Fluorogenic Monitoring of α-Amylase in Human Urine for Straightforward Diagnosis of Pancreatic Diseases

In this study, we developed a sensitive method for monitoring α-amylase using a fluorogenic approach based on the host-guest complexation between an amphiphilic pyrenyl derivative (1) and γ-cyclodextrins (γ-CDs). The compound 1 self-assembles into nanofibrils in aqueous solutions. Upon the introduction of γ-CD, compound 1 forms an inclusion complex with it. This complex then participates in the formation of a 2 : 2 complex with another complex, leading to strong excimer fluorescence. Upon interaction with α-amylase, γ-CD undergoes hydrolysis, leading to the regeneration of nanofibrils, which is accompanied by a decrease in excimer fluorescence and an increase in monomeric fluorescence. This ratiometric fluorescence color change enables the sensitive detection of low levels of α-amylase in human urine, offering a practical approach for early screening of pancreatic-related diseases.

The current status of early nursing for emergency pancreatitis and analysis of factors influencing prognosis: A retrospective study

This study is to investigate the incidence of pain and the influencing factors of prognostic complications in early admission care of pancreatitis in the emergency department patients. This provides a basis for clinical nursing management and prognosis improvement. Hundred patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to the tertiary hospital between January 2021 and December 2023 were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. It collected basic baseline data and medical data of patients during admission, clarifies whether patients have complications, and analyzed the length of hospital stay. Comparing hospital stays >7 days with <7 days. A questionnaire on patient psychological status was collected, and single factor analysis was conducted on different prognostic factors. Binary logistic regression was used for single factor analysis, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. The presence or absence of complications during treatment is the main criterion for determining the prognostic impact of pancreatitis in the emergency department patients. Among 100 patients, 26 (26%) had complications during hospitalization, 74 (74%) had no complications during hospitalization, and 64 (64%) had a stay of >7 days. There were statistically significant differences (P < .05) in smoking status and history of hypertension between the complication group and the non-complication group. In the comparison between the group with <7 days of hospitalization and the group with >7 days of hospitalization, age, education level, smoking status, and history of hyperlipidemia showed statistical significance (P < .05). The fasting days, BISAP score, first bowel movement time, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, duration of severe pain within 24 hours of admission, and duration of severe pain within 24 to 48 hours of admission were all statistically significant (P < .05). Pancreatitis in the emergency department patients are prone to exacerbation and prolonged pain during early hospitalization. In nursing, timely attention should be paid to the patient's pain issues, timely pain relief measures should be taken, and the occurrence of complications should be reduced, reducing the patient's hospitalization time. Meanwhile, it is necessary to constantly pay attention to changes in the patient's gastrointestinal function and experimental indicators.

Green-emitting carbon dots as a "turn on" fluorescence bio-probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of lipase in human serum

Enzyme activity assays play a crucial role in numerous fields, including biotechnology, the food industry, and clinical diagnostics. Lipases are particularly important enzymes due to their widespread use in lipid metabolism and esterification reactions. Here, we present a pioneering method for the sensitive and selective determination of lipase activity using green carbon dots (G-CDs) for first time. G-CDs are a fascinating class of carbon nanomaterials with unique optical properties and biocompatibility, making them ideal candidates for enzyme activity assays. This approach eliminates the need for traditional fluorophores or chromogenic substrates, reducing costs, fast response time (1 min), and environmental impact with a quantum yield (QY) of 7.42%. As designed, the G-CDs fluorescent probe turn-on demonstrated a reliable linear detection range from 0 to 9 mg/mL under ideal conditions, with detection limit of 0.01 mg/mL and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.045 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the G-CDs system was thoroughly evaluated in human serum samples, showing recoveries ranging from 100.0 to 105.0%. These findings highlight the promising applicability of the G-CDs probe for lipase detection, yielding highly favorable results.

Paper-Based Distance Sensor for the Detection of Lipase via a Phase Separation-Induced Viscosity Change

Human pancreatic lipase is a symbolic biomarker for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, which has profound significance for clinical detection and disease treatment. Herein, we first demonstrate a paper-based lipase sensor via a phase separation-induced viscosity change. Lipase catalyzes triolein to produce oleic acid and glycerol. Adding an excess of Ca²⁺ produces calcium oleate. The remaining Ca²⁺ binds with sodium alginate, triggering hydrogelation with an "egg-box" structure. The viscosity change of the aqueous solution induced by the phase separation process can be quantified by measuring the solution flow distance on a pH test paper. The paper-based lipase sensor has high sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.052 U/mL and also shows excellent specificity. Additionally, it is also utilized for quantitative lipase analysis in human serum samples to exhibit its potency in acute pancreatitis detection. This method overcomes the drawbacks of low sensitivity, slow response, and poor reproducibility caused by the nonuniform distribution of the highly viscous hydrogel on the sensing interface in existing approaches. In conclusion, thanks to the prominent characteristics of high portability, low cost, and easy operation, it is prospective for simple quantitative detection of lipase and has great potential for commercialization.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe for visualization of intracellular hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a crucial reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a crucial role in redox signaling in physiological and pathological processes of living cells. Its normal production is closely related to signal transduction of living cells. Overproduction of H₂O₂in vivo has been proved to be related to many diseases. Some were developed to reveal the roles of H₂O₂. However, current fluorescent probes for the detection of H₂O₂ are restricted in their short emission wavelengths and small Stokes shifts that significantly decrease the sensitivity of detection and cellular visualization. In this work, a novel fluorescent probe BC-B was designed and synthesized with pinacol phenylboronic acid ester as a recognition group and near-infrared fluorophore BC-OH as a reporter group. BC-B probe exhibits a large Stokes shift (122 nm) and near-infrared emission (672 nm), showing an excellent selectivity and sensitivity in detection of H₂O₂ with the limit of 0.003 μmol/L. Confocal fluorescence imaging further demonstrates that BC-B can be used for detecting endogenous H₂O₂ in living cells.