An improved method for the preparation of Ginsenoside Rg5 from ginseng fibrous root powder.

Ginsenoside-Rg5, which is derived from high temperature-processed ginseng, exhibits beneficial health effects. In the present study, ginsenoside-Rg5 was directly and rapidly prepared through the extraction of ginseng fibrous root powder (GFRP) at atmospheric pressure. The results showed that the highest extraction yield (3.79%) was obtained under optimal conditions (extraction temperature of 85 °C, acid concentration of 0.06 mol/L, sample to solvent ratio of 1:55 g/mL and ethanol concentration of 95% after 4 h). The current method integrates the extraction of original saponins and the modification of the saponins to rare ginsenosides Rg5, which was more simpler operation, more milder preparation condition and more efficient.

NagRBt Is a Pleiotropic and Dual Transcriptional Regulator in Bacillus thuringiensis.

NagR, belonging to the GntR/HutC family, is a negative regulator that directly represses the nagP and nagAB genes, which are involved in GlcNAc transport and utilization in Bacillus subtilis. Our previous work confirmed that the chitinase B gene (chiB) of Bacillus thuringiensis strain Bti75 is also negatively controlled by YvoABt, the ortholog of NagR from B. subtilis. In this work, we investigated its regulatory network in Bti75 and found that YvoABt is an N-acetylglucosamine utilization regulator primarily involved in GlcNAc catabolism; therefore YvoABt is renamed as NagRBt. The RNA-seq data revealed that 27 genes were upregulated and 14 genes were downregulated in the ΔnagR mutant compared with the wild-type strain. The regulon (exponential phase) was characterized by RNA-seq, bioinformatics software, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. In the Bti75 genome, 19 genes that were directly regulated and 30 genes that were indirectly regulated by NagRBt were identified. We compiled in silico, in vitro, and in vivo evidence that NagRBt behaves as a repressor and activator to directly or indirectly influence major biological processes involved in amino sugar metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, phosphotransferase system, and the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway.

α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) drive melanosome transfer by promoting filopodia delivery and shedding spheroid granules: Evidences from atomic force microscopy observation.

BACKGROUND: Skin pigmentation is accomplished by production of melanin in melanosome and by transfer of these organelles from melanocytes (MCs) to surrounding keratinocytes (KCs). However, the detailed mechanism is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the morphological structure changes on human epidermal MCs and KCs, which were either mono-cultured or co-cultured, with or without the treatment of both α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and to provide more direct proofs for process of melanosome transfer. METHODS: Human epidermal MCs and KCs were isolated and co-cultured with 1:10 ratio in a defined Keratinocyte-serum free medium (K-SFM). After exposure with 100 nM α-MSH or 20 µM PGE2 for 3 days, cells were fixed with 0.5% glutaraldehyde and AFM images of scanning observation were captured by contacting and tapping model under normal atmospheric pressure and temperature. RESULTS: It showed that human epidermal MCs in culture had secondary or tertiary branches. Except for globular granules structure on the surface of dendrites, some filopodia were protruded on the tips and lateral sides of the dendrites. The administration of α-MSH and PGE2 made not only the dendrites thinner and longer, but also the globular granules more intensive and denser. Many spheroid granules were shed from branches of dendrite and most of them adhered with dense filopodia. Compared with untreated group, the number of filopodia per cell, diameter of filopodia, and shedding spheroid granules per field all increased following α-MSH and PGE2 exposure (P<0.05, n=3). However, many crest-like protrusions, which were distributed homogenously on the surface of mono-cultured KCs, were less changed after α-MSH and PGE2 exposure. In co-culture model, α-MSH and PGE2 increased the number of transferred melanosomes in KCs under laser confocal microscopic examination. Filopodia were observed only on the adhesion area of KCs and MCs in a coiled style by AFM examination. In addition, the number of filopodia per field, diameter of filopodia and shedding spheroid granules per field all increased after the administration of α-MSH and PGE2 (P<0.05, n=3). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that shedding spheroid granules, filopodia delivery and KC phagocytosis are major mode of melanosome transfer between MCs and KCs. PGE2, as well as α-MSH, drives melanosome transfer by promoting filopodia delivery and numbers of shedding spheroid granules in MCs, but no direct morphological effects on KCs. These findings open a new path in our understanding of MCs-KCs communication regulating pigmentation.

Acquired localized hypertrichosis induced by internal fixation and plaster cast application.

Hypertrichosis refers to increased vellus hair growth and is independent to androgen excess. The acquired localized hypertrichosis (ALH) is one of the typical hypertrichosis, which mainly results from chronic irritation, inflammation, friction, and occlusion by plaster of Paris. Here, we report a young boy who had ALH on his right hand following a closed fracture with internal fixation and plaster cast application. The case is unusual because the hairy area is limited to the operative region of internal fixation. We suggest that the local vascular changes and skin inflammation induced by internal fixation and plaster cast application may be associated with ALH.