Biosorption of uranium(VI) by a mangrove endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. #ZZF51 from the South China Sea

The uranium(VI) accumulation was studied in detail by using the biomass of mangrove endophytic fungus Fusarium sp.#ZZF51 from the South China Sea. The uranium(VI) biosorption process onto the tested fungus powders was optimized at pH 4.0, adsorption time 60 min, and uranium(VI) initial concentration 50 mg L⁻¹ with 61.89% of removal efficiency. According to Fourier transform infrared spectra for the tested fungus before and after loaded with uranium(VI), the results showed that both of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups acted as the important roles in the adsorption process. In addition, the experimental data were analyzed by using parameter and kinetic models, and it was obtained that the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided better correlation with the experimental data for adsorption of uranium(VI).

Generation of optical vortex array with transformation of standing-wave Laguerre-Gaussian mode

We develop a novel method of creating optical vortex array by the conversion of a standing-wave Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode. Theoretically, by employing the transformational relation, the standing-wave LG mode is verified to be transformed from a pair of crisscrossed Hermite-Gaussian (HG) modes, embedded with optical vortex array, consists of a TEM_n,m mode and a TEM_m,n mode. Due to close correspondence between the transformational relation and the mode conversion of astigmatic lenses, we successfully generate the optical vortex array by transforming a standing-wave LG mode into the crisscrossed HG modes via a π/2 cylindrical lens mode converter. The investigation may provide useful insight in the study of the vortex light beam and its further applications.

Three bianthraquinone derivatives from the mangrove endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. ZJ9-6B from the South China Sea

Three new bianthraquinone derivatives, alterporriol K (1), L (2) and M (3), along with six known compounds were obtained from extracts of the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. ZJ9-6B, isolated from the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum collected in the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, MS data analysis and circular dichroism measurements. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were first isolated alterporriols with a C-2–C-2′ linkage. The crystallographic data of tetrahydroaltersolanol B (7) was reported for the first time. In the primary bioassays, alterporriol K and L exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity towards MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 13.1 to 29.1 μM.

Potent antifouling resorcylic acid lactones from the gorgonian-derived fungus Cochliobolus lunatus

Three new 14-membered resorcylic acid lactones, two with a rare natural acetonide group and one with a 5-chloro-substituted lactone, named cochliomycins A-C (1-3), together with four known analogues, zeaenol (4), LL-Z1640-1 (5), LL-Z1640-2 (6), and paecilomycin F (7), were isolated from the culture broth of Cochliobolus lunatus, a fungus obtained from the gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea collected in the South China Sea. Their structures and the relative configurations of 1-3 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including NOESY spectra and chemical conversions. A transetherification reaction was also observed in which cochliomycin B (2) in a solution of CDCl(3) slowly rearranged to give cochliomycin A (1) at room temperature. These resorcylic acid lactones were evaluated against the larval settlement of barnacle Balanus amphitrite, and antifouling activity was detected for the first time for this class of metabolites. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of these compounds were also examined.

Development of an imaging-planning program for screen/film and computed radiography mammography for breasts with short chest wall to nipple distance

OBJECTIVE

Imaging breasts with a short chest wall to nipple distance (CWND) using a traditional mammographic X-ray unit is a technical challenge for mammographers. The purpose of this study is the development of an imaging-planning program to assist in determination of imaging parameters of screen/film (SF) and computed radiography (CR) mammography for short CWND breasts.

METHODS

A traditional mammographic X-ray unit (Mammomat 3000, Siemens, Munich, Germany) was employed. The imaging-planning program was developed by combining the compressed breast thickness correction, the equivalent polymethylmethacrylate thickness assessment for breasts and the tube loading (mAs) measurement. Both phantom exposures and a total of 597 exposures were used for examining the imaging-planning program.

RESULTS

Results of the phantom study show that the tube loading rapidly decreased with the CWND when the automatic exposure control (AEC) detector was not fully covered by the phantom. For patient exposures with the AEC fully covered by breast tissue, the average fractional tube loadings, defined as the ratio of the predicted mAs using the imaging-planning program and mAs of the mammogram, were 1.10 and 1.07 for SF and CR mammograms, respectively. The predicted mAs values were comparable to the mAs values, as determined by the AEC.

