Rapid and ultrasensitive detection of pathogen-associated biomarkers is vital for the early diagnosis and therapy of bacterial infections. Herein, we developed a close-packed and ordered Au@AgPt array coupled with a cascade triggering strategy for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and colorimetric identification of the Staphylococcus aureus biomarker micrococcal nuclease (MNase) in serum samples. The trimetallic Au@AgPt nanozymes can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) molecules to SERS-enhanced oxidized TMB (oxTMB), accompanied by the color change from colorless to blue. In the presence of S. aureus, the secreted MNase preferentially cut the nucleobase AT-rich regions of DNA sequences on magnetic beads (MBs) to release alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which subsequently mediated the oxTMB reduction for inducing the colorimetric/SERS signal fade away. Using this "on-to-off" triggering strategy, the target S. aureus can be recorded in a wide linear range with a limit of detection of 38 CFU/mL in the colorimetric mode and 6 CFU/mL in the SERS mode. Meanwhile, the MNase-mediated strategy characterized by high specificity and sensitivity successfully discriminated between patients with sepsis (n = 7) and healthy participants (n = 3), as well as monitored the prognostic progression of the disease (n = 2). Overall, benefiting from highly active and dense "hot spot" substrate, MNase-mediated cascade response strategy, and colorimetric/SERS dual-signal output, this methodology will offer a promising avenue for the early diagnosis of S. aureus infection.

Objective To investigate the correlation of spinal mechanical imbalance and thoraco-dorsal pain of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The clinical data of 90 patients with AS were collected. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of thoracodorsal pain: the AS with thoraco-dorsal pain group (30 cases) and the AS without thoraco-dorsal pain group (60 cases). Clinical symptoms, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASFI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis measurement index (BASMI), ankylosing spondylitis disease activity (ASDAS), and spinal mechanical function and nuclear myocardial force test were compared using t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis and Spearman correlation analysis. Results ① There were differences between thoraco-dorsal pain group and patients without thoracodorsal pain group at the time of back muscle strength [(0.82±0.41) min vs (1.33±0.74) min, F=12.372, P=0.001]; ②Thoraco-dorsal pain in the AS group was mainly the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae, such as the inflammation of rib head and rib transverse process, facial arthritis, and spinous ligaments, etc. And the missed diagnosis rate of magnetic resonance imagin (MRI) was high. ③ In healthy control group, the anterior flexion strength of thoracodorsal pain group was signific-antly different from that of patients without thoracodorsal pain [(92.1 ±46.3) Nm vs (126.6±35.7) Nm, F=6.440, P=0.002]. ④ There was significant difference in spinal strength as well as left and right rotation strength between the thoracodorsal pain group and patients without thoracodorsal pain [(1.18 ±0.22) vs (1.05 ±0.17), F=10.044, P<0.01];⑤In the thoraco-dorsal pain group, the right/left index was related to BASDAI (r=-0.522, P=0.004). For spinal mobility, the right/left index was related to cross cutting faces to right ( r=0.435, P=0.021), cross cutting faces to left (r=0.528, P=0.004). In spinal strength, the right/left index was related to left turn (r=0.57, P=0.001); right lateral flexion (r=0.368, P=0.049) and left lateral flexion (r=0.369, P=0.049). Conclusion The thoracodorsal pain of AS is dominated by the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae, and the missed diagnosis rate of MRI is high. The imbalance of the left and right side of the spine is one of the factors of the thoracic back pain in AS.

Objective To investigate the relationship between different topographic locations and neurological deteriorations (ND) in patients with acute new isolated pontine infarction.Methods One hundred sixty-eight patients with acute new isolated pontine infarction during arch 2012 to March 2016 were identified by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for retrospective review.Patients were divided into two groups according to their clinical symptoms:patients with ND and patients without ND.According to neuroimaging of DWI,the topographic location of pontine infarction was divided into three types:The upper,middle,and lower ones,and the correlations of ND with risk factors,laboratory examination results,clinical manifestations and different topographic locations were explored by statistical tests.Results Of 168 patients,26.8％ (45/168) were diagnosed with ND,and 73.2％ (123/168) were diagnosed without ND.Univariate analysis showed that there were differences in female ratio [62.2％ (28/45) vs 41.5％ (51/ 123)],smoking ratio [13.3％ (6/45) vs 26.0％ (32/123)],mean length of hospital stay [(22.83 ± 7.12)d vs (19.31 ± 7.65)d],ratio of worse short-term clinical outcomes [77.8％ (35/45) vs 33.3％ (41/123)],and ratio of lower pontine infarction [55.6％ (25/45) vs 26.0％ (32/123)] between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that lower pontine infarction was the independent risk factor of ND (OR =1.953,95％ CI:1.092-3.535,P =0.029).Conclusions Topographic location of lower pons lesions may be reliable predictor of ND in acute new isolated pontine infarction.

Objective To analyze the correlation between clinical features and renal dysfunction in patients of acute lacunar infarction with progressive cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Methods Two hundred and sixty-five patients with first-episode acute lacunar infarction were selected. The serum creatinine was measured within 24 h of admission and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. The brain MRI (including gradient-echo images) was examined within 2 d of admission and after 1 years of follow-up, respectively. The progressive CMBs was assessed with microbleeds anatomical rating scale (MARS), and the patients were divided into progressive CMBs group (progressive group, 42 cases) and non progressive CMBs group (non progressive group, 223 cases). The clinical features of 2 groups were compared and the correlation between progressive CMBs and renal dysfunction was analyzed. Results The age, 24 h pulse pressure, incidences of renal dysfunction and CMBs in progressive group were significantly higher than those in non progressive group: (69.8 ± 5.8) years vs. (61.5 ± 4.9) years, (63.3 ± 3.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (51.8 ± 4.2) mmHg, 69.0％(29/42) vs. 39.9％(89/223) and 57.1％(24/42) vs. 25.1％(56/223), and the platelet was significantly lower than that in non-progression group:(168 ± 35) ×109/L vs. (189 ± 40) ×109/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05 or<0.01). The Logistic regression analysis result showed that renal dysfunction and CMBs were Independent risk factors of progressive CMBs (OR = 1.571 and 1.054, 95％ CI 1.042 - 2.493 and 1.010 - 1.142, P<0.05). Conclusions The rate of renal dysfunction is higher in patients of acute lacunar infarction with progressive CMBs, and progressive CMBs are associated with renal dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on neurological function, and the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factorκB (NF-κB) protein in ischemic penumbra after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) injury. Methods A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12), model group (n=12) and EA group (n=12). The later two groups were occluded their right middle cerebral arteries for two hours and reperfused. The EA group was pretreated with EA at Baihui (GV20) for two weeks before modeling. They were assessed with modified Neurological Severity Scores (mNSS), the injury in ischemic brain was detected with HE staining, and the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein in ischemic penumbra were detected with Western blotting, 24 hours after reperfusion. Results The score of mNSS decreased (P<0.05), the injury of brain tissue ameliorated, and the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB decreased in ischemic penumbra (P<0.05) in EA group compared with those in the model group. Conclu-sion EA pretreatment can reduce the injury and improve the neurological function in rats after CIR by down-regulating the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein in ischemic penumbra.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the erectile function of male patients treated by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone for mid-low rectal cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 66 patients with rectal cancer from March 2011 to March 2013 were prospectively analyzed. Of all the patients, 56 cases were finally included in the study and were randomly allocated to two groups. Thirty patients were treated by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery (RCS group), and 26 were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NCS group). The five-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire were used to determine erectile function before therapy and at least 12 months after surgery. The impacts of age, location, size of tumor, and body mass index on erectile function were analyzed.

RESULTSTotal score was decreased significantly at follow-up compared to initial assessment in both RCS and NCS groups (23.4 ± 1.30 vs. 11.7 ± 5.8, t = 10.748, P < 0.01; 23.1 ± 1.3 vs. 15.2 ± 6.7, t = 5.910, P < 0.01, respectively). Score difference was statistically higher in RCS group compared with NCS group (11.7 ± 5.6 vs. 8.0 ± 6.0, t = 2.394, P = 0.020). In terms of tumor location for RCS group, difference was statistically higher in the patients with low rectal cancer compared with those with middle rectal cancer (14.5 ± 3.5 vs. 9.5 ± 6.0, t = 2.894, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONSThe erectile functions of patients treated by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery are more affected than that of patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery in mid-low rectal cancer. Also low rectal cancer are significantly associated with erectile dysfunction in the patients treated by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery.

Chemoradiotherapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the effect of suledexide on renal injury and podocalyxin expression of podocytes in STZ diabetic desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-hypertensive rats. Methods Wistar rats were subjected to subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin(STZ), followed by uninephrectomy and subcutaneous administration of DOCA. Diabetic and hypertensive rats were randomly allocated to treatment with sulodexide or a combination of sulodexide and telmisartan for 8 weeks. Blood pressure (BP), 24-hour urinary albumin were measured every 2 weeks. Blood and urinary samples were collected to detect biochemical indexes of plasma and urinary β-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) at the end of the study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to examine the expression and distribution of podocalyxin. Results STZ +DOCA-treated rats progressively developed hypertension, albuminuria and hyperglycemia. Hyperlipidemia and hypoinsulinemia were found in diabetic and hypertensive rats compared with controls. Albuminuia was significantly reduced in sulodexide group at week 8 and sulodexide plus telmisartan group at week 6 and week 8. Blood pressure decreased in sulodexide plus telmisartan group. No significant effects on lipid and glucose metabolism were observed in all treated groups. Histopathological index increased in STZ+DOCA-treated rats, but was significantly lower in sulodexide group as well as sulodexide plus telmisartan group. The number of podocytes on glomerular cross-section of the four groups were comparable. Segmental loss and down-regulation of podocalyxin were detected in STZ+DOCA-treated rats, which were greatly attenuated by sulodexinde, meanwhile, combination treatment preserved more podocalyxin expression in glomeruli than sulodexide monotherapy. Conclusion Sulodexide effectively reduces albuminuria, prevents loss of podocyte podocalyxin and alleviates renal damage in STZ diabetic DOCA-hypertensive rats.