Halide Superionic Conductors with Non-Close-Packed Anion Frameworks.

Halide superionic conductors (SICs) are drawing significant research attention for their potential applications in all-solid-state batteries. A key challenge in developing such SICs is to explore and design halide structural frameworks that enable rapid ion movement. In this work, we show that the close-packed anion frameworks shared by traditional halide ionic conductors face intrinsic limitations in fast ion conduction, regardless of structural regulation. Beyond the close-packed anion frameworks, we identify that the non-close-packed anion frameworks have great potential to achieve superionic conductivity. Notably, we unravel that the non-close-packed UCl3-type framework exhibit superionic conductivity for a diverse range of carrier ions, including Li+, Na+, K+, and Ag+, which are validated through both ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and experimental measurements. We elucidate that the remarkable ionic conductivity observed in the UCl3-type framework structure stems from its significantly more distorted site and larger diffusion channel than its close-packed counterparts. By employing the non-close-packed anion framework as the key feature for high-throughput computational screening, we also identify LiGaCl3 as a promising candidate for halide SICs. These discoveries provide crucial insights for the exploration and design of novel halide SICs.

APTES-Modified Remote Self-Assembled DNA-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Human Papillomavirus DNA Detection.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important cause of cervical cancer formation; therefore, being able to detect high-risk HPV (e.g., HPV-16) is important for the early treatment and prevention of cervical cancer. In this study, a combination of a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified gold electrode and a super sandwich structure was creatively developed, resulting in the development of a biosensor that is both sensitive and stable for the detection of HPV-16. The electrochemical biosensor possesses a lower detection limit compared with previous studies with an LOD of 5.475 × 10-16 mol/L and it possesses a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10-13 mol/L to 1.0 × 10-6 mol/L (R2 = 0.9923) for the target DNA. The experimental data show that the sensor has good stability, and there is no significant decrease in the current response value after 7 days in the low-temperature environment. In addition, the sensor proved to be a powerful clinical tool for disease diagnosis because it showed good interference resistance in complex human serum samples.

MicroRNA-29b inhibits human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via targeting the TGF-ß/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are bulges of blood vessels in the cerebral area. The development and progression of IAs are associated with the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during phenotypic modulation under environmental cues. MicroRNA-29b (miR-29b) has been studied extensively and demonstrated to reduce cell proliferation in various diseases by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of a variety of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), thereby inhibiting their translation. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-29b on the proliferation of VSMCs and human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells. The results indicated that the overexpression of miR-29b reduced cell migration and proliferation. Western blotting results indicated that this effect may be attributed to the attenuation of a signaling pathway involving transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) and Smad3 proteins. Luciferase assay confirmed the binding of miR-29b to TGF-ß1 and the knockdown of TGF-ß1 reduced miR-29b inhibitor-induced cell migration. The present study indicates that miR-29b downregulates the expression of TGF-ß1 by targeting the 3'-UTR of its mRNA and modulates cell migration and proliferation via the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Nimodipine Improves Cognitive Impairment After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats Through IncRNA NEAT1/miR-27a/MAPT Axis.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a cerebral hemorrhage disease that severely damages the brain and causes cognitive impairment (CI). Therefore, accurate and appropriate treatment strategies are urgently needed. The application of nimodipine can not only improve blood circulation in patients with SAH but also repair ischemic neuron injury. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of nimodipine and lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1)/miR-27a/microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) axis on CI after SAH. METHODS: One hundred and twenty healthy male rats were selected and equally divided into control group, sham operation group, model group, PBS group, nimodipine group (drug group), NC siRNA group, NC mimics group, NEAT1 siRNA, miR-27a mimics, MAPT siRNA, drug + NEAT1-ad, and drug + NC-ad groups by random number table. Rats in the model group were constructed by double-hemorrhage model, and expression vectors were injected into the tail to regulate the expression of lncRNA NEAT1, miR-27a and MAPT. In addition, Western blot was employed to detect brain tissue protein, flow cytometry was applied to measure brain tissue apoptosis, and MTT was utilized to determine cell activity, so as to evaluate brain damage and cognitive function in each group. RESULTS: Nimodipine, down-regulated lncRNA NEAT1, up-regulated miR-27a and down-regulated MAPT all improved brain damage and CI, inhibited brain tissue cell apoptosis, and enhanced brain cell activity. The common binding sites of lncRNA NEAT1 and MAPT were found on the miR-27a sequence fragment, and miR-27a could be paired with the former two. Nimodipine was found to cause the down-regulation of lncRNA NEAT1 and MAPT, as well as the up-regulation of miR-27a. CONCLUSION: Nimodipine can improve CI after SAH in rats through the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-27a/MAPT axis.

