A Dual Functional Fluorescent Probe Based on Phenothiazine for Detecting Hg2+ and ClO- and its Applications.

For the efficient detection of Hg2+ and ClO-, a double-analyte-responsive fluorescent probe PTB was successfully synthesized by combining N-butyl-3-formyl phenothiazine with hydrazine benzothiazole, and designing a specific reaction site for recognizing two analytes (Hg2+ and ClO-) in a compound. It was shown that probe PTB successfully formed a stable complex with Hg2+ in the coordination ratio of 2:1 by using the strong sulfur affinity of Hg2+, which resulted in a remarkable "turn-off" effect, with a quenching efficiency of 92.5% and four reversible cycles of Hg2+ fluorescence detection. For the fluorescence detection of Hg2+, the response time is fast (≤ 2 min) and the detection limit is low (7.8 nM), showing extremely high sensitivity, and the performance is obviously better than that of the reported fluorescent probes for detecting Hg2+. In particular, probe PTB has low toxicity and good biocompatibility, and has been successfully used for imaging of Hg2+ in living cells. Moreover, probe PTB uses thioether bond and carbon-nitrogen double bond as reaction sites to detect ClO-, which has large Stokes Shift (149 nm), good selectivity, high quenching efficiency (96.5%) and fast time response (about 10 s), and successfully detects ClO- in actual water samples. The dual functional fluorescent probe PTB is sensitive for Hg2+ and ClO-. It has been successfully used for making pH fluorescent test paper and imaging detection of exogenous Hg2+ in VSMC cells with low toxicity.

A novel fluorescent probe based on naphthimide for H2S identification and application.

In view of the superior chemical activity of selenoether bond (-Se-) and the excellent optical properties of naphthimide, a novel fluorescent probe (NapSe) with near-rectangular structure, which contains double naphthimide fluorophores linked by selenoether bond, is designed for specific fluorescence detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). NapSe has excellent optical properties: super large Stokes Shift (190 nm) and good stability in a wide pH range. The selectivity of NapSe fluorescence detection of H2S is high, and displays excellent "turn-on" phenomenon and strong anti-interference. And the fluorescence intensity increased obviously, reaching 42 times. The time response of probe NapSe is very rapid (3 min) compared with other fluorescence probes that respond to H2S. It shows high sensitivity by calculating the detection limit (LOD) as low as 5.4 µM. Notably, the identification of H2S by probe NapSe has been successfully applied to the detection of test paper and the detection of exogenous and endogenous fluorescence imaging of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Psychological Journey and Coping Styles of Parents of Infants With Biliary Atresia: A Single-Center Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia is a rare and serious neonatal disease that affects the quality of life of both infants and parents. There is currently limited literature on the experiences of parents with infants diagnosed with biliary atresia. PURPOSE: To explore the psychological journey and coping styles of parents of infants with biliary atresia in a single center in Shanghai, China. METHODS: A qualitative study design was used. Face-to-face and semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 parents of infants with biliary atresia. Colaizzi's method of data analysis was utilized, using NVivo 11.0 software. RESULTS: The psychological journey and coping styles of parents could be divided into 4 stages. Different themes were extracted at different stages: before diagnosis, parents experienced complex emotions and actively sought treatment; at the diagnosis stage, negative emotions dominated and parents convinced themselves to accept reality; in the postoperative stage, positive emotions, accepting reality, active response, and the need to learn to take care of their infant gradually appeared; and at the discharge stage, parents accepted the coexistence of positive and negative emotions and the variety of needs that emerged. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings of the study may help healthcare professionals identify and focus on the psychological needs of parents of infants with biliary atresia, leading them to implement effective coping strategies to increase the caregiving ability of parents. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future research should explore the effects of supportive interventions for parents of infants with serious chronic illnesses.

Two novel fluorescent probes based on quinolinone for continuous recognition of Al3+ and ClO.

On the basis of classical Schiff base reaction, two novel and efficient fluorescent probes (DQNS, DQNS1) were designed and synthesized by introducing Schiff base structure into dis-quinolinone unit for structural modification, which can be used to detect Al3+ and ClO-. Because the power supply capacity of H is weaker than that of methoxy, DQNS shows better optical performance: a large Stokes Shift (132 nm), identify Al3+ and ClO- with high sensitivity and selectivity, low detection limit (29.8 nM and 25 nM) and fast response time (10 min and 10 s). Through the working curve and NMR titration experiment, the recognition mechanism of Al3+ and ClO- (PET and ICT) probes are confirmed. Meanwhile, it is speculated that the probe has continuity for the detection of Al3+ and ClO-. Furthermore, DQNS detection of Al3+ and ClO- was applied to real water samples and living cell imaging.

