2bRAD-M reveals the difference in microbial distribution between cancerous and benign ovarian tissues

The development of ovarian cancer is closely related to various factors, such as environmental, genetic and microbiological factors. In previous research, bacteria were identified in human tumors by 16S rRNA sequencing. However, the microbial biomass in tumor tissue is too low and cannot be accurately identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. In our study, we employ 2bRAD sequencing for Microbiome (2bRAD-M), a new sequencing technology capable of accurately characterizing the low biomass microbiome (bacteria, fungi and archaea) at species resolution. Here we surveyed 20 ovarian samples, including 10 ovarian cancer samples and 10 benign ovarian samples. The sequencing results showed that a total of 373 microbial species were identified in both two groups, of which 90 species shared in the two groups. The Meta statistic indicated that Chlamydophila_abortus and CAG-873_sp900550395 were increased in the ovarian cancer tissues, while Lawsonella_clevelandensis_A, Ralstonia_sp001078575, Brevundimonas_aurantiaca, Ralstonia_sp900115545, Ralstonia_pickettii, Corynebacterium_kefirresidentii, Corynebacterium_sp000478175, Brevibacillus_D_fluminis, Ralstonia_sp000620465, and Ralstonia_mannitolilytica were more abundant in the benign ovarian tissues. This is the first use of 2bRAD-M technique to provide an important hint for better understanding of the ovarian cancer microbiome

Screening of Crude Plant Extracts with Anti-Obesity Activity

Obesity is a global health problem. It is also known to be a risk factor for the development of metabolic disorders, type 2 diabetes, systemic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we screened crude extracts from 400 plants to test their anti-obesity activity using porcine pancreatic lipase assay (PPL; triacylglycerol lipase, EC 3.1.1.3) in vitro activity. Among the 400 plants species examined, 44 extracts from plants, showed high anti-lipase activity using 2,4-dinitrophenylbutyrate as a substrate in porcine pancreatic lipase assay. Furthermore, 44 plant extracts were investigated for their inhibition of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Among these 44 extracts examined, crude extracts from 4 natural plant species were active. Salicis Radicis Cortex had the highest fat inhibitory activity, whereas Rubi Fructus, Corni Fructus, and Geranium nepalense exhibited fat inhibitory capacity higher than 30% at 100 μg/mL in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting anti-obesity activity. These results suggest that four potent plant extracts might be of therapeutic interest with respect to the treatment of obesity

Association of Mitochondrial DNA Variations with Lung Cancer Risk in a Han Chinese Population from Southwestern China

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage and mutation due to the high rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and limited DNA-repair capacity in mitochondrial. Previous studies demonstrated that the increased mtDNA copy number for compensation for damage, which was associated with cigarette smoking, has been found to be associated with lung cancer risk among heavy smokers. Given that the common and “non-pathological” mtDNA variations determine differences in oxidative phosphorylation performance and ROS production, an important determinant of lung cancer risk, we hypothesize that the mtDNA variations may play roles in lung cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a case-control study to compare the frequencies of mtDNA haplogroups and an 822 bp mtDNA deletion between 422 lung cancer patients and 504 controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that haplogroups D and F were related to individual lung cancer resistance (OR = 0.465, 95%CI = 0.329–0.656, p<0.001; and OR = 0.622, 95%CI = 0.425–0.909, p = 0.014, respectively), while haplogroups G and M7 might be risk factors for lung cancer (OR = 3.924, 95%CI = 1.757–6.689, p<0.001; and OR = 2.037, 95%CI = 1.253–3.312, p = 0.004, respectively). Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cigarette smoking was a risk factor for the 822 bp mtDNA deletion. Furthermore, the increased frequencies of the mtDNA deletion in male cigarette smoking subjects of combined cases and controls with haplogroup D indicated that the haplogroup D might be susceptible to DNA damage from external ROS caused by heavy cigarette smoking

