Evaluation of Anti-tumor and Chemoresistance-lowering Effects of Pectolinarigenin from Cirsium japonicum Fisch ex DC in Breast Cancer

Purpose: To investigate the antitumor and chemoresistance-lowering effects of pectolinarigenin on breast cancer cells.Methods: Pectolinarigenin was purified by a combination of silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography from ethanol extracts of the aerial parts of C. japonicum DC. Breast cancer selfrenewal properties were tested by colony formation and tumor sphere formation assays. Thereafter, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect breast cancer stem cell markers. Furthermore, the effect of pectolinarigenin on breast cancer cell was evaluated by chemoresistance using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Finally, tumor formation in nude mice was used to test the effect of pectolinarigenin on tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells in vivo.Results: The results showed that pectolinarigenin, extracted from Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC., inhibited tumor cell self-renewal in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Pectolinarigenin (25 μM) caused significant inhibition of colony formation (61.23 %, p < 0.001) and tumor sphere formation (59.49 %, p < 0.01) in MCF-7. The inhibitory effects were associated with changes in breast cancer stem cell markers. Treatment of breast cancer cells with pectolinarigenin reduced the chemoresistance of the cells to doxorubicin. At the same time, mRNA expression of chemoresistance genes (ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2, ABCG2 and ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1, MDR1) was repressed by pectolinarigenin. The inhibition efficiency of MDR1 and ABCG2 by 10 μM pectolinarigenin treatment was about 59.29 (p < 0.01) and 46.48 % (p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, pectolinarigenin reduced tumor mass in nude mice xenograft model.Conclusion: Pectolinarigenin inhibits breast cancer stem cell-like properties and lowers the chemoresistance of the cancer cells to chemotherapy. The results provide an insight into the mechanism of the anti-breast tumor effects and an experimental basis for the use of pectolinarigenin to enhance treatment of patients with breast cancer.Keywords: Pectolinarigenin, Cancer stem cells, Breast cancer, Chemoresistance, Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex D

Comprehensive Evaluation of Wheat Varieties in Southern Shandong Province by DTOPSIS Based on Entropy Weighting

[Objectives] To screen a new wheat variety suitable for planting in southern Shandong Province. [Methods] The DTOPSIS based on entropy weighting was used to comprehensively evaluate 9 traits of 19 wheat varieties planted in southern Shandong Province. [Results] The weight of each indicator from low to high was growth period < yield < bulk density < plant height < effective panicle < basic seedling < 1 000-grain weight < heading rate < number of grains per panicle. The Ci value of 6 varieties were greater than 0.5, specifically, 0.922 1 for Shannong HH126, 0.868 for DK171, 0.851 5 for Hemai 179, 0.719 6 for Feida 6, 0.696 7 for Jinlai 36 and 0.523 2 for Yannong 301. [Conclusions] The comprehensive traits of these six wheat varieties are good, and they are suitable for planting in southern Shandong Province

Comprehensive Evaluation of Wheat Varieties in Southern Shandong Province by DTOPSIS Based on Entropy Weighting

[Objectives] To screen a new wheat variety suitable for planting in southern Shandong Province. [Methods] The DTOPSIS based on entropy weighting was used to comprehensively evaluate 9 traits of 19 wheat varieties planted in southern Shandong Province. [Results] The weight of each indicator from low to high was growth period < yield < bulk density < plant height < effective panicle < basic seedling < 1 000-grain weight < heading rate < number of grains per panicle. The Ci value of 6 varieties were greater than 0.5, specifically, 0.922 1 for Shannong HH126, 0.868 for DK171, 0.851 5 for Hemai 179, 0.719 6 for Feida 6, 0.696 7 for Jinlai 36 and 0.523 2 for Yannong 301. [Conclusions] The comprehensive traits of these six wheat varieties are good, and they are suitable for planting in southern Shandong Province

Resistance to hemi-biotrophic F. graminearum infection is associated with coordinated and ordered expression of diverse defense signaling pathways.

Fusarium species cause serious diseases in cereal staple food crops such as wheat and maize. Currently, the mechanisms underlying resistance to Fusarium-caused diseases are still largely unknown. In the present study, we employed a combined proteomic and transcriptomic approach to investigate wheat genes responding to F. graminearum infection that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB). We found a total of 163 genes and 37 proteins that were induced by infection. These genes and proteins were associated with signaling pathways mediated by salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET), calcium ions, phosphatidic acid (PA), as well as with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and scavenging, antimicrobial compound synthesis, detoxification, and cell wall fortification. We compared the time-course expression profiles between FHB-resistant Wangshuibai plants and susceptible Meh0106 mutant plants of a selected set of genes that are critical to the plants' resistance and defense reactions. A biphasic phenomenon was observed during the first 24 h after inoculation (hai) in the resistant plants. The SA and Ca(2+) signaling pathways were activated within 6 hai followed by the JA mediated defense signaling activated around 12 hai. ET signaling was activated between these two phases. Genes for PA and ROS synthesis were induced during the SA and JA phases, respectively. The delayed activation of the SA defense pathway in the mutant was associated with its susceptibility. After F. graminearum infection, the endogenous contents of SA and JA in Wangshuibai and the mutant changed in a manner similar to the investigated genes corresponding to the individual pathways. A few genes for resistance-related cell modification and phytoalexin production were also identified. This study provided important clues for designing strategies to curb diseases caused by Fusarium

