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Objectives: Confirm that stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth‐derived exosomes (SHED‐exos) can limit inflammation‐triggered epithelial cell apoptosis and explore the molecular mechanism. Methods: SHED‐exos were injected into the submandibular glands (SMGs) of non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Cell death was evaluated by western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling staining. Results: SHED‐exos treatment promoted the saliva flow rates of NOD mice, accompanied by decreased cleaved caspase‐3 levels and apoptotic cell numbers in SMGs. SHED‐exos inhibited autophagy, pyroptosis, NETosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis and oxeiptosis marker expression in SS‐damaged glands. Mechanistically, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of exosomal miRNAs suggested that the rat sarcoma virus (RAS)/mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway might play an important role. In vivo, the expression of Kirsten RAS, Harvey RAS, MEK1/2 and p‐ERK1/2 was upregulated in SMGs, and this change was blocked by SHED‐exos treatment. In vitro, SHED‐exos suppressed p‐ERK1/2 activation and increased cleaved caspase‐3 and apoptotic cell numbers, which were induced by IFN‐γ. Conclusion: SHED‐exos suppress epithelial cell death, which is responsible for promoting salivary secretion. SHED‐exos inhibited inflammation‐triggered epithelial cell apoptosis by suppressing p‐ERK1/2 activation, which is involved in these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the main components and potential mechanism of Shuxuening Injection (SXNI) in the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) through network pharmacology and in vivo research. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and PharmMapper databases were used to extract and evaluate the effective components of Ginkgo biloba leaves, the main component of SXNI. The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) and GeneCards databases were searched for disease targets and obtain the drug target and disease target intersections. The active ingredient-target network was built using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. The STRING database, Metascape online platform, and R language were used to obtain the key targets and signaling pathways of the anti-MIRI effects of SXNI. In order to verify the therapeutic effect of different concentrations of SXNI on MIRI in rats, 60 rats were first divided into 5 groups according to random number table method: the sham operation group, the model group, SXNI low-dose (3.68 mg/kg), medium-dose (7.35 mg/kg), and high-dose (14.7 mg/kg) groups, with 12 rats in each group. Then, another 60 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the sham operation group, the model group, SXNI group (14.7 mg/kg), SXNI+LY294002 group, and LY294002 group, with 12 rats in each group. The drug was then administered intraperitoneally at body weight for 14 days. The main biological processes were validated using in vivo testing. Evans blue/triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) double staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot analysis were used to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of SXNI in MIRI rats. Results: Eleven core targets and 30 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were selected. Among these, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT) pathway was closely related to SXNI treatment of MIRI. In vivo experiments showed that SXNI reduced the myocardial infarction area in the model group, improved rat heart pathological damage, and reduced the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate (all P<0.01). After SXNI treatment, the p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT ratios as well as B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein expression in cardiomyocytes were increased, while the Bax and cleaved caspase 3 protein expression levels were decreased (all P<0.05). LY294002 partially reversed the protective effect of SXNI on MIRI. Conclusion: SXNI protects against MIRI by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Surgery to prevent breast and ovarian cancer is very effective, but there is limited research into the quality of life afterwards, particularly with reference to quality-of-life scores known as utility scores. These are important for patients at increased cancer risk who are considering surgery and are essential for health-economic evaluations. This article used data from a systematic review of different quality-of-life questionnaires given to patients following these surgeries. We converted these data into utility scores, as recommended by the national guidelines. This shows that surgery to prevent breast cancer is associated with a long-term utility score of 0.92 and surgery to prevent ovarian cancer has a score of 0.97, indicating a mild–moderate impact. These are the first utility scores sourced from patients who have undergone these procedures, and they are important to doctors counselling patients about cancer prevention options and to researchers. Higher-quality studies are still needed, using the recommended quality-of-life questionnaire (EQ-5D). Background: Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) are the most effective breast and ovarian cancer preventive interventions. EQ-5D is the recommended tool to assess the quality of life and determine health-related utility scores (HRUSs), yet there are no published EQ-5D HRUSs after these procedures. These