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Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification in eukaryotic mRNA. However, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been completely elucidated. Objective: To explore whether methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) in cancer. CAFs) affects the secretion of IL-18, which drives NSCLC cells to regulate PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression via the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) pathway. Methods: Histopathological features of NSCLC tissues were identified by H&E and IHC staining. The levels of m6A writers (METTL3), IL-18 and NF-B pathway related genes were assessed. The quantity of CD8+ T cells was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). The direct binding relationship between METTL3 and IL-18 mRNA was detected by RIP assay and RNA pulldown and confirmed by dual - luciferase reporter assay. The level of RNA m6A was detected by RNA m6A dot blot and meRIP assays. A heterotopic implantation model of NSCLC was established in NOD-SCID mice for further explore the effect of CAF derived METTL3 on immunosuppression of NSCLC in vivo. Results: Our results illustrated that METTL3 was down-regulated in CAFs, and CAF derived METTL3 alleviated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression of NSCLC through IL-18. Subsequently, we found that IL-18 was main effector of CAF-derived METTL3 against immunosuppression of NSCLC, and IL-18 accelerated immunosuppression of NSCLC by driving NF-B pathway. In vivo, METTL3 knockdown-derived CAFs accelerated immunosuppression of NSCLC. Conclusion: IL-18 served as a main effector of CAF-derived METTL3 against immunosuppression of NSCLC via driving NF-B pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel flame retardant, tetraethylene pentamine heptamethylene tetraphosphonate dimethyl ester ammonium triphosphorus acid (TPHTDEAT), was synthesized and characterized by NMR. TPHTDEAT-treated cotton fabrics showed excellent flame retardancy tested by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 43.3% of cotton fabrics treated with 40 mass% TPHTDEAT and excellent durability tested by LOI of 29.6% of cotton fabrics after 50 laundering cycles according to AATCC 61-2013 2A standard. Most phosphorus existed as phosphonates, which did not combine with metal ions to reduce the flame retardancy during the washing process. P and N atoms were tested by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the treated cotton fibers. The SEM and XRD results implied that flame retardants entered the cotton fiber interiors. The FTIR and durability results suggested that TPHTDEAT was grafted with -OH of cellulose molecules of cotton fibers. The TG analysis suggested that TPHTDEAT promoted char formation during heating process. The cone calorimetry results indicated that the heat release rate and total heat release of TPHTDEAT-treated cotton were much lower than those of untreated cotton. These results indicated that excellent flame retardancy of treated cotton and the durability of treated cotton were increased by introducing phosphonate groups into flame retardant molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have found that oxidative stress is the negative reaction of the imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation caused by free radicals, and it is the fuse of aging and many diseases. Scavenging the accumulation of free radicals in the body and inhibiting the production of free radicals are effective ways to reduce the occurrence of oxidative stress. In recent years, studies have found that oxidative stress has other effects on the body, such as anti-tumour. In this paper, the targets related to anti-oxidative stress were introduced, and they were divided into nuclear transcription factors, enzymes, solute carrier family 7, member 11 (SLC7A11) genes and iron death, ion channels, molecular chaperones, small molecules according to their different functions. In addition, we introduce the research status of agonists/inhibitors related to these targets, so as to provide some reference for the follow-up research and clinical application of anti-oxidative stress drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total steroidal saponins, particularly its major steroidal sapogenin (diosgenin), are the main active principles of fenugreek seed extract. In this study, an ethanol-salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was explored for the purification of the total steroidal saponins, and the process conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimized conditions, the RSM predicted recovery of the total steroidal saponins in the top phase of ATPS was 97.9%, which agreed with the average experimental recovery (98.3 ± 4.2% (n = 6)). Moreover, a rapid micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for the determination of diosgenin from extracts. The diosgenin content in the ATPS top phase extract was 3-fold higher than that in crude extract, suggesting this ATPS having a great potential for purification pharmacological active ingredients from fenugreek seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was used for simultaneous purification of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and liquiritin (LQ) from crude extract of Chinese licorice root. It was revealed that 87% GA and 94% LQ were retrieved in the ATPS top phase, under the optimum conditions of 25% (w/w) ethanol, 30% (w/w) K2HPO4 and 4% (w/w) loading sample at 10-40°C. Compared with crude extract, the ATPS top-phase extract exhibited the highest antioxidative activity, but no tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Whereas, the ATPS bottom-phase extract was proved to be effective ABTS radical scavenger and tyrosinase inhibitor, suggesting the potency of the alcohol-salt ATPS purification for the different medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient procedure was developed to determine eight herbicides in corn flour by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in selected ion-monitoring mode. Samples were prepared with a modified, quick, easy, rapid, effective, rugged, and safe procedure. The type and volume of extraction solvent, type and amount of adsorbent, and time of sonication were optimized. The protocol method was rigorously verified. The mean recoveries were from 85 to 108% at various fortification levels with relative standard deviations below 15% and limits of quantification from 4 to 48 ng g−1. The method was used to determine herbicides in corn flour. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two new steroidal saponins, timosaponin X (1) and timosaponin Y (2), and one new pregnane glycoside, timopregnane B (3), were isolated from the rhizomes ofAnemarrhena asphodeloides, as well as three known compounds 25S-timosaponin BII (4), protodesgalactotigonin (5), and timosaponin BII-a (6) isolated from this plant for the first time. By the detailed analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, MS spectra, and chemical evidences, the structures of new compounds were elucidated as 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5β-22-methoxy-furost-3β,26-diol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), 5β-pseudo-spirost-3β,15α,23α-triol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-galactopyranoside (2), (5β,17α)-Δ16(17)-20-one-pregn-2β,3β-diol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-galactopyranoside (3). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aspergillus ustusis among the most ubiquitous soil species and has been implicated in human infections. The complete mitochondrial genome ofA. ustushas been determined by high-throughput sequencing technology in this work. Our study revealed that the mitochondrial genome ofA. ustusis 33,007 bp long, with AT content of 74.84%, which consists of a usual set of mitochondrial proteins and RNA genes, including large and small ribosomal RNAs, 15 proteins and 20 tRNA genes and contains two introns. Notably, it also contains three hypothetical proteins without obvious homology to any known proteins. All structural genes are located on one strand and are apparently transcribed in one direction. The complete mitochondrial genomes ofA. ustuswould be useful for future investigation of the genetics, evolution and clinical identification ofAspergillusspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]