Research Progress on the Application of Covalent Organic Framework Nanozymes in Analytical Chemistry.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous crystals that have high designability and great potential in designing, encapsulating, and immobilizing nanozymes. COF nanozymes have also attracted extensive attention in analyte sensing and detection because of their abundant active sites, high enzyme-carrying capacity, and significantly improved stability. In this paper, we classify COF nanozymes into three types and review their characteristics and advantages. Then, the synthesis methods of these COF nanozymes are introduced, and their performances are compared in a list. Finally, the applications of COF nanozymes in environmental analysis, food analysis, medicine analysis, disease diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss the application prospects of COF nanozymes and the challenges they face.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of contraceptive methods among women with an unplanned pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of contraceptive methods among women with an unplanned pregnancy, aiming to improve their reproductive health and increase their understanding of contraceptive methods. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Hubei between 20 November 2022 and 20 January 2023. PARTICIPANTS: Women with an unplanned pregnancy were included. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaire was in the Chinese language and included demographic data, KAP assessments. Multivariate linear regression was performed to explore the factors associated with knowledge or practice scores. RESULTS: During the study period, 510 participants with valid questionnaires were included. The KAP scores were 7.30±2.91, 32.61±3.13 and 28.58±3.59, respectively. Place of residence (urban vs non-urban; B=0.66, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.29, p=0.043) and educational level (master's degree or above vs post secondary or below; B=1.07, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.96, p=0.020) were positively associated with knowledge. Knowledge (B=0.25, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.32, p<0.001) and attitude (B=0.26, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.32, p<0.001) were positively associated with practice. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a low level of KAP regarding contraceptive methods among women facing unplanned pregnancies. Place of residence and educational level were positively associated with knowledge scores. These findings may help improve future sex education policies and programmes.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green by Titanium Dioxide/Covalent Organic Framework Composite: Characterization, Performance and Mechanism.

In this paper, a titanium dioxide/covalent organic framework (TiO2 /COF) composite was prepared and its photocatalytic removal of dye was investigated. Using tetrabutyl titanate as a titanium source, TiO2 nanomaterial was prepared by sol-gel method. In the presence of TiO2 , TiO2 /COF core-shell composite was prepared by solvothermal synthesis using melamine and 1,4-phthalaldehyde as ligands. The prepared materials are characterized by SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, TG, FTIR, BET, EPR, PL, and UV-Vis-DRS techniques. Using malachite green as a model of dye wastewater, the photocatalytic degradation performance of TiO2 /COF composites was investigated under the irradiation of ultraviolet light. The results show that the modification of COF significantly improves the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 , the degradation rate increases from 69.77 % to 93.64 %, and the reaction rate constant of the first-order kinetic equation is increased from 0.0078 min-1 to 0.0192 min-1 . Based on the free radical capture experiment, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of TiO2 /COF was discussed, and the feasibility of its photocatalytic degradation of malachite green was theoretically clarified. Accordingly, a simple and practical method for photocatalytic degradation of malachite green was constructed, which has potential application value in the degradation of dye wastewater.

Improving Interfacial Adhesion of Graphite/Epoxy Composites by Surface Functionalization.

Graphite/epoxy resin (G/EP) composites are extensively utilized in bipolar plates for fuel cells owing to their outstanding electrical and mechanical properties. However, the mechanical strength of these composites declines notably due to the inadequate bonding interface between graphite and epoxy resin. To address this issue, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the influence of graphite surface functionalization on the interfacial structures of composites. The results of this study revealed that the functionalization of the graphite surface led to an increase in the interface thickness of the composite. This phenomenon can be attributed to the interdiffusion and hydrogen bond formation between functionalized graphite and epoxy molecular chains. And all four types of functional groups demonstrated a promoting effect on the adsorption process. Additionally, the adsorption and contact angle results provided further evidence that the adsorption rate of graphite to the epoxy resin significantly improved after functionalization. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the microscopic process of forming interfaces in G/EP composites. In addition, these insights provide valuable guidance for improving the interface bonding of composite bipolar plates, which can ultimately increase their mechanical strength.

Real-world outcomes of PD-L1 inhibitors combined with thoracic radiotherapy in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The CREST study showed that the addition of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) could improve the survival rate in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), but whether TRT can bring survival benefit in the era of immunotherapy remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of adding TRT to the combination of PD-L1 inhibitors and chemotherapy. METHODS: The patients who received durvalumab or atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of ES-SCLC from January 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, based on whether they received TRT or not. Propensity score matching (PSM) with a 1:1 ratio was performed. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients with ES-SCLC were enrolled, of whom 70 (33.2%) patients received standard therapy plus TRT as first-line treatment, and 141 (66.8%) patients in the control group received PD-L1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy. After PSM, a total of 57 pairs of patients were enrolled in the analysis. In all patients, the median PFS (mPFS) in the TRT and non-TRT group was 9.5 and 7.2 months, respectively, with HR = 0.59 (95%CI 0.39-0.88, p = 0.009). The median OS (mOS) in the TRT group was also significantly longer than that in the non-TRT group (24.1 months vs. 18.5 months, HR = 0.53, 95%CI 0.31-0.89, p = 0.016). Multivariable analysis showed that baseline liver metastasis and the number of metastases ≥ 3 were independent prognostic factors for OS. Addition of TRT increased the incidence of treatment-related pneumonia (p = 0.018), most of which were grade 1-2. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of TRT to durvalumab or atezolizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improves survival in ES-SCLC. Although it may leads to increased incidence of treatment-related pneumonia, a majority of the cases can be relieved after symptomatic treatment.

Integrated multiple microarray studies by robust rank aggregation to identify immune-associated biomarkers in Crohn's disease based on three machine learning methods.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex autoimmune disorder presumed to be driven by complex interactions of genetic, immune, microbial and even environmental factors. Intrinsic molecular mechanisms in CD, however, remain poorly understood. The identification of novel biomarkers in CD cases based on larger samples through machine learning approaches may inform the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on all CD datasets of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO); our team then used the robust rank aggregation (RRA) method to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between controls and CD patients. PPI (protein‒protein interaction) network and functional enrichment analyses were performed to investigate the potential functions of the DEGs, with molecular complex detection (MCODE) identifying some important functional modules from the PPI network. Three machine learning algorithms, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), random forest (RF), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), were applied to determine characteristic genes, which were verified by ROC curve analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using clinical samples. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to establish a machine learning score for diagnosis. Single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) was performed to examine the correlation between immune infiltration and biomarkers. In total, 5 datasets met the inclusion criteria: GSE75214, GSE95095, GSE126124, GSE179285, and GSE186582. Based on RRA integrated analysis, 203 significant DEGs were identified (120 upregulated genes and 83 downregulated genes), and MCODE revealed some important functional modules in the PPI network. Machine learning identified LCN2, REG1A, AQP9, CCL2, GIP, PROK2, DEFA5, CXCL9, and NAMPT; AQP9, PROK2, LCN2, and NAMPT were further verified by ROC curves and IHC in the external cohort. The final machine learning score was defined as [Expression level of AQP9 × (2.644)] + [Expression level of LCN2 × (0.958)] + [Expression level of NAMPT × (1.115)]. ssGSEA showed markedly elevated levels of dendritic cells and innate immune cells, such as macrophages and NK cells, in CD, consistent with the gene enrichment results that the DEGs are mainly involved in the IL-17 signaling pathway and humoral immune response. The selected biomarkers analyzed by the RRA method and machine learning are highly reliable. These findings improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CD pathogenesis.

Establishment and validation of a risk prediction model for high-grade cervical lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To establish and validate a risk prediction model for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent cervical biopsies at the Cervical Disease Centre of Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Province between January 2021 and December 2021. RESULTS: A total of 1630 patients were divided into the HSIL + cervical lesion group (n = 186) and the ≤ LSIL cervical lesions group (n = 1444). LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL and SCC, high-risk HPV, HPV16, HPV18/45, multiple HPV strains, acetowhite epithelium, atypical vessels, and mosaicity were independently associated with HSIL + lesions. These factors were used to establish a risk prediction model with a demonstrated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.851 and a C-index of 0.829. Calibration curve analysis showed that the model performed well, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.005. The decision curve showed that the model created by combining the risk factors was more specific and sensitive than each predictive variable. CONCLUSION: The model for predicting HSIL demonstrated promising predictive capability and might help identify patients requiring biopsy and treatment.

Reduced Adenoma Miss Rate With 9-Minute vs 6-Minute Withdrawal Times for Screening Colonoscopy: A Multicenter Randomized Tandem Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Although the 9-minute mean withdrawal time (m-WT) is often reported to be associated with the optimal adenoma detection rate (ADR), no randomized trials of screening colonoscopy have confirmed the impact of a 9-minute m-WT on adenoma miss rate (AMR) and ADR. METHODS: A multicenter tandem trial was conducted in 11 centers. Seven hundred thirty-three asymptomatic participants were randomized to receive segmental tandem screening colonoscopy with a 9-minute withdrawal, followed by a 6-minute withdrawal (9-minute-first group, 9MF, n = 366) or vice versa (6-minute-first group, 6MF, n = 367). The primary outcome was the lesion-level AMR. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that 9MF significantly reduced the lesion-level (14.5% vs 36.6%, P < 0.001) and participant-level AMR (10.9% vs 25.9%, P < 0.001), advanced adenoma miss rate (AAMR, 5.3% vs 46.9%, P = 0.002), multiple adenomas miss rate (20.7% vs 56.5%, P = 0.01), and high-risk adenomas miss rate (14.6% vs 39.5%, P = 0.01) of 6MF without compromising detection efficiency ( P = 0.79). In addition, a lower false-negative rate for adenomas ( P = 0.002) and high-risk adenomas ( P < 0.05), and a lower rate of shortening surveillance schedule ( P < 0.001) were also found in 9MF, accompanying with an improved ADR in the 9-minute vs 6-minute m-WT (42.3% vs 33.5%, P = 0.02). The independent inverse association between m-WT and AMR remained significant even after adjusting ADR, and meanwhile, 9-minute m-WT was identified as an independent protector for AMR and AAMR. DISCUSSION: In addition to increasing ADR, 9-minute m-WT also significantly reduces the AMR and AAMR of screening colonoscopy without compromising detection efficiency.

A short peptide encoded by long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 promotes cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating transforming growth factor-beta/SMAD signaling pathway in human endometrial cells.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial dysfunction is closely correlated with the development of multiple severe gynecological disorders including intrauterine adhesion. Accumulating evidence supports that some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have peptide-coding potential. In this text, the peptide-coding ability of lncRNA SNHG6 was examined. Also, the effects of an SNHG6-encoded peptide on the viability and migration of human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) and human endometrial epithelial cells (hEECs) and related molecular mechanisms were explored. METHODS: The peptide-encoding potential of SNHG6 was predicted by FuncPEP and getorf databases and validated by western blot assay. Cell viability was tested by cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell migratory ability was examined by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Protein levels of genes were measured by western blot assay. RESULTS: Prediction analysis suggested that SNHG6 had the potential peptide-coding ability and multiple open-reading frames (ORFs). Western blot validated that SNHG6 ORF#1 and ORF#2 could translate into short peptides. SNHG6 ORF#2 overexpression facilitated cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hESCs and hEECs, while these effects were abrogated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß)/SMAD signaling inhibitor GW788388. Moreover, GW788388 inhibited the increase of p-SMAD2 and p-SMAD3 levels induced by SNHG6 ORF#2 in hESCs. SNHG6 ORF#2-encoded peptide did not influence endometrial stromal and epithelial cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA SNHG6 ORF#1 and ORF#2 could translate into small peptides and SNHG6 ORF#2 overexpression promoted cell migration and EMT by activating the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway in hESCs and hEECs, suggesting the potential roles of SNHG6-encoded peptides in the development of endometrial stromal and epithelial cells and related gynecological diseases.

