Cardiovascular biomarker troponin I biosensor: Aptamer-gold-antibody hybrid on a metal oxide surface.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is highly related to cardiac arrest leading to death and organ damage. Radiological techniques and electrocardiography have been used as preliminary tests to diagnose MI; however, these techniques are not sensitive enough for early-stage detection. A blood biomarker-based diagnosis is an immediate solution, and due to the high correlation of troponin with MI, it has been considered to be a gold-standard biomarker. In the present research, the cardiac biomarker troponin I (cTnI) was detected on an interdigitated electrode sensor with various surface interfaces. To detect cTnI, a capture aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticle probe and detection antibody probe were utilized and compared through an alternating sandwich pattern. The surface metal oxide morphology of the developed sensor was proven by microscopic assessments. The limit of detection with the aptamer-gold-cTnI-antibody sandwich pattern was 100 aM, while it was 1 fM with antibody-gold-cTnI-aptamer, representing 10-fold differences. Further, the high performance of the sensor was confirmed by selective cTnI determination in serum, exhibiting superior nonfouling. These methods of determination provide options for generating novel assays for diagnosing MI.

LiMYB108 is involved in floral monoterpene biosynthesis induced by light intensity in Lilium 'Siberia'.

KEY MESSAGE: We find that the MYB family transcription factor, LiMYB108, has a novel function to regulate the floral fragrance affected by light intensity. Floral fragrance determines the commercial value of flowers and is influenced by many environmental factors, especially light intensity. However, the mechanism by which light intensity affects the release of floral fragrance is unclear. Here, we isolated an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor LiMYB108, the expression of which was induced by light intensity and located in the nucleus. Light of 200 and 600 µmol m-1 s-1 significantly increased the expression of LiMYB108, which was consistent with the improving trend of monoterpene synthesis under light. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of LiMYB108 in Lilium not only significantly inhibited the synthesis of ocimene and linalool, but also decreased the expression of LoTPS1; however, transient overexpression of LiMYB108 exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid assays, dual-luciferase assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that LiMYB108 directly activated the expression of LoTPS1 by binding to the MYB binding site (MBS) (CAGTTG). Our findings demonstrate that light intensity triggered the high expression of LiMYB108, and then LiMYB108 as a transcription factor to activate the expression of LoTPS1, thus promoting the synthesis of the ocimene and linalool, which are important components of floral fragrance. These results provide new insights into the effects of light intensity on floral fragrance synthesis.

Air quality characteristics in Wuhan (China) during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding the relationship between air quality, pollution emission control measures, and meteorological conditions is important for developing effective air quality improvement policies. In this study, we used pollution monitoring and meteorological data from January to May 2020 to analyze the air quality characteristics during the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, which lasted from January 23 to April 8, 2020. Compared with the same period in 2019, the air quality in 2020 was significantly better. The total excellent and good air quality rates increased by 17.58%-90.08% in 2020; concentrations of NO2, particulate matter with a diameter <10 µm (PM10) and <2.5 µm (PM2.5), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) also decreased by 38.23%, 30.25%, 32.92%, and 39.80%, respectively. Moreover, the number of days with NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 as the primary pollutants decreased by approximately 10%, 9%, and 15%, respectively. We compared the wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity in January-April 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017 and found no obvious correlation between meteorological factors and improved air quality during the 2020 lockdown. The implementation of strict lockdown measures, such as home quarantining, traffic restrictions, and non-essential enterprise shutdowns, was the dominant cause for the substantial air quality improvement during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan.

[Research progress on identification and quality evaluation of glues medicines].

Glues medicines is a special kind of traditional Chinese medicine.As the market demand is large, the raw materials are in short supply and lacks proper quality evaluation technology, which causes inconsistent quality of products on the market. Its authentic identification and evaluation stay a problem to be solved. In this paper, the research progress of the methods and techniques of the evaluation of the identification and quality of glues medicines were reviewed. The researches of medicinal glue type identification and quality evaluation mainly concentrated in four aspects of medicinal materials of physical and chemical properties, trace elements, organic chemicals and biological genetic methods and techniques. The methods of physicochemical properties include thermal analysis, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy, gel exclusion chromatography, and circular dichroism. The methods including atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, plasma emission spectrometry and visible spectrophotometry were used for the study of the trace elements of glues medicines. The organic chemical composition was studied by methods of composition of amino acids, content detection, odor detection, lipid soluble component, organic acid detection. Methods based on the characteristics of biogenetics include DNA, polypeptide and amino acid sequence difference analysis. Overall, because of relative components similarity of the glues medicines (such as amino acids, proteins and peptides), its authenticity and quality evaluation index is difficult to judge objectively, all sorts of identification evaluation methods have different characteristics, but also their limitations. It indicates that further study should focus on identification of evaluation index and various technology integrated application combining with the characteristics of the production process.

[Herbal textual research of common Mongolian medicine "Du Ge Mo Nong"].

This study is aimed to provide the source for clinical medication by clarifing the common base of Mongolia medicinal materials "Du Ge Mo Nong". In this paper literature research and plant taxonomy method were adopted combined with investigation of the markets and clinical use status to clarify the origin of common traditional Mongolian medicine "Du Ge Mo Nong". The results showed that the Mongolian medicine "Du Ge Mo Nong" and Tibetan medicine "Du Mu Niu" were the same crude drug and originated from the seeds of Holarrhena antidysenteriaca of family Apocynaceae in earliest time. In Mongolian medicine clinic, the seed of Cynanchum thesioides of family Asclepiadaceae and the fruit of Forsythia suspense of family Oleaceae was used respectively about 18 century and recent time, as the substitutes of H. antidysenteriaca. In present standards on Mongolian material medicine, C. thesioides is including only, and H. antidysenterica is not used almost. In Tibetan medicine clinic, H. antidysenterica is being used so far. But there are various substitutes including the seeds, fruits or grass of many species classified to family Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Onagraceae from ancient time to the present, and C. forrestii and C. komarovii may be used at present. It's necessary to strengthen the arrangement on Mongolian medicine's varieties by the multidisciplinary methods including literature research, investigation of resources and the use state, and comparison of active substances and biological activities between the different substitutes,and so on.

[Applying Team Resource Management to the Reduction of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common healthcare-associated infection in the intensive care unit. The average VAP rate was .128% in our unit during 2011. Therefore, we designed a project to identify relevant problems, including: inadequate knowledge about VAP care, incorrect techniques for sputum suction, patient head elevation < 30~45 degrees, ventilator humidifier installed with water equipment designed without water-resistant barriers, failure to change the resuscitator and small-volume nebulizer regularly, and possible cross-contamination between respiratory-care devices. PURPOSE: We targeted a VAP rate decrease from the current .128% to less than .1%. RESOLUTION: The improvement measures implemented included team resource management (TRM) with VAP education, promotion, a written reminder regarding sputum accumulation sites, instruction to elevate the head of patients to an appropriate height, introduction of an auto-stop water adding system, and regular changes of related devices at assigned positions. RESULTS: The VAP rate decreased from .128% to .065%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk identification and associated TRM project improved teamwork and the quality of care in the ICU.

Preparation and characterization of a gemini surfactant-based biomimetic complex for gene delivery.

Gemini surfactants (GS) have been explored as non-viral gene delivery systems. Nevertheless, their cytotoxicity and the limitations in the in vivo studies have impeded their development. To attenuate toxicity and further explore their possibilities in gene delivery, a series of GS (18-7-18)-based gene delivery systems complexed with red blood cell membranes (RBCM) or/and DOPE-PEG2000 (DP) were prepared and evaluated. EGFP-encoding plasmids were delivered via GS-based complexes and the efficiency of gene transfection was evaluated by imaging of the major organs after intravenous administration in mice and qPCR quantification in hepatocytes. In order to assess the safety of GS-based complexes, the hemolysis test, serum biochemical indices, H&E staining and CCK-8 test were examined. The results revealed that EGFP was primarily expressed in livers, and all complexes showed minimal acute toxicity to major organs. Moreover, we found that the dual incorporation of RBCM and DP could significantly elevate the transfection efficiency and cell viability in hepatocytes. Overall, the results indicated that GS-based complexes possessed great potential as vectors for gene delivery both in vivo and in vitro and the dual incorporation of RBCM and DP could be a promising gene delivery approach with high transfection efficacy and low toxicity.

Research note: genetic diversity of duck circoviruses circulating in partial areas of Guangdong province, southern China.

