Shared genetic basis and causality between schizophrenia and inflammatory bowel disease: evidence from a comprehensive genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: The comorbidity between schizophrenia (SCZ) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) observed in epidemiological studies is partially attributed to genetic overlap, but the magnitude of shared genetic components and the causality relationship between them remains unclear. METHODS: By leveraging large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for SCZ, IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD), we conducted a comprehensive genetic pleiotropic analysis to uncover shared loci, genes, or biological processes between SCZ and each of IBD, UC, and CD, independently. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were applied to assess the causality across these two disorders. RESULTS: SCZ genetically correlated with IBD (rg = 0.14, p = 3.65 × 10−9), UC (rg = 0.15, p = 4.88 × 10−8), and CD (rg = 0.12, p = 2.27 × 10−6), all surpassed the Bonferroni correction. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified 64, 52, and 66 significantly independent loci associated with SCZ and IBD, UC, and CD, respectively. Follow-up gene-based analysis found 11 novel pleiotropic genes (KAT5, RABEP1, ELP5, CSNK1G1, etc) in all joint phenotypes. Co-expression and pathway enrichment analysis illustrated those novel genes were mainly involved in core immune-related signal transduction and cerebral disorder-related pathways. In univariable MR, genetic predisposition to SCZ was associated with an increased risk of IBD (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07­1.15, p = 1.85 × 10−6). Multivariable MR indicated a causal effect of genetic liability to SCZ on IBD risk independent of Actinobacteria (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06­1.16, p = 1.34 × 10−6) or BMI (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04­1.18, p = 1.84 × 10−3). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed a shared genetic basis, pleiotropic loci/genes, and causal relationship between SCZ and IBD, providing novel insights into the biological mechanism and therapeutic targets underlying these two disorders.

An atlas on risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers: A systematic review of Mendelian randomization studies.

OBJECTIVE: Gastrointestinal cancers are one of the most frequent cancer types and seriously threaten human life and health. Recent studies attribute the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancers to both genetic and environmental factors, yet the intrinsic etiology remains unclear. Mendelian randomization is a powerful well-established statistical method that is based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) to evaluate the causal relationship between exposures and outcomes. In the present study, we aimed to conduct a systematic review of Mendelian randomization studies investigating any causal risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers. METHODS: We systematically searched Mendelian randomization studies that addressed the associations of genetically predicted exposures with five main gastrointestinal cancers from September 2014 to March 2024, as well as testing the research quality and validity. RESULTS: Our findings suggested robust and consistent causal effects of body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate, fatty acids, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, insulin like growth factor-1, eosinophil counts, interleukin 2, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, apolipoprotein B on colorectal cancer risks, BMI, waist circumference, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total testosterone, smoking on gastric cancer risks, BMI, fasting insulin, LDL, waist circumference, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), immune cells, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on pancreatic cancer risks, waist circumference, smoking, T2DM on esophageal adenocarcinoma risks, and VAT, ferritin, transferrin, alcohol consumption, hepatitis B virus infection, rheumatoid arthritis on liver cancer risks, respectively. CONCLUSION: Larger, well-designed Mendelian randomization studies are practical in determining the causal status of risk factors for diseases.

