Preparation of imidazolium ionic liquid functionalized paper membrane for selective extraction of caffeic acid and its structural and functional analogues from Taraxaci Herba.

In the search for pharmaceutically active compounds from natural products, it is crucial and challenging to develop separation or purification methods that target not only structurally similar compounds but also those with specific pharmaceutical functions. The adsorption-based method is widely employed in this field and holds potential for this application, given the diverse range of functional monomers that can be chosen based on structural or functional selectivity. In this work, an imidazolium ionic liquid (IL) modified paper membrane was synthesized via microwave reaction. Caffeic acid (CA), with potential interactions with imidazolium IL and a representative component of phenolic acids in Taraxaci Herba, was chosen as a target compound. After optimization of synthesis and extraction parameters, the resulting extraction membrane could be used to quantitatively analyze CA at ng/ml level, and to extract CA's analogues from the sample matrix. Cheminformatics confirmed the presence of structural and functional similarity among these extracted compounds. This study offers a novel approach to preparing a readily synthesized extraction membrane capable of isolating compounds with structural and functional analogies, as well as developing a membrane solid-phase extraction-based analytical method for natural products.

Constituents from Dendrobium aphyllum: Bibenzyls, furfurals, phenanthrenes, and phenylpropanoids and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials.

Chemical investigation on the aqueous extract of Dendrobium aphyllum led to the isolation of thirty-one constituents with structures identified by analysis of the extensive spectroscopic data (1D/2D NMR, MS, UV, and ECD), including previously undescribed two bibenzyls, one furfural, and one phenolic acid, namely trigonopol D (1), trigonopol C (2), dendrofunan A (10), and 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,6-dioxohexyl acetate (30), respectively, as well as twenty-seven known ones. Among them, there were one new natural product (11), seven compounds (6-7, 9, 12, 20, 28, 31) described from the genus Dendrobium for the first time, and fifteen compounds (8, 13-17, 19, 21-27, 29) isolated from D. aphyllum for the first time. Further, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of fifteen compounds (4-5, 8, 11-12, 14-19, 22, 24, 26, and 29) with significant scavenging capacities against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, and virtual docking activities inhibiting COX-2 and 5-LOX, respectively. Our study may draw the attention of medicinal plant taxonomists and supply potential quality markers for discrimination of D. aphyllum from other species in Dendrobium genus.

Transcriptomic analyses to summarize gene expression patterns that occur during leaf initiation of Chinese cabbage.

In Chinese cabbage, rosette leaves expose their adaxial side to the light converting light energy into chemical energy, acting as a source for the growth of the leafy head. In the leafy head, the outer heading leaves expose their abaxial side to the light while the inner leaves are shielded from the light and have become a sink organ of the growing Chinese cabbage plant. Interestingly, variation in several ad/abaxial polarity genes is associated with the typical leafy head morphotype. The initiation of leaf primordia and the establishment of leaf ad/abaxial polarity are essential steps in the initiation of marginal meristem activity leading to leaf formation. Understanding the molecular genetic mechanisms of leaf primordia formation, polar differentiation, and leaf expansion is thus relevant to understand leafy head formation. As Brassica's are mesa-hexaploids, many genes have multiple paralogues, complicating analysis of the genetic regulation of leaf development. In this study, we used laser dissection of Chinese cabbage leaf primordia and the shoot apical meristem (SAM) to compare gene expression profiles between both adaxial and abaxial sides and the SAM aiming to capture transcriptome changes underlying leaf primordia development. We highlight genes with roles in hormone pathways and transcription factors. We also assessed gene expression gradients along expanded leaf blades from the same plants to analyze regulatory links between SAM, leaf primordia and the expanding rosette leaf. The catalogue of differentially expressed genes provides insights in gene expression patterns involved in leaf development and form a starting point to unravel leafy head formation.

Preparation of imidazole-modified paper membrane for selective extraction of gallic acid and its structural and functional analogues from Pomegranate Peel.

