Colorimetric detection of Hg2+ based on the enhanced oxidase-mimic activity of CuO/Au@Cu3(BTC)2 triggered by Hg2.

It is imperative to develop a rapid detection method for Hg2+ due to its harm to human health and the ecological environment. In this research, CuO/Au@Cu3(BTC)2 was synthesized through reducing HAuCl4 by CuxO@Cu3(BTC)2, which was obtained by reducing Cu3(BTC)2 with hydrazine hydrate. The oxidase-mimic activity of CuO/Au@Cu3(BTC)2 can be enhanced by Hg2+ through forming a Au-Hg alloy. Therefore, a colorimetric method was designed for Hg2+ detection with a linear relationship in the 0.05-25 µM range and a limit of detection of 9.7 nM. This strategy exhibited a strong selectivity to Hg2+ and was applied in a real water sample with reliable recoveries. This work provides a possibility for the rapid detection of Hg2+.

Merging Modular Molecular Design with High Throughput Screening of Cell Adhesion on Antimicrobial Supramolecular Biomaterials.

A polymer microarray based on the supramolecular ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) moiety is fabricated to screen antimicrobial materials for their ability to support cell adhesion. UPy-functionalized additives, either cell-adhesive, antimicrobial or control peptides, are used, and investigated in different combinations at different concentrations, resulting in a library of 194 spots. These are characterized on composition and morphology to evaluate the microarray fabrication. Normal human dermal fibroblasts are cultured on the microarrays and cell adhesion to the spots is systematically analyzed. Results demonstrate enhanced cell adhesion on spots with combinations including the antimicrobial peptides. This study clearly proves the power of the high throughput approach in combination with supramolecular molecules, to screen additive libraries for desired biological response.

Antihyperuricemic and Renal Protective Effect of Cordyceps chanhua (Ascomycetes) Fruiting Bodies in Acute Hyperuricemia and Chronic Gout Rodent Models.

Cordyceps chanhua has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The uric acid-lowering effect of artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of C. chanhua (FBCC) was studied using the acute hyperuricemia (AH) and chronic gout (CG) animal models. The AH mice and CG rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the negative control group, model group, positive control group, low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group of FBCC, respectively. Serum uric acid, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and liver xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity were detected. Renal tubulointerstitial injury and urate crystals in CG rats were evaluated. The results showed that the uric acid content in AH mice with the high-dose FBCC group decreased statistically (P < 0.05). In the CG rats, the serum uric acid level in all FBCC groups and the serum creatinine value in the high-dose group exhibited a significant decrease (P < 0.05); the scores of renal tubulointerstitial damage and urate deposit were reduced in the high-dose group of FBCC. FBCC can reduce uric acid and improve renal function, demonstrating it as a beneficial supplement for uric acid-lowering and gout-relieving drugs.

CCNB1 is involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis and silencing CCNB1 decelerates tumor growth and improves prognosis of bladder cancer.

In search of an effective therapeutic target for bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA), the present study aimed to investigate the expression of cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and its putative mechanism in BLCA. BLCA sequencing data from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas were used to analyze expression of CCNB1 mRNA and high CCNB1 expression had a poorer prognosis compared with those with low expression. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) samples collected from the Human Protein Atlas database were analyzed for CCNB1 protein expression. Short hairpin (sh) CCNB1-transfected BLCA T24 and 5637 cells were used to investigate the effects of CCNB1 and inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of BLCA cells, affect the cell cycle distribution and promote apoptosis of 5637 cells. A sh-CCNB1 BLCA chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) transplantation model was established to observe the impacts of sh-CCNB1 on the tumorigenesis of BLCA in vivo. Analysis of sequencing data showed that CCNB1 mRNA was significantly elevated in tumor and BLCA compared with normal tissues [standardized mean difference (SMD)=1.21; 95% CI: 0.26-2.15; I²=95.9%]. IHC indicated that CCNB1 protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm and was significantly increased in BLCA tumor tissues. The in vitro tests demonstrated that proliferation of T24 and 5637 cells transfected with sh-CCNB1 was significantly inhibited and cell migration and invasion ability were significantly decreased. sh-CCNB1 decreased the percentage of T24 cells in G0/G1, 5637 cells in the G0/G1 phase and S phase and increased percentage of 5637 cells in the G2/M phase and increased early apoptosis of 5637 cells. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that the mass of transplanted tumors was significantly decreased compared with the control group following silencing of CCNB1. The present results suggested that CCNB1 was involve in the development and prognosis of BLCA and silencing of CCNB1 may be a promising targeted therapy for BLCA.