are essential for clinicians counselling patients and for health-economic evaluations. Methods: We used aggregate data from our published systematic review and converted SF-36/SF-12 summary scores to EQ-5D HRUSs using a published mapping algorithm. Study control arm or age-matched country-specific reference values provided comparison. Random-effects meta-analysis provided adjusted disutilities and utility scores. Subgroup analyses included long-term vs. short-term follow-up. Results: Four studies (209 patients) reported RRM outcomes using SF-36, and five studies (742 patients) reported RRSO outcomes using SF-12/SF-36. RRM is associated with a long-term (>2 years) disutility of −0.08 (95% CI −0.11, −0.04) (I2 31.4%) and a utility of 0.92 (95% CI 0.88, 0.95) (I2 31.4%). RRSO is associated with a long-term (>1 year) disutility of −0.03 (95% CI −0.05, 0.00) (I2 17.2%) and a utility of 0.97 (95% CI 0.94, 0.99) (I2 34.0%). Conclusions: We present the first HRUSs sourced from patients following RRM and RRSO. There is a need for high-quality prospective studies to characterise quality of life at different timepoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (BGZ) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (Yangsyn) with good curative effect and security. However, BGZ was also reported to induce liver injury in recent years. According to TCM theory, taking BGZ may induce a series of adverse reactions in patients with kidney-yin deficiency syndrome (Yinsyn), which suggests that BGZ-induced liver damage may be related to its unreasonable clinical use. Aim of the study: Liver injury caused by TCM is a rare but potentially serious adverse drug reaction, and the identification of predisposed individuals for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remains challenging. The study aimed to investigate the differential responses to BGZ in Yangsyn and Yinsyn rat models and identify the corresponding characteristic biomarkers. Materials and methods: The corresponding animal models of Yangsyn and Yinsyn were induced by hydrocortisone and thyroxine + reserpine respectively. Body weight, organ index, serum biochemistry, and Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining were used to evaluate the liver toxicity effect of BGZ on rats with Yangsyn and Yinsyn. Transcriptomics and metabonomics were used to screen the representative biomarkers (including metabolites and differentially expressed genes (DEGs)) changed by BGZ in Yangsyn and Yinsyn rats, respectively. Results: The level changes of liver organ index, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), suggested that BGZ has liver-protective and liver-damaging effects on Yangsyn and Yinsyn rats, respectively, and the results also were confirmed by the pathological changes of liver tissue. The results showed that 102 DEGs and 27 metabolites were significantly regulated related to BGZ's protective effect on Yangsyn, which is mainly associated with the glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, pantothenate, and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathways. While 28 DEGs and 31 metabolites, related to the pathway of pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, were significantly regulated for the BGZ-induced liver injury in Yinsyn. Furthermore, 4 DEGs (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member B1 (Aldh1b1), solute carrier family 25 member 25 (Slc25a25), Pim-3 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (Pim3), out at first homolog (Oaf)) and 4 metabolites (phosphatidate, phosphatidylcholine, N-Acetylleucine, biliverdin) in the Yangsyn group and 1 DEG [galectin 5 (Lgals5)] and 1 metabolite (5-amino-1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)imidazole-4-carboxylate) in Yinsyn group were significantly correlated to the ALT and AST levels of BGZ treated and untreated groups (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) ≥ 0.9). Conclusions: Yinsyn and Yangsyn are the predisposed syndromes for BGZ to exert liver damage and liver protection respectively, which are mainly related to the regulation of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. The results further suggest that attention should be paid to the selection of predisposed populations when using drugs related to the regulation of energy metabolism, and the Yinsyn/Yangsyn animal models based on the theory of TCM syndromes may be a feasible method for identifying the susceptible population to receive TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Widespread insecticide exposure might be a risk factor for neurodevelopment of our children, but few studies examined the mixture effect of maternal coexposure to organophosphate insecticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), and neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment, and critical windows of exposure are unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the association of prenatal exposure to multiple insecticides with children’s neurodevelopment and to identify critical windows of the exposure. METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited into a prospective birth cohort study in Wuhan, China, from 2014–2017. Eight metabolites of OPPs (mOPPs), three metabolites of PYRs (mPYRs), and nine metabolites of NNIs (mNNIs) were measured in 3,123 urine samples collected at their first, second, and third trimesters. Children’s neurodevelopment [mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI)] was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 2 years of age (푁 = 1,041). Multivariate linear regression models, generalized