Asparagine Synthetase Marks a Distinct Dependency Threshold for Cardiomyocyte Dedifferentiation.

BACKGROUND: Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes have limited proliferative capacity, but in specifically induced contexts they traverse through cell-cycle reentry, offering the potential for heart regeneration. Endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation is preceded by cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation (CMDD), wherein adult cardiomyocytes revert to a less matured state that is distinct from the classical myocardial fetal stress gene response associated with heart failure. However, very little is known about CMDD as a defined cardiomyocyte cell state in transition. METHODS: Here, we leveraged 2 models of in vitro cultured adult mouse cardiomyocytes and in vivo adeno-associated virus serotype 9 cardiomyocyte-targeted delivery of reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and Myc) in adult mice to study CMDD. We profiled their transcriptomes using RNA sequencing, in combination with multiple published data sets, with the aim of identifying a common denominator for tracking CMDD. RESULTS: RNA sequencing and integrated analysis identified Asparagine Synthetase (Asns) as a unique molecular marker gene well correlated with CMDD, required for increased asparagine and also for distinct fluxes in other amino acids. Although Asns overexpression in Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and Myc cardiomyocytes augmented hallmarks of CMDD, Asns deficiency led to defective regeneration in the neonatal mouse myocardial infarction model, increased cell death of cultured adult cardiomyocytes, and reduced cell cycle in Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and Myc cardiomyocytes, at least in part through disrupting the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered a novel gene Asns as both a molecular marker and an essential mediator, marking a distinct threshold that appears in common for at least 4 models of CMDD, and revealing an Asns/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 axis dependency for dedifferentiating cardiomyocytes. Further study will be needed to extrapolate and assess its relevance to other cell state transitions as well as in heart regeneration.

Flexible microfluidic colorimetric detection chip integrated with ABTS·+ and Co@MnO2 nanozyme catalyzed TMB reaction systems for bio-enzyme free detection of sweat uric acid.

BACKGROUND: The development of wearable detection devices that can achieve noninvasive, on-site and real-time monitoring of sweat metabolites is of great demand and practical significance for point-of-care testing and healthcare monitoring. Monitoring uric acid (UA) content in sweat provides a simple and promising way to reduce the risk of gout and hyperuricemia. Traditional bioenzyme based UA assays suffer from high cost, poor stability, inconvenience for storage and easy deactivation of bioenzymes. Wearable microfluidic colorimetric detection device for sweat UA detection has not been reported. The development of novel wearable microfluidic colorimetric detection chip with no requirement of bioenzymes for sweat UA detection is of great importance for health care monitoring. RESULTS: Firstly, Co@MnO2 nanozyme with high oxidase-like activity was synthesized and characterized. Co@MnO2 can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) directly to generate blue-green colored ox-TMB. Green colored 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical (ABTS·+) was produced by the oxidation of ABTS by potassium persulfate. UA exhibits distinct quenching effect on Co@MnO2 catalyzed TMB colorimetric reaction system and ABTS·+ based colorimetric system, leading to obvious color fading of the two colorimetric systems. Then, a flexible microfluidic colorimetric detection chip for UA detection was fabricated by assembling Co@MnO2/TMB modified paper chips and ABTS·+ modified paper chips into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chip. The fabricated microfluidic colorimetric detection chip exhibits good linear relationship for sweat UA detection. The linear range is from 20 to 200 µmol/L with detection limit as low as 6.6 µmol/L. Good results were obtained for the detection of UA in actual sweat from three volunteers. SIGNIFICANCE: This work provides two bio-enzyme free colorimetric detection systems for UA detection. Furthermore, a simple, low-cost and selective flexible wearable microfluidic colorimetric detection chip was fabricated for noninvasive and on-site detection of sweat UA, which holds great application potential for personal health monitoring and point-of-care testing.

