Application of meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Self-assembled Gold Electrode for Voltammetric Determination of Copper

Fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of the meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were described. The modified electrode exhibited increased sensitivity and selectivity for CuII compared to the bare gold electrode by stripping voltammetry and the peak current was proportional to the concentration of CuII in the range of 8.0 10–7 1.2 10–4 mol/L with the detection limit of 1.1 10–7 mol/L. The influence of coexistent substances was investigated and the modified electrode showed good selectivity for copper determination. The DMSA/Au electrode was applied for CuII determination in a tap water sample with satisfactory results, with the recovery in the range from 99.7 to 101.1 %

Modulating Linker Composition of Haptens Resulted in Improved Immunoassay for Histamine.

Histamine (HA) is an important food contaminant generated during food fermentation or spoilage. However, an immunoassay for direct (derivatization free) determination of HA has rarely been reported due to its small size to induce the desired antibodies by its current hapten-protein conjugates. In this work, despite violating the classical hapten design criteria which recommend introducing a linear aliphatic (phenyl free) linker into the immunizing hapten, a novel haptens, HA-245 designed and synthesized with a phenyl-contained linker, exhibited significantly enhanced immunological properties. Thus, a quality-improved monoclonal antibody (Mab) against HA was elicited by its hapten-carrier conjugates. Then, as the linear aliphatic linker contained haptens, Hapten B was used as linker-heterologous coating haptens to eliminate the recognition of linker antibodies. Indirect competitive ELISA (ic-ELISA) was developed with a 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 0.21 mg/L and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 mg/L in buffer solution. The average recoveries of HA from spiked food samples for this ic-ELISA ranged from 84.1% and 108.5%, and the analysis results agreed well with those of referenced LC-MS/MS. This investigation not only realized derivatization-free immunoassay for HA, but also provided a valuable guidance for hapten design and development of immunoassay for small molecules

Baseline Serum Magnesium Level and Its Variability in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Associations with Mortality

Background/Aims: The study aimed at investigating the impact of serum magnesium (Mg) baseline level and its variability on mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods: Eligible patients receiving regular MHD at Ningbo No. 2 Hospital between January 2009 and August 2016 were enrolled and follow-ups were conducted afterwards until death or transplantation. General information, laboratory results, and outcomes of subjects were collected. The relationship between baseline serum Mg level, its coefficient of variation (CV), and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality were assessed, respectively. Subjects were divided into groups in 2 manners: by serum Mg level (lower Mg group: serum Mg < 1.00 mmol/L, higher Mg group: serum Mg ≥1.00 mmol/L) and by serum Mg CV (high variation group: CV ≥0.149 mmol/L, middle variation group: 0.114 mmol/L ≤ CV < 0.149 mmol/L, and low variation group: CV < 0.114 mmol/L). Results: 169 MHD patients were recruited in the study, with mean serum Mg 1.00 ± 0.18 mmol/L, average age 60.20 ± 15.64 years, and median dialysis duration 37.00 (18.30, 77.97) months. During the follow-up, 69 (40.83%) patients died, 24 (34.78%) of which died due to cardiovascular disease. Comparing the two groups, patients in the lower Mg group had a higher all-cause mortality (50.00 vs. 29.33%, p = 0.007). The multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that lower Mg level was an independent factor for all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular mortality (HR = 13.268, 95% CI 6.234–28.237, p < 0.001; HR = 12.702, 95% CI 3.737–43.174, p < 0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant statistical differences of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among these three groups concerning Mg variation. And in the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, serum magnesium CV was not the independent factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: The lower baseline serum magnesium level was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in MHD patients. However, the variability of magnesium level was not independently associated with the risk of death and further studies need to be conducted

Numerical investigations of urban pollutant dispersion and building intake fraction with various 3D building configurations and tree plantings

Rapid urbanisation and rising vehicular emissions aggravate urban air pollution. Outdoor pollutants could diffuse indoors through infiltration or ventilation, leading to residents’ exposure. This study performed CFD simulations with a standard k-ε model to investigate the impacts of building configurations and tree planting on airflows, pollutant (CO) dispersion, and personal exposure in 3D urban micro-environments (aspect ratio = H/W = 30 m, building packing density λp = λf = 0.25) under neutral atmospheric conditions. The numerical models are well validated by wind tunnel data. The impacts of open space, central high-rise building and tree planting (leaf area density LAD= 1 m2/m3) with four approaching wind directions (parallel 0° and non-parallel 15°, 30°, 45°) are explored. Building intake fraction is adopted for exposure assessment. The change rates of demonstrate the impacts of different urban layouts on the traffic exhaust exposure on residents. The results show that open space increases the spatially-averaged velocity ratio (VR) for the whole area by 0.40–2.27%. Central high-rise building (2H) can increase wind speed by 4.73–23.36% and decrease the CO concentration by 4.39–23.00%. Central open space and high-rise building decrease under all four wind directions, by 6.56–16.08% and 9.59–24.70%, respectively. Tree planting reduces wind speed in all cases, raising by 14.89–50.19%. This work could provide helpful scientific references for public health and sustainable urban planning

Relationship between Serum Levels of OPG and TGF- β

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of OPG, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 and BMD decrease rate (BDR) in native Chinese women. This cross-sectional study was performed on 465 healthy native Chinese women aged 35–80 years. Serum levels of OPG, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 were determined. BDR was measured by DXA at the posteroanterior spine, hip, and distal forearm. At all skeletal sites tested, there was a negative correlation between BDR and serum levels of both OPG (r=−0.122 to –0.230, all P = 0.007–0.000) and TGF-β2 (r=−0.100 to –0.173, all P = 0.029–0.000) and a positive correlation between BDR and serum TGF-β1 (r=0.245−0.365, all P=0.000). After adjustment for age and BMI, there were no statistically significant correlations between serum levels of OPG or TGF-β2 and BDR. However, statistically significant correlations between serum TGF-β1 and BDR at the lumbar spine and ultradistal forearm remained. Multiple linear regression stepwise analysis showed that serum OPG could explain 1.4–3.7% of BDR variation. Serum TGF-β1 was a positive determinant of BDR and could explain 5.3–13.3% of BDR variation

The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies -- II. Results from the Commissioning Observations and the Pilot Surveys

We present new quasars discovered in the vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies with the LAMOST during the 2010 and 2011 observational seasons. Quasar candidates are selected based on the available SDSS, KPNO 4 m telescope, XSTPS optical, and WISE near infrared photometric data. We present 509 new quasars discovered in a stripe of ~135 sq. deg from M31 to M33 along the Giant Stellar Stream in the 2011 pilot survey datasets, and also 17 new quasars discovered in an area of ~100 sq. deg that covers the central region and the southeastern halo of M31 in the 2010 commissioning datasets. These 526 new quasars have i magnitudes ranging from 15.5 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.1 to 3.2. They represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33. There are now 26, 62 and 139 known quasars in this region of the sky with i magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0 respectively, of which 5, 20 and 75 are newly-discovered. These bright quasars provide an invaluable collection with which to probe the kinematics and chemistry of the ISM/IGM in the Local Group of galaxies. A total of 93 quasars are now known with locations within 2.5 deg of M31, of which 73 are newly discovered. Tens of quasars are now known to be located behind the Giant Stellar Stream, and hundreds behind the extended halo and its associated substructures of M31. The much enlarged sample of known quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33 can potentially be utilized to construct a perfect astrometric reference frame to measure the minute PMs of M31 and M33, along with the PMs of substructures associated with the Local Group of galaxies. Those PMs are some of the most fundamental properties of the Local Group.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, AJ accepte

Protective effects of selenium on oxidative damage and oxidative stress related gene expression in rat liver under chronic poisoning of arsenic

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid existing widely in the environment, and chronic exposure to it through contaminated drinking water has become a global problem of public health. The present study focused on the protective effects of selenium on oxidative damage of chronic arsenic poisoning in rat liver. Rats were divided into four groups at random and given designed treatments for 20 weeks. The oxidative damage of liver tissue was evaluated by lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes. Oxidative stress related genes were detected to reflect the liver stress state at the molecular level. Compared to the control and Na2SeO3 groups, the MDA content in liver tissue was decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were increased in the Na2SeO3 intervention group. The mRNA levels of SOD1, CAT, GPx and Txnrd1 were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the combined Na2SeO3 + NaAsO2 treatment group. The expressions of HSP70 and HO-1 were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the NaAsO2 group and reduced in the combined treatment group. The results indicate that long-term intake of NaAsO2 causes oxidative damage in the rat liver, and Na2SeO3 protects liver cells by adjusting the expression of oxidative stress related genes to improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Management of granulomatous lobular mastitis: an international multidisciplinary consensus (2021 edition)

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM. Literature was reviewed using PubMed from January 1, 1971 to July 31, 2020. Sixty-six international experienced multidisciplinary experts from 11 countries or regions were invited to review the evidence. Levels of evidence were determined using the American College of Physicians grading system, and recommendations were discussed until consensus. Experts discussed and concluded 30 recommendations on historical definitions, etiology and predisposing factors, diagnosis criteria, treatment, clinical stages, relapse and recurrence of GLM. GLM was recommended as a widely accepted definition. In addition, this consensus introduced a new clinical stages and management algorithm for GLM to provide individual treatment strategies. In conclusion, diagnosis of GLM depends on a combination of history, clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, laboratory examinations and pathology. The approach to treatment of GLM should be applied according to the different clinical stage of GLM. This evidence-based consensus would be valuable to assist front-line surgeons and medical specialists in the optimal management of GLM.Improving the Ability of Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Disease

Rho GTPases as therapeutic targets in Alzheimer’s disease

The progress we have made in understanding Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis has led to the identification of several novel pathways and potential therapeutic targets. Rho GTPases have been implicated as critical components in AD pathogenesis, but their various functions and interactions make understanding their complex signaling challenging to study. Recent advancements in both the field of AD and Rho GTPase drug development provide novel tools for the elucidation of Rho GTPases as a viable target for AD. Herein, we summarize the fluctuating activity of Rho GTPases in various stages of AD pathogenesis and in several in vitro and in vivo AD models. We also review the current pharmacological tools such as NSAIDs, RhoA/ROCK, Rac1, and Cdc42 inhibitors used to target Rho GTPases and their use in AD-related studies. Finally, we summarize the behavioral modifications following Rho GTPase modulation in several AD mouse models. As key regulators of several AD-related signals, Rho GTPases have been studied as targets in AD. However, a consensus has yet to be reached regarding the stage at which targeting Rho GTPases would be the most beneficial. The studies discussed herein emphasize the critical role of Rho GTPases and the benefits of their modulation in AD