A Fast-Charge Graphite Anode with a Li-Ion-Conductive, Electron/Solvent-Repelling Interface.

Graphite has been serving as the key anode material of rechargeable Li-ion batteries, yet is difficultly charged within a quarter hour while maintaining stable electrochemistry. In addition to a defective edge structure that prevents fast Li-ion entry, the high-rate performance of graphite could be hampered by co-intercalation and parasitic reduction of solvent molecules at anode/electrolyte interface. Conventional surface modification by pitch-derived carbon barely isolates the solvent and electrons, and usually lead to inadequate rate capability to meet practical fast-charge requirements. Here we show that, by applying a MoOx-MoNx layer onto graphite surface, the interface allows fast Li-ion diffusion yet blocks solvent access and electron leakage. By regulating interfacial mass and charge transfer, the modified graphite anode delivers a reversible capacity of 340.3 mAh g-1 after 4000 cycles at 6 C, showing promises in building 10-min-rechargeable batteries with a long operation life.

Activin receptors in human cancer: Functions, mechanisms, and potential clinical applications.

Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily and act as key regulators in various physiological processes, such as follicle and embryonic development, as well as in multiple human diseases, including cancer. They have been established to signal through three type I and two type II serine/threonine kinase receptors, which, upon ligand binding, form a final signal-transducing receptor complex that activates downstream signaling and governs gene expression. Recent research highlighted the dysregulation of the expression or activity of activin receptors in multiple human cancers and their critical involvement in cancer progression. Furthermore, expression levels of activin receptors have been associated with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes across different cancers. However, there is currently a paucity of comprehensive systematic reviews of activin receptors in cancer. Thus, this review aimed to consolidate existing knowledge concerning activin receptors, with a primary emphasis on their signaling cascade and emerging biological functions, regulatory mechanisms, and potential clinical applications in human cancers in order to provide novel perspectives on cancer prognosis and targeted therapy.

The diagnostic performance of V' and U' variables as an objective index of pink-color sign for diagnosing esophageal cancerous lesions.

BACKGROUND: The pink-color sign (PCS) has been widely used for diagnosing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) during Lugol's iodine chromoendoscopy. However, the identification of the PCS only relies on the subjective assessments made by the endoscopist, which could lead to bias and disagreement. Previous research has indicated that the V' variable can, as an objective index, define the PCS in the LU'V' color space. We aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of the PCS defined by the V' variable alone and attempt to improve the diagnostic performance by combining the V' and U' variables. METHODS: We re-examined 231 subjects with Lugol's unstained lesions (LULs) from a previously reported prospective trial. The diagnostic performance of the method using V' variable alone (V' alone method), the combination method using V' and U' variables (V' + U' method), and the endoscopists were calculated and compared. RESULTS: A total of 236 LULs were included, among which 46 were histologically confirmed to be cancerous lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the V' alone method were 73.91% (95% CI 58.87-85.73%), 79.47% (95% CI 73.03-84.98%), and 78.39% (95% CI 72.59-83.47%) in the external validation cohort, respectively. It is inferior to endoscopists in terms of specificity and accuracy. The V' + U' method demonstrated a diagnostic performance comparable to the experienced endoscopists, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 76.74% (95% CI 61.37-88.25%), 88.64% (95% CI 83.00-92.92%), and 86.30% (95% CI 81.03-90.56%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The V' alone method exhibited lower specificity and accuracy than the experienced endoscopist and the V' + U' method. However, the modified V' + U' method demonstrated a diagnostic performance comparable to experienced endoscopists. Utilizing the objective index of the PCS could provide valuable support in clinical decision-making.

Strong yet flexible ceramic aerogel.

Ceramic aerogels are highly efficient, lightweight, and chemically stable thermal insulation materials but their application is hindered by their brittleness and low strength. Flexible nanostructure-assembled compressible aerogels have been developed to overcome the brittleness but they still show low strength, leading to insufficient load-bearing capacity. Here we designed and fabricated a laminated SiC-SiOx nanowire aerogel that exhibits reversible compressibility, recoverable buckling deformation, ductile tensile deformation, and simultaneous high strength of up to an order of magnitude larger than other ceramic aerogels. The aerogel also shows good thermal stability ranging from -196 °C in liquid nitrogen to above 1200 °C in butane blow torch, and good thermal insulation performance with a thermal conductivity of 39.3 ± 0.4 mW m-1 K-1. These integrated properties make the aerogel a promising candidate for mechanically robust and highly efficient flexible thermal insulation materials.

Analyzing the research landscape: Mapping frontiers and hot spots in anti-cancer research using bibliometric analysis and research network pharmacology.

Introduction: Network pharmacology has emerged as a forefront and hotspot in anti-cancer. Traditional anti-cancer drugs are limited by the paradigm of "one cancer, one target, one drug," making it difficult to address the challenges of recurrence and drug resistance. However, the main advantage of network pharmacology lies in its approach from the perspective of molecular network relationships, employing a "one arrow, multiple targets" strategy, which provides a novel pathway for developing anti-cancer drugs. This study employed a bibliometric analysis method to examine network pharmacology's application and research progress in cancer treatment from January 2008 to May 2023. This research will contribute to revealing its forefront and hotspots, offering new insights and methodologies for future investigations. Methods: We conducted a literature search on network pharmacology research in anti-cancer (NPART) from January 2008 to May 2023, utilizing scientific databases such as Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed to retrieve relevant research articles and reviews. Additionally, we employed visualization tools such as Citespace, SCImago Graphica, and VOSviewer to perform bibliometric analysis. Results: This study encompassed 3,018 articles, with 2,210 articles from WoSCC and 808 from PubMed. Firstly, an analysis of the annual national publication trends and citation counts indicated that China and the United States are the primary contributing countries in this field. Secondly, the recent keyword analysis revealed emerging research hotspots in "tumor microenvironment," "anti-cancer drugs," and "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). " Furthermore, the literature clustering analysis demonstrated that "calycosin," "molecular mechanism," "molecular docking," and "anti-cancer agents" were widely recognized research hotspots and forefront areas in 2023, garnering significant attention and citations in this field. Ultimately, we analyzed the application of NPART and the challenges. Conclusion: This study represents the first comprehensive analysis paper based on bibliometric methods, aiming to investigate the forefront hotspots of network pharmacology in anti-cancer research. The findings of this study will facilitate researchers in swiftly comprehending the current research trends and forefront hotspots in the domain of network pharmacology in cancer research.

Protective effects of a new generation of probiotic Bacteroides fragilis against colitis in vivo and in vitro

Bacteroides fragilis, one of the potential next-generation probiotics, but its protective mechanism is not yet known. We aimed to characterize the anti-inflammatory effect of B. fragilisATCC25285 and to elucidate its mechanism through in vivo and in vitro experiments. An in vitro model of inflammation by induction of colonic cells with TNF-a, and co-cultured with B. fragilis to detect cell viability, apoptosis and invasive capacity. Furthermore, critical proteins of the TLR/NF-κB pathway and the inflammatory cytokines were measured. For animal trials, C57BL/6 J male mice were orally administered B. fragilis or PBS once daily for 21 days. Colitis was induced by drinking 2.5% DSS from days 0 to 7. The mice were weighed daily and rectal bleeding, stool condition and blood in the stool were recorded. We found that B. fragilis treatment alone was harmless and had no effect on cell viability or apoptosis. While predictably TNF-α decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, B. fragilis attenuated this deterioration. The NF-κB pathway and inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1ß activated by TNF-α were also blocked by B. fragilis. Notably, the metabolic supernatant of B. fragilis also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Animal studies showed that live B. fragilis rather than dead strain ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, as evidenced by weight loss, shortened colon length and enhanced barrier function. The colonic tissue levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6) were decreased and IL-10 was increased as a result of B. fragilis administration. In conclusion, B. fragilis ATCC25285 exhibited anti-inflammatory effects whether in vivo or in vitro, and it may be a potential probiotic agent for improving colitis.

Highly cross-linked carbon tube aerogels with enhanced elasticity and fatigue resistance.

Carbon aerogels are elastic, mechanically robust and fatigue resistant and are known for their promising applications in the fields of soft robotics, pressure sensors etc. However, these aerogels are generally fragile and/or easily deformable, which limits their applications. Here, we report a synthesis strategy for fabricating highly compressible and fatigue-resistant aerogels by assembling interconnected carbon tubes. The carbon tube aerogels demonstrate near-zero Poisson's ratio, exhibit a maximum strength over 20 MPa and a completely recoverable strain up to 99%. They show high fatigue resistance (less than 1.5% permanent degradation after 1000 cycles at 99% strain) and are thermally stable up to 2500 °C in an Ar atmosphere. Additionally, they possess tunable conductivity and electromagnetic shielding. The combined mechanical and multi-functional properties offer an attractive material for the use in harsh environments.

