Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as diagnostic biomarkers in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 sepsis patients: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess and compare procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 sepsis patients. Additionally, we evaluated the diagnostic efficiency of PCT and CRP in distinguishing between Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) bacterial infections. Moreover, we explored the associations of PCT with specific pathogens in this context. METHODS: The study included 121 consecutive sepsis patients who underwent blood culture testing during the COVID-19 epidemic. PCT and CRP were measured, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed for the detection of COVID-19 nucleic acid. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare PCT and CRP between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to compare PCT and CRP levels in the GN group versus the GP group for assessing the diagnostic efficiency. The kruskal-Wallis H test was applied to assess the impact of specific pathogen groups on PCT concentrations. RESULTS: A total of 121 sepsis patients were categorized into a COVID-19 group (n = 25) and a non-COVID-19 group (n = 96). No significant differences in age and gender were observed between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. The comparison of biomarkers between these groups showed no statistically significant differences. The optimal cut-off values for PCT and CRP in differentiating between GP and GN infections were 1.03 ng/mL and 34.02 mg/L, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.689 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.591-0.786) for PCT and 0.611 (95% CI 0.505-0.717) for CRP. The diagnostic accuracy was 69.42% for PCT and 58.69% for CRP. The study found a significant difference in PCT levels among specific groups of pathogens (P < 0.001), with the highest levels observed in Escherichia coli infections. The frequency of Staphylococcus spp. positive results was significantly higher (36.0%) in COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 sepsis patients (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Sepsis patients with COVID-19 revealed a significantly higher culture positivity for staphylococcus spp. than the non-COVID-19 group. Both PCT and CRP showed moderate diagnostic efficiency in differentiating between GP and GN bacterial infections. PCT showed potential utility in identifying E. coli infections compared to other pathogens.

A Review of Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymers: Preparation, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties.

The early strength of geopolymers (GPs) and their composites is higher, and the hardening speed is faster than that of ordinary cementitious materials. Due to their wide source of raw materials, low energy consumption in the production process, and lower emissions of pollutants, they are considered to have the most potential to replace ordinary Portland cement. However, similar to other inorganic materials, the GPs themselves have weak flexural and tensile strength and are sensitive to micro-cracks. Improving the toughness of GP materials can be achieved by adding an appropriate amount of fiber materials into the matrix. The use of discrete staple fibers shows great potential in improving the toughness of GPs. Sisal is a natural fiber that is reproducible and easy to obtain. Due to its good mechanical properties, low cost, and low carbon energy usage, sisal fiber (SF) is a GP composite reinforcement with potential development. In this paper, the research progress on the effect of SF on the properties of GP composites in recent decades is reviewed. It mainly includes the chemical composition and physical properties of SFs, the preparation technology of sisal-reinforced geopolymers (SFRGs), the microstructure analysis of the interface of SFs and the GP matrix, and the macroscopic mechanical properties of SFRGs. The properties of SFs make them have good bonding properties with the GP matrix. The addition of SFs can improve the flexural strength and tensile strength of GP composites, and SFRGs have good engineering application prospects.

Alkaline Degradation of Plant Fiber Reinforcements in Geopolymer: A Review.

Plant fibers (PFs), such as hemp, Coir, and straw, are abundant in resources, low in price, light weight, biodegradable, have good adhesion to the matrix, and have a broad prospect as reinforcements. However, the degradation of PFs in the alkaline matrix is one of the main factors that affects the durability of these composites. PFs have good compatibility with cement and the geopolymer matrix. They can induce gel growth of cement-based materials and have a good toughening effect. The water absorption of the hollow structure of the PF can accelerate the degradation of the fiber on the one hand and serve as the inner curing fiber for the continuous hydration of the base material on the other. PF is easily deteriorated in the alkaline matrix, which has a negative effect on composites. The classification and properties of PFs, the bonding mechanism of the interface between PF reinforcements and the matrix, the water absorption of PF, and its compatibility with the matrix were summarized. The degradation of PFs in the alkaline matrix and solution, drying and wetting cycle conditions, and high-temperature conditions were reviewed. Finally, some paths to improve the alkaline degradation of PF reinforcement in the alkaline matrix were proposed.

Effect of Wet-Dry Cycling on Properties of Natural-Cellulose-Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymers: A Short Review.

