Tobacco exposure and alcohol drinking prevalence and associations with hypertension in rural southwest China: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the prevalence of tobacco exposure and drinking and ascertained the relationships between tobacco exposure, alcohol drinking, concurrent smoking and drinking, and hypertension in rural southwestern China. METHODS: Data were collected from a cross-sectional health interview and examination survey, which included 7572 adults aged ≥35 years, in rural China. Participant demographic characteristics, smoking habits, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), and alcohol drinking habits were obtained using a standard questionnaire. Blood pressure (BP), height, weight, and waist circumference were measured for each participant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of smoking, SHS exposure, drinking, concurrent smoking and drinking, concurrent exposure to SHS and drinking, and hypertension was 37.7%, 27.4%, 16.2%, 12.6%, 1.6%, and 41.3%, respectively. Males had a significantly higher prevalence of smoking (74.1% vs 2.2%, p<0.01), drinking (31.1% vs 1.7%, p<0.01), and concurrent smoking and drinking than females (25.3% vs 0.3%, p<0.01). However, females had a higher prevalence of SHS exposure than males (30.2% vs 20.6%, p<0.01). Ethnic minorities had a higher prevalence of SHS exposure, drinking, and concurrent smoking and drinking, than Han participants (p<0.01). Participants with a higher education level had a higher prevalence of smoking, drinking, and concurrent smoking and drinking than their counterparts (p<0.01). In contrast, participants with a lower education level had a higher prevalence of SHS exposure than their counterparts (p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that smokers (AOR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.13-1.51), individuals exposed to SHS (AOR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.11-1.43), drinkers (AOR=1.31; 95%: CI: 1.15-1.50), and concurrent smokers and drinkers (AOR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.25-1.67) all had a higher probability of having hypertension (p<0.01). Additionally, concurrent smoking and drinking had the strongest association with the prevalence of hypertension (AOR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.25-1.67; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic factors play an important role in influencing the prevalence of smoking, exposure to SHS, and drinking in rural southwest China. Interventions to prevent and reduce hypertension should, in particular, focus on smokers, individuals exposed to SHS, drinkers, and, in particular, concurrent smokers and drinkers.

The cryptic metabolites and anti-phytopathogenic activities from Nigrospora lacticolonia and Penicillium rubens uncovered by the synergism with host Paris polyphylla, monoculture, and co-culture.

The synergism of host Paris polyphylla medium, the monoculture, and the coculture led to seventeen new metabolites, including eight sesquiterpenes, 1-7 having uncommon structural motifs compared to similar caryophyllene derivatives, 8 with an unprecedented bicyclic framework, and three xyloketals (13-15) with unprecedented frameworks from Nigrospora lacticolonia; one polyketide, 17 with novel bicyclo [2.2.2] undecane skeleton, and five polyketide-terpenoid hybrids, 20 (one novel sulfated), 21-24 from Penicillium rubens. The structures were determined mainly by the NMR, HRESIMS, ECD calculation, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Nine cryptic compounds (2-4, 5, 12-15, 17) were produced by the inductions of host medium and the coculture. The compounds 13 from N. lacticolonia, 24-26, 28, 29, and 31 from P. rubens indicated significant antiphytopathogenic activities against N. lacticolonia with MICs at 2-4 µg/mL. Moreover, compounds 22-26, 28, 29, and 31 from P. rubens showed antifungal activities against P. rubens with MICs at 2-4 µg/mL. The synergistic effects of host medium and the coculture can induce the structural diversity of metabolites.

Xylarkarynone A and B: Two Bioactive Eremophilane Sesquiterpenes from Xylaria sp. HHY-2.

A new compound xylarkarynone A (1), a first reported natural product compound xylarkarynone B (2) and eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from Xylaria sp. HHY-2. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, DP4+ probability analyses and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The bioactivities of isolated compounds were assayed. Compound 1 exhibited obvious activity against A549 cells with an IC50 value of 6.12±0.28 µM. Additionally, compound 1 showed moderate antifungal activities against Plectosphaerella cucumerina and Aspergillus niger with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of both 16 µg/mL, which was at the same grade with positive control nystatin. Most compounds exhibited varying degrees of inhibitory activity against P. cucumerina, indicating that Xylaria sp. has potential as inhibitors against P. cucumerina.

