Secupyritines A-C, Three Natural Propellane Securinega Alkaloids: Structure Elucidation and Total Synthesis Based on Biogenetic Building Blocks.

Secupyritines A-C are unique polycyclic Securinega alkaloids isolated from medicinal plant Flueggea suffruticosa. They feature a distinctive 6/6/6/5/6 fused pentacyclic ring system with a highly strained 2-oxa-6-aza[4.4.

Unraveling the macroevolution of horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: ).

Unraveling the diversification mechanisms of organisms is a fundamental and important macroevolutionary question regarding the diversity, ecological niche, and morphological divergence of life. However, many studies have only explored diversification mechanisms via isolated factors. Here, based on comparative phylogenetic analysis, we performed a macroevolutionary examination of horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: ), to reveal the inter-relationships among diversification, intrinsic/extrinsic factors, and climatic ecological niche characteristics.

Physiological and Environmental Influences on Wingbeat Frequency of Oriental Armyworm, Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata (Walker, 1865) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a serious global migratory insect pest of grain crops. Although its migratory biology has been studied for a long history, the factors affecting wingbeat frequency (WBF), which is closely related to the flight activity of the insect, remain unclear. In this study, the WBFs of both cultured and migrating moths were tested under different conditions in the laboratory using a stroboscope.

CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of the extracranial cranial nerve for the treatment of Meige's syndrome.

Background: Meige' s syndrome, a rare form of dystonia, lacks effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of CT-guided percutaneous extracranial radiofrequency ablation of the facial and/or trigeminal nerves in the treatment of Meige's syndrome.

Methods: A total of 10 patients were enrolled in this study, with the numbers of blepharospasm dystonia syndrome (BDS), oromandibular dystonia syndrome (ODS), and blepharospasm combined with oromandibular dystonia syndrome (B-ODS) being 7, 1, and 2, respectively.

Plasma SIRT3 as a Biomarker of Severity and Prognosis After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: SIRT3 may act as a brain-protective factor. We measured the plasma SIRT3 levels of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and further determined the relationship between plasma SIRT3 and clinical outcome plus severity of ICH.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we quantified plasma SIRT3 levels in 105 ICH patients and 72 healthy controls.

Serum Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1alpha Levels Correlate with Outcomes After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: Serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1α) is a key regulator in hypoxic and ischemic brain injury. We determined the relationship between serum HIF-1α levels and long-term prognosis plus severity of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: A total of 97 ICH cases and 97 healthy controls were enrolled.

Serum glucose and potassium ratio as a predictive factor for prognosis of acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: The serum glucose/potassium ratio (GPR) is a potential prognostic predictor for acute brain injury-related diseases. We calculated the serum GPR in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and explored its prognostic value for long-term prognoses and ICH severity.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study consecutively included 92 patients with ICH and 92 healthy controls.

Tube-nosed variations-a new species of the genus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from China.

During a survey in 2014, several tube-nosed bats (Vespertilionidae: Murininae: ) were collected in Sichuan Province. Based on morphological characters, these bats did not match any species previously recorded from China. Morphometric analyses and phylogenetic inference based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences indicated that they represented a new species, named here as sp.

Prognostic significance of serum translocator protein in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Translocator protein (TP) is related to inflammation and is involved in brain injury. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether serum TP concentrations are associated with the severity and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: We quantified the serum concentrations of TP in 106 healthy controls and 106 patients with severe TBI.

Fertilizer application in rural cropland drives cadmium enrichment in bats dwelling in an urban area.

The transfer of pollutants from chemical fertilizers through food webs within cropland is well documented; however, its impacts on the wild animals that forage on croplands but roost in other locations remain poorly understood. The potential for this cross-ecosystem 'spillover' of pollutants is greatest for bats, some of which exploit urban settlements as roosting niches but must travel long distances to reach croplands as foraging niches. Here, we used hairs from a colony of insectivorous bats, Chinese Noctule (Nyctalus plancyi), from an urban area in Southwest China to assess whether exposure to heavy metals/metalloids by the bats varied from 1975 to 2016.

A revision of Kerivoula hardwickii and occurrence of K. furva (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in China.

Although increased survey efforts using improved capture methods (particularly harp traps) have greatly expanded the quantity of Kerivoula specimens available in China, the understanding of the genus has been long constrained. After the recently published revision of the hardwickii-complex with the description of K. furva and re-evaluation of occurrence of K.

Serum ST2 as a potential prognostic biomarker for traumatic brain injury.

Background: ST2, a receptor of interleukin-33, is involved in inflammation. We discerned the relationship between serum soluble ST2 (sST2) concentrations, inflammation, severity and prognosis following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: We measured serum sST2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, myelin basic protein, glial fibrillary astrocyte protein, S100B, neuron-specific enolase, phosphorylated axonal neurofilament subunit H, Tau and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 concentrations in 106 healthy controls and 106 severe TBI patients.

Prospective Comparison of Redo Microvascular Decompression and Percutaneous Balloon Compression as Primary Surgery for Recurrent Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Objective: To prospectively compare facial pain outcomes for patients having either a repeat microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) as their surgery for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) recurrence.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 110 patients with TN recurrence who had either redo MVD (n=68) or PBC (n=42) from July 2010 until September 2016. The mean follow-up was 45.

Comparison of plasma copeptin and multiple biomarkers for assessing prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Increased plasma copeptin concentrations are related to poor prognosis after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The aim of this study was to assess prognostic significance of plasma copeptin detection compared with glial fibrillary astrocyte protein, myelin basic protein, S100B, phosphorylated axonal neurofilament subunit H, neuron-specific enolase, tau and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 in aSAH.

Methods: We detected plasma concentrations of the aforementioned biomarkers in 105 healthy controls using ELISA.

Serum periostin concentrations and outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury.

Background: Periostin, a neurite outgrowth-promoting factor, is increasingly expressed in rat brain tissues after cerebral ischemia or subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, periostin concentrations are undetermined in peripheral blood from patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, serum periostin concentrations were measured in 130 controls and 130 severe TBI patients.

Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations correlate with prognosis of traumatic brain injury.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a well-known pro-inflammatory cytokine. Serum MIF concentrations are associated with the severity and prognosis of ischemic stroke.

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, white blood cell (WBC) count and serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and MIF among 108 severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and 108 controls were measured.

Serum thioredoxin and in-hospital major adverse events after traumatic brain injury.

Background: In-hospital major adverse events (IMAEs), mainly including acute lung injury, acute traumatic coagulopathy, progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction, are associated with poor prognosis after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thioredoxin, a potent anti-oxidant, has been identified as an oxidative stress marker. This study was designed to explore the association of serum thioredoxin concentrations with IMAEs of patients with severe TBI.

The prognostic value of plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Nesfatin-1 is related to inflammation. Its increased circulating concentrations are associated with the severity and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In-hospital major adverse events (IMAEs), including acute traumatic coagulopathy, progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction, are correlated with mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The change of plasma galectin-3 concentrations after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Galectin-3 plays a significant role in microglia activation. Its increased circulating concentration has been associated with some inflammatory diseases. In-hospital major adverse events (IMAEs), including acute traumatic coagulopathy, progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction, have high prevalence and are strong predictors of mortality after severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).

Changes in plasma thrombospondin-1 concentrations following acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Angiogenesis is a fundamental process for brain development and repair. Thrombospondin-1 is the first identified endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor. Its expression in rat brain is upregulated after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

The prognostic value of plasma thrombospondin-1 concentrations after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Thrombospondin-1 is a homotrimeric glycoprotein with well known functions in hemostasis and angiogenesis. Its expression was increased after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage. We determined whether increased plasma thrombospondin-1 concentrations are predictive of clinical outcomes of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Plasma 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α concentrations and outcomes after acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Higher plasma 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α concentrations have been associated with poor outcome of severe traumatic brain injury. We further investigated the relationships between plasma 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α concentrations and clinical outcomes in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: Plasma 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α concentrations of 128 consecutive patients and 128 sex- and gender-matched healthy subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.