Antimicrobial resistance, molecular characteristics, virulence and pathogenicity of bla NDM-1-positive Enterobacter cloacae.

Introduction. The bla NDM-1 -positive Enterobacter cloacae has led to limited therapeutic options for clinical treatment.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Analysing the antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing of bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae is of great significance. Meanwhile, the effect of the bla NDM-1 gene on the virulence and pathogenicity of E. cloacae remains unclear and should be assessed.Aim. To understand bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae from different perspectives.Methodology. The PCR was used to screen bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae, then, antimicrobial susceptibility tests and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were performed on them; sixty-nine strains of bla NDM-1-negative E. cloacae were collected as the controls, 28 pairs of virulence-related genes' carriage and biofilm-forming ability were detected for preliminary evaluation of the virulence phenotype of the strains; to gain insight into the effect of the bla NDM-1 gene on the virulence and pathogenicity of E. cloacae, the bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae T2 (NDM-1), the T2 bla NDM-1 knockout strain (ΔNDM-1) and ATCC13047 (ST) were studied, compared the motility, anti-serum killing ability, and virulence to cells. Then, the mice intraperitoneal infection model was established, the survival curve, histopathological characteristics, bacterial load in spleen and the contents of cytokines were compared.Results. (1) Thirty-five bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae exhibited multidrug resistance. MLST distinguished 12 STs, ST74 was the most common clonal type (11/35), followed by ST114 (10/35). (2) The detection rates of virulence genes clpB, icmf, VasD/Lip and acrA in the bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae were significantly higher than those in bla NDM-1-negative E. cloacae (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the amount of biofilm formation between two groups. (3) The presence of bla NDM-1 gene attenuated the motility diameter of E. cloacae, but had no significant effect on their ability to resist serum killing, and the virulence to cells. The survival rate, histopathological changes, bacterial load in spleen and inflammatory cytokines were not significantly affected.Conclusions. (1) The bla NDM-1-positive E. cloacae exhibited multidrug resistance, and the MLST typing was mainly ST74 and ST114, with a small-scale clonal spread of the ST114 strain in the hospital NICU ward. (2) The bla NDM-1 gene did not affect the virulence and pathogenicity of E. cloacae.

Hierarchical SiC-Graphene Composite Aerogel-Supported Ni-Mo-S Nanosheets for Efficient pH-Universal Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

MoS2 exhibits good prospects in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Whereas, the electrocatalytic property of MoS2 is restrained by its insufficient active sites, low electrical conductivity, and slow water dissociation processes. Herein, an aerogel composed of silicon carbide (SiC) and graphene (SiCnw-RGO) was constructed by growing SiC nanowires (SiCnw) in the graphene aerogel (RGO) via the CVD method, and then Ni-Mo-S nanosheets were hydrothermally synthesized on the SiCnw-RGO composite aerogel to develop an efficient pH-universal electrocatalyst. Ni-Mo-S nanosheets supported on SiCnw-RGO (Ni-Mo-S@SiCnw-RGO) exhibit an interesting hierarchical three-dimensional interconnected structure of composite aerogel. The optimal Ni-Mo-S@SiCnw-RGO electrocatalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance with low Tafel slopes of 60 mV/dec under acidic conditions and 90 mV/dec under alkaline conditions. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate a composite catalyst exhibits advantageous hydrogen adsorption free energy and water dissociation energy barrier. This study provides a reference to design an efficient hierarchical aerogel electrocatalyst.

Discovery of CLEC2B as a diagnostic biomarker and screening of celastrol as a candidate drug for psoriatic arthritis through bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PSA) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory joint disease that is liked to mortality due to cardiovascular disease. Diagnostic markers and effective therapeutic options for PSA remain limited due to the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis. We aimed to identify potential diagnostic markers and screen the therapeutic compounds for PSA based on bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PSA were identified from the GSE61281 dataset. WGCNA was used to identify PSA-related modules and prognostic biomarkers. Clinical samples were collected to validate the expression of the diagnostic gene. These DEGs were subjected to the CMap database for the identification of therapeutic candidates for PSA. Potential pathways and targets for drug candidates to treat PSA were predicted using Network Pharmacology. Molecular docking techniques were used to validate key targets. RESULTS: CLEC2B was identified as a diagnostic marker for PSA patients (AUC > 0.8) and was significantly upregulated in blood samples. In addition, celastrol was identified as a candidate drug for PSA. Subsequently, the network pharmacology approach identified four core targets (IL6, TNF, GAPDH, and AKT1) of celastrol and revealed that celastrol could treat PSA by modulating inflammatory-related pathways. Finally, molecular docking demonstrated stable binding of celastrol to four core targets in the treatment of PSA. Animal experiments indicated celastrol alleviated inflammatory response in the mannan-induced PSA. CONCLUSION: CLEC2B was a diagnostic marker for PSA patients. Celastrol was identified as a potential therapeutic drug for PSA via regulating immunity and inflammation.

