Effect of saponins in Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen on the steroid hormone levels in the chronic unpredictable mild stress model of depression in rats.

Recent research has indicated that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) extracted from the radix of Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen exert antidepressant effects. This study aimed to assess the antidepressive effects of ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS in a depression model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Over a period of three weeks, rats were administered ginsenoside Rg1 at a dose of 30 mg/kg and PNS at dosages ranging from 100 to 200 mg/kg body weight per day. To assess how ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS influence depression-like behaviours in rats, various assessments were conducted, including coat state evaluation, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze test. The levels of cortisol and testosterone in serum samples were analysed using the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method. LC-ESI-MS/MS method provides precise and accurate results. The lower limit of quantification values for cortisol and testosterone were determined as 100 and 2 pg/mL, respectively. Our data demonstrated that both ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS significantly reversed depression-like behaviour in rats by improving coat condition, reducing immobility time in the forced swim test, and increasing time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS exhibited a regulatory effect on cortisol and testosterone levels in plasma. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS may be potential antidepressants in clinical treatment.

Safety and efficacy of arimoclomol in patients with early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ORARIALS-01): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to muscle weakness and respiratory failure. Arimoclomol, a heat-shock protein-70 (HSP70) co-inducer, is neuroprotective in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with multiple mechanisms of action, including clearance of protein aggregates, a pathological hallmark of sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of arimoclomol in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. METHODS: ORARIALS-01 was a multinational, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial done at 29 centres in 12 countries in Europe and North America. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older and met El Escorial criteria for clinically possible, probable, probable laboratory-supported, definite, or familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; had an ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised score of 35 or more; and had slow vital capacity at 70% or more of the value predicted on the basis of the participant's age, height, and sex. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) in blocks of 6, stratified by use of a stable dose of riluzole or no riluzole use, to receive oral arimoclomol citrate 1200 mg/day (400 mg three times per day) or placebo. The Randomisation sequence was computer generated centrally. Investigators, study personnel, and study participants were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the Combined Assessment of Function and Survival (CAFS) rank score over 76 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome and safety were analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03491462, and is completed. FINDINGS: Between July 31, 2018, and July 17, 2019, 287 patients were screened, 245 of whom were enrolled in the trial and randomly assigned. The modified intention-to-treat population comprised 239 patients (160 in the arimoclomol group and 79 in the placebo group): 151 (63%) were male and 88 (37%) were female; mean age was 57·6 years (SD 10·9). CAFS score over 76 weeks did not differ between groups (mean 0·51 [SD 0·29] in the arimoclomol group vs 0·49 [0·28] in the placebo group; p=0·62). Cliff's delta comparing the two groups was 0·039 (95% CI -0·116 to 0·194). Proportions of participants who died were similar between the treatment groups: 29 (18%) of 160 patients in the arimoclomol group and 18 (23%) of 79 patients in the placebo group. Most deaths were due to disease progression. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal. Adverse events were more often deemed treatment-related in the arimoclomol group (104 [65%]) than in the placebo group (41 [52%]) and more often led to treatment discontinuation in the arimoclomol group (26 [16%]) than in the placebo group (four [5%]). INTERPRETATION: Arimoclomol did not improve efficacy outcomes compared with placebo. Although available biomarker data are insufficient to preclude future strategies that target the HSP response, safety data suggest that a higher dose of arimoclomol would not have been tolerated. FUNDING: Orphazyme.

Implementation of Different Conversion/Alloy Active Materials as Anodes for Lithium-Based Solid-State Batteries.

