Phylogeography of reveals the evolutionary patterns of a Cenozoic relict tree around the Sichuan Basin.

Environmental factors such as mountain tectonic movements and monsoons can enhance genetic differentiation by hindering inter- and intra-specific gene flow. However, the phylogeographic breaks detected within species may differ depending on the different molecular markers used, and biological traits may be a major confounding factor. is a vulnerable relict species distributed throughout the Sichuan Basin.

Stepwise changes in flavonoids in spores/pollen contributed to terrestrial adaptation of plants.

Protecting haploid pollen and spores against UV-B light and high temperature, 2 major stresses inherent to the terrestrial environment, is critical for plant reproduction and dispersal. Here, we show flavonoids play an indispensable role in this process. First, we identified the flavanone naringenin, which serves to defend against UV-B damage, in the sporopollenin wall of all vascular plants tested.

Antitumor Cembrane Diterpenoids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Lobophytum sp.

Two new highly functionalized cembrane diterpenoids named ximaolobophytolides A (1) and B (2) as minor components, together with seven related known compounds (3-9), have been isolated and identified from the Ximao soft coral Lobophytum sp. They were characterized by the presence of an α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety. Based on the comprehensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, the absolute configurations of these two new compounds were elucidated by the combination of quantum mechanical (QM)-NMR and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD) calculation approaches.

Structurally Diverse Diterpenes from the South China Sea Soft Coral .

The present investigation of the South China Sea soft coral resulted in the discovery of six new polyoxygenated diterpenes, namely sartrocheliols A-E (, , -) along with four known ones, , , , and . Based on extensive spectroscopic data analysis, sartrocheliol A () was identified as an uncommon capnosane diterpene, while sartrocheliols B-E (, -) were established as cembrane diterpenes. They displayed diverse structural features not only at the distinctly different carbon frameworks but also at the various types of heterocycles, including the epoxide, γ-lactone, furan, and pyran rings.

Retraction: 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin targets NF-κB and FoxM1 to inhibit lung cancer stem cells induced by pro-inflammatory factors.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7150/jca.30143.

Casticin Attenuates Stemness in Cervical Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Regulating Activity and Expression of DNMT1.

Objective: To explore whether casticin (CAS) suppresses stemness in cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) obtained from human cervical cancer (CCSLCs) and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Spheres from HeLa and CaSki cells were used as CCSLCs. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) activity and mRNA levels, self-renewal capability (Nanog and Sox2), and cancer stem cell markers (CD133 and CD44), were detected by a colorimetric DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, sphere and colony formation assays, and immunoblot, respectively.

, a new endangered species of Dipteridaceae from Shenzhen, southern China.

, a new species of ferns from Shenzhen, Guangdong, southern China, is identified and described. It closely resembles but possesses several unique traits, such as long rhizome scales, castaneous stipe, and abaxially pale fronds with two fan-shaped fronds connected by a broad wing. Molecular evidence showed that is allied to , whereas it has morphologically significant differences ( < 0.

Finding missing diversity from synonyms of (Pteridaceae).

Although taxonomists target the remote wild regions to discover new species, taxa lacking a comprehensive and modern systematic treatment may be the new hotspot for biodiversity discovery. The development of molecular systematics integrated with microscopic observation techniques has greatly improved the ability of taxonomists to identify species correctly. Ching ex J.

[Clinical research of arthroscopy with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteossynesis for low energy tibial plateau fracture with ligament injury].

Objective: To compare clinical effects of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis(MIPPO) and open reduction and internal fixation under arthroscopy for the treatment of low energy tibial plateau fracture with ligament injury.

Methods: From March 2016 to March 2017, 60 tibial plateau fracture patients with ligament injury were divided into A and B groups according to random number table. In group A, there were 30 patients including 14 males and 16 females aged from 30 to 63 years old with an average of (47.

8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin targets NF-κB and FoxM1 to inhibit lung cancer stem cells induced by pro-inflammatory factors.

We have previously reported that 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin (BrMC), a novel synthetic derivative of chrysin, was demonstrated anti-tumor activities against several human cancers, including lung cancer. Interaction between inflammation and cancer stem cell are recently increasingly recognized in tumorigenesis and progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether BrMC inhibits lung cancer stemness of H460 cells induced by inflammatory factors (TGF-β combined with TNF-α) and its potential mechanism.

8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin suppress stemness of SMMC-7721 cells induced by co-culture of liver cancer stem-like cells with hepatic stellate cells.

Background: Our previous works have demonstrated that 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin suppressed stemness of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721 induced by condition medium from hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 that was activated by liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSCs). However, whether and whereby BrMC inhibits the stemness induced by co-culture of LCSCs and LX-2 cells remains to be investigated.

Methods: The second-generation spheres by sphere culture were identified and used as SMMC-7721-and MHCC97H-derived LCSLCs.

Straightforward synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation of hybrids of natural alkaloid evodiamine/rutaecarpine and thieno[2,3-]pyrimidinones.

Dozens of hybrids of natural alkaloid evodiamine/rutaecarpine and thieno[2,3-]pyrimidinones were synthesized in a straightforward method by condensation of substituted 2-thieno[2,3-][1, 3]oxazine-2,4(1)-diones or -methyl-2-thieno[2,3-][1, 3]oxazine-2,4(1)-dione with 3,4-dihydro--carbolines. cytotoxic assay discovered that compounds , , , , , and could induce antiproliferation against four different types of human cancer cells while compounds and were inactive. Notably, compound displayed potent cell cytotoxicity for human non-small cell lung cancer cells A549, PC-9, human prostate cancer cells PC-3, and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

Cytological and Proteomic Analyses of Osmunda cinnamomea Germinating Spores Reveal Characteristics of Fern Spore Germination and Rhizoid Tip Growth.

