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Homeopathy 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Unio Homoeopathica Belgica, Evergem, Belgium.

Background:  Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) proton relaxation is sensitive to the dynamics of the water molecule, HO, through the interaction of the spin of the proton (H) with external magnetic and electromagnetic fields. NMR relaxation times describe how quickly the spin of H, forced in a direction by an external electromagnetic field, returns to a normal resting position. As a result, such measurements allow us potentially to describe higher structuring of water in homeopathic medicines. Read More

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020 Jun 12;1152:122213. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8513, Japan. Electronic address:

Glycosylinositol phosphoceramide (GIPC) is a sphingophospholipid in plants. Recently, we identified that GIPC is hydrolyzed to phytoceramide 1-phosphate (PC1P) by an uncharacterized phospholipase D activity following homogenization of certain plant tissues. We now developed methods for isolation of GIPC and PC1P from plant tissues and characterized their chemical stabilities. Read More

Bioorg Chem 2020 Jun 20;101:104030. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Resource Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, PR China; Engineering Research Center for Industrialization of Southern Medicinal Plants Resources of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, PR China; Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Plants Resources of Haikou City, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Plant Chemistry of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, PR China. Electronic address:

Two new prenylated chromones, artoheterophines A (1) and B (2), five known prenylated chromones (3-7), as well as five known biogenetically related prenylated flavonoids (8-12) were isolated and characterized from the stems and leaves of A. heterophyllus. Their chemical structures were unambiguously determined through comprehensive spectral data analyses. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Jun 23;259:127466. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Departamento de Ingeniería Geomática e Hidráulica, Universidad de Guanajuato, Av. Juárez 77, Zona Centro, 36000, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. Electronic address:

This work addresses the mineralization of the widely used Methyl Orange (MO) azo dye by technologies based on HO electrogeneration at a 3D-like air-diffusion cathode. These include two Fe-catalyzed processes such as electro-Fenton (EF) and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF). Bulk electrolyses were performed in a recirculation flow plant, in which the Eco-Cell filter-press electrochemical reactor was connected in series with a UVA photoreactor. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Jun 21;259:127410. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiotecnológicas - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INIAB-CONICET), Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC), Ruta 36, Km 601, X5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address:

Arsenic (As) can be present naturally in groundwater from peanut fields, constituting a serious problem, as roots can accumulate and mobilize the metalloid to their edible parts. Understanding the redox changes in the legume exposed to As may help to detect potential risks to human health and recognize tolerance mechanisms. Thirty-days old peanut plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 23;741:140440. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China. Electronic address:

Lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) contamination seriously threatens agricultural production and food safety. This study aims to investigate Pb and Cu induced hormetic effect and toxicity mechanisms in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and establish reliable empirical models of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) transfer in the soil-plant system. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 23;741:140422. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address:

Microorganisms are promising biosorbents for decontaminating cadmium-polluted soil or water systems, but the underlying remediation mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the cadmium biosorption mechanisms and capabilities of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 and Bacillus paranthracis NT1) were investigated. Batch biosorption experiments showed that the optimal biosorption conditions for B. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 19;741:140331. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1 Hairpin Dr., Edwardsville, IL 62026, United States of America. Electronic address:

Beta-blockers and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) enter the environment through the improper disposal of drugs in garbage, sinks, or toilets as well as via excretion after their intended use. Beta-blockers and SSRIs are resistant to biodegradation and highly water soluble, leading to limited removal capabilities by wastewater treatment plants. As a result, these compounds can easily enter the aquatic environment in a biologically active state, posing risks to the behavior, anatomy, and physiology of aquatic organisms through exposure. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 16;741:140199. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Information on the removal of antibiotics and ARGs in full-scale WWTPs (with or without additional treatment technology) is limited. However, it is important to understand the efficiency of full-scale treatment technologies in removing antibiotics and ARGs under a variety of conditions relevant for practice to reduce their environmental spreading. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the removal of antibiotics and ARGs in a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP A) and two full-scale combined with additional treatment technologies. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 16;741:140191. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address:

Nitrogen deposition in lake sediment is an important factor reflecting the evolution of lake environments. Over the past 150-200 years, lakes in China have been affected by natural factors and anthropogenic factors, and nitrogen deposition has increased. As a result, it is critical to reconstruct the spatiotemporal variation trend of nitrogen deposition and analyse the nitrogen source and driving factors. Read More

Curr Opin Plant Biol 2020 Jun 29;56:135-146. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA; Washington Research Foundation, Seattle, WA 98102, USA. Electronic address:

To recognize diverse threats, plants monitor extracellular molecular patterns and transduce intracellular immune signaling through receptor complexes at the plasma membrane. Pattern recognition occurs through a prototypical network of interacting proteins, comprising A) receptors that recognize inputs associated with a growing number of pest and pathogen classes (bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, caterpillars), B) co-receptor kinases that participate in binding and signaling, and C) cytoplasmic kinases that mediate first stages of immune output. While this framework has been elucidated in reference accessions of model organisms, network components are part of gene families with widespread variation, potentially tuning immunocompetence for specific contexts. Read More

Food Chem 2020 Jun 25;332:127406. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Plant Science, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Hot peppers are sensitive to low temperature, and seed browning significantly reduces the fruit quality. This study aims to clarify the mechanisms of seed browning in terms of metabolite changes. Metabolites were analysed during a 30-day-storage period at 2 °C and 10 °C. Read More

Environ Int 2020 Jun 29;143:105914. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Engineering of Water Protection and Environmental Microbiology, The Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1 Str., 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.

Drug-resistant and pathogenic Staphylococcus spp. strains can reach surface waters and air with wastewater evacuated to the environment. These strains increase the environmental pool of genetic determinants conferring antibiotic resistance and virulence, and constitute a health risk for the employees of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) who come into daily contact with bioaerosols. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020 Jun 24;189:113430. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Unit of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium; Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Bromatology and Human Nutrition, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium.

H-NMR-based metabolomics have been applied to identify potential NMR-markers and biomarkers capable of distinguishing, qualifying and classifying three Mentha species:- Mentha pulegium L., Mentha × rotundifolia (L.) Huds. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020 Jun 24;189:113441. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCM Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Amentoflavone, a kind of biflavonoid existing in several medicinal plants such as Selaginella moellendorfi and Gingko biloba, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-virus, anti-tumor activities. In the present study, a new reliable and sensitive UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed to determine the permeability of amentoflavone under different conditions, and its metabolites in Caco-2 cells were identified by means of UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method. The results showed that amentoflavone could be considered as a compound with moderate intestinal absorption in Caco-2 cell model and its absorption characteristics might be involved in paracellular passive penetration and clathrin-mediated endocytosis with no participation of efflux transporters. Read More

Microb Pathog 2020 Jun 29:104363. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Plant Pathology & Ecology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. Electronic address:

Erwinia amylovora is the causal agent of fire blight, a devastating disease of apples and pears. A previous study revealed that an E. amylovora uracil auxotroph was still virulent and can cause disease, suggesting that uracil can be obtained from the host environment. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2020 Jun 29:111538. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

AgroScience & Food Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170125, Ecuador; King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

Cigarette smoking has been associated with an increase in oxidative stress (OS) and is considered a predisposing factor to chronic noncommunicable diseases, whilst dietary antioxidants has been proposed as an alternative to cope with this oxidative stress. In this study, 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers were studied with the aim of determining their antioxidant status, as well as the ability of an infusion of 23 medicinal plants, to counteract the damage caused by OS. The plasma, red blood cells (RBCs) and polymorphonuclear cells (PBMCs) of both groups were incubated or not with the horchata infusion extract and then the OS markers, genotoxicity, nanostructure of RBCs membrane and genes related to oxidative responses and cellular functionality were evaluated. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, 46 Xinkang Road, Yaan 625014, China. Electronic address:

Tengjiao (Zanthoxylum armatum DC.) seed cold pressed oil cake (CPC), the main by-product of the cold-pressed oil process, is mainly used for animal feed or crop fertilizer, resulting in a great waste of resources. To improve the added value, the CPC polysaccharide (CPCP) was extracted and purified, and its antioxidant activity was studied. Read More

Pharmacol Ther 2020 Jun 29:107621. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Katz Centre for Pharmacy & Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada. Electronic address:

Cannabis is a plant with a long history of human pharmacological use, both for recreational purposes and as a medicinal remedy. Many potential modern medical applications for cannabis have been proposed and are currently under investigation. However, its rich chemical content implies many possible physiological actions. Read More

J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020 Jul 2:1-12. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.

In present work, we describe a methodology for prediction of an enzymatic reaction for which no experimental data are available except for a gene sequence. As a challenging case, we have developed the method for identifying the putative substrates of monoester phosphatases, commonly known as acid phosphatase enzymes, which have no strong substrate specificity. Finding a preferable substrate for each one is an important task to unravel pathways involved in plant phosphate metabolism. Read More

J Anim Sci 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.

Ubiquitin-like with plant homeodomain and really interesting new gene finger domains 1 (UHRF1) is a multi-domain nuclear protein that plays an important role in epigenetics and tumorigenesis, but its role in normal ovarian follicle development remains unknown. Thus, the present study evaluated if UHRF1 mRNA abundance in bovine follicular cells is developmentally and hormonally regulated, and if changes in UHRF1 are associated with changes in DNA methylation in follicular cells. Abundance of UHRF1 mRNA was greater in granulosa cells (GC) and theca cells (TC) from small (<6 mm) than large (≥8 mm) follicles, and was greater in small-follicle GC than TC. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235210. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Biology & Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America.

Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation alter the functional diversity of forests. Generalising the magnitude of change in functional diversity of fragmented landscapes and its drivers is challenging because of the multiple scales at which landscape fragmentation takes place. Here we propose a multi-scale approach to determine whether fragmentation processes at the local and landscape scales are reducing functional diversity of trees in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235556. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Biology, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran.

To gain a better insight into the selenium nanoparticle (nSe) benefits/toxicity, this experiment was carried out to address the behavior of bitter melon seedlings to nSe (0, 1, 4, 10, 30, and 50 mgL-1) or bulk form (selenate). Low doses of nSe increased biomass accumulation, while concentrations of 10 mgL-1 and above were associated with stem bending, impaired root meristem, and severe toxicity. Responses to nSe were distinct from that of bulk in that the nano-type exhibited a higher efficiency to stimulate growth and organogenesis than the bulk. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235565. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, Germany.

Powdery mildew is an important foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) caused by the biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235416. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng is an aromatic medicinal herb known for its therapeutic and nutritional properties attributed by the presence of monoterpene and sesquiterpene compounds. Up until now, research on terpenoid biosynthesis has focused on a few mint species with economic importance such as thyme and oregano, yet the terpene synthases responsible for monoterpene production in P. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235441. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America.

Although seagrasses are economically and ecologically critical species, little is known about their blade surface microbial communities and how these communities relate to the plant host. To determine microbial community composition and diversity on seagrass blade surfaces and in the surrounding seawater,16S rRNA gene sequencing (iTag) was used for samples collected at five sites along a gradient of freshwater input in the northern Gulf of Mexico on three separate sampling dates. Additionally, seagrass surveys were performed and environmental parameters were measured to characterize host characteristics and the abiotic conditions at each site. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0232811. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Soil Sciences Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In the present work, the olive mill solid waste (OMSW)-derived biochar (BC) was produced at various pyrolytic temperatures (300-700°C) and characterized to investigate its potential negative versus positive application effects on pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrients (P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) availability in a calcareous loamy sand soil. Therefore, a greenhouse pot experiment with maize (Zea mays L.) was conducted using treatments consisting of a control (CK), inorganic fertilizer of NPK (INF), and 1% and 3% (w/w) of OMSW-derived BCs. Read More

PLoS Comput Biol 2020 Jul 2;16(7):e1007823. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is a rapidly spreading viral disease that affects a major food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there are several proposed management interventions to minimize loss in infected fields. Field-scale data comparing the effectiveness of these interventions individually and in combination are limited and expensive to collect. Read More

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 Jul 3;69(26):841-846. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Descriptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States have focused primarily on hospitalized patients. Reports documenting exposures to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have generally been described within congregate settings, such as meat and poultry processing plants (1) and long-term care facilities (2). Understanding individual behaviors and demographic characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and risks for severe illness requiring hospitalization can inform efforts to reduce transmission. Read More

Z Naturforsch C J Biosci 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.

