Matched Redox Kinetics on Triazine-Based Carbon Nitride/Ni(OH)2 for Stoichiometric Overall Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion.

Mismatched reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation is the main obstacle limiting the overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion. Here, a molten salt strategy is used to construct tubular triazine-based carbon nitride (TCN) with more adsorption sites and stronger activation capability. Ni(OH)2 nanosheets are then grown over the TCN to trigger a proton-coupled electron transfer for a stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion via "3CO2 + 2H2O = CH4 + 2CO + 3O2." TCN reduces the energy barrier of H2O dissociation to promote H2O oxidation to O2 and supply sufficient protons to Ni(OH)2, whereby the CO2 conversion is accelerated due to the enhanced proton-coupled electron transfer process enabled by the sufficient proton supply from TCN. This work highlights the importance of matching the reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation by proton-coupled electron transfer on stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion.

Dexmedetomidine promotes the functional recovery of mice after acute ischemic stroke via activation of the a2-adrenoceptor.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a well-known acute cerebrovascular disease characterized by high disability, morbidity, and recurrence rates with no effective treatments. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective a2-adrenoceptor agonist used in anaesthesiology and pain management, has been found to exhibit neuroprotective effects in various diseases. However, its role in IS and the underlying mechanisms remains to be determined. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective role of DEX in the recovery of mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Mice were used to establish the animal model, and then DEX was injected. Behavioural tests (neurological function assessments, grip test, and rotarod test), brain water content measurement, ELISA, and measurement of oxidative stress were performed. DEX activated a2-adrenoceptor and resulted in reduced brain injury, as indicated by the decreased brain water content, S100 Calcium Binding Protein B (S100B) content, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) content, whilst also inhibiting oxidative stress, as indicated by the increased total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels, and decreased malondialdehyde and glutathione oxidized levels. Neuroinflammation was also reduced as indicated by the decrease in IFN-g, IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a, and MMP levels, improved the recovery of neurological function, as indicated by the decreased neurological function score and mNSS, and increased grip strength and rotarod performance in MCAO mice. These combined results suggest that DEX may be a novel strategy for the treatment of IS.

Association between plasma circulating tumor DNA and the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The application of liquid biopsy analysis utilizing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained prominence as a biomarker in specific cancer types. Nevertheless, the correlation between ctDNA and the prognostic outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains a subject of controversy. This meta-analysis aims to assess the correlation between ctDNA and the prognosis of EC patients. METHODS: The authors systematically explored Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Database to identify studies reporting on the prognostic value of ctDNA in EC patients before November 2023. The primary outcome involved the determine of associations between ctDNA with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS)/recurrence-free survival (RFS), as well asprogression-free survival (PFS) among EC patients. Secondary outcomes encompassed a detailed subgroup analysis in the setting of EC, including parameters such as detection time, histological subtypes, treatment modalities, regions, anatomic locations, and detection methods. Publication bias was assessed utilizing Begg's test, Egger's test, and funnel plots. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by systematically excluding individual studies to evaluate the stability of the results. RESULTS: A total of 1203 studies were initially screened, from which 13 studies underwent further analysis, encompassing 604 patients diagnosed with EC. The comprehensive pooled analysis indicated a significant association between the detection of ctDNA and poor OS (HR: 3.65; 95% CI: 1.97-6.75, P <0.001), DFS/RFS (HR: 6.08; 95% CI: 1.21-30.50, P <0.001), and PFS (HR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.94-4.16, P <0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that ctDNA remained a consistent negative predictor of OS when stratified by different detection time, histological subtypes, regions, anatomic locations, and detection methods. Furthermore, subgroup analysis stratified by regions and study types demonstrated an association between ctDNA detection and poor PFS in EC patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate plasma ctDNA may serve as robust prognostic markers for OS, DFS/RFS, and PFS among EC patients. This finding suggests that plasma ctDNA could offer a highly effective approach for risk stratification and personalized medicine.