Upconversion-Mediated Optogenetics for the Treatment of Surgery-Induced Postoperative Neurocognitive Dysfunction.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a common complication in surgical patients. While many interventions to prevent PND have been studied, the availability of treatment methods is limited. Thus, it is crucial to delve into the mechanisms of PND, pinpoint therapeutic targets, and develop effective treatment approaches. In this study, reduced dorsal tenia tecta (DTT) neuronal activity was found to be associated with tibial fracture surgery-induced PND, indicating that a neuronal excitation-inhibition (E-I) imbalance could contribute to PND. Optogenetics in the DTT brain region was conducted using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with the ability to convert 808 nm near-infrared light to visible wavelengths, which triggered the activation of excitatory neurons with minimal damage in the DTT brain region, thus improving cognitive impairment symptoms in the PND model. Moreover, this noninvasive intervention to modulate E-I imbalance showed a positive influence on mouse behavior in the Morris water maze test, which demonstrates that UCNP-mediated optogenetics is a promising tool for the treatment of neurological imbalance disorders.

Near-infrared light-activatable, analgesic nanocomposite delivery system for comprehensive therapy of diabetic wounds in rats.

Impaired angiogenesis, bacterial infection, persistent severe pain, exacerbated inflammation, and oxidative stress injury are intractable problems in the treatment of chronic diabetic ulcer wounds. A strategy that effectively targets all these issues has proven challenging. Herein, an in-situ sprayable nanoparticle-gel composite comprising platinum clusters (Pt) loaded-mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticle and QX-314-loaded fibrin gel (Pt@MPDA/QX314@Fibrin) was developed for diabetic wound analgesia and therapy. The composite shows good local analgesic effect of QX-314 mediated by near-infrared light (NIR) activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel, as well as multifunctional therapeutic effects of rapid hemostasis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antibacterial properties that benefit the fast-healing of diabetic wounds. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the composite, with good biodegradability and biosafety, significantly relieved wound pain by inhibiting the expression of c-Fos in the dorsal root ganglion and the activation of glial cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Consequently, our designed sprayable Pt@MPDA/QX314@Fibrin composite with good biocompatibility, NIR activation of TRPV1 channel-mediated QX-314 local wound analgesia and comprehensive treatments, is promising for chronic diabetic wound therapy.

The triglyceride-glucose index: a novel predictor of stroke and all-cause mortality in liver transplantation recipients.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, identified as a reliable indicator of insulin resistance (IR), was reported to be associated with stroke recurrence and morbidity in the general population and critically ill patients. However, the relationship in liver transplantation (LT) recipients remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the TyG index and post-LT stroke along with all-cause mortality and further assess the influence of IR on the LT recipients' prognosis. METHODS: The retrospective cohort study enrolled 959 patients who underwent LT at a university-based medical centre between January 2015 and January 2021. The participants were divided into three groups according to their TyG index tertiles. The primary outcome was post-LT stroke. Multivariate logistic regression, COX proportional hazards regression, and restricted cubic spline RCS were used to examine the association between the TyG index and outcomes in LT recipients. RESULTS: With a median TyG index of 8.23 (7.78-8.72), 780 (87.18% males) patients were eventually included. The incidence of post-LT stroke was 5.38%, and the in-hospital, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates were 5.54%, 13.21%, and 15.77%, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed an independent association between the TyG index and an increased risk of post-LT stroke [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 3.398 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.371-8.426) P = 0. 008], in-hospital mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.326 (95% CI: 1.089-4.931) P = 0.025], 1-year mortality [aHR, 1.668 (95% CI: 1.024-2.717) P = 0.039], and 3-year mortality [aHR, 1.837 (95% CI: 1.445-2.950) P = 0.012]. Additional RCS analysis also suggested a linear increase in the risk of postoperative stroke with elevated TyG index (P for nonlinearity = 0.480). CONCLUSIONS: The TyG index may be a valuable and reliable indicator for assessing stroke risk and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing LT, suggesting its potential relevance in improving risk stratification during the peri-LT period.

Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Structure, Antibacterial Activity of Sugarcane Leaf Polysaccharides.

This study investigated the impact of ultrasonic extraction (UE) on the structure and in vitro antibacterial activity of polysaccharides from sugarcane leaves (SLW). Native sugarcane leaf polysaccharides were treated with ultrasound (480 W) for 3 h to yield sugarcane leaf polysaccharides (SLU). Compared to SLW (33.59 kDa), the molecular weight of SLU (13.08 kDa) was significantly decreased, while the monosaccharide composition of SLU was unchanged. The results of SEM and XRD indicated that UE significantly changed the surface morphology of SLW and destroyed its inner crystalline structure. In vitro experiments showed that SLU had stronger antibacterial activity. These findings revealed that UE treatment could alter the tertiary structure of SLW but had no impact on its primary structure. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of SLW could be greatly enhanced after UE treatment. As a bioactive additive, SLU has great application potential in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Sugarcane molasses essential oils: mesoporous silica nanoparticles as carriers to improve their slow-release activity and the study on their anti-inflammatory activities in vivo.

In this study, sugarcane molasses essential oils (SMEOs) were extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD); the components of SMEOs were identified and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). SMEOs were loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) and their sustained-release activity was evaluated. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity assays pertained to inhibiting the auricle swelling caused by xylene in mice, the peritoneal permeability increased inflammation in mice induced by acetic acid and the inflammation caused by granuloma hyperplasia in mice. We demonstrated that the main components of SMEOs were isoamylol, ethyl acetate, isobutanol, isovaleraldehyde, 2-methyl-butanal, furfural and 2-acetylpyrrole. The SMEOs loaded into MSNPs formed MSNP-SMEOs, which enhanced the stability and slow-release performance compared with SMEOs. The main components of SMEOs can inhibit inflammation, and the development and application of SMEOs in the fields of food and medicine have certain potential.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro digestion of folate conjugated chitosan-loaded proanthocyanidins nanoparticles.

Proanthocyanidins have significant biological activity and pharmacological effects and are widely used in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with proanthocyanidins have been proven to improve their biological activity. Given some deficiencies of chitosan (CS), the modification of chitosan by folic acid (FA) can obtain new variants with different functions. For this objective, the folic acid conjugated chitosan was designed, and in vitro properties of proanthocyanidins loaded nanoparticles were studied systemically. Firstly, folic acid-chitosan conjugate (FA-CS) was synthesized and characterized. Folate-coupled chitosan-loaded proanthocyanidin nanoparticles (PC-CS/FA-NPs) were prepared by ionic gelation technique using FA-CS as a carrier. The successful nanoparticle synthesis was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape and smooth and uniform distribution features with a size range of less than 300 nm, as observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Meanwhile, PC-CS/FA-NPs had good thermal and gastrointestinal digestive stability and had a protective effect on AAPH-induced erythrocyte oxidative hemolysis. In conclusion, folic acid decorated chitosan nanoparticles improved the stability and bioavailability of proanthocyanidins in gastrointestinal digestion.

The Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1/Programmed Cell Death-1 Pathway Mediates Pregnancy-Induced Analgesia via Regulating Spinal Inflammatory Cytokines.

BACKGROUND: The maternal pain threshold gradually increases during pregnancy, especially in late pregnancy. A series of mechanisms underlying pregnancy-induced analgesia have been reported. However, these mechanisms are still not completely clear, and the underlying molecular mechanisms need further investigation. We examined the relationship between the antinociceptive effect and the expression level of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) during pregnancy and further observed the changes in pain thresholds and expression levels of cytokines in late-pregnant mice before and after blockade of PD-L1 or programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). METHODS: Part 1: Female mice were assigned to 3 groups (nonpregnant, late-pregnant, and postpartum). Part 2: Late-pregnant mice were assigned to 3 treatment groups (control [phosphate buffer solution], RMP1-14 [mouse anti-PD-1 antibody], and soluble PD-1 [sPD-1]). Behavioral testing (mechanical and thermal) and tissue (serum and spinal cord) analysis were performed on all groups. PD-L1, interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6 expression levels in tissue were examined via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were significantly increased in late pregnancy and decreased after delivery. PD-L1 expression was also elevated in late pregnancy and decreased after delivery. In addition, in the late stage of gestation, the maternal inflammatory microenvironment was dominated by anti-inflammatory factors. After administration of RMP1-14 or sPD-1, the pain thresholds of late-pregnant mice were significantly reduced. In late-pregnant mice, the high level of IL-10 was obviously reduced, and the low levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: The PD-L1/PD-1 pathway mediates pregnancy-induced analgesia, partially via the regulation of cytokines.

Preparation, characterization and biological activity of proanthocyanidin-chitosan nanoparticles.

In this study, proanthocyanidin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PC-CS-NPs) were produced using ionotropic gelation and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The synthesized nanoparticles were smaller than 300 nm and had a spherical shape, smooth topography and homogenous morphology as observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro release study showed that proanthocyanidins (PC) had a sustainable release from PC-CS-NPs in different buffer media. PC-CS-NPs had higher or comparable potency in scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals as compared to native drugs. Furthermore, PC-CS-NPs also inhibited the growth of four bacteria species, whose degree of inhibition depended on the bacterial strain. The results of SEM confirmed the changes in the microstructure of bacteria. Our findings support the use of chitosan nanoparticles to encapsulate PC and improve its bioactivity in food products.

A Novel Broadband Monopole Antenna with T-Slot, CB-CPW, Parasitic Stripe and Heart-Shaped Slice for 5G Applications.

This paper presents a novel broadband monopole antenna that was equipped with a bottom semicircle ground structure, a parasitic patch, a T-shaped slot, s transmission line, a parasitic strip, heart-shaped slices and a coplanar waveguide (CPW). The simulation results revealed that the proposed design had a relatively high return loss, a wide bandwidth and high efficiency. A prototype of the proposed antenna with an overall size of 0.94 λ0 × 0.94 λ0 × 0.02 λ0 (λ0 is the free-space wavelength) was fabricated and measured. The measurement results showed that the prototype had a bandwidth of 4.02 GHz (4.69-8.71 GHz) and a relative bandwidth of 60%. Besides, the maximum gain was 3.31 dBi and the maximum efficiency was 91.1% in the range of 5 to 8.5 GHz. Furthermore, it was found that the prototype almost achieved omnidirectional radiation. Its operating frequency band covered those of industrial scientific medical (ISM) (5.725-5.850 GHz), the radio frequency identification (RFID) (5.8 GHz) and the wireless local area network (WLAN) (5.15-5.25 GHz and 5.725-5.825 GHz).

Optimization of extraction flavonoids from Exocarpium Citri Grandis and evaluation its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Exocarpium Citri Grandis (ECG; Huajuhong in Chinese) is a precious traditional Chinese medicine with a history of hundreds of years in China. It has been demonstrated to possess numerous pharmacological properties, including antitussive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic. However, no in-depth report exists on the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of ECG. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of ECG flavonoids extract in vitro and in vivo so as to lay the foundation for further researches in this field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total flavonoids (TF) and naringin were separately extracted from ECG, and the components of TF were identified by HPLC-MS. The antioxidant capacities of TF and naringin were determined by 2,2,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-free radical scavenging tests, and digestive enzymes activity inhibition assays in vitro in order to evaluate their hypoglycemic properties. Furthermore, diabetic mice experiments were performed to assess the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of TF and naringin in vivo. RESULTS: Five compounds were identified from TF, including naringin, rhoifolin, poncirin, bergaptol, and naringenin. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of TF and naringin to DPPH-free radicals were 0.269 and 1.946 mg/mL, respectively. TF and naringin demonstrated a certain inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and a weaker inhibitory effect on α-amylase. The results of animal experiments showed that TF and naringin had no significant effect on the blood glucose levels, but they could lead to significant (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) increase in the serum insulin level and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels with concomitant reduction in the total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in diabetic mice. In addition, TF and naringin could reduce the liver index of diabetic mice (p < 0.01) and reduce the kidney index at low doses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of TF is mainly derived from naringin, and other active ingredients in TF also have the effects of alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting digestive enzyme activity and reducing blood lipids. Our results thus provide a scientific basis for the application of ECG in antidiabetic treatment.

