Combinational Intercalation-Conversion-Intercalation reaction of CuInS2@PPy anode for Sodium-Ion batteries.

Polypyrrole-coated CuInS2 (CuInS2@PPy) composite was prepared through the chemical vapor transport method and subsequent in situ polymerized coating strategy. In this unique nanoarchitecture, the PPy coating layer plays a crucial role in improving the conductivity of the composite, suppressing the volume change of CuInS2, and maintaining the structural integrity of electrode material upon cycling. In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanism and kinetics of CuInS2@PPy were investigated in-depth. Benefitting from the synergism of its combinational intercalation-conversion-intercalation reaction mechanism and the high conductivity of the PPy coating layer, CuInS2@PPy electrode exhibits superior rate capability and cycling stability for sodium-ion batteries, with a capacity of 404.8 mA h g-1 at 4 A g-1 over 2500 cycles.

Modulation of macrophages by a phillyrin-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel promotes skin wound healing in mice.

BACKGROUND: Impaired wound healing in traumatic skin injuries remains a severe clinical challenge due to impaired re-vascularization, harmful bacteria infection, and inflammation dysregulation. Macrophages are recognized as prominent immune cells in tissue regeneration and wound healing. Consequently, the modulation of macrophages provides a promising therapeutic target for wound healing disorders. Here, we aimed to explore whether a novel constructed combination of thermosensitive hydrogel Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) and phillyrin (PH, the main active compound of forsythia suspensa) could improve skin wound healing. METHODS: Firstly, the biological effects of pH on the phenotype and inflammation of macrophages were assessed by flow cytometry and ELISA. The biocompatibility of the PF-127 plus PH combination was investigated on keratinocytes and red blood cells. The biological effect of PF-127/PH hydrogel on the migratory ability of keratinocytes in vitro was evaluated using the scratch and transwell migration assays. In addition,S. aureusandE. coliwere employed to test the antibacterial properties of the PF-127 plus PH combination. Finally, PF-127 plus PH scaffold was appliedto the full-thickness skin defect in mice. Histomorphological evaluation and immunochemistry were performed to explore the wound-healing activity of PF-127/PH hydrogel. RESULTS: PH can promote the polarization of macrophages from the M1 (pro-inflammatory) phenotype to the M2 (anti-inflammatory) phenotype. The PF-127/PH hydrogel was highly biocompatible and showed a potent stimulative effect on the migration of keratinocytesin vitro. The combination of PF-127 and PH exerted a pronounced antibacterial activity onS. aureusandE. coli in vitro.PF-127/PH hydrogel potently accelerates the healing of full-thickness skin defects by promoting skin cell proliferation, accelerating angiogenesis, and inhibiting inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that PF-127/PH hydrogel has excellent potential for treating traumatic skin defects.

Trends of mental health care utilization among US adults from 1999 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders affect millions of US adults, however, the trends and related factors for mental health care utilization in the US remain unknown. AIMS: Our study aimed to assess the trend of mental health utilization and related socio-demographic factors in the US. METHODS: The study included 55,052 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 1999-2018. Temporal trends in the percentages of mental health care utilizers were estimated across survey cycles. Trends and linked factors of mental health care utilization were assessed by a logistic regression model, while the non-linearity was estimated by restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2018, the percentage of mental health care utilizers in the US adult population increased from 7.0 to 11.3% (P < 0.001); meanwhile, the trends in males and females were consistent. The percentage increased positively with age in individuals aged 20-39 (P < 0.001) or aged 60 and over (P = 0.003). The trends were consistent in three race/ethnicity groups (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that several disparities existed in the subpopulations. Older age, female, lower family poverty-income ratio (PIR), chronic diseases, higher educational level, and smoking were estimated to be associated with a higher percentage of mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of mental health care utilizers took on an increasing trend in the US adult population from 1999 to 2018. These trends were also observed in the subpopulations, but with disparities. Future research for exploring factors associated with mental health care utilizations is necessary.

Optical Clearing Agents for Optical Imaging Through Cartilage Tympanoplasties: A Preclinical Feasibility Study.

HYPOTHESIS: Optical clearing agents (OCAs) can render cartilage tympanoplasty grafts sufficiently transparent to permit visualization of middle ear structures in an operated ear using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. METHODS: Pieces of human tragal cartilage were treated with glycerol, a commonly used OCA. A reference reflector was imaged with OCT through the tympanoplasty as it cleared and the optical attenuation of the graft was measured. The reversibility of clearing and the dimensional changes associated with glycerol absorption were also measured. In a separate experiment, a human cadaveric temporal bone was prepared to simulate an ossiculoplasty surgery with cartilage replacement of the tympanic membrane. A partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) inserted in the ear was imaged with OCT through a 0.4mm cartilage graft optically cleared with glycerol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The optical attenuation of 0.4mm cartilage grafts decreased at 2.3+/-1.1 dB/min following treatment with glycerol, reaching a total decrease in attenuation of 13.6+/-5.9 dB after 7 minutes. The optical and dimensional effects of glycerol absorption were reversable following saline washout. In the temporal bone preparation, treatment of a cartilage graft with glycerol resulted in a 13 dB increase in signal-to-noise ratio and a 13 dB increase in contrast for visualizing the PORP through the graft with OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Optical clearing agents offer a potential pathway towards optical coherence tomography imaging of the middle ear in post-surgical ears with cartilage grafts.

EGCG protects vascular endothelial cells from oxidative stress-induced damage by targeting the autophagy-dependent PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy plays an important role in cellular homeostasis. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol derived from green tea, has been shown to elicit vascular protective effects. Our study aimed to investigate the protective effect of EGCG in an endothelial injury model induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and reveal the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pretreatment with different concentration of EGCG, then exposed to H2O2. Cell viability was measured with MTS assay. Apoptosis was evaluated with TUNEL staining and apoptosis-related protein was determined by western blot. Autophagy flux was assessed by transmission electron microscopy and LC3 plasmid transfection. Besides, the role mTOR in EGCG-mediated antioxidant responses was validated with siRNA transfection. RESULTS: The results showed that pretreatment with EGCG significantly improved the survival of HUVECs from H2O2-induced cell death. After exposed to H2O2, EGCG upregulated the levels of Atg5, Atg7, LC3 II/I, and the Atg5-Atg12 complex in HUVECs, while downregulated apoptosis-related protein. Besides, EGCG inhibited the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. Knockdown of mTOR partially promoted EGCG-induced autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EGCG induces autophagy by targeting the mTOR pathway, indicating that EGCG has the potential to prevent and treat oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases.