Synthesis of <i>N</i>⁷‑Alkyl-9-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines Containing Polar N⁷ Chains. Examples of Chemically Stable Analogues of <i>N</i>⁷‑Hydroxyethyl and <i>N</i>⁷‑Oxoethyl Adducts of 2′-Deoxyguanosine

Development of chemically stable analogues of unstable DNA lesions enables accurate study of polymerase bypass. We report the design and synthesis of <i>N</i>⁷-hydroxyethyl-9-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine and <i>N</i>⁷-oxoethyl-9-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine as the analogues of <i>N</i>⁷-hydroxyethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine and <i>N</i>⁷-oxoethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine, respectively. We also developed the synthesis of these two nucleosides whose N⁷ side chains are protected by TBS for the convenience of conversion to phosphoramidites

Identification of the Bioactive Compounds of Raw and Honey-Processed Farfarae Flos by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) with the Spectrum-Effect Relationship and Chemometrics

Farfarae Flos (FF), also known as “Kuandonghua” in Chinese, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with various therapeutic properties, including antitussive, expectorant, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite the widespread consumption of processed FF, there has been limited progress in improving quality control measures for both raw FF and honey-processed Farfarae Flos (PFF). This study aimed to establish a comprehensive strategy for quality evaluation and distinguish between FF and PFF by integrating high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis with chemometric techniques. Additionally, the antioxidant activities of FF and PFF were assessed using radical-scavenging experiments. The spectrum-effect relationship is the association of chemical composition information of the fingerprint with antioxidant activity, which was used to predict the primary active components that influence the antioxidant activity of FF. The results indicated that FF and PFF samples showed a clear distinction, and the most potent pharmacologically active ingredients were hyperoside, quercetin, caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, neochlorogenic acid, rutin, cryptochlorogenic acid, and isochlorogenic acid C. Moreover, the comprehensive efficacy of the honey-processed FF was better than for raw FF. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide a scientific foundation for future evaluation of the quality, further research, and practical use of FF herbs.</p

DataSheet_1_Characterization of METRNβ as a novel biomarker of Coronavirus disease 2019 severity and prognosis.docx

IntroductionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing worldwide, with complications due to frequent viral mutations, an intricate pathophysiology, and variable host immune responses. Biomarkers with predictive and prognostic value are crucial but lacking.MethodsSerum samples from authentic and D614G variant (non-Omicron), and Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were collected for METRNβ detection and longitudinal cytokine/chemokine analysis. Correlation analyses were performed to compare the relationships between serum METRNβ levels and cytokines/chemokines, laboratory parameters, and disease severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of METRNβ in COVID-19.ResultsThe serum level of METRNβ was highly elevated in non-Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients compared to healthy individuals, and the non-survivor displayed higher METRNβ levels than survivors among the critical ones. METRNβ concentration showed positive correlation with viral load in NAPS. ROC curve showed that a baseline METRNβ level of 1886.89 pg/ml distinguished COVID-19 patients from non-infected individuals with an AUC of 0.830. Longitudinal analysis of cytokine/chemokine profiles revealed a positive correlation between METRNβ and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL6, and an inverse correlation with soluble CD40L (sCD40L). Higher METRNβ was associated with increased mortality. These findings were validated in a second and third cohort of COVID-19 patients identified in a subsequent wave.DiscussionOur study uncovered the precise role of METRNβ in predicting the severity of COVID-19, thus providing a scientific basis for further evaluation of the role of METRNβ in triage therapeutic strategies.</p