Dasymaschalon tibetense (Annonaceae): a new species from China

A new species, Dasymaschalon tibetense, has been described from South Tibet, China. The species is related to D. rostratum, but can be easily distinguished by its rounded apex of fruitlets and its 7.7–9.5 cm long petals.     

Isolation and Characterization of Conotoxin Protein from Conus inscriptus and Its Potential Anticancer Activity Against Cervical Cancer (HeLa-HPV 16 Associated) Cell Lines

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Marine snails are abundant sources of biologically important conopeptides with their potential applications in drug development. The...     

Isolation,Characterization and In-Silico Study of Conotoxin Protein from Conus loroisii and Its Anti-cancer Activity

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The conopeptides are the conotoxin of Conus loroisii have wide applications in drug development. This work emphasizes the isolation and...     

Structural and functional characterization of a novel acidophilic 7α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

7α‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α‐HSDH) is an NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductase belonging to the short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases. In vitro, 7α‐HSDH is involved in the efficient biotransformation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) to tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). In this study, a gene encoding novel 7α‐HSDH (named as St‐2‐1) from fecal samples of black bear was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein has subunits of 28.3 kDa and a native size of 56.6 kDa, which suggested a homodimer. We studied the relevant properties of the enzyme, including the optimum pH, optimum temperature, thermal stability, activators, and inhibitors. Interestingly, the data showed that St‐2‐1 differs from the 7α‐HSDHs reported in the literature, as it functions under acidic conditions. The enzyme displayed its optimal activity at pH 5.5 (TCDCA). The acidophilic nature of 7α‐HSDH expands its application environment and the natural enzyme bank of HSDHs, providing a promising candidate enzyme for the biosynthesis of TUDCA or other related chemical entities.     

Calculation of an Adequate Intake (AI) Value and Safe Range of Selenium (Se) for Chinese Infants 0–3 Months Old Based on Se Concentration in the Milk of Lactating Chinese Women with Optimal Se Intake

Biological Trace Element Research - The required selenium intake for optimal health in Chinese residents was published in 2014. However, the adequate intake (AI) value for Chinese infants...     

Complete Genome Sequence of a Duck Hepatitis A Virus Type 3 Identified in Eastern China

We report here the complete genome sequence of a novel duck hepatitis A virus type 3 (DHAV-3) isolated from a dead Cherry Valley duckling in eastern China. The whole genomic nucleotide sequence and polyprotein amino acid sequence of the virus had higher homology with those of Chinese DHAV-3 isolates, medium homology with those of Korean DHAV-3 isolates, and the lowest homology with those of Vietnamese isolate DN2. The result indicated that the genetic evolution of DHAV-3 isolates had obvious geographical features.     

Complete Genome Sequence of a Vero Cell-Adapted Isolate of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in Eastern China

In early 2012, a widespread porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) occurred in eastern China. A cell-adapted isolate, SD-M, was at the four-passage level of virulent field strain SD, which was isolated from a 2-day-old dead suckling piglet that had suffered from severe diarrhea in Shandong Province, China. We report here the complete genome sequence of SD-M. This sequence will promote a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of PEDV.     

An important factor in relation to shock-induced chemistry: resonance energy

With density function theory BLYP/DNP method, together with homodesmotic reactions and isodesmic reactions, we calculated the resonance energies of some explosives, including eight nitro compounds which contains benzene rings, three nitro compounds which contains azaheterocycles (2,4-dinitroimidazole (2,4-DNI), 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) and 2,4,6-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and one nitrogen-rich energetic compound of 3,3’-azobis(6-amino-s-tetrazine) (DAAT). The results indicate that their resonance energies are in relation to their shock sensitivity which measuring their threshold pressures of initiation, that is, the lower the resonance energy is, the higher the shock sensitivity of the explosive behaves. And this measuring method according to resonance energy is based on the global property of the molecule instead of the local one, such as one nitro group in the molecule. It is meaningful to calculate resonance energies of these kind of compounds quickly and accurately because resonance structures exist widely in these organic compounds and resonance energies may play a significant role in determining their shock sensitivity, and it is helpful in the rational design or synthesis of high energy and insensitive materials.     

运用ELISA快速检测CPV抗体方法的建立与均衡性研究

用蔗糖密度梯度离心和凝胶层析纯化犬细小病毒 (CPV)作抗原 ,建立了检测CPV抗体的间接酶联免疫吸附试验 (ELISA)法 ,其特异性和稳定性良好 ,结果判定准确明显 ,易于把握。     

Icariin: a Potential Compound for the Recovery of Tibial Dyschondroplasia Affected Chicken Via Up-Regulating BMP-2 Expression

Background

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a skeletal disease of fast growing chicken and other avian species. It is characterized by an avascular and non-mineralized growth plate, which leads to a deformed tibial bone and lameness. Unfortunately, this disease is not only responsible for causing huge economic losses but also raises animal welfare concerns. Icariin is a flavonoid, which is isolated from Epimedium pubescens herb, and it has been used to cure different diseases including bone fractures and osteoporosis.

Results

We designed this experiment to use icariin for the treatment of TD affect chickens; for this purpose, a total of 180 chicks were equally divided into three groups: control, TD and icariin. All the three groups were offered ad libitum same normal standard diet with an addition of thiram (50 mg/kg) from 3rd day to 7th day in TD and icariin group in order to induce TD in chickens. After the induction of TD, the chickens in icariin groups were fed standard diet with an addition of icariin at the rate of 10 mg/kg in drinking water to check the therapeutic effect of this flavonoid on TD. Our results showed that the icariin helped in restoring the TD lesion into a normal structure with significantly (P?<?0.05) up-regulating the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in the tibial growth plates (GP).

Conclusions

Icariin increased the vascular area in the growth plate and decreased the average TD score. In conclusion, this study shows that icariin is a potential compound for the recovery of TD affected chickens via up-regulating the BMP-2 expression without posing a threat of ingestion of toxic veterinary drug residues to human beings upon the consumption of treated chickens.