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Objective To explore the relationship between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure and sleep problems in adults. Methods This study included 5 337 participants from the 2007-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Weighted logical regression model and weighted quartile sum (WQS) regression model were used to evaluate the association of blood VOCs with short sleep duration (SSD), difficulty in falling asleep, and sleep disorders in adults. Results After adjusting the confounding factors, blood benzene (OR = 1.120, 95%CI: 1.019-1.230, P = 0.02), 2,5- dimethylfuran (OR = 1.144, 95%CI: 1.043-1.254, P = 0.005), ethylbenzene (OR = 1.115, 95%CI: 1.025-1.211, P = 0.012), furan (OR = 1.271, 95%CI: 1.086-1.489, P = 0.004), and o-xylene (OR = 1.097, 95%CI: 1.006-1.198, P = 0.037) had a significant positive correlation with SDD. Secondly, 2,5-dimethylfuran (OR = 1.082, 95%CI: 1.008-1.161, P = 0.03) and furan (OR = 1.148, 95%CI: 1.002-1.315, P = 0.046) were positively correlated with difficulty in falling asleep. Subgroup analysis showed that the positive association between VOCs and SSD was consistent among different groups. WQS results showed that for every unit of increase, SSD risk increased by 25.4% (OR = 1.254, 95%CI: 1.009-1.559, P = 0.041). Conclusion There is a positive correlation between VOCs exposure and SSD in American adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azilsartan is a novel AT-1 angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker, which reduces blood pressure mildly without the side effect of cough. The drug is believed to have a large market potential. In this study, the drug was analyzed by ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infrared spectroscopy (IR), high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and one-/two-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (i.e., 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC). The spectral data were carefully analyzed, interpreted and used to elucidate the structure of the compound.

A series of derivatives of ursolic acid (UA) were synthesised, the anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity was tested, and the selectivity index (SI) of these compounds was calculated to determine the derivative with the best anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity. Compound A7 showed the best activity against the Toxoplasma gondii (IC50 in T. gondii infected GES-1 cells: 9.1 ± 7.2 μM), better than the lead compound UA and the positive control drug Spiramycin. Compound A7 was selected for further in vivo research: A7 was tested for its effect on the inhibition rate of tachyzoites in mice and its biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde were determined. Compound A7 was evaluated for its anti-Toxoplasma activity and partial damage to the liver. Therefore, the results show that compound A7 could be a potential lead compound for developing a novel anti-Toxoplasma gondii molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]