Search

Marine natural products are promising sources of green antifoulants. Here, a new compound (1) was isolated from the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. This compound, another nine cembranoids (2–10) from S. flexibilis, and three eunicellin-type diterpenoids (11–13) from the gorgonian Muricella sp. were tested for antifouling activity against larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Compounds 2, 3, 4, 9, 12, and 13 exhibited significant antifouling activity, with EC50 values of 18.2, 99.7, 67.9, 35.6, 33.9, and 49.3 μM, respectively. Analysis of the structure-activity relationships suggested that the hydroxy group at C-13 in compound 4 reduced its antifouling activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To prospectively investigate the predictive value of initial intracranial pressure (ICP) for refractory intracranial hypertension and outcomes in persons with diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 107 adult persons with diffuse TBI (Marshall CT Class II-IV). Initial ICP was defined as the first ICP recorded in the operating room. Refractory intracranial hypertension was defined as ICP increases to more than 30 mmHg and/or reduces in cerebral perfusion pressure to less than 60 mmHg for a period longer than 15 minutes and failure to respond to the maximum medical treatment. Baseline demographics and injury-specific data were recorded. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine independent risk factors for refractory intracranial hypertension and unfavourable outcomes. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was then drawn. Results: The initial ICP allowed for a better refractory intracranial hypertension prediction (ROC area = 0.868; 95% CI = 0.799-0.937) than the Marshall Classification (ROC area = 0.670; 95% CI = 0.569-0.772) or Rotterdam Classification scores (ROC area = 0.679; 95% CI = 0.577-0.780). An initial ICP value higher than 20 mmHg had 83% sensitivity and 83% specificity, whereas an initial ICP value higher than 25 mmHg had 64% sensitivity and 92% specificity for refractory intracranial hypertension. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that any 5 mmHg pressure increase in a patient with initial ICP led to 2.884-times higher odds of refractory intracranial hypertension (95% CI = 1.893-4.395; p < 0.001). Head Abbreviated Injury Scale score, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and initial GCS motor scores were not predictive of refractory intracranial hypertension ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: For persons with diffuse TBI, the initial ICP provides great prognostic discrimination and is an independent predictor of refractory intracranial hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoids, jatamanvaltrates N (1) and O (2), together with four known compounds (3–6), were isolated from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR) and by comparison of their NMR spectral data with those of related compounds. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects, and only compound 1 showed weak neuroprotective activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]