Synergistic activation of lamellar bismuth selenide anchored functionalized carbon nanofiber for detecting hazardous carbendazim in environmental water samples

Pesticides pollute natural water reservoirs through persistent accumulation. Therefore, their toxicity and degradability are serious issues. Carbendazim (CBZ) is a pesticide used against fungal infections in agricultural crops, and its overexploitation detrimentally affects aquatic ecosystems and organisms. It is necessary to design a logical, efficient, and field-deployable method for monitoring the amount of CBZ in environmental samples. Herein, a nano-engineered bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3)/functionalized carbon nanofiber (f-CNF) nanocomposite was utilized as an electrocatalyst to fabricate an electrochemical sensing platform for CBZ. Bi2Se3/f-CNF exhibited a substantial electroactive surface area, high electrocatalytic activity, and high conductivity owing to the synergistic interaction of Bi2Se3 with f-CNF. The structural chemical compositions and morphology of the Bi2Se3/f-CNF nanocomposite were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Electrochemical analysis was carried out using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The voltammetry and impedance experiments exposed that the Bi2Se3/f-CNF-modified GCE has attained adequate electrocatalytic function with amended features of electron transportation (Rct = 35.93 Ω) and improved reaction sites (0.082 cm2) accessible by CBZ moiety along with exemplary electrochemical stability (98.92%). The Bi2Se3/f-CNF nanocomposite exhibited higher sensitivity of 0.2974 μA μM-1cm-2 and a remarkably low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.04 nM at a broad linera range 0.001-100 μM. The practicability of the nanocomposite was tested in environmental (tap and pond water) samples, which supports excellent signal amplification with satisfactory recoveries. Hence, the Bi2Se3/f-CNF nanocomposite is a promising electrode modifier for detecting CBZ.

Simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein by using flexible electrochemical and Raman enhancing biochip

Flexible laser-scribed graphene (LSG) substrates with gold nanoislands have been developed as biochips for in situ electrochemical (EC) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biodetection (biomolecules and viral proteins). A flexible biochip was fabricated using CO2 laser engraving polyimide (PI) films to form a 3D porous graphene-like nanostructure. Gold nanoislands were deposited on the LSG substrates to enhance the intensity of the Raman signals. Moreover, the addition of auxiliary and reference electrodes induced a dual-function EC-SERS biochip with significantly enhanced detection sensitivity. The biochip could selectively and easily capture SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein through the SARS-CoV-2 S1 antibody immobilized on EC-SERS substrates using 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The grafted antibody specifically bound to SARS-CoV-2, resulting in a significant increase in the SERS signal of the target analyte. The limit of detection (LOD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein was 5 and 100 ng/mL by using EC and SERS detection, respectively. Although the LOD of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein detected using SERS is only 100 ng/mL, it can provide fingerprint information for identification. To improve the LOD, EC detection was integrated with SERS detection. The three-electrode detection chip enables the simultaneous detection of SERS and EC signals, which provides complementary information for target identification. The dual-functional detection technology demonstrated in this study has great potential for biomedical applications, such as the rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Mitochondrial dysfunction decreases cisplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer cells through upregulation of integrated stress response and mitokine GDF15

Gastric neoplasm is a high-mortality cancer worldwide. Chemoresistance is the obstacle against gastric cancer treatment. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been observed to promote malignant progression. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. The mitokine growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a significant biomarker for mitochondrial disorder and is activated by the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway. The serum level of GDF15 was found to be correlated with the poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. In this study, we found that high GDF15 protein expression might increase disease recurrence in adjuvant chemotherapy-treated gastric cancer patients. Moreover, treatment with mitochondrial inhibitors, especially oligomycin (a complex V inhibitor) and salubrinal (an ISR activator), respectively, was found to upregulate GDF15 and enhance cisplatin insensitivity of human gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, it was found that the activating transcription factor 4-C/EBP homologous protein pathway has a crucial function in the heightened manifestation of GDF15. In addition, reactive oxygen species-activated general control nonderepressible 2 mediates the oligomycin-induced ISR, and upregulates GDF15. The GDF15-glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor a-like-ISR-cystine/glutamate transporter-enhanced glutathione production was found to be involved in cisplatin resistance. These results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction might enhance cisplatin insensitivity through GDF15 upregulation, and targeting mitokine GDF15-ISR regulation might be a strategy against cisplatin resistance of gastric cancer.

Salvianolic acid A provides neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via PKA/CREB/c-Fos signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a phenomenon that pathological injury of ischemic brain tissue is further aggravated after the restoration of blood supply. The complex pathological mechanism of CIRI has led to the failure of multiple neuroprotective agents in clinical studies. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a neuroprotective extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., with significant pharmacological activities in the treatment of brain injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms of SAA remain unclear.

PURPOSE

To explore the potential protective effect of SAA on CIRI and its mechanism, and to provide experimental basis for the research of new drugs for CIRI.

STUDY DESIGN

A model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats was used to simulate clinical CIRI, and the neuroprotective effect of SAA on tMCAO rats was investigated within 14 days after reperfusion. The improvement effects of SAA on cognitive impairment of tMCAO rats were investigated by behavioral tests from days 7-14. Finally, the neuroprotective mechanism of SAA was investigated on day 14.

METHODS

The neuroprotective effects and mechanism of SAA were investigated by behavioral tests, HE and TUNEL staining, RNA sequence (RNA-seq) analysis and Western blot in tMCAO rats.

RESULTS

The brain protective effects of SAA were achieved by alleviating cerebral infarction, cerebral edema, cerebral atrophy and nerve injury in tMCAO rats. Meanwhile, SAA could effectively improve the cognitive impairment and pathological damage of hippocampal tissue, and inhibit cell apoptosis in tMCAO rats. Besides, SAA could provide neuroprotective effects by up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2, inhibiting the activation of Caspase 3, and regulating PKA/CREB/c-Fos signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

SAA can significantly improve brain injury and cognitive impairment in CIRI rats, and this neuroprotective effect may be achieved through the anti-apoptotic effect and the regulation of PKA/CREB/c-Fos signaling pathway.

Fabrication of a novel tantalum boride/vanadium carbide modified screen-printed carbon electrode for voltammetric determination of pimonidazole in bio-fluids

For the first time, a tumour hypoxia marker detection has been developed using two-dimensional layered composite modified electrodes in biological and environmental samples. The concept of TaB2 and V4C3-based MXene composite materials is not reported hitherto using ball-milling and thermal methods and it remains the potentiality of the present work. The successful formation is confirmed through various characterisation techniques like X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy photoelectron, and impedance spectroscopy. A reliable and repeatable electrochemical sensor based on TaB2@V4C3/SPCE was developed for quick and extremely sensitive detection of pimonidazole by various electroanalytical methods. It has been shown that the modified electrode intensifies the reduction peak current and causes a decrease in the potential for reduction, in comparison with the bare electrode. The proposed sensor for pimonidazole reduction has strong electrocatalytic activity and high sensitivity, as demonstrated by the cyclic voltammetry approach. Under the optimal experimental circumstances, differential pulse voltammetry techniques were utilised for generating the wide linear range (0.02 to 928.51 µM) with a detection limit of 0.0072 µM. The resultant data demonstrates that TaB2@V4C3/SPCE nano-sensor exhibits excellent stability, reliability, and repeatability in the determination of pimonidazole. Additionally, the suggested sensor was successfully used to determine the presence of pimonidazole in several real samples, such as human blood serum, urine, water, and drugs.

