Thoreabaiyunensis sp. nov. (Thoreales, Rhodophyta) and T.okadae, a new record from China.

The freshwater red algal order Thoreales has a triphasic life history, of which the "Chantransia" phase is a small filamentous sporophyte. The "Chantransia" stage is difficult to distinguish from species in the genus Audouinella by its morphological characteristics. In this study, five "Chantransia" isolates (GX41, GX81, GD224, GD225, GD228) were collected from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangdong Province in China. Based on morphological data, all five isolates were similar to A.pygmaea, whereas sequence data from the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL) gene and the 5' region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI-5P) determined that these specimens represented the "Chantransia" stage of two species in the genus Thorea rather than Audouinella. Phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated genes supported the proposal of a new species, T.baiyunensis, and a new geographic record of T.okadae, a species previously described only in Japan. Therefore, combined with previous records, four species of this genus are now recognized in China, including T.hispida, T.violacea, T.baiyunensis and T.okadae.

Factors Influence the Acceptance of Surgical Treatment in Chinese Bariatric Surgery Candidates.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related disorders is rapidly increasing among the Chinese populations. Bariatric surgery is becoming more and more popular in China, yet little cases were performed compared with western countries. The acceptance of this new treatment modality in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates was seldom studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors affecting the choice of bariatric surgery in Chinese patients with obesity and metabolic disorders, so as to promote the popularization of bariatric surgery in developing countries like China METHODS: Patients with obesity and related metabolic disorders meet the indications for bariatric surgery in the Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2016 and April 2017 were asked to answer a questionnaire about the demographics of the patients, social economic status, present and past history, family history, etc. The data collected and the relationship of the acceptance of bariatric surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 157 patients (51 males, 32.5%; 106 females, 67.5%) with mean BMI 38.7 ± 8.1 kg/m2 answered the questionnaire. One hundred twenty-three of them (78%) accepted bariatric surgery. By univariate analysis, it was found that patients' weight, BMI, family support, medical insurance, past surgical history, family history of T2DM, and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms are correlated with the acceptance of bariatric surgery. By multivariate analysis, it was found that patients' weight (P = 0.024), BMI (P = 0.007), family support (P < 0.001), medical insurance (P < 0.001), past surgical history (P = 0.011), family history of T2DM (P = 0.020), and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms (P = 0.030) are statistically significant and were positively correlated with the acceptance of bariatric surgery. Age, height, gender, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, family history of obesity, history of hypertension and T2DM, education level, and marital status were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heavier weight, higher BMI, family support, medical insurance reimbursement, past surgical history, family history of T2DM, and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms are more likely to consider bariatric surgery in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates. It will be important to provide appropriate healthcare education and support to patients focusing on both obesity-related health risks and options of surgical treatment so to improve their acceptance of bariatric surgery.

Anti-hepatoma activity of a novel compound glaucocalyxin H in vivo and in vitro.

Glaucocalyxin H (GLH) is a new compound isolated from a traditional Chinese medical herb Isodon japonica var. glaucocalyx which has been used for folk medicine. This study was carried out for the first time to investigate the potential role of GLH in anti-hepatoma activity and underlying mechanisms in it. GLH could inhibit the growth of tumor in mice and induce HepG2 cells to death as assessed by the tumor reduction assay, toxic assay, morphological change, and survival rate assay. Many antitumor drugs originated from plants could inhibit the growth of tumor by inducing cells to apoptosis. The morphological changes of HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of GLH under fluorescence and electron microscope and apoptotic rates were detected to verify its effect on apoptosis. As shown in the study, GLH could induce HepG2 cells to apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Bcl2 and Bax proteins played important roles in apoptosis and the disequilibrium between Bcl2 and Bax might result in apoptosis. The expression of Bax protein was upregulated and Bcl2 protein was downregulated in HepG2 cells treated with GLH assessed by Western blotting, and they were in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, GLH can inhibit the growth of hepatoma cells in vivo and in vitro by inducing cell apoptosis due to the decreased Bcl2 and increased Bax proteins suggesting that GLH could be a potential candidate as an anti-hepatoma agent for the therapeutic treatment of hepatoma.