Phylogenetic analyses of the 19 STR loci in X chromosome revealed discriminant forensic characteristics for Chinese Daur and Oroqen minorities.

In respect of forensic genetics, X-STRs are widely applied for deficiency paternity cases. Given the popularization of AGCU-X19 STR Kit in China, there has been investigation conducted into the genetic data and forensic parameters of 19 X-STR loci in many of the Chinese ethnic groups, which makes it possible to perform nationwide phylogenetic comparation. To evaluate the allele and haplotype diversity of 19 X-STR loci and to explore their forensic efficiency in the Daur and Oroqen minorities, unrelated healthy Daur (n = 86) and Oroqen (n = 165) individuals were recruited from Heilongjiang province, so as to reveal the phylogenetic relationship between the two minorities and other Chinese ethnic groups.

Porphyrinic Probe for Fluorescence "Turn-On" Monitoring of Cu in Aqueous Buffer and Mitochondria.

A zinc(II) porphyrin derivative (ZPSN) was designed and synthesized, and this probe exhibited rapid, selective and reversible binding to Cu for fluorescence monitoring in pure aqueous buffer. The detection mechanism is based on Cu-activated disruption of axial coordination between the pyridyl ligand and the zinc center, which changes the molecular geometry and inhibits intramolecular electron transfer (ET), leading to fluorescence enhancement of the probe. The proposed sensing mechanism was supported by UV-vis spectroscopy/fluorescence spectral titration, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and time-resolved fluorescence decay studies.

Mutation of cysteine 46 in IKK-beta increases inflammatory responses.

Activation of IκB kinase β (IKK-β) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling contributes to cancer pathogenesis and inflammatory disease; therefore, the IKK-β-NF-κB signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target. Current drug design strategies focus on blocking NF-κB signaling by binding to specific cysteine residues on IKK-β. However, mutations in IKK-β have been found in patients who may eventually develop drug resistance.

Total ginsenosides of Radix Ginseng modulates tricarboxylic acid cycle protein expression to enhance cardiac energy metabolism in ischemic rat heart tissues.

To elucidate the underlying mechanism of cardio-protective activity of the total ginsenosides (TGS) of Radix Ginseng, proteomic analysis using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS techniques was employed for identifying the underlying targets of TGS on improvement of the energy metabolism of isolated rat heart tissues perfused in Langendorff system under ischemia-reperfusion injury conditions. The image analysis results revealed 11 differentially expressed proteins in the TGS-treated heart tissues; these proteins, including LDHB and ODP-2, were found to be closely related to the function of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that plays pivotal roles in cardiac energy metabolism. It is thus concluded that improvement of cardiac energy metabolism via activating proteins in TCA cycle could be the major action pathway and targets of TGS activity against rat heart tissue injury.

Total ginsenosides increase coronary perfusion flow in isolated rat hearts through activation of PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling.

Background: Ginseng is the most popular herb used for treatment of ischemic heart diseases in Chinese community; ginsenosides are considered to be the major active ingredients. However, whether ginsenosides can enhance the coronary artery flow of ischemic heart and, if so, by what mechanisms they do this, remains unclear.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts with ischemia/reperfusion injury in Langendorff system were employed for examining the effect of total ginsenosides (TGS) on coronary perfusion flow (CPF).

Asian ginseng extract inhibits in vitro and in vivo growth of mouse lewis lung carcinoma via modulation of ERK-p53 and NF-κB signaling.

Asian ginseng (AG) is the most commonly used medicinal herb in Asian countries. It is often prescribed for cancer patients as a complementary remedy. However, whether AG in fact benefits cancer patients remains unknown because some studies reported that AG facilitates tumor growth, which contradicts its usage as a dietary remedy to cancer patients.

Matrine induces cell anergy in human Jurkat T cells through modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor of activated T-cells signaling with concomitant up-regulation of anergy-associated genes expression.

Induction of immunotolerance has become a new strategy for treating autoimmune conditions in recent decades. However, so far there is no ideal therapeutics available for clinical use. Medicinal herbs are a promising potential source of immunotolerance inducers.

Pseudolaric acid B suppresses T lymphocyte activation through inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway and p38 phosphorylation.

Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is a major bioactive component of the medicinal plant Pseudolarix kaempferi. Traditional medicine practitioners in Asia have been using the roots of this plant to treat inflammatory and microbial skin diseases for centuries. In the current study, in vitro immunosuppressive effect of PAB and the underlying mechanisms have been investigated.