Search

Menispermaceae species, as early‐diverging eudicots, can synthesize valuable benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) like bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (bisBIAs) and sinomenines with a wide range of structural diversity. However, the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for their chemo‐diversity are not well understood. Here, a chromosome‐level genome assembly of Menispermum dauricum is presented and demonstrated the occurrence of two whole genome duplication (WGD) events that are shared by Ranunculales and specific to Menispermum, providing a model for understanding chromosomal evolution in early‐diverging eudicots. The biosynthetic pathway for diverse BIAs in M. dauricum is reconstructed by analyzing the transcriptome and metabolome. Additionally, five catalytic enzymes – one norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) and four cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) – from M. dauricum are responsible for the formation of the skeleton, hydroxylated modification, and C‐O/C‐C phenol coupling of BIAs. Notably, a novel leaf‐specific MdCYP80G10 enzyme that catalyzes C2′‐C4a phenol coupling of (S)‐reticuline into sinoacutine, the enantiomer of morphinan compounds, with predictable stereospecificity is discovered. Moreover, it is found that Menispermum‐specific CYP80 gene expansion, as well as tissue‐specific expression, has driven BIA diversity in Menispermaceae as compared to other Ranunculales species. This study sheds light on WGD occurrences in early‐diverging eudicots and the evolution of diverse BIA biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ablative laser combined with pulsed dye laser to treat pathological scars. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify all blind, randomized, controlled trials of ablative laser and pulsed dye laser for treating pathological scars. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were used. All research on ablative laser combined with PDL in treating pathological scars with ablative laser or no treatment as controls were included in the meta‐analysis. The retrieved studies' reference lists were thoroughly examined. Results: POSAS and VSS were used as evaluation criteria in seven studies involving 189 patients. Effect of combined laser group therapy (−1.259 95% confidence interval, −1.515 to −1.003; p < 0.0001). The difference between the combined treatment and control groups was (−1.375; 95% CI, −1.727 to −1.023; p < 0.0001) and (−1.150; 95% CI, −1.523 to −0.777; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Ablative laser combined with PDL is more effective and safer than ablative laser or PDL alone in the treatment of pathological scars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striae Distensae (SD) is a common dermatological lesion. The mechanism of formation is unclear, the prevailing theory is mechanical pulling of the skin and hormonal changes. Traditional SD treatment methods include topical drugs, photoelectric therapy, stripping and others, but each has limitations. Stromal vascular fraction gel (SVF‐gel) is a filler physically prepared from granular fat, enriched with adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). A good effect in the treatment of neck lines, wounds, acne, and other aspects. SD formation and treatment goals are comparable to those of neck lines. In this study, SVF‐gel filling will be used to treat mature SD, and its effectiveness and safety will be discussed in detail. Methods: From December 2019 to June 2022, recruit patients who want to treat SD caused by obesity or pregnancy among those who have "autologous fat aspiration" to change their body shape. Preoperatively, the area to be treated for SD was marked, autologous fat aspiration was performed, and the aspirated fat was prepared as SVF‐gel and filled into the preoperatively marked SD. All patients had preoperative and postoperative follow‐up with planar photographs and VISIA skin analyzer photographs to assess surgical results and safety from subjective and objective perspectives. Results: A total of 36 patients were enrolled, with 31 of them successfully followed up on. The mean Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score six months after surgery was 1.87 ± 0.03. At six months postoperatively, the overall patient satisfaction rate was 90%. The depth, area, and color of SD improved six months after surgery, and no serious complications occurred in any of the patients. Conclusions: SVF‐gel is a safe and effective method of improving mature SD and can be used as a clinical treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facial rejuvenation is becoming more and more popular, particularly among middle‐aged persons. There are currently many techniques for improving the aforementioned situations, but each has its drawbacks. Our study aimed to discuss the treatment effect of a composited technique for reversing both lower eyelid and midface aging. Methods: The patient's face was designed and measured before surgery. During surgery, a traditional lower blepharoplasty