Mediated Peroxymonosulfate Activation at the Single Atom Fe-N3 O1 Sites: Synergistic Degradation of Antibiotics by Two Non-Radical Pathways.

The activation of persulfates to degrade refractory organic pollutants is a hot issue in advanced oxidation right now. Here, it is reported that single-atom Fe-incorporated carbon nitride (Fe-CN-650) can effectively activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal. Through some characterization techniques and DFT calculation, it is proved that Fe single atoms in Fe-CN-650 exist mainly in the form of Fe-N3 O1 coordination, and Fe-N3 O1 exhibited better affinity for PMS than the traditional Fe-N4 structure. The degradation rate constant of SMX in the Fe-CN-650/PMS system reached 0.472 min-1 , and 90.80% of SMX can still be effectively degraded within 10 min after five consecutive recovery cycles. The radical quenching experiment and electrochemical analysis confirm that the pollutants are mainly degraded by two non-radical pathways through 1 O2 and Fe(IV)═O induced at the Fe-N3 O1 sites. In addition, the intermediate products of SMX degradation in the Fe-CN-650/PMS system show toxicity attenuation or non-toxicity. This study offers valuable insights into the design of carbon-based single-atom catalysts and provides a potential remediation technology for the optimum activation of PMS to disintegrate organic pollutants.

Paraneoplastic anti-GAD65 extralimbic encephalitis presented with epilepsy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Autoimmunity targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus as well as various neurological diseases. In the central nervous system, GAD65 autoimmunity usually presents with limbic encephalitis, whereas extralimbic encephalitis (ELE) has only been reported in a few cases. Moreover, anti-GAD65 ELE in the paraneoplastic context has not yet been reported. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 60-year-old man presented with intermittent cough and sputum for 10 years, with no other diseases. The patient presented with recurrent seizures that were resistant to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Chest computed tomography and pathological results confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. Paraneoplastic testing found a high level of GAD65 antibodies in his serum, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis, indicating autoimmune encephalitis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multifocal T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in the extralimbic areas including the subcortex and deep white matter of the bilateral frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and insula lobes. DIAGNOSES: Finally, a diagnosis of anti-GAD65 autoimmune ELE with a paraneoplastic etiology from the small cell lung cancer was suspected. INTERVENTIONS: The patient refused any tumor-suppressive treatment or immunotherapy for potential side effects and only received AEDs levetiracetam, sodium valproate, and diazepam. OUTCOMES: The epilepsy of the patient was resistant to AEDs, and the patient died a week after discharge due to disease progression. LESSONS: Anti-GAD65 autoimmune encephalitis can be extralimbic, can present with isolated epilepsy, and extralimbic anti-GAD65 encephalitis can occur with an underlying malignancy.

Association between maternal HIV infection and the risks of preterm birth and low birth weight in Chengdu, China: a propensity score matching approach.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of HIV infection on the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) among Chinese pregnancy women. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study included HIV-positive pregnant women who gave birth to singletons in Chengdu between 2011 and 2020 and and HIV-negative pregnant women who delivered singletons at the Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital in 2020. SETTING: Data of pregnant women living with HIV were extracted from China's Information System of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Management. Additionally, information for HIV-negative pregnant women was extracted from the electronic medical record system of the Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 755 HIV-positive women and 15,094 HIV-negative pregnant women were included. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: PTB and LBW rates, which were defined by gestational weeks and birth weight. RESULTS: The incidences of PTB and LBW (13.51% and 14.17%, respectively) were significantly higher in the HIV-positive group compared with the HIV-negative group (6.82% and 4.65%). Propensity score matching was performed to improve comparability of the two groups, resulting in 1590 pregnancies with 558 HIV-positive and 1032 HIV-negative women in the final analysis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of maternal HIV status on adverse pregnancy outcomes. After propensity score matching and controlling the potential confounders, HIV infection was strongly associated with higher chances of LBW and PTB with adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.53 (1.74 to 3.68) and 1.95 (1.33 to 2.85), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection was significantly associated with increased risks of PTB and LBW in Chinese pregnant women. Future studies should focus on investigating the mechanisms underlying the association between HIV infection and adverse birth outcomes, and on identifying strategies to reduce the incidence of PTB and LBW in pregnant women living with HIV.

