Assessment of the Binding of Pseudallecin A to Human Serum Albumin with Multi-Spectroscopic Analysis, Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation.

The binding of pseudallecin A (PA), a potential antibiotic with strong inhibitory activities against Gram-positive Escherichia coli and Gram-negative Staphylococcus aureus, to human serum albumin (HSA) was explored. The interaction between them was assessed by multi-spectroscopic analysis, binding site competitive analysis, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, showing the results as follows: PA effectively quenched the innate fluorescence of HSA by a static quenching process, formed a complex at a molar ratio of approximately 1 : 1 and performed an effective non-radiative energy transfer; the binding of PA to HSA was a spontaneous exothermic reaction driven by enthalpy with strong affinity and had a slight effect on the conformation of HSA; PA bound at site III of HSA and hydrogen bonds were the major binding forces to maintain the stability of the PA-HSA complex. Molecular dynamic simulation was performed to calculate the root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) and radius of gyration (Rg) for this complex and effectively supported the spectroscopic outcome. These results meant that the delivery and distribution of PA as a water-insoluble molecule can be efficiently accomplished via HSA in human blood and, it has a good potential for future drug application and pharmacological development.

Investigation of the Relationship between Body Parameters and mAs Using Non-Contact Two-Dimensional Thickness Measurement in Chest Digital Radiography.

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between body parameters and the current-time product (mAs) in chest digital radiography using a non-contact infrared thickness-measurement sensor. An anthropomorphic chest phantom was first used to understand variations in mAs over multiple positionings during chest radiography when using the automatic exposure control (AEC) technique. In a human study, 929 consecutive male subjects who underwent regular chest examinations were enrolled, and their height (H), weight (W), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. In addition, their chest thickness (T) was measured at exhalation using a non-contact infrared sensor, and chest radiography was then performed using the AEC technique. Finally, the relationship between four body parameters (T, BMI, T*BMI, and W/H) and mAs was investigated by fitting the body parameters to mAs using three curve models. The phantom study showed that the maximum mAs was 1.76 times higher than the lowest mAs during multiple positionings in chest radiography. In the human study, all chest radiographs passed the routine quality control procedure and had an exposure index between 100 and 212. In curve fitting, the comparisons showed that W/H had a closer relationship with mAs than the other body parameters, while the first-order power model with W/H fitted to mAs performed the best and had an R-square of 0.9971. We concluded that the relationship between W/H and mAs in the first-order power model may be helpful in predicting the optimal mAs and reducing the radiation dose for chest radiography when using the AEC technique.

The Psychophysiological Profile and Cardiac Autonomic Reactivity in Long-Term Female Yoga Practitioners: A Comparison with Runners and Sedentary Individuals.

Yoga practice, a means of stress management, has been reported to optimize psychophysiological health; however, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychophysiological profile and cardiac autonomic reactivity in long-term yoga practitioners and compare them to runners and sedentary individuals. Psychological health and aerobic fitness level were evaluated using self-reported questionnaires and a 3-min step test. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were recorded at rest, as well as during and following psychological stress, which was elicited by the Stroop color and word test and the mental arithmetic task. The yoga group demonstrated a lower RR (10.35 ± 2.13 bpm) as compared to the other two groups, and a lower HR (66.60 ± 7.55 bpm) and diastolic BP (67.75 ± 8.38 mmHg) at rest when compared to the sedentary group (all p < 0.05). HRV parameters following mental stress returned to the baseline in yoga and running groups, but not in the sedentary group. The anxiety level in the running group was significantly lower than that in the sedentary group (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that yoga practitioners may have a greater homeostatic capacity and autonomic resilience than do sedentary individuals.

A novel antibacterial tyroscherin derivative with a natural unprecedented morpholine-2, 3-dione structural unit from the fungus Pseudallescheria boydii.

A novel tyroscherin derivative named pseudallecin A (1) with a natural unprecedented morpholine-2, 3-dione structural unit, and a new biogenic synthesis related organic acid named pseudallecin B (2) were purified from a symbiotic fungus Pseudallescheria boydii derived from Pomacea canaliculata. Their structures were elucidated via spectroscopic analyses and ECD calculation. Pseudallecin A exhibited strong inhibitory activities against both Gram-positive Escherichia coli and Gram-negative Staphylococcus aureus.