Reproducible SERS substrates manipulated by interparticle spacing and particle diameter of gold nano-island array using in-situ thermal evaporation

Gold (Au) nano-island arrays were deposited on the glass substrate to fabricate surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates by in-situ thermal evaporation (deposited and annealed samples at the same time). The optimal SERS intensity deposited by various thicknesses and in-situ annealing temperatures of Au nano-island arrays would be investigated. The biomolecules (adenine) were dropped on the well-designed SERS substrate for precise and quantitative SERS detection. The characterization of Au nano-island arrays SERS substrate would be evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the optimal deposition thickness and annealing temperature of Au nano-island arrays SERS substrate is about 14 nm and 200 °C respectively, which can construct the smallest interparticle spacing (W)/ particle diameter (D) ratio and the lowest reflection (%) and transmittance (%) to form the strongest SERS intensity. Moreover, finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation of the electromagnetic field distributions on Au nano-island arrays displays the similar trend with the experimental results. The 14 nm deposition with 200 °C in-situ annealing temperature would display the highest density of hot-spots by FDTD simulation. The reproducible Au nano-island arrays SERS substrates with tunable surface roughness, W/D ratio, and lower reflection and transmittance show promising potential for SERS detection of biomolecules, bacteria, and viruses.

Trends in suicide attempts and suicide deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Taipei City, Taiwan: an interrupted time-series analysis

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented global health crisis that may cause mental health problems and heighten suicide risk. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends in suicide attempts and suicide deaths in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

METHODS

The current study used the official daily data on suicide attempts and deaths in New Taipei City, Taiwan (4 million inhabitants) between 2015 and 2020 from the Taiwan National Suicide Prevention Reporting System. Interrupted time-series (ITS) analyses with parameters corrected by the estimated autocorrelations were applied on weekly aggregated data to examine whether the suicide trends during the early COVID-19 pandemic (late January to July 2020) deviated from previous trends (January 2015 to late January 2020). The impact due to the suicide prevention policy change was also examined (since August 2020).

RESULTS

ITS analyses revealed no significant increases in both mean and trend on weekly suicide deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the policy change. In contrast, there was a significant increasing trend in weekly suicide attempts since the COVID-19 outbreak at the rate of 1.54 attempts per week (95% confidence interval 0.49-2.60; p = 0.004). Sex difference analysis revealed that, however, this increasing trend was observed only in females not in males.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has different impacts on suicides attempts and deaths during the early pandemic in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The COVID-19 outbreak drastically increased the trend of suicide attempts. In contrast, the number of suicide deaths had remained constant in the investigated periods.

Surface Modification of Li3VO4 with PEDOT:PSS Conductive Polymer as an Anode Material for Li-Ion Capacitors

Li₃VO₄ (LVO) is a highly promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, owing to its high capacity and stable discharge plateau. However, LVO faces a significant challenge due to its poor rate capability, which is mainly attributed to its low electronic conductivity. To enhance the kinetics of lithium ion insertion and extraction in LVO anode materials, a conductive polymer called poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is applied to coat the surface of LVO. This uniform coating of PEDOT:PSS improves the electronic conductivity of LVO, thereby enhancing the corresponding electrochemical properties of the resulting PEDOT:PSS-decorated LVO (P-LVO) half-cell. The charge/discharge curves between 0.2 and 3.0 V (vs. Li⁺/Li) indicate that the P-LVO electrode displays a capacity of 191.9 mAh/g at 8 C, while the LVO only delivers a capacity of 111.3 mAh/g at the same current density. To evaluate the practical application of P-LVO, lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are constructed with P-LVO composite as the negative electrode and active carbon (AC) as the positive electrode. The P-LVO//AC LIC demonstrates an energy density of 107.0 Wh/kg at a power density of 125 W/kg, along with superior cycling stability and 97.4% retention after 2000 cycles. These results highlight the great potential of P-LVO for energy storage applications.

Immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of Tiepishihu Xiyangshen granules on cyclophosphamide induced immuno-suppression via TLR4/MAPKs and PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signal pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tiepishihu Xiyangshen granules (TXG) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of Panax quinquefolius L, Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo and Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. It has long been used as a nutritional supplement and an immune enhancer in China. However, the immunomodulatory effects and the underlying mechanisms of TXG have not been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of TXG and clarify the underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

TXG was administered by gavage for 18 days. From the 15th day, the immunosuppression model was induced by intraperitoneally injecting 80 mg/kg CTX for 3 days. The immune regulatory effects of TXG on immune organs were verified by calculating the organ index and observing the spleen tissue structure through HE staining. The effects of TXG on immune cells were examined by recording the PBWC, the proliferation rate of lymphocyte and the T lymphocyte phenotype. The effects of TXG on immune molecules were measured by detecting serum hemolysin and the content of cytokines. In parallel, kit was utilized to detect its antioxidant capacity. RNA seq and Western blot were used to analyze the possible immune regulation mechanism of TXG. HPLC and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS were used to identify the chemical components in TXG.

RESULTS

At the level of immune organs, TXG effectively reduced the adverse reaction to the body and the substantial damage to the spleen after chemotherapy by improving the spleen damage. At the level of immune molecules, TXG upregulated the expression of cytokines and antibodies. At the level of immune cells, TXG antagonized bone marrow suppression by increasing the PBWC of immunosuppressed mice. Meanwhile, TXG upregulated the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ lymphocytes and ameliorated the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. And the mechanism of TXG to improve immunity might be through TLR4/MAPKs and PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study confirmed that TXG has prominent immunomodulatory activities, and the immunity regulations of TXG may be achieved by regulating TLR4/MAPKs and PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signal pathways.

Disulfiram enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity by forming a novel platinum chelate Pt(DDTC)3. Biochem Pharmacol 2023;211:115498. [PMID: 36913990 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Despite the use of targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy is still the main option. However, DDP resistance is the major factor contributing to the failure of chemotherapy. In this study, we tried to screen DDP sensitizers from an FDA-approved drug library containing 1374 small-molecule drugs to overcome DDP resistance in NSCLC. As a result, disulfiram (DSF) was identified as a DDP sensitizer: DSF and DDP had synergistic anti-NSCLC effects, which are mainly reflected in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, plate colony formation and 3D spheroidogenesis and inducing apoptosis in vitro, as well as the growth of NSCLC xenografts in mice. Although DSF has recently been reported to promote the antitumor effect of DDP by inhibiting ALDH activity or modulating some important factors or pathways, unexpectedly, we found that DSF reacted with DDP to form a new platinum chelate, Pt(DDTC)₃⁺, which might be one of the important mechanisms for their synergistic effect. Moreover, Pt(DDTC)₃⁺ has a stronger anti-NSCLC effect than DDP, and its antitumor activity is broad-spectrum. These findings reveal a novel mechanism underlying the synergistic antitumor effect of DDP and DSF, and provide a drug candidate or a lead compound for the development of a new antitumor drug.

Treatment of Refractory Congenital Pseudoarthrosis of Tibia with Contralateral Vascularized Fibular Bone Graft and Anatomic Distal Tibial Locking Plate: A Case Series and Literature Review

Background: Congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) remains a challenge for physicians. Several treatment options have been proposed, but the standard of care remains inconclusive. In this study, we present three patients for whom the failure of prior treatments was managed with a contralateral vascularized fibular bone graft (VFG) and an anatomic distal tibial locking plate. Methods: Between 2017 and 2021, three patients were referred for failed treatment of CPT. All patients had undergone multiple prior surgeries, including tumor excision and fixation with ring external fixators, plates, and screws. We performed radical tumor resection and reconstruction of bone defects with a VFG. The construct was fixed with an anatomic locking plate, and the patients were followed up for a mean of 45.7 months. Results: All three patients were able to obtain graft union at 19.3 weeks. At the final follow-up, all grafts achieved bony hypertrophy without evidence of bone resorption or local tumor recurrence. There was a mean leg length difference of 8.5 cm preoperatively, compared with 6.3 cm postoperatively. The average lower leg angulation was 7.4 degrees and the average ankle range of motion was 58.3 degrees. The mean VAS score was 0 and the mean AOFAS score was 88.3. No significant complications were noted. Conclusions: Implantation of a VFG and an anatomic distal tibia locking plate can be considered an option for treatment-refractory CPT. Patients can expect to achieve bone consolidation, ambulate as tolerated, and have a low complication rate.