PET-based radiomics visualizes tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cell exhaustion to optimize radiotherapy/immunotherapy combination in mouse models of lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cumulative preclinical and clinical evidences showed radiotherapy might augment systemic antitumoral responses to immunotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, but the optimal timing of combination is still unclear. The overall infiltration and exhausted subpopulations of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells might be a potential biomarker indicating the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), the alteration of which is previously uncharacterized during peri-irradiation period, while dynamic monitoring is unavailable via repeated biopsies in clinical practice. METHODS: Basing on tumor-bearing mice model, we investigated the dynamics of overall infiltration and exhausted subpopulations of CD8+ T cells after ablative irradiation. With the understanding of distinct metabolic characteristics accompanied with T cell exhaustion, we developed a PET radiomics approach to identify and visualize T cell exhaustion status. RESULTS: CD8+ T cell infiltration increased from 3 to 14 days after ablative irradiation while terminally exhausted populations significantly predominated CD8+ T cells during late course of this infiltrating period, indicating that 3-7 days post-irradiation might be a potential appropriate window for delivering ICI treatment. A PET radiomics approach was established to differentiate T cell exhaustion status, which fitted well in both ICI and irradiation settings. We also visualized the underlying association of more heterogeneous texture on PET images with progressed T cell exhaustion. CONCLUSIONS: We proposed a non-invasive imaging predictor which accurately assessed heterogeneous T cell exhaustion status relevant to ICI treatment and irradiation, and might serve as a promising solution to timely estimate immune-responsiveness of tumor microenvironment and the optimal timing of combined therapy.

Structure-performance correlation guided cerium-based metal-organic frameworks: Superior adsorbents for fluoride removal in water.

Fluoride in the hydrosphere exceeds the standard, which could be critically hazardous to human health and the natural environment. The adsorption method is a mature and effective way to remove pollutants in water, including fluoride. In this study, we synthesized three kinds of cerium-based metal-organic frameworks (Ce-MOFs) with different structures and properties by modulating the organic ligands (i.e., trimesic acid (BTC), 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (PMA), and terephthalic acid (BDC)) via the solvothermal method. The adsorption kinetics of Ce-MOFs on fluoride well fit the pseudo second order model, and their adsorption isotherms also conform to Langmuir isothermal model. The thermodynamic study reveals that the adsorption process is a spontaneous endothermic reaction. The maximum saturated adsorption capacities of Ce-BTC, Ce-PMA, and Ce-BDC are 70.7, 159.6, and 139.5 mg g-1, respectively. Ce-MOFs have stable and excellent adsorption capacity at pH = 3-9. Coexisting anions (Cl-, SO42-, and NO3-) do not affect the performance of Ce-MOFs for fluoride removal. Moreover, Ce-MOFs also show their broad prospect as superior fluoride adsorbents because of their excellent performance and reusability in real water samples. Organic ligands have a remarkable influence on the defluoridation performance of Ce-MOFs. This work will provide a feasible idea for designing MOFs as superiors adsorbents for defluoridation.

Single atom Mn anchored on N-doped porous carbon derived from spirulina for catalyzed peroxymonosulfate to degradation of emerging organic pollutants.

Highly efficient single atom catalysts are critical to substantially promote for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to organic pollutant degradation, but it remains a challenge at present. Herein, single atom Mn anchored on N-doped porous carbon (SA-Mn-NSC) was synthesized by ball milling of Mn-doped carbon nitride and spirulina biochar to dominantly activate PMS. The precursor of carbon nitride and spirulina possessed a strong coordinating capability for Mn(II), facilitating the formation of highly dispersed nitrogen-coordinated Mn sites (Mn-N4). The SA-Mn-NSC catalyst exhibited high activity and stability in the heterogeneous activation of PMS to degrade a wide range of pollutants within 10 min, showing an outstanding degradation rate constant of 0.31 min-1 in enrofloxacin (ENR) degradation. The high surface density of Mn-N4 sites and abundant interconnected meso-macro pores were highly favorable for activating PMS to produce 1O2 and high-valent manganese (Mn(IV)) for pollutant degradation. This work offers a new pathway of using a low-cost and easily accessible single-atom catalysts (SACs) and could inspire more catalytic oxidation strategies.

