Flexible Substrate-Compatible and Efficiency-Improved Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes with Reduced Annealing Temperature of NiOx Hole-Injecting Layer.

The growing demand for wearable and attachable displays has sparked significant interest in flexible quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). However, the challenges of fabricating and operating QLEDs on flexible substrates persist due to the lack of stable and low-temperature processable charge-injection/-transporting layers with aligned energy levels. In this study, we utilized NiOx nanoparticles that are compatible with flexible substrates as a hole-injection layer (HIL). To enhance the work function of the NiOx HIL, we introduced a self-assembled dipole modifier called 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (4-CF3-BA) onto the surface of the NiOx nanoparticles. The incorporation of the dipole molecules through adsorption treatment has significantly changed the wettability and electronic characteristics of NiOx nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of NiO(OH) at the interface and a shift in vacuum level. The alteration of surface electronic states of the NiOx nanoparticles not only improves the carrier balance by reducing the hole injection barrier but also prevents exciton quenching by passivating defects in the film. Consequently, the NiOx-based red QLEDs with interfacial modification demonstrate a maximum current efficiency of 16.1 cd/A and a peak external quantum efficiency of 10.3%. This represents a nearly twofold efficiency enhancement compared to control devices. The mild fabrication requirements and low annealing temperatures suggest potential applications of dipole molecule-modified NiOx nanoparticles in flexible optoelectronic devices.

Beneficial for mental health, exercise more or less?

Regular physical activity may improve mental health during the pandemic by reducing inflammatory responses. However, overtraining or prolonged exercise training may adversely affect mental health.

Sulfated alginate oligosaccharide exerts antitumor activity and autophagy induction by inactivating MEK1/ERK/mTOR signaling in a KSR1-dependent manner in osteosarcoma.

Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) has the function to inhibit tumor progression and the sulfated modification can enhance the antitumor activity. To date, the function and mechanism of sulfated AOS (AOS-SO4) in tumors remain largely elusive. We prepared AOS by the enzymatic degradation of alginate, collected AOS-SO4 by sulfating following the canonical procedure. Using these materials, in vitro assays showed that both AOS and AOS-SO4 elicited antitumor effects in osteosarcoma cells. Sulfated modification significantly enhanced the antitumor activity. In addition, AOS-SO4 had obvious effects on cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy induction in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we observed that AOS-SO4 treatment triggered proapoptotic autophagy by inhibiting MEK1/ERK/mTOR signaling. The ERK activator reversed AOS-SO4-induced autophagy. More importantly, we found that KSR1 interacted with MEK1 and functioned as a positive regulator of MEK1 protein in osteosarcoma cells. High KSR1 expression was significantly associated with poor survival in osteosarcoma patients. Together, these results suggest that AOS-SO4 has a better antitumor effect in osteosarcoma by inhibiting MEK1/ERK/mTOR signaling, which is KSR1-dependent; thus, AOS-SO4 can be a new potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

[Mechanism of Potentilla discolor in treating UC by regulating mitochondrial autophagy].

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Potentilla discolor on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced experimental ulcerative colitis(UC) in rats and to determine its therapeutic mechanism through mitochondrial autophagy, immune cells, and cytokines. A rat model of UC was established by TNBS-ethanol enema. Rats were divided into six groups: control, UC model, sulfasalazine(positive drug), and high-dose, moderate-dose, and low-dose ethanol extract groups. After 14-day continuous administration of the corresponding drugs, the disease activity index(DAI) and hematoxylin and eosin(HE) were evaluated. The morphological structure of mitochondria was observed by using transmission electron microscope(TEM), mitophagy-related mRNA expression was detected by using Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), immune cell differentiation in rat serum was detected by using flow cytometry(FCM), and cytokine expression in colon tissues of rats was detected by protein microarray. The results showed that compared with the model group, each dose group of P. discolor could significantly reduce the DAI of UC model rats, and decrease the degree of inflammatory cells infiltration in the colon tissue of UC model rats. Meanwhile the expressions of T cells and Th cells in the serum increased significantly, the expression of Tc cells in the serum decreased significantly. Transmission electron microscope found that there was fusion of mitochondria and lysosomes in the colon tissue of the administration group. The expressions of mitochondrial autophagy related genes NF-κB, p62 and parkin were significantly increased in colon tissues. The results of protein chip showed that compared with the model group, the high dose group of P. discolor could significantly regulate the expression of cytokines. In conclusion, these results suggested that P. discolor improved TNBS-induced acute ulcerative colitis in rats by regulating the mitochondrial autophagy and the inflammatory factor expression.

