The Molecular Biological Mechanism of Hydrogen Therapy and Its Application in Spinal Cord Injury.

Hydrogen, which is a novel biomedical molecule, is currently the subject of extensive research involving animal experiments and in vitro cell experiments, and it is gradually being applied in clinical settings. Hydrogen has been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, selective antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects, thus exhibiting considerable protective effects in various diseases. In recent years, several studies have provided preliminary evidence for the protective effects of hydrogen on spinal cord injury (SCI). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the potential molecular biology mechanisms of hydrogen therapy and its application in treating SCI, with an aim to better explore the medical value of hydrogen and provide new avenues for the adjuvant treatment of SCI.

Causes and global, regional, and national burdens of traumatic brain injury from 1990 to 2019.

PURPOSE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), currently a major global public health problem, imposes a significant economic burden on society and families. We aimed to quantify and predict the incidence and severity of TBI by analyzing its incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs). The epidemiological changes in TBI from 1990 to 2019 were described and updated to provide a reference for developing prevention, treatment, and incidence-reducing measures for TBI. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on the incidence, prevalence, and YLDs of TBI by sex, age group, and region (n = 21,204 countries and territories) between 1990 and 2019 using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Proportions in the age-standardized incidence rate due to underlying causes of TBI and proportions of minor and moderate or severe TBI were also reported. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 27.16 million (95% uncertainty intervals (UI): 23.36 - 31.42) new cases of TBI worldwide, with age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of 346 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 298-401) and 599 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 573-627), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, there were no significant trends in global age-standardized incidence (estimated annual percentage changes: -0.11%, 95% UI: -0.18% - -0.04%) or prevalence (estimated annual percentage changes: 0.01%, 95% UI: -0.04% - 0.06%). TBI caused 7.08 million (95% UI: 5.00 - 9.59) YLDs in 2019, with age-standardized rates of 86.5 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 61.1 - 117.2). In 2019, the countries with higher incidence rates were mainly distributed in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Australia. The 2019 global age-standardized incidence rate was higher in males than in females. The 2019 global incidence of moderate and severe TBI was 182.7 per 100,000 population, accounting for 52.8% of all TBI, with falls and road traffic injuries being the main causes in most regions. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of moderate and severe TBI was slightly higher in 2019, and TBI still accounts for a significant portion of the global injury burden. The likelihood of moderate to severe TBI and the trend of major injury under each injury cause from 1990 to 2019 and the characteristics of injury mechanisms in each age group are presented, providing a basis for further research on injury causes in each age group and the future establishment of corresponding policies and protective measures.

Exploring the therapeutic effect of Pen Yan Kang Fu Decoction on SPID rats based on LIF/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Tubal inflammation, endometritis, and uterine adhesions due to post-pelvic inflammatory disease (SPID) are important causes of infertility. Chronic endometritis (CE) belongs to SPID, which seriously affects women's reproductive health, quality of life, and family harmony, and is a hot and difficult problem in clinical research. The efficacy of Pen Yan Kang Fu Decoction (PYKFD) has been verified in long-term clinical practice for chronic endometritis infertility caused by the SPID. Numerous studies have confirmed that the LIF/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is important in embryo implantation and development, and endometritis infertility is close to LIF/JAK2/STAT3. In vivo results showed that PYKFD increased endometrial receptivity, repaired uterine tissue damage, and regulates the expression of endometrial receptivity-related factors ER (estrogen receptor), PR (progesterone receptor), CD31, and integrin αvß3, and induced the transduction of LIF/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. PYKFD can also regulate the expression of IL-6. The results of in vitro experiments showed that PYKFD regulates the behavior of rat endometrial epithelial cells (REECs) involving LIF. In conclusion, PYKFD can improve endometrial receptivity and promote endometrial repair by LIF/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-03981-0.

Tandemly duplicated MYB genes are functionally diverged in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean.