In the search for pharmaceutically active compounds from natural products, it is crucial and challenging to develop separation methods that target not only structurally similar compounds but also a class of compounds with desired pharmaceutical functions. To achieve both structure-oriented and function-oriented selectivity, the choice of functional monomers with broad interactions or even biomimetic roles towards targeted compounds is essential. In this work, an imidazole (IM)-functionalized paper membrane was synthesized to realize selectivity. The IM was selected based on its capability to provide multiple interactions, participation in several bioprocesses, and experimental verification of adsorption performance. Using gallic acid as a representative component of Pomegranate Peel, the preparation conditions and extraction parameters were systematically investigated. The optimal membrane solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method allowed for enrichment of gallic acid from the complex matrix of Pomegranate Peel, enabling facile quantitative analysis with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ng mL-1. Furthermore, with the aid of cheminformatics, the extracted compounds were found to be similar in both their structures and pharmaceutical functions. This work offers a novel approach to preparing a readily synthesized extraction membrane capable of isolating compounds with similar structures and pharmaceutical effects, and provides an MSPE-based analytical method for natural products.

Rhein suppresses esophageal cancer development by regulating cell cycle through DNMT3B gene.

The mechanism by which DNMT3B facilitates esophageal cancer (ESCA) progression is currently unknown, despite its association with adverse prognoses in several cancer types. To investigate the potential therapeutic effects of the Chinese herbal medicine rhubarb on esophageal cancer (ESCA), we adopted an integrated bioinformatics approach. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was first utilized to screen active anti-ESCA components in rhubarb. We then employed Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify key molecular modules and targets related to the active components and ESCA pathogenesis. This system-level strategy integrating multi-omics data provides a powerful means to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer activities of natural products, like rhubarb. To investigate module gene functional enrichment, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. In addition, we evaluated the predictive impact of DNMT3B expression on ESCA patients utilizing the Kaplan-Meier method. Finally, we conducted experiments on cell proliferation and the cell cycle to explore the biological roles of DNMT3B. In this study, we identified Rhein as the main active ingredient of rhubarb that exhibited significant anti-ESCA activity. Rhein markedly suppressed ESCA cell proliferation. Utilizing Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, we determined that the blue module was associated with Rhein target genes and the cell cycle. Additionally, DNMT3B was identified as a Rhein target gene. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that higher DNMT3B levels were associated with poor prognosis in ESCA patients. Furthermore, Rhein partially reversed the overexpression of DNMT3B to inhibit ESCA cell proliferation. In vitro studies demonstrated that Rhein and DNMT3B inhibition disrupted the S phase of the cell cycle and affected the production of cell cycle-related proteins. In this study, we found that Rhein exerts its anti-proliferative effects in ESCA cells by targeting DNMT3B and regulating the cell cycle.

Hierarchical Porous N-Doped Carbon Particles Derived from ZIF-8 as Highly Efficient H2S Selective Oxidation Catalysts.

In the selective oxidation of H2S, the catalytic activity over N-doped carbon-based catalysts is significantly influenced by the accessibility of active sites and the mass transfer rates of reactant molecules (e.g., H2S and O2) as well as generated sulfur monomers. Therefore, it is crucial for enhancing the initial performance via the controlled synthesis of carbon-based catalysts with highly exposed active sites and unique porous structures. Herein, we reported on an efficient strategy to synthesize nanosized N-doped carbon particles with hierarchical porous structures by directly pyrolyzing an oversaturated NaCl-encapsulated ZIF-8 precursor mixture. The introduction of NaCl not only serves as a pollution-free template to promote the formation of graphitic carbon layers but also acts as an intercalating agent to guide the derivation of hierarchical porous structures, as well as enhances the amount of active nitrogen species in the catalysts. As a result, the as-prepared H-NC800 catalyst shows excellent H2S selective oxidation performance (sulfur formation rate is 794 gsulfur·kgcat-1·h-1), good stability (>80 h), and antiwater vapor properties. The characterization results and DFT calculations indicate the crucial role of pyridinic N in the adsorbing and activating reactant molecules (H2S, O2). Furthermore, nanoscale N-doped carbon particles accelerated the rapid transport of generated sulfur monomers under a hierarchical porous structure. This investigation introduces a distinctive strategy for synthesizing ZIF-8-derived N-doped carbon nanosized with a hierarchical porous structure, while its efficient and stable H2S selective oxidation performance highlights significant potential for practical implementation in the industrial desulfurization process.

