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Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is a Traditional Chinese Medicine used for the treatment of diseases related to the heart and liver. Owing to the abundance of salvianolic acids and tanshinones, S. miltiorrhiza exhibits various pharmacological activities, such as stimulating blood circulation, eliminating blood stasis, relieving menorrhea and pain, and improving polydipsia. Neocryptotanshinone (NCTS) is one of the tanshinones isolated from S. miltiorrhiza and exhibits anti‐inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and preventive effects against cardiovascular diseases; however, its pharmacokinetic properties have not been reported to date. Therefore, a simple and reliable LC–MS/MS method was developed to determine absorption, distribution, and excretion of NCTS in rat physiological samples. We demonstrated that NCTS had high oral absolute bioavailability of 85.96% ± 25.32%, and it was rapidly distributed in both the heart and brain, and the fecal excretion of NCTS was the highest. This study provides a theoretical basis for further development of NCTS as a potential clinical candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of the peripheral substituent position of sorbitol acetal molecule on its nucleation effect, three sorbitol acetal nucleating agents which are isomers of each other were synthesized. The crystallization process of polypropylene (PP) before and after modification was analyzed, and the effects of sorbitol acetal nucleating agent on the morphology, structure and properties of PP was studied. The results show that the three sorbitol acetal nucleating agents are α crystalline nucleating agents, among which the para-substituted sorbitol acetalization nucleating agent has the best performance, and has the best improvement effects on the optical properties and mechanical properties of PP. The haze is reduced from 78% to 16%, and the crystal grains are the most uniform and dense, and the crystallization temperature is the highest. The para-substituted sorbitol acetal nucleating agent is an efficient α crystalline transparent nucleating agent for PP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Association between electrocardiography (ECG) features and right ventricular anatomy and physiology has been established. This study is aimed to identify the value of 12-lead ECG in evaluating prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Method 194 patients with newly diagnosed IPAH were included in this study. Correlations between electrocardiography variables and hemodynamics were assessed. Univariate and multivariable cox regression analysis were performed to identify ECG variables for predicting all-cause mortality in IPAH. Results Partial correlation analysis showed that P wave amplitude in lead II correlated with the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP, r = 0.349, p [less than or equal to] 0.001) and cardiac index (CI, r = -0.224, p = 0.002); R wave amplitude in V1 correlated with mPAP (r = 0.359, p [less than or equal to] 0.001); S wave amplitude in V6 correlated with mPAP (r = 0.259, p = 0.030) and CI (r = -0.220, p = 0.003). P wave amplitude in lead II (HR 1.555, p = 0.033) and R wave amplitude in lead aVR (HR 5.058, p < 0.001) were the independent predictors of all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed patients with a p [greater than or equal to] 0.25 mv in lead II, and R [greater than or equal to] 0.4 mv in lead aVR had lower 3-year survival (55 vs. 91%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Specific lead-12 ECG features could reflect right ventricular overload hemodynamics, and are useful to evaluate prognosis of patients with IPAH., Author(s): Xiao-Ling Cheng [sup.1] , Jian-Guo He [sup.1] , Zhi-Hong Liu [sup.1] , Qing Gu [sup.1] , Xin-Hai Ni [sup.1] , Zhi-Hui Zhao [sup.1] , Qin Luo [sup.1] , Chang-Ming [...]

Purpose This study aimed to identify the relationship between pulmonary vascular capacitance (PVC) and vasoreactivity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), and the value of PVC in predicting long-term response to CCB treatment. Methods Pulmonary vasodilator testing with inhaling iloprost was performed in 308 newly diagnosed IPAH patients. Acute vasodilator-responsive patients accepted CCBs treatment. Patients who benefit from long-term CCB were defined as those being in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class II or I after at least 1 year on CCB monotherapy. Results PVC had significant correlations with WHO function class, 6-min walk distance, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance (r = -0.363, p < 0.001; r = 0.333, p < 0.001; r = -0.514, p < 0.001; r = -0.739, p < 0.001). Thirty-five acute vasodilator-responsive IPAH patients (11.4 %) displayed less severe disease and a higher baseline PVC (1.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.1 ± 0.7 ml/mmHg, p = 0.003). During acute vasodilator testing, PVC increased significantly by mean of 79 ± 48 % and reached to a higher absolute value of 2.6 ± 1.5 ml/mmHg compared with non-responsive patients (1.4 ± 1.5 ml/mmHg, p < 0.001). Furthermore, PVC increased more during acute vasodilator testing in the 24 patients who benefit from long-term CCB treatment (1.4 ± 1.3 vs. 0.5 ± 0.4 ml/mmHg, p = 0.004). The OR of increased PVC during vasodilator testing for predicting patients with long-term response to CCB was 1.24 (95 % CI 1.02-1.50, p = 0.031) as assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusions PVC was higher in acute vasodilator-responsive IPAH patients and may be a predictor of long-term response to CCBs therapy., Author(s): Xiao-Ling Cheng[sup.1] , Jian-Guo He[sup.1] , Zhi-Hong Liu[sup.1] , Qing Gu[sup.1] , Xin-Hai Ni[sup.1] , Zhi-Hui Zhao[sup.1] , Qin Luo[sup.1] , Chang-Ming Xiong[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) State Key Laboratory [...]