To study the long-term properties of cement-based and geopolymer materials exposed to outdoor environments, wet-dry cycles are usually used to accelerate their aging. The wet-dry cycling can simulate the effects of environmental factors on the long-term properties of the composites under natural conditions. Nowadays, the long-term properties of geopolymer materials are studied increasingly deeply. Unlike cement-based materials, geopolymers have better long-term properties due to their high early strength, fast hardening rate, and wide range of raw material sources. At the same time, natural cellulose fibers (NCFs) have the characteristics of abundant raw materials, low price, low carbon, and environmental protection. The use of NCFs as reinforcements of geopolymer matrix materials meets the requirements of sustainable development. In this paper, the types and properties of NCFs commonly used for geopolymer reinforcement and the polymerization mechanism of geopolymer matrix materials are summarized. By analyzing the properties of natural-cellulose-fiber-reinforced geopolymers (NCFRGs) under non-wet-dry cycles and NCFRGs under wet-dry cycles, the factors affecting the long-term properties of NCFRGs under wet-dry cycles are identified. Meanwhile, the degradation mechanism and mechanical properties of NCFRG composites after wet-dry cycles are analyzed. In addition, the relationship between the properties of composites and the change of microstructure of fiber degradation is further analyzed according to the results of microscopic analysis. Finally, the effects of wet-dry cycles on the properties of fibers and geopolymers are obtained.

Effect of Plant Fiber on Early Properties of Geopolymer.

Geopolymer (GP) is environmentally friendly, has good mechanical properties and long-term workability, and has broad application prospects. However, due to the poor tensile strength and toughness of GPs, they are sensitive to microcracks, which limits their application in engineering. Fiber can be added to GPs to limit the growth of cracks and enhance the toughness of the GP. Plant fiber (PF) is cheap, easy to obtain, and abundant in source, which can be added to GP to improve the properties of composites. This paper reviews recent studies on the early properties of plant fiber-reinforced geopolymers (PFRGs). In this manuscript, the properties of PFs commonly used for GP reinforcements are summarized. The early properties of PFRGs were reviewed, including the rheological properties of fresh GPs, the early strength of PFRGs, and the early shrinkage and deformation properties of PFRGs. At the same time, the action mechanism and influencing factors of PFRGs are also introduced. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the early properties of PFRGs, the adverse effects of PFs on the early properties of GPs and the solutions were summarized.

Ultrasensitive sandwich-typed electrochemical immunoassay for detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen based on highly branched PtCo nanocrystals and dendritic mesoporous SiO2@AuPt nanoparticles.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is one of the common squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in women, which usually works as a tumor biomarker for cervical cancer in diagnostic applications. Herein, bimetallic PtCo highly branched nanocrystals (PtCo BNCs) acted as electrode substrates to construct sandwich-typed electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of SCCA, by using dendritic mesoporous SiO2@AuPt nanoparticles (DM-SiO2@AuPt NPs) to adsorb electroactive thionine (Thi) as a signal label. The PtCo BNCs enlarged the loading of the primary antibody (Ab1), showing effective improvement in conductivity and sensitivity. The DM-SiO2 had abundant pores to incorporate more Thi, on which the decorated AuPt NPs created a great number of active sites to immobilize the secondary antibodies (Ab2), thereby obviously amplifying the detection signals. The prepared sensor exhibited a broader linear range (0.001-120 ng mL-1) and a lower detection limit (0.33 pg mL-1, S/N = 3), combined with high reproducibility, a low relative standard deviation (below 2.5%) and acceptable recovery (from 98.5 to 110.0%) even in diluted human serum samples. This research provides a substantial platform for clinical diagnosis of SCCA in practice.

Durability of Cellulosic-Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymers: A Review.

Geopolymers have high early strength, fast hardening speed and wide sources of raw materials, and have good durability properties such as high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. On the other hand, there are abundant sources of plant or cellulose fibers, and it has the advantages of having a low cost, a light weight, strong adhesion and biodegradability. In this context, the geopolymer sector is considering cellulose fibers as a sustainable reinforcement for developing composites. Cellulosic-fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites have broad development prospects. This paper presents a review of the literature research on the durability of cellulosic-fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites in recent years. In this paper, the typical properties of cellulose fibers are summarized, and the polymerization mechanism of geopolymers is briefly discussed. The factors influencing the durability of cellulosic-fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites were summarized and analyzed, including the degradation of fibers in a geopolymer matrix, the toughness of fiber against matrix cracking, the acid resistance, and resistance to chloride ion penetration, high temperature resistance, etc. Finally, the influence of nanomaterials on the properties of geopolymer composites and the chemical modification of fibers are analyzed, and the research on cellulosic-fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites is summarized.

