The main protease (M^pro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an attractive target in anti-COVID-19 therapy for its high conservation and major role in the virus life cycle. The covalent M^pro inhibitor nirmatrelvir (in combination with ritonavir, a pharmacokinetic enhancer) and the non-covalent inhibitor ensitrelvir have shown efficacy in clinical trials and have been approved for therapeutic use. Effective antiviral drugs are needed to fight the pandemic, while non-covalent M^pro inhibitors could be promising alternatives due to their high selectivity and favorable druggability. Numerous non-covalent M^pro inhibitors with desirable properties have been developed based on available crystal structures of M^pro. In this article, we describe medicinal chemistry strategies applied for the discovery and optimization of non-covalent M^pro inhibitors, followed by a general overview and critical analysis of the available information. Prospective viewpoints and insights into current strategies for the development of non-covalent M^pro inhibitors are also discussed.

This paper systematically combed and verified the name， origin， producing area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing of Euryales Semen in famous classical formulas by consulting relevant ancient materia medica， medical books， prescription books and modern literature. The results showed that Euryales Semen was first collected by materia medica under the name of Jitoushi， and since the Ming dynasty， Qianshi has been used as a proper name and continues to this day， with other aliases such as Yanhuishi. Euryale ferox， a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family， is the same as that used in the past dynasties. However， due to long-term artificial domestication， the varieties vary with the origin， including Beiqian and Suqian. The medicinal part of Euryales Semen is mature seed kernel， its origin of ancient records mainly includes Shandong， Jiangsu， Henan and other places， since the Ming and Qing dynasties， Euryales Semen produced in Suzhou has been highly praised. Since modern times， it has gradually summarized and formed the best quality evaluation method of Euryales Semen with full grains， white cross-section， powdery enough and no broken powder. The harvesting time in the past dynasties was mainly August or in autumn. The main processing methods in the past dynasties included peeling for powder， pounding powder after steaming， drying and frying. Up to now， two mainstream processing methods of cleansing and stir-frying have been formed. Based on the research results， it is recommended that the mature seed kernel of E. ferox be used in famous classical formula Yihuangtang. Combined with the processing requirements of the original formula， it is suggested to refer to the stir-frying method in the general principles of processing of the current edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum micro RNA(miRNAs)-873 and micro RNA-138-5p expression and tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)and prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods A total of 108 NSCLC patients(NSCLC group)and 65 healthy volunteers(control group)who were admitted to Ba'nan Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University from February 2019 to February 2021 were selected.Real-time quantitative fluorescence polymeric chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of miR-873 and miR-138-5p in serum,and multiple immunofluorescence staining was used to detect tumor immune microenvironment indicators.Regular follow-up was conducted after discharge.Pearson analyzed the correlation between the expression of miR-873 and miR-138-5p in serum and the TIME index,and Kaplan-Meier and COX proportional risk regression analyzed the relationship between miR-873 and miR-138-5p and the prognosis of NSCLC patients.Results Comparison with control group,the expressions of miR-873(1.02±0.23 vs 3.15±0.82)and miR-138-5p(1.21±0.26 vs 3.54±0.92)in serum of NSCLC group were decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(t=-25.426,-24.769,all P＜0.05).The expressions of serum miR-873 and miR-138-5p of patients with low-to-moderate differentiation in TNM stages Ⅲ to Ⅳ were lower than those with highly differentiated patients in TNM stages Ⅰ to Ⅱ(t=9.615,10.253;6.889,3.361,all P＜0.05).The expressions of miR-873 and miR-138-5p in serum were negatively correlated with the values of PD-1,PD-L1,CD4 and CD8 H(r=-0.418～-0.673,all P＜0.05).The OS survival rate of NSCLC patients with low expression of miR-873 and miR-138-5p was lower than that of those with high expression of miR-873 and miR-138-5p(Log-Rankχ2=4.724,5.607,P＜0.05).TNM stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ was a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC(P＜0.05),and miR-873 and miR-138-5p were protective factors(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expressions of miR-873 and miR-138-5p in serum of NSCLC patients are down-regulated,which is related to TIME and low survival rate.

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with multivessel disease is one of the high-risk types of coronary heart disease.Early opening of infarct-related artery and reperfusion of myocardium could significantly reduce the mortality in acute phase.However,the presence of non-culprit lesions in non-infarct-related arteries is still at risk and has an important impact on the long-term prognosis of patients.It remains controversial on how to precisely evaluate the clinical significance and revascularization value of non-culprit lesions.This article aims to review the research status and progress of guidance strategies of non-culprit lesion revascularization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease.

