Inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step of de novo nucleotide synthesis in vivo. In recent years, it has become a therapeutic target for anti-virus, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and other diseases. IMPDH inhibitors have been shown to inhibit viral prolife-ration in host cells by depleting guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP), the raw material required for viral replication in host cells, with broad-spectrum antiviral properties. In order to find novel anti-coronavirus drugs, this study screened 22 potential IMPDH inhibitors from 70 000 natural small molecule libraries based on IMPDH protein structure using molecular docking and ROC calculation for virtual screening. With ribavirin as the positive control drug, Huh7 cell and H460 cell models were used to verify the anti-coronavirus HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 activities of 22 selected target compounds. Among them, compounds 11, 12, 15 and 16 showed inhibitory activity against coronavirus HCoV-229E. The compounds 4, 12, 13 and 15 showed inhibitory activities against coronavirus HCoV-OC43. 12 and 15 showed significant inhibitory activity against both two coronaviruses, and their efficacy was similar to ribavirin at the same dose, which can be further studied as a lead compound for IMPDH inhibitors.

Monoterpenes are widely used in cosmetics, food, medicine, agriculture and other fields. With the development of synthetic biology, it is considered as a potential way to create microbial cell factories to produce monoterpenes. Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce monoterpenes has been a research hotspot in synthetic biology. In S. cerevisiae, the production of geranyl pyrophosphate(GPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate(FPP) is catalyzed by a bifunctional enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase(encoded by ERG20 gene) which is inclined to synthesize FPP essential for yeast growth. Therefore, reasonable control of FPP synthesis is the basis for efficient monoterpene synthesis in yeast cell factories. In order to achieve dynamic control from GPP to FPP biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae, we obtained a novel chassis strain HP001-pERG1-ERG20 by replacing the ERG20 promoter of the chassis strain HP001 with the promoter of cyclosqualene cyclase(ERG1) gene. Further, we reconstructed the metabolic pathway by using GPP and neryl diphosphate(NPP), cis-GPP as substrates in HP001-pERG1-ERG20. The yield of GPP-derived linalool increased by 42.5% to 7.6 mg·L~(-1), and that of NPP-derived nerol increased by 1 436.4% to 8.3 mg·L~(-1). This study provides a basis for the production of monoterpenes by microbial fermentation.
Fermentation ; Geranyltranstransferase/genetics* ; Monoterpenes/metabolism* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: A total of 97 patients with pathologically diagnosed DLBCL at Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute from March 2015 to June 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was used to calculate the optimum maximum standard uptake value reduction ratio (△SUVmax%) cut-off value. The prognostic value of △SUVmax% and Deauville five-point scale (5-PS) in patients with DLBCL was compared, and the determined prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: ROC curve indicated that the optimum △SUV max% cut-off value was 74.9%. Patients with △SUVmax%≥74.9% had a lower rate of progression or recurrence than those with △SUVmax% < 74.9% (both P<0.001). Meanwhile, patients with 5-PS score < 4 also had a lower rate of progression or recurrence than those with 5-PS score≥4 (both P<0.001). △SUVmax% and 5-PS had high specificity (83.7% vs 83.7%) and negative predictive value (87.3% vs 84.9%), while low sensitivity (56.0% vs 52.2%) and positive predictive value (53.8% vs 50.0%). △SUVmax% was more sensitive than 5-PS for the corresponding parameters (78.3% vs 76.2%). Univariate analysis showed that Ann Arbor stage, international prognostic index of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN-IPI), △SUVmax% and 5-PS were associated with TTP and PFS (all P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that △SUVmax% was an independent predictor of TTP and PFS (P=0.031, P=0.023). CONCLUSION Both 5-PS and △SUVmax% can be used to evaluate the prognosis of DLBCL patients, but the predictive value of △SUVmax% is superior to that of 5-PS.
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy* ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thiamine

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the toxic effects, changes in life span, and expression of various metabolism-related genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, using RNA interference (RNAi) and mutant strains, after 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) treatment. C. elegans was treated with various concentrations of 3-BrPA on nematode growth medium (NGM) plates, and their survival was monitored every 24 h. The expression of genes related to metabolism was measured by the real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Nematode survival in the presence of 3-BrPA was also studied after silencing three hexokinase (HK) genes. The average life span of C. elegans cultured on NGM with 3-BrPA was shortened to 5.7 d compared with 7.7 d in the control group. hxk-1, hxk-2, and hxk-3 were overexpressed after the treatment with 3-BrPA. After successfully interfering hxk-1, hxk-2, and hxk-3, the 50% lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of all mutant nematodes decreased with 3-BrPA treatment for 24 h compared with that of the control. All the cyp35 genes tested were overexpressed, except cyp-35B3. The induction of cyp-35A1 expression was most obvious. The LC₅₀ values of the mutant strains cyp-35A1, cyp-35A2, cyp-35A4, cyp-35B3, and cyp-35C1 were lower than that of the control. Thus, the toxicity of 3-BrPA is closely related to its effect on hexokinase metabolism in nematodes, and the cyp-35 family plays a key role in the metabolism of 3-BrPA.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism* ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics* ; Hexokinase/physiology* ; Pyruvates/toxicity* ; RNA, Messenger/analysis*

Background:Microwave therapy is a minimal invasive procedure and has been employed in clinical practice for the treatment of various types of cancers.However,its therapeutic application in non-small-cell lung cancer and the underlying mechanism remains to be investigated.This study aimed to investigate its effect on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor in vivo.Methods:Fifty LLC tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice were adopted to assess the effect of microwave radiation on the growth and apoptosis of LLC tumor in vivo.These mice were randomly assigned to 10 groups with 5 mice in each group.Five groups were treated by single pulse microwave at different doses for different time,and the other five groups were radiated by multiple-pulse treatment of a single dose.Apoptosis of cancer cells was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay.Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of proteins.Results:Single pulse of microwave radiation for 5 min had little effect on the mice.Only 15-min microwave radiation at 30 mW/cm2 significantly increased the mice body temperature (2.20 ± 0.82)℃ as compared with the other groups (0.78 ± 0.29 ℃,1.24 ± 0.52 ℃,0.78 ± 0.42 ℃,respectively),but it did not affect the apoptosis of LLC tumor cells significantly.Continous microwave radiation exposure,single dose microwave radiation once per day for up to seven days,inhibited cell division and induced apoptosis of LLC tumor cells in a dose-and duration-dependent manner.It upregulated the protein levels of p53,Caspase 3,Bax and downregulated Bcl-2 protein.Conclusions:Multiple exposures of LLC-bearing mice to microwave radiation effectively induced tumor cell apoptosis at least partly by upregulating proapoptotic proteins and downregulating antiapoptotic proteins.Continuous radiation at low microwave intensity for a short time per day is promising in treating non-small-cell lung cancer.

This study was aimed to quantify plasma circulating DNA level in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to evaluate its clinical significance. 66 AML patients and 100 controls (60 healthy subjects for health examination, 20 cases of benign hematopathy, and 20 cases of solid tumors) were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from AML patients at different status of disease and control groups. Circulating DNA were drew by using the BILATEST DNA Kit. The level of plasma DNA was determined by using duplex real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that the median value of plasma DNA level in AML patients at diagnosis was 168.5 (73.4 - 245.1) ng/ml, significantly higher than those in three control groups, and the median level in male patients was significantly higher than that in female patients (P = 0.019). No significant difference was found in plasma DNA level of the patients at different ages and with different FAB subtypes. Compared with level before chemotherapy, the plasma DNA levels in complete remission patients and partial remission patients decreased significantly, and with no statistical difference from level of healthy controls, but was significantly different from level of non-remission patients (P < 0.05). Following up of 31 remission patients showed that the plasma DNA level increased in 5 out of 6 (83.3%) relapsed patients, but no increase was found in 22 out of 25 (88.0%) non-relapsed patients. It is concluded that the quantification of plasma DNA may be useful for evaluating therapeutic effects and monitoring relapse in AML patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the effect of clinical nursing pathway on the patients with enterostomy.Methods Totals of 36 patients with enterostomy were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,and the experimental group received the nursing of the clinical nursing pathway while the control group received the routine nursing.The complications of enterpstomy,the patient satisfaction,the average hospitalization days and the expenses were observed and compared between two groups.Results There was significantly difference between experimental group and control group in the complication rate (0％ vs 27.77％ ),the length of the mean hospitalization ( 16.12 ± 5.46 d vs 21.18 ± 4.88 d),and the expenses (20325.68 ±5676) vs (22348.18 ±4 479.90),(x2 =4.587 8,t =-2.88,-3.372,respectively;P ＜0.05 ).Patients' satisfaction of experimental group (94.44％) was significantly higher than that of control group (55.55％),( x2 =7.251 7,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions The application of clinical nursing pathway can reduce the complications of enterostomy and patients' sufferings,shorten the mean hospitalization,reduce the expenses,improve the nursing quality and patients' satisfaction.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combination chemoimmunotherapy of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

METHODSTwenty-one patients with CLL were treated with FCR regimen which consisted of fludarabine (25 mg/m(2), days 2 to 4), cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m(2), days 2 to 4) and rituximab (375 mg/m(2), day 1) in a course of 28 days. The minimal residual disease (MRD) was determined by multiparameter flow cytometry. The correlation between the pretreatment characteristics and complete remission (CR) rate was analyzed.

RESULTSEleven patients (52.4%) achieved CR, 7 (33.3%) achieved partial remission (PR) with a overall response (OR) rate of 85.7%. With a median follow-up time of 19 (7 - 73) months, the overall survival (OS) was 86.0%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) was 72.0%. Pretreatment parameters independently associated with higher CR rates were Binet stage A + B, IgVH mutated and ZAP-70 less than 20%. MRD was less than 1% in 6 patients. The most common toxicities were myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reaction.

CONCLUSIONFCR is an effective regimen for CLL patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

In order to evaluate the clinical, biological features and prognostic factors of Richter's syndrome (RS), 8 RS patients were analyzed retrospectively. The serological test, multiplex parameter flow cytometry, conventional cytogenetic analysis, FISH technique and PCR combined with sequence detection were used to detect the LDH, β(2)-MG, TK1, SF, CA125, ZAP-70, chromosome karyotype, ATM and p53 gene deletion, as well as +12 abnormality and IgVH mutation. The results indicated that 7 out of 8 patients transformed to diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 1 patient transformed to Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Among 8 patients, LDH level in 7 patients, β(2)-MG level in 4 patients, SF level in 7 patients, CA-125 level in 4 patients and TK1 level in 1 patient exceeded the normal range. Meanwhile, ZAP-70 and CD38 were expressed positively in 4 and 7 out of 8 patients respectively. Unmutated IgVH was found in 5 patients, and 4 patients had the complex chromosome abnormalities. +12 and p53 deletion was found in 1 patient. 8 patients were divided into two groups (Binet A + B and Binet C), the mean time from diagnosis to progression was 98.5 months in Binet A + B group, compared with 38.3 months in Binet C group, there was significant difference between two groups (p = 0.021). Mean overall survival was 123.8 months and 49.8 months in two groups, respectively (p = 0.049). The mean survival after transformation was 34.5 months in Binet A + B group and 10.3 months in Binet C group. In conclusion, the level of LDH, β(2)-MG and SF are higher in RS patients in Binet C group, and so are the incidence of high expressed ZAP-70 and CD 38, unmutated IgVH. The clinical stage may be the risk and prognostic factors for RS transformation.
ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; metabolism ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Syndrome ; ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase ; metabolism ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; blood

The study was purposed to explore the relationship between the expression of deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) gene and fludarabine (Flud) resistance in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) technique was used to detect the mRNA expression of dCK gene in the bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 CLL patients, the difference of dCK expression levels between CLL patients sensitive to Flud and patients resistant to Flud was analyzed. The results showed that dCK expression level in the Flud-sensitive patients was much higher than that in the Flud-resistant ones (p = 0.001); dCK expression level had no relationship with sex, age, Binet stage, IgVH mutations, CD38, ZAP-70 or p53 gene mutation (p > 0.05). It is concluded that low expression or deficiency of dCK in patients may contribute to resistance against Flud- and the prognostic significance of dCK expression remains to be further studied.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Deoxycytidine Kinase ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use