Resolving the Lophiostoma bipolare complex: Generic delimitations within Lophiostomataceae.

Lophiostoma bipolare was taxonomically revised based on the morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of molecular data from nuclear rDNA SSU-ITS-LSU, TUB, tef1, and rpb2 genes. Twenty-nine strains were morphologically similar to Lo. bipolare. A total of 174 sequences were generated from the Lo. bipolare complex. Phylogenetic analyses based on TUB sequence revealed 11 distinct species within the Lo. bipolare complex. Morphological features of the ascospores and the anatomical structure of the ascomata from both field collections as well as axenic culture, which have been reported previously as variable features at intraspecific levels, were compared to evaluate the taxonomic reliability of these features. To clarify the generic position of the 11 species, phylogenetic analyses were done on SSU-ITS-LSU-tef1-rpb2 gene sequences. The Lo. bipolare complex shared phylogenetic relationships with Pseudolophiostoma and Vaginatispora, and formed an additional five distinct clades from other members of Lophiostomataceae. According to its phylogenetic position, Lo. bipolare sensu stricto was distantly related to Lophiostoma s. str., and formed an independent clade within Lophiostomataceae. Lophiostoma bipolare s. str. could be distinguished from the other lophiostomataceous genera by the clypeus around the ostiolar neck and by the thin and uniformly thick peridium. A novel genus described as Lentistoma was established to accommodate this species, and the epitypification of Lentistoma bipolare (basionym: Massarina bipolaris) was proposed. Other lineages of the Lo. bipolare complex could not be separated on the basis of the ascospore size and sheath variations, but were distinguished based on ascomatal features, such as the existence of the clypeus, brown hyphae surrounding the peridium, and the contexture of the peridium, which were stable indicators of generic boundaries in Lophiostomataceae. Four additional new genera with five new species were recognised based on these morphological differences: Crassiclypeus (C. aquaticus), Flabellascoma (F. cycadicola and F. minimum), Leptoparies (Lep. palmarum), and Pseudopaucispora (Pseudop. brunneospora). Three new species were added to Pseudolophiostoma (Pseudol. cornisporum, Pseudol. obtusisporum, and Pseudol. tropicum) and two new species were added to Vaginatispora (V. amygdali and V. scabrispora). The re-evaluation of the validity of several previously recognised genera resulted in the introduction of two new genera with new combinations for Lophiostoma pseudoarmatisporum as Parapaucispora pseudoarmatispora and Vaginatispora fuckelii as Neovaginatispora fuckelii.

Changes in resting-state brain networks after cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is thought to be useful for chronic pain, with the pathology of the latter being closely associated with cognitive-emotional components. However, there are few resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) studies. We used the independent component analysis method to examine neural changes after CBT and to assess whether brain regions predict treatment response. METHODS: We performed R-fMRI on a group of 29 chronic pain (somatoform pain disorder) patients and 30 age-matched healthy controls (T1). Patients were enrolled in a weekly 12-session group CBT (T2). We assessed selected regions of interest that exhibited differences in intrinsic connectivity network (ICN) connectivity strength between the patients and controls at T1, and compared T1 and T2. We also examined the correlations between treatment effects and rs-fMRI data. RESULTS: Abnormal ICN connectivity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and inferior parietal lobule within the dorsal attention network (DAN) and of the paracentral lobule within the sensorimotor network in patients with chronic pain normalized after CBT. Higher ICN connectivity strength in the OFC indicated greater improvements in pain intensity. Furthermore, ICN connectivity strength in the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) within the DAN at T1 was negatively correlated with CBT-related clinical improvements. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the OFC is crucial for CBT-related improvement of pain intensity, and that the dorsal PCC activation at pretreatment also plays an important role in improvement of clinical symptoms via CBT.

Effects of behavioural activation on the neural basis of other perspective self-referential processing in subthreshold depression: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that negatively distorted self-referential processing, in which individuals evaluate one's own self, is a pathogenic mechanism in subthreshold depression that has a considerable impact on the quality of life and carries an elevated risk of developing major depression. Behavioural activation (BA) is an effective intervention for depression, including subthreshold depression. However, brain mechanisms underlying BA are not fully understood. We sought to examine the effect of BA on neural activation during other perspective self-referential processing in subthreshold depression. METHOD: A total of 56 subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans during a self-referential task with two viewpoints (self/other) and two emotional valences (positive/negative) on two occasions. Between scans, while the intervention group (n = 27) received BA therapy, the control group (n = 29) did not. RESULTS: The intervention group showed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased activation in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and increased reaction times during other perspective self-referential processing for positive words after the intervention. Also, there was a positive correlation between increased activation in the dmPFC and improvement of depressive symptoms. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between improvement of depressive symptoms and increased reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: BA increased dmPFC activation during other perspective self-referential processing with improvement of depressive symptoms and increased reaction times which were associated with improvement of self-monitoring function. Our results suggest that BA improved depressive symptoms and objective monitoring function for subthreshold depression.

Association of thalamic hyperactivity with treatment-resistant depression and poor response in early treatment for major depression: a resting-state fMRI study using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations.

