Targeted Delivery of Peptide Nucleic Acid by Biomimetic Nanoparticles Based on Extracellular Vesicle-coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Background: Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) plays an important role in antimicrobial activity, but its cellular permeability is poor. To overcome this limitation, we constructed biomimetic nanoparticles by using extracellular vesicle (EV)-coated mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (MSNs) to deliver PNA to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and improve its antisense therapeutic effect.

Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Sensors for Food Safety Applications.

Considering the increasing concern for food safety, electrochemical methods for detecting specific ingredients in the food are currently the most efficient method due to their low cost, fast response signal, high sensitivity, and ease of use. The detection efficiency of electrochemical sensors is determined by the electrode materials' electrochemical characteristics. Among them, three-dimensional (3D) electrodes have unique advantages in electronic transfer, adsorption capacity and exposure of active sites for energy storage, novel materials, and electrochemical sensing.

Formulation and development of novel control release transdermal patches of carvedilol to improve bioavailability for the treatment of heart failure.

The main aim of this study is to optimize and evaluate transdermal patch of Carvedilol by the use of different polymer and different permeation enhancers which help to release drug in controlled action and thereby increase the bioavailability of the drug. Main objective was to avoid first pass metabolism of Carvedilol. Transdermal patches were developed by solvent evaporation method.

The proliferation and migration of atherosclerosis-related HVSMCs were inhibited by downregulation of lncRNA XIST via regulation of the miR-761/BMP9 axis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be caused by the proliferation and migration of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs). Here, we found that lncRNA XIST was related to the abnormal proliferation and migration of HVSMCs, and thus, the mechanism by which XIST regulated HVSMCs was further investigated. HVSMCs were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL, 100 μg/ml) as AS models.

A deep-learning pipeline for the diagnosis and discrimination of viral, non-viral and COVID-19 pneumonia from chest X-ray images.

Common lung diseases are first diagnosed using chest X-rays. Here, we show that a fully automated deep-learning pipeline for the standardization of chest X-ray images, for the visualization of lesions and for disease diagnosis can identify viral pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assess its severity, and can also discriminate between viral pneumonia caused by COVID-19 and other types of pneumonia. The deep-learning system was developed using a heterogeneous multicentre dataset of 145,202 images, and tested retrospectively and prospectively with thousands of additional images across four patient cohorts and multiple countries.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, an active ingredient of Traditional Chinese Medicines, inhibits the 3CLpro activity of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, 3CLpro, is an attractive target for antiviral inhibitors due to its indispensable role in viral replication and gene expression of viral proteins. The search of compounds that can effectively inhibit the crucial activity of 3CLpro, which results to interference of the virus life cycle, is now widely pursued.

The development of hearing in prelingually deaf children with white matter changes in the first year after cochlear implantation.

The development of hearing and plasticity of brain after cochlear implantation (CI) for prelingually deaf children with white matter changes (group A) is unclear. To investigate the development of hearing for children in group A during 1 year after CI activation, compared with non-complicated peers (group B). Twenty-one and 22 children (average age is about 5 years old) were included in groups A and B, respectively.

Concurrent Hearing and Genetic Screening of 180,469 Neonates with Follow-up in Beijing, China.

Concurrent hearing and genetic screening of newborns is expected to play important roles not only in early detection and diagnosis of congenital deafness, which triggers intervention, but also in predicting late-onset and progressive hearing loss and identifying individuals who are at risk of drug-induced HL. Concurrent hearing and genetic screening in the whole newborn population in Beijing was launched in January 2012. This study included 180,469 infants born in Beijing between April 2013 and March 2014, with last follow-up on February 24, 2018.

Speech development after cochlear implantation in infants with isolated large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.

Few studies on speech performance of children after cochlear implantation (CI) described isolated large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). To investigate speech developmental trajectories of infants with LVAS after CI, and to compare with those who have structurally normal inner ears. 1112 infants with congenital severe to profound hearing loss participated in this study.

A preliminary study of auditory mismatch response on the day of cochlear implant activation in children with hearing aids prior implantation.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the characteristics of auditory mismatch response (MMR) in hearing-impaired children on the day when the cochlear implant (CI) was started (power-up) and the speech processor was programmed, and to investigate the effects of wearing hearing aids (HAs) before cochlear implantation on the early stage of postoperative auditory cortex plasticity, providing some demonstrative data for the objective evaluation of postoperative early auditory ability in children who underwent cochlear implantation.

Methods: The participants were 34 children with profound sensorineural hearing loss, who underwent cochlear implantation. The classical passive Oddball paradigm was adopted, using a pair of vowels which only have different lexical tones.

Coffee consumption and risk of myocardial infarction: a dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies have provided inconsistent conclusions on the effect of coffee consumption in the development of myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of coffee consumption and its potential dose-response patterns on the risk of developing MI.

Materials And Methods: Three databases were searched for evidence of eligible studies.

Hearing loss prevalence and risk factors among older adults in China.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hearing loss, and to analyse the major demographics and risk factors that influence the prevalence in older adults of China.

Design: Cross-sectional investigation.

Study Sample: Probability proportionate to size sampling (PPS) was adopted for this survey.

Aldose reductase C-106T polymorphism is associated with the risk of essential hypertension.

Aldose Reductase (AR), encoded by AKR1B1, is a member of NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductase superfamily. The C-106T polymorphism of AKR1B1 is closely related to the diabetic complications. Our previous studies have indicated that the expression of AR was increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats, suggesting the effect of AR in hypertension.

The relationship between cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) and speech perception in children with Nurotron(®) cochlear implants during four years of follow-up.

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence or absence of cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) to speech stimuli and the performance of speech perception in Chinese pediatric recipients of the Nurotron(®) cochlear implant (CI).We also wanted to determine how the CAEPs might be used as an indicator for predicting early speech perception and could provide objective evidence for clinical applications of CAEPs.

Methods: 23 pediatric unilateral CI recipients participated in this study.

[Analysis of influencing factors on rehabilitation effects for 1 422 preschool deaf children following cochlear implantation].

Objective: To investigate the basic factors of the progress amplitude of hearing and speech rehabilitation effect of preschool deaf children with cochlear implants, and provide guidance for the improvement and optimization of rehabilitation strategies.

Method: Using the standard hearing and language assessment tools, tracked and evaluated 1 422 CI preschool deaf children for a period of one year, and calculated the effect of hearing and speech rehabilitation, carried out the correlation analysis and variance analysis among different grouping variables.

Result: (1) There was a negative correlation (P<0.

Targeted introduction of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) at the AAVS1 locus in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its stable and effective expression.

Thrombolytic therapy using tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) is an effective method for treating acute myocardial infarction. However, the systemic administration of TPA is associated with the risk of hemorrhage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow are characterized by low immunogenicity and homing toward damaged tissues and are therefore ideal cell carriers to achieve lesion-targeting medication.

[Dendritic cells and coronary collateral circulation in coronary heart disease].

Objective: To determine the relationship between the number,phenotype and functional status of dendritic cells (DCs) and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Forty patients with severe coronary stenosis were recruited and divided into a CCC formation group (Group A, n=22) and a non-CCC formation group (Group B, n=18). Density gradient centrifugation was applied to separate the mononuclear cells (MNCs) from coronary artery blood samples, and MNCs were cultured and proliferated in vitro.

[Short and mid-term effects of percutaneous transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects on the cardiac remodeling].

Objective: To evaluate the short and mid-term changes of the cardiac morphology after percutaneous transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects (VSD) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods: The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left atrial diameter (LAd), and right ventricular diameter (RVd) in 30 VSD patients were measured before the VSD closure,and on the 3rd day, 3rd month, and 6th month after the VSD closure by TTE.

Results: LVEDD and LVEDV significantly decreased on the 3rd day after the VSD closure compared with pre-VSD closure.

[Effects of intracoronary diltiazem on no-reflow phenomenon after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Objective: To assess the effects of intracoronary diltiazem on no-reflow phenomenon of infarct-related artery (IRA) after emergent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or/and intracoronary stenting (PTCA/Stenting) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We studied 34 AMI patients with no-reflow phenomenon of IRA after emergent PTCA/Stenting between January 1999 and August 2005. Urokinase-treated group (n=16) was given intracoronary urokinase 30,0000 - 50,0000 units within 15 - 30 minutes between January 1999 and April 2002 while diltiazem-treated group (n=18) was given intracoronary diltiazem 0.

[Effect of different doses of atorvastatin on adhesion molecules of the patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To determine the effect of different doses of atorvastatin on the serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: The study consisted of 38 patients with unstable angina and 10 patients with old infarction who underwent elected PCI for stenotic lesions of the coronary artery. Patients were randomly assigned to either aggressive group or conventional one.

[Formation and function of coronary collateral circulation and their influencing factors].

Objective: To clarify the formation and function of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with severe coronary artery stenosis and their influencing factors.

Methods: Coronary angiography was performed on 266 CAD patients with severe coronary stenosis. CCC formation was evaluated by Rentrop rating on those 266 patients and 401 severe stenosis arteries; while in CCC formed patients, CCC function was evaluated by Werner collateral collection (CC) rating.