Inhibition of MMPs Cat G and downregulates the signaling of TGF-β/Smad in chronic photodamaged human fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE

To understand the action of Cathepsin G (Cat G) and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) on the β/Smad pathway of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in chronically photodamaged human fibroblasts. Cat G plays a significant role in the process of skin photoaging and in collagen synthesis and degradation which is induced by UV irradiation it could interact with TGF-β/Smad signaling. No available studies have thoroughly explored its molecular mechanisms of photoaging regulation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fibroblasts were divided into 4 groups: (1) control, (2) UVA irradiation of 25 J/cm2, (3) UVA irradiation of 25 J/cm2 + MMPs inhibitor, and (4) 25 J/cm2 UVA irradiation + Cat G inhibitor. All treatments were repeated daily for 21 days. Western blot and ELISA was employed to detect Protein levels for Cat G, MMPs, and several smads.

RESULTS

Compared to UVA-irradiated cells, the addition of MMPs inhibitor downregulated the expression of smad2, smad3, and smad4 as well as TGF-β. The addition of Cat G inhibitor downregulated the expression of smad2, smad3, and smad4 as well as TGF-β. These data suggest that TGF-β/Smad signaling was decreased by inhibition of MMPs and Cat G decreased in chronically human fibroblasts which are photo-damaged.

CONCLUSIONS

These results may help expand our knowledge of mechanisms mediating photoaging and is possibly instrumental to the exploration of novel anti-photoaging treatments.

Biotin-exposure-based immunomagnetic separation coupled with nucleic acid lateral flow biosensor for visibly detecting viable Listeria monocytogenes

Infectious diseases caused by Listeria monocytogenes pose a great threat to public health worldwide. Therefore, a rapid and efficient method for L. monocytogenes detection is needed. In this study, a biotin-exposure-based immunomagnetic separation (IMS) method was developed. That is, biotinylated antibody was first targeted to L. monocytogenes. Then, streptavidin-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were added and anchored onto L. monocytogenes cells indirectly through the strong noncovalent interaction between streptavidin and biotin. Biotin-exposure-based IMS exhibited an excellent capability to enrich L. monocytogenes. Specifically, more than 90% of L. monocytogenes was captured when the bacterial concentration was lower than 10⁴ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. Importantly, the antibody dosage was reduced by 10 times of that in our previous study, which used antibody direct-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles. Propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment prior to PCR amplification could eliminate the false-positive results from dead bacteria and detected viable L. monocytogenes sensitively and specifically. For viable L.monocytogenes detection, enriched L. monocytogenes was treated with PMA prior to asymmetric PCR amplification. The detection limits of the combined IMS with nucleic acid lateral flow (NALF) biosensor for viable L. monocytogenes detection were 3.5 × 10³ CFU/mL in phosphate buffer solution and 3.5 × 10⁴ CFU/g in lettuce samples. The whole assay process of recognizing viable L. monocytogenes was completed within 6 h. The proposed biotin-exposure-mediated IMS combined with a disposable NALF biosensor platform posed no health risk to the end user, and possessed potential applications in the rapid screening and identification of foodborne pathogens.

A sensitive biosensor using double-layer capillary based immunomagnetic separation and invertase-nanocluster based signal amplification for rapid detection of foodborne pathogen

Combining double-layer capillary based high gradient immunomagnetic separation, invertase-nanocluster based signal amplification and glucose meter based signal detection, a novel biosensor was developed for sensitive and rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7 in this study. The streptavidin modified magnetic nanobeads (MNBs) were conjugated with the biotinylated polyclonal antibodies against E. coli O157:H7 to form the immune MNBs, which were captured by the high gradient magnetic field in the double-layer capillary to specifically separate and efficiently concentrate the target bacteria. Calcium chloride was used with the monoclonal antibodies against E. coli O157:H7 and the invertase to form the immune invertase-nanoclusters (INCs), which were used to react with the target bacteria to form the MNB-bacteria-INC complexes in the capillary. The sucrose was then injected into the capillary and catalyzed by the invertase on the complexes into the glucose, which was detected using the glucose meter to obtain the concentration of the glucose for final determination of the E. coli O157:H7 cells in the sample. A linear relationship between the readout of the glucose meter and the concentration of the E. coli O157:H7 cells (from 10² to 10⁷ CFU/mL) was found and the lower detection limit of this biosensor was 79 CFU/mL. This biosensor might be extended for the detection of other foodborne pathogens by changing the antibodies and has shown the potential for the detection of foodborne pathogens in a large volume of sample to further increase the sensitivity.

