Clinical Analysis of Risk Factors and Perinatal Outcomes in Recurrent Pre-Eclampsia with Severe Features.

To analyze the differences in risk factors and pregnancy outcomes between recurrent and initial pre-eclampsia(PE) with severe features. Data from recurrent (n = 128) and initial (n = 904) PE with severe features who terminated their pregnancy or gave birth at 20 weeks of gestation or later at the tertiary teaching hospital (Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Women and Children's Healthcare Hospital) from January 2016 to December 2022 were collected. Risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features and differences in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were assessed using the chi-square test, student t-test, or nonparametric test. Independent risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features were further analyzed by logistic regression. (1) Logistic regression analysis identified 3 independent risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features: history of cesarean section, rural residence and chronic hypertension. In addition, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is an independent risk factor for initial PE with severe features; (2) The incidence of oligohydramnios, chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, stillbirth, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and abnormal umbilical blood flow was higher in the recurrent PE with severe features group than in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). In contrast, the incidence of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) was higher in the group of initial PE with severe features(P < 0.05); (3) In the recurrent PE with severe features group, gestational age(GA) of birth and birth weight were lower than those in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). Also, the incidence of mild asphyxia, the rate of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization, length of stay in NICU, and the rate of abandoning treatment in the recurrent PE with severe features group were higher than those in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). 3 independent risk factors was identified for recurrent PE with severe features: history of cesarean section, rural residence and chronic hypertension. Women with recurrent PE with severe features are more likely to have adverse perinatal outcomes than those with initial PE with severe features.

Silver sulfide anchored bismuth molybdate p-n heterojunction nano-coating with excellent photo-thermal self-healing performance.

In this research, a self-healing nano-coating with excellent photo-thermal response to near-infrared (NIR) laser is prepared. This coating incorporates silver sulfide anchored bismuth molybdate (Ag2S@Bi2MoO6) into a shape memory epoxy resin to achieve for a good photo-thermal conversion capability. The Ag2S@Bi2MoO6 p-n heterojunction could photo-generate more electron-holes pairs under the NIR laser irradiation. Also, it shows a wider absorption range of visible light, leading to effectively absorb the light energy, generate enough heat to induce the shape memory recovery in the coating, and seal the scratch. The results indicate that the temperature of EP-1 % Ag2S@Bi2MoO6 coating has reached about 88 °C, while good self-healing and anti-corrosion properties with a self-healing rate of 88.41 % have been achieved. Furthermore, calculations based on Density Functional Theory and Finite Element Method pointed out that the formation of p-n heterojunction effectively has enhanced the photo-thermal effect. This research opens a new way for developing self-healing coatings with an ultra-fast response time and high self-healing efficiency.

Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Drinking Water Type of Endemic Fluorosis - China, 2009-2022.

What is already known about this topic?: Endemic fluorosis, caused by high fluoride levels in drinking water, has been a significant health issue in rural areas of China for many decades. What is added by this report?: There has been a notable decline in the detection rate of dental fluorosis in children aged 8-12 years in drinking water fluorosis areas across the country from 2009 to 2022. While 14 provincial-level administrative divisions are classified as low-probability clusters, Tianjin remains classified as a high-probability cluster. What are the implications for public health practice?: The current policy for preventing and controlling endemic fluorosis in China needs adjustment. Rather than focusing solely on regions with high incidence, there should be a shift towards monitoring and early warning of fluoride exposure. Additionally, local containment measures should be intensified.

