Assessing recent recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma by a predictive model based on sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia may be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatectomy. But traditional single clinical variables are still insufficient to predict recurrence. We still lack effective prediction models for recent recurrence (time to recurrence < 2 years) after hepatectomy for HCC. AIM: To establish an interventable prediction model to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS) after hepatectomy for HCC based on sarcopenia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 283 hepatitis B-related HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for the first time, and the skeletal muscle index at the third lumbar spine was measured by preoperative computed tomography. 94 of these patients were enrolled for external validation. Cox multivariate analysis was per-formed to identify the risk factors of postoperative recurrence in training cohort. A nomogram model was developed to predict the RFS of HCC patients, and its predictive performance was validated. The predictive efficacy of this model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia [Hazard ratio(HR) = 1.767, 95%CI: 1.166-2.678, P < 0.05], alpha-fetoprotein ≥ 40 ng/mL (HR = 1.984, 95%CI: 1.307-3.011, P < 0.05), the maximum diameter of tumor > 5 cm (HR = 2.222, 95%CI: 1.285-3.842, P < 0.05), and hepatitis B virus DNA level ≥ 2000 IU/mL (HR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.407-3.135, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors associated with postoperative recurrence of HCC. Based on the sarcopenia to assess the RFS model of hepatectomy with hepatitis B-related liver cancer disease (SAMD) was established combined with other the above risk factors. The area under the curve of the SAMD model was 0.782 (95%CI: 0.705-0.858) in the training cohort (sensitivity 81%, specificity 63%) and 0.773 (95%CI: 0.707-0.838) in the validation cohort. Besides, a SAMD score ≥ 110 was better to distinguish the high-risk group of postoperative recurrence of HCC. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is associated with recent recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatitis B-related HCC. A nutritional status-based prediction model is first established for postoperative recurrence of hepatitis B-related HCC, which is superior to other models and contributes to prognosis prediction.

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells contribute to suppression of inflammatory myeloid cells in immune-mediated kidney disease.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been implicated in various inflammatory diseases of barrier organs, but so far, their role in kidney disease is unclear. Here we report that MAIT cells that recognize their prototypical ligand, the vitamin B2 intermediate 5-OP-RU presented by MR1, reside in human and mouse kidneys. Single cell RNAseq analysis reveals several intrarenal MAIT subsets, and one, carrying the genetic fingerprint of tissue-resident MAIT17 cells, is activated and expanded in a murine model of crescentic glomerulonephritis (cGN). An equivalent subset is also present in kidney biopsies of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibody (ANCA)-associated cGN. MAIT cell-deficient MR1 mice show aggravated disease, whereas B6-MAITCAST mice, harboring higher MAIT cell numbers, are protected from cGN. The expanded MAIT17 cells express anti-inflammatory mediators known to suppress cGN, such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and TGF-ß. Interactome analysis predicts CXCR6 - CXCL16-mediated cross-talk with renal mononuclear phagocytes, known to drive cGN progression. In line, we find that cGN is aggravated upon CXCL16 blockade. Finally, we present an optimized 5-OP-RU synthesis method which we apply to attenuating cGN in mice. In summary, we propose that CXCR6+ MAIT cells might play a protective role in cGN, implicating them as a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapies.

Extraction from different parts of Citrus maxima flowers using ultrasound as an aid and study of their composition and function.

Ultrasonic assisted extraction is frequently referred to as a green environmental protection method. The flower of Citrus maxima (FCM) has been used as a health tea drink in China, although the tea drink lacks clear compound composition identification and functional research. In order to fully use Citrus fruit by-products and further explore the functional features of FCM, this paper isolated, identified, and assessed the chemical compounds in the petals, stems, styles, receptacles, stamens, and buds of FCM extract. There are 88 compounds were recovered, including 23 compounds in the bud, 21 compounds in the petal, 19 compounds in the stem, 11 compounds in the receptacle, 20 compounds in the stamen, and 13 compounds in the style. Antioxidant experiments revealed that the FCM's various compounds had observable impacts in scavenging free radicals (38.44%-58.35%). The aforementioned study demonstrates that the pomelo by-products were developed into useful components using ultrasonic aided extraction technique. FCM has flavor-rich compounds that make it suited for use as an antioxidant tea beverage and offers practical suggestions for preparing healthy products.

Brain-heart interaction disruption in major depressive disorder: disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts.

Brain neurons support arousal and cognitive activity in the form of spectral transient bursts and cooperate with the peripheral nervous system to adapt to the surrounding environment. However, the temporal dynamics of brain-heart interactions have not been confirmed, and the mechanism of brain-heart interactions in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. This study aimed to provide direct evidence for brain-heart synchronization in temporal dynamics and clarify the mechanism of brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD. Eight-minute resting-state (closed eyes) electroencephalograph and electrocardiogram signals were acquired simultaneously. The Jaccard index (JI) was used to measure the temporal synchronization between cortical theta transient bursts and cardiac cycle activity (diastole and systole) in 90 MDD patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs) at rest. The deviation JI was used to reflect the equilibrium of brain activity between diastole and systole. The results showed that the diastole JI was higher than the systole JI in both the HC and MDD groups; compared to HCs, the deviation JI attenuated at F4, F6, FC2, and FC4 in the MDD patients. The eccentric deviation JI was negatively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD, and after 4 weeks of antidepressant treatment, the eccentric deviation JI was positively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD. It was concluded that brain-heart synchronization existed in the theta band in healthy individuals and that disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts at right frontoparietal sites led to brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD.

[Wearables in rheumatology]. / Wearables in der Rheumatologie.

As a result of digitalization in medicine wearable computing devices (wearables) are becoming increasingly more important. Wearables are small portable electronic devices with which the user can record data relevant to health, such as number of steps, activity profile, electrocardiogram (ECG), heart and breathing frequency or oxygen saturation. Initial studies on the use of wearables in patients with rheumatological diseases show the opening up of new possibilities for prevention, disease monitoring and treatment. This study provides the current data situation and the implementation of wearables in the discipline of rheumatology. Additionally, future potential fields of application as well as challenges and limits of the implementation of wearables are illustrated.

Simultaneous assessment of vascular distensibility and vessel wall area at coronary, carotid, and aortic level in diabetic patients using CMR: detection of vascular remodeling.

AIMS: No data is available about the significance of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) derived vascular distensibility (VD) and vessel wall ratio (VWR) for risk stratification in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of T2DM on VD and VWR using CMR in both central and peripheral territories. METHODS: Thirty-one T2DM-patients and nine controls underwent CMR. Angulation of the aorta, the common carotid, and the coronary arteries was performed to obtain cross-sectional vessel areas. RESULTS: In T2DM the Carotid-VWR and the Aortic-VWR correlated significantly. Mean values of Carotid-VWR and Aortic-VWR were significantly higher in T2DM than in controls. Coronary-VD was significantly lower in T2DM than in controls. No significant difference in Carotid-VD or Aortic-VD in T2DM vs. controls, respectively, could be observed. In a subgroup of thirteen T2DM patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), Coronary-VD was significantly lower and Aortic-VWR was significantly higher compared to T2DM patients without CAD. CONCLUSION: CMR allows a simultaneous evaluation of the structure and function of three important vascular territories to detect vascular remodeling in T2DM.

Efficacy of Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Scale in Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders through a Combination of Developmental Surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the clinical value of Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Scale-Revision 2016 (CNBS-R2016) for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) screening in the presence of developmental surveillance. METHODS: All participants were evaluated by the CNBS-R2016 and Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS). Spearman's correlation coefficients and Kappa values were obtained. Taking GDS as a reference assessment, the performance of the CNBS-R2016 for detecting the developmental delays of children with ASD was analyzed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The efficacy of the CNBS-R2016 to screen for ASD was explored by comparing Communication Warning Behavior with Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). RESULTS: In total, 150 children aged 12-42 months with ASD were enrolled. The developmental quotients of the CNBS-R2016 were correlated with those of the GDS (r=0.62-0.94). The CNBS-R2016 and GDS had good diagnostic agreement for developmental delays (Kappa=0.73-0.89), except for Fine Motor. There was a significant difference between the proportions of Fine Motor, delays detected by the CNBS-R2016 and GDS (86.0% vs. 77.3%). With GDS as a standard, the areas under the ROC curves of the CNBS-R2016 were above 0.95 for all the domains except Fine Motor, which was 0.70. In addition, the positive rate of ASD was 100.0% and 93.5% when the cut-off points of 7 and 12 in the Communication Warning Behavior subscale were used, respectively. CONCLUSION: The CNBS-R2016 performed well in developmental assessment and screening for children with ASD, especially by Communication Warning Behaviors subscale. Therefore, the CNBS-R2016 is worthy of clinical application in children with ASD in China.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of hesperidin nanoparticles by antisolvent recrystallization in a double homogenate system.