Duck circovirus (DuCV) is the smallest known virus in waterfowl that infects both domestic and wild duck. Infected ducks often show stunted growth and immunosuppression, which increases the rate of secondary infection with other pathogens. In this study, 270 liver tissue samples were collected to screen the presence of DuCV in Guangdong province, China, and the complete genome sequences were recovered and systematically analyzed. Genetic analyses revealed that sequences determined in this study shared 81.6% to 100.0% genome-wide pairwise identity with previously identified DuCV genomes. Phylogenetic analyses showed that 2 DuCV genotypes with a high infection rate were co-circulating in duck population in Guangdong province, and extensive recombination events have occurred during the evolution of DuCV. Our results expand upon the knowledge regarding the genetic diversity and evolution of DuCV, and also indicate that extensive genetically divergent DuCV are co-circulating in the duck populations in Guangdong, southern China.

Study on the law of heavy metal leaching in municipal solid waste landfill.

Comparative leaching experiments were carried out using leaching medium with different pH to municipal solid waste in the landfill columns in order to investigate the mobility of heavy metals. The leachate pH and oxidation-reduction potential were measured by oxidation-reduction potential analyzer; the contents of heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. It is very different in leaching concentrations of heavy metals; the dynamic leaching of heavy metals decreased with the rise of the leaching amount on the whole. Acid leaching medium had definite influence on the leaching of heavy metals in the early landfill, but it had the obvious inhibition effect on the leaching in the middle and late period of landfill; the neutral and alkaline leaching medium are more beneficial to the leaching of heavy metals. Due to the influence of the environment of landfill, the differences of the results in cumulative leaching amount, leaching rate, and leaching intensity of heavy metals are very big. The calculation results of the release rates of heavy metals prove that the orders of the release rates are not identical under different leaching conditions. Acid rain made heavy metals migrate from municipal solid waste to soil and detain in soil more easily; approached neutral and alkaline leaching mediums are more beneficial to leaching of heavy metals in the municipal solid waste and soil with leachate. The field verification of experimental data showed that the law of heavy metal leaching in municipal solid waste revealed by the experiment has a good consistency with the data obtained by municipal solid waste landfill.

[Hydrogen rich water attenuates pregnancy gingivitis induced by ligation in SD rats].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of hydrogen rich water on experimental gingivitis in SD rats during pregnancy. METHODS: Female SD rats mated with male ones were chosen to induce experimental gingivitis after ligation for 2 weeks. The pregnant rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and HW group. In the control and model group, rats were given pure water, while animals in the HW group were given hydrogen-rich water twice a day. All pregnant animals were sacrificed on day 16 of pregnancy. The level of Prog, SOD and TNF-α in the gingiva of different groups were measured by ELISA, the expression of PR, NFκB and TNF-α were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. SPSS 13.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Pregnancy gingivitis of SD rats could be induced by thread ligation. PR was mainly distributed in the gingival epithelium, while there was no significant difference of Prog and PR in the gingiva among different groups(P>0.05). Furthermore, in the model group, lower SOD level as well as higher NFκB and TNF-α level were found in the gingiva. Compared with the model group, the inflammatory response of pregnancy gingivitis in HW group was significantly suppressed along with decreased NFκB and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: Progesterone and its receptor may play an indirect role in the process of pregnancy gingivitis of rats. Hydrogen rich water may be beneficial in suppressing pregnancy gingivitis progress by decreasing inflammatory response related to gingival oxidative stress.

Correlation of Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation and fMRI bold intensity.

To explore the correlation between cerebral functional alterations revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and Alzheimer disease- (AD)-like tau hyperphosphorylation, we injected bilaterally 2 microl each of 20 mM isoproterenol (IP), a PKA activator, or of saline as a vehicle control into the hippocampus of rats. FMRI was employed to measure the intensity of BOLD signal, one of the cerebral functional markers reflecting the changes of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), in hippocampus and cortex 24 h after the operation. Immunohistochemical staining of hippocampus and cortex was carried out using phosphorylation-dependent tau antibodies. The results showed (1) that BOLD intensity in hippocampus and cortex of IP-injected rats was obviously lower than that of sham-operated group, indicating a decrease in CMRO2 and CBF of the particular brain regions in IP-treated rats; (2) that tau was hyperphosphorylated at Ser-262/Ser-356 (12e8), Ser-396/Ser-404 (PHF-1) sites in CA1 CA2 CA3 CA4 and dentate gyrus regions of hippocampal formation and cortex area in IP group, but not in sham rats; (3) that a negative correlation between tau hyperphosphorylation and BOLD intensity in hippocampus and cortex area of IP rats was observed. The data suggested that hippocampal and cortical tau hyperphosphorylation was intimately related to BOLD intensity of the same areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report exploring the relationship between fMRI BOLD signal and AD-like tau hyperphosphorylation.

