Cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths from CO2-based reversible ionic liquid solution.

The CO2-based reversible ionic liquid solution of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) and ethylene glycol (EG) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) after capturing CO2, (2[TMGH]+[O2COCH2CH2OCO2]2-/DMSO (χRILs = 0.1), provides a sustainable and effective platform for cellulose dissolution and homogeneous utilization. Highly porous cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths were successfully prepared via a sol-gel process by extruding cellulose solution into different coagulation baths (NaOH aqueous solution or alcohols) and exposing the cellulose solution in open environment, respectively, and followed by different drying techniques, including supercritical CO2-drying, freeze-drying and air-drying. The effect of the coagulation baths and drying protocols on the multi-scale structure of the as-prepared cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths were studied in detail, and the sol-gel transition mechanism was also studied by the solvatochromic parameters determination. High specific surface area of 252 and 207 m2/g for aerogel beads and monoliths were achieved, respectively. The potential of cellulose aerogels in dye adsorption was demonstrated.

Investigating the Extracellular-Electron-Transfer Mechanisms and Kinetics of Shewanella decolorationis NTOU1 Reducing Graphene Oxide via Lactate Metabolism.

Microbial graphene oxide reduction is a developing method that serves to reduce both production costs and environmental impact in the synthesis of graphene. This study demonstrates microbial graphene oxide reduction using Shewanella decolorationis NTOU1 under neutral and mild conditions (pH = 7, 35 °C, and 1 atm). Graphene oxide (GO) prepared via the modified Hummers' method is used as the sole solid electron acceptor, and the characteristics of reduced GO (rGO) are investigated. According to electron microscopic images, the surface structure of GO was clearly changed from smooth to wrinkled after reduction, and whole cells were observed to be wrapped by GO/rGO films. Distinctive appendages on the cells, similar to nanowires or flagella, were also observed. With regard to chemical-bonding changes, after a 24-h reaction of 1 mg mL-1, GO was reduced to rGO, the C/O increased from 1.4 to 3.0, and the oxygen-containing functional groups of rGO were significantly reduced. During the GO reduction process, the number of S. decolorationis NTOU1 cells decreased from 1.65 × 108 to 1.03 × 106 CFU mL-1, indicating the bactericide effects of GO/rGO. In experiments adding consistent concentrations of initial bacteria and lactate, it was shown that with the increase of GO additions (0.5-5.0 mg mL-1), the first-order reaction rate constants (k) of lactate metabolism and acetate production increased accordingly; in experiments adding consistent concentrations of initial bacteria and GO but different lactate levels (1 to 10 mM), the k values of lactate metabolism did not change significantly. The test results of adding different electron transfer mediators showed that riboflavin and potassium ferricyanide were able to boost GO reduction, whereas 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone and 2,6-dimethyl benzoquinone completely eliminated bacterial activity.

Facile preparation of cellulose/lignosulfonate derivatives composite films with high UV-shielding and gas barrier properties.

Herein, a serial of full cellulose and lignosulfonate derivatives (LS), including sodium lignosulfonate (LSS), calcium lignosulfonate (LSC), lignosulfonic acid (LSA), composite films were generated through dissolving cellulose in reversible carbon dioxide (CO2) ionic liquids solvent system (TMG/EG/DMSO/CO2 solvent system), followed by a facile solution-gelation transition and absorption strategy. The findings indicated that LS aggregated and embedded inside the cellulose matrix via H-bond interaction. The cellulose/LS derivatives composite films showed good mechanical properties which the tensile strength reaches the maximum value of 94.7 MPa in MCC3LSS film. While for the MCC1LSS film, the breaking strain increases to 11.6 %. The outstanding UV shielding effect and high transmittance in the visible region of composite films were also achieved and the shielding performance of the whole UV region (200-400 nm) tended to 100 % for MCC5LSS film. In addition, thiol-ene click reaction was selected as model reaction to verify the UV-shielding performance. It was also found that the oxygen and water vapor barrier performances of composite films were evidently associated with the intense H-bond interaction and tortuous path effect. The OP and WVP of MCC5LSS film were 0 and 6 × 10-3 g·µm/m2·day·kPa, respectively. These outstanding properties make them with great potential for packaging field.

Engineering chitosan into fully bio-sourced, water-soluble and enhanced antibacterial poly(aprotic/protic ionic liquid)s packaging membrane.

