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English yew ( Taxus baccata L.) is a strictly outcrossing and dioecious species with small and isolated populations, which has led to its endangered species status within its natural range in Europe. In the present study, we determined the level of genetic variation and genetic differentiation of thirty-one natural T. baccata populations in Poland (2725 individuals) and focused on the impact of demographic processes on the species’ population structure using five nuclear microsatellite loci. The populations demonstrated generally moderate to high levels of genetic diversity (AR = 2.4–12.5; H o  = 0.262–0.593; H e  = 0.441–0.839). The genetic differentiation between populations was geographically structured and occurred at a moderate level (F st  = 0.155). A Bayesian analysis identified a significant north-south population structure. Additionally, populations showed significant isolation by distance, suggesting the recent isolation and fragmentation of local T. baccata populations. All the examined populations experienced a demographic bottleneck and significant fluctuations in size. The improved understanding of genetic variation has practical implications for developing conservation strategies for this rare and endangered forest species. Our study supplements the limited knowledge regarding the fine-scale genetic structure of T. baccata ; thus, the Polish populations are now among the most-surveyed stands of this species in Europe. Based on our findings, we suggest that the gene pools of T. baccata should be actively preserved and that local populations should be prioritized according to their potential significance for in situ or ex situ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes are the plant microorganisms that flourish inside plants (endosphere) and support the growth under normal and challenging environmental circumstances. Besides biological activities, microbial endophytes are important for their contribution in adaptation and survival of the host plants under stressed environments. While various species of Taxus have been globally recognized mainly due to their anticancer property, emphasis has also been on isolation of taxol producing endophytes in view of the taxonomic (endangered) status of the species. Furthermore, Taxus associated endophytes are also being recognized for the biological activities other than taxol production. The present study reviews the diversity of Taxus associated endophytes along with their biological activities. Available literature on Taxus associated endophytes revealed that T. chinensis has received maximum attention (19.5 %), followed by T. wallichiana (18.5 %), T. baccata (16.4 %), T. cuspidata (11.3 %), and T. mairei (10.3 %); with a minimum number of reports accounted for T. globose (1.0 %), and T. celebica (2.0 %). Most fungal endophytes have been identified as ascomycetes. Basidiomycetous endophytes have been reported in a limited number of studies. No endophytes have yet been identified from three species, namely T. controta (West Himalayan yew), T. floridana (Florida yew), and T. canadensis (Canadian yew). A total of 70 diverse endophytic species have been reported from different Taxus species. Fusarium sp. (25.2 %), Aspergillus sp. (17.6 %), Alternaria sp. (11.3 %), Penicillium sp. and Cladosporium sp. (10.0 %) are the five dominant genera. Furthermore, 59.6 % of studies from the reported literature are related to taxol production by fungal endophytes, 9.6 % related to antimicrobial activity, and a combined 15.3 % related to other biological activities, i.e., antifeeding, antimitogenic, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Additionally, 3.8 % of fungal endophytes were not studied for any of their biological activities. Only three bacterial endophytes namely Burkholderia sp., Enterobacter sp., and Pseudomonas sp., have been recorded from Taxus along with their contribution in plant growth, antagonistic, and antioxidant activities. Isolation and characterization of microbial endophytes from Taxus plant parts is important for the associated ecology and medicinally important biological activities. It will support the much-required conservation strategy of Taxus species. Further, isolation of plant growth promoting microorganisms from Taxus will help in propagation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory effect of 13 taxanes isolated from the Chinese yew (Taxus chinensisvar.mairei) on the proliferation of human cervical cancer HeLa cells were examined using an MTT assay. Four compounds having a hydrophobic cinnamate side chain showed antiproliferative activity, which may be due to increased cell permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Taxus guyangensis sp. nov. is from the Lower Cretaceous Guyang Formation of the Guyang Basin of Inner Mongolia in northern China, based on an excellently preserved leafy branch with attached leaves and seed-bearing structures. Three ovules occur on the leafy branch. A pair of ovules is borne on the terminal ovuliferous shoot, and another one appears on the terminal of a lateral shoot. The aril and three pairs of decussate bracts are preserved at the base of a mature ovule. This fossil is the most complete evidence of this genus currently known. This discovery also indicates that the multi-ovulate shoot of Taxus existed in the Early Cretaceous. The reliable fossil record of Taxus is summarized in detail. Comparisons of T. guyangensis sp. nov. with living and previously published reliable fossil species of Taxus and Taxus-like fossils reveal that the present fossil materials cannot be assigned to any of these species. T. guyangensis has a close resemblance to extant T. brevifolia and might have represented the ancestral taxa of T. brevifolia. The new species together with other known fossil record of Taxus show that the age of Taxus dates back to the Early Cretaceous and that the divergence time of Taxus and Pseudotaxus is probably no later than the Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study describes the possibility of handling Taxus baccata intoxications by the use of an LC–MS/MS method for the direct confirmation of taxine B. A simple and fast preparation procedure of a methanol yew leaves’ extract was applied. This extract made the LC–MS/MS taxine B/isotaxine B optimization possible by the use of its continuous infusion. The analyses were performed with an Agilent 1100 Series HPLC-API 2000™ LC–MS/MS system. The following mass-transitions were monitored in the positive MRM mode: 584.4/194.1 and 584.4/107.2. A Zorbax SB-C18, 4.6 × 50mm, 5 micron column maintained at 45±1°C was used for the separation. 