Phaeotremella camelliae sp. nov. (Phaeotremellaceae, Tremellales), A Novel Yeasts Isolated from Tea-Oil Fruits in Jiangxi Province, China.

Sixty-two isolates among the 65 yeast strains isolated from Jiangxi province, China, were identified into 15 known species based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA and ITS region. The other three strains, GaoanZ14, GaoanC57, and GaoanC191, isolated from tea-oil fruits, were identified as two undescribed species of Phaeotremella based on the multiple gene sequence analysis, physiological, and biochemical comparisons. Strains GaoanC57 and GaoanC191 had one substitution difference both in the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA and ITS region. They formed a separate branch from the other Phaeotremella species in the D1/D2 and multiple genes trees, and differed from the known species by at least 10 nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and more than 6% mismatches in the ITS region. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that those two strains represent a novel species of Phaeotremella, for which the names Phaeotremella camelliae sp. nov. (Holotype CGMCC 2.6141, Mycobank MB832699) is proposed. Only one strain, GaoanZ14, represents the other undescribed species of Phaeotremella, so it will be described in latter when more strains are found.

[Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity in cancer cells of novel dihydropyrazolyl and pyrazolyl artemisinin-phenyl ethers].

To explore potent anticancer agent based on artemisinin scaffold, a series of 10-O-phenyl ethers derivatives containing dihydropyrazolyl or pyrazolyl moiety have been designed and synthesized. Their structures were determined by LC-MS and ¹H-NMR date. Inhibitory effects of the target compounds in human breast cancer MCF-7, MCF/Adr, MDA-MB-231 cells and prostate cell line PC-3 were determined by MTT assay. Those derivatives displayed good antiproliferative activity against the tested cancer cells. Particularly, target compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity against drug-resistance cells MCF/Adr, which was worthy for further investigation.

[Spatio-temporal distribution of TN and TP in water and evaluation of eutrophic state of Lake Nansi].

Based on the seasonally investigating data from Lake Nansi during 2010 to 2011, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in water were analyzed, and the trophic state was also assessed. The results showed that the average concentrations of TN and TP were 2.617 mg x L(-1) and 0.110 mg x L(-1) respectively. The spatial variations of TN and TP in water were significantly different in four lake regions with the highest value of two parameters (3.830 mg x L(-1) and 0.192 mg x L(-1) respectively) were all found in Lake Nanyang while the lowest value in Lake Dushan (2.106 mg x L(-1)) and Lake Weishan (0.067 mg x L(-1)) respectively. Seasonally, the concentrations of TN in Lake Nansi had no significant difference, but the concentrations of TN in summer (2.805 mg x L(-1)) and spring (3.049 mg x L(-1)) were obviously higher than that in autumn (2.160 mg x L(-1)) and winter (2.452 mg x L(-1)), and that in four lake regions showed no uniform variation trends. While the seasonal change of the concentrations of TP in water were significantly different not only in Lake Nansi but also in its four lake regions, the variation trends were uniform with summer > spring > autumn > winter. Generally, the water quality of Lake Nansi has reached light eutrophication, among which, Lake Nanyang was in middle eutrophic state, while other three lake regions were in light eutrophic state. Integrated analysis indicted that external pollution was still the main influence factors of water quality in Lake Nansi, meanwhile, the pollution caused by pen fish culture was urgent for the control of non-point pollution sources.

Molecular cloning and characterization of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase of Paragonimus westermani.

Superoxide dismutases (SODs; EC 1.15.1.1) play important roles in the protection of the parasites against cellular oxygen-mediated killing of the hosts. A copper/zinc-containing SOD (Cu/Zn-SOD) was identified previously from lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani. To expand our understanding of P. westermani SOD, we isolated a complementary DNA encoding a Cu/Zn-SOD, expressed the active enzyme in Escherichia coli, and characterized its biochemical properties. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of the gene shared up to 73.7% identities with Cu/Zn-SODs of other helminths and shared well-conserved characteristic motifs and essential aa residues involved in coordinating copper and zinc enzymatic functions. Recombinant Cu/ Zn-SOD exhibited comparable biochemical properties with that of the native enzyme, including pH optima and potassium cyanide-and hydrogen peroxide-sensitive inhibition profiles. The active enzyme consisted of 2 identical subunits covalently linked by disulfide bonds. The enzyme was constitutively expressed throughout various developmental stages of the parasite. The levels increased as P. westermani matured and plateaued in adult stage. Our result suggests the enzyme might play an important role for parasites to survive in the hosts through its superoxide anion-detoxifying function.

[Effect of shuxuetong in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of shuxuetong (SXT) in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients, accepted intracoronary stenting, were divided into two groups, the SXT group and the control group, both of them were treated with conventional treatment, and to the SXT group, SXT was given additionally. The condition of treated coronary artery restenosis in the two groups was compared by way of quantitative coronary angiography and a 6-month follow-up study was adopted. RESULTS: Follow-up study was completed in 43 patients (23 cases in the SXT group, and 20 in the control group). The angina recurrence rate in the SXT group (3 cases, 13%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (7 cases, 35%, P < 0.05). Quantitative coronary angiography showed the restenosis degree of operated artery in the SXT group was significantly milder than that in the control group, with the last lumen losing and index in the SXT group (0.46 +/- 0.25 mm, 24.26 +/- 8.64%) less than those in the control group (0.75 +/- 0.33 mm, 31.25 +/- 11.03%). The net gain lumen and the net gain index in the SXT group (1.23 +/- 0.30 mm, 58.96 +/- 24.68%) were greater than those in the control group (0.98 +/- 0.33 mm, 42.68 +/- 29.51%), all P < 0.05. But the restenosis rate in the two groups was insignificantly different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SXT might has some definite effect in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting.