Ligand Defect-Induced Active Sites in Ni-MOF-74 for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO.

The conversion of CO2 into valuable carbon-based products using clean and renewable solar energy has been a significant challenge in photocatalysis. It is of paramount importance to develop efficient photocatalysts for the catalytic conversion of CO2 using visible light. In this study, the Ni-MOF-74 material is successfully modified to achieve a highly porous structure (Ni-74-Am) through temperature and solvent modulation. Compared to the original Ni-MOF-74, Ni-74-Am contains more unsaturated Ni active sites resulting from defects, thereby enhancing the performance of CO2 photocatalytic conversion. Remarkably, Ni-74-Am exhibits outstanding photocatalytic performance, with a CO generation rate of 1380 µmol g-1 h-1 and 94% CO selectivity under visible light, significantly surpassing the majority of MOF-based photocatalysts reported to date. Furthermore, experimental characterizations reveal that Ni-74-Am has significantly higher efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole separation and faster carrier migration rate for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. This work enriches the design and application of defective MOFs and provides new insights into the design of MOF-based photocatalysts for renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The findings of this study hold significant promise for developing efficient photocatalysts for CO2 reduction under visible-light conditions.

[Influence of degenerative scoliosis on the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis by MIS-TLIF].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of degenerative scoliosis on the difficulty and efficacy of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: From September 2016 to September 2019, 52 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated by MIS-TLIF were retrospectively analyzed, including 16 males and 36 females, aged from 42 to 71(63.44±5.96) years old, the course of disease from 1.5 to 6.5 years, with an average of (3.69±1.10) years. All patients had lower extremity root pain or numbness, 41 patients had intermittent claudication. There were 31 cases of L4, 5 and 21 cases of L5S1. There were 18 cases in scoliosis group, lumbar spinal stenosis combined withdegenerative scoliosis, and 34 cases in stenosis group, lumbar spinal stenosis alone. The perioperative data and postoperative complications were recorded, the postoperative interbody fusion was evaluated by CT, and the clinical outcomes were evaluated by VAS score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months, with an average of (19.58±5.33) months. The operation time and intraoperative bleeding in stenosis group were better than those in scoliosis group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative drainage volume, postoperative Hb, CRP, postoperative landing time, discharge time, VAS score at discharge and follow-up, ODI score at 3 months and follow up, postoperative complications and interbody fusion rate between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: For patients with lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing MIS-TLIF, degenerative scoliosis can lead to prolonged operation time and increased bleeding. However, it has no significant effect on therelief of postoperative symptoms, postoperative complications and the recovery of lumbar function.

Cooperation between oncogenic Ras and wild-type p53 stimulates STAT non-cell autonomously to promote tumor radioresistance.

Oncogenic RAS mutations are associated with tumor resistance to radiation therapy. Cell-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influence therapy outcomes. However, the nature of these interactions and their role in Ras tumor radioresistance remain unclear. Here we use Drosophila oncogenic Ras tissues and human Ras cancer cell radiation models to address these questions. We discover that cellular response to genotoxic stress cooperates with oncogenic Ras to activate JAK/STAT non-cell autonomously in the TME. Specifically, p53 is heterogeneously activated in Ras tumor tissues in response to irradiation. This mosaicism allows high p53-expressing Ras clones to stimulate JAK/STAT cytokines, which activate JAK/STAT in the nearby low p53-expressing surviving Ras clones, leading to robust tumor re-establishment. Blocking any part of this cell-cell communication loop re-sensitizes Ras tumor cells to irradiation. These findings suggest that coupling STAT inhibitors to radiotherapy might improve clinical outcomes for Ras cancer patients.

[Stiletto needle combined with massotherapy for pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect between Stiletto needle combined with massotherapy and articular injection of sodium hyaluronate for pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 156 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 78 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with Stiletto needle (once a week) combined with massotherapy (twice a week); the patients in the control group were treated with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate (once a week). The treatment period were 5 weeks in total. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, local tenderness value, knee joint activity and Lysholm knee joint score were recorded before treatment, 3 weeks and 5 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS score, local tenderness value, knee joint activity and Lysholm knee joint score in the two groups were improved 5 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 5 weeks of treatment, The local tenderness value and Lysholm knee joint score in the observation group were significantly improved compared with the control group (P<0.05), but the knee joint activity in the control group was superior to that in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Stiletto needle combined with massotherapy are superior to articular injection of sodium hyaluronate in relieving pain and improving knee joint function in patients with early-to-moderate KOA, but its effect on joint activity is inferior to sodium hyaluronate.

Y-chromosome distributions among populations in Northwest China identify significant contribution from Central Asian pastoralists and lesser influence of western Eurasians.

Northwest China is closely adjacent to Central Asia, an intermediate region of the Eurasian continent. Moreover, the Silk Road through the northwest of China once had a vital role in the east-west intercommunications. Nevertheless, little has been known about the genetic makeup of populations in this region. We collected 503 male samples from 14 ethnic groups in the northwest of China, and surveyed 29 Y-chromosomal biallelic markers and 8 short tandem repeats (STRs) loci to reconstruct the paternal architecture. Our results illustrated obvious genetic difference among these ethnic groups, and in general their genetic background is more similar with Central Asians than with East Asians. The ancestors of present northwestern populations were the admixture of early East Asians peopling northwestward and later Central Asians immigrating eastward. This population mixture was dated to occur within the past 10 000 years. The J2-M172 lineages likely entered China during the eastward migration of Central Asians. The influence from West Eurasia through gene flows on the extant ethnic groups in Northwest China was relatively weak.

Y chromosome evidence of earliest modern human settlement in East Asia and multiple origins of Tibetan and Japanese populations.

BACKGROUND: The phylogeography of the Y chromosome in Asia previously suggested that modern humans of African origin initially settled in mainland southern East Asia, and about 25,000-30,000 years ago, migrated northward, spreading throughout East Asia. However, the fragmented distribution of one East Asian specific Y chromosome lineage (D-M174), which is found at high frequencies only in Tibet, Japan and the Andaman Islands, is inconsistent with this scenario. RESULTS: In this study, we collected more than 5,000 male samples from 73 East Asian populations and reconstructed the phylogeography of the D-M174 lineage. Our results suggest that D-M174 represents an extremely ancient lineage of modern humans in East Asia, and a deep divergence was observed between northern and southern populations. CONCLUSION: We proposed that D-M174 has a southern origin and its northward expansion occurred about 60,000 years ago, predating the northward migration of other major East Asian lineages. The Neolithic expansion of Han culture and the last glacial maximum are likely the key factors leading to the current relic distribution of D-M174 in East Asia. The Tibetan and Japanese populations are the admixture of two ancient populations represented by two major East Asian specific Y chromosome lineages, the O and D haplogroups.

Y-chromosome evidence of southern origin of the East Asian-specific haplogroup O3-M122.

The prehistoric peopling of East Asia by modern humans remains controversial with respect to early population migrations. Here, we present a systematic sampling and genetic screening of an East Asian-specific Y-chromosome haplogroup (O3-M122) in 2,332 individuals from diverse East Asian populations. Our results indicate that the O3-M122 lineage is dominant in East Asian populations, with an average frequency of 44.3%. The microsatellite data show that the O3-M122 haplotypes in southern East Asia are more diverse than those in northern East Asia, suggesting a southern origin of the O3-M122 mutation. It was estimated that the early northward migration of the O3-M122 lineages in East Asia occurred approximately 25,000-30,000 years ago, consistent with the fossil records of modern humans in East Asia.

[The polymorphism of Y chromosome and mtDNA distribution among two Bai populations].

