Clinical features and risk factors for Sjogren's syndrome patients suffering from oral candidiasis in Shanxi, China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features and risk factors of Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) patients suffering from oral candidiasis and to provide a foundation for the prevention and treatment of oral candidiasis in SS patients. METHODS: The medical records of 479 SS patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from 2018 to 2020 were analysed to determine the clinical characteristics and risk factors that influence the occurrence of oral candidiasis infection in SS patients. RESULTS: Patients with oral candidiasis were older than those without oral candidiasis (P < 0.05). Male SS patients had greater oral candidiasis rates (P < 0.05). Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) and stimulated whole saliva (SWS) were both shown to be adversely associated with oral Candida infections (P < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that a low UWS was an independent risk factor for oral Candida infections in SS patients (OR: 0.004, P = 0.023). Greater WBC counts (OR: 1.22, P < 0.001), lower haemoglobin levels (OR: 0.97, P = 0.007), lower serum albumin levels (OR: 0.88, P < 0.001), lower IgG levels (OR: 0.91, P = 0.011), lower IgA levels (OR: 0.75, P = 0.011), and lower IgM levels (OR: 0.91, P = 0.015) were found in patients with oral Candida infections. Patients on immunosuppressive medications (OR: 0.32, P = 0.011), particularly rapamycin (P < 0.001), had a decreased rate of oral Candida infections. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with oral candidiasis were older than those without oral candidiasis. Male SS patients are more likely to have oral candidiasis. Individuals with lower UWS and SWS are more susceptible to oral Candida infection. Oral Candida infections in SS patients depend on their immunological status. Rapamycin may increase the abundance of Treg cells to reduce oral Candida infection in SS patients.

Specific Ion Effects of Azobenzene Salts on Photoresponse of PNIPAm in Aqueous Solutions.

Ionic species are important to dominate phase separation behaviors of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) in aqueous solutions. Herein, photoresponsive azobenzene-based salts with various ions are prepared and their photoresponsive ion effects on clouding temperatures (TcpS ) of PNIPAm in aqueous solutions are explored. It is found that, despite of various structures of anions and cations, trans-TcpS under vis light irradiation are always higher than cis-TcpS under UV irradiation. Particularly, Hofmeister effect of anions on TcpS is roughly observed. For example, azobenzene with kosmotropic CO3 2- gives the lowest cis-Tcp while in use of typical chaotropic anions, such as ClO4 - , azobenzene isomerization less affects values of Tcp s. In another hand, azobenzene-based metallic salts containing lithium, sodium, and potassium cations also demonstrate photoresponsive Hofmeister effect. Trans-metallic azobenzene demonstrates a chaotropic effect on Tcp s while UV induces kosmotropic behaviors on TcpS . Additionally, ionic conduction of the solution along with photoresponsive phase separations is also investigated and PNIPAm aggregations induce a sharp reduction of ion conduction during UV light illumination.

Cascade-Amplified Time-Resolved Fluorescent Assay Driven by an Enzyme-Integrated Catalytic Compartment as an Artificial Multi-Enzyme Complex.

We here report a simple and efficient strategy of fabricating artificial multi-enzyme complex (MEC) based on the integration of natural enzyme with catalytic compartment. As a proof of concept, this strategy was demonstrated by selecting cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) and CeIII -based nanoscale coordination polymer (Ce-NCP) with peroxidase-like activity as the models, which forms ChOx@Ce-NCP. Benefitting from the confinement and sheltering effects of Ce-NCP, superior cascade activity and stability in harsh environments were achieved in ChOx@Ce-NCP. Meanwhile, the distinct advantage of ChOx@Ce-NCP has also been highlighted by its negligible substrate inhibition effect and adjustable mass ratio of building blocks. Upon the doping of TbIII in ChOx@Ce-NCP, a luminescent artificial MEC (ChOx@Ce-NCP:Tb) was further fabricated to drive a cascade amplified time-resolved fluorescent assay within a confined space, showing high sensitivity and specificity toward cholesterol.

PpNAC187 Enhances Lignin Synthesis in 'Whangkeumbae' Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) 'Hard-End' Fruit.

A disorder in pears that is known as 'hard-end' fruit affects the appearance, edible quality, and market value of pear fruit. RNA-Seq was carried out on the calyx end of 'Whangkeumbae' pear fruit with and without the hard-end symptom to explore the mechanism underlying the formation of hard-end. The results indicated that the genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway affecting lignification were up-regulated in hard-end fruit. An analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified three NAC transcription factors, and RT-qPCR analysis of PpNAC138, PpNAC186, and PpNAC187 confirmed that PpNAC187 gene expression was correlated with the hard-end disorder in pear fruit. A transient increase in PpNAC187 was observed in the calyx end of 'Whangkeumbae' fruit when they began to exhibit hard-end symptom. Concomitantly, the higher level of PpCCR and PpCOMT transcripts was observed, which are the key genes in lignin biosynthesis. Notably, lignin content in the stem and leaf tissues of transgenic tobacco overexpressing PpNAC187 was significantly higher than in the control plants that were transformed with an empty vector. Furthermore, transgenic tobacco overexpressing PpNAC187 had a larger number of xylem vessel elements. The results of this study confirmed that PpNAC187 functions in inducing lignification in pear fruit during the development of the hard-end disorder.

From Macromolecular to Small-Molecular Triggers: Facile Method toward Photoinduced LCST Phase Behavior of Thermoresponsive Polymers in Mixed Ionic Liquids Containing an Azobenzene Moiety.

Instead of the reported photoinduced lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition behavior in ionic liquids (ILs) achieved by photofunctional polymers, this study reports the facile photoinduced LCST phase behavior of nonfunctionalized polymers (poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBnMA) and poly(2-phenylethyl methacrylate) (PPhEtMA)) in mixed ILs (1,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; [C1 mim][NTf2 ] and a newly designed functionalized IL containing an azobenzene moiety (1-butyl-3-(4-phenylazobenzyl)imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; [Azo][NTf2 ])) as a small-molecular photo trigger. Interestingly, the length of the alkyl spacer between the ester and aryl groups, which is the only structural difference between the two polymers, leads to two different photoresponsive LCST phase transition behaviors. On the basis of spectroscopic studies, the different phase transition behaviors of PBnMA and PPhEtMA may attribute to the different cooperative interactions between the polymers and [C1 mim][NTf2 ].

Biocompatible, functional spheres based on oxidative coupling assembly of green tea polyphenols.

Green luminescent, monodisperse, smooth, porous and hollow spheres were simply prepared by Cu(2+) and temperature mediated oxidative coupling assembly of green tea polyphenols in water. These polymeric tea polyphenol spheres are GSH responsive, acid resistant but alkali-responsive, ideally used as platform for controlled delivery of functional guests.

Oral exposure to tire rubber-derived contaminant 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone induce hepatotoxicity in mice.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is a widely used additive for protecting various rubber products, and its product of oxidation N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPDQ) has attracted extensive attention in aquatic toxicity. However, the toxicity of 6PPD and 6PPDQ in mammals has not been reported yet. In this study, the effects of 6PPD and 6PPDQ on the liver of C57BL/6 mice were assessed by orally administering different doses of 6PPD and 6PPDQ (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) in mice for 6 weeks. 6PPD and 6PPDQ were found to bioaccumulate in the liver in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, a high dose of 6PPD and 6PPDQ exposure increased not only the liver weights but also liver triglyceride levels, indicating that 6PPD and 6PPDQ exposure induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that 6PPD and 6PPDQ induced differential expression of genes mainly enriched in glycolipid metabolism, immune-related, and glutathione metabolism pathways. Therefore, 6PPD and 6PPDQ altered hepatic metabolism in mice. Furthermore, 6PPDQ could induce an immune response by upregulating the transcription of immune-related genes and promoting macrophage infiltration in the liver. In conclusion, our study revealed the toxic effects of 6PPD and 6PPDQ exposure on multi-endpoints in the liver of mice and improve our understanding of the health risks of 6PPD and 6PPDQ to mammals. The findings of our study may help formulate better safety regulations for the use and disposal of rubber products.

Characterization of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD)-induced cardiotoxicity in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio).

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is a type of p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which is widely used in the manufacture of rubber tires owing to its excellent antiozonant properties. In this study, the developmental cardiotoxicity of 6PPD was evaluated in zebrafish larvae, and the LC50 was approximately 737 µg/L for the larvae at 96 h post fertilization (hpf). In the 6PPD treatment of 100 µg/L, the accumulation concentrations of 6PPD were up to 2658 ng/g in zebrafish larvae, and 6PPD induced significant oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in the early developmental stages of zebrafish. Transcriptome analysis showed that 6PPD exposure could potentially cause cardiotoxicity in larval zebrafish by affecting the transcription of the genes related to the calcium signal pathway and cardiac muscle contraction. The genes related to calcium signaling pathway (slc8a2b, cacna1ab, cacna1da, and pln) were verified by qRT-PCR, which were significantly downregulated in larval zebrafish after exposing to 100 µg/L of 6PPD. Simultaneously, the mRNA levels of the genes related to cardiac functions (myl7, sox9, bmp10, and myh71) also respond accordingly. H&E staining and heart morphology investigation indicated that cardiac malformation occurred in zebrafish larvae exposed to 100 µg/L of 6PPD. Furthermore, the phenotypic observation of transgenic Tg (myl7: EGFP) zebrafish also confirmed that 100 µg/L of 6PPD exposure could change the distance of atria and ventricles of the heart and inhibit some key genes (cacnb3a, ATP2a1l, ryr1b) related to cardiac function in larval zebrafish. These results revealed the toxic effects of 6PPD on the cardiac system of zebrafish larvae.

Metabolome and transcriptome profiling in different bagging pear fruit reveals that PbKCS10 affects the occurrence of superficial scald via regulating the wax formation.

