Du-moxibustion ameliorates depression-like behavior and neuroinflammation in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mice.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation is involved in the advancement of depression. Du-moxibustion can treat depression. Here, we explored whether Du-moxibustion could alleviate neuroglia-associated neuro-inflammatory process in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were distributed into five groups. Except for the CON group, other four groups underwent CUMS for four consecutive weeks, and Du-moxibustion was given simultaneously after modeling. Behavioral tests were then carried out. Additionally, Western blot was conducted to measure the relative expression levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Immunofluorescence was employed to evaluate the positive cells of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Furthermore, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed using an ELISA assay. RESULTS: We found that CUMS induced depression-like behaviors, such as reduced sucrose preference ratio, decreased locomotor and exploratory activity, decreased the time in open arms and prolonged immobility. Furthermore, versus the CON group, the expression of HMGB1, TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, positive cells of Iba-1, IL-1ß and TNF-α were increased but positive cells of GFAP were decreased in CUMS group. However, the detrimental effects were ameliorated by treatment with CUMS+FLU and CUMS+DM. LIMITATIONS: A shortage of this study is that only CUMS model of depression were used, while other depression model were not included. CONCLUSIONS: Du-moxibustion alleviates depression-like behaviors in CUMS mice mainly by reducing neuroinflammation, which offers novel insights into the potential treatment of depression.

Global biomarker trends in Parkinson's disease research: A bibliometric analysis.

As the second most common neurodegenerative disease globally, Parkinson's disease (PD) affects millions of people worldwide. In recent years, the scientific publications related to PD biomarker research have exploded, reflecting the growing interest in unraveling the complex pathophysiology of PD. In this study, we aim to use various bibliometric tools to identify key scientific concepts, detect emerging trends, and analyze the global trends and development of PD biomarker research.The research encompasses various stages of biomarker development, including exploration, identification, and multi-modal research. MOVEMENT DISORDERS emerged as the leading journal in terms of publications and citations. Key authors such as Mollenhauer and Salem were identified, while the University of Pennsylvania and USA stood out in collaboration and research output. NEUROSCIENCES emerged as the most important research direction. Key biomarker categories include α-synuclein-related markers, neurotransmitter-related markers, inflammation and immune system-related markers, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function-related markers, and brain imaging-related markers. Furthermore, future trends in PD biomarker research focus on exosomes and plasma biomarkers, miRNA, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, machine learning applications, and animal models of PD. These trends contribute to early diagnosis, disease progression monitoring, and understanding the pathological mechanisms of PD.

Effect of medical choice and health behavior on the health status for patients with subluxation of the sacroiliac joint.

The sacroiliac joint is an important part of human life behavior and daily activities. With the increase in people's lives and work pressure and the change of travel mode, the incidence rate of sacroiliac joint subluxation is getting higher and higher. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between medical choice, health behavior, and health status of patients with sacroiliac joint subluxation and put forward feasible suggestions for promoting the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. The EuroQoL 5 Dimensions 5 Levels health index survey scale was selected to investigate the health status of patients with sacroiliac joint subluxation. T test and analysis of variance were used for univariate analysis of medical choice and health behavior of patients with sacroiliac subluxation, and ordinary least squares was used for multivariate analysis. The elderly patients with subluxation of sacroiliac joint are in poor health. The health status of patients who chose to seek medical treatment for disease diagnosis and prescription was significantly worse. Patients with subluxation of sacroiliac joint with regular defecation have better health status. Patients who travel by bike or bus have worse health. The health status of those who sit still for more than 1 hour a day is significantly better. The health status of patients with sacroiliac subluxation is closely related to their choice of medical treatment and health behavior. It is suggested that rehabilitation therapy such as acupuncture and manipulation should be selected for intervention. Good health behaviors such as abstinence and regular defecation should be shaped. More attention should be paid to the health status of women at risk.

