A general strategy for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl- and α-perfluoroalkyl-β-lactams via palladium-catalyzed carbonylation

β-Lactam compounds play a key role in medicinal chemistry, specifically as the most important class of antibiotics. Here, we report a novel one-step approach for the synthesis of α-(trifluoromethyl)-β-lactams and related products from fluorinated olefins, anilines and CO. Utilization of an advanced palladium catalyst system with the Ruphos ligand allows for selective cycloaminocarbonylations to give diverse fluorinated β-lactams in high yields.

Construction of Cholesterol Oxime Ether Derivatives Containing Isoxazoline/Isoxazole Fragments and Their Agricultural Bioactive Properties/Control Efficiency

To explore natural-product-based pesticidal candidates and high value-added application of cholesterol in agriculture, oximinoether derivatives of cholesterol-containing isoxazoline/isoxazole fragments (I-1∼I-16 and II-1∼II-18) were semiprepared by structural optimization of cholesterol. Their structures were characterized by optical rotation, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Particularly, the Z configurations of oxime fragments at the C-7 position of target compounds were undoubtedly determined by X-ray crystallography. Against Mythimna separata Walker, compounds 3e, I-8, I-14, and II-3 showed 2.4-2.7-fold growth inhibitory activity of the precursor cholesterol. Against Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, compounds I-6, I-7, and I-9 showed 2.4-2.7-fold oral toxicity of cholesterol. Against Aphis citricola Van der Goot, compounds 2e and II-15 exhibited 4.9 and 5.8-fold aphicidal activity of cholesterol, respectively. Notably, they showed good control effects (3.0-5.0-fold promising control efficiency of 1) against A. citricola in the greenhouse. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) suggested that the C-3 hydroxyl group and the C-7 position of cholesterol are two important modification sites. It will pave the way for future structural optimization and application of cholesterol derivatives as potential pesticidal agents in agriculture.

Optimization of Osthole in the Lactone Ring: Structural Elucidation, Pesticidal Activities, and Control Efficiency of Osthole Ester Derivatives

Here, we prepared a series of novel osthole-type ester derivatives modified in the lactone ring of osthole, which is isolated from Cnidium monnieri. The positions of H-3 and H-4 of the representative compound 4z were determined by a ¹H-¹H COSY spectrum. By opening the lactone ring of osthole, the double bonds at the C-3 and C-4 positions of diol 3 and esters 4a-4z, 4a', and 4b' were still retained as a Z configuration. That is, H-3 and H-4 of compounds 3 and 4a-4z, 4a', and 4b' were all in the cis relationship. The steric configurations of 4k, 4v, and 4z were further undoubtedly determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, four aliphatic esters 4c (R = n-C₃H₇; LC₅₀: 0.31 mg/mL), 4d (R = CH₃(CH₂)₁₀; LC₅₀: 0.24 mg/mL), 4a' (R = CH₃(CH₂)₉; LC₅₀: 0.28 mg/mL), and 4b' (R = CH₃(CH₂)₁₂; LC₅₀: 0.32 mg/mL) showed the most promising acaricidal activity, and compounds 4c, 4d, and 4a' also exhibited a potent control efficiency. Especially, compound 4d exhibited greater than fivefold acaricidal activity of the precursor osthole (LC₅₀: 1.22 mg/mL). Against Mythimna separata Walker, compounds 4g, 4l, and 4m displayed 1.6-1.8-fold potent insecticidal activity of osthole. It demonstrated that the lactone ring of osthole is not necessary for the agricultural activities, thiocarbonylation of osthole was not beneficial for the agricultural activities, introduction of R as an aliphatic chain is vital for the acaricidal activity, notably, the length of the aliphatic chain is related to the acaricidal activity, 4d could be further studied as a lead acaricidal agent, and to the aromatic series, R containing the fluorine atom(s) is important for the insecticidal activity.

