Interfering hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly holds promise as a therapeutic approach for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Novel anti-HBV agents are urgently needed to overcome drug resistance challenges, with targeted protein degradation (TPD) emerging as a hopeful strategy. Herein, we report the first degradation of HBV core protein (HBC), a multifunctional structural protein, using small-molecule degraders developed by hydrophobic tagging (HyT) technology. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis identified compound HyT-S7, featuring an adamantyl group, exhibiting potent inhibitory activity (EC₅₀ = 0.46 μmol/L, HepAD38 cells) and degradation ability (DC₅₀ = 3.02 ± 0.54 μmol/L) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the autophagy-lysosome pathway was a potential driver of HyT-S7-induced HBC degradation. Remarkably, HyT-S7 effectively degraded 11 drug-resistant mutants, including highly resistant strains P25G and T33N, to Phase III drug GLS4. Furthermore, cellular thermal shift assay, surface plasmon resonance assay, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed the precise mode of HyT-S7 binding to HBC with the adamantyl group potentially mimicking protein misfolding to facilitate HBC degradation. This first proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of HyT-mediated TPD in HBC as a promising avenue for discovering novel HBV and other antiviral agents with favorable drug resistance profiles.

Sennoside A (SA), a typical prodrug, exerts its laxative effect only after its transformation into rheinanthrone catalyzed by gut microbial hydrolases and reductases. Hydrolases have been identified, but reductases remain unknown. By linking a photoreactive group to the SA scaffold, we synthesized a photoaffinity probe to covalently label SA reductases and identified SA reductases using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP). From lysates of an active strain, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum (B. pseudocatenulatum), 397 proteins were enriched and subsequently identified using mass spectrometry (MS). Among these proteins, chromate reductase/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) phosphate (NADPH)-dependent flavin mononucleotide (FMN) reductase/oxygen-insensitive NADPH nitroreductase (nfrA) was identified as a potent SA reductase through further bioinformatic analysis and The Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) database screening. We also determined that recombinant nfrA could reduce SA. Our study contributes to further illuminating mechanisms of SA transformation to rheinanthrone and simultaneously offers an effective method to identify gut bacterial reductases.

Objective:To investigate the outcomes and influencing factors of newly diagnosed prediabetic subjects aged 40 years and above in Guiyang.Methods:A total of 10 015 residents aged 40 years and above were recruited from the Yunyan community, Guiyang, from May to August 2011. Physical examination, laboratory measurements, and questionnaires were conducted. The follow-up survey was conducted in July 2014. A total of 2 530 newly diagnosed prediabetic subjects at baseline were included in the analysis.Results:The 3-year cumulative morbidity of diabetes mellitus was 14.3%, and the risk of diabetes mellitus in combined impaired fasting glucose(IFG)and impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)groups was significantly higher than that in isolated IFG(i-IFG)or isolated IGT(i-IGT)group( P<0.01). High baseline fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose, and HbA 1C levels were the independent risk factors for the development of diabetes( OR=1.836, 95% CI 1.374-2.454; OR=1.398, 95% CI 1.261-1.550; OR=2.526, 95% CI 1.804-3.538, all P<0.01)and the inhibitory factors for reversion to normal glucose tolerance( OR=0.511, 95% CI 0.409-0.638; OR=0.715, 95% CI 0.661-0.774; OR=0.638, 95% CI 0.500-0.816, all P<0.01). High level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C)was an promoting factor for reversion to normal glucose tolerance( OR=1.306, 95% CI 1.017-1.678, P=0.036). Subjects in the highest tertile of baseline HbA 1C level and body mass index(BMI)change before and after follow-up(ΔBMI=follow-up BMI minus baseline BMI)had a higher risk of diabetes mellitus than those in the lowest tertile( OR=2.398, 95% CI 1.733-3.322; OR=2.402, 95% CI 1.859-3.105, both P<0.01). The risk of diabetes mellitus in the significant weight loss group was reduced by 40.4% compared with the non-significant weight loss group when the subjects were divided into two groups according to the cutoff of the lower tertile of ΔBMI( RR=0.596, 95% CI 0.463-0.766, P<0.01). Conclusion:The risk of diabetes mellitus in combined IFG/IGT group was significantly higher than that in i-IFG or i-IGT group. High baseline fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose, and HbA 1C levels were the independent risk factors for the development of diabetes. High level of HDL-C was an promoting factor for reversion to normal glucose tolerance. Weight loss can significantly reduce the risk of progression to diabetes in individuals with prediabetes.