Du-Moxibustion in a Mouse Model of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressively worsening and disabling form of arthritis that primarily affects the axial skeleton. This disease mainly involves the spine and the sacroiliac joint. Fusion of the spine and the sacroiliac joint may occur in the later stage of the disease, resulting in spinal stiffness and kyphosis, as well as difficulty in walking, which seriously affects the quality of work and daily living activities and imposes a heavy burden on the patient, the family, and society. Increasing attention has been paid to non-pharmacotherapy as an alternative therapy for AS. Moxibustion is an ancient therapeutic technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Du-moxibustion therapy, a unique and innovative external treatment developed on the basis of ordinary moxibustion, has a definite therapeutic effect on AS. Du-moxibustion skillfully combines the compatible techniques of TCM to integrate meridians, acupoints, Chinese herbal medicine, and moxibustion. This paper describes the operation procedures and precautions to be taken during Du-moxibustion in experimental mice in detail to provide an experimental basis for the study of the mechanism of Du-moxibustion in the treatment of AS.

Frontiers in chronic fatigue syndrome research: An analysis of the top 100 most influential articles in the field.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex constellation of symptoms that significantly reduces the quality of life among affected individuals and increases public health expenditures. We conducted a search on the Web of Science Core Collection database and selected the top 100 cited articles in the field of CFS. Several literature analysis tools, including CiteSpace 6.1.R6, VOSviewer 1.6.19, and Scimago Graphica 1.0.30, were utilized to integrate the most influential research papers and academic journals in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the CFS field. The top 100 highly-cited publications were published in 67 reputable journals, with contributions from 250 institutions across 26 countries/regions involved in CFS research. This demonstrates the extensive attention and coverage of CFS research by high-quality academic journals and institutions, highlighting the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of CFS studies. The journal with the highest publication volume and total citations was Lancet. The top 5 co-occurring keywords were chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive behavior therapy, epidemiology, definition, and disorders, indicating the ongoing attention researchers have devoted to the diagnostic criteria and clinical studies of CFS. Cluster analysis results suggested that primary care, infectious retrovirus, gene expression, and metabolomics may become the focal points and trends in future CFS research. The prospective research directions in this field include the search for biological markers, with a particular focus on immunology; the advancement of diagnostic techniques; the screening of risk genes associated with CFS; and the conduct of epidemiological investigations.

Factors associated with fertility intention among women with systemic lupus erythematosus in China: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the status and influencing factors of fertility intention in women of childbearing age with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 158 SLE patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from February 2021 to February 2022 were selected for a cross-sectional study. The dependent variable in this study was the fertility intention of lupus women of childbearing age, so the questionnaire was selected: "In view of your disease, do you plan to have children? Yes/no" as the measurement statement. Lupus patients were divided into fertility intention groups and non-fertility intention groups. The questionnaire survey comprises following scales: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), and others. Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, and binary logistic regression were used for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that 20.9% of lupus patients in this study had a fertility intention. The fertility intention was associated with age, reproductive history, reproductive concerns, sexual distress, fatigue, family function, social support, depression, and sleep. Binary logistic regression showed that physical fatigue (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.048-12.07) and personal health (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.065-5.853) had significant predictors of fertility intention. CONCLUSION: Our study identified a lower fertility intention in SLE patients who had reproductive concerns, sexual distress, family dysfunction, and fatigue. We encourage healthcare institutions to provide counseling services to all the SLE patients who have fertility intention and focus more on those who have requirements for fertility.

Global trends and research status in ankylosing spondylitis clinical trials: a bibliometric analysis of the last 20 years.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic and autoimmune disease associated with a chronic inflammatory response, mainly characterized by pain, stiffness, or limited mobility of the spine and sacroiliac joints. Severe symptoms can lead to joint deformity, destruction, and even lifelong disability, causing a serious burden on families and society as a whole. A large number of clinical studies have been published on AS over the past 20 years. This study aimed to summarize the current research status and global trends relating to AS clinical trials through a bibliometric analysis. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched for publications related to AS clinical trials published between January 2003 and June 2023. Bibliometric analysis and web visualization were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and a bibliometric online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com), which included the number of publications, citations, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Results: 1,212 articles published in 201 journals from 65 countries were included in this study. The number of publications related to AS clinical trials is increasing annually. The United States and the Free University of Berlin, the countries and institutions, respectively, that have published the most articles on AS, have made outstanding contributions to this field. The author with the most published papers and co-citations over the period covered by the study was Desiree Van Der Heijde. The journal with the most published and cited articles was Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The keywords: "double-blind," "rheumatoid arthritis," "efficacy," "placebo-controlled trial," "infliximab," "etanercept," "psoriatic arthritis" and "therapy" represent the current research hotspots regarding AS. Discussion: This is the first study to perform a bibliometric analysis and visualization of AS clinical trial publications, providing a reliable research focus and direction for clinicians. Future studies in the field of AS clinical trials should focus on placebo-controlled trials of targeted therapeutic drugs.

Treatment of COVID-19 anxiety by auricular points: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, a series of acute, atypical respiratory diseases was identified in Wuhan, China. The source of the illnesses was attributed to a novel coronavirus, named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the subsequent disease it causes was named the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks has shown that infected patients are at risk for developing psychiatric and mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. METHODS: According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials on auricular points for anxiety in patients with coronavirus 2019 will be obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, regardless of publication date or language. Studies will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool will be used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The network meta-analysis will be performed with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method and carried out with Stata 14.2 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software. Ultimately, the quality of the evidence obtained from the results will be evaluated. RESULTS: This study will evaluate whether auricular points can effectively treat anxiety in patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence for whether auricular points is beneficial to the treatment of anxiety in patients with COVID-19. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022302649.

Reproductive concerns and contributing factors in women of childbearing age with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Reproductive concerns are common in women of childbearing age with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with inadequate disclosure. This study aimed to investigate the contributing factors of reproductive concerns and to evaluate their impact on health-related quality of life. METHODS: One hundred eighty women of childbearing age with SLE were enrolled in this cross-sectional study in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from March 2021 to December 2021. A series of questionnaires were conducted: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), Family Assessment Device (APGAR), the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and the Chinese version of Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC). Independent t test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson/Spearman, and multiple linear stepwise regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The results indicated that female SLE patients were more concerned about the child's health and personal health than becoming pregnant, fertility potential, partner disclose and acceptance; SLE patients with the characteristics of living in rural residence, having no reproductive history, fearing unexpected pregnancy, sexual distress, and depression showed more serious fertility concerns. Meanwhile, most female SLE patients adopted active confrontation when facing reproductive concerns, and these patients were significantly lower in the dimension score of mental related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that female SLE patients should be paid more attention to their fertility concerns and effective intervention measures should be carried out to relieve their reproductive concerns, so as to improve their long-term quality of life if their disease condition permits.

Moxibustion for anorexia in COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: As the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread over the world, the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of COVID-19 an international public health emergency. Besides typical respiratory symptoms and signs of COVID-19, digestive symptoms and liver injury have been frequently reported during the course of the disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of anorexia in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials on moxibustion therapies for C19-A will be obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, regardless of publication date or language. Studies will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool will be used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The network meta-analysis will be performed with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method and carried out with Stata 14.2 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software. Ultimately, the quality of the evidence obtained from the results will be evaluated. RESULTS: This study will evaluate whether moxibustion therapy can effectively treat anorexia in patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence for whether moxibustion therapy is beneficial to the treatment of anorexia in patients with COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022302499.

[Professor YANG Ji-guo's experience in treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases with acupuncture combined with umbilicus moxibustion].

Professor YANG Ji-guo's clinical experience in treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases was summerized. Professor YANG Ji-guo believes that this disease is caused by the deficiency of six fu organs. Dysfunction of six fu organs in descending transportation is the basic pathogenesis. The principle of acupoint selection includes benefiting gastrointestinal functions, unblocking and purging six fu, soothing liver qi and calming down the mind. In treatment, acupuncture is combined with umbilicus moxibustion. In acupuncture, the deqi promoting technique by rotating and trembling needle is adopted. Focusing on the deficiency of six fu organs, umbilicus moxibustion is adopted to benefit the spleen and stomach and harmonize the functions of six fu organs for both biao (symptoms) and ben (root cause).

Fire needle for recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), are common inflammatory lesions of the oral mucous, usually round or ovoid, circumscribed by erythematous haloes with a yellow-grey floor and mostly painful. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle in the treatment of RAS. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched by 2 reviewers from the inception until December 2021. The original study that randomized control trials of fire needle for RAS will be selected and is not limited by country or language. In addition, researches in progress, the reference lists and the citation lists of identified publications will be retrieved similarly. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of the quality will be performed independently by 2 reviewers who have been trained prior to data extraction. A meta-analysis will be conducted if the quantity and quality of the original studies included are satisfactory; otherwise, a descriptive analysis will be conducted. Review Manager V5.4 software will be using for data synthesis and assessment of the risk of bias according to Cochrane Handbook. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive review of current evidence for the treatment of fire needle on RAS. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide a judging basis that whether the treatment of RAS with fire needle is effective. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2021120118.

Differentially Expressed Hepatic Genes Revealed by Transcriptomics in Pigs with Different Liver Lipid Contents.

The liver is the center for uptake, synthesis, packaging, and secretion of lipids and lipoproteins. The research on lipid metabolism in pigs is limited. The objective of the present study is to identify the genes related to lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in pigs by using transcriptomic analysis. Liver segments were collected from 60 Jinhua pigs for the determination of liver lipid content. The 7 pigs with the highest and lowest liver lipid content were set as group H and group L, respectively. Liver segments and serum samples were collected from each pig of the H and L groups for RNA sequencing and the determination of triglycerides (TG) content and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) content, respectively. The HDL content in the serum of pigs in the H group was significantly higher than the L group (P < 0.05). From transcriptomic sequencing, 6162 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which 2962 were upregulated and 3200 downregulated genes with the increase in the liver content of Jinhua pigs. After GO enrichment and KEGG analyses, lipid modification, cellular lipid metabolic process, cholesterol biosynthetic process, fatty acid metabolic process, oxidoreduction coenzyme metabolic process, oxidoreductase activity, acting on CH-OH group of donors, response to oxidative stress, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sphingolipid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways were involved in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in Jinhua pigs. For further validation, we selected 10 DEGs including 7 upregulated genes (APOE, APOA1, APOC3, LCAT, CYP2E1, GPX1, and ROMO1) and 4 downregulated genes (PPARA, PPARGC1A, and TXNIP) for RT-qPCR verification. To validate these results in other pig species, we analyzed these 10 DEGs in the liver of Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire pigs. Similar expression patterns of these 10 DEGs were observed. These data would provide an insight to understand the gene functions regulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress and would potentially provide theoretical basis for the development of strategies to modulate lipid metabolism and even control human diabetes and obesity by gene regulations.

The effect of Huoxue Huayu decoction on restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as the most common treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD), has the advantages of simple operation, minimal invasion, rapid reconstruction, and vessels opening. The problem, however, is that many patients develop restenosis within 6 months after PCI. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Huoxue Huayu decoction (HXHYD) is widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases, and its important role as a complementary and alternative therapy for the prevention and treatment of post-PCI restenosis in CHD patients has been extensively reported. However, controversy exists among different studies. Therefore, we collected relevant randomized controlled trials for a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD will be retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Clinical Trial Register. The 2 authors will independently conduct the literature search, literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Data analysis will be performed using STATA 14.0. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. CONCLUSION: This study will provide high-quality, evidence-based medical evidence for the efficacy and safety of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this study. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, and shared on social media platforms. This review would be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or conference presentations. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/PNZSM.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Genes Involved in Growth and Metabolism in Muscovy Ducks.

Muscovy ducks are among the best meat ducks in the world. The objective of this study was to identify genes related to growth metabolism through transcriptome analysis of the ileal tissue of Muscovy ducks. Duck ileum samples with the highest (H group, n = 5) and lowest (L group, n = 5) body weight were selected from two hundred 70-day-old Muscovy ducks for transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing. In the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the H and L groups, a total of 602 DEGs with a fold change no less than 2 were identified, among which 285 were upregulated and 317 were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that glutathione metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and protein digestion and absorption processes played a vital role in regulating growth and metabolism. The results showed that 7 genes related to growth and metabolism, namely, ANPEP, ENPEP, UPP1, SLC2A2, SLC6A19, NME4, and LOC106034733, were significantly expressed in group H, which was consistent with the phenotype results. The validation of these 7 genes using real-time quantitative PCR results indicated that the expression level of ENPEP was significantly different between the H and L groups (P < 0.05). This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the influence of the ileum on growth and metabolism in ducks.

para-Sulfonatocalix[4]arene stabilized gold nanoparticles multilayers interfaced to electrodes through host-guest interaction for sensitive ErbB2 detection.

Nanoparticle (NP) structure, compositing and the nature of the NP-functionalized electrode interface have a strong influence upon electrochemical properties that are critical in applications such as sensing, photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. Existing methods to fabricate NP-functionalized electrodes do not allow or precise control over all these variables, especially the NP-electrode interface, making it difficult to understand and predict how structural changes influence electrode activity and consequently limit the application. To conquer this problem, in this study, we fabricated a stepwise construction of a novel supramolecular stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) multilayer mediated by guest molecules, yielding 3D AuNPs assembly at the electrode interface. para-Sulfonatocalix[4]arene (pSC4), a water soluble macrocyclic synthetic receptor, has been served as a stabilizing ligand for preparation and gaining new insights into pSC4 stabilized gold nanoparticles (pSC4-AuNPs) tethered on the electrode interface through host-guest interaction. We investigated the electrochemical properties of multilayer pSC4-AuNPs modified gold electrode using different core size of AuNPs with varying layer number. The electron transfer ability was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Electrochemical signals are significantly enhanced through the layer-by-layer assembly of pSC4-AuNPs due to its high conductivity and high effective area. With this innovative method, by taking the assay of a tumor marker as an example, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2) was successfully measured with a detection limit of 0.5ng/mL. Taking the advantage of the pSC4-AuNPs multilayer's good biocompatibility, high effective area and high electronic transmission, 3D AuNPs multilayer produced on the electrode interface suggests a portable synthetic pathway for the application into sensitive electrochemical biosensor.

CB[7]-mediated signal amplification approach for sensitive surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy.

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) has received increasing attention because of its unique structure and multiple recognition properties. To improve the sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors, we designed a novel strategy in which caspase-3 serves as the model analyte and CB[7]-modified AuNPs (CB[7]-AuNPs) act as the intermedium. The substrate peptides can be cleaved and replaced with a new N-terminal Phe residue in presence of caspase-3. The CB[7]-AuNPs combine with the N-terminal Phe on the gold chip surface through incorporating the side chain within the nonpolar CB[7] cavity and chelating the N-terminal ammonium group with CB[7] carbonyl oxygen. Then CB[7]-AuNPs integrate with short peptide-modified AuNPs containing Phe at the N-terminal of the peptide. SPR signals are significantly improved through the layer-by-layer assembly of AuNPs. The well-designed sensing platform allows the detection of caspase-3 in a linear range from 10fg/mL to 10(3)fg/mL with a detection limit of 2.2 fg/mL. Given its high specificity and desirable sensitivity, this CB[7]-assisted SPR method may be a useful tool for the assay of caspase-3 in the future. This work may also afford a new model to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of SPR biosensors in other protein detection experiments and disease diagnosis.