Gender-specific association between blood cell parameters and hyperuricemia in high-altitude areas.

Background: Hyperuricemia is a common metabolic disorder linked to various health conditions. Its prevalence varies among populations and genders, and high-altitude environments may contribute to its development. Understanding the connection between blood cell parameters and hyperuricemia in high-altitude areas can shed light on the underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood cell parameters and hyperuricemia in high-altitude areas, with a particular focus on gender differences. Methods: We consecutively enrolled all eligible Tibetan participants aged 18-60 who were undergoing routine medical examinations at the People's Hospital of Chaya County between January and December 2022. During this period, demographic and laboratory data were collected to investigate the risk factors associated with hyperuricemia. Results: Among the participants, 46.09% were diagnosed with hyperuricemia. In the male cohort, significant correlations were found between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and red blood cell (RBC) count, creatinine (Cr). Urea, alanine transaminase (ALT), and albumin (ALB). Notably, RBC exhibited the strongest association. Conversely, in the female cohort, elevated SUA levels were associated with factors such as white blood cell (WBC) count. Urea, ALT, and ALB, with WBC demonstrating the most significant association. Further analysis within the female group revealed a compelling relationship between SUA levels and specific white blood cell subtypes, particularly neutrophils (Neu). Conclusion: This study revealed gender-specific associations between SUA levels and blood cell parameters in high-altitude areas. In males, RBC count may play a role in hyperuricemia, while in females, WBC count appears to be a significant factor. These findings contribute to our understanding of metabolic dynamics in high-altitude regions but require further research for comprehensive mechanistic insights.

Label-free fluorescence detection of mercury ions based on thymine-mercury-thymine structure and CRISPR-Cas12a.

In this work, we developed a novel label-free fluorescent sensor for the highly sensitive detection of mercury ions (Hg2+) based on the coordination chemistry of thymine-Hg2+-thymine (T-Hg2+-T) structures and the properties of CRISPR-Cas12a systems. Most notably, two T-rich sequences (a blocker and an activator) were designed to form stable double-stranded structures in the presence of Hg2+ via the T-Hg2+-T base pairing. The formation of T-T mismatched double-stranded DNA between the blocker and the activator prevented the cleavage of G-rich sequences by Cas12a, allowing them to fold into G-quadruplex-thioflavin T complexes, resulting in significantly enhanced fluorescence. Under the optimized conditions, the developed sensor showed an excellent response for Hg2+ detection in the linear range of 0.05 to 200 nM with a detection limit of 23 pM. Moreover, this fluorescent sensor exhibited excellent selectivity and was successfully used for the detection of Hg2+ in real samples of Zhujiang river water and tangerine peel, demonstrating its potential in environmental monitoring and food safety applications.

An inner filter effect-based fluorescent aptasensor for sensitive detection of kanamycin in complex samples using gold nanoparticles and graphene oxide quantum dots.

In this work, a label-free fluorescent aptasensor based on the inner filter effect (IFE) between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) was developed for the detection of kanamycin in complex samples. AuNPs are capable of functioning as the fluorescence absorber of GOQDs because of the complementary overlap between their absorption spectra and the emission spectra of GOQDs. AuNPs can effectively quench the fluorescence of GOQDs via the IFE and modulate it with their aggregation state. In the presence of kanamycin, the aptamer is released from the surface of AuNPs, leading to their salt-induced aggregation and the fluorescence recovery of GOQDs. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of GOQDs was linearly proportional to the concentration of kanamycin over the range from 5 to 600 nM, with a detection limit of 3.6 nM. Moreover, the fluorescent aptasensor was successfully applied for kanamycin detection in complex samples (milk, honey and serum), which might hold great promise for kanamycin detection in food safety control and clinical research.

[EMA-pCR detection of enterohemorrhagic Eschrichia coli O157:H7].

OBJECTIVE: A rapid and effective method with ethidium monoazide bromide (EMA) in combination with PCR (EMA-PCR) was established to detect live Enterohemorrhagic Eschrichia Coli O157:H7. METHODS: The rfbE gene was used as the target gene for PCR detection of Eschrichia Coli O157:H7 by utilizing its pure isolates after the treatment of EMA as the template. The EMA concentration and reaction time was optimized. RESULTS: The use of 10 microg/mL or less EMA did not inhibit the PCR amplification of DNA derived from viable bacteria. The PCR amplification of DNA derived from 2 x 10(7) CFU/mL dead cells can be inhibited by 0.5 microg/mL EMA. The sensitivity of the method was 2 x 10(4) CFU/mL. The results demonstrated that it could detect 1% live bacteria from a mixed bacterial population. CONCLUSION: EMA-PCR can effectively detect live bacteria of O157:H7, it could be a potential rapid detection method applied in public health emergent events.

A highly fluorescent chemosensor for Zn(2+) and the recognition research on distinguishing Zn(2+) from Cd(2+).

A new fluorescent sensor, 2-(2-oxo-2-(quinolin-8-ylamino)ethoxy)-N-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl) benzamide (L), composed of a quinoline group as the fluorogenic unit and a pyridin-2-ylmethanamine as the binding unit for metal ions has been synthesized. The sensor shows excellent selectivity and sensitivity with a fluorescence enhancement to Zn(2+) over other cations in acetonitrile aqueous solution. The X-ray crystal structure analysis reveals that sensor L coordinates to Zn(2+)via a 1 : 1 binding mode but to Cd(2+)via a 2 : 1 binding mode, which lead to a different spatial arrangement of the fluorogenic unit in these complexes. In addition, density functional theory calculations on L, and the Zn(2+)/L and Cd(2+)/L complexes also imply that the different structures of L significantly affect the molecular orbital energy levels and electron transition, which would result in the spectral changes to distinguish Zn(2+) from Cd(2+). The absorption study results may also suggest the Cd(2+) in the complex can be displaced by Zn(2+). Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging of Zn(2+) in living cells was obtained.