[Research progress of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and predictive analysis on its quality markers].

Angelicae Sinensis Radix, as a medicinal and edible Chinese medicinal herb, is widely used in clinical practice. It is mainly cultivated in Minxian, Tanchang, Zhangxian and Weiyuan counties of Gansu province. In recent years, with the comprehensive and in-depth study of Angelicae Sinensis Radix in China and abroad, its chemical composition, pharmacological effects and application and development have attracted much attention. In this study, the chemical composition, traditional efficacy, and modern pharmacological effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix were summarized. On this basis, combined with the core concept of quality markers(Q-markers), the Q-markers of Angelicae Sinensis Radix were discussed from the aspects of mass transfer and traceability and chemical composition specificity, availability, and measurability, which provided scientific basis for the quality evaluation of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.

Preparation of Molybdenum Disulfide with Different Nanostructures and Its Adsorption Performance for Copper (â ¡) Ion in Water.

The environmental problems in the world are attracting increasing amounts of attention, and heavy metal pollution in the water has become one of the focuses of the ecological environment. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has excellent adsorption performance because of its extremely high specific surface area and unique active site structure, which has attracted an increasing amount of attention in the field of heavy metal disposal in various types of water. In this paper, two sorts of MoS2 nanoparticles, spherical and lamellar, were synthesized by different chemical methods. Their morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a Raman spectrometer. The adsorption properties of two sorts of MoS2 nanoparticles for copper (Ⅱ) ions in water were investigated by changing the pH value, adsorption time, initial concentration of solution, adsorption temperature, etc. Finally, the adsorption mechanism was analyzed by kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic models. The results show that two microstructures of MoS2 nanoparticles can be used as efficient adsorption materials for removing heavy metal ions from water, although there are differences in adsorption capacity between them, which expands the theoretical basis of heavy metal adsorption in a water environment.

Modulating the reactivity of functionalized N,S-ketene acetal in MCR: selective synthesis of tetrahydropyridines and thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridines via DABCO-catalyzed tandem annulation.

An efficient and straightforward three-component synthetic protocol was developed to synthesize 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine derivatives or thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives from ß-aroylthioacetanilides or ß-(2-haloaroyl)thioacetanilides, aldehydes, and aroyl acetonitriles via DABCO-catalyzed tandem [3 + 2 + 1] annulation and S(N)Ar reaction. This synthetic approach has the prominent features of high chemo-, stereo- (or enantio-), and unusual regioselectivity. In the domino processes, at least seven reactive sites were involved, and up to three covalent bonds and one functionalized pyridine ring were generated. This facile and efficient reaction is a quite general for the preparation of tetrahydropyridine derivatives or thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives.

Downregulation of MCF2L Promoted the Ferroptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through PI3K/mTOR Pathway in a RhoA/Rac1 Dependent Manner.

Methods and Results: The levels of MCF2L were detected by PCR and western blotting assay. The effect of MCF2L on ferroptosis was confirmed by MTT, colony formation assay, Brdu, in vivo animal experiment, and the content of Iron, GSH, ROS, and MDA. The underlying mechanisms were explored by PCR, western blotting, and affinity precipitation assay. Our findings demonstrated that MCF2L is remarkedly upregulated in HCC tissues, and sorafenib can induce the levels of MCF2L, suggesting that MCF2L might function in sorafenib resistance of HCC. Further analysis showed that downregulation of MCF2L enhances HCC cell death induced by sorafenib, and ferroptosis inhibitor can reverse this process. Subsequent experiments showed that downregulation of MCF2L elevates the content of Iron, ROS, and MDA, which are all indicators of ferroptosis. Finally, mechanism analysis showed that MCF2L regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway in a RhoA/Rac1 dependent manner. Conclusions: Our study showed that targeting MCF2L may be a hopeful method to overcome sorafenib-resistance through inducing ferroptosis in HCC.

[Intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion for moderate to severe cancer pain].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion for moderate to severe cancer pain. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group，30 cases in each one. In the control group，opioids were taken to relief pain according to the three-step analgesic method of World Health Organization. On the base of the treatment as the control group, intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion were applied at Neiguan (PC 6), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), etc. in the observation group, 14 days of treatment were required. The equivalent morphine consumption at the first day and whole course, the scores of cancer quality of life questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30) and Hamilton anxiety scale before and after treatment, and the adverse reaction rate were compared in the two groups. The total analgesic effective rate was evaluated. RESULTS: The total analgesic effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (P<0.05). The total equivalent morphine consumption in the observation group was less than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the QLQ-C30 scores were increased (P<0.001) and the HAMA scores were decreased (P<0.001) in the both groups, and those in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.001). The adverse reaction rates of fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, constipation in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion can reduce the dose of opioids, improve the quality of life, relief the anxiety in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain, and reduce the incidence of common adverse reaction of opioids.

A 52-week safety study in cynomolgus macaques for genetically modified rice expressing Cry1Ab/1Ac protein.

A 52-week feeding study in cynomolgus macaques was carried out to evaluate the safety of Bt rice Huahui 1 (HH1), a transgenic rice line expressing Cry1Ab/1Ac protein. Monkeys were fed a diet with 20% or 60% HH1 rice, 20% or 60% parental rice (Minghui 63, MH63), normal diet, normal diet spiked with purified recombinant Cry1Ab/1Ac fusion protein or bovine serum albumin (BSA) respectively. During the feeding trail, clinical observations were conducted daily, and multiple parameters, including body weight, body temperature, electrocardiogram, hematology, blood biochemistry, serum metabolome and gut microbiome were examined at regular intervals. Upon sacrifice, the organs were weighted, and the macroscopic, microscopic and electron microscopic examinations were performed. The results show no adverse or toxic effects of Bt rice HH1 or Cry1Ab/1Ac fusion protein on monkeys. Therefore, the present 52-week primate feeding study suggests that the transgenic rice containing Cry 1Ab/1Ac is equivalent to its parental rice line MH63.