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Paediatric brain infections are relatively uncommon, but it is important for radiologists to recognise the disease and provide accurate differential diagnoses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in determining the most likely causative pathogen-either in the setting of an unwell child with acute infectious encephalitis, or in the evaluation of a child for sequela of prior infection. Image analysis can, however, be difficult since a particular pathogen can cause variable MRI findings across different geographic environments, and conversely, a particular appearance on MRI may be caused by a variety of pathogens. This educational review aims to identify some of the key MRI patterns seen in paediatric brain infections and present example cases encountered in Western Australia. Based on (i) the predominant type of signal abnormality (restricted diffusion versus T2 hyperintensity) and (ii) the distribution of signal abnormality throughout the brain, this review presents a framework of six key MRI patterns seen in paediatric brain infections, with an emphasis on acute infectious encephalitis. There is general utility to these MRI patterns-each suggestive of a group of likely diagnostic possibilities which can be calibrated according to institution and local environment. The pattern-based framework of this review can be easily transitioned into daily radiological practice, and we hope it facilitates the formation of accurate differential diagnoses in paediatric brain infections., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The extensive chemical investigation on the branches and leaves of Terminalia chebula var. tomentella (Combretaceae) led to the isolation of two new lignan glucosides with a furofuran skeleton, termitomenins F (1) and G (2). In addition, 19 known compounds including five lignan glucosides (3-7), six hydrolyzable tannins (8-13) and eight simple phenolics (14-21) were also identified. Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. It is noted that 8 and 9 were C-glycosidic hydrolyzable tannins with one hexahydroxydiphenoyl and one gallagyl group linked to an open-chain glucosyl C-1/O-2/O-3 and O-4/O-6, respectively, which were rarely found in plants. Nine known compounds, 6-9, 13, and 18-21, were procured from the titled plant for the first time, while 3-5, 10-12 and 14-17 were also found in the fruits. Notably, the known hydrolyzable tannins 8-13 exhibited stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC 50 values ranging from 0.10 to 3.12 μM, than the positive control, quercetin (IC 50  = 9.38 ± 0.33 μM)., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Depression is a common serious mental disorder with unclear pathogenesis. Currently, specific diagnostic biomarkers are yet to be characterized. The close homolog of L1 (CHL1) is a L1 family cell adhesion molecule involved in the regulation of neuronal survival and growth. Although genome-wide expression profiling of human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) reported neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) L1 as a tentative biomarker for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant response, the involvement of CHL1 in depression is unclear. In this study, using a well-established chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression mouse model, we examined the mRNA and protein expression of CHL1 in normal control, CUMS, vehicle (VEH), fluoxetine (FLU), and clozapine (CLO) groups. We found that in the CUMS group, both mRNA and protein expression of CHL1 were downregulated in both the hippocampus and the cortex. Treatment of CUMS mice with FLU and CLO reversed CHL1 mRNA and protein expression. In the human study, we showed that CHL1 expression was significantly downregulated in monocytes of unipolar and bipolar depressive patients compared with healthy donors (HD) at both mRNA and protein levels. Consistently, ELISA showed that CHL1 levels in the serum of patients with depression were reduced and negatively correlated with their HRSD-21 scores. Further flow cytometry studies showed that the reduced number of CHL1 positive CD19 + and CD20 + B cells of patients with depression was subsequently reversed with antidepressant treatment. Our findings suggested that downregulation of CHL1 from both immune cells and the brain may be linked to the immunopathogenesis of depression. In conclusion, CHL1 may be an important predictive marker for both diagnosis and treatment outcome of depression.

Depression is a worldwide problem with a great social and economic burden in many countries. In our previous research, we found that the expression of proBDNF/p75NTR/sortilin is upregulated in patients with major depressive disorder. In addition, the treatment of proBDNF antibodies reversed both the depressive behaviors and the reduced BDNF mRNA detected in our rodent chronic stress models. Antidepressant drugs are usually only effective in a subpopulation of patients with major depression with a delayed time window of 2-4 weeks to exert their efficacy. The mechanism underlying such delayed response is not known. In this study, we hypothesize that antidepressant drugs exert their therapeutic effect by modulating proBDNF/p75NTR and mature BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways. To test the hypothesis, C57 mice were randomly divided into normal control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), vehicle (VEH), fluoxetine (FLU), and clozapine (CLO) groups. Behavioral tests (sucrose preference, open field, and tail suspension tests) were performed before and after 4 weeks of CUMS. The gene and protein expression of proBDNF, the neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), sortilin, and TrkB in the cortex and hippocampus were examined. At the protein level, CUMS induced a significant increase in proBDNF, p75NTR, and sortilin production while the TrkB protein level was found to be lower in the cortex and hippocampus compared with the control group. Consistently, at the mRNA level, p75NTR expression increased with reduced BDNF/TrkB mRNA in both cortex and hippocampus, while sortilin increased only in the hippocampus after CUMS. FLU and CLO treatments of CUMS mice reversed all protein and mRNA expression of the biomarkers in both cortex and hippocampus, except for sortilin mRNA in the cortex and proBDNF in the hippocampus, respectively. This study further confirms that the imbalance between proBDNF/p75NTR/sortilin and mBDNF/TrkB production is important in the pathogenesis of depression. It is likely that antidepressant FLU and antipsychotic CLO exert their antidepressant-like effect correcting the imbalance between proBDNF/p75NTR/sortilin and mBDNF/TrkB.

