The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.

This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease,and there is currently a lack of safe and effective vac-cines against the monkeypox virus.Therefore,screening and developing vaccine candidates is of signifi-cant practical importance.With the rapid advancement of molecular biology and plant genetic engineer-ing,plant bioreactors offer promising potential for producing vaccine proteins due to their advantages,in-cluding safety,cost-effectiveness,and scalability.In this study,we focused on the monkeypox protein B6R.The recombinant expression plasmid pFolia40108-B6R-Fer was successfully constructed using am-plification,enzyme digestion,and flexible linker tandem ferritin technology.A complete transient expres-sion system in Nicotiana benthamiana and a purification system for the recombinant monkeypox protein were established.The optimal expression time was determined to be 12-14 days,with a final purified pro-tein concentration of approximately 1 mg/mL and a yield of 0.85 mg/kg fresh weight.The purified B6R-Fer recombinant protein self-assembled into spherical virus-like particles(VLPs)with an average particle size of 24 nm.The B6R-Fer recombinant protein from this study shows promising potential for use in the development and screening of plant-derived monkeypox vaccine candidates.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease,and there is currently a lack of safe and effective vac-cines against the monkeypox virus.Therefore,screening and developing vaccine candidates is of signifi-cant practical importance.With the rapid advancement of molecular biology and plant genetic engineer-ing,plant bioreactors offer promising potential for producing vaccine proteins due to their advantages,in-cluding safety,cost-effectiveness,and scalability.In this study,we focused on the monkeypox protein B6R.The recombinant expression plasmid pFolia40108-B6R-Fer was successfully constructed using am-plification,enzyme digestion,and flexible linker tandem ferritin technology.A complete transient expres-sion system in Nicotiana benthamiana and a purification system for the recombinant monkeypox protein were established.The optimal expression time was determined to be 12-14 days,with a final purified pro-tein concentration of approximately 1 mg/mL and a yield of 0.85 mg/kg fresh weight.The purified B6R-Fer recombinant protein self-assembled into spherical virus-like particles(VLPs)with an average particle size of 24 nm.The B6R-Fer recombinant protein from this study shows promising potential for use in the development and screening of plant-derived monkeypox vaccine candidates.

Celastrol and wilforlide A are the main active triterpenoids of the traditional Chinese medicine Lei Gong Teng, which have anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, and are the material basis for the clinical efficacy of Lei Gong Teng-related Chinese medicinal preparations. By analysing the biosynthetic pathway of active ingredients, optimizing genetic elements and utilizing "cell factory" to produce triterpenoids heterologously will be an effective way to obtain from Tripterygium wilfordii in the future in a "low-cost and high-efficient" manner. CYP712Ks are the first cytochrome P450s involved in the skeleton modification of friedelane-type and oleanane-type triterpenoids in T. wilfordii, and they can catalyse the generation of polpunonic acid from friedelin and 3-epi-katonic acid from β-amyrin by carboxylation at C-29 position. In this study, four multifunctional TwCYP712K1/2/3/5 were used to clarify the catalytic function and substrate selection preference using in vivo functional characterization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The spatial structure of the protein-substrate binding was clarified through homology modeling and molecular docking, and then the differential amino acids in the active pocket of the protein were mutated to clarify the crucial amino acids determining the catalytic function and the selection of substrate structure. A total of 63 mutant elements were constructed, and the amino acid sites affecting the carboxylation function of TwCYP712Ks were analyzed. In particular, the key amino acids affecting the substrate selectivity of TwCYP712K2 towards oleanane-type and friedelane-type triterpenoids were revealed and the TwCYP712K2^F127I and TwCYP712K2^A227T mutants would result in a reversal of the product ratio. In conclusion, four proteins of TwCYP712Ks were semi-rationally designed by homologous protein alignment and mutual mutation to elucidate multiple amino acid sites determining the catalytic function of the proteins, and a series of activity-enhancing or altering mutants were obtained, which provide abundant catalytic elements for the biosynthesis of active triterpenoids from T. wilfordii, and the mechanism of carboxylation in the C-29 position was initially elucidated.

