The genotype distribution, infection stage and drug resistance mutation profile of human immunodeficiency virus-1 among the infected blood donors from five Chinese blood centers, 2014-2017.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) exhibits high diversity and complexity in China, challenging the disease surveillance and antiretroviral therapy. Between July 1, 2014 and January 30, 2017, we investigated the profiles of HIV-1 infection stages, genotype distribution and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) using plasma samples from HIV Western blot (WB) confirmed blood donors from five Chinese blood centers (Chongqing, Guangxi, Luoyang, Mianyang, and Urumqi). HIV pol regions consisted of whole protease and partial reverse transcriptase were genotyped and analyzed for DRMs.

Molecular and functional analysis of a brown planthopper resistance protein with two nucleotide-binding site domains.

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) resistance gene BPH9 encodes an unusual coiled-coil (CC) nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein with two nucleotide-binding site (NBS) domains. To understand how this CC-NBS-NBS-LRR (CNNL) protein regulates defense signaling and BPH resistance, we dissected each domain's functions. The CC domain of BPH9 self-associated and was sufficient to induce cell death.

Characteristics of the source apportionment of primary and secondary inorganic PM in the Pearl River Delta region during 2015 by numerical modeling.

Fine particulate matter (PM) contains both primary and secondary components, and their source apportionment characteristics in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region during 2015 were compared by applying an air quality model coupled with an on-line tracer-tagged module. The results of contributions from different source regions to primary PM (PPM) and secondary inorganic PM (SIPM) in four selected cities show that the effect of regional transport on the SIPM level is stronger than that on the PPM level in the PRD region. For both Guangzhou city and the average of the entire PRD region, the industrial (25-40%) and transportation (20-25%) sectors are major sources of PPM and SIPM.

Genetic and molecular understanding of host rice resistance and Nilaparvata lugens adaptation.

The variability of brown planthopper (BPH) populations and diversity of the host rice germplasm provide an ideal model for exploring the genetic and molecular basis of insect-plant interactions. During the long-term evolutionary arms race, complicated feeding and defense strategies have developed in BPH and rice. Nine major BPH resistance genes have been cloned and the exploration of BPH resistance genes medicated mechanism against BPH shed a light on the molecular basis of the rice-BPH interaction.

Lipidomic analyses reveal enhanced lipolysis in planthoppers feeding on resistant host plants.

The brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is a highly destructive pest that seriously damages rice (Oryza sativa L.) and causes severe yield losses. To better understand the physiological and metabolic mechanisms through which BPHs respond to resistant rice, we combined mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics with transcriptomic analysis and gene knockdown techniques to compare the lipidomes of BPHs feeding on either of the two resistant (NIL-Bph6 and NIL-Bph9) plants or a wild-type, BPH susceptible (9311) plant.

Resveratrol contributes to the inhibition of liver fibrosis by inducing autophagy via the microRNA‑20a‑mediated activation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Liver fibrosis (LF) is a healing response to wounds resulting in liver injury that can cause liver failure or even cancer without functional prevention. Resveratrol (RSV) has been suggested to exert biological effects against various human diseases. MicroRNA‑20a (miRNA/miR‑20a) has been shown to promote disease progression.

Design, synthesis, molecular modeling, and biological evaluation of acrylamide derivatives as potent inhibitors of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a viable target for the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and immunological diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and multiple sclerosis (MS). Herein, a series of acrylamide-based novel DHODH inhibitors as potential RA treatment agents were designed and synthesized. 2-Acrylamidobenzoic acid analog was identified as the lead compound for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.

Salivary Protein 1 of Brown Planthopper Is Required for Survival and Induces Immunity Response in Plants.

The brown planthopper (BPH), Stål, is one of the major pests of rice. It uses its stylet to penetrate rice phloem, feeding on rice sap and causing direct damage to rice or even plant death. During the feeding process, BPHs secrete saliva into plant tissues, which plays crucial roles in the plant-insect interactions.

Thymosin alpha-1 blocks the accumulation of myeloid suppressor cells in NSCLC by inhibiting VEGF production.

Background: Thymosin alpha-1 (TA) has been reported to inhibit tumor growth as an immunomodulator. However, its mechanism of action in immunosuppressive cells is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether TA can reshape the immune microenvironment by inhibiting the function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

A New Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Specific Monitoring of hROS under Physiological Conditions Using Boric Acid-Protected l-DOPA Gold Nanoclusters.

The specific monitoring of physiological highly reactive oxygen species (hROS) using fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) remains a challenge for scientists. Herein, SLB-AuNC was first synthesized via an ecofriendly one-pot method using starch as a template, l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) as a reducing and a capping agent, and boric acid as a protecting agent for the catechol moiety of l-DOPA. The ingenious introduction of starch and boric acid enhanced the dispersibility, quantum yield, and photostability of fluorescent SLB-AuNCs.

