Novel Feruloyl Esterase for the Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Screened from the Gut Microbiome of Plastic-Degrading Mealworms (Tenebrio Molitor Larvae).

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) larvae can degrade both plastics and lignocellulose through synergistic biological activities of their gut microbiota because they share similarities in chemical and physical properties. Here, a total of 428 genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes were screened from the gut microbiome of T. molitor larvae to identify poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-degrading activities. Five genes were successfully expressed in E. coli, among which a feruloyl esterase-like enzyme named TmFae-PETase demonstrated the highest PET degradation activity, converting PET into MHET (0.7 mgMHETeq ·h-1·mgenzyme-1) and TPA (0.2 mgTPAeq ·h-1·mgenzyme-1) at 50 °C. TmFae-PETase showed a preference for the hydrolysis of ferulic acid methyl ester (MFA) in the presence of both PET and MFA. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations of TmFae-PETase revealed similar catalytic mechanisms for both PET and MFA. TmFae-PETase effectively depolymerized commercial PET, making it a promising candidate for application. Additionally, the known PET hydrolases IsPETase, FsC, and LCC also hydrolyzed MFA, indicating a potential origin of PET hydrolytic activity from its lignocellulosic-degrading abilities. This study provides an innovative strategy for screening PET-degrading enzymes identified from lignocellulose degradation-related enzymes within the gut microbiome of plastic-degrading mealworms. This discovery expands the existing pool of plastic-degrading enzymes available for resource recovery and bioremediation applications.

Clinical effect of free chimeric anterolateral thigh flap and chimeric thoracodorsal artery perforator flap in chronic osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis poses a formidable challenge for orthopedic practitioners in clinical practice. Chimeric perforator flap is a commonly used repair method for chronic osteomyelitis. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of chimeric anterolateral thigh flap (C-ALTP) and chimeric thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (C-TDAP) for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the lower extremity who underwent two kinds of treatment with chimeric perforator flaps from January 2014 to March 2022. The preoperative basic data and the operative and postoperative basic information of the two groups were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in this study, and both groups achieved satisfactory aesthetic and functional results. Intraoperative results showed that the intraoperative blood loss and flap acquisition time in the C-TDAP group were less than those in the C-ALTP group. The incidence of postoperative complications in the donor and recipient sites in the C-TDAP group was significantly lower than that in the C-ALTP group, which led to a high reoperation rate in the C-ALTP group. Long-term follow-up showed that the wound healing time and weight-bearing walking time in the C-TDAP group were less than those in the C-ALTP group. CONCLUSIONS: Chimeric perforator flaps can effectively be used to treat osteomyelitis with composite tissue defects, eliminate inflammation of the affected limbs, and promote wound healing. However, C-TDAP flaps have more reliable healing effects on wounds and donor sites, and have fewer complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Case-control study.

Synergistic Intramolecular Non-Covalent Interactions Enable Robust Pure-Blue TADF Emitters.

Stability-issues of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) employing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) require further advancements, especially in pure-blue range of CIEy < 0.20, existing a dilemma between color purity and device lifetime. Though improving bond-dissociation-energy (BDE) can effectively improve material intrinsic stability, strategies to simultaneously improve BDE and photophysical performances are still lacking. Herein, it is disclosed that synergistic intramolecular non-covalent interactions (Intra-NI) can achieve not only the highest C─N BDE among blue TADF materials, but enhanced molecular-rigidity, near-unity photoluminescent quantum yields and short delayed lifetime. Pure-blue TADF-OLEDs based on proof-of-concept TADF material realize high external-quantum-efficiency and record-high LT80@500 cd m-2 of 109 h with CIEy = 0.16. Furthermore, deep-blue TADF-sensitized devices exhibit high LT80@500 cd m-2 of 81 h with CIEy = 0.10. The findings provide new insight into the critical role of Intra-NI in OLED materials and open the way to tackling vexing stability issues for developing robust pure-blue organic emitters and other functional materials.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Guide the Gasification Process of Carbon-Supported Nickel Catalysts in Biomass Supercritical Water.