In the same ethnic group, people residing at different places may have genetic difference. The difference can be the results of migration and admixture events happened in history. To clarify the genetic relationship and micro-evolution of two Bai ethnic populations residing in Yunnan and Hunan province respectively,we investigated their genetic difference from paternal and maternal genealogy with six other ethnic groups as outgroups. Fourteen loci from mtDNA and thirteen loci from Y chromosome were selected for genotyping using PCR-RFLP methods. Result showed that H6 and H8 are the same dominant Y chromosome haplotypes in two Bai groups. However,the distribution of mtDNA haplogroups showed difference between two Bai populations. D, B, M8 are the predominant haplogroups in Hunan Bai ethnic population, whereas M, G, F are dominant in Yunnan Bai ethnic population. Principal Component (PC) analysis based on the Y chromosome haplotypes showed that two Bai ethic populations cluster together. It shows a close paternal genetic relationship between two Bai ethnic populations. From the mtDNA PC plot, it is clear that Hunan Bai is close to Hunan Han and Tujia, whereas Yunnan Bai is close to ethnic groups living in Yunnan province. The difference of mtDNA haplogroup distribution in two Bai people may reflect the maternal gene flow between ethnic groups living in Hunan province after the ancestors of Hunan Bai migrated from Yunnan province to Hunan province 800 years ago.

[Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA in coding region in 16 ethnic populations of Yunnan].

The genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA in the coding region in 16 ethnic populations of Yunnan was analyzed using PCR-RFLP in a total of 654 samples. Seventeen haplogroups were found, four of which were undefined haplogroups. Haplogroup distribution and Principal Component (PC) analysis showed that the ethnic groups descended from Bai-Yue tribe have B, F and M7 as the predominant haplogroups,which indicated their origination from southern China. Haplogroup A, D and N9 were predominant in the Mongolian ethnic group, reflecting their north-originated characteristics. The groups descended from Di-Qiang tribe shared the predominant haplogroups with both the south and north originated groups,which demonstrated that they inherit the maternal characteristics from both southern and northern populations. There is genetic difference among the populations in the same ethnic group and is usually smaller than that among the ethnic groups from different ancient tribes, but not necessarily smaller than that among the groups from the same tribe.

[Principal component analysis of Y-chromosome haplotype distribution in 18 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province].

Based on the historical records, 18 of the 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province are the descendant populations of three ancient tribes, Bai-Yue, Bai-Pu and Di-Qiang, linguistically belonging to the Daic, Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman, respectively. In order to trace the origins of these native ethnic groups, a total of 13 East Asian specific Y-chromosome biallelic markers were used to study the genetic structure of 20 local populations covering all the 18 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. Haplotypes were analysis by PCR-RFLP method. Our results showed that H11 and H12 were the predominant haplotypes in the descendant populations of Bai-Yue tribe. H5, H6 and H8 were the dominant haplotypes in Di-Qiang descendants, and the frequencies of H6, H8 and H11 were very high in the descendant populations of Bai-Pu. To investigate relationships among 20 populations, a three dimensional PC analysis were performed based on the distribution of the 13 haplotypes. All populations were divided into two clusters in the PC plot. The first cluster was mainly composed by the descendant populations of Bai-Yue, and the second one was mainly composed by the descendants of Di-Qiang tribe. This result indicated that Bai-Yue and Di-Qiang's paternal lineage had different origins, which was in agreement with the historical documents and linguistic classification.

[The frequency distribution of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 mutant alleles in 28 populations from Yunnan].

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency distribution of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) mutant alleles in 28 populations originating from 24 ethnic minorities in Yunnan of China. METHODS: FMO3 genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The average frequencies of FMO3/Stop(148), FMO3/Lys(158) and FMO3/Gly(308) were 0.395(0.174-0.803), 0.208 (0.056-0.414), 0.046(0-0.217), respectively. The frequencies of FMO3/Gly(308) in Blang, Huayaodai, Shuidai, Zhuang, De'ang, Jingpo, Nu and Hui populations were null. CONCLUSION: It was found that the frequencies of FMO3 mutant alleles varied not only in different ethnic groups, but also in different populations that stemmed from the same ethnic group.

[Frequencies distribution of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes in 24 Yunnan populations].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequencies distribution of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes in 24 Yunnan populations. METHODS: GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were analyzed by PCR procedure. RESULTS: The range of frequencies for GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes in the populations were 0.188-0.633 and 0.400-0.745, respectively, and in the districts were 0.286-0.583, 0.433-0.745 respectively. There was significant relationship between GSTT1 frequencies and populations. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes in 24 Yunnan populations were different, but they were almost the same in different districts of Yunnan.