Arctigenin: a lignan from Arctium lappa

The title compound {systematic name: (3R-trans)-4-[(3,4-dimethoxy­phen­yl)meth­yl]-3-[(4-hydr­oxy-3-methoxy­phen­yl)meth­yl]-4,5-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one}, C21H24O6, has a dibenz­yl­butyrolactone skeleton. The two aromatic rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 68.75 (7)° with respect to each other. The lactone ring adopts an envelope conformation. A series of O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilization of the crystal packing. The absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of the published literature

Effect of dry heat, microwave and ultrasonic treatments on physicochemical properties of potato starch with or without pectin

Purpose: To investigate the effects of dry heat, microwave and ultrasonic treatments on the physicochemical properties of potato starch alone or blended with pectin. Methods: The physicochemical properties of potato starch gels prepared using microwave, ultrasonic and dry heat treatments were assessed. Pasting properties, gel strength, thermal properties and crystal texture of the potato starch were determined using Rapid Visco analyzer, texture profile analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter and x-ray diffractometer. Results: Dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly increased the peak viscosity of the potato starch, and significantly decreased its setback and pasting temperatures (p < 0.05). Dry heat treatment significantly increased the hardness, while dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly improved retrogradation of the potato starch (p < 0.05). Transparency of potato starch paste was significantly increased by the different treatments, except microwave treatment (p < 0.05). Potato starch gels blended with pectin and subjected to any of the treatments exhibited significantly increased hardness, when compared with raw potato starch (p < 0.05). The retrogradation of the potato starch was significantly improved by the different treatments. Dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly decreased the syneresis of potato starch with or without pectin (p < 0.05). The three treatments also significantly affected the gelatinization enthalpy of the potato starch with or without pectin, and exerted some effects on the crystallinity of the gels. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that differences in physicochemical properties of potato starch gels are due mainly to the degree of damage to starch granules caused by different treatments. The addition of pectin to potato starch gel greatly improves its hardness and retrogradation

Simultaneous evolutionary expansion and constraint of genomic heterogeneity in multifocal lung cancer.

Recent genomic analyses have revealed substantial tumor heterogeneity across various cancers. However, it remains unclear whether and how genomic heterogeneity is constrained during tumor evolution. Here, we sequence a unique cohort of multiple synchronous lung cancers (MSLCs) to determine the relative diversity and uniformity of genetic drivers upon identical germline and environmental background. We find that each multicentric primary tumor harbors distinct oncogenic alterations, including novel mutations that are experimentally demonstrated to be functional and therapeutically targetable. However, functional studies show a strikingly constrained tumorigenic pathway underlying heterogeneous genetic variants. These results suggest that although the mutation-specific routes that cells take during oncogenesis are stochastic, genetic trajectories may be constrained by selection for functional convergence on key signaling pathways. Our findings highlight the robust evolutionary pressures that simultaneously shape the expansion and constraint of genomic diversity, a principle that holds important implications for understanding tumor evolution and optimizing therapeutic strategies.Across cancer types tumor heterogeneity has been observed, but how this relates to tumor evolution is unclear. Here, the authors sequence multiple synchronous lung cancers, highlighting the evolutionary pressures that simultaneously shape the expansion and constraint of genomic heterogeneity

The gut microbiome in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

The gut microbiota may play a role in cardiovascular diseases. Here, the authors perform a metagenome-wide association study on stools from individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and healthy controls, identifying microbial strains and functions associated with the disease

Anti-antioxidant impacts of circZNF609 silence in HaCaT cells through regulating miR-145