A sonochemical synthesis of SrTiO3 supported N-doped graphene oxide as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for electrochemical reduction of a chemotherapeutic drug

A sonochemical based green synthesis method playa powerful role in nanomaterials and composite development. In this work, we developed a perovskite type of strontium titanate via sonochemical process. SrTiO₃ particles were incorporated with nitrogen doped graphene oxide through simple ultrasonic irradiation method. The SrTiO₃/NGO was characterized by various analytical methods. The nanocomposite of SrTiO₃/NGO was modified with laser-induced graphene electrode (LIGE). The SrTiO₃/NGO/LIGE was applied for electrochemical sensor towards chemotherapeutic drug detection (nilutamide). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques have been used to examine the electrochemical performance of nilutamide (anti-cancer drug). DPV was found to be more sensitive and found to exhibit a sensitivity 8.627 µA µM^-1 cm^-2 for SrTiO₃/NGO/LIGE with a wide linear range (0.02-892 µM) and low Limit of detection (LOD: 1.16 µM). SrTiO₃/NGO/LIGE has been examined for the detection of nilutamide in blood serum and urine samples and obtained a good recovery in the range of 97.2-99.72 %. The enhanced stability and selectivity and practical application results indicates the suitability of SrTiO₃/NGO/LIGE towards the detection of nilutamide drug in pharmaceutical industries.

Bimetallic Cu5Zn8 alloy-embedded hollow porous carbon nanocubes derived from 3D-Cu/ZIF-8 as efficient electrocatalysts for environmental pollutant detection in water bodies

Excessive use of nitrofurantoin (NFT) and its residues can be harmful to the ecosystem, and to mitigate this, rapid and cost-effective detection of NFT in water bodies is needed. In this regard, we prepared a three-dimensional (3D) copper-zeolitic imidazole framework (Cu/ZIF-8)-derived bimetallic Cu₅Zn₈ alloy-embedded hollow porous carbon nanocubes (Cu₅Zn₈/HPCNC) for electrochemical detection of NFT. The resultant material is characterized using suitable spectrophotometry and voltammetry methods. Cu₅Zn₈/HPCNC is an effective electrocatalyst with high electrical conductivity and a fast electron transfer rate. It also has more catalytic active sites for improved electrochemical reduction of NFT. Fabricated Cu₅Zn₈/HPCNC-modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) for NFT reduction have a wide linear range with a low detection limit, and high sensitivity (15.343 μA μМ^-1 cm^-2), appreciable anti-interference ability with related nitro compounds, storage stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. Also, the practicability of Cu₅Zn₈/HPCNC/SPE can be successfully employed in NFT monitoring in water bodies (drinking water, pond water, river water, and tap water) with satisfactory recoveries.

Sonochemical construction of hierarchical strontium doped lanthanum trisulfide electrocatalyst: An efficient electrode for highly sensitive detection of ecological pollutant in food and water

Herbicides are used constantly in agriculture to enhance productivity across the globe. This herbicide monitoring requires utmost importance since its high dose leads to ecological imbalance and a negative impact on the environment. Moreover, a quantification of toxic herbicide is one of the important problems in the food analysis. In this work, deals with the development of a simple, and facile one-pot sonochemical synthesis of strontium doped La₂S₃ (Sr@La₂S₃). Morphological and structural characterization confirms the doping of Sr@La₂S₃ to generate a hierarchical layered structure. The electrochemical performance of modified with rotating disk electrode (RDE) using Sr@La₂S₃ composite is high, compared to La₂S₃ and bare electrodes towards the quantitative detection of mesotrione (MTO) in phosphate buffer. Sr@La₂S₃/RDE showed good sensitivity for MTO detection and it exhibit a range of 0.01-307.01 μM and limit of detection of 2.4 nM. Besides, the selectivity of fabricated electrode is high as it can electrochemically reduce MTO particularly, even in the presence of other chemicals, biological molecules and inorganic ions. The repeatability of MTO detection is high even after 30 days with a lower RSD values. Hence, simple fabrication of Sr@La₂S₃/RDE could be a novel electrode for the sensitive, selective, and reproducible determination of herbicides in real-time applications.

Porous Membranes of Polysulfone and Graphene Oxide Nanohybrids for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

Porous nanohybrid membranes of polysulfone (PSF) with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (PSF/GO membrane) were developed to serve as proton exchange membranes in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Various ratios of PSF/GO and thickness were investigated to evaluate the optimal voltage efficiency (VE), coulombic efficiency (CE), and energy efficiency (EE) of the VRFB. The pore size, distribution, and hydrophilicity of PSF/GO membranes were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and contact angles. Functional groups of GO were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of PSF/GO membranes were analyzed using a tensile tester and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The results show that the mechanical properties of the PSF porous membrane with GO nanosheets were significantly improved, indicating that the addition of graphene oxide nanosheets consolidated the internal structure of the PSF membrane. Cyclic voltammetry revealed an obviously different curve after the addition of GO nanosheets. The CE of the VRFB in the PSF/GO membrane was significantly higher than that in the pristine PSF membrane, increasing from 80% to 95% at 0.6 wt.% GO addition. Moreover, PSF/GO membranes displayed great chemical stability during long-term operation; thus, they can evolve as potential porous membranes for application in VRFBs for green energy storage.

[Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with nimotuzumab and chemotherapy in patients with unresectable stage Ⅳ squamous cell carcinoma of penis]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone or combined with toripalimab and nimotuzumab in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of penis. Methods: A total of 33 patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of penis undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone or combined with toripalimab and nimotuzumab at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from May 2015 to June 2021 were enrolled retrospectively. All the patients were male, with a median age (M(IQR))of 49.0 (13.5) years (range: 30 to 70 years). According to the therapy protocols, patients were divided into the chemotherapy group (16 cases) and the triple combination group (17 cases). Log-rank test was used to compare the progression-free survival and overall survival. χ² test or Fisher exact method was used to compare the objective response rate, pathological down-stage rate and adverse events between these two groups. Results: The follow-up time was 28.1(19.2) months (range: 1.5 to 33.4 months). Patients of triple combination group were observed significantly longer progression-free survival (30.0 months vs. 8.2 months, χ²=3.998, P=0.046) than those of chemotherapy group. The median overall survival of the triple combination group and chemotherapy group were not reached and 15.2 months (χ²=3.298, P=0.069), respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the subsequent surgical resection rate between these two groups (12/17 vs.11/16, P=1), the objective response rate and the pathological complete response rate in triple combination group were significantly higher than in chemotherapy group (13/17 vs. 6/16, χ²=5.125, P=0.024; 6/7 vs. 0, P=0.001). The main common grade 1 to 2 adverse events in the triple combination group were alopecia (16 cases), anemia (15 cases), and nausea (14 cases). The main common grade 1 to 2 adverse events in the chemotherapy group were anemia (14 cases), alopecia (12 cases), decreased appetite (12 cases), and nausea (11 cases). The incidence of adverse events ≥grade 3 was similar in the triple combination group and chemotherapy group (8/17 vs. 6/16, χ²=0.308, P=0.579). There was no grade 3 adverse event in both groups. Conclusion: Compared with traditional chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy combined with toripalimab and nimotuzumab provides longer progression-free survival and similar toxicity for unresectable stage Ⅳ squamous cell carcinoma of penis.

