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A new species, Popowia bachmaensis Ngoc, Tagane & Yahara, sp. nov. is described from Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam. This species is morphologically similar to Popowia pisocarpa (Blume) Endl. ex Walp., but can be readily distinguished from it by its lower stems, smaller leaves, shorter flowering pedicels, shorter carpels, longer sepals and inner petals. A detailed description, comprising illustrations, and supplemented with DNA barcodes of the two regions of rbcL and matK, are provided.

A new species, Callicarpa bachmaensis Soejima & Tagane, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam. This species has a characteristic liana habit, white corolla, and narrowly elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, entire, occasionally subequal leaves, by which it is clearly distinguished from the other previously known species of this genus.

Lithium dialkylcuprates may potentially form mixed aggregates with many species in solution. Those include excess alkyllithium used to prepare the cuprate, lithium halide, and lithium cyanide from cuprate preparation and from coupling reactions with alkyl halides, higher order cuprates, and species resulting from incomplete cuprate reactions. The M06 DFT method was used to elucidate the structures and energies of formation of potential mixed aggregates. A comparison was made to available experimental data.

In awake spontaneously breathing mice, inhaling gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced a "suspended animation-like" metabolic status with hypothermia and reduced O2 demand, thus protecting from lethal hypoxia. Murine models may be questioned, however, because due to their large surface area/mass ratio, rodents can rapidly drop their core temperature. Therefore, we investigated whether intravenous H2S (Na2S, sodium sulfide) would induce a comparable metabolic response in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs. Because H2S was reported to improve heart function after myocardial ischemia, we also investigated whether sulfide would influence the noradrenaline responsiveness during reperfusion after aortic occlusion. After 2 h of i.v. sulfide (0.2 mg.kg followed by 2 mg.kg.per h; n=8) or vehicle (n=8), animals underwent 30 minutes of aortic occlusion with nitroglycerine, esmolol, and adenosine-5'-triphosphate adjusted to maintain MAP at 80% to 120% of baseline. During reperfusion, noradrenaline was titrated to keep MAP greater than or equal to 80% of this level. Sulfide reduced heart rate and cardiac output without affecting stroke volume, markedly decreased the time and dose of noradrenaline required to maintain hemodynamic targets, and caused a drop in core temperature concomitant with lower O2 uptake and CO2 production. Although arterial PCO2 and acid-base status were comparable, arterial PO2 was lower in the sulfide group at the end of the experiment. Sulfide attenuated the reperfusion-related hyperlactatemia, although glycemia was higher at the end of the experiment. The parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress did not differ. Intravenous sulfide allowed reducing energy expenditure in an anesthetized large-animal model and improved the noradrenaline responsiveness during reperfusion after aortic occlusion. Investigations are warranted, hence, whether it may also protect other organs after I/R injury.

Background: Aortic occlusion causes ischemia/reperfusion injury, kidney and spinal cord being the most vulnerable organs. Erythropoietin improved ischemia/reperfusion injury in rodents, which, however, better tolerate ischemia/reperfusion than larger species. Therefore, we investigated whether erythropoietin attenuates porcine aortic occlusion ischemia/reperfusion injury., Materials and Methods: Before occluding the aorta for 45 mins by inflating intravascular balloons, we randomly infused either erythropoietin (n = 8; 300 IU/kg each over 30 mins before and during the first 4 hrs of reperfusion) or vehicle (n = 6). During aortic occlusion, mean arterial pressure was maintained at 80% to 120% of baseline by esmolol, nitroglycerine, and adenosine 5'-triphosphate. During reperfusion, noradrenaline was titrated to keep mean arterial pressure >80% of baseline. Kidney perfusion and function were assessed by fractional Na-excretion, p-aminohippuric acid and creatinine clearance, spinal cord function by lower extremity reflexes and motor evoked potentials. Blood isoprostane levels as well as blood and tissue catalase and superoxide dismutase activities allowed evaluation of oxidative stress. After 8 hrs of reperfusion, kidney and spinal cord specimens were taken for histology (hematoxylin-eosin, Nissl staining) and immunohistochemistry (TUNEL assay for apoptosis)., Results: Parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidative activity were comparable. Erythropoietin reduced the noradrenaline requirements to achieve the hemodynamic targets and may improve kidney function despite similar organ blood flow, histology, and TUNEL staining. Neuronal damage and apoptosis was attenuated in the thoracic spinal cord segments without improvement of its function., Conclusion: During porcine aortic occlusion-induced ischemia/reperfusion erythropoietin improved kidney function and spinal cord integrity. The lacking effect on spinal cord function was most likely the result of the pronounced neuronal damage associated with the longlasting ischemia.