Exploring the influencing factors of patients sending red packets and the necessity of doctor-patient red packet agreements.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of inpatients giving red packets to doctors and explore the necessity of doctor-patient red packet agreements.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among inpatients and their families who were hospitalized in several hospitals in Chengdu from January to June 2023. The survey asked about the patients' (or their families') attitudes and opinions on whether it was necessary to give red packets to doctors during hospitalization.

Critical impact of pressure regulation on carbon dioxide biosynthesis.

Carbon dioxide (CO) biosynthesis is a promising alternative to traditional chemical synthesis. However, its application in engineering is hampered by poor gas mass transfer rates. Pressurization is an effective method to enhance mass transfer and increase synthesis yield, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Biocathode-anode cascade system in PRB: Efficient degradation of p-chloronitrobenzene in groundwater.

The consistent presence of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) in groundwater has raised concerns regarding its potential harm. In this study, we developed a biocathode-anode cascade system in a permeable reactive barrier (BACP), integrating biological electrochemical system (BES) with permeable reactive barrier (PRB), to address the degradation of p-CNB in the groundwater. BACP efficiently accelerated the formation of biofilms on both the anode and cathode using the polar periodical reversal method, proving more conducive to biofilm development.

Influence of concrete material of runoff collection containers on monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants.

The accurate monitoring of N and P surface runoff losses from farmland is crucial to control agricultural nonpoint source pollution. A pond constructed with concrete material (CM) is a common collection container used during field experiments in China, but the adsorption characteristics of concrete may cause a considerable underestimation of surface runoff losses from farmland. To characterize any neglected error caused by the collection container material, a laboratory experiment was conducted comparing the N and P contents of runoff samples collected from CM and plastic material (PM) containers.

Preparation and Multitarget Anti-AD Activity Study of Chondroitin Sulfate Lithium in AD Mice Induced by Combination of D-Gal/AlCl.

Previous studies have demonstrated that both CS and LiCl possess anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activities. We prepared chondroitin sulfate-Li (CS-Li) and investigated its effect on AD and explored the possible mechanisms both and . We found that CS-Li could inhibit amyloid (A) aggregation and protect SH-SY5Y cells from A -induced cytotoxicity .

High-Flux Ultrafiltration Membranes Combining Artificial Water Channels and Covalent Organic Frameworks.

Artificial water channels (AWCs) have been well investigated, and the imidazole-quartet water channel is one of the representative channels. In this work, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composite membranes were fabricated through assembling COF layers and imidazole-quartet water channel. The membranes were synthesized by interfacial polymerization and self-assembly process, using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) ultrafiltration substrates with artificial water channels (HC6H) as modifiers.

Facile Strategy to Fabricate the Flame Retardant Polyamide 66 Fabric Modified with an Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Structure.

Recently, traditional flame retardant finishing with a single metal compound has been rarely applied owing to its low effectiveness and durability. This study reports metal ion finishing in combination with surface photografting modification (M/P technology) as a novel approach to incorporate an inorganic-organic hybrid structure containing an Fe ion onto the surface of the polyamide (PA) 66 fabric. Specifically, the PA fabric was first surface-modified in the presence of acrylic acid (AA) and ,'-methylene bisacrylamide (MBAAn) during photografting pretreatment under UV irradiation (step I), then further reacted with the Fe ion in the metal ion finishing (step II).

Pharmacokinetics and vasodilating effect study of beraprost sodium in healthy volunteers.

Currently beraprost sodium (BPS) is widely proposed to ameliorate the symptoms caused by chronic arterial occlusive disease. The objective of this study is to investigate the BPS pharmacokinetic characteristics, its vasodilating effect and the relationship between plasma concentration vs response effect. 12 healthy Chinese volunteers (6 male, 6 female) were chosen to participate in a single center, random, and open design study.

Preparation and evaluation of the adjuvant effect of curdlan sulfate in improving the efficacy of dendritic cell-based vaccine for antitumor immunotherapy.

