The complete chloroplast genome sequences of Aster souliei Franch and Aster tongolensis Franch (Asteraceae).

The complete chloroplast genomes of Aster souliei Franch and Aster tongolensis Franch were reported in this study. The complete chlorogenic genomes of A. souliei and A. tongolensis were 152,587 bp and 152,571 bp, respectively. The A. souliei genome contained two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,005 bp), a large single-copy (LSC, 84,409 bp) region, and a small single-copy (SSC, 18,168 bp) region, whereas A. tongolensis contained two IRs (25,002 bp), one LSC (84,371 bp), and one SSC (18,196 bp). There were 111 genes in the chloroplast genome of A. souliei, consisting of 82 mRNA, 26 tRNA, and three rRNA genes. However, there were 112 genes in the chloroplast genome of A. tongolensis, consisting of 83 mRNA, 26 tRNA, and three rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. souliei is in a clade with A. tongolensis. This study provides a basis for further phylogenetic studies of A. souliei and A. tongolensis.

Chemotaxonomy of Aster species from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau based on metabolomics.

INTRODUCTION: The genus Aster plants have been widely used for thousands of years in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau for the clearing of heat, detoxification, and the treatment of seasonal pandemic diseases. Although the presence of several flavonoid compounds in Aster has been reported by previous studies, the diversity of secondary metabolites within and among species is relatively unknown. OBJECTIVE: The metabolite profile of one Aster species was systematically compared with those of other taxa to find potential chemotaxonomic markers, delimit species, and assess chemodiversity. METHOD: Samples of the above-ground parts of 11 Aster species were collected and their metabolites were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Unsupervised principal component analysis, supervised orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis, heatmap analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis were employed to analyse 95 representative samples from 11 Aster species and determine species-specific chemical markers based on a metabolomics database. RESULTS: Six phenolic acids and flavonoids were detected and quantified in all Aster species, suggesting that these compounds may be common constituents in the Aster genus. Metabolite analysis showed terpenoid compounds to be potential chemical markers for interspecies differentiation. Ent-kaurane-type diterpenoid glycosides were the main class of compounds in all Aster species except for A. farreri, which mainly contained oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids. Diterpenoid glycosides were low-content chemotaxonomic markers and were detected for the first time in Aster species from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. CONCLUSION: Chemotaxonomy and metabolomics were used to support the phylogenic relationships of the Aster genus.

Gastrointestinal events with PARP inhibitors in cancer patients: A meta-analysis of phase II/III randomized controlled trials.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: PARP inhibitors are currently one of the most promising PARP targeted drugs for patients with certain types of cancer. Gastrointestinal (GI) events are common adverse events for all PARP inhibitors. We conducted this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to fully investigate the incidence and the relative risk of GI events in cancer patients receiving PARP inhibitors. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trials in cancer patients treated with PARP inhibitors were retrieved, and the systematic evaluation was conducted. Embase and PubMed/Medline were searched for articles published till July 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-nine RCTs and 9529 patients were included. The present meta-analysis suggests that the use of PARP inhibitors significantly increases the risk of developing all-grade nausea (RR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.29-1.66; p < .00001), vomiting (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-1.64; p = .0001), diarrhoea (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23; p = .0003) and decreased appetite (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.14-1.36; p < .00001), but not for constipation. And the use of these agents significantly increased the risk of high-grade nausea (RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.44-2.74; p < .0001), vomiting (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.14; p = .01) and decreased appetite (RR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.22-3.40; p = .007), except for diarrhoea and constipation. Nausea was the most common GI event for these agents. Patients receiving veliparib were associated with a relatively lower risk of all-grade nausea and vomiting. Patients with ovarian cancer tend to have a higher risk of all-grade nausea and vomiting than those with non-ovarian cancer. The risk of all-grade nausea and vomiting tended to be higher when PARP inhibitors treatment was longer. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: PARP inhibitors were associated with a significant increased risk of GI events. Clinicians should be aware of these risks and perform regular monitoring.

Effect of Different Post-Harvest Processing Methods on the Chemical Constituents of Notopterygium franchetii by an UHPLC-QTOF-MS-MS Metabolomics Approach.

Notopterygium franchetii is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as qianghuo. Its bioactive qualities are influenced by the post-harvest processing methods used (such as drying). However, changes in chemical components according to the drying method are unknown. Fresh roots and rhizomes of N. franchetii were subjected to seven drying methods. Chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with targeted and untargeted analyses were used to investigate relationships between drying methods and chemical concentrations. According to targeted evaluations of the six main bioactive constituents, their total contents decreased significantly in all drying methods. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the drying methods and total metabolome detected 30 chemical constituents, for which heap maps were obtained. Hot air drying was the best processing method, producing the least chemical changes at the lowest cost, while shade drying caused the greatest chemical changes. In conclusion, the wide range of chemical changes in N. franchetii caused by drying was investigated. Such changes potentially affect the quality of herbal medicines.

Activation of a mechanosensitive BK channel by membrane stress created with amphipaths.

Some BK channels are activated in response to membrane stretch. However, it remains largely unknown which membrane component transmits forces to the channel and which part of the channel senses the force. Recently, we have shown that a BK channel cloned from chick heart (named SAKCa channel) is a stretch activated channel, while deletion of a 59 amino acids splice insert (STREX) located in the cytoplasmic side, abolishes its stretch-sensitivity. This finding raised a question whether stress in the bilayer is crucial for the mechanical activation of the channel. To address this question we examined the effects of membrane perturbing amphipaths on the stretch activation of the SAKCa channel and its STREX-deletion mutant. We found that both anionic amphipath trinitrophenol (TNP) and cationic amphipath chlorpromazine (CPZ) could dose-dependently activate the channel by leftward shifting the voltage activation curve when applied alone. In contrast, TNP and CPZ compensated each other's effect when applied sequentially. These results can be understood in the framework of the bilayer couple hypothesis, suggesting that stress in the plasma membrane can activate the SAKCa channel. Interestingly, the STREX-deletion mutant channel has much less sensitivity to the amphipaths, suggesting that STREX acts as an intermediate structure that can indirectly convey stress in the membrane to the gate of the SAKCa channel via an unidentified membrane associated protein(s) that can detect or transmit stress in the membrane.