Rapid adaptation of avian H7N9 virus in pigs.

How the H7N9 avian influenza virus gained the distinct ability to infect humans is unclear. Pigs are an important host in influenza virus ecology because they are susceptible to infection with both avian and human influenza viruses and are often involved in interspecies transmission. Here, we passaged one avian isolate and one human isolate in pigs to examine the mammalian host adaptation of the H7N9 virus.

NF-kappaB-dependent microRNA-425 upregulation promotes gastric cancer cell growth by targeting PTEN upon IL-1β induction.

Overexpression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β is associated with diverse diseases, including cancer. Alteration of microRNAs has been observed in cancer cells exposed to proinflammatory cytokines, yet their function in inflammation stress remains elusive. Here, we show that IL-1β induces the upregulation of miR-425, which negatively regulates phosphatase and tensin homolog expression by targeting its 3' UTR.

IL-13Rα2-bearing, type II NKT cells reactive to sulfatide self-antigen populate the mucosa of ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with the presence of lamina propria non-invariant (Type II) NKT cells producing IL-13 and mediating epithelial cell cytotoxicity. Here we sought to define the antigen(s) stimulating the NKT cells and to quantitate these cells in the UC lamina propria.

Design: Detection of Type II NKT cells in UC lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) with lyso-sulfatide loaded tetramer and quantum dot-based flow cytometry and staining.

Keep warm and get success: the role of postischemic temperature in the mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model.

Intraluminal suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model is the most frequently used model for ischemic stroke. However, the success rate of this model is variable among different research studies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of postischemic temperature on the success rate.

Intranasal immunization of mice with inactivated virus and mast cell activator C48/80 elicits protective immunity against influenza H1 but not H5.

Vaccination represents the most economic and effective strategy of preventing influenza pandemics. We previously demonstrated that intranasal immunization of mice with recombinant hemagglutinin and the mast cell activator C48/80 elicited protective immunity against challenge with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza in mice, demonstrating that the novel C48/80 mucosal adjuvant was safe and effective. The present study demonstrated that intranasal immunization with inactivated H1N1 virus and C48/80 elicited protective immunity against lethal challenge with homologous virus, however, when the immunogen was replaced with inactivated H5N1 virus protection was lost.

Higher Immunological Protection of Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Influenza Live Virus Infection than Split Vaccine Against the Homologous Virus for Long Term Immunization in Ferret.

The study was to evaluate the long term immunological efficacy of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza live virus infection and split vaccine against the homologous virus challenge in ferrets. Antibodies in ferrets were monitored by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay for 200 days, the HI titers of both infected-only and vaccinated plus infected ferrets could maintain a high level for at least 182 days, without significant difference between the two infected groups. While one-dose and two-dose vaccinated ferrets could last a moderate antibody titers for 81 days, with its peak value at day 7 post immunization.

Molecular modeling of the 3D structure of 5-HT(1A)R: discovery of novel 5-HT(1A)R agonists via dynamic pharmacophore-based virtual screening.

The serotonin receptor subtype 1A (5-HT(1A)R) has been implicated in several neurological conditions, and potent 5-HT(1A)R agonists have therapeutic potential for the treatment of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. In the present study, a homology model of 5-HT(1A)R was built based on the latest released high-resolution crystal structure of the β₂AR in its active state (PDB: 3SN6). A dynamic pharmacophore model, which takes the receptor flexibility into account, was constructed, validated, and applied to our dynamic pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach with the aim to identify potential 5-5-HT(1A)R agonists.

Metabolic inflammation exacerbates dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in response to acute MPTP challenge in type 2 diabetes mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Increasing epidemiological evidence has indicated that type 2 diabetes (T2D) may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. However, the exact association and the underlying mechanism remain unclear.

An animal model of MERS produced by infection of rhesus macaques with MERS coronavirus.

In 2012, a novel coronavirus (CoV) associated with severe respiratory disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV; previously known as human coronavirus-Erasmus Medical Center or hCoV-EMC), emerged in the Arabian Peninsula. To date, 114 human cases of MERS-CoV have been reported, with 54 fatalities. Animal models for MERS-CoV infection of humans are needed to elucidate MERS pathogenesis and to develop vaccines and antivirals.

Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction preserves mitochondrial integrity and reduces apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion via the mitochondrial p53 pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XXMD) has been used to treat stroke and other neurological diseases for more than 1000 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of XXMD on mitochondrial damage and apoptosis after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), and cerebral ischemia and reperfusion plus XXMD (60 g/kg/day) (XXMD60).

Electrochemical immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen using gold nanoparticle-graphene composite modified glassy carbon electrode.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is typically associated with certain tumors and developing fetus, is widely used as a clinical tumor marker for some familiar cancers. In this work, a simple and sensitive electrochemical CEA sensor was developed by employing immunoreaction. Gold nanoparticle-decorated graphene composites (Au-GN) were successfully synthesized based on the reduction of HAuCl4 in the presence of graphene.

Quantitative assessment of the influence of prostate stem cell antigen polymorphisms on gastric cancer risk.

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored 123-amino acid protein related to the cell proliferation inhibition and/or cell death induction activity which has attracted considerable attention as a candidate gene for gastric cancer (GC) since it was first identified through genome-wide association approach. Since then, the relationship between PSCA polymorphisms (rs2294008, rs2976392) and GC has been reported in various ethnic groups; however, these studies have yielded inconsistent results. To investigate this inconsistency, we performed a meta-analysis of 16 studies involving a total of 18,820 cases and 35,756 controls for the two widely studied polymorphisms of PSCA on genetic susceptibility for GC.

