Identification of Synergies in Fe, Co-Coordinated Polyphthalocyanines Scaffolds for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction.

The synergistic interaction between the isolated metal sites promoted the electrocatalytic activity of the catalysts. However, the structural heterogeneity of the isolated sites makes it challenging to evaluate this effect accurately. In this work, metal-coordinated polyphthalocyanine molecules (Fe-PPc, Co-PPc, FeCo-PPc) with long-range ordered and precise coordination structures are used as a platform to study the synergies of different isolated metal sites in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. The combination means of experimental and theoretical calculation clearly reveal that the coexistence of Fe and Co sites in PPc significantly enhances the conjugation effect of the macrocycle. This enhancement subsequently causes the metal sites to lose more electrons, thereby improving their adsorption of CO2 and facilitating the formation of intermediate *COOH on them. As a result, FeCo-PPc achieves a CO partial current density of about 57.4 mA/cm2 with a high turnover frequency of over 49000 site-1 h-1 at -0.9 V (vs RHE).

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Regulating the S1PR2/TLR4/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway via m6A Methylation of lncRNA H19.

Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment plays a protective role in cerebral ischemiareperfusion (CIR) injury. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still not fully elucidated. METHODS: All rats were randomly divided into five groups: the SHAM group, MCAO group, MCAO+EA (MEA) group, MCAO+METTL3 overexpression+EA (METTL3) group and MCAO+lncRNA H19 overexpression+EA (lncRNA H19) group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats were established to mimic CIR injury. The overexpression of lncRNA H19 and METTL3 was induced by stereotactic injection of lentiviruses into the rat lateral ventricles. The rats in the MEA, METTL3, and lncRNA H19 groups were treated with EA therapy on "Renzhong" (DU26) and "Baihui" (DU20) acupoints (3.85/6.25Hz; 1mA). Besides, the neurological deficit scoring, cerebral infarction area, pathological changes in brain tissue, total RNA m6A level, and the expression of METTL3, S1PR2, TLR4, NLRP3 and lncRNA H19 were detected in this experiment. RESULTS: EA improved the neurological deficit scoring, cerebral infarction area, and pathological injury in MCAO rats, while these beneficial effects of EA on CIR injury were attenuated by the overexpression of METTL3 or lncRNA H19. More importantly, EA down-regulated the total RNA m6A level and the expression of METTL3, S1PR2, TLR4, NLRP3 and lncRNA H19 in MCAO rats. Instead, the overexpression of METTL3 or lncRNA H19 was found to reverse the EA-induced down-regulation. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that EA might down-regulate the S1PR2/TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway via m6A methylation of lncRNA H19 to alleviate CIR injury. Our findings provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism of EA on CIR injury.

Investigating the Nexus of NLRP3 Inflammasomes and COVID-19 Pathogenesis: Unraveling Molecular Triggers and Therapeutic Strategies.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been marked by severe cases demonstrating a "cytokine storm", an upsurge of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream. NLRP3 inflammasomes, integral to the innate immune system, are speculated to be activated by SARS-CoV-2 within host cells. This review investigates the potential correlation between NLRP3 inflammasomes and COVID-19, exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which SARS-CoV-2 triggers their activation. Furthermore, promising strategies targeting NLRP3 inflammasomes are proposed to mitigate the excessive inflammatory response provoked by SARS-CoV-2 infection. By synthesizing existing studies, this paper offers insights into NLRP3 as a therapeutic target, elucidating the interplay between COVID-19 and its pathophysiology. It serves as a valuable reference for future clinical approaches in addressing COVID-19 by targeting NLRP3, thus providing potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Epidemiological survey of elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at mobile field hospitals.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mobile field hospital, a rapidly deployable healthcare facility for emergency care, was effective in ensuring rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV2 infections, effectively preventing the spread of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a survey to gain a thorough understanding of the epidemiological traits among the elderly who contracted the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at a mobile field hospital set up at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). METHODS: A cross-sectional study approach was employed to examine various factors such as demographic characteristics, clinical features, vaccination status, and nucleic acid testing. We utilized the DezhenTech Integrated Electronic Medical Record Platform (Municipal Isolation Hospital) to collect data and focused on elderly individuals infected with COVID-19 in the fifth isolation zone of the mobile field hospital set up at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The patients were categorized into different age groups for analysis. RESULTS: Among the 3,183 elderly patients, 54.7% were males and 45.3% were females, with an average age of 65.32 ± 4.41 years. Among them, 47.8% (1523/3183) were 60-64 years old, 34.0% (1082/3183) were 65-69 years old, 14.0% (444/3183) were 70-74 years old, 3.2% (103/3183) were 75-79 years old, and 1.0% (31/3183) were ⩾ 80 years old. The majority (95.7%) of the elderly patients with chronic conditions had hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. The first viral nucleic acid screening showed a higher positive rate in the community and hospital fever clinics. The cumulative positive rate of the nucleic acid test in the mobile field hospital was 38.7%. The average CT value of the COVID-19 ORF1ab gene was 34.56 ± 5.98, while the average CT value of the N gene was 33.10 ± 6.50. The patients took an average of 3.40 ± 0.45 days to test negative, with a positive rate of 15.4% and an average hospital stay of 7.45 ± 0.53 days. The overall rate of COVID-19 vaccine coverage was 68.0%, with an enhanced coverage rate of 40% and a non-coverage rate of 29.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prognosis for elderly patients who experienced a mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection at the mobile field hospital was favorable, although the vaccination rate in general was not high. By effectively managing underlying health conditions, the duration of their hospital stay in the mobile field hospital was reduced.