incision was made. The layer between the orbital septum and the orbicularis oculi muscle was separated to approximately 4‐5 mm below the infraorbital, then the orbital septum and orbicularis retaining ligament were found to be released. A self‐made suspension curving needle subconsciously passed through the brim of the superficial cheek fat pad via the "U‐type" path and raised them to the proper location. Then sutured them to the infraorbital rim periosteum, as well as the suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) and the orbital septum fat. Secured the outside canthus to keep the lower lid position stable. Results: From February 2020 to November 2022, 106 patients underwent the new surgical procedure and were successfully followed up for 20 ± 6.5 months postoperatively. The mean GAIS score was 2.42 ± 0.78, patient satisfaction rate was 95%. All of the Barton grades were decreased. The nasal base level suspension points were elevated to a level of 5 ± 2 mm. 3D measurement data revealed significant improvements. Conclusions: The composited technique is a safe and effective way to reverse the aging of the lower eyelid and midface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt‐tolerant plants generally grow in salty conditions, and some of them are also tolerant to heavy metal stress. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can help plants withstand abiotic stresses. However, few studies have focused on the effects of AMF on the growth of salt‐tolerant plants in cadmium (Cd)‐contaminated saline soils. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) on growth, ion uptake, and Na+ and Cd translocation in three salt‐tolerant grasses (Leymus chinensis, Puccinellia distans, and Astragalus adsurgens) in a Cd‐contaminated saline soil. The regulation of genes by AMF in A. adsurgens was also explored by transcriptome analysis. The results showed that AMF increased the biomass of A. adsurgens but not that of L. chinensis and P. distans. AMF promoted phosphorus (P) uptake from soil and improved shoot K+: Na+ ratio, but it decreased shoot Na+ and Cd concentrations and their translocation rates in A. adsurgens. Transcriptome analysis showed that AMF upregulated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding cytokinins, which may be linked to the increase in shoot biomass in inoculated A. adsurgens, but downregulated the DEGs related to light harvest, suggesting avoidance of photodamage. AMF downregulated the DEGs in the pathways of the cell wall and those associated with antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that AMF symbiosis in A. adsurgens effectively alleviates the Na+ and Cd toxicity of shoots. This study implies the potential to use salt‐tolerant grasses in association with AMF to rehabilitate the heavy metal‐contaminated saline ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of concentrated growth factor (CGF) injections in patients with androgenic alopecia. Methods: Venous blood of 60 patients (aged 18–55 years old with a mean age of 38 years) with androgenic alopecia who were treated from September 2017 to September 2019 were collected to prepare CGF. 0.1 ml CGF was injected into the alopecia area with an interval of 30–35 days for a total of 6 times. The evaluation was performed before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the first injection and 3 and 6 months after the last injection. Results: Among the 60 patients, 58 cases received 6 treatments completely, 52 cases showed significant improvement, 8 cases improved, and no ineffective or worsening cases were found. Among the 58 patients, hair density, hair follicle density, and hair diameter increased significantly. Furthermore, the hair status of all patients was improved to varying degrees during the 6‐month follow‐up from the digital photographs. No complications such as redness, swelling, infection, and ulceration were found in the injection area, and the patient satisfaction was 93% (56/60). Conclusion: Concentrated growth factor treatment can significantly improve the symptoms of hair loss and increase hair diameter in patients with androgenic alopecia. It is effective, safe, and worth popularizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Distant species producing the same secondary metabolites is an interesting and common phenomenon in nature. A classic example of this is scutellarein whose derivatives have been used clinically for more than 30 years. Scutellarein occurs in significant amounts in species of two different orders, Scutellaria baicalensis and Erigeron breviscapus, which diverged more than 100 million years ago. Here, according to the genome‐wide selection and functional identification of 39 CYP450 genes from various angiosperms, we confirmed that only seven Scutellaria‐specific CYP82D genes and one Erigeron CYP706X gene could perform the catalytic activity of flavone 6‐hydroxylase (F6H), suggesting that the convergent evolution of scutellarein production in these two distant species was caused by two independently evolved CYP450 families. We also identified seven Scutellaria‐specific