Lanthanide-MOFs as multi-responsive photoluminescence sensor for sensitively detecting Fe3+, Cr2O72- and nitrofuran antibiotics.

Fast and selective detection of contaminants plays a key role in meeting human health and environmental concerns. Herein, two groups of isostructural lanthanide MOFs, [Ln(Hpta)(oxalic acid)]·H2O (1-Eu, 2-Gd) and [Ln(pta)(oxalic acid)0.5(H2O)2]·2H2O (3-Eu, 4-Gd) (H2pta = 2-(4-pyridyl)-terephthalic acid, C2O4- = oxalic acid), were synthesized by solvothermal method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that 1 and 2 are 3D neutral frameworks, while 3 and 4 consist of 2D layers with parallelogram holes and stack into 3D networks through O-H⋯N and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding interactions. All complexes remain crystalline and stable below 400 °C, suggesting preeminent thermostability. Noteworthily, only 3 shows excellent chemical stability in water and organic solvent. Therefore, the solid-state fluorescence spectrum was used to characterize 3 which exhibited intense red luminescence. The N active sites in the pore channels of 3 are conducive to displaying a distinct quenching effect for Fe3+ cations in aqueous solutions, Cr2O72- anions in DMF and DMA solutions, and nitrofuran antibiotics in the DMF solvent. Overall, 3 is a prospective luminescent sensor for detecting Fe3+, Cr2O72- and nitrofuran antibiotics.

Proteomic analysis reveals the potential positive effects of Mito-TEMPO on ram sperm motility and fertility during cryopreservation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO on the protein profile of ram sperm during cryopreservation and evaluate the cryoprotective roles of Mito-TEMPO on ram sperm quality and fertilization capacity. Semen collected from 8 Dorper rams was cryopreserved in TCG-egg yolk extender supplemented with various concentrations of Mito-TEMPO (0, 20, 40 and 60 µM). After thawing, sperm characteristics, antioxidant status and the abundance of hexose transporters (GLUT 3 and 8) were analyzed. The cervical artificial insemination (AI) was performed to evaluate the fertilization ability of cryopreserved ram sperm. The alterations of sperm proteomic profile between the control and MT40 groups were determined using iTRAQ-coupled LC-MS. Supplementation with 40 µM of Mito-TEMPO resulted in the highest post-thaw sperm motility and kinematics. Sperm quality, antioxidant capacity and glucose transporter abundance of frozen-thawed ram sperm were elevated in the MT40 group. The inclusion of 40 µM Mito-TEMPO in freezing extender also resulted in the higher pregnancy rate of ewes. A total of 457 proteins including 179 upregulated proteins and 278 downregulated proteins were defied as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using fold change (FC) > 1.2 with P < 0.05. Sixty-one DEPs with (FC > 1.5) were dramatically regulated by Mito-TEMPO. These DEPs are mainly involved in sperm motility, energy metabolism and capacitation. Our data suggest that the beneficial effects of Mito-TEMPO on sperm motility and fertility potential of cryopreserved ram semen are achieved by regulating sperm antioxidant capacity and sperm proteins related to energy metabolism and fertility.

Effects of mitoquinone (MitoQ) supplementation during boar semen cryopreservation on sperm quality, antioxidant status and mitochondrial proteomics.

Mitochondria are the most important organelles and the main reactive oxygen species producers in spermatozoa. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitoquinone (MitoQ) supplementation in boar semen extender during cryopreservation on sperm quality, antioxidant status and the changes of sperm mitochondrial proteomic profile. Semen collected from 10 Large White boars was cryopreserved in lactose-egg yolk extender supplemented with various concentrations of MitoQ (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 µM). After thawing, sperm characteristics, antioxidant status and the abundance of hexose transporters (GLUT 3 and 8) were analyzed. The comprehensive mitochondrial proteomic profiling was performed on spermatozoa in the control and MitoQ10 groups. Supplementation with 10 µM of MitoQ resulted in the highest post-thaw sperm motility and kinematics. Sperm quality, antioxidant capacity and glucose transporter abundance of frozen-thawed boar sperm were also elevated in the MitoQ10 group. Excessive MitoQ (40 µM) supplementation induced a reduction of sperm motility parameters, sperm quality and antioxidant status and the abundance of GLUT3 and 8 proteins. A total of 189 proteins were defied as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using fold change (FC) > 1.2 with P < 0.05, and 33 of them were dramatically (FC > 1.5) regulated by MitoQ. These DEPs are mainly involved in sperm motility, energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Our data suggest that the beneficial effect of MitoQ on cryopreserved boar semen is achieved by regulating sperm antioxidant capacity and the mitochondrial proteins related to motility and metabolism.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Vancomycin, Linezolid, Tedizolid, and Daptomycin in Treating Patients with Suspected or Proven Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: An Updated Network Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Skin and soft structure infections (SSTIs) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pose serious health risks and cause significant cost burdens, and a conclusive recommendation about antibiotics has not yet been generated. Therefore, we performed this updated network meta-analysis to determine the preferred drug for the treatment of MRSA-caused SSTIs. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify any potentially eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the comparative efficacy and safety of any two of vancomycin, linezolid, tedizolid, and daptomycin in MRSA-caused SSTIs. All statistical analyses were conducted with RevMan, ADDIS, and STATA software. RESULTS: Twenty eligible RCTs involving 7804 patients were included for the final analysis. Direct meta-analysis suggested that linezolid was superior to vancomycin in improving clinical (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.99; P = 0.02) and microbiological (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.24-2.86; P = 0.003) success, which were all confirmed by network meta-analyses. No statistical differences were identified regarding other comparisons. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences between any two antibiotics related to safety. Moreover, ranking probabilities indicated that linezolid had the highest probability of being ranked best in terms of clinical and microbiological success. CONCLUSION: Based on the limited evidence, linezolid may be a preferred antibiotic for the treatment of MRSA-caused SSTIs because it showed superiority in clinical and microbiological success without difference regarding safety.

Correlation between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome and the prognosis of treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the prognosis of treatment. METHODS: A total of127 IBS patients (IBS group) were selected, and based on the results of the methane/hydrogen breath test, they were divided into SIBO-positive group (subdivided into the antibiotic group, microecological group, and placebo group according to difference in treatment methods) and the SIBO-negative group. The incidence of SIBO and inflammatory factors in different populations were compared. Moreover, differences in the negative conversion rate of intestinal bacterial overgrowth, symptom improvement, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-10 levels in the antibiotic group, microecological group, and placebo group before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: The IL-1ß level of the IBS group was higher than that of the control group, but the level of IL-10 was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The level of IL-1ß in the SIBO-positive group was higher than that in the SIBO-negative group, while IL-10 level was lower in the SIBO-positive group compared with the SIBO-negative group (P<0.05). Symptom scores after treatment in the antibiotic group and the microecological group were lower than those in the same groups before treatment and those in the placebo group after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of IL-1ß in the antibiotic group and the microecological group decreased, whereas the level of IL-10 increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, the total clinical effective rate and negative conversion rate of the antibiotic group and the microecological group were higher than those of the placebo group (P<0.05); however, the comparison of symptom scores, inflammatory factors, and total clinical effective rate before and after treatment in the placebo group was not statistically significant (P<0.05). The symptom score after treatment in the negative conversion group was lower than that in the non-negative conversion group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SIBO plays an important role in the occurrence of IBS. Antibiotics and microecological agents can be used to correct SIBO in clinical practice to improve the symptoms of IBS patients and peripheral blood inflammatory factors.

Management of intractable pain in patients treated with hemorrhoidectomy for mixed hemorrhoids.

BACKGROUND: Post-hemorrhoidectomy pain is common, usually temporary, and responsive to analgesics. However, some patients experience prolonged, intractable anal pain, which is refractory to conventional analgesics and adversely effects quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a combination injection containing local anesthesia and steroids for the treatment of intractable post-hemorrhoidectomy anal pain. METHODS: This study included five patients with intractable post-hemorrhoidectomy anal pain who presented between July 2015 and November 2018. Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (M-M) with a sclerosant injection had been performed in three patients and stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH) along with external hemorrhoidectomy in two. For the purpose of this study, all patients received local combination injections containing ropivacaine and triamcinolone acetonide. The primary outcome was the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and secondary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, adverse reactions, and recurrence. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, the VAS score was 8 in one patient and 5-7 in four, and the PSQI score was ≥16 in all patients. The injection was administered once (n=4) or twice (n=1). Rapid pain resolution was achieved on the day of treatment (VAS scores 0-3), and patients reported undisturbed sleep the same night. VAS scores were 0-2 (n=4) and 1-3 (n=1), and the PQSI scores were 0-6 (n=4) and 11-15 (n=1) at the 6-month follow-up. No patient reported significant pain or adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Intractable post-hemorrhoidectomy anal pain is rare but significantly effects quality of life. While conventional analgesia may be ineffective, the local injection of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs may be a useful treatment strategy.

miR-141-3p inhibits fibroblast proliferation and migration by targeting GAB1 in keloids.

Keloids are benign dermal fibroproliferative tumors that develop as a result of several dysregulated processes. Emerging evidence has revealed that miRNAs contribute to keloid formation. However, the molecular mechanisms of keloid pathogenesis remain unclear. In our study, we found that miR-141-3p in keloid tissues and keloid fibroblasts was significantly decreased compared with the levels in normal tissues and normal skin fibroblasts, respectively. miR-141-3p overexpression resulted in significantly decreased proliferation and migration and the promotion of apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts, whereas miR-141-3p knockdown in keloid fibroblasts yielded the opposite results. Growth factor receptor binding 2-associated binding protein 1 (GAB1) was identified and confirmed as a direct target of miR-141-3p. The expression of GAB1 was up-regulated in keloid tissues, and the restoration of GAB1 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-141-3p on the proliferation and migration of keloid fibroblasts. All data suggested that miR-141-3p decreased the proliferation and migration of keloid fibroblasts by repressing GAB1 expression, providing a useful target for keloid management.