Mechanism of circRNA_SMG6 mediating lung macrophage ECM degradation via miR-570-3p in microplastics-induced emphysema.

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles < 5 mm in diameter, of which polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are representative type. The extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of macrophages is associated with the development of emphysema. Additionally, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have a regulatory role in epigenetic mechanisms related to lung disease. However, the mechanisms of the ECM degradation and circRNAs in MPs-induced emphysema are still unclear. In our study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/m3 100 nm PS-MPs for 90 days in an inhalation experiment. PS-MPs-exposed rats showed elevated airway resistance and pulmonary dysfunction. Lung histopathology exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, septal thickening and alveolar dilatation. Exposure to PS-MPs was able to induce elevated levels of ECM degradation-related markers MMP9 and MMP12, as well as reduced levels of elastin in rat lung tissues. CircRNA_SMG6 is a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) with a homologous circular structure in human, rat and mouse. The expression level of circRNA_SMG6 was decreased in both rat lung tissues exposed to PS-MPs and PS-MPs-treated THP-1 cells. The luciferase reporter gene demonstrated that circRNA_SMG6 combined with miR-570-3p and co-regulated PTEN, the target gene of miR-570-3p. Moreover, overexpression of circRNA_SMG6 or inhibition of miR-570-3p attenuated PS-MPs-induced ECM degradation in THP-1 cells. Taken together, circRNA_SMG6 may have a significant function in the deterioration of emphysema caused by PS-MPs-induced macrophage ECM degradation by regulating miR-570-3p. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism of emphysema caused by PS-MPs and provide valuable information for assessing the health risks of MPs.

Transcriptional Regulation and Gene Mapping of Internode Elongation and Late Budding in the Chinese Cabbage Mutant lcc.

Two important traits of Chinese cabbage, internode length and budding time, destroy the maintenance of rosette leaves in the vegetative growth stage and affect flowering in the reproductive growth stage. Internodes have received much attention and research in rice due to their effect on lodging resistance, but they are rarely studied in Chinese cabbage. In Chinese cabbage, internode elongation affects not only the maintenance of rosette leaves but also bolting and yield. Budding is also an important characteristic of Chinese cabbage entering reproductive growth. Although many studies have reported on flowering and bolting, studies on bud emergence and the timing of budding are scarce. In this study, the mutant lcc induced by EMS (Ethyl Methane Sulfonate) was used to study internode elongation in the seedling stage and late budding in the budding stage. By comparing the gene expression patterns of mutant lcc and wild-type A03, 2280 differentially expressed genes were identified in the seedling stage, 714 differentially expressed genes were identified in the early budding stage, and 1052 differentially expressed genes were identified in the budding stage. Here, the transcript expression patterns of genes in the plant hormone signaling and clock rhythm pathways were investigated in relation to the regulation of internode elongation and budding in Chinese cabbage. In addition, an F2 population was constructed with the mutants lcc and R500. A high-density genetic map with 1602 marker loci was created, and QTLs for internode length and budding time were identified. Specifically, five QTLs for internode length and five QTLs for budding time were obtained. According to transcriptome data analysis, the internode length candidate gene BraA02g005840.3C (PIN8) and budding time candidate genes BraA02g003870.3C (HY5-1) and BraA02g005190.3C (CHS-1) were identified. These findings provide insight into the regulation of internode length and budding time in Chinese cabbage.

