The role of AIM2 in inflammation and tumors.

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) serves as an intracellular nucleic acid sensor that predominantly detects double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) within the cells. This detection initiates the assembly of inflammasome and activates the inflammasome signaling cascade, resulting in the production of inflammatory mediators and the cleavage of Gasdermins. Consequently, these processes culminate in inflammatory responses and pyroptotic cell death.

AIM2 enhances Candida albicans infection through promoting macrophage apoptosis via AKT signaling.

Candida albicans is among the most prevalent invasive fungal pathogens for immunocompromised individuals and novel therapeutic approaches that involve immune response modulation are imperative. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), a pattern recognition receptor for DNA sensing, is well recognized for its involvement in inflammasome formation and its crucial role in safeguarding the host against various pathogenic infections. However, the role of AIM2 in host defense against C.

Prediction and prognostic potential of NR3C1 gene expression level in DLBCL patients.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common and frequently occurring subtype of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). The effective treatment and prognosis of DLBCL are still urgently needed to be explored. This article aims to shed light on the connection between DLBCL survival and NR3C1 expression levels.

Multiple Modes of Cell Death Discovered in a Prokaryotic (Cyanobacterial) Endosymbiont.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically-based cell death mechanism with vital roles in eukaryotes. Although there is limited consensus on similar death mode programs in prokaryotes, emerging evidence suggest that PCD events are operative. Here we present cell death events in a cyanobacterium living endophytically in the fern Azolla microphylla, suggestive of PCD.

Prognostic factors for community-acquired pneumonia in middle-aged and elderly patients treated with integrated medicine.

Objective: To identify prognostic factors in middle-aged and elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who underwent integrated interventions involving traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine.

Methods: Patients aged > or =45 years and diagnosed with CAP were divided into a middle-aged cohort (45-59 years) and an elderly cohort (> or =60 years), and clinical data comprising 75 predictor variables in seven classes were collected. After replacing missing data, calibrating multicenter differences and classifYing quantitative data, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.

[CCERW: a new rule to predict treatment failure in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in middle aged and elderly people].

Objective: To develop and validate a clinical rule to predict treatment failure in middle-aged and elderly patients suffering from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China, and to compare it with other prognostic rules.

Methods: Data of 58 variables affiliated to 6 aspects, including demographics, underlaying diseases, previous status, complications, symptoms, signs and laboratory examination results from the CAP patients aged≥45 years admitted to the respiratory departments in three university affiliated hospitals between December 17, 2006 and December 22, 2008 were enrolled prospectively and then validated in two groups to create a derivation cohort with 75% of the patients for rule development and an internal validation cohort with the other 25% for internal test. An external validation cohort was formed at the same time with patients admitted to the other university affiliated hospital for external test.

Class 1 integrons, selected virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from the Minjiang River, Fujian Province, China.

Widespread fecal pollution of surface waters in developing countries is a threat to public health and may represent a significant pathway for the global dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The Minjiang River drainage basin in Fujian Province is one of China's most intensive livestock and poultry production areas and is home to several million people. In the study reported here, Escherichia coli isolates (n = 2,788) were sampled (2007 and 2008) from seven surface water locations in the basin and evaluated by PCR for carriage of selected genes encoding virulence factors, primarily for swine disease.

Chinese herbs in treatment of influenza: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Antiwei, a traditional Chinese prescription, in the treatment of influenza.

Methods: In a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited 480 adults aged 18 to 65 years within 36 h of onset of influenza-like symptoms. There were 225 patients with confirmed influenza.

Cellular responses in the cyanobacterial symbiont during its vertical transfer between plant generations in the Azolla microphylla symbiosis.

The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between cyanobacteria and the water fern Azolla microphylla is, in contrast to other cyanobacteria-plant symbioses, the only one of a perpetual nature. The cyanobacterium is vertically transmitted between the plant generations, via vegetative fragmentation of the host or sexually within megasporocarps. In the latter process, subsets of the cyanobacterial population living endophytically in the Azolla leaves function as inocula for the new plant generations.