The expression of ProBDNF and its high affinity receptor P75NTR in the neurons of emotion-related brain regions of post-stroke depression rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) and its high-affinity receptor p75NTR in neurons of emotion-related brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala) in rats with post-stroke depression (PSD), and to explore the expression levels of proBDNF and p75NTR in neurons of emotion-related brain areas by injecting tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) into the lateral ventricle of PSD rats, this significantly improved the stress-induced depression-like behavior,thus further validating the above results. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: a normal control group (n = 8), a depression group (n = 8), a stroke group (n = 8), and a PSD group (n = 8). The rat model of stroke was established by thread embolism, and the PSD animal model was induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and solitary feeding. Behavioral tests were conducted, including weight measurement, open field tests, and sucrose preference tests. Immunofluorescence double labeling was used to detect the expression of proBDNF and p75NTR in neurons of emotion-related brain regions in the PSD rat model. Four weeks after CUMS treatment, the PSD group was selected. Rats were infused with t-PA (3 µg dissolved in 6 µL saline, Boehringer Ingelheim), proBDNF (3 µg dissolved in 6 µL saline, Abcam), or equal-volume NS once per day for 7 consecutive days using the syringe pump connecting to injection needles. After 7 days of continuous administration, animal behavior was assessed through scoring, and the expression of proBDNF and p75NTR in the emotion-related brain regions of the PSD rat model was detected using immunofluorescence double labeling. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group and the stroke group, the body weight, sucrose water consumption, and vertical movement distance in the PSD group were significantly lower (P < 0.05). In contrast, when compared with the proBDNF injection group and saline injection group, the weight, sucrose water consumption, field horizontal movement, and vertical movement distance of the t-PA injection group significantly increased after PSD lateral ventricle intubation.Double immunofluorescence revealed a higher neuronal expression of proBDNF as well as p75NTR in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of PSD rats compared to control animals (P < 0.05). In the amygdala, the expression levels of proBDNF and P75NTR were significantly reduced in the PSD group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The results of the expression levels of proBDNF and P75NTR in the emotion-related brain regions of PSD rats injected with t-PA showed that proBDNF and P75NTR was significantly reduced in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala of PSD rats compared to those of the NS and proBDNF groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increased expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor proBDNF and its receptor p75NTR in neurons of emotion-related brain regions may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PSD.t-PA reduced the expression of proBDNF and its receptor p75NTR in neurons emotion-related brain regions and significantly improved the stress-induced depression-like behavior. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that exogenous injection of t-PA may alleviate the depressive symptoms of PSD patients.Reducing the expression of proBDNF by injecting t-PA may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of stress-related mood disorders.

Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Neurocysticercosis: A Retrospective Study from Dali, China.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a predominant parasitic disease that affects the central nervous system and presents with diverse clinical manifestations, is a major contributor to acquired epilepsy worldwide, particularly in low-, middle-, and upper middle-income nations, such as China. In China, the Yunnan Province bears a significant burden of this disease. Objective: To describe the demographic, clinical, and radiological features as well as serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to cysticercus in patients with NCC from Dali, Yunnan Province, China. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients who were diagnosed with NCC at The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University between January 2018 and May 2023 and were residing in Dali, Yunnan Province, China. Results: A total of 552 patients with NCC were included, of which 33.3% belonged to Bai ethnicity. The clinical presentation of NCC exhibited variability that was influenced by factors such as the number, location, and stage of the parasites. Epilepsy/seizure (49.9%) was the most prevalent symptom, with higher occurrence in the degenerative stage of cysts (P < 0.001). Compared with other locations, cysticerci located in the brain parenchyma are more likely to lead to seizures/epilepsy (OR = 17.45, 95% CI: 7.96-38.25) and headaches (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.23-7.41). Seizures/epilepsy are more likely in patients with cysts in the vesicular (OR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.12-6.61) and degenerative (OR = 102.38, 95% CI: 28.36-369.60) stages than those in the calcified stage. Seizures was not dependent on the number of lesions. All NCC patients underwent anthelminthic therapy, with the majority receiving albendazole (79.7%). Conclusion: This study provides valuable clinical insights into NCC patients in Dali and underscores the significance of NCC as a leading preventable cause of epilepsy.

