Mixed Rare-Earth Chalcogenide Borate EuREMgSBO (RE = Sm, Gd) Featuring a 3D {[BO]} Framework Connected by [BO(O)] and [BO(O)] Clusters.

Rare-earth (RE) chalcogenide borates are very rarely discovered in view of the difficulties in synthesis though they have demonstrated attractive physical performances. Here, the first mixed RE chalcogenide borates EuSmMgSBO () and EuGdMgSBO () are synthesized by combining RE, sulfur, and borate ions into one structure. They crystallize in the centrosymmetric hexagonal space group 6/, and their 3D honeycomb-like {[BO]} open frameworks are built by [BO(O)] and [BO(O)] polyanionic clusters and consolidated by Mg ions; both of which are formed by BO tetrahedra and BO planar triangles.

Seed Germination and Seed Bank Dynamics of (Brassicaceae): A Weed on the Northeastern Edge of Tibetan Plateau.

As a versatile cruciferous species, is widely cultivated, but in some areas, it has become an invasive weed. There are few studies on its seed dormancy and soil seed bank. This research examined seed dormancy, germination, and dynamics of the soil seed bank of , with a view to provide support for its prevention and control.

[Construction and Expression of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Recombinant Vectors of and 63 Dominant Epitopes of ].

Objective: To construct eukaryotic and prokaryotic recombinant vectors containing - 63 and to achieve protein expression by selecting the dominant epitope genes of and 63 of .

Methods: The secondary structure and HLA epitopes of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK) were predicted by in silico analysis, and the dominant epitopes were picked out. According to the analysis results of glycoprotein of 63×10 (GP63) epitopes identified by the same method in our laboratory, the dominant epitope genes of and 63 were used to construct pET32a- - 63 and pVAX1- - 63 by overlapping PCR and enzyme reaction.

Smoking history and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Some studies imply a strong correlation between smoking history and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively investigate this correlation.

Methods: Three online databases including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched.

Comparative short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery for older patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity matched study.

To investigate comparative short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for older non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Patients ≥ 65 years old with stage I-III NSCLC operated with RAS or VATS from 2016 to 2018 were consecutively included. Propensity score-matched (PSM) method was implemented to balance inter-group biases.

Seed dormancy release of Halenia elliptica in response to stratification temperature, duration and soil moisture content.

Background: Although the effect of cold stratification on seed dormancy release has been extensively studied for many species, knowledge of the role of stratifying temperature, soil moisture content and duration of stratification on seed dormancy release at the population level is limited. Here, we aimed to determine the response of seed dormancy release to these factors in six populations of Halenia elliptica.

Results: Seed dormancy release was more responsive to low than high temperatures, and no dormancy break occurred at 8 °C.

Evaluation of in vitro antileishmanial efficacy of cyclosporin A and its non-immunosuppressive derivative, dihydrocyclosporin A.

Background: New therapeutic drugs are urgently needed against visceral leishmaniasis because current drugs, such as pentavalent antimonials and miltefosine, produce severe side effects and development of resistance. Whether cyclosporine A (CsA) and its derivatives can be used as therapeutic drugs for visceral leishmaniasis has been controversial for many years.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of CsA and its derivative, dihydrocyclosporin A (DHCsA-d), against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania donovani.

Pathogenic Leishmania spp. detected in lizards from Northwest China using molecular methods.

Background: Leishmaniosis, a disease caused by pathogenic Leishmania parasites, remains an unresolved health problem in the New World and the Old World. It is well known that lizards can be infected by a subgenus of Leishmania parasites, i.e.

An Investigation on the Molecular Characteristics and Intracellular Growth Ability among Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Legionella pneumophila in Sichuan Province, China.

Objective: To investigate the molecular characteristics and intracellular growth ability of Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) strains from 1989 to 2016 in Sichuan Province, China.

Methods: Seventy-nine isolates of L.

Direct and Indirect Inhibition Effects of Resveratrol against Tachyzoites .

is one of the most widespread obligatory parasitic protozoa and infects nearly all warm-blooded animals, leading to toxoplasmosis. The therapeutic drugs currently administered, like the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, show high rates of toxic side effects, and drug resistance is encountered in some cases. Resveratrol is a natural plant extract with multiple functions, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and antiparasite activities.

The first successful report of the in vitro life cycle of Chinese Leishmania: the in vitro conversion of Leishmania amastigotes has been raised to 94% by testing 216 culture medium compound.

Chinese Leishmania isolate MHOM/CN/90/SC10H2 (L. H2), which was obtained from the spinal cords of patients from the Sichuan province of China, is an uncharacterized, pathogenic species closely related to Leishmania tarentolae. The in vitro transformation rate of L.

Molecular detection, identification and phylogenetic inference of Leishmania spp. in some desert lizards from Northwest China by using internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences.

Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania is still endemic in Northwest China. It has been thought that reptiles could be a reservoir for mammalian leishmaniasis. However, data are still scarce on natural infection of lizards with Leishmania spp.

[Construction and Expression of Vector with mip/flaA Advantages Epitope Genes of Legionella pneumophila].

Objective: To generate and express fusion vector with mip/flaA advantages epitope genes of Legionella pneumophila by select mip and flaA advantages epitope genes for future research on Legionella pneumophila protein vaccine.

