Loss of perinuclear theca ACTRT1 causes acrosome detachment and severe male subfertility in mice.

The perinuclear theca (PT) is a cytoskeletal element encapsulating the sperm nucleus; however, the physiological roles of the PT in sperm are largely uncertain. Here, we reveal that ACTRT1, ACTRT2, ACTL7A and ACTL9 proteins interact to form a multimeric complex and localize to the subacrosomal region of spermatids. Furthermore, we engineered Actrt1-knockout (KO) mice to define the functions of ACTRT1. Despite normal sperm count and motility, Actrt1-KO males were severely subfertile owing to a deficiency in fertilization. Loss of ACTRT1 caused a high incidence of malformed heads and detachment of acrosomes from sperm nuclei, caused by loosened acroplaxome structure during spermiogenesis. Furthermore, Actrt1-KO sperm showed reduced ACTL7A and PLCζ protein content as a potential cause of fertilization defects. Moreover, we reveal that ACTRT1 anchors developing acrosomes to the nucleus, likely by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1 and the nuclear envelope proteins PARP11 and SPATA46. Loss of ACTRT1 weakened the interaction between ACTL7A and SPACA1. Our study and recent findings of ACTL7A/ACTL9-deficient sperm together reveal that the sperm PT-specific ARP complex mediates the acrosome-nucleus connection.

Asperosaponin VI facilitates the regeneration of skeletal muscle injury by suppressing GSK-3ß-mediated cell apoptosis.

Asperosaponin VI (ASA VI) is a bioactive triterpenoid saponin extracted from Diptychus roots, of Diptyl, and has previously shown protective functions in rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. This study investigates the effects and molecular mechanisms of ASA VI on skeletal muscle regeneration in a cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced skeletal muscle injury mouse model. Mice were subjected to CTX-induced injury in the tibialis anterior and C2C12 myotubes were treated with CTX. Muscle fiber histology was analyzed at 7 and 14 days postinjury. Apoptosis and autophagy-related protein expression were evaluated t s by Western blot, and muscle regeneration markers were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Docking studies, cell viability assessments, and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) activation analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanism. ASA VI was observed to improve muscle interstitial fibrosis, remodeling, and performance in CTX-treated mice, thereby increased skeletal muscle size, weight, and locomotion. Furthermore, ASA VI modulated the expression of apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins through GSK-3ß inhibition and activated the transcription of regeneration genes. Our results suggest that ASA VI mitigates skeletal muscle injury by modulating apoptosis and autophagy via GSK-3ß signaling and promotes regeneration, thus presenting a probable therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle injury.

Minisci-Type Dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Heteroaromatic Rings with Inert C(sp3)-H Enabled by a Visible-Light-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydrogen Atom Transfer Process.

The Minisci-type dehydrogenative coupling of N-heteroaromatic rings with inert C-H or Si-H partners via visible-light-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer has been reported. This methodology allows the coupling reactions to be carried out in water as a solvent under air atmospheric conditions with visible-light illumination. A wide range of inert C-H and Si-H partners could be directly coupled with various N-aromatic heterocycles to deliver products in good to excellent yields.

[Clinical features and genetic analysis of a child with Central core disease due to compound heterozygous variants of RYR1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and genetic etiology of a child with Central core disease (CCD). METHODS: A child with CCD who was treated at the Children's Hematology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in February 2022 was selected as the study subject. Muscle biopsy was performed. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his parents for the extraction of genomic DNA. The child was subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The child, a 12-year-old boy, had manifested motor retardation, facial weakness, ptosis, pectus carinatum, scoliosis, etc. Muscle biopsy showed that the central nucleus muscle fibers and atrophic muscle fibers were mainly type I. WES revealed that the child has harbored c.10561G>A (p.G3521S) and c.3448T>C (p.C1150R) compound heterozygous variants of the RYR1 gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that they were inherited from his mother and father, respectively. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were considered as likely pathogenic (PS4+PM1+PM2_Supporting+PP3；PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3). CONCLUSION: By combining his clinical manifestation and results of muscle pathology and genetic testing, the child was diagnosed with CCD, which may be attributed to the c.10561G>A (p.G3521S) and c.3448T>C (p.C1150R) compound heterozygous variants of the RYR1 gene.

