Ovarian cancer is a complex disease marked by tumor heterogeneity, which contributes to difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. New molecular targets and better molecular profiles defining subsets of patients are needed. tRNA fragments (tRFs) offer a recently identified group of noncoding RNAs that are often as abundant as microRNAs in cancer cells. Initially their presence in deep sequencing data sets was attributed to the breakdown of mature tRNAs, however, it is now clear that they are actively generated and function in multiple regulatory events. One such tRF, a 5’ fragment of tRNA-Glu-CTC (tRF5-Glu), is processed from the mature tRNA-Glu and is shown in this study to be expressed in ovarian cancer cells. We confirmed that tRF5-Glu binds directly to a site in the 3’UTR of the Breast Cancer Anti-Estrogen Resistance 3 (BCAR3) mRNA thereby down regulating its expression. BCAR3 has not previously been studied in ovarian cancer cells and our studies demonstrate that inhibiting BCAR3 expression suppresses ovarian cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, mimics of tRF5-Glu were found to inhibit proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. In summary, BCAR3 and tRF5-Glu contribute to the complex tumor heterogeneity of ovarian cancer cells and may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention.

High-throughput sequencing studies of small RNAs reveal a complex milieu of noncoding RNAs in biological samples. Early data analysis was often limited to microRNAs due to their regulatory nature and potential as biomarkers; however, many more classes of noncoding RNAs are now being recognized. A class of fragments initially excluded from analysis were those derived from transfer RNAs (tRNAs) because they were thought to be degradation products. More recently, critical cellular function has been attributed to tRNA fragments (tRFs), and their conservation across all domains of life has propelled them into an emerging area of scientific study. The biogenesis of tRFs is currently being elucidated, and initial studies show that a diverse array of tRFs are generated from all parts of a tRNA molecule. The goal of this review was to present what is currently known about tRFs and their potential as biomarkers for the earlier detection of disease.

Objectives Tannins with complex structures are important plant resources, which are abundant in the genus Terminalia. Various Terminalia species have been playing an important role in traditional medicine system. A systematic scoping review of Terminalia Linn. research literature for tannins was conducted to summarize the structures of tannins and analysis fragmentation pathway characteristics, which could provide references for the structural analysis of tannins from Terminalia Linn. Methods After an update of the literature search up to September 2018, the terms of Terminalia in all publications were analyzed. Electronic searches were conducted in scifinder and PubMed, and the information from 197 articles in all with regard to the tannin structure study was extracted. Results The compounds of 82 tannins from the genus Terminalia were reviewed. According to the structural differences, they can be divided into three categories, hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins, and complex tannins, respectively. The fragmentation pathways of 46 identified tannins were analyzed, and the fragmentation rules of tannins were speculated according to different types. Conclusion This review has attracted attention to the active substances in this species such as the tannins summarized in further study. How to improve the extraction and purification technology of tannins from genus Terminalia is an urgent problem to be solved.

Ginseng, the root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., is a famous herbal medicine, and its major ginsenosides exert beneficial effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Due to the multicomponent and multitarget features of ginsenosides, their detailed mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of ginsenosides on NAFLD and the potential mechanisms mediated by the gut microbiota and related molecular processes. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented or not supplemented with ginsenoside extract (GE) for 12 weeks. A strategy that integrates bacterial gene sequencing, serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology was applied. The results showed that GE significantly alleviated HFD-induced NAFLD symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GE treatment modulated the HFD-induced imbalance in the gut microbiota and alleviated dysbiosis-mediated gut leakage and metabolic endotoxemia. Additionally, 20 components were identified in the mouse plasma after the oral administration of GE, and they interacted with 82 NAFLD-related targets. A network analysis revealed that anti-inflammatory effects and regulation of the metabolic balance might be responsible for the effects of GE on NAFLD. A validation experiment was then conducted, and the results suggested that GE suppressed NF-κB/IκB signaling activation and decreased the release and mRNA levels of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6). Additionally, GE promoted hepatic lipolytic genes (CPT-1a), inhibited lipogenic genes (SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC-1) and improved leptin resistance. These findings imply that the benefits of GE are involved in modulating the gut microbiota, enhancing the gut barrier function, restoring the energy balance, and alleviating metabolic inflammation. Moreover, GE might serve as a potential agent for the prevention of NAFLD through the integration of prebiotic, anti-inflammatory and energy-regulatory effects.

CA may be a useful and safe alternative or additive approach to AADs for cardiac arrhythmia, especially in VPB and Af patients, which mainly based on a pooled estimate and result from 1 study with higher methodological quality. However, we could not reach a robust conclusion due to low quality of overall evidence.