Notes

Photocatalyst-free visible-light-promoted quinazolinone synthesis from room temperature using aldehydes produced within situ by means of C[double connect, size as m-dash]C bond cleavage.
Simultaneous detection of patulin (PAT) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in food products is in great demand, which can prevent toxins from being exposed to human and animal bodies. However, simultaneous detection of multiple targets still faces a challenge. Herein, we developed a novel electrochemical aptasensor for the simultaneous detection of PAT and OTA in apple juice based on gold nanoparticles decorated black phosphorus (AuNPs-BP) nanomaterial. AuNPs-BP function?/work? as a sensing platform for loading much different electrochemical signal molecules functionalized aptamers. In this context, methylene blue functionalized PAT aptamers (Mb-PAT-aptamers) and ferrocene functionalized OTA aptamers (Fc-OTA-aptamers) have been introduced here to fabricate the aptasensor. Fc close to electrode surface showed a strong signal, whereas Mb was far away from electrode surface so exhibited a weak signal in the absence of OTA and PAT. Two kinds of electrochemical signal changes have been recorded dependent on target of OTA and PAT concentrations. So, simultaneous detection of OTA and PAT is achieved. Under the optimum conditions, using this developed biosensor, PAT and OTA can be quantified at a linearity range of 0.01 × 10-7 μg·mL-1 ~ 0.10 μg·mL-1. In addition, it also has good selectivity, stability and repeatability. For the practical application, it shows promising performance for the simultaneous detection of PAT and OTA in apple juice.Itch is a complex symptom that is both common and burdensome in atopic dermatitis (AD). Yet, little is known about the longitudinal course of itch in AD. A prospective, dermatology practice-based study was performed of adults with AD (n = 463). Patients were assessed at baseline and approximately 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Itch was assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) average and worst-itch scores, and frequency of itch in the past week. Repeated-measures regression models were constructed to examine itch over time. Overall, 31.5% and 22.5% had moderate (4-6) or severe (7-10) NRS average-itch scores; 27.4% and 36.4% had moderate (4-6) or severe (7-10) NRS worst-itch scores; 12.7% and 62.0% had itch from eczema 3-4 and ≥ 5 days in the past week; 27.4% and 45.1% reported sometimes and often/almost always having itch, respectively. Among patients with baseline moderate (4-6) or severe (7-10) NRS average-itch scores, 21.2% and 16.3% continued to have moderate or severe scores at ≥ 1 follow-up visits. In repeated-measures regression models, persistent NRS average-itch scores were associated with baseline NRS average-itch [adjusted β (95% CI) 0.75 (0.68, 0.82)] and food allergy [- 0.45 (- 0.84, - 0.07)]. Persistent NRS worst-itch was associated with baseline worst-itch NRS [0.73 (0.66, 0.80)] and Medicaid insurance [1.06 (0.17, 1.94)]. AD patients had a heterogeneous longitudinal course with fluctuating and complex overlapping patterns of average- and worst-itch intensity, and frequency.Herpesviruses are capable of infecting not only neurons, where they establish latent infection, but also astrocytes. Since astrocytes are important for the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), their infection may lead to serious neurological disorders. Thus, in the present study we investigated the ability of human herpesvirus type 2 (HHV-2) to infect primary murine astrocytes in vitro and the effect of infection on their mitochondrial network and actin cytoskeleton. In immunofluorescence assays, antibodies against HHV-2 antigens and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were used to confirm that the infected cells are indeed astrocytes. Real-time PCR analysis showed a high level of HHV-2 replication in astrocytes, particularly at 168 h postinfection, confirming that a productive infection had occurred. Analysis of mitochondrial morphology showed that, starting from the first stage of infection, HHV-2 caused fragmentation of the mitochondrial network and formation of punctate and tubular structures that colocalized with virus particles. Furthermore, during the late stages of infection, the infection affected the actin cytoskeleton and induced formation of actin-based cellular projections, which were probably associated with enhanced intracellular spread of the virus. These results suggest that the observed changes in the mitochondrial network and actin cytoskeleton in productively infected astrocytes are required for effective replication and viral spread in a primary culture of astrocytes. Moreover, we speculate that, in response to injury such as HHV-2 infection, murine astrocytes cultured in vitro undergo transformation, defined in vivo as reactive astrocytosis.Pleural effusion (PE) is prevalent in unselected "real-life" populations of multiple myeloma (MM). However, its prognostic value on MM is currently elusive. This study aimed to explore the role of PE on MM prognosis and to develop a novel prognostic nomogram for a cohort of Chinese patients with MM. Patients diagnosed with MM form 2000 through 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. PE was evaluated by chest computed tomography (CT) scans. Independent predictors of overall survival (OS) were identified using a multivariable Cox regression model performed on variables selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. A nomogram was constructed based on these variables. The concordance index (C-index) and the calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram. Among 861 patients analyzed, 368 patients developed PE. Multivariate cox regression and restricted mean survival time (RMST) analyses revealed that patients with PE experienced worse OS vs. patients without PE. A nomogram predictive of OS was constructed using PE, plasma cell proportion, international staging system (ISS) stage, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), 1q21 gain, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The nomogram showed satisfactory discrimination in the derivation cohort (C-index=0.729) and the validation cohort (C-index=0.684), outperforming the Durie-Salmon (DS) and ISS staging systems. Moreover, the nomogram accurately classified patients into two distinct high- and low-risk groups. PE is frequently encountered in the disease course for MM patients. We derivated and validated a novel nomogram for MM based on PE, outperforming the DS/ISS staging systems.
Fractional extracellular space has been validated as a marker of hepatic fibrotic in cirrhotic patients at CT-scan as well as on dual-energy CT, which takes advantage from iodine uptake. Since no consensus still exists between equilibrium phases performed at 3 or 10min, the first aim of this work is to evaluate performances at the two different time points. Moreover, correlation between fractional extracellular space and oesophageal varices, directly related to liver fibrosis, has been assessed.