To complement or outperform lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte as energy storage devices, a high-energy as well as high-power anode material must be used in solid-state batteries. An overlooked class of anode materials is the one of conversion/alloy active materials (e.g., SnO2, which is already extensively studied in liquid electrolyte-based batteries). Conversion/alloy active materials offer high specific capacities and often also fast lithium-ion diffusion and reaction kinetics, which are required for high C-rates and application in high-energy and high-power devices such as battery electric vehicles. To date, there are only very few reports on conversion/alloy active materials─namely, SnO2─as anode material in sulfide-based solid-state batteries, with a relatively complex electrode design. Otherwise, conversion-alloy active materials are used as a seed layer or interlayer for a homogeneous Li deposition or to mitigate the formation and growth of the SEI, respectively. Within this work, four different conversion/alloy active materials─SnO2, Sn0.9Fe0.1O2, ZnO, and Zn0.9Fe0.1O─are synthesized and incorporated as negative active materials ("anodes") in composite electrodes into SSBs with Li6PS5Cl as solid electrolyte. The structure and the microstructure of the as-synthesized active materials and composite electrodes are investigated by XRD, SEM, and FIB-SEM. All active materials are evaluated based on their C-rate performance and long-term cyclability by galvanostatic cycling under a constant pressure of 40 MPa. Furthermore, light is shed on the degradation processes that take place at the interface between the active material and solid electrolyte. It is evidenced that the decomposition of Li6PS5Cl to LiCl, Li2S, and Li3P at the anode is amplified by Fe substitution. Lastly, a 2D sheet electrode is designed and cycled to tackle the interfacial degradation processes. This approach leads to an improved C-rate performance (factor of 3) as well as long-term cyclability (factor of 2.3).

Molecular characterization of lumpy skin disease virus in North Central Vietnam during 2021 and early 2022.

In October 2020, the first outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Lang Son Province, Vietnam were reported by our laboratory. The disease had rapidly spread to the South, and it was reported in 55 of 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam by the end of 2021. The most economic loss caused by this disease occurred in the north-central region in 2021 where approximately 46,788 LSD virus (LSDV) infected cattle and buffaloes have been reported and 8,976 animals have been culled. However, the information on this pathogen circulating in this region is missing. Here, we describe the molecular characterization of LSDV circulating in north-central Vietnam in 2021 and early 2022. In total, 155 LSDV samples were collected during this period and three of these samples from each province were further characterized by Sanger sequencing analysis based on three key maker genes (GPCR, RPO30, and p32). Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on GPCR, RPO30, and p32 genes indicated that LSDV strains circulating in north-central Vietnam are closely related to previously reported strains in Vietnam regions which bordered China and all LSDV strains were 100% identical. These results show the importance of continuous monitoring and characterization of circulating LSDV strains and are important for vaccine development for the control and eradication of LSD in Vietnam.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and metabolism signaling pathway in the spleen of broilers supplemented with probiotic Bacillus spp.

Probiotics are essential in the body's nutrients, improving the ratio of meat to meat, immune response, and preventing diseases. In this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched related pathways, and Gene Ontology (GO) terms among blank negative control (NC), supplemented with Bacillus spp. (BS) and commercial probiotic (PC) groups after a 42-day fed supplementation. The results showed that 2005, 1356, and 2189 DEGs were significantly altered in BS vs. NC, PC vs NC, and BS vs PC groups, respectively. On the other hand, 9 DEGs were further validated by qRT-PCR, indicating that the qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq results were more consistent. Therefore, the GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched to metabolism signalling pathways (alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and metabolic pathway, etc) and immune response pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signalling pathway, and intestinal immune network for IgA production, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction etc). These results will provide a better understanding of the role of probiotics in chicken development and provide basic information on the genetic development of chickens.

Selective C-H Activation of Molecular Nanodiamonds via Photoredox Catalysis.

While substituted adamantanes have widespread use in medicinal chemistry, materials science, and ligand design, the use of diamantanes and higher diamondoids is limited to a much smaller number. Selective functionalization beyond adamantane is challenging, as the number of very similar types of C-H bonds (secondary, 2°, and tertiary, 3°) increases rapidly, and H atom transfer does not provide a general solution for site selectivity. We report a method using pyrylium photocatalysts that is effective for nanodiamond functionalization in up to 84% yield with exclusive 3° selectivity and moderate levels of regioselectivity between 3° sites. The proposed mechanism involving photooxidation, deprotonation, and radical C-C bond formation is corroborated through Stern-Volmer luminescence quenching, cyclic voltammetry, and EPR studies. Our photoredox strategy offers a versatile approach for the streamlined synthesis of diamondoid building blocks.

Angiotensin Receptor Blocker-Related Sprue-like Enteropathy: Review of Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.

