Gold Nanobipyramid Hotspot Aggregation-Induced Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for the Ultrasensitive Detection of miRNA.

Herein, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor was constructed by gold nanobipyramid (Au NBP) hotspot aggregation-induced SERS (HAI-SERS) for the ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-221 (miRNA-221). Impressively, compared with single Au NBP, the multiple Au NBPs assembled by tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) could increase hotspot aggregation to significantly enhance the SERS signal of Raman molecule methylene blue (MB). Meanwhile, in the aid of Exo-III assisted target cycle amplification and TDNs-induced catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) amplification, the biosensor could achieve the sensitive detection of miRNA-221 with a linear range of 1 fM-10 nM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.59 fM, which could be used for practical application in MHCC-97L and MCF-7 cell lysates. This work provided a method for hotspot aggregation to enhance SERS for the detection of biomarkers and disease diagnosis.

Baicalin attenuates amyloid ß oligomers induced memory deficits and mitochondria fragmentation through regulation of PDE-PKA-Drp1 signalling.

RATIONALE: Mitochondrial fragmentation contributes to the initiation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Baicalin plays a significant role in rescuing mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the effect of baicalin treatment on the modulation of mitochondrial fragmentation has not yet been assessed. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of baicalin on memory and understand its mechanism of action. RESULTS: Baicalin treatment significantly reversed the altered learning and memory behaviours in AD mouse model. We found that baicalin treatment significantly improved the levels of microtubule association protein-2 and enhanced the expression of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95). Moreover, treatment with baicalin reversed amyloid-ß oligomer (AßO)-induced abnormalities in the succinate dehydrogenase complex iron sulphur subunit B (SDHB) and cytochrome c oxidase components I (COXI) and mitochondrial fragmentation in the hippocampus. Further, we found that baicalin decreased the PDE4 levels and upregulated the levels of phosphorylated Ser157 site of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (pVASPs157) and phosphorylated Ser637 site of mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (pDrp1S637). Moreover, in AßO-treated HT-22 cells, H89 inhibited the effect of baicalin on PSD95, mitochondrial fragmentation, SDHB and COXI, PDE4, pVASPs157, and pDrp1S637. CONCLUSION: The effect of baicalin on memory improvement may be due to improved synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial fragmentation, and rescue of dysfunction via the inhibition of PDE4, which leads to activation of pDrp1S637 in the AßO-induced model.

Association of ficolin-1 and ficolin-3 gene variation and pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to estimate the association of ficolin-1 (FCN1) gene (rs10120023, rs1071583) and ficolin-3 (FCN3) gene (rs3813800, rs10794501) polymorphisms and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility, as well as their several clinical features, in a Chinese population. METHODS: This study included a cohort of 489 PTB patients and 489 healthy controls, and the four SNPs were genotyped by improved multiple ligase detection reaction (iMLDR). RESULTS: We found that there were no significant differences regarding the allele and genotype frequencies of FCN1 rs10120023, rs1071583 and FCN3 rs3813800, rs10794501 between PTB patients and healthy controls (all p > 0.05). The association of three main haplotypes (CC, CT, and TC) in FCN1 and three main haplotypes (CT, GA, and GT) in FCN3 with PTB susceptibility was also analyzed, and no significant association was detected (all p > 0.05). In FCN1, the rs1071583 TT genotype was significantly associated with the occurrence of drug resistance in PTB patients (p = 0.040). In addition, the GG genotype and G allele frequencies of rs3813800 in FCN3 gene were significantly higher in PTB patients with pulmonary infection (p = 0.027, p = 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: FCN1 and FCN3 genetic variation were not contributed to the pathogenesis of PTB in Chinese. While rs1071583 and rs3813800 variant might associate with several clinical characteristics of PTB.

Prediction of the RNA Secondary Structure Using a Multi-Population Assisted Quantum Genetic Algorithm.

Quantum-inspired genetic algorithms (QGAs) were recently introduced for the prediction of RNA secondary structures, and they showed some superiority over the existing popular strategies. In this paper, for RNA secondary structure prediction, we introduce a new QGA named multi-population assisted quantum genetic algorithm (MAQGA). In contrast to the existing QGAs, our strategy involves multi-populations which evolve together in a cooperative way in each iteration, and the genetic exchange between various populations is performed by an operator transfer operation. The numerical results show that the performances of existing genetic algorithms (evolutionary algorithms [EAs]), including traditional EAs and QGAs, can be significantly improved by using our approach. Moreover, for RNA sequences with middle-short length, the MAQGA improves even this state-of-the-art software in terms of both prediction accuracy and sensitivity.

Parent Cognitive Satisfaction and Demand Research of Neonatal Hearing Screening.

