Human Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cell Xenografts Repair UV-Induced Photokeratitis in a Rat Model.

Most patients with a corneal injury are administered anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics, but no other treatments are currently available. Thus, the corneal injury healing is unsatisfactory, affects the vision, and has a risk of blindness in severe cases. Human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells exhibit pluripotent and anti-inflammatory properties and do not cause immunological rejection in the host. Rats were irradiated with type B ultraviolet (UVB) light to generate a stable animal model of photokeratitis. After irradiation-induced photokeratitis, human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells were implanted into the subconjunctival space of the lateral sclera, and the changes in the corneal pathology were evaluated. Three weeks after implantation, many mesenchymal stem cells were visible in the subconjunctival space. These mesenchymal stem cells effectively reduced the extent of injury to the adjacent corneal tissue. They accelerated the epithelial layer repair, reduced the inflammatory response and neovascularization, and improved the disorganization of collagen and fibronectin in the corneal stroma caused by the injury. In conclusion, xenografted human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells can survive in rat eye tissues for a long time, effectively support the structural integrity of injured corneal tissues, restore corneal permeability, and reduce abnormal neovascularization. This study provides a new approach to the treatment of photokeratitis.

Strike Velocity Prediction of Stick Blunt Instruments Based on Backpropagation Neural Network.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and predict the striking velocity range of stick blunt instruments in different populations, and to provide basic data for the biomechanical analysis of blunt force injuries in forensic identification. METHODS: Based on the Photron FASTCAM SA3 high-speed camera, Photron FASTCAM Viewer 4.0 and SPSS 26.0 software, the tester's maximum striking velocity of stick blunt instruments and related factors were calculated and analyzed, and inputed to the backpropagation (BP) neural network for training. The trained and verified BP neural network was used as the prediction model. RESULTS: A total of 180 cases were tested and 470 pieces of data were measured. The maximum striking velocity range was 11.30-35.99 m/s. Among them, there were 122 female data, the maximum striking velocity range was 11.63-29.14 m/s; there were 348 male data, the maximum striking velocity range was 20.11-35.99 m/s. The maximum striking velocity of stick blunt instruments increased with the increase of weight and height, but there was no obvious increase trend in the male group; the maximum striking velocity decreased with age, but there was no obvious downward trend in the female group. The maximum striking velocity of stick blunt instruments has no significant correlation with the material and strike posture. The root mean square error (RMSE), the mean absolute error (MAE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) of the prediction results by using BP neural network were 2.16, 1.63 and 0.92, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction model of BP neural network can meet the demand of predicting the maximum striking velocity of different populations.

Correlation of serum ferritin levels with neurological function-related indices and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral hemorrhage.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation of serum ferritin (FS) levels with neurological function-related indices, such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100ß protein levels, and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with acute non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage (cerebrovascular disease (VD), n = 128) and healthy controls (CON, n = 128) were included. FS, NSE, and S100ß levels were measured using ELISA. Cognitive functions were evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the ability of SE, NSE, and serum S100ß to predict the diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment in patients with VD was closely related to the increased levels of SE, NSE, and S100ß. There was a strong correlation between MoCA and MMSE scores and the levels of FS, NSE, and S100ß. The independent risk factors leading to cognitive impairment in cerebral hemorrhage mainly include family history of cerebrovascular disease, body mass index, hypertension, smoking frequency, and elevated levels of low-density lipoproteins, NSE, FS, and S100ß. CONCLUSION: NSE, FS, and S100ß can be used as important markers for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral hemorrhage.

Limonoids from the Seeds of a Hainan Mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum.

Ten new limonoids, hainangranatumins A-J (1-10), and 25 known compounds were isolated from seeds of a Chinese mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum, collected on Hainan Island. Hainangranatumins A-E (1-5) and I and J (9 and 10) are 9,10-seco-mexicanolides, whereas hainangranatumin F (6) is a limonoid possessing an 8α,30α-epoxy ring and a C1-C29 oxygen bridge. Hainangranatumin G (7) is a limonoid with a central pyridine ring, and hainangranatumin H (8) is a phragmalin 1,8,9-ortho ester. The relative configurations of hainangranatumins A and B were established by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and their absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of the specific rotation of the free acids obtained from alkaline hydrolysis. This is the first report of X-ray crystallographic structures of 9,10-seco-mexicanolides with a flexible C2-C30-C8 linkage. Hainangranatumins I and J (9 and 10), unusual 9,10-seco-mexicanolides with a C9-C30 linkage, are proposed to be artifacts derived from hainangranatumin C and xylomexicanin A, respectively.

