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Effective screening and early detection are critical to improve the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). Our study aims to explore noninvasive multianalytical biomarkers and construct integrative models for preliminary risk assessment and GC detection. Whole genomewide methylation marker discovery was conducted with CpG tandems target amplification (CTTA) in cfDNA from large asymptomatic screening participants in a high‐risk area of GC. The methylation and mutation candidates were validated simultaneously using one plasma from patients at various gastric lesion stages by multiplex profiling with Mutation Capsule Plus (MCP). Helicobacter pylori specific antibodies were detected with a recomLine assay. Integrated models were constructed and validated by the combination of multianalytical biomarkers. A total of 146 and 120 novel methylation markers were found in CpG islands and promoter regions across the genome with CTTA. The methylation markers together with the candidate mutations were validated with MCP and used to establish a 133‐methylation‐marker panel for risk assessment of suspicious precancerous lesions and GC cases and a 49‐methylation‐marker panel as well as a 144‐amplicon‐mutation panel for GC detection. An integrated model comprising both methylation and specific antibody panels performed better for risk assessment than a traditional model (AUC, 0.83 and 0.63, P <.001). A second model for GC detection integrating methylation and mutation panels also outperformed the traditional model (AUC, 0.82 and 0.68, P =.005). Our study established methylation, mutation and H. pylori‐specific antibody panels and constructed two integrated models for risk assessment and GC screening. Our findings provide new insights for a more precise GC screening strategy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Karat (Musa troglodytarum L.) is an autotriploid Fe'i banana of the Australimusa section. Karat was domesticated independently in the Pacific region, and karat fruit are characterized by a pink sap, a deep yellow-orange flesh colour, and an abundance of β-carotene. Karat fruit showed non-climacteric behaviour, with an approximately 215-day bunch filling time. These features make karat a valuable genetic resource for studying the mechanisms underlying fruit development and ripening and carotenoid biosynthesis. Results: Here, we report the genome of M. troglodytarum, which has a total length of 603 Mb and contains 37,577 predicted protein-coding genes. After divergence from the most recent common ancestors, M. troglodytarum (T genome) has experienced fusion of ancestral chromosomes 8 and 9 and multiple translocations and inversions, unlike the high synteny with few rearrangements found among M. schizocarpa (S genome), M. acuminata (A genome) and M. balbisiana (B genome). Genome microsynteny analysis showed that the triplication of MtSSUIIs due to chromosome rearrangement may lead to the accumulation of carotenoids and ABA in the fruit. The expression of duplicated MtCCD4s is repressed during ripening, leading to the accumulation of α-carotene, β-carotene and phytoene. Due to a long terminal repeat (LTR)-like fragment insertion upstream of MtERF11, karat cannot produce large amounts of ethylene but can produce ABA during ripening. These lead to non-climacteric behaviour and prolonged shelf-life, which contributes to an enrichment of carotenoids and riboflavin. Conclusions: The high-quality genome of M. troglodytarum revealed the genomic basis of non-climacteric behaviour and enrichment of carotenoids, riboflavin, flavonoids and free galactose and provides valuable resources for further research on banana domestication and breeding and the improvement of nutritional and bioactive qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Karat (Musa troglodytarum L.) is an autotriploid Fe'i banana of the Australimusa section. Karat was domesticated independently in the Pacific region, and karat fruit are characterized by a pink sap, a deep yellow-orange flesh colour, and an abundance of β-carotene. Karat fruit showed non-climacteric behaviour, with an approximately 215-day bunch filling time. These features make karat a valuable genetic resource for studying the mechanisms underlying fruit development and ripening and carotenoid biosynthesis. Results: Here, we report the genome of M. troglodytarum, which has a total length of 603 Mb and contains 37,577 predicted protein-coding genes. After divergence from the most recent common ancestors, M. troglodytarum (T genome) has experienced fusion of ancestral chromosomes 8 and 9 and multiple translocations and inversions, unlike the high synteny with few rearrangements found among M. schizocarpa (S genome), M. acuminata (A genome) and M. balbisiana (B genome). Genome microsynteny analysis showed that the triplication of MtSSUIIs due to chromosome rearrangement may lead to the accumulation of carotenoids and ABA in the fruit. The expression of duplicated MtCCD4s is repressed during ripening, leading to the accumulation of α-carotene, β-carotene and phytoene. Due to a long terminal repeat (LTR)-like fragment insertion upstream of MtERF11, karat cannot produce large amounts of ethylene but can produce ABA during ripening. These lead to non-climacteric behaviour and prolonged shelf-life, which contributes to an enrichment of carotenoids and riboflavin. Conclusions: The high-quality genome of M. troglodytarum revealed the genomic basis of non-climacteric behaviour