Mycobacterium paragordonae pulmonary disease with rapidly growing solitary lesions: a case report and literature review.

Introduction: Mycobacterium paragordonae (MPG) is a novel and uncommon nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM). We describe a case of MPG pulmonary disease (MPGPD) with a single, rapidly growing, pulmonary mass, which has rarely been reported.

Case Report: A chest CT scan of a 66-year-old woman revealed a rapidly growing solitary mass-like lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung, which was not seen in the previous chest CT scan six months ago.

Solitary primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma: A case report.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an uncommon and highly malignant soft tissue sarcoma in the clinic, with primary pulmonary SS (PPSS) being extremely rare. Here, we describe the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of a solitary PPSS case confirmed surgical resection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Case Summary: A 33-year-old man was admitted because of intermittent coughing and hemoptysis for one month, with lung shadows observed for two years.

Total Chemical Synthesis of Correctly Folded Disulfide-Rich Proteins Using a Removable O-Linked β--Acetylglucosamine Strategy.

Disulfide-rich proteins are useful as drugs or tool molecules in biomedical studies, but their synthesis is complicated by the difficulties associated with their folding. Here, we describe a removable glycosylation modification (RGM) strategy that expedites the chemical synthesis of correctly folded proteins with multiple or even interchain disulfide bonds. Our strategy comprises the introduction of simple O-linked β--acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) groups at the Ser/Thr sites that effectively improve the folding of disulfide-rich proteins by stabilization of their folding intermediates.

Comparison of different strategies towards the chemical synthesis of long-chain scorpion toxin AaH-II.

Long-chain scorpion toxin AaH-II isolated from Androctonus australis Hector can selectively inhibit mammalian voltage-gated sodium ion channel Na 1.7 responsible for pain sensation. Efficient chemical synthesis of AaH-II and its derivatives is beneficial to the study of the function and mechanism of Na 1.

Early Use of Corticosteroid May Prolong SARS-CoV-2 Shedding in Non-Intensive Care Unit Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Randomized Control Trial.

Background: There is still no clinical evidence available to support or to oppose corticosteroid treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid given to the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized control trial.

Effects of Glycosylation and d-Amino Acid Substitution on the Antitumor and Antibacterial Activities of Bee Venom Peptide HYL.

Glycosylation is a promising strategy for modulating the physicochemical properties of peptides. However, the influence of glycosylation on the biological activities of peptides remains unknown. Here, we chose the bee venom peptide HYL as a model peptide and 12 different monosaccharides as model sugars to study the effects of glycosylation site, number, and monosaccharide structure on the biochemical properties, activities, and cellular selectivities of HYL derivatives.

Hospitalization and Critical Care of 109 Decedents with COVID-19 Pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, spreads across national and international borders. The overall death rate of COVID-19 pneumonia in the Chinese population was 4%. To describe the process of hospitalization and critical care of patients who died of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Flumazenil-Insensitive Benzodiazepine Effects in Recombinant αβ and Neuronal GABA Receptors.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, type A (GABA) receptors are complex heterogeneous pentamers with various drug binding sites. Several lines of evidence suggest that benzodiazepines modulate certain GABA receptors in a flumazenil-insensitive manner, possibly via binding sites other than the classical ones. However, GABA receptor subtypes that contain non-classical benzodiazepine binding sites are not systemically studied.

Wnt1/β-catenin signaling upregulates spinal VGLUT2 expression to control neuropathic pain in mice.

Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2)-which uptakes glutamate into presynaptic vesicles-is a fundamental component of the glutamate neurotransmitter system. Although several lines of evidence from genetically modified mice suggest a possible association of VGLUT2 with neuropathic pain, the specific role of VGLUT2 in the spinal cord during neuropathic pain, and its regulatory mechanism remain elusive. In this study, we report that spared nerve injury induced an upregulation of VGLUT2 in the spinal cord, and intrathecal administration of small hairpin RNAs (shRNA) against VGLUT2 before or after surgery attenuated mechanical allodynia, and pathologically-enhanced glutamate release.

The Impact and Mechanism of a Novel Allosteric AMPA Receptor Modulator LCX001 on Protection Against Respiratory Depression in Rodents.

Analgesics and sedative hypnotics in clinical use often give rise to significant side effects, particularly respiratory depression. For emergency use, specific antagonists are currently administered to counteract respiratory depression. However, antagonists are often short-lasting and eliminate drug generated analgesia.

Total synthesis and cyclization strategy of samoamide A, a cytotoxic cyclic octapeptide rich in proline and phenlalanine isolated from marine cyanobacterium.

Samoamide A is a cyclic octapeptide rich in proline and phenylalanine residues isolated from an American Samoa marine cyanobacterium, which exhibits potent activity against H460 human non-small-cell lung cancer cells (IC of 1.1 μM). The first total synthesis of samoamide A was achieved by employing a strategy of a solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and a head-to-tail cyclization selecting free steric-hinrance connection sites.

The opioid receptor triple agonist DPI-125 produces analgesia with less respiratory depression and reduced abuse liability.

Opioid analgesics remain the first choice for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, but they are also notorious for their respiratory depression and addictive effects. This study focused on the pharmacology of a novel opioid receptor mixed agonist DPI-125 and attempted to elucidate the relationship between the δ-, μ- and κ-receptor potency ratio and respiratory depression and abuse liability. Five diarylmethylpiperazine compounds (DPI-125, DPI-3290, DPI-130, KUST202 and KUST13T02) were selected for this study.

Resolving the α-glycosidic linkage of arginine-rhamnosylated translation elongation factor P triggers generation of the first Arg specific antibody.