[Characteristics and clinical value of intestinal metabolites in children aged 4-6 years with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]. / 4~6å²é˜»å¡žæ€§ç¡çœ å‘¼å¸æš‚åœä½Žé€šæ°”ç»¼åˆå¾æ‚£å„¿è‚ é“ä»£è°¢äº§ç‰©ç‰¹å¾åŠä¸´åºŠä»·å€¼åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics and clinical value of intestinal metabolites in children aged 4-6 years with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: A total of 31 children aged 4-6 years with OSAHS were prospectively enrolled as the test group, and 24 healthy children aged 4-6 years were included as the control group. Relevant clinical indicators were recorded. Fecal samples were collected, and non-targeted metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to detect all metabolites. RESULTS: A total of 206 metabolites were detected, mainly amino acids and their derivatives. There was a significant difference in the overall composition of intestinal metabolites between the test and control groups (P<0.05). Eighteen different metabolites were selected, among which six (N-acetylmethionine, L-methionine, L-lysine, DL-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-isoleucine) had receiver operating characteristic curve areas greater than 0.7 for diagnosing OSAHS. Among them, N-acetylmethionine had the largest area under the curve, which was 0.807, with a sensitivity of 70.83% and a specificity of 80.65%. Correlation analysis between different metabolites and clinical indicators showed that there were positive correlations between the degree of tonsil enlargement and enterolactone, between uric acid and phenylacetaldehyde, between blood glucose and acetylmethionine, and between cholesterol and 9-bromodiphenyl and procaine (P<0.05). There were negative correlations between the degree of tonsil enlargement and N-methyltyramine, aspartate aminotransferase and indolepropionic acid and L-isoleucine, between alanine aminotransferase and DL-phenylalanine, between indolepropionic acid and L-isoleucine, between uric acid and hydroxyquinoline, and between urea nitrogen and N,N-dicyclohexylurea (P<0.05). The metabolic functional pathways affected by differential metabolites mainly included riboflavin metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, cysteine and methionine metabolism, lysine degradation and glutathione metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal metabolites and metabolic functions are altered in children aged 4-6 years with OSAHS, primarily involving amino acid metabolism disorders. The screened differential intestinal metabolites have potential screening and diagnostic value as biomarkers for OSAHS.

Photographic Reproduction and Enhancement Using HVS-Based Modified Histogram Equalization.

Photographic reproduction and enhancement is challenging because it requires the preservation of all the visual information during the compression of the dynamic range of the input image. This paper presents a cascaded-architecture-type reproduction method that can simultaneously enhance local details and retain the naturalness of original global contrast. In the pre-processing stage, in addition to using a multiscale detail injection scheme to enhance the local details, the Stevens effect is considered for adapting different luminance levels and normally compressing the global feature. We propose a modified histogram equalization method in the reproduction stage, where individual histogram bin widths are first adjusted according to the property of overall image content. In addition, the human visual system (HVS) is considered so that a luminance-aware threshold can be used to control the maximum permissible width of each bin. Then, the global tone is modified by performing histogram equalization on the output modified histogram. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can outperform the five state-of-the-art methods in terms of visual comparisons and several objective image quality evaluations.

Accuracy of digital complete dentures: A systematic review of in vitro studies.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reports on digital complete dentures (CDs) are increasing. However, systematic reviews on their accuracy and influencing factors are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the accuracy of digital CDs and to summarize influencing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search of the English language literature from January 2009 to October 2019 was performed in the database PubMed/MEDLINE, with the results enriched by manual searches and citation mining. Factors investigated in the selected articles included the fabrication technique, type of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) system, shape of reference model, long-term service, analytical method, and statistical indicators. RESULTS: A total of 522 articles were identified, of which 14 in vitro articles met the inclusion criteria. Eight articles compared the adaptation of the denture base between digital and conventional methods, 4 studies evaluated the occlusal discrepancies, 4 compared the trueness or adaptation of the denture fabricated with CAD-CAM milling and 3D printing, 1 compared the denture adaptation with 4 different CAD-CAM systems, and 2 evaluated the adaptation of the denture base before and after incubation in artificial saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the studies reported clinically acceptable values for the occlusal trueness and adaptation of digital CDs. The digital CDs showed similar or better adaptation than conventionally fabricated CDs, and the greatest misfit of the intaglio surface was reported in the posterior palatal seal area and border seal area. The fabrication technique, CAD-CAM system, and long-term service were statistically significant in relation to denture accuracy. Clarification is needed concerning the accuracy of digital CDs according to the shape of the cast, the parameters related to the CAD-CAM process, the analytical method, and the statistical indicators. No clear conclusions can be drawn about the superiority of CAD-CAM milling and 3D printing regarding denture accuracy.

