Taxonomic study of Uncobotyodes Kirti & Rose, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), with the description of a new species from China.

The monotypic genus Uncobotyodes Kirti & Rose and its type species U. patulalis (Walker) are redescribed. The female genitalia of U. patulalis are described for the first time. An additional species, Uncobotyodes latizona sp. nov., is described as new to science. The two species of the genus are compared. Images of adults and their genitalia are provided.

Utility of metagenomics next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of severe infectious diseases in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a new method that combines high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. However, it has not become as popular due to the limited testing equipment and high costs and lack of family awareness with not much relevant intensive care unit (ICU) research data. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical use and value of metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in patients with sepsis in the ICU. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 102 patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU of Peking University International Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022. Based on whether mNGS was performed, the identified patients were divided into the observation group (n= 51) and the control group (n= 51), respectively. Routine laboratory tests, including routine blood test, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and culture of suspicious lesion specimens were performed in both groups within 2 hours after admission to the ICU, while mNGS tests were performed in the observation group. Patients in both groups were routinely given initial anti-infective, anti-shock, and organ support treatment. Antibiotic regimens were optimized in a timely manner according to the etiological results. Relevant clinical data were collected. RESULTS: The testing cycle of mNGS was shorter than that of the conventional culture (30.79 ± 4.01 h vs. 85.38 ± 9.94 h, P< 0.001), while the positive rate of mNGS was higher than that of the conventional culture (82.35% vs. 45.1%, P< 0.05), with obvious superiority in the detection of viruses and fungus. There were significant differences in the optimal time of antibiotics (48 h vs.100 h) and length of ICU stay (11 d vs. 16 d) between the observation group and control group (P< 0.01) respectively, with no difference in 28-day mortality (33.3% vs. 41.2%, P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: mNGS is useful in the detection of sepsis-causing pathogens in the ICU with the advantages of short testing time and high positive rate. There was no difference in the 28-day outcome between the two groups, which may be related to other confounding factors such as small sample size. Additional studies with extended sample size are needed.

Revision of the genus Charitoprepes Warren (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), with the description of a new species from China.

The genus Charitoprepes is revised based on morphological characteristics, and Charitoprepesaciculatasp. nov. is described as new from China. Additionally, the female genitalia of C.lubricosa are described for the first time based on new material. The differences among species of this genus are diagnosed, along with images of adults and their genitalia.

Five new species of Bradina Lederer (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China, with remarks on the morphology of the genus.

Bradina is a species-rich genus that differs from most other Spilomelinae genera because of its distinctive wing venation. Most species of this genus are very similar in appearance. In this study, we have studied morphological characteristics of the genus and eight closely related species from China. Among them, B.falciculata Guo & Du, sp. nov., B.fusoidea Guo & Du, sp. nov., B.spirella Guo & Du, sp. nov., B.ternifolia Guo & Du, sp. nov. and B.torsiva Guo & Du, sp. nov. are described as new to science. Bradinamegesalis (Walker, 1859), B.translinealis Hampson, 1896 and B.subpurpurescens (Warren, 1896) are redescribed based on their holotypes and additional material, and the latter two are newly recorded from China and their genitalia are described for the first time. The images of the habitus and genitalia of these eight species are provided, with a key to their identification.

Scientific Analysis of Processing of Pinelliae Rhizoma by Ancient Hot Water Washing Method / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the scientificity and feasibility of processing of Pinelliae Rhizoma by hot water washing （Tangxi）， and to provide reference for the development of related famous classical formulas. Method:Processing method of Pinelliae Rhizoma washed by hot water was established based on ancient Tangxi processing method， and the process conditions were optimized by single factor tests. The weight， moisture， ash， extract， total acid （calculated by succinic acid） contents and high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） fingerprint of Pinelliae Rhizoma were compared before and after processing. In addition， the rabbit eye irritation test was conducted to evaluate the toxicity changes. Result:The processing method of Pinelliae Rhizoma washed by hot water was as following：washed by 4 times the amount of hot water at 80 ℃ for 10 times until clear water， transfused cross-section after incision， no or slight numbness in the mouth. The average moisture， ash， extract contents of Pinelliae Rhizoma washed by hot water were 9.34%， 1.71% and 4.22%， respectively. After being processed， the decline rates of weight and total acid content of Pinelliae Rhizoma were 7.49% and 43.31%. The HPLC fingerprint of Pinelliae Rhizoma before and after washing showed a decrease in all components， but there was no new chromatographic peak， and peak 9 （adenosine） reduced significantly. The results of rabbit eye irritation test showed that there was no obvious eye conjunctival irritation after washing， indicating that the toxicity of Pinelliae Rhizoma decreased obviously after washing. Conclusion:The established method of Pinelliae Rhizoma by Tangxi processing is stable and feasible， the aqueous extract of Pinelliae Rhizoma has no obvious eye conjunctival irritation after washing.

[Analysis of potential pharmacodynamic material basis of Euonymus alatus in treatment of nephritis based on integrated chemomics and network biology].

This paper was aimed to explore the potential pharmacodynamics effect of Euonymus alatus in the treatment of nephritis based on integrated chemomics and network biology. The chemical constituent database of E. alatus was constructed by consulting litera-ture and using online database. The chemical constituents were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/HRMS~E and UNIFI software. On this basis, a series of comparisons, molecular docking studies and in-depth analysis of the chemical constituents and nephritis disease targets were carried out with use of network biology method, and the potential pharmacodynamic effect of E. alatus for the treatment of nephritis was investigated by reviewing the existing. In this study, 62 chemical constituents were collected in the database of chemical consti-tuents of E. alatus, and 24 chemical constituents were identified by mass spectrum. Subsequently, based on the network biology me-thod, 22 important chemical constituents and 5 key targets were obtained by reverse screening. Molecular docking study showed that a total of 11 chemical constituents such as quercetin, kaempferol, and catechinmay be the potential material basis for E. alatus in the treatment of nephritis. Starting with chemomics and using the technology of network biology, we established a network interaction model between drug components and disease targets in this study. Through the interaction between targets in complex networks, we can find the key targets easily and quickly. By docking the key targets with small drug molecules, we can screen out the potential pharmacodynamic components, providing a reference for the follow-up study of active ingredients.

Revision of Nagiella Munroe (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), with the description of a new species from China.

The genus Nagiella was studied using morphological and DNA barcode data. Nagiella bispina sp. nov. is described as a new species, and N. hortulatoides Munroe is recorded in China for the first time. The diagnosis of this genus is revised, and the genitalia description of N. quadrimaculalis (Kollar and Redtenbacher) and N. inferior (Hampson) are given in English for the first time. Nosophora incomitata (Swinhoe) stat. rev. is removed from the synonym of N. quadrimaculalis. Photographs of the habitus and genitalia as well as COI DNA Barcode data of these four species are provided.

Research progress on chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Periplocae Cortex and predictive analysis on Q-marker / 中国中药杂志

Periplocae Cortex is a traditional Chinese medicine in China, which is mainly produced in northeast China, north China, northwest China, southwest China. In recent years, the increasing in-depth research resulted in the discovery of anti-tumor and cardiac pharmacological activities of Periplocae Cortex, which has broad application prospects. On the basis of summarizing chemical components and pharmacological effects, combined with the theoretical system of Q-marker, the quality control components of Periplocae Cortex were predicted from the aspects of the correlation between chemical composition and traditional medicinal properties, traditional efficacy, and new clinical use, plasma composition, measurable composition, storage time by analyzing literature. Among the components, periplocoside, periplocin, periplogenin, 4-methoxy salicylaldehyde showed significant activity, which provides a scientific basis for quality evaluation of Periplocae Cortex.

Three new species of Herpetogramma Lederer (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China.

Five species of the genus Herpetogramma in China are studied with morphological and DNA barcode data. Herpetogrammabiconvexa Wan, Lu & Du, sp. nov., H.longispina Wan, Lu & Du, sp. nov., and H.brachyacantha Wan, Lu & Du, sp. nov. are described as new. Herpetogrammarudis (Warren) and H.magna (Butler) are newly diagnosed. Photographs of the habitus and genitalia of these five species are provided.

[Cd(â ¡) Ion Adsorption and Sealing onto SBA-15 Mesoporous Particles and the Related Potential on Cd(â ¡) Polluted Soil Remediation].

Aiming to expand the utilization of porous silicate minerals in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil,the mesoporous material SBA-15 was successfully synthesized by using sodium silicate as silica source in this study.And the obtained SBA-15 samples were characterized by TEM,X-ray diffraction,N2 adsorption-desorption and FTIR.Furthermore,characterization of Cd (Ⅱ) adsorption and sealing performance onto SBA-15 were evaluated through batch experiment,and the remediation potential of Cd (Ⅱ) contaminated soil was investigated by brassica planting in a pot experiment.The results showed that SBA-15 had the mesoporous structure with surface area of 507.3 m2·g-1 and pore size of 7.38 nm.The maximum Cd (Ⅱ) adsorption capacity was 76.43 mg·g-1 at pH above 7.0 with the adsorption isotherm fitting the Langmuir model in the solution of 100 mg·L-1 Cd (Ⅱ).The increase in ionic strength reduced the Cd (Ⅱ) adsorption capacity.The Cd (Ⅱ) loaded SBA-15 could be regenerated with 0.1 mol·L-1 HNO3,while Cd (Ⅱ) could be strongly sealed in the pore structure after introduction of sodium silicate into the system.The pot experiment proved that the addition of SBA-15(4.5 g·kg-1) into Cd-contaminated soil could reduce Cd (Ⅱ) availability,enhance the transformation of soluble and exchangeable Cd (Ⅱ) fractions into carbonate and Fe-Mn oxides bounded forms,inhibit the Cd (Ⅱ) accumulation in the plant tissue and improve the brassica growth.Based on these results,it can be concluded that combination of the SBA-15 particle with sodium silicate has great potential to remediate Cd (Ⅱ) contaminated soil through adsorption and sealing properties.

[Application Potential and Assessment of Metallurgical Contaminated Soil After Remediation in Tongguan of Shaanxi].

There has been a growing interest in soil replacement and in-situ stabilization techniques in recent years. Many techniques in the remediation of contaminated soils have been proven to be effective methods. In this study, lime and calcium phosphate were added to immobilize the heavy metals in contaminated soils. The long-term application potential of these techniques were evaluated by taking the demonstration project of the soil remediation in Tongguan of Shaanxi as the case study.The status of heavy metal contamination in the study area resulted from artisanal gold mining was discussed. The strategies of remediation and the evaluation of the remediation results including the safety of agricultural practices were also studied. The results showed that soil was seriously contaminated in the study area with Cd, Pb, and Hg, and the residue mining waste was the main source. The potential ecological risk index ranged from 668 to 10969, suggesting that all the samples posed a very strong ecological hazard. Based on the pollution status, the soil replacement method and stabilization method were applied. Acceptable remediation results were obtained with lower total metal content (except Cd) and decreased heavy metal availability. However, the metal content of agricultural products was higher than the permissible value according to GB 2762-2012, which means that agricultural practices pose risks on remediated soils. Soil replacement and stabilization would be practical techniques for heavy metal polluted soil remediation. However, a consecutive investigation should be conducted for the assurance of food safety.

A new species of Patania from the Hainan Island, China (Lepidoptera, Crambidae).

Patania clava sp. n. is described from the Diaoluo Mountain of Hainan Island, China. The new species is distinguished from its most similar congener, Patania iopasalis (Walker, 1859), by the following features: wingspan 33.0-35.0 mm (vs. 21.0-30.0 mm), ventral cilia of the male antenna as long as the diameter of flagellomere (vs. 1/4), the thick finger-like gnathos (vs. the short broad sheet-like), a long thick needle-like cornutus stretching out from (vs. embedded in) a cluster of spicular cornuti near apex. Images of adult and genitalia of the new species are provided.

[Effect of Alkali Solids Amendment on Sewage Sludge Aerobic Composting and the Potential of Related Products on Infertile Soil Amelioration].

Aiming to evaluate the influence of alkali solids amendment on the sewage sludge aerobic composting and to declare the potential of related composts on infertile soil amelioration, sewage sludge and sawdust mixture were amended with straw biochar, hardwood biochar, fly ash and lime by 10% addition ratio in dry weight during the aerobic composting process; finally, potential of the related composts on the infertile soil amelioration was investigated by pot experiment. The results showed that the alkali solids amendment could prolong the thermophilic phase, and promote the composting material heat inactivation. Addition of straw and hardwood biochar facilitated more than 21.65% and 18.16% organic matter degradation. During the composting, the compost pH decreased at the beginning and then gradually increased before reached values of 6.78-7.33, while the fly ash and lime amendments could lead to higher pH values in the beginning stage. The alkali solids amendment reduced the salinity of the compost with final products EC lower than 3000 µS·cm-1. The addition of straw and hardwood biochar could increase the total nitrogen content by reducing the ammonia loss at the beginning, while the fly ash and lime amendments would result in ammonia loss in the beginning stage. Despite the composting variation, the contents of nitrate increased and the ammonium salt content decreased gradually. The biochar addition can accelerate the nitrate transformation while the fly ash and lime amendment had slight inhibitory effect on the nitrate transformation and plant germination. The pot experiment revealed that applying compost products could significantly improve the brassica growth, Cu and Zn micronutrients accumulation since the compost addition could increase the soil organic carbon content, as well as soil N, P, and K contents. Compared with the non-amended compost, the alkali solids amendment could slightly reduce the Cu and Zn micronutrients accumulation, while the fertile potentials were acceptable. The study indicated that straw and hardwood biochar were more suitable than fly ash and lime as compost amendment, and the related compost products had great potential on infertile soil amelioration.

Role of glycosylation in the anticancer activity of antibacterial peptides against breast cancer cells.

