Four New C19-Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum nagarum Stapf

Four new aconitine-type C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids, were isolated from the roots of Aconitum nagarum Stapf which were named as nagarutines A–D ( 1–4 ), together with eleven known compounds ( 5–15 ). The structures of the compounds were identified by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. All compounds were tested for the inhibitory effect on LPS induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, compound 7 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity effect and Inhibition rate is about 44.50%.     

lncRNA MEG3 modified epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovarian cancer cells by sponging miR-219a-5p and regulating EGFR

This study was aimed to verify whether there existed any associations between long noncoding RNA MEG3/miR-219a-5p/EGFR axis and the development of ovarian cancer (OC). As a whole, we gathered 317 pairs of OC tissues and surgical marginal normal tissues and simultaneously acquired four OC cell lines (ie, A2780, Caov-3, OVCAR-3, and SKOV-3) and human normal ovarian surface epithelial cell line. Moreover, pcDNA3.1-MEG3, si-MEG3, miR-219a-5p mimic, miR-219a-5p inhibitor, pcDNA3.1-EGFR, and si-EGFR were, respectively, transfected into the OC cells, and their impacts on viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of OC cells were assessed via conduction of MTT assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, transwell assay, and scratch assay. Ultimately, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to testify the targeted relationships among maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), miR-219a-5p, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR). It was indicated that underexpressed MEG3 and miR-219a-5p were significantly associated with unfavorable prognosis of patients with OC when compared with overexpressed MEG3 and miR-219a-5p (P < .05). In addition, the OC cells transfected with si-MEG3 or miR-219a-5p inhibitor exhibited stronger viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration than untreated cells (P < .05). Correspondingly, the apoptotic percentage of OC cells was reduced observably under treatments of si-MEG3 and miR-219a-5p inhibitor (P < .05). Moreover, MEG3 exerted modulatory effects on the expression of miR-219a-5p (P < .05), and there was a sponging relationship between them (P < .05). Finally, EGFR expression was modified by both MEG3 and miR-219a-5p significantly (P < .05), and raising EGFR expression could changeover the impacts of MEG3 and miR-219a-5p on the above-mentioned activity of OC cells (P < .05). Conclusively, MEG3 could serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of OC, considering its involvement with OC etiology via regulation of miR-219a-5p/EGFR axis.     

Stilbeno-phenylpropanoids from Gnetum montanum Markgr.

Four new stilbeno-phenylpropanoids, gnetumonins A−C (1−3) and (−)-gnetucleistol F (4), together with two known compounds, gnetupendin A and (+)-gnetofuran A, were isolated from the caulis of Gnetum montanum Markgr. (Gnetaceae). The structures of those new compounds were established by extensive analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The relative configurations of 1−3 were elucidated by means of the analysis of shielded effect correlating their key ¹H NMR shift changes.     

Neuropathological and genomic characterization of glioblastoma-induced rat model: How similar is it to humans for targeted therapy?

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a unique aggressive tumor and mostly develops in the brain, while rarely spreading out of the central nervous system. It is associated with a high mortality rate; despite tremendous efforts having been made for effective therapy, tumor recurrence occurs with high prevalence. To elucidate the mechanisms that lead to new drug discovery, animal models of tumor progression is one of the oldest and most beneficial approaches to not only investigating the aggressive nature of the tumor, but also improving preclinical research. It is also a useful tool for predicting novel therapies' effectiveness as well as side effects. However, there are concerns that must be considered, such as the heterogeneity of tumor, biological properties, pharma dynamic, and anatomic shapes of the models, which have to be similar to humans as much as possible. Although several methods and various species have been used for this approach, the real recapitulation of the human tumor has been left under discussion. The GBM model, which has been verified in this study, has been established by using the Rat C6 cell line. By exploiting bioinformatic tools, the similarities between aberrant gene expression and pathways have been predicted. In this regard, 610 common genes and a number of pathways have been detected. Moreover, while magnetic resonance imaging analysis enables us to compare tumor features between these two specious, pathological findings provides most of the human GBM characteristics. Therefore, the present study provides genomics, pathologic, and imaging evidence for showing the similarities between human and rat GBM models.     

