Facile immunochromatographic assay based on metal-organic framework-decorated polydopamine for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide adulteration in functional foods.

Herein, a novel immunochromatographic assay (ICA) based on metal-organic framework-decorated polydopamine (MOF@PDA) was firstly developed for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) adulteration in functional foods. The coupling rate of MOF@PDA carrier to HCTZ antibody was as high as 91.7 %. The detection limits of the developed MOF@PDA-ICA in functional tablets and capsules were 5.93 and 4.72 µg/kg, the linear ranges were 11.2-91.91 µg/kg and 9.11-86.78 µg/kg, respectively. The sensitivity was 27-fold higher than that of the reported ICA. The recovery was 82.5-116.6 %, and coefficient of variation was 6.9-14.2 %. The results can be achieved and analyzed in 8 min with the smartphone-based detection device. The parallel tests of 23 commercial functional tablets and capsules showed that the results of the MOF@PDA-ICA were consistent with that of the LC-MS/MS (R2 > 0.99). Therefore, our method is facile, sensitive, portable, and can provide a reliable technical mean for the detection of HCTZ adulteration in functional foods.

Portable, Rapid, and Sensitive Time-Resolved Fluorescence Immunochromatography for On-Site Detection of Dexamethasone in Milk and Pork.

Dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-endotoxin, anti-shock, and stress-enhancing response activities. It can increase the risk of diabetes and hypertension if it is abused or used improperly. However, there is a lack of sensitive and rapid screening methods for DEX in food. In this study, a time-resolved fluorescent microspheres immunochromatographic assay (TRFM-ICA) integrated with a portable fluorescence reader was developed for the quantitative detection of DEX in milk and pork. The cut-off values of the TRFM-ICA were 0.25 ng/mL and 0.7 µg/kg, respectively. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 0.003 ng/mL and 0.062 µg/kg, respectively. The recovery rates were 80.0-106.7%, and 78.6-83.6%, respectively, with the coefficients of variation ranging 6.3-12.5%, and 7.5-10.3%, respectively. A parallel experiment for 20 milk and 10 pork samples with LC-MS/MS was carried out to confirm the performance of the on-site application of the developed TRFM-ICA. The results of the two methods are basically the same; the correlation (R2) was >0.98. The establishment of TRFM-ICA will provide a new sensitive and efficient technical support for the rapid screening of DEX in food.

Assessing cognitive load in adolescent and adult students using photoplethysmogram morphometrics.

Compared to cardiac parameters and skin conductivities, the photoplethysmogram (PPG) recorded at fingertips and other parts near to peripheral nerve ends have been recently revealed to be yet another sensitive measure for cognitive load assessment. However, there is so far no research on measuring adolescents' cognitive load using physiological signals. A comprehensive study on the effects of PPG morphometrics over a cohort covering both adolescent and adult students is also absent. In this study, we analyze the morphological features of PPG on cognitive load assessment and compare them between adolescent and adult students. Experiments on two-level arithmetic tasks show that the PPG morphometrics reached the same level of significance on the effect of task difficulty/period as heart rate, and different morphological behaviors were also shown between adolescent and adult students during the cognitive task effects, which may imply their physiological differences across age. Physiological signals recorded by wearable devices are also found to be effective in measuring cognitive load.

A smartphone-based dual detection mode device integrated with two lateral flow immunoassays for multiplex mycotoxins in cereals.

In this study, a smartphone-based quantitative dual detection mode device, integrated with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and time-resolved fluorescence microspheres (TRFMs) lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) for multiplex mycotoxins in cereals were established. The most frequently used visible light and fluorescence detection modes were integrated in one device. A user-friendly application was self-written to rapidly quantify results. GNPs-LFIA and TRFMs-LFIA were used to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), and fumonisin B1 (FB1). The visible limits of detection (vLODs) were 10/2.5/1.0/10/0.5, 2.5/0.5/0.5/2.5/0.5 µg/kg for the two methods, respectively. The quantitative limits of detection (qLODs) were 0.59/0.24/0.32/0.9/0.27, 0.42/0.10/0.05/0.75/0.04 µg/kg, respectively. The recoveries of both LFIAs ranged from 84.0%-110.0%. A parallel analysis in 30 naturally contaminated cereal samples was conducted by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the results showed good consistency, indicating the practical reliability of the established methods. The developed two smartphone-based LFIAs provide a promising technique for multiplex, highly sensitive, and on-site detection of mycotoxins.