Terminalia Linn, a genus of mostly medium or large trees in the family Combretaceae with about 250 species in the world, is distributed mainly in southern Asia, Himalayas, Madagascar, Australia, and the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. Many species are used widely in many traditional medicinal systems, e.g., traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine practices. So far, about 39 species have been phytochemically studied, which led to the identification of 368 compounds, including terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, simple phenolics and so on. Some of the isolates showed various bioactivities, in vitro or in vivo, such as antitumor, anti HIV-1, antifungal, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant, diarrhea and analgesic. This review covers research articles from 1934 to 2018, retrieved from SciFinder, Wikipedia, Google Scholar, Chinese Knowledge Network and Baidu Scholar by using "Terminalia" as the search term ("all fields") with no specific time frame setting for the search. Thirty-nine important medicinal and edible Terminalia species were selected and summarized on their geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry and related pharmacological activities.

Four new protopanaxatriol-type triterpenes (1-2) and glucosides (3-4), were isolated from the rot roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) Chen, along with four known ones (5-8). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis (HRESIMS, NMR, UV, IR, and OR) and acidic hydrolysis. The possible transformation pathway of these compounds were also speculated from ginsenoside Rg 1 . Compound 1, with a unique α,β-unsaturated ketene in its side chain, showed significant inhibitory effects against NO production on Murine macrophage cells (IC 50  = 4.12 ± 0.20 μM) and comparable cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (myeloid leukemia HL-60, lung cancer A-549 cells, hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC7721, breast cancer MCF-7, and colon cancer SW480) to positive control, cisplatin (DDP).

Panax notoginseng (Araliaceae) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine mainly cultivated in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China. Two new alkaloids, rigidiusculamide E (1) and [-(α-oxyisohexanoyl-N-methyl-leucyl) 2 -] (2), together with two known ones, (-)-oxysporidinone (3) and (-)-4,6'-anhydrooxysporidinone (4) were isolated from the mycelia culture of Fusarium tricinctum SYPF 7082, an endophytic fungus obtained from the healthy root of P. notoginseng. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their inhibitory effects against NO production on Murine macrophage cell line, and the new compound 2 showed significant inhibitory activity on NO production with the IC 50 value of 18.10 ± 0.16 μM.

Panax, a genus of the Araliaceae family, is an important herbal group in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Nine species and three varieties are included in the genus of Panax, in which nearly all species have been used for medicinal purposes. Among them, Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer and Panax quinquefolius L. are the most representative and valuable herbs world-wide, with a long history of cultivation. As the main bioactive chemical constituents, saponins with different aglycones are the major components in various Panax spp., and their pharmacological activities are mainly reflected in the effects on blood system, cardio- and cerebro-vascular systems, nervous system, metabolism, and immune regulation. Researchers of Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), have put many efforts into conducting the investigations on Panax species. Herein, we reviewed the research progress on Panax spp. in KIB, CAS, over the past few decades, from the aspects of history and origin, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities.

Twelve indolyl diketopiperazines 1-12 were isolated from the mycelia culture of Aspergillus penicilliodes Speg., a dominant microorganism from the post fermentation process of ripe Pu-er tea. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. Among them, trypostatins C (1) and D (2) featuring with a rare methyl vinyl ketone side chain at C-2 are new compounds, while 3 and 4 were obtained for the first time from nature source. The isolates 3-12 did not show obvious cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines at a concentration of 40 μM.

