Novel insights for PI3KC3 in mediating lipid accumulation in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco.

In this study, the transcriptional regulation of PI3KC3 by three transcription factors (PPARγ, PPARα, and STAT3) and the potential role of PI3KC3 in mediating lipid accumulation were determined in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. The 5'-deletion assay, overexpression assay, site-mutation assay, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay suggested that PPARα, PPARγ, and STAT3 negatively regulated the promoter activity of pi3kc3. Moreover, the transcriptional inactivation of pi3kc3 was directly mediated by PPARα and PPARγ under fatty acid (FA) treatment. Using primary hepatocytes from yellow catfish, FA incubation significantly increased triacylglyceride (TG) content, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content, and lipid drops (LDs) content, the mRNA level of pparα, pparγ, stat3, and dnmt3b, the protein level of PPARα, PPARγ, and STAT3, and the methylation level of pi3kc3, but significantly reduced the mRNA and protein level of PI3KC3. Our findings offer new insights into the mechanisms for transcriptional regulation of PI3KC3 and for PI3KC3-mediated lipid accumulation in fish.

Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2: Mutation, infectivity, transmission, and vaccine resistance.

The appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) has caused panic responses around the world because of its high transmission rate and number of mutations. This review summarizes the highly mutated regions, the essential infectivity, transmission, vaccine breakthrough and antibody resistance of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. The Omicron is highly transmissible and is spreading faster than any previous variant, but may cause less severe symptoms than previous variants. The Omicron is able to escape the immune system's defenses and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant. Early careful preventive steps including vaccination will always be key for the suppression of the Omicron variant.

Stability and infectivity of coronaviruses in inanimate environments.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious virus that can transmit through respiratory droplets, aerosols, or contacts. Frequent touching of contaminated surfaces in public areas is therefore a potential route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The inanimate surfaces have often been described as a source of nosocomial infections. However, summaries on the transmissibility of coronaviruses from contaminated surfaces to induce the coronavirus disease 2019 are rare at present. This review aims to summarize data on the persistence of different coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces. The literature was systematically searched on Medline without language restrictions. All reports with experimental evidence on the duration persistence of coronaviruses on any type of surface were included. Most viruses from the respiratory tract, such as coronaviruses, influenza, SARS-CoV, or rhinovirus, can persist on surfaces for a few days. Persistence time on inanimate surfaces varied from minutes to up to one month, depending on the environmental conditions. SARS-CoV-2 can be sustained in air in closed unventilated buses for at least 30 min without losing infectivity. The most common coronaviruses may well survive or persist on surfaces for up to one month. Viruses in respiratory or fecal specimens can maintain infectivity for quite a long time at room temperature. Absorbent materials like cotton are safer than unabsorbent materials for protection from virus infection. The risk of transmission via touching contaminated paper is low. Preventive strategies such as washing hands and wearing masks are critical to the control of coronavirus disease 2019.

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture effects on acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: possible association with upregulation of transforming growth factor beta 1.

Electroacupuncture at the head acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Shuigou (GV26) improves recovery of neurological function following ischemic cerebrovascular events, but its mechanism remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the action of electroacupuncture at these acupoints is associated with elevated serum levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). To test this, we established a rat model of cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Electroacupuncture was performed at Baihui and Shuigou with a "disperse-dense" wave at an alternating frequency of 2 and 150 Hz, and at a constant intensity of 3 mA. Each electroacupuncture session lasted 30 minutes and was performed every 12 hours for 3 days. Neurological severity scores were lower in injured rats after acupuncture than in those not subjected to treatment. Furthermore, serum level of TGF-ß1 was greater after electroacupuncture than after no treatment. Our results indicate that electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shuigou increases the serum level of TGF-ß1 in rats with acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and exerts neuroprotective effects.

[Efficacy observation on acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera for intractable insomnia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a more optimal therapy for intractable insomnia. METHODS: Seven hundred cases of intractable insomnia that were in accordance with the criteria were randomly divided into an observation group (368 cases) and a control group (332 cases). The acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera was applied in the observation group, where Dazhui (GV 14), Shenmai (BL 62), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhaohai (KI 6), Geshu (BL 17), etc. were selected. The acupuncture prescription of tranquilizing mind was applied in the control group, where Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Anmian (Extra), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyin jiao (SP 6) were selected. The treatment was given once a day, ten times of which made a session. After the treatment for 4 sessions, the clinical efficacy and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 92.6% (338/365) in the observation group, which was superior to 73.1% (242/331) in the control group (P < 0.05). The PSQI score was obviously decreased in two groups after the treatment (both P < 0.05), in which the decreasing in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera has better effect for intractable insomnia, which could be considered as a more optimal therapy.

Simultaneous determination of catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin gallate in rat plasma by LC-ESI-MS/MS for pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration of Cynomorium songaricum extract.

A rapid and valid method was developed for simultaneous determination catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin gallate in rat plasmas using scopoletin (103 ng mL(-1)) as an internal standard (IS). The separation was performed on Eclipse plus C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 1.8 µm) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min(-1), and acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid was used as mobile phase. The recoveries of three analytes and IS were more than 78.9%. The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) in rat plasma were 2.14, 2.38 and 2.08 ng mL(-1) respectively for catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin gallate. Intra-day and inter-day precisions were within 12%. The accuracies were more than 85%. After single oral administration of 15.25 g kg(-1) Cynomorium songaricum extract, C(max) of catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin gallate in rat plasma were respectively 86.69±38.65, 32.57±15.00 and 36.93±12.62 ng mL(-1) while T(max) values were respectively 0.15±0.09, 0.20±0.10 and 0.20±0.13 h. The results demonstrated that the present LC-MS/MS method was sensitive enough for pharmacokinetic study of catichins following oral administration of C. songaricum extract.