[Dual roles and mechanism of microglia in ischemic stroke].

Stroke is the second most common cause of death after cancer worldwide and a major cause of acquired disability in adults. Overwhelming majority of strokes are caused by cerebral ischemia and are classified as ischemic stroke. Microglia are the resident immune cells and play dual roles in response to ischemia injury in the central nervous system (CNS). On the one hand, microglia may contribute to tissue function recovery process by promoting inflammation resolution, cellular debris clearance, nerve regeneration and synapse remodeling. On the other hand, excessive activation of microglia aggravates nerve damage after ischemic injury. Here, we briefly describe the mechanism of microglia activation after stroke, and comprehensively review the dual role of microglia in neurodegeneration and regeneration after stroke. In-depth exploration of the cytotoxic and protective mechanisms of microglia will provide new targets and new strategies for stroke treatment.

One-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonates via a cascade sequence of allylamine isomerization/hydrophosphonylation.

A Rh/Ni-catalyzed cascade sequence of allylamine isomerization and hydrophosphonylation to synthesize α-aminophosphonates has been disclosed. The reaction, which not only allows the generation of widespread valuable α-aminophosphonates under simple systems and mild conditions, but also enriches the process of olefin isomerization-addition both in catalytic systems and various reaction types.

Diastereoselective Radical Oxidative C-H Aminations toward Chiral Atropoisomeric (P, N) Ligand Precursors.

A new class of chiral atropoisomeric (P, N) ligand precursors has been obtained with excellent diastereoselectivities and high yields through diastereoselective metal-free intramolecular radical oxidative C-H amination with chiral phosphamide as the auxiliary group. This method provides a concise and highly valuable pathway for the synthesis of enantiopure aminophosphine ligands in large-scale.

Development and evaluation of near-isogenic lines for brown planthopper resistance in rice cv. 9311.

Brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive pest of rice in Asia. To date 29 BPH resistance genes have been identified, but only a few genes are being used in breeding due to inefficient markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and little knowledge of the real effects of the genes. In this study we individually transferred 13 genes or QTLs (Bph14, QBph3, QBph4, Bph17, Bph15, Bph20, Bph24, Bph6, Bph3, Bph9, Bph10, Bph18 and Bph21) into cultivar 9311 by marker assisted backcross breeding (MABB). Through positive and negative selection we narrowed the segments from donors containing Bph14, Bph15, Bph6 and Bph9 to 100-400 kb. Whole-genome background selection based on a high resolution SNP array was performed to maximize reconstitution of the recurrent parent genome (RPG 99.2-99.9%). All genes reduced BPH growth and development and showed antibiotic responses in seedlings. Based on genetic effects and amino acid sequences of genes in three clusters we inferred that Bph10 and Bph21 might be identical to Bph26, whereas Bph9 and Bph18 were different. Bph15 might be same with Bph17, but QBph4, Bph20 and Bph24 might be different. We believe that these NILs will be useful in rice BPH resistance research and breeding.

Chiral Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective Phosphonylation of Allylamine via Oxidative Dehydrogenation Coupling.

A new strategy for the synthesis of chiral α-amino phosphonates by enantioselective C-H phosphonylation of allylamine with phosphite in the presence of a chiral Brønsted acid catalyst has been developed. This protocol successfully integrates direct C-H oxidation with asymmetric phosphonylation and exhibits high enantioselectivity.

Cu-Catalyzed selective cascade sp(3) C-H bond oxidative functionalization towards isoxazoline derivatives.

The first Cu-catalyzed cascade sp(3) C-H bond oxidative functionalization of the 2-ethylazaarenes has been developed. The two different sp(3) C-H bonds in 2-ethylazaarenes are selectively oxidized and four new types of bonds (C=O, C=N, C-C, C-O) are constructed in one operation. Starting from the simple substrates and cheap nitro source, this reaction provides an efficient approach to produce new kinds of isoxazolines.

A new finely mapped Oryza australiensis-derived QTL in rice confers resistance to brown planthopper.

Brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive pest of rice in Asia. The BPH resistance in the introgression line IR65482-17-511-5-7 (IR65482-17) is derived from the wild rice species Oryza australiensis. An F2:3 population from a cross between Zhenshan 97 (ZS97) and IR65482-17 was used to map three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seedling resistance and feeding rate to BPH. The loci were distributed on chromosomes 2, 4 and 12. The QTL qBph4.2 on chromosome 4 had the largest effect, and contributed 36-44% of the phenotypic variance with a LOD score of 19-29. To validate the effect of qBph4.2, two near-isogenic lines (NILs) containing the qBph4.2 locus in the backgrounds of ZS97 and 9311 were developed by marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC). BPH bioassays showed that lines homozygous for the IR65482-17 allele (NIL+) of qBph4.2 tented to have significantly higher seedling resistance to BPH than those homozygous for the ZS97 or 9311 alleles (NIL-). Resistance was associated with a lower feeding rate by the insect. qBph4.2 was delimited to a ~300 kb (0.04 cM) region flanked by markers RM261 and S1, and co-segregating with XC4-27. This study will facilitate map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection of the gene, and permits further studies of gene function and resistance mechanisms in rice: BPH interaction.

Regulation of lipid levels after ischemic stroke and an analysis of the associated factors in China

Background and Objectives: Stroke is the most common neurological disease in China and regulation of lipid levels is important for secondary prevention. This study aimed to investigate the practice of lipid lowering agents immediately after and one month following ischemic stroke in China, and to determine the factors affecting the practice. Methods: A total of 857 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled from 11 hospitals in the Qingdao area, Northern China. Data pertaining to the patients’ demographic, clinical data, and treatment before and after the stroke were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with the treatment at two time points: at the acute stage and at one month follow-up. Results: The frequency of lipid lowering therapy was 50.3% (431/857) at acute stage and 41.5% (306/738) at one month. Lipid lowering therapy at acute stage was independently and positively associated with a history of hyperlipidemia((P=0.002, OR (95%CI): 3.784 (1.610-8.898)) and excess alcohol consumption (P=0.005, OR (95%CI): 1.928 (1.214-3.062)), partial anterior circulation infarct classifi cation (P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 1.974 (1.370-2.767)), and low-density lipoprotein levels ((P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 1.426 (1.170-1.739)). Lipid lowering therapy at one month follow-up was independently and positively associated with lipid lowering therapy at acute stage ((P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 18.275 (11.476- 29.101)), and negatively with the Modifi ed Rankin Scale ≥4 at follow-up ((P=0.030, OR (95%CI): 0.568 (0.341-0.948)). Conclusions: Lipid lowering therapy was found to be used in about half of patients during acute and early secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in the Qingdao area of Northern China. There should be more education efforts to the health care professionals and public to increase its use.

Current status of antiplatelet treatment before and after ischemic stroke, and an analysis of factors associated with antiplatelet treatment, in the Qingdao area of China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Stroke is the most common neurological disease in China, and antiplatelet treatment is important for primary and secondary prevention. This study aimed to describe the current status of antiplatelet treatment before, immediately after, and 1 month after ischemic stroke in the Qingdao area of China, and to determine the factors and potential barriers influencing use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1114 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled from 11 hospitals in the Qingdao area. Patient demographic data, clinical data, and treatment before and after the stroke were recorded. Univariate analysis (two sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test) and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to determine the frequency of antiplatelet treatment, and factors associated with treatment, at three time points: before the stroke, in hospital after the stroke, and at 1-month follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of antiplatelet treatment was 6.4% before the stroke, 91.5% in hospital, and 77.2% at 1 month. Aspirin pretreatment was independently associated with higher education level, higher income level, history of hyperlipidemia, and history of cerebral vascular disease. Antiplatelet treatment in hospital was independently associated with treatment in an urban hospital, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at onset, and statin use in hospital. Antiplatelet treatment at 1-month follow-up was independently associated with higher income level, diagnosis of transient ischemic attack, antiplatelet treatment in hospital, large artery atherosclerosis according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification, and statin use at follow-up. Modified Rankin Scale ≥ 4 at 1-month follow-up and history of coronary heart disease were negatively associated with antiplatelet treatment at follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study documents the current status of antiplatelet treatment in primary and early secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in China. Further education of clinicians and the public about stroke prevention is important.</p>