Exploring the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) database chemical space to target I7L protease from monkeypox virus using molecular screening and simulation approaches

In the current study, we used molecular screening and simulation approaches to target I7L protease from monkeypox virus (mpox) from the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) database. Using molecular screening, only four hits TCM27763, TCM33057, TCM34450 and TCM31564 demonstrated better pharmacological potential than TTP6171 (control). Binding of these molecules targeted Trp168, Asn171, Arg196, Cys237, Ser240, Trp242, Glu325, Ser326, and Cys328 residues and may affect the function of I7L protease in in vitro assay. Moreover, molecular simulation revealed stable dynamics, tighter structural packing and less flexible behaviour for all the complexes. We further reported that the average hydrogen bonds in TCM27763, TCM33057, TCM34450 and TCM31564I7L complexes remained higher than the control drug. Finally, the BF energy results revealed -62.60 ± 0.65 for the controlI7L complex, for the TCM27763I7L complex -71.92 ± 0.70 kcal/mol, for the TCM33057I7L complex the BF energy was -70.94 ± 0.70 kcal/mol, for the TCM34450I7L the BF energy was -69.94 ± 0.85 kcal/mol while for the TCM31564I7L complex the BF energy was calculated to be -69.16 ± 0.80 kcal/mol. Although, we used stateoftheart computational methods, these are theoretical insights that need further experimental validation.

Alternations of interhemispheric functional connectivity in patients with optic neuritis using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity: A resting state fMRI study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We used the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method to investigate brain interhemispheric functional connectivity changes in patients with optic neuritis (ON).

METHODS

A total of 22 ON patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs) closely matched in age, sex, and weight were enrolled. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Functional interaction between the hemispheres was assessed with the VMHC method. Correlation analysis was applied to explore the association between altered VMHC values in different brain areas and cognitive features. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to distinguish ON patients from HCs.

RESULTS

Compared with HCs, ON patients had obviously reduced VMHC values in the right superior temporal gyrus, left margin superior gyrus, right superior motor cortex, and left middle cingulate gyrus. a negative relationship between best-corrected visual acuity and VMHC values in left margin superior gyrus was found, besides, the VMHC values within the right superior motor cortex and the right superior temporal gyrus were also anti-correlated with the Hamilton Depression Scales. The ROC curve displayed high diagnostic values in those altered regions.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal VMHC values may reflect the underlying neuropathologic mechanism of ON.

[Effect of yiqi-yangyin prescription on bile composition of cholelithiasis patients]

There were 41 postoperative patients of cholelithiasis with manifestation of Qi-Yin deficiency, had treated with Yiqi Yangyin Prescription. The regimens was 2 weeks as a course, thereafter bile specimens were taken through T tube drainage, and biochemical analysis were performed in order to determine the composition in consequence of the comparison of the treated patients with the control groups. There were 19 patients of bile pigment stone in whom 10 treated with the prescription and 9 were served as control. The results showed that the total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, the concentration of calcium ion and the activity of beta-glucuronidase were markedly decreased as compared to those in the control group (P less than 0.05), the concentration of bile acid markedly increased than that in the control group (P less than 0.05). There were 22 patients of cholesterol stone, 11 treated with the prescription and 11 were served as control group. The results were the same as in bile pigment stone group except decreased in conjugated bilirubin (P less than 0.05), and the unconjugated bilirubin were remained unchanged (P greater than 0.05) as compared to the control group. The ratio of unconjugated bilirubin to total bilirubin and the ratio of bile acid to bilirubin were markedly decreased as compared to those in the control group. The above observation showed promptly that Yiqi-Yangyin Prescription gave a promise influence on lithogenic bile of cholelithiasitic patients, and also investigated the mechanism of the prescription used for deficiency patients with biliary troubles.