Association between circulating unsaturated fatty acid and preeclampsia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, several studies have reported an association between unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and the risk of developing preeclampsia; however, its exact causal effect is unclear. This study assessed the causal association between circulating UFAs and preeclampsia. METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data for circulating UFA s (N = 114,999) and preeclampsia (N = 118,291) was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with exposure was selected as instrumental variables (IVs). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) test was used as the primary method for estimating causality in MR analysis, while MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) and MR-Egger regression methods were used to assess horizontal pleiotropy. Cochran's Q test was used to evaluate heterogeneity among SNPs, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was used to determine the effect of individual SNPs on the results of the MR analysis. Bonferroni correction was used as a correction for multiple corrections. RESULTS: Two-sample MR analysis suggested that the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) to total fatty acids (OR 1.150, 95% CI 1.006-1.315, p = 0.041), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to total fatty acids (OR 0.805, 95% CI 0.658-0.986, p = 0.036) and the ratio of PUFAs to MUFAs (OR 0.807, 95% CI 0.694-0.938, p = 0.005) were causally associated with preeclampsia. After Bonferroni correction, the causal association between the ratio of polyunsaturated to MUFAs and preeclampsia remained statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: This MR analysis provides evidence for a genetic causal association between circulating UFAs and preeclampsia.

Influencing Factors of Quality of Life and Prediction Model Building in Patients with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of quality of life (QOL) and establish a prediction model in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study was conducted on 245 patients with PNS admitted to Zibo Central Hospital from August 2020 to August 2022. According to the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) for QOL evaluation, the patients were divided into the good QOL group (the total score ≥50 points) and poor QOL group (the total score <50 points). Univariate analysis was conducted by collecting clinical data from patients, and multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out on single factors with statistically significant differences to construct a clinical prediction model. The diagnostic efficacy of the prediction model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: A total of 245 questionnaires were distributed, and 243 valid questionnaires were recovered, in which 143 cases had good QOL, with an average score of (71.86 ± 10.83) points, and 100 cases had poor QOL, with an average score of (40.03 ± 5.95) points. Statistical differences were observed in age, education level, monthly family average income, payment methods of medical expenses, albumin, 24-hour urinary protein quantification (24 h UPro) and serum uric acid (SUA) in both groups (p < 0.05), whereas no statistical difference was found in gender, body mass index (BMI) and marital status (p > 0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (X1), monthly family average income (X2), payment methods of medical expenses (X3), albumin (X4), 24 h UPro (X5) and SUA (X6) were risk factors for the QOL of patients with PNS, with Y = -12.105 + 0.130X1 + 0.457X2 + 0.448X3 + -0.161X4 + 0.823X5 + 0.025X6 as the regression prediction model. The results of ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.987 with standard error of 0.005 (p < 0.001), and 95% CI was 0.976-0.998. CONCLUSIONS: Age, monthly family average income, payment methods of medical expenses, albumin, 24 h UPro and SUA are risk factors that affect the QOL of patients with PNS, and the construction of prediction model has good evaluation value and can provide a reference for clinical practice.

Vertical growth of compact and large-area MoS2 nanosheet arrays on Ti3C2Tx for efficient bifunctional electrochemical energy storage and hydrogen evolution.

The developments in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and supercapacitor technologies for electrochemical energy storage and conversion have received considerable attention. Although MoS2 is electrochemically active for both HER and supercapacitors, limited active sites, slow ionic transport, and poor conductivity lead to its poor capacitance and electrocatalytic activity. Herein, hierarchical Ti3C2Tx/MoS2/Ti3C2Tx@CC (TMT@CC) composites were well-designed as electrodes for both HER and supercapacitors. Flexible TMT@CC electrodes with an area as large as âˆ¼ 80 cm2 and optimal mass-loading of 17.9 mg cm-2 were achieved. The inner layer Ti3C2Tx in the composites provides ideal nucleation sites for the growth of MoS2 arrays, and the outermost Ti3C2Tx effectively anchors the vertically arrayed MoS2. The hierarchically vertical structure provides strong interfacial coupling and shortens ion diffusion paths, leading to high stability and fast ion/electron transport kinetics. Due to such a synergistic effect, the flexible binder-free TMT@CC electrodes exhibited high areal capacitance (5.06 F cm-2 at 5 mA cm-2) for supercapacitors and low overpotential (119 mV versus RHE at 10 mA cm-2) for HER catalyst. Furthermore, a high energy density of 0.125 mWh cm-2 at a power density of 1.5 mW cm-2 has been achieved from the TMT@CC-based symmetric supercapacitor. Our strategy can be expanded to other vertically arrayed hierarchical structures as electrode materials of efficient HER and supercapacitors.

