Eosin Y, a well‐known economical alternative to metal catalysts in visible‐light‐driven single‐electron transfer‐based organic transformations, can behave as an effective direct hydrogen‐atom ...transfer catalyst for C−H activation. Using the alkylation of C−H bonds with electron‐deficient alkenes as a model study revealed an extremely broad substrate scope, enabling easy access to a variety of important synthons. This eosin Y‐based photocatalytic hydrogen‐atom transfer strategy is promising for diverse functionalization of a wide range of native C−H bonds in a green and sustainable manner.
Neutral eosin Y has been employed as an effective direct hydrogen‐atom transfer photocatalyst to activate a wide range of native C−H bonds in a green and sustainable fashion. This transformation is distinguished by its operational simplicity and amenability to large‐scale synthesis using continuous‐flow technology (EWG=aldehyde, ketone, ester, amide, imide, cyanide, sulfone, nitro, pyridine).
Simple thiol derivatives, such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH), play key roles in biological processes, and the fluorescent probes to detect such thiols in vivo ...selectively with high sensitivity and fast response times are critical for understanding their numerous functions. However, the similar structures and reactivities of these thiols pose considerable challenges to the development of such probes. This review focuses on various strategies for the design of fluorescent probes for the selective detection of biothiols. We classify the fluorescent probes for discrimination among biothiols according to reaction types between the probes and thiols such as cyclization with aldehydes, conjugate addition-cyclization with acrylates, native chemical ligation, and aromatic substitution-rearrangement.
Exhaustion of cytotoxic effector natural killer (NK) and CD8
T cells have important functions in the establishment of persistent viral infections, but how exhaustion is induced during chronic ...hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains poorly defined. Here we show, using the humanized C/O
mice permissive for persistent HCV infection, that NK and CD8
T cells become sequentially exhausted shortly after their transient hepatic infiltration and activation in acute HCV infection. HCV infection upregulates Qa-1 expression in hepatocytes, which ligates NKG2A to induce NK cell exhaustion. Antibodies targeting NKG2A or Qa-1 prevents NK exhaustion and promotes NK-dependent HCV clearance. Moreover, reactivated NK cells provide sufficient IFN-γ that helps rejuvenate polyclonal HCV CD8
T cell response and clearance of HCV. Our data thus show that NKG2A serves as a critical checkpoint for HCV-induced NK exhaustion, and that NKG2A blockade sequentially boosts interdependent NK and CD8
T cell functions to prevent persistent HCV infection.
PM2.5 samples were collected at an urban site (WD) and a suburban site (TH) in Wuhan from August 2012 to July 2013. The mass concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions, carbonaceous species and ...elements of PM2.5 were measured. The annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 were 106.5μg/m3 and 114.9μg/m3 at WD and TH, respectively. The chemical compositions of PM2.5 at WD were similar to those at TH and the fractions of the major components of PM2.5 in Wuhan were in the following order of trace elements<chloride<EC (elemental carbon)<ammonium<nitrate<soil dust<sulfate<OM (organic matter). As the secondary ionic aerosols (SIA) and dominant ions, SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ all exhibited strong seasonal distributions, consistently with the lowest values in summer and the highest in winter. OM was the most abundant component in PM2.5, the lowest concentrations of which were observed in summer at both sites, while the highest concentrations of OC (organic carbon) appeared in winter at WD and autumn at TH, respectively. The highest OC concentration observed in autumn was tightly related to the biomass burning near the suburban site. The crustal elements (Mg, K, Ca and Fe) dominated the 20 detected elements in PM2.5, with the highest concentrations in spring in Wuhan, which might be due to frequent sandstorm from north carrying abundant soil dusts in spring in China. Ten trace elements (Cu, Ga, Ag, Tl, Ca, As, Zn, Pb, Se and Cd) were enriched in PM2.5 and the higher EF for Ag, Pb, Se and Cd in PM2.5 indicated that the air pollution from vehicle exhaust emission and coal burning in Wuhan was serious and noteworthy.