Dual-Energy equilibrium phases at 3 and 10min were performed within a follow-up CT-protocol scan in cirrhotic patients. Oesophageal varices were endoscopically assessed according to their size. At the two different time points, correlation between iodine density of the right and left liver lobes and correlation between the fractional extracellular space values were assessed. Correlation between fractional extracellular space and endoscopic grade of oesophageal varices was calculated.

No statistical differences were found between the iodine density values from the two liver lobes at the two time points (p = 0.8 at 3'; p = 0.5 at 10'). No statistical difference about fractional extracellular space estimation was found between the two time points (p = 0.17). Correlation between fractional extracellular space values and oesophageal varices was moderate (ρ = 0.45, IC 0.08-0.71, p < 0.05).

Fractional extracellular space assessed on dual-energy CT at equilibrium phases with different timing was substantially similar. The moderate correlation found between fractional extracellular space and endoscopic grade of oesophageal varices confirms that CT-scan is not currently reliable as endoscopy.
Fractional extracellular space assessed on dual-energy CT at equilibrium phases with different timing was substantially similar. The moderate correlation found between fractional extracellular space and endoscopic grade of oesophageal varices confirms that CT-scan is not currently reliable as endoscopy.Mammalian ovarian tumor suppressor candidate 2 (OVCA2) gene belongs to the family of serine hydrolase (FSH). This study aimed to elucidate the functional similarities of OVCA2 with its yeast homolog genes (FSH1, FSH2, and FSH3) regarding apoptosis. We found that the expression of OVCA2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased cell growth, disturbed mitochondrial morphology, reduced membrane potential, increased chromatin condensation, and externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) (annexin V/propidium iodide staining) indicating induced apoptotic cell death in yeast. We also showed that complementation of OVCA2 in fsh3Δ cells reduced cell growth and increased the apoptotic phenotypes. Collectively, our results suggest that complementation of human OVCA2 in fsh3Δ cells induced apoptosis in S. cerevisiae.
The relationship between general obesity or abdominal obesity (abdominal circumference of ≥85cm in men and ≥ 90cm in women) and the heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR), a measure of cardiac sympathetic innervation, on cardiac iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (MIBG) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has not been clarified.

A total of 239 HFpEF patients with both MIBG and abdominal circumference data were examined. We divided these patients into those with abdominal obesity and those without it. In the cardiac MIBG study, early phase image was acquired 15-20min after injection, and late phase image was acquired 3h after the early phase. A HMR obtained from a low-energy type collimator was converted to that obtained by a medium-energy type collimator.

Early and late HMRs were significantly lower in those with abdominal obesity, although washout rates were not significantly different. The incidence of patients with early and late HMRs <2.2 was significantly higher in those with abdominal obesity. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that abdominal obesity was independently associated with early HMR (standardized β = -0.253, P = 0.003) and late HMR (standardized β = -0.222, P = 0.010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that abdominal obesity was independently associated with early (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval CI] = 4.25 [2.13, 8.47], P < 0.001) and late HMR < 2.2 (OR [95% CI] = 2.06 [1.11, 3.83], P = 0.022). Elevated BMI was not significantly associated with low early and late HMR. The presence of abdominal obesity was significantly associated with low early and late HMR even in patients without elevated BMI values.

Abdominal obesity, but not general obesity, in HFpEF patients was independently associated with low HMR, suggesting that visceral fat may contribute to decreased cardiac sympathetic activity in patients with HFpEF.

UMIN000021831.
UMIN000021831.
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