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The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) virus has become the greatest global public health crisis in recent years,and the COVID-19 epidemic is still continuing. However, due to the lack of effectivetherapeutic drugs, the treatment of corona viruses is facing huge challenges. In thiscontext, countries with a tradition of using herbal medicine such as China have beenwidely using herbal medicine for prevention and nonspecific treatment of corona virusesand achieved good responses. In this review, we will introduce the application of herbalmedicine in the treatment of corona virus patients in China and other countries, andreview the progress of related molecular mechanisms and antiviral activity ingredients ofherbal medicine, in order to provide a reference for herbal medicine in the treatment ofcorona viruses. We found that herbal medicines are used in the prevention and fightagainst COVID-19 in countries on all continents. In China, herbal medicine has beenreported to relieve some of the clinical symptoms of mild patients and shorten the length of hospital stay. However, as most herbal medicines for the clinical treatment of COVID-19still lack rigorous clinical trials, the clinical and economic value of herbal medicines in theprevention and treatment of COVID-19 has not been fully evaluated. Future work basedon large-scale randomized, double-blind clinical trials to evaluate herbal medicines andtheir active ingredients in the treatment of new COVID-19 will be very meaningful.

Certain ciliary transmembrane and membrane-tethered signaling proteins migrate from the ciliary tip to base via retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), essential for maintaining their ciliary dynamics to enable cells to sense and transduce extracellular stimuli inside the cell. During this process, the BBSome functions as an adaptor between retrograde IFT trains and these signaling protein cargoes. The Arf-like 13 (ARL13) small GTPase resembles ARL6/BBS3 in facilitating these signaling cargoes to couple with the BBSome at the ciliary tip prior to loading onto retrograde IFT trains for transporting towards the ciliary base, while the molecular basis for how this intricate coupling event happens remains elusive. Here, we report thatChlamydomonasARL13 only in a GTP-bound form (ARL13GTP) anchors to the membrane for diffusing into cilia. Upon entering cilia, ARL13 undergoes GTPase cycle for shuttling between the ciliary membrane (ARL13GTP) and matrix (ARL13GDP). To achieve this goal, the ciliary membrane-anchored BBS3GTPbinds and activates the ciliary matrix-residing ARL13GDPas an ARL13 guanine nucleotide exchange factor. At the ciliary tip, ARL13GTPbinds and recruits the ciliary matrix-residing and post-remodeled BBSome as an ARL13 effector to anchor to the ciliary membrane. This makes the BBSome spatiotemporally become available for the ciliary membrane-tethered phospholipase D (PLD) to couple with. Afterward, ARL13GTPhydrolyzes GTP for releasing the PLD-laden BBSome to load onto retrograde IFT trains. According to this model, hedgehog signaling defects associated withARL13bandBBS3mutations in humans could be satisfactorily explained, providing us a mechanistic understanding behind BBSome-cargo coupling required for proper ciliary signaling.Significance statementCertain signaling proteins export in a BBSome-dependent manner from cilia via retrograde IFT. As IFT cargoes, their coupling with the BBSome is mediated by ARL13 and BBS3. Here, we report that ARL13 in a GTP-bound state binds the membrane for diffusing into cilia followed by running GTPase cycle with BBS3 acting as an ARL13-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor. ARL13GTPrecruits the IFT-shed BBSome as its effector to anchor to the membrane of the ciliary tip, making it spatiotemporally available for the ciliary membrane-tethered PLD to bind. Afterward, ARL13 GTP hydrolysis releases the PLD-laden BBSome for retrograde IFT train loading. ARL13 and BBS3 facilitate the cargo-BBSome coupling in such a way providing a regulatory mechanism for signaling protein export from cilia.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare subtype of extranodal non‑Hodgkin lymphoma that is unique and different from systemic diffuse large B‑cell lymphomas. The median age at diagnosis of PCNSL is 65 years and its incidence is rising rapidly in the elderly population. A total of ≥20% of all patients with PCNSL are ≥80 years old. Notably, age has been identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for PCNSL. Elderly patients have an inferior prognosis to that of younger patients and are more severely affected by iatrogenic toxicity; therefore, elderly patients represent a unique and vulnerable treatment subgroup. The present review summarized the available literature to provide an improved understanding of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, prognosis and management of PCNSL in the elderly population. Notably, the incidence of PCNSL in immunocompetent elderly patients, predominantly in men, is increasing. For the diagnosis of CNSL, imaging‑guided stereotactic biopsy is considered the gold standard. When stereotactic biopsy is not possible or conclusive, certain biomarkers have been described that can help establish a diagnosis. PCNSL has a very poor prognosis in the elderly, even though several prognostic scoring systems exist and several prognostic markers have been reported in patients with PCNSL. Furthermore, the treatment of elderly patients remains challenging; it is unlikely that a novel agent could be used as a curative monotherapy; however, a combination of novel agents with polychemotherapy or its combination with other novel drugs may have therapeutic potential.

