Lovastatin analogues and other metabolites from soil-derived Aspergillus terreus YIM PH30711

Eight previously undescribed metabolites including of lovastatin analogues, a pair of diastereoisomers, a cyclopentenone dimer, and three polyketides were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus terreus YIM PH30711. Two types of unprecedented skeletons, benzene-cyclopentanone complex and linear polyketide, and an unusual dimer structure were determined by spectral analysis. Compound, 3α-hydroxy-3,5-dihydromonacolin L showed moderate activity against HMG-CoA reductase, with an inhibition ratio of 34% at the concentration of 50 μM, while lovastatin and dihydromonacolin K ethyl ester presented much stronger activity against HMGR with inhibition rates of 85% and 90% at the concentration of 50 μM, respectively. Aspereusin A was active against AChE with a ratio of 62% at the concentration of 50 μM, while its stereomers did not showed obvious inhibition (<10%). The configuration at C-4 of these three diastereoisomers was crucial in the inhibition against AChE, and the β-orientation of substituted methoxyl acrylic acid should be beneficial to the combining with AChE.

Benzopyran derivatives from endophytic Daldinia eschscholzii JC-15 in Dendrobium chrysotoxum and their bioactivities

Five new benzopyran derivatives (2-6) and a new natural product (1) were isolated from endophytic Daldinia eschscholzii in Dendrobium chrysotoxum and determined as (R)-2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-2-methylchromen-4-one (1), (2R, 4S)-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-benzopyran-4,5-diol (2), (R)-3-methoxyl-1-(2,6-dihydroxy phenyl)-butan-1-one (3), 7-O-α-d-ribosyl-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one (4), 7-O-α-d-ribosyl-2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-chromen-4-one (5), daldinium A (6). These compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, anti-acetylcholinesterase, nitric oxide inhibition, anticoagulant, photodynamic antimicrobial activities and glucose uptake of adipocytes. Some compounds showed photoactive antimicrobial activities and glucose uptake stimulating activities.

A Novel Steroid Derivative and a New Steroidal Saponin from Endophytic Fungus Xylaria sp

Two new steroids, (24 R)-22, 23-dihydroxy-ergosta-4,6,8(14)-trien-3-one 23-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), and xylarester (2), together with 16 known compounds were isolated from the extract of endophytic Xylaria sp. solid culture. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compound 2 has an unprecedent ergosta skeleton with a six-membered lactonic group in A ring. The X-ray single crystal diffraction data of 4,7-dihydroxy-13-tetradeca-2,5,8-trienolide (4) were also reported for the first time. The antibacterial, anti-acetylcholinesterase, nitric oxide inhibition and cytotoxic activities of 1–3 were investigated. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity to MCF-7 with the ratio of inhibition at 72 % for a concentration at 40 μM.

Novel Isochroman Dimers from Stachybotrys sp. PH30583: Fermentation, Isolation, Structural Elucidation and Biological Activities

The rare anishidiol and five new isochromans, including three novel dimers with unprecedented skeletons, were isolated from Stachybotrys sp. PH30583. Their structures were determined by spectral analyses. The bioactivities of these compounds were also investigated. The dimers (6-10) inhibited acetylcholinesterase at 50 µM, but the monomers did not. To investigate the biogenesis of the novel dimers, a time-course investigation of metabolite production was undertaken.

Metabolites from Penicillium sp. Associated with Paris polyphylla

One new gentisyl alcohol derivative and seven known compounds were isolated from the culture of Penicillium sp. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 4, and 6 inhibited Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli with MICs of 32–128 μg/mL.

[Short-term outcome of sacral neuromodulation on refractory interstitial cystitis/pelvic pain syndrome]

Objective: To summarize the initial experiences of applying sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for refractory interstitial cystitis/pelvic pain syndrome (IC/PPS). Methods: From January 2013 to August 2016, 26 patients with refractory IC/PPS (including 5 males and 21 females) treated with SNM were recruited in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Hebei Yanda Hospital in this retrospective study. The data before operation, after implantation of stage Ⅰ tined lead, and during short-term follow-up after implantation of stage Ⅱ implanted pulse generator (IPG) were compared in order to observe the improvement of relevant symptoms, and to summarize the effectiveness and safety of SNM for IC/PPS. Results: All the 26 patients received stage Ⅰ tined lead implantation under local anesthesia, of whom 7 patients finally had the tined lead removed under local anesthesia because of poor testing effects. And 19 patients chose embedding of IPG at the end of stageⅠ, with the conversion rate from stage Ⅰto stage Ⅱ being 73.1%. The mean follow-up time after stage Ⅱ was 12.1 months. The data at the end of follow-up compared with those before treatment were: voiding frequency in 24 hours 24.3±9.6 vs 13.5±5.7, nocturia 4.6±2.2 vs 2.7±1.5, average voiding amount (109.4 ±45.3)vs(172.6±61.6) ml, O'leary-sant scale score 26.0±3.1 vs 17.0±3.8, quality of life (QOL) score 5.7±0.4 vs 3.3±1.3, sex rating 5.4±1.4 vs 2.9±1.6, and Numeric Pain Intensity Scale 8.4±1.7 vs 3.9±1.2 (all P<0.05). During the follow-up period for the 19 patients, 11 showed symptoms relieve without recurrence, 5 patients had slightly symptoms recurrence and 3 patients had severe recurrence of pelvic pain and frequent urination. About 42.1%(8/19) patients received reprogramming, the average reprogramming rate being 1.73/person. And 84.2% (16/19) patients had symptoms improvement greater than 50% after stage Ⅱ IPG implantation. Conclusions: SNM is an effective, safe and minimally invasive procedure for refractory IC/PPS. IC/PPS is a good indication for SNM with a high conversion rate from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅱ. Patients should be followed up regularly after operation, and reprogramming should be arranged according to the degree of symptom improvement.

Koninginins N-Q, Polyketides from the Endophytic Fungus Trichoderma koningiopsis Harbored in Panax notoginseng

Four new fungal polyketides named koninginins N-Q (1-4), together with four known analogues (5-8), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Trichoderma koningiopsis YIM PH30002 harbored in Panax notoginseng. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data interpretation. These compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activity, nitric oxide inhibition, and anticoagulant activity.

Construction of the mammalian expressing vector pEGFP-N1-P53 and its expression successful in chicken fibroblast cells and blastoderm

The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) pEGFP-N1-P53 eukaryotic expression vector, which contains the human tumor suppressor p53, was constructed and transfected into chicken fibroblast cells and stage-X blastoderm to analyze the transfection efficiency. The complementary DNA of the human p53 gene was cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from human peripheral blood and inserted into the pEGFP-N1 vector by HindIII and BamHI double digestion. The pEGFP-N1-P53 vector was transfected into chicken embryo fibroblasts by Lipofectamine 2000 liposomes, and the transfection efficiency was analyzed by fluorescence microscope after 36 h of transfection. The stage-X blastoderm was also transfected by blastoderm injection using Lipofectamine 2000 liposomes at room temperature after 12-24 h; then hatching occurred until seventh day, and the transfection efficiency was analyzed by fluorescence microscope in the dead embryo. A total of 90 hatching eggs were transfected by the pEGFP-N1-P53 vector, and 20 chicken embryos expressed the reporter gene, which indicated that recombinant pEGFP-N1-P53 could be transfected and expressed in stage-X blastoderm by liposomes. Chicken embryo fibroblasts were transfected and expressed the reporter gene. The pEGFP-N1-P53 vector was constructed successfully and could be transfected and expressed in chicken embryo fibroblasts and stage-X blastoderms efficiently.

Characterization ofD-Aminoacylase fromAlcaligenes denitrificansDA181

The D-aminoacylase produced by Alcaligenes denitrificans DA181 was a new type of aminoacylase which had both high stereospecificity and specific activity. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of this enzyme were 58,000 and 4.4, respectively. The apparent Km and kcat values of this enzyme for N-acetyl-D-methionine were estimated to be 0.48 mM and 6.24 x 10(4) min-1, respectively. The optimum temperature was 45 degrees C. The enzyme was stable up to 55 degrees C for 1 hr in the presence of 0.2 mg/ml bovine serum albumin. The enzyme was stable in the pH range of 6.0 to 11.0 with an optimum pH of 7.5. This enzyme contained about 2.1 g atom of zinc per mole of enzyme. Enzyme activity was inhibited by incubation with EDTA. The inhibition by EDTA was fully reversed by Co2+ and partially by Zn2+.

Medelamine C, a new omega-hydroxy alkylamine derivative from endophytic Streptomyces sp. YIM 66142

A new alkylamine derivative and a common fatty acid were isolated from Streptomyces sp. YIM 66142. On the basis of spectral data, including HRMS, NMR and 2D NMR, their structures were determined as medelamine C (1) and isomyristic acid (2). The omega-hydroxyl group in structure 1 is rare in a natural alkylamine. The possible biosynthetic pathway in the genus Streptomyces from isomyristic acid (2) to medelamines is proposed. Compound 1 showed no obvious cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, SW480 cell lines. The omega-hydroxyl and the acetyl at NH in compound 1 decreased its cytotoxicity in comparison with that of medelamine.

Medelamine C, A New ω-Hydroxy Alkylamine Derivative from Endophytic Streptomyces sp. YIM 66142

A new alkylamine derivative and a common fatty acid were isolated from Streptomyces sp. YIM 66142. On the basis of spectral data, including HRMS, NMR and 2D NMR, their structures were determined as medelamine C (1) and isomyristic acid (2). The ω-hydroxyl group in structure 1 is rare in a natural alkylamine. The possible biosynthetic pathway in the genus Streptomyces from isomyristic acid (2) to medelamines is proposed. Compound 1 showed no obvious cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, SW480 cell lines. The ω-hydroxyl and the acetyl at NH in compound 1 decreased its cytotoxicity in comparison with that of medelamine.

Sesquiterpenes and an intermediate 1alpha, 6beta, 11-eudesmanetriol in the biosynthesis of geosmin from Streptomyces sp

One new sesquiterpene was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. and the structure was elucidated by spectral analysis as caryolane-1, 6beta-diol (1). An intermediate 1alpha, 6beta, 11-eudesmanetriol (2) in the biosynthesis of geosmin was also found in this strain which proved sequence for the reactions, especially bicyclization preceding dealkylation.

Oriental HLA-A*11:90 detected in a Taiwanese cord blood sample and the haplotype in association with A*11:90 allele

We report here an HLA-A allele, A*11:90, found in a Taiwanese cord blood sample using DNA sequence-based typing (SBT) protocol after observing an anomalous reaction pattern in a sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing exercise. The sequence of A*11:90 is identical to A*11:01:01, the most predominant A*11 variant in Taiwanese, in exon 2 but differs from A*11:01:01 in exon 3 by two nucleotide substitutions at codon 163 (c.487C>G and c.488G>A), resulting R163E. In comparison with the sequence of A*11:02:01, the second most predominant subtype of A*11 in Taiwanese A*11:90 has one nucleotide difference at codon 19 (c.55A>G) in exon 2 resulting K19E and two nucleotides variations at codon 163 (c.487C>G and c.488G>A) in exon 3 resulting R163E. HLA-A*11:90-B*40:02-DRB1*11:01 is the deduced probable HLA haplotype in association with A*11:90. The generation of A*11:90 is thought to involve a DNA recombination event between alleles A*11:01:01 and A*80:01 where A*80:01 donated a fragment of the DNA sequence (from n.t. 487 to n.t. 497) to the recipient sequence of A*11:01:01.

New lignan glycosides from Cupressus duclouxian (Cupessaceae)

From the branches and leaves of Cupressus duclouxiana two new lignan glycosides named cupressoside A (1) and cupressoside B (2), together with matairesinoside (3), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), ( - )-isolariciresinol (7) and ( - )-isolariciresinol-9-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (8), were isolated. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of their HR-FAB-MS, IR, UV, 1H and 13C NMR (DEPT), and 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY) spectral data.

Norlignans fromSequoia sempervirens

Six new norlignans, named sequosempervirins B-G (1-6), together with three known norlignans, agatharesinol (7), agatharesinol acetonide (8), and sugiresinol (9), were isolated from the branches and leaves of Sequoia sempervirens. Their structures were determined mainly by high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HR-MS), and various 1D- and 2D-NMR methods, as well as, in the case of 1, by means of X-ray diffraction. Compound 8 showed anticancer activity towards the A549 non-small-cell lung-cancer cell line (IC50 = 27.1 microM). The acetone extract of S. sempervirens was found to be antifungal towards Candida glabrata (IC50 = 15.98 microg/ml), and both the acetone and MeOH extracts inhibited the proteolytic activity of cathepsin B (IC50 = 4.58 and 5.49 microg/ml, resp.).

Mathematical modelling of MSW incineration on a travelling bed

The rising popularity of incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) calls for detailed mathematical modelling and understanding of the incineration process. In this paper, governing equations for mass, momentum and heat transfer for both solid and gaseous phases in a moving bed in a solid-waste incineration furnace are described and relevant sub-models are presented. The burning rates of volatile hydrocarbons in the moving bed of solids are limited not only by the reaction kinetics but also the mixing of the volatile fuels with the under-fire air. The mixing rate is averaged across a computation cell and correlated to a number of parameters including local void fraction of the bed, gas velocity and a length scale comparable to the particle size in the bed. A correlation equation is also included to calculate the mixing in the freeboard area immediately next to the bed surface. A small-scale fixed bed waste incinerator was built and test runs were made in which total mass loss from the bed, temperature and gas composition at different locations along the bed height were measured. A 2-D bed-modelling program (FLIC) was developed which incorporates the various sub-process models and solves the governing equations for both gases and solids. Thermal and chemical processes are mainly confined within a layer about 5-9 times in thickness of the averaged particle size in the burning bed. For a large part of the burning process, the total mass loss rate was constant until the solid waste was totally dried out and a period of highly rising CO emission followed. The maximum bed temperature was around 1200 K. The whole burning process ended within 60 min. Big fluctuations in species concentration were observed due to channelling and subsequent 'catastrophic' changes in the local bed conditions. Reasonably good agreement between modelling and measurements has been achieved. Yet the modelling work is complicated by the channelling phenomenon in the bed. Numerical simulations without consideration of the channelling effect produced very good agreement with experiments concerning the total mass loss, but significant discrepancy exists for temperature and gas composition profiles. Transient phenomena such as the breaking of waste particles and the "catastrophic" creation of new burning channels occurring during waste incineration is a vital area requiring further investigation at the fundamental level. The underlying theory of bed behaviour must be extended to include these transient events.