Analysis of influencing factors of HPV vaccination willingness of female sex workers in urban entertainment venues based on the IMB model in Guangxi, China.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding HPV vaccination willingness and its influencing factors among female sex workers (FSWs) in entertainment venues in an urban area of Guangxi, China. METHODS: From 15 August to 15 October 2022, FSWs in entertainment venues with commercial sex trade in an urban area of Guangxi were selected as the study subjects for the questionnaire survey using the method of intentional sampling. The questionnaire based on the information-motivation-behavior (IMB) skills model was used to collect the basic characteristics, HPV and HPV vaccine-related information and cognition, motivation to vaccinate, behavioral skills and willingness to vaccinate from the research targets. A multifactor logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing the research targets' willingness to receive HPV vaccination. RESULTS: Of the 921 research targets, 712 (77.31%) were willing to receive HPV vaccination. The higher the level of knowledge regarding HPV and HPV vaccine-related information, the higher the motivation for HPV vaccination. In addition, the higher the behavioral skills score, the higher the willingness of FSWs in entertainment venues to receive HPV vaccination (P<0.001). FSWs in entertainment venues with lower venue grades [OR(95% CI)=0.693 (0.539, 0.891), P=0.004] were more reluctant to receive HPV vaccination. Those who favored the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing the disease [OR(95% CI)=2.144 (1.449, 3.174), P<0.001] and those who had heard of HPV vaccine [OR(95% CI)=2.105 (1.451, 3.054), P<0.001], were able to perceive the benefits of HPV vaccination [OR(95% CI)=1.134 (1.045, 1.230), P=0.002]. These individuals acquired greater behavioral skills i.e., self-decision making for HPV vaccination [OR(95% CI)=1.130 (1.008, 1.267), P=0.036] and self-efficacy [OR(95% CI)=1.135 (1.081, 1.191), P<0.001] and they were more willing to receive HPV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: There was a relatively high HPV vaccination willingness among FSWs in entertainment venues in an urban area of Guangxi, China. Attention should be focused on introducing the benefits of primary prevention measures such as the HPV vaccine for individuals and behavioral skills for HPV vaccination in order to increase their willingness to be vaccinated thus increasing their HPV vaccination rate.

Mechanistic insights into the ameliorative effects of Xianglianhuazhuo formula on chronic atrophic gastritis through ferroptosis mediated by YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signal pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xianglianhuazhuo formula (XLHZ) has a potential therapeutic effect on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, the specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effect of XLHZ on CAG in vitro and in vivo and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: A rat model of CAG was established using a composite modeling method, and the pathological changes and ultrastructure of gastric mucosa were observed. YY1/miR-320a/TFRC and ferroptosis-related molecules were detected. An MNNG-induced gastric epithelial cell model was established in vitro to evaluate the inhibitory effect of XLHZ on cell ferroptosis by observing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and molecules related to ferroptosis. The specific mechanism of action of XLHZ in treating CAG was elucidated by silencing or overexpression of targets. RESULTS: In vivo experiments showed that XLHZ could improve the pathological status and ultrastructure of gastric mucosa and inhibit ferroptosis by regulating the YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signaling pathway. The results in vitro demonstrated that transfection of miR-320a mimics inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting cell apoptosis. MiR-320a targeted TFRC and inhibited ferroptosis. Overexpression of TFRC reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-320a overexpression on cell proliferation. The effect of XLHZ was consistent with that of miR-320a. YY1 targeted miR-320a, and its overexpression promoted ferroptosis. CONCLUSION: XLHZ inhibited ferroptosis by regulating the YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signaling pathway, ultimately impeding the progression of CAG.

Causal effects of genetically predicted testosterone on Alzheimer's disease: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: Although several studies have reported that testosterone may protect against Alzheimer's disease, no evidence of a causal relationship has been demonstrated. METHODS: A Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to determine the causal role of testosterone in Alzheimer's disease. The study utilized public databases obtained from separately published genome-wide associationstudies (GWAS). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for testosterone were extracted from the most recent and largest published GWAS meta-analysis (178,782 participants), and SNPs for Alzheimer's disease were extracted from UK Biobank (954 AD cases and 487,331 controls). The odds ratio (OR) of the inverse variance weighting (IVW) approach was the primary outcome, and the weighted median and MR Egger regression were used for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Through IVW, we observed a causal association between genetically predicted testosterone and the risk of Alzheimer's disease, with an OR of 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.998-0.999, p = 0.047). In the sensitivity analyses, the weighted median regression showed directionally similar estimates (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.998-0.999, p = 0.048). The MR Egger regression showed similar estimates (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.998-1.00, p = 0.35), but with lower precision. Funnel plots, MR Egger intercepts, and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) analysis indicated the absence of directional pleiotropy effects. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our MR study provides evidence of a causal relationship between testosterone levels and Alzheimer's disease; however, this relationship must be validated in future studies with larger sample sizes. Early testosterone monitoring may enable the prevention of Alzheimer's and related diseases.

Systematic in vivo candidate evaluation uncovers therapeutic targets for LMNA dilated cardiomyopathy and risk of Lamin A toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe, non-ischemic heart disease which ultimately results in heart failure (HF). Decades of research on DCM have revealed diverse aetiologies. Among them, familial DCM is the major form of DCM, with pathogenic variants in LMNA being the second most common form of autosomal dominant DCM. LMNA DCM is a multifactorial and complex disease with no specific treatment thus far. Many studies have demonstrated that perturbing candidates related to various dysregulated pathways ameliorate LMNA DCM. However, it is unknown whether these candidates could serve as potential therapeutic targets especially in long term efficacy. METHODS: We evaluated 14 potential candidates including Lmna gene products (Lamin A and Lamin C), key signaling pathways (Tgfß/Smad, mTor and Fgf/Mapk), calcium handling, proliferation regulators and modifiers of LINC complex function in a cardiac specific Lmna DCM model. Positive candidates for improved cardiac function were further assessed by survival analysis. Suppressive roles and mechanisms of these candidates in ameliorating Lmna DCM were dissected by comparing marker gene expression, Tgfß signaling pathway activation, fibrosis, inflammation, proliferation and DNA damage. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling compared the differences between Lamin A and Lamin C treatment. RESULTS: Cardiac function was restored by several positive candidates (Smad3, Yy1, Bmp7, Ctgf, aYAP1, Sun1, Lamin A, and Lamin C), which significantly correlated with suppression of HF/fibrosis marker expression and cardiac fibrosis in Lmna DCM. Lamin C or Sun1 shRNA administration achieved consistent, prolonged survival which highly correlated with reduced heart inflammation and DNA damage. Importantly, Lamin A treatment improved but could not reproduce long term survival, and Lamin A administration to healthy hearts itself induced DCM. Mechanistically, we identified this lapse as caused by a dose-dependent toxicity of Lamin A, which was independent from its maturation. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo candidate evaluation revealed that supplementation of Lamin C or knockdown of Sun1 significantly suppressed Lmna DCM and achieve prolonged survival. Conversely, Lamin A supplementation did not rescue long term survival and may impart detrimental cardiotoxicity risk. This study highlights a potential of advancing Lamin C and Sun1 as therapeutic targets for the treatment of LMNA DCM.

Responses of soil nutrients and rhizosphere microbial communities of a medicinal plant Pinelliaternata to vermicompost.

Vermicomposting is an important strategy for restoring soil function and fertility. However, information on the effects of vermicompost application in intensive Pinellia ternata planting systems has rarely been reported. Here, we focus on the effects of different vermicompost levels and chemical fertilizer (CF) strategies on soil chemical properties, soil enzymes, and soil rhizosphere microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) in a field experiment. Compared to no added fertilizers (CK), vermicompost was more effective than the CF treatment in increasing P. ternata yield. We found that the 5 t ha-1 vermicompost treatment (VC2) significantly increased the tuber yield by 44.43% and 6.55% compared to the CK and CF treatment, respectively, and water-soluble exudates by 6.56% and 9.63% (P < 0.05). The vermicompost and CF treatments significantly increased the total phosphorus (TP), urease (Ure), and soil catalase (Cat) contents (P < 0.05). Compared to the vermicompost and CK treatments, the CF treatment significantly decreased soil organic carbon (SOC), C/N ratio, and soil acid phosphatase (Pac) (P < 0.05). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that Ure and total potassium (TK) were the major drivers in the bacterial community, whereas TP, total nitrogen (TN), Pac, and TK were the major drivers in the fungal community. We also found a positive correlation between soil enzyme activities, including between Ure and bacterial genera (Clostridium, Pseudoclavibacter, Stella, Hyphomicrobium, Mesorhizobium, and Adlercreutzia). In summary, vermicompost application promotes P. ternata soil microecosystems and improves soil fertility, soil enzyme activities, and rhizosphere microbial structure and function. Vermicomposting is a novel and promising approach to sustainable ecological cultivation of Chinese herbs via the promotion of soil properties and beneficial organisms.

Contaminant occurrence, water quality criteria and tiered ecological risk assessment in water: A case study of antifouling biocides in the Qiantang River and its estuary, Eastern China.

Antifouling biocides may cause adverse effects on non-target species. This study aims to determine the distribution, sources, and ecological risks of antifouling biocides in the surface waters of the Qiantang River and its estuary in eastern China. The concentrations of total antifouling biocides were ranged from 12.9 to 215 ng/L for all water samples. Atrazine, diuron and tributyltin were the major compounds in the water bodies of the study area. The acute and chronic toxicity criteria for tributyltin, diuron and atrazine were derived for freshwater and saltwater, respectively, based on the species sensitivity distribution approach. The freshwater and saltwater criteria were slightly different, and the toxicity to aquatic organisms could be summarized as tributyltin > diuron > atrazine. The graded ecological risk rating showed that the long-term risk of TBT was significant in coastal waters. The pollution of TBT in the Qiantang River deserves further attention.

Application of omics technology to investigate the mechanism underlying the role of San Hua Tang in regulating microglia polarization and blood-brain barrier protection following ischemic stroke.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: San Hua Tang (SHT) was first mentioned in the book "The Collection of Plain Questions about Pathogenesis, Qi, and Life." SHT has the effect of dispelling wind and dredging collaterals, dredging viscera, and guiding stagnation, and is used in the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). SHT is composed of Rheum palmatum L., Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson, Citrus assamensis S.Dutta & S.C.Bhattacharya, and Notopterygium tenuifolium M.L.Sheh & F.T.Pu, which is the traditional prescription of the Tongxia method for the treatment of stroke. Tongxia is one of the "eight methods" used in traditional Chinese medicine, which plays a role in treating diseases by promoting gastrointestinal peristalsis and defecation. Studies have demonstrated a close relationship between gut microbiota metabolism and cerebral stroke; however, the role of SHT in IS treatment through gut microbiota or intestinal metabolites is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the connotation of the Xuanfu theory and clarify the mechanism underlying SHT-mediated opening Xuanfu methods. Through metabolomics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and molecular biology techniques, research on the changes in the gut microbiota and blood-brain barrier (BBB) will highlight greater strategies for the treatment of stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used pseudo-germ-free (PGF) rats combined with an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat model for the follow-up experimental research. PGF rats were prepared by the intragastric administration of an antibiotic cocktail for 6 days, following which SHT was administered for 5 consecutive days. The I/R model was performed 1 day following the concluding administration of SHT. We detected the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarct volume, serum inflammatory factor levels (interleukin IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor alpha), tight junction-related proteins (Zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5), and small glue plasma cell-associated proteins (Cluster of Differentiation 16/Cluster of Differentiation 206, Matrix metalloproteinase, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, and C-X3-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1) 24 h following I/R. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis, we explored the relationship between fecal microecology and serum metabolites. Eventually, we analyzed the correlation between the gut microbiota and plasma metabolic profile as well as the mechanism underlying the SHT-mediated regulation of gut microbiota to protect the BBB following stroke. RESULTS: In IS treatment, SHT is principally involved in reducing neurological injury and the volume of cerebral infarction; protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier; increasing the levels of acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid; promoting the transformation of microglia to the M2 state; reducing inflammatory reactions; and enhancing tight junctions. These therapeutic effects were not observed in the group treated with antibiotics alone or that treated with SHT in combination with antibiotics, thereby indicating SHT plays a therapeutic role through the gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: SHT regulates the gut microbiota, inhibits pro-inflammatory factors in rats with IS, alleviates an inflammatory injury of the BBB, and plays a protective role in the brain.

Phytochemical profile and biological activities of the essential oils in the aerial part and root of Saposhnikovia divaricata.

The dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. is popular as a good medicinal material, however the abundant aerial part is often discarded, which caused the waste of resources. In order to exploit resources, the essential oils of the plant aerial part and root were extracted, separately called as VOA and VOR, their chemicals were identified. The tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, nitric oxide and interleukin-1ß were detected to evaluate the oils anti-inflammatory activities. Then, the oils free radical scavenging rates were measured with DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl free radical. The oils antitumor activities were evaluated with HeLa and HCT-8 cancer cell lines. The results showed the concentrations of VOA and VOR were separately 0.261% and 0.475%. Seventeen components of VOA were identified, accounting for 80.48% of VOA, including phytol, spathulenol, phytone, 4(15),5,10(14)-Germacratrien-1-ol, neophytadiene, etc. Seven components of VOR were determined, representing 90.73% of VOR, consisted of panaxynol, ß-bisabolene, etc. VOA and VOR significantly inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, effectively scavenged the DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl free radicals, and showed significant antiproliferative activity against HeLa and HCT-8. The two oils presented important biological activity, which provided a hopeful utilized basis, and helped to reduce the waste of the aerial non-medicinal resources of S. divaricata.

Optimizing the preparative capacity of two-dimensional liquid chromatography based on analytes retention behaviors.

In this work, a solute retention optimization method (SRO) was proposed to exploit the purification potential of two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC). According to our findings, the complementarity of 2D-LC correlates with some specific impurities. In the two methods used in 2D-LC, the retention order of these impurities and target compound is completely opposite. Taking full advantage of the complementarity is crucial to enhance the saturation capacity (wmax) of 2D-LC by SRO. For the purpose of validating the effectiveness of SRO, a reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) coupled with hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) was developed to purify p-chlorobenzoic acid from substituted benzenes. By using the overloading effects of analytes as indicators, the wmax of RPLC × HILIC was determined by the bisection method, and finally defined by the extremely high loading volume of 4.9 mL. A touch-peak separation of impurities and the target compound occurred precisely during the secondary separation. The effectiveness of SRO was also verified by the greater purification efficiency of RPLC × HILIC than that of HILIC × RPLC. Subsequently, a RPLC × RPLC method was developed by SRO to prepare the reference materials of caffeine from tea extracts. Only by an analytical C18 column, 15.6 mg of caffeine with the purity of 98.3% was obtained at once with the recovery up to 82.3%. However, without the aid of SRO, the purity rapidly decreased to 62.0%. Compared to other methods, SRO-based 2D-LC offers certain advantages in terms of purity, recovery, and the purification efficiency, suggesting that it is particularly effective in developing preparative 2D-LC facing complex matrices.

miR-4478 Accelerates Nucleus Pulposus Cells Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress by Targeting MTH1.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the elderly population and is strongly associated with intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms regulating IVDD remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the role of differentially expressed miRNAs in the pathogenesis of IVDD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed miRNA microarray datasets to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in IVDD progression and conducted quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis to further confirm the differential expression of miR-4478 in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues of patients diagnosed with IVDD. Using public databases of miRNA-mRNA interactions, we predicted the target genes of miR-4478, and subsequent flow cytometry and western blot analyses demonstrated the effect of MTH1 in H 2 O 2 -induced nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) apoptosis. Finally, miR-4478 inhibitor was injected into NP tissues of the IVDD mouse model to explore the effect of miR-4478 in vivo. RESULTS: miR-4478 was upregulated in NP tissues from IVDD patients. Silencing of miR-4478 inhibits H 2 O 2 -induced NPCs apoptosis. MTH1 was identified as a target gene for miR-4478, and miR-4478 regulates H 2 O 2 -induced NPCs apoptosis by modulating MTH1. In addition, downregulation of miR-4478 alleviated IVDD in a mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study provides evidence that miR-4478 may aggravate IVDD through its target gene MTH1 by accelerating oxidative stress in NPCs and demonstrates that miR-4478 has therapeutic potential in IVDD treatment.

High-risk screening of late-onset Pompe disease: A different early portrait in China.

Introduction: The lack of knowledge regarding the differences between Chinese and other ethnicities in the early manifestation of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) prohibits the development of an effective screening strategy. We conducted a multicenter screening study to determine LOPD prevalence in high-risk populations and define the early manifestation of LOPD in China. Methods: Between August 2020 and April 2021, the participants were prospectively identified through medical examination at 20 centers from inpatient departments and outpatient neuromuscular clinics in China. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age ≥ 1 year and (2) either one of the following conditions: (a) persistent hyperCKemia, (b) muscle weakness of the axial and/or limb-girdle muscles, or (c) unexplained restrictive respiratory insufficiency (RI). Enzymatic activity of acid α-glucosidase (GAA) was measured in a dried blood spot (DBS) using a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) assay. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to evaluate all samples with decreased GAA activity, searching for GAA mutations and pseudodeficiency alleles. Results: Among the 492 cases, 26 positive samples (5.3%) were detected in the DBS test. Molecular studies confirmed a diagnosis of LOPD in eight cases (1.6%). Using MS/MS assay, GAA activities in individuals with pseudodeficiency could be distinguished from those in patients with LOPD. The median interval from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 5 years. All patients also showed RI, with a mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of 48%, in addition to axial/proximal muscle weakness. The creatine kinase (CK) level ranged from normal to no more than 5-fold the upper normal limit (UNL). LOPD with isolated hyperCKemia was not identified. Conclusion: Less frequent hyperCKemia and predominant RI depict a different early portrait of adult Chinese patients with LOPD. A modified high-risk screening strategy should be proposed for the early diagnosis of Chinese patients with LOPD.

Health-related quality of life and influencing factors in drug addicts based on the scale QLICD-DA: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Drug abuse has many negative effects not only on individuals but also on society. Nowadays, researchers pay a lot of attention to quality of life of drug addicts. However, there are few scales available to measure quality of life of drug addicts. The scale QLICD-DA (quality of life instrument for chronic diseases-drug addition) developed by modular approach could be used to measure quality of life of drug addicts with good validity, reliability and sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to understand the quality of life status and influencing factors in drug addicts by suitable sensitively scale, with the hypothesis of the quality of life in drug addicts being different from that of other peoples and possibly being influenced by many factors. METHODS: By cluster random sampling method, 192 drug addicts at Kunming compulsory drug rehabilitation center were recruited to take part in the investigation. All participants completed the general information questionnaire and the scale QLICD-DA. We used a t-test to compare the scores of the quality of life of the participants with the norm (QOL scores from 1953 patients of 10 chronic diseases). A stepwise regression method was applied to explore the influencing factors of the quality of life in drug addicts. RESULTS: 192 participants ranged in age from 19 to 59 with an average age of 34.86. Most of them were male (70.3%), high school education level (67.7%) and of Han nationality (82.8%). The quality of life of drug addicts was lower than the norm in the physical domain, psychological domain, social domain, and general module, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Sex and mode of drug abuse were the influencing factors in total score (p = 0.006) and specific module (p = 0.019). Past family atmosphere and the mode of drug abuse were the influencing factors in the general module (p = 0.027, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: The quality of life of drug addicts was worse than that of patients with other chronic diseases, and the influencing factors of the quality of life of drug abusers were sex, mode of drug abuse, and past family atmosphere.

O-Fluorobenzoic Acid-Mediated Construction of Porous Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Nitrogen Defects for Multicolor Electrochemiluminescence Imaging Sensing.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is an attractive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophore. However, g-CN with wavelength-tunable ECL emission is still limited, which limits its application in multicolor ECL sensing and imaging analysis. In this study, porous g-CN (PCN) with nitrogen defects was synthesized through the condensation of melamine by using o-fluorobenzoic acid (o-FBA) as an effective regulation reagent. A series of PCNs, including PCN-5%, PCN-10%, and PCN-30%, were obtained by changing the mass ratio of o-FBA and melamine. The porous structure and tunable chemical composition change of the PCNs were carefully characterized. The nitrogen defects and porous structure of the synthesized PCNs can enlarge the specific surface area, facilitate electron transfer, and generate various surface states with gradually changed energy bands, leading to wavelength-tunable multicolor ECL emissions. Accordingly, g-CN, PCN-5%, PCN-10%, and PCN-30% can generate navy blue, turquoise blue, turquoise green, and olive green ECL emissions, respectively, with the peak ECL wavelength varied from 465 to 550 nm. Then, a multicolor ECL sensing array was proposed for the discrimination of polyphenols based on the prepared g-CN and PCNs by using a smartphone as a portable detector for the first time. Five polyphenol substances including vitamin P, resveratrol, phloretin, phlorizin, and caffeic acid were discriminated by using principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The present work provides a simple strategy to adjust the ECL wavelength of g-CN and presents a simple way to fabricate multicolor ECL sensing array, which has great application potential for multiplexed analysis and multicolor ECL imaging sensing.

Multifunctionalized Hydrogel Beads for Label-Free Chemiluminescence Imaging Immunoassay of Acute Myocardial Infarction Biomarkers.

