Paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms Q192R and L55M are not associated with human longevity: A meta-analysis.

Background: Genetic mutations in the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) encoding gene have been considered to affect mortality and of these the functional promoter region polymorphisms Q192R and L55M are among the most widely studied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the Q192R and L55M polymorphisms of PON1 can increase susceptibility to longevity. A meta-analysis was performed to obtain a comprehensive estimation of the association between Q192R and L55M and longevity in long-lived individuals (LLIs) aged 80 years or more.

[Synthetic lethal genes to mutant p53].

Targeted therapy has become a powerful approach for cancer treatment. Better understanding of oncogenes as well as synthetic lethal interactions with oncogenes will lead to new strategies for tumor-specific treatment. It is well known that mutant p53 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor development.

New anti-angiogenic leading structure discovered in the fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis.

Cimyunnins A-C (1-3), characterized with an unusual fused cyclopentenone ring G, together with cimyunnin D (4), possessing a highly rearranged γ-lactone ring F, were characterized from the fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory calculations. In addition, cimyunnin A exhibited comparable anti-angiogenic activities to those of sunitinib, a clinically-used first-line angiogenesis inhibitor, in the in vitro and ex vivo studies.