Alkaloids of Strychnos rubiginosa

A new corynantheine-type alkaloid, strychnorubigine, was identified from root bark of Strychnos rubiginosa D.C. 11-Methoxydiaboline and normacusine B were also isolated and the ¹³C NMR spectral data of their O-acetyl derivatives are reported.     

Meta-analysis of effects and side effects of low dosage tricyclic antidepressants in depression: systematic review

ObjectiveTo compare the effects and side effects of low dosage tricyclic antidepressants with placebo and with standard dosage tricyclics in acute phase treatment of depression.DesignSystematic review of randomised trials comparing low dosage tricyclics (⩽100 mg/day) with placebo or with standard dosage tricyclics in adults with depression.Results35 studies (2013 participants) compared low dosage tricyclics with placebo, and six studies (551 participants) compared low dosage tricyclics with standard dosage tricyclics. Low dosage tricyclics, mostly between 75 and 100 mg/day, were 1.65 (95% confidence interval 1.36 to 2.0) and 1.47 (1.12 to 1.94) times more likely than placebo to bring about response at 4 weeks and 6-8 weeks, respectively. Standard dosage tricyclics failed, however, to bring about more response but produced more dropouts due to side effects than low dosage tricyclics.ConclusionsTreatment of depression in adults with low dose tricyclics is justified. However, more rigorous studies are needed to definitively establish the relative benefits and harms of various dosages.

What is already known on this topic

Tricyclics are still prescribed as often as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other newer antidepressants worldwideExperts have often claimed that clinicians prescribe tricyclics at less than adequate dosages

What this study adds

Tricyclics at dosages below the recommended range are more effective than placeboThey may or may not be as effective as standard dosage tricyclics but result in fewer dropouts due to side effectsThe minimum effective dosage and ranges for antidepressants has not been established—a simple set of numbers that every practising doctor and patient would want to know     

Current knowledge of Umbrian macrofungi (central Italy)

An annotated checklist of 1016 species of fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), which have been recorded in 95 different localities, from 1990 to 2015, is presented for Umbria (Italy). The checklist was compiled from records of Umbrian fungi in scientific publications, unpublished lists and personal observations. This work represents the first comprehensive checklist of macrofungi for Umbria. Even if not complete, an exhaustive overview of the current knowledge of the mycobiota of Umbria is presented. Although a large amount of the regional territory has still to be explored for mycological diversity, this study offers an important support in compiling red-lists of endangered macrofungi, as well as to identify indicator species of particular habitats to be considered for wildlife reserves, as is currently done in many European countries.     

Rapid detection of bacteria in bloodstream infections using a molecular method: a pilot study with a neonatal diagnostic kit

Molecular Biology Reports - Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening condition and its early diagnosis is crucial for infant survival. Identifying responsible pathogens is a key step. Blood culture...     

Stigma and style anatomy and ultrastructure in Italian Oxalis pes-caprae L. and their possible connection with self-incompatibility

The South-African Oxalis pes-caprae with trimorphic flowers is naturalised in many Mediterranean countries. In Italy only short-styled (S) populations are known for certain and the plant is believed to reproduce only asexually, due to self- and intramorph-incompatibility. This study aims to clarify anatomical, biochemical and ultrastructural features of the stigma and style of an Italian S population, also to define their possible role in incompatibility. Additional observations were also carried out on other Italian population and on short-, long- (L) and mid-styled (M) flowers from plants of South African origin. Morphological and biochemical features of flowers collected in different phenological stages during the whole flowering season were observed both under LM and TEM. In S flowers, three different zones could be distinguished in each stigma-style complex: zone I (stigmatic), zone II (substigmatic), zone III (stylar). The main differences concern the transmitting tissue: in zones I and III this is composed of loosely arranged cells with thick walls, with an abundant soft matrix which at anthesis is rich in mucopolysaccharides and lacks pectins. In zone II, it is more compact, with a less abundant wall matrix, at anthesis containing both mucopolysaccharides and pectins. In S flowers, subjected to illegitimate pollination, many pollen tubes penetrate the stigmatic papillae but apparently are arrested in zone II; only few—and mostly at the end of flowering period—succeed reaching zone III, where they encounter no further resistance to growth. Differently, after legitimate pollinations, pollen tubes succeed in crossing transmitting tissue of zone II, where cell walls of cells lying close to pollen tubes show a considerably reduced pectin content. In L and M flowers of South African origin, no peculiar transmitting tissue could be noticed in the substigmatic zone. In such flowers, pollen tubes seemingly grow easily from stigma to style both after legitimate and illegitimate pollinations. Results suggest that in S flowers the rigid transmitting tissue in zone II acts as a mechanical barrier for illegitimate pollen tubes, as the spaces between cells are narrower than the tube diameter and pectins maintain the rigidity of the cell walls, preventing cells from separating from one another. This obstacle can be overcome by legitimate pollen tubes, which make their way between cells, possibly releasing or activating specific pectinases. However, the blocking of illegitimate tubes is not absolute: a few of such tubes grow beyond zone II and reach the ovules, so that occasional fertilisation and embryo formation can be observed. In M and L flowers, different self-incompatibility mechanisms can be hypothesised.