Asymmetric total synthesis and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma profile of enantiopure euphopilolide and jolkinolide E.

A flexible asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of euphopilolide (1) and jolkinolide E (2) [(+)-and (-)-1, (+)-and (-)-2] has been accomplished. This synthesis features an intramolecular oxa-Pauson-Khand reaction (o-PKR) to expeditiously construct the challenging tetracyclic [6.6.6.5] abietane-type diterpene framework, elegantly showcasing the complexity-generating features of o-PKR synthetic methodology leveraging on a judiciously chosen suitable chiral pool scaffold. Furthermore, the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of synthetic (-)-euphopilolide (1), (-)-jolkinolide E (2) and their analogues was evaluated. We found that (-)-euphopilolide (1) and (-)-jolkinolide E (2) inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in HCC cells. These findings lay a good foundation for further pharmacology studies of abietane lactone derivatives and provide valuable insight for the development of anti-HCC small molecule drug of natural product origin.

Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution, and Expression Analyses of AP2/ERF Family Transcription Factors in Erianthus fulvus.

The AP2/ERF transcription factor family is one of the most important gene families in plants and plays a vital role in plant abiotic stress responses. Although Erianthus fulvus is very important in the genetic improvement of sugarcane, there are few studies concerning AP2/ERF genes in E. fulvus. Here, we identified 145 AP2/ERF genes in the E. fulvus genome. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into five subfamilies. Evolutionary analysis showed that tandem and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the EfAP2/ERF family. Protein interaction analysis showed that twenty-eight EfAP2/ERF proteins and five other proteins had potential interaction relationships. Multiple cis-acting elements present in the EfAP2/ERF promoter were related to abiotic stress response, suggesting that EfAP2/ERF may contribute to adaptation to environmental changes. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that EfDREB10, EfDREB11, EfDREB39, EfDREB42, EfDREB44, EfERF43, and EfAP2-13 responded to cold stress, EfDREB5 and EfDREB42 responded to drought stress, and EfDREB5, EfDREB11, EfDREB39, EfERF43, and EfAP2-13 responded to ABA treatment. These results will be helpful for better understanding the molecular features and biological role of the E. fulvus AP2/ERF genes and lay a foundation for further research on the function of EfAP2/ERF genes and the regulatory mechanism of the abiotic stress response.

Weakening Ligand-Liquid Affinity to Suppress the Desorption of Surface-Passivated Ligands from Perovskite Nanocrystals.

The interfacial migration of surface-bound ligands highly affects the colloidal stability and optical quality of semiconductor nanocrystals, of which the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Herein, colloidal CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) with fragile dynamic equilibrium of ligands are taken as the examples to reveal the important role of balancing ligand-solid/solvent affinity in suppressing the desorption of ligands. As a micellar surfactant, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) with bulky hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups exhibits a relatively smaller diffusion coefficient (∼440 µm2/s in methanol) and weaker ligand-liquid affinity than that of conventional alkyl amine and carboxy ligands. Consequently, hydrophilic GA-passivated PNCs (PNCs-GA) show excellent colloidal stability in various polar solvents with dielectric constant ranging from 2.2 to 32.6 and efficient photoluminescence with a quantum yield of 85.3%. Due to the suppressed desorption of GA, the morphological and optical properties of PNCs-GA are well maintained after five rounds purification and two months long-term storage. At last, hydrophilic PNCs-GA are successfully patterned through inkjet- and screen-printing technology. These findings offer deep insights into the interfacial chemistry of colloidal NCs and provide a universal strategy for preparing high-quality hydrophilic PNCs.

High-sensitivity SPR sensor based on the eightfold eccentric core PQF with locally coated indium tin oxide.

A highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor comprising an eccentric core photonic quasi-crystal fiber (PQF) coated with indium tin oxide is designed and numerically analyzed. The novel, to the best of our knowledge, structure with an eccentric core layout and local coating not only strengthens coupling between the core mode and surface plasmon polariton mode but also provides higher refractive index sensitivity in the near-infrared region. Analysis based on the finite element method to assess the performance of the sensor and optimize the structural parameters reveals that the maximum wavelength sensitivity and resolution are 96667 nm/RIU and 1.034×10-6RIU in the sensing range between 1.380 and 1.413, respectively. Meanwhile, the average sensitivity is enhanced to 25458 nm/RIU. The sensor is expected to have broad applications in environmental monitoring, biochemical sensing, food safety testing, and related applications due to the ultrahigh sensitivity and resolution.

Fano resonances in symmetric plasmonic split-ring/ring dimer nanostructures.

The optical properties of symmetric split-ring/ring dimer (SRRD) nanostructures composed of a small nanoring surrounded by an Ag splitting nanoring with a larger diameter are calculated theoretically. The apparent asymmetric Fano line shape in the spectra is related to fast switching of the bonding modes between the split-ring plasmon and ring dipole. The influence of the dimensions of the SRRD nanostructures on the spectral positions and intensity of Fano resonance is studied, and the asymmetric Fano line shape can be flexibly adjusted by varying the geometric parameters. In addition, relatively simple SRRD nanostructures have the same overall sensing figures of merit as conventional nanoparticles, thus rendering them suitable for high-performance optical sensors.

Tunable single-polarization bimetal-coated and liquid-filled photonic crystal fiber filter based on surface plasmon resonance.

A bimetal-coated single-polarization photonic crystal fiber (PCF) filter based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with a liquid-filled structure is designed and calculated by the finite element method (FEM). The filter has many excellent properties. The y-polarized and x-polarized modes can simultaneously filter at 1310 nm and 1560 nm with unwanted losses 544.3 dB/cm and 147.3 dB/cm, respectively, corresponding to polarized losses as low as 12.3 dB/cm and 24.0 dB/cm. The filtering range can be tuned by adjusting the diameter of the outer air holes (d1), the diameter of the inner air holes (d2), and liquid refractive index n. The filtering ranges of x-polarization and y-polarization are 1550-1990 nm and 1310-1830 nm, respectively. The crosstalk (CT) values are 462.0 dB and -107.1 dB and corresponding available bandwidths are 224 nm and 504 nm at 1310 nm and 1560 nm, respectively.

Multi-wavelength unidirectional forward scattering in the visible range in an all-dielectric silicon hollow nanodisk.

A dielectric nanoantenna with a relatively large refractive index possesses magnetodielectric properties that can offer the unique opportunity to tailor unidirectional scattering. Herein, we demonstrate that the interference from electric and magnetic multipoles in the silicon hollow nanodisk suppresses backscattering and enhances forward scattering of light. This concept is implemented to design a lossless dielectric collector element, which constitutes an enabling technology for applications that require backward scattering suppression, such as nanoantennas and photovoltaic devices.

[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of CDH13 gene with metabolic syndrome among ethnic Han Chinese].

OBJECTIVE To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the T-cadherin (CDH13) gene with metabolic syndrome (MS) among ethnic Han Chinese.METHODS Genotypes of 6 SNPs(rs11646213, rs12596316, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272, and rs7195409) of the CDH13 gene among 453 patients with MS and 526 controls were determined with a TaqMan method, and their association with MS was assessed. RESULTS For 5 SNPs (rs11646213, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272, and rs7195409), no difference was found in allelic and genotypic frequencies of the CDH13 gene between the two groups. Comparing with rs12596316 (AA+GG) genotype, rs12596316 AG genotype has significantly increased the risk of MS(P = 0.01,OR = 1.38,95%CI: 1.07-1.78), though no association was found between particular alleles of the rs12596316 with MS.There was no difference in the frequencies of rs11646213-rs12596316-rs3865188-rs12444338-rs12051272 haplotype between the two groups(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION No association was found between the five SNPs (rs11646213, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272 and rs7195409) of the CDH13 gene with the MS, while the rs12596316AG genotype of the CDH13 gene is associated with the susceptibility to MS among ethnic Han Chinese.

Association study of polymorphisms in miRNAs with T2DM in Chinese population.

Accumulated evidence indicates that microRNA (miRNA or miR) is involved in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Several studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in miRNAs are associated with T2DM in Caucasian populations. The association studies of miRNA's SNPs with T2DM in Asian are rarely reported, and there are distinct genetic differences between Caucasian and Asian populations. The focus of this study, therefore, is the association of T2DM with five SNPs (rs895819 in miR-27a, rs531564 in miR-124a, rs11888095 in miR-128a, rs3820455 in miR-194a and rs2910164 in miR-146a) located in five miRNAs in a Han Chinese population. A total of 738 subjects with T2DM and 610 non-diabetic subjects were genotyped using the TaqMan method. Next, the associations between the five SNPs with T2DM and individual metabolic traits were evaluated. Our data showed that the C allele of rs531564 in miR-124a may protect against T2DM (P=0.009, OR=0.758; 95%CI: 0.616-0.933). Conversely, the C allele of rs2910164 in miR-146a may increase the risk of developing T2DM (P<0.001, OR=1.459; 95%CI: 1.244-1.712). However, these five SNPs did not exhibit significant associations with individual metabolic traits in either the T2DM or non-diabetic groups. Our results revealed that genetic variations in miRNAs were associated with T2DM susceptibility in a Han Chinese population, and these results highlight the need to study the functional effects of these variants in miRNAs on the risk of developing T2DM.

Association study of ARL15 and CDH13 with T2DM in a Han Chinese population.

Several studies indicate that plasma adiponectin levels are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or T2DM risk factors in diverse populations. In addition to the adiponectin gene, several other genes have been postulated to influence plasma adiponectin levels. In this study, we investigated two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs4311394 and rs4783244, located intronically in the ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 15 (ARL15) and the T-cadherin (CDH13) genes, respectively. These SNPs were detected in a Han Chinese population using a TaqMan assay and evaluated for association with T2DM as well as with individual metabolic traits. Allele frequencies for rs4311394 were significantly different in T2DM and nondiabetes (NDM) groups (χ² = 4.49, P = 0.034). However, neither allele nor genotype frequencies for rs4783244 were associated with T2DM (χ² = 0.33, P = 0.56 and χ² = 2.35, P = 0.31 respectively). The SNPs did not exhibit significant association with individual metabolic traits in the T2DM and NDM groups. Our results indicated that the G allele of the rs4311394 might be a susceptibility factor for T2DM in the Han Chinese population (odds ratio: 1.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.41).

Photocycloaddition of Zero-Dimensional Metal Halide Hybrids with Reversible Photochromism.

In this work, two zero-dimensional (0D) metal halide hybrids L2ZnBr4 [1, L = (E)-4-(2-(1H-pyrrol-3-yl)vinyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium] and L6Pb3Br12 (2) were prepared, which demonstrated photochromism and photoinduced cracking. Upon irradiation at 450 nm, a single crystal-to-single crystal transformation occurred as a result of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of L. Interestingly, compared to the complete photocycloaddition of L in 1, only two-thirds of L monomers could be photodimerized in 2 because of the difference in L orientation. 1 shows reversible photochromic behavior including rapid response time, few cracks, high conversion rate, and good reaction reversibility, while 2 exhibits no significant color change but distinct photoinduced cracking because of the large local lattice strain induced by inhomogeneous and anisotropic deformation. Moreover, the photocycloaddition of L results in the distinct shift of photoluminescence of 1 and 2, attributed to the variation in conjugation of π electrons and distortion of metal halide clusters. As a proof-of-concept, reversible optical writing is demonstrated for 1. These findings provide new insights into the design of stimuli-responsive multifunctional materials.

Association between HLA-B*46 allele and Graves disease in Asian populations: a meta-analysis.

Graves' disease (GD) is a leading cause of hyperthyroidism, which affects 1.0-1.6% of the general population. Previous studies reported a higher GD prevalence in Asian populations compared to Caucasian populations. The etiology of GD involves complex interactions between predisposing genes and environmental triggers. Genetic studies have shown that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is an important candidate genetic region associated with GD in Asian populations. However, the results were inconsistent and inconclusive. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the role of the HLA-B*46 allele in GD in Asian populations. A total of 14 case-controlled studies on the association of the HLA-B*46 allele in 1743 GD patients and 5689 controls were included. Our results showed a trend toward an increased risk of GD in HLA-B*46-positive subjects compared to those HLA-B*46-negative (OR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.96-3.13, P < 0.01). However, there were some limitations to the current meta-analysis, such as heterogeneity (P(heterogeneity )< 0.01 and I(2 )= 68.0%) or the different typing methods (serological and genotyping methods). The meta-analysis indicated that the HLA-B*46 allele is a risk factor for GD in Asian populations. Future studies on the role of the HLA-B*46 allele in GD should consider complications such as periodic paralysis, ophthalmopathy and recurrence.

