High-Entropy Oxide of (BiZrMoWCeLa)O2 as a Novel Catalyst for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

In this study, new fluorite high-entropy oxide (HEO), (BiZrMoWCeLa)O2, nanoparticles were produced using a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal technique followed by calcination and were used as novel catalytic materials for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The HEO calcined at 750 °C (HEO-750) demonstrates superior electrocatalytic activity toward V3+/V2+ and VO2+/VO2+ redox couples compared to those of cells assembled with other samples. The charge-discharge tests further confirm that VRFBs using the HEO-750 catalyst demonstrate excellent Coulombic efficiency, voltage efficiency, and energy efficiency of 97.22, 87.47, and 85.04% at a current density of 80 mA cm-2 and 98.10, 74.76, and 73.34% at a higher current density of 160 mA cm-2, respectively. Moreover, with 500 charge-discharge cycles, there is no discernible degradation. These results are attributed to the calcination heat treatment, which induces the formation of a new single-phase fluorite structure, which facilitates the redox reactions of the vanadium redox couples. Furthermore, a high surface area, wettability, and plenty of oxygen vacancies can give more surface electroactive sites, improving the electrochemical performance, the charge transfer of the redox processes, and the stability of the VRFBs' electrode. This is the first report on the development of fluorite structure HEO nanoparticles in VRFBs, and it opens the door to further research into other HEOs.

Risk of Periodontitis in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common digestive clinical problem worldwide that affects approximately 20% of the adult populations in Western countries. Poor oral hygiene has been reported to be associated with GERD as an atypical clinical complication. However, evidence showing the relationship between GERD and the risk of periodontitis is less clear. The present study aimed to use a retrospective cohort study design to further clarify the association between GERD and the subsequent risk of periodontitis. Methods: The risk of periodontitis in patients with GERD was investigated by analyzing epidemiological data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2008 to 2018. We selected 20,125 participants with a minimum age of 40 years in the GERD group and 1:1 propensity-matched these with non-GERD individuals by sex, age, and comorbidities. The incidence of periodontitis was determined at the end of 2018. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the risk of periodontitis in patients with GERD. Results: The overall incidence rate of the periodontitis risk was 1.38-fold higher (30.0 vs. 21.7/1000 person years, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28−1.45) in patients with GERD than in those without GERD. After stratified analyses for sex, age, and comorbidity, patients with GERD had a higher risk of periodontitis for age (aHR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.20−1.42 for 40−54 years and aHR = 1.42, 95% CI =1.28−1.57 for 55−69 years), sex (aHR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.28−1.54 for men and aHR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.23−1.45 for women), and presence (aHR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.27−1.45) and absence (aHR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.21−1.62) of comorbidity than those without GERD. Among the GERD cohort, the risk for periodontitis was increased with an increasing number of emergency room visits (≥ 1 vs. <1, aHR = 5.19, 95% CI = 2.16−12.5). Conclusions: Our results revealed that patients with GERD have a higher risk of periodontitis development than those without GERD. Clinicians should pay more attention to identifying and managing periodontitis in patients with GERD.

Human antigen R regulates hypoxia-induced mitophagy in renal tubular cells through PARKIN/BNIP3L expressions.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI). Mitophagy selectively degrades damaged mitochondria and thereby regulates cellular homeostasis. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate RNA processing at multiple levels and thereby control cellular function. In this study, we aimed to understand the role of human antigen R (HuR) in hypoxia-induced mitophagy process in the renal tubular cells. Mitophagy marker expressions (PARKIN, p-PARKIN, PINK1, BNIP3L, BNIP3, LC3) were determined by western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence studies were performed to analyze mitophagosome, mitolysosome, co-localization of p-PARKIN/TOMM20 and BNIP3L/TOMM20. HuR-mediated regulation of PARKIN/BNIP3L expressions was determined by RNA-immunoprecipitation analysis and RNA stability experiments. Hypoxia induced mitochondrial dysfunction by increased ROS, decline in membrane potential and activated mitophagy through up-regulated PARKIN, PINK1, BNIP3 and BNIP3L expressions. HuR knockdown studies revealed that HuR regulates hypoxia-induced mitophagosome and mitolysosome formation. HuR was significantly bound to PARKIN and BNIP3L mRNA under hypoxia and thereby up-regulated their expressions through mRNA stability. Altogether, our data highlight the importance of HuR in mitophagy regulation through up-regulating PARKIN/BNIP3L expressions in renal tubular cells.

Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Genotypes with the Risk of Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) control the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix and their genetic polymorphisms may contribute to cancer susceptibility. The aim of this study was to reveal the genotypes of MMP8 among the Taiwanese and examine the contribution of MMP8 C-799T, Val436Ala and Lys460Thr polymorphisms to bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MMP8 C-799T, Val436Ala and Lys460Thr polymorphic genotypes were determined in 375 patients with bladder cancer and 375 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. RESULTS: Regarding MMP8 C-799T, there was no significant differential distribution between patient and control groups [p for trend=0.6629]. The odds ratios (ORs) after adjusting for age, gender, smoking and alcohol drinking status for those carrying CT and TT genotypes at MMP8 C-799T were 1.13 (95%CI=0.89-1.44, p=0.3688) and 1.10 (95%CI=0.87-1.52, p=0.9030), respectively, compared to those carrying the wild-type CC genotype. Regarding MMP8 Val436Ala, there was no significant differential distribution between patient and control groups [p for trend=0.8166]. The adjusted OR for those carrying AC and CC genotypes at MMP8 Val436Ala were 0.71 (95%CI=0.31-2.28, p=0.6094) and 1.00 (95%CI=0.21-4.73, p=0.7247), respectively. The polymorphism Lys460Thr at MMP8 was not found among Taiwanese patients. CONCLUSION: MMP8 C-799T, Val436Ala and Lys460Thr may only play an indirect role in determining personal cancer susceptibility for bladder cancer in Taiwan.

Severe, recurrent lupus enteritis as the initial and only presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in a middle-aged woman.

We describe a previously unreported condition of severe, recurrent lupus enteritis accompanied with severe hypocomplementemia as the initial and only presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Systemic lupus erythematosus should be suspected in any patient with computed tomography findings of enteral vasculitis or ischemic enteritis, even without lupus-related symptoms or signs; C3/C4 levels may be helpful in the differential diagnosis. If the symptoms do not improve after medical treatment, such as using steroid or cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, or necrosis and perforation of the intestines are highly suspected, surgical intervention should be considered.