Receptor tyrosine kinases regulate signal transduction through a liquid-liquid phase separated state.

The recruitment of signaling proteins into activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) to produce rapid, high-fidelity downstream response is exposed to the ambiguity of random diffusion to the target site. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) overcomes this by providing elevated, localized concentrations of the required proteins while impeding competitor ligands. Here, we show a subset of phosphorylation-dependent RTK-mediated LLPS states. We then investigate the formation of phase-separated droplets comprising a ternary complex including the RTK, (FGFR2); the phosphatase, SHP2; and the phospholipase, PLCγ1, which assembles in response to receptor phosphorylation. SHP2 and activated PLCγ1 interact through their tandem SH2 domains via a previously undescribed interface. The complex of FGFR2 and SHP2 combines kinase and phosphatase activities to control the phosphorylation state of the assembly while providing a scaffold for active PLCγ1 to facilitate access to its plasma membrane substrate. Thus, LLPS modulates RTK signaling, with potential consequences for therapeutic intervention.

In Situ Formed Microalgae-Integrated Living Hydrogel for Enhanced Tumor Starvation Therapy and Immunotherapy through Photosynthetic Oxygenation.

The effectiveness of various cancer therapies for solid tumors is substantially limited by the highly hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, a microalgae-integrated living hydrogel (ACG gel) is developed to concurrently enhance hypoxia-constrained tumor starvation therapy and immunotherapy. The ACG gel is formed in situ following intratumoral injection of a biohybrid fluid composed of alginate, Chlorella sorokiniana, and glucose oxidase, facilitated by the crossing-linking between divalent ions within tumors and alginate. The microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana embedded in ACG gel generate abundant oxygen through photosynthesis, enhancing glucose oxidase-catalyzed glucose consumption and shifting the TME from immunosuppressive to immunopermissive status, thus reducing the tumor cell energy supply and boosting antitumor immunity. In murine 4T1 tumor models, the ACG gel significantly suppresses tumor growth and effectively prevents postoperative tumor recurrence. This study, leveraging microalgae as natural oxygenerators, provides a versatile and universal strategy for the development of oxygen-dependent tumor therapies.

Association and biological pathways between lung function and incident depression: a prospective cohort study of 280,032 participants.

BACKGROUND: Lung health is increasingly recognized as an essential factor in mental health. However, prospective evidence on lung function with incident depression remains to be determined. The study aimed to examine the prospective association between impaired lung function and incident depression and the underlying biological mechanisms. METHODS: This prospective cohort study comprised 280,032 non-depressed individuals with valid lung function measurements from the UK Biobank. Lung function was assessed through the forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Cox proportional hazard models were applied to estimate the associations between lung function and incident depression. Mediation analyses were fitted to investigate the potential mediating role of biomarkers and metabolites in the association. RESULTS: A total of 9514 participants (3.4%) developed depression during a median follow-up of 13.91 years. Individuals in the highest quartile had a lower risk of depression (FVC % predicted: HR = 0.880, 95% CI = 0.830-0.933; FEV1% predicted: HR = 0.854, 95% CI = 0.805-0.905) compared with those in the lowest quartile of the lung function indices. Additionally, the restricted cubic splines suggested lung function indices had reversed J-shaped associations with incident depression (nonlinear P < 0.05 for FVC % predicted and FEV1% predicted). Impaired lung function yielded similar risk estimates (HR = 1.124, 95% CI = 1.074-1.176). Biomarkers involving systemic inflammation, erythrocytes, and liver and renal function may be potential mediators in the lung function-depression association. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the higher risk of developing depression was associated with impaired lung function. Also, the association might be partially mediated by biomarkers including systemic inflammation, erythrocytes, and liver and renal function, though these mediation findings should be interpreted with caution due to potential temporal ambiguity.

Exposure to residential green and blue space and the natural environment is associated with a lower incidence of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults: findings from the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence for the role of environmental factors and exposure to the natural environment on a wide range of health outcomes. Whether exposure to green space, blue space, and the natural environment (GBN) is associated with risk of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults has not been prospectively examined. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the UK biobank was used. At the study baseline (2006-2010), 363,047 participants (women: 53.4%; mean age 56.7 ± 8.1 years) who had not been previously diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder were included. Follow-up was achieved by collecting records from hospitals and death registers. Measurements of green and blue space modeled from land use data and natural environment from Land Cover Map were assigned to the residential address for each participant. Cox proportional hazard models with adjustment for potential confounders were used to explore the longitudinal associations between GBN and any psychiatric disorder and then by specific psychiatric disorders (dementia, substance abuse, psychotic disorder, depression, and anxiety) in middle-aged and older adults. RESULTS: During an average follow-up of 11.5 ± 2.8 years, 49,865 individuals were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Compared with the first tertile (lowest) of exposure, blue space at 300 m buffer [hazard ratio (HR): 0.973, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.952-0.994] and natural environment at 300 m buffer (HR: 0.970, 95% CI: 0.948-0.992) and at 1000 m buffer (HR: 0.975, 95% CI: 0.952-0.999) in the third tertile (highest) were significantly associated with lower risk of incident psychiatric disorders, respectively. The risk of incident dementia was statistically decreased when exposed to the third tertile (highest) of green space and natural environment at 1000 m buffer. The third tertile (highest) of green space at 300 m and 1000 m buffer and natural environment at 300 m and 1000 m buffer was associated with a reduction of 30.0%, 31.8%, 21.7%, and 30.3% in the risk of developing a psychotic disorder, respectively. Subgroup analysis suggested that the elderly, men, and those living with some comorbid conditions may derive greater benefits associated with exposure to GBN. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that GBN has significant benefits for lowering the risk of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults. Future studies are warranted to validate these findings and to understand the potential mechanistic pathways underpinning these novel findings.

Enhanced sensitivity and durability in photodetector of Ag/nanocellulose/Si via plasma-assisted synthesis.

Position-sensitive detectors (PSDs) based on the lateral photovoltaic effect (LPE) are widely used for precision displacement and angle measurement. However, high temperatures can lead to the thermal decomposition or oxidation of nanomaterials frequently utilized in PSDs, and can ultimately affect the performance. In this study, we present a PSD based on Ag/nanocellulose/Si that maintains a maximum sensitivity of 416.52 mV/mm, even at elevated temperatures. By encapsulating nanosilver in a nanocellulose matrix, the device demonstrates excellent stability and performance over a wide temperature range from 300 to 450 K. Its performance can be comparable to that of room temperature PSDs. An approach that uses nanometals to regulate optical absorption and the local electric field overcomes carrier recombination due to nanocellulose, enabling a breakthrough in sensitivity for organic PSDs. The results indicate that the LPE in this structure is dominated by local surface plasmon resonance, presenting opportunities for expanding optoelectronics in high-temperature industrial environments and monitoring applications. The proposed PSD offers a simple, fast, and cost-effective solution for real-time laser beam monitoring, and its high-temperature stability makes it ideal for a wide range of industrial applications.

Negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how the negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cell lines and prognosis in postoperative breast cancer patients. METHODS: RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays were used to detect the expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and CD44st at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of miR-138-5p in breast cancer cell lines was also evaluated. The binding ability of miR-138-5p to CD44st was determined via a dual-luciferase assay. The CD44 protein expression in breast cancer tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. A Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of tumor cells. The correlation between CD44st and miR-138-5p mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues was evaluated using qRT-PCR, and the relationship between clinicopathological features was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: CD44s and CD44v6 were highly expressed in MDAMB-231 cell line, while CD44st was highly expressed in MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells. None of the CD44 isoforms were expressed in MCF-7 cells. The miR-138-5p was highly expressed in MCF-7 cells, but not in MCF-7/Adr, Skbr-3, and MDAMB-231 cells. The dual-luciferase assay suggested that miR-138-5p could bind to wild-type CD44st 3'-UTR, miR-138-5p overexpression significantly inhibited the expression level of CD44 protein in MCF-7/Adr cells, and miR-138-5p + CD44st (3'-UTR)-treated MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells were significantly less invasive than those in the control group (P < 0.05). RT-PCR results for 80 postoperative breast cancer patients showed that the mRNA expression rate for CD44st was higher in cancer tissues than in paracancerous tissues, and the expression rate of miR-138-5p was higher in paracancerous tissues than in cancerous tissues (P < 0.01). In cancer tissues, CD44st was negatively correlated with miR-138-5p expression, with correlation coefficient r = -0.76 (Pearson's correlation), coefficient of determination R2 = 0.573, F = 106.89, and P < 0.001. The median overall survival value for patients in the low miR-138-5p expression group was 40.39 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 35.59-45.18 months] and 56.30 months (95% CI: 54.38-58.21 months) for patients in the high-expression group, with a log rank (Mantel-Cox) of 13.120, one degree of freedom, and P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer cell lines, miR-138-5p negatively regulated expression of CD44st and affected the invasive ability of tumor cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery.

Characteristics of blood immune cell profile and their correlation with disease progression in patients infected with HIV-1.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce viral load in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); however, some HIV-infected individuals still cannot achieve optimal immune recovery even after ART. Hence, we described the profile of peripheral immune cells and explored the association with disease progression in patients infected with HIV-1. METHODS: Mass cytometry analysis was used to characterize the circulating immune cells of 20 treatment-naïve (TNs), 20 immunological non-responders (INRs), 20 immunological responders (IRs), and 10 healthy controls (HCs). Correlation analysis was conducted between cell subpopulation percentages and indicators including HIV-1 cell-associated (CA)-RNA, DNA, CD4+ T cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio. RESULTS: Global activation, immunosenescence, and exhaustion phenotypes were observed in myeloid cells and T cells from individuals with HIV-1 infection. We also found that specific subsets or clusters of myeloid, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells were significantly lost or increased in TN individuals, which could be partially restored after receiving ART. The percentages of several subpopulations correlated with HIV-1 CA-RNA, DNA, CD4+ T cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio, suggesting that changes in immune cell composition were associated with therapeutic efficacy. CONCLUSION: These data provide a complete profile of immune cell subpopulations or clusters that are associated with disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection, which will improve understanding regarding the mechanism of incomplete immune recovery in INRs.

Studies of nonadiabatic dynamics in the singlet fission processes of pentacene dimer via tensor network method.

Singlet fission (SF) is a very significant photophysical phenomenon and possesses potential applications. In this work, we try to give a rather detailed theoretical investigation of the SF process in the stacked polyacene dimer by combining the high-level quantum chemistry calculations and the quantum dynamics simulations based on the tensor network method. Starting with the construction of the linear vibronic coupling model, we explore the pure electronic dynamics and the vibronic dynamics in the SF processes. The role of vibrational modes in nonadiabatic dynamics is addressed. The results show that the super-exchange mechanism mediated by the charge-transfer state is found in both pure electronic dynamics and the nonadiabatic dynamics. Particularly the vibrational modes with the frequencies resonance with the adiabatic energy gap play very import roles in the SF dynamics. This work not only provides a deep and detailed understanding of the SF process but also verifies the efficiency of the tensor network method with the train structure that can serve as the reference dynamics method to explore the dynamics behaviors of complex systems.

Apoptotic Body-Mediated Intracellular Delivery Strategy for Enhanced STING Activation and Improved Tumor Immunogenicity.

Agonists of stimulators of interferon genes (STING) are a promising class of immunotherapeutics that trigger potent innate immunity. However, the therapeutic efficacy of conventional STING agonists, such as 2',3'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP), is severely restricted to poor cytosolic delivery and lacks the capacity to promote the recognition of tumor-specific antigens. Here, we tackle these challenges through a nanovaccine platform based on Fenton-reactive and STING-activating nanoparticles, synergistically contributing to the generation of tumor-cell-derived apoptotic bodies (ABs). ABs loaded with exogenous cGAMP are readily phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), as a Trojan horse for rendering tumor cells with high immunogenicity instead of a noninflammatory response. This leads to enhanced STING activation and an improved tumor-specific antigen presentation ability, boosting the adaptive immunity in collaboration with innate immune. The strategy of exploiting a metal-based nanovaccine platform possesses great potential to be clinically translated into a trinitarian system of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Site-directed M2 proton channel inhibitors enable synergistic combination therapy for rimantadine-resistant pandemic influenza.

Pandemic influenza A virus (IAV) remains a significant threat to global health. Preparedness relies primarily upon a single class of neuraminidase (NA) targeted antivirals, against which resistance is steadily growing. The M2 proton channel is an alternative clinically proven antiviral target, yet a near-ubiquitous S31N polymorphism in M2 evokes resistance to licensed adamantane drugs. Hence, inhibitors capable of targeting N31 containing M2 (M2-N31) are highly desirable. Rational in silico design and in vitro screens delineated compounds favouring either lumenal or peripheral M2 binding, yielding effective M2-N31 inhibitors in both cases. Hits included adamantanes as well as novel compounds, with some showing low micromolar potency versus pandemic "swine" H1N1 influenza (Eng195) in culture. Interestingly, a published adamantane-based M2-N31 inhibitor rapidly selected a resistant V27A polymorphism (M2-A27/N31), whereas this was not the case for non-adamantane compounds. Nevertheless, combinations of adamantanes and novel compounds achieved synergistic antiviral effects, and the latter synergised with the neuraminidase inhibitor (NAi), Zanamivir. Thus, site-directed drug combinations show potential to rejuvenate M2 as an antiviral target whilst reducing the risk of drug resistance.

Lifetime pathogen burden, inflammatory markers, and depression in community-dwelling older adults.

The link between pathogen exposure and mental health has long been hypothesized, but evidence remains limited. We investigated the association of seropositivity to common pathogens and total pathogen burden with depression and mental health and explored the role of mediating inflammatory cytokines. We profiled in 884 participants in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies, mean (SD) age: 67.9 (8.1) years, their seropositivities for 11 pathogens (CMV, HSV 1, HSV 2, HHV-6, EBV, VZV, RSV, Dengue, Chikungunya, H. Pylori and Plasmodium) and pathogen burden, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score at baseline and 3-4 and 6-8 years follow-up, and baseline Mental Component Score (MCS) of 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12). Inflammatory markers included CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, MIP-1α, sgp130, sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII, C3a, and MCP-2. Controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, education, marital status, living alone, and smoking status, high pathogen burden (7 + cumulative infections) compared to low pathogen burden (1-5 cumulative infections) was significantly associated with period prevalence (the highest GDS score from baseline and follow-up measurements) of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.05-5.33) and impaired mental health (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.18-4.30). CMV seropositivity and HSV1 seropositivity, which are highly prevalent and most widely studied, were associated with estimated 2-fold increased odds of depression, but only HSV1 seropositivity was significantly associated with depression after adjusting for confounders. Notably, adjusted for confounders, RSV, H. pylori and Plasmodium seropositivity were significantly associated with increased odds, and Dengue seropositivity was associated with unexpectedly deceased odds of depressive symptoms and impaired mental health. The association of pathogen exposure with depression and mental health were at least in parts explained by inflammatory markers. Adding certain inflammatory markers to the models attenuated or weakened the association. Bootstrap method showed that MIP-1α significantly mediated the association between pathogen burden and mental health. In conclusion, lifelong pathogen burden and specific infections are associated with depression and impaired mental health in older adults.

Aging-induced atrial fibrosis in If current change and its effect on atrial fibrillation in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common type of cardiac arrhythmia that threatens public health. Aging is an independent AF risk factor. However, the mechanism of age-related AF remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 36 Beagle dogs were selected and divided into three groups (12 in each group): two groups were 9-year-old aged dogs, and one group was 4-year-old adult dogs. Electrophysiological testing was employed to determine if modeling is successful. Patch-clamp technique was employed to measure the If current. The expression of protein and mRNA related to If current were also tested. Collagen deposition was observed with the use of Masson staining. RESULTS: Aging resulted in a higher collagen deposition percentage in the left atrium. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN)2 and HCN4 expressions were increased in the atria and pulmonary veins but decreased in the sinus node of the aged group. Moreover, in the aged group, the left atrium mRNA expressions of Kcnd2 (Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 2), Kcnh2, Kcnq1, Kcnj2, Kcnj11, and CACNA1H were significantly downregulated. The aged AF group also demonstrated sustained AF and significant changes in electrophysiological characteristics. The If current demonstrated an increased amplitude and was easier to activate in the aged AF group than in younger group. Finally, AF occurrence exacerbated aging-induced cardiac fibrosis, thereby aggravating the above-listed symptoms. CONCLUSION: With age, the increase in atrial fibrosis affected the expression of the ion channels, thereby modulating the If current. Moreover, AF also further exacerbated the degree of atrial fibrosis.

Nightmare frequency and psychopathological problems in a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

PURPOSE: Nightmares are common, especially in pediatric populations and psychiatric patients. Nightmares are associated with daytime distress and negative health outcomes. The data on the prevalence and psychopathological profiles of nightmares in Chinese adolescents are limited. This study examined age and gender differences in nightmare frequency and associated psychopathological problems in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 11,831 adolescent students (mean age = 14.9, 12-18 years) participated in the baseline survey of Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire to report their nightmare frequency, trait anger, hopelessness, and multiple domains of behavioral/emotional problems. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine psychopathological problems in relation to nightmare frequency. RESULTS: Of the sample, 45.2% reported having nightmares at least once in the past month and 7.9% at least once/week. Girls reported more frequent nightmares than boys. Nightmare frequency significantly declined with age for both boys and girls. Mean scores on trait anger, hopelessness, attention, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems significantly increased with nightmare frequency. Frequent nightmares (at least once/week) were significantly associated with 2-4-fold increased likelihood of behavioral/emotional problems after adjusting for adolescent and family covariates. CONCLUSION: Nightmares are prevalent in Chinese adolescents. Frequent nightmares are associated with multiple domains of psychopathological problems. Assessment and intervention of frequent nightmares should be incorporated into routine clinical practice and mental health services in adolescents.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis of Tricuspid Regurgitation After Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

This study aimed to determine the pooled incidence, risk factors, and clinical prognosis of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) deterioration after implantation of a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). The study was designed as a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Patients with indications for CIEDs were selected as participants and CIED implantation was the intervention. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched systematically to identify studies. Thirty-seven studies with 8,144 patients were included. The pooled incidence of TR deterioration of at least one grade was 25.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.9-29.3; Z = 11.60; p < 0.01; I2 = 94.8%, p < 0.01). Compared with TR incidence after permanent pacemaker implantation, that after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation did not significantly increase (22.68% v 29.18%; odds ratio [OR], 0.615; 95% CI, 0.271-1.339; Z =1.16; p = 0.246). The pooled incidence of TR deterioration of at least two grades was 9.4% (95% CI, 6.6-12.1; Z = 6.72; p < 0.01; I2 = 86.0%, p < 0.01). Lead interference (OR, 8.704; 95% CI,4.450-17.028; Z= 6.32; p < 0.001) and pacemaker implantation time (OR, 1.153; 95% CI, 1.082-1.229; Z = 4.37; p < 0.001) were risk factors for worsening TR. Baseline atrial fibrillation, age, baseline mild TR, and left ventricular ejection fraction were not associated with TR. All-cause mortality (>one year after pacemaker implantation) was higher in patients with TR deterioration (hazard ratio, 1.598; 95% CI, 1.275-2.002; Z = 4.07; p < 0.01; I2 = 0%). TR is a common complication after CIED implantation. Lead interference and pacemaker implantation time were risk factors for TR worsening. Compared with patients without TR deterioration after pacemaker implantation, patients with TR deterioration had a poorer prognosis.

Investigation of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Communities and Antibiotic-Resistant Genes in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Removal of Antibiotic-Resistant Genes by the BBR Process.

The antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have attracted increasing attention. In this study, the abundance of ARB and resistance genes tet32 and defA1 were investigated using high-throughput sequencing and high-throughput qPCR in water samples collected from the inlet of the biological treatment pool and outlet of Beilun Yandong WWTP in Ningbo, China. The result shows there was a high level of ARGs in the water of both the inlets and outlets in 2017 and 2018, whereas no ARGs were detected after adding a new baffled bioreactor (BBR) water treatment process in 2019. The BBR process uses Bacillus subtilis, B. thuringiensis, B. megaterium, B. licheniformis and B. amyloliquefaciens to effectively eliminate the ARGs in wastewater. Notably, this process did not significantly change the bacterial community structure of outlet water samples. The findings demonstrate an effective new method for removing ARGs from sewage.

Metagenomic and 14 C tracing evidence for autotrophic microbial CO2 fixation in paddy soils.

Autotrophic carbon dioxide (CO2 ) fixation by microbes is ubiquitous in the environment and potentially contributes to the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. However, the multiple autotrophic pathways of microbial carbon assimilation and fixation in paddy soils remain poorly characterized. In this study, we combine metagenomic analysis with 14 C-labelling to investigate all known autotrophic pathways and CO2 assimilation mechanisms in five typical paddy soils from southern China. Marker genes of six autotrophic pathways are detected in all soil samples, which are dominated by the cbbL genes (67%-82%) coding the ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase large chain in the Calvin cycle. These marker genes are associated with a broad range of phototrophic and chemotrophic genera. Significant amounts of 14 C-CO2 are assimilated into SOC (74.3-175.8 mg 14 C kg-1 ) and microbial biomass (5.2-24.1 mg 14 C kg-1 ) after 45 days incubation, where more than 70% of 14 C-SOC was concentrated in the relatively stable humin fractions. These results show that paddy soil microbes contain the genetic potential for autotrophic carbon fixation spreading over broad taxonomic ranges, and can incorporate atmospheric carbon into organic components, which ultimately contribute to the stable SOC pool.

Production of giant unilamellar vesicles and encapsulation of lyotropic nematic liquid crystals.