Utility of next-generation sequencing methods to identify the novel HLA alleles in potential stem cell donors from Chinese Marrow Donor Program.

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) is the most polymorphic region of the human genome. Compared with Sanger-sequencing-based typing (SBT) methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly higher throughput and depth sequencing characteristics, having dramatic impacts on HLA typing in clinical settings. Here, we performed NGS technology with Ion Torrent S5 platform to evaluate the potential four novel HLA alleles detected in five donors from Chinese Marrow Donor Program (CMDP, Shaanxi Province) during routine Sanger SBT testing. We also predicted the highest estimated relative frequency novel allele-bearing haplotypes according to their phenotypes and HaploStats database. NGS assays, as it provided the phase-defined and complete sequencing information, undoubtedly increase novel allele identification which will greatly enrich HLA database and provide more information for donor selection.

A Highly Stretchable and Autonomous Self-Healing Polymer Based on Combination of Pt···Pt and π-π Interactions.

A new self-healing polymer has been obtained by incorporating a cyclometalated platinum(II) complex Pt(C∧ N∧ N)Cl (C∧ N∧ N = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl) into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone. The molecular interactions (a combination of Pt···Pt and π-π interactions) between cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes are strong enough to crosslink the linear PDMS polymer chains into an elastic film. The as prepared polymer can be stretched to over 20 times of its original length. When damaged, the polymer can be healed at room temperature without any healants or external stimuli. Moreover, the self-healing is insensitive to surface aging. This work represents the first example where the attractive metallophilic inter-actions are utilized to design self-healing materials. Moreover, our results suggest that the stretchability and self-healing properties can be obtained simultaneously without any conflict by optimizing the strength of crosslinking interactions.

Comparative transcriptomics analysis reveals difference of key gene expression between banana and plantain in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Banana and plantain (Musa spp.) comprise an important part of diets for millions of people around the globe. Low temperature is one of the key environmental stresses which greatly affects the global banana production. To understand the molecular mechanism of the cold-tolerance in plantain we used RNA-Seq based comparative transcriptomics analyses for both cold-sensitive banana and cold-tolerant plantain subjected to the cold stress for 0, 3 and 6 h. RESULTS: The cold-response genes at early stage are identified and grouped in both species by GO analysis. The results show that 10 and 68 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are identified for 3 and 6 h of cold stress respectively in plantain, while 40 and 238 DEGs are identified respectively in banana. GO classification analyses show that the majority of DEGs identified in both banana and plantain belong to 11 categories including regulation of transcription, response to stress signal transduction, etc. A similar profile for 28 DEGs was found in both banana and plantain for 6 h of cold stress, suggesting both share some common adaptation processes in response to cold stress. There are 17 DEGs found uniquely in cold-tolerance plantain, which were involved in signal transduction, abiotic stress, copper ion equilibrium, photosynthesis and photorespiration, sugar stimulation, protein modifications etc. Twelve early responsive genes including ICE1 and MYBS3 were selected and further assessed and confirmed by qPCR in the extended time course experiments (0, 3, 6, 24 and 48 h), which revealed significant expression difference of key genes in response to cold stress, especially ICE1 and MYBS3 between cold-sensitive banana and cold-tolerant plantain. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the cold-tolerance pathway appears selectively activated by regulation of ICE1 and MYBS3 expression in plantain under different stages of cold stress. We conclude that the rapid activation and selective induction of ICE1 and MYBS3 cold tolerance pathways in plantain, along with expression of other cold-specific genes, may be one of the main reasons that plantain has higher cold resistance than banana.