and enrichment of carotenoids, riboflavin, flavonoids and free galactose and provides valuable resources for further research on banana domestication and breeding and the improvement of nutritional and bioactive qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous breast cancer subtype with a poor prognosis due to its extremely aggressive nature and lack of effective treatment options. This study aims to summarize the current hotspots of TNBC research and evaluate the TNBC research trends, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Methods: Scientific publications of TNBC-related studies from January 1, 2010 to October 17, 2020 were obtained from the Web of Science database. The BICOMB software was used to obtain the high-frequency keywords layout. The gCLUTO was used to produce a biclustering analysis on the binary matrix of word-paper. The co-occurrence and collaboration analysis between authors, countries, institutions, and keywords were performed by VOSviewer software. Keyword burst detection was performed by CiteSpace. Results: A total of 12,429 articles related to TNBC were identified. During 2010-2020, the most productive country/region and institution in TNBC field was the USA and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, respectively. Cancer Research, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Annals of Oncology were the first three periodicals with maximum publications in TNBC research. Eight research hotspots of TNBC were identified by co-word analysis. In the core hotspots, research on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, paclitaxel therapy, and molecular typing of TNBC is relatively mature. Research on immunotherapy and PARP inhibitor for TNBC is not yet mature but is the current focus of this field. Burst detection of keywords showed that studies on TNBC proteins and receptors, immunotherapy, target, and tumor cell migration showed bursts in recent three years. Conclusion: The current study revealed that TNBC studies are growing. Attention should be paid to the latest hotspots, such as immunotherapy, PARP inhibitors, target, and TNBC proteins and receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel diterpenes Enhoidin A (1) and Enhoidin B (2) featuring an unusual gibberellane skeleton were isolated from the stems and leaves of Enhalus acoroides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-ESI-MS. This is the first time that this type of lactone ring between C-18 and C-20 has been found among gibberellanes from the tropical seagrasses. Evaluation of the all compounds for cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116, HepG-2 and HeLa), and showed moderate cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neck pain is a common condition that leads to serious pain, disability, and increased healthcare costs worldwide. Pharmacotherapy is one of the most common strategies to reduce neck pain in patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the real-world pattern of drugs prescribed for patients with neck pain in the USA. Methods: Data on individuals who reported current neck pain in the 2009−2010 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and with a history of persistent pain for at least 6 weeks or 3 months were extracted from the NHANES database. Those included in the study were divided into three groups based on the duration of pain: the without neck pain group (Group A); subacute group (Group B) with a history of 6 weeks of neck pain; and the chronic neck pain group (Group C) with a history of 3 months of neck pain. The use and duration of medication prescribed for Group A, B, and C patients were compared. Results: The analysis revealed that opioid use was significantly more prevalent in the subacute and chronic neck pain group than in the without neck pain group (Group A) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.07–8.52 and aOR 7.00, 95% CI 4.32–11.33, respectively). The factors strongly associated with higher opioid use included older age, low education level, and low family income. In the chronic neck group, opioids, followed in decreasing order of frequency by acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-infammatory drugs, were the most common analgesics used in combination with other analgesics. Conclusion: Our analysis of the data shows that the long-term excessive use of opioids and the underutilization of other analgesics are two major issues in the treatment of neck pain in the USA. Possible improvements include improved education of patients by healthcare professionals on the use of opioids and more consideration given to non-pharmacotherapy options. Our results reveal the potential problem in pharmacotherapy choices for neck pain treatment and may help improve the current clinical practice in the USA and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients with diabetes mellitus are prone to develop osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, the presence of these complications in those with diabetes may lead to higher mortality. The aim of our study was to assess characteristics and mortality of osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, or rheumatoid arthritis in individuals with diabetes. Methods. We analyzed osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, and RA deaths associated with diabetes from 1999–2017 using the CDC WONDER system (CDC WONDER; https://wonder.cdc.gov). We used ICD-10 codes to categorize the underlying and contributing causes of death. Crude mortality