On the Development and Maintenance of Cigarettes Exported to North Korea

According to the requirements of "going out" strategy of Jilin Tobacco Industry Co. Ltd., in order to further expand the Changbaishan series brand in the market of North Korea, this paper elaborates the product development and maintenance ideas and measures for three cigarette companies in North Korea based on the actual work being done, so as to determine the development and maintenance focus of export cigarettes and provide strong technical support for accelerating the pace of localization of production while achieving homogenization of production

A critical review of Andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata, a traditional medicinal plant, is widely used to treat various disorders. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, it is intensely bitter in taste and cold-natured. Andrographolide and its derivates are the major bioactive compounds that show anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetes, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. In this review, we will focus on the application of TCM prescriptions and the modern bioactivities of Andrographis Herba. Due to the low content of andrographolide and derived lactones in the original species and the complexity of chemical structure, there is an urgent need to develop biotechnological methods for obtaining andrographolide and its derivatives sustainably. Nevertheless, the andrographolide biosynthetic pathway still needs to be fully elucidated in A. paniculata. Therefore, we further review recent progress in revealing the andrographolide biosynthetic pathway, combined with heterologous synthesis strategies of other plant diterpenoids to help create a cell factory with higher production of andrographolide in the future

DUSP1 alleviates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing the Mff-required mitochondrial fission and Bnip3-related mitophagy via the JNK pathways

Mitochondrial fission and selective mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) form an essential axis of mitochondrial quality control that plays a critical role in the development of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. However, the precise upstream molecular mechanism of fission/mitophagy remains unclear. Dual-specificity protein phosphatase1 (DUSP1) regulates cardiac metabolism, but its physiological contribution in the reperfused heart, particularly its influence on mitochondrial homeostasis, is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that cardiac DUSP1 was downregulated following acute cardiac IR injury. In vivo, compared to wild-type mice, DUSP1 transgenic mice (DUSP1TG mice) demonstrated a smaller infarcted area and the improved myocardial function. In vitro, the IR-induced DUSP1 deficiency promoted the activation of JNK which upregulated the expression of the mitochondrial fission factor (Mff). A higher expression level of Mff was associated with elevated mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial apoptosis. Additionally, the loss of DUSP1 also amplified the Bnip3 phosphorylated activation via JNK, leading to the activation of mitophagy. Increased mitophagy overtly consumed mitochondrial mass resulting into the mitochondrial metabolism disorder. However, the reintroduction of DUSP1 blunted Mff/Bnip3 activation and therefore alleviated the fatal mitochondrial fission/mitophagy by inactivating the JNK pathway, providing a survival advantage to myocardial tissue following IR stress. The results of our study suggest that DUSP1 and its downstream JNK pathway are therapeutic targets for conferring protection against IR injury by repressing Mff-mediated mitochondrial fission and Bnip3-required mitophagy. Keywords: Cardiac IR injury, Mitochondrial fission, Mitophagy, Mff, Bnip3, DUSP1, JN

Phytochemicals from fern species: potential for medicine applications

Ferns are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Historically they have been used in many ways by humans, including as ornamental plants, domestic utensils, foods, and in handicrafts. In addition, they have found uses as medicinal herbs. Ferns produce a wide array of secondary metabolites endowed with different bioactivities that could potentially be useful in the treatment of many diseases. However, there is currently relatively little information in the literature on the phytochemicals present in ferns and their pharmacological applications, and the most recent review of the literature on the occurrence, chemotaxonomy and physiological activity of fern secondary metabolites was published over 20 years ago, by Soeder (Bot Rev 51:442\u2013536, 1985). Here, we provide an updated review of this field, covering recent findings concerning the bioactive phytochemicals and pharmacology of fern species