Electrochemistry promotion of Fe(â ¢)/Fe(â ¡) cycle for continuous activation of PAA for sludge disintegration: Performance and mechanism.

In this study, electrochemistry was used to enhance the advanced oxidation of Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA (EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA) to disintegrate waste activated sludge, and its performance and mechanism was compared with those of EC, PAA, EC/PAA and Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA. Results showed that the EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process effectively improved sludge disintegration and the concentrations of soluble chemical oxygen demand, polysaccharides and nucleic acids increased by 62.85%, 41.15% and 12.21%, respectively, compared to the Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process. Mechanism analysis showed that the main active species produced in the EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process were •OH, R-O• and FeIVO2+. During the reaction process, sludge flocs were disrupted and particle size was reduced by the combined effects of active species oxidation, electrochemical oxidation and PAA oxidation. Furthermore, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was degraded, the conversion of TB-EPS to LB-EPS and S-EPS was promoted and the total protein and polysaccharide contents of EPS were increased. After sludge cells were disrupted, intracellular substances were released, causing an increase in nucleic acids, humic acids and fulvic acids in the supernatant, and resulting in sludge reduction. EC effectively accelerated the conversion of Fe(Ⅲ) to Fe(Ⅱ), which was conducive to the activation of PAA, while also enhancing the disintegration of EPS and sludge cells. This study provided an effective approach for the release of organic matter, offering significant benefits in sludge resource utilization.

Safety and clinical efficacy of microwave ablation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of multisegmental spinal metastases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of multisegmental (2-3 segments) osteolytic spinal metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised a retrospective analysis of data from 20 patients with multisegmental (2-3 segments) osteolytic spinal metastases who received MWA combined with PVP. The visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bone Metastases 22 (QLQ-BM22), and local recurrence before and after the operation were measured. The occurrence of complications was observed to evaluate safety. RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully with no serious complications. Transient nerve injury occurred in two cases, but recovered after symptomatic treatment. The bone cement leakage rate was 13.9% (6/43). The mean baseline VAS scores were 7.25 ± 0.91 before treatment and 7.25 ± 0.91, 3.70 ± 1.12, 2.70 ± 0.73, 2.40 ± 0.68, 2.25 ± 0.71, and 2.70 ± 0.92 at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment; all values were significantly lower (P < 0.001). The mean baseline ODI score decreased from 56.90 ± 9.74 before treatment to 41.90 ± 7.09, 38.10 ± 7.93, and 38.80 ± 10.59 at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, respectively; all values were significantly lower (P < 0.001). The average QLQ-BM22 baseline score decreased from 54.10 ± 5.36 before treatment to 44.65 ± 5.22, 43.05 ± 4.78, 42.30 ± 4.06, and 42.15 ± 5.47 at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment; all values were significantly lower (all P < 0.001). The postoperative survival time of all patients was >6 months. In three patients, four vertebral segments recurred 6 months after operation. CONCLUSION: MWA combined with PVP is a safe and effective treatment for multisegmental osteolytic vertebral metastases that can effectively relieve pain, improve spinal function, improve quality of life, and delay tumor progression. However, it is a long operation, necessitating good preoperative preparation and effective intraoperative pain relief measures.

Plasma-Engraved Lattice-Matched NiO/NiFe2O4 Heterostructure with Ample Oxygen Vacancies for Efficient Water Electrolysis and Zn-Air Batteries.

