Identification of priority pathogens for aetiological diagnosis in adults with community-acquired pneumonia in China: a multicentre prospective study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major public health challenge worldwide. However, the aetiological and disease severity-related pathogens associated with CAP in adults in China are not well established based on the detection of both viral and bacterial agents.

Methods: A multicentre, prospective study was conducted involving 10 hospitals located in nine geographical regions in China from 2014 to 2019.

The Application of Cinnamon Twig Extract as an Inhibitor of Listeriolysin O against Infection.

As a major virulence factor of (), listeriolysin O (LLO) can assist in the immune escape of , which is critical for the pathogen to evade host immune recognition, leading to various infectious diseases. Cinnamon twig (CT), as a traditional medicine, has been widely used in clinics for multiple functions and it has exhibited excellent safety, efficacy and stability. There are few reports on the effects of the extracts of traditional medicine on bacterial virulence factors.

Naringenin Microsphere as a Novel Adjuvant Reverses Colistin Resistance via Various Strategies against Multidrug-Resistant Infection.

The efficacy of colistin, the last option against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria, is severely threatened by the prevalence of plasmid- or chromosome-mediated colistin resistance genes. Herein, naringenin has dramatically restored colistin sensitivity against colistin-resistant infection without affecting bacterial viability, inducing resistance and causing obvious cell toxicity. Mechanism analysis reveals that naringenin potentiates colistin activity by multiple strategies including inhibition of mobilized colistin resistance gene activity, repression of two-component system regulation, and acceleration of reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative damage.

[Corrigendum] Butein induces cell apoptosis and inhibition of cyclooxygenase‑2 expression in A549 lung cancer cells.

Following the publication of the above article, the authors have realized that an error was made in the Acknowledgements section in this paper; this research was not, in fact, supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of Jilin (Project no. 83657488), as had been stated. The authors regret their oversight in providing this incorrect information in the Acknowledgements section of their paper.

A Potential Inhibitor of MCR-1: An Attempt to Enhance the Efficacy of Polymyxin Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

The irrational use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has led to increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, and the emergence of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 has led to the dilemma of infections with no available cure. Here, we have found a potential MCR-1 inhibitor for use against infections caused by MCR-1 positive resistant bacteria. A checkerboard MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) assay, growth curve assay, kill curve assay, cytotoxicity assay, molecular dynamics simulation analysis, Western blot assay and mouse pneumonia model in vivo protection rate assay were used to evaluate the synergy effect between genistein and polymyxins.

Verbascoside Protects Mice From Clostridial Gas Gangrene by Inhibiting the Activity of Alpha Toxin and Perfringolysin O.

Gas gangrene, caused mainly by the anaerobic bacterium (), causes death within 48 h of onset. Limited therapeutic strategies are available, and it is associated with extremely high mortality. Both alpha toxin (CPA) and perfringolysin O (PFO) are important virulence factors in the development of gas gangrene, suggesting that they are therapeutic targets.

Morin inhibits Listeria monocytogenes virulence in vivo and in vitro by targeting listeriolysin O and inflammation.

Background: Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a global opportunistic intracellular pathogen that can cause many infections, including meningitis and abortion in humans and animals; thus, L. monocytogenes poses a great threat to public safety and the development of the aquaculture industry.

Isoalantolactone Enhances the Antimicrobial Activity of Penicillin G against by Inactivating β-lactamase during Protein Translation.

β-Lactamase-positive is one of the most prevalent multidrug-resistant pathogens worldwide and is associated with increasing threats to clinical therapeutics and public health. Here, we showed that isoalantolactone (IAL), in combination with penicillin G, exhibited significant synergism against 21 β-lactamase-positive strains (including methicillin resistant ). An enzyme inhibition assay, a checkerboard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, a growth curve assay, a time-killing assay, a RT-PCR assay and Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy were performed on different β-lactamases or β-lactamase-positive strains, in vitro, to confirm the mechanism of inhibition of β-lactamase and the synergistic effects of the combination of penicillin G and IAL.

[Retracted] Downregulation of NOB1 suppresses the proliferation and tumor growth of non‑small cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Oncol Rep 31: [Related article:] 1271‑1276, 2014; DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.

6'-O-galloylpaeoniflorin regulates proliferation and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer through AMPK/miR-299-5p/ATF2 axis.

Background: Recent studies have shown 6'-O-galloylpaeoniflorin (GPF), a nature product extracted from the roots of paeoniflorin exerts anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of GPF on the proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells have not been clarified.

Methods: MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of GPF treatment on NSCLC cells.

Identification of the natural product paeonol derived from peony bark as an inhibitor of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium type III secretion system.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is an important zoonotic pathogen in public health and food safety. The type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI) is a sophisticated molecular machine that facilitates active invasion, intracellular replication, and host inflammation.

Isorhamnetin attenuates Streptococcus suis virulence by inhibiting the inflammatory response.

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is one of the most common swine pathogens in the swine industry and leads to great harm to the normal progress of the swine industry. S.

Oridonin attenuates carrageenan-induced pleurisy via activation of the KEAP-1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibition of the TXNIP/NLRP3 and NF-κB pathway in mice.

