Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Metal Mixtures and Serum C3, C4: Result from the Manganese­exposed Workers Healthy Cohort.

Exposure to metal mixtures compromises the immune system, with the complement system connecting innate and adaptive immunity. Herein, we sought to explore the relationships between blood cell metal mixtures and the third and fourth components of serum complement (C3, C4). A total of 538 participants were recruited in November 2017, and 289 participants were followed up in November 2021. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis at baseline and a longitudinal analysis over 4 years. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) was employed to identify the primary metals related to serum C3, C4; generalized linear model (GLM) was further used to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of the selected metals and serum C3, C4. Furthermore, participants were categorized into three groups according to the percentage change in metal concentrations over 4 years. GLM was performed to assess the associations between changes in metal concentrations and changes in serum C3, C4 levels. At baseline, each 1-unit increase in log10-transformed in magnesium, manganese, copper, rubidium, and lead was significantly associated with a change in serum C3 of 0.226 (95% CI: 0.146, 0.307), 0.055 (95% CI: 0.022, 0.088), 0.113 (95% CI: 0.019, 0.206), - 0.173 (95% CI: - 0.262, - 0.083), and - 0.020 (95% CI: - 0.039, - 0.001), respectively. Longitudinally, decreased copper concentrations were negatively associated with an increment in serum C3 levels, while decreased lead concentrations were positively associated with an increment in serum C3 levels. However, no metal was found to be primarily associated with serum C4 in LASSO, so we did not further explore the relationship between them. Our research indicates that copper and lead may affect complement system homeostasis by influencing serum C3 levels. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Intelligent structure prediction and visualization analysis of non-coding RNA in osteosarcoma research.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone malignant tumor in children and adolescents. Recent research indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been associated with OS occurrence and development, with significant progress made in this field. However, there is no intelligent structure prediction and literature visualization analysis in this research field. From the perspective of intelligent knowledge structure construction and bibliometrics, this study will comprehensively review the role of countries, institutions, journals, authors, literature citation relationships and subject keywords in the field of ncRNAs in OS. Based on this analysis, we will systematically analyze the characteristics of the knowledge structure of ncRNAs in OS disease research and identify the current research hotspots and trends. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched for articles on ncRNAs in OS between 2001 and 2023. This bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and Pajek. Results: This study involved 15,631 authors from 2,631 institutions across 57 countries/regions, with a total of 3,642 papers published in 553 academic journals. China has the highest number of published papers in this research field. The main research institutions include Nanjing Medical University (n = 129, 3.54%), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (n = 128, 3.51%), Zhengzhou University (n = 110, 3.02%), and China Medical University (n = 109, 2.99%). Oncology Letters (n =139, 3.82%), European Review for Medical Pharmacological Sciences (120, 3.31%), and Molecular Medicine Reports (n = 95, 2.61%) are the most popular journals in this field, with Oncotarget being the most co-cited journal (Co-Citation = 4,268). Wei Wang, Wei Liu, and Zhenfeng Duan published the most papers, with Wang Y being the most co-cited author. "miRNA", "lncRNA" and "circRNA" are the main focuses of ncRNAs in OS studies. Key themes include "migration and invasion", "apoptosis and proliferation", "prognosis", "biomarkers" and "chemoresistance". Since 2020, hotspots and trends in ncRNA research in OS include "tumor microenvironment", "immune" and "exosome". Conclusion: This study represents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the knowledge structure and development of ncRNAs in OS. These findings highlight current research hotspots and frontier directions, offering valuable insights for future studies on the role of ncRNAs in OS.

Antagonizing interleukin-5 receptor ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice through reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Reducing intestinal inflammation is a promising approach for treating IBD. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system, is implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. Therefore, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a potential therapeutic strategy for IBD. In this study, we investigated the effects of the interleukin-5 (IL-5) receptor antagonist YM-90709 on dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice. We found that YM-90709 reduced the expressions of IL-1ß and caspase-1 p20 in the colon and ameliorated colitis. Furthermore, we identified YM-90709 as an effective agent for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Knockdown of IL-5 receptor or using an inhibitor of STAT5, a key transcription factor downstream of the IL-5/IL-5 receptor signal pathway, also reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent IL-1ß release and ASC speck formation. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome may be a downstream signal of IL-5/IL-5 receptor and that YM-90709 protects against IBD by inhibiting IL-5 receptor. These findings suggest a new strategy for regulating intestinal inflammation and managing IBD.

Discovery of a dual-acting inhibitor of interleukin-1ß and STATs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Currently, a significant proportion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients fail to respond to conventional drug therapy such as immunosuppressants and biologic agents. Interference with the JAK/STAT pathway and blocking of IL-1 signaling are two promising therapeutic strategies for these unresponsive IBD patients. This work describes the discovery of an inhibitor 10v that not only blocks NLRP3 and AIM-2 inflammasome-mediated IL-1ß signaling, but also reduces the expression of STAT1 and STAT5 in the JAK/STAT pathway. Importantly, 10v exhibits a significant anti-IL-1ß effect and decreases the levels of STAT1 and STAT5 in a mouse model of colitis. As a result, a novel small molecule is identified with a dual inhibitory capacity towards both inflammasomes/IL-1ß and STAT pathways, which supports further exploration of the therapeutic potential for IBD patients that do not respond to current drug therapy.

Investigation on hydrodynamic lubrication effect of micro groove seal in pharmaceutical kettle.

To improve the lubrication conditions of the seal in the pharmaceutical kettles, a specific shape groove with micrometer level on the sealing end face is set up to fully utilize the fluid dynamic pressure effect under given working conditions. A numerical model is developed to solve the pressure distribution in the micro groove, where any groove shape can be used. The numerical form of the model is derived using the principle of mass conservation without considering the film thickness derivative term, and the coordinate transformation is introduced to adapt to the curved shape of the groove. The cavitation phenomenon is taken into account in the flow field of the seal, and the JFO cavitation model is introduced to modify the Reynolds equation. The diversity of groove shapes is considered, and the node adsorption method is adopted to approximate the groove shape. The model is established based on the principle of mass conservation, which can adapt to any different groove shapes and has a strong scalability. By mathematical modeling and solving, the performances of the micro groove seal under different groove shapes are analyzed, providing a basis for the micro groove design of seal in pharmaceutical kettles.

Discovery of a selective NLRP3-targeting compound with therapeutic activity in MSU-induced peritonitis and DSS-induced acute intestinal inflammation.

The aberrant activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of various human inflammation-related diseases. However, to date, no small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor has been used in clinical settings. In this study, we have identified SB-222200 as a novel direct NLRP3 inhibitor through the use of drug affinity responsive target stability assay, cellular thermal shift assay, and surface plasmon resonance analysis. SB-222200 effectively inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, while having no impact on the activation of NLRC4 or AIM2 inflammasome. Furthermore, SB-222200 directly binds to the NLRP3 protein, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly by blocking the NEK7 - NLRP3 interaction and NLRP3 oligomerization. Importantly, treatment with SB-222200 demonstrates alleviation of NLRP3-dependent inflammatory diseases in mouse models, such as monosodium urate crystal-induced peritonitis and dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute intestinal inflammation. Therefore, SB-222200 holds promise as a lead compound for the development of NLRP3 inhibitors to combat NLRP3-driven disease and serves as a versatile tool for pharmacologically investigating NLRP3 biology.

In situ Raman monitoring of electroreductive dehalogenation of aryl halides at an Ag/aqueous solution interface.

Electroreductive dehalogenation as an efficient and green approach has attracted much attention in pollution remediation. Herein, we have employed a shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) technique to in situ probe the electroreductive dehalogenation process of aryl halides with thiol groups at Ag/aqueous solution interfaces. It is found that 4-bromothiophenol (BTP) and 4-chlorothiophenol (CTP) can turn into mixed products of 4,4'-biphenyldithiol (BPDT) and thiophenol (TP) as the electrode potential decreases. The conversion ratios estimated from the Raman intensity variations of C-Cl and C-Br vibrations are 44% and 58% for CTP and BTP in neutral solution, respectively. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis of benzene ring vibrations reveals a C-C cross coupling between the benzene free radical intermediate and adjacent TP product, which results in increased selectivity for biphenyl products at negative potentials.