Influencing Factors of Quality of Life and Prediction Model Building in Patients with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study

Objective: This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of quality of life (QOL) and establish a prediction model in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Methods: A single-centre retrospective study was conducted on 245 patients with PNS admitted to Zibo Central Hospital from August 2020 to August 2022. According to the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) for QOL evaluation, the patients were divided into the good QOL group (the total score ≥50 points) and poor QOL group (the total score <50 points). Univariate analysis was conducted by collecting clinical data from patients, and multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out on single factors with statistically significant differences to construct a clinical prediction model. The diagnostic efficacy of the prediction model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A total of 245 questionnaires were distributed, and 243 valid questionnaires were recovered, in which 143 cases had good QOL, with an average score of (71.86 ± 10.83) points, and 100 cases had poor QOL, with an average score of (40.03 ± 5.95) points. Statistical differences were observed in age, education level, monthly family average income, payment methods of medical expenses, albumin, 24-hour urinary protein quantification (24 h UPro) and serum uric acid (SUA) in both groups (p < 0.05), whereas no statistical difference was found in gender, body mass index (BMI) and marital status (p > 0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (X1), monthly family average income (X2), payment methods of medical expenses (X3), albumin (X4), 24 h UPro (X5) and SUA (X6) were risk factors for the QOL of patients with PNS, with Y = –12.105 + 0.130X1 + 0.457X2 + 0.448X3 + –0.161X4 + 0.823X5 + 0.025X6 as the regression prediction model (AU)

Mechanistic Insight of Polymer Effects on the Kinetic of Solution-Mediated Phase Transformation of Nitrofurantoin Anhydrate to Monohydrate.

PURPOSE: Nitrofurantoin is an effective antibacterial drug for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection. However, the anhydrate form can easily transform to the less soluble hydrate form (monohydrate) during dissolution, resulting in a reduction of dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. Therefore, inhibition of phase transformation is vital to stabilize the quality of drugs. METHODS: In this work, the potential of polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K30), poloxamer 188 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to inhibit the hydration of nitrofurantoin during dissolution was investigated by experimental and simulation approaches. RESULTS: The rates of phase transformation were decreased in the presence of PEG 8000 and poloxamer 188, and PVP K30 and HPMC completely inhibited the phase transformation of anhydrate. The abundant hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups of PVP and HPMC may easily establish intermolecular interactions with nitrofurantoin molecules, accounting for stronger inhibition of nucleation. Besides, the molecular dynamic simulation further indicated the formation of more extensive interactions between PVP K30 (or HPMC) and the (111) face of monohydrate, suggesting that the strong absorption of polymers on the surface and thus block the sites for incorporation of new growth. CONCLUSION: This study provides a mechanistic insight into the inhibition of nitrofurantoin hydration by polymeric additives, which helps design formulations and improve the physical stability of anhydrate.

A Bioinspired Skin UV Filter with Broadband UV Protection, Photostability, and Resistance to Oxidative Damage.

In recent years, sunscreens' adverse impacts on the environment and biology have gained wide attention. The improvement of sunscreen safety has become one of the major priorities in skin photoprotection research. It is an effective strategy to develop bionic photoprotective materials by simulating the photoprotective mechanism existing in nature. Inspired by the photoprotective mechanisms of skin and plant leaves, the bionic photoprotective material CS-SA-PDA nanosheet was developed using the free radical grafting method and Michael addition, with natural melanin analogue polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles and plant sunscreen molecular sinapic acid (SA) as sun protection factors and natural polymer chitosan (CS) as the connecting arm. The results show that CS-SA-PDA can effectively shield UVB and UVA due to the possible synergistic effect between PDA and SA. The introduction of polymer CS significantly improved the photostability of SA and reduced the skin permeability of PDA nanoparticles. The CS-SA-PDA nanosheet can also effectively scavenge photoinduced free radicals. Furthermore, in vivo toxicity and anti-UV evaluations confirm that CS-SA-PDA has no skin irritation and is excellent against skin photodamage, which makes it an ideal skin photoprotective material.