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate parent cognitive satisfaction and demand by using a valid and reliable questionnaire developed for this purpose (Parent Cognitive Satisfaction and Demand Questionnaire with Neonatal Hearing Screening Program, PCSDQ-NHSP). About 1000 parents whose children received hearing screening participated in this study. The satisfaction questionnaire was found to be a useful instrument for identifying service shortfalls, and the routine use of the PCSDQ-NHSP in other neonatal hearing screening programs is recommended. Overall, parents focused their attention to the neonatal hearing screening results and had high levels of expectations. They also longed for more information about relevant knowledge. Screening ability differed in different areas of Guangdong province where grass-roots hospitals had poor ability to perform this well. More preappointment information leaflets or brochures should be sent to parents. Regular training for neonatal hearing screening test is needed in primary hospitals. We can establish a neonatal hearing screening network to link as many hospitals as possible, and develop a standardized neonatal hearing screening system.

Systematic comparison of biologically active foreign ions-codoped calcium phosphate microparticles on osteogenic differentiation in rat osteoporotic and normal mesenchymal stem cells.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to skeletal fragility with increased fracture risk. Calcium phosphates (CaPs) are widely used in bone tissue engineering strategies as they have similarities to bone apatite except for the absence of trace elements (TEs) in the CaPs. Bioactive glasses (BGs) have also been used successfully in clinic for craniomaxillofacial and dental applications during the last two decades due to their excellent potential for bonding with bone and inducing osteoblastic differentiation. In this study, we evaluated the osteogenic effects of the ionic dissolution products of the quaternary Si-Sr-Zn-Mg-codoped CaP (TEs-CaP) or 45S5 Bioglass® (45S5 BG), both as mixtures and separately, on rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rOMSCs & rMSCs) from osteoporotic and normal animals, using an MTT test and Alizarin Red S staining. The materials enhanced cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, especially the combination of the BG and TEs-CaP. Analysis by quantitative PCR and ELISA indicated that the expression of osteogenic-specific genes and proteins were elevated. These investigations suggest that the TEs-CaP and 45S5 BG operate synergistically to create an extracellular environment that promotes proliferation and terminal osteogenic differentiation of both osteoporotic and normal rMSCs.

Expressions of glia maturation factor-ß by tumor cells and endothelia correlate with neovascularization and poor prognosis in human glioma.

Glia maturation factor-ß (GMF-ß) has been reported to promote glial differentiation, and act as a negative prognostic indicator in certain cancers. However, its roles in glioma progression remain unclear. Since neurogenesis and vasculogenesis were proved to share some common regulators during gliomagenesis, we aim to explore the potential impact of GMF-ß on tumor neovascularization and patient survival in glioma. In this study, we first detected GMF-ß expression not only in tumor cells but also in microvascular endothelia by double immunohistochemical staining. Both tumoral and endothelial GMF-ß expression levels were positively correlated with tumor grade and microvessel density (MVD), while negatively associated with poor prognoses of the patients. Interestingly, multivariate analysis demonstrated that endothelial GMF-ß expression level was the only independent predictor of progression-free and overall survival of glioma patients. The results of in vitro angiogenesis assay showed that GMF-ß knockdown significantly inhibited tubulogenesis of human U87 glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, GMF-ß knockdown suppressed tumor growth and the formation of human-CD31 positive (glioma cell-derived) microvessels in a mouse orthotopic U87 glioma model. Our results demonstrated that GMF-ß is an important player in glioma progression via promoting neovascularization. GMF-ß may therefore be a novel prognostic marker as well as a potential therapeutic target for glioma.

[Cause analysis of prolonged intensive care unit stay after coronary artery bypass grafting].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors of prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to provide a reference for effective control measure. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. All data of patients with post CABG admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First People's Hospital in Yichang from January 2008 to January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The CABG patients staying in ICU more than 3 days served as observation group, and the patients staying in ICU less than 3 days were the control group. Potential risk factors in both groups were compared, and multivariable non-condition logistic regressions analysis was adopted to determine the independent risk factors which resulted in prolonged stay in ICU after CABG. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients underwent CABG were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-four cases (35.29%) had prolonged stay in ICU after CABG. Univariate analysis showed that the risk factors of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG were low cardiac output, arrhythmia, postoperative respiratory failure, postoperative acute renal failure, emergency operation, and left atrial inner diameter. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factor of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG was the postoperative respiratory failure [odds ratio (OR)=6.856, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.322 - 35.559, P<0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: The independent risk factor of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG was postoperative respiratory failure. By monitoring the risk factors, duration of stay in ICU after CABG can be decreased.

[A comparative study between inflation and deflation pressure-volume curve in determining the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) according to inflation and deflation pressure-volume curve (P-V curve) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: ARDS models were reproduced in 20 dogs, and they were randomly divided into two groups. In both groups, Levenberg-Marquardt iterative algorithm was employed using software to explore parameters fitting with Boltzmann formula, by which the real inflection point of pressure (Pinf d) in deflation limb or lower inflection point pressure (PLip) in inflation limb on P-V curve were defined. For the control group (inflation curve) P-V curve of PLip + 2 cm H(2)O [1 cm H(2)O = 0.098 kPa] was applied as the best PEEP value. In the experimental group (deflation curve) the Pinf d was taken as the best PEEP value. The heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), fingertip pulse oxygen saturation [SpO(2)], static lung compliance (Cst), arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO(2)] and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide [PaCO(2)] were monitored at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: Oxygenation index increased significantly both in control and experimental groups. In experimental group, oxygenation index (mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) of 12, 24 and 48 hours was respectively significantly higher than that of the control group (12 hours: 177.63 ± 8.94 vs. 165.60 ± 8.90, 24 hours: 194.19 ± 10.67 vs. 168.70 ± 10.60, 48 hours: 203.15 ± 13.21 vs. 171.26 ± 9.21, all P < 0.01). Cst [ml/cm H(2)O] at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours was respectively higher than that of the control group (2 hours: 41.00 ± 4.17 vs. 36.20 ± 3.90, 6 hours: 44.00 ± 4.65 vs. 36.88 ± 3.39, 12 hours: 46.92 ± 5.47 vs. 37.92 ± 3.10, 24 hours: 42.83 ± 8.97 vs. 37.92 ± 3.09, 48 hours: 42.64 ± 9.04 vs. 37.97 ± 2.98, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Determining optimal PEEP for ARDS with deflation P-V curve was better than that of inflation curve.

N-(2,3-Dihydro-1,3-thia-zol-2-yl-idene)-4-[(2-hydroxy-benzyl-idene)amino]benzene-sulfonamide.

The title compound, C(16)H(13)N(3)O(3)S(2), was prepared by reaction of salicylaldehyde and sulfathia-zole in methanol. The dihedral angle between the central benzene ring and the thia-zole ring is 85.2 (2)° and that between the two benzene rings is 17.9 (2)°. An intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are held together by inter-molecular N-H⋯N and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane.

Bis[2-(benzyl-imino-meth-yl)-4-chloro-phenolato-κN,O]nickel(II).

In the mononuclear centrosymmetric title compound, [Ni(C(14)H(11)ClNO)(2)], the Ni(II) atom, lying on a center of symmetry, is four-coordinated by two O atoms and two N atoms from two Schiff base ligands, forming a slightly distorted square-planar environment. The dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings of the ligand is 72.0 (2)°. No significant hydrogen bonding or π-π stacking inter-actions are observed.

[Relationship between ultrasonic findings and pathological features in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relation of ultrasonic findings to pathological features in cases of chronic viral hepatitis B and C. METHODS: The ultrasonic and pathological findings were analyzed in 130 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and 106 with chronic viral hepatitis C. RESULTS: In patients with hepatitis B, the ultrasonic echo was thicker and more intensive and uneven cords were found. These findings were closely related to the pathological findings (P less than 0.001). In those with hepatitis C, the ultrasonic echo was slight and dense, which was also closely related to the pathological findings (P less than 0.001). In the patients complicated with fatty liver, the ultrasonic findings were also different (P less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is helpful for differential diagnosis of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Preliminary study on the production of transgenic mice harboring hepatitis B virus X gene.

AIM:To establish transgenic mice lineage harboring hepatitis B virus X gene and to provide an efficient animal model for studying the exact role of the HBx gene in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.METHODS:The HBx transgenic mice were produced by microinjecting the construct with X gene of HBV (subtype adr) DNA fragment into fertilzed eggs derived from inbred C57BL/6 strain; transgenic mice were identified by using Nested PCR; expression and phenotype of HBx gene were analyzed in liver from transgenic mic at the age of 8 weeks by RT-PCR, pathologic examination and periodic acid-schiff staining (PAS), respectively.RESULTS:Five hundred and fourteen fertilized eggs of C57 BL/6 mice were microinjected with recombinant retroviral DNA fragment, and 368 survival eggs injected were transferred to the oviducts of 18 pseudopregnant recipient mice, 8 of them became pregnant and gave birth to 20 F1 offspring. Of 20 offsprings, four males and two females carried the hybrid gene (HBx gene). Four male mice were determined as founder, named X 1, X 5, X 9 and X 15. These founders were back crossed to set up F1 generations with other ibred C57BL/6 mice or transgenic littermates, respectively.Transmission of HBx gene in F1 offspring of X 1, X 5 and X 9 except in X 15 followed Mendelian rules. The expression of HBx mRNA was detected in liver of F1 offspring from the founder mice (X 1 and X 9), which showed vacuolation lesion and glycogen positive foci.CONCLUSION:Transgenic mice harboring HBx gene were preliminarily established.