Fern spore is a good single-cell model for studying the sophisticated molecular networks in asymmetric cell division, differentiation, and polar growth. Osmunda cinnamomea L. var.

Twist in hepatocellular carcinoma: pathophysiology and therapeutics.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related disease worldwide. Although HCC is mainly associated with viral hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, numerous physiological and biochemical events are associated with HCC progression. The transcription factor Twist, which plays a key role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition, is reported to be associated with HCC.

Effects of VBMDMP on the reversal of cisplatin resistance in human lung cancer A549/DDP cells.

Tumor drug resistance is a major obstacle to cancer chemotherapy. We previously constructed a fusion protein based on two tumstatin-derived sequences named recombinant VBMDM (rVBMDMP). We preliminarily confirmed its inhibition of HUVEC and colon cancer cell growth.

Surgical site infection after laparoscopic and open appendectomy: a multicenter large consecutive cohort study.

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been rapidly applied worldwide recently. The issue of surgical site infection (SSI) after appendectomy needs to be re-investigated and analyzed along with this trend. This study aimed to identify risk factors of SSI after appendectomy in recent years.

7-difluoromethoxyl-5,4'-di-n-octyl genistein inhibits ovarian cancer stem cell characteristics through the downregulation of FOXM1.

7-Difluoromethoxyl-5,4'-di-n-octylgenistein (DFOG) is a novel synthetic genistein analogue that possesses anti-cancer activity in a variety of cancers, including ovarian cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether DFOG inhibits the self-renewal capacity of ovarian cancer stem-like cells (OCSLCs) and to identify its potential mechanism of action. It was found that the sphere-forming cells (SFCs) of the SKOV3 cell line exhibited a self-renewal capacity and high tumorigenicity, indicating that they possessed the properties of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs).

8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin inhibits properties of liver cancer stem cells via downregulation of β-catenin.

Aim: To evaluate whether 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin (BrMC), a synthetic analogue of chrysin, inhibits the properties of cancer stem cells derived from the human liver cancer MHCC97 cell line and to determine the potential mechanisms.

Methods: CD133(+) cells were sorted from the MHCC97 cell line by magnetic activated cell sorting, and amplified in stem cell-conditioned medium to obtain the enriched CD133(+) sphere forming cells (SFCs). The stem cell properties of CD133(+) SFCs were validated by the tumorsphere formation assay in vitro and the xenograft nude mouse model in vivo, and termed liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs).

Induction of apoptosis by VB1 in breast cancer cells: the role of reactive oxygen species and Bcl-2 family proteins.

We have previously reported that the EVn-50 mixture of vitexins (lignan compounds) containing the purified vitexin (neolignan) compound, 6-hydroxy-4(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl‑7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2-naphthaldehyde, termed VB1, exhibits potent anticancer activity through the induction of apoptosis in several types of cancer cells, including MDA-MB‑231 cells. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which VB1 induces apoptosis in MDA-MB‑231 cells have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, to our knowledge, we provide for the first time mechanistic evidence that VB1-induced apoptosis in the human breast cancer line, MDA-MB-231, is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of caspases and the modulation of the expression of myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein 1 (Mcl‑1), B cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) proteins.

8-bromo-5-hydroxy-7-methoxychrysin targeting for inhibition of the properties of liver cancer stem cells by modulation of Twist signaling.

Emerging evidence has suggested that cancer stem cells with expression of surface biomarkers including CD133 and CD44 have more aggressive biological behavior, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which are closely related to invasion. The upregulation and nuclear relocation of the EMT regulator Twist1 have been implicated in the tumor invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to isolate and characterize a small population of CD133+ cells that existed in the HCC cell line SMMC-7721 by MACS and investigated the possible roles of 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin (BrMC), a synthetic analogue of chrysin, in inhibiting the properties of CD133+ sphere-forming cells (SFCs) derived from the HCC cell line SMMC-7721, namely liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs).

Casticin induces ovarian cancer cell apoptosis by repressing FoxM1 through the activation of FOXO3a.

Casticin, a polymethoxyflavone, is reported to have anticancer activities. The aim of the present study was to examine the molecular mechanisms by which casticin induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. The human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and A2780 were cultured .

Regulation of the FOXO3a/Bim signaling pathway by 5,7-dihydroxy-8-nitrochrysin in MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells.

We previously demonstrated that 5,7-dihydroxy-8-nitrochrysin (NOC), a novel synthetic chrysin analog, preferentially inhibits HER-2/neu-overexpressing MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis; however, the precise molecular mechanism was unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that NOC significantly induces apoptosis of MDA-MB-453 cells and that this is primarily mediated through a mitochondrial death cascade. This was presented as a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9.

7-difluoromethoxyl-5,4'-di-n-octylgenistein inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells through downregulating forkhead box M1.

Aim: To investigate whether the 7-difluoromethoxyl-5, 4'-di-n-octylgenistein (DFOG), a novel synthetic genistein analogue, affects the growth of gastric cancer cells and its mechanisms.

Methods: A series of genistein analogues were prepared by difluoromethylation and alkylation, and human gastric cancer cell lines AGS and SGC-7901 cultured in vitro were treated with various concentrations of genistein and genistein analogues. The cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.