Review of the genus Ressia Sinev, 1988 (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae), with descriptions of four new species from China.

Six species of the genus Ressia Sinev, 1988 from China are reviewed. Four species are described as new: R. disparilis Li, sp. nov., R. forcipata Li, sp. nov., R. semilunata Li, sp. nov., and R. sinevi Li, sp. nov. Images of adults and genitalia are provided, along with a key to all the seven species in the world.

Review of the genus Macrobathra Meyrick, 1883 (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) in China.

Sixteen species of the genus Macrobathra Meyrick, 1883 are treated in this study. Nine species are described as new to science: M. trigonilamella Li, sp. nov., M. reticulatistria Li, sp. nov., M. micacea Li, sp. nov., M. solidilatata Li, sp. nov., M. afflata Li, sp. nov., M. aequidistans Li, sp. nov., M. baculiformis Li, sp. nov., M. bipunciata Li, sp. nov., and M. terniprocessa Li, sp. nov. One species, M. petalitis Meyrick, 1915, is newly recorded for China. The female of M. petalitis Meyrick, 1915 and the male of M. myrocoma Meyrick, 1914 are described for the first time. Images of adults and genitalia are provided, along with a key to the known Chinese species.

A taxonomic review of the genus Ashibusa Matsumura, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) from China.

The genus Ashibusa Matsumura, 1931 is reviewed from China. Eight new species are described: A. apicodonta Li, sp. nov., A. biniprocessa Li, sp. nov., A. dilatirotunda Li, sp. nov., A. improjecta Li, sp. nov., A. ledongensis Li, sp. nov., A. longispina Li, sp. nov., A. similativalvula Li, sp. nov. and A. subfalcativalva Li, sp. nov. The females of A. flavalba Zhang & Li, 2009 and A. lativalvula Zhang & Li, 2009 are described for the first time. Images of adults and genitalia are provided for the new species and for the newly described female genitalia. A key to all the species and a map showing the distribution of these species are provided.

Lactobacillus fermentum JX306 Restrain D-galactose-induced Oxidative Stress of Mice through its Antioxidant Activity.

Oxidative stress-induced series of related degenerative diseases have received widespread attention. To screen new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to resist oxidative stress, traditional Chinese fermented vegetables were used as a resource library to screen of LAB. The Lactobacillus fermentum JX306 strain, which showed high scavenging activity of DPPH free radical and hydrogen radical, and a strong lipid peroxidation inhibition rate in vitro was selected. L. fermentum JX306 was also examined for its antioxidant capacity in D-galactose-induced aging mice. The results showed that L. fermentum JX306 could significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and improve the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxygenic capacity (TOC) in the serum, kidney, and liver. Meanwhile, the strain could remarkably upregulate the transcriptional level of the antioxidant-related enzyme genes, such as peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx1), glutathione reductase (Gsr), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1), and thioredoxin reductase (TR3) encoding genes in the liver. Besides, histopathological observation proves that this probiotic strain could effectively inhibit oxidative damage to the liver and kidney in aging mice. Therefore, this unique antioxidant strain may have a high application value in the functional food industry and medicine industry.Oxidative stress-induced series of related degenerative diseases have received widespread attention. To screen new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to resist oxidative stress, traditional Chinese fermented vegetables were used as a resource library to screen of LAB. The Lactobacillus fermentum JX306 strain, which showed high scavenging activity of DPPH free radical and hydrogen radical, and a strong lipid peroxidation inhibition rate in vitro was selected. L. fermentum JX306 was also examined for its antioxidant capacity in D-galactose-induced aging mice. The results showed that L. fermentum JX306 could significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and improve the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxygenic capacity (TOC) in the serum, kidney, and liver. Meanwhile, the strain could remarkably upregulate the transcriptional level of the antioxidant-related enzyme genes, such as peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx1), glutathione reductase (Gsr), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1), and thioredoxin reductase (TR3) encoding genes in the liver. Besides, histopathological observation proves that this probiotic strain could effectively inhibit oxidative damage to the liver and kidney in aging mice. Therefore, this unique antioxidant strain may have a high application value in the functional food industry and medicine industry.

Role of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3 in myocardial cells in diabetes.

Cardiovascular complications are the major causes of morbidity and mortality associated with Type 2 Diabetes. Among the macrovascular complications, diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is generally considered to be inadequately recognized and managed. Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), is known to play a key role in the initiation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis induced by hypoxia and acidosis in the heart. It is unknown whether BNIP3 is also important for cardiac cell survival or adaption in response to hyperglycemia. Based on the previous finding that BNIP3 was significantly induced in the diabetic rat heart, BNIP3 was transfected in primary rat cardiomyocytes and the H9c2 cell line in the present study. Overexpressed BNIP3 decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced cell apoptosis. When BNIP3 was knocked down, the effect on cell apoptosis was reversed. Transcriptome analysis showed that the genes regulating mitochondrial metabolism, such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b, cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIIIb and creatine kinase (brain), and those regulating cardiac fibrosis, such as matrix metallopeptidase 9, could be the targets of BNIP3 in rat cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, hyperglycemia-induced BNIP3 expression may compromise cardiac cell survival and function. Under the diabetic condition, BNIP3 could be involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism and fibrosis. BNIP3 could therefore serve as a potential drug target against diabetic macrovascular complications and, in particular, DCM.