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Background: Although endovascular treatment (EVT) is beneficial for large vessel occlusion in anterior circulation stroke, whether these benefits exist for basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the outcomes of patients with BAO undergoing EVT and standard medical treatment (SMT). Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for eligible randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs involving patients with acute ischemic stroke and BAO undergoing EVT or SMT. The following outcomes were assessed: 90-day functional outcomes (favorable outcome and functional independence: modified Rankin scale [mRS] score of 0–3 or 0–2, respectively), mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) incidence. The summary effect sizes were determined as risk ratios (RRs) through the Mantel–Haenszel method with a random-effects model. Results: Four RCTs and four non-RCTs were included. Compared with SMT, EVT resulted in a higher proportion of patients with 90-day mRS scores of 0–3 (RR: 1.54 [1.16–2.06] in RCTs and 1.88 [1.11–3.19] in non-RCTs), a higher proportion of patients achieving functional independence (90-day mRS score of 0–2; RR: 1.83 [1.07–3.12] and 1.84 [0.97–3.48], respectively), a lower risk of mortality (RR: 0.76 [0.65–0.89] and 0.72 [0.62–0.83], respectively), and a higher sICH risk (RR: 5.98 [2.11–16.97] and 4.95 [2.40–10.23], respectively). Severe neurological deficits, intravenous thrombolysis, and higher posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed Tomography Score (pc-ASPECTS) were associated with EVT benefits. Conclusion: In patients with BAO, EVT results in superior functional outcomes, lower mortality risk, and higher sICH risk than does SMT, independent of age and sex. Higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, intravenous thrombolysis, and higher pc-ASPECTSs before treatment are associated with greater benefits from EVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages play a critical role in innate and adaptive immunity, and the regulation of macrophage function in inflammatory disease treatment has been widely studied. Litsea cubeba is an important Chinese medicinal plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, the inflammatory bioactive ingredients in L. cubeba and underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Herein, we first obtained and elucidated a novel isoquinoline alkaloid, Litcubanine A (LA), from L. cubeba. An in vitro study indicated that LA could significantly inhibit LPS-induced activation of inflammatory macrophages via the NF-κB pathway, leading to the decrease of inflammatory factors including iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Moreover, LA showed an inhibiting effect on the expression of NO in macrophages by directly binding to iNOS protein. Molecular simulation docking also demonstrated that active LA created an interaction with GLU 371 residue of iNOS via attractive charge derived from the N→O group, revealing its highly selective inhibition toward iNOS. By using the IκK inhibitor and iNOS inhibitor, these two regulatory targets of LA on inflammatory macrophages were verified in vitro. Finally, by using a caudal fin resection model in zebrafish larvae, and the skin wound healing model in mice, we proved in vivo that LA down-regulated the secretion of local inflammatory factors by inhibiting macrophage recruitment and activation at the early stage of the injury. Collectively, our study demonstrated that the novel isoquinoline alkaloid LA suppresses LPS-induced activation of inflammatory macrophages by modulating the NF-κB pathway, suggesting that inflammatory macrophage activation pathway is an effective target for inflammation treatment, and LA is a new pharmacophore for the development of novel and effective anti-inflammatory agents to regulate local macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Guilu Erxian Glue (龟鹿二仙胶, GEG) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) senescence in mice and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods: The H22 liver cancer ascites lump model was established in male Kunming mice by injecting intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 5 × 106/mL H22 cells per mouse. Fifty tumor-bearing mice were divided into the control, model, pifithrin-α, GEG, and GEG+pifithrin-α groups using a random number table, 10 mice in each group. CTX (100 mg/kg i.p.) was administrated to mice from day 1 to day 3 (d1–d3) continuously except for the control group. The mice in the pifithrin-α, GEG and GEG+pifithrin-α groups were treated with pifithrin-α (2.2 mg/(kg·d) i.p.) for 6 consecutive days (d4–d9), GEG (9.5 g/(kg·d) i.p.) for 9 consecutive days (d1–d9), and GEG plus pifithrin-α, respectively. HSCs were collected after 9-d drug treatment. The anti-aging effect of GEG was studied by cell viability, cell cycle, and β -galactosidase (β -gal) assays. The mRNA and protein expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), CDK4, inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4a encoding the tumor suppressor protein p16 (p16INK4a), p21Cip1/Waf1, p53, and phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRb) were evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and semi-quantitative Western blot, respectively. Results: Compared with the model group, GEG increased cell viability as well as proliferation (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and reduced β -gal expression. Furthermore, GEG significantly decreased the expressions of p16INK4a, p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1 proteins, and increased the expressions of CDK2, CDK4 and pRb proteins compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: GEG can alleviate CTX-induced HSCs senescence in mice, and the p16INK4a-Rb signaling pathway might be the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heterogeneously reaction and condensation increased the PCDD/Fs in bottom ash. • Quenching treatment reduced PCDD/F to 1/300 in bottom ash of an incinerator. • PCDD/Fs in bottom ash were dominated by highly-chlorinated congeners. • Quenching for bottom ash greatly saved energy and CO2e from plasma treatment. • It will be 351 tons CO2e/year reduced from plasma system for bottom ash treatment. Bottom ash (BA) from incineration has been reused as a construction material for years. However, thermal treatments, which incur extra cost and higher energy demand, are essential to reduce/stabilize the polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in BA, which can be released from BA during the next startup and cause peak emissions. In this study, the bottom ash from a laboratory waste incinerator (LWI) was collected and quenched at various temperatures during three shutdown operations to determine the results of the gradual cooling process. The PCDD/F content in the BA was quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The PCDD/Fs in BA was significantly lower (0.0239 ng WHO-TEQ g−1) after being quenched at >400 °C, which was only 1/300 of that in the sample gradually cooled to <200 °C (6.21 ng WHO-TEQ g−1). The PCDD/PCDF ratios were less than 1 in all of the samples, suggesting that de novo synthesis might be the predominant formation mechanism, and exponential relationships between the PCDD/F growth ratio and quenching temperature were found, with an r2 > 0.97. In other words, careful operation of the cooling process is an important PCDD/F inhibition strategy and effectively reduces the subsequent startup emissions. Interestingly, the extremely low PCDD/F levels in the BA after quenching were found to further save the cost of thermal treatment, reduce electricity use by 500 MWh, and lower fuel consumption by 27 kL of diesel, as well as reducing annual CO2e emissions by 351 tons in an LWI. This finding could be further applied to simultaneously control PCDD/F emissions, save post-treatment costs, and reduce the secondary pollutants in other incinerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke constitutes one-fourth of all ischemic strokes and can be efficiently quantified using the posterior circulation Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score (PC-ASPECTS) through diffusion-weighted imaging. We investigated whether the PC-ASPECTS and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) facilitate functional outcome prediction among Chinese patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. Participants were selected from our prospective stroke registry from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016. The baseline NIHSS score was assessed on the first day of admission, and brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed within 36 h after stroke onset. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine stroke risk factors and the PC-ASPECTS. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the NIHSS and PC-ASPECTS. Of 549 patients from our prospective stroke admission registry database, 125 (22.8%) had a diagnosis of posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. The optimal cutoff for the PC-ASPECTS in predicting outcomes was 7. The odds ratios of the PC-ASPECTS (≤ 7 vs > 7) in predicting outcomes were 6.33 (p = 0.0002) and 8.49 (p = 0.0060) in the univariate and multivariate models, respectively, and 7.52 (p = 0.0041) in the aging group. On ROC curve analysis, the PC-ASPECTS demonstrated more reliability than the baseline NIHSS for predicting functional outcomes of minor posterior circulation stroke. In conclusion, both the PC-ASPECTS and NIHSS help clinicians predict functional outcomes. PC-ASPECTS > 7 is a helpful discriminator for achieving favorable functional outcome prediction in posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to identify changes to microbial composition after treatment with synbiotics in patients with functional constipation and to define the key microbiota in the pathogenesis of functional constipation. Fecal samples from 53 patients diagnosed with