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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant global health challenge. While the incidence of breast TB (BTB) is relatively low, it can easily be mistaken for breast cancer or breast granulomatous lobulitis, potentially delaying timely intervention. The gold standard for diagnosis consists of Mycobacterium TB culture and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Treatment typically consists of a combination of anti-TB therapy and surgical intervention., Case Description: Our research group recently reported a case of BTB accompanied by rib bone destruction. Initially, imaging examinations suggested breast cancer with bone metastasis. However, subsequent real-time ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed chronic inflammation with granulomatous inflammation and extensive necrosis, which led to the diagnosis of BTB. Further T cells spot test (T-SPOT) testing predicted the likelihood of the presence of TB infection, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated a high likelihood of TB. A biopsy of the breast lesions was performed and subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the aspirated specimens confirmed the presence of DNA from the Mycobacterium TB complex, as well as genes associated with rifampicin resistance. These findings led to the definitive diagnosis of BTB complicated by bone destruction. The patient underwent a 4-month course of anti-TB medication, followed by surgical intervention and an additional regimen of anti-TB drugs. Nine months post-surgery, the patient exhibited no indications of recurrence., Conclusions: The diagnosis of BTB with bone destruction is challenging, and clinicians need to be vigilant not to misdiagnose it as breast cancer or granulomatous lobulitis., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://gs.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/gs-24-185/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

The male of the little-known species Aulaconotus incorrugatus Gressitt, 1939 is reported for the first time, and its male genitalia compared with the most similar congener, A. semiaulaconotus (Hayashi, 1974). A few new provincial records for A. incorrugatus are given. A new species closely related to the above taxa, A. yangi Bi & Lin sp. nov., is described from southeastern China. Illustrations of the habitus and major diagnostic characters, including endophallic structure, of these three species are provided.

The genus Mecynippus Bates, 1884 is investigated and considered a monotypic genus. Falsomecynippus Bi, Chen & Lin, gen. nov., is established for Monohammus ciliatus Gahan, 1888 which was previously placed in Mecynippus. One new subgenus is described based on Falsomecynippus (Tuberculhammus) superbus Bi, Chen & Lin, subgen. nov. & sp. nov. from China and Laos. Illustrations of the habitus, endophallic structures, and major diagnostic features for all involved taxa are provided.

The diversity of the genus Anoplophora Hope, 1839 of Nanling Priority Area for Biodiversity Conservation is surveyed, with the discovery of one new species, A. xuei Lin & Wen, sp. nov. This species is described from Guangxi and Guizhou, China. Illustrations of the habitus and male genitalia of A. xuei Lin & Wen, sp. nov. and the similar A. leechi (Gahan) are provided. Additional locality data for A. leechi is provided.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequently occurring type of head and neck cancer with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Rhopaloic acid A (RA), a terpenoid derived from sponges, has demonstrated a promising anti-tumor activity, but its effectiveness for treating OSCC remains unknown., Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether RA inhibits the growth of OSCC., Methods: Cell viability was evaluated using CCK-8 assays in OSCC cells (Ca9-22, HSC-3 and SAS) and in normal cells (HGF-1) treated with RA. DAPI staining, AO staining, JC-1 staining and immunofluorescence were used to determine apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential and autophagy in RA-treated OSCC cells. Protein expression levels were determined by western blotting. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effect of RA was confirmed in vivo using a zebrafish oral cancer xenotransplantation model., Results: OSCC cells had a significantly reduced viability after RA treatment, but normal cells were not affected. Treatment with RA caused chromatin condensation in OSCC cells, which increased their expression of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, RA caused mitochondrial damage and increased autophagosome formation. Mitophagy was also induced by RA through the JNK/BNIP3/Nix/LC3B pathway. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 prevented both RA-mediated cell death and mitophagy of OSCC cells. A zebrafish xenograft model demonstrated that RA inhibits OSCC growth., Conclusion: In conclusion, RA showed a potent anticancer activity in in vitro and in in vivo oral cancer models by promoting mitochondrial damage-induced apoptosis and mitophagy, which suggests that RA may be useful as a novel and effective treatment for OSCC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Microglia in the central nervous system regulate neuroinflammation that leads to a wide range of neuropathological alterations. The present study investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of nobiletin (Nob) derivative, 5-acetoxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (5-Ac-Nob), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV2 microglia., Materials and Methods: By using the MTT assay, Griess method, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we determined the cell viability, the levels of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin 1 beta; IL-1β, interleukin 6; IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha; TNF-α and prostaglandin E2; PGE2) in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were measured by western blotting. Analysis of NO generation and mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokines was confirmed in the zebrafish model., Results: 5-Ac-Nob reduced cell death, the levels of NO, ROS, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and pro-inflammatory factors in LPS-activated BV-2 microglial cells. TLR4-mediated MyD88/NF-κB and MAPK pathway (p38, ERK and JNK) after exposure to 5-Ac-Nob was also suppressed. Moreover, 5-Ac-Nob inhibited phosphorylated STAT3 proteins expression in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that 5-Ac-Nob decreased LPS-induced NO generation and mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the zebrafish model., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that 5-Ac-Nob represses neuroinflammatory responses by inhibiting TLR4-mediated signaling pathway and STAT3. As a result of these findings, 5-Ac-Nob has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent against microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory disorders.

