In the early February, 2020, we called up an experts’ committee with more than 30 Chinese experts from 11 national medical academic organizations to formulate the first edition of consensus statement ...on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children, which has been published in this journal. With accumulated experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in children, we have updated the consensus statement and released the second edition recently. The current version in English is a condensed version of the second edition of consensus statement on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 in children. In the current version, diagnosis and treatement criteria have been optimized, and early identification of severe and critical cases is highlighted. The early warning indicators for severe pediatric cases have been summarized which is utmost important for clinical practice. This version of experts consensus will be valuable for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in children worldwide.
MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, including those involving electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, KCNN3, the gene that encodes the small-conductance ...calcium-activated potassium channel 3 (SK3), was found to be strongly associated with AF.
To evaluate the changes in atrial myocardial microRNAs in patients with permanent AF and to determine the role of microRNA on the regulation of cardiac SK3 expression.
Atrial tissue obtained during cardiac surgery from patients (4 sinus rhythm and 4 permanent AF) was analyzed by using microRNA arrays. Potential targets of microRNAs were predicted by using software programs. The effects of specific microRNAs on target gene expression were evaluated in HL-1 cells from a continuously proliferating mouse hyperplastic atrial cardiomyocyte cell line. Interactions between microRNAs and targets were further evaluated by using luciferase reporter assay and by using Argonaute pull-down assay.
Twenty-one microRNAs showed significant (>2-fold) changes in AF. MicroRNA 499 (miR-499) was upregulated by 2.33-fold (P < .01) in AF atria, whereas SK3 protein expression was downregulated by 46% (P < .05). Transfection of miR-499 mimic in HL-1 cells resulted in the downregulation of SK3 protein expression, while that of miR-499 inhibitor upregulated SK3 expression. Binding of miR-499 to the 3' untranslated region of KCNN3 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and by the increased presence of SK3 mRNA in Argonaute pulled-down microRNA-induced silencing complexes after transfection with miR-499.
Atrial miR-499 is significantly upregulated in AF, leading to SK3 downregulation and possibly contributing to the electrical remodeling in AF.
A triptycene‐based microporous organic polymer (MOP) in which 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)pyridine (bbp) is incorporated as linkage and coordination site is designed and synthesized. Pd(II) ions are ...further immobilized in this MOP through the coordination interactions between Pd(II) ion and nitrogen atoms of bbp. The resulting material shows high stability and exhibits excellent heterogeneously catalytic activity for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction. Its high efficiency can be maintained after being reused for a number of cycles.
A triptycene‐based microporous organic polymer bearing tridentate ligands is constructed and Pd(II) ions are immobilized in it to generate a heterogeneous catalyst, which exhibits high stability and excellent catalytic activity for Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction.
Glucose fluctuations may contribute to large conductance calcium activated potassium (BK) channel dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to ...investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in BK channel dysfunction as a result of glucose fluctuations. A rat diabetic model was established through the injection of streptozotocin. Glucose fluctuations in diabetic rats were induced via consumption and starvation. Rat coronary arteries were isolated and coronary vascular tensions were measured after three weeks. Rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells were isolated and whole-cell BK channel currents were recorded using a patch clamp technique. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells in vitro were used to explore the underlying mechanisms. After incubation with iberiotoxin (IBTX), the Δ tensions (% Max) of rat coronary arteries in the controlled diabetes mellitus (C-DM), the uncontrolled DM (U-DM) and the DM with glucose fluctuation (GF-DM) groups were found to be 84.46 ± 5.75, 61.89 ± 10.20 and 14.77 ± 5.90, respectively (P < .05), while the current densities of the BK channels in the three groups were 43.09 ± 4.35 pA/pF, 34.23 ± 6.07 pA/pF and 17.87 ± 4.33 pA/pF, respectively (P < .05). The Δ tensions (% Max) of rat coronary arteries after applying IBTX in the GF-DM rats injected with 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) (GF-DM + NaCl) and the GF-DM rats injected with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) (GF-DM + NAC) groups were found to be 8.86 ± 1.09 and 48.90 ± 10.85, respectively (P < .05). Excessive oxidative stress and the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) α and nuclear factor (NF)-κB induced by glucose fluctuations promoted the decrease of BK-β1 expression, while the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS), PKCα, NF-κB and muscle ring finger protein 1 (MuRF1) reversed this effect. Glucose fluctuations aggravate BK channel dysfunction via the ROS overproduction and the PKCα/NF-κB/MuRF1 signaling pathway.
