Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.

Synthetic cannabinoids(SCs)are synthetic psychoactive substances that can pose a public health risk.The SCs are structurally variable and susceptible to structural modification.The rapid emergence of structurally unknown synthetic cannabinoids has led to new challenges in their identification.In recent years,machine learning has made great progress and has been widely applied to other fields,providing new strategies for the identification of unknown synthetic cannabinoids and the inference of possible sources.This paper describes the principles of commonly used machine learning methods and the application of machine learning techniques to mass spectrometry,Raman spectroscopy,metabolomics and quantitative conformational relationships of synthetic cannabinoids,aiming to provide new ideas for the identification of unknown synthetic cannabinoids.

BACKGROUND: Innovative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, with elevated global manufacturing capacity, enhanced safety and efficacy, simplified dosing regimens, and distribution that is less cold chain-dependent, are still global imperatives for tackling the ongoing pandemic. A previous phase I trial indicated that the recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (V-01), which contains a fusion protein (IFN-PADRE-RBD-Fc dimer) as its antigen, is safe and well tolerated, capable of inducing rapid and robust immune responses, and warranted further testing in additional clinical trials. Herein, we aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of V-01, providing rationales of appropriate dose regimen for further efficacy study. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial was initiated at the Gaozhou Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Guangdong, China) in March 2021. Both younger (n = 440; 18-59 years of age) and older (n = 440; ≥60 years of age) adult participants in this trial were sequentially recruited into two distinct groups: two-dose regimen group in which participants were randomized either to follow a 10 or 25 μg of V-01 or placebo given intramuscularly 21 days apart (allocation ratio, 3:3:1, n = 120, 120, 40 for each regimen, respectively), or one-dose regimen groups in which participants were randomized either to receive a single injection of 50 μg of V-01 or placebo (allocation ratio, 3:1, n = 120, 40, respectively). The primary immunogenicity endpoints were the geometric mean titers of neutralizing antibodies against live severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and specific binding antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD). The primary safety endpoint evaluation was the frequencies and percentages of overall adverse events (AEs) within 30 days after full immunization. RESULTS: V-01 provoked substantial immune responses in the two-dose group, achieving encouragingly high titers of neutralizing antibody and anti-RBD immunoglobulin, which peaked at day 35 (161.9 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 133.3-196.7] and 149.3 [95%CI: 123.9-179.9] in 10 and 25 μg V-01 group of younger adults, respectively; 111.6 [95%CI: 89.6-139.1] and 111.1 [95%CI: 89.2-138.4] in 10 and 25 μg V-01 group of older adults, respectively), and remained high at day 49 after a day-21 second dose; these levels significantly exceed those in convalescent serum from symptomatic COVID-19 patients (53.6, 95%CI: 31.3-91.7). Our preliminary data show that V-01 is safe and well tolerated, with reactogenicity predominantly being absent or mild in severity and only one vaccine-related grade 3 or worse AE being observed within 30 days. The older adult participants demonstrated a more favorable safety profile compared with those in the younger adult group: with AEs percentages of 19.2%, 25.8%, 17.5% in older adults vs. 34.2%, 23.3%, 26.7% in younger adults at the 10, 25 μg V-01 two-dose group, and 50 μg V-01 one-dose group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccine candidate V-01 appears to be safe and immunogenic. The preliminary findings support the advancement of the two-dose, 10 μg V-01 regimen to a phase III trial for a large-scale population-based evaluation of safety and efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx (No. ChiCTR2100045107, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=124702).
Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; COVID-19/therapy* ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; SARS-CoV-2

