A fast and low-cost spray method for prototyping and depositing surface-enhanced Raman scattering arrays on microfluidic paper based device

In this study, a fast, low-cost, and facile spray method was proposed. This method deposits highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the paper-microfluidic scheme. The procedures for substrate preparation were studied including different strategies to synthesize AgNPs and the optimization of spray cycles. In addition, the morphologies of the different kinds of paper substrates were characterized by SEM and investigated by their SERS signals. The established method was found to be favorable for obtaining good sensitivity and reproducible results. The RSDs of Raman intensity of randomly analyzing 20 spots on the same paper or different filter papers depositing AgNPs are both below 15%. The SERS enhancement factor is approximately 2 x 10(7). The whole fabrication is very rapid, robust, and does not require specific instruments. Furthermore, the total cost for 1000 pieces of chip is less than $20. These advantages demonstrated the potential for growing SERS applications in the area of environmental monitoring, food safety, and bioanalysis in the future

Encoding and controlling of two droplet trains in a microfluidic network with the loop-like structure

A theoretical model is derived mathematically for the encoding and controlling of the navigating of two droplet trains in a microfluidic network with a loop-like structure. The model reveals the relationship between the new outlet droplet train's arrangement information (output signals) and the parameters including the two droplet trains' input signals (droplet intervals), tuning flow rates, etc. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental results and they agree with each other. We find that every tuning flow rate corresponds to a certain output signal and a new droplet train can be obtained accurately. The generation orders of the successive droplets of the new droplet train remain unchanged within a certain range of the tuning flow rates. This work can be a useful reference for traffic controlling of two or more droplet trains in many microfluidic networks including the loop structure; the output signal of this work can be the input one for the next level which makes the multilevel studies possible. In addition, this study can help to promote the effective fusion of droplets and further the biological and chemical applications on droplet microfluidics

Manganese affects the growth and metabolism of Ganoderma lucidum based on LC-MS analysis

Background As a metal-enriched edible fungus, Ganoderma lucidum is capable of adsorbing manganese effectively. And the manganese ion is demonstrated to play an important role in the synthesis of manganese peroxidase (Mnp) and other physiological activities during G. lucidum growth. Recently, the influence of manganese on the metabolites of G. lucidum fruiting bodies can be revealed through metabonomics technique. Methods In this study, we uncovered the changes between the control and 200 mg/kg Mn-treated fruiting bodies with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Results The mycelial growth rate, dry yield, Mnp activity , total polysaccharide content, triterpenoid content, and total manganese content in the mature fruiting bodies of G. lucidum changed between the control and different Mn-treated groups. Based on LC-MS method, a total of 16 significantly different metabolites were obtained and identified, among which, five presented significantly down-regulated and 11 up-regulated in Mn-treated samples. The metabolites chavicol and palmitoylethanolamide were particularly significantly up-regulated, and were found the strong promotion relationship. Dependent on the MetPA database, four KEGG pathways were detected and glycerophospholipid metabolism was most impacted, in which, choline was involved in. Discussion The added manganese ion in the substrate enhanced Mnp activities, and consequently promoted the mycelial growth, yield , metabolites in the fruiting bodies including triterpenoids, total manganese, chavicol, etc. Our finding can provide a theoretical reference to regulation of manganese on the physiological metabolism of G. lucidum

Increased triglyceride-glucose index is associated with adverse functional outcome for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after surgical clipping and endovascular coiling: insights from a large cohort study

BackgroundThe triglyceride-glucose index (TyG-i) isrecognized as a simple, cost-effective, and valuable surrogate for insulin resistance, and it has been identified to be associated with the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. However, limited research has been conducted to explore the relationship between TyG-i and clinical outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study aims to elucidate the association between preoperative TyG-i level and the prognosis of aSAH.MethodsA total of 467 patients with aSAH admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2015 to September 2022 for inclusion in this study. Unfavorable clinical outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) < 3 at 90 days after discharge. TyG-i was calculated using measurements of triglyceride and fasting blood glucose. Additionally, TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), a TyG-derived parameter calculated by TyG-i, height, and weight, was also collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore association between clinical outcome and TyG-i level, as well as its derivative index.ResultsAfter multivariate adjustment, the increased TyG-i level was associated with high risk of unfavorable clinical outcome (Odds ratio = 3.474, p = 0.002). Multivariable-adjusted spline regression model showed a linear relationship between TyG-i and aSAH prognosis (p for nonlinear = 0.202). Moreover, adding TyG-i to conventional risk factors significantly improved the risk prediction of poor prognosis (net reclassification index: 40.17%, p < 0.001; integrated discrimination index: 3.24%, p = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that there was no significant association between TyG-BMI and clinical outcome of aSAH.ConclusionHigh preoperative TyG-i levels were associated with increased risks of unfavorable clinical outcome, suggesting that TyG-i may be a valuable prognostic marker for patients with aSAH.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04785976, identifier NCT04785976

Pediatric-inspired regimen for adolescent and adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a prospective study from China

Several international centers have used and reported pediatric-inspired regimens for adolescent and adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph- ALL). However, there is a lack of prospective data on the Chinese population. Herein, we performed a prospective study with a pediatric-inspired regimen (IH-2014 regimen) in treating adolescent and adult Ph- ALL patients in our center. From 2014 to 2021, a total of 415 patients aged between 14 and 65 years (median age, 27) were included in this study. After a median follow-up of 40.8 months, the 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and event-free survival rates were 53.8%, 51.1% and 45.0%, respectively. The regimen was generally well tolerated and safe, and the overall chemotherapy-related mortality was 3.6%. Age ≥ 40 years and persistent detectable minimal residual disease (MRD) post-induction were independent prognostic factors. Traditional risk factors for adult patients combined with MRD post-induction exhibit predictive significance for survival and relapse, which is helpful in the selection of subsequent treatment. Patients with high risk factors who can achieve deep MRD response after induction do not derive benefit from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Inflammatory factors and risk of meningiomas: a bidirectional mendelian-randomization study

BackgroundMeningiomas are one of the most common intracranial tumors, and the current understanding of meningioma pathology is still incomplete. Inflammatory factors play an important role in the pathophysiology of meningioma, but the causal relationship between inflammatory factors and meningioma is still unclear.MethodMendelian randomization (MR) is an effective statistical method for reducing bias based on whole genome sequencing data. It’s a simple but powerful framework, that uses genetics to study aspects of human biology. Modern methods of MR make the process more robust by exploiting the many genetic variants that may exist for a given hypothesis. In this paper, MR is applied to understand the causal relationship between exposure and disease outcome.ResultsThis research presents a comprehensive MR study to study the association of genetic inflammatory cytokines with meningioma. Based on the results of our MR analysis, which examines 41 cytokines in the largest GWAS datasets available, we were able to draw the relatively more reliable conclusion that elevated levels of circulating TNF-β, CXCL1, and lower levels of IL-9 were suggestive associated with a higher risk of meningioma. Moreover, Meningiomas could cause lower levels of interleukin-16 and higher levels of CXCL10 in the blood.ConclusionThese findings suggest that TNF-β, CXCL1, and IL-9 play an important role in the development of meningiomas. Meningiomas also affect the expression of cytokines such as IL-16 and CXCL10. Further studies are needed to determine whether these biomarkers can be used to prevent or treat meningiomas