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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading worldwide with a mind-boggling speed According to a statement from World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has infected more than six billions people and caused more than one and half million passing in the world Based on previous experience with SARS, the Taiwanese government had decided to block viral transmission during its early stages This review sums up the clinical characteristics, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection process, diagnostic methods, preventive strategy, and the executive proportions of COVID-19, as well as the name-based mask distribution system (NBMDS) in Taiwan We also give a review of the conceivable sub-atomic pharmacologic systems against SARS-CoV-2 specialists and the blend of remdesivir (GS-5734), chloroquine (CQ), and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) Lastly, we summarized the therapeutic agents against COVID-19 as mentioned by COVID-19 treatment guidelines In this review, development of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 viral agents, vaccines for COVID-19 therapy or an effective combination therapy can be expected based on all the information accumulated Last but not least, we might want to stretch out our best respects to all medical providers in their worldwide battle against COVID-19

The killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR), which mediates the killing function of NK cells, is an attractive candidate for adoptive cellular therapy. The ethnic distribution for China provides a unique opportunity to investigate KIR gene distribution.The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between population history and the rapidly evolving KIR genetic diversity.8050 Chinese donors from 184 hospitals were included to analyse frequency, haplotype, and B-content data of 16 KIR genes, by PCR-SSP for KIR genotyping.KIR gene carrier frequencies were found similar to those observed in other studies on Han, but different from Thais, Japanese, Africans, and populations of West Eurasian ancestry. High-frequency KIR genotype profiles found in the present population were consistent with other studies on Han populations but different from those conducted on other cohorts. The majority of our cohort carried group A KIR gene motifs. Additionally, populations with similar geographic locations in China were shown clustered together, while Hainan and Xinjiang provinces were slightly separated from these.The distribution of KIR genes varies by geographic region, and different ethnic groups may be a confounding factor of KIR diversity.

Objective To evaluate patterns of insulin secretion in pregnancy and analyze the association between insulin patterns and risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A prospective study was conducted to collect and analyze pregnant women's materials from January 2015 to December 2018. Pregnant women were grouped according to results of 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and GDM. Insulin secretion patterns were based on the time of peak(s) and shape of insulin secretion curve. The relationship between insulin secretion patterns and pregnant outcomes was analyzed. Results A total of 2432 pregnant women met the inclusion criteria during the study period. Among them, 737 (30.3%) women were grouped as GDM and 1695 (69.7%) as NGT. Type I insulin secretion represented the early phase of insulin secretion (peak time at 30 or 60 minutes), while type II represented the delayed peak of insulin secretion (peak time at 120 or 180 minutes). Logistic regression analysis showed that type II insulin secretion was a risk factor of pre-eclampsia, large-for-gestational-age, and neonatal hypoglycemia. Conclusion The delayed insulin peak is a useful marker for risk of GDM and adverse pregnant outcomes in women with GDM.

Dracorhodin can be isolated from the exudates of the fruit of Daemonorops draco. Previous studies suggested that dracorhodin perchlorate can promote fibroblast proliferation and enhance angiogenesis during wound healing. In the present study, the potential bioactivity of dracorhodin perchlorate in human HaCaT keratinocytes, were investigated in vitro, with specific focus on HaCaT wound healing. The results of in vitro scratch assay demonstrated the progressive closure of the wound after treatment with dracorhodin perchlorate in a time-dependent manner. An MTT assay and propidium iodide exclusion detected using flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability of HaCaT cells. Potential signaling pathways underlying the effects mediated by dracorhodin perchlorate in HaCaT cells were clarified by western blot analysis and kinase activity assays. Dracorhodin perchlorate significantly increased the protein expression levels of β-catenin and activation of AKT, ERK and p38 in HaCaT cells. In addition, dracorhodin perchlorate did not induce HaCaT cell proliferation but promoted cell migration. Other mechanisms may yet be involved in the dracorhodin perchlorate-induced wound healing process of human keratinocytes. In summary, dracorhodin perchlorate may serve to be a potential molecularly-targeted phytochemical that can improve skin wound healing.

