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Combined use of the present antimicrobial drugs has been proved to be an alternative approach for antimicrobial agents’ development since the co-existed of the drugs working in different mechanism have been demonstrated potentially enhance their antimicrobial activity. In this work, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)/chlorhexidine acetate (CHA) combination was evaluated for the first time, while a universal concentration for the rapid killing of gram-positive/gram-negative bacteria and fungi was also proposed. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CPC and CHA used alone or in combination were first measured, showing that the combined treatment decreased the MIC against tested gram-positive/gram-negative bacteria and fungi to 1/8–1/2. Growth curve assays demonstrated CPC and CHA had dynamic combined effects against the tested microorganisms at the concentration equal to MIC. Besides, combined use of these two drugs could also enhance their biocidal activity, which was illustrated by fluorescence microscopy and SEM images, as well as soluble protein measurement. More importantly, in vitro acute eye and skin irritation tests showed short-term contact with CPC/CHA combination would not cause any damage to mammalian mucosa and skin. In a word, CPC/CHA combination exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity against tested gram-positive/gram-negative bacteria and fungi while without any acute irritation to mammalian mucosa and skin, providing a new perspective on the selection of personal disinfectants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemical sensor of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (STAC) modified acetylene black paste electrode (AB-PE) was successfully established. An AB/MWCNT/STAC-paste electrode was constructed using the AB electrode with MWCNT and STAC as the electrochemical sensor materials. The performance of the prepared sensor was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Some factors, such as sensor composition, adsorption, and detection conditions, which affect the property of the sensor, were investigated in detail. The results demonstrated that the prepared sensor has satisfactory selectivity, repeatability, and stability for methotrexate (MTX) detection. The linear range of the method for MTX detection was 0.02–8.0 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.81 nM. Finally, the sensor was successfully used for detecting the MTX concentrations in the samples of serum and saliva. The prepared sensor could be a fresh platform for the swift and accurate MTX detection in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than half of Neuroblastoma (NB) patients presented with distant metastases and the relapse of metastatic patients was up to 90%. It is urgent to explore a biomarker that could facilitate the prediction of metastasis in NB patients. Methods and results: In the present study, we systematically analyzed Gene Expression Omnibus datasets and focused on identifying the critical molecular networks and novel key hub genes implicated in NB metastasis. In total, 176 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Based on these DEGs, a PPI network composed of 150 nodes and 452 interactions was established. Through PPI network identification combined with qRT-PCR, ELISA and IHC, S100A9 was screened as an outstanding gene. Furthermore, in vitro tumorigenesis assays demonstrated that S100A9 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion of NB cells. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggested that S100A9 could participate in NB tumorigenesis and progression. In addition, S100A9 has the potential to be used as a promising clinical biomarker in the prediction of NB metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) is an interferon (IFN)-induced protein that plays an important role in the antiviral action of IFN, with OAS3 being one of the four OAS classes (OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, OASL). The effect of OAS on several infectious viral diseases has been reported; however, a study of the effect of OAS3 on enterovirus 71 (EV71) is lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of the OAS3 rs1859330 G/A genetic polymorphism with susceptibility and severity of EV71 infection. We investigated 370 Chinese Han children with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) (214 of which were mild cases while 156 were severe). An improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique was carried out to examine the genotype. The AA genotype distribution (p = 0.002) and A allele frequency (OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.32-2.52, p < 0.001) of OAS3 rs1859330 in severe cases were significantly higher than in mild cases. When comparing the different genotypes in EV71-infected patients, there were statistical differences in relation to rash (p = 0.03), oral ulcers (p = 0.005), pathologic reflex (p = 0.003), WBC counts (p = 0.032), CRP (p = 0.024), BG concentrations (p = 0.029), ALT (p = 0.02), and EEG (p = 0.019). However, there were no differences in relation to age, gender, AST, CK-MB, CT/ MRI, as well as some symptoms and signs (e.g. duration of fever (days), headache, convulsions, consciousness disturbance, paralysis, sign of meningeal irritation). In the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of severe cases, there were no differences in the levels of white cells, protein, glucose, chloride, lymphocytes and monocytes between the different genotypes. The plasma levels of IFN-γ in EV71-infected patients were significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.01). IFN-γ concentrations in severe cases were lower in A allele carriers (AA+GA) (118.5 ± 12.6pg/mL) than in GG homozygotes (152.6 ± 56.3pg/mL p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the OAS3 rs1859330 G/A genetic polymorphism is associated with the severity of EV-71 infection, and that the A allele is a risk factor for the development of severe EV71 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]