Triterpenoids and Sterols from the Leaves and Twigs of Melia azedarach

Two new triterpenoids (1 and 2) and a new sterol (3), together with six known constituents (4–9), were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Melia azedarach. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13659-014-0019-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Bis[2-(3-cyano­phenyl­imino­meth­yl)phenolato]nickel(II)

In the title complex, [Ni(C14H9N2O)2], the NiII atom lies on an inversion center and is coordinated by the O atom and an N atom of two Schiff base 2-(3-cyano­phenyl­imino­meth­yl)phenolate ligands in a square-planar geometry. The dihedral angle between the cyano­phenyl and phenolate rings is 47.62 (7)°

Structural and functional analyses of disease-causing missense mutations in Bloom syndrome protein

Bloom syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by genomic instability and the early development of many types of cancer. Missense mutations have been identified in the BLM gene (encoding a RecQ helicase) in affected individuals, but the molecular mechanism and the structural basis of the effects of these mutations remain to be elucidated. We analysed five disease-causing missense mutations that are localized in the BLM helicase core region: Q672R, I841T, C878R, G891E and C901Y. The disease-causing mutants had low ATPase and helicase activities but their ATP binding abilities were normal, except for Q672, whose ATP binding activity was lower than that of the intact BLM helicase. Mutants C878R, mapping near motif IV, and G891E and C901Y, mapping in motif IV, displayed severe DNA-binding defects. We used molecular modelling to analyse these mutations. Our work provides insights into the molecular basis of BLM pathology, and reveals structural elements implicated in coupling DNA binding to ATP hydrolysis and DNA unwinding. Our findings will help to explain the mechanism underlying BLM catalysis and interpreting new BLM causing mutations identified in the future

Therapeutic effect of a new posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation for high myopia with low astigmatism

AIM: To observe the efficacy and safety of a new posterior chamber intraocular lens(ICMO V4c)implantation in patients with high myopia and low astigmatism and to provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of these patients. METHODS: The study was to analyze the clinical data of patients with high myopia who underwent ICMO V4c implantation with low degree of astigmatism in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2016. The patients were followed up for 1, 3 and 6mo after operation. The items we analyzed including preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA)and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), diopter, spherical and cylinder equivalent, and manifest refraction spherical equivalent(MRSE), intraocular pressure(IOP), endothelial cell counting, anterior chamber depth(ACD), arch height and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative UCVA and BCVA improved compared with preoperative, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative was statistically significant(Pt=38.510, 20.100, 34.300; Pt=3.998, 2.837, all Pt=0.383, P>0.05). The corneal endothelium counts in the patients at 3mo and 6mo after surgery were lower than those before surgery(t=2.119, 2.411; all Pt=5.850, 5.260, 2.556; all PCONCLUSION: The new posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the treatment of high myopia with low astigmatism reaches satisfaction with less complications, is a good supplement to corneal refractive surgery

Comparative Analysis of the Genomes of Two Field Isolates of the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases of rice worldwide. The fungal pathogen is notorious for its ability to overcome host resistance. To better understand its genetic variation in nature, we sequenced the genomes of two field isolates, Y34 and P131. In comparison with the previously sequenced laboratory strain 70-15, both field isolates had a similar genome size but slightly more genes. Sequences from the field isolates were used to improve genome assembly and gene prediction of 70-15. Although the overall genome structure is similar, a number of gene families that are likely involved in plant-fungal interactions are expanded in the field isolates. Genome-wide analysis on asynonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitution rates revealed that many infection-related genes underwent diversifying selection. The field isolates also have hundreds of isolate-specific genes and a number of isolate-specific gene duplication events. Functional characterization of randomly selected isolate-specific genes revealed that they play diverse roles, some of which affect virulence. Furthermore, each genome contains thousands of loci of transposon-like elements, but less than 30% of them are conserved among different isolates, suggesting active transposition events in M. oryzae. A total of approximately 200 genes were disrupted in these three strains by transposable elements. Interestingly, transposon-like elements tend to be associated with isolate-specific or duplicated sequences. Overall, our results indicate that gain or loss of unique genes, DNA duplication, gene family expansion, and frequent translocation of transposon-like elements are important factors in genome variation of the rice blast fungus