20 μL of a prepared sample was injected into the HPLC and eluted with a mobile phase consisting of A: CH3OH and B: 50mL 0.1M CH3COONH4 +50mL CH3CN+900mL H2O+1mL CH3COOH (A:B=7:3, v/v). The flow rate was 0.3mL/min and a single LC–MS/MS run was completed in 20min. The biological material was extracted with Extrelut® NT 3 extraction tubes. In fatalities, where a T. baccata intoxication was indicated by the presence of 3,5-dimethoxyphenol in biological material, taxine B/isotaxine B was also identified in the appropriate post-mortem specimens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Biotecnología is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This study sought to analyze stroke rates in the SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial''s randomized and registry cohorts of patients being treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for treatment of complex coronary artery disease. Background: The SYNTAX trial compared PCI to CABG in patients with de novo 3-vessel and/or left main coronary disease. Methods: The SYNTAX randomized trial was conducted at 85 U.S. and European sites (n = 1,800). All strokes (up to 4 years) were independently adjudicated by a clinical events committee that included a neurologist. An additional 1,077 (of which 644 were followed for 5 years) and 198 patients were included in the CABG and PCI registries, respectively. Results: In the randomized cohort, 31 CABG and 19 PCI patients experienced 33 and 20 strokes post-randomization at 4-year follow-up, respectively (p = 0.062). Three strokes occurred pre-procedurally but following randomization in CABG-treated patients. After CABG, a large proportion of strokes occurred acutely (0 to 30 days: 9 of 33), whereas in the PCI arm, most strokes occurred >30 days after the procedure (18 of 20). Stroke resulted in death in 3 patients in both the PCI and CABG groups. Of the patients who developed stroke, 68% (21 of 31) in the CABG group had residual deficits at discharge; in the PCI group, 47% (9 of 19) had residual deficits. In a multivariate analysis, treatment with CABG was not significantly associated with increased stroke rates (odds ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.93 to 3.01, p = 0.089). The incidence and outcomes of stroke were similar in the randomized trial and registries. Conclusions: There is a higher risk of periprocedural stroke in patients undergoing CABG versus PCI; however, the risk converges over the first 4 years of follow-up. (SYNTAX Study: TAXUS Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries; NCT00114972) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Twenty-six 5-month-old Holstein calves were accidentally exposed to discarded branches of yew bushes (Taxus sp.). Several calves were found dead approximately 24 hr after exposure; however, a few calves died several days after exposure. One calf died 18 days after the initial exposure to Taxus sp. and was examined on the farm via necropsy. Gross lesions included ascites, and dilated and flaccid myocardial ventricles. Sections of formalin-fixed heart were submitted to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for histopathologic examination; fresh rumen contents were submitted for toxicologic testing. Histologically, large areas of myocardium were replaced by fibrous connective tissue, suggesting previous myocardial necrosis. Taxus alkaloids were identified in the rumen contents using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Based on the clinical history, the gross and histologic lesions, the identification of Taxus alkaloids in the rumen contents, and lack of exposure to other known cardiotoxic agents, yew toxicity was considered the cause of death in this calf. Ingestion of taxines is known to cause acute and subacute toxicity in human beings and animals; however, a chronic clinical course and severe histologic lesions have not been previously associated with yew toxicity. Although only 1 calf was examined, this case suggests that yew toxicity can result in a prolonged clinical course in cattle and can cause histologic myocardial lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The truffle gives the formation of the mantle and Hartig net characteristic of the ectomycorrhizal association with host plant roots where water, mineral nutrients and organic carbon are exchanged. Truffles are found in many countries, but are not known in Vietnam. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of some truffles originating from Hungary (Tuber aestivum, Choiromyces meandriformis and Terfezia sp.) on Taxus wallichiana Zucc development in a greenhouse pot experiment. The mycelia of these fungi were isolated from the original samples on a MMN medium. Six-month old seedlings of Taxus wallichiana Zucc were used as test plants for inoculation with fungus mycelia. Pots 250mm in diameter were filled with a 2:1:1 mixture of local dry natural soil, perlite and peat, and each was planted with one plant. The results showed that Tuber aestivum had the better effects on the researched plants growth than Terferzia and Choiromyces meandriformis both in the diameter and the length development as well as buds forming of the plant. In Vietnam selected natural arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi helped plant growing as well, while Trichoderma spp. reduced this effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a review on 4 drug-eluting stent (DES) types approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration including the Cypher sirolimus-eluting stent (SES), the Taxus paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) and the Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES). It cites a study of bare metal stent (BMS) whose impact on the edge segment decreases progressively at greater distances from the stent edge. It indicates the absence of negative edge effects detected with ZES compared with BMS or other DES.

The article discusses a study on the vessel responses >5 millimeter (mm) distal to a paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) as compared with the equivalent bare metal stents (BMS). Patients were randomized to receive a bare metal Express stent or a polymer-based, praclitaxel-eluting TAXUS Express stent. It suggests an association on the use of PES with significant plaque increase from baseline to 9 months follow-up from >5mm distal to the stent together with positive remodeling.

The article presents a study that evaluates a rare 2(3→20) abeotaxane and a novel 6/8/6-membered taxane with a rare C-12(13)-double bond, which were isolated from the needles of Taxus canadensis. The study was conducted through visualizing the compounds on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates with 10% sulfuric acid in ethanol. The results of the study implies that the chemical shifts of the olefinic carbon indicates the presence of rare cyclic olefinic bond in ring A.

Objectives: The pivotal TAXUS IV (TAXUS IV-SR: Treatment of De Novo Coronary Disease Using a Single Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent) trial evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) compared with an otherwise identical bare-metal stent (BMS) in a relatively uncomplicated population of patients with a single de novo lesion in a native coronary vessel, treated between March and July 2002. Background: Long-term follow-up is required to determine whether the early safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents are maintained. Methods: The primary end point of this prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was 9-month ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) for PES versus the BMS control. Follow-up was complete in 1,230 (95.1%) of 1,294 randomized evaluable patients at 5 years. Results: Compared with BMS, PES significantly reduced TVR at 9 months (12.1% vs. 4.7%; p < 0.0001); this benefit was maintained through 5 years (27.4% vs. 16.9%; p < 0.0001), given comparable TVR rates for BMS and PES between years 1 and 5 (4.1%/year vs. 3.3%/year; respectively, p = 0.16). Similar patterns were observed for composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (32.8% BMS vs. 24.0% PES, p = 0.0001 at 5 years). Stent thrombosis was comparable for PES and BMS at 9 months (0.8% BMS vs. 0.8% PES; p = 0.98) and at 5 years (2.1% BMS vs. 2.2% PES, p = 0.87). The overall revascularization benefits of PES were consistent across multiple subgroups, including sex, diabetes, left anterior descending artery lesion location, reference vessel diameter, lesion length, and multiple stents. Conclusions: These 5-year results demonstrate the long-term safety and sustained efficacy of PES compared with BMS in patients with noncomplex lesions. (TAXUS IV-SR: Treatment of De Novo Coronary Disease Using a Single Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent; NCT00292474) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Contributii Botanice is the property of Contributii Botanice and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The taxonomic status of Taxus in Pakistan was confused and uncertain due to opposing views about speci- men identities. We used 27 morphological characters of 62 selected herbarium specimens of T baccata, T wa/lichiana and tentatively identified T fuana to investigate the taxonomic status of Taxus in Pakistan by principal component analysis (PCA). Three discrete clusters representing the three species were identified in the PCA scatter plot. Character combinations allowed the reliable identification of specimens of T fuana, T baccata and T wal/ichiana. Sequence data of nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS and the chloroplast lrnL-F region were used to further delimitate T baccata, T wallichiana and Tfuana. Using maximum parsimony analysis three distinct clades were obtained representing the three species with strong bootstrap support. Based on both morphological and molecular sequence data, the Taxus species occurring in the western Himalaya including Pakistan was shown to be Tfuana and not T wa/lichiana or T baccata. The distinct species status of Tfuana, T baccata and T wal/ichiana was also well supported and found to be well correlated with their geographic distributions. The geographic ranges of the three species were updated based on the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the results of a study of three taxanes with the 10-alkoxy group from the heartwood of Taxus cuspidata. A description of the experimental setup and measurement method is presented. The structures of the taxanes are identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The study showed that the C-10 alkoxy taxanes isolated from the Japanese yew are the first natural taxanes to be identified with an alkoxy moiety on the skeleton.

