Is tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal therapy with proactive therapeutic drug monitoring optimized for inflammatory bowel disease? Network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody therapy [adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX)] with therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which has been proposed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, are still controversial. AIM: To determine the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody therapy with proactive TDM in patients with IBD and to determine which subtype of IBD patients is most suitable for proactive TDM interventions. METHODS: As of July 2023, we searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to compare anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody therapy with proactive TDM with therapy with reactive TDM or empiric therapy. Pairwise and network meta-analyses were used to determine the IBD patient subtype that achieved clinical remission and to determine the need for surgery. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis yielded 13 studies after exclusion, and the baseline indicators were balanced. We found a significant increase in the number of patients who achieved clinical remission in the ADA [odds ratio (OR) = 1.416, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.196-1.676] and RCT (OR = 1.393, 95%CI: 1.182-1.641) subgroups and a significant decrease in the number of patients who needed surgery in the proactive vs reactive (OR = 0.237, 95%CI: 0.101-0.558) and IFX + ADA (OR = 0.137, 95%CI: 0.032-0.588) subgroups, and the overall risk of adverse events was reduced (OR = 0.579, 95%CI: 0.391-0.858) according to the pairwise meta-analysis. Moreover, the network meta-analysis results suggested that patients with IBD treated with ADA (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.19-1.63) were more likely to undergo TDM, especially in comparison with patients with reactive TDM (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.07-1.77). CONCLUSION: Proactive TDM is more suitable for IBD patients treated with ADA and has obvious advantages over reactive TDM. We recommend proactive TDM in IBD patients who are treated with ADA.

Extraction and Purification of Nicotine from Tobacco Rhizomes by Supercritical CO2.

Currently, in the ongoing development of the tobacco industry, a large amount of tobacco rhizomes is discarded as waste. These wastes are usually disposed of through incineration or burial. However, these tobacco wastes still have some economic value. High-purity nicotine has a promising market outlook as the primary raw material for electronic cigarette liquid. Nicotine is not only found in tobacco leaves but also in the rhizomes of tobacco plants. This study presents a method for treating tobacco waste and extracting high-purity nicotine from it. After mixing the raw material powder and entrainer in specific ratios, as much of the nicotine in tobacco roots can be extracted as possible using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The effects of temperature, the ratio of the entrainer, and the volume fraction of ethanol in the entrainer on the nicotine yield in supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) at 25 MPa for 120 min were discussed. By using 90% ethanol (a raw material mass-to-volume ratio of 1:5) as the entrainer, we obtained the highest nicotine yield of 0.49% at 65 °C. Meanwhile, the purity of the crude extract was 61.71%, and after purification, it increased to 97.57%. In this way, we can not only obtain nicotine with market value but also further reduce the harm to the environment caused by tobacco waste disposal.

Atmospheric environment characteristic of severe dust storms and its impact on sulfate formation in downstream city.

This study comprehensively investigated the impact of dust storms (DSs) on downstream cities, by selecting representative DS events. In this paper, we discussed the characteristics of meteorological conditions, air pollutants, PM2.5 components, and their influence on sulfate formation mechanisms. During DSs, strong winds, reaching speeds of up to 10 m/s, led to significant increases in PM10 and PM2.5, with maximum concentrations of 2684.5 and 429 µg/m3, respectively. Primary gaseous pollutants experienced substantial reductions, with decline rates of 48.1, 34.9, 36.8, and 9.0 % for SO2, NO2, NH3, and CO, respectively. Despite a notable increase in PM2.5 concentrations, only 7.6 % of the total mass of PM2.5 was attributed to ionic and carbonaceous components, a much lower value than observed before the DSs (77.3 %). Concentrations of Fe, Ti, and Mn exhibited increases by factors of 6.5-14.1, 10.4-17.0, and 1.6-4.7, respectively. In contrast to the significant decrease of >76.2 % in nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR), sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) remained at a relatively high level, displaying a strong positive correlation with high concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Ti. Quantitative analysis revealed an average increase of 0.187 and 0.045 µg/m3 in sulfate from natural sources and heterogeneous generation, respectively. The heterogeneous reaction on mineral dust was closely linked to atmospheric humidity, radiation intensity, the form of metal existence, and concentrations of it. High concentrations of titanium dioxide and iron­manganese oxides in mineral dust promoted heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 through photocatalysis during the daytime and metal ion catalysis during the nighttime. This study establishes that the metal components in mineral dust promote heterogeneous sulfate formation, quantifies the yield of sulfate generated as a result, and provides possible mechanisms for heterogeneous sulfate formation.

