Novel electrocatalytic capacitive deionization with catalytic electrodes for selective phosphonate degradation: Performance and mechanism.

Phosphonate is becoming a global interest and concern owing to its environment risk and potential value. Degradation of phosphonate into phosphate followed by the recovery is regarded as a promising strategy to control phosphonate pollution, relieve phosphorus crisis, and promote phosphorus cycle. Given these objectives, an anion-membrane-coated-electrode (A-MCE) doped with Fe-Co based carbon catalyst and cation-membrane-coated-electrode (C-MCE) doped with carbon-based catalyst were prepared as catalytic electrodes, and a novel electrocatalytic capacitive deionization (E-CDI) was developed. During charging process, phosphonate was enriched around A-MCE surface based on electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, and hydrogen bond. Meanwhile, Fe2+ and Co2+ were self-oxidized into Fe3+ and Co3+, forming a complex with enriched phosphonate and enabling an intramolecular electron transfer process for phosphonate degradation. Additionally, benefiting from the stable dissolved oxygen and high oxygen reduction reaction activity of C-MCE, hydrogen peroxide accumulated in E-CDI (158 µM) and thus hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were generated by activation. E-CDI provided an ideal platform for the effective reaction between ·OH and phosphonate, avoiding the loss of ·OH and triggering selective degradation of most phosphonate. After charging for 70 min, approximately 89.9% of phosphonate was degraded into phosphate, and phosphate was subsequently adsorbed by A-MCE. Results also showed that phosphonate degradation was highly dependent on solution pH and voltage, and was insignificantly affected by electrolyte concentration. Compared to traditional advanced oxidation processes, E-CDI exhibited a higher degradation efficiency, lower cost, and less sensitive to co-existed ions in treating simulated wastewaters. Self-enhanced and selective degradation of phosphonate, and in-situ phosphate adsorption were simultaneously achieved for the first time by a E-CDI system, showing high promise in treating organic-containing saline wastewaters.

The role of echinacoside-based cross-linker nanoparticles in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Background: Current drugs for treating osteoporosis may lead to toxic side effects. Echinacoside (ECH) is a natural small molecule drug. This study examined and compared the therapeutic effects of cross-linker (CL)-ECH and ECH-free nanoparticles on osteoporosis. Methods: Echinocandin-based CL-ECH nanoparticles were prepared, and the nanoparticle size and drug loading were optimized and characterized by adjusting the ratio. The antioxidant effect of CL-ECH nanoparticles on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was analyzed using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)-based detection of bone-producing effects was conducted using alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alizarin Red S (ARS) and qRT-PCR. TRAP, phalloidin staining, and qRT-PCR was performed to detect osteogenesis-inhibiting effect on BMDMs. CL-ECH nanoparticles were applied to treat an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model at low doses. Results: Compared to ECH, CL-ECH nanoparticles suppressed oxidative stress in BMDMs by promoting NRF-2 nuclear translocation, which inhibited the production of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and osteoclast production through downregulating NF-κB expression, with limited effect on the osteogenesis of BMSCs. In vivo studies showed that low-dose CL-ECH nanoparticles markedly improved bone trabecular loss compared to ECH administration in the treatment of osteoporosis. Conclusions: The current discoveries provided a solid theoretical foundation for the development of a new generation of anti-bone resorption drugs and antiosteoporosis drugs.

Fusobacterium nucleatum outer membrane vesicles activate autophagy to promote oral cancer metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Metastasis is an important cause of high mortality and lethality of oral cancer. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) can promote tumour metastasis. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are secreted by Fn. However, the effects of Fn-derived extracellular vesicles on oral cancer metastasis and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether and how Fn OMVs mediate oral cancer metastasis. METHODS: OMVs were isolated from brain heart infusion (BHI) broth supernatant of Fn by ultracentrifugation. Tumour-bearing mice were treated with Fn OMVs to evaluate the effect of OMVs on cancer metastasis. Transwell assays were performed to determine how Fn OMVs affect cancer cell migration and invasion. The differentially expressed genes in Fn OMV-treated/untreated cancer cells were identified by RNA-seq. Transmission electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and lentiviral transduction were used to detect changes in autophagic flux in cancer cells stimulated with Fn OMVs. Western blotting assay was performed to determine changes in EMT-related marker protein levels in cancer cells. Fn OMVs' effects on migration after blocking autophagic flux by autophagy inhibitors were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Fn OMVs were structurally similar to vesicles. In the in vivo experiment, Fn OMVs promoted lung metastasis in tumour-bearing mice, while chloroquine (CHQ, an autophagy inhibitor) treatment reduced the number of pulmonary metastases resulting from the intratumoral Fn OMV injection. Fn OMVs promoted the migration and invasion of cancer cells in vivo, leading to altered expression levels of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin downregulation; Vimentin/N-cadherin upregulation). RNA-seq showed that Fn OMVs activate intracellular autophagy pathways. Blocking autophagic flux with CHQ reduced in vitro and in vivo migration of cancer cells induced by Fn OMVs as well as reversed changes in EMT-related protein expression. CONCLUSION: Fn OMVs not only induced cancer metastasis but also activated autophagic flux. Blocking autophagic flux weakened Fn OMV-stimulated cancer metastasis.

Identification of Fangji Huangqi Tang as a potential herbal formula for Sjogren syndrome treatment via network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Fangji Huangqi Tang (FHT) is a well-known Chinese herbal formula that is prescribed as treatment for rheumatoid diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic targets, efficacy, and safety of FHT in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SS. Further, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to explore the potential biological functions of the DEGs. Subsequently, an FHT-herb-active compound-target network was constructed to identify the relationship between the active compounds in FHT and the related targets. Then, enrichment analysis involving the DEGs and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were performed to analyze the biological functions of potential targets and screen hub genes. Further, molecular docking was employed to verify the binding affinity between the active compounds and the hub targets, and in vivo experiments involving NOD/LtJ mice were conducted to verify the therapeutic effects of FHT on SS-like symptoms. Finally, inhibition of PIK3CK/Akt pathway by FHT was validated by WB and rt-qPCR. A total of 1836 DEGs were identified in SS based on the GSE159574 dataset, and 114 targets of the active compounds in FHT were screened. Further, via network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking, six active compounds and five hub targets were obtained, and enrichment analysis showed that the anti-SS effect of FHT was predominantly associated with immune cells, such as T cells and neutrophils. In vivo, FHT effectively reduced lymphocyte infiltration foci, increased saliva flow rate, and inhibited increases in the levels of SS-related autoantibodies (anti-SSA and anti-SSB). Furthermore, the biosafety of FHT was verified via the serological examination of liver and kidney function. WB and rt-qPCR analysis confirmed that FHT could inhibit the expression of PIK3CG and the activation of PIK3CG/Akt pathway. Via network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo verification, we demonstrated the multicomponent and multitarget characteristics of FHT in SS treatment, thereby providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of SS and the therapeutic targets of FHT for SS.

Anti-Wetting Performance of an Electrospun PVDF/PVP Membrane Modified by Solvothermal Treatment in Membrane Distillation.

Membrane distillation (MD) is attractive for water reclamation due to the fact of its unique characteristics. However, membrane wetting becomes an obstacle to its further application. In this paper, a novel hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVDF/PVP) membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and solvothermal treatment. The electrospun membranes prepared by electrospinning showed a multilevel interconnected nanofibrous structure. Then, a solvothermal treatment introduced the micro/nanostructure to the membrane with high roughness (Ra = 598 nm), thereby the water contact angle of the membrane increased to 158.3 ± 2.2°. Owing to the superior hydrophobicity, the membrane presented high resistance to wetting in both NaCl and SDS solutions. Compared to the pristine PVDF membrane, which showed wetting with a flux decline (120 min for 0.05 mM surfactant solution treatment), the prepared membrane showed outstanding stability over 600 min, even in 0.2 mM surfactant solutions. These results confirm a simple method for anti-wetting hydrophobic membrane preparation, which presented universal significance to direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for industrial application.

Prognostic value of the nodal yield in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the prognostic value of the nodal yield in oral squamous cell carcinoma by meta-analysis. METHODS: The meta-analysis was adherence to PRISMA. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane for studies published up to 20 April 2022. We collected evidences from observational studies regarding nodal yield in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and investigated its prognostic value by the routine methods of meta-analysis. RESULTS: From seven studies, there was no significant impact of the lymph node yield on overall survival among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma cases and <18 lymph nodes (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.019, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.786-1.320, p = 0.887), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 80%). The pooled result indicated that a > 18-lymph node yield was a favorable prognostic factor (HR = 0.786, 95%CI = 0.646-0.956, p = 0.016; I2 = 39%). The lymph node yield was not associated with disease-specific survival (HR = 1.594, 95%CI = 0.996-2.552, p = 0.052; I2 = 81%) or disease-free survival (HR = 1.508, 95%CI = 0.924-2.460, p = 0.100; I2 = 41%). CONCLUSION: A lymph node yield of ≥18 lymph nodes might be a favorable prognostic factor for the overall survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Amine Organocatalysis of Remote, Chemoselective C(sp3)-H Hydroxylation.

We introduce an organocatalytic approach for oxaziridinium-mediated C-H hydroxylation that employs secondary amines as catalysts. We also demonstrate the advantages of this operationally simple catalytic strategy for achieving high yielding and highly selective remote hydroxylation of compounds bearing oxidation-sensitive functional groups such as alcohols, ethers, carbamates, and amides. By employing hexafluoroisopropanol as the solvent in the absence of water, a proposed hydrogen bonding effect leads to, among other advantages, as high as ≥99:1 chemoselectivity for remote aliphatic hydroxylation of 2° alcohols, an otherwise unsolved synthetic challenge normally complicated by substantial amounts of alcohol oxidation. Initial studies of the reaction mechanism indicate the formation of an oxaziridinium salt as the active oxidant, and a C-H oxidation step that proceeds in a stereospecific manner via concerted insertion or hydrogen atom transfer/radical rebound. Furthermore, preliminary results indicate that site selectivity can be affected by amine catalyst structure. In the long term, we anticipate that this will enable new strategies for catalyst control of selectivity based on the abundance of catalytic scaffolds that have proliferated over the last twenty years as a result of Nobel Prize-winning discoveries.

Role of Human-Computer Interaction Healthcare System in the Teaching of Physiology and Medicine.

With the increasingly severe aging of the population, the difficult and expensive medical treatment problems are becoming more and more prominent; the salary level of domestic doctors is not high, but the cost of training doctors is high, coupled with doctors' work pressure and mental pressure; the number of candidates for medical school is decreasing year by year; medical talent is rare; and the allocation of medical staff is scarce. Health care is the basic guarantee for people's good life, and the shortage of medical staff will have many impacts on health care. Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study of people, computers, and their interaction. HCI refers to the communication between the user and the computer system, which is the two-way information exchange of various symbols and actions between the human and the computer. The purpose of this paper is to study a healthcare system with human-computer interaction through the client, apply the system to the teaching of physiology and medicine, and analyze its effects and functions in combination with various evaluation indicators. This paper selects teaching content, ease of use of human-computer interaction design, technical services, and user subjective satisfaction as evaluation indicators, and constructs an evaluation model for this. And it builds the physiology and medicine teaching system framework and healthcare system, and conducts tests and statistics on the teaching system. This paper combines online questionnaires, in-app survey feedback, and field visits to collect feedback from users and administrators. The final data show that the teaching system meets the requirements in four evaluation indicators: teaching content, ease of use of human-computer interaction design, technical services, and user subjective satisfaction. User satisfaction with these four aspects reached 86.33%, 95.17%, 63.83%, and 81.87%, respectively. It shows that the system is more popular and can meet the needs of most users.

Effect of aniline and antimony on anaerobic-anoxic-oxic system with novel amidoxime-modified polyacrylonitrile adsorbent for wastewater treatment.

There has been increasing concern over the mixed discharge of municipal-textile composite wastewater, which remains challenging for typical wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using anaerobic-anoxic-oxic process (AAO). Highly-toxic aniline and antimony, typical co-contaminants in textile wastewater, usually lead to increased chemical oxygen demand (COD) in influent and deteriorated effluent quality. Amidoxime-modified polyacrylonitrile (amPAN) adsorbent was prepared and added to adsorb antimony and facilitate substrate removal. With amPAN dosage at 6.0 g L-1 in oxic bioreactor, 64.2 ± 5.6% of antimony was removed from influent. Extracellular polymeric substance release was simultaneously changed with residual antimony concentration. Meanwhile, amPAN promoted the proliferation of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Epsilonbacteraeota serving as microorganism carrier. As a result, removal efficiencies of COD (94.4 ± 0.6%), ammonium (NH4+-N, 92.6 ± 3.3%), total nitrogen (TN, 76.4 ± 6.3%) and total phosphorus (TP, 93.4 ± 2.1%) were enhanced to meet Class 1A discharge standard in China. These results indicate that AAO with amPAN is promising for municipal-textile composite wastewater treatment.

Comparing biotransformation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under aerobic and anoxic conditions: Reactivities, components, and bacterial responses.

This study aimed to better understand the transformation behaviors of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and their roles in regulating bacterial community in biological wastewater treatment processes. Herein, well-controlled bioassays under aerobic and anoxic conditions were performed to investigate degradation dynamics, composition variations, and bacterial response during EPS transformation. Reactivity continuum modeling showed that organic pools of EPS had continuous reactivity distributions, and most labile organic fraction with a degrading rate >0.1 h-1 was substantially higher under aerobic (20.47%) than anoxic (2.02%) condition. Rapid degradation of protein-like substances in the initial degradation stage was accompanied by the humification process, as revealed by UV absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography with continuous organic carbon detection analysis. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the selection effect of EPS in controlling abundant populations during their transformation, e.g., Acinetobacter was enriched, and Candidatus Competibacter was washed out relative to the source community. Furthermore, taxonomic normalized stochasticity ratio-based null model and bacterial ecological network analysis indicated higher relative importance of deterministic process in shaping the EPS-degrading communities under aerobic than anoxic condition, likely explaining the faster EPS biotransformation under aerobic condition. Intriguingly, the keystone populations driving EPS metabolism showed the environmental filtering characteristics (e.g., capable of degrading refractory and aromatic compounds or adapting to harsh environments) and cooperative interactions with the co-occurring species under both conditions. This work is expected to reveal the fates and roles of EPS in wastewater treatment plants extensively.