Oncogenic Regulation of Extracellular Vesicle Proteome and Heterogeneity

Mutational and epigenetic driver events profoundly alter intercellular communication pathways in cancer. This effect includes deregulated release, molecular composition, and biological activity of extracellular vesicles (EVs), membranous cellular fragments ranging from a few microns to less than 100 nm in diameter and filled with bioactive molecular cargo (proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids). While EVs are usually classified on the basis of their physical properties and biogenetic mechanisms, recent analyses of their proteome suggest a larger than expected molecular diversity, a notion that is also supported by multicolour nano‐flow cytometry and other emerging technology platforms designed to analyze single EVs. Both protein composition and EV diversity are markedly altered by oncogenic transformation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and differentiation of cancer stem cells. Interestingly, only a subset of EVs released from mutant cells may carry oncogenic proteins (e.g., EGFRvIII), hence, these EVs are often referred to as “oncosomes”. Indeed, oncogenic transformation alters the repertoire of EV‐associated proteins, increases the presence of pro‐invasive cargo, and alters the composition of distinct EV populations. Molecular profiling of single EVs may reveal a more intricate effect of transforming events on the architecture of EV populations in cancer and shed new light on their biological role and diagnostic utility.     

Monitoring of biofilms grown on differentially structured metallic surfaces using confocal laser scanning microscopy

Imaging of biofilms on opaque surfaces is a challenge presented to researchers especially considering pathogenic bacteria, as those typically grow on living tissue, such as mucosa and bone. However, they can also grow on surfaces used in industrial applications such as food production, acting as a hindrance to the process. Thus, it is important to understand bacteria better in the environment they actually have relevance in. Stainless steel and titanium substrata were line structured and dotted surface topographies for titanium substrata were prepared to analyze their effects on biofilm formation of a constitutively green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing Escherichia coli strain. The strain was batch cultivated in a custom built flow cell initially for 18 h, followed by continuous cultivation for 6 h. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to determine the biofilm topography. Biofilm growth of E. coli GFPmut2 was not affected by the type of metal substrate used; rather, attachment and growth were influenced by variable shapes of the microstructured titanium surfaces. In this work, biofilm cultivation in flow cells was coupled with the most widely used biofilm analytical technique (CLSM) to study the time course of growth of a GFP‐expressing biofilm on metallic surfaces without intermittent sampling or disturbing the natural development of the biofilm.     

血清sTREM-1、肺功能指数与肺癌患者术后肺部感染的关系及其预测价值研究

目的:探讨血清髓样细胞触发受体-1(sTREM-1)、肺功能指数与肺癌患者术后肺部感染的关系及其预测价值。方法:回顾性分析2016年1月-2019年1月在我院进行手术治疗的115例肺癌患者的临床资料,根据患者术后72 h是否发生肺部感染将其分为感染组(n=28)及未感染组(n=87)。对比两组患者临床资料、术后6 h血清s TREM-1、降钙素原(PCT)水平及术前肺功能指数[第一秒用力呼气量(FEV1)、呼气流量峰值(PEF)]变化,记录感染组患者痰细菌培养结果,采用Logistic分析肺癌患者术后感染的影响因素,并采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析s TREM-1、FEV1、PEF在肺癌术后感染的预测价值。结果:感染组术后入住ICU比例大于未感染组,感染组TNM分期为IV期的比例大于未感染组(P0.05),感染组术后6 h血清s TREM-1、PCT水平高于未感染组,术前FEV1、PEF水平低于未感染组(P0.05)。感染组痰培养结果提示G-菌为17例,占60.71%;G+菌10例,占35.71%;真菌1例,占3.57%。二元多因素Logistic分析提示术后6 h血清s TREM-1水平升高、术前FEV1下降及PEF下降、术后入住ICU为肺癌患者术后感染的独立影响因素。三者联合预测曲线下面积为0.850(95%CI:1.350～1.745,P=0.000),敏感度与特异性分别为91.3%与80.6%,优于s TREM-1、FEV1、PEF的单独预测效能。结论:s TREM-1水平升高,术前FEV1、PEF水平降低与肺癌患者术后肺部感染密切相关,对s TREM-1、FEV1、PEF三者联合分析对于预测肺癌患者术后肺部感染的发生具有较高的预测价值。     

持续性血液滤过联合高流量吸氧治疗重症急性呼吸综合征的疗效及对血清炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探讨持续性血液滤过联合高流量吸氧治疗重症急性呼吸综合征的疗效及对血清炎症因子水平的影响。方法:选择2013年2月至2016年2月我院接诊的60例重症急性呼吸综合征患者,通过随机数表法将其分为观察组(n=30)和对照组(n=30)。观察组采用持续性血液滤过联合高流量吸氧进行治疗,对照组采用持续性血液滤过进行治疗。比较两组临床疗效、治疗前后动脉血氧分压(PaO_2)、动脉血二氧化碳分压(PaCO_2)、氧合指数、氢离子浓度指数(pH)值、呼吸频率(RR)、心率(HR)、血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、白介素6(IL-6)、白介素8(IL-8)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)水平的变化及不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,观察组有效率为76.67%,显著高于对照组(50.00%,P0.05)。两组治疗后PaO_2、PaCO_2、氧合指数、pH值、RR、HR均较治疗前明显改善,观察组患者PaO_2、氧合指数明显高于对照组,PaCO_2、pH值、RR、HR、血清CRP、IL-6、IL-8及TNF-α水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗期间,观察组患者不良反应总发生率(10.00%)显著低于对照组(36.67%,P0.05);观察组死亡1例(3.33%),对照组死亡6例(20.00%),观察组病死率显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:持续性血液滤过联合高流量吸氧治疗重症急性呼吸综合征患者的临床疗效及安全性明显优于单用持续性血液滤过治疗,可能与其更有效减轻炎症反应有关。     

Prey stimuli trigger trophic interception across ecosystems

Specialised predators foraging in the boundaries of adjacent ecosystems can control or redirect the flow of subsidies through trophic interception. Ecologically diverse predators can capture terrestrial invertebrates that fall on the water surface and, consequently, influence the flow of energy to aquatic environments. In this study, we show that the movement of prey triggers ripples on the surface of the water, and these stimuli are detected by bulldog bats (Noctilio albiventris, Noctilionidae) during foraging. Thus, the bats located live crickets (Gryllus assimilis, Gryllidae) on average of 15 times faster when compared to the location of dead or artificial crickets (i.e. without movements or ripples on the water surface). The bats also inspected (i.e. touched with their feet) all floating objects on the water surface. During this behaviour, the characteristics of the object (i.e. texture) were critical for bats to distinguish between debris (e.g. leaves and sticks) and the resource (i.e. insect carcasses) that floated on the water surface. In addition, when we compare the efficiency of predators (i.e. bats and fishes) in capturing this resource, our findings suggest that bats are extremely effective (i.e. consumed 100% of the available prey), since the fishes consumed only 40% of the available crickets on the surface of the water over a 60‐s period. These results bring novel information about the influence of prey‐based stimuli on the behaviour of its predators and, consequently, on the flow of nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.     

Determination of oxytetracycline hydrochloride in milk and egg white samples using Ru(bipy)32+–Ce(SO4)2 chemiluminescence

A novel, rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTCH) is described in this paper. The presented method was based on the fact that OTCH could immensely enhance the CL of the reaction of cerium sulfate and tris(2,2‐bipyridyl) ruthenium (II) in acidic medium. Under optimal experimental conditions, CL intensity was favorably linear for OTCH in the range 5.0 × 10^?7 to 5.0 × 10^?5 g/ml, with a detection limit of 1.5 × 10^?7 g/ml (S/N = 3). The relative standard detection was 4.76% for 5.0 × 10^?6 g/ml (n = 11). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of OTCH in milk and egg white samples. According to the results of the kinetic curves for OTCH in the Ru(bipy)₃²⁺–Ce(SO₄)₂ CL system, together with CL and ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectra, the possible mechanism of the CL reaction is discussed briefly.     

Na3V2(PO4)3 as the Sole Solid Energy Storage Material for Redox Flow Sodium‐Ion Battery

Redox flow batteries have considerable advantages of system scalability and operation flexibility over other battery technologies, which makes them promising for large‐scale energy storage application. However, they suffer from low energy density and consequently relatively high cost for a nominal energy output. Redox targeting–based flow batteries are employed by incorporating solid energy storage materials in the tank and present energy density far beyond the solubility limit of the electrolytes. The success of this concept relies on paring suitable redox mediators with solid materials for facilitated reaction kinetics and lean electrolyte composition. Here, a redox targeting‐based flow battery system using the NASICON‐type Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ as a capacity booster for both the catholyte and anolyte is reported. With 10‐methylphenothiazine as the cathodic redox mediator and 9‐fluorenone as anodic redox mediator, an all‐organic single molecule redox targeting–based flow battery is developed. The anodic and cathodic capacity are 3 and 17 times higher than the solubility limit of respective electrolyte, with which a full cell can achieve an energy density up to 88 Wh L^?1. The reaction mechanism is scrutinized by operando and in‐situ X‐ray and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The reaction kinetics are analysed in terms of Butler–Volmer formalism.     

Highly Efficient Solar‐Driven Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Molybdenum Disulfide Catalyst Using Choline Chloride‐Based Electrolyte

Conversion of CO₂ to energy‐rich chemicals using renewable energy is of much interest to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle. However, the current photoelectrochemical systems are still far from being practically feasible. Here the successful demonstration of a continuous, energy efficient, and scalable solar‐driven CO₂ reduction process based on earth‐abundant molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) catalyst, which works in synergy with an inexpensive hybrid electrolyte of choline chloride (a common food additive for livestock) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) is reported. The CO₂ saturated hybrid electrolyte utilized in this study also acts as a buffer solution (pH ≈ 7.6) to adjust pH during the reactions. This study reveals that this system can efficiently convert CO₂ to CO with solar‐to‐fuel and catalytic conversion efficiencies of 23% and 83%, respectively. Using density functional theory calculations, a new reaction mechanism in which the water molecules near the MoS₂ cathode act as proton donors to facilitate the CO₂ reduction process by MoS₂ catalyst is proposed. This demonstration of a continuous, cost‐effective, and energy efficient solar driven CO₂ conversion process is a key step toward the industrialization of this technology.