Chemical Constituents from var. Leioclada.

One previously undescribed naphthoquinone-benzisochromanquinone dimer berpolydiquinone A (), along with two previously undescribed naphthoquinone-anthraquinone dimers berpolydiquinones B and C (-), and one previously undescribed dimeric naphthalene berpolydinaphthalene A (), were isolated from the stems and leaves of var. leioclada. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS), spectroscopic data, the exciton chirality method (ECM), and quantum chemical calculation.

Anthraquinone-benzisochromanquinone dimers from the stems and leaves of .

Three new anthraquinone-benzisochromanquinone dimers polyphylldiquinones A-C (), along with three known analogs floribundiquinone A-B (-) and 7-dehydroxyventiloquinone H (), were isolated from the stems and leaves of . The chemical structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined using HR-ESI-MS, spectroscopic data, and electronic circular dichroism. Notably, compounds (-) are dimeric quinones that share the same benzisochromanquinone moiety, specifically identified as 7-dehydroxyventiloquinone H (), which was the first time to report as a natural product.

Structural and electronic properties of H, CO, CH, NO, and NH adsorbed onto AlSi nanocages using density functional theory.

In this study, the adsorption of gases (CH, CO, H, NH, and NO) onto AlSi nanocages was theoretically investigated using density functional theory. For each type of gas molecule, two different adsorption sites above the Al and Si atoms on the cluster surface were explored. We performed geometry optimization on both the pure nanocage and nanocages after gas adsorption and calculated their adsorption energies and electronic properties.

[Community Structure and Influencing Factors of Bacterioplankton in Spring in Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu].

In order to investigate the characteristics of bacterioplankton in the spring in Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu, the 16S rRNA gene of the bacterioplankton at four sampling sites in Zhushan Bay was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing using water samples collected from Yapugang, Shatanggang, Zhushanhunan, and Jiaoshan. The results showed that the coverage of the sequencing library was very high and could accurately represent the bacterioplankton community in the samples. The species richness of Jiaoshan was the highest, but the species evenness was lower.

[Transdermal characteristics and mechanism of asiaticoside nanoemulsions and asiaticoside nanoemulsions-based gels].

To prepare the asiaticoside nanoemulsions (ASI-NEs) and asiaticoside nanoemulsions-based gels (ASI-NBGs), compare them with the commercial cream of asiaticoside (ASI-C) in terms of transdermal characteristics, and investigate the transdermal mechanism of ASI-NEs and ASI-NBGs. Their transdermal characteristics were studied by using Franz diffusion cells. The effect of topical ASI-NEs and ASI-NBGs on ultrastructure of rabbit skin was evaluated by using HE staining method.

Daidzein stimulates osteogenesis facilitating proliferation, differentiation, and antiapoptosis in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells via estrogen receptor-dependent MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt activation.

Daidzein, a natural soy isoflavone, has a structure similar to estradiol and exhibiting bone-sparing effects against osteoporosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of osteogenesis remain unclear. We hypothesized that daidzein stimulates osteogenesis through estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent signal pathways.

Impaired Endothelial Repair Capacity of Early Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Hypertensive Patients With Primary Hyperaldosteronemia: Role of 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobiopterin Oxidation and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Uncoupling.

Although hyperaldosteronemia exerts detrimental impacts on vascular endothelium in addition to elevating blood pressure, the effects and molecular mechanisms of hyperaldosteronemia on early endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-mediated endothelial repair after arterial damage are yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs from hypertensive patients with primary hyperaldosteronemia (PHA). In vivo endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs from PHAs (n=20), age- and blood pressure-matched essential hypertension patients (n=20), and age-matched healthy subjects (n=20) was evaluated by transplantation into a nude mouse carotid endothelial denudation model.

Expression of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate NLRP3 inflammasome expression in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and its relationship to plaque vulnerability.

Methods: Carotid atherosclerotic plaques collected from 30 patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) were subjected to immunohistochemical, mRNA, and protein expression studies. Ten mesenteric arteries from intestinal cancer patients served as controls for the immunohistochemical studies.

ZM-66, a new podophyllotoxin derivative inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in K562/ADM cells.

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of ZM-66 on multidrug-resistant leukemic cell line K562/ADM.

Methods: The K562/ADM cells were treated with varying concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L) of ZM-66 or etoposide for 24 hours. The proliferation was detected by Sulforhodamine B Sodium Salt (SRB) assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent staining.

Puerarin concurrently stimulates osteoprotegerin and inhibits receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and interleukin-6 production in human osteoblastic MG-63 cells.

Puerarin, a daidzein-8-C-glucoside, is the major isoflavone glycoside found in the Chinese herb radix of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, and has received increasing attention because of its possible role in the prevention of osteoporosis. In our previous studies, puerarin reduced the bone resorption of osteoclasts and promoted long bone growth in fetal mouse in vitro.