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and has poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. The lack of effective therapy has spurred our investigation of new targets for treating this malignant cancer. Here, we identified RON (macrophage-stimulating 1 receptor) and MET (MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic targets for potential TNBC treatment. Materials and Methods: We analyzed RON and MET expression in 187 primary TNBC clinical samples with immunohistochemistry. We validated the targeted therapeutic effects of RON and MET in TNBC using three tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): BMS-777607, INCB28060, and tivantinib. The preclinical therapeutic efficacy of the TKIs was mainly estimated using a TNBC xenograft model. Results: Patients with TNBC had widespread, abnormal expression of RON and MET. There was RON overexpression, MET overexpression, and RON and MET co-overexpression in 63 (33.7%), 63 (33.7%), and 43 cases (23.0%), respectively, which had poor prognosis and short survival. In vivo, the TKI targeting RON ant MET inhibited the activation of the downstream signaling molecules, inhibited TNBC cell migration and proliferation, and increased TNBC cell apoptosis; in the xenograft model, they significantly inhibited tumor growth and shrank tumor volumes. The TKI targeting RON and Met, such as BMS-777607 and tivantinib, yielded stronger anti-tumor effects than INCB28060. Conclusion RON and MET co-overexpression can be significant pathological characteristics in TNBC for poor prognosis. TKIs targeting RON and MET have stronger drug development potential for treating TNBC.

Objective To explore the effects of preoperative serum cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) on the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods This prospective study enrolled 176 patients with ESCC. 2 test was used to analyze the relationship between CA19-9, NSE and general clinical features. Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons were performed using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was performed for multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS). Results The patients with both high CA19-9 and NSE had the poor prognosis compared with those had both low CA19-9 and NSE (OS: HR=2.310, 95% CI: 1.208-4.418; DFS:HR=2.354, 95% CI：1.265-4.381). Compared to the separate detection of the two markers, the combined detection of CA19-9 and NSE was more accurate in the prognosis prediction of patients with ESCC (OS:C-index=0.686; DFS:C-index=0.684). Conclusions Preoperative serum CA19-9 and NSE were risk factors for the prognosis of patients with ESCC. Combined detection had higher accuracy of prediction of prognosis in patients with ESCC.

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and safety of domestic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dasatinib (Yinishu) as second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of CML-CP patients who received domestic dasatinib as second-line treatment in the CML collaborative group hospitals of Hubei province from March 2016 to July 2018 was performed. The optimal response rate, the cumulative complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), the cumulative major molecular responses (MMR), progression free survival (PFS), event free survival (EFS) and adverse effects (AEs) of the patients were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: A total of 83 CML-CP patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 23 months. The optimal response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months in 83 CML-CP patients treated with dasatinib were 77.5% (54/71), 72.6% (61/75) and 60.7% (51/69), respectively. By the end of follow-up, the cumulative CCyR and MMR rates were 65.5% (55/80) and 57.1% (48/73), respectively. The median time to achieving CCyR and MMR was 3 months. During follow-up time, the PFS rate was 94.0% (79/83) and the EFS rate was 77.4% (65/83). The most common non-hematological AEs of dasatinib were edema (32.5%), rash itching (18.1%) and fatigue (13.3%). The common hematological AEs of dasatinib were thrombocytopenia (31.3%), leukopenia (19.3%) and anemia (6.0%). Conclusion Domestic dasatinib was effective and safe as the second-line treatment of CML-CP patients and it can be used as an option for CML-CP patients.