A previously discovered posttranslational modification strategy - arginine rhamnosylation - is essential for elongation factor P (EF-P) dependent rescue of polyproline stalled ribosomes in clinically relevant species such as and . However, almost nothing is known about this new type of -linked glycosylation. In the present study we used NMR spectroscopy to show for the first time that the α anomer of rhamnose is attached to Arg32 of EF-P, demonstrating that the corresponding glycosyltransferase EarP inverts the sugar of its cognate substrate dTDP-β-l-rhamnose.

Activation of NRF2/ARE by isosilybin alleviates Aβ25-35-induced oxidative stress injury in HT-22 cells.

Aβ-mediated oxidative stress damage is considered a direct cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, drugs that have been developed to block oxidative stress are considered effective for AD treatment. Isosilybin is a flavonoid compound extracted from Silybum marianum, and it has been confirmed to have many pharmacological activities.

Effect of thienorphine on intestinal transit and isolated guinea-pig ileum contraction.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of thienorphine on small intestinal transit in vivo and on guinea-pig ileum (GPI) contraction in vitro.

Methods: The effects of thienorphine on intestinal transit were examined in mice and in isolated GPI. Buprenorphine and morphine served as controls.

[Primary investigation on heterodimerization of kappa-opioid receptor and ORL1 receptor].

This study investigates whether kappa-opioid receptor and ORL1 receptor may interact to form a heterodimer. In immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation experiments, differentially epitope-tagged receptors, colocalization and heterodimerization of kappa-opioid receptor and ORL1 receptor were used and examined in primary culturing rat neurons, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. The results show that fluorescence of both kappa-opioid receptor and ORL1 receptor were overlapping in primary culturing hippocampal and cortical neurons.

Pharmacological mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive and tolerance effects of the 6,14-bridged oripavine compound 030418.

Aim: To investigate possible pharmacological mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive effect of and tolerance to N-methyl-7α-[(R)-1-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(thien-3-yl)-propyl]-6,14-endo-ethanotetrahydronororipavine (030418), a derivative of thienorphine.

Methods: The binding affinity and efficacy of 030418 were determined using receptor binding and guanosine 5'-O-(3-[(35)S]thio)triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPγS) assays in CHO-μ, CHO-κ, CHO-δ, and CHO-ORL1 cell membranes. The analgesic activity of and tolerance to 030418 were evaluated in thermal nociceptive tests in mice.

TH-030418: a potent long-acting opioid analgesic with low dependence liability.

Numerous efforts have been made on the chemical modification of opioid compounds, with the ultimate goal of developing new opioid analgesics that is highly potent and low/non-addictive. In a search for such compounds, TH-030418 [7α-[(R)-1-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(thien-3-yl)-propyl]-6,14-endo-ethanotetrahydrooripavine] was synthesized. Here, we evaluated the pharmacological activities of TH-030418, in comparison with morphine, the prototype opioid analgesic.

[Effect of spinal glutamate transporter 1 on chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve and morphine tolerance of rats].

In order to investigate the role of spinal glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in the neuropathic pain and morphine tolerance, rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve was performed, and the mechanical allodynia was evaluated by mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), the expression of GLT-1 was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis. The results showed that compared to sham group, the MWT of CCI group had decreased approximately 80%. Administration of morphine alone could develop tolerance rapidly in initial two days, and then had no significant difference with CCI group, the expression of GLT-1 was down-regulated.

Anxiolytic-like effect of asiaticoside in mice.

The putative anxiolytic activity of asiaticoside was examined in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety, with diazepam being as a positive anxiolytic control. In the elevated plus-maze test, diazepam (1 and 2 mg/kg) or asiaticoside (5 or 10 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of time spent on open arms. In the light/dark test, as with 1 mg/kg diazepam, asiaticoside (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased the time spent in the light area and the movement in the light area without altering the total locomotor activity of the animals.

Effects of taurine on rat behaviors in three anxiety models.

In our previous studies using an elevated plus-maze test in mice, taurine was shown to present an anxiolytic-like effect after single and repeated administration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anxiolytic and behavioral effects of taurine on rats in the open field, hole-board, and social interaction test compared to the positive control diazepam. Taurine (14, 42, and 126 mg/kg, i.

Behavioral effects of sinomenine in murine models of anxiety.

The present study was designed to investigate the putative anxiolytic-like effect of sinomenine in three experimental models of anxiety in male rats and mice. Use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that sinomenine (20 and 40 mg/kg, p.o.

The effects of angelica essential oil in social interaction and hole-board tests.

In our previous studies, we have demonstrated the anxiolytic effects of angelica essential oil in three anxiety models using mice. This study aimed to characterize the similar behavior effects of angelica essential oil in the social interaction test of anxiety and the hole-board test of exploration and locomotor activity in rats. These results indicate that angelica essential oil possessed a wide range of anxiolytic properties.

Anxiolytic-like effect of paeonol in mice.

The present study in mice compared the putative anxiolytic-like effect of paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, with the benzodiazepine diazepam in the elevated plus maze and the light/dark box-test. The comparison was also with regard to locomotor activity (open-field test) and myorelaxant potential (inclined plane test). As with 2 mg/kg diazepam, paeonol (at 17.

Possible anxiolytic effects of taurine in the mouse elevated plus-maze.

The effects of taurine, an inhibitory amino acid, on the behavior of male mice were examined in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety. Acute taurine treatment (60 mg/kg, PO) significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms. Moreover, when taurine was administered daily for seven days and the plus-maze test was conducted 40 minutes after the last administration, a significant increase of the percentage of time in the open arms was observed even at dose of 2.