Δ^4-3, 6-二酮甾体结构单元合成的改进

本文以吡啶铬酐盐酸盐(PCC)氧化剂,无水乙酸钠为缓冲试剂,在二氯甲烷中,室温,氧化两种甾-5-烯-3-醇,胆固醇(1a)和16,17α-环氧-孕甾-5-烯-3-醇(1b),经较长时间的反应,分别以84%和82%的收率制备了胆甾-4-烯-3,6-二酮和16,17α-环氧-孕甾-4-烯-3,6-二酮。这种方法简便易行,后处理方便,试剂易得,而且产品纯度较好,因此是一种具有一定实际价值的方法。     

Synthesis of β,β-disubstituted-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones via the regioselective oxidation of exo-methylenetetrahydrofurans

The synthesis of various β,β-disubstituted-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones was carried out from the corresponding methylenetetrahydrofuran derivatives by using PCC/Ac₂O or Jones oxidation conditions.     

Ultrastructural organization of premature condensed chromosomes at S-phase as observed by atomic force microscopy

In this study, we used calyculin A to induce premature condensed chromosomes (PCC). S-phase PCC is as “pulverized” appearance when viewed by light microscopy. Then, we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the ultrastructual organization of S-phase PCC. S-phase PCC shows ridges and grooves as observed by AFM. After trypsin treatment, chromosome surface roughness is increased and chromosome thickness is decreased. At high magnification, the ridges are composed of densely packed 30 nm chromatin fibers which form chromosome axis. Around the ridges, many 30 nm chromatin fibers radiate from center. Some of the 30 nm chromatin fibers are free ends. The grooves are not real “gap”, but several 30 nm chromatin fibers which connect two ridges and form “grid” structure. There are four chromatin fibers detached from chromosome: two free straight 30 nm chromatin fibers, one loop chromatin fiber and one straight combining with loop chromatin fiber. These results suggested that the S-phase PCC was high-order organization of 30 nm chromatin fibers and the 30 nm chromatin fibers could exist as loops and free ends.     

Disrupted cortical connectivity theory as an explanatory model for autism spectrum disorders

Recent findings of neurological functioning in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) point to altered brain connectivity as a key feature of its pathophysiology. The cortical underconnectivity theory of ASD (Just et al., 2004) provides an integrated framework for addressing these new findings. This theory suggests that weaker functional connections among brain areas in those with ASD hamper their ability to accomplish complex cognitive and social tasks successfully. We will discuss this theory, but will modify the term underconnectivity to ‘disrupted cortical connectivity’ to capture patterns of both under- and over-connectivity in the brain. In this paper, we will review the existing literature on ASD to marshal supporting evidence for hypotheses formulated on the disrupted cortical connectivity theory. These hypotheses are: 1) underconnectivity in ASD is manifested mainly in long-distance cortical as well as subcortical connections rather than in short-distance cortical connections; 2) underconnectivity in ASD is manifested only in complex cognitive and social functions and not in low-level sensory and perceptual tasks; 3) functional underconnectivity in ASD may be the result of underlying anatomical abnormalities, such as problems in the integrity of white matter; 4) the ASD brain adapts to underconnectivity through compensatory strategies such as overconnectivity mainly in frontal and in posterior brain areas. This may be manifested as deficits in tasks that require frontal–parietal integration. While overconnectivity can be tested by examining the cortical minicolumn organization, long-distance underconnectivity can be tested by cognitively demanding tasks; and 5) functional underconnectivity in brain areas in ASD will be seen not only during complex tasks but also during task-free resting states. We will also discuss some empirical predictions that can be tested in future studies, such as: 1) how disrupted connectivity relates to cognitive impairments in skills such as Theory-of-Mind, cognitive flexibility, and information processing; and 2) how connection abnormalities relate to, and may determine, behavioral symptoms hallmarked by the triad of Impairments in ASD. Furthermore, we will relate the disrupted cortical connectivity model to existing cognitive and neural models of ASD.