A Note on Symplectic, Multisymplectic Scheme in Finite Element Method

We find that with uniform mesh, the numerical schemes derived from finite element method can keep a preserved symplectic structure in one-dimensional case and a preserved multisymplectic structure in two-dimentional case in certain discrete version respectively. These results are in fact the intrinsic reason that the numerical experiments indicate that such finite element algorithms are accurate in practice.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

6-Cyclo­hexyl­meth­yl-5-ethyl-2-[(2-oxo-2-phenyl­eth­yl)sulfan­yl]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one

In the title compound, C21H26N2O2S, the cyclo­hexane ring adopts a chair conformation. The angle at the methyl­ene bridge linking the pyrimidine and cyclo­hexane rings is 113.41 (13)°. This is in the range considered optimal for maximum activity of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected into centrosymmetric dimers via pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Effect of edaravone-urinary kallidinogenase combination treatment on acute cerebral infarction

Purpose: To investigate the curative effect of edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction and its effect on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL).Methods: One hundred and eighty patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) who were on admission from March 2015 to July 2016 participated in this study as research subjects. They were assigned to study group (59 patients) and control group (59 patients). Edaravone and conventional treatment were administered to the control group. In contrast, in addition to conventional treatment, the study group was given edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase. Clinical effects, neurological function and serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels in the two groups were determined.Results: The overall response of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Scores in the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were reduced in both groups, and modified Barthel index (MBI) of both groups remarkably increased, when compared to values before treatment. Improvements in NIHSS score and MBI of the study group were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels declined significantly in the two groups (p < 0.05), but post-treatment serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels of the study group were significantly reduced, relative to control values (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion: The use of edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase in the treatment of ACI can significantly reduce serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels without inducing severe adverse reactions.Keywords: Edaravone, Urinary kallidinogenase, Acute cerebral infarctio

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay Targeting the MOMP Gene for Rapid Detection of Chlamydia psittaci Abortus Strain

For rapid detection of the Chlamydia psittaci abortus strain, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and evaluated in this study. The primers for the LAMP assay were designed on the basis of the main outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene sequence of C. psittaci. Analysis showed that the assay could detect the abortus strain of C. psittaci with adequate specificity. The sensitivity of the test was the same as that of the nested-conventional PCR and higher than that of chick embryo isolation. Testing of 153 samples indicated that the LAMP assay could detect the genome of the C. psittaci abortus strain effectively in clinical samples. This assay is a useful tool for rapid diagnosis of C. psittaci infection in sheep, swine and cattle

Arctigenin alleviates ER stress via activating AMPK

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of arctigenin (ATG), a phenylpropanoid dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan from Arctium lappa L (Compositae), against ER stress in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: A cell-based screening assay for ER stress regulators was established. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze gene and protein expression. Silencing of the CaMKKβ, LKB1, and AMPKα1 genes was achieved by RNA interference (RNAi). An ATP bioluminescent assay kit was employed to measure the intracellular ATP levels. Results: ATG (2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited cell death and unfolded protein response (UPR) in a concentration-dependent manner in cells treated with the ER stress inducer brefeldin A (100 nmol/L). ATG (1, 5 and 10 μmol/L) significantly attenuated protein synthesis in cells through inhibiting mTOR-p70S6K signaling and eEF2 activity, which were partially reversed by silencing AMPKα1 with RNAi. ATG (1-50 μmol/L) reduced intracellular ATP level and activated AMPK through inhibiting complex I-mediated respiration. Pretreatment of cells with the AMPK inhibitor compound C (25 μmol/L) rescued the inhibitory effects of ATG on ER stress. Furthermore, ATG (2.5 and 5 μmol/L) efficiently activated AMPK and reduced the ER stress and cell death induced by palmitate (2 mmol/L) in INS-1 β cells. Conclusion: ATG is an effective ER stress alleviator, which protects cells against ER stress through activating AMPK, thus attenuating protein translation and reducing ER load

Tim-3 Negatively Regulates IL-12 Expression by Monocytes in HCV Infection

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) is a newly identified negative immunomodulator that is up-regulated on dysfunctional T cells during viral infections. The expression and function of Tim-3 on human innate immune responses during HCV infection, however, remains poorly characterized. In this study, we report that Tim-3 is constitutively expressed on human resting CD14+ monocyte/macrophages (M/MØ) and functions as a cap to block IL-12, a key pro-inflammatory cytokine linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Tim-3 expression is significantly reduced and IL-12 expression increased upon stimulation with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand - lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TLR7/8 ligand - R848. Notably, Tim-3 is over-expressed on un-stimulated as well as TLR-stimulated M/MØ, which is inversely associated with the diminished IL-12 expression in chronically HCV-infected individuals when compared to healthy subjects. Up-regulation of Tim-3 and inhibition of IL-12 are also observed in M/MØ incubated with HCV-expressing hepatocytes, as well as in primary M/MØ or monocytic THP-1 cells incubated with HCV core protein, an effect that mimics the function of complement C1q and is reversible by blocking the HCV core/gC1qR interaction. Importantly, blockade of Tim-3 signaling significantly rescues HCV-mediated inhibition of IL-12, which is primarily expressed by Tim-3 negative M/MØ. Tim-3 blockade reduces HCV core-mediated expression of the negative immunoregulators PD-1 and SOCS-1 and increases STAT-1 phosphorylation. Conversely, blocking PD-1 or silencing SOCS-1 gene expression also decreases Tim-3 expression and enhances IL-12 secretion and STAT-1 phosphorylation. These findings suggest that Tim-3 plays a crucial role in negative regulation of innate immune responses, through crosstalk with PD-1 and SOCS-1 and limiting STAT-1 phosphorylation, and may be a novel target for immunotherapy to HCV infection