Background: Metals and their ions have been used to reduce bacterial infection risks. Among them, minerals containing rubidium (MCR), natural minerals containing metal ions, show potential as novel and tunable materials. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity and mechanism of MCR. Methods: The inhibitory effect of MCR on bacteria was clarified using the growth curve method, turbidimetric method, and minimum inhibitory concentration method. Physiological and biochemical indices were employed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of MCR. Results: The results revealed that MCR inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 11.95, 2.60, and 2.60 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory activity of MCR was insignificant against Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Helicobacter pylori at 3.25 mg/mL. Mechanistic assessments showed that MCR affected bacterial conductivity, protein and nucleic acid levels, reducing sugar content, respiratory chain dehydrogenase activity, bacterial lipid peroxidation, intracellular adenosine triphosphate, and extracellular alkaline phosphatase. Conclusion: MCR has bacteriostatic activity and the mechanism primarily involves adhesion to bacteria, disrupting the integrity of their cell walls and membranes, and altering their permeability. This disruption leads to the release of intracellular molecules of various sizes, inhibiting cellular respiration and metabolism, and causing oxidative damage. These combined effects impair cellular functions, affecting cell growth and metabolism, or leading to cell death. These findings provide a theoretical reference for the development of MCR as a bacteriostatic agent.

Organoid models are used to study kidney physiology, such as the assessment of nephrotoxicity and underlying disease processes. Personalized human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids are ideal models for compound toxicity studies, but there is a need to accelerate basic and translational research in the field. Here, we developed an automated continuous imaging setup with the "read-on-ski" law of control to maximize temporal resolution with minimum culture plate vibration. High-accuracy performance was achieved: organoid screening and imaging were performed at a spatial resolution of 1.1 μm for the entire multi-well plate under 3 min. We used the in-house developed multi-well spinning device and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity model to evaluate the toxicity in kidney organoids using this system. The acquired images were processed via machine learning-based classification and segmentation algorithms, and the toxicity in kidney organoids was determined with 95% accuracy. The results obtained by the automated "read-on-ski" imaging device, combined with label-free and non-invasive algorithms for detection, were verified using conventional biological procedures. Taking advantage of the close-to-in vivo-kidney organoid model, this new development opens the door for further application of scaled-up screening using organoids in basic research and drug discovery.
Humans ; Kidney ; Organoids ; Pluripotent Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). METHODS: Clinical data of the patient was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his family members. Potential variant was screened by whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity the variant was analyzed by multiple sequence alignment of the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional model prediction of its protein product. RESULTS: The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants c.257G>A (p.R86Q) and c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) of the ARSA gene, among which the c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) frameshift variation was unreported previously. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the site of the c.257G>A (p.R86Q) missense variant is highly conserved. Three-dimensional structure modeling analysis showed that the partial deletion due to the p.G156Afs*6 variant may cause significant alteration of the structure of ARSA protein. CONCLUSION The discovery of novel variant in ARSA has enriched the mutational spectrum of MLD and may facilitate the understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of MLD.
Cerebroside-Sulfatase/genetics* ; DNA ; Genetic Association Studies ; Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective To investigate the status of life quality in the elderly in Shanxi Province Changzhi City, and to analyze its influencing factors. Methods The quality of life, activities of daily living and status of community services were measured simultaneously by 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Activities of Daily Living Scale, Community Healthy Needs Scale and survey results were used and analyzed using t-test, correlation and stepwise regression analysis. Results According to the criterion of life quality in the elderly which were proposed by Zhang Lei, the quality of life in the elderly scored 72. 1-117.0, reached 98.5%. The quality of life in the elderly was impacted by the ability of caring oneself, marital status, degree of culture, economic situation and so on. The demand rate for health guidance and periodic physical examination was higher. Conclusions The quality of life in the elderly is at a medium level. There is a wide gap between the demand of community healthy services and the utilization of community healthy services.

Objective To investigate the quality of life of elderly caregivers and its factors. Methods Elderly caregivers living in Changzhi City were enrolled in this study. 36-item short-form (SF-36) health survey and Activity of Daily Living Scale ( ADL) were used as study tools. The data was analyzed by statistical description,t test or multiple regression. Results Those with score of quality of life reaching 72. 1 to 117. 0 accounted for 98. 8%. The total score and score of eight dimensions of SF-36 showed statistically significant difference between different daily living activity groups ( P < 0.05) . The state of health and self-care ability of the elderly imposed a major impact on eight dimensions of SF-36. Age, sex, level of education, marital status and wage had different impact on each dimension of SF-36. Conclusion The quality of life of elderly caregivers is at a medium level. The main factors of quality of live of elderly caregiver are their state of health and self-care ability of the elderly.