Hydrogel beads exhibit good biocompatibility, high stability, and monodispersity. However, hydrogel beads possessing intensive and multicolor chemiluminescence (CL) have not been reported. In this work, two kinds of multifunctionalized hydrogel beads, one consisting of chitosan (CS), Co2+, luminol, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (CS-Co2+-Lu-Au), and another consisting of CS, Co2+, luminol, fluorescein, and AuNPs (CS-Co2+-Lu-FL-Au), were prepared via a facile synthesis method. The synthesized CS-Co2+-Lu-Au and CS-Co2+-Lu-FL-Au hydrogel beads exhibit high stability, simple operability, and can generate strong and uniform blue- and green-colored CL emission, respectively, when reacting with H2O2. Specific antibodies (Ab) can be assembled onto the surface of CS-Co2+-Lu-Au and CS-Co2+-Lu-FL-Au hydrogel beads directly via CS and surface-coated AuNPs as binding sites to obtain multifunctionalized hydrogel beads with both good CL activity and immunoactivity. Then, simple, fast, and versatile label-free CL imaging immunoassays were fabricated for the determination of two important acute myocardial infarction (AMI) biomarkers, including cardiac troponins I (cTnI) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP), using a smartphone as a portable detector. The proposed CL imaging immunoassays using CS-Co2+-Lu-Au-Ab and CS-Co2+-Lu-FL-Au-Ab as sensing platforms can be carried out without complex instruments or time-consuming centrifugation or magnetic separation, greatly simplifying the assay procedures. The linear ranges for cTnI and h-FABP detection were 1.0 × 10-11 to 1.0 × 10-5 g/mL with detection limits as low as 1.57 and 1.61 pg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the fabricated CL imaging immunoassays were successfully applied to determine cTnI and h-FABP in healthy human and patient serum samples, demonstrating their practicability in AMI diagnosis. The easy synthesis and versatility of the as-prepared CL hydrogel beads for the direct immobilization of Ab provide universal platforms for a wide range of CL immunoassays.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical device by using Pt nanoparticles as highly active peroxidase mimic for simultaneous detection of glucose and uric acid with use of a smartphone.

Herein, a simple microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) by using platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) as highly active peroxidase mimic for simultaneous determination of glucose and uric acid was fabricated. The µPAD consisted of one sample transportation layer, four paper-based detection chips, and two layers of hydrophobic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. The four detection chips were immobilized with various chromogenic reagents, Pt NPs, and specific oxidase (glucose oxidase or uricase). H2O2 generated by specific enzymatic reactions could oxidize co-immobilized chromogenic reagents to produce colored products by using Pt NPs as efficient catalyst. The multi-layered structure of µPAD could effectively improve the color uniformity and color intensity. Total color intensity from each two detection chips modified with distinct chromogenic reagents were used for quantitative analysis of glucose and uric acid, respectively, resulting in significantly improved sensitivity. The linear range for glucose and uric acid detection was 0.01-5.0 mM and 0.01-2.5 mM, respectively. Satisfied results were obtained for glucose and uric acid detection in real serum samples. An easy-to-use smartphone APP was developed for convenient and intelligent detection. The developed µPAD integrated with smartphone as detector holds great applicability for simple and portable on-site analysis.

Tissue factor cytoplasmic domain exacerbates post-infarct left ventricular remodeling via orchestrating cardiac inflammation and angiogenesis.

