[Impact of individual and combined assessment of age- and sex-specific brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure on all-cause mortality]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of individual and combined assessment of age- and sex-specific brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and pulse pressure (PP) on all-cause mortality. Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. Individuals participated in the Kailuan Study and completed baPWV measurements between 2010 and 2016 were included in this study. After stratifying by sex, 75th percentile baPWV and PP values for different age group were calculated at five years interval. BaPWV and PP values below the 75th percentile were defined as normal, and those above or equal to the 75th percentile were defined as increased. The participants were allocated to four groups according to their PP and baPWV status: normal baPWV/PP group, high baPWV/normal PP group, normal baPWV/high PP group and high baPWV/PP group. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality during the follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the impact of individual and combined assessment of baPWV and PP on all-cause mortality events. Results: A total of 39 339 participants were enrolled in this study, aged (49.3±12.8) years, of which 28 731 (73.03%) were males. There were 23 268, 6 025, 6 210 and 3 836 cases in the normal baPWV/PP group, high baPWV/normal PP group, normal baPWV/high PP group and high baPWV/PP group, respectively. The average follow-up duration was (4.98±2.53) years. During the follow-up period, all-cause mortality occurred in 998 individuals. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed increased risk of all-cause mortality in the high baPWV/normal PP group (HR=1.27, 95%CI 1.07-1.50), and in the high baPWV/PP group (HR=1.33, 95%CI 1.08-1.65) compared to the normal baPWV/PP group. Increased pulse pressure alone had no impcat on all-cause death (HR=1.06, 95%CI 0.87-1.29). Conclusions: The risk of all-cause mortality significantly increases with increased age-and sex-specific baPWV and PP values. BaPWV may be a better predictor of all-cause mortality than PP in this cohort.

[Regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on microtubule acetylation in human epidermal cell line HaCaT]

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on directional migration and microtubule acetylation in human epidermal cell line HaCaT, aiming to provide molecular theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of wound repair. Methods: The experimental research methods were used. HaCaT cells were collected and divided into simulated electric field group (n=54) placed in the electric field device without electricity for 3 h and electric field treatment group (n=52) treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for 3 h (the same treatment methods below). The cell movement direction was observed in the living cell workstation and the movement velocity, trajectory velocity, and direction of cosθ of cell movement within 3 h of treatment were calculated. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 2 h group, and electric field treatment 3 h group which were treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for corresponding time. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group treated with electric field of corresponding intensities for 3 h. The protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected by Western blotting (n=3). HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment group, and the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected and located by immunofluorescence method (n=3). Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test,Mann-Whitney U test, Bonferroni correction, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference test, and independent sample t test. Results: Within 3 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the cells in electric field treatment group had obvious tendency to move directionally, the movement velocity and trajectory velocity were increased significantly (with Z values of -8.53 and -2.05, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the directionality was significantly enhanced (Z=-8.65, P<0.01). Compared with (0.80±0.14) in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in electric field treatment 1 h group (1.50±0.08) and electric field treatment 2 h group (1.89±0.06) were not changed obviously (P>0.05), while the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in electric field treatment 3 h group (3.37±0.36) was increased significantly (Z=-3.06, P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group were 1.63±0.05, 2.24±0.08, and 2.00±0.13, respectively, which were significantly more than 0.95±0.27 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 300 mV/mm electric field group were increased significantly (P<0.01); the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 300 mV/mm electric field group was significantly lower than that in 200 mV/mm electric field group (P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the acetylated α-tubulin of cells had enhanced directional distribution and higher protein expression (t=5.78, P<0.01). Conclusions: Bio-intensity electric field can induce the directional migration of HaCaT cells and obviously up-regulate the level of α-ubulin acetylation after treatment at 200 mV/mm bio-intensity electric field for 3 h.

Abstract P3120: Cardio And Neurotoxicity Of Repurposed Anti-COVID-19 Drugs

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread around the globe resulting in ~435 million confirmed cases and ~6 million related deaths as of March 2022, according to the World Health Organization. To combat COVID-19 quickly, there have been many attempts to repurpose current FDA-approved drugs or to revive old drugs with anti-viral properties. However, aside from the biological stress imposed by the virus, many of the current treatment options have been known to cause adverse drug reactions. We established a population-based human induced pluripotent stem cell drug screening platform to assess the toxicity of the first line of anti-COVID-19 drugs and to understand viral infection of cardiomyocytes and neurons. We found that iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes express the ACE2 receptor which correlated with a higher infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (r=0.86). However, ACE2 expression was undetectable in neurons which correlated with low infection of neurons. We then assessed the toxicity of anti-COVID-19 drugs and identified two cardiotoxic compounds (remdesivir and arbidol) and 4 neurotoxic compounds (arbidol, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine) which were validated by dose-response curves. These data show that this platform can quickly and easily be employed to further our understanding of cell-specific infection and identify drug toxicity of potential treatment options helping clinicians better decide on treatment options.

Cardio- and Neurotoxicity of Selected Anti-COVID-19 Drugs

Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has infected ~435 million people and caused ~6 million related deaths as of March 2022. To combat COVID-19, there have been many attempts to repurpose FDA-approved drugs or revive old drugs. However, many of the current treatment options have been known to cause adverse drug reactions. We employed a population-based drug screening platform using 13 human leukocyte antigen (HLA) homozygous human induced pluripotent cell (iPSC) lines to assess the cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity of the first line of anti-COVID-19 drugs. We also infected iPSC-derived cells to understand the viral infection of cardiomyocytes and neurons. We found that iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes express the ACE2 receptor which correlated with a higher infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (r = 0.86). However, we were unable to detect ACE2 expression in neurons which correlated with a low infection rate. We then assessed the toxicity of anti-COVID-19 drugs and identified two cardiotoxic compounds (remdesivir and arbidol) and four neurotoxic compounds (arbidol, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine). These data show that this platform can quickly and easily be employed to further our understanding of cell-specific infection and identify drug toxicity of potential treatment options helping clinicians better decide on treatment options.

Harnessing natural-product-inspired combinatorial chemistry and computation-guided synthesis to develop N-glycan modulators as anticancer agents

Modulation of N-glycosylation using human Golgi α-mannosidase II (α-hGMII) inhibitors is a potential anticancer approach, but the clinical utility of current α-hGMII inhibitors is limited by their co-inhibition of human lysosomal α-mannosidase (α-hLM), resulting in abnormal storage of oligomannoses. We describe the synthesis and screening of a small library of novel bicyclic iminosugar-based scaffolds, prepared via natural product-inspired combinatorial chemistry (NPICC), which resulted in the identification of a primary α-hGMII inhibitor with 13.5-fold selectivity over α-hLM. Derivatization of this primary inhibitor using computation-guided synthesis (CGS) yielded an advanced α-hGMII inhibitor with nanomolar potency and 106-fold selectivity over α-hLM. In vitro studies demonstrated its N-glycan modulation and inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In vivo studies confirmed its encouraging anti-HCC activity, without evidence of oligomannose accumulation.

An integrated strategy of Natural-Product-Inspired Combinatorial Chemistry (NPICC) and Computation-Guided Synthesis is used to develop an α-hGMII inhibitor with 106-fold selectivity over α-hLM, with inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Non/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccination and influencing factors in HIV-infected patients in the context of different immunization schedules]

Objective: To study the non/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-infected patients, identify the influencing factors and provide evidence for the development of hepatitis B prevention and control strategies and measures for special population. Methods: On the basis of the randomized controlled trial of 20 µg hepatitis B vaccine immunization at 0-1-6 month, 0-1-2-6 month and 60 µg hepatitis B vaccine immunization at 0-1-2-6 month, the HIV-infected patients who completed one-month follow-up after the full course vaccination were selected as study subjects. Quantification of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in serum samples was performed by using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and demographic characteristics, disease history, HIV infection and treatment status of the study subjects were collected. Statistical analysis was conducted by χ² test, t test, unconditional logistic regression and interaction analyses. Results: The non/hypo-response rates to hepatitis B vaccination were 34.65% (35/101), 24.49% (24/98) and 10.99% (10/91) in 20 µg group at 0-1-6 month or 0-1-2-6 month and 60 µg group at 0-1-2-6 month (P<0.001), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling for confounding factors, the risk for non/hypo-response was 0.22 times higher in HIV-infected patients receiving 60 µg hepatitis B vaccine at 0-1-2-6 month than in patients receiving 20 µg hepatitis B vaccine at 0-1-6 month (95%CI: 0.10-0.50), the risk for non/hypo-response was higher in men than in women (OR=3.65, 95%CI: 1.88-7.07), and the risk for non/hypo-response was 2.64 times higher in those without hepatitis B vaccination history than in those with hepatitis B vaccination history (95%CI: 1.10-6.32). Moreover, there were multiplicative interactions between immunization schedule and gender (OR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.24-5.00). Conclusion: The non/hypo-response rate to hepatitis B vaccination was significantly lower in HIV-infected patients receiving 60 µg hepatitis B vaccine at 0-1-2-6 month than in those receiving 20 µg hepatitis B vaccine at 0-1-6 month and 0-1-2-6 month. Gender, vaccination schedule and history of hepatitis B vaccination were the influencing factors of the non/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccination. There was a multiplicative interaction between vaccination schedule and gender, and men receiving 20 µg hepatitis B vaccines had a higher risk for non/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccination.

[Regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on transformation of human skin fibroblasts]

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on the transformation of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs). Methods: The experimental research methods were used. HSFs were collected and divided into 200 mV/mm electric field group treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for 6 h and simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 6 h. Changes in morphology and arrangement of cells were observed in the living cell workstation; the number of cells at 0 and 6 h of treatment was recorded, and the rate of change in cell number was calculated; the direction of cell movement, movement velocity, and trajectory velocity within 3 h were observed and calculated (the number of samples was 34 in the simulated electric field group and 30 in 200 mV/mm electric field group in the aforementioned experiments); the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in cells after 3 h of treatment was detected by immunofluorescence method (the number of sample was 3). HSFs were collected and divided into simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 3 h, and 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group which were treated with electric fields of corresponding intensities for 3 h. Besides, HSFs were divided into simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 6 h, and electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for corresponding time. The protein expressions of α-SMA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by Western blotting (the number of sample was 3). Data were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t test, and least significant difference test. Results: After 6 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were elongated in shape and locally adhered; the cells in simulated electric field group were randomly arranged, while the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were arranged in a regular longitudinal direction; the change rates in the number of cells in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). Within 3 h of treatment, the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group had an obvious tendency to move toward the positive electrode, and the cells in simulated electric field group moved around the origin; compared with those in simulated electric field group, the movement velocity and trajectory velocity of the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were increased significantly (with Z values of -5.33 and -5.41, respectively, P<0.01), and the directionality was significantly enhanced (Z=-4.39, P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, the protein expression of α-SMA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group was significantly higher than that in simulated electric field group (t=-9.81, P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, the protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group were 1.195±0.057, 1.606±0.041, and 1.616±0.039, respectively, which were significantly more than 0.649±0.028 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group were 0.730±0.032, 1.561±0.031, and 1.553±0.045, respectively, significantly more than 0.464±0.020 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in electric field treatment 1 h group, the protein expressions of α-SMA in electric field treatment 3 h group and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly increased (P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in 200 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expression of PCNA of cells in 400 mV/mm electric field group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with that in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly decreased (P<0.01); compared with that in electric field treatment 1 h group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 3 h group and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in electric field treatment 3 h group, the protein expression of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 6 h group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusions: The bio-intensity electric field can induce the migration of HSFs and promote the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and the transformation displays certain dependence on the time and intensity of electric field.

[Immunity persistence of 60 μg high dose hepatitis B vaccine and influencing factors in maintained hemodialysis patients]

Objective: To compare the anti-HBs level in maintained hemodialysis patients one year after receiving 20 μg and 60 μg hepatitis B vaccination at 0, 1 and 6 months, and explore the influence factors for the immunity persistence and their interactions. Methods: Based on a randomized controlled trial of 20 μg and 60 μg hepatitis B vaccine immunization in maintained hemodialysis patients at 0, 1, and 6 months, follow up was conducted for the patients for one year after the completion of the vaccination for the quantitative detection of anti-HBs, and χ² test, t test, unconditional logistic regression and interaction analyses were used for statistical analysis. Results: One year after the vaccination, 125 and 124 patients in the 20 μg and 60 μg groups were tested for anti-HBs, respectively. The positive rate of anti-HBs in the 60 μg group (77.42%, 96/124) was significantly higher than that in the 20 μg group (65.60%, 82/125) (P<0.05). After adjusting for the confounding factors, the positive probability of anti-HBs in the 60 μg group was 1.925 times higher than that in the 20 μg group (95%CI: 1.068-3.468). Patients with hemodialysis duration ≥5 years (OR=0.523, 95%CI: 0.293-0.935) and diabetes mellitus (OR=0.376, 95%CI: 0.173-0.818) had lower positive probability of anti-HBs. Moreover, there were additive and multiplicative interactions between hemodialysis duration ≥5 years and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: The immunity persistence after one year in 60 μg hepatitis B vaccination group was longer than that in 20 μg hepatitis B vaccination group in maintained hemodialysis patients, vaccine dose, hemodialysis duration and diabetes mellitus were the influencing factors for the immunity persistence, there were additive and multiplicative interactions between hemodialysis duration ≥5 years and diabetes mellitus.

[Related factors and interaction on hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment in Taiyuan]

Objective: To explore the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, influence factors and interaction on HCV infection in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in Taiyuan. Methods: Between April-June 2019, three MMT clinics in Taiyuan were selected to conduct a face-to-face questionnaire survey among MMT patients to collect the information about their socio-demographic characteristics, drug use, MMT, sexual behavior and health status. Software EpiData 3.1 was used for real-time double entry to establish the database. Software SAS 9.4 was used to analyze the data, and χ² test was used for univariate analysis and logistic regression model was used for multivariate and interaction analyses. Results: A total of 903 subjects were surveyed among MMT patients, the male to female ratio of was 7.21∶1(743∶103), and the rate of HCV infection was 12.53% (106/846). After adjusting for the confounding factors, being women (OR=1.936, 95%CI: 1.023-3.662), having sex with drug users (OR=2.073, 95%CI: 1.110-3.871) and injection drug use (OR=7.737, 95%CI: 4.614-12.973) might be the risk factors for HCV infection in patients receiving MMT. The results showed that there were multiplicative interactions among women, having sex with drug user and injection drug use on HCV infection. Conclusions: Being women, having sex with drug user and injection drug use were associated with higher risk for HCV infection in patients receiving MMT in Taiyuan. There were multiplication interactions between being women and having sex with drug user, being female and injection drug use, and having sex with drug use and injection drug use on HCV infection.

Identification of existing pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection

The outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in more than 50 million confirmed cases and over 1 million deaths worldwide as of November 2020. Currently, there are no effective antivirals approved by the Food and Drug Administration to contain this pandemic except the antiviral agent remdesivir. In addition, the trimeric spike protein on the viral surface is highly glycosylated and almost 200,000 variants with mutations at more than 1,000 positions in its 1,273 amino acid sequence were reported, posing a major challenge in the development of antibodies and vaccines. It is therefore urgently needed to have alternative and timely treatments for the disease. In this study, we used a cell-based infection assay to screen more than 3,000 agents used in humans and animals, including 2,855 small molecules and 190 traditional herbal medicines, and identified 15 active small molecules in concentrations ranging from 0.1 nM to 50 μM. Two enzymatic assays, along with molecular modeling, were then developed to confirm those targeting the virus 3CL protease and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Several water extracts of herbal medicines were active in the cell-based assay and could be further developed as plant-derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Some of the active compounds identified in the screen were further tested in vivo, and it was found that mefloquine, nelfinavir, and extracts of Ganoderma lucidum (RF3), Perilla frutescens, and Mentha haplocalyx were effective in a challenge study using hamsters as disease model.

[A cohort study on the association between resting heart rate and the risk of new-onset heart failure]

Objective: To prospectively explore the relationship between resting heart rate (RHR) and risk of new-onset heart failure. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. People who attended the physical examination of Kailuan Group Company in 2006 and with complete electrocardiography (ECG) recordings were eligible for this study. A total of 88 879 participants aged 18 years old or more who were free of arrhythmia, a prior history of heart failure and were not treated with β-blocker were included. Participants were divided into 5 groups according to the quintiles of RHR at baseline (Q(1) group, 40-60 beats/minutes (n=18 168) ; Q(2) group, 67-70 beats/minutes (n=18 970) ; Q(3) group, 71-74 beats/minutes (n=13 583) ; Q(4) group, 75-80 beats/minutes (n=22 739) ; and Q(5) group,>80 beats/minutes (n=15 419) ) .The general clinical data and laboratory test results were collected. The outcome was the first occurrence of heart failure at the end of follow-up (December 31, 2016) .We used Cox regression model to examine the association between RHR and the risk of new-onset heart failure. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox regression modeling. Results: Among the included patients 68 411 participants were male, mean age was (51.0±12.3) years old, and RHR was (74±10) beats/minutes. Statistically significant differences among the RHR quintiles were found for the following variables: age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, education status, physical activity, smoking status, drinking status, history of diabetes, history of hypertension and history of use antihypertensive drugs (all P<0.01) . Higher RHR was linked with higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension history, and higher systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and FBG levels (all P<0.01). After a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, the incidence of new-onset heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.60%(290/18 168), 1.36%(258/18 970), 1.80%(245/13 583), 1.76%(400/22 739) and 2.35%(362/15 419),respectively (P<0.01) . The person-year incidence of heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.7, 1.5, 1.9, 1.9 and 2.6 per 1 000 person-years respectively. Compared with the Q(2) group, multivariate analysis with adjustment for major traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed that HRs of Q(3),Q(4),and Q(5) group were 1.23 (95%CI 1.03-1.48, P<0.05) , 1.19 (95%CI 1.01-1.41, P<0.05) , 1.39 (95%CI 1.18-1.65, P<0.01) , respectively. In the absence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and acute myocardial infarction, the Cox regression model showed that compared with Q(2) group, the HR of new-onset heart failure in Q(5) group was 1.58 (95%CI 1.02-2.45, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Increased RHR is associated with increased risk of new-onset heart failure in this cohort.

Design and synthesis of glyco-peptides as anti-cancer agents targeting thrombin-protease activated receptor-1 interaction

Thrombin activates protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) through binding to exosite I and the active site to promote tumor growth. We have developed a new class of anti-cancer glyco-peptides to target exosite I selectively without affecting the active-site-mediated coagulation activity and showed the importance of glycans for the stability and anti-cancer activity of the glyco-peptides.

[Impact of change of ideal cardiovascular behavior and related factors on healthy vascular aging]

Objective: To investigate the impact of change of ideal cardiovascular behavior and related factors on healthy vascular aging(HVA). Methods: This study was a multi-center cross-sectional survey. Six thousand three hundred and sixteen participants who underwent at least 2 healthy examinations from 2006 to 2015 at 11 hospitals, including Kailuan Hospital and so on, and examined brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) during 2010 and 2016, with available information about cardiovascular behavior and factors were included. The cardiovascular health score (CHS) was calculated. Basic CHS was collected from the first examination. The second CHS derived from the healthy examination in the same year of baPWV examination. Change of cardiovascular health score (ΔCHS) was calculated. Participants were defined into 5 groups according to ΔCHS, namely ΔCHS≤-2 (n=2 166), ΔCHS=-1 (n=1 284), ΔCHS=0 (n=1 187), ΔCHS=1 (n=860), and ΔCHS≥2 (n=819). Participants' characteristics, value of baPWV and proportion of HVA were compared among different groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between ΔCHS and HVA. The ΔCHS was recalculated and included in multiple logistic regression analysis model again after each component of the cardiovascular health metrics was removed separately in order to investigate effects of removal factors on HVA by observing changes in effect values. Results: The percentage of the participants with HVA in the group of ΔCHS≤-2, ΔCHS=-1, ΔCHS=0, ΔCHS=1 and ΔCHS≥2 were 23.3%(505/2 166), 27.8%(357/1 284), 28.7%(341/1 187),31.9%(274/860) and 33.9%(278/819), respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, income, education, alcohol consumption and the basic CHS, a significant positive association between ΔCHS and proportion of participants with HVA was observed (OR=1.50, 95%CI 1.44-1.56). Multiple regression analysis after removing each single cardiovascular behavior or factor showed that the OR value decreased as follow systolic blood pressure (OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.00-1.09), fasting blood glucose (OR=1.14, 95%CI 1.09-1.18), physical exercise (OR=1.16, 95%CI 1.11-1.21), salt intake (OR=1.17, 95%CI 1.12-1.22), body mass index (OR=1.18, 95%CI 1.13-1.23), smoking(OR=1.18, 95%CI 1.13-1.23) and total cholesterol (OR=1.20, 95%CI 1.16-1.24). Conclusion: The improvement of every ideal cardiovascular behavior and factor is associated with the increase of the proportion of HVA population.

Disrupting the Conserved Salt Bridge in the Trimerization of Influenza A Nucleoprotein

Antiviral drug resistance in influenza infections has been a major threat to public health. To develop a broad-spectrum inhibitor of influenza to combat the problem of drug resistance, we previously identified the highly conserved E339...R416 salt bridge of the nucleoprotein trimer as a target and compound 1 as an inhibitor disrupting the salt bridge with an EC₅₀ = 2.7 μM against influenza A (A/WSN/1933). We have further modified this compound via a structure-based approach and performed antiviral activity screening to identify compounds 29 and 30 with EC₅₀ values of 110 and 120 nM, respectively, and without measurable host cell cytotoxicity. Compared to the clinically used neuraminidase inhibitors, these two compounds showed better activity profiles against drug-resistant influenza A strains, as well as influenza B, and improved survival of influenza-infected mice.

The emission of γ-Ray beams with orbital angular momentum in laser-driven micro-channel plasma target

We investigated the emission of multi-MeV γ-Ray beams with orbital angular momentum (OAM) from the interaction of an intense circularly polarized (CP) laser with a micro-channel plasma target. The driving laser can generate high energy electrons via direct laser acceleration within the channel. By attaching a plasma foil as the reflecting mirror, the CP laser is reflected and automatically colliding with the electrons. High energy gamma-photons are emitted through inverse Compton scattering (ICS) during collision. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations reveal that the spin angular momentum (SAM) of the CP laser can be transferred to the OAM of accelerated electrons and further to the emitted gamma-ray beam. These results may guide future experiments in laser-driven gamma-ray sources using micro-structures.

[Suprapubic-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in nephroureterectomy A case series of 4 patients]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of suprapubic-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (SA-LESS) in nephroureterectomy using method of transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) (SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU). Methods: Four patients (three cases of renal pelvic carcinoma and one case of ureteral carcinoma) undergoing SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU were enrolled between April 2015 and January 2016. After general anesthesia, the patients were placed in the lithotomy position with the affected side elevated by 60°. Two trocars were inserted at the medial margin of umbilicus, and the third one was inserted into abdominal cavity at the superior margin of pubic symphysis. The operation was performed under a direct vision with a 5.4 mm 0° flexible-tip laparoscope. Firstly, the distal ureter was isolated completely and blocked by a Hem-O-lok clip. Then, the laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed according to the standard method. Finally, the bladder cuff excision was executed and the incision was sutured. The intact specimen was placed inside a homemade bag and removed through the incision at posterior vaginal fornix. Results: All the procedures were successfully performed. The median operative time was 150 (range: 120 to 210) minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 180 (range: 80 to 350) ml. No major perioperative complications occurred. The mean visual analogue score (VAS) of 24 hours and 48 hours after operation were 3.25 (range: 2 to 5) and 2.25 (range: 2 to 3). All the patients resumed ambulation on postoperative day 1. Pelvic drainage tube was removed on postoperative day 2-4. On postoperative day 7, urethral catheter was removed. The patients were discharged on postoperative day 7-9. During the follow-up of 20-29 months, the patient recovered well with no case of incisional hernia and pelvic, abdominal infections. The vaginal fornix incision healed well, and the umbilical and suprapubic puncture scars were not obvious. All the patients completed the patient-assessed acromegaly symptom questionnaire PASQ. The average PSAQ score of 3 months after surgery was 34.5. Three of them restarted their sex lives, with an average female sexual function index score of 16.0, which was not significantly different with that of preoperation (15.6). There was no tumor recurrence, metastasis and implantation in all cases. Conclusion: SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU is safe and feasible for upper tract urothelial carcinoma with faster postoperative recovery, less pain, shorter hospitalization time, better cosmetic results, and does not cause negative effect on the female sexual function.

[Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten deficiency sensitizes tumor cells to lithium chloride treatment]

Objective: To identify the therapeutic efficacy of lithium chloride (LiCl) on phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN)-deficient tumors. Methods: First, the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer for mutation spectrum of human endometrial carcinoma samples was analyzed. Second, the relationship between PTEN abundance and LiCl inhibition of endometrial cancer cell lines using Pten(+/+) and Pten(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) lines was investigated. Moreover, potential alterations of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway after treatment with LiCl were checked.Last,LiCl's efficacy on PTEN null tumors was studied. Results: PTEN was mutated in 39% of endometrial carcinomas. LiCl preferentially inhibited the proliferation of PTEN-deficient endometrial carcinoma cells and MEFs. Furthermore, LiCl blocked PTEN-deficient tumor development. Mechanistically, LiCl down-regulated mTOR signaling. Conclusions: PTEN is the most frequently mutated gene in endometrial carcinoma.By targeting mTOR signaling pathway,LiCl is a promising regimen for the treatment of tumors with PTEN deficiency.

[Advances in research on echinococcus shiquicus tapeworm]

Echinococcosis is an age-old disease that causes serious damage to the animal husbandry and the human health perennially. As a newly discovered species of Echinococus, E. shiquicus has the potential public health significance and could be a potential parasitic zoonosis. In this review, its etiology, life cycle, epidemiology, detection and diagnoses, public health etc. are discussed or summarized. Also, a series of comparisons among E. granulosus, E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus are made.

[A comparison study of cognitive-behavioral therapy alone versus combination with tapered hypnotic agents in patients with chronic insomnia]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) or combination with tapered hypnotic agents. Methods: Seventy-five patients were randomized into either CBT-i group (n=37) or combination group (n=38). The duration of treatment lasted for 8 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Beck depression index (BDI) , Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and sleep diary variables at baseline, middle and end of treatment. Results: (1)Compared with the results at baseline, the total scores of PSQI,BDI and BAI in both groups significantly decreased at the end of treatment: CBT-i group, PSQI (4.7±2.5) vs. (12.9±3.5); BDI (3.2±4.4) vs. (9.7±6.4); BAI (4.2±5.6) vs. (10.7±8.1); and combination group, PSQI (5.8±2.8) vs. (13.9±3.1); BDI (4.5±4.8) vs. (13.8±8.7); BAI (4.4±4.0) vs. (14.1±6.3) (all P<0.01). (2) Compared with the results at baseline, subjective sleep quality (SQ), sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep disturbance (SD) and used sleep medication (USM) in PSQI in combination group significantly decreased at week 4 and 8 (all P<0.05) . The total sleep time (TST) and daytime dysfunction (DF) in PSQI significantly decreased at week 8 (both P<0.05) . (3) Compared with combination group, improvement of SOL and SE in CBT-i group was superior (both P=0.01). Conclusions: CBT-i for chronic insomnia is effective in both CBT-i alone and combination with tapered hypnotic agents. CBT-i group is superior in improving SOL and SE. Combination regimen in our study can significantly reduce the doses of medication.

[The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in insomnic patients with or without comorbidities: a pilot study]

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) in chronic insomnia patients in terms of the improvements of psychological and sleep diary parameters. Methods: Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of chronic insomnia, were divided into primary group or comorbid group. Both groups received standard CBT-i interventions. Psychological scales and sleep diaries were used to evaluate participants' severity of insomnia and psychological conditions related to insomnia at four time points: before intervention (baseline), immediate after intervention, 4 weeks and 16 weeks after intervention. Results: Both groups achieved significant improvements after intervention on psychological measurements and sleep diary parameters. Such improvements were maintained at 4-week and 16-week follow-ups. The sleep diary data indicated that by the end of the intervention, there were significant differences on sleep onset latency (51.72 min to 10.53 min in primary group, P<0.01; 59.26 min to 15.67min in comorbid group, P<0.01) and sleep efficiency (71% to 95% in primary group, P<0.01; 68% to 90% in comorbid group, P<0.01). There were differences on sleep onset latency (10.00 min vs. 13.93 min, P<0.05), total sleep time (355.71 min vs. 327.85 min, P<0.05) and sleep efficiency (95% vs. 91%, P<0.01) in primary group and comorbid group respectively. No differences were found on wake after sleep onset in the two groups. Conclusions: Chronic insomnia patients with or without comorbidities both have improvements after CBT-i. Sleep diary parameters rather than psychological measurements are different in two groups. Thus, CBT-i is an effective non-pharmaceutical therapy inpatients with chronic insomnia.

Rationally designed divalent caffeic amides inhibit amyloid-β fibrillization, induce fibril dissociation, and ameliorate cytotoxicity

One of the pathologic hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is extracellular senile plaques composed of amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrils. Blocking Aβ self-assembly or disassembling Aβ aggregates by small molecules would be potential therapeutic strategies to treat AD. In this study, we synthesized a series of rationally designed divalent compounds and examined their effects on Aβ fibrillization. A divalent amide (2) derived from two molecules of caffeic acid with a propylenediamine linker of ∼5.0 Å in length, which is close to the distance of adjacent β sheets in Aβ fibrils, showed good potency to inhibit Aβ(1-42) fibrillization. Furthermore, compound 2 effectively dissociated the Aβ(1-42) preformed fibrils. The cytotoxicity induced by Aβ(1-42) aggregates in human neuroblastoma was reduced in the presence of 2, and feeding 2 to Aβ transgenic C. elegans rescued the paralysis phenotype. In addition, the binding and stoichiometry of 2 to Aβ(1-40) were demonstrated by using electrospray ionization-traveling wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry, while molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to gain structural insights into the Aβ(1-40)-2 complex.

[Neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery for posterior cranial fossa lesion]

Objective: To study the value of neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery technique in the treatment of posterior cranial fossa lesion. Methods: Clinical data of 36 patients with posterior fossa lesions who accepted neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery (NEAM group) in the department of neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, from January 2014 to December 2016, were retrospectively enrolled. A total of 113 cases diagnosed with the same lesions and accepted conventional microneurosurgery (non-NEAM group) in the same period were analyzed as control group. The total tumor resection rate, postoperative leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, intracranial infection, operating time and the recovery of facial nerve function were compared between the two groups. Results: Ninety-three patients with acoustic neuroma were analyzed, which were divided into non-NEAM group 78 cases (removed posterior lip of internal auditory canal in different degrees) and NEAM group 15 cases (not removed posterior lip of internal auditory canal). The total tumor resection rate and postoperative facial nerve function had no significant statistical differences between two groups. The operating time of NEAM group was longer than that of non-NEAM group (P=0.048, P<0.05), but the rate of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and intracranial infection did not increase. Twenty-seven cases were diagnosed with cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma. These cases were divided into two groups, 17 cases in non-NEAM group and 10 cases in NEAM group. NEAM group have higher total tumor resection rate (P=0.014, P<0.05), better short-term postoperative facial nerve function (P=0.039, P<0.05), and longer operating time (P=0.015, P<0.05), compared with non-NEAM group. No significant statistical differences were observed on long-term postoperative facial nerve function and postoperative complications. Of the 16 cases diagnosed tentorial meningioma, 10 cases were in non-NEAM group and 6 cases in NEAM group. Six cases in non-NEAM group and 4 cases in NEAM group were total removal. For the mean operating time, non-NEAM group was (6.6±1.0) hours and NEAM group was (7.1±0.7) hours. Thirteen cases were with fourth ventricular cholesteatoma, which all were totally resected, and 8 cases were in non-NEAM group and 5 cases in NEAM group. For non-NEAM group, 5 cases dissected cerebellar vermis and the mean operating time is (6.0±0.7) hours. However, NEAM group all did not dissect cerebellar vermis and the mean operating time is (6.4±0.4) hours. Conclusions: Neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery for cranial fossa lesions was benefit to totally resect tumor and reduce unnecessary injury. It needed longer operating time, but not increase postoperative intracranial infection.

[Dynamic retraction microneurosurgery for the treatment of medial tentorial meningiomas]

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and clinical significance of dynamic retraction microneurosurgery for the treatment of medial tentorial meningiomas. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2016, a cohort of 28 patients with medial tentorial meningiomas were treated by microneurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Patients who treated intraoperatively with dynamic retraction surgery from January 2014 to December 2016 were assigned into dynamic retraction group, and those with fixed retractors intraoperatively from January 2011 to December 2013 were assigned into retractor group. The surgical approaches tailored in our patients were based on predominant direction of tumor extension. The extent of tumor resection was scored according to the Simpson's classification scale. Comparisons of tumor size, operation time, hospitalization time, retraction-related injury, tumor Simpson resection grade and Karnofsky Performance Scale(KPS) score six months after surgery were also made between two groups. Results: A total of 12 patients(retractor group) were treated with the use of self-retaining brain retractors intraoperatively and dynamic retraction surgical procedure was performed intraoperatively in 16 patients(dynamic retraction group). The difference between two groups with regard to sex, age, tumor size, operation time and tumor Simpson resection grade was not statistically significant(all P>0.05). The mean duration of hospital time was shorter in the dynamic retraction group than that in the retractor group(18.3 d±1.8 d vs 20.2 d±1.3 d, P=0.004). The dynamic retraction group had lower incidence of retraction-related injury compared with the retractor group(1/16 vs 6/12), P=0.022]. The dynamic retraction group had better neurological recovery rate with KPS >80 evaluated six months after surgery compared with the retractor group(14/16 vs 5/12, P=0.017). Conclusions: Dynamic retraction microneurosurgery for the treatment of medial tentorial meningiomas is feasible, which can obviate or reduce the amount of brain retraction needed, and may be of help in lowering the risk of postoperative neurological deficits and complications and leading to reduced hospitalization cost and improved surgical outcomes.

Structure-based design of bacterial transglycosylase inhibitors incorporating biphenyl, amine linker and 2-alkoxy-3-phosphorylpropanoate moieties

Transglycosylase (TGase) is essential to biosynthesis of peptidoglycan for formation of bacterial cell wall. Moenomycin is a potent TGase inhibitor, but not used in clinic treatment due to its poor pharmacokinetics. The E-F disaccharide, phosphoglycerate and lipid tail in moenomycin are crucial elements for TGase inhibition and antibacterial activity. Based on this scaffold, a series of truncated mimics comprising biphenyl, amine linker and 2-alkoxy-3-phosphorylpropanoate moieties were designed to test their TGase inhibitory activity. In this design, the phosphorylpropanoate group is a surrogate of phosphoglycerate with improved stability. A library of lipid tails can be constructed by a straightforward approach using Cu(I)-catalyzed (3 + 2) cycloaddition reactions, and the as-synthesized triazole ring can provide additional hydrogen bonds in the TGase active site. Our molecular docking experiments reveal that the biphenyl group provides π-π and π-cation interactions to act as a simplified alternative of the C-E disaccharide in moenomycin. To play the role of the oxonium transition state in transglycosylation, the amine linker exists as a positively charged species in physiological condition to attain electrostatic interactions with acidic residues. In this study, two biphenyl-linked 2-alkoxy-3-phosphorylpropanoate compounds (8 and 10) are found to exhibit modest inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ ≈ 150 μM) against the TGase of Acinetobacter baumannii and good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 6.3 μM).

Nontraumatic Acute Anterior Cord Syndrome Caused by Cervical Disc Herniation after Napping with Neck Extension

Nontraumatic acute anterior cord syndrome caused by disc herniation occurring in the cervical spine is rare. A 39-year-old man presented with a sharp burning pain in bilateral upper limbs and progressive paraplegia after a nap with neck extension. He had impaired sensation of pain and temperature with preservation of proprioception and light touch below the C6 level. The magnetic resonance imaging showed focal hyperintensity of the anterior cord at the C5-C7 level and central herniation of C5-6 and C6-7 discs. An anterior discectomy of C5-6 and C6-7 was conducted because of the poor response to a high dose of steroid. A postoperative intensive rehabilitation treatment was also performed. The patient showed significant improvement in motor and sensory function three months postoperatively. Long-term repetitive neck extension should be avoided because it may be a risk for degenerative spondylotic change and cord compression disorders. Surgical intervention should be considered in a patient with anterior cord syndrome associated with nontraumatic cervical disc herniation. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2013;20:389-391)

Residues Comprising the Enhanced Aromatic Sequon Influence Protein N-Glycosylation Efficiency

N-Glycosylation is an important co- and/or post-translational modification that occurs on the vast majority of the one-third of the mammalian proteome that traverses the cellular secretory pathway, regulating glycoprotein folding and functions. Previous studies on the sequence requirements for N-glycosylation have yielded the Asn-X-Ser/Thr (NXS/T) sequon and the enhanced aromatic sequons (Phe-X-Asn-X-Thr and Phe-X-X-Asn-X-Thr), which can be efficiently N-glycosylated. To further investigate the influence of sequence variation on N-glycosylation efficiency in the context of a five-residue enhanced aromatic sequon, we used the human CD2 adhesion domain (hCD2ad) to screen the i-2, i-1, i+1, and i+2 residues flanking Asn at the i position. We found that aromatic residues, especially Trp, and sulfur-containing residues at the i-2 position improved N-glycosylation efficiency, while positively charged residues such as Arg suppressed N-glycosylation. Thiol, hydroxyl, and aliphatic-based side chains at the i-1 position had higher N-glycosylation efficiency, and Cys, in particular, compensated for the negative effect of Arg at the i-2 position. Small residues and Ser at the i+1 position increased the likelihood of N-glycosylation, and Thr is better than Ser at the i+2 position. We devised an algorithm for prediction of N-glycosylation efficiency using the SAS software, employing the 120 sequences studied as a training set. We then introduced the optimized-enhanced aromatic sequons into other glycoproteins and observed an enhancement in N-glycan occupancy that was further supported by modeling the high-affinity interaction between the optimized sequence on hCD2ad and a human oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) subunit. The findings in this study provide useful information for enhancing or suppressing N-glycosylation at a site of interest and valuable data for a better understanding of OST-catalyzed N-glycosylation.

An Effective Bacterial Fucosidase for Glycoprotein Remodeling

Fucose is an important component of many oligo- and polysaccharide structures as well as glycoproteins and glycolipids, which are often associated with a variety of physiological processes ranging from fertilization, embryogenesis, signal transduction, and disease progression, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and cancer. The enzyme α-l-fucosidase is involved in the cleavage of the fucosidic bond in glycans and glycoconjugates, particularly the Fuc-α-1,2-Gal, Fuc-α-1,3/4-GlcNAc, and Fuc-α-1,6-GlcNAc linkages. Here, we report a highly efficient fucosidase, designated as BfFucH identified from a library of bacterial glycosidases expressed in E. coli from the CAZy database, which is capable of hydrolyzing the aforementioned fucosidic linkages, especially the α-1,6-linkage from the N-linked Fuc-α-1,6-GlcNAc residue on glycoproteins. Using BfFucH coupled with endoglycosidases and the emerging glycosynthases allows glycoengineering of IgG antibodies to provide homogeneous glycoforms with well-defined glycan structures and optimal effector functions.

Phenyl Glycolipids with Different Glycosyl Groups Exhibit Marked Differences in Murine and Human iNKT Cell Activation

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) bearing the α-galactosyl headgroup and the acyl chain terminated with a phenyl derivative were found to be more potent than α-galactosyl ceramide (αGalCer) to stimulate both murine and human invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and to induce an antibody isotope switch to IgG. In this study, we replaced the galactosyl group with glucose (αGlc) and its fluoro-analogs and found that phenyl GSLs with αGlc (C34-Glc) and its fluoro-analog 6F-C34-Glc were stronger than those with αGal in stimulating human iNKT cells but weaker in mice. Their activities have a strong correlation with the binding avidities of the ternary interaction between the iNKT-cell receptor (iNKTCR) and CD1d-GSL complex. It was the iNKTCR rather than CD1d that dictated the species-specific responses. C34-Glc was further used as an adjuvant for a SSEA4-crm-197 vaccine, and after immunization in mice, the vaccine was highly effective against Lewis lung carcinoma.

[Association between the office, visit-to-visit and 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure and vascular damages in the elderly]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between different kinds of systolic blood pressure (SBP, including office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour ambulatory) and vascular damages (represented by carotid intima-media thickness, CIMT; brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV) in the elderly.

METHODS

A total of 2 814 participants aged of ≥60 years old and retired employees were selected with random sampling method from the individuals who took part in 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011 health examination in Tangshan Kailuan Hospital, Kailuan Linxi Hospital, Kailuan Zhaogezhuang Hospital and with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data, CIMT and baPWV.Finally, 2 146 participants (1 438 males, average age (67.3±6.0) years old) were included to the analysis.Multivariable regression analysis was used to analyze association between the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP and CIMT and baPWV, respectively.

RESULTS

(1) The average SBP, DBP, CIMT and baPWV were (137.0±20.4) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (83.5±11.0) mmHg, (0.92±0.18)mm and (1 781.7±353.2)cm/s.(2) The participants were divided into high and low level groups according to the median of different SBPs, respectively.The results indicated that CIMT and baPWV were significantly higher in high level groups than in low level groups (all P<0.01). (3) After adjusting for gender and age, the partial correlate analysis showed that the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP positively associated with CIMT and baPWV (all P<0.01). (4) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable regression analysis showed that the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP were positively and linearly associated with CIMT and baPWV in total cohort, and standard regression coefficients were 0.157, 0.208, 0.175, 0.169, 0.163, 0.479, 0.420, 0.401, 0.389 and 0.354, respectively.In addition, similar results were observed in male and female participants but there was no significance between night-time SBP and CIMT in female participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP are associated with vascular damages, and the best associations are observed between visit-to-visit SBP and vascular function damage.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

Chinese CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY, ChiCTR-TNC-1100 1489.

An Automatic Quality Control Pipeline for High-Throughput Screening Hit Identification

The correction or removal of signal errors in high-throughput screening (HTS) data is critical to the identification of high-quality lead candidates. Although a number of strategies have been previously developed to correct systematic errors and to remove screening artifacts, they are not universally effective and still require fair amount of human intervention. We introduce a fully automated quality control (QC) pipeline that can correct generic interplate systematic errors and remove intraplate random artifacts. The new pipeline was first applied to ~100 large-scale historical HTS assays; in silico analysis showed auto-QC led to a noticeably stronger structure-activity relationship. The method was further tested in several independent HTS runs, where QC results were sampled for experimental validation. Significantly increased hit confirmation rates were obtained after the QC steps, confirming that the proposed method was effective in enriching true-positive hits. An implementation of the algorithm is available to the screening community.

[Influencing factors of orthostatism brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle brachial index in the elderly]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the distribution and influencing factors of orthostatism brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV) and ankle brachial index(ABI) in the elderly.

METHODS

Participants were selected with random sampling from ≥60 years old retired workers, who underwent 2010 to 2011 health check-up in the Tangshan Kailuan Hospital, Kailuan Linxi Hospital, Kailuan Zhaogezhuang Hospital. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of orthostatism and supine baPWV and ABI in the elderly.

RESULTS

(1) A total of 2 464 participants were included, and 1 601 participants (1 065 males(66.5%) and (67.5±6.1) years old) with integral data were analyzed. Orthostatism baPWV was (3 885.4±1 503.5)cm/s and Supine baPWV was (1 761.2±371.4)cm/s.Orthostatism ABI was 1.54±0.21 and supine ABI was 1.10±0.12. Orthostatism baPWV increased with increasing age, while orthostatism ABI decreased with aging(trend test, both P<0.01)in <65, 65-69, 70-74, and ≥75 years old participants.(2) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the age(β=0.19, P<0.01), lower limbs orthostatism systolic blood pressure(β=0.18, P<0.01), lower limbs supine systolic blood pressure (β=0.14, P<0.01), orthostatism heart rate (β=0.30, P<0.01), supine heart rate (β=0.23, P<0.01), body mass index (β=-0.18, P<0.01) were associated with orthostatism baPWV, and female(β=-0.055, P=0.01), upper limb orthostatism systolic blood pressure (β=-0.834, P<0.01), lower limbs orthostatism systolic blood pressure (β=0.708, P<0.01), lower limbs supine systolic blood pressure (β=0.099, P<0.01) and fasting blood glucose(β=-0.085, P<0.01) were associated with orthostatism ABI.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthostatism baPWV and ABI were significantly higher than those of supine's. Age, lower limbs orthostatism and supine systolic blood pressure, orthostatism and supine heart rate, body mass index were associated with orthostatism baPWV. Female, upper limb orthostatism systolic blood pressure, lower limbs orthostatism, supine systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were associated with orthostatism ABI in the elderly.

Glycosylation-dependent interaction between CD69 and S100A8/S100A9 complex is required for regulatory T-cell differentiation

Cluster of differentiation (CD)69 is a leukocyte activation receptor involved in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and is positively selected in activated regulatory T (Treg) cells, implicating its role during Treg-cell differentiation. By RNA interference, we show that CD69 is not sufficient to support the conversion of CD4(+) naive T cells into Treg cells, whereas it does that of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) (P < 0.01), suggesting that a ligand-receptor interaction is required for CD69 function. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we identified the S100A8/S100A9 complex as the natural ligand of CD69 in hPBMCs. CD69 specifically associates with S100A8/S100A9 complex as confirmed by in vitro binding and competition assay, and the treatment of CD69 with peptide-N-glycosidase significantly abolishes such association. In agreement, the glycomics analysis determines the glycosylation site and the N-glycan composition of CD69, and terminal removal of sialic acid from that N-linked glycans reverses the generation of forkhead box P3-positive Treg cells (23.21%; P < 0.05). More specifically, we showed that CD69-S100A8/S100A9 association is required for the up-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 resulting in inhibited signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (36.54% increase upon CD69 silencing; P < 0.01). This might in turn support the secretion of key regulator TGF-β (∼ 3.28-fold decrease upon CD69 silencing; P < 0.05), leading to reduced production of IL-4 in hPBMCs. Our results demonstrate the functional and mechanistic interplays between CD69 and S100A8/S100A9 in supporting Treg-cell differentiation.

Alterations in white matter micro-integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus and anterior thalamic radiation of young adult patients with depression

BACKGROUND

This study surveyed the characteristics of white matter (WM) micro-integrity in patients who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) without co-morbidities.

METHOD

A total of 44 patients with MDD and 27 normal controls were enrolled in our study. Diffusion tensor imaging images of patients and controls were pre-processed and analysed to estimate differences in WM micro-integrity between patients and controls by performing comparisons of the values obtained from fractional anisotropy (FA). FA outputs of patients and controls were compared by a non-parametric permutation-based method with global brain volume, age and gender as covariates. In addition, the between-group differences of radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD) were assessed to explain the alterations in FA values. Correlations between clinical variables (such as depression severity, anxiety severity, illness duration) and FA values were also estimated in each group and across both groups.

RESULTS

The patients with MDD had significantly lower FA values than the controls, for the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR). The reductions in FA values occurred in combination with elevated RD values in the bilateral SLF and decreased AD values in the bilateral ATR. FA values were negatively correlated with depression severity in the SLF and with illness duration in the right SLF and ATR.

CONCLUSIONS

MDD patients had significant alterations in the WM micro-integrity of the left SLF and the right ATR.

In vitro evaluation of novel inhibitors against the NS2B-NS3 protease of dengue fever virus type 4

The discovery of potent therapeutic compounds against dengue virus is urgently needed. The NS2B-NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro) of dengue fever virus carries out all enzymatic activities needed for polyprotein processing and is considered to be amenable to antiviral inhibition by analogy. Virtual screening of 300,000 compounds using Autodock 3 on the GVSS platform was conducted to identify novel inhibitors against the NS2B-NS3pro. Thirty-six compounds were selected for in vitro assay against NS2B-NS3pro expressed in Pichia pastoris. Seven novel compounds were identified as inhibitors with IC50 values of 3.9 ± 0.6-86.7 ± 3.6 μM. Three strong NS2B-NS3pro inhibitors were further confirmed as competitive inhibitors with Ki values of 4.0 ± 0.4, 4.9 ± 0.3, and 3.4 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. Hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions between amino acid residues in the NS3pro active site with inhibition compounds were also identified.

Lipoamide channel-binding sulfonamides selectively inhibit mycobacterial lipoamide dehydrogenase

Tuberculosis remains a global health emergency that calls for treatment regimens directed at new targets. Here we explored lipoamide dehydrogenase (Lpd), a metabolic and detoxifying enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) whose deletion drastically impairs Mtb's ability to establish infection in the mouse. Upon screening more than 1.6 million compounds, we identified N-methylpyridine 3-sulfonamides as potent and species-selective inhibitors of Mtb Lpd affording >1000-fold selectivity versus the human homologue. The sulfonamides demonstrated low nanomolar affinity and bound at the lipoamide channel in an Lpd-inhibitor cocrystal. Their selectivity could be attributed, at least partially, to hydrogen bonding of the sulfonamide amide oxygen with the species variant Arg93 in the lipoamide channel. Although potent and selective, the sulfonamides did not enter mycobacteria, as determined by their inability to accumulate in Mtb to effective levels or to produce changes in intracellular metabolites. This work demonstrates that high potency and selectivity can be achieved at the lipoamide-binding site of Mtb Lpd, a site different from the NAD⁺/NADH pocket targeted by previously reported species-selective triazaspirodimethoxybenzoyl inhibitors.

The immunologically active oligosaccharides isolated from wheatgrass modulate monocytes via Toll-like receptor-2 signaling

Wheatgrass is one of the most widely used health foods, but its functional components and mechanisms remain unexplored. Herein, wheatgrass-derived oligosaccharides (WG-PS3) were isolated and found to induce CD69 and Th1 cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In particular, WG-PS3 directly activated the purified monocytes by inducing the expression of CD69, CD80, CD86, IL-12, and TNF-α but affected NK and T cells only in the presence of monocytes. After further purification and structural analysis, maltoheptaose was identified from WG-PS3 as an immunomodulator. Maltoheptaose activated monocytes via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) signaling, as discovered by pretreatment of blocking antibodies against Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and also determined by click chemistry. This study is the first to reveal the immunostimulatory component of wheatgrass with well defined molecular structures and mechanisms.

Engineering transaldolase in Pichia stipitis to improve bioethanol production

In our effort to improve the efficiency and yield of xylose-to-ethanol bioconversion in Pichia stipitis, the transaldolase (TAL) in the pentose phosphate pathway was identified as a rate-limiting enzyme for improvement. A mutant containing the Q263R change was first obtained by directed evolution with 5-fold increase of activity, which was then incorporated into P. stipitesvia the pYDS vector to produce a genetically stable strain for fermentation on xylose. In comparison with the parental strain, TAL-Q263R(+) increases ethanol prodcution by 36% and 100% as measured by volumetric production rate and specific production rate, respectively. Thus improving the transaldolase activity in P. stipitis can significantly increase the rate and yield of xylose conversion to ethanol.

High-throughput identification of antibacterials against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the transglycosylase

To identify new transglycosylase inhibitors with potent anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activities, a high-throughput screening against Staphylococcus aureus was conducted to look for antibacterial cores in our 2M compound library that consists of natural products, proprietary collection, and synthetic molecules. About 3600 hits were identified from the primary screening and the subsequent confirmation resulted in a total of 252 compounds in 84 clusters which showed anti-MRSA activities with MIC values as low as 0.1 μg/ml. Subsequent screening targeting bacterial transglycosylase identified a salicylanilide-based core that inhibited the lipid II polymerization and the moenomycin-binding activities of transglycosylase. Among the collected analogues, potent inhibitors with the IC(50) values below 10 μM against transglycosylase were identified. The non-carbonhydrate scaffold reported in this study suggests a new direction for development of bacterial transglycosylase inhibitors.

HA-pseudotyped retroviral vectors for influenza antagonist screening

Influenza infections are initiated by the binding of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and the cellular receptor sialic acids. The binding is followed by internalization, endocytosis, and uncoating to release the influenza genome to the cytoplasm. It is conceivable that specific inhibitors that antagonize any one of these events could prevent the replication of influenza infections. The authors made HA pseudotyped retroviral vectors that express luciferase reporter activities upon transduction to several recipient cells. The transduction of the HA-pseudotype virus particles (HApp) was mediated through the specific interactions between an avian HA and the terminal disaccharides of sialic acid (SA) and galactose (Gal) in alpha-2,3 linkage. The HApp-mediated transduction method was used to develop a high-throughput screening assay and to screen for hits from a fermentation extract library. Specific hits that inhibited the HA-mediated but were noninhibitory to the vesicular stomatitis virus-mediated pseudoviral transductions were identified. A few of these hits have anti-influenza activities that prevent the replication of both H1N1 (WSN) and H5N1 (RG14) influenza viruses.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted 6-alkynyl-4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives as potent EGFR inhibitors

A series of C-6 or C-3' alkynyl-substituted 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives was prepared straightforwardly by a Sonogashira reaction of the corresponding bromo-substituted 4-anilinoquinazolines. Bioactive assay of these compounds for in vitro EGFR kinase inhibition demonstrated that the novel 6-hydroxypropynyl-4-anilinoquinazoline 5e was a very potent EGFR kinase inhibitor with an IC(50) of 14 nM.

Generation of a velogenic Newcastle disease virus from cDNA and expression of the green fluorescent protein

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a pathogen that is important in the poultry industry worldwide. Specifically, the virulent (velogenic) NDV is a particular threat because it has now occurred frequently worldwide. The outbreaks caused by highly virulent NDV in waterfowl and especially in goose flocks, have led to greater concern in recent years as aquatic birds were previously resistant to most virulent NDV strains from chickens. The molecular determinants of host tropism, virulence and emergence of NDV isolated from diseased goose flocks are poorly understood. In the present study, we rescued a highly virulent NDV isolated from a goose using the reverse genetics approach. Infectious virus was successfully generated by cotransfection of a full-length cDNA clone of the NDV strain ZJ1 with helper plasmids. The recombinant NDV was indistinguishable from the parental wild-type virus with respect to its growth kinetics in cell culture as well as its biological properties. A recombinant NDV expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was generated, and GFP was subsequently detected in cells and various organs from the infected chickens.

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of a new antifungal compound, ADKZ in rat plasma

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of ADKZ (1-(1H-1,2,4-triazole)-2-(2,4-diflurophenyl) -3-[N-methyl-N-(4-iodo-benzyl)amino]-2-propanol) in rat plasma. The compound was extracted from plasma samples by liquid-liquid extraction, and an isomeric compound of ADKZ (1-(1H-1,2,4-triazole)-2-(2,4-diflurophenyl)-3-[N-methyl-N -(3-iodo-benzyl)amino]-2-propanol) was used as the internal standard (IS), which were analyzed on a reversed-phase C18 column (5 microm, 200 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.). The extracted plasma samples were eluted with acetonitrile-0.018 M triethylamine solution adjusted to pH 3.2 with phosphoric acid (35:65, v/v). The effluent was monitored by a UV detector at 230 nm. The retention time of ADKZ was 7.1 min and IS 8.2 min. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 0.02-2.00 microg/ml with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The quantification limit of ADKZ in rat plasma was 0.02 microg/ml. Intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 2.6 to 7.9% and 3.1 to 9.6%, respectively. The extraction recovery from plasma was no less than 80%. No endogenous interferences were observed with either ADKZ or IS. The method has been successfully used to support the pre-clinical pharmacokinetic studies of ADKZ in rats.