One-step construction of Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 hierarchical 3D porous heterostructure for ultrahigh-rate supercapacitor.

Heterostructures based on different materials can not only take full advantage of each material and overcome their limitations but also produce special effects for different applications. Here, a facile co-thermal decomposition strategy to engineer hierarchical 3D porous Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure is presented for improved energy storage performance. The specific Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure promotes the fast transportation of electrons and ions and fast redox reaction kinetics due to the 3D interconnected porous channels and thin exposed electroactive S-Mo-S edges. As a result, the 3D porous Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure exhibits a specific capacitance of 439 F g-1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1, a satisfactory capacitance of 169 F g-1 (about 30 % of initial capacitance) under an ultra-high scan rate of 10,000 mV s-1 and long cycle stability. Moreover, ultrahigh power energy of 30,000 W kg-1 with a high energy density of 6.3 Wh kg-1 with superior cyclic stability (91 % of initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles) has been achieved from the Ti3C2Tx/MoS2-based symmetric supercapacitor. This work provides an archetype for designing and preparing hierarchical 3D porous heterostructure electrodes for the next-generation supercapacitor with the high power density and rate performances.

Fomitiporellacrystallina sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from China.

Background: Fomitiporella is an important genus of wood-decaying fungi. Many new species were revealed in the last five years, based on morphological characters and molecular data. During a study on the taxonomy of Fomitiporella, two specimens from China were investigated, which have morphological characteristics close to Fomitiporella. After morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses, a new species was confirmed to be a member of the Fomitiporella clade. New information: Fomitiporellacrystallina sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new species, based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. It has perennial, irregular, pileate basidiocarps, an indistinct subiculum (ultrathin to almost lacking), lack of any kind of setae, has brownish, thick-walled basidiospores and causes a white rot. A molecular study, based on the combined ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) and nrLSU (the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit) dataset, supports the new species in Fomitiporella. The differences between the new species and phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species are discussed. A key to species with pileate to effused-reflexed basidiocarps of Fomitiporella is given.

Analysis of risk factors related to extremely and very preterm birth: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is one of the main causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality and imposes a heavy burden on families and society. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and analyze birth conditions and complications of newborns born at < 32 gestational weeks for extremely preterm (EP) and very preterm (VP) birth in the clinic to further extend the gestational period. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study and collected data from 1598 pregnant women and 1660 premature newborns (excluding 229 premature babies who died due to severe illness and abandonment) admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University in China from 2016 to 2020. We compared women's and newborns' characteristics by t-tests and Chi-square tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the effects of risk factors on EP and VP birth. RESULTS: We identified 3 independent risk factors for EP birth: cervical incompetency (P < 0.001); multiple pregnancy (P < 0.01), primipara (P < 0.001). Additionally, we identified 4 independent risk factors for VP birth: gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (P < 0.05), preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) (P < 0.01), fetal intrauterine distress (P < 0.001), and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) (P < 0.001). In addition, pairwise comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in the incidence rates of neonatal pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and sepsis between the 28-28 + 6 and 29-29 + 6 weeks of gestation groups (P < 0.05). Compared with 28-28 + 6 weeks of gestation, neonatal complications were significantly more common at < 26 weeks of gestation (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage(NICH), patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), patent foramen ovale(PFO), pneumonia, BPD and sepsis were significantly higher in the 26-26 + 6 and 27-27 + 6 gestational weeks than in the 28-28 + 6 gestational weeks (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PPROM, is the most common risk factor for EP and VP birth, and cervical insufficiency, multiple pregnancy, and primipara are independent risk factors for EP birth. Therefore, during pregnancy, attention should be devoted to the risk factors for PPROM, and reproductive tract infection should be actively prevented to reduce the occurrence of PPROM. Identifying the risk factors for cervical insufficiency, actively intervening before pregnancy, and cervical cervix ligation may be considered to reduce the occurrence of EP labor. For iatrogenic preterm birth, the advantages and disadvantages should be carefully weighed, and the gestational period should be extended beyond 28 weeks to enhance the safety of the mother and child and to improve the outcomes of preterm birth.