The article discusses the isolation of 14-hydroxy-taxane and 2alpha,20-epoxy-11 abeotaxane from the needles of Taxus canadensis. The isolation was conducted on the basis of a spectroscopic analysis. It offers insights onto the biosynthesis of taxanes including taxane-derived propellane and three dipropellanes.

Focuses on the isolation of two new taxoid metabolites from needles of the Japanese yew Taxus cuspidata. Source of biologically active taxane diterpenoids; Location of the acetoxy and the cinnamoyloxy groups; Filtration of plant material.

The article presents a study on the isolation of taxusecone, a taxane from the Taxus cuspidata needles. Taxusecone was obtained as an amorphous solid by chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It notes that the taxane exhibits the signal pattern of diterpenoids. Information on the characteristics and structure of the taxusecone is offered. It states that taxusecone does not exhibit a potential in cytotoxicity screening against breast cancer cell line.

Background: Optimal medical therapy is endorsed by national guidelines in the management of ischemic heart disease; however, few studies have examined its long-term utilization following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and association with clinical outcomes. We sought to assess longitudinal trends in medical therapy use after PCI and its prognostic significance.Methods and Results: From the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking System Program, we retrospectively identified 57 900 Veteran's Affairs patients undergoing PCI from January 2005 to May 2014. Using prescription fill dates, the utilization of 4 classes of medical therapy including statins, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, P2Y12 inhibitors, and their composites were assessed at discharge, 6 months, 1, 3, and 5 years post-PCI. Multivariable Cox regression models were developed to assess the association between medical therapy status and major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction, rehospitalization for stroke, or repeat revascularization. At discharge following PCI, 58.3% of patients received all 4 classes of medical therapy. Utilization of statins, β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers decreased from 89%, 84.9%, and 72.2% on discharge, respectively, to 72.7%, 67.9%, and 57.9% at 5 years. Prescription refills of P2Y12 inhibitors declined from 96.5% on discharge to 28.3% at 5 years, driven by a large decline in P2Y12 inhibitor use after 1 year. Use of each class of medical therapy, and its composite use, was associated with a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events at 5 years, with the largest effect size seen by the use of statins (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.75-0.79; P<0.0001) and P2Y12 inhibitors (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79-0.85; P<0.0001).Conclusions: Consistent declines in medical therapy use following PCI were observed over time, which is associated with worse outcomes. Further efforts are needed to promote long-term adherence to secondary prevention therapies after revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: The SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score (SS), a measure of anatomic coronary artery disease (CAD) extent and complexity, has proven useful in past studies to determine the absolute and relative prognosis after revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to assess contemporary outcomes after PCI and CABG in patients with left main CAD according to SS and revascularization type from a large randomized trial. Methods: The EXCEL trial (Evaluation of XIENCE Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) randomized patients with left main CAD and site-assessed SS≤32 to PCI with everolimus-eluting stents or CABG. Four-year outcomes were examined according to angiographic core laboratory–assessed SS using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 1840 patients with left main CAD randomized to PCI (n=914) versus CABG (n=926) had angiographic core laboratory SS assessment. The mean SS was 26.5±9.3 (range 5–74); 24.1% of patients had angiographic core laboratory–assessed SS ≥33. The 4-year rate of the primary major adverse cardiac event end point of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction was similar between PCI and CABG (18.6% versus 16.7%, respectively; P =0.40) and did not vary according to SS (P interaction=0.33). Rates of ischemia-driven revascularization rose with increasing SS after PCI, but not after CABG. As a result, the major secondary composite end point of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (major adverse cardiac event or ischemia-driven revascularization) occurred more frequently with PCI than CABG (28.0% versus 22.0%, P =0.01), a difference which rose progressively with increasing SS (P interaction=0.03). Conclusions: In the EXCEL trial, the 4-year primary composite major adverse cardiac event end point of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke was similar after PCI with everolimus-eluting stents and CABG and was independent of the baseline anatomic complexity and extent of CAD. In contrast, the relative and absolute hazard of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events with PCI compared with CABG rose progressively with the SS. These data should be considered by the heart team when deciding between PCI versus CABG for revascularization in patients with left main CAD. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier NCT01205776. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on announcement of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the completion of a "Class I recall" of over 100,000 of drug-eluting Taxus stent systems by Roche Molecular Systems Inc. According to the agency, the recall has been initiated by letter of May, 2004 because of improper seating of a fiber optic cable which may cause pixel cross-talk leading to falsely elevated test results or cases of misalignment to sample-to-result mismatch.