OBJECTIVE To evaluate the p73 gene G4C14-to-A4T14 double nucleotide polymorphism with both increased gastric cancer (GC) risk and different histological subtypes of GC in a northwestern Chinese population. METHODS Genotyping of the polymorphism of the p73 gene was conducted with PCR-CTPP. RESULTSAll 385 GC patients including 305 diffuse-type and 80 intestinal-type cases and 412 healthy controls were investigated. The frequencies of p73 AT/AT, AT/GC, and GC/GC genotypes were 28.1%, 47.1%, and 24.8% in the controls, and were 22.0%, 45.0%, and 33.0% in GC cases respectively; the GC/GC homozygote frequency was higher in GC cases, mainly in diě use type compared to the controls with OR = 1.71 (1.16 2.51) and 1.87 (95% CI, 1.24~2.81) respectively. The results showed that carriers of the p73 G4A GC/GC homozygote had a 1.71-time higher risk of GC, especially of the diě use-type GC compared to the controls. The carriers of the AT/GC heterozygote also had a slightly increased risk of GC cancer, mainly on intestinal-type GC. This is the ę rst report that the p73 G4A double-nucleotide polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of diě use-type gastric cancer. CONCLUTION The p73 G4A GC/GC genotype is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer, especially of the GC diě use-type.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, including five variants of concern (VOC) strains listed by the WHO: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. Extensive studies have shown that most of these VOC strains, especially the currently dominant variant Omicron, can escape the host immune response induced by existing COVID-19 vaccines to different extents, which poses considerable risk to the health of human beings around the world. In the present study, we developed a vaccine based on inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and an adjuvant consisting of aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG. The immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine were investigated in rats. The candidate vaccine elicited high titers of SARS-CoV-2-spike-specific IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody in immunized rats, which not only neutralize the original SARS-CoV-2, but also showed great cross-neutralization activity against the Beta, Delta and Omicron variants.

Human platelet arylsulphatase A (ASA) exhibits a multiple banding pattern when examined by PAGE. The isoform pattern (IVa) of the enzyme obtained from normal subjects differs from variants (IIIa, IIIb, IVb) which are primarily found in alcoholic patients. Alkaline phosphatase and endo-N-acetylglucosaminidase H treatments, as well as ion-exchange chromatography, demonstrate that the isoforms of ASA arise because of charge heterogeneity caused by phosphoglycan moieties. The isoform with the slowest mobility in PAGE lacks phosphate substituents. Based upon mannose-6-phosphate-receptor affinity chromatography it can be concluded that most, if not all, of the enzyme-linked phosphate is in the form of 6-O-phospho-D-mannosyl units. Lectin affinity chromatography and peptide-N-glycosidase F treatment followed by SDS/PAGE and Western-blot analysis indicate that normal platelet ASA contains two oligomannose and/or hybrid glycan moieties of which one, or both, possess a 6-O-L-fucosyl substituent on the asparagine-linked N-acetylglucosamine residue. Comparative analysis indicates that the variant IIIa and IIIb types of ASA differ from the IVa ASA with regard to the level of glycan phosphorylation and glycan structure, as well as the polypeptide structure.

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The interaction between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the body plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of cancer. Secondary bile acids (BAs) are the important products produced from gut microbial fermentation of primary BAs, mainly deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA). In the gut, they can influence the structure of the microbial communities. Several studies have demonstrated that secondary BAs, as signaling molecules, can activate a variety of signaling pathways. They can inhibit the apoptosis of cancer cells, induce the progression of cancer cell cycles, enhance the ability of metastasis and invasion of cancer cells, and promote the transformation of cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, secondary BAs promote cancer by regulating the function of immune cells. Therefore, targeted manipulation of gut microbial and secondary BAs has the potential to be developed as for treatment and prevention of various cancers.