Construction on teaching quality evaluation indicator system of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) clinical nursing practice in China: A Delphi study.

AIM: To construct an evaluation indicator system for nursing multi-disciplinary team (MDT) clinical practice in China and to provide quantifiable indicators for MDT clinical teaching courses. METHODS: Based on relevant literature retrieval and analysis, a evaluation indicator system of nursing MDT clinical teaching quality was preliminarily constructed using the Donabedian. Structure-Process-Outcome model as theoretical guidance. Then, a final indicators content was formed after two rounds of expert consultation and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the weight of indicators at all levels. RESULTS: The effective response rate of the questionnaires in two rounds were 95.23% (20/21) and 100% (20/20) respectively, the expert authority coefficient (Cr) were 0.838 and 0.853 respectively and the Kendall's coefficient of concordance (Kendall's W) of indicators at all levels were 0.137-0.612 (P < 0.05). The final evaluation index system consisted of three one-class indicators, 8 s-class indicators and 28 third-class indicators. CONCLUSION: The study constructed a comprehensive set of evaluation indicator system of nursing MDT clinical practice, which was scientific and reliable and provides reference for the clinical teaching quality evaluation of MDT nursing.

Two new species of Hymenochaetaceae from tropical Asia and America.

Two new species in Hymenochaetaceae, Fulvifomes acaciae and Pyrrhoderma nigra, are illustrated and described from tropical Asia and America based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses. F. acaciae is characterized by perennial, pileate, and woody hard basidiomata when fresh; ash gray to dark gray, encrusted, concentrically sulcate, and irregularly cracked pileal surface; circular pores of 7-8 per mm with entire dissepiments; a dimitic hyphal system in trama and context; absence of setal element and presence of cystidioles; and broadly ellipsoid, yellowish brown, thick-walled, and smooth basidiospores measuring 5-6 µm × 4-5 µm. P. nigra is characterized by perennial and resupinate basidiomata with dark gray to almost black pore surface when fresh; small and circular pores of 7-9 per mm, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae simple septate, hyphoid setae dominant in subiculum but not in tube trama, and absence of cystidia; and ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled basidiospores measuring 4-5 µm × 3-3.6 µm. The differences between the new species and morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are discussed. Keys to Fulvifomes and Pyrrhoderma have also been provided.

Functional composite hydrogels entrapping polydopamine hollow nanoparticles for highly efficient resistance of skin penetration and photoprotection.

Living organisms tend to evolve various naturally photoprotective mechanisms to avoid photodamage. Among them, polydopamine (PDA) is an effective sunscreen, a mimic of melanin, which is the main functional component of the photoprotective system of human skin. However, the concerns of its dark color, skin penetration and photoprotective efficiency remain yet to be solved. Herein, we have constructed melanin-inspired nanocomposite hydrogels (CS-PDAh-GP-HA) for photoprotection, in which PDA was prepared as hollow nanoparticles (PDAh NPs) and entrapped in a physically cross-linked hydrogel (CS-GP-HA) formed by chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) using ß-glycerophosphate (ß-GP) as a modulator. The CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels exhibit a shear-thinning flow behavior with an elastic modulus of 300 Pa with the gel-sol transition temperature maintained at about 37 °C simply by adjusting the ß-GP content in the hydrogels. The CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels also possess excellent resistance toward skin penetration. The photoprotective performances of CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels were evaluated by the determination of sun protection factor (SPF) and in vitro UVA protection efficacy (UVAPE) along with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Compared with the TiO2 nanoparticles in CS-GP-HA hydrogel, the CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels show stronger shielding ability in both UVA and UVB regions. When protected by the CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels, the cell viability of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts increases to 96% while it was only 14% in the case of non-protecting group. These results suggest that the CS-PDAh-GP-HA hydrogels could efficiently shield the UV irradiation and protect the skin from photodamage. This work introduces PDA-based nanocomposite hydrogels with safe, biocompatible and photoprotective properties, and provides a melanin-mimicking photoprotection system for the application in sunscreens.