In this study, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculations for Molecules and Clusters-ADF module is employed to model carbon-supported nickel catalysts and lignin monomers, integrating the ReaxFF module to simulate molecular dynamics under supercritical water conditions, with a focus on lignin decomposition reactions. Molecular dynamics models for supercritical water gasification are established under various conditions such as catalyst presence, water molecule quantities, and reaction temperature. By comparing simulation systems under different conditions, the yields of and variations in combustible gases (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) are summarized. Introducing heteroatoms into the lattice of the carbon support can alter the electronic structure within graphene, thereby influencing its electrical and electrochemical properties, increasing the number of active sites, and significantly enhancing electrocatalytic activity. Simulation results indicate that carbon-supported nickel metal catalysts can promote the cleavage of C-C bonds in lignin monomers, thereby increasing the rate of water-gas shift reactions and boosting hydrogen production in the system by 105%. Increasing water molecule quantities favored water-gas shift reactions and hydrogen generation while lowering carbon monoxide formation. Moreover, elevating reaction temperatures led to increased hydrogen and carbon monoxide production rates, which were particularly pronounced between 2500 K and 3500 K. These findings offer crucial theoretical insights for advancing efficient hydrogen production through biomass supercritical water gasification.

Serum BAFF level is associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between circulating levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in humans, as its biological functions in this context remain unclear. METHODS: Serum BAFF levels were measured in a cohort of 723 patients undergoing angiography, including 204 patients without CAD (control group), 220 patients with stable CAD (CAD group), and 299 patients with AMI (AMI group). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between BAFF and CAD or AMI. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of BAFF were observed in patients with CAD and AMI compared to the control group. Furthermore, BAFF levels exhibited a positive correlation with the SYNTAX score (r = 0.3002, P < 0.0001) and the GRACE score (r = 0.5684, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that increased BAFF levels were an independent risk factor for CAD (adjusted OR 1.305, 95% CI 1.078-1.580) and AMI (adjusted OR 2.874, 95% CI 1.708-4.838) after adjusting for confounding variables. Additionally, elevated BAFF levels were significantly associated with a high GRACE score (GRACE score 155 to 319, adjusted OR 4.297, 95% CI 1.841-10.030). BAFF exhibited a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 71.4% in differentiating CAD patients with a high SYNTAX score, and a sensitivity of 75.5% and specificity of 72.8% in identifying AMI patients with a high GRACE score. CONCLUSION: Circulating BAFF levels serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for CAD and AMI. Elevated BAFF levels are associated with the presence and severity of these conditions, suggesting its potential as a clinically relevant biomarker in cardiovascular disease.

Potential of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR to predict worsening renal function after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: The fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 (FAPI-04) specifically binds to the FAP of activated myocardial fibroblasts, which makes 68Ga-labelled FAPI-04 (68Ga-FAPI-04) positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) a new potential imaging technique for the evaluation of myocardial fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the potential value of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR in assessing and predicting changes in renal function in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Thirty-three patients with STEMI were included in this study. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR and cardiac magnetic resonance were performed before discharge in all patients. Worsening renal function(WRF) was defined as ≥20% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) from baseline to 12 months. RESULTS: The WRF group demonstrated higher 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake volume (UV) at baseline than the non-WRF group(P = 0.009). 68Ga-FAPI-04 UV at baseline was correlated with follow-up eGFR (r = -0.493, P = 0.004). 68Ga-FAPI-04 UV at baseline was a significant predictor of WRF (OR = 1.014, P = 0.029) at 12 months after STEMI. CONCLUSIONS: As an effective tool to non-invasively quantify myocardial fibroblast activation, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR has potential value for assessing and predicting worsening renal function in patients with STEMI.

Individualized regimen of Posaconazole oral suspension in Chinese HSCT patients based on population pharmacokinetic model.

To establish a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model of posaconazole suspension in Chinese hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients and to recommend an optimal dosing regimen. A single-center, retrospective, model-based study was conducted in 62 Chinese patients, including 103 with posaconazole plasma concentrations. PopPK analysis using NONMEM software. A one-compartment model of first-order elimination and absorption was in good agreement with the experimental data. Analysis of covariance showed that body weight (WT), creatinine clearance (CCR), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) had a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole. The dose simulation results show that patients with CCR ≥ 90 mL/min require at least 3 mg/kg TID and 7 mg/kg BID dosing regimens for prevention and treatment, respectively. However, when combined with PPI, at least 5 mg/kg BID and 5 mg/kg TID dosing regimens are required for prevention and treatment, respectively. Regardless of whether it is used in combination with PPI or not, patients with a CCR of 60-90 mL/min can achieve PTA goals by using a 4 mg/kg BID and 4 mg/kg TID regimen for prevention and treatment, respectively. A dosing regimen of 3 mg/kg BID in patients with a CCR of 30-60 mL/min is sufficient to meet the PTA goal of prophylaxis, and the dose needs to be elevated to 4 mg/kg BID for the treatment of fungal infections, and there is no need to change the dose according to the coadministration of PPI. When the patient's CCR is less than 30 mL/min, whether or not combined with PPI, the administration regimen of 2 mg/kg BID and 3 mg/kg BID can meet the PTA goals for prevention and treatment, respectively.

Preservation of superior rectal artery in laparoscopic colectomy: The best choice for slow transit constipation?

Laparoscopic colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis may be beneficial for patients with slow transit constipation who do not respond to conservative treatment, particularly if the superior rectal artery (SRA) is preserved. Several important concerns have been addressed in this commentary. It is important to first go over the definition of surgical procedure as it is used in this text. Second, the current study lacked a control group that had SRA preservation. Thirdly, it would be best to use a prospective, randomized controlled study. Lastly, a description of the mesenteric defect's state following a laparoscopic colectomy is necessary.

The role of LncRNA TUG1 in DNA damage and malignant transformation induced by Helicobacter pylori and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on human esophageal epithelial cells.

N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and Helicobacter pylori might synergistically promote the malignant transformation of human esophageal epithelial cells (HEECs) through inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and inhibition of PAXX protein expression. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) TUG1 is associated with multiple cancers, and its overexpression can promote cancer by interfering with the functions of oncogenes. LncRNA TUG1 is also associated with DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and the epithelial signaling pathway of H. pylori infection. To explore the role of LncRNA TUG1 in the malignant transformation of HEECs induced by H.pylori + MNNG, a stable strain of HEECs with LncRNA TUG1 knockdown (LncRNA TUG1-KD) was constructed using RNA interference technology with lentivirus as a vector. Set up negative controls LncRNA TUG1-NC (null carrier lentivirus was selected to transfect HEECs) and block controls (normal HEECs without exposure). H. pylori + MNNG were added to the LncRNA TUG1-KD and LncRNA TUG1-NC groups for 6 h and then passaged until their malignant transformation. From each group, cells in the early, intermediate, and late stages of malignant transformation were used for the alkaline comet assay and determination of protein expression, including γ-H2AX and PAXX, by western blotting assay to assess DNA damage and repair processes. Clone formation assay in soft agar and nude mouse xenograft model was used to assess malignancy. This study suggests that H. pylori + MNNG promotes the malignant transformation of HEECs by inducing DNA DSBs and inhibiting PAXX expression, and this effect may be alleviated by LncRNA TUG1 knockdown. It elucidates the pathogenesis of EC from the perspective of the combined effect of epigenetic and environmental carcinogens, offering new insights for the comprehensive prevention and treatment of EC.

MiR-204/-211 double knockout exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis progression by promoting splenic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type (wt) and C57BL/6 miR-204/-211 double-knockout (dKO) mice to investigate the role of miR-204/-211 in suppressing splenic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Differences of miR-204/-211 and structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) in the spleen of DBA/1J wt and CIA mice were detected via PCR and immunohistochemistry. CIA was induced in both C57BL/6 wt and C57BL/6 miR-204/-211 dKO mice, and the onset of CIA and disease severity were statistically analyzed. Immunohistochemistry staining of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and SSRP1 in spleen or knee joints was performed and analyzed. In CIA miR-204/-211 dKO mice, AAV-shSSRP1 was intra-articularly injected, with both the AAV-shRNA Ctrl and AAV-shRNA Ctrl CIA groups receiving the same dose of AAV-shRNA. Spleen sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). RESULTS: Compared to wt mouse spleens, aberrant expression of miR-204/-211 and SSRP1 was observed in the spleens of CIA mice. Immunized dKO mice exhibited a higher incidence of CIA onset and a more exacerbated RA disease phenotype, characterized by increased spleen inflammation score and elevated levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and SSRP1 expression. AAV-shSSRP1 injection in CIA dKO mice significantly reduced spleen inflammation scores, IL-1ß and TNF-α expression levels, and down-regulated Ki-67 expression compared to CIA dKO mice. CONCLUSION: Knockout of miR-204/-211 exacerbated the onset of CIA in C57BL/6 mice, while miR-204/-211 played a protective role against the progression of splenic inflammatory and proliferative progression in RA by targeting SSRP1.