Low Dose of Emodin Inhibits Hypercholesterolemia in a Rat Model of High Cholesterol.

BACKGROUND Emodin has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, but few studies have tried to understand the mechanism of its anti-hypercholesterolemic effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS To delineate the underlying pathways, high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administrated emodin or the lipid-lowering medicine simvastatin. Emodin was administered at 10, 30, or 100 mg/kg, while simvastatin was administered at 10 mg/kg. Parameters measured included lipid profiles (serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aorta endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in response to acetylcholine, and nitric oxide (NO) production. RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to evaluate aortic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS), and hepatic LDL receptor (LDLR). Indices of liver and serum oxidation were also measured. RESULTS The atherogenic index was increased by the HCD but significantly reduced in all treatment groups. The HCD-fed experimental group treated with emodin at 10 mg/kg had significantly lower serum total-C and LDL-C and improved aorta vasorelaxation and enhanced NO production. Also, emodin significantly attenuated the lipid profiles and restored endothelial function, as reflected by upregulated expression of hepatic LDLR and p-eNOS, respectively. Furthermore, emodin at 10 mg/kg significantly enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, lowered the malondialdehyde level in both liver and serum, and enhanced catalase activity in serum. CONCLUSIONS The ability of emodin to inhibit hypercholesterolemia in HCD-fed rats was associated with lower serum total-C and LDL-C, restoration of aortic endothelial function, and improved antioxidant capacity. Low-dose emodin showed better protection of aortic endothelium and better antioxidant activity than did higher doses.

Icariside II inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and amyloid production in rat astrocytes by regulating IKK/IκB/NF-κB/BACE1 signaling pathway.

ß-amyloid (Aß) is one of the inducing factors of astrocytes activation and neuroinflammation, and it is also a crucial factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Icariside II (ICS II) is an active component isolated from a traditional Chinese herb Epimedium, which has shown to attnuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation through regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway. In this study we investigated the effects of ICS II on LPS-induced astrocytes activation and Aß accumulation. Primary rat astrocytes were pretreated with ICS II (5, 10, and 20 µM) or dexamethasone (DXMS, 1 µM) for 1 h, thereafter, treated with LPS for another 24 h. We found that ICS II pretreatment dose dependently mitigated the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the astrocytes. Moreover, ICS II not only exerted the inhibitory effect on LPS-induced IκB-α degradation and NF-κB activation, but also decreased the levels of Aß1-40, Aß1-42, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and beta secretase 1 (BACE1) in the astrocytes. Interestingly, molecular docking revealed that ICS II might directly bind to BACE1. It is concluded that ICS II has potential value as a new therapeutic agent to treat neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as AD.

Development and comparison of population pharmacokinetic models of vancomycin in neurosurgical patients based on two different renal function markers.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES: Some previous studies have indicated that serum cystatin C (Cys C) is a better marker than serum creatinine (SCR) for assessing the glomerular filtering rate (GFR). However, in almost all population pharmacokinetic models of vancomycin, the GFR is usually estimated from SCR. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the GFR estimated from SCR (sGFR) with the GFR estimated from Cys C (cGFR) and investigate which one can describe the characteristics of vancomycin population pharmacokinetics better in Chinese neurosurgical adult patients. METHODS: Patients from the Neurosurgery Department aged ≥18 years were enrolled retrospectively. Among these patients, the data from 222 patients were used to establish two population pharmacokinetic models based on sGFR and cGFR, separately. The data from another 95 patients were used for the external validation of these two models. Non-linear mixed-effect modelling (NONMEM) 7.4.3 was used for the population pharmacokinetic analysis. RESULTS: We developed two one-compartment models with first-order absorption based on Cys C and SCR, separately. In the Cys C model, age, body weight and cGFR were significant covariates on the clearance rate (CL) of vancomycin (typical value, 6.4 L/hour). In the SCR model, age and sGFR were significant covariates on the CL (typical value, 6.46 L/hour). The external validation results showed that the predictive performance of the two models was similar. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: In this study, the predictive performance of two models was similar in neurosurgical patients. We did not find a significant improvement in the predictive performance of the model when GFR was estimated from Cys C.