Although TiO 2 was formerly a common material for photocatalysis reactions, its wide band gap (3.2 eV) results in absorbing only ultraviolet light, which accounts for merely 4% of total sunlight. Modifying TiO 2 has become a focus of photocatalysis reaction research, and combining two metal oxide semiconductors is the most common method in the photocatalytic enhancement process. When MoO 3 and TiO 2 come into contact to form a heterogeneous interface, the photogenerated holes excited from the valence band of MoO 3 should be transferred to the valence band of TiO 2 to effectively reduce the charge recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This can efficiently separate the pairs and promote photocatalysis efficiency. In addition, photocurrent enhancement is attributed to the strong near-field and light-scattering effects from plasmonic Ag nanoparticles. In this work, we fabricated MoO 3 -coated TiO 2 nanotube heterostructures with a 3D hierarchical configuration through two-step anodic oxidation and a facile hydrothermal method. This 3D hierarchical structure consists of a TiO 2 nanotube core and a MoO 3 shell (referred to as TNTs@MoO 3 ), as characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Foraging behavior is a species-specific behavior which is considered to involve the decision making and higher cognitive functions. We previously established a novel method to detect the foraging behavior in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression mice, in which the food foraging activity of mice was significantly reduced. Furthermore, it is generally assumed that the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is related to foraging activity in rat. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is widely expressed in many regions of the brain and is down-regulated in depressive patients. However, the relationship between the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) and depression has not been fully elucidated. The results showed that CUMS in mice induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and significant reduction in BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA) in the brain. In this study, we evaluated the effect of anti-BDNF and anti-proBDNF in the ACC on the CUMS-induced depression mice. In contrast to the normal IgG group (normal IgG microinjection into the ACC), bilateral ACC treatment with anti-proBDNF microinjection not only reversed depressive activity but also significantly increased the amount of foraged food and BDNF mRNA in the brain. There was no significant alteration in the group of anti-BDNF microinjection into the ACC. Our data indicate that the proBDNF signaling pathway might down-regulate the foraging activity in CUMS rodents and be involved in the depression.

Depression is one of the most common chronic mental disorders, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients. Depression often leads to offensive and defensive behaviours but the underlying mechanisms are not known. We propose that the aggressive behaviours in depression can be modelled in animal experiments. In this study, we successfully established a mouse model of depression using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) paradigm and detected aggressive and social dominance behaviours in rodents by resident/intruder test and social dominance tube test (SDTT), respectively. The CUMS-exposed mice showed increased defensive, offensive and aggressive behaviours in the resident-intruder test. In the SDTT, these mice showed enhanced social dominance. These alterations were associated with reduced MAP-2 expression in the hippocampus while no difference in β-tubulin expression was detected. In addition, the treatment of anti-depressant fluoxetine reversed the aggressive behaviours without reducing the social dominance behaviour induced by CUMS. However, fluoxetine did effectively reverted the changes in MAP-2 expression in the hippocampus. In addition, the nonspecific tricyclic antipsychotic drug, clozapine, reversed all symptoms of CUMS-exposed mice including aggressive tendencies, impulsive violence, social dominance behaviour and MAP-2 expression in the hippocampus. The results suggests that social maladjustment such as competition and social dominance are likely related to the dopaminergic system rather than the serotonergic system and the hippocampal dendritic structure protein MAP-2. Thus, dominance can be separated from aggression. This study shows that aggression/hostility and social hierarchy/dominance are increased in the CUMS-exposed mice and thus provide an excellent model for further study in the diagnosis and the treatment of depression-associated aggression.

"Long-Dan" and "Qin-Jiao" are two important TCM herbs since ancient times in China. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the dried roots and rhizomes of four species from the genus Gentiana, e.g. Gentiana manshurica, G. scabra, G. triflora and G. rigescens, are recorded under the name of Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma ("Long-Dan" in Chinese), while the other four species from the same genus including G. macrophylla, G. crassicaulis, G. straminea and G. duhurica are recorded and used as the raw materials of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix ("Qin-Jiao" in Chinese). On the basis of the establishment of a validated HPLC-UV method for quantifying simultaneously, five iridoid glycosides, e.g. loganic acid (1), swertiamarinin (2), gentiopicroside (3), sweroside (4) and 2'-(o,m-dihydroxybenzyl)sweroside (5) have been used successfully as chemical markers for the comparison of the species used as "Long-Dan", "Qin-Jiao" and their adulterants in the present study. The results suggested that four iridoid glycosides 1-4 commonly existed in both "Long-Dan" and "Qin-Jiao", while 2'-(o,m-dihydroxybenzyl)sweroside (5) also existed as one of the major components in "Dian-Long-Dan" species. Moreover, the contents of compounds 1-5 were various in different "Long-Dan" and "Qin-Jiao" species. Herein, we profiled and compared three "Long-Dan" species, four "Qin-Jiao" species and five adulterants by applying multivariate statistical techniques to their HPLC data sets to establish the differences and/or similarities.

