Development and application of a novel fluorescent nanosensor based on FeSe quantum dots embedded silica molecularly imprinted polymer for the rapid optosensing of cyfluthrin.

A novel molecularly imprinted silica layer appended to FeSe quantum dots (MIP-FeSe-QDs) was fabricated and utilized as a recognition element to develop a selective and sensitive fluorescent nanosensor for cyfluthrin (CYF) determination. The MIP-FeSe-QDs were characterized by fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Excellent selectivity and high sensitivity of MIP-FeSe-QDs to CYF molecules were observed based on the fluorescence quenching of FeSe-QDs. Under optimal conditions, a good linear relationship was found between fluorescence quenching effect and increased CYF concentration within 0.010-0.20mg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9911. The practicality of the developed sensor method for CYF detection in fish and sediment samples was further validated. Good recoveries ranging from 88.0% to 113.9% with<6.8% relative standard deviations were obtained. The detection limits of CYF in sediment and fish samples were 1.3 and 1.0µg/kg, respectively. This study established a novel, rapid fluorescent nanosensor detection method based on MIP-QDs for successfully analyzing CYF in fish and sediment samples.

Selective and sensitive determination of cypermethrin in fish via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-like method based on molecularly imprinted artificial antibody-quantum dot optosensing materials.

Molecularly imprinted silica layers appended to quantum dots (MIP-QDs) with customized selective artificial recognition sites were fabricated in this study by optimizing the ratio of the functional monomer to the template. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer­emmett­teller, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and selectivity assay analyses were also performed. Results demonstrated that the selective fluorescence quenching properties of MIP-QDs toward cypermethrin (CYP) are due to strong interactions between these molecules. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-like method based on the MIP-QDs was established under optimal conditions. The fluorescence quenching observed from this method showed a linear relationship with CYP concentration over the range of 0.05­60.0 mg/kg with a correlation coefficient of 0.9838. Good recovery (82.7­92.4%) and a relative standard deviation of less than 10.1% were obtained from fish samples spiked with three levels of CYP. This method also demonstrated a low detection limit of 1.2 µg/kg. The ELISA-like method based on MIP-QDs can be successfully employed to detect residual of CYP in fish samples.

Effects of Tai Chi on the protracted abstinence syndrome: a time trial analysis.

While exercise has been shown to reduce the negative effects of substance withdrawal symptoms, no research has investigated if Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise, has similar effects. Here, we observed the physiological effects of Tai Chi on protracted abstinence syndrome (PAS) in female heroin addicts by comprehensively inspecting their immune system function, complete blood count, hepatic function and renal function. To determine the psychological effects, we used the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the rating scale of heroin withdrawal symptoms. We recruited 70 heroin-addicted young women beginning to undergo withdrawal and randomly assigned them into two groups: one group received one-hour Tai Chi exercise every two days (Tai Chi group, n = 36) and the other group did not (control group, n = 34). Thirty-three patients finished this six-month trial. Numerous significant physiological differences were observed between all heroin-addicted subjects (n = 70) and age-matched healthy individuals (n = 18), suggesting a deleterious effect of drug addiction. There were improvements for certain physical parameters between the Tai Chi group (n = 17) and the control group (n = 16), although the differences were not statistically significant. We observed a small significant difference in psychological effects near the 60-day mark between the two groups. Taken together, our results suggest that Tai Chi might have a positive effect on PAS, which future studies can confirm by using an expanded sample size, longer trial time, and more sensitive and specific indicators of psychological and physiological health.

[Effect of musk soluble components on the growth, the differentiation and the transfection efficiency of rat neural stem cells (NSC) in vitro].

AIM: To investigate the effect of musk soluble components on the growth, the differentiation and the transfection efficiency of rat neural stem cell (NSC) in vitro. METHODS: The growth and the differentiation of rat NSC were observed when musk soluble components were added into the culture medium of NSC. Meanwhile, the pEGFP-C1, which expressed the enhanced GFP protein, was transfected into the NSC by method of electro- transfection. RESULTS: When NSC was treated with musk soluble components, the neurites were outgrowth around NSC and attached to the plate, and the neural spheres were disassociated. The glia-like cells appeared at the concentration of 0.3 per thousand. When the concentration of musk soluble components was lower than 3 per thousand, the transformative cells could recover. Furthermore, the efficiency of transfection pEGFP into NSC was remarkably increased after the treatment with musk. CONCLUSION: After the treatment of NSC with musk soluble components, the neural spheres were disassociated, and then attached to the plate. Musk soluble components could induce NSC differentiation into glia-like cells and improve the transfection efficiency of pEGFP-C1 in vitro.