Sequential Nano-Penetrators of Capillarized Liver Sinusoids and Extracellular Matrix Barriers for Liver Fibrosis Therapy.

During liver fibrogenesis, liver sinusoidal capillarization and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition construct dual pathological barriers to drug delivery. Upon capillarization, the vanished fenestrae in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) significantly hinder substance exchange between blood and liver cells, while excessive ECM further hinders the delivery of nanocarriers to activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Herein, an efficient nanodrug delivery system was constructed to sequentially break through the capillarized LSEC barrier and the deposited ECM barrier. For the first barrier, LSEC-targeting and fenestrae-repairing nanoparticles (named HA-NPs/SMV) were designed on the basis of the modification with hyaluronic acid and the loading of simvastatin (SMV). For the second barrier, collagenase I and vitamin A codecorated nanoparticles with collagen-ablating and HSC-targeting functions (named CV-NPs/siCol1α1) were prepared to deliver siCol1α1 with the goal of inhibiting collagen generation and HSC activation. Our in vivo results showed that upon encountering the capillarized LSEC barrier, HA-NPs/SMV rapidly released SMV and exerted a fenestrae-repairing function, which allowed more CV-NPs/siCol1α1 to enter the space of Disse to degrade deposited collagen and finally to achieve higher accumulation in activated HSCs. Scanning electronic microscopy images showed the recovery of liver sinusoids, and analysis of liver tissue sections demonstrated that HA-NPs/SMV and CV-NPs/siCol1α1 had a synergetic effect. Our pathological barrier-normalization strategy provides an antifibrotic therapeutic regimen.

A super large Stokes shift ratiometric fluorescent probe for highly selective sensing of ClO- in bio-imaging and real water samples.

Based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), a ratiometric fluorescent probe (NQ) was successfully designed and synthesized, in which quinolinone moiety was selected as the energy donor and naphthalimide block as the energy acceptor. NQ has a super large Stokes shift (231 nm) and a big quantum yield (0.463). Compared with previously reported probes with similar recognition sites, NQ can high sensitively and selectively recognize ClO- with a much low limit of detection (LOD = 21 nM) and extremely rapid response time (20 s). NQ has a strong anti-interference effect and a color change in the solution which can be seen by the "naked eye". Moreover, NQ can be applied to detect ClO- in real water samples and living cells imaging.

Evaluation of the clinical application of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised for postpartum women in China.

AIM: This study was designed to assess the clinical applicability of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R) during the 1st month following delivery among women in China and to survey the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD)-related risk factors included in the PDPI-R in this population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study which recruited 447 women from the People's Liberation Army Hospital in Hefei of Anhui province. All participants completed the Chinese version of the PDPI-R (PDPI-R-C) and the Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (C-EPDS) within 1 month of delivery. The predictive ability of the PDPI-R was then evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. RESULTS: The PDPI-R-C was able to accurately predict 73.2% of PPD cases (area under the ROC curve = 0.732; 95% CI 0.69-0.78) using a cut-off score of 5.5, as defined by a C-EPDS score of ≥10 (sensitivity = 62.8%; specificity = 73.5%; positive predictive value = 74.5%; negative predictive value = 61.5%). All 13 risk factors in the PDPI-R-C other than socioeconomic status and marital status were associated with the risk of PPD. CONCLUSIONS: The PDPI-R-C was found to be an effective and easy-to-implement tool that has promise as a means of screening for PPD in Chinese populations.

Research on developing drugs for Parkinson's disease.

Current treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD) are mainly dopaminergic drugs. However, dopaminergic drugs are only symptomatic treatments and limited by several side effects. Recent studies into drug development focused on emerging new molecular mechanisms, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1), adenosine receptor A2, nicotine receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), and glucocerebrosidase (GCase). Also, immunotherapy and common pathological mechanisms shared with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and diabetes have attracted much attention. In this review, we summarized the development of preclinical and clinical studies of novel drugs and the improvement of dopaminergic drugs to provide a prospect for PD treatment.

A bibenzyl compound 20C protects rats against 6-OHDA-induced damage by regulating adaptive immunity associated molecules.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with complicated pathogenesis. A novel bibenzyl compound 2-[4-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzyl]-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenol (20C) has been shown to have some neuroprotective effects, and its mechanism still needs further research. In this study, we used a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD rat model to evaluate the protective effect of 20C. Our study found that 20C could improve behavioral defects in 6-OHDA-lesion rats, decrease neuroinflammation and protect their DA neurons. It could inhibit the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by 6-OHDA, and lead to a decrease in the expression of nitrated-α-synuclein. When exposed to AMT-an inhibitor of iNOS, the nitrated-α-synuclein in PC12 decreased, and 20C demonstrated the same function on nitrated-α-synuclein as AMT. Besides, we also found that nitrated-α-synuclein was displayed in microglia. And 20C could decrease the expression of antigen-presenting molecule major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) in dopamine (DA) neurons and MHC II in microglia induced by 6-OHDA. So, these imply that nitrated-α-synuclein might act as an endogenous antigen activating adaptive immunity, and the neuroprotection of 20C might be associated with inhibiting the activity of iNOS, decreasing the expression of the antigen molecule nitrated-α-synuclein and the antigen presenting molecule MHC. Our results indicated that inhibiting iNOS might be an effective strategy to protect neurons from oxidative stress.

