ABSTRACT
The generally nonpolar SrTiO3 has attracted more attention recently because of its possibly induced novel polar states and related paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transitions. By using controlled pulsed laser deposition, high-quality, ultrathin, and strained SrTiO3 layers were obtained. Here, transmission electron microscopy and theoretical simulations have unveiled highly polar states in SrTiO3 films even down to one unit cell at room temperature, which were stabilized in the PbTiO3/SrTiO3/PbTiO3 sandwich structures by in-plane tensile strain and interfacial coupling, as evidenced by large tetragonality (â¼1.05), notable polar ion displacement (0.019 nm), and thus ultrahigh spontaneous polarization (up to â¼50 µC/cm2). These values are nearly comparable to those of the strong ferroelectrics as the PbZrxTi1-xO3 family. Our findings provide an effective and practical approach for integrating large strain states into oxide films and inducing polarization in nonpolar materials, which may broaden the functionality of nonpolar oxides and pave the way for the discovery of new electronic materials.
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria presents a significant challenge to the antibiotic treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), while traditional antimicrobial agents often suffer from shortcomings such as poor gastric retention, inadequate alleviation of inflammation, and significant adverse effects on the gut microbiota. Here, a selenized chitosan (CS-Se) modified bismuth-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF@CS-Se) nanodrug is reported that can target mucin through the charge interaction of the outer CS-Se layer to achieve mucosal adhesion and gastric retention. Additionally, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se can respond to gastric acid and pepsin degradation, and the exposed Bi-MOF exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against standard H. pylori as well as clinical antibiotic-resistant strains. Remarkably, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se effectively alleviates inflammation and excessive oxidative stress by regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby exerting therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection. Importantly, this Bi-MOF@CS-Se nanodrug does not affect the homeostasis of gut microbiota, providing a promising strategy for efficient and safe treatment of H. pylori infection.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Helicobacter pylori , Inflammation , Metal-Organic Frameworks , Helicobacter pylori/drug effects , Metal-Organic Frameworks/chemistry , Metal-Organic Frameworks/pharmacology , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects , Animals , Inflammation/drug therapy , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Chitosan/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , MiceABSTRACT
Infection with H. pylori induces chronic gastric inflammation, progressing to peptic ulcer and stomach adenocarcinoma. Macrophages function as innate immune cells and play a vital role in host immune defense against bacterial infection. However, the distinctive mechanism by which H. pylori evades phagocytosis allows it to colonize the stomach and further aggravate gastric preneoplastic pathology. H. pylori exacerbates gastric inflammation by promoting oxidative stress, resisting macrophage phagocytosis, and inducing M1 macrophage polarization. M2 macrophages facilitate the proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells. Various molecular mechanisms governing macrophage function in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection have been identified. In this review, we summarize recent findings of macrophage interactions with H. pylori infection, with an emphasis on the regulatory mechanisms that determine the clinical outcome of bacterial infection.
ABSTRACT
Visible-light active heterogeneous organophotocatalysts have recently gained considerable interest in organic synthetic community. Ordered mesoporous polymers (OMPs) are highly promising as heterogeneous alternative to traditional precious metal/organic dyes-based photocatalysts. Herein, we report the preparation of a benzothiadiazole functionalized OMPs (BT-MPs) through a "bottom-up" strategy. High ordered periodic porosity, large surface area, excellent stability and rational energy-band structures guarantee the high catalytic activity of BT-MPs. As a result, at least six conversions, e.g., the [3+2] cycloaddition of phenols with olefins, the selective oxidation of sulfides, the C-3 thiocyanation of indole and the aminothiocyanation of ß-keto ester, could be promoted smoothly by BT-MPs. In addition, BT-MPs was readily recovered with well maintaining its photocatalytic activity and could be reused for at least eight times. This study highlights the potential of exploiting photoactive OMPs as recyclable, robust and metal-free heterogeneous photocatalysts.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, is superior to traditional proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in acid suppression and has been approved in the treatment of acid-related disorders. Accumulating evidence suggest associations between PPI use and gut microbiota, yet the effect of vonoprazan on GI microbiota is obscure. METHODS: Transgenic FVB/N insulin-gastrin (INS-GAS) mice as a model of gastric cancer (GC) were administered vonoprazan by gavage every other day for 12 weeks. Stomachs were evaluated by histopathology, Ki-67 proliferation index, and inflammatory cytokines. The mucosal and lumen microbiota from stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and feces were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Higher incidence of intestinal metaplasia and epithelial proliferation were observed in the vonoprazan group than that in the control mice. Vonoprazan also elevated the gastric expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Each mice comprised a unique microbiota composition that was consistent across different niches. The structure of GI microbiota changed dramatically after vonoprazan treatment with the stomach being the most disturbed segment. Vonoprazan administration shifted the gut microbiota toward the enrichment of pathogenic Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bilophila, and the loss of commensal Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium. Interestingly, compared to the controls, microbial interactions were weaker in the stomach while stronger in the jejunum of the vonoprazan group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term vonoprazan treatment promoted gastric lesions in male INS-GAS mice, with the disequilibrium of GI microbiome. The clinical application of vonoprazan needs to be judicious particularly among those with high risk of GC.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Pyrroles , Stomach Neoplasms , Sulfonamides , Animals , Pyrroles/administration & dosage , Pyrroles/pharmacology , Sulfonamides/administration & dosage , Sulfonamides/pharmacology , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects , Stomach Neoplasms/microbiology , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Disease Models, Animal , Male , Proton Pump Inhibitors/adverse effects , Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Cytokines/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: ChatGPT is a novel and online large-scale language model used as a source providing up-to-date and useful health-related knowledges to patients and clinicians. However, its performance on Helicobacter pylori infection-related questions remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ChatGPT's responses on H. pylori-related questions compared with that of gastroenterologists during the same period. METHODS: Twenty-five H. pylori-related questions from five domains: Indication, Diagnostics, Treatment, Gastric cancer and prevention, and Gut Microbiota were selected based on the Maastricht VI Consensus report. Each question was tested three times with ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4. Two independent H. pylori experts assessed the responses from ChatGPT, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Simultaneously, a nationwide survey with the same questions was conducted among 1279 gastroenterologists and 154 medical students. The accuracy of responses from ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 was compared with that of gastroenterologists. RESULTS: Overall, both ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 demonstrated high accuracy, with median accuracy rates of 92% for each of the three responses, surpassing the accuracy of nationwide gastroenterologists (median: 80%) and equivalent to that of senior gastroenterologists. Compared with ChatGPT3.5, ChatGPT4 provided more concise responses with the same accuracy. ChatGPT3.5 performed well in the Indication, Treatment, and Gut Microbiota domains, whereas ChatGPT4 excelled in Diagnostics, Gastric cancer and prevention, and Gut Microbiota domains. CONCLUSION: ChatGPT exhibited high accuracy and reproducibility in addressing H. pylori-related questions except the decision for H. pylori treatment, performing at the level of senior gastroenterologists and could serve as an auxiliary information tool for assisting patients and clinicians.
Subject(s)
Helicobacter Infections , Helicobacter pylori , Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Helicobacter Infections/microbiology , Humans , Helicobacter pylori/drug effects , Surveys and Questionnaires , Male , Female , Adult , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in different regions with inconsistent results reported. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of VA dual therapy compared to the currently recommended therapy for eradicating H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed using the following search terms: ("Helicobacter" OR "H. pylori" OR "Hp") AND ("vonoprazan" OR "potassium-competitive acid blocker" OR "P-CAB") AND ("amoxicillin" OR "penicillin") AND ("dual"). The primary outcome was to evaluate the eradication rate according to intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. The secondary outcomes were adverse events and compliance. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies involving 4, 568 patients were included. The pooled eradication rate of VA dual therapy was 85.0% and 90.0% by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis, respectively. The adverse events rate and compliance of VA dual therapy were 17.5% and 96%, respectively. The efficacy of VA dual therapy was superior to proton pump inhibitors-based triple therapy (82.0% vs. 71.4%, p < 0.01) but lower than vonoprazan-containing quadruple therapy (83.1% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.02). 7-day VA dual therapy showed lower eradication rates than 10-day (χ2 = 24.09, p < 0.01) and 14-day VA dual therapy (χ2 = 11.87, p < 0.01). The adverse events rate of VA dual therapy was lower than vonoprazan triple therapy (24.6% vs. 30.9%, p = 0.01) and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (20.5% vs. 47.9%, p < 0.01). No significant difference of compliance was observed between VA dual therapy and each subgroup. CONCLUSION: VA dual therapy, a novel regimen, showed high efficacy as the first-line treatment for H. pylori eradication, which should be optimized before application in different regions.
