Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Lytic Halotolerant Phage from Yuncheng Saline Lake.

Halophilic phage are a type of virus that exist in salty environments within halophilic archaeal or bacterial hosts. However, relatively few reports on halophilic bacteriophages exist, and our overall understanding of halophilic bacteriophages is quite limited. We used SYBR Green I fluorescent staining to detect the abundance of viruses in Yuncheng Saline Lake, China.

Leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LepROT) gene participates in insulin pathway through FoxO.

Leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LepROT) is co-transcribed with the leptin receptor (LepR). However, the function and mechanism of LepROT in insulin pathway is unclear. In this study, we report the function of LepROT in maintaining consistent FoxO transcription.

MicroRNA-125b attenuates epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and targets stem-like liver cancer cells through small mothers against decapentaplegic 2 and 4.

Unlabelled: Emerging evidence suggests that epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) play important roles in tumor metastasis and recurrence. Understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate the EMT process is crucial for improving treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in HCC; however, the mechanisms by which miRNAs target the EMT and their therapeutic potential remains largely unknown.

A distinct glucose metabolism signature of acute myeloid leukemia with prognostic value.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a group of hematological malignancies with high heterogeneity. There is an increasing need to improve the risk stratification of AML patients, including those with normal cytogenetics, using molecular biomarkers. Here, we report a metabolomics study that identified a distinct glucose metabolism signature with 400 AML patients and 446 healthy controls.

[Odor emission rate of municipal solid waste from landfill working area].

Emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), H2S and odor unit from the surface of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill working area were measured with a wind tunnel sampler. The results show that the emission rate of odor from the non-point source of landfill is the function of environmental temperature and surface sweeping velocity. The emission rate measured in the high temperature season can be 6 times higher of that in the low temperature season.

Plasma metabolite profiles of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Previous studies have demonstrated altered metabolites in samples of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the sample size from many of them is relatively small and the metabolites are relatively limited. Here we applied a comprehensive platform using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze plasma samples from AD patients, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients, and normal controls.

Prognostic significance of 2-hydroxyglutarate levels in acute myeloid leukemia in China.

The 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) has been reported to result from mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) genes and to function as an "oncometabolite." To evaluate the clinical significance of serum 2-HG levels in hematologic malignancies, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in particular, we analyzed this metabolite in distinct types of human leukemia and lymphoma and established the range of serum 2-HG in appropriate normal control individuals by using gas chromatograph-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Aberrant serum 2-HG pattern was detected in the multicenter group of AML, with 62 of 367 (17%) patients having 2-HG levels above the cutoff value (2.

Inhibitory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on fatty liver: regulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a and fatty acid metabolism.

Objective: To investigate the potential effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the prevention and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (the control group, GBE group, high-fat diet [HFD] group and HFD + GBE group). The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) was treated with GBE and its flavonoid ingredients.

Effect of carbonate on anaerobic acidogenesis and fermentative hydrogen production from glucose using leachate as supplementary culture under alkaline conditions.

Carbonate was added into a co-culture of glucose and fresh leachate under alkaline condition to enhance batched acidogenesis and fermentative hydrogen production simultaneously. Results indicated carbonate has positive effect on both H(2) production and acetic acid generation. The highest hydrogen yield (about 1.

Use of the metabolomics approach to characterize Chinese medicinal material Huangqi.

Integration of the genetic and metabolic fingerprinting can provide a new approach to differentiate similar Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) materials. Two leguminous plants, Mojia Huangqi and Menggu Huangqi, are important medical herbs and share great similarities in morphology, chemical constituent, and genomic DNA sequence. The taxonomy of Mojia Huangqi and Menggu Huangqi has been debated for more than 50 years and discrimination of TCM materials directly affects the pharmacological and clinical effects.

The development and preliminary evaluation of a new Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine comprising Ag85b, HspX and CFP-10:ESAT-6 fusion protein with CpG DNA and aluminum hydroxide adjuvants.

Ag85b and HspX of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) (H37Rv) were expressed and purified in this study. These two proteins were combined with another fusion protein CFP-10:ESAT-6 (C/E) (Ag), then mixed with the adjuvants CpG DNA and aluminum hydroxide and used to vaccinate mice and guinea pigs challenged with Mtb (H37Rv). The number of spleen lymphocytes secreting Ag85b, HspX and C/E-specific interferon-gamma were significantly higher in the Ag+Al+CpG group than in the Ag and CpG groups.

[Study on extraction and purification of polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus].

Objective: To optimize the extraction and purification procedure for polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus.

Methods: The orthogonal test was used to determine the optimal extraction technology in terms of the extraction rate of crude polysaccharides and the concentration of polysaccharides. The efficiency of deproteinization and decoloration with different methods were evaluated with the ration of protein and colorant removing as the indices.

[Study on effects of baicalin, berberine and Astragalus polysaccharides and their combinative effects on aldose reductase in vitro].

Objective: To observe the activities of baicalin, berberine and Astragalus polysaccharides and their combinative effects on aldose reductase (AR) by a screening model of aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) in vitro.