Mytichitin-CB was isolated from Mytilus coruscus in 2014. This antimicrobial peptide shows a weak inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacteria but inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi efficiently. Here, a C-terminal hemagglutinin and 6×Histidine (HA-6×His) double tagged three tandem repeats of Mytichitin-CB (3×Mytichitin-CB) with a molecular weight of about 21.5 kDa was expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The recombinant 3×Mytichitin-CB was stably expressed following continuous sixth passages of cells and inhibited the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at maximum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 30 and 50 μg/mL. 3×Mytichitin-CB was stable in terms of its antibacterial activity when treated by a wide range of temperatures and pHs and was resistant to digestion by various proteases. C. reinhardtii-derived 3×Mytichitin-CB had low hemolytic activity and cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, 3×Mytichitin-CB efficiently caused changes on the cell morphology by destroying membrane integrity of the tested bacteria. Our data thus, for the first time, show that C. reinhardtii is a suitable host for stably expressing recombinant 3×Mytichitin-CB, which possesses potent antibacterial properties.

Bacteriocin LS2 was isolated from the Lactobacillus salivarius BGHO1 strain in 2012. Since then, its antibacterial activity has not been examined. Here, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was used to express a C-terminal hemagglutinin (HA) and 6×His double tagged three repeats of Bacteriocin LS2 (3×Bacteriocin LS2). 3×Bacteriocin LS2 expression was stable following passaging in C. reinhardtii cells for six months and its yield accounted for 0.28% of total soluble proteins of the host cells. C. reinhardtii-derived 3×Bacteriocin LS2 inhibited the growth of four tested bacteria of both gram-positive and gram-negative with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 75 and 90 μg/mL, indicating that this peptide is more potent than other bacteriocins like nesin and bacteriocin MA047A which have a MIC beyond 165 μg/mL in general. The recombinant 3×Bacteriocin LS2 maintained high stability over a wide range of temperature and pHs, showed tolerance to proteases, exhibited low hemolytic activity against rabbit erythrocytes and low cytotoxicity to human embryonic kidney 293 T (HEK 293 T) cells. In addition, C. reinhardtii-derived 3×Bacteriocin LS2 penetrated cell membranes and destroyed the morphology of targeted bacterial cells to different extents. In summary, our study shows that C. reinhardtii can be used as a platform for the production of active Bacteriocin LS2.

Highly conserved intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains and certain small GTPases coordinate to direct ciliation and to maintain the ciliary dynamics of signaling molecules via the IFT cargo adaptor BBSome. Unlike murine Rab-like 2 (RABL2) GTPase that enters cilia to drive outward transition zone (TZ) passage of the BBSome, human orthologue fails to enter cilia but resides at the ciliary base, indispensable for ciliation. However, mechanisms underlying how RABL2 regulates ciliation and BBSome barrier passage remain elusive. Here, we show that Chlamydomonas RABL2 regulates basal body targeting of the IFT-B1 subcomplex component of IFT trains as a RABL2-specific effector, mediating ciliation via controlling IFT-B1 basal body amount available for assembling anterograde IFT trains. RABL2GTP binds IFT-B1 to perform IFT; sheds from retrograde IFT trains at the proximal ciliary region right above the TZ; and converts to RABL2GDP rapidly. Next, RABL2GDP activates the ciliary membrane anchored Arf-like 3 (ARL3) GTPase (ARL3GDP) as a ARL3-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor. Upon detaching from the ciliary membrane, the active ARL3GTP recruits its BBSome effector, autonomous of retrograde IFT train association, to move cross the TZ for ciliary retrieval. This ensures proper BBSome ciliary turnover for maintaining phototactic response of Chlamydomonas cells. For finishing RABL2 ciliary cycle, RABL2GDP passes the TZ for ciliary retrieval by loading onto the ARL3GTP/BBSome as a BBSome cargo. Our data thus propose that RABL2 mediates ciliation and BBSome ciliary retrieval simultaneously but via distinct molecular pathways.Significance statementIntraflagellar transport (IFT) and its cargo adaptor BBSome are indispensable for ciliation and ciliary singling. Rab-like 2 (RABL2) GTPase mediates ciliation and outward transition zone (TZ) passage of BBSomes with mechanisms yet to be determined. Here, we report that RABL2 decides ciliation by controlling the basal body amount of its effector IFT-B1 available for the assembly of anterograde IFT trains. RABL2GTP cycles through cilia as an IFT-B1 cargo; sheds from IFT at the ciliary base; and undergoes nucleotide exchange for activating ARL3 as an ARL3-specfic guanine nucleotide exchange factor. ARLGTP recruits IFT-shed BBSomes to pass the TZ for ciliary retrieval. RABL2GDP exists cilia via ARL3GTP/BBSome as a BBSome cargo. Therefore, RABL2 functions both outside and inside cilia for initiating IFT and BBSome ciliary retrieval, respectively.

Phospholipase D (PLD) interacts with the BBSome for loading onto retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains to exit cilia in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLD ciliary retention and depletion of Rab-like 4 (RABL4) GTPase IFT27 cause the same non-phototactic phenotype but not impair IFT and ciliation. Here, we show that the IFT-B1 subunit IFT27 binds its partner IFT25 to form the heterodimeric IFT25/27 in an IFT27 nucleotide state-independent manner. IFT25/27, IFT-A, and IFT-B are irrelevant for maintaining the stability of one another. GTP-loading onto IFT27 enhances the IFT25/27 affinity for IFT-B1 in cytoplasm, while GDP-loaded IFT27 does not prevent IFT25/27 from entering and cycling through cilia by integrating into IFT-B1. Upon at the ciliary tip, IFT25/27 cycles on and off IFT-B1 and this process is irrelevant with the nucleotide state of IFT27. During BBSome remodeling at the ciliary tip, IFT25/27 promotes BBSome reassembly independent of IFT27 nucleotide state, making post-remodeled BBSomes available for PLD to interact with. Therefore, IFT25/27 facilitates BBSome-dependent PLD export from cilia via controlling availability of intact BBSomes at the ciliary tip, providing a regulatory mechanism for IFT27 to mediate phototaxis in C. reinhardtii.

Ciliary receptors and their certain downstream signaling components undergo intraflagellar transport (IFT) as BBSome cargoes to maintain their ciliary dynamics for sensing and transducing extracellular stimuli inside the cell. Cargo laden BBSomes shed from retrograde IFT at the proximal ciliary region above the transition zone (TZ) followed by diffusing through the TZ for ciliary retrieval, while how the BBSome barrier passage is controlled remains elusive. Here, we show that the BBSome is a major effector of the Arf-like 3 (ARL3) GTPase in Chlamydomonas. Under physiological condition, ARL3GDP binds the membrane for diffusing into and residing in cilia. Following a nucleotide conversion, ARL3GTP dissociates with the ciliary membrane and binds and recruits the IFT-detached and cargo (phospholipase D, PLD)-laden BBSome at the proximal ciliary region to diffuse through the TZ and out of cilia. ARL3 deficiency impairs ciliary signaling, e.g. phototaxis of Chlamydomonas cells, by disrupting BBSome ciliary retrieval, providing a mechanistic understanding behind BBSome ciliary turnover required for ciliary signaling.

Ciliary receptors and their certain downstream signaling components undergo intraflagellar transport (IFT) as BBSome cargoes to maintain their ciliary dynamics for sensing and transducing extracellular stimuli inside the cell. Cargo-laden BBSomes pass the transition zone (TZ) for ciliary retrieval, but how this passage is controlled remains elusive. Here, we show that phospholipase D (PLD)-laden BBSomes shed from retrograde IFT trains at the proximal ciliary region right above the TZ to act as Arf-like 3 (ARL3) GTPase-specific effectors in Chlamydomonas cilia. Under physiological condition, ARL3GDP binds to the membrane for diffusing into cilia. Following nucleotide exchange, ARL3GTP detaches from the ciliary membrane, binds to retrograde IFT train-shed and PLD-laden BBSomes at the proximal ciliary region right above the TZ, and recruits them to pass the TZ for ciliary retrieval likely via diffusion. ARL3 mediates the ciliary dynamics of certain signaling molecules through facilitating BBSome ciliary retrieval, providing a mechanistic understanding behind why ARL3-related Joubert syndrome shares overlapping phenotypes with Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