[Advances on cyclopeptides of plants].

Cyclopeptides isolated from a variety of plants are a class of cyclic nitrogen-containing compounds, and they are primarily formed by peptide bonds between amino acids, generally containing 2 to 37 L-configuration encoded or non-encoded amino acid residues. Cyclopeptides have significant values in scientific research as natural small-molecule metabolites produced by plants. The available studies have revealed that such natural products are ubiquitous in plants, which mainly include cyclic dipeptides, cyclic tetrapeptides, cyclic pentapeptides, cyclic hexapeptides, cyclic heptapeptides, cyclic octapeptides, cyclic nonapeptides, and cyclic decapeptides. Among them, cyclic dipeptides, cyclic hexapeptides, and cyclic octapeptides are the major active compounds. It has been reported that plant cyclopeptides have novel and unique chemical structures. They possess diverse pharmacological activities, such as antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. This paper summarizes the research achievements of plant cyclopeptides since 2006, aiming to provide theoretical reference for the research and application of plant cyclopeptides in medicine, health, and agriculture fields.

Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorder among older adults in rural southwest China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorders among the older adults Han and ethnic minority (Bai, Ha Ni, and Dai) population in rural southwest China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 5,642 was conducted among the rural southwest population aged ≥60 years, consisting of a structured interview and measurement of fasting blood glucose, height, weight, and waist circumference. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorder was 10.2% and 40.1%, respectively. Bai participants had the highest prevalence of diabetes (15.9%) and obesity (9.9%)(P < 0.01), while Ha Ni participants had the lowest prevalence of diabetes (5.1%) and obesity (3.4%)(P < 0.01). The highest prevalence of sleep disorder (48.4%) was recorded in Bai participants, while Dai participants had the lowest prevalence of sleep disorder (25.6%)(P < 0.01). In all four studied ethnicities, females had a higher prevalence of sleep disorder than males (P < 0.01), and the prevalence of sleep disorder increased with age (P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated older adults with sleep disorder had a risk of developing diabetes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the higher educational level, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main risk factors for diabetes in participants (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There are stark ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorders in southwest China. Future diabetes prevention and control strategies should be tailored to address ethnicity, and improving sleep quality may reduce the prevalence of diabetes.

Accumulation of antitumor polyketides by fermentation of Rubus delavayi Franch. with Clonostachys rogersoniana.

The aim of this work is to explore the effects of herbal medicine on secondary metabolites of microorganisms during fermentation. Clonostachys rogersoniana was found to metabolize only small amounts of polyketide glycosides rogerson B and C on fresh potatoes, but after replacing the medium to the medicinal plant Rubus delavayi Franch., the type and content of the metabolized polyketones showed significant changes. The sugars and glycosides in R. delavayi are probably responsible for the changes in secondary metabolites. Six polyketide glycosides including a new metabolite, rogerson F, and two potential antitumor compounds, TMC-151C and TMC-151D, were isolated from the extract of R. delavayi fermented by C. rogersoniana. In addition, 13C labeling experiments were used to trace the biosynthesis process of these compounds. TMC-151C and TMC-151D showed significant cytotoxic activity against PANC-1, K562 and HCT116 cancer cells but had no obvious cytotoxic activity against BEAS-2B human normal lung epithelial cells. The yields of TMC-151C and TMC-151D reached 14.37 ± 1.52 g/kg and 1.98 ± 0.43 g/kg, respectively, after fermentation at 28 °C for 30 days. This is the first study to confirm that herbal medicine can induce microbes to metabolize active compounds. And the technology of fermenting medicinal materials can bring more economic value to medicinal plants.

New Analogues of Amides and Quinolinones Produced by Streptomyces sp. YIM S01983.

Streptomide (1), a new amide analogue, streptomynone (2), a new quinolinone, and ten known compounds including three aliphatic acids (3-5), two amides (6-7), four cyclic dipeptides (8-11), and an adenosine (12) were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. YIM S01983 isolated from a sediment sample collected in Bendong Village, Huadong Town, Chuxiong, China. Their structures were determined by analysis of the 1D/2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. Compound 12 presented weak antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans and Aligenes faecalis (MIC=64 µg/mL). Compounds 7 and 12 showed weak cytotoxic activity against MHCC97H.

Trends in prevalence of obesity and its association with hypertension across socioeconomic gradients in rural Yunnan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to uncover the changing prevalence of obesity and its association with hypertension across socioeconomic gradients in rural southwest China. METHODS: Data were collected from two cross-sectional health interviews and surveys from 2011 to 2021 among individuals aged ≥ 35 years in rural China. Each participant's height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. The overall prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension was directly standardized by age based on the total population of the two surveys. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between obesity and prevalence of hypertension and an individual socioeconomic position (SEP) index was constructed using principal component analysis. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2021, the prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension increased substantially, from 5.9%, 50.2%, and 26.1-12.1%, 58.0%, and 40.4% (P < 0.01), respectively. These increasing rates existed in all subcategories, including sex, age, ethnicity, education, annual household income, access to medical services, and SEP (P < 0.05). In both 2011 and 2021, lower education level and poor access to medical services correlated with higher prevalence of central obesity, while higher SEP correlated with higher prevalence of obesity and central obesity (P < 0.01). Prevalence of obesity was higher in the Han ethnicity participants and individuals with poor access to medical services than in their counterparts (P < 0.01). Whereas the prevalence of central obesity was lower in Han participants than in ethnic minority participants in 2011 (P < 0.01), this trend reversed in 2021 (P < 0.01). A positive relationship between annual household income and prevalence of obesity and central obesity was only found in 2021 (P < 0.01). Obese and centrally obese participants were more likely to be hypertensive in both survey years (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions to prevent and manage obesity in rural China should give increased attention to high income, less educated, poor access to medical services, and high SEP individuals. The implementation of these obesity interventions would also help reduce the prevalence of hypertension.

The antifungal metabolites from coculture of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata associated with Coffea arabica.

One new cyclohexenone derivative, asperfumtone A (1) along with six known compounds were obtained from the coculture of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata associated with Coffea arabica. The configuration of 2 was first reported in the research. The structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and ECD calculation. Compounds 3, 4 and 7 showed significant antifungal activities against coffee phytopathogens A. alternata and Fusarium incarnatum with MICs of 1 µg/mL. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak antifungal activities against A. alternata and F. incarnatum with MICs of 32-64 µg/mL.

The erythromycin polyketide compound TMC-154 stimulates ROS generation to exert antibacterial effects against Streptococcus pyogenes.

The erythromycin polyketide compound TMC-154 is a secondary metabolite that is isolated from the rhizospheric fungus Clonostachys rogersoniana associated with Panax notoginseng, which possesses antibacterial activity. However, its antibacterial mechanism has not been investigated thus far. In this study, proteomics coupled with bioinformatics approaches was used to explore the antibacterial mechanism of TMC-154. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that eight signaling pathways were associated with TMC-154, including oxidative phosphorylation, cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance, benzoate degradation, heme acquisition systems, glycine/serine and threonine metabolism, beta-lactam resistance, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and phosphotransferase system (PTS). Cell biology experiments confirmed that TMC-154 could induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in Streptococcus pyogenes; moreover, TMC-154-induced antibacterial effects could be blocked by the inhibition of ROS generation with the antioxidant N-acetyl L-cysteine. In addition, TMC-154 combined with ciprofloxacin or chloramphenicol had synergistic antibacterial effects. These findings indicate the potential of TMC-154 as a promising drug to treat S. pyogenes infections. SIGNIFICANCE: Streptococcus pyogenes is a nearly ubiquitous human pathogen that causes a variety of diseases ranging from mild pharyngitis and skin infection to fatal sepsis and toxic heat shock syndrome. With the increasing incidence of known antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to find novel drugs with good antibacterial activity against S. pyogenes. In this study, we found that TMC-154, a secondary metabolite from the fungus Clonostachys rogersoniana, inhibited the growth of various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, S. pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio parahemolyticus. Proteomic analysis combined with cell biology experiments revealed that TMC-154 stimulated ROS generation to exert antibacterial effects against S. pyogenes. This study provides potential options for the treatment of S. pyogenes infections in the future.