The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology is that they enable unambiguous scientific communication. However, the stability of these systems is threatened by recent discussions asking for a fairer nomenclature, raising the possibility of bulk revision processes for "inappropriate" names. It is evident that such proposals come from very deep feelings, but we show how they can irreparably damage the foundation of biological communication and, in turn, the sciences that depend on it. There are four essential consequences of objective codes of nomenclature: universality, stability, neutrality, and transculturality. These codes provide fair and impartial guides to the principles governing biological nomenclature and allow unambiguous universal communication in biology. Accordingly, no subjective proposals should be allowed to undermine them., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.)

Marine antimicrobial peptides have been demonstrated in numerous studies to possess anti-cancer properties. This research investigation aimed to explore the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of Tilapia piscidin 4 (TP4), an antimicrobial peptide, in human bladder cancer. TP4 exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on the proliferation of bladder cancer cells through cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Additionally, TP4 upregulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, leading to the activation of apoptotic pathways in bladder cancer cells. TP4 exhibit a marked rise in mitochondria reactive oxygen species, leading to the subsequent loss of potential for the mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, the inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation resulted in a decrease in downstream ATP production. Meanwhile, TP4-treated bladder cancer cells showed an increase in Bax and ERK but a decrease in SIRT1, PGC-1α, and Bcl2. ERK activation, SIRT1/PGC-1α-axis, and TP4-induced apoptosis were all significantly reversed by the ERK inhibitor SCH772984. Finally, the inhibitory effect of TP4 on tumor growth has been confirmed in a zebrafish bladder cancer xenotransplantation model. These findings suggest that TP4 may be a potential agents for human bladder cancer through apoptosis induction, ERK activation, and the promotion of SIRT1-mediated signaling pathways., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The genera Echinovelleda Breuning, 1936 and Propedicellus Huang, Huang & Liu, 2020 are revised. The latterisconsideredto be ajunior synonym of theformer based on a comprehensive morphological investigation, especially on the characteristics of male endophallus. Two new species are described from China, viz. Echinovelleda mumuae Bi & Mu sp. nov. from Yunnan and Guangxi, and E. protochinensis Bi & Lin sp. nov. from Yunnan and Sichuan. New records are reported for previously described taxa including one new country record of a morphologically similar genus, Hechinoschema Thomson, 1857 from China. Illustrations of habitus, endophallic structure, major diagnostic features for all studied taxa, as well as a distributional map are provided.

An article published by Gressitt (1941) has been ignored by all longicornists, including Gressitt himself. However, according to ICZN, it meets all criteria as an official publication, and this status affects three taxa that were formally described therein: Bacchisa (Bacchisa) rigida (Gressitt, 1941) = Chreonomarigida Gressitt, 1941 = Chreonomarigida Gressitt, 1942 homonym and syn. nov. ; Tetraophthalmussikang (Gressitt, 1941) = Chreonomasikang Gressitt, 1941 = Chreonomasikanga Gressitt, 1942, syn. nov. ; Anastathesparvahainana Gressitt, 1941 = Anastathesparvahainana Gressitt, 1942, homonym and syn. nov., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Oral cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of oral cancer, but its clinical efficacy is limited by drug resistance. Hence, novel compounds capable of overcoming drug-resistance are urgently needed., Purpose: Plumbagin (PG), a natural compound isolated from Plumbago zeylanica L, has been used to treat various cancers. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of PG on drug-resistant oral cancer (CR-SAS) cells, as well as the underlying mechanism., Methods: MTT assays were used to evaluate the effect of PG on the viability of CR-SAS cells. Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the cells were determined using flow cytometry. Protein expression levels were detected by western blotting., Results: The results show that PG reduces the viability and causes the apoptosis of CR-SAS cells. PG is able to induce intracellular and mitochondrial ROS generation that leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was triggered in PG-treated CR-SAS cells. The inhibition of ROS using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) abrogated the PG-induced ER stress and apoptosis, as well as the reduction in cell viability. Meanwhile, similar results were observed both in zebrafish and in murine models of drug-resistant oral cancer., Conclusion: Our results indicate that PG induces the apoptosis of CR-SAS cells via the ROS-mediated ER stress pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction. It will be interesting to develop the natural compound PG for the treatment of drug-resistant oral cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

A new species Clyzomedus pani sp. nov. is described from Beijing, Shaanxi, Henan and Anhui, China. Quercus acutissima Carruth (Fagaceae) is the possible host plant. Images of habitus, external morphology and genitalia are provided. It is one of the currently discovered new species from Capital of China, since for the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of Beijing.

