Acuminatums E and F, two new cyclic lipopeptides from Fusarium lateritium HU0053 and their antifungal activity.

Two new cyclic lipopeptides, acuminatums E (1) and F (2), together with four known cyclic lipopeptides, acuminatums A-D (3-6) were isolated from the corn culture of endophytic Fusarium lateritium HU0053. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and advanced Marfey's amino acid analysis. All compounds were found to exhibit antifungal activities against Penicillium digitatum. Acuminatum F (2), a new cyclic lipopeptide containing an unusual 3, 4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine unit exhibited the strongest antifungal activities with inhibition zone of 6.5 mm at the dose of 6.25 µg. Therefore, acuminatum F might be a potential environmental-friendly preservative for citrus fruits.

Utility of colon leakage score in left-sided colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical utility of the colon leakage score (CLS) in predicting the risk of anastomotic leakage (AL) after left-sided colorectal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This investigation was designed as a retrospective study of 304 patients who underwent left-sided colorectal surgery. The patients were classified into two groups as those who developed AL and those who did not develop AL, and the CLSs of the two groups were compared. The predictive value and the cutoff value of the CLS were assessed by receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A significant difference was noted in the mean CLSs of the groups with and without AL (P < 0.001). The values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.965; confidence interval, 0.913-1.00) and the odds ratio (2.9; confidence interval, 1.59-4.83; P < 0.001) indicated that CLS was a good predictor of AL. A CLS of 11 was found to be the best cutoff value, with a sensitivity and specificity of 84.6% and 87.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that CLS can effectively predict the risk of AL after left-sided colorectal surgery and that a CLS of 11 can be used as a cutoff value for the risk level.

[Chemical constituents from Canarium pimela fruits].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents from Canarium pimela fruits. METHODS: Compounds were obtained after separation and purification by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. The structures were identified on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectrum data. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated from Canarium pimela fruits. The structures were identified as amentoflavone (1), kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranoside (2), shikimic acid (3), quercetin (4), kaempferol (5), 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (6), 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (7) and stigmasterol (8). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-8 are isolated from Canarium pimela fruits for the first time.

Bioaccumulation and translocation of polyhalogenated compounds in rice (Oryza sativa L.) planted in paddy soil collected from an electronic waste recycling site, South China.

The bioaccumulation and translocation of polyhalogenated compounds (PHCs) in rice planted in the paddy soils of an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site were investigated, along with the effect of contaminated soils on rice growth. The PHCs included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), and dechlorane plus (DPs). The morphological development and all measured physiological parameters of rice plants except for peroxidase were significantly inhibited by e-waste contaminated soils. Specifically, soil-root bioaccumulation factors (RCFs) increased with increasing logarithm of octanol-water partition coefficient (logKow) for PCBs, but decreased for PBDEs. During translocation from root to stem, translocation factors (TFs) and logKow were positively correlated. However, the accumulation mechanism in the leaf was concentration-dependent. In the high concentration exposure group, translocation play more important role in determination PHCs burden in leaf than atmospheric uptake, with logTF (from stem to leaf) being positively correlated with logKow. In contrast, in the low exposure and control groups, logTF (from stem to leaf) was negatively correlated with logKow. In addition, Syn-DP was selectively accumulated in plant tissues. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that e-waste contaminated soils affect rice growth, revealed the rule of the bioaccumulation and translocation of PHCs in rice plants.

Effects of Ficus hirta Vahl. (Wuzhimaotao) extracts on growth inhibition of HeLa cells.

Ficus hirta Vahl. (Wuzhimaotao) is widely used as a folk medicine by Hakka people in southern China. In order to ascertain if any major fraction can be attributed to have pronounced anticancer effect, extracts of Wuzhimaotao on cytotoxic and apoptosis of HeLa cell lines were evaluated. HeLa cells were cultured and incubated with different concentrations of crude aqueous extracts (CAE), ethyl acetate extracts (EAE), and butyl alcohol extracts (BAE). It showed CAE, EAE, and BAE decreased cell viability on HeLa cells as a dose-dependent manner, and induced a sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated cells compared to the control. Apoptotic cell death is involved in CAE, EAE, and BAE toxicity, with EAE having a significant decrease in G1 population. An over all analysis of results showed that Wuzhimaotao extracts exert antiproliferative action and growth inhibition on HeLa cells through apoptosis induction which indicates its anticancer properties and deserves further investigation.