Combined application of biochar and sulfur alleviates cadmium toxicity in rice by affecting root gene expression and iron plaque accumulation.

Biochar and sulfur are considered useful amendments for soil cadmium (Cd) contamination remediation. However, there is still a gap in the understanding of how combined biochar and sulfur application affects Cd resistance in rice, and the role of the accumulation of iron plaque and the expression of Cd efflux transporter-related genes are still unclear in this type of treatment. In this study, we screened an effective combination of biochar and sulfur (0.75 % biochar, 60 mg/kg sulfur) that significantly reduced the Cd content of rice roots (32.9 %) and shoots (12.3 %); significantly reduced the accumulation of amino acids and their derivatives, organic acids and their derivatives and flavonoids in rice roots; and altered secondary metabolite production and release. This combined biochar and sulfur application alleviated the toxicity of Cd to rice, in which the enhancement of iron plaque (24.8 %) formation and upregulated expression of heavy metal effector genes (NRAMP3, MTP3, ZIP1) were important factors. These findings show that iron plaque and heavy metal transport genes are involved in the detoxification of rice under the combined application of biochar and sulfur, which provides useful information for the combined treatment of soil Cd pollution.

The regulation of circRNA_kif26b on alveolar epithelial cell senescence via miR-346-3p is involved in microplastics-induced lung injuries.

Microplastics (MPs), the emerging environmental contaminants, can be inhaled and lead to lung injuries, including inflammation and fibrosis. Alveolar epithelial cell senescence is associated with several lung diseases, but its mechanism in MPs-induced lung injuries remains unknown. In this study, polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in the form of microspheres with a particle size of 100 nm were used for a 35-day inhalation exposure in SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The plethysmograph showed lung dysfunction. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed lung histological lesions with a significant accumulation of inflammatory cells. The ß-galactosidase staining indicated increased senescent cells in lung tissues. The ELISA suggested increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Treatment of mouse alveolar epithelial cell line MLE12 with PS-MPs raised levels of senescence-related markers p21, p16, and p27 and SASP secretion. circ_kif26b, a ring-structured non-coding RNA (ncRNA), is homologous in human, rat, and mouse and was elevated in PS-MPs-exposed rat lung tissues as well as in PS-MPs-treated MLE12 cells. The luciferase reporter gene revealed that circ_kif26b was bound to miR-346-3p and co-regulated p21, a target gene of miR-346-3p. circ_kif26b knockdown or miR-346-3p overexpression attenuated PS-MPs-induced MLE12 cell senescence and secretion of the SASP cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. However, down-regulation of circ_kif26b and miR-346-3p reversed this depressive effect. Overall, circ_kif26b mediates alveolar epithelial cell senescence through miR-346-3p and participates in PS-MPs-induced lung inflammation. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of MPs inhalation toxicity and lay a mechanistic foundation for health risk assessment of MPs.

Acteoside Derived from Cistanche Improves Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoids are widely used in clinical practice; however, they can cause side effects, such as osteoporosis. Acteoside (ACT) from Cistanche has been used to combat a variety of diseases. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ACT in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and its potential mechanism. METHODS: Dexamethasone (Dex) was injected intramuscularly to induce osteoporosis in a rat model, and ACT was given orally. ACT was supplemented in vivo in Dex-stimulated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. RT-qPCR was performed to assess the mRNA levels of bone formation (Runx2, CoL1A1), and bone resorption (OPG and RANKL). A commercial ELISA kit was applied to assess serum OC and CTX levels. Western blot was performed to assess protein levels in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess osteoblast viability and apoptosis. RESULTS: ACT reduced Dex-induced bone microstructure deterioration, increased serum levels of OC, and decreased the levels of CTX (P < 0.05). In the MC3T3-E1 cells, Dex inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis; however, this effect was greatly attenuated by ACT (P < 0.05). Concurrently, ACT reversed the reduction in Runx2, osterix, CoL1A1, and OPG mRNA levels, ALP activity, and the promotion of RANKL by Dex. Additionally, ACT attenuated Dex-induced inhibition of p-AKT/AKT, p-mTOR/mTOR, and p-PI3K/PI3K protein levels by Dex (P < 0.05), while the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor LY294002 diminished the potential effect of ACT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ACT from Cistanche may exert osteoprotective effects by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to alleviate Dex-induced osteoporosis.

