Association between predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, predicted percent fat and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japanese adults: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to have obesity as a risk factor. Body mass index cannot distinguish between lean mass and fat mass. We aimed to examine the association between predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, predicted percent fat and risk of T2DM in Japanese adults. We also explored whether these three new parameters could predict T2DM better than other obesity markers. METHODS: This present study is a secondary data analysis. The study enrolled 20,944 Japanese individuals who participated in the NAGALA medical assessment program between 2004 and 2015. 15,453 participants who are eligible and have complete information were included to our analysis. Through the use of Kaplan-Meier curve, restricted cubic spline and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, the relationship between predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, predicted percent fat and T2DM risk was examined. The area under the curve method was used to assess the differences between these markers of obesity. RESULTS: A total of 373 cases of T2DM occurred over a median time of 5.4 years. In the male group, we found a U-shaped connection between predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, and T2DM onset (p value, non-linearity < 0.05). A linear relationship was found between predicted percent fat and T2DM onset. The linear relationship was also found in the female group for predicted fat mass, and predicted percent fat. And for women, predicted lean mass was not an independent predictor. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, predicted percent fat in men was 0.673 (95%CI: 0.639 ~ 0.707), 0.598 (95%CI: 0.561 ~ 0.635), 0.715 (95%CI: 0.684 ~ 0.745), respectively. In males, WHtR was the strongest predictor (AUC 0.7151, 95%CI: 0.684 ~ 0.746), followed by predicted percent fat (AUC 0.7150, 95%CI: 0.684 ~ 0.745). In the females, WHtR was also the strongest predictor (AUC 0.758, 95%CI: 0.703 ~ 0.813), followed by body mass index (AUC 0.757, 95%CI: 0.704 ~ 0.811) and predicted percent fat (AUC 0.742, 95%CI: 0.687 ~ 0.798). CONCLUSION: Predicted fat mass, predicted lean mass, predicted percent fat were strongly connected with an increased risk for developing T2DM in Japanese, particularly in males. WHtR and predicted percent fat had a slightly better discrimination than other common obesity indicators in males. In the females, predicted fat mass and predicted percent fat were associated with T2DM risk, WHtR and body mass index had the slightly higher predictive power.

Impaired neural circuitry of hippocampus in Pax2 nervous system-specific knockout mice leads to restricted repetitive behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs), which are associated with many different neurological and mental disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism, are patterns of behavior with little variation and little obvious function. Paired Box 2 (Pax2) is a transcription factor that is expressed in many systems, including the kidney and the central nervous system. The protein that is encoded by Pax2 has been implicated in the development of the nervous system and neurodevelopmental disorders. In our previous study, Pax2 heterozygous gene knockout mice (Pax2+/- mice) showed abnormally increased self-grooming and impaired learning and memory abilities. However, it remains unclear which cell type is involved in this process. In this study, we deleted Pax2 only in the nervous system to determine the regulatory mechanism of Pax2 in RRBs. METHODS: In this study, Pax2 nervous system-specific knockout mice (Nestin-Pax2 mice) aged 6-8 weeks and Pax2 flox mice of the same age were recruited as the experimental group. Tamoxifen and vehicle were administered via intraperitoneal injection to induce Pax2 knockout after gene identification. Western blotting was used to detect Pax2 expression. After that, we assessed the general health of these two groups of mice. The self-grooming test, marble burying test and T-maze acquisition and reversal learning test were used to observe the lower-order and higher-order RRBs. The three-chamber test, Y-maze, and elevated plus-maze were used to assess social ability, spatial memory ability, and anxiety. Neural circuitry tracing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) were used to observe the abnormal neural circuitry, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and signaling pathways affected by Pax2 gene knockout in the nervous system and the putative molecular mechanism. RESULTS: (1) The Nestin-Pax2 mouse model was successfully constructed, and the Nestin-Pax2 mice showed decreased expression of Pax2. (2) Nestin-Pax2 mice showed increased self-grooming behavior and impaired T-maze reversal behavior compared with Pax2 flox mice. (3) An increased number of projection fibers can be found in the mPFC projecting to the CA1 and BLA, and a reduction in IGFBP2 can be found in the hippocampus of Nestin-Pax2 mice. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that loss of Pax2 in the nervous system leads to restricted repetitive behaviors. The mechanism may be associated with impaired neural circuitry and a reduction in IGFBP2.

Analysis of complement system and its related factors in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a primary cause of dementia. The complement system is closely related to AD pathology and may be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of AD. In our study, we conducted a bioinformatics analysis to analyze the role of the complement system and its related factors in AD using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data. We also conducted a functional analysis. Our study verified that 23 genes were closely related to differentially expressed complement system genes in diseases after intersecting the disease-related complement system module genes and differentially expressed genes. The STRING database was used to predict the interactions between the modular gene proteins of the differential complement system. A total of 21 gene proteins and 44 interaction pairs showed close interactions. We screened key genes and created a diagnostic model. The predictive effect of the model was constructed using GSE5281 and our study indicated that the predictive effect of the model was good. Our study also showed enriched negative regulation of Notch signaling, cytokine secretion involved in the immune response pathway, and cytokine secretion involved in immune response hormone-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway. We hope that our study provides a promising target to prevent and delay the onset, diagnosis, and treatment of AD.

Analysis of genotypes and biochemical phenotypes of neonates with abnormal metabolism of butyrylcarnitine. / ä¸é °åŸºè‚‰ç¢±ä»£è°¢å¼‚å¸¸æ–°ç”Ÿå„¿çš„åŸºå› åž‹å’Œç”ŸåŒ–è¡¨åž‹åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genotypes and biochemical phenotypes of neonates with abnormal metabolism of butyrylcarnitine (C4). METHODS: One hundred and twenty neonates with increased C4 levels detected by tandem mass spectrometry in the neonatal screening at Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2018 to June 2023 were included. The initial screening data and recalled data of C4 and C4/C3 were collected and converted into multiples of C4 reference range. Next generation sequencing was performed and the exons with adjacent 50 bp regions of ACAD8 and ACADS genes were captured by liquid phase capture technique. Variant information was obtained by bioinformatic analysis and the pathogenicity were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to analyze the differences in C4 levels among neonates with different variation types. RESULTS: In total, 32 variants in ACAD8 gene were detected, of which 7 variants were reported for the first time; while 41 variants of ACADS gene were detected, of which 17 variants have not been previously reported. There were 39 cases with ACAD8 biallelic variations and 3 cases with ACAD8 monoallelic variations; 34 cases with ACADS biallelic variations and 36 cases with ACADS monoallelic variations. Furthermore, 5 cases were detected with both ACAD8 and ACADS gene variations. Inter group comparison showed that the multiples of C4 reference range in initial screening and re-examination of the ACAD8 biallelic variations and ACADS biallelic variations groups were significantly higher than those of the ACADS monoallelic variations group (all P<0.01), while the multiples in the ACAD8 biallelic variations group were significantly higher than those in the ACADS biallelic variations group (all P<0.01). The multiples of C4 reference range in the initial screening greater than 1.5 times were observed in all neonates carrying ACAD8 or ACADS biallelic variations, while only 25% (9/36) in neonates carrying ACADS monoallelic variations. CONCLUSIONS: ACAD8 and/or ACADS gene variants are the main genetic causes for elevated C4 in newborns in Zhejiang region with high genotypic heterogeneity. The C4 levels of neonates with biallelic variations are significantly higher than those of neonates with monoallelic variations. The cut-off value for C4 level could be modestly elevated, which could reduce the false positive rate in tandem mass spectrometry neonatal screening.

Comprehensive Analysis of Physiological, Biochemical and Flavor Characteristics Changes in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) under Different Concentrations of Eugenol.