BACKGROUND: Sprue-like enteropathy (SE) related to olmesartan use was first reported in 2012. In 2017, the manufacturer of Benicar paid $300 million for 2300 claims for olmesartan-related SE. OBJECTIVE: A study in 2019 suggested that SE was related to olmesartan and with the possibility of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) class effect. To further characterize this condition, our group examined reports of ARB-related SE to Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). METHODS: All reports of ARB-related SE from January 2017 to December 2021 were downloaded from the FAERS database. Gastrointestinal adverse events including SE were reviewed. Reporter categories included physicians, pharmacists, other health care professionals, consumers, and attorneys. RESULTS: A total of 106 590 reports of ARB-related adverse effects were analyzed. Sprue-like enteropathy was identified in 4337 cases (4.1% of total reports). Of these, 4240 cases (98.0%) of ARB-related SE were reported in patients using products with olmesartan, and 97 cases of SE were reported for all other ARBs (eprosartan, losartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, valsartan, and candesartan). Reports of olmesartan-related SE increased rapidly in 2017, continued at a high rate in 2018 and 2019, and essentially stopped in 2020 and 2021. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Reports to FAERS for ARB-related SE are mostly related to olmesartan. There was a steep decline in reports of olmesartan-related SE following the lawsuit with potential of lawyer interference. There are reports of SE related to ARBs other than olmesartan, with increased physician awareness and the potential to discover a class effect with future studies.

T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia in Vietnam: Using microscope-to-screen videoconferencing to improve diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: Leukemia diagnosis in Vietnam is limited by a lack of hematopathology training and expert consultation as well as the cost of high-magnification digitization of hematology slides. Screen-sharing software allows international collaboration with experienced hematopathologists for improved diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: A hematopathology education and consultation program was proposed for Vietnam hospitals. By appointment, pathologists in Vietnam with access to a microscope camera, imaging software, and high-speed internet were invited to review slides and data with a volunteer board-certified hematopathologist in the United States using secure videoconferencing software. A single hospital in southern Vietnam assigned a pathologist proficient in English to access this service. All consultations from this site with clinicopathologic information were logged. After a 2-year period of online consultation, case slides for selected diagnoses were reviewed under the microscope in Vietnam to assess concordance. RESULTS: In total, 135 consultations were logged, 53 of which were for blood and bone marrow. T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) was 1 of the most frequent bone marrow consultation-related diagnoses; all diagnoses of this entity were confirmed by in-person microscopy (100% concordance). A records search and physician surveys found no prior documented diagnoses of T-LGLL made in Vietnam before this education and consultation program. CONCLUSIONS: Our virtual consultation model has improved patient care in Vietnam by providing correct diagnoses to inform best practices in treatment. As a result of our program, the first Vietnam diagnoses of T-LGLL were made and may help expand on the literature in this area. This model could provide cost-effective, real-time consultation and education services for pathologists in underserved communities.

Mixed-methods needs assessment for development of school-based mental health implementation science capacity in low- and middle-income countries: Vietnam as a case example.

Worldwide, the majority of youth reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). School-based mental health (SBMH) services are particularly important in LMIC, in part because of LMIC's limited mental health infrastructure. Among the challenges to developing SBMH in LMIC are limited implementation science (IS) capacity, critical for identifying barriers to evidence-based intervention (EBI) use and dissemination, etc., specific to the local country context. A key step in IS capacity development is conducting a needs assessment, to identify barriers (and their solutions) to IS development itself within the local context. The present study conducted an IS needs assessment focused on SBMH in the Southeast Asian LMIC of Vietnam. Seventy-five Vietnamese mental health professionals in SBMH-related fields participated in a mixed-methods study. Vietnamese SBMH researchers and practitioners most likely to have experience and/or interest in IS were selected for study recruitment. Professionals' formal understanding of and experience with IS as a scientific field was highly limited. However, after reading a brief but detailed description of IS, participants' interest in IS training was high, and their mean rating of its potential utility for Vietnam to develop SBMH was 4.7 on a 1-5 scale. Participants also reported on barriers and potential solutions for EBI use in SBMH in Vietnam. Contrary to expectations, the most frequent and severe barriers were not financial but related to limited stakeholder engagement. Overall, these and other study results provide some suggestions how IS capacity to support SBMH may be most efficiently developed in settings such as Vietnam. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A new benzophenanthridine alkaloid from stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhetsa and its biological activities.

