sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediment produces a novel extracellular polymeric substance.

An exopolysaccharide-producing bacterial strain GW4-15, belonging to the genus , was isolated from intertidal sediment from King George Island, Antarctic. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and yellow-pigmented. The strain was able to grow in the presence of 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %), at 4-30 °C (optimum, 20-28 °C) and at pH 5.

Nine pairs of undescribed enantiomers from the resin of Styrax tonkinensis (Pierre) Craib ex Hart with anti-inflammatory activity.

Nine pairs of undescribed enantiomers, (±)-styraxoids A-I (1-9), were isolated from the resin of Styrax tonkinensis, and their structures were assigned by spectroscopic and computational methods. Compounds (±)-1 are a pair of degraded lignans, and the remaining compounds (±)-(2-9) are phenylpropanoid skeletons. Compounds (±)-8 and (±)-9 feature a 1,3-dioxolane moiety.

Eight new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives from agarwood of Aquilaria sinensis with anti-inflammatory activity.

Eight previously unknown 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, called aquichromones A - E (1-3, 5 and 6) and 8-epi-aquichromone C (4), including two pairs of enantiomers [(±)-1 and (±)-2] were isolated from the agarwood of Aquilaria sinensis. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of these natural products were elucidated by using spectroscopic and computational methods. The result of biological assay showed that two members of this group, 4 and 5, have significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity.

Six new diterpenoids from the resins of Populus euphratica and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Six new diterpenoids, identified as two abietane derivatives, euphraticanoids J and K (1 and 2), two pimarane derivatives, euphraticanoids L and M (3 and 4), and two 9,10-seco-abietane derivatives, euphraticanoids N and O (5 and 6) were isolated from Populus euphratica resins. Their structures including absolute configurations were characterized using spectroscopic, quantum chemical NMR, and ECD calculation methods. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was tested and the results revealed that compounds 4 and 6 inhibited the production of iNOS and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.

Lacisediminihabitans changchengi sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from Antarctic swamplands mud.

A Gram-staining-positive, heterotrophic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, short rod-shaped, strain G11-30 belonging to the genus Lacisediminihabitans was isolated from a swampland mud in Antarctica. The strain was identified using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain grew well on R2A agar media and formed no aerial mycelia and no diffusible pigments on any media tested.

Commiphoranes K-O, New Terpenoids from Resina Commiphora and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Commiphorane K (1), a new dinorditerpenoid, commiphoranes L-N (2-4), three new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, and commiphorane O (5), one new guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid, were isolated from Resina Commiphora. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic and computational methods. In particular, the structure of 4 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.

Antifungal and wound healing promotive compounds from the resins of Dracaena cochinchinensis.

Five new compounds (xuejieins A-E), including three new phenolic glycosides (1, 2, and 5) and two new flavonoids (10 and 11), together with six known compounds were isolated from the resins of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Chinese dragon's blood). The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by extensive spectroscopic methods and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analysis. Especially, the absolute configurations of the sugar moieties in compounds 1, 2, and 5 were clarified by GC analysis after acid hydrolysis.

Populeuphrines A and B, two new cembrane diterpenoids from the resins of .

Two new cembrane diterpenoids, named populeuphrines A and B ( and ), together with three known analogues (-) were isolated from the resins of . The planar structures and relative configurations of and were elucidated by detailed 1 D and 2 D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of and were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum chemical computation.

Discovery of Populusone, a Skeletal Stimulator of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Populus euphratica Exudates.

Populusone (1), a cembrane-type macrocyclic trinorditerpenoid, was isolated from the exudates of Populus euphratica and shown to have an unprecedented carbon skeleton, The structure was identified using spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. A possible pathway for the biosynthesis of 1 was proposed. Populusone (10 μM) was found to promote proliferation and differentiation of umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells into keratinocyte like cells.

Paeoniflorin Ameliorates Atherosclerosis by Suppressing TLR4-Mediated NF-κB Activation.

Paeoniflorin, a type of bioactive monoterpene glucoside in Paeoniae Radix, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic properties. However, the underlying mechanism of paeoniflorin in treating atherosclerosis is unclear. A rat model of high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis and palmitic acid (PA)-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were used in this study.

Effectiveness of the Conservative Therapy for Symptomatic Isolated Celiac Artery Dissection.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the conservative therapy for symptomatic isolated celiac artery dissection (ICAD).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic ICAD diagnosed on CT between February 2006 and June 2016 at three institutions were included.

Results: During the study period, a total of 24 patients (22 men, 2 women) were included in this retrospective study.

[Comparative effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures preserving different gastric volume on blood glucose in Goto-Kakizaki rats].

Objective: To compare the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP)procedures preserving different gastric volume on blood glucose of rats with non-obese type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 36 Goto-Kakizaki rats randomly underwent one of the following procedures: gastric bypass with different types of anastomosis including the Roux-en-Y of total stomach excision(n=12), the Roux-en-Y of partial stomach excision(n=12) and the Roux-en-Y of stomach preservation(n=12). Rats were observed for 24 weeks after surgery.

[Effect of diabetes control after small intestine exclusion surgery in Goto-Kakizaki rat with non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To evaluate the effect and possible mechanisms of diabetes control after small intestine exclusion surgery in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat with non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Forty GK rats with non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent duodenal bypass (Group A, n = 8), which creates a shortcut for ingested nutrients bypassing duodenum alone; duodenal-jejunal bypass (Group B, n = 8), a stomach-preserving RYGB that excludes the duodenum and proximal jejunum; duodenum and total jejunum exclusion (Group C, n = 8); sub-total small intestine exclusion (Group D, n = 8), which creates a shortcut for ingested nutrients bypassing duodenum, jejunum and sub-total ileum; controls were pair-fed (PF) sham-operated and untreated GK rats (Group SO, n = 8). The rats were observed for 24 weeks after surgery.

[Effect of blood glucose control after small intestine exclusion surgery in Goto-Kakizaki rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of diabetic control after small intestine exclusion surgery in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: GK type 2 diabetic rats underwent duodenal bypass (Group A, n = 8) creating a shortcut for ingested nutrients with bypassing duodenum alone, or duodenal-jejunal bypass (Group B, n = 8), a stomach-preserving RYGB excluding duodenum and proximal jejunum, or duodenum and total jejunum exclusion (Group C, n = 8), or sub-total small intestine exclusion (Group D, n = 8) creating a shortcut for ingested nutrients with bypassing duodenum, jejunum and sub-total ileum. Controls were pair-fed (PF) sham-operated and untreated GK rats (Group SO, n = 8).

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 in U937 foam cells.

This study is to investigate the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in U937 foam cells and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the cytokines. U937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of GbE (0.1, 1, and 10 microg x L(-1)), and stimulated by 100 mg x L(-1) oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 h.

Expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in brain of atherosclerotic rats and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract.

Aim: To study the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain of rats with atherosclerosis (AS) and the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on expressions of cytokines.

Methods: The experimental model of AS in rats were established by intraperitioneal injection of vitamin D3 with high fat/cholesterol diet. GbE 100 mg/kg was administered to rats by ig.