ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of berbamine hydrochloride on sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanisms. MethodThe sorafenib-resistant cell line SMMC-7721/S was selected by the concentration increment method starting at 1.25 μmol·L^-1 sorafenib. Both SMMC-7721 and SMMC-7721/S cells were treated with 0， 2.5， 5， 10， 15， 20 μmol·L^-1 sorafenib， and the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） and calculate the resistance index （RI）. Western blot was conducted to compare the expression of proteins involved in autophagy and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR） signaling pathway between SMMC-7721 and SMMC-7721/S cells. Furthermore， SMMC-7721/S cells were treated with 5 μmol·L^-1 berbamine hydrochloride alone or in combination with 2.5， 5， 10 μmol·L^-1 sorafenib， and the cell growth was assessed by the CCK-8 assay. In addition， SMMC-7721 and SMMC-7721/S cells were treated with 5 μmol·L^-1 berbamine hydrochloride alone or in combination with 5 μmol·L^-1 sorafenib， and the cell proliferation was examined by the colony formation assay. The immunofluorescence assays with Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3） and LysoTracker as probes were employed to assess the lysosomal acidification in SMMC-7721 cells treated with 5 μmol·L^-1 berbamine hydrochloride or 0.1 μmol·L^-1 autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 （Baf）. Further， the expression of proteins involved in autophagy and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was determined by Western blot and compared between groups. ResultSorafenib showed the IC₅₀ of 9.56 mol·L^-1 （P<0.01） and 7.99 mol·L^-1 for SMMC-7721/S and SMMC-7721 cells， respectively， at 24 h. The resistance index （RI） of SMMC-7721/S for sorafenib was 1.20 （P<0.01）， which indicated mild resistance. Compared with SMMC-7721 cells， SMMC-7721/S cells exhibited up-regulated expression of p-mTOR， p-Akt， and LC3Ⅱ， down-regulated expression of p62 protein （P<0.01）， and unchanged Akt protein level. CCK-8 and colony formation assays demonstrated that the combination of berbamine hydrochloride and sorafenib exhibited a synergistic effect （Q>1.15）， with berbamine hydrochloride partially reversing the resistance of liver cancer cells to sorafenib. The immunofluorescence detection of LC3 revealed that berbamine hydrochloride and Baf significantly increased LC3 in SMMC-7721 cells. The detection with LysoTracker as the probe showed that berbamine hydrochloride inhibited the acidity of lysosomes in SMMC-7721 cells （P<0.01）， indicating the suppression of autophagy. Berbamine hydrochloride further enhanced the downregulation of p-mTOR and p-Akt protein levels and did not change the Akt protein level in SMMC-7721 cells exposed to sorafenib. Berbamine hydrochloride inhibited the increase in p-mTOR expression， down-regulated the p-Akt protein level， and did not change the total Akt protein level in the SMMC-7721/S cells exposed to sorafenib. ConclusionBerbamine hydrochloride can ameliorate the resistance of liver cancer cells to sorafenib by inhibiting cellular autophagy and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of microwave on human adenovirus type 2 (HAdV-2) capsid protein in simulated infectious wastes.Methods:Droplets of HAdV-2 virus suspension were added to medical disposable gloves to simulate infectious waste, irradiated under different microwave conditions, the temperature change was recorded, and the irradiated viral supernatant was treated with Dnase I and detected by PCR and qPCR to determine the effect of microwave on the integrity of the viral capsid. ELISA was used to detect the effect of microwave irradiation on the structure of viral hexon protein. The virus was treated alone at the highest temperature during microwave irradiation to investigate whether there were non-thermal effects during microwave disinfection.Results:The maximum temperature during microwave irradiation was 76 ℃, and the PCR and qPCR result showed that Dnase I could significantly damage the viral nucleic acid after microwave irradiation, while the virus control group and heat treatment group were not significantly affected, indicating that microwave irradiation could destroy the integrity of the viral capsid. The result of ELISA showed that microwave irradiation could significantly weaken the binding ability of Hexon protein and antibody, and the result of heat treatment group were similar.Conclusions:Microwave irradiation can destroy the integrity of the HAdV-2 capsid and the structure of Hexon protein, in which the damage to the integrity of the capsid is mainly due to non-thermal effects, and the structural changes of hexon protein are mainly due to thermal effects.

