4.6 V Moisture-Tolerant Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Commercial LiPF6-based electrolytes face limitations in oxidation stability (4.2 V) and water tolerance (10 ppm). While replacing LiPF6 with lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) improves water tolerance, it induces Al current collector corrosion above 3.7 V vs. Li/Li+. To address this, lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiCTFSI) is proposed here as a non-corrosive, moisture-tolerant alternative. The 2.0 M LiCTFSI/propylene carbonate (PC)-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) (7:3 by volume) electrolyte enables LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathodes to reach 210 mAh g-1 (2.8-4.6 V) with a cycle life of 500. Full cells with NCM811||graphite (2.0 mAh cm-2) show 77.8% capacity retention after 500 cycles. Even with 2000 ppm moisture in the electrolyte, full cells maintain high cycling stability, reducing the need for costly dry rooms. The electrolyte's low freezing point and high thermal stability enable the operation from -20 °C to 60 °C, delivering 168 mAh g-1 at -20 °C and retaining 94% capacity after 100 cycles at 60 °C. In contrast, cells with commercial LiPF6 electrolyte deliver 71 mAh g-1 at -20°C and retain 52.7% after 100 cycles at 60 °C. This novel salt offers a cost-effective solution for developing robust, high-performance batteries suitable for extreme conditions.

Enhanced Long-Term Cycling Life of Ni-Rich NMC Cathodes in High-Voltage Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Li metal batteries (LMBs) have revived people's interest due to their high energy density. This work compares the cycling stability, structure stability, and thermal stability of Li||0.7Nb-NMC 9055 (0.7% Nb-modified LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2) system in commercial carbonate electrolyte (1.0 M LiPF6 in EC/DMC) and designed carbonate electrolyte (1.0 M LiPF6-0.125 M LiNO3-0.025 M Mg(TFSI)2 in FEC-EMC). Li||0.7Nb-NMC 9055 battery with designed carbonate electrolyte exhibited superior capacity retention, 80% after ∼500 cycles. This can be explained by the improved mechanical integrity of the secondary particles and large reduced charge transfer resistance. Further, the real-time thermal monitoring of full cell via a high-precision, multimode calorimeter TAM IV Micro XL shows that the designed carbonate electrolyte with multisalt additive and FEC cosolvent has less heat release during the charging and discharge process, allowing these high-nickel (Ni) cathodes to reach closer to their full potential.

Health information literacy among children with spinal muscular atrophy and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease that leads to multiple organ dysfunction. The advent of disease-modifying treatments makes the early diagnosis of SMA critical. Health information literacy is vital for obtaining, understanding, screening, and using health information. Considering the importance of early diagnosis and the challenges in obtaining accurate information on patients with SMA, this cross-sectional study assessed health information literacy among children with SMA and their caregivers in China. METHODS: Interviews with the caregivers of 10 patients with SMA were conducted by neurologists specializing in SMA. A questionnaire for evaluating the level of health information literacy was further developed among 145 children with SMA aged 10.0-120.0 months, with the average age of 81.9 months, and their caregivers. Parameters, such as the age at the onset of the first symptom and time from recognition of the first symptom to diagnosis, were examined. Health information literacy was measured using four dimensions: cognition, search, evaluation, and application. RESULTS: The average time from the first symptom to first medical consultation was 4.8 months, and that from the first symptom to diagnosis was 10.8 months. There is a significant delay from the onset of the initial symptoms to a definitive diagnosis. Thirty-five (24%) patients had poor while 26 (18%) had high health information literacy. The overall score for health information literacy was 69; the scores for health information cognition and application were 90 and 84, respectively. The scores for evaluation (61) and search (57) were low. Medical personnel were considered the most professional and credible sources of information. Additionally, search engines and patient organizations were the other two most important sources of health literacy. CONCLUSION: Patients with SMA and their caregivers had low levels of health information literacy. SMA information visibility and standardization need to be improved. Medical personnel with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of SMA and media should aim to share knowledge and increase the quality of life of those with SMA.

