Qualifying P-glycoprotein in drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells: a dual-mode aptamer probe approach.

Drug resistance presents a significant obstacle in treating human ovarian cancer. The development of effective methods for detecting drug-resistant cancer cells is pivotal for tailoring personalized therapies and prognostic assessments. In this investigation, we introduce a dual-mode detection technique employing a fluorogenic aptamer probe for the qualification of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells. The probe, initially in an "off" state due to the proximity of a quencher to the fluorophore, exhibits increased fluorescence intensity upon binding with the target. The fluorescence enhancement shows a linear correlation with both the concentration of P-gp and the presence of P-gp in drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells. This correlation is quantifiable, with detection limits of 1.56 nM and 110 cells per mL. In an alternate mode, the optimized fluorophores, attached to the aptamer, form larger complexes upon binding to the target protein, which diminishes the rotation speed, thereby augmenting fluorescence polarization. The alteration in fluorescence polarization enables the quantitative analysis of P-gp in the cells, ranging from 100 to 1500 cells per milliliter, with a detection limit of 40 cells per mL. Gene expression analyses, protein expression studies, and immunofluorescence imaging further validated the reliability of our aptamer-based probe for its specificity towards P-gp in drug-resistant cancer cells. Our findings underscore that the dual-mode detection approach promises to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of multidrug-resistant ovarian cancer.

A Novel Baseline-Free Method for Damage Localization Using Guided Waves Based on Hyperbola Imaging Algorithm.

Most imaging methods based on ultrasonic Lamb waves in structural health monitoring requires reference signals, recorded in the intact state. This paper focuses on a novel baseline-free method for damage localization using Lamb waves based on a hyperbolic algorithm. This method employs a special array with a relatively small number of transducers and only one branch of the hyperbola. The novel symmetrical array was arranged on plate structures to eliminate the direct waves. The time difference between the received signals at symmetrical sensors was obtained from the damage-scattered waves. The sequence of time difference for constructing the hyperbolic trajectory was calculated by the cross-correlation method. Numerical simulation and experimental measurements were implemented on an aluminum plate with a through-thickness hole in the current state. The imaging results show that both the damages outside and inside the diamond-shaped arrays can be localized, and the positioning error reaches the maximum for the diamond-shaped array with the minimum size. The results indicate that the position of the through-hole in the aluminum plate can be identified and localized by the proposed baseline-free method.

Effect of the internet combined with exercise-based individualized nursing intervention in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most frequent medical complication of pregnancy. This condition is manifested by glucose intolerance resulting in hyperglycemia of variable severity during pregnancy. One of the most important clinical tools for efficiently regulating maternal blood glucose is strictly monitoring blood glucose levels. However, due to a lack of appropriate intervention tools, managing the occurrence of GDM is still unfeasible. This study aimed to determine clinical efficacy of the internet combined with exercise-based individualized nursing intervention in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: In total, 139 patients with GDM were divided into two groups, with 79 patients in the observation group (internet combined with exercise-based individualized nursing intervention) and 60 patients in the control group (routine nursing intervention only). The two groups were given specified nursing intervention for 8 weeks and then compared for changes in their blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, insulin resistance (IR), and rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, the psychological state was analyzed, and their nursing satisfaction with the care from nurses that they received was investigated before and after the nursing intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the following indices of the observation group were lowered: blood glucose-related indices (FBG and 2 h PG), blood lipids and blood pressure associated indices (TG, TC, and HbA1c, DBP, SBP, and MAP), and IR-related indices (FINS, 2 h INS, and HOMA -IR) (all P < 0.05). The observation group also showed a lower rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the control group (7.59% vs. 20.00%; P < 0.05). In addition, SAS and SDS scores of the observation group were both lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the nursing satisfaction score also displayed that the observation group (93.67%) had a higher satisfaction outcome than the control group (76.67%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Internet combined with exercise-based individualized nursing intervention in GDM patients can effectively improve their blood glucose, IR, and psychological status, thus significantly improving their pregnancy outcomes and mental condition.

