Human milk oligosaccharides in milk of mothers with term and preterm delivery at different lactation stage.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are structurally diverse unconjugated glycans, and play crucial roles in protecting infants from infections. Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality, and preterm infants are particularly vulnerable and are in need of improved outcomes from breast-feeding due to the presence of bioactive HMOs. However, studies on specific difference in HMOs as a function of gestation time have been very limited. We established an approach to extract and analyze HMOs based on 96-well plate extraction and mass spectrometry, and determined maternal phenotypes through distinctive fragments in product-ion spectra. We enrolled 85 women delivering at different gestation times (25-41 weeks), and observed different HMOs correlating with gestation time based on 233 samples from the 85 donors. With the increase of postpartum age, we observed a regular changing trajectory of HMOs in composition and relative abundance, and found significant differences in HMOs secreted at different postpartum times. Preterm delivery induced more variations between participants with different phenotypes compared with term delivery, and more HMOs varied with postpartum age in the population of secretors. The sialylation level in mature milk decreased for women delivering preterm while such decrease was not observed for women delivering on term.

Growth and anemia among children with tuberculosis infection at different sites in Southwest China.

Objectives: To explore the effects of tuberculosis (TB) infection at different sites on anthropometric indicators, malnutrition and anemia incidence in children in Southwest China. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2021, a total of 368 children aged 1 month to 16 years were enrolled. According to the sites of TB infection, they were divided into three groups: tuberculous meningitis (T group), tuberculous meningitis complicated withpulmonary tuberculosis (TP group), and tuberculous meningitis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis and abdominal tuberculosis (TPA group). Data on weight, height, nutritional risk, blood biochemical indicators and basic descriptions were collected within 48 h after admission. Results: The body mass index-for-age z score (BAZ), height-for-age z score (HAZ), and concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (ALB) decreased in the following order: T group, TP group, and TPA group. The prevalence of malnutrition was the highest in the TPA group (69.5%, 82/118) and 10-to 16-year-old group (72.4%, 63/87). Children aged 0.5-2 years exhibited the highest anemia prevalence of 70.6% (48/68) among the four age groups.The TPA group had the highest incidence of anemia (70.5%, 67/95) compared to T group and TP group.Compared with the treatment group, the abandonment group had a lower BAZ, HAZ and levels of HB and ALB, a higher rate of severe malnutrition, and higher nutritional risk scores. Children who had a low BAZ [odds ratio (OR) = 1.98], nutritional risk (OR = 0.56) and anemia (OR = 1.02) were less likely to obtain treatment with their guardians' support. Conclusions: Children with tuberculous meningitis were at risk for growth disorders and anemia, especially when complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis and abdominal tuberculosis. The prevalence of anemia and malnutrition was the highest among patients aged 1 month to 2 years and 10-16 years, respectively. Nutritional status was one of the causes of abandoning treatment.

Peripheral-specific Y1 receptor antagonism increases thermogenesis and protects against diet-induced obesity.

Obesity is caused by an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure (EE). Here we identify a conserved pathway that links signalling through peripheral Y1 receptors (Y1R) to the control of EE. Selective antagonism of peripheral Y1R, via the non-brain penetrable antagonist BIBO3304, leads to a significant reduction in body weight gain due to enhanced EE thereby reducing fat mass. Specifically thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) due to elevated UCP1 is enhanced accompanied by extensive browning of white adipose tissue both in mice and humans. Importantly, selective ablation of Y1R from adipocytes protects against diet-induced obesity. Furthermore, peripheral specific Y1R antagonism also improves glucose homeostasis mainly driven by dynamic changes in Akt activity in BAT. Together, these data suggest that selective peripheral only Y1R antagonism via BIBO3304, or a functional analogue, could be developed as a safer and more effective treatment option to mitigate diet-induced obesity.

Ketogenic diet and growth in Chinese infants with refractory epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of 12 months of ketogenic dietary treatment (KDT) on growth in Chinese infants with refractory epilepsy. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The KDT group included patients who were divided into groups A (age 6-12 months), B (12-24 months) and C (24-36 months). The normal group included infants aged approximately 6-12 months, 12-24 months and 24-36 months who were classified into groups A1, B1 and C1, respectively. Data on height, weight, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, and haemoglobin (Hb) were extracted from the medical records. Then, we compared the impacts of 12 months of KDT on growth. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included in the KDT group, and 90 infants were included in the normal group. The overall prevalence of underweight (WAZ <-2 SD), stunting (HAZ <-2 SD), wasting (BAZ <-2 SD), and overweight/obesity (BAZ ≥2 SD) were relatively lower in the A and B groups. The prevalence of anaemia in group A was significantly higher than that in group A1. No significant differences were observed in the KDT groups with regard to HDL, LDL, AST, ALT, iron, calcium, magnesium, or zinc. A greater than 50% reduction in weekly seizure frequency was evident in 100% of group A, 78.6% of group B and 77.8% of group C. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that patients less than 2 years old who received KDT maintained appropriate growth at the 12-month follow-up.

Long-term impact of fistula status on growth and anemia in infants with congenital anorectal malformations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impacts of fistula status over 12 months on growth and development and anemia in infants with anorectal malformation (ARM) and to analyze the effects of comorbidities. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The ARM group included infants who suffered from ARM and underwent three operations including colostomy, anoplasty (group A) and fistula closure (group B). The normal group included infants aged approximately 6 months and 12 months who were classified as groups C and D. A 24-h dietary recall questionnaire was completed by the guardians of all the participants. Data on height, weight, hemoglobin (Hb) level and comorbidities were extracted from electronic medical records. Then, we compared the impacts of the 12-month fistula status on growth and development and anemia among the infants. RESULTS: In total, 47 patients in the ARM group and 100 infants in the normal group were included. The height-for-age z-score (HAZ) was lower in group A than in group B. Compared with those in group D, weight, height, the HAZ and the weight-forage z-score (WAZ) were lower in group B. The incidence of anemia was higher in the ARM group than in the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ARM are at risk for growth problems and anemia. The long-term impacts of fistula status on infant length presented earlier than those associated with other physical indicators. Compared to infants with urogenital comorbidities, those with congenital heart disease (CHD) seemed to be more prone to growth disorders and anemia.

Facile synthesis of hierarchical CNF/SnO2/Ni nanostructures via self-assembly process as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Hierarchical carbon nanofibre (CNF)/SnO2/Ni nanostructures of graphitized carbon nanofibres and SnO2 nanocrystallines and Ni nanocrystallines have been prepared via divalent tin-alginate assembly on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres, controlled pyrolysis and ball milling. Fabrication is implemented in three steps: (1) formation of a tin-alginate layer on PAN fibres by coating sodium alginate on PAN in a water medium followed by polycondensation in SnCl2 solution; (2) heat treatment at 450°C in a nitrogen atmosphere; (3) ball milling the mixture of CNF/SnO2 fibres and Ni powder. The CNF/SnO2/Ni nanocomposite exhibits good lithium ion storage capacity and cyclability, providing a facile and low-cost approach for the large-scale preparation of anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Flexible MnS-Carbon Fiber Hybrids for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Energy Storage.

Nanostructures can improve battery capacity and cycle life, especially with sulfide electrodes. In this work, a freestanding flexible electrode, consisting of MnS nanoparticles embedded onto carbon nanofibers, was prepared by electrospinning. The produced hybrid was used as an electrode for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. MnS nanoparticles have a size of about 5 nm and the particles are evenly distributed in the carbon nanofibers. Carbon nanofibers act as electronic conductors and buffer the volume change, while MnS nanoparticles react through rapid electrochemical reaction. As a Li-ion battery anode, this hybrid electrode exhibits specific capacities from 240 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 5 A g-1 , up to 600 mAh g-1 at 200 mA g-1 .

Influencing Mechanism of the Selenization Temperature and Time on the Power Conversion Efficiency of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4-Based Solar Cells.

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) films were deposited on the Mo-coated glass substrates, and the CZTSSe-based solar cells were successfully fabricated by a facile solution method and postselenization technique. The influencing mechanisms of the selenization temperature and time on the power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) of the solar cell are systematically investigated by studying the change of the shunt conductance (Gsh), series resistance (Rs), diode ideal factor (n), and reversion saturation current density (J0) with structure and crystal quality of the CZTSSe film and CZTSSe/Mo interface selenized at various temperatures and times. It is found that a Mo(S1-x,Sex)2 (MSSe) layer with hexagonal structure exists at the CZTSSe/Mo interface at the temperature of 500 °C, and its thickness increases with increasing selenization temperature and time. The MSSe has a smaller effect on the Rs, but it has a larger influence on the Gsh, n, and J0. The PCE, Voc, and FF change dominantly with Gsh, n, and J0, while Jsc changes with Rs and Gsh, but not Rs. These results suggest that the effect of the selenization temperature and time on the PCE is dominantly contributed to the change of the CZTSSe/CdS p-n junction and CZTSSe/MSSe interface induced by variation of the quality of the CZTSSe film and thickness of MSSe in the selenization process. By optimizing the selenization temperature and time, the highest PCE of 7.48% is obtained.

A facile solution-phase approach to the synthesis of luminescent europium methacrylate nanowires and their thermal conversion into europium oxide nanotubes.

Novel one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of rare earth complexes (europium methacrylate (Eu(MA)(3))) have been prepared from the precursor of irregularly shaped Eu(MA)(3) powder in ethanol solvent without the assistance of an added surfactant, catalyst, or template. These hexagonal-shaped complex nanowires have diameters of about 100-300 nm and lengths ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) show that the precursor powder and the resulting nanowires have identical compositions. Under UV light excitation, strong red fluorescence can be clearly seen throughout the whole wires. This good luminescence characteristic of the complex nanowires is further confirmed by the fluorescence spectrum where strong and narrow emission can be seen. These rare earth complex nanowires provide a useful source for 1D rare earth oxide materials, as the europium ions are distributed uniformly in the Eu(MA)(3) nanowires. Through calcination, the Eu(MA)(3) nanowires are successfully converted into Eu(2)O(3) nanotubes. X-ray investigation confirms that the Eu(2)O(3) nanotubes have a cubic body-centered structure. FTIR measurements and TGA analysis are used to follow the calcination process. A plausible mechanism responsible for the formation of Eu(2)O(3) nanotubes is presented.

Synthesis of highly active sulfate-promoted rutile titania nanoparticles with a response to visible light.

Highly active sulfate-promoted rutile titania (SO(4)(2-)/TiO(2)) with smaller band gap was prepared by an in situ sulfation method, that is, under moderate conditions, sulfate-promoted rutile titania was directly obtained via precipitating Ti(SO(4))(2) in NaOH solution followed by peptizing in HNO(3) without the phase transformation from anatase to rutile. Thus, the negative impacts of phase transformation from anatase to rutile on the structure, surface, and photoactivity properties of the catalysts due to higher calcination temperature can be avoided. The catalysts were characterized by means of thermal analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR pyridine adsorption, and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The results show sulfate species are sensitive to the variation of calcination temperature. In the process of peptizing, sulfate species are homogeneously dispersed throughout the bulk of catalysts, allowing sulfate species to penetrate into the network of TiO(2) effectively. After being calcined at 300 degrees C, sulfate species occupy oxygen sites to form Ti-S bonds, as evidenced by XPS results. As calcination temperature is further increased to 600 degrees C or above, the active sulfate species on the catalyst surface are destroyed, and the sulfate species in the network of TiO(2) are expelled out onto the surface to form inactive sulfate species. Thus, Ti(3+) defects will be produced on the catalyst surface. Accompanying this process, surface area is decreased promptly, and crystalline size is greatly increased via two fast growth phases due to the decomposition of sulfate species with different binding forces. Most importantly, the band gap of SO(4)(2-)/TiO(2) is remarkably shifted to the visible light region due to the formation of Ti-S bonds, and with increasing calcination temperature the visible light absorption capability is reduced due to breakage of Ti-S bonds. The excellent photoactivity of 300 degrees C calcined SO(4)(2-)/TiO(2) can be explained by its small crystalline size, high surface area, loose and porous microstructure, and the generation of Brønsted acidity on its surface.

[The influence of Ce on microstructures and mechanics performances of Ti-Fe-Mo-Mn-Nb-Zr alloys].

The influences of Ce on the microstructure and mechanics performances of Ti-Fe-Mo-Mn-Nb-Zr alloys were studied and presented in this paper. The microstructure of no-Ce Ti-Fe-Mo-Mn-Nb-Zr alloy was thick, long and dendritic, and the microstructure of alloy was fined by Ce. With the increase in Ce wt%, the microstructure became equiaxial gradually. Hardness decreased with the increase in Ce wt%. The compression yield strength became greater with the increasing of Ce wt%, but after the Ce wt% increased to a certian degree, the compression yield strength became smaller with the further increasing of Ce wt%. This phenomenon was explained in the light of bond energy and X-ray diffraction experiment. X-ray diffraction experiment showed that the alloys were beta-Ti.