Diagnosis and treatment of secondary nephrotic syndrome with rash as the first symptom: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common type of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in adults, accounting for about 20-30% of cases. Although secondary to specific factors, the coexistence of MN and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has been scarcely reported in clinical literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old Chinese male was admitted to the hospital with a generalized pruritic rash with bilateral lower extremity edema, which did not improve significantly after symptomatic treatment. He had undergone renal biopsy, and the diagnosis was thought to be secondary MN (SMN), therefore, we did a lymph node biopsy on the patient and found that MN was complicated with MCL. Soon after, the patient was admitted to the hematology department for a BR chemotherapy regimen (composed of bendamustine 90 mg/m2 BSA (body surface area), rituximab 375 mg/m2 BSA and dexamethasone 5 mg), and during the post-treatment follow-up, both his symptoms and renal function improved. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism underlying the combination of SMN and MCL remains elusive and exceedingly rare, consequently often overlooked in clinical practice. This case serves to offer valuable clinical insights for diagnosis and treatment, while emphasizing the pivotal role of renal pathology in clinical assessment.

A mixed Ce/Eu metal-organic framework for ratiometric detection of Al3+ ion.

As a heavy metal ion, excessive aluminum ions pose a serious threat to human health and the ecological environment. Developing a simple, efficient, and fast detection method to detect the content of aluminum ions is of great significance, especially for ensuring human health and ecological safety. Herein, the mixed rare earth metal-organic framework (Ce0.74Eu0.26TPTC and Ce0.62Eu0.38TPTC) were prepared based on simple ligand 1,1':4',1″-Terphenyl-2',4,4″,5'-tetracarboxylic acid (H4TPTC). The Ce0.74Eu0.26TPTC and Ce0.62Eu0.38TPTC have dual luminescence centers, which can be used as ratio fluorescent probes to detect Al3+ ions, making the detection results more accurate and reliable. Therefore, this work can promote the further development of rare earth-based MOFs in the detection of heavy metal ions.

The connection between autophagy and ferroptosis in AKI: recent advances regarding selective autophagy.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant issue in public health, displaying a high occurrence rate and mortality rate. Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death (PCD), is characterized by iron accumulation and intensified lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have demonstrated the pivotal significance of ferroptosis in AKI caused by diverse stimuli, including ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), sepsis and toxins. Autophagy, a multistep process that targets damaged organelles and macromolecules for degradation and recycling, also plays an essential role in AKI. Previous research has demonstrated that autophagy deletion in proximal tubules could aggravate tubular injury and renal function loss, indicating the protective function of autophagy in AKI. Consequently, finding ways to stimulate autophagy has become a crucial therapeutic strategy. The recent discovery of the role of selective autophagy in influencing ferroptosis has identified new therapeutic targets for AKI and has highlighted the importance of understanding the cross-talk between autophagy and ferroptosis. This study aims to provide an overview of the signaling pathways involved in ferroptosis and autophagy, focusing on the mechanisms and functions of selective autophagy and autophagy-dependent ferroptosis. We hope to establish a foundation for future investigations into the interaction between autophagy and ferroptosis in AKI as well as other diseases.

Water-Robust Zinc-Organic Framework with Mixed Nodes and Its Handy Mixed-Matrix Membrane for Highly Effective Luminescent Detection of Fe3+, CrO42-, and Cr2O72- in Aqueous Solution.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-based composites as luminescent sensors with excellent economic practicability and handy operability have attracted much attention. Herein, we designed and fabricated a porous Zn-based MOF, [Zn(OBA)2(L1)·2DMA]n [1; H2OBA = 4,4'-oxybis(benzoic acid), L1 = 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine, and DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide], with mixed nodes under solvothermal conditions, and the pore size of 5.9 Å was calculated from N2 adsorption isotherms by using a density functional theory model. The as-synthesized compound 1 is stable in different boiling organic solvents and water solutions with a wide pH range of 2-12 and exhibits intense luminescence emission at 360 nm under excitation of 290 nm. Significantly, compound 1 shows high selective detection of Fe3+, CrO42-, and Cr2O72- in aqueous solution even under the interference of other ions. Compound 1 can quickly sense these ions in a short time and has a striking sensitivity toward Fe3+ with an ultralow limit of detection (LOD) of 1.06 µM. The relatively low LODs for CrO42- and Cr2O72- are 3.87 and 2.37 µM, respectively, compared to the reported works. Meanwhile, compound 1 can be reused to detect Fe3+, CrO42-, and Cr2O72- six times by simple regeneration. Considering the practicability, a mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) incorporated compound 1 and poly(methyl methacrylate) has been constructed. This MMM displays quick detection of Fe3+, CrO42-, and Cr2O72- and prompt regeneration by lifting from the analyte. This useful MMM shows a comparable LOD below 4.35 µM for these ions. This work presents a cost-effective Zn-based MOF as a functional platform for simple but useful sensing of Fe3+, CrO42-, and Cr2O72- in aqueous solution.

A Trinuclear Cobalt-Organic Framework: Solvatochromic Sensor towards CH2 Cl2 , and its Derivative as an Anode of Lithium-Ion Batteries with High Performance.

Here, a porous cobalt-organic framework with pillared layer structures, namely [Co3 OBA3 PTD(H2 O)2 ⋅ 2 DMA⋅H2 O]n (1, H2 OBA=4,4'-oxybis(benzoic acid); PTD=6-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), was fabricated by using cobalt trinuclear nodes, low-cost carboxylic linker, and accessible nitrogen heterocyclic ligands. This compound exhibited a highly efficient solvatochromism towards CH2 Cl2 within one minute and can be used 200 times at least. The corresponding dropper detector was assembled as a practical sensor. Meanwhile, the porous Co3 O4 was obtained by a simple but effective annealing treatment. Electrochemical measurements confirm that this Co3 O4 material derived from compound 1 shows high and stable lithium storage capabilities (1081.75 mA h g-1 at 200 mA g-1 after 115 cycles) and excellent rate properties.

Mechanistic insights into N-Bromosuccinimide-promoted synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in water: Reactivity mediated by substrates and solvent.

The mechanism of N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS) promoted synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in water as well as the effective activation modes of NBS was investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Two main mechanisms that differ in the reaction sequence of substrate were explored: styrene with NBS then followed by 2-aminopyridine (M1) or simultaneously with NBS and 2-aminopyridine (M2), and water-assisted M2 is the more favored one. We found that the adding sequence of 2-aminopyridine affects profoundly on the title reaction. Moreover, upon the assistance of water and NBS, the preferential mechanistic scenario involves three major processes: nucleophilic addition, stepwise H-shift and intramolecular cyclization, three-step deprotonation, rather than a classical bromonium ion species. Specifically, the cooperative interaction of NBS and water plays a critical role in the title reaction. Water acts as solvent, reactant, anchoring, stabilizer, and catalyst. NBS promotes the above three processes by the effective forms of Br+ /Br- , succinimide, and its ethanol isomer. Furthermore, noncovalent interactions between catalysts and substrates are responsible for the different reactive activities of M1 and M2. Our results indicate that simultaneous adding of all reactants is recommended toward economical synthesis. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Nano-Sized [MnII 18 ] Metallamacrocycle as a Building Unit to Construct Stable Metal-Organic Frameworks: Effective Gas Adsorption and Magnetic Properties.

A stable hex-type metal-organic framework (MOF, WMOF-1) was constructed by nano-sized [MnII 18 ] metallamacrocycle secondary building unit, being the one with the highest nuclearity of manganese wheel-like node in the microporous MOF. WMOF-1 displays an effective gas adsorption and the antiferromagnetic behavior.

Diverse Structures Based on a Heptanuclear Cobalt Cluster with 0D to 3D Metal-Organic Frameworks: Magnetism and Application in Batteries.

Polymetallic complexes with interesting multifunctions have attracted extensive investigation. Synthesized through the use of different cobalt salt anions and solvents, five complexes, namely [CoII4 CoIII3 (H2 L)3 Cl5 (MeOH)] (1), [CoII4 CoIII3 (H2 L)3 (CH3 COO)4 (HCOO)⋅H2 O]n (2), [CoII4 CoIII3 (H2 L)3 (HCOO)4 (NO3 )⋅2H2 O]n (3), [CoII4 CoIII3 (H2 L)3 (bda)(CH3 COO)4 ⋅2H2 O]n (4), and [CoII4 CoIII3 (H2 L)3 (ipa)(HCOO)3 (dmf)⋅H2 O]n (5) (H6 L=bis-tris propane; BDA=biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid; IPA=isophthalic acid; DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide), based on the heptanuclear {CoII4 CoIII3 } cluster with structures from 0D to 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been solvothermally synthesized. Compound 1 is the first 0D heptanuclear cluster based on H6 L. Compound 2 crystallizes in the chiral space group P21 21 21 and consists of a 1D chiral helical chain. Complex 3 exhibits a 3D network structure. Compound 4 possesses a 1D zigzag-like chain structure. Finally, compound 5 was obtained as a 3D microporous structure. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 display dominant ferrimagnetic interactions whereas compounds 2 and 5 exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions. Moreover, the Co3 O4 prepared by calcining compound 2 presents a reversible capacity of 1122.9 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 after 100 cycles and an excellent rate capability, which suggests that coordination compounds with a 1D chain structure are outstanding precursors for preparing anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

A Weighted Combination Method for Conflicting Evidence in Multi-Sensor Data Fusion.

Dempster⁻Shafer evidence theory is widely applied in various fields related to information fusion. However, how to avoid the counter-intuitive results is an open issue when combining highly conflicting pieces of evidence. In order to handle such a problem, a weighted combination method for conflicting pieces of evidence in multi-sensor data fusion is proposed by considering both the interplay between the pieces of evidence and the impacts of the pieces of evidence themselves. First, the degree of credibility of the evidence is determined on the basis of the modified cosine similarity measure of basic probability assignment. Then, the degree of credibility of the evidence is adjusted by leveraging the belief entropy function to measure the information volume of the evidence. Finally, the final weight of each piece of evidence generated from the above steps is obtained and adopted to modify the bodies of evidence before using Dempster’s combination rule. A numerical example is provided to illustrate that the proposed method is reasonable and efficient in handling the conflicting pieces of evidence. In addition, applications in data classification and motor rotor fault diagnosis validate the practicability of the proposed method with better accuracy.

Effects of the Screw-Access Hole Diameter on the Biomechanical Behaviors of 4 Types of Cement-Retained Implant Prosthodontic Systems and Their Surrounding Cortical Bones: A 3D Finite Element Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect(s) of screw-access hole (SAH) in different diameters on the cement-retained implant prosthodontic systems and surrounding cortical bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty finite element models were divided into 4 groups: 2 types of full-contour (FC) crowns (Y-TZP, gold alloy) and 2 types of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (based on Co-Cr, Au-Pd alloy). For each group, 5 crowns were simulated by varying the diameter of SAH (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm). A vertical load of 200 N and an oblique load of 100 N (45°s) were applied. All models were analyzed with finite element analysis software. RESULTS: The stress on the occlusal surface of crowns was almost unchanged when the SAH was within 0 to 3 mm, whereas it showed an obvious increase when it reached 4 mm. The stress concentration was also suddenly changed from the loading area to the hole margin under vertical loading. As for the screw, a lower stress level was observed in vertical loading when an FC crown with an SAH within 0 to 1 mm was applied. The stress concentration was constantly located at the beginning of the first thread. Stresses of other components remained almost unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: From the aspect of biomechanics, an FC crown with a 1-mm access hole is recommended when a combined cement- and screw-retained crown was used in the posterior region.

Mesoporous silica thin film as effective coating for enhancing osteogenesis through selective protein adsorption and blood clotting.

The role of blood clots in tissue repair has been identified for a long time; however, its participation in the integration between implants and host tissues has attracted attention only in recent years. In this work, a mesoporous silica thin film (MSTF) with either vertical or parallel orientation was deposited on titania nanotubes surface, resulting in superhydrophilic nanoporous surfaces. A proteomic analysis of blood plasma adsorption revealed that the MSTF coating could significantly increase the abundance of acidic proteins and the adsorption of coagulation factors (XII and XI), with the help of cations (Na+, Ca2+) binding. As a result, both the activation of platelets and the formation of blood clots were significantly enhanced on the MSTF surface with more condensed fibrin networks. The two classical growth factors of platelets-derived growth factors-AB and transformed growth factors-ßwere enriched in blood clots from the MSTF surface, which accounted for robust osteogenesis bothin vitroandin vivo. This study demonstrates that MSTF may be a promising coating to enhance osteogenesis by modulating blood clot formation.

Constructing heterogeneous interface between Co3O4 and RuO2 with enhanced electronic regulation for efficient oxygen evolution reaction at large current density.

Exploring effective strategies for developing new high-efficiency catalysts for water splitting is essential for advancing hydrogen energy technology. Herein, Co3O4/RuO2 heterojunction interface is construct through ion exchange reaction and pyrolysis. The as-synthesized Co3O4/RuO2-4 exhibits outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity at the current density of 100 mA cm-2 with a low overpotential of 276 mV, and remarkable stability (maintaining activity for 60 h at 100 mA cm-2). Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that the electrons around the heterogeneous interface transferred from RuO2 to Co3O4, resulting in electron redistribution and optimization of energy barriers for OER intermediates. This unique composite catalyst structure offers a new potential for designing efficient oxygen electrocatalysts at large current density.

One-pot synthesis of 7,9-dialkylpurin-8-one analogues: broad substrate scope.

The one-pot and direct synthesis of 7,9-dialkylpurin-8-one analogues with broad substrate scope has been developed. This copper-catalyzed C-H oxidation reaction could avoid multistep synthesis of quaternary ammonium salts and expand the scope of halogenated alkanes. Moreover, benzimidazole derivatives are also applicable in the catalytic system.

Did the popularization of the Internet impact Chinese citizens' attitude towards foreign countries? An empirical study based on two surveys.

Citizens' attitudes towards foreign countries are considered an important factor in making foreign policy. This also holds in China, where public opinion is given significant weight in foreign policy-making. On the other hand, the media serves as a gateway for citizens to access the outside world, shaping their attitudes towards foreign countries. The rise of the Internet since the mid-2000s has brought about radical changes in the media landscape. The Internet, characterized by its loose control and the strong patriotic sentiment among netizens, is viewed as a breeding ground for popular nationalism. Scholars and analysts worry that the prevalence of online popular nationalism may lead to xenophobia and hostility towards Western countries portrayed as out-group others in this narrative. This study aims to investigate the impact of popular nationalism narratives flooding the Internet on citizens' attitudes, and the differential influence of the Internet compared to traditional mass media. Furthermore, this study also examines the dynamics of citizens' foreign attitudes and the role of media channels in shaping these attitudes. Through a quantitative analysis based on the data collected in 2010 and 2020, the study challenges concerns about xenophobic sentiments resulting from online nationalism, finding them to be unnecessary. Additionally, this study also discovers that, compared to traditional mass media, the influence of the Internet on attitude is more open to change in the international environment.

Bioavailability of Coix Seed Polyphenols in a MKN28/Caco-2 Continuous Transport Model and Their Lipid-Lowering Effects via Modulating Adipocyte Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Cells.

At present, most of the research on coix seed polyphenols (CSPs) focuses on the separation, purification, structure analysis, and biological functions of specific components, and few studies have considered the overall bioavailability and the metabolites that play a role after digestion and absorption and their biological functional activities. In this study, we constructed a MKN28 and Caco-2 cell monolayer continuous transport model (MCTM) to study the bioavailability of CSPs in the digestion and absorption stages of the stomach and small intestine. Using this model, we innovatively divided CSPs into easy-to-digest and hard-to-digest polyphenols and studied their intracellular lipid-lowering function and their influence on human intestinal flora. Transwell experiments showed that ferulic acid, rutin, naringin, arbutin, and syringetin had high transmembrane transport efficiency, especially syringetin. The methylation reaction in the monolayer membrane of Caco-2 cells may be the reason for the higher transport rate of syringetin. Further experiments showed that CPL reduced TG accumulation by more than 50% during 3T3-L1 differentiation and promoted the transformation of adipocytes into brown cells (p < 0.05). Finally, in vitro fermentation experiments showed that CSP_AP can increase the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium of human gut microbiota at the genus level (p < 0.05).

Screening and identification of high bioavailable oligopeptides from rapeseed napin (Brassica napus) protein-derived hydrolysates via Caco-2/HepG2 co-culture model.

Rapeseed napin (Brassica napus) protein-derived hydrolysates (RNPHs, 1-4) are mixtures of peptides, prior to reaching liver tissue and playing their antidiabetic role, at least being absorbed and metabolized by the intestinal barrier. The study aims at screening and identifying high bioavailable rapessed napin-derived oligopeptides via simulated gastrointestinal digestion and absorption. Specifically, RNPHs were obtained using a novel ultrasound-assisted digestive device. The potential capacity of treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated preliminarily via enhancing glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression and translocation. Also, absorbable rapeseed napin-derived oligopeptides were screened and identified in a Caco-2/HepG2 co-culture model using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The results involved mainly two aspects. First, absorbable oligopeptides from RNPH-1 (Molecular weight, Mw ≤ 3 kDa) with the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) were the optimal ones to enhance GLUT4 expression and translocation (P < 0.05). Secondly, oligopeptides (Thr-His-Leu-Pro-Lys (THLPK), His-Leu-Pro-Lys (HLPK), (Ile) Leu-Pro-Lys ((I)LPK), His-Leu-Lys (HLK), and Leu-His-Lys (LHK)), identified from both RNPH-1 and RNPH-2 which significantly enhanced GLUT4 expression and translocation, could be absorbed intact and reached HepG2 cells. These findings indicated that high bioavailable oligopeptides from RNPHs were the potential usefulness to treat T2DM in vitro.

Improvement of gut microbiome and intestinal permeability following splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhotic portal hypertension.

The gut microbiome is an essential component of the intestinal mucosal barrier, critical in regulating intestinal permeability. Microbiome dysbiosis and intestinal permeability changes are commonly encountered conditions in patients with cirrhosis and are closely related to its development and further complications. However, alterations in the gut microbiome and intestinal permeability in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension after undergoing a splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization (SPD) have not been investigated. This study recruited 22 patients who were measured against themselves on the study parameters before and after an SPD, along with 20 healthy controls. Methodologically, fecal samples were collected for gut microbiome analysis by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing, and peripheral blood samples were obtained to examine the liver function and intestinal permeability. This study showed that the community structure of the gut microbiomes in patients before the SPD exhibited obvious differences from those in the healthy control group. They also exhibited a decreased bacterial community richness, increased intestinal permeability, and enhanced inflammation compared with the healthy controls. These issues were further aggravated two weeks after the SPD. There was also evidence of significantly higher abundances of Streptococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Enterococcaceae than those in the healthy control group. However, 12 months after the surgery, 12 of the 16 patient-associated genera recovered, of which 10 reached normal levels. Additionally, the microbiome diversity increased; the bacterial composition was back to a level similar to the healthy controls. Liver function, intestinal permeability, and inflammation levels all improved compared with preoperative levels. Furthermore, correlation analyses indicated that the five recovered bacterial taxa and the Shannon diversity index were correlated with several improved clinical indicators. Altogether, the improvements in the liver function and intestinal permeability in HBV-related cirrhotic patients may be related to the restoration of the gut microbiome after an SPD.

High-dose vitamin C ameliorates cardiac injury in COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac injury is common and associated with poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19. Data are lacking whether high-dose intravenous vitamin C (HIVC) could help to ameliorate myocardial injury in the pandemic. METHODS: The retrospective cohort study included consecutive severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients with cardiac injury receiving symptomatic supportive treatments alone or together with HIVC. Troponin I and inflammatory markers were collected at admission and day 21 during hospitalization from the electronic medical records. RESULTS: The patients (n = 113) were categorized into the ameliorated cardiac injury (ACI) group (n = 70) and the non-ameliorated cardiac injury (NACI) group (n = 43). Overall, fifty-one (45.1%) patients were administered with HIVC, the percentages of patients with HIVC were higher in the ACI group than those in the NACI group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that HIVC was independently associated with the improvement of myocardial injury. Further analysis showed that inflammatory markers levels significantly decreased at day 21 during hospitalization in patients with HIVC therapy compared to those administered with symptomatic supportive treatments alone. Meanwhile, similar results were also observed regarding changes in inflammatory markers levels from baseline to day 21 during hospitalization in the patients treated with HIVC. CONCLUSIONS: HIVC can ameliorate cardiac injury through alleviating hyperinflammation in severe and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Selective chiral symmetry breaking and luminescence sensing of a Zn(ii) metal-organic framework.

The chiral Zn(ii) metal-organic framework [(CH3)2NH2]5[Zn1.5(Zn3O)(TATAT)2]·9DMF·17H2O (1) has been prepared from achiral precursors Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and 5,5',5''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(azanediyl)triisophthalate (H6TATAT) in a solvent mixture of DMF/MeOH/H2O/HCOOH without any chiral sources. In particular, the non-random handedness excess (1P ≫ 1M) was generated and was verified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-state circular dichroism spectroscopy. Furthermore, complex 1 displays high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting Fe3+ and is found to be an excellent chemical sensor for detecting nitro explosives especially 3-nitrophenol.

Tetranuclear cobalt(ii)-isonicotinic acid frameworks: selective CO2 capture, magnetic properties, and derived "Co3O4" exhibiting high performance in lithium ion batteries.

Two new 3D cobalt metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Co4(CH3COO)(in)5(µ3-OH)2]·2H2O (1) and [Co4(SO4)2(in)4(DMF)2]·3DMF (2) (Hin = isonicotinic acid), have been prepared through the anion template method. Compound 1 consists of rare odd-number connected (9-connected) cubane-like SBUs, while compound 2 consists of 8-connected high-symmetry square-planar clusters. Magnetic studies indicate that compound 1 exhibits spin-canting antiferromagnetic ordering, while compound 2 shows antiferromagnetic behavior. At 273 K and 1 bar, compound 1 exhibits a high CO2 selectivity over CH4 and a significant CO2 uptake of 13.6 wt%, which is higher than that of 2 (8.5 wt%). Furthermore, compound 1 was then transformed into ultrasmall Co3O4 nanoparticles via simple but effective annealing treatment. Electrochemical measurements show that the Co3O4 nanospheres derived from compound 1 exhibited high and stable lithium storage properties (1100 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1) and excellent rate capabilities.