Mazarredia lochengensis Zheng et Jiang 2005

11. Mazarredia lochengensis Zheng, 2005 Mazarredia lochengensis Zheng, 2005,Acta Entomologica Sinica, 48(4): 591~592, figs. 6~8. Mazarredia lochengensis Zheng; Zheng, 2005, Fauna of Tetrigoidea from Western China, 161~162, figs. 328~330. Specimens examined: 1 ♀, P. R. CHINA: Guangxi: Luocheng, 2003-VII-27; 7 ♂ 12 ♀, P. R. CHINA: Guangxi: Luocheng, 2007-VI-13. Dstribution: P. R. China: Guangxi.Published as part of Deng, Weian, Zheng, Zhemin & Wei, Shizhen, 2007, A review of the genus Mazarredia Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from China, pp. 47-56 in Zootaxa 1645 (1) on page 54, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1645.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/510376

Falconius Bolivar 1898

Key t o the species of &lt;i&gt;Falconius&lt;/i&gt; Bolivar, 1898 &lt;p&gt;1. Posterior angles of lateral lobes of pronotum stickle-like, apice of spine curved forward (Fig. 1).............................. 2&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Posterior angles of lateral lobes of pronotum apices spine transverse (Fig. 2).......................................................... 10&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 2. Width of vertex equal to width of one eye; with one rounded concavity before posterior angles of lateral lobes of pronotum (Fig. 3) &lt;i&gt;................................................................................................. Falconius pseudoclavitarsis&lt;/i&gt; G&uuml;nther&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Width of vertex wider than width of one eye; without rounded concavity before posterior angles of lateral lobes of pronotum....................................................................................................................................................................... 3&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 3. Spine of posterior angles slightly curved forward; upper margin of pronotum slightly straight in profile (Fig. 4)....... &lt;i&gt;..................................................................................................................................... Falconius palawanicus&lt;/i&gt; G&uuml;nther&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Spine of posterior angles distinctly curved forward; upper margin of pronotum compresso-elevated in the form of hump between shoulders (Fig. 5) or undulated in profile (Fig. 6)................................................................................ 4&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;4. Upper margin of pronotum compresso-elevated in the form of hump between shoulders in profile........................... 5&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Upper margin of pronotum undulated, without compresso-elevated, not hump between shoulders in profile............ 6&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 5 Width of vertex 1.4 times the width of one eye; head not exserted above the pronotal surface; lower margins of mid- dle femur with two projections (Fig. 7) &lt;i&gt;...............................................................................&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Falconius bedoti&lt;/i&gt; (Bolivar)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; - Width of vertex 2 times the width of one eye; head distinctly exserted above the pronotal surface; lower margins of middle femur nearly straight (Fig. 8) &lt;i&gt;.............................................................................&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Falconius clavitarsis&lt;/i&gt; (Bolivar)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;6. Lower margins of middle femur nearly straight........................................................................................................... 7&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Lower margins of middle femur undulated, with two projections............................................................................... 8&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 7. Width of vertex 1.5 times the width of one eye; width of tegmina 1.5 times the width of middle femur; first segment of hind tarsi expanded &lt;i&gt;........................................................................................................... Falconius dubius&lt;/i&gt; G&uuml;nther&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; - Width of vertex 2 times the width of one eye; width of tegmina twice the width of middle femur; first segment of hind tarsi not expanded &lt;i&gt;..................................................................................... Falconius guangxiensis&lt;/i&gt; Zheng et Jiang&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Deng, Weian, Zheng, Zhemin &amp; Wei, Shizhen, 2009, A review of the genus Falconius Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Scelimeninae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1976&lt;/i&gt; on pages 64-65, DOI: &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/185173"&gt;10.5281/zenodo.185173&lt;/a&gt

Mazarredia interrupta Zheng 2003

6. Mazarredia interrupta Zheng, 2003 Mazarredia interrupt a Zheng, 2003, Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 28(1): 91, figs. 9~11. Mazarredia interrupt a Zheng; Zheng, 2005, Fauna of Tetrigoidea from Western China, 155~156, figs. 315~317. Specimens examined: 1 ♀, P. R. CHINA: Guangxi: Jinxiu, 2000-VII-01; 3 ♂ 1 ♀, P. R. CHINA: Guangxi: Wuxuan, 2007-VIII-23. Dstribution: P. R. China: Guangxi.Published as part of Deng, Weian, Zheng, Zhemin & Wei, Shizhen, 2007, A review of the genus Mazarredia Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from China, pp. 47-56 in Zootaxa 1645 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1645.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/510376