Key Role of Cations in Stabilizing Hydrogen Radicals for CO2-to-CO Conversion via a Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction.

Electrochemically converting CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels in acidic media is argued as a promising energy- and carbon-efficient route. Although several key roles of alkali cations have been unveiled, the alkali cation trends for CO2 reduction remain largely elusive. With decreasing cation size from Cs+ to Li+, here we show that the apparent proton diffusion coefficient in 3.0 M Li+ is tens-fold lower than in 3.0 M K+ and 3.0 M Cs+ acidic electrolytes. Although Li+ has the strongest inhibition ability for proton transport, it acts the worst for both the CO2-to-CO conversion and partial current density on Au catalysts. Unexpectedly, K+ with a higher proton transport performs the best for CO2-to-CO conversion. We thus revisit the roles of alkali cations and find that hydrated K+ can stabilize hydrogen radicals benefiting CO2 conversion at the electrode interface while for Li+ this is not the case. This study proposes that cation-stabilized atomic hydrogen assists in activating CO2 via a reverse water-gas shift route under electrochemical conditions.

RBC Transfusion Strategy in Oncological Patients with Chronic RBC Transfusion Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion therapy has greatly reduced mortality and morbidity in multiply transfused patients with oncological malignancies. The aim of this study was to underline the necessity of introducing a policy for extended RBC phenotyping of these patients and for the issuing of antigen-matched blood (at least for E antigen). METHODS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of age, gender, transfusion history, and various malignancies with the development of red cell alloimmunization. RESULTS: Given the results of antibody identification, we finally obtained 732 cases to be analyzed, designating them as the p group. The respiratory system (231/732; 31.6%), digestive system (273/732; 37.3%), and female reproductive system (127/732; 17.3%) had the three highest alloimmunization rates in the p group. We screened 81 cases from the p group for which antibody screening in our laboratory had historically yielded negative results. Among the 81 cases with antibody seroconversion, anti-E was the most frequently observed antibody (37%). CONCLUSIONS: The results related to multivariate logistic regression analysis of the Rh group indicate that, in contrast to the other variates, transfusion confers a strongly increased risk of Rh blood system-related red cell alloimmunization. To reduce alloimmunization in tumor patients, it will be essential to introduce a policy for extended RBC phenotyping of high-risk patients and for the issuing of antigen-matched blood (at least for E antigen).

Development and Application of Portable Reflectometric Spectroscopy Combined with Solid-Phase Extraction for Determination of Potassium in Flue-Cured Tobacco Leaves.

Potassium (K) plays important roles in the energy and substance conversion of tobacco metabolism and is also regarded as one of the important indicators of tobacco quality evaluation. However, the K quantitative analytical method shows poor performance in terms of being easy-to-use, cost-effective, and portable. Here, we developed a rapid and simple method for the determination of K content in flue-cured tobacco leaves, including water extraction with 100 °C heating, purification with solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analysis with portable reflectometric spectroscopy based on K test strips. The method development consisted of optimization of the extraction and test strip reaction conditions, screening of SPE sorbent materials, and evaluation of the matrix effect. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was observed in 0.20-0.90 mg/mL with a correlation coefficient >0.999. The extraction recoveries were found to be in the range of 98.0-99.5% with a repeatability and reproducibility of 1.15-1.98% and 2.04-3.26%, respectively. The sample measured range was calculated to be 0.76-3.68% K. Excellent agreement was found in accuracy between the developed reflectometric spectroscopy method and the standard method. The developed method was applied to analyze the K content in different cultivars, and the content varied greatly among the samples with lowest and highest contents for Y28 and Guiyan 5 cultivars, respectively. This study can provide a reliable approach for K analysis, which may become available on-site in a quick on-farm test.

Risk Factors Associated with Failure of Direct Cyclopexy in the Treatment of Small to Moderate Tramatic Cyclodialysis Clefts.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the risk factors associated with failure to correct hypotony using direct cyclopexy in patients with traumatic cyclodialysis cleft. METHODS: In a series of 116 patients with traumatic cyclodialysis who underwent direct cyclopexy at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2008 to August 2018, the clinical correlation between the risk factors and failure of the operation were retrospectively studied, after adjusting for other potential confounders. RESULTS: The curative ratio after one procedure was 82.76%, whereas 20 (17.24%) eyes experienced treatment failure after the first surgery. The degree of anterior chamber angle closure was significantly wider in patients with a failed first surgery than in patients for whom one procedure was a success (p = .046). The risk of failure to achieve closure increased as the angle-closure exceeded 5 clock hour (odds ratio, 10.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.75-61.72; p = .010). An analysis of the recurrent position indicated that an angle closure exceeding 5 clock hour may impede accurate cleft location and is thus associated with an increased risk of failure to correct hypotony. CONCLUSION: Exceeding the threshold of 5 clock hour in anterior chamber angle closure may impede accurate cleft location and, thus, present a higher risk of failure to correct hypotony using direct cyclopexy. These patients may need injection of a viscoelastic agent into the anterior chamber by paracentesis to deepen the anterior chamber and to delineate the clefts using gonioscopy pre- or intraoperatively.

Activation of Toll-like receptor 3 promotes pathological corneal neovascularization by enhancement of SDF-1-mediated endothelial progenitor cell recruitment.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in inflammatory and immunological responses, which are intimately related to neovascularization. However, the precise mode of action of TLR3 in neovascularization still remains ambiguous. In this study, we sought to investigate the role of TLR3 in pathological corneal neovascularization (CNV) using a mouse model of alkali-induced CNV. CNV was attenuated in TLR3-deficient mice, and the absence of TLR3 led to decreased production of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), a well-characterized cytokine that regulates the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to the sites of neo-angiogenic niches in the injured tissues. Topical administration of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)], a synthetic ligand for TLR3, to the injured cornea promoted CNV in wild type (WT) mice but not in TLR3-deficient mice. In addition, the effect of poly (I:C) on WT mice was abolished by addition of SDF-1 receptor antagonist AMD 3100. Furthermore, poly (I:C) treatment in vitro enhanced the migration of EPCs, whereas the enhanced migration was abolished by AMD 3100. These results indicate an essential role of TLR3 signalling in CNV that involves upregulating SDF-1 production and recruiting EPCs to the sites of injury for neovascularization. Thus, targeting the TLR3 signalling cascade may constitute a novel therapeutic approach for treating neovascularization-related diseases.

The Effect of Interleukin 38 on Angiogenesis in a Model of Oxygen-induced Retinopathy.

Interleukin 38 (IL-38) is a novel identified cytokine of IL-1 family in which some members are important in inflammation and angiogenesis. However, the role of IL-38 in regulating angiogenesis is unknown. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of IL-38 on angiogenesis. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) of C57BL/6 J mice was induced by exposure of hyperoxia (75% oxygen) from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12 and then returned to room air. The mice were injected with IL-38. At P17, neovascular region (tufts) and avascular area of the retinas were analyzed. The data showed that administration of IL-38 in vivo inhibited retinal angiogenesis significantly. Furthermore, the addition of IL-38 to the cell cultures attenuated the proliferation, scratch wound healing and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells induced by VEGF significantly. Our findings suggest that IL-38 is an antiangiogenic cytokine in pathophysiological settings and may have therapeutic potential for angiogenesis related diseases.

[Effects of VPA on the Expression of Notch Signaling Pathway in Multiple Myeloma RPMI 8226 Cell Line].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of valproic acid(VPA) on the expression of intracellular domain of Notch1 (ICN1) and Hes1 in multiple myeloma RPMI 8226 cell line. METHODS: Experiments were divided into 4 group: blank control group and groups of cells treated with VPA of different concentration (2, 4, 8 mmol/L), the cell proliferation was detected by MTT method, RT-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expression level of ICN1 and Hes1. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ICN1 and Hes1. RESULTS: The proliferation of the RPMI 8226 cell was obviously inhibited by different concentration of VPA (2, 4, 8 mmol/L) at the same time. The same concentration of VPA was used to treat RPMI8226 cell for different time (24, 48, 72 h), the cell proliferation was obviously inhibited. Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of ICN1 was significantly depressed at different concentration of VPA(2, 4, 8 mmol/L) for 48 h (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of Hes1 was depressed at different concentration 2, 4, 8 mmol/L)of VPA for 48 h (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VPA inhibits the proliferation of the RPMI 8226 cell in a time- and dose- dependent manner; VPA down-regulates the mRNA and protein expression level of ICN1 and Hes1 in RPMI8226 cell; thus VPA might inhibit cell proliferation possibly through the inhibition of Notch signaling pathway in multiple myeloma cells.