The complete chloroplast genome of Stearn (Liliaceae) from southwestern China.

, a herb from southeastern Xizang, China, has its first complete chloroplast genome sequenced using next-generation sequencing. The genome is 151,814 bp, consisting of inverted repeats (IRs; 26,323 bp), small single-copy (SSC; 17,524 bp), and large single-copy regions (LSC; 81,644 bp). It encodes 112 unique genes: 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes.

, a new species in the genus (Liliaceae) that reveals parallel evolution within morphology.

The former genus , which has been merged as a clade within the genus (Liliaceae), represents one of the most complicated and unclear groups included in the latter. Research on members of the Nomocharis clade has been quite limited due to the sampling difficulties caused by its selective environmental preferences. In this study, we propose a new species within this clade, , as a further bridge connecting the former genus with other members of the genus We conducted morphological clustering, phylogenetic, and comparative genomics analyses of nuclear internal spacers and the newly generated complete chloroplast genome, in conjunction with previously published sequences, and performed ancestral state reconstruction to clarify the evolutionary pattern of important traits in .

Fluorescent immunochromatography of vancomycin in plasma: A rapid and sensitive quantitative analysis.

Vancomycin (VAN) has a narrow therapeutic window and variable pharmacokinetic properties, which require timely monitoring of plasma concentration to adjust the dosage for better effectiveness. A sensitive and quantitative immunochromatographic method was developed to detect VAN in plasma. The linear response range of the method to detect plasma VAN was 1.

Study on the Correlation between Pain and Cytokine Expression in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Bone Metastasis of Malignant Cancer Treated Using External Radiation Therapy.

The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide on a yearly basis, with the number of patients with bone metastases also increasing annually. Events associated with bone metastases can seriously affect patient quality of life, through pain, hypercalcemia, bone marrow regeneration disorders, and spinal cord compression. In this nonrandomized controlled clinical trial study, we focused on the relationship between bone metastasis, pain, and cytokines before and after radiotherapy.

Acupoint catgut embedding improves senescence in a rat model of ageing by regulating mitophagy via the PINK1 pathway.

Ageing population is a tough task worldwide, and the aggravating trend of ageing population in China brings enormous pressure to healthcare system. Chinese acupuncture has shown definite anti-ageing effect as arthralgia relief, movement improvement, energy increase and immunity enhancement; however, the mechanisms underlying are far away from illumination. Increasing literature has highlighted the role of alterations in mitochondrial function as a potential central regulator in ageing biology; mitophagy plays a critical role in mitochondrial quality control.

Single-molecule real-time transcript sequencing identified flowering regulatory genes in Crocus sativus.

Background: Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is a valuable spice with medicinal uses in gynaecopathia and nervous system diseases. Identify flowering regulatory genes plays a vital role in increasing flower numbers, thereby resulting in high saffron yield.

Results: Two full length transcriptome gene sets of flowering and non-flowering saffron crocus were established separately using the single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing method.

SiNiSan Ameliorates the Depression-Like Behavior of Rats That Experienced Maternal Separation Through 5-HT1A Receptor/CREB/BDNF Pathway.

Early adverse life stress is an important dangerous factor in the development of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. Available clinical antidepressant agents, such as fluoxetine, [a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)], are unsatisfactory because of their side effects. SiNiSan (SNS) is a classic Chinese medicine prescription regarded to disperse stagnated liver qi to relieve qi stagnation.

Association of long interspersed nucleotide element-1 and interferon regulatory factor 6 methylation changes with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Objective: To examine the possible associations between methylation changes in the promoter regions of long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) and interferon regulatory factor 6 gene (IRF6) and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P).

Methods: A case-control investigation was performed to compare 37 infants affected by NSCL/Ps with 60 babies without cleft malformations. Their genomic DNA samples were obtained, and the LINE-1 and IRF6 methylation levels were measured by using Sequenom MassArray.

Association of SNP rs1867277 in FOXE1 Gene and Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate in a Han Chinese Population.

Background: The genetic factors causing cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL ± P) are still unclear. The SNPs in FOXE1 gene were associated with CL ± P. However, the results have been inconsistent.

Extracted apocarotenoids from saffron stigmas and evaluated the quality of saffron.

Saffron is a kind of expensive spice and therapeutic agent. In order to establish a set of methods to evaluate the quality of saffron, High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS) were used to identify the apocarotenoids extracted from saffron stigmas. TOPSIS method was applied to evaluate the qualities of saffron.

[Epidemiological analysis of selected congenital limb malformations in Hengyang].

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of selected congenital limb malformations (CLM) in newborns of Hengyang.

Methods: During the period of 2008-2010, cluster sampling survey was adopted to investigate the congenital limb malformations of neonates born to women resident in Hengyang, including Nanyue District, Zhuhui District, Changning City and Hengshan County. Each newborn was examined for the screening of CLM after birth.

Novel indoline-2,3-dione derivatives as inhibitors of aminopeptidase N (APN).

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), as a zinc-containing ectoenzyme, plays a critical role in the process of tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Through the docking-based virtual screening of chemical databases and the further activity assay, we discovered that compound 10c exhibits potent and selective inhibitory ability towards APN. In addition, a series of indoline-2,3-dione derivates have been designed and synthesized as APN inhibitors.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel L-isoserine tripeptide derivatives as aminopeptidase N inhibitors.

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) is one of the essential proteins for tumour invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis as it is over-expressed on the surface of different tumour cells. Based on our previous work that L-isoserine dipeptide derivatives were potent APN inhibitors, we designed and synthesized L-isoserine tripeptide derivatives as APN inhibitors. Among these compounds, one compound 16l (IC₅₀ = 2.

Design, synthesis and preliminary activity evaluation of novel 3-amino-2-hydroxyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid derivatives as aminopeptidase N/CD13 inhibitors.

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) over expressed on tumour cells, plays a critical role in tumour invasion, metastasis and tumour angiogenesis. In this article, we described the design, synthesis and preliminary activity studies of novel 3-amino-2-hydroxyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid derivatives as APN inhibitors. The in vitro enzymatic inhibitions on APN from porcine kidney showed that compound 7e had the most potent inhibitory activity against APN with the IC(50) value to 1.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as aminopeptidase N/CD13 inhibitors.

A series of novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives were designed, synthesized and assayed for their activities against aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) and MMP-2. The results showed that most compounds exhibited higher inhibitory activities against APN than that of MMP-2. Within this series, compound 12h (IC(50)=6.

[FGFR2 gene mutation in a Chinese patient with Apert syndrome].

Objective: To determine the disease-causing mutation in a Chinese patient with Apert syndrome (AS).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the AS patient and his parents. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the exons 7 and 9 of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene.

Novel aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) inhibitors derived from 3-phenylalanyl-N'-substituted-2,6-piperidinedione.

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) over expressed on tumor cells, plays a critical role in tumor invasion, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis. Here we described the design, synthesis and preliminary activity studies of novel APN inhibitors with 3-phenylalanyl-N'-substituted-2,6-piperidinedione scaffold. The results showed that compound 7c had the most potent inhibitory activity against APN with the IC(50) value to 5.

Design, synthesis and preliminary activity evaluation of novel L-lysine derivatives as aminopeptidase N/CD13 inhibitors.

A novel class of L-lysine derivatives as aminopeptidase N (APN) inhibitors was designed and synthesized. Activity evaluation showed that compound C7 (IC(50) = 9.6 +/-1.

Design, synthesis, and preliminary studies of the activity of novel derivatives of N-cinnamoyl-L-aspartic acid as inhibitors of aminopeptidase N/CD13.

A series of novel derivatives of N-cinnamoyl-l-aspartic acid were designed, synthesized, and assayed for their inhibitory activities against aminopeptidase N. The preliminary biological assay showed that compound 8c has the most potent inhibitory activity against APN with an IC(50) of 11.1+/-0.

Design, synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of N-hydroxy-4-(3-phenylpropanamido)benzamide (HPPB) derivatives as novel histone deacetylase inhibitors.

A novel series of N-hydroxy-4-(3-phenylpropanamido)benzamide (HPPB) derivatives comprising N-hydroxybenzamide group as zinc-chelating moiety were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit histone deacetylases. These compounds possessed inhibitory activity against the enzymes with IC(50) values as low as 4.0 microM.

Leukotriene D4 stimulates the migration but not proliferation of endothelial cells mediated by the cysteinyl leukotriene cyslt(1) receptor via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

The actions of cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are mediated by activating CysLT receptors, CysLT(1), and CysLT(2). The CysLT(1) receptor mediates vascular responses to CysLTs; however, its effect on the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells is not clarified. To determine this effect, we observed proliferation and migration in EA.

Pranlukast attenuates ischemia-like injury in endothelial cells via inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and nuclear factor-kappaB activation.

The anti-inflammatory effects of pranlukast, an antagonist of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1, may be rendered not only by antileukotriene activity but also by other pharmacological activities. Previous studies indicate that pranlukast reduces ischemic tissue injury partially through decreasing vascular permeability, but its effect on ischemic injury in endothelial cells is not known. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of pranlukast on ischemia-like injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in EA.

Novel 3-phenylpropane-1,2-diamine derivates as inhibitors of aminopeptidase N (APN).

Aminopeptidase N (APN) is an essential peptidase involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Here we describe a novel class of inhibitor with 3-phenylpropane-1,2-diamine as scaffold to APN. Preliminary activity evaluation with enzyme inhibition studies showed that compound 12i exhibited potent and selective inhibitory activity towards APN with the IC(50) value 15.

Oxygen-glucose deprivation activates 5-lipoxygenase mediated by oxidative stress through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in PC12 cells.

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is a key enzyme catalyzing arachidonic acid to form leukotrienes. We have reported that ischemic-like injury activates 5-LOX in PC12 cells; however, the mechanisms are unknown. To determine whether ischemic-like injury activates 5-LOX mediated by oxidative stress through the p38 MAPK pathway, we transfected GFP-5-LOX into PC12 cells and induced ischemic-like injury by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

[Transfection with 5-lipoxygenase/green fluorescence protein for evaluating injury-induced 5-lipoxygenase translocation to the nuclear membrane in PC12 cells].

Objective: To evaluate the translocation of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)) after injuries by transfection with green fluorescence protein (GFP)/5-LOX in PC12 cells.

Methods: PC12 cells were stably transfected with pEGFP-C2/5-LOX (GFP/5-LOX) or pEGFP-C2 vectors (control). After treatment with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), H(2)O(2) or NMDA, GFP/5-LOX localization in the cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope.