Visible light mediated aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of 2-oxindole-3-carboxylate esters: an alternative approach to 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles

A convenient aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of 3-substituted oxindoles under mild reaction conditions is described herein. This process was accomplished by the activation of molecular oxygen in the air in the presence of a photocatalyst under the irradiation of visible light. The desired product was delivered in up to 89% yield without the addition of base or stoichiometric oxidant.

Reducing the Nano-Scale Aggregation of Perylene Diimide Based Acceptor by Conjugating a Bridge with a Large Volume

A novel perylene diimide (PDI) based acceptor P-PDI was synthesized by attaching a phenyl bridge to two octyloxy side chains. With two large volume side chains, the planarity of P-PDI was significantly reduced, leading to weak nano-aggregation of the PDI groups between the different acceptor molecules. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments also revealed that P-PDI was amorphous, and demonstrating the aggregation of P-PDI was successfully suppressed. When blended with PTB7-Th to fabricate a polymer solar cell, a power conversation efficiency (PCE) of 2.21% was achieved, demonstrating that a conjugated bridge with a big volume side chain could significantly reduce the nano-scale aggregation of PDI based acceptor materials, which provides a new strategy to synthesize high efficiency acceptors based on PDI.

Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activation of Inert Sulfur Ylides for 3-Acyl Oxindole Synthesis

Bicarbonyl-substituted sulfur ylide is a useful, but inert reagent in organic synthesis. Usually, harsh reaction conditions are required for its transformation. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a new, visible-light photoredox catalytic annulation of sulfur ylides under extremely mild conditions, permits the synthesis of oxindole derivatives in high selectivities and efficiencies. The key to its success is the photocatalytic single-electron-transfer (SET) oxidation of the inert amide and acyl-stabilized sulfur ylides to reactive radical cations, which easily proceeds with intramolecular C-H functionalization to give the final products.

Treatment of advanced breast cancer with chinese medicinal herbs of Fei decoction: a case report

A 46-year-old female underwent surgery for cancer of the right breast mammary (T3N2M0) in Sep 2010. Following post surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy of CAF regimens (cyclophosphamide+adriamycin+fluorouracil) was administered. Two years later, multiple pulmonary and skeletal metastatic lesions had been found by CT (computerized tomography) and ECT (emission computed tomograph) imaging. She received the treatment of second-line chemotherapy regimens of GP (cisplatin + gemcitabine). In the meantime, we administered Chinese traditional herb drugs (Fei Decoction, mixed a variety of effective herbal components) to help her recover from the poor condition. After taking the Chinese herbs for 2 months, the tumour marker (CEA, CA15-3) dramatically decreased, resulting in the normal range. Both lung and bone metastatic sites reduced according to CT and ECT imaging, and the patient felt free from the complaint of pulmonary and cardiac discomfort. Over time, the quality of life has been greatly improved, we have managed to prolong the PFS (progression-free-survival) and TTP (time-to-progression) from the onset to date. CTM (Chinese traditional medicine) considers human body as a dynamic platform in which all organs are correlative and bind each other. Relationship between heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney is like an interlink between mother and son, and runs in cycle as a circle. In the course of this combined treatment, we showed that Chinese herbal medicine played an important role in the therapy of breast cancer. Chinese herbs might be an additional choice with their better benefits and tolerability in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer.

Direct sp3 C–H acroleination of N-aryl-tetrahydroisoquinolines by merging photoredox catalysis with nucleophilic catalysis

Sequence catalysis merging photoredox catalysis (PC) and nucleophilic catalysis (NC) has been realized for the direct sp³ C–H acroleination of N-aryl-tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ), affording products in 50–91% yields.

Pneumonia in novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: high-resolution CT findings

Objective

The purpose of our study was to review the initial high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings in pneumonia patients with presumed/laboratory-confirmed novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) infection and detect pneumonia earlier.

Materials and methods

High-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of 106 patients with presumed/laboratory-confirmed novel S-OIV (H1N1) infection were reviewed. The 106 patients were divided into two groups according to the serious condition of the diseases. The pattern (consolidation, ground-glass, nodules, and reticulation), distribution, and extent of abnormality on the HRCT were evaluated in both groups. The dates of the onset of symptoms of the patients were recorded.

Results

The predominant CT findings in the patients at presentation were unilateral or bilateral multifocal asymmetric ground-glass opacities alone (n = 29, 27.4%), with unilateral or bilateral consolidation (n = 50, 47.2%). The consolidation had peribronchovascular and subpleural predominance. The areas of consolidation were found mainly in the posterior, middle and lower regions of the lungs. Reticular opacities were found in 6 cases of the initial MDCT scan. The extent of disease was greater in group 1 patients requiring advanced mechanical ventilation, with diffuse involvement in 19 patients (63.3%) of group 1 patients, and only 15/76 (19.7%) of group 2 patients (p < 0.01, χ² test). 20 cases (19%) of the 106 patients had small bilateral or unilateral pleural effusions. None had evidence of hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement on CT performed at admission or later.

Conclusions

The most common radiographic and CT findings in patients with S-OIV infection are unilateral or bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without associated focal or multifocal areas of consolidation. On HRCT, the ground-glass opacities had a predominant peribronchovascular and subpleural distribution. CT plays an important role in the early recognition of severe S-OIV (H1N1).

MR and CT findings of cyst degeneration of sphenoid bone in McCune-Albright syndrome: a case report

Introduction

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare disorder characterized by the classic triad of precocious puberty, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and café-au-lait pigmented skin lesions. Cystic change is rare in fibrous dysplasia (FD), especially in McCune-Albright syndrome. There were no reports about cyst degeneration in MAS which resulted in abnormal visual acuity and visual fields. Herein, we report a female patient with MAS associated with sphenoid bone cysts which resulted in visual deterioration to describe the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of cyst degeneration in McCune-Albright syndrome.

Case presentation

A 20-year-old female presented with right temporal hemianopsia and visual loss in the right eye suddenly. A café-au-lait spot was found on her neck and left shoulder. Endocrinologic examination revealed elevated basal level of serum PRL, FT₃ and FT₄ with decreased serum TSH. Fibrous dysplasia (FD) generally manifest as round-glass appearance with well defined borders and cystic areas within involved bone were seen as hypointensity on CT. They were showed as hypointense in T1-weighted sequences and as hyperintense in T2-weighted sequences of MRI. After surgery the right temporal hemianopsia improved.

Conclusion

CT combined with MRI is the most effective method to evaluate the extent and complications of fibrous dysplasia in patients with MAS. The treatment of surgery can not cure MAS but relieve the symptom.

Identification of a novel plant virus promoter using a potyvirus infectious clone

A putative promoter from the strawberry vein banding caulimovirus (SVBV) genome was identified by its ability to drive infection with full-length cDNA of the zucchini yellow mosaic RNA potyvirus (ZYMV). A high rate of infection was obtained with the cDNA under control of the SVBV promoter using particle bombardment technology. The SVBV promoter shows 60% homology to the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in the domain spanning the conserved motifs of CCACT (at -83) and the TATA box (at -31), to the transcription start. The 3'-end one-third of the putative promoter (328 bp) was sufficient to invoke full infectivity with the ZYMV clone, and drove transient reporter gene expression in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae transformed with a binary plant transformation vector. Stable expression of a reporter gene (GUS) under control of the truncated SVBV promoter was shown in transformed tobacco shoots in roots, leaves and stems.

[Gastric eosinophilic granuloma: a report of 23 cases]

Twenty-three cases of gastric eosinophilic granuloma were presented with three major complications including gastric ulcers in 22 cases (95.6%), gastric bleedings in 19 cases (82.6%), and fungus infections in 16 cases (69.6%). The relationship between gastric eosinophilic granuloma and fungus infection was discussed, and it was the authors' belief that fungus infection may play a role in the development of the ulcer and cause bleeding. The authors put forward several diagnostic main points and believe that surgery should be the first choice of therapy.