Field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behaviours in binuclear cobalt(II) metallocycles and exchange-coupled clusters.

Precise control of the structures and magnetic properties of a molecular material constitutes an important challenge to realize tailor-made magnetic function. Herein, we report that the ligand-directed coordination self-assembly of a dianionic cobalt(II) mononuclear complex and selective organic linkers has led to two distinct dicobalt(II) complexes, [Co2(pdms)2(bpym)3]·2MeCN (1) and [Co(pdms)(bipm)]2·3DMF (2) (H2pdms = 1,2-bis(methanesulfonamide)benzene; bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine; bimp = 1,4-bis[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzene). Structural analyses revealed that complexes 1 and 2 are discrete binuclear molecules containing two neutral {Co(pdms)} species bridged by bpym and bimp ligands, respectively, forming an exchange-coupled CoII2 dimer and a rare CoII2 metallocycle. Magnetic studies found that 1 exhibits considerable antiferromagnetic interactions transferred by the bpym bridge while negligible magnetic interactions in 2 due to the long bimp ligands. Interestingly, both the complexes show significant magnetic anisotropy and thus exhibit slow magnetic relaxation under an external dc field originating from spin-lattice relaxation. Detailed theoretical calculations were further applied to understand the magnetic interactions and magnetic anisotropy in 1 and 2. The foregoing results highlight that coordination solids with programmed structures and magnetic properties can be designed and prepared through a judicious selection of molecular complex building blocks and organic linkers.

An Efficacy and Feasibility Analysis of Chinese Patent Medicine Combined With Letrozole in the Treatment of Women With Ovulation Disorders: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of various listed Chinese patent medicines combined with letrozole in the treatment of ovulation disorders using network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP Information databases up to June 2020. Randomized controlled trials reporting Chinese patent medicine combined with letrozole for ovulation disorders were included. The Stata 13 and WinBUGS1.43 software were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 24 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 2,318 patients. The results showed that when compared with patients using only letrozole, the ovulation rate was higher in patients using letrozole combined with Kuntai capsules, Fuke Zaizao capsules, Fufang Xuanju capsules, or Dingkun Dan, and Fufan Xuanju capsules showed the greatest improvement; the pregnancy rate was higher in patients using letrozole combined with Kuntai capsules, Fuke Zaizao capsules, or Dingkun Dan; and the endometrial thickness on the day of follicular maturity was greater in patients using letrozole combined with Kuntai capsules, Fuke Zaizao capsules, Fufang Xuanju capsules, Bailing capsules, or Dingkun Dan. In terms of the sequencing of NMA results, Fufang Xuanju capsules combined with letrozole gave the best results in improving the ovulation rate and increasing the endometrial thickness, while Dingkun Dan combined with letrozole achieved the best results for improving the pregnancy rate. Conclusion: Letrozole combined with Chinese patent medicine is more effective than letrozole alone in the treatment of ovulation disorders. Fufang Xuanju capsules is good at improving the ovulation rate and increasing the endometrial thickness. Dingkun Dan is good at improving the pregnancy rate. The appropriate choice of treatment should be made according to the actual clinical situation. This study is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42020200603).

Conversion to resectability using transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alternating with mFOLFOX6 in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and about 25% of colorectal cancer patients present with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) even at new diagnosis. The study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alternating with mFOLFOX6 in Chinese patients with unresectable CRCLM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, by combining the systemic and regional treatment, the resectability rate, overall survival, and progression-free survival were measured with addition of TACE. Included patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2. Sixty-two patients received mFOLFOX6 plus one TACE after 2 weeks of chemotherapy; after 2 weeks, the next periodical treatment repeated. Patients received operation when the liver metastases were converted to resectability or severe tumor-associated complications occurred. RESULTS: We found that 28 patients (45.2%) patients received operation after the treatment of TACE combined with systemic chemotherapy. The median time from initial treatment to the operation was 6 months. The median follow-up period was 41 months in all the patients. The 3-year survival rate of resected patients and unresected patients was 54% and 17%, respectively. Post-TACE syndrome was the major adverse reaction (81%). Other adverse reactions were neutropenia, nausea, and neurotoxicity. No patient died of the adverse reactions. The resection rate was related to hepatic segments and vasculature involvement. CONCLUSION: Taken together, TACE alternating with mFOLFOX6 has been proved to be safe and effective for CRCLM treatment to improve resection rate and prolong the survival time.

Effect of Xianziyizhen Recipe Capsule on PGI2-PPARδ Signaling Pathway in Embryo Implantation Dysfunction Mice.