Internet-based intervention for postpartum depression in China ("Mommy go"): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to design a research protocol for the clinical testing of the "Mommy go" for pregnant women with a risk of postpartum depression. DESIGN: A non-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: A randomized controlled study will be performed from January 2018 to the completion of the study. The intervention group will follow the "Mommy go" protocol and the control group will receive traditional support. We will use the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Chinese version of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised to measure the risk of postpartum depression in pregnant women. The outcomes are clinical data, postpartum depressive mood, self-efficacy, and infant temperament. Outcomes will be assessed using questionnaires and through data generated by digital technologies. DISCUSSION: The expected outcomes are increased self-efficacy and infant temperament, reduced postpartum depressive mood, and improvements to postpartum depression. We expect the study to have a clinical impact on future online interventions for postpartum depression in China. IMPACT: This study will provide an internet-based intervention for postpartum depression in China. It will be implemented in clinical practice if it can effectively improve postpartum depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials.gov (ChiCTR1800018804).

Hyperbranched lipoid-based lipid nanoparticles for bidirectional regulation of collagen accumulation in liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis leads to over one million deaths annually worldwide. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been identified as the main executors of liver fibrosis. Unfortunately, no drug has yet been approved for clinical use against liver fibrosis, largely because the tested drugs have been unable to access HSCs and efficiently remove the collagen accumulation involved in fibrogenesis. Here, we designed an efficient HSC-targeting lipid delivery system that carried dual siRNAs intended to both inhibit collagen synthesis and promote collagen degradation, with the goal of realizing enhanced anti-liver fibrosis by bidirectional regulation of collagen accumulation. The delivery system was constructed by using amphiphilic cationic hyperbranched lipoids (C15-PA) for siRNA complexation and helper lipoids (cholesterol-polyethylene glycol-vitamin A, Chol-PEG-VA) for HSCs targeting. The generated vitamin A-decorated and hyperbranched lipoid-based lipid nanoparticles (VLNPs) showed excellent gene-binding ability and transfection efficiency, and enhanced the delivery of siRNAs to HSCs. Fibrotic mice treated with dual siRNA-loaded VLNPs showed a great reduction in the collagen accumulation seen in this model; the enhanced effect of bidirectional regulation reduced the collagen accumulation level in treated mice to almost that seen in normal mice. There was no notable sign of toxicity or tissue inflammation in mice exposed to repeated intravenous administration of the dual siRNA-loaded VLNPs. In conclusion, our results indicate that biocompatible VLNPs designed to exploit precise targeting and an effective bidirectional regulation strategy hold promise for treating liver fibrosis.

Extracellular matrix-penetrating nanodrill micelles for liver fibrosis therapy.

As hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are essential for hepatic fibrogenesis, HSCs targeted nano-drug delivery system is a research hotspot in liver fibrosis therapy. However, the excessive deposition of fibrosis collagen (mainly collagen I) in the space of Disse associated with hepatic fibrogenesis would significantly hinder nano-formulation delivery to HSCs. Here, we have prepared a collagenase I and retinol co-decorated polymeric micelle that possess nanodrill-like and HSCs-target function based on poly-(lactic-co-glycolic)-b-poly (ethylene glycol)-maleimide (PLGA-PEG-Mal) (named CRM) for liver fibrosis therapy. Upon encountering collagen I barrier, CRM exerted a nanodrill-like function, efficiently degrading pericellular collagen I and showing greater uptake by human HSCs than other micelle formulations. Besides, CRM could realize excellent accumulation in the fibrotic liver and accurate targeting to activated HSCs in mouse hepatic fibrosis model. Moreover, CRM loaded with nilotinib (CRM/NIL), a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of liver fibrosis, showed optimal antifibrotic activity. This work suggests that CRM with dual function is an efficient carrier for liver fibrosis drug delivery and collagenase I decorating could be a new strategy for building more efficient HSCs targeted nano-drug delivery system.

[Microbial diversity of musk across its maturation process in forest musk deer].

Musk,with unique and intense perfume,was a kind of deep brown precious medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine. However,the immature musk in musk pot was white and stench. Given the fact that bacterial diversity generated odorous metabolites in animal hosts,in this study,musk samples at three different mature stages,including MJ( the end of June),MA( the end of August) and MO( the end of October) were harvested from three male forest musk deer,and then next-generation sequencing was used to intensively survey the bacterial communities in musk harvested at different mature stages. RESULTS: indicated that the average OTUs per sample at the end of June,August and October were 47 116. 00 ± 1 567. 24( SE),52 009. 00 ± 8 958. 75( SE) and50 004. 67±4 135. 57( SE),respectively. Feature of the musk 16 S rRNA gene showed a total of 418 genera belonging to 52 phyla were observed in all samples. The main microbiota was bacteria,which accounted for 98. 82%,99. 95% and 99. 58% in MJ,MA and MO,respectively. At phylum level,Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial of MA( 32. 75%) and MO( 39. 19%). While,the major bacterial in MJ was Proteobacteria( 49. 14%). PICRUSt analysis revealed the functions of bacterial in MJ were mainly involved in secretion,while bacterial functions of MA and MO were mainly involved in amino acid or other substance metabolism,which was in accord with the musk secretion physiological process of forest musk deer. This is the first study involved in the bacterial diversity in musk of forest musk deer across the maturation process,while may provide a new insight into the musk generation mechanism.

Postpartum depressive mood (PDM) among Chinese women: a meta-analysis.

Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbearing and up to 12 months postpartum. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum depressive mood (PDM) in China by performing a meta-analysis of published studies. Studies that reported the prevalence of PDM in China were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and CQVIP databases. Three thousand, one hundred, and two articles were obtained, and after careful evaluation, 26 studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The combined studies included a total of 7618 cases with 1621 cases of PDM. The studies were assessed on the basis of heterogeneity testing and the potential for publication bias. Stata software 11.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis. The random-effect model showed that the prevalence of PDM was 21% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 17-25%. PDM was the highest 0 to 1.5 months after delivery. PDM levels decreased to 10.4% (95% CI 9.7-11.1%, P < 0.001) after publication bias were corrected. Sensitivity analyses evaluated the stability of our results and showed no significant change when any single study was excluded. Subgroup analyses showed that region, instruments used, cut-off score, and time points for depression assessment were positively associated with PDM prevalence. The prevalence of PDM differed among regions, with South Central China and East China exhibiting the lowest prevalence. The prevalence was higher in regions with poor economic development, suggesting that more attention should be devoted to Southwest and North China and that the prevalence of PDM should be evaluated 0 to 1.5 months after delivery.

[Research progress on musk secretion mechanism of forest musk deer].

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), a rare wild medicinal animal, is listed under the category of the state key protected wildlife list of China. Musk, secreted by the musk glands, is with high economic and medicinal value and used as precious traditional medicine in China. In order to meet the needs of musk in Chinese traditional medicine, forest musk deer farming was conducted in 1950s, but the research progress on musk secretion mechanism was slow. Therefore, by reviewing the histological and anatomical structure of forest musk deer musk gland, the relationship between sex hormones and the musk secretion process, and the molecular mechanism of the musk secretion, the existing problems in investigating the musk secretion mechanism were analyzed and the development trends in this field were also discussed, in order to provide a reference for further studies on the musk secretion mechanism and improve musk production of forest musk deer.

[Online aeration backwashing in the inverse direction of effluent applied in dynamic membrane bio-reactor].

Aeration in the inverse direction of effluent was applied as the measure of online backwashing to control membrane pollution in the dynamic membrane bio-reactor treating sewage wastewater. When the intensity of aeration was 5.6 m3/(m2 x h) and the aeration time was 5 min, it took 45 min for the dynamic membrane to recover filtration capacity. With the recovery of dynamic membrane filterability, effluent turbidity was below 5 NTU. The backwashing interval of the reactor could maintain about 15 h. SEM pictures showed that online aeration backwashing in the inverse direction of effluent could efficiently destroy part of dynamic membrane layer. After the dynamic membrane recovery, dynamic membrane could check more than 50% TOC of various molecule weights range > 3 x 10(4). Aeration in the inverse direction of effluent was an economical and effective means of online backwashing in the dynamic membrane bio-reactor.

[Studies on photosensitive dyes binding to monocrystalline germanium surface].

In this paper, two simple cyanine dyes were synthesized through allyl alcohol monomer, and were bound to the polished monocrystalline germanium surface using a new chemical method. Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were used to analyze the dye-binding germanium wafers. In comparison with the contrast germanium wafer, the dye-binding germanium wafers showed that the intensity of the first grade Raman peak of the germanium substrate was reduced and some new Raman peaks corresponding to the dyes appeared from 600 to 3,200 cm-1. And from XPS, C-N, S-C, C-O bonds were proved to have been bound to the germanium surface. In conclusion, the two dyes were bound covalently to germanium wafers through Ge-O bond.