Objective To investigate the repairing effect and mechanism of Chinese patent medicine Weiyangning pill on gastric mucosal injury in rats induced by anhydrous ethanol,and to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method to determine the five main components of Weiyangning pill.Methods The five components of paeoniflorin,psoralen,atractylenolide Ⅲ,liquiritin and hesperidin in Weiyangning pill were detected by HPLC.SD male rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model control group,Weinaian group,and large and small dose group of Weiyangning pill.All rats were fasted for 24 hours without water fasting.The normal control group and the model control group were given purified water by gavage.While Weinaian group was given Weinaian(3 g·kg-1),the test group were given intragastric perfusion of Weiyangning(3,1.5 g·kg-1)respectively.After 2 hours,all the rats,except the normal control group,were intragastrically administered with anhydrous ethanol(5 mL·kg-1)to establish the model of gastric mucosal injury.An hour later,the experimental materials were collected,and the gross score of gastric mucosal injury was observed and calculated.The gastric mucosal slices were stained by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)to calculate the pathological scores.Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of gastric mucosa-related proteins.Results The high-performance liquid chromatogram of Weiyangning pill was obtained,and the absorption peaks with the same retention time as the five standard substances(paeoniflorin,psoralen,atractylenolide Ⅲ,liquiritin and hesperidin)were observed.The general score and pathological score of gastric mucosal injury in Weiyangning groups(3,1.5 g·kg-1)were lower than those of the model control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Weiyangning pill(3,1.5 g·kg-1)ameliorated the decrease expression of tight junction protein(Claudin-7),adhesion junction proteins(E-cadherin and β-catenin),mucins(MUC1 and MUC5AC),and the gastric transcription factor SOX2 in the gastric mucosa of the rats modeled in anhydrous ethanol(P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with the model control group).Conclusion The repairing effect of Weiyangning pill on gastric mucosal injury induced by anhydrous ethanol in rats is related to the increase of the expression of tight junction protein,adhesion junction protein,mucin and gastric transcription factor.

Objective    To explore the treatment outcome of carotid endarterectomy combined with vertebral artery transposition in patients with severe stenosis to occlusion of the vertebral artery V1 segment and the ipsilateral carotid artery. Methods    From June 2017 to September 2020, patients with severe stenosis to occlusion of the vertebral artery V1 segment and the ipsilateral carotid artery treated with carotid endarterectomy combined with vertebral artery transposition in Fuwai Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results    Finally 12 patients were enrolled, including 10 males and 2 females with an average age of 67.8±6.0 years. Twelve patients were successfully operated and the follow-up time was 1-3 years. The stenosis degree of the V1 segment of the vertebral artery decreased from 83.5%±11.8% to 24.9%±14.3% (P<0.001). The stenosis degree of carotid artery decreased from 85.6%±11.0% to 0% (P<0.001). Postoperative follow-up showed that the symptoms of symptomatic patients before surgery improved. The 1-year and 3-year patency rates were 100.0%, and there were no peripheral nerve injury complications, perioperative deaths or strokes. Conclusion    Carotid endarterectomy combined with vertebral artery transposition can treat ipsilateral carotid artery  stenosis and vertebral artery stenosis at the same time, improve blood supply to the brain, improve patients' symptoms and has high promotion value.

Objective:To investigate the form of programmed cell death (PCD) induced by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection in Vero cells and further explore the existence of pyroptosis, so as to provide new ideas for studying the pathogenic mechanism of SFTSV.Methods:Vero cells were infected with SFTSV at different multiplicity of infection (MOI), cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed daily, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method, and cell membrane damage was detected by LDH release test to determine the optimal amount of virus infection and cell death time. Vero cells were pretreated with different PCD inhibitors and infected with SFTSV. CCK-8 kit was used to detect the cell viability and determine the death form of PCD caused by SFTSV. The expression of pyroptosis related proteins was detected by Western blotting to further explore the existence of pyroptosis.Results:At 48 h and 72 h after SFTSV infected Vero cells with MOI=10, the optimal infection amount and time of subsequent experiments were observed. At this time, the CPE of cells was obvious, the cell viability decreased to 51% and 41% of the control group ( P<0.001, P<0.001), and the LDH release amount reached 24% and 37% of the maximum enzyme activity release wells, were 3.8, 3.4 times of LDH release in the control group ( P<0.001, P<0.001). The inhibition of SFTSV-induced cell death by different PCD inhibitors showed that pan-caspase inhibitor and receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIP3) inhibitor had inhibitory effects at 48 h and 72 h. The cell viability was 2.1 and 1.6 times of the viral control group at 48 h, 2.3 and 1.7 times of the viral control group at 72 h, and the effect of pan-caspase inhibitor was significantly higher than that of the other inhibitor groups. Caspase-1 and caspase-3 inhibitors only had inhibitory effect at 48 h, and the cell viability was 1.5 and 1.3 times of the viral control group. After SFTSV infection of Vero cells, the expressions of caspase-1 and IL-1β increased gradually with the prolongation of time, and reached 3.4 and 9.5 times of the control group at 48 h, respectively ( P<0.001, P<0.001). Conclusions:SFTSV infection of Vero cells can lead to various forms of PCD, including apoptosis, pyroptosis and programmed necrosis, and pyroptosis related protein activation can be detected in the process of PCD, which further explored the existence of pyroptosis.

