Taurine attenuates activation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting autophagy and inducing ferroptosis.

Background: Liver fibrosis is a compensatory response during the tissue repair process in chronic liver injury, and finally leads to liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis is associated with the progressive accumulation of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which can transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts to produce an excess of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Myofibroblasts are the main source of the excessive ECM responsible for hepatic fibrosis.

[A new sesquiterpene lactone from biological transformation of Hericium erinaceus and Artemisiae Annuae Herba].

This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents from the biological transformation of Hericium erinaceus and Artemisiae Annuae Herba(HQ biological transformation). The chemical constituents of ethyl acetate fraction of 75% ethanol extract in HQ biological transformation were separated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatographies together with semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties, spectroscopic analysis, as well as comparisons with the data reported in literature.

Design and synthesis of TiO/C nanosheets with a directional cascade carrier transfer.

Directed transfer of carriers, akin to excited charges in photosynthesis, in semiconductors by structural design is challenging. Here, TiO nanosheets with interlayered sp carbon and titanium vacancies are obtained by low-temperature controlled oxidation calcination. The directed transfer of carriers from the excited position to Ti-vacancies to interlayered carbon is investigated and proven to greatly increase the charge transport efficiency.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Xiao-Yu Yang and co-workers at Wuhan University of Technology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, University of the Witwatersrand, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The image depicts Ti vacancies in TiO as powerful drivers of photo- and photo-electrocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen production. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Photodriven seawater splitting is considered to be one of the most promising techniques for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the high salinity of seawater would deactivate catalysts and consume the photogenerated carriers. Metal vacancies in metal oxide semiconductors are critical to directed electron transfer and high salinity resistance; they are thus desirable but remain a challenge.

Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Uncovers Intratumoral Heterogeneity and Underlying Mechanisms for Drug Resistance in Hepatobiliary Tumor Organoids.

Molecular heterogeneity of hepatobiliary tumor including intertumoral and intratumoral disparity always leads to drug resistance. Here, seven hepatobiliary tumor organoids are generated to explore heterogeneity and evolution via single-cell RNA sequencing. HCC272 with high status of epithelia-mesenchymal transition proves broad-spectrum drug resistance.

Mapping and characterization of major QTL for spike traits in common wheat.

The spike traits of wheat can directly affect yield. F and F lines derived from the cross of the multi-spikelet female 10-A and the uni-spikelet male BE89 were used to detect QTLs for spike length (SL), total spikelet number per spike (TSS), kernel number per spike (KNS) and thousand-kernel weight (TKW) in four different environments. A total of 1098 SNP and 5 SSR were used to construct genetic map of 2398.

High Serum Levels of Cholesterol Increase Antitumor Functions of Nature Killer Cells and Reduce Growth of Liver Tumors in Mice.

Background And Aims: The relationship between serum cholesterol level and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We investigated the effects of serum cholesterol level on development of liver tumors in mice.

Methods: We performed studies with C57BL/6J mice, mice with disruption of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (Ldlrmice), and mice with conditional deletion of nature killer (NK) cells (NK mice).

Correction: Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating.

Correction for 'Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO2 nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating' by Jie Hu et al., Chem. Commun.

Nomogram prediction for the 3-year risk of type 2 diabetes in healthy mainland China residents.

Aims: To develop a precise personalized type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prediction model by cost-effective and readily available parameters in a Central China population.

Methods: A 3-year cohort study was performed on 5557 nondiabetic individuals who underwent annual physical examination as the training cohort, and a subsequent validation cohort of 1870 individuals was conducted using the same procedures. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, and a simple nomogram was constructed via the stepwise method.

Alkaloids and phenylpropanoid from Rhizomes of L.

A new bis-indole alkaloid, named arundaline (), a new phenylpropanoid, named arundalcohol (), and four known alkaloids, -acetyltryptamine (), trans--(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (), trans--feruloylserotonin (), and tuberosine B (), were isolated from 70% aqueous ethanol extracts of the rhizomes of L. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and comparison of the data with literature values. Compounds - were isolated from the genus for the first time.

Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating.

Two modified TiO nanofluids were developed, with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties. The hydrophobic TiO nanofluid, embedded in an organo-silyl salt, could be transformed into a hydrophilic TiO nanofluid by exchange of the chloride with an organo-sulphonate ion. Both modified TiO nanofluids exhibited high fluidity, thermal stability and photoactivity.

Integrated network analysis of transcriptomic and protein-protein interaction data in taurine-treated hepatic stellate cells.