CONCLUSION

By applying the imaging-planning program in clinical practice, the experiential dependence of the mammographer for determination of the imaging parameters for short CWND breasts is minimised.

Statistical research on marine natural products based on data obtained between 1985 and 2008

Since the 1960s, more than 20,000 compounds were discovered from marine organisms. In this paper we performed a quantitative analysis for the novel marine natural products reported between 1985 and 2008. The data was extracted mainly from the reviews of Faulkner and Blunt [1–26]. The organisms producing these marine natural products are divided into three major biological classes: marine microorganisms (including phytoplankton), marine algae and marine invertebrate. The marine natural products are divided into seven classes based on their chemical structure: terpenoids, steroids (including steroidal saponins), alkaloids, ethers (including ketals), phenols (including quinones), strigolactones, and peptides. The distribution and the temporal trend of these classes (biological classes and chemical structure classes) were investigated. We hope this article provides a comprehensive perspective on the research of marine natural products.

Dietary supplementation with carnosine improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of finishing pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) supplementation on antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs. 72 pigs approximately 60 kg were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet for 8 weeks. Carnosine supplementation did not affect growth performance and carcass traits of pigs. However, the addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased pH value of muscle at 45 min, 24 h and 48 h postmortem. It also decreased drip loss at 48 h postmortem and increased redness value of muscle at 45 min postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet enhanced glycogen concentration and Ca-ATPase activity at 24 and 48 h postmortem, and reduced malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein complexes concentrations in muscle at 24 h postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in plasma, liver or muscle, as well as SOD and GSH-Px genes expression in muscle (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings indicate that carnosine supplementation improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs.

Low dose of gamma irradiation enhanced boronophenylalanine uptake in head and neck carcinoma cells for boron neutron capture therapy

This study attempted to increase the boron uptake of human head and neck carcinoma SAS cells for BNCT by using a gamma dose of 0.1 Gy for combined treatment. Intracellular boron concentrations in 25 μgB/mL medium of BPA treated and BPA combined gamma-irradiation treated SAS cells were 73.8±1.73 and 95.15±1.36 ppm, respectively. After neutron irradiation, the G2/M-phase cell populations of untreated, BPA treated and BPA combined gamma-irradiation treated SAS cells were 19.31±1.71%, 52.47±2.25% and 59.19±2.63%, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the low dose gamma radiation with combination BPA treatment has the highest killing rate after neutron irradiation. Capable of significantly increasing the G2/M arrest after neutron irradiation, the combined treatment of a low dose of gamma irradiation with 25 μg B/mL medium of BPA also provided a higher killing effect for BNCT.

Bostrycin inhibits proliferation of human lung carcinoma A549 cells via downregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway

Background

Bostrycin is a novel compound isolated from marine fungi that inhibits proliferation of many cancer cells. However, the inhibitory effect of bostrycin on lung cancers has not been reported. This study is to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of bostrycin on human lung cancer cells in vitro.

Methods

We used MTT assay, flow cytometry, microarray, real time PCR, and Western blotting to detect the effect of bostrycin on A549 human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells.

Results

We showed a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in bostrycin-treated lung adenocarcinoma cells. Bostrycin treatment caused cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. We also found the upregulation of microRNA-638 and microRNA-923 in bostrycin-treated cells. further, we found the downregulation of p110α and p-Akt/PKB proteins and increased activity of p27 protein after bostrycin treatment in A549 cells.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that bostrycin had a significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of A549 cells. It is possible that upregulation of microRNA-638 and microRNA-923 and downregulaton of the PI3K/AKT pathway proteins played a role in induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in bostrycin-treated cells.

Global DNA methylation, DNMT1, and MBD2 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

To investigate the associations of DNA methylation levels and mRNA expressions of DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methyl CpG-binding domain 2 (MBD2) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 108 patients with SLE and 97 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. DNA and total RNA were extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the SLE patients and the controls. The global methylation levels of DNA were measured in 63 patients with SLE and 68 healthy controls by the ELISA method. DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA were also detected in 108 SLE patients and 97 controls using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The global methylation level of DNA was significantly decreased in the SLE patients in comparison with that in the controls ( p < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.1573–0.5052). The patients with SLE have higher expressions of DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA than the controls ( p < 0.001, 95% CI = −0.0049 – −0.0019 and p = 0.001, 95% CI = −0.0119 – −0.0029, respectively). We also found that there were no significant differences in the methylation level and the expression of DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA between the active and the inactive SLE patients. A positive correlation was also found between DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA expressions in the SLE patients ( p < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the patients with SLE had a significantly lower level of DNA methylation than the controls. The expression of both DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA was significantly increased in the SLE patients compared with the controls. This study also showed a positive correlation between DNMT1 and MBD2 mRNA levels in the patients with SLE.

