Attaching DNA to Gold Nanoparticles With a Protein Corona

DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in directed assembly of materials, biosensors, and drug delivery. This conjugate may encounter proteins in these applications and proteins may affect not only DNA adsorption but also the function of the attached DNA. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) with many cysteine residues can strongly adsorb on AuNPs and this conjugate showed high colloidal stability against salt, acid and base. Similar protection effects were also observed with a few other common proteins including catalase, hemoglobin, glucose oxidase, and horseradish peroxidase. DNA oligonucleotides without a thiol label can hardly displace adsorbed BSA, and BSA cannot displace pre-adsorbed DNA either, indicating a strongly kinetically controlled system. Thiolated DNA can be attached at a low density on the AuNPs with a BSA corona. The BSA corona did not facilitate the hybridization of the conjugated DNA, while a smaller peptide, glutathione allowed faster hybridization. Overall, proteins increase the colloidal stability of AuNPs, and they do not perturb the gold-thiol bond in the DNA conjugate, although a large protein corona may inhibit the hybridization function of DNA.

pH-sensitive CAP/SiO2 composite for efficient co-delivery of doxorubicin and siRNA to overcome multiple drug resistance

CAP/SiO₂ composite with good biocompatibility and acid biodegradability has been prepared. The proposed drug and gene codelivery system based on it demonstrated enhanced therapeutic efficacy for multiple drug resistance cells.

Convergent genomic signatures of high-altitude adaptation among domestic mammals

Abundant and diverse domestic mammals living on the Tibetan Plateau provide useful materials for investigating adaptive evolution and genetic convergence. Here, we used 327 genomes from horses, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and dogs living at both high and low altitudes, including 73 genomes generated for this study, to disentangle the genetic mechanisms underlying local adaptation of domestic mammals. Although molecular convergence is comparatively rare at the DNA sequence level, we found convergent signature of positive selection at the gene level, particularly the EPAS1 gene in these Tibetan domestic mammals. We also reported a potential function in response to hypoxia for the gene C10orf67, which underwent positive selection in three of the domestic mammals. Our data provide an insight into adaptive evolution of high-altitude domestic mammals, and should facilitate the search for additional novel genes involved in the hypoxia response pathway.

The Challenge of Diagnosing SAVI: Case Studies

Background: Stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) was first described in 2014 as a type I interferonopathy resulting from heterozygous mutations in the transmembrane protein 173 (TMEM173) gene. SAVI is characterized by the neonatal onset of systemic inflammation, severe cutaneous vasculopathy, and interstitial lung disease. Janus kinase inhibitors are considered effective therapeutics. We sought to describe 2 patients who were diagnosed with SAVI only at postmortem to increase awareness of this disorder. Methods: Clinical data were collected, and Sanger sequencing of the TMEM173 gene was performed in 2 patients suspected of SAVI. This article reviews details of these cases and lessons learned from clinical review and postmortem studies. Results: Two male children shared similar manifestations, including recurrent skin abscesses in winter, skin lesions, and recurrent respiratory tract infections, since birth. Computed tomography of the chest revealed pulmonary fibrosis, but no mutations in relevant genes (including ABCA3 and SFTPC) were discovered in patient 1 (P1). Joint pain was significant in P2 and he was diagnosed with arthritis. Antibiotic treatment yielded little improvement and did not prevent progression. Finally, P1 and P2 died of respiratory and circulatory failure in 2016 and 2012, respectively. In 2018, mutations (P1: c.463G>A, p.V155M; and P2: c.461A>G, p.N154S) in exon 5 of the TMEM173 gene were discovered, confirming the diagnosis of SAVI. Conclusions: The experience with these 2 patients suggests that SAVI should be considered in children with systemic inflammation, chilblain skin lesions, and pulmonary fibrosis, and TMEM173 gene analysis can be beneficial in the diagnosis of SAVI.

Spatially Engineered Janus Hybrid Nanozyme toward SERS Liquid Biopsy at Nano/Microscales

Nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-mimicking properties (nanozymes) have been widely considered as artificial enzymes in biomedicine. However, manipulating inorganic nanozymes for multivariant targeted bioanalysis is still challenging because of the insufficient catalytic efficiency and biological blocking effect. Here, we rationally designed a spatially engineered hollow Janus hybrid nanozyme vector (h-JHNzyme) based on the bifacial modulation of Ag-Au nanocages. The silver face inside the h-JHNzyme served as an interior gate to promote the enzymatic activity of the Ag-Au nanozyme, whereas two-dimensional DNAzyme-motif nanobrushes deposited on the exterior surface of the h-JHNzyme endowed it with the targeting function and tremendously enhanced the peroxidase-mimicking activity. We demonstrated that the spatially separated modulation of the h-JHNzyme propelled it as a powerful "all-in-one" enzymatic vector with excellent biocompatibility, specific vectorization, remarkable enzymatic performance, and clinical practicability. Further, we programmed it into a stringent catalytic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) liquid biopsy platform to trace multidimensional tumor-related biomarkers, such as microRNAs and circulating tumor cells, with a limit of detection of fM and single cell level, respectively. The developed enzymatic platform showed great potential in facilitating reliable quantitative SERS liquid biopsy for on-demand clinical diagnosis.

Effects of Small Molecules on DNA Adsorption by Gold Nanoparticles and a Case Study of Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP)

DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) often encounter various small molecules and ions such as backfilling agents, bifunctional cross-linkers, stabilizers, and molecules from biological fluids both during and after the DNA conjugation process. Small molecules and ions can influence the stability and property of the conjugate, but such interactions are yet to be fully explored. In this work, eight important molecules were studied and compared, including tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP), 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SPDP), 4-maleimidobutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (GMBS), 6-hydroxy-1-hexanethiol (MCH), l-glutathione (GSH), bromide (Br^-), bis(p-sulfonatophenyl)phenylphosphine (BSPP), and thiocyanate (SCN^-). Depending on the size, charge, and adsorption affinity on the AuNPs, they can either stabilize or destabilize the AuNPs. Their ability to displace thiolated DNA from AuNPs follows the order of MCH > SPDP > GSH > SCN^- > TCEP > Br^- > BSPP > GMBS. BSPP has the best stabilization effect for the colloidal stability of AuNPs, while it does not displace the adsorbed DNA. TCEP can be adsorbed on AuNPs and enhance the adsorption of A/C rich DNA in low-salt conditions. This work indicates that the effects of small molecules and ions cannot be ignored when studying the DNA-functionalized AuNPs, which ensures optimal applications and correct interpretation of the data.

