Cucurbitacin-E inhibits multiple cancer cells proliferation through attenuation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Recent studies suggest that the use of cucurbitacins could inhibit cancer cell progression. In the current study, the authors analyzed the effect of cucurbitacin-E (CuE) in cancer cells using A549, Hep3B, and SW480 cells. The authors found that CuE inhibited cell proliferation and modulated the expression of cell cycle regulators in these cells.

The transcriptomes of the crucian carp complex (Carassius auratus) provide insights into the distinction between unisexual triploids and sexual diploids.

Both sexual reproduction and unisexual reproduction are adaptive strategies for species survival and evolution. Unisexual animals have originated largely by hybridization, which tends to elevate their heterozygosity. However, the extent of genetic diversity resulting from hybridization and the genomic differences that determine the type of reproduction are poorly understood.

Electrosprayed core-shell solid dispersions of acyclovir fabricated using an epoxy-coated concentric spray head.

A novel structural solid dispersion (SD) taking the form of core-shell microparticles for poorly water-soluble drugs is reported for the first time. Using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a hydrophilic polymer matrix, the SDs were fabricated using coaxial electrospraying (characterized by an epoxy-coated concentric spray head), although the core fluids were unprocessable using one-fluid electrospraying. Through manipulating the flow rates of the core drug-loaded solutions, two types of core-shell microparticles with tunable drug contents were prepared.

[Molecular epidemiological analysis of ECHO7 virus isolated from sewage water in Yunnan Province, China].

To investigate the epidemic and evolutionary trends of enterovirus (EV) in the external environment of Yunnan Province, China, molecular typing was performed on 4 EV strains that were isolated from environmental sewage in Yunnan. The VP1 region of isolates was amplified by RT-PCR using universal enterovirus primers, and the amplified VP1 region was sequenced for GenBank BLAST search and genotype analysis. The 4 EV strains were identified as ECHO7.

Cortactin expression confers a more malignant phenotype to gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

Aim: To study the effects of cortactin on the tumor biology of SGC-7901 cells and identify the mechanism involved in the process.

Methods: Cell lines in which cortactin was stably overexpressed or knocked down as well as the respective control cell lines were established by standard molecular methods. The effects of cortactin on the proliferation, migration and invasion capacity of SGC-7901 cells were assessed by the MTT assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, transwell migration and matrigel invasion.

CDK3 expression and its clinical significance in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 3 (CDK3) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to evaluate its association with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with NPC. CDK3 expression was examined in three NPC cell lines and one nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line by western blot analysis and in 94 specimens of NPC and 40 specimens of inflamed nasopharyngeal tissue by immunohistochemistry staining. CDK3 was overexpressed in the three NPC cell lines, 5-8F, CNE1 and CNE2, compared with the NP-69 nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line, and was primarily expressed in the cytoplasm.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and susceptibility to esophageal cancer in Chinese populations: a meta-analysis.

Although many epidemiologic studies investigated the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and their associations with esophageal cancer, definite conclusions could not be drawn. To clarify the effects of MTHFR polymorphisms on the risk of esophageal cancer, a meta-analysis was here performed in Chinese populations. A total of 16 studies including 3,040 cases and 4,127 controls were involved in this meta- analysis.

Complete mitochondrial genome of burbot (Lota lota: family Gadidae) from Amur basin lineage, Northeastern China.

The mitochondrial genome was amplified in two large overlapping fragments by long PCR and one gap PCR. The complete Northeastern China burbot mitogenome sequence (KC844053) is 16,575 bp in length. Similar to most vertebrata, the mitogenome has a set of 37 genes: including 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes.

Complete mitochondrial genome of rosy barb, Puntius conchonius.

In this study, we sequenced and determined the complete mitochondrial genome of rosy barb (Puntius conchonius). The circular mitochondrial genome (17,082 bp) consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and 1 control region. This is the first report on the complete mitogenome sequence of rosy barb (P.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the silvertip tetra, Hasemania nana (Characiformes: Characidae).

We first sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of silvertip tetra (Hasemania nana). The mitogenome was determined to be 16,581 bp long circular molecule with a typical gene arrangement of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA. All genes were encoded on the heavy strand with the exception of ND6 and eight tRNA genes.

Folding-induced folding: the assembly of aromatic amide and 1,2,3-triazole hybrid helices.

Folding-induced folding for the construction of artificial hybrid helices from two different kinds of aromatic sequences is described. Linear compounds 1 a, 1 b, and 2, containing one aromatic amide trimer or pentamer and one or two aromatic 1,2,3-triazole tetramers, have been designed and synthesized. The trimeric and pentameric amide segments are driven by intramolecluar N-H⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bonding to adopt a folded or helical conformation, whereas the triazole segment is intrinsically disordered.

[Tanshinone IIA protects against triptolide-induced liver injury via Nrf2/ARE activation].

The aim of this study is to investigate the protection effect of tanshinone IIA (Tan) against triptolide (TP)-induced liver injury and the mechanisms involved. Acute liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of TP (1 mg x kg(-1)) in mice. The activities of AST, ALT and LDH in serum and the levels of GSH, GST, GSH-PX, SOD, CAT and MDA in liver tissue were detected.

Diterpenoid alkaloids and flavonoids from Delphinium trichophorum.

Five hetisane-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloids, trichodelphinines A-E, one delnudine-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloid, trichodelphinine F and three known flavonoids, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside, were isolated from whole plants of Delphinium trichophorum Franch. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HSQC, HMBC, (1)H-(1)H COSY, NOESY and X-ray crystallographic analysis, and from chemical evidence. The cytotoxic activities of the diterpenoid alkaloids were evaluated using the MTT method, and the IC50 values of their cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cells ranged from 12.

Effects of a combination of amlodipine and imipenem on 42 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii obtained from a teaching hospital in Guangzhou, China.

Background: The clonal spread of Acinetobacter baumannii is a global problem, and carbapenems, such as imipenem, remain the first-choice agent against A. baumannii. Using synergy to enhance the antibiotic activity of carbapenems could be useful.

Development and validation of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease screening questionnaire in China.

Objective: To develop a brief, reliable screening questionnaire for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for use in primary care settings.

Methods: We developed a COPD Screening Questionnaire (COPD-SQ) using data collected from 19,800 subjects aged ≥40 years obtained from an epidemiological study of COPD in China in 2002 (Phase I). A stepwise logistic regression method was adopted for item reduction and scoring.

Association of the interleukin-28B gene polymorphism with development of hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis: a meta-analysis.

We examined the association of the interleukin-28B (IL-28B) gene rs12979860 T/C polymorphism with development of hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis (LC). Two investigators independently searched the PubMed, Elsevier, EMBASE, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure data bases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for rs12979860 and HCC/LC were calculated in a fixed-effect model (the Mantel-Haenszel method) and a random-effect model (the DerSimonian and Laird method) when appropriate.

[Macroscopic and microscopic identification of Chloranthus henryi].

Objective: To identify the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of Chloranthus henryi and provide a basis for establishing its quality standard.

Methods: The plants were identified by original plant, macroscopic and microscopic identification.

Results: The radical vascular bundle of Chloranthus henryi was primary xylem tetrarch.

Excretion of berberine and its metabolites in oral administration in rats.

Berberine (BBR) has been confirmed to show extensive bioactivities for the treatments of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in clinic. However, there are few pharmacokinetic studies to elucidate the excretions of BBR and its metabolites. Our research studied the excretions of BBR and its metabolites in rats after oral administration (200 mg/kg).

Xenogeneic islet transplantation of Ad5F35-SOCS1 infected islets for therapy of diabetes.

Islet transplantation is the most important approach for treating type I diabetes (T1DM), but the early islet apoptosis limits the therapeutic efficacy. SOCS1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 1), not only has an effect on cytokine signaling pathway, it is also involved in the regulation of signal transduction pathway in cell apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) in islet grafts.

Prevalence of IL-28B and ITPA genotypes in Chinese Han population infected persistently with hepatitis C virus genotype 6 or HCV-1.

The geographic distribution, demographics, epidemiology, host factors, and clinical characteristics of persistent HCV-6 infection in China need further characterization. This multicenter study enrolled 63 patients with persistent HCV-6 infection and 63 patients with persistent HCV-1 infection as controls. Blood biochemistry, quantitation of HCV RNA levels, and identification of host IL-28B genotypes (rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275) and ITPA genotype (rs1127354) were performed to estimate potential variability in host factors that may affect response to treatment.

A new triterpenoid glycoside from the roots of Ilex asprella.

Aim: To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Ilex asprella Champ. ex Benth.

Methods: Compounds were isolated by silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.

Self-assembly cationic nanoparticles based on cholesterol-grafted bioreducible poly(amidoamine) for siRNA delivery.

In this study, a series of bioreducible poly(amidoamine)s grafting different percentages of cholesterol (rPAA-Ch14: 14%, rPAA-Ch29: 29%, rPAA-Ch57: 57% and rPAA-Ch87: 87%) was synthesized and used for siRNA delivery. These amphiphilic polymers were able to self-assemble into cationic nanoparticles in aqueous solution at low concentrations. The nanoparticle formation was evidenced via cryo-transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM) and dynamic light scattering analysis.