rates (CMR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 1,000,000 person-years were calculated. Results. The AAMR for osteoporosis in the population with diabetes was significantly higher in females (AAMR: 4.17, 95% CI: 4.10–4.24) than in males (AAMR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07–1.16). Deaths due to osteoporosis increased gradually from 1999, peaked in 2003 (AAMR: 3.78, 95% CI: 3.55–4.00), and reached a nadir in 2016 (AAMR: 2.32, 95% CI: 2.15–2.48). The AAMR for RA associated with diabetes was slightly higher in females (AAMR: 4.04, 95% CI: 3.98–4.11) than in males (AAMR: 2.45, 95% CI: 2.39–2.51). The mortality rate due to RA increased slightly from 1999 (AAMR: 3.18, 95% CI: 2.97–3.39) to 2017 (AAMR: 3.20, 95% CI: 3.02–3.38). The AAMR for osteomyelitis associated with diabetes was higher in males (AAMR: 4.36, 95% CI: 4.28–4.44) than in females (AAMR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.26–2.36). From 1999 to 2017, the AAMR from osteomyelitis in this population was 2.63 (95% CI: 2.44–2.82) per 1,000,000 person-years in 1999 and 4.25 (95% CI: 4.05–4.46) per 1,000,000 person-years in 2017. Conclusions. We found an increase in the age-adjusted mortality rates of RA and osteomyelitis and a decrease of osteoporosis associated with diabetes from 1999 to 2017. We suggest that increased attention should therefore be given to these diseases in the population with diabetes, especially in efforts to develop preventative and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Monte Carlo (MC) method for time-resolved light scattering from multilayered turbid media (SMCML) has been developed. This method is particularly suitable for simulating light backscattering from layered media and receiving the time-resolved signal in a finite sensor area, such as ocean detection, photomedicine and photobiology. The classical semi-analytical MC method requires the scattering events to be located in a single-layer medium. To address the multilayer problem, the energy loss mechanism of photons propagating in tissue was analyzed in this study. According to the energy contribution to the detector, only photons that contribute significantly were considered. Simulations were conducted for stochastic turbid media with different optical parameters. Temporal profiles of the echo signal were obtained with a satisfactory convergence. Compared to the classical MC method, the SMCML method can dramatically reduce the computation time by more than two orders of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Centenarians refer to a special group who have outlived most of their fellows. Body shape and abdominal obesity have been identified as cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and CVD risk factors among male and female centenarians in Hainan province.Methods: Five hundred thirty-seven centenarians aged between 100 and 115 (Mage = 107 years old) years participated in this study. Each participant received a standardized questionnaire and physical examination. We measured anthropometric variables (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, SBP and DBP) and serum lipid (TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C).Results: 76.9% (n = 413) of the study subjects were female. TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were significantly higher in female group than that of male group. BMI, WC and WHtR were well-correlated with the CVD risk factors. The anthropometric measures were negatively related with HDL-C levels and positively related with the other CVD risk factors.Conclusions: Hainan centenarians were short in stature and underweight. Moreover, female centenarians were often pear-shaped, while male centenarians were often apple-shaped. Further, BMI, WC and WHtR were well-correlated with the serum lipid, and TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were significantly higher in females than males. Also, BMI, WC and WHtR were closely related to the incidence of dyslipidemia in females, including high TG, high LDL-C and low HDL-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vanadium(V) complex, [VO(tpy)]ClO ( 1, tpy = 2,2′:6′2″-terpyridine), was synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods, as well as by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 has a five-coordinate distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The in vitro cytotoxicity of complex 1 was evaluated against cell lines of liver hepatocellular carcinoma HepG-2, cervical cancer HeLa, lung carcinoma A549, osteoma sarcomatosum HOS, hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 and normal human hepatic cells LO2 by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. The complex displays excellent antitumor activity against the selected cell lines compared with cisplatin and also exhibits lower cytotoxicity toward LO2 cells. Morphological and staining experiments demonstrated that complex 1 induces BEL-7402 cell apoptosis mediated through reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, cell cycle distribution investigations showed that complex 1 inhibits cell growth at the G0/G1 phase. Graphical abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a continuing effort to develop multitargeted compounds as potential treatment agents against Alzheimer's disease (AD), a series of donepezil-like compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated.In vitrostudies showed that most of the designed compounds displayed potent inhibitory activities toward AChE, BuChE, MAO-B and MAO-A. Among them,w18was a promising agent with balanced activities, which exhibited a moderate cholinesterase inhibition (IC50, 0.220 μM for eeAChE; 1.23 μM for eqBuChE; 0.454 μM for hAChE) and an acceptable inhibitory activity against monoamine oxidases (IC50, 3.14 μM for MAO-B; 13.4 μM for MAO-A). Moreover,w18could also be a metal-chelator, and able to cross the blood–brain barrier with low cell toxicity on PC12 cells. Taken together, these results suggested thatw18might be a promising multitargeted compound for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two new indole alkaloid derivatives ( 1, 2), together with six known indole alkaloids ( 3 - 8) were isolated from the 70% EtOH/H2O extract of the stem of Nauclea officinalis. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive analyses of spectroscopic data ( IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR). All the isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities on lipopolysaccharide ( LPS)-induced nitric oxide ( NO) production in RAW 264.7, and all the compounds showed significant inhibitory activities with the IC50 values of 0.82, 6.45, 9.75, 1.34, 3.40, 2.69, 1.58, and 1.96 μ m, compared to the positive drug control group aminoguanidine with an IC50 value of 1.80 μ m, especially compound 1 had the most significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of heart failure and could increase death, hospitalization, and rehospitalization rate. The effect of conventional medicine treatment (CMT) is limited; meanwhile, the combination of CMT and Oral Chinese Herbal Medicine (OCHM) represents exciting adjunctive therapies. In this study, we ascertained the therapeutic effect of OCHM in combination with CMT for dilated cardiomyopathy by using meta-analysis methods for controlled clinical trials. We searched studies from five databases and extracted data from these studies. We also assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. We evaluated the following outcome measures to estimate the prognosis in patients with DCM: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), stroke volume (SV), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and overall efficacy. The result showed that OCHM combined with CMT for the improvement of therapeutic effect in DCM patients. However, the evidence remains weak due to the small sample size, high clinical heterogeneity, and poor methodological quality of the included trials. Further, large sample size and well-designed trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine formyl-phloroglucinolmeroterpenoids (FPMs), namely, eucalrobusones A-I ( 1- 9), were isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus robusta by tracking the phenolic hydroxyl 1H NMR peaks. The Snatzke helicity rules for the Cotton effects of twisted benzene rings were applied to elucidate the absolute configurations of the FPMs. These findings, along with NMR spectroscopy, the circular dichroism (CD) exciton chirality method, and CD calculations, allowed complete structures for the FPMs to be assigned. Eucalrobusones A-F ( 1- 6) are novel adducts formed between a formyl-derived carbon atom on the phloroglucinol ring and monoterpene and sesquiterpene components. Eucalrobusones G-I ( 7- 9) are the first examples of FPMs with cubebane part structures connected by an unusual 1-oxaspiro[5.5]undecane subunit. Among these isolates, eucalrobusone C ( 3) showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2, MCF-7, and U2OS cancer cell lines, with IC50 values less than 10 μ m. Compound 3 significantly blocks cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells and induces MCF-7 cell death through apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Atrial metabolic remodelling is critical for the process of atrial fibrillation (AF). The PPAR-α/sirtuin 1 /PPAR co-activator α (PGC-1α) pathway plays an important role in maintaining energy metabolism. However, the effect of the PPAR-α agonist fenofibrate on AF is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of fenofibrate on atrial metabolic remodelling in AF and explore its possible mechanisms of action.Experimental Approach: The expression of metabolic proteins was examined in the left atria of AF patients. Thirty-two rabbits were divided into sham, AF (pacing with 600 beats·min(-1) for 1 week), fenofibrate treated (pretreated with fenofibrate before pacing) and fenofibrate alone treated (for 2 weeks) groups. HL-1 cells were subjected to rapid pacing in the presence or absence of fenofibrate, the PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 or sirtuin 1-specific inhibitor EX527. Metabolic factors, circulating biochemical metabolites, atrial electrophysiology, adenine nucleotide levels and accumulation of glycogen and lipid droplets were assessed.Key Results: The PPAR-α/sirtuin 1/PGC-1α pathway was significantly inhibited in AF patients and in the rabbit/HL-1 cell models, resulting in a reduction of key downstream metabolic factors; this effect was significantly restored by fenofibrate. Fenofibrate prevented the alterations in circulating biochemical metabolites, reduced the level of adenine nucleotides and accumulation of glycogen and lipid droplets, reversed the shortened atrial effective refractory period and increased risk of AF.Conclusion and Implications: Fenofibrate inhibited atrial metabolic remodelling in AF by regulating the PPAR-α/sirtuin 1/PGC-1α pathway. The present study may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) combined with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), for treatment of acute myocardial ischaemia. Materials and methods: After ligation of the left anterior descending artery, rabbits were divided into a Control group, a Factors group (HGF+IGF-1), a BMSC group and a Factors+BMSCs group. Allogenous BMSCs (1 × 107) and/or control-released microspheres of 2 μg HGF+2 μg IGF-1 were intramyocardially injected into infarcted regions. Apoptosis and differentiation of implanted BMSCs, histological and morphological results, and cardiac remodelling and function were evaluated at different time points. In vitro, BMSCs were exposed to HGF, IGF-1 and both (50 ng/ml) and subsequently proliferation, migration, myocardial differentiation and apoptosis induced by hypoxia, were analysed. Results: Four weeks post-operatively, the above indices were significantly improved in Factors+ BMSCs group compared to the others (P < 0.01), although Factors and BMSCs group also showed better results than Control group (P < 0.05). In vitro, HGF promoted BMSC migration and differentiation into cardiomyocytes, but inhibited proliferation (P < 0.05), while IGF-1 increased proliferation and migration, and inhibited apoptosis induced by hypoxia (P < 0.05), but did not induce myocardial differentiation. Combination of HGF and IGF-1 significantly promoted BMSCs capacity for migration, differentiation and lack of apoptosis (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Combination of HGF and IGF-1 activated BMSCs complementarily, and controlled release of the two factors promoted protective potential of transplanted BMSCs to repair infarcted myocardium. This suggests a new strategy for cell therapies to overcome acute ischemic myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involudispirones A (1) and B (2), a pair of cytotoxic sesterterpene stereoisomers containing a 1,2-dioxadispiro[ 5.2.5.2]hexadecane ring, were isolated from the rhizomes of Stahlianthus involucratus. Their structures and absolute configurations were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical conversion. Both 1 and 2 are cytotoxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involucratustones A-C ( 1- 3), three cadinane dimers containing multiple contiguous quaternary carbons, were isolated from the rhizomes of Stahlianthus involucratus. Their structures were determined by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, chemical conversion, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 are rearranged homodimers of cadinane sesquiterpene fused with a unique fully substituted 1-oxaspiro[4.4]nonane core observed for the first time in natural products, and 3 is a novel 3′,4′- seco-cadinane-dimer. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent cytotoxic activities, and 3 showed notable anti-inflammatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a mild and practical protocol for the synthesis of 1,4-enedione from α-halo ketones through a sodium sulfinate mediated reaction. This reaction enables the construction of symmetric and unsymmetric 1,4-enedione with complete E selectivity. Sodium 4-toluenesulfinate plays an important role in this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophage inhibitory factor 1 ( MIC1) is frequently altered in various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of MIC1 for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC). Serum MIC1 of 286 ESCC and 250 healthy subjects was detected, the diagnostic performance was assessed and compared with SCC, CEA, CA199 and CA724, and the value as a prognostic indicator was also evaluated. The expression of MIC1 in ESCC cell lines, tissues were detected, and the inhibition of MIC1 antibody on ESCC was carried out in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the serum MIC1 of ESCC was significantly higher than normal groups ( P < 0.001), and was positively associated with tumor invasion ( P = 0.030) as well as lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.007). The sensitivity of MIC1 was significantly better than SCC, CEA, CA199 and CA724, especially for stage I ESCC. Patients with higher serum MIC1 also had a poorer prognosis in relapse-free ( P = 0.050) and tumor-specific survival ( P = 0.005). In vitro studies showed that the expression of MIC1 was upregulated in 37.5% (3/8) ESCC cell lines and 45% (18/40) tissues, and the transcription of MIC1 in tumor tissues was significantly higher than paired adjacent normal tissues ( P = 0.001). The antibody of MIC1 inhibited the tumor growth ( P < 0.001), and showing preference for tumor tissues in xenograft model. The decreased formation of neovascularization lumen may be involved in the mechanism. We conclude that MIC1 plays an important role in the progression of ESCC and can serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the leaves and twigs ofPsychotria henryi, a new dimeric indole alkaloid, named psychohenin, was isolated, whose structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of psychohenin was determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study using a mirror Cu Kα radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This retrospective study assessed the efficacy of infliximab therapy in 14 patients with dermatomyositis with acute interstitial pneumonia. Ten patients starting treatment at an early stage of the disease achieved satisfactory relief, while four patients treated at a late stage failed to respond to the treatment and died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]