Unlocking Diverse π-Bond Enrichment Frameworks by the Synthesis and Conversion of Boronated Phenyldiethynylethylenes.

The π-bond enrichment frameworks not only serve as a crucial building block in organic synthesis but also assume a pivotal role in the fields of materials science, biomedicine, photochemistry, and other related disciplines owing to their distinctive structural characteristics. The incorporation of various substituents into the C═C double bonds of tetrasubstituted alkenes is currently a highly significant research area. However, the synthesis of tetrasubstituted alkenes with diverse substituents on double bonds poses a significant challenge in achieving stereoselectivity. Here, we reported an efficient and convergent route of Cu-catalyzed borylalkynylation of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes, B2pin2, and acetylene bromide to the construction of boronated phenyldiethynylethylene (BPDEE) derivatives with excellent chemo-, stereo-, and regioselectivities. BPDEE derivatives could transform into novel tetrasubstituted organic π-conjugated gem-diphenyldiethynylethylene (DPDEE), vinylphenyldiethynylethylene (VPDEE), and phenyltriethynylethylene (PTEE) derivatives by a stepwise process, which provides a flexible platform for the synthesis of complex π-bond enrichment frameworks that were difficult to synthesize by previous methods. The initial optical characterization revealed that the synthesized molecules exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, which further establishes the groundwork for future applications and enriches and advances the field of functional π-conjugated frameworks research.

What Elements Really Intercalate into Pd Lattice When Heated in Dimethylformamide?

Palladium hydrides (PdHx) are pivotal in both fundamental research and practical applications across a wide spectrum. PdHx nanocrystals, synthesized by heating in dimethylformamide (DMF), exhibit remarkable stability, granting them widespread applications in the field of electrocatalysis. However, this stability appears inconsistent with their metastable nature. The substantial challenges in characterizing nanoscale structures contribute to the limited understanding of this anomalous phenomenon. Here, through a series of well-conceived experimental designs and advanced characterization techniques, including aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM), in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), we have uncovered evidence that indicates the presence of C and N within the lattice of Pd (PdCxNy), rather than H (PdHx). By combining theoretical calculations, we have thoroughly studied the potential configurations and thermodynamic stability of PdCxNy, demonstrating a 2.5:1 ratio of C to N infiltration into the Pd lattice. Furthermore, we successfully modulated the electronic structure of Pd nanocrystals through C and N doping, enhancing their catalytic activity in methanol oxidation reactions. This breakthrough provides a new perspective on the structure and composition of Pd-based nanocrystals infused with light elements, paving the way for the development of advanced catalytic materials in the future.

Regulation of N6-methyladenosine modification in erythropoiesis and thalassemia.

In eukaryotic RNA, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent form of methylation modification. The m6A modification process is reversible and dynamic, written by m6A methyltransferase complex, erased by m6A demethylase, and recognized by m6A binding proteins. Through mediating RNA stability, decay, alternative splicing, and translation processes, m6A modification regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Erythropoiesis is the process of hematopoietic stem cells undergoing proliferation, a series of differentiation and maturation to form red blood cells (RBCs). Thalassemia is a common monogenic disease characterized by excessive production of ineffective RBCs in the peripheral circulation, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Increasing evidence suggests that m6A modification plays a crucial role in erythropoiesis. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the function of m6A modification in erythropoiesis and further generalize the mechanism of m6A modification regulating ineffective erythropoiesis and fetal hemoglobin expression. The purpose is to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of erythroid dysplasia and offer new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of thalassemia.