chronic functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. After treatment with synbiotics for 1 month, fecal samples were collected from 36 patients; after a total of 3 months, fecal samples were collected from 15 patients. The outcomes were compared with the intestinal microbiota profiles of 53 healthy community volunteers. The microbiota in the constipation group differed from that in the treatment group and healthy group. After synbiotic treatment for 1 and 3 months, the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella decreased, whereas that of Prevotella_9 and Lactococcus increased. Comparison of the microbiota among the three groups showed that Prevotella_9 was the characteristic bacteria that decreased in the constipation group and increased in the treatment group. Synbiotic treatment can improve the microbiota in patients with constipation. Identification of the key bacterial genus is important to reveal the mechanism and provide a reliable theoretical basis of synbiotic treatment. It will also promote relevant research of microbiota treatment and individualized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To radiographically investigate early outcomes of osteotome sinus floor elevation in the healing phase utilizing cone beam computed tomography and evaluate influences of Schneiderian membrane conditions. Material and methods One hundred patients were consecutively recruited for osteotome sinus floor elevation ( OSFE) surgery using deproteinized bone mineral. CBCT was taken prior to ( T0), immediately post-operatively ( T1), and after the healing period ( T2). Linear and volumetric measurements of the elevated region from T0 to T1 were performed for evaluation on computed tomography ( CT). Results Osteotome sinus floor elevation were performed in 100 patients. One implant of each patient was selected. Mean residual bone height ( RH) was 7.21 ± 1.12 mm. Mean sinus floor elevation height ( SE) was 4.81 ± 0.75 mm. The mean endo-sinus bone gain after the healing period was 3.25 ± 0.83 mm. Pre-opterative CBCT scans revealed that 72 patients had a normal sinus membrane in osteotome region, 13 patients presented with flat thickened mucosa and 15 patients with antral pseudocysts. There is no significant difference in sinus mucosa elevation height, bone graft volume and new bone formation in group of Thickening membrane and Antral pseudocysts compared with normal. Conclusions The radiographical results show that OSFE is a safe and predictable surgical procedure in residual bone height of 7.21 ± 1.12 mm. Mild flat thickening (>2 and <5 mm) and antral pseudocysts in a small size without clinical symptoms may not be contraindications to OSFE surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The traditional treatment of subarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD) is open heart surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and outcome of transcatheter closure with the Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO). Methods Between March 2012 and June 2015, a total of 16 patients (8 male and 8 female) with subarterial VSD who underwent transcatheter closure with the ADO were enrolled retrospectively. Their age ranged from 3.0 to 65.6 years, with the median of 35.6 years; their body weights ranged from 14 to 92 kg with the median of 60 kg. All patients had prolapse of the right coronary cusp without subaortic rim. Mild aortic regurgitation was noted in 11 (69%) patients. Results Left ventriculogram showed VSD size ranged from 1.3 to 9.3 mm with the median of 3.5 mm. The device was successfully implanted in 88% (14/16) of the patients. Although one patient had mild skin allergy to contrast medium, no other complication was noted. Complete closure rate was 64%, 86%, 86% and 86% at 1-day, 1-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-up, respectively. Two patients developed new or worsening aortic regurgitation during follow-up. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of subarterial VSD with ADO is technically feasible and safe in patients older than 7 years of age. However, development or worsening of aortic regurgitation requires long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the evidence that some commonly used Chinese medications (CMs) have antiplatelet/anticoagulant effects, many patients still used antiplatelets combined with CMs. We conducted a nested case-crossover study to examine the associations between the concomitant use of antiplatelets and CMs and major bleeding using population-based health database in Taiwan. Among the cohort of 79,463 outpatients prescribed antiplatelets (e.g., aspirin and clopidogrel) continuously, 1,209 patients hospitalized with new occurring bleeding in 2012 and 2013 were included. Those recruited patients served as their own controls to compare different times of exposure to prespecified CMs (e.g., Asian ginseng and dong quai) and antiplatelet agents. The periods of case, control 1, and control 2 were defined as 1–4 weeks, 6–9 weeks, and 