The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents: A cross-sectional survey.

Objective: We assessed the current status of depressive symptoms and the associated factors in rural left-behind adolescents. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms. Methods: Students from two rural junior high schools in Huaihua City were enrolled from July to September 2022. Before distributing the questionnaires, guardians of the students were contacted, and consent was obtained from the students themselves. The questionnaires were filled out anonymously and collected on-site. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the 325 left-behind teenagers was 23.40%; the rate of emotional abuse in adverse childhood experiences was 17.50%, physical abuse was 15.70%, sexual abuse was 9.50%, emotional neglect was 24.60%, while physical neglect was 27.70%. The five dimensions of adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.597, 0.395, 0.410, 0.498, 0.741, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were common among rural left-behind adolescents. Adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents. Occurrence of adverse childhood experiences should be reduced to improve on depressive symptoms.

Confusion Region Mining for Crowd Counting.

Existing works mainly focus on crowd and ignore the confusion regions which contain extremely similar appearance to crowd in the background, while crowd counting needs to face these two sides at the same time. To address this issue, we propose a novel end-to-end trainable confusion region discriminating and erasing network called CDENet. Specifically, CDENet is composed of two modules of confusion region mining module (CRM) and guided erasing module (GEM). CRM consists of basic density estimation (BDE) network, confusion region aware bridge and confusion region discriminating network. The BDE network first generates a primary density map, and then the confusion region aware bridge excavates the confusion regions by comparing the primary prediction result with the ground-truth density map. Finally, the confusion region discriminating network learns the difference of feature representations in confusion regions and crowds. Furthermore, GEM gives the refined density map by erasing the confusion regions. We evaluate the proposed method on four crowd counting benchmarks, including ShanghaiTech Part_A, ShanghaiTech Part_B, UCF_CC_50, and UCF-QNRF, and our CDENet achieves superior performance compared with the state-of-the-arts.

Mechanism of immune escape mediated by receptor tyrosine kinase KIT in thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the fastest-growing malignant tumors. This study sought to explore the mechanism of immune escape mediated by receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) in TC. METHODS: The expression microarray of TC was acquired through the GEO database, and the difference analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. KIT levels in TC cell lines (K1/SW579/BCPAP) and human normal thyroid cells were detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. TC cells were transfected with overexpressed (oe)-KIT and CD8+ T cells were cocultured with SW579 cells. Subsequently, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities, CD8+ T cell proliferation, cytokine levels (interferon-γ [IFN-γ]/tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were determined using colony formation assay, Transwell assays, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The phosphorylation of MAPK pathway-related protein (ERK) was measured by western blot analysis. After transfection with oe-KIT, cells were treated with anisomycin (an activator of the MAPK pathway), and the protein levels of p-ERK/ERK and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were detected. RESULTS: Differentially expressed genes (N = 2472) were obtained from the GEO database. KIT was reduced in TC samples and lower in tumor cells than those in normal cells. Overexpression of KIT inhibited immune escape of TC cells. Specifically, the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of TC cells were lowered, the proliferation level of CD8+ T cells was elevated, and IFN-γ and TNF-α levels were increased. KIT inhibited the activation of the MAPK pathway in TC cells and downregulated PD-L1. CONCLUSION: KIT suppressed immune escape of TC by blocking the activation of the MAPK pathway and downregulating PD-L1.

Analysis of hot spots and frontiers of nursing scenario simulation teaching research at home and abroad.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the research hotspots and trends of nursing scenario simulation teaching at home and abroad, and to provide reference for future nursing talent education. METHODS: CNKI and Web of Science databases were searched. From the establishment of the database to April 2022, relevant literature on nursing scenario simulation teaching research at home and abroad was retrieved, and Cite Space software was used for visual analysis. RESULTS: The research focus on China was the application and application effect of nursing scenario simulation teaching. The research hotspots abroad are the quality evaluation, reliability and influence of nursing scenario simulation teaching. CONCLUSION: The research and development of nursing scenario simulation teaching gradually tend to be systematic.

Translating Catalyst-Polymer Composites from Liquid to Gas-Fed CO2 Electrolysis: A CoPc-P4VP Case Study.