Gene duplications have long been recognized as a driving force in the evolution of genes, giving rise to novel functions. The soybean (Glycine max) genome is characterized by a large number of duplicated genes. However, the extent and mechanisms of functional divergence among these duplicated genes in soybean remain poorly understood. In this study, we revealed that 4 MYB genes (GmMYBA5, GmMYBA2, GmMYBA1, and Glyma.09g235000)-presumably generated by tandem duplication specifically in the Phaseoleae lineage-exhibited a stronger purifying selection in soybean compared to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). To gain insights into the diverse functions of these tandemly duplicated MYB genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis, we examined the expression, transcriptional activity, induced metabolites, and evolutionary history of these 4 MYB genes. Our data revealed that Glyma.09g235000 is a pseudogene, while the remaining 3 MYB genes exhibit strong transcriptional activation activity, promoting anthocyanin biosynthesis in different soybean tissues. GmMYBA5, GmMYBA2, and GmMYBA1 induced anthocyanin accumulation by upregulating the expression of anthocyanin pathway-related genes. Notably, GmMYBA5 showed a lower capacity for gene induction compared to GmMYBA2 and GmMYBA1. Metabolomics analysis further demonstrated that GmMYBA5 induced distinct anthocyanin accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and soybean hairy roots compared to GmMYBA2 and GmMYBA1, suggesting their functional divergence leading to the accumulation of different metabolites accumulation following gene duplication. Together, our data provide evidence of functional divergence within the MYB gene cluster following tandem duplication, which sheds light on the potential evolutionary directions of gene duplications during legume evolution.

Reviving Intervertebral Discs: Treating Degeneration Using Advanced Delivery Systems.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is commonly associated with many spinal problems, such as low back pain, and significantly impacts a patient's quality of life. However, current treatments for IVDD, which include conservative and surgical methods, are limited in their ability to fully address degeneration. To combat IVDD, delivery-system-based therapy has received extensive attention from researchers. These delivery systems can effectively deliver therapeutic agents for IVDD, overcoming the limitations of these agents, reducing leakage and increasing local concentration to inhibit IVDD or promote intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration. This review first briefly introduces the structure and function of the IVD, and the related pathophysiology of IVDD. Subsequently, the roles of drug-based and bioactive-substance-based delivery systems in IVDD are highlighted. The former includes natural source drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid medications, and other small molecular drugs. The latter includes chemokines, growth factors, interleukin, and platelet-rich plasma. Additionally, gene-based and cell-based delivery systems are briefly involved. Finally, the limitations and future development of the combination of therapeutic agents and delivery systems in the treatment of IVDD are discussed, providing insights for future research.

Targeting Ferroptosis Promotes Functional Recovery by Mitigating White Matter Injury Following Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

Survivors experiencing acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACMP) tend to develop white matter injury (WMI). The mechanism of ACMP-induced WMI remains unclear. Considering the role of ferroptosis in initiating oligodendrocyte damage to deteriorate WMI, exploring therapeutic options to attenuate ferroptosis is a feasible approach to alleviating WMI. Our results indicated that ACMP induced accumulation of iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) eventually leading to WMI and motor impairment after ACMP. Furthermore, ferrostatin-1 reduced iron and ROS deposition to alleviate ferroptosis, thereafter reducing WMI to promote the recovery of motor function. The nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway was found to be involved in alleviating ferroptosis as seen with the administration of ferrostatin-1. The present study rationalizes that targeting ferroptosis to alleviate WMI is a feasible therapeutic strategy for managing ACMP.

Mannitol inhibits the proliferation of neural stem cell by a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: Mannitol is one of the first-line drugs for reducing cerebral edema through increasing the extracellular osmotic pressure. However, long-term administration of mannitol in the treatment of cerebral edema triggers damage to neurons and astrocytes. Given that neural stem cell (NSC) is a subpopulation of main regenerative cells in the central nervous system after injury, the effect of mannitol on NSC is still elusive. The present study aims to elucidate the role of mannitol in NSC proliferation. METHODS: C57 mice were derived from the animal house of Zunyi Medical University. A total of 15 pregnant mice were employed for the purpose of isolating NSCs in this investigation. Initially, mouse primary NSCs were isolated from the embryonic cortex of mice and subsequently identified through immunofluorescence staining. In order to investigate the impact of mannitol on NSC proliferation, both cell counting kit-8 assays and neurospheres formation assays were conducted. The in vitro effects of mannitol were examined at various doses and time points. In order to elucidate the role of Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in the suppressive effect of mannitol on NSC proliferation, various assays including reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were conducted on control and mannitol-treated groups. Additionally, the phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) was examined to explore the potential mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of mannitol on NSC proliferation. Finally, to further confirm the involvement of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent (MAPK) signaling pathway in the observed inhibition of NSC proliferation by mannitol, SB203580 was employed. All data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). The statistical analysis among multiple comparisons was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Turkey's post hoc test in case of the data following a normal distribution using a Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Comparisons between 2 groups were determined using Student's t-test, if the data exhibited a normal distribution using a Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Meanwhile, data were shown as median and interquartile range and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, if the data failed the normality test. A p < 0.05 was considered as significant difference. RESULTS: Primary NSC were isolated from the mice, and the characteristics were identified using immunostaining analysis. Thereafter, the results indicated that mannitol held the capability of inhibiting NSC proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner using cell counting kit-8, neurospheres formation, and immunostaining of Nestin and Ki67 assays. During the process of mannitol suppressing NSC proliferation, the expression of AQP4 mRNA and protein was downregulated, while the gene expression of p-p38 was elevated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining, and western blotting assays. Subsequently, the administration of SB203580, one of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors, partially abrogated this inhibitory effect resulting from mannitol, supporting the fact that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway participated in curbing NSC proliferation induced by mannitol. CONCLUSIONS: Mannitol inhibits NSC proliferation through downregulating AQP4, while upregulating the expression of p-p38 MAPK.