Abstract: Two new highly oxygenated limonoids, flexuosoids A (1) and B (2), and three new arylnaphthalene lignan glycosides, phyllanthusmins D-F (3-5), were isolated from the roots of Phyllanthus flexuosus, in addition to three known lignans, phyllanthusmin C, arabelline, and (+)-diasyringaresinol. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compounds 1 and 2, two new decaoxygenated limonoids with a C-19/29 lactol bridge and heptaoxygenated substituents at C-1, C-2, C-3, C-7, C-11, C-17, and C-30, represent the second example of limonoids in the Euphorbiaceae family. Most of the isolates were tested for their antifeedant, anti-herpes simplex virus 1, and cytotoxic activities. The new limonoids 1 and 2 showed promising antifeedant activity against the beet army worm (Spodoptera exigua) with EC50 values of 25.1 and 17.3 μg/cm(2), respectively. In addition, both of them displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the ECA109 human esophagus cancer cell line, along with the known lignan glycoside, phyllanthusmin C, with the IC50 values of 11.5 (1), 8.5 (2), and 7.8 (phyllanthusmin C) μM, respectively., Graphical Abstract: Two new highly oxygenated limonoids, flexuosoids A (1) and B (2), and three new arylnaphthalene lignan glycosides, phyllanthusmins D-F (3-5), were isolated from the roots of Phyllanthus flexuosus, along with three known lignans. Flexuosoids A (1) and B (2) showed promising antifeedant activity against the beet army worm (Spodoptera exigua) with EC50 values of 25.1 and 17.3 μg/cm(2), respectively. In addition, both of them and the known lignan glycoside, phyllanthusmin C, displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the ECA109 human esophagus cancer cell line, with the IC50 values of 11.5, 8.5, and 7.8 μM, respectively.

Depression interferes with the human ability to make decisions. Multiple criteria have been adopted for the diagnosis of depression in humans, but no clear indicators are available in animal models to reflect the depressive mood, involving higher cognitive functions. The act of foraging is a species-specific behaviour which is believed to involve the decision-making and higher cognitive functions. We previously established a method to detect the foraging behaviour of rodents, in which our results demonstrated that NMDA and dopamine receptors were involved. Conversely, increased NMDA receptors and reduced dopamine have been reported in depression model rodents. However, we hypothesise that foraging activities may also be impaired in depression. To test the theory, we successfully established a mouse model of depression using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) paradigm. Most interestingly, the food foraging activity of mice after CUMS was significantly reduced. In addition, the treatment of anti-depressant fluoxetine reversed most depressive symptoms and reduced glial fibrillary associated protein (GFAP) expression in the hippocampus, but was less effective in the reduction of foraging activities. However, clozapine reversed all symptoms of CUMS-exposed mice including reduction of GFAP expression in the hippocampus and impaired foraging activity. Our findings of GFAP expression as a marker to validate the CUMS protocol provide further validation of our hypothesis, that the reduced food foraging is probably a new behavioural finding of depression in which the serotoninergic system could not be singly involved. Our study suggests that NMDA receptors, serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems are differentially involved in these food foraging behaviours. Our data suggest that the foraging test in rodents can be a useful tool to assess the ability of decision-making in depression.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is an established trend in surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the USA; however, RALP is still in its infancy in Taiwan. We have tracked various indicators of proficiency as a single Taiwanese surgeon became familiar with the procedure through experience with 30 initial RALP surgeries using the da Vinci system between December 2005 and April 2007. Here, we report the changes in these proficiency indicators, and the short-term outcomes for the patients. Thirty consecutive patients were classified into group 1 (cases 1-15) and group 2 (cases 16-30). Preoperative clinical characteristics, including age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists anesthetic surgical risks class (ASA), prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA), and Gleason scores were similar between the groups. The clinical stage (T1/T2) was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p = 0.028). Group 1 needed more frequent insertion of a double-J stent (60% versus 0%) before surgery and evaluation by cystogram before removal of urethral catheter (80% versus 6.7%) than group 2; these differences were statistically significant. Blood loss and transfusion rates were lower in group 2, but complication and conversion rates were higher in group 1. These differences were not statistically significant. Positive surgical margins, continence rates, potency, and intercourse rates at 12 months were similar between the groups. Console time was 262 min in group 1 and 190 min in group 2 (p = 0.033); this appeared to be the best indicator of proficiency. Establishing proficiency as determined by functional outcomes required about 30 cases, but the positive surgical margin rates indicate that experience with more than 30 cases was needed to ascend the learning curve with respect to oncological outcomes.

Robot-assisted surgery has been used widely in urological surgery since 2000. In Taiwan, robotic surgery started in 2004 and progress has been ongoing since this time. Herein we report a case of acute renal failure post robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. The patient received postoperative hemodialysis and intensive care. The renal function recovered to a serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dl 2 months after surgical intervention. The renal function was still normal and the PSA level was nadir after one-year follow-up. The outcome is encouraging from the point of view of oncology. To our knowledge, this is the first report of postoperative acute renal failure in robotic surgery.

Two new maltol glycosides, maltol 6'-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and maltol 6'-O-(5-O-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from Elsholtzia rugulosa Hemsl. along with 11 known compounds including prunasin and amygdalin. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. This is the second example of isolation of cyanogenic glycosides from Lamiaceous plants.