High-Entropy Metal Nitride Embedded in Concave Porous Carbon Enabling Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The practical implementation of lithium-sulfur batteries is severely hindered by the rapid capacity fading due to the solubility of the intermediate lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the sluggish redox kinetics. Herein, high-entropy metal nitride nanocrystals (HEMN) embedded within nitrogen-doped concave porous carbon (N-CPC) polyhedra are rationally designed as a sulfur host via a facile zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-driven adsorption-nitridation process toward this challenge. The configuration of high-entropy with incorporated metal manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) will optimize the d-band center of active sites with more electrons occupied in antibonding orbitals, thus promoting the adsorption and catalytic conversion of LiPSs. While the concave porous carbon not only accommodates the volume change upon the cycling processes but also physically confines and exposes active sites for accelerated sulfur redox reactions. As a result, the resultant HEMN/N-CPC composites-based sulfur cathode can deliver a high specific capacity of 1274 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C and a low capacity decay rate of 0.044% after 1000 cycles at 1 C. Moreover, upon sulfur loading of 5.0 mg cm-2, the areal capacity of 5.0 mAh cm-2 can still be achieved. The present work may provide a new avenue for the design of high-performance cathodes in Li-S batteries.

One-Step Molten-Salt-Assisted Approach for Direct Preparation and Regeneration of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 Cathode.

Single-crystal lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (SC-NMC) is attracting increasing attention due to its excellent structural stability. However, its practical production faces challenges associated with complex precursor preparation processes and severe lithium-nickel cation mixing at high temperatures, which restricts its widespread application. Here, a molten-salt-assisted method is proposed using low-melting-point carbonates. This method obviates the necessity for precursor processes and simplified the synthetic procedure for SC-NMC down to a single isothermal sintering step. Multiple characterizations indicate that the acquired SC-LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (SC-622) exhibits favorable structural capability against intra-granular fracture and suppressive Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing. Consequently, the SC-622 exhibits superior electrochemical performance with a high initial specific capacity (174 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C, 3.0-4.3 V) and excellent capacity retention (87.5% after 300 cycles at 1C). Moreover, this molten-salt-assisted method exhibits its effectiveness in directly regenerating SC-622 from spent NMC materials. The recovered material delivered a capacity of 125.4 mAh g-1 and retained 99.4% of the initial capacity after 250 cycles at 1 C. This work highlights the importance of understanding the process-structure-property relationships and can broadly guide the synthesis of other SC Ni-rich cathode materials.

Tarlov Cysts and Premature Ejaculation.

Tarlov cysts adjacent to the spinal cord are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally via magnetic resonance imaging. On rare occasions, they increase in size to produce symptoms resembling disk herniation. We report a rare case of a sacral cyst resulting in premature ejaculation in a 32-year-old man who presented with pelvic pain and acquired premature ejaculation. Spinal nerve root decompression, excision of intraspinal Tarlov cyst, and spinal nerve root adhesion release surgery significantly improved his pain and premature ejaculation at a six-month follow-up.

[The role of seminal vesicles in male sexual function].

The seminal vesicle is an important accessory gland of the male reproductive system. In the past, some scholars focused more on its role in the fertilization process and neglected its relationship with male sexual function. Researches show that the seminal vesicle is involved in multiple processes such as sexual desire, penile erection, and ejaculation. Treatment of sexual dysfunction by medication targeting the seminal vesicle has achieved certain therapeutic effects. This article discusses the relationship between the seminal vesicle and sexual function in terms of physiopathology, clinical study and basic research, hoping to provide some new ideas on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction.

[Mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis].

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) is one of the most common diseases in urology and andrology, with a complex etiology and a high incidence rate. Traditional Chinese medicine plays an important role in the treatment of CNP and can produce therapeutic effects through various action mechanisms. This article presents an overview of recent studies on the specific mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine acting on CNP, including the mechanisms underlying its effects of anti-infection, anti-inflammation, immune regulation, improvement of urodynamics, endocrine regulation, improvement of microcirculation, and regulation of gut microbiota, aiming to provide some reference for the clinical application and basic studies of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of CNP.

[Ferroptosis in the testis: Progress in research].

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death resulting from the disruption of iron metabolism within cells and excessive accumulation of lipid peroxides. Research indicates that, under the influence of various pathogenic factors, ferroptosis impacts the male reproductive system and fertility by affecting the synthesis of testicular hormones and regulation of cellular functions through different pathways and numerators. This paper provides an overview of the action mechanisms of ferroptosis in the testis and its correlation with pathogenicity, offering some new insights into the treatment of male reproductive system diseases.

Amorphous FeSnOx Nanosheets with Hierarchical Vacancies for Room-Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Batteries.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries, noted for their low material costs and high energy density, are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in various applications including power grids and standalone renewable energy systems. These batteries are commonly assembled with glass fiber membranes, which face significant challenges like the dissolution of polysulfides, sluggish sulfur conversion kinetics, and the growth of Na dendrites. Here, we develop an amorphous two-dimensional (2D) iron tin oxide (A-FeSnOx) nanosheet with hierarchical vacancies, including abundant oxygen vacancies (Ovs) and nano-sized perforations, that can be assembled into a multifunctional layer overlaying commercial separators for RT Na-S batteries. The Ovs offer strong adsorption and abundant catalytic sites for polysulfides, while the defect concentration is finely tuned to elucidate the polysulfides conversion mechanisms. The nano-sized perforations aid in regulating Na ions transport, resulting in uniform Na deposition. Moreover, the strategic addition of trace amounts of Ti3C2 (MXene) forms an amorphous/crystalline (A/C) interface that significantly improves the mechanical properties of the separator and suppresses dendrite growth. As a result, the task-specific layer achieves ultra-light (~0.1 mg cm-2), ultra-thin (~200 nm), and ultra-robust (modulus=4.9 GPa) characteristics. Consequently, the RT Na-S battery maintained a high capacity of 610.3 mAh g-1 and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.9 % after 400 cycles at 0.5 C.

An Ultra-Stable Electrode-Solid Electrolyte Composite for High-Performance All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries.

The low ionic and electronic conductivity between current solid electrolytes and high-capacity anodes limits the long-term cycling performance of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs). Herein, this work reports the fabrication of an ultra-stable electrode-solid electrolyte composite for high-performance ASSLIBs enabled by the homogeneous coverage of ultrathin Mg(BH4 )2 layers on the surface of each MgH2 nanoparticle that are uniformly distributed on graphene. The initial discharge process of Mg(BH4 )2 layers results in uniform coverage of MgH2 nanoparticle with both LiBH4 as the solid electrolyte and Li2 B6 with even higher Li ion conductivity than LiBH4 . Consequently, the Li ion conductivity of graphene-supported MgH2 nanoparticles covered with ultrathin Mg(BH4 )2 layers is two orders of magnitude higher than that without Mg(BH4 )2 layers. Moreover, the thus-formed inactive Li2 B6 with strong adsorption capability toward LiBH4 , acts as a stabilizing framework, which, coupled with the structural support role of graphene, alleviates the volume change of MgH2 nanoparticles and facilitates the intimate contact between LiBH4 and individual MgH2 nanoparticles, leading to the formation of uniform stable interfaces with high ionic and electronic conductivity on each MgH2 nanoparticles. Hence, an ultrahigh specific capacity of 800 mAh g-1 is achieved for MgH2 at 2 A g-1 after 350 cycles.

Interphasial Pre-lithiation and Reinforcement of Micro-Si Anode through Fluorine-free Electrolytes.

Micro-sized silicon (mSi) anodes offer advantages in cost and tap density over nanosized counterparts. However, its practical application still suffers from poor cyclability and low initial and later-cycle coulombic efficiency (CE), caused by the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and irreversible lithiation of the surface oxide layer. Herein, a bifunctional fluorine (F)-free electrolyte was designed for the mSi anode to stabilize the interphase and improve the CE. A combined analysis revealed that this electrolyte can chemically pre-lithiate the native oxide layer by the reductive LiBH4 , and relieve SEI formation and accumulation to preserve the internal conductive network. The significance of this F-free electrolyte brings unprecedented F-free interphase that also enables the high-performance mSi electrode (80 wt % mSi), including high specific capacity of 2900 mAh/g, high initial CE of 94.7 % and excellent cyclability capacity retention of 94.3 % after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. This work confirms the feasibility of F-free interphase, thus opening up a new avenue toward cost-advantaged and environmentally friendly electrolytes for more emerging battery systems.