A Cu-Based Metal-Organic Framework Cu-Cip with Cuproptosis for Cancer Therapy and Inhibition of Cancer Cell Migration.

Microflora within cancer cells plays a pivotal role in promoting metastasis of cancer. However, contemporary anticancer research often overlooks the potential benefits of combining anticancer and antibacterial agents. Consequently, a metal-organic framework Cu-Cip with cuproptosis and antibacterial properties was synthesized for cancer therapy. To enhance the anticancer effect of the material, Mn2+ was loaded into Cu-Cip, yielding Mn@Cu-Cip. The fabricated material was characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, and FT-IR. By interacting with overexpressed H2O2 to produce ROS and accumulating Cu ions in cancer cells, MOFs exhibited excellent anticancer performance. Moreover, the material displayed the function of damaging Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, revealing the admirable antibacterial properties of the material. In addition, the antibacterial ability could inhibit tumor cell migration. The Cu-based MOF revealed promising applications in the field of tumor treatment.

Construction of Core-Shell MOF CSMnP with Enzyme-Like Activity for Chemotherapy and Chemodynamic Therapy.

Materials with enzyme-like activity have received a lot of attention in the field of tumor catalytic therapy. Here, biocompatible core-shell MOF CSMnP with two valence states of Mn ion, which could process chemodynamic therapy (CDT), was designed and synthesized. Besides, it could also promote a series of catalytic processes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). CSMnP catalyzed endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxygen (O2) via catalase-like activity and then combined with the outer layer Mn(II)-PBC to convert O2 into superoxide radicals (•O2-), exhibiting oxidase-like activity. Besides, intracellular glutathione (GSH) could be effectively consumed through the glutathione oxidase-like activity of Mn3+. The occurrence of the cascade reactions effectively amplified the enzymatic production to enhance CDT. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of CSMnP was improved through the loading of cationic drug DOX. The loading capacity was 11.10 wt %, which was 2.2 times that of Mn(III)-PBC (4.95 wt %), and the release of DOX showed a characteristic response. Therefore, the core-shell MOF with enzyme-like activity had a potential application for tumor combination therapy.

Identification of an important QTL for seed oil content in soybean.

Seed oil content is one of the most important quantitative traits in soybean (Glycine max) breeding. Here, we constructed a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism linkage map using two genetically similar parents, Heinong 84 and Kenfeng 17, that differ dramatically in their seed oil contents, and performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of seed oil content in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from their cross. We detected five QTL related to seed oil content distributed on five chromosomes. The QTL for seed oil content explained over 10% of the phenotypic variation over two years. This QTL was mapped to an interval containing 20 candidate genes, including a previously reported gene, soybean RING Finger 1a (RNF1a) encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Notably, two short sequences were inserted in the GmRNF1a coding region of KF 17 compared to that of HN 84, resulting in a longer protein variant in KF 17. Our results thus provide information for uncovering the genetic mechanisms determining seed oil content in soybean, as well as identifying an additional QTL and highlighting GmRNF1a as candidate gene for modulating seed oil content in soybean. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01384-2.

Neurodynamics of Awareness Detection in Tibetan Immigrants: Evidence from Electroencephalography Analysis.

The psychological effects of long-term exposure to high-altitude environments have attracted great attention. These effects are usually attributed to the diminished cognitive resources due to high-altitude exposure. This study employed electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the effects of exposure duration on awareness detection tasks. Neither reaction time nor accuracy showed the direct effects of the exposure duration, so did the model indexes obtained from drift diffusion model analysis. However, event-related potentials (ERP) analysis revealed that exposure duration was associated with changes in the visual awareness negativity (VAN) and the late positivity (LP) components, which in turn affected reaction time. Specifically, longer exposure durations were associated with lower VAN and higher LP, resulting in shorter reaction times and greater drift rate. In contrast to previous studies, the reverse relationship between VAN and LP may reflect a compensatory response to the reduced cognitive resources caused by high-altitude exposure. Additionally, increased LP and shorter reaction times with exposure duration may reflect a resistance to the high-altitude environment. We also conducted time-frequency analysis and found that theta power did not vary with exposure duration, suggesting that the reduction in cognitive resources remains stable in these individuals over time. Overall, our study provides new insights into the dynamic effects of high-altitude environments on awareness detection in the presence of reduced cognitive resources.

Association between the acceleration of access to visual awareness of grating orientation with higher heart rate at high-altitude.

Many studies have indicated a strong relationship between cardiac and brain activities, both of which are sensitive to high-altitude exposure. This study combined a consciousness access task and electrocardiograms (ECG) to uncover conscious awareness in response to high-altitude exposure and its relation to cardiac activity. When compared with the low-altitude groups, the behavioral results showed that the high-altitude participants shortened the time of access to visual awareness of grating orientation, which was accompanied by a faster heart rate, excluding the influence of pre-stimulus heart rate, extent of cardiac deceleration after presenting the stimulus, and task difficulty. Although there were post-stimulation cardiac deceleration and post-response acceleration at both high and low altitudes, a slight increase in heart rate after stimulation at high altitudes may indicate that participants at high altitudes could quickly readjust their attention to the target stimulus. More importantly, the drift diffusion model (DDM) was used to fit the access time distribution of all participants. These results suggest that shorter time at high altitudes might be due to the lower threshold, suggesting that less evidence in high-altitude participants was required to access visual consciousness. The participants' heart rates also negatively predicted the threshold through a hierarchical drift diffusion modeling (HDDM) regression. These findings imply that individuals with higher heart rates at high altitudes have a greater cognitive burden.

Refinement of the Fusion Tag PagP for Effective Formation of Inclusion Bodies in Escherichia coli.

Methods for efficient insoluble protein production require further exploration. PagP, an Escherichia coli outer membrane protein with high ß-sheet content, could function as an efficient fusion partner for inclusion body-targeted expression of recombinant peptides. The primary structure of a given polypeptide determines to a large extent its propensity to aggregate. Herein, aggregation "hot spots" (HSs) in PagP were analyzed using the web-based software AGGRESCAN, leading to identification of a C-terminal region harboring numerous HSs. Moreover, a proline-rich region was found in the ß-strands. Substitution of these prolines by residues with high ß-sheet propensity and hydrophobicity significantly improved its ability to form aggregates. Consequently, the absolute yields of recombinant antimicrobial peptides Magainin II, Metchnikowin, and Andropin were increased significantly when expressed in fusion with this refined version of PagP. We describe separation of recombinant target proteins expressed in inclusion bodies fused with the tag. An artificial NHT linker peptide with three motifs was implemented for separation and purification of authentic recombinant antimicrobial peptides. IMPORTANCE Fusion tag-induced formation of inclusion bodies provides a powerful means to express unstructured or toxic proteins. For a given fusion tag, how to enhance the formation of inclusion bodies remains to be explored. Our study illustrated that the aggregation HSs in a fusion tag played important roles in mediating its insoluble expression. Efficient production of inclusion bodies could also be implemented by refining its primary structure to form a more stable ß-sheet with higher hydrophobicity. This study provides a promising method for improvement of the insoluble expression of recombinant proteins.

Iron oxide nanoparticles inhibit tumor growth by ferroptosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Since the approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ferumoxytol and other iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have been widely used as iron supplements for patients with iron deficiency. Meanwhile, IONs have also been used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and as drug carriers. Importantly, IONs have demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of tumors, including hematopoietic and lymphoid tumors, such as leukemia. In this study, we further demonstrated the effect of IONs on inhibiting the growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells by enhancing ferroptosis-mediated cell death. IONs treatment caused an accumulation of intracellular ferrous iron and the onset of lipid peroxidation in DLBCL cells as well as the suppressed expression of anti-ferroptosis protein Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4), thereby leading to increased ferroptosis. Mechanistically, IONs increased cellular lipid peroxidation through the generation of ROS via the Fenton reaction and regulating the iron metabolism-related proteins, such as ferroportin (FPN) and transferrin receptor (TFR), which elevated the intracellular labile iron pool (LIP). Hence, our findings suggest the potential therapeutic effect of IONs on the treatment of patients with DLBCL.

Functional and aesthetic outcomes of abdominal full-thickness skin grafts in paediatric postburn digital and palmar flexion contractures.

The study aimed to assess the functional and aesthetic outcomes of abdominal full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) in paediatric postburn digital and palmar flexion contractures. The digital and palmar functions and aesthetics of 50 children who met the criteria were evaluated at pre-operation, the 3rd- and 12th-month post-operation, respectively. In the evaluation, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), total active movement (TAM), and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) were used. The contralateral, unaffected hand served as the criteria for functional recovery. The complications of donor sites were observed, and the take rate of skin grafts was calculated. The VSS scores at the 3rd and 12th months post-operation were lower than those before the operation. The TAM of each finger was improved at the 3rd and 12th months post-operation, compared with that before the operation. There was a significant difference in the time to complete the JHFT between the affected hand and the unaffected at the 3rd month post-operation, but no significant difference between them at the 12th month post-operation. The excellent and good take rate of the skin grafts was 90.00%.No donor site complications were observed. The abdominal FTSGs are effective in repairing paediatric digital and palmar scar contractures, with satisfying functional and aesthetic results, especially in large defects after scar release and resection.

A redox-reactive delivery system via neural stem cell nanoencapsulation enhances white matter regeneration in intracerebral hemorrhage mice.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) poses a great threat to human health because of its high mortality and morbidity. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is promising for treating white matter injury following ICH to promote functional recovery. However, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NSC apoptosis and uncontrolled differentiation hindered the effectiveness of the therapy. Herein, we developed a single-cell nanogel system by layer-by-layer (LbL) hydrogen bonding of gelatin and tannic acid (TA), which was modified with a boronic ester-based compound linking triiodothyronine (T3). In vitro, NSCs in nanogel were protected from ROS-induced apoptosis, with apoptotic signaling pathways downregulated. This process of ROS elimination by material shell synergistically triggered T3 release to induce NSC differentiation into oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, in animal studies, ICH mice receiving nanogels performed better in behavioral evaluation, neurological scaling, and open field tests. These animals exhibited enhanced differentiation of NSCs into oligodendrocytes and promoted white matter tract regeneration on Day 21 through activation of the αvß3/PI3K/THRA pathway. Consequently, transplantation of LbL(T3) nanogels largely resolved two obstacles in NSC therapy synergistically: low survival and uncontrolled differentiation, enhancing white matter regeneration and behavioral performance of ICH mice. As expected, nanoencapsulation with synergistic effects would efficiently provide hosts with various biological benefits and minimize the difficulty in material fabrication, inspiring next-generation material design for tackling complicated pathological conditions.

A retrotransposon insertion in the Mao1 promoter results in erect pubescence and higher yield in soybean.

Adaptive changes in crops contribute to the diversity of agronomic traits, which directly or indirectly affect yield. The change of pubescence form from appressed to erect is a notable feature during soybean domestication. However, the biological significance and regulatory mechanism underlying this transformation remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a major-effect locus, PUBESCENCE FORM 1 (PF1), the upstream region of Mao1, that regulates pubescence form in soybean. The insertion of a Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposon in PF1 can recruit the transcription factor GAGA-binding protein to a GA-rich region, which up-regulates Mao1 expression, underpinning soybean pubescence evolution. Interestingly, the proportion of improved cultivars with erect pubescence increases gradually with increasing latitude, and erect-pubescence cultivars have a higher yield possibly through a higher photosynthetic rate and photosynthetic stability. These findings open an avenue for molecular breeding through either natural introgression or genome editing toward yield improvement and productivity.

Study on the Influence of Accelerated Aging on the Properties of an RTV Anti-Pollution Flashover Coating.