Preparation of sheep bone collagen peptide-calcium chelate using enzymolysis-fermentation methodology and its structural characterization and stability analysis.

In this study, enzymatic hydrolysis and Lactobacillus fermentation were used in combination to prepare collagen peptide with high free calcium content, followed by the addition of anhydrous ethanol to obtain peptide-calcium chelate. The optimal conditions for the fermentation of enzymatic hydrolysate (glucose 3%, inoculum size 6%, 24.5 h, 37 °C and pH 6.5) were determined by response surface methodology (RSM), under which a free calcium content of 2212.58 mg/100 g was obtained. The calcium-chelating capacity was 42.57 ± 0.09%. The results of ultraviolet absorption spectrum, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction and amino acid analysis indicated that calcium could be chelated through carboxyl oxygen and amino nitrogen atoms of collagen peptides, forming peptide-calcium chelate. The chelate is stable at 30-80 °C of temperatures and during in simulated gastrointestinal digestion, which could promote calcium absorption in human. The test intended to provide a basis for developing a novel calcium supplement and promoting utilization of sheep bone.

Efficacy of Minimally Invasive Intervention in Patients With Acute Cerebral Infarction.

Our aim was to explore the efficacy of minimally invasive intervention in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Seventy patients with ACI were randomized into either an experimental group or a control group. In addition to the regular treatment, patients in the control group also received intravenous thrombolysis with urokinase, while patients in the other group underwent percutaneous transluminal cerebral angioplasty and stenting. Metrics included recanalization rate, serum cytokines, fibrinolytic markers, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey score and were compared between the 2 groups. After treatment, patients in the experimental group had better recanalization rate, higher SF-36 score and greater levels of vascular endothelial growth factors, neurotrophic factors, and nerve growth factors than those in the control group. Moreover, the values of fibrinolytic markers changed significantly in both groups after treatment. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had lower levels of tissue polypeptide antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and a higher level of von Willebrand factor after treatment. In sum, the application of minimally invasive intervention can increase both the recanalization rate and concentrations of serum cytokines, can improve the quality of life in patients with ACI, and has small impacts on the fibrinolytic system in patients.

Endovascular Patch Embolization for Blood Blister-Like Aneurysms in Dorsal Segment of Internal Carotid Artery.

OBJECTIVE: Blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) in the dorsal segment of the internal carotid artery are fragile and difficult to treat, and the optimal treatment for BBAs is still controversial. We report clinical and angiographic results with procedural details for the treatment of BBA by using the endovascular patch embolization method. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by internal carotid artery-BBAs and were treated with the endovascular patch embolization method in our center from October 2011 to March 2015. Clinical records, angiographic findings, procedural details, and follow-up results are reported in this study. RESULTS: Eight patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated with the endovascular patch embolization method. The key points of this method are step-by-step stent deployment and swaying of the microcatheter to coil the aneurysm sac and the wedge-shaped space between the stent and parent artery and, thereby, in the aneurysm sac and parent artery around the aneurysm neck. When the stent is completely deployed, an endovascular patch is formed and anchored around the neck of the BBA. The procedure was successful in all cases. No acute complications developed in any case. No rerupture or recurrence of the BBA occurred during follow-up. One patient with Hunt-Hess V subarachnoid hemorrhage died of multiple organ failure 4 months post treatment. Another patient died of intracranial infection related to the ventricle-peritoneal shunt. The remaining 6 patients had good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of zero). CONCLUSION: Endovascular patch embolization is an improvement on stent-assisted coil embolization, which could be successfully performed only with extensive skill and patience. Endovascular patch embolization could be an effective method in BBA treatment. However, its efficacy and safety should be verified in a larger patient cohort and long-term follow-up study.

Hyperhomocysteinemia as a Risk Factor for Saccular Intracranial Aneurysm: A Cohort Study in a Chinese Han Population.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the possible relationships between serum total homocysteine and folate and Vitamin B12 in patients with intracranial aneurysm. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysm from the Han population who were admitted to the hospital, as well as control subjects who received medical examination on an outpatient basis. The serum total homocysteine, folate, and Vitamin B12 levels were measured in patients with intracranial aneurysm and the control group, and the associations between those factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with intracranial aneurysm and 140 control subjects were enrolled from July 2014 to December 2015. The mean serum total homocysteine level in the patient group (19.98 ± 10.84 µmol/L) was significantly higher than that in the control group (15.13 ± 5.55 µmol/L, P < .001). The serum total homocysteine level was negatively correlated with folate and Vitamin B12 levels (r = -.349, P < .001; r = -.531, P < .001, respectively) in the patient group. Homocysteine had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.196 (95% confidence interval: 1.188-4.057, P = .012) for the development of intracranial aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence regarding the association between serum total homocysteine and folate and Vitamin B12 in patients with intracranial aneurysm. Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for intracranial aneurysm, and folate and Vitamin B12 are protective against intracranial aneurysm due to their roles in regulating the metabolism of homocysteine.

