Flavonoids Seen through the Energy Perspective

In all life forms, opposing forces provide the energy that flows through networks in an organism, which fuels life. In this concept, health is the ability of an organism to maintain the balance between these opposing forces, which creates resilience, and a deranged flow of energy is the basis for diseases. Treatment should focus on adjusting the deranged flow of energy, e.g., by the redox modulating activity of antioxidants. A major group of antioxidants is formed by flavonoids, a group of polyphenolic compounds abundantly present in our diet. The objective here is to review how the redox modulation by flavonoids fits in the various concepts on the mode of action of bioactive compounds, so we can ‘see’ where there is overlap and where the missing links are. Based on this fundament, we should choose our research path aiming to ‘understand’ the redox modulating profile of specific flavonoids, so we can ultimately rationally apply the redox modulating power of flavonoids to improve our health.

Nutrient-rich locusts serve as an ingredient for food production in China

As a major group of insects, locusts frequently cause agricultural damage, however, they have high economic value due to their rich nutritional content. In this paper, we systematically summarise the research results on the species, distribution, and functional composition of locusts in China over the past three decades and analyse the differences in research results in relation to experimental methods, locust species, and the experimental dates. In addition, we also introduce the methods for obtaining mass locusts, and discuss the edible, medicinal and feed usage of locusts, and prospect the exploitation of locust resources in order to provide a reference for locust-related research.

8-, 9-, and 11-Aryloxy Dimeric Aporphines and Their Pharmacological Activities

Aporphines, a major group of aporphinoid alkaloids, exhibit interesting and diverse pharmacological activities. A set of dimeric aporphines with an aryloxy group at C8, C9, and C11 have been isolated from six genera and shown to elicit various biological activities such as antitumor, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiplatelet aggregation, antifibrotic, immunosuppressive, and vasorelaxant properties. In this review, the nomenclature, chemical structures, botanical sources, pharmacological activities, and synthetic approaches of this set of dimeric alkaloids are presented.

Comparative Protective Effects of Viola Spathulata, Urtica Dioica, and Lamium Album on Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in Rat Stroke Model

Background: Pathological conditions, including ischemic stroke, are associated with severe Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress that induces apoptosis and cell death. Herbal medicines are natural treatments with few side effects in such situations. Objectives: In the present study, we examined the probable neuroprotective effects of Viola spathulata, Lamium album, and Urtica dioica on splicing of ER stress mRNA gene marker (X-box Binding Protein-1 [XBP-1]) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation in the brain of the rat stroke model. Materials & Methods: Sixty male Wistar albino rats (weight: 220-250 g) were selected for this study and divided into two major groups. The first major group comprised the healthy animals that are subdivided into groups number 1 to 5. The second major group comprised the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) group subdivided into groups number 6-10. The reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was performed after pretreatment with different herbal extracts (5, 10 mg/kg), Viola spathulata, and 100 mg/ kg Urtica dioica and Lamium album). The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in IBM SPSS v. 22. Results: MCAO-induced ischemia caused a marked increase in XBP-1 splicing in all rats of the MCAO group in comparison to the control groups (P<0.05), and pretreatment with 3 herbal extracts dramatically decreased target gene splicing in the MCAO studied groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: All three herbal extracts of U. dioica, L. album, and V. spathulata had the promising potential to use as a neuroprotective agent by reducing ER stress.

Lysine Demethylases: Promising Drug Targets in Melanoma and Other Cancers

Epigenetic dysregulation has been implicated in a variety of pathological processes including carcinogenesis. A major group of enzymes that influence epigenetic modifications are lysine demethylases (KDMs) also known as “erasers” which remove methyl groups on lysine (K) amino acids of histones. Numerous studies have implicated aberrant lysine demethylase activity in a variety of cancers, including melanoma. This review will focus on the structure, classification and functions of KDMs in normal biology and the current knowledge of how KDMs are deregulated in cancer pathogenesis, emphasizing our interest in melanoma. We highlight the current knowledge gaps of KDMs in melanoma pathobiology and describe opportunities to increases our understanding of their importance in this disease. We summarize the progress of several pre-clinical compounds that inhibit KDMs and represent promising candidates for further investigation in oncology.

Guapiaçu virus, a new insect-specific flavivirus isolated from two species of Aedes mosquitoes from Brazil

Classical insect-flaviviruses (cISFVs) and dual host-related insect-specific flavivirus (dISFV) are within the major group of insect-specific flavivirus. Remarkably dISFV are evolutionarily related to some of the pathogenic flavivirus, such as Zika and dengue viruses. The Evolutionary relatedness of dISFV to flavivirus allowed us to investigate the evolutionary principle of host adaptation. Additionally, dISFV can be used for the development of flavivirus vaccines and to explore underlying principles of mammalian pathogenicity. Here we describe the genetic characterization of a novel putative dISFV, termed Guapiaçu virus (GUAPV). Distinct strains of GUAPV were isolated from pools of Aedes terrens and Aedes scapularis mosquitoes. Additionally, we also detected viral GUAPV RNA in a plasma sample of an individual febrile from the Amazon region (North of Brazil). Although GUAPV did not replicate in tested mammalian cells, 3′UTR secondary structures duplication and codon usage index were similar to pathogenic flavivirus.