Relaxin-3 Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Background: This study is aimed at investigating whether relaxin-3 exhibits protective effects against cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats by suppressing ERS. Methods: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: controls (n = 20) and diabetes (n = 60). The streptozotocin-treated rats were randomly divided into three groups: diabetic group (DM), low-dose relaxin-3 group (0.2 µg/kg/d), and high-dose relaxin-3 group (2 µg/kg/d). The myocardial tissues and collagen fiber were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining. Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin (TNI), myoglobin, interleukin (IL-17), interleukin (IL)-1α, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined by ELISA. The protein expression of glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in the heart tissue of each group was detected by Western blot analysis. Results: (1) HE and Masson staining indicated that relaxin-3 could attenuate myocardial lesions and myocardial collagen volume fraction. (2) BNP, TnI, and myoglobin in the DM group at four and eight weeks were significantly higher than in the controls (P < 0.01). The relaxin-3-treated groups showed significantly reduced serum BNP, TnI, and myoglobin levels compared with the DM group (P < 0.05). (3) IL-17, IL-1α, and TNF-α levels in the DM rats at 4 weeks were higher than in the controls (P < 0.05). Low or high dose of relaxin-3-treated groups showed reduced serum IL-17 and TNF-α levels compared with the DM group at four and eight weeks (P < 0.05). (4) CHOP and GRP78 protein expression was increased in the DM group at four and eight weeks compared with the controls (P < 0.01), and small and large doses of relaxin-3 significantly reduced GRP78 and CHOP protein expression. Conclusions: Exogenous relaxin-3 ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting ERS in diabetic rats.

[Retention Effect of Heavy Metals in Rivers of a Typical Mountainous City by Cascade Weirs: A Case Study of Liangtan River in Chongqing].

Contaminants such as heavy metals in rivers are partially retained in the sediments at the bottom as a result of the altered water regime within the cascade weirs. The associated heavy metals in the sediments can affect surface water quality and ecology for a long period. In May 2020, sediments were collected in a typical mountainous river (Liangtan River) with cascade weirs in the main urban area of Chongqing. The accumulation of sediments in each river section, the content of heavy metals, and other basic physicochemical indicators in the samples were monitored. The results showed that the average ω(As), ω(Cd), ω(Cu), ω(Hg), ω(Ni), and ω(Pb) in the sediments of the main stream of Liangtan River were (4.66±4.78), (0.361±0.256), (32.30±14.38), (0.069±0.039), (33.47±15.37), and (26.34±11.52) mg·kg-1, respectively. A large coefficient of spatial variation regarding the content of heavy metals in the sediments across the sampling sites was observed owing to the uneven spatial distribution of pollution sources and the destruction of river connectivity by cascade weirs. The modified geoaccumulation index (Im) showed that Cd was the most polluted heavy metal element in the sediments. Of the monitored river sections, 12.50% approached or were at moderate pollution levels, and these sections were mainly found in the upstream and downstream reaches of Liangtan River with relatively concentrated construction lands. The potential ecological risk assessment index method (RI) and the sediment quality guideline method (SQGs) showed that, in addition to Cd and Hg with a high pollution level and strong toxicity, Ni in the sediments also posed a potential threat to the ecological safety of surface water due to its high background content in the watershed. The total amounts of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb retained in the sediments by cascade weirs were estimated to be 446.10, 47.28, 4997.80, 10.81, 5135.68, and 4048.16 kg, respectively, in which Cd, Ni, and Pb were identified to be the major threats to the ecological safety of surface water over a long period. The upper reaches prior to the weirs with the most retained heavy metals and the easier formation of an anaerobic environment are suggested to be the key areas for investigation of the endogenous release of heavy metals. Source apportionment of heavy metals in river sediments through the combination of principal component analysis and cluster analysis revealed that Cd, Cu, and Pb mainly originated from residential/industrial point source pollution. Hg mainly originated from agricultural non-point source pollution, whereas As and Ni mainly originated from natural soil erosion.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction Simultaneously Associated With Aortic Mural Thrombosis Due to Essential Thrombocytosis.