Illustration showing the role of PKCα/NF-κB/MuRF1 signaling in the regulation of BK channel in response to glucose fluctuation.
Under conditions of glucose fluctuations, there is an activation of PKC, which in turn promotes NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation, facilitates MuRF1-dependent BK-β1 protein degradation. Display omitted
•Glucose fluctuations aggravate coronary vasodilation dysfunction.•BK channels are impaired by BK-β1 degradation due to glucose fluctuations.•ROS overproduction is enhanced by glucose fluctuations.•Glucose fluctuations activate PKCα/NF-κB/MuRF1 signaling pathway.
A new hierarchy: A supramolecular template strategy is used to synthesize hierarchical micro‐ and mesoporous metal–organic frameworks. The mesopore walls are constructed from a microporous framework ...(see picture). The porosity can be tuned by using different templates at various molar ratios.
Cellular respiration is a worthwhile criterion to evaluate mitochondrial dysfunction by measuring the dissolved oxygen. However, most of the existing sensing strategies merely report extracellular ...(ec‐) or intracellular (ic‐) O2 rather than intramitochondrial (im‐) O2. Herein we present a method to assess tumor mitochondrial dysfunction with three phosphorescent nanosensors, which respond to ec‐, ic‐, and im‐O2. Time‐resolved luminescence is applied to determine the respective oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) under varying respiratory conditions. Data obtained for the OCRs and on (intra)cellular O2 gradients demonstrate that mitochondria in tumor cells are distinctly less active than those of healthy cells, resulting from restrained glucose utilization of and physical injury to the mitochondria. We believe that such a site‐resolved sensing strategy can be applied to numerous other situations, for example to evaluate the adverse effects of drug candidates.
Three phosphorescent oxygen nanosensors with specifically modified surface are targetable for extracellular, intracellular, and intramitochondrial O2. The cell respiration is studied with a time‐resolved fluorescence microplate reader and expressed in terms of the O2 consumption rates and (intra)cellular O2 gradients. Thereby, the status of the mitochondrial function can be accurately assessed.
Chronic pain is often accompanied by emotional dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for reducing pain, depressive and anxiety symptoms in chronic pain patients, ...but its therapeutic effect remains unknown.
To ascertain the treatment effect of tDCS on pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms of patients suffering from chronic pain, and potential factors that modulate the effectiveness of tDCS.
Literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to July 2022. Randomized controlled trials that reported the effects of tDCS on pain and depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic pain were included.
Twenty-two studies were included in this review. Overall pooled results indicated that the use of tDCS can effectively alleviate short-term pain intensity standard mean difference (SMD): -0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.75 to -0.12,
= 0.007 and depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.31, 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.14,
< 0.001), middle-term depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.35, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.11,
= 0.004), long-term depressive symptoms (ES: -0.38, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.13,
= 0.003) and anxiety symptoms (SMD: -0.26, 95% CI: -0.51 to -0.02,
= 0.03) compared with the control group.
tDCS may be an effective short-term treatment for the improvement of pain intensity and concomitant depression and anxiety symptoms in chronic pain patients. Stimulation site, stimulation frequency, and type of chronic pain were significant influence factors for the therapeutic effect of tDCS.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=297693, identifier: CRD42022297693.
Background
There were limited studies that directly compare the outcomes of various mind-body exercise (MBE) therapies on chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP).
Objectives
To compare the ...efficacy of the four most popular MBE modes Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi (TC), and Qigong in clinically CNLBP patients, we conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA).
Methods
We searched databases for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (from origin to July 2022). RCTs were eligible if they included adults with CNLBP, and implemented one or more MBE intervention arms using Pilates, yoga, TC, and qigong. In addition, pain intensity and physical function were evaluated using validated questionnaires.
Results
NMA was carried out on 36 eligible RCTs involving 3,050 participants. The effect of exercise therapy on pain was in the following rankings: Pilates Surface under cumulative ranking (SUCRA) = 86.6%, TC (SUCRA = 77.2%), yoga (SUCRA = 67.6%), and qigong (SUCRA = 64.6%). The effect of exercise therapy on function: Pilates (SUCRA = 98.4%), qigong (SUCRA = 61.6%,), TC (SUCRA = 59.5%) and yoga (SUCRA = 59.0%).
Conclusion
Our NMA shows that Pilates might be the best MBE therapy for CNLBP in pain intensity and physical function. TC is second only to Pilates in improving pain in patients with CNLBP and has the value of promotion. In the future, we need more high-quality, long-term follow-up RCTs to confirm our findings.
Systematic review registration
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=306905
, identifier: CRD42022306905.
•A C30 nanoparticle-based polyacrylonitrile monolithic column with a hierarchical porous structure was first prepared.•Convenient and highly efficient sample preparation for biological fluids was ...established.•Simultaneous analysis of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins from human serum samples was achieved.•The optimized micro-solid-phase extraction method outperformed C18 cartridges and liquid-liquid extraction.
In this work, a biocompatible monolithic column based micro-solid-phase extraction (µ-SPE) method was developed for biological fluid analysis. A novel nanoparticle-based polyacrylonitrile monolithic column (C30 NP-PMC) was fabricated by incorporating triacontyl (C30) modified silica nanoparticles (NPs) into the polyacrylonitrile monolithic matrix through thermally induced phase separation. With efficient mass transfer and sorption capacity, C30 NP-PMC exhibited outstanding performance for the extraction of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) from human serum samples, superior to commercial C18 cartridges as well as liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method. Under optimal conditions, the proposed µ-SPE method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) achieved satisfactory limits of detection (LODs) (1.5-75.0 ng/mL) and good recoveries (85.0-106.5 %) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 12.1% by consuming lower sorbent (35.0 mg) and organic solvent (0.8 mL). Successful application of the developed method demonstrated the great potential of such monolithic sorbents for efficient isolation and preconcentration of trace analytes from blood samples.
Cupin_1 domain-containing protein (CDP) family, which is a member of the cupin superfamily with the most diverse functions in plants, has been found to be involved in hormone pathways that are ...closely related to rhizome sprouting (RS), a vital form of asexual reproduction in plants. Ma bamboo is a typical clumping bamboo, which mainly reproduces by RS. In this study, we identified and characterized 53
Dendrocalamus latiflorus
CDP genes and divided them into seven subfamilies. Comparing the genetic structures among subfamilies showed a relatively conserved gene structure within each subfamily, and the number of cupin_1 domains affected the conservation among
D. latiflorus
CDP genes. Gene collinearity results showed that segmental duplication and tandem duplication both contributed to the expansion of
D. latiflorus
CDP genes, and lineage-specific gene duplication was an important factor influencing the evolution of CDP genes. Expression patterns showed that CDP genes generally had higher expression levels in germinating underground buds, indicating that they might play important roles in promoting shoot sprouting. Transcription factor binding site prediction and co-expression network analysis indicated that
D. latiflorus
CDPs were regulated by a large number of transcription factors, and collectively participated in rhizome buds and shoot development. This study significantly provided new insights into the evolutionary patterns and molecular functions of CDP genes, and laid a foundation for further studying the regulatory mechanisms of plant rhizome sprouting.