Climacocystaceae fam. nov. and Gloeoporellaceae fam. nov., two new families of Polyporales (Basidiomycota).

Polyporales is a diverse group of Agaricomycetes including more than 2,500 species belonging to 255 genera and 18 families. Recently, many studies focused on the classification of Polyporales, but the familial placements of some taxa remain uncertain. In this study, two new families, Climacocystaceae and Gloeoporellaceae of Polyporales, are proposed based on morphological characters and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses of the two new families are inferred from the DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1). Furthermore, the divergence time of Polyporales was estimated as an additional taxonomic criterion based on the conserved regions of five DNA fragments (5.8S, nLSU, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1). Bayesian evolutionary analysis revealed that the ancestor of Polyporales splits with a mean stem age of 136.53 Mya with a 95% highest posterior density (HPD) of 118.08-158.06 Mya. The mean stem ages of the families within Polyporales originated between 66.02 and 119.22 Mya, of which Climacocystaceae occurred in a mean stem age of 77.49 Mya with a 95% HPD of 61.45-93.16 Mya, and Gloeoporellaceae occurred in a mean stem age of 88.06 Mya with a 95% HPD of 67.15-107.76 Mya.

Bioaccumulation, tissue distribution and joint toxicity of erythromycin and cadmium in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).

The bioaccumulation of erythromycin (ETM) and cadmium (Cd) in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and subsequent toxicity on pathological changes and enzymatic activities were investigated during 21-day exposure to ETM, Cd, and Cd + ETM mixture. The bioaccumulation of Cd and ETM residues in crab tissues decreased as gill > hepatopancreas > muscle > ovary, with higher Cd bioaccumulation than ETM. The highest Cd bioaccumulation in crab reached 1.15 mg/g dry weight in gill and 461.29 µg/g in hepatopancreas, on the 14th day of Cd treatment. Cd exposure promoted the bioaccumulation of ETM in four tissues. ETM exposure caused tubular vacuolization in epithelial and edema and degeneration of hepatic ducts in hepatopancreas, and disconnected gill epithelial layer and indistinctly cellular structure in gill. During Cd exposure, mitochondria acted as a main biomarker to identify the damage, including reduced and swollen mitochondria, and broken mitochondrial structure. Moreover, Chinese mitten crab showed defence capability against ETM and Cd exposure by physiological adjustment of metabolic enzymes glutathione S-transferase activity.

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Favolus (Basidiomycota).

Favolus is a natural genus that is closely related to Polyporus. A taxonomic study of Favolus was carried out based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and 18S and 28S genes of the nuc rDNA, translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1-α), the mt 16S rDNA gene (mt rrnS), ß-tubulin gene (TBB1), and the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. Fourteen specimens collected from subtropical to tropical regions in China were shown to be different from existing Favolus species. They are described and illustrated here as four new species, namely, Favolus niveus, F. septatus, F. pseudoemerici, and F. subtropicus.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Polyporus Group Melanopus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from China.

Melanopus is a morphological group of Polyporus which contains species with a black cuticle on the stipe. In this article, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on Melanopus group were carried out on the basis of morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence of DNA sequences of multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF1-α), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and ß-tubulin gene sequences (ß-tubulin). The phylogenetic result confirmed that the previously so-called Melanopus group is not a monophyletic assemblage, and species in this group distribute into two distinct clades: the Picipes clade and the Squamosus clade. Four new species of Picipes are described, and nine new combinations are proposed. A key to species of Picipes is provided.

Transcriptional and morphological effects of tamoxifen on the early development of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Tamoxifen is a widely used anticancer drug with both an estrogen agonist and antagonist effect. This study focused on its endocrine disrupting effect, and overall environmental significance. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations (0.5, 5, 50 and 500 µg l(-1) ) of tamoxifen for 96 h. The results showed a complex effect of tamoxifen on zebrafish embryo development. For the 500 µg l(-1) exposure group, the heart rate was decreased by 20% and mild defects in caudal fin and skin were observed. Expressions of a series of genes related to endocrine and morphological changes were subsequently tested through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bisphenol A as a known estrogen was also tested as an endocrine-related comparison. Among the expression of endocrine-related genes, esr1, ar, cyp19a1b, hsd3b1 and ugt1a1 were all increased by tamoxifen exposure, similar to bisphenol A. The cyp19a1b is a key gene that controls estrogen synthesis. Exposure to 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 µg l(-1) of tamoxifen caused upregulation of cyp19a1b expression to 152%, 568%, 953% and 2024% compared to controls, higher than the effects from the same concentrations of bisphenol A treatment, yet vtg1 was suppressed by 24% from exposure to 500 µg l(-1) tamoxifen. The expression of metabolic-related genes such as cyp1a, cyp1c2, cyp3a65, gpx1a, gstp1, gsr and genes related to observed morphological changes such as krt17 were also found to be upregulated by high concentrations of tamoxifen. These findings indicated the potential environmental effect of tamoxifen on teleost early development. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New species of Cystolepiota from China.