The family Disteniidae is a moderately large and widely distributed lineage. Distenia punctulatoides belongs to the family Disteniidae from the cerambycoid assemblage. Here, we report the complete mitogenome of D. punctulatoides, which is 15,675 bp in length. It contains 37 genes and a noncoding control region, which are arranged in the same order as that of the putative ancestor of beetles. The total base composition of the new mitogenome is 40.2% for A, 17.1% for C, 10.0% for G, and 32.7% for T. The new mitogenomic organization, nucleotide composition, and codon usage do not differ significantly from other beetles. Using available complete mitogenomes, the high-level phylogeny of the family Disteniidae was explored. The phylogenetic analyses showed that Disteniidae were monophyletic, and the genus Distenia grouped with the genus Clytomelegena as sister groups. Combining the morphological and molecular data, Typodryas Thomson, 1864 is suggested to be a junior synonym of Distenia Lepeletier and Audinet-Serville, 1828., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Trichodermin (TCD), a trichothecene first isolated from marine Trichoderma viride, is an inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis. However, the potential effects of TCD on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, the exposure of OSCC cells (Ca922 and HSC-3 cells) to TCD suppressed cell proliferation assessed using MTT assays and colony formation assays. TCD inhibited the migration and invasion of OSCC cells (Ca922 and HSC-3 cells) through the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9. After treatment of OSCC cells with TCD, the G2/M phase was arrested, caspase-related apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 and PARP expression) was induced, and the protein level of x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis was reduced. Meanwhile, the TCD-induced cell death was reversed by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Furthermore, TCD diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic function in OSCC cells. In addition, TCD decreased the levels of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) and downstream signaling proteins, including phosphorylated STAT3 and NF-κB. Finally, TCD significantly suppressed tumor growth in a zebrafish OSCC xenotransplantation model. Overall, this evidence demonstrates that TCD is a novel promising strategy for the treatment of OSCCs., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

A new species, Cylindroeme yunnanensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province of China. Cylindroeme vietnamica Vives, 2019 is recorded from China for the first time. A key to the species of Cylindroeme is provided.

A new species, Anaches m-signatus sp. nov. is described from Zhejiang, Hunan and Guangxi Provinces, China. Sthenias semicylindricus Hayashi, 1974 and Sthenias murzini Lazarev, 2020 are synonymized with Anaches medioalbus (Breuning, 1956). Three similar species are compared with additional pictures and descriptions.

Background: Microglia-related neuroinflammation is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Flavonoids have demonstrated different pharmacological effects, such as antioxidation, neuroprotection and anti-inflammation However, the effect of flavonoid 6-methoxyflavone (6-MeOF) on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation remain unknown., Purpose: The current study aim to study the antineuroinflammatory effects of 6-MeOF in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced microglia in vitro and in vivo., Methods: Pretreatment of BV2 microglia cells with 6-MeOF for 1 h then stimulated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors, NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Griess assay and flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to assess MAPK, NF-κB signal transducer and antioxidant enzymes-related proteins. Analysis of ROS and microglial morphology was confirmed in the zebrafish and mice brain, respectively., Results: Our results demonstrated that 6-MeOF dose-dependently prevent cell death and decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. Phosphorylated NF-κB/IκB and TLR4/MyD88/p38 MAPK/JNK proteins after exposure to 6-MeOF was suppressed in LPS-activated BV-2 microglial cells. 6-MeOF also presented antioxidant activity by reduction of NO, ROS, iNOS and COX-2 and the induction of the level of HO-1 and NQO1 expressions in LPS-activated BV2 microglial cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 6-MeOF inhibited LPS-induced NO generation in an experimental zebrafish model and prevent the LPS-induced microgliosis in the prefrontal cortex and substantia nigra of mice., Conclusion: These results explored that 6-MeOF possesses potential as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents against microglia-associated neuroinflammatory disorders., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The genus Meges Pascoe, 1866 stat. res. is resurrected from synonyms of Monochamus Dejean, 1821 and is made a senior synonym of Magninia Clermont, 1932 syn. nov. Meges currently contains two species, i.e. Meges gravidus (Pascoe, 1858) and Meges tonkineus (Clermont, 1932) comb. nov. The male of the latter species is described for the first time. A related genus Pseudomeges Breuning, 1944 is investigated for comparison and Pseudomeges aureus Bi, Chen Lin sp. nov. (, Jn bn wi m tin ni) is described from Yunnan, China. New localities are reported. Illustrations of habitus, endophallic structures and major diagnostic features for all involved taxa are provided.

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is a very common type of malignant cancer in men and new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to reduce mortality. Several studies have demonstrated that Rhopaloic acid A (RA), a compound isolated from marine sponges, fights cancer but its potential anti-tumor effect on BC is still unknown., Purpose: The present study was aimed to explore the potential anti-tumor effects of RA against human BC cells and the underlying molecular mechanism., Methods: Cell cytotoxicity was determined using the MTT and colony formation assays. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis induction and generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential, acridine orange staining and intracellular ROS levels were observed using fluorescence microscopy. Levels of various signaling proteins were assessed using Western blotting. Furthermore, a zebrafish BC xenotransplantation model was used to confirm the anti-tumor effect of RA in vivo., Results: Treatment with RA significantly suppressed the proliferation of BC cells that resulted from G2/M cycle arrest. Additionally, RA induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in BC cells. The death of BC cells induced by RA was rescued by treatment with inhibitors of apoptosis (Z-VAD-FMA) or autophagy (3-MA). RA activated the MAPK pathway and increased the production of cellular and mitochondrial ROS. Treatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine, effectively reversed the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, JNK activation and DNA damage elicited by RA. Finally, RA significantly inhibited tumor growth in a zebrafish BC xenotransplantation model., Conclusion: Taken together, our findings indicate that RA induces apoptosis and autophagy and activates the MAPK pathway through ROS-mediated signaling in human BC cells. This RA-induced pathway offers insights into the molecular mechanism of its antitumor effect and shows that RA is a promising candidate for the treatment of BC., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

