Regulating "Tip Effect" and Zn2+-Deposition Kinetics by In Situ Constructing Interphase for Low Voltage Hysteresis and Dendrite-Free Zn Anode.

Metal zinc (Zn) is being explored as a possible anode for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). However, unrestrained Zn dendrite caused by "tip effect" and chemical corrosion continue to plague the Zn deposition process, limiting the functionality of AZIBs and prohibiting their use at high current densities. This work presents an in situ approach for introducing homogeneous ZnO nanoarrays onto the surface of Zn foil (Zn@ZnO NAs) as a functional protective interphase. On the one hand, well-distributed ZnO NAs protection layer can regulate the "tip effect" and confine the growth of Zn dendrite. On the other hand, the ZnO NAs layer can enhance the desolvation and diffusion process of Zn2+ on the surface of anode, attributing to low voltage hysteresis and exceptional electrochemical performance at high current densities. As a result, the Zn@ZnO NAs exhibits a low voltage hysteresis of 50.8 mV with a superb lifespan of 1200 h at a current density of 5 mA cm-2. Moreover, Zn@ZnO NAs||α-MnO2 full-cell shows a superior cycling performance after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g-1 with a capacity of 216.69 mAh g-1. This work is expected to provide ideas for designing other reversible zinc anode chemical systems, especially under a high current density.

Constructing a Size-Controllable Spherical P2-Type Layered Oxides Cathode That Achieves Practicable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

P2-type layered metal oxides are regarded as promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries due to their high voltage platform and rapid Na+ diffusion kinetics. However, limited capacity and unfavorable cycling stability resulting from inevitable phase transformation and detrimental structure collapse hinder their future application. Herein, based on P2-type Na0.67Ni0.18Mn0.67Cu0.1Zn0.05O2, we synthesized a series of secondary spherical morphology cathodes with different radii derived from controlling precursors prepared by a coprecipitation method, which can be promoted to large-scale production. Consequently, the synthesized materials possessed a high tap density of 1.52 g cm-3 and a compacted density of 3.2 g cm-3. The half cells exhibited a specific capacity of 111.8 mAh g-1 at a current density of 0.1 C as well as an 82.64% capacity retention with a high initial capacity of 85.80 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles under a rate of 5 C. Notably, in situ X-ray diffraction revealed a reversible P2-OP4 phase transition and displayed a tiny volume change of 6.96% during the charge/discharge process, indicating an outstanding cycling stability of the modified cathode. Commendably, the cylindrical cell achieved a capacity of 4.7 Ah with almost no change during 1000 cycles at 2 C, suggesting excellent potential for future applications.

The therapeutic mechanism of transcranial iTBS on nerve regeneration and functional recovery in rats with complete spinal cord transection.

Background: After spinal cord transection injury, the inflammatory microenvironment formed at the injury site, and the cascade of effects generated by secondary injury, results in limited regeneration of injured axons and the apoptosis of neurons in the sensorimotor cortex (SMC). It is crucial to reverse these adverse processes for the recovery of voluntary movement. The mechanism of transcranial intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) as a new non-invasive neural regulation paradigm in promoting axonal regeneration and motor function repair was explored by means of a severe spinal cord transection. Methods: Rats underwent spinal cord transection and 2 mm resection of spinal cord at T10 level. Four groups were studied: Normal (no lesion), Control (lesion with no treatment), sham iTBS (lesion and no functional treatment) and experimental, exposed to transcranial iTBS, 72 h after spinal lesion. Each rat received treatment once a day for 5 days a week; behavioral tests were administered one a week. Inflammation, neuronal apoptosis, neuroprotective effects, regeneration and synaptic plasticity after spinal cord injury (SCI) were determined by immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and mRNA sequencing. For each rat, anterograde tracings were acquired from the SMC or the long descending propriospinal neurons and tested for cortical motor evoked potentials (CMEPs). Regeneration of the corticospinal tract (CST) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve fibers were analyzed 10 weeks after SCI. Results: When compared to the Control group, the iTBS group showed a reduced inflammatory response and reduced levels of neuronal apoptosis in the SMC when tested 2 weeks after treatment. Four weeks after SCI, the neuroimmune microenvironment at the injury site had improved in the iTBS group, and neuroprotective effects were evident, including the promotion of axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity. After 8 weeks of iTBS treatment, there was a significant increase in CST regeneration in the region rostral to the site of injury. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the number of 5-HT nerve fibers at the center of the injury site and the long descending propriospinal tract (LDPT) fibers in the region caudal to the site of injury. Moreover, CMEPs and hindlimb motor function were significantly improved. Conclusion: Neuronal activation and neural tracing further verified that iTBS had the potential to provide neuroprotective effects during the early stages of SCI and induce regeneration effects related to the descending motor pathways (CST, 5-HT and LDPT). Furthermore, our results revealed key relationships between neural pathway activation, neuroimmune regulation, neuroprotection and axonal regeneration, as well as the interaction network of key genes.

