Tunable covalent benzo-heterocyclic rings constructed using two-dimensional conjugated polymers for visible-light-driven water splitting.

Developing highly efficient, stable, and cost-effective two-dimensional (2D) conjugated polymers (CPs) for overall water splitting (OWS) is critical for producing clean and renewable hydrogen energy, yet it remains a great challenge. Here, we designed eight 2D CPs through the topological assembly of diacetylene and benzene-derived molecular linkers that can offer active sites for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, and explored their structural, electronic, optical, and photocatalytic OWS properties by performing first-principles computations. It is shown that incorporating benzo-heterocyclic rings into CPs can significantly modulate the electronic structures of CPs and broaden the spectral absorption, suitable for visible-light-driven OWS. Remarkably, through a range of screening criteria, including stability, electronic band structures, band edge alignments, and photocatalytic activity, we found that CP-4 based on diacetylene and benzotrifuran can spontaneously trigger the OWS in a neutral environment under its own light-induced bias, eliminating the need for sacrificial agents or cocatalysts. Specifically, the HER active site is primarily located at diacetylene moieties, while the OER active site is mainly concentrated on the benzo-heterocyclic rings. Moreover, the ideal STH efficiency for OWS on CP-4 was estimated to be 13.87%, highlighting its potential as a prospective photocatalyst for large-scale industrial OWS. Our findings open a door to the rational design of novel polymer photocatalysts for OWS.

[A new dihydrostilbene from aerial part of Cannabis sativa].

The present study investigated the chemical constituents in the aerial part of Cannabis sativa. The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography and HPLC and identified according to their spectral data and physicochemical properties. Thirteen compounds were isolated from the acetic ether extract of C. sativa and identified as 3',5',4″,2-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxy-3-methyl-3″-butenyl p-disubstituted benzene ethane(1), 16R-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,12Z,14E-trienoic acid methyl ester(2),(1'R,2'R)-2'-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5'-methyl-4-pentyl-1',2',3',4'-tetrahydro-(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,6-diol(3), ß-sitosteryl-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-6'-O-palmitate(4), 9S,12S,13S-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoate methyl ester(5), benzyloxy-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(6), phenylethyl-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(7), 3Z-enol glucoside(8), α-cannabispiranol-4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranose(9), 9S,12S,13S-trihydroxyoctadeca-10E,15Z-dienoic acid(10), uracil(11), o-hydroxybenzoic acid(12), and 2'-O-methyladenosine(13). Compound 1 is a new compound, compound 3 is a new natural product, and compounds 2, 4-8, 10, and 13 were isolated from Cannabis plant for the first time.

The mechanism of non-coding RNAs in medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system in children. Although surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have resulted in considerable progress in the treatment of this disease, the prognosis of patients with MB remains very poor. Therefore, highly specific molecular targeted treatment, which can improve the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the side effects of MB, has become a research hotspot. In recent years, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which were initially considered to be transcriptional noise, have been shown to possess regulatory functions. A series of ncRNAs have been identified, including microRNAs and circular RNAs, which affect the expression of specific genes in a variety of tumors. These genes lead to the formation of a specific complex of proteins or they directly participate in protein synthesis in order to regulate the occurrence and development of tumors. The aim of the present review article was to summarize the recent research studies that have explored the ability of ncRNAs to regulate the occurrence and development of MB.

Complications of thoracoscopic talc insufflation for the treatment of malignant pleural effusions: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Talc pleurodesis is an effective treatment for malignant pleural effusions (MPEs). This study was designed to estimate complication rates of thoracoscopic talc insufflation. METHODS: Literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies were selected if they reported complication rates of thoracoscopic talc insufflation in cancer patients with MPEs. Meta-analyses of proportions were performed to obtain incidence rates of complications. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (4482 patients; age 62.9 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 61.5, 64.4]; 50% [95% CI: 43, 58] females) were included. Intraoperative, perioperative, 30-day, and 90-day mortality rates were 0% [95% CI: 0, 1], 2% [95% CI: 0, 4], 7% [95% CI: 3, 13] and 21% [95% CI: 5, 43] respectively. Incidence rates [95% CI] of various complications were: pain (20% [1, 2]), fever (14% [3, 4]), dyspnea (13% [5, 6]), pneumothorax (6% [7, 8]) pneumonia (4% [0, 12]), emphysema (3% [3, 7]), prolonged air leakage (3% [0, 7]), prolonged drainage (3% [9, 10]), thromboembolism (3% [9, 11]), lung injury (2% [7, 12]), respiratory insufficiency (2% [0, 5]), re-expansion pulmonary edema (1% [0, 3]), empyema (1% [0, 2]), respiratory failure (0% [0, 1]), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 0% [0, 1]. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas pain and fever were the most frequent complications of thoracoscopic talc insufflation, the incidence of ARDS was low. Pneumothorax, pneumonia, emphysema, prolonged air leakage, pulmonary embolism, arrythmia, re-expansion pulmonary edema, and empyema are important complications of thoracoscopic talc insufflation.

[Control effects of different herbicides on weeds as well as their effects on growth and deve-lopment of broomcorn millet]. / 不同除草剂的田间杂草防效及对糜子生长发育的影响.

Selecting a herbicide suitable for broomcorn millet is a key issue in high efficiency and safe production of broomcorn millet and ecological environment improvement. We compared the control effects of 22 different herbicides on weeds as wells as their effects on growth and development of glutinous millet (Yumi 2) in the field. The results showed that, 1) soil applied Goyou, Butachlor, atrazine, and Benzipram, and stem- and leaf-applied WP mixture of tribenuron-methyl·carfentrazone-ethyl·MCPA-Na, Sigma Broad, Tengjing, Taoshi·Youxian and Kuofei had little phytotoxi-city, with broomcorn millet seedlings growing normally, and the other herbicides had phytotoxicities on broomcorn millet. 2) All the herbicides controlled weeds in the field to some extent, with better performance of soil applied herbicides than the stem- and leaf-applied ones, and affected plant height, functional leaf SPAD and spike weight per plant of broomcorn millet. 3) Compared with manual weeding, all herbicides reduced yields of glutinous millet. Compared with no herbicides application, some herbicides had yield-increasing effects. Among the soil applied herbicides, Go-you, Butachlor, atrazine, and Benzipram performed better in weeding control, increasing the yield of broomcorn millet by more than 60% compared with no herbicide control. Among the stem- and leaf-applied herbicides, Sigma Broad and WP mixture of tribenuron-methyl·carfentrazone-ethyl·MCPA-Na performed better in weeding control, increasing the yield of glutinous millet by more than 50% compared with no herbicide control. Therefore, applying 38% atrazine or 44% Monosulfuron to soil before the emergence of broomcorn millet, or stem- and leaf-applied 3.6% mesosulfuron-methyl or 55% WP mixture of tribenuron-methyl·carfentrazone-ethyl·MCPA-Na after the emergence of broomcorn millet, performed better in weeding control and with limited effects on the growth and development of broomcorn millet.

Inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis in experimental non-small cell lung cancer.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1 receptor) is expressed in many cancer cell types as compared to normal counterparts underscoring its potential role in tumor behavior. The aim of present study was to test the role of mGlu1 receptor in experimental non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First, protein expression of mGlu1 receptor was higher in human NSCLC cell lines, including both adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma subtypes, when compared to normal bronchial epithelial cells. Inhibition of mGlu1 receptor by BAY36-7620 (an mGlu1 receptor-specific inhibitor) inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice with tumors of A549 or H1299. Treatment with BAY36-7620 suppressed AKT phosphorylation in A549 tumors and pre-treatment with BAY36-7620 blocked the L-quisqualate (a potent mGlu1 receptor agonist)-induced AKT phosphorylation in A549 cells. Treatment with BAY36-7620 reduced cellular proliferation of A549 cells. Treatment with BAY36-7620 enhanced cleaved PARP levels and reduced protein expression of bcl-2, HIF-1α, and VEGF. In contrast, treatment with L-quisqualate reduced cleaved PARP levels and enhanced protein expression of bcl-2, HIF-1α, VEGF, and IL-8, which was reversed by co-incubation with MK2206 (an AKT inhibitor). Pre-treatment with BAY36-7620 blocked the VEGF-induced AKT phosphorylation in HUVECs. Treatment of HUVECs with L-quisqualate resulted in enhancement of capillary tube formation, which was reversed by co-incubation with MK2206. Furthermore, mGlu1 receptor knockdown suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice with tumors of A549 or H1299. Collectively, inhibition of mGlu1 receptor suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis in experimental NSCLC.

Aquaporin 3 knockdown suppresses tumour growth and angiogenesis in experimental non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common diseases encountered in medical oncology practice. The aim of the present study was to test the antitumour effects of short-hairpin RNA targeting aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in experimental NSCLC. Expression of AQP3 was suppressed in human A549 and H1299 NSCLC cell lines by short-hairpin RNA-mediated silencing. Therapeutic effects were assessed by examining tumorigenicity using a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model of NSCLC. Aquaporin 3 knockdown inhibited tumour growth and prolonged survival of mice with tumours. Aquaporin 3 knockdown suppressed tumour proliferation, marked by enhanced expression of p53, an increased ratio of cleaved caspase 3 to pro-caspase 3 and reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2). Aquaporin 3 knockdown inhibited tumour angiogenesis, marked by decreased CD31 immunostaining and reduced expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor. Aquaporin 3 knockdown reduced cellular glycerol content and suppressed mitochondrial ATP formation. Aquaporin 3 knockdown in vitro significantly suppressed activities of matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9, reduced AKT phosphorylation and decreased cell invasiveness of A549 and H1299 cells. In conclusion, AQP3 knockdown suppressed tumour growth and reduced angiogenesis in human NSCLS xenografts. Aquaporin 3 could thus be envisaged as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.