A variety of chiral nine‐membered N‐heterocycles were prepared in moderate to good yields with high diastereoselectivity through a silver(I)‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition and [3,3]‐rearrangement of N‐vinyl‐α, β‐unsaturated nitrones and chiral 3‐propioloyloxazolidin‐2‐ones. Experimental studies showed that silver catalyst promoted the cycloaddition and rearrangement process, and the stereochemistry of the nine‐membered N‐heterocycles was controlled via [3,3]‐rearrangement by chiral oxazolidinone‐auxiliary through a boat‐like transition state. Moreover, the obtained nine‐membered N‐heterocycle diastereomers were converted to chiral pyrrolizines with high diastereoselectivity and pyrrolizine carboxylate was obtained in 54% yield with 90% ee by the removal of chiral auxiliary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging and tumor angiogenesis and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression in patients with benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, and differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Methods Sixty-four patients with benign and malignant pulmonary nodules underwent 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging. The CT perfusion imaging was analyzed for TDC (time density curve), perfusion parametric maps, and the respective perfusion parameters. Immunohistochemical findings of MVD (microvessel density) measurement and VEGF expression was evaluated. Results The shape of the TDC of peripheral lung cancer was similar to those of inflammatory nodule. PH (peak height), PHpm/PHa (peak height ratio of pulmonary nodule to aorta), BF (blood flow), BV (blood volume) value of peripheral lung cancer and inflammatory nodule were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Both showed significantly higher PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV value than those of benign nodule (all P < 0.05). Peripheral lung cancer showed significantly higher PS (permeability surface) value than that of inflammatory nodule and benign nodule (all P < 0.05). BV, BF, PS, MTT, PH, PHpm/PHa, and MVD among three groups of peripheral lung cancers were not significantly (all P > 0.05). In the case of adenocarcinoma, BV, BF, PS, PHpm/PHa, and MVD between poorly and well differentiation and between poorly and moderately differentiation were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The peripheral lung cancers with VEGF positive expression showed significantly higher PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, PS, and MVD value than those of the peripheral lung cancer with VEGF negative expression, and than those of benign nodule with VEGF positive expression (all P < 0.05). When investigating VEGF negative expression, it is found that PH, PHpm/PHa, and MVD of inflammatory nodule were significantly higher than those of peripheral lung cancer, PS of inflammatory nodule were significantly lower than that of peripheral lung cancer (all P < 0.05). PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, and BV of benign nodule were significantly lower than those of inflammatory nodule (all P < 0.05), rather than PS and MTT (mean transit time) (all P > 0.05). PH, PHpm/PHa, BV, and PS of benign nodule were significantly lower than those of peripheral lung cancer (all P < 0.05). In the case of VEGF positive expression, MVD was positively correlated with PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, and PS of peripheral lung cancer and PS of benign nodule (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging closely correlated with tumor angiogenesis and reflected MVD measurement and VEGF expression. It provided not only a non-invasive method of quantitative assessment for blood flow patterns of peripheral pulmonary nodules but also an applicable diagnostic method for peripheral pulmonary nodules.

The EtOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis afforded two new macrocyclic glucosides clemochinenosides C (1) and D (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and hydrolysis products. These compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharides-induced TNF-α production in RAW 246.7 macrophages. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 12.9 ± 2.3 and 18.4 ± 2.7 μM, respectively. In addition, a proliferation study was used to evaluate the anti-angiogenic effects of these compounds in vitro (VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation). Compounds 1 and 2 displayed weak inhibitory effects with inhibition rates of 26.3 ± 1.8 and 19.2 ± 2.6% at 50 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic nanoclusters Au19Cu30 with chemical composition of [Au19Cu30(CCR)22(Ph3P)6Cl2](NO3)3 (where RCC is from 3-ethynylthiophene (H3C4S-3CCH) or ethynylbenzene (PhCCH)) has been synthesized. Single X-ray structural analysis reveals that Au19Cu30 has a multishelled core structure of Au@Au12@Cu30@Au6, comprising a centered icosahedral Au13 (Au@Au12) surrounded by an icosidodecahedral Cu30 shell and an outmost shell of a chairlike hexagonal Au6. The alkynyl carbon is bound to the hollow sites on the Au19Cu30 nanocluster surface, which is a novel interfacial binding mode in alkynyl-protected alloy nanoclusters. The Cu30 icosidodecahedron is unprecedented and Au19Cu30 represents the first alkynyl-protected Au-Cu alloy nanocluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]