Search

Over the course of the recent decade, the composition of Alsineae has been drastically changed by means of molecular phylogeny. However, the genus Brachystemma has not been sampled in any of the previous studies, and its phylogenetic position is still pending. In addition, the related species Stellaria ovatifolia, which has at times been placed in Brachystemma, Schizotechium, or Stellaria, has also not been sampled. Here, nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and four plastid regions (trnL-F, matK, rbcL, rps16) were used to conduct phylogenetic analyses within Caryophyllaceae and the tribe Alsineae. Ancestral characters (petal margin and number of seeds) were reconstructed in the tribe Alsineae based on the phylogenetic results. Our results indicate that Brachystemma is nested in the tribe Alsineae and forms a monophylum with S. ovatifolia, and apically lobed petals and numerous seeds may be the ancestral characters in the tribe Alsineae. Based on our study, Stellaria ovatifolia should be considered within Brachystemma, and Brachystemma is clearly a separate genus and now includes two species.

People who inject drugs (PWIDs) are primarily the high-risk population for HCV infection. This study aims to determine the optimal cut-off values for predicting HCV infection status based on the Signal-to-Cutoff (S/CO) ratio. In this study, a total of 719 PWIDs' samples were collected, and performed for screening test by ELISA assay, and followed by RIBA assay and NAT assay to detect HCV antibody and HCV RNA levels, respectively. The findings revealed that the prevalence of HCV infection among PWIDs was 54.66% (393/719), and the false-positive rate of HCV antibody detection by ELISA assay among PWIDs was only 3.85% (16/416). In addition, when the optimal cut-off value for S/CO ratio was 2.0, the sensitivity and specificity of HCV antibody were 100.00% and 93.55%, respectively. And when the optimal cut-off value for S/CO ratio was 21.36, the sensitivity and specificity of HCV RNA positive were 89.90% and 72.73%, respectively. In conclusion, the status of HCV infection can be predicted based on the S/CO ratios of the ELISA assay, which can improve diagnosis and facilitate timely treatment to effectively prevent the spread of HCV infection.

The first enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral styrene-type allylamines through chiral phosphoric acid mediated atroposelective reductive amination of 1-enal substituted 2-naphthols is achieved.

Rapid diagnostic tests as an attractive alternative to enzyme immunoassay could identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected persons more expeditiously. The availability of high performing and quality-assured rapid diagnostic tests are essential to scale-up HCV screening. The study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of seven domestic HCV rapid diagnostic tests kits. The kits were evaluated by using HCV serum panels, including HCV basic panel, analytical specificity panel, mixed titre performance panel, characteristic panel, seroconversion panel, and genotype qualification panel. The results showed that clinical sensitivity, clinical specificity and analytical specificity of seven rapid diagnostic tests kits ranged from 94% (95% CI: 83.2-98.6) to 100% (95% CI: 91.5-100). Furthermore, specimens with HCV genotypes 1b, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6 could be detected by HCV rapid diagnostic tests kits, whereas specimens with genotypes 1a and 2b could not be detected. Additionally, most HCV rapid diagnostic tests kits had great performance in diagnosing different titres and/or different bands samples, but some low S/CO value specimens may not be fully detected by few rapid diagnostic test kits. In conclusion, seven HCV rapid diagnostic tests reagents presented high sensitivity, specificity, good anti-interference and detection ability of early infection, which could meet the requirements of clinical HCV antibody screening.

