Discovery and evolution of aloperine derivatives as novel anti-filovirus agents through targeting entry stage.

Preventing filoviruses in the entry stage is an attractive antiviral strategy. Taking aloperine, a Chinese natural herb with an endocyclic skeleton, as the lead, 23 new aloperine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-filovirus activities including ebola virus (EBOV) and marburg virus (MARV) using pseudotyped virus model. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that the introduction of a 12N-dichlorobenzyl group was beneficial for the potency.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 12N-substituted Tricyclic Matrinic Derivatives as a Novel Family of Anti-Influenza Agents.

Background: Influenza is still a serious threat to human health with significant morbidity and mortality, so it is desirable to develop novel anti-flu drug agents with novel structures.

Objective: The main purpose of this research was to explore broad-spectrum anti-flu agents and provide antiviral stockpiles in response to potential future influenza pandemics.

Methods: Fifteen novel 12N-substituted tricyclic matrinic derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-influenza activities against H1N1 subtype taking 12N-p-cyanobenzenesulfonyl matrinane (1) as the lead.

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Background/purpose: It has been shown that the abnormality in immune cells in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients is closely associated with the participation of TGF-β. In order to study the relationship between TGF-β1 and CFS, we investigated the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with CFS.

Methods: Fluorescent quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) was performed to test TGF-β1 mRNA expression in PBMCs in 63 cases of CFS, 50 cases of disease controls, and 50 cases of healthy controls.

[Crop root growth and water uptake in maize/soybean strip intercropping].

A field experiment was conducted to study the root distribution and water adsorption of maize and soybean in their strip intercropping. The results showed that under the condition of full irrigation, both maize roots and soybean roots were distributed approximately in triangle-shape in soil profile. Maize roots extended horizontally into a wider area, 58 cm away from the plant row and usually occurred in 16-22 cm soil layer.

[Acute transverse myelitis associated with coxsackievirus B---A retrospective analysis of 7 patients].

Objective: Acute Transverse myelitis (ATM) is a focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord, resulting in motor, sensory, and autonomic nerve dysfunction. There is often a clearly defined rostral border of sensory dysfunction. Nowadays, the pathogenesis of ATM is not clear.

[Spatiotemporal distribution patterns of winter wheat and spring maize root systems under intercropping].

In this paper, root samples of winter wheat and spring maize under intercropping were taken with large-bore soil auger, and the dynamics of their spatiotemporal distribution were studied. The results showed that both in vertical and in horizontal directions, the root mass of winter wheat decreased in power function, while that of spring maize decreased in exponent function. Multiple linear regression was made to establish the two-dimensional spatiotemporal distribution functions of intercropped winter wheat and spring maize root biomass, and the validation tests demonstrated that theses functions were available to describe the real growth status of test crops root systems.

[Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: analysis of 82 cases].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and provide clinical and laboratory evidence for the study of its etiology and treatment.

Methods: 82 patients with CFS diagnosed based on the CDC criteria 1994 were recruited. History was collected, and physical examination was made.

[Detection of antibody against Borna disease virus-p24 in the plasma of Chinese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome by Western-blot analysis].

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of infection with Borna disease virus (BDV) in Chinese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and control subjects, and to discuss the etiological association between CFS and infection with BDV.

Methods: The CDC (1994) diagnostic criteria for CFS were used for case definition. Sixty-one patients suffered from CFS were from 11 Provinces in China.