Pancreas ß cell regeneration and type 1 diabetes (Review).

Diabetes mellitus, which may cause hyperglycemia and a number of complications, mostly results from a deficiency of ß cell mass (type 1 diabetes) or a limitation of ß cell function (type 2 diabetes). Currently, enhancing ß cell regeneration and increasing cell proliferation have not only been described in experimental diabetes models, but have also been proven to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms controlling the development and regeneration of ß cells in the human pancreas may be helpful for the treatment of ß cell-deficient disease. In this review, we first introduce the various cell types in the adult pancreas and thereby clarify their functions and origins. Then, the known mechanisms of ß cell development and expansion in the normal human pancreas are described. The potential mechanisms of ß cell regeneration, including ß cell self-replication, neogenesis from non-ß cell precursors and transdifferentiation from α cells, are discussed in the next part. Finally, the ability of the pancreas to regenerate mature ß cells is explored in pathological conditions, including type 1 diabetes, chronic pancreatitis and persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy.

Investigating the role of backward walking therapy in alleviating plantar pressure of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of combination therapy of backward walking training and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment on the distribution of plantar pressure in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). DESIGN: This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The test group was treated with combination therapy of backward walking exercise and ALA (ALA for 2wk, backward walking exercise for 12wk), and the control group only received ALA treatment. SETTING: Clinical and laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with DPN (N=60) were divided into the test group (n=30) or control group (n=30). INTERVENTIONS: Backward walking exercise with ALA treatment for the test group; lipoic acid treatment for the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Plantar pressure before and after treatment was tested and analyzed with the flatbed plantar pressure measurement system. RESULTS: After treatment, peak plantar pressure in the forefoot dropped for both the test and control groups; peak plantar pressure for the test group dropped significantly. Peak plantar pressure in the medial foot slightly increased for the test group, suggesting a more even distribution of plantar pressure in the test group after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapy of ALA and backward walking proved to be more effective than ALA monotherapy. Backward walking also proved to have an ameliorating effect on balance ability and muscle strength of patients with DPN.

Hypoglycemia and blood glucose fluctuations in the application of a sensor-augmented insulin pump.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of sensor-augmented insulin pump (SAP) use on hypoglycemia and blood glucose (BG) fluctuations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to three groups of treatment with SAP, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), or multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy for 6 days. Parameters of glycemic control that were determined included mean BG concentration (MBG), SD of BG (SDBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), absolute means of daily differences (MODD), 24-h area under the curve at 10 h (AUC10), 24-h area under the curve at 3.9 h (AUC3.9), and Low Blood Glucose Index (LBGI). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of MBG, SDBG, MAGE, or MODD at the beginning of treatment. The MBG, SDBG, MAGE, MODD, and total AUC10 of the SAP group improved over the 4 days of the intervention compared with the CSII and MDI groups; however, no significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of total AUC3.9 and LBGI. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CSII and MDI therapy, SAP therapy was able to rapidly lower mean BG and reduce BG level fluctuations with no increased risks of hypoglycemia.

The effects of glucose fluctuation on the severity of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the difference of glucose fluctuations between the normal subjects and diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and explore their impact on the development of CAD in type 2 DM patients. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 3 groups: normal control (group A, n = 40), type 2 DM patients without cardiovascular complications (group B, n = 56), and type 2 DM patients with cardiovascular complications (group C, n = 92). The SYNTAX scores were collected in group C. CGMS for 72 h was applied on all the subjects. The indexes such as MBG and the LAGE were calculated. Glycemic excursions were compared between groups A, B, and C, respectively. RESULTS: The tested indexes had significant differences among the three groups. SYNTAX scores are related to systolic blood pressure, CRP, MAGE, and HbA1c and are significantly correlated at 6:00-8:00 and 11:00-13:00 time points in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with normal subjects, T2DM patients have greater blood glucose fluctuations; T2DM patients with CAD have larger glucose fluctuations than T2DM patients without CAD. Blood glucose fluctuations are positively correlated with carotid artery intima-media thickness in T2DM patients and have a significant influence on the development of coronary artery.