Experimental semi-autonomous eigensolver using reinforcement learning

The characterization of observables, expressed via Hermitian operators, is a crucial task in quantum mechanics. For this reason, an eigensolver is a fundamental algorithm for any quantum technology. In this work, we implement a semi-autonomous algorithm to obtain an approximation of the eigenvectors of an arbitrary Hermitian operator using the IBM quantum computer. To this end, we only use single-shot measurements and pseudo-random changes handled by a feedback loop, reducing the number of measures in the system. Due to the classical feedback loop, this algorithm can be cast into the reinforcement learning paradigm. Using this algorithm, for a single-qubit observable, we obtain both eigenvectors with fidelities over 0.97 with around 200 single-shot measurements. For two-qubits observables, we get fidelities over 0.91 with around 1500 single-shot measurements for the four eigenvectors, which is a comparatively low resource demand, suitable for current devices. This work is useful to the development of quantum devices able to decide with partial information, which helps to implement future technologies in quantum artificial intelligence.

[Effect of dietary water-soluble vitamins on the poor prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To explore the effect of dietary water-soluble vitamins on the poor prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINⅠ). Methods: A total of 564 participants with CINⅠ were selected from a community-based married women cohort established in 2014. The general baseline information was collected, and HPV genotyping was detected. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate dietary water-soluble vitamins' consumption and determine their exposure levels. The follow-up program was carried out for 12 months, and the regression, persistence, and progression of CINⅠ was determined according to histopathological results at 12-month. Results: The low-levels of dietary water-soluble vitamins could promote CINⅠ's persistence and progression, showing the increasing tendency of CINⅠ poor prognosis with the decrease of water-soluble vitamin levels. Especially folate, VB1, VB2, VB6, niacin, biotin, and VC (RR values were 15.22, 1.86, 1.92, 2.11, 2.98, 2.14, 2.19, respectively) played an important role. Considering the status of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, our results showed that the low levels of folate, niacin, biotin could promote the poor prognosis of CINⅠ. Conclusions: The low-level of dietary water-soluble vitamins could facilitate the poor prognosis of CINⅠ. In addition, folate, niacin, biotin were more effective on HR-HPV positive women.

[The optimal model of diagnosis to low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by combined detecting vaginal micro-environmental factors, based on the high-risk HPV infection]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of different vaginal micro-environmental factors in low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅰ) and determine the optimal model in high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A total of 926 women, including 623 with normal cervical (NC) condition and 303 CINⅠ patients, had undergone pathological examinations, and were enrolled in the study. All the women were from a community previously established cohort. Vaginal cleanliness, pH, H₂O₂, β-glucuronidase, coagulase, sialidase, and leukocyte esterase (LE) were detected by the combined detection method aerobic vaginitis/bacterial vaginosis in vaginal secretions. HPV genotyping was performed by using the flow-through hybridization technology. The data were analyzed by SAS 9.2 and SPSS 23.0. Results: The vaginal cleanliness, pH, sialidase, and LE were determined as the representative vaginal micro-environment factors by principal component analysis. Based on logistic regression theory to analyze the ROC curve, the results showed that the highest sensitivity was with pH value (76.2%), and the highest specificity was with sialidase (90.9%). The area under ROC curve were higher in combination detection modes of sialidase+LE (0.714), pH+sialidase+LE (0.719), vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (0.713) and pH+vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (0.709). According to HR-HPV infection status, the TOPSIS method was used to analyze the combined detection optimal model. Specifically, we found that the best diagnostic model was pH+sialidase +LE (C_i=0.585) in the HR-HPV positive group and vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (C_i=0.641) in the negative group. Conclusions: The combined detection of vaginal microenvironment factors could be used for auxiliary diagnosis for CINⅠ. It would be more effective when detecting pH, sialidase, and LE in HR-HPV positive women while vaginal cleanness, sialidase, and LE in HR-HPV negative women at the same time.