[Effects of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on polarization of peritoneal macrophages in rats with sepsis]

Objective: To explore the effects of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on polarization of peritoneal macrophages isolated from rats with sepsis induced by endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: (1) BMSCs were isolated, cultured and purified from 5 SD rats with whole bone marrow adherent method. The third passage of cells were collected for morphologic observation, detection of expressions of stem cell surface markers CD29, CD44, CD45, and CD90 with flow cytometer, and identification of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. (2) Another 45 SD rats were divided into sham injury group (SI, n=5), LPS control group (LC, n=20), and BMSCs-treated group (BT, n=20) according to the random number table. Rats in groups LC and BT were injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) via tail vein to induce sepsis; rats in group SI were injected with the same amount of normal saline to simulate the damage. At post injury hour (PIH) 1, rats in group BT were given 1 mL BMSCs (2×10(6)/mL) via tail vein injection; rats in another two groups were injected with equal volume of phosphate buffer saline. Five rats in group SI at PIH 24 and in groups LC and BT at PIH 6, 12, 24, and 48 were sacrificed to harvest lung tissue for pathological observation with HE staining. In addition, rats in group SI at PIH 24 and in groups LC and BT at PIH 24 and 48 were simultaneously performed with intraperitoneal injection of low-glucose DMEM. Then peritoneal fluid was harvested to culture peritoneal macrophages. Flow cytometer was used to assess the positive expression of cell makers of macrophages including CD68 (making gate), CD11c, and CD206 in group SI at PIH 24 and in groups LC and BT at PIH 24 and 48. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test. Results: (1) The third passage of cells showed uniform fiber-like shape similar to fibroblasts. These cells showed positive expressions of CD29, CD44, CD90 and weak positive expression of CD45. They were able to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. These cells were identified as BMSCs. (2) At PIH 24, the structure of pulmonary alveoli of rats in group SI was clear and complete with no congestion or inflammatory cell infiltration. At PIH 6, the structure of pulmonary alveoli of rats in groups LC and BT was clear with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, slight congestion and pulmonary interstitial thickening. At PIH 12, the inflammatory responses in lung tissue of rats in group LC were more severe than those in group BT with a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, serious congestion, and obvious pulmonary interstitial thickening. The pathological results of rats in group BT at PIH 12 was consistent with the results at PIH 6. At PIH 24, the pathological results of rats in groups LC and BT were similar to the results at PIH 12. At PIH 48, the structure of pulmonary alveoli tissue of rats in group LC was still severely disrupted, with a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion in lung tissue, but pulmonary interstitial thickening was slightly alleviated than before. The condition of rats in group BT nearly recovered to that in group SI. (3) At PIH 24, the positive expression rate of CD11c in peritoneal macrophages of rats in group LC [(83±10)%] was close to that in group BT [(87±7)%, P>0.05], and they were both significantly higher than the rate in group SI [(55±12)%, with P values below 0.01]. The positive expression rate of CD11c in peritoneal macrophages of rats in group LC [(59±11)%] at PIH 48 was close to that in group SI at PIH 24 (P>0.05), and they were both significantly higher than the rate in group BT [(20±11)%] at PIH 48 (with P values below 0.01). At PIH 24, the positive expression percentages of CD206 in peritoneal macrophages of rats were similar among the three groups (with P values above 0.05). The positive expression percentage of CD206 in peritoneal macrophages of rats in group SI at PIH 24 was close to that in group BT at PIH 48 (P>0.05), and they were both significantly lower than the percentage in group LC at PIH 48 (with P values below 0.01). Conclusions: BMSCs can reduce the pathological inflammatory responses in the lung of rats with sepsis and inhibit peritoneal macrophages from polarizing into M1 phenotype, whereas they can not promote macrophages to polarize into M2 phenotype.