Lightweight Electrolyte Design for Li/Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) Batteries.

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) recently emerges as a promising cathode for high-energy lithium (Li) metal batteries owing to its high capacity, extended cycle life, and liberty from costly transition metals. As the high capacities of both Li metal and SPAN lead to relatively small electrode weights, the weight and specific energy density of Li/SPAN batteries are particularly sensitive to electrolyte weight, highlighting the importance of minimizing electrolyte density. Besides, the large volume changes of Li metal anode and SPAN cathode require inorganic-rich interphases that can guarantee intactness and protectivity throughout long cycles. This work addresses these crucial aspects with an electrolyte design where lightweight dibutyl ether (DBE) is used as a diluent for concentrated lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI)-triethyl phosphate (TEP) solution. The designed electrolyte (d = 1.04 g mL-1) is 40%-50% lighter than conventional localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs), leading to 12%-20% extra energy density at the cell level. Besides, the use of DBE introduces substantial solvent-diluent affinity, resulting in a unique solvation structure with strengthened capability to form favorable anion-derived inorganic-rich interphases, minimize electrolyte consumption, and improve cell cyclability. The electrolyte also exhibits low volatility and offers good protection to both Li metal anode and SPAN cathode under thermal abuse.

Methylation enables the use of fluorine-free ether electrolytes in high-voltage lithium metal batteries.

Lithium metal batteries represent a promising technology for next-generation energy storage, but they still suffer from poor cycle life due to lithium dendrite formation and cathode cracking. Fluorinated solvents can improve battery longevity by improving LiF content in the solid-electrolyte interphase; however, the high cost and environmental concerns of fluorinated solvents limit battery viability. Here we designed a series of fluorine-free solvents through the methylation of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, which promotes inorganic LiF-rich interphase formation through anion reduction and achieves high oxidation stability. The anion-derived LiF interphases suppress lithium dendrite growth on the lithium anode and minimize cathode cracking under high-voltage operation. The Li+-solvent structure is investigated through in situ techniques and simulations to draw correlations between the interphase compositions and electrochemical performances. The methylation strategy provides an alternative pathway for electrolyte engineering towards high-voltage electrolytes while reducing dependence on expensive fluorinated solvents.

High voltage electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries with micro-sized silicon anodes.

Micro-sized silicon anodes can significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries with low cost. However, the large silicon volume changes during cycling cause cracks for both organic-inorganic interphases and silicon particles. The liquid electrolytes further penetrate the cracked silicon particles and reform the interphases, resulting in huge electrode swelling and quick capacity decay. Here we resolve these challenges by designing a high-voltage electrolyte that forms silicon-phobic interphases with weak bonding to lithium-silicon alloys. The designed electrolyte enables micro-sized silicon anodes (5 µm, 4.1 mAh cm-2) to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% and capacity of 2175 mAh g-1 for >250 cycles and enable 100 mAh LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 pouch full cells to deliver a high capacity of 172 mAh g-1 for 120 cycles with Coulombic efficiency of >99.9%. The high-voltage electrolytes that are capable of forming silicon-phobic interphases pave new ways for the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries using micro-sized silicon anodes.

A disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature for predicting prognosis and evaluating the tumor immune microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma.

As a novel form of regulated cell death (RCD), disulfidptosis offering a significant opportunity in better understanding of tumor pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate the biology functions of tumor cells by engaging with a range of targets. However, the prognostic value of disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRlncRNAs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Therefore, our study aimed at establishing a prognostic model for LUAD patients based on DRlncRNAs. RNA-seq data and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, a prognostic model based on DRlncRNAs was constructed using LASSO and COX regression analysis. Patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on their risk scores. Differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups were investigated in terms of overall survival (OS), functional enrichment, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), somatic mutations, and drug sensitivity. Finally, the role of lncRNA GSEC in LUAD was validated through in vitro experiments. Using the prognostic model consists of 5 DRlncRNAs (AL365181.2, GSEC, AC093673.1, AC012615.1, AL606834.1), the low-risk group exhibited a markedly superior survival in comparison to the high-risk group. The significant differences were observed among patients from different risk groups in OS, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, immunotherapy response, and mutation landscape. Experimental results from cellular studies demonstrate the knockdown of lncRNA GSEC leading to a significant reduction in the proliferation and migration abilities of LUAD cells. Our prognostic model, constructed using 5 DRlncRNAs, exhibited the capacity to independently predict the survival of LUAD patients, providing the potentially significant assistance in prognosis prediction, and treatment effects optimization. Moreover, our study established a foundation for further research on disulfidptosis in LUAD and proposed new perspectives for the treatment of LUAD.

Effect of Reduced Graphene Oxide on Microwave Absorbing Properties of Al1.5Co4Fe2Cr High-Entropy Alloys.

The microwave absorption performance of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) can be improved by reducing the reflection coefficient of electromagnetic waves and broadening the absorption frequency band. The present work prepared flaky irregular-shaped Al1.5Co4Fe2Cr and Al1.5Co4Fe2Cr@rGO alloy powders by mechanical alloying (MA) at different rotational speeds. It was found that the addition of trace amounts of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) had a favorable effect on the impedance matching, reflection loss (RL), and effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB) of the Al1.5Co4Fe2Cr@rGO HEA composite powders. The EAB of the alloy powders prepared at 300 rpm increased from 2.58 GHz to 4.62 GHz with the additive, and the RL increased by 2.56 dB. The results showed that the presence of rGO modified the complex dielectric constant of HEA powders, thereby enhancing their dielectric loss capability. Additionally, the presence of lamellar rGO intensified the interfacial reflections within the absorber, facilitating the dissipation of electromagnetic waves. The effect of the ball milling speed on the defect concentration of the alloy powders also affected its wave absorption performance. The samples prepared at 350 rpm had the best wave absorption performance, with an RL of -16.23 and -17.28 dB for a thickness of 1.6 mm and EAB of 5.77 GHz and 5.43 GHz, respectively.

Interface design for all-solid-state lithium batteries.

The operation of high-energy all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries at low stack pressure is challenging owing to the Li dendrite growth at the Li anodes and the high interfacial resistance at the cathodes1-4. Here we design a Mg16Bi84 interlayer at the Li/Li6PS5Cl interface to suppress the Li dendrite growth, and a F-rich interlayer on LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathodes to reduce the interfacial resistance. During Li plating-stripping cycles, Mg migrates from the Mg16Bi84 interlayer to the Li anode converting Mg16Bi84 into a multifunctional LiMgSx-Li3Bi-LiMg structure with the layers functioning as a solid electrolyte interphase, a porous Li3Bi sublayer and a solid binder (welding porous Li3Bi onto the Li anode), respectively. The Li3Bi sublayer with its high ionic/electronic conductivity ratio allows Li to deposit only on the Li anode surface and grow into the porous Li3Bi sublayer, which ameliorates pressure (stress) changes. The NMC811 with the F-rich interlayer converts into F-doped NMC811 cathodes owing to the electrochemical migration of the F anion into the NMC811 at a high potential of 4.3 V stabilizing the cathodes. The anode and cathode interlayer designs enable the NMC811/Li6PS5Cl/Li cell to achieve a capacity of 7.2 mAh cm-2 at 2.55 mA cm-2, and the LiNiO2/Li6PS5Cl/Li cell to achieve a capacity of 11.1 mAh cm-2 with a cell-level energy density of 310 Wh kg-1 at a low stack pressure of 2.5 MPa. The Mg16Bi84 anode interlayer and F-rich cathode interlayer provide a general solution for all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries to achieve high energy and fast charging capability at low stack pressure.

Preparation, Chromatic Properties Analysis and Proportioning Optimization of Co-Cr-Fe-Based Black Pigment.

