Identification, genetic diversity, and pathogenicity of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum causing cigar tobacco bacterial wilt in China.

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, previously known as R. solanacearum species complex (RSSC) phylotypes I and III, is a plant pathogenic bacterium causing significant yield losses in economical crops. In the May of 2020 and 2021, cigar tobacco bacterial wilt was first observed in fields in Danzhou, Hainan Province, China. A total of eight bacterial isolates were isolated and identified as R. pseudosolanacearum with race 1, biovar III by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, Biolog, and host identification. The amino acid sequence showed that Hainan strains and 15 R. pseudosolanacearum reference strains from flue-cured tobacco in Shandong and Guizhou Provinces, all belonged to RS1000 type containing the avrA gene, only Guizhou strains also had the popP1 gene. On the basis of phylotype-specific multiplex PCR amplification, mismatch repair gene and endoglucanase gene-base tree, Hainan strains were identified as phylotype I sequevar 70, and showed stronger pathogenic capabilities on three different varieties than those reference strains. This is the first report of cigar tobacco bacterial wilt caused by R. pseudosolanacearum sequevar 70. The results revealed the diversity of RSSC in Nicotiana tabacum in China and provided useful information regarding the epidemiology of cigar tobacco wilt disease, as well as the breeding for disease resistance in local cigar tobacco.

Tuning Dimensions of Complexes through Selective In Situ Reaction, Mechanistic Insights into Ni(II)-Catalyzed Br-OH Exchange, Magnetic Properties, and Density Functional Theory Studies.

Two coordination polymers (CPs), namely, [Mn3(L)2(4,4'-bipy)2(H2O)2]n (1) and [Ni(L1)(1,4-bib)(H2O)]n (2) (H3L = 5-(3-bromo-4-carboxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid, H2L1 = 5-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, and 1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Most notably, with the help of the bromine atom-inducing effect, ligand transformation was observed in the structure of complex 2, which was scrutinized thoroughly by single crystal X-ray crystallography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Strikingly, Ni(II) ions were utilized as both coordinated atoms and as a catalyst for in situ Br-OH exchange of H3L in the process, as a result of which the product would have preferred to form a one-dimensional chain. The same reaction cannot happen in 1, leading to form a two-dimensional structure. Moreover, Ni(II)-catalyzed and magnetic exchange mechanisms were well interpreted using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Finally, complexes 1-2 show three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structures because of intermolecular weak interactions (C-Br···π, C-H···π, C-H···O, and π···π stacking) and exhibit utterly different antiferrimagnetic coupling interactions.

Genomic Surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes in Taiwan, 2014 to 2019.

Listeria monocytogenes is a life-threatening foodborne pathogen. Here, we report the genomic characterization of a nationwide dataset of 411 clinical and 82 food isolates collected in Taiwan between 2014 and 2019. The observed incidence of listeriosis increased from 0.83 to 7 cases per million population upon implementation of mandatory notification in 2018. Pregnancy-associated cases accounted for 2.8% of human listeriosis and all-cause 7-day mortality was of 11.9% in nonmaternal-neonatal listeriosis. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 90% of raw pork and 34% of chicken products collected in supermarkets. Sublineages SL87, SL5, and SL378 accounted for the majority (65%) of clinical cases. SL87 and SL378 were also predominant (57%) in food products. Five cgMLST clusters accounted for 57% clinical cases, suggesting unnoticed outbreaks spanning up to 6 years. Mandatory notification allowed identifying the magnitude of listeriosis in Taiwan. Continuous real-time genomic surveillance will allow reducing contaminating sources and disease burden. IMPORTANCE Understanding the phylogenetic relationship between clinical and food isolates is important to identify the transmission routes of foodborne diseases. Here, we performed a nationwide study between 2014 and 2019 of both clinical and food Listeria monocytogenes isolates and sequenced their genomes. We show a 9-fold increase in listeriosis reporting upon implementation of mandatory notification. We found that sublineages SL87 and SL378 predominated among both clinical (50%) and food (57%) isolates, and identified five cgMLST clusters accounting for 57% of clinical cases, suggestive of potential protracted sources of contamination over up to 6 years in Taiwan. These findings highlight that mandatory declaration is critical in identifying the burden of listeriosis, and the importance of genome sequencing for a detailed characterization of the pathogenic L. monocytogenes genotypes circulating in Asia.

