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To investigate the effect of the interaction between protocatechuic acid (PCA) and gelatin on the functional properties and stability of gelatin-PCA complexes. Gelatin-PCA complexes were prepared by non-covalent and covalent binding. Afterward, the interaction between PCA and gelatin was analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Meanwhile, an analysis was also performed on the antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, and stability of the complexes. The findings showed a higher PCA binding rate for the covalent complexes than the non-covalent complexes. Additionally, the interaction between PCA and gelatin resulted in the fluorescence quenching of gelatin, with a higher level of fluorescence quenching observed for the covalent binding. Moreover, in addition to excellent DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging abilities. Compared with GPCA-2, the noncovalent complex GPCA-1 showed more significant (P<0.05) scavenging abilities against DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals, with clearance rates of 49.71%±2.9% and 38.39%±0.57%, respectively. Gelatin-PCA complexes also exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of GPCA-1 was more significant (P<0.05), with inhibition zone diameters of 11.31±0.91, 12.57±0.93 and 8.83±0.35 mm for E. coli, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella, respectively. Despite reducing the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of PCA to some extent, the interaction between PCA and gelatin significantly (P<0.05) improved the photostability and thermal stability of PCA. Specifically, the retention rates of PCA in gelatin-PCA covalent complexes after 80 min of UV and heat treatment were 92.58%±0.62% and 90.30%±0.97%, respectively. In conclusion, these findings provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of functional gelatin-PCA complex products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbamate is a key structural motif in the development of fungicidal compounds, which is still promising and robust in the discovery of green pesticides. Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of the fungicidal activity of 35 carbamate derivatives, among which 19 compounds were synthesized in our previous report. These derivatives were synthesized from aromatic amides in a single step, which was a green oxidation process for Hofmann rearrangement using oxone, KCl and NaOH. Their chemical structures were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Their antifungal activity was tested against seven plant fungal pathogens. Many of the compounds exhibited good antifungal activity in vitro (inhibitory rate > 60% at 50 μg/mL). Compound 1ag exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antifungal activities with inhibition rates close to or higher than 70% at 50 μg/mL. Notably, compound 1af demonstrated the most potent inhibition against F. graminearum, with an EC50 value of 12.50 μg/mL, while compound 1z was the most promising candidate fungicide against F. oxysporum (EC50 = 16.65 μg/mL). The structure–activity relationships are also discussed in this paper. These results suggest that the N-aryl carbamate derivatives secured by our green protocol warrant further investigation as potential lead compounds for novel antifungal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare but life-threatening emergency. Tuberculosis can have hematologic complications. However, concurrent tuberculosis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are extremely rare. In this study, we report a 53-year-old man who was initially treated for pulmonary tuberculosis but later developed weakness and an altered mental status. Laboratory tests revealed evidence of thrombocytopenia, acute renal insufficiency, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Brain imaging identified intracranial hemorrhage. Further testing revealed low ADAMTS13 activity (1.8%) and positive anti-ADAMTS13 antibody, confirming the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The patient had a full recovery after anti-tuberculosis treatment, plasma exchange, and supportive care. We present this rare case and review previous relevant studies to remind clinicians about the potential connections between tuberculosis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In patients with signs of severe thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolysis, necessary diagnostic tests should be performed to eliminate the possibility of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura occurring concurrently with tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of stochastic fixed-time synchronization (SFxS) between two nonlinear chaotic finance systems (CFSs) in noisy environment is addressed by this investigation. Two novel strategies, including the adaptive and fixed-time control, are integrated organically, which steers the CFSs to realize synchronization within a fixed-time, and meanwhile the controlling gains can be updated by the designed adaptive law. Particularly, the designed adaptive fixed-time controlling (AFC) scheme is differentiable, so that the chattering phenomenon can be alleviated and even eliminated effectively. Furthermore, by the stochastic Lyapunov stability analysis, the sufficient criterion is derived for realizing the SFxS of CFSs, and the upper-bound expectation of settling-time (UET) is estimated as well. At last, the numerical experiments are arranged to verify the correctness and feasibility of analytical results, the influence of noisy perturbation on the convergence rate is uncovered, and the interesting similar Dragon–King events are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) to treat recurrent miscarriage involves receipt of lymphocytes to a patient from a donor, usually the patient's male partner. Although the European Society of Human Reproduction and [...]

The Hofmann and Curtius rearrangements have been widely used in organic synthesis and developed for the industrial production (5–100 kg) of pharmaceutically relevant amines/amides. However, the existing use of a stoichiometric organic oxidant [(diacetoxyiodo)benzene or trichloroisocyanuric acid for the Hofmann rearrangement] for amides or an activating reagent (diphenylphosphoryl azide for the Curtius rearrangement) for carboxylic acids is environmentally unfriendly and economically less attractive. Herein, we report the first green oxidation of amides and aldehydes with oxone and halide (and NaN3) to generate N-halo amides and acyl azides, respectively, both of which rearrange into the common isocyanate intermediates and subsequently produce stable carbamates or ureas (the Hofmann and Curtius rearrangements) when trapped with alcohols or amines. This unified green approach is highly efficient as demonstrated by more than 30 examples for each rearrangement. Importantly, this approach generates inorganic nontoxic K2SO4 as the only byproduct, which is advantageous over the existing methods that produced stoichiometric, toxic, and organic iodobenzene, and chloro-isocyanuric acid, or diphenylphosphoric acid. Notably, three urea-based drugs and eight chiral urea catalysts were efficiently synthesized from corresponding aldehydes by this green oxidative Curtius rearrangement. This green oxidative approach for the Hofmann and Curtius rearrangements is expected to find wide applications in organic synthesis and process chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few large studies evaluated the effects of time trends on virologic suppression in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in China. To address this, An retrospective observational longitudinal study was conducted. We examined annual trends in the rate of virologic suppression, the viral load at the time of virologic suppression, and other determinants of virologic suppression in Zhejiang Province, China in PLWHA between January 2013 and July 2018. Patients who received a treatment regimen for at least 24 weeks were included. Virologic suppression was defined as VL ≤50 copies/mL. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression models were used to adjust for covariates. We included 16,265 patients with 45023 tests. The proportion of patients who experienced an unsuccessful virologic outcome decreased continuously throughout the observation period (18.14% to 6.64%). Time was significantly negatively associated with detectable VL (all ORs <1). Other factors were positively associated with detectable VL, including patients <30 years of age, single, non-adherent to treatment, and with a follow-up CD4 count <200 cells/µL. Patients infected through homosexual transmission and those with a longer ART duration were more likely to reach virologic suppression. We demonstrated outstanding time trend improvements in the virological outcomes of PLWHA in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]