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Meng-Yuan Dai,1 Jin-Ping Qiao,2 Yuan-Hong Xu,2 Guang-He Fei1 1Pulmonary Department, 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People’s Republic of China Purpose: To investigate the respiratory infectious phenotypes and their impact on length of stay (LOS) and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) Scale in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Patients and methods: We categorized 81 eligible patients into bacterial infection, viral infection, coinfection, and non-infectious groups. The respiratory virus examination was determined by a liquid bead array xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel in pharyngeal swabs, while bacterial infection was studied by conventional sputum culture. LOS and CAT as well as demographic information were recorded. Results: Viruses were detected in 38 subjects, bacteria in 17, and of these, seven had both. Influenza virus was the most frequently isolated virus, followed by enterovirus/rhinovirus, coronavirus, bocavirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4, and respiratory syncytial virus. Bacteriologic analyses of sputum showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacteria, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The longest LOS and the highest CAT score were detected in coinfection group. CAT score was positively correlated with LOS. Conclusion: Respiratory infection is a common causative agent of exacerbations in COPD. Respiratory coinfection is likely to be a determinant of more severe acute exacerbations with longer LOS. CAT score may be a predictor of longer LOS in AECOPD. Keywords: COPD, acute exacerbation, respiratory infectious, phenotypes, LOS, CAT

Background: The primary aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between serum levels of fibrinogen-to-prealbumin ratio (FPR) and C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio (CPR) and prognostic outcomes among patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). SFTS, characterized by elevated mortality rates, represents a substantial public health challenge as an emerging infectious disease., Methods: The study included 159 patients with SFTS. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between the survival and death groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were utilized to identify independent risk factors for mortality. The predictive efficacy of FPR and CPR was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier curve and the log-rank test was employed for comparison., Results: The death group exhibited significantly elevated levels of FPR and CPR compared to the survival group ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that both FPR and CPR independently correlated with a poorer prognosis among patients with SFTS. The ROC curve analysis indicated that FPR and CPR had superior predictive capabilities compared to C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that patients with SFTS who have FPR > 0.045 (log-rank test; χ2 = 17.370, P < 0.001) or CPR > 0.05 (log-rank test; χ2 = 19.442, P < 0.001) experienced significantly lower survival rates within a 30-day follow-up period., Conclusion: Elevated levels of FPR and CPR serve as distinct risk factors for mortality among patients with SFTS, indicating their potential to predict an unfavorable prognosis in these patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Liu, Qiao and He.)

Background: Influenza A virus (IAV) triggers acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of IAV induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation to increase airway inflammation response in the progression of AECOPD., Methods: Human bronchial epithelial cells were isolated and cultured from normal and COPD bronchial tissues and co-cultured with IAV. The NLRP3 inflammasome associated genes were identified using RNA sequencing, and the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome components were measured using qRT-PCR and western blot after cells were transfected with siRNA and treated with MCC950. Moreover, IAV-induced COPD rat models were established to confirm the results; 37 AECOPD patients were included to measure the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β., Results: Increased levels of NLRP3 inflammasome components were not seen until 6 h post-inoculation in normal cells. However, both cell groups reached peak NLRP3 level at 12 h post-inoculation and maintained it for up to 24 h. ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were also elevated in a similar time-dependent pattern in both cell groups. The mRNA and protein expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome components were decreased when COPD cells treated with siRNA and MCC950. In COPD rats, the NLRP3 inflammasome components were elevated by IAV. MCC950 alleviated lung damage, improved survival time, and reduced NLRP3 inflammasome components expression in COPD rats. Additionally, the serum and BALF levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were increased in AECOPD patients., Conclusions: NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in COPD patients as a pre-existing condition that is further exacerbated by IAV infection., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents one of the most exigent threats of our lifetime to global public health and economy. As part of the pandemic, from January 10 to March 10, 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) began to spread in Hefei (Anhui Province, China) with a total of 174 confirmed cases of COVID-19. During this period, we were able to gather critical information on the transmission and evolution of pathogens through genomic surveillance. Particularly, the objective of our study was to track putative variants of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Hefei for the first time and contribute to the global effort toward elucidating the molecular epidemic profile of the virus. Patients who showed symptoms of COVID-19 were routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2 infections via RT-PCR at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 97 clinical samples collected from 29 confirmed COVID-19 patients. As a result, we identified a local novel single-nucleotide polymorphism site (10,380) harboring a G → T mutation (Gly → Val) in Hefei. Further phylogenetic network analysis with all the sequences of SARS-CoV-2 deposited in GenBank collected in East and Southeast Asia revealed a local subtype of S-type SARS-CoV-2 ( a1 ) harboring a C → T synonymous mutation (Leu) at position 18,060 of ORF1b , likely representing a local SARS-CoV-2 mutation site that is obviously concentrated in Hefei and the Yangtze River Delta region. Moreover, clinical investigation on the inflammatory cytokine profile of the patients suggested that mutations at positions 18,060 (the shared variable site of subtype a1) and 28,253(harboring a C → T synonymous mutation, Phe) were associated with milder immune responses in the patients., Competing Interests: X-wJ is employed by Daan Gene Co., Ltd. Z-kL is employed by Guangzhou Darui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potentialconflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Cheng, Li, Zhang, Hu, Zong, Xu, Qiao, Zheng, Jiang, Liang, Zhou, Zhang, Zhu and Xu.)

