Structural basis for the inhibition of coronaviral main proteases by PF-00835231.

The main protease (M ) of coronaviruses plays a key role in viral replication, thus serving as a hot target for drug design. PF-00835231 is a promising inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M . Here, we report the inhibitory potency of PF-00835231 against SARS-CoV-2 M and seven M mutants (G15S, M49I, Y54C, K90R, P132H, S46F, and V186F) from SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Effects of Complex Antioxidants Added to Chicken Diet on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, Meat Quality, and Antioxidant Capacity.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with various levels of complex antioxidants () containing tertiary butylhydroquinone () and tea polyphenols () on growth performance, meat quality of breast and leg muscles, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, breast meat, jejunum, and ileum in broilers. A total of 600 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers with similar body weights were randomly divided into three groups (10 replicates/group, 20 broilers/replicate). Birds in the three experimental groups were fed a basal diet with CA at 0, 300, and 500 mg/kg.

Structural Basis for Coronaviral Main Proteases Inhibition by the 3CLpro Inhibitor GC376.

The main protease (M) of coronaviruses participates in viral replication, serving as a hot target for drug design. GC376 is able to effectively inhibit the activity of M, which is due to nucleophilic addition of GC376 by binding covalently with Cys145 in M active site. Here, we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay to analyze the IC values of GC376 against Ms from six different coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HUK1, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, HCoV-NL63) and five M mutants (G15S, M49I, K90R, P132H, S46F) from SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Crystal structures of main protease (M) mutants of SARS-CoV-2 variants bound to PF-07304814.

There is an urgent need to develop effective antiviral drugs to prevent the viral infection caused by constantly circulating SARS-CoV-2 as well as its variants. The main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 is a salient enzyme that plays a vital role in viral replication and serves as a fascinating therapeutic target. PF-07304814 is a covalent inhibitor targeting SARS-CoV-2 M with favorable inhibition potency and drug-like properties, thus making it a promising drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.

Evaluation of the Inhibition Potency of Nirmatrelvir against Main Protease Mutants of SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a threat to public health. Main protease (M) is one of the most lucrative drug targets for developing specific antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 infection. By targeting M, peptidomimetic nirmatrelvir is able to inhibit viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the risk for progression to severe COVID-19.

Effects of Fat Pre-Emulsification on the Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Index, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Nutrient Utilization, and Standardized Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids in Pekin Ducks Fed Diets with Different Fat Sources.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fat pre-emulsification on growth performance, the serum biochemical index, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, nutrient utilization, and the standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids (SIDAA) in Pekin ducks fed diets containing different fat sources. Three hundred and twenty healthy ten-day-old Pekin male ducks (409 ± 27 g) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design and given one of two types of poultry fat (duck fat or a mixed type of fat composed of chicken fat and duck fat in a 1:1 ratio) that had been pre-emulsified or not. This resulted in four treatments of eight replicates, with each replicate having ten ducks.

Evaluation of CD98 light chain-LAT1 as a potential marker of cancer stem-like cells in glioblastoma.

Objective: Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are a minority population of glioma cells that regarded as the cause of tumor formation and recurrence. Identifying new molecular strategies targeting GSCs must be urgently developed to treat glioblastoma. In this study, one of CD98 light chain-L type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) was found as a potential GSC marker.

Sirtuin 1 participates in intervertebral disc degeneration via the nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/sirtuin 1 pathway responsible for regulating autophagy of nucleus pulposus cells.

Disc degeneration is the main cause of discogenic low back pain, disc herniation, degenerative stenosis of spinal canal, lumbar spondylolisthesis and other diseases. In the process of intervertebral disc degeneration, water and extracellular matrix of nucleus pulposus tissues are lost, so the normal tension in the intervertebral disc cannot be maintained, which worsens the living environment of nucleus pulposus cells. Low back pain (LBP), with a high incidence rate of disability, has become an increasing health concern and a social and economic problem.

Insulin negatively regulates dedifferentiation of mouse adipocytes in vitro.

Insulin plays an important role during adipogenic differentiation of animal preadipocytes and the maintenance of mature phenotypes. However, its role and mechanism in dedifferentiation of adipocyte remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of insulin on dedifferentiation of mice adipocytes, and the potential mechanisms.

Recovery from rat sciatic nerve injury in vivo through the use of differentiated MDSCs in vitro.

In this study, muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) whose differentiation into neuron-like cells was induced by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and Salvia (Salvia miltiorrhiza) in vitro were used to repair rat sciatic nerve injuries in vivo, in order to investigate their multifunctional characteristics as pluripotent stem cells. The sciatic nerve in the right side of the lower limb was exposed under the anesthetized condition of 10% chloral hydrate (0.3 ml/100 g) injection into the abdominal cavity.

[Theophylline in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study].

Objective: To observe the benefits and safety of low-dose, slow-release oral theophylline for long-term treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This was a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Slow-release theophylline (200 mg/d) twice daily or placebo (matching theophylline) was randomly given to 110 patients with stable COPD in the rural area of Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, for one year.

Positive benefits of theophylline in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of low-dose, slow-release theophylline in the treatment of COPD for 1 year.

Objective And Background: Increasing evidence suggests that low-dose theophylline has anti-inflammatory benefits and is safe in the treatment of COPD. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose, slow-release oral theophylline administered over a 1-year period in patients with COPD.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was carried out.

[Study on the prevalence rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in northern part of Guangdong province].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its risk factors in population over 40 years old in northern part of Guangdong province.

Methods: Using uniform scheme, procedures and questionnaire, a cluster-randomized-sampling survey for the population aged over 40 years in a rural area of Shaoguan in the northern part of Guangdong province was performed. Spirometry was performed for every participant, followed by a bronchodilatation test when bronchial obstruction was present.