We describe a modified microfluidic method for making Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) via water/octanol-lipid/water double emulsion droplets. At a high enough lipid concentration we show that the de-wetting of the octanol from these droplets occurs spontaneously (off-chip) without the need to use shear to aid the de-wetting process. The resultant mixture of octanol droplets and GUVs can be separated by making use of the buoyancy of the octanol. A simpler microfluidic device and pump system can be employed and, because of the higher flow-rates and much higher rate of formation of the double emulsion droplets (∼1500 s-1 compared to up to ∼75 s-1), it is easier to make larger numbers of GUVs and larger volumes of solution. Because of the potential for using GUVs that incorporate lyotropic nematic liquid crystals in biosensors we have used this method to make GUVs that incorporate the nematic phases of sunset yellow and disodium chromoglycate. However, the phase behaviour of these lyotropic liquid crystals is quite sensitive to concentration and we found that there is an unexpected spread in the concentration of the contents of the GUVs obtained.

A prospective comparison of four methods for preventing pacemaker pocket infections.

This study aims to evaluate four pacemaker pocket cleaning methods for preventing implantation-related infections. This single-center trial prospectively randomized 910 patients undergoing first-time pacemaker implantation or replacement into four pocket cleaning methods: hemocoagulase (group A, n = 228), gentamicin (group B, n = 228), hemocoagulase plus gentamicin (group C, n = 227), and normal saline (group D, n = 227). Before implanting the pacemaker battery, the pockets were cleaned with gauze presoaked in the respective cleaning solutions. Then, these patients were followed up to monitor the occurrence of infections for 1 month after implantation. Twelve implantation-related infections occurred in 910 patients (1.32%): four patients from group A (1.75%), three patients from group B (1.32%), two patients from group C (0.88%), and three patients from group D (1.32%) (P > .05). Furthermore, two patients developed bloodstream infections (0.22%), and both of these patients were associated with pocket infection (one patient was from group A, while the other patient was from group C, respectively). No cases of infective endocarditis occurred. The differences in the number of infections in these study groups were not statistically significant. The application of hemocoagulase, gentamicin, hemocoagulase plus gentamicin, or normal saline on the presoaked gauze before implantation was equally effective in preventing pocket-associated infections.

Control of Director Fields in Phospholipid-Coated Liquid Crystal Droplets.

In liquid crystal (LC) droplets, small changes in surface anchoring energy can produce large changes in the director field which result in readily detectable optical effects. This makes them attractive for use as biosensors. Coating LC droplets with a phospholipid monolayer provides a bridge between the hydrophobic world of LCs and the water-based world of biology and makes it possible to incorporate naturally occurring biosensor systems. However, phospholipids promote strong perpendicular (homeotropic) anchoring that can inhibit switching of the director field. We show that the tendency for phospholipid layers to promote perpendicular anchoring can be suppressed by using synthetic phospholipids in which the acyl chains are terminated with bulky tert-butyl or ferrocenyl groups; the larger these end-group(s), the less likely the system is to be perpendicular/radial. Additionally, the droplet director field is found to be dependent on the nature of the LC, particularly its intrinsic surface properties, but not (apparently) on the sign of the dielectric anisotropy, the proximity to the melting/isotropic phase transition, the surface tension (in air), or the values of the Frank elastic constants.

Prognostic value of serum amyloid A in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: The medical data of 89 COVID-19 patients admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 3, 2020 to February 26, 2020 were collected. Eighty-nine cases were divided into survival group (53 cases) and non-survival group (36 cases) according to the results of 28-day follow-up. The SAA levels of all patients were recorded and compared on 1 day after admission (before treatment) and 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after treatment. The ROC curve was drawn to analyze the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 by SAA. RESULTS: The difference of comparison of SAA between survival group and non-survival group before treatment was not statistically significant, Z1 = - 1.426, P = 0.154. The Z1 values (Z1 is the Z value of the rank sum test) of the two groups of patients at 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after treatment were - 5.569, - 6.967, and - 7.542, respectively. The P values were all less than 0.001, and the difference was statistically significant. The ROC curve results showed that SAA has higher sensitivity to the prognostic value of 1 day (before treatment), 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after treatment, with values of 0.806, 0.972, 0.861, and 0.961, respectively. Compared with SAA on the 7th day and C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and hemoglobin on the 7th day, the sensitivities were: 96.1%, 83.3%, 88.3%, 83.3%, 67.9%, and 83.0%, respectively, of which SAA has the highest sensitivity. CONCLUSION: SAA can be used as a predictor of the prognosis in patients with COVID-19.