The microbial carbon pump (MCP) provides a mechanistic illustration of transformation of recalcitrant dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean. Here, we explored and demonstrated the key roles of algae-associated microorganisms (mainly heterotrophic bacteria) in the production and transformation of carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecule (CRAM)-like DOM through a laboratory experiment involving cultures of Skeletonema dohrnii. Without the participation of the associated bacteria, CRAM-like DOM molecules were not detected via Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) in algal cultures treated with antibiotics. Similarly, CRAM-like DOM were not detected in cultures of bacteria alone. Our experimental results showed that algae-associated bacteria are important in the process of converting algal-derived organic matter into CRAM-like DOM during S. dohrnii culture. Bacteroidetes (mainly Flavobacteriia) dominated the bacterial community in the stationary and degradation phases, where the predicted metabolic pathways for bacterial assemblages were mainly involved in biosynthesis, metabolism, and degradation. Facilitated by these heterotrophic bacteria, the amount and the chemodiversity of CRAM-like DOM derived from algae varied during the growth and decomposition of algal cells, and CRAM-like DOM were enriched at the later growth stage. The properties and characteristics of these CRAM-like DOM, including molecular weight, double bond equivalent, hydrogen-carbon ratio, carbon-nitrogen ratio, carbon-sulfur ratio, and modified aromaticity index increased with the growth and decay of algal cells, indicating the transformation from active to recalcitrant DOM. In contrast, the organic matter in axenic cultures of S. dohrnii mainly existed in the form of particulate organic matters (POM), and small amounts of CRAM-like DOM were detected. This study provides the first laboratory evidence to reveal and confirm the direct involvement of algae-associated microbiomes in the production and transformation of algae-derived refractory DOM, highlighting the significance of these epiphytic bacteria in marine carbon sequestration and global carbon cycling. IMPORTANCE Dissolved organic matter (DOM) serves as a major carbon and nutrient pool in oceans, and recalcitrant DOM are the primary sources for carbon sequestration in depths. Here, we demonstrate the critical roles of algae-associated microorganisms (mainly heterotrophic bacteria) in the transformation of recalcitrant dissolved organic matter through laboratory cultures of a model diatom, Skeletonema dohrnii. Our experimental results showed that in addition to affecting the growth and the physiology of S. dohrnii, algae-associated bacteria are important in processing and converting algal DOM into CRAM-like DOM. Facilitated by the associated bacteria, the amount and the chemodiversity of DOM derived from algae varied during the growth and decomposition of algal cells, and enriched recalcitrant DOM formed in the later growth stage. The properties and diversity of DOM increased with the growth and decay of algal cells, indicating the transformation from active DOM to inert organic matter. Our results confirmed that the direct involvement of algae-associated microbes in the production of CRAM-like DOM. Detailed community structure analysis of the algae-associated bacterial community and its predicted functions confirmed the involvement of certain bacterial groups (e.g., Flavobacteriia) in biosynthesis, metabolism, and degradation.

Background. Improving the osteosarcoma (OS) patients’ survival has long been a challenge, even though the disease’s treatment is on the verge of progress. DNA damage response (DDR) has traditionally been associated with carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and genomic instability. No study has used DDR genes as a signature to identify the prognosis of OS. The goal of this work was to find an effective possible DDR gene biomarker for predicting OS prognosis, which may be useful in clinical diagnosis and therapy. Methods. To assess gene methylation, univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed on data from OS patients. The data were retrieved from public databases, including the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Results. The DDR gene signature was chosen, which included seven genes (NHEJ1, RMI2, SWI5, ERCC2, CLK2, POLG, and MLH1). In the TARGET dataset, patients were categorized into two groups: high-risk and low-risk. Patients with a high-risk score revealed a shorter OS rate (hazard ratio (HR): 3.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38–4.34, P < 0.001 ) in comparison with the patients with a low-risk score in the TARGET as a training group. The validation of the prognostic signature accuracy was carried out in relapse and validation cohorts (TARGET, n = 75; GSE21257, n = 53). The signature was found to be an independent predictive factor for OS in multivariate cox regression analysis, and a nomogram model was developed to predict an individual’s risk of OS. DDR gene signature involved in Fanconi anemia pathway, nonhomologous end−joining pathway, mismatch repair, and nucleotide excision repair pathway. Conclusions. Our study suggests that the identified novel DDR genes could be a powerful prognostic tool for prognosis evaluation and a valuable tool in predicting the risk factors in OS patients.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a ciliopathy caused by defects in the assembly or distribution of the BBSome, a conserved protein complex. The BBSome cycles via intraflagellar transport (IFT) through cilia to transport signaling proteins. How the BBSome is recruited to the basal body for binding to IFT trains for ciliary entry remains unknown. Here, we show that the Rab-like 5 GTPase IFT22 regulates basal body targeting of the BBSome in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our functional, biochemical and single particle in vivo imaging assays show that IFT22 is an active GTPase with low intrinsic GTPase activity. IFT22 is part of the IFT-B1 subcomplex but is not required for ciliary assembly. Independent of its association to IFT-B1, IFT22 binds and stabilizes the Arf-like 6 GTPase BBS3, a BBS protein that is not part of the BBSome. IFT22/BBS3 associates with the BBSome through an interaction between BBS3 and the BBSome. When both IFT22 and BBS3 are in their guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound states they recruit the BBSome to the basal body for coupling with the IFT-B1 subcomplex. The GTP-bound BBS3 likely remains to be associated with the BBSome upon ciliary entry. In contrast, IFT22 is not required for the transport of BBSomes in cilia, indicating that the BBSome is transferred from IFT22 to the IFT trains at the ciliary base. In summary, our data propose that nucleotide-dependent recruitment of the BBSome to the basal body by IFT22 regulates BBSome entry into cilia.

Determining the land surface temperature (LST) variations in urban surfaces using high spatiotemporal resolution thermal infrared data is necessary for urban microthermal environmental modeling. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a thermal infrared imager was used to monitor the high-precision spatiotemporal variation of LSTs for six typical urban surfaces, including water, tree canopy, grass, brick pavement, asphalt pavement, and marble pavement, in the Jiangning district, Nanjing. An estimation of sensible heat release was further conducted to quantitatively describe the fine characteristics of the LSTs of these surfaces. The factors influencing LST were investigated by correlating LSTs with the meteorological factors. The results showed that there were significant differences in LSTs and sensible heat release for six typical urban surfaces in sunny and cloudy days, respectively. On sunny days, the diurnal variations in different surfaces fluctuated substantially, which was not evident on cloudy days. The artificial surfaces always represented as the main source of sensible heat release. Solar radiation and air temperature, among the meteorological factors, were positively correlated with the LSTs of the surfaces. The air humidity was negatively correlated with the LSTs and played a role in cooling the land surface.

Objective To construct the promoter enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP1) reporter gene vector of different truncated fragments of human cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (hCREG), and compare the transcriptional activity of each promoter to determine the hCREG core promoter region. Methods The promoter fragment with length of 2003 (–1925/+78) bp was obtained by querying the hCREG sequence from US National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and combining with the characteristics of the promoter. Five promoter fragments were truncated by PCR and double enzyme digestion and cloned into pEGFP1 to construct pEGFP1_hCREG_2003, pEGFP1_hCREG_945, pEGF P1_hCREG_586, pEGFP1_ hCREG_478 and pEG FP1_hCREG_358 reporter gene vector plasmid. The 293T cells were transiently co-transfected with the internal reference plasmid pGL4.73 [hRluc/SV40] for 48 hours. The green fluorescence expression of pEGFP1_hCREG promoter reporter gene was observed under fluorescence microscope, and the mRNA expression of each promoter was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, and the core promoter region was determined. Bioinformatics was used to predict the transcription factors that might bind to the core promoter region. Results Five hCREG promoter reporter gene vectors were successfully constructed by double enzyme digestion and gene sequencing. The results showed that the transcription activity of pEGFP1_ hCREG_586 was the highest (P0.05), implying that –867/ –509 bp is a negative regulatory region, and there existed enhancer sequences in –400/–281 bp and –508/–401 bp, so the core promoter region of hCREG gene is located in the upstream sequence of –508/–281 bp. Bioinformatics predicted that the possibly bound transcription factors in key promoter region –508/–281 bp were Pax5/P53, C/EBPβ, GR-β, GATA-1, GR-α, c-Jun, PRB/ PRA, YY1, RXR-α, AP-2, FOXP3, GR, TFIID, STAT4 and c-Ets-1. Conclusion The recombinant plasmid of hCREG gene promoter has been successfully constructed, the core promoter of which is located in –508/–281 bp, where several transcription factors might be bound. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2019.07.09

Many G protein–coupled receptors and other signaling proteins localize to the ciliary membrane for regulating diverse cellular processes. The BBSome composed of multiple Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) proteins is an intraflagellar transport (IFT) cargo adaptor essential for sorting signaling proteins in and/or out of cilia via IFT. Leucine zipper transcription factor-like 1 (LZTFL1) protein mediates ciliary signaling by controlling BBSome ciliary content, reflecting how LZTFL1 mutations could cause BBS. However, the mechanistic mechanism underlying this process remains elusive thus far. Here, we show that LZTFL1 maintains BBSome ciliary dynamics by finely controlling BBSome recruitment to the basal body and its reassembly at the ciliary tip simultaneously in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. LZTFL1 directs BBSome recruitment to the basal body via promoting basal body targeting of Arf-like 6 GTPase BBS3, thus deciding the BBSome amount available for loading onto anterograde IFT trains for entering cilia. Meanwhile, LZTFL1 stabilizes the IFT25/27 component of the IFT-B1 subcomplex in the cell body so as to control its presence and amount at the basal body for entering cilia. Since IFT25/27 promotes BBSome reassembly at the ciliary tip for loading onto retrograde IFT trains, LZTFL1 thus also directs BBSome removal out of cilia. Therefore, LZTFL1 dysfunction deprives the BBSome of ciliary presence and generates Chlamydomonas cells defective in phototaxis. In summary, our data propose that LZTFL1 maintains BBSome dynamics in cilia by such a dual-mode system, providing insights into how LZTFL1 mediates ciliary signaling through maintaining BBSome ciliary dynamics and the pathogenetic mechanism of the BBS disorder as well.

Background: Several clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the role of maintenance therapy in untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients with complete response or partial response following standard immunochemotherapy; however, the effect of maintenance therapy remains uncertain, and a suitable maintenance strategy has not been determined because of the lack of direct/indirect comparisons. Methods: We performed a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) to analyze and compare the effectiveness of different maintenance regimens in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients. We searched the PubMed Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant papers from inception to 18 March 2021. Our study was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42020168864). Data on overall survival (OS) were extracted and the treatments were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve. Results: Eight trials and seven treatments involving 3525 patients were analyzed. OS analysis indicated that none of the drugs showed any benefit compared with non-maintenance therapy. Maintenance therapy with lenalidomide (SUCRA 69.3%) was ranked first in terms of OS. Conclusion: Based on the OS results observed in this NMA, we do not recommend maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed DLBLC after first-line therapy.

Leydig cells (LCs) apoptosis is responsible for the deficiency of serum testosterone in Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), while its specific mechanism is still unknown. This study focuses on the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MIR22HG in LC apoptosis and aims to elaborate its regulatory mechanism. MIR22HG was up-regulated in the testicular tissues of mice with LOH and H

With further improvements to meet social requirements for healthy and comfortable living, the research of micro-scale thermal environments has been received increasing attention. The key to micro-scale thermal environment study is the underlying surface temperature field simulation, which requires high precision results. Taking a typical area of the Jiangning District, Nanjing City, as a study area, this study used a UAV equipped with a thermal infrared imager to obtain surface temperature data in summer and autumn because of the limitation of the traditional ground measurements. Then, the numerical simulation software of ENVI-met and PALM-4U were utilized to conduct the surface temperature filed simulation. The simulation results were further analyzed combined with measured data. The modeling results indicated that the numerical simulation has high spatial accuracy, which can be applied to the study of the urban micro-thermal environment. Furthermore, the simulation effect of the model on the artificial surface is better than that of the natural surface, and the simulation effect of the open surface is better than that of the non-open surface. The study also found that the simulation effect of ENVI-met under the influence of occlusion was better than that of PALM-4U. The vegetation occlusion PALM-4U was less effective than that of ENVI-met, although both models correctly predicted the ground temperature under the occlusion of buildings. The overall conclusion indicates that the applicability of ENVI-met is superior to that of PLAM-4U for urban micro-thermal environment simulation. The study can provide a reference for the high-resolution remote sensing research of urban micro-scale thermal environments.

The dynamic recombination of an on-chain triplet exciton with an off-chain counterion trapped in an impurity molecule has been investigated using a molecular dynamics method. It has been found that luminous composite states including the trion and the singlet exciton are the main products in the triplet exciton-counterion reaction and their yields depend sensitively on the impurity potential and the coupling between the polymer chain and the impurity molecule. We demonstrate that the triplet exciton-counterion reaction can enhance the electroluminescence efficiency considerably, and that the triplet exciton plays an important role in the photoelectric process of polymer. Our results provide a new clue to understand the electroluminescence mechanism in the polymer light-emitting devices.

Certain ciliary signaling proteins couple with the BBSome, a conserved complex of Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) proteins, to load onto retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains for their removal out of cilia in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, we show that loss of the Arf-like 6 (ARL6) GTPase BBS3 causes the signaling protein phospholipase D (PLD) to accumulate in cilia. Upon targeting to the basal body, BBSomes enter and cycle through cilia via IFT, while BBS3 in a GTP-bound state separates from BBSomes, associates with the membrane, and translocates from the basal body to cilia by diffusion. Upon arriving at the ciliary tip, GTP-bound BBS3 binds and recruits BBSomes to the ciliary membrane for interacting with PLD, thus making the PLD-laden BBSomes available to load onto retrograde IFT trains for ciliary exit. Therefore, BBS3 promotes PLD exit from cilia via the BBSome, providing a regulatory mechanism for ciliary signaling protein removal out of cilia.

