Target-responsive triplex aptamer nanoswitch enables label-free and ultrasensitive detection of antibody in human serum via lighting-up RNA aptamer transcriptions.

Accurate and sensitive monitoring of the concentration change of anti-digoxigenin (Anti-Dig) antibody is of great importance for diagnosing infectious and immunological diseases. Combining a novel triplex aptamer nanoswitch and the high signal-to-noise ratio of lighting-up RNA aptamer signal amplification, a label-free and ultrasensitive fluorescent sensing approach for detecting Anti-Dig antibodies is described. The target Anti-Dig antibodies recognize and bind with the nanoswitch to open its triplex helix stem structure to release Taq DNA polymerase and short ssDNA primer simultaneously, which activates the Taq DNA polymerase to initiate downstream strand extension of ssDNA primer to yield specific dsDNA containing RNA promoter sequence.

A comparative study on the structure, physical property and halochromic ability of shrimp freshness indicators produced from nine varieties of steamed purple sweet potato.

Nine varieties of purple sweet potato were steamed and used for the production of shrimp freshness indicators. The impact of purple sweet potato's variety on the structure, physical property and halochromic ability of indicators was determined. Results showed different varieties of purple sweet potato had different starch, crude fiber, pectin, protein, fat and total anthocyanin contents.

Characterization and Application of Guar Gum/Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Food Packaging Films Containing Betacyanins from Pokeweed ( Roxb.) Berries and Silver Nanoparticles.

Food packaging films were prepared by using guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol (GP) as the film matrix, 2% Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) as reinforcing filler and antimicrobial agent, and 1%, 2% and 3% pokeweed betacyanins (PB) as the colorant and antioxidant agent. The structures and color-changing, barrier, mechanical, thermal and antioxidant/antibacterial properties of different films were measured. The results show that the PB were pH-sensitive pigments with pink, purple and yellow colors at pH 3-8, pH 9-11 and pH 12, respectively.

Discovery of anti-inflammatory natural flavonoids: Diverse scaffolds and promising leads for drug discovery.

Natural products have been utilized for medicinal purposes for millennia, endowing them with a rich source of chemical scaffolds and pharmacological leads for drug discovery. Among the vast array of natural products, flavonoids represent a prominent class, renowned for their diverse biological activities and promising therapeutic advantages. Notably, their anti-inflammatory properties have positioned them as promising lead compounds for developing novel drugs combating various inflammatory diseases.

Development and application of intelligent packaging films based on guar gum, polyvinyl alcohol and hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) sweet) anthocyanins.

The pH-response color-changeable films were prepared by adding different contents (1 %, 2 % and 3 %) of hyacinth bean anthocyanins (HBA) into guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol blend matrix. The structural characterization and optical, barrier, mechanical, thermal, antioxidant and color-changeable properties of the films were determined. The films were applied to monitor the freshness of chilled shrimp and pork.

Preparation, Characterization, and Application of pH-Response Color-Changeable Films Based on Pullulan, Cooked Amaranth ( L.) Juice, and Bergamot Essential Oil.

Pullulan-based smart packaging films were prepared by mixing cooked amaranth juice and bergamot essential oil. The impact of cooked amaranth juice and bergamot essential oil on the color-changeability, structural characterization, and barrier, antioxidant, mechanical and thermal properties of pullulan-based films was determined. Results showed the cooked amaranth juice contained pH-response color-changing betacyanins.

Spermidine suppresses the activation of hepatic stellate cells to cure liver fibrosis through autophagy activator MAP1S.

Background And Aims: Liver diseases present a wide range of fibrosis, from fatty liver with no inflammation to steatohepatitis with varying degrees of fibrosis, to established cirrhosis leading to HCC. In a multivariate analysis, serum levels of spermidine were chosen as the top metabolite from 237 metabolites and its levels were drastically reduced along with progression to advanced steatohepatitis. Our previous studies that showed spermidine supplementation helps mice prevent liver fibrosis through MAP1S have prompted us to explore the possibility that spermidine can alleviate or cure already developed liver fibrosis.

Salmonella Subpopulations Identified from Human Specimens Express Heterogenous Phenotypes That Are Relevant to Clinical Diagnosis.

Clonal bacterial cells can give rise to functionally heterogeneous subpopulations. This diversification is considered an adaptation strategy that has been demonstrated for several bacterial species, including Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. In previous studies on mouse models infected orally with pure Salmonella cultures, derived bacterial cells collected from animal tissues were found to express heterogenous phenotypes.

Development of Shrimp Freshness Indicating Films by Embedding Anthocyanins-Rich Flower Extract in Locust Bean Gum/Polyvinyl Alcohol Matrix.

Freshness indicating films containing anthocyanins are one type of smart packaging technology. Anthocyanins in the films can show visual color changes when food spoilage occurs, thereby indicating the freshness degree of food in real-time. is a landscape plant with attractive flowers that are abundant in anthocyanins.

Antioxidant packaging films developed by in-situ cross-linking chitosan with dialdehyde starch-catechin conjugates.

In this study, four dialdehyde starch-catechin (DAS-catechin) conjugates were prepared by conjugating (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) with dialdehyde starch. Then, DAS-catechin conjugates were used as antioxidant and cross-linking agents to produce chitosan (CS) based antioxidant packaging films. The functionality of CS/DAS-catechin conjugate films was determined.

An integrated pan-cancer analysis of PSAT1: A potential biomarker for survival and immunotherapy.

Phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) may be an oncogene that plays an important role in various cancer types. However, there are still many gaps in the expression of PSAT1 gene and its biological impact in different types of tumors. Here, we performed an integrated pan-cancer analysis to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of PSAT1 in cancers.

Braided stents assisted coiling for endovascular management of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms: a preliminary mid-term experience.

Purpose: Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms are rare. This study is to evaluate the preliminary experience of braided stents applied in PCA aneurysms treatment.

Methods: Angiographic and clinical data of 28 PCA patients treated with braided stents from July 2016 and September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Low-profile LEO baby stents using dual stenting technique in treating complex intracranial aneurysms located in small artery: Initial and mid-term outcome.

Background: Endovascular treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms (IAs) was challenging. Our retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of LEO Baby stents using the dual stenting technique for complex IAs.

Methods: Clinical and angiographic data of 15 IAs located in small arteries treated by LEO Baby stents in our neurosurgical center were retrospectively collected and analyzed between April 2019 to January 2021.

Overexpression of chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 7 has diagnostic and prognostic value for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 7 (CCT7) regulates the expression of many tumor-related proteins. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of CCT7 expression for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus, CCT7 mRNA levels were greater in HCC tissues than adjacent normal tissues, and these results were validated using immunohistochemistry.

The diagnostic and prognostic significance of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein Sm D1 aberrantly high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein Sm D1 (SNRPD1), one of the crucial genes encoding core spliceosome components, was abnormally highly expressed in multiple types of tumors. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic and prognostic significance of SNRPD1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The investigation of datasets from GEO and TCGA databases revealed that SNRPD1 expression in HCC was significantly higher than adjacent normal liver tissues, which was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Underlying mechanism of hemodynamics and intracranial aneurysm.

In modern society, subarachnoid hemorrhage, mostly caused by intracranial aneurysm rupture, is accompanied by high disability and mortality rate, which has become a major threat to human health. Till now, the etiology of intracranial aneurysm has not been entirely clarified. In recent years, more and more studies focus on the relationship between hemodynamics and intracranial aneurysm.

The biology of bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway in cerebrovascular system.

Bone morphogenetic protein belongs to transcription growth factor superfamily β; bone morphogenetic protein signal pathway regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis among different tissues. Cerebrovascular system supplies sufficient oxygen and blood into brain to maintain its normal function. The disorder of cerebrovascular system will result into serious cerebrovascular diseases, which is gradually becoming a major threat to human health in modern society.

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis with low profile visualized intraluminal support stent.

Objective: Severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis has become one of the main causes resulting transient ischemic attack and stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) stent in treating symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

Methods: Data of 31 patients with at least 70% stenosis treated with LVIS stent in our center were retrospectively collected between July 2017 and November 2020.

Prognostic significance and oncogene function of cathepsin A in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cathepsin A (CTSA) is a lysosomal protease that regulates galactoside metabolism. The previous study has shown CTSA is abnormally expressed in various types of cancer. However, rarely the previous study has addressed the role of CTSA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its prognostic value.

SDF-1α/CXCR4 Pathway Mediates Hemodynamics-Induced Formation of Intracranial Aneurysm by Modulating the Phenotypic Transformation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

The objective of this study is to explore the role of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway in the development of intracranial aneurysm (IA) induced by hemodynamic forces. We collected 12 IA and six superficial temporal artery samples for high-throughput sequencing, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry to examine vascular remodeling and determine the expression of the components of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway, structural proteins (α-SMA and calponin) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and inflammatory factors (MMP-2 and TNF-α). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used for hemodynamic analysis.

Endovascular Treatment of Ruptured Wide-Necked Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms Using a Low-Profile Visualized Intraluminal Support (LVIS) Device.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) stent-assisted coiling for the treatment of ruptured wide-necked anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. The clinical and angiographic data of 31 acutely ruptured wide-necked ACoA aneurysms treated with LVIS stent-assisted coiling between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. All stents were successfully deployed.

Structure and functional properties of active packaging films prepared by incorporating different flavonols into chitosan based matrix.

Kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin are typical flavonols that feature different number of hydroxyl substituents at B-ring. In this study, kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin were individually mixed with chitosan (CS) based film matrix to develop active packaging films. Results showed the incorporation of flavonols produced dense inner microstructure by establishing intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions with film matrix.

Clinical course and risk factors for recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA: a retrospective cohort study from Wuhan, China.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The objective of this study was to determine the clinical course and risk factors for patients showing recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity. A total of 1087 COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR from February 24, 2020 to March 31, 2020 were retrospectively enrolled.

Resequencing of 145 Landmark Cultivars Reveals Asymmetric Sub-genome Selection and Strong Founder Genotype Effects on Wheat Breeding in China.

Controlled pedigrees and the multi-decade timescale of national crop plant breeding programs offer a unique experimental context for examining how selection affects plant genomes. More than 3000 wheat cultivars have been registered, released, and documented since 1949 in China. In this study, a set of 145 elite cultivars selected from historical points of wheat breeding in China were re-sequenced.