Eugenol is a widely used fishery anesthetic. This study investigated the effects of various concentrations of eugenol on blood physiological and biochemical indexes, and muscle flavor, in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). To determine the appropriate concentration of eugenol anesthetic for use in crucian carp transportation and production operations, we evaluated seven anesthesia groups of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mg/L and one control group (without eugenol) to determine the effects on blood physiological and biochemical indexes, and muscle flavor. The red blood cells and platelets of crucian carp decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with eugenol treatment. With increasing eugenol concentration, the white blood cells and hemoglobin did not change significantly, whereas lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase increased significantly (p < 0.05). The content of phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium increased after anesthesia, whereas the content of potassium decreased with increasing eugenol concentration. After anesthesia, the content of albumin and total protein in the serum decreased with increasing eugenol concentration (p < 0.05); triglyceride first increased and subsequently decreased (p < 0.05); blood glucose content first increased and then decreased (p < 0.05); and no significant difference was observed in total cholesterol content (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in muscle glycogen and liver glycogen content after eugenol anesthesia (p > 0.05). The eugenol-based anesthesia test did not indicate major liver histomorphological effects, but the very small number of gill sheet edema cases observed requires further study. Analysis of electronic nose data indicated that eugenol treatment affected the flavor of the fish. The anesthesia concentration of 20-80 mg/L had some effect on the physiology and biochemistry of crucian carp, thus providing a reference for the application of eugenol in crucian carp transportation and experimental research.

Effect of Vanillin on the Anaesthesia of Crucian Carp: Effects on Physiological and Biochemical Indices, Pathology, and Volatile Aroma Components.

The anaesthetic effect of vanillin on crucian carp was investigated using different concentrations of vanillin, with a nonvanillin control. The effective concentration range of vanillin anaesthesia was determined from the behavioural characteristics of crucian carp during the anaesthesia onset and recovery phases. Physiological and biochemical indices, and the electronic nose response to the fish muscle, were measured over the range of effectiveanaestheticc concentrations. An increased concentration of vanillin shortened the time taken to achieve deep anaesthesia but increased the recovery time. The levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobinn, platelets, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, total protein, and serum albumin were lower than the control in the vanillin treatment group. Triglycerides and total cholesterol were not significantly affected. Histology showed no effect of vanillin on the liver, except at 1.00 g/L vanillin. Vanillin resulted in a nondose-responsive effect on the gill tissue, increasing the width and spacing of the gill lamellae. E-Nose analysis of the carp-muscle flavour volatiles was able to distinguish between different vanillin treatment concentrations. GC-IMS identified 40 flavour compounds, including 8 aldehydes, 11 alcohols, 10 ketones, 2 esters, and 1 furan. Vanillin had aanaestheticic effect on crucian carp and these findings provide a theoretical basis for improving the transport and experimental manipulation of crucian carp.

Selection and truncation of aptamers as fluorescence sensing platforms for selective and sensitive detection of nitrofurazone.

Nitrofurazone (NFZ) is an antibiotic banned in many countries, as its residue seriously harms the human body. Herein, anti-NFZ aptamers were selected and identified based on the magnetic bead SELEX technique using a ssDNA library with a full length of 90 nucleotides (nt). Five full sequence candidate aptamers (NFZ8, NFZ24, NFZ28, NFZ34, and NFZ70) were obtained by secondary structure analysis. We optimized the entire sequence to obtain a truncated aptamer, a 16 nt sequence (NFZ8-1:5'-GTTCTATTGAAAAAAC-3') that showed the highest affinity for NFZ (Kd = 76.11 nM). The binding site of NFZ and aptamer NFZ8-1 was found to be "GAA" by molecular docking. In addition, utilizing the most special truncated aptamer NFZ8-1 as the identification probe, a graphene oxide fluorescent aptasensor is an innovative for the detection of NFZ residue that showed a wide linear reach from 1.25 to 160 ng/mL and a low limit of detection of 1.13 ng/mL. In the actual water environment sample detection, the recovery rate ranged from 95.21 to 113.66%, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 3.53 to 11.24%. These results demonstrate that the NFZ-truncated aptamer applied to the aptasensor provides a novel methodology for recognizing NFZ residues.

