Serum monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and soluble mannose receptor aid predictive diagnosis of pediatric sepsis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the value of serum monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and soluble mannose receptor (sMR) for predictive diagnosis of pediatric sepsis. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 82 children with acute and severe signs of inflammation. According to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis, these children were divided into a sepsis group (40 cases) and a non-sepsis group (42 cases). In addition, 50 children who received health examinations during the same time period in Cangzhou Central Hospital were selected as a control group. According to the prognosis of the children in the sepsis group, they were further divided into a survival group (33 cases) and a death group (7 cases). The levels of blood indicators, inflammatory markers, liver and kidney function indicators, MCP-1 level, and sMR were collected from the children. The efficacy of using sMR and MCP-1 levels in the predictive diagnosis of sepsis was analyzed by using the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: Serum levels of MCP-1 and sMR were (452.32±2.79) µg/ml and (97.23±.15) µg/ml, respectively, in the sepsis group, significantly higher than those in all controls (P<0.001). In the death group, the levels of white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), sMR, and MCP-1 were significantly higher compared to the survival group (P<0.05). The AUC for CRP in predictive diagnosis of sepsis was 0.9075; the AUC for PCT was 0.8759; the AUC for sMR was 0.9244; and the AUC for MCP-1 was 0.9406. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sMR and MCP-1 levels can help predict the diagnosis of pediatric sepsis.

Effect and mechanism of hypoxia on differentiation of porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells into vascular endothelial cells.

Pigs are similar to humans in organ size and physiological function, and are considered as good models for studying cardiovascular diseases. The study of porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSC) differentiating into vascular endothelial cells (EC) is expected to open up a new way of obtaining high-quality seed cells. Given that the hypoxic environment has an important role in the differentiation process of vascular EC, this work intends to establish a hypoxia-induced differentiation system of piPSC into vascular EC. There is evidence that the hypoxia microenvironment in the initial stage could significantly improve differentiation efficiency. Further study suggests that the hypoxia culture system supports a combined effect of hypoxia inducible factors and their associated regulatory molecules, such as HIF-1α, VEGFA, FGF2, LDH-A, and PDK1, which can efficiently promote the lineage-specific differentiation of piPSC into EC. Most notably, the high level of ETV2 after 4 d of hypoxic treatment indicates that it possibly plays an important role in the promoting process of EC differentiation. The research is expected to help the establishment of new platforms for piPSC directional induction research, so as to obtain adequate seed cells with ideal phenotype and functionality.

Resveratrol Enhances Temozolomide Efficacy in Glioblastoma Cells through Downregulated MGMT and Negative Regulators-Related STAT3 Inactivation.

Chemoresistance blunts the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). Elevated levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and activation of signal transducer and of transcription 3 (STAT3) have been reported to correlate with GBM resistance to alkylator chemotherapy. Resveratrol (Res) inhibits tumor growth and improves drug chemosensitivity by targeting STAT3 signaling. Whether the combined therapy of TMZ and Res could enhance chemosensitivity against GBM cells and the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be determined. In this study, Res was found to effectively improve chemosensitivities of different GBM cells to TMZ, which was evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and cell migration assay. The combined use of Res and TMZ downregulated STAT3 activity and STAT3-regulated gene products, thus inhibited cell proliferation and migration, as well as induced apoptosis, accompanied by increased levels of its negative regulators: PIAS3, SHP1, SHP2, and SOCS3. More importantly, a combination therapy of Res and TMZ reversed TMZ resistance of LN428 cells, which could be related to decreased MGMT and STAT3 levels. Furthermore, the JAK2-specific inhibitor AG490 was used to demonstrate that a reduced MGMT level was mediated by STAT3 inactivation. Taken together, Res inhibited STAT3 signaling through modulation of PIAS3, SHP1, SHP2, and SOCS3, thereby attenuating tumor growth and increasing sensitivity to TMZ. Therefore, Res is an ideal candidate to be used in TMZ combined chemotherapy for GBM.

[Predictive Value of Complete Blood Count and Inflammation Marker on Risk of Recurrence in Children with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of complete blood count (CBC) and inflammation marker on the recurrence risk in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three children with HSP admitted to Cangzhou Central Hospital from February 2017 to March 2019 were enrolled. The clinical data of the children were collected, at the time of admission CBC and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected. After discharge, the children were followed up for 1 year, the clinical data of children with and without recurrence were compared, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting HSP recurrence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve should be drawn and the predictive value of CBC and CRP on HSP recurrence should be analyzed. RESULTS: In the follow-up of 133 children, 8 cases were lost and 39 cases recurred, with a recurrence rate of 31.20% (39/125). The age, skin rash duration, proportion of renal damage at the initial onset, percentage of neutrophils, percentage of lymphocytes, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), MPV/PLT ratio (MPR), and CRP level of patients with recurrence were statistically different from those without recurrence (P <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that long skin rash duration, renal damage at the initial onset, increased PLR, high PLT, increased MPV and elevated CRP level were independent risk factors for recurrence in children with HSP (P <0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of the four blood and inflammation marker (PLT, MPV, PLR and CPR) in the early prediction of HSP recurrence was 0.898, which was higher than the initial renal damage (AUC=0.687) and persistent skin rash time (AUC=0.708), with a sensitivity of 84.62% and a specificity of 83.72%. CONCLUSION: Observation of CBC and CPR can predict the risk of HSP recurrence early and guide early clinical intervention.

D-Mannose prevents bone loss under weightlessness.

BACKGROUND: Astronauts undergo significant microgravity-induced bone loss during space missions, which has become one of the three major medical problems hindering human's long-term space flight. A risk-free and antiresorptive drug is urgently needed to prevent bone loss during space missions. D-mannose is a natural C-2 epimer of D-glucose and is abundant in cranberries. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of D-mannose against bone loss under weightlessness. METHODS: The hind legs of tail-suspended (TS) rats were used to mimic weightlessness on Earth. Rats were administered D-mannose intragastrically. The osteoclastogenic and osteogenic capacity of D-mannose in vitro and in vivo was analyzed by micro-computed tomography, biomechanical assessment, bone histology, serum markers of bone metabolism, cell proliferation assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis was performed to detect the underlying mechanisms of D-mannose in bone protection. RESULTS: The TS rats showed lower bone mineral density (BMD) and poorer bone morphological indices. D-mannose could improve BMD in TS rats. D-mannose inhibited osteoclast proliferation and fusion in vitro, without apparent effects on osteoblasts. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis showed that D-mannose administration significantly inhibited the cell fusion molecule dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) and two indispensable transcription factors for osteoclast fusion (c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 [NFATc1]). Finally, TS rats tended to experience dysuria-related urinary tract infections (UTIs), which were suppressed by treatment with D-mannose. CONCLUSION: D-mannose protected against bone loss and UTIs in rats under weightlessness. The bone protective effects of D-mannose were mediated by inhibiting osteoclast cell fusion. Our findings provide a potential strategy to protect against bone loss and UTIs during space missions.

Structure and Properties of Bioactive Glass-Modified Calcium Phosphate/Calcium Sulfate Biphasic Porous Self-Curing Bone Repair Materials and Preliminary Research on Their Osteogenic Effect.

In this study, calcium phosphate (CP)/calcium sulfate biphasic bone repair materials were modified with bioactive-glass (BG) to construct a self-curing bone repair material. Tetracalcium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, and calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH) with different BG ratios and phosphate solution were reacted to prepare a porous self-curing bone repair material (CP/CSH/BG). The solidification time was about 12 min, and the material was morphologically stable in 24 h. The porosity was about 50%, with a pore size around 200 µm. The strength of CP/CSH/BG was approaching trabecular bone, and could be gradually degraded in Tris-HCl solution. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in the leaching solution of the materials. Cytotoxicity was detected using Cell Counting Kit 8 assays, and the expression of osteogenesis-related biomarkers was detected using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that all BG groups had increased ALP and ARS staining, implying that the BG groups could promote osteoblast mineralization in vitro. qRT-PCR showed significant upregulation of bone-related gene expression (Osx, Ocn, Runx2, and Col1) in the 20% BG group (p < 0.05). Therefore, the CP/CSH/BG self-curing bone repair materials can promote osteogenesis, and might be applied for bone regeneration, especially for polymorphic bone defect repair.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict recurrence in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

BACKGROUND: To screen risk factors for the recurrence in children with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) and to develop and validate a nomogram for recurrence in children with HSP. METHODS: During September 2019 and September 2021, 212 children with HSP were selected in this study. The children were divided into two sets in a proportion of 7:3 using R language, with the first group as the training sets and the second as the internal validation sets. The related variables were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and a nomogram for predicting the recurrence in HSP children was established. The nomogram was evaluated by ROC curve, calibration curve and decision curve, and 1000 times bootstrap resampling method was used to verify the model internally. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate regression analyses identified respiratory infection, without preventive medication and diet restriction, age, allergen positive and abnormal urine routine as risk factors for the recurrence in children with HSP. Those risk factors were used to construct a predictive nomogram. The calibration curves revealed excellent accuracy of the predictive nomogram model, internally and externally. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed and validated a clinical nomogram to predict the recurrence in children with HSP. We confirmed that respiratory tract infection, without preventive medication and diet restriction, age, allergen positive and abnormal urine routine were independent recurrence risk factors. This nomogram had a good performance in clinical decision-making.