Vancomycin population pharmacokinetics and dosing recommendations in haematologic malignancy with augmented renal clearance children.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES: Augmented renal clearance (ARC) is characterized by enhanced renal clearance, which leads to insufficient vancomycin exposure and treatment failure. In haematologic malignancy patients, determination of optimal vancomycin dosage is essential because of high stake of life-threatening bacterial infection and increased clearance. The aim of this study was to describe vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters in haematologic malignancy with augmented renal clearance children and define the appropriate dosing regimen to achieve an AUC0-24h /MIC ≥400. METHODS: Hematologic malignancy with ARC children was enrolled in this retrospective study. The vancomycin PPK model was established by non-linear mixed-effects modelling programme. Goodness-of-fit (GOF) plots, non-parametric bootstrap, normalized prediction distribution error (NPDE) and visual predictive checks (VPCs) were carried out for internal evaluation of the final model. Monte Carlo simulation method was used to stimulate the optimal dosage regimens. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients with 106 samples were included. A one-compartment model with first-order elimination was developed, and the final model was as follows: CL (L/h) = 6.32×（WT/70）0.75  × e0.0467 ; V(L) = 39.6×(WT/70), where WT denotes weight (kg). The internal validation of the model showed a good prediction performance. Monte Carlo simulation results showed that when MIC was 0.5 mg/L or 1 mg/L, the recommended doses to achieve a target of AUC0-24h /MIC ≥400 were 25 to 40 and 50 to 75 mg/kg/d, respectively. With decreasing weight, the recommended dosage to achieve an AUC0-24h /MIC ≥400 increased. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: A one-compartment vancomycin PPK model was established in haematologic malignancy with augmented renal clearance children with weight with allometric scaling as a significant covariate. When MIC was 1 mg/L, current recommended paediatric dosages were insufficient in haematologic malignancy with augmented renal clearance children and should be increased.

Physiological and transcriptomic analysis highlight key metabolic pathways in relation to drought tolerance in Rhododendron delavayi.

Rhododendron delavayi is an alpine evergreen ornamental plant, but water shortage limits its growth and development in urban gardens. However, the adaptive mechanism of alpine evergreen rhododendrons to drought remains unclear. Here, a water control experiment was conducted to study the physiological and transcriptomic response of R. delavayi to drought. The drought treatment for 9 days decreased photosynthetic rate, induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and damaged chloroplast ultrastructure of R. delavayi. However, the photosynthetic rate quickly recovered to the level before treatment when the plants were re-watered. De novo assembly of RNA-Seq data generated 86,855 unigenes with an average length of 1870 bp. A total of 22,728 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the control and drought plants. The expression of most DEGs related to photosynthesis were down-regulated during drought stress, and were up-regulated when the plants were re-watered, including the DEGs encoding subunits of light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex, photosystem II and photosystem I reaction center pigment-protein complexes, and photosynthetic electron transport. The expressions of many DEGs related to signal transduction, flavonoid biosynthesis and antioxidant activity were also significantly affected by drought stress. The results indicated that the response of R. delavayi to drought involved multiple physiological processes and metabolic pathways. Photosynthetic adjustment, ROS-scavenging system, abscisic acid and brassinosteroid signal transduction pathway may play important roles to improve drought tolerance of R. delavayi. Our findings provided valuable information for understanding the mechanisms of drought tolerance employed by Rhododendron species.

[Pharmacological effect of combined administration of natures, tastes and components of Chinese herbal compounds].

