Bioimaging and Sensing Thiols In Vivo and in Tumor Tissues Based on a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe with Large Stokes Shift.

The well-known small-molecule biothiols have been used to maintain the normal metabolism of peroxy radicals, forming protein structures, resisting cell apoptosis, regulating metabolism, and protecting the homeostasis of cells in the organism. A large amount of research has found that abnormal levels of the above biothiols can cause some adverse diseases, such as changes in hair pigmentation, a slower growth rate, delayed response, excessive sleep and skin diseases. In order to further investigate the exact intracellular molecular mechanism of biothiols, it is imperative to explore effective strategies for real-time biothiol detection in living systems. In this work, a new near-infrared (NIR) emission fluorescence probe (probe 1) for sensitive and selective detection of biothiols was devised by combining dicyanoisophorone derivatives with the dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNBS) group. As expected, probe 1 could specifically detect biothiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) through the dinitrobenzenesulfonyl group to form dye 2, which works as a signaling molecule for sensing biothiols in real samples. Surprisingly, probe 1 showed superior sensing characteristics and low-limit detection towards biothiols (36.0 nM for Cys, 39.0 nM for Hcy and 48.0 nM for GSH) with a large Stokes shift (134 nm). Additionally, the function of probe 1 as a platform for detecting biothiols was confirmed by confocal fluorescence imaging of biothiols in MCF-7 cells and zebrafish. More importantly, the capability of probe 1 in vivo has been further evaluated by imaging the overexpressed biothiols in tumor tissue. It is reasonable to believe that probe 1 can provide a valuable method to explore the relationship between biothiols and the genesis of tumor.

Biao and Ben Acupoints Regulate Mitochondrial Function Through P2X Receptor to Improve Myocardial Ischemia.

Context: Ischemic heart disease is a common disease in older surgical patients. The current treatments for myocardial ischemia mainly restore blood flow to an extent, but reperfusion inevitably causes reperfusion injury. Single-point acupuncture and moxibustion can strengthen the body's resistance and eliminate pathogenic factors, but medical practitioners haven't considered matching acupoints in treatments for myocardial ischemia. Objective: The study intended to examine the effects of electroacupuncture using the Biao and Ben acupoints on the structure and function of myocardial mitochondria, the changes in the expression of related proteins, and the intraoperative circulation of rats with myocardial ischemia and to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of the Biao-Ben acupoints. Design: The research team performed an animal study. Setting: The study took place in Lanzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Animals: The animals were 84 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 160-220 g. Intervention: The research team divided the rats into seven groups, with 12 rats in each group. The study evaluated two types of interventions: (1) zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and (2) electroacupuncture. The team used two versions of each type of intervention, for four groups in total: (1) a low dose of ZnCl2, the low-dose ZnCl2 group; (2) a high dose of ZnCl2, the high-dose ZnCl2 group; (3) electroacupuncture using a single acupoint, the Neiguan point, for the Neiguan group; and (4) electroacupuncture using three acupoints, the Neiguan point and the Biao and Ben points, for the Biao-Ben group. The study included three control groups-the control group, a positive control group; the sham group, a ZnCl2 control group; and the model group, a negative control group. The team collectively called five of the groups the operation group, which included all four intervention groups and the model group, in which the team induced ischemic heart disease. Outcome Measures: The research team measured: (1) the relative changes in the mitochondrial ultrastructure of the rat cardiomyocytes for each group using a laser confocal, fluorescent indicator assay to detect the concentration of calcium(2+) [Ca2+] in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes; (2) the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in myocardial tissue using ATP-detection technology; (3) mitochondrial activity using the fluorescent probe method; and (4) the protein levels of P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7) and mitochondria-related oxidative stress factors on the myocardial cell membrane using Western blot technology. The team monitored the physiology of the rats in each group. Results: Compared with the model group, the two ZnCl2 groups and the two electroacupuncture groups showed: (1) a significantly improved mitochondrial structure and function of the ischemic cardiomyocytes, (2) a significant increase in the mitochondrial activity, (3) a significant increase in the permeability of the membrane and thus an increase the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm, (4) a significant increase in the content of ATP inside and outside the myocardium, (5) at the same time, a significant reduction in the protein levels of the P2X7 receptors on the myocardial cell membrane and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in mitochondria, and (6) a significant reduction in the protein levels of nitric oxide (NO) and cytochrome C (CytC). Conclusions: The Biao and Ben electroacupuncture can improve the structure and function of mitochondria in the myocardial cells of rats with myocardial ischemia, reduce the expression levels of the P2X7 receptor, NO, and CytC proteins, increase the expression levels of PGC-1α and MnSOD, and improve the intraoperative circulation, thus having a positive effect on myocardial ischemia.

Effects of GLP-1 on ovarian dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent endocrine disorder in women, it is the principal cause of infertility and amenorrhea. Due to its high recurrence rate, poor prognosis and serious complications, more works on the research of PCOS are needed. Therefore, we performed a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on ovarian dysfunction in PCOS. METHODS: This study protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO and the registration number is CRD42020188247. The procedure of this protocol will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols guidance. A comprehensive search of several databases from 1966 to November 2022 will be conducted. The databases includes Ovid Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PubMed. The risk of bias of the included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane tool of risk of bias. All statistical analyses will be conducted using the software program Review Manager version 5.3. RESULTS: The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will provide evidence to judge whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist is superior to metformin in patients with PCOS.

Simultaneous Discrimination of Cys/Hcy and GSH With Simple Fluorescent Probe Under a Single-Wavelength Excitation and its Application in Living Cells, Tumor Tissues, and Zebrafish.

Owing to the important physiological sits of biothiols (Cys, Hcy, and GSH), developing accurate detection methods capable of qualitative and quantitative analysis of biothiols in living systems is needed for understanding the biological profile of biothiols. In this work, we have designed and synthesized a 4'-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-carbonitrile modified with NBD group-based fluorescent probe, BPN-NBD, for sensitive detection of Cys/Hcy and GSH by dual emission signals via a single-wavelength excitation. BPN-NBD exhibited an obvious blue fluorescence (λmaxem = 475 nm) upon the treatment with GSH and reacted with Cys/Hcy to give a mixed blue-green fluorescence (λmaxem = 475 and 545 nm). Meanwhile, BPN-NDB performed sufficient selectivity, rapid detection (150 s), high sensitivity (0.011 µM for Cys, 0.015 µM for Hcy, and 0.003 µM for GSH) and could work via a single-wavelength excitation to analytes and had the ability to image Cys/Hcy from GSH in living MCF-7 cells, tumor tissues, and zebrafish by exhibiting different fluorescence signals. Overall, this work provided a powerful tool for thiols visualization in biological and medical applications.

SRS suppression in multi-kW fiber lasers with a multiplexed CTFBG.

In this paper, we present experimental studies on newly developed multiplexed chirped tilted fiber Bragg gratings (MCTFBGs) for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) suppression for high-power fiber laser systems. The MCTFBG device is composed of five continuous segments of chirped tilted fiber Bragg gratings (CTFBGs), which are inscribed into the large-mode-area (LMA, 25/400µm) fibers. The SRS suppression capability of the MCTFBG device has been successfully demonstrated with a master oscillator power amplification (MOPA) fiber laser system at the output level of 3.4 KW. The experimental observation thus indicates the MCTFBG's excellent SRS suppression capability at a very high power level (∼15 dB under >3 kW) and high thermal handling capacity (∼1.48℃/kw). Our work thus provides a key development of essential fiber grating components that can effectively suppress the SRS suppression at a very high power level.