Heparin-Mimetic Chitooligosaccharides-Based Monoliths Obtained from C/W Emulsions: Hemocompatibility and Toxin Removal Ability.

Hemoperfusion (HP) is one of the most prominent therapies for treating uremia, hyperbilirubinemia, and acute drug toxicity. The comprehensive performance of currently used porous HP adsorbents needs to be improved due to the impediment to their synthesis strategy. Herein, green carbon dioxide-in-water high internal phase emulsions (C/W HIPEs) were utilized and emulsified with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for the formation of a heparin-mimetic chitosan oligosaccharides/poly(acrylamide-co-sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) [COS/P(AM-co-SSS)] monolith, which exhibited good mechanical properties, stable swelling performance, hydrophilic properties, anticoagulant effect, and low hemolysis. It showed a strong toxin adsorption capacity (415.2 mg/g for creatinine, 199.3 mg/g for urea, 279.5 mg/g for bilirubin, and 160 mg/g for tetracycline). The adsorption process of porous COS/P(AM-co-SSS) followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. Moreover, the porous materials had a strong electrostatic force on creatinine. The removal of creatinine by simulated in vitro blood perfusion was 80.2% within 30 min. This work provides a green preparation strategy for developing novel HP materials, highlighting their potential application value in blood and environmental purification.

Indole alkaloids fusarindoles A-E from marine-derived fungus Fusarium equiseti LJ-1.

Five undescribed indole alkaloids, fusarindoles A-E, together with seven known compounds were obtained from the marine-derived fungus Fusarium equiseti LJ-1. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were determined by comprehensive analysis of the NMR, HRMS, UV, IR, ECD calculation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The possible biosynthetic pathways of fusarindoles C-E were proposed. The cytotoxicities of eleven compounds, including fusarindoles A-E and six known compounds, against five human cancer cell lines A549, CNE2, SUNE1, HepG2 and QGY7701 were evaluated.

Monascuslactams A-D, cytotoxic γ-lactams from marine fungus Monascus albidus BB3.

Amino acid-directed strategy becomes an efficient way to explore the alkaloids' biosynthetic potential of marine fungi. The metabolites of marine fungus Monascus albidus BB3 were regulated obviously when cultured in GPY medium supplemented with L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, D,L-methionine, L-threonine, L-lysine, L-serine and L-valine. Four new γ-lactams, monascuslactams A-D (1-4), together with two known compounds pulchellalactam (5) and O-acetylperlolyrine (6) were obtained. Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis on the 1 D and 2 D NMR, HRESIMS, UV and IR data, and their absolute configurations were assigned by the experimental and calculated ECD data analysis. Compounds 3, 4 and 6 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines SUNE1, HepG2, QGY7701, GLC82, HCT116 and MDA-MB-231.

Monalbidins A-E, Decalins with Potential Cytotoxic Activities from Marine Derived Fungus Monascus albidus BB3.

Five new decalins, monalbidins A-E (1, 2 and 7-9), together with 16 known compounds (3-6 and 10-21), were isolated from the AcOEt extract of marine derived fungus Monascus albidus BB3 cultured in GPY medium. Among the known compounds, 1-hydroxymonacolin L (11), dehydromonacolin J (15), 8-O-acetylmonacolin J (19) and O-acetylmonacolin K (21) were separated from natural sources for the first time. Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis on the 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV and IR data, and their absolute configurations were assigned by experimental and calculated ECD data, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Monalbidins C and D (7 and 8), monacolin K methyl ester (13), dehydromonacolin L (14), dehydromonacolin K (16), monacolin K (20) and O-acetylmonacolin K (21) showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines SUNE1, HepG2, QGY7701, HCT116 and MDA-MB-231.

An inverted U-shaped relationship between parathyroid hormone and body weight, body mass index, body fat.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and body weight, body mass index (BMI), lipid profiles, and fat distribution in subjects with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and controls. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in 192 patients with PHPT and 202 controls. Serum concentrations of calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), PTH, lipids profiles, and other hormones were quantified. Bone mineral density was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fat distribution evaluation utilizing quantitative computed tomography was conducted in another 66 patients with PHPT and 155 controls. RESULTS: PHPT patients were older (P < 0.001) and had less body weight (P < 0.001), lower BMI (P = 0.019), lower serum concentrations of 25(OH)D (P < 0.001), total cholesterol (P = 0.036), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0.036), and higher circulating concentration of free fatty acid (FFA) (P = 0.047) as compared with controls. After adjusting multiple confounders, PTH was positively correlated with weight (r = 0.311, P < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.268, P < 0.01), and visceral adipose tissue area (VAA) (r = 0.191, P < 0.05) in the first tertile of PTH. However, these associations were not observed in the second tertile. While in the third tertile, PTH was negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.200, P < 0.05), BMI (r = -0.223, P < 0.05) and marginally with VAA (r = -0.306, P = 0.065), it showed positive association with FFA (r = 0.230, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The inverted U-shape relationship between PTH and body weight, BMI, VAA found in this study is helpful to explain the conflicting results among these parameters, and extend our understanding of the metabolic effects of PTH.

Correction to: Role of community-based active case finding in screening tuberculosis in Yunnan province of China.

In the original publication of this article [1] we noticed the Fig. 4 was incorrect. The correct Fig. 4 is as below.

Cytotoxic alkaloids from the marine shellfish-associated fungus Aspergillus sp. XBB-4 induced by an amino acid-directed strategy.

Eight different culture media were used to culture shellfish Panopea abbreviate associated fungus Aspergillus sp. XBB-4. In a glucose-peptone-yeast (GPY) culture medium supplied with amino acids, this fungus can produce chemodiversity metabolites. Four new alkaloids including three ß-carboline alkaloids, aspercarbolines A-C (1-3) and one piperazinedione, asperdione A (13) along with nine known compounds were isolated. The structures were elucidated mainly based on the NMR, MS, ECD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction data. The possible biosynthetic pathways of aspercarbolines A-C (1-3) were proposed. All compounds (1-13) were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against six cancer cell lines, including human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines CNE1, CNE2, HONE1 and SUNE1, and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines hepG2 and QGY7701.

Role of community-based active case finding in screening tuberculosis in Yunnan province of China.

BACKGROUND: The barriers to access diagnosis and receive treatment, in addition to insufficient case identification and reporting, lead to tuberculosis (TB) spreads in communities, especially among hard-to-reach populations. This study evaluated a community-based active case finding (ACF) strategy for the detection of tuberculosis cases among high-risk groups and general population in China between 2013 and 2015. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study conducted an ACF in ten communities of Dongchuan County, located in northeast Yunnan Province between 2013 and 2015; and compared to 136 communities that had passive case finding (PCF). The algorithm for ACF was: 1) screen for TB symptoms among community enrolled residents by home visits, 2) those with positive symptoms along with defined high-risk groups underwent chest X-ray (CXR), followed by sputum microscopy confirmation. TB incidence proportion and the number needed to screen (NNS) to detect one case were calculated to evaluate the ACF strategy compared to PCF, chi-square test was applied to compare the incidence proportion of TB cases' demography and the characteristics for detected cases under different strategies. Thereafter, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and multiple Fisher's exact test were applied to compare the incidence proportion between general population and high-risk groups. Patient and diagnostic delays for ACF and PCF were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: A total of 97 521 enrolled residents were visited with the ACF cumulatively, 12.3% were defined as high-risk groups or had TB symptoms. Sixty-six new TB patients were detected by ACF. There was no significant difference between the cumulative TB incidence proportion for ACF (67.7/100000 population) and the prevalence for PCF (62.6/100000 population) during 2013 to 2015, though the incidence proportion in ACF communities decreased after three rounds active screening, concurrent with the remained stable prevalence in PCF communities. The cumulative NNS were 34, 39 and 29 in HIV/AIDS infected individuals, people with positive TB symptoms and history of previous TB, respectively, compared to 1478 in the general population. The median patient delay under ACF was 1 day (Interquartile range, IQR: 0-27) compared to PCF with 30 days (IQR: 14-61). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that massive ACF was not effective in general population in a moderate TB prevalence setting. The priority should be the definition and targeting of high-risk groups in the community before the screening process is launched. The shorter time interval of ACF between TB symptoms onset and linkage to healthcare service may decrease the risk of TB community transmission. Furthermore, integrated ACF strategy in the National Project of Basic Public Health Service may have long term public health impact.

Linear Triquinane Sesquiterpenoids: Their Isolation, Structures, Biological Activities, and Chemical Synthesis.

Linear triquinane sesquiterpenoids represent an important class of natural products. Most of these compounds were isolated from fungi, sponges, and soft corals, and many of them displayed a wide range of biological activities. On account of their structural diversity and complexity, linear triquinane sesquiterpenoids present new challenges for chemical structure identification and total synthesis. 118 linear triquinane sesquiterpenoids were classified into 8 types, named types I⁻VIII, based on the carbon skeleton and the position of carbon substituents. Their isolation, structure elucidations, biological activities, and chemical synthesis were reviewed. This paper cited 102 articles from 1947 to 2018.