A new saperdine species belonging to a new genus, Tsounkranaglenea hefferni gen. et sp. nov., is described from Sabah, Malaysia. The new genus differs from other genera of the tribe Saperdini by the special male sternite VII modified into a rake-shape, with the apex of the ventral plate of the median lobe unusually emarginated.

Given the new spread and potential damage of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Asia, it has become imperative to understand the development biology of this invasive species on selected vegetable crops in newer geographical regions. In this study, we investigated the ovipositional preference of FAW females on different host plants, under choice- and non-choice tests. In addition, using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, we assessed the performance of immature FAW individuals fed and reared on selected vegetable crops to get information related to development time, survival, reproduction and longevity. Fall armyworm females had an oviposition preference on maize compared to other vegetable crops, including cabbage and soybean, and reluctance for tomato, which was confirmed during the choice and non-choice tests. In contrast to the oviposition preference, our results also suggest that despite low preference for cabbage, soybean, and tomato, these crops seemed to provide a high benefit for an appropriate offspring performance, exceeding in some cases the benefits from a maize-based diet. Information from this study was discussed in terms of FAW ecology and how female's decision affects their reproductive fitness, and the survival and performance of its offspring., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

An intensive census, extended over a period of approximately three and a half years, October 2017- May 2021, was conducted in the remaining green areas of the Macau SAR in order to provide an updated status of the biodiversity of longhorn beetles in this region. This insect group includes more than 36,000 species worldwide, subdivided into four families of mainly xylophagous or saproxylic insects, the Vesperidae, Oxypeltidae, Disteniidae, and Cerambycidae. They are of key importance in agricultural and forestry science, and are often used as an indicator of forest habitat health. A total of 52 species was recorded during this census, 2.6 times more than previously reported in the literature for this area. However, recorded abundances and frequency of occurrence for the various species were remarkably low, and of the 20 species previously reported for the region, some prominent ones remained unaccounted for. Among others, these include Batocera horsfieldii (Hope, 1839), Apriona rugicollis Chevrolat, 1852 [previously incorrectly reported as Apriona germarii (Hope, 1831)], Aristobia reticulator (Fabricius, 1781) [previously reported as Aristobia testudo (Voet, 1778)] and Imantocera penicillata (Hope, 1831). It is hypothesised that this may be related to the ongoing manipulation of the natural vegetation of the Macau SAR, which is rapidly being converted to plantations, city parks, and gardens. In particular, dead or dying trees and lower tree branches are systematically removed in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of these green areas. However, this process is also depriving xylophagous and saproxylic species of their essential habitats., (Mei-Ying Lin, Renzo Perissinotto, Lynette Clennell.)

Longhorn beetles are extremely rich wood-boring insects possessing larvae that feed on the xylem of trees and/or lianas, which have detrimental effects on plants; in turn, the hosting plants may play a fundamental role in shaping the longhorn beetle community assemblage. However, factors determining the community assemblage of wood-boring longhorn beetles, particularly along the multiple spatial scales is still in need of further exploration. In this study, we designed an experiment across several spatial scales (from local to macro scales) from tropical to temperate climate gradients in Yunnan province, southwest China to examine to what extend the attributes of host-specificity is shaping the community assemblage along different spatial scales. This study concludes that (1) the wood-boring longhorn beetles showed attributes of host-specificity to a certain degree at the community level, (2) biotic (host plant specificity) and abiotic (climatic gradients) factors jointly shaped community composition of this species along the multiple spatial scales, (3) biotic interactions have a prominent effect on the community composition of this species at local-scale while macroclimatic gradients impose the major control on it at macro-scale. Thus, this study highlights the significance of host specificity in affecting the wood-boring longhorn beetle community assemblage, particularly at local scales.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ), an FDA-approved phenothiazine derivative used to treat schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, has been demonstrated to have potential anti-tumor effects. However, the potential effects of CPZ on human oral cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, treatment of human oral cancer cells with CPZ inhibited their proliferation and induced G2/M phase arrest. Treatment with CPZ induced apoptosis through the extrinsic death receptor and the intrinsic mitochondrial pathways. In addition, the induction of autophagy was observed by the formation of autophagosomes, the expression of autophagy-related proteins and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. The CPZ-induced cell death was reversed by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and by the knockdown of LC3B using a shRNA (shLC3B), suggesting that autophagy promoted CPZ-induced apoptosis. Finally, CPZ significantly suppressed tumor growth in both a zebrafish oral cancer xenotransplantation model and in a murine model of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO)-induced oral cancer. Overall, this evidence demonstrated that CPZ is a novel promising strategy for the treatment of oral cancer., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To prevent transmission of the coronavirus, we established the campus protection measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (CPMCV-19) and analyzed the effectiveness and cost in practice. This project was set in Taiwan. We organized an anti-epidemic task force team from multidisciplinary co-workers to establish the CPMCV-19. The essential components were as follows: no close contact communication, sterilization, temperature control, social distancing, activity restrictions, personal hygiene control, and situational awareness. During 100 days of operation, the mean time spent for frontal temperature measuring was 2.7 ± 0.3 s per person. The mean on-duty time for individual personnel to control the gate and measure temperature was 3.5 h per day. In total, 31 persons with loss of taste/smell or fever were detected on campus and sent to hospital for screening within 1 h. A total of 6 persons were instructed to observe self-health management due to possible contact or travel history, and none were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. A total budget of USD 27,100 was used for CMPCV-19 in this period. The established campus protection measures for COVID-19 were practical and might be effective. They can be used as reference for schools in a pandemic, such as COVID-19.