lncRNA-NEAT1 Sponges miR-128 to Promote Inflammatory Reaction and Phenotypic Transformation of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric asthma is still a health threat to the children. Long noncoding RNA-NEAT1 (lncRNA-NEAT1) was reported to be positively correlated with the severity of asthma. We aimed to study the effects and mechanism of lncRNA-NEAT1on inflammatory reaction and phenotypic transformation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in the bronchial asthma. METHOD: The degree of lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-128 mRNA in children with bronchial asthma and healthy individuals was tested by qRT-PCR. After the inflammatory reaction and phenotypic transformation of PDGF-BB-induced ASMCs, the expression of lncRNA-NEAT1 or miR-128 in the AMSC was disturbed in the AMSC. Subsequently, the expression of lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-128 was detected by the way of qRT-PCR, and western blot was applied to measure the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, α-SMA, calponin, NF-κB, and so on in the cells. The content of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 in the cell culture supernatant was checked by ELISA. MTT, Transwell, and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Further, the targeting relations between lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-128 were evaluated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULT: In the sputum of children with bronchial asthma, lncRNA-NEAT1 was significantly upregulated while miR-128 was rapidly downregulated. Besides, lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-128 were competitively combined and, for their expression, negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: lncRNA-NEAT1 sponges miR-128 to boost PDGF-BB-induced inflammatory reaction and phenotypic transformation of ASMCs to aggravate the occurrence and development of childhood bronchial asthma.

Impacts of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus (CCYV) on Biological Characteristics of Its Vector Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) MED Species.

Plant viruses can change the phenotypes and defense pathways of the host plants and the performance of their vectors to facilitate their transmission. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) (Crinivirus), a newly reported virus occurring on cucurbit plants and many other plant species, is transmitted specifically by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (B biotype) and MED (Q biotype) cryptic species in a semipersistent manner. This study evaluated the impacts of CCYV on B. tabaci to better understand the plant-virus-vector interactions. By using CCYV-B. tabaci MED-cucumber as the model, we investigated whether or how a semipersistent plant virus impacts the biology of its whitefly vector. CCYV mRNAs were detectable in nymphs from first to fourth instars and adults of B. tabaci with different titers. Nymph instar durations and adult longevity of female whiteflies greatly extended on CCYV-infected plants, but nymph instar durations and adult longevity of male whiteflies were not significantly influenced. In addition, the body length and oviposition increased in adults feeding on CCYV-infected plants, but the hatching rates of eggs and survival rates of different stages were not affected. Most interestingly, the sex ratio (male:female) significantly reduced to 0.5:1 in whitefly populations on CCYV-infected plants, while the ratio remained about 1:1 on healthy plants. These results indicated that CCYV can significantly impact the biological characteristics of its vector B. tabaci. It is speculated that CCYV and B. tabaci have established a typical mutualist relationship mediated by host plants.

Silencing of ER-resident oxidoreductase PDIA3 inhibits malignant biological behaviors of multidrug-resistant gastric cancer.

Glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification of proteins, which plays a role in the malignant transformation, growth, progression, chemoresistance, and immune response of tumors. Disulfide isomerase family A3 (PDIA3) specifically acts on newly synthesized glycoproteins to promote the correct folding of sugar chains. Studies have shown that PDIA3 participates in multidrug-resistant gastric cancer (MDR-GC). In this study, we performed western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to identify PDIA3 expression. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Transwell assays were used to detect the migration and invasion abilities of cells. Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry (IP-MS) analysis was employed to identify PDIA3-interacting proteins and the associated pathways in MDR-GC cells. Glycoprotein interactions and translocation were detected by immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that PDIA3 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of MDR-GC cells. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of the IP-MS results showed that PDIA3 was closely associated with focal adhesion pathways in MDR-GC cells. Additionally, important components of focal adhesion pathways, including fibronectin-1 (FN1) and integrin α5 (ITGA5), were identified as pivotal PDIA3-binding glycoproteins. Knockdown of PDIA3 altered the cellular locations of FN1 and ITGA5, leading to abnormal accumulation. In conclusion, our results suggest that knockdown of PDIA3 inhibited the malignant behaviors of MDR-GC cells and influenced the translocation of FN1 and ITGA5.

