A colorimetric aptasensor for detecting ochratoxin A based on label-free aptamer and gold nanozyme.

In this study, the aptamer of ochratoxin A (OTA) increased the negative charge density on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and promoted the release of hydroxyl radicals and Au3+ to enhance the peroxidase-like activity of the AuNPs. The OTA bound only to the aptamer and did not adsorb non-specifically to the AuNPs. Based on these two conclusions, a label-free colorimetric aptasensor was successfully developed, enabling the precise detection of OTA within the concentration range of 10-600 nM, with a remarkably low detection limit of 6.20 nM. The colorimetric aptasensor was applied to detect OTA in oats, corn, soybeans, rice, and glutinous rice.

Association of rs1800795 and rs1800796 polymorphisms in interleukin-6 gene and osteoarthritis risk: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Multiple studies have investigated the association of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene polymorphisms and osteoarthritis (OA) risk, but failed to reach a consistent conclusion. Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate the association of IL-6 polymorphisms and OA by a meta-analysis approach. Literature retrieval was carried out on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. The strength of association was appraised by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) in five genetic models. The data were merged by using RevMan 5.3 software. Ten studies with 4944 cases and 4651 controls were analyzed. Overall, no significant association was identified between rs1800795 polymorphism and OA. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity and OA site also suggested rs1800795 polymorphism was not associated with OA. For rs1800796 polymorphism, G-allele and GG-genotype carriers appeared to have an increased risk to OA (G vs. C, OR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.30-1.96, P < 0.01; GG vs. CC, OR = 1.75, 95%CI 1.07-2.84, P = 0.03; GG vs. GC + CC, OR = 1.82, 95%CI 1.42-2.34, P < 0.01). Findings of this study indicate that the rs1800795 polymorphism is not correlated to OA susceptibility, regardless of ethnicity or OA site. However, rs1800796 polymorphism trends to be associated with susceptibility to OA.

Enhancement of CD4+ T cell activities and modulation of Th1/Th2 lineage development in radiated tumor-bearing rats treated with male zooid of Antheraea pernyi extracts.

AIM: To investigate whether supplementation of male zooid of Antheraea pernyi extracts (MZAPE) could enhance immune function of radiated tumor-bearing rats. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a simple radiation group, a MZAPE group, and a radiation plus MZAPE group. With the tumor model established by implanting Walker-256 ascites tumor cells, tumor weight and tumor control rate were calculated. The rats in the simple radiation and radiation plus MZAPE groups were underwent to radiation at 10 Gy within 2 d. In the MZAPE and radiation plus MZAPE groups, the MZAPE was gavaged at a dose of 16.53 mg/kg once a day for 7 d. T cell subsets in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry and the expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in sera were determined by ELISA on the 8th d. RESULTS: The tumor weight of simple radiation group, MZAPE group and radiation plus MZAPE group was lower than that of control group (P < 0.01) and tumor control rates were 63.08% +/- 6.43%, 69.86% +/- 7.12% and 35.30% +/- 7.67%, respectively. CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of the simple radiation group were fewer than in control group. In the MZAPE and radiation plus MZAPE groups, the number of CD4+ T cells was higher while CD8+ T cells was lower than in the control and simple radiation groups. Expression of IL-2 and INF-gamma in the radiation group was lower than in control group, and significantly enhanced during MZAPE therapy (P < 0.05). Expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in the radiation group had no significant changes compared with the control group, and decreased significantly after MZAPE treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MZAPE administration may help improve the immune function of the radiated tumor-bearing rats and reverse the radiation-induced immune inhibition by promoting the proliferation of T helper cells and inducing the transdifferentiation from Th2 to Th1.