c-Jun targets miR-451a to regulate HQ-induced inhibition of erythroid differentiation via the BATF/SETD5/ARHGEF3 axis.

Benzene, a widely used industrial chemical, has been clarified to cause hematotoxicity. Our previous study suggested that miR-451a may play a role in benzene-induced impairment of erythroid differentiation. However, the mechanism underlying remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of miR-451a and its underlying mechanisms in hydroquinone (HQ)-induced suppression of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells. 0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 50 µM HQ treatment of K562 cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of erythroid differentiation, as well as the expression of miR-451a. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict potential target genes of miR-451a and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-451a can directly bind to the 3'-UTR regions of BATF, SETD5, and ARHGEF3 mRNAs. We further demonstrated that over-expression or down-regulation of miR-451a altered the expression of BATF, SETD5, and ARHGEF3, and also modified erythroid differentiation. In addition, BATF, SETD5, and ARHGEF3 were verified to play a role in HQ-induced inhibition of erythroid differentiation in this study. Knockdown of SETD5 and ARHGEF3 reversed HQ-induced suppression of erythroid differentiation while knockdown of BATF had the opposite effect. On the other hand, we also identified c-Jun as a potential transcriptional regulator of miR-451a. Forced expression of c-Jun increased miR-451a expression and reversed the inhibition of erythroid differentiation induced by HQ, whereas knockdown of c-Jun had the opposite effect. And the binding site of c-Jun and miR-451a was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Collectively, our findings indicate that miR-451a and its downstream targets BATF, SETD5, and ARHGEF3 are involved in HQ-induced erythroid differentiation disorder, and c-Jun regulates miR-451a as a transcriptional regulator in this process.

Implications of deduplication on the detection rates of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) in various specimens: insights from the hospital infection surveillance program.

BACKGROUND: Currently, different guidelines recommend using different methods to determine whether deduplication is necessary when determining the detection rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, few studies have investigated the effect of deduplication on MDRO monitoring data. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of deduplication on the detection rates of MDROs in different specimens to assess its impact on infection surveillance outcomes. METHODS: Samples were collected from hospitalized patients admitted between January 2022 and December 2022; four types of specimens were collected from key monitored MDROs, including sputum samples, urine samples, blood samples, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples. In this study, we compared and analysed the detection rates of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRECO), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under two conditions: with and without deduplication. RESULTS: When all specimens were included, the detection rates of CRKP, CRAB, CRPA, and MRSA without deduplication (33.52%, 77.24%, 44.56%, and 56.58%, respectively) were significantly greater than those with deduplication (24.78%, 66.25%, 36.24%, and 50.83%, respectively) (all P < 0.05). The detection rates in sputum samples were significantly different between samples without duplication (28.39%, 76.19%, 46.95%, and 70.43%) and those with deduplication (19.99%, 63.00%, 38.05%, and 64.50%) (all P < 0.05). When deduplication was not performed, the rate of detection of CRKP in urine samples reached 30.05%, surpassing the rate observed with deduplication (21.56%) (P < 0.05). In BALF specimens, the detection rates of CRKP and CRPA without deduplication (39.78% and 53.23%, respectively) were greater than those with deduplication (31.62% and 42.20%, respectively) (P < 0.05). In blood samples, deduplication did not have a significant impact on the detection rates of MDROs. CONCLUSION: Deduplication had a significant effect on the detection rates of MDROs in sputum, urine, and BALF samples. Based on these data, we call for the Infection Prevention and Control Organization to align its analysis rules with those of the Bacterial Resistance Surveillance Organization when monitoring MDRO detection rates.

The symptoms and interval of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among healthcare workers in a hospital of Southern China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and distinction between first Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and reinfection with the Omicron variant among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain unclear. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital in Southern China. The study included 262 HCWs who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April and June 2023, with 101 cases of first infection and 161 ones of reinfection. Student's t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Mann-Whitney U tests were used based on the distribution of quantitative variables. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used based on the expected frequencies of categorical variables. RESULTS: The reinfection rate among HCWs was 11.5% (161/1406). The majority of the infected HCWs were female (212/262, 80.9%, first infection vs. reinfection: 76.2% vs. 83.9%). The nursing staff, had the highest percentage of SARS-CoV-2 infection (42.0%), especially of its reinfection (47.8%). Out of the 262 infected individuals, 257 had received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, primarily inactivated vaccines (243/257, 91.1%). The first infection group, which received four doses (24, 23.8%), was significantly higher than that in the reinfection group (6, 3.7%) (P < 0.001). The proportion of asymptomatic infections among HCWs in the two groups was 1.0% and 1.2%. The main symptoms during the first infection and reinfection were fever (83.2% and 50.9%) and sore throat (78.2% and 77.0%). There were significant differences in the prevalence of fever (83.2% vs. 50.9%), rhinorrhea (45.5% vs. 60.9%) and myalgia (56.4% vs. 37.9%) between the first infection and reinfection (P < 0.05). The average interval for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was 149.9 (range: 114-182, SD = 11.9) days. Notably, physicians had the shortest average interval of 142.8 (8.8) days, while management and administrative staff had the longest average interval of 153.8 (13.5) days. CONCLUSIONS: Although the symptoms of HCWs during reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 were milder, the high reinfection rate and short interval between infections indicate the need to enhance monitoring and protective measures for HCWs during the epidemic.

Antibiotic prophylaxis after 48 h postoperatively are not associated with decreased surgical site infections and other healthcare associated infections in pancreatic surgery patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether antibiotic should be used prophylactically 48 h after pancreatic surgery. Hence, the association of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) after 48 h postoperatively with the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients receiving pancreatic surgery was evaluated. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 1073 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery. These patients were categorized into the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (n = 963) and the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (n = 110) based on whether or not they obtained AP from 48 h to 30 days after surgery. Outcomes included SSIs and other HAIs. RESULTS: The incidence of SSIs in the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (98/963, 10.2%) was notably lower than that in the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (22/110, 20.0%) (P = 0.002). Other HAIs incidence was not significantly different between the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (77/963, 8.0%) and the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (11/110, 10.0%) (P = 0.468). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that AP after 48 h postoperatively was a risk factor for SSIs (OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.28-3.59) but not for other HAIs (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 0.63-2.42) after adjustment for age, gender, and diabetes. Subsequent to adjustment for all confounding factors, AP after 48 h postoperatively was not a influence factor for SSIs (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 0.76-5.99) and other HAIs (OR = 3.69, 95% CI 0.99-13.81). CONCLUSIONS: AP after 48 h postoperatively following pancreatic surgery was not associated with the lower morbidity rate of SSIs and other HAIs. Nonetheless, this study may facilitate further development of strategies towards standardization of the duration of AP management of pancreatic surgery.

Physicochemical and structural changes of myofibrillar proteins in muscle foods during thawing: Occurrence, consequences, evidence, and implications.

Myofibrillar protein (MP) endows muscle foods with texture and important functional properties, such as water-holding capacity (WHC) and emulsifying and gel-forming abilities. However, thawing deteriorates the physicochemical and structural properties of MPs, significantly affecting the WHC, texture, flavor, and nutritional value of muscle foods. Thawing-induced physicochemical and structural changes in MPs need further investigation and consideration in the scientific development of muscle foods. In this study, we reviewed the literature for the thawing effects on the physicochemical and structural characters of MPs to identify potential associations between MPs and the quality of muscle-based foods. Physicochemical and structural changes of MPs in muscle foods occur because of physical changes during thawing and microenvironmental changes, including heat transfer and phase transformation, moisture activation and migration, microbial activation, and alterations in pH and ionic strength. These changes are not only essential inducements for changes in spatial conformation, surface hydrophobicity, solubility, Ca2+ -ATPase activity, intermolecular interaction, gel properties, and emulsifying properties of MPs but also factors causing MP oxidation, characterized by thiols, carbonyl compounds, free amino groups, dityrosine content, cross-linking, and MP aggregates. Additionally, the WHC, texture, flavor, and nutritional value of muscle foods are closely related to MPs. This review encourages additional work to explore the potential of tempering techniques, as well as the synergistic effects of traditional and innovative thawing technologies, in reducing the oxidation and denaturation of MPs and maintaining the quality of muscle foods.

Advances in oxidative stress in pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease and efficacy of TCM intervention.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common complication of diabetes and has become the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease. The pathogenesis of DKD is complicated, and oxidative stress is considered as a core of DKD onset. High glucose can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the polyol, PKC, AGE/RAGE and hexosamine pathways, resulting in enhanced oxidative stress response. In this way, pathways such as PI3K/Akt, TGF-ß1/p38-MAPK and NF-κB are activated, inducing endothelial cell apoptosis, inflammation, autophagy and fibrosis that cause histologic and functional abnormalities of the kidney and finally result in kidney injury. Presently, the treatment for DKD remains an unresolved issue. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages for DKD prevention and treatment attributed to its multi-target, multi-component, and multi-pathway characteristics. Numerous studies have proved that Chinese herbs (e.g., Golden Thread, Kudzuvine Root, Tripterygium glycosides, and Ginseng) and patent medicines (e.g., Shenshuaining Tablet, Compound Rhizoma Coptidis Capsule, and Zishen Tongluo Granule) are effective for DKD treatment. The present review described the role of oxidative stress in DKD pathogenesis and the effect of TCM intervention for DKD prevention and treatment, in an attempt to provide evidence for clinical practice.

Active edible films with plant extracts: a updated review of their types, preparations, reinforcing properties, and applications in muscle foods packaging and preservation.

Currently, edible films have been increasingly explored to solve muscle food spoilage during storage, especially through the incorporation of plant extracts to develop edible packaging materials. Natural polymers matrices with plant extracts are befitting for fabricating edible films by casting methods. In the films system, the structure and physicochemical properties were strengthened via chemical interactions between active molecules in plant extracts and the reactive groups in the polymer chain. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties were dramatically reinforced through both physical and chemical actions of the plant extracts. Additionally, edible films imbedded with color-rich plant extracts could be considered as potential sensitive indicators to monitor the spoilage degree of muscle foods in response to change in gas or temperature. Furthermore, these films could increase sensory acceptability, improve quality and prolong the shelf life of muscle foods. In this article, the types, preparation methods and reinforcing properties of the edible films with plant extracts were discussed. Also, the applications of these films were summarized on quality maintenance and shelf-life extension and intelligent monitoring in muscle foods. Finally, a novel technology for film preparation achieving high-stability and sustained release of active compounds will become an underlying trend for application in muscle food packaging.

A comprehensive review of the principles, key factors, application, and assessment of thawing technologies for muscle foods.

For years, various thawing technologies based on pressure, ultrasound, electromagnetic energy, and electric field energy have been actively investigated to minimize the amount of drip and reduce the quality deterioration of muscle foods during thawing. However, existing thawing technologies have limitations in practical applications due to their high costs and technical defects. Therefore, key factors of thawing technologies must be comprehensively analyzed, and their effects must be systematically evaluated by the quality indexes of muscle foods. In this review, the principles and key factors of thawing techniques are discussed, with an emphasis on combinations of thawing technologies. Furthermore, the application effects of thawing technologies in muscle foods are systematically evaluated from the viewpoints of eating quality and microbial and chemical stability. Finally, the disadvantages of the existing thawing technologies and the development prospects of tempering technologies are highlighted. This review can be highly instrumental in achieving more ideal thawing goals.

Early Assessment of Atherosclerotic Lesions and Vulnerable Plaques in vivo by Targeting Apoptotic Macrophages with AV Nanobubbles.

Background: The early detection of atherosclerotic lesions is particularly important for risk prediction of acute cardiovascular events. Macrophages apoptosis was significantly associated with the degree of AS lesions and especially contributed to plaque vulnerability. In this research, we mainly sought to explore the feasibility of a home-made AV-nanobubbles (NBAV) for visualization of apoptotic macrophages and assessment of atherosclerosis (AS) lesions by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: NBAV were prepared by "Optimized Thin-Film Hydration" and "Biotin-Avidin-Biotin" methods. Then, the characterization and echogenicity of NBAV were measured and analyzed in vitro. The targeting ability of NBAV to ox-LDL-induced apoptotic macrophages was observed by laser scanning confocal microscope. The ApoE-/- mice mode fed with high fat diet were observed by high-frequency ultrasound, microanatomy and oil red O staining. CEUS imaging in vivo was performed on AS plaques with NBAV and NBCtrl injection through the tail vein in turn in ApoE-/- mice. After CEUS imaging, the plaques were confirmed and analyzed by histopathological and immunological assessment. Results: The prepared NBAV had a nano-scale size distribution with a low PDI and a negative zeta potential. Moreover, NBAV showed an excellent stability and exhibited a significantly echogenic signal than saline in vitro. In addition, we found that NBAV could target apoptotic macrophages induced by ox-LDL. Compared with NBCtrl, CEUS imaging of NBAV showed strong and sustained echo enhancement in plaque area of aortic arch in vivo. Further research showed that NBAV sensitive plaques presented more significant pathological changes with several vulnerable plaque features and abundant TUNEL-positive area. Conclusion: NBAV displayed a sensitive indicator to evaluate apoptotic macrophages, indicating a promising CEUS molecular probe for AS lesions and vulnerable plaques identification.

Application of Grey Relational Entropy Weight Method in DRG Performance Evaluation of Inpatient Departments.

Objective: The objective is to analyze the performance indicators of the hospital's orthopedics department based on the DRG tool, evaluate the medical service ability of the orthopedic department, and provide a theoretical basis for the hospital to build a performance management evaluation system. Methods: The Shanghai version of DRG tool was used for grouping, and DRG indicators (RW, CM, CMI, number of groups), surgical grades, and disease structure were used for assessment. Results: 3,310 people were discharged from the department of orthopedics, the total number of CM was 4,196.99, the CMI value was 1.27, and the number of DRGs was 161. Conclusion: The overall condition of the orthopedics department is good, mainly for the treatment of difficult and severe cases. The results reflected by the DRG indicators are scientific and objective. The remission group is lower than normal group (P > 0.05). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of EOS were 57.6%, 29.7%, 83.8%, 55.9%, and 63.3%, respectively.

Assessment of health risk and dose-effect of DNA oxidative damage for the thirty chemicals mixture of parabens, triclosan, benzophenones, and phthalate esters.

Humans are constantly exposed to parabens (PBs), triclosan (TCS), benzophenones (BPs), and phthalate esters (PAEs) due to the widespread existence of these chemicals in personal care products (PCPs), and the high frequency of usage for humans. Previous studies indicated each class of the above-mentioned chemicals can exhibit potential adverse effects on humans, in particular DNA oxidative damage. However, the health risk assessment of combined exposures to multiple PCPs is limited, especially the overall dose-effect of mixtures of these chemicals on DNA oxidative damage. In this study, we measured the urinary levels of 6 PBs, TCS, 8 BPs, 15 metabolites of PAEs (mono-PAEs), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) from 299 adults simultaneously. PBs, TCS, BPs, and mono-PAEs were frequently detected in urinary samples with median concentrations of 52.888, 0.737, 1.305, and 141.381 ng/ml, suggesting a broad, low-level exposure among participants. Risk assessments indicated approximately 22% and 15% of participants suffered health risks (Hazard index >1) from exposure to TCS and PAEs. The relationship between 8-OHdG levels and chemical exposure was estimated by Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. It indicated an overall positive correlation between the mixture of these chemicals and 8-OHdG, with methylparaben and mono-benzyl phthalate contributing the most to this association. Of note, sex-related differences were observed, in which exposure to PCPs led to higher health risks and more pronounced dose-effect on DNA damage in the female population. Our novel findings reveal the health risks of exposure to low-level PCPs mixtures and further point out the overall dose-response relationship between DNA oxidative damage and PCP mixtures.

Progress and Prospects of Research Ideas and Methods in the Network Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In recent years, the emerging network pharmacology has been extensively applied to the field of traditional Chinese medicine and has made great contributions to the modernization of TCM. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of the progress of research ideas and methods in the network pharmacology in the last few years in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and presents insights into future research methods and ideas in the network pharmacology. Problems with the current network pharmacology are discussed and prospects of its future development are put forward.

Early Assessment of Chemotherapy Response in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Circulating Tumor DNA.

Monitoring treatment efficacy early during therapy could enable a change in treatment to improve patient outcomes. We report an early assessment of response to treatment in advanced NSCLC using a plasma-only strategy to measure changes in ctDNA levels after one cycle of chemotherapy. Plasma samples were collected from 92 patients with Stage IIIB-IV NSCLC treated with first-line chemo- or chemoradiation therapies in an observational, prospective study. Retrospective ctDNA analysis was performed using next-generation sequencing with a targeted 198-kb panel designed for lung cancer surveillance and monitoring. We assessed whether changes in ctDNA levels after one or two cycles of treatment were associated with clinical outcomes. Subjects with ≤50% decrease in ctDNA level after one cycle of chemotherapy had a lower 6-month progression-free survival rate (33% vs. 58%, HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.2, log-rank p = 0.009) and a lower 12-month overall survival rate (25% vs. 70%, HR 4.3, 95% CI 2.2 to 9.7, log-rank p < 0.001). Subjects with ≤50% decrease in ctDNA level after two cycles of chemotherapy also had shorter survival. Using non-invasive liquid biopsies to measure early changes in ctDNA levels in response to chemotherapy may help identify non-responders before standard-of-care imaging in advanced NSCLC.

Activation of ATM/Chk2 by Zanthoxylum armatum DC extract induces DNA damage and G1/S phase arrest in BRL 3A cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zanthoxylum armatum DC is a traditional medicinal plant. It is widely used in clinical treatment and disease prevention in China, India and other regions. Modern studies have reported the phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and the animal toxicity of Zanthoxylum armatum DC, and the damage of genetic material has been observed in plants, but the detailed mechanism has not been explored. Besides, the toxicity of normal mammalian cells has not been evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effects and underlying mechanism of genetic material damage in BRL 3A cells induced by Zanthoxylum armatum DC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry was used for identification of compounds in methanol extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. BRL 3A cells were incubated with different concentrations of methanol extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC (24 h). The cytotoxicity of extract was assessed with cell viability, LDH release rate, and ROS production. The damage of genetic material was assessed with OTM value of comet cells, cell cycle and the expression levels of p-ATM, p- Chk2, Cdc25A, and CDK2. RESULTS: Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry investigation revealed the presence of compounds belonging to flavonoid, fatty acid and alkaloid groups. The viability of BRL 3A cells was reduced in a time-dose dependent manner treated by methanol extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. It increased LDH release rate and ROS production, activated the DNA double strand damage marker of γH2AX and produced comet cells. In addition, methanol extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC caused ATM-mediated DNA damage, further phosphorylated Chk2, inhibited cell cycle related proteins, and arrested the G1/S cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Methanol extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC induces DNA damage and further leads G1/S cell cycle arrest by triggering oxidative stress in the BRL 3A cells. This study provides some useful evidences for its development as an antitumor drug via activation of ATM/Chk2.

Identification of Oxidative Stress-Related Biomarkers in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease throughout the world. In kidney disease, oxidative stress has been linked to both antioxidant depletions and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify biomarkers related to oxidative stress in DKD. Methods: The gene expression profile of the DKD was extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The identification of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed using the "limma" R package, and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to find the gene modules that were most related to DKD. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed using "Org.Hs.eg.db" R package. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database. The hub genes were identified by the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) plug-in of Cytoscape software. The diagnostic capacity of hub genes was verified using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Correlations between diagnostic genes were analyzed using the "corrplot" package. In addition, the miRNA gene transcription factor (TF) network was used to explain the regulatory mechanism of hub genes in DKD. Results: DEGs analysis and WGCNA-identified 160 key genes were identified in DKD patients. Among them, nine oxidative stress-related genes were identified as candidate hub genes for DKD. Using the PPI network, five hub genes, NR4A2, DUSP1, FOS, JUN, and PTGS2, were subsequently identified. All the hub genes were downregulated in DKD and had a high diagnostic value of DKD. The regulatory mechanism of hub genes was analyzed from the miRNA gene-TF network. Conclusion: Our study identified NR4A2, DUSP1, FOS, JUN, and PTGS2 as hub genes of DKD. These genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets for DKD patients.

The design of electronic medical records for patients of continuous care.

In order to meet the ever-increasing needs of health care, as well as helping patients who need continuous care after being discharged from the hospital and making modern medical technology better serve humans, the design of electronic medical records for continuous care patients, especially those with malignant tumors, is investigated. In the research process, the idea of Browser/Server (B/S) framework is adopted, and the corresponding electronic medical record system is designed based on the targets and the overall structure of the system; afterward, the black-box testing and white-box testing are carried out to test the functions, reliability, and stability of the designed electronic medical record system; in addition, combined with other research results, the feasibility of the design is proved. It can be seen that the electronic medical record system designed for patients who need continuous care in the study is absolutely feasible, which can be further researched and improved with the development of electronic medical records; therefore, it would make greater contributions to both patients and hospitals in the future.

Novel biomimetic dual-mode nanodroplets as ultrasound contrast agents with potential ability of precise detection and photothermal ablation of tumors.