Background: Studies show that the antifibrotic mechanism of taurine may involve its inhibition of the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Since the molecular mechanism of taurine-mediated antifibrotic activity has not been fully unveiled and is little studied, it is imperative to use "omics" methods to systematically investigate the molecular mechanism by which taurine inhibits liver fibrosis.

Aim: To establish a network including transcriptomic and protein-protein interaction data to elucidate the molecular mechanism of taurine-induced HSC apoptosis.

The potential role of HO-1 in regulating the MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 module scaffolded by JIP1 during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Heme oxygenase (HO-1), which may be induced by Cobaltic protoporphyrin IX chloride (CoPPIX) or Rosiglitazone (Ros), is a neuroprotective agent that effectively reduces ischemic stroke. Previous studies have shown that the neuroprotective mechanisms of HO-1 are related to JNK signaling. The expression of HO-1 protects cells from death through the JNK signaling pathway.

[A new sesquiterpene from Acorus calamus (Ⅱ)].

A new quaiane-tgpe sesquiterpene was isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the rhizomes of Acorus calamus by silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chromatographic methods. Structure and absolute configuration of the sesquiterpene were elucidated by spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallographic analysis, and named as 1R,5R,7S-guaiane-4R,10R-diol-6-one.

Metabolomic profiling for identification of metabolites and relevant pathways for taurine in hepatic stellate cells.

Aim: To develop a reliable and simple method to identify important biological metabolites and relevant pathways for taurine in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), in order to provide more data for taurine therapy.

Methods: All the biological samples were analyzed by using high-performance liquid chromatography-time electrospray ionization/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to identify statistically different metabolites for taurine in HSCs, and metabolomic pathway analysis was used to do pathway analysis for taurine in HSCs.

A Novel Tropoloisoquinoline Alkaloid, Neotatarine, from Acorus calamus L.

A novel tropoloisoquinoline alkaloid, neotatarine (1), was isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the rhizome parts of Acorus calamus L. The chemical structure was unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Neotatarine (1) exhibited significantly inhibitory activity against Aβ induced PC12 cell death with 2, 4 and 8 μm comparing with the assay control (P < 0.

New Acorane-Type Sesquiterpene from Acorus calamus L.

A new sesquiterpene, named neo-acorane A (), and two known ones, acoric acid () and calamusin D (), were isolated from a 95% ethanol extract of the rhizome parts of L. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds and are nonisoprenoid sesquiterpenoids, likely biosynthesized from an acorane-type sesquiterpene by oxidative fission of the six- or five-membered ring.

Linc00152 promotes cancer progression in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The X protein (HBx) plays as a key role in hepatocarcinogenesis associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. The study aimed to figure out the role of Linc00152 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the association between the expression levels of Linc00152 and HBx.

Methods: QRT-PCR assays were applied to analyzed the expression levels of Linc00152 and HBx.

Picroside II protects myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury through inhibition of the inflammatory response.

The inflammatory response is important in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Picroside II, the primary active constituent of Picrorhizae, has been reported to protect the myocardium from I/R-induced injury, however, the exact mechanism underlying these protective effects remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the protective effects of picroside II on I/R-induced myocardial injury.

[Sesquiterpenoids of Acori Calami Rhizoma].

To study the chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of Acori Calami Rhizoma. Components were isolated through various chromatographic methods and identified by spectroscopic data. The agar dilution method was adopted to analyze antimicrobial activity of the compounds in vitro.

[Determination of five pyrethroid pesticides residues in Anoectochilus roxburghii by cloud point extraction-back extraction and GC-MS].

A method for residual determination of 5 pyrethroid pesticides in Anoectochilus roxburghii by cloud point extraction-back extraction-GC-MS was established. PEG 6000 was used as extraction agent and isooctane was used for back-extractant. The con- tent was calculated by external standard method.

[Biological characteristics of Fusarium oxysporum and inhibitory effects of five fungicides].

The mycelium growth and sporulation in different temperature, pH value and light conditions were detected by using the crossing and haemocytometer method. The toxicity of five fungicides to Fusarium oxysporum was tested by mycelia growth method, so as to provide the reference for prevention and control against F. oxysporum.

Epigenetics: novel mechanism of pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Epigenetics refers to changes in phenotype and gene expression that occur without alterations in DNA sequence. MicroRNAs are relatively recently discovered negative regulators of gene expression and act at the posttranscriptional level.

Methods: This review summarizes epigenetic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension, focusing on microRNAs related to pulmonary hypertension.