Metal-Organic Framework Based Sensors for Benzene Vapor

Sensing of benzene vapor is a hot spot due to the volatile drastic carcinogen even at trace concentration. However, achieving convenient and rapid detection is still a challenge. As a sort of functional porous material, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed as detection sensors by adsorbing benzene vapor and converting it into other signals (fluorescence intensity/wavelength, chemiresistive, weight or color, etc.). Supramolecular interaction between benzene molecules and the host framework, aperture size/shape and structural flexibility are influential factors in the performance of MOF-based sensors. Therefore, enhancing the host-guest interactions between the host framework and benzene molecules, or regulating the diffusion rate of benzene molecules by changing the aperture size/shape and flexibility of the host framework to enhance the detection signal are effective strategies for constructing MOF-based sensors. This concept highlights several types of MOF-based sensors for the detection of benzene vapor.

Washed microbiota transplantation improves haemoglobin levels in anaemia of chronic disease

BACKGROUND

Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common type of anaemia and lacks an effective treatment. Patients with anaemia are reported to have altered gut microbial profiles, which may affect erythropoiesis. Here, we investigated the gut microbial features of patients with ACD and determined whether regulating gut microbiota using washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) was effective in treating ACD.

METHODS

We compared the gut microbiota profile of patients with ACD and healthy controls, evaluated the efficacy of WMT on haematological parameters in the patients, and analysed the alterations in gut microbiota after WMT treatment.

RESULTS

Patients with ACD had lower gut microbial richness, and differences in microbial composition and function, relative to healthy controls. Additionally, the relative abundances of two butyrate-producing genera Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Butyricicoccus, were positively correlated with the haemoglobin (HGB) level and lower in patients with ACD than controls. WMT significantly increased HGB levels in patients with ACD. After the first, second and third WMT rounds, normal HGB levels were restored in 27.02%, 27.78% and 36.37% (all p < .05) of patients with ACD, respectively. Moreover, WMT significantly increased the abundance of butyrate-producing genera and downregulated gut microbial functions that were upregulated in patients with ACD.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ACD exhibited differences in gut microbial composition and function relative to healthy controls. WMT is an effective treatment for ACD that reshapes gut microbial composition, restores butyrate-producing bacteria and regulates the functions of gut microbiota.