Subject(s)
Helicobacter Infections , Helicobacter pylori , Humans , Amoxicillin , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Proton Pump Inhibitors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Developing catalysts with high catalytic activity and stability in acidic media is crucial for advancing hydrogen production in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). To this end, a self-supported WO3@RuO2 nanowire structure was grown in situ on a titanium mesh using hydrothermal and ion-exchange methods. Despite a Ru loading of only 0.098 wt %, it achieves an overpotential of 246 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 in acidic 0.5 M H2SO4 while maintaining excellent stability over 50 h, much better than that of the commercial RuO2. After the establishment of the WO3@RuO2 heterostructure, a reduced overpotential of the rate-determining step from M-O* to M-OOH* is confirmed by the DFT calculation. Meanwhile, its enhanced OER kinetics are also greatly improved by this self-supported system in the absence of the organic binder, leading to a reduced interface resistance between active sites and electrolytes. This work presents a promising approach to minimize the use of noble metals for large-scale PEMWE applications.
ABSTRACT
Capturing and separating the greenhouse gas SF6 from nitrogen N2 have significant greenhouse mitigation potential and economic benefits. We used a pore engineering strategy to manipulate the pore environment of the metal-organic framework (MOF) by incorporating organic functional groups (-NH2). This resulted in an enhanced adsorption of SF6 and separation of the SF6/N2 mixture in the MOF. The introduction of amino (-NH2) groups into YTU-29 resulted in a reduction of the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface but an increase in interactions with SF6 within the confined pores. Water-stable YTU-29-NH2 showed a significantly higher SF6 uptake (95.5 cm3/g) than YTU-29 (77.4 cm3/g). The results of the breakthrough experiments show that YTU-29-NH2 has a significantly improved separation performance for SF6/N2 mixtures, with a high SF6 capture of 0.88 mmol/g compared to 0.56 mmol/g by YTU-29. This improvement is due to the suitable pore confinement and accessible -NH2 groups on pore surfaces. Considering its excellent regeneration ability and cycling performance, ultrastable YTU-29-NH2 demonstrates great potential for SF6 capturing and SF6/N2 separation.
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BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was widely used for the removal of esophageal tumors, and post-endoscopic submucosal dissection electrocoagulation syndrome (PEECS) was one of the postoperative adverse events. The aim of this research was to develop and validate a model to predict electrocoagulation syndrome after endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent esophageal ESD in our hospital were retrospectively included. A predictive nomogram was established based on the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, and bootstrapping resampling was used for internal validation. Besides, the clinical usefulness of the nomogram was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve. RESULTS: A total of 552 patients who underwent esophageal ESD were included in the study, and the incidence of PPECS was 12.5% (69/552). Risk factors associated with PEECS (p < 0.1) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the final model included four variables, namely gender, diabetes, tumor size and operation time. The predictive nomogram was constructed based on the above four variables, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.811 (95% CI 0.767-0.855). The calibration curve of the nomogram presented good agreement between the predicted and actual probabilities. DCA showed that the model improved patient outcomes by helping to assess the risk of PEECS in patients compared to an all-or-no treatment strategy. In addition, the clinical impact curve of the model also indicates that the nomogram has a high clinical net benefit. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we have developed a predictive nomogram for PEECS after ESD for esophageal tumors with good predictive accuracy and discrimination. This predictive nomogram can be effectively used to identify high-risk patients with PEECS, which will help clinicians in clinical decision-making and early intervention.
Subject(s)
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection , Esophageal Neoplasms , Humans , Nomograms , Retrospective Studies , Endoscopic Mucosal Resection/adverse effects , Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology , Electrocoagulation/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The worldwide incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing, but the dominant etiology of AP may vary by country. Mixed etiologies are involved in the increase in the number of AP patients. AIMS: This study was to analyze the etiological changes and prognosis of AP patients and explore the prognosis of AP patients with mixed etiologies. METHODS: Using a retrospective analysis method, AP patients hospitalized from January 2007 to December 2021 were selected from a pancreatic center in Nanchang, China. Trends in the main etiologies were analyzed, and the severity and prognosis of different etiologies were compared. RESULTS: A total of 10,071 patients were included. Cholelithiasis (56.0%), hyperlipidemia (25.3%), and alcohol (6.5%) were the top three etiologies. The proportion of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) showed a decreasing trend, while the proportion of hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) and alcoholic AP showed an increasing trend (all ptrend < 0.001). The incidence of organ failure and necrotizing pancreatitis was higher in patients with HTGP than in those with AP induced by other etiologies (all p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality among patients with different etiologies. Patients with AP due to a mixed hypertriglyceridemia-alcoholic etiology had higher ICU admission rates and were more severe than those with AP induced by other mixed etiologies. CONCLUSION: In the past 15 years, the proportion of ABP has trended downward, while those of HTGP and alcoholic AP have risen. Among patients with mixed etiologies, those with a mixed hypertriglyceridemia-alcoholic etiology had a worse prognosis.
Subject(s)
Hypertriglyceridemia , Pancreatitis, Alcoholic , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Acute Disease , Hypertriglyceridemia/epidemiology , PrognosisABSTRACT
Acute lung injury (ALI) is still associated with high mortality. Growing evidence suggests that Club Cell Protein 16 (CC16) plays a protective role against ALI. However, the doses of recombinant CC16 (rCC16) used in preclinical studies are supraphysiological for clinical applications. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanovesicles endogenously generated by mammalian cells. Our study demonstrated that CC16 is released via small EVs and EV-encapsulated CC16 (sEV-CC16) and has anti-inflammatory activities, which protect mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or bacteria-induced ALI. Additionally, sEV-CC16 can activate the DNA damage repair signaling pathways. Consistent with this activity, we observed more severe DNA damage in lungs from Cc16 knockout (KO) than wild-type (WT) mice. Mechanistically, we elucidated that CC16 suppresses nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling activation by binding to heat shock protein 60 (HSP60). We concluded that sEV-CC16 could be a potential therapeutic agent for ALI by inhibiting the inflammatory and DNA damage responses by reducing NF-κB signaling.
Subject(s)
Acute Lung Injury , NF-kappa B , Mice , Animals , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Lung/metabolism , Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy , Signal Transduction , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , MammalsABSTRACT
Antiferroelectrics characterized by voltage-driven reversible transitions between antiparallel and parallel polarity are promising for cutting-edge electronic and electrical power applications. Wide-ranging explorations revealing the macroscopic performances and microstructural characteristics of typical antiferroelectric systems have been conducted. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully unraveled, which depends largely on the atomistic processes. Herein, based on atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the deterministic phase transition pathway along with the underlying lattice-by-lattice details in lead zirconate thin films was elucidated. Specifically, we identified a new type of ferrielectric-like dipole configuration with both angular and amplitude modulations, which plays the role of a precursor for a subsequent antiferroelectric to ferroelectric transformation. With the participation of the ferrielectric-like phase, the phase transition pathways driven by the phase boundary have been revealed. We provide new insights into the consecutive phase transformation in low-dimensional lead zirconate, which thus would promote potential antiferroelectric-based multifunctional devices.
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Constructing structural materials from sustainable raw materials is considered an efficient way to reduce the potential threat posed by plastics. Nevertheless, challenges remain regarding combining excellent mechanical and thermal properties, especially the balance of strength and toughness. Here, we report a 3D nanofiber network interfacial design strategy to strengthen and toughen all-natural structural materials simultaneously. The introduced protonated chitosan at the interface between the surface oxidized 3D nanonetwork of bacterial cellulose forms the interfacial interlocking structure of nanonetworks, achieving a robust physical connection and providing enough physical contact sites for chemical crosslinking. The obtained sustainable structural material successfully integrates excellent mechanical and thermal properties on the nanoscale of cellulose nanofibers, such as light weight, high strength, and superior thermal expansion coefficient. The relationship between structural design and comprehensive mechanical property improvement is analyzed in detail, providing a universal perspective to design sustainable high-performance structural materials from nanoscale building blocks.