Early elevated levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Early brain injury (EBI) contributes to poor prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study aimed to clarify whether triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) was implicated in the inflammatory mechanisms of EBI. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as plasma levels of white blood cells (WBC) count and C-reactive protein in 17 SAH patients at early stage (within the EBI period) and 9 volunteers were observed. Also World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) scale of SAH patients was calculated on admission. Compared to controls, increased CSF levels of sTREM-1 (t = 5.66, P < 0.001), TNF-α (t = 5.41, P < 0.001) and IL-6 (t = 2.98, P = 0.007) as well as elevated plasma WBC counts (t = 7.61, P < 0.001) and C-reactive protein levels (t = 3.91, P = 0.001) were found in SAH patients. Considering the increased WBC counts in SAH group, covariate analysis was also performed when comparing patients' sTREM-1 levels with respect to controls and no obvious difference was found (F = 0.982, P = 0.332). For SAH group, early CSF concentrations of sTREM-1 were correlated with those of both TNF-α (r = 0.582, P = 0.014) and IL-6 (r = 0.593, P = 0.012). Also the CSF sTREM-1 levels were positively correlated with WBC counts (r = 0.629, P = 0.007) and C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.804, P < 0.001) as well as WFNS scale (r = 0.835, P < 0.001). This study showed an early increased sTREM-1 CSF level in SAH patients, which correlated with inflammation intensity post-SAH and clinical severity, indicating that TREM-1 may participate in the inflammatory mechanisms of EBI.

Increased levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in cerebrospinal fluid of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) has been highlighted as a key amplifier of inflammatory response in various diseases. To determine the contribution of TREM-1 in the inflammatory cascade after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), concentrations of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 30 SAH patients and 9 healthy volunteers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was shown that the CSF sTREM-1 levels of SAH patients increased significantly than that of the volunteers (P<0.05). Interestingly, the levels were up-regulated dynamically over time with an early increase within 2days and a late peak at day 6 after SAH onset. In addition, it was found that the early sTREM-1 levels (within 3days post-SAH) were negatively correlated with Glasgow Coma Scale (r=-0.550, P=0.022) and positively correlated with the Hunt and Hess scale (r=0.603, P=0.010) respectively conducted on admission, also the early sTREM-1 levels were negatively correlated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (r=-0.505, P=0.039) and positively correlated with modified Rankin Scale (r=0.557, P=0.020) respectively conducted one month after SAH. Altogether, this is the first study showing CSF sTREM-1 dynamics in SAH patients, and exploring the correlations of early CSF sTREM-1 levels to patients' severity and prognosis, which suggests that TREM-1 may play an important role in the inflammatory cascade after SAH and act as a monitoring biomarker facilitated to assess the severity and prognosis of SAH patients.

[Neuronavigation-guided pure endoscopic endonasai transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacies of neuronavigation-guided pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for removing pituitary adenomas. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were conducted for the clinical data of 139 patients undergoing pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas between July 2011 and July 2014. There were 55 males and 84 females with a mean age of 48. 9 (21 - 73) years. The classifications of Hardy-Wilson were I (n =16), II (n = 39), III (n = 48) and IV (n = 36). Neuronavigation was used in all patients. And neuro-ophthalmological, neuroimaging and endocrinological follow-ups were conducted postoperatively. RESULTS: Total (n = 95, 68. 3%), subtotal (n = 33, 23. 7%) and partial (n = 11, 7. 9%) removals were achieved. For Hardy-Wilson I, gross total removal was achieved (n = 16, 100%); Hardy-Wilson II (n = 35, 89. 7%), Hardy-Wilson III (n = 34, 70. 8%) and Hardy-Wilson IV (n = 10, 27. 8%). Postoperative visual acuity improved (92. 1%, 70/76) and endocrine remission was observed (59. 6%, 53/89). The postoperative complications included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (n = 8, 5. 8%), meningitis (n = 3), sellar hematoma (n = 5) and delayed carotid artery rupture (n = 1). And the patient of hemorrhagic shock underwent emergency interventional procedures and was discharged successfully. CONCLUSION: Pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for removing pituitary adenoma is both safe and effective. And its efficacies may further increased through combined neuronavigation.