An estrogen receptor (ER)‐related signature in predicting prognosis of ER‐positive breast cancer following endocrine treatment

Quite a few estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy are at risk of disease recurrence and death. ER‐related genes are involved in the progression and chemoresistance of breast cancer. In this study, we identified an ER‐related gene signature that can predict the prognosis of ER‐positive breast cancer patient receiving endocrine therapy. We collected RNA expression profiling from Gene Expression Omnibus database. An ER‐related signature was developed to separate patients into high‐risk and low‐risk groups. Patients in the low‐risk group had significantly better survival than those in the high‐risk group. ROC analysis indicated that this signature exhibited good diagnostic efficiency for the 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year disease‐relapse events. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the ER‐related signature was an independent risk factor when adjusting for several clinical signatures. The prognostic value of this signature was validated in the validation sets. In addition, a nomogram was built and the calibration plots analysis indicated the good performance of this nomogram. In conclusion, combining with ER status, our results demonstrated that the ER‐related prognostic signature is a promising method for predicting the prognosis of ER‐positive breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy.     

New insight into the role of extracellular vesicles in kidney disease

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released to maintain cellular homeostasis as well as to mediate cell communication by spreading protective or injury signals to neighbour or remote cells. In kidney, increasing evidence support that EVs are signalling vesicles for different segments of tubules, intra‐glomerular, glomerular‐tubule and tubule‐interstitial communication. EVs released by kidney resident and infiltrating cells can be isolated from urine and were found to be promising biomarkers for kidney disease, reflecting deterioration of renal function and histological change. We have here summarized the recent progress about the functional role of EVs in kidney disease as well as challenges and future directions involved.     

Isorhamnetin attenuates osteoarthritis by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and protecting chondrocytes through modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis

Increasing evidence indicates that osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disease affecting the whole joint, including both cartilage and subchondral bone. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been demonstrated to be one of the important destructive factors during early‐stage OA development. The objective of this study was to investigate isorhamnetin (Iso) treatment on osteoclast formation and chondrocyte protection to attenuate OA by modulating ROS. Receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappa B ligand (RANKL) was used to establish the osteoclast differentiation model in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) in vivo. H₂O₂ was used to induce ROS, which could further cause chondrocyte apoptosis. We demonstrated that Iso suppressed RANKL‐induced ROS generation, which could mediate osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, we found that Iso inhibited osteoclast formation and function by suppressing the expression of osteoclastogenesis‐related genes and proteins. We proved that Iso inhibited RANKL‐induced activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and AKT signalling pathways in BMMs. In addition, Iso inhibited ROS‐induced chondrocyte apoptosis by regulating apoptosis‐related proteins. Moreover, Iso was administered to an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‐induced OA mouse model. The results indicated that Iso exerted beneficial effects on inhibiting excessive osteoclast activity and chondrocyte apoptosis, which further remedied cartilage damage. Overall, our data showed that Iso is an effective candidate for treating OA.     

Absence of estrogen receptor beta leads to abnormal adipogenesis during early tendon healing by an up‐regulation of PPARγ signalling

Achilles tendon injury is one of the challenges of sports medicine, the aetiology of which remains unknown. For a long time, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) has been known as a regulating factor of the metabolism in many connective tissues, such as bone, muscle and cartilage, but little is known about its role in tendon. Recent studies have implicated ERβ as involved in the process of tendon healing. Tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) are getting more and more attention in tendon physiological and pathological process. In this study, we investigated how ERβ played a role in Achilles tendon healing. Achilles tendon injury model was established to analyse how ERβ affected on healing process in vivo. Cell proliferation assay, Western blots, qRT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry were performed to investigate the effect of ERβ on TDSCs. Here, we showed that ERβ deletion in mice resulted in inferior gross appearance, histological scores and, most importantly, increased accumulation of adipocytes during the early tendon healing which involved activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signalling. Furthermore, in vitro results of ours confirmed that the abnormity might be the result of abnormal TDSC adipogenic differentiation which could be partially reversed by the treatment of ERβ agonist LY3201. These data revealed a role of ERβ in Achilles tendon healing for the first time, thereby providing a new target for clinical treatment of Achilles tendon injury.     

Polyphenols of Leaf,Litter and Soil of Pinus bungeana across China and Their Responses to Ecological Factors

The importance of phenolic compounds for responding to various environmental conditions has been widely emphasized. However, the role of interactions between polyphenols and ecological factors, especially C, N, and P stoichiometry was little studied. Here, 15 sites across five provinces of Pinus bungeana in temperate regions of China were studied. The results showed that the higher values of total phenolic contents (TPC) of leaf and litter were distributed among the north distribution area of P. bungeana, lower values were in the south, whereas soil TPC were contrary to leaf and litter TPC. The stepwise regression, path analysis and decision index of path analysis for leaf TPC and ecological factors showed that altitude had the most direct impact on leaf TPC. Moreover, the principal determinants of leaf, litter and soil TPC were soil C/P ratios, longitude, and soil N/P ratios, respectively. In addition, the leaf, litter and soil TPC of P. bungeana were limited by soil C/N ratios, mean annual temperature, and soil P, respectively. Overall, our study provided evidence that ecological factors affected strongly the leaf, litter and soil TPC of P. bungeana.     