Microglia, resident innate immune cells in central nervous system, regulates neuroinflammation and is associated with a variety of neuropathologies. The present study investigated the antineuroinflammatory effects of hispidulin (HPD), a naturally flavone compound, in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated BV2 microglia cells. The expression levels of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and pro-inflammatory factors were determined by the Griess method, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to measure various transcription factors such as Akt, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activities. Our experimental results demonstrated that HPD increased cell viability and reduced apoptosis in LPS-treated BV2 microglia cells. Moreover, HPD significantly reduced the levels of NO, ROS, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphorylation of NF-κB/IκB, Akt, and STAT3 proteins expression by HPD was suppressed in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. We concluded that HPD may inhibit neuroinflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB pathway activation and ROS formation. These results propose that HPD has potential as anti-inflammatory agents against microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory disorders.

Ithocritus ruber (Hope, 1839), the type species of the genus Ithocritus Lacordaire, 1872 is reinvestigated, and a partially sympatric species, Ithocritus similis Bi Lin, sp. nov. (, Xiāng sì duǎn bǐng tiān niú), is described. The genus Falsimalmus Breuning, 1956 is newly recorded from China, based on the discovery of Falsimalmus niger Breuning, 1956 from Yunnan. New localities, illustrations of habitus, endophallic structure and major diagnostic features for all involved taxa are provided.

Aurivillius's work entitled "Neue oder wenig bekannte ColeopteraLongicornia" was published in parts over a period of over four decades. There were two page numbers on most pages of these publications, one ordered by Aurivillius, the other by the journal. Historically, different authors have used different page numbers, and sometimes different years for these publications, which has caused chaos in the citations. Herein, accurate dates of publications for this work, and correct page numbers that should be used are provided and discussed., (Mei-Ying Lin, Si-Qin Ge.)

A visual assay for the detection of heparinase was developed on the basis of a ternary system of Hg 2+ -heparin-osmium nanoparticles (OsNPs). First, heparin-capped OsNPs (heparin-OsNPs) were synthesized by a facile reduction method using heparin as the protecting/stabilizing agent. The oxidase-like activity of heparin-OsNPs, however, turned out to be low, which somewhat limits their application. We discovered that Hg 2+ can significantly/specifically boost the oxidase-like activity of heparin-OsNPs via electrostatic interaction. The oxidase-like activity of heparin-OsNPs toward the oxidation of the substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, by dissolved O 2 was found to increase by 76-fold in the presence of Hg 2+ . More significantly, heparin in heparin-OsNPs could be specifically hydrolyzed into small fragments in the presence of heparinase, which resulted in the weakening of the oxidase-like activity of Hg 2+ /heparin-OsNPs. On the basis of these findings, a linear response of the sensor for heparinase was obtained in the range 20-1000 μg/L with a low detection limit (15 μg/L), which is comparable to those of other reported sensors. Further, the colorimetric sensor was employed for the detection of heparinase in human serum samples with satisfactory results. We speculate that combining such surface modification of the osmium nanozyme with a sensing element could be an interesting direction for promoting nanozyme research in medical diagnosis.

Background: Syringin (Syr), a phenylpropanoid glycoside extracted from Eleutherococcus senticosus, possesses various biological properties, including anticancer activities. However, the cytotoxicity effects of Syr on breast cancer have not yet been elucidated., Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the anticancer potential of Syr on breast carcinoma and the mechanism involved., Study Design/methods: Non-tumorigenic (M10), tumorigenic (MCF7) and metastatic (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines as well as xenograft model were treated with Syr. Proliferation and cell cycle distribution were evaluated using the MTT, the colony formation assay and flow cytometry. The expression levels of cytotoxicity-related proteins were detected by Western blot., Results: Here, we found that colony formation inhibition, cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, down-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3/9 activation were observed in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with Syr. Moreover, pretreatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) inhibited Syr-induced apoptosis. In addition, treatment with Syr also increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) reversed the ROS levels and rescued the apoptotic changes. Meanwhile, Syr inhibited the growth of breast cancer xenograft models and dramatically decreased tumor volume without any obvious body weight loss in vivo., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Syr induces oxidative stress to suppress the proliferation of breast cancer and thus might be an effective therapeutic agent to treat breast cancer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The genus Metipocregyes Breuning, 1939 is reviewed. Hypocacia fruhstorferi Breuning, 1959 and H. wenhsini Yamasako Chou, 2013 are transferred to Metipocregyes. Three new species of Metipocregyes are described; M. brunneatus sp. nov. from Vietnam, M. holzschuhi sp. nov. from Laos, and M. variabilis sp. nov. from China. With these taxonomic acts, Metipocregyes is comprised of six species and an identification key for them is presented. The habitus, male genitalia, and name-bearing types of all species in this study are figured.

