Dual-signal ratiometric electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on Au NPs-induced low-potential emission of PFO Pdots and LSPR-ECL mechanism for ultra-sensitive detection of microRNA-141.

In this study, we have for the first time constructed a ratiometric ECL biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to trigger both the low-potential emission from conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) dots (PFO Pdots) and the LSPR-ECL effect with sulfur-doped boron nitride quantum dots (S-BN QDs). PFO Pdots were first applied to the Au NPs-modified electrode, followed by covalent binding to capture the hairpin H1. Immediately thereafter, a small amount of miRNA-141 was able to generate a large amount of output DNA (OP) by traversing the target cycle.

Tripedal DNA Walker as a Signal Amplifier Combined with a Potential-Resolved Multicolor Electrochemiluminescence Strategy for Ultrasensitive Detection of Prostate Cancer Staging Indicators.

A multicolor electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on a closed bipolar electrode (BPE) array was proposed for the rapid and intuitive analysis of three prostate cancer staging indicators. First, [Irpic-OMe], [Ir(ppy)(acac)], and [Ru(bpy)] were applied as blue, green, and red ECL emitters, respectively, whose mixed ECL emission colors covered the whole visible region by varying the applied voltages. Afterward, we designed a simple Mg-dependent DNAzyme (MNAzyme)-driven tripedal DNA walker (TD walker) to release three output DNAs.

Dual "on-off" signal conversion strategy based on surface plasmon coupling and resonance energy transfer for visual electrochemiluminescence ratiometric analysis of MiRNA-141.

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor with a pair of new ECL emitters and a novel sensing mechanism was designed for the high-sensitivity detection of microRNA-141 (miRNA-141). Sulfur-doped boron nitrogen quantum dots (S-BN QDs) were initially employed to modify the cathode of the bipolar electrode (BPE), while the anode reservoir was [Ir(dfppy)(bpy)]PF/TPrA system. The next step involved attaching H1-bound ultra-small WO nanodots (WO NDs) to the S-BN QDs-modified BPE cathode via DNA hybridization.

Multiomics analyses of two Leonurus species illuminate leonurine biosynthesis and its evolution.

The Lamiaceae family is renowned for its terpenoid-based medicinal components, but Leonurus, which has traditional medicinal uses, stands out for its alkaloid-rich composition. Leonurine, the principal active compound found in Leonurus, has demonstrated promising effects in reducing blood lipids and treating strokes. However, the biosynthetic pathway of leonurine remains largely unexplored.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness analysis of pretreatment percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (GASTO 1059).

Background: We launched a single-arm phase II study to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) before concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Eligible patients received pretreatment PEG and enteral nutrition during CCRT. The primary outcome was the change of weight during CCRT.

Molecular characterization and immune efficacy of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Background: Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens to humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Vaccination is an effective and environmentally friendly method for tick control. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) is an important glycometabolism enzyme that is a candidate vaccine against parasites.

Investigation of the mechanisms and experimental verification of Shao yao gan cao decoction against Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction via systems pharmacology.

This study explored the chemical and pharmacological mechanisms of Shao Yao Gan Cao decoction (SYGC) in the treatment of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Exactive-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap HR-MS), network pharmacology, transcriptomics, molecular docking and in vivo experiments. First, we identified that SYGC improves SOD in guinea pigs by increased c-kit expression and decreased inflammation infiltration and ring muscle disorders. Then, a total of 649 SOD differential genes were found through RNA sequencing and mainly enriched in complement and coagulation cascades, the B cell receptor signaling pathway and the NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

Molecular characterization of hexokinase (HK) in Haemaphysalis longicornis and evaluation of HK protein- and DNA-based vaccines against adult ticks.

Background: Haemaphysalis longicornis is an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite, which transmits various pathogens to humans, livestock and wild animals. Hexokinase (HK) is a key regulatory enzyme of the glycolytic pathway in the organisms. However, little is known about hexokinase and its functions in ticks.

[Grain oil quality formation and metabolism-related genes difference expression of cv. 'Fengdan' grown at different altitudes].

We measured the morphological index, nutritional composition and the expression analysis of key genes during grain development of cv. 'Fengdan' grown at altitudes of 100, 650 and 1010 m in Luo-yang. The aim of this study was to examine differences in grain yield traits and the transformation of soluble sugar, starch, soluble protein and fatty acid contents, as well as the related enzyme activity and differential expression of key genes in oil metabolism.

SNS-032 attenuates liver fibrosis by anti-active hepatic stellate cells inhibition of cyclin dependent kinase 9.

Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process of all chronic liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in the development of liver fibrosis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a cell cycle kinase that regulates mRNA transcription and elongation.

PoDPBT, a BAHD acyltransferase, catalyses the benzoylation in paeoniflorin biosynthesis in Paeonia ostii.

PoDPBT, an O-benzoyltransferase belonging to the BAHD family, can catalyze the benzoylation of 8-debenzoylpaeoniflorin to paeoniflorin. PoDPBT is the first enzyme demonstrated to be involved in the modification stage of paeoniflorin biosynthesis. DFGGG, a new DFGWG-like motif, was revealed in the BAHD family.