Bortezomib inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and NF-κB pathway to reduce psoriatic inflammation.

The abnormal activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Accordingly, the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome may be an effective strategy for psoriasis treatment. However, the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors are not available in the clinic. Repurposing FDA-approved drugs is a highly attractive way for identifying new drugs. Here, proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, a marketed drug for treating multiple myeloma, was found to specifically inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation at nanomolar concentrations. Mechanistically, bortezomib did not inhibit reactive oxygen species generation, ion efflux, NLRP3 oligomerization, and NLRP3-ASC interactions. Bortezomib reduced ASC oligomerization and ASC speck formation. In addition, bortezomib inhibited the activity of the core subunit ß5i in the immunoproteasome and reduced ß5i binding to NLRP3. Bortezomib reduced the production of interleukin-1ß and attenuated the severity of skin lesions in the imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse model. Thus, bortezomib is a potential therapeutic drug for psoriasis. Our study also revealed that ß5i may be an indirect target for regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and treating psoriasis and other NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases.

Artemisinin-derived artemisitene blocks ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome and alleviates ulcerative colitis.

Artemisinins are well-known antimalarial drugs with clinical safety. In addition to antimalarial effects, their anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties have recently attracted much attention in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, these artemisinins only have sub-millimolar anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, which may pose a high risk of toxicity in vivo with high doses of artemisinins. Here, we identified another derivative, artemisitene, which can increase the activity of inhibiting the NLRP3 pathway by more than 200-fold through introducing a covalent binding group while retaining the peroxide bridge structure. Mechanistically, artemisitene inhibits the production of ROS (especially mtROS) and prevents the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby inhibiting IL-1ß production. In addition, it can also block IL-1ß secretion mediated by NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasome and IL-6 production. Furthermore, treatment with artemisitene significantly attenuated inflammatory response in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis. Our work provides a potential artemisinin derivative, which is worthy of further structural optimization based on pharmacokinetic properties as a drug candidate for inflammatory disorders.

Chlorquinaldol inhibits the activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammasome and ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in mice.

Psoriasis is a common chronic autoinflammatory/autoimmune skin disease associated with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. The pivotal role of interleukin (IL)-1ß and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pathogenesis of psoriasis has been widely described. Accordingly, the suppression of NLRP3-dependent IL-1ß release is a potential therapy for psoriasis. Repurposing marketed drugs is a strategy for identifying new inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Herein, chlorquinaldol (CQD), a historic antimicrobial agent used as a topical treatment for skin and vaginal infections, was found to have a distinct effect by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation at concentrations ranging from 2 to 6 µM. CQD significantly suppressed apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization, NLRP3-ASC interaction, and pyroptosis in macrophages. The levels of cleaved IL-1ß and caspase-1 were reduced by CQD in the cell lysates of macrophages, suggesting that CQD acted on upstream of pore formation in the cell membrane. Mechanistically, CQD reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production but did not affect the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Intraperitoneal administration of CQD (15 mg/kg) for 6 days was found to improve the skin lesions in the imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse model (male C57BL/6 mice), while secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 and IL-1ß) and keratinocyte proliferation were significantly suppressed by CQD. In conclusion, CQD exerted inhibitory effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages and decreased the severity of psoriatic response in vivo. Such findings indicate that the repurposing of the old drug, CQD, is a potential pharmacological approach for the treatment of psoriasis and other NLRP3-driven diseases.

Ciclopirox inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation via protecting mitochondria and ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriatic inflammation in mice.

