This study aimed to discover the novel noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). We applied iTRAQ 2D LC‐MS/MS technique to investigate protein profiles in patients with ...pulmonary TB and other lung diseases. A total of 34 differentially expressed proteins (24 upregulated proteins and ten downregulated proteins) were identified in the serum of pulmonary TB patients. Significant differences in protein S100‐A9 (S100A9), extracellular superoxide dismutase Cu‐Zn (SOD3), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) were found between pulmonary TB and other lung diseases by ELISA. Correlations analysis revealed that the serum concentration of MMP9 in the pulmonary TB was in moderate correlation with SOD3 (r = 0.581) and S100A9 (r = 0.471), while SOD3 was in weak correlation with S100A9 (r = 0.287). The combination of serum S100A9, SOD3, and MMP9 levels could achieve 92.5% sensitivity and 95% specificity to discriminate between pulmonary TB and healthy controls, 90% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity to discriminate between pulmonary TB and pneumonia, and 85% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity to discriminate between pulmonary TB and lung cancer, respectively. The results showed that S100A9, SOD3, and MMP9 may be potential diagnostic biomarkers for pulmonary TB, and provided experimental basis for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB.
AIM:To investigate enough valid measurements(VMs)to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients(CHB).METHODS:One hundred and twelve CHB patients(25women,87 men)with a mean age of 38.43 ...years received liver stiffness evaluations using real-time shear wave elastography for 10 VMs.All patients underwent liver biopsy.Based on the biopsy pathology,the liver stiffness data obtained from different VMs(1,2,3,5and 10 times)were compared for the evaluation of liver fibrosis.The correlation between the elastic modulus means of the liver obtained from different VMs of detection at each pathological stage was analysed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was employed to determine the diagnostic performance of different VMs of detection,and the areas under the ROC curve of different groups were compared.RESULTS:The liver stiffness values obtained from 1 VM,2 VMs,3 VMs,5 VMs and all 10 VMs for stage F0 were 6.95±2.01 kPa,6.87±1.83 kPa,6.90±1.88 kPa,6.95±1.93kPa and 7.15±1.89 kPa,respectively(F=0.043,P=0.996).For stage F1,these values were 7.12±1.72 kPa,7.24±1.72 kPa,7.21±1.74 kPa,7.10±1.78 kPa and7.04±1.70 kPa,respectively(F=0.075,P=0.990).For stage F2,they were 9.37±3.87 kPa,9.18±3.68 kPa,9.19±3.81 kPa,9.18±3.81 kPa and 9.19±3.53 kPa,respectively(F=0.012,P=1.000).For stage F3,these were 11.91±3.88 kPa,11.78±4.04 kPa,11.83±4.07kPa,11.94±4.17 kPa and 12.00±4.02 kPa,respectively(F=0.010,P=1.000).For stage F4,the readings were 19.30±7.63 kPa,19.40±7.36 kPa,19.54±7.43kPa,19.73±7.21 kPa and 20.25±7.22 kPa,respectively(F=0.054,P=0.995).There were no significant differences between these groups.Intraclass correlation coefficients among different pathological stages(F0-F4)with different detection VMs were 0.995,0.993,0.996,0.994 and 0.996,respectively.The mean elasticity values from 1 VM,2 VMs,3 VMs,5 VMs and 10 VMs can accurately distinguish fibrosis stages(F0 vs F1234,F01 vs F234,F012 vs F34 and F0123 vs F4)with no significant differences in the five groups(P>0.05 for all).CONCLUSION:One VM may be sufficient to assess liver fibrosis by using SWE without any significant loss of accuracy in patients with CHB.However,future studies of larger patient samples are necessary for the validation of this method.
Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a well-known decoction in traditional Chinese medicine. Although studies have indicated that the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of SNS and its components can ...account for their therapeutic effects, the role and mechanism of SNS in treating skin dysfunction remain unclear.
Atopic dermatitis (AD), a disorder known for its prevalence in infants and adults, severely influences the quality of life of affected patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immune response modulations of SNS in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin dysfunction.
Dermatitis was induced in Kunming mice by the topical application of DNCB. SNS or dexamethasone (positive control) was topically applied every day over the course of the 21-day study. The following were assessed: dermatitis severity scores; ear and dorsal skin haematoxylin and eosin staining; interleukin (IL)− 1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α cytokine levels in the serum; spleen index; spleen CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio; and phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs- p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)), IκB-α, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB (p65) in skin lesions.
SNS significantly alleviated the symptoms of AD-like lesions induced by DNCB, decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ear and dorsal tissues, suppressed the increased cytokine levels in the serum, reduced the CD4 + /CD8 +T lymphocyte ratio in the spleen, and downregulated the activation of MAPKs, IκB-α, and NF-κB (p65) in the dorsal skin. The effects were similar to those of dexamethasone.
SNS alleviated the DNCB-induced AD-like skin dysfunction in mice through anti-inflammatory and immune system modulation, indicating that SNS shows potential for AD treatment in clinical settings.
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Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating complication of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, information on ICH in ITP patients under the age of 60 years is limited, and no predictive tools ...are available in clinical practice. A total of 93 adult patients with ITP who developed ICH before 60 years of age were retrospectively identified from 2005 to 2019 by 27 centers in China. For each case, 2 controls matched by the time of ITP diagnosis and the duration of ITP were provided by the same center. Multivariate analysis identified head trauma (OR = 3.216, 95%CI 1.296-7.979, P =.012), a platelet count ≤ 15,000/μL at the time of ITP diagnosis (OR = 1.679, 95%CI 1.044-2.698, P =.032) and severe/life-threatening bleeding (severe bleeding vs. mild bleeding, OR = 1.910, 95%CI 1.088-3.353, P =.024; life-threatening bleeding vs. mild bleeding, OR = 2.620, 95%CI 1.360-5.051, P =.004) as independent risk factors for ICH. Intraparenchymal hemorrhage (OR = 5.191, 95%CI 1.717-15.692, P =.004) and a history of severe bleeding (OR = 4.322, 95%CI 1.532-12.198, P =.006) were associated with the 30-day outcome of ICH. These findings may facilitate ICH risk stratification and outcome prediction in patients with ITP.
Toads produce potent toxins, named bufadienolides, to defend against their predators. Pharmacological research has revealed that bufadienolides are potential anticancer drugs. In this research, we ...reported nine bufadienolides from the eggs of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans, including two new compounds (1 and 3). The chemical structures of 1 and 3, as well as of one previously reported semisynthesized compound (2), were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data interpretation, chemical methods, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 is an unusual 19-norbufadienolide with rearranged A/B rings. A biological test revealed that compounds 2 and 4–8 showed potent cytotoxic activities toward human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-1 with IC50 values less than 1.0 μM. A preliminary mechanism investigation revealed that the most potent compound, 8, could induce apoptosis via PARP cleavage, while 5 and 6 significantly suppressed angiogenesis in zebrafish. Furthermore, an in vivo biological study showed that 5, 6, and 8 inhibit SK-MEL-1 cell growth significantly.
Metabolic hypertension (MH) is the most common type of hypertension worldwide because of unhealthy lifestyles, such as excessive alcohol intake and high-sugar/high-fat diets (ACHSFDs), adopted by ...humans. Poor diets lead to a decrease in the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are produced by intestinal flora and transferred by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), resulting in impaired gastrointestinal function, disrupted metabolic processes, increased blood pressure (BP), and ultimately, MH. It is not clear whether
Dendrobium officinale
polysaccharide (DOPS) can mediate its effects by triggering the SCFAs-GPCR43/41 pathway. In this study, DOPS, with a content of 54.45 ± 4.23% and composition of mannose, glucose, and galacturonic acid at mass percentages of 61.28, 31.87, and 2.53%, was isolated from
Dendrobium officinale
. It was observed that DOPS, given to rats by intragastric administration after dissolution, could lower the BP and improve the abnormal lipid metabolic processes in ACHSFD-induced MH rats. Moreover, DOPS was found to increase the production, transportation, and utilization of SCFAs, while improving the intestinal flora and strengthening the intestinal barrier, as well as increasing the intestinal levels of SCFAs and the expression of GPCR43/41. Furthermore, DOPS improved vascular endothelial function by increasing the expression of GPCR41 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the aorta and the nitric oxide level in the serum. However, these effects were all reversed by antibiotic use. These findings indicate that DOPS is the active component of
Dendrobium officinale
, and it can reverse MH in rats by activating the intestinal SCFAs-GPCR43/41 pathway.
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a chronic disease. Currently, there are no sufficiently validated biomarkers for early diagnosis of TB infection. In this study, a ...panel of potential serum biomarkers was identified between patients with pulmonary TB and healthy controls by using iTRAQ‐coupled 2D LC‐MS/MS technique. Among 100 differentially expressed proteins screened, 45 proteins were upregulated (>1.25‐fold at p < 0.05) and 55 proteins were downregulated (<0.8‐fold at p < 0.05) in the TB serum. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins were related to the response to stimulus, the metabolic and immune system processes. The significantly differential expression of apolipoprotein CII (APOCII), CD5 antigen‐like (CD5L), hyaluronan‐binding protein 2 (HABP2), and retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) was further confirmed using immunoblotting and ELISA analysis. By forward stepwise multivariate regression analysis, a panel of serum biomarkers including APOCII, CD5L, and RBP4 was obtained to form the disease diagnostic model. The receiver operation characteristic curve of the diagnostic model was 0.98 (sensitivity = 93.42%, specificity = 92.86%). In conclusion, APOCII, CD5L, HABP2, and RBP4 may be potential protein biomarkers of pulmonary TB. Our research provides useful data for early diagnosis of TB.
With polymethylhydrogensiloxane (PMHS) as the main chain, two series side-chain cholesteric liquid crystal polymers (ChLCPs) with different liquid crystal side chain lengths were prepared by ...hydrosilylation reaction. Then two series of cholesteric fluorescent liquid crystal polymers (FL-ChLCPs) were obtained by etherification reaction. The obtained FL-ChLCPs have both excellent mesomorphic behavior, and great photoluminescent property. We confirmed their chemical structures by FT-IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and found them with excellent thermal stability by TGA. We characterized their mesomorphic behavior and thermal performance by POM, DSC and XRD, and confirmed all the polymers belonged to cholesteric phase. FL-ChLCPs emitted different-intensity fluorescence under UV light, and we found some regularity by PL spectrum.
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•Cholesteric fluorescent liquid crystal polymers were synthesized using a new method.•FL-ChLCPs have both excellent mesomorphic behavior, and great photoluminescent property.•FL-ChLCPs are sensitive to temperature, and the temperature-dependent fluorescence is reversible.
•Plasma Cr–Ni alloying coatings with 20–80at.% Ni were prepared on Ti6Al4V.•The coatings included a deposited layer and a inter diffusion layer.•The isothermal oxidation behavior of coatings was ...studied at 750, 850, and 950°C.•The morphology and distribution of NiO in oxide scale were in detail researched.•20–40at.% Ni was beneficial to improve the oxidation resistance of Cr–Ni coatings.
To improve the oxidation resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy, it was coated with a Cr–Ni alloy with 20, 40, 60, and 80at.% Ni content using the double-glow plasma surface metallurgy technology. The coatings were dense, uniform, and compact, including a complete structure of deposited layer, interdiffusion layer, and sputtering-affected zone. The effect of Ni content on the isothermal oxidation behavior of coating was investigated at 750, 850, and 950°C. The results show that the oxide scale consisted of NiO and Cr2O3. The morphology and distribution of NiO in oxide scale were affected by oxidation temperature and Ni content. When the Ni content was ≤40at.%, the oxidation resistance of the Cr–Ni alloy coating was enhanced.
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