Sulfur-containing cellulose esters for selectively anchoring gold for water catalytic decontamination.

The facile preparation of sustainable sulfur-containing polymer functional materials has been obtained great attention due to their chemical reactivity and metal complexing ability. In this study, taking the solution properties advantages of the newly developed cellulose solvent system of DBU/DMSO/CO2, thiol and disulfide bond functionalized cellulose ester (TDSCE) was facilely prepared via in-situ tandem transesterification and oxidation reaction by using methyl 3-mercaptopropionate, without adding any external catalyst. The synthetic protocol was featured by that the DBU not only acted as reagent for the dissolution of cellulose, but also catalysts for the transesterification of cellulose with methyl 3-mercaptopropionate to yield cellulose 3-mercaptopropionate (Cell-MP) with maximum degrees of substitution (DS) of 0.77, and an oxidant for the partial oxidation of Cell-MP to produce a cellulose methyl 3,3'-disulfanediyldipropionate (Cell-MDSP) with maximum DS of 0.36 mixed ester, respectively. With successful introduction of thiol and disulfide bond into the cellulose backbone, the TDSCEs indicated desirable selective absorption of Au3+ from mimic heavy mental ions waste water due to the sulfur-Au chemistry with maximal adsorption capacity for Au3+ of 415.2 mg/g. The subsequent reduction of Au3+ into gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) fabricated a robust TDSCE-2@Au NPs composite catalyst with high catalytic activity for the hydrogenation treatment of water pollutes, such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP)and azo dyes.

Low-cost, immediate, general-purpose, and high-throughput (LIGHt) smartphone colorimetric screening assay for water-soluble protein.

An efficient and rapid method for the detection of total soluble protein in tobacco leaves, utilizing a smartphone-based colorimetric approach has been developed. The proposed low-cost, immediate, general-purpose, and high-throughput (LIGHt) smartphone colorimetric screening assay integrates commercially available microplates, enabling on-site, high-throughput screening of tobacco leaf quality. The study involves preparing protein standard solutions and constructing standard curves using both spectrophotometric and smartphone-based methods. The LIGHt smartphone colorimetry yielded an average relative standard deviation of 10.6 %, a limit of detection of 2 µg/mL, and an average recovery of 93 %. The results demonstrated a comparable performance between intensities from the blue channel and the absorbance values in reflecting protein concentrations, validating the feasibility of utilizing smartphone colorimetry for protein concentration determination. Our approach demonstrates the potential for practical implementation in the field, providing a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for rapid quality assessment in the tobacco industry. The LIGHt smartphone colorimetry enhances quality control practices in the tobacco sector and offers a promising tool for on-site production quality testing in various industries, such as fruits and vegetables.

A highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor based on rGO-PEI-Ag nanocomposites for the detection of tilmicosin.

A label-free electrochemical immunosensor was developed to rapidly detect tilmicosin (TMC) residues in pork and milk. The immunosensor was constructed by immobilizing a high-affinity monoclonal antibody against TMC on an rGO-PEI-Ag nanocomposite-modified electrode. The rGO-PEI-Ag nanocomposites were prepared by mixing polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with AgNO3 solution. The prepared rGO-PEI-Ag nanocomposites showed good redox activity and conductivity, as characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). During the preparation process, staphylococcal protein A (SPA) was added to targetedly bind the Fc segment of the monoclonal antibody. The immunosensor showed a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.0013 ng/mL, a linear range of 0.01-100 ng/mL, and recoveries ranging from 92.77 to 100.02% in pork and 92.26-101.23% in milk. Furthermore, the immunosensor exhibited good stability, reproducibility, and specificity in detecting TMC in pork and milk real samples.

The impact of combined aerobic and resistance exercise on the prognosis of early Parkinson's disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Although literature suggests that exercise can improve symptoms in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, research on the effects of aerobic exercise and resistance training (AE&RT) in early-stage PD remains limited. Understanding the synergistic effects of these exercise modalities can provide valuable insights for optimizing exercise interventions for PD patients, particularly in the early stages of the disease, where interventions may have the greatest impact on long-term functional outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined AE&RT program on motor function, postural stability, and cognitive processing speed in early stage PD patients. METHODS: A total of 236 participants with early-stage PD were assigned to either the Aerobic Exercise Group (AE group) (n= 112) or the AE&RT Group (n= 124) inthis controlled randomized trial. The study employed a one-year supervised exercise program, with the AE Group participating in aerobic activities and the AE&RT Group engaging in combined AE&RT. Outcome measures included symptom improvement, motor function, postural stability, cognitive processing speed, peak oxygen consumption, quality of life evaluation, and the incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: The AE&RT Group demonstrated greater improvements in tremor, muscle rigidity, gait instability, sleep problems, and hyposmia compared to the AE Group. Additionally, the combined exercise group exhibited better cognitive processing speed, as well as enhanced motor function and postural stability. Peak oxygen consumption was significantly higher in the AE&RT Group. However, the quality of life evaluation indicated a statistically higher quality of life in the AE Group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the integration of AE&RT in early-stage PD patients leads to more comprehensive improvements in motor symptoms, cognitive function, postural stability, and cardiovascular fitness compared to aerobic exercise alone. These results have important implications for developing tailored exercise interventions to enhance the physical and cognitive well-being of individuals with early-stage PD.

Fluorescence immunochromatographic detection of antibodies to the p72 protein of African swine fever virus.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV), a highly contagious pathogen responsible for African swine fever (ASF), causes significant economic losses in the global pork industry. Due to its large and complex structure, ASFV remains refractory to commercial vaccine development, necessitating the creation of rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tools for disease control. In this study, quantum dots were conjugated to ASFV p72 protein to establish a fluorescent immunochromatographic assay for detecting ASFV-specific antibodies. The assay test strips contained four adjacent pads arranged sequentially: a sample-application pad, a pad containing mobile antigen-probe conjugate, a nitrocellulose readout pad featuring a test line containing immobilised staphylococcal protein A and a control line containing immobilised monoclonal antibodies against the ASFV p72 protein, and an absorbent pad driving the directional flow of liquid via capillary action. The resulting fluorescence immunochromatographic assay demonstrated highly sensitive and specific ASFV antibody detection in under 15 min. Specificity testing showed no cross-reactivity with serum antibodies against other viruses and sensitivity surpassing that of commercial ASFV antibody colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strips. This novel approach offers rapid detection, excellent specificity, and high sensitivity, and supports the future development of fluorescent immunochromatographic test strips for ASFV antibody detection.

TESC associated with poor prognosis enhances cancer stemness and migratory properties in liver cancer.

Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are responsible for recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance in liver cancer. However, the genes responsible for inducing LCSCs have not been fully identified. Based on our previous study, we found that tescalcin (TESC), a calcium-binding EF hand protein that plays a crucial role in chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modifications, was up-regulated in LCSCs of spheroid cultures. By searching the Cancer Genome Atlas, International Cancer Genome Consortium, Human Protein Atlas, and Kaplan-Meier Plotter databases, we found that TESC expression was significantly elevated in liver cancer compared with that in normal liver tissue and was predictive of a decreased overall survival rate. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed TESC to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. High TESC expression was positively associated with cancer stem cell pathways, cancer stem cell surface markers, stemness transcription factors, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) factors, immune checkpoint proteins, and various cancer-related biological processes in liver cancer. Furthermore, TESC was implicated as promoting cancer stem cell properties through its influence on EMT. We demonstrated that TESC is a novel stemness-related gene that can serve as an independent prognostic factor for liver cancer.

Wound Dressing Based on Cassava Silk-Chitosan.

The application prospects of composite sponges with antibacterial and drug-carrying functions in the field of medical tissue engineering are extensive. A solution of cassava silk fibroin (CSF) was prepared with Ca(NO3)2 as a solvent, which was then combined with chitosan (CS) to create a sponge-porous material by freeze-drying. The CSF-CS composite sponge with a mesh structure was successfully fabricated through hydrogen bonding. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to investigate the appearance and structure of the cassava silk's fibroin materials, specifically examining the impact of different mass percentages of CS on the sponge's structure. The swelling rate and mechanical properties of the CSF-CS sponge were analyzed, along with its antibacterial properties. Furthermore, by incorporating ibuprofen as a model drug into these loaded sponges, their potential efficacy as efficient drug delivery systems was demonstrated. The results indicate that the CSF-CS sponge possesses a three-dimensional porous structure with over 70% porosity and an expansion rate exceeding 400% while also exhibiting good resistance against pressure. Moreover, it exhibits excellent drug-carrying ability and exerts significant bacteriostatic effects on Escherichia coli. Overall, these findings support considering the CSF-CS composite sponge as a viable candidate for use in drug delivery systems or wound dressings.

A novel fluorescence immunoassay for the quantitative detection of florfenicol in animal-derived foods based on ZnCdSe/ZnS quantum dot labelled antibody.

Florfenicol (F), an antimicrobial agent exclusive to veterinary use within the chloramphenicol class, is extensively applied as a broad-spectrum remedy for animal diseases. Despite its efficacy, concerns arise over potential deleterious residues in animal-derived edibles, posing threats to human health. This study pioneers an innovative approach, introducing a quantum dot fluorescence-based immunoassay (FLISA) for the meticulous detection of F residues in animal-derived foods and feeds. This method demonstrates heightened sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL and a quantitative detection range of 0.6-30.4 ng/mL. Method validation, applied to diverse food sources, yields recoveries from 90.4 % to 109.7 %, featuring RSDs within 1.3 % to 8.7 %, the results showed high consistency with the national standard HPLC-MS/MS detection method. These findings underscore the method's accuracy and precision, positioning it as a promising tool for swift and reliable F residue detection, with substantial implications for fortifying food safety monitoring.

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the immune microenvironment in pediatric acute leukemia.

Relapse and treatment resistance pose significant challenges in the management of pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The efficacy of immunotherapy in leukemia remains limited due to factors such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and lack of suitable immunotherapeutic targets. Thus, an in-depth characterization of the TME in pediatric leukemia is warranted to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the TME of pediatric B-ALL and AML, focusing specifically on bone-marrow-derived T cells. Moreover, we investigated the transcriptome changes during the initiation, remission, and relapse stages of pediatric AML. Our findings revealed that specific functional expression programs correlated with fluctuations in various T cell subsets, which may be associated with AML progression and relapse. Furthermore, our analysis of cellular communication networks led to the identification of VISTA, CD244, and TIM3 as potential immunotherapeutic targets in pediatric AML. Finally, we detected elevated proportions of γδ T cells and associated functional genes in samples from pediatric patients diagnosed with B-ALL and AML, which could inform the development of novel therapeutic approaches, potentially focusing on γδ T cells.

Heat shock protein 90α reduces CD8+ T cell exhaustion in acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.

CD8+ T-cell exhaustion is a promising prognostic indicator of sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients with sepsis-related ARDS had reduced levels of HSP90AA1. However, whether the changes in CD8+ T cells were related to HSP90α, encoded by the HSP90AA1 gene, was unclear. This study aimed to examine the regulatory mechanism of HSP90α and its impact on CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, by conducting a mouse model of ALI, we found that one week after LPS-induced ALI, CD8+ T cells showed exhaustion characteristics. At this time, proliferation and cytokine release in CD8+ T cells were reduced. The inhibitory costimulatory factors PD-1 and Tim-3, on the other hand, were enhanced. Meanwhile, the expression of HSP90α and STAT1 decreased significantly. The in vitro studies showed that HSP90α stimulation or inhibition affected the CD8+ T-cell exhaustion phenotype. Interference with STAT1 reduced the expression of HSP90α and impaired its regulation of CD8+ T cells. The Co-Immunoprecipitation results indicated that HSP90α can directly or indirectly bind to TOX to regulate TOX expression and downstream signal transduction. In summary, by inhibiting TOX-mediated exhaustion signaling pathways, HSP90α inhibited CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in ALI. The participation of STAT1 in the regulation of HSP90α was required.

Minimal residual disease monitoring in childhood Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: prognostic significance and correlation between multiparameter flow cytometry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction

Not available.

Development and application of a high-sensitivity immunochromatographic test strip for detecting pseudorabies virus.

Introduction: Pseudorabies (PR) is a multi-animal comorbid disease caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV), which are naturally found in pigs. At the end of 2011, the emergence of PRV variant strains in many provinces in China had caused huge economic losses to pig farms. Rapid detection diagnosis of pigs infected with the PRV variant helps prevent outbreaks of PR. The immunochromatography test strip with colloidal gold nanoparticles is often used in clinical testing due to its low cost and high throughput. Methods: This study was designed to produce monoclonal antibodies targeting PRV through immunization of mice using the eukaryotic system to express the gE glycoprotein. Subsequently, paired monoclonal antibodies were screened based on their sensitivity and specificity for use in the preparation of test strips. Results and discussion: The strip prepared in this study was highly specific, only PRV was detected, and there was no cross-reactivity with glycoprotein gB, glycoprotein gC, glycoprotein gD, and glycoprotein gE of herpes simplex virus and varicellazoster virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, Senecavirus A, classical swine fever virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and porcine parvovirus. Moreover, it demonstrated high sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.336 × 103 copies/µL (the number of viral genome copies per microliter); the coincidence rate with the RT-PCR detection method was 96.4%. The strip developed by our laboratory provides an effective method for monitoring PRV infection and controlling of PR vaccine quality.

P450 gene CYP6a13 is responsible for cross-resistance of insecticides in field populations of Spodoptera frugiperda.

Continuous and long-term use of traditional and new pesticides can result in cross-resistance among pest populations in different fields. Study on the mechanism of cross-resistance and related genes will help resistance management and field pest control. In this study, the pesticide-resistance mechanism in Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW) was studied with field populations in 3 locations of South China. Field FAW populations were highly resistant to traditional insecticides, chlorpyrifos (organophosphate) and deltamethrin (pyrethroid), and had higher levels of cytochrome P450 activity than a non-resistant laboratory strain. Inhibition of P450 activity by piperonyl butoxide significantly increased the sensitivity of resistant FAW in 3 locations to chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin and chlorantraniliprole (amide), a new type of insecticide, suggesting that P450 detoxification is a critical factor for insecticide resistance in field FAW populations. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that 18 P450 genes were upregulated in the field FAW populations collected in 3 regions and in 2 consecutive years, with CYP6a13, the most significantly upregulated one. Knockdown of CYP6a13 messenger RNA by RNA interference resulted in an increased sensitivity to the 3 tested insecticides in the field FAW. Enzyme activity and molecular docking analyses indicated that CYP6a13 enzyme was able to metabolize the 3 tested insecticides and interact with 8 other types of insecticides, confirming that CYP6a13 is a key cross-resistance gene with a wide range of substrates in the field FAW populations across the different regions and can be used as a biomarker and target for management of FAW insecticide resistance in fields.

Advancing intrauterine adhesion severity prediction: Integrative machine learning approach with hysteroscopic cold knife system, clinical characteristics and hematological parameters.

Intrauterine Adhesion (IUA) constitute a significant determinant impacting female fertility, potentially leading to infertility, miscarriage, menstrual irregularities, and placental complications. The precise assessment of the severity of IUA is pivotal for the customization of personalized treatment plans, aimed at enhancing the success rate of treatments and mitigating reproductive health risks. This study proposes bTLSMA-SVM-FS, a novel feature selection machine learning model that integrates an enhanced slime mould algorithm (SMA), termed TLSMA, with support vector machines (SVM), aiming to develop a predictive model for assessing the severity of IUA. Initially, a series of optimization comparative experiments were conducted on the TLSMA using the CEC 2017 benchmark functions. By comparing it with eleven meta-heuristic algorithms as well as eleven SOTA algorithms, the experimental outcomes corroborated the superior performance of the TLSMA. Subsequently, the developed bTLSMA-SVM-FS model was employed to conduct a thorough analysis of the clinical features of 107 IUA patients from Wenzhou People's Hospital, comprising 61 cases of moderate IUA and 46 cases of severe IUA. The evaluation results of the model demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting the severity of IUA, achieving an accuracy of 86.700 % and a specificity of 87.609 %. Moreover, the model successfully identified critical factors influencing the prediction of IUA severity, including the preoperative Chinese IUA score, production times, thrombin time, preoperative endometrial thickness, and menstruation. The identification of these key factors not only further validated the efficacy of the proposed model but also provided vital scientific evidence for a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of IUA and the enhancement of targeted treatment strategies.

The elevation of red blood cell distribution width is an independent prognostic factor for juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a disorder characterized by the simultaneous presence of myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic features, primarily affecting infants and young children. Due to the heterogeneous genetic background among patients, the current clinical and laboratory prognostic features are insufficient for accurately predicting outcomes. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify novel prognostic indicators. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a critical parameter reflecting the variability in erythrocyte size. Recent studies have emphasized that elevated RDW serves as a valuable predictive marker for unfavorable outcomes across various diseases. However, the prognostic role of RDW in JMML remains unclear. Patients with JMML from our single-center cohort between January 2008 and December 2019 were included. Overall, 77 patients were eligible. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models showed that patients with red cell distribution width coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) >17.35% at diagnosis were susceptible to much worse overall survival rate (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.22, confidence interval [CI] = 1.50-18.21, P = .010). Besides, the combination of RDW elevation and protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11) mutation was likely to predict a subgroup with the worst outcomes in our cohort. RDW is an independent prognostic variable in JMML subjects. RDW may be regarded as an inexpensive biomarker to predict the clinical outcome in patients with JMML.