Rapid detection of urine chloride enabled by ion exchange in hydrophilic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals.

The rapid and precise detection of chloride ions in biosystems is of great importance for clinical diagnosis. In this work, hydrophilic CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) with a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of 59% (0.5 g L-1) are successfully achieved through the passivation of micellar glycyrrhizic acid (GA), which enables good dispersion of PNCs in ethanol. Due to the ionic nature and halogen-dominated band edge, PNCs exhibit fast ion-exchange and halogen-dependent optical properties. As a result, colloidal GA-capped PNC ethanol solution shows a continuous PL shift once aqueous Cl- with different concentrations is added. This fluorescence sensor shows a wide linear detection range (2-200 mM) of Cl-, short response time (∼1 s), and low limit of detection (1.82 mM). Because of the encapsulation of GA, good water and pH stability, and anti-interference performance are observed for the GA-capped PNC-based fluorescence sensor. Our findings provide an insight into the biosensor applications of hydrophilic PNCs.

Dose-Response Meta-Analysis on Risk of Diabetes in Relation to Red and Processed Meat Consumption - Asian Populations, 2006-2021.

What is already known about this topic?: Red and processed meat consumption has been positively related to an increased risk of diabetes in Western populations. However, the results remain inconclusive within Asian populations. What is added by this report?: This dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies conducted in East Asian populations reveals a positive relation between the consumption of processed meat and increased risk of diabetes. Furthermore, a U-shaped association was identified between the consumption of unprocessed red meat and the risk of diabetes. What are the implications for public health practice?: This research presents substantive evidence advocating for the reduction of processed and unprocessed red meat consumption as a viable strategy for mitigating the risk of diabetes in East Asian populations.

All-fiber magnetic-field sensor based on microfiber knot resonator and magnetic fluid.

All-fiber magnetic-field sensor based on a device consisting of a microfiber knot resonator and magnetic fluid is proposed for the first time in this Letter. Sensor principles and package technology are introduced in detail. Experimental results show that the resonance wavelength of the proposed sensor regularly varies with changes to the applied magnetic field. When the magnetic field is increased to 600 Oe, the wavelength shift reaches nearly 100 pm. Moreover, the sensor responding to the 50 Hz alternating magnetic field is also experimentally investigated, and a minimal detectable magnetic-field strength of 10 Oe is successfully achieved.

The association studies of ADIPOQ with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese populations.

Adiponectin, which is secreted by the white adipose tissue, plays an important role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. Since 2002, many investigators explored the association between ADIPOQ single nucleotide polymorphisms and T2DM in different ethnic populations from different regions. In China, the results of numerous studies of the association between ADIPOQ and T2DM were not consistent, which may be caused by population-specific effects or environmental effects. This review describes the association between ADIPOQ and T2DM, the metabolic characteristics and the complications of T2DM in Chinese populations.

Nomograms for Predicting Overall Survival and Cancer-Specific Survival of Young Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Analysis Based on SEER Program.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there is no clinical prediction model for young patients (≤ 45 years old) with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) based on large samples of clinical data. The purpose of this study was to construct nomograms using data extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to predict the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients and to further guide the choice of clinical treatment options. METHODS: Data from a total of 6376 young patients with EOC collected from 1998 to 2016 were selected from the SEER database. These patients were randomly divided (7:3) into a training cohort (n = 4465) and a validation cohort (n = 1911). Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were used to select the prognostic factors affecting OS and CSS, and the nomograms of OS and CSS were established. The performance of the nomogram models was assessed by C-index, area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Sample were chosen from patients who underwent surgery in Shengjing Hospital to set external validation. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare survival outcomes between subgroups. RESULTS: Nomograms showed good predictive power and clinical practicality. The internal and external validation indicated better performance of the nomograms than the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system and tumor grade system. Significant differences were observed in the survival curves of different risk subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed predictive nomograms to evaluate the OS and CSS of young patients with EOC. The nomograms will provide an individualized evaluation of OS and CSS for suitable treatment of young patients with EOC.

