Smart and Noninvasive SERS Immunosensors for Monitoring Dynamic Expression of Cytokines during Cell Pyroptosis.

Accompanying the occurrence of inflammatory reaction to release cytokines, pyroptosis can activate an immune response for resistance against cancer. Consequently, elevated levels of cytokines released by cancer cells are highly correlated with the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Herein, a noninvasive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) immunosensor was developed to sensitively and specifically measure the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine, during the cell pyroptosis process.

Identification and evaluation of plasma exosome RNA biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma using RNA-seq.

Background: Non-invasive diagnostic methods, including medical imaging techniques and blood biomarkers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), have been crucial in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, imaging techniques are only effective for tumor size larger than 2 cm. AFP measurement remains unsatisfactory due to high rate of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis.

Altered counts and mitochondrial mass of peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) damages liver cells through abnormal immune responses. Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for effector functions of white blood cells (WBCs). The aim was to investigate the altered counts and mitochondrial mass (MM) of WBCs by two novel indicators of mitochondrial mass, MM and percentage of low mitochondrial membrane potential, MMP%, due to chronic HBV infection.

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma via no end-repair enzymatic methylation sequencing of cell-free DNA and pre-trained neural network.

Background: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is important in order to improve patient prognosis and survival rate. Methylation sequencing combined with neural networks to identify cell-free DNA (cfDNA) carrying aberrant methylation offers an appealing and non-invasive approach for HCC detection. However, some limitations exist in traditional methylation detection technologies and models, which may impede their performance in the read-level detection of HCC.

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) predicts liver failure after transjugular intrahepatic portal shunt: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is a serious complication of decompensated cirrhosis. Transjugular intrahepatic portal shunt (TIPS) is a salvage treatment with clear hemostatic results. However, various complications may occur after TIPS, including postoperative liver failure, and the prognosis is very poor once occurs.

Effect of garlic essential oil in 97 patients hospitalized with covid-19: A multi-center experience.

To observe the synergistic effect of garlic essential oil in patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in addition to the routine treatment, we used garlic essential oil in COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms and compared their results to those of patients who did not receive the essential oil. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with COVID-19 patients from 3 hospitals. In the experimental group, 97 patients received garlic essential oil combined with conventional treatment.

A visual method for determination of hepatitis C virus RNAs based on a 3D nanocomposite prepared from graphene quantum dots.

Sensitive and specific assay of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA has a great clinical significance for the diagnosis of hepatitis C in window period. A colorimetric assay is described for determination of the RNA of hepatitis C virus. The method is based on the in situ synthesis of graphene quantum dot-silver nano-composites (GQD/Ag NCs), magnetic separation and catalyzed hairpin assembly reaction (CHA).

Ginkgo biloba extracts attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in acute lung injury by inhibiting the COX-2 and NF-κB pathways.

In the present study, we analyzed the role of Ginkgo biloba extract in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). ALI was induced in mice by intratracheal instillation of LPS. G.