Objectives:Present study analyzed the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)using the distal transradial access(dTRA)for patients with complex coronary lesions. Methods:A total of 10 033 patients with complex coronary artery lesions(type B2 and type C lesions)who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)via dTRA or conventional transradial access(TRA)at Fuwai Hospital between June 2021 and May 2022 were included(9 625 patients in the TRA group and 408 patients in the dTRA group).After propensity score matching,391 patients were included in each group.Baseline data,PCI intraoperative data(including lesion characteristics,intervention success rate,etc.),and incidence of major bleeding related to the access were compared between the two groups before and after propensity score matching. Results:Before propensity score matching,the proportions of patients with hypertension,hyperlipidemia,family history of coronary heart disease,history of myocardial infarction,and history of coronary artery bypass grafting were significantly higher in the dTRA group than in the TRA group(all P<0.05).After propensity score matching,the baseline data of the two groups were similar(all P>0.05).Before propensity score matching,compared with the TRA group,patients in the dTRA group had a higher proportion of patients with type B2 lesions,while the proportions of patients with type C lesions and those using intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)were lower(all P<0.05).The proportion of patients with chronic complete occlusion was similar between the two groups(P>0.05).After propensity score matching,compared with the TRA group,patients in the dTRA group had a lower proportion using IVUS and had a higher percent of stent implantation(both P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of SYNTAX score,guide catheter size,target lesion distribution,proportion of patients using intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation,success rate of intervention procedures,and incidence of major bleeding events related to the access(all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with the conventional TRA,interventional treatment of complex lesions through dTRA is equally safe and effective for patients with complex coronary lesions.

Objective To investigate effects of human postures on flow characteristics of iliac vein compression syndrome. Methods The numerical model of iliac vein was reconstructed from CT images of a typical patient with pelvic-type iliac vein compression syndrome with collateral veins. Based on the computational fluid dynamics method, the non-Newtonian model and the porous media model were adopted to describe effects of abnormal structures on blood flow and acquire the wall shear stress and pressure of iliac vein. The discrete phase model was used to study the residence conditions of erythrocytes under three human postures. Results The pressure gradient at two ends of the compressive region was lowest under lying state, while the iliac vein showed a high pressure under sitting and walking states. The local maximum wall shear stresses under three postures were found at narrow segment of the collateral vein and convergence region of two flows of right iliac vein. The maximum shear stress was largest under lying state and smallest under sitting state. The blood residence time of 52.2 s in the left iliac vein was the longest under sitting state. The residence time of 14.8 s was shortest under lying state. The blood residence time was 23.8 s under walking state. Conclusions Porous media model used to simulate the effect of abnormal structures was highly consistent with the angiography data. The venous hypertension under sitting and walking states was consistent with the clinical results, and the lying state could relieve the hypertensive condition. In terms of wall shear stress and blood residence time in iliac vein, the continual change between three human postures would cause endothelial damage and blood flow stasis alternately, thus increase the risk of thrombosis.

As a common protease with high similarity among coronavirus species, the main protease (M^pro) of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the catalytic hydrolysis of viral precursor proteins into functional proteins, which is essential for coronavirus replication and is one of the ideal targets for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. This paper reviews the main protease inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2, including their molecular structures, potencies and drug-like profiles, binding modes and structure-activity relationships, etc.

Indolylarylsulfones (IASs) are classical HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) with a unique scaffold and possess potent antiviral activity. To address the high cytotoxicity and improve safety profiles of IASs, we introduced various sulfonamide groups linked by alkyl diamine chain to explore the entrance channel of non-nucleoside inhibitors binding pocket. 48 compounds were designed and synthesized to evaluate their anti-HIV-1 activities and reverse transcriptase inhibition activities. Especially, compound R₁₀L₄ was endowed with significant inhibitory activity towards wild-type HIV-1 (EC_50(WT) = 0.007 μmol/L, SI = 30,930) as well as a panel of single-mutant strains exemplified by L100I (EC₅₀ = 0.017 μmol/L, SI = 13,055), E138K (EC₅₀ = 0.017 μmol/L, SI = 13,123) and Y181C (EC₅₀ = 0.045 μmol/L, SI = 4753) which were superior to Nevirapine and Etravirine. Notably, R₁₀L₄ was characterized with significantly reduced cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ = 216.51 μmol/L) and showed no remarkable in vivo toxic effects (acute and subacute toxicity). Moreover, the computer-based docking study was also employed to characterize the binding mode between R₁₀L₄ and HIV-1 RT. Additionally, R₁₀L₄ presented an acceptable pharmacokinetic profile. Collectively, these results deliver precious insights for next optimization and indicate that the sulfonamide IAS derivatives are promising NNRTIs for further development.

COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread around the world till these days, and it is urgent to develop more safe and effective new drugs. Due to the limited P3 biosafety laboratories for directly screening inhibitors of virulent viruses with high infectivity, it is necessary to develop rapid and efficient screening methods for viral proteases and other related targets. The main protease (M^pro), which plays a key role in the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2, is highly conserved and has no homologous proteases in humans, making it an ideal target for drug development. From two different levels, namely, molecular level and cellular level, this paper summarizes the reported screening methods of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors through a variety of representative examples, expecting to provide references for further development of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors.

Clostridioides difficile/genetics* ; Clostridioides ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Feces ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics*