Molecular basis underlying default mode network functional abnormalities in postpartum depression with and without anxiety.

Although Postpartum depression (PPD) and PPD with anxiety (PPD-A) have been well characterized as functional disruptions within or between multiple brain systems, however, how to quantitatively delineate brain functional system irregularity and the molecular basis of functional abnormalities in PPD and PPD-A remains unclear. Here, brain sample entropy (SampEn), resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), transcriptomic and neurotransmitter density data were used to investigate brain functional system irregularity, functional connectivity abnormalities and associated molecular basis for PPD and PPD-A. PPD-A exhibited higher SampEn in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PPC) than healthy postnatal women (HPW) and PPD while PPD showed lower SampEn in PPC compared to HPW and PPD-A. The functional connectivity analysis with MPFC and PPC as seed areas revealed decreased functional couplings between PCC and paracentral lobule and between MPFC and angular gyrus in PPD compared to both PPD-A and HPW. Moreover, abnormal SampEn and functional connectivity were associated with estrogenic level and clinical symptoms load. Importantly, spatial association analyses between functional changes and transcriptome and neurotransmitter density maps revealed that these functional changes were primarily associated with synaptic signaling, neuron projection, neurotransmitter level regulation, amino acid metabolism, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways, and neurotransmitters of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine, glutamate, dopamine and so on. These results reveal abnormal brain entropy and functional connectivities primarily in default mode network (DMN) and link these changes to transcriptome and neurotransmitters to establish the molecular basis for PPD and PPD-A for the first time. Our findings highlight the important role of DMN in neuropathology of PPD and PPD-A.

Efficacy of TNF-α Inhibitors in the Treatment of nr-axSpA: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: A growing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors in treating non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TNF-α inhibitors in the treatment of nr-axSpA. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant RCTs using specific keywords up to June 2023. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society 40% (ASAS40). Secondary outcomes included ASAS20, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 50% (BASDAI50), ASAS partial remission, and ASAS5/6. RESULTS: A total of eight RCTs involving 1,376 patients were included. Patients receiving anti-TNF therapy exhibited a higher rate of ASAS40 (pooled RR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.63-3.42; p < 0.001). In addition, the TNF-α inhibitor group showed higher BASDAI50 rates (pooled RR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.48-2.89), ASAS20 rates (pooled RR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.31-1.67), ASAS partial remission rates (pooled RR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.58-3.43), and ASAS5/6 rates (RR = 3.46; 95% CI: 2.05-5.83) than the placebo group. CONCLUSION: The TNF-α inhibitors were effective in treating nr-axSpA.

A prototype galectin-1 (also known as galecin-2) from large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea): Molecular and function study.

Galectin-1 (also known as galecin-2), one member of galectins family, has multiple functions as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) in innate immune defense system. In the present study, LcGal-1, a prototype galectin, was identified and function investigated in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). LcGal-1 consists of one carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), which contains two carbohydrate binding motifs HFNPR and WG-E-R. LcGal-1 had a ubiquitous tissues profile with the highest and lowest expression in spleen and muscle, respectively. Moreover, it was in cytoplasm and nucleus of head-kidney cells in large yellow croaker. RT-qRCR showed that P. plecoglossicida induced LcGal-1 up-regulated expression in liver and gills, and the results were validated by immunohistochemistry analysis. Additionally, the recombinant LcGal-1 (rLcGal-1) showed agglutinate activity on erythrocytes, and the histidine (His) in the HFNPR motif was a key locus to the activity. The agglutination effect of rLcGal-1 on erythrocytes could be inhibited by LPS, α-lactase and d-galactose. The rLcGal-1 was able to bind and agglutinate Gram+ and Gram-bacteria, and damage bacterial membrane as confirmed by PI staining and SEM observation. Transcriptome analysis showed that the overexpressed LcGal-1 in HEK 293T cells could induce 176 DGEs, including 172 boosting genes and 4 falling genes. Collectively, LcGal-1 was a key immune gene involved in the recognition, conjunction, and elimination of pathogens in L. crocea, as well as multiple physiological and pathological regulatory processes.

Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator-Based Prediction of the Binding Constant of p-Sulfonatocalix[6]/[8]arenes with Alkaloids.

p-Sulfonatocalix[n]arenes (SCnA) have demonstrated great potential for drug encapsulation through host-guest complexation to improve solubility, stability, and bioavailability. In this study, the solubilization effect of SCnA (n = 4, 6, 8) on 95 active compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was investigated. Based on the significant solubilization effect on alkaloids, SC6A/SC8A and 76 alkaloids were selected as the host and guest, respectively, to determine the binding constant by competitive fluorescence titration. LASSO regression was adopted to investigate the mechanism of the complex of SCnA with alkaloids. The binding constant of alkaloids-SC6A and alkaloids-SC8A was related to the alkaloid alkalinity. Also, the electronegativity, polarization, first ionization potential, hydrogen bond potential, the molecular size, and shape of alkaloids are critical properties to determine alkaloids-SC6A binding constant as well as electronegativity, polarization, hydrophobicity, and the molecular size and shape of alkaloids play an important role for the alkaloids-SC8A binding constant.

Association between socioeconomic status and post-stroke depression in middle-aged and older adults: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric complication that affects approximately one-third of stroke patients. The treatment and prognosis of this disease are poor. Socioeconomic status (SES) is closely related to health outcomes; however, only a few previous studies have focused on the association between SES and PSD. Given the substantial population of stroke patients in China, it is crucial to examine the potential risk factors associated with PSD. Conducting studies on this population and investigating the influence of economic conditions can provide valuable guiding theoretical insights into PSD prevention and management. METHODS: We used data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and selected appropriate samples for analysis. Depression was estimated using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10, a validated tool for assessing depression in the general population. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between SES and PSD and to evaluate any urban-rural differences. RESULTS: Of the 749 respondents, 370 (49.4%) had depression. Stroke patients with a middle school education demonstrated a greater risk of developing depression than those with a primary school education or below after adjusting for all control variables (odds ratio (OR) = 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.51, P = 0.036). However, stroke patients with a high school education or above had a lower risk of developing depression than those with a primary school education or below (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.88, P = 0.016). In rural areas, stroke patients with a high school or above education level had lower rates of depression than those with a primary school education or below (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21-0.91, P = 0.027). This difference was not significant in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: SES significantly influences the occurrence of PSD, which is reflected by education attainment and annual household expenditures. Education attainment was an independent influence on PSD, with a more pronounced effect in rural versus urban areas. We hope to reduce the prevalence of PSD and enhance the comprehensive management of this disease by modifying the influencing factors. Sex, self-reported health status, activities of daily living, night-time sleep duration, and life satisfaction also influenced the occurrence of PSD.

Caffeic acid attenuates tissue damage and inflammatory response in Klebsiella pneumonia by modulating AhR-Src-STAT3-IL-10 signaling pathway.

CA is a plant derivative with antibacterial and antiviral pharmacological effects, however, the therapeutic effect of CA on Klebsiella pneumonia and its mechanism study is still unclear. A rat KP model was established in vitro, a pneumonia cell model was established in vivo, the histopathological changes in the lungs were observed by HE staining after CA treatment, the expression of relevant inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA, the changes in the expression of proteins related to the AhR-Src-STAT3-IL-10 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence in the lungs, and the interactions between the proteins were verified by COIP relationship. The results showed that CA was able to attenuate the injury and inflammatory response of lung tissues, and molecular docking showed that there were binding sites between CA and AhR, and COIP demonstrated that AhR interacted with both STAT3 and Ser. In addition, CA was able to up-regulate the expression levels of pathway-related proteins of AhR, IL-10, p-Src, and p-STAT3, and AhR knockdown was able to reduce LPS-induced inflammatory responses and up-regulate pathway-related proteins, whereas CA treatment of AhR-knockdown-treated A549 cells did not show any statistically significant difference compared with the AhR knockdown group, demonstrating that CA exerts its pharmacological effects. These findings elucidated the mechanism of CA in the treatment of KP and demonstrated that CA is a potential therapeutic agent for KP.

Pre-hospital symptom clusters and symptom network analysis in decompensated cirrhotic patients: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To generate pre-hospital symptom networks, explore core, bridge and sentinel symptoms, identify pre-hospital symptom clusters and analyse relationship between influencing factors and symptom clusters in decompensated cirrhosis patients. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. METHODS: Demographical, physiological, psychological and sociological characteristics and the pre-hospital symptoms of 292 decompensated cirrhotic patients were collected from October 2021 to March 2023 in China. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, exploratory factor analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and network analysis were used for data analysis. RESULTS: 'I don't look like myself' and itching were core and bridge symptoms, while bloating and lack of energy were sentinel symptoms in decompensated cirrhotic patients. Monthly family income, anxiety, depression, social support and disease duration influenced the neuropsychological symptom cluster, with worrying as the strongest predictor symptom. Influential factors for cirrhosis-specific symptom cluster included Child-Pugh class, monthly family income, disease duration, anxiety and depression, with itching being the strongest predictor symptom. Monthly family income, disease duration and depression were influential factors for gastrointestinal symptom cluster, with loss of appetite as the strongest predictor symptom. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological, cirrhosis-specific and gastrointestinal symptom clusters were formed in decompensated cirrhotic patients. Through network analysis, direct connections between symptoms, symptom clusters and their influencing factors were revealed, thereby offering clinicians a foundation for effectively managing patients' pre-hospital symptoms. IMPACT: Decompensated cirrhosis patients commonly have multiple symptoms, while the management of pre-hospital symptoms is often suboptimal. This study identified neuropsychological, cirrhosis-specific, gastrointestinal symptom clusters and recognized core, bridge and sentinel symptoms in these patients. It also revealed the most prominent symptoms within each cluster. This provides insight into the hierarchy of symptoms, improving symptom management in decompensated cirrhosis. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: There was no patient or public involvement.

[Association of metal/metalloids exposure with abnormal liver function among occupational population in a mining area of Hunan Province:a prospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of metals/metalloids exposure with risk of liver disfunction among occupational population in Hunan Province, and to explore the potential dose-response relationship. METHODS: In 2017, a mining area in Hunan Province was chosen as the research site, and eligible workers were recruited as study subjects. General demographic characteristics, levels of 23 metals/metalloids in plasma and urine, and liver function index(total bilirubin(TBIL), alanine amino transferase(ALT), globulin(GLB) and γ-glutamyl transferase(GGT)) were obtained by questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests. Participants were followed up in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. Cox proportional risk model was used to evaluate the relationship between metal/metalloids exposure and risk of liver disfunction, and dose-response relationship curves were plotted by using the restricted cubic spline function. RESULTS: A total of 891 employees were recruited in the study, 576(65.0%)were aged ≤45 years, 832(93.4%) were male and 530(59.5%) worked as smelters. After adjusting various factors such as age, gender, BMI, type of work, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, stress, medical history, exercise and tea consumption, positive correlations were found between plasma tungsten(HR=4.90, 95%CI 1.17-20.48) and urinary barium(HR=1.07, 95%CI 1.02-1.12) levels with abnormally elevated TBIL levels. Additionally, a significant association was observed between plasma thallium and the risk of elevated ALT levels(HR=11.15, 95%CI 1.97-63.29). CONCLUSION: Plasma tungsten and thallium, along with barium found in urine, are risk factors for the development of abnormally elevated liver function indices in occupational groups.

[Associations of plasma metals/metalloids with arrhythmia among occupational population: a prospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between levels of twenty-three plasma metals/metalloids and the risk of arrhythmia among occupational population. METHODS: In 2017, a total of 765 workers aged 18 and above were recruited from a non-ferrous metal factory. The general demographic characteristics were obtained by using questionnaire. Plasma metal/metalloid levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). Participants were followed up in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. After the elements that may affect the incidence of arrhythmia were screened out by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) regression, Cox regression model was used to analyze the relationship between levels of selected elements and risk of arrhythmia occurrence, Quantile g-computation model was used to analyze the effect of element mixture exposure on arrhythmia, and the dose-response curve was estimated by using restricted cubic spline(RCS) function. RESULTS: Of all the research subjects, 386(50.5%) were ≤45 years old; 401(52.4%) had 20 years or more of work experience; 712(93.1%) subjects were male workers. The incidence of arrhythmia was 17.6%. After adjusting for age, seniority, gender, body mass index(BMI), marital status, education level, smoking, drinking, drinking tea, regular exercise, chronic diseases(hypertension, hyperlipidemia), sleep quality and psychological stress, chromium, molybdenum and antimony increased the risk of arrhythmia with HR(95%CI) values of 1.22(1.11-1.34), 1.51(1.20-1.90) and 2.38(1.03-5.49), respectively, while barium reduced the risk of arrhythmia with HR(95%CI) value of 0.98(0.95-1.00). CONCLUSION: Chromium, molybdenum and antimony are the risk factors while barium is the protective factor for arrhythmia.

Clinical Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gargle Combined with Recombinant Bovine Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Gel in the Treatment of Recurrent Oral Ulcers and Its Effects on Inflammatory Factors, Immune Function, and Recurrence Rate.

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical efficacy of a chlorhexidine gargle combined with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rb-bFGF) gel in the treatment of recurrent oral ulcers and its effects on inflammatory factors, immune function, and recurrence rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with recurrent oral ulcers were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (treatment with chlorhexidine gargle plus rb-bFGF gel) and control (treatment with chlorhexidine gargle alone) (n = 48 cases). The therapeutic efficacy, clinical improvement of symptoms, and recurrence rate within 3 months were compared between the two groups. Serum inflammatory factor and immune factor levels of patients in the two groups were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: A statistically significantly higher total effective rate was found in patients of the experimental group (95.83%) versus the control group (81.25%) (p < 0.05). The time to onset of pain relief was shortened, the duration of pain relief was prolonged, and VAS scores for pain level were lower in the experimental than the control group (p < 0.05). Among patients in the experimental group, the number of oral ulcers and ulcer area decreased, and faster onset of pain relief and time until normal eating improved in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). Reduced levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were observed in the experimental vs the control group (p < 0.05). Elevated levels of CD3+, CD4+, and NKT and reduced levels of CD8+ were found in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The ulcer recurrence rate of patients in the experimental group (8.33%) was notably lower in comparison to the control group (29.17%). CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine gargle plus rb-bFGF gel can improve the clinical outcome of patients with recurrent oral ulcers. It can reduce the levels of inflammatory factors, improve immune function, and reduce the recurrence rate.

Efficient orange and red thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials based on 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules have emerged as a promising class of third-generation organic light-emitting diode (OLED) emitters that can achieve 100% internal quantum efficiency without the use of noble metals. However, the design of high-efficiency red TADF materials has been challenging due to limitations imposed by the energy-gap law. To overcome this challenge, two new TADF emitters, namely, 6-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (NI-TPA) and 6-(10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzo[de]-isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (NI-Pz), have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds exhibit strong TADF characteristics with a small energy gap (ΔEST) between the lowest excited singlet and triplet states, short delayed fluorescence lifetimes, high thermal stability, and high photoluminescence quantum yields. The OLED devices fabricated using NI-TPA and NI-Pz as emitters show orange and red electroluminescence with emission peaks at 593 nm and 665 nm, respectively, and maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 11.3% and 7.6%, respectively. Furthermore, applying NI-TPA to cell imaging yielded excellent imaging results, indicating the potential of red TADF materials in the field of biological imaging.

Highly dispersed Ir/Fe nanoparticles anchored at nitrogen-doped activated pyrolytic carbon black as a high-performance OER catalyst for lead recovery.

The use of a methanesulfonic acid (MSA) electrolytic system is recommended as a green method for hydrometallurgical recovery of metallic Pb from waste lead-acid batteries (LABs), contributing to the sustainable protection of the ecosystem. Nevertheless, the system's high energy consumption is a current issue due to the substantial overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and competitive anodic oxidation of Pb2+. Herein, we propose an IrFe/nitrogen-doped pyrolytic carbon black (IrFe/NCBp) composite as a novel OER catalyst for the MSA electrolytic system, which demonstrates advanced OER catalytic efficiency and selectivity for H2O oxidation. This can be ascribed to the catalyst's thoughtful design, which enhances the number and uniformity of Ir and Fe species via increasing the specific surface area and employing NCBp as a sustainable substrate. The optimized IrFe/NCBp composite exhibits superior OER performance, with a low 252 mV@10 mA cm-2 overpotential and a 62 mV dec-1 Tafel slope, and excellent durability in a 1 M MSA electrolyte for 30 h operation compared to commercial Ir/C. In contrast to carbon paper (CP) and commercial Ir/C anodes, the anodic reaction of IrFe/NCBp is primarily OER-driven (97%) in 1 M MSA and 0.2 M Pb2+ electrolyte for Pb recovery. This effectively circumvents the high potential oxidation of Pb2+ into PbO2, reducing the electrolytic voltage to 488 kWh for the recovery of 1 ton Pb metal. This work provides a green, low-carbon footprint solution for the MSA electrolytic system, thereby promoting the commercialization of the hydrometallurgical Pb recovery.

Non­m6A RNA modifications in haematological malignancies.

Dysregulated RNA modifications, stemming from the aberrant expression and/or malfunction of RNA modification regulators operating through various pathways, play pivotal roles in driving the progression of haematological malignancies. Among RNA modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, the most abundant internal mRNA modification, stands out as the most extensively studied modification. This prominence underscores the crucial role of the layer of epitranscriptomic regulation in controlling haematopoietic cell fate and therefore the development of haematological malignancies. Additionally, other RNA modifications (non-m6A RNA modifications) have gained increasing attention for their essential roles in haematological malignancies. Although the roles of the m6A modification machinery in haematopoietic malignancies have been well reviewed thus far, such reviews are lacking for non-m6A RNA modifications. In this review, we mainly focus on the roles and implications of non-m6A RNA modifications, including N4-acetylcytidine, pseudouridylation, 5-methylcytosine, adenosine to inosine editing, 2'-O-methylation, N1-methyladenosine and N7-methylguanosine in haematopoietic malignancies. We summarise the regulatory enzymes and cellular functions of non-m6A RNA modifications, followed by the discussions of the recent studies on the biological roles and underlying mechanisms of non-m6A RNA modifications in haematological malignancies. We also highlight the potential of therapeutically targeting dysregulated non-m6A modifiers in blood cancer.

Heterogeneity of Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked first branchial arch cranial neural crest cells in mice.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the heterogeneity and gene ontology of Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked first branchial arch cranial neural crest cells (CNCs) in mice. METHODS: The embryos of Wnt1-Cre;R26RmTmG and Pax2-Cre;R26RmTmG at embryonic day (E)8.0-E9.25 were collected for histological observation. We performed immunostaining to compare green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive CNCs in Pax2-Cre;R26RAi9 and Wnt1-Cre;R26RAi9 mice at E15.5. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to analyze the first branchial arch GFP-positive CNCs from Wnt1-Cre;R26RmTmG and Pax2-cre;R26RmTmGmice at E10.5. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was performed to validate the differential genes. RESULTS: Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs migrated from the neural plateto first and second branchial arches and to the first branchial arch, respectively, at E8.0. Although Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs were found mostly in cranial-facial tissues, the former had higher expression in palate and tongue. The results of scRNA-seq showed that Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs specifically contributed to osteoblast differentiation and ossification, while Wnt1-Cre-marked CNCs participated in limb development, cell migration, and ossification. The q-PCR data also confirmed the results of gene ontology analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Pax2-Cre mice are perfect experimental animal models for research on first branchial arch CNCs and derivatives in osteoblast differentiation and ossification.

[Retracted] MicroRNA­195 inhibits the behavior of cervical cancer tumors by directly targeting HDGF.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6210.].

Achievement of efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials based on 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives exhibiting piezochromic and thermochromic luminescence.

In this study, we developed a D-A type imide derivative based on 1,8-naphthalimide, NI-mPCz, which exhibited outstanding thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties. Additionally, it demonstrates characteristics of piezochromic and thermochromic luminescence. The thermochromic luminescence observed is attributed to crystalline transformations occurring during the heating process, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and microscopic examinations. Moreover, the good compatibility of NI-mPCz with HeLa cells and its excellent imaging performance indicate its potential for application in the field of biological imaging. These results provide valuable insights for the design and development of new organic electronic and bioimaging materials with high-efficiency TADF characteristics.

Centrosomal protein of 192 kDa (Cep192) fragment possesses bactericidal and parasiticidal activities in Larimichthys crocea.

A novel AMP Lc1773, derived from centrosomal protein of 192 kDa (Cep192), was isolated from Larimichthys crocea using a Bacillus subtilis system. After cDNA libraries construction, repeating selection of B. subtilis system, extraction of extracellular protein, and expression of recombinant protein, we found that B. subtilis 1773, extracellular protein, and rLc1773 had a strong potential to kill Vibrio. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus. Further analysis of the antibacterial mechanism revealed that rLc1773 not only disrupted the integrity of bacterial membrane (as confirmed by SEM, TEM, and confocal microscopy observation, and flow cytometry assays), resulting in bacterial cell membrane pore conformation, bacterial rupture, and leakage of cellular contents, but also targeted to block protein synthesis rather than damage nucleic acids (as confirmed by SDS-PAGE, enzyme expression, and gel retardation assays). In addition, rLc1773 had the ability to kill parasite Scuticociliatida in a high rate and low concentration. Critically, the antibacterial activity of rLc1773 had good thermal stability and UV radiation tolerance, but it was affected by pH 9-11 and diverse enzyme to some extent. Lc1773 had neither hemolysis on fish, shrimp, and rabbit erythrocytes，nor significant cytotoxicity. To our knowledge, Cep192 fragment was first demonstrated to possess bactericidal and parasiticidal activities.

Revealing Changes in Celecoxib Nanostructured Lipid Carrier's Bioavailability Using Hyaluronic Acid as an Enhancer by HPLC-MS/MS.

Purpose: Oral drug administration is the most common and convenient route, offering good patient compliance but drug solubility limits oral applications. Celecoxib, an insoluble drug, requires continuous high-dose oral administration, which may increase cardiovascular risk. The nanostructured lipid carriers prepared from drugs and lipid excipients can effectively improve drug bioavailability, reduce drug dosage, and lower the risk of adverse reactions. Methods: In this study, we prepared hyaluronic acid-modified celecoxib nanostructured lipid carriers (HA-NLCs) to improve the bioavailability of celecoxib and reduce or prevent adverse drug reactions. Meanwhile, we successfully constructed a set of FDA-compliant biological sample test methods to investigate the pharmacokinetics of HA-NLCs in rats. Results: The pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed that HA-NLCs significantly enhanced drug absorption, resulting in an AUC0-t 1.54 times higher than the reference formulation (Celebrex®). Moreover, compared with unmodified nanostructured lipid carriers (CXB-NLCs), HA-NLCs enhance the retention time and improve the drug's half-life in vivo. Conclusion: HA-NLCs significantly increased the bioavailability of celecoxib. The addition of hyaluronic acid prolonged the drug's in vivo duration of action and reduced the risk of cardiovascular adverse effects associated with the frequent administration of oral celecoxib.

Pt,P-codoped carbon nitride nanoenzymes for fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode detection of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is an important lipid compound found in a variety of foods, and its level in human blood is closely related to human health. Therefore, development of rapid and accurate POCT (point-of-care testing) methods for cholesterol detection is crucial for assessing food quality and early diagnosis of diseases, in particular, in a resource-limited environment. In this study, a smartphone-assisted colorimetric biosensor is constructed based on platinum,phosphorus-codoped carbon nitride (PtCNP2) for the rapid detection of cholesterol. Phosphorus-doped carbon nitride is prepared by thermal annealing of urea and NH4PF6, into which platinum is atomically dispersed by thermal refluxing. The obtained PtCNP2 exhibits an excellent peroxidase-like activity under physiological pH, whereby colorless o-phenylenediamine (OPD) is oxidized to colored 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which can be produced during the oxidation of cholesterol by cholesterol oxidase. A smartphone-assisted visual sensing system is then constructed based on the color recognition software, and rapid on-site detection of cholesterol is achieved by reading the RGB values. Meanwhile, the generated DAP shows an apparent fluorescence signal and can realize highly sensitive detection of cholesterol by the change of the fluorescence signal intensity. Such a cholesterol sensor exhibits a wide linear detection range of 0.5-600 µg mL-1 and a low detection limit of 59 ng mL-1. The practicality of the sensor is successfully demonstrated in the rapid detection of cholesterol in serum and food.

Sensitive electrochemical flow injection analysis of H2O2 released from cells with a pass-through mode.

Conventional plate electrodes were commonly used in electrochemical flow injection analysis and only part of molecules diffused to the plane of electrodes could be detected, which would limit the performance of electrochemical detection. In this study, a low-cost native stainless steel wire mesh (SSWM) electrode was integrated into a 3D-printed device for electrochemical flow injection analysis with a pass-through mode, which is different compared with previous flow-through mode. This strategy was applied for sensitive analysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released from cells. Under the optimal conditions (the applied potentials, the flow rate and the sample volume), the device exhibits high sensitivity toward H2O2. Linear relationships could be achieved between electrochemical responses and the concentration of H2O2 ranging from 1 nM to 1 mM. The excellent analytical performance of the SSWM-based device could be attributed to the pass-through mode based on the mesh microstructure and intrinsic catalytic properties for H2O2 by stainless steel. This approach could be further successfully extended for screening of H2O2 released from HeLa cells with electrochemical responses linear to the number of cells in a range of 3 - 1.35 × 104 cells with an injection volume of 30 µL. This study revealed the potential of mesh electrodes in electrochemical flow injection analysis for cellular function and pathology and its possible extension in cell counting and on-line analysis.