Activation of the WNT4/ β-catenin/FOXO1 pathway by PDK1 promotes cervical cancer metastasis and EMT process.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the role of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-1 (PDK1) in cervical cancer (CC) by investigating its impact on cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) under hypoxic conditions.

Methods: PDK1-silenced CC cell lines were established using lentiviral shRNA technology. Cell migration and invasion were assessed through scratch and Transwell assays, respectively.

Clinical Evaluation of the HER2 Extracellular Domain in Breast Cancer Patients by Herceptin-Encapsulated Gold Nanocluster Probe-Based Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay.

The extracellular domain (ECD) of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) serves as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC). However, due to the heterogeneity of tumors, assessing HER2 status through a core needle biopsy presents significant challenges. In this study, we propose a facile and high-performance electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) platform utilizing a herceptin-encapsulated gold nanoclusters (HER-AuNCs)/(diisopropylamino)ethanol (DIPEA-OH) ECL system for the clinical evaluation of HER2 ECD in BC patients.

Sensitive and quick electrochemiluminescence biosensor for the detection of reactive oxygen species in seminal plasma based on the valence regulation of gold nanoclusters.

Background: Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) obtained by electroreduction have excellent electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties, and its ECL intensity is regulated by the valence state. In addition, their ECL signals can be rapidly quenched by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on this observation, a sensitive ROS biosensor was designed based on valence regulation of AuNCs.

Simple and rapid multicolor sensor for seminal plasma ROS detection based on synergistic catalytic etching of gold nanobipyramids dopped agarose composite gel.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in seminal plasma can trigger male infertility. Therefore, the development of simple and rapid ROS detection methods is urgently needed, particularly for the early self-screening of preconception couples. Herein, a gold nanobipyramid (Au NBP)-based colorimetric hydrogel for convenient and fast ROS detection is described.

The gut microbiota-brain axis in neurological disorders.

Previous studies have shown a bidirectional communication between human gut microbiota and the brain, known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). The MGBA influences the host's nervous system development, emotional regulation, and cognitive function through neurotransmitters, immune modulation, and metabolic pathways. Factors like diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environment shape the gut microbiota composition together.

Metformin modifies plasma microbial-derived extracellular vesicles in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance.

Introduction: This study investigated changes in plasma microbial-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance (PCOS-IR) before and after metformin treatment, and aimed to identify bacterial taxa within EVs that were biologically and statistically significant for diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted at Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Hua Qiao University. Plasma samples were collected from five PCOS-IR patients of childbearing age before and after 3 months of metformin treatment, and the samples were sequenced.

Background-Free SERS Nanosensor for Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Detection Based on Prussian Blue-Coated Gold Nanobipyramids.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has great potential in biological analysis due to its specificity, sensitivity, and non-invasive nature. However, effectively extracting Raman information and avoiding spectral overlapping from biological background interference remain major challenges. In this study, we developed a background-free SERS nanosensor consisting of gold nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) core-Prussian blue (PB) shell (Au NBPs@PB), for endogenous HS detection.

Assessing the risk of prenatal depressive symptoms in Chinese women: an integrated evaluation of serum metabolome, multivitamin supplement intake, and clinical blood indicators.

Background: Prenatal depressive symptoms (PDS) is a serious public health problem. This study aimed to develop an integrated panel and nomogram to assess at-risk populations by examining the association of PDS with the serum metabolome, multivitamin supplement intake, and clinical blood indicators.

Methods: This study comprised 221 pregnant women, categorized into PDS and non-PDS groups based on the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale.

Highly specific and sensitive sandwich-type electrochemiluminescence biosensor for HPV16 DNA detection based on the base-stacking effect and bovine serum albumin carrier platform.

The detection of specific DNA sequences and the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms are important for disease diagnosis. Herein, by combining the high specificity of the base-stacking effect with the high reproducibility of bovine serum albumin (BSA) modified electrodes and the high loading performance of DNA nanoclews (DNA NCs), a novel sandwich-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor is reported for the highly specific detection of HPV16 (chosen as the model target). The capture probes are loaded by BSA carrier platforms modified on the gold electrode surface to improve reproducibility.

Evaluation of a two-test strategy for HIV screening in a low-prevalence setting and the indications for optimizing clinical management.

Objectives: To evaluate a two-test strategy for HIV screening in the low-prevalence population and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the optimal signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) threshold on the chemiluminescence immunoassay(CMIA) and an additional rapid test on the gold immune-chromatography assay (GICA) for screening positive patients and optimization of clinical management.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of samples analyzed by the fourth-generation Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo assay (CMIA) in a large medical center between June 2017 and August 2020. Reactive samples underwent a second screening test using the rapid test GICA, followed by Western blot (WB) as the confirmatory test.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Clostridium Difficile Infection in Inpatients with Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea.

Background: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that can cause pseudomembranous colitis and other C. difficile-associated diseases, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.

