A novel core-shell up-conversion nanoparticles immunochromatographic assay for the detection of deoxynivalenol in cereals.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) toxin is a type B group of trichothecene mycotoxins mainly originating from specific Fusarium fungi, seriously harming human and livestock health. Herein, a novel core-shell up-conversion nanoparticles immunochromatographic assay (CS-UCNPs-ICA) was developed for deoxynivalenol based on the competitive reaction principle. By exploiting the fluorescence intensity of the T and C lines of CS-UCNPs-ICA, the concentrations of DON were obtained sensitively and precisely under optimized conditions in 5 min with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL. The CS-UCNPs-ICA strips only specifically detect DON and its derivatives (3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON), with no cross-reaction with other mycotoxins. The low CV values illustrated a modest intra- and inter-assay variation, confirming the superior precision of this method. In the spiked experiment, the mean recoveries of corn and wheat ranged from 94.74% to 100.90% and 96.21%-104.81%, respectively. Furthermore, the approach generated results that were in good agreement with data from HPLC and ELISA analyses of naturally contaminated feed and cereals, confirming that the significant advantages of proposed strips were their high practicality, rapidness, and simplicity. Therefore, the CS-UCNPs-ICA strips platform serves as a promising candidate for developing new approaches for rapid testing or high throughput screening from DON in food products.

Short-term outcomes and clinical efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in treatment of adrenal gland metastases from lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the management of adrenal gland metastases (AGMs) from lung cancer. Moreover, it is the first two-institutional experience and the largest-to-date study to report the safety and efficacy of SBRT for inoperable AGM from lung cancer. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 30 patients (27 males, 3 females) with 32 AGMs were treated by SBRT from October 2006 to June 2016. Of these, 11 patients were treated with the intent of controlling all known metastatic sites and 19 for palliation of bulky AGMs. Follow-up was performed every 3 months for evaluations of efficacy and safety. Factors predictive of overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) were identified with univariate and then multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 10.7 months (2.9-96.4 months). The complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) rates were 23.3%, 33.3%, 33.3% and 16.7% respectively. The 6-month, 1, and 2-year LC rates were 96.9%, 96.9%, and 72.7% respectively. Additionally, the 6-month, 1, and 2-year OS rates were 85.6%, 58.1%, and 54.0% respectively while 6-month, 1, and 2-year progression free survival (PFS) rates were 39.5%, 24.6%, and 8.2%, respectively. All the patients with cancer-induced pain (8 with abdominal pain and 6 with lumbar back pain) had significant alleviations after SBRT. The treatment was well tolerated with only 1 patient reporting grade-3 diarrhoea. No predictors of OS and LC were found after multivariate analysis, while it was demonstrated that biologic equivalent dose (BED10, α/ß = 10) ≥85.5Gy (P = 0.007) and gross tumor volume < 30 ml (P = 0.003) correlated with LC only after univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: SBRT is a safe and effective treatment modality in the management of AGMs from lung cancer with high LC rates and acceptable toxicity.

Hydroxytyrosol contributes to cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in pulsed electromagnetic fields treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro.

A variety of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been experimentally and clinically used in an effort to promote wound healing, although the mechanisms involved remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the action of a novel protocol of co­treatment with PEMFs and hydroxytyrosol (HTY) on the proliferation and differentiation potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The HUVECs were assigned randomly into three groups: Control, PEMF­treated and PEMF + HT­treated. The intensity of the electromagnetic field used in this protocol was 2.25 mT, the frequency of the bursts was 50 Hz and the application time was 15 min. A Cell Counting kit­8 (CCK­8) assay was used to assess cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL apoptosis assay kit and calcein­acetoxymethyl/propidium iodide dual­staining assay. In addition, protein and mRNA expression levels of protein kinase B (Akt), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), transforming growth factor (TGF)­ß1 and p53 were determined by western blotting and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. The CCK­8 assay demonstrated that HTY contributed to HUVEC proliferation mediated by PEMFs in a time­dependent manner. The Transwell assay and scratch wound results demonstrated that co­treatment of HTY and PEMFs could increase HUVEC migration. Furthermore, the levels of apoptotic cells were reversed by pre­incubation with HTY in the PEMF treatment group, while PEMF treatment alone had no such effect. The proteins and mRNA expression levels of Akt, mTOR, TGF­ß1 were elevated in co­treatment of HTY and PEMFs, whereas there was no effect on levels of p53. Therefore, the results indicated that combined exposure of HUVECs to PEMFs and HTY exerted protective effects in HUVECs by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate the beneficial roles of HTY and PEMF combined treatment in HUVECs, which may represent an effective treatment for wound healing.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on histomorphometry and osteocalcin in disuse osteoporosis rats.

OBJECTIVE: Bone histomorphometry and the concentration of the serum osteocalcin expression were observed in disuse osteoporosis (DOP) rats in order to explore the mechanism of pulsed electromagnetic fields in treating DOP. METHODS: Female SD rats, weighing 250 ∼ 280 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group and three experimental groups. The right hindlimbs of all the rats were immobilized by tibia-tail fixation, except for those in the INT group. The ALN group rats were given an alendronate sodium (1 mg kg-1 d-1) treatment, and the rats in the PEMF group received PEMF irradiation. Bone histomorphometry and the concentration of serum osteocalcin expression were detected in 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Four weeks after modeling, as compared with the DOP group, the %Tb-Ar and Tb-N in the ALN group were increased, and the difference was significant (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). At 8 weeks, as compared with the DOP group, the %Tb-Ar and Tb-N in the ALN group and the PEMF group both increased, and there was a significant difference (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). At 12 weeks, as compared with the DOP group, the BGP serum concentration of the ALN group was reduced, and there was a statistical difference (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pulse electromagnetic field with drug can prevent disuse osteoporosis by changing the bone microstructure. In the long run, PEMF improves the mechanical performance of biological structures better than alendronate sodium does. PEMF may influence the process of bone remodeling by promoting the level of osteocalcin.

Predicting factors associated with frailty in aged patients with bone-arthrosis pain in the clinic.

OBJECTIVES: To identify frail and pre-frail patients in a group of patients older than 60 years. METHODS: The phenotype model of Fried's method was used to identify frailty and pre-frailty in total of 78 participants. Cognitive ability and psychosocial function tests were also given to 59 of the 78 patients. RESULTS: Prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty was 14.1% (11/78) and 46.2% (36/78), respectively. Of the 5 phenotype variables, weak grip strength was the most commonly seen variable with 53.8% of all participants and 100% in the frail group. Low energy expenditure, however, was not self-reported by any participant in the current study (0%). Prevalence of frailty in the present study is associated with chronological age. The current study indicates that 4 phenotypic variables (unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, gait speed and grip strength) contribute to the development to frailty, and that cognitive impairment and psychosocial frailty also predict frailty or pre-frailty in the patients older than 60 years old irrespective of chronic pain or osteoarthritis. The findings of the current study suggest frailty and pre-frailty are common in senior Chinese patients with chronic diseases. CONCLUSION: Recognition and identification of frailty in a rehabilitation clinic or hospital might help physicians to provide appropriate counseling to patients and families about adverse outcomes of certain treatments such as surgery, and could optimize management of coexisting chronic diseases that might contribute to or be affected by frailty.