Quirks of dye nomenclature. 5. Rhodamines

Rhodamines were first produced in the late 19^th century, when they constituted a new class of synthetic dyes. These compounds since have been used to color many things including cosmetics, inks, textiles, and in some countries, food products. Certain rhodamine dyes also have been used to stain biological specimens and currently are widely used as fluorescent probes for mitochondria in living cells. The early history and current biological applications are sketched briefly and an account of the ambiguities, complications and confusions concerning dye identification and nomenclature are discussed.     

长脉冲1064nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效观察

目的观察长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效。方法 将73例甲真菌病门诊患者随机分为两组:联合组(37例,病甲75个)采用长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗;对照组(36例,病甲87个)单纯使用激光治疗。每周1次,连续治疗8周,治疗6个月后随访评估。比较两种方法治疗甲真菌病的临床有效率,观察1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病患者的临床疗效。结果 联合组治疗甲真菌病的总的临床有效率(74.67%)高于对照组(63.22%),3种临床类型在联合组的临床有效率均高于对照组,尤其近端甲下型(PSO)的临床有效率明显提高,但差异无统计学意义;当9≤SCIO≤15时,联合组治疗甲真菌病的临床有效率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义。结论 对于9≤SCIO≤15的甲真菌病患者,长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效显著高于单纯激光治疗。     

经皮激光汽化术联合杜仲腰痛丸治疗腰椎间盘突出症的效果观察

目的:研究经皮激光汽化术联合杜仲腰痛丸治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床效果。方法:选择2016年4月~2018年4月我院脊柱骨科收治的106例腰椎间盘突出症患者,随机分为两组。对照组单独采用经皮激光汽化术治疗,观察组联合口服杜仲腰痛丸治疗,每次8粒,每天3次。比较两组的治疗有效率,治疗前后的VAS评分、JOA评分,血清白介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平的改变情况。结果:治疗后,观察组的治疗有效率为88.68%(47/53),明显高于对照组[73.58%(39/53)](P0.05)。两组治疗后的VAS评分值均较治疗前明显降低(P0.05),JOA评分值均较对照组明显升高(P0.05),且观察组VAS评分值明显低于对照组,JOA评分值显著高于对照组(P0.05)。两组治疗后的血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平均较治疗前明显降低(P0.05),且观察组血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平明显低于对照组(P0.05)。两组均未发生神经损伤和无椎间盘炎等并发症。结论:经皮激光汽化术联合杜仲腰痛丸治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床效果明显优于单独采用经皮激光汽化术治疗,其可以显著改善患者的生活质量,降低疼痛程度,其作用机制可能与有降低患者血清炎症介质IL-1β、TNF-α的表达有关。     

Novel dye for detection of callus embryo by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy

In the present study a new luminescent dye 3‐N‐(2‐pyrrolidinylacetamido)benzanthrone (AZR) was synthesized. Spectroscopic measurements of the novel benzanthrone 3‐aminoderivative were performed in seven organic solvents showing strong fluorescence. The capability of the prepared dye for visualization has been tested on flax, red clover and alfalfa to determinate the embryo in plant callus tissue cultures. Callus cells were stained with AZR and further analysed utilizing confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. Performed experiments show high visualization effectiveness of newly synthesized fluorescent dye AZR that is efficient in fast and relatively inexpensive diagnostics of callus embryos that are problematic due to in vitro culture specificity.     

Quantitative Microproteomics Based Characterization of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System of a Mouse Model of Krabbe Disease

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Highlights

• •Quantitative microproteomics to study the CNS and PNS of the Twitcher mouse.
• •10plex TMT experiments on corpus callosum, motor cortex and sciatic nerves extracts.
• •More than 400 proteins groups deregulated between Twitcher and wildtype mice.
• •New insights into the molecular mechanisms of Krabbe disease.

     

Facile Patterning of Laser‐Induced Graphene with Tailored Li Nucleation Kinetics for Stable Lithium‐Metal Batteries

A facile and scalable approach is reported to stabilize the lithium‐metal anode by regulating the Li nucleation and deposition kinetics with laser‐induced graphene (LIG). By processing polyimide (PI) films on copper foils with a laser, a 3D‐hierarchical composite material is constructed, consisting of a highly conductive copper substrate, a pillared array of flexible PI, and most importantly, porous LIG on the walls of the PI pillars. The high number of defects and heteroatoms present in LIG significantly lowers the Li nucleation barrier compared to the copper foil. An overpotential‐free Li nucleation process is identified at current densities lower than 0.2 mA cm^?2. Theoretical computations reveal that the defects serve as nucleation centers during the heterogeneous nucleation of lithium. By adopting such composites, ultrastable lithium‐metal anodes are obtained with high Coulombic efficiencies of ≈99%. Full lithium‐metal cells based on LiFePO₄ cathodes with a material loading of ≈15 mg cm^?2 and a negative/positive ratio of 5/1 could be cycled over 250 times with a capacity loss of less than 10%. The current work highlights the importance of nucleation kinetics on the stability of metallic anodes and demonstrates a practical method toward long lasting Li‐metal batteries.     

Bioimaging of multiple elements by high‐resolution LA‐ICP‐MS reveals altered distribution of mineral elements in the nodes of rice mutants

Inter‐vascular transfer in rice (Oryza sativa) nodes is required for delivering mineral elements to developing tissues, which is mediated by various transporters in the nodes. However, the effect of these transporters on distribution of mineral elements in the nodes at a cellular level is still unknown. Here, we established a protocol for bioimaging of multiple elements at a cellular level in rice node by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS), and compared the mineral distribution profile between wild‐type (WT) rice and mutants. Both relative comparison of mineral distribution normalized by endogenous ¹³C and quantitative analysis using spiked standards combined with soft ablation gave valid results. Overall, macro‐nutrients such as K and Mg were accumulated more in the phloem region, while micro‐nutrients such as Fe and Zn were highly accumulated at the inter‐vascular tissues of the node. In mutants of nodal Zn transporter OsHMA2, Zn localization pattern in the node tissues did not differ from that of WT; however, Zn accumulation in the inter‐vascular tissues was lower in uppermost node I but higher in the third upper node III compared with the WT. In contrast, Si deposition in the mutants of three nodal Si transporters Lsi2, Lsi3 and Lsi6 showed different patterns, which are consistent with the localization of these transporters. This improved LA‐ICP‐MS analysis combined with functional characterization of transporters will provide further insight into mineral element distribution mechanisms in rice and other plant species.     

1064 nm Nd:YAG laser light affects transmembrane mitochondria respiratory chain complexes

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non‐plant‐cell manipulation through a transfer of energy by means of light sources at the non‐ablative or thermal intensity. Authors showed that cytochrome‐c‐oxidase (complex IV) is the specific chromophore's target of PBM at the red (600‐700 nm) and NIR (760‐900 nm) wavelength regions. Recently, it was suggested that the infrared region of the spectrum could influence other chromospheres, despite the interaction by wavelengths higher than 900 nm with mitochondrial chromophores was not clearly demonstrated. We characterized the interaction between mitochondria respiratory chain, malate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme of Krebs cycle, and 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in the β‐oxidation (two mitochondrial matrix enzymes) with the 1064 nm Nd:YAG (100mps and 10 Hz frequency mode) irradiated at the average power density of 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 W/cm² to generate the respective fluences of 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 J/cm². Our results show the effect of laser light on the transmembrane mitochondrial complexes I, III, IV and V (adenosine triphosphate synthase) (window effects), but not on the extrinsic mitochondrial membrane complex II and mitochondria matrix enzymes. The effect is not due to macroscopical thermal change. An interaction of this wavelength with the Fe‐S proteins and Cu‐centers of respiratory complexes and with the water molecules could be supposed.      

Modulation of immune response to induced‐arthritis by low‐level laser therapy

As low‐level laser therapy immune cells responses are not always clarified, this study aimed to evaluate cytokines and immune cells profile after low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on arthritis‐induced model. Arthritis was induced in C57BL/6 mice divided into five groups: euthanized 5 hours after inflammation induction; untreated; dexamethasone treated; LLLT at 3 Jcm^?2; LLLT at 30 Jcm^?2. Cytokine measurements by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and mRNA cytokine relative levels by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed with arthritic ankle (IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐10 and TGF‐β). Macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, lymphocytes CD4⁺, CD8⁺, Treg and costimulatory proteins were quantified in proximal lymph node by flow cytometry. Data showed decrease in all cytokine levels after LLLT and alteration in mRNA relative levels, depending on the energy density used. LLLT was able to increase of immune cell populations analyzed in the lymph node as well as costimulatory proteins expression on macrophages and dendritic cells. Treg TCD4⁺ and TCD8⁺ population enrichment were observed in LLLT at 3 and 30 Jcm^?2 groups, respectively. Furthermore, Treg TCD8⁺ cells expressing higher levels of CD25 were observed at LLLT at 30 Jcm^?2 group. Our results indicate that LLLT could change the inflammatory course of arthritis, tending to accelerate its resolution through immune cells photobiostimulation.      

Fragments and dust after Holmium laser lithotripsy with or without “Moses technology”: How are they different?

Urinary stones can be readily disintegrated by Holmium:YAG laser (Holmium laser lithotripsy), resulting in a mixture of small stone dust particles, which will spontaneously evacuate with urine and larger residual fragments (RF) requiring mechanical retrieval. Differences between fragments and dust have not been well characterized. Also, it remains unknown how the recently introduced “Moses technology” may alter stone disintegration products. Three complementary analytical techniques have been used in this study to offer an in‐depth characterization of disintegration products after in vitro Holmium laser lithotripsy: stereoscopic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Dust was separated from fragments based on its floating ability in saline irrigation. Depending on initial crystalline constituents, stone dust either conserved attributes found in larger RFs or showed changes in crystalline organization. These included conversion of calcium oxalate dihydrate towards calcium oxalate monohydrate, changes in carbapatite spectra towards an amorphous phase, changes of magnesium ammonium phosphate towards a differing amorphous and crystalline phase and the appearance of hydroxyapatite on brushite fragments. Comparatively, “Moses technology” produced more pronounced changes. These findings provide new insights suggesting a photothermal effect occurring in Holmium laser lithotripsy. Figure: Appearance of hydroxyapatite hexagons on stone dust collected after Holmium laser lithotripsy of a brushite stone using “Moses technology.”