Sleep quality and perceived stress levels in Chinese patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate sleep quality and perceived stress levels in Chinese patients with active minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (MiRAS) lesions, as well as to investigate the potential relationship between sleep quality and perceived stress levels and the risk of MiRAS episodes.

Methods: The study population consisted of individuals recruited from a Chinese cohort who underwent medical and oral examinations from March 2022 to August 2023. All participants completed a set of uniform anonymous questionnaires, which included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14).

Serum levels of reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, and glutathione reductase activity in minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients.

Background/purpose: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most prevalent oral mucosa diseases with unknown etiology. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a major intracellular non-protein physiological antioxidant, and it has been demonstrated that GSH deficiency may be related to cardiovascular, immune, and diabetes. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the potential roles of GSH, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and glutathione reductase (GR) in the etiopathogenesis of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (MiRAS).

Optimized Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Methods for Intact Protein Analysis and Peptide Mapping of Adeno-Associated Virus Proteins.

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have emerged as the leading gene delivery platform owing to their nonpathogenic nature and long-term gene expression capability. The AAV capsid, in addition to protecting the viral genome, plays an important role in viral infectivity and gene transduction, indicating the value of the constituent viral proteins (VPs) being well-characterized as part of gene therapy development. However, the limited sample availability and sequence homology shared by the VPs pose challenges to adapt existing analytical methods developed for conventional biologics.

Capillary Electrophoresis-Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate with Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection as a Highly Sensitive and Quality Control-Friendly Method for Monitoring Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid Protein Purity.

The capsid protein purity of adeno-associated virus (AAV) is considered a critical quality attribute of AAV-based gene therapy products. However, the analytical methods currently available to monitor the viral capsid proteins, which are present in extremely low concentrations, have limited sensitivity and robustness, thus limiting their general applicability. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop robust separation methods with highly sensitive detection.

Galectin-3 and acute heart failure: genetic polymorphisms, plasma level, myocardial fibrosis and 1-year outcomes.

This study sought to investigate the relationship between galectin-3 (Gal-3), myocardial fibrosis (MF) and outcomes in acute heart failure. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of at rs4644 and rs4652, plasma Gal-3 level, MF and major adverse events (MAEs) were obtained. There was no significant difference in MAEs when categorizing patients by the SNPs at rs4644 and rs4652.

Relationship between coronary artery calcification and calcium deposition in the myocardium.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between coronary artery calcification and calcium deposition in cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Patients who underwent valve replacement plus surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation, together with left atrial appendage resection, were included. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) score was evaluated prior to surgery using dual-source computed tomography.

Serum levels of total antioxidant status, nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients.

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common inflammatory ulcerative conditions of oral cavity with uncertain etiology. Several studies have reported that oxidative stress may be associated with RAS. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in minor RAS (MiRAS) patients with healthy individuals and determine the possible association of MiRAS with the 3 physiological parameters mentioned above.

Chronic heart failure in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: prevalence, clinical features, and relevance.

Objective This study was performed to assess the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF) and compare the clinical features with those of patients without NAFL. Methods In total, 102 patients with CHF were divided into NAFL and non-NAFL groups according to their hepatic ultrasonography findings. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance examination.

The normal range of maximum mouth opening and its correlation with height or weight in the young adult Chinese population.

Background/purpose: Maximum mouth opening (MMO) is an important diagnostic reference for dental clinicians. However, the relationship between either body height or weight of the individual and their subsequent MMO has, up to now, been unclear. The purpose of this study was to measure the MMO of healthy young Chinese adults and to analyze the possible correlation of MMO with either height or weight.

Enzymatic antioxidants status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) has been thought to play a main role in the etiopathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), which is one of the most common oral mucosal diseases characterized by recurrent and painful oral ulcers. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the enzymatic antioxidants status in patients with RAS in the active stage and remission stage.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with idiopathic minor RAS and 102 race-, age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were recruited.

Assessment of serum malondialdehyde, uric acid, and vitamins C and E levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Background/purpose: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disease. Recently, oxidative stress has been thought to play a major role in the etiopathogenesis of RAS. The aim of this investigation was to compare the serum levels of an important oxidant agent [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and nonenzymatic antioxidants [uric acid (UA) and vitamins C and E] in patients with RAS versus healthy individuals.

Effect of plasma nitriding and titanium nitride coating on the corrosion resistance of titanium.

Statement Of Problem: The passive film on the surface of titanium can be destroyed by immersion in a fluoridated acidic medium. Coating with titanium nitride (TiN) may improve the corrosion resistance of titanium.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of duplex treatment with plasma nitriding and TiN coating on the corrosion resistance of cast titanium.

SpeB proteolysis with imaged capillary isoelectric focusing for the characterization of domain-specific charge heterogeneities of reference and biosimilar Rituximab.

The charge variations of therapeutic monoclonal antibody reveal important information of the post-translational modifications that may potentially impact the potency and safety of pharmaceutical products, especially during the evaluation of biosimilarity of therapeutic proteins. In this work, a novel SpeB-based proteolysis strategy coupling with imaged capillary isoelectric focusing was developed for the determination of domain-specific charge heterogeneities of innovator and generic Rituximab drug products from United States, European and Indian markets. It was observed that innovator Rituximab from the United States and Europe share highly similar peak distributions and charge heterogeneities with 26.

[Porewater Dissolved Methane in Cyperus malaccensis Marshes Along Salinity Gradient in the Minjiang River Estuary].

Physicochemical properties of soil and dissolved methane concentrations of porewater in the sediments of the Cyperus malaccensis marshes along a salinity gradient in the Minjiang River estuary were evaluated, and the spatial-temporal characteristics and main impact factors were discussed. The average concentrations of dissolved methane in porewater were 331.18, 299.

[Effect of TiO2-SiO2-SnOx film with different firing temperatures on bond strength of low-fusing dental porcelain to pure titanium].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of TiO(2)-SiO(2)-SnOx nano-coatings with different firing temperatures on the bond strength of low-fusing dental porcelain to pure titanium.

Methods: The surface of pure titanium was coated uniformly with TiO(2)-SiO(2)-SnOx nano-coatings by solution-gelatin (Sol-Gel) technology and then fired at 300 °C (group A) or 750 °C (group B) for 1 h. The specimens without any coatings were the control group (group C).

Defining the Neuropeptidome of the Spiny Lobster Panulirus interruptus Brain Using a Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry-Based Platform.

Decapod crustaceans are important animal models for neurobiologists due to their relatively simple nervous systems with well-defined neural circuits and extensive neuromodulation by a diverse set of signaling peptides. However, biochemical characterization of these endogenous neuropeptides is often challenging due to limited sequence information about these neuropeptide genes and the encoded preprohormones. By taking advantage of sequence homology in neuropeptides observed in related species using a home-built crustacean neuropeptide database, we developed a semi-automated sequencing strategy to characterize the neuropeptidome of Panulirus interruptus, an important aquaculture species, with few known neuropeptide preprohormone sequences.

A one-step preparation method of monolithic enzyme reactor for highly efficient sample preparation coupled to mass spectrometry-based proteomics studies.

Mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to sample preparation and separation techniques has become a primary tool for proteomics studies. However, due to sample complexity, it is often challenging to achieve fast and efficient sample preparation prior to MS analysis. In recent decades, monolithic materials have been developed not only as chromatographic media, but also as efficient solid supports for immobilizing multiple types of affinity reagents.

Recent advances in coupling capillary electrophoresis-based separation techniques to ESI and MALDI-MS.

Coupling CE-based separation techniques to MS creates a powerful platform for analysis of a wide range of biomolecules from complex samples because it combines the high separation efficiency of CE and the sensitivity and selectivity of MS detection. ESI and MALDI, as the most common soft ionization techniques employed for CE and MS coupling, offer distinct advantages for biomolecular characterization. This review is focused primarily on technological advances in combining CE and chip-based CE with ESI and MALDI-MS detection in the past five years.

Liquid chromatography-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging with sprayed matrix for improved sensitivity, reproducibility and quantitation.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) has been employed as a detection method for both capillary electrophoresis (CE)-MALDI and liquid chromatography (LC)-MALDI analyses. Based on our previous studies, here we report a new interface to couple LC with MSI by employing an automated matrix sprayer. The LC trace is directly collected on a ground stainless steel MALDI plate and dried.

Development of a fast radiation detector based on barium fluoride scintillation crystal.

Barium fluoride (BaF2) is an inorganic scintillation material used for the detection of X∕gamma radiation due to its relatively high density, equivalent atomic number, radiation hardness, and high luminescence. BaF2 has a potential capacity to be used in gamma ray timing experiments due to the prompt decay emission components. It is known that the light output from BaF2 has three decay components: two prompt of those at approximately 195 nm and 220 nm with a decay constant around 600-800 ps and a more intense, slow component at approximately 310 nm with a decay constant around 630 ns which hinders fast timing experiments.

Semi-automated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric imaging platform for enhanced detection and improved data analysis of complex peptides.

A semi-automated analytical platform featuring the coupling of monolithic reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI MSI) has been developed and evaluated. This is the first time that LC separation is readily coupled to MS imaging detection for the analysis of complex peptide mixtures both qualitatively and quantitatively. Methacrylate-based monolithic column with C12 functional groups is fabricated for fast RPLC separation.

Pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis coupling with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometric imaging for quantitative analysis of complex peptide mixtures.

Herein, we report a pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometric imaging (PACE-MSI) platform for peptide analysis. This new platform has addressed the sample diffusion and peak splitting problems that appeared in our previous groove design, and it enables homogeneous deposition of the CE trace for high-throughput MALDI imaging. In the coupling of CE to MSI, individual peaks (m/z) can be visualized as discrete colored image regions and extracted from the MS imaging data, thus eliminating issues with peak overlapping and reducing reliance on an ultrahigh mass resolution mass spectrometer.

Neuropeptide analysis with liquid chromatography-capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometric imaging.

Herein we report the first attempt of coupling multidimensional separations to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric imaging detection. Complex neuropeptide mixtures extracted from crustaceans were first fractionated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), and then subjected to a capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometric imaging platform. With a specific focus on orcokinin family neuropeptides, we demonstrated that these trace-level analytes from complex neural tissue samples can be fully separated from chemical noise and interfering components and visualized as mass spectrometric imaging signals.

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) based immobilized pH gradient capillary isoelectric focusing coupling with MALDI mass spectrometry for enhanced neuropeptide analysis.

Herein, we report an immobilized pH gradient (IPG) capillary isoelectric focusing-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (CIEF-MALDI MS) platform designed for the separation of complex neuropeptides. This platform features a poly(glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) (GMA-DVB)-based monolithic column for CIEF separation. Different from regular CIEF, carrier ampholytes are preimmobilized on the monolithic surface instead of being added to the sample.