The prognosis of TP53 and EGFR co-mutation in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and intracranial metastasis treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Background: TP53 mutation is a poor factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while the effect of TP53 on prognosis in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with brain metastasis remains elusive and needs further exploration. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 236 patients and tested for TP53- and EGFR-mutant status in metastasis LUAD patients who had received first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify the independent prognostic factors. Results: There were 114 patients with confirmed non-brain metastasis (NBM), 74 patients with preliminary diagnosis early brain metastasis (EBM), and 48 patients with late brain metastasis (LBM). TP53 and EGFR co-mutations were found in 35/236 patients (14.8%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the EGFR mutation and TP53 wild-type group were significantly longer than those in the EGFR and TP53 co-mutation group in all advanced LUAD or NBM. Concurrently, PFS and OS were found to be not significant in EBM and LBM patients. Subgroup analysis revealed longer median PFS and OS in the TP53 wild-type group compared to the TP53 mutant group in L858R patients and not significant in EGFR Exon 19 deletion patients. In LBM patients, the time to brain metastasis in the EGFR mutation and TP53 wild-type group was longer than that in the EGFR and TP53 co-mutation group, and TP53 mutant status was an independent prognostic factor for brain metastasis. The TP53 wild-type group exhibited a higher objective remission rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) than the TP53 mutant group in NBM, EBM, and LBM patients, irrespective of primary lung and brain metastatic lesions. Conclusion: TP53/EGFR co-mutation patients receiving first-line EGFR-TKI treatment had poor prognoses in advanced LUAD, especially with L858R mutation. Moreover, TP53/EGFR co-mutation patients treated with EGFR-TKIs may more easy developed intracranial metastasis.

Crack Unet: Crack Recognition Algorithm Based on Three-Dimensional Ground Penetrating Radar Images.

Three-dimensional (3D) ground-penetrating radar is an effective method for detecting internal crack damage in pavement structures. Inefficient manual interpretation of radar images and high personnel requirements have substantially restrained the generalization of 3D ground-penetrating radar. An improved Crack Unet model based on the Unet semantic segmentation model is proposed herein for 3D ground-penetrating radar crack image processing. The experiment showed that the MPA, MioU, and accuracy of the model were improved, and it displayed better capacity in the radar image crack segmentation task than current mainstream algorithms do, such as deepLabv3, PSPNet, and Unet. In the test dataset without cracks, Crack Unet is on the same level as deepLabv3 and PSPNet, which can meet engineering requirements and display a significant improvement compared with Unet. According to the ablation experiment, the MPA and MioU of Unet configured with PMDA, MC-FS, and RS modules were larger than those of Unet configured with one or two modules. The PMDA module adopted by the Crack Unet model showed a higher MPA and MioU than the SE module and the CBAM module did, respectively. The results show that the Crack Unet model has a better segmentation ability than the current mainstream algorithms do in the task of the crack segmentation of radar images, and the performance of crack segmentation is significantly improved compared with the Unet model. The Crack Unet model has excellent engineering application value in the task of the crack segmentation of radar images.

Low Compaction Level Detection of Newly Constructed Asphalt Pavement Based on Regional Index.

In order to improve the prediction accuracy regarding low compaction level of asphalt pavement, this paper carries out indoor tests to detect the voids and dielectric constants of AC-13, AC-16 and AC-25 asphalt mixtures, obtaining their relationship equations via linear fitting and determining the dielectric constant judgment threshold of low compaction level segregation risk points ε1. Based on the common mid-point method, three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar is used to obtain the dielectric constant of the physical engineering test section. The researcher can draw the distribution map of the low compaction level segregation risk area according to the judgment threshold ε1 of the rough segregation risk points; divide the connected risk areas; determine the regional convex hull; and calculate the regional indicators such as the regional area, the ratio of the convex risk points and the mean value of the regional dielectric constant. The response surface analysis method is used to acquire the model of risk area index and core void ratio. The model is employed to predict and verify the core void ratio in the risk area of the road section and verify the accuracy of the model. The results show that the error range between the predicted voids and the measured voids is -0.4%~+0.4%, and the mean absolute value of the error is 0.25%. Compared with the mean measured voids of 6.63%, the relative error is 3.77%, indicating that the model can accurately predict the regional low compaction level segregation degree.

High-Sensitive FAM Labeled Aptasensor Based on Fe3O4/Au/g-C3N4 for the Detection of Sulfamethazine in Food Matrix.

