The significance of PD-1/PD-L1 imbalance in ulcerative colitis.

Objectives: To investigate the expression and significance of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in the mucosal tissues and peripheral blood of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Eighty patients with UC were recruited from January 2021 to August 2022 from the Shanxi Province People's Hospital. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in mucosal tissues. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure soluble PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in peripheral blood serum, and the membrane-bound forms of PD-1 (mPD-1), (T-helper cell) Th1 and Th17, in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. Result: PD-1 expression was observed only in the monocytes of the mucosal lamina propria of UC patients, while PD-L1 was mainly located in both epithelial cells and monocytes on the cell membrane. The expression level of PD-1/PD-L1 in the monocytes and epithelial cells of mucosal lamina propria increased with disease activity (P < 0.05). The percentages of PD-1/T and PD-1/CD4+T in the peripheral blood of moderate UC patients (PD-1/T 12.83 ± 6.15% and PD-1/CD4+T 19.67 ± 9.95%) and severe UC patients (PD-1/T 14.29 ± 5.71% and PD-1/CD4+T 21.63 ± 11.44%) were higher than in mild UC patients (PD-1/T 8.17 ± 2.80% and PD-1/CD4+T 12.44 ± 4.73%; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in PD-1/CD8+T cells between mild and severe UC patients (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the expression level of sPD-L1 between the UC groups and healthy controls, and the expression level of sPD-L1 increased with disease severity (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in sPD-1 expression levels between the UC groups and healthy controls (P > 0.05). The correlation coefficients between Th1 and sPD-L1, PD-1/T, PD-1/CD4+T and PD-1/CD8+T were 0.427, 0.589, 0.486, and 0.329, respectively (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between Th17 and sPD-L1, PD-1/T, PD-1/CD4+T and PD-1/CD8+T were 0.323, 0.452, 0.320, and 0.250, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The expression level of PD-1/PD-L1 was correlated with UC disease activity, and two forms of PD-1 and PD-L1 may be used as a potential marker for predicting UC and assessing disease progression in UC patients. PD-1/PD-L1 imbalance was a significant phenomenon of UC immune dysfunction. Future research should focus on two forms of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling molecules to better understand the pathogenesis of UC and to identify potential drug therapies.

Enhanced microstructure stability of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode with negative thermal expansion shell for long-life battery.

With high specific energy density, Ni-rich layered LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM) material has become one promising cathode candidate for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, severe capacity fading induced by microstructure degradation and deteriorated interfacial Li+ transportation upon repeated cycling makes the commercial application of NCM cathode in dilemma. To address these issues, LiAlSiO4 (LASO), one unique negative thermal expansion (NTE) composite with high ionic conductivity, is utilized as a coating layer to improve the electrochemical performances of NCM material. Various characterizations demonstrate that LASO modification can endow NCM cathode with significantly enhanced long-term cyclability, through reinforcing the reversibility of phase transition and restraining lattice expansion, as well as depressing microcrack generation during repeated delithiation-lithiation processes. The electrochemical results indicate that LASO-modified NCM cathode can deliver an excellent rate capability of 136 mAh g-1 at a high current rate of 10 C (1800 mA g-1), larger than that of the pristine cathode (118 mAh g-1), especially higher capacity retention of 85.4% concerning the pristine NCM cathode (65.7%) over 500 cycles under 0.2 C. This work provides a feasible strategy to ameliorate the interfacial Li+ diffusion and suppress the microstructure degradation of NCM material during long-term cycling, which can effectively promote the practical application of Ni-rich cathode in high-performance LIBs.

Hydroxyl-Imidazolium Ionic Liquid-Functionalized MIL-101(Cr): A Bifunctional and Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Conversion of CO2 to Styrene Carbonate.

Considerable attention has been focused on the development of catalysts for the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and epoxides due to the distinct advantages and importance of this reaction. To develop high-performance and easy-to-recycle catalyst is still a hot topic, especially for candidates with excellent activity under moderate conditions. A new heterogeneous catalyst, MIL-101-ImEtOH, is reported by post-synthesis modification, in which 2-(1-imidazol-1-yl) ethanol (Im-EtOH) is immobilized on MIL-101(Cr). In the absence of solvent and co-catalyst, MIL-101-ImEtOH exhibits high activity for the cycloaddition of CO2 and styrene oxide. A 95.6% yield is achieved under 0.5 MPa CO2 pressure and 90 °C by utilization of 50 mg of catalyst for 3 h. Moreover, MIL-101-ImEtOH is easily separated from the catalytic system by simple filtration. To elucidate the influence of hydroxyl group and porous structure on catalysis, other two supported ionic liquids, MIL-101-EtIm and PS-ImEtOH, are prepared and used to catalyze the title reaction under the same conditions. The contribution of each active component is determined by density functional theory along with noncovalent interaction analysis.

Prepared carbon dots from wheat straw for detection of Cu2+ in cells and zebrafish and room temperature phosphorescent anti-counterfeiting.

The green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from biomass is critical for their sustainable application. Herein, using wheat straw as a single precursor, carbon dots (CDs) were prepared through a one-step carbonization process, and the obtained CDs have intense blue luminescence and excitation-independent photoluminescent behavior. The solution of CDs shows good biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity successfully used as hopeful bioimaging and biosensing probe for Cu2+ in HepG2 cells and zebrafish. Based on CDs, boron-doped carbon dots with IPA shells (CDs@IPA) can be obtained by doping boron element and isophthalic acid (IPA) coating. CDs@IPA irradiated with different wavelength ultraviolet lamps shows different solid fluorescence, while turning off the ultraviolet lamp can produce green visible room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) to the naked eyes for 5 s. The two kinds of wheat straw-based carbon dots have bifunctional luminescence properties and can be used to detect Cu2+ and serve as RTP anti-counterfeiting signs to ensure information security.

Drug susceptibility and molecular epidemiology of Escherichia coli in bloodstream infections in Shanxi, China.

OBJECTIVES: We carried out a retrospective study to investigate the drug susceptibility and genetic relationship of clinical Escherichia coli isolates from patients with BSIs in Shanxi, China. METHODS: E. coli isolates causing BSIs were consecutively collected from June 2019 to March 2020. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution method. PCR was used to detect antimicrobial resistance genes coding for extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs), phylogenetic groups and seven housekeeping genes of E. coli. RESULTS: A total of 76 E. coli were collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the top six E. coli resistant antibiotics were ampicillin (90.7%), ciprofloxacin (69.7%), cefazolin (65.7%), levofloxacin (63.1%), ceftriaxone and cefotaxime (56.5%). Among the 76 isolates, 43 produced ESBLs. Molecular analysis showed that CTX-M-14 was the most common ESBLs, followed by CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-55. Phylogenetic group D (42.2%) predominated, followed by group B2 (34.2%), group A (18.4%) and group B1 (5.2%). The most prevalent sequence types (STs) were ST131 (15/76), ST69 (12/76) and ST38 (6/76). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to report the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of E. coli isolated from BSIs in Shanxi, China. Our results indicated a high prevalence of MDR in E. coli strains isolated from BSIs and a serious spread of ESBL genes in Shanxi, especially the epidemiological bla CTX-M. Phylogenetic analysis indicated genetic diversity among E. coli BSIs isolates.

Correlation between multi-type human papillomavirus infections and viral loads and the cervical pathological grade.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between single/multiple HPV infections and cervical lesions, and the correlation between viral load and the degree of cervical lesions. METHODS: A total of 27 284 patients who underwent testing for HPV were retrospectively screened and 3728 women were enrolled who tested positive for HPV when examined by liquid-based ThinPrep cervical smear cytology test and diagnosed by histopathology at the Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital between May 2017 and March 2019. The genotype and viral load of HPV were determined by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Based on the pathological grade, the cervical lesions were stratified into three groups: chronic cervicitis/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I; CIN II/CIN III; and cervical cancer. RESULTS: There were significant intergroup differences in the distribution of single and multiple HPV infections. There was a positive correlation between the viral load and cervical pathological grade when the infections were caused by HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 51, 52, 53, and 58. CONCLUSION: Multi-type HPV infections are more likely to aggravate the degree of cervical lesions than single-type infections. The HPV type-dependent viral load is associated with the cervical pathological grade.