Epidemiological Survey of Hemoglobinopathies Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Platform in Hunan Province, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province.@*METHODS@#We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed.@*RESULTS@#The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α 3.7/αα (50.23%) and β IVS-II-654/β N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.

Effects of germplasm and host tree trunk on endophytic fungal communities in epiphytic Dendrobium catenatum / 中国中药杂志

In order to investigate the effects of germplasm and host tree trunk on endophytic fungal communities in epiphytic Dendrobium catenatum, a total of 3 835 isolates were recovered from roots, stems and leaves of four D. catenatum germplasms attached to one kind of host tree trunk and one germplasm attached to four kinds of epiphyte-host tree trunks. A total of 152 taxa were identified and classified based on the fungal cultural characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequences. The taxa were assigned to 60 genera, 35 families, 21 orders and 5 classes of 2 phyla. The results indicated that D. catenatum cultivated in stereo cultivation harbor variety of fungi. The dominant fungal groups were different between Lin'an and Yiwu. Moreover, several groups showed geographical specificity, such as Arthrinium, Coniochaeta, Fusarium, Neofusicoccum and Zopfiella only dominating in Panshan of Lin'an, while Alternaria, Bjerkandera, Cercophora, Nigrospora and Trichoderma only dominating in Shangxi of Yiwu. There was no significant difference in diversity or species richness of endophytic fungi neither among germplasm nor host tree trunk. However, the richness and diversity indices exhibited a strong dependence on tissue type (<0.05). The germplasm and host tree trunk impact the distribution patterns of endophytic fungi less than tissue type. Nevertheless, the relative frequencies of the dominant fungal groups were different among germplasms or host tree trunk types. Furthermore, there were some fungal species specific to certain germplasm or host tree trunk. This might be due to the distinctions in growth traits and chemical compositions of D. catenatum owning to the differences in D. catenatumgenetic background and microenvironment of host tree. Most of fungal taxa exhibit tissue specificity or preference. These results provide the basis for the study on the relationship between endophytic fungi and D. catenatum in stereo cultivation mode.

Antidepressant-like effect of essential oil of Perilla frutescens in a chronic, unpredictable, mild stress-induced depression model mice / 中国天然药物

Perilla frutescens (Perilla leaf), a garnishing vegetable in East Asian countries, as well as a plant-based medicine, has been used for centuries to treat various conditions, including depression. Several studies have demonstrated that the essential oil of P. frutescens (EOPF) attenuated the depressive-like behavior in mice. The present study was designed to test the anti-depressant effects of EOPF and the possible mechanisms in an chronic, unpredictable, mild stress (CUMS)-induced mouse model. With the exposure to stressor once daily for five consecutive weeks, EOPF (3, 6, and 9 mg·kg(-1)) and a positive control drug fluoxetine (20 mg·kg(-1)) were administered through gastric intubation to mice once daily for three consecutive weeks from the 3(rd) week. Open-field test, sucrose consumption test, tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST) were used to evaluate the behavioral activity. The contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in mouse hippocampus were determined by HPLC-ECD. Serum interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that CUMS significantly decreased the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the hippocampus, with an increase in plasma IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels. CUMS also reduced open-field activity, sucrose consumption, as well as increased immobility duration in FST and TST. EOPF administration could effectively reverse the alterations in the concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA; reduce the IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels. Moreover, EOPF could effectively reverse alterations in immobility duration, sucrose consumption, and open-field activity. However, the effect was not dose-dependent. In conclusion, EOPF administration exhibited significant antidepressant-like effects in mice with CUMS-induced depression. The antidepressant activity of EOPF might be related to the relation between alteration of serotonergic responses and anti-inflammatory effects.

Qifu-Yin attenuates AGEs-induced Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes through the RAGE/NF-κB pathway / 中国天然药物

Qifu-Yin (QFY), a widely used formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived from "Jingyue Quanshu", is one of the most commonly used TCM prescriptions for the clinical treatment of Alzheimer disease. The role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and its receptor RAGE have attracted increasing attention as the pivotal role of Aβ has been questioned. The present study was designed to test the neuroprotective effects of QFY, and the possible mechanism in AGE-induced Alzheimer model rats. After injection of AGE in the CA3 area of the hippocampus, QFY (8.6, 4.3, and 2.15 g·kg(-1)), and a positive control drug donepezil (2 mg·kg(-1)) were administrated through gastric intubation to rats once daily for thirty consecutive days. Another positive control group was the AGE + anti-RAGE group, which was simultaneously injected with anti-RAGE antibody before AGE treatment. The control group, sham-operated group, as well as the AGE + anti-RAGE group received saline at the same dosage. The Morris water maze test and the step-down passive avoidance test were conducted to evaluate the cognitive function of the rats. The expression of RAGE and NF-κB were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of Aβ, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the hippocampus were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that QFY could significantly attenuate the memory impairment induced by AGE, decrease the expressions of RAGE and NF-κB, and reduce the levels of Aβ, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the blockage of RAGE could significantly reduce the impairments caused by AGEs. In conclusion, QFY could attenuate AGEs-induced, Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects might be related to the RAGE/NF-κB pathway and its anti-inflammatory activity.

The Antifungal Mechanism of Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Penicillum sp. TS67 / 微生物学通报

The antifungal mechanism of the TS67(Penicillum sp.) producing bioactive metabolites was investigated in this paper. The test indicated that mycelia growth, spores forming and spores germination of Bipolaris maydis and Fusarium oxysporum can be inhibitied by metabolites, after 50% fermentation broth acting 120 hours, the inhibition rate of hyphal growth can reach about 77.78%, 70.30%, the inhibition rate of spores forming also arrived at 58.8%, 73.5%; under 50% fermentation broth acting 12 hours, the inhibition rate of spores germination were up to 78.3%, 62.0%, the mycelia under activity metabolites conditoins also showed surface nodulation and growing point expanding irregularly, protoplasmic condesing, etc. Based on all these results, we may draw a conclusion that activity metabolites maybe target at fungal cell wall.