Flexible Synergistic MoS2 Quantum Dots/PEDOT: PSS Film Sensor for Acetaldehyde Sensing at Room Temperature.

Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) is known as a primary carcinogen, and the development of wearable gas sensors for its detection at room temperature has rarely been rarely reported. Herein, MoS2 quantum dots (MoS2 QDs) have been employed to dope with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) via a simple in situ polymerization technique, and the CH3CHO gas-sensing properties of the resultant flexible and transparent film were investigated. MoS2 QDs had been evenly dispersed into the polymer, and it was shown that PEDOT: PSS doped with the 20 wt % MoS2 QDs sensor exhibited the highest response value of 78.8% against 100 ppm CH3CHO and its detection limit reached 1 ppm. Moreover, the sensor response remained stable for more than 3 months. In particular, the different bending angles (from 60 to 240°) had little effect on the sensor response to CH3CHO. The possible reason for the enhanced sensing properties was attributed to the large number of reaction sites on the MoS2 QDs and the direct charge transfer between the MoS2 QDs and PEDOT: PSS. This work suggested a platform to inspire MoS2 QDs-doping PEDOT: PSS materials as wearable gas sensors for highly sensitive chemoresistive sensors to detect CH3CHO at room temperature.

Effect of Cluster Nursing Based on Risk Management Strategy on Urinary Tract Infection in Patients With Severe Craniocerebral Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of cluster nursing based on risk management strategy in the management of urinary tract infection in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. METHODS: A total of 116 patients with severe craniocerebral injury who were admitted to our hospital from March 2019 to March 2021 were included. They were divided into the control group (58 patients) and the observation group (58 patients). The control group received routine nursing care and the observation group received cluster nursing based on risk management strategy. The incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), the results of bacterial culture on the surface of the urinary catheter, the incidence of nursing risk events, the duration of placing the urinary catheter, the length of hospital stay, and hospital costs as well as the patient satisfaction score were compared between the two groups. The knowledge, attitude, and practice scale for prevention of catheter infection and the competence evaluation scale of nurses were used to evaluate the sense-control ability and core competence of the interveners. RESULTS: The total incidence of CAUTI in the observation group was (6.90%) lower than that in the control group (20.69%) (p < 0.05). The bacterial culture results on the catheter surface of patients in the observation group before and after 6 and 12 h of catheter cleaning were better than those of patients in the control group (p < 0.05). The duration of indwelling urinary catheter, hospitalization time, and hospitalization expenses of patients in the observation group were lower than those of patients in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence rate of nursing risk events in the observation group was (1.72%) lower than that in the control group (11.86%) (p < 0.05). The overall satisfaction score of patients and the control and core ability scores of nursing staff in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cluster nursing based on risk management strategy can effectively reduce the incidence of nursing risk events and the probability of UTI in patients with severe craniocerebral injury, shorten the duration of indwelling urinary catheter and hospitalization.

Comparative analysis of iTRAQ-based proteome profiles of Schistosoma japonicum female worms coming from single-sex infections and bisexual infections.

In schistosomiasis, eggs produced by bisexual infected mature female schistosome worms (FMS) are the main cause of pathological damage to the host and the dissemination of the disease. Single-sex infected female worms (FSS) cannot completely develop to sexual maturity or produce normal eggs. In this study, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-coupled LC-MS/MS was used to explore the proteome of FSS and FMS of Schistosoma japonicum. A total of 1477 differentially expressed proteins (fold change >1.2, P < .05) between FSS and FMS were identified. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that FMS expressed more proteins related to biosynthetic processes, such as eggshell synthesis, ribosomal synthesis, protein folding, cellular detoxification, and metabolic processes such as protein metabolism and glucose metabolism, whereas more proteins related to locomotion and oxidative phosphorylation were expressed in FSS. Our identification and analysis of differentially expressed proteins between FMS and FSS provides new insights to elucidate the molecular biological mechanisms of female worm sexual maturation and reproduction. SIGNIFICANCE: Female Schistosome worms must maintain constant pairing contact with male worms for differentiation of their reproductive organs. Mature female worms can produce infectious eggs, cause serious pathological damage to the host and the dissemination of the disease. Unpaired female worms remain small and sexually immature; they do not spawn normally. In this study, iTRAQ-coupled LC-MS/MS was used to explore the whole proteome of single-sex infected female worms (FSS) and bisexual infected mature female worms (FMS) of Schistosoma japonicum. 1477 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between FSS and FMS were identified and analyzed. Further research on DEPs' functions in schistosome sexual maturation and reproductive development might provide theoretical bases to explore female maturation and spawning.

Evaluation of Lethal Giant Larvae as a Schistosomiasis Vaccine Candidate.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of humans, and it is considered to be the second most devastating parasitic disease after malaria. Eggs produced by normally developed female worms are important in the transmission of the parasite, and they responsible for the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. The tumor suppressor gene lethal giant larvae (lgl) has an essential function in establishing apical-basal cell polarity, cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue organization. In our earlier study, downregulation of the lgl gene induced a significant reduction in the egg hatching rate of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) eggs. In this study, the Sjlgl gene was used as a vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis, and vaccination achieved and maintained a stable reduction of the egg hatching rate, which is consistent with previous studies, in addition to reducing the worm burden and liver egg burden in some trials.

Distribution of lethal giant larvae (Lgl) protein in the tegument and negative impact of siRNA-based gene silencing on worm surface structure and egg hatching in Schistosoma japonicum.

Lethal giant larvae (Lgl) are an evolutionarily conserved tumor suppressor present in fungi and animals. It plays an essential role in establishing apical-basal cell polarity, cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue organization. Here, we report the presence of Lgl gene in the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum (SjLgl) (GenBank: KF246684). SjLgl protein was mainly distributed in the unique surface tegument structure by immunofluorescence microscopic staining. Using a simple soaking method, a short interfering RNA (siRNA)-based RNA interference approach knocked down the expression of SjLgl in schistosomula in vitro by up to 89.0%. Moreover, tail vein injection of SjLgl-siRNA into the infected mice reduced SjLgl mRNA levels in vivo by 48.6-85.3%, depending on the duration of treatments. SjLgl-specific siRNA treatment during the infection in mice significantly altered the surface structure of adult worm, featured by the disappearance or significant reduction of sharp spines on the inner all of oral and ventral suckers. The siRNA also reduced the hatching rates in eggs produced by treated mice by up to 85.3%. These observations implied that Lgl plays an important role in the development of tegument in schistosomes, and may be explored as a novel target for developing immuno- and/or small molecule-based therapeutics to control and treat the infections caused by schistosome and other flatworms.