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Objective. Interferon (IFN)-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10) serum level has been shown be associated with viral response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, little is known in Chinese population. We determined IP-10 serum levels in Chinese CHC patients undergoing PEG-IFN-based therapy. Predictive role of IP-10 level for virological responses was accessed. Material and methods. IP-10 serum levels were determined in 165 hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and 33 genotype 2 patients. Multivariate analysis was performed to screen independent factors for sustained virological response (SVR) prediction. Predictive value of IP-10 level in combination with interleukin 28B ( IL28B) genotype or rapid virological response was further investigated. Results. Our study showed that pretreatment IP-10 level was significantly higher in HCV genotype 1 patients. IP-10 levels were independently predictive for SVR with cut-off values of 250.60 pg/ml at baseline or 407.40 pg/ml at week 4. Positive predictive value (PPV) for SVR of low IP-10 level at baseline and IL28B CC genotype was 96.15% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 50.00%. PPV for SVR of low IP-10 level at week 4 and rapid viral response (RVR) was 95.24% and NPV was 50.00%. Conclusion. Together our study indicated that higher IP-10 serum levels were associated with HCV genotype 1 CHC Chinese patients. IP-10 levels at baseline and week 4 were both predictive of SVR and improved predictive performances of IL28B genotype and RVR for SVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Celastrol, a natural compound derived from the herb Tripterygium wilfordii, is known to have anticancer activity, but is not soluble in water. Objective: Formation of celastrol liposomes, to avoid the use of toxic solubilising agents. Materials and methods: Two different formulations of PEGylated celastrol liposomes were fabricated. Liposomal characteristics and serum stability were determined using dynamic light scattering. Drug entrapment efficacy and drug release were measured spectrophotometrically. Cellular internalisation and anticancer activity was measured in prostate cancer cells. Results: Liposomal celastrol displayed efficient serum stability, cellular internalisation and anticancer activity, comparable to that of the free drug reconstituted in dimethyl sulfoxide. Discussion and conclusion: Liposomal celastrol can decrease the viability of prostate cancer cells, while eliminating the need for toxic solubilising agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond anvil cell synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments have been carried out on submicron-sized tungsten tetraboride (WB4) at room temperature up to 50.8 GPa with a silicone oil pressure medium. The crystal structure of WB4 remains unchanged up to the highest pressure. The isothermal bulk modulus K0 and its pressure derivative, [image omitted] , have been determined from the present compression by fitting the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state: K0=325±9 GPa and [image omitted] . The high value of the bulk modulus shows that WB4 has high stiffness and/or low-compressibility. Moreover, we also found that the compression behavior of the unit cell axes (a- and c-axes) of WB4 demonstrates an anisotropic nature of compressibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the apoptosis effect of SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein on cultured cell lines and to explore the possible pathway of apoptosis. pCDNA3.1(-)/his-myc vector containing the SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid gene (N), matric gene (M), spike gene (S) were transfected into COS-1, Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Apoptosis induced by SARS coronavirus N protein under starvation of serum of COS-1 cells was monitored by Annexin V and electron microscopy assays. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were determined by flow cytometric assay. Cytochrome C, cleaved caspase (cysteine aspartic acid protease)-3, 9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detected by Western blot. After removal of serum in COS-1 cells, we observed the loss of ΔΨm, the increase of ROS and cytochrome C release into cytosol and subsequent activation of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. The pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk can block the activation of caspase 3, 9 and PARP cleavage. In conclusion, SARS coronavirus N protein can induce apoptosis of COS-1 cells by activating mitochondrial pathway. SARS coronavirus M, S protein can not induce apoptosis in COS-1, HepG2 and Huh-7 and SARS coronavirus N protein can not induce apoptosis in HepG2 and Huh-7 by methods used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]