PROBLEM: We investigated the effect of Xianziyizhen recipe capsule (XRC), a kidney-tonifying herb, on the PGI2-PPARδ signaling pathway at the maternal-fetal interface in embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) mice. METHOD OF STUDY: Intragastric administration of Progynova (estradiol) or XRC was performed in EID mouse model, following experimental induction of kidney deficiency by co-treatment with chemotherapy drug hydroxyurea and antiprogesterone mifepristone. The PPARδ and IL-11 mRNA expression in endometrium were detected by real-time relative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Further, the protein expression of COX-2, PGI2, MMP-9, and TIMP-3 was detected in endometrial glandular epithelium and in stromal cells by immunohistochemical (IHC) assay. RESULTS: The results showed that hydroxyurea and mifepristone-induced EID were associated with significantly lower PPARδ and IL-11 mRNA levels in endometrium and reduced COX-2, PGI2, MMP-9, and TIMP-3 levels in endometrial glandular epithelium, compared with normal controls. However, XRC and Progynova treatment reversed these effects, leading to significant increases in PPARδ and IL-11 mRNA expression, and COX-2, PGI2, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 protein levels, when compared with the levels observed in EID mice. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggested that XRC is beneficial in EID treatment and that XRC may mediate its effects through regulation of the PGI2-PPARδ signaling pathway.

Staurosporine induced apoptosis rapidly downregulates TDP- 43 in glioma cells.

TDP-43 is a ubiquitously expressed DNA/RNA binding protein that has recently attracted attention for its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 has been found to participate in various important cellular activities including stress and apoptosis, little is known about its role in cancer cells. Here we report that staurosporine (STS) induced apoptosis in U87 glioma cells is associated with rapid downregulation of TDP-43 at both mRNA and protein levels. The latter is dependent on activation of caspase 3. More importantly, we have shown that knockdown of TDP-43 by specific siRNA dramatically enhanced cytotoxicity of STS. These results suggest that normal level of TDP-43 may be protective for cancer cells under apoptotic insult.

[Orthogonal test for preparing genipin with enzymolyzed geniposide].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the process for preparing genipin with enzymolyzed geniposide by an orthogonal experiment. METHOD: The optimal enzymolysis process was selected by an orthogonal experiment, with the concentration of geniposide as the index as well as enzyme quantity, pH of enzymolysis solution, enzymolysis time and enzymolysis temperature as considerations. RESULT: The optimal hydrolysis conditions were as follow: rough genipin samples at the concentration of 40 g x L(-1) were selected and shook on a table concentrator at a speed of 100 r x min(-1), added with beta-glucosidase-geniposide 1 : 1 (weight proportion), with pH of enzymolysis solution at 4.5, hydrolyzation temperature at 50 degrees C, the conversion rate of genipin could reach 85.8%. CONCLUSION: The process is so stable and feasible that it can provide theoretical basis for the preparation of genipin with enzymolyzed geniposide.

[Association of gene polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XPD with risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

This study was aimed to explore the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisms of XPD (G23591A, A35931C) and individual susceptibility to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) in Shandong populations. XPD gene polymorphism in 309 cases of NHL and 305 healthy controls were detected using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay in a case-control molecular epidemiology study. The association between gene polymorphism and the risk of NHL were examined through comparing odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between two groups. The results showed that no significant association between the XPD (G23591A, A35931C) polymorphism and the risk of whole NHL was shown at first. In the further analysis, all NHL cases were divided into four groups: follicular lymphoma (FL) group, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) group, T-cell lymphoma group and other B-cell lymphoma group. Frequencies of XPD 23591GA + AA genotypes were 16.3%, 18.0%, 10.5% and 18.4% in each subgroup respectively, while 12.5% in control. Individuals carrying GA + AA genotype had 1.43, 1.58, 0.89 and 1.50-fold risk of NHL sub groups as much as GG genotype, but no statistically significant difference between subgroups and control was found (p>0.05); frequencies of XPD 35931AC + CC genotypes were 15.2%, 15.8%, 18.4% and 12.5% in each subgroup, while 11.5% in control. Individuals carrying AC + CC genotype had 1.41, 1.48, 1.75 and 1.12-fold risk of NHL subgroup as much as AA genotype, but there were also no statistically significant difference between each subgroup and control (p>0.05). It is concluded that the gene polymorphism of XPD (G23591A, G935931C) does not associate with the risk of developing NHL in Shandong populations.

[Aspirin resistance in patients taking small dose of aspirin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenomenon and influencing factors of aspirin resistance (AR) in patients taking small dose of aspirin. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-eight patients with stable cardiac and cerebral vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, et al taking aspirin 100 mg/d for > or =14 days, and then their blood samples were collected for determination of optical platelet aggregation index using arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). AR was defined as a state in which aggregation of > or =20% with AA and that > or =70% with ADP was found. Aspirin semi-resistance (ASR) was defined as meeting one of the above criteria. If both above criteria were not met, the condition was defined as aspirin sensitive. The difference in clinical characteristics among the groups and independent risk factors associated with AR and ASR were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 328 patients, 4.9% were AR, 27.4% were ASR. Among AR+ASR group, female, elderly, diabetic and hypertensive patients were predominant, but less common in smokers. Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor of AR and ASR [odds ratio (OR)=0.953, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.323-0.876, P=0.013], and hypertension was independently associated with AR and ASR (OR=0.610, 95%CI 0.376-0.991, P=0.046). The risk of AR and ASR was increased in non-smokers (OR=2.231, 95%CI 1.182-4.210, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of AR in patients taking small dose of aspirin was 4.9%. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are relative risk factors of AR and ASR. The risk of AR and ASR in the no-smoking patients is increased.