The combined administration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aims at comprehensive adjustment of body based on the theory of TCM and the theory of Chinese medicine property. The natures and tastes of TCM are the core of the theory of TCM property. The combined administration of natures and tastes of TCM is one of the important theories of prescription compatibility. The objective of study on the combined administration of natures and tastes of prescriptions according to symptoms of disease is to clarify the compatibility mechanism of prescriptions. The study on the compound compatibility of TCM under the guidance of theory of TCM focuses on the relationship between the composition, dosage and compatibility of TCM by using modern high-tech means. It demonstrates the effective combination of TCM theory and modern technology, and the inheritance and innovation of TCM theory. The study of the effect and mechanism of compatibility of natures and tastes of TCM under the guidance of TCM theory is helpful for the analysis of the compatibility effect and mechanism of TCM based on the pharmacological effect of natures and tastes of TCM. The correlation between the pharmacological effect of natures and tastes of TCM and the pharmacological effect of components were studied by modern informatics, which is beneficial to promote the development of theory of TCM compound. The study of the compatibility between natures, tastes and component of TCM shall pay attention to the combination of pharmacological effects of natures, tastes and component of TCM, so as to define the scientific connotation of the compatibility of TCM, and make full use of the characteristics and advantages of TCM. The methods and pharmacological effects of the combined administration of TCM compounds are reviewed to provide the theoretical basis for the development of new drugs and clinical application.

Meiotic maturation and developmental capability of ovine oocytes at germinal vesicle stage following vitrification using different cryodevices.

In order to assess effects of vitrification on ovine oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, the conventional plastic straw (CS), the open-pulled straw (OPS), and Cryoloop were used to vitrify ovine oocytes. Oocytes were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Control; (2) Oocytes exposed to vitrification and dilution solutions without any cryopreservation (toxicity); (3) Oocytes vitrified using CS (CS); (4) Oocytes vitrified using OPS (OPS), and (5) Oocytes vitrified using Cryoloop (Cryoloop). The viability, cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation after in vitro maturation (IVM), and developmental capability of vitrified oocytes following parthenogenetic activation (PA) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) were assessed. The pretreatment in the vitrification and dilution solutions without any freezing or thawing did not adversely influence oocytes. The viability of vitrified oocytes were significantly declined compared to unfrozen oocytes (P < 0.05). The viability of oocytes vitrified using open-pulled straws or Cryoloop was significantly higher than that in the CS group (P < 0.05). After IVM, the percentage of oocytes reaching to the metaphase II (MII) stage was significantly higher with Cryoloop and OPS following by CS. However, the in vitro maturing percentage of vitrified oocytes was significantly less than that of unfrozen oocytes (P < 0.05). After PA, the developmental capability of vitrified oocytes was significantly decreased compared to unfrozen oocytes. The cleavage rate of oocytes vitrified using conventional plastic straws was significantly less than those of the other freezing groups (P < 0.05). The cleaving capability of oocytes vitrified using Cryoloop was significantly increased compared to the OPS group. However, there was no significant difference existing amongst the freezing groups as concerning the blastocyst rate. Following IVF, the developmental capability of vitrified oocytes was severely damaged compared to that of unfrozen oocytes. The cleavage rate of oocytes vitrified with Cryoloop was similar to that of oocytes vitrified with open-pulled straws. However, the cleavage rate of vitrified oocytes in the CS group was significantly less than that in the OPS or Cryoloop group (P < 0.05). None of oocytes vitrified using conventional plastic straw developed to the blastocyst stage following IVF. There was no significant difference existing between OPS and Cryoloop with respect to the blastocyst rate. After staining with cFDA and PI, cumulus cells surrounding oocytes were partly damaged by vitrification and thawing while the membrane of vitrified oocyte still remained intact. In conclusion, vitrification can seriously damage ovine immature oocytes and cumulus cells surrounding oocytes, which may subsequently affect their developmental capability. Finally, this study further proves that increasing the freezing and thawing velocity benefits survival of vitrified immature oocytes.

Effects of Hoechst33342 staining on the viability and flow cytometric sex-sorting of frozen-thawed ram sperm.

Cytometric sorting of frozen-thawed sperm can overcome difficulties caused by the unavailability of sorting facilities on farms where semen is collected from male livestock. In order to optimize the cytometric sex-sorting procedure, effects of Hoechst33342 staining on the viability and cytometric sorting efficiency of frozen-thawed ram sperm were evaluated. The frozen-thawed sperm were stained with Hoechst33342 at various dye concentrations (80 µM, 120 µM, 160 µM, 200 µM, 240 µM, or 320 µM) for 45 min to evaluate effects of dye dose. The frozen-thawed sperm were stained with 160 µM Hoechst33342 for various durations (0 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 75 min, or 90 min) to evaluate effects of staining duration. Sperm motility and moving velocity were analyzed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system (CASAS). Acrosome status, membrane integrity, and distribution of phosphatidylserine (PS) in Hoechst33342-stained sperm were analyzed using flow cytometry after staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled lectin from pisum sativum (FITC-PSA), Annexin V, or propidium iodide (PI). The fertility of Hoechst33342-stained sperm was analyzed by in vitro fertilization (IVF). A high-speed cell sorter was used to evaluate effects of Hoechst33342 staining on cytometric sex-sorting of frozen-thawed sperm. The motility, moving velocity, membrane integrity, and PS distribution of Hoechst33342-stained sperm were significantly different from that of immediately thawed sperm (P<0.05). However, there is no significant difference existing among the Hoechst33342-stained groups with respect to the above evaluated parameters. Additionally, along with the staining durations, the adverse effects of the staining procedure on sperm showed a steady increase. However, Hoechst33342 staining did not damage acrosome and in vitro fertilizing capability of frozen-thawed ram sperm. Results of cytometric sorting indicated that frozen-thawed sperm can be efficiently sorted into two sperm populations with X and Y chromosome when the Hoechst33342 concentration was 160 µM. Moreover, when the staining duration was equal to or longer than 45 min, the frozen-thawed sperm can be successfully sorted in the presence of 160µM Hoechst33342. In conclusion, Hoechst33342 staining can detrimentally influence viability of frozen-thawed ram sperm except acrosome and in vitro fertilizing capability. Accordingly, the minimum values of Hoechst33342 concentration and staining duration can be set at 160 µM and 45 min respectively. However, the maximum values of Hoechst33342 concentration and staining duration were not determined based on the current study. Further research on how to reduce injuries caused by freezing, thawing, and Hoechst33342 staining on frozen-thawed ram sperm is needed.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in children with nephrotic syndrome: a case report.

REVERSIBLE posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a rare neurological syndrome characterized by headache, altered mental status, seizures, and visual disturbance, associated with reversible white matter changes.1 It has been commonly reported in patients with severe hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Here we report a case with nephrotic syndrome complicated by RPLS.

Dendritic quinary PtRhMoCoFe high-entropy alloy as a robust immunosensing nanoplatform for ultrasensitive detection of biomarker.

Recently, high-entropy alloys have superior physicochemical properties as compared to conventional alloys for their glamorous "cocktail effect". Nevertheless, they are scarcely applied to electrochemical immunoassays until now. Herein, uniform PtRhMoCoFe high-entropy alloyed nanodendrites (HEANDs) were synthesized by a wet-chemical co-reduction method, where glucose and oleylamine behaved as the co-reducing agents. Then, a series of characterizations were conducted to illustrate the synergistic effect among multiple metals and fascinating structural characteristics of PtRhMoCoFe HEANDs. The obtained high-entropy alloy was adopted to build a electrochemical label-free biosensor for ultrasensitive bioassay of biomarker cTnI. In the optimized analytical system, the resultant sensor exhibited a dynamic linear range of 0.0001-200 ng mL-1 and a low detection limit of 0.0095 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3). Eventually, this sensing platform was further explored in serum samples with satisfied recovery (102.0 %). This research renders some constructive insights for synthesis of high-entropy alloys and their expanded applications in bioassays and bio-devices.

Establishment and cryopreservation of a skin fibroblast cell line derived from Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep in the presence of synthetic ice blocker.

