Four new lignans obtained from the leaves of Schisandra cauliflora and their effect on skeletal muscle cell proliferation.

Plants of the Schisandra genus are commonly used in folk medicinal remedies. Some Schisandra species and their lignans have been reported to improve muscle strength. In the present study, four new lignans, named schisacaulins A-D, together with three previously described compounds ananonin B, alismoxide, and pregomisin were isolated from the leaves of S. cauliflora. Their chemical structures were determined by extensive analyses of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and ECD spectra. Schisacaulin D and alismoxide significantly stimulated skeletal muscle cell proliferation by increasing the number of fused myotubes and expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) which may be good candidates for the treatment of sarcopenia.

Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Candida Recovered from Intensive Care Unit Patients, Vietnam National Hospital of Burn (2017-2019).

INTRODUCTION: Candida species is the most common cause of invasive fungal infection. With the wide variation in species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of causative agents, local epidemiological profiles are needed to provide effective guidelines for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. OBJECTIVE: To find out the species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida strains isolated from patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) of Vietnam. METHODS: All patients in ICU of Vietnam National Hospital of Burn with Candida isolation reported from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively studied. Species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing were performed using VITEK 2 Compact. The identification was reconfirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions when needed. RESULTS: A total of 186 yeasts belonging to ten species were collected. The most common agent was C. tropicalis (45.7%), followed by C. albicans (42.4%), and C. parapsilosis (7.53%). The isolated yeasts showed less susceptibility to fluconazole (resistant rate R 10.7%) than to micafungin, caspofungin, flucytosine and amphotericin B (R 0%, 0.6%, 2.3% and 3.4%, respectively, p < 0.05). C. albicans isolates were more susceptible to fluconazole (R 5.2%) than C. tropicalis (R 15.7%). Resistance to voriconazole was seen only among C. albicans (3.9%) and C. tropicalis isolates (9.9%). CONCLUSION: Non-albicans species (especially C. tropicalis) is the predominant species, and there is a significant proportion of isolates with reduced susceptibility to azole but not to echinocandin.

A Separated Receptor/Transducer Scheme as Strategy to Enhance the Gas Sensing Performance Using Hematite-Carbon Nanotube Composite.

Nanocomposite structures, where the Fe, Fe2O3, or Ni2O3 nanoparticles with thin carbon layers are distributed among a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) network, are architectured using the co-arc discharge method. A synergistic effect between the nanoparticles and SWCNT is achieved with the composite structures, leading to the enhanced sensing response in ammonia detection. Thorough studies about the correlation between the electric properties and sensing performance confirm the independent operation of the receptor and transducer in the sensor structure by nanoparticles and SWCNT, respectively. Nanoparticles with a large specific surface area provide adsorption sites for the NH3 gas molecules, whereas hole carriers are supplied by the SWCNT to complete the chemisorption process. A new chemo-resistive sensor concept and its operating mechanism is proposed in our work. Furthermore, the separated receptor and transducer sensor scheme allows us more freedom in the design of sensor materials and structures, thereby enabling the design of high-performance gas sensors.

Enhancement in Photoelectrochemical Performance of Optimized Amorphous SnS2 Thin Film Fabricated through Atomic Layer Deposition.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have distinct optical and electrical properties owing to their unique structures. In this study, smooth 2D amorphous tin disulfide (SnS2) films were fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and applied for the first time to photoelectrochemical water splitting. The optimal stable photocurrent density of the 50-nm-thick amorphous SnS2 film fabricated at 140 °C was 51.5 µA/cm2 at an oxygen evolution reaction (0.8 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). This value is better than those of most polycrystalline SnS2 films reported in recent years. These results are attributed mainly to adjustable optical band gap in the range of 2.80 to 2.52 eV, precise control of the film thickness at the nanoscale, and the close contact between the prepared SnS2 film and substrate. Subsequently, the photoelectron separation mechanisms of the amorphous, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline SnS2 films are discussed. Considering above advantages, the ALD amorphous SnS2 film can be designed and fabricated according to the application requirements.

Chemical constituents of Trichosanthes kirilowii and their cytotoxic activities.

One new lignan, trichobenzolignan (1), and seven known compounds, ligballinol (2), (-)-pinoresinol (3), ehletianol C (4), luteolin 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), chrysoeriol-7- O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6), 10α-cucurbita-5,24-dien-3ß-ol (7), and arvenin I (8). Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence, which were in agreement with those reported in literature. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated on four cancer cell lines such as A-549 (human lung cancer), HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), OVCAR (human ovarian carcinoma), and MCF-7 (human breast cancer). As the results, compound 7 showed significant activity on HT-29 and OVCAR cancer cell lines with IC50 of 4.1 and 6.5 µM, respectively. Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 8 exhibited moderate activities in all cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 11.3 to 42.8 µM.

Ent-Kaurane diterpenes from Annona glabra and their cytotoxic activities.

A new ent-kaurane glycoside, annoglabasin H (1), and three known ent-kauranes, annoglabasin E (2), annoglabasin B (3), and 19-nor-ent-kaurent-4-ol-17-oic acid (4) were isolated from the fruits of Annona glabra. Their structures were determined by the combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, as well as by comparison with the NMR data reported in the literature. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated on four human cancer cell lines, LU-1, MCF-7, SK-Mel2, and KB. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on all tested human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 3.7 to 4.6 µM.

Protocol for inducing flower color somaclonal variation in Torenia (Torenia fournieri Lind.).

White or light purple flower color Torenia (Torenia fournieri Lind.) varieties were successfully developed from the parental variety having violet flowers. This was accomplished by reducing Fe micronutrient in the culture media for the induction of in vitro flowering. The flower induction was highest in modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing ½ strength of macroelements, microelements, organic additives, and full Fe (M1) when compared to MS medium containing ½ strength of macronutrients, micronutrients, full Fe, and full organic additives (M2). The flower color was stable in two new Torenia varieties through three generations ex vitro. The results showed a wide range of somaclonal variation in flower colors; early flowering occurred in MS medium containing ½ strength of macroelements, microelements, Fe, and full strength of organic additives (M3). The selection of desirable somaclones and their micropropagation in subsequent generations led to the development of new and stable Torenia lines.