Objective To investigate the effect of C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) on phenotypic transformation of cardiac fibroblasts after hypoxia. Methods The mouse myocardium primary fibroblasts were extracted by collagenase digestion. Cells were divided into control, hypoxia-24h and hypoxia-48h, the mRNA and protein expression of CCR2 was examined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. CCR2 low expression cell (si-CCR2) was established using by small interfering RNA. Cells were divided into four groups including si-control, si-CCR2, si-control+hypoxia, si-CCR2+hypoxia. The mRNA and protein expressions of CCR2, α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen 1A (Col 1A) were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting, cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Results Compared with control, the mRNA and protein levels of CCR2 significantly increased in hypoxia-24h and hypoxia-48h group (P

Microvesicles (MVs) have been shown to be involved in pathophysiology of ischemic heart diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here we investigated the effects of MVs derived from ischemic preconditioning (IPC-MVs) on myocardial ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Myocardial IPC model was elicited by three cycles of ischemia and reperfusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. IPC-MVs from the peripheral blood of the above animal model were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. IPC-MVs were administered intravenously (7 mg/kg) at 5 min before reperfusion procedure in I/R injury model which was induced by 30-min ischemia and 120-min reperfusion of LAD in rats. We found that total IPC-MVs and different phenotypes, including platelet-derived MVs (PMVs), endothelial cell-derived MVs (EMVs), leucocyte-derived MVs and erythrocyte-derived MVs (RMVs) were all isolated which were identified membrane vesicles (

Objective To establish a new, simple and efficient method for culturing pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) of primary neonatal mouse. Methods The C57BL/6 mice aged less than one week were sacrificed. The primary PMVECs were isolated and cultured with agarose microsphere antibody screening method. Inverted microscope was used to observe the cell morphology, immunofluorescence staining and matrigel angiogenesis test with CD31 related antigen and vascular Willebrand factor (vWF) related antigen were performed to identify the cells, and CCK-8 method was employed to draw cell growth curve. Results Under the inverted microscope, the primary PMVECs showed short spindle and round in shape, and integrated in monolayer as paved stone like. CD31 related antigen and vWF immunofluorescence staining were observed in endothelial cells, the positive rates were 91.35%±3.06% and 92.99%±2.67%, respectively. The vascular lumen was formed 8h after inoculation of PMVECs on the matrigel. The growth curve drawn by CCK-8 method showed that PMVECs extracted with agarose microsphere antibody screening method were in the logarithmic growth period 2-5 days after cultivation. Conclusion Agarose microsphere antibody screening method is a simple and efficient method to isolate and cultivate the primary PMVECs of neonatal mouse, and is a worthwhile approach. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2018.05.12

Using nonequilibrium Green's function method, we investigate the transport properties through a regular B-form single-stranded DNA with Majorana zero modes in the presence of a microwave field. The photon-coupled Majorana zero mode acts as a series of channels in which Majorana zero mode can absorb (emit) photons. These channels present in the spectral function as a series of stripes, generating the corresponding photon peaks in the tunneling spectroscopy. The photon-assisted processes with Majorana zero mode can be regulated by gate voltage. This provides a method for detecting the existence of non-zero energy Majorana zero modes in organic molecule.

Rice planting patterns have changed dramatically over the past several decades in northeast China (NEC) due to the combined influence of global change and agricultural policy. Except for its great implications for environmental protection and climate change adaption, the spatio-temporal changes of rice cultivation in NEC are not clear. In this study, we conducted spatio-temporal analyses of NEC's major rice production region, Heilongjiang Province, by using satellite-derived rice cultivation maps. We found that the total cultivated area of rice in Heilongjiang Province increased largely from 1993 to 2011 and it expanded spatially to the northern and eastern part of the Sanjiang Plain. The results also showed that rice cultivation areas experienced a larger increase in the region managed by the Reclamation Management Bureau (RMB) than that managed by the local provincial government. Rice cultivation changes were closely related with those geographic factors over the investigated periods, represented by the geomorphic (slope), climatic (accumulated temperature), and hydrological (watershed) variables. These findings provide clear evidence that crop cultivation in NEC has been modified to better cope with the global change.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism associated with the traditional Chinese medicine formula Gui Zhu Yi Kun formula (GZYKF), in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, granulosa cells (GCs) of rats with PCOS were cultured and treated with testosterone propionate (TP) alone or with serum from rats treated with different doses of GZYKF. The effect of TP on cell growth was assayed using the MTT method. Expression levels of Beclin-1, light chain (LC)3, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), tumor suppressor p53 (p53), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sestrin2 and tuberous sclerosis protein 1/2 were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. It was demonstrated that TP increased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3, whereas GZYKF significantly decreased the TP-induced expression of Beclin-1 (P

