Determination of the available energy values and amino acid digestibility of Flammulina velutipes stem waste and its effects on carcass trait and meat quality fed to growing-finishing pigs

Background:Flammulina velutipes stem waste(FVS)is the by-product of mushroom industry.The objectives of this study were to determine the available energy and amino acid digestibility of FVS fed to pigs,and to evaluate the effects of dietary FVS inclusion on growth performance,biochemical profile of serum,fecal short chain fatty acid(SCFA)concentration,carcass traits,meat quality,intestinal morphology and microflora of pigs.In Exp.1,twelve crossbred barrows with initial body weight(IBW)of 37.48±4.31 kg were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments,including a corn basal diet and an experimental diet containing 24.35%FVS.In Exp.2,twelve barrows fitted with an ileal T-cannula(IBW:32.56±1.67 kg)were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments,which included a N-free diet and an experimental diet containing 40.0%FVS.In Exp.3,ninety growing pigs(IBW:63.98±6.89 kg)were allotted to 1 of 3 treatment diets for 63 d,including a basal diet and 2 experimental diets with 2.5%and 5%FVS,respectively.Results:The digestible energy(DE)and metabolizable energy(ME)of FVS were 4.58 and 4.06 MJ/kg on dry matter basis,respectively,and the standardized ileal digestibility(SID)of indispensable AAs ranged from 17.50%to 59.47%.Pigs fed diets with 2.5%FVS showed no difference on average daily gain(ADG)and gain to feed ratio(G/F).Although dietary 5%FVS inclusion impaired apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of organic matter and gross energy,it elevated the SCFA concentration(P≤0.04)in gut and antioxidant capacity in serum.In addition,dietary FVS inclusion depressed the backfat thickness(P=0.03)in pigs.The longissimus dorsi muscle of pigs fed FVS revealed higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration and optimized fatty acid composition.Dietary 2.5%FVS inclusion also improved the intestinal development and health by increasing the villius height to crypt depth ratio(V/C)in jejunum(P<0.01),and promoting microbial diversity and beneficial microbiota proliferation.Conclusions:It is feasible to include moderate content of FVS as an unconventional fiber ingredient in diet of growingfinishing pigs.

Effect of Notoginsenoside-Rg_1 on the Expression of Several Proteins in the Striatum of Rat Models with Parkinson′s Disease

After establishing hemi-Parkinsonian rat models, the relationships between neuron death and the expression of several proteins, such as c-Fos, GFAP, GDNF, NF-κB and some cytokines were determined. Therapeutics experiments with notoginsenoside-Rg1 were carried out. The research results show that the expressions of GFAP, NF-Kκ and c-Fos will obviously increase in the lesion side of the striatum and the expression of GDNF will decrease, which implies that the signal transduction pathway may participate in the apoptosis in neurons. The levels of some cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β in the striatum of PD rat models increased compared to those of normal rats. The results of the therapeutics experiments show that notoginsenoside-Rg1 may repress the immune inflammation response and regulate the immune function through the neuro-immune molecular network. Therefore, notoginsenoside-Rg1 can be used as an effective drug for anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, and can be used in the therapy of Parkinson＇s disease（PD）.

网柄菌的三个中国新记录种(英文)

Three new Chinese records of dictyostelids were isolated from forest soils in Liaoning and Jilin Province. They are Polysphondylium tikaliense, P. candidum and Dictyostelium aureo-stipes. Descriptions of the three species are given based on Chinese materials.

Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic resolution of the genus Annulohypoxylon(Xylariaceae)including four new species

This study deals with an extensive evaluation focusing on phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic infrageneric relationships of the genus Annulohypoxylon(Xylariaceae,Ascomycota),whose species are ubiquitously associated with seed plants as endophytes and saprotrophs in all forested areas of the world.Using evidence from phylogenetic,chemotaxonomic and morphological data,various varieties within the genus are raised to species level,leading to the new combinations for A.areolatum(:A.bovei var.microsporum),A.macrosporum(:A.leptascum var.macrosporum),and A.microdiscum(:A.moriforme var.microdiscum).Annulohypoxylon substygium nom.nov.is applied for A.stygium var.annulatumand the four new tropical and subtropical species A.massivum,A.violaceopigmentum,A.viridistratum and A.yungensis are introduced.Furthermore,A.leucadendri is excluded from the genus as its morphological characters disagree with the generic concept,the recently erected A.palmicola is synonymized with A.leptascum and A.austrobahiense has been reassigned to the genus Hypoxylon.In addition,the key taxa A.annulatum and A.truncatum have been reinvestigated and epitypes have been defined.For the first time,a dichotomous key to the genus is provided.A phylogenetic b-tubulin tree in conjunction with stromatal HPLC profiles clearly shows that Annulohypoxylon comprises two distinct lineages.The A.cohaerens/multiforme group might eventually warrant segregation into a new genus as further molecular data become available.

Acute and Sub-chronic Toxicity of Tetrandrine in Intravenously Exposed Female BALB/c Mice

Objective： To evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of intravenously administered tetrandrine（TET） in female BALB/c mice. Methods： The median lethal dose（LD_（50）） of intravenously administered TET was calculated in mice using Dixon＇s up-and-down method. In the acute toxicity study, mice were intravenously administered with TET at a single dose of 20, 100, 180, 260 and 340 mg/kg, respectively and were evaluated at 14 days after administration. In the sub-acute toxicity study, mice were intravenously administered various doses of TET（30, 90 and 150 mg/kg） each day for 14 consecutive days. Clinical symptoms, mortality, body weight, serum biochemistry, organ weight and histopathology were examined at the end of the experiment, as well as after a 1-week recovery period. Result： LD_（50） was found to be 444.67±35.76 mg/kg. In the acute toxicity study, no statistically significant differences in body weight, blood biochemistry, or organ histology were observed between the administration and control groups when mice were intravenously administered with single dose at 20, 100, 180, 260 and 340 mg/kg of TET（P〉0.05）. In the sub-acute toxicity study, no significant changes in body weight, biochemistry and organ histology were observed with up to 90 mg/kg of TET compared with the control group（P〉0.05）, however, in the 150 mg/kg administered group, TET induced transient toxicity to liver, lungs and kidneys, but withdrawal of TET can lead to reversal of the pathological conditions. Conclusions： The overall findings of this study indicate that TET is relatively non-toxic from a single dose of 20, 100, 180, 260 or 340 mg/kg, and that up to 90 mg/kg daily for 14 consecutive days can be considered a safe application dose.

Alcohol dehydrogenase I expression correlates with CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1 expression in Candida albicans from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis

Background The most critical mechanism governing drug resistance in Candida albicans （C. albicans） involves efflux pumps, the functionality of which largely depends on energy metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase I （ADH1） plays an important role in intracellular energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between ADH1 and drug resistance in C. albicans. Methods Twenty clinical C. albicans samples isolated from individual patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis, and two C. albicans strains obtained from a single parental source （the fluconazole （FLC）-sensitive strain CA-1s and the FLC-resistant strain CA-16R） were included in our study. In accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute （CLSI） M27-A3 guidelines, we used the microdilution method to examine the FLC minimum inhibitory concentrations （MICs） and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） to measure the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 and the azole resistance genes CDR1, CDR2, MDR1, FLU1 and ERG11 in all the isolates. Results A highly significant positive correlation between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and the MICs （r =0.921, P=0.000）, as well as positive correlations between the mRNA level of ADH1 and those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1 （rs of 0.704, 0.772 and 0.779, respectively, P 〈0.01）, were observed in the 20 clinical C. albicans samples. The relative expression of ADH1 was upregulated 10.63- to 17.61-fold in all of the drug-resistant isolates. No correlations were found between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and those of MDR1 or ERG11 （P 〉0.05）. The mRNA levels of the examined drug resistance genes were higher in the CA-16R strain than in CA-1s, and the mRNA levels of ADH1 in CA-16R were 11.64-fold higher than those in CA-1s （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions These results suggest that high levels of ADH1 transcription are implicated in FLC resistance in C. albicans and that the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 are positively correlated with those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Graphostromataceae,Hypoxylaceae,Lopadostomataceae and Xylariaceae