Reduced graphene oxide nanosheets decorated with core-shell of Fe3O4-Au nanoparticles for rapid SERS detection and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria

In this study, the core-shell of Fe₃O₄-Au nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by seeding AuNPs onto Fe₃O₄ NPs modified with poly-ethylenimine (PEI). Later, Fe₃O₄-Au NPs were attached to cationic poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-modified graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets through in situ self-assembly behaviors, termed as Fe₃O₄-Au@RGO nanocomposites, for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria. The resulting Fe₃O₄-Au@RGO nanocomposites were evaluated systematically by transmission electron microscope, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. It revealed that the core-shell structured Fe₃O₄-Au NPs were dispersed homogeneously on the surface of the GO nanosheets. Furthermore, the rapid SERS detection for small biomolecules and bacteria was conducted by Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the greatest SERS intensity was fne tuned at the weight ratio of Fe₃O₄-Au/RGO nanosheets was 20/1, displaying the optimal interparticle gap of AuNPs to induce the huge hot-spots effect. The magnetic inductive heating capability of Fe₃O₄-Au@RGO nanocomposites was produced under high frequency magnetic field exposure and can kill high than 90% of the bacteria at 10 min. Hence, the newly developed Fe₃O₄-Au@RGO nanocomposites were demonstrated to be viable for SERS detection of biomolecules and microbes and potential applications for magnetically capturing and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria.

Lack of direct association between viral hepatitis and sleep disturbances

Background

Individuals with chronic viral hepatitis are at increased risk of experiencing poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances. However, it remains unclear whether the sleep disorders associated with viral hepatitis are secondary to the comorbidities related to viral hepatitis or the direct effect of hepatitis viruses on sleep. This study investigated the direct impact of viral hepatitis B and C on sleep quality.

Methods

Individuals with viral hepatitis B or C and their healthy counterparts were recruited for the present study, and they were evaluated with the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in the absence of common comorbidities associated with viral hepatitis.

Results

Neither hepatitis B nor hepatitis C was found to cause significant differences in insomnia symptoms or excessive daytime sleepiness. However, individuals with hepatitis C, but not hepatitis B, tended to be less likely to experience restlessness of the legs or arms at night.

Conclusions

This study suggests that hepatitis viruses B and C may not cause a significant impact on sleep quality and related disorders directly. Sleep disturbances in individuals with chronic viral hepatitis may instead be attributable to hepatic decompensation or the comorbid factors associated with viral hepatitis.

Intelligent and thermo-responsive Au-pluronic® F127 nanocapsules for Raman-enhancing detection of biomolecules

Thermo-responsive Raman-enhanced nanocapsules were successfully fabricated by Pluronic® F127 (F127) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of biomolecules. F127 nanocapsules changes from hydrophilicity (swelling) to hydrophobicity (de-swelling) when the temperature increases from 15 °C to 37 °C, owing to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of F127 is about 26.5 °C. The size of nanocapsules would be enormous shrinking from 160 nm to 20 nm, resulting in a significant decrease in the distance between AuNPs to enhance hot spot effect, which increases the sensitivity of SERS detection. Based on the thermo-sensitive behavior, the ratio of AuNPs and F127 would be manipulated to find the optimal SERS enhancement effect. SERS nanocapsules can rapidly detect biomolecules (adenine and R6G) with limit of detection (LOD) lower than 10^-6 M. In addition, the relatively difficult to detect clinical samples, carboxyl-terminal parathyroid hormone fragments (C-PTH), can also be measured by the thermo-responsive SERS nanocapsules developed in this work. It is expected the biomolecules can be adsorbed at low temperature (15 °C), as well as collected and concentrated at high temperature (37 °C) for SERS detection, to increase the sensitivity and stability of SERS detection.

Electrocatalytic oxidation and amperometric determination of sulfasalazine using bimetal oxide nanoparticles-decorated graphene oxide composite modified glassy carbon electrode at neutral pH

Cube-shaped samarium orthovanadate (SmVO₄) nanoparticles were interconnected with a graphene oxide sheet (GOS) using a simple and eco-friendly method to generate a SmVO₄@GOS nanocomposite. SmVO₄ was characterized using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, which confirmed the wrapping of GOS around the SmVO₄ nanoparticles. SmVO₄@GOS was then used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which was evaluated for its electrochemical performance toward the assay of sulfasalazine (SSZ), an antibiotic drug. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were both used for the assay of SSZ using the SmVO₄@GOS-modified GCE at pH 7. The modified amperometric sensor is more sensitive, with a low detection limit (2.16 nM) and wide linear range of 20 nM-667 μM (Ag/AgCl). The electrochemical oxidation of SSZ was tested with blood serum and urine samples at physiological pH with recoveries in the range 96.1-98.6%. It indicates that the modified electrochemical sensor has good sensitivity and practical applicability toward SSZ detection. In the field of non-enzymatic sensors, SmVO₄@GOS/GCE provides a highly promising performance. Therefore, the electrochemical sensors have capacity for extensive analytical applications in biomedical devices.

High Sensitivity SERS Substrate of a Few Nanometers Single-Layer Silver Thickness Fabricated by DC Magnetron Sputtering Technology

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is commonly used for super-selective analysis through nanostructured silver layers in the environment, food quality, biomedicine, and materials science. To fabricate a high-sensitivity but a more accessible device of SERS, DC magnetron sputtering technology was used to realize high sensitivity, low cost, a stable deposition rate, and rapid mass production. This study investigated various thicknesses of a silver film ranging from 3.0 to 12.1 nm by field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the rhodamine 6G (R6G) testing irradiated by a He-Ne laser beam, the analytical enhancement factor (AEF) of 9.35 × 10⁸, the limit of detection (LOD) of 10^-8 M, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.61% were better than the other SERS substrates fabricated by the same DC sputtering process because the results showed that the 6 nm thickness silver layer had the highest sensitivity, stability, and lifetime. The paraquat and acetylcholine analytes were further investigated and high sensitivity was also achievable. The proposed SERS samples were evaluated and stored in a low humidity environment for up to forty weeks, and no spectrum attenuation could be detected. Soon, the proposed technology to fabricate high sensitivity, repeatability, and robust SERS substrate will be an optimized process technology in multiple applications.

Magnetic Graphene-Based Nanosheets with Pluronic F127-Chitosan Biopolymers Encapsulated α-Mangosteen Drugs for Breast Cancer Cells Therapy

In this study, multifunctional chitosan-pluronic F127 with magnetic reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposites were developed through the immobilization of chitosan and an amphiphilic polymer (pluronic F127) onto the MRGO. Physicochemical characterizations and in-vitro cytotoxicity of nanocomposites were investigated through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, Raman spectroscopy and resazurin-based in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. FESEM observation shows that the magnetic nanoparticles could tethered on the surface of MRGO, promoting the magnetic properties of the nanocomposites. FTIR identification analysis revealed that the chitosan/pluronic F127 were successfully immobilized on the surface of MRGO. Furthermore, α-mangosteen, as a model of natural drug compound, was successfully encapsulated onto the chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites. According to in-vitro cytotoxicity assay, α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could significantly reduce the proliferation of human breast cancer (MFC-7) cells. Eventually, it would be anticipated that the novel α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could be promoted as a new potential material for magnetically targeting and killing cancer cells.

[The role of preventive pancreatic duct stent placement in preventing acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography]

The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effect of pancreatic duct stent on acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. A retrospective analysis of the case data of patients who first underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis in the Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 for 5 years. According to whether the pancreatic duct stent was indwelled during the operation, they were divided into pancreatic duct stent group (147 cases) and non-indwelling pancreatic duct stent group (192 cases). The incidence of acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was compared between the two groups according to COTTON criteria. Independent sample t test, Pearson Chi-square test (χ²) and Fisher's exact test were used to compare groups' differences. There were 2 cases of acute pancreatitis in the pancreatic duct stent group, all of which improved after 48 hours. There were 22 cases of acute pancreatitis in the non-indwelling pancreatic duct stent group, of which 20 cases improved within 48 hours, and the other 2 cases had severe pancreatitis, which improved and discharged after 30 days of treatment. There was significant difference in the incidence of acute pancreatitis between the pancreatic duct stenting group (1.4%) and the group without placement of pancreatic duct stents (11.5%) (χ²=12.905,P<0.001). In conclusion, Pancreatic duct stent may be an effective method to prevent PEP.

Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Nanohybrids of AuNP-Immobilized Two-Dimensional Nanomica Platelets as Flexible Substrates for High-Efficiency and High-Selectivity Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Microbe Detection

A flexible hybrid substrate was developed by affixing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the surface of two-dimensional nanomica platelets (NMPs). The substrate was successfully used in biosensors with high efficiency and high selectivity through surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). By controlling the amphiphilicity of the hybrid substrate, the flexible substrate was made highly selective toward biomolecules. Four different SERS substrate systems were constructed, including intercalated mica, exfoliated NMPs, hydrophilic exfoliated NMPs, and hydrophobic exfoliated NMPs. NMPs were only 1 nm thick. AuNPs adsorbed on both sides of NMPs and thus created excellent three-dimensional hot junction effects in the z-axis direction. For the detection of adenine in DNA, a satisfactory Raman enhancement factor (EF) of up to 8.9 × 10⁶ was achieved with the detection limit as low as 10^-8 M. Subsequently, the AuNP/NMP hybrids were adopted to rapidly detect hydrophilic Staphylococcus hominis and hydrophobic Escherichia coli. The AuNP/PIB-POE-PIB/NMP nanohybrid was concurrently hydrophilic and hydrophobic. This amphiphilic property greatly enhanced the detection selectivity and signal intensity for hydrophilic or hydrophobic bacteria. Overall, AuNPs/PIB-POE-PIB/NMPs developed as SERS substrates enable rapid, sensitive biodetection.

K48/K63-linked polyubiquitination of ATG9A by TRAF6 E3 ligase regulates oxidative stress-induced autophagy

Excessive generation and accumulation of highly reactive oxidizing molecules causes oxidative stress and oxidative damage to cellular components. Accumulating evidence indicates that autophagy diminishes oxidative damage in cells and maintains redox homeostasis by degrading and recycling intracellular damaged components. Here, we show that TRAF6 E3 ubiquitin ligase and A20 deubiquitinase coordinate to regulate ATG9A ubiquitination and autophagy activation in cells responding to oxidative stress. The ROS-dependent TRAF6-mediated non-proteolytic, K48/63-linked ubiquitination of ATG9A enhances its association with Beclin 1 and the assembly of VPS34-UVRAG complex, thereby stimulating autophagy. Notably, expression of the ATG9A ubiquitination mutants impairs ROS-induced VPS34 activation and autophagy. We further find that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ROS production also stimulates TRAF6-mediated ATG9A ubiquitination. Ablation of ATG9A causes aberrant TLR4 endosomal trafficking and decreases IRF-3 phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Our findings provide important insights into how K48/K63-linked ubiquitination of ATG9A contributes to the regulation of oxidative stress-induced autophagy.

[Effect of measurement sites on coronary computed tomography angiography-derived instantaneous wave-free ratio in the diagnosis of coronary stenosis ischemia]

Objective: To explore the influence of measurement sites on the diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) -derived instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR_CT) for coronary stenosis ischemia. Methods: A total of 44 patients, including 27 males and 17 females aged from 44 to 83 (59±90) years, who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the Department of Radiology, Eastern Theater Command General Hospital from February 2009 to May 2018 were retrospectively collected. Based on CCTA images, iFR_CT values at different locations (stenosis, proximal downstream of stenosis, 2 cm downstream of stenosis, 3 cm downstream of stenosis, and 4 cm downstream of stenosis) were calculated through fluid mechanics simulation. With invasive FFR≤0.80 as the reference standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to analyze and evaluate the diagnostic performance of iFR_CT in different sites. Bland-Altman and spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the consistency between iFR_CT and invasive FFR. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and spearman correlation coefficient were used to test the repeatability of iFR_CT. Results: iFR_CT values at the proximal downstream of the stenosis (approximately 1 cm downstream of the stenosis) was superior to other measurement sites in the diagnosis of coronary ischemic specific stenosis. The threshold, area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of iFR_CT at the stenosis were 0.91, 0.87 (95%CI:0.76~0.96), 82% (95%CI:48%~97%), 76% (95%CI:57%~88%) and 77% (95%CI: 63%~87%), respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences between iFR_CT and FFR at the proximal downstream of the stenosis was 0.07 (95%LoA: 0.06~0.09) and Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.53 (P<0.001). At the proximal downstream of the stenosis, the intraobserver ICC of iFR_CT was 0.92 (95%CI: 0.85 ~0.95), the correlation coefficient was 0.85 (P<0.001); the interobserver ICC was 0.84 (95%CI: 0.60~0.94), correlation coefficient was 0.75 (P<0.001), demonstrating good repeatability between iFR_CT and FFR. Conclusion: With the invasive FFR value as reference standard, iFR_CT had a high diagnostic performance in detecting myocardial ischemia and the best measurement site was the proximal downstream of the stenosis.

[Association of coronary perivascular fat attenuation index, the parameters of plaque and fractional flow reserve]

Objective: To explore the association of coronary perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI), the parameters of plaque and fractional flow reserve (FFR). Methods: A total of 113 patients (with 141 plaques) (78 males and 35 females, age from 40 to 83 years) with stable coronary artery disease were retrospectively collected from Jingling Hospital and Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. All the patients underwent coronary CT angiography and invasive FFR examinations. The quantitative and qualitative parameters of plaque and vessel (such as the length and volume of plaque, the characteristics of plaque and high-risk plaque) and the FAI around the plaque were measured. The patients were divided into positive FAI group (n=46) and negative FAI group (n=66) according to the standard of whether the threshold of FAI≥ -70 HU. The quantitative indexes, including age, the length and volume of plaque, minimal lumen area (MLA) and FAI, as well as the qualitative indexed, including the characteristics of plaque, the number and characteristic of high-risk plaque and the number of patients and plaque with positive FFR were compared between the two groups. Further, logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlation among myocardial ischemia, age, the length of plaque, minimal lumen area (MLA), FAI and so on. ROC curve was used for evaluating the performance of each parameter. Results: Compared to the negative FAI group, positive FAI group had lower MLA (2.00±1.33 mm² vs 4.13±2.41 mm², P<0.001). The proportion of patients and vessels with FFR<0.75 in positive FAI group were significantly higher than that in negative FAI group (21.3% vs 4.5%, P=0.006; 23.2% vs 8.2%, P=0.016). The FAI between high-risk plaque and non-high-risk plaque had no significant difference (21.2% vs 16.1%, P=0.451). FAI predicted myocardial ischemia (AUC=0.666, P=0.021) and significantly improved the prediction efficiency of complex model(0.915 vs 0.951,P=0.033). Conclusion: Lower MLA and higher incidence of myocardial ischemia were associated with patients with higher FAI. In addition, FAI has a certain prediction efficiency and can provide incremental value for the determination of myocardial ischemia.

Expanding resources of endovascular thrombectomy: An optimization model

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Recently optimized models for selecting the locations of hospitals capable of providing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) did not consider the accuracy of the prehospital stroke scale assessment and possibility of secondary transport. Our study aimed to propose a new model for selecting existing hospitals with intravenous thrombolysis capability to become EVT-capable hospitals.

METHODS

A sequential order was provided to upgrade hospitals providing intravenous thrombolysis, using a mixed integer programming model based on current medical resource allocation. In addition, we drafted a centralized plan to redistribute existing EVT resources by redetermining locations of EVT-capable hospitals. Using historical data of 7679 on-scene patients with suspected stroke, the model was implemented to determine the hospital that maximizes the number of patients receiving EVT treatment within call-to-definitive-treatment time.

RESULTS

All suspected stroke patients were sent to EVT-capable hospitals directly under the current medical resource allocation model. After upgrading one additional hospital to become an EVT-capable hospital, the percentage of patients receiving definitive treatment within the standard call-to-definitive-treatment time was elevated from 68.82% to 72.97%. In the model, assuming that there is no hospital providing EVT, all patients suspected of stroke will be sent to EVT-capable hospitals directly after upgrading three or more hospitals to be able to provide treatment.

CONCLUSION

All patients eligible for acute stroke treatment are sent to EVT-capable hospitals in the simulation under the current medical resource allocation model. This model can be utilized to provide insights for capacity redistribution in other regions.

Identification of key genes and pathways of BMP-9-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by integrated bioinformatics analysis

Background

The purpose of present study was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with BMP-9-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by using bioinformatics methods.

Methods

Gene expression profiles of BMP-9-induced MSCs were compared between with GFP-induced MSCs and BMP-9-induced MSCs. GSE48882 containing two groups of gene expression profiles, 3 GFP-induced MSC samples and 3 from BMP-9-induced MSCs, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, DEGs were clustered based on functions and signaling pathways with significant enrichment analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) demonstrated that the identified DEGs were potentially involved in cytoplasm, nucleus, and extracellular exosome signaling pathway.

Results

A total of 1967 DEGs (1029 upregulated and 938 downregulated) were identified from GSE48882 datasets. R/Bioconductor package limma was used to identify the DEGs. Further analysis revealed that there were 35 common DEGs observed between the samples. GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, among which endoplasmic reticulum, protein export, RNA transport, and apoptosis was the most significant dysregulated pathway. The result of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network modules demonstrated that the Hspa5, P4hb, Sec61a1, Smarca2, Pdia3, Dnajc3, Hyou1, Smad7, Derl1, and Surf4 were the high-degree hub nodes.

Conclusion

Taken above, using integrated bioinformatical analysis, we have identified DEGs candidate genes and pathways in BMP-9 induced MSCs, which could improve our understanding of the key genes and pathways for BMP-9-induced osteogenic of MSCs.

The Effect of Perceived Value, Trust, and Commitment on Patient Loyalty in Taiwan

Increasing patient loyalty through improved health care quality and patient–provider relationships becomes the key factor in medical providers’ successes. This study explored the mediated relationship of patients’ perceived value, patient commitment, and patient loyalty and the moderating effect of patient trust on the mediated relationship. A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Mediation and moderated mediation were tested using the PROCESS macro v3.5 for the SPSS supplement. Convenience sampling was used for the distribution of questionnaires to members of the public with experience of seeking medical attention in Taiwan. Among the 254 valid questionnaires recovered, 59.4% of the respondents were male, 38.6% were married, 90.2% were in the 20 to 49 year age range, and 54.7% had a bachelor’s degree or above. This study indicated a significant mediated relationship among patients’ perceived value of medical services, commitment to the patient–provider relationship, and patient loyalty. Furthermore, when the patient demonstrated higher levels of trust in a healthcare provider, the relationship of perceived value, commitment, and patient loyalty was also enhanced. This study discussed and demonstrated the effect of perceived value, trust, and commitment on patient loyalty. The research suggests that improving patient loyalty benefits sustainable operation of medical providers and the treatment effects for patients.

Mab_3083c Is a Homologue of RNase J and Plays a Role in Colony Morphotype, Aggregation, and Sliding Motility of Mycobacterium abscessus

Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic pathogen causing human diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients. M. abscessus strains with a rough morphotype are more virulent than those with a smooth morphotype. Morphotype switch may occur during a clinical infection. To investigate the genes involved in colony morphotype switching, we performed transposon mutagenesis in a rough clinical strain of M. abscessus. A morphotype switching mutant (smooth) named mab_3083c::Tn was obtained. This mutant was found to have a lower aggregative ability and a higher sliding motility than the wild type strain. However, its glycopeptidolipid (GPL) content remained the same as those of the wild type. Complementation of the mutant with a functional mab_3083c gene reverted its morphotype back to rough, indicating that mab_3083c is associated with colony morphology of M. abscessus. Bioinformatic analyses showed that mab_3083c has a 75.4% identity in amino acid sequence with the well-characterized ribonuclease J (RNase J) of M. smegmatis (RNase J_Msmeg). Complementation of the mutant with the RNase J gene of M. smegmatis also switched its colony morphology from smooth back to rough. These results suggest that Mab_3083c is a homologue of RNase J and involved in regulating M. abscessus colony morphotype switching.

Application of Hollow Fiber Ultrafiltration Technology in the Detection of Total IgE of Hemolytic Blood after Death

Abstract

Objective To investigate the treatment effect of hollow fiber ultrafiltration technology on hemolytic samples and the differences between IgE concentration and serum concentration before hemolysis in ultrafiltrate. Methods The 33 postmortem blood samples of non-frozen corpses within 72 hours after death were collected, 4 mL blood was taken from each case, among which 1 mL was centrifuged to get serum, and the remaining 3 mL blood was frozen-thawed 3-5 times to cause complete hemolysis. The 2 mL hemolytic samples were processed by hollow fiber ultrafiltration to obtain ultrafiltrate. The hemoglobin concentration in serum, complete hemolytic sample and ultrafiltrate was determined by Van-Zij solution-cyanated methemoglobin assay method, and the total IgE in serum and ultrafiltrate was determined by electrochemical luminescence method. Results The hemoglobin concentration in ultrafiltrate was significantly lower than that in complete hemolytic samples （P<0.05）. There was a good correlation between the total IgE detection values of ultrafiltrate and serum （r=0.984）. The difference between the serum and the value of IgE in ultrafiltrate after correction had no statistical significance, and the differences between the two in positive rates had no statistical significance （P>0.05）. Conclusion Ultrafiltration technology has a good treatment effect on complete hemolytic samples, and the correction value of ultrafiltrate detection is close to the serum level before hemolysis, and therefore, it can be applied to the detection of total IgE of frozen corpse hemolytic samples.

HuR in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex is Critical for Stress-Induced Synaptic Dysfunction and Depressive-Like Symptoms in Mice

Chronic stress has been observed to increase the risk of developing depression and induce neuronal alterations of synaptic plasticity, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that the ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding protein HuR was up-regulated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice following chronic stress. In adult mice, AAV-Cre-mediated knockout of HuR in the mPFC prevented anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors induced by chronic stress. HuR was also required for the stress-induced dendritic spine loss and synaptic transmission deficits. Moreover, HuRflox/flox;Nex-Cre mice, which induce HuR loss of function from embryonic development, exhibited enhanced synaptic functions. Notably, we ascertained RhoA signaling to be regulated by HuR and involved in the modulation of structural synaptic plasticity in response to chronic stress. Our results demonstrate HuR is a critical modulator for the regulation of stress-induced synaptic plasticity alterations and depression, providing a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of depressive disorders.

Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fouling Capabilities of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Derivative Nanohybrid Coatings on SUS316L Stainless Steel by Electrochemical Polymerization

We have successfully fabricated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) derivative nanohybrid coatings on flexible SUS316L stainless steel by electrochemical polymerization, which can offer anti-fouling and anti-bacterial capabilities. PEDOT derivative nanohybrids were prepared from polystyrene sulfonates (PSS) and graphene oxide (GO) incorporated into a conducting polymer of PEDOT. Additionally, the negative charge of the PEDOT/GO substrate was further modified by poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) to form a positively charged surface. These PEDOT derivative nanohybrid coatings could provide a straightforward means of controlling the surface energy, roughness, and charges with the addition of various derivatives in the electrochemical polymerization and electrostatically absorbed process. The characteristics of the PEDOT derivative nanohybrid coatings were evaluated by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle, and surface potential (zeta potential). The results show that PEDOT/PSS and PEDOT/GO nanohybrid coatings exhibit excellent anti-fouling capability. Only 0.1% of bacteria can be adhered on the surface due to the lower surface roughness and negative charge surface by PEDOT/PSS and PEDOT/GO modification. Furthermore, the anti-bacterial capability (7 mm of inhibition zone) was observed after adding PDDA on the PEDOT/GO substrates, suggesting that the positive charge of the PEDOT/GO/PDDA substrate can effectively kill bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Given their anti-fouling and anti-bacterial capabilities, PEDOT derivative nanohybrid coatings have the potential to be applied to biomedical devices such as cardiovascular stents and surgical apparatus.