Recent Advances in Enterovirus A71 Infection and Antiviral Agents.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is one of the major causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) that majorly affects children. Most of the time, HFMD is a mild disease but can progress to severe complications, such as meningitis, brain stem encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and even death. HFMD caused by EV-A71 has emerged as an acutely infectious disease of highly pathogenic potential in the Asia-Pacific region. In this review, we introduced the properties and life cycle of EV-A71, and the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of EV-A71 infection, including tissue tropism and host range of virus infection, the diseases caused by the virus, as well as the genes and host cell immune mechanisms of major diseases caused by enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) infection, such as encephalitis and neurologic pulmonary edema. At the same time, clinicopathologic characteristics of EV-A71 infection were introduced. There is currently no specific medication for EV-A71 infection, highlighting the urgency and significance of developing suitable anti-EV-A71 agents. This overview also summarizes the targets of existing anti-EV-A71 agents, including virus entry, translation, polyprotein processing, replication, assembly and release; interferons; interleukins; the mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase B signaling pathways; the oxidative stress pathway; the ubiquitin-proteasome system; and so on. Furthermore, it overviews the effects of natural products, monoclonal antibodies, and RNA interference against EV-A71. It also discusses issues limiting the research of antiviral drugs. This review is a systematic and comprehensive summary of the mechanism and pathological characteristics of EV-A71 infection, the latest progress of existing anti-EV-A71 agents. It would provide better understanding and guidance for the research and application of EV-A71 infection and antiviral inhibitors.

Long-term efficacy of microwave ablation for multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a 5-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Microwave ablation (MWA) has achieved excellent long-term efficacy in treating unifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (UPTMC). The therapeutic effect of this treatment on multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (MPTMC) is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of MWA for low-risk MPTMC and to provide evidence-based medicine for the revision of clinical guidelines. METHODS: This study included 66 MPTMC patients with a total of 158 lesions, all of whom received MWA. We collected and retrospectively analyzed the patients' follow-up data before MWA, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment and every 6 months thereafter until 5 years posttreatment. We evaluated the MWA complication rate, technical success rate (TSR), lesion volume reduction rate (VRR), and complete disappearance rate (CDR) during follow-up and in those patients with tumor progression and delayed surgery. RESULTS: After 60 months of follow-up, all 158 lesions disappeared in 66 patients, and the volume was reduced from 43.82 mm3 to 0.00 mm3. The TSR and VRR were both 100%. The CDRs at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 57.59%, 93.67%, and 100%, respectively. The complication rate was 3.03% (2/66), and the incidence of tumor progression was 3.03% (2/66), including one new intrathyroidal lesion and one cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM). These lesions were retreated with MWA, and the lesions disappeared during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided MWA for low-risk MPTMC is safe and effective and may serve as an alternative option for patients who refuse surgery or active surveillance (AS). CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study concludes that ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for low-risk multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is safe and effective and may serve as an alternative option for patients who refuse surgery or active surveillance. KEY POINTS: • Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for low-risk multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is safe and effective. • During 5 years of follow-up, multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients treated with microwave ablation had a favorable prognosis. • To provide evidence-based medicine for the revision of clinical guidelines.

Prevalence and bidirectional association between rhinitis and urticaria: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rhinitis, allergic rhinitis in particular, and urticaria are both common diseases globally. However, there is controversy with regard to the correlation between rhinitis and urticaria. Objective: To examine the accurate association between rhinitis and urticaria. Methods: Three medical literature data bases were searched from data base inception until January 11, 2022. The prevalence and association between rhinitis and urticaria were estimated by meta-analysis. Quality assessment was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and pooled prevalence were calculated by using random-effects models. Results: Urticaria prevalence in patients with rhinitis was 17.6% (95% CI, 13.2%-21.9%). The pooled prevalence of rhinitis was 31.3% (95% CI, 24.2%-38.4%) in patients with urticaria, and rhinitis prevalence in patients with acute urticaria and chronic urticaria was 31.6% (95% CI, 7.4%-55.8%) and 28.7% (95% CI, 20.4%-36.9%), respectively. Rhinitis occurrence was significantly associated with urticaria (OR 2.67 [95% CI, 2.625-2.715]). Urticaria and rhinitis were diagnosed based on different criteria, possibly resulting in a potential error of misclassification. Conclusion: Rhinitis and urticaria were significantly correlated. Physicians should be cognizant with regard to this relationship and address nasal or skin symptoms in patients.

Sensing of H2O2-induced oxidative stress by the UPF factor complex is crucial for activation of catalase-3 expression in Neurospora.

UPF-1-UPF-2-UPF-3 complex-orchestrated nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a well-characterized eukaryotic cellular surveillance mechanism that not only degrades aberrant transcripts to protect the integrity of the transcriptome but also eliminates normal transcripts to facilitate appropriate cellular responses to physiological and environmental changes. Here, we describe the multifaceted regulatory roles of the Neurospora crassa UPF complex in catalase-3 (cat-3) gene expression, which is essential for scavenging H2O2-induced oxidative stress. First, losing UPF proteins markedly slowed down the decay rate of cat-3 mRNA. Second, UPF proteins indirectly attenuated the transcriptional activity of cat-3 gene by boosting the decay of cpc-1 and ngf-1 mRNAs, which encode a well-studied transcription factor and a histone acetyltransferase, respectively. Further study showed that under oxidative stress condition, UPF proteins were degraded, followed by increased CPC-1 and NGF-1 activity, finally activating cat-3 expression to resist oxidative stress. Together, our data illustrate a sophisticated regulatory network of the cat-3 gene mediated by the UPF complex under physiological and H2O2-induced oxidative stress conditions.

Synthesis, supramolecular aggregation, and NIR-II phosphorescence of isocyanorhodium(i) zwitterions.

Development of new second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) luminophores is highly desirable, and d8 square-planar metal complexes with NIR-II phosphorescence have been rarely reported. Herein, we explore an asymmetric coordination paradigm to achieve the first creation of NIR-II phosphorescent isocyanorhodium(i) zwitterions. They show a strong tendency for aggregation in solution, arising from close Rh(i)⋯Rh(i) contacts that are further intensified by π-π stacking interactions and the hydrophilic-hydrophobic effect. Based on such supramolecular aggregation, zwitterions 2 and 5 are found to yield NIR-II phosphorescence emissions centered at 1005 and 1120 (1210, shoulder) nm in methanol-water mixed solvents, respectively. These two bands show red shifts to 1070 and 1130 (1230, shoulder) nm in the corresponding polymer nanoparticles in water. The resulting polymer nanoparticles can brighten in vivo tumor issues in the NIR-II region with a long-circulating time. In view of the synthetic diversity established by the asymmetric coordination paradigm, this work provides an extraordinary opportunity to explore NIR-II luminophores.

[Efficacy of electroacupuncture on acute intracerebral hemorrhage and its effect on serum AQP4 in patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects on neural function, living ability and mental state of the patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), as well as aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in the serum after treated with electroacupuncture (EA) on the base of routine therapy of western medicine. METHODS: Seventy-two acute ICH patients were randomized into an observation group (36 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the control group, the conventional treatment was delivered such as stopping bleeding, preventing re-hemorrhage, controlling blood pressure, mitigating neural edema and reducing intracranial pressure. In the observation group, on the base of the treatment in the control group, EA was supplemented. Acupoints included Shuigou (GV 26), bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc. Electric stimulation was operated at Neiguan (PC 6) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the same side, with disperse-dense wave, and 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, tolerable current intensity. Electric stimulation was delivered for 30 min in each treatment, once daily and for 6 times per week. The duration of treatment was 2 weeks in the two groups. Before and after treatment, changes of the scores of National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), modified Barthel index (MBI) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE), as well as AQP4 content in the serum were observed in the two groups; the efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The NIHSS scores and the serum AQP4 content decreased after treatment when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), while, MBI and MMSE scores increased (P<0.05). In the observation group, NIHSS score and serum AQP4 content were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05), and MBI and MMSE scores were higher (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.8% (30/32), higher than that of the control group (73.5%, 25/34, P<0.05). The treatment in the two groups was safe, without adverse reactions and events occurring in the patients. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture, on the base of conventional treatment of western medicine, can effectively improve the neural function, living ability, mental state and serum AQP4 content of the patients with acute ICH. It is suggested that the effective treatment by electroacupuncture may be related to the regulation of the serum AQP4 content.

Colloidally Stable Graphite Oleogels by Pyrene-Functionalized Telechelic Polymers for Friction and Wear Reduction.

Although graphite derivatives, such as graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, have been widely used as lubricating oil additives to reduce friction and wear, their synthesis either proceeds with complicated procedures in low yield, suffering from high cost, or involves the utilization of highly corrosive chemicals, raising safety and environmental concerns. Therefore, the direct use of pristine graphite as a lubricating oil additive is indispensable for practical tribological applications. However, the realization of this idea has been seriously hampered by the incompatibility of graphite with lubricating base oils. In this work, we report a rational strategy to directly disperse graphite in base oils in the form of oleogels assisted by pyrene functionalized telechelic polymers under mild condition. The resulting oleogels exhibit long-time colloidal stability for more than one year, wherein the graphite has been exfoliated to in situ form graphene through π-π interactions with the pyrene-containing telechelics. Moreover, compared with the base oil, the graphite-based oleogels are found to exhibit remarkable reductions in friction and wear by up to 52% and 97%, respectively. Significantly, such tribological performances are comparable to those of exfoliated graphite derivatives. Taken collectively, directly using pristine graphite as a lubricating oil additive with superior tribological properties represents a revolutionary approach to create low-cost, green, and high-performance lubricants just based on pristine layered materials without involving any pre-exfoliations.

Phase Engineering and Synchrotron-Based Study on Two-Dimensional Energy Nanomaterials.

In recent years, there has been significant interest in the development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with unique physicochemical properties for various energy applications. These properties are often derived from the phase structures established through a range of physical and chemical design strategies. A concrete analysis of the phase structures and real reaction mechanisms of 2D energy nanomaterials requires advanced characterization methods that offer valuable information as much as possible. Here, we present a comprehensive review on the phase engineering of typical 2D nanomaterials with the focus of synchrotron radiation characterizations. In particular, the intrinsic defects, atomic doping, intercalation, and heterogeneous interfaces on 2D nanomaterials are introduced, together with their applications in energy-related fields. Among them, synchrotron-based multiple spectroscopic techniques are emphasized to reveal their intrinsic phases and structures. More importantly, various in situ methods are employed to provide deep insights into their structural evolutions under working conditions or reaction processes of 2D energy nanomaterials. Finally, conclusions and research perspectives on the future outlook for the further development of 2D energy nanomaterials and synchrotron radiation light sources and integrated techniques are discussed.

Association between the cumulative dose of glucocorticoids before the development of pneumonia and death in patients receiving long-term glucocorticoids: a secondary analysis based on a Chinese cohort study.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the association between the cumulative dose of glucocorticoids (GCs) and case fatality in hospitalized patients who developed pneumonia while receiving glucocorticoid therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 625 patients receiving long-term GC treatment who were hospitalized with pneumonia (322 male and 303 female). Data were obtained from the Dryad Digital Repository and were used to perform secondary analysis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to evaluate the association between the cumulative dose of GCs and case fatality. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: The 30-day and 90-day death rates were 22.9 and 26.2%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with those in the lowest quintile (≤ 1.5 g), the Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that patients with different cumulative doses of GCs (1.5 to 2.95, 2.95 to 5, 5 to 11.5, and > 11.5 g) had lower risks for 30-day death, with respective hazard ratios of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.52 to 1.42), 0.81 (0.49 to 1.33), 0.29 (0.15 to 0.55), and 0.42 (0.22 to 0.79). The multivariable-adjusted RCS analysis suggested a statistically significant N-shaped association between the cumulative dose of GCs and 30-day death. A higher cumulative dose of GC tended to first lead to an increase in 30-day death within 1.8 g, then to a statistically significant decrease until around 8 g [HR for 1 g = 0.82 (0.69 to 0.97)], and again to an increase afterward. Similar results were found in the subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: N-shaped association between the cumulative dose of GCs and case fatality was observed in patients receiving long-term GC treatment who were hospitalized with pneumonia. Our findings may help physicians manage these patients.

