Prognostic prediction of patients having classical papillary thyroid carcinoma with a 4 mRNA-based risk model.

The dysregulation of protein-coding genes involved in various biological functions is closely associated with the progression of thyroid cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dysregulated gene expressions on the prognosis of classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (cPTC). Using expression profiling datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we performed differential expression analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to identify DEGs, which were used to construct a risk model to predict the prognosis of cPTC patients. Functional enrichment analysis unveiled the potential significance of co-expressed protein-encoding genes in tumors. We identified 4 DEGs (SALL3, PPBP, MYH1, and SYNDIG1), which were used to construct a risk model to predict the prognosis of cPTC patients. These 4 genes were independent of clinical parameters and could be functional in cPTC carcinogenesis. Furthermore, PPBP exhibited a strong correlation with poorer overall survival (OS) in the advanced stage of the disease. This study suggests that the 4-gene signature could be an independent prognostic biomarker to improve prognosis prediction in cPTC patients older than 46.

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Endophytic Burkholderia cenocepacia ETR-B22 by SPME-GC-MS and Their Inhibitory Activity against Various Plant Fungal Pathogens.

The use of antagonistic microorganisms and their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to control plant fungal pathogens is an eco-friendly and promising substitute for chemical fungicides. In this work, endophytic bacterium ETR-B22, isolated from the root of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., was found to exhibit strong antagonistic activity against 12 fungal pathogens found in agriculture. Strain ETR-B22 was identified as Burkholderia cenocepacia based on 16S rRNA and recA sequences. We evaluated the antifungal activity of VOCs emitted by ETR-B22. The VOCs from strain ETR-B22 also showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against 12 fungal pathogens. The composition of the volatile profiles was analyzed based on headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Different extraction strategies for the SPME process significantly affected the extraction efficiency of the VOCs. Thirty-two different VOCs were identified. Among the VOC of ETR-B22, dimethyl trisulfide, indole, methyl anthranilate, methyl salicylate, methyl benzoate, benzyl propionate, benzyl acetate, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenol, allyl benzyl ether and nonanoic acid showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity, and are key inhibitory compounds produced by strain ETR-B22 against various fungal pathogens. Our results suggest that the endophytic strain ETR-B22 and its VOCs have high potential for use as biological controls of plant fungal pathogens.

Novel Substituted Thiophenes and Sulf-Polyacetylene Ester from Echinops ritro L.

Three new substituted bithiophenes (1⁻3), and one new sulf-polyacetylene ester, ritroyne A (16) were isolated from the whole plant of Echinops ritro together with twelve known substituted thiophenes. The structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR as well as MS. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of ritroyne A (16) was established by computational methods. In bioscreening experiments, four compounds (2, 4, 12, 14) showed similar antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 2592 with levofloxacin (8 µg/mL). Five compounds (2, 4, 9, 12, 14) exhibited antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 32⁻64 µg/mL. Three compounds (2, 4, 12) exhibited antifungal activities against Candida albicans ATCC 2002 with MIC values of 32⁻64 µg/mL. However, compound 16 did not exhibit antimicrobial activities against three microorganisms.

Endophytic fungi harbored in the root of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep: Diversity and biocontrol potential against phytopathogens.

This work, for the first time, investigated the diversity of endophytic fungi harbored in the xylem and phloem of the root of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep from three geographic localities with emphasis on the influence of the tissue type and geographic locality on endophytic fungal communities and their potential as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens of Panax notoginseng. A total of 655 fungal strains representing 47 taxa were isolated. Forty-two taxa (89.4%) were identified but not five taxa (10.6%) according to morphology and molecular phylogenetics. Out of identifiable taxa, the majority of endophyte taxa were Ascomycota (76.6%), followed by Basidiomycota (8.5%) and Zygomycota (4.3%). The alpha-diversity indices indicated that the species diversity of endophytic fungal community harbored in the root of S. tonkinensis was very high. The colonization and species diversity of endophytic fungal communities were significantly influenced by the geographic locality but not tissue type. The geographic locality and tissue type had great effects on the species composition of endophytic fungal communities. Forty-seven respective strains were challenged by three fungal phytopathogens of P. notoginseng and six strains exhibited significant inhibitory activity. It was noteworthy that endophytic Rhexocercosporidium sp. and F. solani strongly inhibited pathogenic F. solani and other fungal phytopathogens of P. notoginseng.

[Infrared spectral studies of separation of QAPVA/PMPVA complex membrane for dehydrating water of 95% ethanol].

Quaternized polyvinyl alcohol (QAPVA) and phosphate monoester polyvinyl alcohol (PMPVA) were self-assembled into polyion complex (PIC) membrane. The infrared spectra (IR) of PIC membrane dipped in 95% ethanol for 48 h were studied in the temperature range of 20-120 degrees C with an interval of 20 degrees C by analyzing the temperature dependent variations of OH stretch vibration base bands (upsilonOH) at >3000 cm(-1). Hydrogen-bond of water in 95% ethanol with PIC was studied. Since the upsilonOH strongly overlapped at >3000 cm(-1), combined with the static electric effect between water in 95% ethanol and ion-bond of PIC at 1300-1700 cm(-1), two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) correlation analysis was applied to describe the possible combined modes between PIC and water in water-alcohol. The result shows that the upsilonOH overlapped was distinguished at >3000 cm(-1), the change of water with varing tempertature was earlier than the intra-membrane OH self association and water was desorbed to separate from ethanol. The absorption peak of water and poly-electrolyte group intra-PIC membrane was identified. The water combined with ion-bond in PIC membrane by static electric effect was adsorbed with the temperature going up and separate from ethanol. The present study provides a simple method for investigating the separation performance of PIC membrane used in dehydration of organic compounds.

Isolation and structure elucidation of kadlongilactones C-F from Kadsura longipedunculata by NMR spectroscopy and DFT computational methods.

Four new triterpenoids, kadlongilactones C-F (2-5), containing a consecutive hexacyclic [7,7,5,6,6,6] ring system, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Kadsura longipedunculata. In comparison with the NMR data of kadlongilactones A (1) and D (3), a significant phenomena was discovered that ring D of 3 inverted from a half-chair in 1 to a half-boat conformation when the HO-16 group changed from alpha- to beta-orientation. The structures of 2-5 were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, and DFT computational methods were applied in the structural validation of compounds 3 and 5. Compounds 1-4 showed significant cytotoxicity against A549, HT-29, and K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.49-3.61 microM in vitro.

Isolation, X-ray crystallography, and computational studies of calydaphninone, a new alkaloid from Daphniphyllum calycillum.

[structure: see text]. A new hexacyclic alkaloid, calydaphninone (1), containing a 4-azatricyclo[5.2.2.0(1,4)]undecan ring system, has been isolated from the leaves and twigs of Daphniphyllum calycillum (Daphniphyllaceae). Its structure was elucidated by spectral and crystallographic means. Furthermore, conformations of calydaphninone (1) in solution are discussed on the basis of NMR spectral analysis and computational (B3LYP/6-31G*) results.