Our experience with pediatric treatment of chronic radial head dislocation

Objective Improve the effectiveness of pediatric treatment of chronic radial head dislocations (CRHD). Material and methods The review included 100 pediatric patients aged 2–18 years treated for CRHD between 2005 and 2019. Patients underwent physical examination, radiological (conventional radiography, US, MRI, MSCT) evaluation and statistical analysis was performed. Patients were divided into two groups. A major group consisted of 33 (33%) patients who were treated with new bone and plasty procedures including open reduction of the radial head (ORRH), plasty of the annular ligament with m. anconeus flap and fixation with the plaster cast; osteotomy of the proximal ulna and ulnar realignment with the Ilizarov external fixation. Outcomes were retrospectively compared with 67 (67.0 %) control patients treated with different classical techniques including ORRH, radial head fixation with wires, polyethyleneterephthalate band or the remnants of the annular ligament, with/without ulnar osteotomy. Anatomical and functional results of treatment were evaluated at a short (up to one year) and long term (over one year) after frame removal using modified Mattis-Lyuboshitz-Shwarzberg grading scale. Results Comparative analysis of outcomes of surgical management at a short- and long term in both groups showed that the percentage of good results was 1.5 times higher in the major group. A table of differentiated indications to pediatric treatment of CRHD was devised based on the findings. Conclusion Biomechanical articular parameters appear to deteriorate over time following radial head dislocation and can result in radial head deformity, malaligned and shortened ulna. Pediatric treatment is supposed to be differentiated depending on time of injury, patient's age, anatomical and radiological manifestations of the joint. Operative pediatric treatment of CRHD involving bone and plasty procedures can provide good internal fixation preventing recurrence.

Genetic diversity studies in Indian germplasm of pea (Pisum sativum L.) using morphological and microsatellite markers

Forty seven garden pea genotypes were characterized using thirty four pea specific microsatellite markers. Mean square values were highly significant for all the characters. Nearly 75% of the total variation was contributed by 3 traits viz. green pod yield per plant (43.18), plant height (20.91) and number of nodes per plant (10.27). 28 polymorphic SSR markers were used. Average PIC value was 0.55. NTSYS clustering based on UPGMA grouped the genotypes into two major groups I and II (dwarf and tall, respectively). The larger group consisted of 43 genotypes (subgroups I-VII) and smaller group had 3 genotypes (subgroup VIII). One genotype (PMR-19) separated from other genotypes. The dendrogram depicted overall similarity coefficient ranged from 0.59 to 0.89. The lowest genetic similarity (0.39) was observed between major group I and major group II. Maximum genetic similarity (0.89) was found between two pairs i.e. PB-89 and C-96 (first pair) and Angoori and GS-10 (second pair). Neighbor joining tree thus obtained highly corresponds to the clustering observed using NTSYS indicating that the analysis was reliable. The findings of the present study can be used to select diverse genotypes to be used as parents of crosses aimed for breeding improved pea cultivars.

Newspaper Coverage of the Boko Haram Terror Campaign in Nigeria

Terrorism is one of the leading security challenges in Nigeria. Since 2009, the terrorist group, Boko Haram, is the major group fueling this problem by carrying out terror attacks mostly in the northeastern part of the country. The period between 2014 and 2015 marked the peak of terrorist attacks by the group. This period coincided with the general elections, which saw a transition from one civilian regime to another. Boko Haram menace was one of the pressing issues that voters wanted to be resolved. How did the media frame this problem? A content analysis of three national daily newspapers was conducted to see the newspapers' pattern of Boko Haram coverage shortly before and after the 2015 general elections. The study found a slight difference in Boko Haram's reporting before the elections and after. While most of the frames used in newspapers remained unchanged, the frames reflecting hopelessness began to feature more.

Research on the Cognition Education of Art Design—Taking the JMI Experience Design Season as an Example

The art and design major group of the College of Humanities and arts reformed the course of cognitive practice. In the form of “theory lecture” and “practice experience”, it created the “JMI Experience Design Season” which runs through September to December in the second half of 2019, with two theory lectures and two practice experience activities each month, enriching the students’ theoretical and practical art accomplishment, and improving the teachers’ micro course construction ability and theory Practice teaching level and enrich the life of teaching staff of JMI in combination with labor union activities.