Plasmon Coupling-Enhanced Raman Sensing Platform Integrated with Exonuclease-Assisted Target Recycling Amplification for Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of microRNA-21

A "signal-off" surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform has been constructed for ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-21 by integrating exonuclease-assisted target recycling amplification with a plasmon coupling enhancement effect. On this platform, Raman-labeled Au nanostar (AuNS) probes can be covalently linked with the thiolated aptamer (Apt) on the Au-decorated silicon nanowire arrays (SiNWAs/Au) substrate, creating a coupled electromagnetic field between the substrate and the probes to enhance Raman signal. In the presence of miRNA-21, T7 exonuclease specifically hydrolyzed Apt on Apt/miRNA duplex to release miRNA-21. The regenerated element could then initiate another cycle of Apt/miRNA duplex formation and Apt cleavage. Correspondingly, the capture ability of substrate toward probes and the plasmon coupling effect between them were both diminished, giving a prominent attenuation of Raman intensity that can work as the detection signal. Due to the cascading integration between the target cycle process and the plasmon coupling effect, the present platform displayed a very low detection limit (0.34 fM, 3σ) for miRNA-21 detection. Furthermore, it was proven to be effective for analyzing miRNA-21 in biological samples and distinguishing the expression levels of miRNA-21 in MCF-7 cells and NIH3T3 cells, which became a promising tool to monitor miRNA-21 in cancer auxiliary diagnosis and drug screening.

Highly Efficient Photoelectrochemical Reduction of CO2 at Low Applied Voltage Using 3D Co-Pi/BiVO4/SnO2 Nanosheet Array Photoanodes

To solve the increasing level of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere, the bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄)-based photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation has been considered as a promising candidate of power supply for CO₂ reduction because of its low price and relatively narrow band gap. Nevertheless, the PEC capability of BiVO₄ photoelectrodes is restricted by the short carrier diffusion length, undesirable electron transport ability, and slow oxygen evolution rate. To overcome these shortcomings, we design and fabricate a novel ternary hybrid composite of 3D Co-Pi/BiVO₄/SnO₂ nanosheet array (NSA) photoanodes. Benefiting from the high light-harvesting ability of NSAs, effective separation of electron-hole pairs for the BiVO₄/SnO₂ heterojunction, and fast water oxidation rate of Co-Pi, the hybrid system exhibited 20.2-times enhancement in photocurrent and a significant cathodic shift about the onset potential of water oxidation reaction compared with single BiVO₄. Coupled with the Au nanoparticle cathode, the PEC cell exhibited a 90.0% faradaic efficiency for CO₂ reduction under a small applied voltage of 1.10 V and saved more than 50% of electric energy compared to the general electrochemical cell. We believe that the fabricated 3D Co-Pi/BiVO₄/SnO₂ NSAs with remarkably enhanced PEC performance could provide clean power for the modern society via reduction reaction on pollution gases.

Graphene Quantum Dots Wrapped Gold Nanoparticles with Integrated Enhancement Mechanisms as Sensitive and Homogeneous Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Rational engineering of highly stable and Raman-active nanostructured substrates is still urgently in demand for achieving sensitive and reliable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis in solution phase. Herein, monodisperse N-doping graphene quantum dots wrapped Au nanoparticles (Au-NGQD NPs) were facilely prepared, and further their applications as substrates in SERS-based detection and cellular imaging have been explored. The as-prepared Au-NGQD NPs exhibit superior long-term stability and biocompatibility, as well as large enhancement capability due to the integration of electromagnetic and chemical enhancements. The practical applicability of the Au-NGQD NPs was verified via the direct SERS tests of several kinds of aromatics in solution phase. Finite-difference time-domain simulations in combination with density functional theory calculation were also successfully used to explain the enhancement mechanism. Furthermore, the Au-NGQD NPs were conjugated with 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT, as reporter) and 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA, as targeting element) to construct the MPBA/4-NBT@Au-NGQD probes, which could specifically recognize glycan-overexpressed cancer cells through SERS imaging on a cell surface. The prepared Au-NGQDs show great potential as superior SERS substrates in solution phase for on-site Raman detection.

Aptamer-Conjugated Au Nanocage/SiO2 Core-Shell Bifunctional Nanoprobes with High Stability and Biocompatibility for Cellular SERS Imaging and Near-Infrared Photothermal Therapy

The combination of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging technology with near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered photothermal therapy is of utmost importance to develop novel theranostic platforms. Herein, an aptamer-conjugated Au nanocage/SiO₂ (AuNC/SiO₂/Apt) core-shell Raman nanoprobe has been rationally designed as the bifunctional theranostic platform to fulfill this task. In this theranostic system, the Raman-labeled Au nanocage (AuNC) was encapsulated into a bioinert shell of SiO₂, followed by conjugating aptamer AS1411 as the target-recognition moiety. AuNC served as the SERS-active and photothermal substrate due to its large free volume, built-in plasmon effect, and NIR photothermal capacity, while the SiO₂ coating endowed the nanoprobes with good stability and biocompatibility, as well as abundant anchoring sites for surface functionalization. Considering their prominent SERS and photothermal properties, the application potential of the AuNC/SiO₂/Apt nanoprobes was investigated. The proposed nanoprobes could be applied to targeted detection and SERS imaging of nucleolin-overexpressing cancer cells (MCF-7 cells as the model) from normal cells and also exhibited acceptable photothermal efficacy without systematic toxicity. This theranostic nanoplatform provided a possible opportunity for in situ diagnosis and noninvasive treatment of cancer cells by SERS imaging-guided photothermal therapy.

miR-222 represses expression of zipcode binding protein-1 and phospholipase C-γ1 in intestinal epithelial cells

Both zipcode binding protein-1 (ZBP1) and phospholipase C-γ1 (PLCγ1) are intimately involved in many aspects of early intestinal mucosal repair after acute injury, but the exact mechanisms that control their cellular abundances remain largely unknown. The present study shows that microRNA-222 (miR-222) interacts with the mRNAs encoding ZBP1 and PLCγ1 and regulates ZBP1 and PLCγ1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The biotinylated miR-222 bound specifically to the ZBP1 and PLCγ1 mRNAs in IECs. Ectopically expressed miR-222 precursor destabilized the ZBP1 and PLCγ1 mRNAs and consequently lowered the levels of cellular ZBP1 and PLCγ1 proteins. Conversely, decreasing the levels of cellular miR-222 by transfection with its antagonism increased the stability of the ZBP1 and PLCγ1 mRNAs and increased the levels of ZBP1 and PLCγ1 proteins. Overexpression of miR-222 also inhibited cell migration over the wounded area, which was partially abolished by overexpressing ZBP1 and PLCγ1. Furthermore, prevention of the increased levels of ZBP1 and PLCγ1 in the miR-222-silenced cells by transfection with specific small interfering RNAs targeting ZBP1 or PLCγ1 mRNA inhibited cell migration after wounding. These findings indicate that induced miR-222 represses expression of ZBP1 and PLCγ1 at the posttranscriptional level, thus inhibiting IEC migration during intestinal epithelial restitution after wounding.

[Rapid Start-up of a Nitrite-Dependent Methane Anaerobic Oxidation Reaction Under Static Pressure Conditions]

The present study explores the effect of static pressure on the rapid start-up of a nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) process in lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR). A mixture of anaerobic sludge and deep paddy soil with a volume ratio of 1:1 was used as inoculum and the influent of the nitrite (NO₂^--N) concentration was gradually increased to avoid a toxicity shock. The variation of the NO₂^--N removal performance and corresponding microbial characteristics were analyzed to evaluate the development of the N-DAMO process. After 120 days of operation, significant N-DAMO phenomena were observed in both the control SBR (R1) with normal pressure and pressurized SBR (R2) with a static pressure of 0.3 MPa. The NO₂^--N removal rate (measured by NO₂^--N) of R2 (36.90 mg·(L·d)^-1) was 24% higher than that of R1, while the average NO₂^--N removal rate in the first 4 h of the batch cycle in R2 (0.10 mmol·(L·h)^-1) was 186% higher than that of R1. The mean sludge size of R2 was~2-fold larger than that of R1. Sludge in R2 also has a bigger specific surface area, which improves the mass transfer rate of methane and the N-DAMO performance. The specific activity of N-DAMO (measured by N/VSS) reached 0.29 mg·(g·h)^-1 in the study period, which is approximately 2 times higher than that of R1. Moreover, the abundance of N-DAMO functional microbes Candidatus Methylomirabilish oxyfera (M. oxyfera) in R2 was 10-fold higher than that of R1. These results indicate that static pressure effectively accelerates the start-up of the N-DAMO process.

Mitochondrial Fission Is Required for Blue Light-Induced Apoptosis and Mitophagy in Retinal Neuronal R28 Cells

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely used to provide illumination due to their low energy requirements and high brightness. However, the LED spectrum contains an intense blue light component which is phototoxic to the retina. Recently, it has been reported that blue light may directly impinge on mitochondrial function in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Mitochondria are high dynamic organelles that undergo frequent fission and fusion events. The aim of our study was to elucidate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in blue light-induced damage in retinal neuronal R28 cells. We found that exposure to blue light (450 nm, 1000 lx) for up to 12 h significantly up-regulated the expression of mitochondrial fission protein Drp1, while down-regulating the expression of mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn2 in cells. Mitochondrial fission was simultaneously stimulated by blue light irradiation. In addition, exposure to blue light increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and induced apoptosis in R28 cells. Notably, Drp1 inhibitor Mdivi-1 and Drp1 RNAi not only attenuated blue light-induced mitochondrial fission, but also alleviated blue light-induced ROS production, MMP disruption and apoptosis in cells. Compared with Mdivi-1 and Drp1 RNAi, the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) only slightly inhibited mitochondrial fission, while significantly alleviating apoptosis after blue light exposure. Moreover, we examined markers for mitophagy, which is responsible for the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. It was found that blue light stimulated the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II as well as the expression of PINK1 in R28 cells. Mdivi-1 or Drp1 RNAi efficiently inhibited the blue light-induced expression of PINK1 and co-localization of LC3 with mitochondria. Thus, our data suggest that mitochondrial fission is required for blue light-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in RGCs.

Plasmonic Au nanostar Raman probes coupling with highly ordered TiO2/Au nanotube arrays as the reliable SERS sensing platform for chronic myeloid leukemia drug evaluation

The accurate therapeutic evaluation for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) drug is of great importance to minimize side effects and enhance efficacy. Herein, a facile and precise surface-enhanced scattering (SERS) approach based on coupled plasmonic field has been introduced to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of antileukemia drug through ultrasensitive assay of caspase-3 activity in apoptotic cells. Caspase-3 as an apoptosis indicator could specifically cleave the N-terminus of biotinylated DEVD-peptide (biotin-Gly-Asp-Gly-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Cys) immobilized on the Au nanoparticle-decorated TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TiO₂/Au NTAs) substrate. After the enzyme cleavage with caspase-3, Raman-labelled Au nanostar (AuNS) probes captured the residual DEVD-peptides via the recognition between streptavidin and biotin, thus resulting in an enhanced Raman response on the SERS platform. The variation of Raman intensity revealed caspase-3 activity that reflected the chemotherapeutic effect. On this platform, AuNS nanoprobes offered a large number of binding sites and intrinsic "hot spots" for Raman reporters, while TiO₂/Au NTAs rendered a homogenously coupled electromagnetic field between the adjacent repeated units over the large area. In particular, a spatially expanding plasmonic field formed by coupling AuNSs with TiO₂/Au NTAs would further heighten Raman enhancement. Taking these advantages, the strong and uniform Raman signals were achieved. Furthermore, the practicability investigation witnessed that the proposed SERS strategy was available to evaluate the therapeutic effect of dasatinib on CML K562 cells. The developed method possesses fascinating advantages of cost-effectiveness, excellent reproducibility and high sensitivity, which endows it with promising potential in apoptosis monitoring and anticancer drug development.

