Swieteliacates S-U, phragmalin limonoids, from the leaves of Swietenia macrophylla.

Three novel phragmalin-type limonoids, swieteliacates S-U (1-3), were isolated from Swietenia macrophylla leaves, alongside four previously identified limonoids (4-7). The structures, encompassing absolute configurations, were delineated through 1D and 2D NMR analyses, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), and NMR and ECD calculations. Swieteliacate S (1) is a distinctive cryptate comprising a tricyclo[4.2.110,30.11,4]decane fragment and an additional five-membered oxygen ring. Compounds 3 and 5 exhibited inhibition rates of 26.08 ± 2.26% and 15.42 ± 3.66%, respectively, on triglyceride (TG) production in Hep G2 cells at 40 µM.

Pesticide Informatics Platform (PIP): An International Platform for Pesticide Discovery, Residue, and Risk Evaluation.

Pesticides are widely used agrochemicals for crop protection. The need for novel pesticides becomes urgent as a result of the emergence of resistance and environmental toxicity. Pesticide informatics has been applied in different phase processes of pesticide target identification, active ingredient design, and impact evaluation. However, these valuable resources are scattered over the literature and web, limiting their availability. Here, we summarize and connect research on pesticide informatics resources. A pesticide informatics platform (PIP) was constructed to share these tools. We finally discuss the future direction of pesticide informatics, including pesticide contamination. We expect to share the pesticide informatics approaches and stimulate further research.

Quantified coronary plaque characteristics between Caucasian and Morise score-matched South Asian populations.

Low-attenuation plaques (LAPs) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. South Asians experience poorer cardiovascular outcomes compared to Caucasian populations. We hypothesised that South Asian population has a higher prevalence of LAP compared to Caucasians and this difference predicts major adverse cardiovascular events. 72 Caucasian and 72 Morise score-matched South Asian patients were identified from a cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) registry. Coronary artery plaque subtypes in proximal major epicardial and left main arteries were analysed from CCTA images using pre-determined attenuation ranges in Hounsfield units (HUs): 1 to 30 HU (low attenuation), 31 to 70 HU (intermediate attenuation), 71 to 150 HU (high attenuation), and mean coronary lumen + 2 standard deviations to 1000 HU (calcified). For each analysis, data comparison was performed for plaque volumes after normalising for the corresponding coronary artery outer vessel wall volume. The baseline characteristics and total plaque score of the two cohorts were similar. There were no statistically significant differences in low, intermediate, and high- attenuation, or calcified normalised plaque volumes between Caucasian and Morise score-matched South Asian cohorts. After a mean follow up of 32 months, major adverse cardiovascular events were similar between Caucasians and South Asians. In a Morise score-matched ethnicity study, we found no significant differences in plaque subtypes including LAP in South Asians compared to a Caucasian cohort. Other factors accounting for poor outcomes in South Asians should be investigated.

Melatonin improves the reprogramming efficiency of murine-induced pluripotent stem cells using a secondary inducible system.

This study focused on the effect of melatonin on reprogramming with specific regard to the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here, a secondary inducible system, which is more accurate and suitable for studying the involvement of chemicals in reprogramming efficiency, was used to evaluate the effect of melatonin on mouse iPSC generation. Secondary fibroblasts collected from all-iPSC mice through tetraploid complementation were cultured in induction medium supplemented with melatonin at different concentrations (0, 10(-6), 10(-7), 10(-8), 10(-9), or 10(-10 )m) or with vitamin C (50 µg/mL) as a positive control. Compared with untreated group (0.22 ± 0.04% efficiency), 10(-8) (0.81 ± 0.04%), and 10(-9 )m (0.83 ± 0.08%) melatonin supplementation significantly improved reprogramming efficiency (P < 0.05). Moreover, we verified that the iPSCs induced by melatonin treatment (MiPSCs) had the same characteristics as typical embryonic stem cells (ESCs), including expression of the pluripotency markers Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, the ability to form teratomas and all three germ layers of the embryo, as well as produce chimeric mice with contribution to the germ line. Interestingly, only the melatonin receptor MT2 was detected in secondary fibroblasts, while MiPSCs and ESCs expressed MT1 and MT2 receptors. Furthermore, during the early stage of reprogramming, expression of the apoptosis-related genes p53 and p21 was lower in the group treated with 10(-9) m melatonin compared with the untreated controls. In conclusion, melatonin supplementation enhances the efficiency of murine iPSC generation. These beneficial effects may be associated with inhibition of the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway.