Recurrence and influencing factors of hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance induced by peginterferon alpha-based regimens.

Background: The long-term stability of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance following peginterferon alpha (peg-IFN-α)-based therapy has not been extensively studied, leaving the full potential and limitations of this strategy unclear.

Aim: To assess HBsAg recurrence after seroclearance achieved by peg-IFN-α regimens.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted from November 2015 to June 2021 at three Chinese hospitals: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ankang Central Hospital, and The Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University.

Coixol mitigates Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced liver injury by inhibiting the Toxoplasma gondii HSP70/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatic macrophages.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Coix seed, the dry mature seed kernel of the gramineous plant coix (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf), is widely consumed as a traditional Chinese medicine and functional food in China and South Korea.

Application of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid in the structural modification of natural products: a review.

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is an oleane-type pentacyclic triterpene saponin obtained from glycyrrhizic acid by removing 2 glucuronic acid groups. GA and its analogues are active substances of glycyrrhiza aicd, with similar structure and important pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, anti-tumor and anti-fibrosis. Although GA combined compounds are in the clinical trial stages, its application potential is severely restricted by its low bioavailability, water solubility and membrane permeability.

Effects of Training with a Brain-Computer Interface-Controlled Robot on Rehabilitation Outcome in Patients with Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Stroke is always associated with a difficult functional recovery process. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a technology which provides a direct connection between the human brain and external devices. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether training with a BCI-controlled robot can improve functions in patients with subacute stroke.

Ginsenoside Rh2 reduces depression in offspring of mice with maternal toxoplasma infection during pregnancy by inhibiting microglial activation via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Maternal () infection during pregnancy has been associated with various mental illnesses in the offspring. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a major bioactive compound obtained from ginseng that has an anti- effect and attenuates microglial activation through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. GRh2 also alleviated tumor-associated or lipopolysaccharide-induced depression.

Tenofovir Alafenamide for Pregnant Chinese Women With Active Chronic Hepatitis B: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Background & Aims: Data on long-term tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) therapy for pregnant women with active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (immune clearance and reactivation phases, currently and previously diagnosed) and their infants are lacking.

Methods: Pregnant women with active CHB treated with TAF and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study, and infants received immunoprophylaxis. The primary outcomes were rates of adverse (safety) events in pregnant women and defects in infants and fetuses.

Formononetin represses cervical tumorigenesis by interfering with the activation of PD-L1 through MYC and STAT3 downregulation.

A. membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicine that regulates blood sugar levels, suppresses inflammation, protects the liver, and enhances immunity. In addition, A.

Resveratrol modulates Toxoplasma gondii infection induced liver injury by intervening in the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite that can cause liver diseases in the host, including hepatitis and hepatomegaly. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is the main inflammatory mediator causing cell injury or necrosis.

Usnic acid suppresses cervical cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting PD-L1 expression and enhancing T-lymphocyte tumor-killing activity.

The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is abnormally expressed in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade reduces the apoptosis and exhaustion of T cells and inhibits the development of malignant tumors. Usnic acid is a dibenzofuran compound originating from Usnea diffracta Vain and has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and anticancer activities.

Britannin stabilizes T cell activity and inhibits proliferation and angiogenesis by targeting PD-L1 via abrogation of the crosstalk between Myc and HIF-1α in cancer.

Background: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in tumor cells, which causes tumor cells to escape T cell killing, and promotes tumor cell survival, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Britannin is a natural product with anticancer pharmacological effects.

Purpose: In this work, we studied the anticancer potential of britannin and explored whether britannin mediated its effect by inhibiting the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells.

Erianin regulates programmed cell death ligand 1 expression and enhances cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl is a cultivation of Dendrobium which belongs to the family of Orchidaceae. D. chrysotoxum Lindl is a traditional Chinese medicine with a wide range of clinical applications including tonic, astringent, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties as early as the 28th century B.

Ginsenoside Rh2 attenuates microglial activation against toxoplasmic encephalitis via TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a characterized component in red ginseng widely used in Korea and China. GRh2 exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, its effects on () infection have not been clarified yet.

Short-term Peginterferon-Induced High Functional Cure Rate in Inactive Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Carriers With Low Surface Antigen Levels.

Background: None of the current guidelines recommend antiviral therapy for inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers (IHCs).

Methods: In this real-world, multicenter, nonrandomized study, 32 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled 1:1 for treatment with peginterferon α-2b or monitoring without treatment based on participant preference. The expected treatment duration was 48 weeks.

Antidepressive Effect of Arctiin by Attenuating Neuroinflammation via HMGB1/TLR4- and TNF-α/TNFR1-Mediated NF-κB Activation.

Inflammation is a potential factor in the pathophysiology of depression. A traditional Chinese herbal medicine, arctiin, and its aglycone, arctigenin, are the major bioactive components in and exhibit neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Arctigenin has been reported to have antidepressant-like effects.

Clinical course and treatment efficacy of COVID-19 near Hubei Province, China: A multicentre, retrospective study.

Currently, COVID-19 has been reported in nearly all countries globally. To date, little is known about the viral shedding duration, clinical course and treatment efficacy of COVID-19 near Hubei Province, China. This multicentre, retrospective study was performed in 12 hospitals in Henan and Shaanxi Provinces from 20 January to 8 February 2020.

Arctigenin exhibits hepatoprotective activity in Toxoplasma gondii-infected host through HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis with the highest incidence in humans. Severe lesions due to acute toxoplasmosis have been recorded in the visceral organs including the liver, where hepatocytes and Kupffer cells are important innate immune cells. Arctigenin (AG) is a bioactive ingredient of Arctium lappa L.

Curcumol inhibits the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 through crosstalk between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and STAT3 (T705) signaling pathways in hepatic cancer.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Curcuma wenyujin is a Chinese traditional herbal medicine that is commonly used as an anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-tumorigenic agent. Curcumol is a representative index component for the quality control of the essential oil of Curcuma wenyujin, which is currently used as an anti-cancer drug, and is included in the State Pharmacopoeia Commission of the People's Republic of China (2005). However, the mechanisms of action and molecular functions of curcumol are not yet fully elucidated.

Panaxadiol inhibits programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression and tumour proliferation via hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and STAT3 in human colon cancer cells.

Panaxadiol is a triterpenoid sapogenin monomeric compound found in the roots of Panax ginseng and has a variety of biological activities such as neuroprotective and anti-tumour functions. However, the mechanisms how panaxadiol exerts the anticancer effects remain unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the potential activity of panaxadiol on programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumour proliferation in human colon cancer cells and to identify the underlying mechanism.

Convallatoxin protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice by inhibiting NF-κB signaling through activation of PPARγ.

Convallatoxin (CNT) is a cardiac glycoside isolated from Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde and has both anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action of CNT was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Stimulation of mouse macrophages with lipopolysaccharide induced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines via suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), two transcription factors implicated in many inflammatory diseases.

Dictamnine promotes apoptosis and inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion and proliferation by downregulating the HIF-1α and Slug signaling pathways.

Dictamnine (DTM) is a natural alkaloid isolated from the root of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz and has been shown to exhibit multiple biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-angiogenic and anticancer activity. However, the mechanisms by which dictamnine inhibits tumor growth are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of dictamnine as a treatment for cancer and to identify the underlying mechanisms of its anticancer activity.

Up-regulation of SR-BI promotes progression and serves as a prognostic biomarker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) has been reported to be involved in carcinogenesis of several human cancers. However, it is currently unknown whether SR-BI plays a role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, we aimed to evaluate a tumor promotive mechanism for SR-BI in ccRCC.

Chelidonine inhibits TNF-α-induced inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB pathways in HCT116 cells.

Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a complex that regulates several hundreds of genes, including those involved in immunity and inflammation, survival, proliferation, and the negative feedback of NF-κB signaling. Chelidonine, a major bioactive, isoquinoline alkaloid ingredient in Chelidonium majus, exhibits antiinflammatory pharmacological properties. However, its antiinflammatory molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Amorfrutin A inhibits TNF-α induced JAK/STAT signaling, cell survival and proliferation of human cancer cells.

Context: Amorfrutin A is a natural product isolated from the fruits of Amorpha fruticosa L. and has been shown to exhibit multiple bioeffector functions. In the present study, we investigated whether amorfrutin A exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting STAT3 activation in cervical cancer cells.