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Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison, a new species of mountain pitviper, Ovophis jenkinsi sp. nov., is described. The new species was collected in Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. It can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following characters: (1) internasals in contact or separated by one small scale; (2) second supralabial entire and bordering the loreal pit; (3) dorsal scales in 23 (25)–21 (23, 25)–19 (17, 21) rows; (4) 134–142 ventrals; (5) 40–52 pairs of subcaudals; (6) third supralabial larger than fourth in all examined specimens of Ovophis jenkinsi sp. nov. ; (7) deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey markings on dorsal head surface; (8) background color of dorsal surface deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey; (9) both sides of dorsum display dark brown trapezoidal patches; (10) scattered small white spots on dorsal surface of tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original description of Natrix leonardi (currently Rhabdophis leonardi) by Frank Wall in 1923, based on a specimen from the "Upper Burma Hills," lacked important morphological details that have complicated the assignment of recently collected material. Furthermore, although the holotype was never lost, its location has been misreported in one important taxonomic reference, leading to further confusion. We report the correct repository of the holotype (Natural History Museum, London), together with its current catalog number. We also describe key features of that specimen that were omitted from the original description, and provide new details on the morphology of the species, including sexual dichromatism unusual for the genus, based upon specimens from southern Sichuan, China. Rhabdophis leonardi is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: 15 or 17 DSR at midbody and 6 supralabials; distinct annulus around the neck, broad and red in males, and narrow and orange with a black border in females; dorsal ground color light green or olive; some lateral and dorsal scales possessing black edges, the frequency of black edges gradually increasing from anterior to posterior, forming irregular and ill‐defined transverse black bands; eye with prominent green iris; black ventral spots with a red edge, most numerous at midbody but extending halfway down the length of the tail. In southwestern China, this species is frequently found at 1730–2230 m elevation. It has been documented to prey upon anuran amphibians, including toads. A recently published phylogenetic analysis showed this species to be deeply nested with the genus Rhabdophis, as a member of the R. nuchalis Group. That analysis also revealed the existence of two closely related but geographically distinct subclades in the molecular analysis, one of which may represent an unnamed taxon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the morphological studies on the snake bones discovered in the Neolithic sites from the Zuojiang River Basin, Chongzuo, Guangxi, China, three extant snake species attributed to three different genera and three families have been identified: Elaphe moellendorffi (Boettger, 1886), Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), and Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820. Multiple linear regression of four vertebral measurements against the body size for extant specimens using an allometric model indicates a minimum snout-vent length of 3 882.5 mm, total body length of 4 578.7 mm for the largest vertebra of the Neolithic P. bivittatus found in this region. The result indicates a similar herpetofauna between the Neolithic period and current southwest Guangxi, in addition to a potential snake hunting lifestyles of pre-historical humans from the Zuojiang River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shanyangzhai Cave, located in Hebei Province, North China, has yielded a large number of snake bones dated back to the late middle Pleistocene and late Pleistocene. These snakes are represented by at least six taxa: three colubrids (Elaphe cf. schrenckii, Elaphe cf. dione, Lycodon sp.), one natricid (Rhabdophis tigrinus), and two viperids (Gloydius sp1. and Gloydius sp2.). Most of the identified taxa still occur on the research area, except for Elaphe schrenckii. The snake fauna of Shanyangzhai Cave represents the first Pleistocene snake remains described in any detail from a cave locality in North China. The bones in Shanyangzhai Cave also represent the first fossil record of pit vipers in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The KDIGO Clinical Practice Guidelines for Glomerulonephritis recommended tacrolimus as an alternative regimen for the initial therapy for Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), however, large observational studies evaluating tacrolimus treatment in IMN remains rare.Methods: A total of 408 consecutive IMN patients with nephrotic syndrome who were treated with tacrolimus in Jinling Hospital were included. The effectiveness and safety of tacrolimus treatment in IMN were analyzed in this study.Results: The cumulative partial or complete remission after tacrolimus therapy were 50%, 63% and 67% at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively, and the cumulative complete remission rates were 4%, 13% and 23%, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that higher tacrolimus exposure during induction treatment, female gender, higher eGFR and no history of previous immunosuppressive therapy were independently associated with higher probability of remission. A relapse occurred in 101 of the 271 (37.3%) patients with partial or complete remission, and 18 of the 95 (18.9%) patients with complete remission. Tapering duration of tacrolimus and complete remission versus partial remission status were independent factors associated with risk of relapse. A decline in eGFR was the most frequent adverse event during tacrolimus treatment. During tacrolimus treatment, a ≥40% decrease in eGFR was observed in 43 (10.5%) patients.Conclusions: Low dose tacrolimus is effective for IMN, with a total remission rate of 66% whereas with a rather high rate of relapse. However, the safety of tacrolimus treatment needs to be further validated in large randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrilase-mediated biocatalysis has attracted substantial attention for its application in carboxylic acid production in recent years. In the present study, the fungus CA3-1 was isolated and identified as Gibberella intermedia based on its morphology, its 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The enzymatic properties of G. intermedia resting cells were determined, and the optimum activity was achieved at 40 °C with pH 7.6. The half-lives of the nitrilase at 30, 40, and 50 °C were 231.1, 72.9, and 6.4 h, respectively. This Gibberella nitrilase showed a wide substrate spectrum with high specificity for heterocyclic and aliphatic nitriles. It remained extremely active in 5% propanol. The presence of Ag+, Hg2+, and excess substrate inhibited the nitrilase activity, whereas Fe2+, Mn2+, and Li+ improved enzyme activity. 3-Cyanopyridine (50 mM) was hydrolyzed into nicotinic acid within 30 min, whereas only <5% of nicotinamide was detected. The results show that this fungal nitrilase is a promising candidate for commercial application in nicotinic acid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to determine the volatile composition of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar, one of the four famous China-style cereal vinegars, by using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)/gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS) and chemometrics. For this purpose, the HS-SPME sampling method for the volatile compounds of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar was optimized by a second-order rotatable central composite experimental design (CCD). A HS extraction of the volatile compounds by incubation on a 65 µm thickness polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fibre during 44.2 min at 69.5°C with 1.9 g NaCl add gave the most effective and accurate extraction. By the optimized method, a total of 58 volatile compounds, including 9 alcohols, 13 acids, 16 esters, 5 aldehydes, 4 ketones and 8 heterocycle compounds, were identified from 13 aromatic vinegar samples manufactured in Zhenjiang region. By principal components analysis (PCA), the thirteen vinegar samples were classified into 3 groups, and 10 volatile compounds were chosen as characteristic compounds of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegars. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractVitamin K2, also known as methylnaphthoquinone, is a crucial fat-soluble nutrient necessary for the human body. The biological production of Vitamin K2 has received widespread attention due to its environmental friendliness and maneuverability in recent years. This review provides insights into the modular metabolic pathways of Vitamin K2, lays the foundation for microbial metabolic flow balancing, cofactor engineering and dynamic regulation, and realizes the production of Vitamin K2 by synthesizing artificial cells from scratch. With the intensive development of modern fermentation technology, methods for the preparation of Vitamin K2 using the fermentation strategies of co-culturing and biofilm reactors have emerged. In prokaryotes, the introduction of heptenyl pyrophosphate synthase (HepPPS) and mevalonate acid (MVA) pathway solved the problem of insufficient precursors for Vitamin K2 production but still did not meet the market demand. Therefore, enhancing expression through multi-combinatorial metabolic regulation and innovative membrane reactors is an entry point for future research. Due to the light-induced decomposition and water-insoluble nature of Vitamin K2, the secretion regulation and purification processing also need to be considered in the actual production. Also, it summarizes the research progress of Vitamin K2 in the food and pharmaceutical fields. Additionally, the future development trend and application prospect of Vitamin K2 are also discussed to provide guidance for Vitamin K2 biosynthesis and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]