In this paper, a new species, Cystolepiota pseudofumosifolia, is introduced. C. pseudofumosifolia is characterized by granulose or powdery pileus with an anatomic structure that is loosely globose, as well as ellipsoid cells in chains in the pileus covering the cheilocystidia. This new species is compared to the related and similar Cystolepiota species in morphology and molecular phylogeny based on Internal transcribed spacer sequences. Both types of data support our specimens as a new species in the genus Cystolepiota.

[Concentration and distribution characteristics of estrogen in aquatic organism from Chongming Island].

Five typical estrogens, including estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA), were simultaneously determined in typical aquatic organisms from Chongming Island by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography equipped with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS2). The distribution pattern of estrogens was studied and preliminary heath risk assessment was discussed. The results showed that the total dry weight concentrations of estrogens were from 1.1 ng x g(-1) to 7.38 ng x g(-1) with a mean of 4.25 ng x g(-1). The lipid content-standardized estrogens concentrations were in the range of 5.01- 83.41 ng x g(-1) with a mean of 40.75 ng x g(-1), showing a descending order of fish > shrimp > crab. Fish and crab, fish and shrimp showed a significant difference in lipid content-standardized estrogen concentrations, whereas no significant difference was found between crab and shrimp. Compared to BPA, the dry weight concentrations of steroids (E1, E2, E3 and EE2) were found at lower levels (0.17-0.69 ng x g(-1)) with lower detection frequency (< 66.67%) in aquatic organisms from Chongming Island. In contrast, the detection rate of BPA reached 100%, and the average dry weight concentration detected was 2.60 ng x g(-1). The results of health risk assessment showed the concentration of estrogens in aquatic products from Chongming Island could not cause any adverse population-level effects.

Spry2 expression correlates with BRAF mutation in thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: BRAF mutations activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and often confer an aggressive thyroid cancer (TC) phenotype. Spry2 is an inducible negative feedback regulator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Spry2 in TC. METHODS: TC cell lines were analyzed for Spry2 expression and MAPK pathway activation. Cells were treated with MEK inhibitor and Spry2 small hairpin RNA. Cells were analyzed for Spry2 expression and MEK/ERK phosphorylation (pMEK, pERK). Thirty human papillary TCs were analyzed for mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activating mutations and Spry2 expression. RESULTS: Increased baseline pMEK levels and Spry2 expression was found in BRAF V600E mutant (BRAF+) cells. MEK inhibition in BRAF+ cells showed decreased Spry2 expression and decreased pMEK/pERK levels. From our tissue samples, 10 papillary TCs had BRAF mutation, and increased Spry2 expression was found only in BRAF+ tumors. CONCLUSION: Spry2 expression correlates with BRAF status in vitro and in human tissue. Spry2 may serve as a negative feedback regulator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in BRAF+ TC. Increased Spry2 expression may serve as a surrogate marker of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation with prognostic and therapeutic implications.

Palliative gastrectomy and chemotherapy for stage IV gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of palliative gastrectomy and chemotherapy in a large series of patients with stage IV gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 389 patients were identified in survival analysis. Among which, 183 cases received palliative gastrectomy (PG) and 206 cases received unresectable operation, 184 cases received palliative chemotherapy (PC) and 205 cases did not receive chemotherapy. The survival advantages of patients, based on treatments modality, were also analyzed in patients with liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rate of those patients who were treated with PG + PC were 85.7% (96/112), 32.1% (36/112), and 8.9% (10/112), which were far better than those who were not. For those patients with liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, and/or N3 lymph node metastasis, survival advantages were also present if treated with this multimodality approach. CONCLUSION: The survival time and palliative duration were significantly longer in patients after PG than after non-resection operations. Postoperative chemotherapy prolonged the survival time of patients after palliative surgery. PG combined with adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival in patients with stage IV gastric cancer, even with liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, and lymph node metastasis.