Hesperidin nanoparticles (HNPs) were made for the first time employing an antisolvent recrystallization technique in a double homogenate system with positive and negative clockwise rotation in order to completely use the underutilized nutritional components in citrus peel. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol, and deionized water were used as the solvents and antisolvents in the hesperidin solution preparation. Hesperidin solution concentration of 60.26 mg/mL, homogenization speed of 8257 rpm, antisolvent-to-solvent volume ratio of 6.93 mL/mL, and homogenization time of 3.15 min were the ideal experimental conditions. HNPs have to be at least 72.24 nm in size. The structures of the produced hesperidin samples and the raw hesperidin powder were identical, according to the findings of the FTIR, XRD, and TG characterization tests. The HNP sample had an in vitro absorption rate that was 5.63 and 4.23 times greater than that of the raw hesperidin powder, respectively. It was discovered that DMSO was more suited than ethanol for creating HNP particles. In the realms of dietary supplements, therapeutic applications, and health promotion, the HNPs produced by the ARDH technology would be a potential formulation on increasing uses for a wider range of nutraceuticals (synergistic).

Extracting myricetin and dihydromyricetin simultaneously from Hovenia acerba seed by Ultrasound-Assisted extraction on a lab and small Pilot-Scale.

The flavonoids myricetin and dihydromyricetin are significant components of Hovenia acerba seed. In this work, myricetin and dihydromyricetin were extracted from Hovenia acerba seed using an ultrasound-assisted technique, and the extraction parameters were adjusted using the response surface design approach. HPLC was used to assess the yield of myricetin and dihydromyricetin. According to the data, myricetin and dihydromyricetin yields were 0.53 mg/g and 4.06 mg/g at a 60 % ethanol solution concentration, 180 W of ultrasonic irradiation power, a 20 mL/g ratio of liquid to solid, and a 40 °C optimal extraction temperature. The aforementioned findings are virtually in agreement with the experimental findings suggested by the model. The study mentioned above thus offers a means of separating and developing useful components of natural goods.

Potential mechanisms of Lian-Zhi-Fan solution for TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via a metabolomics approach.

Lian-Zhi-Fan (LZF) decoction is a hospital-prescribed traditional Chinese medicine botanical drug prepared by the fermentation of decocted Coptidis Rhizome (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), and alum (Baifan). It has been used clinically in China for the treatment of anal fistula, perianal abscess, ulcerative colitis (UC), and other anorectal diseases for hundreds of years. However, due to the complexity of traditional Chinese medicine, the potential mechanisms of LZF in the treatment of UC have remained unknown. This study primarily investigated the remarkable pharmacological effects of LZF on TNBS-induced UC rats. To explore the complex targets and regulatory mechanisms of metabolic networks under LZF intervention, a metabolomics approach mediated by HPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis was used to screen the different metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the serum in order to characterize the possible anti-UC mechanisms of LZF. After rectal administration of LZF for seven consecutive days, significant amelioration effects on body weight loss, DAI score, and colon inflammation were found in UC rats. Based on this, further metabolomics identified 14 potential biomarkers in the treatment of UC with LZF, of which five possessed diagnostic significance: L-alanine, taurocholic acid, niacinamide, cholic acid, and L-valine. These metabolites are mainly involved in 12 metabolic pathways, including nicotate and nicotinamide metabolism, glycospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways suggest that LZF ameliorates UC by regulating amino acid metabolism, fat metabolism, and energy production. This study provides a useful approach for exploring the potential mechanisms of herbal prescription in UC treatment mediated by metabolomics.

In vivo evaluation and mechanism prediction of anti-diabetic foot ulcer based on component analysis of Ruyi Jinhuang powder.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a metabolic disease with a high complication rate. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) seriously affect the quality of life of patients. A total of 15%-20% of diabetic patients develop DFUs, which heal with difficulty over a long time and can result in amputation and disability. Traditional Chinese medicine has a unique effect in the treatment of skin ulcerative diseases. Ruyi Jinhuang powder (RHP) is one of the classic prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine and is widely used in clinical practice. AIM: To verify the ability of RHP to promote wound healing by electron microscopy analysis in animal models and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The effective components of RHP were extracted and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the obtained chemical components were analyzed by network pharmacology methods to predict its therapeutic mechanism. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin to establish the DFU model. HE staining was used to observe the wound tissue under an electron microscope. The chemical constituents of RHP were extracted first by supercritical fluid extraction and alcohol extraction, and then, GC-MS and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS were used to separately identify the chemical constituents. In addition, the "herb-component-target" link was established through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database to obtain the target information, and the molecular docking of important components and key targets was performed in Discovery Studio software. Cytoscape software was used to visualize and analyze the relationship between the chemical composition, targets and Traditional Chinese Medicine network. RESULTS: RHP promoted DFU healing in rats by affecting fibroblasts and nerve cells. A total of 89 chemical components were obtained by GC-MS. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that RHP was associated with 36 targets and 27 pathways in the treatment of DFU, of which the important components were luteolin, trans caryophyllene, ar-turmerone, palmitic acid, methyl palmitate, gallic acid, demethoxycurcumin, berberine, and rheic acid. The key targets were posttranscriptional silencing, topoisomerase II alpha, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor and retinoic X receptor alpha, and the key pathways were the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, and the forkhead box O signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that RHP may play a role in the treatment of DFU through these target pathways by affecting insulin resistance, altering the nervous system and immune system, participating in inflammatory responses and regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis through other specific mechanisms.

A prognostic model of acute-on-chronic liver failure based on sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by the development of a syndrome associated with a high risk of short-term death in patients with acute decompensated cirrhosis, and better indicators are needed to predict such outcomes. Sarcopenia, a common complication of cirrhosis, is closely associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality. In this study, the skeletal muscle index of ACLF patients was measured to determine whether sarcopenia combined with clinical parameters can aid in identifying those at high risk of progression. METHODS: A total of 433 hospitalized patients with ACLF according to the APASL criteria were included and allocated into two groups: transplantation-free survival (n = 293) or progression (n = 140, 107 died; 33 underwent liver transplantation) within 90 days. Muscle mass was assessed based on the skeletal muscle index. The optimal cut-off value of the AMPAS1 model (age, MELD score, platelet count, alpha-fetoprotein level, sarcopenia, and more than one complication combination) for progression prediction was identified using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for progression in the ACLF population (HR 3.771 95% CI 2.114-6.727, p < 0.001). AMPAS1 was a good predictor, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.865, and the cut-off value for poor outcome prediction was 0.31 (sensitivity 79.4%, specificity 76.4%). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that sarcopenia is a simple and objective indicator for predicting short-term prognosis in patients with ACLF. Moreover, compared to conventional prognostic scores, AMPAS1 is a better model for predicting 90 day adverse outcomes in ACLF patients.