Research progress on human genes involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma (Review)

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. It is known that the incidence of glaucoma is closely associated with inheritance. A large number of studies have suggested that genetic factors are involved in the occurrence and development of glaucoma, and even affect the drug sensitivity and prognosis of glaucoma. In the present review, 22 loci of glaucoma are presented, including the relevant genes (myocilin, interleukin 20 receptor subunit B, optineurin, ankyrin repeat- and SOCS box-containing protein 10, WD repeat-containing protein 36, EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, neurotrophin 4, TANK-binding kinase 1, cytochrome P450 subfamily I polypeptide 1, latent transforming growth factor β binding protein 2 and TEK tyrosine kinase endothelial) and 74 other genes (including toll-like receptor 4, sine oculis homeobox Drosophila homolog of 1, doublecortin-like kinase 1, RE repeats-encoding gene, retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator-interacting protein, lysyl oxidase-like protein 1, heat-shock 70-kDa protein 1A, baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 6, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and nitric oxide synthase 3 and nanophthalmos 1) that are more closely associated with glaucoma. The pathogenesis of these glaucoma-associated genes, glaucomatous genetics and genetic approaches, as well as glaucomatous risk factors, including increasing age, glaucoma family history, high myopia, diabetes, ocular trauma, smoking, intraocular pressure increase and/or fluctuation were also discussed.

The role of Cdk5-mediated Drp1 phosphorylation in Aβ1-42 induced mitochondrial fission and neuronal apoptosis

Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, is pathologically characterized by Amyloid beta containing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid beta (Aβ) induces neuronal apoptosis through the intracellular Ca²⁺ increase, subsequent hyperactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and mitochondrial abnormality. Recently, Cdk5 was identified as an upstream regulator of mitochondrial fission during neuronal apoptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, in vitro phosphorylation assays showed that Cdk5 could phosphorylate the recombinant Drp1 at Serine 579. Aβ_1-42 stimulation increased the phosphorylation level of Drp1 at Serine 579 in mouse cortical neurons. Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine and knockdown of Cdk5 by a lentiviral vector expressing shRNA targeting Cdk5 (Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA) efficiently prevented Aβ_1-42 induced Drp1 phosphorylation in neurons. In addition, Aβ_1-42 stimulation induced markedly mitochondrial fission in neurons. Roscovitine, Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA and expression of phospho-defect mutatant GFP-Drp1-S579A in neurons attenuated Aβ_1-42 induced mitochondrial fission, whereas expression of phospho-mimetic mutant GFP-Drp1-S579D alone resulted in mitochondiral fission similar to Aβ_1-42 stimulation. Moreover, Roscovitine and Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA suppressed the cleavage of caspase-3 and protected neurons against Aβ_1-42 induced neuronal apoptosis.Thus, our data indicate that Drp1 is a direct target of Cdk5, and Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of Drp1 at Serine 579 regulates Aβ_1-42 induced mitochondrial fission and neuronal toxicity.

Establishment of basal cell carcinoma animal model in Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to increase. Ultraviolet radiation is the major environmental risk factor and dysregulation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been identified in most BCCs. The treatment of locally advanced and metastatic BBCs is still a challenge and requires a better animal model than the widely used rodents for drug development and testing. Chinese tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) are closely related to primates, bearing many physiological and biochemical advantages over rodents for characterizing human diseases. Here, we successfully established a Chinese tree shrew BCC model by infecting tail skins with lentiviral SmoA1, an active form of Smoothened (Smo) used to constitutively activate the Hh signaling pathway. The pathological characteristics were verified by immunohistochemical analysis. Interestingly, BCC progress was greatly enhanced by the combined usage of lentiviral SmoA1 and shRNA targeting Chinese tree shrew p53. This work provides a useful animal model for further BCC studies and future drug discoveries.

Peptide-Based Photoelectrochemical Cytosensor Using a Hollow-TiO2/EG/ZnIn2S4 Cosensitized Structure for Ultrasensitive Detection of Early Apoptotic Cells and Drug Evaluation

The ability to rapidly detect apoptotic cells and accurately evaluate therapeutic effects is significant in cancer research. To address this target, a biocompatible, ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) cytosensing platform was developed based on electrochemically reduced graphene (EG)/ZnIn₂S₄ cosensitized TiO₂ coupled with specific recognition between apoptotic cells and phosphatidylserine-binding peptide (PSBP). In this strategy, the HL-60 cells were selected as a model and C005, nilotinib, and imatinib were selected as apoptosis inducers to show cytosensing performances. In particular, a TiO₂ photoactive substrate was designed as hollow spheres to enhance the PEC performance. Graphene was electrodeposited on the hollow TiO₂-modified electrode to accelerate electron transfer and increase conductivity, followed by in situ growth of ZnIn₂S₄ nanocrystals as photosensitizers via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, forming a TiO₂/EG/ZnIn₂S₄ cosensitized structure that was used as a PEC matrix to immobilize PSBP for the recognition of early apoptotic cells. The detection of apoptotic cells was based on steric hindrance originating from apoptotic cell capture to induce an obvious decrease in the photocurrent signal. The ultrahigh sensitivity of the cytosensor resulted from enhanced PEC performance, bioactivity, and high binding affinity between PSBP and apoptotic cells. Compared with other assays, incorporate toxic elements were avoided, such as Cd, Ru, and Te, which ensured normal cell growth and are appropriate for cell analysis. The designed PEC cytosensor showed a low detection limit of apoptotic cells (as low as three cells), a wide linear range from 1 × 10³ to 5 × 10⁷ cells/mL, and an accurate evaluation of therapeutic effects. It also exhibited good specificity, reproducibility, and stability.

An effective one-pot method for preparing covalently bonded nanocomposite soft magnetic beadlike microgels and their evaluation as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic heavy metals from aqueous solution

A simplified “water-in-oil” “one-pot” production process for preparing a covalently bonded nanocomposite soft magnetic beadlike adsorbent is developed.

Indole Alkaloids Inhibiting Neural Stem Cell from Uncaria rhynchophylla

Uncaria rhynchophylla is commonly recognized as a traditional treatment for dizziness, cerebrovascular diseases, and nervous disorders in China. Previously, the neuro-protective activities of the alkaloids from U. rhynchophylla were intensively reported. In current work, three new indole alkaloids (1-3), identified as geissoschizic acid (1), geissoschizic acid N ₄-oxide (2), and 3β-sitsirikine N ₄-oxide (3), as well as 26 known analogues were isolated from U. rhynchophylla. However, in the neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation assay for all isolated compounds, geissoschizic acid (1), geissoschizic acid N ₄-oxide (2), isocorynoxeine (6), isorhynchophylline (7), (4S)-akuammigine N-oxide (8), and (4S)-rhynchophylline N-oxide (10) showed unexpected inhibitory activities at 10 μM. Unlike previous neuro-protective reports, as a warning or caution, our finding showcased a clue for possible NSCs toxicity and the neural lesions risk of U. rhynchophylla, while the structure-activity relationships of the isolated compounds were discussed also.

Amyloid β-42 induces neuronal apoptosis by targeting mitochondria

Alzheimer's disease (AD), with a typical pathological hallmark of amyloid-beta (Aβ)-containing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, is one of the most common types of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Aβ oligomers serve a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD, and lead to neuronal loss. However, the precise mechanism of Aβ oligomers in AD remains to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that 10 µM Aβ-42 activated the caspase signaling pathway, and induced significant apoptosis in primary cultured mouse cerebral cortical neurons. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting demonstrated that Aβ-42 (10 µM) also significantly upregulated the transcription and expression of the mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), and downregulated the transcription and expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins, including mitofusin 1/2 (Mfn1/2) and mitochondrial dynamin like GTPase (OPA-1). Neurons were transfected with pDsRed2-Mito for mitochondrial imaging, which revealed that 10 µM Aβ-42 induced mitochondrial fission in cortical neurons. In addition, 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester staining indicated that Aβ-42 increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in neurons. Inhibition of Drp1 activity by Mdivi-1 efficiently prevented Aβ-42-induced ROS production and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential may activate PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (Pink1), the prominent sensor for mitochondrial damage, and trigger the process of mitophagy to remove the damaged mitochondria. In the present study, western blotting revealed that the levels of autophagy marker microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) and Pink1 were upregulated after Aβ-42 stimulation. In conclusion, these data indicated that Aβ-42 induces neuronal apoptosis by targeting mitochondria, including promotion of mitochondrial fission, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing intracellular ROS level and activation of the process of mitophagy. Therefore, mitochondria may represent a potential therapeutic target for AD in the future.

A Normalization-Free and Nonparametric Method Sharpens Large-Scale Transcriptome Analysis and Reveals Common Gene Alteration Patterns in Cancers

Heterogeneity in transcriptional data hampers the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and understanding of cancer, essentially because current methods rely on cross-sample normalization and/or distribution assumption—both sensitive to heterogeneous values. Here, we developed a new method, Cross-Value Association Analysis (CVAA), which overcomes the limitation and is more robust to heterogeneous data than the other methods. Applying CVAA to a more complex pan-cancer dataset containing 5,540 transcriptomes discovered numerous new DEGs and many previously rarely explored pathways/processes; some of them were validated, both in vitro and in vivo, to be crucial in tumorigenesis, e.g., alcohol metabolism (ADH1B), chromosome remodeling (NCAPH) and complement system (Adipsin). Together, we present a sharper tool to navigate large-scale expression data and gain new mechanistic insights into tumorigenesis.

Characteristic patterns of normal meridian acupoint temperature

BACKGROUND

Body temperature is an important indicator of health and illness. However, a single temperature measurement is not always reliable. Such measurements can be made using meridians, which are energy channels with acupoints being the nodes. To date, there is no published reference of meridian acupoint temperatures applicable to human health, and there is no clear digitalized indicator that could be utilized to evaluate human health by way of meridian acupoints up to now.

METHODS

Our study recruited 100 healthy medical college students for the measurement of acupoint temperature. The temperatures of 135 acupoints of 14 main meridians were measured using infrared thermometers in order to provide a comprehensive body temperature reading of each study participant.

RESULTS

The degree of the acupoint temperature consistently ranged from 34.88°C to 36.14°C. The gross thermograph was concentric, with high degree readings around the heart and low degree readings originating from the feet. The left and right body sides had significant correlation between the degrees of bilateral same name acupoint temperatures of 12 regular meridians (correlation coefficient, 0.367-0.985; p < 0.0001). There was also a significant correlation between the acupoint temperature for the governor vessel and the conception vessel (correlation coefficient, 0.083; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that meridian acupoint temperature is characterized by a consistently narrow range, as well as concentricity and symmetry in body temperature degree readings in college students. Meridian acupoint temperature may be a sensitive and valuable indicator to assist in the accurate evaluation of meridian and general human health, and the significance and changes of acupoint temperature in clinical conditions warrants future exploration.

Involvement of mitochondrial dynamics in the antineoplastic activity of cisplatin in murine leukemia L1210 cells

Leukemia is a type of hematopoietic stem cell malignant cloned disease with high mortality. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for leukemia. Similar to other chemotherapeutic agents, cisplatin resistance has become a serious issue in cancer therapy. In the present study, we investigated the role of mitochondrial dynamics in the antineoplastic activity of cisplatin in murine leukemia L1210 cells. Firstly, the L1210 cell line resistant to cisplatin (L1210/DDP) was established. Compared to its parental cell line, the IC50 value of cisplatin in the L1210/DDP cells was increased 10-fold. Mitofusins (Mfn1 and Mfn2), mitochondrial outer membrane fusion proteins, were markedly upregulated in the L1210/DDP cells, whereas the expression of fission protein Drp1 and inner membrane fusion protein OPA1 were not significantly altered. In addition, mitofusins were also upregulated in the parental L1210 cells subjected to cisplatin stress. To investigate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in the antineoplastic activity of cisplatin, the effect of mitochondrial division inhibitor (Mdivi)-1 on cisplatin‑induced cell death, caspase-3 cleavage and ROS production was examined in L1210 cells. We found that 5 µM of Mdivi-1 efficiently attenuated cisplatin-induced cell death, caspase activation and intracellular ROS increase in L1210 cells. Our data indicated that mitochondrial dynamics play an important role in the antineoplastic activity of cisplatin, and mitofusin-mediated mitochondrial fusion may be involved in the process of cisplatin resistance in leukemia cells. Therefore, the present study revealed that mitochondrial dynamics may be a potential target used to improve the antineoplastic activity of cisplatin in leukemia in the future.

[Clinical comparative analysis of comprehensive laparoscopic and laparotomic staging of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer]

Objective: To investigate the value of laparoscopy in comprehensive early ovarian cancer staging by comparing the feasibility and safety of laparoscopy and laparotomy in surgical staging of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: A total of 102 patients with EOC who underwent comprehensive laparoscopic (LPS group, n=71) or laparotomic (LPT group, n=31) staging at Southwest Hospital from November 2007 to November 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The perioperative parameters, postoperative complication rate and the long-term curative effect were compared between the two groups. Results: (1) LPS group had less intra-operative blood loss [(288±239) vs (631±463) ml], lower rate of blood transfusion (14% vs 58%) , larger number of pelvic dissected lymph nodes (18.1±5.6 vs 15.5±4.6), lower vasual analogue scalescore (VAS) pain score (2.1±1.6 vs 3.0±1.1), shorter gastrointestinal recovery time [(2.6±0.8) vs (3.5±0.9) days] and shorter hospital stay [(9.9±2.9) vs (11.3±5.0) days] when compared with LPT group (all P<0.01). No significant difference were found in operation time, number of para-aortic lymph nodes, rate of postoperative upstaging and adjuvant chemotherapy between the two groups (all P>0.05). (2) No significant difference was found in postoperative rate of complications [11%(8/71) vs 19% (6/31), χ(2)=1.192, P=0.275]. (3) No significant difference was found in recurrence rate [17%(11/66) vs 14%(4/29), χ(2)=0.125, P=0.724] and 5-year overall survival (86.7% vs 86.8%, P=0.874) . Conclusion: Compared with LPT group, there are no significance differences in recurrence rate and mortality between two groups, laparoscopic staging, which could be recommended as a choice of surgical treatment of early ovarian cancer, shows more favorable operative outcomes including minimally invasive, less intra-operative blood loss, less postoperative pain and quicker recovery.

Incorporating Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots and Ni3 S2 Nanosheets: A Synergistic Electrocatalyst with Highly Enhanced Activity for Overall Water Splitting

A noble-metal-free electrocatalyst is fabricated via in situ formation of nanocomposite of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) and Ni₃ S₂ nanosheets on the Ni foam (Ni₃ S₂ -NGQDs/NF). The resultant Ni₃ S₂ -NGQDs/NF can serve as an active, binder-free, and self-supported catalytic electrode for direct water splitting, which delivers a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at an overpotential of 216 mV for oxygen evolution reaction and 218 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. This bifunctional electrocatalyst enables the construction of an alkali electrolyzer with a low cell voltage of 1.58 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 10 mA cm^-2 . The experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the synergistic effects of the constructed active interfaces are the key factor for excellent performance. The nanocomposite of NGQDs and Ni₃ S₂ nanosheets can be promising water splitting electrocatalyst for large-scale hydrogen generation or other energy storage and conversion applications.

Sonochemical preparation of stable porous MnO2 and its application as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Porous MnO₂ as a non-noble metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst was prepared by a simple sonochemical route. The as-prepared porous MnO₂ exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity, superior stability and better methanol tolerance than commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline media. Furthermore, the ORR proceeded via a nearly four-electron pathway. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating-disk electrode (RDE) measurements verified that the ORR enhancement was attributed to the porous structure and good dispersity, which facilitated sufficient transport of ions, electrons, O₂ and other reactants in the process of ORR. The results indicated that a facile and feasible sonochemical route could be used to prepare highly active porous MnO₂ electrocatalyst for ORR, which might be promising for direct methanol fuel cells.

A facile sonochemical route for the synthesis of MoS2/Pd composites for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction

For the alkaline fuel cell cathode reaction, it is very essential to develop novel catalysts with superior catalytic properties. Here, we report the synthesis of highly active and stable MoS₂/Pd composites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), via a simple, eco-friendly sonochemical method. The bulk MoS₂ was first transformed into single and few layers MoS₂ nanosheets through ultrasonic exfoliation. Then the exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets served as supporting materials for the nucleation and further in-situ growth of Pd nanoparticles to form MoS₂/Pd composites via ultrasonic irradiation. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk voltammetry measurements demonstrate that as-prepared MoS₂/Pd composites which provides a direct four-electron pathway for the ORR, have better electrocatalytic activity, long-term operation stability than commercial Pt/C catalyst. We expect that the present work would provide a promising strategy for the development of efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. In addition, this study can also be extended to the preparation of other hybrid with desirable morphologies and functions.

Traditional Chinese medicine-based nursing approaches for alleviation of abdominal distension in patients after abdominal surgery

In clinical practice, patients after abdominal surgery usually suffer from abdominal distention. Abdominal distention causes discomfort and hinders post-surgery recovery. To alleviate abdominal distention, clinical physicians generally resort to medications or employ means such as placing gastrointestinal decompression or anal tubes, albeit with limited effect. Fast-track post-surgery rehabilitation advocates early post-surgery exercises for the prevention or alleviation of abdominal distension, but the approach also has limitations. In recent years, nursing practitioners have been researching novel nursing approaches based on traditional Chinese medicine. Some of these approaches have been demonstrated to help correct postoperative gastrointestinal function disorders, alleviate postoperative abdominal distention, enhance patient comfort and reduce the risk of post-surgery complications. This article focuses on reviewing nursing approaches based on traditional Chinese medicine for the alleviation of abdominal distention in patients after abdominal surgery. The efficacy of different nursing approaches will also be discussed.

[Anxiety and its inducing factors in men undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence of anxiety and its inducing factors in men undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODS

We randomly selected 202 men undergoing IVF-ET in the Infertility and Reproduction Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. On the first day of the IVF-ET cycle, we completed an investigation among the men using a self-designed questionnaire, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and 3 subscales (marital satisfaction, husband-wife communication, and sexual relationship) of Olson Marital Inventory.

RESULTS

Mild anxiety was found in 55 (27.2%) of the included men while the other 147 (72.8%) were non-anxiety males. Compared with the non-anxiety group, the anxiety group showed significant decreases in the total SSRS score (38.65±4.87 vs 36.44±4.21), objective support score (9.22±1.82 vs 8.36±1.18), and utility degree of social support score (6.89±1.50 vs 6.24±1.61) on the first day of the treatment cycle (P<0.01) as well as in the total scores of marital satisfaction (103.04±9.97 vs 96.89±9.90), husband-wife communication (32.29±4.24 vs 30.56±5.43), and sexual relationship (38.03±5.27 vs 34.20±4.41) (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the incidence rate of anxiety in the men with different housing conditions, monthly incomes, treatment costs, attitudes towards IVF-ET, pressure from social opinion, status of parenthood (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the major factors associated with anxiety included the attitude towards IVF-ET, pressure from social opinion, and sexual relationship in the men undergoing IVF-ET (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rate of anxiety is high in males undergoing IVF-ET and it is associated with various factors. Psychological aid is needed to these male patients from the staff of the reproduction center.

DNA Polymerase-Directed Hairpin Assembly for Targeted Drug Delivery and Amplified Biosensing

Due to the predictable conformation and programmable Watson-Crick base-pairing interactions, DNA has proven to be an attractive material to construct various nanostructures. Herein, we demonstrate a simple model of DNA polymerase-directed hairpin assembly (PDHA) to construct DNA nanoassemblies for versatile applications in biomedicine and biosensing. The system consists of only two hairpins, an initiator and a DNA polymerase. Upon addition of aptamer-linked initiator, the inert stems of the two hairpins are activated alternately under the direction of DNA polymerase, which thus grows into aptamer-tethered DNA nanoassemblies (AptNAs). Moreover, through incorporating fluorophores and drug-loading sites into the AptNAs, we have constructed multifunctional DNA nanoassemblies for targeted cancer therapy with high drug payloads and good biocompatibility. Interestingly, using the as-prepared AptNAs as building blocks, DNA nanohydrogels are self-assembled after centrifugation driven by liquid crystallization and dense packaging of DNA duplexes. Taking advantage of easy preparation and high loading capacity, the PDHAs are readily extended to the fabrication of a label-free biosensing platform, achieving amplified electrochemical detection of microRNA-21 (miR-21) with a detection limit as low as 0.75 fM and a dynamic range of 8 orders of magnitude. This biosensor also demonstrates excellent specificity to discriminate the target miR-21 from the control microRNAs and even the one-base mismatched one and further performs well in analyzing miR-21 in MCF-7 tumor cells.

Factors that influence in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes of Chinese men: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The thought of producing offspring has rooted in Chinese culture after thousands of years of feudal society. Infertility in men would bear significant psychological distress in this social environment.

PURPOSE

In this study, we explored the association between the outcomes of IVF treatment and anxiety, depression, marital satisfaction, communication, sexual relationship and social support.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 202 Chinese men who received IVF treatment for the first time were investigated using socio-demographic questionnaire, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, ENRICH Marital Inventory and Social Support Rating Scale on the first day of IVF treatment.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was 49.1% and 27.2%, respectively. Subjects with IVF failure had higher levels of depression and anxiety, lower levels of "Marital satisfaction", "communication" and "Sexual relationship" and social support. Logistic regression analysis indicated that depression, anxiety, marital satisfaction and sexual relationship were independent predictors of IVF failure.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in Chinese men undergoing IVF was higher than that in other countries. These findings suggest that anxiety, depression, marital satisfaction, and sexual relationship are important factors leading to IVF failure. Therefore, it is important to provide psychological aid to male patients undergoing IVF treatment.

Bacteria-Affinity 3D Macroporous Graphene/MWCNTs/Fe3O4 Foams for High-Performance Microbial Fuel Cells

Promoting the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) relies heavily on the structure design and composition tailoring of electrode materials. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) macroporous graphene foams incorporated with intercalated spacer of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and bacterial anchor of Fe3O4 nanospheres (named as G/MWCNTs/Fe3O4 foams) were first synthesized and used as anodes for Shewanella-inoculated microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Thanks to the macroporous structure of 3D graphene foams, the expanded electrode surface by MWCNTs spacing, as well as the high affinity of Fe3O4 nanospheres toward Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, the anode exhibited high bacterial loading capability. In addition to spacing graphene nanosheets for accommodating bacterial cells, MWCNTs paved a smoother way for electron transport in the electrode substrate of MFCs. Meanwhile, the embedded bioaffinity Fe3O4 nanospheres capable of preserving the bacterial metabolic activity provided guarantee for the long-term durability of the MFCs. With these merits, the constructed MFC possessed significantly higher power output and stronger stability than that with conventional graphite rod anode.

An electrochemical-TUNEL method for sensitive detection of apoptotic cells

An electrochemical-TUNEL method based on the fabrication of a CNT@PDA–FA three dimensional bio-interface was developed for cytosensors. By being coupled with a QD-based nanoprobe and electrochemical analysis, the sensor exhibited attractive performance in the detection of apoptotic cells.

Gastrointestinal side effects in type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin: Interventions and traditional Chinese nursing

Metformin is the first-line medication for the control of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. The main adverse reaction with metformin is gastrointestinal reaction. Although gastrointestinal reaction can relieve or disappear spontaneously in the majority of patients with gastrointestinal reactions, the presence of gastrointestinal reaction may, to a certain extent, reduce patient compliance and affect the optimal selection of treatment options. At present, much attention has been paid to the intervention of gastrointestinal side effects of metformin. This article expounds the important status and cost benefits of metformin treatment, in order to prove the importance of improving the compliance of patients by reliving gastrointestinal symptoms or shortening response time. In addition, we discuss the good effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of gastrointestinal reaction, to provide a reference for the application of traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention in patients with metformin associated gastrointestinal reaction.

Anodic Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)3(2+) with CdSe Quantum Dots as Coreactant and Its Application in Quantitative Detection of DNA

In the present paper, we report that CdSe quantum dots (QDs) can act as the coreactant of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) in neutral condition. Strong anodic ECL signal was observed at ~1.10 V at CdSe QDs modified glassy carbon electrode (CdSe/GCE), which might be mainly attributed to the apparent electrocatalytic effect of QDs on the oxidation of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ can be intercalated into the loop of hairpin DNA through the electrostatic interaction to fabricate a probe. When the probe was bound to the CdSe QDs modified on the GCE, the intense ECL signal was obtained. The more Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ can be intercalated when DNA loop has larger diameter and the stronger ECL signal can be observed. The loop of hairpin DNA can be opened in the presence of target DNA to release the immobilized Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, which can result in the decrease of ECL signal. The decreased ECL signal varied linearly with the concentration of target DNA, which showed the ECL biosensor can be used in the sensitive detection of DNA. The proposed ECL biosensor showed an excellent performance with high specificity, wide linear range and low detection limit.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome/X-linked thrombocytopenia in China: Clinical characteristic and genotype-phenotype correlation

BACKGROUND

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) are caused by mutations of the WAS gene. The genotype-phenotype association of WAS and XLT have not been fully elucidated. Here, we established the largest database of WAS in China to further determine the potential correlation between genotype and phenotype and long-term outcome.

PROCEDURES

We collected clinical data of 81 WAS/XLT patients, analyzed mutations of WAS gene at the genomic DNA and transcriptional/translational levels, and quantified three different patterns of WAS protein (WASp) expression in PBMCs by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

There were 60 unique mutations identified, including 20 novel mutations and eight hotspots, from 75 unrelated families with a total of 81 affected members. Nearly all the patients with XLT had missense mutations and were WASp-positive in the peripheral cells, while only half of the patients with missense mutations exhibited the XLT phenotype and detectable WASp. In contrast, patients with nonsense mutations, deletions, insertions, and complex mutations were WASp-negative and developed the classic WAS phenotype. An equal number of patients with splice anomalies were either WASp-positive or WASp-negative. Long-term survival rates were lower in WASp-negative patients compared to WASp-positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical phenotype of classic WAS or milder XLT and long-term outcome are potentially influenced by the effect of these defects on gene transcription and translation. Patients with missense mutations allowing expression of mutated WASp and those with splice anomalies, which result in generation of multiple products, including normal WASp, present the attenuated XLT phenotype and show better prognosis.

Low-level sodium arsenite induces apoptosis through inhibiting TrxR activity in pancreatic β-cells

In our previous study, we reported that sodium arsenite induced ROS-dependent apoptosis through lysosomal-mitochondrial pathway in pancreatic β-cells. Since the thioredoxin (Trx) system is the key antioxidant factor in mammalian cells, we investigate whether the inhibition of Trx system contributes to sodium arsenite-induced apoptosis in this study. After treatment with low-level (0.25-1μM) sodium arsenite for 96h, the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity was decreased significantly in pancreatic INS-1 cells. Following with the inactivation of TrxR, ASK1 was released from combining with Trx, which was evidenced by increased levels of ASK1 in sodium arsenite-treated INS-1 cells. Subsequently, activated ASK1 accelerated the expression of proapoptotic protein Bax and reduced the expression of anti-apoptic protein Bcl-2. Finally, low-level sodium arsenite induced apoptosis via caspase-3 in INS-1 cells. Knockdown of ASK1 alleviated sodium arsenite-induced apoptosis. In summary, the precise molecular mechanisms through which arsenic is related to diabetes have not been completely elucidated, inactivation of Trx system might provide insights into the underlying mechanisms at the environmental exposure levels.

Metabolites from the mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi as stimulators of neural stem cell proliferation

Ganoderma lingzhi is a valuable, edible and medicinal fungus that has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of a broad range of diseases. In this study, spirolingzhines A-D, four meroterpenoids with a spiro[benzofuran-2,10-cyclopentane] motif, lingzhines A-F, six meroterpenoids with diverse ring systems, along with two known compounds were isolated from the fruiting bodies of this fungus. The structures and stereochemistry of these substances were determined by using spectroscopic, X-ray crystallographic and computational methods. Chiral HPLC was used to separate (-)- and (+)-antipodes of seven of ten meroterpenoids, which were isolated from the fungus as racemic mixtures. Several of the metabolites were found to promote proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) and, as such, they constitute a class of NSC stimulators. The most potent member of this series, (-)-spirolingzhine A, was shown to affect NSC cell cycle progression using the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay.

Magnetite/Ceria-Codecorated Titanoniobate Nanosheet: A 2D Catalytic Nanoprobe for Efficient Enrichment and Programmed Dephosphorylation of Phosphopeptides

Global characterization and in-depth understanding of phosphoproteome based on mass spectrometry (MS) desperately needs a highly efficient affinity probe during sample preparation. In this work, a ternary nanocomposite of magnetite/ceria-codecorated titanoniobate nanosheet (MC-TiNbNS) was synthesized by the electrostatic assembly of Fe3O4 nanospheres and in situ growth of CeO 2 nanoparticles on pre-exfoliated titanoniobate and eventually utilized as the probe and catalyst for the enrichment and dephosphorylation of phosphopeptides. The two-dimensional (2D) structured titanoniobate nanosheet not only promoted the efficacy of capturing phosphopeptides with enlarged surface area, but also functioned as a substrate for embracing the magnetic anchor Fe3O4 to enable magnetic separation and mimic phosphatase CeO2 to produce identifying signatures of phosphopeptides. Compared to single-component TiNbNS or CeO2 nanoparticles, the ternary nanocomposite provided direct evidence of the number of phosphorylation sites while maintaining the enrichment efficiency. Moreover, by altering the on-sheet CeO2 coverage, the dephosphorylation activity could be fine-tuned, generating continuously adjustable signal intensities of both phosphopeptides and their dephosphorylated tags. Exhaustive detection of both mono- and multiphosphorylated peptides with precise counting of their phosphorylation sites was achieved in the primary mass spectra in the cases of digests of standard phosphoprotein and skim milk, as well as a more complex biological sample, human serum. With the resulting highly informative mass spectra, this multifunctional probe can be used as a promising tool for the fast and comprehensive characterization of phosphopeptides in MS-based phosphoproteomics.

The role of oxidative stress in citreoviridin-induced DNA damage in human liver-derived HepG2 cells

We hypothesize that citreoviridin (CIT) induces DNA damage in human liver-derived HepG2 cells through an oxidative stress mechanism and that N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) protects against CIT-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells. CIT-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells was evaluated by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. To elucidate the genotoxicity mechanisms, the level of oxidative DNA damage was tested by immunoperoxidase staining for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were examined; mitochondrial membrane potential and lysosomal membranes' permeability were detected; furthermore, protective effects of NAC on CIT-induced ROS formation and CIT-induced DNA damage were evaluated in HepG2 cells. A significant dose-dependent increment in DNA migration was observed at tested concentrations (2.50-10.00 µM) of CIT. The levels of ROS, 8-OHdG formation were increased by CIT, and significant depletion of GSH in HepG2 cells was induced by CIT. Destabilization of lysosome and mitochondria was also observed in cells treated with CIT. In addition, NAC significantly decreased CIT-induced ROS formation and CIT-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells. The data indicate that CIT induces DNA damage in HepG2 cells, most likely through oxidative stress mechanisms; that NAC protects against DNA damage induced by CIT in HepG2 cells; and that depolarization of mitochondria and lysosomal protease leakage may play a role in CIT-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells.