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The cerebrospinal fluid content was examined for concentrations of S100 protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in two diseases, Kawasaki disease (KD) with aseptic meningitis (1-3 months) and purulent meningitis (PM), to determine whether or not these measuremets could be used in early diagnosis. The content of cerebrospinal fluid S100 protein of KD with aseptic meningitis and PM were significantly higher than those in the control group. There was also a difference between KD and purulent meningitis (PM). The concentration of NSE was highest in the encephalitis group, which was statistically different from control group. However, there was no difference between the KD and control groups. The levels of S100 protein and NSE of KD with aseptic meningitis were lower than those in PM, indicating that the extent of neuronal damage is significantly lower than of the enchephalitis group. The area under the curve (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for S100 and NSE were both 0.972. The S100 threshold was 0.4315, the sensitivity was 92.1%, and the specificity was 100%, while the NSE threshold was 9.325, sensitivity 92.1%, and specificity 90%. The combined detection of NSE and S100 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid can be used for the differential diagnosis of KD with aseptic meningitis and purulent meningitis.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To examine the human visual performance (wavefront aberration) and subjective questionnaire (SQ) of visual fatigue when viewing 2-D and 3-D movies. METHODS: Thirty healthy adults observed 2-D and 3-D movies on the same television from a 3m distances during 2D, 3D-A (with better 3D glasses), and 3D-B (with poorer 3D glasses) viewing conditions. Visual quality index, including modulation transfer function index (MTFI), higher order aberration root mean square (RMS), vertical coma (VC), horizontal coma (HC) and spherical aberration (SA), were assessed before and after each viewing condition. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to assess the changes of each test variable before and after movie viewing. RESULTS: Participants watching movies with 3D-B conditions experienced higher change of MTFI, RMS, VC and HC but smaller SQ, compared with 2D and 3D-A (P< 0.05). Additionally, higher MTFI but smaller SQ was found for 3D-A compared with 2D viewing condition (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While prolonged viewing 2-D and 3-D movies would lead to poorer visual performance, 3-D glasses with better quality can play the major role in reducing visual ability for users. The change of human eye wavefront aberration might be useful for the evaluation of visual fatigue in the future.

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We established a mouse model of asthmatic airway remodeling. To investigate the effects of different doses of 1,2 5-(OH)2D3 on airway remodeling, expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) in asthmatic mice. The female mice (BALB/c) groups consisted of a control group, asthma group and 1,2 5-(OH)2D3 low, middle, high dose group. Each group contained 10 mice. An asthmatic mice model was induced by ovalbumin. The control group and asthma group used physiological saline instead. 1,2 5-(OH)2D3 low, middle and high dose group was given different doses of 1,2 5-(OH)2D3 respectively. Changes in mice airway structure were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E). The expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in molecular lever were monitored by RT-PCR. We used immunohistochemistry to test HMGB1 and TLR4 protein levels. Obvious changes were noted in the airway of OVA-induced asthma mice compared with the control group by HE. These changes were less pronounced in mice receiving the low and middle doses of 1,2 5-(OH)2D3, but were more pronounced in mice receiving the highest dose of 1,2 5-(OH)2D3. Immunohistochemistry showed that expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the asthma group was higher than the control group. And low and middle dose group was decreased compared with asthma group, while higher than the control group; high dose group had an increased expression compared with the asthma group. From RT-PCR we got the same results as immunohistochemistry. In the asthmatic airway remodeling animal model, the appropriate amount of 1,2 5-(OH)2D3 reduced airway remodeling in asthmatic mice, and decreased the expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the asthmatic mice. However, over dose might play detrimental effect.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) on the airway remodeling and expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the lungs among asthmatic mice. METHODS: Thirty female mice (BALB/c strain) were randomly divided into control, asthma and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) intervention groups. An asthmatic mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection and aerosol inhalation of ovalbumin. The intervention group was given 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) by intraperitoneal injection 0.5 hour before each aerosol inhalation, while the control group used normal saline instead. The hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the mouse airway structural changes. The mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: The asthma group had a significantly increased airway wall thickness compared with the control group (P<0.05); the intervention group had a significantly lower increase in airway wall thickness than the asthma group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the asthma group, but still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 (P<0.01), and so was their mRNA expression (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 and TLR4 may be involved in asthmatic airway remodeling. 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) can reduce the airway remodeling in asthmatic mice, which may be related to the downregulation of HMGB1 and TLR4 expression in the lungs of asthmatic mice.

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OBJECTIVE: To establish a mouse model of asthmatic airway remodeling and investigate the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on airway structure and T cell immunoglobulin mucin protein-4 (TIM-4) expression in asthmatic mice. METHODS: Thirty female mice (BALB/c strain) were randomly divided into control, asthma and 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention groups. An asthmatic mouse model was induced using ovalbumin. Lung tissue of the mice was collected, mRNA expression of TIM-4 was evaluated by RT-PCR and airway remodeling and protein expression of TIM-4 were observed by hematoxylineosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Typical airway remodeling was found in the asthma group, and TIM-4 expression in this group was significantly higher than in the control group (105±9 vs 42±5; P<0.05). Compared with the asthma group, the 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention group showed improvement in airway remodeling and a decrease in TIM-4 expression (78±6) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TIM-4 may be involved in the airway remodeling of mice. As a new type of immunoregulator, 1,25-(OH)2D3 can downregulate expression of TIM-4 in the lungs and improve airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.

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Electrochemistry and electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy have been applied to study the electrochemical deposition and the redox transition of poly(4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine) (P4NoPD) on gold disk. It was shown that SPR can be the signal transducer for the different redox states of P4NoPD. Using a model biomolecular system, involving streptavidin, biotinylated DNA, and its complementary target DNA, it was found that the presence of nitro groups in P4NoPD allows the biorecognition events to be modulated by voltages. There is minimal nonspecific binding of biomolecules on oxidized (+0.2 V) or as-prepared P4NoPD, and binding occurs more significantly on the reduced P4NoPD (-0.2 to -0.6 V) with the presence of amine groups. The electrochemical deposition of P4NoPD film was also conducted on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. The stability of the reduced P4NoPD film on gold and BDD was comparatively evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The result showed that BDD allows the electrochemical reduction of the P4NoPD film at wider cathodic limits than gold.

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The impedimetric sensing of DNA hybridization on polyaniline/polyacrylate (PANI/PAA)-modified boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode has been investigated. An ultrathin film of PANI-PAA copolymer was electropolymerized onto the diamond surfaces to provide carboxylic groups for tethering to DNA sensing probes. The electrochemical impedance and the intrinsic electroactivity of the polymer-diamond interface were analyzed after the hybridization reaction with target and non-target DNA. The impedance measurement shows changes in the impedance modulus as well as electron-transfer resistance at the stage of probe DNA immobilization (single-strand), as well as after hybridization with target DNA (double-strand). DNA hybridization increases the capacitance of the polymer-DNA layer and reduces the overall impedance of the DNA-polymer-diamond stack significantly. The polymer-modified BDD electrode shows no detectable nonspecific adsorption, with good selectivity between the complementary DNA targets and the one-base mismatch targets. The detection limit was measured to be 2 x 10(-8) M at 1000 Hz. Denaturing test on the hybridized probe and subsequent reuse of the probe indicates chemical robustness of the sensor. Our results suggest that electropolymerization followed by the immobilization of biomolecules is a simple and effective way of creating a functional biomolecular scaffold on the diamond surface. In addition, label-free electrochemical impedance method can provide direct and noninvasive sensing of DNA hybridization on BDD.

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We have synthesized edge-oriented MoS2 nanosheets by the evaporation of a single source precursor based on Mo(IV)-tetrakis(diethylaminodithiocarbomato). The surface chemistry of the MoS2 nanosheets has been studied in order to evaluate the chemical reactivities of the basal planes and edges. By irradiating the MoS2 nanosheet with a scanning infrared laser, micron-scale lithographical structures can be created due to laser-induced oxidation of MoS2 to form nanocrystalline MoO3. Preferential reactivities of the MoS2 basal edges in an electrochemical environment and during vapor phase deposition have been demonstrated. Functionalization of the basal plane with 1-pyrene acetic acid allows the immobilization of DNA and immunoglobins on the MoS2 basal plane.