Organogelators based on TTF supramolecular assemblies: synthesis, characterization, and conductive property.

A closely related family of organogelators 1-2 appended one or two electroactive tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) residues, has been designed and readily synthesized by Sonogashira reactions. These compounds can gelate a variety of organic solvents in view of multiple intermolecular interactions, and compounds 2 with two TTF subunits exhibit higher gelation ability than their corresponding 1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of the xerogels from toluene gave a visual image showing that fibrillar aggregates are entangled in three-dimensional network structures. The columnar TTF cores stacking in the fiber, evidenced by the mixed-valence states absorption at around 2000 nm in ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectra, provide an efficient pathway for the electron conduction. Upon oxidized by iodine, these xerogels exhibit semiconductive behaviors with moderate levels of conductivity. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of doped-xerogels 2 is 1 order of magnitude higher than that of 1 under identical conditions.

Predictive value of microRNA-132 and its target gene NAG-1 in evaluating therapeutic efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common chronic rheumatic disorder, accompanied by the differential expression of various microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients suffering from the condition, some of which have the potential to serve as novel complementary AS biomarkers. During this study, AS patients were recruited in connection with our investigation into the correlation of microRNA-132 (miR-132) in peripheral blood and its target gene NAG-1 expressions in relation with the clinical efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) treatment in patients with AS. A total of 218 AS patients who had been previously treated with oral diclofenac sodium and were placed into either the response (n = 175) or non-response groups (n = 43) following a 16-week period of therapeutic evaluation. An additional 113 healthy patients were also recruited for the purposes of the study. AS patient peripheral blood samples were obtained at the 0th, 8th, and 16th week, with the corresponding samples of the healthy patients collected at week 0. The expressions of miR-132 and NAG-1 were detected by RT-qPCR and analyzed using a ROC curve for the elucidation of the diagnostic value of peripheral blood miR-132 expressions as well as their predictive value among AS patients undergoing NSAIDs treatment. The targeting relations of miR-132 and NAG-1 were validated by microRNA.org and luciferase assay. Greater levels of peripheral blood miR-132 expression were observed among AS patients prior to treatment, in comparison to the healthy patients in the study. Prior to treatment, the area under the miR-132 ROC curve (AUC) of AS patients was 0.965, with a critical point of 2.605. The sensitivity and specificity of miR-132 were 91.7 and 97.3%, respectively, in regard to the AS diagnostic clinical efficacy. In comparison with the non-response group, the miR-132 expression of patients in the response group exhibited descended levels while the mRNA expression of NAG-1 increased. The ROC results indicated that the AUC of miR-132 was 0.876 with its sensitivity and specificity observed to be 95.3 and 80.0%, respectively. The AUC of NAG-1 was 0.912 with its sensitivity and specificity observed to be 76.6 and 79.1%, respectively. In comparison with the high miR-132 expression group and the low NAG-1 mRNA expression group, significantly improved blood biochemistry indexes, sign indexes, blood indexes, and adverse reaction rate were observed among the low miR-132 expression group and the high NAG-1 mRNA expression group. The microRNA.org and luciferase assay revealed NAG-1 to be a target of miR-132. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that the expressions of MiR-132 and NAG-1 could serve as biological markers in the prediction of the therapeutic efficiency of NSAID treatment in AS patients.

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from a simple water-soluble [FeFe]-hydrogenase model system.

Combined with a simple water soluble [FeFe]-hydrogenase mimic 1, Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and ascorbic acid enable hydrogen production photocatalytically. More than 88 equivalents of H(2) were achieved in water, which is much better than that obtained in an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvent and water.

A triad [FeFe] hydrogenase system for light-driven hydrogen evolution.

A novel molecular triad [FeFe]-H(2)ase 1, and its model complexes 2 and 3 have been successfully constructed. The multistep PET and long-lived Fe(i)Fe(0) species were found to be responsible for the better performance of triad 1 than that of 2 with 3 for light-driven H(2) evolution.