In vitro interaction of naphthoquine with ivermectin, atovaquone, curcumin, and ketotifen in the asexual blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7.

Naphthoquine is a promising candidate for antimalarial combination therapy. Its combination with artemisinin has demonstrated excellent efficacy in clinical trials conducted across various malaria-endemic areas. A co-formulated combination of naphthoquine and azithromycin has also shown high clinical efficacy for malaria prophylaxis in Southeast Asia. Developing new combination therapies using naphthoquine will provide additional arsenal responses to the growing threat of artemisinin resistance. Furthermore, due to its long half-life, the possible interaction of naphthoquine with other drugs also needs attention. However, studies on its pharmacodynamic interactions with other drugs are still limited. In this study, the in vitro interactions of naphthoquine with ivermectin, atovaquone, curcumin, and ketotifen were evaluated in the asexual stage of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. By using the combination index analysis and the SYBR Green I-based fluorescence assay, different interaction patterns of selected drugs with naphthoquine were revealed. Curcumin showed a slight but significant synergistic interaction with naphthoquine at lower effect levels, and no antagonism was observed across the full range of effect levels for all tested ratios. Atovaquone showed a potency decline when combined with naphthoquine. For ivermectin, a significant antagonism with naphthoquine was observed at a broad range of effect levels below 75% inhibition, although no significant interaction was observed at higher effect levels. Ketotifen interacted with naphthoquine similar to ivermectin, but significant antagonism was observed for only one tested ratio. These findings should be helpful to the development of new naphthoquine-based combination therapy and the clinically reasonable application of naphthoquine-containing therapies. IMPORTANCE: Pharmacodynamic interaction between antimalarials is not only crucial for the development of new antimalarial combination therapies but also important for the appropriate clinical use of antimalarials. The significant synergism between curcumin and naphthoquine observed in this study suggests the potential value for further development of new antimalarial combination therapy. The finding of a decline in atovaquone potency in the presence of naphthoquine alerts to a possible risk of treatment or prophylaxis failure for atovaquone-proguanil following naphthoquine-containing therapies. The observation of antagonism between naphthoquine and ivermectin raised a need for concern about the applicability of naphthoquine-containing therapy in malaria-endemic areas with ivermectin mass drug administration deployed. Considering the role of atovaquone-proguanil as a major alternative when first-line artemisinin-based combination therapy is ineffective and the wide implementation of ivermectin mass drug administration in malaria-endemic countries, the above findings will be important for the appropriate clinical application of antimalarials involving naphthoquine-containing therapies.

Synthesizing Benzotriazole Group-Terminated Carbon Dots as Multifunctional Additives of Poly(ethylene glycol).

Long running-in period and corrosion problems have greatly hindered the practical applications of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) lubricants. In this work, benzotriazole group-terminated carbon dots (BT-CDs) were specifically synthesized through a facile solvothermal method. The benzotriazole groups on BT-CD surfaces not only imparted them excellent dispersibility in the PEG base oil but also brought in outstanding anticorrosion ability for BT-CDs. With the aid of the coordination effects between benzotriazole groups and metal atoms, the BT-CDs could quickly and solidly adsorb onto the steel surface to form a dense adsorption layer, which resulted in an amazing phenomenon, i.e., the disappearance of the running-in period for the friction test. Adding 5.0 wt % BT-CDs reduced the friction and wear of PEG200 by 49.16 and 49.52%, respectively. When the duration was prolonged from 20 to 120 min, these values were further enlarged to 53.77 and 60.71%. The worn surface characterization demonstrated that the BT-CDs induced the generation of robust lubricating films on the frictional interfaces, accounting for their distinguished tribological performance. Considering the superior anticorrosion ability and the potential possibility of avoiding the running-in period, the BT-CDs are expected to be developed as particularly promising additives toward PEG.

Research on Flesh Texture and Quality Traits of Kiwifruit (cv. Xuxiang) with Fluctuating Temperatures during Cold Storage.

Kiwifruits are often exposed to various temperature fluctuations (TFs) during postharvest transportation and storage. To evaluate the effect of TFs on the qualities of kiwifruits during storage, kiwifruits were stored at 2 °C, 2 °C or 5 °C (TF2 °C-5 °C, alternating every 12 h), 2 °C or 7 °C (TF2 °C-7 °C, alternating every 12 h) for 3 d before long time storage at 2 °C. Observations revealed that kiwifruits stored at a constant 2 °C showed the lowest loss of weight and vitamin C because of minimized ethylene production and respiratory rate compared with that of TF2 °C-5 °C and TF2 °C-7 °C. Moreover, the results of RT-qPCR verified that the expression levels of genes encoding polygalacturonase, ß-galacturonidase, and pectin methylesterase were significantly increased by the treatment of TF. Hence, TF accelerated the degradation of cell walls, softening, translucency, and relative conductivity of the flesh of kiwifruits. In addition, the impact of TF2 °C-7 °C on kiwifruits was more significant relative to TF2 °C-5 °C. The present study provides a theoretical basis for kiwifruit during cold storage.

Synthesis of Polymer-Grafted Carbon Dots Serving as Multifunctional Lubricant Additives with Excellent Tribological Performance and Additional Rust Resistance Function for Steel/Steel Contact.

Poly(bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric) methacrylic anhydride-grafted carbon dots (CD-g-PEPMA) have been controllably synthesized and used as multifunctional lubricant additives of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200). The polymers on the surfaces of CD-g-PEPMA not only endow them with particularly excellent dispersion stability but also enhance their adsorbability on the steel surface and embedded stability between the rubbing surfaces. Hence, CD-g-PEPMA as an additive showed outstanding rust resistance and tribological performance. Among CD-g-PEPMA-X (X represents the polymerization time), CD-g-PEPMA-2 (X = 2 h) exhibited the best tribological performance. At the optimum c of 2.0 wt %, CD-g-PEPMA-2 reduced the coefficient of friction and wear volume of PEG200 by 60.1 and 74.0%, respectively. The striking friction-reducing and antiwear functions of CD-g-PEPMA as additives can be attributed to the synergistic lubrication effect of carbon cores and polymers. The rolling, polishing, and mending effects of carbon cores combined with the favorable adsorbability and reactivity of polymers on steel surfaces synergistically induced the formation of boundary lubrication films on wear track surfaces. The films are composed of tribochemical reaction products such as Fe2(CO3)3, Fe3C, and FePO4 embedded with carbon cores, tremendously reducing the friction and wear of the friction pair. The research results can provide substantial theoretical guidance and data support for designing and developing high-efficiency polymer-CD integrative multifunctional nanoadditives toward PEG.

Disulfide-incorporated lipid prodrugs of cidofovir: Synthesis, antiviral activity, and release mechanism.

The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses represented by adenovirus and monkeypox virus, have attracted widespread attention due to their high infectivity. In 2022, the global outbreak of mpox (or monkeypox) has led to the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. However, to date therapeutics approved for dsDNA virus infections remain limited and there are still no available treatments for some of these diseases. The development of new therapies for treating dsDNA infection is in urgent need. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of novel disulfide-incorporated lipid conjugates of cidofovir (CDV) as potential candidates against dsDNA viruses including vaccinia virus (VACV) and adenovirus (AdV) 5. The structure-activity relationship analyses revealed that the optimum linker moiety was C2H4 and the optimum aliphatic chain length was 18 or 20 atoms. Among the synthesized conjugates, 1c exhibited more potency against VACV (IC50 = 0.0960 µM in Vero cells; IC50 = 0.0790 µM in A549 cells) and AdV5 (IC50 = 0.1572 µM in A549 cells) than brincidofovir (BCV). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the conjugates could form micelles in phosphate buffer. The stability studies in the GSH environment demonstrated that the formation of micelles in phosphate buffer might protect the disulfide bond from glutathione (GSH) reduction. The dominant means of the synthetic conjugates to liberate the parent drug CDV was by enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore, the synthetic conjugates remained sufficiently stable in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and pooled human plasma, which indicated the possibility for oral administration. These results indicated 1c may be a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate against dsDNA viruses with potential oral administration. Moreover, modification of the aliphatic chain attached to the nucleoside phosphonate group was involved as an efficient prodrug strategy for the development of potent antiviral candidates.

Orthogonal dual reporter-based gain-of-signal assay for probing SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease activity in living cells: inhibitor identification and mutation investigation.

