T-cell Repertoire Characteristics of Asymptomatic and Re-detectable Positive COVID-19 Patients

BackgroundThe prevention of COVID-19 pandemic is highly complicated by the prevalence of asymptomatic and recurrent infection. Many previous immunological studies have focused on symptomatic and convalescent patients, while the immune responses in asymptomatic patients and re-detectable positive cases remain unclear. MethodsHere we comprehensively analyzed the peripheral T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of 54 COVID-19 patients in different phases, including asymptomatic, symptomatic, convalescent and re-detectable positive cases. ResultsWe found progressed immune responses from asymptomatic to symptomatic phase. Furthermore, the TCR profiles of re-detectable positive cases were highly similar to those of asymptomatic patients, which could predict the risk of recurrent infection. ConclusionTherefore, TCR repertoire surveillance has the potential to strengthen the clinical management and the immunotherapy development for COVID-19. FundingThe Science and Technology Innovation Project of Foshan Municipality (2020001000431) and the National Key Research and Development Project (2020YFA0708001).

Effect of Ganoderma applanatum polysaccharides on MAPK/ERK pathway affecting autophagy in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Fungal polysaccharides have become hotspots in the field of health foods due to their antitumor activity in recent years. In this experiment, antitumor effect of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma applanatum polysaccharide (GAP) was investigated in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, as well as the molecular mechanism of its effect on autophagy. Results showed that GAP contains three polysaccharides with molecular weights of 6.36 × 105 Da, 4.25 × 105 Da, and 2.53 × 105 Da and which composed of rhamnose, glucose, arabinose, fucose in the molar ratio of 1:22:16.1:3.2. GAP inhibited the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 cells in a time-dose-dependent manner, the maximum inhibition rate reached 50.2% at 500 µg/mL in 48 h. Flow cytometry analysis showed that GAP could induce apoptosis, treatment of cells with GAP could result in up-regulation of gene and protein levels of autophagy-associated markers LC3 and Beclin-1; addition of autocrine late inhibitor CQ significantly raised the protein expression level of LC3II. The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway was not only related to the apoptotic pathway but also to the autophagy pathway; Western blot analysis showed that MAPK signaling pathway is involved in GAP-induced autophagy in MCF-7 cells. Detection of the relevant signaling pathway protein showed that the expression of p-ERK1/2 protein was down-regulated, however the expression of p-p38 and p-JNK protein was up-regulated. These results indicate that GAP could induce early autophagy in MCF-7 cells via the MAPK/ERK pathway. In conclusion, GAP showed strong antitumor activity by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through MAPK signaling pathway in MCF-7 cells, suggesting the molecular mechanism of fungal polysaccharide on its antitumor activity.

Network pharmacological studies of Guanxin Qiwei tablet in treating coronary heart disease / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To clarify the active ingredients of Guanxin Qiwei tablet,and to explore the potential target for its efficacy.Methods We studied the interaction between Chinese medicine ingredients in the Guanxin Qiwei tablet and the therapy targets using a network pharmacology model,which was developed by integrating oral bioavailability prediction,druggability analysis,principal component analysis,molecular docking simulation and network of pharmacophore-target-disease analysis.Results Eighteen principal compounds had high-degree network with 41 therapy targets for coronary heart disease (CHD),and had higher affinity with 18 potential targets via the calculation of molecular docking.Further analysis showed that 7 key targets were closely related to the treatment of CHD.Conclusion We have screened 18 possible active molecules in Guanxin Qiwei tablet and 7 key therapy targets,and preliminarily elucidate the molecular mechanism based on the multi-ingredient,multi-target,and synergistic effect.

Imaging Diagnosis of Congenital Cholangiectasis:A Report of 6 Cases and Review of Literature / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To study the imaging value in diagnosis of congenital cholangiectasis.Methods The clinical and imaging (CT and ultrasonics) data of 6 patients with congenital cholangiectasis were restrospectively analyzed with literature review.Results According to Todani's classifications of cholangiectasis,there were type I in one case,CT showed cystic hypodense shadow with thin and smooth wall;type IV in 4 cases,CT showed cystic or fusiform extension of intra-and extra-hepatic bile ducts;type V in one case,CT showed cystic extension of intra-hepatic bile ducts,and the central spot enhancement could be seen on contrast-enhanced CT scan.6 cases underwent ultrasonic examinations,ultrasound showed extension of intra-and extra-hepatic bile ducts in 6 cases,choledochal cyst in one.4 cases suspected with congenital cholangiectasis,and misdiagnosed in one.In company with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis in one,biliary carcinoma in one and cirrhosis in one.Conclusion CT and US are of important value in diagnosis of congenital cholangiectasis.