Sensitive Detection of Staphylococcus aureus with Vancomycin-Conjugated Magnetic Beads as Enrichment Carriers Combined with Flow Cytometry

A novel sandwich strategy was designed to detect Staphylococcus aureus. The strategy is based on an antibacterial agent that captures bacterial cells and a fluorescein-labeled antibody that acts as the signal-output probe. Vancomycin (Van), which exerts a strong antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria, was utilized as a molecular recognition agent to detect pathogenic bacteria. To effectively concentrate S. aureus, we used bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the amplification carrier to modify magnetic beads (MBs), which were then functionalized with Van. To improve the specificity of the method for S. aureus detection, we adopted fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-tagged pig immunoglobulin G (FITC-pig IgG) as the signal probe and the second recognition agent that bound between the Fc fragment of pig IgG and protein A in the surface of S. aureus. To quantify S. aureus, we measured the fluorescence signal by flow cytometry (FCM). The use of multivalent magnetic nanoprobes (Van-BSA-MBs) showed a high concentration efficiency (>98%) at bacterial concentrations of only 33 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. Furthermore, the sandwich mode (FITC-pig IgG/SA/Van-BSA-MBs) also showed ideal specificity because Van and IgG bound with S. aureus at two distinct sites. The detection limit for S. aureus was 3.3 × 10¹ CFU/mL and the total detection process could be completed within 120 min. Other Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella Enteritidis, negligibly interfered with S. aureus detection. The proposed detection strategy for S. aureus possesses attractive characteristics, such as high sensitivity, simple operation, short testing time, and low cost.

Hollow Au-Ag Nanoparticles Labeled Immunochromatography Strip for Highly Sensitive Detection of Clenbuterol

The probe materials play a significant role in improving the detection efficiency and sensitivity of lateral-flow immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS). Unlike conventional ICTS assay usually uses single-component, solid gold nanoparticles as labeled probes, in our present study, a bimetallic, hollow Au-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) labeled ICTS was successfully developed for the detection of clenbuterol (CLE). The hollow Au-Ag NPs with different Au/Ag mole ratio and tunable size were synthesized by varying the volume ratio of [HAuCl4]:[Ag NPs] via the galvanic replacement reaction. The surface of hollow Ag-Au NPs was functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) for further covalently bonded with anti-CLE monoclonal antibody. Overall size of the Au-Ag NPs, size of the holes within individual NPs and also Au/Ag mole ratio have been systematically optimized to amplify both the visual inspection signals and the quantitative data. The sensitivity of optimized hollow Au-Ag NPs probes has been achieved even as low as 2 ppb in a short time (within 15 min), which is superior over the detection performance of conventional test strip using Au NPs. The optimized hollow Au-Ag NPs labeled test strip can be used as an ideal candidate for the rapid screening of CLE in food samples.

[Analysis of the results of patch test in 192 patients with hand eczema]

Objective: To investigate the common allergens in the patients with hand eczema. Methods: From November 2014 to March 2016, the patients with hand eczema were tested by the patch test kit of daily life series. Results: The results of the patch test of 192 patients with hand eczema were collected. Allergens were detected in 178 (92.71%) cases. The top 5 allergens were nickel chloride (23.96%) , cobalt chloride (18.75%) , aromatic compounds (17.19%) , nickel sulfate (16.67%) and thimerosal (13.54%). The positive rates of kappa mixture, aromatic compounds, tertiary butyl phenolic resin in males were 16.88% , 14.29% , 11.69% , respectively, which were higher than those (5.22% , 4.35% , 3.48%) in females. Conclusion: Nickel chloride, cobalt chloride, aromatic compounds, nickel sulfate and thimerosal are common allergens in patients with hand eczema.

Efficacy and safety of adalimumab in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

Background

This phase 3 trial is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with the systemic TNF‐α inhibitor, adalimumab, for Chinese patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

In the 12‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled Period A, patients were randomized 4 : 1 to receive adalimumab 40 mg every‐other‐week (following a single 80 mg dose), or placebo every‐other‐week. In the subsequent 12‐week, open‐label, Period B, all patients received adalimumab 40 mg every‐other‐week starting at week 13, following a single, blinded dose at week 12 of adalimumab 80 mg or matching placebo (for patients receiving placebo or adalimumab in Period A respectively). In Period A, efficacy was analysed for all randomized patients and safety for all patients receiving ≥1 dose of the study drug.