Mexicanolides from the seeds of a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Two new mexicanolides, named xylomexicanolides A and B, were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis, together with four known limonoids, khayasin, angolensic acid methyl ester, khayasin T, and 2'S-methylbutanoylproceranolide. The structures of these limonoids were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. The (13)C-NMR data of khayasin were reported for the first time. Khayasin was found to exhibit marked insecticidal activity against the fifth instar larvae of Brontispa longissima (GESTRO) at a concentration of 10 mg/l.

Limonoids and tirucallane derivatives from the seeds of a krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Six new phragmalins, moluccensins H-M (1-6), two new andirobin-type limonoids, moluccensins N and O (7, 8), and two new tirucallane derivatives, moluccensins P and Q (9, 10), were isolated from seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis, together with the known compound 3beta,22S-dihydroxytirucalla-7,24-dien-23-one. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. Moluccensins H-L were phragmalins with a C-30 carbonyl group, and moluccensin M was a unique ring-D-opened 16-norphragmalin. Moluccensins H-J possess conjugated Delta(8,9) and Delta(14,15) double bonds, moluccensins K and L contain a Delta(8,14) double bond, and moluccensin M has a characteristic C(15)-C(30) linked five-membered lactone ring. Moluccensins H and I showed moderate insecticidal activity against the fifth instar larvae of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) at a concentration of 100 mg/L.

Granatumins A-G, limonoids from the seeds of a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum.

Seven new limonoids (1-7), named granatumins A-G, were isolated from seeds of an Indian mangrove (Xylocarpus granatum) collected from the wetlands of Krishna estuary, Andhra Pradesh. The known compounds khayasin T, tigloylseneganolide A, 6-deoxyswietenine, swietemahonolide, febrifugin A, gedunin, xylogranatinin, phaseic acid, (2R,3R)-3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone, and (E)-4-hydroxycinnamic acid were also isolated. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. Granatumins A and B are mexicanolides with endo-conjugated Delta(8,30) and Delta(14,15) double bonds, and granatumins F and G are polyhydroxylated phragmalins found previously in plants of the Meliaceae. Khayasin T exhibited moderate insecticidal activity against fifth instar larvae of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) at a concentration of 20 mg/L.

Moluccensins A-G, phragmalins with a conjugated C-30 carbonyl group from a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Seven new phragmalins with a C-30 carbonyl moiety, named moluccensins A-G (1-7), among which moluccensins A-F, possessing a Delta(8,14) double bond, and moluccensin G (7), containing conjugated Delta(8,9) and Delta(14,15) double bonds, were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and spectroscopic data. This is the first report of phragmalins with a conjugated C-30 carbonyl group.

Natural products from semi-mangrove flora: source, chemistry and bioactivities.

This review covers the source, chemistry and bioactivities of natural products from semi-mangrove species worldwide. The chemotaxonomy of semi-mangrove plants and total synthesis of heritol analogues, which are potential biocompatible pesticides, are discussed.1 Introduction, 2 Acanthaceae, 2.1 Acanthus, 2.1.1 Aliphatic glycosides, 2.1.2 Alkaloids, 2.1.3 Flavonoids, 2.1.4 Lignan glycosides, 2.1.5 Megastigmane and phenolic glycosides, 2.1.6 Phenylethanol glycosides, 2.1.7 Triterpenoids, 2.1.8 Miscellaneous, 2.1.9 Bioactivities, 3 Euphorbiaceae, 3.1 Excoecaria, 3.1.1 Diterpenoids, 3.1.2 Miscellaneous, 3.1.3 Bioactivities, 4 Lythraceae, 4.1 Pemphis acidula, 5 Sterculiaceae, 5.1 Heritiera littoralis, 5.1.1 Flavones, 5.1.2 Triterpenoids, 5.1.3 Benzene derivatives, 5.1.4 Sesquiterpenes, 5.1.5 Steroids, 6 Total syntheses of heritol and its analogues, 7 Chemotaxonomy and concluding remarks, 8 Acknowledgements 9 References.

Natural products from true mangrove flora: source, chemistry and bioactivities.

The mangrove flora is a diverse group of salt-tolerant plants growing in tropical and subtropical intertidal estuarine zones. This review summarizes the source, chemistry and bioactivities of natural products from true mangrove species worldwide. It includes 349 metabolites and 150 references. The molecular phylogeny and chemotaxonomy of true mangrove plants is discussed.