The COL-4A1 polypeptide destroy endothelial cells through the TGF-ß/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Preeclampsia (PE) is commonly considered as a placental disorder in pregnancy. Until now, the etiology and pathological mechanism of PE have remained ambiguous. Although PE can lead to a variety of maternal and infant complications, there are still no effective treatments. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the novel polypeptide COL-4A1 and PE, and to identify the underlying mechanism by which this polypeptide may function and to explore new therapeutic targets for PE. A rat model of PE was established and used to verify the function of the polypeptide COL-4A1 in vivo. Additionally, human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with or without COL-4A1 and TNF-α (20 ng/ml). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound-healing, Transwell and tube formation assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation, migration and angiopoiesis. RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry were conducted to explore the underlying downstream mechanism of COL-4A1. In vivo, COL-4A1 increased blood pressure and elevated the risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR) which was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rat model. In vitro, COL-4A1 significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. After culture with COL-4A1, compared to control group the adhesive ability and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were enhanced and tube formation ability was decreased. Furthermore, Western blotting (WB) and pull-down assays were conducted to explore the underlying mechanism by which COL-4A1 functions, and the TGF-ß/PI3K/AKT pathway was identified as the potential pathway involved in its effects. In summary, these results revealed that the polypeptide COL-4A1 caused PE-like symptoms in cells and a rat model. Through the TGF-ß/PI3K/AKT pathway, COL-4A1 interferes with the pathogenesis of PE. Thus COL-4A1 is expected to become a potential target of PE, providing a basis for exploring the treatment of PE.

A Novel Peptide Ameliorates TNFα- and LPS-Induced Endothelia Dysfunction in Preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the protective effects of the novel peptide antiendothelial dysfunction peptide in preeclampsia (AEDPPE) on tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury in the vascular endothelium in preeclampsia. METHODS: The effects of AEDPPE on TNFα-induced vascular endothelial injury were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time PCR, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, THP-1 monocyte-human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion assay, endothelial tube-forming assay, transcriptomic analysis, preeclamptic symptom analysis, and histological analysis in preeclampsia-like rat models induced by LPS. RESULTS: AEDPPE alleviated the upregulation of antiangiogenic factors including soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, endothelin-1, and tissue plasminogen activator and attenuated the reduction in mitochondrial potential induced by TNFα in HUVECs. In addition, AEDPPE treatment counteracted the decrease in tube formation and decreased the numbers of THP-1 monocytes attached to HUVECs caused by TNFα. Mechanistically, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions enriched many genes and the TNF signaling pathway may be involved in this phenomenon. Moreover, cotreatment with LPS and AEDPPE significantly reversed the preeclampsia-like phenotype including hypertension and proteinuria and improved the functions of the kidney and placenta. CONCLUSIONS: AEDPPE effectively ameliorated the vascular endothelial injury induced by TNFα and LPS in preeclampsia. We suggest that AEDPPE may be a novel therapeutic candidate for preeclampsia treatment. These findings demonstrate that AEDPPE may play an effective role in ameliorating vascular endothelial dysfunction and be a potential therapeutic agent for preeclampsia.