The maturation and secretion of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation plays an important role in the progression of many inflammatory diseases. Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation may be a promising strategy to treat these inflammation-driven diseases, such as psoriasis. As a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, ciclopirox (CPX) is widely used in the treatment of dermatomycosis. Although CPX has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in many studies, there has been little research into its underlying mechanisms. In our study, CPX reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation (IC50: 1.684 µM). Mechanistically, CPX upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α expression (by 82.7% at 5 µM and 87.5% at 10 µM) to protect mitochondria. Our studies showed that CPX reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated mitochondrial biosynthesis, and up-regulated intracellular adenosine triphosphate level. Furthermore, treatment with CPX promoted the up-regulation of mRNA expression, which involved mitochondrial biosynthesis (NRF1, NRF2, TFAM) and antioxidation (SOD1 and CAT). In addition, CPX ameliorated inflammatory response in imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice. This study provides a potential pharmacological mechanism for CPX to treat psoriasis and other NLRP3-driven inflammatory diseases.

Correlation between nutrition, oral health, and different sarcopenia groups among elderly outpatients of community hospitals: a cross-sectional study of 1505 participants in China.

BACKGROUND: Studies have rarely explored the association between oral health status and different sarcopenia groups (possible sarcopenia, diagnosed sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia). Moreover, these studies have not reported any definitive conclusions of their relationship. We aimed to characterize the oral health status, prevalence of sarcopenia, and risk factors in different sarcopenia groups of elderly outpatients of community hospitals. Furthermore, we determined the correlation among nutrition, oral health, and different sarcopenia groups. METHODS: Overall, 1505 elderly participants (aged ≥ 65 years) completed the survey. The Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form (MNA-SF) was used to assess the nutrition status of the elderly. Oral health was assessed using the instrument of the oral health assessment index of the elderly (General Oral Health Assessment Index [GOHAI]), and the number of remaining natural teeth (NRT) was counted. Data on muscle mass, muscle strength, and gait speed were collected, and sarcopenia was classified into three groups (possible sarcopenia, diagnosed sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia) according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. Multinomial logistic regression multivariate analysis was used to test their relationships. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (5.8%) participants were identified as having possible sarcopenia; 142 (9.5%), diagnosed sarcopenia; 136 (9.0%), severe sarcopenia; and 1139 (75.7%), no sarcopenia. Of the seven variables, advancing age was typically associated with an increasing prevalence of sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06-1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.47). The results showed that household income (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.33-0.98), education level (OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.09-10.07), and chronic diseases (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.19-0.62) were significantly associated with the severe sarcopenia group. Physical activity scores were significantly associated with the diagnosed sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia groups. Participants with < 20 NRT were more likely to have diagnosed sarcopenia (OR = 5.55, 95% CI = 3.80-8.12) or severe sarcopenia (OR = 6.66, 95% CI = 4.13-10.76) than participants with > 20 NRT. The GOHAI score was associated with the diagnosed sarcopenia (OR = 5.55, 95% CI = 3.80-8.12) and severe sarcopenia (OR = 6.66, 95% CI = 4.13-10.78) groups. The MNA-SF score was associated with the different sarcopenia groups. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing early and improving lifestyle with respect to nutrition and oral health may be an effective way to reduce or delay the occurrence of sarcopenia.

Guanidyl-implanted UiO-66 as an efficient catalyst for the enhanced conversion of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates.

The development of heterogeneous catalysts for promoting epoxide cycloaddition with carbon dioxide is highly desirable for recycling CO2 and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Herein, we designed and synthesized Zr-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) by implanting functional guanidyl into the framework via mixing different molar ratios of 4-guanidinobenzoic acid (Gua) with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC). Consequently, a small sized Zr-MOF (∼350 nm) can be prepared by implanting Gua with 20% molar ligands, denoted as UiO-66-Gua0.2(s). Compared to large sized and different guanidyl Zr-MOFs, UiO-66-Gua0.2(s) exhibited an optimal activity on catalyzing epoxide cycloaddition with CO2 in the presence of the Bu4NBr cocatalyst. A yield of 97% for the product of chloropropene carbonate was achieved at 90 °C under 1 atm CO2. The great performance of UiO-66-Gua0.2(s) might be attributed to the synergistic effect of guanidyl groups as hydrogen-bond donors and Zr centers acting as Lewis-acidic sites. In addition, the heterogeneous catalyst of UiO-66-Gua0.2(s) exhibited a great versatility towards converting other epoxides and a satisfactory recyclability for five consecutive runs. Moreover, a plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed for UiO-66-Gua0.2(s) in promoting CO2 epoxide cycloaddition reactions.

Effect of haemodynamics on the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with severe vertebral artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Endovascular treatment strategies to optimise individualised care for patients with vertebral artery (VA) stenosis need to be revisited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between net VA flow volume (NVAFV) and the risk of posterior circulation infarction (PCI) in a high-risk patient population. METHODS: We screened 1239 patients with extracranial VA stenosis, of whom 321 patients with severe VA V1 segment stenosis (≥70%) were enrolled in our study. We restratified the patients based on NVAFV and contralateral VA stenosis grades to analyse the proportion of each PCI mechanism-large artery atherosclerosis and branch artery occlusive disease. Furthermore, we estimated the incidence of recurrent ischaemic stroke between groups with different NVAFV over a follow-up period of 2 years. RESULTS: NVAFV was lower in the PCI group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NVAFV is an independent risk factor for PCI and that the OR for PCI for the lowest NVAFV (<112.8 mL/min) was 4.19 (1.76 to 9.95, p=0.001). In patients with severe carotid artery disease, the OR for the lowest NVAFV was 14.03 (3.18 to 61.92, p<0.001). The lower NVAFV group had a higher incidence of recurrent ischaemic stroke events than the higher NVAFV group (HR 2.978, 95% CIs 1.414 to 6.272). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that NVAFV, as estimated by colour duplex ultrasonography, was associated with the incidence of PCI and subsequent ischaemic events and that a high-risk population could be identified for further posterior circulation revascularisation.

Nonlinear Relationship Between AST-to-ALT Ratio and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio has been demonstrated to be associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. However, few studies have directly explored the association between the AST/ALT ratio and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As such, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the AST/ALT ratio and incident T2DM during follow-up in a population-based cohort. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis included 15,464 Japanese males and females without DM at baseline between 2004 and 2015. The association between AST/ALT ratio and T2DM was retrospectively examined using the Cox proportional hazard model after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. RESULTS: After follow-up, 373 (2.41%) patients developed T2DM. A nonlinear relationship between the AST/ALT ratio and T2DM was observed after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk for developing T2DM decreased with AST/ALT ratio up to a threshold of 0.93 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.02-0.90; P = 0.0385]). An AST/ALT ratio >0.93 was not associated with the risk for developing T2DM (adjusted HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.17-2.65; P = 0.5718). CONCLUSION: The AST/ALT ratio was associated with a lower incidence of T2DM in a nonlinear pattern. The threshold AST/ALT ratio for developing T2DM was 0.93. AST/ALT levels were inversely correlated with the occurrence of T2DM when AST/ALT ratio ≤0.93.

Tele-Health Intervention for Carers of Dementia Patients-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the major mental health outcomes on dementia patient carers when using psychoeducational programs and psychotherapeutic interventions. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed with randomized controlled trials of carers' tele-health interventions from the literature inception to December 31, 2019, using PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases for articles. Results: The meta-analysis identified 1,043 results, of which 11 were randomized control trials. Among all 11 randomized control trials, only one study addressed face-to-face contact with online modules of interventions, four studies addressed telephone-based interventions, two studies reported on combined face-to-face contact and phone call interventions, two studies focused on web-based interventions, one study used video and telephone interventions, and one study conducted a computer-telephone integration system of intervention. The updated evidence suggested that there was more efficacy via tele-health interventions in lowering depression for carers of people with dementia. We outlined the delivery formation of intervention to evaluate the effectiveness and processes of major mental health improvements, including depression, burden, anxiety, and quality of life. Conclusions: In this study, tele-health intervention was shown to significantly lower depression and also lower the risk of mental health impairment. Although there was a significant decrease of depression, there were no significant differences in burden, anxiety, and quality of life. Future researchers are encouraged to carry out larger-scale studies; also, further analysis using a standardized assessment tool is suggested for future multi-component tele-health interventions.

