Diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center-based magnetometry provides a unique opportunity for quantum bio-sensing. However, NV centers are not sensitive to parameters such as temperature and pressure, ...and immune to many biochemical parameters such as pH and non-magnetic biomolecules. Here, we propose a scheme that can potentially enable the measurement of various biochemical parameters using diamond quantum sensing, by employing stimulus-responsive hydrogels as a spacing transducer in-between a nanodiamond (ND, with NV centers) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The volume phase transition of hydrogel upon stimulation leads to sharp variation in the separation distance between the MNPs and the ND. This in turn changes the magnetic field that the NV centers can detect sensitively. We construct a temperature sensor under this hybrid scheme and show the proof-of-the-principle demonstration of reversible temperature sensing. Applications in the detection of other bio-relevant parameters are envisioned if appropriate types of hydrogels can be engineered.
Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), a saponin extracted from Panax ginseng, has been well documented to be effective against ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) neuronal injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain ...obscure. In the present study, we investigated the roles of Nrf2 and miR-144 in the protective effects of Rg1 against I/R-induced neuronal injury. In OGD/R-treated PC12 cells, Rg1 (0.01-1 μmol/L) dose-dependently attenuated the cell injury accompanied by prolonging nuclear accumulation of Nrf2, enhancing the transcriptional activity of Nrf2, as well as promoting the expression of ARE-target genes. The activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway by Rg1 was independent of disassociation with Keap1, but resulted from post-translational regulations. Knockdown of Nrf2 abolished all the protective changes of Rg1 in OGD/R-treated PC12 cells. Furthermore, Rg1 treatment significantly decreased the expression of miR-144, which downregulated Nrf2 production by targeting its 3'-untranlated region after OGD/R. Knockdown of Nrf2 had no effect on the expression of miR-144, suggesting that miR-144 was an upstream regulator of Nrf2. We revealed that there was a direct binding between Nrf2 and miR-144 in PC12 cells. Application of anti-miR-144 occluded the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway by Rg1 in OGD/R-treated PC12 cells. In tMCAO rats, administration of Rg1 (20 mg/kg) significantly alleviated ischemic injury, and activated Nrf2/ARE pathway. The protective effects of Rg1 were abolished by injecting of AAV-HIF-miR-144-shRNA into the predicted ischemic penumbra. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Rg1 alleviates oxidative stress after I/R through inhibiting miR-144 activity and subsequently promoting the Nrf2/ARE pathway at the post-translational level.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
As an endogenous neuroprotectant agent, adenosine is extensively distributed and is particularly abundant in the central nervous system (CNS). Under physiological conditions, the concentration of ...adenosine is low intra‐ and extracellularly, but increases significantly in response to stress. The majority of adenosine functions are receptor‐mediated, and primarily include the A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors (A1R, A2AR, A2BR, and A3R). Adenosine is currently widely used in the treatment of diseases of the CNS and the cardiovascular systems, and the mechanisms are related to the disease types, disease locations, and the adenosine receptors distribution in the CNS. For example, the main infarction sites of cerebral ischemia are cortex and striatum, which have high levels of A1 and A2A receptors. Cerebral ischemia is manifested with A1R decrease and A2AR increase, as well as reduction in the A1R‐mediated inhibitory processes and enhancement of the A2AR‐mediated excitatory process. Adenosine receptor dysfunction is also involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression, and epilepsy. Thus, the adenosine receptor balance theory is important for brain disease treatment. The concentration of adenosine can be increased by endogenous or exogenous pathways due to its short half‐life and high inactivation properties. Therefore, we will discuss the function of adenosine and its receptors, adenosine formation, and metabolism, and its role for the treatment of CNS diseases (such as cerebral ischemia, AD, depression, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and sleep disorders). This article will provide a scientific basis for the development of novel adenosine derivatives through adenosine structure modification, which will lead to experimental applications.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Spatially resolved information about material deformation upon loading is critical to evaluating mechanical properties of materials, and to understanding mechano-response of live systems. Existing ...techniques may access local properties of materials at nanoscale, but not at locations away from the force-loading positions. Moreover, interpretation of the local measurement relies on correct modeling, the validation of which is not straightforward. Here we demonstrate an approach to evaluating non-local material deformation based on the integration of nanodiamond orientation sensing and atomic force microscopy nanoindentation. This approach features a 5 nm precision in the loading direction and a sub-hundred nanometer lateral resolution, high enough to disclose the surface/interface effects in the material deformation. The non-local deformation profile can validate the models needed for mechanical property determination. The non-local nanometer-precision sensing of deformation facilitates studying mechanical response of complex material systems ranging from impact transfer in nanocomposites to mechano-response of live systems.
Nonlinear optical (NLO) switch materials that turn on/off second‐harmonic generation (SHG) at a phase transition temperature (Tc) are promising for applications in the fields of photoswitching and ...optical computing. However, precise control of Tc remains challenging, mainly because a linearly tunable Tc has not been reported to date. Herein, we report a unique selenate, tetragonal P
4‾
${\bar{4}}$
21c Ag(NH3)22SeO4 with a=b=8.5569(2) Å and c=6.5208(2) Å that exhibits a strong SHG intensity (1.3×KDP) and a large birefringence (Δnobv.=0.08). This compound forms a series of isostructural solid‐solution crystals Ag(NH3)22SxSe1−xO4 (x=0–1.00) that exhibit excellent NLO switching performance and an unprecedented linearly tunable
Tc,x,exp.=T0-kx
${{T}_{\left(c,{\rm \ }x\right),{\rm \ }\left({\rm e}{\rm x}{\rm p}.\right)}{\rm \ }={T}_{0}-kx}$
spanning 430 to 356 K. The breaking of localized hydrogen bonds between SeO42− and the cation triggers a phase transition accompanied by hydrogen bond length changes with increasing x and a linear change in the enthalpy
ΔHx=ΔU1-ΔU2x+ΔU2
${{{\rm { \Delta{}}}H}_{x}=\left({\rm { \Delta{}}}{U}_{1}-{\rm { \Delta{}}}{U}_{2}\right)x+{\rm { \Delta{}}}{U}_{2}}$
.
For a series of isostructural solid‐solution crystals Ag(NH3)22SxSe1−xO4 that represent the first NLO switch material exhibiting a linearly tunable phase transition temperature, the switching temperature can be linearly tuned from 430 to 356 K. This originates from a linear decrease in the phase transition energy barrier that is predominantly controlled by the internal energy difference between phases.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Phosphorene is a promising candidate for gas sensing materials. This letter describes our study of the adsorption of SF 6 and SF 6 decomposition gases (SO 2 and H 2 S) on phosphorene. We used first ...principles calculations to explore phosphorene's potential applications as gas sensor to diagnose the state of online gas insulated switchgear (GIS). The calculation results showed that only the adsorption of SO 2 induced a moderate adsorption energy and apparent charge transfer. We further investigated the current-voltage (I-V) relationships before and after gas absorption through the non-equilibrium Green's function method. It was found that only SO 2 induced a dramatic change in the I-V relationships. Therefore, phosphorene appears to be a promising candidate for highly sensitive and selective SF 6 decomposition gas sensors for online GIS diagnosis.
Purpose
To evaluate the potential preventive effect of probiotics on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Methods
This was an open-label, randomized, controlled multicenter trial involving 235 ...critically ill adult patients who were expected to receive mechanical ventilation for ≥48 h. The patients were randomized to receive (1) a probiotics capsule containing live
Bacillus subtilis
and
Enterococcus faecalis
(Medilac-S) 0.5 g three times daily through a nasogastric feeding tube plus standard preventive strategies or (2) standard preventive strategies alone, for a maximum of 14 days. The development of VAP was evaluated daily, and throat swabs and gastric aspirate were cultured at baseline and once or twice weekly thereafter.
Results
The incidence of microbiologically confirmed VAP in the probiotics group was significantly lower than that in the control patients (36.4 vs. 50.4 %, respectively;
P
= 0.031). The mean time to develop VAP was significantly longer in the probiotics group than in the control group (10.4 vs. 7.5 days, respectively;
P
= 0.022). The proportion of patients with acquisition of gastric colonization of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMOs) was lower in the probiotics group (24 %) than the control group (44 %) (
P
= 0.004). However, the proportion of patients with eradication PPMO colonization on both sites of the oropharynx and stomach were not significantly different between the two groups. The administration of probiotics did not result in any improvement in the incidence of clinically suspected VAP, antimicrobial consumption, duration of mechanical ventilation, mortality and length of hospital stay.
Conclusion
Therapy with the probiotic bacteria
B. Subtilis
and
E. faecalis
are an effective and safe means for preventing VAP and the acquisition of PPMO colonization in the stomach.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
As a global health threat, NASH has been confirmed to be a chronic progressive liver disease that is strongly associated with obesity. However, no approved drugs or efficient therapeutic strategies ...are valid, mainly because its complicated pathological processes is underestimated.
We identified the RING-type E3 ubiquitin transferase-tripartite motif-containing protein 31 (TRIM31), a member of the E3 ubiquitin ligases family, as an efficient endogenous inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7; MAP3K7), and we further confirmed that TRIM31 is an MAP3K7-interacting protein and promotes MAP3K7 degradation by enhancing ubiquitination of K48 linkage in hepatocytes. Hepatocyte-specific Trim31 deletion blocks hepatic metabolism homeostasis, concomitant with glucose metabolic syndrome, lipid accumulation, up-regulated inflammation, and dramatically facilitates NASH progression. Inversely, transgenic overexpression, lentivirus, or adeno-associated virus-mediated Trim31 gene therapy restrain NASH in three dietary mice models. Mechanistically, in response to metabolic insults, TRIM31 interacts with MAP3K7 and conjugates K48-linked ubiquitination chains to promote MAP3K7 degradation, thus blocking MAP3K7 abundance and its downstream signaling cascade activation in hepatocytes.
TRIM31 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for NASH treatment and associated metabolic disorders.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UPUK
Correlated translation-orientation tracking of single particles can provide important information for understanding the dynamics of live systems and their interaction with the probes. However, full ...six-dimensional (6D) motion tracking has yet to be achieved. Here, we developed synchronized 3D translation and 3D rotation tracking of single diamond particles based on nitrogen-vacancy center sensing. We first performed 6D tracking of diamond particles attached to a giant plasma membrane vesicle to demonstrate the method. Quantitative analysis of diamond particles’ motion allowed elimination of the geometric effect and revealed the net rotation on the vesicle. 6D tracking was then applied to measure live cell dynamics. Motion characteristics of nanodiamonds on cell membranes under various controlled physiological conditions suggest that the nanodiamonds’ rotation is associated with cell metabolic activities. Our technique extends the toolbox of single particle tracking and provides a unique solution to problems where correlated analysis of translation and rotation is critical.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
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