Shenweifang-containing serum inhibits transforming growth factor-ß1 induced myofibroblast differentiation in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cell.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Shenweifang (SWF)-containing serum on transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transition in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cells (NRK-49F). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with one of five solutions: (a) saline; (b) saline plus low-dose SWF; (c) saline plus medium-dose SWF; (d) saline plus highdose SWF; and (e) saline plus valsartan. NRK-49F cells were treated with TGF-ß1 and cultured using serum from the gavaged rats. RESULTS: TGF-ß1 treatment increased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, collagen I, Smad3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 10, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 3 and induced abnormalities in cell morphology, cell cycle progression, and cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: SWF- or valsartan-containing serum corrected (or partially corrected) TGF-ß1-induced abnormal changes in this in vitro system. SWF-containing serum reversed abnormalities in morphology, cell cycle progression, and proliferation in TGF-ß1-treated NRK49F cells, probably by blocking the TGF-ß1/Smads and TGF-ß1/MAPK/JNK pathways.

Joint Intra/Inter-Slot Code Design for Unsourced Multiple Access in 6G Internet of Things.

Unsourced multiple access (UMA) is the technology for massive, low-power, and uncoordinated Internet-of-Things in the 6G wireless system, improving connectivity and energy efficiency on guaranteed reliability. The multi-user coding scheme design is a critical problem for UMA. This paper proposes a UMA coding scheme based on the T-Fold IRSA (irregular repetition slotted Aloha) paradigm by using joint Intra/inter-slot code design and optimization. Our scheme adopts interleave-division multiple access (IDMA) to enhance the intra-slot coding gain and the low-complexity joint intra/inter-slot SIC (successive interference cancellation) decoder structure to recover multi-user payloads. Based on the error event decomposition and density evolution analysis, we build a joint intra/inter-slot coding parameter optimization algorithm to minimize the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) requirement at an expected system packet loss rate. Numerical results indicate that the proposed scheme achieves energy efficiency gain by balancing the intra/inter-slot coding gain while maintaining relatively low implementation complexity.

Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease with a novel heterozygous missense mutation in the uromodulin gene: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) is a progressive chronic disease that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Symptoms include hyperuricemia, gout, interstitial nephritis, renal cysts, and progressive renal damage that can lead to end-stage renal disease. Mutations in the uromodulin gene (UMOD) characterize the ADTKD-UMOD clinical subtype of this disease. To date, > 100 UMOD mutations have been identified. Early diagnosis of ADTKD-UMOD is important to treat the disease, slow down disease progression, and facilitate the identification of potentially affected family members. CASE SUMMARY: We report a 40-year-old man harboring a novel heterozygous missense mutation in UMOD (c.554G>T; p. Arg185Leu). The patient had hyperuricemia, gout, and chronic kidney disease. The same mutation was detected in his daughter, aunt and cousin. CONCLUSION: A single nucleotide substitution in exon 3 of UMOD was responsible for the heterozygous missense mutation (c.554G>T, p.Arg185Leu).

[Effect of porcelain thickness and substrate on optical properties of porcelain veneers for tetracycline stained teeth].

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of porcelain layer thicknesses and substrates on color properties and translucency of IPS e.max LT porcelain laminate veneers used to restore tetracycline stained teeth. METHODS: Porcelain specimens with different core and veneer thickness (veneer/core thickness: 0.25 mm/0.25 mm, 0.50 mm/0.25 mm, 0.25 mm/0.50 mm, 0.50 mm/0.50 mm, and 0.25 mm/0.75 mm) were fabricated by heat-press layering technique. CIE L*a*b* parameters were measured under simulated tetracycline backgrounds and black and white backgrounds by a spectrophotometer, color differences ΔE001 between specimens on simulated tetracycline backgrounds and backgrounds themselves and ΔE002 between specimens on simulated tetracycline backgrounds and white background were calculated. The translucent parameter(TP) was also calculated. The data were submitted to statistical analysis with SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: ΔE001 increased with increase of thickness of the core and veneer layer, but there was no significant difference between 0.25 mm and 0.50 mm core thickness groups with 0.50 mm veneer in thickness (P>0.01). Except for light grey, ΔE002 decreased over other substrates with increase of thickness of the core and veneer layer, but there was no significant difference between 0.50 mm and 0.75 mm core thickness groups with 0.25 mm veneer in thickness (P>0.01). Both ΔE001 and ΔE002 were significantly different over different substrates（P<0.01）. TP decreased as the increase of core and veneer thickness and TP was significantly different with different core and veneer thickness（P<0.01）. CONCLUSIONS: Both the core/veneer thickness and the substrate have significant influence on color matching and masking ability of IPS e.max LT porcelain laminate veneers used to restore tetracycline stained teeth. As for IPS e.max LT porcelain veneers, the color property was the best when yellowish tetracycline stained teeth were restored, while the light grey was worst. The thickness of core and veneer has significant influence on the translucency of porcelain laminate veneers.

Obstructive jaundice in a patient with polycystic liver disease complicated with polycystic kidney and polycystic lung: A case report.

RATIONALE: Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is an autosomal-dominant disorder that is commonly associated with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) but rarely complicated with polycystic lung. Here, we report the first case of severe obstructive jaundice caused by multiple liver cysts in a patient with PLD complicated by PKD and polycystic lung. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 72-year-old man with a history of PLD complicated with polycystic kidney presented with progressive jaundice, hematuria, poor appetite, nausea, and weight loss since 3 months. DIAGNOSIS: PLD complicated with PKD and polycystic lung was identified using computed tomography, and obstructive jaundice was identified using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. INTERVENTIONS: The patient could not undergo surgery, and was therefore treated with combined bilirubin adsorption and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms and laboratory findings improved after bilirubin adsorption and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration. Unfortunately, the patient was unable to continue the treatment due to financial reasons, and died of shock most likely due to cyst rupture. LESSONS: Imaging examination of the lungs is necessary for patients with PLD. Although infrequent, jaundice can occur in these patients and cause severe hyperbilirubinemia. When surgery is contraindicated, blood purification may serve as an alternative treatment for patients with PLD-related obstructive jaundice.

The role of the BMP4/Smad1 signaling pathway in mesangial cell proliferation: A possible mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.

AIMS: This study explored the role of the BMP4/Smad1 signaling pathway in mesangial matrix expansion during the process of diabetic nephropathy. MAIN METHODS: Diabetic rats were induced by high-fat feeding followed by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Glomerular lesions were examined. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in order to identify BMP4/Smad1 signaling proteins (BMP4, ALK3, and Smad1) and mesangial ECM proteins (Col1 and Col4) in kidney tissue. Cell proliferation and the expression of BMP4, Smad1 and Col4 were determined in cultured mesangial cells exposed to high glucose. The specific regulatory role of BMP4 was evaluated by detecting BMP4/Smad1 signaling pathway proteins and mesangial ECM proteins after blocking BMP4 both at the gene and protein levels. KEY FINDINGS: Rats with DN exhibited mesangial expansion and a thickened glomerular basement membrane. Immunohistochemical analysis of glomeruli showed increased expression of BMP4, Smad1, ALK3, Col1, and Col4 but less expression of MMP9 than observed in controls. High glucose induced slight proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells after 48 h of incubation but there was no significant different from the control (p > 0.05). High glucose activated the BMP4/Smad1 signaling pathway and stimulated Col4 expression in mesangial cells. Both silencing of the bmp4 gene (with siRNA) and blocking BMP4 protein signaling (with the BMP4 protein antagonist Noggin) reduced the expression of ALK3, Smad1, Col4, and Col1 in high glucose-stimulated mesangial cells. SIGNIFICANCE: The BMP4/Smad1 signaling pathway is crucial to the progression of mesangial expansion, and suppressing this signaling pathway may present a novel therapeutic strategy for DN.

Schisandrin B Improves the Renal Function of IgA Nephropathy Rats Through Inhibition of the NF-κB Signalling Pathway.

Schisandrin B (SchB) is an active compound extracted from the Chinese herb Schisandra chinensis and shows excellent anti-inflammatory activity. This study was performed to examine the effects of SchB in a rat model of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). IgAN was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by immunization with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), bovine serum albumin, and carbon tetrachloride. Renal function was evaluated by determining the levels of urinary red blood cells, proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr). Renal tissue and protein samples were collected for further analysis. Pre-treatment and treatment with SchB significantly ameliorated renal function of IgAN rats, which was evidenced by decreased levels of proteinuria, hematuria, BUN, and Cr. IgAN rats exhibited increased serum IgA, renal IgA deposition, mesangial cell proliferation, and inflammatory cell infiltration, which were significantly attenuated by intervention with SchB. Moreover, SchB inhibited infiltration of CD3+ and CD11b+ cells, decreased levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1ß, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the kidney, and decreased the numbers of CD3+CD69+ cells in the spleen. Of note, SchB therapy significantly increased cytoplasmic p65 and IκB expression and decreased nuclear p65 levels both in the damaged renal tissue and LPS-stimulated HK-2 cells, indicating a direct inhibitory effect on the NF-κB pathway in IgAN rats. Taken together, our data provide insight into a new application of SchB for the treatment of IgAN and represent a novel mechanism behind these effects.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins 2/4 Are Upregulated during the Early Development of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Vascular calcification is a main cause of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study aimed to investigate the role of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway in the early development of vascular calcification in CKD. A CKD vascular calcification rat model was established by providing rats with a 1.8% high-phosphorus diet and an intragastric administration of 2.5% adenine suspension. The kidney and aortic pathologies were analyzed. Blood biochemical indicators, serum BMP-2 and BMP-4 levels, and aortic calcium content were determined. The expression levels of BMP-2, BMP-4, bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IA (BMPR-IA), and matrix Gla protein (MGP) in aorta were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Compared with the normal control (Nor) rats, the CKD rats exhibited a significantly decreased body weight and an increased kidney weight as well as abnormal renal function and calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Aortic von Kossa and Alizarin red staining showed massive granular deposition and formation of calcified nodules in aorta at 8 weeks. The aortic calcium content was significantly increased, which was positively correlated with the serum BMP-2 (r = 0.929; P < 0.01) and serum BMP-4 (r = 0.702; P < 0.01) levels in CKD rats. The rat aortic BMP-2 mRNA level in the CKD rats was persistently increased, and the BMP-4 mRNA level was prominently increased at the 4th week, declining thereafter. Strong staining of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMPR-IA, and MGP proteins was observed in the tunica media of the aorta from the 4th week after model induction. In conclusion, activation of the BMP signaling pathway is involved in the early development of vascular calcification in CKD. Therefore, elevated serum BMP-2 and BMP-4 levels may serve as serum markers for CKD vascular calcification.

Interleukin-17 promotes the production of underglycosylated IgA1 in DAKIKI cells.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and might be associated with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). This study aimed to investigate the effect of IL-17 on autoimmune pathogenesis in IgA nephropathy. METHODS: DAKIKI cells were cultured and stimulated with IL-17 to perform dose-dependent and time-dependent experiments. Cell proliferation was examined by cell counting and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The IgA concentration and the degree of galactosylation in the supernatant were tested using ELISA and a helix aspersa (HAA) lectin binding assay, respectively. To study the mechanism of O-glycosylation, cells were stimulated with IL-17, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) + IL-17 for 48 h, and the levels of C1GALT1 and its molecular chaperone Cosmc were measured by western blot and real-time PCR. RESULTS: The cell counting and CCK-8 results suggested that B lymphocyte proliferation increased significantly with increased IL-17 concentration. IL-17 affected the quantity of IgA1 and its glycosylation status. HAA revealed that IL-17 promoted IgA1 underglycosylation. Mechanistically, the expression of C1GALT1 and Cosmc was significantly lower in cells stimulated by IL-17 or LPS than in the 5-AZA + IL-17 or the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that IL-17 stimulates B lymphocyte to promote B-cell proliferation, which leads to increased IgA1 production in vitro accompanied by underglycosylation of IgA1. The molecular mechanism for the IgA1 underglycosylation induced by IL-17 was similar to that of LPS; however, 5-AZA inhibited IgA1 underglycosylation. IL-17 might participate in IgAN pathogenesis by influencing the production and glycosylation of IgA1 in B-cells.

Physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan: prevalence and risk factors.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors for physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals were recruited from January to December 2003. The women were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about the physical abuse and substance use experiences. Participants were 1143 aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals. About 175/1143 of the women (15.3%) had ever experienced physical abuse from a husband or intimate partner, and 79/1143 of the women (6.9%) had experienced it during their recent pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the women who were more likely to have been physically abused during their pregnancy were: had fewer years of education, husbands who were unemployed, with a patriarchal family situation and had alcohol, cigarette and non-prescription drug use. Based on these results, we suggest that health care professionals provide adequate support and health education, develop interventions, and use referrals in concert with routine prenatal care in order to reduce and prevent the physical abuse of aboriginal women in Taiwan.