Sulfide Oxidation on Ladder-Type Heteroarenes to Construct All-Acceptor Copolymers for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Conjugated polymers (CPs) have recently gained increasing attention as photocatalysts for sunlight-driven hydrogen evolution. However, they suffer from insufficient electron output sites and poor solubility in organic solvents, severely limiting their photocatalytic performance and applicability. Herein, solution-processable all-acceptor (A1 -A2 )-type CPs based on sulfide-oxidized ladder-type heteroarene are synthesized. A1 -A2 -type CPs showed upsurging efficiency improvements by two to three orders of magnitude, compared to their donor-acceptor -type CP counterparts. Furthermore, by seawater splitting, PBDTTTSOS exhibited an apparent quantum yield of 18.9% to 14.8% at 500 to 550 nm. More importantly, PBDTTTSOS achieved an excellent hydrogen evolution rate of 35.7 mmol h-1  g-1 and 150.7 mmol h-1  m-2 in the thin-film state, which is among the highest efficiencies in thin film polymer photocatalysts to date. This work provides a novel strategy for designing polymer photocatalysts with high efficiency and broad applicability.

Advances in the study of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in infectious lung diseases.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature cells capable of inhibiting T-cell responses. MDSCs have a crucial role in the regulation of the immune response of the body to pathogens, especially in inflammatory response and pathogenesis during anti-infection. Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses use MDSCs as their infectious targets, and even some pathogens may exploit the inhibitory activity of MDSCs to enhance pathogen persistence and chronic infection of the host. Recent researches have revealed the pathogenic significance of MDSCs in pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, despite the fact that the majority of studies on MDSCs have focused on tumor immune evasion. With the increased prevalence of viral respiratory infections, the resurgence of classical tuberculosis, and the advent of medication resistance in common bacterial pneumonia, research on MDSCs in these illnesses is intensifying. The purpose of this work is to provide new avenues for treatment approaches to pulmonary infectious disorders by outlining the mechanism of action of MDSCs as a biomarker and therapeutic target in pulmonary infectious diseases.

Dyslipidemia Is Associated With Worse Asthma Clinical Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia has been widely documented to be associated with cardiovascular disease, and recent studies have found an association with asthma prevalence. However, longitudinal studies investigating the relationships between dyslipidemia, asthma phenotypes, and future asthma exacerbations (AEs) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between dyslipidemia, asthma phenotypes, and AEs. METHODS: This study used an observational cohort study design with a 12-month follow-up. All subjects underwent serum lipid measurement, and they were then classified into 2 groups: the normal-lipidemia group and the dyslipidemia group. Demographic and clinical information and details regarding pulmonary function and asthma phenotypes at baseline were collected. All patients were followed up regularly to assess AEs. Associations of dyslipidemia with airway obstruction and asthma phenotypes were assessed at baseline, whereas dyslipidemia and AEs were assessed longitudinally. RESULTS: A total of 477 patients with asthma were consecutively enrolled in this study. At baseline, the dyslipidemia group (n = 218) had a higher proportion of uncontrolled asthma, defined by the 6-item Asthma Control Questionnaire score (≥1.5). Furthermore, dyslipidemia was associated with severe asthma, nonallergic asthma, asthma with fixed airflow limitation, and older adult asthma phenotypes at baseline. In addition, dyslipidemia was associated with increased frequencies of severe AEs and moderate to severe AEs during the 12-month follow-up. In sensitivity analyses, after excluding the patients who were receiving statins, results did not differ significantly from those of the main analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the clinical relevance of dyslipidemia, which is associated with specific asthma phenotypes and increased AEs, independent of other components of metabolic syndrome. These findings highlight the importance of considering dyslipidemia as an "extrapulmonary trait" in asthma management.

Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome based on 16S rDNA technique / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To explore the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) based on 16S rDNA technique.@*METHODS@#Ten rats were randomized from 58 SPF-grade male SD rats to be the blank group. The remained 48 rats were prepared to be IBS-D models by the modified method of acetic acid enema combined with binding tail-clip stress. Forty successfully-modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, the needle was inserted at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and remained for 15 min in each rat. In the moxibustion group, the suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 15 min. The rats in the western medication group were given pinaverium bromide suspension (10 mL/kg) by intragastric administration. The above interventions were performed once daily for consecutive 14 days. The body mass and the score of fecal trait were compared before and after modeling, as well as after intervention in each group. Fecal water content, diarrhea index and colon transit time (CTT) were measured after modeling and intervention in the rats of each group separately. After intervention, the colonic morphology of rats in each group was observed, and using 16S rDNA technique, the intestinal flora was detected.@*RESULTS@#After modeling, compared with the blank group, the body mass and CTT were reduced (P<0.01); fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the other 4 groups. After intervention, the body mass and CTT of the rats decreased (P<0.01), and fecal trait score, fecal water content and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. In the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group, when compared with the model group, the body mass and CTT were elevated (P<0.01), while fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index declined (P<0.01). Compared with the western medication group, fecal water content decreased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), while CTT increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the body mass increased and fecal trait score was dropped in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). The colonic mucosa structure was clear and complete, and there was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the blank group. The mild interstitial edema of intestinal mucosa was presented with the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the model group. There was the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the mucosa of the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the blank group, the indexes of Richness, Chao1, ACE and Shannon decreased in the model group (P<0.05). Indexes of Richness, Chao1 and ACE increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), and the Richness index in the western medication group increased (P<0.05) when compared with those in the model group. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella increased (P<0.05), and that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae decreased (P<0.05) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. When compared with the model group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella was reduced (P<0.05), while that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group; and that of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the relative abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis was elevated (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. The relative abundance of LPS biosynthesis was dropped (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group compared with those of the model group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Either acupuncture or moxibustion can relieve the symptoms of IBS-D and protect intestinal mucosa, which may be associated with regulating the structure of intestinal flora and promoting nutrient metabolism and biosynthesis.

Establishment of a lipid metabolism disorder model in ApoEb mutant zebrafish.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: ApoEb is a zebrafish homologous to mammalian ApoE, whose deficiency would lead to lipid metabolism disorders (LMDs) like atherosclerosis. We attempted to knock out the zebrafish ApoEb, then establish a zebrafish model with LMD. METHODS: ApoEb was knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and the accumulation of lipids was confirmed by Oil Red O staining, confocal imaging, and lipid measurements. The lipid-lowering effects of simvastatin (SIM), ezetimibe (EZE) and Xuezhikang (XZK), an extract derived from red yeast rice, were evaluated through in vivo imaging in zebrafish larvae. RESULTS: In the ApoEb mutant, significant vascular lipid deposition occurred, and lipid measurement performed in the whole-body homogenate of larvae and adult plasma showed significantly increased lipid levels. SIM, EZE and XZK apparently relieved hyperlipidemia in ApoEb mutants, and XZK had a significant inhibitory effect on the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, an LMD model has been established in ApoEb mutant zebrafish. We suggest that this versatile model could be applied in studying hypercholesterolemia and related vascular pathology in the context of early atherosclerosis, as well as the physiological function of ApoE.

Tailoring Nitrogen Species in Disk-Like Carbon Anode Towards Superior Potassium Ion Storage.

Carbon materials, as promising anode candidates for K+ storage due to their low cost, abundant sources, and high physicochemical stability, however, encounter limited specific capacity and unfavorable cycling stability that seriously hinder their practical applications. Herein, a feasible strategy to tailor and stabilize the nitrogen species in unique P/N co-doped disk-like carbon through the Sn incorporation (P/NSn -CD) is presented, which can largely enhance the specific capacity and cycling capability for K+ storage. Specifically, it delivers a high specific capacity of 439.3 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and ultra-stable cycling capability with a capacity retention of 93.5% at 5000 mA g-1 over 5000 cycles for K+ storage. The underlying mechanism for the superior K+ storage performance is investigated by systematical experimental data combined with theoretical simulation results, which can be derived from the increased edge-nitrogen species, improved content and stability of P/N heteroatoms, and enhanced ionic/electronic kinetics. After coupling P/NSn -CD anode with activated carbon cathode, the KIHCs can deliver a high energy density of 171.7 Wh kg-1 at 106.8 W kg-1 , a superior power density (14027.0 W kg-1 with 31.2 Wh kg-1 retained), and ultra-stable lifespan (89.7% retention after 30 K cycles with cycled at 2 A g-1 ).