A new turn on coumarin-based fluorescence probe for Cr3+ detection in aqueous solution.

Isatin-3-(7'-Methoxychromone-3'-methylidene) hydrazone (L) was synthesized based on chromone schiff base, and used to construct a novel sensor to detect Cr3+. Fluorescence detection experiments were carried out for a range of different concentrations of Cr3+ in aqueous solutions. A concentration calculation model was built on the basis of eliminating interference of excitation spectrum in the fluorescence spectra with mathematical method. Results showed that probe L displayed a 70-fold fluorescence enhancement upon the addition of Cr3+ due to the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) effect. On the other hand, metal ions except Cr3+ did not cause significant change in either the absorption or the fluorescence spectrum of L. In addition, L showed a good selectivity to Cr3+ over other metal cations, especially Al3+ and Cu2+. The probe L can detect Cr3+ highly and selectively by the direct chelation enhanced fluorescence with a detection limit of 3.14 × 10-6 M. Furthermore, benefiting from their good water solubility and biocompatibility, cell imaging and real-time monitoring of Cr3+ in living HepG2 cells were successfully achieved.

Satisfaction with labial reinforcement of custom-made mouthguards among a cohort of rugby union players: A randomized crossover trial.

PURPOSE: The optimal mouthguard design for athletes remains unclear. This study assessed satisfaction and preference among rugby union players for custom mouthguards with and without labial reinforcement. It also assessed discomfort and perceived protection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial used a crossover design of four 1-week periods to compare conventional (Type A) and labial reinforced (Type B) customized 2 mouthguards for rugby union players from February to May 2022. Type B mouthguards included a 0.75-mm insert of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (Duran) in the anterior labial region. We ensured intraoral occlusion accommodation for both mouthguards. Players wore each mouthguard type when training and in competitive matches for 2 weeks according to one of two randomized sequences, and after each session, they rated the mouthguard on 10-point scales regarding discomfort, functional interference, protection, and general satisfaction. After 4 weeks, we asked participants to nominate their preferred mouthguard. RESULTS: In total, 22 of the 24 invited players (16 men and 6 women) were included. We observed no significant differences in discomfort, functional interference, protection, or general satisfaction by mouthguard type (P > .05 Wilcoxon test). Ultimately, 12 players (55%) preferred the Type A mouthguard and 10 (45%) preferred the Type B mouthguard (P = .832; one-sample binomial test). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Labial reinforcement does not affect satisfaction, perceived comfort and protection, or mouthguard preference among rugby union players. Int J Prosthodont 2023. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8444 Trial registration: NCT05238480 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Predictive Molecular Design and Structure-Property Validation of Novel Terpene-Based, Sustainably Sourced Bacterial Biofilm-Resistant Materials.

Presented in this work is the use of a molecular descriptor, termed the α parameter, to aid in the design of a series of novel, terpene-based, and sustainable polymers that were resistant to biofilm formation by the model bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To achieve this, the potential of a range of recently reported, terpene-derived monomers to deliver biofilm resistance when polymerized was both predicted and ranked by the application of the α parameter to key features in their molecular structures. These monomers were derived from commercially available terpenes (i.e., α-pinene, ß-pinene, and carvone), and the prediction of the biofilm resistance properties of the resultant novel (meth)acrylate polymers was confirmed using a combination of high-throughput polymerization screening (in a microarray format) and in vitro testing. Furthermore, monomers, which both exhibited the highest predicted biofilm anti-biofilm behavior and required less than two synthetic stages to be generated, were scaled-up and successfully printed using an inkjet "valve-based" 3D printer. Also, these materials were used to produce polymeric surfactants that were successfully used in microfluidic processing to create microparticles that possessed bio-instructive surfaces. As part of the up-scaling process, a novel rearrangement was observed in a proposed single-step synthesis of α-terpinyl methacrylate via methacryloxylation, which resulted in isolation of an isobornyl-bornyl methacrylate monomer mixture, and the resultant copolymer was also shown to be bacterial attachment-resistant. As there has been great interest in the current literature upon the adoption of these novel terpene-based polymers as green replacements for petrochemical-derived plastics, these observations have significant potential to produce new bio-resistant coatings, packaging materials, fibers, medical devices, etc.