In this study, we developed a fluorescent aptasensor based on Fe3O4/Au/g-C3N4 and a FAM-labeled aptamer (FAM-SMZ1S) against sulfamethazine (SMZ) for the specific and sensitive detection of SMZ in food matrix. The FAM-SMZ1S was adsorbed by the Fe3O4/Au/g-C3N4 via π-π stacking and electrostatic adsorption, serving as a basis for the ultrasensitive detection of SMZ. Molecular dynamics was used to explain the reasons why SMZ1S and SMZ were combined. This aptasensor presented sensitive recognition performance, with a limit of detection of 0.16 ng/mL and a linear range of 1-100 ng/mL. The recovery rate ranged from 91.6% to 106.8%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 2.8% to 13.4%. In addition, we tested the aptasensor for the monitoring of SMZ in various matrix samples, and the results were well-correlated (R2 ≥ 0.9153) with those obtained for HPLC detection. According to these results, the aptasensor was sensitive and accurate, representing a potentially useful tool for the detection of SMZ in food matrix.

Decreased Microglia in Pax2 Mutant Mice Leads to Impaired Learning and Memory.

Impaired learning and memory ability is one of the characteristics of a variety of neurological diseases, and its molecular mechanisms are complex and diverse and are regulated by a variety of factors. It is generally believed that synaptic plasticity plays an important role in the process of learning and memory. The protein encoded by the Pax2 gene is a transcription factor involved in neuron migration and cell fate determination during neural development. Mice knocked out of BDNF in the Pax2 lineage-derived interneuron precursor exhibited learning disabilities and severe cognitive impairment. In this study, Pax2 heterozygous gene (Pax2+/- mice) deletion mice were used as the research objects and behavioral tests were used to observe the effect of Pax2 gene deletion on learning and memory ability; morphological and molecular biological methods were used to observe the effect of Pax2 gene deletion on the neural structure. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing was used to observe the cell subtypes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and signaling pathways affected by Pax2 gene deletion and the possible molecular mechanisms. The results showed that Pax2+/- mice had impaired learning and memory ability, abnormal synaptic structure, and significantly reduced number of microglia clusters, and DEGs were associated with pro-inflammatory chemokines. Finally, we speculate that Pax2 gene deletion may lead to abnormal chemokines and chemokine receptors by affecting microglia.

An AuNPs-Based Fluorescent Sensor with Truncated Aptamer for Detection of Sulfaquinoxaline in Water.

Herein, we developed a novel truncation technique for aptamer sequences to fabricate highly sensitive aptasensors based on molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The binding mechanism and energy composition of the aptamer/sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) complexes were investigated. We successfully obtained a new SQX-specific aptamer (SBA28-1: CCCTAGGGG) with high affinity (Kd = 27.36 nM) and high specificity determined using graphene oxide. This aptamer has a unique stem-loop structure that can bind to SQX. Then, we fabricated a fluorescence aptasensor based on SBA28-1, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and rhodamine B (RhoB) that presented a good linear range of 1.25-160 ng/mL and a limit of detection of 1.04 ng/mL. When used to analyze water samples, the aptasensor presented acceptable recovery rates of 93.1-100.1% and coefficients of variation (CVs) of 2.2-10.2%. In conclusion, the fluorescence aptasensor can accurately and sensitively detect SQX in water samples and has good application prospects.

A label-free dual-modal aptasensor for colorimetric and fluorescent detection of sulfadiazine.

Sulfadiazine (SDZ) residues in food products and the environment pose a serious threat to human health and ecological balance, thereby warranting the development of new methods for simple, rapid and accurate detection of these compounds. To this end, we developed a novel label-free dual-modal aptasensor for SDZ detection based on distance-dependent color change of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer between AuNPs and rhodamine B (RhoB). In this aptasensor, the binding of the aptamer to SDZ causes unprotected AuNPs to aggregate in NaCl solution, which alters the color of the solution and restores the fluorescence of RhoB. Under optimal conditions, the aptasensor exhibited a linear colorimetric response in the SDZ concentration range of 50-1000 ng mL-1, and a linear fluorescence response in the SDZ concentration range of 4-256 ng mL-1. The limits of detection for colorimetric and fluorescent readings were 28 ng mL-1 and 2 ng mL-1 respectively. The recoveries of SDZ in the spiked real samples were 88.28-108.44% by colorimetry and 90.27-106.04% by fluorometry. Furthermore, the results of this aptasensor showed excellent correlation (R2 ≥ 0.9858) with HPLC findings. Taken together, these experimental results demonstrate that the proposed label-free dual-modal aptasensor can be employed to screen for SDZ contamination in food and environmental samples.

GTP-binding protein Di-RAS3 diminishes the migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting the RAS/extracellular-regulated kinase pathway.

The GTP-binding protein Di-Ras3 (DIRAS3) has been established as a maternally imprinted tumor suppressor gene. Growing evidence has correlated the DIRAS3 gene with tumor progression, but its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rarely reported. Accordingly, the current study sought to evaluate the role and mechanism of DIRAS3 in NSCLC cell progression. First, we uncovered that DIRAS3 was poorly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. Subsequently, we examined the effect of DIRAS3 over-expression or knockdown in different lung cancer cells on their malignant phenotypes, with the help of transwell cell migration and invasion assays, and Western blot analyses. It was found that the over-expression of DIRAS3 inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells or H520 cells, whereas knockdown of DIRAS3 led to opposing trends. In addition, over-expression of DIRAS3 attenuated the tumor growth and reduced the number of lung tumor nodules. Mechanistically, DIRAS3 may inhibit the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by inhibiting the RAS/extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings indicate that DIRAS3 could serve as a potential therapeutic target biomarker for NSCLC.

Dual fluorescent aptasensor for simultanous and quantitative detection of sulfadimethoxine and oxytetracycin residues in animal-derived foods tissues based on mesoporous silica.

Herein, we developed a dual fluorescent aptasensor based on mesoporous silica to simultaneously detect sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and oxytetracycline (OTC) in animal-derived foods. We immobilized two types of aptamers modified with FAM and CY5 on the silica surface by base complementary pairing reaction with the cDNA modified with a carboxyl group and finally formed the aptasensor detection platform. Under optimal conditions, the detection range of the aptasensor for SDM and OTC was 3-150 ng/mL (R 2 = 0.9831) and 5-220 ng/mL (R 2 = 0.9884), respectively. The limits of detection for SDM and OTC were 2.2 and 1.23 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of quantification for SDM and OTC were 7.3 and 4.1 ng/mL, respectively. Additionally, the aptasensor was used to analyze spiked samples. The average recovery rates ranged from 91.75 to 114.65% for SDM and 89.66 to 108.94% for OTC, and all coefficients of variation were below 15%. Finally, the performance and practicability of our aptasensor were confirmed by HPLC, demonstrating good consistency. In summary, this study was the first to use the mesoporous silica-mediated fluorescence aptasensor for simultaneous detection of SDM and OTC, offering a new possibility to analyze other antibiotics, biotoxins, and biomolecules.

An Ultrasensitive Label-Free Fluorescent Aptasensor Platform for Detection of Sulfamethazine.

PURPOSE: Sulfamethazine (SMZ) exposed in the environment can enter the human body through the food chain and pose a serious threat to human health. Therefore, it is important to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting SMZ in environmental samples. In order to fastly and quantitatively detect SMZ in environmental samples, we developed a label-free fluorescent aptasensor based on specific aptamer (SMZ1S) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and rhodamine B (RhoB). METHODS: In the absence of SMZ, SMZ1S was adsorbed on the surface of AuNPs, which led to dispersion of the AuNPs in high concentration saline solution, thus effectively quenching the fluorescence of RhoB. With the increase of the SMZ concentration, the specific binding of SMZ1S and SMZ led to the aggregation of AuNPs in the presence of NaCl, which reduced the quenching of RhoB fluorescence and increased the fluorescence intensity. The sensitivity and linearity curve of the label-free fluorescent aptasensor were determined with different concentrations of sulfamethazine standard solutions. The specificity of this fluorescent aptasensor was determined by replacing sulfamethazine with different antibiotics. In addition, the actual water and soil samples were spiked and recovered. RESULTS: Under optimized conditions, the proposed fluorescent aptasensor demonstrated a good linear detection of SMZ in binding buffer from 1.25 ng mL-1 to 40 ng mL-1 and the limit of detection was 0.82 ng mL-1. The spiked recoveries for SMZ were 94.4% to 108.8% with a relative standard deviation of 1.8-10.3% in water and soil samples, respectively. CONCLUSION: The label-free fluorescent aptasensor investigated in the current study is a promising tool to detect and quantify SMZ in water and soil samples.

Cerebrospinal fluid cholinergic biomarkers are associated with postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing Total hip/knee replacement: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent complication after surgery and its occurrence is associated with poor outcomes. The neuropathology of this complication is unclear, but it is important to evaluate relevant biomarkers for postoperative status. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between expression levels of cholinergic biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the occurrence and development of POD in elderly patients. METHODS: Four hundred and ninety-two elderly patients aged 65 years old or older with elective total hip/knee replacement received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Preoperative baseline cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) before surgery. Each patient was interviewed in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and on the first, second, third and seventh (or before discharge) postoperative days. POD was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), and POD severity was measured using the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). Preoperative CSF and plasma choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were determined by ELISA. The levels of ChAT, AChE and BuChE activities were determined by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: POD was detected in 11.4% (51/447) of the patients. AChE, BuChE, ChAT, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in CSF and plasma have higher consistency. In preoperative CSF and preoperative and postoperative plasma, down-regulation of the concentration and activity of AChE and BuChE as well as up-regulation of the concentration and activity of ChAT and the concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in patients who developed POD, and the decrease in BuChE was the most obvious. Logistic analysis showed the activities of ChAT, AChE and BuChE in CSF were still related to POD after adjusting for related factors such as sex, age, years of education, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to determine the Area Under Curve (AUC) of AChE, BuChE and ChAT activity in CSF was 0.679 (P < 0.01), 0.940 (P < 0.01) and 0.819 (P < 0.01) respectively and found that BuChE activity had the most accurate diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: The changes in preoperative activity of AChE, BuChE and ChAT in CSF were associated with the development of POD in elderly patients, and BuChE activity had the greatest diagnostic value, which may be related to central cholinergic degradation. These cholinergic biomarkers might participate in the neuropathology of POD, pending further investigations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at Chictr.org.cn (NO. ChiCTR1900023729 ) June 9th, 2019. (Retrospectively registered).

MicroRNA-153-3p enhances the sensitivity of chronic myeloid leukemia cells to imatinib by inhibiting B-cell lymphoma-2-mediated autophagy.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell disease caused by abnormal DNA replication of bone marrow stem cells and chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of patients with CML. Imatinib (IM), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is a first-line drug clinically used for CML. Mounting evidence has indicated that the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the chemoresistance of CML. In this study, miR-153-3p, which had been implicated with numerous types of tumors, was identified to be downregulated in IM-resistant CML cells. Upregulation of miR-153-3p significantly increased IM sensitivity and decreased the survival rate of IM-resistant CML cells, whereas downregulation of miR-153-3p attenuated these effects in IM-resistant CML cells. Upregulated miR-153-3p could decrease the autophagy caused by IM in IM-resistant CML cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that Bcl-2 is a direct target of miR-153-3p. Bcl-2 restoration reversed the increased sensitivity to IM induced by miR-153-3p-mimic transfection in IM-resistant CML cells. The results of the present study showed that dysregulated miR-153-3p may target Bcl-2 to promote the development of IM resistance and attenuate IM-induced apoptosis in CML. Therefore, miR-153-3p upregulation combined with IM treatment may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with low sensitivity.

Friction and Wear Behavior of Polyimide Composites Reinforced by Surface-Modified Poly-p-Phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) Fibers in High Ambient Temperatures.

(1) In order to improve the properties of antifriction and wear resistance of polyimide (PI) composite under high temperature conditions, (2) 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and Lanthanum (La) salt modifications were employed to manufacture poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO)/PI composites with different interface properties. The representative ambient temperatures of 130 and 260 °C were chosen to study the friction and wear behavior of composites with different interface properties. (3) Results revealed that while both modification methods can improve the chemical activity of the surface of PBO fibers, the La salt modification is more effective. The friction coefficient of all composites decreases with the increase of sliding velocity and load at two temperatures, and the specific wear rate is increases. Contrary to the situation in the 130 °C environment, the wear resistance of the unmodified composite in the 260 °C environment is greatly affected by the sliding velocity and load, while the modified composites are less affected. Under the same test parameters, the PBO-La/PI composite has the lowest specific wear rate and friction coefficient, and (4) La salt modification is a more effective approach to improve the properties of antifriction and wear resistance of PI composite than APTES modification in high ambient temperatures.