[Pterocarpans and their biological activities: a review].

Pterocarpans, ubiquitous in Fabaceae, are protective active substances produced by the chemical defense system of plants. A total of 144 pterocarpans had been discovered before 2006. For the first time, we reported the 89 pterocarpans identified in 2006-2020. These pterocarpans not only demonstrate novel complex diversified genus-specific stereostructures but also display strong anti-microbial, anti-tumor, antioxidant, insecticidal, and anti-inflammatory activities. Through the projection of their biogenetic pathways and study of the pharmacological activities, the structure-activity correlation was further confirmed. The distribution of Leguminosae plants rich in pterocarpans has obvious regional characteristics. Therefore, the research and utilization of Leguminosae plant resources in China should be strengthened, and the popularity and application value of the geographical indicator plant resources should be improved. This paper serves as a reference for further research, development, and utilization of pterocarpans and their plant sources.

CHEK2 SNPs predict better prognosis in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Checkpoint kinase 2 gene (CHEK2) is an important mediator of the DNA damage response pathway. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to influence the developing risk and clinical characteristics in various types of human malignancies. The values of CHEK2 SNPs in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC) were unknown and discussed here. METHODS: The expression and prognostic prediction role of CHEK2 were searched and analyzed in HBV-related HCC patients by GEO database. SNPs in CHEK2 were genotyped by SNP selection tools, and further assessed their associations with clinical outcomes of 339 HBV-related HCC patients. RESULTS: Patients with a higher CHEK2 gene expression predicted a worse relapse free survival (RFS). Moreover, those with a variant alleles CC/TT of SNPs rs1547014 and rs738722 had a significantly better prognosis when compared to the patients with CT genotype (P<0.015 for rs1547014, P=0.001 for rs738722), and CC/TT genotype combined with AFP≤400 ng/ml also predicted the best prognosis in HBV-related HCC patients. In stratified analysis, the protective effect of rs1547014 and rs738722 CC/TT genotype was more evident in patients with adverse strata, comparing the patients with favorable strata. CONCLUSION: CHEK2 SNPs rs1547014 and rs738722 probably be potential prognostic bio-markers in HBV-related HCC patients.

Vitamin D deficiency may predict a poorer outcome of IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies showed that 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency (defined as 25-hydroxy-vitamin D < 15 ng/ml) has been associated with CKD progression. Patients with IgA nephropathy have an exceptionally high rate of severe 25(OH)D deficiency; however, it is not known whether this deficiency is a risk factor for progression of IgA nephropathy. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between the plasma level of 25(OH)D and certain clinical parameters and renal histologic lesions in the patients with IgA nephropathy, and to evaluate whether the 25(OH)D level could be a good prognostic marker for IgA nephropathy progression. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy were enrolled between 2012 and 2015. The circulating concentration of 25(OH)D was determined using serum samples collected at the time of biopsy. The primary clinical endpoint was the decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; a 30 % or more decline compared to the baseline). RESULTS: Mean eGFR decreased and proteinuria worsened proportionally as circulating 25(OH)D decreased (P < 0.05). The 25(OH)D deficiency was correlated with a higher tubulointerstitial score by the Oxford classification (P = 0.008). The risk for reaching the primary endpoint was significantly higher in the patients with a 25(OH)D deficiency compared to those with a higher level of 25(OH)D (P = 0.001). As evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model, 25(OH)D deficiency was found to be an independent risk factor for renal progression [HR 5.99, 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) 1.59-22.54, P = 0.008]. CONCLUSION: A 25(OH)D deficiency at baseline is significantly correlated with poorer clinical outcomes and more sever renal pathological features, and low levels of 25(OH)D at baseline were strongly associated with increased risk of renal progression in IgAN.

[Study on UHPLC fingerprint and determination of eight phenolic components of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves].

