[Application of animal drugs in uro-andrological diseases under the guidance of diversified theories of traditional Chinese medicine].

Animal drugs have been used in the treatment of uro-andrological diseases since ancient times. At present, the clinical use of animal drugs is mostly based on the experience of doctors. From the perspective of the diversified theories of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this paper summarizes the experience of predecessors in the use of animal drugs, and believes that under the guidance of the TCM theories, the application of animal drugs in the treatment of uro-andrological diseases has achieved multi-dimensional and diversified development, as in the treatment of chronic prostatitis based on the theories of "heat poison", "stasis poison" and "aromatherapy through the orifice", and in the management of ED from the perspective of "kidney deficiency", "qi-blood disharmony" and "collateral disease", which accords with the mainstream thought of current scholars in the differentiation and treatment of uro-andrological diseases.

Proteolysis-targeting influenza vaccine strains induce broad-spectrum immunity and in vivo protection.

Generating effective live vaccines from intact viruses remains challenging owing to considerations of safety and immunogenicity. Approaches that can be applied in a systematic manner are needed. Here we created a library of live attenuated influenza vaccines by using diverse cellular E3 ubiquitin ligases to generate proteolysis-targeting (PROTAR) influenza A viruses.

PROTAR Vaccine 2.0 generates influenza vaccines by degrading multiple viral proteins.

Manipulating viral protein stability using the cellular ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) represents a promising approach for developing live-attenuated vaccines. The first-generation proteolysis-targeting (PROTAR) vaccine had limitations, as it incorporates proteasome-targeting degrons (PTDs) at only the terminal ends of viral proteins, potentially restricting its broad application. Here we developed the next-generation PROTAR vaccine approach, referred to as PROTAR 2.

Efficacy of Hongjing I granule, an herbal medicine, in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: HJIG is a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) that has been used in China for over 20 years. We conducted a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese Herbal Medicine, Hongjing I granule (HJIG), in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: This study is structured as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, executed across multiple centers.

Periodic mesoporous organosilica-loaded mincle agonists enhance the immunogenicity of COVID-19 subunit vaccines by dual activation of B cells and dendritic cells.

Effective vaccination is crucial for intervening in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the continuous mutation of the SARS-CoV-2, existing vaccines including subunit vaccines cannot effectively prevent virus infections. Hence, there is an urgent need to enhance the immunogenicity of existing vaccines to induce a more potent and durable immune response.

NRP1 Induces Enhanced Stemness and Chemoresistance in Glioma Cells via YAP.

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a transmembrane glycoprotein, plays an important role in the malignant progression of gliomas; however, its role in chemoresistance is not fully understood. In this study, we observed the effects of NRP1 on the stemness and chemoresistance of glioma cells and the mediating role of Yes-associated protein (YAP). We constructed NRP1 overexpressing LN-229 glioma cells.

Patient-derived tumor models and their distinctive applications in personalized drug therapy.

Tumor models are conventional methods for developing anti-cancer drugs, evaluating drug delivery, or calculating drug efficacy. However, traditional cell line-derived tumor models are unable to capture the tumor heterogeneity in patients or mimic the interaction between tumors and their surroundings. Recently emerging patient-derived preclinical cancer models, including of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, circulating tumor cell (CTC)-derived model, and tumor organoids-on-chips, are promising in personalized drug therapy by recapitulating the complexities and personalities of tumors and surroundings.

Molecular Mechanism of Adenovirus Late Protein L4-100K Chaperones the Trimerization of Hexon.

Assembly of the adenovirus capsid protein hexon depends on the assistance of the molecular chaperone L4-100K. However, the chaperone mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that L4-100K was involved in the hexon translation process and could prevent hexon degradation by the proteasome in cotransfected human cells.

3D Lung Tissue Models for Studies on SARS-CoV-2 Pathophysiology and Therapeutics.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has provoked more than six million deaths worldwide and continues to pose a major threat to global health. Enormous efforts have been made by researchers around the world to elucidate COVID-19 pathophysiology, design efficacious therapy and develop new vaccines to control the pandemic. To this end, experimental models are essential.

[Clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules on chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome Re-evaluation based on multicenter real-world study].

Objective: To re-evaluate the clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules (LJTL) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome.

Methods: This multicenter real-world study included 1 352 cases of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and stagnation syndrome treated with LJTL (3 capsules once, tid, 30 minutes after meals, for 2 four-week courses) in addition to routine treatment. Before and after treatment, we analyzed the NIH-CPSI scores, the scores of Chinese medicine symptom quantitative classification and changes in individual symptom scores, and observed adverse reactions to medication.

Generation of a live attenuated influenza A vaccine by proteolysis targeting.

The usefulness of live attenuated virus vaccines has been limited by suboptimal immunogenicity, safety concerns or cumbersome manufacturing processes and techniques. Here we describe the generation of a live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine using proteolysis-targeting chimeric (PROTAC) technology to degrade viral proteins via the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system of host cells. We engineered the genome of influenza A viruses in stable cell lines engineered for virus production to introduce a conditionally removable proteasome-targeting domain, generating fully infective PROTAC viruses that were live attenuated by the host protein degradation machinery upon infection.

Fluid Shear Stress-Induced Exosomes from Liver Cancer Cells Promote Activation of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts via IGF2-PI3K Axis.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are of considerable importance in tumor progression by interacting with the tumor microenvironment. However, the hidden mechanism explaining how tumor cells interact with CAFs in the tumor mechanical microenvironment remains largely unknown.

Methods: We highlighted exosomes as the mediator modulating the interaction between liver cancer cells and CAFs under mechanical conditions.

HPV16 E6 gene polymorphisms and the functions of the mutation site in cervical cancer among Uygur ethnic and Han nationality women in Xinjiang, China.

Background: To investigate the genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in infected Uygur and Han women in Xinjiang, China; analyze the HPV16 E6 gene polymorphism site and relationship with the development of cervical cancer.

Methods: The HPV16 E6 sequence was analyzed using the European standard prototype to perform an evolutionary tree. HPV16 E6-T295/T350, G295/G350, and T295/G350 GV230 vectors were stably transfected into cervical cancer C33A cells to analyze the cell proliferation, migration and invasion, apoptosis by CCK8 and clonogenic assays, transwell and cell scratch assays, FACS experiments.

Analysis of genetic variation in human papillomavirus type 16 E1 and E2 in women with cervical infection in Xinjiang, China.

Background: Xinjiang is one of the regions with a high incidence of cervical cancer, and the genetic variation of human papillomavirus may increase its ability to infect the human body and enhance virus-mediated immune escape ability.

Methods: Sanger sequencing of the HPV16 genome from 165 samples positive for HPV16 infection and phylogenetic analysis of the E1 and E2 genes revealed the gene polymorphism of HPV16 in Xinjiang.

Results: The results showed that there were 109 samples with variations in HPV16 E1, 48 sites with nucleotide variations (19 missense variations and 29 synonymous variations), and 91 samples with variations in HPV16 E2, 25 sites with nucleotide variations (20 missense variations and five synonymous variations).

Effects of functional correction training on injury risk of athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We explored functional correction training using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) tool. We also analyzed the effects of training on the injuries of athletes in a systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomized clinical trials.

Methodology: We collected twenty-four articles from PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, SPORTDiscus, Embase, WanFang, and CNKI that were published between January 1997 to September 2020.

The Value and Clinical Significance of Gene Methylation in the Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether gene methylation and tissue protein expression can be used as a tool with high sensitivity and specificity for cervical cancer screening. We analyzed the correlation between promoter methylation of gene and cervical cancer and high risk HPV16/18 infection.

Methods: Tissue samples of normal cervical or chronic cervicitis (n=51), CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) (n=35), and cervical carcinoma (n=68) were tested for HPV16/18 infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, Qiaoshao formula, combined with dapoxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: An open-label, real-life, retrospective multicentre study in Chinese men.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chinese medicine, Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine was used for the treatment of premature ejaculation in a real-life setting. Nine hundred and five males diagnosed with premature ejaculation were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study. We divided the patients into two groups: dapoxetine alone and Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine according to actual interventions provided to patients in clinics.

[Huanshao Capsules for erectile dysfunction with spleen and kidney deficiency: A multicentered clinical trial].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) in the treatment of ED with spleen and kidney deficiency.

Methods: This randomized open multicentered positive drug controlled clinical trial included 248 cases of ED with spleen and kidney deficiency, which were assigned to a trial and a control group of equal number to be treated with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid and Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, respectively, both for 4 weeks. We recorded and compared the IIEF-5 scores, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, and hepatic and renal functions between the two groups of patients before and at 2 and 4 weeks after medication.

Sanjin tablets for acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (syndrome of dampness-heat in the lower jiao): protocol for randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel control of positive drug, multicenter clinical trial.

Background: Acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. Patients usually present with dysuria, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, and suprapubic pain or tenderness. Approximately 150 million people are diagnosed with UTI each year worldwide.

A New Method of RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Based on Convolutional Neural Network and Dynamic Programming.

In recent years, obtaining RNA secondary structure information has played an important role in RNA and gene function research. Although some RNA secondary structures can be gained experimentally, in most cases, efficient, and accurate computational methods are still needed to predict RNA secondary structure. Current RNA secondary structure prediction methods are mainly based on the minimum free energy algorithm, which finds the optimal folding state of RNA using an iterative method to meet the minimum energy or other constraints.

Genetic variations in E6, E7 and the long control region of human papillomavirus type 16 among patients with cervical lesions in Xinjiang, China.

Background: Xinjiang is one of the areas with the highest incidence of cervical cancer in China. Genetic variation in Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) may increase the ability of the virus to mediate carcinogenesis and immune escape, which are risk factors for the progression of cervical cancer. We investigated polymorphism in HPV16 and the distribution of its sub-lineages in the region by analyzing the , and () gene sequences from women with HPV16-positive cervical samples in Xinjiang.

Effects of Qianlie Tongqiao Capsule on Bladder Weight and Growth Factors in Bladder Tissue of Rats with Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Qianlie Tongqiao Capsule (QTC) is clinically confirmed to be efficacious and safe in treating lower urinary tract syndromes and bladder dysfunction that are induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the functional mechanisms of QTC remain unclear. We aim to investigate the effects of QTC on both bladder weight and several growth factors in the bladder tissue of rats with testosterone-induced BPH.

[Huanshao Capsules combined with levocarnitine for the treatment of asthenospermia, oligospermia and teratozoospermia].

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) combined with levocarnitine (LC) on asthenospermia, oligospermia, teratozoospermia, and the semen parameters of the patients.

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study included 186 infertility patients with spleen and kidney asthenia. We randomly divided them into three groups of equal number and treated them orally with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid, LC at 10 ml tid, and HSC+LC, respectively, all for 12 weeks.