Light-Driven Reversible Hydrogen Storage in Light-Weight Metal Hydrides Enabled by Photothermal Effect.

Requiring high temperature for hydrogen storage is the main feature impeding practical application of light metal hydrides. Herein, to lift the restrictions associated with traditional electric heating, light is used as an alternative energy input, and a light-mediated catalytic strategy coupling photothermal and catalytic effects is proposed. With NaAlH4 as the initial target material, TiO2 nanoparticles uniformly distribute on carbon nanosheets (TiO2 @C), which couples the catalytic effect of TiO2 and photothermal property of C, is constructed to drive reversible hydrogen storage in NaAlH4 under light irradiation. Under the catalysis of TiO2 @C, complete hydrogen release from NaAlH4 is achieved within 7 min under a light intensity of 10 sun. Furthermore, owing to the stable catalytic and photothermal effect of TiO2 @C, NaAlH4 delivers a reversible capacity of 4 wt% after 10 cycles with a capacity retention of 85% under light irradiation only. The proposed strategy is also applicable to other light metal hydrides such as LiAlH4 and MgH2 , validating its universality. The concept of light-driven hydrogen storage provides an alternative approach to electric heating, and the light-mediated catalytic strategy proposed herein paves the way to the design of reversible high-density hydrogen storage systems that do not rely on artificial energy.

Controlling Intermolecular Interaction and Interphase Chemistry Enabled Sustainable Water-tolerance LiMn2 O4 ||Li4 Ti5 O12 Batteries.

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and H2 O activity reduction in Water-in-Salt electrolytes (WiSE) with an enlarged stability window of 3.0 V have provided the feasibility of the high-energy-density aqueous Li-ion batteries. Here, we extend the cathodic potential of WiSE by rationally controlling intermolecular interaction and interphase chemistry with the introduction of trimethyl phosphate (TMP) into WiSE. The TMP not merely limits the H2 O activity via the strong interaction between TMP and H2 O but also contributes to the formation of reinforced SEI involving phosphate and LiF by manipulating the Li+ solvation structure. Thus, water-tolerance LiMn2 O4 (LMO)||Li4 Ti5 O12 (LTO) full cell with a P/N ratio of 1.14 can be assembled and achieve a long cycling life of 1000 times with high coulombic efficiency of >99.9 %. This work provides a promising insight into the cost-effective practical manufacture of LMO||LTO cells without rigorous moisture-free requirements.

Yishen capsule promotes podocyte autophagy through regulating SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway to improve diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common complication of diabetes. Yishen capsule, composed of Chinese herbs, improves the clinical outcome in DN patients. However, its therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms require further elucidation. Hence, our study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Yishen capsule in DN. Streptozotocin-induced DN rats were treated with Yishen capsules (1.25 g/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Then, blood glucose and urine protein levels were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and western blot assays were used to examine the histologic changes and gene expression, respectively, in kidney samples. Mouse podocytes were treated with rat serum containing Yishen capsule and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine autophagosome formation. Cell counting kit-8 assay was performed to examine cell proliferation. Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses were conducted to detect changes in gene expression. The localization of SIRT1 was examined in the podocytes using immunocytofluorescence assay. We found that Yishen capsule relieved pathological changes, decreased urine protein, increased SIRT1, LC3-II, and Beclin-1 expression, and reduced acetylated NF-κB p65 expression in vivo. In addition, rat serum containing Yishen capsule showed improved podocyte proliferation, promoted the mRNA and protein levels of LC3-II and Beclin-1, and induced nuclear translocation of SIRT1. Furthermore, it increased SIRT1 expression and decreased mRNA level of NF-κB in the serum. SIRT1 inhibitor increased the mRNA level of NF-κB. Our data suggests that Yishen capsule improves DN by promoting podocyte autophagy via the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway.

