Binaphthyl-Based Chiral Macrocyclic Hosts for the Selective Recognition of Iodide Anions.

In this study, we explorethe synthesis of binaphthyl-based chiral macrocyclic hosts for the first time. They exhibited the selective recognition abilities of iodide anions which can be favored over those of other anions (AcO, NO, ClO, HSO, Br, PF, HPO, BF, and COFS), as confirmed by UV-vis, HRMS, and H NMR spectroscopy experiments, as well as DFT calculations. Neutral aryl C-H···anion interactions play an important role in the formation complexes.

Nagimycins A and B, Antibacterial Ansamycin-Related Macrolactams from sp. NA07423.

Chemical investigation of sp. NA07423 led to the discovery of two unreported macrolactams, nagimycins A () and B (). Their structures were elucidated by NMR, HRESIMS, X-ray crystallography, and comparison of experimental and theoretical ECD spectra.

A Benzothiadiazole-Based Self-Assembled Cage for Cadmium Detection.

A turn-on fluorescent probe, cage , was efficiently self-assembled by condensing 4,4'-(benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl)dibenzaldehyde and TREN in chloroform. The formation of cage was characterized and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations. The yield of cage could be controlled by tuning the reaction conditions, such as the precursor concentration.

Main Active Components and Cell Cycle Regulation Mechanism of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the Treatment of Ox-LDL-Induced HUVECs Injury and Inhibition of Their Cell Cycle.

To explore the main active components and effects of cell cycle regulation mechanism of Astragali radix (AR) and Angelicae sinensis radix (ASR) on oxidative damage in vascular endothelial cells, a model of oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment was developed. Based on the "knock-out/knock-in" model of the target component, cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), and colorimetric assay, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of the active components of AR and ASR (astragaloside IV (AS IV), astragaloside I (AS I), formononetin (FRM), calycosin (CAL), calycosin-7-O--D glucoside (CLG), and ferulic acid (FRA)) against oxidative damage. The cell cycle and expression of genes encoding cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) were observed using flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Metal-Free Colorimetric Detection of Pyrophosphate Ions by Inhibitive Nanozymatic Carbon Dots.

The pyrophosphate ion (PO, PPi) plays a critical role in various biological processes and acts as an essential indicator for physiological mechanism investigations and disease control monitoring. However, most of the currently available approaches for PPi species detection for practical usage still lack appropriate indicator generation, straightforward detection requirements, and operation convenience. In this study, a highly sensitive and selective PPi detection approach via the use of nanozymatic carbon dots (CDs) is introduced.

Multicolor Functional Carbon Dots via One-Step Refluxing Synthesis.

Carbon dots are admirable fluorescent nanomaterials due to their low cost, high photostability, excellent biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Most conventional carbon dot fabrication approaches produce single-colored fluorescent material in the preparation process; different methods are therefore required to synthesize distinct carbon dots for specific optical applications. In this study, carbon dots carrying different emission colors are prepared through a one-step refluxing process.

Common RASGRP1 Gene Variants That Confer Risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Genome-wide association studies have validated the RAS guanyl nucleotide-releasing protein 1 (RASGRP1) gene as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility locus.

Aims: This study aimed to replicate and verify the association of RASGRP1 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms with T2D in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: Eleven common variants of RASGRP1 were detected using TaqMan technology in 1272 healthy controls and 1234 T2D patients.

[Advances of genetics in diabetic nephropathy].

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. The observed incidence patterns in different ethnics and familial clustering have suggested that the genetic factor plays an important role in the development and progression of DN. This paper reviews the recent advances on genetics of DN, including candidate genes association studies, linkage studies and genome-wide association studies (GWASs).

[An in vitro model applicable for fatty liver lipotoxicity pharmacological research].

Objective: To establish an in vitro model applicable for fatty liver lipotoxicity pharmacological research.

Methods: HepG2 cells were cultured with rat serum instead of fetal bovine serum and with long-chain free fatty acid (FFA) added. The tested indices were: the content of serum TNFa, cellular triglycerides (TG) content, Oil Red staining and ultrastructural changes; protein expression and gene expression of cellular TNFa, and the expression and distribution of cathepsin B (Ctsb).

Study on effects of extracts from Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Curcuma Longa in inhibiting phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase expression in rat's hepatic stellate cells.

Objective: To study the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB) and curcumin, the extracts of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Curcuma Longa, on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC), and the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) expression in it.

Methods: Rat's HSC-T6 were cultured and treated by SAB or curcumin. The inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimthyl-2-2thiazoly)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry, and the expression levels of alpha smooth actin (alpha-SMA), collagen type I, and ERK were determined by Western blot.