Surface-bioengineered Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications.

The conjugation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with biomolecules could create many outstanding biofunctions for the surface-functionalized nanoparticles and extend their biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the surface bioengineering of AuNPs with biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, peptides, and biopolymers, in which the details on the structure, functions, and properties of surface- bioengineered AuNPs are discussed. In addition, the surface-biofunctionalization of AuNPs for biomedical applications like biosensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are introduced. It is expected that this work will be very helpful for readers to understand the surface functionalization and engineering techniques for various metallic nanoparticles and design novel biomaterials for biomedical applications.

Determination of eight pesticides in Lycium barbarum by LC-MS/MS and dietary risk assessment.

A LC-MS/MS method for determination of eight pesticides (triadimefon, sulfoxaflor, flusilazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, amitraz, azoxystrobin, and thiophanate-methyl) in Lycium barbarum was established. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and then cleaned up by primary secondary amine. The extracts were diluted with 0.1% formic acid in water. The results showed that at the fortified levels of 0.01-10mg/kg, the average recoveries of these pesticides ranged from 82.1% to 96.2% with the relative standard deviations lower than 7%. The half-lives of eight pesticides were 1.3-5.0days in Lycium barbarum fruits. The pre-harvest interval of all pesticides mentioned above were investigated. Tebuconazole (14days), sulfoxaflor (14days) and flusilazole (28days) have longer pre-harvest interval than the others which have 7days. The dietary risks, assessed as hazard quotients, were far below 100%. The results showed that the eight pesticides applied to Lycium barbarum were comparably safe for the consumer.

Determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new analytical method for the determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle using a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was developed and validated. Samples were extracted with acidified methanol (methanol:acetic acid, 99:1, v/v). The extract was further purified by QuEChERS method using primary-secondary amine (PSA) and C18. Finally, the extract was dried by nitrogen under 45°C and reconstituted in water. The separation was performed on a Hypercarb analytical column under a gradient elution. The mobile phase was composed of water buffered with ammonium acetate (2.0mM) and acetonitrile. The proposed method was validated according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The values of the decision limit (CCα) and the detection capability (CCß) were 1.1 and 1.5µg/kg, respectively. The mean recoveries of ribavirin ranged from 94.2% to 99.2%. The repeatability (expressed as coefficient of variation, CVr) of the method ranged from 4.5% to 4.9% and the reproducibility (CVR) of the method ranged from 4.8% to 5.4%. The method is demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle in conformity with the current EU performance requirements through validation. The total time required for the analysis of one sample, including sample preparation, was about 45min.

Simultaneous determination of sixteen amide fungicides in vegetables and fruits by dispersive solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a reversed-dispersive solid phase extraction (r-dSPE) material combined with ultra-high liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 16 novel amide fungicides in vegetables and fruits. After extraction with acetonitrile, a dSPE cleanup procedure, which was developed after the optimization of the type and amount of MWCNTs, the pH value of the extract, the extraction time for MWCNTs, and the type of eluent with MWCNTs material, was conducted. The determination of the target compounds was conducted in less than 7.0 min while the specificity is ensured through the MRM acquisition mode. The linearity of the analytical response across the studied range of concentrations (0.25-500 µg/L) was excellent, obtaining correlation coefficients higher than 0.997. The samples were quantified with the matrix matched standard solutions. The average recoveries in cabbage, celery, strawberry, and grape at three spiked levels (0.01, 0.5, and 5.0mg/kg) were ranged from 72.4 to 98.5% with all RSDs lower than 10%. The limits of detection were below 0.003 mg/kg and the limits of quantification did not exceed 0.01 mg/kg in all matrices. The method demonstrated to be suitable for the simultaneous determination of 16 novel amide fungicides in vegetables and fruits.

Simultaneous determination of amantadine, rimantadine and memantine in chicken muscle using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a reversed-dispersive solid phase extraction sorbent.

A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a reversed-dispersive solid phase extraction (r-dSPE) material combined with ultra-high liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of amantadine, rimantadine and memantine in chicken muscle. The satisfactory separation of isomers (rimantadine and memantine) was obtained on an Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) after optimization of mobile phase composition, column temperature and flow rate. The method involved an acetonitrile-based sample preparation and a dSPE clean-up procedure with MWCNTs material. Variations in the type and amount of MWCNTs, the pH value of the extract, the extraction time for MWCNTs, and the type of eluent were used to determine the optimal parameters for increasing the sample throughput and the sensitivity. The samples were quantified using amantadine-D15, rimantadine-D4 and memantine-D6 as the internal standards. Under the optimized conditions, recoveries of 96.8-104.6% and the values of coefficient of variation (CV) of 3.8-6.4% were obtained for the three drugs in chicken muscle at three spiked levels (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 µg/kg), and the decision limits (CCα) and detection capabilities (CCß) were 0.15-0.20 µg/kg and 0.20-0.25 µg/kg, respectively. Positive results were obtained from local supermarket using this method, and the concentrations obtained from the newly developed method compared well to the previously reported method.

Evaluation of two modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation methods for the analysis of baclofen and gabapentin in feeds by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

This paper presents a new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of baclofen and gabapentin in feeds based on two modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation methods and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For the two modified QuEChERS methods, samples were first extracted with acidified acetonitrile (5.0% acetic acid, v/v) without using acetonitrile salting-out extraction. Then, the first modified QuEChERS method was established according to the original QuEChERS cleanup procedure. For the second modified QuEChERS method, the extract was evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in acetonitrile. Subsequently, the analytes in the reconstituted solution were retained by primary secondary amine (PSA) and released from PSA with 1.0% formic acid in methanol. Finally, the eluate was evaporated and dissolved in 0.1% formic acid solution/methanol (v/v, 80:20). All of the samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS on a Waters Acquity BEH C18 column with 0.1% formic acid in water/methanol as the mobile phase with gradient elution. The matrix effect, recovery, and repeatability, within laboratory reproducibility, and the LODs and LOQs of the two modified QuEChERS sample preparation methods were investigated and compared. Comparative results showed that the second method was obviously superior to the first method.

[Effects of sludge compost used as lawn medium on lawn growth and soil and water environment].

To address effect of the sludge compost-containing medium on the growth of Manila lawn and environment quality, a pot experiment was conducted using six treatments based on contrasting sludge compost addition volume ratios in the soil system (i. e., 0% , 10% , 25% , 50% , 75% and 100%). The results indicated that the growth potential of Manila lawn was increased with increasing sludge compost addition volume ratio. The content of Hg in Manila plant was significantly positively correlated with that in the lawn medium. Although the contents of Cr, Cd and Hg in the lawn medium were synchronously increased with increasing sludge compost addition volume ratio in the soil system, their contents were all lower than the critical levels of third-class standard in the National Soil Environmental Quality Standard. The heavy metal and nitrate concentrations detected in percolating water were significantly positively correlated with those in the lawn medium, respectively. When the sludge compost addition volume ratio was more than 50% in this study, both heavy metal and nitrate concentrations in percolating water would exceed the maximum allowable levels of the National Groundwater Environment Quality Standard.

[Effects of cropping system and cultivation pattern on bacterial populations and anti-fusarium wilt bacteria in melon soils].

A total of 132 soil samples were collected from Xinjiang, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces to study the effects of different cropping system and cultivation pattern on the amount of bacterial populations and the distribution of anti-fusarium wilt bacteria in melon soils. The results of plate counting showed that the amount of culturable bacteria was 15.2 times higher in melon soils than in uncultivated soil, 1.0 times higher in rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere, 2.5 times higher in the soil with rotation than in that with monoculture, and 0.5 times higher in the soil with non-graft than in that with graft. The Biolog determination of anti-fusarium wilt bacteria in melon soils showed that the soil with water-drought rotation or graft had more antagonistic bacteria, and more than 80% of them were classified as fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.