Tissue factor (TF) which plays a key role in hemostasis and thrombosis appears to be an attractive target and medicinal plants having alkaloids inhibition TF activity benefit to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of study is to explore further knowledge about alkaloids and TF. TF procoagulant activities were determined by the simplified chromogenic assay and their mRNA expression were then examined by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Read More

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, OK 73019, USA.

Strain B66 was isolated from a marine water sample collected at Al Ruwais, located on the northern tip of Qatar. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic and short- rod-shaped with a polar flagellum. The isolate was able to grow at 15-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5-11 (optimum, pH 6. Read More

Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Nandha College of Pharmacy, Koorapalayam Pirivu, Pitchandam Palayam Post, Erode, Tamil Nadu. India.

Natural products have a unique place in the healthcare industry. The genus Commiphora emerged as a potential medicinal with huge benefits as evidenced through its use in various traditional and modern systems of medicine. Therefore, we aimed to prepare a concise review on the pharmacological activities and the indigenous uses of various plant species belonging to the genus Commiphora along with the structural information of various active botanical ingredients present in these plants based on the published literatures and scientific reports. Read More

Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Guru Gobind Singh College of Pharmacy, Yamuna Nagar 135001, Haryana. India.

Background: Arnica montana containing helenalin as its principal active constituent, is the most widely used plant to treat various ailments. Recent studies indicate that Arnica and helenalin provides significant health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, immunomodulatory and most important, anticancer properties.

Objective: The objective of the present revie w is to overview the recent patents of Arnica and its principal constituent helenalin, including new methods of isolation, and their use in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. Read More

Nat Prod Res 2020 Jul 2:1-5. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Nucleus of Bioassays, Biosynthesis and Ecophysiology of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.

is traditionally used as anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal and has been investigated as potential sources of biologically active natural products. In this study, dereplication strategy using HPLC-SPE-TT, RP-HPLC-PDA and NMR spectroscopy was employed, and this resulted in the identification of sixteen compounds from the leaves extract of , including four triterpenes (lupeol, α-amirin, olean-18-ene acid and frideline), three flavonoids, eight phenolic acids, an anthocyanin derived from delphinidin-3-glycoside and a mixture of five acylated anthocyanins. The chemical identification was performed based on NMR data, chemosystematics aspects, UV spectra and by comparison with the retention time and UV spectra of authentic standards. Read More

J Agric Food Chem 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is highly susceptible to boron (B) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies, yet knowledge of how these two essential elements interact to contribute to plant growth and crop yield is limited. To this end, a pot experiment with three P application rates (5, 75 and 150 mg P2O5 kg-1 dry soil) and two B application rates (0. Read More

Anal Chem 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Annotation of untargeted high-resolution full-scan LC-MS metabolomics data remains challenging due to individual metabolites generating multiple LC-MS peaks arising from isotopes, adducts and fragments. Adduct annotation is a particular challenge, as the same mass difference between peaks can arise from adduct formation, fragmentation, or different biological species. To address this, here we describe a Buffer Modification Workflow (BMW), in which the same sample is run by LC-MS in both liquid chromatography solvent with 14NH3-acetate buffer, and in solvent with the buffer modified with 15NH3-formate. Read More

G Ital Med Lav Ergon 2020 Mar;42(1):5-10

Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.

Summary: Nanomaterials can revolutionize everyday products, but there are still many unanswered questions about the risks they may pose to human health and the environment. Inconsistent definitions and metrological issues are still of concern for manufacturers, importers and distributors who are demanded to comply with strict regulations. It is also likely that the increasing number of nanomaterial-containing products available on the market will vary the chemical and physical properties of the waste produced, which is currently treated in traditional plants without any particular differentiation. Read More

Glob Chang Biol 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

We assessed the response of soil microbial nitrogen (N) cycling and associated functional genes to elevated temperature at the global scale. A meta-analysis of 1,270 observations from 134 publications indicated that elevated temperature decreased soil microbial biomass N and increased N mineralization rates, both in the presence and absence of plants. These findings infer that elevated temperature drives microbially mediated N cycling processes from dominance by anabolic to catabolic reaction processes. Read More

J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2020 Jul 2:e22566. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey.