A new C19-diterpenoid alkaloid in Aconitum georgei Comber.

Nine diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated from Aconitum georgei Comber belonging to the genus Aconitum in Ranunculaceae family. Their structures were determinated by using HR-ESI-MS and 1 D/2D NMR spectra as geordine (1), yunaconitine (2), chasmanine (3), crassicauline A (4), forestine (5), pseudaconine (6), 14-acetylalatisamine (7), austroconitine B (8), and talatisamine (9). Among them, compound 1 is a previously undescribed aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloid, and compounds 3, and 5-9 have not previously been isolated from this species. The results of in vitro experiments indicated that new compound 1 possesses mild anti-inflammatory activity, which inhibited the production of NO in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells with an inhibition ratio of 29.75% at 50 µM.

Trends in the prevalence and economic burden of hypertension and its socioeconomic disparities in rural southwestern China: two repeated cross-sectional studies.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyse trends in the prevalence and economic burden of hypertension and its socioeconomic disparities in rural southwestern China. DESIGN: Two repeated cross-sectional studies were conducted to collect interview and health examination data among individuals aged ≥35 years in rural Yunnan Province, China. SETTING: Three rural areas of Yunnan, China. PARTICIPANTS: We invited 8187 consenting participants in 2010-2011 and 7572 consenting participants in 2020-2021 to undergo interviews and health examinations. RESULTS: The standardised prevalence of hypertension significantly increased from 26.1% in 2011 to 40.4% in 2021 (p<0.01), and the per capita direct, indirect and disease economic burdens increased from US$1323, US$46 and US$1369 to US$2196, US$49 and US$2244, respectively. In addition to the indirect economic burden, the direct and disease economic burdens increased significantly. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in illiterate population, among participants with low annual household income per capita, and participants with good access to medical services than in their counterparts who had good education, high annual household income per capita and poor access to medical services (all p<0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension showed a downward trend with improvement in socioeconomic position (SEP) (p<0.05). The per capita direct and disease economic burdens increased most in participants with low SEP, but the per capita indirect economic burden increased most in participants with upper-middle SEP. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and economic burden of hypertension have visibly accelerated in rural Yunnan Province over the 10 years studied, and socioeconomic disparities have been found in the prevalence and economic burden of hypertension. These findings highlight that socioeconomic differentials should be tailored to address the timing of effective interventions for hypertension prevention and control and reduce the economic burden of hypertension in rural southwestern China.

The antifungal metabolites isolated from maize endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. induced by OSMAC strategy.

Six new sesquiterpenes, fusarchlamols A-F (1, 2, 4-7); one new natural product of sesquiterpenoid, methyltricinonoate (3); and ten known compounds were found from Fusarium sp. cultured in two different media by the one strain many compounds strategy. The compounds (1, 2, and 4-11) were isolated from Fusarium sp. in PDB medium, and compounds (3-5, 8, and 10-17) were discovered from Fusarium sp. in coffee medium. Additionally, the configuration of 8 was first reported in the research by Mosher's method. The structures were established by 1D, 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, calculated ECD spectra, and Mosher's method. Compounds 1, 2, 6/7, 12, and 16 indicated significant antifungal activities against the phytopathogen Alternaria alternata isolated from Coffea arabica with MICs of 1 µg/mL. The investigation on the anti-phytopathogen activity of metabolites can provide lead compounds for agrochemicals.

A new benzophenone derivative from Aspergillus fumigatus WJ-131.

