Recent Advances in Self-Assembled Molecular Application in Solar Cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted much attention due to their low cost, high efficiency, and solution processability. With the development of various materials in perovskite solar cells, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have rapidly become an important factor in improving power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to their unique physical and chemical properties and better energy level matching. In this topical review, we introduced important categories of self-assembled molecules, energy level modulation strategies, and various characteristics of self-assembled molecules. In addition, we focused on reviewing the application of self-assembled molecules in solar cells, and explained the changes that self-assembled molecules bring to PSCs by introducing the mechanism and effect of self-assembled molecules. Finally, we also elaborated on the challenges currently faced by self-assembled molecules and provided prospects for their applications in other optoelectronic devices.

Supplementation of Diet With Different n-3/n-6 PUFA Ratios Ameliorates Autistic Behavior, Reduces Serotonin, and Improves Intestinal Barrier Impairments in a Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism.

The implication of different dietary n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ratios has been investigated in some neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism and depression). However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of different PUFAs ratios on the autism are still poorly understood. In the present study, a valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism was used to study the effects of diet with different n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios on the autism, and the underlying mechanisms explored. Our results showed that rats with prenatal administration of VPA took less response time to sniff three odorants in the olfactory habituation/dishabituation tests, had lower frequency of pinning and following patterns, and had decreased hippocampal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), increased serum 5-HT and downregulated expression of tight junction protein (occludin and claudin-1) in the colon. However, supplementation of n-3/n-6 PUFAs (1:5) in the VPA treated rats ameliorated the autistic behaviors, increased hippocampal 5-HT and tight junction expression in the colon, and decreased serum 5-HT. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of n-3/n-6 PUFAs (1:5) significantly improves VPA-induced autism-like behaviors in rats, which may be, at least partially, related to the increased hippocampal 5-HT. Furthermore, this diet can increase the expression of tight junction proteins to improve intestinal barrier impairment.

Stannic Oxide Nanoparticle Regulates Proliferation, Invasion, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress of Oral Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and oxidative stress of oral cancer. METHODS: SnO2 NPs were prepared and characterized. Oral cancer cell lines CAL-27 and SCC-9 were cultured in vitro. We detected the effects of various concentrations of SnO2 NPs (0, 5, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) on the proliferation of oral cancer cells, and observed the morphological changes, and measured the cells ability of migration, invasion and apoptosis condition, and the levels of oxidative stress were measured by detecting malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides, we also measured the changes of mRNA and protein levels of factors related to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: SnO2 NPs inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). And SnO2 NPs treatment could reduce the migration and invasion ability of cells (all P < 0.05), induce apoptosis, and those effects were better when treated for 48 h than 24 h (all P < 0.05). And SnO2 NPs could induce oxidative stress in cells (all P < 0.05). Besides, the concentrations of cyclin-D1, C-myc, matrix MMP-9, and MMP-2 in SnO2 NPs treated group was decreased (all P < 0.05), and the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, and Cytochrome C were increased (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study, we found that SnO2 NPs could play a cytotoxic role in oral cancer cells, and inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induce oxidative stress and apoptosis, which suggests that SnO2 NPs may have the effects of anti-oral cancer. However, a more in-depth study is needed to determine its roles.

A novel inhibitory role of microRNA-224 in particulate matter 2.5-induced asthmatic mice by inhibiting TLR2.

Epidemiological studies have shown that elevated concentrations of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) correlate with increased incidence of asthma. Studies have highlighted the implication of microRNAs (miRNAs) in asthmatic response. Here, the objective of this study is to explore the effect of miR-224 on PM2.5-induced asthmatic mice. Ovalbumin (OVA) was utilized to establish asthmatic mouse models, which were then exposed to PM2.5, followed by miR-224 expression detection. Next, lesions and collagen deposition area in lung tissue, ratio Treg/Th17, the expression of TLR4 and MYD88, inflammation, eosinophils (EOS) and airway remodelling were evaluated in OVA mice after injection with miR-224 agomir. Following isolation of mouse primary bronchial epithelial cells, miR-224 mimic and TLR2/TLR4 inhibitor were introduced to assess inflammation and the expression of TGF-ß, MMP9, TIMP-1, Foxp3, RORγt, TLR2, TLR4 and MYD88. After exposure to PM2.5, lesions and collagen deposition were promoted in lung tissues, inflammation and EOS were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and airway remodelling was enhanced in OVA mice. miR-224 was down-regulated, whereas TLR2/TLR4/MYD88 was up-regulated in OVA mice after treatment with PM2.5, accompanied by Treg/Th17 immune imbalance. Of note, bioinformatic prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that TLR2 was a target gene of miR-224. Overexpressed miR-224 reduced expression of TGF-ß, MMP9, TIMP-1 and RORγt and inflammation but increased Foxp3 expression in bronchial epithelial cells through down-regulating TLR2. In summary, overexpressed miR-224 suppressed airway epithelial cell inflammation and airway remodelling in PM2.5-induced asthmatic mice through decreasing TLR2 expression.

[Serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia at the acute phase].

OBJECTIVE: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) are typical cytokines produced by CD4(+) T cells under antigenic stimulations, and the changes of serum levels of the two cytokines can indirectly reflect the immune state and the progress of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral blood of children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia. METHODS: The peripheral blood concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured using ELISA in 40 children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia at the acute stage. The samples from 40 healthy children were used as the Control group. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the Mycoplasmal pneumonia group were 99.43 +/- 13.18 and 44.61 +/- 17.46 pg/mL, respectively, which were higher than those in the Control group (86.23 +/- 6.31 and 25.97 +/- 9.40 pg/mL respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was an imbalance in cytokine secretion in children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia at the acute phase, suggesting that adjuvant immunological therapy is needed for Mycoplasmal pneumonia.