Objective:To study the inactivation effects of microwave on human adenovirus 2 (HAdV-2) in simulated infectied wastes, and to explore its molecular mechanism.Methods:25 μl of HAdV-2 virus suspension was dripped with medical disposable gloves, masks and cotton swabs to simulate infectied wastes, and irradiated under different microwave conditions: gloves and masks were irradiated for 30 s, 60 s, and 90 s at 300 W, 500 W, and 700 W, respectively. Cotton swabs irradiate 60 s, 90 s, 120 s at 500 W and 700 W respectively. Temperature changes were recorded, and the inactivation logarithmic values were calculated by the 50% endpoint method to evaluate the microwave inactivation effects, and the proliferation ability of the virus was detected by qPCR. The damage of Penton, Fiber, Hexon and E2 B genes was detected by PCR. The virus was treated with the highest temperature of 76 ℃ during microwave irradiation to study whether there was non-thermal effect during microwave disinfection. Results:After microwave irradiation of infectied waste, the temperature of masks and gloves carriers rises rapidly, with the highest temperature of 76 ℃. The temperature of the cotton swab carriers rose slowly, and the highest temperature is 65 ℃. The inactivation effect of microwave on HAdV-2 was positively correlated with microwave power and irradiation time. In the mask and glove group, microwave power of 700 W irradiated for 60 seconds, and the inactivation logarithm value could reach 3.0, In the cotton swab group, microwave power of 700 W irradiated for 120 seconds, and the inactivation logarithm value was still less than 3.0. This indicated that there were differences in the conditions for microwave inactivation of the virus in different carriers. The qPCR result showed that microwave irradiation could weak the proliferation ability of the virus. Microwave irradiation had no effect on the virus's Penton and Fiber genes, but caused some damage to the Hexon and E2 B genes. The inactivation effect of individual heat treatment on HAdV-2 was weaker than that of microwave irradiation, and there was no damage to the Hexon, Penton, Fiber, and E2 B genes. This indicated the presence of non thermal effects during the microwave inactivation process. Conclusions:Microwave irradiation can inactivate HAdV-2 in simulated infectied wastes through thermal and non-thermal effects, and its damage to viral DNA is one of the mechanisms of virus inactivation.

Objective:To study the amino acid site variation of HIV-1 Tat protein from different parts of AIDS patients with HAD and non HAD and its effect on oxidative stress of U87 cells.Methods:HIV-1 Tat amino acid sequences were analyzed by BLAST and MEGA6 software to study the variation of amino acid sites in four parts of central nervous tissue basal ganglia(BG) and peripheral spleen (SPL) of an HIV-associated dementia (HAD) patient(H) and a non-HAD patient(N), The HIV-1 tat genes were transfected into U87 cell. The green fluorescent protein was observed under microscope to determine the Tat protein expression. The expression of Tat protein in U87 cells was detected by Western blotting. CK-8 method , Western blotting and malondialdehyde (MDA) detection kit were used to study the effect of Tat protein on cell activity, oxidative stress index glutathione peroxidase (GPX), MDA level. Results:Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the key amino acid sites of HIV-1 Tat protein from N-BG, N-SPL, H-BG and H-SPL were different; Tat protein could inhibit the activity of U87 cells, which could be reversed by antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Compared with the control group, the levels of MDA were increased and the expression of GPX protein was decreased in the four experimental groups ( P<0.05). And different sources of Tat protein had different ability to induce oxidative stress, the level of MDA in H-BG group was higher than that in N-BG group( P<0.05). The expression of GPX protein in BG group of both HAD and non-HAD patients was lower than that of SPL group( P<0.05). Conclusions:There are differences in the key amino acid sites of Tat protein in peripheral and central nervous system between HAD and non-HAD patients, and their effects on oxidative stress were also different.