Attachment security and striatal functional connectivity in typically developing children.

Attachment security is formed through interactions with a main caregiver during the first three years of life and reflects inter-individual differences in mental representations for the relationship. The striatum is known to be a key structure to initiate attachment behaviours and maintain attachment relationships as well as to modulate reward-related processing as part of the approach module in current neurobiological models of human attachment. Although findings have suggested critical roles of the striatum in inter-individual differences in attachment, most studies were based on a wide variety of tasks and very few have investigated these associations in intrinsic brain connectivity in typically developing children. In the present study, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the striatal functional connectivity according to children's attachment security in 68 nine-year-olds (Secure attachment = 39, Insecure attachment = 29, mean age/SD = 9.62/0.69). Children with secure attachment demonstrated increased functional connectivity in the tempro-limbic region, compared to children with insecure attachment. In addition, the child-reported attachment security scores were negatively associated with the caudate-prefrontal connectivity, but positively with the putamen-visual area connectivity. These data demonstrate that inter-individual differences in attachment can be captured in striatal functional connectivity organization in the typical brain.

Clerodane diterpenoids with potential anti-inflammatory activity from the leaves and twigs of Callicarpa cathayana / 中国天然药物

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves and twigs of Callicarpa cathayana led to the isolation of six new clerodane diterpenoids, cathayanalactones A-F (1-6), together with seven analogues (7-13). Their structures were established by extensive NMR analyses together with experimental and calculated ECD spectra analyses. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11 showed inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells.

Benefits of procyanidins on gut microbiota in Bama minipigs and implications in replacing antibiotics

Several studies have reported the effect of absorption of procyanidins and their contribution to the small intestine. However, differences between dietary interventions of procyanidins and interventions via antibiotic feeding in pigs are rarely reported. Following 16S rRNA gene Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we observed that both procyanidin administration for 2 months (procyanidin-1 group) and continuous antibiotic feeding for 1 month followed by procyanidin for 1 month (procyanidin-2 group) increased the number of operational taxonomic units, as well as the Chao 1 and ACE indices, compared to those in pigs undergoing antibiotic administration for 2 months (antibiotic group). The genera Fibrobacter and Spirochaete were more abundant in the antibiotic group than in the procyanidin-1 and procyanidin-2 groups. Principal component analysis revealed clear separations among the three groups. Additionally, using the online Molecular Ecological Network Analyses pipeline, three co-occurrence networks were constructed; Lactobacillus was in a co-occurrence relationship with Trichococcus and Desulfovibrio and a co-exclusion relationship with Bacillus and Spharerochaeta. Furthermore, metabolic function analysis by phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states demonstrated modulation of pathways involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, energy, and nucleotides. These data suggest that procyanidin influences the gut microbiota and the intestinal metabolic function to produce beneficial effects on metabolic homeostasis.

Quantitative Analysis, Extraction Optimization, and Biological Evaluation of Cudrania tricuspidata Leaf and Fruit Extracts.

Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (Moraceae) shows numerous pharmacological effects and has been used in traditional herbal remedies for inflammation, gastritis, tumors, and liver diseases. However, no validated analytical method for the standardization and optimization of the biological properties of C. tricuspidata preparations has been reported. We developed and validated a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation and quantification of active markers. Ethanolic extracts of C. tricuspidata leaves were prepared and evaluated for chemical profiles and biological activities. The 80% ethanolic extract demonstrated the greatest antioxidant activity and phenolic content, while the 100% ethanolic extract had the greatest total flavonoid content and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. The validated HPLC method confirmed that chlorogenic acid, rutin, and kaempferol were present in C. tricuspidata leaf extracts. We postulated that the antioxidant and anti-hyperuricemic/gout effects of C. tricuspidata extract could be attributed to these marker compounds. Our results suggested that the flavonoid-rich fraction of the leaf extract may be utilized for the treatment and prevention of hyperuricemia-related diseases, and the validated method and marker compounds could be applied for the quality control of C. tricuspidata preparations.

Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Corylopsis coreana Uyeki Flos.

BACKGROUND: Corylopsis coreana Uyeki (Hamamelidaceae) is a medicinal plant cultivated in Northeast Asia. Previously, we have reported that an ethanol extract of Corylopsis coreana Uyeki flos (ECCF) contains four active compounds with antioxidant activity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial spectrum against infectious bacteria and anti-inflammatory effect of ECCF in a mouse model of acute local inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using standard plate assay technique. Antimicrobial activities (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC; µg/mL) were determined with the serial dilution method. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was studied using a mouse model of carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation. RESULTS: The ECCF showed antimicrobial activities against general bacteria and drug-resistant bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Mycrobacterium smegmatis ATCC 9341, Mycrobacterium smegmatis ATCC 9341, Salmonella typhimrium KCTC 1925, and nine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, with MIC values ranging from 250 to 1000 µg/mL. In in vivo mouse model, inflammatory morphologic changes observed in the air pouch membrane were restored to its normal condition by the ECCF treatment. Moreover, the ECCF significantly reduced exudate volumes, protein contents, inflammatory cell counts, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the exudates recovered from air pouches of the mouse model. Flavonoids in the ECCF were found to contain bergenin, quercitrin, and quercetin with reported anti-inflammatory activity via suppressing tumor necrosis factor-α production. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of ECCF. Our results suggest that the ECCF might potentially serve as an alternative or complementary medicine for treating inflammatory diseases caused by microbial infection. SUMMARY: ECCF showed antimicrobial activity against infectious bacteria and multidrug-resistant strains.ECCF exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in a carrageenan-induced air pouch mouse model.ECCF contained several active constituents such as bergenin, quercitrin, and quercetin. Abbreviations used:Corylopsis coreana CCF: Uyeki flos, ECCF: ethanol extract of CCF.

A selective involvement of putamen functional connectivity in youth with internet gaming disorder.

Brain cortico-striatal circuits have consistently been implicated in the pathology of addiction related disorders. We applied a reliable seed-based analysis of the resting-state brain activity to comprehensively delineate the subdivisions of striatal functional connectivity implicated in internet gaming disorder. Among twelve right-handed male adolescents with internet gaming disorder and 11 right-handed and gender-matched healthy controls, we examined group differences in the functional connectivity of dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the caudate nucleus and putamen, as well as the association of these connectivity indices with behavioral measures of internet use. Adolescents with internet gaming disorder showed significantly reduced dorsal putamen functional connectivity with the posterior insula-parietal operculum. More time spent playing online games predicted significantly greater functional connectivity between the dorsal putamen and bilateral primary somatosensory cortices in adolescents with internet gaming disorder, and significantly lower functional connectivity between the dorsal putamen and bilateral sensorimotor cortices in healthy controls. The dorsal putamen functional connectivity was significantly and specifically different in adolescents with internet gaming disorder. The findings suggest a possible biomarker of internet gaming disorder.

Decreased thalamic volumes in adolescent inhalant users from Korea and Australia.

OBJECTIVES: Research investigating the impact of inhalant misuse on brain structure suggests abnormalities in subcortical regions. We investigated the association between inhalant misuse and subcortical brain volumes in adolescents. METHODS: Based on a collaborative dataset from South Korea (inhalant users: N = 15, mean age = 16.7, SD = 1.1; controls: N = 15, mean age = 15.4, SD = 1.2) and Australia (inhalant users: N = 7, mean age = 18.2, SD = 1.4; controls: N = 7, mean age = 18.9, SD = 2.6), the volumes of caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidum, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus were estimated in adolescent inhalant users and healthy adolescents using FreeSurfer. RESULTS: The results revealed a significantly decreased right thalamic volume in adolescent inhalant users (P = 0.042), along with a trend-level decrease in left thalamic volume (P = 0.061). A negative correlation (r = -0.544; P = 0.036) between thalamic volume and severity of inhalant use (i.e., reduced volumes associated with greater use) was identified among Korean participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that compared with other subcortical structures, the thalamus is particularly sensitive to damage following chronic inhalant exposure during adolescence.

Reduced orbitofrontal cortical thickness in male adolescents with internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has consistently been implicated in the pathology of both drug and behavioral addictions. However, no study to date has examined OFC thickness in internet addiction. In the current study, we investigated the existence of differences in cortical thickness of the OFC in adolescents with internet addiction. On the basis of recently proposed theoretical models of addiction, we predicted a reduction of thickness in the OFC of internet addicted individuals. FINDINGS: Participants were 15 male adolescents diagnosed as having internet addiction and 15 male healthy comparison subjects. Brain magnetic resonance images were acquired on a 3T MRI and group differences in cortical thickness were analyzed using FreeSurfer. Our results confirmed that male adolescents with internet addiction have significantly decreased cortical thickness in the right lateral OFC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This finding supports the view that the OFC alterations in adolescents with internet addiction reflect a shared neurobiological marker of addiction-related disorders in general.

Decreased functional brain connectivity in adolescents with internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: Internet addiction has become increasingly recognized as a mental disorder, though its neurobiological basis is unknown. This study used functional neuroimaging to investigate whole-brain functional connectivity in adolescents diagnosed with internet addiction. Based on neurobiological changes seen in other addiction related disorders, it was predicted that connectivity disruptions in adolescents with internet addiction would be most prominent in cortico-striatal circuitry. METHODS: Participants were 12 adolescents diagnosed with internet addiction and 11 healthy comparison subjects. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were acquired, and group differences in brain functional connectivity were analyzed using the network-based statistic. We also analyzed network topology, testing for between-group differences in key graph-based network measures. RESULTS: Adolescents with internet addiction showed reduced functional connectivity spanning a distributed network. The majority of impaired connections involved cortico-subcortical circuits (∼24% with prefrontal and ∼27% with parietal cortex). Bilateral putamen was the most extensively involved subcortical brain region. No between-group difference was observed in network topological measures, including the clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, or the small-worldness ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction is associated with a widespread and significant decrease of functional connectivity in cortico-striatal circuits, in the absence of global changes in brain functional network topology.

Delay of gap filling during nucleotide excision repair by base excision repair: the concept of competition exemplified by the effect of propolis.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) consists of a sequence of events including DNA damage recognition, excision of the damage containing oligonucleotide, gap filling, and ligation. We found that gap filling during the repair of ultraviolet (UV)C-induced DNA lesions was inhibited by various compounds, e.g., amoxicillin, and mixtures, e.g., propolis, the materials that could induce oxidative DNA damage in serum-supplemented cell cultures. Such inhibitory effect was also demonstrated by the immunostaining experiment and host cell reactivation assay. In this study, we link the repair of oxidative DNA damage with the inhibition of gap filling. Our experimental evidence includes the following: (1) induction of oxidative DNA damage and inhibition of gap filling were quantitatively correlated; (2) although the repair of UV-induced DNA damage was delayed in the presence of propolis, the repair of propolis-induced oxidative DNA damage proceeded regardless of preexposure to UV radiation; (3) inhibition of gap filling by propolis was absent in base excision repair (BER)-deficient cells; (4) suppression of propolis-induced oxidative DNA damage by ß-carotene abolished the inhibition of gap filling; and (5) inhibition of gap filling was also found with typical BER-inducing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, menadione, and methyl methanesulfonate. We propose that competition may occur between NER and BER, which results in delay of gap filling. Our study reveals the dominancy of BER over NER.

Effects of heterogenous suberect spatholobus stem on peripheral blood cell counts of 60Co gamma ray irradiated mice / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of heterogenous suberect spatholobus stem (Spatholobus suberectu, Mucuna birdwoodiana, Millettia oosperma and Millettia dielsiana) on peripheral blood cell counts of mice with bone marrow suppression induced by (60)Co gamma ray irradiation. METHODS: Bone marrow suppression was induced by sublethal dose of (60)Co gamma ray in mice. White blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) counts in peripheral blood of the mice were detected one day, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after intragastric administration of different doses of the four kinds of suberect spatholobus stem, respectively. RESULTS: A slowdown of the decrease of WBC, RBC and PLT counts in peripheral blood of the mice with bone marrow suppression was observed after intragastric administration. The WBC, RBC and PLT counts in the Mucuna birdwoodiana-treated and Spatholobus suberectu-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: All the four kinds of heterogenous suberect spatholobus stem can accelerate the recovery of WBC, RBC and PLT counts in peripheral blood of mice with bone marrow suppression, while the effects of Spatholobus suberectu and Mucuna birdwoodiana are relatively good.