A new benzophenanthridine alkaloid 6-butanoyldihydrochelerythrine (1) and five known alkaloids 6-acetonyldihydronitidine (2), 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (3), isocorydine (4), (O)-methyltembamide (5), N-(4-methoxyphenethyl)benzamide (6) were isolated from the stem barks of Zanthoxylum rhetsa. These structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. This is the first time that compounds 2-6 were identified from Zanthoxylum rhetsa and the first time that compounds 4 and 6 were identified from the genus Zanthoxylum. Bioactivity results of isolated compounds showed that 1, 2, 5 and 6 exhibited inhibitory activity against MCF7 and A549 cell lines, while 3 showed the inhibitory activity against A549 cell line; all isolated compounds 1-6 inhibited at least two strain microorganisms; compound 4 showed angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitory activity in vitro with IC50 value of 65.58 µM and in silico with a docking score of -11.52 kcal/mol.

Comprehensive genome­wide analysis of the chicken heat shock protein family: identification, genomic organization, and expression profiles in indigenous chicken with highly pathogenic avian influenza infection.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) function as molecular chaperones with critical roles in chicken embryogenesis, immune response to infectious diseases, and response to various environmental stresses. However, little is known on HSP genes in chicken. In this study, to understand the roles of chicken HSPs, we performed genome-wide identification, expression, and functional analyses of the HSP family genes in chicken. RESULTS: A total of 76 HSP genes were identified in the chicken genome, which were further classified into eight distinct groups (I-VIII) based on phylogenetic tree analysis. The gene-structure analysis revealed that the members of each clade had the same or similar exon-intron structures. Chromosome mapping suggested that HSP genes were widely dispersed across the chicken genome, except in chromosomes 16, 18, 22, 25, 26, and 28-32, which lacked chicken HSP genes. On the other hand, the interactions among chicken HSPs were limited, indicating that the remaining functions of HSPs could be investigated in chicken. Moreover, KEGG pathway analysis showed that the HSP gene family was involved in the regulation of heat stress, apoptotic, intracellular signaling, and immune response pathways. Finally, RNA sequencing data revealed that, of the 76 chicken HSP genes, 46 were differentially expressed at 21 different growth stages in chicken embryos, and 72 were differentially expressed on post-infection day 3 in two indigenous Ri chicken lines infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides significant insights into the potential functions of HSPs in chicken, including the regulation of apoptosis, heat stress, chaperone activity, intracellular signaling, and immune response to infectious diseases.

The Impact of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis on Cephalometric Measurements in Infants with Pierre Robin Sequence.

BACKGROUND: The obstruction of the upper airway (UAO) in infants diagnosed with Robin Sequence (RS) is caused by micrognathia, and in severe cases, it can result in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is a secure and efficient remedy for significant UAO. However, there is insufficient data on the related cephalometric changes. Therefore, this study meticulously analyzes the mandibular cephalometric changes in infants with RS who have undergone MDO using internal devices. The aim is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the short- and long-term impacts of distraction on the mandible. METHODS: The study examined 73 consecutive cases of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) performed by a single surgeon. Preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalograms, as well as CT scans of the mandible, were utilized to assess population averages for both time points. A two-sample T-Test with equal variance was used for this analysis. RESULTS: After the MDO procedure, 19 out of 21 cephalometric parameters exhibited significant morphological changes. On average, there were notable improvements of 20.3 mm (60.7%) in length, 9.8 mm (49.7%) in height, 12.6 mm (36.1%) in width, and 211% in airway parameters. However, most parameters showed only mild regression at the time of device removal and 6 to 12 months post-MDO. Nonetheless, the cephalometric parameters remained significantly improved compared to the preoperative measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The use of cephalometric measurement is a potent approach that provides a clear and measurable understanding of how MDO influences both immediate and long-term growth of the mandible. This quantitative assessment of the effects of mandibular distraction allows for the refinement of surgical techniques and the optimization of outcomes. Therefore, incorporating cephalometric measurements in the evaluation of patients undergoing MDO can lead to better surgical planning and more favorable results.

The Outcome of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis in Infants with Severe Pierre Robin Sequence in Vietnam.