ABSTRACTThe main protease (3-chymotrypsin-like protease, 3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 has become a focus of anti-coronavirus research. Despite efforts, drug development targeting 3CLpro has been hampered by limitations in the currently available activity assays. Additionally, the emergence of 3CLpro mutations in circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about potential resistance. Both emphasize the need for a more reliable, sensitive, and facile 3CLpro assay. Here, we report an orthogonal dual reporter-based gain-of-signal assay for measuring 3CLpro activity in living cells. It builds on the finding that 3CLpro induces cytotoxicity and reporter expression suppression, which can be rescued by its inhibitor or mutation. This assay circumvents most limitations in previously reported assays, especially false positives caused by nonspecific compounds and signal interference from test compounds. It is also convenient and robust for high throughput screening of compounds and comparing the drug susceptibilities of mutants. Using this assay, we screened 1789 compounds, including natural products and protease inhibitors, with 45 compounds that have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro among them. Except for the approved drug PF-07321332, only five of these inhibit 3CLpro in our assays: GC376; PF-00835231; S-217622; Boceprevir; and Z-FA-FMK. The susceptibilities of seven 3CLpro mutants prevalent in circulating variants to PF-07321332, S-217622, and GC376 were also assessed. Three mutants were identified as being less susceptible to PF-07321322 (P132H) and S-217622 (G15S, T21I). This assay should greatly facilitate the development of novel 3CLpro-targeted drugs and the monitoring of the susceptibility of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants to 3CLpro inhibitors.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Benzimidazole Derivatives as Potential Lassa Virus Inhibitors.

The Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever, a highly infectious and lethal agent of acute viral hemorrhagic fever. At present, there are still no effective treatments available, creating an urgent need to develop novel therapeutics. Some benzimidazole compounds targeting the arenavirus envelope glycoprotein complex (GPC) are promising inhibitors of LASV. In this study, we synthesized two series of LASV inhibitors based on the benzimidazole structure. Lentiviral pseudotypes bearing the LASV GPC were established to identify virus entry inhibitors. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was further used to verify the binding activities of the potential compounds. Compounds 7d-Z, 7h-Z, 13c, 13d, and 13f showed relatively excellent antiviral activities with IC50 values ranging from 7.58 to 15.46 nM and their SI values above 1251. These five representative compounds exhibited stronger binding affinity with low equilibrium dissociation constants (KD < 8.25 × 10-7 M) in SPR study. The compound 7h-Z displayed the most potent antiviral activity (IC50 = 7.58 nM) with a relatively high SI value (2496), which could be further studied as a lead compound. The structure-activity relationship indicated that the compounds with lipophilic and spatially larger substituents might possess higher antiviral activity and a much larger safety margin. This study will provide some good guidance for the development of highly active compounds with a novel skeleton against LASV.

Spray-Dried Inhalable Powder Formulations of Gentamicin Designed for Pneumonic Plague Therapy in a Mouse Model.

Infection with Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) may cause pneumonic plague, which is inevitably fatal without treatment. Gentamicin (GM), an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is a drug commonly used in the treatment of plague. However, it requires repeated intramuscular or intravenous administration. Pulmonary drug delivery is noninvasive, with the advantages of local targeting and reduced risk of systemic toxicity. In this study, GM powders were prepared using spray-drying technology. The powders displayed good physical and chemical properties and met the requirements for human pulmonary inhalation. The formulation of the powders was optimized using a 32 full factorial design. A formulation of 15% (w/w) of L-leucine was prepared, and the spray-drying process parameters using an inlet temperature of 120°C and a 15% pump rate were determined to produce the best powder. In addition, the optimized GM spray-dried powders were characterized in terms of morphology, crystallinity, powder fluidity, and aerodynamic particle size distribution analysis. In a mouse model of pneumonic plague, we compared the therapeutic effects among three administration routes, including subcutaneous injection, liquid atomization, and dry powder atomization. In conclusion, our data suggest that inhalation therapy with GM spray-dried powders is an effective treatment for pneumonic plague.

Synthesis of Eco-Friendly Carbon Dots as Self-Repairing Additives of Polyalphaolefin by Means of a Green Solvation Effect.