CoSe@N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as a Potassium-Ion Battery Anode with High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Superior Capacity Retention.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have gained significant interest in recent years from the battery research community because potassium is an earth-abundant and redox-active metal, thus having the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries for sustainable energy storage. However, the current development of KIBs is critically challenged by the lack of competitive electrode materials that can reversibly store large amounts of K+ and electrolyte systems that are compatible with the electrode materials. Here, we report that cobalt monochalcogenide (CoSe) nanoparticles confined in N-doped carbon nanotubes (CoSe@NCNTs) can be used as a K+-storing electrode. The CoSe@NCNT composite exhibits a high initial Columbic efficiency (95%), decent capacity (435 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1), and stability (282 mAh g-1 2.0 A g-1 after 500 cycles) in a 1 M KPF6-DME electrolyte with K as the anode over the voltage range from 0.01 to 3.0 V. A full KIB cell consisting of this anode and a Prussian blue cathode also shows excellent electrochemical performance (228 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 after 200 cycles). We show that the NCNT shell is effective not only in providing high electronic conductivity for fast charge transfer but also in accommodating the volume changes during cycling. We also provide experimental and theoretical evidence that KPF6 in the electrolyte plays a catalytic role in promoting the formation of a polymer-like film on the CoSe surface during the initial activation process, and this amorphous film is of critical importance in preventing the dissolution of polyselenide intermediates into the electrolyte, stabilizing the Co0/K2Se interface, and realizing the reversibility of Co0/K2Se conversion.

Self-Healing Coatings Containing Core-Shell Nanofibers with pH-Responsive Performance.

The micro-nanofibers prepared by the electrospinning technique can be used as a good container for loading healing agents. The core-shell electrospun nanofibers with polyacrylonitrile as the outer shell and tannic acid (TA) and tung oil as the core healing agents were synthesized by a coaxial electrospinning method and exhibited pH-sensitive ability. The nanofibers as additives were added to an epoxy resin coating as a self-healing coating. The morphological stability of the electrospun nanofibers were observed by a scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy reveal that the successful synthesis and uniform distribution of core-shell fibers. The mechanical properties test revealed that the tensile properties of the coating could be improved by adding nanofibers. The infrared mapping test, energy-dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which were carried out on the scratched part of the coating, proved the release of the healing agent in the damaged part. TA forms a protective film on the exposed metal surface through molecular adsorption under acidic conditions. Meanwhile, the curing of tung oil can effectively compensate into the microcracks to form a TA protective film, which could improve the self-healing performance. As the tung oil dries and solidifies in the alkaline solution, the cross-linking effect of the molecules is combined to form a tight film and strength the self-healing ability. TA as an acidic healing agent and tung oil as an alkaline healing agent played the role of pH-sensitive products in healing the cracked coating. The self-healing rates of coating immersing in 3.5 wt % acidic NaCl solution and alkaline solution were 81.6 and 71.2%, respectively. The composite coating shows a great pH-sensitive self-healing ability to heal the cracked coating.

The Novel Peptide AEDPPE Alleviates Trophoblast Cell Dysfunction Associated With Preeclampsia by Regulating the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious risk to the health of pregnant women and fetuses during pregnancy, and there is no effective treatment for this condition. Although many reports have confirmed the therapeutic effects of peptides in diseases, the role of peptides in PE remains poorly understood. Methods: A differentially expressed peptide in PE (AEDPPE) is derived from heat-shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1), amino acids 100 to 109 (DVNHFAPDEL), which we identified in a previous study. We synthesized AEDPPE and investigated its effect on HTR-8/SVneo cell function using a Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometric assay, and Transwell and wound-healing assays. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA were used to determine cytokine expression. Pull-down assay, mass spectrometry, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence were used to explore the potential targets and signaling pathways regulated by AEDPPE. Finally, we assessed the effect of AEDPPE in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PE-like rat model. Results: AEDPPE significantly promoted the migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells, and it decreased the expression of interleukins 1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8). These functions performed by AEDPPE remained evident after injury to HTR-8/SVneo cells with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and AEDPPE reversed the elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio induced by TNF-α. AEDPPE may exert these biological effects by binding to heat-shock protein 90ß (HSP 90ß) and, thus, affect the NF-κB signaling pathway. In an LPS-induced PE-like rat model, AEDPPE significantly improved PE symptoms and fetal rat outcomes. Conclusion: Our study showed that AEDPPE enhanced trophoblast migration and invasion and reduced inflammatory cytokine expression, and we hypothesized that these actions involved the NF-κB signaling pathway. The use of AEDPPE may thus develop into a novel modality in the treatment of PE.