Mucosal Serotonin Reuptake Transporter Expression in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Is Modulated by Gut Microbiota Via Mast Cell-Prostaglandin E2.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increased colonic serotonin (5-HT) level and decreased serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) expression in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may contribute to diarrhea and visceral hypersensitivity. We investigated whether mucosal SERT is modulated by gut microbiota via a mast cell-prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathway. METHODS: C57Bl/6 mice received intracolonic infusion of fecal supernatant (FS) from healthy controls or patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). The role of mast cells was studied in mast cell-deficient mice. Colonic organoids and/or mast cells were used for in vitro experiments. SERT expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Visceromotor responses to colorectal distension and colonic transit were assessed. RESULTS: Intracolonic infusion of IBS-D FS in mice caused an increase in mucosal 5-HT compared with healthy control FS, accompanied by ∼50% reduction in SERT expression. Mast cell stabilizers, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and PGE2 receptor antagonist prevented SERT downregulation. Intracolonic infusion of IBS-D FS failed to reduce SERT expression in mast cell-deficient (W/Wv) mice. This response was restored by mast cell reconstitution. The downregulation of SERT expression evoked by IBS FS was prevented by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antagonist LPS from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and a bacterial trypsin inhibitor. In vitro LPS treatment caused increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression and PGE2 release from cultured mouse mast cells. Intracolonic infusion of IBS-D FS in mice reduced colonic transit, increased fecal water content, and increased visceromotor responses to colorectal distension. Ondansetron prevented these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal LPS acting in concert with trypsin in patients with IBS-D stimulates mucosal mast cells to release PGE2, which downregulates mucosal SERT, resulting in increased mucosal 5-HT. This may contribute to diarrhea and abdominal pain common in IBS.

Global and reflective rumination are related to suicide attempts among patients experiencing major depressive episodes.

BACKGROUND: Recent attention has focused on the role of rumination in suicidality, with evidence indicating that rumination may be positively related to suicidal ideation. There remains disagreement on the nature of the relationship between rumination and suicide attempts, especially in major affective disorders. This study was designed to identify whether rumination is a risk factor for attempted suicide. METHODS: A total of 309 patients with major depressive episodes were recruited for this study, including 170 patients with major depression and 139 patients with bipolar disorder. All participants were categorized into two groups based on a series of clinical assessments: suicide attempters (n = 87) and non-suicide attempters (n = 222). Rumination was evaluated with the Ruminative Responses Scale. A binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship between rumination and suicide attempts. RESULTS: Both global ruminative levels and the two subtypes of rumination, brooding and reflection, were significantly higher in the suicide attempters than the non-suicide attempters. After controlling for age, current depression and anxiety symptoms, and episode frequency, it was found that global rumination and reflection (but not brooding) were positively associated with suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that rumination may be a risk factor for suicide attempts and highlight the maladaptive nature of reflection in patients with major depressive episodes.

The quality assessment of intraabdominal infection guidelines/consensuses in 2 decades - which are better and any changes?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intraabdominal infection (IAI) is a common and important disease worldwide. An increasing number of related guidelines/consensuses have been published in recent years, the quality evaluation for these guidelines/consensuses is necessary to identify lower-quality documents and explore the quality distribution in different time range and areas in this field. METHODS: The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument tool was adopted to assess the quality of IAI guidelines/consensuses by 3 researchers independently. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) among the researchers were retrieved to reflect reliability. The quality differences of these guidelines/consensuses issued before and after May 2009, both international and non-international, were compared by a Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Fourteen IAI guidelines/consensuses published in English were obtained following a literature search. The ICCs among the researchers were all above 0.75, indicating satisfactory reliability. This outcome showed that the overall quality of these guidelines/consensuses was mediocre and considered acceptable in all items. A few guidelines/consensuses were better in their scientific and methodological characteristics than the others. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the scores between the guidelines/consensuses issued before and after May 2009 or between international vs regional guidelines/consensuses. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of the IAI guidelines/consensuses was generally acceptable and applicable, with a few deficiencies. Therefore, continuous improvement is essential. The guideline assessment tools should be applied in guideline/consensus development both widely and strictly to improve the methodological quality.

Observation and analysis of VOCs in nine prefecture-level cities of Sichuan Province, China.

The observation and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were conducted during January 2018 in nine prefecture-level cities of Sichuan, China, covering the period of heavily polluted weather. Air samples collected in nine prefecture-level cities were analyzed using a preconcentration method coupled with GC-MS/FID. The characteristics and ozone generation potential (OFP) of VOCs were analyzed. The relationship between air quality index (AQI) and VOCs and gross domestic product (GDP) and VOCs were also discussed, respectively. The results show that the characteristics of VOCs in cities are highly related to their industrial structure and GDP. Generally, areas with high AQI values are accompanied by high VOC concentrations. Alkanes and halocarbons were the most abundant VOCs in the atmospheric environment in the nine prefecture-level cities, accounting for 24.5~61.6% and 15.6~23.6% of total VOC concentration, respectively. The MIR method was used to analyze the OFP, and olefins contributed the most to ozone formation. Among the nine cities located in Sichuan, Dazhou was found to be the city with the highest OFP value (1191.49 µg/m3).

Interleukin-9 protects from early podocyte injury and progressive glomerulosclerosis in Adriamycin-induced nephropathy.

A wide spectrum of immunological functions has been attributed to Interleukin 9 (IL-9), including effects on the survival and proliferation of immune and parenchymal cells. In recent years, emerging evidence suggests that IL-9 expression can promote tissue repair in inflammatory conditions. However, data about the involvement of IL-9 in kidney tissue protection is very limited. Here, we investigated the role of IL-9 in Adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN), a mouse model for proteinuric chronic kidney disease. Compared to wild type mice, IL-9 knockout (Il9-/-) mice with AN displayed accelerated development of proteinuria, aggravated glomerulosclerosis and deterioration of kidney function. At an early stage of disease, the Il9-/- mice already displayed a higher extent of glomerular podocyte injury and loss of podocyte number compared to wild type mice. In the kidney, T cells and innate lymphoid cells produced IL-9. However, selective deficiency of IL-9 in the innate immune system in Il9-/-Rag2-/- mice that lack T and B cells did not alter the outcome of AN, indicating that IL-9 derived from the adaptive immune system was the major driver of tissue protection in this model. Mechanistically, we could show that podocytes expressed the IL-9 receptor in vivo and that IL-9 signaling protects podocytes from Adriamycin-induced apoptosis in vitro. Finally, in vivo treatment with IL-9 effectively protected wild type mice from glomerulosclerosis and kidney failure in the AN model. The detection of increased serum IL-9 levels in patients with primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis further suggests that IL-9 production is induced by glomerular injury in humans. Thus, IL-9 confers protection against experimental glomerulosclerosis, identifying the IL-9 pathway as a potential therapeutic target in proteinuric chronic kidney disease.

Fluorescent and visual detection of norfloxacin in aqueous solutions with a molecularly imprinted polymer coated paper sensor.

A dual functional molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) coated paper (MIP-CP) sensor was firstly proposed for rapid fluorescent (FL) and visual analysis of norfloxacin (NOR) in aqueous solutions. The sensor was fabricated via a sol-gel technique, and characterized by FTIR and SEM. The extraction capacity, selectivity, detection limit, and linear range of the MIP-CP sensor were studied by an FL spectrophotometer. The modified paper sensor showed good selectivity and high extraction capacity for NOR and its structural analogues. For FL analysis of NOR, the linear range and detection limit were found to be 10-100 ng/ml and 2.59 ng/ml, respectively. The visual determination of NOR (under UV light) based on the MIP-CP sensor was also explored, and the determination limit was found to be 0.1 µg/ml. Finally, the proposed methods were successfully applied to the direct determination of NOR in pharmaceutical preparations and cross-validated by UPLC. The MIP-CP sensor might be a potential platform for antibiotic determination due to its multifunction and good analytical performance.

Fluorescent Sensors Based on Organic Polymer-Capped Gold Nanoparticles for the Detection of Cr(VI) in Water.

"Turn-off" fluorescent sensors for Cr(VI) have been fabricated based on organic polymer-capped gold nanoparticles. The fluorescence intensity, as well as the response behavior of the sensors, is dependent on the pH values of buffer solution and dilution amounts of the sensors. When diluted 50 times with pH 2.0 buffer solution, the sensors show good linear responses toward Cr(VI) at concentrations between 2.8-5.9 µM and 5.9-29 µM. The calculated detection limit is 0.63 µM (S/N=3). The interference study and real sample assays exhibit satisfying selectivity and reliability results. Furthermore, the quenched intensity of fluorescence could be recovered by Fe(II) ion, which provides a potential method to detect Fe(II) ions. The quenching and recovering mechanisms have also been investigated. It is suggested that the quenching mechanism is based on the combined effects of internal electron transfer and the inner filter effect. Finally, the recovering mechanism is based on the redox reactions between the Cr(VI) and Fe(II) ions.