Morphological and Molecular Analysis Identifies the Associated Fungus ("Xianghui") of the Medicinal White Jelly Mushroom, Tremella fuciformis, as Annulohypoxylon stygium.

White jelly mushroom, Tremella fuciformis, is a popular edible mushroom with interesting medicinal properties (e.g., immunostimulating, antidiabetic). The formation of T. fuciformis basidiomes is highly dependent on the presence of a specific host fungus, both in nature and for industrial production. This host has traditionally been indicated as "Xianghui" in China, yet which or how many fungal species Xianghui comprises is unclear, with various authorities claiming different species. At present, Annulohypoxilon archeri is generally assumed to be the main Xianghui species, but this has not yet been confirmed experimentally. The implementation of older, premolecular-based research data (i.e., morphological) with present, sequence-based data to solve the identity remains confusing and studies addressing both identification methods in combination are lacking. The unclear identity of Xianghui is a major obstacle for further understanding of the important relationship between the host(s) and T. fuciformis. In this study, we collected a wild specimen of T. fuciformis together with several nearby stroma of Xianghui, cocultivated T. fuciformis with the Xianghui isolates, and observed basidiome formation. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis showed that all Xianghui spore isolates belonged to the same species and both morphological analysis of sexual stages and ITS ß-tubulin and actin gene sequences of the Xianghui specified it as Annulohypoxylon stygium. The ITS sequences of the newly identified Xianghui further closely matched those of the Xianghui strains used in the mushroom industry, showing that wild and culture spawn Xianghui in China consist of A. stygium. In contrast with previous conclusions, A. stygium, and not A. archeris, seems to be the preferred host of T. fuciformis.

[Effect of occlusal reconstruction on cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen saturation in patients with malocclusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of occlusal reconstruction on blood flow velocity and cerebral oxygen saturation in patients with malocclusion. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with malocclusion treated with occlusal reconstruction in Department of Stomatology, Medical School of Huzhou Normal College from Feb 2011 to Oct 2013 were enrolled in the study. The systolic peak flow velocity (vs), end-diastolic peak flow (vd) , mean peak flow velocity (vm) of middle cerebral artery and the oxygen saturation (rScO2) in the brain were detected at rest or chewing status by using transcranial Doppler color ultrasonography and near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively. RESULTS: In rest state, vm was significantly increased on 3 months after treatment, while vs and vd were significantly increased on 6 months after treatment and rScO2 were increased on 12 months after treatment (P<0.05). In chewing state, vs, vm, and rScO2 were increased on 3 months after treatment, and vd was increased on 6 months after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Occlusal reconstruction can increase blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery and cerebral oxygen saturation and improve oxygen supply of the brain in patients with malocclusion.

[Targeting transgene effect of adTERT-TRAIL on salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line SACC-83].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the targeting expression of TRAIL gene driven by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter in SACC-83 cell with telomerase activity. METHODS: Adenovirus vector AdTERT-TRAIL was constructed by homologus recombination. After transfecting AdTERT-TRAIL into SACC-83 cell and HEL cell, its effect on these cells in vitro was investigated using RT-PCR technique, MTT method and flow cytometry. RESULTS: After transfection of AdTERT-TRAIL, expression of extrinsic TRAIL gene driven was detected in SACC-83, the proliferation of SACC-83 cell showed significant inhibitory effect (the relative cell viability was 49.70%) and its apoptotic rate was promoted (30.49%), whereas no TRAIL gene was detected in HEL cell, also no inhibitory effect was observed in HEL cell and its apoptotic rate showed little change. CONCLUSION: Adenovirus vector AdTERT-TRAIL was successfully constructed, which can be used to induce expression of TRAIL gene in SACC-83 cell with targeting effect.

[Inhibition of proliferation of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by targeting gene transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of gene TRAIL driven by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter in SACC-83 cell tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis in dncing ligand. METHODS: After pACTERT-TRAIL plasmid transfected was into SACC-83 and HEL cells through liposome, the expression of TRAIL was examined using RT-PCR technique, the cells' survival rate by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method and apoptosis rate by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Expression of extrinsic TRAIL gene driven by hTERT promoter was detected in SACC-83 cells, and not detected in human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) cells. After transfection of pACTERT-TRAIL, the proliferation of SACC-83 cells was significantly inhibited, and its apoptotic rate was promoted, whereas no inhibited effect was observed on HEL cells and its apoptotic rate showed little change. CONCLUSIONS: hTERT promoter can be used to induce tumor-specific expression of TRAIL gene and apoptosis in SACC-83 cells.