The purpose of this study was to provide the experience of a single center with mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) in Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) patients. A longitudinal research analysis was conducted to identify PRS patients who underwent MDO at Vietnam National Children's Hospital between 2019 and 2021. The following criteria were used to determine inclusion: 1) those pediatric patients with PRS who were not well handled with conservative therapy, 2) those who received MDO with internal mandibular distractors, and 3) no previous treatment elsewhere. Demographic data, postoperative complications, and surgical results were all evaluated. The inclusion criteria were met by 73 patients. There were no difficulties associated with our distraction strategy. The majority of individuals with tracheostomies were successfully decannulated, and the remainder were able to avoid tracheostomies. Using MDO in PRS is an effective technique to avoid future airway issues. The success rate was lower and the complication rate higher for patients who had a tracheotomy before distraction and for those who underwent distraction at an age older than 2 months. The presence of laryngomalacia, gastric reflux disease, cardiac abnormalities, and GI anomalies did not increase the likelihood of MDO failure in PRS patients.

Relations between risk perception, perceptions of peers' driving, and risky driving among Cambodian adolescents.

Introduction: Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death globally, with substantial economic impact particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC). Adolescents are at particular risk, partly due to their tendency to engage in risky driving. However, most research designed to identify potential causes of risky adolescent driving has been conducted in Western, high-income countries, which often have substantial cultural differences from LMIC that potentially influence risky adolescent driving. Methods: The present study, one of the first focused on this topic in Southeast Asia, cross-sectionally assessed 425 adolescent motorbike drivers in the Southeast Asian LMIC Cambodia. Adolescents' (a) beliefs about peers' driving (social norms) and (b) driving risk perception were assessed as predictors of four risky driving behaviors: aggressive driving; distracted driving; intoxicated driving; violating driving laws. Results: Canonical correlation analysis identified a general relation between (a) beliefs about peers' driving, and (b) all four risky driving behaviors, with R2 = 0.35 indicating over one-third of the variance in risky driving was explained by perceptions of peers' driving. Risk perception was not involved in the significant canonical relation, however. Gender moderated two of the underlying relations, with females showing larger relations between perceptions of friends' driving, and distracted driving and violating driving laws. Discussion: These findings provide useful directions for future research (e.g., assessing the accuracy of Cambodian adolescents' perceptions of peers' driving) useful for helping stakeholders tailor road safety programs (e.g., providing adolescent drivers with accurate information regarding their peers' actual driving behaviors) for adolescent motorcyclists in Cambodia and similar countries.

A new snake of the genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the coastal area of southern Vietnam.

We describe a new species of Dendrelaphis from the coastal area in southern Vietnam based on morphological data and nucleotide sequences from one partial mitochondrial gene (Cytb). Dendrelaphis binhi sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: body scale rows 13 at neck and midbody, 9-11 before vent; vertebral scale row feebly enlarged; ventrals 154-158 in males and 161-170 in females; subcaudals 95-106 in males and 95-102 in females; one supralabial touching the eye; 18 or 19 maxillary teeth; hemipenis spinose, reaching 10th or 11th SC, with a slender papilla; cloacal plate divided; dorsum dark brown; and a white stripe along the lower flank. The new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in Cytb sequences of at least 8.1%.

Biological properties and diverse cytokine profiles followed by in vitro and in vivo infections with LSDV strain isolated in first outbreaks in Vietnam.

Preliminary information about LSD virus isolated from the first outbreaks in Vietnam has been reported by our laboratory. In the current study, LSDV strain, LSDV/Vietnam/Langson/HL01(HL01) was further analyzed to provide a better understanding of this viral pathogen. HL01 LSDV strain was propagated at MOI 0.01 in MDBK cells and then given to cattle at dose of 106.5 TCID50/ml (2ml/animal). The production of proinflammatory (IFN-γ, IL-1α, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-ß1) cytokines were measured by real-time PCR, both In vitro and In vivo. The results demonstrated that HL01 strain caused the typical signs of LSD and LSDV In vitro and In vivo, respectively suggesting a virulent field LSDV strain. Additionally, different cytokine profiles were observed in these In vitro and In vivo studies. In MDBK cells, different cytokines profiles were observed in two phases: in the early phase, the expression levels of all examined cytokines were significantly increased at 6 h (p < 0.05). In the later phase, the peak levels of the cytokine secretion were recognized from 72 to 96 h, with the exception of IL-1α when compared to controls. In cattle, the expression levels of all six cytokines were significantly higher at day 7 following LSDV challenge (p < 0.05) when compared to controls, especially expression levels of TGF-ß1 and IL-10. These findings suggest the important roles of these cytokines in protection against LSDV infections. Additionally, the data from diverse cytokine profiles followed by this LSDV strain challenge provides key understanding of the underlying cellular immune mechanisms in the host against LSDV infection In vitro and In vivo.