Visualizing stimulus-responsive dual-ligand fluorescent probes for hypochlorite: A novel strategy for real application in tap water

As an effective ingredient of disinfectants, ClO⁻ inevitably remains in water, which induces potential health hazards such as lung damage and kidney disease. In this study, we synthesized stimulus-responsive dual-ligand luminol-Tb-GMP coordination polymer nanoparticles (luminol-Tb-GMP CPNPs) as highly selective fluorescent probes for the real-time and visual detection of ClO⁻. CPNPs consist of Tb³⁺, a nuclear metal, that coordinates with GMP and luminol, an auxiliary ligand. GMP can be oxidized by ClO⁻ and damage its structure, resulting in fluorescence quenching of CPNPs. The two-ligand CPNPs sensor has a rapid fluorescent response, significant fluorescent color change, and high sensitivity, with a linear range of 2–18 μM and a detection limit of 0.14 μM. It has been successfully used to detect ClO⁻ in tap water, fountain water, and drinking water. Simultaneously, the portable filter paper strip was prepared to expand the range of applications outside the laboratory, which will provide a promising application for the real-time and semiquantitative analysis of ClO⁻.     

Lanceoleins A–G,hydroxychalcones, from the flowers of Coreopsis lanceolata and their chemopreventive effects against human colon cancer cells

Seven new chalcones, lanceolein A–G (compounds 5 and 7–12), as well as five known chalcones (1–4 and 6), were isolated from the methanolic extract of Coreopsis lanceolata flowers. The chemical structures of 5 and 7–12 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. All compounds inhibited the production of nitrite oxide (NO) induced by LPS in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Also, compounds 1–6 showed moderated cytotoxicity against human colon cancer cell lines, while compounds 7–12 hardly showed the cytotoxicity. Especially, compounds 2, 5, and 6 exhibited a little higher cytotoxicity on HCT15 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 43.7 ± 2.17 μM, 35.6 ± 0.24 μM, and 47.9 ± 1.18 μM, respectively. In the Tali assay, compounds 2 and 5 increased the numeral of apoptotic cells. These compounds also significantly promoted the expression of apoptotic proteins including PARP and caspase-3.     

The effect of environmental factors on the fatty acid composition of copepods and Artemia in the Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia)

The biochemical composition and abundance variation of zooplankton (copepods and Artemia salina) were determined in four ponds of increasing salinity (A5, A16, C41 and M2) in the Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia). The zooplankton community was dominated by copepods in the ponds A5, A16 and C41. The pond M2 was marked by the presence of only Artemia salina. Our results showed the dominance of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), which made up 57%–95% of total fatty acids (TFA). SFA 16:0 and 18:0 dominate in all ponds. A. salina showed the highest amounts of the total monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), this indicates that this species could be employed in hatcheries and used as food source for some aquarium species. Fatty acids of herbivory, proportion of all diatom markers to all flagellate markers (D/F), were negatively correlated with the total zooplankton (r = −0.998, p < 0.05). A. salina was negatively correlated with a biomarker for carnivory polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) (r = −0.959, p < 0.05). The dietary quality of zooplankton seems to be dependent on food availability in the four studied ponds.     

The clinical importance of CD4+CD7− in human diseases

The CD7 antigen is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that expresses on the surface of all thymocytes, a majority of mature T cells, and also natural killer cells. Interestingly, under physiological and different pathological conditions, the loss of CD7 antigen occurred in the subset of CD4⁺ memory T cells. Various functions have been proposed for CD7, including its role in the activation and intercellular adhesiveness of T cells. Several studies indicate that the number of CD4⁺CD7⁻ T cells increases in diseases such as chronic inflammation and T-cell malignancies, these being skin inflammatory lesions. Therefore, this can be useful for the diagnosis of cancer cells, especially with reference to blood origin, treatment monitoring, and establishment of new therapies. Therefore, a comprehensive review could be useful to increase our knowledge about the clinical importance of these cells in human disease.