RNA Helicase DDX5 Maintains Cardiac Function by Regulating CamkIIδ Alternative Splicing.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. RNA-binding proteins are identified as regulators of cardiac disease; DDX5 (dead-box helicase 5) is a master regulator of many RNA processes, although its function in heart physiology remains unclear. METHODS: We assessed DDX5 expression in human failing hearts and a mouse HF model. To study the function of DDX5 in heart, we engineered cardiomyocyte-specific Ddx5 knockout mice. We overexpressed DDX5 in cardiomyocytes using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 and performed transverse aortic constriction to establish the murine HF model. The mechanisms underlined were subsequently investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, RNA-sequencing, alternative splicing analysis, and RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. RESULTS: We screened transcriptome databases of murine HF and human dilated cardiomyopathy samples and found that DDX5 was significantly downregulated in both. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Ddx5 resulted in HF with reduced cardiac function, an enlarged heart chamber, and increased fibrosis in mice. DDX5 overexpression improved cardiac function and protected against adverse cardiac remodeling in mice with transverse aortic constriction-induced HF. Furthermore, proteomics revealed that DDX5 is involved in RNA splicing in cardiomyocytes. We found that DDX5 regulated the aberrant splicing of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ (CamkIIδ), thus preventing the production of CaMKIIδA, which phosphorylates L-type calcium channel by serine residues of Cacna1c, leading to impaired Ca2+ homeostasis. In line with this, we found increased intracellular Ca2+ transients and increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content in DDX5-depleted cardiomyocytes. Using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 knockdown of CaMKIIδA partially rescued the cardiac dysfunction and HF in Ddx5 knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal a role for DDX5 in maintaining calcium homeostasis and cardiac function by regulating alternative splicing in cardiomyocytes, identifying the DDX5 as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in HF.

The generation of sulfate species on Ir-based catalysts for boosting NO reduction with CO under the coexistence of O2 and SO2 atmosphere.

Generally, sulfur poisoning is considered to be one of the main factors contributing to the deactivation of selective catalytic reduction of NOx by CO (CO-SCR) catalysts, while the promotional effect of SO2 on NO reduction over Ir/SiO2 is observed which is an interesting scientific phenomenon. After the introduction of 20 ppm SO2, NOx conversion increased from âˆ¼ 40 % to âˆ¼ 90 % at 275 °C, and N2 selectivity increased from âˆ¼ 80 % to 100 % at 200 âˆ¼ 300 °C. Furthermore, the promoting effect could remain unchanged after 24 h of continuous reaction. However, the temperature point for achieving complete conversion of CO increased from 225 °C to 275 °C after the introduction of SO2. Experimental characterization and theoretical calculation jointly proved that the inhibition of CO oxidation by the generation of sulfate was the main reason for promoting NO reduction. Under the coexistence of O2 and SO2, SO2 was firstly oxidized to SO3 on the iridium surface and generated sulfate species on surface hydroxyl groups of SiO2. Some active sites for O2 adsorption were covered by the generated surface sulfate, and adsorbed CO was hard to react with adsorbed O2, resulting in Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) reaction pathways for CO oxidation being inhibited. Therefore, unoxidized CO reacted with NO adsorbed species and generated N2O to generate N2 and CO2, improving NO reduction. This new insight has implications for understanding the promotional effect of SO2 on NO reduction with CO in the presence of O2.

Comparison of vonoprazan bismuth-containing triple therapy with quadruple therapy in Helicobacter pylori-infected treatment-naive patients: a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori infection is linked to various gastrointestinal conditions, such as chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Traditional treatment options encounter difficulties due to antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a new treatment plan that combines vonoprazan (VPZ), amoxicillin, and bismuth for the eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: A total of 600 patients infected with H. pylori were recruited for this multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients treated for H. pylori elimination were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive 14 days of vonoprazan-based triple therapy (vonoprazan + amoxicillin + bismuth, group A) or standard quadruple therapy (esomeprazole + clarithromycin + amoxicillin + bismuth, group B). Compliance and adverse effects were tracked through daily medication and side effect records. All patients underwent a 13C/14C-urea breath test 4 weeks after treatment completion. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses revealed no substantial differences in H. pylori eradication rates between groups A and B (ITT: 83.7% vs 83.2%; PP: 90.9% vs 89.7%). However, significant differences were observed in the assessment of side effects (13.7% vs 28.6%, P < 0.001). Specifically, group A had significantly fewer "bitter mouths" than group B did (3.7% vs 16.2%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Triple therapy comprising vonoprazan (20 mg), amoxicillin (750 mg), and bismuth potassium citrate (220 mg) achieved a PP eradication rate ≥90%, paralleling standard quadruple therapy, and had fewer adverse events and lower costs (¥306.8 vs ¥645.8) for treatment-naive patients.

(C5H12N2S)Hg(NO3)2: A Mercury Nitrate Nonlinear Optical Crystal Motivated by Heteroatom Coordination Strategy.

Effective design and synthesis of second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials hold immense significance in driving modern science and technology advancements. In this study, we synthesized a new acentric mercury nitrate, (C5H12N2S)Hg(NO3)2, by regulating the coordination of the Hg atom through the introduction of a heteroatom. It exhibits an unprecedented [(C5H12N2S)2Hg2(NO3)4]∞ chain composed of Hg2+, NO3-, and organic molecule C5H12N2S. Notably, (C5H12N2S)Hg(NO3)2 demonstrates an unprecedented HgO3S unit and a second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity of 1.3 × KDP at 1064 nm, presenting the second-order nonlinear mercury nitrate constructed by organic molecule. Theoretical calculations suggest that the HgO3S unit and organic molecule C5H12N2S significantly contribute to the SHG effect. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of heteroatoms is an effective strategy for the development of new NLO materials.

Interfacial Hydrogen-Bond Interactions Driven Assembly toward Polychromatic Copper Nanoclusters.

Constructing versatile metal nanoclusters (NCs) assemblies through noncovalent weak interactions between inter-ligands is a long-standing challenge in interfacial chemistry, while compelling interfacial hydrogen-bond-driven metal NCs assemblies remain unexplored so far. Here, the study reports an amination-ligand o-phenylenediamine-coordinated copper NCs (CuNCs), demonstrating the impact of interfacial hydrogen-bonds (IHBs) motifs on the luminescent behaviors of metal NCs as the alteration of protic solvent. Experimental results supported by theoretical calculation unveil that the flexibility of interfacial ligand and the distance of cuprophilic CuI···CuI interaction between intra-/inter-NCs can be tailored by manipulating the cooperation between the diverse IHBs motifs reconstruction, therewith the IHBs-modulated fundamental structure-property relationships are established. Importantly, by utilizing the IHBs-mediated optical polychromatism of aminated CuNCs, portable visualization of humidity sensing test-strips with fast response is successfully manufactured. This work not only provides further insights into exploring the interfacial chemistry of NCs based on inter-ligands hydrogen-bond interactions, but also offers a new opportunity to expand the practical application for optical sensing of metal NCs.

From Pb6(HPO3)(H2PO3)Cl9 to Pb6(HPO3)2Br8(H2O)·H2O: Halogen Regulation to Achieve Inorganic Metal Phosphite Halide Nonlinear Optical Material with Unprecedented Pb-Centered Polyhedral Units.

Nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are widely used in various fields. The introduction of lone-pair cations is regarded as an effective strategy to explore NLO crystals. In this work, two novel lead phosphite halides, centrosymmetric Pb6(HPO3)(H2PO3)Cl9 and noncentrosymmetric Pb6(HPO3)2Br8(H2O)·H2O, were obtained via a hydrothermal method. Pb6(HPO3)(H2PO3)Cl9 is the first reported lone-pair metal phosphite with two kinds of phosphite groups (HPO32- and H2PO3-) and Pb6(HPO3)2Br8(H2O)·H2O is the first inorganic NLO phosphite halide with a phase-matchable SHG effect of 1.02 × KDP. In addition, the Pb-centered polyhedral units of PbOCl4, PbOCl6, PbO2Cl5, PbO2Br5, PbOBr6, and PbO3(H2O)Br3 in these two structures have never been reported before. An in-depth study on the structure-property relationship of the two compounds with halogen substitution is also performed.

BAP1 loss confers sensitivity to bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma.

The tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) is frequently mutated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). BAP1 loss-of-function mutations are associated with poor survival outcomes. However, personalized therapy for BAP1-mutated RCC is currently not available. Previously, we found that BAP1 loss renders RCC cells more sensitive to bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitors, as demonstrated in both cell culture and xenografted nude mice models. Here, we demonstrate that BAP1 loss in murine RCC cells enhances sensitivity to BET inhibitors in ectopic and orthotopic allograft models. While BAP1 deletion suppresses RCC cell survival in vitro, it does not impede tumor growth in immunocompetent murine models. Thus, the effect of BAP1 loss on the interactions between tumor cells and host microenvironment plays a predominant role in RCC growth, highlighting the importance of utilizing immunocompetent animal models to assess the efficacy of potential anticancer therapies. Mechanistically, BAP1 deletion compromises DNA repair capacity, rendering RCC cells more vulnerable to DNA damage induced by BET inhibitors. Our results indicate that BET inhibitors show promise as targeted therapy for BAP1-deficient RCC.

Traditional Chinese medicine for post-viral olfactory dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background: Post-viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) is the common symptoms of long COVID, lacking of effective treatments. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is claimed to be effective in treating olfactory dysfunction, but the evidence has not yet been critically appraised. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TCM for PVOD. Methods: We searched eight databases to identified clinical controlled studies about TCM for PVOD. The Cochrane risk of bias tools and GRADE were used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Risk ratio (RR), mean differences (MD), and 95 % confidence interval (CI), were used for effect estimation and RevMan 5.4.1 was used for data analysis. Results: Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (545 participants), two non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) (112 participants), and one retrospective cohort study (30 participants) were included. The overall quality of included studies was low. Acupuncture (n = 8) and acupoint injection (n = 3) were the mainly used TCM therapies. Five RCTs showed a better effect in TCM group. Four trials used acupuncture, and three trials used acupoint injection. The results of two non-RCTs and one cohort study were not statistically significant. Two trials reported mild to moderate adverse events (pain and brief syncope caused by acupuncture or acupoint injection). Conclusions: Limited evidence focus on acupuncture and acupoint injection for PVOD and suggests that acupuncture and acupoint injection may be effective in improving PVOD. More well-designed trials should focus on acupuncture to confirm the benefit. Protocol registration: The protocol of this review was registered at PROSPERO: CRD42022366776.

Thermodynamic Model for Hydrogen Production from Rice Straw Supercritical Water Gasification.

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) technology is highly promising for its ability to cleanly and efficiently convert biomass to hydrogen. This paper developed a model for the gasification of rice straw in supercritical water (SCW) to predict the direction and limit of the reaction based on the Gibbs free energy minimization principle. The equilibrium distribution of rice straw gasification products was analyzed under a wide range of parameters including temperatures of 400-1200 °C, pressures of 20-50 MPa, and rice straw concentrations of 5-40 wt%. Coke may not be produced due to the excellent properties of supercritical water under thermodynamic constraints. Higher temperatures, lower pressures, and biomass concentrations facilitated the movement of the chemical equilibrium towards hydrogen production. The hydrogen yield was 47.17 mol/kg at a temperature of 650 °C, a pressure of 25 MPa, and a rice straw concentration of 5 wt%. Meanwhile, there is an absorptive process in the rice straw SCWG process for high-calorific value hydrogen production. Energy self-sufficiency of the SCWG process can be maintained by adding small amounts of oxygen (ER < 0.2). This work would be of great value in guiding rice straw SCWG experiments.

Metal-Organic Framework Supported Low-Nuclearity Cluster Catalysts for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Ethanol.

It is still a great challenge to achieve high selectivity of ethanol in CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2RR) because of the similar reduction potentials and lower energy barrier of possible other C2+ products. Here, we report a MOF-based supported low-nuclearity cluster catalysts (LNCCs), synthesized by electrochemical reduction of three-dimensional (3D) microporous Cu-based MOF, that achieves a single-product Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 82.5 % at -1.0 V (versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) corresponding to the effective current density is 8.66 mA cm-2. By investigating the relationship between the species of reduction products and the types of catalytic sites, it is confirmed that the multi-site synergism of Cu LNCCs can increase the C-C coupling effect, and thus achieve high FE of CO2-to-ethanol. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and operando attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy further confirmed the reaction path and mechanism of CO2-to-EtOH.