More than 10% of women suffer from endometriosis (EMT) during their reproductive years. EMT can cause pain and infertility and requires further study from multiple perspectives. Previous reports have indicated that an increase inapolipoprotein E (ApoE) may be associated with a lower number of retrieved mature oocytes in older women, and an association between ApoE and spontaneous pregnancy loss may exist in patients with EMT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence of an increase in ApoE in follicular fluid (FF) and the possible relationship between ApoE and EMT in Chinese women. In the current study, 217 Chinese women (111 control subjects and 106 EMT patients) were included. The ApoE genotypes were identified by Sanger sequencing. We found that ApoE expression in FF was higher in patients with EMT than in the control group. In addition, a significant difference in ApoE4 carriers (ϵ3/ϵ4, ϵ4/ϵ4) was found between the control subjects and the patients with EMT. Furthermore, a nonparametric test revealed significant differences in the numbers of blastocysts and high-quality blastocysts, but not the hormone levels of FSH, LH, and E2, between the two groups. We also established a multifactor (BMI, high-quality blastocysts, and ϵ4) prediction model with good sensitivity for identifying patients who may suffer from EMT. Our results demonstrate that ApoE expression in FF is increased in EMT, the ApoE-ϵ4 allele is significantly linked to EMT, and a combined analysis of three factors (BMI, high-quality blastocysts, and ϵ4) could be used as a predictor of EMT., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Liu, Xing, Zong, Wang, Ji, Zhao, Xia, Wang, Shi, Ding, Wei, Qiao, Du and Cao.)

An efficient synthesis of (E)-cinnamaldehydes by a metal-free DDQ-mediated oxidative transformation of allylarenes was developed. The protocol provides a practical method to prepare diverse (E)-cinnamaldehydes with broad functional group tolerance in good to excellent yields, including easy access to natural products randainal and geranyloxy sinapyl aldehyde from plant extracts. Finally, the mechanism of a single-electron transfer process was proposed.

