Novel Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitor-Geranylated Flavonoid from Mulberry Leaves Ameliorates Insulin Resistance.

Mulberry leaf is a common vegetable with a variety of beneficial effects, such as hypoglycemic activity. However, the underlying mechanism of its hypoglycemic effect have not been fully revealed. In this study, two flavonoid derivatives were isolated from mulberry leaves, a new geranylated flavonoid compound (1) and its structural analogue (2). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis. To study the potential hypoglycemic properties of these compounds, their regulatory effects on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were investigated. In comparison to oleanolic acid, compounds 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activities (IC50 = 4.53 ± 0.31 and 10.53 ± 1.76 µM) against PTP1B, the positive control (IC50 = 7.94 ± 0.76 µM). Molecular docking predicted the binding sites of compound 1 to PTP1B. In insulin-resistance HepG2 cell, compound 1 promoted glucose consumption in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot and polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that compound 1 might regulate glucose consumption through the PTP1B/IRS/PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, geranylated flavonoids in mulberry leaves inhibite PTP1B and increase the glucose consumption in insulin-resistant cells. These findings provide an important basis for the use of mulberry leaf flavonoids as a dietary supplement to regulate glucose metabolism.

In vitro Antibiotic Susceptibility, Virulence Genes Distribution and Biofilm Production of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Bovine Mastitis in the Liaoning Province of China.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the subtype, characterize the antimicrobial resistance, determine the virulence gene distribution, and analyze the biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine mastitis milk samples in the Liaoning Province of China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 56 Staph. aureus isolates were collected and identified in this study; the isolates were divided into different spa types based on the sequence of the polymorphic X region of the spa gene. Additionally, antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated using the broth microdilution method, and 18 virulence genes were detected using PCR. Biofilm formation was measured by spectrophotometry with crystal violet staining and observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: There were 12.12% (56/462) milk samples that were positive for Staph. aureus. These isolates were nonsusceptible to sulfamethoxazole (100%), penicillin (76.9%), daptomycin (76.79%), clindamycin (69.64%), and oxacillin (60.71%); however, the majority of the isolates (80.4%) were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate. The predominant virulence genes encoded the cytotoxins, hla (94.64%) and hlb (89.29%), and the adhesion factors clfA (89.29%), clfB (89.29%), and fnbB (80.36%). Comparatively, virulence genes related to other adhesion factors such as cna (8.93%) and enterotoxins, such as seg (26.79%), sea (16.07%), seb (7.14%), and sec (7.14%) were detected at relatively lower rates. The following eight spa types were identified: t267 (35.84%), t730 (22.64%), t518 (15.09%), t1190 (11.32%), t1456 (9.43%), t224 (1.88%), t9129 (1.88%), and t177 (1.88%). The highest biofilm production was observed for t267. Staph. aureus exhibited various patterns of biofilm formation, with the biofilm often being associated with a tower-shaped structure or a thicker biofilm. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that Staph. aureus isolates from dairy cows with mastitis in the Liaoning Province of China were non-susceptible to sulfamethoxazole, penicillin, daptomycin, oxacillin, and clindamycin. Additionally, the most prevalent subtype was t267, which displayed resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents and harbored several virulence genes, including clfA, clfB, fnbB, hla, and hlb.

Resistance to ß-lactam antibiotic may influence nanH gene expression in Trueperella pyogenes isolated from bovine endometritis.

Virulence could be modulated by many instinctive and environmental factors including oxygen, osmolarity and antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between drug resistance and the nanH expression in Trueperella pyogenes (T. pyogenes). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 6 ß-lactam antimicrobial agents (penicillin G, amoxicillin, oxacillin, cefazolin, ceftiofur, and ampicillin) against T. pyogenes were tested by standard broth dilution method according to the protocols of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was selected to investigate the mRNA expression levels of the nanH in T. pyogenes. All the isolates were resistant to atleast 2 of antimicrobial agents, and multidrug resistance (resistance to atleast 3 antimicrobials) was observed in 84.38% (27/32) of isolates. The mRNA expression levels of the nanH were significantly higher in comparison with that in ATCC19411, as the resistance profile enlarged, the nanH mRNA expression levels decreased in T. pyogenes. These results indicated that ß-lactam antibiotic resistance in T. pyogenes may alter the expression of the nanH.

[Study on eco-climatic applicability of Angelica sinensis].

OBJECTIVE: In the interest of establish planting base of Angelica sinensis on a large scale, enhance economic benefit, and improve decision-making reasons, the eco-climatic applicability of A. sinensis was studied. METHOD: Using integral regression, eco-climatic applicability and the effect of meteorological conditions for the yield of A. sinensis' were analysed by field experimental data. RESULT: Selected > or =0 degrees C accumulated temperature and annual precipitation as leading index, altitude as assistant index, yield and rate of finished products as reference index, the integrated eco-climatic division index and the planting division applicability of A. sinensis was confirmed. CONCLUSION: Accordancing to theory of climate similitude and leading index summarisation, combining with assistant index and reference index, the integrated division index of eco-climate was confirmed. The planting division of co-climate applicability was divided into 5 grades as best suitable, suitable hypo-suitable, just suitable and no suitable regions. At the same time,the way to enhanced utilizing efficiency of eco-climate resources was brought forward.