estimating equation models, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to estimate the association between the insecticide metabolites and Bayley scores. Potential sex-specific associations were also examined. RESULTS: Single chemical analysis suggested higher urinary concentrations of some insecticide metabolites at the first trimester were significantly associated with lower MDI and PDI scores, and the associations were more prominent among boys. Each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed urinary concentrations of two mOPPs, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and 4-nitrophenol, was associated with a decrease of 3.16 points [95% confidence interval (CI): -5:59, -0:74] and 3.06 points (95% CI: -5.45, -0.68) respectively in boys’ MDI scores. Each 1-unit increase in that of trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (trans-DCCA; an mPYR) was significantly associated with a decrease of 2.24 points (95% CI: -3.89, -0.58) in boys’ MDI scores and 1.90 points (95% CI: -3.16, -0.64) in boys’ PDI scores, respectively. Significantly positive associations of maternal urinary biomarker concentrations [e.g., dimethyl phosphate (a nonspecific mOPP) and desmethyl-clothianidin (a relatively specific mNNI)] with child neurodevelopment were also observed. Using repeated holdout validation, a 1-quartile increase in the WQS index of the insecticide mixture (in the negative direction) at the first trimester was significantly associated with a decrease of 3.02 points (95% CI: -5.47, -0.57) in MDI scores among the boys, and trans-DCCA contributed the most to the association (18%). CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to higher levels of certain insecticides and their mixture were associated with lower Bayley scores in children, particularly in boys. Early pregnancy may be a sensitive window for such an effect. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effect of type III Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) on changes in the myelin sheath and the recovery of nerve function during the regeneration process following autologous nerve transplantation. Seventy-two Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into a Blank, Model and (antisense oligonucleotide, ASON) group. The Model and ASON groups of SD rats were subjected to autologous nerve transplantation, and the Blank group only had the sciatic nerve exposed. The Model and ASON groups were given local injections of 2 ml PBS buffer solution and 2 ml ASON of Type III NRG-1, respectively, the NRG-1 type III was inhibited by ASON. Changes in the sciatic nerve functional index (SFI) and conduction velocities were observed at different 6 time points. Regeneration of the myelin sheath was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Type III NRG-1 protein was detected using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, and NRG-1 mRNA was detected using PCR. The SFI of the ASON group was lower than the Model group after transplantation. The conduction velocities of the ASON group on the 14th and 21st days after autologous nerve transplantation were lower than the Model group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of type III NRG-1 in the ASON group was lower than the Model group at all 6 time points. The area of medullated nerve fibres was significantly different between the ASON group and the Model group on the 3rd day (P < 0.05), as was the number of medullated nerve fibres per unit area (P < 0.01). The diameter of axons was obviously different between the two groups (P < 0.01). Type III NRG-1 played an important regulatory role in the regeneration process of the nerve from the beginning of transplantation to the 28th day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to explore the factors that influence the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of primary care providers in China, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rescission of restriction policies. We utilized the 20-item Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and the 25-item organizational commitment survey to assess job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In total, 435 valid responses were included in our analysis. The average scores for job satisfaction and organizational commitment were 80.6 and 90.8. After a two-step tuning process, we built random forest models by machine learning. The results show income change, working years, working years in the current institute, and age were the four most important features associated with job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and most of their dimensions. The number of professional fields engaged, gender, job status, and types of endowment insurance were least associated. During pandemic time, income-related factors remain a core concern for primary care providers, whereas job security may lose its importance. These findings suggest that financial bonuses may be an effective way to boost morale, and age-specific motivation plans may be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal overexposure to manganese (Mn), an essential micronutrient, is related to impaired fetal growth and development. Fetuses appear to be highly sensitive to Mn during short periods of gestation. However, little is known about the critical windows of susceptibility to Mn for humans. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to estimate trimester-specific associations of exposure to Mn with size at birth. METHODS: Urine samples of 3,022 women were collected repeatedly in the first, second, and third trimesters in Wuhan, China. Urinary concentrations of Mn and other toxic metals were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Trimester-specific associations of specific gravity- adjusted urinary Mn concentrations with birth weight, birth length, and ponderal index were estimated using multivariable linear regressions with generalized estimating equations. Linear mixed models were applied to evaluate the windows of susceptibility to Mn exposure by comparing the pattern of Mn exposure among newborns with restricted size at birth to those without. RESULTS: When compared with the third quintile of urinary Mn concentrations, both higher and lower quintiles of urinary Mn concentrations in the second and third trimesters were related to reduced birth weight, birth length, and ponderal index. But the observed associations for higher quintiles were stronger and more likely to be statistically significant [e.g., for women who were in the fifth quintile of Mn concentration in the third trimester, the reduction in birth weight was -11:2 (95% CI: -22:2, -0:1) g and in birth length was -0:04 (95% CI: -0:08, 0.00) cm]. Moreover, newborns with restricted size at birth, compared with those without, had higher levels of Mn exposure in the second and third trimesters. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective prenatal cohort study revealed an association of exposure to Mn during pregnancy, especially late pregnancy, with restricted size at birth. Replications are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that cadmium (Cd) is associated with type 2 diabetes. However, little is known about Cd exposure and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between Cd body burden in early pregnancy and the risk of GDM. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 2,026 pregnant women from a single tertiary medical center between 2013 and 2016 in Wuhan, China. Cd body burden was reflected by Cd concentrations in urine samples collected between gestational weeks 8 and 14. GDM was diagnosed according to International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups Consensus Panel (IADPSG) recommendations. RESULTS: The geometric mean of Cd concentrations in maternal urine of all pregnant women was 0.59 µg/L. A total of 198 (9.8%) women were diagnosed with GDM. After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk ratios (RRs) of GDM were 1.04 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.44) for the middle tertile of Cd levels and 1.36 (95%: CI: 0.98, 1.90) for the top tertile compared with the bottom tertile. In addition, we found a significant interaction between fetal sex and maternal Cd levels on the risk of GDM (p for interaction = 0.03). Among women carrying male fetuses, the RR of GDM was 1.86 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.93) for the top tertile of Cd levels compared with the bottom tertile. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between urinary Cd levels in early pregnancy and GDM. Our findings suggest that Cd body burden increases the risk of GDM and that the association may be modified by fetal sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD) is a Mendelian disorder arising from biallelic SLC25A13 mutations, and SLC25A13 genetic analysis was indispensable for its definite diagnosis. However, conventional SLC25A13 analysis could not detect all mutations, especially obscure large insertions/deletions. This paper aimed to explore the obscure SLC25A13 mutation in an NICCD infant. Methods. Genomic DNA was extracted to screen for 4 high-frequency SLC25A13 mutations, and then all 18 exons and their flanking sequences were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Subsequently, cDNA cloning, SNP analyses, and semiquantitative PCR were performed to identify the obscure mutation. Results. A maternally inherited mutation IVS16ins3kb was screened out, and then cDNA cloning unveiled paternally inherited alternative splicing variants (ASVs) featuring exon 5 skipping. Ultimately, a large deletion c.329-1687_c.468+3865del5692bp, which has never been described in any other references, was identified via intensive study on the genomic DNA around exon 5 of SLC25A13 gene. Conclusions. An NICCD patient was definitely diagnosed as a compound heterozygote of IVS16ins3kb and c.329-1687_c.468+3865del5692bp. The large deletion enriched the SLC25A13 mutation spectrum, and its identification supported the concept that cDNA cloning analysis, along with other molecular tools such as semiquantitative PCR, could provide valuable clues, facilitating the identification of obscure SLC25A13 deletions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China reduced hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by 90% among children under 5 years old with safe and effective hepatitis B vaccines (HepB). In December 2013, this success was threatened by widespread media reports of infant deaths following HepB administration. Seventeen deaths and one case of anaphylactic shock following HBV vaccination had been reported.Methods: We conducted a telephone survey to measure parental confidence in HepB in eleven provinces at four points in time; reviewed maternal HBV status and use of HepB for newborns in birth hospitals in eight provinces before and after the event; and monitored coverage with hepatitis B vaccine and other programme vaccines in ten provinces.Results: HepB from the implicated company was suspended during the investigation, which showed that the deaths were not caused by HepB vaccination. Before the event, 85% respondents regarded domestic vaccines as safe, decreasing