Predictive value of adipokines for the severity of acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a dangerous condition with a high mortality rate. Many studies have found an association between adipokines and the development of SAP, but the results are controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of the association of inflammatory adipokines with SAP. METHODS: We screened PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for articles on adipokines and SAP published before July 20, 2023. The quality of the literature was assessed using QUADAS criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the combined effect. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests were also performed on the information obtained. RESULT: Fifteen eligible studies included 1332 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Pooled analysis showed that patients with SAP had significantly higher serum levels of resistin (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI:0.37 to 1.19, z = 3.75, P = 0.000). The difference in leptin and adiponectin levels between SAP and mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) patients were not significant (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.68, z = 1.53, P = 0.127 and SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.40, z = 0.80, P = 0.425, respectively). In patients with SAP, visfatin levels were not significantly different from that in patients with MAP (SMD = 1.20, 95% CI: -0.48 to 2.88, z = 1.40, P = 0.162). CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of resistin are associated with the development of SAP. Resistin may serve as biomarker for SAP and has promise as therapeutic target.

Alkali/alkaline-earth metal-modified MnOx supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous-mesoporous TixSi1-xO2 catalysts: Preparation and catalytic performance for soot combustion.

The performance of catalysts used in after-treatment systems is the key factor for the removal of diesel soot, which is an important component of atmospheric fine particle emissions. Herein, three-dimensionally ordered macroporous-mesoporous TixSi1-xO2 (3DOM-m TixSi1-xO2) and its supported MnOx catalysts doped with different alkali/alkaline-earth metals (AMnOx/3DOM-m Ti0.7Si0.3O2 (A: Li, Na, K, Ru, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)) were prepared by mesoporous template (P123)-assisted colloidal crystal template (CCT) and incipient wetness impregnation methods, respectively. Physicochemical characterizations of the catalysts were performed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, H2 temperature-programmed reduction, O2 temperature-programmed desorption, NO temperature-programmed oxidation, and Raman spectroscopy techniques; then, we evaluated their catalytic performances for the removal of diesel soot particles. The results show that the 3DOM-m Ti0.7Si0.3O2 supports exhibited a well-defined 3DOM-m nanostructure, and AMnOx nanoparticles with 10-50 nm were evenly dispersed on the inner walls of the uniform macropores. In addition, the as-prepared catalysts exhibited good catalytic performance for soot combustion. Among the prepared catalysts, CsMnOx/3DOM-m Ti0.7Si0.3O2 had the highest catalytic activity for soot combustion, with T10, T50, and T90 (the temperatures corresponding to soot conversion rates of 10%, 50%, and 90%) values of 285, 355, and 393°C, respectively. The high catalytic activity of the CsMnOx/3DOM-m Ti0.7Si0.3O2 catalysts was attributed to their excellent low-temperature reducibility and homogeneous macroporous-mesoporous structure, as well as to the synergistic effects between Cs and Mn species and between CsMnOx and the Ti0.7Si0.3O2 support.

Methyl Orange removal by a novel PEI-AuNPs-hemin nanocomposite.

A novel poly(ethyleneimine)/Au nanoparticles/hemin nanocomposite (PEI-AuNPs-Hemin) acting for Methyl Orange (MO) removal has been synthesized. PEI-AuNPs was prepared firstly and it was then linked to hemin through the coupling between carboxyl groups in hemin and amino groups in PEI without the activation of carboxyl groups. The high reactivity and stability of AuNPs contributed greatly in the formation of the amido bonds in the nanocomposite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the PEI-AuNPs-Hemin. Results show that PEI-AuNPs-Hemin has strong adsorption for MO. Adsorption and degradation experiments were carried out at different pHs, nanocomposite concentrations and UV irradiation times. Removal of MO in acidic solutions was more effective than in basic solutions. The real-time study showed that the MO degradation with the nanocomposite under UV irradiation was a fast process. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism was proposed. The study suggests that the PEI-AuNPs-Hemin may have promising applications in environmental monitoring and protection.

A biomimetic enzyme modified electrode for H2O2 highly sensitive detection.

An efficient catalyst based on artificial bionic peroxidase was synthesized for electrocatalysis. A poly(ethyleneimine)/Au nanoparticle composite (PEI-AuNP) was prepared and it was then linked to hemin via a coupling reaction between carboxyl groups in hemin and amino groups in PEI without the activation of a carboxyl group by carbodiimide. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verified the formation of amido bonds within the structure. The presence of AuNPs contributed greatly in establishing the amido bonds within the composite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy were also used to characterize the PEI-AuNP-hemin catalyst. PEI-AuNP-hemin exhibited intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activities. The PEI-AuNP-hemin deposited on a glass carbon electrode had strong sensing for H2O2 with a well-defined linear relationship between the amperometric response and H2O2 concentration in the range from 1 µM to 0.25 mM. The detection limit was 0.247 nM with a high sensitivity of 0.347 mA mM(-1) cm(-2). The peroxidase-like catalytic activity of PEI-AuNP-hemin is discussed in relation to its microstructure. The study suggests that PEI-AuNP-hemin may have promising application prospects in biocatalysis and bioelectronics.

A prognostic and immunotherapy effectiveness model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs signature.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) results in one of the deadliest solid tumors with discouraging clinical outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in altering the growth, prognosis, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Cuproptosis is a novel type of cell death induced by copper (Cu) and is associated with mitochondrial respiration during the tricarboxylic acid cycle. However, the relationship between lncRNAs related to cuproptosis and PAAD is poorly studied. In this study, we investigated the association between a signature of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs and the diagnosis of PAAD. Genomic data and clinical information were obtained using the TCGA dataset, while cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) from previous studies. Co-expression analysis was utilized to identify lncRNAs associated with cuproptosis. We developed and verified a prognostic risk model following a classification of patients into high- and low-risk categories. The prediction capacity of the risk model was assessed using a number of methods including Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, nomograms, and principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were used to perform functional enrichment analyses, and to examine the behaviors of various risk groups in terms of immune-related activities and medication sensitivity. We identified 7 cuproptosis-related lncRNA signatures, including CASC19, FAM83A-AS1, AC074099.1, AC007292.2, AC026462.3, AL358944.1, and AC009019.1, as overall survival (OS) predictors. OS and progression-free survival (PFS) showed significant differences among patients in different risk groups. Independent prognostic analysis revealed that the cuproptosis-related lncRNA signatures can independently achieve patient prognosis. The risk model demonstrated strong predictive ability for patient outcomes, as evidenced by ROC curves, nomograms, and PCA. Higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) scores were observed in the high-risk group. Additionally, the low-risk group was hypersensitive to 3 anti-cancer medications, whereas the high-risk group was hypersensitive to one. A prognostic risk model with a good predictive ability based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs was developed, providing a theoretical basis for personalized treatment and immunotherapeutic responses in pancreatic cancer.

Preparation of 3DOM ZrTiO4 Support, WxCeMnOδ/3DOM ZrTiO4 Catalysts, and Their Catalytic Performance for the Simultaneous Removal of Soot and NOx.

As an efficient and durable engine, a diesel engine has a broad application. However, soot particles (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) coming from diesel engines are the main causes of air pollution, so it is necessary to design and prepare an effective catalyst for the simultaneous elimination of PM and NOx. In this work, a novel 3DOM ZrTiO4 support and a series of WxCeMnOδ/3DOM ZrTiO4 catalysts (where x indicates the wt% of W) were designed and fabricated by the colloidal crystal template technique. Among the as-prepared catalysts, the W1CeMnOδ/3DOM ZrTiO4 catalyst exhibits the highest NO conversion rate (52%) at the temperature of maximum CO2 concentration (474°C) and achieves 90% NO conversion in the temperature range of 250-396°C. The excellent catalytic performance is associated with the macroporous structure, abundant oxygen vacancies, sufficient acid sites, and the synergistic effect among the active components. The possible reaction mechanisms of WxCeMnOδ/3DOM ZrTiO4 catalysts were also discussed based on the characterization results.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Is an Independent Risk Factor for Developing New-Onset Diabetes After Acute Pancreatitis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study in Chinese Population.

Background: Numerous studies validated frequent glucose dysfunction in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the prevalence of new-onset diabetes in individuals after a first episode of AP varies widely among previous studies. This study aims to determine the incidence of post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM-A) in Chinese people and further identify potential risk factors that influence diabetes development in patients with AP. Methods: This was a multi-center retrospective cohort study including 6009 inpatients with a first attack of AP. A total of 1804 patients with AP without known endocrine pancreatic disorders or other pancreatic exocrine diseases were eligible for analysis. Data was collected from medical records by hospital information system and telephone follow-ups after discharge. The multiple logistic regression analysis was established to evaluate the potential influencing factors of PPDM-A. Results: The prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes after a first episode of AP in China was 6.2%. Data showed that patients who developed PPDM-A were more likely to be younger (X2 = 6.329, P = 0.012), experienced longer hospital stays (X2 = 6.949, P = 0.008) and had a higher frequency of overweight or obesity (X2 = 11.559, P = 0.003) compared to those with normal glycemia. The frequency of stress hyperglycemia on admission (X2 = 53.815, P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (X2 = 33.594, P < 0.001) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (X2 = 36.335, P < 0.001) were significantly higher among individuals with PPDM-A compared with control group. Also, patients with PPDM-A were more likely to be hyperlipidemic AP (X2 = 16.304, P = 0.001) and show a higher degree of severity (X2 = 7.834, P = 0.020) and recurrence rate (X2 = 26.908, P < 0.001) of AP compared to those without diabetes. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that stress hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, NAFLD and repeated attacks of AP were the independent influence factors for developing PPDM-A. Conclusion: Our study first demonstrated the prevalence of secondary diabetes in Chinese patients after AP. The disorder of glucose metabolism in individuals with AP should be regularly evaluated in clinical practice. Further studies are needed to verify the relationship between liver and pancreas in keeping glucose homeostasis under AP condition.

[Influence of Antecedent Dry Days on Nitrogen Removal in Bioretention Systems].

Bioretention systems have become an optimal technology during the construction of the sponge city, but its nitrogen removal performance can be affected by antecedent dry days (ADD). This study was designed to investigate the effects of different lengths of ADD (1,2,3, 5, 7, 12, and 22 d) on nitrogen removal performance using a series of laboratory-scale bioretention systems to form seven constant alternate drying-rewetting regimes. The influence mechanism was further investigated by analyzing the spatial distribution of nitrogen reductase activity and microbial community structure under different drying-rewetting regimes. The results showed that the ammonium removal efficiency was not significantly affected by ADD, while exhibiting high variation depending on the hydraulic permeability of the filler and plant growth conditions. The nitrate and total nitrogen removal efficiency decreased as the length of ADD increased form 7 d to 22 d. In addition, the spatial distribution of nitrate reductase (NaR), nitrite reductase (NiR), and hydroxylamine reductase (HyR) were affected by ADD to some extent. It was found that the soil moisture of submerged layer (SL) regulated the nitrogen processes. The nitrate dissimilatory reduction to ammonium (DNRA) can occur in the SL through secondary catalytic reduction by nitrogen reductases, thus affecting the removal of ammonium. The soil microbial community structure and its spatial distribution could be altered by ADD significantly, and the removal of multiple nitrogen species was partly affected. Thereinto, under shorter ADD values of 1, 2, 3, and 5 d, the dominant phylum was Firmicutes, a group of denitrifying microbes, and its dominant genus, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, also had the function of DNRA. The results of the study confirmed that ADD has a certain effect on the nitrogen removal capacity and nitrogen reductase activity, while resulting in spatial changes in the microbial community structure in the bioretention system under constant drying-rewetting conditions.

Nitrogen process in stormwater bioretention: the impact of alternate drying and rewetting on nitrogen migration and transformation.

Nitrogen migration and transformation in the stormwater bioretention system were studied in laboratory experiments, in which the effects of drying-rewetting were particularly investigated. The occurrence and distribution of nitrogen in the plants, the soil, and the pore water were explored under different drying-rewetting cycles. The results clearly showed that bioretention system could remove nitrogen efficiently in all drying-rewetting cycles. The incoming nitrogen could be retained in the topsoil (0-10 cm) and accumulated in the planted layer. However, the overlong dry periods (12 and 22 days) cause an increase in nitrate in the pore water. In addition, nitrogen is mostly stored in the plants' stem tissues. Up to 23.26% of the inflowing nitrogen can be immobilized in plant tissues after a dry period of 22 days. In addition, the relationships between nitrogen reductase activity in the soil and soil nitrogen content were explored. The increase of soil TN content could enhance the activity of nitrate reductase. Meanwhile, the activity of hydroxylamine reductase (HyR) could be enhanced with the increase of soil NO3- content. These results provide a reference for the future development of nitrogen transformation mechanism and the construction of stormwater bioretention systems.

