Correction: Discovery of 8-prenylnaringenin from hop (Humulus lupulus L.) as a potent monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor for treatments of neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease

Correction for ‘Discovery of 8-prenylnaringenin from hop (Humulus lupulus L.) as a potent monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor for treatments of neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease’ by Min-Che Tung et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 31062–31072, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05311F.

The authors regret that the name of one of the authors (Hsing-Mien Hsu) was shown incorrectly in the original article. The corrected author list is as shown above.The authors also regret an incorrect version of Fig. 7 was included in the original article. The correct version of Fig. 7 is presented below.Open in a separate windowFig. 7The dose-dependent inhibitions of the identified inhibitors against hMAGL.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Immunomodulatory and anti-SARS activities of Houttuynia cordata

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening form of pneumonia caused by SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). From late 2002 to mid 2003, it infected more than 8000 people worldwide, of which a majority of cases were found in China. Owing to the absence of definitive therapeutic Western medicines, Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae)(HC) was shortlisted by Chinese scientists to tackle SARS problem as it is conventionally used to treat pneumonia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to explore the SARS-preventing mechanisms of HC in the immunological and anti-viral aspects. RESULTS: Results showed that HC water extract could stimulate the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes significantly and dose-dependently. By flow cytometry, it was revealed that HC increased the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, it caused a significant increase in the secretion of IL-2 and IL-10 by mouse splenic lymphocytes. In the anti-viral aspect, HC exhibited significant inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV 3C-like protease (3CL(pro)) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). On the other hand, oral acute toxicity test demonstrated that HC was non-toxic to laboratory animals following oral administration at 16 g/kg. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provided scientific data to support the efficient and safe use of HC to combat SARS.     

Expectation and knowledge of pregnant women undergoing first and second trimester ultrasound examination in a Chinese population

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate expectation and knowledge on obstetric ultrasound examination in the first and second trimester in a Chinese population. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a university obstetric clinic in Hong Kong. Chinese pregnant women who underwent the first trimester early scan sessions, or the second trimester anomaly scan sessions were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire, which contained items on their knowledge, expectation, and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: In all 276 eligible pregnant women (117 in the first trimester and 159 in the second trimester) were recruited. Although 249 women (90.2%) claimed they understood the indication of the ultrasound examination, only 93 of them were correct (33.7%). The median perceived overall-detection rate for structural abnormalities was 66.5%. Living in Hong Kong for more than 7 years was significantly associated with higher knowledge level and expectation from ultrasound examination. Attaining tertiary education level was also significantly associated with higher knowledge level. Over 90% of the pregnant women studied wished to know the fetal gender from the anomaly scan examination. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of Chinese pregnant women on ultrasound was generally unsatisfactory. Understanding their limitation of knowledge and expectations helps to devise appropriate education in the local setting.     

Cervicovaginal fistula secondary to embedded fetal bones: a case report

BACKGROUND: Embedded fetal bone after surgical termination of midtrimester pregnancy is a recognized complication. Most cases occur in the uterine cavity; however, this case demonstrates that a cervicovaginal fistula can be caused by embedment of bone in the cervical canal. CASE: A 19-year-old girl presented with persistent smelly vaginal discharge 4 years after surgical pregnancy termination. On examination she had a cervicovaginal fistula with embedded fetal bone that was subsequently removed surgically. CONCLUSION: Cervicovaginal fistula can be a complication of surgical termination of midtrimester pregnancy as fetal bones can become embedded in the cervical canal during removal.     

N-Acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity in hydatidiform mole.

The N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity in hydatidiform mole is two-fold higher than that in full-term placenta. Qualitatively, the enzymes from the two tissues are similar with respect to KM values and pH optima. Both enzymes also contain a new isoenzyme form detectable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, the molar enzyme is more susceptible to heat denaturation, presumably due to the presence of a higher level of the heat-labile isoenzyme form A in this tissue. Data are also presented incicating that the placenta is not the source of the N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity in maternal serum.     

Amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit of transducin deduced from the cDNA sequence.

Transducin, a GTP-binding protein involved in phototransduction in the vertebrate retina, belongs to a family of homologous coupling proteins that also includes Gs and Gi, the regulatory proteins of adenylate cyclase. Here we report the cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of transducin's alpha subunit (T alpha). The cDNA was isolated, by screening with an antibody probe, from a bovine retinal cDNA library in the expression vector lambda gt11. The 2.2-kilobase cDNA insert hybridized to a single 2.6-kilobase poly(A)+ RNA species present in extracts of bovine retina but not of bovine heart, liver, or brain. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA revealed an open reading frame long enough to encode the entire 39-kDa T alpha polypeptide. The polypeptide sequence deduced from the cDNA would be composed of 350 amino acids and have a molecular weight of 39,971. Portions of the sequence matched reported amino acid sequences of T alpha tryptic fragments, including sites specifically ADP-ribosylated by cholera and pertussis toxins. The predicted sequence also includes four segments, ranging from 11 to 19 residues in length, that exhibit significant homology to sequences of GTP-binding proteins, including the ras proteins of man and yeast and the elongation factors of ribosomal protein synthesis in bacteria, EF-G and EF-Tu. In combination with previous functional studies of tryptic fragments of T alpha, the deduced amino acid sequence makes it possible to predict which portions of the polypeptide interact with other molecules involved in retinal phototransduction.