New 4,5‐seco‐20(10→5)‐abeo‐Abietane Diterpenoids with Anti‐Inflammatory Activity from Isodon lophanthoides var. graciliflorus (Benth.) H.Hara

Three new 4,5‐seco‐20(10→5)‐abeo‐abietane diterpenoids, 16‐hydroxysalvilenone ( 1 ), 15‐hydroxysalprionin ( 2 ), and 11β,15‐dihydroxysalprionin‐12‐one ( 3 ), and nine known abietane diterpenoids, 4 – 12 , along with one known sempervirane diterpenoid, hispidanol A ( 13 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon lophanthoides var. graciliflorus. The structures of compounds 1 – 3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including extensive analysis of NMR and mass spectroscopic data. All diterpenoids were tested for their TNF‐α inhibitory effects on LPS‐induced RAW264.7 cells. Compound 9 (16‐acetoxyhorminone) was the most potent with an IC₅₀ value of 3.97±0.70 μm .     

Three New Polyacetylene Glycosides from the Roots of Heracleum dissectum and Their Triglyceride Accumulating Activities in 3T3‐L1 Cells

Continually phytochemical study of the roots of Heracleum dissectum had led to the isolation of three previously undescribed polyacetylene glycosides ( 1 – 3 ), together with seven known compounds, including one polyacetylene ( 8 ) and six coumarins ( 4 – 7 and 9 – 10 ) using diverse chromatographic methods. The structures of these three new compounds were characterized and identified as deca‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), (8Z)‐dec‐8‐ene‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), and (8E)‐dec‐8‐ene‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) based on their physicochemical properties and extensive analyses of various spectroscopic data. Their triglycerides accumulating activities were assayed and the results showed that the three new polyacetylene glycosides ( 1 – 3 ) exhibited triglyceride accumulating activities in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes.     

Enhancing the Open‐Circuit Voltage of Perovskite Solar Cells by up to 120 mV Using π‐Extended Phosphoniumfluorene Electrolytes as Hole Blocking Layers

Four π‐extended phosphoniumfluorene electrolytes (π‐PFEs) are introduced as hole‐blocking layers (HBL) in inverted architecture planar perovskite solar cells with the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MAPbI₃/PCBM/HBL/Ag. The deep‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of the π‐PFEs effectively blocks holes, decreasing contact recombination. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of π‐PFEs introduces a dipole moment at the PCBM/Ag interface, resulting in significant enhancement of the built‐in potential of the device. This enhancement results in an increase in the open‐circuit voltage of the device by up to 120 mV, when compared to the commonly used bathocuproine HBL. The results are confirmed both experimentally and by numerical simulation. This work demonstrates that interfacial engineering of the transport layer/contact interface by small molecule electrolytes is a promising route to suppress nonradiative recombination in perovskite devices and compensates for a nonideal energetic alignment at the hole‐transport layer/perovskite interface.     

Na3V2(PO4)3 as the Sole Solid Energy Storage Material for Redox Flow Sodium‐Ion Battery

Redox flow batteries have considerable advantages of system scalability and operation flexibility over other battery technologies, which makes them promising for large‐scale energy storage application. However, they suffer from low energy density and consequently relatively high cost for a nominal energy output. Redox targeting–based flow batteries are employed by incorporating solid energy storage materials in the tank and present energy density far beyond the solubility limit of the electrolytes. The success of this concept relies on paring suitable redox mediators with solid materials for facilitated reaction kinetics and lean electrolyte composition. Here, a redox targeting‐based flow battery system using the NASICON‐type Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ as a capacity booster for both the catholyte and anolyte is reported. With 10‐methylphenothiazine as the cathodic redox mediator and 9‐fluorenone as anodic redox mediator, an all‐organic single molecule redox targeting–based flow battery is developed. The anodic and cathodic capacity are 3 and 17 times higher than the solubility limit of respective electrolyte, with which a full cell can achieve an energy density up to 88 Wh L^?1. The reaction mechanism is scrutinized by operando and in‐situ X‐ray and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The reaction kinetics are analysed in terms of Butler–Volmer formalism.     

Chinese white truffles shape the ectomycorrhizal microbial communities of Corylus avellana

Here, we investigated the influence of Chinese white truffle (Tuber panzhihuanense) symbioses on the microbial communities associated with Corylus avellana during the early development stage of symbiosis. The microbial communities associated with ectomycorrhizae, and associated with roots without T. panzhihuanense colonization, were determined via high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS genes. Microbial community diversity was higher in the communities associated with the ectomycorrhizae than in the control treatment. Further, bacterial and fungal community structures were different in samples containing T. panzhihuanense in association with C. avellana compared to the control samples. In particular, the bacterial genera Rhizobium, Pedomicrobium, and Herbiconiux were more abundant in the ectomycorrhizae, in addition to the fungal genus Monographella. Moreover, there were clear differences in some physicochemical properties among the rhizosphere soils of the two treatments. Statistical analyses indicated that soil properties including exchangeable magnesium and exchangeable calcium prominently influenced microbial community structure. Lastly, inference of bacterial metabolic functions indicated that sugar and protein metabolism functions were significantly more enriched in the communities associated with the ectomycorrhizae from C. avellana mycorrhized with T. panzhihuanense compared to communities from roots of cultivated C. avellana without T. panzhihuanense. Taken together, these results highlight the interactions among ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil properties, and microbial communities that are associated with host plants and further our understanding of the ecology and cultivation of the economically important T. panzhihuanense truffles.