Background and aims As a ferroptosis inducer, sorafenib, a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has a significant antitumor effect. Nonetheless, HCC patients frequently develop sorafenib resistance. Here, we investigated the impacts of progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP), which controls sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. Furthermore, we investigated the function of PAEP and the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause HCC ferroptosis when sorafenib is applied. Methods Western blot analysis, cell proliferation, colony formation and animal experiments were performed to investigate the function of PAEP in sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. We detected the levels of reactive oxygen species, iron, and malondialdehyde and preformed transmission electron microscopy to investigate the relationship between PAEP and ferroptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay was performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of PAEP that cause HCC ferroptosis. Results PAEP was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues, and this was associated with a poor clinical prognosis. PAEP silencing dramatically reduced HCC cells’ malignant phenotype. We found that sorafenib-induced ferroptosis was more sensitive to HCC cells with PAEP knockdown. Furthermore, the orthotopic cell line-derived xenograft mouse model results showed that sorafenib sensitivity can be effectively increased in vivo by PAEP knockdown. We determined that transferrin (TF) was a PAEP target using the String database, and we further supported this finding with Co-IP analysis. Additionally, on sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells, TF partially reversed the effects of PAEP knockdown. Conclusions Our research indicates that PAEP may be a potential biomarker for predicting sorafenib resistance in HCC and disruption of PAEP expression may be a potential cancer-directed therapeutic option for HCC.

As the specific endangered medicinal plant in Xinjiang, resources and distribution of Ferula sinkiangen-sis are important for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of Chinese medicine resources. The spa-tial distribution and resources of F. sinkiangensis were researched based on low altitude remote sensing and sample investigation. The results showed that the optimum working time for F. sinkiangensis monitoring by low altitude remote sensing was the nearby 5 hills, which covered about 0.88 km2. It was suggested that the fence area should be expanded for protection. According to the results of low altitude remote sensing, the amount of F. sinkiangensis in yellow (diameter exceeding 0.3 m) was about 3 191. However, the sample investigation on amount of F. sinkiangensis in yellow (diameter exceeding 0.3 m) was about 2 752. The error between them was 14%. The monitoring time and range for F. sinkiangensis by low altitude remote sensing were also ensured. It was concluded that low altitude re-mote sensing had the advantage of quickly receiving distribution situation of F. sinkiangensis, which can effectively evaluate dynamic changes of F. sinkiangensis in Xinjiang.

Objective To establish the HPLC fingerprints for the guality control of ascidian Styela plicata.Methods The HPLC fingerprints of ten batches of samples were obtained using ZORBAX Bonus-RP(4.6?250mm,5?m) column with a mix of acetonitrile and water with 0.01%TFA as mobile phase in a gradient mode,the detection wavelength was 254nm and the temperature was 30℃.Results The experiment and analysis were carried out on ten samples,the standard HPLC fingerprint pattern method and 13 characteristic diffraction peaks of Styela plicata were obtained.The proposed method was precise,reproducible and steady.Conclusion This reliable and convenient method can be used for the identification and quality control of Styela plicata.

There is great progress in the study of the diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorders in China within the latest ten years, but it is not enough. Three features are referred by reanalyzing 281 articles dating from 1997 to 2004 collected by the CJFD: 1) Several editions of diagnostic criteria and diagnostic methods are simultaneously used; 2) Comparing with the rate of utilization of the new edition, the old editions of diagnostic criteria constitute a small percentage ; 3) Diagnostic criteria and diagnostic tools have some shortcomings. Four recommendations maybe help to solve these problems:1) Make parents and teachers advance their acknowledgement of hyperkinetic disorders; 2) Develop and improve the diagnostic criteria and diagnostic tools through more researches; 3) Use advanced scientific apparatuses more widely; 4) Establish a perfect diagnostic system according to our culture.