Conformational change-based fluorometric aptasensor for sensitive cadmium(II) detection in fruits and vegetables.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in the human body through contaminated food and water, posing great health risks. In this study, a label-free fluorescent aptasensor based on SYBR Green I (SGI) for the rapid and sensitive detection of Cd in food samples was designed. The aptasensor utilizes a Cd-specific aptamer (Cd-(21)) and its complementary strand (CS) to form a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) structure in the absence of Cd.

Catalyst and base-free, direct oxidation of chitin to lactic acid with hydrogen peroxide.

In recent years, the research on the conversion of chitin to high value-added chemicals has attracted more and more attention. At present, the method of preparing lactic acid from chitin mostly uses strong base or catalyst. The reaction system under alkaline condition not only corrodes the container but also easily harms the human body.

Tag-free fluorometric aptasensor for detection of chromium(VI) in foods via SYBR Green I signal amplification and aptamer structure transition.

Background: In response to growing concerns regarding heavy metal contamination in food, particularly chromium (Cr)(VI) contamination, this study presented a simple, sensitive and practical method for Cr(VI) detection.

Results: A magnetic separation-based capture-exponential enrichment ligand system evolution (SELEX) method was used to identify and characterize DNA aptamers with a high affinity for Cr(VI). An aptamer, Cr-15, with a dissociation constant (K) of 4.

Advances in colorimetric aptasensors for heavy metal ion detection utilizing nanomaterials: a comprehensive review.

Heavy metal ion contamination poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating rapid and efficient detection methods. In the last decade, colorimetric aptasensors have emerged as powerful tools for heavy metal ion detection, owing to their notable attributes such as high specificity, facile synthesis, adaptability to modifications, long-term stability, and heightened sensitivity. This comprehensive overview summarizes the key developments in this field over the past ten years.

Improving aptamer performance: key factors and strategies.

Aptamers are functional single-stranded oligonucleotide fragments isolated from randomized libraries by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), exhibiting excellent affinity and specificity toward targets. Compared with traditional antibody reagents, aptamers display many desirable properties, such as low variation and high flexibility, and they are suitable for artificial and large-scale synthesis. These advantages make aptamers have a broad application potential ranging from biosensors, bioimaging to therapeutics and other areas of application.

Regulation of Parkin in Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes.

The large amount of heavy metal chromium emissions from industrial production, ore smelting and sewage treatment plants have made chromium one of the most widespread heavy metal pollutants, with Cr (VI) being the most toxic. In recent years, people have gradually recognized the great harm of heavy metal chromium pollution, but the research on its pathogenic mechanism is still not deep enough. In this study, we treated the Primary cells of chicken liver with Cr (VI) to establish a model of toxicity.

One-step synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots as fluorescence sensors for the parallel detection of cadmium and mercury ions.

Cadmium (Cd) and mercury ions (Hg) are essential for the quality control of food samples because of their serious toxicity to human health, but the effective and simple strategy for their parallel detection remains challenging. In this paper, a rapid and simple parallel detection method for Cd and Hg was developed using carbon dots (CDs) as fluorescent sensors. A one-step hydrothermal method with a single precursor l-arginine as both the carbon and nitrogen sources was employed to prepare nitrogen-doped CDs (N-CDs).

Physiological and transcriptomic analyses revealed gene networks involved in heightened resistance against tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid treated tomato plants.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a member of the genus of the family, causes leaf curl disease of tomato that significantly affects tomato production worldwide. SA (salicylic acid), JA (jasmonic acid) or the JA mimetic, COR (coronatine) applied exogenously resulted in improved tomato resistance against TYLCV infection. When compared to mock treated tomato leaves, pretreatment with the three compounds followed by TYCLV stem infiltration also caused a greater accumulation of HO.

Fluorescent carbon dots from water hyacinth as detection sensors for ferric ions: the preparation and optimisation using response surface methodology.

The search for alternatives to chemicals from natural products as precursors for the preparation of highly doped carbon dots (CDs) remains challenging. Novel CDs (W-CDs) were synthesised using a one-step pyrolysis method with wastewater hyacinth as the sole carbon and nitrogen source at a mild temperature without using any surface-activating reagents or salt. The obtained W-CDs emitted strong blue fluorescence under 365 nm UV light excitation, with a quantum yield of 15.

Dual-mode colorimetric determination of As(III) based on negatively-charged aptamer-mediated aggregation of positively-charged AuNPs.

The aggregation and redispersion of positively-charged AuNPs ((+)AuNPs) modified with cysteamine (CS) could be regulated by the negatively charged As(III)-specific aptamer (As(III)-apt). In general, (+)AuNPs aggregated with increasing inducer concentration. However, in the present study, it was found that (+)AuNPs re-dispersed after a certain high concentration of As(III)-apt was reached.

Selection and colorimetric application of ssDNA aptamers against metamitron based on magnetic bead-SELEX.

Metamitron (MTM) is a typical and widely used triazine herbicide in agricultural production. Its moderate toxicity and high residue in the environment have deleterious impacts on human health. The establishment of a rapid and efficient MTM detection method is of great significance.

Selection and identification of a DNA aptamer for fluorescent detection of netilmicin.

Netilmicin (NET) is an antibiotic widely used in healthcare and agriculture, but it can accumulate in the environment to threat human health. Netilmicin (NET) is an antibiotic used for veterinary purposes, for human therapy and for agricultural purposes. Therefore, there is a need to develop high-sensitive measuring methods to detect NET.

Protective effects of agrimonolide on hypoxia-induced H9c2 cell injury by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.

Cardiomyocyte death caused by hypoxia is one of the main causes of myocardial infarction or heart failure, and mitochondria play an important role in this process. Agrimonolide (AM) is a monomeric component extracted from Agrimonia pilosa L. and has antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Intracellular inhibits autophagy of bovine mammary epithelial cells through activating p38α.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen of bovine mastitis which can induce autophagy and inhibit autophagy flux, resulting in intracellular survival and persistent infection. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of p38α in the autophagy induced by intracellular S. aureus in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharides inhibit Pseudorabies virus replication via downregulating virus-induced autophagy.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is one of the common pathogens in farms. Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharide (PGPS) has been reported with a variety of biological activities. Autophagy is one of the vital mechanisms for cells to cope with virus infection, and it may also inhibit or promote virus replication.

Inflammatory Injury and Mitophagy in the Cock Heart Induced by the Oral Administration of Hexavalent Chromium.

As a highly toxic heavy metal, chromium has caused a certain threat to public health and livestock breeding in recent years. In poultry, as one of our most commonly consumed meat product, its health issues will seriously threaten the safety of human life. As previous studies have confirmed, when cells are stimulated by the external environment, mitochondria, as an organelle that provides energy to the cells, can cause damage and autophagy.

Inflammatory injury and mitophagy of the brain in chicken exposed to Cr(VI).

The aim of this study is to determine whether Cr(VI) can induce inflammatory injury in chicken brain and influence mitophagy and related mechanisms. A total of 120 hyline brown chickens (1 day old, 20±3g) were selected and randomly divided into four groups and given different doses of Cr(VI) (0, 10, 30, and 50 mg/kg) every day at 45 days. Results showed that excessive intake of Cr(VI) led to increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and decreased interferon-gamma (IF-γ) level.

Cr(VI) promotes tight joint and oxidative damage by activating the Nrf2/ROS/Notch1 axis.

This study aimed to investigate whether Cr(VI) induced tight joint and oxidative damage in the small intestine, as mediated by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/reactive oxygen species (ROS)/Notch1 axis crosstalk. Thirty-two ICR mice were obtained and subjected to Cr(VI) via intragastric administration daily for 5 days. Western blot (WB) analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, and immunofluorescence (IF) staining were applied to detect small intestinal damage, Nrf2, Notch1, and respective downstream targets in this research.

Colorimetric detection of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solution based on an unmodified aptamer and the aggregation of gold nanoparticles.

A colorimetric method is described for detection of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions based on an unmodified CIP-aptamer and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which are regarded as a probe and an indicator, respectively. In the absence of CIP, aptamers can hybridize with poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDDA) to form a 'duplex' structure through electrostatic interactions, and AuNPs remain dispersed in solution, leading to a red solution and an obvious absorption peak at 520 nm. Contrarily, the CIP-aptamer can specifically bind to CIP after the introduction of CIP into the solution.

The role of ATF6 in Cr(VI)-induced apoptosis in DF-1 cells.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a common heavy metal pollutant in environment and has been proved possessing the cytotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6) in apoptosis of chicken embryo fibroblasts cell line (DF-1) induced by Cr(VI). Firstly, DF-1 cells were exposed to Cr(VI) to establish the cytotoxicity model, then the cell apoptosis and ATF-6 protein level were analyzed.

Platycodon grandifloras polysaccharides inhibit mitophagy injury induced by Cr (VI) in DF-1 cells.

This study aimed to investigate the role of Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharide (PGPS) in chromium (VI)-induced autophagy in a chicken embryo fibroblast cell lines (DF-1 cells). DF-1 cells were exposed to Cr (VI), PGPS, and Cr (VI) + PGPS, and their effects on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and autophagy-related proteins were examined. The results showed that the cell viability was reduced after Cr (VI) treatment, and 3-MA, CsA or PGPS suppressed this decrease.

Mitophagy Induced by Mitochondrial Function Damage in Chicken Kidney Exposed to Cr(VI).

Cr(VI) is a heavy metal environmental pollutant and carcinogen. Excessive Cr(VI) exposure injures kidneys. This study aimed to investigate mitophagy induced by mitochondrial function damage in chicken kidney exposed to Cr(VI).

Primary malignant melanoma of the lung: a case report and literature review.

Background: Malignant melanoma (MM) generally presents as a primary neoplasm of the skin, and most MM cases of the respiratory system are metastatic. Primary MM of the lung (PMML) is quite rare, and its diagnosis is relatively difficult.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient with PMML who denied any history of tumours.

Response Surface Optimization of an Extraction Method for the Simultaneous Detection of Sulfamethoxazole and 17β-Estradiol in Soil.

Antibiotics and hormones widely exist in fertilizers and manures, which are excessively used in agriculture and animal husbandry. Considering their potential harm to the environment and human health, the detection of antibiotics and hormones has become a necessity. However, current methods find it difficult to simultaneously extract and detect antibiotics and hormones in soil and to maintain a high level of accuracy and a low cost.