Extensive variability in vasoactive agent therapy: a nationwide survey in Chinese intensive care units.

Background: Inconsistencies in the use of the vasoactive agent therapy to treat shock are found in previous studies. A descriptive study was proposed to investigate current use of vasoactive agents for patients with shock in Chinese intensive care settings.

Methods: A nationwide survey of physicians was conducted from August 17 to December 30, 2012.

Awareness and attitudes of Chinese students towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Background: A large number of sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, but the worldwide survival rate is less than 1%. Early initiation of bystander Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) would improve the survival rate of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests. Students play an important role as bystanders on and off campus both now and in the future.

An efficient and enantioselective approach to the azaspirocyclic core of alkaloids: formal synthesis of halichlorine and pinnaic acid.

A novel, highly stereoselective synthesis of an azaspirocyclic core, which contains four stereogenic carbons consistent with structures of natural halichlorine and pinnaic acid, is presented. Lipase PS-catalyzed selective acylation, asymmetric methylation on the alpha-methylene of the bicyclic lactone, and an asymmetric Michael addition of the tertiary nitro cyclopentane were concisely used to conquer the challenging problem of successfully constructing the C9 quarternary carbon center with complete stereocontrol. The spiropiperidine ring was formed by reduction of the delta-nitroketone, intramolecular condensation, and then highly stereoselective reduction of the cyclic nitrone with NaBH(4).