The utilization of Co-Cr-Fe-based black pigments bears considerable significance within the realm of commercial ceramic pigments, owing to their distinctive spinel structure, remarkable high-temperature stability, and exceptional chromatic attributes. This study delves into the synthesis of diverse black pigment configurations by employing the co-precipitation method, leveraging the interplay of these three metallic oxides. This investigation encompasses a comprehensive scrutiny of ion valences, crystal structures and parameters, colorimetric properties, and their interrelationships. The methodology integrates the response surface methodology (RSM) framework, using theoretical formulations to navigate the material ratios and elucidating the associations between the resultant compositions and color coordinate values, aligned with the CIE-Lab* colorimetric methodology. The derived predictive models yielded an optimized black pigment composition, characterized by heightened black intensity and a refined formulation.

Targeting the cochlin/SFRP1/CaMKII axis in the ocular posterior pole prevents the progression of nonpathologic myopia.

Myopia is a major public health issue. However, interventional modalities for nonpathologic myopia are limited due to its complicated pathogenesis and the lack of precise targets. Here, we show that in guinea pig form-deprived myopia (FDM) and lens-induced myopia (LIM) models, the early initiation, phenotypic correlation, and stable maintenance of cochlin protein upregulation at the interface between retinal photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is identified by a proteomic analysis of ocular posterior pole tissues. Then, a microarray analysis reveals that cochlin upregulates the expression of the secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) gene in human RPE cells. Moreover, SFRP-1 elevates the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and activates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling in a simian choroidal vascular endothelial cell line, and elicits vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. Furthermore, genetic knockdown of the cochlin gene and pharmacological blockade of SFRP1 abrogates the reduced choroidal blood perfusion and prevents myopia progression in the FDM model. Collectively, this study identifies a novel signaling axis that may involve cochlin in the retina, SFRP1 in the RPE, and CaMKII in choroidal vascular endothelial cells and contribute to the pathogenesis of nonpathologic myopia, implicating the potential of cochlin and SFRP1 as myopia interventional targets.

The value of frozen section diagnosis of tumor spread through air spaces in small-sized (≤ 2 cm) non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The current accuracy of frozen section diagnosis of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor. However, the accuracy and prognostic value of STAS assessment on frozen sections in small-sized NSCLC (diameter ≤ 2 cm) is unknown. METHODS: Three hundred fifty-two patients with clinical stage I NSCLC (≤ 2 cm) were included, of which the paraffin sections and frozen sections were reviewed. The accuracy of STAS diagnosis in frozen sections was assessed using paraffin sections as the gold standard. The relationship between STAS on frozen sections and prognosis was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. RESULTS: STAS on frozen sections in 58 of 352 patients could not be evaluated. In the other 294 patients, 36.39% (107/294) was STAS-positive on paraffin sections and 29.59% (87/294) on frozen sections. The accuracy of frozen section diagnosis of STAS was 74.14% (218/294), sensitivity was 55.14% (59/107), specificity was 85.02% (159/187) and agreement was moderate (K = 0.418). In subgroup analysis, the Kappa values for frozen section diagnosis of STAS in the consolidation-to-tumor ratio (CTR) ≤ 0.5 group and CTR > 0.5 group were 0.368, 0.415, respectively. In survival analysis, STAS-positive frozen sections were associated with worse recurrence-free survival in the CTR > 0.5 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The moderate accuracy and prognostic significance of frozen section diagnosis of STAS in clinical stage I NSCLC (≤ 2 cm in diameter; CTR > 0.5) suggests that frozen section assessment of STAS can be applied to the treatment strategy of small-sized NSCLC with CTR > 0.5.

The Preparation, Structural Design, and Application of Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Materials for Wearable Sensors and Human Energy Harvesters.

