Complete chloroplast genome of Cerasus fengyangshanica (Rosaceae), a wild flowering cherry endemic to China.

Cerasus fengyangshanica is a wild flowering cherry endemic to Mount Fengyang, China. Here, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. fengyangshanica (GenBank accession number: MW160272). The cp genome was 157,964 bp long, with a large single-copy region (LSC) of 85,972 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 19,086 bp separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,453 bp. It encodes 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. We also reconstructed the phylogeny of Prunus sensu lato using maximum likelihood (ML) method, including our data and previously reported cp genomes of related taxa. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. fengyangshanica is closely related with Prunus maximowiczii.

[Gene characteristics and changing trend of neonatal thalassemia in Dongguan, China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the gene distribution characteristics of neonatal thalassemia in Dongguan, China and the changing trend of the gene distribution characteristics of neonates with thalassemia in Dongguan in 2014-2018. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the data on neonatal thalassemia screening from the Dongguan Neonatal Disease Screening System between January 2014 and December 2018. A total of 616 718 neonates were enrolled who were born in Dongguan. RESULTS: Among the 616 718 neonates, 52 308 were positive for primary screening, 10 366 were recalled, 8 576 underwent genetic diagnosis, and 6 432 were confirmed with thalassemia by genetic diagnosis. The carrying rates of thalassemia genes in 2014-2018 were 5.81%, 5.47%, 5.96%, 6.91%, and 7.90% respectively, and showed an upward trend (P<0.001). The positive rates of neonatal thalassemia screening in 2014-2018 were 9.12%, 8.34%, 7.54%, 8.13%, and 9.32% respectively (P<0.001). The positive rates of genetic diagnosis of neonatal thalassemia in 2014-2018 were 0.89%, 1.11%, 1.24%, 0.90%, and 1.09% respectively (P<0.001). In 2014-2018, 5 098 cases of α-thalassemia were detected, accounting for 79.26% of all cases, and 1 230 cases of ß-thalassemia were detected, accounting for 19.12% of all cases. The detection rate of α-thalassemia was significantly higher than that of ß-thalassemia in each year (P<0.001). In 2014-2018, static α-thalassemia, mild α-thalassemia, and mild ß-thalassemia were the main types observed in neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the neonates with thalassemia have α-thalassemia in Dongguan, with static α-thalassemia and mild α-thalassemia as the main types. The carrying rate of thalassemia genes keeps increasing in neonates in Dongguan, and the prevention and treatment of thalassemia is still challenging.

The Inhibition of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) Isoforms by Praeruptorin A and B.

Praeruptorin A (PA) and B (PB) are two important compounds isolated from Bai-hua Qian-hu and have been reported to exert multiple biochemical and pharmacological activities. The present study aims to determine the inhibition of PA and PB on the activity of important phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGTs) isoforms. In vitro UGT incubation system was used to determine the inhibition potential of PA and PB on the activity of various UGT isoforms. In silico docking was performed to explain the inhibition difference between PA and PB towards the activity of UGT1A6. Inhibition behaviour was determined, and in vitro-in vivo extrapolation was performed by using the combination of in vitro inhibition kinetic parameter (Ki ) and in vivo exposure level of PA. Praeruptorin A (100 µM) exhibited the strongest inhibition on the activity of UGT1A6 and UGT2B7, with 97.8% and 90.1% activity inhibited by 100 µM of PA, respectively. In silico docking study indicates the significant contribution of hydrogen bond interaction towards the stronger inhibition of PA than PB towards UGT1A6. Praeruptorin A noncompetitively inhibited the activity of UGT1A6 and competitively inhibited the activity of UGT2B7. The inhibition kinetic parameter (Ki ) of PA towards UGT1A6 and UGT2B7 was calculated to be 1.2 and 3.3 µM, respectively. The [I]/Ki value was calculated to be 15.8 and 5.8 for the inhibition of PA on UGT1A6 and UGT2B7, indicating high inhibition potential of PA towards these two UGT isoforms in vivo. Therefore, closely monitoring the interaction between PA and drugs mainly undergoing UGT1A6 or UGT2B7-catalyzed metabolism is very necessary. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[The observation of serum sexual hormone levels before and after treatment in male hyperthyroidisms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes of serum sexual hormone levels in male hyperthyroidisms before and after treatment. METHODS: Compared with the control group, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) of 68 cases of male hyperthyroidisms before and after treatment were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay technique, and then statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The serum T and E2 levels of male hyperthyroidisms were significantly higher than those of the control group before treatment (P < 0.005); while no significant difference in FSH and LH levels existed between the patients and the control group (P > 0.05). There was no difference in FSH, LH, T and E2 levels between patients and the control group after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are sexual hormone metabolism disorder in hyperthyroidism men, and the increasing serum T and E2 levels are only to adapt the high metabolism environment, and the changes of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axes. Along with the control of hyperthyroidism, the sexual hormone levels return to normal.