Synthesis of Thermo-Responsive Monofunctionalized Diblock Copolymer Worms.

Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-block-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PGMA-PHPMA) with worm-like morphology is a typical example of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerized thermo-responsive copolymer via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in aqueous solution. Chain transfer agents (CTAs) are the key component in controlling RAFT, the structures of which determine the end functional groups of the polymer chain. It is therefore of interest to monofunctionalize the polymers via CTA moiety, for bioactive functionality conjugation and in the meantime maintain the precisely controlled morphology of the copolymers and the related property. In this work, a newly designed CTA 5-(2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino) ethylamino)-2-cyano-5-oxopentan-2-yl benzodithioate (t-Boc CPDB) was synthesized and used for the RAFT polymerization of PGMA45-PHPMA120. Subsequently, PGMA45-PHPMA120 copolymers with primary amine, maleimide, and reduced L-glutathione (a tripeptide) monofunctionalized terminals were synthesized via deprotection and conjugation reactions. These monofunctionalized copolymers maintain worm-like morphology and thermo-responsive property in aqueous solution (10% w/v), as confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, and the observation of the phase transition behavior in between 4 °C and room temperature (~20 °C), respectively. Summarily, a range of thermo-responsive monofunctionalized PGMA45-PHPMA120 diblock copolymer worms were successfully synthesized, which are expected to offer potential biomedical applications, such as in polymer therapeutics, drug delivery, and diagnostics.

Evaluation of the relative potential for contact and doffing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by a range of personal protective equipment materials.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-has caused a global public health emergency. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the primary defence against viral exposure in healthcare and community settings. However, the surfaces of PPE materials may trap virus for contact transmission or through laden aerosols generated during removal of PPE, through cleaning or during movement. In this study, the relative efficacy of current PPE materials in terms of virion adsorption to materials and their antiviral potency, has been evaluated on a wide range of PPE for the first time, including four polymer glove types, two types of scrubs, apron material, a mask, visor and a selection of other commercial polymers and products. Although differences in virion adsorption to the test materials were observed, none of the existing polymer-based PPE resulted in more than tenfold reduction in the SARS-CoV-2 titre within either 10 min or 30 min contact period. The wettability and surface chemistry of the test materials were analysed to investigate any correlations with their surface physicochemical properties. While no correlation was found between wettability and viral retention under air flow challenge, one secondary ion of m/z 101.03 (+) and three secondary ions of m/z 31.98 (-), 196.93 (-) and 394.33 (+) in ToF-SIMS data of the test materials showed positive and negative correlations with the viral retention, respectively, which was identified by PLS regression model, suggesting that the surface chemistry plays a role in determining the extent of virion adsorption. Our findings outline the material aspects that influence the efficacy of current PPE against SARS-CoV-2 transmission and give suggestions on the development of novel simple polymer-based PPE for better infection protection.

Systematic analysis of tRNA-derived small RNAs reveals therapeutic targets of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in the cortexes of experimental traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the underlying mechanisms involved in XFZYD therapy remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: We explored new therapeutic targets of XFZYD in TBI by the tsRNA-sequencing (tsRNA-seq) method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to assess the quality of XFZYD. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly categorized into three groups: sham, TBI, and XFZYD. The protective effects of XFZYD were investigated in vivo by using the Morris water maze (MWM), modified neurological severity score (mNSS) tests, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and Nissl staining. tsRNA-seq was applied to analyze the expression of tsRNAs in the rat cortex. Four tsRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. The biological function of putative tsRNAs was investigated using bioinformatics techniques. The functions of tsRNAs targeting mRNAs were verified in vitro. RESULTS: The mNSS and MWM indicated that XFZYD notably improved neurological deficits and cognitive function after TBI (p < 0.05). H&E staining and Nissl staining demonstrated that XFZYD suppressed damage and neuronal loss in the TBI rat cortex. We evaluated the dysregulated expression of 732 tsRNAs (128 tsRNAs were significantly altered in the TBI/sham group (fold change > 2 and p < 0.05), and 97 tsRNAs were dysregulated in the XFZYD/TBI group (fold change > 2 and p < 0.05)) in the TBI rat cortex. Interestingly, 41 tsRNAs were distinctly regulated by XFZYD. The qRT-PCR results of the four randomly chosen tsRNAs (tRF-54-75-Glu-TTC-2, tRF-55-75-Gln-CTG-2-M2, tRF-55-76-Val-TAC-1, tRF-64-85-Leu-AAG-1-M4) exhibited trends similar to those of the tsRNA-seq data. We certified the possible targets of tsRNAs and suggested the crosscurrent in the expression trend of the target genes. Bioinformatics analysis showed that XFZYD-related tsRNAs could contribute to regulating insulin resistance, the calcium signaling pathway, autophagy, and axon guidance. CONCLUSIONS: The current research implies that tsRNAs are putative therapeutic targets of XFYZD for TBI treatment. This research provides new insight into the therapeutic targets of XFZYD in treating TBI.