[Advances in the studies of pancreatic kininogenase in male reproduction].

With the increasing attention to the relationship between male reproductive system diseases and microcirculation disorders, pancreatic kininogenase, a drug to improve microcirculation, is becoming a focus in the studies of the treatment of male reproductive diseases. It is reported recently that pancreatic kininogenase has a similar effect to type-5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors and may become a new drug for the treatment of ED. This article mainly discusses the possible action mechanisms of pancreatic kininogenase from the aspects of kallikrein-kinin system and pancreatic kininogenase promoting semen liquefaction and improving sperm quality and erectile function.

Stabilizing Transition Metal Vacancy Induced Oxygen Redox by Co2+ /Co3+ Redox and Sodium-Site Doping for Layered Cathode Materials.

Anionic redox is an effective way to boost the energy density of layer-structured metal-oxide cathodes for rechargeable batteries. However, inherent rigid nature of the TMO6 (TM: transition metals) subunits in the layered materials makes it hardly tolerate the inner strains induced by lattice glide, especially at high voltage. Herein, P2-Na0.8 Mg0.13 [Mn0.6 Co0.2 Mg0.07 □0.13 ]O2 (□: TM vacancy) is designed that contains vacancies in TM sites, and Mg ions in both TM and sodium sites. Vacancies make the rigid TMO6 octahedron become more asymmetric and flexible. Low valence Co2+ /Co3+ redox couple stabilizes the electronic structure, especially at the charged state. Mg2+ in sodium sites can tune the interlayer spacing against O-O electrostatic repulsion. Time-resolved in situ X-ray diffraction confirms that irreversible structure evolution is effectively suppressed during deep desodiation benefiting from the specific configuration. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that, deriving from the intrinsic vacancies, multiple local configurations of "□-O-□", "Na-O-□", "Mg-O-□" are superior in facilitating the oxygen redox for charge compensation than previously reported "Na-O-Mg". The resulted material delivers promising cycle stability and rate capability, with a long voltage plateau at 4.2 V contributed by oxygen, and can be well maintained even at high rates. The strategy will inspire new ideas in designing highly stable cathode materials with reversible anionic redox for sodium-ion batteries.

virB11 gene potentially involves in ATP metabolism to provide energy in H. pylori infection.

Helicobater pylori (H. pylori) is the most important bacteria known to be associated with various gastroduodenal diseases. virB11 gene is a structural gene of tfs3a genes cluster in the plasticity region of H. pylori. In this study, the structure and biology of virB11 gene were analyzed and elucidated with bioinformatics analysis. After cloning, expression and purification, VirB11 protein was generated for the cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells and the anti-VirB11 protein antibody production for localization and interaction proteins analysis. The results showed that VirB11 protein is a hydrophilic protein, mainly locates in cell membrane. IL-8 productions from GES-1 cells co-culture with VirB11 protein were increased gradually with time (p < 0.001). The interaction proteins of VirB11 protein were F0F1 ATP synthase subunit alpha, ATP synthase subunit beta and isocitrate dehydrogenase. We demonstrate that VirB11 protein possesses cytotoxicity and potentially plays important roles in ATP metabolism to provide energy in the course of H. pylori infection.

[Roles of cyclins in the progression of spermatogenesis].

Spermatogenesis is a complex and precise process of differentiation of germ cells, which involves three stages: mitosis of spermatogonia, meiosis of spermatocytes and formation of spermatozoa. The process is controlled by many factors, including regulation of cyclins in spermatogenic cells, which plays a pivotal role. Cyclins form heterologous dimer compounds with protein kinase activity by binding to cyclin-dependent kinases, then phosphorylate multiple proteins and promote the orderly conduct of each phase of the cell cycle. In recent years, cyclins A, B, D and E have been found to play important roles in the regulation of spermatogenesis. This article presents an overview on the roles of these four cyclins in regulating the progression of spermatogenesis.

Mechanisms of Yangjing Capsule in Leydig Cell Apoptosis and Testosterone Synthesis via Promoting StAR Expression.

The present study aims to investigate the roles of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in Yangjing Capsule (YC) induced anti-apoptotic effects on Leydig cells and the related mechanism. Leydig tumor cells (MLTC-1) were cultured and treated with YC, and immunofluorescence assay was performed to examine the expression of StAR; furthermore, luciferase reporter assay was conducted to evaluate the impact of YC on StAR promoter; next, MLTC-1 cells were treated with StAR small interfering RNA (siRNA), and flow cytometry was carried out to examine the effect of StAR siRNA on the apoptosis of the cells; furthermore, quantitative (q)RT-PCR and Western blot methods was used to determine the expression of StAR and apoptosis related molecules Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 on both mRNA and protein levels in different groups; finally the secretion of testosterone in different groups was examined by radioimmunoassay. We observed that the YC can increase the expression of StAR in a dose-dependent manner, and YC can activate the promoter of StAR; moreover, transfection of StAR siRNA can block YC induced anti-apoptotic effects and increased production of testosterone. In conclusion, our results suggested that YC might suppress the apoptosis of MLTC-1 cells and enhance the production of testosterone through regulating the expression of StAR.

Porous Carbon Nanofibers Encapsulated with Peapod-Like Hematite Nanoparticles for High-Rate and Long-Life Battery Anodes.

Fe2 O3 is regarded as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high specific capacity. The large volume change during discharge and charge processes, however, induces significant cracking of the Fe2 O3 anodes, leading to rapid fading of the capacity. Herein, a novel peapod-like nanostructured material, consisting of Fe2 O3 nanoparticles homogeneously encapsulated in the hollow interior of N-doped porous carbon nanofibers, as a high-performance anode material is reported. The distinctive structure not only provides enough voids to accommodate the volume expansion of the pea-like Fe2 O3 nanoparticles but also offers a continuous conducting framework for electron transport and accessible nanoporous channels for fast diffusion and transport of Li/Na-ions. As a consequence, this peapod-like structure exhibits a stable discharge capacity of 1434 mAh g-1 (at 100 mA g-1 ) and 806 mAh g-1 (at 200 mA g-1 ) over 100 cycles as anode materials for LIBs and SIBs, respectively. More importantly, a stable capacity of 958 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles and 396 mAh g-1 after 1500 cycles can be achieved for LIBs and SIBs, respectively, at a large current density of 2000 mA g-1 . This study provides a promising strategy for developing long-cycle-life LIBs and SIBs.

[Bushen Daozhuo Granules for type â ¢ prostatitis: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Bushen Daozhuo Granules (BDG) in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included 478 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis, 290 in the trial group and 188 as controls, the former treated with BDG at 200 ml bid and the latter with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustainedrelease capsules at 0.2 mg qd, both for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) scores and compared the safety and effectiveness rate between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIHCPSI score was markedly decreased in the control group after 4 weeks of medication (21.42 ± 4.02 vs 15.67 ± 3.65, P < 0.05) but showed no statistically significant difference from that at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (19.03 ± 3.86) (P>0.05), while the NIHCPSI score in the trial group was remarkably lower than the baseline both after 4 weeks of medication and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (10.92 ± 2.06 and 12.91 ± 2.64 vs 21.58 ± 3.67, P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited both a higher rate of total effectiveness and safety than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BDG is safe and effective for the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis.

[Explanation of 'Essence and Blood from the Same Source' in Theory of Chinese Medicine from the Roles of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Spermatogenesis].

'Essence and blood from the same source', as one of basic theories of Chinese medi- cine (CM), is important for syndrome typing and clinical medication. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can be produced and secreted in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, which can not only promote the formation of new blood vessels, but also regulate synthesis of testosterone and the proliferation and dif- ferentiation of germ cells. The roles of VEGF in the spermatogenesis reveal scientific connotations of 'essence and blood from the same source', and it plays an important role in guiding clinical practice of CM.