The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) in gas-fed flow electrolyzers using gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) generates industrially relevant activities and provides a promising approach for carbon recycling. Developing effective catalyst systems on GDEs is critical for achieving high activities. Catalyst-polymer composites (CPCs) formed between immobilized molecular catalysts and coordinating polymers exhibit positive synergies for the enhancement of CO2RR activity. However, previous studies of CPCs have been primarily confined to liquid reaction platforms, and there are few examples of translating CPCs to GDE architectures. This suggests a knowledge gap exists in translating between the two platforms. Herein, we identify and bridge that gap by demonstrating a case study for the (poly-4-vinylpyridine)-encapsulated cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc-P4VP) CPC. We identify a major knolwedge gap in the overlooked factor of CPC's hydrophobicity, which plays a significant role in gas-fed CO2RR but is often neglected in fundamental studies conducted on the liquid reaction platform. We bridge this gap by correlating catalyst hydrophobicity in liquid CO2RR with activity in gas-fed CO2RR by means of water contact angle measurements. Our case study underscores the importance of incorporating an engineering perspective into CPC studies and the necessity to consider hydrophobicity in CPC design and evaluation. This approach will hopefully accelerate the applied studies of this group of promising catalytic materials in gas-fed CO2 electrolysis.

Prevalence and factors influencing depression among empty nesters in China: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Empty nesters are older people who live alone or an older couple without children to care for them. In China, empty nesters make up a significant community and are more likely to experience emotional issues, particularly depression. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and the factors influencing depression among Chinese home-bound empty nesters using meta-analysis. METHODS: Based on previous studies, we used search terms relating to empty nesters and depression in English and Chinese. Databases, including China Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), Wanfang, Wipu, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and UptoDate, were searched in April 2022, for relevant articles. Details including names of authors, year of publication, region of investigation, study type, sample size, depression detection scale, depression detection rate, and influencing factors were captured. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed based on the I2 index, and data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. RESULTS: A total of ten research articles involving 5337 Chinese empty nesters were evaluated in the present meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of depression among empty nesters in China was 43%. The prevalence of depression among urban empty nesters was 38% (95% CI: 0.24,0.52), and 36% (95% CI: 0.18,0.55) among rural empty nesters. Many factors, including female, income, marital status, chronic illness, relationship with children, and social support were linked to depression among urban empty nesters. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression among empty nesters was 43%. Therefore, based on the factors influencing depression, government departments can intervene early to improve the mental health of empty nesters. LIMITATIONS: The meta-analysis only included cross-sectional studies. Therefore, there is a need for more future original studies investigating depression among empty nesters in China.

CD11b + CD43 hi Ly6C lo splenocyte-derived macrophages exacerbate liver fibrosis via spleen-liver axis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs), a dominant population of hepatic macrophages under inflammation, play a crucial role in liver fibrosis progression. The spleen serves as an extra monocyte reservoir in inflammatory conditions; however, the precise mechanisms of involvement of the spleen in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis remain unclear. APPROACH AND RESULTS: By splenectomy and splenocyte transfusion, it was observed that splenic CD11b + cells accumulated intrahepatically as Ly6C lo MoMFs to exacerbate CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis. The splenocyte migration into the fibrotic liver was further directly visualized by spleen-specific photoconversion with KikGR mice and confirmed by CD45.1 + /CD45.2 + spleen transplantation. Spleen-derived CD11b + cells purified from fibrotic livers were then annotated by single-cell RNA sequencing, and a subtype of CD11b + CD43 hi Ly6C lo splenic monocytes (sM-1s) was identified, which was markedly expanded in both spleens and livers of mice with liver fibrosis. sM-1s exhibited mature feature with high expressions of F4/80, produced much ROS, and manifested preferential migration into livers. Once recruited, sM-1s underwent sequential transformation to sM-2s (highly expressed Mif , Msr1 , Clec4d , and Cstb ) and then to spleen-derived macrophages (sMφs) with macrophage features of higher expressions of CX 3 CR1, F4/80, MHC class II, and CD64 in the fibrotic hepatic milieu. Furthermore, sM-2s and sMφs were demonstrated capable of activating hepatic stellate cells and thus exacerbating liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: CD11b + CD43 hi Ly6C lo splenic monocytes migrate into the liver and shift to macrophages, which account for the exacerbation of liver fibrosis. These findings reveal precise mechanisms of spleen-liver axis in hepatic pathogenesis and shed light on the potential of sM-1 as candidate target for controlling liver diseases.