Superficial scald is a physiological disorder of fruit, which is easy to occur during long-term cold storage after harvest. Different preharvest bagging treatments (no bagging, polyethylene bagging and non-woven fabric bagging) were used to explore the occurrence mechanism of superficial scald. UHPLC-MS analysis, GC-MS analysis and RNA-seq revealed the influence of the wax of 'Chili' on the occurrence of superficial scald. The wax content and wax components (Lupeol, lup-20(29)-en-3-one, heptacosane, 9-octadecenoic acid, eicosanoic acid, cis-11-eicosenoic acid) were significantly higher in the fruit bagged with non-woven fabric (NWF, with low incidence of superficial scald) than that in fruit bagged with polyethylene (PE, high incidence of superficial scald). Transcriptomics and qRT-PCR data identified a wax synthesis gene, PbKCS10, which exhibited high expression levels in fruit with low of superficial scald. The results of gene function showed that PbKCS10 reduced the occurrence of superficial scald by increasing the wax formation.

Cascade amplified colorimetric immunoassay based on an integrated multifunctional composite with catalytic coordination polymers for prostate specific antigen detection.

Coordination polymers (CPs) have been extensively investigated for a variety of applications because of their tunable structures and properties. In this work, we demonstrated the potential of catalytic CPs in the fabrication of an integrated multifunctional composite for establishing a cascade amplified immunoassay. For this purpose, an Fe(iii)-based CP (FeCP) with peroxidase-like activity was employed as a model of catalytic CPs to simultaneously integrate glucose oxidase (GOx) and the anti-prostate specific antigen (anti-PSA) antibody through a self-adaptive inclusion process. This leads to the formation of a dual-functional anti-PSA/GOx@FeCP composite with cascade catalytic activity and capture ability to target the antigen. Benefiting from the shielding effect of FeCPs as a host, a significantly improved stability against harsh environments can be achieved for the loaded GOx and anti-PSA antibody in the composite. On this basis, by utilizing anti-PSA/GOx@FeCPs as a detection antibody, a colorimetric immunoassay based on the cascade catalysis of GOx and FeCPs as a signal amplified enhancer was developed for the detection of PSA. Under optimal conditions, satisfactory detection results have been achieved in both buffered aqueous solutions and serum samples. We believe that this study will open up a new avenue for the rational design and fabrication of multifunctional composites while offering a new cascade amplification strategy for PSA detection.

Heterogenous expression of Pyrus pyrifolia PpCAD2 and PpEXP2 in tobacco impacts lignin accumulation in transgenic plants.

Lignin, a natural macromolecular compound, plays an important role in the texture and taste of fruit. Hard end is a physiological disorder of pear fruit, in which the level of lignification in fruit tissues is dramatically elevated. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and expansin genes (PpCAD2 and PpEXP2, respectively) exhibit higher levels of expression in 'Whangkeumbae' (Pyrus pyrifolia) pear fruit exhibiting this physiological disorder, relative to control fruit without symptoms. These genes were isolated from pear fruit and subsequently expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to investigate their function. Histochemical staining for lignin revealed that the degree of lignification in leaf veins and stem tissues increased in plants transformed with sense constructs and decreased in plants transformed with antisense constructs of PpCAD2. The expression of native NtCADs was also inhibited in the antisense PpCAD2 transgenic tobacco. Sense and antisense PpCAD2 transgenic tobacco exhibited an 86.7% increase and a 60% decrease in CAD activity, respectively, accompanied by a complementary response in lignin content in root tissues. The basal portion of the stem in PpEXP2 transgenic tobacco was bent and highly lignified. Additionally, the level of cellulose also increased in the stem of PpEXP2 transgenic tobacco. Collectively, these results suggested that PpCAD2 and PpEXP2 genes play a significant role in lignin accumulation in transgenic tobacco plants, and it is inferred that these two genes may also participate in the increased lignification observed in hard end pear fruit.

An immunoassay for bisphenol A based on direct hapten conjugation to the polystyrene surface of microtiter plates.

Based on direct hapten coated format a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) for bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. Polystyrene surface was modified by 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to produce amino groups after H(2)SO(4)/HNO(3)-pre-treatment. 4,4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid (BVA) which is analogue of BPA, was successfully immobilized on the surface of microtiter plates by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method. The essential steps of the assay were optimized, especially blocking procedure which is key step to prevent unspecific binding of antibody. The results indicated that compared with hapten-protein coated format (IC(50)=176.67 ng ml(-1), LOD=15.90 ng ml(-1)), the direct hapten coated format (IC(50)=23.50 ng ml(-1), LOD=0.27 ng ml(-1)) could improve assay sensitivity and the detection ranges were 2.30 ng approximately 157.60 ng ml(-1) with good signal reproducibility (P value>0.05) after careful optimization of assay conditions. Tap water samples and seawater samples were spiked with a known amount of BPA and measured by ciELISA. The average recoveries were between 70 and 142%. As far as we are aware this is the most sensitive ELISA for BPA yet reported.