Interactions between Paracetamol and Formaldehyde: Theoretical Investigation and Topological Analysis.

In this work, noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bonds, C···C, N···O, and van der Waals forces between paracetamol and formaldehyde were investigated using the second-order perturbation theory MP2 in conjunction with the correlation consistent basis sets (aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ). Two molecular conformations of paracetamol were considered. Seven equilibrium geometries of dimers were found from the result of the interactions with formaldehyde for each conformation of paracetamol. Interaction energies of complexes with both ZPE and BSSE corrections range from -7.0 to -21.7 kJ mol-1. Topological parameters (such as electron density, its Laplacian, and local electron energy density at the bond critical points) of the bonds from atoms in molecules theory were analyzed in detail. The natural bond orbital analysis showed that the stability of complexes was controlled by noncovalent interactions including O-H···O, N-H···O, C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···H-C, C···C, and N···O. The red- and blue-shifted hydrogen bonds could both be observed in these complexes. The properties of these interactions were also further examined in water using a polarized continuum model. In water, the stability of the complex was slightly reduced as compared to that in the gas phase.

Molecular analysis of chicken interferon-alpha inducible protein 6 gene and transcriptional regulation.

Interferon-alpha inducible protein 6 (IFI6) is an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), belonging to the FAM14 family of proteins and is localized in the mitochondrial membrane, where it plays a role in apoptosis. Transcriptional regulation of this gene is poorly understood in the context of inflammation by intracellular nucleic acid-sensing receptors and pathological conditions caused by viral infection. In this study, chicken IFI6 (chIFI6) was identified and studied for its molecular features and transcriptional regulation in chicken cells and tissues, i.e., lungs, spleens, and tracheas from highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV)-infected chickens. The chIFI6-coding sequences contained 1638 nucleotides encoding 107 amino acids in three exons, whereas the duck IFI6-coding sequences contained 495 nucleotides encoding 107 amino acids. IFI6 proteins from chickens, ducks, and quail contain an IF6/IF27-like superfamily domain. Expression of chIFI6 was higher in HPAIV-infected White Leghorn chicken lungs, spleens, and tracheas than in mock-infected controls. TLR3 signals regulate the transcription of chIFI6 in chicken DF-1 cells via the NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways, indicating that multiple signaling pathways differentially contribute to the transcription of chIFI6. Further research is needed to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying IFI6 transcription, as well as the involvement of chIFI6 in the pathogenesis of HPAIV in chickens.

HPAI-resistant Ri chickens exhibit elevated antiviral immune-related gene expression.

BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is an extremely contagious and high mortality rates in chickens resulting in substantial economic impact on the poultry sector. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of HPAIV for infection control. OBJECTIVE: Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) can effectively avoid the limitations of subjective screening for differential gene expression. Therefore, we performed GSEA to compare HPAI-infected resistant and susceptible Ri chicken lines. METHODS: The Ri chickens Mx(A)/BF2(B21) were chosen as resistant, and the chickens Mx(G)/BF2(B13) were selected as susceptible by genotyping the Mx and BF2 genes. The tracheal tissues of HPAIV H5N1 infected chickens were collected for RNA sequencing followed by GSEA analysis to define gene subsets to elucidate the sequencing results. RESULTS: We identified four differentially expressed pathways, which were immune-related pathways with a total of 78 genes. The expression levels of cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12), chemokines (CCL4 and CCL5), type interferons and their receptors (IFN-ß, IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and IFNGR1), Jak-STAT signaling pathway genes (STAT1, STAT2, and JAK1), MHC class I and II and their co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD40, DMB2, BLB2, and B2M), and interferon stimulated genes (EIF2AK2 and EIF2AK1) in resistant chickens were higher than those in susceptible chickens. CONCLUSIONS: Resistant Ri chickens exhibit a stronger antiviral response to HPAIV H5N1 compared with susceptible chickens. Our findings provide insights into the immune responses of genetically disparate chickens against HPAIV.