Specific Recognition of β-Galactofuranose-Containing Glycans of Synthetic Neoglycoproteins by Sera of Chronic Chagas Disease Patients

Chagas disease (CD) can be accurately diagnosed by detecting Trypanosoma cruzi in patients’ blood using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, parasite-derived biomarkers are of great interest for the serological diagnosis and early evaluation of chemotherapeutic efficacy when PCR may fail, owing to a blood parasite load below the method’s limit of detection. Previously, we focused on the detection of specific anti-α-galactopyranosyl (α-Gal) antibodies in chronic CD (CCD) patients elicited by α-Gal glycotopes copiously expressed on insect-derived and mammal-dwelling infective parasite stages. Nevertheless, these stages also abundantly express cell surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoproteins and glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs) bearing nonreducing terminal β-galactofuranosyl (β-Galf) residues, which are equally foreign to humans and, therefore, highly immunogenic. Here we report that CCD patients’ sera react specifically with synthetic β-Galf-containing glycans. We took a reversed immunoglycomics approach that entailed: (a) Synthesis of T. cruzi GIPL-derived Galfβ1,3Manpα-(CH₂)₃SH (glycan G29_SH) and Galfβ1,3Manpα1,2-[Galfβ1,3]Manpα-(CH₂)₃SH (glycan G32_SH); and (b) preparation of neoglycoproteins NGP29b and NGP32b, and their evaluation in a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed that NGP32b can distinguish CCD sera from sera of healthy individuals with 85.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity. This suggests that Galfβ1,3Manpα1,2-[Galfβ1,3]Manpα is an immunodominant glycotope and that NGP32b could potentially be used as a novel CCD biomarker.     

Design,Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Relationship Study of Potent MAPK11 Inhibitors

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare single-gene neurodegenerative disease, which can only be treated symptomatically. Currently, there are no approved drugs for HD on the market. Studies have found that MAPK11 can serve as a potential therapeutic target for HD. Regrettably, no MAPK11 small molecule inhibitors have been approved at present. This paper presents three series of compounds that were designed and synthesized based on the structure of skepinone-L, a known MAPK14 inhibitor. Among the synthesized compounds, 13a and 13b, with IC₅₀ values of 6.40 nM and 4.20 nM, respectively, displayed the best inhibitory activities against MAPK11. Furthermore, the structure–activity relationship (SAR) is discussed in detail, which is constructive in optimizing the MAPK11 inhibitors for better activity and effect against HD.     

铁过量与人体健康

综述了机体铁储存过多与某些疾病之间的关系,包括:铁过量与肝脏疾病、心血管病、肿瘤、肾损伤、高血压等有关。铁过量主要是由于病理过程和通过各种途径进入人体的铁量增加。过量的铁在失控条件下,引起细胞成分的明显损伤,导致组织炎症和多器官的纤维化。因为铁是自由基反应的催化剂,可引起过氧化作用或细胞膜脂质和细胞内化合物的交联反应,致细胞老化或死亡。     

黄芪注射液治疗肺心病急性加重期73例疗效观察

目的:探讨黄芪注射液静脉注射治疗肺心病急性加重期的疗效.方法:对照组67例,采用常规的抗感染、平喘、强心及利尿等治疗;治疗组73例,在常规治疗的基础上同时加用黄芪注射液40mL溶于5%葡萄糖250mL中静脉滴注,每日一次,10d为一疗程.结果:治疗组和对照组的有效率分别为91.78%和74.63%(P<0.01);两组治疗后心输出量(CO,L/minm2)、心脏指数(CI)、左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室短轴缩短率(FS)、每搏输出量(SV)、二尖瓣快速充血期和心房收缩期血流速度(E/A)均较治疗前明显改善(P<0.05,P<0.01),但治疗组更优于对照组(P<0.05).两组动脉血气治疗后均有改善,但治疗组改善程度优于对照组(P<0.05).结论:黄芪注射液对肺心病急性加重期具有较好疗效.     

腹部消化器官病变部位与两类腹痛部位的关系

目的:探讨腹部消化器官疾病所致内脏痛及腹膜痛的部位与病变部位的关系.方法:收集1226例有腹痛表现的腹部消化器官疾病患者的临床资料,分别统计分析内脏痛部位及腹膜痛部位与内脏病变部位的关系.结果:内脏痛平面与病变内脏起源的原肠的平面呈正相关(rs=0.87,P<0.01).腹膜痛最先出现或最明显的部位与病变内脏的解剖部位一致(=0.96,P<0.01).结论:腹部消化器官疾病所致内脏痛及腹膜痛的部位均与病变部位显著相关.依据腹痛部位定位诊断,需要分清腹痛类型,分别根据内脏痛及腹膜痛部位推测病变内脏的胚胎起源及解剖部位.     

A New Series of Aryloxyacetic Acids Endowed with Multi-Target Activity towards Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs), Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH), and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

A new series of aryloxyacetic acids was prepared and tested as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) agonists and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. Some compounds exhibited an interesting dual activity that has been recently proposed as a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a multifactorial pathology, hence multi-target agents are currently one of the main lines of research for the therapy and prevention of this disease. Given that cholinesterases represent one of the most common targets of recent research, we decided to also evaluate the effects of our compounds on the inhibition of these specific enzymes. Interestingly, two of these compounds, (S)-5 and 6, showed moderate activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and even some activity, although at high concentration, against Aβ peptide aggregation, thus demonstrating, in agreement with the preliminary dockings carried out on the different targets, the feasibility of a simultaneous multi-target activity towards PPARs, FAAH, and AChE. As far as we know, these are the first examples of molecules endowed with this pharmacological profile that might represent a promising line of research for the identification of novel candidates for the treatment of AD.     

A review of computational modeling and deep brain stimulation: applications to Parkinson's disease

Biophysical computational models are complementary to experiments and theories, providing powerful tools for the study of neurological diseases. The focus of this review is the dynamic modeling and control strategies of Parkinson's disease (PD). In previous studies, the development of parkinsonian network dynamics modeling has made great progress. Modeling mainly focuses on the cortex-thalamus-basal ganglia (CTBG) circuit and its sub-circuits, which helps to explore the dynamic behavior of the parkinsonian network, such as synchronization. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective strategy for the treatment of PD. At present, many studies are based on the side effects of the DBS. However, the translation from modeling results to clinical disease mitigation therapy still faces huge challenges. Here, we introduce the progress of DBS improvement. Its specific purpose is to develop novel DBS treatment methods, optimize the treatment effect of DBS for each patient, and focus on the study in closed-loop DBS. Our goal is to review the inspiration and insights gained by combining the system theory with these computational models to analyze neurodynamics and optimize DBS treatment.     

Ultrasonic stimulation of the brain to enhance the release of dopamine – A potential novel treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the decrease of dopamine (DA) production and release in the substantia nigra and striatum regions of the brain. Transcranial ultrasound has been exploited recently for neuromodulation of the brain in a number of fields. We have stimulated DA release in PC12 cells using low-intensity continuous ultrasound (0.1 W/cm² − 0.3 W/cm², 1 MHz), 12 h after exposure at 0.2 W/cm², 40 s, the amount of DA content eventually increased 78.5% (p = 0.004). After 10-day ultrasonic treatment (0.3 W/cm², 5 min/d), the DA content in the striatum of PD mice model restored to 81.07% of the control (vs 43.42% in the untreated PD mice model). In addition to this the locomotion activity was restored to the normal level after treatment. We suggest that the low intensity ultrasound-induced DA release can be attributed to a combination of neuron regeneration and improved membrane permeability produced by the mechanical force of ultrasound. Our study indicates that the application of transcranial ultrasound applied below FDA limits, could provide a candidate for relatively safe and noninvasive PD therapy through an amplification of DA levels and the stimulation of dopaminergic neuron regeneration without contrast agents.     

Synergistic Effect of Lithocholic Acid with Gentamicin against Gram-Positive Bacteria but Not against Gram-Negative Bacteria

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is an important Gram-positive food-borne pathogen that severely threatens public health. A checkerboard microdilution method was performed to evaluate the synergistic effect of lithocholic acid (LCA) with Gentamicin (Genta) against L. monocytogenes. BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining, scanning electron microscopy and biofilm inhibition assays were further used to explore the bactericidal effect and antibiofilm effect of this combination on L. monocytogenes. Additionally, the synergistic effects of LCA derivatives with Genta were also evaluated against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis. The results indicated that a synergistic bactericidal effect was observed for the combined therapy of LCA at the concentration without affecting bacteria viability, with Genta. Additionally, LCA in combination with Genta had a synergistic effect against Gram-positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis) but not against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, A. baumannii and Salmonella). BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the combination of LCA with Genta caused L. monocytogenes membrane injury, leading to bacteria death. We found that 8 μg/mL LCA treatment effectively improved the ability of Genta to eradicate L. monocytogenes biofilms. In addition, we found that chenodeoxycholic acid, as a cholic acid derivative, also improved the bactericidal effect of Genta against Gram-positive bacteria. Our results indicate that LCA represents a broad-spectrum adjuvant with Genta for infection caused by L. monocytogenes and other Gram-positive pathogens.     

HLA高分辨等位基因多态性及单倍体与广西汉族终末期肾病易感性的相关性分析

为研究广西汉族终末期肾病(End Stage Renal Disease, ESRD)与人类白细胞抗原(Human Leukocyte Antigen, HLA)等位基因及单倍体的关联性,本研究采用聚合酶链反应-序列特异性寡核苷酸(Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Oligonucleotides, PCR-SSO)技术对广西汉族578例终末期肾病患者(ESRD组)进行HLA-A、B和DRB1基因分型,HLA等位基因频率用直接计数法来计算,采用Arlequin 3.5.2.2软件计算单倍型频率,并与1 644例广西汉族健康造血干细胞捐献者(对照组)比较。结果显示,ESRD组HLA-A*11:01、A*02:01、B*13:01、DRB1*12:02、DRB1*04:05、DRB1*14:54和DRB1*11:01的基因频率大于对照组(P<0.05),HLA-A*11:02、A*30:01、A*32:01、B*13:02、B*07:02、DRB1*07:01和DRB1*13:02的基因频率小于对照组(P<0.05)。ESR...