Global burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to high sugar-sweetened beverages intake from 1990 to 2019.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake is associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, global patterns and trends in the burden of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake have not been systematically assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. We obtained the numbers and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate (ASDR) of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake by sex, year, socio-demographic index (SDI), and country between 1990 and 2019. Furthermore, we used a validated decomposition algorithm to attribute changes to population growth, population aging, and epidemiologic changes in the 21 GBD regions. From 1990 to 2019, the global IHD mortality attributable to high SSBs intake, as quantified by ASMR and ASDR declined significantly, while the burden increased saliently in absolute numbers. Population decomposition suggested that changes in epidemiology in most GBD regions have reduced IHD mortality due to high SSBs intake, but this trend has been counteracted by population growth and aging. CONCLUSIONS: Although the age-standardized rate of IHD deaths and DALYs attributable to high SSBs intake decreased overall from 1990 to 2019, the absolute IHD burden remains high in some countries, especially in some developing countries in Asia and Oceania. Action is needed to enhance the prevention of diseases associated with high SSBs intake.

Treatment of Hepatitis E.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are the most common cause of acute hepatitis, but they can also take a chronic course. There is no specific therapy for acute hepatitis, and current treatment is supportive. Choosing ribavirin as the first-line therapy for chronic HEV is advisable, especially immunosuppressed individuals. Moreover, ribavirin therapy in the acute phase of infection provides major benefits for those at high risk of acute liver failure (ALF)/acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Pegylated interferon α has been used successfully for treatment of hepatitis E but is associated with major side effects. Cholestasis is one of the most common, but devastating, manifestations in hepatitis E. Current therapy for HEV aims to treat symptoms. Therapy generally involves several measures, such as vitamins, albumin, and plasma for supporting treatment, symptomatic treatment for cutaneous pruritus, ursodeoxycholic acid, Obeticholic acid, S-adenosylmethionine, etc. for removing jaundice. HEV infection during pregnancy and patients with underlying liver disease may develop liver failure. For these patients, active monitoring, standard care, and supportive treatment are the foundations. Ribavirin has successfully been used to prevent liver transplantation (LT). Prevention and treatment of complications are important for treatment of liver failure. Liver support devices are intended to support liver function until such time as native liver function recovers, or until LT. LT is widely considered as irreplaceable and definitive treatment for liver failure, particularly for patients who do not improve with supportive measures to sustain life.

miR-503-5p inhibits colon cancer tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis by directly downregulating VEGF-A.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered important in the pathogenesis of colon cancer. But the mechanism of their role in colon cancer is still largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the function of miR-503-5p in the pathogenesis of colon cancer. This study analyzed miRNA microarray of colon cancer. Then, we performed EdU, CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell invasion assays and in vivo assays to explore the exact role of miR-503-5p in colon cancer. We observed considerable downregulation of miR-503-5p expression in colon cancer cells and tissues and significant correlation with the TNM stage, differentiation grade and lymph node metastasis of colon cancer. Overexpression of miR-503-5p promoted the apoptosis and G1 arrest of colon cancer cells, and inhibited migration, proliferation, invasion and colony formation. Interestingly, ectopic miR-503-5p overexpression could significantly inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression and reduce the activity of a luciferase reporter containing the VEGF-A 3'-untranslated region. Furthermore, overexpressed miR-503-5p in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and colon cancer cells resulted in lower expression levels of VEGFR-2, and subsequently inhibited AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, overexpression of miR-503-5p suppressed both lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in vivo and significantly inhibited the tumorigenicity of HT-29 cells in nude mice. In summary, our study shows downregulation of miR-503-5p at least partially contributes to the tumorigenesis of colon cancer through modulating the angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis by targeting VEGF-A while stimulating AKT signaling pathways. Therapeutic strategies to restore miR-503-5p in colon cancer could be useful to inhibit tumor progression.

