Lianhuaqingwen (LH) as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula has been used to treat influenza and exerted broad-spectrum antiviral effects on a series of influenza viruses and immune regulatory ...effects Ding et al. (2017). The goal of this study is to demonstrate the antiviral activity of LH against the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and its potential effect in regulating host immune response.
The antiviral activity of LH against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in Vero E6 cells using CPE and plaque reduction assay. The effect of LH on virion morphology was visualized under transmission electron microscope. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in Huh-7 cells were measured by real-time quantitative PCR assays.
LH significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells and markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, CCL-2/MCP-1 and CXCL-10/IP-10) production at the mRNA levels. Furthermore, LH treatment resulted in abnormal particle morphology of virion in cells.
LH significantly inhibits the SARS-COV-2 replication, affects virus morphology and exerts anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. These findings indicate that LH protects against the virus attack, making its use a novel strategy for controlling the COVID-19 disease.
The stratigraphy and the fossil assemblage of a Lower Cretaceous ‘Lycoptera Bed’ of the Xinganling Group in Naketa, Arongqi area, Inner Mongolia, China are described, and the paleoenvironment is ...discussed as it relates to the Jehol Biota. The Naketa fossil bed belongs to the lower part of volcanic-sedimentary Jiufengshan Formation and preserves a typical EEL (Eosestheria-Ephemeropsis trisetalis-Lycoptera davidi) faunal assemblage, which indicates a strong affiliation to the Jehol Biota of western Liaoning, China. The fossil bed was deposited in a shallow to semi-deep lacustrine setting with occurrence of oil-shale facies, and this is different from the Lycoptera Bed of the Yixian Formation and more similar to the overlying Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning. A layer of volcanic tuffite within the fossil bed is dated as 121.6 + 0.47 Ma using the Zircon U-Pb isotopic dating method. This age is contemporary with the age of the base of Jehol-Biota producing Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning, thereby supporting the biostratigraphic correlation. However, the genus Lycoptera is almost entirely absent in western Liaoning, with only one species in the Jiufotang Formation, where the dominant fish genus is Jinanichthys. Therefore, Lycoptera in the Great Xing’an Mountain areas appears to have a longer record than in western Liaoning, which likely indicates that the fish fauna changed earlier in western Liaoning, and this observation supports the hypothesis that the Yanliao area was the diversification center of some Cretaceous new groups in NE Asia. Preliminary analysis of the taphonomy and the geology indicates that the mass mortality of fish at the Naketa site may not be related to volcanism. Additional taphonomic investigations would allow a better understanding of the Early Cretaceous aquatic paleoecology and paleoenvironment in the volcanic-rifting regions. The Great Xing’an Mountain area is a new opportunity for expanding the research on the Jehol Biota beyond the core localities in western Liaoning.
•The Lower Cretaceous ‘Lycoptera Bed’ outcrop in Naketa, Arongqi area, Inner Mongolia, China, yields the Eosestheria-Ephemeropsis trisetalis-Lycoptera davidi assemblage of the Jehol Biota.•The fossil bed was deposited in a shallow to semi-deep lacustrine setting with occurrence of oil-shale facies which is similar to the Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning of China.•A Zircon U-Pb isotopic date of 121.6+0.47 Ma from the tuffite further indicates similarity with the age of the bottom of Jiufotang Formation in Western Liaoning.•This correlation implies that Lycoptera in the Great Xing’an Mountain areas appears to have a longer fossil record than in western Liaoning.•This observation supports the hypothesis that the Yanliao area was the diversification center of some Cretaceous new groups in NE Asia.
The aberrant appearance of DNA in the cytoplasm triggers the activation of cGAS-cGAMP-STING signaling and induces the production of type I interferons, which play critical roles in activating both ...innate and adaptive immune responses. Recently, numerous studies have shown that the activation of STING and the stimulation of type I IFN production are critical for the anticancer immune response. However, emerging evidence suggests that STING also regulates anticancer immunity in a type I IFN-independent manner. For instance, STING has been shown to induce cell death and facilitate the release of cancer cell antigens. Moreover, STING activation has been demonstrated to enhance cancer antigen presentation, contribute to the priming and activation of T cells, facilitate the trafficking and infiltration of T cells into tumors and promote the recognition and killing of cancer cells by T cells. In this review, we focus on STING and the cancer immune response, with particular attention to the roles of STING activation in the cancer-immunity cycle. Additionally, the negative effects of STING activation on the cancer immune response and non-immune roles of STING in cancer have also been discussed.
Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) is a classic recipe in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to strengthen the spleen and replenish Qi. It is well known for treating disorders of gastrointestinal function ...manifested in poor appetite, reduced food intake and loose stools. Polysaccharide is the most abundant constituent and the major effective component in SJZD.
The present study aimed to understand the immunomodulatory mechanism of S-3–1, a homogeneous polysaccharide purified from SJZD with immune-enhancement activity, by investigating its effects on human intestinal microbes and short chain fatty acids.
S-3–1 was incubated with simulated gastric juice, intestinal juice, and human fecal microflora independently and sequentially. The concentrations of total polysaccharide and reducing sugar were measured to identify the stability of independently and sequentially incubated S-3–1 in three in vitro fermentation models. Gas chromatograph (GC) analysis was used to measure the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents in human fecal samples. The human gut microbiota composition was measured by 16S rRNA gene Illumina MiSeq sequencing (V3-V4 region).
S-3–1 was degraded in three in vitro fermentation models separately and sequentially. Both S-3–1 and incubated S-3–1 could regulate the abundances of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Dorea in human intestinal microflora samples. Specifically, S-3–1 could only regulate the abundances of Paraprevotella and Oscillospira, while the influenced flora changed to Butyricimonas, Coprococcus, Dialister, Sutterella, Ruminococcus and Parabacteroides after sequential incubation of S-3–1. In contrast to S-3–1 showing no influence on the content of SCFA, incubated S-3–1 showed increased contents of acetic acid and total acid that were associated with its effects on the abundances of Enterococcus, Sutterella, Butyricimonas and Streptococcus.
S-3–1 plays an immunomodulatory role by regulating the abundances of 9 intestinal bacteria genera. Incubated S-3–1 can regulate more bacteria genera, a total of 13 kinds, and can adjust the SCFA content to affect immunomodulation. Incubation with gastric and intestinal juices enhanced S-3–1′s capability of modulating the intestinal flora composition and decreased the bacteria’s need for a carbon source. This study could provide new insights for studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of polysaccharides in vitro.
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 8%-12% of children worldwide. Throughout an individual's lifetime, ADHD can significantly ...increase risk for other psychiatric disorders, educational and occupational failure, accidents, criminality, social disability and addictions. No single risk factor is necessary or sufficient to cause ADHD. The multifactorial causation of ADHD is reflected in the heterogeneity of this disorder, as indicated by its diversity of psychiatric comorbidities, varied clinical profiles, patterns of neurocognitive impairment and developmental trajectories, and the wide range of structural and functional brain anomalies. Although evidence-based treatments can reduce ADHD symptoms in a substantial portion of affected individuals, there is yet no curative treatment for ADHD. A number of theoretical models of the emergence and developmental trajectories of ADHD have been proposed, aimed at providing systematic guides for clinical research and practice. We conducted a comprehensive review of the current status of research in understanding the heterogeneity of ADHD in terms of etiology, clinical profiles and trajectories, and neurobiological mechanisms. We suggest that further research focus on investigating the impact of the etiological risk factors and their interactions with developmental neural mechanisms and clinical profiles in ADHD. Such research would have heuristic value for identifying biologically homogeneous subgroups and could facilitate the development of novel and more tailored interventions that target underlying neural anomalies characteristic of more homogeneous subgroups.
Studying complex pore structures is the key to understanding the mechanism of shale gas accumulation. FIB-SEM (focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope) is the mainstream and effective ...instrument for imaging nanopores in gas shales. Based on this technology, 2D and 3D characteristics of shale samples from Lower Silurian Longmaxi formation in southern Sichuan Basin were investigated. 2D experimental results show that the pores in shale are nanometer-sized, and the structure of those nanopores can be classified into three types: organic pores, inorganic pores and micro fractures. Among the three types, organic pores are dominantly developed in the OM (organic matter) with three patterns such as continuous distributed OM, OM between clay minerals and OM between pyrite particles, and the size of organic pores range from 5 nm to 200 nm.Inveresly, inorganic pores and micro fractures are less developed in the Longmaxi shales. 3D digital rocks were reconstructed and segmented by 600 continuous images by FIB cutting and SEM imaging simultaneously. The pore size distribution and porosity can be calculated by this 3D digital core, showing that its average value is 32 nm and porosity is 3.62%.The 3D digital porosity is higher than its helium porosity, which can be regarded as one important parameter for evaluation of shale gas reserves. The 2D and 3D characterized results suggest that the nanometer-sized pores in organic matter take up the fundamental storage space for the Longmaxi shale. These characteristics have contributed to the preservation of shale gas in this complex tectonic area.