Expression of LATS1 contributes to good prognosis and can negatively regulate YAP oncoprotein in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Large tumor suppressor (LATS) is a Ser/Thr kinase originally isolated from Drosophila. Recent studies demonstrate that LATS is an important member of the Hippo pathway which can regulate organ size and cell proliferation. However, little is known about the expression and clinical significance of LATS in lung cancer. In this study, we aimed to assess the clinical significance and biological functions of LATS1 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the expression of LATS1 in 136 cases of NSCLC tissue and 30 cases of normal lung tissue by immunohistochemical staining. The results confirmed that LATS1 expression was higher in normal lung tissues, but significantly lower in NSCLC tissues. Moreover, the expression of LATS1 in NSCLC was significantly correlated with p-TNM stage (p = 0.038) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.014). Importantly, the loss of LATS1 expression was associated with short overall survival. Further study in NSCLC cell lines in which LATS1 was either overexpressed or depleted confirmed that LATS1 markedly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and could regulate the nuclear location of yes-associated protein (YAP). These results indicate that LATS1 may play an important role in NSCLC, and may serve as a novel therapeutic target of NSCLC.

Isolation of DNA using magnetic nanoparticles coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid.

Lately, the isolation of DNA using magnetic nanoparticles has received increased attention owing to their facile manipulation and low costs. Although methods involving their magnetic separation have been extensively studied, there is currently a need for an efficient technique to isolate DNA for highly sensitive diagnostic applications. We describe herein a method to isolate and purify DNA using biofunctionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles synthesized by a modified polyol method to obtain the desired monodispersity, followed by surface modification with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) containing carboxyl groups for DNA absorption. The DMSA-coated magnetic nanoparticles (DMSA-MNPs) were used for the isolation of DNA, with a maximum yield of 86.16%. In particular, we found that the isolation of DNA using small quantities of DMSA-MNPs was much more efficient than that using commercial microbeads (NucliSENS-easyMAG, BioMérieux). Moreover, the DMSA-MNPs were successfully employed in the isolation of genomic DNA from human blood. In addition, the resulting DNA-nanoparticle complex was directly subjected to PCR amplification without prior elution, which could eventually lead to simple, rapid, sensitive and integrated diagnostic systems.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals that antioxidation mechanisms contribute to cold tolerance in plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.; ABB Group) seedlings.

Banana and its close relative, plantain are globally important crops and there is considerable interest in optimizing their cultivation. Plantain has superior cold tolerance compared with banana and a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms and responses of plantain to cold stress has great potential value for developing cold tolerant banana cultivars. In this study, we used iTRAQ-based comparative proteomic analysis to investigate the temporal responses of plantain to cold stress. Plantain seedlings were exposed for 0, 6, and 24 h of cold stress at 8 °C and subsequently allowed to recover for 24 h at 28 °C. A total of 3477 plantain proteins were identified, of which 809 showed differential expression from the three treatments. The majority of differentially expressed proteins were predicted to be involved in oxidation-reduction, including oxylipin biosynthesis, whereas others were associated with photosynthesis, photorespiration, and several primary metabolic processes, such as carbohydrate metabolic process and fatty acid beta-oxidation. Western blot analysis and enzyme activity assays were performed on seven differentially expressed, cold-response candidate plantain proteins to validate the proteomics data. Similar analyses of the seven candidate proteins were performed in cold-sensitive banana to examine possible functional conservation, and to compare the results to equivalent responses between the two species. Consistent results were achieved by Western blot and enzyme activity assays, demonstrating that the quantitative proteomics data collected in this study are reliable. Our results suggest that an increase of antioxidant capacity through adapted ROS scavenging capability, reduced production of ROS, and decreased lipid peroxidation contribute to molecular mechanisms for the increased cold tolerance in plantain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a global investigation on molecular responses of plantain to cold stress by proteomic analysis.

17ß-estradiol rapidly activates calcium release from intracellular stores via the GPR30 pathway and MAPK phosphorylation in osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells.

