DNAzyme-Derived Aptamer Reversely Regulates the Two Types of Enzymatic Activities of Covalent-Organic Frameworks for the Colorimetric Analysis of Uranium.

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activity. It is known that DNA can interact with various nanozymes in different ways, enhancing or inhibiting the activity of nanozymes, which can be used to develop various biosensors. In this work, we synthesized a photosensitive covalent-organic framework (Tph-BT) as a nanozyme, and its oxidase and peroxidase activities could be reversely regulated by surface modification of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) for the colorimetric detection of UO22+. Tph-BT exhibits excellent oxidase activity and weak peroxidase activity, and it is surprising to find that the UO22+-specific DNA aptamer can significantly inhibit the oxidase activity while greatly enhancing the peroxidase activity. The present UO22+ interacts with the DNA aptamer to form secondary structures and detaches from the surface of Tph-BT, thereby restoring the enzymatic activity of Tph-BT. Based on the reversed regulation effects of the DNA aptamer on the two types of enzymatic activities of Tph-BT, a novel "off-on" and "on-off" sensing platform can be constructed for the colorimetric analysis of UO22+. This research demonstrates that ssDNA can effectively regulate the different types of enzymatic activities of single COFs and achieve the sensitive and selective colorimetric analysis of radionuclides by the naked eye.

Effects of Dietary Zinc Deficiency on Skin Breaking Strength and Fatty Acid Composition in Broiler Chickens and Pekin Ducks.

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of dietary zinc deficiency (ZnD) on skin breaking strength and skin chemical and fatty acid composition in broiler chickens and Pekin ducks. A total of 200 1-day-old male broiler chickens and 200 1-day-old male ducklings were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design and randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 10 replicated cages of 10 birds per cage. Diets containing zinc at 84.77 mg/kg and 20.42 mg/kg were regarded as the control diet and zinc-deficient diet, respectively. The results showed the following: (1) dietary ZnD decreased (P < 0.05) the breast skin weight (day 21), breast skin index (day 21), skin fat content (day 7), and skin Zn content (days 7, 14, and 21) of ducks, but only increased (P < 0.05) the skin fat content of broiler chickens at 7 days of age; ducks had a higher (P < 0.05) breast skin weight, breast skin index, and skin breaking strength as well as a lower skin fat content (days 7 and 14) than those in broiler chickens. (2) Dietary ZnD decreased the content of myristic acid (day 21) and increased the content of oleic acid (day 7) content in the skin of ducks and increased the palmitic acid (day 7) content in the skin of broiler chickens (P < 0.05) and increased the MUFA (day 7) content in the skin and the atherogenic index (day 21) in ducks. The contents of myristic acid (day 21), stearic acid (day 21), and oleic acid (days 7, 14, and 21) in the skin of broiler chickens were lower (P < 0.05) than those in ducks of the same age. In conclusion, using skin weight, skin index and skin MUFA content as criteria, the results indicated that meat ducks were more sensitive to dietary ZnD than broiler chickens. Using skin fat content as criterion, the results indicated that broiler chickens were more sensitive to dietary ZnD than meat ducks.

Determination of Time Progression and Sensitive Biomarkers of Maternal Zinc Depletion in Broiler Chickens and Pekin Ducks Fed a Zinc-Deficient Diet.

Two experiments were performed to assess maternal zinc (Zn) depletion in broiler chickens and Pekin ducks fed a Zn-deficient diet. The time of Zn depletion was assessed based on growth performance, and sensitive biomarkers were determined based on tissue Zn content via a linear regression model. A total of 200 1-day-old male broiler chickens (experiment 1) and 200 1-day-old male Pekin ducks (experiment 2) were randomly allocated to 2 diets with 10 replicate cages (10 birds/cage). The two diets were a zinc-deficient diet (ZnD, 20.42 mg Zn/kg) and a control zinc diet (CON, 84.77 mg Zn/kg). In experiment 1, compared to CON, ZnD decreased (P < 0.05) the body weight (days 7, 14, and 21), body weight gain, feed intake (days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21), and the Zn content of plasma (days 7 and 21), pancreas (days 7, 14, and 21), and tibia in broiler chickens. The R2 of a linear model was greater at day 7 than at day 14 or day 21 for pancreatic Zn content in broiler chickens. In experiment 2, compared to CON, ZnD also decreased (P < 0.05) the body weight (days 7, 14, and 21), body weight gain (days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21), and feed intake (days 1-14 and 1-21) and increased (P < 0.05) the feed-to-gain ratio (days 1-7 and 1-14) in ducks. Compared with CON, ZnD reduced (P < 0.05) the Zn content of the pancreas (days 7, 14, and 21), tibia (days 7, 14, and 21), and skin (days 14 and 21) and increased (P < 0.05) the Zn content of the plasma (day 21) and skin (day 7) in ducks. The R2 of a linear model was greater at day 7 than at days 14 or 21 for skin Zn content in ducks. The results indicated that the maternal Zn was depleted by 7 days of age in both birds; the sensitive biomarker for broiler chickens is pancreatic Zn content, and for ducks, it is skin Zn content.

Undiagnosed pleural effusion treated with traditional Chinese medicine: A case report.

The main clinical manifestations of pleural effusion are exertional dyspnea, predominantly dry cough, and pleuritic chest pain. To treat pleural effusion appropriately, it is important to determine its etiology; which however, remains unclear in nearly 20% of cases.A 73-year-old man with a history of invasive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), had been experiencing chest congestion and dyspnea with undiagnosed pleural effusion for six years. After a series of clinical examination and laboratory tests, there was still no clear diagnosis. Despite administering diuretics and intermittent draining, the patient's condition aggravated progressively. He sought further treatment at Dongzhimen Hospital Respiratory Outpatient Clinic. The patient was treated with Zanthoxylum and Trichosanthes Decoction (Jiao Mu Gua Lou Tang). After one and a half years, his symptoms greatly improved and ultrasound revealed that the pleural effusion had apparently absorbed.It is suggested that TCM herbal formulas can play a critical role in preventing the progression of complicated, undiagnosed pleural effusion, especially in cases of poor response to conventional therapy and thoracentesis. Additional studies on the functions and mechanisms of the medicinals are warranted.

Facile Construction of Covalent Organic Framework Nanozyme for Colorimetric Detection of Uranium.

2D covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) have been recognized as a novel class of photoactive materials owing to their extended π-electron conjugation and high chemical stabilities. Herein, a new covalent organic framework (Tph-BDP) is facilely synthesized by using a porphyrin derivative and an organic dye BODIPY derivative (5,5-difluoro-2,8-diformyl-1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-10-phenyl-5H-dipyrrolo[1,2-c:2',1'-f][1,3,2]diazabori-nin-4-ium-5-uide) as monomers for the first time, and their unique photosensitive properties endow them excellent simulated oxidase activity under 635 nm laser irradiation that can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Further findings demonstrate that the presence of uranium (UO22+ ) can coordinate with imines of the oxidation products of TMB, thus modulating the charge transfer process of the colored products accompanied with intensive aggregation and remarkable color fading. This research provides a preparation strategy for COFs with excellent photocatalytic properties and nanozyme activity, and broadens the applications of the simple colorimetric methods for sensitive and selective radionuclide detection.

A study protocol for HEalth-Related quality of life-intervention in survivors of Breast and other cancers experiencing cancer-related fatigue using TraditionAL Chinese Medicine: the HERBAL trial.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating condition which commonly affects cancer survivors. The management of CRF remains a challenge due to the lack of effective pharmacological interventions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could be a potential therapeutic option for CRF. The modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang (XBYRT) is a TCM herbal decoction, formulated to improve fatigue symptoms in cancer survivors. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of XBYRT in improving CRF and quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors. METHODS: This is a single centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Eighty cancer survivors will be recruited and randomized to receive the XBYRT or placebo decoction, in a ratio of 1:1. Participants will consume the XBYRT/placebo decoction daily for 8 weeks and undergo assessments at baseline and 4, 8 and 10 weeks after baseline. The participants will be assessed for patient-reported outcomes (PRO), blood biomarkers and adverse events at each time point. The primary outcome is the overall health and QOL status, at 8 weeks follow-up. The secondary outcomes are the effects of XBYRT on fatigue levels, cancer-related cognitive impairment and QOL, as assessed by PRO. The incidence of adverse events and the effects of the XBYRT decoction on blood biomarkers associated with CRF will also be evaluated. DISCUSSION: Efficacy and safety outcomes from this trial will provide important clinical data to guide future large-scale randomized controlled trials, and the evaluation of the objective blood biomarkers can help to delineate the biological mechanisms of CRF. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04104113 . Registered on 26 September 2019.

Evaluation on clinical efficacy of Fuzheng Jiedu Huayu Decoction combined with antibiotics in the treatment of pneumonia in the elderly - A multi-center, double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Jiedu Huayu Decoction (FJHD) in treating pneumonia in the elderly. METHODS: Adopting a multi-center, double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial, 284 elderly pneumonia patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to the standard treatment with FJHD (treatment group, TG) and the standard treatment with placebo group (control group, CG). Efficacy and safety was evaluated through mortality rate, curative rate, symptom improvement, chest X-ray (CXR) lesion absorption, arterial blood gas (ABG), peripheral blood leukocyte count (PBLC) and adverse events. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mortality rate between both groups (P > 0.05). TG significantly enhanced the curative rate of a 2-week treatment course (P < 0.05). Compared with CG, TG significantly decreased the expectoration score during the first and second week of treatment (P < 0.05). During the first week, improvement in expectoration was conducive to airway patency. During the second week, wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms were also significantly improved. During the third week, body temperature was stable. TG improved lesion absorption with Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) class II (P < 0.05) and SMART-COP score 1 (P < 0.05). TG significantly decreased the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure after a 1-week treatment. There were no serious adverse events in TG. CONCLUSION: Standard anti-infection treatment with FJHD is a safe and reliable method of treating elderly patients with pneumonia, improving the curative effect after a 2-week treatment course, ameliorating expectoration and promoting the absorption of pneumonia lesions.