Bone loss in Gorham's disease: A case study.

In this study, a rare disease with characteristics of spontaneous osteolysis of the bone is reported. The patient was an eight-year-old male, who was admitted with shortness of breath. The absence of the right clavicle was identified by radiography. However, the change to the right clavicle was not malignant, as indicated by bone scanography. The biopsy of the right cervical rib revealed a number of vascular fibrous tissues and vessels distending and shunting together; however, no cell proliferation was observed. In addition, no acid-fast bacillia or malignant cells were detected in the sample of pleural effusion from the patient. Low hemoglobin (93 g/l) and a slight elevation of alkaline phosphatase levels (133 U/l) were observed; however, the other laboratory examination results were normal. The follow-up investigation and radiotherapy results indicated that the osteolysis of the skull and the other portion of bone had not worsened. Although it has been reported that >15% of patients succumb to this disease, the patient reported in the current study was in a relatively stable condition.

PLK1 gene suppresses cell invasion of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma through the inhibition of CD44v6, MMP-2 and MMP-9.

The aim of this study was to observe the regulatory action of the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) gene in the invasion of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells and investigate its mechanisms. The expression of the PLK1 protein in 36 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemical staining. siRNA against PLK1 was designed, synthesized and transfected into ARO cells. The effects of PLK1 siRNA on cell invasion were detected by a soft agar colony formation assay and a Transwell chamber assay. The corresponding protein was detected using western blot analysis. The expression of PLK1 in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma samples (67.5±10.6%) was significantly higher compared to that in cancer-adjacent samples (0.65%±0.12%; P<0.01). The expression of PLK1 correlated with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of anaplastic thyroid. The number of cell clones was reduced in a dose-dependent manner with increasing levels of siRNA and the number of cells permeating through the filter membrane decreased following transfection with siRNA. The inhibition of PLK1 caused a significant decrease in CD44v6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 (0.36±0.08, 0.12±0.03, 0.25±0.06, respectively) compared to the non-transfected group (1.15±0.18, 1.21±0.20, 1.25±0.21, respectively; P<0.01). In conclusion, the expression of PLK1 was found to be increased in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and was correlated with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Additionaly, PLK1 siRNA was found to inhibit the invasion of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells. Therefore, CD44v6, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are likely to be involved in the regulation of cell invasion induced by PLK1.

The accuracy and efficacy of real-time continuous glucose monitoring sensor in Chinese diabetes patients: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this multicenter study was to investigate the accuracy of a real-time continuous glucose monitoring sensor in Chinese diabetes patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 48 patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes from three centers in China were included in the study. The MiniMed Paradigm(®) 722 insulin pump (Medtronic, Northridge, CA) was used to monitor the real-time continuous changes of blood glucose levels for three successive days. Venous blood of the subjects was randomly collected every 15 min for seven consecutive hours on the day when the subjects were wearing the sensor. Reference values were provided by the YSI(®) 2300 STAT PLUS™ glucose and lactate analyzer (YSI Life Sciences, Yellow Springs, OH). RESULTS: In total, 1,317 paired YSI-sensor values were collected from the 48 patients. Of the sensor readings, 88.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.92) were within±20% of the YSI values, and 95.7% were within±30% of the YSI values. Clarke and consensus error grid analyses showed that the ratios of the YSI-sensor values in Zone A to the values in Zone B were 99.1% and 99.9%, respectively. Continuous error grid analysis showed that the ratios of the YSI-sensor values in the region of accurate reading, benign errors, and erroneous reading were 96.4%, 1.8%, and 1.8%, respectively. The mean absolute relative difference (ARD) for all subjects was 10.4%, and the median ARD was 7.8%. Bland-Altman analysis detected a mean blood glucose level of 3.84 mg/dL. Trend analysis revealed that 86.1% of the difference of the rates of change between the YSI values and the sensor readings occurred within the range of 1 mg/dL/min. CONCLUSIONS: The Paradigm insulin pump has high accuracy in both monitoring the real-time continuous changes and predicting the trend of changes in blood glucose level. However, actual clinical manifestations should be taken into account for diagnosis of hypoglycemia.