Euphorbia factor L8: a diterpenoid from the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris

The title compound [systematic name: (2S*,3S*,4R*,5R*,9S*,11S*,15R*)-5,15-diacet­oxy-3-nicotino­yloxy-14-oxolathyra-6(17),12(E)-diene], C30H37NO7, was isolated from the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris. The tricyclic diterpenoid molecule contains an 11-membered ring, a five-membered ring exhibiting an envelope conformation and a three-membered ring. The 11-membered ring is cis-fused with the three-membered ring and trans-fused with the five-membered ring

The beneficial effects of curcumin supplementation on blood lipid levels among patients with metabolic related diseases in Asia area: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectivePublished studies suggest that the effects of curcumin on blood lipids in adults are controversial, and it is unclear whether there is a dose response to lipid changes following curcumin supplementation. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of curcumin on triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in the Asian populations with metabolic diseases.MethodsWe systematically searched four electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of curcumin on TG, TC, LDL, and HDL in the Asian populations with metabolic diseases. Mean difference (MD) indicates effect size with combined 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Heterogeneity among studies was assessed by I2. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.ResultsEvidence from 23 RCTs for TG, 21 RCTs for TC and LDL, and 22 RCTs for HDL showed that curcumin supplementation significantly reduced TG (MD: −18.07 mg/dL, 95% CI: −30.30, −5.85, P < 0. 01), TC (MD: −13.29 mg/dL, 95% CI: −20.43, −6.16, P < 0.01), and LDL (MD: −10.44 mg/dL, 95% CI: −16.87, −4.00, P < 0.01), but no effect on HDL (MD: 1.66 mg/dL, 95% CI: −0.13, 3.44, P = 0.07). In the non-linear dose-response analysis, we observed a significant effect of curcumin supplementation dose on TG levels (P-non-linearity = 0.022).ConclusionIn conclusion, curcumin may be beneficial in reducing TG, TC, and LDL levels in the Asian populations with metabolic diseases. The dose of curcumin intervention may be an underlying factor influencing TG levels

Asicimbex Yan, Deng & Wei, a new genus with eight new species and four new combinations (Hymenoptera, Cimbicidae)

A new genus and eight new species of Cimbicinae from the East Asia are described: Asicimbex Yan, Deng & Wei gen. nov., A. concavicaputus Yan & Wei sp. nov., A. dengi Yan & Wei sp. nov., A. koreanus Yan & Wei sp. nov., A. lii Yan & Wei sp. nov., A. latistriatus Yan, Deng & Wei sp. nov., A. maculotegularis Yan & Wei sp. nov., A. nanjingensis Yan & Wei sp. nov. and A. shengi Yan & Wei sp. nov. Four new combinations are proposed: A. eous (Semenov, 1935) comb. nov., A. elminus (Li & Wu, 2003) comb. nov., A. ulmusvorus (Yang, 1996) comb. nov. and A. malaisei (Gussakovskij, 1947) comb. nov., all from Agenocimbex. The 12 known species of Asicimbex are separated into two species groups. Asicimbex stands between Agenocimbex Rohwer 1910 and Cimbex Olivier 1791. The differences between Asicimbex and Cimbex, Asicimbex and Palaeocimbex are discussed in detail. Descriptions, remarks, illustrations, a key to the known species of Asicimbex and a key to genera of Cimbicinae are provided. A. malaisei is confirmed as a valid species and recorded from China for the first time, with the female described for the first time. The distribution of the genus is also briefly discussed

Auxin response factor 6A regulates photosynthesis, sugar accumulation, and fruit development in tomato.

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are involved in auxin-mediated transcriptional regulation in plants. In this study, we performed functional characterization of SlARF6A in tomato. SlARF6A is located in the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activator activity. Overexpression of SlARF6A increased chlorophyll contents in the fruits and leaves of tomato plants, whereas downregulation of SlARF6A decreased chlorophyll contents compared with those of wild-type (WT) plants. Analysis of chloroplasts using transmission electron microscopy indicated increased sizes of chloroplasts in SlARF6A-overexpressing plants and decreased numbers of chloroplasts in SlARF6A-downregulated plants. Overexpression of SlARF6A increased the photosynthesis rate and accumulation of starch and soluble sugars, whereas knockdown of SlARF6A resulted in opposite phenotypes in tomato leaves and fruits. RNA-sequence analysis showed that regulation of SlARF6A expression altered the expression of genes involved in chlorophyll metabolism, photosynthesis and sugar metabolism. SlARF6A directly bound to the promoters of SlGLK1, CAB, and RbcS genes and positively regulated the expression of these genes. Overexpression of SlARF6A also inhibited fruit ripening and ethylene production, whereas downregulation of SlARF6A increased fruit ripening and ethylene production. SlARF6A directly bound to the SAMS1 promoter and negatively regulated SAMS1 expression. Taken together, these results expand our understanding of ARFs with regard to photosynthesis, sugar accumulation and fruit development and provide a potential target for genetic engineering to improve fruit nutrition in horticulture crops

A scheme for dense coding in the non-symmetric quantum channel

We investigate the dense coding in the case of non-symmetric Hilbert spaces of the sender and receiver's particles sharing the quantum maximally entangled state. The efficiency of classical information gain is also considered. We conclude that when a more level particle is with the sender, she can get a non-symmetric quantum channel from a symmetric one by entanglement transfer. Thus the efficiency of information transmission is improved

Prevalence and treatment gap of active convulsive epilepsy: A large community-based survey in rural West China

AbstractPurposeActive convulsive epilepsy (ACE) impacts patients greatly, especially in low-income countries where patients do not receive appropriate treatment. In the present study, we measured the prevalence and treatment gap (TG) of ACE in rural West China.MethodsSix rural areas in West China that have a total population of 3,541,319 were selected to conduct prevalence and TG estimates of ACE via a clue survey from 2007 to 2009. Clue survey here is a community-based screening strategy among defined population which requires employed well-trained local physicians//health workers to collect all clues available to discover/identify/recruit patients within a study period. Questionnaire-based interviews were used for the identification of ACE patients, and information was obtained during the survey. Prevalence and TG of ACE were calculated.ResultsA total of 6547 patients with ACE were identified. The estimated prevalence of ACE was 1.8 per 1000 in the general population, with the prevalences in males and females determined to be 2.0 and 1.7, respectively (p<0.001). The TG in the general population was 66.3%, and it was 66.6% and 66.0% in males and females, respectively (p>0.05). The TG figures dropped with advancing age and increased above 30 years of age. Patients aged 60 years or older had the largest TG (77.8%); those with disease course less than 10 years showed a larger TG and those who experienced two to five seizures annually had a significantly larger TG (70.6%). Additionally, only 63.9% of the ACE patients included in the study were aware of the disease and had consulted a doctor.ConclusionsThere exists a large TG of ACE in West China rural areas. Majority of those ever consulted a doctor but failed to receive or adhere to an appropriate treatment program. Management including public education as well as training of local physicians were necessary to fill that gap