Antibacterial peptides (ABPs) with cancer-selective toxicity have received much more attention as alternative chemotherapeutic agents in recent years. However, the basis of their anticancer activity remains unclear. The modification of cell surface glycosylation is a characteristic of cancer cells. The present study investigated the effect of glycosylation, in particular sialic acid, on the anticancer activity of ABPs. We showed that aurein 1.2, buforin IIb and BMAP-28m exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward MX-1 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The binding activity, cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of ABPs were enhanced by the presence of O-, N-glycoproteins, gangliosides and sialic acid on the surface of breast cancer cells. Among N-, O-glycoproteins and ganglioside, O-glycoproteins almost had the strongest effect on the binding and cytotoxicity of the three peptides. Further, up-regulation of hST6Gal1 in CHO-K1 cells enhanced the susceptibility of cells to these peptides. Finally, the growth of MX-1 xenograft tumors in mice was significantly suppressed by buforin IIb treatment, which was associated with induction of apoptosis and inhibition of vascularization. These data demonstrate that the three peptides bind to breast cancer cells via an interaction with surface O-, N-glycoproteins and gangliosides. Sialic acids act as key glycan binding sites for cationic ABP binding to glycoproteins and gangliosides. Therefore, glycosylation in breast cancer cells plays an important role in the anticancer activity of ABPs, which may partly explain their cancer-selective toxicity. Anticancer ABPs with cancer-selective cytotoxicity will be promising candidates for anticancer therapy in the future.

Molecular cloning, expression, bioinformatics analysis, and bioactivity of TNFSF13 (APRIL) in the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevi): a new model to study immunological diseases.

TNFSF13 is one of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily members that plays important roles in immune homeostasis and proliferation or apoptosis of certain tumor cell lines. This report describes the development of Xenopus laevis TNFSF13 as a model to study its important role in relation to immunological diseases. In brief, TNFSF13 from Xenopus laevis (designated XlTNFSF13) was first amplified by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) techniques. Bioinformatics analyses revealed the gene structure, three-dimensional structure, and evolutionary relationships. Real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR) analysis identified the tissue distribution of XlTNFSF13 in the major visceral organs. The recombinant plasmid SUMO-XsTNFSF13 was expressed in E. coli Rosseta (DE3). Subsequently, the recombinant protein purified through Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by Western blot analysis. Laser scanning confocal microscopy analysis revealed the binding activity of pSUMO-XsTNFSF13 to the surface of B cells. WST-8 assays further indicated that purified XsTNFSF13 could cause the survival/proliferation of B cells. In conclusion, we underscore that as a model organism for human disease, Xenopus laevis has been widely used in molecular biology research. Yet while TNFSF13 research in mammalian, fish (e.g., zebrafish), mouse, and human is widely available, studies in the amphibian species are limited. The latter area of OMICS and integrative biology scholarship is directly informed with the present study, with a view to implications for the future study of human immunological diseases.

The influence of microwave radiation from cellular phone on fetal rat brain.

The increasing use of cellular phones in our society has brought focus on the potential detrimental effects to human health by microwave radiation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress and the level of neurotransmitters in the brains of fetal rats chronically exposed to cellular phones. The experiment was performed on pregnant rats exposed to different intensities of microwave radiation from cellular phones. Thirty-two pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups: CG, GL, GM, and GH. CG accepted no microwave radiation, GL group radiated 10 min each time, GM group radiated 30 min, and GH group radiated 60 min. The 3 experimental groups were radiated 3 times a day from the first pregnant day for consecutively 20 days, and on the 21st day, the fetal rats were taken and then the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HT) in the brain were assayed. Compared with CG, there were significant differences (P<0.05) found in the contents of SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA in GM and GH; the contents of SOD and GSH-Px decreased and the content of MDA increased. The significant content differences of NE and DA were found in fetal rat brains in GL and GH groups, with the GL group increased and the GH group decreased. Through this study, we concluded that receiving a certain period of microwave radiation from cellular phones during pregnancy has certain harm on fetal rat brains.

Evaluation of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential by JC-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility and clinical significance of detecting sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by JC-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry, and to explore the relationship between the results of JC-1 staining and seminal parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three semen samples were divided into a fertile (n = 31) and an infertile group (n = 32) and underwent computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). All the samples were washed, followed by JC-1 staining and evaluation of sperm MMP by flow cytometry. The percentage of normal sperm MMP was indicated as the percentage of sperm emitting orange-red fluorescence (JC-1 + %).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The JC-1 + % was significantly higher in the fertile group than in the infertile one ([75.89 +/- 15.69]% vs [54.04 +/- 22.21] %, P = 0.000), correlated positively with sperm motility (r = 0.610, P = 0.000) and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (r = 0.614, P = 0.000) and negatively with grade d sperm (r = -0.504, P = 0.000). There was a significant positive correlation between the results of JC-1 staining (JC-1 + %) and that of Rh123 /PI dual fluorescent staining (Rh123 + / PI (-)%) (r = 0.938, P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JC-1 staining and flow cytometry could readily and quickly detect sperm MMP and the sperm JC-1 + % could be an auxiliary marker for the diagnosis of male infertility.</p>