Huang et al. (2015) treated Hoploranomimus Breuning, 1959 (type species: Acanthocinus harmandi Pic, 1939) and Paracanthocinus Breuning, 1965 (type species: Paracanthocinus laosensis Breuning, 1965) as junior synonyms of Neacanista Gressitt, 1940 (type species: Neacanista tuberculipenne Gressitt, 1940) and commented on the taxonomic status of Neacanista shirakii (Mitono, 1943).

Presently, natural sources and herbs are being sought for the treatment of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in order to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. This study investigates the effect of sandensolide, a cembrane isolated from Sinularia flexibilis , to inhibit human OSCC cell growth with the aim of developing a new drug for the treatment of oral cancer. In vitro cultured human OSCC models (Ca9.22, SCC9 and HSC-3 cell lines) and oral normal cells (HGF-1), as well as a zebrafish xenograft model, were used to test the cytotoxicity of sandensolide (MTT assay), as well as to perform cell cycle analysis and Western blotting. Both the in vitro bioassay and the zebrafish xenograft model demonstrated the anti-oral cancer effect of sandensolide. Moreover, sandensolide was able to significantly suppress colony formation and induce apoptosis, as well as cell cycle arrest, in OSCC by regulating multiple key proteins. Induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in sandensolide-treated oral cancer cells. However, these apoptotic changes were rescued by NAC pretreatment. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the model of action of sandensolide, which may induce oxidative stress-mediated cell death pathways as a potential agent in oral cancer therapeutics.

Paragniopsis ochraceomaculata Breuning, 1965 and Paragniopsis Breuning, 1965 are confirmed to be junior synonyms of Agnioides striatopunctatus Breuning, 1956 and Agnioides Breuning, 1956 respectively after comparison of types; Monochamus fruhstorferi Breuning, 1964 is a new junior synonym of Annamanum lunulatum (Pic, 1934). Paranamera ankangensis Chiang, 1981 and Mimonemophas multimaculatus Xie Wang, 2015 are transferred to the genus Anoplophora Hope, and the former is newly recorded from Hunan Province.

A revision of the genus Eutetrapha Bates, 1884 is presented. Four new species are described from China: E. parastigmosa Lin & Yang, sp. nov. from Hubei, Chongqing and Shaanxi; E. tianmushana Lin & Bi, sp. nov. from Zhejiang; E. shaanxiana Lin & Yang, sp. nov. from Shaanxi, Hubei, Gansu; and E. gui Lin & Yang, sp. nov. from Hainan. Eutetrapha virides Pu & Jin, 1991 is transferred to the genus Paraglenea, and Glenea ocelota Bates, 1873 is transferred from Eutetrapha to Saperda (Lopezcolonia). Eutetrapha laosensis is newly recorded from India and Myanmar, while Eutetrapha flavoguttata Pu & Jin, 1991 is newly recorded from Myanmar. India and Myanmar represent new country records for Eutetrapha. Twenty-one taxa are recognized in the genus Eutetrapha, and a key to the described species of the genus is presented.

A carotid body tumor (CBT) is a rare, non-chromaffin paraganglioma, and its diagnosis mainly depends on imaging modalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) in the diagnosis and assessment of CBT based on computed tomography (CT). We retrospectively reviewed the CDU and CT features of 49 consecutive CBTs and 23 schwannomas from 67 patients and compared these findings with surgical resection specimens. The mean size of CBT lesions on ultrasound scans and CT angiography (CTA) was 3.24 cm ± 0.82 cm (range, 1.6-5.2 cm) and 3.84 cm ± 1.08 cm (range, 1.8-6.8 cm), respectively, which had statistically significant difference (t = 9.815, p = 0.000). The vascularity of CBT lesions was richer than that of schwannoma lesions (p < 0.05). Intra-lesional vascularities feeding CBT mostly arose from the external carotid artery and had spectrum characteristics including low velocity and resistance. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI) of the vasa vasorum were 39.8 cm/s ± 19.8 cm/s and 0.54 ± 0.06, respectively. There was the correlation between CTA and CDU in identifying Shamblin type I CBT lesions, while CTA technique was superior for CDU, identifying Shamblin type II and III CBT lesions. Accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of CDU in diagnosing CBTs were 87.5% (63 of 72), 82.6% (19 of 23) and 89.8% (44 of 49), respectively. Both accuracy and sensitivity of CTA in diagnosing CBTs were 100%. CDU can be useful for assessment of Shamblin's type and intra-lesional blood flow of CBTs before its metastases, while CT imaging can reveal the relationship between lesions and adjacent arteries, as well as the involvement of the skull base. CDU combined with CT imaging can be used as an optimal detection modality for the assessment and management of CBT., (Copyright © 2016 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aggregations of the striped flea beetle Phyllotreta striolata on their crucifer host plants are mediated by volatiles emitted from feeding males. The male-specific sesquiterpene, (6R,7S)-himachala-9,11-diene (compound A), was shown previously to be physiologically and behaviorally active, but compound A was attractive only when combined with unnaturally high doses of the host plant volatile allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in field trapping experiments. This indicated that our understanding of the chemical communication in this species is incomplete. Another male-specific sesquiterpenoid, (3S,9R,9aS)-3-hydroxy-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-benzo[7]annulen-2(3H)-one (compound G), has been reported from an American P. striolata population. We confirmed the presence of compound G, and investigated its interaction with compound A and AITC in a P. striolata population in Taiwan. Compound G was attractive to Taiwanese P. striolata in laboratory bioassays, but significantly more beetles were attracted to a blend of compounds A and G. Under the same conditions, P. striolata showed no preference for the blend of A and G combined with a range of doses of AITC over the sesquiterpenoid blend alone. The sesquiterpenoid blend was tested further in field trapping experiments and attracted significantly more beetles than traps baited with compound A and ecologically relevant amounts of AITC. We conclude that A and G are components of the male-specific aggregation pheromone of P. striolata in Taiwan, and that the attractiveness of the pheromone is not reliant on the presence of AITC. Our results further indicate that the male-specific sesquiterpenoid blends differ qualitatively between the Taiwanese and American populations of P. striolata.

The genus Pseudoechthistatus Pic, 1917 is redefined and revised. Five species of the genus are described as new, Pseudoechthistatus sinicus sp. n. and Pseudoechthistatus chiangshunani sp. n. from central Yunnan, China, Pseudoechthistatus pufujiae sp. n. from western Yunnan, China, and Pseudoechthistatus holzschuhi sp. n. and Pseudoechthistatus glabripennis sp. n. from southern Yunnan and northern Vietnam. Pseudoechthistatus birmanicus Breuning, 1942 is excluded from the fauna of China. Three poorly known species, Pseudoechthistatus obliquefasciatus Pic, 1917, Pseudoechthistatus granulatus Breuning, 1942, and Pseudoechthistatus acutipennis Chiang, 1981 are redescribed, and the type localities of the former two species are discussed. Endophallic structure of seven species in inflated and everted condition are studied and compared with their relatives. Illustrations of habitus and major diagnostic features of all species are provided. Some biological notes are reported. An identification key as well as a distributional map are presented.

Oxidative stress-mediated cellular injury has been considered as a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by antioxidants may be a potential strategy for retarding the diseases' progression. Costunolide (CS) is a well-known sesquiterpene lactone, used as a popular herbal remedy, which possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of CS against the cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and to elucidate potential protective mechanisms in PC12 cells. The results showed that the treatment of PC12 cells with CS prior to H₂O₂ exposure effectively increased the cell viability. Furthermore, it decreased the intracellular ROS, stabilized the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), and reduced apoptosis-related protein such as caspase 3. In addition, CS treatment attenuated the cell injury by H₂O₂ through the inhibition of phosphorylation of p38 and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results demonstrated that CS is promising as a potential therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases resulting from oxidative damage and further research on this topic should be encouraged.

Eutetrapha weni n. sp. is described from Leigongshan, Guizhou, China.

Glenea diversenotata Schwarzer, 1925 is reinstated from a subspecies of Glenea tonkinea Aurivillius, 1925 to species level and Glenea neohumerosa Lin & Yang, 2011 is a new junior synonym. Some biological information on Glenea diversenotata is recorded for the first time, including pictures of the larva and pupa. Glenea quadriguttata Pic, 1926 is reinstated from a subspecies of Glenea lacteomaculata Schwarzer, 1925 to species level. Lectotypes for Glenea lacteomaculata and Glenea quadriguttata are designated. A modified key to the related species is presented.

The ROMK1 (Kir1.1) channel activity is predominantly regulated by intracellular pH (pHi) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Although several residues were reported to be involved in the regulation of pHi associated with PIP2 interaction, the detailed molecular mechanism remains unclear. We perform experiments in ROMK1 pHi-gating with electrophysiology combined with mutational and structural analysis. In the present study, non basic residues of C-terminal region (S219, N215, I192, L216 and L220) in ROMK1 channels have been found to mediate channel-PIP2 interaction and pHi gating. Further, our structural results show these residues with an appropriate distance to interact with membrane PIP2. Meanwhile, a cluster of basic residues (R188, R217 and K218), which was previously discovered regarding the interaction with PIP2, exists in this appropriate distance to discriminate the regulation of channel-PIP2 interaction and pHi-gating. This appropriate distance can be observed with high conservation in the Kir channel family. Our results provide insight that an appropriate distance cooperates with the electrostatics interaction of channel-PIP2 to regulate pHi-gating., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Caraphiini N. Ohbayashi, Lin & Yamasako, trib. nov. of the subfamily Lepturinae is erected for the genus Caraphia Gahan, 1906. The Central American genus Noctileptura Chemsak & Linsley, 1984 is synonymized with the southeast Asian genus Caraphia. Caraphia huai N. Ohbayashi & Lin, sp. nov., from Hainan and Guangdong, China, Caraphia paulastoni N. Ohbayashi & Lin, sp. nov. from Hong Kong, China and Caraphia lingafelteri N. Ohbayashi & Yamasako, sp. nov. from Matagalpa, Nicaragua are described. All the known sixteen species of the newly defined genus Caraphia are revised with a key and their habitus.

