Triterpenoids from the leaves of Diospyros kaki (persimmon) and their inhibitory effects on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

Phytochemical study on a methanol-soluble extract of the leaves of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) resulted in the isolation of two new ursane-type triterpenoids, 3alpha,19alpha-dihydroxyurs-12,20(30)-dien-24,28-dioic acid (1) and 3alpha,19alpha-dihydroxyurs-12-en-24,28-dioic acid (2), together with 12 known ursane- and oleanane-type triterpenoids (3-14). Triterpenoids with a 3beta-hydroxy group were found to inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity, with IC50 values ranging from 3.1+/-0.2 to 18.8+/-1.3 microM, whereas those with a 3alpha-hydroxy moiety were not active.     

First-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome: prediction of low birth weight, small for gestational age and pre-term delivery in a cohort of non-selected women

OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between the first-trimester screening markers [pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta (beta-hCG), nuchal translucency (NT)], the Down syndrome (DS) risk estimate, and the adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and pre-term delivery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including 1,734 non-selected singleton pregnancies consecutively enrolled into the programme of first-trimester combined screening for DS in a 12-month period at a single centre. Data from the Prenatal Patient Registry in ASTRAIA were combined with the Danish National Newborn Screening Registry and Danish Birth Registry. RESULTS: There was a significant relation between low PAPP-A MoM, low beta-hCG MoM, increased risk estimate for DS and low birth weight and SGA. Low PAPP-A MoM and increased NT showed a significant relation to pre-term and spontaneous pre-term delivery. Low PAPP-A MoM showed a significant relation to early pre-term delivery. CONCLUSION: First-trimester screening markers exhibited a significant relation to low birth weight, SGA and to some extent, to pre-term and early pre-term delivery. The screening performance of individual markers was poor.     

Fetal scalp blood sampling for pH and lactate measurement during labour

The wide use of continuous of fetal heart rate monitoring (FHR) since the seventies has been accompanied by an increase in cesarean delivery rates, without any decrease in cerebral palsy rate. Second line methods of fetal monitoring have been developed in order to better identify fetuses truly at risk of intrapartum asphyxia. The use of fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) for fetal monitoring seems logical since neonatal acidosis is one of the major criteria of birth asphyxia. Studies show that the use of FBS reduces the increase in cesarean deliveries associated with the use of continuous FHR monitoring. However, FBS is invasive, non continuous and technically uneasy, with a rather high rate of failed blood samplings. Fetal scalp lactates measurement by micromethod requires a much smaller volume of blood. Although a wider assessment is required, the predictive value of fetal blood lactates seems to be similar to that of fetal scalp blood pH.     

Strategies That Facilitate Extraction-Free SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented global demand for in vitro diagnostic reagents. Supply shortages and hoarding have impacted testing capacity which has led to inefficient COVID-19 case identification and transmission control, predominantly in developing countries. Traditionally, RNA extraction is a prerequisite for conducting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT); however, simplified methods of sample processing have been successful at bypassing typical nucleic acid extraction steps, enabling extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAAT workflows. These methods involve chemical and physical approaches that are inexpensive and easily accessible alternatives to overcome extraction kit supply shortages, while offering acceptable test performance. Here we provide an overview of three main sample preparation strategies that have been shown to facilitate extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAATs.     

The value of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity in distinguishing between spinal meningiomas and schwannomas

Background: Prior studies have suggested a number of the subjective visual characteristics that help distinguish between spinal meningiomas and schwannomas on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography; however, objective quantification of the signal intensity can be useful information. This study assessed whether quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity (SI) measurements could distinguish intradural-extramedullary schwannomas from meningiomas.Methods: From July 2019 to September 2021, 54 patients with intradural-extramedullary tumors (37 meningiomas and 17 schwannomas) underwent surgery, and tumors were verified pathologically. Defined regions of interest were used to quantify SI values on T1- (T1W) and T2-weighted images (T2W). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to obtain cutoff values and calculate the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).Results: Both Maximum (T2_max) and mean (T2_mean) T2W SI values demonstrated outstanding (AUC: 0.91) abilities to differentiate meningiomas from schwannomas with Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV values of 94.6%, 70.6%, 87.5%, and 85.7%, respectively, for T2_max and 81.1%, 88.2%, 93.8%, and 68.2% for T2_mean. The maximum SI value on contrast-enhanced T1W (T1CE_max) and the T2W tumor: fat SI ratio (rTF) demonstrated acceptable abilities (AUC: 0.73 and 0.79, respectively) to differentiate meningiomas from schwannomas with Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV values of 94.6%, 70.6%, 87.5%, and 85.7%, respectively, for T1CE_max and 81.1%, 88.2%, 93.8%, and 68.2% for rTF.Conclusions: Quantitative SI values (T2_max, T2_mean, T2_min, T1CE_max, rTF) can be used to differentiate intradural-extramedullary schwannomas from meningiomas.     

Characterisation of the RNA Virome of Nine Ochlerotatus Species in Finland

RNA viromes of nine commonly encountered Ochlerotatus mosquito species collected around Finland in 2015 and 2017 were studied using next-generation sequencing. Mosquito homogenates were sequenced from 91 pools comprising 16–60 morphologically identified adult females of Oc. cantans, Oc. caspius, Oc. communis, Oc. diantaeus, Oc. excrucians, Oc. hexodontus, Oc. intrudens, Oc. pullatus and Oc. punctor/punctodes. In total 514 viral Reverse dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) sequences of 159 virus species were recovered, belonging to 25 families or equivalent rank, as follows: Aliusviridae, Aspiviridae, Botybirnavirus, Chrysoviridae, Chuviridae, Endornaviridae, Flaviviridae, Iflaviridae, Negevirus, Partitiviridae, Permutotetraviridae, Phasmaviridae, Phenuiviridae, Picornaviridae, Qinviridae, Quenyavirus, Rhabdoviridae, Sedoreoviridae, Solemoviridae, Spinareoviridae, Togaviridae, Totiviridae, Virgaviridae, Xinmoviridae and Yueviridae. Of these, 147 are tentatively novel viruses. One sequence of Sindbis virus, which causes Pogosta disease in humans, was detected from Oc. communis from Pohjois-Karjala. This study greatly increases the number of mosquito-associated viruses known from Finland and presents the northern-most mosquito-associated viruses in Europe to date.