Single-cell transcriptome reveals dominant subgenome expression and transcriptional response to heat stress in Chinese cabbage.

BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) experienced a whole-genome triplication event and thus has three subgenomes: least fractioned, medium fractioned, and most fractioned subgenome. Environmental changes affect leaf development, which in turn influence the yield. To improve the yield and resistance to different climate scenarios, a comprehensive understanding of leaf development is required including insights into the full diversity of cell types and transcriptional networks underlying their specificity. RESULTS: Here, we generate the transcriptional landscape of Chinese cabbage leaf at single-cell resolution by performing single-cell RNA sequencing of 30,000 individual cells. We characterize seven major cell types with 19 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters based on the expression of the reported marker genes. We find that genes in the least fractioned subgenome are predominantly expressed compared with those in the medium and most fractioned subgenomes in different cell types. Moreover, we generate a single-cell transcriptional map of leaves in response to high temperature. We find that heat stress not only affects gene expression in a cell type-specific manner but also impacts subgenome dominance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the transcriptional networks in different cell types and provides a better understanding of transcriptional regulation during leaf development and transcriptional response to heat stress in Chinese cabbage.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of WRKY family genes under soft rot in Chinese cabbage.

Complex transcriptional networks regulate plant defense against pathogen attack, and plant transcription factors act as key regulators of the plant immune responses. The differences between transcription factor expression and regulation in Chinese cabbage soft rot (Pectobacterium carotovorum; Pc) have not been revealed. In this study, a total of 148 putative Chinese cabbage WRKY genes (BrWRKYs) were identified from the Chinese cabbage genome (v3.0). These genes were divided into seven subgroups (groups I, IIa-e, and III) based on phylogenomic analysis, with distinct motif compositions in each subgroup. Time-series RNA-seq was carried out to elucidate the dynamic expression patterns of the BrWRKYs on the resistant mutant (sr) and the susceptible wild-type (inbred WT) challenged by Pc. Transcriptional analysis showed that 48 WRKY transcription genes at 0-24 hpi were significantly upregulated in sr under soft rot stress. At the 12-h post-inoculation critical time point, we identified three specifically upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in the resistant mutant, which may provide potential applications for genetic improvement against soft rot. The findings improved our understanding of the WRKY-mediated soft rot stress response regulation in Chinese cabbage. The study thus lays a foundation for the genetic improvement of soft rot resistance.

Recognition of Cervical Precancerous Lesions Based on Probability Distribution Feature Guidance.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is a high incidence of cancer in women and cervical precancerous screening plays an important role in reducing the mortality rate. METHODS: In this study, we proposed a multichannel feature extraction method based on the probability distribution features of the Acetowhite (AW) region to identify cervical precancerous lesions, with the overarching goal to improve the accuracy of cervical precancerous screening. A k-means clustering algorithm was first used to extract the cervical region images from the original colposcopy images. We then used a deep learning model called DeepLab V3+ to segment the AW region of the cervical image after the acetic acid experiment, from which the probability distribution map of the AW region after segmentation was obtained. This probability distribution map was fed into a neural network classification model for multichannel feature extraction, which resulted in the final classification performance. RESULTS: Results of the experimental evaluation showed that the proposed method achieved an average accuracy of 87.7%, an average sensitivity of 89.3%, and an average specificity of 85.6%. Compared with the methods that did not add segmented probability features, the proposed method increased the average accuracy rate, sensitivity, and specificity by 8.3%, 8%, and 8.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, the proposed method holds great promise for enhancing the screening of cervical precancerous lesions in the clinic by providing the physician with more reliable screening results that might reduce their workload.