EGCG induces β-defensin 3 against influenza A virus H1N1 by the MAPK signaling pathway.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the main component of green tea, which has been proven to inhibit a variety of viruses, including influenza A virus. However, the mechanism of EGCG against influenza virus remains to be further explored. The mechanism of EGCG against influenza virus was studied.

Effect of "Tonifying Kidney and Invigorating Brain" acupuncture in children with spastic cerebral palsy analyzed by multi-modality MRI combined with dynamic electroencephalogram.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability of childhood. Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for 60% to 70% of cases. Research has shown that acupuncture can improve the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.

Eight immune-related genes predict survival outcomes and immune characteristics in breast cancer.

Advancements in immunotherapy have improved our understanding of the immune characteristics of breast cancer. Here, we analyzed gene expression profiles and clinical data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify genes that were differentially expressed between breast tumor tissues and normal breast tissues. Comparisons with the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort) indicated that many of the identified differentially expressed genes were immune-related.

Novel and potent inhibitors targeting DHODH are broad-spectrum antivirals against RNA viruses including newly-emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide, such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH, S312 and S416, with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles, which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses, including influenza A virus, Zika virus, Ebola virus, and particularly against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.

Inhibiting Importin 4-mediated nuclear import of CEBPD enhances chemosensitivity by repression of PRKDC-driven DNA damage repair in cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer (CC) remains highest in the mortality of female reproductive system cancers, while cisplatin (CDDP) resistance is the one of main reasons for the lethality. Preceding evidence has supported that karyopherins are associated with chemoresistance. In this study, we simultaneously compared CDDP-incomplete responders with CDDP-complete responders of CC patients and CDDP-insensitive CC cell lines with CDDP-sensitive group.

Sucrose transportation control mediates the fresh-keeping effects of burdock fructooligosaccharide in 'Crimson Seedless' grapes.

In 'Crimson Seedless' grapes, the appearance of senescence caused by abnormal dark red color, the loss of crisp taste caused by the decrease in firmness, and the fading of sweetness caused by the decrease in total soluble sugar (TSS) are the main problems affecting its edible qualities after storage. In the mesocarp, burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) restricted sucrose export; therefore, more carbohydrates were retained directly leading to higher TSS and sweetness, and cell osmotic pressure and firmness were retained indirectly. In the exocarp, BFO restricted sucrose import; therefore, the signal molecule sucrose was reduced and the senescence-related processes were inhibited.

[Effect of scalp acupuncture stimulation on cerebral cortex function and related mechanism].

A literature review was performed to investigate the possible mechanism of scalp acupuncture in stimulating the skin, fascia, muscle, and periosteum and thus affecting cerebral cortex function. The results of literature research show that the effect of scalp acupuncture on cerebral cortex function may be achieved by the stimulation of specific anatomical structures. Stimulation of the skin, fascia, muscle and periosteum can activate the functional areas of the cerebral cortex through the midbrain, thalamus, and brainstem.

A phase 1b study of dual PD-1 and CTLA-4 or KIR blockade in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies.

Simultaneously targeting other pathways could increase the activity of PD-1 blockade in lymphoid malignancies not sensitive to single-agent blockade. We explored the safety and efficacy of combined PD-1 and CTLA-4 or KIR blockade in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) lymphoid malignancies. This phase 1b trial enrolled adult patients with R/R classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), or multiple myeloma (MM).

MicroRNA-7 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis by regulating Atg5-mediated autophagy.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, with a low 5-year survival rate (5-9%). The abnormal expression of miRNA in liver cancer cells may play an important role in the pathophysiology of liver cancer. The ability of tumor invasion and metastasis is an important indicator to evaluate the degree of malignancy of HCC.

Metformin protects against ischaemic myocardial injury by alleviating autophagy-ROS-NLRP3-mediated inflammatory response in macrophages.

Myocardial ischaemia is usually accompanied by inflammatory response which plays a critical role in the myocardial healing and scar formation, while persistent inflammatory response contributes greatly to the myocardial remodeling and consequent heart failure. Metformin (Met), a widely used hypoglycemic drug, has increasingly been shown to exert remarkable cardioprotective effect on ischaemic myocardial injury such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the underlying mechanisms are still far from being fully understood.

[Inulin increases the proportion of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in peripheral blood, liver, spleen and regulates the secretion of plasma inflammatory cytokines in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective To investigate the effect of inulin on monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) and plasma inflammatory cytokines in mouse models with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal diet group, inulin-treated control group, NAFLD model group and inulin-treated NAFLD model group. The normal diet group and inulin-treated control group were given normal diet daily, while the other two groups were fed high-fat diet (60% fat) instead.