NDRG2 inhibits pyruvate carboxylase-mediated anaplerosis and combines with glutamine blockade to inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells.

Due to the rapid proliferation, cancer cells have increased anabolic biosynthesis, which requires anaplerosis to replenish precursor intermediates. The major anaplerotic sources are pyruvate and glutamine, which require the catalysis of pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and glutaminase (GLS) respectively. In GLS-suppressed cancer cells, the PC-mediated pathway for anaplerosis is crucial to maintain cell growth and proliferation. Here, we investigated the regulatory role and molecular mechanism of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) in PC and PC-mediated anaplerosis. NDRG2 interacted with PC and induced the degradation of PC in glutamine-deprived cells. NDRG2 also inhibited the activity of PC and PC-mediated anaplerosis. As a result, NDRG2 significantly inhibited the malignant growth and proliferation of glioma cells in combination with a glutamine antagonist. In addition, NDRG2 more significantly inhibited the protein level of PC in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (R132H)-mutant glioma cells than in wild-type glioma cells. These findings indicate that the molecular mechanism of NDRG2 inhibits PC-mediated anaplerosis and collaborates with glutamine antagonist to inhibit the malignant proliferation of glioma cells, thus providing a theoretical and experimental basis for targeting anaplerosis in glioma therapy.

PRMT5 regulates RNA m6A demethylation for doxorubicin sensitivity in breast cancer.

Cancer cells respond to various stressful conditions through the dynamic regulation of RNA m6A modification. Doxorubicin is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug that induces DNA damage. It is interesting to know whether cancer cells regulate the DNA damage response and doxorubicin sensitivity through RNA m6A modification. Here, we found that doxorubicin treatment significantly induced RNA m6A methylation in breast cancer cells in both a dose- and a time-dependent manner. However, protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibited RNA m6A modification under doxorubicin treatment by enhancing the nuclear translocation of the RNA demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), which was previously believed to be exclusively localized in the nucleus. Then, ALKBH5 removed the m6A methylation of BRCA1 for mRNA stabilization and further enhanced DNA repair competency to decrease doxorubicin efficacy in breast cancer cells. Importantly, we identified the approved drug tadalafil as a novel PRMT5 inhibitor that could decrease RNA m6A methylation and increase doxorubicin sensitivity in breast cancer. The strategy of targeting PRMT5 with tadalafil is a promising approach to promote breast cancer sensitivity to doxorubicin through RNA methylation regulation.

Non-thermal plasma-assisted rapid hydrogenolysis of polystyrene to high yield ethylene.

The evergrowing plastic production and the caused concerns of plastic waste accumulation have stimulated the need for waste plastic chemical recycling/valorization. Current methods suffer from harsh reaction conditions and long reaction time. Herein we demonstrate a non-thermal plasma-assisted method for rapid hydrogenolysis of polystyrene (PS) at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, generating high yield (>40 wt%) of C1-C3 hydrocarbons and ethylene being the dominant gas product (Selectivity of ethylene, SC2H4 > 70%) within ~10 min. The fast reaction kinetics is attributed to highly active hydrogen plasma, which can effectively break bonds in polymer and initiate hydrogenolysis under mild condition. Efficient hydrogenolysis of post-consumer PS materials using this method is also demonstrated, suggesting a promising approach for fast retrieval of small molecular hydrocarbon modules from plastic materials as well as a good capability to process waste plastics in complicated conditions.

An Electrochemical Ethylamine/Acetonitrile Redox Method for Ambient Hydrogen Storage.