Background: Essential thrombocytosis (ET) simultaneously complicated with acute myocardial infarction and aortic thrombosis is extremely rare and associated with poor outcomes. Case: A 54-year-old female was admitted to our emergency department with abdominal pain for 3 h. ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V3 on electrocardiography led to the diagnosis of acute anterior myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography demonstrated total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery, and the patient was treated with angioplasty and placement of a drug-eluting stent. CT angiography revealed a massive mural thrombus located in the descending aorta. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of ET. The patient was successfully treated with antithrombotic therapy and hydroxyurea. Conclusion: At present, the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ET complicated with acute myocardial infarction and aortic thrombosis are mostly based on literature reports. Early target vessel revascularization, antiplatelet and anticoagulant combined with cytoreductive therapy may improve the prognosis. Clinicians should consider the risk of bleeding and thrombosis and create individualized treatment strategies for these patients.

A novel tumor-specific broad-spectral monoclonal antibody to PL2L60 is highly effective for the treatment of various types of cancers from human and mouse.

There are numerous antibodies used for cancer therapy in clinic, but they are essentially less efficacy than expected. None of them has tumor-specific and broad-spectral properties. PIWIL2-like (PL2L) protein 60 (PL2L60) is a product of alienated activation of PIWIL2 gene, and has been found to be specifically and widely expressed in various types of cancers, including hematopoietic and solid ones. Current study aims to investigate whether a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to PL2L60 has both tumor-specific and broad-spectral properties, which can be used universally to treat various types of cancers. The expression of PL2L60 protein in the cell surface and cytoplasm were determined in a panel of human and mouse tumor cell lines by flow cytometry, immunofluorescent microscopy and Western Blotting. The apoptosis and the cell cycle arrest of the tumor cells treated with mAb KAO3 were evaluated by flow cytometry. The tumorigenesis of the mAb KAO3-pretreated tumor cells was determined by tumor incidence and tumor size, and the efficacy of mAb KAO3 treatment on tumor growth in tumors-bearing mice were kinetically evaluated. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) assay was used to determine the capacity of mAb KAO3 to kill tumor cells. Treatment of human or mouse tumor cells from hematopoietic or solid tumors with mAb KAO3 at the time of inoculation efficiently inhibited tumorigenesis in the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Moreover, injection of mAb KAO3 into established tumors significantly inhibited their growth, and prolonged survival of the tumor-bearing mice, including lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer. The efficacy of mAb KAO3 treatment is likely associated with its binding to PL2L60 expressed on tumor cell surface, which may lead to cancer cell death through blocking cell cycling and/or activation of complement. In conclusion, we have identified a tumor-specific mAb to PL2L60 (KAO3), which may be used potentially to treat all the types of human cancers including from both hematopoietic and solid ones.

Prognostic Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients With Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated With Surgical Dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and progression. Our purpose was to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and develop a nomogram to predict the cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients. METHODS: 1431 patients undergoing surgical resection with pathologically confirmed stage I lung adenocarcinoma were reviewed. The optimal cut-off values for NLR, SII, and SIRI were defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to recognize factors significantly correlated with CSS and DFS to construct the nomogram. The value of adjuvant chemotherapy on model-defined high-risk and low-risk patients was further explored. RESULTS: The cohort had a median follow-up time of 63 months. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher NLR (≥2.606), higher SIRI (≥0.705), higher SII (≥580.671), later T stage, histological pattern with solid or micropapillary components and radiologic features with solid nodules were significantly associated with worse CSS and DFS. The concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram established by all these factors was higher than that of the TNM staging system both in CSS (validation set 0.778 vs 0.652) and DFS (validation set 0.758 vs 0.695). Furthermore, the value of the established nomogram on risk stratification in stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients was validated. CONCLUSIONS: Higher NLR, SII and SIRI pretreatment were associated with worse survival outcomes. A practical nomogram based on these three inflammatory biomarkers may help clinicians to precisely stratify stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients into high- and low-risk and implement individualized treatment.

Prognostic index for estimating the survival benefit of postoperative radiotherapy in pathologic N2 non-small cell lung cancer: A real-world validation study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with resected pathologic N2 (pN2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with different locoregional recurrence (LRR) risks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The primary cohort and validation cohort were retrieved from two independent medical centres. Data for all consecutive patients with completely resected pathologic stage T1-3N2M0 NSCLC were analysed. Patients without PORT in the primary cohort were identified as a training set. Significant prognostic factors for LRR were identified by the Fine-Gray model to develop a prognostic index (PI) in the training set. RESULTS: The primary cohort consisted of 357 patients who met the eligibility criteria (training set, 287 patients without PORT). The external validation cohort consisted of 1044 patients who met the eligibility criteria (validation set, 711 patients without PORT). Heavy cigarette smoking history, clinical N2 status (cN2), and the number of positive lymph nodes >4 were identified as independent risk factors. The PI was computed as follows: PI＝0.8*smoking history＋0.5*cN2＋0.7*the number of involved lymph nodes (reference level was assigned the value 1 and risk level the value 2). In the low-risk group (PI score< = 3), PORT showed a trend towards decreased LRR rates but not significantly improved overall survival (OS). In the high-risk group (PI score>3), PORT significantly reduced the risk of LRR and improved OS. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed and validated a PI to predict individually the effect of PORT in patients with completely resected pN2 NSCLC. Patients with a higher PI score can benefit from PORT in terms of OS.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio associations with heart and body dose and their effects on patient outcomes in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a vital role in tumor growth and progression and can be affected by radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy. We sought to investigate the prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and their associations with dosimetric factors in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). METHODS: In this retrospective study, subjects consisted of 244 patients who had received definitive RT ± chemotherapy for LA-NSCLC between 2012 and 2016. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), NLR and PLR recorded at pretreatment, during RT and post-RT were analyzed. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed to correlate clinical factors and inflammatory biomarkers with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using a Cox regression model. Relationships between NLR or PLR with OS and PFS were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared with log-rank test results. Multiple stepwise linear regression was used to assess the associations between dosimetric factors and NLR or PLR. RESULTS: The median PFS and OS for all patients were 8.6 and 15.8 months, respectively. On MVA for PFS and OS, higher 1-month post-RT start NLR [hazard ratio (HR) 1.049; 95% CI: 1.018-1.080; P=0.001] or higher 1-month post-RT start PLR (HR 1.001; 95% CI: 1.000-1.002; P<0.001) was associated with inferior PFS. Higher 1-month post-RT start NLR (HR 1.040; 95% CI: 1.013-1.069; P=0.004) or PLR (HR 1.001; 95% CI: 1.001-1.002; P<0.001) was also an independent predictor of OS. ALCmin, baseline NLR and PLR were not associated with treatment outcomes. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis confirmed that baseline NLR (P<0.001), heart V20 (P<0.001), heart V40 (P<0.001), and mean body dose (MBD) were significantly associated with 1-month post-RT start NLR. Also, baseline PLR (P<0.001) and MBD (P<0.001) were significantly associated with 1-month post-RT start PLR. CONCLUSIONS: Higher NLR and PLR during treatment were associated with worse patient outcomes, and heart dose or body dose was correlated with NLR or PLR in advanced NSCLC patients treated with definitive RT.

Radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in the immunotherapy era: the opportunity and challenge-a narrative review.

Immunotherapy has radically changed the clinical management of patients with cancer in recent years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) reversing the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment are one type of immunotherapy, several of which are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as first-line treatments for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, response rates to ICIs are around 19-47% among patients with advanced NSCLC. As a result, the development of combined ICI and radiotherapy has begun with the aim of strengthening patients' antitumor immunity. Radiotherapy with substantial technological improvements not only achieves local tumor control through the induction of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in irradiated regions, but also has the potential to mediate immunostimulatory effects that could result in tumor regression beyond irradiated regions. At present, numerous preclinical and clinical research are investigating the efficiency and safety of combining ICI with radiotherapy. The PACIFIC trial showed that combining chemoradiotherapy with ICI could improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we summarize the rationale for combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges of combination therapy, including the timing of radiotherapy, optimal dose and fractionations, radiotherapy target and target volume, acquired resistance, patient selection, and radioimmunotherapy toxicity.

MG-132 attenuates cardiac deterioration of viral myocarditis via AMPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is the primary cause of infectious myocarditis. Aggressive immunological activation and apoptosis of myocytes contributes to progressive dysfunction of cardiac contraction and poor prognosis. MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, regulates mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic myocardial apoptosis and downregulates NF-κB-mediated inflammation. Here, we determined whether AMPK pathway participates in MG-132-mediated myocardial protection in viral-induced myocarditis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Acute viral myocarditis models were established by intraperitoneal inoculation of CVB3 in male BALB/c mice. Myocarditis and age-matched control mice were administered MG-132 and/or BML-275 dihydrochloride (BML) (AMPK antagonist) intraperitoneally daily from the day following CVB3 inoculation. MG-132 improved hemodynamics and inhibited the structural remodeling of the ventricle in mice with myocarditis, while BML largely blunted these effects. TUNEL staining and immunochemistry suggested that MG-132 exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects against CVB3-induced myocardial injuries. BML attenuated the effects of MG-132 on anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammation. CONCLUSION: MG-132 modulated apoptosis and inflammation, improved hemodynamics, and inhibited the structural remodeling of ventricles in a myocarditis mouse model via regulation of the AMPK signal pathway.

ZEB1-AS1/miR-133a-3p/LPAR3/EGFR axis promotes the progression of thyroid cancer by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (TC) is a member of common malignant tumors in endocrine system. To develop effective treatment, further comprehension of understanding molecular mechanism in TC is necessary. In this research, we attempted to search the underlying molecular mechanism in TC. METHODS: ZEB1-AS1 expression was analyzed via qRT-PCR analysis. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were used to evaluate TC cell growth. The interaction between miR-133a-3p and LPAR3, EGFR and ZEB1-AS1 was testified through using RNA pull down and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: LPAR3 and EGFR were expressed at high levels in TC tissues and cell lines. Besides, both LPAR3 and EGFR could promote TC cell growth. Later, miR-133a-3p was searched as an upstream gene of LPAR3 and EGFR, and LPAR3 could partially rescue the suppressive effect of miR-133a-3p overexpression on TC progression, whereas the co-transfection of LPAR3 and EGFR completely restored the inhibition. Next, ZEB1-AS1 was confirmed as a sponge of miR-133a-3p. ZEB1-AS1 has a negative correlation with miR-133a-3p and a positive association with LPAR3 and EGFR through ceRNA analysis. Importantly, ZEB1-AS1 boosted the proliferation and suppressed the apoptosis in TC cells. Through restoration assays, we discovered that ZEB1-AS1 regulated LPAR3 and EGFR expression to mediate TC cell proliferation and apoptosis by sponging miR-133a-3p. Further investigation also indicated the oncogenic role of ZEB1-AS1 by mediating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. CONCLUSIONS: ZEB1-AS1 could be an underlying biomarker in TC.

A biomimetic self-assembled cobaloxime@CdS/rGO hybrid for boosting photocatalytic H2 production.

A biomimetic CoPe@CdS/rGO hybrid that self-assembles via the integration of a molecular cobalt catalyst and CdS nano-semiconductor on reduced graphene oxide was constructed for boosting photocatalytic H2 production. Photoinduced electron transfer from CdS/rGO to the molecular catalyst occurs and a long-lived charge-separation state forms for high H2 production.

Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to CO Catalyzed by Surface-Ligand-Removed and Cd-Rich CdSe Quantum Dots.

Surface ligand-removed and Cd-rich CdSe quantum dots (QDs) exhibited exceptional activity as photocatalyst for the conversion of CO2 to CO. A CO production rate up to 789 mmol g-1 h-1 was achieved in a triethylamine/dimethylformamide mixture under visible-light irradiation. Mechanistic studies revealed that improving the Cd/Se stoichiometric ratio and exposing more active surface Cd atoms significantly enhanced the activity of CdSe QDs for CO2 photoreduction.

Study of the corrosion behavior of Aspergillus niger on 7075-T6 aluminum alloy in a high salinity environment.

In this study, the corrosion behavior of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy in a high salinity environment containing Aspergillus niger was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, surface analysis and electrochemical measurement. Results demonstrated that uniform and localized corrosion rates of the alloy in the presence of A. niger were approximately 3.7 and 22.4 times, respectively, of that in the absence A. niger. This higher corrosion rate was attributed to accelerated anode and cathode reactions from the actions of A. niger biofilm. Additionally, organic acid corrosion caused by the presence of A. niger was confirmed to be the main cause for the corrosion of aluminum alloy.