Characteristics of phenotypic antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori and its correlation with genotypic antibiotic resistance: A retrospective study in Ningxia.

BACKGROUND: Geographic differences exist in the antibiotic resistance patterns of Helicobacter pylori. Personalized treatment regimens based on local or individual resistance data are essential. We evaluated the current status of H. pylori resistance in Ningxia, analyzed resistance-related factors, and assessed the concordance of phenotypic and genotypic resistance. METHODS: Strains were isolated from the gastric mucosa of patients infected with H. pylori in Ningxia and relevant clinical information was collected. Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility assays (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion) and antibiotic resistance gene detection (Sanger sequencing) were performed. RESULTS: We isolated 1955 H. pylori strains. The resistance rates of H. pylori to amoxicillin, levofloxacin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole were 0.9%, 42.4%, 40.4%, and 94.2%, respectively. Only five tetracycline-resistant and one furazolidone-resistant strain were identified. Overall, 3.3% of the strains were sensitive to all six antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant strains accounted for 22.9%, of which less than 20% were from Wuzhong. Strains isolated from women and patients with nonulcerative disease had higher rates of resistance to levofloxacin and clarithromycin. Higher rates of resistance to metronidazole, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin were observed in the older age group than in the younger age group. The kappa coefficients of phenotypic resistance and genotypic resistance for levofloxacin and clarithromycin were 0.830 and 0.809, respectively, whereas the remaining antibiotics showed poor agreement. CONCLUSION: H. pylori antibiotic resistance is severe in Ningxia. Therefore, furazolidone, amoxicillin, and tetracycline are better choices for the empirical therapy of H. pylori infection in this region. Host sex, age, and the presence of ulcerative diseases may affect antibiotic resistance of the bacteria. Personalized therapy based on genetic testing for levofloxacin and clarithromycin resistance may be a future direction for the eradication therapy of H. pylori infection in Ningxia.

A Lead-Free 0D/2D Cs3Bi2Br9/Bi2WO6 S-Scheme Heterojunction for Efficient Photoreduction of CO2.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into valuable hydrocarbon fuels is one of the green ways to solve the energy problem and achieve carbon neutrality. Exploring photocatalyst with low toxicity and high-efficiency is the key to realize it. Here we report a lead-free halide perovskite-based 0D/2D Cs3Bi2Br9/Bi2WO6 (CBB/BWO) S-scheme heterojunction for CO2 photoreduction, prepared by a facile electrostatic self-assembly approach. The CBB/BWO shows superior photoreduction of CO2 under visible light with CO generation rate of 220.1 µmol·g-1·h-1, which is ∼115.8 and ∼18.5 times higher than that of Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite quantum dots (CBB PQDS) and Bi2WO6 nanosheets (BWO NS), respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the tight 0D/2D structure and S-scheme charge transfer pathway between the Cs3Bi2Br9 PQDS and atomic layers of the Bi2WO6 NS, which shortens transmission distance of photogenerated carriers and boosts efficient separation and transfer of the carriers. This work provides insight in manufacturing potential lead-free perovskite-based photocatalysts for achieving carbon neutrality.

Epirubicin may enhance the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by iodine-125 seeds through downregulating WNT pathway.