A series of 6-methoxy indanone derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as potential probes for β-amyloid plaque imaging in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Two derivatives (5d and 5k) displayed significant binding abilities in fluorescent staining experiments using the brain sections of AD patients. Two derivatives showed high binding affinities to β-amyloid aggregates (5j, K i  = 5.82 ± 0.19 nM) and brain homogenates of AD patients (5j, K i  = 18.96 ± 0.28 nM) in in vitro binding assay. With a log P value of 3.45, [ 125 I]5k exhibited an excellent initial brain uptake (5.29%ID g -1 , 2 min after i.v.) and a fast clearance from the brain in biodistribution experiments in normal mice. In autoradiography, [ 125 I]5k exhibited an obvious binding ability to β-amyloid plaques and a relatively low nonspecific binding in the brain sections of AD patients (in vitro) and APP/PS1 transgenic mice (in vitro and ex vivo). Results suggest that 5k is a potential probe for detecting β-amyloid plaques in vivo., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The technology of target recognition based on characteristic multi-spectrum has many advantages, such as strong detection capability and discriminating capability of target species. But there are some problems, it requires that you obtain the background spectrum as a priori knowledge, and it requires that the change of background spectrum is small with time. Thereby its application of real-time object recognition is limited in the new environment, or the complex environment. Based on magneto-optical modulation and characteristic multi-spectrum the method is designed, and the target is identified without prior access to the background spectrum. In order to achieve the function of the target information in the one acquisition time for tested, compared to conventional methods in terms of target detection, it's adaptability is better than before on the battlefield, and it is of more practical significance. Meanwhile, the magneto-optical modulator is used to suppress the interference of stray light background, thereby improving the probability of target recognition. Since the magneto-optical modulation provides incremental iterative target spectral information, therefore, even if the unknown background spectrum or background spectrum change is large, it can significantly improve the recognition accuracy of information through an iterative target spectrum. Different test targets back shimmering light intensity and background intensity values were analyzed during experiments, results showed that three targets for linearly polarized reflectance modulation is significantly stronger than the background. And it was of great influence to visible imaging target identification when measured target used camouflage color, but the system of polarization modulation type can still recognize target well. On this basis, the target range within 0.5 km x 2 km multi-wavelength characteristics of the target species were identified. When using three characteristic wavelengths, the probability of target identification significantly reduced at around 2km, when using four or five characteristic wavelength position, the probability of target identification reach up to more than 95.0%. Meanwhile, in order to reduce the calculation and improve the real-time detection capability of the system, finally, four characteristic wavelengths was selected. So the system has a certain application value.

A laser-diode-pumped dual-loss-modulated Q-switching Tm:LuAG laser with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and monolayer graphene saturable absorber (SA) around 2 μm is presented for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The average output power and the pulse widths for different repetition rates have been measured. In comparison with the singly Q-switching laser with AOM or with monolayer graphene SA, the dual-loss-modulated Q-switching laser could generate shorter pulse width and higher peak power. The maximum pulse width compression ratio was found to be 3.11, and the highest peak power was enhanced 97.4 times. The experimental results show that the dual-loss-modulated technology is an efficient method for compressing the pulse width, improving the peak power, and enhancing the pulse stability for the Q-switched lasers at 2 μm.

A tetrazole derivative 1-[(1H-tetrazol-5-ylimino)methyl]naphthalen-2-ol (H2L) as a fluorescent chemosensor for Al(3+) in DMSO and Zn(2+) in DMF was designed and synthesized. From (1)H NMR data, the Job plot and the ESI-MS spectrum, 1 : 1 stoichiometric complexation between H2L and Al(3+)/Zn(2+) was found in DMSO and DMF, respectively. The theoretical calculations at the level of B3LYP/6-311G** for the ground state and TD-B3LYP/6-311G** for the excited state revealed the sensing mechanism is the inhibition of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). And the possible fluorescent species formed in the DMSO and DMF solutions were deduced to be [Al(HL)(OH)(NO3)(H2O)(DMSO)] and [Zn(HL)(OH)(H2O)(DMF)]. What's more, it is confirmed that H2L could be used to detect Al(3+) and Zn(2+) in cells by bioimaging.

