Synthesis of di/trifluoromethyl cyclopropane-dicarbonitriles via [2+1] annulation of fluoro-based diazoethanes with (alkylidene)malononitriles

Herein, we describe a [2+1] annulation reaction of di/trifluorodiazoethane with (alkylidene)malononitriles. This protocol offers a streamlined synthesis of a wide range of stereospecific and densely functionalized difluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl cyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitriles. Further functional group interconversions or skeletal elaborations afford structurally distinct cyclopropyl variants.

[LC-MS fingerprint and multi-indicator components analysis of classical formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction]

This study developed an optimal pre-processing technique for the reference substance of the classic formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction(GXBD) and established a comprehensive quality control method for GXBD reference substance to provide a reference for its overall quality evaluation. The authors prepared 15 batches of GXBD samples and innovatively used the extracted ion chromatogram under the base peak chromatogram mode to establish a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) fingerprint, identify characteristic peaks, and perform quantitative analysis of indicator components. The yield of the 15 batches of GXBD samples ranged from 50.28% to 76.20%. In the positive ion mode, 12 common characteristic peaks were detected in the LC-MS fingerprint, and the structures of five common peaks were identified by comparison with reference standards. The similarity between the fingerprint profiles of different batches of samples and the reference fingerprint profile ranged from 0.920 to 0.984. Finally, liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(LC-QQQ/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was used to determine the content of eight indicator components in GXBD, including loliolide, chrysoeriol, rutin, cucurbitacin D, macrostemonoside Ⅰ, 25S-timosaponin B Ⅱ, 25R-timosaponin B Ⅱ, and peptide proline-tryptophan-valine-proline-glycine(PWVPG). The method established in this study can reduce matrix interference in the compound, and it has good accuracy, stability, and practical value. It effectively reflects the quality attributes of GXBD samples and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of GXBD.

Quadruple Functionalized Pyrazole Pharmacophores via One-pot Regioselective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Fluorinated Nitrile Imines and Dicyanoalkenes

Here we present a quadruple functionalization approach for the modular construction of fully substituted N 1 -aryl 3-di/trifluoro-methyl-4/5-cyanopyrazole pharmacophores from readily available hydrazonyl chlorides and dicyanoalkenes. The realization of this [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction hinges upon the employment of N -aryl di/trifluoromethyl nitrile imines as the 1,3-dipoles to bypass external synthetic steps and dicyanoalkenes as the dipolarophiles to tune the regioselectivity. This one-pot strategy offers access to a divergent library of cyano analogues of prevalent 3-di/trifluoromethyl pyrazole pharmacophores, among which several compounds have shown potent inhibitory activity towards cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) compared with marketed drug Celecoxib.

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. extract alleviate cataract development by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the lens epithelial cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. (CBP) is a cruciferous plant valuable in reducing fever, improving eyesight and calming the liver. This herb was recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica for cataract treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To determine the effects and mechanism of CBP on cataract prevention and treatment using a selenite cataract model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main compounds in CBP extract were analyzed by UPLC, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Flavonoids formed a significant proportion of its compounds, thus necessitating an evaluation of their inhibitory effects on the development of cataract using a selenite cataract model. The protective effects of CBP flavonoids (CBPF) against oxidative damage and the modulation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were subsequently verified on H₂O₂-treated SRA01/04 lens epithelial cells.

RESULTS

CBPF significantly alleviated the development of cataract by decreasing the MDA level and increasing the GSH-Px and SOD levels in the lens. It also inhibited H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in SRA01/04 cells, increased the expression of Bcl-2 protein and decreased the expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax proteins.

CONCLUSION

CBPF exerts a significant preventive effect on cataract development by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the lens epithelial cells. It is thus a potent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) whose application should be further developed for the clinical treatment of cataract.

[SNP Panel Analysis of Ancestry Inference in East Asian Populations]

Abstract

Objective To develop an SNP Panel for East Asian population, which has a high individual identification rate and the capability of ancestry analysis. Methods The 55 SNP Panel by Professor KIDD of Yale University and the 128 SNP Panel by Professor SELDIN of Davis School of California University, 170 SNP Panel in total was used as the basis and its test data in the East Asian population was collected. The genetic parameters of SNP loci were calculated and combined with the results of heatmap analysis to screen SNP loci suitable for East Asian population. Some Tibetan and Han samples were tested. The possibility of using the SNP loci in ancestry inference was analyzed by means of STRUCTURE analysis, principal component analysis and heatmap analysis. Results A Panel with 45 SNPs （45 SNP Panel） was screened out, and the average genetic parameters of each SNP were better than 170 SNP Panel, with the same ancestry analysis and inference ability. Conclusion In terms of ancestry inference information, the 45 SNP Panel can completely replace the 170 SNP Panel and achieve the same ancestry analysis and inference ability. In genetic parameters, 45 SNP Panel is better than 170 SNP Panel in the East Asian population, which shows its important potential forensic application value.

A prospective randomized study comparing open versus laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

In recent years, many clinical studies have confirmed the value of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) in gastric cancer surgery, especially in early stages. But the safety and oncologic adequacy of laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer are still in debate. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare open versus laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

For this study, 123 patients who had been diagnosed endoscopically with gastric cancer were randomly assigned to either LAG (n = 61) or open gastrectomy (OG) (n = 62) which ran from March 2008 to December 2009. Clinical characteristics, operative findings, postoperative recovery, morbidity, pathological report and survival rate were compared. D2 lymph node dissection was performed in 49 patients in the LAG group and 47 patients in the OG group with advanced gastric cancer. We adopt sub-group analysis in this paper.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics of patients in the LAG and OG groups who were in the advanced stage, included age, sex, BMI and concurrent illness, and their ECOG scores were well matched. Operative findings, postoperative recovery, morbidity, pathological findings including tumor location, depth of invasion, TNM stage, histological grade and surgical extension in the two groups were also similar. Compared to the OG group, the mean operating time was significantly longer for the LAG group (267.88 ± 54.284 min in the LAG group vs. 182.02 ± 41.016 min in the OG group, p = 6.383 × 10(-13)); the mean number of days when body temperature exceeded 37°C was significantly shorter in the LAG group (p = 6.34 × 10(-8)). There were no postoperative deaths in both the groups. The postoperative morbidity rate was 12.24% in the LAG group and 19.15% in the OG group with no significant difference (p = 0.357). However, pulmonary infection was observed more frequently in the OG group (p = 0.038). After a mean follow-up of 22.1354 months (from 4 to 36 months), 14 and 15 patients died of gastric cancer in the LAG and OG groups, respectively. Two and one patient died of nongastric cancer in the LAG and OG groups, respectively. The overall survival rates were 67.1% and 53.8% in the LAG and OG groups, respectively. The estimated mean survival time was 29.387 months in the LAG group and 28.978 months in the OG group. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall survival rate for patients in both groups - LAG and OG (log-rank test, p = 0.911, Tarone Ware test, p = 0.994, and Breslow test, p = 0. 961).

CONCLUSION

LAG with D2 lymph node dissection is a safe and feasible procedure with adequate lymphadenectomy, good curability and survival rate for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Construction and selection of the natural immune Fab antibody phage display library from patients with colorectal cancer

AIM: To construct the natural immune Fab antibody phage display libraries of colorectal cancer and to select antibodies related with colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Extract total RNA from tissue of local cancer metastasis lymph nodes of patients with colorectal cancer. RT-PCR was used to amplify the heavy chain Fd and light chain κ and the amplification products were inserted successively into the vector pComb3 to construct the human libraries of Fab antibodies. They were then panned by phage display technology. By means of Dot immunoblotting and ELISA, the libraries were identified and the Fab phage antibodies binding with antigens of colorectal cancer were selected.

RESULTS: The amplified fragments of Fd and κ gained by RT-PCR were about 650 bp. Fd and κ PCR products were subsequently inserted into the vector pComb3, resulting in a recombination rate of 40% and the volume of Fab phage display library reached 1.48 × 10⁶. The libraries were enriched about 120-fold by 3 cycles of adsorption-elution-multiplication (panning). Dot immunoblotting showed Fab expressions on the phage libraries and ELISA showed 5 clones of Fab phage anti bodies which had binding activities with antigens of colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION: The natural immune Fab antibody phage display libraries of colorectal cancer were constructed. They could be used to select the relative antibodies of colorectal cancer.

The expression and antigenicity identification of recombinant rat TGF-beta1 in bacteria

In order to study structure-function details of TGF-beta1, the recombinant mature form of rat TGF-beta1 was expressed in bacteria. Synthesis of the 112 amino-acid carboxyl-terminal part of TGF-beta1 (amino acid 279-390) was controlled by an inducible gene expression system based on bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. This system allowed an active and selective synthesis of recombinant TGF-beta1. The molecular weight of expressed TGF-alpha1 monomer determined on SDS-polyacrylamide gel under reducing conditions was about 13 kD. Serial detergent washes combined with a single gel-filtration purification step were sufficient to purify the expression product to homogeneity. Amino-terminal sequencing revealed that the N-terminal of the recombinant protein was identical to the published data. In Western blot analysis the recombinant polypeptide showed excellent antigenicity against polyclonal TGF-beta1 antibody. The mature recombinant rat TGF-beta1 expressed in this study provides a useful tool for future detailed structural and functional studies.

Caspase-dependent cytosolic release of cytochrome c and membrane translocation of Bax in p53-induced apoptosis

Activation of p53 induces apoptosis in various cell types. However, the mechanism by which p53 induces apoptosis is still unclear. We reported previously that the activation of a temperature-sensitive mutant p53 (p53(138Val)) induced activation of caspase 3 and apoptosis in Jurkat cells. To elucidate the pathway linking p53 and downstream caspases, we examined the activation of caspases 8 and 9 in apoptotic cells. The results showed that both caspases were activated during apoptosis as judged by the appearance of cleavage products from procaspases and the caspase activities to cleave specific fluorogenic substrates. The significant inhibition of apoptosis by a tetrapeptide inhibitor of caspase 8 and caspase 9 suggested that both caspases are required for apoptosis induction. In addition, the membrane translocation of Bax and cytosolic release of cytochrome c, but not loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, were detected at an early stage of apoptosis. Moreover, Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, and caspase 9 activation were blocked by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk and the caspase 8-preferential inhibitor, Ac-IETD-CHO, suggesting that the mitochondria might participate in apoptosis by amplifying the upstream death signals. In conclusion, our results indicated that activation of caspase 8 or other caspase(s) by p53 triggered the membrane translocation of Bax and cytosolic release of cytochrome c, which might amplify the apoptotic signal by activating caspase 9 and its downstream caspases.