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Stress causes a rapid spike in norepinephrine (NE) levels, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction. NE reduces the expression of tight junctions (TJs) and aggravates intestinal mucosal damage, but the regulatory mechanism is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of stress-associated duodenal hyperpermeability by NE. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability, transepithelial resistance, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis were used in water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) rats in this study. The results indicate that the duodenal permeability, degradation of TJs, mucosal NE, and ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR) increased in WIRS rats. The duodenal intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels were decreased, whereas the expression of ß-arrestin 2 negatively regulates G protein-coupled receptors signaling, was significantly increased. Src recruitment was mediated by ß-arrestin; thus, the levels of Src kinase activation were enhanced in WIRS rats. NE depletion, ß2-AR, or ß-arrestin 2 blockade significantly decreased mucosal permeability and increased TJs expression, suggesting improved mucosal barrier function. Moreover, NE induced an increased duodenal permeability of normal rats with activated ß-arrestin 2/Src signaling, which was significantly inhibited by ß2-AR blockade. The present findings demonstrate that the enhanced NE induced an increased duodenal permeability in WIRS rats through the activated ß2-AR/ß-arrestin 2/Src pathway. This study provides novel insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of NE on the duodenal mucosal barrier and a new target for treating duodenal ulcers induced by stress.
Subject(s)
Duodenum , Norepinephrine , Animals , Rats , beta-Arrestin 2/genetics , beta-Arrestin 2/metabolism , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Water/metabolism , Stress, Physiological , Duodenum/pathology , Duodenum/physiologyABSTRACT
Mammalian genomes encode thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs are extensively expressed in various immune cells. The lncRNAs have been reported to be involved in diverse biological processes, including the regulation of gene expression, dosage compensation, and genomic imprinting. However, very little research has been conducted to explore how they alter innate immune responses during host-pathogen interactions. In this study, we found that a lncRNA, named long noncoding RNA, embryonic stem cells expressed 1 (Lncenc1), was strikingly increased in mouse lungs after gram-negative (G-) bacterial infection or exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Interestingly, our data indicated that Lncenc1 was upregulated in macrophages but not in primary epithelial cells (PECs) or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). The upregulation was also observed in human THP-1 and U937 macrophages. Besides, Lncenc1 was highly induced during ATP-induced inflammasome activation. Functionally, Lncenc1 showed proinflammatory effects in macrophages as demonstrated by increased expressions of cytokine and chemokines, as well as enhanced NF-κB promoter activity. Overexpression of Lncenc1 promoted the releases of IL-1ß and IL-18, and Caspase-1 activity in macrophages, suggesting a role in inflammasome activation. Consistently, knockdown of Lncenc1 inhibited inflammasome activation in LPS-treated macrophages. Moreover, knockdown of Lncenc1 using antisense oligo (ASO)-loaded exosomes (EXO) attenuated LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice. Similarly, Lncenc1 deficiency protects mice from bacteria-induced lung injury and inflammasome activation. Taken together, our work identified Lncenc1 as a modulator of inflammasome activation in macrophages during bacterial infection. Our study suggested that Lncenc1 could serve as a therapeutic target for lung inflammation and injury.
Subject(s)
Pneumonia , RNA, Long Noncoding , Humans , Animals , Mice , Inflammasomes/metabolism , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Pneumonia/metabolism , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , Macrophage Activation , Mammals/genetics , Mammals/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies have reported abnormal gut microbiota or circulating metabolome associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), but it remains a challenge to capture the CRC-relevant features consistent across geographic regions. This is particularly the problem for metabolic traits of CRC because the analyses generally use different platforms and laboratory methods, which poses a barrier to cross-dataset examination. In light of this, we sought to elucidate the microbial and metabolic signatures of CRC with broad population relevance. METHODS: In this integrated metagenomic (healthy controls [HC], n = 91; colorectal adenoma [CRA], n = 63; CRC, n = 71) and metabolomic (HC, n = 34; CRA, n = 31; CRC, n = 35) analysis, CRC-associated features and microbe-metabolite correlations were first identified from a Shanghai cohort. A gut microbial panel was trained in the in-house cohort and cross-validated in 7 published metagenomic datasets of CRC. The in-house metabolic connections to the cross-cohort microbial signatures were used as evidence to infer serum metabolites with potentially external relevance. In addition, a combined microbe-metabolite panel was produced for diagnosing CRC or adenoma. RESULTS: CRC-associated alterations were identified in the gut microbiome and serum metabolome. A composite microbe-metabolite diagnostic panel was developed and yielded an area under the curve of 0.912 for adenoma and 0.994 for CRC. We showed that many CRC-associated metabolites were linked to cross-cohort gut microbiome signatures of the disease, including CRC-enriched leucylalanine, serotonin, and imidazole propionate; and CRC-depleted perfluorooctane sulfonate, 2-linoleoylglycerol (18:2), and sphingadienine. CONCLUSIONS: We generated cross-cohort metagenomic signatures of CRC, some of which linked to in-house CRC-associated serum metabolites. The microbial and metabolic shifts may have wide population relevance.
Subject(s)
Adenoma , Colorectal Neoplasms , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Adenoma/diagnosis , China , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Feces , Humans , Metabolomics/methods , SerotoninABSTRACT
Urea-assisted hybrid water splitting is a promising technology for hydrogen (H2 ) production, but the lack of cost-effective electrocatalysts hinders its extensive application. Herein, it is reported that Nitrogen-doped Co9 S8 /Ni3 S2 hybrid nanosheet arrays on nickel foam (N-Co9 S8 /Ni3 S2 /NF) can act as an active and robust bifunctional catalyst for both urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which could drive an ultrahigh current density of 400 mA cm-2 at a low working potential of 1.47 V versus RHE for UOR, and gives a low overpotential of 111 mV to reach 10 mA cm-2 toward HER. Further, a hybrid water electrolysis cell utilizing the synthesized N-Co9 S8 /Ni3 S2 /NF electrode as both the cathode and anode displays a low cell voltage of 1.40 V to reach 10 mA cm-2 , which can be powered by an AA battery with a nominal voltage of 1.5 V. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations decipher that N-doped heterointerfaces can synergistically optimize Gibbs free energy of hydrogen and urea, thus accelerating the catalytic kinetics of HER and UOR. This work significantly advances the development of the promising cobalt-nickel-based sulfide as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for energy-saving electrolytic H2 production and urea-rich innocent wastewater treatment.
ABSTRACT
Glycerol-assisted hybrid water electrolysis is a potential strategy to achieve energy-efficient hydrogen production. However, the design of an efficient catalyst for the specific reaction is still a key challenge, which suffers from the barrier of regulating the adsorption characteristics of distinctive intermediates in different reactions. Herein, a novel rationale that achieves selective adsorption behavior modulation for self-supported nickel selenide electrode by heteroatom implantation and heterointerface construction through electrodeposition is developed, which can realize nichetargeting optimization on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), respectively. Specifically, the prepared Mo-doped Ni3 Se2 electrode exhibits superior catalytic activity for HER, while the NiSe-Ni3 Se2 electrode exhibits high Faradaic efficiency (FE) towards formate production for GOR. A two-electrode electrolyzer exhibits superb activity that only needs an ultralow cell voltage of 1.40 V to achieve 40 mA cm-2 with a high FE (97%) for formate production. Theoretical calculation unravels that the introduction of molybdenum contributes to the deviation of the d-band center of Ni3 Se2 from the Fermi level, which is conducive to hydrogen desorption. Meanwhile, the construction of the heterojunction induces the distortion of the surface structure of nickel selenide, which exposes highly active nickel sites for glycerol adsorption, thus contributing to the excellent electrocatalytic performance.
ABSTRACT
Long-lived polymeric room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have drawn more attention due to their convenient preparation process and equally efficient phosphorescence performance in recent years. As the polymer matrix is sensitive to air and humidity, some non-covalent interactions in the matrix are easily decomposed in water or air, which means that it is difficult for this material to be stored stably for a long time in the atmospheric environment or under harsh conditions. In this work, polymer powder mBPipQ contains aromatic and piperidine rings that are designed and synthesized successfully. Then the polymer is uniformly dispersed into epoxy resin matrix to form long-lived polymeric RTP material with efficient afterglow properties. The stiff backbone structure of mBPip and dense molecular arrangement of epoxy resin provide a rigid environment to stabilize triplet excitons, the RTP performance is greatly enhanced. The lifetime of mBPipQ in epoxy resin is 2â times higher than that of small molecule chromophore in that one. Interestingly, after soaking in strong acid or alkali solution for 10â days, the material can still emit stable and efficient long-lived phosphorescence. It is thanks to the hard matrix after full curing, which can provide a protective layer to prevent external quenchers from interfering with phosphorescence emission. Utilizing the efficient phosphorescence emission and excellent abominable-solvent resistance of this RTP material, multilevel information encryption has been successfully demonstrated. This work broadens the application scope of polymeric RTP materials in harsh environments and provides a new idea for achieving efficient RTP emission.