Novel electrochemical platform based on C3N4-graphene composite for the detection of neuron-specific enolase as a biomarker for lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 10-15% of cases and has an overall 5-years survival rate of only 15%. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been identified as a useful biomarker for early SCLC diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. This work reports an electrochemical immunosensing platform based on a graphene-graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposite for ultrasensitive NSE detection. The g-C3N4 nanosheets and graphene nanosheets were synthesized via liquid exfoliation and integrated through self-assembly to form the nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was used to modify screen-printed carbon electrodes followed by covalent immobilization of anti-NSE antibodies. The unique properties of the graphene-g-C3N4 composite facilitated efficient antibody loading while also enhancing electron transfer efficiency and electrochemical response. Systematic optimization of experimental parameters was performed. The immunosensor exhibited a wide linear detection range of 10 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL and low limit of detection of 3 pg/mL for NSE along with excellent selectivity against interferences. Real serum matrix analysis validated the applicability of the developed platform for sensitive and accurate NSE quantifica-tion at clinically relevant levels. This novel graphene-g-C3N4 nanocomposite based electro-chemical immunoassay demonstrates great promise for early diagnosis of SCLC.

Efficacy of active ingredients in Qingdai on ulcerative colitis: a network pharmacology-based evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the protective effect of Qingdai (, QD) on ulcerative colitis (UC) by means of and approaches. METHODS: A systems pharmacology analysis was per-formed to predict the active components of QD whereas the putative biological targets of QD against UC were obtained through target fishing, network cons-truction and enrichment analyses. Meanwhile, we examined the ameliorative effect of QD in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. During the 10-day experiment, the control and diseased mice were given with oral gavages of QD (1.3 g raw herbs·kg·d) or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, 100 mg·kg·d) every day. The underlying pharma-cological mechanisms of QD in UC were determined using polymerase chain reaction tests, histological staining, enzyme-linked immunoassays, and Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Searching from various network pharmacology databases, 29 compounds were identified in QD. According to the screening criteria suggested by TCMSP (i.e. OB ≥ 30% and DL ≥ 0.18), nine of them were considered the active ingredients that contribute to the ameliorative effects of QD on different mouse models of colitis. Most importantly, the protective effect of QD on DSS-induced colitis was significantly associated with modulations of the expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3-ß (Gsk3-ß) and forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), which are widely considered as important regulators of excessive inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide solid scientific evidence for the use of QD or its core active components in the clinical management of UC.

[Textual research on origin and efficacy of Tibetan medicine "Shengdeng"].

"Shengdeng" is a traditional Tibetan medicine, which has many synonyms. It is complex in origin and serious in mi-xing. In order to clarify the origin of "Shengdeng" and its medicinal use, this paper makes a textual research on the name, variety and efficacy of "Shengdeng" by consulting Tibetan medicine classics such as The Four Medical Trantras and Jingzhu Materia Medica, combined with modern literature of Tibetan medicine. It is clear that the synonyms, primitive species, mainstream varieties and functions of Tibetan medicine "Shengdeng". The collation and analysis of the literature shows that "Shengdeng" has effects of treating rheumatism, drying "Huangshui", detumescence and relieving pain, and is mainly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Tibetan medicine. Its original varieties include 14 species of plants belonging to 6 families: Spicaceae, Rhamnaceae, Cephalotaxus, Leguminosae, Hematoxylaceae and Taxaceae. Combined with the collection of legal standards at all levels, the distribution of resources and the application of clinical prescriptions, it is considered that the mainstream species of "Shengdeng" are Rhamnella gilgitica, Xanthoceras sorbifolia, Rhamnus parvifolia. As a substitute, Acacia catechu is also widely used in clinic. The literature review and variety textual research on Tibetan medicine "Shengdeng" is helpful to improve the safety, effectiveness and quality controllability of its clinical application, and provide scientific basis for its further standard setting, pharmacodynamics research, new drug development and so on.