Primer Exchange Reaction Coupled with DNA-Templated Silver Nanoclusters for Label-Free and Sensitive Detection of MicroRNA.

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression, and serve as crucial biomarkers for diagnosis of a variety of disease. However, label-free and sensitive miRNA detection remains a huge challenge due to the low abundance. Herein, we developed an approach through integrating primer exchange reaction (PER) with DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) for label-free and sensitive miRNA detection. In this method, PER was used to amplify miRNA signals and produce single-strand DNA (ssDNA) sequences. The produced ssDNA sequences mediated DNA-templated AgNCs based signal generation by unfolding the designed hairpin probe (HP). The generated AgNCs signal was correlated with the dosage of target miRNA. Eventually, the established approach exhibited a low detection of limit of 47 fM with a great dynamic range of more than five orders of magnitude. In addition, the method was also utilized to detect the miRNA-31 expression in collected clinical samples from pancreatitis patients and demonstrated that miRNA-31 was upregulated in patients, showing a great promising of the method in clinical application.

Construction of simple and sensitive pancreatitis related microRNA detection strategy via self-priming triggered cascade signal amplification.

Pancreatic diseases, such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, remain the most threatening gastrointestinal diseases with a high mortality due to atypical symptoms. MicroRNA plays crucial roles in regulating metastasis and cell proliferation of pancreatic cancer, constituting important biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancers. Herein, we develop a sensitive and simple exosomal miRNA detection method with only a dual-hairpin-probe. In detail, the dual-hairpin-probe is constructed through combination of two functional sections for both target miRNA identification and signal amplification. With only one probe, the method possesses the capability to avoid interferences from concentration changes of other probes, and exhibits a higher stability which is demonstrated through the obtained low coefficients of variation (CV) of 6.73%. With let-7a as detection target, the LOD of the established method is determined to be 243 aM, while maintaining a high discriminating capability towards let-7a homogenous miRNAs.

Novel strategies for the fight of Alzheimer's disease targeting amyloid-ß protein.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is recognised as a devastating neurodegenerative disease throughout the world and lack of effective treatments, is a growing concern in modern society with a growing population of elderly patients. A growing number of studies reveal that abnormal accumulation and deposition of Aß is responsible for AD. Inspired by this, strategies for the treatment of AD targeting-Aß clearance have been discussed for a long period, exploring new drugs which is capable of destroying soluble Aß oligomers and unsolvable Aß aggregates. In this paper, results of recent clinical trials on several anti-amyloid-ß drugs are presented and several emerging anti-amyloid AD therapies based on recent studies are reviewed. Furthermore, some of the current challenges and novel strategies to prevent AD are addressed. Herein, this review focuses on current pharmacotherapy of AD targeting-Aß and intends to design a promising therapeutic agent for AD treatment.

Pancreatitis-Associated Extracellular Vesicle Identification through an Allosteric Probe-Initiated Cascade Amplification System.

As an emerging class of noninvasive biomarkers, accurate quantification of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) is essential to both the basic biological research and early diagnosis of pancreatitis. We report here an allosteric probe-initiated cascade amplification system for a highly sensitive detection of serum-circulating EVs. In this method, the special recognition of EVs by the allosteric probes triggers allosterism of the probe and thus induces the release of a signal amplification initiator. Through the following multiple rounds of cascade amplifications, a large number of fluorescence moiety are released, generating an enhanced fluorescence signal. This method exhibits a large dynamic range of 5 orders of magnitude. In addition, this strategy could also be performed under isothermal conditions in a wash-free way, indicating its potential applications in early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatitis.

Alendronate-anchored PEGylation of ceria nanoparticles promotes human hepatoma cell proliferation via AKT/ERK signaling pathways.

Previous work has suggested that ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) have regenerative antioxidant properties, which have motivated researchers to consider CNPs as therapeutic agents for treating a number of diseases, including cancer. Recent studies have shown CNPs to be toxic to cancer cells, to inhibit invasion and sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy. In addition, several hydrophilic polymers have been used to coat the CNP surface in order to enhance its properties of extensive biocompatibility and systemic nontoxicity to normal cells and tissues. However, the results of previous studies were based on high CNP doses (10 µg/mL or more), and these doses may cause serious side effects in clinical applications. The impact of low CNP doses on tumor cells remains unknown. In this study, we report experiments indicating that CNPs-AL- polyethylene glycol (PEG)600, a type of surface-modified CNP that is more stable and less toxic than traditional CNPs could promote proliferation of hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, further research showed that a low dose (0.01 µg/mL) of CNPs-AL-PEG600 could reduce hepatoma cell apoptosis and activate AKT/ERK signaling pathways. These results may provide information that is important for using CNPs-AL-PEG600 as a therapeutic agent in clinical cancer treatments.

A survey on the current trends in the management of hepatitis B in China.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a highly endemic disease in China. The guidelines of the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver have improved in recent years. Here, we present a survey of physicians in terms of trends in the management of HBV at a teaching hospital in Southwest China. METHODS: A questionnaire adopted from an earlier Spanish study was used. Physicians in an affiliated hospital of a Chinese medical university were surveyed. RESULTS: A total of 120 (100%) physicians (including 68 fellows) answered the questionnaire voluntarily. Eighty percent (96/120) reported experience in the treatment of hepatopathy. Although a huge majority (90.9%, 109/120) were aware of the Chinese consensus recommendations on HBV, only 51.8% (62/120) correctly identified the indications for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and 42.5% (51/120) correctly described the end-points in treating HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis. Serum HBV-DNA levels were used to monitor therapy by 84.2% (101/120) of the respondents, the HBV drug resistance test was used by 77.5% (93/120) of the responders, and antiviral prophylaxis was recommended by 65% (78/120) for HBV carriers who would receive immunosuppressive therapy. About 27.5% (33/120) recommended interferon or pegylated interferon as the initial treatment for HBeAg-positive patients; 93.3% (112/120) recommended oral antiviral therapy to HBeAg-negative patients. Physicians working at teaching hospitals were significantly more likely to recommend antiviral prophylaxis for HBV patients who receive immunosuppressive therapy than physicians working at nonuniversity hospitals (83 vs. 51%; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The inadequate management of chronic hepatitis B by Chinese physicians calls for an improvement in education, especially for physicians in county hospitals or clinics.

Palliative care education in China: insight into one medical university.

CONTEXT: There has been an increase in the amount of palliative care available in developing countries, including in China. However, palliative care is still very limited, and it is not mandatory to teach courses on palliative care in Chinese medical universities. OBJECTIVES: To assess Chinese interns' awareness of palliative care concepts. METHODS: Using a questionnaire selected from an earlier Austrian study, interns in a Chinese medical university were surveyed. All those surveyed had already been interns for at least six months. RESULTS: Four hundred interns from a Chinese medical university (response rate 99.5%) were surveyed. Twenty-one percent were female (84 of 400), and the average age was 23 years. Approximately one-third (34.5%) of interns were familiar with the pain scale, and 31% of interns were familiar with the concept of pain management. Only 7.5% of interns felt adequately trained in basic pain management, and 13% felt adequately trained to manage symptoms of dying patients. Seventy-seven percent of interns reported inadequate education regarding discussion of death with patients and family members. More than 80% of interns felt that more education about palliative care should be included in the basic medical curriculum and clinical intern training. CONCLUSION: Palliative care education is inadequate from the perspective of the Chinese medical interns. An improvement in the medical school curriculum is needed.