[Characteristics and diagnostic value of serum bile acids profile in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and asymptomatic hypercholanemia of pregnancy]

Objective: To analyze serum bile acid profiles in pregnant women with normal pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and asymptomatic hypercholanemia of pregnancy (AHP), and to evaluate the application value of serum bile acid profiles in the diagnosis of ICP and AHP. Methods: The clinical data of 122 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examination in Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from June 2022 to May 2023 were collected, including 54 cases of normal pregnancy group, 28 cases of ICP group and 40 cases of AHP group. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the levels of 15 serum bile acids in each group, including cholic acid (CA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), glycolcholic acid (GCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA), glycolithocholic acid (GLCA), glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to screen differential bile acids. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of differential bile acids and combined indicators between groups. Results: (1) Compared with normal pregnancy group, the serum levels of LCA, GCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA, UDCA, TCA, TCDCA, TDCA, TLCA, GUDCA and TUDCA in ICP group were significantly different (all P<0.05), while the levels of LCA, DCA, GCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA, TCA, TCDCA, TDCA, TLCA, GUDCA and TUDCA in AHP group were significantly different (all P<0.05). Compared with ICP group, the serum levels of CDCA, DCA, UDCA, TDCA, GUDCA and TUDCA in AHP group were significantly different (all P<0.05). (2) In the OPLS-DA model, the differential bile acids between ICP group and AHP group were TUDCA, TCA, UDCA, GUDCA and GCA, and their variable importance in projection (VIP) were 1.489, 1.345, 1.344, 1.184 and 1.111, respectively. TCA, GCDCA, GCA, TDCA, GDCA and TCDCA were the differentially expressed bile acids between AHP group and normal pregnancy group, and their VIP values were 1.236, 1.229, 1.197, 1.145, 1.139 and 1.138, respectively. (3) ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of TUDCA, TCA, UDCA, GUDCA and GCA in the differential diagnosis of ICP and AHP was 0.860, and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.9% and 95.0%, respectively. The AUC of TCA, GCDCA, GCA, TDCA, GDCA and TCDCA in the diagnosis of AHP was 0.964, and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.0% and 93.1%, respectively. Conclusions: There are differences in serum bile acid profiles among normal pregnant women, ICP and AHP. The serum bile acid profiles of pregnant women have potential application value in the differential diagnosis of ICP and AHP and the diagnosis of AHP.

Time-series transcriptome provides insights into the gene regulation network involved in the icariin-flavonoid metabolism during the leaf development of Epimedium pubescens

Herba Epimedii (Epimedium) leaves are rich in prenylated flavonol glycosides (PFGs) with high medicinal value. However, the dynamics and regulatory network of PFG biosynthesis remain largely unclear. Here, we combined metabolite profiling (targeted to PFGs) and a high-temporal-resolution transcriptome to elucidate PFGs' regulatory network in Epimedium pubescens and identified key candidate structural genes and transcription factors (TFs) involved in PFG accumulation. Chemical profile analysis revealed that PFG content was quite different between buds and leaves and displayed a continuous decline with leaf development. The structural genes are the determinant reasons, and they are strictly regulated by TFs under temporal cues. We further constructed seven time-ordered gene co-expression networks (TO-GCNs) of PFG biosynthesis genes (including EpPAL2, EpC4H, EpCHS2, EpCHI2, EpF3H, EpFLS3, and EpPT8), and three flavonol biosynthesis routines were then predicted. The TFs involved in TO-GCNs were further confirmed by WGCNA analysis. Fourteen hub genes, comprising 5 MYBs, 1 bHLH, 1 WD40, 2 bZIPs, 1 BES1, 1 C2H2, 1 Trihelix, 1 HD-ZIP, and 1 GATA were identified as candidate key TFs. The results were further validated by TF binding site (TFBS) analysis and qRT-PCR. Overall, these findings provide valuable information for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of PFGs biosynthesis, enriching the gene resources, which will guide further research on PFG accumulation in Epimedium.

Response mechanism of growth and gypenosides content for Gynostemma longipes cultivated at two altitude habitats to fine root morphological characteristics

Introduction

Fine roots are the critical functional organs of plants to absorb water and nutrients from the soil environment, while the relation between fine root morphological characteristics and yield & quality has received less attention for medicinal plants.

Methods

Therefore, we investigated the relationship between fine root morphological characteristics and biomass & gypenosides content. We explored the primary environmental drivers of fine root indicators for Gynostemma longipes from three provenances cultivated at two altitude habitats.

Results

At the end of the growing season, compared with the low-altitude habitat, the underground biomass of G. longipes in the high-altitude habitat increased significantly by 200%~290% for all three provenances. The response of gypenosides content to different altitude habitats varied with provenance and plant organs. The biomass of G. longipes strongly depended on the fine root characteristic indicators (P < 0.001), fine root length density, and fine root surface area. Our results also showed that the harvest yield of G. longipes could be effectively increased by promoting the growth of fine roots per unit leaf weight (P < 0.001, R² = 0.63). Both fine root length density and fine root surface area had strong positive correlations with soil nutrient factors (R² > 0.55) and a strong negative correlation with soil pH (R² > 0.48). In a word, the growth of G. longipes is strongly controlled by the fine root morphological characteristics through the response of fine roots to soil nutrient factors and pH.

Discussion

Our findings will help to deepen the understanding of the root ecophysiological basis driven by soil factors for the growth and secondary metabolites formation of G. longipes and other medicinal plants under changing habitat conditions. In future research, we should investigate how environmental factors drive plant morphological characteristics (e.g., fine roots) to affect the growth & quality of medicinal plants over a longer time scale.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium trifoliolatobinatum (Koidz.) Koidz. (Berberidaceae)

Epimedium L. is an important genus in the family Berberidaceae. Epimedium trifoliolatobinatum (Koidz.) Koidz. 1939 is inhabited on the west side of the Shikoku, Japan. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of E. trifoliolatobinatum was assembled with Illumina paired-end sequencing data, which was 157,272 bp in length with a total GC content of 38.70%. A total of 112 unique genes were annotated, comprising 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that E. trifoliolatobinatum was sister to E. koreanum. The current results provided fundamental information for further conducting molecular systematics and phylogenetic research of Epimedium genus.

[Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured in 3D System Inhibit Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Through p38 MAPK and CXCR4/AKT Pathways by IL-24 Regulating]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is prevalent worldwide and has a high mortality rate. Even if mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are suggested as cancer treatment, the studies of their effects on NSCLC cells contradict each other, mainly due to utilization of two-dimensional (2D) culture system. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems resemble tissue organization in vivo. Here we comprehensively explore the inhibitory effects of MSCs on NSCLC cells in a 3D culture system. We confirmed that the inhibitory effects of 3D-cultured MSCs (3D-MSCs) on the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells are greater than that of the 2D-cultured MSCs. 3D-MSCs overexpress IL-24, which serve as the key factor enhancing antitumor effects of MSCs. In these cells, IL-24 affects p38 MAPK and CXCR4/AKT pathways. Overall, this study provides the support for use of MSCs in tumor.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium pudingense (Berberidaceae), a narrowly distributed plant species in China

Epimedium L. is the largest herbaceous genus of Berberidaceae which comprises more than 60 species. Epimedium pudingense is a rare plant species only narrowly inhabited in the Puding County in the Guizhou Province of China. Here, we first report the complete chloroplast genome of E. pudingense assembled from Illumina short-read sequencing data. The chloroplast genome of E. pudingense was 157,325 bp in length, with a total GC content of 36.11%. A total of 112 unique genes were identified, among which are 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that E. pudingense closely related to E. elachyphyllum. Our study will provide useful fundamental data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the Epimedium genus.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium enshiense B. L. Guo et Hsiao (Berberidaceae)

The genus of Epimedium belongs to Berberidaceae family, which is famous for their medicinal and ornamental value. In recent years, Epimedium has attracted increasing attention due to their medicinal and nutritive value. In this research, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Epimedium enshiense. The complete chloroplast of this species is 157,076 bp in length, including a pair of invert repeat regions (IRS) (25,833 bp) that is divided by a large single copy area (LSC) (88,340 bp) and a small single copy area (SSC) (17,070 bp). The circular chloroplast genome of E. enshiense contains 112 unique genes, composing of 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that E. enshiense has a closer relationship with E. dolichostmon.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium brevicornu (Berberidaceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb

Epimedii Folium has been used as a common traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years in China. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Epimedium brevicornu. The whole cp genome of E. brevicornu is 158,658 bp in length, comprising a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (27,699 bp) separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,558 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (16,702bp). The E. brevicornu cp genome contains 129 genes, of which 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis shows that E. brevicornu is closely clustered with E. wushanense, E. lishihchenii, and E. sagittatum. The published E. brevicornu chloroplast genome will provide useful information for the phylogenetic and evolutionary study on Epimedium family of Berberidaceae.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium qingchengshanense G. Y. Zhong et B. L. Guo (Berberidaceae), an endangered species endemic to China

Epimedium qingchengshanense G. Y. Zhong & B. L. Guo is an endangered species with high ornamental value and medicinal value in China. In this study, we reported the first complete chloroplast (cp) genome of E. qingchengshanense. The whole cp genome of E. qingchengshanense is 159,087 bp in length, comprising a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) (27,709 bp) that are separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (86,607 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,062 bp). The circular genome contains 112 unique genes, of which 78 are protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis shows that E. qingchengshanense has a closer relationship with other Epimedium species.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium mikinorii Stearn. (Berberidaceae)

Epimedium mikinorii is a vulnerable species in the Epimedium genus of Berberaceae. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of E. mikinorii, which is 157,136 bp in length, and is a typical quadripartite circular molecule composed of two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,896 bp for each, a large single-copy region (LSC) of 88,395 bp, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 16,949 bp. The complete chloroplast genome of E. mikinorii contains 134 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 5 pseudogenes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that E. mikinorii was closely related to E. dolichostemon.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium elachyphyllum Stearn (Berberidaceae), an endangered species endemic to China

Epimedium elachyphyllum, which belongs to Berberidaceae, is only distributed in Guizhou province of China. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp)genome of E. elachyphyllum was sequenced and assembled. The circular genome is 157,201 bp in length, which comprises of a large single-copy region (LSC, 88,519 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 17,042 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 25,820 bp). The genome of E. elachyphyllum contains 112 unique genes, of which 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18 complete cp genome sequences indicated that E. elachyphyllum was closely related to E. dolichostemon.

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium xichangense Y. J. Zhang (Berberidaceae)

Epimedium xichangense, a critically endangered herb with limited population, mainly distributes in Sichuan province, China. In our study, we obtained the complete chloroplast genome of E. xichangense with a length of 158,955 bp, including a large single copy region of 86,478 bp, small single copy region of 17,027 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 27,725 bp. The GC content in the whole chloroplast genome of E. xichangense is 38.81%. Among the 112 unique genes in the circular genome, 30 tRNA, four rRNA and 78 protein-coding genes were successfully annotated. We constructed the Maximum likelihood (ML) tree with 26 species, and came to the conclusion that E. xichangense was phylogenetically closely related to E. acuminatum and E. chlorandrum.

Application of gene detection technique in the antenatal diagnosis of hereditary hearing loss

OBJECTIVE

Gene chip and gene sequencing techniques were used to detect the main pathogenic genes in pregnant women with hereditary hearing loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From May 2015 to May 2016, 1080 pregnant in Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital were enrolled in this study. Women age range was 18 to 40 years. 4 genes and 9 mutation sites, including 4 sites (35delG, 176, 235delC and 299) in GJB2 gene, 2 sites (2168A>G and IVS-7-2A>G) in SLC26A4 (PDS) gene, 2 sites (1494C>T and 1555A>G) in 12s rRNA gene and 1 site (538C>T) in GJB3 gene, were detected using the GeeDom® 9-item hereditary hearing loss gene detection kit. Deafness genes in the husband of the pregnant woman with GJB2 and SLC26A4 positive gene mutations were verified using Sanger sequencing. Fetuses with the same deafness genes as their parents were diagnosed before delivery using amniocentesis.

RESULTS

48 patients (4.45 %) were detected positive for hereditary hearing loss. Most of them (28 cases) were identified with GJB2 gene mutation (1 case with 176 site mutation, 22 cases with 235delC site mutation and 5 cases with 299 site mutation). We had 15 cases of the SLC26A4 gene mutation (3 cases of 2168A>G site mutation and 12 cases of IVS-7-2A>G site mutation), 2 cases of 538C>T site mutation of GJB3 gene and 3 cases of 1555A>G site mutation of 12s rRNA gene.

CONCLUSIONS

The gene detection technique has a great health-economic significance in screening the main pathogenic genes involved in the hereditary hearing loss.

[Quantitative study on ecological suitability of Chinese herbal medicine based on GIS]

The quality of Chinese herbal medicine is closely related to its producing region. In order to apply mathematical models to do a quantitative study on the suitability of Chinese herbal medicine, it is necessary to study on the ecological factors and the interpolation of climatic data, which influence the Chinese herbal medicine growth. The paper firstly studied the judgment standard of ecological index from the points of ecology and statistics, and how to calculate the optimum range values and the weight of each ecological factor. Secondly, meteorological element data is essential data in analyzing the suitable region of Chinese herbal medicine, and the spatial distribution of meteorological elements is closely related to terrain environment, so, in order to make the results close to true value by the greatest degree. The paper adopted multiple linear regression interpolation method which based on DEM. The paper distinguished the factor system of suitable region and interpolation on the point of datumization, and made a study on it about some key issues.

Transcript profiles of Panax quinquefolius from flower, leaf and root bring new insights into genes related to ginsenosides biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has been used for a wide range of therapeutic purposes in China. The major bioactive phytochemicals responsible for this plant's pharmacological features are ginsenosides. Thus far, little is known regarding the genes involved in ginsenosides biosynthesis in this species. As a non-model plant, information about its genomes is generally not available. In this study, we generated 6678 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the flower, leaf and root cDNA libraries of American ginseng. Assembly of ESTs resulted in 3349 unigenes including 534 contigs (with ESTs number ranging from 2 to 52) and 2815 singletons. By analyzing the predominant transcripts within specific tissues, a gene expression pattern was obtained in a tissue-specific manner. They were assigned according to the functional classification of unigenes to broad ranges of Gene Ontology categories which include biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions. Based on blastx search results, 24 unigenes representing candidates related to ginsenosides biosynthesis were identified. Cloning and characterization of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR, EC: 1.1.1.34), the rate-limiting enzyme in mevalonic acid pathway, demonstrated that it belonged to the plant HMGR family and was highly expressed in leaves. Putative transcription factors were detected in 63 unigenes, including zinc finger, WRKY, homeobox and MADS-box family proteins. Five hundred and eighty-eight simple sequence repeat motifs were identified, of which, dimer was the most abundant motif. These data will provide useful information on transcript profiles, gene discovery, transcriptional regulation, flower biogenesis and marker-assisted selections. The analysis and information from this study will greatly contribute to the improvement of this medicinal plant as well as of other species in the Araliaceae family, for the purpose of ensuring adequate drug resources.