The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies -- II. Results from the Commissioning Observations and the Pilot Surveys

We present new quasars discovered in the vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies with the LAMOST during the 2010 and 2011 observational seasons. Quasar candidates are selected based on the available SDSS, KPNO 4 m telescope, XSTPS optical, and WISE near infrared photometric data. We present 509 new quasars discovered in a stripe of ~135 sq. deg from M31 to M33 along the Giant Stellar Stream in the 2011 pilot survey datasets, and also 17 new quasars discovered in an area of ~100 sq. deg that covers the central region and the southeastern halo of M31 in the 2010 commissioning datasets. These 526 new quasars have i magnitudes ranging from 15.5 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.1 to 3.2. They represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33. There are now 26, 62 and 139 known quasars in this region of the sky with i magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0 respectively, of which 5, 20 and 75 are newly-discovered. These bright quasars provide an invaluable collection with which to probe the kinematics and chemistry of the ISM/IGM in the Local Group of galaxies. A total of 93 quasars are now known with locations within 2.5 deg of M31, of which 73 are newly discovered. Tens of quasars are now known to be located behind the Giant Stellar Stream, and hundreds behind the extended halo and its associated substructures of M31. The much enlarged sample of known quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33 can potentially be utilized to construct a perfect astrometric reference frame to measure the minute PMs of M31 and M33, along with the PMs of substructures associated with the Local Group of galaxies. Those PMs are some of the most fundamental properties of the Local Group.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, AJ accepte

Compound-based Chinese medicine formula: From discovery to compatibility mechanism.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chinese medicine formula (CMF) has a long history of clinical use in the treatment of various diseases under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. The application of CMF can be divided into three levels, crude extracts, homologous compounds mixture, and specific compounds. However, the modern scientific connotation of the CMF theory has not been clarified. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To critically evaluate the research strategy for the investigation of compound-based CMF (CCMF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The related information was collected from the scientific databases, including CNKI, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, and Wiley Online. RESULTS: The research design including discovery, screening, optimization, pharmacodynamics models, and target research techniques including the targets for compatibility compounds were evaluated. Essentially it has been evaluated that the in vitro multicellular three-dimensional culture or organoid model has been proposed for the optimization model for compatibility research of CCMF. Based on these, the traditional compatibility theory of CMF, such as Monarch-Minister-Assistant-Guide (Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi in Chinese), can probably be elucidated by the CCMF research. CONCLUSIONS: CCMF has the clear advantage of providing the exact composition and controllable quality of modern medicines, in addition to having the characteristics of multi-ingredients and multi-targets synergistic effects of TCM. However, CCMF is still associated with challenges which need to be addressed for its future use

Relationship between Polymorphism of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Gene CHRNA3 and Susceptibility of Lung Cancer

Objective: To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene CHRNA3 and susceptibility of lung cancer. Methods: Sixty hundred patients with lung cancer and 600 healthy people were respectively selected. TaqMan-MGB probe technique was applied to detect rs3743073 (T > G) genotypes at SNPs site on CHRNA3. The difference of genotype distribution among groups was compared, and its relationship with lung cancer was also investigated. Results: There was statistical significance regarding the distributions of CHRNA3 rs3743073 (T> G) genotype and allele frequencies in patients with lung cancer and healthy people (P < 0.05). By comparison to the patients with TT genotype, the risk of developing lung cancer in patients with TG and GG genotypes was increased 1.68 times (95%CI ＝ 1.30 － 2.19, P < 0.05) and 1.30 times (95%CI ＝ 1.05 － 1.61, P < 0.05), respectively, while the risk of developing lung cancer in patients with rs3743073G (TG and GG) was increased 0.65 times (95%CI ＝ 0.50 － 0.84, P < 0.05) . Further analysis demonstrated that of the patients more than 60 years old, male and smoking, the risk of developing lung cancer in those with rs3743073G mutant genotypes was elevated significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The risk of developing lung cancer in patients with rs3743073G mutant genotypes of CHRNA3 gene is increased markedly, especially in those more than 60 years old, males and smoking ones

Soluble Polysaccharide Derived from Laminaria japonica Attenuates Obesity-Related Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Associated with Gut Microbiota Regulation

In this study, the effects of a polysaccharide derived from Laminaria japonica (LJP) on obesity were investigated in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). LJP significantly attenuated obesity-related features, lowering serum triglycerides, glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. HFD-induced liver steatosis and hepatocellular ballooning were significantly attenuated by LJP. Additionally, LJP was found to significantly modulate hepatic gene expressions of AMPK and HMGCR, which are key regulators of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. We further found that LJP ameliorated HFD-induced gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis by significantly reducing the obesity-related Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, meanwhile promoting the growth of Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level. At the genus level, propionate-producing bacteria Bacteroides and Akkermansia were elevated by LJP, which might explain the result that LJP elevated fecal propionate concentration. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary intake of LJP modulates hepatic energy homeostasis to alleviate obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with GM regulation

Separation and Purification and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenols from Sargassum horneri

In order to study the separation and purification process and antioxidant activity of Sargassum horneri polyph-enols, on the basis of ultrasonic assisted extraction of Sargassum horneri polyphenols, macroporous adsorption resin column chromatography was used to separate and purify Sargassum horneri polyphenol extract, and VC was used as the control to analyze its antioxidant activity in vitro. The results showed that the macroporous adsorption resin LX-158 exhibited the best adsorption and analysis conditions. The equilibrium time for static adsorption and analysis was 5 h. The following circumstances were ideal for dynamic adsorption and analysis: The flow rate of crude extract and eluent was 3 mL/min, the loading volume was 10 mL, the eluent was a 40% ethanol solution, and the eluent volume was 120 mL. The purity of Sargassum horneri polyphenols increased from 7.52% to 40.31% under these conditions. Antioxidant activity studies revealed that varied doses of Sargassum horneri polyphenols had noticeable scavenging effects on DPPH radical, ABTS radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical and Fe3+ reducing power. With the increase of polyphenol concen-tration, its antioxidant capacity improved, and the IC50 was 6.60 μg/mL, 75.70 μg/mL, 2.22 mg/mL, 5.62 mg/mL, respec-tively. The purification process is feasible and stable, and it can be used as a process condition for the purification of polyphenols from Sargassum horneri

Nutrition support in surgical patients with colorectal cancer

AIM: To review the application of nutrition support in patients after surgery for colorectal cancer, and to propose appropriate nutrition strategies