The classic NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB molecular pathways are activated in many inflammatory-related diseases, such as pleurisy. Because oridonin (Ori) has been indicated as a covalent NLRP3 inhibitor with strong anti-inflammasome activity, we herein aimed to assess the effects of Ori in a mouse model of carrageenan (CAR)-induced pleurisy. The results showed that CAR caused hemorrhaging and exudation of lung tissues and the release of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β), effects that were significantly reduced by treatment with Ori.

6'--Galloylpaeoniflorin Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Activation.

6'--galloylpaeoniflorin (GPF), a galloylated derivative of paeoniflorin isolated from peony root, has been proven to possess antioxidant potential. In this present study, we revealed that GPF treatment exerted significant neuroprotection of PC12 cells following OGD, as evidenced by a reduction of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, cellular injury, and apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, treatment with GPF increased the levels of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), as well as promoted Nrf2 translocation in PC12 cells, which could be inhibited by Ly294002, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K).

Coexistence of t(2;14;11)(p16.1;q32;q23) and t(14;19)(q32;q13.3) chromosome translocations in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report.

Rationale: With combination of multiple techniques, we have successfully characterized unique, complex chromosomal changes in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a lymphoproliferative disorder.

Diagnoses: The diagnosis was based on white blood cell, flow cytometry, and immunophenotypes and confirmed by karyotype, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and array comparative genomic hybridization from the patient's blood culture.

Interventions: The patient was given fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) for 6 cycles.

Isoliquiritigenin Activates Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2 Related Factor 2 to Suppress the NOD-Like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasome and Inhibits the NF-κB Pathway in Macrophages and in Acute Lung Injury.

Among the cellular response mechanisms, the nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway is considered a survival pathway that alleviates oxidative injury, while both the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and NF-κB pathways are pro-inflammatory pathways that cause damage to cells. These pathways are implicated in the development and resolution of acute lung injury (ALI). Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid from the liquorice compound, is suggested to be a regulator of the above pathways, but the mechanisms of how the NLRP3/NF-κB pathway interacts with Nrf2 and its protective effects in ALI remain unknown.

A self-assembled polyjuglanin nanoparticle loaded with doxorubicin and anti-Kras siRNA for attenuating multidrug resistance in human lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, which has a low survival rate. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle that hinders the treatment of lung cancer. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline glycoside antibiotic, having a broad spectrum of anticancer activity against various solid tumors.

Diosmetin Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through Activating the Nrf2 Pathway and Inhibiting the NLRP3 Inflammasome.

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical syndrome of diffuse lung inflammation with high mortality rates and limited therapeutic methods. Diosmetin, an active component from Chinese herbs, has long been noticed because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diosmetin on LPS-induced ALI model and unveil the possible mechanisms.

Xanthohumol ameliorates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury via induction of AMPK/GSK3β-Nrf2 signal axis.

Abundant natural flavonoids can induce nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and/or AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, which play crucial roles in the amelioration of various inflammation- and oxidative stress-induced diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI). Xanthohumol (Xn), a principal prenylflavonoid, possesses anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant activities. However, whether Xn could protect from LPS-induced ALI through inducing AMPK/Nrf2 activation and its downstream signals, are still poorly elucidated.

Exposure to PM2.5 induces aberrant activation of NF-κB in human airway epithelial cells by downregulating miR-331 expression.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter≤2.5μm (PM2.5) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, leading to airway epithelial injury.

MicroRNA-126 Targeting PIK3R2 Inhibits NSCLC A549 Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Regulation of PTEN/PI3K/AKT Pathway.

Background: Our study explored whether the microRNA-126 (miR-126)-mediated PTEN/PI3K/AKT (phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome 10/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit-β/AKT) signaling pathway by targeting PIK3R2 affects the proliferation, migration, and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells.

Materials And Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of miR-126 in A549 cells. The MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium) assay, cell scratch test, Transwell assay, and Western blot were used to detect the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells and protein expression in A549 cells, respectively.

Strong evidence for LncRNA ZNRD1-AS1, and its functional Cis- eQTL locus contributing more to the susceptibility of lung cancer.

Long noncoding RNAs (IncRNAs), involved in cancer biology, contributing to essential cancer cell functions such as proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, have received increasing attention recently. Human Zinc ribbon domain containing 1 (ZNRD1) has been confirmed to be involved in carcinogenesis and development of multiple cancers. ZNRD1-AS1, a lncRNA in the upstream region of ZNRD1 which could down-regulate the expression of ZNRD1, has been identified as a possible component in carcinogenesis.

Esculentoside A Attenuates Allergic Airway Inflammation via Activation of the Nrf-2 Pathway.

Background: The role of airway inflammation and inflammation-induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic inflammatory airway diseases has received increasing attention in recent years. We investigated the potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of esculentoside A (EsA), a saponin isolated from the Chinese herb Phytolacca esculenta, in comparison to dexamethasone, a potent corticosteroid, in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Methods: EsA was added to cultures of A549 cells at different concentrations or for different lengths of time, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) translocation and heme oxygenase 1 expression were monitored.

Alleviation of severe inflammatory responses in LPS-exposed mice by Schisantherin A.

In this study, we aimed to investigate our hypothesis starting that Schisantherin A (SchA), which exerts significant anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, could reduce the pulmonary inflammatory response in an acute lung injury (ALI) model. ALI was induced in mice by exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20 mg/kg), and the inflammatory mediator production, neutrophil infiltration, and histopathological changes were evaluated. SchA at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly improved survival rate of mice injected with LPS.