A Versatile Terahertz Chemical Microscope and Its Application for the Detection of Histamine

Terahertz waves have gained increasingly more attention because of their unique characteristics and great potential in a variety of fields. In this study, we introduced the recent progress of our versatile terahertz chemical microscope (TCM) in the detection of small biomolecules, ions, cancer cells, and antibody–antigen immunoassaying. We highlight the advantages of our TCM for chemical sensing and biosensing, such as label-free, high-sensitivity, rapid response, non-pretreatment, and minute amount sample consumption, compared with conventional methods. Furthermore, we demonstrated its new application in detection of allergic-related histamine at low concentration in buffer solutions.

Amino acid and biogenic amine adductions derived from reactive metabolites

: Reactive metabolites (RMs) are products generated from the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substances. RMs are characterized as electrophilic species chemically reactive to nucleophiles. Those nucleophilic species may be nitrogen-containing bio-molecules, including macro-biomolecules, such as protein and DNA, and small biomolecules, i.e., amino acids (AAs) and biogenic amines (BAs). AAs and BAs are essential endogenous nitrogen-containing compounds required for normal development, metabolism, and physiological functions in organisms, through participating in the intracellular replication, transcription, translation, division and proliferation, DNA and protein synthesis, regulation of apoptosis, and intercellular communication activities. These biological amines containing an active lone pair of electrons on the electronegative nitrogen atom would be the proper N-nucleophiles to be attacked by the abovementioned RMs. This review covers an overview of adductions of AAs and BAs with varieties of RMs. These RMs are formed from metabolic activation of furans, naphthalene, benzene, and products of lipid peroxidation. This article is designed to provide readers with a better understanding of biochemical mechanisms of toxic action.

Simultaneous recording of multiple cellular signaling events by frequency- and spectrally-tuned multiplexing of fluorescent probes

Fluorescent probes that change their spectral properties upon binding to small biomolecules, ions, or changes in the membrane potential (Vm) are invaluable tools to study cellular signaling pathways. Here, we introduce a novel technique for simultaneous recording of multiple probes at millisecond time resolution: frequency- and spectrally-tuned multiplexing (FASTM). Different from present multiplexing approaches, FASTM uses phase-sensitive signal detection, which renders various combinations of common probes for Vm and ions accessible for multiplexing. Using kinetic stopped-flow fluorimetry, we show that FASTM allows simultaneous recording of rapid changes in Ca2+, pH, Na+, and Vm with high sensitivity and minimal crosstalk. FASTM is also suited for multiplexing using single-cell microscopy and genetically-encoded FRET biosensors. Moreover, FASTM is compatible with opto-chemical tools to study signaling using light. Finally, we show that the exceptional time resolution of FASTM also allows resolving rapid chemical reactions. Altogether, FASTM opens new opportunities for interrogating cellular signaling.

Coding Recognition of the Dose-Effect Interdependence of Small Biomolecules Encrypted on Paired Chromatographic-Based Microassay Arrays

The discovery of new small molecular entities in diverse compounds suffers from the lack of a correlation recognition method between bioactivity and molecular characteristics such as DNA base pairing recognition in biomacromolecules. Here, by mapping a sample’s 2DHPTLC fingerprint into microplates to create paired chromatographic-based microassay arrays, on which the microarray-based differentially expressed chromatographic spots are allowed to develop and assemble into a self-consistent array distribution gradient of multiattributes of each chromatographic component’s own, we propose a screening strategy to selfrecognize small biomolecules. Specifically, on the paired chromatographic-based microassay arrays with a grid size approximated to that of the chromatographic spots and the chromatographic matrix removed, bioassays and bioguided LC-ESI-MS tracing are performed naturally, the expressed array distribution gradients of the bioactivity strength vs. the digital-specific quasimolecular ion intensity derived from the same chromatographic component are auto-collimated, and generated a pair of dose-effect interdependent 2D codes encrypted by the chromatographic fingerprint characteristics. Therefore, the recognition of molecules attributed to bioactivity in diverse compounds is transformed into a constraint satisfaction problem, which is addressed through examining the dose-effect interdependence of the 2D code pair by array matching algorithm. This approach represents the paradigm shift in small molecule drug screening from bioassay traversing molecular diversity library itemby- item to self-correlation recognition of each compound’s own multiple attributes through its characteristic chromatographic behavior. This research strategy was successfully applied to galangal, and practiced the high-throughput digital preliminary screening of small biomolecules in a natural product.HighlightMatching of HPTLC-based molecular imprinting and bioautography on microassay arrays Microarray-based differential expression of substance attributes instead of spot scan Array auto-collimation of multi-attributes derived from the same 2D-HPTLC component An array framework for combining phenotype-based and target-based assays with TLC-MS

Use of platelet-rich fibrin for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives This study aims to compare the treatment outcomes of periodontal intrabony defects by using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with other commonly utilized modalities. Materials and methods The eligibility criteria comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes of PRF with that of other modalities. Studies were classified into 10 categories as follows: (1) open flap debridement (OFD) alone versus OFD/PRF; (2) OFD/bone graft (OFD/BG) versus OFD/PRF; (3) OFD/BG versus OFD/BG/PRF; (4–6) OFD/barrier membrane (BM), OFD/PRP, or OFD/enamel matrix derivative (EMD) versus OFD/PRF; (7) OFD/EMD versus OFD/EMD/PRF; (8–10) OFD/PRF versus OFD/PRF/metformin, OFD/PRF/bisphosphonates, or OFD/PRF/statins. Weighted means and forest plots were calculated for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic bone fill (RBF). Results From 551 articles identified, 27 RCTs were included. The use of OFD/PRF statistically significantly reduced PD and improved CAL and RBF when compared to OFD. No clinically significant differences were reported when OFD/BG was compared to OFD/PRF. The addition of PRF to OFD/BG led to significant improvements in CAL and RBF. No differences were reported between any of the following groups (OFD/BM, OFD/PRP, and OFD/EMD) when compared to OFD/PRF. No improvements were also reported when PRF was added to OFD/EMD. The addition of all three of the following biomolecules (metformin, bisphosphonates, and statins) to OFD/PRF led to statistically significant improvements of PD, CAL, and RBF. Conclusions The use of PRF significantly improved clinical outcomes in intrabony defects when compared to OFD alone with similar levels being observed between OFD/BG and OFD/PRF. Future research geared toward better understanding potential ways to enhance the regenerative properties of PRF with various small biomolecules may prove valuable for future clinical applications. Future research investigating PRF at histological level is also needed. Clinical relevance The use of PRF in conjunction with OFD statistically significantly improved PD, CAL, and RBF values, yielding to comparable outcomes to OFD/BG. The combination of PRF with bone grafts or small biomolecules may offer certain clinical advantages, thus warranting further investigations.