A comparative study on roles of natural killer T cells in two diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related fibrosis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Immune responses are important in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Natural killer T (NKT) cells are main components of the innate immune system that modulate immunity. However, the role of NKT cells in NAFLD remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the role of NKT cells in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related fibrosis in fast food diet (FFD)- and methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced mouse models. METHODS: Hepatic NKT cells were analysed in wild-type (WT) and CD1d-/- mice fed FFD or MCD diets. Hepatic pathology, cytokine profiles and liver fibrosis were evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of chronic administration of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) on liver fibrosis was investigated in both FFD- and MCD-treated mice. RESULTS: FFD induced a significant depletion of hepatic NKT cells, thus leading to mild to moderate NASH and early-stage fibrosis, while mice fed MCD diets developed severe liver inflammation and progressive fibrosis without a significant change in hepatic NKT cell abundance. FFD induced a similar liver fibrogenic response in CD1d-/- and WT mice, while MCD induced a higher hepatic mRNA expression of Col1α1 and TIMP1 as well as relative fibrosis density in CD1d-/- mice than WT mice (31.8 vs. 16.3, p = .039; 40.0 vs. 22.6, p = .019; 2.24 vs. 1.59, p = .036). Chronic administration of α-GalCer induced a higher hepatic mRNA expression of TIMP1 in MCD-treated mice than controls (36.7 vs. 14.9, p = .005). CONCLUSION: NKT cells have protective roles in NAFLD as the disease progresses. During diet-induced steatosis, mild to moderate NASH and the early stage of fibrosis, hepatic NKT cells are relatively depleted, leading to a proinflammatory status. In severe NASH and the advanced stage of liver fibrosis, NKT cells play a role in inhibiting the NASH-related fibrogenic response. Chronic administration of α-GalCer induces NKT cell anergy and tolerance, which may play a role in promoting the liver fibrogenic response.

Determination of Pb2+ by Colorimetric Method Based on Catalytic Amplification of Ag Nanoparticles Supported by Covalent Organic Frameworks.

In this paper, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are prepared by solvothermal synthesis using 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxaldehyde and benzidine as ligands. Then, using COFs as a template, AgCOFs with high catalytic activity is prepared by in situ loading silver nanoparticles (AgNC) on the surface of COFs by sodium borohydride reduction method. AgCOFs are characterized by TEM, SEM, FTIR and XRD. At the same time, the catalytic ability of AgCOFs for trisodium citrate-AgNO3 nanosilver reaction is studied. The results show that AgCOFs can catalyze the reaction of trisodium citrate-AgNO3 to generate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The solution color of the system gradually changes from colorless to yellow, and the absorbance value increases. Based on the catalytic reaction of AgCOFs and the regulation effect of nucleic acid aptamer reaction on AgCOFs, a new "on-off-on" colorimetric analysis platform is constructed and applied to the detection of trace Pb2+ in water samples. This analytical platform is simple, sensitive and selective. Finally, the catalytic mechanism of the system is discussed to verify the feasibility of constructing a colorimetric analysis platform.

SPI1-related protein inhibits cervical cancer cell progression and prevents macrophage cell migration.