CYP82D genes encoding flavone 8‐hydroxylase (F8H). The evolutionary patterns of CYP82 and CYP706 families via kingdom‐wide comparative genomics highlighted the evolutionary diversity of CYP82D and the specificity of CYP706X in angiosperms. Multi‐collinearity and phylogenetic analysis of CYP82D in Scutellaria confirmed that the function of F6H evolved from F8H. Furthermore, the SbaiCYP82D1A319D, EbreCYP706XR130A, EbreCYP706XF312D and EbreCYP706XA318D mutants can significantly decrease the catalytic activity of F6H, revealing the contribution of crucial F6H amino acids to the scutellarein biosynthesis of distant species. This study provides important insights into the multi‐origin evolution of the same secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the plant kingdom. Significance Statement: Here, we determined that the scutellarein accumulation in distant species from Lamiaceae and Asteraceae arose from the convergent evolution of Scutellaria‐specific CYP82D and Asteraceae‐specific CYP706X. The independent evolutionary pattern of CYP82 and CYP706 and the findings of crucial residues will provide novel insights into the convergent evolution of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the plant kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We successfully synthesized {BiW8}, a 10‐nuclear heteroatom cluster modified {BiW8O30}. At 24 h post‐incubation, the IC50 values of {BiW8} against HUVEC, MG63, RD, Hep3B, HepG2, and MCF7 cells were 895.8, 127.3, 344.3, 455.0, 781.3, and 206.3 μM, respectively. The IC50 value of {BiW8} on the MG63 cells was more than 2‐fold lower than that of the other raw materials. Through morphological and functional features, we demonstrated pyroptosis as a newly identified mechanism of cell death induced by {BiW8}. {BiW8} increased 2‐fold reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in MG63 cells at 24 h post‐incubation. Compared with 0 h, the glutathione (GSH) content decreased by 59, 65, 75, 94, and 97 % at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h post‐incubation, respectively. Furthermore, multiple antitumor mechanisms of {BiW8} were identified via transcriptome analysis and chemical simulation, including activation of pyroptosis, suppression of GSH generation, depletion of GSH, and inhibition of DNA repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Lonicera japonica is a widespread member of the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family utilized in traditional medical practices. This twining vine honeysuckle also is a much‐sought ornamental, in part due to its dynamic flower coloration, which changes from white to gold during development.The molecular mechanism underlying dynamic flower coloration in L. japonica was elucidated by integrating whole genome sequencing, transcriptomic analysis and biochemical assays.Here, we report a chromosome‐level genome assembly of L. japonica, comprising nine pseudochromosomes with a total size of 843.2 Mb. We also provide evidence for a whole‐genome duplication event in the lineage leading to L. japonica, which occurred after its divergence from Dipsacales and Asterales. Moreover, gene expression analysis not only revealed correlated expression of the relevant biosynthetic genes with carotenoid accumulation, but also suggested a role for carotenoid degradation in L. japonica's dynamic flower coloration. The variation of flower color is consistent with not only the observed carotenoid accumulation pattern, but also with the release of volatile apocarotenoids that presumably serve as pollinator attractants.Beyond novel insights into the evolution and dynamics of flower coloration, the high‐quality L. japonica genome sequence also provides a foundation for molecular breeding to improve desired characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous electrospun nanofibers, as new materials for solid-phase extraction, were synthesized by electrospinning and coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine sulfonamide residues in environmental water. Aligned porous polystyrene electrospun nanofibers were fabricated under the mechanism of phase separation. The high-specific surface of these nanofibers (70 m2/g) could improve recoveries of the target sulfonamides 4-10 times compared with that of polystyrene nonporous material (3.8 m2/g). Under the optimized conditions, 13 sulfonamide residues showed an excellent linear relationship in the range of 0.125-12.5 ng/mL with a linear correlation coefficient ( r2) greater than 0.99, and the detection limits of sulfonamides were as low as 0.80-5.0 ng/L. Compared to the commercial C18 and HLB columns, the homemade porous nanofibers columns had some merits including simple fabrication and extraction process, short process time and environmental friendliness. The optimized method was applied to eight water samples collected from different livestock farms (Xuzhou, China). The results showed that polystyrene porous nanofibers were promising to preconcentrate sulfonamides of different polarities in the waste water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]