Heterogeneous interface and defect engineering offer effective pathways to accelerate oxygen evolution reaction (OER) charge transfer kinetics and motivate optimal intrinsic catalytic activity. Herein, we report the lattice-matched NiO/NiFe2O4 heterostructure with ample oxygen vacancies (Vo-NiO/NiFe2O4) induced by a feasible hydrothermal followed by calcination and plasma-engraving assistant technique, which shows the unique porous microflower arrangement of intertwined nanosheets. Benefitting from the synergetic effects between lattice-matched heterointerface and oxygen vacancies induce the strong electronic coupling, optimized OH-/O2 diffusion pathway and ample active sites, thus-prepared Vo-NiO/NiFe2O4 presents a favorable OER performance with a low overpotential (261 mV @ 10 mA cm-2) and small Tafel slope (39.4 mV dec-1), even surpassing commercial RuO2 catalyst. Additionally, the two-electrode configuration water electrolyzer and rechargeable zinc-air battery assembled by Vo-NiO/NiFe2O4 catalyst show the potential practical application directions. This work provides an innovative avenue for strengthening OER performance toward water electrolysis and Zn-air batteries via the interface and vacancy engineering strategy.

Cold-plasma activation converting conductive agent in spent Li-ion batteries to bifunctional oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalyst for zinc-air batteries.

Considerable amount of high-value transition metals components can be recycled in spent ternary lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we utilized the conductive agent carbon black, obtained from the leaching waste resulting from the chemical recovery of spent lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) oxide cathode materials. This process allows us to create valuable bifunctional catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER), facilitated by a facile cold plasma activation method, as a part of lithium batteries circular economy. The activated conductive agent (RCA-30) exhibited an ORR half-wave potential of 0.74 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 mol/L KOH solution, and an OER overpotential of 360 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in 1 mol/L KOH electrolyte, owing to nitrogen doping of carbon black and activation of surface metal oxides. The complete zinc-air batteries incorporating the activated catalysts at the cathode exhibited an open circuit potential of up to 1.48 V and sustained cycling for 100 h at a current density of 5 mA cm-2. Additionally, the activated catalysts contributed to a power density of 92 mW cm-2 and a full discharge capacity of 640 mAh/g.

ALDH1A3 contributes to tumorigenesis in high-grade serous ovarian cancer by epigenetic modification.

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most lethal histotype of ovarian cancer due to its unspecific symptoms in part. ALDH1A3 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3) is a key enzyme for acetyl-CoA production involving aggressive behaviors of cancers. However, ALDH1A3's effects and molecular mechanisms in HGSOC remain to be clarified. Using RNA-seq and publicly available datasets, ALDH1A3 was found to be highly expressed in HGSOC, and associated with poor survival. Knockdown of ALDH1A3 prevented HGSOC tumorigenesis and enhanced cell sensitivity to paclitaxel or cisplatin. ALDH1A3 expression in HGSOC cells was found to be increased by hypoxia, but decreased by HIF-1α inhibitor KC7F2. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the increased transcriptional activity of ALDH1A3 induced by HIF-1α overexpression was reduced by KC7F2. In addition, PITX1 (paired like homeodomain 1) was identified to be inhibited by ALDH1A3 knockdown, and PITX1 depletion inhibited cell proliferation. The mechanistic studies showed that ALDH1A3 knockdown reduced the acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac). Treatment of exogenous acetate with NaOAc or inhibition of histone deacetylase with Pracinostat increased H3K27ac and PITX1 levels. CHIP assay demonstrated a significant enrichment of H3K27ac at the PITX1 promoter, and ALDH1A3 knockdown reduced the binding between H3K27ac and PITX1. Taken together, our data suggest that ALDH1A3, transcriptional activated by HIF-1α, promotes tumorigenesis and decreases chemosensitivity by increasing H3K27ac of PITX1 promoter in HGSOC.

