Observation of Chiral Channels in Helical Covalent Organic Frameworks.

Unraveling the mechanism of chirality transfer across length scales is crucial to the rational development of functional materials with hierarchical chirality. The key obstacle is the lack of structural information, especially at the mesoscopic level. We report herein the structural identification of helical covalent organic frameworks (heliCOFs) with hierarchical chirality, which integrate molecular chirality, channel chirality, and morphology chirality into one crystalline entity. Specifically, benefiting from the highly ordered structure of heliCOFs, the existence of chiral channels at the mesoscopic level has been confirmed by electron crystallography, and the handedness of these chiral channels has been directly determined through the stereopair imaging technique. Accordingly, the chirality transfer in heliCOFs from microscopic to macroscopic levels could be rationalized with a layer-rotating model that has been supported by both crystal structure analysis and theoretical calculations. Observation of chiral channels in heliCOFs not only provides unprecedented data for the understanding of the chirality transfer process but also sheds new light on the rational construction of highly ordered polymeric materials with hierarchical chirality.

Tricoordinated Single-Atom Cobalt in Zeolite Boosting Propane Dehydrogenation.

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) reaction has emerged as one of the most promising propylene production routes due to its high selectivity for propylene and good economic benefits. However, the commercial PDH processes usually rely on expensive platinum-based and poisonous chromium oxide based catalysts. The exploration of cost-effective and ecofriendly PDH catalysts with excellent catalytic activity, propylene selectivity, and stability is of great significance yet remains challenging. Here, we discovered a new active center, i.e., an unsaturated tricoordinated cobalt unit (≡Si-O)CoO(O-Mo) in a molybdenum-doped silicalite-1 zeolite, which afforded an unprecedentedly high propylene formation rate of 22.6 molC3H6 gCo-1 h-1 and apparent rate coefficient of 130 molC3H6 gCo-1 h-1 bar-1 with >99% of propylene selectivity at 550 °C. Such activity is nearly one magnitude higher than that of previously reported Co-based catalysts in which cobalt atoms are commonly tetracoordinated, and even superior to that of most of Pt-based catalysts under similar operating conditions. Density functional theory calculations combined with the state-of-the-art characterizations unravel the role of the unsaturated tricoordinated Co unit in facilitating the C-H bond-breaking of propane and propylene desorption. The present work opens new opportunities for future large-scale industrial PDH production based on inexpensive non-noble metal catalysts.

Fluorescent aptasensor for highly sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus based on dual-amplification strategy by integrating DNA walking and hybridization chain reaction.

Food-borne diseases caused by bacteria threaten human health. Herein, we presented a new fluorescent aptasensor by coupling DNA walking and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) for convenient and sensitive quantification of bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was selected as target. When there was target in the system, the binding of S. aureus with its aptamer caused the disintegration of aptamer/DNA walker on the surface of AuNPs and released DNA walker. With the help of Nt.BsmAI, DNA walker moved along the surface of AuNPs and trigger probe was detached from AuNPs. The trigger probe could initiate hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and opened the stems of H1@AuNPs probe and H2@AuNPs probe. After the addition of nicking endonuclease, the adjacent upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs, NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+) were further away from the quenchers (AuNPs) of H1 and H2. Therefore, the fluorescence intensity of UCNPs could be restored via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Bacteria were thus detected by recording the fluorescence intensity of UCNPs. This method is simple, rapid and sensitive. It can directly detect bacteria in a low background signal. The limit of detection (LOD) was 10 CFU/mL, detection time was less than 3 h. Recovery rates in simulated milk, honey and human serum samples ranged from 93.6 % to 105.8 %. The strategy opens up new paths for early diagnosis of diseases and food monitoring.

Promoting Syngas to Olefins with Isolated Internal Silanols-Enriched Al-IDM-1 Aluminosilicate Nanosheets.

Selective conversion of syngas to value-added olefins has attracted considerable research interest. Regulating product distribution remains challenging, such as achieving higher olefin selectivity, propylene/ethylene (P/E) and olefin/paraffin (O/P) ratios. A new pentasil zeolite Al-IDM-1 with recently approved -ION structure, composed of 17-membered-ring (MR) extra-large lobed pores and intersected 10-MR medium pores, shows a C2-6 = selectivity up to 85 % and a high O/P value of 14 in the conversion of syngas when being combined with Zna Alb Ox oxide. Moreover, for the high-silica Al-IDM-1 with Si/Al ratio of 400, the selectivity of propylene and butene accounts for 88 % in C2-4 = , resulting in high P/E (>4) and butene/ethylene (B/E >3) ratios. The high C3-4 = selectivity is contributed by two main reasons, that is, the relatively weak acidity of Al-IDM-1 zeolite enhances the olefin-based cycle revealed by the probe reactions of methanol-to-propylene (MTP) and 1-hexene cracking, and the rich isolated internal SiOH groups in Al-IDM-1 promote the desorption of C3-4 = , once they are formed inside zeolite pores.

Comparison of bioelectrical body and visceral fat indices and anthropometric measures in relation to type 2 diabetes by sex among Chinese adults, a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: We aim to compare the efficacies of the bioelectrical indices (percentage of body fat, PBF; visceral fat area, VFA) with the conventional anthropometric measures (body mass index, BMI; waist-hip ratio, WHR) for predicting type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk by sex and to determine the sex-specific optimal adiposity indices to predict the T2D risk. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Tianjin First Central Hospital and Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China. Participants: A total of 9,332 adults (41.35% men) undergoing physical examination. Primary and secondary outcome measures: T2D was defined using the WHO's criteria: fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥7.0 mmol/L and/or previous diagnosis of T2D. Height, weight, waist, hip, PBF, VFA, and fasting plasma glucose were measured. Results: All studied adiposity indices were associated with T2D among both males and females, and the observed associations differed by sex. The standardized aORs of BMI, WHR, PBF and VFA for T2D were 1.60 (95% CI 1.42-1.81), 1.43 (95% CI 1.25-1.64), 1.42 (95% CI 1.23-1.62) and 1.53 (95% CI 1.35-1.75) for females, and 1.47 (95% CI 1.31-1.66), 1.40 (95% CI 1.25-1.58), 1.54 (95% CI 1.36-1.74) and 1.47 (95% CI 1.31-1.65) for males, respectively. The AUCs of VFA, WHR and BMI were 0.743, 0.742 and 0.717 in women, respectively, whereas none of the indices had AUC larger than 0.70 in men. The AUCs were not significantly different between VFA and WHR, while both demonstrate larger AUCs than BMI and PBF in females (all p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff values of VFA, WHR, and BMI for T2D in women were 103.55 cm2, 0.905, and 24.15 kg/m2, respectively. Conclusion: Although BMI, WHR, and PBF and VFA as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were all positively associated with T2D, their efficacy for predicting the risk of T2D differed by sex. VFA, WHR and BMI could be used as biomarkers to predict T2D risk in women, however none of the study indicators demonstrated favorable efficacy of predicting T2D risk in men.

Layered Zeolite for Assembly of Two-Dimensional Separation Membranes for Hydrogen Purification.

Membrane separation is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process. Two-dimensional (2D) molecular sieving membranes featuring unique nanopores and low transport resistance have the potential to achieve highly permeable and selective mixture separation with low energy consumption. High-aspect-ratio zeolite nanosheets with intrinsic molecular-sieving pores perpendicular to the layers are desirable building blocks for fabricating high-performance 2D zeolite membrane. However, a wider application of 2D zeolitic membranes is restricted by the limited number of recognized zeolite nanosheets. Herein, we report a swollen layered zeolite, ECNU-28, with SZR topology and eight-member ring (8-MR, 3.0 Å×4.8 Å) pores normal to the nanosheets. It can be easily exfoliated to construct 2D membrane, which shows a high hydrogen selectivity up to 130 from natural gas and is promising for hydrogen purification and greenhouse gas capture.

Habitual night sleep duration is associated with general obesity and visceral obesity among Chinese women, independent of sleep quality.