ObjectiveTo simulate the microstructure and mechanical properties of tendon tissue and promote its regeneration and repair, electrospinning technology was used to prepare L-polylactic acid (PLLA) fiber membranes loaded with different nano zinc oxide contents and with oriented structures. Physical and chemical characterization and biological performance evaluation were carried out to explore their effects on tendon cell proliferation and differentiation. MethodsPreparation of PLLA fiber scaffolds and PLLA/ZnO fiber scaffolds containing different mass fractions of nano ZnO was performed using electrospinning technology. The physicochemical properties of the scaffold were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, mechanical stretching, and EDS spectroscopy. The scaffold was co-cultured with mouse tendon cells to detect its biocompatibility and regulatory effects on cell differentiation behavior. ResultsThe fiber scaffolds were arranged in an oriented manner, and zinc elements were uniformly distributed in the fibers. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of PLLA/0.1%ZnO fiber scaffolds were significantly higher than PLLA fiber scaffolds. The number of cells on the surface of PLLA/0.1%ZnO fiber scaffold was significantly higher than that of the PLLA group, and the activity was better; mouse tendon cells exhibit directional adhesion and growth along the fiber arrangement direction. ConclusionThe oriented PLLA/0.1%ZnO fiber scaffold had excellent physicochemical properties, which can significantly promote the oriented growth, proliferation and differentiation of tendon cells. It is expected to be used for tendon tissue regeneration and repair in the future.

Eighteen compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the fruits of Litsea cubeba by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, semi-preparative RP-HPLC, chiral HPLC and recrystallization. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with reported spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties, and the absolute configurations of the enantiomers were established by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. These compounds were identified as (+)-(R)-4-hydroxypiperitenone (1a), (-)-(S)-4-hydroxypiperitenone (1b), (3S,4S,6R)-3,6-dihydroxy-1-menthene (2), (4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (3), (R)-6-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-6-methylcyclohex-2-enone (4), (4S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohex-2-enone (5), (1R,3S,4R)-3-hydroxy isopulegol (6), subamone (7), (6S)-3,7-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-2(Z)-octen-6-olide (8), (6S)-6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyloct-2(Z)-enoate (9), holostylactone (10), sesamin (11), dimethylmatairesinol (12), p-hydroxybenzoylcarbinol (13), syringaldehyde (14), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (15), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (16), 5,4ʹ-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (17). Among them, compounds 1a and 1b were a pair of new monoterpenoid enantiomers, 8 and 9 were new natural products, 2-7, 10, 11 and 17 were isolated from Litsea genus for the first time. The in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of compounds 1-17 were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, the results showed that compound 14 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity with NO inhibitory rate of 66.27% at a concentration of 40 μmol·L^-1.

Two new labdane diterpenoids were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the leaves of Callicarpa formosana Rolfe by using silica gel column, MCI column, ODS column and HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, NMR and ECD spectral data. All of them are new compounds, named 13E-6β-hydroxylabda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid (1) and 13E-7α-hydroxylabda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for antioxidant activity, and none of them had obvious activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pharmacokinetics (PK), efficacy, and safety of atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) in high interest cancers in China, including esophageal cancer (EC), gastric cancer (GC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), and non-small cell lung can-cer (NSCLC). METHODS: This phase I, open-label study was conducted at 6 Chinese sites from August 4, 2016 to April 15, 2019. The patients were ≥18 years old with a histologically documented incurable or metastatic solid tumor that was advanced or recurrent and had progressed since the last anti-tumor the-rapy. The PK phase characterized PK and safety of atezolizumab following multiple-dose administration when atezolizumab was administered as a single agent. The extension phase studied safety and efficacy of atezolizumab, as monotherapy (EC, GC, HCC, NPC) and with chemotherapy (NSCLC). RESULTS: This study enrolled 120 patients (PK phase: n=20; extension phase: n=20/cohort). Fourty-two patients (42.0%) were PD-L1 positive in atezolizumab monotherapy group (100 patients), of the 9 patients (9.0%) with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors. Atezolizumab clearance was 0.219 L/d, and steady state was reached after 6 to 9 weeks (2-3 cycles) of repeated dosing. Objective response rates (ORRs) in EC, GC, HCC, NPC, and NSCLC were 10.0%, 15.0%, 10.0%, 5.0%, and 40.0%, respectively. In the patients with PD-L1 positive tumors, ORR was 11.9% with atezolizumab and 46.2% with atezolizumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin. Two GC patients achieved durable response after pseudo-progression. The most common treatment-related adverse events in the atezolizumab monotherapy group were fatigue, anemia, fever, and decreased white blood cell count. The most common treatment-related adverse events in the combination group were anemia, decreased white blood cell count, and decreased appetite. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSION Atezolizumab's PK, efficacy, and safety were similar in Chinese patients vs. global patients in previous studies.
Adolescent ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Cisplatin/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/drug therapy*