Interface Engineering of PdPt Ultrafine Ethanol Electro-Oxidation Nanocatalysts by Bacterial Soluble Extracellular Polymeric Substances (s-EPS) to Break through Sabatier Principle.

Unsatisfactory performance of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) catalysts hinders the application of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), while traditional alloy catalysts (like PdPt) is cursed by Sabatier principle due to countable active site types. However, bacterial soluble extracellular polymeric substances (s-EPS) owning abundent functional groups may help breacking through it by contrusting different active sites on PdPt and inducing them to play synergy effect, which is called interface engineering. Using s-EPS to engineer catalysts is more green and consumes lower energy compared to chemical reagents. Herein, PdPt alloy nanoparticles (≈2.1 nm) are successfully in situ synthesized by/on s-EPS of Bacillus megaterium, an ex-holotype. Tryptophan residuals are proved as the main reductant. In EOR, PdPt@s-EPS shows higher activity (3.89 mA cm-2) than Pd@s-EPS, Pt@s-EPS, Pt/C and most reported akin catalysts. Its stability and durability are excellent, too. DFT modelling further demonstrates that, interface engineering by s-EPS breaks through Sabatier principle, by the synergy of diverse sites owning different degrees of d-p orbital hybridization. This work not only makes DEFCs closer to practice, but provides a facile and green strategy to design more catalysts.

Combined gestational age and serum fucose for early prediction of risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: As the predominant complication in preterm infants, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) necessitates accurate identification of infants at risk and expedited therapeutic interventions for an improved prognosis. This study evaluates the potential of Monosaccharide Composite (MC) enriched with environmental information from circulating glycans as a diagnostic biomarker for early-onset BPD, and, concurrently, appraises BPD risk in premature neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study incorporated 234 neonates of ≤32 weeks gestational age. Clinical data and serum samples, collected one week post-birth, were meticulously assessed. The quantification of serum-free monosaccharides and their degraded counterparts was accomplished via High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Logistic regression analysis facilitated the construction of models for early BPD diagnosis. The diagnostic potential of various monosaccharides for BPD was determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, integrating clinical data for enhanced diagnostic precision, and evaluated by the Area Under the Curve (AUC). RESULTS: Among the 234 neonates deemed eligible, BPD development was noted in 68 (29.06%), with 70.59% mild (48/68) and 29.41% moderate-severe (20/68) cases. Multivariate analysis delineated several significant risk factors for BPD, including gestational age, birth weight, duration of both invasive mechanical and non-invasive ventilation, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), pregnancy-induced hypertension, and concentrations of two free monosaccharides (Glc-F and Man-F) and five degraded monosaccharides (Fuc-D, GalN-D, Glc-D, and Man-D). Notably, the concentrations of Glc-D and Fuc-D in the moderate-to-severe BPD group were significantly diminished relative to the mild BPD group. A potent predictive capability for BPD development was exhibited by the conjunction of gestational age and Fuc-D, with an AUC of 0.96. CONCLUSION: A predictive model harnessing the power of gestational age and Fuc-D demonstrates promising efficacy in foretelling BPD development with high sensitivity (95.0%) and specificity (94.81%), potentially enabling timely intervention and improved neonatal outcomes.

Effects of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on homocysteine and vitamin D in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between serum vitamin D, homocysteine and the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Study design We retrospectively compared the serum homocysteine and vitamin D levels and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in 104 PCOS patients and 104 controls. Parameters related to PCOS were statistically analysed. RESULTS: Comparative analysis revealed that women with PCOS had significantly greater serum homocysteine levels (P = 0.002) and lower vitamin D concentrations (P = 0.040) than controls. The distribution frequency of the MTHFR C677T genotype did not significantly differ between the PCOS group and the control group. (P > 0.05). In the PCOS group, the serum level of homocysteine in the TT group was significantly greater than that in the CT (P = 0.003) and CC (P = 0.002) groups and the level of vitamin D in the TT group was significantly less than that in the CC (P < 0.001) and CT (P = 0.172) groups. The results were similar when the PCOS and control groups were divided according to whether they had insulin resistance. Vitamin D levels were significantly negatively correlated with homocysteine levels in all PCOS patients (r = -0.281, P = 0.004), similarly, vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with homocysteine levels in the CC, CT and TT of PCOS patients. According to multivariate analysis, vitamin D concentration was an independent risk factor for hyperhomocysteinaemia (adjusted OR 1.372, 95 % CI: 1.100-1.712). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in the distributions of MTHFR C677T genotypes between the PCOS and control groups but these genotypes affected the patients' serum homocysteine and vitamin D concentrations. Women with the TT genotype have significantly lower vitamin D levels and higher homocysteine levels than women with the CC and CT genotypes. However, because of the limitations of this investigation, large-sample, high-quality prospective studies are needed to further verify these results in the future.

X-linked intellectual developmental disorder with onset of neonatal heart failure: A case report and literature review.

X-linked intellectual developmental disorder is a rare X-linked genetic disease, manifested as heart disease, intellectual impairment, and developmental disorders. We report a male infant who presented with dyspnea after birth. Physical examination on admission revealed poor responsiveness, deep eye sockets, a small mandible, abnormalities of the outer ears, and reduced limb muscle tone. The child was moaning with shortness of breath and a positive three-concave sign without pulmonary rales. The heart sounds were weak with a grade 2/6 diastolic heart murmur. Echocardiography showed an enlarged heart with increased trabeculae in the left ventricular muscle wall. X-linked mental retardation syndrome type 34(MRXS34, OMIM# 300967) was diagnosed after exome sequencing showed a c.1131G > A hemizygous variant in the NONO gene. After timely therapy including respiratory support, cardiac glycosides, and diuresis, the child's condition improved and he was discharged at one month of age. A literature review showed that, to date, 22 live births with X-linked mental retardation have been reported. The NONO-related phenotype can be summarized as a neurological and cardiac developmental disorder, which may be accompanied by multisystem malformations. The present case enriches the knowledge of X-linked intellectual developmental syndromes.

Development of environmentally friendly glyoxal-based adhesives with outstanding water repellency utilizing wheat gluten protein.

To reduce the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from formaldehyde-based adhesives at the source, the use of low-toxicity and biodegradable glyoxal instead of formaldehyde for the preparation of novel urea-glyoxal resins is a simple and promising strategy. The limited water resistance and adhesive strength of the new urea-glyoxal resins (UG) restrict their extensive application. This study prepared a high-performance, water-resistant WP-UG wood adhesive by combining UG prepolymer with wheat gluten protein (WP). FTIR, XRD, and XPS confirmed the existence of a chemical reaction between the two components, and thermal analysis showed that WP-UG plywood had better thermal stability. Evaluation of the gluing properties revealed that the dry and wet strengths of WP-UG adhesive bonded plywood reached 1.39 and 0.87 MPa, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of UG resin by 35 % and 314 %. The bond strength increased from 0 to 0.89 MPa after immersion in water at 63 °C for 3 h. The results indicated that the introduction of WP promoted the formation of a more complex and tightly packed crosslinking network and developed a glyoxal-based adhesive with high bond strength and water resistance. This study provides a new green pathway for novel urea-formaldehyde binders to replace harmful formaldehyde-based binders, which helps to increase their potential application value in the wood industry.

Gemini cationic surfactant of 1, 3-bis (dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) propane as a novel excellent inhibitor for the corrosion of cold rolled steel in HCl solution.

Gemini surfactants have become the research focus of novel excellent inhibitors because of their special structure (two amphiphilic moieties covalently connected at head group by a spacer) and excellent surface properties. It is proved by theoretical calculations that 1, 3-bis (dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) propane (BDDACP) molecules can perform electron transfer with Fe (110). And it has a small fraction free volume, thus greatly reducing the diffusion and migration degree of corrosive particles. The potentiodynamic polarization curve showed that coefficients of cathodic and anodic reaction less than 1 and polarization resistance increased to 1602.9 Ω cm-2 after added BDDACP, confirming that BDDACP significantly inhibited the corrosion reaction by occupying the active site. The electrochemical impedance spectrum of imperfect semi-circle shows that the system resistance increases and double layer capacitance after added BDDACP. Weight loss tests also confirmed that BDDACP forms protective film by occupying the active sites on steel surface, and the maximum inhibition efficiency is 92 %. Comparison of the microscopic morphology showed that steel surface roughness was significantly reduced after added BDDACP. The results of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry show that steel surface contains some elements from BDDACP, which confirms the adsorption of BDDACP on steel surface.

PSIP1 promotes gefitinib resistance in lung adenocarcinoma by inducing the expression of WASF3 and its downstream ITGB3/AKT signaling.

BACKGROUND: Gefitinib (GR), a representative drug of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), is a key pillar in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but drug resistance is universal. Identifying the potential factors of drug resistance to GR is essential to treat patients with EGFR mutant LUAD. METHODS: The GR-resistant LUAD cells were established and confirmed by MTT assay. The effects of PC4 and SRSF1 interacting protein 1 (PSIP1) on GR-resistant cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo were detected by colony formation, flow cytometry, tumor-bearing animal model, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL staining. Western blotting and qPCR were used to determine the expression of relevant markers. The effect of PSIP1 on the promoter region of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 3 (WASF3) was detected by the dual-luciferase assay. The interaction between PSIP1 and RNA polymerase II was evaluated using ChIP-qPCR and Co-IP assays. RESULTS: PSIP1 was highly enriched in GR-resistant LUAD cells. Downregulation of PSIP1 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-resistant cells and promoted apoptosis. WASF3 was shown to have similar effects as PSIP1 in promoting drug resistance in LUAD cells. PSIP1 promoted the transcriptional activity of WASF3, which was achieved by increasing RNA polymerase II recruitment on the WASF3 promoter. Furthermore, PSIP1 positively regulated the expression of the pro-EGFR-TKI resistance factor integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3). CONCLUSION: Our work suggests that PSIP1 promotes resistance to GR in LUAD cells by inducing the expression of WASF3 and its downstream regulator ITGB3.

Wood-converted porous carbon decorated with MIL-101(Fe) derivatives for promoting photo-Fenton degradation of ciprofloxacin.

In response to the escalating concerns over antibiotics in aquatic environments, the photo-Fenton reaction has been spotlighted as a promising approach to address this issue. Herein, a novel heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst (Fe3O4/WPC) with magnetic recyclability was synthesized through a facile two-step process that included in situ growth and subsequent carbonization treatment. This catalyst was utilized to expedite the photocatalytic decomposition of ciprofloxacin (CIP) assisted by H2O2. Characterization results indicated the successful anchoring of MIL-101(Fe)-derived spindle-like Fe3O4 particles in the multi-channeled wood-converted porous carbon (WPC) scaffold. The as-synthesized hybrid photocatalysts, boasting a substantial specific surface area of 414.90 m2·g-1 and an excellent photocurrent density of 0.79 µA·cm-2, demonstrated superior photo-Fenton activity, accomplishing approximately 100% degradation of CIP within 120 min of ultraviolet-light exposure. This can be attributed to the existence of a heterojunction between Fe3O4 and WPC substrate that promotes the migration and enhances the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Meanwhile, the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox circulation and mesoporous wood carbon in the catalyst synergistically enhance the utilization of H2O and accelerate the formation of •OH radicals, leading to heightened degradation efficiency of CIP. Experiments utilizing chemical trapping techniques have demonstrated that •OH radicals are instrumental in the CIP degradation process. Furthermore, the study on reusability indicated that the efficiency in removing CIP remained at 89.5% even through five successive cycles, indicating the structural stability and excellent recyclability of Fe3O4/WPC. This research presented a novel pathway for designing magnetically reusable MOFs/wood-derived composites as photo-Fenton catalysts for actual wastewater treatment.

The impacts of cold plasma on the taste and odor formation of dried silver carp products.

This study investigated non-thermal pretreatment (cold plasma, CP) on the flavor (taste and odor) profiles of dried fish products. CP treatment of 5 min contributed to accumulation of umami nucleotides adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) from 30.96 to 40.82 µg/g and inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) from 2009.29 to 2132.23 µg/g, and significant reduction of bitter hypoxanthine ribonucleoside (HxR) and hypoxanthine (Hx), respectively (P < 0.05) in the dried fish products. A noticeable enhancement in sweet glycine (from 429.41 to 490.03 mg/100 g) and umami glutamic acid (from 55.68 to 67.76 mg/100 g) accompanied with the CP treatment (P < 0.05) based on taste activity value (TAV > 1). And the characteristic odor volatiles (nonanal, hexanal and 1-octen-3-ol) were strengthened 2.13-, 2.16- and 2.17- folds, respectively (P < 0.05). The results of equivalent umami concentration and Gibbs free energy calculation, combining with the correlation analysis, indicate that nucleotides and free amino acids synergically enhanced the taste improvement of dried fish products. Moderate lipids oxidation favored the formation of characteristic volatiles. The CP pretreatment offered new strategies for enhancing flavor of dried fish products.

Microwave-Assisted Efficient Intercalation for Fast Fabrication of High-Quality and Large-Size Single-Layer Ti3C2Tx Nanosheets.

