Three first records of stick insects attacking plants (Inseect: Phasmida) in Tibet / Três primeiros registros de insetos-pau atacando plantas (Inseect: Phasmida) no Tibet

Except for a few stick insects that are economically valuable, most species be considered to be forest pests, so it is extremely important to obtain plant host-use information of more stick insects. In this paper, the plant hosts of three species of stick insects were recorded for the first time. We also discovered these stick insects can feed upon the flowers or leaves of plants. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Hypericum choisianum Wall. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) attacked Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) and Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Debregeasia orientalis C. J. Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finally, we were lucky enough to also obtain photographs of them mating and feeding.

Exceto por alguns insetos-pau que são economicamente valiosos, a maioria das espécies pode ser considerada praga florestal, por isso é extremamente importante obter informações sobre o uso de hospedeiros de plantas de mais insetos-pau. Neste artigo, as plantas hospedeiras de três espécies de bicho-pau foram registradas pela primeira vez. Também descobrimos que esses bichos-pau podem se alimentar de flores ou folhas de plantas. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) atacou a parede de Hypericum choisianum. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) atacou Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) e Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae orientaled) atacou Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finalmente, tivemos a sorte de também obter fotos deles se acasalando e se alimentando.

Subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity studies of Hericium erinaceus ß-glucan extract preparation.

The medicinal effects of Hericium erinaceus have been long documented in scientific studies of Eastern traditional medicine. It is widely consumed, because of its nutritional qualities and perceived health benefits. Also, it is rich in ß-glucans, which has been shown to have immunomodulating and antitumor effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate adverse effects, if any, of ß-glucan extract preparation from H. erinaceus in subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity studies. The conduct of these studies was in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and test guidelines established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In the subchronic toxicity study, Sprague Dawley rats (12/sex/group) were administered (gavage) H. erinaceus ß-glucan extract preparation at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day for 90 days. Treatment with H. erinaceus ß-glucan extract preparation did not result in any toxicologically significant treatment-related changes in clinical observations, ophthalmic examinations, body weights, body weight gains, feed consumption, and organ weights. Clinical pathology including hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysisand terminal necropsy (gross or histopathology findings) did not reveal any treatment-related adverse effects. The results of genotoxicity studies as evaluated by gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium, in vitro chromosome aberrations and in vivo micronucleus test in mice did not reveal any genotoxicity of H. erinaceus ß-glucan extract preparation. Based on the subchronic study, the no observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for H. erinaceus ß-glucan extract preparation was determined as 2000 mg/kg bw/day, the highest dose tested.

[Effects of ginkgo biloba extract on somatosensory evoked potential and nitric oxide after subarachnoid hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) and nitric oxide (NO) after subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), and the influence of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb). METHOD: Rats in sham-operated group, SAH model group and EGb-treated group underwent measurement of dynamic changes of regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF), SEP and NO levels both in serum and in brain tissue within 24 h after operation. RESULT: In SAH group, rCBF decreased immediately after operation, with no tendency to recover within 24 h. The latency of SEP delayed progressively from 1 h to 24 h after SAH. NO levels in serum and in brain tissue decreased and increased respectively from 1 h to 24 h after SAH. EGb effectively antagonized the changes of above parameters. CONCLUSION: SEP is helpful in the judgement on brain ischemic damage after SAH. Decrease of NO in serum and increase of that in brain tissue may lead to cerebral vasospasm and ischemic brain damage respectively after SAH. EGb relieves SAH-induced brain ischemic damage by reversing the pathological alterations of NO.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on somatosensory evoked potential, nitric oxide levels in serum and brain tissue in rats with cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on cerebral vasospasm and neural damage following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. It was found that the regional cerebral blood flow decreased immediately and persistently after SAH in SAH rats. The latency of somatosensory evoked potential delayed progressively. The nitric oxide levels in serum and brain tissue decreased and increased, respectively, after SAH. Ginkgo biloba extract effectively antagonized the changes of above parameters. It was concluded that somatosensory evoked potential is useful for the judgement of cerebral ischemic damage during cerebral vasospasm after SAH. Decrease in serum nitric oxide and increase in brain tissue nitric oxide are important factors leading to cerebral vasospasm and neural damage, respectively, after SAH. Ginkgo biloba extract relieves cerebral vasospasm and cerebral ischemic damage by reversing the pathological alteration of nitric oxide.