Expression of the α7 nAChR Subunit Duplicate Form (CHRFAM7A) Was Down-Regulated in Patients with Intracranial Infection and Reduced Inflammation in in vitro Model by p38 MAPK.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated that the effects and possible mechanisms of the α7 nAChR subunit duplicate form (CHRFAM7A) affected inflammation in the model of intracranial infection. METHODS: Mice of the model group were injected (intracranial injection) with Staphylococcus aureus. Mouse microglial BV2 cell was exposed with 200 ng of LPS for 4 h. RESULTS: CHRFAM7A mRNA expressions were reduced in patients with intracranial infection. CHRFAM7A mRNA and protein expressions were suppressed in mice with intracranial infection in a time-dependent manner. CHRFAM7A reduced inflammation in mice with intracranial infection. The inhibition of CHRFAM7A reduced inflammation in mice with intracranial infection. CHRFAM7A suppressed p38 MAPK in mice with intracranial infection. The inhibition of p38 MAPK shows the effects of CHRFAM7A in intracranial infection. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that the expression of the CHRFAM7A was down-regulated in patients with intracranial infection and reduced inflammation in in vitro model by p38 MAPK, which suggests the potential role of CHRFAM7A as a diagnostic biomarker for intracranial infection.

Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential factors affecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODS: A systematic search of publications listed in electronic from inception up to August 2020 was conducted. A random-effects model was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 31 studies reporting 1410 MRSA events in 17 427 patients with HIV infection were included. Previous hospitalization (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.37, 2.36), previous antibiotic therapy (OR 2.69; 95% CI 2.09, 3.45), CD4+ count (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.41, 2.28), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification of stage C (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.80, 3.93), skin lesions (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.15, 3.55), intravenous device use (OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.59, 4.29) and an MRSA colonization history (OR 6.30; 95% CI 2.50, 15.90) were significantly associated with an increased risk of MRSA colonization and infection. Antiretroviral therapy (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.50, 0.99) and current antibiotic use (OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.05, 0.32) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of MRSA colonization and infection. CONCLUSION: MRSA colonization and infection in HIV-infected patients is associated with a number of risk factors.

Green "planting" nanostructured single crystal silver.

Design and fabrication of noble metal nanocrystals have attracted much attention due to their wide applications in catalysis, optical detection and biomedicine. However, it still remains a challenge to scale-up the production in a high-quality, low-cost and eco-friendly way. Here we show that single crystalline silver nanobelts grow abundantly on the surface of biomass-derived monolithic activated carbon (MAC), using [Ag(NH3)2]NO3 aqueous solution only. By varying the [Ag(NH3)2]NO3 concentration, silver nanoplates or nanoflowers can also be selectively obtained. The silver growth was illustrated using a galvanic-cell mechanism. The lowering of cell potential via using [Ag(NH3)2]⁺ precursor, together with the AgCl crystalline seed initiation, and the releasing of OH⁻ in the reaction process, create a stable environment for the self-compensatory growth of silver nanocrystals. Our work revealed the great versatility of a new type of template-directed galvanic-cell reaction for the controlled growth of noble metal nanocrystals.

Tunable growth of nanodendritic silver by galvanic-cell mechanism on formed activated carbon.

Well-defined silver dendritic nanostructures have been prepared in large quantities in an ambient environment using formed activated carbon (FAC) only. A reasonable mechanism (step 1: reduction by surface reductive groups; step 2: growing in the form of a galvanic cell) is suggested.

From crabshell to chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite material via a biomorphic mineralization synthesis method.

Hydroxyapatite-polymer composite materials, as biological bone tissue materials, have become an important research direction. In this paper, the calcium carbonate from the crabshells was transformed into hydroxyapatite by a hydrothermal process. According to the method that we called Biomorphic Mineralization synthesis, we obtained a novel kind of hydroxyapatite-chitosan composite materials which reserved the natural perfect structure of the original crabshells. Benefited from its fine micro-structure as the crabshells, this kind of materials held a high value of tensile modulus, which is expected to be promising bone tissue engineering applications.

Influence of alkali-freezing treatment on the solid state structure of chitin.

Chitin was soaked in frozen sodium hydroxide for further modification. The solid state structural changes of the resulting chitin powders were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy measurements. During the alkali-freezing process, the crystal space parameters of chitin changed, and the order of the hydrogen bonds of chitin was modified. The study explains how the treatment is beneficial for further modification of chitin. The crystallinity of chitin was assessed according to XRD results. It decreased by half after the alkali-freezing treatment for the first 3 days, and then a few changes happened on the following days while the crystallinity of chitin was kept in the scale of 13.5-18%. That means that the alkali-freezing treatment of chitin for several days is suitable and sufficient.