Three dimeric naphtho-γ-pyrones from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus tubingensis isolated from Pongamia pinnata

Three new dimeric naphtho-γ-pyrones, named rubasperone A (1), rubasperone B (2), and rubasperone C (3), together with two known compounds, rubrofusarin (4) and rubrofusarin B (5), were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus tubingensis (GX1-5E). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR. The structures of 1 and 2 were further confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In the bioactivity assays against tyrosinase and α-glucosidase, rubrofusarin (4) exhibited moderate tyrosinase inhibitory activity, with an IC(50) value of 65.6 µM, and rubasperone C (3) showed mild α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC(50) value of 97.3 µM.

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma on serous and intestinal redox status and cytokines of neonatal piglets

The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, as well as serum and intestinal cytokines and antioxidant indicators of artificially reared neonatal piglets. Three diets, 1) control (a fish meal basal diet), 2) SDAP (containing 10% SDAP), and 3) autoclaved SDAP (auSDAP; containing 10% auSDAP), were fed to 36 weaned piglets (3 d old), which were randomly allotted to 3 groups. At 21 d of age, blood and intestinal mucosal samples were collected from all piglets after they were slaughtered. Compared with the control, both SDAP and auSDAP improved ADFI and duodenal villus height of piglets (P < 0.05), whereas SDAP increased ADG and duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Piglets fed SDAP and auSDAP had reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in mucosa (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum MDA was decreased and mucosal catalase (CAT) activities were increased in piglets fed SDAP diet than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). In the mucosa, both SDAP and auSDAP decreased tumor necrosis factor α, IL-6, transforming growth factor β, and soluble IL-2 receptor contents (P < 0.05). Mucosal IL-1β was decreased in SDAP compared with auSDAP and control groups (P < 0.05). The SDAP and control groups had increased mucosal IL-2 compared with auSDAP group (P < 0.05). The cytokines in serum were not affected by SDAP and auSDAP. The results indicate that both SDAP and auSDAP improved the growth performance of neonatal piglets, whereas the SDAP had a greater effect. The benefits of SDAP probably resulted from the promotion of the intestinal development, which were accompanied by the increased antioxidant capacity and the decreased production of inflammatory factors in the intestinal mucosa.

A new diimide derivative from the co-culture broth of two mangrove fungi (strain no. E33 and K38)

A new diimide derivative, named (-)-byssochlamic acid bisdiimide (1), was isolated from the mixed broth of two mangrove fungi (strain no. K38 and E33) from the South China sea coast. The structure of 1 was determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and semi-synthesis. Primary bioassays showed that 1 had weak cytotoxic activity against Hep-2 and HepG2 cells.

Cr(VI) removal on fungal biomass of Neurospora crassa: the importance of dissolved organic carbons derived from the biomass to Cr(VI) reduction

Interactions of toxic Cr(VI) with renewable biomaterials are considered an important pathway for Cr(VI) removal in ecosystems. Biomaterials are susceptible to dissolution, and their dissolved derivatives may provide an alternative to surface-involved pathway for scavenging of Cr(VI). In this study, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) derived from Neurospora crassa biomass was investigated. The proportion of Cr(VI) reduction by DOC to that on biomass was determined to evaluate the importance of DOC to Cr(VI) reduction. A rapid increase in DOC concentration from 145.6 to 193.7 mg L(-1) was observed when N. crassa-biomass was immersed in 0.01 M KCl solution at pH of 1-5, and polysaccharides, peptides, and glycoproteins with carboxyl, amide, and -NH functional groups, are the major compositions of DOC. On reaction of 96.2 microM Cr(VI) with N. crassa-biomass or DOC, it was estimated that DOC contributed approximately 53.8-59.5% of the total Cr(VI) reduction on biomass in the dark. Illumination enhanced Cr(VI) reduction via photo-oxidation of biomass/DOC under aeration conditions, which formed superoxide for Cr(VI) reduction. At pH 1, photoinduced Cr(VI) reduction by DOC proceeded more rapidly than reduction on the biomass surface. However, at pH >3, with a decrease in Cr(VI) reduction by DOC, photon-excited biomass may become an important electron source for Cr(VI) photoreduction.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea requiring intensive care