to 26.7% during the event. During the height of the crisis, 30% of parents reported being hesitant to vaccinate and 18.4% reported they would refuse HepB. Use of HepB in the monitored provinces decreased by 18.6%, from 53 653 doses the week before the event to 43 688 doses during the week that Biokangtai HepB was suspended. Use of HepB within the first day of life decreased by 10% among infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers, and by 6% among infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. Vaccine refusal and HepB birth dose rates returned to baseline within 2 months; confidence increased, but remained below baseline.Conclusions: The HBV vaccine event resulted in the suspension of a safe vaccine, which was associated with a decline of parental confidence, and refusal of vaccination. Suspension of a vaccine can lead to loss of confidence that is difficult to recover. Timely and credible investigation, accompanied by proactive outreach to stakeholders and the media, may help mitigate negative impact of future coincidental adverse events following immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection and diagnosis are very important for autism. Current diagnosis of autism relies mainly on some observational questionnaires and interview tools that may involve a great variability. We performed a metabolomics analysis of serum to identify potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and clinical evaluation of autism. Methods: We analyzed a discovery cohort of patients with autism and participants without autism in the Chinese Han population using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS/MS) to detect metabolic changes in serum associated with autism. The potential metabolite candidates for biomarkers were individually validated in an additional independent cohort of cases and controls. We built a multiple logistic regression model to evaluate the validated biomarkers. Results: We included 73 patients and 63 controls in the discovery cohort and 100 cases and 100 controls in the validation cohort. Metabolomic analysis of serum in the discovery stage identified 17 metabolites, 11 of which were validated in an independent cohort. A multiple logistic regression model built on the 11 validated metabolites fit well in both cohorts. The model consistently showed that autism was associated with 2 particular metabolites: sphingosine 1-phosphate and docosahexaenoic acid. Limitations: While autism is diagnosed predominantly in boys, we were unable to perform the analysis by sex owing to difficulty recruiting enough female patients. Other limitations include the need to perform test-retest assessment within the same individual and the relatively small sample size. Conclusion: Two metabolites have potential as biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive insulin therapy during critical illness protects the endothelium and thereby prevents organ failure. This study tested the hypothesis that insulin directly affects the attenuation of burn injury-induced damage to pulmonary endothelial tight junction and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Sprague Dawley rats with severe burn injury were randomized to treatment with insulin dissolved in normal saline (maintenance of blood glucose at a level between 5.0 and 7.0 mmol/L) or normal saline alone (in vivo treatment). Pulmonary damage was evaluated. Rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were treated with 20% burn serum or 20% burn serum + insulin (in vitro treatment). Selected cultures were pretreated with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B ( AKT) inhibitor ( LY294002). Permeability was assessed by migration of bovine serum albumin across cell monolayers. Cells were stained with rhodamine phalloidin and were examined. Cell extracts were obtained to assess zonula occludens-1, occludin, and phosphorylated AKT levels by immunoblotting. Treatment with insulin attenuated the pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and inflammatory cell infiltration of rats with severe burn injury. Burn serum significantly enhanced monolayer permeability to albumin, whereas treatment with insulin (10−7 mol/L) limited this effect. Meanwhile, insulin (10−7 mol/L) reduced burn serum-induced F-actin stress fiber formation and decreased zonula occludens-1 expression. LY294002 decreased cytoplasmic AKT phosphorylation and inhibited the protection effects of insulin. Through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/ AKT pathway, insulin independent of glucose toxicity can attenuate increased pulmonary endothelial permeability induced by burn injury. The effect is attributed to the attenuation of the architectural disruption of protein components of the endothelial tight junction. This result is useful in inhibiting multiple organ failure after burn injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new butanolide derivatives with long aliphatic side chains (1–6), together with 23 known lipophilic constituents, were isolated from the bark of Machilus yaoshansis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the isolates were evaluated for cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nine new fatty acid derivatives, including seven methoxylated (1, 2, and 4–8) and two hydroxylated (3 and 9) fatty acids, have been isolated from the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Fraxinus sieboldiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. The 3- or 9-methoxylated fatty acids are reported for the first time in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]