Quality-of-life, mental health, and perspective on TKI dose reduction as a prelude to discontinuation in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Treatment-free remission (TFR) has become the main target for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) dose optimization is crucial in managing adverse events, and improving adherence in clinical practice. In persons achieving a deep molecular response (DMR), some data suggest TKI dose reduction before discontinuation does not change success rate of achieving TFR, but this is controversial. However, data on quality-of-life (QoL) and mental health in CML patients with full-dose TKI, low-dose TKI, and TKI discontinuation are limited. Moreover, recent evidence indicating the feasibility of TKI dose reduction and discontinuation after dose reduction, which may change CML patients' perspectives on TKI discontinuation. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using online questionnaires to explore the QoL, mental health in patients with diverse TKI dose, and perspective on TKI dose reduction as a prelude to discontinuation. RESULTS: 1450 responses were included in the analysis. 44.3% of respondents reported a moderate-to-severe impact of TKI treatment on their QoL. 17% of respondents had moderate-to-severe anxiety. 24.4% of respondents had moderate-to-severe depression. In 1326 patients who had not discontinued their medication, 1055 (79.6%) patients reported they would try TKI discontinuation because of concerns over side effects of long-term medication (67.9%), financial burden (68.7%), poor QoL (77.9%), pregnancy needs (11.6%), anxiety and depression while taking TKI (20.8%), inconvenience of TKI treatment (22.2%). 613 of 817 (75.0%) patients on full-dose TKI therapy indicated they preferred trying a dose reduction before discontinuing TKI therapy after dose reduction compared with 31 (3.8%) preferring no dose reduction before stopping. CONCLUSIONS: TKI dose reduction showed a significant improvement of patients' QoL and mental health, comparable to the effect of TKI discontinuation. Most patients indicated they preferred dose reduction before stopping TKI therapy. In clinical practice, TKI dose reduction can be considered as a bridge from full-dose treatment to discontinuation. Our results showed that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) dose reduction showed a significant improvement of patients' quality-of-life and mental health, comparable to the effect of TKI discontinuation. Most patients desire to discontinue TKI in the future. TKI discontinuation after dose reduction is more acceptable compared to discontinuing it directly. In clinical practice, TKI dose reduction can be considered as a bridge from full-dose treatment to discontinuation. Please do not hesitate to contact me in case further clarification is needed with this submission.

Ubiquity of Amino Accelerators and Antioxidants in Road Dust from Multiple Land Types: Targeted and Nontargeted Analysis.

Amino accelerators and antioxidants (AAL/Os), as well as their degradation derivatives, are industrial additives of emerging concern due to their massive production and use (particularly in rubber tires), pervasiveness in the environment, and documented adverse effects. This study delineated their inter-regional variations in road dust collected from urban/suburb, agricultural, and forest areas, and screened for less-studied AAL/O analogues with high-resolution mass spectrometry. 1,3-Diphenylguanidine (DPG; median concentration: 121 ng/g) and N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPD-Q; 9.75 ng/g) are the most abundant congeners, constituting 69.7% and 41.4% of the total concentrations of AAL/Os (192 ng/g) and those of AAO transformation products (22.3 ng/g), respectively. The spatial distribution across the studied sites suggests evident human impacts, reflected by the pronounced urban signature and vehicle-originated pollution. Our nontargeted analysis of the most-contaminated road dust identified 16 AAL/O-related chemicals, many of which have received little investigation. Particularly, environmental and toxicological information remains extremely scarce for five out of the 10 most concerning compounds prioritized in terms of their dusty residues and toxicity including 1,2-diphenyl-3-cyclohexylguanidine (DPCG), N,N''-bis[2-(propan-2-yl)phenyl]guanidine (BPPG), and N-(4-anilinophenyl)formamide (PPD-CHO). Additionally, dicyclohexylamine (DChA), broadly applied as an antioxidant in automobile products, had an even greater median level than DPG. Therefore, future research on their health risks and (eco)toxic potential is of high importance.

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Prostate Specific Antigen Density and PI-RADSv2 score help identify Apical Prostate Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the potential roles of preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in identifying aggressive apical prostate cancer (APCa), thereby helping to facilitate patient counseling and surgical planning. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 662 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) between January 2010 to October 2019. All patients underwent a preoperative biopsy and mpMRI of the prostate. APCa was defined as any malignant lesions in the prostatic apex. Clinical, pathological and mpMRI variables were retrieved. Univariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. Results: A total of 214 (32.3%) patients had APCa. Patients presenting APCa were more likely to harbor adverse clinicopathological features (all p < 0.05). On univariable analysis, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (p < 0.001), mpMRI-based PSA density (PSAD) (p < 0.001), Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) score (p < 0.001), number of positive cores (p < 0.001), percentage of positive cores (p < 0.001), max core involvement (p < 0.001) and biopsy GG (p = 0.001) were significant predictors of APCa. On multivariable analysis, mpMRI-based PSAD ≥ 0.27 ng/ml/cm3 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.251, p = 0.003), PI-RADSv2 score > 4 (OR: 1.611, p = 0.023) and percentage of positive cores (OR: 2.333, p = 0.041) were independently predictive of APCa during RP. The AUC values of mpMRI-based PSAD and PI-RADSv2 score were 0.646 (95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 0.608-0.682) and 0.612 (95% CI: 0.568-0.656), respectively. Conclusion: Preoperative mpMRI-based PSAD and PI-RADSv2 score help identify the presence of APCa and may be useful for surgical decision-making during RP.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Ferroptosis Induced by Cerebral Ischemiareperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for years on cerebral ischemia treatment, but the specific mechanism is still elusive. Studies have shown that EA can relieve brain damage after ischemic stroke by inhibiting programmed cell death (PCD), such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy. Ferroptosis, a unique form of cell death, has been highlighted recently and found to occur in I/R injury. We, therefore, investigated whether EA plays an essential role in relieving cerebral I/R injury via ferroptosis. METHODS: The modified MCAO/R rats model was established and then divided into four groups with or without EA treatment. Neurological deficit score and TTC staining were used to evaluate the neurological deficit and infarct volume of each group. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and immunofluorescence staining were applied for mitochondrial ultrastructure and ROS accumulation observation, respectively. The proteins and mRNA expression of ACSL4, TFR1, and GPX4 were assessed by western blot and qPCR to detect the progress of ferroptosis. RESULTS: EA treatment improved neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume. Moreover, EA significantly relieved the mitochondrial morphological changes and inhibited ROS Production in MCAO rats. In terms of its mechanism, EA obviously decreased the ACSL4 and TFR1 expressions and promoted GPX4 levels in MCAO/R model rats. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that EA might play an essential role in relieving cerebral I/R injury via ferroptosis.

Asymmetric dinitrogen-coordinated nickel single-atomic sites for efficient CO2 electroreduction.

Developing highly efficient, selective and low-overpotential electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is crucial. This study reports an efficient Ni single-atom catalyst coordinated with pyrrolic nitrogen and pyridinic nitrogen for CO2 reduction to carbon monoxide (CO). In flow cell experiments, the catalyst achieves a CO partial current density of 20.1 mA cmgeo-2 at -0.15 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE). It exhibits a high turnover frequency of over 274,000 site-1 h-1 at -1.0 VRHE and maintains high Faradaic efficiency of CO (FECO) exceeding 90% within -0.15 to -0.9 VRHE. Operando synchrotron-based infrared and X-ray absorption spectra, and theoretical calculations reveal that mono CO-adsorbed Ni single sites formed during electrochemical processes contribute to the balance between key intermediates formation and CO desorption, providing insights into the catalyst's origin of catalytic activity. Overall, this work presents a Ni single-atom catalyst with good selectivity and activity for CO2 reduction while shedding light on its underlying mechanism.

Construction of a triazine polycarboxylate Co-MOF with flexible and rigid coordination arms as well as excellent catalytic reduction and adsorption properties.

A new compound [Co2(H2BATD)(DMF)2]·2.5DMF·0.5H2O (1) was synthesized from the triazine ligand H6BATD (H6BATD = 5,5'-(6-biscarboxymethylamino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl) bis (azadiyl), DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) and Co(NO3)2·6H2O. Compound 1 was characterized using infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, PXRD, and thermogravimetry. The three-dimensional network of compound 1 was further constructed using [Co2(COO)6] building blocks from the flexible coordination arms and the rigid coordination arms from the ligand. In terms of functional properties, compound 1 can be used for the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (PNP) to p-aminophenol (PAP), and compound 1 with a dose of 1 mg showed good catalytic reduction properties, as well as a conversion rate of over 90%. Based on the unique π-electron wall and carboxyl groups in the H6BATD ligand that provide abundant adsorption sites, compound 1 can be used to adsorb iodine in cyclohexane solution.