MIL-101(Cr) with incorporated polypyridine zinc complexes for efficient degradation of a nerve agent simulant: spatial isolation of active sites promoting catalysis.

Development of an efficient catalyst for degradation of organophosphorus toxicants is highly desirable. Herein, an MIL-101(Cr)LZn catalyst was fabricated by incorporating polypyridine zinc complexes into a MOF to achieve the spatial isolation of active sites. Compared with a terpyridine zinc complex without an MIL-101 support, this catalyst was highly active for detoxification of diethyl-4-nitrophenylphosphate.

Undergraduate nursing students' knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy regarding palliative care in China: A descriptive correlational study.

Aim: To describe nursing students' knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy about palliative care and to examine the associations between these variables in China. Design: A descriptive correlational study. Methods: Undergraduate nursing students (N = 187) at the end of third year of education from a university were surveyed. Measurements included the Chinese versions of the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing, the Death Attitude Profile-Revised, the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale and the Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed. Results: Although most nursing students had favourable attitudes towards death and caring for the dying, students had low level of knowledge and self-efficacy regarding palliative care, suggesting the need for integrating palliative care education into nursing curriculum in China. Moreover, special attention should be paid to psychosocial and spiritual care teaching and preparing students to psychologically deal with the challenges in the process of patient's dying.

Correlation of microbiota in the gut of fish species and water.

To analyze the intestinal microbiota diversity of several important economic fishes in the Loudi area and its correlation with the microbiota of water environment, the high-throughput sequencing based on the bacteria 16S rRNA was used to analyze the intestinal microbiota diversity in fish intestines and water. The results revealed that half of the OTUs in the water sample could be detected in the fish intestine, the proportion of shared OTUs in the intestines of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and water samples was only 22%, and the unique OTU in the LC group was relatively the highest in the fish intestinal group. It can be seen from the analysis in NMDS analysis, the distance between Hypophthalmichthys molitrix group and water group is relatively farthest. Ctenopharyngodon idellus has the highest microbiota richness and diversity (P < 0.05), while the water samples have the lowest microbiota richness (P < 0.05). Firmicutes, Methylocaldum and Bacillus are the prevalent taxonomic unit in the Aristichthys nobilis and Carassius auratus groups, Anaerospora is the prevalent genera in the Hypophthalmichthys molitrix group, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria have a high relative abundance ratio in the Ctenopharyngodon idellus group, and the prevalent taxonomic unit in the water sample group are Phenylobacterium, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. In conclusion, fish species have different prevalent microbiota. There are a strong correlation between fish intestinal microbiota and the water environment, and the fish with a weak correlation is Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Results of this study will contribute to the prevention and treatment of fish diseases and the fish ecological culturing in Loudi area.

Tuning Internal Strain in Metal-Organic Frameworks via Vapor Phase Infiltration for CO2 Reduction.

A gas-phase approach to form Zn coordination sites on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by vapor-phase infiltration (VPI) was developed. Compared to Zn sites synthesized by the solution-phase method, VPI samples revealed approximately 2.8 % internal strain. Faradaic efficiency towards conversion of CO2 to CO was enhanced by up to a factor of four, and the initial potential was positively shifted by 200-300 mV. Using element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the local coordination environment of the Zn center was determined to have square-pyramidal geometry with four Zn-N bonds in the equatorial plane and one Zn-OH2 bond in the axial plane. The fine-tuned internal strain was further supported by monitoring changes in XRD and UV/Visible absorption spectra across a range of infiltration cycles. The ability to use internal strain to increase catalytic activity of MOFs suggests that applying this strategy will enhance intrinsic catalytic capabilities of a variety of porous materials.