Insights into battles between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and macrophages

As the first line of immune defense for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), macrophages also provide a major habitat for Mtb to reside in the host for years. The battles between Mtb and macrophages have been constant since ancient times. Triggered upon Mtb infection, multiple cellular pathways in macrophages are activated to initiate a tailored immune response toward the invading pathogen and regulate the cellular fates of the host as well. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed on macrophages can recognize pathogen-associated-molecular patterns (PAMPs) on Mtb and mediate the production of immune-regulatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and type I Interferons (IFNs). In addition, Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and Vitamin D-1-hydroxylase are up-regulated in Mtb-infected macrophages, by which Vitamin D participates in innate immune responses. The signaling pathways that involve TNF, type I IFNs and Vitamin D are inter-connected, which play critical roles in the regulation of necroptosis, apoptosis, and autophagy of the infected macrophages. This review article summarizes current knowledge about the interactions between Mtb and macrophages, focusing on cellular fates of the Mtb-infected macrophages and the regulatory molecules and cellular pathways involved in those processes

Land Policy and Systematic Transformation in Chinese Rural Areas （1950—1978）

Based on historical review of the Chinese rural land policy from 1950 to 1978, we looked back the devious journey undergone in Chinese rural areas during this period. At first, the landlord’s ownership was transferred into the peasant’s ownership; and then private ownership was transferred into public ownership. The radical transformation of property right and process of agricultural cooperation went against the economic law and the wills of the mass peasants, which led to laggard rural productive forces and long-term low peasants’ income level. During the policy transformation process, political and ideological factors played the predominant role, which led to harmful results. The experiences in this period demonstrated that the economic developmental model and systematic arrangement in Chinese rural areas should satisfy the peasants’ free wills and protect the peasants’ essential interests. Only in this way could the Chinese rural economy gain fast development. Key Words: Chinese Rural Areas, Land Policy, System Arrangement, Ideology, Interests. Abstrait: Basés sur une révision historique de la politique de terre dans les régions rurales de Chine de 1950 à 1978, nous avons mené un examen rétrospectif sur le parcours détourné qu’avaient traversé ces régions pendant cette période. Au début, les terres des propriétaires fonciers avaient été transférées comme propriétés des paysans ; et puis, les propriétés privées avaient été transféré comme propriétés publiques. La transformation radicale du droit de propriété et le processus de la coopération agricole après la réforme de terre allaient à l’encontre de la loi économique et de la volonté des paysans, ce qui avait conduit à un retard des forces productives dans les régions rurales et à un niveau de revenu très inférieur pour les paysans chinois. Dans ce processus de transformation de politiques, les facteurs politiques et idéologiques avaient joué un rôle prédominant, d’où des résultats défavorables. Les expériences que nous avons tirées pendant cette période montrent bien que le modèle du développement économique et l’arrangement systématique dans les régions rurales de Chine doivent satisfaire la volonté des paysans et protéger leurs intérêts fondamentaux. C’est aussi le seul moyen qui permette aux régions rurales de Chine de réaliser un développement rapide. Mots Clés: Régions Rurales de Chine, Politique de Terre, Transformation Systématique, Idéologie, Intérêts. 摘要：本文通過對中國農村 1950年到 1978年土地政策的歷史追溯，研究這一時期中國農村走過的曲折路程。這一時期中國農村由土地地主所有變為農民所有，繼而由產權私有轉變為產權公有。產權的根本性變更和農業合作化的過程，違背了經濟規律和廣大農民的意願，導致中國農村生產力水準和農民收入水準的長期低下。在政策變遷的過程中，政治和意識形態因素發揮了主導作用，造成了不良的後果。事實表明，中國農村的經濟發展模式和制度安排要建立在農民自願和保護農民基本利益的基礎之上，如此才能使中國的農村經濟得到快速的發展。 關鍵詞：中國農村；土地政策；制度安排；意識形態；利

μ-4,4′-Bipyridine-bis­[aqua­(4-hy­droxy­pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl­ato)copper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu2(C7H3NO5)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)2], exhibits a centrosymmetric binuclear molecule. Each completely deprotonated 4-hy­droxy­pyridine-2,6-dicarb­oxy­lic acid mol­ecule assumes a tridentate chelating coordination mode. The square-pyramidal coordination geometry around the CuII ion is completed by the bridging bipyridine ligand and an apical water molecule. Adjacent complexes are connected via O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate a three-dimensional supra­molecular structure

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium ameliorates diabetic foot ulcers in rats

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium (MSC-CM) treating diabetic foot ulcers in rats. Methods: Models of T2DM rats were induced by a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ in SD rats. Models of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) were made by operation on hind limbs in diabetic rats. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 for each group), i.e., Normal Control group (NC), Diabetes Control group (DM-C), MSC-CM group and Mesenchymal Stem Cells group (MSCs). MSC-CM group was treated with an injection of conditioned medium derived from preconditioned rats' bone marrow MSCs around ulcers. MSCs group were treated with an injection of rats' bone marrow MSCs. The other two groups were treated with an injection of PBS. After the treatment, wound closure, re-epithelialization (thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, by H&E staining), cell proliferation (Ki67, by IHC), angiogenesis (CD31, by IFC), autophagy (LC3B, by IFC and WB; autolysosome, by EM) and pyroptosis (IL-1β, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N, by WB) in ulcers were evaluated. Results: After the treatment wound area rate, IL-1β by ELISA, and IL-1β, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N by WB of MSC-CM group were less than those of DM group. The thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, proliferation index of Ki67, mean optic density of CD31 and LC3B by IFC, and LC3B by WB of MSC-CM group were more than those of DM group. The present analysis demonstrated that the injection of MSC-CM into rats with DFUs enhanced the wound-healing process by accelerating wound closure, promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, enhancing cell autophagy, and reducing cell pyroptosis in ulcers. Conclusions: Studies conducted indicate that MSC-CM administration could be a novel cell-free therapeutic approach to treat DFUs accelerating the wound healing process and avoiding the risk of living cells therapy

Current epidemiological profile and features of visceral leishmaniasis in people's republic of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is still an important public health problem in China. In recent years endemic regions spread, prevalence increased, and even an outbreak of the disease occurred in China due to global warming and population movement. It is essential to elucidate the current epidemic situation and epidemiological characteristics of VL for designing control policy. In the present study we describe the current epidemiological profile and characteristics of VL in China based on retrospectively reviewing of VL cases reported between 2005 and 2010 by a passive surveillance system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study was a retrospective review of VL cases notified between 2005 and 2010 based on the passive surveillance data. The data were tabulated, diagrammatized and analyzed through descriptive statistics in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 2450 VL cases were notified, with a mean of 408 cases per year. 61 counties were identified as endemic area with 2224 autochthonous cases, and the other 118 counties as non-endemic areas with 226 imported cases. 97.71% of cases were concentrated in Xinjiang, Gansu and Sichuan Provinces. 9 major counties reported a mean of > 10 cases per year, with a total of 1759 cases reported. Different types of VL revealed distinct epidemiological characteristics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The number of VL cases and endemic counties both increased in the period 2005-2010 in China. Different type or sub-type of VL revealed distinct epidemiological characteristics. Therefore, differential control measures must be taken in different endemic areas against incidence increase and endemic area spread.</p

6,6′-Dihydr­oxy-3,3′-dithio­dibenzoic acid

In the title compound, C14H10O6S2, the dihedral angle between the planes of the two phenyl­ene rings is 55.9 (1)°. Both hydr­oxy groups form intra­molecular hydrogen bonds; however, one of them also engages in inter­molecular hydrogen bonding. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected into helical chains by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The crystal studied was an inversion twin with a domain ratio of 0.51 (13):0.49 (13)

Lignocellulosic saccharification by a newly isolated bacterium, Ruminiclostridium thermocellum M3 and cellular cellulase activities for high ratio of glucose to cellobiose

Background: Lignocellulosic biomass is one of earth's most abundant resources, and it has great potential for biofuel production because it is renewable and has carbon-neutral characteristics. Lignocellulose is mainly composed of carbohydrate polymers (cellulose and hemicellulose), which contain approximately 75 % fermentable sugars for biofuel fermentation. However, saccharification by cellulases is always the main bottleneck for commercialization. Compared with the enzyme systems of fungi, bacteria have evolved distinct systems to directly degrade lignocellulose. However, most reported bacterial saccharification is not efficient enough without help from additional β-glucosidases. Thus, to enhance the economic feasibility of using lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production, it will be extremely important to develop a novel bacterial saccharification system that does not require the addition of β-glucosidases. Results: In this study, a new thermophilic bacterium named Ruminiclostridium thermocellum M3, which could directly saccharify lignocellulosic biomass, was isolated from horse manure. The results showed that R. thermocellum M3 can grow at 60 °C on a variety of carbon polymers, including microcrystalline cellulose, filter paper, and xylan. Upon utilization of these substrates, R. thermocellum M3 achieved an oligosaccharide yield of 481.5 ± 16.0 mg/g Avicel, and a cellular β-glucosidase activity of up to 0.38 U/mL, which is accompanied by a high proportion (approximately 97 %) of glucose during the saccharification. R. thermocellum M3 also showed potential in degrading natural lignocellulosic biomass, without additional pretreatment, to oligosaccharides, and the oligosaccharide yields using poplar sawdust, corn cobs, rice straw, and cornstalks were 52.7 ± 2.77, 77.8 ± 5.9, 89.4 ± 9.3, and 107.8 ± 5.88 mg/g, respectively. Conclusions: The newly isolated strain R. thermocellum M3 degraded lignocellulose and accumulated oligosaccharides. R. thermocellum M3 saccharified lignocellulosic feedstock without the need to add β-glucosidases or control the pH, and the high proportion of glucose production distinguishes it from all other known monocultures of cellulolytic bacteria. R. thermocellum M3 is a potential candidate for lignocellulose saccharification, and it is a valuable choice for the refinement of bioproducts

4-Hy­droxy-3,5-dimeth­oxy-N-{4-[(5-methyl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)sulfamo­yl]phen­yl}benzamide methanol monosolvate

The title compound, C19H19N3O7S·CH3OH, was synthesized from syringic acid and sulfamethoxazole. The benzene rings make a dihedral angle of 41.8 (1)° and the isoxazole ring is twisted by 74.3 (1)° from the central benzene ring. The crystal packing features O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds in which the hy­droxy groups from the main mol­ecule and methanol solvent mol­ecules serve as donor groups