A novel method combining ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) fingerprint and simultaneous quantitative analysis of eight phenolic components was developed and validated for quality evaluation of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves. For fingerprint analysis, 15 peaks were selected as the common peaks to evaluate the similarities among 41 batches of T. hemsleyanum leaves collected from different regions. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of eight markers, including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isoorientin, orientin, vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside,vitexin and isovitexin, was performed and the obtained data demonstrated that our method has achieved desired linearity, precision and accuracy. Clustering statistical analysis was further application in T. hemsleyanum leaves from different regions. The results indicated that new approach conbine ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) fingerprint and simultaneous quantitative analysis of eight phenolic components was applicable in quality control of T. hemsleyanum leaves.

miR-128-3p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation by regulating PIK3R1 and is correlated with the prognosis of HCC patients.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-128-3p was recently reported to be deregulated in several types of cancer. However, the biological function and potential mechanisms of miR-128-3p in HCC remain unknown. In the present study, we found that miR-128-3p was frequently downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR analysis. Moreover, functional assays showed that overexpression of miR-128-3p markedly suppressed HCC cell proliferation by inducing G1 phase cell arrest and migration. Mechanistically, miR-128-3p was confirmed to regulate PIK3R1 (p85α) expression thereby suppressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway activation using qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, correlation analysis and Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed an inverse correlation between miR-128-3p and p85α as well as a shorter disease-free survival (DFS) period after HCC resection in patients with low miR-128-3p expression. Hence, we conclude that miR-128-3p, which is frequently downregulated in HCC, inhibits HCC progression by regulating PIK3R1 and PI3K/AKT activation, and is a prognostic marker for HCC patients.

MicroRNA-486-5p, which is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, suppresses tumor growth by targeting PIK3R1.

Deregulated microRNAs and their roles in carcinogenesis and cancer progression have attracted much attention. In previous studies conducted in our laboratory, the Illumina Solexa massively parallel signature sequencing of miRNomes in nontumor and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues revealed that miR-486-5p was significantly downregulated in HCC, but its role in HCC development remains unknown. In this study, miR-486-5p levels in HCC tissues and matched control tissues, and in seven HCC cell lines (QGY-7701, QGY-7703, QGY-7404, SMMC-7721, Huh7, HepG2, and PCL/PRF/5) and human normal liver cells (HL-7702), were tested by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We found that the level of miR-486-5p was significantly decreased in HCC tissue and in all seven HCC cell lines. Overexpression of miR-486-5p markedly suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and inhibited HCC growth in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-486-5p was confirmed to directly target PIK3R1 expression, thereby suppressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT pathway activation, by dual luciferase reporter assay and real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis. In addition, PIK3R1 knockdown mimicked the effects of miR-486-5p overexpression by inhibiting HCC growth, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, correlation analysis, Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard models showed an inverse correlation between miR-486-5p and PIK3R1, as well as a shorter time to recurrence after HCC resection, in patients with lower miR-486-5p expression. Hence, we conclude that miR-486-5p, which is frequently downregulated in HCC, inhibits HCC progression by targeting PIK3R1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT activation.

Carbamo-yl(di-amino-methyl-idene)aza-nium 3-nitro-5-oxo-4,5-di-hydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ide.

In the anion of the title salt, C2H7N4O(+)·C2HN4O3 (-), the negative charge resides formally on the N(3) atom of the triazole ring. In the crystal, the N(3) and exocyclic O atoms are hydrogen-bond acceptors with respect to the formally double-bond iminium and amido N atoms of the cation. The cation and anion are almost planar (r.m.s. deviations = 0.012 and 0.051 Å, respectively), but they are slightly bent with respect to each other [dihedral angle = 12.6 (1)°]. In the crystal, adjacent anions and cations are linked by extensive N-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a ribbon running along the b-axis direction.

[Optimization investigation on the elements in ferrum aluminum silicon alloy by ICP-AES].

A method for the determination of Al, Fe, Ca, Cr, Mn, Ni, Si and Ti elements in ferrum aluminum silicon alloy by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was described. The influence of ICP-AES operating conditions, sample dissolution methods and spectral lines were studied. The preferable experimental conditions were examined, and the influences of coexistent elements on the signals were investigated. The method was applied to the determination of elements in ferrum aluminum silicon alloy samples, and the measured results were in good agreement with the recommended values of the standard steel. The detection limits of the method were 0.029 microg x mL(-1) for Al, 0.004 microg x mL(-1) for Fe, 0.0075 microg x mL(-1) for Ca, 0.0015 microg x mL(-1) for Cr, 0.0009 microg x mL(-1) for Mn, 0.0027 microg x mL(-1) for Ni, 0.045 microg x mL(-1) for Si and 0.003 microg x mL(-1) for Ti. The relative standard deviation (n=6) of this method was between 0.3%-1.8%, and the recoveries by standard addition were in the range of 96.7%-102.9%. The method was used to determine the amount of silicon in alloy samples with satisfactory results, which agreed with those by the standard gravimetry. The method is characterized by good precision, easy operation and convenience to apply.