The purpose of the study was to determine the concentration of serum trace and other essential elements of generalized anxiety disorder patients and to find out the relationship between element levels and nutritional status or socioeconomic factors. The study was conducted among 50 generalized anxiety disorder patients and 51 healthy volunteers. Patients were selected and recruited in the study with the help of a clinical psychologist by random sampling. The concentrations of serum trace elements (Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe) and other two essential elements (Ca and Mg) were determined by graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Data were analyzed by independent t test, Pearson's correlation analysis, regression analysis, and analysis of variance. The serum concentrations of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, and Mg in generalized anxiety disorder patients were 1.069 ± 0.40, 1.738 ± 0.544, 1.374 ± 0.750, 3.203 ± 2.065, 108.65 ± 54.455, and 21 ± 4.055 mg/L, while those were 1.292 ± 0.621, 0.972 ± 0.427, 0.704 ± 0.527, 1.605 ± 1.1855, 101.849 ± 17.713, and 21.521 ± 3.659 mg/L in control subjects. Significantly decreased (p < 0.05) serum Zn concentration was found in the patient group compared to the control group while serum level of Cu, Mn, and Fe was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, but the differences of the concentration of Ca and Mg between the patient and control groups were not significant (p > 0.05). Socioeconomic data revealed that most of the patients were in the lower middle class group and middle-aged. Mean BMI of the control group (23.63 ± 3.91 kg/m(2)) and the patient group (23.62 ± 3.77 kg/m(2)) was within the normal range (18.5-25.0 kg/m(2)). The data obtained from different interelement relations in the generalized anxiety disorder patients and control group strongly suggest that there is a disturbance in the element homeostasis. So changes in the serum trace element level in generalized anxiety disorder patients occur independently and they may provide a prognostic tool for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

The sea cucumber (phylum Echinodermata) body wall is the first line of defense and is well known for its production of secondary metabolites; including vitamins and triterpenoid glycoside saponins that have important ecological functions and potential benefits to human health. The genes involved in the various biosynthetic pathways are unknown. To gain insight into these pathways in an echinoderm, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis and functional annotation of the body wall and the radial nerve of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra; to define genes associated with body wall metabolic functioning and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. We show that genes related to signal transduction mechanisms were more highly represented in the H. scabra body wall, including genes encoding enzymes involved in energy production. Eight of the core triterpenoid biosynthesis enzymes were found, however, the identity of the saponin specific biosynthetic pathway enzymes remains unknown. We confirm the body wall release of at least three different triterpenoid saponins using solid phase extraction followed by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry. The resource we have established will help to guide future research to explore secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the sea cucumber.

Exposure to solar ultraviolet B (UV-B) is a known causative factor for many skin complications such as wrinkles, black spots, shedding and inflammation. Within the wavelengths 280–320 nm, UV-B can penetrate to the epidermal level. This investigation aimed to test whether extracts from the tropical abalone [Haliotis asinina (H. asinina)] mucus-secreting tissues, the hypobranchial gland (HBG) and gills, were able to attenuate the inflammatory process, using the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell line. Cytotoxicity of abalone tissue extracts was determined using an AlamarBlue viability assay. Results showed that HaCaT cells could survive when incubated in crude HBG and gill extracts at concentrations between <11.8 and <16.9 μg/ml, respectively. Subsequently, cell viability was compared between cultured HaCaT cells exposed to serial doses of UV-B from 1 to 11 (x10) mJ/cm2 and containing 4 different concentrations of abalone extract from both the HBG and gill (0, 0.1, 2.5, 5 μg/ml). A significant increase in cell viability was observed (P<0.001) following treatment with 2.5 and 5 μg/ml extract. Without extract, cell viability was significantly reduced upon exposure to UV-B at 4 mJ/cm2. Three morphological changes were observed in HaCaT cells following UV-B exposure, including i) condensation of cytoplasm; ii) shrunken cells and plasma membrane bubbling; and iii) condensation of chromatin material. A calcein AM-propidium iodide live-dead assay showed that cells could survive cytoplasmic condensation, yet cell death occurred when damage also included membrane bubbling and chromatin changes. Western blot analysis of HaCaT cell COX-2, p38, phospho-p38, SPK/JNK and phospho-SPK/JNK following exposure to >2.5 μg/ml extract showed a significant decrease in intensity for COX-2, phospho-p38 and phospho-SPK/JNK. The present study demonstrated that abalone extracts from the HGB and gill can attenuate inflammatory proteins triggered by UV-B. Hence, the contents of abalone extract, including cellmetabolites and peptides, may provide new agents for skin anti-inflammation, preventing damage due to UV-B.

Background Cytochrome P450s (P450s) are enzymes that play critical roles in the biosynthesis of physiologically important compounds across all organisms. Although they have been characterised in a large number of plant species, no information relating to these enzymes are available from the genus Fontainea (family Euphorbiaceae). Fontainea is significant as the genus includes species that produce medicinally significant epoxy-tigliane natural products, one of which has been approved as an anti-cancer therapeutic. Results A comparative species leaf metabolome analysis showed that Fontainea species possess a chemical profile different from various other plant species. The diversity and expression profiles of Fontainea P450s were investigated from leaf and root tissue. A total of 103 and 123 full-length P450 genes in Fontainea picrosperma and Fontainea venosa, respectively (and a further 127/125 partial-length) that were phylogenetically classified into clans, families and subfamilies. The majority of P450 identified are most active within root tissue (66.2% F. picrosperma, 65.0% F. venosa). Representatives within the CYP71D and CYP726A were identified in Fontainea that are excellent candidates for diterpenoid synthesis, of which CYP726A1, CYP726A2 and CYP71D1 appear to be exclusive to Fontainea species and were significantly more highly expressed in root tissue compared to leaf tissue. Conclusion This study presents a comprehensive overview of the P450 gene family in Fontainea that may provide important insights into the biosynthesis of the medicinally significant epoxy-tigliane diterpenes found within the genus.

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