Estrogen regulates critical cellular functions, and its deficiency initiates bone turnover and the development of bone mass loss in menopausal females. Recent studies have demonstrated that 17ß-estradiol (E(2)) induces rapid non-genomic responses that activate downstream signaling molecules, thus providing a new perspective to understand the relationship between estrogen and bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated rapid estrogen responses, including calcium release and MAPK phosphorylation, in osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells. E(2) elevated [Ca(2+)]( i ) and increased Ca(2+) oscillation frequency in a dose-dependent manner. Immunolabeling confirmed the expression of three estrogen receptors (ERα, ERß, and G protein-coupled receptor 30 [GPR30]) in MLO-Y4 cells and localized GPR30 predominantly to the plasma membrane. E(2) mobilized calcium from intracellular stores, and the use of selective agonist(s) for each ER showed that this was mediated mainly through the GPR30 pathway. MAPK phosphorylation increased in a biphasic manner, with peaks occurring after 7 and 60 min. GPR30 and classical ERs showed different temporal effects on MAPK phosphorylation and contributed to MAPK phosphorylation sequentially. ICI182,780 inhibited E(2) activation of MAPK at 7 min, while the GPR30 agonist G-1 and antagonist G-15 failed to affect MAPK phosphorylation levels. G-1-mediated MAPK phosphorylation at 60 min was prevented by prior depletion of calcium stores. Our data suggest that E(2) induces the non-genomic responses Ca(2+) release and MAPK phosphorylation to regulate osteocyte function and indicate that multiple receptors mediate rapid E(2) responses.

[Application of CAD in custom tray design for teaching of dental postgraduates].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the teaching effect of making custom trays via CAD in dental postgraduates. METHODS: Twenty-seven dental postgraduates from first to third grade at the School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai were given an informed consent to explain and request participation in the study. First, a lecture about the theory and process of fabricating custom tray via traditional hand-made method and CAD technique was given, then the students fabricated custom trays via the two methods and completed an online survey. The working time, margin extension and students' preference were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: The working time was shorter, the margin extension was superior, and students' preference was higher via CAD than traditional method, the difference was significant(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CAD is more conducive to enhance students' understanding of custom tray manufacturing process and relevant theoretical knowledge. It is recommended to integrate digital technology into dental curriculum.

Trueness of One Stationary and Two Mobile Systems for Three-Dimensional Facial Scanning.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the trueness of one stationary and two mobile systems for 3D facial scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty participants were included in this study. After marking facial soft tissue landmarks, their faces were scanned using three facial scanning systems: the Bellus3D Dental Pro app on an iPad Pro 2020 (Apple; IP); the ARC-7 Face Scanning System (Bellus3D; BA); and the EinScan Pro 2X Plus (Shining 3D Tech; EP) following the manufacturers' operating instructions. Three-dimensional images were reconstructed with corresponding software and saved in object (OBJ) file format. The interlandmark distances were measured and compared to direct caliper measurements, and absolute error (AE) was chosen as the measurement to determine the trueness of the three scanners. The normal distribution and variance of homogeneity were measured, and then the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test. The significance level was set at P = .05. RESULTS: For the measurement of interlandmark distances, no significant differences were found among the four measuring techniques, and the mean AEs of the IP, BA, and EP systems were 1.17 ± 0.80 mm, 0.76 ± 0.61 mm, and 0.69 ± 0.65 mm. CONCLUSION: The three facial scanning systems tested provided a reliable 3D facial reconstruction. The portable IP system could meet the clinical requirements for facial scanning, but it is suggested to select the EP and BA systems when a higher trueness is required.

Identification of a novel allele HLA-C*03:560N by next-generation sequencing in a hematopoietic stem cell recipient.

A frameshift because of a single nucleotide deletion results in a novel null allele, HLA-C*03:560N.

[Monitoring winter wheat population dynamics using an active crop sensor].

Tiller density plays an important role in attaining optimum grain yield and applying topdressing N in winter wheat. However, the traditional approach based on determining tiller density is time-consuming and labor-intensive. As technology advances, remote sensing might provide an opportunity in eliminating this7 problem. In the present paper, an N rate experiment and a variety-seeding and sowing dates experiment were conducted in Quzhou County, Hebei Province in 2008/2009 to develop the models to predict the amount of winter wheat tillers. Positive linear relationships between vegetation indices and tillers were observed across growth stages (R2, 0.25-0.64 for NDVI; 0.26-0.65 for RVI). The validation results indicated that the prediction using NDVI had the higher coefficient of determination (R2, 0.54-0.64), the lower root mean square error (RMSE, 260-350 tillers m(-2)) and relative error (RE, 16.3%-23.0%) at early growth stages of winter wheat. We conclude that active GreenSeeker sensor is a promising tool for timely monitoring of winter wheat tiller density.

