Longitudinal assessment of the relationship between frailty and social relationships among Japanese older adults: a random intercept cross-lagged panel model.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the bidirectional association between frailty and social relationships in older adults while distinguishing between interpersonal and intrapersonal effects. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults was conducted in Japan in three waves spanning six years with follow-ups in every three years. Random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to explore temporal associations between frailty and social relationships. RESULTS: Data for 520 participants (mean age 73.02 [SD 6.38] years, 56.7% women) were analyzed. Across individuals, frailty was associated with social relationships (ß = -0.514, p < 0.001). At the interpersonal level, frailty was cross-sectionally associated with social relationships separately at T1(ß = -0.389, p < 0.01), T2 (ß = -0.343, p < 0.001) and T3 (ß = -0.273, p < 0.05). Moreover, social relationships were associated with subsequent increases in symptoms of frailty in all measurement waves (ß = -0.332, p < 0.001; ß = -0.169, p < 0.01) and vice versa (ß = -0.149, p < 0.05; ß = -0.292, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that frailty was associated with lower levels of social relationships. Frailty improvement programs can be combined with interventions to enhance social relationships, which will be beneficial in preventing frailty. The results emphasize the importance of combining clinical treatments of frailty with interventions to improve social relationships.

Long-circulating doxorubicin and Schizandrin A liposome with drug-resistant liver cancer activity: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Co-loading doxorubicin (DOX) and Schizandrin A (SchA) long-circulating liposome (SchA-DOX-Lip) have been confirmed to have good antitumor activity in vitro. However, in vivo pharmacodynamics, targeting, safety, and mechanism of action of SchA-DOX-Lip still need to be further verified. We investigated the tumor inhibition effect, targeting, safety evaluation, and regulation of tumor apoptosis-related proteins of the SchA-DOX-Lip. MTT assay was used to investigate the inhibitory effect of SchA-DOX-Lip on CBRH7919 cells. The drug uptake of CBRH7919 cells was observed by inverted fluorescence microscope. The tumor-bearing nude mice models of CBRH7919 were established, and the anti-tumor effect of SchA-DOX-Lip in vivo was evaluated by tumor biological observation, H&E staining, and TUNEL staining. The distribution and targeting of SchA-DOX-Lip in nude mice models were investigated by small animal imaging and tissue distribution experiment of CBRH7919. The biosafety of SchA-DOX-Lip was evaluated by blood routine parameters, biochemical indexes, and H&E staining. The expression of tumor-associated apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3) was detected by immunohistochemistry anvd western blotting. The results showed that SchA-DOX-Lip had cytotoxicity to CBRH7919 cells which effectively inhibited the proliferation of CBRH7919 cells, improved the uptake of drugs by CBRH7919 cells and the targeting effect of drugs on tumor site. H&E staining and biochemical detection results showed that SchA-DOX-Lip had high biosafety and did not cause serious damage to normal tissues. Western-blotting and TUNEL staining results showed that SchA-DOX-Lip could improve the regulatory effect of drugs on tumor apoptosis proteins. It was demonstrated that SchA-DOX-Lip had high safety and strong tumor inhibition effects, providing a new method for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Production of Diethyl Maleate via Oxidative Depolymerization of Organosolv Lignin from Wheat Stalk over the Cooperative Acidic Ionic Liquid Pair.

Lignin, the second largest component of biomass, is considered as an important alternative source of fossil reserves for the production of fuels and chemicals. Here, we developed a novel method to oxidatively degrade organosolv lignin into value-added four-carbon esters, particularly diethyl maleate (DEM), with the cooperative catalyst consisting of 1-(3-sulfobutyl) triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([BSTEA]HSO4) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ferric chloride ([BMIM]Fe2Cl7). Under optimized conditions (1.00 MPa initial O2 pressure, 160 °C, 5 h), the lignin aromatic ring was effectively cleaved by oxidation to form DEM with a yield of 15.85% and a selectivity of 44.25% in the presence of the synergistic catalyst of [BMIM]Fe2Cl7-[BSMIM]HSO4 (1/3, mol/mol). The structure and composition analysis of lignin residues and liquid products confirmed that the aromatic units in lignin were effectively and selectively oxidized. Furthermore, the catalytic oxidation of lignin model compounds was explored for obtaining a possible reaction pathway of oxidative cleavage of lignin aromatic units to DEM. This study provides a promising alternative method for the production of traditional petroleum-based chemicals.

Producing Lignin and Ethyl Levulinate from Wheat Stalk Using 1-(3-Sulfobutyl) Triethylammonium Hydrogen Sulfate and USY Zeolite.

The facile, green, and efficient strategy for the separation of lignin from straw and subsequent production of value-added chemicals is crucial to the current utilization of straw. Herein, up to 23.72% of lignin was isolated from wheat stalk over cheap and green 1-(3-sulfobutyl) triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([BSTEA]HSO4) in aqueous ethanol (Vethanol: Vwater = 4:1). The acquired lignin was verified as a p-hydroxyphenyl-guaiacyl-syringyl type, which had a narrower molecular weight distribution, better thermal stability, and higher purity compared with those of the lignin obtained using 1-methyl-3-(4-sulfobutyl)-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate and 1-(3-sulfobutyl) pyridinium hydrogen sulfate. Moreover, a carbohydrate-rich liquid containing [BSTEA]HSO4 was obtained by water removal from the waste liquid after lignin separation and further converted to ethyl levulinate (EL) by a one-pot process in the presence of inexpensive and stable USY zeolite. The yield of EL reached 30.23% at 200 °C for 60 min over the presence of 40% [BSTEA]HSO4 and 60% USY zeolite. Under optimal conditions, the yields of lignin and EL can respectively reach 83.89 and 72.28% of those catalyzed by a fresh catalyst after five cycles. In short, the above-mentioned methods present a green, economic, and efficient route for the extraction of lignin and further treatment of the liquid waste generated during the extraction process.