Optimizing cooperative catalysis of multiple defective interfaces in Pt/mullite catalysts for NO oxidation.

Nitric oxide (NO) oxidation is an integral part of the nitrogen chemical cycle, but competitive activation of NO/O2 over single platinum (Pt)-based catalysts result in inadequate low temperature performance. Here, we constructed catalysts with BiMn2O5/CeO2 and Pt/BiMn2O5 defective interfaces (sufficient activation of NO/O2). The constructed catalyst achieved 95 % NO conversion at 260 °C in NO/O2 atmosphere, superior to most known catalysts. Even after aging (800 °C for 16 h), the NO conversion was up to 76 %. Further, the catalyst can be applied to actual diesel exhaust. Detailed oxygen vacancies (Ov) characterization reveals that BiMn2O5/CeO2 defective interface created by Ce3+-Ov + Mn4+-O ↔ Ce4+-O + Mn3+-Ov promote the activation of NO (on Mn3+ sites) and O2 (on Mn3+-Ov sites). Besides, the Ov on Pt/BiMn2O5 defective interface compensate for the loss of Pt sites ensuring hydrothermal stability. And this construction of multiple defective interfaces develops a pathway for boosting catalytic reactions.

Risk factors for recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy after aneurysm surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Risk factors for recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) after aneurysm surgery explored by meta-analysis. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, web of science, Cochrane library, China Knowledge, Wan fang, and VIP databases were searched for case-control or cohort studies on risk factors of oculomotor nerve palsy recovery after aneurysm surgery, with a cut-off date of 14 February 2024, and data were analyzed using Stata 15. Result: A total of 12 articles involving 866 individuals were included, meta-analysis results suggesting that gender (OR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.51-1.10]), age (OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.93-1.07]), aneurysm size (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [-0.71 to 1.01]), treatment time (OR = 1.01, 95% CI [0.91-1.13]) is not a risk factor for recovery of motor nerve palsy after aneurysm surgery. Preoperative complete ONP (OR = 2.27, 95% CI [1.07-4.81]), surgery (OR = 9.88, 95% CI [2.53-38.57]), subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.06-1.56]) is a risk factor for recovery of motor nerve palsy after aneurysm surgery. Conclusion: Based on the results of the studies we included, we found that complete ONP before surgery led to poorer recovery, but patients with post-operative and subarachnoid hemorrhage had better recovery.

Transforming growth factor-ß1 mediates the beneficial effects of arketamine on demyelination and remyelination in the brains of cuprizone-treated mice.

The novel antidepressant arketamine, the (R)-enantiomer of ketamine, has been shown to ameliorate demyelination and facilitate remyelination in the brains of cuprizone (CPZ)-treated mice. However, the mechanisms behind its effects remain unclear. Given the role of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in arketamine's antidepressant-like effects, we examined whether TGF-ß1 also plays a role in arketamine's effects on demyelination and remyelination in CPZ-treated mice. Additionally, we investigated the effects of intranasal TGF-ß1 on demyelination and remyelination in these mice. Repeated intermittent administration of arketamine (10 mg/kg/day, twice weekly for the last 2-weeks) attenuated demyelination in the corpus callosum (CC) of CPZ (6 weeks)-treated mice. Furthermore, pretreatment with RepSox (10 mg/kg/day), an inhibitor of the TGF-ß receptor 1, significantly blocked the beneficial effects of arketamine on the demyelination in the CC of CPZ-treated mice. Additionally, repeated intermittent administration of TGF-ß1 (3.0 µg/kg/day, twice weekly for 2 weeks) significantly ameliorated demyelination and facilitated remyelination in the CC of CPZ-treated mice. These data suggest that arketamine can mitigate demyelination and facilitates remyelination in the brains of CPZ-treated mice through a TGF-ß1-dependent mechanism.

Comparative study on physicochemical characterization and immunomodulatory activities of neutral and acidic Lycium barbarum polysaccharides.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are recognized as key bioactive constituents of Lycium barbarum with diverse biological activities. However, current research on LBPs is largely confined to crude extracts, offering limited insight into the structural properties underlying their biological effects. In this study, we separated crude LBP into acidic LBP (ALBP) and neutral LBP (NLBP), which exhibited distinct physicochemical properties. ALBP, consisting of 76.18 % galacturonic acid (GalA), demonstrated crystallinity, thermal stability and gelatinous characteristics. In contrast, NLBP, with only 3.16 % GalA, displayed a more porous structure and superior fluidity. Furthermore, functional analysis revealed that NLBP exhibited enhanced immunoregulatory effects by activating dendritic cells and repolarizing macrophages. In a B16F10 melanoma-bearing C57BL/6 J mice model, NLBP significantly inhibited tumor growth with an inhibition rate of 66.7 % through macrophage repolarization. The findings highlight the distinct biological effects of NLBP and ALBP, providing a theoretical foundation for the refined utilization of LBP.

Acriflavine-modified UIO-66 ratiometric fluorescent sensor for highly selective and fast detection of hypochlorite in water.

Hypochlorite (ClO-) as a kind of highly toxic pollutant has garnered significant interest in detection methods, highlighting the pressing need to develop intelligent functional materials for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ClO- in aqueous solutions. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent sensor was prepared by the combination of acriflavine (Acr) and UIO-66 via a post-synthetic modification strategy. Acr/UIO-66 exhibited both high crystallinity typical of metal-organic frameworks and demonstrated good fluorescent and thermal stability. Additionally, Acr/UIO-66 functioned effectively as a dual-responsive fluorescent platform for detecting ClO- in domestic drinking and surface water samples. This material displayed high sensitivity, exceptional selectivity, and superior anti-interference capabilities, along with fast respond time (60 s), a wide pH range (4.0-7.0), high recoveries (94.46-118.00 %), a broad linear range (0-28 µmol L-1) and low detection limits (0.74 µmol L-1). This study broadened the potential applications of fluorescent metal-organic frameworks and presented a feasible solution for water quality monitoring.

[Characteristics of Spatiotemporal Changes in China's Carbon Budget at Different Administrative Scales].

Currently, scientifically and reasonably specifying carbon emission reduction measures in the context of "double carbon" has become a common concern worldwide. China's administrative divisions have a notable impact on the formulation and implementation of relevant policies. Therefore the carbon emissions must be calculated accurately under China's administrative divisions at different scales. The spatiotemporal change characteristics of absorption and carbon emissions can provide scientific basis for the formulation of reasonable and differentiated carbon emission reduction policies in different administrative regions in China. To this end, this study used multi-source data such as remote sensing and statistics and integrated ecological models, statistics, and GIS space analysis and other methods to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic change characteristics of carbon emissions and carbon absorption at different administrative scales （provinces, cities, and counties） in China. The results showed that： ① The total carbon absorption of vegetation in China continued to increase from 2000 to 2021 and the average value gradually increased. Differences were observed in spatiotemporal changes in carbon emissions at different administrative scales. The spatiotemporal changes at smaller scales were more evident. Carbon emissions showed obvious spatial differences of "high in the north and low in the south, high in the east and low in the west." ② The spatiotemporal distribution of CPI at the administrative scale was similar to that of carbon emissions and the overall trend was increasing annually. The pressure of carbon emissions on carbon absorption gradually weakened from the east to the central and western regions. ③ Spatiotemporal hotspot analysis showed that the overall spatial distribution of cold and hot spots in China's carbon absorption was as follows： In the spatial pattern of "hot in the east and cold in the west," the spatial distribution of cold and hot spots of carbon emissions showed agglomeration characteristics. The provincial scale was primarily oscillating hotspot whereas municipal and county scales were majorly continuous hot spots. Further results revealed that： ① Carbon absorption in different regions and periods in China showed significant variability, especially in the central and eastern regions. The possibility of offsetting carbon emissions by increasing carbon absorption remains. ② At the same scale, administrative regions （such as different provinces） and lower-level administrative regions at another scale （such as different cities in the same province） showed varying degrees of variability in carbon absorption and carbon emissions. Therefore, taking provincial administrative regions as an example for subsequent formulation considering carbon trading, emission reduction, and other policies, we should first consider the coordination of emissions between different cities in the province and then consider the coordination between provinces, which is expected to better promote the implementation of relevant policies.

Oxysterols contribute to immune cell recruitment in SLE skin lesions.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal oxysterol metabolism has been observed in the peripheral blood of SLE patients, but its role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) skin lesions remains unclear. METHODS: Targeted oxidized lipid metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed to quantify oxysterols in SLE skin lesions. Immunohistochemical staining and single-cell sequencing data analysis confirmed the upregulation of oxysterol-encoding enzymes CH25H and CYP7B1. The impact on fibroblast-mediated PBMCs chemotaxis was assessed using a transwell chamber. RESULTS: We identified aberrant oxidized cholesterol metabolism in SLE skin lesions, characterized by elevated levels of 7-ketocholesterol, 5α-6α-cholestane-3ß,5α,6ß-triol, and so on. Fibroblasts were the primary cells expressing oxysterol-encoding genes, with CH25H and CYP7B1 expression upregulated via the IL-1ß-mediated p38 MAPK and NFκB pathways. Notably, IL-1ß-stimulated fibroblasts demonstrated enhanced PBMCs recruitment, which was attenuated by a GPR183 inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal a potential mechanism by which fibroblasts contribute to immune cell recruitment in SLE skin lesions by expression of CH25H and CYP7B1. This study underscores the significance of oxysterol metabolism in SLE skin lesion pathogenesis and highlights potential therapeutic targets for SLE skin lesion treatment.

Rational Synthesis of Spongy Fe3N@N-Doped Carbon Nanorods with Controlled Topography and Porosity for Enhanced Energy Storage Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Iron nitrides with the merits of high theoretical capacities, cost-effectiveness, and good electronic/ionic conductivity have been recognized as attractive anode candidates for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Carbon compositing, pore engineering, and nanostructure construction have proved to be effective strategies to prepare high-performance metal nitride anodes for LIBs. Herein, we synthesized a series of Fe3N-embedded and N-doped carbon nanorods (Fe3N@NCNR) with a hierarchical porous system and controllable topography by metal-catalyzed graphitization-nitridization of the Fe(III)-triazole framework (Fe-MOF) and thermal evaporation of the triblock copolymer F127 template assembled in Fe-MOF via hydrogen bonding interaction, followed by the air oxidation and urea-assisted ammonolysis processes. The Fe3N@NCNR as anodes for LIBs display extraordinary lithium storage capabilities with a high reversible capacity of 830 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C, a good rate performance of 576 mAh g-1 at 5 C, and a long-term cycling stability of 742 mA h g-1 over 600 cycles at 1 C. Such outstanding performance benefits from the spongy carbon nanorods with rich macropores for rapid electronic/ionic transport and effective accommodation of electrode volume expansion, abundant N-doped meso-/microporous carbon for the additional storage of Li+ via capacitive effect, and the efficient utilization of Fe3N nanoparticles uniformly distributed through carbon nanorods. Importantly, this work introduces an effective strategy to construct superior performance nitride anodes from MOF surfactants based on hydrogen bonding-driven interface self-assembly and provides insight into the preparation of highly efficient nanoarchitectures for Li+ storage.

Age-specific distribution of oculometric parameters and myopia in children aged 8-12y.

AIM: To describe the distribution of ocular biometrics and to evaluate its associations with refractive error and to assess the contribution from ocular parameters to refractive error among Chinese myopic children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated subjects aged 8-12y. Keratometry, ocular biometry, and cycloplegic autorefraction were performed on each subject. Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and ocular biometrics were assessed as a function of age and gender. The Pearson correlation analysis between SER and ocular biometrics was carried out. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the association between SER and ocular parameters. RESULTS: A total of 689 out of 735 participants (321 boys, 48.1%) were analyzed, with a mean SER of -2.98±1.47 diopter (D). Axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal radius of curvature (CR), horizontal visible iris diameter (HVID), central corneal thickness (CCT) and lens power (LP) showed normal distribution. The AL, AL/CR ratio, ACD and CR increased from 8 to 12y of age, while SER and LP decreased, HVID and CCT remained stable. There was no difference in gender. SER decreased by 0.929 D for every 1 mm increase in AL and decreased by 1.144 D for every 0.1 increase in AL/CR ratio. The Pearson correlation coefficient between SER and AL was -0.538 (P<0.01) and -0.747 (P<0.01) between SER and AL/CR ratio. For the SER variance, AL explained 29.0%, AL/CR ratio explained 55.7%, while AL, CR, ACD and LP explained 99.3% after adjusting for age and gender. CONCLUSION: The AL, CR, ACD and LP are the most important determinants of myopic refractive error during myopia progression.

Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis in China: Epidemiology, Management, Prognosis, and Outlook.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that clinicopathologic phenotypes and ANCA serotypes may differ ethnically and geographically. This review highlights the progress in the prevalence, pathogenesis, management, and outcomes of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) in China. Summary: AAV is not rare in China. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated a significant preponderance of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA AAV in China. Even in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), there is a predominance of MPO-ANCA over proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA, presenting a unique subset. The pathogenesis of AAV is multifactorial, with the role of complement activation being highlighted during recent years. Treatment strategies for AAV in China have also been refined recently. A rapid tapering of glucocorticoids to minimize exposure has been recommended by the Chinese guidelines. Along with a better understanding of the disease, B cell-targeted therapy and complement-targeted therapy are developing. A considerable number of patients in China received rituximab treatment and achieved remission. However, infection risk and associated mortality still remain concerns. Therefore, less rituximab exposure should be considered and evaluated in Chinese AAV patients. Prognostic factors have been reviewed. Of note, along with improved outcomes, there is an increase of cardiovascular and malignant-related death, warranting specific care. Recently, a modified renal risk score model has been validated for early risk prediction in Chinese AAV patients. Moreover, emerging biomarkers for AAV, including complement components, have been identified in Chinese patients. Key Messages: There is a preponderance of MPA and MPO-ANCA in China. Treatment strategies for Chinese AAV patients generally align with those in western countries, and to some extent, less aggressive. Prognostic factors and emerging biomarkers for AAV in China have been identified. Further challenges include optimizing interventions, minimizing treatment-related comorbidities, improving disease monitoring, and enhancing life qualities of AAV patients.

Optimization of Selenization Condition for Efficiency CIGSe Solar Cells Based on Postselenization of CuInGa Precursors.

The degree of selenization of the CIGSe absorbers is controlled by regulating the parameters of the selenization reaction. The structure, element distribution, phase composition of the CIGSe absorbers, and the performances of the solar cells with different selenization degrees are studied. Insufficient selenization will lead to residual Cu2Se phase on the surface and insufficient Na diffusion, which will affect the VCu+ on the surface and the recombination at the front interface. However, excessive selenization will make the MoSe2 layer thicken at the back interface of the CIGSe/Mo, resulting in the increase of the series resistance and the enhancement of the recombination at the back interface. The appropriate selenization degree is conducive to inhibiting the recombination at the front and back interfaces. Improved device performances can be obtained by optimizing the selenization degree of the absorbers.

Case report: A case of intercostal intramuscular hemangioma with sternal invasion.

Background: Intramuscular hemangioma is a vascular malformation occurring in muscle tissues. It is most common in skeletal muscles of limbs, especially lower limbs in childhood. The intercostal intramuscular hemangioma with sternal invasion is very rare. Case presentation: The 47-year-old female patient was hospitalized due to "suddenly chest pain for 4 days". Chest contrast-enhanced CT indicated bony changes in the sternum, accompanied by soft tissue shadows in the posterior sternum and diaphragmatic angle. After admission, physical examination showed: peristernal tenderness, percussion pain, other no obvious positive signs. PET-CT examination indicated that there was a high possibility of benign sternal changes. No cancer cells were found by sternal puncture. Surgical biopsy was performed and pathological findings were consistent with intramuscular hemangioma. Conclusion: Intramuscular hemangioma with bone invasion is very rare, imaging examination is difficult to indicate obvious evidence, preoperative diagnosis is difficult, complete surgical resection is very important, more personalized treatment should be provided according to the overall situation of the patient.