Enrichment of anammox bacteria from three sludge sources for the startup of monosodium glutamate industrial wastewater treatment system.

Three activated sludges from a landfill leachate treatment plant (S1), a municipal sewage treatment plant (S2) and a monosodium glutamate (MSG) wastewater treatment plant (S3) were used as inocula to enrich anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria for the startup of MSG industrial wastewater treatment system. After 360 days of cultivation using MSG wastewater, obvious anammox activity was observed in all three cultures. The maximum specific anammox activities of cultures S1, S2 and S3 were 0.11 kg N kg(-1) VSS day(-1), 0.09 kg N kg(-1) VSS day(-1) and 0.16 kg N kg(-1) VSS day(-1), respectively. Brownish-red anammox granules having diameters in the range of 0.2-1.0mm were visible in cultures S1 and S2, and large red granules having diameters in the range of 0.5-2.5mm were formed in culture S3 after 420 days of cultivation. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that Kuenenia organisms were the dominant anammox species in all three cultures. The copy numbers of 16S rRNA genes of anammox bacteria in cultures S1, S2 and S3 were 6.8 × 10(7) copies mL(-1), 9.4 × 10(7) copies mL(-1) and 7.5 × 10(8) copies mL(-1), respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that anammox cultivation from conventional activated sludges was highly possible using MSG wastewater. Thus the anammox process has possibility of applying to the nitrogen removal from MSG wastewater.

GW8510 increases insulin expression in pancreatic alpha cells through activation of p53 transcriptional activity.

BACKGROUND: Expression of insulin in terminally differentiated non-beta cell types in the pancreas could be important to treating type-1 diabetes. Previous findings led us to hypothesize involvement of kinase inhibition in induction of insulin expression in pancreatic alpha cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Alpha (αTC1.6) cells and human islets were treated with GW8510 and other small-molecule inhibitors for up to 5 days. Alpha cells were assessed for gene- and protein-expression levels, cell-cycle status, promoter occupancy status by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and p53-dependent transcriptional activity. GW8510, a putative CDK2 inhibitor, up-regulated insulin expression in mouse alpha cells and enhanced insulin secretion in dissociated human islets. Gene-expression profiling and gene-set enrichment analysis of GW8510-treated alpha cells suggested up-regulation of the p53 pathway. Accordingly, the compound increased p53 transcriptional activity and expression levels of p53 transcriptional targets. A predicted p53 response element in the promoter region of the mouse Ins2 gene was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Further, inhibition of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase activities suppressed insulin induction by GW8510. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The induction of Ins2 by GW8510 occurred through p53 in a JNK- and p38-dependent manner. These results implicate p53 activity in modulation of Ins2 expression levels in pancreatic alpha cells, and point to a potential approach toward using small molecules to generate insulin in an alternative cell type.

[Study about cardiomyocyte apoptosis in myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury of rats and NF-κB p65, iNOS expression].

AIM: By observing the rats with PDTC after the intervention, myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury (MIRI) during apoptosis, NF-κB and iNOS expression. Analysis of NF-κB and iNOS expression in the rat heart ischemic-reperfusion injury, apoptosis in the process of regulation and its mechanism. METHODS: Manufacture of myocardial ischemic-reperfusion model. Using transmission electron microscope methods and TUNEL method to observe the apoptosis myocardial cells and calculated the apoptotic index; by immunohistochemistry (SP method), the detection of myocardial cell NF-κB p65 expression, and the use of immunofluorescence to detect iNOS expression in myocardial cells. RESULTS: IR group and PDTC +IR group, apoptosis and NF-κB and iNOS expression was significantly stronger than that of Sham group (P<0.05). PDTC +IR group, apoptosis, NF-κB and iNOS expression was significantly weaker than the IR group, the difference was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, there is significant apoptosis. IR can induce NF-κB activation and iNOS formation. The NF-κB activation and iNOS formation, apoptosis of cardiac muscle cells are a catalyst. PDTC can effectively reduce the expression of NF-κB, to improve the oxygen scavenging cell function, decreased cell apoptosis, reduce the MIRI injury.