The efficacy of 3D gait analysis to evaluate surgical (and rehabilitation) outcome after degenerative lumbar surgery.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar degenerative conditions are a major cause of back pain and disability in individuals aged 45 and above. Gait analysis utilizes sensor technology to collect movement data, aiding in the evaluation of various gait aspects like spatiotemporal parameters, joint angles, neuromuscular activity, and joint forces. It is widely used in conditions such as cerebral palsy and knee osteoarthritis. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of 3D gait analysis in evaluating surgical outcomes and postoperative rehabilitation for lumbar degenerative disorders. METHODS: A prospective self-controlled before-after study (n = 85) carried out at our Hospital (Sep 2018 - Dec 2021) utilized a 3D motion analysis system to analyze gait in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases. The study focused on the multifidus muscle, a crucial spinal muscle, during a minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion surgery conducted by Shandong Weigao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Pre- and postoperative assessments included time-distance parameters (gait speed, stride frequency, stride length, stance phase), hip flexion angle, and stride angle. Changes in 3D gait parameters post-surgery and during rehabilitation were examined. Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to assess relationships with the visual analog pain scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores. Patient sagittal alignment was evaluated using "Surgimap" software from two types of lateral radiographs to obtain parameters like pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), intervertebral space height (DH), posterior height of the intervertebral space (PDH) at the operative segment, and anterior height of the intervertebral space (ADH). RESULTS: By the 6th week post-operation, significant improvements were observed in the VAS score, JOA score, and ODI score of the patients compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05), along with notable enhancements in 3D gait quantification parameters (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between improvements in 3D gait quantification parameters and VAS score, JOA score, and ODI value (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: 3D gait analysis is a valuable tool for evaluating the efficacy of surgery and rehabilitation training in patients.

Improving the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction Rate of Ru by Active Hydrogen in the Ultrathin Pd Interlayer.

Enhancing the catalytic activity of Ru metal in the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) potential range, improving the insufficient activity of Ru caused by its oxophilicity, is of great significance for reducing the cost of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Here, we use Ru grown on Au@Pd as a model system to understand the underlying mechanism for activity improvement by combining direct in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) evidence of the catalytic reaction intermediate (OHad) with in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical characterization, as well as DFT calculations. The results showed that the Au@Pd@Ru nanocatalyst utilizes the hydrogen storage capacity of the Pd interlayer to "temporarily" store the activated hydrogen enriched at the interface, which spontaneously overflows at the "hydrogen-deficient interface" to react with OHad adsorbed on Ru. It is the essential reason for the enhanced catalytic activity of Ru at anodic potential. This work deepens our understanding of the HOR mechanism and provides new ideas for the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts.

Noninvasive Diagnosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Phenotypic Profiling of Viral and Tumor Markers on Plasma Extracellular Vesicles.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor commonly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and its early diagnosis as well as its differentiation from nasopharyngitis (NPG) remains challenging due to the insufficient sensitivity of routine screening methods in clinical practice. To date, circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs, 40-1000 nm) have shown appealing potential in liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Herein, nanoflow cytometry (nFCM) capable of single EV analysis was applied to examine the expression of surface proteins with very low copy numbers on individual EVs as small as 40 nm. The particle concentrations of five EV subsets exposing EBV-encoded latent membrane proteins (LMP1 and LMP2A) and tumor markers (PD-L1, EGFR, and EpCAM) in plasma were determined rapidly via single-particle enumeration. We identified a five-marker panel named EVSUM5 (an unweighted sum of the concentration of the five individual EV subsets) that significantly surpassed the traditional VCA-IgA assay in discriminating NPC patients from both healthy donors and NPG patients with accuracies of 96.3 and 83.1%, respectively. Moreover, EVSUM2 (an unweighted sum of virus-specific LMP1- and LMP2A-positive EVs) could achieve the diagnosis of NPG with an accuracy of 82.6%. Collectively, the work presented a rapid, reliable, and noninvasive method as well as two diagnostic markers to help more accurately differentiate NPC from NPG patients and healthy donors in clinical practice.

Ankle Arthrodesis Combined With Mosaic Bone Autograft Transplantation for End-Stage Ankle Osteoarthritis With Large Cysts of Talar Dome.

