A fluorescent sensor based on the cascade signal amplification strategy for ultra-sensitive detection of Cu2.

Copper is an essential element in the human body, participating in various physiological activities in the bodies of organisms. However, an excessive load of Cu2+ is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases and prion diseases, also identified as a symptom of Wilson's disease (WD). A straightforward, rapid, sensitive, and specific copper sensor is highly required but remains a challenge. In this study, guided by the simulation, we developed a chemical sensor using a cascade signal amplification strategy based on the Cu-catalyzed click reaction, combined with a fluorescence-enhanced substrate with gold nanorods coupled with silver nanoislands. The sensor can selectively detect Cu2+ as low as 3.87 nM within 10 min. We have demonstrated that this method can be directly employed for WD diagnosis in urine samples. In addition, using antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) as an example, we verify whether this assay can be adapted to other targets where Cu is designed as an indirect indicator.

Bioinspired Plasmonic Nanosensor for on-Site Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing in Urine Samples.

Delayed use of appropriate antibiotics for superbugs, particularly for extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pn), has caused extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, rapid and on-site antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is urgently required. Unfortunately, currently, no phenotypic AST can realize a sample-to-answer result within 2 h directly from a clinical sample and without using laboratory equipment or customized devices. Inspired by observing that E. coli and K. pn can rapidly catalyze H2O2, we developed a plasmonic nanosensor that responds to the proliferation of bacteria for realizing rapid AST. The results can be determined with the naked eye, digitized using a smartphone, and validated using ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. Our assay achieved superb area under the curves of 0.9752 and 1 in a receiver operating characteristic analysis directly obtained from uncultured clinical urine samples infected by E. coli and K. pn, respectively. The entire process from sample collection to analysis takes 100 min for E. coli and 85 min for K. pn detection. Our platform provides a practical approach for performing on-site AST in clinics to improve the survival of patients. It releases the burden of superbugs and avoids the abuse of antibiotics.

Room-Temperature Harvesting Oxidase-Mimicking Enzymes with Exogenous ROS Generation in One Step.

Despite the advantages of low cost, high stability, and activities, a majority of nanozymes rely on strict synthesis conditions and precise size/structure control, hindering the stable, bulk, and high-yield production that is necessary for general use. To facilitate the transition of nanozymes from benchtop to real-world applications, we herein present a one-step approach, which only needs mixing of two broad commercialized reagents at room temperature, to harvest gold nanoparticles-bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanocomposite (BSA-Au) with distinct oxidase-like activity and good stability in a broad range of harsh conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate the oxidase-like activity of BSA-Au stemming from thermodynamically and kinetically favored facets for O2 activation. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of BSA-Au contributes to the catalytic activities and further enables water sterilization and antibacterial applications against superbugs. This one-step strategy promises great potential in bulk production of nanozyme for broad application beyond laboratory use.

SPAG5 is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and promotes proliferation, motility and autophagy in A549 cells.

Sperm-associated antigen 5 (SPAG5) is involved in the tumorigenesis of multiple cancer types. However, the role of SPAG5 during lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the expression of SPAG5 in tumor tissues of patients with LUAD from public cancer databases was analyzed using the online software Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and University of Alabama Cancer Database. The association of SPAG5 expression levels with the prognosis of patients with LUAD was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier Plotter. In addition, the role of SPAG5 in the LUAD cell line A549 was determined by knocking down its expression with specific small interfering RNA. The results demonstrated that SPAG5 expression was upregulated in LUAD tissues and its high expression was associated with unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, in A549 cells, SPAG5 promoted proliferation, migration, invasion and autophagy, but inhibited apoptosis. The present results suggest that SPAG5 has an oncogenic role in LUAD and may be a potential prognostic predictor and therapeutic target for LUAD.

Thunder-Fire Moxibustion for Cervical Spondylosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spondylosis (CS) refers to the degenerative changes in the cervical spinal column, which affect the majority of middle-aged and elderly people. Thunder-fire moxibustion originated from thunder-fire miraculous needle, which has been applied widely for treating pain syndromes for thousands of years. The aim of our research is to provide evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of thunder-fire moxibustion in treating CS. Methods and analysis. Retrieved literature databases included Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCO, EBASE, Springer, PubMed, WFDP, CNKI, VIP, and CBM. The period of retrieval was from the establishment of the database to December 2018. Randomized controlled trials which compared thunder-fire moxibustion and other therapies in CS were included. The quality of inclusive trials was accessed though a Cochrane risk of bias tool. According to the test results of heterogeneity, a random effect model or fixed effect model was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Meta-analysis was conducted for the total effective rate of thunder-fire moxibustion, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, pain score, satisfaction score, and score of the symptoms and functional rehabilitation of cervical vertigo. The analysis results were as follows: compared with other therapies, the efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion was statistically significant, total effective rate increased (OR = 2.48; 95% CI [1.80, 3.41]; P < 0.00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score decreased (SMD = -3.05; 95% CI[-4.18, -1.93]; P < 0.00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score decreased (SMD = -3.05; 95% CI[-4.18, -1.93]; P < 0.00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score decreased (SMD = -3.05; 95% CI[-4.18, -1.93]; P < 0.00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score decreased (SMD = -3.05; 95% CI[-4.18, -1.93]; P < 0.00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score decreased (SMD = -3.05; 95% CI[-4.18, -1.93]. CONCLUSION: Based on the existing evidence, the curative effect and safety of thunder-fire moxibustion on CS were statistically significant. We should interpret the results scrupulously because of the low evidence level. Large-scale, high-quality, rigorous RCTs with long-term follow-up should be performed in the future.

Blocking-Free ELISA Using a Gold Nanoparticle Layer Coated Commercial Microwell Plate.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) show extensive application in immunoassays, to detect and monitor protein biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, the time required and its multiple steps limit its application. We take advantage of a polyethyleneimine (PEI) gold nanoparticle (GNP) coated microwell plate to perform blocking-free ELISA, in which no nonspecific protein adsorption appears on the GNP layer. If the PEI-GNP coated microwell plate and immobilization of captured antibodies on the plate are prepared in advance, such as using an ELISA kit, the whole ELISA process can be finished in less than 2 h. Meanwhile, we have ensured that the GNP layer can preserve the precision and good linearity of ELISA without causing negative effects on the plate.