Developing Fe3O4 nanoparticles into an efficient multimodality imaging and therapeutic probe.

A rapid ligand-exchange method was developed to transfer high quality hydrophobic magnetite nanocrystals into water-soluble NPs by using protocatechuic acid as a ligand via homogenous reaction. After ligand exchange, the magnetite nanocrystals not only exhibited outstanding stability in water, but also maintained high crystallinity and saturation magnetization. Cell viability experiments demonstrated good biocompatibility of the NPs.

Effects of sevoflurane on the expression of tau protein mRNA and Ser396/404 site in the hippocampus of developing rat brain.

Background: General anesthesia induces a transient hyperphosphorylation of tau protein that is associated with neurotoxicity in neonatal rats, but the mechanism remains unknown. The current study sought to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on the levels of tau phosphorylation at phosphor-Ser396/404 and total tau mRNA in the hippocampus of neonatal rats.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six 7-day-old rats were randomly exposed for 6 h to either 3% sevoflurane (S) or air (NC) as a placebo.

Fluorescence assay for glycan expression on living cancer cells based on competitive strategy coupled with dual-functionalized nanobiocomposites.

Cell surface glycans are a class of sophisticated biomolecules related to cancer development and progression, and their analysis is of great significance for early cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this paper, we proposed a fluorescence assay to evaluate glycan expression on living cancer cells based on a competitive strategy coupled with dual-functionalized nanobiocomposites. The competitive assay was conducted between living cancer cells and thiomannosyl derivatives using concanavalin A (Con A)-modified electrode as the interaction platform.

Antigenicity and transmissibility of a novel clade 2.3.2.1 avian influenza H5N1 virus.

A genetic variant of the H5N1 influenza virus, termed subclade 2.3.2.

Intestinal aGVHD and infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: We aimed to guide clinical nursing by studying the relationship between intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease and intestinal infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Material/methods: We present an effective nursing method by comparing and analyzing the degree, duration time, and volume of diarrhea, and the distribution of pathogens in 44 patients who developed intestinal aGVHD after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (24 patients with no intestinal infection).

Results: 21.

3-aroylmethylene-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4(11bH)-ones as potent Nrf2/ARE inducers in human cancer cells and AOM-DSS treated mice.

Nrf2-mediated activation of ARE regulates expression of cytoprotective enzymes against oxidative stress, inflammation, and carcinogenesis. We have discovered a novel structure (1) as an ARE inducer via luciferase reporter assay to screen the in-house database of our laboratory. The potency of 1 was evaluated by the expression of NQO-1, HO-1, and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in HCT116 cells.

Effective screening strategy using ensembled pharmacophore models combined with cascade docking: application to p53-MDM2 interaction inhibitors.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a crucial role in cellular function and form the backbone of almost all biochemical processes. In recent years, protein-protein interaction inhibitors (PPIIs) have represented a treasure trove of potential new drug targets. Unfortunately, there are few successful drugs of PPIIs on the market.

[Application of HCMV DNA detection in infants' blood, urine and mothers' breast milk in the diagnosis of HCMV infection among infants].

Objective: To quantify human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in the blood and urine of infants of different ages with suspected HCMV infection, and in the breast milk of their mothers, and to evaluate the significance of HCMV DNA detection in the three specimen types in the diagnosis of HCMV infection among infants of different ages.

Methods: A total of 170 infants with suspected HCMV infection were divided into groups A (<28 days; n=43) and B (28 days to 5 months; n=127) according to their ages. Blood and urine were collected from the infants, and breast milk was collected from their mothers.

The use of a double-lumen central venous catheter for airway management in pediatric patients undergoing laryngeal papillomatosis surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a spontaneous ventilation anesthesia technique with insufflation of oxygen and volatile agent through a double-lumen central venous catheter (DLCVC) in pediatric patients undergoing suspension laryngoscopic surgery for laryngeal papillomatosis.

Methods: Thirty-six pediatric patients with laryngeal papillomatosis undergoing suspension laryngoscopic surgery were anesthetized with oxygen and volatile anesthetic insufflation while spontaneously breathing. Anesthesia was induced by inhalation of 8% sevoflurane in oxygen by mask.

Evolutionary history of Triticum petropavlovskyi Udacz. et Migusch. inferred from the sequences of the 3-phosphoglycerate kinase gene.

Single- and low-copy genes are less likely to be subject to concerted evolution. Thus, they are appropriate tools to study the origin and evolution of polyploidy plant taxa. The plastid 3-phosphoglycerate kinase gene (Pgk-1) sequences from 44 accessions of Triticum and Aegilops, representing diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid wheats, were used to estimate the origin of Triticum petropavlovskyi.

Novel avian-origin human influenza A(H7N9) can be transmitted between ferrets via respiratory droplets.

The outbreak of human infections caused by novel avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) in China since March 2013 underscores the need to better understand the pathogenicity and transmissibility of these viruses in mammals. In a ferret model, the pathogenicity of influenza A(H7N9) was found to be less than that of an influenza A(H5N1) strain but comparable to that of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1), based on the clinical signs, mortality, virus dissemination, and results of histopathologic analyses. Influenza A(H7N9) could replicate in the upper and lower respiratory tract, the heart, the liver, and the olfactory bulb.