Objective:To investigate the role of HIV-1 negative regulator (Nef) in HIV-1 neuropathogenicity.Methods:Five different HIV-1 nef genes were obtained from the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral regions (basal ganglia, frontal cortex, meninges, temporal cortex and spleen) of a patient with HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). The recombinant pcDNA3.1- nef eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed by connecting them with pcDNA3.1 vector and transfected into human glioma cell line U87 respectively. The expression of Nef protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting at 22ndhour, 27 th hour, 32nd hour, 37th and 42nd hour after transfection. The result were analyzed quantitatively by JEDA801D and JD-801 software. The supernatant of U87 cells was collected every 5 hours from 27th hour to 62nd hour after transfection. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1 β in the supernatant were determined by ELISA, and the dynamic expression of the two cytokines was analyzed. Results:Five recombinant pcDNA3.1- nef eukaryotic expression vectors of nef genes from different tissues of an HAD patient were successfully constructed and transfected into U87 cells. The result of immunohistochemistry showed that Nef protein began to express at 42nd hour after transfection, which was further confirmed by Western blot. The result of ELISA showed that the levels of cytokines in the supernatant of each group increased gradually with time from 22ed hour to 37th hour after transfection, but there was no significant difference among the groups (TNF-α: F=0.445, P=0.837; F=0.579, P=0.742; F=0.617, P=0.714; F=2.728, P=0.057. IL-1β: F=2.656, P=0.062; F=0.485, P=0.809; F=0.165, P=0.982; F=2.463, P=0.093); The levels of TNF-α and IL-1 β in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group from the 42nd hour ( P<0.05); after 42nd hour, the levels of cytokines in each group gradually decreased, and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1 β remained stable from the 57th hour to the 62nd hour, while the levels of TNF-α and IL-1 β in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group from the 42nd hour to the 62nd hour, the difference was still statistically significant (TNF-α: F=241.310, P<0.001; F=242.638, P<0.001; F=250.114, P<0.001; F=143.877, P<0.001; F=146.172, P<0.001. IL-1β: F=251.578, P<0.001; F=188.816, P<0.001; F=276.240, P<0.001; F=238.136, P<0.001; F=163.361, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference among the experimental groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:HIV-1 Nef protein can induce and enhance the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1 β in U87 cells. However, the amino acid variation of HIV-1 Nef protein from different sources in an HAD patient had no effect on the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1 β.

Objective: To investigate the toxic effect of HIV-1 Vpr protein on neurons. Methods: HIV-1 vpr gene was amplified by nested PCR in four parts of peripheral spleen (SPL) and central nervous tissue meninges (MG) of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) patients and non-HAD patients. Eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-vpr was constructed. The gene sequence and key amino acid sites were analyzed by BLAST and MEGA6. The expression of Vpr protein in N2a cells was detected by Western-blotting. The effects of Vpr proteins from different sources on the activity and cell cycle of N2a cells were studied by flow cytometry. Results: HIV-1 vpr gene was successfully amplified by PCR. Sequence analysis showed that the vpr gene sequence belonged to HIV-1B subtype. There were amino acid mutations at C-terminal 84, 86 and 87 sites of central Vpr protein from HAD and non-HAD patients. Vpr protein could inhibit the activity of nerve cells, leading to G2 phase arrest. Different sources of Vpr had different intensity of action. Compared with other groups, Vpr protein from the meninges of HAD patients showed stronger inhibition of cell activity and G2 phase arrest ability. Conclusions Variations in key amino acid sites of Vpr protein could cause significant changes in its biological functions, and its significance in the pathogenesis of HAD remains to be further studied.

Objective: BG-derived HIV-1 Tat protein from an HIV-associated dementia (HAD) patient was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified in order to research the effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) activity. Methods: The recombinant plasmid pGEX-KG-tat with HIV-1 tat stored in our laboratory was amplified by PCR. The PCR product was cloned into pET-32a-tat. The recombinant plasmid pET-32a-tat was transfected into E. coli, and Tat protein was expressed in BL21(DE3), which was induced by IPTG. Then it was purified by Ni-chelating chromatography column and gel filtration preloaded column, and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot(WB). The concentration was determined by BCA Kit. Different concentrations of Tat were added into HUVECs to detect their effects on cell activity by cck-8. Results: The Tat with high purity was efficiently expressed in BL21 (DE3) and obtained by using the Ni-chelating chromatography column and gel filtration preloaded column. The concentration was 0.47 mg/ml by using BCA Kit. As the concentration of Tat increased, HUVECs activity decreased. There was no significant difference in cells viability between negative control with 100 ng/ml and 200 ng/ml group (P>0.05). There was significant difference in cells viability between negative control with 300 ng/ml, 400 ng/ml, 500 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml group (P<0.05). But the difference between 300 ng/ml, 400 ng/ml, 500 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions The HIV-1 Tat with biological activity was efficiently expressed in BL21 (DE3), and the activity of HUVECs was significantly decreased when the concentration reached 300 ng/ml.