•PM2.5 is a pollutant of regional concern in Wuhan, Central China.•The mass concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions, carbonaceous species and elements of PM2.5 were measured.•The air pollution from vehicle exhaust emission and coal burning in Wuhan was serious and noteworthy.
People with serious mental illness are at great risk of suicide, but little is known about the suicide rates among this population. We aimed to quantify the suicide rates among people with serious ...mental illness (bipolar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia).
PubMed and Web of Science were searched to identify studies published from 1 January 1975 to 10 December 2020. We assessed English-language studies for the suicide rates among people with serious mental illness. Random-effects meta-analysis was used. Changes in follow-up time and the suicide rates were presented by a locally weighted scatter-plot smoothing (LOESS) curve. Suicide rate ratio was estimated for assessments of difference in suicide rate by sex.
Of 5014 identified studies, 41 were included in this analysis. The pooled suicide rate was 312.8 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 230.3-406.8). Europe was reported to have the highest pooled suicide rate of 335.2 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 261.5-417.6). Major depression had the highest suicide rate of 534.3 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 30.4-1448.7). There is a downward trend in suicide rate estimates over follow-up time. Excess risk of suicide in males was found 1.90 (95% CI 1.60-2.25). The most common suicide method was poisoning 21.9 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 3.7-50.4).
The suicide rates among people with serious mental illness were high, highlighting the requirements for increasing psychological assessment and monitoring. Further study should focus on region and age differences in suicide among this population.
LncRNA-cCSC1 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). The study was designed to evaluate the function and mechanism of lncRNA-cCSC1 in cell proliferation of CRC. RT-PCR was used to measure the ...expression levels of lncRNA-cCSC1 in CRC cell lines. CCK-8, colony formation, EdU staining, flow cytometry and Western blot were performed to examine the effect of interference with lncRNA-cCSC1 expression on cell proliferation. miR-124-3p and the target genes of miR-124-3p were investigated using bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter, RT-PCR and Western blot. Rescue experiments were carried out to confirm the role of miR-124-3p in cell proliferation of CRC. Our results showed that cell proliferation of CRC was promoted by lncRNA-cCSC1 upregulation and inhibited by lncRNA-cCSC1 downregulation. In addition, miR-124-3p is predicted to be the target of lncRNA-cCSC1 and is negatively correlated with lncRNA-cCSC1. Moreover, the addition of miR-124-3p mimics or inhibitor reversed the effects induced by lncRNA-cCSC1 overexpression or silencing on cell proliferation of CRC. Additionally, lncRNA-cCSC1 regulated the expression level of CD44, a target gene of miR-124-3p. Finally, we studied the effects of the lncRNA-cCSC1/miR-124-3p axis on CD44. These results indicate that lncRNA-cCSC1 promotes cell proliferation of CRC through sponging miR-124-3p and upregulating CD44.
•Upregulation of lncRNA-cCSC1 promoted and downregulation of lncRNA-cCSC1 inhibited CRC cell proliferation.•LncRNA-cCSC1 promotes cell proliferation of colorectal cancer through sponging miR-124-3p.•LncRNA-cCSC1 regulates CD44 expression and is affected by miR-124-3p.•A novel mechanism of tumor regulator by miR-124-3p/CD44 axis in CRC is suggested.
Heightened surveillance of acute febrile illness in China since 2009 has led to the identification of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) with an unknown cause. Infection with ...Anaplasma phagocytophilum has been suggested as a cause, but the pathogen has not been detected in most patients on laboratory testing.
We obtained blood samples from patients with the case definition of SFTS in six provinces in China. The blood samples were used to isolate the causal pathogen by inoculation of cell culture and for detection of viral RNA on polymerase-chain-reaction assay. The pathogen was characterized on electron microscopy and nucleic acid sequencing. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence assay, and neutralization testing to analyze the level of virus-specific antibody in patients' serum samples.