[Prognosis of high-risk HPV infection and its influences by vaginal micro-environmental factors]

Objective: To describe the characteristics of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and its influences by vaginal micro-environmental factors. Methods: A total of 421 women with HR-HPV infection and normal cervix diagnosed by pathology were selected from a community cohort established earlier by our research group for a 24-month follow-up. The baseline data were collected at enrollment. The vaginal micro-environmental factors were detected by using the combined detection kit of aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. And the HPV was detected by using the flow-through hybridization technology. According to the HR-HPV infection status in baseline and 24 months of follow-up, with the prognosis characteristics of HR-HPV infection described, the impact of vaginal micro-environmental factors on the prognosis of HR-HPV infection was explored as well. Results: Among 390 HR-HPV infected women who completed 24 months of follow-up, the top five types of persistent HR-HPV infection rate appeared as HPV16 (24.1%), HPV58 (22.2%), HPV53 (21.7%), HPV52 (20.0%), and HPV39 (11.8%), respectively. The results showed that women with abnormal vaginal pH (aOR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.08-2.80), abnormal neuraminidase (aOR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.52-4.83), or abnormal leucocyte esterase (aOR=3.41, 95%CI: 2.13-5.44), the risk of HR-HPV persistent infection increased. The abnormalities of neuraminidase and leukocyte esterase could increase the risk of persistent infection of homotype and heterotypic HR-HPV. Conclusions: HPV16 was prone to persistent infection. Abnormalities of vaginal pH, neuraminidase, and leukocyte esterase might increase the risk of HR-HPV persistent infection. Both the abnormalities of neuraminidase and leukocyte esterase play an essential role in the HR-HPV persistent infection.

Periodontal ligament stem cells in the periodontitis niche: inseparable interactions and mechanisms

Periodontitis is characterized by the periodontium's pathologic destruction due to the host's overwhelmed inflammation to the dental plaque. The bacterial infections and subsequent host immune responses have shaped a distinct microenvironment, which generally affects resident periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that impaired PDLSCs may also contribute to the disturbance of periodontal homeostasis. The putative vicious circle underlying the interesting "positive feedback" of PDLSCs in the periodontitis niche remains a hot research topic, whereas the inseparable interactions between resident PDLSCs and the periodontitis niche are still not fully understood. This review provides a microscopic view on the periodontitis progression, especially the quick but delicate immune responses to oral dysbacterial infections. We also summarize the interesting crosstalk of the resident PDLSCs with their surrounding periodontitis niche and potential mechanisms. Particularly, the microenvironment reduces the osteogenic properties of resident PDLSCs, which are closely related to their reparative activity. Reciprocally, these impaired PDLSCs may disrupt the microenvironment by aggravating the host immune responses, promoting aberrant angiogenesis, and facilitating the osteoclastic activity. We further recommend that more in-depth studies are required to elucidate the interactions of PDLSCs with the periodontal microenvironment and provide novel interventions for periodontitis.

The Modified Healthy Ageing Index Is Associated with Mortality and Disability: The Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study

INTRODUCTION

The Healthy Ageing Index (HAI) has been shown not only to have wider applicability and predictive ability but also to adequately predict mortality in Western populations. There is still a lack of studies validating the applicability of the HAI in China.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the applicability of the HAI and validate whether the HAI is suitable for monitoring ageing in the elderly population in China.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study. The modified HAI was constructed based on systolic blood pressure, chronic pulmonary diseases, cognitive function, fasting glucose, and kidney function. It was calculated in 1719 individuals aged 70-84 years at baseline. The adverse outcomes were mortality and disability. Demographic, physiologic, and clinical data were collected. Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the modified HAI and adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1,719 older adults were analyzed in our study. A total of 793 (46.13%) males were recruited. The mean age was 75.69 ± 3.93 years. At the 5-year follow-up, there were 266 deaths and 275 individuals with disabilities. In the multivariable models, the modified HAI was associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.20) and disability (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-1.18). In the sensitivity analyses, similar associations remained after imputing missing data using multiple imputation and excluding participants with major cardiovascular disease at baseline.

CONCLUSION

The modified HAI was a robust and independent predictor of adverse outcomes. It is a valid and feasible tool for monitoring ageing in older adults.

Spirodiclofen ether derivatives: semisynthesis, structural elucidation, and pesticidal activities against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, Aphis citricola Van der Goot and Mythimna separata Walker

BACKGROUND

Spirodiclofen is a spirocyclic tetronic acid-type acaricidal agent. Nowadays, serious pests resistance to spirodiclofen and cross-resistance to other acaricides has appeared. To overcome pests resistance and discover new potential agrochemicals, a series of ether derivatives were prepared based on spirodiclofen as a lead compound. Their pesticidal activities were investigated against three typically agricultural pests, Mythimna separata Walker, Aphis citricola Van der Goot and Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval.

RESULTS

Four steric structures of compounds 5e, 5f, 5i and 5j were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Against T. cinnabarinus, compounds 5b, 5f and 5l exhibited potent acaricidal activity, and their good control effects in the glasshouse were observed when compared with spirodiclofen, especially the control efficiency of compound 5b was comparable to that of spirodiclofen; against M. separata, compound 5j showed > 1.8-fold potent insecticidal activity of spirodiclofen; against A. citricola, compounds 5d and 5j displayed > 2.0-fold potent aphicidal activity of spirodiclofen. The relationships between their structures and agricultural activities were also discussed.

CONCLUSION

Compounds 5b and 5d could be further studied as acaricidal and aphicidal agents, respectively; compound 5j can be considered as a lead compound for the insecticidal and aphicidal activities. This will pave the way for future application of these derivatives as pesticide substitutes for spirodiclofen. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Author Correction: Genomic insights of body plan transitions from bilateral to pentameral symmetry in Echinoderms

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02005-4

Ultrasound guided aspiration of massive periarticular calcinosis in patient with scleroderma

Massive periarticular calcinosis is poorly understood process arising either primarily (tumoral calcinosis) or secondary to underlying medical conditions, including connective tissue disease, soft tissue sarcoma, and metabolic dysregulation. The calcific deposits can cause functional limitation, skin ulceration, and cosmetic deformity. Treatment of the calcific deposits depends on the underlying cause but can be problematic with resistance to surgical and non-surgical treatments. Here, we introduce a case of tumoral calcinosis secondary to scleroderma treated with ultrasound guided aspiration.

Using Composite Phenotypes to Reveal Hidden Physiological Heterogeneity in High-Altitude Acclimatization in a Chinese Han Longitudinal Cohort

Altitude acclimatization is a human physiological process of adjusting to the decreased oxygen availability. Since several physiological processes are involved and their correlations are complicated, the analyses of single traits are insufficient in revealing the complex mechanism of high-altitude acclimatization. In this study, we examined these physiological responses as the composite phenotypes that are represented by a linear combination of physiological traits. We developed a strategy that combines both spectral clustering and partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) to define composite phenotypes based on a cohort study of 883 Chinese Han males. In addition, we captured 14 composite phenotypes from 28 physiological traits of high-altitude acclimatization. Using these composite phenotypes, we applied k-means clustering to reveal hidden population physiological heterogeneity in high-altitude acclimatization. Furthermore, we employed multivariate linear regression to systematically model (Models 1 and 2) oxygen saturation (SpO₂) changes in high-altitude acclimatization and evaluated model fitness performance. Composite phenotypes based on Model 2 fit better than single trait-based Model 1 in all measurement indices. This new strategy of using composite phenotypes may be potentially employed as a general strategy for complex traits research such as genetic loci discovery and analyses of phenomics.

Tetanus vaccine-induced human neutralizing antibodies provide full protection against neurotoxin challenge in mice

Clostridium tetani causes life-threatening disease by producing tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT), one of the most toxic protein substances. Toxicosis can be prevented and cured by administration of anti-TeNT neutralizing antibodies. Here, we identified a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from memory B cells of a healthy adult immunized with the C-terminal domain of TeNT (TeNT-Hc). Thirteen mAbs bound to both tetanus toxoid (TT) and TeNT-Hc, while two mAbs recognized only TT. VH3-23 was the most frequently used germline gene in these TT-binding mAbs, and the pairwise identity values of the VH gene sequences ranged from 27% to 69%. Three of these mAbs-T3, T7, and T9-6-completely protected mice from challenge with 2× LD50 of TeNT, and two (T2 and T18) significantly prolonged the survival time. The five neutralizing mAbs recognized distinct epitopes on TT, with binding affinities ranging from 0.123 to 11.9 nM. Our study provides promising therapeutic candidates for tetanus.

[Relations of human papillomavirus infection, vaginal micro-environmental disorder with cervical lesion]

Objective: To study the relations of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaginal micro-environmental disorder with cervical lesion. Methods: A total of 1 019 women including 623 with normal cervical (NC), 303 with low-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅰ) and 93 with high-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ) were enrolled in this study from the communities in Shanxi province, China. Case-control method was adopted, with NC as the control group and CIN as the case group. Related information was collected including demographic characteristics and relevant factors related to cervical lesions. HPV genotypes were detected by flow-through hybridization technology. Vaginal pH was detected by the pH test paper. Vaginal H(2)O(2) was detected by the combined detection kit of aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal cleanliness was detected by smear method. Results: Data from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that HPV infection (CINⅠ: aOR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.01-1.90; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=11.74, 95%CI: 6.96-19.80), H(2)O(2) (CINⅠ: aOR=2.09, 95%CI: 1.47-2.98; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=4.12, 95%CI: 2.01-8.43), cleanliness (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ: aOR=2.62, 95%CI: 1.65-4.14), and composite indicators (CINⅠ: aOR=1.67, 95%CI: 1.24-2.25; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=4.24, 95%CI: 2.30-7.81) all had increased the risk of cervical lesion and the trend on the severity (P<0.001) of cervical lesions. Additionally, we observed a synergic effect between HPV infection and vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator in CINⅡ/Ⅲ. With or without HPV infection, the ORs value of CINⅠ caused by vaginal micro-environment disorder remained close. Conclusions: Results from our study revealed that vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator could increase the risk for cervical lesion, in particular with the high-grade ones which all posed stronger risks when combined with HPV infection. However, the role of vaginal micro-environment disorder in the occurrence of CIN Ⅰ should not be ignored.

YAP mediates the interaction between the Hippo and PI3K/Akt pathways in mesangial cell proliferation in diabetic nephropathy

AIMS

Glomerular mesangial cell (MC) proliferation is one of the main pathological changes in diabetic nephropathy (DN), but its mechanism needs further elaboration. The Hippo and PI3K/Akt signalling pathways are involved in the regulation of MC proliferation, but their relationship in hyperglycaemia-induced MC proliferation has not been reported.

METHODS

We used db/db mice and high-glucose-cultured mesangial cells to generate a diabetic nephropathy model. An MST1-knockdown plasmid was used to identify whether the PI3K/Akt pathway is linked to the Hippo pathway through MST1. LY294002 and SC79 were used to verify the role of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in MC cells. RNA silencing and overexpression were performed by using YAP and PTEN-expression/knockdown plasmids to investigate the function of YAP and PTEN, respectively, in the Hippo and PI3K/Akt signalling pathways.

RESULTS

By examining a potential feedback loop, we found decreased phosphorylation of MST1 and Lats1 and increased PI3K/Akt activation in db/db mice and high glucose-treated MCs, along with increased MC proliferation. The results of our gene silencing experiment proved PI3K/Akt-mediated intervention in the Hippo pathway and the regulatory effect of YAP on PI3K/Akt through PTEN.

CONCLUSIONS

The Hippo pathway is inhibited under diabetic conditions, leading to YAP activation and promoting MC proliferation. The PI3K/Akt pathway is activated through the inhibitory effect of YAP on its repressor, PTEN. Finally, activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibits the Hippo pathway, resulting in nuclear YAP accumulation and accelerating MC proliferation and DN formation.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate reduces breast cancer stem cell-like properties by epigenetic reactivation of CDH1

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Tumor recurrence, or metastasis, is caused by cancer stem cells and has a dismal prognosis for breast cancer patients. Thus, targeting breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) for eradication is a potential method to improve clinical outcomes. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a novel epigenetic regulator derived from cruciferous vegetables that has marked antitumor effects. However, the exact mechanism of these antitumor effects by PEITC is unknown. As breast cancer progresses, a tumor suppressor in the breast, cadherin 1 (CDH1), is silenced by hypermethylation of the promoter region, further promoting the stem cell-like properties of cancer. Herein, the ability of PEITC to reduce BCSC-like properties by epigenetic reactivation of CDH1 was investigated by multiple analyses such as MTT, colony formation and sphere formation assays, methylation-specific PCR, western blot analysis, Co-IP and qPCR. It was revealed that PEITC inhibited colony and mammosphere formation and decreased the expression of protein markers associated with BCSC-like properties via epigenetic reactivation of CDH1. Further exploration of this mechanism revealed inhibitory effects of PEITC on DNMTs and HDACs, which play a pivotal role in demethylating the hypermethylated CDH1 promoter region. Reactivated CDH1 suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin pathway which confers BCSC-properties in breast cancer cells. These findings suggest a novel method to eradicate BCSCs from breast cancer patients.

