Metabolic labeling-mediated visualization, capture, and inactivation of Gram-positive bacteria via biotin-streptavidin interactions.

We introduce a biotinylated D-amino acid probe capable of metabolically incorporating into bacterial PG. Leveraging the robust affinity between biotin and streptavidin, the probe has demonstrated efficacy in imaging, capture, and targeted inactivation of Gram-positive bacteria through synergistic pairings with commercially available streptavidin-modified fluorescent dyes and nanomaterials. The versatility of the probe is underscored by its compatibility with a variety of commercially available streptavidin-modified reagents. This adaptability allows the probe to be applied across diverse scenarios by integrating with these commercial reagents.

Nano Fe2O3 embedded in montmorillonite with citric acid enhanced photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles towards diethyl phthalate.

Nano-Fe2O3 embedded in montmorillonite particles (Fe-Mt) were prepared to degrade diethyl phthalate (DEP) with citric acid (CA) under xenon light irradiation. Compared to pristine montmorillonite (Na-Mt), the embedding process increased 14.5-fold of iron content and 1.8-fold of specific surface area. The synthesized Fe-Mt have more oxygen vacancies than Fe2O3 nanoparticles (nFe2O3), which could induce more reactive oxygen species (ROSs) generation in the presence of CA under xenon lamp irradiation. Fe-Mt with CA enhanced photo-assisted degradation of DEP 2.5 times as compared to nFe2O3 with CA. Quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and identification of products confirmed that surface-bound •OH was the main radical to degrade DEP. Common anions (i.e., NO3-, CO32-, Cl-) and humic acid could compete •OH with DEP and cause slower degradation of DEP. The removal efficiency of DEP was more than 56% with Fe-Mt after three recycles, and the dissolved Fe concentration from Fe-Mt was below 75 µmol/L, indicating Fe-Mt had a good stability as a catalyst. Fe-Mt together with CA appeared to be a promising strategy to remove organic pollutants in surface water, or topsoil under solar irradiation.

The Impact of Rotating Night Shift Work and Daytime Recharge on Cognitive Performance Among Retired Nurses.

INTRODUCTION: The exact relationship between long-term shift work (SW) and cognitive impairment (CI) has been poorly understood. The effects of the long-term rotating night SW (RNSW) combining daytime recharge (DTR) on cognitive function were investigated. METHODS: A total 920 retired nurses and 656 retired female teachers aged ≥50 years were analyzed. Participants who worked at least once per week for 8 hat night for more than 1 year were defined as the SW group, and those without a regular nighttime shift were defined as the control group. The associations among duration, frequency, and DTR of RNSW, and neuropsychological assessments were ascertained by regression models. RESULTS: Participants with RNSW had a significantly higher proportion of mild CI (MCI), both amnestic MCI (aMCI) (14.4% in 11-20 years, p < 0.05, and 17.8% in > 20 years, p < 0.001) and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) (8.1% in 11-20 years, p < 0.05), as well as dementia (1.5% in 1-10 years, and 11.7% in > 20 years, p < 0.05) compared to controls (8.4% with aMCI, 4.4% with naMCI, and 7.0% with dementia, respectively). There were significant negative relationships between general times of night SW and scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (R squared = 0.01, p = 0.0014) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (R squared = 0.01, p = 0.0054). Participants with ≥1 h of DTR and ≥ 11 years of RNSW were about 2-fold more likely to experience MCI compared with the subjects in the control group, especially with 3-5 h (odds ratio [OR]: 2.35; 95% confidence interval: 1.49-3.68, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The long-term RNSW was associated with a higher risk of CI, especially aMCI and dementia, and the problem cannot be improved by DTR.

Fatigue, self-efficacy and psychiatric symptoms influence the quality of life in patients with myasthenia gravis in Tianjin, China.

BACKGROUND: Muscle weakness related to myasthenia gravis (MG) limits the daily functioning of patients. MG patients often experience subjective symptoms including psychiatric disorders, fatigue, and reduction in self-efficacy. All of which ultimately influence their life. The relationship between the subjective symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has never been systematically explored among MG patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of patients with MG in China, and to assess the impact of potential predictors of HRQoL. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study in patients with confirmed diagnosis of MG. Patients with MG were assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6 items scale (SES6G). Disease severity was evaluated by two specialists at the same time. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower mean SF-36 scores for the categories role physical and general health (GH). The mean physical and mental composite scores were 57.76 ± 21.28 and 60.03 ± 23.75. Sex and unemployment influenced the QoL. Financial burden was negatively associated with total SF-36 scores. Compared to the control group, patients with generalized symptoms (MGFA II and III) had lower SF-36 scores, but the patients with pure ocular symptoms (MGFA I) had not significant difference, except GH. The SF-36 scores were highly correlated with the severity of the disease, the states of mood, fatigue, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in the HRQoL of patients with MG was related not only to the gender, severity of disease, and unemployment but also to the subjective experience including depressive and anxiety disorders, fatigue, and self-efficacy. In the course of treatment, the evaluation of HRQoL should be included in the routine assessment of patients with MG. Psychosocial treatment, social support, and health education should be advocated.