Sleep disturbance in patients with cirrhosis and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance (SD) is a common occurrence in individuals with cirrhosis and significantly impacts their quality of life. Datas regarding post transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) SD are scarce. This study aimed to explore the incidence and outcomes of post-TIPS SD. METHODS: From August 2018 to November 2019, 73 patients who underwent TIPS were prospectively recruited for the study. Sleep quality was evaluated via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the presence of hepatic encephalopathy was evaluated according to the West Haven criteria before and after the TIPS procedure. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (26%) experienced new-onset SD after TIPS, with a median latency of 67 (40-98) days from the procedure. The median time from TIPS creation to occurrence was 67 (40-98) days. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) post-TIPS emerged as an independent predictor of SD, with an odds ratio of 3 (95% CI: 1.04-8.78, P = 0.046). Notably, five of the six (83%) patients with SD experienced improvement after being administered eszopiclone. Ten of the thirteen (77%) patients with SD improved spontaneously without treatment. Furthermore, the prevalence of MHE was significantly greater among patients with SD than among those without SD (58% vs. 31%, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: SD is prevalent in patients who undergo TIPS. MHE is an independent risk factor for the development of SD post-TIPS. Eszopiclone may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with SD after TIPS. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT03685994, with a registration date of September 23, 2018.

Optimising PTV margins in oesophageal cancer radiotherapy: A modern radiotherapy planning, treatment delivery and verification approach - A single institutional analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy plays a key role in the multidisciplinary management of oesophageal cancers across neoadjuvant, definitive and palliative settings. Improved precision in radiotherapy planning and delivery techniques have allowed treating disease with tighter margins reducing toxicity. In this study, we examine the appropriateness of current practice in defining the planning target volume (PTV). METHODS: This is a single institutional retrospective study of patients who received radiotherapy for oesophageal cancers using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) during 2020. All cone-beam computerised tomography (CBCT) scans were reviewed to assess whether PTV expansions appropriately accounted for tumour motion and interfractional variation. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients, 2 (7%), 5 (19%) and 20 (74%) had cervical, thoracic and distal/gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) disease, respectively. 16 (59%) had adenocarcinoma and 9 (33%) had squamous cell carcinoma. 9 of 20 distal/GOJ patients were planned and treated according to the institutional stomach filling protocol. 521/528 (98.7%) CBCTs demonstrated adequate target coverage. Cervical, thoracic and GOJ regions demonstrated adequate target coverage in 57/58, 96/97 and 368/373 CBCTs with median PTV expansions of 5, 7 and 7 mm, respectively. In four patients with GOJ disease, CBCT review identified five episodes where the target volume was insufficiently covered during the treatment course. CONCLUSION: In this single institutional retrospective study, for the vast majority of patients, our institutional practice of defining PTV margins achieved satisfactory target treatment. The interfractional variations observed in patients with GOJ tumours due to target motion and variable gastric volume, highlights the role of further refinements to motion management techniques in this cohort.

RGS22 maintains the physiological function of ependymal cells to prevent hydrocephalus.

Ependymal cells line the wall of cerebral ventricles and ensure the unidirectional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow by beating their motile cilia coordinately. The ependymal denudation or ciliary dysfunction causes hydrocephalus. Here, we report that the deficiency of regulator of G-protein signaling 22 (RGS22) results in severe congenital hydrocephalus in both mice and rats. Interestingly, RGS22 is specifically expressed in ependymal cells within the brain. Using conditional knock-out mice, we further demonstrate that the deletion of Rgs22 exclusively in nervous system is sufficient to induce hydrocephalus. Mechanistically, we show that Rgs22 deficiency leads to the ependymal denudation and impaired ciliogenesis. This phenomenon can be attributed to the excessive activation of lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) signaling under Rgs22-/- condition, as the LPAR blockade effectively alleviates hydrocephalus in Rgs22-/- rats. Therefore, our findings unveil a previously unrecognized role of RGS22 in the central nervous system, and present RGS22 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for hydrocephalus.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Increases the Risk of Severe Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is linked to various intrahepatic and extrahepatic diseases, but its association with severe infectious disease remains to be investigated. METHODS: We analysed data from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank, encompassing participants enrolled in 2016 and 2017 with available abdominal ultrasonography data, and followed them up until December 2022 (median follow-up = 5.71 years). We categorised the participants into the MASLD group and those without steatotic liver disease (non-SLD). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for severe infections in patients with MASLD compared to the non-SLD group. Cumulative incidences were calculated while accounting for competing risks (non-infection-related deaths). Mediation analyses were performed to explore the roles of cardiometabolic risk factors in the association between MASLD and severe infections. RESULTS: Among the 33 072 eligible participants (mean age 56.37 years; 38.20% male), 11 908 (36.01%) were diagnosed with MASLD at baseline. Severe infections occurred in 912 (7.66%) MASLD patients and 1258 (5.94%) non-SLD. The rate of severe infections per 1000 person-years was higher in MASLD patients (13.58) than in comparators (10.48) (fully adjusted HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.30). The most frequent infections in MASLD were respiratory (7.25/1000 person-years) and urinary tract infections (2.61/1000 person-years). The 5-year cumulative incidence of severe infections was 6.79% (95% CI 6.36-7.26) in MASLD and 5.08% (95% CI 4.79-5.38) in comparators. Cardiometabolic risk factors, including waist circumference, triglycerides and HbA1C, partially mediate the association between MASLD and severe infections. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MASLD were at significantly higher risk of incident severe infections compared to the non-SLD group. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking MASLD to severe infections.

Nphos: Database and Predictor of Protein N-phosphorylation.

Protein N-phosphorylation is widely present in nature and participates in various biological processes. However, current knowledge on N-phosphorylation is extremely limited compared to that on O-phosphorylation. In this study, we collected 11,710 experimentally verified N-phosphosites of 7344 proteins from 39 species and subsequently constructed the database Nphos to share up-to-date information on protein N-phosphorylation. Upon these substantial data, we characterized the sequential and structural features of protein N-phosphorylation. Moreover, after comparing hundreds of learning models, we chose and optimized gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) models to predict three types of human N-phosphorylation, achieving mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 90.56%, 91.24%, and 92.01% for pHis, pLys, and pArg, respectively. Meanwhile, we discovered 488,825 distinct N-phosphosites in the human proteome. The models were also deployed in Nphos for interactive N-phosphosite prediction. In summary, this work provides new insights and points for both flexible and focused investigations of N-phosphorylation. It will also facilitate a deeper and more systematic understanding of protein N-phosphorylation modification by providing a data and technical foundation. Nphos is freely available at http://www.bio-add.org/Nphos/ and http://ppodd.org.cn/Nphos/.

Critical Role of S100A9 in Sepsis-associated Acute Kidney Injury: Mechanistic Insights through Pyroptosis Pathway Modulation.

This study investigates the role of S100A9 in sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) through the lens of pyroptosis, a controlled form of cell death mediated by the gasdermin protein family. Using C57BL/6 mice and S100A9 knockout mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to inflammation and immune responses, with notable upregulation of S100A9. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) indicated these DEGs are involved in interferon-beta response, immune processes, and cell adhesion. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses further emphasized S100A9's pivotal role in SA-AKI.Clinical validation measured S100A9 levels in serum and urine samples from SA-AKI patients and healthy volunteers, finding elevated S100A9 levels in the former. In vivo experiments showed that S100A9 knockout mice exhibited reduced kidney injury and inflammation, indicated by lower serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and inflammatory markers (IL-1ß and IL-18). Histopathological analyses and immunohistochemistry confirmed less renal damage and reduced expression of cleaved IL-1ß and GSDMD-N in S100A9-deficient mice. Electron microscopy and Western blotting validated that S100A9 deficiency mitigates caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis.Cellular experiments with HK-2 cells demonstrated that S100A9 knockdown alleviated LPS-induced cell damage and reduced pyroptosis markers. These findings illuminate S100A9's involvement in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for SA-AKI. Targeting S100A9 may offer new therapeutic avenues, improving outcomes for sepsis-related kidney injury patients. Future research should aim to validate these findings in larger clinical settings.

Regulating oxygen vacancies in ammonium vanadate electrode materials for advanced aqueous zinc ion batteries.

In the past decade, vanadates have attracted one's attention as the electrode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). Nevertheless, their structural instability and sluggish ion/electron dynamics lead to an inevitable decline in the electrochemical performance. To address these issues, we introduce oxygen vacancies into NH4V4O10 nanosheets to improve the ion transport rate during the electrochemical reaction. The prepared NHVO-40 samples provide many active sites compared to NH4V4O10 materials. The assembled cell delivers a capacity of 452.03 mAh g-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g-1. It also presents a retention rate of 94.6% at 10 A g-1 after 4000 times cycling. In addition, they still possess an energy density of 332.5 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 70 W kg-1.