Zinc hexacyanoferrate/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with enhanced photothermal and photodynamic properties for rapid sterilization and wound healing.

Photoactivated therapy has gradually emerged as a promising and rapid method for combating bacteria, aimed at overcoming the emergence of drug-resistant strains resulting from the inappropriate use of antibiotics and the subsequent health risks. In this work, we report the facile fabrication of Zn3[Fe(CN)6]/g-C3N4 nanocomposites (denoted as ZHF/g-C3N4) through the in-situ loading of zinc hexacyanoferrate nanospheres onto two-dimensional g-C3N4 sheets using a simple metal-organic frameworks construction method. The ZHF/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibits enhanced antibacterial activity through the synergistic combination of the excellent photothermal properties of ZHF and the photodynamic capabilities of g-C3N4. Under dual-light irradiation (420 nm + 808 nm NIR), the nanocomposites achieve remarkable bactericidal efficacy, eliminating 99.98% of Escherichia coli and 99.87% of Staphylococcus aureus within 10 minutes. Furthermore, in vivo animal experiments have demonstrated the outstanding capacity of the composite in promoting infected wound healing, achieving a remarkable wound closure rate of 99.22% after a 10-day treatment period. This study emphasizes the potential of the ZHF/g-C3N4 nanocomposite in effective antimicrobial applications, expanding the scope of synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy strategies.

Serum fetuin-A levels in obese and non-obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Higher fetuin-A expression is linked to both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), However, studies in non-obese patients with T2DM are scarce. METHODS: 345 newly diagnosed T2DM patients and 300 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were divided into obese and non-obese subgroups, respectively. Serum fetuin-A and adiponectin levels and related parameters were measured. RESULTS: T2DM patients with obesity had higher fetuin-A levels compared with non-obese patients and obese NGT subjects (p<0.001). Significant correlations were observed between fetuin-A and most metabolic parameters in obese NGT and T2DM subjects, but which was not in non-obese patients with T2DM. The independent associations were found between fetuin-A and free fatty acids, HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein and adiponectin only in obese NGT and T2DM subjects (all p<0.05). The adjusted odds ratios for obesity were increased with increasing quartile of fetuin-A in both T2DM and NGT subjects in logistic regression models (p for trend<0.001), but which was more significant in T2DM patients. CONCLUSION: Higher serum fetuin-A levels in obese T2DM patients compared with non-obese patients and obese NGT subjects supports the hypothesis that fetuin-A may be as a bridge connecting obesity and obesity-related T2DM.

Serum fetuin-A levels are independently correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor and C-reactive protein concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: The higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fetuin-A is shown to have proangiogenic and proinflammatory effects. METHODS: This study included 245 T2DM patients consisting of 95 cases with non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 78 cases with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 72 cases with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), in addition to 65 healthy controls. Serum fetuin-A, VEGF and CRP concentrations and related parameters were measured. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations were found between fetuin-A and VEGF and CRP, and between VEGF and CRP in T2DM patients (all p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, fetuin-A was correlated independently with VEGF and CRP in NPDR and PDR patients, but not in NDR subjects. In addition, fetuin-A was correlated independently with HOMA-IR (all 4 groups), HbA1c (NDR, NPDR and PDR groups) and duration of diabetes (PDR group). When compared with NDR and control subjects, NPDR and PDR patients had higher HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: Serum fetuin-A concentrations are independently correlated with VEGF and CRP concentrations in T2DM patients with DR, but not in NDR subjects.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNA mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 confer susceptibility to esophageal cancer.

Defects in DNA mismatch repair genes like MSH2 and MLH1 confer increased risk of cancers. Here, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MSH2 and MLH1 were investigated for their potential contribution to the risk of esophageal cancer. This study recruited 614 participants from Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, of which 289 were patients with esophageal cancer, and the remainder was healthy individuals who served as a control group. Two SNPs, MSH2 c.2063T>G and MLH1 IVS14-19A>G, were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Carriers of the MSH2 c.2063G allele were at significantly higher risk for esophageal cancer compared to individuals with the TT genotype [OR = 3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-11.03]. The MLH1 IVS14-19A>G allele also conferred significantly increased (1.70-fold) for esophageal cancer compared to the AA genotype (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.13-5.06). Further, the variant alleles interacted such that individuals with the susceptible genotypes at both MSH2 and MLH1 had a significantly exacerbated risk for esophageal cancer (OR = 12.38, 95% CI: 3.09-63.11). In brief, SNPs in the DNA mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Molecular investigations are needed to uncover the mechanism behind their interaction effect.

[Investigation on the migration and biologic effects of nano FeOx powders under the exposure of extremely low frequency altering electric magnetic field in human heptoma-bearing nude mice in vivo].

To investigate the mechanism and biologic effects of 37 nm magnetic nano FeOx powders (MNPs) on human hepatoma-bearing nude mice. 37 nm MNPs were prepared by coprecipitation methods and then injected into human hepatoma (Bel-7402) bearing-nude mice through the tail vein. After injection of MNPs, the mice were first exposed under static magnetic field and then treated under extremely low frequency altering-electric magnetic field directing to the tumor area. The migration and trafficking of MNPs were determined by MMR. Tumor growth was monitored with calipers every 5 days and tumor volume was calculated on the basis of three-dimensioned measurements. The apoptosis of tumor cells was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis. The expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2, Bax and HSP27 were determined using western-blot analysis. Static magnetic field could direct the migration and trafficking of MNPs to the tumor site with a higher ratio of 98.9%. Extremely Low Frequency Electric-Magnetic Field (EMF) treatment could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and prolong the survive time of tumor-bearing mice injected with MNPs. In addition, the survival time of tumor-bearing mice and percentages of prohibition on tumor cell growth were 27.4+/-0.7 days and 37.5+/-0.8% (F = 0.005, P is less than to 0.05), respectively. The results of flow cytometry analyses showed that about 18.1+/-0.6% (F = 0.030, P is less than to 0.05) of tumor cells were induced into early apoptosis. Furthermore, expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly induced by MNPs under EMF treatment. The ratio of Bcl/Bax in both MNPs and EMF treatment group was 0.07+/-0.01, which was much lower than that of control group (0.23+/-0.02) (F = 0.016, P is less than to 0.05). Heat shock protein-27 (Hsp-27) was not significantly induced in different treatment groups. Injection of MNPs with EMF exposure on human hepatoma-bearing nude mice could significantly prolong the survival time, inhibit the tumor proliferation and growth, and induce tumor cells into apoptosis.