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Abstract In vivo preventive effects of Gunoderma amboinense against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Balb/cA mice were studied. G. amboinense powder at 1% and 2% was mixed with standard diet and supplied [...]

CDDP (conserved DNA-derived polymorphism) and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) molecular markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity among 17 cultivars of Camellia oleifera in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the identification and utilization of local Camellia oleifera varieties. Our results indicated that 170 polymorphic bands were amplified by 17 CDDP primers among 204 bands, and the ratio of polymorphic band was 83.33%. The 17 cultivars of Camellia oleifera could be identified by primers ERF2, ERF3 and WRKYR1 respectively. The SM (simple matching) similarity coefficients among varieties ranged from 0.5506 to 0.8544 with an average of 0.7438. And according to the UPGMA cluster analysis, 17 cultivars of Camellia oleifera could be divided into 5 categories, and tend to cluster according to economic traits. ITS sequence analysis showed that, the overall average genetic distance of 17 cultivars of Camellia oleifera was 0.0702. NJ phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the genetic relationship among 17 Camellia oleifera varieties could be obviously reflected in phenotypic traits. This study shows that CDDP molecular markers combined with ITS sequence analysis technology could be effectively used for genetic diversity analysis of Camellia oleifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the independent and joint associations of sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components among Chinese adults. The study analyzed data from 4,865 adults aged ≥ 18 years who participated in the 2009 and 2015 China Health and Nutrition Surveys (CHNS). Four types of leisure ST and three types of PA self-reported at baseline were collected. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the independent and joint associations of ST and PA with the odds of MetS or its components. For independent effects, higher levels of television time and total leisure ST was associated with higher MetS risk [odds ratio (OR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–1.6, P < 0.001; OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.8, P < 0.001, respectively]. The MetS risk in the computer time > 7 hours/week (h/w) group was higher than that in the < 7 h/w group in (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9). Higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and total PA were associated with a lower MetS risk (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6–0.9, P < 0.001; OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7–0.9, P < 0.001, respectively). For the joint effects, compared with those reporting the lowest level of total leisure ST (< 14 h/w) and the most active tertile of MVPA (≥ 61.0 MET-h/w), participants reporting the most total leisure ST (≥ 35 h/w) and the lowest level of MVPA (0 MET-h/w) had the highest odds of MetS (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4–2.7). Except for people reporting ST (14–21 h/w) within the most active tertile of MVPA, the associations in all other groups were significant. With the increase of TV time and decreased MVPA, the odds of MetS almost showed a curve acceleration. MVPA and total PA have independent preventive effects, and sedentary behavior (mainly watching TV) has an unsafe effect on MetS and its components. Strengthening the participation of MVPA and combining the LPA to replace the TV-based ST to increase the total PA may be necessary to reduce the prevalence of MetS in Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentary successions of the Frasnian–Tournaisian (Late Devonian to Earliest Carboniferous) and their spatial distributions in the Hainan Island, South China are critically reviewed based on updated information of the previously published data and newly obtained fossils. The Upper Devonian strata are assigned to the Frasnian Lanyang Formation and Famennian Changjiang Formation, which are distributed in north‐western Hainan Island. The Lanyang Formation is represented by limestone, siltstone, slate, and intercalated with tuff, and yields tentaculites: Polycylindrites sp., stromatoporoids, and tabulate corals. The Changjiang Formation yields abundant conodonts Palmatolepis gracilis sigmoidalis and Polynodosus germanus, typical of Famennian assemblages, and the associated faunas include corals, radiolarians, foraminifers, and calcareous algae of Famennian age. Of these, corals are assignable to the upper Famennian Cystophrentis Zone of South China. The strata of the Tournaisian Jishi Formation are categorized into two types, typically exposed in the Shilu and Jinbo areas, respectively, both of which are located north to the Gancheng‐Wanning Fault. The lower Jishi Formation yields brachiopods Unispirifer (Unispirifer) extensus, Unispirifer sp., Schuchertella magna, and gastropods. The middle Jishi Formation yields conodonts: Siphonodella isosticha and S. levis, brachiopods: Unispirifer (Unispirifer) forbesi, Atylephorus tornacensis, coral: Pseudouralinia irregularis, trilobite: Weberiphillipsia linguiformis, ostracods, bryozoans, and foraminifers. The conodonts are assignable to the zonation equivalent to the Siphonodella sulcata Zone, implying the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary is placed at the base of the middle part of the formation. The upper part of the Jishi Formation yields abundant brachiopods characterized by Mesochorispira subgrandis, Atylephorus tornacensis, and Marginatia huaqiaoensis. The presence of corals Cystophrentis, Pseudouralinia, Zaphrentites, and Kueichowpora, and trilobite Hunanoproetus, endemic to South China from the Changjiang and Jishi formations implies that the Hainan Island was palaeobiogeographically close to the South China Block of the Tethyan Realm, rather than of Gondwana affinity during the Late Devonian and Tournaisian. Identification of Xinanosprifer flabellum and Homotoma sp., typical of early Silurian from the 'Nanhao Formation' previously assigned to the Tournaisian suggests that no Carboniferous strata are distributed in southern Hainan Island and the area south of the Gancheng‐Wanning Fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]