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Objective. This study is aimed at evaluating the survival of cirrhotic patients with different etiologies after endoscopic therapy for acute variceal bleeding and the effect of repeated endotherapy on patients' prognosis. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical features and outcomes between cirrhotic patients with chronic HBV or HCV infections and other etiologies. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates and rehemorrhage rate in one year between the viral and nonviral cirrhosis patients were compared by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Cox analysis was used to identify the impact factors that affect the long-term survival of patients with cirrhosis and variceal bleeding after endotherapy. Results. Out of 2665 patients with liver cirrhosis and variceal hemorrhage selected from our medical center between September 2008 and December 2017, a total of 1342 patients were included for analysis. The median follow-up duration was 32.9 months (range 0.16-111.4 months), the 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 75.3% and 52.8%, respectively. The median survival time was significantly longer in viral cirrhosis patients (47.1 months [95% CI: 24.9-69.1]) compared with nonviral cirrhosis patients (37.0 months [95% CI: 25.0-56.0], p = 0.001). The 3-year and 5-year survival rates of the viral group were higher than the nonviral group. The rehemorrhage rate at one year was higher in nonviral patients than in viral patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Repeated endotherapy combined with effective antiviral therapy is helpful for long-term survival of cirrhotic population with variceal hemorrhage and HBV or HCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Post-operative recurrence rates are high for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to explore the factors associated with post-operative 1-year recurrence rate in patients with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor (≤3 cm in diameter). Methods This was a retrospective study of 203 (training cohort) and 64 (validation cohort) patients newly diagnosed with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor. The first year of post-operative follow-up was examined. Factors potentially associated with HCC recurrence were identified using Cox regression analyses. A model was constructed based on the factors identified and the prognostic value of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calculation of the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results A history of alcoholism and serum levels of α-fetoprotein, total protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were independently associated with 1-year recurrence rate after surgery. A predictive model based on these four factors had an AUC of 0.711 (95% confidence interval, 0.643–0.772) in the training cohort and 0.727 (95% confidence interval, 0.601–0.831) in the validation cohort. The 1-year recurrence rate was significantly lower in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group in both the training cohort (17.0% vs. 49.5%, P  <   0.001) and the validation cohort (43.2% vs. 74.1%, P  =   0.031). Conclusion A history of alcoholism and serum levels of α-fetoprotein, total protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were independently associated with post-operative 1-year recurrence rate in patients with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor (≤3 cm in diameter). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) was selected as a sonosensitizer. The sonodynamic damage to human serum albumin (HSA) in the presence of BCB and the mechanism were studied by means of fluorescence and absorption spectra. Firstly, BCB could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA obviously and the quenching mechanism was static quenching due to the formation of HSA-BCB complex. The results of the displacement experiments and the molecular modeling suggested that the binding site of BCB on HSA was site I, and hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonds played major roles in the interaction between HSA and BCB. Secondly, the damage of HSA induced by the combined effects of ultrasonic irradiation and BCB was more efficient than that only BCB or ultrasound irradiation, which confirmed that BCB had sonodynamic activity. The damage degree of HSA was positively correlated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the system, which indicated that ultrasound could activate BCB to produce ROS, and the kinds of ROS produced by the combined effects of ultrasonic irradiation and BCB were mainly hydroxyl free radical, singlet oxygen and superoxide anion radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the single and simultaneous interactions of theophylline and flavonoids with human serum albumin (HSA) were studied by multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking approaches. The influences of flavonoids on the binding constant ( K b ) and the binding distance ( r ) of theophylline bind to HSA were determined and the changes of HSA conformation caused by the synergies of theophylline and flavonoids were investigated. Because theophylline, rutin and baicalin are all bond to the same binding site, the competitive bind of theophylline and flavonoids to HSA leads to the reduction of the K a value of theophylline binding to HSA. The addition of rutin and baicalin can increase the value of r of theophylline binding to HSA, which further confirm the existence of the competitive bind of theophylline and flavonoids to HSA. Additionally, the results of synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra indicate that the presence of rutin and baicalin can give rise to the further changes of HSA conformation. These results suggest that the intake of flavonoid-rich food and beverages can increase the serum concentrations of theophylline and induce a high incidence of toxic symptom in clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) and fluphenazine (FPZ) in the presence or absence of rutin or quercetin were studied by fluorescence, absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The results showed that the fluorescence quenching mechanism was static quenching by the formation of an HSA-FPZ complex. Entropy change (Δ S0) and enthalpy change (Δ H0) values were 68.42 J/(mol ⋅K) and −4.637 kJ/mol, respectively, which indicated that hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds played major roles in the acting forces. The interaction process was spontaneous because the Gibbs free energy change (Δ G0) values were negative. The results of competitive experiments demonstrated that FPZ was mainly located within HSA site I (sub-domain IIA). Molecular docking results were in agreement with the experimental conclusions of the thermodynamic parameters and competition experiments. Competitive binding to HSA between flavonoids and FPZ decreased the association constants and increased the binding distances of FPZ binding to HSA. The results of absorption, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence, and CD spectra showed that the binding of FPZ to HSA caused conformational changes in HSA and simultaneous effects of FPZ and flavonoids induced further HSA conformational changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the binding characteristics of methylene blue (MB) to human serum albumin (HSA) and the influence of Cu2+ and Fe3+ on the binding affinity ofMBto HSAwere investigated using fluorescence, absorption, circular dichroism(CD) spectroscopy andmolecular modelling. The results of competitive binding experiments using the site probes ketoprofen and ibuprofen as specific markers suggested that MB was located in site I within sub-domain IIA of HSA. The molecular modelling results agreed with the results of competitive site marker experiments and the results of CD spectra indicated that the interaction betweenMB and HSA caused the conformational changes in HSA. The binding affinity ofMB to HSAwas enhanced but to a different extent in the presence of Cu2+ and Fe3+, respectively, which indicated that the influence of different metal ions varied. Enhancement of the binding affinity of MB to HSA in the presence of Cu2+ is due to the formation of Cu2+-HSA complex leading to the conformational changes in HSA, whereas in the presence of Fe3+, enhancement of the binding affinity is due to the greater stability of the Fe3+-HSA-MB complex compared with the MB-HSA complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and eosine B (EB) were selected as a model protein and sonosensitizer, respectively. The sonodynamic damage to protein in the presence of EB and its mechanism were studied by means of absorption and fluorescence spectra. The results indicated that the synergistic effects of ultrasound and EB can efficiently damage the BSA molecules, and the damage of protein could be mainly due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The damage degree of protein increased with the increase of ultrasonic time and EB concentration because of the increased quantities of ROS. Hydroxyl free radical ( OH) was the major mediators of the ultrasound-inducing proteins damage in the presence of EB. In addition, the quantities of ROS from the diphenylcarbazide (DPCI)–EB solutions and the DPCI–fluorescein (FS) solutions with or without ROS scavengers were contrasted, respectively. The results show that FS mainly produce OH, but the quantities of ROS in the presence of FS were lower than those of EB, which indicates that the nitro and bromine substituent groups on the benzene ring of FS increase the quantity of ROS, but do not change the kinds of ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sonodynamic damage to protein in the presence of methylene blue (MB) and the various influencing factors including ultrasonic irradiation time and MB concentration on the damage of protein were studied by fluorescence and absorption spectra. In addition, the mechanisms of the synergistic effects of ultrasound and MB were studied by oxidation–extraction photometry with several reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. The results indicated that the damage of protein induced by the synergistic effects of ultrasound and MB were more serious than those that ultrasound or MB alone was applied. The damage of protein could be mainly due to the generation of ROS. The damage degree of protein increased with the increase of ultrasonic irradiation time and MB concentration because of the increased quantities of ROS generation. Both 1 O 2 and OH were the important mediators of the ultrasound-inducing protein damage in the presence of MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods. Sixty-four pSS subjects and 108 non-pSS patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Serum anti-alpha-fodrin IgA and IgG were detected by ELISA in a blind fashion. The diagnostic accuracy of anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Logistic regression was used to investigate whether anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies could improve the accuracy of pSS diagnosis if used in addition to anti-SSA and anti-SSB. Results. The areas under the ROC curves for anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA were 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.77) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.54-0.72), respectively ( P < 0.01 for both). The optimal diagnostic thresholds for anti-fodrin IgG and IgA were 11.75 U/ml and 9.75 U/ml, respectively, with a sensitivity of 0.59 and 0.55, and a specificity of 0.75 and 0.73, respectively. Anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA antibodies were associated with pSS after adjustment for anti-SSA and anti-SSB. Conclusions. Anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA antibodies are useful diagnostic markers which may improve the accuracy of pSS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two novel water-soluble pyrazolo[1,5- a pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized. • Antibacterial activity of CMPS and NCPS both increased with concentrations. • Binding characterizations of CMPS and NCPS to plasma protein were investigated. Two novel water-soluble pyrazolo[1,5- a pyrimidine derivatives, 5-chloro-7-(4-methyl-piperazin −1-yl)-pyrazolo[1,5- a pyrimidine (CMPS) and N′-(5-chloro-pyrazolo[1,5- a pyrimidin-7-yl)-N, N -dimethyl -propane-1,3-diamine (NCPS), were synthesized and characterized with antibacterial activity. Then, the interactions of these compounds with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular docking. The results indicate that both CMPS and NCPS could effectively quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA via a static quenching process. The energy transfer from BSA to CMPS and NCPS may occur with high probability. Both CMPS and NCPS bind in the site I of BSA. The hydrophobic force and hydrogen bonds play major roles in the complex formation. Binding constants for both systems show that the affinity of CMPS binding to BSA is stronger than that of NCPS. The results of three-dimensional fluorescence and CD spectra reveal that the binding of CMPS and NCPS to BSA can induce conformational changes of BSA, and the influence of CMPS is slightly stronger than that of NCPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bacillus sp. 6256 is a good biocontrol agent against Botrytis cinerea which caused tomato gray mold disease. Strain 6256 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens by analysis of its partial gyrB gene sequence. To identify and characterize the antimycotic peptides from the culture broth of the bacterium, the antimicrobial substances produced by B. amyloliquefaciens 6256 were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Superdex 200 gel filtration chromatography and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. The purified compound was designated as P657. The biological activity of P657 was stable at as high as 100 °C for 20 min and in pH value ranged from 5 to 10. The antimycotic compound was resistant to trypsin and proteinase K, and could completely inhibit spore germination of Botrytis cinerea in vitro. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis results showed the presence of fengycins A (C 16 –C 17) and fengycins B (C 15 –C 17) isoforms in P657. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • B. amyloliquefaciens 6256 strongly inhibited the mycelia growth of Botrytis cinerea in vivo and in vitro. • The antimicrobial compounds were purified by gel filtration chromatography and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. • The biocontrol mechanism of 6256 was attributed to the production of fengycins A and fengycins B isoforms. • The purified peptide was thermostable, pH-stable and tolerant to trypsin and proteinase K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]