Performance Enhancement of Vanadium Redox Flow Battery by Treated Carbon Felt Electrodes of Polyacrylonitrile using Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

A high-performance carbon felt electrode for all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems is prepared via low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in air to improve the hydrophilicity and surface area of bare carbon felt of polyacrylonitrile and increase the contact potential between vanadium ions, so as to reduce the overpotential generated by the electrochemical reaction gap. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of the modified carbon felt is, significantly, five times higher than that of the pristine felt. The modified carbon felt exhibits higher energy efficiency (EE) and voltage efficiency (VE) in a single cell VRFB test at the constant current density of 160 mA cm⁻², and also maintains good performance at low temperatures. Moreover, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis results show that the resistance between electrolyte and carbon felt electrode decreased. As a result, owing to the increased reactivity of the vanadium ion on the treated carbon felt, the efficiency of the VRFB with the plasma-modified carbon felt is much higher and demonstrates better capacity under a 100-cycle constant current charge-discharge test.

[The clinical study of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential on three eye positions]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of the ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential on three different eye positions and to explore the appropriate eye position for oVEMP. Methods: 15 patients (30 ears) with vertigo who underwent oVEMP test from December 2017 to May 2018 were selected as the patient group, including seven males and eight females, with an average age of (51±13) years. Another 22 (44 ears) healthy young people were recruited into the control group, including 10 males and 12 females, with an average age of (23±5) years. oVEMPs were measured on the following three eye positions respectively: 30 degrees straight up(upper median position),45 degrees upper right(upper right position), and 45 degrees upper left(upper left position). oVEMP elicitation rate, oVEMP latencies, amplitudes and interaural amplitude asymmetry ratio were analyzed by SPSS 23.0 statistical software. Results: There was no statistical significance (P>0.05) in the oVEMP elicitation rate, oVEMP latency, amplitude and asymmetry ratio on the three eye positions among the control group, the patient group and the overall subjects. Conclusions: The three eye positions can be used to detect oVEMP in clinic. There is no difference in the extraction rate and waveform characteristics. When one of the eye positions is difficult to gaze or not easy to obtain the coincidence curve, the other two can be used to obtain the ideal oVEMP curves as well.

Magnetic Graphene-Based Sheets for Bacteria Capture and Destruction Using a High-Frequency Magnetic Field

Magnetic reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) sheets were prepared by embedding Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-modified graphene oxide (GO) sheets for bacteria capture and destruction under a high-frequency magnetic field (HFMF). The characteristics of MRGO sheets were evaluated systematically by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TEM observation revealed that magnetic nanoparticles (8–10 nm) were dispersed on MRGO sheets. VSM measurements confirmed the superparamagnetic characteristics of the MRGO sheets. Under HFMF exposure, the temperature of MRGO sheets increased from 25 to 42 °C. Furthermore, we investigated the capability of MRGO sheets to capture and destroy bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). The results show that MRGO sheets could capture bacteria and kill them through an HFMF, showing a great potential in magnetic separation and antibacterial application.

Up-regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression and catalytic activity is associated with immunosuppression and poor prognosis in penile squamous cell carcinoma patients

Background

Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan (Trp) catabolism have been demonstrated to play an important role in tumor immunosuppression. This study examined the expression and catalytic activity of IDO1 in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and explored their clinical significance.

Methods

IDO1 expression level, serum concentrations of Trp and kynurenine (Kyn) were examined in 114 PSCC patients by immunohistonchemistry and solid‐phase extraction‐liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. The survival was analyzed using Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test. Hazard ratio of death was analyzed via univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Immune cell types were defined by principal component analysis. The correlativity was assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis.

Results

The expression level of IDO1 in PSCC cells was positively correlated with serum Kyn concentration and Kyn/Trp radio (KTR; both P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with serum Trp concentration (P = 0.001). Additionally, IDO1 up‐regulation in cancer cells and the increase of serum KTR were significantly associated with advanced N stage (both P < 0.001) and high pathologic grade (P = 0.008 and 0.032, respectively). High expression level of IDO1 in cancer cells and serum KTR were associated with short disease‐specific survival (both P < 0.001). However, besides N stage (hazard radio [HR], 6.926; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.458‐19.068; P < 0.001) and pathologic grade (HR, 2.194; 95% CI, 1.021‐4.529; P = 0.038), only serum KTR (HR, 2.780; 95% CI, 1.066‐7.215; P = 0.036) was an independent predictor for PSCC prognosis. IDO1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of interferon‐γ (IFNγ, P < 0.001) and immunosuppressive markers (programmed cell death protein 1, cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 and programmed death‐ligand 1 and 2; all P < 0.05), and the infiltration of immune cells (including cytotoxic T lymphocytes, regulatory T lymphocytes, tumor‐associated macrophages, and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells; all P < 0.001) in PSCC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of IDO1 was induced by IFNγ in a dose‐dependent manner in PSCC cells.

Conclusions

IFNγ‐induced IDO1 plays a crucial role in immunoediting and immunosuppression in PSCC. Additionally, serum KTR, an indicator of IDO1 catabolic activity, can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor for PSCC.

An environmentally friendly strategy for determining organic ultraviolet filters in seawater using liquid-phase microextraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Benzophenone-3, benzophenone-8, and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor are used in sunscreens because they can protect the skin from UV radiation. The widespread use of organic UV filters may mean that they directly or indirectly enter seawater during recreational activities or through sewage discharge. In this study, a simple and efficient method using 1-octanol:isooctane (2:8, v/v) as an extraction solvent and liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was developed to measure trace levels of organic UV filters in seawater samples. This proposed method proved to be a highly sensitive, low-cost, and green analytical tool that requires minimal sample preparation. The method was validated and it exhibited favorable performance as well as acceptable accuracy (67 to 115%), precision (2.1 to 7.3%), coefficients of determination (0.9952 < R² < 0.9987), sensitivity (limits of quantification [3.3 to 5.7 ng L^-1]), and an acceptable matrix effect (87 to 99%). This methodology was successfully applied to analyze seawater taken from Kenting National Park located in the Hengchun Peninsula of southern Taiwan. Benzophenone-3 was detected at all sampling sites and at a higher concentration than the other organic UV filters. The highest concentration of benzophenone-3 was 514.6 ng L^-1 in a sample collected from Baisha Beach.

Differential expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes of layer chicken bursa after experimental infection with infectious bursal disease virus

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases caused by IBD virus (IBDV), which results in bursal necrosis and immunosuppression that cause severe damage to the immune system in chickens. Cytokines are important mediators and regulators of both types of host responses. In the present study, layer chickens were artificially challenged with IBDV, and the differential expression of inflammatory genes was explored by using quantitative real-time PCR, which offered basic data for further study of IBDV pathogenesis. Data showed that after IBDV infection, the virus load in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) peaked at 96 h and then gradually decreased. Compared with those of the negative-infected group, the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the infected group increased to varying degrees at 12 to 192 h, respectively. Furthermore, the IL-1β mRNA expression peaked at 48 h; the mRNA transcript levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were the highest at 96 h; TNF-α mRNA expression peaked at 120 h; the IL-7 mRNA expression peaked at 144 h; and the TGF-β mRNA transcript level was the highest at 192 h. Taken together, these observations indicated that along with the change pattern of IBDV proliferation in BF, the mRNA expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, TGF-β) obviously increased, and the kinetics of each of these cytokines was different. The kinetics of IL-6/IL-10 mRNA expression ratio was significantly positively correlated with that of the virus load. These results suggest that IBDV infection seriously interferes with the natural immune response mediated by inflammatory cytokines in chickens.