Dendritic cell (DC) vaccine immunotherapy applies tumor antigens or tumor cell lysate (TCL)-pulsed DCs to induce an antigen-specific immune response to attack cancer cells. However, tumor antigen alone has limited immunostimulatory effects, and so immunostimulants are needed to prepare mature DCs. In our previous study, curdlan sulfate (CS) showed potent adjuvant properties with the HBV vaccine; therefore, we attempted to use CS to mature TCL-pulsed DCs.

Characteristics and Performance Evaluation of QZSS Onboard Satellite Clocks.

In the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) community, the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) is an augmentation system for users in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the characteristics and performance of four QZSS satellite clocks in a long-term scale are unknown at present. However, it is crucial to the positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services of users, especially in Asia-Pacific region.

Curdlan sulfate/O-linked quaternized chitosan nanoparticles acting as potential adjuvants promote multiple arms of immune responses.

Nasal immunization to prevent and treat diseases caused by infection through the respiratory tract cannot be actualized because of the lack of effective adjuvants. We have proven that compared with antigens loaded on CS or O-HTCC alone in nasal vaccination, antigens loaded on the nanoparticles of curdlan sulfate/O-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (CS/O-HTCC) can induce stronger systemic and mucosal immune responses. In this study, we evaluated the immunostimulatory activity and mechanisms of CS/O-HTCC nanoparticles.

The Impact of Antiepileptic Drugs on Vitamin Levels in Epileptic Patients.

Background: The impact of antiepileptics on serum vitamin levels is controversial and uncertain. With no clear conclusions on the impact of antiepileptics on serum levels of vitamins, there is a need for further clinical studies in order to ascertain the impact of old and newer antiepileptic drugs on serum levels of vitamins in epileptic patients, thus accomplishing a suitable usage of vitamins supplementation.

Objective: The intention of the present research is to confirm the hypothesis of whether or not vitamin levels are altered with antiepileptic drugs.

β-glucans as potential immunoadjuvants: A review on the adjuvanticity, structure-activity relationship and receptor recognition properties.

β-glucans, a group of polysaccharides exist in many organism species such as mushrooms, yeasts, oats, barley, seaweed, but not mammalians, have a variety of biological activities and applications in drugs and other healthcare products. In recent years, β-glucans have been studied as adjuvants in anti-infection vaccines as well as immunomodulators in anti-cancer immunotherapy. β-glucans can regulate immune responses when administered alone and can connect innate and adaptive immunity to improve immunogenicity of vaccines.

Comparison of New Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method and Enzyme-Multiplied Immunoassay Technique for Routine Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Vancomycin in Chinese Patients.

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin is very valuable due to the good correlation between trough levels and clinical outcome. Therefore, it is important to accurately determine the concentration of vancomycin in patient plasma for adequate dose-adjustment. The objective of this study was to develop a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for determination of vancomycin in patient plasma and compare the results with those obtained from enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT).

Curdlan sulfate--linked quaternized chitosan nanoparticles: potential adjuvants to improve the immunogenicity of exogenous antigens via intranasal vaccination.

Introduction: The development of ideal vaccine adjuvants for intranasal vaccination can provide convenience for many vaccinations. As an ideal intranasal vaccine adjuvant, it should have the properties of assisting soluble antigens to pass the mucosal barrier and potentiating both systemic and mucosal immunity via nasal administration.

Methods: By using the advantages of polysaccharides, which can promote both T-helper 1 and 2 responses, curdlan sulfate (CS)--(2-hydroxyl)propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (-HTCC) nanoparticles were prepared by interacting CS with -HTCC, and the adjuvancy of the nanoparticles was investigated.

A comparison of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) for the determination of the cyclosporin A concentration in whole blood from Chinese patients.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) is an immunosuppressive agent widely used in clinical therapy. In the therapeutic process, the blood concentration of CyA should be monitored to avoid or prevent rejection and toxicity. The objectives of this study were to compare the correlation of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) for the determination of the CyA concentration in human blood and to provide evidence for the rational usage of EMIT in clinical practice.

Comparison of the docetaxel concentration in human plasma measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a nanoparticle immunoassay and clinical applications of that assay.

To determine the feasibility of using a nanoparticle immunoassay for clinical therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of docetaxel concentrations, a sensitive and simple method of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was established to measure the docetaxel concentration in human plasma and the results of LC-MS/MS and the immunoassay were compared. Docetaxel and paclitaxel (the internal standard, or IS) in human plasma were extracted through protein precipitation, separated on a Diamonsil C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), ionized with positive ions, and detected with LC-MS/MS in multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.

Impact of the CYP2C19 Gene Polymorphism on Clopidogrel Personalized Drug Regimen and the Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Although the relationship between CYP2C19 genotype and clopidogrel metabolism has been studied clearly, we have not seen the report that clopidogrel was administered at a dose adjusted based on genotyping. The two main polymorphism loci of CYP2C19 gene were detected by the CYP2C19 genetic testing. ADP platelet aggregation technology was used to investigate the correlation between clinical effect and the clopidogrel dose, genetic metabolic type, physiological, pathological and other factors, to provide new ideas for clopidogrel therapy for percutaneous coronary intervention postoperation patients.

Effect of α-linolenic acid-modified low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate on atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice.

Methods: 8-week-age male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed with the atherogenic diet together with or without tested compounds (rosuvastatin calcium, α-LNA-LMWCS, LMWCS and α-LNA) for 16 weeks. When the animals were killed, blood plasma was isolated to test the level of TC, LDL-C, TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP by biochemistry analysis and ELISA method. The whole aorta and aortic root sections were also collected to study atherogenesis level and reveal the possible mechanism by histological examination, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis.

Polysaccharides: Candidates of promising vaccine adjuvants.

Aluminium-based adjuvants remain the only adjuvants approved for human use in the USA for over 80 years because of alum's simplicity, tolerability, safety and cost-efficiency. Recent development of vaccines, especially the increasing applications of recombinant subunit and synthetic vaccines, makes aluminium adjuvants cannot stimulate enough immunity to the antigens, since aluminium adjuvants can only induce Th2 type immune responses. So, novel adjuvants are urgent to make up the disadvantages of aluminium adjuvants.

Isolation, structural characterization and neurotrophic activity of a polysaccharide from Phellinus ribis.

A new polysaccharide named PRG was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus ribis by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. PRG was homogeneous, with a molecular weight of 5.16 × 10(3)Da, as determined by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography-multiangle laser light scattering analysis.

Effect and mechanisms of curdlan sulfate on inhibiting HBV infection and acting as an HB vaccine adjuvant.

In this study, the effect and mechanisms of curdlan sulfate (CS3) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and promoting immune response of the mice immunized with recombinant hepatitis B surface protein (HBsAg) were investigated. The results showed that CS3 could inhibit HBV infection of HepG2 and HepaRG cells, especially the process of HBV particle binding to the cell surfaces. The surface plasmon response (SPR) technology indicated that CS3 could bind with recombinant HBsAg and the binding ability depended on the content of sulfate groups on the polysaccharide chains.

Enhancing the intestinal absorption of low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate by conjugation with α-linolenic acid and the transport mechanism of the conjugates.

The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the effect of amphiphilic polysaccharides-based self-assembling micelles on enhancing the oral absorption of low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate (LMCS) in vitro and in vivo, and identify the transepithelial transport mechanism of LMCS micelles across the intestinal barrier. α-Linolenic acid-low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate polymers(α-LNA-LMCS) were successfully synthesized, and characterized by FTIR, (1)HNMR, TGA/DSC, TEM, laser light scattering and zeta potential. The significant oral absorption enhancement and elimination half-life (t₁/₂) extension of LNA-LMCS2 in rats were evidenced by intragastric administration in comparison with CS and LMCS.

Preparation and in vitro immunomodulatory effect of curdlan sulfate.

Different curdlan sulfates were synthesized by modification of curdlan with sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex, and the one with the highest sulfur content (9.23 ± 0.16) %, CS3, was used to study the immunomodulating effect on murine RAW264.