The association of serum immunoglobulin and complement levels and liver fibrosis and inflammation stage in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The utility of measurement of serum immunoglobulin and complement in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum immunoglobulin and complement levels and liver fibrosis and inflammation stage in CHB patients. A total of 687 patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled.

Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccine and the correlation to neutralizing antibodies: A test-negative case-control study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 breakthrough infection in highly vaccinated populations raises study on the effectiveness for inactivated vaccine, including effectiveness of the vaccine dose, the continuance of effectiveness, the effectiveness against severe/critical coronavirus disease 2019 and against secondary attacks. A population of 10 870 close contacts were investigated in a Delta variant's epidemic. The effectiveness of vaccination was estimated in a test-negative case-control study.

Co-Reactant-Mediated Low-Potential Anodic Electrochemiluminescence Platform and Its Immunosensing Application.

Screening high-performance anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) systems with low triggering potential is a promising way to broaden their applications. In addition to electrochemiluminophore, co-reactant also plays an important role in the ECL process, since the oxidation of co-reactants is one of the most important steps in the anodic ECL process. Herein, a novel co-reactant-mediated high-performance low-potential Au nanocluster (AuNC)-based ECL system has been successfully developed.

METTL3 preferentially enhances non-mA translation of epigenetic factors and promotes tumourigenesis.

METTL3 encodes the predominant catalytic enzyme to promote mA methylation in nucleus. Recently, accumulating evidence has shown the expression of METTL3 in cytoplasm, but its function is not fully understood. Here we demonstrated an mA-independent mechanism for METTL3 to promote tumour progression.

Antenna effect of pyridoxal phosphate on the fluorescence of mitoxantrone-silicon nanoparticles and its application in alkaline phosphatase assay.

As a kind of sensing and imaging fluorescent probe with the merit of low toxicity, good stability, and environment-friendly, silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) are currently attracting extensive research. In this work, we obtained mitoxantrone-SiNPs (MXT-SiNPs) with green emission by one-pot synthesis under mild temperature condition. The antenna based on pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) was designed for light-harvesting to enhance the luminescence of MXT-SiNPs and to establish a novel sensing strategy for alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Highly reproducible and sensitive electrochemical biosensor for Chlamydia trachomatis detection based on duplex-specific nuclease-assisted target-responsive DNA hydrogels and bovine serum albumin carrier platform.

16S ribosomal-RNA (16S rRNA) is often used as an ultrasensitive marker for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) detection because of its species specificity and high copy number in CT. Robust methods for 16S rRNA detection must be developed to realize the early diagnosis of CT infections. In this work, a highly reproducible and sensitive electrochemical biosensor based on duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-assisted target-responsive DNA hydrogels and bovine serum albumin (BSA) carrier platform for CT detection was developed.

Association Between Diet-Related Inflammation and COPD: Findings From NHANES III.

Little is known about diet-related inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we aimed to explore the association between COPD and dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores in adults over 40 years old. Data were obtained from the 2013 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

High-throughput chromosome conformation capture-based analysis of higher-order chromatin structure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Firstly, we aimed to compare the differences of higher-order chromatin structure between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and normal nasopharyngeal tissues. The second objective was to analyze the specific chromatin interaction site of NPC and the NPC-related genes regulated by this interaction site.

Methods: We included 6 NPC patients and 6 healthy controls to obtain the sequencing results of highest-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technique, followed by further analysis of the specific chromatin interaction sites in NPC.

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay Platform with Immunoglobulin G-Encapsulated Gold Nanoclusters as a "Two-In-One" Probe.

Biomolecule-functionalized Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) have drawn great interest in the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) field due to their unique optical/electrical properties, biocompatibility, and versatile bioapplication potentials. Herein, we proposed a two-in-one ECL probe of immunoglobulin G-encapsulated AuNCs (IgG-AuNCs) for the development of a high-performance ECL immunoassay (ECLIA) platform. The IgG-AuNCs were not only used as an ECL probe due to their excellent anodic ECL performance with triethylamine (TEA) as a coreactant but also used as the biorecognition element because of their well-retained bioactivity of the IgG.

G-protein-coupled receptor GPR17 inhibits glioma development by increasing polycomb repressive complex 1-mediated ROS production.

Glioma is the most common primary tumor in the central nervous system. However, the development of glioma and effective therapeutic strategies remain elusive. Here, we identify GPR17 as a potential target to treat glioma.

Diagnostic Value of Vaginal Microecology, Serum miR-18a, and PD-L1 for Identifying HPV-Positive Cervical Cancer.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the vaginal microecology, serum miR-18a, and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical cancer.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with HPV-positive cervical cancer were assigned to the observation group, 107 HPV-positive patients without cervical cancer were assigned to the positive group, and 191 healthy women were assigned to the control group. Vaginal microecology and serum levels of miR-18a and PD-L1 on the surface of CD4 and CD8 T cells were compared among the 3 groups.