End-stage ankle osteoarthritis with large cysts of talar dome can be challenging to treat. Twenty patients diagnosed as end-stage ankle arthritis with large talar cysts between 04/2010 and 02/2016 were randomly divided into experimental group (10 cases) and conventional group (10 cases) by random number method. Patients in the experimental group were treated with ankle arthrodesis combined with a concomitant procedure of mosaic bone autograft transplantation, the conventional group under the ankle arthrodesis. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, the time of bone union, and postoperative height of the talus between the 2 groups were compared. The preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale score were also recorded and compared. There was no significant difference in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups. The postoperative height of the talus body and the time of bone union were better in the experimental group than that in the conventional group (p < .05). The results of follow-up showed that the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores of the conventional group were lower than those in the experimental group (p < .001). And the incidence of complication (10%) in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (40%). The use of tibiotalar arthrodesis combined with mosaic bone autograft transfer may be potentially an effective option for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis with large talar cysts.

Three Polyoxovanadates-Based Organic-Inorganic Hybrids: Structural Variation, Bifunctional Electrocatalytic Activities, and Computational Studies.

Three bimetallic organic-inorganic hybrids based on the [V2O6]2- building unit, [Cu(pty)(V2O6)]·H2O (1), [Cu(pty)(V2O6)] (2), [Cu(tpy)(V2O6)] (3), (pty = 4'-(4″-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine), were synthesized via a one-pot method. Hybrid 1 has a 1D straight chain architecture with [V2O6]2- clusters and Cu-pty complexes; hybrids 2 and 3 possess a 2D sheet structure including 10-membered rings assembled from four [Cu(pty)]2+ motifs and six [V2O6]2- clusters in 2, and two [Cu(tpy)]2+ units and eight [V2O6]2- clusters in 3. Noteworthy, hybrids 1-3 can be employed as bifunctional electrocatalysts for electroreduction of nitrite and electrooxidation of ascorbic acid. Additionally, theoretical calculations including the molecular electrostatic potential and the frontier molecular orbital were performed to estimate the electronic structure of hybrids 1-3. The natural bond orbital analysis was also calculated to interpret the electron charge distribution.

KIAA1217 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Interacting with and Activating STAT3.

The survival and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poor, mainly due to metastasis. Therefore, insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC invasion and metastasis are urgently needed to develop a more effective antimetastatic therapy. Here, we report that KIAA1217, a functionally unknown macromolecular protein, plays a crucial role in HCC metastasis. KIAA1217 expression was frequently upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, and high KIAA1217 expression was closely associated with shorter survival of patients with HCC. Overexpression and knockdown experiments revealed that KIAA1217 significantly promoted cell migration and invasion by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Consistently, HCC cells overexpressing KIAA1217 exhibited markedly enhanced lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, KIAA1217 enhanced EMT and accordingly promoted HCC metastasis by interacting with and activating JAK1/2 and STAT3. Interestingly, KIAA1217-activated p-STAT3 was retained in the cytoplasm instead of translocating into the nucleus, where p-STAT3 subsequently activated the Notch and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways to facilitate EMT induction and HCC metastasis. Collectively, KIAA1217 may function as an adaptor protein or scaffold protein in the cytoplasm and coordinate multiple pathways to promote EMT-induced HCC metastasis, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for curbing HCC metastasis.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Annulation of 2- or 7-Arylindoles with Alkenes/Alkynes Using Molecular Oxygen as the Sole Oxidant Enabled by Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

Developing an efficient catalytic system using molecular oxygen as the oxidant for rhodium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling remains highly desirable. Herein, rhodium-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 2- or 7-phenyl-1H-indoles with alkenes or alkynes to assemble valuable 6H-isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles, pyrrolo[3,2,1-de]phenanthridines, or indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines using the atmospheric pressure of air as the sole oxidant enabled by quaternary ammonium salt has been accomplished. Mechanistic studies provided evidence for the fast intramolecular aza-Michael reaction and aerobic reoxidation of Rh(I)/Rh(III), facilitated by the addition of quaternary ammonium salt.

Critical Roles of Doping Cl on Cu2O Nanocrystals for Direct Epoxidation of Propylene by Molecular Oxygen.

