Topological DNA Tetrahedron Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticle Enables Precise Ligand Engineering for Targeted Cell Imaging

Ligand-functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles have been widely used for targeted imaging in living systems. However, ligand presentation and encoding on the nanoparticle's surface in a stoichiometrically controllable manner remains a great challenge. Herein, we propose a method to construct ligand-engineered plasmonic nanoprobes by using nanoparticle encapsulation with topological DNA tetrahedrons, which enables the programmed ligand loading for precise regulation of targeting efficiency of nanoprobes in biorelated applications. With this method, we demonstrated the preparation of functionalized plasmonic nanoprobes by programmed loading of RGD peptides and aptamers onto the DNA tetrahedron encapsulated gold nanoparticles with controllable stoichiometric ratios. The cell imaging and particle counting assays suggested that the targeting efficiency of the nanoprobes could be readily modulated by tailoring the number and stoichiometric ratios of the loaded ligands, respectively. It can be anticipated that this robust strategy could provide new opportunities for the construction of efficacious nanoprobes and delivery systems for versatile bioapplications.

Progress and Perspective of Solid-State Organic Fluorophores for Biomedical Applications

Fluorescent organic dyes have been extensively used as raw materials for the development of versatile imaging tools in the field of biomedicine. Particularly, the development of solid-state organic fluorophores (SSOFs) in the past 20 years has exhibited an upward trend. In recent years, studies on SSOFs have focused on the development of advanced tools, such as optical contrast agents and phototherapy agents, for biomedical applications. However, the practical application of these tools has been hindered owing to several limitations. Thus, in this Perspective, we have provided insights that could aid researchers to further develop these tools and overcome the limitations such as limited aqueous dispersibility, low biocompatibility, and uncontrolled emission. First, we described the inherent photophysical properties and fluorescence mechanisms of conventional, aggregation-induced emissive, and precipitating SSOFs with respect to their biomedical applications. Subsequently, we highlighted the recent development of functionalized SSOFs for bioimaging, biosensing, and theranostics. Finally, we elucidated the potential prospects and limitations of current SSOF-based tools associated with biomedical applications.

Highly Selective Fluorescent Probe Design for Visualizing Hepatic Hydrogen Sulfide in the Pathological Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), emerging as an important gaseous signal, has attracted more and more attention for its key role in chronic fatty liver diseases. However, lacking tools for H₂S-specific in situ detection, the changes of endogenous hepatic H₂S levels in the pathological progression of chronic liver diseases are still unclear. To this end, we adopted a strategy of combining molecular probe design and nanofunctionalization to develop a highly selective near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, which allows in vivo real-time monitoring of hepatic H₂S levels in the process of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As a proof of strategy demonstration, we first designed NIR molecular probes for H₂S sensing through chemical design and probe screening and then loaded molecular probes into mesoporous silicon nanomaterials (MSNs) with surface encapsulation using poly(ethylene glycol) to construct a highly selective probe MSN@CSN@PEG, with significantly improved selectivity and photostability. Moreover, MSN@CSN@PEG exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for endogenous H₂S in cells and tumors in vivo, eliminating the interference of a high concentration of biothiols and sulfhydryl proteins. Furthermore, the probe was applied to in situ intravital imaging and systematic assessment of hepatic H₂S levels in different stages of NAFLD for the first time, which may offer a promising tool for the future study of fatty liver diseases and other chronic liver diseases.

Stem cells immortalized by hTERT perform differently from those immortalized by SV40LT in proliferation, differentiation, and reconstruction of matrix microenvironment

Although matrix microenvironment has the potential to improve expanded stem cell proliferation and differentiation capacity, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) deposited by senescent cells does not contribute to the rejuvenation of adult stem cells, which has become a barrier to personalized stem cell therapy. Genetic modification is an effective strategy to protect cells from senescence but it carries the increased risk of malignant transformation and genetic instability. In this study, lentivirus carrying either human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) or simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40LT) was used to transduce human infrapatellar fat pad-derived stem cells (IPFSCs). We found that virus transduction modified the proliferative, chondrogenic, and adipogenic abilities of IPFSCs. Interestingly, dECM deposited by immortalized cells significantly influenced replicative senescent IPFSCs in proliferation and differentiation preference, the effect of which is hinged on the approach of immortalization using either SV40LT or hTERT. Our findings indicate both dECM expansion and immortalization strategies can be used for replicative senescent adult stem cells' proliferation and lineage-specific differentiation, which benefits future stem cell-based tissue regeneration. This approach may also work for adult stem cells with premature senescence in elderly/aged patients, which needs further investigation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Adult stem cells are a promising solution for autologous cell-based therapy. Unfortunately, cell senescence due to donor age and/or ex vivo expansion prevents clinical application. Recent progress with decellularized extracellular matrix provides a potential for the rejuvenation of senescent stem cells by improving their proliferation and differentiation capacities. Given the fact that the young matrix can provide a healthy and energetic microenvironment, in this study, two approaches using lentivirus transduction of hTERT and SV40LT were compared. The goal was to immortalize donor cells for deposition of decellularized extracellular matrix. The matrix was demonstrated to contribute diverging effects on the chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation of expanded stem cells and exhibited proliferation benefits as well. These findings provide an invaluable asset for stem cell-based tissue regeneration.

Molecular engineering of organic-based agents for in situ bioimaging and phototherapeutics

In situ monitoring of the location and transportation of bioactive molecules is essential for deciphering diverse biological events in the field of biomedicine. In addition, obtaining the in situ information of lesions will provide a clear perspective for surgeons to perform precise resection in clinical surgery. Notably, delivering drugs or operating photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy in situ by labeling the lesion regions of interest can improve treatment and reduce side effects in vivo. In various advanced imaging and therapy modalities, optical theranostic agents based on organic small molecules can be conveniently modified as needed and can be easily internalized into cells/lesions in a non-invasive manner, which are prerequisites for in situ bioimaging and precision treatment. In this tutorial review, we first summarize the in situ molecular immobilization strategies to retain small-molecule agents inside cells/lesions to prevent their diffusion in living organisms. Emphasis will be focused on introducing the application of these strategies for in situ imaging of biomolecules and precision treatment, particularly pertaining to why targeting therapy in situ is required.

Modulation of Immune Reaction in Hydrodynamic Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A

Hemophilia A (HA) is a monogenic disease characterized by plasma clotting factor 8 (F8) deficiency due to F8 mutation. We have been attempting to cure HA permanently using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing strategy. Here, we induced targeted integration of BDDF8 (B-domain-deleted F8) gene into the albumin locus of HA mice by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of editing plasmid vectors. One week after treatment, a high F8 activity ranging from 70% to 280% of normal serum levels was observed in all treated HA mice but dropped to background levels 3-5 weeks later. We found that the humoral immune reaction targeting F8 is the predominant cause of the decreased F8 activity. We hypothesized that hydrodynamic injection-induced liver damage triggered the release of large quantities of inflammatory cytokines. However, co-injection of plasmids expressing a dozen immunomodulatory factors failed to curtail the immune reaction and stabilize F8 activity. The spCas9 plasmid carrying a miR-142-3p target sequence alleviated the cellular immune response but was unable to deliver therapeutic efficacy. Strikingly, immunosuppressant cyclo-phosphamide virtually abolished the immune response, leading to a year-long stable F8 level. Our findings should have important implications in developing therapies in mouse models using the hydrodynamic gene delivery approach, highlighting the ne-cessity of modulating the innate immune response triggered by liver damage.

[Establishment of human colon cancer transplantation tumor model in normal immune mice]

Objective: Establishment of a new model of human primary colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice and to provide a reliable experimental animal model for studying the pathogenesis of colon cancer under normal immunity. Methods: Human colon cancer cells come from colon cancer patients who underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College in 2017. The mice in the cell control group were inoculated with phosphate buffered solution (PBS) containing colon cancer cells, the microcarrier control group was inoculated with PBS containing microcarrier 6, and the cell-microcarrier complex group was inoculated with the PBS containing colon cancer cell-microcarrier complex. The cells of each group were inoculated under the skin of the right axilla of mice by subcutaneous injection, and the time, size, tumor formation rate and pathological changes under microscope were recorded. The transplanted tumor tissue was immunohistochemically stained with the EnVisiion two-step method, and the tumor formation rate of the transplanted tumor was judged according to the proportion of positive cells in the visual field. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to detect the expression of human-specific Alu sequence in mice tumor tissue. Results: After inoculation with tumor cells, the mice in the cell control group and the microcarrier control group did not die and did not form tumors; the mice in the cell-microcarrier complex group had palpable subcutaneous tumors in the right axillary subcutaneously on the 5th to 7th days after inoculation, and tumor formation rate is 67% (10/15), and the tumor volume can reach about 500 mm(3) 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CK20, CDX-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen were all positively expressed. The PCR results showed that the expression of human-specific Alu sequence can be detected in the transplanted tumor tissue of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: Human primary colon cancer cells used microcarrier 6 as a carrier to form tumors in normal immunized mice, and successfully established a new model of human colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice.

Smart Nanozyme Platform with Activity-Correlated Ratiometric Molecular Imaging for Predicting Therapeutic Effects

Nanozymes with intrinsic enzyme-like characteristics have attracted enormous research interest in biological application. However, there is a lack of facile approach for evaluating the catalytic activity of nanozymes in living system. Herein, we develop a novel manganese-semiconducting polymer-based nanozyme (MSPN) with oxidase-like activity for reporting the catalytic activity of itself in acid-induced cancer therapy via ratiometric near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-photoacoustic (PA) molecular imaging. Notably, MSPN possess oxidase-like activity in tumor microenvironment, owing to the mixed-valent MnOx nanoparticles, which can effectively kill cancer cells. Because the semiconducting polymer (PFODBT) is conjugated with oxidase-responsive molecule (ORM), the catalytic activity of nanozyme can be correlated with the ratiometric signals of NIRF (FL₆₉₅ /FL₈₂₅ ) and PA (PA₆₈₀ /PA₇₈₀ ), which may provide new ideas for predicting anticancer efficacy of nanozymes in living system.

Effective control of large deletions after double-strand breaks by homology-directed repair and dsODN insertion

BACKGROUND

After repairing double-strand breaks (DSBs) caused by CRISPR-Cas9 cleavage, genomic damage, such as large deletions, may have pathogenic consequences.

RESULTS

We show that large deletions are ubiquitous but are dependent on editing sites and cell types. Human primary T cells display more significant deletions than hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), whereas we observe low levels in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We find that the homology-directed repair (HDR) with single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) carrying short homology reduces the deletion damage by almost half, while adeno-associated virus (AAV) donors with long homology reduce large deletions by approximately 80%. In the absence of HDR, the insertion of a short double-stranded ODN by NHEJ reduces deletion indexes by about 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

Timely bridging of broken ends by HDR and NHEJ vastly decreases the unintended consequences of dsDNA cleavage. These strategies can be harnessed in gene editing applications to attenuate unintended outcomes.

A Unique Multifunctional Luminescent Probe for Self-Monitoring Photodynamic Therapy by Detecting H2S in Cancer Cells

With the increasing interest in photodynamic therapy (PDT), the assessment of the level of reactive oxygen species produced during PDT has also become increasingly important. However, most of the fluorescent probes for reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation were separated from photosensitizers in the PDT process, resulting in ex situ and asynchronous treatment feedback. Additionally, the consumption of ROS by these fluorescent probes themselves will inevitably affect the therapeutic effect. Herein, inspired by the redox balance in the cell, we developed a multifunctional hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) probe Ru-NBD for reporting the therapeutic effect during the PDT process by detecting hydrogen sulfide. The probe Ru-NBD could not only serve as an effective PDT reagent both before and after H₂S activation but could also be used for real-time and in situ monitoring of the therapeutic effect via restored luminescence during the PDT process. As the phototherapy process progresses, the luminescent signal of Ru-NBD changes accordingly. The experimental results show that there is a certain correlation between the luminescence intensity and the cell inhibition rate; thus, we can monitor the phototherapy process by detecting the changes in the probe's luminescent signal. This study provides an idea for the design and adjustment of PDT.

Cyclic Amplification of the Afterglow Luminescent Nanoreporter Enables the Prediction of Anti-cancer Efficiency

We developed a cyclic amplification method for an organic afterglow nanoreporter for the real-time visualization of self-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). We promoted semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (PFODBT) as a candidate for emitting near-infrared afterglow luminescence. Introduction of a chemiluminescent substrate (CPPO) into PFODBT (PFODBT@CPPO) resulted in a significant enhancement of afterglow intensity through the dual cyclic amplification pathway involving singlet oxygen (¹ O₂ ). ¹ O₂ produced by PFODBT@CPPO induced cancer cell necrosis and promoted the release of damage-related molecular patterns, thereby evoking immunogenic cell death (ICD)-associated immune responses through ROS-based oxidative stress. The afterglow luminescent signals of the nanoreporter were well correlated with light-driven ¹ O₂ generation and anti-cancer efficiency. This imaging strategy provides a non-invasive tool for predicting the therapeutic outcome that occurs during ROS-mediated cancer therapy.

[Analysis of early recurrence within 6 months in patients of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery]

Objectives: To examine the prognosis factors of recurrence of esophageal carcinoma within 6 months after neoadjuvant therapy followd by surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 187 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by curative esophagectomy between January 2018 and April 2020 at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 160 males and 27 females, aging (63.0±7.1) years (range:43 to 76 years). The t test, χ2 test and rank-sum test were used for univariate analysis of the prognosis factors for recurrence within 6 months postoperative, while the Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results: There were 30 patients (16.0%) developed recurrence within 6 months after operation, including local recurrence in 1 case, regional recurrence in 11 cases, hematogenous recurrence in 13 cases, and combined recurrence in 5 cases. Univariate analysis suggested that there was a significant difference in T staging of tumor before neoadjuvant therapy (cT), tumor regression grade, circumferential resection margin, pathological T stage (ypT) and pathological N stage (ypN) between the recurrence patients and non-recurrence patients (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the cT3-4 (OR=2.701, 95%CI: 1.161 to 6.329, P=0.021) and ypN(+)(OR=1.654, 95%CI: 1.045 to 2.591, P=0.032) were the independent prognosis factors for recurrence within 6 months. Conclusion: The combination of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery is not effective in reducing early postoperative recurrence in patients who have invaded the epineurium before treatment, and still have positive lymph nodes after neoadjuvant therapy.

Gene knockout in highly purified mouse hematopoietic stem cells by CRISPR/Cas9 technology

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used for genome editing of human and mouse cells. In this study, we established a protocol for gene knockout (KO) in mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs were highly purified from the bone marrow of tamoxifen-treated Cas9-EGFP/Cre-ER transgenic mice, maintained in serum-free polyvinyl alcohol culture with cytokines, lentivirally transduced with sgRNA-Crimson, and transplanted into lethally irradiated mice with competitor cells. Previous studies of Pax5 KO mice have shown B cell differentiation block. To verify our KO HSC strategy, we deleted Pax5 gene in 600 CD201+CD150+CD48-c-Kit+Sca-1+Lin- cells (HSC1 cells), highly enriched in myeloid-biased HSCs, and CD201+CD150-CD48- c-Kit+Sca-1+Lin- cells (HSC2 cells), highly enriched in lymphoid-biased HSCs. As predicted, both Pax5 KO HSC1 and HSC2 cells showed few B cells in the peripheral blood and the accumulation of pro-B cells in the bone marrow of recipient mice. Our data suggesetd that myeloid-biased and lymphoid-biased HSCs share a common B cell differentiation pathway. This population-specific KO strategy will find its applications for gene editing in a varity of somatic cells, particuarly rare stem and progenitor cells from different tissues.

Tumor-Specific Multipath Nucleic Acid Damages Strategy by Symbiosed Nanozyme@Enzyme with Synergistic Self-Cyclic Catalysis

The high proliferation efficiency, redox imbalance, and elevated nucleic acid repair capabilities of tumor cells severely restrict the theranostic efficacy. Selectively interference chaotic tumors with devastating nucleic acid damages (NUDs) properties are expected to overcome theranostic barriers. Here, an exquisite catalytic-based strategy with comprehensive NUDs mechanisms is demonstrated. In this regard, enzyme (glucose oxidase, GOD) symbioses nanozyme Cu_3+x (PO₄ )₂ through biomineralization (abbreviated as Cu@GOD), GOD can disorder the metabolism by consuming glucose, thereby inhibiting the nutrition supply for nucleic acid repair. GOD-catalyzed H₂ O₂ guarantees the self-cyclic glutathione depletion and reactive oxygen species generation caused by Cu_3+x (PO₄ )₂ , resulted the reduced antioxidation defense and enhanced oxidation assault, ensures an indiscriminate NUDs ability. Moreover, the high photothermal effect of Cu_3+x (PO₄ )₂ induces effective tumor inhibition. Consequently, this substantial multipath NUDs strategy, with potentials of suppressing the cytoprotective mechanisms, amplifying the cellular oxidative stress, and disrupting the redox balance to ensure substantial irreversible NUDs, completely breaks the obstacle of chaotic tumors, providing new conceptual thinking for tumor proliferation inhibition.

DNA origami-based protein networks: from basic construction to emerging applications

Natural living systems are driven by delicate protein networks whose functions are precisely controlled by many parameters, such as number, distance, orientation, and position. Focusing on regulation rather than just imitation, the construction of artificial protein networks is important in many research areas, including biomedicine, synthetic biology and chemical biology. DNA origami, sophisticated nanostructures with rational design, can offer predictable, programmable, and addressable scaffolds for protein assembly with nanometer precision. Recently, many interdisciplinary efforts have achieved the precise construction of DNA origami-based protein networks, and their emerging application in many areas. To inspire more fantastic research and applications, herein we highlight the applicability and potentiality of DNA origami-based protein networks. After a brief introduction to the development and features of DNA origami, some important factors for the precise construction of DNA origami-based protein networks are discussed, including protein-DNA conjugation methods, networks with different patterns and the controllable parameters in the networks. The discussion then focuses on the emerging application of DNA origami-based protein networks in several areas, including enzymatic reaction regulation, sensing, bionics, biophysics, and biomedicine. Finally, current challenges and opportunities in this research field are discussed.

Ratiometric Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticle for Reliable Photoacoustic Imaging of Pneumonia-Induced Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque in Vivo

Acute pneumonia can greatly increase the vulnerable risk of atherosclerotic plaque and contribute to the mortality of cardiovascular disease. To accurately assess the rupture risk caused by acute pneumonia, we developed a novel kind of ratiometric semiconducting polymer nanoparticle (RSPN) for photoacoustic imaging of vulnerable plaque in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice complicated with pneumonia. Specifically, RSPN can react with O₂^•- and exhibit the enhanced photoacoustic signals at about 690 nm, while 800 nm is regarded as an internal photoacoustic reference. As a result, RSPN can provide reliable determination of O₂^•- within aortic atherosclerosis by analyzing the ratios of photoacoustic signals, which can successfully reflect the oxidative stress level in vulnerable plaque. Therefore, RSPN enable to specifically distinguish plaque-bearing mice and plaque-bearing mice complicated with pneumonia from healthy mice, which provides a promising tool to predict the vulnerability of plaque for reducing the mortality of atherosclerotic-induced cardiovascular disease.

Probing Dynamic Features of Phagosome Maturation in Macrophage using Au@MnOx @SiO2 Nanoparticles as pH-Sensitive Plasmonic Nanoprobes

Phagosome maturation in macrophage is essential to the clearance of pathogenic materials in host defence but the dynamic features remain difficult to be measured in real time. Herein, we reported the multilayered Au@MnO_x @SiO₂ nanoparticle as a robust pH-sensitive plasmonic nanosensor for monitoring the dynamic acidification features over the phagosome maturation process in macrophage under darkfield microscopy. For this multilayered nanosensor, the gold nanoparticle core plays a role of signal reporter, the MnO_x shell and the outmost SiO₂ act as the sensing layer and the protecting layer, respectively. After subject to the acidic buffer solution, the MnO_x layer in the multilayered nanoprobe could be decomposed rapidly, resulting in a remarkable spectral shift and color change under darkfield microscopy. We demonstrated this nanosensor for the investigation of single phagosome acidification dynamics by monitoring the color changes of nanoprobes after phagocytosis over time. The nanoprobes after phagocytosized in macrophage displayed a slight color change within the first hour and then cost several minutes to change from red to green in the next stage, indicating the phagosome undergoes a slow first and then fast acidification feature as well as a slow-to-fast acidification translation over the phagosome maturation process. Moreover, we validated that the slow-to-fast acidification translation was dependent on the activation of V-ATPase from the ATP depletion assay. We believed that this nanosensor is promising for studying the dynamic acidification features as well as disorders in phagosome maturation in phagocytic cells, which might provide valuable information for understanding the disease pathogenesis related to phagosome dysfunctions.

Activatable NIR-II Fluorescent Probes Applied in Biomedicine: Progress and Perspectives

With the advantage of inherent responsiveness that can change the spectroscopic signals from "off" to "on" state in responding to targets (e. g. biological analytes/microenvironmental factors), activatable fluorescent probes have attracted extensive attention and made significant progress in the field of bioimaging and biosensing. Due to the high depth of tissue penetration, minimal tissue damage and negligible background signal at longer wavelengths, the development of second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescent materials provides a new opportunity to develop activable fluorescent probes. Here, we summarized properties, advantages and disadvantages of mainly NIR-II fluorophores (such as rare earth-doped nanoparticles, quantum dots, single-walled carbon nanotubes, small molecule dyes, conjugated polymers and gold nanoclusters), then overviewed current role and development of activatable NIR-II fluorescent probes (AFPs) for biomedical applications including biosensing, bioimaging and therapeutic. The potential challenges and perspectives of AFPs in deep-tissue imaging and clinical application are also discussed.

[Correlation analysis between serum ferritin level and liver damage in acute stage of dengue fever]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between serum ferritin (SF) level and liver damage in the acute stage of dengue fever. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze 171 cases diagnosed with dengue fever as dengue fever group and 130 healthy patients as control group in Hangzhou 3A grade hospital from July to December 2017. Clinical data, SF and liver function related indicators were collected from both groups: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) to analyze the correlation between liver damage and SF in patients with dengue fever. Results: ALT, AST, and SF levels were significantly higher in the dengue fever group than those in the healthy control group (Z = 11.553, 15.054 and 15.163, P < 0.001). SF levels were higher in the dengue fever combined with liver damage group than those without the liver damage group (z = 6.930, P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant differences in age, gender, peak body temperature, and history of liver disease (P > 0.05). In addition, Spearman's correlation analysis showed that SF was positively correlated with ALT, AST, and TBIL (r = 0.464, 0.531 and 0.315, P < 0.001). Among dengue patients with different SF levels, there were significant difference in ALT, AST levels and incidence of liver damage (H = 14.240 and 17.584, χ(2) = 49.547, P < 0.001). Patients with higher SF levels had higher ALT, AST levels and incidence of liver damage. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hyperferritinemia (SF≥500 ng/ml) was the risk factor for dengue fever combined with liver damage (OR = 8.120, P < 0.001). Furthermore, ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC for SF to judge dengue fever combined liver damage was 0.846 (95% CI: 0.785-0.908), and the sensitivity and specificity when the SF cut-off value was 1 506 ng/ml were 74.8% and 83.3%. Conclusion: There is a certain correlation between the SF level and the degree of liver damage in acute stage of dengue fever patients, and hyperferritinemia is a risk factor for dengue fever combined with liver damage.

Precipitated Fluorophore-Based Molecular Probe for In Situ Imaging of Aminopeptidase N in Living Cells and Tumors

Aminopeptidase N (APN) is capable of cleaving N-terminal amino acids from peptides with alanine in the N-terminal position and plays a key role in the growth, migration, and metastasis of cancer. However, reliable in situ information is hard to be obtained with the current APN-responsive molecular probes because the released fluorophores are cytoplasmic soluble and thus rapidly depart from the enzymatic reaction sites and spread out all over the cytoplasm. Here, we report a de novo precipitated fluorophore, HBPQ, which is completely insoluble in water and shows strong yellow solid emission when excited with a 405 nm laser. Owing to the controllable solid fluorescence of HBPQ by the protection-deprotection of phenolic hydroxyl, we further utilized HBPQ to design an APN-responsive fluorogenic probe (HBPQ-A) for the imaging of intracellular APN. Importantly, HBPQ-A can not only perform in situ imaging of APN in different organelles (e.g., lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticula, and so forth) but also display a stable and indiffusible fluorescent signal for reliable mapping of the distribution of APN in living cells. In addition, through real-time imaging of APN in 4T1 tumors, we found that the fluorescent signal with high fidelity generated by HBPQ-A could remain constant even after 12 h, which further confirmed its diffusion-resistant ability and long-term reliable imaging ability. We believe that the precipitated fluorophore may have great potential for long-term in situ imaging.

Intellectual Capital and Financial Performance: Comparison With Financial and Pharmaceutical Industries in Vietnam

This study investigates the impacts of intellectual capital through Value-Added Intellectual Capital (VAIC) and its components: human capital efficiency (HCE) and structural capital efficiency (SCE) on financial performance in terms of return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). In addition, this study compares the effects between firms from financial and pharmaceutical industries. A total of 149 Vietnamese firms comprising of 108 financial firms and 41 pharmaceutical firms were examined. Based on the findings, VAIC and HCE show beneficial impacts on both financial performance measures, ROA, and ROE. However, SCE shows adverse and beneficial implications on ROA and ROE, respectively. In terms of industry comparison, VAIC has positive effects on ROA and ROE among the firms from financial industry, whereas it has no effect in the firms from pharmaceutical industry. The effect of HCE on ROA is stronger in the firms from financial industry than firms from pharmaceutical industry while the effect of HCE on ROE is stronger in the firms from pharmaceutical industry than firms from financial industry. The effect of SCE on ROA is stronger in the pharmaceutical firms than financial firms while the effect of SCE on ROE is stronger in the financial firms than pharmaceutical firms. Lastly, the implications of the importance of knowledge-based resources on value creation were elaborated.

Size-selective DNA nanocage-based activatable CRISPR-Cas12a for sensitive and accurate detection of mature microRNA

The sensitive and accurate detection of mature miRNA without the signal interference by pre-miRNAs is highly important. Herein, a size-selective DNA nanocage-based activatable CRISPR/Cas12a system was developed to achieve this goal.