Flexible Hydrazone-Linked Metal-Covalent Organic Frameworks with Copper Clusters for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Despite the challenges associated with the synthesis of flexible metal-covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), these offer the unique advantage of maximizing the atomic utilization efficiency. However, the construction of flexible MCOFs with flexible building units or linkages has rarely been reported. In this study, novel flexible MCOFs are constructed using flexible building blocks and copper clusters with hydrazone linkages. The heterometallic frameworks (Cu, Co) are prepared through the hydrazone linkage coordination method and evaluated as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Owing to the spatial separation and functional cooperation of the heterometallic MCOF catalysts, the as-synthesized MCOFs exhibited outstanding catalytic activities with an overpotential of 268.8 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for the OER in 1 M KOH, which is superior to those of the reported covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based OER catalysts. Theoretical calculations further elucidated the synergistic effect of heterometallic active sites within the linkages and frameworks, contributing to the enhanced OER activity. This study thus introduces a novel approach to the fundamental design of flexible MCOF catalysts for the OER, emphasizing their enhanced atomic utilization efficiency.

Clinical features of plastic bronchitis in children after congenital heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Plastic bronchitis (PB) can occur in patients who have undergone congenital heart surgery (CHS). This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of PB in children after CHS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the electronic medical record system. The study population consisted of children diagnosed with PB after bronchoscopy in the cardiac intensive care unit after CHS from May 2016 to October 2021. RESULTS: A total of 68 children after CHS were finally included in the study (32 in the airway abnormalities group and 36 in the right ventricular dysfunction group). All children were examined and treated with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Pathogens were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 41 children, including 32 cases in the airway abnormalities group and 9 cases in the right ventricular dysfunction group. All patients were treated with antibiotics, corticosteroids (intravenous or oral), and budesonide inhalation suspension. Children with right ventricular dysfunction underwent pharmacological treatment such as reducing pulmonary arterial pressure. Clinical symptoms improved in 64 children, two of whom were treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to recurrent PB and disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Children with airway abnormalities or right ventricular dysfunction after CHS should be alerted to the development of PB. Pharmacological treatment such as anti-infection, corticosteroids, or improvement of right ventricular function is the basis of PB treatment, while fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an essential tool for the diagnosis and treatment of PB. ECMO assistance is a vital salvage treatment for recurrent critically ill PB patients.

Novel missense mutation c.797T>C (p.Met266Thr) gives rise to the rare B(A) phenotype in a Chinese family.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: B(A) phenotype is usually formed by nucleotide mutations in the ABO*B.01 allele, with their products exhibiting glycosyltransferases (GTs) A and B overlapping functionality. We herein report a B(A) allele found in a Chinese family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The entire ABO genes of the probands, including flanking regulatory regions, were sequenced through PacBio third-generation long-read single-molecule real-time sequencing. 3D molecular models of the wild-type and mutant GTB were generated using the DynaMut web server. The effect of the mutation on the enzyme function was predicted by PROVEAN and PolyPhen2. The predictions of stability changes were performed using DynaMut and SNPeffect. RESULTS: Based on serological and sequencing features, we concluded the two probands as possible cases of the B(A) phenotype. Crystallization analysis showed that Thr266 substitution does not disrupt the hydrogen bonds. However, some changes in interatomic contacts, such as loss of ionic interactions and hydrophobic contacts, and addition of weak hydrogen bonds, may have affected protein stability to some extent. This mutation was predicted to have a benign effect on enzyme function and slightly reduce protein stability. CONCLUSION: The probands had the same novel B(A) allele with a c.797T>C (p.Met266Thr) mutation on the ABO*B.01 backbone.

Differential expression and bioinformatics analysis of epsin3 in colorectal cancer / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of the adaptor protein epsin 3 (EPN3) in colorectal cancer in order to provide reference for further stud)' of EPN3. Methods GEPIA and GEDS were used to analyze the expression of EPN3 in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. SMART and cBioPortal databases were used to analyze the relationship between EPN3 gene metfrylation and cop)' number variation and its expression level. Metascape was used to complete analysis of gene ontology functional annotation and related pathways of EPN3 related genes and BioPlex was applied to construct a protein network in HCT116 cell. Thirteen pairs of colorectal cancer adjacent tissue and cancer tissue specimens were collected, and EPN3 mRNA expression were detected by Real-time PCR. The effect of abilities of cell proliferation, clone formation and migration via silencing EPN3 in HCT116 and HT29 were observed. Results GEPIA, GEDS, SMART and cBioPortal analyses showed that EPN3 was highly expressed in colorectal tumor tissues (P<0. 01), and was related to methylation and copy number variation. The enrichment result of EPN3 related genes showed that it was mainly related to cell adhesion. And a protein interaction network constructed by CCDC130, TNFAIP1, PHGDH, EPN2, etc. was related to protein ubiquitination. Real-time PCR result showed that EPN3 was highly expressed in tumor tissues (P<0. 05). Silencing EPN3 inhibited the proliferation, clony formation and migration abilities of HCT116 and HT29 cells. Conclusion EPN3 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and is related to cell adhesion and protein ubiquitination. Down-regulated EPN3 can inhibit abilities of proliferation, clony formation and migration of HCT116 and HT29 cells, and this could provide a reference for further research on EPN3.