Purpose: Research on the relationship between sleep duration and obesity defined using multiple anthropometric and bioelectrical indices in women remains scarce. We aimed to explore the association between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage (PBF) and visceral fat area (VFA) among females. Methods: We recruited women for medical examination using multistage cluster sampling. Sleep was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep duration was categorized into short (<7 h), optimal (7 <9 h) and long sleep (≥ 9 h). Weight and height were measured using a calibrated stadiometer. Waist circumference was manually measured. PBF, and VFA were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were also collected and included in the logistic regression models to explore the independent association between sleep duration and obesity defined by different indices. Results: A total of 7,763 women with a mean age of 42.6 ± 13.5 years were included. The percentage of women reporting short and long sleep was 10.3 and 13.4% respectively. The mean BMI, WHR, PBF and VFA were 23.07 ± 3.30 kg/m2, 0.78 ± 0.06, 32.23 ± 6.08% and 91.64 ± 35.97cm2, respectively. Short sleep was independently associated with 35% (95% CI: 1.05-1.75) increased odds of general obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/cm2), and long sleep was associated with 18% (95% CI: 1.01-1.37) increased odds of visceral obesity (VFA > 100 cm2). No association was observed between sleep deprivation or excessive sleep and high WHR or high PBF. Conclusion: In women, short sleep was associated with an increased odds of general obesity, whereas long sleep was associated with an increased odds of visceral obesity. Longitudinal observations are needed to confirm this cross-sectional relationship.

Recent advances of fluorescent sensors for bacteria detection-A review.

Bacterial infections have become a global public health problem. Rapid and sensitive bacterial detection is of great importance for human health. Among various sensor systems, fluorescence sensor is rapid, portable, multiplexed, and cost-efficient. Herein, we reviewed the current trends of fluorescent sensors for bacterial detection from three aspects (response materials, target and recognition way). The fluorescent materials have the advantages of high fluorescent strength, high stability, and good biocompatibility. They provide a new path for bacterial detection. Several recent fluorescent nanomaterials for bacterial detection, including semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), carbon dots (CDs), up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs), were introduced. Their optical properties and detection mechanisms were analyzed and compared. For different response targets in the detection process, we studied the fluorescence strategy using DNA, bacteria, and metabolites as the response target. In addition, we classified the recognition way between nanomaterial and target, including specific recognition methods based on aptamers, antibodies, bacteriophages, and non-specific recognition methods based on biological functional materials. The characteristics of different recognition methods were summarized. Finally, the weaknesses and future development of bacterial fluorescence sensor were discussed. This review provides new insights into the application of fluorescent sensing systems as an important tool for bacterial detection.

Effect of antifreeze protein on the quality and microstructure of frozen chicken breasts.

The cryo-protective effects of different concentrations of antifreeze protein (AFP, 0 %, 0.10 %, 0.15 %, 0.20 %, 0.25 %, w/v) on chicken frozen at -18 °C for different storage perispeeods were investigated by monitoring water holding capacity (WHC), water distribution, color, protein properties, microstructure and histological changes. The results showed that AFP significantly maintained the quality traits of frozen chicken. Treatment with 0.20 % AFP represented highest cryo-protective effect on the WHC and protein properties during frozen storage. The carbonyl content with 0.20 % AFP was significantly lower than that of without AFP (P < 0.05). Besides, the myofibrils of chicken supplemented with AFP, especially with 0.25 % AFP, had significantly tighter microstructure, smaller ice crystal area and equivalent diameter than those of without AFP treatment (P < 0.05) after 75 d freezing storage. Overall, AFP had a positive effect to improve the quality of frozen chicken, and it was a potential, safe and efficient cryo-protective agent.

Proteomic Profiling and Stress Response in Pediococcus acidilactici under Acetic Acid.

Lactic acid bacteria are indispensable functional microorganisms for cereal vinegar brewing, but cell activities are inhibited by the dominant acetic acid stress. Herein, an acetic-acid-tolerant strain isolated previously was identified as Pediococcus acidilactici, which also exhibited good resistance to other stresses during vinegar brewing. Proteomics analysis evidenced that differentially expressed proteins involved in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathway, pyruvate metabolism, and sugar phosphotransferase system were all downregulated. Meanwhile, saturation of fatty acids and antioxidant enzymes was strengthened. The effects of several proteins on the resistance of P. acidilactici and Lactobacillus lactis relied on the types of strain and stress. AccA and AcpP participating in fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis and Mnc related to stress response were found to protect cells by modifying fatty acid compositions and reinforcing the antioxidant defense system. Our works deepen the mechanisms of P. acidilactici under acetic acid and offer targets for engineering cell tolerance.

Cascade signal enhancement by integrating DNA walking and RCA reaction-assisted "silver-link" crossing electrode for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of Staphylococcus aureus.

The key factor to control the incidence rate of diseases caused by bacteria is rapid detection and early diagnosis. Herein, we proposed a new electrochemical bacterial sensor by coupling DNA walking and rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction-assisted "silver-link" crossing electrode. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was detected using this proof-of concept strategy. Aptamer/DNA walker and auxiliary sequence (AS)/RCA reaction probe (RP) duplexes were modified on the electrode surface. The binding of S. aureus with its aptamer caused the disintegration of aptamer/DNA walker and released DNA walker. With the help of Exo III, DNA walker moved along the electrode surface and AS in AS/RP duplex was continuously digested to release RP. By introducing phi29 DNA polymerase, RCA reaction was performed using RP as the reaction primer to form long single-strand RCA extension products between the electrodes. The "silver-link" crossing electrode was formed by metallization of "gene-link", significant conductivity was thus acquired for bacteria detection. The limit of detection (LOD) was 10 CFU/mL and detection time was 2 h. The proposed sensor has high efficiency, good stability and low background signal, human serum and milk samples were successfully detected, which emerged a promising potential in the food monitoring and clinical diagnosis.

Associations between night-time sleep duration and fasting glucose and ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among adults free of type 2 diabetes or without diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a multicentre, cross-sectional study in China.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the associations between night-time sleep duration and fasting glucose (FG), triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and body mass index (BMI) among adults free of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or without diagnosed T2D. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Medical examination centres at six hospitals in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited via multistage, stratified cluster sampling. We included adults free of T2D or without diagnosed T2D who attended for physical examination and completed the validated questionnaire. 32 497 participants were included in the study, of whom 52.50% were men. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: FG, TG, HDL-C, height and weight were measured. RESULTS: Overall, 12.80% and 9.67% reported night sleep duration <7 hours and ≥9 hours, respectively; 6.91% had elevated FG and 3.57% had undiagnosed T2D. Sleep duration had an independent, U-shaped associated with FG (ß1 (linear term)=-0.111, p=0.047; ß2 (quadratic term)=0.008, p=0.026) with 6.9 hours of sleep associated with the lowest FG and a negative association with BMI (ß=-0.154, p<0.001). BMI mediated a U-shaped association of sleep duration with TG/HDL-C (ß1=-0.040, p=0.017; ß2=0.003, p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Both short and long night-time sleep was associated with elevated FG, and short sleep duration was associated with increased BMI. BMI mediated a U-shaped association between sleep duration and TG/HDL-C.

Evaluation of coloration, nitrite residue and antioxidant capacity of theaflavins, tea polyphenols in cured sausage.

This study evaluated the effects of theaflavins (TFs), tea polyphenols (TP) and vitamin C (VC) on the nitrite residue amount, color, antioxidant capacity and N-nitrosamines inhibition in cured sausage. The addition of TFs, TP and VC combined with NaNO2 respectively could significantly increase the a* value, nitroso pigment content and DPPH free radical scavenging rate, and effectively reduced the content of residual nitrite, metmyoglobin (MetMb) and total N-nitrosamines in cured sausages than treated only with NaNO2 (P < 0.05), of which TFs group was the most significant (P < 0.05). It was indicated that the addition of TFs, TP could better inhibit the oxidation of cured sausages. UV-vis spectroscopy also showed pentacoordinate nitrosyl ferrohemochrome was the main pigment component in the samples. The results demonstrated that TFs and TP could contribute to the desired color and safety of sausage.

Microstructure of Lithium Dendrites Revealed by Room-Temperature Electron Microscopy.

