Circumscription of the genus Vietanna Lee & Pham, 2021 (Cicadidae: Leptopsaltriini) resulting in the synonymy of Duffelsa Wang et al., 2023.

The genus Vietanna Lee & Pham, 2021 described based on Vietanna hanoiensis Pham & Lee, 2021 is circumscribed and redescribed. By this, Duffelsa Wang et al., 2023 syn. nov. is synonymized with Vietanna. Duffelsa orientalis (Distant, 1912), Duffelsa parvula Wang et al., 2023, Duffelsa grandia Wang et al., 2023, and Duffelsa rubida Wang et al., 2023 are transferred to Vietanna from Duffelsa to become Vietanna orientalis (Distant, 1912) comb. nov., Vietanna parvula (Wang et al., 2023) comb. nov., Vietanna grandia (Wang et al., 2023) comb. nov., and Vietanna rubida (Wang et al., 2023) comb. nov..

Difference in Vitamin D Levels Between Children with Clostridioides difficile Enteritis and Those with Other Acute Infectious Enteritis.

PURPOSE: A steady increase in Clostridioides difficile enteritis (CDE) has been reported recently. CDE is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, and vitamin D receptors are known to play an important role in this microbial imbalance as immunological regulators. We investigated the difference in vitamin D levels between children with CDE and those with other acute infectious enteritis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on children below 18 years of age who visited the Gil hospital, underwent investigation to assess vitamin D levels, and had confirmed gastrointestinal infection between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: the "CDE group" (n=18) and the "other infectious enteritis group" (n=88); their clinical characteristics, other laboratory results, and vitamin D levels were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference in gender, age, and seasonal distributions between the CDE and other infectious enteritis groups. Other laboratory results were not significantly different between two groups, excluding serum albumin level (4.52±0.45 g/dL vs. 4.31±0.28 g/dL, p=0.011). The mean 25-hydroxy vitamin D level in the CDE group was higher than that in the control group (18.75±8.11 ng/mL vs. 14.50±6.79 ng/mL, p=0.021). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D levels in the CDE group were lower than normal but higher than the other infectious enteritis group. These results suggested that CDE has a different mechanism or susceptibility associated with vitamin D in children, and even marginal changes in vitamin D levels can act as a risk factor for infection.

Descriptions of four new species of Semia Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Psithyristriini) from Vietnam, with a key to the species of Semia.

This paper provides descriptions of four new species of the genus Semia Matsumura, 1917 from Vietnam: Semia magna sp. nov., Semia spiritus sp. nov., Semia pallida sp. nov., and Semia albusequi sp. nov. A key to the 13 species of Semia is provided.

Phylogenetic Relationships of Japanese Auritibicen Species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cryptotympanini) Inferred from Mitochondrial and Nuclear Gene Sequences.

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times within the genus Auritibicen(Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Cryptotympanini), analyzing five Japanese species (A. japonicus, A. bihamatus,A. kyushyuensis, A. esakii and A. flammatus) and three species from East Asian mainland and Taiwan (A. atrofasciatus, A. intermedius and A. chujoi) using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1a) gene sequences. Although the EF-1a gene tree did not resolve the relationships among these Auritibicen species, the trees based on COI gene and the combined data set showed that Japanese taxa comprised three distinct lineages: the individual species A. flammatus and A. bihamatus, and the A. japonicus group, comprising A. japonicus, A. esakii and A. kyushyuensis from Japan and A. intermedius from Korea. In A. kyushyuensis, which comprises three populations in Kyushu, western Honshu and Shikoku, the specimens from western Honshu and Shikoku were closely related to each other, but not to the specimen from Kyushu; instead, they were sister to the Korean A. intermedius. The incongruence between the gene tree and species tree necessitates further population genetic and morphological studies to confirm the classification and species status of the western Honshu and Shikoku populations of A. kyushyuensis, which were originally described as two independent species. Divergence time estimation suggested that the most recent common ancestor of Auritibicen species studied dated back to the late Pliocene and that the species of the A. japonicus group diverged during the mid Pleistocene. Thus, the Pleistocene climatic fluctuation may have promoted the divergence of the Auritibicen species.

Erections of Changa gen. nov. and Songga gen. nov. of Aolina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Dundubiini) with taxonomic notes and a synonymization.

Two new genera, Changa gen. nov. and Songga gen. nov., are erected in the subtribe Aolina Boulard, 2012, with the designations of Cosmopsaltria sita Distant, 1881 and Pomponia scitula Distant, 1888 as the type species, respectively. Khimbya sita (Distant, 1881) becomes Changa sita (Distant, 1881) comb. nov. Haphsa scitula (Distant, 1888) becomes Songga scitula (Distant, 1888) comb. nov. Haphsa jsguillotsi (Boulard, 2005) is transferred to Changa to become Changa jsguillotsi (Boulard, 2005) comb. nov. Haphsa stellata Lee, 2009 syn. nov. is synonymized with Changa sita. Haphsa sulaeyai (Boulard, 2005) is transferred to Macrosemia Kato, 1925 to become Macrosemia sulaeyai (Boulard, 2005) comb. nov. A revised key to the genera of Aolina is provided.

Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Camiguin of Mindanao Province and Dinagat Island in the Philippines, with a new genus and three new species.

This paper provides the first faunal checklist for the family Cicadidae (Hemiptera) from Camiguin of Mindanao Province and Dinagat Island in the Philippines, comprising ten species belonging to nine genera. Cryptotympana shillana Lee & Mohagan sp. nov., Orientopsaltria inermis (Stål, 1870), Purana crassinotata Lee, 2015, and Huechys parvula Haupt, 1924 are recorded for the first time from Camiguin. Platypleura dinagatensis Lee sp. nov., Chremistica kyoungheeae Lee, 2010, Dundubia vaginata (Fabricius, 1787), Oncotympana pallidiventris Stål, 1870, and Philipsalta nigrina Lee, Marshall & Hill sp. nov. are newly recorded from Dinagat Island. A new genus Philipsalta Lee, Marshall & Hill gen. nov. is erected. Huechysini Distant, 1905 syn. nov. is synonymized with Cicadettini Buckton, 1889. Information on geographic distributions of the Camiguin and Dinagat species is also provided.

Description of a new genus, Galgoria gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Leptopsaltriini: Leptopsaltriina).

A new cicada genus, Galgoria gen. nov., is described with Tanna herzbergi Schmidt, 1932 (from southern China) as its type species, which is placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina Moulton, 1923 of the tribe Leptopsaltriini Moulton, 1923 in the subfamily Cicadinae Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). Tanna herzbergi Schmidt, 1932 is transferred from Tanna Distant, 1905 to Galgoria gen. nov. to become Galgoria herzbergi (Schmidt, 1932) comb. nov. Tanna apicalis Chen, 1940 syn. nov. and Tanna pseudocalis Lei & Chou, 1997 syn. nov. are synonymized here with Galgoria herzbergi (Schmidt, 1932) comb. nov.

Description of a new species of the genus Hyalessa China (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Sonatini) from Yunnan, China, with a key to the species of Hyalessa and a calling song analysis for two Hyalessa species.

A new species, Hyalessa scutata sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China. This species is similar to Hyalessa fuscata (Distant, 1905) but is distinguished by the larger male opercula and the evenly narrow uncal lobe. Hyalessa ella (Lei & Chou, 1997) syn. nov. is synonymized with Hyalessa stratoria (Distant, 1905). A detailed sound analysis of the calling songs of Hyalessa fuscata (Distant, 1905) and Hyalessa maculaticollis (De Motschulsky, 1866) is provided. A key to the species of Hyalessa China, 1925 is also provided. A discussion is conducted for the first time about the presence of potential hybrids between H. maculaticollis and H. fuscata within Tsushima Island situated in the Korea Strait.

Additional records of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) to the fauna of Mindanao, Philippines, with the description of three new species and a key to the species of Champaka Distant.

This paper provides the revised checklist of the tribes, subtribes, genera, and species of the family Cicadidae from Mindanao, Philippines, comprising 22 species belonging to 16 genera. Three new species, Champaka solivenae sp. nov., Purana crassinotata sp. nov., and Ggomapsalta fragilis sp. nov., are described. Lembeja fatiloqua (Stål, 1870) is added to the list, which was omitted in the previous checklist. Neoncotympana leeseungmoi Lee, 2011 is added to the list, which was described after the previous checklist. Oncotympana averta Lee, 2011 is newly recorded from Mindanao, replacing Oncotympana sp. listed in the previous checklist. A key to the 12 species of Champaka Distant, 1905 is provided.

Erection of a new genus Biura gen. nov., of the subtribe Aolina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Dundubiini).

A new genus, Biura gen. nov., is erected within the subtribe Aolina Boulard, 2012, designating Haphsa bicolora Sanborn, 2009 as the type species. This new genus is distinguished from all other genera in Aolina by the light-colored body lacking prominent markings, non-infuscated wings, very small and short male operculum, thin and long uncal lobes, and distinctly prominent basal lobes of the pygofer.

Description of a new genus, Auritibicen gen. nov., of Cryptotympanini Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with redescriptions of Auritibicen pekinensis (Haupt, 1924) comb. nov. and Auritibicen slocumi (Chen, 1943) comb. nov. from China and a key to the species of Auritibicen.

A new genus, Auritibicen gen. nov., is erected for the former members of Lyristes Horváth, 1926 (= Tibicen Latreille, 1825) from eastern Asia, designating Tibicen intermedia Mori, 1931 as the type species. Morphological comparisons are made among Auritibicen, Lyristes, and the American Tibicen species. Auritibicen pekinensis (Haupt, 1924) comb. nov. and Auritibicen slocumi (Chen, 1943) comb. nov. from China are redescribed. Morphological comparisons are made among closely related species, A. pekinensis, A. slocumi, Auritibicen intermedius (Mori, 1931) comb. nov., and Auritibicen kyushyuensis (Kato, 1926) comb. nov. A key to the species of the genus Auritibicen gen. nov. is provided.

A new cicada species of the genus Psithyristria Stål, 1870 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Psithyristriini) from Luzon, Philippines, with a key to the 15 species.

A new species of the genus Psithyristria Stål, 1870, Psithyristria ridibunda sp. nov., is described from Quezon, Luzon, Philippines. The new species is very similar to Psithyristria incredibilis Lee & Hill, 2010, but the cubital cell is distinctly larger than the radial cell and the medial branch of the uncal lobe is much shorter than the lateral branch and has two tiny apical spines. Psithyristria isarogensis Boulard & Yap, 2013 is synonymized with Psithyristria paracrassis Lee, 2010. A revised key to the 15 species of Psithyristria is provided.

Cicada genus Pomponia Stål, 1866 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Vietnam and Cambodia, with a new species, a new record, and a key to the species.

The genus Pomponia Stål, 1866 from Vietnam and Cambodia is reviewed . Pomponia brevialata Lee & Pham, sp. nov. is described from Vietnam. Pomponia backanensis Pham & Yang, 2009 is added to the Cambodian cicada fauna. A key to the seven Vietnamese and Cambodian species of the genus Pomponia Stål, 1866 is provided: P. linearis (Walker, 1850), P. backanensis Pham & Yang, 2009, P. brevialata Lee & Pham, sp. nov., P. subtilita Lee, 2009, P. piceata Distant, 1905, P. daklakensis Sanborn, 2009, and P. orientalis (Distant, 1912). Synonymic lists, information on geographical distributions, and material examined for the Vietnamese and Cambodian species of Pomponia are provided.

Bisabolangelone inhibits dendritic cell functions by blocking MAPK and NF-κB signaling.

Bisabolangelone (BISA), isolated from the roots of Angelica koreana, has many pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of BISA in dendritic cells (DCs), which play an essential role in innate and adaptive immune responses. BISA attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-12, IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), migration to macrophage inflammatory protein-3 beta, and allo-T cell activating ability of DCs. In addition, BISA affected endocytosis of DCs. Molecular studies showed that BISA suppressed MAPK phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50/p65. Taken together, our data suggest that BISA inhibited DC functions by blocking MAPK and NF-κB signaling.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT predicts tumour progression after transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: (18)F-FDG PET monitoring of FDG uptake may be a useful tool for assessment of the biological behaviour of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the correlation between FDG uptake on (18)F-FDG PET and clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: In total, 58 HCC patients undergoing (18)F-FDG PET before transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) between May 2007 and May 2010 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. The predictive value of the ratio of maximal tumour standardized uptake value (SUV) to mean liver SUV (T(SUVmax)/L(SUVmean)) was tested. Primary endpoints were the clinical characteristics and treatment response according to T(SUVmax)/L(SUVmean). The secondary endpoint was time to progression (TTP). RESULTS: A high SUV ratio (cutoff value 1.70) correlated significantly with tumour size (≥5 cm) and serum AFP level (≥400 ng/mL). Objective response rates were significantly different between those with a ratio above (15.7 %) and those with a ratio below (66.6 %) the cutoff value (P = 0.023). Patients in the low SUV ratio group had a median TTP of 16.8 months compared with 8.1 months in the high SUV ratio group (P = 0.011). Overall survival in the high SUV ratio group was worse than in the low SUV ratio group (median 56.5 vs. 23.3 months), although the difference was not statistically significant in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Tumour metabolic activity (T(SUVmax)/L(SUVmean)), assessed by PET/CT, is an independent predictor of response to TACE in patients with intermediate-stage HCC. T(SUVmax)/L(SUVmean) can be used to predict tumour progression. Thus, (18)F-FDG PET can provide valuable information for prediction of prognosis and aid in decisions regarding treatment strategy.

Evaluation of antidiabetic activity of polysaccharide isolated from Phellinus linteus in non-obese diabetic mouse.

Polysaccharide (PLP) isolated from Phellinus linteus inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by enhancing immune functions of macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, T cells, and B cells. Here, we report that PLP can inhibit the development of autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Although 80% of the NOD mice had developed diabetes by 24 weeks of age, none of the PLP-treated NOD mice developed diabetes. The mean blood glucose levels were 110mg/dl in PLP-treated mice and 499mg/dl in control NOD mice. Histological examination of the pancreatic islets revealed that most of the islets isolated from PLP-treated mice were less infiltrated with lymphocytes compared with those of control mice. Spleen cells from diabetic NOD mice could adaptively transfer diabetes into NOD/SCID mice, but those from PLP-treated NOD mice showed delayed transfer of diabetes. PLP inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-gamma, IL-2, and TNF-alpha by Th1 cells and macrophages, but up-regulated IL-4 expression by Th2 cells in NOD mice. PLP did not prevent streptozotocin-induced diabetic development in ICR mice. Taken together, these results suggest that PLP inhibits the development of autoimmune diabetes by regulating cytokine expression.