High Value-Added Use of Citrus Industrial Wastes in Agriculture: Semisynthesis and Anti-Tobacco Mosaic Virus/Insecticidal Activities of Ester Derivatives of Limonin Modified in the B Ring

Globally, the citrus industry produces various wastes, which contain a great deal of limonoids. In order for the sustainable development of the citrus industry, and considering the diverse bioactivities of limonoids, a series of ester derivatives were constructed by structural modification of limonin in the B ring. Furthermore, two seven-membered lactone derivatives of limonin and obacunone with a novel skeleton in the B ring were obtained by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation rearrangement. The steric structures of six key compounds 3a, 3b, 4m, 4n, 6, and 7 were determined by X-ray crystallography. It demonstrated that the molar ratio of 3a (7α-isomer) and 3b (7β-isomer) depended on the mixed solvents in the reduction system. The anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activities under three different modes of action for most of the tested compounds were as the following sequence: inactivation effect > protection effect > curative effect. It was noteworthy that compound 4aa displayed the most potent anti-TMV/insect growth inhibitory activities, which indicated that the introduction of the phenylacryloyloxy group at the C-7β position of limonin could significantly improve its agricultural biological activities. This study will pave the way for future value-added application of citrus industrial wastes and provide strong evidence for the discovery of sustainable biopesticides based on limonoids.

Construction of oxime ester derivatives of osthole from Cnidium monnieri, and evaluation of their agricultural activities and control efficiency

BACKGROUND

In order to discover natural-product-based pesticidal candidates, a series of coumarin-like derivatives containing oxime ester fragments at the C-8 position were prepared by structural modification of osthole, a natural plant product isolated from Cnidium monnieri. Their pesticidal activities were evaluated against two typically fruit trees/crop-threatening agricultural pests, Mythimna separata Walker and Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval.

RESULTS

Osthole was regioselectively oxidized by selenium dioxide to give the E-isomer, (2'E)-3'-formaldehydylosthole (2). Four key steric structures of 2, (2'E, 4'E)-(o-chloropyrid-3-ylcarbonyl)oximinylosthole (4o), (2'E, 4'E)-(styrylcarbonyl)oximinylosthole (4t), and (2'E, 4'E)-(acetyl)oximinylosthole (4w) were undoubtedly confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Against T. cinnabarinus, it is noteworthy that (2'E, 4'E)-(p-chlorophenylcarbonyl)oximinylosthole (4c) exhibited over three-fold more potent acaricidal activity of the precursor osthole, with especially good control efficiency observed in the glasshouse. Against M. separata, compounds 4c and (2'E, 4'E)-(p-nitrophenylcarbonyl)oximinylosthole (4f) showed the most pronounced growth inhibitory activity. The relationships between their structures and agricultural activities also were studied.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that compound 4c could be further structurally modified as pesticidal agents. It will lay the foundation for future application of osthole derivatives as pesticides. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

COVID-19 epidemic outside China: 34 founders and exponential growth

COVID-19 raised tension both within China and internationally. Here, we used mathematical modeling to predict the trend of patient diagnosis outside China in future, with the aim of easing anxiety regarding the emergent situation. According to all diagnosis number from WHO website and combining with the transmission mode of infectious diseases, the mathematical model was fitted to predict future trend of outbreak. Daily diagnosis numbers from countries outside China were downloaded from WHO situation reports. The data used for this analysis were collected from January 21, 2020 and currently end at February 28, 2020. A simple regression model was developed based on these numbers, as follows: log10(Nt+34)=0.0515×t+2.075, where Nt is the total diagnosed patient till the i-th day and t=1 at February 1, 2020. Based on this model, we estimate that there were approximately 34 undetected founder patients at the beginning of the spread of COVID-19 outside China. The global trend was approximately exponential, with an increase rate of 10-fold every 19 days. Through establishment of this model, we call for worldwide strong public health actions, with reference to the experiences learned from China and Singapore.

Anti-DFS70 Antibodies Among Patient and Healthy Population Cohorts in China: Results From a Multicenter Training Program Showing Spontaneous Abortion and Pediatric Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Are Common in Anti-DFS70 Positive Patients

Objective

Anti-DFS70 antibodies correlating with the nuclear dense fine speckled (DFS) pattern in the HEp-2 indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) are less common in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) than in healthy subjects and their clinical associations remain elusive. We hosted a multi-center HEp-2 IFA training program to improve the ability of clinical laboratories to recognize the DFS pattern and to investigate the prevalence and relevance of anti-DFS70 antibodies.

Methods

DFS pattern sera identified by HEp-2 IFA in 29 centers in China were redirected to a central laboratory for anti-DFS70 testing by line immunoblot assay (LIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and IFA with HEp-2 ELITE/DFS70-KO substrate. Anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies were measured by LIA and the clinical relevance was examined in adult and pediatric patients.

Results

HEp-2 IFA positive rate and DFS pattern in positive sera were 36.2% (34,417/95,131) and 1.7% (582/34,417) in the patient cohort, and 10.0% (423/4,234) and 7.8% (33/423) in a healthy population, respectively. Anti-DFS70 prevalence among sera presenting the DFS pattern was 96.0, 93.7, and 49.6% by ELISA, LIA, and HEp-2 ELITE, respectively. 15.5% (52/336) of adult and 50.0% (20/40) of pediatric anti-DFS70 positive patients were diagnosed with SARD. Diseases most common in anti-DFS70 positive patients were spontaneous abortion (28.0%) in adults and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (22.5%) in pediatric patients.

Conclusion

Accurate DFS pattern identification increased the detection rate of anti-DFS70 antibodies by ELISA and LIA. Anti-DFS70 antibodies are remarkably high in cases of spontaneous abortion and in pediatric SARD patients, but not prevalent in adult SARD patients.

[Long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic versus abdominal surgery in stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI+）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer patients with different tumor size: a big database in China]

Objective: To compare the long-term oncological outcomes between laparoscopic and abdominal surgery in stage Ⅰa1 （lymph-vascular space invasion-positive, LVSI⁺）- Ⅰb1 cervical cancer patients with different tumor sizes. Methods: Based on the Big Database of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Cancer in China (1538 project database), patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer who treated by laparoscopic or abdominal surgery were included. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) between the two surgical approaches were compared under 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) in different tumor diameter stratification. Results: (1) A total of 4 891 patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016 were included in the 1538 project database. Among them, 1 926 cases in the laparoscopic group and 2 965 cases in the abdominal group. There were no difference in 5-year OS and 5-year DFS between the two groups before matching. Cox multivariate analysis suggested that laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.367, 95%CI: 1.105-1.690, P=0.004). After 1∶1 PSM matching, 1 864 patients were included in each group, and there was no difference in 5-year OS between the two groups （94.1% vs 95.4%, P=0.151）. While, the inferior 5-year DFS was observed in the laparoscopic group (89.0% vs 92.3%, P=0.004). And the laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.420, 95%CI: 1.109-1.818, P=0.006). (2) In stratification analysis of different tumor sizes, and there were no difference in 5-year OS and 5-year DFS between the laparoscopic group and abdominal group in tumor size ≤1 cm, >1-2 cm and >2-3 cm stratification (all P>0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that laparoscopic surgery were not related to 5-year OS and 5-year DFS (P>0.05). In the stratification of tumor size >3-4 cm, there was no difference in 5-year OS between the two groups (P>0.05). The 5-year DFS in the laparoscopic group was worse than that in the abdominal group (75.7% vs 85.8%, P=0.025). Cox multivariate analysis suggested that laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.705, 95%CI: 1.088-2.674, P=0.020). Conclusions: For patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer, laparoscopic surgery is associated with lower 5-year DFS, and the adverse effect of laparoscopic surgery on oncology prognosis is mainly reflected in patients with tumor size >3-4 cm. For patients with tumor sizes ≤1 cm, >1-2 cm and >2-3 cm, there are no difference in oncological prognosis between the two surgical approaches.