The introduction of green fluorescent protein and its variants (GFPs) has allowed protein analysis at the level of the cell. Now, chemical methods are needed to label proteins in vivo with a wider variety of functionalities so that mechanistic questions about protein function in the complex cellular environment can be addressed. Here we demonstrate that trimethoprim derivatives can be used to selectively tag Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR) fusion proteins in wild-type mammalian cells with minimal background and fast kinetics.

ObjectiveTo conduct a meta-analysis assessing the prevalence of vitiligo.MethodsLiteratures that reported prevalence rates of vitiligo were identified using EMBASE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and Weipu database for the period from inception to May 2016. We performed stratified analyses on possible sources of bias, including areas difference, years of publication, gender and age. Publication bias was assessed with Egger’s test method.ResultsA total of 103 studies were eligible for inclusion. The pooled prevalence of vitiligo from 82 population- or community-based studies was 0.2% (95%CI: 0.1%–0.2%) and from 22 hospital-based studies was 1.8% (95%CI: 1.4%–2.1%). A relatively high prevalence of vitiligo was found in Africa area and in female patients. For population- or community-based studies, the prevalence has maintained at a low level in recent 20 years and it has increased with age gradually. For hospital-based studies, the prevalence has showed a decreased trend from 60s till now or from young to old. No significant publication bias existed in hospital-based studies (t = 0.47, P = 0.643), while a significant publication bias existed in population- or community-based studies (t = 2.31, P = 0.026).ConclusionA relatively high prevalence of vitiligo was found in Africa area and in female patients. The prevalence has maintained at a low level in recent years. It showed an inverse trend with age increment in population- or community-based studies and hospital-based studies.

Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.

A protocol for the photooxidative activation of α-silylamines and α-amino acids for desilylative and decarboxylative additions, allylations and heteroarylations in the presence of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) was developed. The procedure has broad scope and provides the desired products in high yields. The heterogeneous nature of the g-C 3 N 4 catalytic system enables easy recovery and recycling as well as the use in multiple runs without loss of activity. The photoredox catalyzed reactions can also be conducted in continuous photo flow fashion and scaled up to gram-scale. Thus, the stable and readily available polymeric g-C 3 N 4 provides an alternative to homogeneous photosensitizers for the generation of valuable radical intermediates for applications in synthesis and catalysis.

A visible light mediated metal-free heterogeneous photocatalytic system has been developed for highly efficient benzylic C–H oxygenations utilizing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a recyclable, nontoxic and low cost photocatalyst.

The relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and blood pressure is controversial and has received insufficient attention. The aim of this study was to assess whether blood pressure levels in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction differ from those of euthyroid subjects. A meta-analysis of all cross-sectional studies was performed to compare the blood pressure levels in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction with those of healthy controls. A computer-based online retrieval of databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) and manual searches were undertaken to identify articles that addressed the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and blood pressure levels and were published through 2010, using no language restrictions. The meta-analysis was performed using STATA 11 (Stata). Seven cross-sectional studies were examined. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, the pooled estimate of the weighted mean difference (WMD) of increased blood pressure revealed a significant difference in both systolic blood pressure (SBP; WMD with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89 mm Hg (0.98-2.80), Po0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; WMD with 95% CI 0.75 mm Hg (0.24-1.27), Po0.05). However, in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism, the pooled estimate of the WMD of increased blood pressure revealed no significant difference in SBP (WMD with 95% CI À0.75 mm Hg (À1.81 to 0.31)) or DBP (WMD with 95% CI À0.64 mm Hg (À2.36 to 1.08)). The present meta-analysis indicates that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with increased SBP and DBP, whereas subclinical hyperthyroidism is not. Further investigation is needed to confirm blood pressure levels in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

An efficient nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative amination reaction of aryl and heteroaryl esters has been achieved for the first time. The new amination protocol allows the direct interconversion of esters and amides into the corresponding amines and represents a good alternative to classical rearrangements as well as cross coupling reactions.

Highly efficient catalytic chloroamination reaction of α,β-unsaturated γ-keto esters and chalcones has been developed via a chloronium-based mechanism to deliver anti-regioselective vicinal chloroamines instead of the aziridinium intermediates delivered aminochlorides. The combination of TsNCl(2) and TsNH(2) as reagents made the transformation highly efficient, delivering the γ-carbonyl-β-chloro-α-amino acid derivatives and α-chloro-β-amino-ketone derivatives in nearly quantitative yields with up to 99% ee and 99:1 dr under 0.05-0.5 mol % catalyst loading. TsNHCl was demonstrated to act as the key reactive species to form a bridged chloronium ion intermediate in the presence of a chiral scandium complex. The method might provide useful information for further realization of other haloamination reactions.