Functional Characterization of the Lysine-Specific Histone Demethylases Family in Soybean.

Histone modifications, such as methylation and demethylation, have crucial roles in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression. Lysine-specific histone demethylases (LSDs) belong to the amine oxidase family, which is an important family of histone lysine demethylases (KDMs), and functions in maintaining homeostasis of histone methylation. Here, we identified six LSD-like (LDL) genes from the important leguminous soybean. Phylogenetic analyses divided the six GmLDLs into four clusters with two highly conserved SWRIM and amine oxidase domains. Indeed, demethylase activity assay using recombinant GmLDL proteins in vitro demonstrated that GmLDLs have demethylase activity toward mono- and dimethylated Lys4 but not trimethylated histone 3, similar to their orthologs previously reported in animals. Using real-time PCR experiments in combination with public transcriptome data, we found that these six GmLDL genes exhibit comparable expressions in multiple tissues or in response to different abiotic stresses. Moreover, our genetic variation investigation of GmLDL genes among 761 resequenced soybean accessions indicates that GmLDLs are well conserved during soybean domestication and improvement. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that GmFLD, GmLDL1a, and GmLDL1b are bona fide H3K4 demethylases towards H4K4me1/2 and GmLDLs exist in various members with likely conserved and divergent roles in soybeans.

A Novel Clinical Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Adult Patients After Primary Surgery for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Real-World Analysis Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database and External Validation in a Tertiary Center.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to construct and validate a nomogram that can be used to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: A total of 7,129 adult patients with EOC were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2015. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts (7:3). Cox regression was conducted to evaluate prognostic factors of CSS. The internal validation of the nomogram was performed using concordance index (C-index), AUC, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCAs). Data from 53 adult EOC patients at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from 2008 to 2012 were collected for external verification. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare survival outcomes among risk subgroups. RESULTS: Age, grade, histological types, stage, residual lesion size, number of regional lymph nodes resected, number of positive lymph nodes, and chemotherapy were independent risk factors for CSS. Based on the above factors, we constructed a nomogram. The C-indices of the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and external verification group were 0.763, 0.750, and 0.920, respectively. The calibration curve indicated good agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual survival. AUC and DCA results indicated great clinical usefulness of the nomogram. The differences in the Kaplan-Meier curves among different risk subgroups were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed a nomogram to predict CSS in adult patients with EOC after primary surgery, which can assist in counseling and guiding treatment decision making.

Multiomics analysis identifies key genes and pathways related to N6-methyladenosine RNA modification in ovarian cancer.

Aims: To explore the pathways and target genes related to N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in ovarian cancer and their effect on patient prognosis. Methods & materials: The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to screen genes related to m6A regulators in terms of gene expression, mutation and copy number variation. These genes were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis. Prognosis-related genes were screened and involved in risk signature construction. Immunohistochemistry was used for verification. Results: We obtained 1408 genes dysregulated in parallel to m6A regulators, which were mainly involved in the platelet activation pathway. The m6A-related signature was constructed based on the expression of four prognosis-related genes (RPS6KA2, JUNB, HNF4A and P2RX1). Conclusion: This work provides new insights into the mechanism of m6A methylation in ovarian cancer.

Lay abstract N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation is the most common type of modification on mRNA. m⁶A methylation can affect the biological function of cells by affecting the protein expression level of mRNA. The process of m⁶A modification is controlled by many m⁶A regulators, which are dysregulated in ovarian cancer. Our research aims to screen the genes that are related to m⁶A regulation to analyze targets and mechanisms in ovarian cancer. We screened 1408 m⁶A-related genes, which are mainly involved in the platelet activation pathway. Among them, RPS6KA2 and JUNB were significantly related to poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. RPS6KA2 was positively correlated with the m⁶A regulator METTL3 in ovarian cancer. Our study provides a basis for future mechanism studies.