Effect Analysis of Positive Molecular Therapy in Surgical Nursing Based on Data Transformation Analysis.

This paper briefly introduces the concept, classification, and mechanism of action of positive thinking therapy; reviews the application and research progress of positive thinking therapy in perioperative care of surgical patients at home and abroad; presents the shortcomings and defects in the development; and aims to provide intervention, reference, and basis for the development of positive thinking therapy in perioperative care of surgical patients. One hundred and eight patients are undergoing PCI surgery in our cardiology department; 50 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were selected as the control group, and 58 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were selected as the observation group. Traditional health education was employed in the control group, while empowerment education based on timing theory was used in the observation group. The two groups were observed and compared in terms of self-care competence, anxiety and depression, medication adherence score, and exercise adherence. Conclusion. Empowerment education based on timing theory can improve self-care ability of PCI patients, reduce patients' anxiety and depression, and improve patients' medication and exercise compliance.

Construction of a high-density mutant population of Chinese cabbage facilitates the genetic dissection of agronomic traits.

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is an economically important vegetable crop throughout the world, especially in Asia. High-quality genome sequences are available for Chinese cabbage, but gene functional studies remain challenging. To promote functional genomic studies of Chinese cabbage, we generated an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutant population of ∼8000 M2 plants using the double haploid inbred line A03 as the parent. The genome of A03 was sequenced and used as a reference for high-throughput functional characterization of gene mutations at the whole-genome level. A total of 300 M2 to M5 EMS mutants were phenotypically screened and then sequenced, revealing 750 629 SNPs and 46 272 InDel mutations that cover 98.27% of all predicted genes in the A03 genome. A forward-genetics approach was successfully used to identify two genes with chloroplast-related functions that are responsible for the yellow leaf mutant trait. A reverse-genetics approach was also used to identify associations between mutations in five genes of the glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway and variations in glucosinolate content of the mutant plants. In addition, we built the Chinese cabbage EMS mutation database (CCEMD, www.bioinformaticslab.cn/EMSmutation/home) to increase the usability of this mutant population resource. In summary, we performed large-scale screening of a heading Chinese cabbage EMS mutant collection at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, which will facilitate gene mining of Chinese cabbage and might also be useful for the study of other Brassica crops.

HuaChanSu suppresses tumor growth and interferes with glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by restraining Hexokinase-2.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the sixth highly diagnosed cancer and the fourth main reason of cancer deaths worldwide. HuaChanSu, an extract from dried toad skin, exhibits good anticancer effects and has been widely used in the treatment of liver cancer. The reprogramming of glucose metabolism is one remarkable feature of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the effects of HuaChanSu on the abnormal glucose metabolism of cancer cells have not been elucidated. In our study, we investigate the effects of HuaChanSu on glucose metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor growth in vivo. The results show that HuaChanSu inhibits the tumor growth of hepatoma H22-bearing mice and prolongs the survival time of tumor-bearing mice, additionally, HuaChanSu has no obvious adverse effects in these mice. In vitro, HuaChanSu restrains the proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of human hepatoma cells. HuaChanSu also promotes ROS production and causes mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, HuaChanSu inhibits glucose uptake and lactate release in human hepatoma cells. Mechanistically, we find that HuaChanSu downregulates Hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, and using RNA interference, we confirm that HuaChanSu suppresses the growth of HepG2 cells by interfering with glucose metabolism through downregulation of Hexokinase-2. However, knockdown of Hexokinase-2 has no obvious effect on the proliferation of SK-HEP-1 cells, although glucose uptake and lactate release are reduced in siHK2-transfected SK-HEP-1 cells, subsequently, we illustrate that two human hepatoma cell lines exhibit glucose metabolism heterogeneity, which causes the different cell proliferation responses to the inhibition of Hexokinase-2. Taken together, our study indicates that HuaChanSu could inhibit tumor growth and interfere with glucose metabolism via suppression of Hexokinase-2, and these findings provide a new insight into the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of HuaChanSu and lay a theoretical foundation for the further clinical application of HuaChanSu.