Potential health risk assessment of HFRs, PCBs, and OCPs in the Yellow River basin.

The concentrations of PBDEs, NBFRs, DP, PCBs, and OCPs were analyzed in water samples of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and in soil and maize samples collected from basin irrigation areas to understand the status of POPs and associated health risks. The results showed: (1) the congeners of eight PBDEs and seven NBFRs were detected in 10 tributaries, with average concentrations of 1575 and 4288 pg. L-1. Thirty-three congeners of PCBs were detected, and the average concentration of PCB was 232 pg. L-1. Five HCHs were the primary congeners among twenty-three congeners of OCPs in the ten tributaries, accounting for 79% of the total. The average concentration of OCPs was 8287 pg. L-1. (2) Similar congeners of HFRs, PCBs, and OCPs were found in the trunk water. The ranking based on the HFR concentration was upstream > downstream > midstream, and that of the PCB and OCP concentration was downstream > upstream > midstream. (3) PCBs and OCPs in the trunk water of the YRB and in the soil and maize irrigated with river water pose potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. The results indicate considerable organic pollution in the YRB, suggesting that national emission standards for POPs should be implemented soon.

Microbial characteristics response to the soil quality of newly created farmland on the Loess Plateau.

Microbiome plays an important role in evaluating soil quality for sustainable agriculture. However, the suitability of biological indicators in reclaimed farmland is less understood. Using high-throughput sequencing, we evaluated the soil microbial community of the newly created farmland (NF) after reclamation with two local high-yield farmlands (slope farmland (SF), check-dam farmland (CF)) on the Loess Plateau. Soil enzyme activities and the amount of culturable microorganism were also quantified to assess the soil quality. Results showed that the microbial diversity, cultural microorganism abundance, and soil enzyme activities indicated poor soil quality in NF. The dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, and Cyanobacteria. The abundance of Acidobacteria was significantly lower in NF (13.31%) than in SF (27.25%) and CF (27.91%). Soil enzyme activities had a significant correlation with the abundance of culturable microorganism, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and pH, suggesting that soil microbes have driven the formation of nutrition and further mediated crop growth. Therefore, the application of bacterial fertilizers could be a potential way to improve the soil quality of reclaimed farmland for crop growth.

Cytotoxic chaetoglobosins from the endophyte Chaetomium globosum.

Two new alkaloids chaetoglobosins V (1) and W (2), together with the six known congeners 3-8, were isolated through bioassay-guided fractionations from the EtOAc extract of a solid culture of Chaetomium globosum IFB-E041. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including mainly 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Chaetoglobosin W (2) was unique in its possession of an oxolane ring formed via an oxygen bridge between C-3 and C-6. The isolated fungal metabolites exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines (KB, K562, MCF-7, and HepG2) with their IC(50) values in a range of 18-30 µg/mL.

Cochliones A-D, four new tetrahydrochromanone derivatives from endophytic Cochliobolus sp.

Four new tetrahydrochromanone derivatives, cochliones A-D (1-4), along with three known metabolites, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5), 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl) benzoic acid (6), and 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carboxylic acid (7), were characterized from the culture of Cochliobolus sp. IFB-E039, a fungus that resides inside the healthy root of Cynodon dactylon (Gramineae). The structures of 1-4 were accommodated by their spectral data (UV, IR, CD, HR-ESI-MS, (1)H and (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY). The bioassay for the cytotoxic metabolite showed that cochlione C (3) inhibited human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line (K562) with IC(50) values of 21.99 and 4.59 microg/ml, respectively.