Species and generic recognition in the order Xylariales has been uncertain due to lack of molecular data from authentic cultures,as well as overlapping morphological characteristics.In this study,we revise the families Graphostromataceae,Hypoxylaceae,Lopadostomataceae and Xylariaceae in Xylariales.Our study is based on DNA sequence data derived from living cultures of fresh isolates,data from GenBank and morphological observation of type and worldwide herbarium specimens.We also collected new specimens from Germany,Italy and Thailand.Combined analyses of ITS,LSU,RPB2 and b-tubulin sequence data were used to reconstruct the molecular phylogeny of the above families.Generic and familiar boundaries between these families are revised and presented in an updated combined phylogenetic tree.We accept six genera in Graphostromataceae,19 genera in Hypoxylaceae,four in Lopadostomataceae and 37 genera in Xylariaceae.Five genera previously treated in Xylariaceae are placed in Amphisphaeriales genera incertae sedis and seven genera are placed in Xylariales genera incertae sedis.Two genera are placed in Sordariomycetes genera incertae sedis,while four genera are placed as Xylariomycetidae genera incertae sedis.Three genera are considered as doubtful.Barrmaelia and Cannonia,presently included in Xylariaceae are transferred to Diatrypaceae and Coniochaetales respectively,based on their morphology and phylogeny.Areolospora and Myconeesia are excluded from Xylariaceae and synonymized with Phaeosporis and Anthostomella respectively.Updated descriptions and illustrations are provided for all taxa with notes provided on each genus.Excluded and doubtful genera are listed with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny.Taxonomic keys are provided for all revised families with morphological details for genera within the families.

Lenormandins A—G,new azaphilones from Hypoxylon lenormandii and Hypoxylon jaklitschii sp.nov.,recognised by chemotaxonomic data

Seven new azaphilone pigments named lenormandins A–G were isolated from stromata(fruiting bodies)of the xylariaceous fungus,Hypoxylon lenormandii using preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy,high resolution mass spectrometry and other spectral methods.Their occurrence in herbarium specimens(including various type materials collected in the 19th and early 20th century)and several fresh collections was studied by analytical HPLC with diode array and mass spectrometric detection(HPLC-DAD/MS),revealing that this group of pigments is specific for Hypoxylon lenormandii from various geographic regions and otherwise only occurs in closely related taxa,i.e.H.sublenormandii and an undescribed fungus from Sri Lanka,for which we propose the name H.jaklitschii.The status of the new species was established by using molecular phylogenetic data based on ITS and partial beta-tubulin sequences,and by detailed morphological studies.

The genus Phylloporus (Boletaceae, Boletales) from China: morphological and multilocus DNA sequence analyses

Species of the genus Phylloporus in China were investigated based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis of a three-locus(nrLSU,ITS and tef-1a)DNA sequence dataset.Twenty-one phylogenetic species were recognized among the studied collections.Seven of them are described as new:P.brunneiceps,P.imbricatus,P.maculatus,P.pachycystidiatus,P.rubeolus,P.rubrosquamosus,and P.yunnanensis.In addition,four of them correspond with the previous morphology-based taxa:P.bellus,P.luxiensis,P.parvisporus,and P.rufescens.The remaining ten phylogenetic species were not described due to the paucity of the materials.A key to the Chinese morphologically recognizable taxa was provided.A preliminary biogeographical analysis showed that(1)Pylloporus species in East Asia and Southeast Asia are mostly closely related,(2)species pairs or closely related species of Phylloporus between East Asia and North/Central America are relatively common,and(3)the biogeographic relationship of Phylloporus between East Asia and Europe was supported by only a single species pair.Unexpectedly,no taxa common either to both Europe and East Asia,or to both East Asia and North/Central America,were uncovered.Clades look to have taxa from both sides of the Pacific and Europe/Asia though.