Highlight In this study, we designed a novel detection system to detect DNA based on DNA G-quadruplex / hemin enzyme. It consisted of DNA probes with hemin that can form a special structure via self-assembly after paring with target DNA. The special structure containing hemin showed enzyme activity catalyzing substrates for coloration or luminescence. Based on this chemiluminescence DNA biosensor system using DNA G-quadruplex/hemin enzyme, we designed a pair of DNA probes targeting β-actin DNA to detect circulating free DNA (cfDNA) in human serum from patients with gall bladder cancer (GBC), patients with cholecystitis, and healthy donors and calculated concentrations of cfDNA according to a standard curve. In the serum of patients with GBC, the level of cfDNA was higher than those in the serum of patients with cholecystitis and healthy donors. This is a convenient, economic, and promising approach to aid the diagnosis of patients with GBC via detecting serum cfDNA.
Background The clinical symptoms of invasive fungal infections (IFI) are nonspecific, and early clinical diagnosis is challenging, resulting in high mortality rates. This study reports the development of a novel aptamer-G-quadruplex/hemin self-assembling color system (AGSCS) based on (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans’ detection for rapid, specific and visual diagnosis of IFI. Methods We screened high affinity and specificity ssDNA aptamers binding to (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans, the main components of cell wall from Candida albicans via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment. Next, a comparison of diagnostic efficiency of AGSCS and the (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans assay (“G test”) with regard to predicting IFI in 198 clinical serum samples was done. Results Water-soluble (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans were successfully isolated from C. albicans ATCC 10,231 strain, and these low degree of polymerization glucans (< 1.7 kD) were targeted for aptamer screening with the complementary sequences of G-quadruplex. Six high affinity single stranded DNA aptamers (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6) were found. The linear detection range for (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans stretched from 1.6 pg/mL to 400 pg/mL on a microplate reader, and the detection limit was 3.125 pg/mL using naked eye observation. Using a microplate reader, the sensitivity and specificity of AGSCS for the diagnosis of IFI were 92.68% and 89.65%, respectively, which was higher than that of the G test. Conclusion This newly developed visual diagnostic method for detecting IFI showed promising results and is expected to be developed as a point-of-care testing kit to enable quick and cost effective diagnosis of IFI in the future.
Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the primary method for the treatment of renal calculi. The preservation of the nephrostomy tube after operation brings severe pain to the patients. We use a 1,470 nm semiconductor laser to stop bleeding after the operation, which cannot reserve the nephrostomy tube, fully reflect its safety and effectiveness, and provide a new method for clinical practice.Methods: Forty-two patients with renal stones who came to our hospital from March 2016 to September 2019 were randomly divided into two groups: laser operation group (20 patients) and traditional operation group (22 patients). The stone removal rate, surgical effect, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results: There was no significant difference in the stone clearance rate between the two groups at the 4th week after operation (P>0.05). However, the incidence of postoperative infection, incision pain, and massive bleeding in the laser surgery group were lower than those in the traditional surgery group (P<0.05).However, there was no significant difference in urine extravasation and postoperative hematuria between the two groups (P>0.05). The average postoperative hospital stay in the laser surgery group was shorter than that in the traditional surgery group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Simultaneously, there was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and medical expenses between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions:The 1,470 nm laser is safe, effective, and feasible in PCNL operation, especially in hemostasis of the renal puncture channel, and it is worth popularizing.
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