We isolated a novel virus, designated SFTS bunyavirus, from patients who presented with fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, and multiorgan dysfunction. RNA sequence analysis revealed that the virus was a newly identified member of the genus phlebovirus in the Bunyaviridae family. Electron-microscopical examination revealed virions with the morphologic characteristics of a bunyavirus. The presence of the virus was confirmed in 171 patients with SFTS from six provinces by detection of viral RNA, specific antibodies to the virus in blood, or both. Serologic assays showed a virus-specific immune response in all 35 pairs of serum samples collected from patients during the acute and convalescent phases of the illness.
A novel phlebovirus was identified in patients with a life-threatening illness associated with fever and thrombocytopenia in China. (Funded by the China Mega-Project for Infectious Diseases and others.).
Aim
Acupuncture has benefits in the rehabilitation of neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation plus body ...acupuncture (DCEAS+BA) in treating poststroke depression (PSD), functional disability, and cognitive deterioration.
Methods
In this assessor‐ and participant‐blinded, randomized controlled trial, 91 stroke patients who initially had PSD were randomly assigned to either DCEAS+BA (n = 45) or minimum acupuncture stimulation as controls (n = 46) for three sessions per week over 8 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was baseline‐to‐end‐point change in score of the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale for depressive symptoms, the Barthel Index for functional disability, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for cognitive function.
Results
DCEAS+BA‐treated patients showed strikingly greater end‐point reduction than MAS‐treated patients in scores of the three symptom domains. The clinical response rate, defined as an at least 50% baseline‐to‐end‐point reduction in 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, was markedly higher in the DCEAS+BA‐treated group than that of controls (40.0% vs 17.4%, P = 0.031). Incidence of adverse events was not different in the two groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that DCEAS+BA with electrical stimulation on forehead acupoints was more apparent in reducing Barthel‐Index‐measured disability than that without electrical stimulation.
Conclusion
DCEAS+BA, particularly with electrical stimulation on forehead acupoints, reduces PSD, functional disability, and cognitive deterioration of stroke patients. It can serve as an effective rehabilitation therapy for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke.
Opioid abuse alters the functions of immune cells in both
and
systems, including macrophages. Here, we investigated the effects of methadone, a widely used opioid receptor agonist for treatment of ...opiate addiction, on the expression of intracellular viral restriction factors and HIV replication in primary human macrophages. We showed that methadone enhanced the HIV infectivity in primary human macrophages. Mechanistically, methadone treatment of macrophages reduced the expression of interferons (IFN-β and IFN-λ2) and the IFN-stimulated anti-HIV genes (APOBEC3F/G and MxB). In addition, methadone-treated macrophages showed lower levels of several anti-HIV microRNAs (miRNA-28, miR-125b, miR-150, and miR-155) compared to untreated cells. Exogenous IFN-β treatment restored the methadone-induced reduction in the expression of the above genes. These effects of methadone on HIV and the antiviral factors were antagonized by pretreatment of cells with naltrexone. These findings provide additional evidence to support further studies on the role of opiates, including methadone, in the immunopathogenesis of HIV disease.
Zero-determinant strategies, which can unilaterally define a linear relationship between two individuals’ long-term payoff, have drawn much attention to comprehend the emergence of cooperation among ...individuals with repeated interactions. A subset of zero-determinant strategies, extortion strategy, can let an extortioner’s surplus exceed her opponent’s by a fixed percentage. On the other hand, the dual generosity strategy can ensure that a complier’s payoff is never larger than her opponent’s. In the framework of the prisoner’s dilemma game driven by payoff aspiration, we investigate in this paper the evolution of generosity strategy, in competition with extortion and unconditional defection strategies. We show that extortioners act as a catalyst to induce more defectors to change to compliers. Such influence will enhance when extortioners become more greedy. At a low aspiration level where individuals are easy to be satisfied with their current payoffs, different strategies can coexist. With the increase of aspiration level, unsatisfied individuals are likely to turn to compliers and build long-term reciprocity with their neighbors. However, at a high aspiration level, individuals are difficult to be satisfied with their payoffs and may randomly change their behaviors. Thus proper aspiration level promotes the emergence of generous behavior in the spatial prisoner’s dilemma game.
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