Bioactive surfaces with appropriate hydrophilicity for protein immobilization can be achieved by hydrophobin II (HFBI) self-assembly on mica and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements illustrated that the surface wettability can be changed from superhydrophobic (PDMS) or superhydrophilic (mica) to moderately hydrophilic, which is suitable for protein (chicken IgG) immobilization on both substrate surfaces. The results suggest that HFBI assembly, one kind of hydrophobin from Trichoderma reesei, may be a versatile and convenient method for the immobilization of biomolecules on diverse substrates, which may have potential applications in biosensors, immunoassays, and microfluidic networks.

The Keggin structure, known as an archetypical polyoxometalate (POM) structural motif, has widened up our fundamental understanding of the growth behavior of natural metal oxide minerals. However, devising a strategy for synthesis of such species consisting of pure-metal ions remains a great challenge. Different from those sixcoordinated early transition metal ions in Keggin POMs, lanthanide prefers higher coordination numbers, making the construction of lanthanide-Keggin structure more difficult. Here, we report the unprecedented luminescent Keggin-type Eu 13 nanocluster constructed through a facile solvothermal method using the high-symmetry macrocyclic tetrasilane (Ph 4 Si 4 O 8 ) 4− as the capping ligand. This protocol demonstrates an important proof of concept for assembly of metallasilsesquioxanes. The structure shows a rare polyoxometalate-Eu-oxo-core@SiO 2 -shell@organicshell (Eu13) consisting of a central EuO 8 cube, surrounded by 12 edge-sharing EuO 7 monocapped trigonal prisms. It is the highestnuclearity lanthanide−silsesquioxane nanocluster. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals that Eu13 is stable in solution except for some labile terminal dimethylformamide on the ligand shell, which endows Eu13 with a high catalytic activity for CO 2 cycloaddition reaction with small epoxides under ambient conditions. Eu13 also exhibits intense red luminescence upon visible light excitation (466 and 535 nm). The photophysical and photoelectric properties of the drop-casting film of Eu13 indicate its great potential in optoelectric device applications.

To determine, in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the associations of pulmonary embolism (PE) with mortality and risk factors for PE as well as the therapeutic benefit of anticoagulant prophylaxis. Embase, PubMed, Cochrane controlled trials register, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to October 10, 2020. We included all published trials on PE in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with eligibility of the trials assessed following the PRISMA guidelines. Sixteen clinical trials with 5826 patients were eligible. There were significant associations of PE with the male gender [odd ratio (OR) = 1.59, 95% CI 1.28–1.97], mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.71, 95% CI 2.57–5.36), intensive care unit admission (OR = 2.99, 95% CI 2.11–4.23), circulating D-dimer [mean difference (MD) = 5.04 µg/mL, 95% CI 3.67–6.42) and CRP (MD = 1.97 mg/dL, 95% CI 0.58– 3.35) concentrations without significant correlation between PE and mortality (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.82–2.08) as well as other parameters or comorbidities. After omitting one trial with strict patient selection criteria for anticoagulant prophylaxis, significant prophylactic benefit was noted (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.1–0.91). Our findings identified the risk factors associated with PE in COVID-19 patients and supported the therapeutic benefit of anticoagulant prophylaxis against PE in this patient population.

BackgroundIntravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) is a common method of relieving pain which is a risk factor of postoperative delirium (POD). However, research concerning POD in IVPCA patients is limited.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and phenomenological characteristics of POD in patients receiving IVPCA.MethodsA prospective, cohort study was conducted in post-general anesthesia IVPCA patients aged ≥60 years. POD was measured by the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NuDESC; 0–10). Delirium, pain severity at rest and/or on movement, and side effects of IVPCA during 3 postoperative days were examined twice-daily by the acute pain service team. Pain severity is measured by an 11-point verbal numerical rating scale (11-point VNRS) (0–10). An 11-point VNRS >3 was considered inadequate pain relief. If POD (detected by NuDESC ≥1) is suspected, consulting a neurologist or a psychiatrist to confirm suspected POD is required.ResultsIn total, 1,608 patients were included. The incidence rate of POD was 2.2%. Age ≥70 years and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status >III were the risk factors of POD in IVPCA patients. Approximately three-quarters of all POD cases occurred within the first 2 postoperative days. For pain at rest, patients with inadequate pain relief had significantly greater rates of POD than patients with adequate pain relief (day 1, 8.4% vs 1.5%, P<0.001; day 2, 9.6% vs 2.0%, P=0.028; day 3, 4.1% vs 2.1%, P=0.412). However, the incidence of POD was not associated with movement-evoked pain relief. Most (79.9%) POD cases in IVPCA patients showed either one or two symptoms. The symptoms of POD were ranked from high to low as disorientation (65.7%), illusions/hallucinations (37.1%), inappropriate communication (31.4%), inappropriate behavior (25.7%), and psychomotor retardation (14.2%).ConclusionThe incidence rate of POD in IVPCA patients was low. Further research is warranted concerning POD and IVPCA pain management.

