Viologen-based ionic conjugated mesoporous polymer as the electron conveyer for efficient polysulfide trapping and conversion.

The commercialization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries has been hindered by the shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Herein, we reported a viologen-based ionic conjugated mesoporous polymer (TpV-Cl), which acts as the cathode host for modifying Li-S batteries. The viologen component serves as a reversible electron conveyer, leading to a comprehensive enhancement in the adsorption of polysulfides and improved conversion rate of polysulfides during the electrochemical process. As a result, the S@TpV-PS cathode exhibits outstanding cycling performance, achieving 300 cycles at 2.0 C (1 C = 1675 mA g-1) with low decay rate of 0.032% per cycle. Even at a high sulfur loading of 4.0 mg cm-2, S@TpV-PS shows excellent cycling stability with a Coulombic efficiency of up to 98%. These results highlight the significant potential of S@TpV-PS in developing high-performance Li-S batteries.

Engineering a hollow bowl-like porous carbon-confined Ru-MgO hetero-structured nanopair as a high-performance catalyst for ammonia borane hydrolysis.

Exploration of high-performance catalysts holds great importance for on-demand H2 production from ammonia borane (AB) hydrolysis. In this work, a hollow bowl-like porous carbon-anchored Ru-MgO hetero-structured nano-pair with high-intensity interfaces is made, using a tailored design approach. Consequently, the optimized catalyst shows AB hydrolysis activity with a turnover frequency value of 784 min-1 in aqueous media and 1971 min-1 in alkaline solvent. Robust durability is also achieved, with slight deactivation after a ten-cycle test. Combined experimental and theoretical calculations validate the positive function of the interface between Ru and MgO for facilitating H transfer and boosting water activation, thus leading to improved AB hydrolysis performance. This study could be valuable in guiding the upgradation of Ru catalytic systems, to advance their practical applications.

Endoscopic extraction of a submucosal esophageal foreign body piercing into the thoracic aorta: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Aorto-esophageal injury is a rare but life-threatening complication of esophageal foreign bodies, which typically requires open surgery. The best way to treat patients with this condition remains unclear. To date, few reports have described an aortic wall directly penetrated by a sharp foreign body. Here, we present a rare case of a fishbone completely embedded in the esophageal muscularis propria and directly piercing the aorta, which was successfully treated by endoscopy and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 71-year-old man with a 1-d history of retrosternal pain after eating fish. No abnormal findings were observed by the emergency esophagoscopy. Computed tomography showed a fishbone that had completely pierced through the esophageal mucosa and into the aorta. The patient refused to undergo surgery for personal reasons and was discharged. Five days after the onset of illness, he was readmitted to our hospital. Endoscopy examination showed a nodule with a smooth surface in the middle of the esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed a fishbone under the nodule. After performing TEVAR, we incised the esophageal mucosa under an endoscope and successfully removed the fishbone. The patient has remained in good condition for 1 year. CONCLUSION: Incising the esophageal wall under endoscope and extracting a foreign body after TEVAR may be a feasible option for cases such as ours.

[Effects of Clinical Characteristics, Laboratory Parameters and Treatment Regimens on Prognosis of Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of clinicopathological features, laboratory parameters and treatment regimens on the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: The clinical data of 97 patients with multiple myeloma treated with chemotherapy in Department of Hematology, the 1st Hospital of Hainan Medical College were analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathological features (age, sex, severe anemia, light chain type, hypoproteinemia, paraplegia, renal injury, amyloidosis, complex karyotype, bone disease classification, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical status score, complete remission, etc.), laboratory parameters (C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, blood calcium, serum ß2 microglobulin, etc.), and treatment schemes (thalidomide maintenance treatment) were recorded. The patients were followed up for 1-60 months, and their total survival time were recorded. A single factor and multiple factors were used to analyze the factors affecting the total and early mortality of the patients. The survival curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method and the survival analysis was carried out by Log-rank test. RESULTS: Among 97 patients, 29 cases (29.90%) achieved complete remission, and 56 cases (57.73%) achineved partial remission. The total effective rate was 87.63% (85/97). At the end of the follow-up, 19 cases (19.59%) died, and 1, 3 and 5 year survival rates were 80.41%, 71.13% and 37.11% respectively. The median overall survival time was 29 (1-60) months. The results of single factor analysis showed that age, hypoproteinemia, severe anemia, paraplegia, renal injury, amyloidosis, complex karyotype, complete remission and thalidomide maintenance therapy were the factors affecting the prognosis of the patients (all P＜0.05). Further multiple factor Logistic regression analysis showed that age and hypoproteinemia, severe anemia, paraplegia, amyloidosis, complex karyotype and thalidomide maintenance treatment were factors affecting the prognosis (P＜0.05). Of the 97 patients, 8 cases died early. The results of single factor analysis showed that amyloidosis and severe anemia were risk factors for early death (all P＜0.05), and further multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that amyloidosis was an independent risk factor for early death (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: There are many adverse factors affecting the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma, such as age, hypoproteinemia, severe anemia, paraplegia, amyloidosis, complex karyotype and so on. The risk of early death in the patients with amyloidosis is higher, and salidomide maintenance therapy can help to prolong the life span of the patient.

Interaction between hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide on cardiac protection in rats with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interaction between hydrogen sulfide (H2S)/cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) system and nitric oxide (NO)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system on cardiac protection in metabolic syndrome (MS) rats. METHODS: Forty one male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, MS group, H2S donor group, CSE inhibitor group, NOS inhibitor group, and NO donor group. The MS rat model was established by a high-fat diet of 16 weeks. Rats in control and MS groups were subjected to normal saline and the other four groups were respectively subjected to sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 56 µmol/kg), D,L-propargylglycine (PPG, 37.5 mg/kg), Nψ-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 18 mg/kg), L-Arginine (500 mg/kg) every day. Four weeks later, the obesity indices, blood sugar of oral glucose tolerance test in each time point (0,30,60, and 120 minutes) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) were measured. The computer-based electrophysiological recorder system was used to measure the changes of the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the maximal rate of pressure increase in the contraction phase (+dP/dtmax), and the maximal rate of pressure decrease in the diastole phase (-dP/dtmax). H2S and NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, as well as CSE, constitutive NOS (cNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS) activities in myocardium were measured with colorimetric method. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the gene expression of CSE and endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNAs. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the obesity indices, blood sugar at each time point, and blood lipids significantly increased in MS group (P<0.05). H2S and NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, CSE and cNOS activities in myocardium, the expressions of CSE mRNA and eNOS mRNA, and the myocardial function significantly decreased in MS group (P<0.05). Compared with MS group, NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, cNOS and iNOS activities in myocardium, and the expression of eNOS mRNA significantly increased in CSE inhibitor group (P<0.05). However, activities of cNOS and iNOS in myocardium and the expression of eNOS mRNA were significantly decreased in H2S donor group (P<0.01), while the myocardial function significantly increased (P<0.05). H2S concentration in plasma and myocardium, and the expression of CSE mRNA significantly increased in NOS inhibitor group (P<0.05). However, in NO donor group, the CSE activity in myocardium and the expression of CSE mRNA significantly decreased (P<0.05). And the myocardial function was improved significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both the H2S/CSE and NO/NOS systems appear to have a mutual down-regulation effect on myocardium in MS rats. Meanwhile, exogenous H2S and NO supplement is cardioprotective in rat model of MS.