In this study, non-animal mushroom carboxymethyl chitosan (NAM-CMCS) was used as a natural polymer stabilizing agent in the ultrasonic preparation of a ZnO nanocomposite at ambient laboratory temperatures. The formation and morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles were investigated by applying FTIR, XRD, XPS, FE-SEM, and DLS techniques. The FTIR and XPS spectra confirmed the presence of NAM-CMCS functional groups and ZnO in the nanoparticles. The prepared NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles were shown by FE-SEM to have a spherical shape and an average diameter of 18 ± 3.6 nm. The DLS-determined size distribution showed the NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticle size averaged 21 ± 2.9 nm. Finally, cytocompatibility, hemostasis, and antibacterial performance were assessed in vitro to evaluate the biological performance of NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles. In vitro Prestoblue® assay and live/dead test results from skin fibroblast and keratinocytes confirmed the developed NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles were biocompatible over a wide range of concentrations (0-500 μg/well). The NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles exhibited synergetic antibacterial properties against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Moreover, the nanoparticles showed hemostatic properties with good hemocompatibility. The overall excellent biological properties of NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles indicate its suitability for use in wound dressing applications. One of the most studied topics in analytical chemistry and physics is to develop bio-sensors. Aptamers are small single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides (5-25 kDa), which have advantages in comparison to their antibodies such as physicochemical stability and high binding specificity. They are able to integrate with proteins or small molecules, including intact viral particles, plant lectins, gene-regulation factor, growth factors, antibodies and enzymes. The aptamers have reportedly shown some unique characteristics, including long shelf-life, simple modification to provide covalent bonds to material surfaces, minor batch variation, cost-effectiveness and slight denaturation susceptibility. These features led important efforts toward the development of aptamer-based sensors, known as apta-sensors classified into optical, electrical and mass-sensitive based on the signal transduction mode. This review provided a number of current advancements in selecting, development criteria, and aptamers application with the focus on the effect of apta-sensors, specifically for disease-associated analyses. fMLP research buy The review concentrated on the current reports of apta-sensors that are used for evaluating different food and environmental pollutants. PURPOSE To investigate the genetic variants associated with the onset and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN Case-control genetic association study. METHODS Japanese POAG patients (n=505) and control subjects (n=246) were genotyped for 22 genetic variants predisposing to POAG that can be classified into those associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation (IOP-related genetic variants) and optic nerve vulnerability independent of IOP (non-IOP-related genetic variants). The total number of risk alleles of the 17 IOP-related and 5 non-IOP-related genetic variants were calculated as the genetic risk score (GRS), and the associations between the GRS and family history of glaucoma as an indicator of POAG onset and age at the diagnosis of glaucoma as an indicator of POAG progression were evaluated. RESULTS There was a significant association (P=0.014, odds ratio 1.26 per GRS) between the non-IOP-related GRS, but not IOP-related GRS, and a family history of glaucoma in POAG. As the non-IOP-related GRS increased, the risk of a family history of glaucoma increased. In contrast, a significant association (P=0.0014, Beta=-0.14) was found between the IOP-related GRS, but not non-IOP-related GRS, and age at the diagnosis of glaucoma. As the IOP-related GRS increased, age at the diagnosis of glaucoma decreased. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that non-IOP-related (optic nerve vulnerability) rather than IOP-related (IOP elevation) genetic variants may play an important role in the onset of POAG (family history of glaucoma) and that IOP-related rather than non-IOP-related genetic variants may play an important role its progression (age at the diagnosis of glaucoma). PURPOSE To associate detection of potential pathogen DNA in endophthalmitis with clinical outcomes DESIGN Prospective cohort study METHODS Patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis following an intraocular procedure were recruited. Clinical outcome data from baseline, week 1, month 1 and month 3 visits were collected. Intraocular biopsy samples were cultured by standard methods. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for specific pathogens and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed. RESULTS A total of 50 patients (mean age 72, 52% male) were enrolled. Twenty-four cases were culture-positive and 26 were culture-negative. WGS identified the cultured organism in 76% of culture-positive cases and identified potential pathogens in 33% of culture-negative cases. Month 1 and 3 visual acuities did not vary by pathogen-positive vs pathogen-negative cases as detected by either culture or WGS. Visual outcomes of S. epidermidis endophthalmitis were no different than those of pathogen-negative cases, while the patients infected with other pathogens showed worse outcome. Higher baseline bacterial DNA loads of bacteria other than S.epidermidis detected by WGS were associated with worse month 1 and 3 visual acuity, while the S.epidermidis loads did not appear to influence outcomes. Torque teno virus (TTV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) were detected by qPCR in 49% and 19% of cases, respectively. Presence of TTV at presentation was associated with a higher rate of secondary PPV (p=0.009) and retinal detachment (p=0.022). CONCLUSION Presence and higher load of bacteria other than S. epidermidis detected by WGS or DNA from TTV by qPCR in ocular fluids is associated with worse outcomes in post-procedure endophthalmitis. This article summarizes the likely benefits of melatonin in the attenuation of COVID-19 based on its putative pathogenesis. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has become a pandemic with tens of thousands of infected patients. Based on clinical features, pathology, the pathogenesis of acute respiratory disorder induced by either highly homogenous coronaviruses or other pathogens, the evidence suggests that excessive inflammation, oxidation, and an exaggerated immune response very likely contribute to COVID-19 pathology. This leads to a cytokine storm and subsequent progression to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and often death. Melatonin, a well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative molecule, is protective against ALI/ARDS caused by viral and other pathogens. Melatonin is effective in critical care patients by reducing vessel permeability, anxiety, sedation use, and improving sleeping quality, which might also be beneficial for better clinical outcomes for COVID-19 patients.