Ovarian cancer classification and prognosis assessment model based on prognostic target genes in key microRNA-target gene networks.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to screen key microRNA (miRNA)-target gene networks for ovarian cancer (OC) and to classify and construct a risk assessment system for OC based on the target genes. METHODS: OC sample data of The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and GSE26193, GSE30161, GSE63885 and GSE9891 datasets were retrospectively collected. Pearson correlation analysis and targeted analysis of miRNA and target gene were performed to screen key miRNA-target gene networks. Target genes associated with the prognosis of OC were screened from key miRNA-target gene networks for consensus clustering and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-based regression machine learning analysis of OC samples. RESULTS: Twenty target genes of 2651 key miRNA-target gene pairs had significant prognostic correlation in each OC cohort, and OC was divided into three clusters. There were differences in prognostic outcome, biological pathways, immune cell abundance and susceptibility to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and anti-tumor drugs among the three molecular clusters. S2 exhibited the least advantage in prognosis and immunotherapy response rate in the three molecular clusters, and the pathways regulating immunity, hypoxia, metabolism and promoting malignant progression of cancer, as well as infiltrating immune and stromal cell population abundance, were the highest in this cluster. An eight-target gene prognostic model was created, and the risk index obtained by using this model not only significantly distinguished the immune characteristics of the sample, but also predicted the response of the sample to ICB treatment, and helped to screen 36 potential anti-OC drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a classification strategy for OC based on prognostic target genes in key miRNA-target gene networks, and creates a risk assessment system for predicting prognosis and response to ICB therapy in OC patients, providing molecular basis for prognosis and precise treatment of OC.

Improving pesticide residue detection: Immobilized enzyme microreactor embedded in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices.

Orientationally immobilized enzyme microreactors (OIMERs), embedded in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) were developed for improved detection of pesticide residues in food. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was orientationally immobilized on the reusable Part I of the µPADs, using the specific affinity binding of concanavalin A (Con A) to a glycosyl group on AChE. Using the disposable Part II, facile colorimetric quantification was performed with a smartphone and software, or qualitative detection by a naked-eye visual test. The AChE immobilized in OIMERs not only had improved activity and stability, but also high sensitivity, with a limit of detection as low as (0.007 ± 0.003) µg/mL. The method was used to detect pesticides residues in real vegetable samples; the recovery (88.6-102.7%) showed high reliability for pesticide residues detection in foods. A molecular docking study and an enzyme kinetic analysis were conducted to characterize the mechanism of action of the OIMERs.

Unleashing the capacity of Rhodococcus for converting lignin into lipids.

Bioconversion of bioresources/wastes (e.g., lignin, chemical pulping byproducts) represents a promising approach for developing a bioeconomy to help address growing energy and materials demands. Rhodococcus, a promising microbial strain, utilizes numerous carbon sources to produce lipids, which are precursors for synthesizing biodiesel and aviation fuels. However, compared to chemical conversion, bioconversion involves living cells, which is a more complex system that needs further understanding and upgrading. Various wastes amenable to bioconversion are reviewed herein to highlight the potential of Rhodococci for producing lipid-derived bioproducts. In light of the abundant availability of these substrates, Rhodococcus' metabolic pathways converting them to lipids are analyzed from a "beginning-to-end" view. Based on an in-depth understanding of microbial metabolic routes, genetic modifications of Rhodococcus by employing emerging tools (e.g., multiplex genome editing, biosensors, and genome-scale metabolic models) are presented for promoting the bioconversion. Co-solvent enhanced lignocellulose fractionation (CELF) strategy facilitates the generation of a lignin-derived aromatic stream suitable for the Rhodococcus' utilization. Novel alkali sterilization (AS) and elimination of thermal sterilization (ETS) approaches can significantly enhance the bioaccessibility of lignin and its derived aromatics in aqueous fermentation media, which promotes lipid titer significantly. In order to achieve value-added utilization of lignin, biodiesel and aviation fuel synthesis from lignin and lipids are further discussed. The possible directions for unleashing the capacity of Rhodococcus through synergistically modifying microbial strains, substrates, and fermentation processes are proposed toward a sustainable biological lignin valorization.

Does controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women with a history of borderline tumor influence recurrence rate?

