In situ growth of TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene Schottky heterojunction as a highly sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor for DNA detection.

In this work, a heterojunction composed of a TiO2 nanosheet and layered Ti3C2 was synthesized by directly growing TiO2 in Ti3C2 MXene. Compared with pure TiO2, TiO2/Ti3C2 composites had increased surface area, and a light absorption range that extended from ultraviolet to visible light, which greatly extended the life of photogenerated carriers. A photoelectrochemical biosensor for DNA detection was constructed based on the TiO2/Ti3C2 heterogeneous structure, which was comprehensively studied based on photocurrent responses. In the absence of the target, the CdSe QDs were close to the surface of the electrode, resulting in enhanced sensitization and increased photocurrent. In the presence of the target, the photocurrent decreases due to the formation of rigid double strands with the probe DNA, which caused the CdSe QDs to be far away from the electrode surface. The sensor had stability and sensitivity for DNA detection in the range of 10 nM-10 fM, and the lower detection limit was 6 fM. Its outstanding characteristics also provided ideas for detecting various other target DNA for early diagnosis of various diseases.

Occupational stress of physicians and nurses in emergency departments after contracting COVID-19 and its influencing factors: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Occupational stress is one of the major occupational health hazards globally. This study investigated the current situation of and factors influencing the occupational stress of physicians and nurses in emergency departments (EDs) after contracting coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted among physicians and nurses in EDs in China between January 5 and 8, 2023. A general descriptive analysis of variables was conducted, the differences in the occupational stress of physicians and nurses in EDs with different characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test, and factors influencing occupational stress were investigated using generalized ordinal logistic regression. Results: Of the 1924 physicians and nurses in EDs who contracted COVID-19, 64.71% considered their occupational stress high or very high, with overly intense work as the primary stressor. Those with ≥ 10 years of work tenure, working in tertiary hospitals and with higher professional titles were more stressed, while females, nurses, those with a master's degree or higher, and those who continued to work after contracting COVID-19 were less stressed. There were differences in the predictors of occupational stress between physicians and nurses. Conclusion: China's physicians and nurses in EDs had high occupational stress after contracting COVID-19. Attention should be given to the occupational mental health of physicians and nurses in EDs, and training on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection should be strengthened.

Network pharmacology-based approach uncovers the JAK/STAT signaling mechanism underlying paederia scandens extract treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease. Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr is a common folk remedy used in Hainan, China, to dispel the wind and dampness associated with RA. METHODS: The active components of Paederia scandens were extracted using network pharmacology. The potential targets of active components were used to determine activated pathways, and the in vitro effects of Paederia scandens extracts were verified in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLS-RA). RESULTS: We identified 27 active components using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF)-mass spectrometry (MS). Among the major target genes with high connectivity, IL-1ß, PI3K, TNF, and JAK2 are known to play key roles in RA development. High-affinity interactions were identified between active compounds in Paederia scandens extract and Janus kinase JAK 2, which are key components of the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. In HFLS-RA cells, Paederia scandens extract treatment reduced the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-17. Paederia scandens extract treatment also significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK 2 and STAT3, regulating cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we confirmed that Paederia scandens has potential for application as a therapeutic and preventive food and acts through the modulation and suppression of JAK-STAT pathway activation to control the inflammatory response in RA.