Deferoxamine attenuates visual impairment in retinal ischemia‒reperfusion via inhibiting ferroptosis.

Retinal ischemia‒reperfusion (I/R) injury can cause significant damage to human retinal neurons, greatly compromising their functions. Existing interventions have been proven to have little effect. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of programmed cell death that has been found to be involved in the process of ischemia‒reperfusion in multiple organs throughout the body. Studies have shown that it is also present in retinal ischemia‒reperfusion injury. A rat model of retinal ischemia‒reperfusion injury was constructed and treated with deferoxamine. In this study, we found the accumulation of Fe2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the consumption of glutathione (GSH) via ELISA testing; increased expression of transferrin; and decreased expression of ferritin, SLC7A11, and GPX4 via Western blotting (WB) and real-time PCR testing. Structural signs of ferroptosis (mitochondrial shrinkage) were observed across multiple cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptor cells, and pigment epithelial cells. Changes in visual function were detected by F-VEP and ERG. The results showed that iron and oxidative stress were increased in the retinal ischemia‒reperfusion injury model, resulting in ferroptosis and tissue damage. Deferoxamine protects the structural and functional soundness of the retina by inhibiting ferroptosis through the simultaneous inhibition of hemochromatosis, the initiation of transferrin, and the degradation of ferritin and activating the antioxidant capacity of the System Xc-GSH-GPX4 pathway.

Unraveling and leveraging in situ surface amorphization for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media.

Surface amorphization provides electrocatalysts with more active sites and flexibility. However, there is still a lack of experimental observations and mechanistic explanations for the in situ amorphization process and its crucial role. Herein, we propose the concept that by in situ reconstructed amorphous surface, metal phosphorus trichalcogenides could intrinsically offer better catalytic performance for the alkaline hydrogen production. Trace Ru (0.81 wt.%) is doped into NiPS3 nanosheets for alkaline hydrogen production. Using in situ electrochemical transmission electron microscopy technique, we confirmed the amorphization process occurred on the edges of NiPS3 is critical for achieving superior activity. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal Ru primarily stabilized at edges of NiPS3 through in situ formed amorphous layer containing bridging S22- species, which can effectively reduce the reaction energy barrier. This work emphasizes the critical role of in situ formed active layer and suggests its potential for optimizing catalytic activities of electrocatalysts.

A Comparative Analysis of Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Effects of Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook Fractions with Different Polarities.

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of various polar fractions obtained from Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook (DH). First, a 90% ethanol-aqueous extract of DH (CF) was subjected to sequential fractionation using different organic solvents, resulting in the isolation of a methylene chloride fraction (DF), an ethyl acetate fraction (EF), an n-butanol fraction (BF), and a remaining water fraction (WF) after condensation. Additionally, the CF was also subjected to column chromatography via a D101 macroreticular resin column, eluted with ethanol-aqueous solution to yield six fractions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis identified a total of 47 chemical compounds from these polar fractions, including fatty acids, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic heterocyclic molecules, and aromatic compounds. Moreover, DF, EF, and the 60%, 80%, and 100% ethanol-aqueous fractions had higher total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) values and greater 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS-) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging abilities. In H2O2-induced HepG2 cells, the aforementioned fractions could increase the activities of antioxidative enzymes NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and catalase (CAT), stimulate glutathione (GSH) synthesis by increasing the activities of glutamic acid cysteine ligase (GCL) and glutathione synthetase (GS), regulate GSH metabolism by increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and reduce levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the antioxidative stress effect of the DH fractions was found to be positively correlated with the activation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein and the presence of antioxidative chemical constituents. In conclusion, this study highlights the efficacy of both liquid-liquid extraction and macroporous resin purification techniques in the enrichment of bioactive compounds from natural food resources. The comprehensive analysis of chemical constituents and antioxidant effects of different polar fractions from Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook contributes to the understanding of its potential application in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Incidence of postpartum hemorrhage based on the improved combined method in evaluating blood loss: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In view of the current clinical inaccuracies and underestimations of postpartum hemorrhage amount, this study aims to investigate the incidence, etiology, clinical characteristics of postpartum hemorrhage in different modes of delivery based on the combination of volumetric method, gravimetric method and area method in evaluating blood loss. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Hangzhou Women's Hospital from January 2020 to June 2021, including 725 cases of postpartum hemorrhage among 18,977 parturients. Based on different modes of delivery, the participants were divided into three groups: vaginal delivery, forceps delivery, and cesarean section, for comparison. METHODS: Using an improved combined assessment method for blood loss, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of parturients with postpartum hemorrhage who underwent vaginal delivery, forceps delivery, or cesarean section and were hospitalized in Hangzhou Women's Hospital from January 2020 to June 2021. RESULTS: (1) Among the 18,977 parturients, 725 cases of postpartum hemorrhage occurred, with an incidence rate of 3.8%, and severe postpartum hemorrhage accounted for 0.4% of the cases. (2) The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage was significantly higher in the forceps delivery group than in the vaginal delivery group (χ2 = 19.27, P<0.001), while the incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage was significantly higher in the cesarean section group than in the vaginal delivery group (χ2 = 8.71, P = 0.003). (3) The causes of postpartum hemorrhage were statistically different among the different delivery modes, with varying underlying factors (P<0.001). (4) Patients with postpartum hemorrhage in different delivery modes showed statistically significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), birth weight, gestational age, gravidity, parity, the decline of postpartum peripheral blood hemoglobin concentration, and estimated blood loss (P<0.05). (5) The proportion of blood transfusion was significantly higher in the cesarean section group than in the vaginal delivery and forceps delivery groups (χ2 = 231.03, P<0.001). LIMITATIONS: This study is a single-center retrospective study, which may have led to selection bias in case selection. Additionally, the implementation of the combined three blood loss assessment methods may not have been strictly followed in all cases. Moreover, due to the mixing of bleeding with amniotic and irrigation fluids, the accuracy of evaluation may have been affected, leading to the possibility of inaccuracy of blood loss. CONCLUSIONS: Forceps delivery and cesarean section increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, but forceps delivery does not significantly increase the incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage. Uterine atony remains the leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage, while birth canal laceration and placental factors are the second most common causes of postpartum hemorrhage in forceps delivery and cesarean section, respectively. In this study, the volumetric method, gravimetric method and area method were combined to quantitatively assess postpartum hemorrhage amount. The combined method has strong clinical practicability and is less affected by subjective factors, although it also has limitations. In the future, we still need to focus on the early prediction and identification of postpartum hemorrhage, and further improve the quantitative assessment of postpartum blood loss.

X-Ray Nanothermometry of Nanoparticles in Tumor-Mimicking Tissues under Photothermia.

Temperature plays a critical role in regulating body mechanisms and indicating inflammatory processes. Local temperature increments above 42 °C are shown to kill cancer cells in tumorous tissue, leading to the development of nanoparticle-mediated thermo-therapeutic strategies for fighting oncological diseases. Remarkably, these therapeutic effects can occur without macroscopic temperature rise, suggesting localized nanoparticle heating, and minimizing side effects on healthy tissues. Nanothermometry has received considerable attention as a means of developing nanothermosensing approaches to monitor the temperature at the core of nanoparticle atoms inside cells. In this study, a label-free, direct, and universal nanoscale thermometry is proposed to monitor the thermal processes of nanoparticles under photoexcitation in the tumor environment. Gold-iron oxide nanohybrids are utilized as multifunctional photothermal agents internalized in a 3D tumor model of glioblastoma that mimics the in vivo scenario. The local temperature under near-infrared photo-excitation is monitored by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Au L3 -edge (11 919 eV) to obtain their temperature in cells, deepening the knowledge of nanothermal tumor treatments. This nanothermometric approach demonstrates its potential in detecting high nanothermal changes in tumor-mimicking tissues. It offers a notable advantage by enabling thermal sensing of any element, effectively transforming any material into a nanothermometer within biological environments.

Designing a Coupling Agent with Aliphatic Polyether Chain and Exploring Its Effect on Silica/Natural Rubber Nanocomposites under the Action of Non-Rubber Contents.

In order to prepare engineering tires with lower rolling resistance and better wet slip resistance in a more environmentally friendly way. In this study, a series of low volatile organic compound (VOC) Mx-Si69 coupling agents (x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, which means the number of ethoxy group in bis-(γ-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si69) substituted by the aliphatic polyether chain) were applied to silica/NR nanocomposites to prepare tire tread with excellent performance. Firstly, M1-Si69 was substantiated as the best choice of Mx-Si69 and Si69 to achieve comprehensive optima in the mechanical properties of silica/NR nanocomposites characterized by dynamic and static mechanical properties. Afterwards, the modification of silica with M1-Si69 induced by Non-Rubber Contents (NRCs) in silica/NR nanocomposites was revealed by comparing the filler network, micromorphology, and mechanical properties of isoprene rubber (IR) and NR nanocomposites. Furthermore, compared with Si69, the M1-Si69 coupling agent was found to conspicuously reduce the energy loss and improve the safety performance of engineering tires according to evaluations of the rolling resistance and dynamic thermomechanical properties of the silica/NR nanocomposites. Finally, the critical function of M1-Si69 in reducing ethanol (a kind of volatile organic compound (VOC)) emissions from the reaction of coupling agent and silica was disclosed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Hybrid TiO2:Au nanostars based polymeric membranes for photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in water samples.

Antibiotics represent one increasingly harmful type of contaminant of emerging concern in treated and non-treated water. They cause the generation of antibiotic-multiresistant organisms, one of the major challenges in current medicine. Plasmonic-photocatalysis using solar energy represents a promising solution for their removal with low energy consumption. Its successful application requires the improvement of photocatalysts' efficiency under sunlight and the development of robust, durable, and efficient substrates for photocatalysts immobilisation. In this work, hybrid TiO2:Au nanostars were initially synthesised. Then, two porous membranes were prepared to support this nanocatalyst based on poly (vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) polymer. Doctor blade and salt leaching casting methods, combined with temperature-induced phase separation, were used to generate membranes with high porosity, 80-90%, which was maintained after nanoparticle incorporation (3, 8 and 10 wt%). The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite membranes was tested through the degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin under UV and visible radiation. Salt-leaching membranes containing 10 wt% nanoparticles presented the highest degradation efficiencies, 45% under UV and 35% under visible radiation. In contrast, doctor blade membranes showed 36% and 32% degradation efficiencies, respectively. The reusability of the membranes was assessed in repeated cycles, presenting an average efficiency loss of only 2% after three uses. Finally, the reusability of these membranes was also tested in treated effluent water matrixes, presenting similar, or even better, degradation efficiencies, and a minimum reusability efficiency lost 0-1%. The results demonstrate that these membranes are a promising alternative for the degradation of a wide variety of contaminants under sunlight radiation.

Phase-controllable large-area two-dimensional In2Se3 and ferroelectric heterophase junction.

Memory transistors based on two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric semiconductors are intriguing for next-generation in-memory computing. To date, several 2D ferroelectric materials have been unveiled, among which 2D In2Se3 is the most promising, as all the paraelectric (ß), ferroelectric (α) and antiferroelectric (ß') phases are found in 2D quintuple layers. However, the large-scale synthesis of 2D In2Se3 films with the desired phase is still absent, and the stability for each phase remains obscure. Here we show the successful growth of centimetre-scale 2D ß-In2Se3 film by chemical vapour deposition including distinct centimetre-scale 2D ß'-In2Se3 film by an InSe precursor. We also demonstrate that as-grown 2D ß'-In2Se3 films on mica substrates can be delaminated or transferred onto flexible or uneven substrates, yielding α-In2Se3 films through a complete phase transition. Thus, a full spectrum of paraelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric 2D films can be readily obtained by means of the correlated polymorphism in 2D In2Se3, enabling 2D memory transistors with high electron mobility, and polarizable ß'-α In2Se3 heterophase junctions with improved non-volatile memory performance.

Size Effect in Hybrid TiO2:Au Nanostars for Photocatalytic Water Remediation Applications.