Despite novel antidepressant development, 10-30% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have antidepressant treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although new therapies are needed, lack of knowledge regarding the neural mechanisms underlying TRD hinders development of new therapeutic options. We aimed to identify brain regions in which spontaneous neural activity is not only altered in TRD but also associated with early treatment resistance in MDD. Sixteen patients with TRD, 16 patients with early-phase non-TRD and 26 healthy control (HC) subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. To identify brain region differences in spontaneous neural activity between patients with and without TRD, we assessed fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). We also calculated correlations between the percent change in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD17) scores and fALFF values in brain regions with differing activity for patients with and without TRD. Patients with TRD had increased right-thalamic fALFF values compared with patients without TRD. The percent change in HRSD17 scores negatively correlated with fALFF values in patients with non-TRD. In addition, patients with TRD showed increased fALFF values in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and vermis, compared with patients with non-TRD and HC subjects. Our results show that spontaneous activity in the right thalamus correlates with antidepressant treatment response. We also demonstrate that spontaneous activity in the right IFG, IPL and vermis may be specifically implicated in the neural pathophysiology of TRD.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 69-91.

Novel species of microfungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Bagadiella victoriae and Bagadiella koalae on Eucalyptus spp., Catenulostroma eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus laevopinea, Cercospora eremochloae on Eremochloa bimaculata, Devriesia queenslandica on Scaevola taccada, Diaporthe musigena on Musa sp., Diaporthe acaciigena on Acacia retinodes, Leptoxyphium kurandae on Eucalyptus sp., Neofusicoccum grevilleae on Grevillea aurea, Phytophthora fluvialis from water in native bushland, Pseudocercospora cyathicola on Cyathea australis, and Teratosphaeria mareebensis on Eucalyptus sp. Other species include Passalora leptophlebiae on Eucalyptus leptophlebia (Brazil), Exophiala tremulae on Populus tremuloides and Dictyosporium stellatum from submerged wood (Canada), Mycosphaerella valgourgensis on Yucca sp. (France), Sclerostagonospora cycadis on Cycas revoluta (Japan), Rachicladosporium pini on Pinus monophylla (Netherlands), Mycosphaerella wachendorfiae on Wachendorfia thyrsifolia and Diaporthe rhusicola on Rhus pendulina (South Africa). Novel genera of hyphomycetes include Noosia banksiae on Banksia aemula (Australia), Utrechtiana cibiessia on Phragmites australis (Netherlands), and Funbolia dimorpha on blackened stem bark of an unidentified tree (USA). Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.

Foliicolous microfungi occurring on Encephalartos.

Species of Encephalartos, commonly known as bread trees, bread palms or cycads are native to Africa; the genus encompasses more than 60 species and represents an important component of the indigenous African flora. Recently, a leaf blight disease was noted on several E. altensteinii plants growing at the foot of Table Mountain in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens of South Africa. Preliminary isolations from dead and dying leaves of E. alten-steinii, E. lebomboensis and E. princeps, collected from South Africa, revealed the presence of several novel microfungi on this host. Novelties include Phaeomoniella capensis, Saccharata kirstenboschensis, Teratosphaeria altensteinii and T. encephalarti. New host records of species previously only known to occur on Proteaceae include Cladophialophora proteae and Catenulostroma microsporum, as well as a hyperparasite, Dactylaria leptosphaeriicola, occurring on ascomata of T. encephalarti.

Attenuated left prefrontal activation during a verbal fluency task in patients with depression.

Functional neuroimaging studies on patients with depression have found abnormal activity in the left prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex compared with healthy controls. Other studies have shown that these regions become active in healthy subjects during verbal fluency tasks, while patients with depression show impaired performance on such tasks. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate changes in cerebral blood oxygenation associated with a verbal fluency task in depressed patients and healthy volunteers. In contrast to 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects who activated the left prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex during word generation, 10 depressed subjects showed attenuated activation in the left prefrontal cortex and did not show significant activation in the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that impaired performance during verbal fluency task in depressed patients is associated with abnormal neural responses within these regions.

F13459, a new derivative of mycophenolic acid. I. Taxonomy, isolation, and biological properties.

In the course of screening for inhibitors of intracellular trafficking of glycoprotein, a new inhibitor, F13459 was isolated from the culture broth of a Penicillium sp. It was purified using solvent extraction, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and ODS column chromatography. From structural analysis, F13459 was a derivative of mycophenolic acid, an inhibitor of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase. F13459 inhibited hemagglutinin synthesis of NDV at concentrations more than 25 microg/ml. However, syncytium formation as a result of cell surface expression of F-glycoprotein of NDV was inhibited at concentrations of F13459 lower than those required for appreciable inhibition of glycoprotein synthesis.

Isolation, and biological properties of a new cell cycle inhibitor, curvularol, isolated from Curvularia sp. RK97-F166.

A new cell growth inhibitor, curvularol, was isolated from the fermentation broth of Curvularia sp. RK97-F166. Curvularol showed no antibacterial activity, and very weak antifungal activity. However, curvularol inhibited the cell cycle progression of normal rat kidney (NRK) cells in G1 phase at 150 ng/ml. Curvularol induced the morphological reversion of srcts-transformed NRK cells at 100 ng/ml, and inhibited protein synthesis same as cycloheximide.

Sensitization and caffeine potentiation of cisplatin cytotoxicity resulting from introduction of wild-type p53 gene in human osteosarcoma.

The present study was performed to investigate whether the introduction of a wild-type p53 gene into human osteosarcoma cells could alter the growth rate and enhance the cytocidal effect of cisplatin (CDDP) and the synergistic antitumor effect of caffeine. The lipofection method was used to transfect a wild-type p53 expression plasmid into the human osteosarcoma cell line, Saos2, which has both p53 alleles deleted. The transfected cells, Saos2/p53, had a reduced growth rate compared with the parental cell line. The colorimetric WST-1 assay demonstrated that Saos2/p53 cells were twice as sensitive to CDDP alone at a 50% inhibition concentration than the parental Saos2 cells. Caffeine significantly potentiated the cytocidal effect of CDDP in the Saos2/p53 cells. Furthermore, the TUNEL assay revealed that following treatment both with CDDP alone and with CDDP combined with caffeine, a higher percentage of the Saos2/p53 cells underwent apoptosis than did the parental Saos2 cells. Therefore the cytocidal effect of CDDP and the synergistic antitumor effect of caffeine are enhanced by the introduction of a wild-type p53 gene into a human osteosarcoma cell line null for p53. This raises the possibility that gene therapy using the p53 gene may prove efficatious for human osteosarcomas lacking p53 and which are resistant to standard chemotherapy.

Characterization of the subsite structure of the beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger, an aspect of the mechanism of carbohydrate recognition.

Steady-state kinetics on the reaction catalyzed by the beta-glucosidase of Aspergillus niger were carried out to evaluate the kinetic parameters, Km and ko, for phenyl beta-D-glucosides. The ko/Km values, which may relate to productive binding at subsites, were found to correlate with the substituent constant pi (hydrophobicity), suggesting that subsite 2 has a hydrophobic character. A "hydrophobic-driven" mechanism is considered to contribute to the productive E-S complex for recognition of the substrate.

Purification and characterization of an isomaltotriose-producing endo-dextranase from a Fusarium sp.

An isomaltotriose-producing endo-dextranase was simply purified from cell-free culture broth of a Fusarium sp. by ethanol fractionation and consecutive column chromatographies using DEAE-Toyopearl and Bio-Gel P-100. The purified enzyme was judged to be homogeneous on PAGE and SDS-PAGE as well as isoelectric focusing. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be about 69 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme is an acidic protein with a pI of 4.6. The optimum pH and temperature were pH 6.5 and 35 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was completely stable over the range of pH 4.5-11.8 at 4 degrees C for 24 h and at temperatures below 45 degrees C. Inactivation of the enzyme was found to be partial with 5 mM Cu2+, being about 70% inhibition and complete with 5 mM of Fe3+, Hg2+, Ag+ or NBS. The enzyme split dextran in an endo-lytic action to produce a large amount of isomaltotriose and a slight amount of isomaltose and glucose. The anomeric configurations of the reaction products formed by the enzyme were alpha-form, indicating that the alpha-glycoside linkages in the substrate are retained. The final yield of isomaltotriose from dextran T-2000 was about 62%.

Breast feeding for cleft lip and palate patients, using the Hotz-type plate.

OBJECTIVE: Oral-cavity feeding movements were analyzed during sucking and used to modify a Hotz-type plate to facilitate sucking in infants with cleft lip and palate. DESIGN: Sucking movements were analyzed using lateral view cine radiography as three adults fed from a bottle. A Hotz-type plate was then modified to better isolate the oral cavity and to occlude the oral airway. The plate was then utilized in direct breast feeding by 10 babies. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sucking rate, amount of milk taken, and duration of use of the plate were assessed. RESULTS: Wearing this plate, four babies with cleft lip and palate could suck their mother's breast, drinking about 22 g/trial. CONCLUSIONS: Although supplemental bottle feeding was required to provide enough nourishment, this is the first step to reaching ideal breast feeding situation for these patients.

Subsite structure of the beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger, evaluated by steady-state kinetics with cello-oligosaccharides as substrates.

The beta-glucosidase from a commercially available preparation from Aspergillus niger was highly purified. The Michaelis constant Km and the molar activity K0 for cello-oligosaccharide substrates Gn (n = 2-6) were obtained by steady-state kinetic analysis on the beta-glucosidase-catalyzed hydrolysis at 25 degrees C and pH 5.0. Stoichiometric production of Gn-1 by the beta-glucosidase reaction for Gn was confirmed by HPLC techniques. Based on Km and K0 for Gn, subsite affinities (Ai, i = 1-6) were estimated as follows (kcal/mol): A1 = 1.3, A2 = 5.2, A3 = 0.65, A4 = -0.10, A5 = -0.65, and A6 = -0.26, of which A1-A3 are much higher than those of the beta-glucosidase of Candida wickerhamii. The subsite structure is quite similar to that of the alpha-glucosidase of A. niger, whereas the dependence of k0 on n is highly characteristic for beta-glucosidase, and decreases with n, suggesting some interaction between the particular subsites.