Serum adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in apparently healthy subjects

Adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a cytoplasmic protein that is expressed in adipocytes and is closely associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationship between A-FABP as a surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in apparently healthy subjects. We assessed clinical and biochemical metabolic parameters and measured serum levels of A-FABP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 494 subjects who were divided into two groups according to the presence of NAFLD by abdominal ultrasonography. All parameters associated with metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (P<.001). A-FABP showed positive correlation with TNF-α, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and metabolic syndrome (P<.001) when adjusted for age and sex. The odds ratio for the risk of NAFLD in the highest tertile of A-FABP compared with the lowest tertile was 7.36 (CI 3.80-14.27, P<.001) after adjustment for age and sex; 4.52 (CI 2.22-9.20, P<.001) after adjustment for age, sex, HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome and 2.86 (CI 1.11-7.35, P<.05) after further adjustment for all metabolic parameters including TNF-α. The serum level of A-FABP was independently associated with NAFLD and showed significant correlation with TNF-α, HOMA-IR, and metabolic syndrome.     

n-butanol fraction of Uncaria rhynchophylla induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cancer cells through activation of PARP

The ability of water and ethanolic extracts isolated of Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) to function as an anticancer agents was studied using HepG2 cells. The ethanolic UR extract was further fractionatedwith hexane, chloroform (CHCl₃), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water, and these fractions were subsequently investigated for anticancer activity. Among the fractions, the n-BuOH fraction induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, when determined by cell cycle analysis, Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, and Hoechst 33342 staining. Moreover, the n-BuOH fraction induced apoptotic cell death by modulating the expression of caspase-7, caspase-8, and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). These results indicated that the n-BuOH fraction from UR has strong anticancer activity in HepG2 cells and causes an upregulation of apoptotic proteins through the activation of PARP.     

First record of the family Heloridae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea) from Korea

As part of an ongoing study of the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, the family Heloridae Förster is recorded for the first time from Korea, based on the two species, Helorus anomalipes (Panzer) and H. ruficornis Förster. A species key to Korean Heloridae, diagnosis and digital images are provided.     

Characteristics and habitats of non-native plant species in the city of Chonju,southern Korea

Investigations on non-native organisms have become an important task of modern ecology throughout the world. The major objective of this study was to identify the characteristics and habitats of non-native plant species in Korean cities in order to derive conclusions on the success of biological invaders. The city of Chonju in southwest Korea was selected as a representative investigation area. All wild-growing vascular plants were recorded in the city on a total of 106 sample plots located in representative land-use types and within various distances of the city center. Frequency, origin, life forms, and plant families of non-native species were analyzed. Additionally, the percentage of non-native species along a gradient from the city center to the outskirts was investigated. We found that most common non-native species of the flora of Chonju are: (i) native to the Northern hemisphere; (ii) belong to the annuals; (iii) belong to the plant families of the Compositae or Leguminosae; and (iv) they perform best on sites that are continuously disturbed by human impact. In conclusion, non-native species play a significant role in enhancing biological diversity in urban areas.     

Enhancement of milk protein expression in mammary epithelial cells <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> co-culturing with preadipocyte cells

Mammary gland development is critically dependent on the interactions between its stromal and epithelial compartments. In this study, we established a co-culture of bovine mammary epithelial Mac-T cells and murine preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells. Mac-T cells were co-cultured with 3T3-L1 cells for four days and production of milk proteins was induced for three days. After seven days of co-culturing, the number of alveolar-like colonies in the presence of 3T3-L1 cells was significantly higher than that in control group. Expression levels of αS1-casein and β-casein mRNAs were significantlyincreased by co-culturing with 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, casein protein production was significantly higher in the co-culture of Mac-T cells with 3T3-L1 cells than in control Mac-T cells. Substances that induced casein production in Mac-T cells also stimulated adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. We suggest that a co-culture system of bovine mammary epithelial cells and preadipocyte cells is an efficient method for in vitro milk protein production.     

Systematics of the genus Cidaria Treitschke (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae)

The genus Cidaria Treitschke is revised. Eight species of the genus which occur widely in the Palaearctic and northern India, are recognized, of which one, Cidaria luteata sp. nov. , is described as new while two subspecies of C. fulvata (Forster) are elevated to species, C. nugata Felder stat. rev., and C. distinctata Staudinger stat. nov. C. ochripennis Prout is proposed as a junior synonym of C. ochreata Staudinger. C. deletaria Hampson is excluded from the genus. All species of Cidaria and their genitalia are described and illustrated. The cladistic analysis of these eight species of Cidaria is carried out using two data matrices, the first comprising morphological characters alone and the second morphological and distributional characters. The most parsimonious cladogram of Cidaria is selected, and its monophyly defined. The character analysis shows that some distribution characters contribute to resolving the in group node. The choice of multiple trees is discussed.     

澳门翼手类物种多样性调查

2009 ～2012 年,对澳门翼手目(蝙蝠)物种多样性进行了调查。结果共捕捉到10 个物种,属5 科8 属,其中包括澳门原来记载的2 个物种,即蹄蝠科的大蹄蝠(Hipposideros armiger)和蝙蝠科的东亚伏翼(Pipistrellus abramus);本研究新增加8 个物种,即狐蝠科的犬蝠(Cynopterus sphinx) 和棕果蝠(Rousettus leschenaulti),鞘尾蝠科的黑髯墓蝠(Taphozous melanopogon),菊头蝠科的菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pusillus),以及蝙蝠科的大足鼠耳蝠(Myotis ricketti)、普通伏翼(P. pipistrellus)、普通长翼蝠(Miniopterus schreibersi) 和南长翼蝠(M. pusillus)。另外,通过野外录音和分析,并与已发表物种声音特征比较核对,发现菊头蝠科和蹄蝠科各一种,前者可能是泰国菊头蝠(R. siamensis)或者中菊头蝠(R. affinis),后者可能是果树蹄蝠(H. pomona) 或者三叶蹄蝠(Aselliscus stoliczkanus)。本文对已捕捉10 种蝙蝠的分布、形态特征和回声定位叫声特征进行报道,同时对其种群数量和保护现状进行了讨论。保护蝙蝠栖息生境(洞穴、古老建筑和蒲葵树等) 对保护澳门蝙蝠物种多样性至关重要。