The eco-friendly menthol-modified carbon dots (CDs-Menth) were synthesized for the first time and exhibited the particularly promising application potential as additives of polyalphaolefin (PAO4). On the one hand, the CDs-Menth could be well dispersed into PAO4 with excellent and long-term dispersion stability via a convenient and green mean, that is, the solvation effect of petroleum ether. This mean was far more advanced to current strategies such as chemical modifications and adding dispersants. On the other hand, the CDs-Menth as additives possessed not only the duty-bound merits such as the distinguished friction-reducing, anti-wear, and load-carrying functions, but also an amazing ability of self-repairing effect. The repairing rate of lower disc in the ball-on-disc friction pair lubricated with CDs-Menth/PAO4 lubricant (2.5 wt %) was about 19.3% if the friction duration was prolonged from 20 to 120 min. Meanwhile, the wear volume reduction for PAO4 caused by CDs-Menth remarkably increased from 43.5 to 74.6%. By virtue of the self-repairing effect, the CDs-Menth could form the tough and tensile boundary lubrication films on the rubbing surfaces, not only tremendously reducing the friction and wear of friction pair, but also hopefully protecting the friction interfaces from the potential oxidation and corrosion.

Corrosion inhibition mechanism of imidazole ionic liquids with high temperature in 20% HCl solution.

BACKGROUND: This paper focuses on the chemical and physical adsorption of 1-hexyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium bromide (HDMIMBr), 1-decyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium bromide (DDMIMBr), and 1-hexadecyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium bromide (C16DMIMBr) on the surface of mild steel at high temperature in order to explore the mechanism of a corrosion inhibitor in a complex environment. METHODS: Gravimetric, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical tests explored the corrosion inhibition performance from the experimental level. Quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations reveal the corrosion inhibition mechanism from the molecular scale. RESULTS: The results show that the longer the alkyl chain of the three corrosion inhibitors studied, the better the corrosion inhibition performance. This is due to the hydrophobic effect of the long alkyl chain, which has its own synergistic effect and then self-assembles to form an adsorption film with a multilayer structure. CONCLUSION: This dense adsorption film makes corrosion inhibitors a good application prospect in complex corrosive environments.

High expression level of CXCL1/GROα is linked to advanced stage and worse survival in uterine cervical cancer and facilitates tumor cell malignant processes.

BACKGROUND: CXCL1 belongs to a member of the ELR + CXC chemokine subgroups that also known as GRO-alpha. It has been recognized that several types of human cancers constitutively express CXCL1, which may serve as a crucial mediator involved in cancer development and metastasis via an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion. However, the expression pattern and clinical significance of CXCL1 in human uterine cervix cancer (UCC), as well as its roles and mechanisms in UCC tumor biology remains entirely unclear. METHODS: The expression and clinical significance of CXCL1 in UCC tissues was explored using immunohistochemistry and bioinformatics analyses. The expression and effects of CXCL1 in HeLa UCC cells were assessed using ELISA, CCK-8 and transwell assays. Western blotting experiments were performed to evaluate the potential mechanism of CXCL1 on malignant behaviors of HeLa UCC cells. RESULTS: The current study demonstrated that CXCL1 was expressed in HeLa UCC cells, PHM1-41 human immortalized cervical stromal cells, as well as cervical tissues, with UCC tissues having an evidently high level of CXCL1. This high level of CXCL1 in cancer tissues was notably related to poor clinical stages and worse survival probability, rather than tumor infiltration and patient age. In addition, CXCL1 expression was extremely correlated with CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCL3 cancer-associated chemokines expression. In vitro, the growth and migration abilities of HeLa cells were significantly enhanced in the presence of exogenous CXCL1. Gain-function assay revealed that CXCL1 overexpression significantly promoted growth and migration response in HeLa cells in both autocrine and paracrine manners. Finally, we found that CXCL1 overexpression in HeLa cells influenced the expression of ERK signal-related genes, and HeLa cell malignant behaviors derived from CXCL1 overexpression were further interrupted in the presence of the ERK1/2 blocker. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the potential roles of CXCL1 as a promoter and a novel understanding of the functional relationship between CXCL1 and the ERK signaling pathway in UCC.

DNMT3A and DNMT3B in Breast Tumorigenesis and Potential Therapy.