A new benzophenone derivative, 8'-hydroxymonomethylsulochrin (1), together with eighteen known compounds (2-19) were produced by the endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus WJ-131, isolated from the stem of Gardenia jasminoides. The structure of 1 was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Under the condition of concentration of 20.0 µM, the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rates of compounds 1 and 7 induced by LPS were 39.4% and 38.1% (LPS, the splenic lymphocytes cell proliferation rates of 21.3%), and the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rate of compounds 7 induced by ConA is 44.6% (ConA, the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rates of 28.9%). Therefore, compounds 1 and 7 promoted the proliferation of ConA/LPS-stimulated splenic lymphocytes at 20.0 µM in vitro. In addition, compound 1 showed weak antibacterial activity against Fusarium oxysporum.

Guided isolation of secondary metabolites from Nectria sp. MHHJ-3 by molecular network strategy.

The fungus Nectria sp. MHHJ-3 was isolated from Illigera rhodantha. A molecular networking-guided the secondary metabolites investigation of Nectria sp. MHHJ-3 led to the isolation of ten metabolites (1-10), including two new naphthalenone derivatives, nectrianaphthalenones A (1) and B (2), and two new steroids, nectriasteroids A (3) and B (4). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including the HRESIMS, 1D/2D NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1-2 was proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. Compounds 3 and 4 showed significant cytotoxic activity against selected tumor cells. Particularly, compound 3 exhibited the strongest activity against A549 cells with an IC50 value of 13.73 ± 0.03 µM, which was at the same grade with that of positive control cisplatin.

Calycosin attenuates the inflammatory damage of microglia induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation through the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Stroke seriously threatens human life and health worldwide, but only very few effective stroke medicines are currently available. Our previous studies have indicated that the phytoestrogen calycosin exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury rats. Therefore, the objective of this study is to further explore the protective effect of calycosin on inflammatory injury in microglia after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and to clarify whether its protective effect is related to the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Here, the OGD/R model of rodent microglia is established in vitro to simulate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Through the CCK-8 test, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis, we find that the activity of microglia is decreased, the expressions of HMGB1 and TLR4 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB (p-NF-κB) are increased, and the releases of the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α are increased after OGD/R. Pretreatment with calycosin could ameliorate these states, increase cell viability, reduce HMGB1, TLR4 and p-NF-κB expression, and reduce inflammatory cytokine production. In addition, the effect of calycosin is similar to that of TAK-242 (an inhibitor of TLR4), and the effect of the combined treatment is better than that of the single treatment. The results indicate that calycosin protects microglia from OGD/R injury and reduces the inflammatory response. Calycosin might alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Ethnic disparities in prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and its multimorbidity among older adults in rural southwest China.

BACKGROUND: As the population ages, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) multimorbidity has emerged as a major public health issue globally. This study examines ethnic disparities in prevalence of NCDs and its multimorbidity among rural southwest Chinese older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural southwest population aged ≥ 60 years consisting of 5,642 consenting participants of Han and three ethnic minority groups (Dai, Ha Ni, and Bai). Information about participants' demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors was obtained using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure measurement, as well as post-bronchodilator spirometry test were recorded for each participant. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of five common chronic NCDs- hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - and its multimorbidity was 72.8%, 15.9%, 4.0%, 10.0%, 9.8%, and 27.6%, respectively. Bai participants had both the highest overall and sex-specific prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and COPD, whereas Han participants had the highest rates of CHD (P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that female and older participants had a higher probability of chronic NCDs multimorbidity than their counterparts (P < 0.01). Bai ethnic minority participants were more likely to have NCDs multimorbidity while Ha Ni and Dai ethnic minority participants were less likely to have NCD multimorbidity relative to the Han participants (P < 0.05). Older adults with a higher level of education and family history of chronic NCDs, and who were also current smokers, current drinkers, obese, centrally obese, and physically inactive had a greater probability of developing chronic NCDs multimorbidity (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity and individual demographic and lifestyle factors significantly impact prevalence of chronic NCDs multimorbidity. Future chronic NCDs prevention and control strategies must be tailored to address ethnicity, and culturally tailored lifestyle interventions may reduce the prevalence of chronic NCDs multimorbidity in rural southwest China.