A Systematic Screen Reveals MicroRNA Clusters That Significantly Regulate Four Major Signaling Pathways

<div><p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are encoded in the genome as individual miRNA genes or as gene clusters transcribed as polycistronic units. About 50% of all miRNAs are estimated to be co-expressed with neighboring miRNAs. Recent studies have begun to illuminate the importance of the clustering of miRNAs from an evolutionary, as well as a functional standpoint. Many miRNA clusters coordinately regulate multiple members of cellular signaling pathways or protein interaction networks. This cooperative method of targeting could produce effects on an overall process that are much more dramatic than the smaller effects often associated with regulation by an individual miRNA. In this study, we screened 366 human miRNA minigenes to determine their effects on the major signaling pathways culminating in AP-1, NF-κB, c-Myc, or p53 transcriptional activity. By stratifying these data into miRNA clusters, this systematic screen provides experimental evidence for the combined effects of clustered miRNAs on these signaling pathways. We also verify p53 as a direct target of miR-200a. This study is the first to provide a panoramic view of miRNA clusters' effects on cellular pathways.</p> </div

Qualitative assessment of optimizing the well spacings based on the economic analysis

Abstract The design of well spacing significantly influences the sustainability and economic benefit of geothermal energy extraction. However, most studies have predominantly employed heat production-related parameters as indicators of well spacing, and a comprehensive analysis of well spacing design based on an economic model is necessary for practical implementation. In this study, an economic indicator considering the benefits derived from heat production and operating costs is proposed and applied in the Caofeidian, a typical abandoned oilfield in the Bohai Bay Basin. It offers a refined portrayal of directional wells, moving beyond rudimentary representations, to capture their appropriate degree of complexity and behavior in drilling configurations. First, by integrating thermophysical information and site investigation data from previous oil investigations, a heterogeneous 3D model is constructed to forecast the 30-year temperature and pressure evolution. Then, a modified levelized cost of heat (LCOH-HT) is proposed to perform economic analysis in optimizing the well spacing, revealing an optimal range of 300–600 m for the different selected wells. In comparison with results derived solely from heat production considerations, drilling and pumping costs contribute to a 300 m reduction in the optimal well spacing based on the proposed approach, as a larger well spacing leads to increased hydraulic losses and drilling cost, necessitating greater pumping efforts and costs. This finding underscores the need to balance economic and thermal considerations. In addition, we found the difference in the optimal well spacing in space is also caused by the porosity variations. Porosity affects fluid temperature and pressure, leading to changes in the benefits and costs associated with pressure fluctuations. Notably, this novel economic analysis method is not limited to spacing optimization; it can also be used to optimize operating parameters, such as the flow rate, which could provide practical strategies for geothermal energy extraction

Recent progress on advanced high energy electrode materials for sodium ion batteries

The growing demand for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) in commercial applications has made it imperative to meet the commercial requirements. However, SIBs face significant challenges because of their poor cyclability and low reversible capacity compared with their rival lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To address these challenges, various techniques, design strategies, surface engineering, and structural modifications have been developed to enhance the electrochemical performance of SIBs. This review focuses on recent developments in improving the electrochemical performance and cyclability of novel promising electrode materials for SIBs. We discuss several unique state-of-the-art research studies of the past five years that demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance through effective methodologies, surface modulations, and substitution of novel elements into the structure, and boosted the efficiency of the materials. Furthermore, we propose that it is important to adopt a nuanced approach when designing SIBs. Rather than copying the designs and methods used for LIBs, ideas should be absorbed from them and approaches should be tailored to meet the specific requirements of SIBs. This will enable the development of SIBs that are optimized for their intended applications and will avoid the challenges that have hindered the commercial success of earlier attempts at constructing SIBs. Thus, the key to creating high-performance SIBs is to draw inspiration from the best practices used in LIBs, while simultaneously innovating and developing new approaches tailored to the unique characteristics of SIBs

Schematic of luciferase-based microRNA screen.

<p>293T cells were co-transfected with: 1) a vector containing a luciferase gene under control of regulatory elements recognized by AP-1, NF-κB, or p53 (in c-Myc screen, the E2F2-luc construct was used), 2) a member of our microRNA library, and 3) a Renilla luciferase vector for normalization of luciferase values. Following transfection, cells were analyzed by luciferase assay to measure the effects of miRNA regulation of TF-driven luciferase expression. TREs: Transcription response elements, mCMV: minimal CMV promoter, TF: Transcription factor, luc: luciferase, Rluc: Renilla luciferase, UTR: Untranslated region.</p