Application of Variational Method to Stability Analysis of Cantilever Vertical Plates with Bimodular Effect.

In the design of cantilevered balconies of buildings, many stability problems exist concerning vertical plates, in which reaching a critical load plays an important role during the stability analysis of the plate. At the same time, the concrete forming vertical plate, as a typical brittle material, has larger compressive strength but lower tensile strength, which means the tensile and compression properties of concrete are different. However, due to the complexities of such analyses, this difference has not been considered. In this study, the variational method is used to analyze stability problems of cantilever vertical plates with bimodular effect, in which different loading conditions and plate shapes are also taken into account. For the effective implementation of a variational method, the bending strain energy based on bimodular theory is established first, and critical loads of four stability problems are obtained. The results indicate that the bimodular effect, as well as different loading types and plate shapes, have influences on the final critical loads, resulting in varying degrees of buckling. In particular, if the average value of the tensile modulus and compressive modulus remain unchanged, the introduction of the bimodular effect will weaken, to some extent, the bending stiffness of the plate. Among the four stability problems, a rectangular plate with its top and bottom loaded is most likely to buckle; next is a rectangular plate with its top loaded, followed by a triangular plate with its bottom loaded. A rectangular plate with its bottom loaded is least likely to buckle. This work may serve as a theoretical reference for the refined analysis of vertical plates. Plates are made of concrete or similar material whose bimodular effect is relatively obvious and cannot be ignored arbitrarily; otherwise the greater inaccuracies will be encountered in building designs.

Multi-element Characteristics of Chinese Medical Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Their Decoctions.

Adopting ICP-AES and ICP-MS to determine the content of 53 elements (6 macro-elements, 47 trace elements), which used HNO3 (5 mL) and H2O2 (2 mL) to digest Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) by microwave. These herbs obtained from six producing areas in China, namely Xuanwu (Henan province), Shihezi (Xinjiang province), Zhongjiang (Sichuan province), Panan (Zhejiang province), Bozhou (Anhui province), and Heze (Shandong province). A certified reference material of Astragalus (GBW 10028, GSB-19) was used to assess the accuracy of the method. Except the slight change of Na and S in Xuanwu, the content of other producing areas followed the order of Ca > K > P > Mg > S > Na. The herbs of Shihezi (22,658 mg/kg) got the highest concentration of total elements, while the herbs of Panan (1.006 mg/kg) got the highest concentration of rare earth elements. The multi-element fingerprint map of Baishao was established, which was obviously different from other herbs. Meanwhile, the same method was adopted to determine the content of 50 elements in Baishao decoctions from three main producing areas. Compared with the herbs, each element was significantly reduced, and K was the highest concentration. The transfer rates of elements in Baishao decoctions followed the order (mean): As (55.79%) > Ni (55.19%) > Na (51.48%) > Mo (44.13%) > Ce (43.82%) > V (40.52%). The decoctions of Panan (0.122 mg/kg) got the highest content of rare earth elements. In all Baishao herbs and their corresponding decoctions, the levels of Cu, Cd, As, Pb, and Hg did not exceed the limits of the Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations (WM2-2001) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015).