13–16 weeks before hospitalization, respectively. Conditional logistic regression analyses found that concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs with any of the prespecified CMs in the case period might not significantly increase the risks of bleeding over that in the control periods (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.95 and OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.97). The study showed no strong relationships between hospitalization for major bleeding events and concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs with the prespecified CMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-containing complexes have arisen as viable alternatives to organic molecules as therapeutic agents. Metal complexes possess a number of advantages compared to conventional carbon-based compounds, such as distinct geometries, interesting electronic properties, variable oxidation states and the ability to arrange different ligands around the metal centre in a precise fashion. Meanwhile, nitric oxide (NO) plays key roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, vascular permeability and inflammation. We herein report a novel cyclometalated rhodium(III) complex as an inhibitor of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Experiments suggested that the inhibition of NO production in cells by complex 1 was mediated through the down-regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. Furthermore, complex 1 inhibited angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as revealed by an endothelial tube formation assay. This study demonstrates that kinetically inert rhodium(III) complexes may be potentially developed as effective anti-angiogenic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the outcome of fetuses with cystic hygroma (CH) diagnosed at the first trimester from a general population in Hong Kong. Method: This was a prospective study of 30 fetal cystic hygroma detected at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation in 8835 sequential unselected pregnancies. Fetal cystic hygroma was categorized as isolated cystic hygroma (ICH) or associated cystic hygroma (ACH) according to the presence of associated multiple congenital structural abnormalities (MCA). Results: There were 10 cases of ICH and 20 cases of ACH. The karyotypes were obtained in 29 cases. In the ICH, 30% (3/10) were associated with chromosomal abnormalities. In the ACH, 65% (13/20) were associated with major chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusion: This study suggests that the prognosis of cystic hygroma detected in the first trimester is guarded, with high incidence of MCA (66.7%, 20/30) and chromosomal abnormalities (53.3%, 16/30). The findings support detailed ultrasound examination and invasive prenatal diagnosis for cystic hygroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 19) pandemic spreads worldwide, the massive numbers of COVID-19 patients have created a considerable healthcare burden for every country. The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection is broad, ranging from asymptomatic to mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Most COVID-19 patients present with no or mild symptoms, but nearly one-fifth of all patients develop severe or life-threatening complications. In addition to localized respiratory manifestations, severe COVID-19 cases also show extra-pulmonary complications or induce multiorgan failure. Identifying, triaging, and treating patients at risk early is essential and urgent. This article reviews the potential prognostic value of various biomarkers at different clinical spectrum stages of COVID-19 infection and includes information on fundamental prognostic mechanisms as well as potential clinical implications. Biomarkers are measurable biochemical substances used to recognize and indicate disease severity or response to therapeutic interventions. The information they provide is objective and suitable for delivering healthcare providers with a means of stratifying disease state in COVID-19 patients. This, in turn, can be used to help select and guide intervention efforts as well as gauge the efficacy of therapeutic approaches. Here, we review a number of potential biomarkers that may be used to guide treatment, monitor treatment efficacy, and form individualized therapeutic guidance based on patient response. Implementation of the COVID-19 biomarkers discussed here may lead to significantly improved quality of care and patient outcomes for those infected with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of stem cells appears to have great therapeutic potential to facilitate nerve regeneration in patients with neurodegenerative disease or spinal cord injury. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), a subset of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, possess the great advantages of an abundant amount of cells, less ethical conflict and minimal invasive surgical procedures to obtain the cells. Chitosan, a naturally derived polysaccharide from chitin, has been widely studied to facilitate and guide the direction of nerve regeneration as a biomaterial for the neural tube. Chitosan also serves as a three-dimensional culture substrate to facilitate cellular sphere formation among various cells but is as yet unexplored in hADSCs. In this study, the ability of hADSCs to transdifferentiate from the mesenchymal into the neural lineage by seeding hADSCs on a chitosan-coated surface to form therapeutic cell spheres was investigated. The optimal seeding density (2 × 104 cells/cm2) and harvesting time (72 h) to obtain sphere formation were determined by cell viability on a chitosan-coated surface. Expression of neural lineage markers was observed by immunofluorescent staining of nestin, neurofilament heavy chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The neural induction potentials were also provoked by replating spheres from primary to tertiary passages. The effect of neural induction in hADSCs on a chitosan-coated surface may help to provide cell sources for facilitating nerve regeneration in future clinical applications. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cyclohexyl-ethanol derivatives, incarvmareins A (1) and B (2), together with two known derivatives, 3 and 4, were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the roots of Incarvillea mairei. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated primarily on the basis of analysis of spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The hypothesis that an increase in defects in cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles induced by solid solutions with differences in valency and ionic radius of the solute will yield superior reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers at room temperature will be tested. Methods: Solid solutions of zirconium in CeO2, that is, CexZr1-xO2 nanoparticles, were synthesized by a reverse micelle method. Their crystal structures, particle sizes and level of agglomeration were characterized. The nanoparticles' activities to scavenge ROS were tested in response to hydrogen peroxide at physiological levels and room temperature using an enzyme peroxidase-based assay. Results: Solid solutions of Zr in CeO2 nanoparticles enhanced ROS scavenging fourfold. The hypothesis is confirmed that more defects are formed and that the scavenging activities of CexZr1-xO2 correlate to the nanoparticles' oxygen-storage capacity. Conclusions: The antioxidant efficacy of CeO2 nanoparticles can be enhanced by dissolving zirconium in the CeO2 lattice. The CexZr1-xO2 nanoparticles act as an enhanced catalyst at room temperature that scavenges ROS. Increased efficacy will enable lower nanoparticle dosages to protect cells from ROS, thus increasing the therapeutic width of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which is concerned with the case study of a 67 year old female patient taking warfarin and moxifloxacin who developed an abdominal wall hematoma and hemoperitoneum.

An abstract of the article "Three-dimensional modeling of DCIR and identification of new drugs blocking HIV-1 attachment and propagation," by Caroline Gilbert, Arezki Azzi, Alexandra A. Lambert, Sheng-Xiang Lin, Geneviève Allaire, Karianne P. St-Gelais, and Michel J. Tremblay is presented.

Nursing home-associated pneumonia (NHAP) is a common type of infection among long-term care residents. Moreover, the mortality of NHAP is also higher than community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the decoctions of Banxia Houpo Tang (BHT) and Ding Chuan Tang (DCT) are two formulas supporting the lungs' natural defense systems, helps to expel mucus and promote detoxification. We designed a concentrated Chinese herbal extract formula called BDT1, that combines the compounds of BHT and DCT. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of BDT1 for NHAP prevention in high-risk older residents in the nursing home. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 160 participants aged over 65 years old living in the nursing home were randomly assigned 1:1 to the BDT1 and placebo group. Besides regular medicine, participants received either BDT1 or a placebo for 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was the hospitalization rate for pneumonia in the intervention period and half-year follow-up. The microscopic examination of Gram-stained sputum was also evaluated before and after the trial. Data were analyzed by using the Chi-square test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test with SPSS. A total of 160 participants were enrolled into two study groups in this study, which was completed with 143 participants analyzed, including 70 subjects in the BDT1 group and 73 subjects in the placebo group. After the 12-week medical treatment, the hospitalization rate for pneumonia was 10.0% and 34.2% in the BDT1 and placebo group respectively. The risk of pneumonia in half a year was lower in the BDT1 group (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.422, 95% CI = 0.226–0.791). Compared to the placebo group, the level of Gram-negative bacilli in the BDT1 group is significantly declined in sputum samples (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the cumulative incidence of pneumonia and related-hospitalization rates declined significantly after 12-weeks of BDT1 treatment. Besides, Chinese herbal medicine BDT1 is a safe therapy without hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapidly removing oil from emulsified produced water has become one of the most common problems that needs to be urgently resolved as gas-field exploitation enters its later stages, and an effective technique has not yet been established thus far. This paper introduces experimental research and further industrial application of a novel combined fibrous coalescer in the treatment of produced water in an offshore gas-field. Metal and oleophilic polymer fibers were combined at a certain proportion and woven into a fibrous bed with specific structural and geometric properties, which was used as the core separation component of the coalescer. The industrial operation results showed that the oil pollutant concentration of the produced water treated with the novel coalescer was reduced from 1200 to 25 mg/L, well below the 45 mg/L national discharge standard, under a residence time of 180 s and pressure drop of 30 psi. This is the first successful and significant industrial application of the technique in an offshore gas-field, providing a promising alternative for resolving the difficulty of produced water treatment in similar gas-fields, promoting further applications of the technique, and contributing to cleaner production and marine conservation. Image 1 • Reduce oil pollutant emission from produced water in offshore gas production. • A novel coalescence technique was developed and applied successfully. • Offer a solution for treating seriously emulsified produced water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Serum HBV large surface protein (HBV-LP) is an envelope protein that has a close relationship with HBV DNA level. This study is to explore the prediction value of HBV-LP in different phase of HBV infection and during antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 2033 individuals, which included 1677 HBV infected patients in different phases and 356 healthy controls. HBV-LP, HBV serum markers and HBV DNA were detected by ELISA, CMIA and qRT-PCR, respectively. 85 CHB patients receiving PegIFNα or ETV were divided into virological response (VR) and partial virological response (PVR). The dynamic changes of HBV DNA and HBV-LP were observed. Results The level of HBV-LP in 2033 individuals was shown as: HBeAg-positive hepatitis > HBeAg-positive infection > HBeAg-negative hepatitis > HBeAg-negative infection > healthy controls. HBV-LP was positive in all patients whose HBV DNA > 1.0E + 06 IU/ml. When HBsAg was <0.05 IU/ml or >1000 IU/ml, HBV DNAs were all negative if HBV-LP < 1.0 S/CO. When HBsAg was between 0.05 IU/ml and 1000 IU/ml, the consistency of HBV-LP with HBV DNA was 100% in case of HBV-LP > 4.0 S/CO in HBeAg-positive patients and HBV-LP > 2.0 S/CO in HBeAg-negative ones. During antiviral therapy, baseline HBV-LP was lower in VR patients than that in PVR patients. The optimal cut-off points to predict VR by baseline HBV-LP were 32.4 and 28.6 S/CO for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative hepatitis patients, respectively. Conclusions HBV-LP may be a useful marker for distinguishing the different phases of HBV infection. Moreover, baseline HBV-LP level can be used for predicting VR of CHB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bysspectin A ( 1 ), a polyketide-derived octaketide dimer with a novel carbon skeleton, and two new precursor derivatives, bysspectins B and C ( 2 and 3 ), were obtained from an organic extract of the endophytic fungus Byssochlamys spectabilis that had been isolated from a leaf tissue of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Edgeworthia chrysantha , together with a known octaketide, paecilocin A ( 4 ). Their structures were determined by HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. A plausible route for their biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Compounds 1 – 3 were tested for their antimicrobial activities. Only compound 3 was weakly active against Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus with MIC values of 32 and 64  μ g/mL, respectively. Further, the inhibitory effects on human carboxylesterases (hCE1, hCE2) of compounds 1 and 4 were evaluated. The results demonstrated that bysspectin A ( 1 ) was a novel and highly selective inhibitor against hCE2 with the IC 50 value of 2.01 μM. Docking simulation also demonstrated that active compound 1 created interaction with the Ser-288 (the catalytic amino-acid in the catalytic cavity) of hCE2 via hydrogen bonding, revealing its highly selective inhibition toward hCE2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction yield, total phenols, caffeic acid derivatives (CAD), and antioxidant properties of 50% ethanolic Echinacea purpurea flower extract were determined. The in vitro inhibitory effects of 50% ethanolic extract and CAD on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) linked with type 2 diabetes were also investigated. The extraction yield, total phenols, and total CAD of the extract were 27.04%, 195.69 mg CAE/g and 78.42 mg/g, respectively. Cichoric acid (56.03 mg/g) was the predominant CAD compound in the extract. The extract exhibited good antioxidant properties. The extract and CAD inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the tested samples, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid (IC50 of 1.71-1.81 mg/mL) had the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity, cichoric acid (IC50 of 0.28 mg/mL) showed higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Both chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid (IC50 of 0.11-0.14 mg/mL) demonstrated higher ACE-inhibitory activity. The in vitro results suggest that E. purpurea extract and CAD have good potential for managing hyperglycemia and hypertension. Overall, the data suggest it is a choice for developing antihyperglycemia and antihypertension compounds from field-grown E. purpurea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a major cause of death in Western women, with a 10% lifetime risk of the disease. Most breast cancers are estrogen-dependent. Molecular therapies for breast cancer have developed rapidly in the past few decades and future treatment strategies are being investigated. The selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator tamoxifen, which until now has served as a standard therapy, functions not only as an estrogen antagonist but also as an estrogen agonist in terms of bone maintenance. Aromatase inhibitors have performed well in international trials and have become a new standard therapy for estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The systematic study of estrogen activation pathways suggests that the enzymes steroid sulfatase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, which both have pivotal roles in estrogen biosynthesis, are promising targets; the results of a phase I trial of steroid sulfatase inhibitors are encouraging. The activity of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) pathway correlates negatively with that of the ER. HER2 is overexpressed in 22% of all breast cancers. In the decade since HER2 began being targeted, the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has been used as well as pertuzumab and HER2 vaccines. Among the estrogen-independent breast cancers, the basal-like subtype has low survival, and therapeutic improvement is a priority. Crosstalk between ER and HER2 signaling pathways means that combinatory therapies may hold the key to enhancement of treatment responses. Other molecular therapies involving functional genomics and RNA interference studies also hold promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been proposed as a target for anticancer therapy. ZD1839 (Iressa) is a quinazoline derivative that selectively inhibits the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and is under clinical use in cancer patients. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in ZD1839-mediated anticancer effects remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, exposure of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells to ZD1839 caused G1 arrest, and subsequently induced apoptosis. Moreover, ZD1839 increased the protein levels of p27KIP1 and retinoblastoma-related Rb2/p130 while decreased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2), CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin-D1, cyclin-D3. In vitro kinase assay showed that ZD1839 decreased these CDKs expression in A549 cells, leading to significantly reduce their kinase activities. In addition, ZD1839-induced death of A549 cells with characteristics of apoptosis including apoptotic morphological changes, DNA fragmentation and enhancement of TUNEL-positive cell. These events were accompanied by a marked increase of Fas protein expression, and activation of caspase-2, -3, -8. Co-treatment of cells with Fas antagonist antibody significantly blocked ZD1839-induced apoptosis. Caspase-8 and caspase-3 inhibitors, but not a caspase-9 inhibitor, were also capable of restoring cell viability. Our results indicate that downregulation of the expression and function of CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin-D1 and cyclin-D3, as well as upregulation of p27KIP1 and pRb2/p130, are strong candidates for the cell cycle regulator that arrests ZD1839-treated A549 cells at G1 phase. Furthermore, upregulation of Fas appears to play a major role in the initiation of ZD1839-induced apoptosis, activation of caspase-8/caspase-3 cascade is involved in the execution phase of this death program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]