One-Pot Synthesis of Ce-Based Nanocomposites for Fluorescence and Colorimetric Dual-Mode Sensing Platform Construction.

Ce-based nanomaterials have been widely studied as catalyst for their unique electronic structure, but there are few reports on the combination of cerium catalytic activity and photoluminescence performance. In this paper, by adjusting the molar ratio of Ce/P, CeO/CePO nanocrystal were synthesized in one-step, which integrated the enzyme activities of CeO and CePO, as well as the optical property of CePO together. Taking HO as analyte model, utilizing the catalase oxidization activity of CeO/CePO, TMB molecule can be oxidized, leading to the increased absorption intensity of 652 nm, realizing the colorimetric assay of HO.

Dual-mode sensing strategy based on carbon dots for sensitive and selective detection of molybdate ions.

Two kinds of carbon dots with the maximum fluorescence peak of 492 nm (named as G-CDs) and 607 nm (named as R-CDs) were synthesized. In the presence of MoO ions, the fluorescence of R-CDs at 607 nm can be quenched, which can probably be assigned to their aggregation caused by MoO, while that of G-CDs at 492 nm remained unchanged. For the first time, a ratiometric fluorescence probe was developed for MoO ions detection.

Cooperative Cu/Pd-Catalyzed 1,5-Boroacylation of Cyclopropyl-Substituted Alkylidenecyclopropanes.

A Cu/Pd-cocatalyzed 1,5-boroacylation of cyclopropyl-substituted ACPs with Bpin and acid chlorides has been developed. Using cyclopropyl-substituted ACPs as the starting material, a broad range of 1,5-boroacylated products with multiple functional groups was prepared in good yields with excellent regio- and stereoselectively. Both aromatic and aliphatic acid chlorides were tolerated in this reaction.

A 2,7-dichlorofluorescein derivative to monitor microcalcifications.

Herein, we report the crystal structure of 2,7-dichlorofluorescein methyl ester (DCF-ME) and its fluorescence response to hydroxyapatite binding. The reported fluorophore is very selective for staining the bone matrix and provides turn-on fluorescence upon hydroxyapatite binding. The reported fluorophore can readily pass the cell membrane of the C2C12 cell line, and it is non-toxic for the cell line.

Placental morphological features of small for gestational age preterm neonates born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Introduction: Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates are often born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Here, we aimed to explore the morphometric characteristics of the placenta during the perinatal period associated with SGA risk in mothers with PIH and identify the risk factors related to SGA.

Methods: The medical records of 134 neonates born between 28- and 32-weeks' gestation to PIH mothers were retrospectively analyzed.

Detection of a novel panel of 24 genes with high frequencies of mutation in gastric cancer based on next-generation sequencing.

Background: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Many somatic mutations have been identified based on next-generation sequencing; they likely play a vital role in cancer treatment selection. However, next-generation sequencing has not been widely used to diagnose and treat gastric cancer in the clinic.

Potential metal-related strategies for prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed severe threats to human health, public safety, and the global economy. Metal nutrient elements can directly or indirectly take part in human immune responses, and metal-related drugs have served as antiviral drugs and/or enzyme inhibitors for many years, providing potential solutions to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Metal-based drugs are currently under a variety of chemical structures and exhibit wide-range bioactivities, demonstrating irreplaceable advantages in pharmacology.

Early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A new perspective.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease with a high incidence, mortality, and disability rate. Because there are few symptoms in the early stages of COPD, diagnosis and treatment are seriously insufficient. It is necessary to find effective clues for early COPD diagnosis and provide appropriate interventions.

Ratiometric fluorescence detection of sulfide ions based on lanthanide coordination polymer using guanosine diphosphate as ligand.

The efficiency of energy transfer from guanine nucleotide to terbium ion (Tb) is affected by the phosphate group significantly. Compared with the biomolecules 5'-GMP (guanosine monophosphate), guanosine diphosphate (GDP) exhibits better sensitize ability to Tb ions luminescence. Assisted with the carboxycoumarin ligand, we synthesized a more stable optical Coumarin@GDP-Tb polymer with the characteristic emission peaks located on 440 nm and 545 nm in this work.

Praseodymium selective fluorescence recognition based on GdPO: Tb probe via energy transfer from Tb to Pr ions.

A novel strategy is proposed based on the efficient energy transfer from Tb to Pr for the sensitive and selective discrimination of praseodymium ions due to the matched energy levels of D (Tb) and P (Pr). The electron of Tb transfers from the ground state to the excited state under the excitation of ultraviolet light and relaxes to the D level. In the presence of Prthe electron has no time to return to the ground state, thus it transfers to the P level of Prresulting in the quenching of Tb luminescence.

[Effect of breastfeeding on the development of infection-related diseases during hospitalization in late preterm infants in 25 hospitals in Beijing, China].

Objective: To investigate the incidence rate of infectious diseases during hospitalization in late preterm infants in Beijing, China, as well as the risk factors for infectious diseases and the effect of breastfeeding on the development of infectious diseases.

