The phospholipase effector Tle1 promotes virulence by killing competitors and impacting gene expression.

utilizes the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) to gain an advantage in interbacterial competition by delivering anti-prokaryotic effectors in a contact-dependent manner. However, the impact of T6SS and its secreted effectors on physiological behavior remains poorly understood. In this study, we present Tle1, a phospholipase effector in atypical pathogenic E1 that is secreted by T6SS via its interaction with VgrG1.

Discovery of potent immune-modulating molecule taccaoside A against cancers from structures-active relationships of natural steroidal saponins.

Background: In recent years, the T-cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors toward CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 axis antibody therapy have acquired encouraging success. However, most of patients were still not benefited with lots of troubles, such as low penetration of tissues/cells, strong immunogenicity and cytokine release syndrome, and long manufacturing process and expensive costs. By contrast, the immune-modulating small molecules possessed natural advantages to overcome these obstacles and might achieve greater success.

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory diterpenoids with highly oxygenated substituents from kidney tea (Clerodendranthus spicatus).

The whole plant of Clerodendranthus spicatus (Thunb.) is one of popular functional food in south of China, named as "kidney tea" and used to ameliorate renal inflammation. In order to verify this potential function and explore the accurate compounds responsible for inflammation, the ethanol extract, fractions, and subfractions of this plant were prepared to evaluate anti-inflammation effect on xylene-induced acute inflammatory mice model, and the results indicated that two subfractions from EtOAc fraction show potential activities.

Atrial and Ventricular Response to Treatment of Premature Ventricular Complexes.

Background: Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) may cause ventricular dyssynchrony and lead to left atrium and ventricle mechanical abnormalities. Although ventricular cardiomyopathy due to PVCs has been well studied, little is known about atrial adaptation to PVCs.

Objectives: To assess atrial and ventricular responses to PVC therapy.

"Kidney Tea" and Its Bioactive Secondary Metabolites for Treatment of Gout.

, popularly known as "kidney tea" in China, is consumed traditionally as a functional food for treatment of renal inflammation, dysuria, and gout. We evaluated the effects of on gout by assessing activities of antihyperuricemia, anti-gouty arthritis, and analgesia , and the results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction shows potential activities. Subsequent phytochemical investigation of this fraction led to the isolation of 32 compounds, consisting of 20 diterpenoids (including the new orthosiphonones E and F), 2 triterpenoids, 6 flavonoids, 2 lignanoids, and 2 phenolic acid derivatives.

The characteristics and prescription patterns of Chinese herbal medicine in clinical practice for the treatment of anemia.

Objective: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is frequently applied to patients to improve the symptoms and signs associated with anemia. The aim of this study is to use the claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan to analyze CHM prescription patterns and to identify the frequency and combinations of CHM commonly used to treat anemia.

Materials And Methods: A total of 41,028 patients were diagnosed with anemia in Taiwan within the defined study period.

Comparison of inducible versus constitutive expression of plectasin on yields and antimicrobial activities in Pichia pastoris.

Background: Plectasin might serve as a substitute for traditional antibiotics, but its yields and antimicrobial activities warrant further investigation.

Objective: To identify the influence of inducible versus constitutive expression of plectasin on yields and antimicrobial activities.

Methods: Through SOE-PCR, a recombinant plectasin gene was generated and inserted into inducible (pPICZαA) and constitutive (pGAPZαA) vectors in order to create Pichia pastoris GS115 strains.

The halogen bond between amantadine and iodine and its application in the determination of amantadine hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals.

It is proposed that molecular iodine as a donor could form halogen bonding complexes with amantadine (AMD) and amantadine hydrochloride (AMD-HCl) in chloroform and the resultant charge transfer bands (CT band) would be located at 259 and 253 nm, respectively. The halogen bonding interaction was explored by UV absorption, Raman and X-ray crystallography, and a new bonding model named N(+)···N(lep) bond in crystal was observed. The halogen bonding complexes were utilized in the development of simple and accurate spectrophotometry for the analysis of AMD/AMD-HCl.