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Purpose: The goal of this study was to develop an imaging probe—IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb—that can be used for noninvasive imaging and optical imaging of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OX40/OX40 ligand (OX40L) interactions have been shown to exert potent costimulatory effects on T cell activation. Detectable change in T cell activation profiles was observed in early RA. Methods: OX40 expression pattern was analyzed by flow cytometry. N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters are used to label proteins selectively on free amino groups of OX40 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Characterization of IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb was measured and a fluorescence spectrum gathered. Cell binding assay was also performed between activated and naïve murine T cells. Longitudinal near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging of the probe was performed on day 8, day 9, day 10, and day 11 of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mouse model. Paw thickness and body weight were compared between the OX40 mAb and IgG injection groups. Results: NIRF imaging with IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb revealed strong OX40-positive responses with high specificity. Flow analysis showed that OX40 was specifically expressed on the surface of T cells in RP and spleen of AIA model. The AIA group was significantly differentiated from the control group at all time points with imaging monitoring. The region of interest (ROI) was in line with ex vivo imaging and biodistribution study. This study highlights the potential utility of the OX40 NIRF imaging as a new strategy for RA prediction and T cell monitoring. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb detects organized T cells activation in early RA. The optical probe was capable of detection of RA pathogenesis. It identified transcriptional responses to RA that mediate its immune functions. Thus, it may be an ideal probe for RA imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays nurse practitioners are working in several acute hospital settings in different specialized departments. For decades, studies have shown the implications of nurse practice in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) to have several major benefits. However, there are very limited studies and data on this particular aspect. In this literature review, we briefly discuss the implication of nursing practice in PVD/PVI. This review briefly shows that nursing practice has a major contribution and implication in the treatment of patients with PVD or PVI, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus. From available research, we briefly discuss the implication of nursing practice pre- and postoperatively for PVI. Nurses also contribute significantly in catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy, in smoking cessation programs organized for patients with PVD, and in screening patients for PVD. The vascular nurse practitioners are also involved in providing healthcare advice in order to reduce the risk of disease progression. The major lack of research in this particular field should further inspire scientists to develop and carry out research to further investigate and demonstrate the contribution of nurses in the treatment and management of PVD or PVI, which is gradually becoming a major issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sb2S3 solar cells are lagging behind conventional thin-film solar cells such as silicon solar cells and cadmium telluride solar cells in the power conversion efficiency (PCE). One of the most prominent problems is that the carrier concentration of Sb2S3 is relatively low. In order to increase the carrier concentration, elemental Cu was doped into Sb2S3 film by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. We proved that Cu was doped into Sb2S3 films and mainly anchored with sulfur in the form of copper chalcogenide species at the surface and grain boundaries of Sb2S3. The doping of Cu essentially affects the physical and electrical properties of RF-sputtered Sb2S3 films such as the optical band gap, crystallinity, chemical composition, morphology, and carrier concentration. Specially, the electronic carrier concentration is remarkably increased from 6.28 × 109 to 6.06 × 1010 cm−3 and the Fermi level is also significantly uplifted after prudent doping with Cu. Planar solar cells based on RF-sputtered Cu-doped Sb2S3 absorber deliver an increased PCE of 1.13% and show good stability. This research proves that doping of Cu is an alternative and effective way to improve the electronic property of Sb2S3 films and enhance the performance of Sb2S3 solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to explore the clinical curative effects of methylprednisolone combined with MTX and DXM intrathecal injection in treating neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) and its effects on autoantibody level and anti- N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor subtype NR2a/2b antibody (anti-NR2 antibody) level. Thirty six admitted NPSLE patients were treated by methylprednisolone combined with MTX and DXM intrathecal injection. Thirty six SLE patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms were selected as non-NPSLE group. Clinical indexes including SLE activity index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP), cerebrospinal fluid protein were observed before and after treatment. Autoantibodies including anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA antibody), anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibody (ENA-Ab) were detected before and after treatment. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect NR2 antibody level before and after treatment in two groups. Upon treatment of methylprednisolone combined with MTX and DXM intrathecal injection, SLE activity index, ESR, CSFP, cerebrospinal fluid protein of 36 NPSLE patients were significantly decreased. Before treatment, positive rates of ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody, and anti-ENA antibody in both NPSLE group and non-NPSLE group had no significant difference. However, positive rate of anti-NR2 antibody in NPSLE group was significantly higher than that of non-NPSLE group. After treatment, positive rates of autoantibodies and anti-NR2 antibody in both NPSLE and non-NPSLE group were significantly decreased. Anti-NR2 antibody can be a screening index of NPSLE, and methylprednisolone combined with MTX and DXM intrathecal injection has significant curative effects and can effectively decrease autoantibody level and anti-NR2 antibody level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Cinnamon granules on pharmacokinetics of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis granules in healthy male volunteers, and the compatibility mechanism of Jiao-Tai-Wan (JTW) composed of Rhizoma Coptidis granules and Cinnamon granules were investigated. The concentration of berberine in plasma of healthy male volunteers was determined directly by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after an oral administration of Rhizoma Coptidis granules alone or combined with Cinnamon granules (JTW). The plasma concentration-time curves of berberine were plotted. The data were analyzed with Drug and Statistics (DAS) 2.0 pharmacokinetic program (Chinese Pharmacology Society) to obtain the main pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed that the plasma concentration-time curve of berberine was described by a two-compartment model. The C, T, t and CLz/F of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis granules were 360.883 μg/L, 2.0 h, 3.882 h, 119.320 L·h·kg respectively, and those of berberine in JTW were 396.124 μg/L, 1.5 h, 4.727 h, 57.709 L·h·kg respectively. It was suggested that Rhizoma Coptidis granules combined with Cinnamon granules could increase the plasma concentration of berberine, promote berberine absorption and lengthen the detention time of berberine in healthy male volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of genistein in improving insulin resistance induced by free fatty acids (FFAs) in HepG2 hepatocytes. A model of insulin resistance in HepG2 cells was established by adding palmitic acid (0.5 mmol/L) to the culture medium and the cells were treated by genistein. Glucose consumption of HepG2 cells was determined by glucose oxidase method. The levels of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) Ser307 phosphorylation, JNK, IRS-1, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase p85 (PI-3K p85) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) proteins were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that after the treatment with palmitic acid for 24 h, the insulin-stimulated glucose transport in HepG2 cells was inhibited, and the glucose consumption was substantially reduced. Meanwhile, the expressions of IRS-1, PI-3K p85 protein and GLUT1 were obviously reduced, while the levels of JNK phosphorylation and IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation and the expression of JNK protein were significantly increased, as compared with cells of normal control. However, the aforementioned indices, which indicated the existence of insulin resistance, were reversed by genistein at 1-4 μmol/L in a dose-dependent manner. It was concluded that insulin resistance induced by FFAs in HepG2 hepatocytes could be improved by genistein. Genistein might reverse FFAs-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells by targeting JNK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]