Biflavones and megastigmane glycosides from the leaves of Antidesma bunius.

Two biflavones, podocarpusflavone A (1) and amentoflavone (2) and two megastigmane glycosides, byzantionoside B (3) and (6S,9R)-roseoside (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Antidesma bunius. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and in comparison with the published data. Keywords. Antidesma bunius, Euphorbiaceae, biflavone, megastigmane

Merosesquiterpenes from marine sponge Smenospongia cerebriformis

Using various chromatography methods, three merosesquiterpenes belonging to sesquiterpene quinone type, neodactyloquinone (1), dactyloquinone D (2), and dactyloquinone C (3) together with two indole derivatives indole-3-aldehyde (4) and indole-3-cacboxylic methyl ester (5) were isolated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese marine sponge Smenospongia cerebriformis. Their structures were determined by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectra, HR-ESI-MS and in comparison with those reported in the literature. Keywords. Smenospongia cerebriformis, merosesquiterpene, sesquiterpene quinone, indole derivative

Chemical components from marine sponge Ianthella basta

By various chromatographic separations, five known compounds, 24-oxocholesterol, indole-3-aldehyde, phenylacetic acid, thymidine, and deoxycytidine were isolated from the sponge Ianthella basta. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and in comparison with the reported data. All compounds were isolated from this sponge for the first time. Keywords: Ianthella basta, Ianthellidae, 24-oxocholesterol, indole-3-aldehyde, phenylacetic acid

Sterols from Vietnamese marine sponge Tethya aurantium

Chemical investigation on Vietnamese marine sponge Tethya aurantium resulted in the isolation of five sterols, including 5R,6R-epoxy-24R*-ethylcholesta-8-en-3β,7α-diol (1), 24-methylenecholesta-5-en-3β-ol (2), 24-norcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol (3), 5α,8α-epidioxy-24R*-ethylcholesta-6-en-3β-ol (4), and 5α,8α-epidioxy-24S-methylcholesta-6,22E-dien-3β-ol (5). Their chemical structures were successfully determined using NMR and ESI-MS analysis as well as in comparison with the reported literatures. Stereochemistry of C-24 in the side chain of isolated sterols was also discussed. This is the first study on chemical constituents from the sponge T. aurantium. Keywords. Steroid, Tethya aurantium, Vietnamese sponge

Macrocyclic <i>bis</i>-quinolizidine alkaloids from <i>Xestospongia muta</i>

<p>A new stereoisomer <i>Meso</i>-araguspongine C together with nine reported macrocyclic <i>bis</i>-quinolizidine alkaloids araguspongines A, C, E, L, N−P, petrosin, and petrosin A were isolated from marine sponge <i>Xestospongia muta</i>. Stereochemistry of <i>meso</i>-araguspongine C (<b>2</b>) and araguspongines N-P (<b>3</b>−<b>5</b>) were established by their NMR data and conformational analyses. Both araguspongine C (<b>1</b>) and <i>meso</i>-araguspongine C (<b>2</b>) exhibited great cytotoxic activity towards HepG-2, HL-60, LU-1, MCF-7, and SK-Mel-2 human cancer cells (IC₅₀ in the range of 0.43–1.02 μM). At a concentration of 20 μM, isolated compounds (<b>1</b>−<b>10</b>) also showed modest inhibitory effects (from 7.6 to 40.8%) on the NO production in LPS activated RAW264.7 macrophages.</p

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p&lt;0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p&lt;0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status