Abstract Objectives Tripartite Motif 47 (TRIM47) protein plays a prominent role in many cancers. This study aimed to investigate the biological roles of TRIM47 in ovarian cancer. Methods TRIM47 was knocked down and overexpressed in ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and OVCAR3, and the effects on proliferation, clone formation, apoptosis, invasion, and growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice were determined. The expression levels of the selected candidates were tested by western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. Results TRIM47 knockdown suppressed proliferation and encourages apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. Similarly, TRIM47 knockdown suppressed ovarian cancer cell invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Ovarian cancer cell xenograft assays demonstrated that TRIM47 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth. Mechanistically, TRIM47 knockdown suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation and the expression of several downstream genes, including MCL-1, MMP2, and c-MYC. Silencing of STAT3 partially prevented TRIM47-induced tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Conclusion The present study's findings demonstrate that by activating STAT3 signaling, TRIM47 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer. TRIM47, therefore, appears to be a potential target for ovarian cancer prevention and/or therapy.

Abstract Objective: To more precisely estimate the association between the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) gene polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility, we performed a metaanalysis on the association of the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TNFSF4 with SLE: rs1234315, rs844648, rs2205960, rs704840, rs844644, rs10489265. Methods: A literature-based search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science databases, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all relevant studies. And the association of TNFSF4 gene polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility was evaluated by pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The meta-analysis produced overall OR of 1.42 (95% CI 1.36-1.49, P < 0.00001), 1.41 (95% CI 1.36-1.46, P < 0.00001) and 1.34 (95% CI 1.26-1.42, P < 0.00001) for the rs2205960, rs1234315 and rs704840 polymorphisms respectively, confirming these three SNPs confer a significant risk for the development of SLE. On the other hand, the meta-analysis produced overall OR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.70-1.21, P = 0.54) for the rs844644 polymorphism, suggesting no significant association. And no association was also found between either rs844648 1.11 (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.86-1.43, P = 0.41) or rs10489265 (OR 1.17,95% CI 0.94-1.47, P = 0.17) polymorphism with SLE susceptibility, respectively. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the TNFSF4 rs2205960, rs1234315 and rs844840 SNPs was significantly associated with an increased risk of SLE.

Abstract A comprehensive investigation was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous melatonin treatment of pre-veraison grapes on phenolic components and antioxidants of grape berries and wine. The results showed an increase in the concentration of cyanin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin derivatives, and two flavanols [namely (+)-catechins and (−)-epicatechins] of grapes, as well as flavonols in both grapes and wine due to the application of melatonin. These compounds are derivatives of the catalysate of flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase (F3’H) in the flavonoid synthesis pathway of plants. It can be inferred that melatonin increased the activity of F3’H or expression of VvF3’H during grape berry maturation. In addition, two melatonin treatments of pre-veraison grape berries reduced the DPPH radical-scavenging ability and copper ion-reducing power of grapes and wine, whereas one melatonin treatment just reduced those in wine. This study will provide a practical strategy to change the phenolic composition of grapes and wine.

ABSTRACT The diversity analysis of Job’s-tears (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), an ideal healthy food crop, is a prerequisite in breeding programs and germplasm utilization. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenotypic traits of 94 Job’s-tears accessions (40 cultivated and 54 wild) collected from different geographic areas in China. Principal component (PC) and genetic diversity analyses were conducted on 12 morphological characters: stem node number, panicle branch number, primer branch nodes, panicles per plant, grain number per plant, plant height, 100-seed weight, total bract surface characteristics, total bract texture, total bract shape, total bract color, and pericarp color. The results showed a high variation among the studied materials. The relationship among traits indicated that some traits could be used for indirect selection to evaluate accessions. Based on PC analysis, the first seven PCs in the experiment can summarize the vast majority of the information about the agronomic traits of the 94 Job’s-tears accessions. The accumulative contribution rate accounted for 87.31% of the total variation. Cluster analysis grouped all the accessions into seven clusters, and this revealed that genetic variation was based on variety types, geographic distribution, and morphological characteristics.

Abstract Rain-shelter cultivation has been proven an important cultivation method for grape-plantings in continental monsoon climate zones, of which white plastic films are the most common shelter material. However, while this method and material reduces the occurrence of the disease, it can also decrease the grape berry quality. Five colours (including red, yellow, blue, purple, and white) of plastic films were covered above Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevine rows before veraison. Rain-shelter cultivation reduced air temperature, wind speed, and total solar radiation and enhanced relative humidity in the fruit sphere of grapevines. For each particular colour plastic film, the irradiance of its corresponding spectrum band in the canopy of vines was higher than with other colour plastic films. Meanwhile, the blue plastic film treatment significantly promoted the accumulation of total phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids more than the other colours of plastic films. Blue plastic films are more beneficial for berry quality promotion of wine grapes, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, under rain-shelter cultivation in continental monsoon climate zones.

The microwave-assisted extraction conditions of flavonoids in Physalis alkekengi. var. franchetii stems were optimized using a L3³ Box-Behnken Design. The optimized extraction conditions were determined as follows: 60% for the ethanol concentration, 12.4 for the liquid-to-solid ratio, and 531.4 W for the microwave power, respectively. The yield of the extract obtained under the optimized conditions was 3.85 mg g-1 which was close to the predicted value. In addition, the extract exhibited potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, with the IC50 value of 11.61 μg mL-1 and a maximal inhibition ratio 89.81%. Both the yield and activity were better than reflux extraction.

En esta investigación se optimizaron las condiciones de extracción de flavonoides a partir de Physalis alkekengi var. Franchetii, asistida por microondas, usando un diseño L3³ Box-Behenke. Las condiciones determinadas fueron etanol 60%, la relación líquido:sólido fue de 12.4 y se usaron 531.4 W para el microondas. El rendimiento obtenido fue de 3.85 mg g-1, el cual es cercano al valor predicho. El extracto obtenido inhibe de forma importante la actividad de la acetilcoliestearasa, con una IC50 de 11.61 µg mL-1 y una inhibición máxima de 89.91%. Estos resultados son mejores que los obtenidos con el compuesto obtenido mediante extracción por reflujo.