RESUMO
Optimizing the antibacterial effectiveness of copper ions while reducing environmental and cellular toxicity is essential for public health. A copper chelate, named PAI-Cu, is skillfully created using a specially designed carboxyl copolymer (a combination of acrylic and itaconic acids) with copper ions. PAI-Cu demonstrates a broad-spectrum antibacterial capability both in vitro and in vivo, without causing obvious cytotoxic effects. When compared to free copper ions, PAI-Cu displays markedly enhanced antibacterial potency, being about 35 times more effective against Escherichia coli and 16 times more effective against Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, Gaussian and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) analyses reveal that Cu+ ions can remain stable in the carboxyl compound's aqueous environment. Thus, the superior antibacterial performance of PAI-Cu largely stems from its modulation of copper ions between mono- and divalent states within the Cu-carboxyl chelates, especially via the carboxyl ligand. This modulation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ËOH), which is pivotal in bacterial eradication. This research offers a cost-effective strategy for amplifying the antibacterial properties of Cu ions, paving new paths for utilizing copper ions in advanced antibacterial applications.
RESUMO
Background: The incidence of Parkinson disease (PD) has been increasing each year. The development of new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology can help understand its pathogenesis and identify more effective imaging-based biological indicators. Methods: The clinical and MRI imaging data of 40 patients with PD and 40 healthy controls were analyzed. All participants underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI), and T2*mapping sequence examination. The diagnostic value of single and combined multiparameter indicators was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Compared with the healthy control group, the PD group showed significant differences in the disappearance of bilateral "swallow tail sign", the distribution volume of melanocytes in the substantia nigra and the smaller volume in the bilateral substantia nigra, the maximum signal of the locus coeruleus and the smaller and average volume in the bilateral substantia nigra, and the values of T2* and R2* in the bilateral substantia nigra (P<0.01). The maximum and smaller value and the average value of the bilateral locus coeruleus signal were negatively correlated with the disease course duration (P<0.05), and the smaller distribution volume of the melanin neurons in the bilateral substantia nigra was negatively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) grade (P<0.05). In the joint diagnosis with multiple indicators, some composite parameters were found to be negatively correlated with H-Y grading (P<0.05), while others were negatively correlated with disease course duration (P<0.05). Joint use of multiple parameter indicators greatly improved diagnostic efficacy [area under the curve (AUC) =0.958]. Conclusions: The distribution volume of melanin in substantia nigra and the maximum value of locus coeruleus signal may be the biological imaging indicators for the early diagnosis, severity, and follow-up evaluation of PD. Compared with a single indicator, composite indicators used in combination with multiple techniques have a significantly better diagnostic efficacy for PD.
RESUMO
Simple preparation, good conductivity, and excellent hydrophilicity are in urgent demand due to fast growth of wearable intelligent devices. Cellulose nanocrystal-polyethylenedioxythiophene (CNC-PEDOT) nanocomposites with modulated morphology were prepared through Iron (III) p-toluenesulfonate hydrolysis of commercialized microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and in situ polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomers (EDOT) through one-pot green synthesis, where preparation and modification of CNC were obtained for uses as templates to anchor PEDOT nanoparticles. The resultant CNC-PEDOT nanocomposite gave well-dispersed PEDOT nanoparticles with sheet-like structure on the CNC surface, possessing higher conductivity and improved hydrophilicity or dispersibility. Subsequently, a wearable non-woven fabrics (NWF) sensor was successfully assembled by dipping the conductive CNC-PEDOT, and showed excellent sensing response for multiple signals (subtle deformation from various human activities and temperature). This study provides a feasible and large-scale production of CNC-PEDOT nanocomposites and their applications in wearable flexible sensors and electronic devices.
RESUMO
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the application value of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of iron deposition in the substantia nigra dense zone in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to evaluate the diagnostic value of the correlation among multi-parametric imaging indicators, clinical stage, and disease duration. Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients with clinically confirmed PD and 36 healthy controls were enrolled. The disease course was recorded, and PD severity was graded using the Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) scale. All subjects underwent magnetic sensitivity weighted imaging (SWI), neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI), and a T2*mapping sequence. Based on the fusion of the NM-MRI and SWI amplitude maps, phase maps, and T2*MAPPING value maps, NM-MRI was used to delineate the dense zone of the substantia nigra, which was divided into three sub-regions: upper, middle, and lower. In this way, the amplitude, phase, and R2* values of each sub-region and the average value of the sum of the three sub-regions were obtained simultaneously in the SWI amplitude, phase, and T2*MAPPING maps. The multi-parameter imaging indices were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between them and clinical indices was evaluated in the PD group. Results: The upper (amplitude, phase value, R2* value), middle, and lower (amplitude) right substantia nigra compact zones were significantly different between the PD and control groups. The upper (phase value, R2* value) and middle (amplitude) areas of the left substantia nigra compact zone were also significantly different between the two groups (all P < 0.05). The mean values (amplitude, phase value, R2* value) of the right substantia nigra densification zone and the mean values (phase value) of the left substantia nigra densification zone were also significantly different (all P < 0.05). Amplitudes in the middle and lower parts of the right substantia nigra dense zone were negatively correlated with the H-Y grade (middle: r = -0.475, P = 0.003; lower: r = -0.331, P = 0.049). Amplitudes of the middle and lower parts of the dense zone of the left substantia nigra were negatively correlated with the H-Y grade (middle: r = -0.342, P = 0.041; lower: r = -0.399, P = 0.016). The average amplitude of the right substantia nigra compact zone was negatively correlated with the H-Y grade (r = -0.367, P = 0.027). The average R2* value of the compact zone of the left substantia nigra was positively correlated with the H-Y grade (r = 0.345, P = 0.040). Conclusion: Multiparametric MRI sequence examination has application value in the evaluation of iron deposition in the dense zone of the substantia nigra in PD. Combined with NM-MRI, fusion analysis is beneficial for accurately locating the substantia nigra compact zone and quantitatively analyzing the iron deposition in different sub-regions. Quantitative iron deposition in the middle and lower parts of the substantia nigra dense zone may become an imaging biological indicator for early diagnosis, severity evaluation, and follow-up evaluation of PD and is thus conducive for clinical diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