Military-related posttraumatic stress disorder and mindfulness meditation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant global mental health concern, especially in the military. This study aims to estimate the efficacy of mindfulness meditation in the treatment of military-related PTSD, by synthesizing evidences from randomized controlled trials. METHODS: Five electronic databases (Pubmed, EBSCO Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and Cochrane Library) were searched for randomized controlled trials focusing on the treatment effect of mindfulness meditation on military-related PTSD. The selection of eligible studies was based on identical inclusion and exclusion criteria. Information about study characteristics, participant characteristics, intervention details, PTSD outcomes, as well as potential adverse effects was extracted from the included studies. Risk of bias of all the included studies was critically assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. R Statistical software was performed for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1902 records were initially identified and screened. After duplicates removal and title & abstract review, finally, 19 articles in English language with 1326 participants were included through strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results revealed that mindfulness meditation had a significantly larger effect on alleviating military-related PTSD symptoms compared with control conditions, such as treatment as usual, present-centered group therapy and PTSD health education (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.33; 95% CI [-0.45, -0.21]; p < 0.0001). Mindfulness interventions with different control conditions (active or non-active control, SMD = -0.33, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.19]; SMD = -0.49, 95% CI [-0.88, -0.10], respectively), formats of delivery (group-based or individual-based, SMD = -0.30, 95% CI [-0.42, -0.17], SMD = -0.49, 95% CI [-0.90, -0.08], respectively) and intervention durations (short-term or standard duration, SMD = -0.27, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.08], SMD = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.58, -0.21], respectively) were equally effective in improving military-related PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings from this meta-analysis consolidate the efficacy and feasibility of mindfulness meditation in the treatment of military-related PTSD. Further evidence with higher quality and more rigorous design is needed in the future.

PTSD: Past, present and future implications for China.

There has been a long history since human beings began to realize the existence of post-traumatic symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a diagnostic category adopted in 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Ⅲ, described typical clusters of psychiatric symptoms occurring after traumatic events. Abundant researches have helped deepen the understanding of PTSD in terms of epidemiological features, biological mechanisms, and treatment options. The prevalence of PTSD in general population ranged from 6.4% to 7.8% and was significantly higher among groups who underwent major public traumatic events. There has been a long way in the studies of animal models and genetic characteristics of PTSD. However, the high comorbidity with other stress-related psychiatric disorders and complexity in the pathogenesis of PTSD hindered the effort to find specific biological targets for PTSD. Neuroimage was widely used to elucidate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of PTSD. Functional MRI studies have showed that PTSD was linked to medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and sub-cortical structures like amygdala and hippocampus, and to explore the functional connectivity among these brain areas which might reveal the possible neurobiological mechanism related to PTSD symptoms. For now, cognitive behavior therapy-based psychotherapy, including combination with adjunctive medication, showed evident treatment effects on PTSD. The emergence of more effective PTSD pharmacotherapies awaits novel biomarkers from further fundamental research. Several natural disasters and emergencies have inevitably increased the possibility of suffering from PTSD in the last two decades, making it critical to strengthen PTSD research in China. To boost PTSD study in China, the following suggestions might be helpful: (1) establishing a national psychological trauma recover project, and (2) exploring the mechanisms of PTSD with joint effort and strengthening the indigenized treatment of PTSD.

Regulatory effect of Garidisan on dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in the mouse model of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a modern refractory disease, and its etiology has been difficult to discern. Studies have shown that UC is closely associated with the gut microbiota. Garidisan is composed of wild poppy and Artemisia frigida Willd and is commonly used for the treatment of UC in Inner Mongolia, China. In clinical settings, Garidisan has been found to treat UC effectively, with low recurrence. Previous studies have shown that Garidisan has a good therapeutic effect on mice with UC, but the therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effect of Garidisan on dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in a UC mouse model and explored the possible mechanism of the therapeutic effect of Garidisan on UC. METHODS: The UC mouse model was established by the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) circulating free water drinking method, and the luminal contents were sampled under sterile conditions. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3 + V4 region of the luminal contents of the control group, model group, and Garidisan group was conducted, and clustering of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and species annotation were performed. The differences in species composition and microbial community structure between individual groups of samples were analyzed using MetaStat, LefSe, rank sum test, and Bayesian causal network analysis. RESULTS: The UC mouse model was successfully established and the sequencing results were of adequate quality. There were significant differences in the diversity of luminal contents between the control group, model group, and Garidisan group, and the differences between groups were greater than those within any group. The therapeutic effect of Garidisan on UC is attributed to the direct effect on the Lachnospiraceae family of bacteria. CONCLUSION: Garidisan has a good regulatory effect on the gut microbiota, and Lachnospiraceae could be an important direct target of Garidisan for the treatment of UC.

Role of colonic microbiota in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have found gut microbiota to be closely associated with onset and perpetuation of UC. Currently, studies about gut microbiota have mainly covered samples collected from the intestinal lumen. However, the luminal flora is only part of the gut microbiota. Studies of the changes in mucosal flora under pathological conditions have been lacking. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the onset of UC and flora changes in different intestinal layers. METHODS: The dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC model was established by exposing mice to cycles of DSS. The luminal contents, an inner mucus layer, and outer mucus layer were harvested under sterile conditions. The samples were then analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3 + V4 amplicons. The colonic microbiota composition and diversity were analyzed and compared using MetaStat, LefSe, multivariate analysis of variance, and spatial statistics. RESULTS: The DSS-induced UC mouse model was successfully established. The diversity of the microbiota from luminal content, the outer mucus layer, and inner mucus layer were significantly different in both control and UC model groups. The statistically different OTUs belonged to Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families within the order Clostridiales were mainly localized to the outer mucus layer. CONCLUSIONS: The alterations in flora composition and diversity mainly occurred in the colonic outer mucus layer. The change of flora in the colonic mucus layers is of great significance in the understanding of common features of gut flora in IBD and the understanding of the relationship between gut flora and disease progression.

Garidisan: Improving the Quality of Ulcer Healing in Rats with Ulcerative Colitis.

Garidisan, commonly used in Mongolia to treat ulcerative colitis (UC), contains wild poppy and Artemisia frigida Willd. Clinical evidence shows that Garidisan can effectively treat UC and that recurrence is low. Thus, we evaluated the effects of Garidisan on ulcer healing quality and the regulation of immune balance in rats with experimental UC. UC was induced by immunization with TNBS and Garidisan significantly reduced DAI, CMDI, and HS. H&E staining, SEM, and VG staining showed that Garidisan repaired damaged intestinal mucosa and significantly reduced expression of ICAM-1 and CD105 in regenerated tissues of UC rats. Collagen fibers were significantly fewer as well after treatment. Garidisan elevated EGF, VEGF, bFGF, VEGFR2, and FGFR1 of UC rats, reduced CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ T cell ratios, and increased CD4+Th1/CD4+Th2 cell ratios and IFN-r/IL-4 ratios in peripheral blood of UC rats. In conclusion, Garidisan promoted tissue maturation of regenerated tissues by regulating the immune balance and improved functional maturity of regenerated tissues by reducing collagen formation, promoting maturation of new blood vessels, and increasing expression of growth factors and their receptors.

Effects of antidepressants on P2X7 receptors.

Antidepressants including paroxetine, fluoxetine and desipramine are commonly used for treating depression. P2×7 receptors are member of the P2X family. Recent studies indicate that these receptors may constitute a novel potential target for the treatment of depression. In the present study, we examined the action of these antidepressants on cloned rat P2×7 receptors that were stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and found that paroxetine at a dose of 10µM could significantly reduce the inward currents evoked by the P2×7 receptors agonist BzATP by pre-incubation for 6-12 but not by acute application (10µM) or pre-incubation for 2-6h at a dose of 1µM, 3µM or 10µM paroxetine. Neither fluoxetine nor desipramine had significant effects on currents evoked by BzATP either applied acutely or by pre-incubation at various concentrations. These results suggest that the sensitivity of rat P2×7 receptors to antidepressants is different, which may represent an unknown mechanism by which these drugs exert their therapeutic effects and side effects.

[Correlations between HBCD and thyroid hormone concentrations in human serum from production source area].

The levels of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in human serum from the HBCD production source region were detected by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The concentrations (lipid weight) of ∑ HBCD in 80 serum samples ranged from not detectable to 2702.5 ng · g(-1). The mean and median values were 104.9 ng · g(-1) and 5.9 ng · g(-1), respectively. The most abundant HBCD isomer in 42 samples was γ-HBCD, while α-HBCD was the most abundant isomer in the other 26 serum samples. There was no significant difference in ∑ HBCD concentration among different age and gender. In this study, the thyroid hormone abnormality rate in the 80 residents was up to 33%. The thyroid hormone abnormality rate of the residents whose serum HBCD was detected was significantly higher than those without HBCD in serum. Since the local residents were highly exposed to HBCD, the probability of thyroid abnormality might be significantly increased.

[Study on the hemostatic effects in raw and charred Mongolian drug Agi and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of raw and charred Agi on hemostasis and its mechanism. METHODS: The rabbit bleeding time was measured by traumatic hemorrhage test, and the clotting time was measured by tube test. The rabbit prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thormboplastia time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (FIB), plasma recalcification time (PRT), euglobulin lysis time (ELT), max platelet aggregation rate (MPAR) were measured by solidification method, turbidimetry and tube test to analyze the effects of raw and charred Agi on rabbit coagulation-fibrinolysis system and platelet function. RESULTS: The medium doses and high doses of raw Agi groups, all of the groups of charred Agi decreased rabbit BT obviously (P<0.01 or P<0.05); all of the groups of raw and charred Agi declined rabbits CT (P<0.01 or P<0.05). All of the doses groups of raw and charred Agi had no apparent influences on PT (P>0.05); the high dose of raw Agi group and all of the groups of charred Agi decreased APTT apparently (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and prolonged ELT (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the high doses groups of raw and charred Agi decreased TT apparently (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the medium and high doses groups of charred Agi increased FIB obviously (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the high doses group of charred Agi showed the decreased PRT significantly (P<0.05) and increased MPAR obviously (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Raw Agi can play its role in hemostasis and coagulation by affecting the intrinsic pathway of coagulation and fibrinolytic system. These effects are inhanced after processing drugs; moreover, the charred Agi could increase FIB and MPAR with promoting more in blood coagulation.

Health-related quality of life in patients with spinal metastases treated with or without spinal surgery: a prospective, longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether surgery for patients with spinal metastases could improve the quality of remaining life and prolong survival. METHODS: In total, 96 patients who had spinal metastases were recruited from Changzheng Hospital at the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, China, over the period from July 2007 to June 2009. The patients received treatments with or without spinal surgery (surgery group, n=46 patients; nonsurgery group, n=50 patients), and all patients received adjuvant therapies according to their original cancer and individual conditions. Patients' quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 5 time points-at the initial diagnosis (baseline) and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months of follow-up-using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General QOL questionnaire. Information on survival also was collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven of 96 patients completed all 5 follow-up assessments, including 33 patients in the surgery group and 34 patients in the nonsurgery group. The other 29 patients died within 9 months after the initial diagnosis. At the end of the study (June 2009), 22 patients (47.8%) remained alive in the surgery group, and with 16 patients (32%) remained alive in the nonsurgery group. The surgery group had significantly higher total QOL scores, physical well being scores, emotional well being scores, and functional well being scores than the nonsurgery group over the 9-month assessment period. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between the 2 groups (P=.056). CONCLUSIONS: The current results indicated that surgical treatment greatly improved and maintained the QOL of patients who had spinal metastases over the 9-month assessment period and that surgery is an effective treatment for spinal metastases.