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Seven novel linear polyketides, talaketides A−G (1 − 7), were isolated from the rice media cultures of the mangrove sediment-derived fungus Talaromyces sp. SCSIO 41027. Among these, talaketides A−E (1 − 5) represented unprecedented unsaturated linear polyketides with an epoxy ring structure. The structures, including absolute configurations of these compounds, were elucidated through detailed analyses of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) data, as well as electronic custom distributors (ECD) calculations. In the cytotoxicity screening against prostate cancer cell lines, talaketide E (5) demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines, with an IC 50 value of 14.44 μmol·L−1. Moreover, compound 5 significantly inhibited the cloning formation of PC-3 cell lines and arrested the cell cycle in S-phase, ultimately inducing apoptosis. These findings indicate that compound 5 may serve as a promising lead compound for the development of a potential treatment for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surgical approach for high-level intra-abdominal testis (IAT) is variable. While most pediatric urologists prefer staged Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO), Shehata publicized a novel approach—known as staged laparoscopic traction orchiopexy (SLTO) or the Shehata technique—to better manage IATs. This study compares the overall success rates, atrophy rates, retraction rates, and operation times of the two procedures to assist surgeons with developing procedure strategies. Databases were searched for relevant literature involving these two approaches, and studies meeting the eligibility criteria were involved; RevMan 5.4 was used to conduct this meta-analysis. The relative risk (RR), weighted mean difference, 95% confidence interval (CI), p-value, publication bias, and heterogeneity were calculated. The Shehata technique demonstrated better performance than staged FSO regarding the overall success and atrophy rate, while the retraction rate and operation time had no statistical difference. This study revealed that the Shehata technique may be an alternative to staged FSO for managing high-level IATs. Additional high-quality studies regarding the Shehata technique, as well as a long-term follow-up, are required for further and more credible analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two new azaphthalide/phthalide compounds were isolated from a marine Aspergillus. • New structures were determined by NMR, OR, calculated ECD and X-ray diffraction. • Melilotigenin B (10) displayed moderate inhibition on pancreatic lipase. A new azaphthalide derivative, (S)-3-hydroxy-2,7-dimethylfuro [3,4- b ]pyridin-5(7 H)-one (1), and a new phthalide derivative, (S)-7-hydroxy-3-((S)-1-hydroxyethyl)isobenzofuran-1(3 H)-one (2), were isolated from the coral-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO41405, together with eight known compounds (3–10). Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses, optical rotation, calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and X-ray crystal data. The isolated compounds were examined for antibacterial and enzyme inhibition activities. Compounds 7 and 8 exhibited weak antibacterial activities, and 10 displayed moderate inhibition on pancreatic lipase with an IC 50 value of 15.6 μ g/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual intussusception reduction can sometimes be accomplished through the existing umbilical incision after a laparoscopic attempt has failed. We compared the safety and efficacy of open transumbilical intussusception reduction (OTIR) and laparoscopic reduction (LAP). We prospectively enrolled children diagnosed with intussusception at our hospital from June 2014 to December 2018. Clinically stable patients who failed pneumatic intussusception reduction were randomly assigned to the OTIR or LAP group. We compared reduction rates, complications, operative times, and surgery costs between the two groups. Fifty-one of 451 patients with an intussusception met the study criteria. In the OTIR group (n = 27), 22 intussusceptions were successfully reduced, and 5 required incision extension. The mean operative time was 47.7 ± 10.5 min, and mean surgery cost was 1259.74 ± 46.24 US dollars. In the LAP group (n = 24), 5 patients required conversion to open surgery. Three of the 5 cases were resolved by OTIR, while the other 2 needed incision extension. The mean operative time was 68.63 ± 17.13 min, and mean surgery cost was 1750.63 ± 106.98 US dollars. Severe complications did not occur in either group. OTIR was as safe and effective as LAP and had a shorter operative time and lower surgery cost. OTIR is a good option for intussusception reduction in children. Treatment study. Level I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phenotype of Tph17 cells is activated and proliferative in psoriasis vulgaris. • Tph17 cells and plasma CXCL13 could be biomarkers for evaluating the severity of psoriasis vulgaris. • Tph17 cells and the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis might represent new immunotherapeutic targets for psoriasis vulgaris. Recently, a new subgroup of T cells, named peripheral helper T (Tph) cells, has been implicated in autoimmune pathogenesis. An imbalance of Tph cell subsets influences the severity of immune-related diseases. However, the characteristics and roles of Tph cell subsets in psoriasis remain unknown. Programmed cell death 1-positive, chemokine C-X-C receptor (CXCR) 5-negative Tph cells can be divided into 3 subgroups based on differential expression of chemokine CXCR3 and chemokine C-C receptor (CCR) 6. CXCR3+CCR6− Tph cells are classified as Tph1, CXCR3−CCR6− Tph cells are classified as Tph2, and CXCR3−CCR6+ Tph cells are classified as Tph17. In this study, conditions of circulating Tph cell subsets and CD4+CXCR5+ follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in 27 patients with psoriasis and 13 healthy individuals were detected by flow cytometry. The level of plasma chemokine C-X-C ligand (CXCL) 13 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlations between the above indexes and disease severity were explored. In the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis, Tph17 cells had an activated, proliferative phenotype; the quantity of the cells correlated with disease severity. Plasma CXCL13 levels were elevated in psoriasis and associated with disease severity and the frequency of Tph17 cells. CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh cells were increased in patients and positively correlated with disease severity, the frequency of Tph17 cells, and plasma CXCL13 levels. Our results suggest that Tph17 cells and the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and represent new immunotherapeutic targets for treating psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel polyketide was isolated from the deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41024. • Extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography data were used to elucidate the new structure. • Kojic acid (3) and griseofamine A (9) exhibited weak antibacterial activities. Asperpentenone A (1), a novel polyketide with a rare cyclopentenone-tetrahydrofuran moiety, was isolated along with eight known compounds (2 – 9) from the deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41024. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Biological evaluation results revealed that kojic acid (3) showed weak antibacterial activities against Bacillus thuringiensis and Acinetobacter baumannii with MIC values of 32 and 128 μ g/mL, respectively. Furthermore, griseofamine A (9) exhibited weak antibacterial activity with an MIC value of 64 μ g/mL against Escherichia coli. The results of antibacterial experiments and especially the large yield of kojic acid (3) indicated that kojic acid might represent a candidate precursor for the development of antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real life, the processing of an incoming event is continuously influenced by prior information at multiple timescales. The present study investigated how harmonic contexts at both local and global levels influence the processing of an incoming chord in an event-related potentials experiment. Chord sequences containing two phrases were presented to musically trained listeners, with the last critical chord either harmonically related or less related to its preceding context at local and/or global levels. ERPs data showed an ERAN-like effect for local context in early time window and a N5-like component for later interaction between the local context and global context. These results suggest that both the local and global contexts influence the processing of an incoming music event, and the local effect happens earlier than the global. Moreover, the interaction between the local context and global context in N5 may suggest that music syntactic integration at local level takes place prior to the integration at global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]