Quality of life in patients with cervical cancer between the Han nationality and ethnic minorities in the Yunnan Province of China.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, and it still poses a crippling threat to women's health. China launched the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program for Rural Women in 2009, and an increasing number of cervical cancer patients have been detected. Health-related quality of life is not only the end point of cancer research but is also related to socioeconomic and clinical factors and has received an increasing amount of attention. In light of the characteristics of the Yunnan nationality, we conducted cross-sectional research to assess and explore the health-related quality of life in both Han and ethnic minority patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2021 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University/Yunnan Cancer Hospital. Patients, including 100 Han patients and 100 ethnic minorities, were interviewed using the FACT-Cx questionnaire within 3 months of receiving treatment. RESULTS: Patients of Han ethnicity and ethnic minorities were comparable in both sociodemographic and clinical features. The total FACT-Cx scores were 139.38 ± 9.83 and 134.39 ± 13.63 in Han and ethnic minority patients, respectively (P < 0.05). Significant differences were shown in physical well-being, emotional well-being and the FACT-Cx subscale between the Han and ethnic minority groups. Independent predictors of the FACT-Cx scale were ethnicity, educational level, participation in the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program for Rural Areas (NCCSPRA) and clinical stage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study imply that the HRQOL of Han patients is better than that of ethnic minority patients. Thus, clinicians and related health workers should pay more attention to the HRQOL of cervical cancer patients, especially for ethnic minority patients, and provide psychosocial interventions as much as possible to improve their HRQOL. Policies should also aim to strengthen health education regarding cervical cancer and expand the coverage of the NCCSPRA among those who are ethnic minorities, are older and have low educational levels.

RNF20 is required for male fertility through regulation of H2B ubiquitination in the Sertoli cells.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogenesis depends on the supporting of the Sertoli cells and their communications with germ cells. However, the regulation of crosstalk between the Sertoli cells and germ cells remains unclear. RESULTS: In this report, we used conditional knockout technology to generate the Sertoli cells-specific knockout of Rnf20 in mice. The Amh-Rnf20-/- male mice were infertile owing to spermatogenic failure that mimic the Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in humans. Knockout of Rnf20 resulted in the H2BK120ub loss in the Sertoli cells and impaired the transcription elongation of the Cldn11, a gene encoding a component of tight junction. Notably, RNF20 deficiency disrupted the cell adhesion, caused disorganization of the seminiferous tubules, and led to the apoptotic cell death of both spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubules. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes a Rnf20 knockout mouse model that recapitulates the Sertoli cell-only syndrome in humans and demonstrates that RNF20 is required for male fertility through regulation of H2B ubiquitination in the Sertoli cells.

Steroids and dihydroisocoumarin glycosides from Xylaria sp. by the one strain many compounds strategy and their bioactivities.

The fungus Xylaria sp. KYJ-15 was isolated from Illigera celebica. Based on the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) strategy, the strain was fermented on potato and rice solid media, respectively. As a result, two novel steroids, xylarsteroids A (1) and B (2), which are the first examples of C28-steroid with an unusual ß- and γ-lactone ring, respectively, along with two new dihydroisocoumarin glycosides, xylarglycosides A (3) and B (4), were identified. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antimicrobial effect. Compound 1 exhibited potent AChE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 2.61 ± 0.05 µmol·L-1. The ß-lactone ring unit of 1 is critical for its AChE inhibitory activity. The finding was further confirmed through exploring the interaction of 1 with AChE by molecular docking. In addition, both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited obvious antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg·mL-1. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus with MICs of 4 and 2 µg·mL-1, respectively, which also exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity comparable to the positive control with IC50 values of 9.2 ± 0.03 and 13.3 ± 0.01 µmol·L-1, respectively.