A Modified H-NMR Quantification Method of Ephedrine Alkaloids in Ephedrae Herba Samples.

A previous H-NMR method allowed the quantification of ephedrine alkaloids; however, there were some disadvantages. The cyclized derivatives resulted from the impurities of diethyl ether were identified and benzene was selected as the better extraction solvent. The locations of ephedrine alkaloids were confirmed with 2D NMR.

Characterization and Prediction of Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Luanta Fir Wood with Vacuum Hydrothermal Treatment.

Since the chemical composition of wood is closely related to its mechanical properties, chemical analysis techniques such as near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provide a reasonable non-destructive method for predicting wood strength. In this study, we used NIR spectra with principal component analysis (PCA) to reveal that vacuum hydrothermal (VH) treatment causes degradation of hemicellulose as well as the amorphous region of cellulose, resulting in lower hydroxyl and acetyl group content. These processes increase the crystallinity of the luanta fir wood (Cunninghamia konishii Hayata), which, in turn, effectively increases its compressive strength (σc,max), hardness, and modulus of elasticity (MOE).

Real-World Studies Link Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use to Improved Overall Lung Cancer Survival.

Inflammation is a cancer hallmark. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) improve overall survival (OS) in certain cancers. Real-world studies explored here if NSAIDs improve non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) OS.

Conventional Ultrafiltration During Elective Cardiac Surgery and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury.

Objective: Conventional ultrafiltration (CUF) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) serves to hemoconcentrate blood volume to avoid allogeneic blood transfusions. Previous studies have determined CUF volumes as a continuous variable are associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery, but optimal weight-indexed volumes that predict AKI have not been described.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Anti-inflammatory principles from Lindera aggregata.

Four new sesquiterpenes (1-4), one new alkaloid (5), and one new benzenoid glycoside (6) were characterized from Lindera aggregata, and their structures were elucidated according to their spectrometric analytical data. Among these isolates, 3 and 4 were constructed as possessing unprecedented carbon skeletons from the natural source. Some of these purified constituents were examined for their anti-inflammatory bioactivity.

Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Comparing the Effects of Antithrombin Versus Placebo on the Coagulation System in Infants with Low Antithrombin Undergoing Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: To determine whether precardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) normalization of antithrombin levels in infants to 100% improves heparin sensitivity and anticoagulation during CPB and has beneficial effects into the postoperative period.

Design: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled prospective study.

Setting: Multicenter study performed in 2 academic hospitals.

SFRP3 negatively regulates placental extravillous trophoblast cell migration mediated by the GCM1-WNT10B-FZD7 axis.

Migration of placental extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells into uterine decidua facilitates the establishment of blood circulation between mother and fetus and is modulated by EVT-decidual cell interaction. Poor or excessive EVT migration is associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or placenta accreta. Glial cells missing 1 (GCM1) transcription factor is essential for placental development, and decreased GCM1 activity is detected in preeclampsia.

Characterization of a recombinant d-allulose 3-epimerase from Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749 and identification of an important interfacial residue.

d-Allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) catalyzes the epimerization between d-fructose and d-allulose. We had PCR-cloned and overexpressed the gene encoding Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749 DAEase (AsDAEase) in Escherichia coli.

Limonoids from the seeds of Swietenia macrophylla with inhibitory activity against dengue virus 2.

Fractionation of an ethanol-soluble extract of the seeds of Swietenia macrophylla yielded six new limonoids, swielimonoids A-F (1-6), along with 20 known compounds. Compounds 1 and 2, mexicanolide-type limonoids, were assigned with an α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone moiety (ring D) and a C═C bond between C-8 and C-30. Compounds 3-6 could be categorized as highly oxygenated phragmalin-type limonoids.

Caspase-14 suppresses GCM1 acetylation and inhibits placental cell differentiation.

Glial cell missing 1 (GCM1) transcription factor regulates placental cell fusion into the syncytiotrophoblast. Caspase-14 is proteolytically activated to mediate filaggrin processing during keratinocyte differentiation. Interestingly, altered expression of nonactivated caspase-14 proenzyme is associated with tumorigenesis and diabetic retinopathy, suggesting that caspase-14 may perform physiological functions independently of its protease activity.

A novel DNA selection and direct extraction process and its application in DNA recombination.

In the conventional bench-top approach, the DNA recombination process is time- and effort-consuming due to laborious procedures lasting from several hours to a day. A novel DNA selection and direct extraction process has been proposed, integrated and tested on chip. The integrative microfluidic chip can perform the whole procedure of DNA recombination, including DNA digestion, gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction and insert-vector ligation within 1 h.

Chemical constituents from the whole plant of Gaultheria itoana Hayata.

Two new diterpenoids, 14,18-dihydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one (1) and 13-acetyl-14,18-dihydroxy-podocarpa-8,11,13-triene (2), together with eight known compounds, i.e., gaultheric acid (3), vanillic acid (4), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (5), cinnamic acid (6), stearic acid (7), palmitic acid (8), beta-sitosterol (9), and stigmasterol (10), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Gaultheria itoana Hayata (Ericaceae).