We reviewed the clinical characteristics, required intervention and short- and long-term outcomes in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients requiring intensive care. A retrospective, single-centre, observational cohort study was undertaken in a multidisciplinary teaching medical and surgical intensive care unit. Adult patients with OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index of 5 or higher) requiring intensive care from January 2000 to January 2005 were included. Thirty-seven OSA patients (age: 58 +/- 14 years, male:female 27:10) were admitted due to respiratory (n=12, 32%), cerebrovascular (n=8, 22%), cardiovascular (n=16, 43%) and infectious events (n=1, 2.7%). Comparing the clinical features, polysomnographic data and outcome among these groups, we found that OSA patients admitted due to respiratory events had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, lower arterial blood gas pH, higher PaCO2, a higher incidence of respiratory failure (92%) and required non-invasive ventilation after extubation (73%), and higher intensive care unit readmission rates than patients admitted due to cerebrovascular events and cardiovascular events (P < 0.05). No difference was found in the in-hospital and long-term mortality rate. The most common reason for intensive care unit admission in critically ill OSA patients was a cardiovascular event, followed by respiratory and cerebrovascular events. The baseline polysomnographic data of the OSA patients were not correlated with their clinical features and outcomes in the intensive care unit. A more complicated clinical course and higher intensive care unit readmission rate were encountered in OSA patients admitted due to respiratory events. Further studies would be required to evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive ventilation for facilitation of extubation in OSA patients presenting with hypercapnic respiratory failure.

[Secondary metabolites of mangrove endophytic fungus BL321 in the South China Sea]

OBJECTIVE

To study the secondary metabolites of mangrove endophytic fungus BL321.

METHODS

The compounds were isolated by chromatographic technique. The structures were identified by comprehensive physico-chemical properties and spectral methods.

RESULTS

Five compounds were isolated and identified as 3,4a-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,4,4a,5,6,7-hexahydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-5-carboxylic acid(1), cytochalasin C(2), cytochalasin D(3), 19,20-epoxycytochalasin C(4), ergosterol(5).

CONCLUSION

Compound 1 is isolated from nature for the first time. Further more, several kinds of strong bioactive compounds were islolate from this fungus indicate that it may develop to be medical source microorganism.

(-)-Gossypol containing hen sera and a myosin (-)-gossypol conjugate reduces the proliferation of MCF-7 cells

Sera from chickens that consumed a known level of (-)-gossypol (-)-GP) exhibited bioactivity against human breast cancer cells in vitro. Based on this, it is conceivable that similar anti-breast cancer activities of different magnitudes will be exhibited in biological samples harvested from (-)-GP-fed layer hens. The experimental data generated in this study may influence the fundamental thinking regarding the utilization of low cost agricultural commodities such as (-)-GP cottonseed meal to produce value-added chemopreventive animal products.

Observation of lasing modes with exotic localized wave patterns from astigmatic large-Fresnel-number cavities

We investigate the lasing modes in large-Fresnel-number laser systems with astigmatism effects. Experimental results reveal that numerous lasing modes are concentrated on exotic patterns corresponding to intriguing geometries. We theoretically use the quantum operator algebra to construct the wave representation for manifesting the origin of the localized wave patterns.

The bioactive metabolites of the mangrove endophytic fungus Talaromyces sp. ZH-154 isolated from Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the extract of the mangrove endophytic fungus Talaromyces sp. ZH-154, which was isolated from the stem bark of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce, Rhizophoraceae, afforded two new metabolites, 7-epiaustdiol ( 1) and 8-O-methylepiaustdiol ( 2), together with the known compounds, stemphyperylenol ( 3), skyrin ( 4), secalonic acid A ( 5), emodin ( 6), and norlichexanthone ( 7). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences including CD, MS, and 1D, 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configuration of 1 was unequivocally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxic activities.