Formaldehyde as a Chemical Defence Agent of Fruiting Bodies of Mycena rosea and its Role in the Generation of the Alkaloid Mycenarubin†C.

Mycenarubin C, a previously unknown red pyrroloquinoline alkaloid, was isolated from fruiting bodies of the mushroom Mycena rosea and its structure was elucidated mainly by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Unlike mycenarubin A, the major pyrroloquinoline alkaloid in fruiting bodies of M. rosea, mycenarubin C, contains an eight-membered ring with an additional C1 unit that is hitherto unprecedented for pyrroloquinoline alkaloids known in nature. Incubation of mycenarubin A with an excess of formaldehyde revealed that mycenarubin C was generated nearly quantitatively from mycenarubin A. An investigation into the formaldehyde content of fresh fruiting bodies of M. rosea showed the presence of considerable amounts of formaldehyde, with values of 5 µg per gram of fresh weight in fresh fruiting bodies. Although mycenarubin C did not show bioactivity against selected bacteria and fungi, formaldehyde inhibits the growth of the mycoparasite Spinellus fusiger at concentrations present in fruiting bodies of M. rosea. Therefore, formaldehyde might play an ecological role in the chemical defence of M. rosea against S. fusiger. In turn, S. fusiger produces gallic acid-presumably to detoxify formaldehyde by reaction of this aldehyde with amino acids and gallic acid to Mannich adducts.

HR-MALDI-MS imaging assisted screening of ß-carboline alkaloids discovered from Mycena metata.

Fruiting bodies of Mycena metata were screened for the presence of new secondary metabolites by means of HPLC-UV, LC-HR-ESIMS, and high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (HR-MALDI-MS imaging). Thus, a new ß-carboline alkaloid, 6-hydroxymetatacarboline D (1d), was isolated from fruiting bodies of M. metata. 6-Hydroxymetatacarboline D consists of a highly substituted ß-carboline skeleton, which is likely to be derived biosynthetically from l-tryptophan, 2-oxoglutaric acid, l-threonine, and l-proline. The structure of the alkaloid was established by 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and HR-ESIMS. Moreover, by extensive application of LC-HR-ESIMS, LC-HR-ESIMS/MS, and LC-HR-ESIMS(3) techniques we were able to elucidate the structures of a number of accompanying ß-carboline alkaloids, 1a-1c, 1e-1i, and 2a-2g, structurally closely related to 6-hydroxymetatacarboline D, which are present in M. metata in minor amounts. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic centers of the ß-carboline alkaloids was determined by GC-MS comparison with authentic synthetic samples after hydrolytic cleavage and derivatization of the resulting amino acids.

Mycenaaurin A, an antibacterial polyene pigment from the fruiting bodies of Mycena aurantiomarginata.

A new polyene pigment, mycenaaurin A (1), was isolated from fruiting bodies of Mycena aurantiomarginata. Mycenaaurin A consists of a tridecaketide that is flanked by two amino acid moieties. These are likely to be derived biosynthetically from S-adenosylmethionine. The tridecaketide itself contains an alpha-pyrone, a conjugated hexaene, and an isolated alkenyl moiety. The structure of the new pigment was established by 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and APCIMS. The absolute configuration of the four stereogenic centers was determined by degradation of 1 by ozonolysis and GC-MS comparison of the resulting fragments, after appropriate derivatization, with authentic synthetic samples. Mycenaaurin A (1) might act as a constitutive defense compound, since it exhibits antibacterial activity against the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus pumilus.

Evaluating interventions to improve gait in cerebral palsy: a meta-analysis of spatiotemporal measures.

A number of interventions to improve gait in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of these studies to determine the overall efficacy of these interventions. Effect sizes (Hedge's g) for spatiotemporal measures of gait (velocity, cadence, stride length) pre- and postintervention were analyzed. Sixty-three studies were included, and the overall effect size was statistically significant for both fixed effects and random models. Types of interventions were grouped into spasticity treatments, orthopedic (bony and soft tissue) surgery, lower extremity orthoses, or 'other'. When the data were analyzed in subgroups by type of intervention, each intervention had a statistically significant effect size with the exception of the 'other'. More importantly, the present study indicates the need to address participant inclusion criteria and power analysis more adequately in future research studies of interventions to improve gait in CP.

Estimating research productivity and quality in assistive technology: a bibliometric analysis spanning four decades.

OBJECTIVE: Conduct a quantitative assessment of the number of papers contained in MEDLINE related to selected types of assistive technology (AT), and to identify journals publishing significant numbers of papers related to AT, and evaluate them with quantitative productivity and quality measures. DESIGN: Consecutive sample of all papers in MEDLINE identified by standard medical subject headings for selected types of AT from 1963-2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of journals carrying AT papers, papers per journal (both total number and those specific to AT), journal impact factor, circulation, and number of AT citations per year over time for each area of AT. RESULTS: We present search terms, estimates of the numbers of AT citations in MEDLINE, the journals most likely to contain articles related to AT, journal impact factors, and journal circulations (when available). We also present the number of citations in various areas of AT over time from 1963-2003. Suggestions are presented for possible future modifications of the MEDLINE controlled vocabulary, based on terminology used in existing AT classifications schemes, such as ISO 9999. CONCLUSION: Research papers in the areas of AT examined showed publication across a wide variety of journals. There are a number of journals publishing articles in AT that have impact factors above the median. Some areas of AT have shown an increase in publications per year over time, while others have shown a more constant level of productivity.

Prosthetic device provision to landmine survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina: outcomes in 3 ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in prosthetic provision, use, and effectiveness among unilateral lower-extremity amputees from 3 ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina. DESIGN: Case series with a consecutive sample of patients seen in field clinics. SETTING: Multiple field clinics in Bosnia and Herzegovina from October 1998 to May 2002. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 671 patients were examined, and information about their prosthetic history was recorded from observation or verbal responses. The majority of the amputations resulted from injuries inflicted by landmines. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported walking distance per day, prosthesis functionality (functional or nonfunctional as assessed by a physician and a prothetist), prosthesis status (broken or nonbroken as assessed by a physician and a prothetist), and employment status. RESULTS: Ethnic groups differed significantly in types of prostheses provided, functional status of the prostheses, and use of the prostheses for community ambulation. CONCLUSION: Prosthetic devices and delivery of rehabilitation services for unilateral lower-extremity amputees differed between ethnic groups. Despite these differences, functional prosthetic devices increased mobility. Persons in all 3 ethnic groups with functional prostheses were more mobile than persons with nonfunctional prostheses. The employment rate was higher for people with functional prostheses.