A lithium ion/oxygen hybrid battery with high energy and high power.

A novel lithium ion/oxygen hybrid battery system is proposed that uses the advantages and minimizes the disadvantages of both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs). In it, the LOB-part plays range-extending and high-power output roles, while using the discharge-priority of the LIB-part is suggested to compensate the cycling-life shortcomings of the LOB-part.

Theoretical study on the binding mechanism between N6-methyladenine and natural DNA bases.

N6-methyladenine (m(6)A) is a rare base naturally occurring in DNA. It is different from the base adenine due to its N-CH(3). Therefore, the base not only pairs with thymine, but also with other DNA bases (cytosine, adenine and guanine). In this work, Møller-Plesset second-order (MP2) method has been used to investigate the binding mechanism between m(6)A and natural DNA bases in gas phase and in aqueous solution. The results show that N-CH(3) changed the way of N6-methyladenine binding to natural DNA bases. The binding style significantly influences the stability of base pairs. The trans-m(6)A:G and trans-m(6)A:C conformers are the most stable among all the base pairs. The existence of solvent can remarkably reduce the stability of the base pairs, and the DNA bases prefer pairing with trans-m(6)A to cis-m(6)A. Besides, the properties of these hydrogen bonds have been analyzed by atom in molecules (AIM) theory, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and Wiberg bond indexes (WBI). In addition, pairing with m(6)A decreases the binding energies compared to the normal Watson-Crick base pairs, it may explain the instability of the N6 site methylated DNA in theory.

Catalytic conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural using acidic ionic liquids and co-catalyst.

Efficient catalytic conversion of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), is achieved using acidic ionic liquids (ILs) as the catalysts and metal salts as co-catalysts in the solvent of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazo-lium acetate ([emim][Ac]). A series of acidic ILs has been synthesized and tested in conversion of MCC to HMF. The effect of reaction conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, catalyst dosage, metal salts, water dosage, Cu(2+) concentration and various acidic ILs are investigated in detail. The results show that CuCl(2) in 1-(4-sulfonic acid) butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate ([C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)]), is found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic conversion of MCC to HMF, and 69.7% yield of HMF is obtained. A mechanism to explain the high activity of CuCl(2) in [C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)] is proposed. To the best of our knowledge, this report first proposes that the Cu(2+) and [C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)] show better catalytic performance in catalytic conversion of MCC to HMF.

Theoretical and experimental investigation on dissolution and regeneration of cellulose in ionic liquid.

Density functional theory calculations and atoms in molecules theory were performed to investigate the mechanism of cellulose dissolution and regeneration in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim]Ac), and (1,4)-dimethoxy-ß-D-glucose (Glc) was chosen as the model for cellulose. The theoretical results show that the interaction of [emim]Ac with Glc is stronger than that of Glc with Glc. Further studies indicate that the anion acetate of [emim]Ac forms strong H-bonds with hydroxyl groups of Glc. It is also observed that the H-bonds between [emim]Ac and Glc are weakened or even destroyed by the addition of water. In addition, both the original and regenerated cellulose samples were characterized with FT-IR, XRD, TGA and SEM. The experimental results prove that cellulose can be readily reconstituted from the [emim]Ac-based cellulose solution by the addition of water and the crystalline structure of cellulose is converted to cellulose II from cellulose I in the original cellulose.