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and safety of domestic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dasatinib (Yinishu) as second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of CML-CP patients who received domestic dasatinib as second-line treatment in the CML collaborative group hospitals of Hubei province from March 2016 to July 2018 was performed. The optimal response rate, the cumulative complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), the cumulative major molecular responses (MMR), progression free survival (PFS), event free survival (EFS) and adverse effects (AEs) of the patients were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: A total of 83 CML-CP patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 23 months. The optimal response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months in 83 CML-CP patients treated with dasatinib were 77.5% (54/71), 72.6% (61/75) and 60.7% (51/69), respectively. By the end of follow-up, the cumulative CCyR and MMR rates were 65.5% (55/80) and 57.1% (48/73), respectively. The median time to achieving CCyR and MMR was 3 months. During follow-up time, the PFS rate was 94.0% (79/83) and the EFS rate was 77.4% (65/83). The most common non-hematological AEs of dasatinib were edema (32.5%), rash itching (18.1%) and fatigue (13.3%). The common hematological AEs of dasatinib were thrombocytopenia (31.3%), leukopenia (19.3%) and anemia (6.0%). Conclusion: Domestic dasatinib was effective and safe as the second-line treatment of CML-CP patients and it can be used as an option for CML-CP patients.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Dasatinib/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effects of Qijingmingmu decoction granule on the expression of mitogen-activated protein linase (MAPK) signal pathway in fibroblasts of conjunctivochalasis (CCH) under the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and to explore the pathogenesis and effective treatment method of CCH.Methods CCH conjunctival fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and divided into CCH group,CCH + TNF-α group and CCH + TNF-α + Qijingmingmu decoction group.CCK-8 assay was used to determine the effective concentration of Qijingmingmu decoction granule,and 10-2 mg · L-1 TNF-α was added in the cultured fibroblasts of the latter two groups,followed by interference with Qijingmingmu decoction granule for 48h.The expression of MAPK signal pathway related protein and mRNA were detected by ELISA,Western Blot and RT-PCR.Then the results were statistically analyzed.Results CCK-8 assay showed the effective concentration of Qijingmingmu decoction granule was 1.61g · L-1.And there were significant differences in the total A values (A450) of extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK),c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and their phosphorylation levels among the three groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,TNF-α could significantly up-regulate the expression of ERK1/2,JNK1/2,p-JNK1/2,p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK in CCH fibroblasts (all P ＜0.05),while Qijingmingmu decoction down-regulated their expressions in CCK fibroblasts after TNF-α stimulation (all P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,the total differences in p-ERK1/2,p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK protein were significant in the three groups (all P＜0.05);and TNF-α could significantly up-regulate the expression of p-ERK1/2,p-JNK1/2,p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK protein in CCH fibroblasts (all P ＜0.05),while Qijingmingmu decoction down-regulated p-ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK expressions in CCK fibroblasts after TNF-α stimulation (both P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the total differences in ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK mRNA were significant in the three groups (both P ＜ 0.05);and TNF-α could significantly up-regulate the expression of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK mRNA in CCH fibroblasts (both P ＜ 0.05),while Qijingmingmu decoction down-regulated p38 MAPK mRNA expressions in CCK fibroblasts after TNF-α stimulation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory factor TNF-α can up-regulate the expressions of MAPK signal pathway related protein and mRNA in CCH fibroblasts,resulting in the occurrence and development of CCH,and meanwhile Qijingmingmu decoction granule can downregulate the expression of MAPK signal pathway to play the therapeutic role in CCH to some extent.

To explore potent anticancer agent based on artemisinin scaffold, a series of 10--phenyl ethers derivatives containing dihydropyrazolyl or pyrazolyl moiety have been designed and synthesized. Their structures were determined by LC-MS and ¹H-NMR date. Inhibitory effects of the target compounds in human breast cancer MCF-7, MCF/Adr, MDA-MB-231 cells and prostate cell line PC-3 were determined by MTT assay. Those derivatives displayed good antiproliferative activity against the tested cancer cells. Particularly, target compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity against drug-resistance cells MCF/Adr, which was worthy for further investigation.

Objective T o establish a gas chrom atography-m ass spectrom etry (G C-M S ) m ethod for the determ ination of sulfide ion in blood and apply it to the practical cases. Methods T he 1, 3, 5-tribro-m obenzene w as selected as an internal standard, and 0.2 m L blood sam ple w as collected and analyzed using G C-M S after α-B rom o-2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentafluorobenzyl brom ide derivatization. Results T he m ass concentration of sulfide ion in blood had good linearity in the range of 0.2-40μg/m L w ith a lim it of detection (L O D ) of 0.05μg/m L . T he m ass concentration of sulfide ion w as less than 0.05μg/m L in blank blood from different sources such as healthy subjects and dead cases. In 3 sulfide poisoning cases, sul-fide ion w as detected in the blood sam ples of 6 victim s, and the m ass concentration range w as 1.02-3.13μg/m L . Conclusion T his study establishes a m ethod for investigation of sulfide ion in blood w hich has been applied successfully to the cases of fatal sulfide poisonings.