New method for large-scale facial skin sebum quantification and skin type classification.

BACKGROUND: The demand for personalized skin care is increasing rapidly in recent years. In order to provide suitable products for different customers, an accurate assessment of the skin condition is required. It is necessary to establish a remote and convenient method for quantifying skin condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established a new method for quantifying the facial sebum excretion, using Sebutape as well as a model for objective skin type classification. RESULTS: In total, 2173 sebum quantification samples were collected and categorized into 4 skin types. We found good agreement between subjective and objective skin types. 60.33% of the detection is consistent, and the proportion of discrepancies is only 0.55%. The main mismatch is caused by broad criteria for combination type classification. Quantifying the sebum excretion will help to describe and analyze the skin state easily. We found sebum levels in Chinese women peak at the age between 20 and 30 and decrease dramatically after age 40s. CONCLUSION: This new sebum quantitative method is well consistent to self-report skin type. In addition, it provides a powerful tool for the cosmetic industry to evaluate skin condition precisely and recommend personalized products accordingly.

Sensitive Carbon Monoxide Gas Sensor Based on Chemiluminescence on Nano-Au/Nd2O3-Ca3Nd2O6: Working Condition Optimization by Response Surface Methodology.

An Au/Nd2O3-Ca3Nd2O6 composite was synthesized by the sol-gel and impregnation method. The EDS spectrum and the transmission electron microscopy image showed that Au atoms are uniformly distributed on the surface of Nd2O3-Ca3Nd2O6 with a size of less than 50 nm. A sensitive carbon monoxide gas sensor based on chemiluminescence at a temperature lower than 200 °C was reported. There is a good linear relationship between the chemiluminescence intensity and the concentration of carbon monoxide in the range of 0.6-125 mg/m3. The detection limit (3σ) is 0.2 mg/m3. The working conditions optimized by the response surface methodology were an analytical wavelength of 620.90 nm, a reaction temperature of 131.63 °C, and a carrier-gas velocity of 105.46 mL/min. The sensitivity of the method can be increased by 4.5% under the optimized working conditions, which is especially important for the determination of trace substances. The carbon monoxide sensor demonstrated in this paper can be used for practical applications. The optimization method is universal for many multiparameter processes.

Collection and disinfection of forensic biological specimens in five cases concerning COVID-19 in Guangzhou, China.

There have been many cases of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus infections in China and around the world. This will inevitably lead to a rise in the number of patients. At the present time, clinical and forensic autopsies have given guidance and explanations in relation to the problem of COVID-19 transmission and defense. However, less attention is paid to the handling of COVID-19 biological samples in forensic practice. Particularly, COVID-19 can survive on some surfaces for days. Since there were many cases involving COVID-19 during the epidemic, this article shares the methods and strategies for handling such inspection materials and the biological samples related specifically to COVID-19 cases.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor nerve paralysis].

Professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor nerve palsy was summarized and one typical case was introduced. Professor LIN skillfully applied traditional acupuncture theory and classical acupuncture method, and proposed a diagnosis and treatment system combining meridian syndrome differentiation and specific acupuncture techniques. In addition, Professor LIN combined the yuan-primary and luo-connecting acupoints combination method, theory of "removing the stagnation of blood and qi " and theory of root-stem and origin-end, etc. into the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy, and achieved good results.

Lamb Wave-Based Structural Health Monitoring on Composite Bolted Joints under Tensile Load.

Online and offline monitoring of composite bolted joints under tensile load were investigated using piezoelectric transducers. The relationships between Lamb wave signals, pre-tightening force, the applied tensile load, as well as the failure modes were investigated. Results indicated that S0/A0 wave amplitudes decrease with the increasing of load. Relationships between damage features and S0/A0 mode were built based on the finite element (FE) simulation and experimental results. The possibility of application of Lamb wave-based structure health monitoring in bolted joint-like composite structures was thus achieved.