This article has been retracted at the request of the editor due to incorrect format. Therefore, it has been corrected and replaced.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which has caused millions of confirmed infections and thousands of deaths, has been the most devastating worldwide crises recently. The main clinical symptoms of confirmed COVID-19 cases include fever, dry cough, general fatigue, respiratory symptoms, diarrhoea and sore throat, similar to those of acute respiratory distress syndrome. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, belongs to a novel coronavirus strain against which no drug or vaccine currently exists. Therefore, research units around the world have been actively developing efficient diagnostic tools and new drugs. This review summarises the clinical manifestations of COVID-19, analyses the viral genome sequence and life cycle, identifies methods for preventing viral transmission, discusses possible molecular pharmacologic mechanisms and approaches in the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus therapeutic agents and introduces management measures against COVID-19 in Taiwan, especially policies for a name-based mask distribution system. Finally, we summarise traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) for COVID-19. Based on all the information accumulated in this review, development of novel anti-viral agents, vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 therapy or an effective combination therapy can be expected. Finally, we would like to extend our best regards to the frontline health workers in their global fight against COVID-19.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of different human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes and their association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles in China. Patients and methods A total of 16,168 married Chinese women in Maoming City of Guangdong province were tested for high-risk HPV infection. High-resolution typing of HLA-DRB1/DQB1 alleles was also performed on samples found to be infected with HPV. Results All in all, HPV-52, −58, −16, −18, and −53 were the five most common subtypes of HPV, with an incidence of high-risk HPV infection of 7.14%. Among women at high-risk of HPV infection, −DRB1*0403 (3.12% vs. 1.67%, odds ratio [OR] 1.894), −DQB1*0602 (3.74% vs. 1.82%, OR 2.094), and −DQB1*0609 (2.02% vs. 0.91%, OR 2.249) frequencies were higher than in controls. In contrast, −DQB1*0402 (0.31% vs. 1.29%, OR 0.239) in women with high-risk HPV infection exhibited a significantly decreased frequency compared to the controls. Conclusion Our results strongly support previous findings from other populations that −DRB1*0403 and −DQB1*0602 may be risk factors for HPV infection and subsequent development of cervical cancer. Moreover, unlike the European population, −DQB1*0402 may protect rather than render Maoming women susceptible to HPV infection.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease. The KK Cg-Ay/J (KK-Ay) mouse is an animal model to study type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) disease. The present study assessed the expression of hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) protein in liver tissues of different age groups of mice (6, 16 and 42 weeks) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the percentage of HHEX-positive cells in KK-Ay mice as compared with that in KK-α/α control mice. Furthermore, in Taiwan's Han Chinese population, genotypic and allelic frequency distributions of the rs61862780 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the HHEX gene were investigated. The results demonstrated that in the rs61862780 SNP of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of HHEX, the frequency of the CC genotype was higher in patients (6.0%) than in controls (2.7%), while the TT genotype frequency was about equal. In the same SNP, the frequency of the C allele was higher in patients (21.0%) than in controls (17.3%), while the T allele frequency was about equal. These results may pave the road for exploring the KK-Ay mouse model and the HHEX SNP rs61862780, which was correlated with the susceptibility to T2D in a Chinese population. Based on these findings, an association of HHEX gene expression with pathological features of T2D was indicated.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of the bone and is characterized by local invasion and distant metastasis. Over the past 20 years, long-term outcomes have reached a plateau even with aggressive therapy. Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF‑1R) is associated with tumor proliferation, invasion and migration in osteosarcoma. In the present study, our group developed a novel quinazoline derivative, 6-fluoro‑2-(3-fluorophenyl)-4-(cyanoanilino)quinazoline (HMJ‑30), in order to disrupt IGF‑1R signaling and tumor invasiveness in osteosarcoma U‑2 OS cells. Molecular modeling, immune-precipitation, western blotting and phosphorylated protein kinase sandwich ELISA assays were used to confirm this hypothesis. The results demonstrated that HMJ‑30 selectively targeted the ATP-binding site of IGF‑1R and inhibited its downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B, Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase, and IκK/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways in U‑2 OS cells. HMJ‑30 inhibited U‑2 OS cell invasion and migration and downregulated protein levels and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2 and MMP-9. An increase in protein levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‑1 and TIMP‑2 was also observed. Furthermore, HMJ‑30 caused U‑2 OS cells to aggregate and form tight clusters, and these cells were flattened, less elongated and displayed cobblestone-like shapes. There was an increase in epithelial markers and a decrease in mesenchymal markers, indicating that the cells underwent the reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Overall, these results demonstrated the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of HMJ‑30 on invasiveness and EMT in U‑2 OS cells, suggesting that this compound deserves further investigation as a potential anti-osteosarcoma drug.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a type of cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide; it also demonstrates chemotherapeutic resistance. Triterpenoid ursolic acid has been shown to exhibit various biological activities and anticancer effects in several preclinical studies. In our previous study, human cisplatin‑resistant oral cancer CAR cells were established, and the present study aimed to further examine the effects of ursolic acid on CAR cells. The results revealed that ursolic acid inhibited CAR cell viability, as determined using a 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Ursolic acid‑induced cell death was mediated through a caspase‑dependent pathway, determined with the pan‑caspase inhibitor, z‑VAD‑fmk. Ursolic acid also increased the activities of caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 in CAR cells, determined by a colorimetric assay. Specifically, the production of reactive oxygen species and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, detected by flow cytometry, were observed in the ursolic acid‑treated CAR cells. The apoptosis‑associated signaling showed that ursolic acid decreased the phosphorylation of AKT (Ser473) and B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated agonist of cell death (BAD; Ser136), and the protein levels of Bcl‑2 and Bcl‑extra large (Bcl‑xL), and increased the expression of BAD and Bcl‑2‑associated X (Bax) protein in CAR cells. In summary, the results supported the potential application of ursolic acid against drug‑resistant oral carcinoma and to improve oral anticancer efficacy in the near future.