Methods: The inhibition of AR by baicalin, berberine and Astragalus polysaccharides and positive drug (Epalrestat) in different concentrations were evaluated, and their combinative effects were studied according to orthogonal t design.

Results: Baicalin and berberine had remarkable inhibitory effects on AR, the inhibitory rates were (88.

[Quality control of non-alkaloids from Radix Sophorae tonkinensis].

Objective: To establish a method for quality control of non-alkaloids from Radix Sophorae tonkinensis.

Methods: Sugar, organic-acid, polyphenolic and saponin were identified by TLC. The contents of Sugar, polyphenolic and saponin were determined by spectrophotometry and the content of organic-acids was determined by acid-based titration.

[Effect of jinfu kang to experimental precancerous colon lesions and urinary metabolites in rat].

Objective: : To profile urinary metabolite variations from 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced precancerous colon rats, Jinfu Kang treated rats and healthy controls.

Method: We used ethyl chloroformate derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabonomic method to analyze rat urines.

Result: The time-dependent variations of metabolite profile showed a progressive deviation of the metabolism in the model group from the initial pattern over time and a systemic recovery of the metabolism in the treatment group, which is consistent with the histological results.

[Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of acidic fraction of Pheratima extract in asthma mice induced by ovalbumin].

Objective: To explore the effects of acidic fraction of Pheratima extract in an ovalbumin (OVA) induced asthma mouse model, and to provide the experimental evidences for the anti-asthmatic application of Pheratima extract with further purification and development.

Method: Mice model of allergic asthma was established through the OVA challenge. To investigate the inflammatory cell level and Th1/Th2 levels as well as the therapeutic effects of acidic fraction from Pheratima extract, cell count of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed to evaluate the secretion of eosinophils (EOS) cells, and IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-y levels were detected by ELISA.

[Analysis of matrine and oxymatrine in Kushensu injection by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS].

Objective: To develop a method for the determination of matrine and oxymatrine in Kushensu injection by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS).

Method: The analysis was performed on a Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.

[Application of metabolomics in research of plant metabolites].

Metabolomics, a branch of systems biology, has gained extensive attention and profound achievements in the plant. Although plant metabolomics is to be explored, it has been one of the most effective methods to study the physiological and biochemical process and gene modification in pattern plants. We herein summarized the concept, development, and application of metabolomics and prospected the potentials in the metabolite profiling for plant.

Antitumor constituents from Alternanthera philoxeroides.

Two new compounds, alternanthin B (1) and N-trans-feruloyl-3,5-dimethoxytyramine (2), along with four known compounds (3-6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Alternanthera philoxeroides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The antitumor activity of the isolated compounds was also evaluated.

Three new compounds from Isodon melissoides.

Reinvestigation of the aerial parts of Isodon melissoides has afforded two new ent-diterpenoids, melissoidesins V (1) and W (2), together with five known ones, glabcensin W (3), melissoidesin C (4), melissoidesin A (5), melissoidesin B (6) and melissoidesin D (7), one new ionone derivative 3alpha,4alpha-isopropyliden-beta-ionol (8), as well as three analogues, 3-hydroxy-4-oxo-beta-ionol (9), megastigma-7-en-3,5,6,9-tetraol (10) and blumenol A (11), and three phenolic compounds salicylic acid (12), syringic acid (13) and cirsiliol (14). The new structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques, especially the 2D-NMR spectral analysis.

Diterpenoids from Isodon melissoides.

Nine new diterpenoids, melissoidesins M-U (1-9), along with five known analogues, melissoidesin F (10), xindongnin B (11), melissoidesin G (12), melissoidesin E (13), and dawoensin A (14), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon melissoides. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by analysis of spectral evidence including extensive 2D NMR data. Compounds 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, and 14 showed cytotoxicity against the human tumor BGC-823 cell line with IC(50) values less than 10 microg/mL, respectively.

Cytotoxic ent-kauranoids from Isodon leucophyllus.

Two new compounds, baiyecrystals D and E (1, 2), together with eight known analogues, xerophilusin B (4), macrocalin B (5), oridonin (6), rosthorin A (7), lasiocarpanin (8), rabdoternin A (9) and phyllostachysin A (10) and B (11), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon leucophyllus. The structures of 1 and 2 and 4-11 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially the 2D NMR spectral analysis. Compounds 2, 6-8 and 10 were evaluated for their antineoplastic activities in vitro.

Cytotoxic constituents of Isodon rubescens var. lushiensis.

Five new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, ludongnins F-J (1-5), along with 10 known compounds, guidongnins A-C (6-8), angustifolin (9), 6-epiangustifolin (10), sculponeatin J (11), gardenin D, 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone, pedalitin, and quercetin, were isolated from the leaves of Isodon rubescens var. lushiensis. The structures of 1-5 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis of 1.

Micranoic acids A and B: two new octanortriterpenoids from Schisandra micrantha.

Two novel octanortriterpenoids, micranoic acids A (1) and B (2), along with three known compounds, kadsuric acid (3), 3beta-hydroxy-lanost-9(11),24(25)-dien-26-oic acid (4) and schizandronic acid (5), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra micrantha. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Micranoic acids A and B represent a new group of triterpenes in which the entire C-17 side chain has lost.