Owing to their biocompatibility, chemical stability, film-forming ability, cost-effectiveness, and excellent electroactive properties, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and PVDF-based polymers are widely used in sensors, actuators, energy harvesters, etc. In this review, the recent research progress on the PVDF phase structures and identification of different phases is outlined. Several approaches for obtaining the electroactive phase of PVDF and preparing PVDF-based nanocomposites are described. Furthermore, the potential applications of these materials in wearable sensors and human energy harvesters are discussed. Finally, some challenges and perspectives for improving the properties and boosting the applications of these materials are presented.

Copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline induces the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, including oxaliplatin­resistant cells.

Oxaliplatin (Oxa) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the use of this drug is associated with severe side­effects and patients eventually develop resistance to Oxa. In recent years, copper complexes have been extensively investigated as substitutes for platinum­based drugs. Therefore, a number of copper complexes have also been developed for cancer therapy, such as copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline [Cu(sal)(phen)]. In the present study, the antitumor activity and the related molecular mechanisms of Cu(sal)(phen) were examined in CRC cells. As compared with the chemotherapeutic drug, Oxa, Cu(sal)(phen) was more effective in inducing apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and in decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential in the CRC cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. In addition, the expression of the apoptosis­related proteins, Bcl­2 and survivin, and those of the upstream regulators, p­JAK2 and p­STAT5, were significantly decreased in the two cell lines following treatment with Cu(sal)(phen). Furthermore, the efficacy of the complex against CRC was found to be excellent in an animal model. The results of immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression levels of Bcl­2, survivin and Ki­67 in tumor tissues were decreased following Cu(sal)(phen) treatment. The antitumor mechanisms underlying Cu(Sal)(phen) treatment were the induction of ROS generation, the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway and the downregulation of the expression of anti­apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl­2 and survivin. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicated that Cu(sal)(phen) effectively inhibited the viability and proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 CRC cells; in the future, the authors aim to conduct further experiments in future studies to provide more evidence that supports the development of Cu(sal)(phen) as a therapeutic agent for CRC.

Influencing factors associated with high myopia in Chinese college students.

Background: High myopia (HM) may elicit irreversible pathological changes in the fundus and severely impair visual quality, thereby becoming a major public health issue in China. However, the influencing factors associated with HM remain unknown in Chinese college students, whose visual quality is crucial to country development. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study. Two thousand three hundred and fifteen undergraduate and graduate students were initially recruited from various majors in 3 universities in Tianjin, China. Under the principle of voluntary participation and informed consent, simple random sampling was conducted in the recruited subjects while maintaining balanced number of subjects from each major. After screening with inclusion and exclusion criteria, 96 undergraduate and graduate students (186 eyes) were finally included and divided into non-HM and HM groups. The eyes of subjects were examined by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for vessel density and structure thickness at the macula and optic disc, and the subjects were surveyed by an itemized questionnaire on lifestyles and study habits. Results: The OCTA and questionnaire results revealed 10 factors, including hemodynamic and anatomic parameters and lifestyle metrics, with statistical significance between the non-HM and HM groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that vessel density of the inner retina at the macula, vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillary at the optic disc, smartphone usage time, continuous near work time, and sleeping after midnight had superior values of area under the curve (AUC > 0.700). Therefore, these 5 factors were selected for univariant and multivariant logistic regression analyses. A prediction model comprising the 5 influencing factors had an AUC of 0.940 and 95% CI of 0.908-0.972. Conclusion: This study for the first time identified the vessel density of the inner retina at the macula, the vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillary at the optic disc, smartphone usage time, continuous near work time, and sleeping after midnight as influencing factors associated with HM in Chinese college students. A prediction model comprising the 5 influencing factors was proposed for calculating likelihood of a Chinese college student developing HM, based on which lifestyle improvement and medical intervention might be recommended.

Effect of 8-Hydroxyguanine DNA Glycosylase 1 on the Function of Immune Cells.

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause an imbalance between oxidation and anti-oxidation, leading to the occurrence of oxidative stress in the body. The most common product of ROS-induced base damage is 8-hydroxyguanine (8-oxoG). Failure to promptly remove 8-oxoG often causes mutations during DNA replication. 8-oxoG is cleared from cells by the 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1)-mediated oxidative damage base excision repair pathway so as to prevent cells from suffering dysfunction due to oxidative stress. Physiological immune homeostasis and, in particular, immune cell function are vulnerable to oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that inflammation, aging, cancer, and other diseases are related to an imbalance in immune homeostasis caused by oxidative stress. However, the role of the OGG1-mediated oxidative damage repair pathway in the activation and maintenance of immune cell function is unknown. This review summarizes the current understanding of the effect of OGG1 on immune cell function.

Cloning, Expression, and Functional Characterization of FUT1, a Key Gene for Histo-Blood Group Antigens Synthesis in Crassostrea gigas.

Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) comprise a family of cell-surface carbohydrates that are considered norovirus-specific binding receptors or ligands. HBGA-like molecules have also been detected in oysters as common norovirus carriers, although the pathway involved in the synthesis of these molecules in oysters has yet to be elucidated. We isolated and identified a key gene involved in the synthesis of HBGA-like molecules, FUT1, from Crassostrea gigas, named CgFUT1. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that CgFUT1 mRNA was expressed in the mantle, gill, muscle, labellum, and hepatopancreatic tissues of C. gigas, with the hepatopancreas exhibiting the highest expression level. A recombinant CgFUT1 protein with a molecular mass of 38.0 kDa was expressed in Escherichia coli using a prokaryotic expression vector. A eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The expression of CgFUT1 and membrane localization of type H-2 HBGA-like molecules in CHO cells were detected using Western blotting and cellular immunofluorescence, respectively. This study indicated that CgFUT1, expressed in C. gigas tissues, can synthesize type H-2 HBGA-like molecules. This finding provides a new perspective for analyzing the source and synthetic pathway of HBGA-like molecules in oysters.

Case report: Pediatric anti-gamma aminobutyric acid-B receptor encephalitis with benign prognosis.

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of pediatric anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid-B receptor (GABABR) encephalitis to enhance the understanding and improve the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease. Methods: We report a rare case of a female pediatric patient with anti-GABABR encephalitis who was treated at the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Literature search was performed to explore the clinical characteristics of pediatric anti-GABABR encephalitis. Results: The patient exhibited recurrent epileptic seizure, status epilepticus, and psychiatric symptoms at the age of 11 years and 10 months. Anti-GABABR antibodies were positive in cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibited abnormal signals in the left hippocampus. Symptoms and abnormality of brain MRI were improved after administration of immunosuppressants, anti-seizure and antipsychotic drugs. Two of pediatric anti-GABABR encephalitis with clinical data were identified through literature search. Analysis of these three cases suggested that the pediatric patients primarily experienced limbic encephalitis, with no tumor incidence. A favorable immunotherapy response was demonstrated with a superior prognosis in all the cases. Conclusions: We reported a pediatric anti-GABABR encephalitis case with early age of onset. Promt autoimmune antibody testing and tumor screening, as well as immunomodulatory treatment immediately after a definitive diagnosis are warranted to improve prognosis.

The copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effect and associated molecular mechanisms of the copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline [Cu(sal)(phen)] against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cu(sal)(phen) inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells (HepG2 and HCC-LM9) and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in a dose-dependent manner by upregulating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The expression of the antiapoptotic proteins survivin and Bcl-2 was decreased, while the expression of the DNA damage marker γ-H2 AX and the apoptotic marker cleaved PARP was upregulated with Cu(sal)(phen) treatment. In vivo, the growth of HepG2 subcutaneous xenograft tumors was greatly attenuated by Cu(sal)(phen) treatment. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the expression of survivin, Bcl-2, and Ki67 in the tumor was downregulated by Cu(sal)(phen). Toxicity experiments with BALB/c mice revealed that Cu(sal)(phen) is a relatively safe drug. Our results indicate that Cu(sal)(phen) possesses great potential as a therapeutic drug for HCC.