The Measurement of 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D in Chronic HBV Patients Using LC-MS/MS.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is universal among patients with chronic liver disease. Vitamin D may be involved in the regulation of immune function of chronic hepatitis B and related to disease progression. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional study. The level of vitamin 25(OH)D was detected in patients with chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis B cirrhosis, hepatitis B cancer, and healthy groups by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). At the same time, the clinical data, biochemical indexes, and T lymphocyte subsets were collected to study the relationship between vitamin 25(OH)D deficiency and clinical indexes of hepatitis B patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was higher in patients with liver cancer group (96.97%, 10.59 ± 3.06 ng/mL) and cirrhosis group (93.18%, 11.85 ± 2.66 ng/mL) than in the healthy group (76.92%, 16.38 ± 5.53 ng/mL) and chronic hepatitis B group (77.83%, 15.06 ± 4.91 ng/mL). There were significant differences in vitamin 25(OH)D levels between the cirrhosis groups and the healthy groups, the liver cancer groups and the healthy groups, the hepatitis B cirrhosis groups and the chronic hepatitis B groups, the liver cancer groups and the chronic hepatitis B groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in vitamin 25 (OH)D level between liver cancer group and hepatitis B cirrhosis group, healthy group and chronic hepatitis B group (p > 0.05). Vitamin 25(OH)D level was correlated with age (r = -0.24, p = 0.015), lymphocyte (r = 0.24, p = 0.015), hemoglobin (r = 0.28, p = 0.005), platelet (r = 0.27, p = 0.006), PTA (r = 0.33, p = 0.001), albumin (r = 0.30, p = 0.002), prealbumin (r = 0.39, p = 0.001), cholinesterase (r = 0.29, p = 0.003), CD3+ (r = 0.20, p = 0.04), CD3+ CD8+ (r = 0.20, p = 0.04), CD45+ (r = 0.24, p = 0.017), but none correlated with liver function and HBV-DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency existed in patients with hepatitis B, which was related to the clinical progress of hepatitis B and may be involved in the regulation of immune function in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Trelagliptin Mitigates Macrophage Infiltration by Preventing the Breakdown of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Brain of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Mice.

Stroke is a significant cardiovascular disease that influences the health of human beings all over the world, especially the elderly population. It is reported that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be easily destroyed by stroke, which is one of the main factors responsible for macrophage infiltration and central nervous inflammation. Here, we report the protective effects of Trelagliptin against BBB injury and macrophage infiltration. Our results indicate that the infraction volume, the neurological score, and macrophage infiltration staining with CD68 were increased in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice but significantly reversed by treatment with Trelagliptin. Additionally, Trelagliptin reduced the permeability of the BBB by increasing the expression of the tight junction zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) in the cerebral cortex. In an in vitro hypoxia model of endothelial cells, the increased migration of macrophages, enlarged permeability of endothelial monolayer, downregulation of ZO-1, and elevated expression level of CXCL1 by hypoxic conditions were all reversed by treatment with Trelagliptin in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that Trelagliptin might mitigate macrophage infiltration by preventing the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in the brains of MCAO mice.

Protective Role of C3aR (C3a Anaphylatoxin Receptor) Against Atherosclerosis in Atherosclerosis-Prone Mice.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that C3aR (C3a anaphylatoxin receptor) signaling has protective roles in various inflammatory-related diseases. However, its role in atherosclerosis has been unknown. The purpose of the study was to investigate the possible protective role of C3aR in aortic atherosclerosis and explore molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the protection. Approach and Results: C3ar-/-/Apoe-/- mice were generated by cross-breeding of atherosclerosis-prone Apoe-/- mice and C3ar-/- mice. C3ar-/-/Apoe-/- mice and Apoe-/- mice (as a control) underwent high-fat diet for 16 weeks were assessed for (1) atherosclerotic plaque burden, (2) aortic tissue inflammation, (3) recruitment of CD11b+ leukocytes into atherosclerotic lesions, and (4) systemic inflammatory responses. Compared with Apoe-/- mice, C3ar-/-/Apoe-/- mice developed more severe atherosclerosis. In addition, C3ar-/-/Apoe-/- mice have increased local production of proinflammatory mediators (eg, CCL2 [chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2], TNF [tumor necrosis factor]-α) and infiltration of monocyte/macrophage in aortic tissue, and their lesional macrophages displayed an M1-like phenotype. Local pathological changes were associated with enhanced systemic inflammatory responses (ie, elevated plasma levels of CCL2 and TNF-α, increased circulating inflammatory cells). In vitro analyses using peritoneal macrophages showed that C3a stimulation resulted in upregulation of M2-associated signaling and molecules, but suppression of M1-associated signaling and molecules, supporting the roles of C3a/C3aR axis in mediating anti-inflammatory response and promoting M2 macrophage polarization. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a protective role for C3aR in the development of atherosclerosis and suggest that C3aR confers the protection through C3a/C3aR axis-mediated negative regulation of proinflammatory responses and modulation of macrophage toward the anti-inflammatory phenotype.

Sleep-disordered breathing and risk of the breast cancer: A meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been related to a higher risk of breast cancer whereas the results of previous studies are inconsistent. We, therefore, performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between SDB and subsequent risk of breast cancer in women. METHODS: Cohort studies that investigated the temporal relationship between SDB and breast cancer incidence were obtained via search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from inception to 30 January 2021. Only studies with multivariate analyses were included. A fixed or a randomised effect model was applied according to the heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eight cohort studies with 1 398 113 women were included. Pooled results with a randomised-effect model showed that compared with women without SDB at baseline, women with SDB had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer (risk ratio [RR]: 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08 to 1.71, P = .01) with significant heterogeneity (P for Cochrane's Q test < .001, I2  = 95%). Subgroup analyses showed that SDB seemed to confer a more remarkably increased risk of breast cancer in elderly women (RR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.33 to 6.76, P = .008) than that in non-elderly women (RR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.29, P = .02; P for subgroup difference = .04). However, the association was not significantly affected by country of the study, study design, diagnostic strategy for SDB or adjustment of obesity (P for subgroup analyses all > .05). CONCLUSIONS: SDB may be an independent risk factor for breast cancer in women, particularly in elderly females.

The Protect Effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharides on Intestinal Integrity by Regulating Oxidative Status and Inflammation under Oxidative Stress.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) on intestinal integrity, oxidative status, and the inflammation response with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) challenge. In total, 30 rats were randomly assigned to three groups with 10 replications: CON group, basal diet; AS group, basal diet + 0.1% H2O2 in drinking water; ASC group, basal diet + 200 mg/kg COS + 0.1% H2O2 in drinking water. The results indicated that COS upregulated (p < 0.05) villus height (VH) of the small intestine, duodenum, and ileum; mucosal glutathione peroxidase activity; jejunum and ileum mucosal total antioxidant capacity; duodenum and ileum mucosal interleukin (IL)-6 level; jejunum mucosal tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level; duodenum and ileum mucosal IL-10 level; the mRNA expression level of zonula occludens (ZO)-1 in the jejunum and ileum, claudin in the duodenum, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 in the jejunum, and heme oxygenase-1 in the duodenum and ileum; and the protein expression of ZO-1 and claudin in jejunum; however, it downregulated (p < 0.05) serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactate level; small intestine mucosal malondialdehyde content; duodenum and ileum mucosal IL-6 level; jejunum mucosal TNF-α level; and the mRNA expression of IL-6 in the duodenum and jejunum, and TNF-α in the jejunum and ileum. These results suggested COS could maintain intestinal integrity under oxidative stress by modulating the intestinal oxidative status and release of inflammatory cytokines.

Ce-promoted Mn/ZSM-5 catalysts for highly efficient decomposition of ozone.

Manganese oxides supported by ZSM-5 zeolite (Mn/ZSM-5) as well as their further modified by Ce promoter were achieved by simple impregnation method for ozone catalytic decomposition. The yCe20Mn/ZSM-5-81 catalyst with 8% Ce loading showed the highest catalytic activity at relative humidity of 50% and a space velocity of 360 L/(g × hr), giving 93% conversion of 600 ppm O3 after 5 hr. Moreover, this sample still maintained highly activity and stability in humid air with 50%-70% relative humidity. Series of physicochemical characterization including X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed technology (NH3-TPD and H2-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and oxygen isotopic exchange were introduced to disclose the structure-performance relationship. The results indicated that moderate Si/Al ratio (81) of zeolite support was beneficial for ozone decomposition owing to the synergies of acidity and hydrophobicity. Furthermore, compared with 20Mn/ZSM-5-81, Ce doping could enhance the amount of low valance manganese (such as Mn2+ and Mn3+). Besides, the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio of 8Ce20Mn/ZSM-5-81 sample was higher than that of 4Ce20Mn/ZSM-5-81. Additionally, the synergy between the MnOx and CeO2 could easily transfer electron via the redox cycle, thus resulting in an increased reducibility at low temperatures and high concentration of surface oxygen. This study provides important insights to the utilization of porous zeolite with high surface area to disperse active component of manganese for ozone decomposition.

Dysregulation of the immune response affects the outcome of critical COVID-19 patients.

Critical cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are associated with a high risk of mortality. It remains unclear why patients with the same critical condition have different outcomes. We aimed to explore relevant factors that may affect the prognosis of critical COVID-19 patients. Six critical COVID-19 inpatients were included in our study. The six patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had a good or poor prognosis. We collected peripheral blood samples at admission and the time point of exacerbation to compare differences in the phenotypes and functions of major populations of immune cells between the groups. On admission, compared to patients with poor prognoses, those with good prognoses had significantly higher counts of monocytes (P < .05), macrophages (P < .05), higher frequency of CD3+ CD4+ CD45RO+ CXCR3+ subsets (P < .05), higher frequency of CD14+ CD11C+ HLA-DR+ subset of dendritic cells (P < .05), and a lower count of neutrophils (P < .05). At the time point of exacerbation, the proportions of naïve CD4+ T cells (P < .05), Tregs, and Th2 cells in the poor prognosis group were relatively higher than those in the good prognosis group, and CD4+ memory T cells were relatively lower (P < .05). According to our results, the poor prognosis group showed a worse immune response than the good prognosis group at the time of admission and at exacerbation. Dysregulation of the immune response affects the outcome of critical COVID-19 patients.

Autophagy induction and antiproliferative effect of a novel curcumin derivative MOMI-1 on the human lung cancer cells A549.

To date, there are some chemically synthesized curcumin derivatives which were produced and identified to evade the disadvantages of physiochemical stability and solubility of curcumin. Here, one novel curcumin derivative, (2-(3-{(1E)-{(E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-oxocyclohexylidene)methyl)-1H-indol-1-yl)acetic acid}, (abbreviated as MOMI-1) was first used to detect the antiproliferation activity with MTT assays in different cancer cells including A549 lung cancer cells, MCF-7, and HEPG2 cell lines, and exhibited its wide inhibition spectrum. Next, we found that MOMI-1 could induce autophagic genesis of A549 cells by acridine orange or monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and green fluorescent protein-light chain 3 (GFP-LC3) recombinant plasmid transfection analysis, respectively. Western blot analysis confirmed the LC3-I/II conversion, beclin-1 increase and p62 reduction of A549 cells after exposure of MOMI-1, which suggested the typical autophagy induction. The following cell cycle test showed that MOMI-1 could block A549 cells in G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, wounding healing experiment and transwell assays demonstrated that MOMI-1 also possessed the antimigration ability of A549 cells. Our current results confirmed that MOMI-1 could inhibit the proliferation and induce autophagy of A549 cells, which provide a new potential chemical candidate of antigrowth of A549 lung cancer cells. Future work needs to focus on the mechanism of autophagy pathway of A549 cells.

Roles of tumour necrosis factor-related weak inducer of apoptosis/fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 pathway in lupus nephritis.

As one of the manifestations of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis (LN) has high morbidity and mortality. Although the explicit mechanism of LN remains to be fully elucidated, there is increasing evidence to support the notion that tumour necrosis factor-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), acting via its sole receptor, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), plays a pivotal role in such pathologic process. TWEAK/Fn14 interactions occur prominently in kidneys of LN, inducing inflammatory responses, angiogenesis, mesangial proliferation, filtration barrier injuries, renal fibrosis, etc. This review will specify the important roles of TWEAK/Fn14 pathway in the pathogenesis of LN with experimental data from cellular and animal models. Additionally, the raised levels of urinary and serum soluble TWEAK correlate with renal disease activity in patients with LN. The neutralizing antibodies targeting TWEAK or other approaches inhibiting TWEAK/Fn14 signals can attenuate renal damage in the murine lupus models. Therefore, to focus on TWEAK/Fn14 signalling may be promising in both clinical evaluation and the treatment of patients with LN.

Effects of (+)-usnic acid and (+)-usnic acid-liposome on Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii pathogen is a threat to human health that results in economic burden. Unfortunately, there are very few high-efficiency and low-toxicity drugs for toxoplasmosis in the clinic. (+)-Usnic acid derived from lichen species has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-parasitology, and even anti-cancer activities. Herein, the systematic effect of (+)-usnic acid and (+)-usnic acid-liposome on toxoplasma were studied in vitro and in vivo. The viability of toxoplasma tachyzoite was assayed with trypan blue and Giemsa staining; while the invasive capability of tachyzoite to cardiofibroblasts was detected using Giemsa staining. The survival time of mice and the changes in tachyzoite ultrastructure were studied in vivo. The results showed that (+)-usnic acid inhibited the viability of tachyzoite; pretreatment with (+)-usnic acid significantly decreased the invasion of tachyzoite to cardiofibroblasts in vitro; (+)-usnic acid and (+)-usnic acid-liposome extensively prolonged the survival time of mice about 90.9% and 117%, respectively; and improved the ultrastructural changes of tachyzoite, especially in dense granules, rhoptries, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and other membrane organelles. In summary, these results demonstrate that (+)-usnic acid and (+)-usnic acid-liposome with low toxicity have an inhibitory effect on the viability of toxoplasma tachyzoite, and mainly destructed membrane organelles which are connected with the virulence of toxoplasma. These findings provide the basis for further study and development of usnic acid as a potential agent for treating toxoplasmosis.