The family Jacobsoniidae Heller () is newly recorded from China upon the discovery of Sarothriassinicus Bi & Chen, sp. n. () from Motuo, Southeast Xizang. Description and illustrations of the habitus and major diagnostic features of the new taxon are provided. A key to the species of Sarothrias and some ecological notes on the new species are presented.

The aims of the study described here were to illustrate the spectrum of ultrasonographic features of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to evaluate the ability of ultrasonography (US) to predict the grade and recurrence of DCIS on the basis of mammographic and histopathologic findings. We retrospectively evaluated the ultrasonographic features of 129 DCIS lesions from 127 consecutive women and compared these with their mammographic and histopathologic features. The mean size of DCISs on ultrasonography and mammography (MMG) was 3.67 ± 1.40 and 4.00 ± 1.74 cm, respectively, which do not differ statistically (p = 0.09). Despite the statistical difference in Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification on US and MMG (p = 0.000), the median BI-RADS classification is category 4c on both US and MMG (p = 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of microcalcification on MMG and US. Clusters <5 mm in greatest diameter are easily seen on MMG. At US, a scattered/linear distribution on MMG had a higher level of visibility than clustered distribution on MMG. The correlation between tumor size and DCIS with micro-invasion evaluated using US is higher than that obtained using MMG (p = 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). When US was used for the detection of DCIS, diagnostic accuracy was significantly associated with higher Van Nuys groups, the presence of micro-invasion and comedo carcinoma (p = 0.000, 0.022 and 0.011, respectively). However, mammographic diagnostic accuracy was found not to associate with higher Van Nuys groups, the presence of micro-invasion and comedo carcinoma (p = 0.054, 0.093 and 0.256, respectively). Ultrasonography may play an important role both in detecting DCIS and in evaluating its histopathologic features. Detection of DCIS using MMG alone may be suboptimal for patients with dense breasts, especially among Chinese women., (Copyright © 2015 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasonography (US) is the preferred imaging modality for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of gray-scale ultrasound combined with elastography to predict extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with PTMC. We retrospectively evaluated gray-scale ultrasonic and elastographic results from 119 consecutive cases of PTMC with 138 nodules and correlated the histopathological findings. The results indicated that pathological extrathyroidal extension was significantly associated with T staging on US, extrathyroidal extension on US, bilaterality on US, boundary, strain ratio and hard malignancy as measured with the Rago score. Central LN metastasis on pathology was significantly associated with central LN metastasis on US, lateral LN metastasis on US, multifocality on US and bilaterality on US. Lateral LN metastasis on US was significantly associated with lateral LN metastasis on pathology. On multivariate analysis, T staging on US, extrathyroidal extension on US and hard malignancy as measured with the Rago score were significantly associated with pathological extrathyroidal extension. Lateral LN metastasis on US and bilaterality on US were independent factors in predicting central LN metastasis on pathology. Lateral LN metastasis on US was the predictive factor for lateral LN metastasis on pathology. US should be helpful in the diagnosis of PTMC and in the evaluation of possible PTMC recurrence on US in routine clinical practice., (Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The genus Microcriodes Breuning is newly recorded from China upon the discovery of M. sikkimensis Breuning, 1943 and M. wuchaoi sp. n. from Motuo, Southeast Xizang. Illustrations of the habitus, genitalia including non-everted endophallus, as well as diagnostic features are provided.

The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions is an important issue in the management of malignancy patients. Generally, cytologic examination is a routine diagnostic technique. However, morphological interpretation of cytology is sometimes inconclusive. Here an ancillary method named BMVC test is developed for rapid detection of malignant pleural effusion to improve the diagnostic accuracy at low cost. A simple assay kit is designed to collect living cells from clinical pleural effusion and a fluorescence probe, 3,6-Bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC), is used to illuminate malignant cells. The fluorescence intensity is quantitatively analyzed by ImageJ program. This method yields digital numbers for the test results without any grey zone or ambiguities in the current cytology tests due to intra-observer and inter-observer variability. Comparing with results from double-blind cytologic examination, this simple test gives a good discrimination between malignant and benign specimens with sensitivity of 89.4% (42/47) and specificity of 93.3% (56/60) for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. BMVC test provides accurate results in a short time period, and the digital output could assist cytologic examination to become more objective and clear-cut. This is a convenient ancillary tool for detection of malignant pleural effusions., (© 2014 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)