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A modified apparatus for measuring surface tension with the bubble-pressure method is proposed. Compared with a traditional instrument, this apparatus improved the accuracy of maximum pressure difference measurement and achieved the hydrostatic pressure correction. The apparatus was employed to determine the surface tension values of distilled water and ethanol, respectively, at different temperatures. Additionally, the cross-sectional area of the ethanol molecule was obtained from the surface tension of ethanol solutions with different concentrations and Gibbs adsorption. It was found that all measured values were in accordance with literature data. Thus, the improved device exhibited excellent accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, all of the instrumental components were assembled into one body, making it easy for undergraduate students to operate.

The absence of IFN-[gamma] receptor (IFN-[gamma]R) or STAT1 signaling in donor cells has been shown to result in reduced induction of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this study, we unexpectedly observed increased activation and expansion of donor lymphocytes in both lymphohematopoietic organs and GVHD target tissues of IFN-[gamma]R/STAT1-deficient recipient mice, leading to rapid mortality following the induction of GVHD. LPS-matured, BM-derived [Ifngr1.sup.-/-] [Stat1.sup.-/-] DCs (BMDCs) were more potent allogeneic stimulators and expressed increased levels of MHC II and costimulatory molecules. Similar effects were observed in human antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with knockdown of Stat1 by CRISPR/Cas9 and treatment with a JAK1/2 inhibitor. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the absence of IFN-[gamma]R/STAT1 signaling in hematopoietic APCs impaired the presentation of exogenous antigens, while promoting the presentation of endogenous antigens. Thus, the indirect presentation of host antigens to donor lymphocytes was defective in IFN-^R/STAT1-deficient, donor-derived APCs in fully donor chimeric mice. The differential effects of IFN-[gamma]R/STAT1 signaling on endogenous and exogenous antigen presentation could provide further insight into the roles of the IFN-[gamma]/STAT1 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of GVHD, organ rejection, and autoimmune diseases., Introduction IFN-[gamma] is a pleiotropic cytokine with a central role in host defense and immunopathology and is involved in both innate and adaptive immunity (1, 2). IFN-[gamma] is the only [...]

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the proteasome pathway are both involved in activating the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Because mTOR signaling is required for initiation of messenger RNA translation, we hypothesized that cotargeting the PI3K and proteasome pathways might synergistically inhibit translation of c-Myc. We found that a novel PI3K δ isoform inhibitor TGR-1202, but not the approved PI3Kδ inhibitor idelalisib, was highly synergistic with the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib in lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma cell lines and primary lymphoma and leukemia cells. TGR-1202 and carfilzomib (TC) synergistically inhibited phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), leading to suppression of c-Myc translation and silencing of c-Myc-dependent transcription. The synergistic cytotoxicity of TC was rescued by overexpression of eIF4E or c-Myc. TGR-1202, but not other PI3Kδ inhibitors, inhibited casein kinase-1 ε (CK1ε). Targeting CK1ε using a selective chemical inhibitor or short hairpin RNA complements the effects of idelalisib, as a single agent or in combination with carfilzomib, in repressing phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and the protein level of c-Myc. These results suggest that TGR-1202 is a dual PI3Kδ/CK1ε inhibitor, which may in part explain the clinical activity of TGR-1202 in aggressive lymphoma not found with idelalisib. Targeting CK1ε should become an integral part of therapeutic strategies targeting translation of oncogenes such as c-Myc.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare clinical courses and outcomes between pregnant and reproductive-aged non-pregnant women with COVID-19, and to assess the vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 in pregnancy. Methods: Medical records of pregnant and reproductive-aged non-pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 from January 15 to March 15, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The severity of disease, virus clearance time, and length of hospital stay were measured as the primary objective, while the vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 was also assessed. Results: Eighty-two patients (28 pregnant women, 54 reproductive-aged non-pregnant women) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Univariate regression indicated no association between pregnancy and severity of disease (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.08–5.15; p = 0.76), virus clearance time (HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.65–2.01; p = 0.62), and length of hospital stay (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.66–1.84; p = 0.71). Of the pregnant women, 22 delivered 23 live births, either by cesarean section (17, 60.7%) or vaginal delivery (5, 17.9%), and no neonate was infected with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: Pregnant women have comparable clinical courses and outcomes with reproductive-aged non-pregnant women when infected with SARS-CoV-2. No evidence supported vertical transmission of COVID-19 in the late stage of pregnancy, including vaginal delivery.

An improved apparatus for measuring freezing points has been developed. Compared to the traditional Beckmann freezing point instrument, the improved one overcame prior difficulties with solidification of liquid and made the solid-liquid equilibrium reversible with heat compensation from a heating tube. The reliability and accuracy were carefully examined by determining the freezing point of the solvent and solution, as well as calculating the molar mass of the solute. It was found that the molar mass was in good agreement with the literature data. Thus, this improved device can effectively and successfully be used in undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory courses.