AIM: To investigate the role of iodine-125 (125 I) combined with epirubicin (EPI) in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and promoting apoptosis. METHODS: Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted. CCK-8 assay was performed to determine the cells viability after EPI treatment. HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells were treated with EPI or 125 I or in combination. Colony formation assays were performed to verify the antiproliferation effect. Annexin V-FITC/PI, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, and western blotting were performed to analyze cellular apoptosis. Scratch wound healing assays and transwell assays were used to examine migration following different treatments. An isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation analysis was used to detect changes in protein expression after 125 I treatment, identifying the potential mediating protein cathelicidin (LL-37). LL-37 protein and WNT pathway-related proteins were detected by western blotting in SMMC7721 and HepG2 cells. Mice were treated with 125 I and EPI to evaluate whether EPI enhanced the antitumor effect of 125 I. RESULTS: EPI promoted 125 I-induced apoptosis and reduced the proliferation of HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. EPI also prevented the migration of HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. EPI combined with 125 I may interfere with the WNT signaling pathway by decreasing LL-37 to inhibit HCC development. The antitumor effects of EPI with 125 I were verified in mice. CONCLUSION: EPI combined with 125 I induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells by LL-37 downregulating the WNT pathway.

Lightweight and Strong Ceramic Network with Exceptional Damage Tolerance.

Lightweight materials such as porous ceramics have attracted increasing attention for applications in energy conservation, aerospace and automobile industries. However, porous ceramics are usually weak and brittle; in particular, tiny defects could cause catastrophic failure, which affects their reliability and limits the potential use greatly. Here we report a SiC/SiO2 nanowire network constructed from numerous well-bonded SiC nanowires coated by a biphasic structure consisting of amorphous SiO2 and nanocrystal SiC. The as-obtained SiC/SiO2 nanowire network is lightweight (360 ± 10 mg cm-3), mechanically strong (compressive strength of 16 MPa), and damage-tolerant. The high strength of the network is attributed to the biphasic mixed structure of the binding coating which can restrict the deformation of nanowires upon compression. The lightweight and strong SiC/SiO2 nanowire network shows potential for engineering applications in harsh environments.

Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Ningxia, China: comparison of two cross-sectional studies from 2017 and 2022.

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes a variety of intragastric and extragastric diseases. Despite its decreasing global prevalence, it remains a major public health problem in many developing countries. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its risk factors in five cities of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, an area with high incidence of gastric cancer. METHODS: Cross-sectional studies were conducted in Ningxia from 2017 and 2022, to detect the prevalence of H. pylori using the 14C urea breath test. All participants completed a questionnaire that included demographics, personal habits, household economic characteristics, and previous health status. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent factors for H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Ningxia decreased significantly from 60.3% in 2017 to 43.6% in 2022, with an increase in public awareness rate from 35.9% in 2017 to 68.5% in 2022. The lowest infection rate was found in Zhongwei and highest in Guyuan. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher among Hui ethnicity, farmers, individuals living in rural areas, individuals with lower income, low education, and those who consumed less fruit. Gallbladder, respiratory, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases were not associated with H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori in Ningxia decreased in the past five years. Ethnicity, location, occupation, income, education, and consumption of fruits were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection in Ningxia. It was not associated with extra-gastric disease.

The effect of siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS on the virulence of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: With the detection rate increasing each year, highly resistant and virulent CRKP has been a serious challenge to clinical treatment because of the high morbidity and mortality. Considering the virulence of CRKP is closely related to over-expression of siderophore, the high detection rate of entB and ybtS genes in highly virulent CRKP may be an important reason for the high virulence phenotype of CRKP. Therefore, in this study, single/double knockout and complemented strains of siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS were constructed to clarify the effect of siderophore virulence genes on the virulence of CRKP. METHODS: 1.The wire drawing experiment, mucus phenotype screening experiment, and PCR amplification were used to screen the target strain WT. the entB gene deletion strain △entB and the complementation strain C-△entB, ybtS gene deletion strain ΔybtS and complementation strain C-ΔybtS, entB and ybtS double gene deletion strain ΔentB + ybtS and complementation strain C-ΔentB + ybtS, were constructed by CrispR-Cas9 gene editing technology. PCR method was used to test whether the knockout and complementation were successful. 2. The colony morphology and mucus phenotype of the experimental strains were observed and the siderophore ability of the experimental strains was tested. Then the growth curves, biofilm-forming ability, and anti-serum killing ability of the strains were determined. 3. In order to understand the virulence of the experimental strain, the mouse intraperitoneal infection model was established to draw the survival curves and determine LD50 of experiment strains. Then to clarify the colonization ability of the experimental strains in the lung and liver of mice, the pathological biopsies were used to observe histopathological changes and ELISA method was used to determine the inflammatory factors IL-1ß, LI-3 and TNF-α. RESULTS: 1 CRKP-27 was screened as the target strain WT, which is characterized by positive wire drawing test, strong mucus, strong virulence and carrying both entB and ybtS genes. The single/double knockout and complemented strains of siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS were successfully constructed. 2 Siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS had no significant effect on the colony morphology, mucus phenotype (drawing test) and biofilm formation ability of CRKP strains. The CRKP strains with entB and ybtS genes could significantly increase siderophore production. Although both the entB and ybtS genes could impair the growth rate of the CRKP strain, the role of ybtS gene was relatively slow. entB and ybtS genes enhanced the antiserum killing ability of CRKP strains. 3 The presence of entB and ybtS genes reduced the survival rate of mice infected with CRKP strains. Histopathological changes and inflammatory factor levels in the lungs and livers of infected mice were enhanced by the presence of entB and ybtS genes. Mice infected with the same strain had higher histopathological changes and levels of inflammatory factors in the lungs than in the livers. CONCLUSIONS: 1.The siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS have no significant effect on the colony morphology, mucus phenotype and biofilm formation ability of CRKP strains.2.The siderophore virulence genes entB and ybtS can significantly enhance the virulence of the CRKP strain, but weaken its growth ability.

