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Armillaria mellea , the causal agent of root rot, is a fungal pathogen which proved able to convert the leguminous plant antifungal compound 4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (genistein) into intermediate metabolites. After suitable periods of incubation, the metabolites were extracted and concentrated from liquid culture media, containing both the isoflavone and the fungus. After purification by column chromatography, the molecular structure of the metabolites was determined by means of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Five different compounds were identified: 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (homogentisic acid), its lactone 5-hydroxy-2(3H)-benzofuranone, and 1,4-benzoquinone. In vitro experiments showed that while the starting compound, i.e. genistein, has some activity in inhibiting the growth of the fungal pathogen, the degradation products are devoid of any appreciable fungitoxic activity. Moreover, results show that the isoflavone metabolites can be, at least partially, utilized by A. mellea as a carbon source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main contribution of this article is establishing a set of behaviors and successful actions experimenting the Ipacs' (Institutional & Public Coaching Services) methodology on implementation of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), approved in Italy in 2021 to overcome the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. This research is aimed at pointing out emotional intelligence (EI) behaviors related to the activities of the NRP with respect to the National Health System (NHS)., Participants and Procedure: Fifty-six professionals were provided with an integrated pathway with coaching, participative art and mentoring from January to June 2022. A "core set" of 5 soft skills - communication, result orientation, teamwork, networking, and emotional intelligence - was measured before and after an integrated coaching pathway. Each soft skill related to the following three systemic objectives through pre-defined, related activities: 1) defining and introducing new roles in the health community houses; 2) implementing a new systemic communication in oncology; 3) facilitating the management of chronicity through a new IT platform. We observed that the Giunti test (Org-EIQ) and Ipacs' test enlighten the same emotional intelligence indicators of behaviors considered by the investigated coaching integrated pathway., Results: Forty-eight percent of them increased in all 5 core skills. Results were measured at least in one of the two tests. These results were possible thanks to the changes in abilities of self- introspection, in communicating and sharing common goals, to achieve high standard results in conditions of uncertainty, to understand non-verbal feedback and give feedback., Conclusions: Emotional intelligence acted as a meta skill to pursue a "new model of man" with a new self-schema, self-image and set of behaviors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk.)

Aim: The aim is to evaluate prescriptive patterns of atypical antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia in the LHU Caserta in 2011-2013, and to indicate potentially inappropriate therapy; to plan or schedule corrective/preventive activities to support the continuous improvement of health services., Methods: Retrospective cohort study, based on integration of health records and clinical audit. The study was performed in the following steps: data retrieval and analysis; comparison of data with international literature; editing of the Diagnostic-Therapeutic Path. The analysis was performed by using the administrative database of drug prescriptions and treatment plans in the SANIARP portal, a web platform available to specialist facilities and private and public pharmacies of LHU Caserta. The subject of our analysis was to gain information about the diagnosis and treatment of users of atypical antipsychotics in the LHU of Caserta in the years 2011-2013., Results: We identified 2,768 patients with at least one prescription of atypical antipsychotics and diagnosis coded in the study period. Schizophrenia is the most frequent diagnosis (31.1%) and the most common drug in use is olanzapine (29.1%). About 70% of schizophrenics were on monotherapy with no change in drug, 23.6% were under polytherapy and 7.9% made a switch., Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings were a starting point for editing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Paths aimed at raising the awareness of the scientific community about the appropriateness of diagnosis and treatment in schizophrenia. Pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia should be focused on improving the overall quality of life aimed at remission and possible recovery, although difficult.

