Qingyihuaji Formula Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer and Prolongs Survival by Downregulating Hes-1 and Hey-1

The dire prognosis of pancreatic cancer has not markedly improved during past decades. The present study was carried out to explore the effect of Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ) on inhibiting pancreatic cancer and prolonging survival in related Notch signaling pathway. Proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells (SW1990 and PANC-1) was detected by MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 h with exposure to various concentrations (0.08–50 mg/mL) of QYHJ water extract. Pancreatic tumor models of nude mice were divided into three groups randomly (control, QYHJ, and gemcitabine). mRNA and protein expression of Notch target genes (Hes-1, Hey-1, Hey-2, and Hey-L) in dissected tumor tissue were detected. Results showed that proliferation of SW1990 cells and PANC-1 cells was inhibited by QYHJ water extract in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. QYHJ effectively inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival time in nude mice. Expression of both Hes-1 and Hey-1 was decreased significantly in QYHJ group, suggesting that Hes-1 and Hey-1 in Notch signaling pathway might be potential targets for QYHJ treatment. This research could help explain the clinical effectiveness of QYHJ and may provide advanced pancreatic cancer patients with a new therapeutic option

Chloroplast genome of Gaura parviflora Douglas and its comparative analysis

Gaura parviflora Douglas (Onagraceae) is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant from the prairie of North America. It has become a harmful exotic invading plant in China due to its strong adaptability, fast growth, massive propagation and reproduction. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of G. parviflora was reported in this study. The size of the complete cp genome of G. parviflora is 161,318 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,402 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,132 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,382 bp. A total of 130 genes were annotated, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparison of cp genomes of four species from Onagraceae indicated that Onagraceae cp genomes had high nucleotide diversity. In addition, a few highly variable regions of these cp genomes were also detected. The phylogenetic tree showed that G. parviflora is closely related to Oenothera. Thus, the chloroplast genome of G. parviflora can provide valuable genetic information for species identification and phylogenetic analysis

Testosterone Deficiency Induces Changes of the Transcriptomes of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Miniature Pigs Fed a High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet

Testosterone deficiency causes fat deposition, particularly in visceral fat, and its replacement might reverse fat accumulation, however, the underlying mechanisms of such processes under diet-induced adiposity are largely unknown. To gain insights into the genome-wide role of androgen on visceral adipose tissue (VAT), RNA-Seq was used to investigate testosterone deficiency induced changes of VAT in miniature pigs fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet among intact male pigs (IM), castrated male pigs (CM), and castrated male pigs with testosterone replacement (CMT) treatments. The results showed that testosterone deficiency significantly increased VAT deposition and serum leptin concentrations. Moreover, a total of 1732 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between any two groups. Compared with gene expression profiles in IM and CMT pigs, upregulated genes in CM pigs, i.e., LOC100520753 (CD68), LCN2, EMR1, S100A9, NCF1 (p47phox), and LEP, were mainly involved in inflammatory response, oxidation-reduction process, and lipid metabolic process, while downregulated genes in CM pigs, i.e., ABHD5, SPP1, and GAS6, were focused on cell differentiation and cell adhesion. Taken together, our study demonstrates that testosterone deficiency alters the expression of numerous genes involved in key biological processes of VAT accumulation under HFC diet and provides a novel genome-wide view on the role of androgen on VAT deposition under HFC diet, thus improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in VAT changes induced by testosterone deficiency

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast genome of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Iris lactea var. chinensis is a well-regarded ornamental plant in the genus Iris (family Iridaceae). In this report, we present the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of I. lactea var. chinensis for the first time. The complete cp genome of I. lactea var. chinensis was assembled using high-throughput sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis was undertaken based on a dataset of coding regions. The cp genome of I. lactea var. chinensis measures 152,409 bp in length, with regions having two inverted copies (IR 26,026 bp), and separated by the large single copy (LSC 82,256 bp) and small single copy (SSC 18,101 bp) regions. The cp genome encodes 133 unique genes, including 87 different protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Based on a dataset of 69 chloroplast coding regions, the maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that Iris lactea var. chinensis clusters closely with Iris sanguinea. Thus, the complete chloroplast genome presented in this report may provide valuable genetic information not only for the future exploitation and utilization of this plant resource but also for further research investigating its relationship with other Iris species

Crystalline structures and misfit strain inside Er silicide nanocrystals self-assembled on Si(001) substrates

The morphology and crystalline structure of Er silicide nanocrystals self-assembled on the Si(001) substrate were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the nanowires and nanorods formed at 630 °C has dominant hexagonal AlB-type structure, while inside the nanoislands self-organized at 800 °C the tetragonal ThSi-type structure is prevalent. The lattice analysis via cross-sectional high-resolution TEM demonstrated that internal misfit strain plays an important role in controlling the growth of nanocrystals. With the relaxation of strain, the nanoislands could evolve from a pyramid-like shape into a truncated-hut-like shape

Complete chloroplast genome of Morinda parvifolia (Rubiaceae), a traditional medicinal plant in China

Morinda parvifolia is a traditional medicinal plant of the family Rubiaceae. In the current study, the complete chloroplast genome of M. parvifolia was sequenced and reported for the first time. The genome is 153,069 bp in total length, containing two inverted repeats (IR) regions of 25822 bp which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 83813 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 17612 bp. A total of 131 gene species were annotated, including 86 protein-coding genes,37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the genome is 38.07%. The phylogenetic analysis based on the complete chloroplast genome reveals that M. parvifolia is closely related to Morinda officinalis. This study enriches the genetic information of M. parvifolia as well as for the phylogenetic studies for Rubiaceae

A Simple and Accurate Method for the Determination of Related Substances in Coenzyme Q10 Soft Capsules

As a new dosage form, coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) soft capsules are easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. Co-Q10 soft capsules can effectively improve the bioavailability and reduce medical costs for patients. A main concern about Co-Q10 as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is how to control the total quantity of related substances. In this article, according to the degradation pattern of the API, the most easily degradable impurity (impurity X) in the sample was prepared and its chemical structure was determined. Furthermore, a simple and accurate method was developed for the determination of related substances and to avert the interference of excipient ingredients in Co-Q10 soft capsules. The approach was validated adequately and the primary impurity X was confirmed accurately. The limit of total quantity of related substances (less than 1%) could be revised to the level of specific impurity X being no more than 0.5%, in this effective quality control method of Co-Q10 soft capsules. The revised level is suggested to be included in the corresponding standard of the supplement taken from the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2015 edition). This can provide a feasible method for the relevant enterprises and regulatory authorities to control the related substances of coenzyme Q10 soft capsules