AbstractBackground CircZNF609 (cZNF609) is previously revealed as an essential mediator in oxidative stress. This paper determined the role of cZNF609 in skin oxidative damage to evaluate its importance in pressure ulcer.Methods HaCaT cells treated by H2O2 were considered as a cell model of pressure ulcer. The role of cZNF609 in the model was checked by conducting CCK-8 assay, FITC-PI double-staining, ROS detection and Western blot. The downstream gene and signalling of cZNF609 were studied by utilizing qRT-PCR and Western blot.Results HaCaT cells were remarkably damaged by H2O2, as evidenced by the viability loss, apoptosis and ROS generation. It was coupled with the elevated expression of p53, p16, Bax and the activated forms of caspase-3 and PARP. Meanwhile, cZNF609 was high-expressed in response to H2O2. The oxidative stress driven by H2O2 was alleviated by transfection with cZNF609 specific siRNA. Further, the anti-antioxidant impacts of cZNF609 silence were impeded by miR-145 silence. The inhibition of JNK and p38MAPK pathways induced by cZNF609 silence was impeded by miR-145 silence.Conclusion The protective function of cZNF609 silence in H2O2-injured HaCaT cells was revealed in vitro. Silence of cZNF609 exhibited its impact possibly through regulating miR-145, and JNK and p38MAPK pathways

Effect of Sucrose Esters on the Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Starch

Purpose: To investigate the effect of sucrose esters on the physicochemical properties of wheat starch. Methods: Sucrose ester was mixed with wheat starch extracted from normal soft wheat cultivars and heated. Change in starch properties arising from the interaction between were assessed for starch blue value, viscosity, solubility and retrogradation. In addition, the structure and thermodynamic properties of the modified starch were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: The properties of wheat starch changed greatly by adding different sucrose esters to their structures. Starch containing 0.30 % sucrose esters had the lowest peak (2034 cps), trough (1331 cps), final (1896 cps), setback viscosities (565 cps), iodine value (0.378), supernatant volume (76.6mL), and lower dissolution rate (0.063g). The unmodified starch had higher peak (3576 cps), trough (2971 cps), final (4394 cps), setback viscosities (1423 cps), blue value (0.464), supernatant volume (85.4 mL ), and dissolution rate ( 0.076 g). After adding sucrose esters, the onset temperature (To) and peak temperature (Tp) of wheat starches increased by 1 - 5 °C and 1 - 3 °C, respectively; the conclusion temperature (Tc) and enthalpy, however, decreased by 5 - 6°C and 0.2 - 1.9 J/g, respectively. SEM and FT-IR showed that the microstructure and molecular structure of the starches with sucrose esters did not differ significantly from that of the unmodified starch. Conclusion: Incorporation of small amounts of sucrose ester in the structure of wheat starch can change the physicochemical properties of the starch to meet various functional requirements, including in the food and pharmaceutical industries

Drivers of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community Structure Associated with Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Differ at Regional vs. Local Spatial Scales in Northern China

Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, a widely planted tree species, is facing long-lasting, unresolved degradation in desertified Northern China. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are closely related to the stand status, because they substantially participate in ecological processes of terrestrial forest ecosystems. EMF may be key to solving the introduction recession. Therefore, we performed DNA sequencing of P. sylvestris root samples from plantations and natural forests as control to characterize the EMF from semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions, using ITS Illumina sequencing and conventional soil physicochemical index determination. The results indicated that (1) the dominant EMF genera were Suillus, Rhizopogon, and Wilcoxina in the Hulunbuir, Mu Us, and Horqin Sandy Lands, respectively. Their dominance retained with stand ageing. (2) Plantation EM fungal diversity differs significantly among the three sandy lands and was significantly lower than in natural forest. The diversity varied with stand age, showing distinct trends at the local scale. (3) At the regional scale, the mean annual sunshine times and the soil organic carbon content affect EMF diversity. The community composition and structure were more characterized by temperature and precipitation. At the local scale, besides the soil organic carbon content, the EM fungal community composition and structure were correlated with total nitrogen and phosphorus content (Hulunbuir), the total phosphorus content (Mu Us), and the pH and total soil porosity (Horqin). The EM fungal community composition and structure have the obvious geographical distribution variation; they were strongly correlated with the meteorological elements and soil nutrients at the regional scale. At the local scale, they were jointly driven by stand age and soil properties. This improved information contributes to increasing the understanding of the interaction between EMF and forest ecosystems and guides sustainable forest management of degraded P. sylvestris plantations