Insights into the role of ERp57 in cancer.

Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 57 (ERp57) has a molecular weight of 57 kDa, belongs to the protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI) family, and is primarily located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ERp57 functions in the quality control of nascent synthesized glycoproteins, participates in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule assembly, regulates immune responses, maintains immunogenic cell death (ICD), regulates the unfolded protein response (UPR), functions as a 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) receptor, regulates the NF-κB and STAT3 pathways, and participates in DNA repair processes and cytoskeletal remodeling. Recent studies have reported ERp57 overexpression in various human cancers, and altered expression and aberrant functionality of ERp57 are associated with cancer growth and progression and changes in the chemosensitivity of cancers. ERp57 may become a potential biomarker and therapeutic target to combat cancer development and chemoresistance. Here, we summarize the available knowledge of the role of ERp57 in cancer and the underlying mechanisms.

ODAM promotes junctional epithelium-related gene expression via activation of WNT1 signaling pathway in an ameloblast-like cell line ALC.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the potential and mechanism of odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (ODAM) in the promoting junctional epithelium-related gene expression in an ameloblast-like cell line ALC. BACKGROUND: ODAM is expressed in ameloblasts and JE and acts as a component of the inner basal lamina (IBL) and intercellular matrix of JE. ODAM KO mice showed destruction of the integrity of the JE, which detaches from teeth. ODAM was confirmed to regulate the cytoskeleton through the ODAM-ARHGEF5-RhoA signaling pathway of the JE. Whether ODAM contributes to the regulation of ameloblast differentiation in JE remains unclear. After the formation of enamel, the ameloblast undergoes a series of morphological changes. Whether ODAM will affect the biological behavior of ameloblasts making them have the characteristics of JE is unclear. METHODS: A murine ameloblast-like cell line, ALC, was used to investigate the effects of ODAM on the JE-like changes of ALC cells in an epithelium-induced environment by generating ODAM overexpression and ODAM knockdown cells through a lentivirus transduction approach. The biomarkers of junctional epithelium CK19, SLPI, and ODAM and the potential regulatory gene WNT1 were investigated by real-time PCR, western blot, immunocytochemistry, immunostaining, luciferase reporter, and rescue assays. RESULTS: ODAM, CK19, and SLPI were significantly upregulated after epithelial induction. Overexpression of ODAM in ALC cells markedly increased CK19 and SLPI expression, while knockdown of ODAM in ALC cells clearly decreased CK19 and SLPI expression. A reporter luciferase assay showed that ODAM activated the WNT signaling pathway, especially through WNT1. Exogenous overexpression of ODAM upregulated WNT1 expression, while knockdown of ODAM reversed this effect. The WNT1 inhibition assay further confirmed the above results and showed that the WNT1 pathway was positively correlated with biomarkers of junctional epithelium CK19 and SLPI expression. Rescue studies showed that knocking down WNT1 in the ODAM-overexpressing ALC cells decreased the expression of CK19 and SLPI. Immunocytochemistry showed that ODAM colocalized with CK19, SLPI, and WNT1 in the cells. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the research work showed that ODAM promotes junctional epithelium-related gene expression in ALC via the ODAM-WNT1 axis, which may provide new insight into the function of ODAM and JE formation.

Biological properties and clinical applications of berberine.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herb Coptis chinensis and other Berberis plants, has a wide range of pharmacological properties. Berberine can be used to treat many diseases, such as cancer and digestive, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Berberine has protective capacities in digestive diseases. It can inhibit toxins and bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori, protect the intestinal epithelial barrier from injury, and ameliorate liver injury. Berberine also inhibits the proliferation of various types of cancer cells and impedes invasion and metastasis. Recent evidence has confirmed that berberine improves the efficacy and safety of chemoradiotherapies. In addition, berberine regulates glycometabolism and lipid metabolism, improves energy expenditure, reduces body weight, and alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Berberine also improves cardiovascular hemodynamics, suppresses ischemic arrhythmias, attenuates the development of atherosclerosis, and reduces hypertension. Berberine shows potent neuroprotective effects, including antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-ischemic. Furthermore, berberine exerts protective effects against other diseases. The mechanisms of its functions have been extensively explored, but much remains to be clarified. This article summarizes the main pharmacological actions of berberine and its mechanisms in cancer and digestive, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.

Negative regulators of STAT3 signaling pathway in cancers.

STAT3 is the most ubiquitous member of the STAT family and involved in many biological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mounting evidence has revealed that STAT3 is aberrantly activated in many malignant tumors and plays a critical role in cancer progression. STAT3 is usually regarded as an effective molecular target for cancer treatment, and abolishing the STAT3 activity may diminish tumor growth and metastasis. Recent studies have shown that negative regulators of STAT3 signaling such as PIAS, SOCS, and PTP, can effectively retard tumor progression. However, PIAS, SOCS, and PTP have also been reported to correlate with tumor malignancy, and their biological function in tumorigenesis and antitumor therapy are somewhat controversial. In this review, we summarize actual knowledge on the negative regulators of STAT3 in tumors, and focus on the potential role of PIAS, SOCS, and PTP in cancer treatment. Furthermore, we also outline the STAT3 inhibitors that have entered clinical trials. Targeting STAT3 seems to be a promising strategy in cancer therapy.

Predictors for return to work after physical injury in China: A one-year review.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have explored the factors influencing patients' return to work (RTW) status. However, only few studies have tried to explore the predictors for RTW in subpopulations in terms of different levels of disability, particularly in the Chinese population. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the trends in patient's RTW and explores the predictors associated with RTW for patients with work-related injury in Mainland China. METHODS: A total of 457 patients with different types of injury were followed up for one year. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the grade of disability as follows: mild, moderate, and severe. Variables affecting RTW were then compared between the three groups, and multiple logistic regression was performed to identify the predictors for RTW. RESULTS: The RTW rates during the study period were significantly different among the three groups. RTW tended to increase rapidly during the early stage, but the increase plateaued during the later stage. For the mild disability group, educational level, expectation to RTW, and other types of injury (e.g., spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn) were significant predictors for RTW. White-collar work and better employer satisfaction were positive predictors for RTW for the moderate group. Meanwhile, no significant predictor for RTW was determined for the severe disability group. CONCLUSIONS: RTW tended to increase rapidly during the early stage, but the increase plateaued during the later stage. The predictors for RTW also varied among the patients with different levels of disability. These predictors may help vocational rehabilitation service providers provide more accurate intervention.

A Semipersistent Plant Virus Differentially Manipulates Feeding Behaviors of Different Sexes and Biotypes of Its Whitefly Vector.

It is known that plant viruses can change the performance of their vectors. However, there have been no reports on whether or how a semipersistent plant virus manipulates the feeding behaviors of its whitefly vectors. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae) is an emergent plant virus in many Asian countries and is transmitted specifically by B and Q biotypes of tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), in a semipersistent manner. In the present study, we used electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique to investigate the effect of CCYV on the feeding behaviors of B. tabaci. The results showed that CCYV altered feeding behaviors of both biotypes and sexes of B. tabaci with different degrees. CCYV had stronger effects on feeding behaviors of Q biotype than those of B biotype, by increasing duration of phloem salivation and sap ingestion, and could differentially manipulate feeding behaviors of males and females in both biotype whiteflies, with more phloem ingestion in Q biotype males and more non-phloem probing in B biotype males than their respective females. With regard to feeding behaviors related to virus transmission, these results indicated that, when carrying CCYV, B. tabaci Q biotype plays more roles than B biotype, and males make greater contribution than females.

Porphyria cutanea tarda and Sjogren's syndrome.

Porphyria cutanea tarda is prevalent in connective tissue disease, common in systemic lupus erythematosus. However, the co-existence of primary sjogren's syndrome and porphyria cutanea tarda is rare and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a case of porphyria cutanea tarda associated with primary sjogren's syndrome.

Porphyria cutanea tarda and Sjogren's syndrome

Porphyria cutanea tarda is prevalent in connective tissue disease, common in systemic lupus erythematosus. However, the co-existence of primary sjogren's syndrome and porphyria cutanea tarda is rare and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a case of porphyria cutanea tarda associated with primary sjogren's syndrome.

Microsensor in vivo monitoring of oxidative burst in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves infected by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Oxidative burst is the rapid and transient production of large amounts of reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and hydroxyl radical. A rapid and simple technique was employed for in vivo detection of oxidative burst in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves, using a modified electrode. Platinum (Pt) micro-particles were dispersed on a Pt electrode, coated with a poly (o-phenylenediamine) film. This exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity and stability in H(2)O(2) detection. Amperometry was used to obtain satisfactory linear relationships between reductive current intensities and H(2)O(2) concentrations at -0.1 V potential in different electrolytes. This electrode was used in vivo to detect oxidative burst in oilseed rape following fungal infection. Oxidative bursts induced by infection of the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary exhibited notably different mechanisms between a susceptible and a resistant glucose oxidase-transgenic genotype.