The uncontrolled deposition/dissolution process of lithium dendrites during electrochemical cycling in batteries limits the large-scale application of Li metal anodes. Investigating the microstructure of Li dendrites is a focal point. Currently, the only way to protect and observe sensitive Li dendrites is through low-temperature transmission electron microscopy (LT-TEM), whereas room-temperature characterization is still lacking. In this work, the room-temperature microstructure of Li dendrites was obtained by TEM using both vacuum- and inert-gas-transfer methods. Detailed comparison between LT- and room-temperature (RT-)TEM characterizations was provided to show the pros and cons of each method. Especially, RT-TEM shows the advantage of flexible incorporation with multifunctional characterizations, such as 3D tomography. By using RT-TEM, microstructural evolution of Li dendrites during the electrodeposition/dissolution process, including increase of the quantity of inorganic Li2O compounds in the solid electrolyte interphase, lateral growth behavior, and two types of inactive Li, has been revealed, enriching the understanding of the structure-property relationship of Li dendrites.

Gut microbiota-derived metabolite 3-idoleacetic acid together with LPS induces IL-35+ B cell generation.

BACKGROUND: IL-35-producing Bregs and Treg cells critically regulate chronic illnesses worldwide via mechanisms related to disrupting the gut microbiota composition. However, whether the gut microbiota regulates these IL-35+ cells remains elusive. We herein investigated the regulatory effects of the gut microbiota on IL-35+ cells by using genetically modified mouse models of obesity. RESULTS: We first found that gut Reg4 promoted resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Using 16S rRNA sequencing combined with LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry)/MS, we demonstrated that gut Reg4 associated with bacteria such as Lactobacillus promoted the generation of IL-35+ B cells through 3-idoleacetic acid (IAA) in the presence of LPS. HuREG4IECtg mice fed a high-fat diet exhibited marked IL-35+ cell accumulation in not only their adipose tissues but also their colons, whereas decreased IL-35+ cell accumulation was observed in the adipose and colon tissues of Reg4 knockout (KO) mice. We also found that Reg4 mediated HFD-induced obesity resistance via IL-35. Lower levels of IAA were also detected in the peripheral blood of individuals with obesity compared with nonobese subjects. Mechanistically, IAA together with LPS mediated IL-35+ B cells through PXR and TLR4. KO of PXR or TLR4 impaired the generation of IL-35+ B cells. CONCLUSION: Together, IAA and LPS induce the generation of IL-35+ B cells through PXR and TLR4. Video Abstract.

Gender differences in the association between sleep duration and body mass index, percentage of body fat and visceral fat area among chinese adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sleep duration and anthropometric indices are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (PBF) and visceral fat area (VFA) among Chinese adults, further to explore gender difference in it. METHODS: We analyzed part of the baseline data of a cohort study among adult attendees at two health-screening centers in China. Sleep duration was self-reported and categorized into short (< 7 h/day), optimal (7-9 h/day) and long sleep (≥ 9 h/day). BMI, PBF and VFA were assessed by bioelectric impedance analysis. Demographic characteristics, chronic diseases and medication history, physical activity, smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors were measured by an investigator-administrated questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 9059 adult participants (63.08% were females) were included in the analysis. The participants aged from 19 to 91 years with the mean age of 45.0 ± 14.6 years. Short sleep was independently associated with elevated odds of general obesity (defined using BMI) and visceral obesity (defined using VFA) among the total study population, and gender differences were observed in these associations. Among women, short sleep was associated with 62% increased odds of general obesity (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.24-2.12) and 22% increased odds of visceral obesity (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45). Among men, long sleep duration was associated with 21% decreased odds of visceral obesity (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99). No association was observed between sleep duration and PBF in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep duration was associated with increased odds of general and visceral obesity, and this association differed between men and women. No association was observed between sleep duration and PBF among either males or females.

"Open" Nonporous Nonasil Zeolite Structure for Selective Catalysis.

Nonasil (NON-type framework) zeolite, having inner large cages but only 6-ring (R) apertures, is recognized as a nonporous material without practical application values as catalysts or adsorbents. A novel bottom-up structural construction strategy assisted with well-designed Gemini-type surfactant is proposed to "open" the non cages, constructing two novel NON-related structures with accessible and stable acid sites. The obtained derivant (named as ECNU-27) possessed hierarchical porosity with short-range ordered 8-R micropores and abundant intercrystal mesopores, serving as a promising catalyst for the 1-butene cracking to lower alkenes.

YQHX Alleviates H/R-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis by Downregulating miR-1.

Yiqi Huoxue granule (YQHX) inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI); however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) models were established using rat myocardial primary cells and H9c2 cells, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) levels and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were determined. LDH release, CK activity, caspase-3 activation, mRNA and protein ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and miR-1 expression were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the H/R model of rat myocardial primary cells and H9c2 cells compared with the control group and was inhibited by YQHX treatment (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). We also found that miR-1 overexpression could enhance apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, whereas apoptosis could be reduced by YQHX treatment (p < 0.01). In conclusion, YQHX alleviates H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting miR-1 expression, suggesting the potential of YQHX in preventing MIRI.

A construction and comprehensive analysis of ceRNA networks and infiltrating immune cells in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: As the second most common malignancy in adults, papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) has shown an increasing trend in both incidence and mortality. Effective treatment for advanced metastatic PRCC is still lacking. In this study, we aimed to establish competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks related to PRCC tumorigenesis, and analyze the specific role of differentially expressed ceRNA components and infiltrating immune cells in tumorigenesis. METHODS: CeRNA networks were established to identify the key ceRNAs related to PRCC tumorigenesis based on the 318 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA), including 285 PRCC and 33 normal control samples. The R package, "CIBERSORT," was used to evaluate the infiltration of 22 types of immune cells. Then we identified the significant ceRNAs and immune cells, based on which two nomograms were obtained for predicting the prognosis in PRCC patients. Finally, we investigated the co-expression of PRCC-specific immune cells and core ceRNAs via Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: COL1A1, H19, ITPKB, LDLR, TCF4, and WNK3 were identified as hub genes in ceRNA networks. Four prognostic-related tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including T cells CD4 memory resting, Macrophages M1, and Macrophages M2 were revealed. Pearson correlation test indicated that Macrophage M1 was negatively related with COL1A1 (p < 0.01) and LDLR (p < 0.01), while Macrophage M2 was positively related with COL1A1 (p < 0.01), TCF4 (p < 0.01), and H19 (p = 0.032). Two nomograms were conducted with favorable accuracies (area under curve of 1-year survival: 0.935 and 0.877; 3-year survival: 0.849 and 0.841; and 5-year survival: 0.818 and 0.775, respectively). CONCLUSION: The study constructed two nomograms suited for PRCC prognosis predicting. Moreover, we concluded that H19-miR-29c-3p-COL1A1 axis might promote the polarization of M2 macrophages and inhibit M1 macrophage activation through Wnt signaling pathway, collaborating to promote PRCC tumorigenesis and lead to poor overall survival of PRCC patients.

Natural polysaccharides based self-assembled nanoparticles for biomedical applications - A review.

In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) derived from the self-assembly of natural polysaccharides have shown great potential in the biomedical field. Here, we described several self-assembly modes of natural polysaccharides in detail, summarized the natural polysaccharides mostly used for self-assembly, and provided insights into the current applications and achievements of these self-assembled NPs. As one of the most widespread substances in nature, most natural polysaccharides exhibit advantages of biodegradability, low immunogenicity, low toxicity, and degradable properties. Therefore, they have been fully explored, and the application of chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, starch, and their derivatives has been extensively studied, especially in the fields of biomedical. Polysaccharides based NPs were proved to improve the solubility of insoluble drugs, enhance tissue target ability and realize the controlled and sustained release of drugs. When modified by hydrophobic groups, the amphiphilic polysaccharides can self-assemble into NPs. Other driven forces of self-assembly include electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds. Up to the present, polysaccharides-based nanoparticles have been widely applied for tumor treatment, antibacterial application, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and transporting insulin.