Reciprocal contribution analysis of the left and right hips while walking

The physical posture of even healthy university students is easy to collapse when walking with textbooks and other heavy loads during university attendance. Consequently, they may experience lower-back pain or knee pain. However, the resulting burden of this stress to the left and right lower-back has not previously been quantitatively analyzed.In this study, we employed a Relative Power Contribution (RPC) analysis approach to quantitatively investigate and compare the reciprocal contribution between the left and right lower-backs while walking with a bag and without a bag. Quantitative data were collected by two accelerometers installed on the subjects.Results for the subjects walking with and without a bag indicated that the contribution of the left and right lower-backs decreased by up to 21% (p<0.05). Some disorder occurs in the feedback relations of the movement in both lower-backs and as a result, it was understood to cause much discomfort in these areas.This analysis reveals the quantitative relations of left and right lower-backs, which are difficult to discern from the original data. The results can be useful for preventive healthcare for lower-back and knee pains.     

Synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A by [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate

Total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A has been achieved starting from l-arabitol. The highlights in our synthesis include the preparation of vicinal diamine moiety by [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate and construction of central ring-C with ring-closing metathesis.     

Invasion inhibitors of human fibrosarcoma HT 1080 cells from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar: structures of phenylbutanoids, cassumunols

The methanolic extract and its EtOAc-soluble fraction from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar inhibited invasion of human fibrosarcoma HT 1080 cells. From the EtOAc-soluble fraction, eight new phenylbutanoids, cassumunols A-H, were isolated together with 30 known constituents. The structures of new phenylbutanoids were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Principal constituents were examined the inhibitory effects on the invasion of HT 1080 cells. Among them, phlain I and III, (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene, (E)-1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene, and (-)-β-sesquiphellandrene showed anti-invasion effects. Interestingly, (E)-1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene [inhibition (%) 46.8 ± 7.2 (p<0.05) at 30 μM] significantly inhibited the invasion, and only a weak cytotoxic effect was observed.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of cytotoxic anhydrosphingosine pachastrissamine by using [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate

A new route for the synthesis of the cytotoxic anhydrosphingosine pachastrissamine has been developed. [3.3] Sigmatropic rearrangement of an allyl cyanate was employed to construct the allyl amine moiety in 2 from the chiral C-4 unit 3. Oxidative cleavage of the double bond in 2, followed by THF ring formation furnished the target pachastrissamine.