In this study, the fibroblasts cell line derived from ear marginal tissue of Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep was successfully established using the primary explants technique and cryopreservation technology. Additionally, the protective effect of synthetic ice blocker (SIB) including 1, 3-cyclohexanediol (1, 3-CHD) and 1, 4-cyclohexanediol (1, 4-CHD) on frozen fibroblast cells was also assessed and compared. Propidium iodide (PI) was used to stain the dead cells following cryopreservation and thawing. The results showed that compared with Medium 199 (M199) and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium : Nutrient Mixture F-12 (1 : 1) Mixture (DMEM/F12), Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) may be more suitable for the primary culture of fibroblast cells of Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep. The growth curve of cells is a typical "S" type. After subculture for four days, the cells entered the plateau phase and began to degenerate. Biological analysis showed that the population doubling time (PDT) for subculturing fibroblast cells was approximately 26h. The Karyotyping data indicated that the percentage of fibroblast cells with normal chromosome number 2n = 54 was over 90% following subculture for 10 passages. Moreover, the tests for bacteria, fungi, viruses and mycoplasma were negative. After serial subculture for 5 generations, the fibroblast cells were cryopreserved in the presence or absence of 1, 3-CHD or 1, 4-CHD. The data indicated that with increase of the synthetic ice blocker concentrations, the viability of frozen-thawed fibroblast cells was firstly increased and then decreased. When the concentration of 1, 3-CHD or 1, 4-CHD was 50 mM, the viable percentage of frozen-thawed fibroblast cells was 91.93% +/- 2.24% and 94.13% +/- 0.55% respectively and significantly higher than that of the cells frozen in the absence of synthetic ice blockers (88.10% +/- 1.49%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the skin fibroblast cell line of Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep was firstly established in this study. Additionally, the presence of synthetic ice blocker can increase the viability of frozen-thawed sheep fibroblast cell line.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of grafting to improve chilling tolerance of cucumber.

Grafting with pumpkin as rootstock could improve chilling tolerance of cucumber; however, the underlying mechanism of grafting-induced chilling tolerance remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the difference of physiological and transcriptional level between own-rooted (Cs/Cs) and hetero-grafted (Cs/Cm) cucumber seedlings under chilling stress. The results showed that grafting with pumpkin significantly alleviated the chilling injury as evidenced by slightly symptoms, lower contents of electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anion (O2-) and higher relative water content in Cs/Cm seedlings compared with Cs/Cs seedlings under chilling stress. RNA-seq data showed that grafting induced more DGEs at 8 °C/5 °C compared with 25 °C/18 °C. In accordance with the increase of the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX), grafting upregulated the expression of the regulated redox-related genes such as GST, SOD, and APX. Moreover, grafting increased the expression of genes participated in central carbon metabolism to promote the conversion and decomposition of sugar, which provided more energy for the growth of Cs/Cm seedlings under chilling stress. In addition, grafting regulated the genes involved in the intracellular signal transduction pathways such as calcium signal (CAML, CML, and CDPK) and inositol phospholipid signal (PLC), as well as changed the gene expression of plant hormone signal transduction pathways (ARF, GAI, ABF, and PYR/PYL). These results provide a physiological and transcriptional basis for the molecular mechanism of grafting-induced chilling tolerance of cucumber seedlings.

Effects of an Omaha System-based follow-up regimen on self-care and quality of life in gastrointestinal surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, a variety of new nursing methods and routine nursing have been widely used in the nursing of gastrointestinal surgery patients. AIM: To investigate the effect of follow-up protocol based on the Omaha System on self-care ability and quality of life of gastrointestinal surgery patients. METHODS: A total of 128 patients with inflammatory bowel disease in gastrointestinal surgery in gastrointestinal surgery from March 2019 to August 2021 were divided into A (n = 64) and B (n = 64) groups according to different nursing methods. The group A received a follow-up program Omaha System-based intervention of the group B, whereas the group B received the routine nursing intervention. Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, Crohn's and Colitis Knowledge Score (CCKNOW), inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), Exercise of Self-nursing Agency Scale (ESCA), The Modified Mayo Endoscopic Score, and Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Following the intervention, the group A were facing score significantly increased than group B, while the avoidance and yield scores dropped below of group B (all P < 0.05); in group A, the level of health knowledge, personal care abilities, self-perception, self-awareness score and ESCA total score were more outstanding than group B (all P < 0.05); in group A the frequency of defecation, hematochezia, endoscopic performance, the total evaluation score by physicians and the disease activity were lower than group B (all P < 0.05); in the group A, the total scores of knowledge in general, diet, drug, and complication and CCKNOW were higher than group B (all P < 0.05); in group A, the necessity of taking medicine, score of medicine concern and over-all score of BMQ were more significant than group B (all P < 0.05); at last in the group A, the scores of systemic and intestinal symptoms, social and emotional function, and IBDQ in the group A were higher than group B (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For gastrointestinal surgery patients, the Omaha System-based sequel protocol can improve disease awareness and intervention compliance, help them to face the disease positively, reduce disease activity, and improve patients' self-nursing ability and quality of life.