Development of a Rapid and Confirmatory Method to Identify Ganoderic Acids in Ganoderma Mushrooms

To examine the composition of lanostanoids in Ganoderma lucidum, we have developed a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method by using the ganoderic acids isolated in our laboratory as reference standards. The identity of 14 peaks in the high performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) of G. lucidum has been confirmed. By using the HPLC retention times of these ganoderic acids and their mass fragmentation patterns established in this paper, one can use LC–MS to analyze G. lucidum without requiring the reference standards of these 14 ganoderic acids. Subsequently, only the HPLC–UV method would be needed to analyze routine samples of G. lucidum

N-(2,6-Diisopropyl­phen­yl)-N-{3-[(2,6-diisopropyl­phen­yl)imino]­butan-2-yl}aza­nide trichloridostannate(II)

In the title compound, (C28H43N2)[SnCl3], two pairs of molecular species are present in the asymmetric unit. The employed α-diimine opens up, forming a highly asymmetric ammonium that has its protons at one of the N atoms [N—C= 1.264 (4) and 1.516 (4) Å]. One of the C=N double bonds was oxidized to C—N, which is consistent with the bond length of 1.516 (4) Å. Meanwhile SnIV was reduced to SnII. The (SnCl)3 − anion is trigonal–pyramidal. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯Cl, N—H⋯Cl, N—H⋯N and C—H⋯N bonds. The crystal studied was twinned by pseudo-merohedry

Thickness dependence of the anomalous Hall effect in thin films of the topological semimetal Co2_2MnGa

Topological magnetic semimetals promise large Berry curvature through the distribution of the topological Weyl nodes or nodal lines and further novel physics with exotic transport phenomena. We present a systematic study of the structural and magnetotransport properties of Co$_2$MnGa films from thin (20 nm) to bulk like behavior (80 nm), in order to understand the underlying mechanisms and the role on the topology. The magnetron sputtered Co$_2$MnGa films are $L$$2_{\mathrm {1}}$-ordered showing very good heteroepitaxy and a strain-induced tetragonal distortion. The anomalous Hall conductivity was found to be maximum at a value of 1138 S/cm, with a corresponding anomalous Hall angle of 13 %, which is comparatively larger than topologically trivial metals. There is a good agreement between the theoretical calculations and the Hall conductivity observed for the 80 nm film, which suggest that the effect is intrinsic. Thus, the Co$_2$MnGa compound manifests as a promising material towards topologically-driven spintronic applications.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Household Catastrophic Medical Expenses in Eastern China: Determinants and Policy Implications

Background: Much of research on household catastrophic medical expenses in China has focused on less developed areas and little is known about this problem in more developed areas. This study aimed to analyse the incidence and determinants of catastrophic medical expenses in eastern China. Methods: Data were obtained from a health care utilization and expense survey of 11,577 households conducted in eastern China in 2008. The incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses was calculated using the method introduced by the World Health Organization. A multi-level logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants. Results: The incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses in eastern China ranged from 9.24% to 24.79%. Incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses was lower if the head of household had a higher level of education, labor insurance coverage, while the incidence was higher if they lived in rural areas, had a family member with chronic diseases, had a child younger than 5 years old, had a person at home who was at least 65 years old, and had a household member who was hospitalized. Moreover, the impact of the economic level on catastrophic medical expenses was non-linear. The poorest group had a lower incidence than that of the second lowest income group and the group with the highest income had a higher incidence than that of the second highest income group. In addition, region was a significant determinant. Conclusions: Reducing the incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses should be one of the priorities of health policy. It can be achieved by improving residents’ health status to reduce avoidable health services such as hospitalization. It is also important to design more targeted health insurance in order to increase financial support for such vulnerable groups as the poor, chronically ill, children, and senior populations

Arctigenin alleviates ER stress via activating AMPK

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of arctigenin (ATG), a phenylpropanoid dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan from Arctium lappa L (Compositae), against ER stress in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: A cell-based screening assay for ER stress regulators was established. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze gene and protein expression. Silencing of the CaMKKβ, LKB1, and AMPKα1 genes was achieved by RNA interference (RNAi). An ATP bioluminescent assay kit was employed to measure the intracellular ATP levels. Results: ATG (2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited cell death and unfolded protein response (UPR) in a concentration-dependent manner in cells treated with the ER stress inducer brefeldin A (100 nmol/L). ATG (1, 5 and 10 μmol/L) significantly attenuated protein synthesis in cells through inhibiting mTOR-p70S6K signaling and eEF2 activity, which were partially reversed by silencing AMPKα1 with RNAi. ATG (1-50 μmol/L) reduced intracellular ATP level and activated AMPK through inhibiting complex I-mediated respiration. Pretreatment of cells with the AMPK inhibitor compound C (25 μmol/L) rescued the inhibitory effects of ATG on ER stress. Furthermore, ATG (2.5 and 5 μmol/L) efficiently activated AMPK and reduced the ER stress and cell death induced by palmitate (2 mmol/L) in INS-1 β cells. Conclusion: ATG is an effective ER stress alleviator, which protects cells against ER stress through activating AMPK, thus attenuating protein translation and reducing ER load