Molecular docking and DFT study of antiproliferative ribofuranose nucleoside derivatives targeting EGFR and VEGFR2in cancer cells.

Antimetabolites are the most effective chemotherapeutics for treating cancer. They have exerted their anticancer effects by interfering with DNA synthesis. Recently, interest in modified nucleoside analogues has grown due to their superior efficiency. Nucleoside analogue derivatives have emerged as crucial candidates for cancer treatment due to their ability to target the cells responsible for cancer within the body specifically. The ability of nucleoside analogues derivatives to target specific molecular pathways has reduced toxicity and increased efficiency compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs. Nucleoside analogues have interfered with physiological nucleosides and induced cytotoxicity in cancerous cells. In this investigation, derivatives of ribofuranose nucleoside analogues have been designed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed at the B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level. The designed molecules have been characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy using the CPCM model in DMSO solvent, and molecular structural parameters, such as HOMO/LUMO and MEPS, have been determined. Derivative d1m has exhibited a high energy gap and low absorption energy compared to the other derivatives. Molecular docking of the designed molecules (d1o-d2m) has been performed with the EGFR and VEGFR2 proteins. d2o has shown good binding energy with the EGFR protein, while d1o has shown good results with VEGFR2. Global chemical parameters and NBO analysis have been conducted to investigate the derivatives charge transfer properties and chemical reactivity. NBO analysis has provided information about the donor and acceptor parts within a molecule, while global chemical parameters have given insights into the reactivity, stability, and solubility of the molecules. It has been found that the derivatives are more chemically reactive, thermodynamically stable, and have better binding affinity than the parent molecule. Based on the analysis, the drug interaction with the cancer-causing protein makes it more effective for cancer treatment.

Shifts in reproductive strategies in the evolutionary trajectory of plant lineages.

Understanding the maintenance and shift in reproductive strategies is a fundamental question in evolutionary research. Although many efforts have been made to compare different reproductive strategies, the association between reproductive strategies and lineage divergence is largely unknown. To explore the impact of different reproductive strategies on lineage divergence, we investigated the evolution of clonality in Saxifraga sect. Irregulares+Heterisia. By integrating several lines of evidence, we found that the loss of clonality in Irregulares+Heterisia was associated with a progressive increase in diversification rate and intraspecific morphological diversity but with a reduction in species distribution range. Our findings provide insights into the ecological and evolutionary effects of different reproductive strategies, suggesting the necessity of integrating clonality into ecological and evolutional research.

Alterations in the gut microbiome after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with hepatitis B virus-related portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota (GM) affects the progression and response to treatment in liver diseases. The GM composition is diverse and associated with different etiologies of liver diseases. Notably, alterations in GM alterations are observed in patients with portal hypertension (PH) secondary to cirrhosis, with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection being a major cause of cirrhosis in China. Thus, understanding the role of GM alterations in patients with HBV infection-related PH is essential. AIM: To evaluate GM alterations in patients with HBV-related PH after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational clinical study. There were 30 patients (with a 100% technical success rate) recruited in the present study. Patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to HBV infection-associated PH who underwent TIPS were enrolled. Stool samples were obtained before and one month after TIPS treatment, and GM was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS: One month after TIPS placement, 8 patients developed hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and were assigned to the HE group; the other 22 patients were assigned to the non-HE group. There was no substantial disparity in the abundance of GM at the phylum level between the two groups, regardless of TIPS treatment (all, P > 0.05). However, following TIPS placement, the following results were observed: (1) The abundance of Haemophilus and Eggerthella increased, whereas that of Anaerostipes, Dialister, Butyricicoccus, and Oscillospira declined in the HE group; (2) The richness of Eggerthella, Streptococcus, and Bilophila increased, whereas that of Roseburia and Ruminococcus decreased in the non-HE group; and (3) Members from the pathogenic genus Morganella appeared in the HE group but not in the non-HE group. CONCLUSION: Intestinal microbiota-related synergism may predict the risk of HE following TIPS placement in patients with HBV-related PH. Prophylactic microbiome therapies may be useful for preventing and treating HE after TIPS placement.

Activation of 5-HT6 Receptors in the Ventrolateral Orbital Cortex Produces Anti-Anxiodepressive Effects in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain.

The comorbidity of anxiety and depression frequently occurs in patients with neuropathic pain. The ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) plays a critical role in mediating neuropathic pain and anxiodepression in rodents. Previous studies suggested that 5-HT6 receptors in the VLO are involved in neuropathic pain. Strong evidence supports a close link between 5-HT6 receptors and affective disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. However, it remains unclear whether the 5-HT6 receptors in the VLO are involved in neuropathic pain-induced anxiodepression. Using a rat neuropathic pain model of spared nerve injury (SNI), we demonstrated that rats exhibited significant anxiodepression-like behaviors and the expression of VLO 5-HT6 receptors obviously decreased four weeks after SNI surgery. Microinjection of the 5-HT6 receptor agonist EMD-386088 into the VLO or overexpression of VLO 5-HT6 receptors alleviated anxiodepression-like behaviors. These effects were blocked by pre-microinjection of a selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist (SB-258585) or inhibitors of AC (SQ-22536), PKA (H89), and MEK1/2 (U0126) respectively. Meanwhile, the expression of p-ERK, p-CREB, and BDNF in the VLO decreased four weeks after SNI surgery. Furthermore, administration of EMD-386088 upregulated the expression of BDNF, p-ERK, and p-CREB in the VLO of SNI rats, which were reversed by pre-injection of SB-258585. These findings suggest that activating 5-HT6 receptors in the VLO has anti-anxiodepressive effects in rats with neuropathic pain via activating AC-cAMP-PKA-MERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. Accordingly, 5-HT6 receptor in the VLO could be a potential target for the treatment of the comorbidity of neuropathic pain and anxiodepression.

Regulating Planarized Intramolecular Charge Transfer for Efficient Single-Phase White-Light Emission in Undoped Metal-Organic Framework Nanocrystals.

The technology of combining multiple emission centers to exploit white-light-emitting (WLE) materials by taking advantage of porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is mature, but preparing undoped WLE MOFs remains a challenge. Herein, a pressure-treated strategy is reported to achieve efficient white photoluminescence (PL) in undoped [Zn(Tdc)(py)]n nanocrystals (NCs) at ambient conditions, where the Commission International del'Eclairage coordinates and color temperature reach (0.31, 0.37) and 6560 K, respectively. The initial [Zn(Tdc)(py)]n NCs exhibit weak-blue PL consisting of localized excited (LE) and planarized intramolecular charge transfer (PLICT) states. After pressure treatment, the emission contributions of LE and PLICT states are balanced by increasing the planarization of subunits, thereby producing white PL. Meanwhile, the reduction of nonradiative decay triggered by the planarized structure results in 5-fold PL enhancement. Phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes based on pressure-treated samples show favorable white-light characteristics. The finding provides a new platform for the development of undoped WLE MOFs.

Animated VR and 360-degree VR to assess and train team sports decision-making: a scoping review.

Introduction: In team sports, athletes' ability to make quick decisions plays a crucial role. Decision-making proficiency relies on the intricate balance of athletes' perceptual and cognitive abilities, enabling them to assess the competitive environment swiftly and select the most appropriate actions from various options. Virtual reality (VR) technology is emerging as a valuable tool for evaluating and refining athletes' decision-making skills. This study systematically examined the integration of VR technology into decision-making processes in team sports, aiming to identify more effective methods for presenting and interacting with virtual decision-making systems, thus enhancing the evaluation and refinement of athletes' decision making abilities. Methods: Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a thorough search of respected research databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and IEEE, was conducted using carefully selected keywords. Results: Twenty research papers meeting predefined inclusion criteria were included after careful evaluation. These papers were systematically analyzed to delineate the attributes of virtual decision-making task environments, the interactive dynamics inherent in motor decision-making tasks, and the significant findings. Discussion: This review indicate that (1) the effectiveness of VR technology in assessing and improving athletes' decision-making skills in team sports; (2) the construction of virtual environments using the Head-Mounted Display (HMD) system, characterized by enhanced ease and efficiency; (3) the potential for future investigations to explore computer simulations to create more expansive virtual motion scenarios, thus efficiently generating substantial task scenario material, diverging from the constraints posed by 360-degree panoramic videos; and (4) the integration of motion capture technology for identifying and monitoring athletes' decision-making behaviors, which not only enhances ecological validity but also augments the transfer validity of virtual sports decision-making systems. Future research endeavors could explore integrating eye-tracking technology with virtual reality to gain insights into the intrinsic cognitive-action associations exhibited by athletes.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Regulating Second Coordination Shell of Ce Atom Site and Reshaping of Carrier Enable Single-Atom Nanozyme to Efficiently Express Oxidase-like Activity.

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs) are considered to be ideal substitutes for natural enzymes due to their high atom utilization. This work reported a strategy to manipulate the second coordination shell of the Ce atom and reshape the carbon carrier to improve the oxidase-like activity of SANs. Internally, S atoms were symmetrically embedded into the second coordination layer to form a Ce-N4S2-C structure, which reduced the energy barrier for O2 reduction, promoted the electron transfer from the Ce atom to O atoms, and enhanced the interaction between the d orbital of the Ce atom and p orbital of O atoms. Externally, in situ polymerization of mussel-inspired polydopamine on the precursor helps capture metal sources and protects the 3D structure of the carrier during pyrolysis. On the other hand, polyethylene glycol (PEG) modulated the interface of the material to enhance water dispersion and mass transfer efficiency. As a proof of concept, the constructed PEG@P@Ce-N/S-C was applied to the multimodal assay of butyrylcholinesterase activity.

General anesthetic agents induce neurotoxicity through oligodendrocytes in the developing brain.

General anesthetic agents can impact brain function through interactions with neurons and their effects on glial cells. Oligodendrocytes perform essential roles in the central nervous system, including myelin sheath formation, axonal metabolism, and neuroplasticity regulation. They are particularly vulnerable to the effects of general anesthetic agents resulting in impaired proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Neurologists are increasingly interested in the effects of general anesthetic agents on oligodendrocytes. These agents not only act on the surface receptors of oligodendrocytes to elicit neuroinflammation through modulation of signaling pathways, but also disrupt metabolic processes and alter the expression of genes involved in oligodendrocyte development and function. In this review, we summarize the effects of general anesthetic agents on oligodendrocytes. We anticipate that future research will continue to explore these effects and develop strategies to decrease the incidence of adverse reactions associated with the use of general anesthetic agents.

Prognostic model incorporating immune checkpoint genes to predict the immunotherapy efficacy for lung adenocarcinoma: a cohort study integrating machine learning algorithms.

This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) for predicting prognosis and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. A total of 385 LUAD patients from the TCGA database and 269 LUAD patients in the combined dataset (GSE41272 + GSE50081) were divided into training and validation cohorts, respectively. Three different machine learning algorithms including random forest (RF), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis, and support vector machine (SVM) were employed to select the predictive markers from 82 ICGs to construct the prognostic nomogram. The X-tile software was used to stratify patients into high- and low-risk subgroups based on the nomogram-derived risk scores. Differences in functional enrichment and immune infiltration between the two subgroups were assessed using gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and various algorithms. Additionally, three lung cancer cohorts receiving ICB therapy were utilized to evaluate the ability of the model to predict ICB efficacy in the real world. Five ICGs were identified as predictive markers across all three machine learning algorithms, leading to the construction of a nomogram with strong potential for prognosis prediction in both the training and validation cohorts (all AUC values close to 0.800). The patients were divided into high- (risk score ≥ 185.0) and low-risk subgroups (risk score < 185.0). Compared to the high-risk subgroup, the low-risk subgroup exhibited enrichment in immune activation pathways and increased infiltration of activated immune cells, such as CD8 + T cells and M1 macrophages (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the low-risk subgroup had a greater likelihood of benefiting from ICB therapy and longer progression-free survival (PFS) than did the high-risk subgroup (P < 0.05) in the two cohorts receiving ICB therapy. A nomogram based on ICGs was constructed and validated to aid in predicting prognosis and ICB treatment efficacy in LUAD patients.

Predictive Model to Identify the Long Time Survivor in Patients with Glioblastoma: A Cohort Study Integrating Machine Learning Algorithms.

We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for identifying long-term survivors (LTS) among glioblastoma (GB) patients, defined as those with an overall survival (OS) of more than 3 years. A total of 293 GB patients from CGGA and 169 from TCGA database were assigned to training and validation cohort, respectively. The differences in expression of immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) and immune infiltration landscape were compared between LTS and short time survivor (STS) (OS<1.5 years). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to identify the genes differentially expressed between LTS and STS. Three different machine learning algorithms were employed to select the predictive genes from the overlapping region of DEGs and WGCNA to construct the nomogram. The comparison between LTS and STS revealed that STS exhibited an immune-resistant status, with higher expression of ICGs (P<0.05) and greater infiltration of immune suppression cells compared to LTS (P<0.05). Four genes, namely, OSMR, FMOD, CXCL14, and TIMP1, were identified and incorporated into the nomogram, which possessed good potential in predicting LTS probability among GB patients both in the training (C-index, 0.791; 0.772-0.817) and validation cohort (C-index, 0.770; 0.751-0.806). STS was found to be more likely to exhibit an immune-cold phenotype. The identified predictive genes were used to construct the nomogram with potential to identify LTS among GB patients.

Theory-Guided Experimental Design of Covalent Triazine Frameworks for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

The high crystalline covalent triazine framework-1 (CTF-1), composed of alternating triazine and phenylene, has emerged as an efficient photocatalyst for solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, it is of great challenge to further improve photocatalytic HER performance via increasing crystallinity due to its near-perfect crystallization. Herein, an alternative strategy of scaffold functionalization is employed to optimize the energy band structure of crystalline CTF-1 for boosting hydrogen-evolving activity. Guided by the computational predictions, versatile CTF-based polymer photocatalysts are prepared with different functional groups (OH, NH2, COOH) using binary polymerization for practical hydrogen production. Experiment evidence verifies that the introduction of a limited number of electron-donating groups is sufficient to maintain high crystallinity in CTF, modulate the band structure, broaden visible light absorption, and consequently enhance its photophysical properties. Notably, the functionalization with OH exhibits the most positive effect on CTF-1, delivering a photocatalytic activity with a hydrogen-producing rate exceeding 100 µmol h-1.

Development of a new Cox model for predicting long-term survival in hepatitis cirrhosis patients underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

BACKGROUND: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is a procedure that can effectively treat complications of portal hypertension, such as variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. However, there have been no specific studies on predicting long-term survival after TIPS placement. AIM: To establish a model to predict long-term survival in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis after TIPS. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 224 patients who underwent TIPS implantation. Through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, various factors were examined for their ability to predict survival at 6 years after TIPS. Consequently, a composite score was formulated, encompassing the indication, shunt reasonability, portal venous pressure gradient (PPG) after TIPS, percentage decrease in portal venous pressure (PVP), indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) and total bilirubin (Tbil) level. Furthermore, the performance of the newly developed Cox (NDC) model was evaluated in an internal validation cohort and compared with that of a series of existing models. RESULTS: The indication (variceal bleeding or ascites), shunt reasonability (reasonable or unreasonable), ICGR15, postoperative PPG, percentage of PVP decrease and Tbil were found to be independent factors affecting long-term survival after TIPS placement. The NDC model incorporated these parameters and successfully identified patients at high risk, exhibiting a notably elevated mortality rate following the TIPS procedure, as observed in both the training and validation cohorts. Additionally, in terms of predicting the long-term survival rate, the performance of the NDC model was significantly better than that of the other four models [Child-Pugh, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-sodium and the Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival]. CONCLUSION: The NDC model can accurately predict long-term survival after the TIPS procedure in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis, help identify high-risk patients and guide follow-up management after TIPS implantation.

MD investigation on the differences in the dynamic interactions between the specific ligand azamulin and two CYP3A isoforms, 3A4 and 3A5.

The unmarked potential drug molecule azamulin has been found to be a specific inhibitor of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in recent years, but this molecule also shows different binding ability and affinity to the two CYP3A isoforms. In order to explore the microscopic mechanism, conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods were performed to study the dynamic interactions between two isoforms and azamulin. The simulation results show that the binding of the ligand leads to different structural properties of two CYP3A proteins. First of all, compared with apo-CYP3A4, the binding of the ligand azamulin can lead to changes in the structural flexibility of CYP3A4, i.e., holo-CYP3A4 is more flexible than apo-CYP3A4. The structural changes of CYP3A5 are just the opposite. The ligand binding increases the rigidity of CYP3A5. Furthermore, the representative structures of the production phase in the MD simulation were in details analyzed to obtain the microscopic interactions between the ligand azamulin and two CYP3A isoforms at the atomic level. It is speculated that the difference of composition and interaction of the active sites is the fundamental cause of the change of structural properties of the two proteins.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Protoilludane-Type and Related Nor-Sesquiterpenes from Phellinus hartigii and Their Anti-Hypertrophic Activities in Rat Cardiomyocytes.

Three nor-sesquiterpenes, phellinharts A-C (1-3), isolated from Phellinus hartigii, exhibited unprecedented protoilludane and cerapicane-type structures. The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated via spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations, and X-ray diffraction. Potential biogenic pathways involving demethylation, ring cleavage, and rearrangement were proposed. Compounds 1-3 displayed potent anti-hypertrophic activities with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 50 µM) in rat cardiomyocytes, underscoring their therapeutic potential.

Efficient biosynthesis of prunin in methanol cosolvent system by an organic solvent-tolerant α-L-rhamnosidase from Spirochaeta thermophila.

Prunin of desirable bioactivity and bioavailability can be transformed from plant-derived naringin by the key enzyme α-L-rhamnosidase. However, the production was limited by unsatisfactory properties of α-L-rhamnosidase such as thermostability and organic solvent tolerance. In this study, biochemical characteristics, and hydrolysis capacity of a novel α-L-rhamnosidase from Spirochaeta thermophila (St-Rha) were investigated, which was the first characterized α-L-rhamnosidase for Spirochaeta genus. St-Rha showed a higher substrate specificity towards naringin and exhibited excellent thermostability and methanol tolerance. The Km of St-Rha in the methanol cosolvent system was decreased 7.2-fold comparing that in the aqueous phase system, while kcat/Km value of St-Rha was enhanced 9.3-fold. Meanwhile, a preliminary conformational study was implemented through comparative molecular dynamics simulation analysis to explore the mechanism underlying the methanol tolerance of St-Rha for the first time. Furthermore, the catalytic ability of St-Rha for prunin preparation in the 20% methanol cosolvent system was explored, and 200 g/L naringin was transformed into 125.5 g/L prunin for 24 h reaction with a corresponding space-time yield of 5.2 g/L/h. These results indicated that St-Rha was a novel α-L-rhamnosidase suitable for hydrolyzing naringin in the methanol cosolvent system and provided a better alternative for improving the efficient production yield of prunin.

Histone lactylation inhibits RARγ expression in macrophages to promote colorectal tumorigenesis through activation of TRAF6-IL-6-STAT3 signaling.

Macrophages are phenotypically and functionally diverse in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, how to remodel macrophages with a protumor phenotype and how to manipulate them for therapeutic purposes remain to be explored. Here, we show that in the TME, RARγ is downregulated in macrophages, and its expression correlates with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In macrophages, RARγ interacts with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), which prevents TRAF6 oligomerization and autoubiquitination, leading to inhibition of nuclear factor κB signaling. However, tumor-derived lactate fuels H3K18 lactylation to prohibit RARγ gene transcription in macrophages, consequently enhancing interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the TME and endowing macrophages with tumor-promoting functions via activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in CRC cells. We identified that nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) exerts effective antitumor action by directly binding to RARγ to inhibit TRAF6-IL-6-STAT3 signaling. This study unravels lactate-driven macrophage function remodeling by inhibition of RARγ expression and highlights NDGA as a candidate compound for treating CRC.