Results

For the 425 patients in this study (87 placebo; 338 adalimumab), a higher percentage randomized to adalimumab achieved the primary endpoint of ≥75% improvement from baseline in PASI score (PASI 75) at week 12: placebo 11.5% (10/87); adalimumab 77.8% (263/338; P < 0.001). Physician's Global Assessment of clear to minimal was achieved at week 12 by 14.9% placebo (13/87) and 80.5% adalimumab (272/338; P < 0.001). For patients who received adalimumab at any time during the study (All‐adalimumab Population), treatment‐emergent adverse events (AEs) were reported by 63.4%; the most common was upper respiratory infection (16.1%). Serious AEs were reported by 3.5% of the All‐adalimumab Population, and serious infectious AEs by 1.2%, which include lung infection, pneumonia and tuberculosis [2 (0.5%) patients each]. There was one death (chronic heart failure).

Conclusion

In these Chinese patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis, a significantly greater percentage treated with adalimumab compared with placebo achieved efficacy endpoints at week 12 and efficacy was sustained to week 24. Safety results were consistent with the known adalimumab safety profile; no new safety signals were identified in the 24 weeks of treatment.

Sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on cascade signal amplification in ELISA

In this study, cascade signal amplification in ELISA involving double-antibody sandwich ELISA and indirectly competitive ELISA was established to sensitively detect Escherichia coli O157:H7. In the double-antibody sandwich ELISA, a complex was formed comprising anti-E. coli O157:H7 polyclonal antibody, E. coli O157:H7, biotinylated anti-E. coli O157:H7 monoclonal antibody, streptavidin, and biotinylated β-lactamase. Penicillin solution was then added into the ELISA well and hydrolyzed by β-lactamase. Afterward, the penicillin solution was transferred to indirectly competitive ELISA. The concentration of penicillin can be sensitively detected in indirectly competitive ELISA. In the cascade signal amplification system, increasing the amount of added E. coli O157:H7 resulted in more β-lactamase and less penicillin. The detection sensitivity of E. coli O157:H7, which was 20cfu/mL with the cascade signal amplification in ELISA, was 1,000-fold higher than that of traditional ELISA. Furthermore, the novel method can be used to detect E. coli O157:H7 in milk (2cfu/g). Therefore, this new signaling strategy will facilitate analyses of highly sensitive foodborne pathogens.

An Immuno-Magnetic Nanobead Probe Competitive Assay for Rapid Detection of Salmonella choleraesuis

A competitive lateral flow assay for the rapid detection of Salmonella choleraesuis was developed. Immuno-magnetic nanobeads were produced by covalently coupling anti-Salmonella choleraesuis antibody to magnetic nanobeads. These immuno-magnetic nanobeads were used as visually detected probes in the subsequent assay. Compared with the traditional sandwich assay, which is used for detecting macro-molecules, this new method was developed based on the competitive relationship between S. choleraesuis in the inspected sample and the outer membrane protein immobilized on the T line. Thus, only one antibody was necessary in the new assay, whereas a pair of rigorously selected antibodies were required in the sandwich assay. The sensitivity of the competitive assay for S. choleraesuis was 1.2 x 10(7) cfu/mL. In addition, no cross reactions were found in the 17 common non-Salmonella bacteria strains and in the 4 Salmonella strains of other serotypes. Thus, with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, the assay can be applied for the rapid detection of pre-enriched culture that may contain S. choleraesuis.

Predictors of intestinal pseudo-obstruction in systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by digestive manifestations: data from a Southern China lupus cohort

Objective

To determine factors that may predict intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IpsO) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients complicated by digestive manifestations.

Methods

SLE patients with digestive manifestations ( n = 135) were followed at Southern Medical University affiliated Nanfang Hospital from 2000 until 2013. Demographic variables, clinical features, and laboratory data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to establish factors that predispose to IpsO in these patients.

Results

At the end of the study period, 32 (23.7%) patients had developed IpsO. Mortality (9 patients) was infrequent and the cause of death was unrelated to IpsO. Independent predictors of IpsO in SLE were ureterectasia, anti-U1 RNP+, peritonitis, and low C3 levels.