Oral cancer is a serious and fatal disease. Cisplatin is the first line of chemotherapeutic agent for oral cancer therapy. However, the development of drug resistance and severe side effects cause tremendous problems clinically. In this study, we investigated the pharmacologic mechanisms of YC-1 on cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer cell line, CAR. Our results indicated that YC-1 induced a concentration-dependent and time-dependent decrease in viability of CAR cells analyzed by MTT assay. Real-time image analysis of CAR cells by IncuCyte™ Kinetic Live Cell Imaging System demonstrated that YC-1 inhibited cell proliferation and reduced cell confluence in a time-dependent manner. Results from flow cytometric analysis revealed that YC-1 promoted G0/G1 phase arrest and provoked apoptosis in CAR cells. The effects of cell cycle arrest by YC-1 were further supported by up-regulation of p21 and down-regulation of cyclin A, D, E and CDK2 protein levels. TUNEL staining showed that YC-1 caused DNA fragmentation, a late stage feature of apoptosis. In addition, YC-1 increased the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3, disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential (AYm) and stimulated ROS production in CAR cells. The protein levels of cytochrome c, Bax and Bak were elevated while Bcl-2 protein expression was attenuated in YC-1-treated CAR cells. In summary, YC-1 suppressed the viability of cisplatin-resistant CAR cells through inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and triggering mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Our results provide evidences to support the potentially therapeutic application of YC-1 on fighting against drug resistant oral cancer in the future.

Thermal diffusivity of eutectic formed in aqueous alkali chloride solutions (NaCl, KCl, RbCl and CsCl) was determined by temperature wave analysis (TWA) during the freezing–thawing process of aqueous alkali chloride solution. An obvious change of thermal diffusivity in freezing–thawing processes of eutectic was observed with the super-cooling phenomena for each alkali chloride solute. The rate of thermal diffusivity decrease during the eutectic melting in comparison to the total decrease from the solid to the liquid state was observed larger than that of the heat of fusion measured by DSC, especially in the dilute concentration. It was confirmed that thermal diffusivity was sensitively influenced by the highly structure of the coexistence of eutectic crystallization and ice.

Agrochemical research, over the last two decades, has resulted in the discovery of chemically novel insecticides, of which steroids-based compounds that mimic the action of hormones have been considered as safe insecticides. In this study, eight steroidal C-17 pyrazolinyl derivatives were resynthesized through molecular hybridization and their insecticidal activities against 4thinstar larvae of Mythimna separate were evaluated. These results showed that some compounds exhibited significant insecticidal activities and the susceptibility assays were expressed as the median lethal dose (LD50), of which one of the compounds exerted the most potent insecticidal activity (LD50 = 296 µg g-1), comparable to that of the natural product insecticide, celangulatin V (LD50 = 260 µg g-1). This strategy led to a promising candidate for the development of new steroidal insecticidal agents.

Fourteen novel steroidal C-17 pyrazolinyl derivatives 9a – g and 10a – g were synthesized from commercially available progesterone and tested for their cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp ( Artemia salina ) and three human cancer cell lines (NCI-H460, HeLa, and HepG2). Some of these synthetic compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity, and treatment of HeLa cells with compound 10b resulted in the cell population arrest in the S phase. A structure–activity relationship was discussed.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcriptional factors, which play a key role in modulating glucose and lipid metabolism and in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Ginsenosides are the active components of ginseng, which is a perennial aromatic herb that is widely used in China for medicinal purposes. Some studies have reported that ginsenosides have anti-hyperglycemia and anti-obesity effects that involve the PPAR-mediated pathway. The aims of this study were to investigate mononuclear macrophage PPARgamma mRNA expression of type 2 diabetes and the effect of ginsenosides on PPARgamma mRNA expression and glucose and lipid metabolism. Our results showed that subjects with type 2 diabetes had lower PPARgamma mRNA levels compared with normal controls. Following 2 weeks of 41 mg/day ginsenoside treatment, the expression of PPARgamma mRNA in patients with type 2 diabetes was significantly increased, the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased, and the blood glucose level also decreased (but without statistical significance) compared to the control group. These results demonstrated that ginsenosides improved PPARgamma expression and lipid metabolism. Thus, ginsenosides may be applied as an adjuvant for treating type 2 diabetes.