The design and facile preparation of water-soluble and eco-friendly polymer packaging membrane materials is a fascinating research topic, particularly in terms of the increasing concerns on potential microplastics pollution in ecosystem. In this study, taking advantages of the structural features of chitosan (CS) and betaine hydrochloride (BHC), fully bio-sourced and water-soluble poly(aprotic/protic ionic liquid)s (PAPILs) were successfully designed and prepared through the reaction of the amino groups in CS and carboxyl groups in BHC. The structure and thermo-properties of the PAPILs were elucidated by a series of characteristic methods. The rheological properties of the PAPILs aqueous solutions were also investigated. Moreover, water-soluble PAPILs membrane with a smooth surface morphology and a tensile strength of 62.9 MPa was successfully prepared. The PAPILs membrane also exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility, excellent antibacterial activities and high oxygen barrier property. Together with these outstanding material performance and functionality, as a "proof of concept", the potential use of the PAPILs membrane as water-soluble packaging material for laundry detergent capsule and pesticide was preliminarily demonstrated. These findings provide significant insights for the design of sustainable and functional packaging materials by using natural resources.

Chinese Medicine Formula Huashibaidu Granule Early Treatment for Mild COVID-19 Patients: An Unblinded, Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Previous research suggested that Chinese Medicine (CM) Formula Huashibaidu granule might shorten the disease course in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This research aimed to investigate the early treatment effect of Huashibaidu granule in well-managed patients with mild COVID-19. Methods: An unblinded cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Dongxihu FangCang hospital. Two cabins were randomly allocated to a CM or control group, with 204 mild COVID-19 participants in each cabin. All participants received conventional treatment over a 7 day period, while the ones in CM group were additionally given Huashibaidu granule 10 g twice daily. Participants were followed up to their clinical endpoint. The primary outcome was worsening symptoms before the clinical endpoint. The secondary outcomes were cure and discharge before the clinical endpoint and alleviation of composite symptoms after the 7 days of treatment. Results: All 408 participants were followed up to their clinical endpoint and included in statistical analysis. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). The number of worsening patients in the CM group was 5 (2.5%), and that in the control group was 16 (7.8%) with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.014). Eight foreseeable mild adverse events occurred without statistical difference between groups (P = 0.151). Conclusion: Seven days of early treatment with Huashibaidu granule reduced the likelihood of worsening symptoms in patients with mild COVID-19. Our study supports Huashibaidu granule as an active option for early treatment of mild COVID-19 in similar well-managed medical environments. Clinical Trial Registration:www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49408, identifier: ChiCTR2000029763.

Combination of Hua Shi Bai Du granule (Q-14) and standard care in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Hua Shi Bai Du Granule (Q-14) plus standard care compared with standard care alone in adults with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Wuhan, China, February 27 to March 27, 2020. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 204 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were randomized into the treatment group and control group, consisting of 102 patients in each group. INTERVENTIONS: In the treatment group, Q-14 was administered at 10 g (granules) twice daily for 14 days, plus standard care. In the control group, patients were provided standard care alone for 14 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the conversion time for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral assay. Adverse events were analyzed in the safety population. RESULTS: Among the 204 patients, 195 were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. A total of 149 patients (71 vs. 78 in the treatment and control groups, respectively) tested negative via the SARS-CoV-2 viral assay. There was no statistical significance in the conversion time between the treatment group and control group (Full analysis set: Median [interquartile range]: 10.00 [9.00-11.00] vs. 10.00 [9.00-11.00]; Mean rank: 67.92 vs. 81.44; P = 0.051). The recovery time for fever was shorter in the treatment group than in the control group. The disappearance rate of symptoms like cough, fatigue, and chest discomfort was significantly higher in the treatment group. In chest computed tomography (CT) examinations, the overall evaluation of chest CT examination after treatment compared with baseline showed that more patients improved in the treatment group. There were no significant differences in the other outcomes. CONCLUSION: The combination of Q-14 and standard care for COVID-19 was useful for the improvement of symptoms (such as fever, cough, fatigue, and chest discomfort), but did not result in a significantly higher probability of negative conversion in the SARS-CoV-2 viral assay. No serious adverse events were observed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000030288.

Carboxylcellulose hydrogel confined-Fe3O4 nanoparticles catalyst for Fenton-like degradation of Rhodamine B.

Facile preparation of functional hydrogel materials for environmental catalysis is a hot research topic of soft materials science and green catalysis. In this study, a carboxylcellulose hydrogel confined Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite catalyst (Fe3O4@CHC) with magnetic recyclability has been synthesized by taking the advantages of the newly developed cellulose solution in tetramethyl guanidine/DMSO/CO2 through in situ acylation using mixed cyclic anhydrides and ion exchange reaction. The achieved Fe3O4@CHC hydrogel catalyst was shown to be an more efficient and better Fenton-like catalyst for decomposition of the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, with almost complete decomposition occurring within 180 min, in comparison with Fe3O4@cellulose hydrogel (CH) with excellent recyclability. This work provided a facile strategy for the preparation of hydrogel-based functional composite green catalytic materials, which has potential applications in green catalysis.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine versus Lopinavir-Ritonavir in adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A non-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited by suboptimal efficacy. METHODS: From January 30, 2020 to March 23, 2020, we conducted a non-randomised controlled trial, in which all adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were assigned to three groups non-randomly and given supportive treatments: Group A, Lopinavir-Ritonavir; Group B, Huashi Baidu Formula (a Chinese medicineformula made by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to treat COVID-19, which is now in the clinical trial period) and Lopinavir-Ritonavir; and Group C, Huashi Baidu Formula. The use of antibiotics, antiviruses, and corticosteroids was permitted in Group A and B. Traditional Chinese medicine injections were permitted in Group C. The primary outcomes were clinical remission time (interval from admission to the first time the patient tested negatively for novel coronavirus or an obvious improvement was observed from chest CT) and clinical remission rate (number of patients whose clinical time was within 16 days/total number of patients). RESULTS: A total of 60 adult patients with COVID-19 were enrolled at sites in Wuhan, China, and the sample size of each group was 20. In Groups A, B and C, the clinical remission rates were 95.0%%(19/20), 100.0%%(20/20) and 100.0%%(20/20), respectively. Compared with Groups A and B, the clinical remission time of Group C was significantly shorter (5.9 days vs. 10.8 days, p < 0.05; 5.9 days vs. 9.7 days, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among Groups A, B, and C in terms of the time taken to be released from quarantine. The clinical biochemical indicators and safety indexes showed no significant differences among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Lopinavir-Ritonavir has some efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19, and the Huashi Baidu Formula might enhance this effect to an extent. In addition, superiority was displayed in the treatment of COVID-19 through a combination of the Huashi Baidu Formula and traditional Chinese medicine injection. In future, well-designed prospective double-blinded randomised control trials are required to confirm our findings.

[Clinical effects of Fu Fang Ya Tong Ding on gingivitis and pericoronitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of Fu Fang Ya Tong Ding on treatment of gingivitis and pericoronitis. METHODS: 120 clinical patients with gingivitis or pericoronitis were randomly divided into 3 groups (40 patients in each group). After routine rinse treatment for all patients, patients in the test group were treated with Fu Fang Ya Tong Ding, patients in the positive group were treated with iodine glycerol, while that time patients in the negative group received no treatment anymore. Ten minutes after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to record the severity of pain for each patient. 3 days and 7 days later, pain and inflammation degree were also recorded by pain three-degree scoring method and index of gingivitis. The total treatment effects were evaluated under a comprehensive clinical treatment standard. RESULTS: 10 minutes after treatment, 40.0% of patients in the test group had almost no pain, while no obvious reduction of pain was found in the control group. 3 days, 7 days after the treatment, 92.5%, 95.0% of patients in the test group had no pain, and 55.0%, 90.0% of patients in the positive group had no pain. In the negative group, there were 47.5% of patients which pain was still remained in 7 days. 7 days after treatment, gingival index in the test group reduced by 25.0% and 42.8% compared with the positive and negative groups (P<0.05). 3 days after treatment, 62.5%, 45.0% and 30.0% patients separately in the test, positive and negative groups manifested good effects under the comprehensive clinical treatment standard; after 7 days, 97.5%, 92.5% and 77.5% patients in the 3 groups manifested good effect. The group using Fu Fang Ya Tong Ding had better effects than groups using iodine glycerol or only applying routine rinsing treatment group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fu Fang Ya Tong Ding can treat gingivitis and pericoronitis through significantly reducing inflammation and pain.

Molecular characterization and hydrogen production of a new species of anaerobe.

For the fermentative hydrogen production process with carbohydrates, isolation and identification of hydrogen-producing bacteria (HPB) with high yield and high evolution rate are very important. Improved Hungater rolling tube technique and plate method of culture bottle (PMCB) were used to enumerate and isolate the HPB. The HPB-Li and Ren (HPB-LR) medium was designed to inoculate and isolate HPB under temperature of 37 degrees C and pH of 4.0-6.7. In this study, an isolate of HPB with high yield and high evolution rate was isolated, named Rennanqilyf3 (R3), which is a gram-positive, straight rod, non-spore forming, encapsulated, strict anaerobe, with long peritrichous flagella and three to four metachromatic granules. It performs ethanol-type fermentation, and glucose is its optimum carbon source for hydrogen production. The 16S rDNA sequencing of the R3 isolate indicated that it might be a new species. The hydrogen production capacity of the R3 isolate varied with the glucose concentration and pH. The optimum glucose concentration was 12.0 g/L (with H2 yield of 58.6 mmolH2/L-culture) and the optimum initial pH was 5.5 (with H2 yield of 34.2 mmolH2/L-culture). The maximum rate of cell proliferation were 0.46 and 0.63 g/L when glucose concentration was 15.0 g/L and pH was 5.5, respectively. The maximum yields of ethanol and acetic acid were achieved when the glucose concentration was 12.0 g/L and the pH was 5.5.