Specific capture and determination of glycoprotein using a hybrid epitopes and monomers-mediated molecular-imprinted polymer enzyme-free electrochemical biosensor.

A novel molecular-imprinted polymer (MIP)-based enzyme-free biosensor was created for the selective detection of glycoprotein transferrin (Trf). For this purpose, MIP-based biosensor for Trf was prepared by electrochemical co-polymerization of novel hybrid monomers 3-aminophenylboronic acid (M-APBA) and pyrrole on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs). Hybrid epitopes of Trf (C-terminal fragment and glycan) have been selected as templates. The produced sensor exhibited great selective recognition ability toward Trf under optimal preparation conditions, offering good analytical range (0.125-1.25 µM) with a detection limit of 0.024 µM. The proposed hybrid epitope in combination with hybrid monomer-mediated imprinting strategy was successfully applied to detect Trf in spiked human serum samples, with recoveries and relative standard deviations ranging from 94.7 to 106.0% and 2.64 to 5.32%, respectively. This study provided a reliable protocol for preparing hybrid epitopes and monomers-mediated MIP for the synergistic and effective determination of glycoprotein in complicated biological samples.

Swelling of Multilayered Calcium Alginate Microspheres for Drug-Loaded Dressing Induced Rapid Lidocaine Release for Better Pain Control.

The development of effective drug-loaded dressings has been considered a hot research topic for biomedical therapeutics, including the use of botanical compounds. For wound healing, adequate dressings can provide a good microenvironment for drug release, such as lidocaine. Biological macromolecular materials such as alginate show excellent properties in wound management. This study involves the preparation and evaluation of biocompatible multilayered-structure microspheres composed of chitosan, porous gelatin, and calcium alginate microspheres. The multilayered structure microspheres were named chitosan@ porous gelatin@ calcium alginate microspheres (CPAMs) and the drugs were rapidly released by the volume expansion of the calcium alginate microspheres. The in vitro release curve revealed that the peak release of lidocaine from CPAMs was reached within 18[Formula: see text]min. After 21[Formula: see text]min, the remaining lidocaine was then slowly released, and the active drug release was converted to a passive drug release phase. The initial release effect of lidocaine was much better than that reported in the published studies. Additionally, blood coagulation experiments showed that CPAMs coagulated blood in 60[Formula: see text]s, and the blood liquidity of the CPAMs group was worse than that of the woundplast group. Therefore, the coagulation characteristics of CPAMs were superior to the commonly used woundplast containing lidocaine healing gel. These study outcomes indicated that the CPAMs acted as fast-release dressings for faster pain control and better coagulation properties.

Chaiyu-Dixian Formula Exerts Protective Effects on Ovarian Follicular Abnormal Development in Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress has been known to impair the female reproductive function, but the mechanism remains to be further investigated. Chaiyu-Dixian Formula (CYDXF) has been reported to regulate human endocrine disorders clinically. However, whether this formula can affect chronic stress-induced ovarian follicular development is not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To examine effects of CYDXF on follicular development and explore possible mech anisms in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups control group, CUMS group (saline treatment), CUMS+Estradiol (E2) (0.1 mg/kg) group, CUMS+CYDXF (2.73 g/kg) group, and CUMS+CYDXF (5.46 g/kg) group. Body weights and behavioral tests were documented. Serum hormone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels in the PI3K/Akt pathway and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The follicles were analyzed and classified according to their morphological characterization. RESULTS: CYDXF relieved depression-like behaviors and ameliorated the abnormality in rat estrous cycle within the rat model of CUMS. Moreover, CYDXF could regulate endocrine disorders, increase the proportion of antral follicles as well as decrease the proportion of follicular atresia, which suggested that CYDXF could alleviate abnormal follicular development and improve overall ovarian function. Furthermore, CYDXF also activated the BDNF-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: CYDXF (at dose of both 2.73 and 5.46 g/kg) attenuated chronic stress-induced abnormal ovarian follicular development by relieving depression-like behaviors and improving ovarian function through partly the regulation of the BDNF-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor siRNA inhibits hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer cells.

The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-tumor effects of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) siRNA on colorectal cancer in a mouse xenograft model. MIF specific siRNA (MIF siRNA) or a nonspecific control siRNA was introduced to murine colorectal cancer CT-26 cells. Mouse xenograft models of colorectal cancer were established. MIF siRNA, control siRNA or water was injected twice a week intravenously for 4 weeks. MIF siRNA inhibited the proliferation and migration, while induced apoptosis of CT-26 cells in vitro. Injection of MIF siRNA resulted in a significant decrease of serum MIF and VEGF levels, and the weight and volume of cecum-grafted tumors in vivo. In contrast, the number of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 expression were increased by MIF siRNA in cecum graft tumor tissues. Moreover, the water and fodder consumption were significantly improved by MIF siRNA treatment. Importantly, MIF siRNA reduced the hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. Our results suggest that siRNA targeting MIF is a promising agent for the treatment of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.

[Protective effect of soyasaponins on acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of soyasaponins on acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. METHOD: The mice were randomly divided into five groups: the normal control, the model group, the silymarin (positive control) group, and soyasaponins high and low-dose groups. They were administered with drugs once every day for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, GalN and LPS were injected intraperitoneally to all of the groups except for the normal group to establish the acute liver injury model. The pathological changes were detected with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by ELISA method, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and the activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 were detected by the colorimetric method. RESULT: Soyasaponins could reduce the activities of serum ALT and AST, the acute hepatic injury induced by GalN/LPS, serum TNF-alpha level, hepatic NO and MDA contents, and the Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 activations of liver tissues, and increase the hepatic CAT, GPx, GST and GSH levels. CONCLUSION: Soyasaponins shows the protective effect on acute liver injury induced by GalN and LPS in mice, which may be related to its antioxidative ability and anti-liver apoptosis.

[Completely severed unilateral alas nasi survived replantation: report of one case].

We reported a case in which the right wing of the nose had been completely severed and heavily contaminated 3 h before successful replantation, and survival of the right wing was retained postoperatively.