (SPT) and homo-spin decoupling (HSD) into selective one-dimensional (1D) experiments has been shown to be very useful in obtaining information on the elucidation of the structure of organic compounds. To demonstrate this, the determination of the relative configuration of the sugar moiety of Mi-saponins has been presented.

Estrogen equivalent concentration of individual isomer-specific 4-nonylphenol in Ariake sea water, Japan.

Concentrations of 4-nonylphenol (NP) were determined by isomer-specific quantification of individual NP isomers based on relative response factor (RRF) quantification with GC-MS in combination with steam distillation extraction. Concentrations of NP in the Ariake Sea decreased with distance from the river mouth (St.A; 49 ng NP/l) to offshore areas (St.