TiO2:Au-based photocatalysis represents a promising alternative to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from wastewater under sunlight irradiation. However, spherical Au nanoparticles, generally used to sensitize TiO2, still limit the photocatalytic spectral band to the 520 nm region, neglecting a high part of sun radiation. Here, a ligand-free synthesis of TiO2:Au nanostars is reported, substantially expanding the light absorption spectral region. TiO2:Au nanostars with different Au component sizes and branching were generated and tested in the degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Interestingly, nanoparticles with the smallest branching showed the highest photocatalytic degradation, 83% and 89% under UV and visible radiation, together with a threshold in photocatalytic activity in the red region. The applicability of these multicomponent nanoparticles was further explored with their incorporation into a porous matrix based on PVDF-HFP to open the way for a reusable energy cost-effective system in the photodegradation of polluted waters containing CECs.

Phase and polarization modulation in two-dimensional In2Se3 via in situ transmission electron microscopy.

Phase transitions in two-dimensional (2D) materials promise reversible modulation of material physical and chemical properties in a wide range of applications. 2D van der Waals layered In2Se3 with bistable out-of-plane ferroelectric (FE) α phase and antiferroelectric (AFE) ß' phase is particularly attractive for its electronic applications. However, reversible phase transition in 2D In2Se3 remains challenging. Here, we introduce two factors, dimension (thickness) and strain, which can effectively modulate the phases of 2D In2Se3. We achieve reversible AFE and out-of-plane FE phase transition in 2D In2Se3 by delicate strain control inside a transmission electron microscope. In addition, the polarizations in 2D FE In2Se3 can also be manipulated in situ at the nanometer-sized contacts, rendering remarkable memristive behavior. Our in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) work paves a previously unidentified way for manipulating the correlated FE phases and highlights the great potentials of 2D ferroelectrics for nanoelectromechanical and memory device applications.

Biological mechanisms and applied prospects of mesenchymal stem cells in premature ovarian failure.

Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), refers to the loss of ovarian function in women after puberty and before the age of 40 characterized by high serum gonadotropins and low estrogen, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and decreased fertility. However, the specific pathogenesis of POF is unexplained, and there is no effective therapy for its damaged ovarian tissue structure and reduced reserve function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with multidirectional differentiation potential and self-renewal ability, as well as the cytokines and exosomes they secrete, have been studied and tested to play an active therapeutic role in a variety of degenerative pathologies, and MSCs are the most widely used stem cells in regenerative medicine. MSCs can reverse POI and enhance ovarian reserve function through differentiation into granulosa cells (GCs), immune regulation, secretion of cytokines and other nutritional factors, reduction of GCs apoptosis, and promotion of GCs regeneration. Many studies have proved that MSCs may have a restorative effect on the structure and fertility of injured ovarian tissues and turn to be a useful clinical approach to the treatment of patients with POF in recent years. We intend to use MSCs-based therapy to completely reverse POI in the future.

Sub-Nanometer Electron Beam Phase Patterning in 2D Materials.

Phase patterning in polymorphic two-dimensional (2D) materials offers diverse properties that extend beyond what their pristine structures can achieve. If precisely controllable, phase transitions can bring exciting new applications for nanometer-scale devices and ultra-large-scale integrations. Here, the focused electron beam is capable of triggering the phase transition from the semiconducting T'' phase to metallic T' and T phases in 2D rhenium disulfide (ReS2 ) and rhenium diselenide (ReSe2 ) monolayers, rendering ultra-precise phase patterning technique even in sub-nanometer scale is found. Based on knock-on effects and strain analysis, the phase transition mechanism on the created atomic vacancies and the introduced substantial in-plane compressive strain in 2D layers are clarified. This in situ high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and in situ electrical characterizations agree well with the density functional theory (DFT) calculation results for the atomic structures, electronic properties, and phase transition mechanisms. Grain boundary engineering and electrical contact engineering in 2D are thus developed based on this patterning technique. The patterning method exhibits great potential in ultra-precise electron beam lithography as a scalable top-down manufacturing method for future atomic-scale devices.

Anti-hepatoma Effect of DC2.4 Cells Transfected with Tumor-Associated Antigen Cdc25C In Vitro.