A novel microwave-assisted intercalation (MAI) strategy is proposed for fast and efficient intercalation of layered MXene to prepare large-size single-layer MXene. After LiF-HCl etching of Ti3AlC2, the as-prepared multi-layer Ti3C2Tx (M-T) are intercalated with Li3AlF6 as an intercalator and ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent under microwave irradiation for 5 min. Furthermore, the dispersed high-quality large-sized single-layer Ti3C2Tx (S-T) nanosheets with a thickness of 1.66 nm and a large lateral size over 20 µm are achieved with a yield of over 60% after a further ultrasonic delamination followed by electrostatic precipitation, acid washing, and calcination. In addition, Pd/S-T composite catalyst, which is constructed with Pd nanoparticles supported on the as-prepared S-T nanosheets, exhibits an excellent performance for rapid and efficient selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes with H2 under a mild condition. At room temperature, full conversion of nitrobenzene and 100% aniline selectivity are achieved over Pd/S-T catalyst in 20 min with 0.5 MPa of H2 pressure. This work provides a novel method for facile, fast, and large-scale preparation of single-layer MXene and develops a new approach for constructing efficient nanocatalytic systems.

Two new compounds isolated from the aerial parts of gastrodia elata blume.

Two new aromatic compounds, namely gastupdin A (1), and gastupdin B (2), together with three known compounds, arundin(3), phomosines B (4) and monocillin IV (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of Gastrodia elata Blume. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed through spectral analyses including NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD, UV, and IR. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death in Human Neuroblastoma Cells, with curcumin as the positive control, however, the activity of all compounds was weaker than the positive control, showing no significant activity.

The association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants one month after birth. Methods: Preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks) admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2017 to 2022 were divided into ROP and non-ROP groups based on ROP occurrence any stage. Serum 25(OH)D levels and clinical data were compared between the two groups at 1 month after birth, and the relationship between vitamin D levels and ROP was analyzed. Results: Among the 217 premature infants included, 55 (25.35%) were in the ROP group, and 162 (74.65%) were in the non-ROP group. The ROP group had lower gestational age and birth weight, longer invasive ventilation (IV), non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and oxygen therapy times compared to the non-ROP group. Apgar scores, cesarean delivery, and antenatal steroids ratios were lower in the ROP group, while sepsis and pulmonary surfactant utilization ratios were higher (all p < 0.05). Significant differences in serum 25-(OH)D levels were observed among children in the non-ROP group (14.20 ± 5.07 ng/ml), ROP treated group (7.891 ± 1.878 ng/ml), and untreated group (12.168 ± 4.354 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis identified antenatal steroids as protective factors and lower birth weight, serum 25-(OH)D levels, long-term invasive mechanical ventilation, and sepsis as independent risk factors for ROP in premature infants. Conclusion: Vitamin D, lower birth weight, long-term invasive mechanical ventilation, and sepsis were associated with incidence of ROP in preterm infants. Vitamin D was associated with the severity of ROP, emphasizing the importance of prudent vitamin D supplementation and regular monitoring of serum 25-(OH)D levels.

Effects of combined ciprofloxacin and Neulasta therapy on intestinal pathology and gut microbiota after high-dose irradiation in mice.

Introduction: Treatments that currently exist in the strategic national stockpile for acute radiation syndrome (ARS) focus on the hematopoietic subsyndrome, with no treatments on gastrointestinal (GI)-ARS. While the gut microbiota helps maintain host homeostasis by mediating GI epithelial and mucosal integrity, radiation exposure can alter gut commensal microbiota which may leave the host susceptible to opportunistic pathogens and serious sequelae such as sepsis. To mitigate the effects of hematopoietic ARS irradiation, currently approved treatments exist in the form of colony stimulating factors and antibiotics: however, there are few studies examining how these therapeutics affect GI-ARS and the gut microbiota. The aim of our study was to examine the longitudinal effects of Neulasta and/or ciprofloxacin treatment on the gut microbiota after exposure to 9.5 Gy 60Co gamma-radiation in mice. Methods: The gut microbiota of vehicle and drug-treated mice exposed to sham or gamma-radiation was characterized by shotgun sequencing with alpha diversity, beta diversity, and taxonomy analyzed on days 2, 4, 9, and 15 post-irradiation. Results: No significant alpha diversity differences were observed following radiation, while beta diversity shifts and taxonomic profiles revealed significant alterations in Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Lactobacillus. Ciprofloxacin generally led to lower Shannon diversity and Bacteroides prevalence with increases in Akkermansia and Lactobacillus compared to vehicle treated and irradiated mice. While Neulasta increased Shannon diversity and by day 9 had more similar taxonomic profiles to sham than ciprofloxacin-or vehicle-treated irradiated animals. Combined therapy of Neulasta and ciprofloxacin induced a decrease in Shannon diversity and resulted in unique taxonomic profiles early post-irradiation, returning closer to vehicle-treated levels over time, but persistent increases in Akkermansia and Bacteroides compared to Neulasta alone. Discussion: This study provides a framework for the identification of microbial elements that may influence radiosensitivity, biodosimetry and the efficacy of potential therapeutics. Moreover, increased survival from H-ARS using these therapeutics may affect the symptoms and appearance of what may have been subclinical GI-ARS.

PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay optimization to provide more comprehensive pathological information in classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

Overexpression of PD-L1 can be a predictive marker for anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL); however, harmonization of different IHC assays remains to be accomplished, and interpretations of PD-L1 immunostaining results remain controversial in CHL. In this study, we sought to optimize the PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay in CHL. All tests were performed on a tumour tissue microarray established from 54 CHL cases. Three IHC antibodies (405.9A11, SP142, 22C3) for detecting PD-L1 expression were compared semi quantitatively with the RNAscope assay (No. 310035, ACD), and the difference in the expression in background immune cells (ICs) between assays and the associations of expression levels with densities of TILs/TAMs were also analysed. 405.9A11 demonstrated best specificity in HRS cells and best sensitivity in ICs. Positive expression of PD-L1 was more frequent in ICs (85.2%) than in HRS cells (48.1%). Different subgroups of background ICs, including tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), were assessed and scored for CD4, CD8, FOXP3, and CD163 expression. PD-L1 expression on ICs was the factor most associated with the density of TAMs. 405.9A11 provided the most convincing PD-L1 expression results. Pathologists should report PD-L1 expression in a combined manner, including both the status of HRS cells and the percentage of PD-L1-positive ICs.

Ciprofloxacin and pegylated G-CSF combined therapy mitigates brain hemorrhage and mortality induced by ionizing irradiation.

Introduction: Brain hemorrhage was found between 13 and 16 days after acute whole-body 9.5 Gy 60Co-γ irradiation (IR). This study tested countermeasures mitigating brain hemorrhage and increasing survival from IR. Previously, we found that pegylated G-CSF therapy (PEG) (i.e., Neulasta®, an FDA-approved drug) improved survival post-IR by 20-40%. This study investigated whether Ciprofloxacin (CIP) could enhance PEG-induced survival and whether IR-induced brain hemorrhage could be mitigated by PEG alone or combined with CIP. Methods: B6D2F1 female mice were exposed to 60Co-γ-radiation. CIP was fed to mice for 21 days. PEG was injected on days 1, 8, and 15. 30-day survival and weight loss were studied in mice treated with vehicles, CIP, PEG, or PEG + CIP. For the early time point study, blood and sternums on days 2, 4, 9, and 15 and brains on day 15 post-IR were collected. Platelet numbers, brain hemorrhage, and histopathology were analyzed. The cerebellum/pons/medulla oblongata were detected with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), p53, p16, interleukin-18 (IL-18), ICAM1, Claudin 2, ZO-1, and complement protein 3 (C3). Results: CIP + PEG enhanced survival after IR by 85% vs. the 30% improvement by PEG alone. IR depleted platelets, which was mitigated by PEG or CIP + PEG. Brain hemorrhage, both surface and intracranial, was observed, whereas the sham mice displayed no hemorrhage. CIP or CIP + PEG significantly mitigated brain hemorrhage. IR reduced GFAP levels that were recovered by CIP or CIP + PEG, but not by PEG alone. IR increased IL-18 levels on day 4 only, which was inhibited by CIP alone, PEG alone, or PEG + CIP. IR increased C3 on day 4 and day 15 and that coincided with the occurrence of brain hemorrhage on day 15. IR increased phosphorylated p53 and p53 levels, which was mitigated by CIP, PEG or PEG + CIP. P16, Claudin 2, and ZO-1 were not altered; ICAM1 was increased. Discussion: CIP + PEG enhanced survival post-IR more than PEG alone. The Concurrence of brain hemorrhage, C3 increases and p53 activation post-IR suggests their involvement in the IR-induced brain impairment. CIP + PEG effectively mitigated the brain lesions, suggesting effectiveness of CIP + PEG therapy for treating the IR-induced brain hemorrhage by recovering GFAP and platelets and reducing C3 and p53.