Comparison of the Dual Therapy of Ilaprazole-Amoxicillin and the Bismuth Quadruple Therapy of Ilaprazole-Amoxicillin-Furazolidone-Bismuth Glycyrrhizinate for Eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Objective: The present study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of an amoxicillin/ilaprazole regimen with a bismuth quadruple regimen as the first-line treatment for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Methods: This was an open-label, randomized, single-center study involving 450 patients with untreated H. pylori infection who were randomly assigned to an Ilaprazole-amoxicillin-furazolidone-bismuth glycyrrhizinate (IAFB) quadruple therapy group for 14 days, a bismuth quadruple therapy group for 10 days, or Ilaprazole-amoxicillin (IA) dual therapy group for 14 days. The 13C urea breath test determined that H. pylori had been eliminated 4-6 weeks after treatment. For patients who failed the first treatment, mucosal tissues (two gastric antrum and one gastric body) were taken under gastroscope for the culture of H. pylori, drug sensitivity, the CYP2C19 gene, and globular degeneration. Results: In the intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rates of H. pylori in the IAFB-14-day group, the IAFB-10-day group, and the IA-14-day group were 84.0, 79.3, and 88.0%, respectively. In the per-protocol analysis, the eradication rates in the three groups were 94.7, 87.5, and 93.0%, respectively. The resistance rates of patients who failed H. pylori eradication were 68.9% (22/32) for amoxicillin, 90.6% (29/32) for clarithromycin, 68.9% (22/32) for metronidazole, and 87.5% (28/32) for levofloxacin, and the extensive metabolizers of CYP2C19 polymorphism were 59.3% (19/32), the intermediate metabolizers were 34.4% (11/32), and the poor metabolizers were 6.3% (2/32). Conclusion: For newly treated patients with H. pylori infection in China, the efficacy of IA therapy for 14 days was similar to IAFB quadruple therapy for 10 or 14 days with better compliance and less cost. Therefore, these therapies can be considered first-line regimens for empirical treatment. Clinical Trial Registration: [http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx], identifier [ChiCTR2100052308].

High-density lipoprotein reduces microglia activation and protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.

Studies have shown that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a powerful anti-atherosclerosis factor in vivo and in vitro, with anti-inflammatory effects, and it also plays an important role in the immune system and central nervous system (CNS). In this study, the BV2 microglia inflammation model and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model were used to investigate the potential mechanism of HDL in multiple sclerosis. Our results show that HDL inhibits the activation of BV2 microglia in a model of BV2 microglia inflammation and were validated with primary microglia. HDL can down-regulate the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and NO. Western blot results showed that HDL could reduce the expression levels of TLR4, CD14, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 LPS-induced microglia. In a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells in brain and spinal cord tissues, and Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining showed significant improvement in spinal cord demyelination. We found that HDL reduced spinal cord and brain inflammation after EAE induction, inhibited the infiltration of CD68 and Iba-1 positive inflammatory cells, and reduced the production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, including pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. Western blot showed that EAE mice HDL inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 and JNK in MAPK pathway and p-IκBα and P65 in NF-κB pathway. Taken together, our study suggests that HDL may influence microglia activation and inflammatory response in mice by regulating inflammatory signaling pathways, improving induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis, and provides further insights into HDL therapy for multiple sclerosis.