Factors associated with meningitis vaccine awareness and engagement among Latino men who have sex with men in South Florida.

Awareness and uptake of the meningitis vaccine remains low among marginalized groups, such as Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM), potentially due to structural and psychosocial barriers in accessing preventative healthcare. The current study explored awareness and uptake of meningitis vaccines among a group of LMSM (N = 99) living in South Florida. A three-pronged variable selection approach was utilized prior to conducting regression models (linear and logistic). Overall, 48.5% of the participants reported little to no knowledge about meningitis vaccines, and 20.2% reported being vaccinated. Living with HIV (OR = 10.48) and time since outbreak (OR = 1.03) were significant predictors of meningitis vaccine uptake. No significant correlates of meningitis vaccine awareness were identified. More research is needed to identify other important factors associated with meningitis vaccine awareness and uptake among LMSM, a multiple marginalized group.

A decrease in integrin α5ß1/FAK is associated with increased apoptosis of aortic smooth muscle cells in acute type a aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) is a devastating disease. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) exhibit decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis, and integrin α5ß1 and FAK are important proangiogenic factors involved in regulating angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of integrin α5ß1 and FAK in patients with AAAD and the potential underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Aortic tissue samples were obtained from 8 patients with AAAD and 4 organ donors at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. The level of apoptosis in the aortic tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays. The expression of integrin α5ß1 and FAK was determined. Integrin α5ß1 was found to be significantly expressed in HASMCs, and its interaction with FAK was assessed via coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analysis. Proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry after integrin α5ß1 deficiency. RESULTS: The levels of integrin α5ß1 and FAK were both significantly decreased in patients with AAAD. Downregulating the expression of integrin α5ß1-FAK strongly increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in HASMCs, indicating that integrin α5ß1-FAK might play an important role in the development of AAAD. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of integrin α5ß1-FAK is associated with increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in aortic smooth muscle cells and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for AAAD.

Quantum dot-based fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay for the rapid detection of lomefloxacin in animal-derived foods.

Lomefloxacin (LMF), a third-generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, is often used to treat bacterial and mycoplasma infections. However, due to its prolonged half-life and slow metabolism, it is prone to residues in animal-derived foods, posing a potential food safety risk. Therefore, it is particularly urgent and important to establish a method for detecting lomefloxacin. In this study, direct and indirect competitive fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (dc-FLISA and ic-FLISA) based on quantum dots (QDs) was established for the detection of LMF. As for dc-FLISA, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.84 ng/mL, 0.04 ng/mL, respectively, the detection ranges from 0.08 to 9.11 ng/mL. The IC50 and LOD of ic-FLISA were 0.43 ng/mL and 0.03 ng/mL, respectively, meanwhile the detection ranges from 0.05 to 3.49 ng/mL. The recoveries of dc-FLISA and ic-FLISA in animal-derived foods (milk, fish, chicken, and honey), ranged from 95.8% to 105.2% and from 96.3% to 103.4%, respectively, with the coefficients of variation less than 8%. These results suggest that the dc-FLISA and ic-FLISA methods, which are based on QD labelling, are highly sensitive and cost-effective, and can be effectively used to detect LMF in animal-derived foods.

Cascade Electrochemical Aerobic Oxygenation of 2-Substituted Indoles and Electrochemical [5 + 3] Annulation with Amidines: Access to Eight-Membered Benzo[1,3,5]triazocin-6(5H)-ones.

The cascade electrochemical C3-selective aerobic oxygenation of 2-substituted indoles and electrochemical [5 + 3] annulation with amidines through an undivided cell galvanostatic method employing molecular oxygen and "electricity" as green oxidants was developed. This protocol provides an efficient and direct approach to eight-membered benzo[1,3,5]triazocin-6(5H)-ones. Mechanistic studies suggested that two subsequent electrochemical processes both proceeded through radical pathways.