Evaluation of the synergistic effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate-loaded PEGylated-PLGA nanoparticles with nimodipine against neuronal injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Although serious side effects might occur, nimodipine, a second-generation 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, is clinically used to improve neurological outcomes after SAH. Recently, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to inhibit Ca2+ overloading-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuronal cell death after SAH; however, low bioavailability, instability, and cytotoxicity at a high dose limited the clinical application of EGCG. To overcome these limitations, PEGylated-PLGA EGCG nanoparticles (EGCG-NPs) were constructed to enhance the bioavailability by using the double-emulsion method. Antioxidative activity, cytotoxicity, behavioral, and immunohistochemistry studies were carried out to determine the neuroprotective effectiveness after cotreatment with EGCG-NPs (75 mg/kg/d preconditioning for 7 days before SAH) and nimodipine (10 mg/kg/d after 30 min of SAH) by using in vivo SAH models. The optimized EGCG-NPs with a Box-Behnken design showed a small particle size of 167 nm, a zeta potential value of -22.6 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 86%, and a sustained-release profile up to 8 days in vitro. Furthermore, EGCG-NPs (75 mg/kg/d) had superior antioxidative activity to free EGCG (100 mg/kg/d). EGCG-NPs combined with nimodipine exhibited significant synergistic effects against neuronal cell death by suppressing oxidative stress, Ca2+ overloading, mitochondrial dysfunction, and autophagy after SAH. These results suggest that cotreatment with EGCG-NPs and nimodipine may serve as a promising novel strategy for the treatment of SAH.

The measurement of Cobb angle based on spine X-ray images using multi-scale convolutional neural network.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural spinal deformity mainly in the coronal plane and is among the most frequent deformities in children, adolescents, and young adults, with an overall prevalence of 0.47-5.2%. The Cobb angle is an objective measure to determine the progression of deformity and plays a critical role in the planning of surgical treatment. However, existing studies suggested that Cobb angle measurement is susceptible to inter- and intra-observer variability, as well as a high variability in the definition of the end vertebra. In this study, we proposed an automatic method for the spine vertebrae segmentation using Deeplab V3+, a powerful tool that has shown success in the image segmentation of other anatomical regions but spine, and Cobb angle measurement. The segmentation performance was compared to existing mainstay neural networks. Compared to U-Net, Residual U-Net and Dilated U-Net, our method using Deeplab V3+ showed the best performance in the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), accuracy, sensitivity and Jaccard Index. An excellent correlation in the final Cobb angle calculation was achieved between the smallest distance point (SDP) method and two experts (> 0.95), with a small error in the angle estimation compared (MAE < 3°). The proposed method could provide a potential tool for the automatic estimation of the Cobb angle to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the treatment workflow for AIS.

Genetic regulators of leaf size in Brassica crops.

Leaf size influences plant development and biomass and is also an important agricultural trait in Brassica crops, in which leaves are the main organ produced for consumption. Leaf size is determined by the coordinated regulation of cell proliferation and cell expansion during leaf development, and these processes are strictly controlled by various integrated signals from the intrinsic regulatory network and the growth environment. Understanding the molecular mechanism of leaf size control is a prerequisite for molecular breeding for crop improvement purposes. Although research on leaf size control is just beginning in Brassica, recent studies have identified several genes and QTLs that are important in leaf size regulation. These genes have been proposed to influence leaf growth through different pathways and mechanisms, including phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, transcription regulation, small RNAs, and others. In this review, we summarize the current findings regarding the genetic regulators of leaf size in Brassica and discuss future prospects for this research.