Rotation control of a variable-capacitance electrostatic motor for space equivalence principle tests with rotating masses

Variable-capacitance electrostatic motors are ideal for driving the test mass in ultra-low-noise electrostatic accelerometers. Such devices are essential for testing the new equivalence principle (NEP) with rotating extended masses. However, as the air-film damping is greatly reduced by placing the sensor core assembly in a high-vacuum housing, this synchronous motor may easily fall out of step and suffer spin-up failures with traditional open-loop excitation. In this study, a synchronous electronic phase commutation scheme is proposed by sensing the three-phase position change of the rotor poles and activating the stator electrodes in careful correlation with the instantaneous rotor position. Experiments on a ground-test NEP instrument prototype show that the proposed closed-loop excitation scheme can spin-up the rotor synchronously and maintain stable constant-speed operation of this macroscale variable capacitance motor operated in a high-vacuum environment. This rotation control method is also applicable to the synchronous operation of micromachined variable-capacitance electrostatic motors.

Gastric cancer proliferation and invasion is reduced by macrocalyxin C via activation of the miR-212-3p/Sox6 Pathway

Gastric cancer is a malignancy of very poor prognosis and survival rates. Macrocalyxin C is a Chinese herb-derived diterpenoid compound that has been postulated to possess anti-cancer characteristics. Gastic cell viability and stage of cell cycle were assessed using CCK8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell migration and invation were assessed using the wound healing and Transwell assays. Rate of apoptosis was determined via AV/PI-staining. Athymic nude mice xenograft models were used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of macrocalyxin C. Western blot, luciferase experiments, cell transfection and real-time PCR allowed further study into the activation of the miR-212-3p/Sox6 pathway during macrocalyxin C treatment. We conclude that macrocalyxin C may halt the proliferation of gastric malignancies through alteration of cell invasion, apoptosis, progression through the cell cycle and cell growth. The macrocalyxin C→miR-212-3p┤Sox6 signal pathway was identified to be involved in Sox6 attenuation through augmentation of miR-212-3p values.

Redistributing medical resources for a bypass strategy for large vessel occlusion: a community-based study

BACKGROUND

A bypass strategy for large vessel occlusion (LVO) benefits patients receiving endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), but may delay some patients from receiving IV thrombolysis. However, patient centralization has been shown to improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the current coverage of medical services for patients with stroke, and to identify the best coverage under different medical resource redistribution to help balance medical equality and patient centralization.

METHODS

This 6-year geographic study of 7679 on-scene patients with suspected stroke with a positive Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) score identified 4037 patients with all three CPSS items who were suspected as having an LVO. Geographic, population, and patient coverage rates for hospitals providing IV thrombolysis and those providing EVT were identified according to hospital service areas, defined as geographic districts with access to a hospital within a ≤15 min off-peak driving time estimated using Google Maps. Moreover, we estimated the effects on resource redistribution when implementing a bypass strategy.

RESULTS

Geographic coverage rates for hospitals providing IV thrombolysis and those providing EVT were 64.75% and 56.62%, respectively, and population coverage rates were 97.30% and 92.72%, respectively. The service areas of hospitals providing IV thrombolysis covered 93.77% of patients with suspected stroke, and those of hospitals providing EVT covered 87.89% of patients with suspected LVO. The number of hospitals providing IV thrombolysis and those providing EVT could be reduced to six and two hospitals, respectively, without affecting hospital arrival time when implementing a bypass strategy.

CONCLUSION

Hospitals providing IV thrombolysis and EVT could be reduced without reducing medical equality.

Genome-wide RNAi Screening Identifies RFC4 as a Factor That Mediates Radioresistance in Colorectal Cancer by Facilitating Nonhomologous End Joining Repair

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) is a standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC); however, resistance to chemoradiotherapy is one of the main obstacles to improving treatment outcomes. The goal of this study was to identify factors involved in the radioresistance of colorectal cancer and to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A genome-wide RNAi screen was used to search for candidate radioresistance genes. After RFC4 knockdown or overexpression, colorectal cancer cells exposed to X-rays both in vitro and in a mouse model were assayed for DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis. Moreover, the regulatory effects and mechanisms of RFC4 in DNA repair were investigated in vitro. Finally, the relationships between RFC4 expression and clinical parameters and outcomes were investigated in 145 patients with LARC receiving neoCRT.

RESULTS

RFC4, NCAPH, SYNE3, LDLRAD2, NHP2, and FICD were identified as potential candidate radioresistance genes. RFC4 protected colorectal cancer cells from X-ray-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RFC4 promoted nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated DNA repair by interacting with Ku70/Ku80 but did not affect homologous recombination-mediated repair. Higher RFC4 expression in cancer tissue was associated with weaker tumor regression and poorer prognosis in patients with LARC treated with neoCRT, which likely resulted from the effect of RFC4 on radioresistance, not chemoresistance.

CONCLUSIONS

RFC4 was identified as a radioresistance factor that promotes NHEJ-mediated DNA repair in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the expression level of RFC4 predicted radiotherapy responsiveness and the outcome of neoadjuvant radiotherapy in patients with LARC.

Substance P plays a critical role in synaptic transmission in striatal neurons

Substance P is one of the major neuropeptides released by striatal neurons; however, its function in the striatum remains unclear. In this study, we found substance P triggers spontaneous neurotransmitter release and rapid synaptic vesicle exocytosis in cultured striatal neurons, as substance P knockdown in these neurons impaired spontaneous neurotransmitter release and calcium-dependent rapid synaptic neurotransmission. Furthermore, treatment with exogenous substance P completely rescued the synaptic dysfunction phenotype in striatal neurons lacking this neuropeptide. On the other hand, substance P knockdown had no effect on the size of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles, but decreased the probability of presynaptic release of synaptic vesicles in cultured striatal neurons. Treatment with CP96345, a NK1 receptor antagonist, also resulted in synaptic defects in cultured striatal neurons. In summary, we propose substance P is critical for synaptic transmission in striatal neurons.

Effects of IBDV infection on expression of ghrelin and ghrelin-related genes in chicken

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that plays a modulatory role in the immune system. Studies have demonstrated that mammal ghrelin level is influenced by pathological status. However, it has not been reported whether chicken ghrelin level changes during pathogen infection. This study was designed to investigate changes of ghrelin levels in chickens infected with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and to explore the relationship between ghrelin changes and bursal damage, and inflammatory cells infiltration induced by IBDV. The results showed that (1) plasma ghrelin concentration increased after IBDV infection. It reached a peak at 10443.6 ± 2612.9 pg/mL on 2 dpi, which was about 100-fold as high as that of the control. Then it decreased sharply on 3 dpi, which was only 31.7% as that of 2 dpi, and remained stable until 5 dpi. Meanwhile, ghrelin and ghrelin-related gene, ghrelin-o-acyltransferase (GOAT), and growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) mRNA expression levels in bursa were also increased after IBDV infection, and reached the peak on 2 dpi at 149, 28.8, and 117.2-fold higher than that of the control, respectively. Then they decreased and remained at a higher status. Correlation analysis showed that plasma ghrelin concentration and ghrelin, GOAT, and GHSR mRNA expressions in bursa were strongly associated with IBDV VP2 mRNA expression in bursa. (2) The damage of bursa was the most severe on 5 dpi with a histopathological score of 12. It had no direct correlation with plasma ghrelin level and ghrelin, GOAT, and GHSR mRNA expressions in bursa. However, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating into bursa, which was the highest on 2 and 3 dpi, showed significant a positive correlation with the ghrelin and GHSR mRNA expression. Presumably chicken ghrelin may function as an anti-inflammatory factor. In conclusion, IBDV infection upregulates the expression of ghrelin and ghrelin-related gene in chickens, and chicken ghrelin may play an important regulatory role during pathogen infection.