Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine最新文献

A fast and sensitive colorimetric assay for the determination of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) levels using biphosphonates-PEG-coated gold nanoparticles (BP-PEG-AuNPs) has been developed. Addition of different amounts of PAP to the AuNPs results in a significant change of color, from a red-wine color to purple, and finally to blue. The PAP should bind onto the AuNPs surface and crosslink the AuNPs inducing their aggregation and as a consequence a color change of the solution from wine red to purple/blue. The color change was monitored by UV–vis spectrophotometry or with the naked eye. The ensuing concentration-dependent red-shift of surface plasmon resonance absorption allows the determination concentration within the fg range in 10 min. Importantly, the visual detection limit (1 ng/mL) allows the rapid differential diagnosis with naked eye or image analyzer. This demonstrates that the color modification observed with BP-PEG-AuNP is effectively due to an interaction between PAP and BP.

The goal of this report is to provide a versatile one step method based on UV irradiation in order to graft a bioactive polymer bearing sulfonate groups called poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (polyNaSS) onto titanium nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) through covalent bond. The synthetic approach consists in two steps: (1) fabrication of TiO₂ nanocrystals with different shape and size by solvothermal method previous hydrolysis of titanium(IV)isopropoxide (TTIP) in the presence of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) and acetic acid (AcOH) at 180 °C, (2) TiO₂ NPs were immersed in a solution of monomer bearing sulfonate group and were placed under UV irradiation to induce the formation of radical to initiate the polymerization of the monomer. To demonstrate the success of the procedure, modified nano-surfaces were characterized by different techniques including colorimetric method by complexation, ATR–FTIR and SEM (EDS). This approach is promising to develop bio-active polymer–TiO₂ nanoparticles as carriers and further successful application in the field of regenerative-nanomedicine.

China accounts for nearly half of the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in the world. Furthermore, trends in lung cancer in China are increasing younger in age and the situation is deteriorating. As a whole although screening for early lung cancer may cause a small fraction of overdiagnosis and anxiety of the population, screening for lung cancer can significantly reduce the mortality of the leading malignant disease. Large scale screening usually faces the diameters of small pulmonary nodules less than 10 millimeters of which the malignant feature can’t be directly judged. Follow up the status of these suspicious small nodules and select and the ideal treatment model. China must take measures to avoid lagging behind developed courtiers in combating with this malignant disease which is deteriorating.

Biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of cancers are still unsatisfactory in clinical management. The seeking of new biomarkers with better performance is still a challenge. EGF, EGFR, and E-cad are soluble biomarkers with clinical potential. ELISA was used to analyze serum EGF, EGFR, and E-cad from 58 gastrointestinal cancer patients and 20 control subjects. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze Ki-67 expression in tumors. The results were correlated with clinical features. This study found that the preoperative and postoperative serum EGF and EGFR levels were significantly higher than in controls. The preoperative EGF and E-cad levels were significantly higher than postoperative levels. There was no correlation between EGF, EGFR, and E-cad levels and serum CEA or tumor Ki-67 scores. The serum EGF level was significantly higher in high TNM stage, with lymph node involvement patients than in low TNM stage, no lymph node involvement patients. Serum EGF and EGFR are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and screening of gastrointestinal cancers. Inter-combination analysis of three biomarkers has improved the performance of the assays.

Objective: To understand the immune status of new Uygur HIV infectors in Urumqi area by detecting and analyzing CD4⁺T lymphocytes. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to detect absolute counts of CD4⁺T lymphocytes in 92 whole blood samples and the Student’s t test was used for analysis. Results: The mean absolute counts of CD4⁺T lymphocytes of 92 new Uygur HIV infectors was (305.9 ± 168.3) cells/μL. No statistical significances were found in different genders and different transmission routes (P > 0.05). A negative correlation was showed between absolute counts of CD4⁺T lymphocytes and HIV viral load. Conclusions: Two third of the new Uygur HIV infectors in Urumqi area have entered the AIDS phase, so monitoring and antiviral therapy were needed timely. Local government must strengthen publicity and enlarge the monitoring range of CD4⁺T lymphocytes. Early diagnosis and intervention could improve the survival quality of HIV infectors.

Major depressive disorder is a serious mental health condition that involves increasing patients, medical care, economic burden and scientific problems. In these years, a lot of evidence is mounting that gut commensal microflora is a significant modulator in psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. Here we review recent findings about gut-brain-axis as well as their crosstalk and interaction. Gaining a better perception of the relationship between gut flora and the depression and other related diseases, this complex parameter could provide a novel insight into the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and treatments in major depressive disorder.