In-situ generation of nanozymes by natural nucleotides: a biocatalytic label for quantitative determination of hydrogen peroxide and glucose.

Four natural nucleotides including 5'-cytidine monophosphate (CMP), 5'-thymidine monophosphate (TMP), guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and 5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were employed to modulate the coordination environment and the valence state of PtCl42-. This is the first report that natural nucleotides have the ability to produce highly active Pt nanoclusters. The latter are shown to act as peroxidase mimetics. Both the size distribution and the charge state of Pt-nucleotide nanozymes vary with the chemical structures of nucleotides, thereby contributing to distinct enzyme-like activities. By adopting Pt-CMP as a signal amplifier, a photometric assay was well-established for quantitative determination of glucose. The assay is based on the oxidation of glucose by glucose oxidase. The oxidation product (H2O2) is detected at 652 nm via the Pt-CMP-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine with H2O2. Response is linear in the 5 to 100 µM glucose concentration range, and the limit of detection is 0.12 µM (at S/N= 3). The method excels by a low signal background, high sensitivity, and low consumption of energy and materials. Graphical abstract Peroxidase mimicking Pt nanoclusters were synthesized by employing natural nucleotides as both the reducing agent and the stabilization template.

MicroRNA-21 activates hepatic stellate cells via PTEN/Akt signaling.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells is the key event in the liver fibrosis. miRs have been shown to play fundamental role in diverse biological and pathological processes. In the present study, we investigated the fibrogenic role of miR-21 in human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells and explored underlying mechanisms. The results showed that treatment of LX-2 cells with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB significantly stimulated α1(I) collagen mRNA synthesis and the protein expression of α-SMA, which are characteristics of activation of hepatic stellate cells and simultaneously increased miR-21 expression. Downregulation of miR-21 expression by transfection of anti-miR-21 into LX-2 cells prevented PDGF-BB-induced LX-2 cell activation. Overexpression of miR-21 expression alone also stimulated LX-2 cell activation, while downregulation of miR-21 expression suppressed LX-2 cell activation. miR-21 also played a role in mRNA expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in LX-2 cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-21 decreased protein expression of PTEN in LX-2 cells, resulting in activation of the Akt. Inhibition of Akt signaling by specific inhibitor LY 294002 blocked miR-21-induced fibrogenic effects in LX-2 cells. In summary, miR-21 is an important mediator in LX-2 cell activation. The fibrogenic effects of miR-21 on LX-2 cell activation are mediated through PTEN/Akt pathway. miR-21 may be a potential novel molecular target for the liver fibrosis.

Effect of St. John's wort extract on depressive disorder in elderly patients with unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: The elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are often accompanied with depression. This study aimed to assess the effect of St. John's wort extract (SWE) on depressive disorder in elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris. METHODS: Altogether 170 patients who met the set criteria were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomly divided into SWE group (44 patients), Deanxit group (44), psychotherapy group (42), and control group (40). The effectiveness of SWE was evaluated by reduced percentage of Hamilton depression (HAMD) scale and reduced frequency of angina pectoris attack, which were measured before and at 12 weeks after the treatment with SWE. RESULTS: The reduced percentages of HAMD scale were 79.5%, 56.8% and 57.1% in the SWE, Deanxit and psychotherapy groups, respectively. Compared with the control, the three groups had significant differences in the percentages (P<0.001). The improvement after the treatment was more significant in the SWE group than in the Deanxit or psychotherapy group (P<0.05). The improvement of angina pectoris evaluated by the Canadian Cardiac Society Classification was significantly better in the treatment groups (88. 7%, 65. 9%, 57.1%) than in the control group, and it was marked in the SWE group (P<0.001). Angina pectoris attack, its frequencies, durations and electrocardiographic changes were significantly improved in the treatment groups than in the control group (F=6.05, 4.58, 5.12, P<0.01). They are markedly improved in the SWE group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SWE can improve depressive symptoms more significantly in elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris than Deanxit or psychotherapy, proving that SWE contributes to better treatment of angina attack as well.