Dual-ratiometric fluorescence probe for viscosity and hypochlorite based on AIEgen with mitochondria-targeting ability.

Viscous microenvironments are ubiquitous in living organisms. An oxidative stress attack could cause the fluctuation of lymph or blood viscosity, which is closely related to many common diseases. However, the dual-function detection of reactive oxygen species and viscosity is still ineffective due to design defects. Herein, by rational linking a propeller-shaped triphenylamine rotator and a rigid planar anthracene, we report the first dual-ratiometric-response probe for ClO- and viscosity detection. The probe itself shows weak fluorescence background in low-viscous solution or at non-aggregate state, which can largely switch on its blue (414 nm) and yellow fluorescence (600 nm) respectively in response to ClO- and viscosity. Their sensing mechanisms were elucidated through the interruption of FRET and TICT processes for ClO- and viscosity detection, respectively. In addition to its mitochondria targeting ability, TPP-AN was employed for mitochondrial viscosity and ClO- imaging in HeLa cells, providing a potentially useful probe for clinical assays.

Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging analysis in the characteristics of Wilson's disease: A case report and literature review.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism. Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported to provide evidence of the extent and severity of brain lesions. However, there are few studies related to the diagnosis of WD with multimodal MRI. Here, we reported a WD patient who was subjected to Sanger sequencing, conventional MRI, and multimodal MRI examinations, including susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). Sanger sequencing demonstrated two pathogenic mutations in exon 8 of the ATP7B gene. Slit-lamp examination revealed the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings in both eyes, as well as low serum ceruloplasmin and high 24-h urinary copper excretion on admission. Although the substantia nigra, red nucleus, and lenticular nucleus on T1-weighted imaging and T2-weighted imaging were normal, SWI and ASL showed hypointensities in these regions. Besides, decreased cerebral blood flow was found in the lenticular nucleus and the head of caudate nucleus. The patient recovered well after 1 year and 9 months of follow-up, with only a Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale score of 1 for neurological symptom. Brain multimodal MRI provided a thorough insight into the WD, which might make up for the deficiency of conventional MRI.

Dysphasia is associated with diffusion-weighted MRI abnormalities in patients with transient neurological symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) abnormalities after transient neurological symptoms are of great significance for the early diagnosis and urgent intervention of transient ischemic attack (TIA). This study was aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics associated with acute DWI lesions in transient neurological symptoms. METHODS: We retrospectively recruited 302 patients with transient neurological symptoms. According to DWI findings, they were divided into DWI positive and DWI negative group. The clinical characteristics and the TIA-related scores such as ABCD2, ABCD3, ABCD3I, Dawson score, and the Diagnosis of TIA (DOT) score were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify the independent factors and compare the predictive value of different TIA scores for acute DWI lesions. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 61.8 years, and 67.2% were male. We found 89 (29.5%) patients with DWI positivity. Logistic regression analysis showed the characteristic associated with DWI lesions was dysphasia (OR 2.226, 95% CI 1.220-4.062). The area under the curve for Dawson score and the DOT score was 0.610 (95% CI 0.543-0.678) and 0.625 (95% CI 0.559-0.691), respectively. CONCLUSION: We found that DWI lesions were detected in 29.5% of patients with transient neurological symptoms and were associated with dysphasia. Dawson score and DOT score could have a higher predictability of DWI lesions in patients with transient neurological symptoms.

Sunlight and UV driven synthesis of Ag nanoparticles for fluorometric and colorimetric dual-mode sensing of ClO.

A photo-responsive compound BINOL-LA (1) having a rigid backbone ending up with two 5-membered cyclic disulfide moieties was designed. BINOL-LA capped Ag nanoparticles (1@Ag NPs) with a network structure were synthesized in a green way by sunlight or UV lamp irradiation. 1@Ag NPs exhibit a selective recognition towards ClO- in aqueous solution with a switch-on fluorescence response and a visual color change, with detection limits of 0.17 µM and 1.54 µM, respectively. The sensing mechanism is based on the ClO--mediated oxidation of AgS bond, resulting in a disaggregation of 1@Ag NPs assembly. With the strategy demonstrated here, ClO- in tap water and lake water can be detected quantitatively in 5 s.

Incidence and Predictors of Acute Ischemic Lesions on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With a Clinical Diagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attack in China.

Background: The associations between the clinical characteristics and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) positivity in patients with a clinical diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) are still poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence of TIA related acute infarction by DWI, and to determine the underlying predictors of DWI positivity in TIA patients. Methods: Between Jan 2017 and Dec 2018, we retrospectively enrolled 430 patients with a clinical diagnosis of TIA who underwent DWI. Patients were divided into those with acute ischemic lesions (DWI positive group) and those without (DWI negative group). The clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and imaging parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 430 time-based TIA patients (mean age, 61.4 ± 13.0) were enrolled in this study. About 126 (29.3%) of TIA patients had a DWI positive lesion in our series. Comparing TIA patients with positive DWI to those with negative DWI, acute lesions were more likely to be more male, have higher hyperlipidemia and a smoking history, more speech abnormalities and increased motor weakness; and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, homocysteine, fasting blood glucose, and the scores of ABCD2, ABCD3, ABCD3-I, and Dawson. Several independent predictors of DWI positivity were identified with logistic regression analysis: motor weakness (odds ratio 4.861, P = 0.021), speech abnormalities (odds ratio 4.029, P = 0.024), and ABCD3-I (odds ratio 13.141, P = 0.001). ABCD3-I showed the greatest area under the ROC curve, with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 72.4%. Conclusion: In patients with a clinical diagnosis of TIA, 29.3% demonstrated acute DWI lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They were associated with motor weakness, speech abnormalities and higher ABCD3-I score at admission.

External Validation of the Diagnosis of TIA (DOT) Score for Identification of TIA in a Chinese Population.

Background: Recently, the [diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA), DOT] score has been recognized to be a new tool for non-specialists to diagnose TIA more accurately with the sensitivity and specificity being 89 and 76%, respectively. However, the DOT score has not yet been validated externally in patients with TIA in China. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 500 consecutive patients with transient neurological symptoms, who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between Jan 2016 and Dec 2018. Patients with transient neurological symptoms were divided into two subgroups: TIA mimic group (N = 140, 28%) and definite cerebrovascular events group including tissue-based TIA (DWI negative, N = 252, 50.4%) and minor stroke (DWI positive, N = 108, 21.6%). The demographic data, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and scores of Dawson and DOT were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 500 patients with transient neurological symptoms (mean age, 61.1 ± 12.8) were enrolled and 70% (N = 350) were male. Comparing with TIA mimic groups, patients with cerebrovascular events group were more likely to have higher diastolic blood pressure, uric acid and homocysteine, more motor weakness and speech abnormalities, and also scored higher using the Dawson and DOT. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.728 for DOT, with a sensitivity of 70.3% and specificity of 62.9%, respectively. Conclusion: In patients with transient neurological symptoms, our findings showed that the DOT score had relatively good calibration and discrimination to identify of TIA in a Chinese Population. As a novel tool of TIA identification, further validations are needed in multiple centers with larger samples in China.

Paraneoplastic neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder associated with breast cancer.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a group of inflammatory disease involving the central nervous system. Although most commonly an idiopathic autoimmune condition, NMOSD may also occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome in rare instances. Herein, we report a rare case of a 60-year-old woman with paraneoplastic NMOSD associated with breast cancer. Our findings increase the recognition that NMOSD may present as a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome associated with breast cancer. Our case also raises awareness of an important complication of neurological complications of breast cancer. Early diagnosis of paraneoplastic NMOSD may be imperative for a better prognosis.