Figure name: 3D digital core of gas shale in Longmaxi formation. Red color represents the pores, blue color represents the organic matter and green color represents the inorganic minerals. 3D digital rocks were reconstructed and segmented by 600 continuous images by FIB cutting and SEM imaging simultaneously. The pore size distribution and porosity can be calculated by this 3D digital core. Display omitted
•Pores in shale from Longmaxi formation are nanometer-sized.•Nanopores can be classified into three types: organic pores, inorganic pores and micro fractures.•Organic pores are more developed than inorganic pores in Longmaxi shale.•Nanometer-sized pores in organic matter take up the fundamental storage space for the Longmaxi shale.
As a novel class of noncoding RNAs, circRNAs have been recently identified to regulate tumorigenesis and aggressiveness. However, the function of circRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis ...remains unclear. We aimed to identify circRNAs that are upregulated in CRC tissues from patients and study their function in CRC metastasis.
We compared six pairs of CRC tissues and their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues by using circRNA microarray. We first evaluated the expression of circPTK2 (hsa_circ_0005273) in fresh tissues from CRC tumors and corresponding adjacent tissues by qPCR analysis. CircPTK2 expression levels in the tissue microarray with 5 years of survival information were determined by RNA-ISH analysis. Meanwhile, the expression levels of circulating circPTK2 were further analyzed according to the patients' clinical features. We analyzed cell apoptosis, colony formation, migration, and invasion in CRC cells. To further elucidate the effect of circPTK2 in CRC metastasis, we also conducted a colon cancer hepatic and pulmonary metastasis experiment. We used RNA biotin-labeled pull down and mass spectrometry to identify the target of circPTK2. We established a PDTX model to evaluate the effect of shRNA specifically targeting circPTK2 on tumor metastasis.
We identified a novel circRNA, circPTK2, which is back-spliced of three exons (exons 27, 28 and 29) of PTK2 by using circRNA microarray, bioinformatics and functional studies. CircPTK2 was elevated in CRC tissues and positively associated with tumor growth and metastasis. CRC patients with increased circPTK2 expression were positively correlated with poorer survival rates. Furthermore, our studies showed that circPTK2 could promote EMT of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo by binding to vimentin protein on sites Ser38, Ser55 and Ser82. We further demonstrated the interaction of circPTK2 and vimentin mediated the regulation of CRC by knockdown or overexpression of vimentin. In addition, we revealed that tail vein injection of shRNA specifically targeting circPTK2 blunt tumor metastasis in a patient-derived CRC xenograft model.
Collectively, these results demonstrate that circPTK2 exerts critical roles in CRC growth and metastasis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRC metastasis, and also a promising biomarker for early diagnosis of metastasis.
Due to their unique properties, polymers - typically thermal insulators - can open up opportunities for advanced thermal management when they are transformed into thermal conductors. Recent studies ...have shown polymers can achieve high thermal conductivity, but the transport mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Here we report polyethylene films with a high thermal conductivity of 62 Wm
K
, over two orders-of-magnitude greater than that of typical polymers (~0.1 Wm
K
) and exceeding that of many metals and ceramics. Structural studies and thermal modeling reveal that the film consists of nanofibers with crystalline and amorphous regions, and the amorphous region has a remarkably high thermal conductivity, over ~16 Wm
K
. This work lays the foundation for rational design and synthesis of thermally conductive polymers for thermal management, particularly when flexible, lightweight, chemically inert, and electrically insulating thermal conductors are required.
Circular polarization memory is a well-known phenomenon indicating that the circular polarization light can persist better its polarization property during propagating through turbid media compared ...with the linear polarization light. Therefore, in principle, using circularly polarized light can probably improve the quality of image recovery in dense turbid media than using the linearly polarized light. In this paper, we propose a new polarimetric image recovery method in dense turbid media with the illumination light of circular polarization, and we realize the image recovery combining the circular polarization information and linearly polarization information. The real-world experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method is more effective than previous methods, including the traditional polarimetric image recovery method by Schechner's Appl. Opt.42, 511 (2003) based on linear polarization.
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