The purpose of this work is to study the accelerated aging behavior of a room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber anti-pollution flashover coating. Red, blue and gray RTV rubber samples were selected to prepare coatings on the surface of stainless-steel sheets. The accelerated aging test was carried out in an aging test chamber according to a four-step program cycle. After the completion of different aging tests, the color difference, glossiness, surface micromorphology, wettability, insulation performance and other parameters of the samples were measured using colorimetry, infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and a high-voltage breakdown tester. The results showed that with the increase in aging time, the color difference ∆Eab of the coatings increased. The G60 gloss value decreased gradually and tended to be saturated after 60 cycles. After the aging tests, the RTV coating surface had holes, cracks, peeling and other damage to varying degrees. The C:Si atomic ratio was less than 2, and the hydrophobicity was obviously deteriorated. After aging, the electrical strength of the three RTV coatings decreased significantly. It can be concluded that during the accelerated aging test, the RTV coating had cross-linking and oxidation reactions, and the internal deterioration and surface damage of the coating led to changes in its color, luster, morphology, insulation strength, etc.

Results of serum antibody detection from patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Heilongjiang, 2019-2021 / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To detect the antibody levels of hantavirus in serum samples from patients suspected with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Heilongjiang Province from 2019 to 2021, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of disease. Methods　Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to detect the IgM antibodies to hantavirus in serum samples collected from suspected patients with HFRS in the acute-phase, and IgM and IgG antibody in convalescent-phase serum samples. The positive rate of IgM antibody in acute-phase serum samples of patients in different years was analyzed with χ2 test by SPSS 19.0, and the data were sorted out and analyzed about patients' gender, occupation, age, date of onset and interval from onset to initial diagnosis by EpiData 3.1, Excel 2003 software. Results　A total of 351 acute-phase serum samples and 208 convalescent-phase serum samples were detected in patients suspected with HFRS, respectively. There were 317 positive IgM antibodies of serum samples in the acute stage, with the positive rate of 90.31%. There was no significant difference in the positive rate of IgM antibodies in the acute stage between different years (χ2=0.895, P=0.639). T The IgM antibodies and IgG antibodies were positive in 32 (15.39%) and 28 (13.46%) of the convalescent-phase serum samples, respectively. Moreover, 148 patients (71.15%) were double-positive for IgM and IgG antibodies at the convalescent stage. The ratio of male to female patients was 4.56∶1, for which male patients were much more than female patients. Occupation was dominated by farmers (253 cases, 79.81%), followed by workers (19 cases, 5.99%) and the unemployed (17 cases, 5.36%), respectively. The age of patients ranged from 10 to 88 years old, with a median age of 49 years old. Most of the patients were in the age group from 30 years old to 60 years old (209 cases, 65.93%), among which the age group from 40 years old to 50 years old (86 cases, 27.13%) had the highest proportion, and the age group from 60 years old to 90 years old had a proportion of 20.18% (19 cases). May and November were the peak periods of HFRS in Heilongjiang Province. The median interval between onset and initial diagnosis was 4 days. Conclusions　There is a gap of about 10% between the clinical diagnosis of HFRS cases and the confirmed cases detected by laboratory in Heilongjiang Province from 2019 to 2021. The virus-specific detection results are important for confirming the diagnosis of local patients with HFRS.

Controlled co-immobilisation of proteins via 4'-phosphopantetheine-mediated site-selective covalent linkage.

In Escherichia coli, acyl carrier protein (ACP) is posttranslationally converted into its active holo-ACP form via covalent linkage of 4'-phosphopantetheine (4'-PP) to residue serine-36. We found that the long flexible 4'-PP arm could react chemoselectively with the iodoacetyl group introduced on solid supports with high efficiency under mild conditions. Based on this finding, we developed site-selective immobilisation of proteins via the active holo-ACP fusion tag, independently of the physicochemical properties of the protein of interest. Furthermore, the molecular ratios of co-immobilised proteins can be manipulated because the tethering process is predominantly directed by the molar concentrations of diverse holo-ACP fusions during co-immobilisation. Conveniently tuning the molecular ratios of co-immobilised proteins allows their cooperation, leading to a highly productive multi-protein co-immobilisation system. Kinetic studies of enzymes demonstrated that α-amylase (Amy) and methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH) immobilised via active tag holo-ACP had higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) in comparison with their corresponding counterparts immobilised via the sulfhydryl groups (-SH) of these proteins. The immobilised holo-ACP-Amy also presented higher thermostability compared with free Amy. The enhanced α-amylase thermostability upon immobilisation via holo-ACP renders it more suitable for industrial application.