Pollen morphology of 46 species and 11 varieties representing the 5 currently recognized sections and 10 series of Stellaria from China was investigated. Pollen grains of Stellaria are radially symmetrical, apolar, small or medium in diameter, pantoporate, spheroidal or spheroidal-polyhedral and have 8–22 pores with prominent or sunken pore membrane. The ornamentation is microechinate-punctate, microechinate-perforate or microechinate-punctate-perforate. 8 pollen types are recognized, and significant differences in shape, size, pore number and ornamentation are found. Arenaria and Cerastium were proved to be related to Stellaria, whereas Myosoton was suggested to be merged into Stellaria. The pollen morphological features indicated Stellaria was in a middle evolutionary position of the family Caryophyllaceae.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) ranks as the sixth most common carcinoma worldwide, and the third most common carcinoma in developing countries as well. Recently, the aberrant expression of lncRNA CCAT1 has been revealed to play an important role in the development of several cancers. However, its role in OSCC remains unknown. The expression levels of CCAT1 and miR-181a were determined in 15 paired primary OSCC tissues and their adjacent noncancerous tissues and cell lines with qPCR. shRNA against CCAT1 was employed to investigate the impact of CCAT1 on proliferation and metastasis. Then dual luciferase reporter and RIP assays were utilized to study the interaction between CCAT1 and miR-181a. Cells transfected with sh-CCAT1 or treated with miR-181a inhibitor were subjected to western blot to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in CCAT1-mediated proliferation and metastasis. Finally, the role of CCAT1 in OSCC was confirmed with tumor xenografts mice model. CCAT1 was upregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of CCAT1 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells, while the cell apoptosis was enhanced. Luciferase and RIP assays revealed that miR-181a was a direct target of CCAT1. Inhibition of miR-181a partially reversed the efficacy of sh-CCAT1. Moreover, sh-CCAT1 inhibited OSCC tissues growth through inhibiting Wnt signaling in a miR-181a-dependent manner in vivo. lncRNA CCAT1 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling via inhibiting miR-181a, resulting in the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC, suggesting that CCAT1 might serve as a potential target of OSCC treatment. Abbreviation: LncRNA: long non-coding RNA; OSCC: oral squamous cell carcinoma; 3' UTR: 3' untranslated region; ANOVA: one-way analysis of variance; CDK: cyclin-dependent kinase; ceRNA: competing endogenous RNA; FBS: fetal bovine serum; HGF: human gingival fibroblasts; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; miRNA: micro RNA; ncRNA: noncoding RNAs; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PI3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Pollen morphology of 36 species and 9 varieties of Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) from China was investigated through scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of the genus are monads, radiosymmetric and tricolpate, mainly medium in size, spheroidal (rarely subprolate, prolate or suboblate) in equatorial view and (sub) circular or rounded triangular in polar view. The edge of colpus is thin, perforate or thickened but imperforate and the colpus membrane of the investigated taxa is usually uneven (sunken or raised), with finely/coarsely granular or irregular striation. Four different ornamentation types are delimited on the basis of exine sculpturing: (1) coarsely reticulate; (2) microreticulate; (3) rugosely reticulate and (4) rugulate reticulate. The results do not support the traditional infrageneric classification of Callicarpa which is based on stamen characters. However, pollen characters provide evidence to support Callicarpa as the sister to the Australian subfamily Prostantheroideae, a relationship previously suggested by molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Lamiaceae, the sixth largest angiosperm family, contains more than 7000 species distributed all over the world. However, although considerable progress has been made in the last two decades, its phylogenetic backbone has never been well resolved. In the present study, a large-scale phylogenetic reconstruction of Lamiaceae using chloroplast sequences was carried out with the most comprehensive sampling of the family to date (288 species in 191 genera, representing approximately 78% of the genera of Lamiaceae). Twelve strongly supported primary clades were inferred, which form the phylogenetic backbone of Lamiaceae. Six of the primary clades correspond to the current recognized subfamilies Ajugoideae, Lamioideae, Nepetoideae, Prostantheroideae, Scutellarioideae, and Symphorematoideae, and one corresponds to a portion of Viticoideae. The other five clades comprise: 1) Acrymia and Cymaria; 2) Hymenopyramis, Petraeovitex, Peronema, and Garrettia; 3) Premna, Gmelina, and Cornutia; 4) Callicarpa; and 5) Tectona. Based on these results, three new subfamilies—Cymarioideae, Peronematoideae, and Premnoideae—are described, and the compositions of other subfamilies are updated based on new findings from the last decade. Furthermore, our analyses revealed five strongly supported, more inclusive clades that contain subfamilies, and we give them phylogenetically defined, unranked names: Cymalamiina, Scutelamiina, Perolamiina, Viticisymphorina, and Calliprostantherina.

Stellaria abaensis sp. nov., from Sichuan Province (southwest China), is described and illustrated. It is similar to S. media, and S. reticulivena (Subsect. Stellaria) but can be distinguished from them by its longer petiole, terete stem, glabrous pedicel, and undulate tuberculate seeds. Original photographs, distribution map, SEM images of pollen grain, and a comparative morpological table, as well as an identification key for the related taxa are provided.