[Manufacturing of a new gastric-tube for anesthesia and its clinical applications].

A new gastric-tube for anesthesia has been manufactured by adding a bursa of the stomach bottom and a bursa for locking the stomach to the conventional gastric-tube. The clinical applications on trial show that vomiting, returning of the gastric juice, misinhalation can be prevented efficiently in the patients during the operation, thus greatly increasing the safety of operational anesthesia.

Studies on chemical constituents from moss Rhodobryum roseum II / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents from Rhodobryum roseum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated and purified by recrystallization and chromatography with silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight compounds were isolated and identified as apigenin (1), quercetin (2), oleanolic acid (3), 2alpha-hydroxyoleanolic acid (4), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (5), protocatechuic acid (6), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-8 were isolated from R. roseum for the first time.</p>

Manufacturing of a new gastric-tube for anesthesia and its clinical applications / 中国医疗器械杂志

A new gastric-tube for anesthesia has been manufactured by adding a bursa of the stomach bottom and a bursa for locking the stomach to the conventional gastric-tube. The clinical applications on trial show that vomiting, returning of the gastric juice, misinhalation can be prevented efficiently in the patients during the operation, thus greatly increasing the safety of operational anesthesia.

Role of urinary basic fibroblast growth factor in differentiating hemangiomas from vascular malformation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a novel method to differentiate hemangioma from vascular malformation, to stage hemangiomas and to monitor the efficacy of management for hemangioma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The urinary basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) concentration of 144 cases (including 69 cases of proliferating hemangiomas, 41 cases of involuting hemangiomas, 23 cases of vascular malformations and 11 negative controls) was examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The differences of urinary bFGF concentration among proliferating hemangiomas, involuting hemangiomas, vascular malformations and negative control were all significant, while the differences between the latter three groups were not significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our findings suggest that examination of urinary bFGF concentration using ELISA technique is helpful in differentiating hemangioma from vascular malformation, staging hemangiomas and dynamically monitoring the efficacy of treatment for hemangiomas. Our results probably shed new light on the potential pathogenesis of hemangiomas and vascular malformation.</p>

Microvascular nasal repair using a reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap was presented to explore a new method for reconstructing the defects of the distal nose by microsurgical techniques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap had been used on fifteen patients with nasal defects, including thirteen patients with alar defects and two patients with nasal tip defects. The reversed superficial temporal vessels of the flap were anastomosed with the recipient facial vessels. The size of the flap was 2.5 cm x 2. 0 cm - 4.0 cm x 2.5 cm, the length of the vascular pedicle was 5 - 8 cm, average 6.5 cm</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The flap survived uneventfully in all fifteen patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>demonstrated satisfactory symmetry between the reconstructed ala and the contralateral side as well as an excellent tip projection. The donor-site defect was minimal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap offers an adequate length of vascular pedicle of the flap, it delivers a good solution to the problem of the vascular pedicle shortage of the proximal superficial artery auricular flap. This technique may become the top choice in the microvascular auricular transfer.</p>

Studies on the chemical constituents from herb of Rhodobryum roseum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents from herb of Rhodobryum roseum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated by column chromatography, and identified by IR, NMR data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>8 compounds were isolated and identified. They are piperine (1), caffeic acid methyl ester (2), uracil glucoside (3), ursolic acid (4), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-methylcholesta-6, 22-dien-3beta-ol (5), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-methylcholesta-6,9(11), 22-trien-3beta-ol (6), beta-sitosterol (7), daucosterol (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>7 compounds (1-6,8) were isolated from this plant for the first time.</p>