Serum levels of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides may represent an early biomarker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the temporal kinetic changes in the levels of serum Aβ 1-42 and 40 in an amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin (PS)1 double transgenic mouse model of AD. Serum Aβ peptide levels in 2-, 3-, 6-, 9- and 18-month old, and liver Aβ 1-40 level in 6-month old mice were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results revealed that serum Aβ levels peaked in 3-month old transgenic mice, and the Aβ level in non-transgenic and transgenic mice is comparable in liver. Compared to the 6-month old transgenic mice, Congo red staining showed that the 3-month old transgenic mice had minimum brain Aβ plaques, corresponding to the early stage of Alzheimer-like plaque pathology, and confocal microscope images showed that the deposition of Aβ in their cerebral vessels was minimal. Furthermore, results of the water maze test, showed that memory was normal for the 3- month old transgenic mice when compared to age-matched non-transgenic mice. These results suggest that serum Aβ peptide levels may be peaked during the early stage of AD. Monitoring serum Aβ peptide levels in the potential AD population may provide an early diagnosis of AD prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms.

The Morris water maze (MWM) is one of the most common tasks used to assess spatial learning and memory ability in rodents. Genetic strain and gender are two prominent variants that influence spatial performance. Although it was reported that ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice exhibited an unchanged baseline performance in the training phase of the MWM task, this outbred strain has been widely used in learning and memory studies, and little is known regarding the effects of sex on behavioral performance. In this study, we demonstrated that both male and female ICR mice could complete the MWM task. Furthermore, a significant sex difference was observed, with females having shorter escape latencies and longer durations in the target quadrant in both the acquisition and test phases. Our findings emphasize the necessity of careful examination of not only the strain effect on behavioral performance but also the sex effect.

As currently understood, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is driven by the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein. It has been shown that resveratrol (RES) may attenuate amyloid β peptide-induced toxicity, promote Aβ clearance and reduce senile plaques. However, it remains to be determined whether RES could interact directly with Aβ. The aim of the present study was to examine the direct binding of RES to monomer and fibril Aβ. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), our results identified the direct binding of RES to Aβ. The ability of RES to bind to both fibril and monomer Aβ(1-40 and 1-42) was further analyzed by SPR. The binding response of RES to fAβ(1-42) was higher than that to monomer Aβ(1-42), whereas the binding response of RES to fAβ(1-40) was lower than that to monomer Aβ(1-40). The K(D) of RES for fibril Aβ(1-40 or 1-42) was higher than that for the corresponding monomer Aβ. Compared to the control compound Congo red (CR), the binding responses of RES to monomer Aβ(1-42) and Aβ(1-40) were stronger, but binding to fibril Aβ(1-42) was weaker, and the K(D)s of RES with both monomer and fibril Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) were higher than that of CR. When Aβ(1-40 or 1-42) was co-incubated with RES (50μM), the thioflavin T fluorescence of the mixture was weakened, and the number and length of amyloid fibrils were decreased. Furthermore, the results of staining in consecutive brain slices from AD patients showed that RES (10(-4)M) could stain senile plaques. These results indicated that RES could bind directly to Aβ in different states, which may provide new insight into the protective properties of RES against AD., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Molecular imaging probes to detect senile plaques (SPs) might help the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a novel series of indanone derivatives were synthesized and characterized. In in vitro binding studies, compound 2e exhibited a K(i) value of 16 nM with a human AD brain homogenate. Although they displayed relatively low affinities for 2i and 2j--with K(i) values of 99 and 237 nM, respectively--the SPs in AD brain sections were positively stained by 2j. A method for in situ micro-autoradiography of AD brain was developed in this study and showed clear labeling of SPs by [(125)I]2i and [(125)I]2j. Both [(125)I]2i and [(125)I]2j had suitable lipophilicities and displayed high initial uptake and rapid clearance from the mouse brains. Furthermore, [(125)I]2i and [(125)I]2j were more stable in human brain homogenates than in mouse brain homogenates. These data suggest that such indanone derivatives might represent potential amyloid imaging agents for the detection of SPs in AD., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

To improve spectrum resolution of the traditional Fourier interferometer with the same size lens, was proposed based on orthogonal wedge Fourier interferometer system. The interferometer system gets the optical path difference by the prism of two mutually perpendicular, which can make the laser Interferences on the CCD Array. The detector use the area array CCD linear array CCD, and the system collected the interference fringes on the two-dimensional plane. On the basis of the spectrum distribution of orthogonal inclination Moire interferometer by calculating optical path difference function, the system made the splicing of interference fringes on the area array CCD and Moire transform, finally got the spectrum resolution. The results from the MATLAB simulation software shows that the Maximum optical path difference of the orthogonal inclination Moire interferometer can be generated up to 234 microm, which is higher than the traditional Fourier interferometer about one order of magnitude, so the spectrum resolution also increased by nearly 10 times theoretical. Experimental calibration of the spectrometer with a selection of LAB SPAKR 750A-type spectrometer, measurements for the center wavelength of 635 nm semiconductor laser, the results show basically the same center wavelength position. However, the spectrum detected by orthogonal inclination Moire interferometer system near the center wavelength is better than the traditional interferometer system.

A group of novel 4,5-dianilinophthalimide derivatives has been synthesized in this study for potential use as beta-amyloid (Abeta) plaque probes. Staining of hippocampus tissue sections from Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain with the representative compound 9 indicated selective labeling of it to Abeta plaques. The binding affinity of radioiodinated [(125)I]9 for AD brain homogenates was 0.21 nM (K(d)), and of other derivatives ranged from 0.9 to 19.7 nM, except for N-methyl-4,5-dianilinophthalimide (K(i)>1000 nM). [(125)I]9 possessed the optimal lipophilicity with LogP value of 2.16, and its in vivo biodistribution in normal mice exhibited excellent initial brain uptake (5.16% ID/g at 2 min after injection) and a fast washout rate (0.56% ID/g at 60 min). The encouraging results suggest that this novel derivative of [(123)I]9 may have potential as an in vivo SPECT probe for detecting amyloid plaques in the brain., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diaminodithiol (N2S2)-type compounds readily oxidize to produce disulfides. We found that some ligands failed to produce a prospective protonated molecular ion peak but gave a peak of [M-2+H]+, whereas others produced both [M+H]+ and [M-2+H]+ peaks in electrospray ionization mass spectra. In this study, an important N2S2 ligand, the ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD), was investigated with high-resolution accurate mass measurements and tandem mass spectrometric analysis. The elemental compositions of ECD and its oxidized product were analyzed. The oxidation of ECD was confirmed. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method in multiple reaction monitoring mode was developed, and ECD and its oxidized product were quantitated in solution. The dynamic oxidation process of ECD in solution was studied in detail. The full time course of the decrease in ECD and the increase in its oxide was observed; the oxidation procedure followed first-order kinetics, and the half-life time of ECD was 51 min., (Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

6-Aminobutylphthalide (ABP) is a new drug candidate which is currently being developed for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of ABP were studied using in situ microdialysis sampling in the brains of awake freely-moving rats. Two LC-MS/MS methods were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of microdialysate. For comparison and confirmation, brain tissue samples were also analyzed by LC-MS/MS and GC/MS. The results described provide more authentic information in pharmacokinetics and metabolism at the site of action by using the coupling of microdialysis to LC-MS/MS technique than the traditional sampling methods.

Aim: To develop a sensitive and rapid HPLC method for the determination of tanshinone IIA (TS) in rat plasma and to study its pharmacokinetics in rats., Methods: TS and 4-chlorodiphenyl (internal standard) were extracted from plasma with ethyl acetate. After liquid-liquid extraction, the sample was analyzed by HPLC with YMC C18 column (5 microns, 150 mm x 3.0 mm ID). The mobile phase consisted of acetontrile-water-acetic acid (74:26:1) at the flow rate of 0.3 mL.min-1, the UV detection wave length was 270 nm., Results: The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9981) in the range from 0.05 to 6.40 mg.L-1. The lowest detectable concentration was 0.05 mg.L-1. The recoveries at the concentration of 0.05, 1.60 and 6.40 mg.L-1 were 98.9%, 102.1% and 100.4%, respectively. The inter- and intra-day RSDs were all less than 5%., Conclusion: This method is proved to be rapid, precise and reliable enough to be applied to the pharmacokinetics studies of TS in rats after a single dose of 15 mg.kg-1 by oral administration.