Breast cancer has become a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. DNA methylation has been revealed to play an enormously important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. DNA methylation is regulated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), including DNMT1, DNMT2, and DNMT3. DNMT3 family has three members: DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and DNMT3L. The roles and functions of DNMT1 in breast cancer have been well reviewed. In this article, the roles of DNMT3A and DNMT3B in breast tumorigenesis and development are reviewed. We also discuss the SNP and mutations of DNMT3A and DNMT3B in breast cancer. In addition, we summarize how DNMT3A and DNMT3B are regulated by non-coding RNAs and signaling pathways in breast cancer, and targeting the expression levels of DNMT3A and DNMT3B may be a promising therapeutic approach for breast cancer. This review will provide reference for further studies on the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of DNMT3A and DNMT3B in breast cancer.

A label-free amperometric immunosensor with improved electrocatalytic 3D braided AuPtCu-SWCNTs@MoS2-rGO for human growth differentiation factor-15 detection.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor-ß family. GDF-15 is overexpressed in cardiovascular diseases and has become a novel biomarker for these diseases. In this study, we fabricated a label-free electrochemical immunosensor for sensitive detection of GDF-15. Briefly, a three-dimensional braided composite of AuPtCu-SWCNTs@MoS2-rGO (denoted A@M), which served as a label-free immunosensor platform, was obtained by wrapping single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with trimetallic nanoflowers (AuPtCu NFs) woven on a three-dimensional network nanostructure composed of Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. This optimization improved the ability of the platform to immobilize antibodies, accelerated the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, and promoted the migration rate of electrons on the electrode surface, thereby further amplifying the electrical signal and improving the sensitivity. The constructed sensor exhibited high sensitivity over a wide linear range from 1 pg mL-1 to 50 ng mL-1, with a low detection limit of 0.825 pg mL-1 for GDF-15. The fabricated label-free immunosensor exhibits satisfactory reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. The detection of actual samples was successful, enabling a broad scope of application in the early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Naphthoquine: A Potent Broad-Spectrum Anti-Coronavirus Drug In Vitro.

COVID-19 has spread around the world and caused serious public health and social problems. Although several vaccines have been authorized for emergency use, new effective antiviral drugs are still needed. Some repurposed drugs including Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine and Remdesivir were immediately used to treat COVID-19 after the pandemic. However, the therapeutic effects of these drugs have not been fully demonstrated in clinical studies. In this paper, we found an antimalarial drug, Naphthoquine, showed good broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus activity. Naphthoquineinhibited HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro, with IC50 = 2.05 ± 1.44 µM, 5.83 ± 0.74 µM, and 2.01 ± 0.38 µM, respectively. Time-of-addition assay was also performed to explore at which stage Naphthoquine functions during SARS-CoV-2 replication. The results suggested that Naphthoquine may influence virus entry and post-entry replication. Considering the safety of Naphthoquine was even better than that of Chloroquine, we think Naphthoquine has the potential to be used as a broad-spectrum drug for coronavirus infection.

Traceability in food processing: problems, methods, and performance evaluations-a review.

Processed food has become an indispensable part of the human food chain. It provides rich nutrition for human health and satisfies various other requirements for food consumption. However, establishing traceability systems for processed food faces a different set of challenges compared to primary agro-food, because of the variety of raw materials, batch mixing, and resource transformation. In this paper, progress in the traceability of processed food is reviewed. Based on an analysis of the food supply chain and processing stage, the problem of traceability in food processing results from the transformations that the resources go through. Methods to implement traceability in food processing, including physical separation in different lots, defining and associating batches, isotope analysis and DNA tracking, statistical data models, internal traceability system development, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain-based approaches are summarized. Traceability is evaluated based on recall effects, TRUs (traceable resource units), and comprehensive granularity. Different methods have different advantages and disadvantages. The combined application of different methods should consider the specific application scenarios in food processing to improve granularity. On the other hand, novel technologies, including batch mixing optimization with AI, quality forecasting with big data, and credible traceability with blockchain, are presented in the context of improving traceability performance in food processing.

