Electrodeposition synthesis of cobalt-molybdenum bimetallic phosphide on nickel foam for efficient water splitting.

A reasonable design of excellent bifunctional catalyst is an effective strategy for large-scale hydrogen production. In this study, a two-stage electrodeposition method was used to prepare a crystalline-amorphous structure cobalt molybdenum phosphide layered particles with different sizes on a nickel foam (NF) substrate. Electron rearrangement at the Co/CoMoP2@CoMoO4 heterogeneous interface can reduce the reaction energy barrier for HER and OER, and accelerate the catalytic reaction kinetics. The doping of Mo can promote the synergistic effect between Co and Mo, thereby optimizing the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption/desorption. This layered arrangement of different size particles greatly improves the active area of the catalyst. In alkaline solution, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm-2 only required overpotentials of 40 mV for HER and 278 mV for OER, respectively. The cell voltage required for the CoMo-P/NF||CoMo-P/NF electrolytic cell is only 1.53 V at 10 mA cm-2. This study provides a reference for the rapid, efficient, and environmentally friendly preparation of high-activity water splitting catalysts with large surface areas.

Discover boy specific-biomarkers and reveal gender-related metabolic differences in central precocious puberty.

The incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) in boys is rising, but lack of effective molecular biomarkers often leads to delayed treatment and thus the terrible clinical complications in adulthood. This study aims to identify the specific-biomarkers of CPP boys and understand the gender-related differences in metabolic characteristics of CPP. The specific-biomarkers of CPP boys were identified from serum by cross-metabolomics combined with linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis after age correction, and union receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were perform to optimize the combination of specific-biomarkers. The differences in metabolic characteristics between boys and girls with CPP were explored by cross-metabolomics and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Results show that CPP activated in advance the HPG axis and induced gender-related clinical phenotypes. Seven serum metabolites were identified as specific-biomarkers of CPP boys, including acetoacetate, aspartate, choline, creatinine, myo-inositol, N,N-dimethylglycine and N-Acetyl-glycoprotein. The combination of aspartate, choline, myo-inositol and creatinine achieved an optimized diagnosis, where AUC is 0.949, prediction accuracy for CPP boys is 91.1%, and the average accuracy is 0.865. The metabolic disorders of CPP boys mainly involve in glycerophospholipid metabolism, and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies. Betaine, glutamine, isoleucine, lactate, leucine, lysine, pyruvate, α-&ß-glucose were identified as gender-related biomarkers for CPP, and they are mainly involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Biomarkers combination provides a promising diagnostic potential for CPP boy with a favorite sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the differences of metabolic characteristics between boys and girls with CPP will contribute to the development of individualized clinical treatments in CPP.

miR­221 targets HMGA2 to inhibit bleomycin­induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating TGF­ß1/Smad3-induced EMT.

MicroRNA (miR)-221 plays an essential role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), is a key regulator of EMT. However, the role of miR­221 in pulmonary fibrosis, and the association between miR­221 and HMGA2 remain largely unknown. For this purpose, we examined the expression of miR­221 and HMGA2 in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) tissues and pulmonary cells, namely the adenocarcinoma A549 and human bronchial epithelium (HBE) cell lines, and found that the expression of miR­221 was inhibited in both tissues and cells whereas high mRNA and protein expression of HMGA2 was observed. Additionally, transforming growth factor­ß1 (TGF­ß1) induced the EMT, characterized by the upregulated expression of the mesenchymal markers, namely N­cadherin, vimentin, α­smooth muscle actin, collagen I and collagen III, and the downregulated expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin in A549 and HBE cells. We then performed transfection with miR­221 mimics, and found that the expression of phosphorylated-Smad3 in miR­221­overexpressing cells was significantly downregulated, compared with that in the TGF­ß1-treated cells without transfection. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR­221 decreased the expression of HMGA2, suppressed the EMT, and inhibited the proliferation of A549 and HBE cells. HMGA2 was directly targeted by miR­221 which was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)­induced pulmonary fibrosis was used to confirm the effect of miR­221 on EMT. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that BLM induced thicker alveolar walls and more collagen deposition, whereas miR­221 treatment reduced lung fibrosis and the tissues exhibited thinner alveolar walls and normal lung alveoli. Furthermore, the EMT process was suppressed following miR­221 injection. Taken together, these findings sugest that miR­221 targets HMGA2 to inhibit BLM­induced pulmonary fibrosis through the TGF­ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Effect of perioperative intravenous flurbiprofen axetil on chronic postmastectomy pain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether perioperative intravenous flurbiprofen axetil can reduce the incidence and intensity of chronic pain for breast cancer after surgical treatment. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial enrolled 60 patients undergoing mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection under general anesthesia. All patients accepted Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) tests the day before the surgery to evaluate depression and anxiety. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg flurbiprofen axetil intravenously 15 minutes before the surgical incision and 6 hours later (group F) or intravenous 5 mL intralipid as a control (group C). All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with fentanyl postoperatively. Peripheral venous blood samples were drawn before the surgery, at 4 and 24 h after the surgery to detect the plasma level of PGE2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Postoperative fentanyl consumption, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and adverse effects were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the surgery. The duration and intensity of pain were followed up by telephone at the 2nd-12th month after the surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of pain at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months after the breast surgery was 33%, 20%, 15%, and 10%, respectively, and the average pain score was 0.77, 0.57, 0.28, and 0.18, respectively. Compared with group C, the scores of pain in group F were significantly lower at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (F=7.758, P=0.007). The incidence of pain in group F was significantly lower at 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pain between the groups at 12 months postoperatively (P>0.05). Preoperatively and at 4 and 24 h after the surgery, there was no significant difference in the level of TNF-α between the two groups (F=0.530, P=0.470); but plasma concentration of PGE2 in group F was significantly lower than that in group C (F=5.646, P=0.021). No patients developed abnormal bleeding, peptic ulcer, impaired liver or renal function and respiratory depression. CONCLUSION: Perioperative intravenous infusion of 100 mg flurbiprofen axetil can decrease the intensity and incidence of chronic pain for breast cancer after surgical treatment.