AIM: The functions and molecular mechanisms of SPI1-related protein (SPIB) were examined in cervical cancer (CC) cells. METHODS: Genes related to miscarriage and prognosis in CC were identified by Kaplan-Meier and differential expression analysis, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were examined by cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, transwell migration, and transwell invasion assays, respectively. The potential functions and molecular mechanisms of SPIB in CC were speculated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis. The mRNA and protein levels of genes were examined by RT-qPCR and western blot assays, respectively. The effect of SPIB on macrophage cells was tested by macrophage recruitment assay and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: A total of 753 dysregulated genes were identified in 88 TCGA CC samples with a history of one or more miscarriages versus 208 CC samples with no miscarriage history. Also, 91 genes related to CC prognosis were identified. SPIB, a gene related to both miscarriage and CC prognosis, inhibited Hela cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and facilitated Hela cell apoptosis. GSEA analysis disclosed that SPIB might play vital roles in immunity, chemokine signaling pathway, and macrophage chemotaxis/activation in CC. Moreover, SPIB inhibited C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), C-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 25 (CCL25) expression in Hela cells, and SPIB overexpression in Hela cells hampered THP-1 cell migration. Higher SPIB expression was associated with less M2 macrophage infiltration in CC. CONCLUSIONS: SPIB inhibited CC-cell progression and hindered macrophage cell migration in CC.

The novel circ_0084904/miR-802/MAL2 axis promotes the development of cervical cancer.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as critical regulators in human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). However, the precise action of circ_0084904 in cervical carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. The levels of circ_0084904, microRNA (miR)-802, and Mal, T cell differentiation protein 2 (MAL2) were checked by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot. Ribonuclease R (RNase R) and subcellular localization assays were used to detect the stability and localization of circ_0084904, respectively. Cell colony formation ability was assessed by colony formation assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion abilities were gauged by transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were applied to determine the direct relationship between miR-802 and circ_0084904 or MAL2. The xenograft experiments were performed to evaluate the role of circ_0084904 in tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0084904 was markedly up-regulated in CC tissues and cell lines. Silencing endogenous circ_0084904 impeded cell colony formation, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promoted apoptosis in vitro, as well as diminished tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0084904 targeted miR-802, and the effects of circ_0084904 silencing were mediated by miR-802. MAL2 was directly targeted and inhibited by miR-802, and MAL2 was a functional target of miR-802. Moreover, circ_0084904 modulated MAL2 expression via miR-802. Our study identified circ_0084904 as a novel oncogenic driver in CC depending on the modulation of the miR-802/MAL2 axis, establishing the notion that silencing of circ_0084904 might represent a promising targeted therapy for CC.

On-signal amplification of silver nanosol RRS/SERS aptamer detection of ultratrace urea by polystyrene nanosphere catalyst.

The catalytic amplification signal of polystyrene nanosphere (PN) is used to conveniently fabricate the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS)/surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode method to sensitively and selectively detect urea in food. PN has strong catalysis of the slow nanoreaction of citrate-Ag(I) to produce yellow silver nanoparticles (AgNP), which exhibit strong RRS effect and SERS effect with molecular probes. When aptamer (Apt) is present, the Apt is adsorbed on the PN surface, the catalysis is weakened, the AgNP is reduced, and the SERS/RRS signal is weakened. After adding urea to exhibit specific Aptamer reaction, the Apt is desorbed from the PN surface and the catalysis is restored. As urea increase, the desorbed PNs increase to produce more AgNPs indicator to increase SERS/RRS signal. The increase value △I of SERS/RRS is linearly to urea concentration. Therefore, a sensitive and selective SERS/RRS dual-mode method for urea is established based on aptamers-regulated the catalysis of PNs. This method is applied to the detection of urea in milk with satisfactory results. The relative standard deviation is 3.9-6.8% and the recovery rate is 94.5-102%.

Serum Spondin-2 expression, tumor invasion, and antitumor immune response in patients with cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a gynecological malignancy common in middle-aged and older patients, with a high mortality rate. Spondin-2 is an extracellular matrix protein that involved in innate and acquired immune responses. Herein, we investigated the relationship between serum Spondin-2 expression, tumor invasion and infiltration, and immune response in patients with cervical cancer and provided a theoretical basis for clinical practice. AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum Spondin-2 expression and cervical cancer-related indicators. METHODS: Overall, 147 patients with cervical cancer who were admitted to our institution between January 2019 and August 2019 were assigned to the cervical cancer group, and 92 patients with benign uterine lesions and 86 healthy individuals were assigned to the benign and control groups, respectively. In each group, serum Spondin-2 expression was measured, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was determined. Patients with cervical cancer were classified into high or low Spondin-2 groups depending on the Spondin-2 threshold value used for diagnosing cervical cancer. Patient's clinical data were collected to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics, immune cytokine levels, and prognosis of patients with varying Spondin-2 expression levels. RESULTS: The expression level of serum Spondin-2 was significantly higher in the cervical cancer group than in the benign and control groups (P < 0.05). According to the ROC curve, the cutoff value of Spondin-2 used in the diagnosis of cervical carcinoma was 25.68 ± 7.11 µg/L. The proportion of patients with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III, nerve invasion, vascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis was higher in the high Spondin-2 group than in the low Spondin-2 group (P < 0.05). Interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-4 Levels were higher in the high Spondin-2 group than in the low Spondin-2 group. In contrast, IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were lower in the high Spondin-2 group than in the low Spondin-2 group (P < 0.05). After 3 years of follow-up, progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in the high Spondin-2 group than in the low Spondin-2 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of serum Spondin-2 is upregulated in patients with cervical carcinoma and is related to tumor invasion and infiltration, antitumor immune response, and prognosis.

Diagnostic value of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound combined with color Doppler ultrasound for early cesarean scar pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Our study sought to obtain data which assess the diagnostic value of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) combined with color Doppler ultrasound (US) for early cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). METHODS: All participants were randomly divided into a Control group diagnosed using 3D-US and a Combination group diagnosed using 3D-US combined with color Doppler US. The preoperative US results were compared with postoperative pathological results. The diagnostic coincidence rate, sensitivity, and specificity of these two examination methods were compared, and their diagnostic results for different types of CSP were analyzed. Finally, the diagnostic effects of both methods were compared and analyzed, and the imaging of CSP was summarized. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal 3D-US combined with color Doppler US (92.96%) was significantly higher than that of transvaginal 3D-US (71.83%). For different types of CSP, the diagnostic rate of CSP with mixed echogenic mass and partial implantation of gestational sac in the Combination group was markedly higher than that in the Control group. CONCLUSIONS: Additionally, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) in the Combination group were higher than those in the Control group. Transvaginal 3D-US combined with color Doppler US can improve the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosis of early CSP, and has important reference value for clinical condition evaluation and treatment options.

Identification of a Ferroptosis-Related Signature Model Including mRNAs and lncRNAs for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death involved in tumor progression. The role of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS: RNA-seq and clinical data for HCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Genomic Data Commons (GDC) portal. Bioinformatics methods, including weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), Cox regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, were used to identify signature markers for diagnosis/prognosis. The tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration and functional enrichment were compared between the low-risk and high-risk groups. Subsequently, small molecule drugs targeting ferroptosis-related signature components were predicted via the L1000FWD and PubChem databases. RESULTS: The prognostic model consisted of 2 ferroptosis-related mRNAs (SLC1A5 and SLC7A11) and 8 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (AC245297.3, MYLK-AS1, NRAV, SREBF2-AS1, AL031985.3, ZFPM2-AS1, AC015908.3, MSC-AS1). The areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.830 and 0.806 in the training and test groups, respectively. Decision curve analysis (DCA) revealed that the ferroptosis-related signature performed better than all pathological characteristics. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. The survival probability of low- and high-risk patients could be clearly distinguished by the principal component analysis (PCA) plot. The risk score divided HCC patients into two distinct groups in terms of immune status, especially checkpoint gene expression, which was further supported by the Gene Ontology (GO) biological process, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Finally, several small molecule drugs (SIB-1893, geldanamycin and PD-184352, etc) targeting ferroptosis-related signature components were identified for future reference. CONCLUSION: We constructed a new ferroptosis-related mRNA/lncRNA signature for HCC patients. The model can be used for prognostic prediction and immune evaluation, providing a reference for immunotherapies and targeted therapies.

LncRNA PVT1 promotes cervical cancer progression by sponging miR-503 to upregulate ARL2 expression.

Cervical cancer (CC) is a huge threat to the health of women worldwide. Long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 gene (PVT1) was proved to be associated with the development of diverse human cancers, including CC. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of PVT1 in CC progression remains unclear. Levels of PVT1, microRNA-503 (miR-503), and ADP ribosylation factor-like protein 2 (ARL2) were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay. 3-(4,5)-Dimethylthiazole-2-y1)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were used to examine cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. For migration and invasion detection, transwell assay was performed. The interaction between miR-503 and PVT1 or ARL2 was shown by dual luciferase reporter assay. A nude mouse model was constructed to clarify the role of PVT1 in vivo. PVT1 and ARL2 expressions were increased, whereas miR-503 expression was decreased in CC tissues and cells. PVT1 was a sponge of miR-503, and miR-503 targeted ARL2. PVT1 knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, which could be largely reverted by miR-503 inhibitor. In addition, upregulated ARL2 could attenuate si-PVT1-mediated anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effects on CC cells. Silenced PVT1 also inhibited CC tumor growth in vivo. PVT1 knockdown exerted tumor suppressor role in CC progression via the miR-503/ARL2 axis, at least in part.

A Highly Sensitive SERS and RRS Coupled Di-Mode Method for CO Detection Using Nanogolds as Catalysts and Bifunctional Probes.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a commonly poisonous gas. It is important to detect CO in daily life. Herein, a new and sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) coupled di-mode method was developed for CO, based on gold nano-enzyme catalysis and gold nanoprobes. CO can react with HAuCl4 to generate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in pH 5.2 HAc-NaAc buffer. The generated AuNPs exhibited SERS activity at 1620 cm-1 in the presence of Vitoria blue B (VBB) molecular probes, and an RRS peak at 290 nm. Based on the AuNP bifunctional probes, the increased SERS and RRS intensities respond linearly with the concentration of CO in the range of 100-1500 ng/mL and 30-5230 ng/mL, respectively. To improve the sensitivity, the produced AuNPs were used as nano-enzyme catalysts for the new indicator reaction of HAuCl4-ethanol (En) to amplify the signal. The sensitive SERS method was coupled with the accurate RRS method to develop a sensitive and accurate SERS/RRS di-mode method for determination of 3.0-413 ng/mL CO, based on the AuNP-HAuCl4-En nanocatalytic reaction and its product of AuNPs as SERS and RRS bifunctional probes.

New Ag-Doped COF Catalytic Amplification Aptamer Analytical Platform for Trace Small Molecules with the Resonance Rayleigh Scattering Technique.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and Ag-doped COFs (AgCOFs) are prepared by the polycondensation procedure and characterized by electron microscopy and molecular spectral techniques. Their catalysis of the Cu2O particle reaction of glucose (GL)-Cu(II) was examined by resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), and AgCOFs were found to exhibit the strongest catalysis. The melamine (ML) aptamers (AptML) can attach to the surface of AgCOF and inhibit its catalytic activity. When melamine (ML) is added to this reacting solution, AptML-ML complexes are formed and the Apts are desorbed from the surface of AgCOF. As the concentration of ML increased, the catalytic activity of AgCOF increased and the RRS signal enhanced due to the increase in Cu2O particles. When the ML concentration was in the range of 0.79-13.2 nmol/L, the RRS intensity increased linearly, with a detection limit of 0.72 nmol/L. When the Apts of urea and bisphenol A (BPA) were replaced by the AptML, 66.7-1333 nmol/L urea and 0.33-2.7 nmol/L BPA, respectively, could also be determined, with detection limits of 30.4 nmol/L urea and 0.15 nmol/L BPA. Based on this, a new AgCOF amplification RRS method was established.