CXCR7 upregulation is required for early endothelial progenitor cell-mediated endothelial repair in patients with hypertension.

Dysfunction of early endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is responsible for impaired endothelial repair capacity after arterial injury in patients with hypertension. Here, we hypothesized that diminished signaling of CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) contributes to the reduced EPC functions, and enhanced CXCR7 expression restores the capacities of EPCs from hypertensive patients. CXCR7 expression of EPCs from hypertensive patients was significantly reduced when compared with that from healthy subjects.

Puerarin stimulates proliferation and differentiation and protects against cell death in human osteoblastic MG-63 cells via ER-dependent MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt activation.

Puerarin, the main isoflavone glycoside found in the Chinese herb radix of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, has received increasing attention because of its possible role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Previously, we showed that puerarin could inhibit the bone absorption of osteoclasts and promote long bone growth in fetal mouse in vitro.

1-[(3,5-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)carbon-yl]-5-methyl-indolizine-3-carbo-nitrile.

In the title mol-ecule, C16H14N4O, the indolizine ring system is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.013 (3) Å, and forms a dihedral angle of 7.52 (12)° with the pyrazole ring.

[Novel mutations of cardiac troponin T in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the potential link between the genotype and the phenotype.

Methods: Clinical features of 100 probands with HCM and some family members were evaluated, 200 unrelated normal subjects served as control. The exons and flanking introns of TNNT2 were amplified with PCR and direct sequencing was used to screen TNNT2 mutations/polymorphisms.

[Novel MYBPC3 mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the MYBPC3 gene mutations in Han Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Sixty-six patients with HCM were enrolled for the study. The exons in the functional regions of MYBPC3 were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced.

[Characterization of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with unstable angina pectoris and stable angina pectoris by optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To compare the characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and stable angina pectoris (SAP) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT was performed in 47 patients (23 UAP and 24 SAP) undergoing coronary angiography. Lipid-rich plaque (defined by > or = 2 quadrants of the cross-section area), thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), thickness of fibrous cap, plaque rupture, calcification and thrombus visualized by OCT were compared between UAP and SAP patients.

[Comparative study of gene mutation between Chinese patients with familial and sporadic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To compare the gene mutation between Chinese patients with familial and sporadic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 36 patients with familial HCM (FHCM) and 50 patients with sporadic HCM (SHCM), all un-related and from different provinces of China. PCR was used to amplify the 26 protein-coding axons of beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7), 16 exons for cardiac troponin T (TNNT2), and 38 exons for cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3).

[Visualization of intimal proliferation of drug-eluting stent and bare mental stent by use of optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To compare neointimal proliferation of drug-eluting stent (DES) with bare mental stent (BMS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT images were obtained in 21 diseased coronary vessels with 23 stents in 19 patients with coronary artery disease at 5 - 93 months post DES or BMS stents. Twenty-two stents of all 23 stents were divided into three groups.

[Analysis of MYH7, MYBPC3 and TNNT2 gene mutations in 10 Chinese pedigrees with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the correlation between genotype and phenotype].

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen the disease-causing gene mutations and investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in 10 Chinese pedigrees with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: There are 91 family members from these 10 pedigrees and 5 members were normal mutated carriers, 23 members were HCM patients (14 male) aged from 1.5 to 73 years old.

[Coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque and stent visualizations by optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To evaluate coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and changes post coronary stenting by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT images were obtained in 22 diseased coronary vessels after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in 20 patients and in 23 stents [7 sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) follow up at 4-29 months post stenting and 8 bare mental stents (BMS) at 4-35 months post stenting, 8 stents immediately after PCI].

Results: All 22 vessels and 23 stents OCT images were successfully acquired.

[Effect of geniposide on serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha of rheumatoid arthritis rats].

Objective: To study the effect of geniposide on serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels of rheumatoid arthritis rats, as well as the mechanism of this drug.

Method: To establish an experimental rat model of type II collagen-induced arthritic (CIA). The inhibitory effects on paw edema were observed, and serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels were determined in experimental rats.

[A frame shift mutation, Arg346fs mutation, is identified in cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene in a Chinese family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To explore the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: The peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 5 HCM families without consanguinity, including 5 probands, 2 males and 3 females, 28 sporadic HCM patients, 18 males and 10 females, and 80 healthy controls. The exons in the functional regions of cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) were amplified with PCR and the amplified products were sequenced.

[Mutations in beta myosin heavy chain gene: two mutations in Chinese with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the correlation between the genotype and phenotype].

Objective: To study the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.

Methods: Samples of peripheral blood were collected from five Chinese patients with HCM in whose families at least 2 HCM patients existed. The exon in the functional regions of the beta myosin heavy chain gene (beta-MHC) were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced.