Effect of ethanol on the elasticities of double-stranded RNA and DNA revealed by magnetic tweezers and simulations.

The elasticities of double-stranded (ds) DNA and RNA, which are critical to their biological functions and applications in materials science, can be significantly modulated by solution conditions such as ions and temperature. However, there is still a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the role of solvents in the elasticities of dsRNA and dsDNA in a comparative way. In this work, we explored the effect of ethanol solvent on the elasticities of dsRNA and dsDNA by magnetic tweezers and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.

Lanthanide complexes with an azo-dye chromophore ligand: syntheses, crystal structures, and near-infrared luminescence by long-wavelength excitation.

Near-infrared (NIR) emissive probes are becoming increasingly popular in biological sensing and imaging due to the advantages of non-invasiveness and deep tissue-penetrating ability. Herein, a series of complexes of trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln = Yb, Er, and Gd) with the commercially available azo dye chromophore 2R (NaHC2R) as ligand and featuring respectively HO and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as ancillary ligands have been prepared. Formulated as [Ln(HC2R)(HO)]·8HO (1-3, Ln = Yb, Er, Gd) and [Ln(HC2R)(DMSO)]·2DMSO (4-6, Ln = Yb, Er, Gd), their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Multifactor analysis of the technique in total laparoscopic gastric cancer.

Background: Esophageal gastric anastomosis is a common surgical technique used to treat patients with gastric cancer who undergo total gastrectomy. However, using simple anastomosis techniques alone may not meet the needs of patients in some cases and can lead to complications such as anastomotic stenosis and ulceration. In order to overcome these issues and improve patient prognosis, muscle flap reconstruction technique has emerged.

Revealing the mechanism underlying the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid-dioscorin interactions on dioscorin structure and emulsifying properties by molecular dynamic simulations.

Many studies have shown that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) exhibits various beneficial biological activities, including gut-modulating, neuro-stimulating, and cardio-protecting activities. Naturally, GABA exists in small amounts in yam, which is primarily synthesized by the decarboxylation of L-glutamic acid in the presence of glutamate decarboxylase. Dioscorin, the major tuber storage protein of yam, has been shown to have good solubility and emulsifying activity.

Effects of spray drying and freeze drying on the structure and emulsifying properties of yam soluble protein: A study by experiment and molecular dynamics simulation.

This study focused on the effects of freeze drying (FD) and sprays drying (SD) on the structure and emulsifying properties of yam soluble protein (YSP). The results showed that the surface hydrophobicity (Ho) value, free sulfhydryl group (SH) content, turns content, denaturation temperature and enthalpy value of spray-dried YSP (SD-YSP) were higher than freeze-dried YSP (FD-YSP), but the apparent hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) value of SD-YSP was smaller. The smaller Dh, higher Ho and free SH led to higher percentage of adsorbed proteins and stronger binding between protein and oil droplet in emulsions.

MicroRNA-30a Targets ATG5 and Attenuates Airway Fibrosis in Asthma by Suppressing Autophagy.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, chronic airway inflammation; bronchial tissue fibrosis, is a pathological feature common to children asthma, and an emerging data has indicted that autophagy plays critical roles in airway inflammation and fibrosis-mediated airway remodeling. The aim of this study was to examine whether the antifibrotic effect of epithelial microRNAs (miRNAs) relies on regulating autophagy-mediated airway remodeling and to identify the factors involved and the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed miR-30a were downregulated in children with asthma and ovalbumin (OVA) mouse model in parallel with the upregulation of autophagy-related proteins; moreover, we observed miR-30a inhibited the autophagy by downregulated autophagy-related 5 (ATG5).

Exploring the Q-marker of "sweat soaking method" processed radix Wikstroemia indica: Based on the "effect-toxicity-chemicals" study.

Background: Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI), named "Liao Ge Wang" in Chinese, is a kind of toxic Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) commonly used in Miao nationality of South China. "Sweat soaking method" processed RWI could effectively decrease its toxicity and preserve therapeutic effect. However, the underlying mechanism of processing is still not clear, and the Q-markers database for processed RWI has not been established.

Synergistic antitumor effect of brusatol combined with cisplatin on colorectal cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and life‑threatening type of malignant cancer, which is associated with a high mortality rate. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a commonly used chemotherapy drug with significant side effects. Brusatol (BR) is one of the principal chemical compounds isolated from the Chinese herb Bruceae Fructus, which has been reported to markedly inhibit the proliferation of numerous cancer cell lines.

Brucein D, a Naturally Occurring Tetracyclic Triterpene Quassinoid, Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer through ROS-Associated PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Brucein D (BD), a major active quassinoid in , has exhibited pronounced anticancer activities. However, the biologic mechanisms have not been fully explored. In this study, BD exhibited more potent cytotoxic effect on pancreatic cancer (PanCa) cell lines, while exerted weaker cytotoxic effects on GES-1 cells (non-tumorigenic).

Superovulation Induced Changes of Lipid Metabolism in Ovaries and Embryos and Its Probable Mechanism.

This research was intended to investigate the fetal origins of changed birth weight of the offspring born through assisted reproductive technology (ART). The association between hormone and lipid metabolism or body weight has been generally accepted, and as the basic and specific treatment in ART procedure, gonadotropin stimulation might have potential effects on intrauterine lipid metabolism. In our studies, the mice were superovulated with two doses of gonadotropin.

The auxin transporter, OsAUX1, is involved in primary root and root hair elongation and in Cd stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Auxin and cadmium (Cd) stress play critical roles during root development. There are only a few reports on the mechanisms by which Cd stress influences auxin homeostasis and affects primary root (PR) and lateral root (LR) development, and almost nothing is known about how auxin and Cd interfere with root hair (RH) development. Here, we characterize rice osaux1 mutants that have a longer PR and shorter RHs in hydroponic culture, and that are more sensitive to Cd stress compared to wild-type (Dongjin).

Novel patchouli alcohol ternary solid dispersion pellets prepared by poloxamers.

The present study investigates the possibility of using poloxamers as solubility and dissolution rate enhancing agents of poorly water soluble bioactive constituent patchouli alcohol (PA) that can be used for the preparation of immediate release pellets formulation. Two commercially available grades poloxamer 188 (P 188) and poloxamer 407 (P 407) were selected, and solid dispersions (SDs) containing different weight ratio of PA and poloxamers, and the combination of P 188 and P 407 as dispersing carriers of ternary solid dispersions (tSDs) were prepared by a low temperature melting method and solidified rapidly by dropping into the 10-15 °C condensing agent atoleine. Both PA/P 188 and PA/P 407 binary solid dispersions (bSDs) could remarkably promote the dissolution rate of PA, increasing approximately 16 times in bSDs with poloxamers in comparison with pure PA within 180 min.

Gastroprotective and anti-Helicobacter pylori potential of herbal formula HZJW: safety and efficacy assessment.

Background: A traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, HZJW, has been applied in clinics in China for gastrointestinal disorders. However, the therapeutic mechanism underlying its efficacy and safety remained to be defined. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the formula HZJW for its gastroprotective potential, possible effect on Helicobacter pylori along with safety to justify its anti-ulcer action and safe clinical application.

Alteration of fatty acid metabolism in the liver, adipose tissue, and testis of male mice conceived through assisted reproductive technologies: fatty acid metabolism in ART mice.

Background: Lipid metabolism plays important roles in the whole process of pregnancy. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormalities of lipid metabolism in the placentas of pregnancies obtained by assisted reproductive technology (ART). Therefore, we hypothesized that ART micromanipulation may affect lipid metabolism in offspring, and focused on the fatty acid metabolism in ART male offspring in this study.

Relieving visceral hyperalgesia effect of Kangtai capsule and its potential mechanisms via modulating the 5-HT and NO level in vivo.

Kangtai capsule (KT) is one type of traditional Chinese medicine preparation derived from the proved recipe, which was frequently applied as an effective clinical treatment of IBS. However, there still lack the reasonable and all-round analytical approach and the scientific studies on its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, our study aimed to develop the novel method for evaluating its quality as well as to interpret the potential mechanisms.

Root-derived auxin contributes to the phosphorus-deficiency-induced cluster-root formation in white lupin (Lupinus albus).

Formation of cluster roots is a typical morphological response to phosphorus (P) deficiency in white lupin (Lupinus albus), but its physiological and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. We investigated the role of auxin in the initiation of cluster roots by distinguishing the sources of auxin, measuring the longitudinal distribution patterns of free indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) along the root and the related gene expressions responsible for polar auxin transport (PAT) in different developmental stages of cluster roots. We found that removal of shoot apex or primary root apex and application of auxin-influx or -efflux transport inhibitors, 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, to the stem did not affect the number of cluster roots and the free-IAA concentration in the roots of P-deficient plants, but when these inhibitors were applied directly to the growth media, the cluster-root formation was greatly suppressed, suggesting the fundamental role of root-derived IAA in cluster-root formation.

Biodegradation of malachite green by Pseudomonas sp. strain DY1 under aerobic condition: characteristics, degradation products, enzyme analysis and phytotoxicity.

Malachite green (MG), a widely-used and recalcitrant dye, has been confirmed to be carcinogenic and mutagenic against many organisms. The main objective of this study is to investigate the capability of Pseudomonas sp. strain DY1 to decolorize MG, and to explore the possible mechanism.

[The curative effect of inhaled vitamin A with corticosteroid on rat after asthmatic pneumonia and its influence on TSLP expression].

Objective: To study the alteration of thymus matrix lymphocyte generator (TSLP) and change of the Th factor in the course of disease development, and to analyze the curative effect of inhalation of Vitamin A (VA) with corticosteroid for the treatment of asthmatic pneumonia.

Methods: Asthmatic pneumonia models were prepared by challenging rats with inhalation of ovalbumin for 4 weeks, and rested for 1 week. The treatment with VA and corticosteroid inhalation for 1 week was followed.