PURPOSE: To determine the recurrence rate in the women with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation after a history of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 275 patients with BOT undergoing surgery for fertility preservation in our hospital between 2001 and 2017. Cases were divided into an assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment group (n = 15) and a non-ART treatment group (n = 260). We compared the recurrence rate, survival rate and pregnancy outcomes between these two groups. RESULTS: The ART group had a higher recurrence rate (33.33% vs. 10.80%, P = 0.023). Survival analysis indicated that the recurrence time in patients undergoing ART was significantly shorter (P = 0.026). A low pregnancy rate before diagnosis, and high intraoperative blood loss, were associated with postoperative ART treatment (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that ART treatment and bilateral lesions both significantly increased the risk of recurrence (P < 0.05). The pathological type of recurrent tumors was often the same as the initial tumor. CONCLUSION: The postoperative use of ART in patients with BOT significantly increased the recurrence rate, but does not significantly affect the overall survival rate of patients. Therefore, ART in such patients should be individualized, and close follow-up is necessary after ART.

Fragmentation of continental subduction is ending the Himalayan orogeny.

After two continents collide, plate convergence and orogenesis are sustained because subducted continental lithosphere continues pulling the surface plate. It remains controversial how, why, and when continental plate convergence and collision slow down and eventually cease. We use an unprecedented data coverage and present a regional-scale seismic tomographic image of the mantle structure beneath the Tibetan Plateau. In the mantle transition zone, we identify multiple high-velocity anomalies and interpret them as detached pieces of the Indian continental slab. Facilitated by internal heterogeneity of the continental lithosphere, piecewise slab detachments could reduce the slab pull force, resulting in the Miocene slowdown of the India-Eurasia convergence and coeval diachronous potassic volcanism in southern Tibet. We propose that slab detachment is a mechanism that eventually will lead to the end of the Indo-Eurasian continental collision and the Himalayan orogeny.

ANXA3, associated with YAP1 regulation, participates in the proliferation and chemoresistance of cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer, as one of the most common cancers in women, remains a major health threat worldwide. Annexin A3 (ANXA3), a component of the annexin family, is upregulated in numerous cancers, with no explicit role in cervical cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the function of ANXA3 in cervical cancer. METHODS: Differential expression genes between the cervical cancer tissues of patients and the controls were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. Using transfection approaches to either upregulate or downregulate ANXA3, its role in cell proliferation and chemosensitivity of human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and C33A) was evaluated. Furthermore, the binding activity between YAP1 and ANXA3 was also explored. RESULTS: Genomics analysis indicated that differential genes were mostly associated with cell cycle progression and DNA replication. ANXA3 was highly expressed in the cervical cancer tissues and closely linked to malignancy degree. Knockdown of ANXA3 in cervical cancer cells inhibited cell cycle progression. A similar result was observed in the reduction of cyclin D, CDK4, cyclin E, and CDK2 in cervical cancer cells with ANXA3 silencing. Cervical cancer cells obtained high sensitivity to cisplatin (DDP) when ANXA3 was downregulated. Conversely, these capabilities were the opposite in cervical cancer cells overexpressing ANXA3. Furthermore, the expression levels of ANXA3 and YAP1 were positively correlated. YAP1 upregulation was positively connected with malignant behaviors, which were reversed by ANXA3 downregulation. CONCLUSION: In light of our findings, targeting ANXA3 expressed in cervical cancer might contribute to more potential therapeutic strategies.

Acupuncture in the treatment of post-stroke hiccup: A systematic Review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Central hiccups following a stroke are a frequent complication, exerting adverse effects on both the stroke condition and the patient's daily life. Existing treatments exhibit limited efficacy and pronounced side effects. Acupuncture has been explored as a supplementary intervention in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for post-stroke hiccups.Methods: To identify published clinical randomized controlled trials addressing post-stroke hiccups treatment, comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medical (CBM), Wanfang Database, and China Science and Technology Journal (VIP). In addition, we scrutinized ClinicalTrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Employing Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 and Review Manager 5.4 software, three authors independently reviewed literature, extracted data, and evaluated study quality. Data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 and Review Manager 5.4.Results: A total of 18 trials were encompassed in the analysis. In comparison to standard treatment, acupuncture exhibited a significant enhancement in treatment effectiveness (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21-1.33; P < 0.00001). Notably, Hiccup Symptom Score displayed a considerable decrease (WMD: -1.28, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.93; P < 0.00001), concurrent with a noteworthy improvement in the quality of life (WMD: 8.470, 95% CI: 7.323-9.617; P < 0.00001). Additionally, the incidence of adverse reactions decreased (RR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16-1.25; P = 0.13), and there was a significant reduction in SAS (WMD: -7.23, 95% CI: -8.47 - -5.99; P < 0.00001).Conclusions: Our investigation suggests that acupuncture could prove effective in post-stroke hiccup treatment. Nonetheless, due to concerns about the quality and size of the included studies, conducting higher-quality randomized controlled trials to validate their efficacy is imperative.

Bioconversion of Homogeneous Linear C-Lignin to Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

The bioconversion of homogeneous linear catechyl lignin (C-lignin) to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) was examined for the first time in this study. C-lignins from vanilla, euphorbia, and candlenut seed coats (denoted as C1, C2, and C3, respectively) varied in their molecular structures, which showed different molecular weight distributions, etherification degrees, and contents of hydroxyl groups. A notable amount of nonetherified catechol units existed within C1 and C2 lignins, and these catechol units were consumed during fermentation. These results suggested that the nonetherified catechol structure was readily converted by Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Since the weight-average molecular weight of C2 raw lignin was 26.7% lower than that of C1, the bioconversion performance of C2 lignin was more outstanding. The P. putida KT2440 cell amount reached the maximum of 9.3 × 107 CFU/mL in the C2 medium, which was 37.9 and 82.4% higher than that in the C1 and C3 medium, respectively. Accordingly, PHA concentration reached 137 mg/L within the C2 medium, which was 41.2 and 149.1% higher than the C1 and C3 medium, respectively. Overall, C-lignin, with a nonetherified catechol structure and low molecular weight, benefits its microbial conversion significantly.

A comparative study of establishing rabbit vertebral tumor model by two ways of CT-guided percutaneous puncture.

Objective: To investigate the difference of tumor formation rate of rabbit vertebral tumor model established by percutaneous injection of V×2 tumor tissue suspension and tumor mass under computed tomography (CT) guidance, and the imaging findings of CT, magnetic resonance images (MRI) and positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) at 7 days, 14 days and 21 days after implantation, and preliminarily verify the safety and feasibility of microwave ablation (MWA), percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and microwave ablation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (MWA + PVP) in rabbit VX2 vertebral tumor model. Methods: Thirty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to tissue suspension group and tumor block group, with 15 rabbits for each group. The VX2 tumor block and mixed suspension were inoculated into the L5 vertebral body under CT-guided percutaneous puncture. The PET/CT, MRI and CT examinations were performed at 7, 14 and 21 days after implantation. Fisher exact probability test was used to compare the success rate of the two implantation methods and the tumor display rate at each time point of the three examination methods. Observe the paralysis of tumor-forming rabbits, and immediately perform MWA/PVP/MWA + PVP treatment according to groups after paralysis to verify the safety and feasibility of treatment. Results: A total of 18 experimental rabbits were successfully modeled in two groups, of which the success rate was 26.6% (4/15) in tissue suspension group and 93.3% (14/15) in tumor block group, with statistically significant differences between two groups (P < 0.01). The tumor display rates by PET/CT, MRI and CT at each time point after implantation were: 83.3% (15/18), 16.6% (3/18), and 0% (0/18) at 7 days after implantation; 100% (18/18), 88.8% (16/18), and 11.1% (2/18) at 14 days after implantation; and 100% (18/18), 100% (18/18), 77.7% (14/18) at 21 days after implantation. The average paralysis time of 18 experimental rabbits successfully modeled was 24.44 ± 2.38 days, and MWA/PVP/MWA + PVP treatment was performed in groups immediately after paralysis. Except for 2 rabbits who died due to anesthesia overdose during anesthesia before treatment, the remaining 16 rabbits were successfully treated with MWA/PVP/MWA + PVP, and the technical success rate was 100% (16/16). In MWA group, one experimental rabbit was randomly selected and killed after ablation, and histopathological examination (H and E staining) was performed together with 2 experimental rabbits who died of anesthesia. The pathological changes before and after ablation were compared. The survival time of the remaining 15 experimental rabbits varied from 3 to 8 days after treatment. Conclusion: The success rate of establishing rabbit vertebral tumor model by injecting tumor masses under the CT-guided percutaneous puncture is high, and the following MWA and PVP treatment can be successfully conducted. PET/CT is the most sensitive method for early detection of tumor compared with MRI and CT. Spectral Presaturation with Inversion Recovery (SPIR) sequence can significantly improve the detection rate of smaller tumors by MRI and shorten the detection time.

Impact of a schoolwide social and emotional learning implementation model on student outcomes: The importance of social-emotional leadership.

The present study examined the impact of the CASEL School Guide, an innovative model of implementation support for systemic SEL, on the social, emotional, and academic development of elementary grade students in schools implementing the evidence-based PATHS® Program. The study tested a 2-year intervention model in a cluster randomized design with 28 low-performing, urban, high-poverty elementary schools. We expected that the School Guide model of support would promote greater fidelity of PATHS implementation by teachers and improvement in students' social-emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes compared to schools delivering PATHS with the standard model of support. We examined whether staff perceptions of administrative social-emotional leadership at baseline had a direct effect on outcomes and moderated the effect of the School Guide. The analytic approach included 3-level growth curve models and hierarchical linear modeling. A consistent 3-way interaction of time, condition, and baseline leadership level emerged for most outcomes. Specifically, students in schools with low levels of social-emotional leadership at the beginning of the study were more likely to be rated as gaining social-emotional competence and attentional skills over time if the school was receiving the School Guide model of support compared to the standard support for PATHS. A similar pattern was true for teacher ratings of aggression, which decreased over time at a more rapid rate for students in School Guide schools where the administration had lower baseline levels of social-emotional leadership. PATHS implementation was similar regardless of support condition so other mechanisms must be driving the improvements in student outcomes. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

A two-photon iridium(III) complex probe for sensitive detection of SO2 derivatives in living cell mitochondria.

The derivatives of sulfur dioxide (HSO3-) formed in the biological environment play a vital role in the circulation system. Excessive SO2 derivatives will cause serious damage to the living system. Herein, a two-photon phosphorescent probe based on Ir(III) complex (named as Ir-CN) was designed and synthesized. Ir-CN is extremely selective and sensitive to SO2 derivatives with significant phosphorescent enhancement and increased phosphorescent lifetime. The detection limit of Ir-CN for SO2 derivatives reaches 0.17 µM. More importantly, Ir-CN preferentially accumulates in mitochondria, so bisulfite derivatives can be detected at subcellular level, which enriching the application of metal complex probe in biological detection. In addition, both single-photon and two-photon images can clearly show that Ir-CN is targeted to mitochondria. Benefits from its good biocompatibility, Ir-CN may be used as a reliable tool to detect SO2 derivatives in mitochondrion of living cells.

Valorization of homogeneous linear catechyl lignin: opportunities and challenges.