Tyrosinase enzyme is a functional oxidase that is extensively divided in nature. It is the main enzyme in melanin synthesis and is also involved in designating the color of mammalian hair and skin. Additionally, it is accountable for the unfavorable enzymatic browning that happens in plant-derived foods, limiting the shelf-life of new-cut crops with the resultant economic harm. Read More

Phytother Res 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Lipolysis is an essential physiological activity of adipocytes. The Patatin Like Phospholipase Domain Containing 2 (PNPLA2) gene encodes the enzyme adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) responsible for triglyceride hydrolysis, the first step in lipolysis. In this study, we investigated the potential of triptolide (TP), a natural plant extract, to induce weight loss by examining its effect on ATGL expression. Read More

Bioinformatics 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.

Summary: We have developed a rapid mixed model algorithm for exhaustive genome-wide epistatic association analysis by controlling multiple polygenic effects. Our model can simultaneously handle additive by additive epistasis, dominance by dominance epistasis and additive by dominance epistasis, and account for intrasubject fluctuations due to individuals with repeated records. Furthermore, we suggest a simple but efficient approximate algorithm, which allows examination of all pairwise interactions in a remarkably fast manner of linear with population size. Read More

FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

The genus Clostridium consists of a diverse group of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. The non-pathogenic clostridia contain several solventogenic members of industrial importance, such as Clostridium acetobutylicum or C. beijerinckii. Read More

Clin Ter 2020 Jul-Aug;171(4):e302-e303

Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome.

Forensic pathology is the scientific branch which, more than every other, today draws from new technologies inherent to other medical fields. In the last century history of forensic pathology has been characterized by a necessary conjunction between tradition and innovation, which primary achievement is finding the truth and scientific objectivity. During the past centuries several studies have enriched scientific forensic panorama, until the most recent introductions in radiological fields (3D post-mortal CT and MRI) and in the molecular biological one, with disclosure of miRNA. Read More

Genet Mol Biol 2020 ;43(2):e20190161

Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Genética e Biodiversidade (LGBio), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.

Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae) is a Neotropical tree species widely distributed in Brazilian Savannas. This species is very popular in central Brazil mainly by the use of its fruits in the local cuisine, and indeed it is one of the candidates, among Brazilian native plants, for fast track incorporation into cropping systems. Here we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of C. Read More

Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Centre for Marine Scince and Innovation, Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.

Contaminants may affect ecosystem functioning by reducing the fitness of organisms and these impacts may cascade through ecosystems, particularly if the sensitive organisms are also habitat-forming species. Understanding how sub-lethal effects of toxicants can affect the quality and functions of biogenic habitats is critical if we are to establish effective guidelines for protecting ecosystems. We carried out a global systematic review and meta-analysis critically evaluating contaminant effects on properties of habitat-formers linked to ecosystem functioning. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Background: Pesticide resistance is a growing issue worldwide, and susceptibility of pest populations should be monitored in migratory intersection regions for successful resistance management. We determined the susceptibility of eight noctuid species from the Florida Panhandle to bifenthrin (pyrethroid) and chlorantraniliprole (diamide). Larvae from field and laboratory populations were exposed to commercial insecticide formulations using the leaf-dip method in concentration-mortality bioassays. Read More

J Food Biochem 2020 Jul 2:e13344. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Food Science, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju, Republic of Korea.

Platycodon is a ubiquitous plant widely grown in Asia. This study investigated changes in odor/aroma associated sensory attributes and chemical properties in Platycodon grandiflorum roots upon roasting. Amino acid analysis, electronic tongue analysis, chemical property analysis, volatile compound analysis, GC-olfactometry-assisted sensory attributes, and electronic nose analysis were performed. Read More

J Food Biochem 2020 Jul 2:e13359. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.

Chrysin (CR) is a flavone found in propolis and many plants. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria that causes sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CR on LPS-induced sepsis in rats. Read More

Epilepsia 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

In January 2019, a new plant-derived purified cannabidiol preparation, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, became commercially available for patients ≥2 years old with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome. Among our patients who were prescribed the new cannabidiol formulation, we observed several cases of thrombocytopenia and therefore embarked on this study. We conducted a single-center systematic chart review of all pediatric patients (<21 years old) who were prescribed cannabidiol from January to August 2019. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Dermatology. Hospital, Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.