Novel doughnut-shaped multi-layered drug delivery devices (DDDs) were developed with local variations of the drug and release-retardant material for providing linear release profiles. Based on computer-aided design models, different DDDs containing acetaminophen as a model drug, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as matrix and ethyl cellulose (EC) as a release-retardant material were prepared automatically using a three-dimensional printing (3DP) system. In vitro dissolution assays demonstrated that all the 3DP DDDs had with different diameters, heights, concentrations of EC and central hole diameters were able to give linear release profiles. Morphological and erosion studies showed that acetaminophen was released through a simultaneous surface erosion process involving the outer peripheries and inner apertures. The barrier layers on both bases of DDDs had good adhesion strength with the drug-contained regions and offered consistent release retardation for the whole duration of the dissolution process. The release time periods of the DDDs were dependent on the annular thicknesses or the passes of binder solution containing a release-retardant material. The dosage of the DDD can be adjusted independently by changing the heights of the DDDs. Thus, 3DP is capable of offering novel strategies for developing DDDs with complex design features for desired drug release profiles.

Insect pollination in basal angiosperms is assumed to mostly involve ‘generalized' insects looking for food, but direct observations of ANITA grade (283 species) pollinators are sparse. We present new data for numerous Schisandraceae, the largest ANITA family, from fieldwork, nocturnal filming, electron microscopy, barcoding and molecular clocks to infer pollinator/plant interactions over multiple years at sites throughout China to test the extent of pollinator specificity. Schisandraceae are pollinated by nocturnal gall midges that lay eggs in the flowers and whose larvae then feed on floral exudates. At least three Schisandraceae have shifted to beetle pollination. Pollination by a single midge species predominates, but one species was pollinated by different species at three locations and one by two at the same location. Based on molecular clocks, gall midges and Schisandraceae may have interacted since at least the Early Miocene. Combining these findings with a review of all published ANITA pollination data shows that ovipositing flies are the most common pollinators of living representatives of the ANITA grade. Compared to food reward-based pollination, oviposition-based systems are less wasteful of plant gametes because (i) none are eaten and (ii) female insects with herbivorous larvae reliably visit conspecific flowers.

The genus Callicarpa Linnaeus (1753: 111) with about 140 species is mainly distributed in temperate, subtropical and tropical Asia, America, Australia and the Pacific Islands (Harley et al. 2004; Bramley 2013; Zhang 2014; Ma & Su 2015), with 48 species and 13 varieties occurring in China (Chen & Gilbert 1994). Callicarpa was long thought to be included in Verbenaceae. However, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies on the Verbenaceae and Lamiaceae, Callicarpa was transferred to Lamiaceae, along with Viticoideae and several other genera (Bramley 2009, 2013; Ma et al. 2015). During a taxonimic study of this genus in China, the name C. integerrima Champion ex Bentham (1853: 135) tourned out not yet typified. C. integerrima is currently accepted as endemic species of China (Chen & Gilbert 1994) and was described based on plants collected in Hongkong (Bentham 1853), but no specimens were cited in the protologue. We traced in K two duplicate specimens (K barcodes K000674744 and K000674745) collected by J.G. Champion in Hongkong that fit the protologue and can be regarded as syntypes (Art. 9.5 of the ICN, McNeill et al. 2012). The specimen K barcode K000674744 is better preserved and complete (flowers and fruits), and is selected here as the lectotype.

Callicarpa nudiflora Hooker & Arnott (1837: 206) was formally described in 1837 from plants collected in China. In the protologue, two collections (Mr. Millett s.n and Rev. G. H. Vachell 263) were cited, but no type was indicated.We traced in E three specimens that fit the protologue and can be regarded as syntypes (Art. 9.5 of the ICN, McNeill et al. 2012): two duplicates specimens labelled “Rev. G. H. Vachell 263” (E barcodes E00369187, E00369189) and one specimen “Millet s.n.”. The specimen “Rev. G. H. Vachell 263” with barcode E00369187 is better preserved and more complete than the other two specimens, with obvious gray elliptic lenticels on the branchlets which is one of the crucial identification characters for this species and, hence is here designated as the lectotype.