Density Functional Calculation and Evaluation of the Spectroscopic Properties and Luminescent Material Application Potential of the N-Heterocyclic Platinum(II) Tetracarbene Complexes.

A series of reported Pt(II) carbene complexes possibly have the ability to serve as the new generation of blue emitters in luminescent devices because of their narrow emission spectra, high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs), and rigid molecular skeleton. However, the combination of all carbene ligands with different multidentate structures will affect the overall planarity and horizontal dipole ratio to varying degrees, but the specific extent of this effect has not previously been analyzed in detail. In this work, density functional computation is used to study a class of platinum tetracarbene bidentate complexes with similar absorption and emission band characteristics, which is the main reason for the remarkable difference in quantum efficiency due to subtle differences in electronic states caused by different ligands. From the calculation results, the major reason, which results in significantly decrease in quantum efficiency for [Pt(cyim)2]2+, is that [Pt(cyim)2]2+ can reach the non-radiative deactivation metal-centered d-d excited state through an easier pathway compared with [Pt(meim)2]2+. The result, based on changes in the dihedral angle between ligands, can achieve the goal of improving and designing materials by adjusting the degree of the dihedral angle. (meim: bis(1,1'-dimethyl-3,3'-methylene-diimidazoline-2,2'-diylidene); cyim: bis(1,1'-dicyclohexyl-3,3'-methylene-diimidazoline-2,2'-diylidene).

Solvent-Promoted Catalyst-Free Recycling of Waste Polyester and Polycarbonate Materials.

Polymeric materials are indispensable in our daily lives. However, the generation of vast amounts of waste polymers poses significant environmental and ecological challenges. Instead of resorting to landfilling or incineration, strategies for polymer recycling offer a promising approach to mitigate environmental pollution. Pioneering studies have demonstrated the alcoholysis of waste polyesters and polycarbonates; however, these processes typically require the use of catalysts. Moreover, the development of strategies for catalyst removal and recycling is crucial, particularly in some industrial applications. In contrast, we present a catalyst-free method for the alcoholysis of common polyester and polycarbonate materials into small organic molecules. Certain polar organic solvents exhibit remarkable efficiency in polymer degradation under catalyst-free conditions. Employing these polar solvents, both polymer resins and commercially available products could be effectively degraded via alcoholysis. Our design contributes a straightforward route for recycling waste polymeric materials.

Activation of 5-HT5A receptor in the ventrolateral orbital cortex produces antinociceptive effects in rat models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

The ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) is identified as an integral component of the endogenous analgesic system comprising a spinal cord - thalamic nucleus submedius - VLO - periaqueductal gray (PAG) - spinal cord loop. The present study investigates the effects of 5-HT5A receptor activation in the VLO on allodynia induced by spared nerve injury and formalin-evoked flinching behavior and spinal c-Fos expression in male SD rats, and further examines whether GABAergic modulation is involved in the effects evoked by VLO 5-HT5A receptor activation. We found an upregulation of 5-HT5A receptor expression in the VLO during neuropathic and inflammatory pain states. Microinjection of the non-selective 5-HT5A receptor agonist 5-CT into the VLO dose dependently alleviated allodynia, and flinching behavior and spinal c-Fos expression, which were blocked by the selective 5-HT5A receptor antagonist SB-699551. Moreover, application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline in the VLO augmented the analgesic effects induced by 5-CT in neuropathic and inflammatory pain states, whereas the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol attenuated these analgesic effects. Additionally, the 5-HT5A receptors were found to be colocalized with GABAergic neurons in the VLO. These results provide new evidence for the involvement of central 5-HT5A receptors in the VLO in modulation of neuropathic and inflammatory pain and support the hypothesis that activation of 5-HT5A receptors may inhibit the inhibitory effect of GABAergic interneurons on output neurons projecting to the PAG (GABAergic disinhibitory mechanisms), consequently activating the brainstem descending inhibitory system that depresses nociceptive transmission at the spinal cord level.