Methods: Following analysis of secondary structure and surface properties such as: physical and chemical properties, hydropathy, plasticity, antigen index and extracellular domain of Mip and FlaA proteins by bioinformatics methods, the region which active epitope may exist was selected as advantages epitope region. Then, the recombinant plasmid pET-mip, pET-flaA and pET-mip/flaA with advantages epitope genes were constructed by PCR amplification and T4 ligase connection, and induced the expression in E.

Prognostic value of stromal decorin expression in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: Numbers of studies have investigated the biological functions of decorin (DCN) in oncogenesis, tumor progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. Although many of them aim to highlight the prognostic value of stromal DCN expression in breast cancer, some controversial results still exist and a consensus has not been reached until now. Therefore, our meta-analysis aims to determine the prognostic significance of stromal DCN expression in breast cancer patients.

Regulation of intrinsic apoptosis in cycloheximide-treated macrophages by the Sichuan human strain of Chinese Leishmania isolates.

Leishmania spp. are able to survive and proliferate inside mammals' mononuclear phagocytes, causing Leishmaniasis. Previous studies have noted that the regulation of apoptosis in host cells by these parasites may contribute to their ability to evade the immune system.

Analysis of kinetoplast cytochrome b gene of 16 Leishmania isolates from different foci of China: different species of Leishmania in China and their phylogenetic inference.

Background: Leishmania species belong to the family Trypanosomatidae and cause leishmaniasis, a geographically widespread disease that infects humans and other vertebrates. This disease remains endemic in China. Due to the large geographic area and complex ecological environment, the taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationship of Chinese Leishmania isolates remain uncertain.

Phylogenic analysis of Chinese Leishmania isolates based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 7 spliced leader RNA (7SL RNA).

The leishmaniases are zoonotic diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmaniases are still endemic in China, especially in the west and northwest froniter regions. To revalue the preliminary phylogenetic results of Chinese Leishmania isolates, we amplified partial fragment of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 7 spliced leader RNA (7SL RNA), then tested the phylogenetic relationships among Chinese Leishmania isolates and their relatives by analyzing SSU rRNA gene sequences and 7SL RNA gene sequences.

Prevalence of canine leishmaniasis in Beichuan County, Sichuan, China and phylogenetic evidence for an undescribed Leishmania sp. in China based on 7SL RNA.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease, which is still endemic in the west and northwest area of China. Canines are the major reservoirs of Leishmania, the etiological agent of human visceral leishmaniasis. Phlebotomus chinensis is the main transmission vector of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL).

Protective immunity against Legionnaires' disease in an A/J mouse model using a DNA vaccine composed of an outer membrane protein (29 kDa) and the pilE fusion protein.

In order to assess the protective effects of the DNA vaccine (pcDip/pilE) against Legionella pneumophila, the coding sequences of the 2 proteins were cloned into the pET32a(+) and pcDNA3.1(+) vectors. To provide an enhanced immunological response, the proteins were linked together.

Application of multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) for accurate identification of Legionella spp. Isolated from municipal fountains in Chengdu, China, based on 16S rRNA, mip, and rpoB genes.

Legionellosis (Legionnaires' disease; LD) is a form of severe pneumonia caused by species of Legionella bacteria. Because inhalation of Legionella-contaminated aerosol is considered the major infection route, routine assessments of potential infection sources such as hot water systems, air-conditioner cooling water, and municipal fountains are of great importance. In this study, we utilized in vitro culture and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) targeting 16S rRNA, mip, rpoB, and mip-rpoB concatenation to isolate and identify Legionella spp.

Serodiagnosis efficacy and immunogenicity of the fusion protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis composed of the 10-kilodalton culture filtrate protein, ESAT-6, and the extracellular domain fragment of PPE68.

In order to identify immunodominant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that may be used in the serodiagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB), we designed an M. tuberculosis fusion protein consisting of CFP-10 (10-kDa culture filtrate protein), ESAT-6 (6-kDa early secreted antigenic target), and the extracellular domain fragment of PPE68 (PPE68'). Then, the coding sequences of the three proteins were inserted into a prokaryotic expression vector, pET-32a(+).

Axenic culture and identification of amastigotes from Sichuan human strain of Chinese Leishmania isolates.

This work describes a simple method to yield large amounts of the isolate MHOM/CN/90/SC10H2 amastigotes-like forms in axenic cultures using promastigotes as the starting population. The isolate MHOM/CN/90/SC10H2, used in this study, belongs to an undescribed species of Leishmania endemic to hill foci in China. The method describes induced extracellular amastigote transformation of this isolate.

Evaluation of the protective immunity of the Legionella pneumophila recombinant protein FlaA/MompS/PilE in an A/J mouse model.

To investigate the protect effects of the recombinant protein FlaA/MompS/PilE against Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila), the coding sequences of the three proteins were optimized by DNA Star software firstly, cloned, expressed by Escherichia coli BL21, and purified. To give an enhanced the immunological response, the proteins were linked together with (Linker) or without a linker insert (NLinker) and were purified from E.

Species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships of Chinese Leishmania isolates reexamined using kinetoplast cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences.

Leishmaniasis is a geographically widespread disease caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania and transmitted by certain species of sand fly. This disease still remains endemic in China, especially in the west and northwest frontier regions. A recent ITS1 phylogeny of Chinese Leishmania isolates has challenged some aspects for their traditional taxonomy and cladistic hypotheses of their phylogeny.