Investigation of insecticidal activity of two Rhododendron species on stored-product insects.

This study was designed to investigate the insecticidal activity of the essential oils (EOs) and extracts from Rhododendron rufum and Rhododendron przewalskii. The EOs were extracted from the leaves of R. Rufum and R. przewalskii by hydro-distillation and their chemical components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The repellency, contact toxicity and antifeedant activity of the EOs and extracts were evaluated against Sitophilus oryzae and Tribolium castaneum along with those of their main components. A total of nine compounds were identified from the EO of R. Rufum, and the most abundant component was myristicin (79.72%). The EO of R. Rufum exhibited repellent activities at different levels and its main compound myristicin showed contact toxicity and repellent effects against S. oryzae and T. castaneum. Meanwhile, by bioassay-guided fractionation, four compounds with strong antifeedant activities against T. castaneum, 24-methylenecycloartanyl-2'E, 4'Z-tetradecadienoate (1), methyl thyrsiflorin B acetate (2), friedelin (3) and Excoecarin R1 methyl ester (4) were separated and identified from the ethanol extract of R. przewalskii for the first time. Considering the significant anti-insect activities, the EOs and extracts of R. Rufum and R. przewalskii might be used in integrated pest strategies, establishing a good perspective for the comprehensive use of natural plant resources of Rhododendron genus.

Contact toxicity and repellence of essential oil from Senecio scandens and its major components against three stored product insects.

The objective of this work was to investigate the chemical compositions of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Senecio scandens by hydrodistillation and their insecticidal activities against Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne and Liposceis bostrychophila. The chemical profile of the EO were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 20 compounds were identified which accounted for 88.03% of the total EO. Five major compounds identified in the EO were assayed against the three stored product insects. The EO showed strong contact toxicity to T. castaneum (LD50 = 18.01 µg/adult), L. serricorne (LD50 = 20.11 µg/adult) and L. bostrychophila (LD50 = 72.14 µg/cm2). Among all compounds, geraniol showed the contact toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila with LD50 values of 15.82 µg/adult and 26.64 µg/cm2. The EO and its five chemical compounds also exhibited different level of potential repellence to the three stored product insects.

Case report of the first cured patient with Mycobacterium Chimaera infection following cardiac valve replacement in the mainland of China.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium chimaera infections subsequent to cardiac surgery are related to contaminated heater-cooler devices, with high mortality. Nevertheless, few studies have been reported in Asia. CASE PRESENTATION: We described the case of a 55-year-old man with Mycobacterium chimaera infection following cardiac surgery in the mainland of China. He was diagnosed with endocarditis caused by Mycobacterium chimaera subsequent to open heart surgery. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and 16S rRNA gene PCR analysis were used to identify potential pathogens. The patient underwent redo valve replacement surgery and received combination therapy with azithromycin, ethambutol, linezolid, and amikacin. No signs of relapse were observed during the 11-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first documented case of Mycobacterium chimaera infection following cardiac surgery in the mainland of China and the first documented transnational imported case worldwide. Moreover, mNGS is a novel diagnostic technology that can guide antimicrobial therapy prior to obtaining fluid/tissue culture results for Mycobacterium chimaera, providing a new approach for the detection of potential Mycobacterium chimaera infection.

Skin and soft tissue infection caused by Cysteiniphilum litorale in an immunocompetent patient: A case report.

Cysteiniphilum litorale is a Gram-negative coccobacillus first isolated from the seawater of Wailingding Island near the estuary of Pearl River in southern China. This organism was previously not considered to cause disease in animals or humans. We report a case of a 19-year-old female patient infected with abscess caused by C. litorale in the middle digit of her right hand after minor trauma during the handling of estuarine shrimps at home. C. litorale was cultured from the wound exudate of the patient and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Whether C. litorale may be transmitted to humans via other channels requires further exploration.

Enhanced bioavailability of total paeony glycoside by self-microemulsifying drug delivery system.

Total paeony glycoside (TPG) is extracted and purified from a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It has many biological and pharmacological activities. However, there are few dosage forms of TPG in the market because of its low bioavailability. Self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) is a vital tool in solving low bioavailability of poor absorption drugs. So the objective of this study is to develop a new TPG-SMEDDS for the oral delivery of poorly soluble TPG. Through the construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, the optimum prescription was obtained, which consisted of 18.70% TPG, 16.27% ethyl oleate as oil, 43.34% Cremophor RH40 as surfactant and 21.73% Transcutol P as cosurfactant. The characterizations of TPG-SMEDDS including morphological characterization, droplet size, zeta-potential, emulsification time, and dissolution study of TPG-SMEDDS were evaluated. The results showed that TPG-SMEDDS is stable and its release rate is high in four different media (0.1 mol x L(-1) HCl, pH 6.8 PBS, pH 7.4 PBS, and water). The relative bioavailability of SMEDDS was dramatically enhanced in an average of 1.52-fold that of TPG-suspension. It is concluded that the bioavailability of TPG is enhanced greatly by SMEDDS.

A second polymorph of catena-poly[[(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')copper(II)]-di-µ-thio-cyanato-κN:S;κS:N].

In the title coordination polymer, [Cu(NCS)(2)(C(12)H(8)N(2))](n), the Cu(II) atom is situated on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by two N atoms from the bidentate 1,10-phenanthroline ligand and four thio-cyanate groups to confer a CuN(4)S(2) octa-hedral geometry and resulting in a layer structure extending parallel to (100).

Poly[[µ(2)-1,2-bis-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmeth-yl)benzene-κN:N](µ(2)-tereph-thalato-κO:O)zinc(II)].

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn(C(8)H(4)O(4))(C(14)H(14)N(4))](n), the Zn(II) atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two 1,2-bis-(imidazol-1-ylmeth-yl)benzene ligands as well as by the two O atoms from two terephthalate ligands, confering a tetra-hedral coordination geometry. The bridging ligands generate a three-dimensional structure.