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In tumors, Heat shock protein HSP 90-alpha (Hsp90α) maintains the activity of over-activated or mutated signal transduction proteins and accelerates the malignant transformation of tumor cells. The extracellular Hsp90α interacts with client proteins resulting in promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis. This study investigated possible bioactive components of Smilax china L. and their effects on the interactions among tumor-associated proteins. We demonstrated that the protein Hsp90α, screened by combining transcriptome, proteomics and docking, could interact with the active compounds through microscale thermophoresis (MST), and Hsp90α could also interact with fatty acid synthase (FASN) and Vinculin. Meanwhile, scopolin could affect the interaction between Hsp90α and FASN. Animal experiments demonstrated that scopolin may have anticancer effect by affecting the stability of tumor-related proteins. Results showed that scopolin could interact with Hsp90α and inhibit the interactions between proteins, thereby against cancer.Practical applications.Smilax china L. has been reported to have an anti-tumor effect. This study shows that the bioactive ingredient scopolin from Smilax china L. can effectively inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma tumor cells, and can block the interaction between tumor-related protein Hsp90α and FASN. The results suggest that scopolin may be a potential cancer inhibitor that blocks the interactions of cancer-related proteins, which provides a potential basis for drug research and development for cancer that seriously puzzles human health.

Objectives To summarize our pioneering surgical practice and clinical outcome of Crowe type III‐IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with a direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty in a single teaching hospital in Southwest China. Methods Fourteen patients (15 hips) diagnosed with Crowe type III‐IV developmental dysplasia of the hip were involved in this single‐center retrospective study between 2016 and 2018. A comprehensive surgical procedure, including preoperative planning and algorithms for leg length equalization, intraoperative stepwise soft tissue release, bone defect reconstruction, and an innovative subtrochanteric osteotomy, was described. Furthermore, advancements in intraoperative CT guidance, computer navigation, and nerve monitoring were available for specific demands. The short‐term clinical outcome was evaluated at the endpoint of follow‐up by three patient‐reported functional scales (Harris, WOMAC, and SF‐12 scores), and objective data collected at the clinic, including functional recovery (muscle strength of hip flexor and abductor, correction of the pelvic tilt, leg length discrepancy, and limp), radiographic analysis, and complication occurrence. Results The intraoperative variables were carefully recorded. The mean operating times in Crowe type III and IV groups were 115.8 min and 156.2 min, and the median blood loss volumes were 520.5 mL and 810.2 mL, respectively. The general changes in the Harris, SF‐12, and WOMAC scores of the two groups were 46.2, 8.7 and 134.3, respectively, at a mean follow‐up of 25.4 months. Enhanced recovery of hip abductor muscle strength was identified in 85.7% of the population at the third postoperative month. The equalization of leg length and correction of the pelvic tile were observed at the sixth postoperative month, with a 36‐mm decrease in leg length discrepancy. No radiographic evidence of the loosening or migration of the components was observed. A self‐innovated subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy was performed in five patients, and they healed after 6 months. Specific complications included two cases of distal femoral cracks and one case of a periprosthetic fracture needing internal fixation. Two patients received a late iliotibial band release at the 3rd month postoperatively due to progressive genu valgum. No records of infection, dislocation, nerve palsy, bone non‐union, or revision surgery were identified. Discussion The direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty showed potential advantages, including optimum component positioning, improved hip stability, steerable complication rate, and enhanced functional recovery with Crowe type III‐IV DDH. The short‐term outcome is comparable to that of the traditional posterolateral approach.

Glycolysis can improve the tolerance of tissue cells to hypoxia, and its intermediates provide raw materials for the synthesis and metabolism of the tumor cells. If it can inhibit the activity of glycolysis-related enzymes and control the energy metabolism of tumor, it can be targeted for the treatment of malignant tumor. The target proteins phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD2), and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) were screened by combining transcriptome, proteomics, and reverse docking. We detected the binding constant of the active compound using microscale thermophoresis (MST). It was found that esculetin bound well with three potential target proteins. Esculetin significantly inhibited the rate of glycolysis, manifested by differences of cellular lactate production and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells with or without esculetin. It was found that GPD2 bound strongly to GPI, revealing the direct interaction between the two glycolysis-related proteins. Animal tests have further demonstrated that esculetin may have anticancer effects by affecting the activity of PGK2, GPD2, and GPI. The results of this study demonstrated that esculetin can affect the glucose metabolism by binding to glycolytic proteins, thus playing an anti-tumor role, and these proteins which have direct interactions are potential novel targets for tumor treatment by esculetin.

The present study explored the possible bioactive ingredients and target protein of Rostellularia procumbens (L.) Nees. Firstly, we found that the ethyl acetate extraction obtained from R. procumbens could inhibit platelet aggregation. Then, gene chip was used to investigate differentially expressed genes and blood absorption compounds were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization (LC-MS). Depending on the results of gene chip and LC-MS, the targets of blood absorption compounds were predicted according to the reverse pharmacophore matching model. The platelet aggregation-related genes were discovered in databases, and antiplatelet aggregation-related gene targets were selected through comparison. The functions of target genes and related pathways were analyzed and screened using the DAVID database, and the network was constructed using Cytoscape software. We found that integrin αIIbβ3 had a highest degree, and it was almost the intersection of all pathways. Then, blood absorption compounds were screened by optical turbidimetry. Western blot (WB) revealed that justicidin B separated from the ethyl acetate fraction may inhibit the expression of integrin αIIbβ3 protein. For the first time, we used Prometheus NT.48 and MST to detect the stability of this membrane protein to optimize the buffer and studied the interaction of justicidin B with its target protein. To our best knowledge, this is the first report to state that justicidin B targets the integrin αIIbβ3 protein. We believe that our findings can provide a novel target protein for the further understanding of the mechanism of R. procumbens on platelet aggregation.

Occurrence and mobility of shale oil are prerequisites for evaluating shale oil reserves and prioritizing exploration targets, particularly for heterogeneous lacustrine shales. The Qingshankou Formation in the Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin is a classic lacustrine pure shale reservoir that contains abundant shale oil resources. The predicted geological reserves of the shale are 1.268 × 109 t. In this study, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), the modular automated processing system (MAPS), pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC), low-pressure nitrogen gas adsorption (LPNA), Soxhlet extraction, pyrolysis, and 2-D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were integrated to describe the shale oil components, microscopic occurrence, mobility, and the effective pore size distribution. Meanwhile, the related controlling factors are discussed.The shale oil in the Qingshankou Fm exists dominantly in the matrix pores of the clay minerals, with small amounts distributed in the intergranular pores of terrigenous clastic grains, intercrystalline pores of pyrite, intragranular pores of ostracod shells, and micro-fractures. Shale oil is distributed in the pore spaces of variable sizes in different lithofacies. The clay mineral-laminated shales are characterized by the broadest range of pore size and largest volume of pore spaces with shale oil distribution, while the ostracod-laminated shales have limited pore spaces retaining oil. Furthermore, the proposed integrated analysis evaluates the shale oil molecules existing in two states: movable, and adsorbed oil, respectively. The result illustrates that movable oil takes up 30.6%–79.4% of the total residual oil. TOC, mineral composition, and pore structures of the shale joint together to control the states and mobility of the shale oil. TOC values are positively correlated with the quantities of shale oil regardless of the state of oil. The mineral components significantly impact the state of shale oil. Noticeable differences in the states of oil were observed following the changing types of minerals, possibly due to their difference in adsorption capacity and wettability. Clay minerals attract more adsorbed oil than movable oil. Felsic minerals generally decrease the occurrence of total and adsorbed oil. Carbonate plays a positive role in hydrocarbon retention of all the shale oil states. As for the pore structure, the average pore size exerts a critical impact on the total, movable, and adsorbed oil content. The total pore volume and specific surface area of shales play a principal role in controlling the total yields and amounts of adsorbed oil. This research improves the understanding of the occurrence characteristics and enrichment mechanisms of shale oil in terrestrial pure shales and provides a reference for locating favorable shale oil exploration areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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