// Yao Wang 1 , Su Wei 1 , Yi-Lu Wang 1 , Miao Liu 1 , Man Shang 1 , Qi Zhang 4 , Yan-Na Wu 1 , Ming-Lin Liu 2, 3 , Jun-Qiu Song 1 and Yan-Xia Liu 1 1 Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China 2 Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA19140, USA 3 Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA 4 Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Correspondence to: Yan-Xia Liu, email: liu_yanxia126@126.com Jun-Qiu Song, email: song_junqiu@126.com Keywords: microvesicles, ischemia/reperfusion, apoptosis, Bcl-2/Bax, GRP78 Received: October 17, 2016 Accepted: March 28, 2017 Published: April 26, 2017 ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effects of circulating microvesicles derived from myocardial ischemia (I-MVs) on apoptosis in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods: I-MVs from rats undergoing myocardial left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation were isolated by ultracentrifugation from circulating blood and characterized by flow cytometry. I-MVs were administered intravenously (4.8 mg/kg) at 5 min before reperfusion procedure in I/R injury model which was induced by 30-min of ischemia and 120-min of reperfusion of LAD in rats. Results: Treatment with I-MVssignificantly reduced the size of myocardial infarction, the activities of serum CK-MB and LDH, and the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. The activities of caspase 3, caspase 9 and caspase 12 in myocardium were also decreased significantly with I-MVs treatment. Moreover, the expression of Bax was decreased but Bcl-2 was increased. The expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase 2 (SERCA2) and phosphorylated phospholamban (p-PLB) were increased after being treated with I-MVs. Conclusion: I-MVs could protect hearts from I/R injury in rats through SERCA2 and p-PLB of calcium regulatory proteins to alleviate intrinsic myocardial apoptosis including mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum pathways.

Background Microvesicles (MVs) are submicron membrane vesicles as mediators of intercellular communication. The aim of our study was to investigate protective mechanism of circulating MVs derived from ischemic preconditioning (IPC-MVs) on myocardial I/R injury. Results Administration of IPC-MVs reduced infarct size and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in myocardial I/R injury in vivo. Meanwhile, IPC-MVs could increase cell viability and reduce LDH activity in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injured H9c2 cells in vitro. Microarray analysis demonstrated that miR-133a-3p expression in IPC-MVs increased apparently compared with Sham-MVs. We found that miR-133a-3p increased cell viability, decreased LDH activity and apoptosis , as well as suppressed H/R-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). MVs induced by hypoxic preconditioning enriched with FAM-miR-133a-3p allowed the transfer of miR-133a-3p to target cells. In addition, miR-133a-3p was significantly increased in H/R injured H9c2 cells by treatment with IPC-MVs. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a target gene of miR-133a-3p. AG1478 (EGFR inhibitor) significantly increased cell viability, decreased LDH activity and ERS-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells under H/R injury. Conclusions The findings of this study showed that IPC-MVs exerted cardioprotective effects by transferring miR-133a-3p into H/R injured cardiomyocytes targeting EGFR, thus attenuating ERS-induced apoptosis. MiR-133a-3p transferred by IPC-MVs may provide a novel therapy for myocardial I/R injury.

The lower Paleozoic low permeability carbonate reservoir in Sulige gas field has great potential for development, but the study on it is relatively small, so it can not effectively guide the development. The prediction from the three aspects of reservoir characteristics, control factors, effective reservoir enrichment zone in the core analysis results, deposition, karst topography and structure on the basis of reservoir distribution effect analysis, the seismic geology combined with the implementation of the favorable area of development. The results show that the study area of reservoir lithology is mainly fine dolomite, dissolved pores and intergranular pores, large pores throat pore structure is the most favorable area of. The distribution of reservoir is mainly controlled by the sedimentary and karst landform effect, sedimentation provides the material basis for the development of reservoir, the reservoir in the gypsum dolomite flat microfacies development; residual hill and depression margin are the most favorable location reservoir filling into natural gas. The horse five 1+2 seismic stratigraphic thickness, reservoir prediction of gas based on the combination of comprehensive reservoir evaluation implementation of the natural gas enrichment area, the development of effective guidance for the study area, has important significance to the development of a similar gas reservoir.