Conclusions

Regular abdominal X-ray examinations are recommended in SLE patients with ureterectasia, anti-U1 RNP+, peritonitis, or low C3 levels, as early diagnosis and therapy may prevent unnecessary surgical intervention and improve the disease course.

Observation of the ψ(1 3D2) State in e+e-→π+π-γχc1 at BESIII

We report the observation of the X(3823) state in the process e+e-→π+π-X(3823)→π+π-γχc1 with a statistical significance of 6.2σ, in data samples at center-of-mass energies sqrt[s]=4.230, 4.260, 4.360, 4.420, and 4.600 GeV collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII electron positron collider. The measured mass of the X(3823) state is (3821.7±1.3±0.7)  MeV/c2, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic, and the width is less than 16 MeV at the 90% confidence level. The products of the Born cross sections for e+e-→π+π-X(3823) and the branching ratio B[X(3823)→γχc1,c2] are also measured. These measurements are in good agreement with the assignment of the X(3823) state as the ψ(1 3D2) charmonium state.

Hierarchical Flowerlike Gold Nanoparticles Labeled Immunochromatography Test Strip for Highly Sensitive Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) labeled lateral-flow test strip immunoassay (LFTS) has been widely used in biomedical, feed/food, and environmental analysis fields. Conventional ILFS assay usually uses spherical AuNPs as labeled probes and shows low detection sensitivity, which further limits its widespread practical application. Unlike spherical AuNP used as labeled probe in conventional ILFS, in our present study, a hierarchical flowerlike AuNP specific probe was designed for LFTS and further used to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7). Three types of hierarchical flowerlike AuNPs, such as tipped flowerlike, popcornlike, and large-sized flowerlike AuNPs were synthesized in a one-step method. Compared with other two kinds of Au particles, tipped flowerlike AuNPs probes for LFTS particularly exhibited highly sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7. The remarkable improvement of detection sensitivity of tipped flowerlike AuNPs probes can be achieved even as low as 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL by taking advantages of its appropriate size and hierarchical structures, which is superior over the detection performance of conventional LFTS. Using this novel tipped flower AuNPs probes, quantitative detection of E. coli O157:H7 can be obtained partially in a wide concentration range with good repeatability. This hierarchical tipped flower-shaped AuNPs probe for LFTS is promising for the practical applications in widespread analysis fields.

Repression of Hox genes by LMP1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and modulation of glycolytic pathway genes by HoxC8

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes human lymphoid malignancies, and the EBV product latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) has been identified as an oncogene in epithelial carcinomas such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). EBV can epigenetically reprogram lymphocyte specific processes and induce cell immortalization. However, the interplay between LMP1 and the NPC host cell remains largely unknown. Here, we report that LMP1 is important to establish the Hox gene expression signature in NPC cell lines and tumor biopsies. LMP1 induces repression of several Hox genes in part via stalling of RNA Pol II. Pol II stalling can be overcome by irradiation involving the epigenetic regulator TET3. Furthermore, we report that HoxC8, one of the genes silenced by LMP1, plays a role in tumor growth. Ectopic expression of HoxC8 inhibits NPC cell growth in vitro and in vivo, modulates glycolysis and regulates the expression of TCA-cycle related genes. We propose that viral latency products may repress via stalling key mediators that in turn modulate glycolysis.

Study of e(+)e(-)→ωχ(cJ) at center of mass energies from 4.21 to 4.42 GeV

Based on data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at nine center of mass energies from 4.21 to 4.42 GeV, we search for the production of e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{cJ} (J=0, 1, 2). The process e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c0} is observed for the first time, and the Born cross sections at sqrt[s]=4.23 and 4.26 GeV are measured to be (55.4±6.0±5.9) and (23.7±5.3±3.5)  pb, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The ωχ_{c0} signals at the other seven energies and the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2} signals are not significant, and the upper limits on the cross sections are determined. By examining the ωχ_{c0} cross section as a function of center of mass energy, we find that it is inconsistent with the line shape of the Y(4260) observed in e^{+}e^{-}→π^{+}π^{-}J/ψ. Assuming the ωχ_{c0} signals come from a single resonance, we extract the mass and width of the resonance to be (4230±8±6)  MeV/c^{2} and (38±12±2)  MeV, respectively, and the statistical significance is more than 9σ.

Novel strategies to enhance lateral flow immunoassay sensitivity for detecting foodborne pathogens

Food contaminated by foodborne pathogens causes diseases, affects individuals, and even kills those affected individuals. As such, rapid and sensitive detection methods should be developed to screen pathogens in food. One current detection method is lateral flow immunoassay, an efficient technique because of several advantages, including rapidity, simplicity, stability, portability, and sensitivity. This review presents the format and principle of lateral flow immunoassay strip and the development of conventional lateral flow immunoassay for detecting foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, novel strategies that can be applied to enhance the sensitivity of lateral flow immunoassay to detect foodborne pathogens are presented; these strategies include innovating new label application, designing new formats of lateral flow immunoassay, combining with other methods, and developing signal amplification systems. With these advancements, detection sensitivity and detection time can be greatly improved.

Size dependent biodistribution and toxicokinetics of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in mice

In spite of the immense benefits from iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IOMNs), there is scanty information regarding their metabolic activities and toxicity in vivo. In this study, we investigated the size dependent in vivo biodistribution, toxicokinetics, and toxicity and gene expression changes of various sizes of carboxyl coated IOMNs (diameters of 10, 20, 30, and 40 nm). Our findings demonstrated that the various sizes of IOMNs accumulated primarily in the liver and spleen on the first day post-injection. Interestingly, size dependent biodistribution and transport were observed: the smallest IOMNs (10 nm) showed the highest uptake by the liver, whereas the largest IOMNs (40 nm) showed the highest uptake by the spleen. Moreover, the IOMNs with the smallest size (10 nm) were cleared faster from the liver and kidneys, but more readily entered the brain and the uterus. IOMNs with the largest size (40 nm) accumulated more readily but were easily eliminated in the spleen. However, the level of iron in the heart decreased in all IOMN exposed groups. In addition, blood biochemistry, hematological analyses and histological examination demonstrated that there was no apparent acute toxicity caused by IOMNs in mice. However, smaller IOMNs (10 nm and 20 nm) more effectively changed the expression level of sensitive genes related to oxidant stress, iron transport, metabolic process, apoptosis, and others.

A remarkable sensitivity enhancement in a gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7

The size and uniformity of AuNPs were optimized to maximally amplify both visual inspection signals and quantitative data of LFA.

Efficacy and safety of 1 % terbinafine film-forming solution in Chinese patients with tinea pedis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group study

Background and objectives

Superficial fungal skin infections are treated using topical antifungals. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a single application of 1 % terbinafine film-forming solution (FFS) versus placebo for the treatment of tinea pedis in the Chinese population.

Methods

Six centers in China randomized 290 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 1 % terbinafine FFS or FFS vehicle (placebo) once on the affected foot/feet. Efficacy assessments included microscopy and mycologic culture, and assessing clinical signs and symptoms at baseline, and at weeks 1 and 6 after the topical treatment. All adverse events were recorded.

Results

At week 6, 1 % terbinafine FFS was superior to placebo for effective treatment rate (63 vs. 8 %); clinical cure (30 vs. 6 %); mycological cure (86 vs. 12 %); negative microscopy (90 vs. 24 %); and negative mycological culture (90 vs. 27 %): all p ≤ 0.001 and clinically relevant. At week 6, 1 % terbinafine FFS was clinically superior to placebo for the absence of: erythema (69 vs. 29 %); desquamation (33 vs. 8 %); and pruritus (70 vs. 30 %): all p ≤ 0.001 and clinically relevant. At week 6, differences in the average total signs and symptoms scores were significantly lower for 1 % terbinafine FFS versus placebo (p ≤ 0.001). Both 1 % terbinafine FFS and placebo were safe and well tolerated based on adverse events and investigator and patient assessments.

Conclusions

This double-blind, randomized, multicenter study demonstrated one single topical application of 1 % terbinafine FFS was safe and effective in the treatment of tinea pedis in the Chinese population.