Paeoniflorin in Paeoniaceae: Distribution, influencing factors, and biosynthesis.

Paeoniflorin, a monoterpene glucoside, is increasingly used in the clinical treatment of many diseases because it has a variety of pharmacological activities. Besides, paeoniflorin has been considered the characteristic chemical constituent of Paeoniaceae plants since it was first reported in 1963. Therefore, how to better develop and utilize paeoniflorin in Paeoniaceae has always been a research hotspot.

Evaluation of anti-tick efficiency in rabbits induced by DNA vaccines encoding Haemaphysalis longicornis lipocalin homologue.

Haemaphysalis longicornis is an obligate haematophagous ectoparasite, transmitting a variety of pathogens, which brings great damage to human health and animal husbandry development. Lipocalins (LIP) are a family of proteins that transport small hydrophobic molecules and also involve in immune regulation, such as the regulation of cell homeostasis, inhibiting the host's inflammatory response and resisting the contractile responses in host blood vessels. Therefore, it is one of the candidate antigens for vaccines.

Ultrasensitive and Visual Electrochemiluminescence Ratiometry Based on a Constant Resistor-Integrated Bipolar Electrode for MicroRNA Detection.

In this work, a new electrochemiluminescence (ECL) platform was constructed for detecting the prostate cancer marker microRNA-141 (miRNA-141) on a constant resistor-integrated closed bipolar electrode (BPE). It consisted of two reservoirs and a constant resistor, and both ends were connected to the anode of the driving electrode and the cathode of BPE. The cathode of BPE was modified with boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs), and the anode reservoir was the [Ru(bpy)](PF)/TPrA system.

A 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase converts dihydrofuran to furan in Salvia diterpenoids.

Tanshinone ⅡA (TⅡA), a diterpene quinone with a furan ring, is a bioactive compound found in the medicinal herb redroot sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), in which both furan and dihydrofuran analogs are present in abundance. Progress has been made recently in elucidating the tanshinone biosynthetic pathway, including heterocyclization of the dihydrofuran D-ring by cytochrome P450s; however, dehydrogenation of dihydrofuran to furan, a key step of furan ring formation, remains uncharacterized. Here, by differential transcriptome mining, we identified six 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) genes whose expressions corresponded to tanshinone biosynthesis.

A unique flavoenzyme operates in ubiquinone biosynthesis in photosynthesis-related eukaryotes.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an electron transporter in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, yet the biosynthetic pathway in eukaryotes remains only partially resolved. 6-hydroxylation completes the benzoquinone ring full substitution, a hallmark of CoQ. Here, we show that plants use a unique flavin-dependent monooxygenase (CoqF), instead of di-iron enzyme (Coq7) operating in animals and fungi, as a 6-hydroxylase.

Amygdalin Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis through Inhibiting Activation of TGF-β/Smad Signaling.

Objective: To observe the effect of amygdalin on liver fibrosis in a liver fibrosis mouse model, and the underlying mechanisms were partly dissected in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Thirty-two male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control, model, low- and high-dose amygdalin-treated groups, 8 mice in each group. Except the control group, mice in the other groups were injected intraperitoneally with 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-olive oil solution 3 times a week for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis.

Engineering high coenzyme Q tomato.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is vital for energy metabolism in living organisms. In humans, CoQ deficiency causes diseases and must be replenished via diet; however, CoQ content in plant foods is primarily low. Here, we report the breeding of high CoQ tomato lines by expressing four enzymes with a fruit-specific promoter, which modifies the chloroplast chorismate pathway, enhances cytosolic isoprenoid biosynthesis, and up-regulates the first two reactions in mitochondrion that construct the CoQ polyisoprenoid tail.

Two types of O-methyltransferase are involved in biosynthesis of anticancer methoxylated 4'-deoxyflavones in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

The medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is rich in specialized 4'-deoxyflavones, which are reported to have many health-promoting properties. We assayed Scutellaria flavones with different methoxyl groups on human cancer cell lines and found that polymethoxylated 4'-deoxyflavones, like skullcapflavone I and tenaxin I have stronger ability to induce apoptosis compared to unmethylated baicalein, showing that methoxylation enhances bioactivity as well as the physical properties of specialized flavones, while having no side-effects on healthy cells. We investigated the formation of methoxylated flavones and found that two O-methyltransferase (OMT) families are active in the roots of S.

Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy With or Without Nimotuzumab in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase 2 Randomized Trial.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) combined with nimotuzumab in patients with unresectable stage III squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC).

Methods And Materials: A prospective, single-center, open-label, randomized phase 2 trial was performed in patients with unresectable stage III SqCLC. Patients were randomized to receive 65 Gy thoracic radiation over 5 weeks concurrent with docetaxel and cisplatin or the same CCRT regimen combined with 200 mg of nimotuzumab (NIMO-CCRT), administered weekly by intravenous infusion.

Lipidomic profiling of the developing kernel clarifies the lipid metabolism of Paeonia ostii.

Lipid components in the developing kernel of Paeonia ostii were determined, and the fatty acid (FA) distributions in triacylglycerol and phospholipids were characterized. The lipids in the kernel were mainly phospholipids (43%), neutral glycerides (24%), fatty acyls (26%), and sphingolipids (4.5%).