The coagulation protein tissue factor (TF) regulates inflammation and angiogenesis via its cytoplasmic domain in infection, cancer and diabetes. While TF is highly abundant in the heart and is implicated in cardiac pathology, the contribution of its cytoplasmic domain to post-infarct myocardial injury and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling remains unknown. Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced in wild-type mice or mice lacking the TF cytoplasmic domain (TF∆CT) by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Heart function was monitored with echocardiography. Heart tissue was collected at different time-points for histological, molecular and flow cytometry analysis. Results: Compared with wild-type mice, TF∆CT had a higher survival rate during a 28-day follow-up after myocardial infarction. Among surviving mice, TF∆CT mice had better cardiac function and less LV remodeling than wild-type mice. The overall improvement of post-infarct cardiac performance in TF∆CT mice, as revealed by speckle-tracking strain analysis, was attributed to reduced myocardial deformation in the peri-infarct region. Histological analysis demonstrated that TF∆CT hearts had in the infarct area greater proliferation of myofibroblasts and better scar formation. Compared with wild-type hearts, infarcted TF∆CT hearts showed less infiltration of proinflammatory cells with concomitant lower expression of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) - Rac1 axis. In particular, infarcted TF∆CT hearts displayed markedly lower ratios of inflammatory M1 macrophages and reparative M2 macrophages (M1/M2). In vitro experiment with primary macrophages demonstrated that deletion of the TF cytoplasmic domain inhibited macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype. Furthermore, infarcted TF∆CT hearts presented markedly higher peri-infarct vessel density associated with enhanced endothelial cell proliferation and higher expression of PAR2 and PAR2-associated pro-angiogenic pathway factors. Finally, the overall cardioprotective effects observed in TF∆CT mice could be abolished by subcutaneously infusing a cocktail of PAR1-activating peptide and PAR2-inhibiting peptide via osmotic minipumps. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the TF cytoplasmic domain exacerbates post-infarct cardiac injury and adverse LV remodeling via differential regulation of inflammation and angiogenesis. Targeted inhibition of the TF cytoplasmic domain-mediated intracellular signaling may ameliorate post-infarct LV remodeling without perturbing coagulation.

Cobalt-imidazole metal-organic framework loaded with luminol for paper-based chemiluminescence detection of catechol with use of a smartphone.

Chemiluminescence (CL) reagent luminol was loaded into the porous structure of cobalt-imidazole metal-organic framework (MOF) ZIF-67 to obtain luminol-functionalized ZIF-67 (luminol@ZIF-67) with CL property. The morphology, composition, CL property, and CL mechanism of luminol@ZIF-67 were carefully investigated. The obtained luminol@ZIF-67 exhibited strong, stable, and visible CL emission that reacted with H2O2, attributed to the strong catalytic effect of ZIF-67 combined with the shortened diffusion distance between luminol and the catalytic center. The CL intensity of luminol@ZIF-67 was more than 550 times higher than that of luminol. Catechol can effectively quench the CL emission of luminol@ZIF-67 that reacted with H2O2. Then, a simple paper-based CL imaging detection method was developed for the detection of catechol by using a smartphone as a portable detector. The linear calibration curve of the developed CL assay for catechol ranged from 5 to 100 mg/L with detection limit of 1.1 mg/L (S/N = 3δ). The strong CL emission of luminol@ZIF-67 combined with the effective quench ability of catechol guaranteed high sensitivity of the detection method. The practical application ability of the developed CL assay was tested by the determination of catechol in tea and tap water samples, resulting in acceptable results. This work provides an effective paper-based CL detection method for catechol and enriches the species of the chemiluminescent MOF material.

How the clinical dosage of bone cement biomechanically affects adjacent vertebrae.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the biomechanical changes in the adjacent vertebrae under a physiological load (500 N) when the clinically relevant amount of bone cement was injected into fractured cadaver vertebral bodies. METHODS: The embalmed cadaver thoracolumbar specimens in which each vertebral body (T12-L2) had a BMD of < 0.75 g/cm2 were used for the experiment. For establishing a fracture model, the upper one third of the L1 vertebra was performed wedge osteotomy and the superior endplate was kept complete. Stiffness of specimens was measured in different states. Strain of the adjacent vertebral body and intervertebral disc were measured in pre-fracture, post-fracture, and after augmentation by non-contact optical strain measurement system. RESULTS: The average amount of bone cement was 4.4 ml (3.8-5.0 ml). The stiffness of after augmentation was significantly higher than the stiffness of post-fracture (p < 0.05), but still lower than pre-fracture stiffness (p < 0.05). After augmentation, the adjacent upper vertebral strain showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with pre-fracture, while the strain of adjacent lower vertebral body was significantly higher than that before fracture (p < 0.05). In flexion, T12/L1 intervertebral disc strain was significantly greater after augmentation than after the fracture (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference from that before the fracture (p > 0.05); L1/2 vertebral strain after augmentation was significantly less than that after the fracture (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference from that before the fracture (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PVP may therefore have partially reversed the abnormal strain state of adjacent vertebral bodies which was caused by fracture.