Modulation of the superficial electronic structure via metal-support interaction for H2 evolution over Pd catalysts.

Electronic interactions can radically enhance the performance of supported metal catalysts and are critical for fundamentally understanding the nature of catalysts. However, at the microscopic level, the details of such interactions tuning the electronic properties of the sites on the metal particle's surface and metal-support interface remain obscure. Herein, we found polarized electronic metal-support interaction (pEMSI) in oxide-supported Pd nanoparticles (NPs) describing the enhanced accumulation of electrons at the surface of NPs (superficial Pd δ-) with positive Pd atoms distributed on the interface (interfacial Pd δ+). More superficial Pd δ- species mean stronger pEMSI resulting from the synergistic effect of moderate Pd-oxide interaction, high structural fluxionality and electron transport activity of Pd NPs. The surface Pd δ- species are responsible for improved catalytic performance for H2 evolution from metal hydrides and formates. These extensive insights into the nature of supported-metal NPs may open new avenues for regulating a metal particle's electronic structure precisely and exploiting high-performance catalysts.

Ordered micro/macro porous K-OMS-2/SiO2 nanocatalysts: Facile synthesis, low cost and high catalytic activity for diesel soot combustion.

A series of novel oxide catalysts, which contain three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) and microporous structure, were firstly designed and successfully synthesized by simple method. In the as-prepared catalysts, 3DOM SiO2 is used as support and microporous K-OMS-2 oxide nanoparticles are supported on the wall of SiO2. 3DOM K-OMS-2/SiO2 oxide catalysts were firstly used in soot particle oxidation reaction and they show very high catalytic activities. The high activities of K-OMS-2/SiO2 oxide catalysts can be assigned to three possible reasons: macroporous effect of 3DOM structure for improving contact between soot and catalyst, microporous effect of K-OMS-2 for adsorption of small gas molecules and interaction of K and Mn for activation of gas molecules. The catalytic activities of catalysts are comparable to or even higher than noble metal catalyst in the medium and high temperature range. For example, the T50 of K-OMS-2/SiO2-50, 328 °C, is much lower than those of Pt/Al2O3 and 3DOM Au/LaFeO3, 464 and 356 °C,respectively. Moreover, catalysts exhibited high catalytic stability. It is attributed to that the K+ ions are introduced into the microporous structure of OMS-2 and stabilized in the catalytic reaction. Meanwhile, the K+ ions play an important role in templating and stabilizing the tunneled framework of OMS-2.

One-step conjugation of aminoferrocene to phosphate groups as electroactive probes for electrochemical detection of sequence-specific DNA.

A straightforward electrochemical DNA biosensing approach based on exploiting organometallic compound, aminoferrocene (AFC), as electroactive probes was firstly demonstrated, where the probes could be directly labeled to the free phosphate groups of the hybridized PNA/DNA heteroduplexes merely through one-step conjugation in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and imidazole. Briefly, mercapto-terminated peptide nucleic acid (PNA) was firstly immobilized onto gold electrode and used as the capture probes for the specific recognition of target single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). After hybridization, AFC probes were directly labeled to the free 5'-terminal phosphate groups, which were activated by EDC and imidazole, of the hybridized PNA/DNA heteroduplexes, and then they were exploited as the electroactive probes to monitor the hybridization. As the captured ssDNA was labeled with AFC in the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, thus the electrochemical analysis of the proportionally labeled AFC based on differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) enabled a quantitative determination of sequence-specific DNA. Under optimal conditions, the approach presented a good linear relationship between the current intensities and logarithm of ssDNA concentrations in the range from 0.1nM to 100nM with a detection limit of 93pM, and it rendered satisfactory analytical performance in serum samples. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent specificity toward single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and precluded complicated protocols. More importantly, the simplicity of this approach together with its compatibility with standard micro-fabrication techniques makes it great potential in practical applications, especially in microarray areas where simple procedures are preferred.