This study determined the characteristics of cortical cell death in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots during programmed cell death (PCD) and the relationship between PCD and acid phosphatases. An examination of morphological development by light microscrope revealed that aerenchyma formed in roots waterlogged for 24 h and well developed aerenchyma formed in roots waterlogged for 120 h. The first detectable events were observed by electron microscopy and included plasma membrane invagination and the appearance of vesicles between the plasma membrane and the cell wall. Later, chromatin condensation and double-membrane-bound structures resembling autophagosomes were observed. The activity of acid phosphatases gradually increased during waterlogging and was present during the entire process of cell death. These observations suggest that cortical cell death during aerenchyma formation induced by waterlogging was a form of PCD. Acid phosphatases play an important role in PCD induced by waterlogging, being responsible for the hydrolysis of cell components at the later stages of PCD.

Tianeptine, an atypical tricyclic antidepressant with unique characteristics, can improve memory and prevent stress-induced hippocampal damage. It has neuroplastic and neurotrophic effects on hippocampal neurons and can prevent dendritic atrophy of the hippocampus in certain pathological conditions. To obtain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, we performed a proteomic analysis on tianeptine-treated hippocampal neurons. Primary hippocampal neurons were prepared from fetal Sprague-Dawley rats, eliminating glia cells by addition of cytosine beta-D-arabinofuranoside at day 2 in vitro (DIV2). The neurons were treated with tianeptine (10 microg/mL) or vehicle at DIV3, then harvested at DIV4 or DIV9 for immunocytochemical analysis of, respectively, neurite outgrowth or synapse formation. A proteomics analysis was performed on DIV4 neurons and the data were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Using specific markers, we demonstrated that tianeptine can augment neurite growth and promote synaptic contacts in cultured hippocampal neurons. The proteomics analysis identified 11 differentially expressed proteins, with roles in neurite growth, metabolism of neurotrophic substances, synaptogenesis, and synaptic activity homeostasis. The data shed light on the mechanisms underlying the neurotrophic effect of tianeptine observed in both animal studies and the clinic.

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Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <75 nmol/L) is associated with neuropathic pain and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunity. A two-part retrospective hospital-based study was conducted. Part I (a case-control study): To investigate the prevalence and risk of hypovitaminosis D in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients compared to those in gender/index-month/age-auto matched controls who underwent health examinations. Patients aged ≥50 years were automatically selected by ICD-9 codes for shingle/PHN. Charts were reviewed. Part II (a cross-sectional study): To determine associations between 25(OH)D, VZV IgG/M, pain and items in the DN4 questionnaire at the first pain clinic visit of patients. Independent predictors of PHN were presented as adjusted odds ratios(AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Prevalence (73.9%) of hypovitaminosis D in 88 patients was high. In conditional logistic regressions, independent predictors for PHN were hypovitaminosis D (AOR3.12, 95% CI1.73–5.61), malignancy (AOR3.21, 95% CI 1.38–7.48) and Helicobacter pylori-related peptic ulcer disease (AOR3.47, 95% CI 1.71–7.03). 25(OH)D was inversely correlated to spontaneous/brush-evoked pain. Spontaneous pain was positively correlated to VZV IgM. Based on the receiver operator characteristic curve, cutoffs for 25(OH)D to predict spontaneous and brush-evoked pain were 67.0 and 169.0 nmol/L, respectively. A prospective, longitudinal study is needed to elucidate the findings.