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between sleep duration, sleep timing and the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, to identify contributing mechanisms and guide the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.Methods:A total of 5 449 postmenopausal women were included in this study. All participants completed questionnaires, medical examinations, blood test and the measurement of bone mineral density using calcaneal quantitative ultrasonography. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression model was used to assess the association of sleep duration, sleep timing with the risk of osteoporosis. Results:In postmenopausal women, there were significant differences in sleep duration and timing among groups with different risk of osteoporosis( P<0.05). After controlling ages, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, sleep duration was correlated with the risk of osteoporosis, long sleep duration(≥9 h)increased the risk of osteoporosis( OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.17-1.65, P<0.05)compared with the group with sleep duration of 7~8 hours. In analysis of the combined effect of sleep duration and sleep time on the risk of osteoporosis, compared with normal sleep duration(7-8 h)and normal sleep timing(22: 00-23: 00), long sleep duration(≥9 h)and normal sleep timing(22: 00-23: 00)increased the risk of osteoporosis( OR=1.38, 95% CI 1.01-1.87, P<0.05), which was higher in the group of long sleep duration(≥9 h)and late sleep timing(≥23: 00; OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.01-2.01, P<0.05). Conclusion:Long sleep duration(≥9 h)and late sleep timing(≥22: 00)are risk factors for the increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, the late sleep timing leads to the higher risk.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer. It has been clinically evaluated that therapiestargeting against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as the clinical standard first-line treatment. The response and outcome of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients harboring common mutations in EGFR kinase domain (deletion in exon19 and L858R in exon 21) has been well demonstrated, but not in rare or complex mutations. METHODS: A total of 150 patients that harbored rare or complex mutations in EGFR diagnosed by histopathology were included in this retrospective study. The clinical-pathological characteristics of all 150 patients as well as the response and progression-free survival (PFS) in 48 patients that received EGFR-TKIs in first/second/third line treatments weredescribed and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients were divided into four groups based on the mutation types: single G719X point mutation in exon 18 (n=46, 30.7%), single L861Q point mutation in exon 21 (n=45, 30.0%), other single rare mutation (n=14, 9.3%) and complex mutations (n=45, 30.0%). The result indicated thatthere was no correlation of EGFR mutation typeswith other parameters such as gender, age, clinical stage, pathology and smoking history. For the 48 patients that received EGFR-TKIs treatment, there were no significant differencesamong 4 groups in terms of objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) (54.5% vs 30.0% vs 0.0% vs 35.7%, χ²=3.200, P=0.34; 90.9% vs 85.0% vs 66.7% vs 92.9%, χ²=2.162, P=0.59). The median progress-free survival (mPFS) was 11.0 months (95%CI: 4.4-17.6), and in each group of different EGFR mutation types are 15.8 months (95%CI: 9.5-22.2), 8.0 months (95%CI: 5.1-11.0), 4.9 months (95%CI: 1.4-8.4) and 23.1 months (95%CI: 15.8-30.4)(χ²=7.876, P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS The efficiency of targeting EGFR-TKIs on different types of rare or complex mutations was heterogeneous. The PFS may be better in patients that harbored complex mutations than those with single rare mutations. Further studies with larger sample size are necessary. Moreover, to discover novel therapeutic targets and develop new drugs are imminentfor those patientswith no response to the existing treatments.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Disease-Free Survival ; ErbB Receptors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is one of the driver genes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies have shown that the efficacy of pemetrexed in HER2-mutant NSCLC is controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pemetrexed combined with platinum chemotherapy in patients with HER2-mutant and HER2 wild-type lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The clinical data of 106 cases of EGFR, ALK, ROS-1, KRAS, BRAF, RET and MET-negative patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients who diagnosed by histopathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively reviewed. The relationships between HER2 gene status, clinical characteristics and response and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: All of the 106 patients' HER2 status were determined. HER2 mutations occurred in 32 cases (30.2%), no mutations in 74 cases (69.8%). HER2 mutations were common in young, non-smoking and female patients. All patients received first-line pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of patients with HER2-mutant lung adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those without HER2 mutations (40.6% vs 14.9%, χ²=8.464, P=0.004; 93.8% vs 68.9%, χ²=6.327, P=0.012), and the difference was statistically significant. According to univariate analysis, the PFS was significantly associated with the brain metastases, maintenance chemotherapy and HER2 gene status (P<0.05), but not with age, gender, smoking history, oligometastases, liver metastases and type of platinum (P>0.05). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that HER2 mutation was an independent positive prognostic factor of PFS (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS HER2-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients with first-line pemetrexed combined with platinum chemotherapy have greater clinical benefit than HER2 wild-type patients.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Genes, erbB-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pemetrexed ; therapeutic use ; Platinum ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic causes of hearing loss with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) in two children from unrelated two Chinese families. METHODS: Sanger sequencing of all coding exons in SLC26A4 (encoding Pendrin protein) was performed on the two patients, their sibling and parents respectively. To predict and visualize the potential functional outcome of the novel variant, model building, structure analysis, and in silico analysis were further conducted. RESULTS: The results showed that the proband from family I harbored a compound heterozygote of SLC26A4 c.1174A>T (p.N392Y) mutation and c.1181delTCT (p.F394del) variant in exon 10, potentially altering Pendrin protein structure. In family II, the proband was identified in compound heterozygosity with a known mutation of c.919-2A>G in the splice site of intron 7 and a novel mutation of c.1023insC in exon 9, which results in a frameshift and translational termination, consequently leading to truncated Pendrin protein. Sequence homology analysis indicated that all the mutations localized at high conservation sites, which emphasized the significance of these mutations on Pendrin spatial organization and function. CONCLUSION: In summary, this study revealed two compound heterozygous mutations (c.1174A>T/c.1181delTCT; c.919- 2A>G/c.1023insC) in Pendrin protein, which might account for the deafness of the two probands clinically diagnosed with EVA. Thus this study contributes to improve understanding of the causes of hearing loss associated with EVA and develop a more scientific screening strategy for deafness.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Clinical Coding ; Computer Simulation ; Deafness ; Exons ; Extravehicular Activity ; Frameshift Mutation ; Hearing Loss ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Introns ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Sequence Homology ; Siblings ; Vestibular Aqueduct

Objective To explore the epidemiological characteristics of the prevalence and incidence of metabolic syndrome(MS) in subjects with different TSH levels, which can provide a certain clinical basis for the prevention and treatment of MS. Methods According to the reference range of the TSH test system in our hospital, the subjects were divided into TSH normal group and TSH elevation group. From May to August of 2011, the whole group sampling method was used to conduct a baseline survey of 10140 permanent residents aged 40 and above in Yunyan district of Guiyang City. A total of 9618 cases were included. The prevalence of MS and its components were calculated with different TSH levels at baseline. After eliminating 3926 MS in 2011, 5692 patients with no MS were followed up for 3 years. Incidence of MS and its components were compared among different TSH levels. The median follow-up was (38. 6 ± 1. 6) months and the completion rate was 75. 40％. Results The total crude and standard prevalence of MS were 40. 82％ and 34. 46％ respectively. The crude and standard prevalence of MS in TSH normal group were 39. 96％ and 33. 90％, respectively, and in TSH elevation group were 44. 3％ and 37. 56％respectively . The comparison of crude prevalence of MS between the two groups was statistically significant (P>0. 05) and the standard prevalence of MS in TSH elevation group was also higher than that in TSH normal group. After 3 years of follow-up, the total crude and standard incidences of MS were 22. 51％ and 20. 64％, respectively. The total crude and standard incidence of MS in TSH normal group were 22. 01％ and 20. 22％, respectively and in TSH elevatlon group were 24. 69％ and 23. 20％, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between crude incidences of MS in two groups, but the standard incidence of MS in TSH elevation group was higher than that in TSH normal group. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between TSH and incidence of MS in TSH elevation group. Conclusion Higher than normal levels of TSH may increase the prevalence and incidence of MS and its some components.