Hydrogen storage presents a major difficulty in the development of hydrogen economy. Herein, we report a new electrochemical ethylamine/acetonitrile redox method for hydrogen storage with an 8.9 wt % theoretical storage capacity under ambient conditions. This method exhibits low onset overpotentials of 0.19 V in CH3CH2NH2 dehydrogenation to CH3CN and 0.09 V in CH3CN hydrogenation to CH3CH2NH2 using commercial Pt black catalyst. By assembling a full cell that couples CH3CH2NH2/CH3CN redox reactions with hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions, we demonstrate a complete hydrogen storage cycle at fast rates, with only 52.5 kJ/mol energy consumption for H2 uptake and release at a rate of 1 L/m2·h. This method provides a viable hydrogen storage strategy that meets the 2025 Department of Energy onboard hydrogen storage target.

NDRG2 regulates adherens junction integrity to restrict colitis and tumourigenesis.

BACKGROUND: Paracellular barriers play an important role in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and maintain gut homeostasis. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) has been reported to be a tumour suppressor gene and to inhibit colorectal cancer metastasis. However, whether NDRG2 affects colitis initiation and colitis-associated colorectal cancer is unclear. METHODS: Intestine-specific Ndrg2 deficiency mice (Ndrg2ΔIEC) were subjected to DSS- or TNBS-induced colitis, and AOM-DSS-induced colitis-associated tumour. HT29 cells, Caco2 cells, primary intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from Ndrg2ΔIEC mice, mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) from systemic Ndrg2 knockout mice, HEK293 cells and human UC and DC specimens were used to investigate NDRG2 function in colitis and colitis-associated tumour. FINDINGS: Ndrg2 loss led to adherens junction (AJ) structure destruction via E-cadherin expression attenuation, resulting in diminished epithelial barrier function and increased intestinal epithelial permeability. Mechanistically, NDRG2 enhanced the interaction of E3 ligase FBXO11 with Snail, the repressor of E-cadherin, to promote Snail degradation by ubiquitination and maintained E-cadherin expression. In human ulcerative colitis patients, reduced NDRG2 expression is positively correlated with severe inflammation. INTERPRETATION: These findings demonstrate that NDRG2 is an essential colonic epithelial barrier regulator and plays an important role in gut homeostasis maintenance and colitis-associated tumour development. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81770523, 31571437, 81672751), Creative Research Groups of China (No. 81421003), State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology Project (CBSKL2019ZZ11, CBSKL201406, CBSKL2017Z08 and CBSKL2017Z11), Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of ShaanXi province (2019JC-22).

MIIP inhibits EMT and cell invasion in prostate cancer through miR-181a/b-5p-KLF17 axis.

Growing evidence have shown that the migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP, also known as IIp45) functions as a tumor suppressor and its expression is downregulated in several types of cancer, yet the function of MIIP in prostate cancer (PCa) and the underlying mechanism of action remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrated that MIIP acts as a suppressor of PCa by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell invasion. Overexpressing MIIP repressed cellular invasion of PC3 and DU145 in vitro, accompanied by a decrease of EMT-inducing factors, and an increase of E-cadherin and KLF17. Moreover, a stable MIIP knockdown in PCa cells promoted the tumor growth or bone osteolytic lesions, when xenografted subcutaneously or via tibia injection. Mechanistically, MIIP represses two onco-miRNAs, miR-181a-5p and miR-181b-5p, thus removing the inhibitory effect of these two miRNAs on their target KLF17, which functions as a negative regulator of EMT by directly suppressing the transcription of SNAIL1/2 and TWIST. Finally, by examining the expression of MIIP, miR-181a/b-5p, KLF17, and E-cadherin in paired cancer samples v.s. adjacent normal tissues from a cohort of human prostate cancer patients, we demonstrated that downregulation of MIIP was well associated with downregulation of KLF17 and E-cadherin, but upregulation of miR-181a/b-5p. The positive correlation between MIIP and KLF17 was also confirmed via immunohistochemical staining of a PCa tissue microarray. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel function of MIIP as an EMT inhibitor in PCa and illustrate the underlying molecular mechanisms, providing new insights into the tumor-suppressor role of MIIP.

A vacuum impregnation method for synthesizing octahedral Pt2CuNi nanoparticles on mesoporous carbon support and the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic properties.

Mesoporous carbon (MPC) nanomaterials, with large specific surface area, excellent conductivity and stability, and effective mass transfer are beneficial for use as catalyst support in electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cell applications. However, MPC utilization was limited by difficulties in loading catalyst nanoparticles within the MPC pores while simultaneously controlling critical particle parameters such as size and distribution. In this study we report a new vacuum impregnation method combined with solid-state chemistry synthesis for preparing highly active ORR catalyst nanoparticles on MPC supports. We confirm the effectiveness of this method by synthesizing octahedral Pt2CuNi nanoparticles on hydrophilic MPC with an even particle distribution in the MPC pores. We also demonstrate the capability of this method in controlling the particle size and morphology by adjusting the synthesis parameters. The synthesized catalysts exhibited excellent ORR activity and promising durability, which proves the goodness of using MPC support in ORR electrocatalysis. The findings offer a new methodology for synthesizing nanoparticles in MPC pores with parameter control and provide an intriguing strategy to develop new ORR catalysts using MPC support structure.

Properties of amorphous iron phosphate in pseudocapacitive sodium ion removal for water desalination.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an energy saving and environmentally friendly technology for water desalination. However, classical CDI is challenged by a low salt removal capacity. To improve the desalination capacity, electrode materials utilizing the battery mechanism for salt ion removal have emerged as a new direction more recently. In this work, we report a study of amorphous iron phosphate (FePO4) as a promising electrode material for pseudocapacitive sodium ion removal. Sodium ions can be effectively, reversibly intercalated and de-intercalated upon its electrochemical reduction and oxidation, with an excellent sodium ion capacity under half-cell testing conditions. By assembling a hybrid CDI (HCDI) system utilizing the FePO4 electrode for pseudocapacitive sodium ion removal and active carbon electrode for capacitive chloride ion removal, the cell exhibited a high salt removal capacity and good reversibility and durability, which was attributed to the advantageous features of amorphous FePO4. The HCDI system achieved a high deionization capacity (82 mg g-1) in 10 mM NaCl, a fast deionization rate (0.046 mg g-1 s-1), and good stability and cyclability.

The tumor suppressor NDRG2 cooperates with an mTORC1 inhibitor to suppress the Warburg effect in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and metabolic reprogramming has a profound effect on RCC tumorigenesis. mTORC1 inhibitors are widely used in RCC treatment, yet some types of RCC cells are resistant to these compounds. Thus, clarification of the metabolic mechanism of mTORC1 inhibitors and exploration of new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. In this study, we found that the mTORC1 pathway was hyperactive in RCC. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis showed that phosphorylation of the mTORC1 substrate 4EBP1 at threonine 37/46 increased in RCC tissues compared with that in normal renal tissues. It was also found that mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus suppressed glucose consumption, lactate production, and multiple catalytic enzymes involved in glycolysis in 786-O and ACHN cells, but the accumulation of HIF1α induced by CoCl2 blocked the inhibitory effect of everolimus on aerobic glycolysis. Interestingly, western blot and metabolite analysis showed that the tumor suppressor NDRG2 (N-Myc downstream regulated gene 2) was able to inhibit mTORC1 activity and cooperate with an mTOR inhibitor to decrease aerobic glycolysis in 786-O and ACHN cells. These results demonstrate that NDRG2 may potentially synergize with mTORC1 inhibitors to suppress malignant phenotype of RCC. Taken together, these data provided preclinical evidence that the combination of NDRG2 and mTORC1 inhibitors might be a promising strategy for RCC therapy.

NDRG2 Protects the Brain from Excitotoxicity by Facilitating Interstitial Glutamate Uptake.

Glutamate is a prominent neurotransmitter responsible for excitatory synaptic transmission and is taken up by sodium-dependent excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) on astrocytes to maintain synaptic homeostasis. Here, we report that N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), a known tumor suppressor, is required to facilitate astroglial glutamate uptake and protect the brain from glutamate excitotoxicity after ischemia. NDRG2 knockout (Ndrg2-/-) mice exhibited an increase in cerebral interstitial glutamate and a reduction in glutamate uptake into astrocytes. The ability of NDRG2 to control EAAT-mediated glutamate uptake into astrocytes required NDRG2 to interact with and promote the function of Na+/K+-ATPase ß1, which could be disrupted by a Na+/K+-ATPase ß1 peptide. The deletion of NDRG2 or treatment with the Na+/K+-ATPase ß1 peptide significantly increased neuronal death upon a glutamate challenge and aggravated brain damage after ischemia. Our findings demonstrate that NDRG2 plays a pivotal role in promoting astroglial glutamate uptake from the interstitial space and protecting the brain from glutamate excitotoxicity.

Combined Aberrant Expression of NDRG2 and LDHA Predicts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis and Mediates the Anti-tumor Effect of Gemcitabine.

The Warburg effect is one of the important hallmarks of cancer. The activation of oncogene and inactivation of tumor suppressor gene contribute to the enhancement of glycolytic enzymes and the Warburg effect. The N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a tumor suppressor gene and is frequently lost in various types of cancer. However, little is known about glycolytic function and therapeutic value of NDRG2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we found that NDRG2 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) were aberrantly expressed in HCC and were closely related to the Warburg effect. The correlation between NDRG2 and LDHA expression predicted HCC prognosis and the clinical response to chemotherapy. NDRG2 expression was significantly decreased while LDHA expression was increased in HCC specimens. NDRG2 and LDHA expression was significantly correlated with differentiation status, vascular invasion, and TNM stage of HCC. NDRG2 inhibited LDHA expression, the Warburg effect and the growth of HCC cells. Furthermore, NDRG2 mediated gemcitabine-induced inhibition of LDHA expression and the Warburg effect in HCC cells. Taken together, our data suggest that NDRG2 plays an important role in inhibiting the Warburg effect and the malignant growth of HCC via LDHA. NDRG2 combined with LDHA might be powerful prognostic biomarkers and targets for chemotherapy treatment of HCC.

A New Role for the Spleen: Aggravation of the Systemic Inflammatory Response in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Little is known about the role of the spleen in mediating systemic inflammatory responses in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We investigated the role played by the spleen in rats after SAP induction. Splenectomy was performed at designated time points after SAP induction. Pancreatic tissue and serum samples were collected and subjected to histologic, immunohistochemical, and immunologic analyses. After SAP induction, the splenic immune response was enhanced during SAP progression, as shown by the increased diameter of the splenic periarterial lymphatic sheath and the thickness of the splenic marginal zone. Rats with splenectomy developed acute pancreatitis more slowly than rats without splenectomy. In addition, pancreatic tissues of rats with splenectomy contained lower levels of serum amylase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 and exhibited less acinar cell death, leukocyte infiltration, and interstitial edema than those of rats without splenectomy. Compared with splenectomy alone, cotreatment with splenectomy and the administration of splenic cells originating from a rat with SAP 12 hours after induction increased systemic inflammation in SAP rats. Splenic factors exacerbated SAP-associated liver and lung injury and accentuated intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction. Splenectomy altered the serum cytokine profile in rats with SAP. In a rat model of SAP, the spleen exacerbated the systematic inflammatory responses and injury to multiple organs, indicating a new role for the spleen in SAP.

Dual-Site Cascade Oxygen Reduction Mechanism on SnO x/Pt-Cu-Ni for Promoting Reaction Kinetics.

Designing highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is crucial to boost the fuel cell economy. Previous research has mainly focused on Pt-based alloy catalysts in which surface Pt is the solely active site and the activity improvement was challenged by the discovered scaling relationship. Herein we report a new concept of utilizing dual active sites for the ORR and demonstrate its effectiveness by synthesizing a SnO x/Pt-Cu-Ni heterojunctioned catalyst. A maximum of 40% enhancement in the apparent specific activity, which corresponds to 10-fold enhancement on interface sites, is measured compared with pure Pt-Cu-Ni. Detailed investigations suggest an altered dual-site cascade mechanism wherein the first two steps occur on SnO x sites and the remaining steps occur on adjacent Pt sites, allowing a significant decrease in the energy barrier. This study with the suggested dual-site cascade mechanism shows the potential to overcome the ORR energy barrier bottleneck to develop highly active catalysts.