Treatment of Hepatitis E.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are the most common cause of acute hepatitis, but they can also take a chronic course. There is no specific therapy for acute hepatitis, and current treatment is supportive. Choosing ribavirin as the first-line therapy for chronic HEV is advisable, especially in solid organ transplant patients. Pegylated interferon-α has been used successfully for treatment of hepatitis E but is associated with major side effects. Cholestasis is one of the most common, but devastating, manifestations in hepatitis E. Current therapy for HEV aims to treat symptoms. Therapy generally involves several measures, such as vitamins for adequate nutrition, albumin and plasma for supporting treatment, symptomatic treatment for cutaneous pruritus, and ursodeoxycholic acid and S-adenosylmethionine, and Traditional Chinese medicine for removing jaundice. Patients with underlying liver disease may develop liver failure. For these patients, supportive treatment is the foundation. Ribavirin has successfully been used to prevent liver transplantation. Prevention and treatment of complications are important for treatment of liver failure. Liver support devices are intended to support liver function until such time as native liver function recovers or until liver transplantation. Liver transplantation is widely considered as irreplaceable and definitive treatment for acute-on-chronic liver failure, particularly for patients who do not improve with supportive measures to sustain life.

Phase diagram of (Li(1-x)Fe(x))OHFeSe: a bridge between iron selenide and arsenide superconductors.

Previous experimental results have shown important differences between iron selenide and arsenide superconductors which seem to suggest that the high-temperature superconductivity in these two subgroups of iron-based families may arise from different electronic ground states. Here we report the complete phase diagram of a newly synthesized superconducting (SC) system, (Li1-xFex)OHFeSe, with a structure similar to that of FeAs-based superconductors. In the non-SC samples, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin-density-wave (SDW) transition occurs at ∼127 K. This is the first example to demonstrate such an SDW phase in an FeSe-based superconductor system. Transmission electron microscopy shows that a well-known √5×√5 iron vacancy ordered state, resulting in an AFM order at ∼500 K in AyFe2-xSe2 (A = metal ions) superconductor systems, is absent in both non-SC and SC samples, but a unique superstructure with a modulation wave vector q = (1)/2(1,1,0), identical to that seen in the SC phase of KyFe2-xSe2, is dominant in the optimal SC sample (with an SC transition temperature Tc = 40 K). Hence, we conclude that the high-Tc superconductivity in (Li1-xFex)OHFeSe stems from the similarly weak AFM fluctuations as FeAs-based superconductors, suggesting a universal physical picture for both iron selenide and arsenide superconductors.

Oxidative stress promotes D-GalN/LPS-induced acute hepatotoxicity by increasing glycogen synthase kinase 3ß activity.

OBJECTIVE: Our previous studies have demonstrated that glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) activity is increased in the progression of acute liver failure (ALF), which aggravates liver injury, while its regulatory mechanism remains elusive. This study is designated to address whether oxidative stress activates GSK3ß to promote ALF. METHODS: In a murine model induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) (700 mg/kg) and LPS (10 µg/kg), N-acetylcysteine (300 mg/kg) or SB216763 (25 mg/kg) was used to inhibit oxidative stress or GSK3ß activity, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were assessed. The parameters of oxidative stress were evaluated in liver tissue. Whether GSK3ß inhibition protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis was investigated in vitro. Moreover, the activity of GSK3ß was measured in the liver of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and ALF patients. RESULTS: In vivo, N-acetylcysteine ameliorated the D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatotoxicity and reduced GSK3ß activity; GSK3ß inhibition increased hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and the glutathione content, decreased malondialdehyde production in the liver tissues; while GSK3ß inhibition suppressed the JNK activation in the liver and decreased cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In vitro, GSK3ß inhibition lessened hepatocytes apoptosis induced by H2O2 or Antimycin A, as demonstrated by decreased LDH activity, and reduced cleavage of caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, GSK3ß activity in the CHB patients was increased in the phase of ALF. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that GSK3ß activation contributes to liver injury by participating in oxidative stress response in ALF and is, therefore, a potential therapeutic target for ALF.