Selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors based on an ion imprinting polymer and graphene oxide for the detection of ultra-trace Cd(ii) in biological samples

New selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors were designed based on the deposition of a promising ion imprinted polymer (IIP) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection and monitoring of Cd(ii) in different real samples. Herein, a highly selective Cd-imprinted polymer was successfully synthesized using a novel heterocyclic compound based on the benzo[f]chromene scaffold that acted as a complexing agent and a functional monomer in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linker). The characterization of the synthesized chelating agent and IIP was performed using FT-IR, SEM, ¹H-NMR, EIMS, and EDX analyses. After that, the voltammetric sensor was manufactured by introducing graphene oxide (GO) on the surface of GCE; then, the IIP was grown by a drop coating technique. The electrochemical characterization of the voltammetric sensor (IIP/GO@GCE) was performed by CV and EIS. For comparison, the potentiometric sensor was also prepared by embedding IIP in plasticized polyvinyl chloride and depositing it as one layer on the GCE surface. Anodic stripping voltammetry was used to construct the calibration graph; the IIP/GO@GCE exhibited a wider detection range (4.2 × 10⁻¹²–5.6 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) and extremely low detection limit (7 × 10⁻¹⁴ mol L⁻¹) for Cd(ii). Meanwhile, the potentiometric sensor showed a linear calibration curve for Cd(ii) over a concentration range from 7.3 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ to 2.4 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 6.3 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. Furthermore, both sensors offered outstanding selectivity for Cd(ii) over a wide assortment of other common ions, high reproducibility, and excellent stability.

New selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors were designed based on the deposition of a promising ion imprinted polymer (IIP) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection and monitoring of Cd(ii) in different real samples.     

Auditory cortical processing in cochlear-implanted children with different language outcomes

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Behavioral evaluation of language development is an important index for the usefulness of cochlear implantation. However, it could not apply to infants...     

Clinical manifestations of Pacak‐Zhuang syndrome in a male pediatric patient

We report an index case of a male patient who presented with all clinical manifestations of Pacak‐Zhuang syndrome, including early‐age polycythemia, multiple pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas, duodenal somatostatinoma, and ocular findings. Sequencing analysis detected an EPAS1 mutation in all tumors tested, but not in the germline.     

核干细胞因子RNA干扰慢病毒载体的构建及鉴定

目的 构建核干细胞因子基因RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）慢病毒表达载体并对其在白血病细胞株中的干扰效果进行鉴定,为后期研究奠定基础.方法 针对核干细胞因子基因的序列设计RNAi有效靶点,合成含RNA干扰序列、Loop环、Age I和EcoR I酶切位点,以及终止信号的单链DNA oligo,经退火形成双链DNA,与双酶切线性化的带有GFP荧光标记和嘌呤霉素抗性标记的GV248慢病毒空载体进行连接产生重组慢病毒载体,转化感受态细菌,挑取重组阳性转化子进行菌落PCR反应,并对PCR阳性克隆进行测序.将重组慢病毒载体及其两种辅助包装原件载体质粒pHelper1.0和pHelper2.0共转染293T细胞进行病毒的包装,收集、浓缩病毒液后测定其滴度,并转染HL-60、NB4以及K562等三种人白血病细胞株,倒置荧光显微镜下观察其转染效率,real-time PCR检测核干细胞因子基因的敲减效率.结果 经测序证实正确构建出了核干细胞因子基因的RNAi重组慢病毒载体,包装、浓缩后其滴度为4×108 TU/ml,荧光显微镜下显示其能有效转染进入HL-60、NB4及K562等白血病细胞株中,转染效率均在80％以上;real-time PCR显示转染后核干细胞因子基因mRNA表达水平较阴性对照组显著下降（P＜0.05）,在HL-60、NB4和K562细胞中核干细胞因子基因的抑制效率分别为52.3％、80.5％、62.3％.结论 成功构建出了核干细胞因子基因的RNAi慢病毒载体,其能有效干扰人白血病细胞株HL-60、NB4及K562中的核干细胞因子基因表达.     

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular cancer: should the current indication criteria be changed?

Liver transplantation (LTx) is the best treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but should be offered only to selected patients. The usual procedure is to transplant only for small and unilobular tumors. The aim of this paper is to verify whether the actual indication criteria are still justified. The details of 121 patients with HCC who were submitted to LTx from 1985 to 2000 were analyzed. Age, gender, liver disease, Child class, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, presence of tumor capsule, vascular invasion, size and number of nodules, histological grade, and pTNM were considered. The 5- and 10-year actuarial survival rates were 61.7% and 53.1%. Freedom from recurrence was 85.9% and 85.9%, respectively. At univariate analysis, size, presence of capsule, AFP levels, vascular invasion, grade, pTNM, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), Child class, and age were all significantly related to survival and/or cancer recurrence. Presence of capsule, AFP levels, and viral cirrhosis were independent variables in Cox's analysis for survival, whereas histological grade, AFP levels, and vascular invasion were significant independent variables for recurrence. In conclusion, a strict selection should be made to optimize graft allocation while size and multifocality should probably no longer be considered a contraindication for LTx. Histological grade, AFP levels, and vascular invasion, as indicator of tumor behavior, more likely reflect the risk of recurrence.     

Interventional Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy

In the last decade, a variety of novel anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents that improve outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization have emerged. During the next decade, continued refinements in catheter-based device technology should lead to further increases in the number of interventional procedures. The use of optimal antithrombotic strategies is pivotal in reducing adverse events among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our purpose is to review the current evidence regarding the efficacy of available adjunctive anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents in treating patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. It should be borne in mind that patients undergoing PCI in the midst of an acute coronary event require a different level of coagulation and platelet aggregation inhibition than low-risk patients undergoing elective PCI for stable angina pectoris. Similarly, generalizing antithrombotic regimen safety data to a wide spectrum of catheter-based therapeutic devices should be avoided. A level of anticoagulation that is safe and effective for angioplasty and stent placement may not be sufficient for devices with longer intracoronary dwell times such as brachytherapy catheters. In light of current evidence, activated clotting times should be targeted in the 200- to 250-second range during elective PCI and in the 250- to 300-second range when intervening on a higher-risk lesion, such as one with an angiographically visible thrombus or in patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Low-dose enoxaparin sodium is an attractive antithrombin strategy in PCI because it is intrinsically adjusted for renal function, age, and concomitant glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonist use. Other low-molecular weight heparins have also been studied as adjunctive anticoagulants during cardiac catheterization. For example, in pilot studies, dalteparin sodium was shown to have a good safety profile when used alone or in combination with abciximab during PCI.A wealth of data supports the use of a GP IIb/IIIa antagonist in patients presenting with ACS, especially those with high-risk features such as elevated cardiac markers; the systematic use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in this population is therefore encouraged. Overall, the use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors reduces the incidence of thrombotic complications following PCI, is associated with a mortality benefit, but has no impact on the risk of restenosis.