OBJECTIVE: Cell division cyclin 25 homolog C (Cdc25C) is a tumor-associated antigen candidate gene, and this may be used as an effective target in cancer treatment. The present study aims to evaluate the lysis effect of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cell line DC2.4 overexpressing Cdc25C, and the feasibility of Cdc25C as a component in hepatoma immunotherapy. METHODS: The mouse Cdc25C gene was ligated into a lentiviral vector, and transfected into DC2.4 cells. The DC2.4 cell phenotype and cytokine secretion were determined by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. CD8+ T cells were sorted from the spleens of C57BL/6 mice using a magnetic bead sorting kit obtained from Miltenyi Biotech, Germany, and co-cultured with DC2.4 cells for one week as effector cells. Then, IL-2, granzyme B and perforin were detected in the CTL culture medium by ELISA. Next, time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay was used to detect the immune killing effect of Cdc25C-specific CTLs on target cells. Meanwhile, the effect of blocking MHC-I sites on target cells with a monoclonal anti-MHC-I antibody was evaluated. RESULTS: The results revealed that Cdc25C could be stably overexpressed in DC2.4 cells by LV-Cdc25C infection. DC2.4 cells transfected with LV-Cdc25C secreted more IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and had higher expression levels of CD40, CD86, CCR7 and MHC-II than unaltered DC2.4 cells. The elevated Cdc25C in dendritic cells also further increased the secretion of IL-2, granzyme B and perforin to elicit Cdc25C-specific CTLs, and induced the higher cytotoxicity in Hepa1-6 cell lines (P<0.05), but this had no effect on the target cells when MHC-I monoclonal antibodies were blocked. CONCLUSION: DC2.4 cells transfected with LV-Cdc25C can induce specific CTLs, and result in a strong cellular immune response. The dendritic cells that overexpress Cdc25C may be useful for hepatoma immunotherapy.

Upcycling discarded cellulosic surgical masks into catalytically active freestanding materials.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has resulted in the massive fabrication of disposable surgical masks. As the accumulation of discarded face masks represents a booming threat to the environment, here we propose a solution to reuse and upcycle surgical masks according to one of the cornerstones of the circular economy. Specifically, the non-woven cellulosic layer of the masks is used as an environmentally sustainable and highly porous solid support for the controlled deposition of catalytically active metal-oxide nanoparticles. The native cellulosic fibers from the surgical masks are decorated by titanium dioxide (TiO2), iron oxide (FexOy), and cobalt oxide (CoOx) nanoparticles following a simple and scalable approach. The abundant surface -OH groups of cellulose enable the controlled deposition of metal-oxide nanoparticles that are photocatalytically active or shown enzyme-mimetic activities. Importantly, the hydrophilic highly porous character of the cellulosic non-woven offers higher accessibility of the pollutant to the catalytically active surfaces and high retention in its interior. As a result, good catalytic activities with long-term stability and reusability are achieved. Additionally, developed free-standing hybrids avoid undesired media contamination effects originating from the release of nanoscale particles. The upcycling of discarded cellulosic materials, such as the ones of masks, into high-added-value catalytic materials, results an efficient approach to lessen the waste´s hazards of plastics while enhancing their functionality. Interestingly, this procedure can be extended to the upcycling of other systems (cellulosic or not), opening the path to greener manufacturing approaches of catalytic materials. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: A novel approach to upcycle discarded cellulosic surgical masks is proposed, providing a solution to reduce the undesired accumulation of discarded face masks originating from the COVID-19 pandemic. The non-woven cellulosic layer formed by fibers is used as solid support for the controlled deposition of catalytically active titanium dioxide (TiO2), iron oxide (FexOy), and cobalt oxide (CoOx) nanoparticles. Cellulosic porous materials are proven useful for the photocatalytic decomposition of organic dyes, while their peroxidase-like activity opens the door to advanced applications such as electrochemical sensors. The upcycling of cellulose nonwoven fabrics into value-added catalytic materials lessens the waste´s hazards of discarded materials while enhancing their functionality. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10570-022-04441-9.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

RATIONALE: Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare hematopoietic disorder, which is more rarely accompanied by monosomy 5 or deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5q (-5/5q-) or monosomy 5 (5q-/-5), and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, uncontrolled hyperinflammation condition, which is more rarely secondary to JMML. Up to now, only a few cases of JMML with -5/5q- and HLH secondary to JMML were described. Here we described an extremely rare case of HLH second to JMML with 5q-. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient had multiple cafe-au-lait-spots at birth and was found that NF1 gene mutation was positive. At his 6 years old, he developed hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, monocyte count 4.12×109/L in peripheral blood, 13% blasts in peripheral blood, and 11% blasts in bone marrow, without BCR/ABL rearrangement, combining with positive NF1 gene mutation, he was diagnosed as JMML. In the bone marrow, there was chromosomal abnormalities with -5/5q-. In the treatment, HLH occurred. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed as secondary HLH to JMML. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received the chemotherapy treatment of the improved diffuse alveolar hemorrhage protocol, and meanwhile, he prepared for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Then on the basis of anti-infection, symptomatic and supportive therapy, he was commenced the treatment according to the HLH-2004 protocol. OUTCOMES: He had a partial response, manifesting that his fever resolved, but the blood coagulation function did not improve, and the severe thrombocytopenia remained. Then, the parents refused the continual treatment, and the child died of intracranial hemorrhage 3 months after the diagnosis of JMML. LESSONS: JMML and HLH were relatively easy to diagnose based on clinical and laboratory results. Due to the low incidence of JMML with -5/5q- and HLH secondary to JMML, no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of the disease have been established yet. The clinical data of a case of HLH secondary to JMML with 5q- were analyzed, and relevant studies were studied.

Health-related quality of life in children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated variables in children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was given to children with CML and their parents, who were < 18 years at diagnosis of CML and < 19 years at study. The questionnaire comprised three parts, including demographic information, clinical information, and the Chinese version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Cancer Module 3.0 as HRQoL questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 240 respondents data were analyzed. Multivariate analysis showed that children with symptoms had worse pain (- 10.2; P < 0.001), nausea (- 17.3; P = 0.001), more treatment anxiety (- 7.2; P = 0.005), worse self-assessment appearance (- 7.1; P = 0.001), communication problems (- 6.4; P = 0.001), and worse HRQoL (- 7.0; P < 0.001). Children with mothers having low educational qualifications had worse pain (- 6.0; P = 0.014), more worried about future (- 5.4; P = 0.042), worse cognition problems (- 7.1; P = 0.002), worse communication problems (- 5.5; P = 0.008), and worse HRQoL (- 4.3; P = 0.005). Younger age children at study had more procedural anxiety (2.7; P = 0.001), treatment anxiety (- 1.7; P = 0.014) and cognition problem (3.6; P < 0.001), as well as worse HRQoL (1.8; P = 0.008). However, older age children at diagnosis were more worried about future (- 2.8; P = 0.001), worse self-assessment appearance (- 1.1; P = 0.042) and worse HRQoL (- 1.8; P = 0.007). Other variables significantly associated with worse HRQoL included female gender, rural household registration and their father's low education level. Parents reported more gastrointestinal disorders, were worried about the future and had less concern about appearance than their children. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, older age at diagnosis, younger age at study, lower mother's education level, and TKI-related symptoms are significantly associated with worse HRQoL in Children with CML. Children and their parents have different priorities in the HRQoL.

Synergies of Fe Single Atoms and Clusters on N-Doped Carbon Electrocatalyst for pH-Universal Oxygen Reduction.

Single atomic metal-N-C materials have attracted immense interest as promising candidates to replace noble metal-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The coordination environment of metal-N-C active centers plays a critical role in determining their catalytic activity and durability, however, attention is focused only on the coordination of metal atoms. Herein, Fe single atoms and clusters co-embedded in N-doped carbon (Fe/NC) that deliver the synergistic enhancement in pH-universal ORR catalysis via the four-electron pathway are reported. Combining a series of experimental and computational analyses, the geometric and electronic structures of catalytic sites in Fe/NC are revealed and the neighboring Fe clusters are shown to weaken the binding energies of the ORR intermediates on Fe-N sites, hence enhancing both catalytic kinetics and thermodynamics. This strategy provides new insights into the understanding of the mechanism of single atom catalysis.