A phytochemical analysis of the polar extract from the red bulbs of Allium cepa L. var. Tropea, typical of Calabria, a southern region of Italy, was performed extensively for the first time, leading to the isolation of four new furostanol saponins, named tropeoside A1/A2 (1a/1b) and tropeoside B1/B2 (3a/3b), along with the respective 22-O-methyl derivatives (2a/2b and 4a/4b), almost certainly extraction artifacts. High concentrations of ascalonicoside A1/A2 (5a/5b) and ascalonicoside B (6), previously isolated from Allium ascalonicum Hort., were also found. This is the first report of furostanol saponins in this A. cepa variety. The chemical structures of the new compounds were established through a combination of extensive nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and chemical analyses. High concentrations of quercetin, quercetin 4(I)-glucoside, taxifolin, taxifolin 7-glucoside, and phenylalanine were also isolated. The new saponins were found to possess antispasmodic activity in the guinea pig isolated ileum; such an effect might contribute to explaining the traditional use of onion in the treatment of disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract.

A phytochemical analysis of Aster sedifolius has led to the isolation of three novel triterpenoid saponins, based on an oleane-type skeleton and named astersedifolioside A (1), B (2) and C (3). On the basis of chemical, and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry data, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] echinocystic acid 28-[O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] (1), 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] echinocystic acid 28-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] (2) and 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] echinocystic acid 28-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] (3). The isolated compounds showed antiproliferative effect in KiMol, a transformed thyroid cell line.

The Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias L. afforded twelve new diterpenes based on a jatrophane skeleton named euphocharacins A-L. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry methods. Euphocharacins A-L were tested as inhibitors of the daunomycin-efflux activity of P-glycoprotein from cancer cells. The results were used to extend the structure-activity relationship established for this class of compounds, highlighting the positive effects of propyl and benzoyl groups at positions 3 and 9, respectively, and evidencing the negative effect of a free hydroxyl group at position 2. Among the tested compounds, euphocharacins C and I showed an activity higher than cyclosporin to inhibit Pgp-mediated daunomycin transport.

From the whole plant of Euphorbia peplus L., five new diterpenes based on a jatrophane skeleton (pepluanins A-E, 1-5) were isolated, together with two known analogues (6 and 7), which served to divulge in detail the structure-activity relationships within this class of P-glycoprotein inhibitors. The results revealed the importance of substitutions on the medium-sized ring (carbons 8, 9, 14, and 15). In particular, the activity is collapsed by the presence of a free hydroxyl at C-8, while it increases with a carbonyl at C-14, an acetoxyl at C-9, and a free hydroxyl at C-15. The most potent compound of the series, pepluanin A, showed a very high activity for a jatrophane diterpene, outperforming cyclosporin A by a factor of at least 2 in the inhibition of Pgp-mediated daunomycin transport.

The new diterpenoids terracinolides J-L (1-3), 13alpha-OH terracinolide F (8), abeodendroidin F (11) and epiabeodendroidin F (12) have been identified from Euphorbia dendroides L. The new compounds and six co-occurring known terracinolides were tested as inhibitors of the drug-efflux activity of P-glycoprotein from cancer cells. The results were used to extend the structure-activity relationships established for this class of compounds highlighting the relevance of substitution at positions 2, 3, 6, and 15 and disclosing a remarkable tolerance toward connectivity changes in the terpenoid core.

The Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia dendroides L. afforded a series of 10 closely related jatrophane polyesters, nine of which are new, which served as a base for the establishment of structure-activity relationships within this class of P-glycoprotein inhibitors. The results, while pointing to the general role of lipophilicity for activity, also highlighted the relevance of the substitution pattern at the positions 2, 3, and 5, suggesting the involvement of this fragment in binding. The most powerful compound of the series, euphodendroidin D (4), outperformed cyclosporin by a factor of 2 to inhibit Pgp-mediated daunomycin transport.

This paper contrasts the ways in which the physician-scientist developing in vitro fertilization ("the king") sees the world and the way women experience it. It challenges the truth of what the king sees: i.e., that women have a desperate will to be mothers that must be fulfilled at all costs; that the way to make infertile women mothers is through the use of new reproductive technologies; that IVF programs are quite successful and that women who enter these programs actually come away with babies.