The Spectrum-STI model, structured by sub-groups within a population, was used in a workshop in Yunnan, China, to estimate provincial trends in active syphilis in 15 to 49-year-old adults. Syphilis prevalence data from female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and lower-risk women and men in Yunnan were identified through literature searches and local experts. Sources included antenatal care clinic screening, blood donor screening, HIV/STI bio-behavioural surveys, sentinel surveillance, and epidemiology studies. The 2017 provincial syphilis prevalence estimates were 0.26% (95% confidence interval 0.17-0.34%) in women and 0.28% (0.20-0.36%) in men. Estimated prevalence was 6.8-fold higher in FSW (1.69% (0.68-3.97%) than in lower-risk women (0.25% (0.18-0.35%)), and 22.7-fold higher in MSM (5.35% (2.74-12.47%) than in lower-risk men (0.24% (0.17-0.31%). For all populations, the 2017 estimates were below the 2005 estimates, but differences were not significant. In 2017 FSW and MSM together accounted for 9.3% of prevalent cases. These estimates suggest Yunnan's STI programs have kept the overall prevalence of syphilis low, but prevalence remains high in FSW and MSM. selleck kinase inhibitor Strengthening efforts targeting FSW and MSM, and identification of other risk populations e.g. among heterosexual men, are critical to reduce syphilis.Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer. Prognosis for ccRCC is generally poor since it is largely resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy. Many studies suggested that cancer stem cells/tumor initiating cells (CSCs/TICs) are responsible for development of tumor, disease progression, aggressiveness, metastasis and drug resistance. However, tumorigenic potential of CSCs/TICs isolated from established RCC cell lines - basic ccRCC research model - has never been investigated in vivo. CD105+, CD105-, CD44+ and CD44- as well as CD44-/CD105- CD44+/CD105+ and CD44-/CD105+ cells were isolated from Caki-1 RCC cell line, confirming coexistence of multiple subpopulations of stem-related phenotype in stable cell line. Sorted cells were injected subcutaneously into NOD SCID mice and tumor growth was monitored with MRI and PET/CT. Tumor growth was observed after implantation of CD105+, CD44+, CD44-, CD44-/CD105+ and CD44-/CD105- but not CD105- or CD44+/CD105+. Implantation of CD44-/CD105- cells induced tumors that were characterized by longer T1 and distinct metabolic pattern than other tumors. All the tumors were characterized by low uptake of [18F]FDG. CD105+ and CD44- tumors expresses Nanog and Oct-4, while CD44- tumors additionally expressed endothelial cell marker - CD31.Visfatin/extracellular-nicotinamide-phosphoribosyltranferase-(eNampt) is a multifaceted adipokine enhanced in type-2-diabetes and obesity. Visfatin/eNampt cause in vitro endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, although whether the same effects are achieved in vivo is unknown. Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), a main surface pattern recognition receptor of innate immune system is a potential target for visfatin/eNampt. We studied its capacity to generate vascular dysfunction in vivo, focusing on TLR4 role and downstream activation of nod-like-receptor-protein-3 (NLRP3)-inflammasome. 4 month-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 7 days infusion of visfatin/eNampt, alone or together with FK 866 (Nampt enzymatic inhibitor), CLI 095 (TLR4 blocker), MCC 950 (NLRP3-inflammasome inhibitor), or anakinra (interleukin(IL)-1-receptor antagonist). Endothelial dysfunction was tested in isolated microvessels. In human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC), proteins related to the NLRP3-inflammasome phosphorylated p-65, NLRP3Visfatin/eNampt produces in vivo vascular dysfunction in mice by a Nampt-dependent TLR4-mediated pathway, involving NLRP3-inflammasome and paracrine IL-1β. Thus, those targets may become therapeutic strategies for attenuating the adipokine-mediated vascular dysfunction associated to obesity and/or type-2-diabetes.Paclitaxel is the top-selling chemotherapeutic drug used for the treatment of lung, ovarian and breast cancer as well as Kaposi's sarcoma. Cell suspension culture (CSC) of Corylus avellana has been addressed as a promising alternative for producing paclitaxel. In this study, endophytic fungus strain YEF33 was isolated from Taxus baccata and identified as Coniothyrium palmarum. The effects of the elicitors derived from this fungus including cell extract, culture filtrate and cell wall (CW) and also chitin, alone or in combination with Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin (MBCD), on paclitaxel biosynthesis in C. avellana CSC were assayed for the first time. CW of C. palmarum was the most efficient fungal elicitor for paclitaxel biosynthesis in C. avellana CSC. The results revealed that MBCD affected paclitaxel biosynthesis differently depending on fungal elicitor type and vice versa. MBCD, either alone or in combination with fungal elicitors, induced a high secretion of paclitaxel, suggesting the decrement of toxicity and retro-inhibition processes of paclitaxel for cells. The joint effects of C. palmarum CW (2.5% (v/v) on 17th day) and 50 mM MBCD synergistically enhanced paclitaxel biosynthesis (402.4 µg l-1; 5.8-fold), 78.6% of which (316.5 µg l-1) were secreted into culture medium, a level 146% higher than that in control.The life history pattern of recent humans is uniquely derived in many of its aspects including an extended post-reproductive lifespan combined with short interbirth intervals. A number of theories have been proposed to explain the evolution of this unusual pattern. However most have been difficult to test due to the fragmentary nature of the hominin fossil record and the lack of methods capable of inferring such later life history events. In search of a method we tested the hypothesis that the physiologically impactful events of parturition and menopause are recorded in dental cementum microstructure. We performed histomorphological analyses of 47 teeth from 15 individuals with known life history events and were able to detect reproductive events and menopause in all females. Furthermore, we found that other stressful events such as systemic illnesses and incarceration are also detectable. Finally, through the development of a novel analytical method we were able to time all such events with high accuracy (R-squared = 0.