Lignin is the dominant aromatic renewable polymer on earth. Generally, its complex and heterogeneous structure hinders its high-value utilization. Catechyl lignin (C-lignin), a novel lignin discovered in the seed coats of vanilla and several members of Cactaceae, has received increasing attention due to its unique homogeneous linear structure. Obtaining substantial amounts of C-lignin either by gene regulation or effective isolation is essential to advance C-lignin's valorization. Through a fundamental understanding of the biosynthesis process, genetic engineering to promote the accumulation of C-lignin in certain plants was developed to facilitate C-lignin valorization. Various isolation methods were also developed to isolate C-lignin, among which deep eutectic solvents (DESs) treatment is one of the most promising approaches to fractionate C-lignin from biomass materials. Since C-lignin is composed of homogeneous catechyl units, depolymerization to produce catechol monomers demonstrates a promising way for value-added utilization of C-lignin. Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) represents another emerging technology for effective depolymerizing C-lignin, leading to a narrow distribution of lignin-derived aromatic products (e.g., propyl and propenyl catechol). Meanwhile, the linear molecular structure predisposes C-lignin as a potential promising feedstock for preparing carbon fiber materials. In this review, the biosynthesis of this unique C-lignin in plants is summarized. C-lignin isolation from plants and various depolymerization approaches to obtaining aromatic products are overviewed with highlights on RCF process. Exploring new application areas based on C-lignin's unique homogeneous linear structure is also discussed with its potential for high-value utilization in the future.

ROS-Triggered Self-Assembled Nanoparticles Based on a Chemo-Sonodynamic Combinational Therapy Strategy for the Noninvasive Elimination of Hypoxic Tumors.

The hypopermeability and hypoxia in the tumor milieu are important factors that limit multiple treatments. Herein, the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered self-assembled nanoparticles (RP-NPs) was constructed. The natural small molecule Rhein (Rh) was encapsulated into RP-NPs as a sonosensitizer highly accumulated at the tumor site. Then highly tissue-permeable ultrasound (US) irradiation induced apoptosis of tumor cells through the excitation of Rh and acoustic cavitation, which prompted the rapid production of large amounts of ROS in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In addition, the thioketal bond structures in the innovatively designed prodrug LA-GEM were triggered and broken by ROS to achieve rapid targeted release of the gemcitabine (GEM). Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) increased the tissue permeability of solid tumors and actively disrupted redox homeostasis via mitochondrial pathways to kill hypoxic tumor cells, and the triggered response mechanism to GEM synergistically amplified the effect of chemotherapy. The chemo-sonodynamic combinational treatment approach is highly effective and noninvasive, with promising applications for hypoxic tumor elimination, such as in cervical cancer (CCa) patients who want to maintain their reproductive function.

Influence of Acupuncture and Other Clinical Factors on the Recovery of Limb Motor Function in Patients After Stroke: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Limb motor disorders after stroke are very common, and the clinical related factors of improving limb motor function are still unclear. As a part of comprehensive rehabilitation strategy, acupuncture has been widely used in rehabilitation after stroke in China. But more evidence is needed for the influence of acupuncture and some other clinical factors on post-stroke motor disorders. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the database of patients with post-stroke motor disorders admitted to the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The included patients were grouped according to whether NIHSS improved or muscle strength improved. The positive logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of possible NIHSS improvement. Combined with the influencing factors of NIHSS improvement and muscle strength improvement, the influencing factors of limb motor function recovery after stroke were obtained. Results: When analyzing the baseline of the included patients, it was found that patients with NIHSS improvement had earlier acupuncture intervention time (M, (IQR):13.5 (14), OR=0.716, 95% CI [0.591-0.869], p=0.001), more cumulative acupuncture treatment times (M,(IQR):29 (12), OR=0.744, 95% CI [0.608-0.910], p=0.004), and less hypertension history (OR=0.256, 95% CI [0.082-0.801], p=0.019). Smoking history only has positive significance in univariate and multivariate analysis of NIHSS, not muscle strength (OR=0.274, 95% CI [0.097-0.779], p=0.015). Conclusion: The earlier acupuncture intervention and the more cumulative acupuncture treatment times are, the more beneficial the limb function of stroke patients with motor disorders will be. The previous history of hypertension is the influencing factor of limb motor function not improving in patients with limb motor disorder after a stroke. The effect of smoking history on limb movement function of patients with limb motor disorder after stroke needs further study.