Composition and antifungal activity of balsam from Liquidambar formosana Hance

Abstract: Formosan sweet gum ( Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a tree species endemic in Taiwan. In this study, the composition of balsam from L. formosana has been determined by several chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Among the 26 compounds identified, three new triterpenoids were detected, namely, 2 α ,3 α -dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-al ( 1 ), 3 α -hydroxyolean-12-en-30-ol ( 2 ), and 3 α -hydroxyolean-2-oxo-12-en-28-al ( 3 ). The most abundant volatile compounds were β -caryophyllene (22.7 % ), α -pinene (23.3 % ), and β -pinene (19.6 % ), and the most abundant nonvolatile compounds were 3 α ,25-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 12 , 19.1 % ), oleanonic aldehyde ( 9 , 14.0 % ), and betulonic acid ( 15 , 13.4 % ). The compounds 3 α ,25-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid and bornyl cinnamate were found to be inhibitory for white rot ( Lenzites betulina ) and brown rot ( Laetiporus sulphureus ) fungi

Effects of manual lymphatic drainage on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is a common complication of axillary dissection for breast cancer. We investigated whether manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) could prevent or manage limb edema in women after breast-cancer surgery. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of MLD in the prevention and treatment of breast-cancer-related lymphedema. The PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), SCOPUS, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases were searched for articles on MLD published before December 2012, with no language restrictions. The primary outcome for prevention was the incidence of postoperative lymphedema. The outcome for management of lymphedema was a reduction in edema volume. RESULTS: In total, 10 RCTs with 566 patients were identified. Two studies evaluating the preventive outcome of MLD found no significant difference in the incidence of lymphedema between the MLD and standard treatment groups, with a risk ratio of 0.63 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.14 to 2.82. Seven studies assessed the reduction in arm volume, and found no significant difference between the MLD and standard treatment groups, with a weighted mean difference of 75.12 (95% CI, −9.34 to 159.58). CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence from RCTs does not support the use of MLD in preventing or treating lymphedema. However, clinical and statistical inconsistencies between the various studies confounded our evaluation of the effect of MLD on breast-cancer-related lymphedema

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of novel 3,9-substituted α-carboline derivatives with high cytotoxic activity against colorectal cancer cells

In our continued focus on 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)indazole (YC-1) analogs, we synthesized a novel series of 3,9-substituted α-carboline derivatives and evaluated the new compounds for antiproliferactive effects. Structure activity relationships revealed that a COOCH or CHOH group at position-3 and substituted benzyl group at position-9 of the α-carboline nucleus were crucial for maximal activity. The most active compound, , showed high levels of cytotoxicity against HL-60, COLO 205, Hep 3B, and H460 cells with IC values of 0.3, 0.49, 0.7, and 0.8 μM, respectively. The effect of compound on the cell cycle distribution demonstrated G2/M arrest in COLO 205 cells. Furthermore, mechanistic studies indicated that compound induced apoptosis by activating death receptor and mitochondria dependent apoptotic signaling pathways in COLO 205 cells. The new 3,9-substituted α-carboline derivatives exhibited excellent anti-proliferative activities, and compound can be used as a promising pro-apoptotic agent for future development of new antitumor agents

Association analysis identifies 65 new breast cancer risk loci

Breast cancer risk is influenced by rare coding variants in susceptibility genes, such as BRCA1, and many common, mostly non-coding variants. However, much of the genetic contribution to breast cancer risk remains unknown. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study of breast cancer in 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls of European ancestry and 14,068 cases and 13,104 controls of East Asian ancestry. We identified 65 new loci that are associated with overall breast cancer risk at P < 5 × 10-8. The majority of credible risk single-nucleotide polymorphisms in these loci fall in distal regulatory elements, and by integrating in silico data to predict target genes in breast cells at each locus, we demonstrate a strong overlap between candidate target genes and somatic driver genes in breast tumours. We also find that heritability of breast cancer due to all single-nucleotide polymorphisms in regulatory features was 2-5-fold enriched relative to the genome-wide average, with strong enrichment for particular transcription factor binding sites. These results provide further insight into genetic susceptibility to breast cancer and will improve the use of genetic risk scores for individualized screening and prevention.We thank all the individuals who took part in these studies and all the researchers, clinicians, technicians and administrative staff who have enabled this work to be carried out. Genotyping of the OncoArray was principally funded from three sources: the PERSPECTIVE project, funded by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the ‘Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation du Québec’ through Genome Québec, and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation; the NCI Genetic Associations and Mechanisms in Oncology (GAME-ON) initiative and Discovery, Biology and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer (DRIVE) project (NIH Grants U19 CA148065 and X01HG007492); and Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10118 and C1287/A16563). BCAC is funded by Cancer Research UK (C1287/A16563), by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement 223175 (HEALTH-F2-2009-223175) (COGS) and by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreements 633784 (B-CAST) and 634935 (BRIDGES). Genotyping of the iCOGS array was funded by the European Union (HEALTH-F2-2009-223175), Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10710), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the ‘CIHR Team in Familial Risks of Breast Cancer’ program, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade of Quebec, grant PSR-SIIRI-701. Combining of the GWAS data was supported in part by The National Institute of Health (NIH) Cancer Post-Cancer GWAS initiative grant U19 CA 148065 (DRIVE, part of the GAME-ON initiative)

The selection on fresh edible sugarcane (Saccarum officinarum L.)

為提高本省食用紅甘蔗品質及產量，進行品種選育工作，從全省栽植食用紅甘蔗產區所搜集到21個地方種，於87年度在本場實驗農場進行觀察及選育結果，計選出10個農藝性狀表現優良選系，於88年度在埔里鎮籃城里進行第一年產量比較試驗，結果選出台中選系10、6、2及9號之產量表現較佳，比埔里地方種增加6.7%~10.9％。其中以台中選系10號之表現最佳，具有平方公尺莖數多、產量高（121,l06 kg/ha)，中問5節長度長（42.9 cm）及總可溶性固形物高（19°Brix）等優良性狀，俟89年度完成第2年試驗後擬參加全省性區域試驗。 In order to increase the unit yield and quality of fresh edible sugarcane, the 21 fresh edible sugarcane local lines were collected from all over the Taiwan, Ten elite lines was selected in this station in the 1998. The fist year yield trail of those 10 new lines was conducted in Puli, Nantou county in the 1999. The result showed that the average yield of Taichung selection No. 10, 6, 2 and 9 is 6.7-10.9% higher than that of check variety “Puli Local”. Taichung selection No.10 have the highest plant number, highest yield (121,106 kg/ha), the longest middle 5-node length (42.9 cm) and highest total soluble solids (19.1 °Brix). After the second year yield trial, those line will joint the regional yield trial in 2001

Molecular Epidemiology of Shigella flexneri in a Long-Stay Psychiatric Nursing Center during 2001 to 2003

With six separate wards accommodating more than 1,600 patients, V Nursing Center (VNC) is a long-stay psychiatric nursing center in eastern Taiwan. During 2001 to 2003, 39 shigellosis cases occurred in VNC. Different from the notion that most cases of shigellosis are caused by Shigella sonnei, all except one of these cases were caused by S. flexneri, with the remaining one caused by an S. sonnei isolate. O-antigen serotyping showed that the 38 S. flexneri strains were of either type 1a (n = 20) or 4a (n = 18), two less prevalent serotypes in Taiwan. NotI-based pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses performed with 8 type 1a non-VNC strains and 9 type 4a non-VNC strains isolated from 1996 to 2003 for comparison divided the 28 type 1a strains and the 27 type 4a strains into 7 and 10 subtypes, designated subtypes P1A to P1G and subtypes P4A to P4J, respectively. Subtypes P1A and P4A, which appeared in three consecutive years in VNC as well as outside of VNC, are the most prevalent subtypes. Analyses of the relatedness of the VNC strains on the basis of the banding patterns grouped the type 1a and 4a strains into four and five clusters, respectively. All except one of the type 1a strains had 95% similarity, indicating that they had a common parent, whereas the type 4a strains had similarities that ranged from 77 to 93%, suggesting that they were of diverse origins. In two of the outbreaks, less related subtypes of the type 4a strains were found in the same VNC wards in consecutive years, suggesting the possible existence of different subtypes in VNC all the time. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all except one of the S. flexneri strains were sensitive to at least seven antibiotics; the remaining isolate was sensitive to three antibiotics. The data from the latter tests should be helpful for selection of proper treatments for S. flexneri infections in Taiwan

Composition and antifungal activity of balsam from Liquidambar formosana Hance

Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a tree species endemic in Taiwan. In this study, the composition of balsam from L. formosana has been determined by several chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Among the 26 compounds identified, three new triterpenoids were detected, namely, 2α,3α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-al (1), 3α-hydroxyolean-12-en-30-ol (2), and 3α-hydroxyolean-2-oxo-12-en-28-al (3). The most abundant volatile compounds were β-caryophyllene (22.7%), α-pinene (23.3%), and β-pinene (19.6%), and the most abundant nonvolatile compounds were 3α,25-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (12, 19.1%), oleanonic aldehyde (9, 14.0%), and betulonic acid (15, 13.4%). The compounds 3α,25-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid and bornyl cinnamate were found to be inhibitory for white rot (Lenzites betulina) and brown rot (Laetiporus sulphureus) fungi

Fullerene-Based Electron Transport Layers for Semi-Transparent MAPbBr3 Perovskite Films in Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

In this study, four kinds of structures—[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), PCBM/fullerene (C60), C60/bathocuproine (BCP), and PCBM/C60/BCP—were used as electron transport layers, and the structure, and optical and electronic behaviors of MAPbBr3 perovskite layers after annealing treatments were observed. The experimental results indicate that PCBM/C60 bi-layer structure is acceptable for MAPbBr3 planar perovskite solar cells due to electron step transporting. Low-temperature annealing is suitable for smooth and large grain MAPbBr3 films. The semi-transparent yellow C60/PCBM/MAPbBr3/PEDOT:PSS/ITO glass-structure solar cells exhibit the best performance with a power conversion efficiency of 4.19%. The solar cells are revealed to be suitable for application in building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems

Secondary Freeform Lens Device Design with Stearic Acid for A Low-Glare Mosquito-Trapping System with Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes

Dengue fever is a public health issue of global concern. Taiwan is located in the subtropical region featuring humid and warm weather, which is conducive to the breeding of mosquitoes and flies. Together with global warming and the increasing frequency of international exchanges, in addition to the outbreak of pandemics and dengue fever, the number of people infected has increased rapidly. This study is dedicated to the development of a new mosquito-trapping system. Research has shown that specific wavelengths, colors, and temperatures are highly attractive to both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. In this study, we create equipment which effectively improves the trapping capabilities of mosquitoes in a wider field. The design of the special Secondary Freeform Lens Device (SFLD) is used to expand the range for trapping mosquitoes and create illumination uniformity; it also directs light downward for the protection of users&rsquo; eyes. In addition, we use the correct amount of stearic acid as a mosquito attractant to allow a better control effect against mosquitoes during the day. In summary, when the UV LED mosquito trapping system is combined with a quadratic free-form lens, the experimental results show that the system can extend the capture range to 100 &pi; m2 in which the number of captured mosquitoes is increased by about 350%