Mechanism of action of Orthosiphon stamineus against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Insights from systems pharmacology and molecular docking approaches

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common complications of a metabolic syndrome caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. Orthosiphon stamineus also known as Orthosiphon aristatus is a medicinal plant with possible potential beneficial effects on various metabolic disorders. This study aims to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of O. stamineus on hepatic fat accumulation and to further use the computational systems pharmacology approach to identify the pharmacokinetic properties of the bioactive compounds of O. stamineus and to predict their molecular mechanisms against NAFLD. Methods: The effects of an ethanolic extract of O. stamineus leaves on cytotoxicity, fat accumulation and antioxidant activity were assessed using HepG2 cells. The bioactive compounds of O. stamineus were identified using LC/MS and two bioinformatics databases, namely the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID) and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for the Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM). Pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the predicted targets of the bioactive compounds to provide a systematic overview of the molecular mechanism of action, while molecular docking was used to validate the predicted targets. Results: A total of 27 bioactive compounds corresponding to 50 potential NAFLD-related targets were identified. O. stamineus exerts its anti-NAFLD effects by modulating a variety of cellular processes, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial β-oxidation, inflammatory signalling pathways, insulin signalling, and fatty acid homeostasis pathways. O. stamineus is significantly targeting many oxidative stress regulators, including JNK, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), NFKB1, PPAR, and AKT1. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the expected high affinity for the potential targets, while the in vitro assay indicates the ability of O. stamineus to inhibit hepatic fat accumulation. Conclusion: Using the computational systems pharmacology approach, the potentially beneficial effect of O. stamineus in NAFLD was indicated through the combination of multiple compounds, multiple targets, and multicellular components.     

人参内生菌的研究进展

内生菌由细菌、真菌、古菌和原生生物组成，它们生活在植物的活体组织中，具有丰富的次级代谢产物多样性。人参内生菌在人参的生长发育、次级代谢产物的生成和环境适应等方面均有重要的促进作用，对人参的产量和品质有较大影响。随着人们在微生物领域研究的深入，高通量测序技术已经成为研究植物内生菌的重要方法。文章主要从人参内生菌分离与鉴定研究方法、人参内生菌的多样性、人参内生菌及其次级代谢产物的活性、人参内生菌对宿主的影响等4个方面对人参内生菌近年来的研究进展进行讨论，并对其发展方向提出展望，以期为药用植物内生菌研究和品质改良提供新思路、新方法。     

Phase 1/2 clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine in Japanese participants: A report of interim findings

We initiated a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the S-268019-b recombinant protein vaccine, scheduled as 2 intramuscular injections given 21 days apart, in 60 randomized healthy Japanese adults. We evaluated 2 regimens of the S-910823 antigen (5 μg [n = 24] and 10 μg [n = 24]) with an oil-in-water emulsion formulation and compared against placebo (n = 12). Reactogenicity was mild in most participants. No serious adverse events were noted. For both regimens, vaccination resulted in robust IgG and neutralizing antibody production at days 36 and 50 and predominant T-helper 1-mediated immune reaction, as evident through antigen-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cell responses with IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 production on spike protein peptides stimulation. Based on the interim analysis, the S-268019-b vaccine is safe, produces neutralizing antibodies titer comparable with that in convalescent serum from COVID-19-recovered patients. However, further evaluation of the vaccine in a large clinical trial is warranted.     

Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases in collagen synthesis

Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix. They provide a framework to build organs and tissues and give structural support to make them resistant to mechanical load and forces. Several intra‐ and extracellular modifications are needed to make functional collagen molecules, intracellular post‐translational modifications of proline and lysine residues having key roles in this. In this article, we provide a review on the enzymes responsible for the proline and lysine modifications, that is collagen prolyl 4‐hydroxylases, 3‐hydroxylases and lysyl hydroxylases, and discuss their biological functions and involvement in diseases.     

COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.     

Artificial intelligence and clinical data suggest the T cell-mediated SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein intranasal vaccines for global COVID-19 immunity

Advanced computational methodologies suggested SARS-CoV-2, nonstructural proteins ORF1AB, ORF3a, as the source of immunodominant peptides for T cell presentation. T cell immunity is long-lasting and compatible with COVID-19 pathology. Based on the supporting clinical data, nonstructural SARS-CoV-2 protein vaccines could provide global immunity against COVID-19.     

SLC及其受体CCR7与Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌淋巴结微转移的相关性

目的 探讨溶质载体蛋白（SLC）及其受体趋化因子受体7（CCR7）与I期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）淋巴结微转移的相关性。方法 选取2019年1月~2020年3月于我院就诊的I期NSCLC患者127例为研究对象，按照淋巴结微转移情况分为对照组92例和转移组35例，所有患者入院后均通过根治术切除病灶，通过免疫组化方式检测病灶中SLC7A11及CCR7含量，并收集患者临床资料、实验室检查资料及影像学检查资料。通过Logistic回归分析评价SLC7A11及CCR7与淋巴结微转移之间的关系。最后通过建立ROC曲线分析两者及其联合检测对NSCLC患者微淋巴结转移的预测价值。结果 两组患者SLC7A11及CCR7表达水平存在显著差异（P＜0.05）。转移组患者病灶直径、支气管受累及TLG显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。病灶直径（OR=49.254,95%CI=11.062~507.604）是影响NSCLC淋巴结微转移的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。SLC7A11（OR=8.622）及CCR7（OR=8.709）表达水平是影响NSCLC淋巴结微转移的独立因素（P＜0.05）。SLC7A11、CCR7及联合诊断对NSCLC淋巴结微转移具有较好的检测价值（均P＜0.05）。联合检测特异度显著高于 SLC7A11及CCR7单独检测（2=7.292，15.125；均P＜0.01）。结论 SLC家族的中SLC7A11及其受体CCR7与NSCLC患者微淋巴结转移显著相关。