Methods: Related data were collected from the late preterm infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal wards of 25 hospitals in Beijing, China, from October 23, 2015 to October 30, 2017. According to the feeding pattern, they were divided into a breastfeeding group and a formula feeding group.

Renal Function Profiles in Preterm Neonates With Birth Asphyxia Within the First 24 H of Life.

The characteristics of early renal function in preterm neonates of different gestational ages (GAs) with birth asphyxia (BA) remain unclear. Kidneys are sensitive to oxygen deprivation, and renal insufficiency may occur within 24 h of BA. We aimed to elucidate the renal function profiles within the first 24 h after the development of BA among vulnerable preterm neonates of different GAs.

Imaging hydroxyapatite in sub-retinal pigment epithelial deposits by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy with tetracycline staining.

Significance: Recent evidence suggests that hydroxyapatite (HAP) in sub-retinal pigment epithelial (sub-RPE) deposits in aged human eyes may act to nucleate and contribute to their growth to clinically detectable size. Sub-RPE deposits such as drusen are clinical hallmarks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), therefore enhanced and earlier detection is a clinical need. We found that tetracycline-family antibiotics, long known to stain HAP in teeth and bones, can also label the HAP in sub-RPE deposits.

Yttrium vanadates based ratiometric fluorescence probe for alkaline phosphatase activity sensing.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an important biomarker for diagnosis, and the abnormal level of serum ALP is closely related to a variety of diseases. In present work, a ratiometric fluorescence probe based on hybrid nanoparticles CDs@YVO: Dy nanoparticle is introduced for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity determination. The CDs@YVO: Dy probe is constructed by the carbon dots (CDs) and YVO: Dy through a simple mixing method, in which the blue emission of CDs at 405 nm acts as the calibrated signal, the green emission of YVO: Dy at 574 nm decreased with the increasing targets ALP, and used as the output signal.

Design and synthesis of a vanadate-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for sequential recognition of Cu ions and biothiols.

A novel YVO4:Eu3+@CDs core-shell nanomaterial with two main emission peaks at 405 and 617 nm was synthesized through a simple mixing method, in which the carbon quantum dots (CDs) self-assembled with the YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticle, due to the high affinity of oxygen-containing groups such as -COOH or -OH of CDs to the metal ions on the surface of YVO4:Eu3+. The red fluorescence of YVO4:Eu3+@CDs located at 617 nm can be quenched by Cu2+ ions efficiently, while the blue emission remains invariable; based on this, we construct a ratio fluorescent probe YVO4:Eu3+@CDs for Cu2+ ion detection, in which the blue emission of CDs is selected as the reference signal, and the red emission of YVO4:Eu3+ acts as an output signal. Furthermore, the addition of biothiol recovers the quenched red fluorescence quickly, which can be completed in 18 minutes.

Fluorescence Turn-On Detection of Ascorbic Acid Using a Self-Assembled Lanthanide Polymer Nanoparticle.

Ascorbic acid (AA), or vitamin C, is an important reactive biological molecule in vivo, and an abnormal level of AA is associated with many diseases. Therefore, the rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of AA levels is of significance in cases of medical assay and diagnosis. Compared with other nanoparticles, lanthanide coordination polymer nanoparticles (Ln-CPs) have been demonstrated as the excellent biomolecule sensing platforms due to their unique optical properties and intrinsic porosities.

Novel thioredoxin reductase inhibitor butaselen inhibits tumorigenesis by down-regulating programmed death-ligand 1 expression.

The thioredoxin system plays a role in a variety of physiological functions, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and immunity. We previously confirmed that butaselen (BS), a novel thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, can inhibit the growth of various human cancer cell lines, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of BS in vivo through regulating the immune system of KM mice.

Fast and Selective Detection of Cr(III) in Environmental Water Samples Using Phosphovanadate Y(VPO):Eu Fluorescence Nanorods.

Phosphovanadate Y(VPO):Eu nanorods have been created via a simple hydrothermal method and used for the highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of Cr over other common heavy metal ions within a 10 min period. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of Y(VPO):Eu linearly decreases with Cr concentrations ranging from 1 × 10 to 1.2 × 10 M.

Fluorometric determination of the activity of alkaline phosphatase based on the competitive binding of gold nanoparticles and pyrophosphate to CePO:Tb nanorods.

A fluorometric method is described for the determination of the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). It relies on the competition between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and pyrophosphate (PPi) for the coordination sites on the surface of CePO:Tb nanorods. The green fluorescence of the CePO:Tb is reduced in the presence of AuNPs due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), but can be restored on addition of PPi due to the stronger affinity of PPi to the CePO:Tb.

The effects of zinc supplementation on primary human retinal pigment epithelium.

Population-based and interventional studies have shown that elevated zinc levels can reduce the progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration. The objective of this study was to assess whether elevated extracellular zinc has a direct effect on retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), by examining the phenotype and molecular characteristics of increased extracellular zinc on human primary RPE cells. Monolayers of human foetal primary RPE cells were grown on culture inserts and maintained in medium supplemented with increasing total concentrations of zinc (0, 75, 100, 125 and 150 μM) for up to 4 weeks.