Direct epoxidation of propylene by molecular oxygen alone is one of the "dream reactions" in heterogeneous catalysis. Despite much effort, the yield of propylene epoxide is still too low to be commercially attractive due to the trade-off between conversion and selectivity. Here, we demonstrate that doping Cl into the lattice of Cu2O nanocrystals by the intergrowth method not only can enhance the catalytic selectivity and conversion of direct propylene epoxidation but also can solve the long-existing Cl loss problem. In particular, Cl-doped rhombic dodecahedral Cu2O with (110) exposing facets exhibited 63% PO selectivity with a 12.0 h-1 turnover frequency at 200 °C, outperforming any other coinage metal-based catalysts under mild conditions. Comprehensive characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the Cl-decorated Cu(I) facilitated formation of electrophilic oxygen species, thus boosting the production of propylene oxide. This work provides a general strategy to develop catalysts and explore the promoter effect by creating uniform isolated anion doping to activate a nearby metal center by virtue of well-defined nanocrystals.

Prognostic Value of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Expression in Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Viral Load in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has a role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, it is unclear whether EBV load correlates with tumor prognosis or the need for immunotherapy. This study evaluated whether the EBV DNA concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or programmed cell death-ligand1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) could predict the clinical outcomes of patients with NPC. METHODS: Clinicopathological parameters of 198 patients with NPC were analyzed retrospectively from June 2012 to May 2018. Patients' EBV loads were determined by droplet digital PCR. TIL PD-L1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A log value of 1.98 log IU/mL for PBMC EBV DNA and a percentage of PD-L1 expression of 15% in TILs marked distinguishing cutoffs in NPC prognosis. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates in patients with high vs low log (PBMC EBV DNA) were 68.2% and 93.1%, respectively (P = 0.002). The 5-year PFS rates in patients with high vs low TIL PD-L1 expression were 66.3% and 33.7%, respectively (P = 0.03). The 5-year PFS rates of the high-risk group (high log [PBMC EBV DNA] and low TIL PD-L1), low-risk group (low log [PBMC EBV DNA] and high TIL PD-L1), and those in between (intermediate group) were 0%, 91.9%, and 71.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Concentrations of PBMC EBV DNA and TIL PD-L1 expression can be used as prognostic markers in NPC. The combination of both an increased EBV DNA concentration and suppressed TIL PD-L1 expression is associated with metastasis or relapse.

Anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin on acute gouty arthritis rats via TLR/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. / æœ¨çŠ€è‰ç´ é€šè¿‡TLR/MyD88/NF-κBé€šè·¯å‚ä¸Žæ€¥æ€§ç—›é£Žæ€§å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žå¤§é¼ çš„æŠ—ç‚Žä½œç”¨.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of luteolin on the acute gouty arthritis (AGA) rats and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A total of sixty rats were chosen and randomly divided into 5 groups:A control group, a monosodium urate (MSU) group, a colchicine group, 2 luteolin groups (50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg). The AGA model of rats was established by injecting monosodium urate (MSU) at the concentration of 25 mg/mL into the ankle joint cavity. Changes of joint swelling index at different time points and the levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and synovial were measured. The mRNA expression of TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88 in synovial tissue was detected by real-time PCR, and the protein expression of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in synovial tissues was determined by Western blotting. The inflammatory cells of the ankle joint and its surrounding soft tissues were observed after HE staining, and the expression of NF-κB was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the MSU group, the joint swelling indexes of the luteolin group and the colchicine group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly decreased (P<0.01). The mRNA levels of TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88 and the protein levels of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB were significantly decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Luteolin can reduce the inflammatory response of acute gouty arthritis via down-regulating the TLR/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, and it is expected to be an effective drug for the treatment of acute gouty arthritis.

Upregulated miR-154 promotes ECM degradation in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a common global health issue, is a major cause for low back pain (LBP). Given the complex etiology of IDD, micro RNA (miRNA) recently has been demonstrated to play essential roles in the progression of IDD. Therefore, this study aims to investigate functions of the miR-154, which is well-documented in a series of cell activities, IDD, and other relevant mechanisms. Lumbar nucleus pulposus (NP) samples were collected from patients with IDD and the control group. After solexa sequencing and bioinformatical analysis, the results showed that miR-154 was increased in NP cells of patients with IDD. Inhibition of miR-154 increased type II collagen and aggrecan and decreased mRNA expressions of collagenase-3 (MMP13) and aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS4), whereas overexpression of miR-154 reversed such effects in NP cells. In addition, the luciferase reporter assay revealed that fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) is a direct target of miR-154 and that the overexpression of FGF14 leads to similar effects as inhibition of miR-154 did. In conclusion, the results suggested that miR-154 participates in the development of IDD and its effects are mediated via targeting FGF14. Thus, miR-154 may be thought as a potential etiological factor for IDD and may provide insights into a therapeutic target to treat IDD.

Investigation of two-dimensional hf-based MXenes as the anode materials for li/na-ion batteries: A DFT study.

Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate electronic properties and Li/Na storage capability of Hf3 C2 and its derivatives (uniform passivated: Hf3 C2 T2 [T = F, O, OH] and hybrid passivated: Hf3 C2 Fx O2-x and Hf3 C2 Ox (OH)2-x [x = 1.0, 1.5]). For Hf3 C2 monolayer, it has excellent performance, such as good conductivity, low diffusion energy barrier, low open circuit voltage, and high storage capacities (Li(1034.70 mAh g-1 ), Na(444.90 mAh g-1 )), providing the most prospective as anode material. However, due to the unsaturated dangling bonds of surface Hf, so it is easily passivated. For the uniform passivated ones, Hf3 C2 T2 , show higher diffusion barriers and lower storage capacities than bare monolayer Hf3 C2 . Nevertheless, compared with uniform passivated ones, the hybrid passivated derivative, Hf3 C2 F1.5 O0.5 and Hf3 C2 OOH possess a lower energy barrier and a better storage capacity. Therefore, Hf3 C2 F1.5 O0.5 and Hf3 C2 OOH are deemed to be a suitable candidate as anode electrode material for Li-ion batteries. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Surface Compositions of Oxide Supported Bimetallic Catalysts: A Compared Study by High-Sensitivity Low Energy Ion Scattering Spectroscopy and X-Ray Photoemission Spectroscopy.

It is well known that there is a critical relationship between the surface composition and catalytic performance for a bimetallic catalyst. However, in most cases, the surface composition is obviously different from that of the bulk. Moreover, the surface is normally reconstructed under reaction conditions. In this personal account, our recent progresses in determining the surface compositions of oxide supported bimetal catalysts by high-sensitivity low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (HS-LEIS) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) are summarized. Phase diagrams of the surface compositions under various conditions as a function of the bulk composition are established and compared. It is found that oxidation induces de-alloying and enrichment of PdO, CuO, SnO2 on the surface, while H2 reduction results in re-alloying. The addition of the second component not only modifies the nature of the active site, but also varies the dispersion of the active components. The support effects are discussed. The compared studies reveal that HS-LEIS can achieve a more reliable surface composition for oxide supported catalysts.

Bifunctional Separator Coated with Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene/Reduced Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Performance of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Although extensive research has been performed in the field of Li-S rechargeable batteries, commercial applications are still hindered by the dissolution of the reaction intermediates of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Through the combination of experimental and theoretical results, a bifunctional separator has been designed by coating hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP)-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which provides effective anchor sites for immobilizing the LiPSs. LiPSs can be adsorbed on the HCCP/rGO surface with moderate binding strength, and their structures and the electrical conductivity of HCCP/rGO are well maintained. The synergetic effect of the effective barrier and good electrical conductivity within the HCCP/rGO sheets efficiently anchors LiPSs and achieves enhanced electrochemical performance. More importantly, different substituents can be used to tune the immobilization of LiPSs by HCCP derivatives. Therefore, it is expected that HCCP and its derivatives can be utilized as a promising anchoring material for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Oxygen-Deficient Titanium Dioxide Nanosheets as More Effective Polysulfide Reservoirs for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

In this work, oxygen-deficient anatase TiO2 nanosheets (A-TiO2-x NSs) are proposed as a substrate to improve the electrochemical properties of sulfur electrodes for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The A-TiO2-x NSs are prepared by partly reducing pristine TiO2 nanosheets (A-TiO2 NSs) in NaBH4 solution. With some oxygen vacancies on the surface of the TiO2 nanosheets, A-TiO2-x NSs not only promote electronic transfer, but also act as more effective polysulfide reservoirs to minimize the dissolution of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) than the A-TiO2 NSs control. Hence, upon utilization as modifiers for cathodes of Li-S batteries, the A-TiO2-x NSs-modified sulfur (A-TiO2-x NSs-S) cathode exhibits a higher reversible specific capacity and greater cycling performance and rate capability than the A-TiO2 NSs-modified one (A-TiO2 NSs-S). For example, A-TiO2-x NSs-S delivers an initial specific capacity of 1277.1 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and maintains a stable Coulombic efficiency of approximately 99.2 % after the first five cycles; these values are higher than those of 997.3 mAh g-1 and around 96.7 %, respectively, for A-TiO2 NSs-S. The enhanced electrochemical properties of the A-TiO2-x NSs-S cathode can be ascribed mainly to the more effective adsorption of dissolvable and diffused LiPSs by the oxygen vacancies. Therefore, utilization of the structure of oxygen vacancies in Li-S batteries demonstrates great prospects for practical application.

Inhibition of autophagy and enhancement of endoplasmic reticulum stress increase sensitivity of osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells to cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2.

WIN55,212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, can activate cannabinoid receptors, which has proven anti-tumour effects in several tumour types. Studies showed that WIN can inhibit tumour cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in diverse cancers. However, the role and mechanism of WIN in osteosarcoma are still unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of WIN55,212-2 on osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2 in terms of cell viability and apoptosis. Meanwhile, we further explored the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in apoptosis induced by WIN55,212-2. Our results showed that the cell proliferation of Saos-2 was inhibited by WIN55,212-2 in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. WIN55,212-2-induced Saos-2 apoptosis through mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Meanwhile, WIN55,212-2 can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in Saos-2 cells. Inhibition of autophagy and enhancement of endoplasmic reticulum stress increased apoptosis induced by WIN55,212-2 in Saos-2 cells. These findings indicated that WIN55,212-2 in combination with autophagic inhibitor or endoplasmic reticulum stress activator may shed new light on osteosarcoma treatment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Radiological evaluation of anterior lumbar fusion using PEEK cages with adjacent vertebral autograft in spinal deformity long fusion surgeries.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic characteristics of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages packed with adjacent vertebral autograft material in lumbar anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) in spinal deformity long fusion surgeries. METHODS: This is a retrospective radiographic study. From April 2008 to April 2012, 40 patients (5 males and 35 females, mean age 67 ± 9 years) with coronal and/or sagittal spine deformities underwent staged corrective surgery combined with lumbar ALIF using PEEK cages at the L3-L4, L4-L5 or L5-S1 segment with posterior long (≥ 4 levels) instrumentation. The mean follow-up time was 27.5 months (13-49 months). We examined the interbody fusion rate and cage subsidence at 3 months postoperatively and final follow-up. Additionally, we evaluated the distance of cage migration at final follow-up and the improvement in lumbar lordosis. The rate of "collapse" of the adjacent vertebra where the autograft was harvested was assessed at the final follow-up. Finally, we examined the cage-related postoperative complications in this series. RESULTS: Solid interbody fusion was achieved in 96.4 % (81/84) of the levels at the final follow-up. A mild forward cage migration was observed, and the mean migration distance at final follow-up was 0.83 mm in L3/4, 0.36 mm in L4/5 and 0.55 mm in L5/S1. There was cage subsidence observed in 8.3 % (7/84) of the levels. In all patients, the PEEK cage maintained a significant increase in segmental lordosis at all postoperative visits. However, a mild reduction in segmental lordosis still occurred with time. The adjacent lumbar vertebral bodies where the autografts were harvested appeared to be intact in height radiologically at the final follow-up. There were no postoperative complications due to bone harvesting or cage insertion. Proximal junctional kyphosis was found in one patient who underwent a subsequent revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of lumbar ALIF with PEEK cages and adjacent vertebral autografts in spinal deformity long fusion surgeries is an effective and safe procedure. The allograft filler is safe and effective in maintaining the shape of harvested vertebrae. Additional long-term follow-up studies are needed to further justify its use.