The primary pulmonary NUT carcinomas and some uncommon somatic mutations identified by next-generation sequencing: a case report.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma (NUT-C) is an exceedingly rare and aggressive squamous tumor characterized by an acquired rearrangement of the NUT gene involving the NUTM1 (Nut midline carcinoma, family member 1, NUT) gene encoding the nuclear protein of the testis on 15q14. As a rare tumor, there is little information available on the clinicopathologic and molecular cytogenetic findings of NMC. We herein reported a case of a 69-year-old man diagnosed with lung NMC involving the rearrangement of chromosomal region 15q14 harboring the NUTM1 gene. It was exceptionally rare for the patient's involving of the lung but having the chance to be totally resected. After radical surgery, the patient accepted further four cycles of chemotherapy and remains disease-free after 10 months. The immunohistochemical staining of PDL1 was negative and next-generation sequencing technology identified genomic alterations in discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2), cyclin D1 (CCND1), B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (BCL1), colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), runt related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) and death domain-associated protein 6 (DAXX6) from the paraffin-embedded tissue. This case will contribute to not only a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of the primary pulmonary NUT carcinomas but also the potential therapeutic option for the patient.

All Surfaces Are Not Equal in Contact Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

The world faces a severe and acute public health emergency due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Healthcare workers are in the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and are exposed to the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection daily. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is their main defense against viral contamination; gloves, visors, face masks, and gown materials are designed to eliminate viral transfer from infected patients. Here, we review research investigating the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and similar viruses on surfaces and highlight opportunities for materials that can actively reduce SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination and associated transmission and improve PPE.

Identification of and solution for false D-dimer results.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, D-dimer (DD) levels are mainly used to exclude diseases such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). In clinical testing, DD assays can be subjected to interference that may cause false results, which directly affect the clinical diagnosis. Our hypothesis was that the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the fibrin degradation product (FDP)/DD and fibrinogen (Fib)/DD ratios were used to identify these false results and corrected via multiple dilutions. METHODS: In total, 16 776 samples were divided into three groups according to the DD levels detected by Sysmex CS5100 and CA7000: Group A, DD ≥ 2.0 µg/mL fibrinogen equivalent unit (FEU); group B, 0.5 < DD < 2.0 µg/mL FEU; and group C, DD ≤ 0.5 µg/mL FEU. The 95% CIs of the FDP/DD and Fib/DD ratios were calculated. Six abnormal DD results were found according to the 95% CIs. For verification, we performed multiple dilutions, compared the results with those of other instruments, and tested the addition of heterophilic blocking reagent (HBR). RESULTS: The median and 95% CI of the FDP/DD ratio were 3.76 and 2.25-8.15 in group A, 5.63 and 2.86-10.58 in group B, 10.23 and 0.91-47.71 in groups C, respectively. For the Fib/DD ratio, the 95% CIs was 0.02-2.21 in group A, 0.68-8.15 in group B, and 3.82-55.27 in groups C. Six abnormal results were identified after multiple dilutions, by comparison with other detection systems, and after HBR addition. CONCLUSIONS: The FDP/DD ratio is more reliable for identifying false results. If the FDP/DD ratio falls outside the 95% CI, it should be verified by different methods.

The development of a high throughput drug-responsive model of white adipose tissue comprising adipogenic 3T3-L1 cells in a 3D matrix.

Adipose models have been applied to mechanistic studies of metabolic diseases (such as diabetes) and the subsequent discovery of new therapeutics. However, typical models are either insufficiently complex (2D cell cultures) or expensive and labor intensive (mice/in vivo). To bridge the gap between these models and in order to better inform pre-clinical studies we have developed a drug-responsive 3D model of white adipose tissue (WAT). Here, spheroids (680 ± 60 µm) comprising adipogenic 3T3-L1 cells encapsulated in 3D matrix were fabricated manually on a 96 well scale. Spheroids were highly characterised for lipid morphology, selected metabolite and adipokine secretion, and gene expression; displaying significant upregulation of certain adipogenic-specific genes compared with a 2D model. Furthermore, induction of lipolysis and promotion of lipogenesis in spheroids could be triggered by exposure to 8-br-cAMP and oleic-acid respectively. Metabolic and high content imaging data of spheroids exposed to an adipose-targeting drug, rosiglitazone, resulted in dose-responsive behavior. Thus, our 3D WAT model has potential as a powerful scalable tool for compound screening and for investigating adipose biology.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of HER2-positive pure mucinous breast carcinoma: a systematic investigation into an unusual tumor.

Pure mucinous breast carcinoma (PMBC) accounts for approximately 2% of all breast carcinoma. Overexpression or amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is rarely observed in PMBC. We retrieved 119 PMBCs, which included 12 HER2-positive PMBCs and 107 HER2-negative PMBCs, to compare the clinicopathologic features between HER2-positive and HER2-negative neoplasms. The assessed parameters included patient age, menstruation, laterality, tumor size, lymph node status, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, nuclear grade, receptor status, treatment and prognostic features. HER2-positive PMBCs represented approximately 10.1% of the PMBCs examined. HER2-positive PMBCs showed more frequent lymph node metastasis (P=0.038), a significantly higher clinical TNM stage (P<0.001) and nuclear grade (P<0.001), lower estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression and higher Ki67 expression than the HER2-negative group (P=0.011, P=0.005, and P=0.001, respectively). HER2-positive PMBCs (untreated with HER2-targeted therapy) had a significantly lower overall survival (OS) rate than HER2-negative PMBCs (P=0.005). Nodal metastasis, higher TNM stage and nuclear grade were identified as factors that result in poorer OS of patients with PMBCs (P<0.001, P=0.016, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses confirmed that HER2 status was an independent prognostic factor for PMBCs (P=0.003 and P=0.012, respectively). HER2-positive PMBC is a rare subtype of breast carcinoma with aggressive biological behavior. It is important to identify tumors with these aggressive clinical behaviors and manage them differently. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic investigation of the clinicopathologic features of HER2-positive PMBCs.

What makes D-dimer assays suspicious-heterophilic antibodies?

BACKGROUND: Heterophilic antibodies are still an important source of interference in immunoassays, but reports of interference with D-dimers are rare. Are D-dimer level abnormalities, found in the clinic, caused by heterophilic antibodies as well, or are other mechanisms involved? We will elaborate on this issue through two different examples in this article. METHODS: Serum from two patients with significantly elevated levels of D-dimers were measured and compared by different methods, diluted, and dealt with heterophilic antibody blockers. At the same time, to retrieve the interference, we focused on the cause of D-dimer false positives and made a systematic review of the literature. RESULTS: The D-dimer values were normal (0.49 and 0.15 µg/mL) detected with different testing method and decreased after addition of heterophilic antibody blocking reagent. According to literature data, there were 66.7% (4/6) references showed the interference were heterophilic antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of heterophilic antibodies on the measurement of D-dimers remains a big challenge. Different measuring instruments and methods may have significant differences in the measurement of D-dimers. By using a combination of instrumental methods for measuring, incorporating heterophilic antibody blockers, and combining with clinical performance and imaging data, most of the interference can be eliminated.

Post-Modified Polypeptides with UCST-Type Behavior for Control of Cell Attachment in Physiological Conditions.

Upper Critical Solution Temperature (UCST)-type thermally responsive polypeptides (TRPs) with phase transition temperatures around 37 °C in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer (pH 7.4, 100 mM) were prepared from poly(l-ornithine) hydrobromide and coated on non-tissue culture-treated plastic plates (nTCP). Cell adhesion was observed at temperatures above the phase transition temperature of the coating polymer (39 °C), while cell release was triggered when the culture temperature was switched to 37 °C. Approximately 65% of the attached cells were released from the surface within 6 h after changing the temperature, and more than 96% of the released cells were viable. Water contact angle measurements performed at 39 and 37 °C demonstrated that the surface hydrophobicity of the new TRP coatings changed in response to applied temperature. The cell attachment varied with the presence of serum in the media, suggesting that the TRP coatings mediated cell attachment and release as the underlying polymer surface changed conformation and consequently the display of adsorbed protein. These new TRP coatings provide an additional means to mediate cell attachment for application in cell-based tissue regeneration and therapies.

Peptidome Analysis of Human Serum From Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies.

Preeclampsia is a kind of disease that severely harms the health of pregnant women and infants. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in preeclampsia, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to construct a comparative peptidomic profiling of human serum between normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. A total of 201 peptides were confidently identified, with 21 up-regulated and three down-regulated. Further analysis indicated that these differentially expressed peptides correlate with enzyme regulator activity, biological regulation, and coagulation cascades occurring during pathological changes of preeclampsia. The identification of key peptides in serum may serve not only as a basis for better understanding and further exploring the etiology and pathogenesis of PE, but also as potential biomarkers and in providing targets for future therapy in PE, especially in early onset severe PE (sPE). J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4341-4348, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.