PURPOSE: Molecule-targeted ultrasound imaging has attracted extensive attention for precise diagnosis and targeted therapy of tumors. The aim of this research is to prepare novel biomimetic dual-mode nanoscale ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs), which can not only evade the immune clearance of reticuloendothelial system, but also have the potential ability of precise detection and photothermal ablation of tumors. METHODS: In this study, for the first time, the novel biomimetic UCAs were prepared by encapsulating liquid perfluorohexanes with red blood cell membranes carrying IR-780 iodide and named IR780-RBCM@NDs. The characteristics of that were verified through the particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The stability of IR780-RBCM@NDs at 37 °C was explored. The abilities of immune escape, dual-mode imaging and photothermal effect for IR780-RBCM@NDs were verified via in vitro experiments. RESULTS: The novel prepared nanodroplets have good characteristics such as mean diameter, zeta potential, and relatively stability. Importantly, the integrin-associated protein expressed on the surface of RBCMs was detected on IR780-RBCM@NDs. Then, compared with control groups, IR780-RBCM@NDs performed excellent immune escape function away from macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, the IR-780 iodide was observed on the new nanodroplets and that was able to perform the dual-mode imaging with near-infrared fluorescence imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging after the phase change. Finally, the effective photothermal ablation ability of IR780-RBCM@NDs was verified in tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The newly prepared biomimetic IR780-RBCM@NDs provided novel ideas for evading immune clearance, performing precise diagnosis and photothermal ablation of tumor cells.

Efficacy and safety of Zuojin Pill for chronic gastritis: Protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Chronic gastritis (CG), as the highest incidence of gastrointestinal diseases, has been gradually increasing around globally. With the obvious disadvantages of standard treatment, more and more people ask the traditional Chinese medicine for help in the treatment of CG. As a traditional Chinese medicine compound, Zuojin Pill (ZJP) has a long history of clinical application in the treatment of digestive system diseases. Whereas, neither systematic nor meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials explain the efficacy and safety of ZJP in treating CG. Thus, we provide a protocol to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ZJP for CG. METHODS: From the beginning to December 2019, the following electronic databases will be searched for studies in English or Chinese: the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and the Wanfang Database. Clinical efficiency, helicobacter pylori infection clearance rate, quality of life and symptom scores will be measured as primary outcomes. Meta-analysis will be performed using the Stata 15. OUTCOMES: This study will provide the current evidence of CG treated with ZJP from the several aspects including clinical efficiency, helicobacter pylori infection clearance rate, quality of life, symptom scores, the 1-year recurrent rate, efficacy under endoscopy and number of reported adverse events associated with the use of ZJP. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this review will be served as a proof to evaluate if ZJP is effective in the treatment of CG. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42020155036.

Influence of benzene exposure, fat content, and their interactions on erythroid-related hematologic parameters in petrochemical workers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitously distributed benzene is a known hematotoxin. Increasing evidence has suggested that erythroid-related hematologic parameters may be sensitive to benzene exposure. Fat content, which is also closely associated with erythroid-related hematologic parameters, may affect the distribution and/or metabolism of benzene, and eventually benzene-induced toxicity. METHODS: To explore the influence of benzene exposure, fat content, and their interactions on erythroid-related hematologic parameters, we recruited 1669 petrochemical workers and measured their urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) concentration and erythroid-related hematological parameters. Indices for fat content included body fat percentage (BF%), plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG), and occurrence of fatty liver. RESULTS: The dose-response curve revealed U-shaped nonlinear relationships of SPMA with hematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P-overall < 0.001, and P-nonlinear < 0.015), as well as positive linear associations and r-shaped nonlinear relationships of continuous fat content indices with erythroid-related hematological parameters (P-overall ≤0.005). We also observed modification effects of fat content on the associations between benzene exposure and erythroid-related hematological parameters, with workers of lower or higher BF% and TG more sensitive to benzene-induced elevation of MCHC (Pinteraction = 0.021) and benzene-induced decrease of HCT (Pinteraction = 0.050), respectively. We also found that some erythroid-related hematologic parameters differed between subgroups of workers with different SPMA levels and fat content combination. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that benzene exposure, fat content, and their interactions may affect erythroid-related hematological parameters in petrochemical workers in a complex manner that are worthy of further investigation.