Gender differences in plasma S100B levels of patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: Low concentrations of S100B have neurotrophic effects and can promote nerve growth and repair, which plays an essential role in the pathophysiological and histopathological alterations of major depressive disorder (MDD) during disease development. Studies have shown that plasma S100B levels are altered in patients with MDD. In this study, we investigated whether the plasma S100B levels in MDD differ between genders.

Gentiopicroside improves non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by activating PPARα and suppressing HIF1.

Gentiopicroside (GPS) is a highly water-soluble small-molecule drug and the main bioactive secoiridoid glycoside of Gentiana scabra that has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the effects of GPS on NASH and the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Firstly, a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet and a high-sugar solution containing d-fructose and d-glucose were used to establish a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mice model.

Gray matter volume reduction in orbitofrontal cortex correlated with plasma glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels within major depressive disorder.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by reduced gray matter volume (GMV). To date, the pathogenesis of MDD remains unclear, but neurotrophic factors play an essential role in the pathophysiological alterations of MDD during disease development. In particular, plasma glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been suggested as a potential biomarker that may be associated with disease activity and neurological progression in MDD.

Gender differences in plasma glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels of patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has an important role in neurons and is closely associated with psychiatric disorders. The development of bipolar disorder (BD) may differ between genders. Existing studies have shown that plasma GDNF levels are altered in patients with BD.

Highly Efficient Regioselective Decanoylation of Hyperoside Using Nanobiocatalyst of FeO@PDA- Lipase: Insights of Kinetics and Stability Evaluation.

The immobilization of lipase on polydopamine-functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (FeO@PDA-TLL) as a nanobiocatalyst was successfully performed for the first time, and the FeO@PDA-TLL was used for regioselective acylation of natural hyperoside with vinyl decanoate. The effects of several crucial factors, such as the reaction solvent, substrate molar ratio, temperature, and immobilized enzyme dosage, were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the reaction rate, 6″-regioselectivity, and maximum substrate conversion were as high as 12.

Collinear masking effect in visual search is independent of perceptual salience.

Searching for a target in a salient region should be easier than looking for one in a nonsalient region. However, we previously discovered a contradictory phenomenon in which a local target in a salient structure was more difficult to find than one in the background. The salient structure was constructed of orientation singletons aligned to each other to form a collinear structure.

Phytotoxic, Antifungal and Immunosuppressive Metabolites from Aspergillus terreus QT122 Isolated from the Gut of Dragonfly.

Insect gut microbes have been considered as a resource for bioactive metabolites. The aim of this study was to characterize the compounds of a fungus Aspergillus terreus QT122 associated with the gut of dragonfly. Five main phytotoxic, antifungal, and immunosuppressive substances were isolated from the fungus QT122.

Diversity, Bacterial Symbionts and Antibacterial Potential of Gut-Associated Fungi Isolated from the Pantala flavescens Larvae in China.

The diversity of fungi associated with the gut of Pantala flavescens larvae was investigated using a culture-dependent method and molecular identification based on an analysis of the internally transcribed spacer sequence. In total, 48 fungal isolates were obtained from P. flavescens larvae.

[Isolation and identification of termitarium antagonistic actinomycetes BYC 01 and its active metabolites].

Objective: We isolated actinomyces from the termitarium and studied its metabolites to find the antimicrobial compounds.

Methods: We determined the taxonomic status of target strain BYC 01 by morphological observation and 16s rRNA sequence analysis. Growth rate method and agar disc diffusion assays were used to test the antimicrobial activities.

Phytotoxic and antibacterial metabolites from Fusarium proliferatum ZS07 isolated from the gut of long-horned grasshoppers.

In the proceeding of screening new bioactive natural products, the ethyl acetate extract of the fermentation broth of Fusarium proliferatum ZS07, a fungus residing in the gut of long-horned grasshoppers (Tettigonia chinensis), was found possessing selective phytotoxic activity against the radicle growth of Amaranthus retroflexus L. Bioactivity-guided fractionation lead to the isolation of six fungal metabolites 1-6, including a new polyketide derivate O-methylated SMA93 (2) and five known compounds SMA93 (1), rhodolamprometrin (3), radicinin (4), dehydroallogibberic acid (5), and 3-methyl-6,8-dihydroxyisocoumarin (6). Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the corresponding data to those reported in the literature previously.

Rapid determination of nanotoxicity using luminous bacteria.

A new luminescence-based toxicity test using luminous bacteria as a reporting agent has been developed to determine EC(50) of different nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes on living organisms. The whole assay takes only about 15 min and is as sensitive as other standard methods. Due to its technical simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity, this luminescent bacteria test has the potential to be developed as a general test of toxicity for a wide variety of nanomaterials.

Synthesis, antibacterial and antifungal activities of novel 1,2,4-triazolium derivatives.

A series of novel 1,2,4-triazolium derivatives was synthesized starting from commercially available 1H-1,2,4-triazole, 2,4-dichlorobenzyl chloride, or 2,4-difluorobenzyl bromide. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Bacillus proteus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans ATCC 76615, and Aspergillus fumigatus. All structures of the new compounds were confirmed by NMR, IR, and MS spectra, and elemental analyses.

(Z)-3-(9-Anthryl)-1-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-2-(4-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C(26)H(16)ClN(3)O(3), the dihedral angle between the anthracene mean plane and imidazole ring is 64.75 (2)°. In the crystal, π-π inter-actions between anthracene fragments lead to the formation of stacks of mol-ecules propagating in [100].

(Z)-3-(9-Anthr-yl)-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-2-(4-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title mol-ecule, C(26)H(16)BrN(3)O(3), the anthracene and benzene mean planes make dihedral angles of 63.79 (2) and 14.67 (2)°, respectively, with the plane of the imidazole ring.

Quenching effect of nickel ions on fluorescent gold nanoparticles.

Herein, we reported the quenching effect of Ni(2+) on bovine serum albumin protected fluorescent gold nanoparticles (BSA-GNPs). The quenching mechanism was discussed and a static quenching mechanism was proposed. The number of binding sites (n), apparent stability constants (K) and corresponding thermodynamic parameters of BSA-GNPs-Ni(2+) complex were measured at different temperatures.