The comparison of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen for blood pressure in preeclampsia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

INTRODUCTION: The comparison of ibuprofen with acetaminophen for blood pressure (BP) in preeclampsia remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the impact of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen on BP for preeclampsia. METHODS: We search PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases through October 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen on BP for preeclampsia. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Four RCTs are included in the meta-analysis. Overall in preeclampsia patients, ibuprofen and acetaminophen show similar systolic BP (SBP) (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.04; 95% CI = -0.26-0.34; p= .81), diastolic BP (DBP) (SMD = 0.15; 95% CI = -0.18-0.48; p = 0.38), mean BP (MAP) (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI = -0.29-0.33; p = .91), severe range BP (SMD = -0.10; 95% CI = -0.40-0.19; p = .50), severe hypertension (SMD = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.85-1.62; p = .32), and satisfaction level (SMD = 1.2; 95% CI = 0.95-1.53; p = .13). CONCLUSIONS: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may have no significant influence on BP for preeclampsia.

Tribological properties of a series of carbon dots modified by ionic liquids with various anion species: experimental findings and density functional theory calculations.

A series of carbon dots modified by ionic liquids with various anion species (CDs-ILs-X) were facilely synthesized by a one-pot pyrolysis method and subsequent anion exchange processes, where X- represented the anions of hexafluorophosphate (PF6-), bis(trifluorosulfonyl) imide (NTf2-), bis(salicylato) borate (BScB-) and oleate (OL-). Their tribological properties as lubricant additives of polyethylene glycol (PEG200) were investigated under the ball-on-plate reciprocating mode and steel/steel contact. The maximum friction coefficient and wear volume reductions of PEG200 triggered by CDs-ILs-PF6, CDs-ILs-NTf2, CDs-ILs-BScB and CDs-ILs-OL were up to 42.5% and 71.8%, 40.5% and 74.0%, 40.5% and 72.8%, and 52.2% and 79.5%, respectively. The excellent friction-reducing and anti-wear properties of CDs-ILs-X could be attributed to the formed boundary lubrication films composed of tribochemical products and CDs on the rubbing surfaces. The density functional theory calculations well explained the specific effects of anion species on the tribological performances of CDs-ILs-X. The strongest absorption stability and lowest steric hindrance of OL- made the CDs-ILs-OL form the densest boundary lubrication films on the sliding interfaces, and hence the CDs-ILs-OL exhibited the best tribological performance. The CDs-ILs-OL are promising lubricant additives to PEG owing to their high-performance, low cost and environmental friendliness.

Ovarian microcystic stromal tumor with omental metastasis: the first case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Microcystic stromal tumor (MCST) of the ovary is an extremely rare subtype of sex cord-stromal neoplasm first described by Irving and Young in 2009. Tumors from all previously reported cases (fewer than 40 total) were benign, but one was a case of ovarian MCST that reoccurred. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we present a unique single case of ovarian MCST with omental metastasis in a 47-year-old Chinese female along with its histologic and immunohistochemical profile and genetic alterations. The tumor exhibited the previously described classic microscopic features and immunoprofiles of MCST. The tumorlet in the omentum presented the same histological structures and characteristically expressed ß-catenin protein (localized in the nucleus). Molecular analysis identified a point mutation (c.98C > G) in exon 3 of CTNNB1. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, no such report has been documented for ovarian MCST with omental metastasis. The study may provide new insights into the tumor biology of MCST and provide a better understanding of this rare entity.

Association between IL1B -511C/T polymorphism and Behçet's disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have investigated the relationship between the interleukin-1ß gene (IL1B) -511C/T polymorphism and the risk of Behçet's disease (BD); however, the conclusions remain controversial. METHODS: In this study, we systemically retrieved relevant studies from the Chinese Biomedicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. We then calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the meta-package Stata version 12.0. RESULTS: The IL1B -511C/T polymorphism was not related to BD susceptibility using any of the tested models (C vs T: OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.97-1.49; CC vs TT: OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.95-1.70; CT vs TT: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.781.36; dominant model: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.87-1.46; recessive model: OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.89-1.82). Similarly, subgroup analysis including studies consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium revealed no association between the IL1B polymorphism and BD susceptibility. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that the IL1B -511C/T polymorphism is unlikely to affect the risk of BD; however, further large-scale, carefully designed studies are needed to verify these results.