Selective Activation of Cascade Assembly Amplification for DNA Methyltransferase Detection Using a Double-Loop Interlocked DNA Circuit.

Precise and reliable monitoring of DNA adenine methyltransferase (Dam) activity is essential for disease diagnosis and biological analysis. However, existing techniques for detecting Dam activity often rely on specific DNA recognition probes that are susceptible to DNA degradation and exhibit limited target sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we designed and engineered a stable and dynamic DNA nanodevice called the double-loop interlocked DNA circuit (DOOR) that enables the sensitive and selective monitoring of Dam activity in complex biological environments. The DOOR incorporates two interlocked specialized sequences: a palindromic sequence for Dam identification and an initiator sequence for signal amplification. In the presence of Dam, the DOOR is cleaved by double-stranded DNA phosphodiesterase I endonuclease, generating massive double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) units. These units can self-assemble into a long dsDNA scaffold, thereby enhancing the subsequent reaction kinetics. The dsDNA scaffold further triggers a hyperbranched hybrid chain reaction to produce a fluorescent 3D DNA nanonet, enabling more precise monitoring of the Dam activity. The DOOR device exhibits excellent sensitivity, specificity, and stability, rendering it a powerful tool for studying DNA methylation in various biological processes and diseases.

Nanoconfined Silver Nanoclusters Combined with X-Shaped DNA Recognizer-Triggered Cascade Amplification for Electrochemiluminescence Detection of APE1.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), as a vital base excision repair enzyme, is essential for maintaining genomic integrity and stability, and its abnormal expression is closely associated with malignant tumors. Herein, we constructed an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for detecting APE1 activity by combining nanoconfined ECL silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) with X-shaped DNA recognizer-triggered cascade amplification. Specifically, the Ag NCs were prepared and confined in the glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan hydrogel network using the one-pot method, resulting in a strong ECL response and exceptional stability in comparison with discrete Ag NCs. Furthermore, the self-assembled X-shaped DNA recognizers were designed for APE1 detection, which not only improved reaction kinetics due to the ordered arrangement of recognition sites but also achieved high sensitivity by utilizing the recognizer-triggered cascade amplification of strand displacement amplification (SDA) and DNAzyme catalysis. As expected, this biosensor achieved sensitive ECL detection of APE1 in the range of 1.0 × 10-3 U·µL-1 to 1.0 × 10-10 U·µL-1 with the detection limit of 2.21 × 10-11 U·µL-1, rendering it a desirable approach for biomarker detection.

Effect of Nurse-Led Individualised Self-Care Model on Myocardial Infarction Patients with Diabetes: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial.

Background: To assess the effectiveness of the nurse-led individualised self-care model on myocardial infarction (MI) patients with diabetes. Methods: A total of 120 MI patients were enrolled from May 2020 to December 2021. The intervention group received the nurse-led individualised self-care model (n = 60), whereas the control group only received routine health education (n = 60). The Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Coronary Heart Disease Self-Management Behavior Scale (CSMS), Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices (SRAHP) scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), blood glucose and nursing satisfaction in both groups were observed and recorded. Results: The six MIDAS subscales except for insecurity, and all dimensions of the CSMS, SRAHP, GSES and HADS scores, of the intervention group were significantly improved compared to those of the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group (5.69 ± 1.43 mmol/L), the intervention group showed a decrease in the serum levels of fasting blood glucose (4.83 ± 1.57 mmol/L; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of implementing nurse-led individualised self-care, suggesting its preliminary effects in improving health-related quality of life, self-care ability, health behaviours, self-efficacy, social support and nursing satisfaction among MI patients with diabetes. However, considering the unblinded and pilot nature of this study, these positive results should be interpreted with caution. Clinical Trial Registration: OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/DVW95 (https://archive.org/details/osf-registrations-dvw95-v1).

Sex-differential effects of olanzapine vs. aripiprazole on glucose and lipid metabolism in first-episode schizophrenia

Abstract Objective To compare sex difference in metabolic effect of olanzapine versus aripiprazole on schizophrenia. Methods A twelve-week prospective open-label cohort study to compare four subgroups according to first-episode schizophrenia patients' type of drug usage and sex: female aripiprazole (n = 11), male aripiprazole (n = 11), female olanzapine (n = 10), and male olanzapine (n = 11) for body mass index, fasting serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Results Aripiprazole may be associated with weight gain in female patients with low-baseline weight. Aripiprazole may have an adverse effect of weight and favorable effects of circulating glucose and lipid on female over male schizophrenia patients. The aripiprazole-induced changes in glucose and lipid may be independent of body fat storage, especially for female schizophrenia patients. Olanzapine may have adverse effects of weight, glucose and lipid profiles on female over male schizophrenic patients. Discussion Our findings fill the gap in knowledge and provide a sex-specific guidance to psychiatrist better tailoring treatment to individual sex-differential characteristics and a key clue to understand the sex-differential mechanism of antipsychotics-induced metabolic dysfunction.