Publications by authors named "Han-Mei Xu"

Dopamine plays a crucial role in regulating brain activity and movement and modulating human behavior, cognition and mood. Regulating dopamine signaling may improve cognitive abilities and physical functions during aging. Acein, a nonapeptide of sequence H-Pro-Pro-Thr-Thr-Thr-Lys-Phe-Ala-Ala-OH is able to stimulate dopamine secretion in the brain.

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Invasive species have profound negative impacts on native ranges. Unraveling the mechanisms employed by invasive plant species is crucial to controlling invasions. One important approach that invasive plants use to outcompete native plants is to disrupt mutualistic interactions between native roots and mycorrhizal fungi.

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Alcohol liver disease (ALD) has become a global threat to human health. It is associated with a wide range of liver diseases including alcohol fatty liver, steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, and finally leads to liver cancer and even death. Centranthera grandiflora is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used to treat ALD, but no research about its mechanism is available.

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With the rapid development of computational biology and deep sequencing technology, more and more studies have shown that a large number of non-classical open reading frames that have not been annotated and hidden in non-coding RNA can encode functional micropeptide. This article reviewed the current research status and technology strategy of gene sources, biological properties, predicted methods and functional verification of micropeptide, providing theoretical and reference basis for the subsequent discovery of micropeptides, research on regulatory mechanisms and development of novel targets and biomarkers.

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Existing research has shown that there are a large amount of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in organisms. Short open reading frames (sORFs) abundantly exist in molecular sequences inaccurately annotated as ncRNAs. Several sORFs can be transcribed and translated into evolutionarily conserved micropeptides, which were ignored in previous studies due to short sequence lengths and the limitations of research techniques.

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Angiogenesis is known to serve an important role in embryonic development, wound healing, tissue regeneration, and growth. Two new abietane-type diterpenoids (3, 5), a new lanosterol triterpenoid (8) and seven known compounds haven been isolated from the Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and comparing their NMR data with reported data.

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The development of second-generation sequencing (NGS) technology is providing numerous data which shifts the focus of cancer research from the sequencing of multi-species to the analysis and comparison of select data via high-throughput sequencing. The NGS also facilitates the diversity of available genetic data analysis methods, the constant optimization and innovation of analytical approaches for high-throughput genomics as well as the rapid development of genetic data mining and analysis models. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database is a direct result of this work.

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Aim And Objective: Small molecule targeted drugs can effectively reduce the toxicity and side effects of drugs, and improve the efficacy of drugs by their specific antitumor activity. Hence, the development of small molecular targeted drugs for cancer has important significance. This study was undertaken to design and synthesize novel phenazine-chromene hybrid molecules in order to optimize the structure and improve the efficacy of this kind of hybrids.

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Purpose: Wound represents a major health challenge as they consume a large amount of healthcare resources to improve patient's quality of life. Many scientific studies have been conducted in search of ideal biomaterials with wound-healing activity for clinical use and collagen has been proven to be a suitable candidate biomaterial. This study intended to investigate the wound healing activity of collagen peptides derived from jellyfish following oral administration.

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A new isoquinoline, 1,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyisoquinoline (1), was obtained from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity on tumour cells with IC values ranging from 13 to 26 μm against five esophageal squamous cancer cells whereas low cytotoxicity against normal human esophageal epithelial cells. Isoquinoline ring oxidized at C(1), C(4), and C(5) can enhance its cytotoxicity.

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Heliciopsis lobata is a medicinal plant, which is exclusively used to treat tumor in Li folk region. Two new arbutin derivatives, 6'-((E)2-methoxy-5-hydroxycinnamoyl) arbutin (1) and 2'-((E)2, 5-dihydroxycinnamoyl) arbutin (2) along with five known compounds (3-7), were isolated from the leaves of Heliciopsis lobata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretations.

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Two new isoquinoline alkaloids 1-2 and seven known compounds 3-9 were isolated from the ethanol extract of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch. The structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS.

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Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the most aggressive cancer types worldwide. However, the underlying genomic events of EC are not fully understood. It is becoming evident that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in tumorgenesis, metastasis, prognosis and diagnosis.

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It has been reported previously that the systemic efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents is substantially restricted for some cancer types, including malignant melanoma. Therefore, the development of more effective treatment modalities remains a critical, albeit elusive, goal in anticancer therapy. The study presented here evaluates the antitumor activity of raspberry pulp polysaccharides (RPPs) against malignant melanoma using a murine tumor-bearing model.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to examine the behavior of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) compared to healthy individuals.
  • It involved 78 OLP patients and 79 healthy controls who completed questionnaires related to type A behavior and psychological symptoms (SCL-90).
  • Results indicated a significant difference in type A behavior and psychological health between the two groups, suggesting a link between OLP and type A behavior.
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EDSM, an endostatin-derived synthetic polypeptide, contains the amino acids 6-48 of endostatin from its N-terminus, which could inhibit human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and tumor growth. To increase the targeted delivery of EDSM to tumors and further enhance its antiangiogenic activity, the RGD sequence (Arg-Gly-Asp) was introduced into EDSM and two peptides were obtained: EDSM-X with RGD on the N-terminus of EDSM and EDSM-Y with RGD on the C-terminus. Both modified peptides showed a significant antiangiogenic activity in the HUVEC migration assay, the HUVEC tube formation assay, and the murine aortic ring formation assay in vitro.

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(R,R)ZX-5 is a NO regulatory compound, which could significantly increase choroidal blood flow in New Zealand rabbit. The aim of this paper is to investigate the molecular mechanism of (R,R)ZX-5 promoting NO production. Besides this, we also investigated the antiangiogenic activity of (R,R)ZX-5.

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HM-3, An RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-modified polypeptide derived from endostatin, is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor. Its robust inhibitory effects on endothelial cell migration and tumor growth have been demonstrated by activity assay both in vitro and in vivo. However, HM-3 has relatively short half-life in vivo.

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HM-3, designed by our laboratory, is a polypeptide composed of 18 amino acids. Pharmacodynamic studies in vivo and in vitro indicated that HM-3 could inhibit endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. However, the half-life of HM-3 is short.

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(R,R) ZX-5 has been proven to have positive effects on choroidal blood flow without affecting the sclera and ciliary bodies in New Zealand white rabbits. This study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of (R,R) ZX-5 on improving the choroidal blood flow and promoting NO production. HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were used to determine the production of eNOS, p-eNOS, AKT and Erk1/2 by Western blot analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The structures of these compounds were identified using mass spectrometry and NMR techniques.
  • * Glypensin A exhibited cytotoxic effects against a specific leukemia cell line, indicating potential for further research in cancer treatment.
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HM-3, an RGD modified endostatin-derived polypeptide, is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor synthesized in our laboratory. Its robust inhibitory effects on endothelial cell migration and tumour growth have been demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro activity assays. However, the drug has relatively short half-life in vivo.

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ES-2 (IVRRADRAAVP), an endostatin-derived synthetic polypeptide, contains the amino acids 50-60 of endostatin from its N terminus, and it had no inhibitory effects on tumor growth in vivo. In order to increase the targeted delivery of ES-2 to tumors and further enhance the activity, the polypeptide RGD-4C (ACDCRGDCFC) was introduced into ES-2, and the effects of RGD-4C position and RGD-4C disulfide bonds on polypeptides activity were investigated. When RGD-4C polypeptides (with or without disulfide bonds) were introduced to the N-terminals of synthesized ES-2, the modified ES-2 showed significant antitumor activity in vivo.

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An RGD modified endostatin-derived synthetic peptide, named HM-3, is a polypeptide angiogenesis inhibitor previously synthesized in our laboratory. Its robust inhibitory effects on endothelial cell migration and tumor growth have been demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro activity assays. The RGD integrin recognition sequence enables the selective binding of HM-3 and its specific targeting to tumor cells that express high levels of integrin.

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It has been reported that an endostatin-derived synthetic peptide, named ES-2, that contains the amino acids 60-70 of endostatin from its N terminus, efficiently inhibits basic fibroblast growth factor-induced directional migration and tubular morphogenesis of microvascular endothelial cells. We found that the peptide had no effects on tumor growth in vivo. However, when the peptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) was introduced into ES-2, the modified ES-2 showed significant antitumor results in animal models.

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