Observation of e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc and a neutral charmoniumlike structure Zc(4020)(0)

Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s]=4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc within less than 2σ. In the π(0)hc mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02  GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Zc(4020)(±) observed in the process of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc being found. A fit to the π(0)hc invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Zc(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and possible interferences with non-Zc(4020)(0) amplitudes neglected, gives a mass of (4023.9±2.2±3.8)  MeV/c(2) for the Zc(4020)(0), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

Down-regulating ATDC inhibits the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVE

Our previous study showed that Ataxia-Telangiectasia Group D Complementing gene (ATDC) expression was correlated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the roles of ATDC on the esophageal carcinoma cells remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the effects of ATDC gene silencing on the growth and proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cell lines EC109 and EC9706 in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The lentivirus-mediated siRNA targeting ATDC was constructed and transfected into EC109 and EC9706 cells. After the gene silencing effects were confirmed by Western blot analyses, the growth and proliferation were determined by MTT, palte clone and flow cytometry analyses.

RESULTS

The lentivirus-mediated siRNA markedly inhibited the expression of ATDC in both EC109 and EC9706 cells. MTT, plate colony formation and Xenograft assays illustrated that down-regulation of ATDC significantly repressed the growth of cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, western blot assays revealed that ATDC down-regulation could decrease the expression of cyclinE in ESCC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that down-regulation of ATDC could inhibit the growth and proliferation partly through regulation of cyclin E.

The anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossom extract (Prunus yedoensis) used in soothing skincare product

OBJECTIVE

Previous investigations suggested that cherry blossoms could provide valuable bioactive materials. However, few observations regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossoms were reported. This study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossom extract (CBE), which was used as a soothing ingredient in skincare product.

METHODS

In vitro study, the anti-inflammatory effect of CBE on the nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. In vivo study, 40 volunteers were included in a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. 24-hour-occlusive test chambers were applied on the flexor side of the forearm with 3% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Subsequently, the test areas were treated on 9 subsequent days with a cream containing 3% CBE or a placebo. Evaluation included a visual score and determination of erythema value (E value).

RESULTS

In vitro study, 2% CBE reduced NO production by 31.83% compared to the placebo. In the SLS irritant patch test, the visual score and erythema value of CBE were lower than that of the placebo on D5 and D9.

CONCLUSION

Cherry blossom extract shows good anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo and represents a promising functional ingredient in soothing skincare product by reducing skin inflammation.

Oxytocin administration enhances controlled social cognition in patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Individuals with schizophrenia have functionally significant deficits in automatic and controlled social cognition, but no currently available pharmacologic treatments reduce these deficits. The neuropeptide oxytocin has multiple prosocial effects when administered intranasally in humans and there is growing interest in its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia.

METHODS

We administered 40 IU of oxytocin and saline placebo intranasally to 29 male subjects with schizophrenia and 31 age-matched, healthy controls in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Social cognition was assessed with The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT) and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). We examined the effects of oxytocin administration on automatic social cognition (the ability to rapidly interpret and understand emotional cues from the voice, face, and body); controlled social cognition (the ability to comprehend indirectly expressed emotions, thoughts, and intentions through complex deliberations over longer time periods); and a control task (the ability to comprehend truthful dialog and perform general task procedures) in individuals with and without schizophrenia using mixed factorial analysis of variance models.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia showed significant impairments in automatic and controlled social cognition compared to healthy controls, and administration of oxytocin significantly improved their controlled, but not automatic, social cognition, F(1, 58)=8.75; p=0.004. Conversely, oxytocin administration had limited effects on social cognition in healthy participants. Patients and controls performed equally well and there were no effects of oxytocin administration on the control task.

DISCUSSION

Intact social cognitive abilities are associated with better functional outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia. Our data highlight the potentially complex effects of oxytocin on some but not all aspects of social cognition, and support the exploration of intranasal oxytocin as a potential adjunct treatment to improve controlled social cognition in schizophrenia.

Observation of η'→π+ π π+ π- and η'→π+π- π0 π0

Using a sample of 1.3 × 10(9)  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-) and η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0)π(0). The measured branching fractions are B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-)) = [8.53 ± 0.69(stat.) ± 0.64(syst.)]×10(-5) and B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0) π(0)) = [1.82 ± 0.35(stat.) ± 0.18(syst.)] × 10(-4), which are consistent with theoretical predictions based on a combination of chiral perturbation theory and vector-meson dominance.