Phytoestrogen arctigenin preserves the mucus barrier in inflammatory bowel diseases by inhibiting goblet cell apoptosis via the ERß/TRIM21/PHB1 pathway.

Intestinal mucus barrier dysfunction is closely involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of arctigenin, a phytoestrogen isolated from the fruits of Arctium lappa L., on the intestinal mucus barrier under colitis condition. The role of arctigenin on the intestinal mucus barrier and the apoptosis of goblet cells were examined by using both in vitro and in vivo assays. Arctigenin was demonstrated to promote the mucus secretion and maintain the integrity of mucus barrier, which might be achieved by an increase in the number of goblet cells via inhibiting apoptosis. Arctigenin selectively inhibited the mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, arctigenin elevated the protein level of prohibitin 1 (PHB1) through blocking the ubiquitination via activation of estrogen receptor ß (ERß) to competitively interact with PHB1 and disrupt the binding of tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21) with PHB1. ERß knock down in the colons of mice with DSS-induced colitis resulted in significant reduction of the protection of arctigenin and DPN against the mucosal barrier. Arctigenin can maintain the integrity of the mucus barrier by inhibiting the apoptosis of goblet cells through the ERß/TRIM21/PHB1 pathway.

Engineering Electronic Transfer Dynamics and Ion Adsorption Capability in Dual-Doped Carbon for High-Energy Potassium Ion Hybrid Capacitors.

Sodium and potassium ions energy storage systems with low cost and high energy/power densities have recently drawn increasing interest as promising candidates for grid-level applications, while the lack of suitable anode materials with fast ion diffusion kinetics highly hinders their development. Herein, we develop a nanoscale confined in situ oxidation polymerization process followed by a conventional carbonization treatment to generate phosphorus and nitrogen dual-doped hollow carbon spheres (PNHCS), which can realize superior sodium and potassium ion storage performance. Importantly, the density functional theory calculation and combined characterizations, e.g., in situ Raman spectroscopy and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, decipher that the P/N doping can enhance the electronic transfer dynamics and ion adsorption capability, which are responsible for enhanced electrochemical performance. Inspiringly, the practicability of the PNHCS anode is demonstrated by assembling the potassium ion hybrid capacitors (KIHCs), where the prominent energy density is 178.80 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 197.65 W kg-1, with excellent cycling stability, can be achieved. This work not only promotes the development of efficient anode material for sodium/potassium ion storage devices but also deciphers the embedded ion storage mechanism.

MicroRNA-200c-3p Negatively Regulates ATP2A2 and Promotes the Progression of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

microRNA-200c-3p (miR-200c-3p) has emerged as an important tumor growth regulator. However, its function in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is poorly understood. This study was conducted to investigate the role of miR-200c-3p in the progression of human PTC. The miR-200c-3p expression in human PTC tissues and cell lines was evaluated. The target relationship between miR-200c-3p and candidate genes was predicted through bioinformatic analysis and confirmed with a luciferase reporter assay. miRNA or gene expression was altered using transfection, and cell behavior was analyzed using CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell, and colony formation assays. The tumor-promoting effects of miR-200c-3p were evaluated by xenografting tumors with K1 cells in nude mice. The expression level of miR-200c-3p in human PTC tissues and cell lines markedly increased, and this increased expression was significantly associated with a worse overall survival. When inactivated, miR-200c-3p suppressed K1 cells' malignant behaviors, including decreasing proliferation and attenuating colony formation, migration, and invasion. Its inactivation also attenuated the development of xenografted K1 cells in nude mice. The effects of miR-200c-3p mimics on promoting the malignant behaviors of PTC cells were remarkably reversed by the overexpression of ATP2A2, as a downstream target of miR-200c-3p. miR-200c-3p acts as an oncogenic gene and promotes the malignant biological behaviors of human PTC cells, thereby directly targeting ATP2A2. This regulated axis may be used as a potential therapy of PTC.

Negative pressure wound therapy, artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation in diabetic foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most serious diabetic consequences, leading to amputations. Various therapies have been used to treat DFUs; however, a combination of negative pressure suction, artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation have never been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel three-step therapy protocol using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation in patients with DFUs. METHOD: At a single tertiary university hospital between 2015 and 2018, the three-step therapy protocol was applied to patients with DFUs and its safety and efficacy was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients took part in the study. The majority of the patients were female (62%), with a mean age of 65 years and a mean body mass index of 21kg/m2. A third (n=7) of operative sites experienced minor complications, with two requiring re-operation. At a median follow up of 24 months, the average time of complete wound healing was 46 days, and the wound healing rate was 71%. The first-stage wound healing rate was 90%. All patients had achieved remission without any further recurrence of disease. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive surgical technique for managing DFUs achieved a high local cure rate, minimal functional morbidity, and acceptable wound complication rates. The three-step therapy protocol has the potential to promote the healing process of DFUs, which is expected to serve as a new method for the treatment and cure of DFUs.

Rational Design of Unique MoSe2-Carbon Nanobowl Particles Endows Superior Alkali Metal-Ion Storage Beyond Lithium.

Attracted by the rich earth abundance and low-cost advantages, alkali metal-ion (Na/K)-based energy storage devices have attracted wide interest as promising candidates for energy economizing in recent years. Unfortunately, the lack of suitable host materials with high capacity and long life span for alkali metal-ion storage has severely impeded their practical application in large-scale energy storage devices. Herein, we present a promising anode candidate composed of ultrasmall MoSe2 clusters embedded in a nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanobowl substrate to form unique MoSe2-Carbon nanobowl particles (denoted as MoSe2⊂CNB). MoSe2⊂CNB demonstrates exceptional electrochemical properties for alkali metal-ion storage including sodium and potassium. In situ Raman spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration measurements reveal the possible reason for the high performance of MoSe2⊂CNB. Notably, the assembled potassium-ion hybrid capacitors could manifest an extraordinary energy density of 130.7 W h kg-1 at 0.2 A g-1, a high power density of 13,607 W kg-1, and an enviable cycle life after 6000 cycles, further reflecting the great developmental potential for energy storage devices in practical applications. This work provides a new method to design functional nanostructures for electrode materials to drive the development and application of possible energy storage devices.

The role of hypoxia-induced long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with length greater than 200 nt. The biological roles and mechanisms mediated by lncRNAs have been extensively investigated. Hypoxia is a proven microenvironmental factor that promotes solid tumor metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the major mechanisms induced by hypoxia to contribute to metastasis. Many lncRNAs have been shown to be induced by hypoxia and their roles have been delineated. In this review, we focus on the hypoxia-inducible lncRNAs that interact with protein/protein complex and chromatin/epigenetic factors, and the mechanisms that contribute to metastasis. The role of a recently discovered lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 in hypoxia-induced EMT is discussed. Whole genome approaches to delineating the association between lncRNAs and histone modifications are discussed. Other topics related to hypoxia-induced tumor progression but require further investigation are also mentioned. The clinical significance and treatment strategy targeted against lncRNAs are discussed. The review aims to identify suitable lncRNA targets that may provide feasible therapeutic venues for hypoxia-involved cancers.

Harnessing the Volume Expansion of MoS3 Anode by Structure Engineering to Achieve High Performance Beyond Lithium-Based Rechargeable Batteries.

Beyond-lithium-ion storage devices are promising alternatives to lithium-ion storage devices for low-cost and large-scale applications. Nowadays, the most of high-capacity electrodes are crystal materials. However, these crystal materials with intrinsic anisotropy feature generally suffer from lattice strain and structure pulverization during the electrochemical process. Herein, a 2D heterostructure of amorphous molybdenum sulfide (MoS3 ) on reduced graphene surface (denoted as MoS3 -on-rGO), which exhibits low strain and fast reaction kinetics for beyond-lithium-ions (Na+ , K+ , Zn2+ ) storage is demonstrated. Benefiting from the low volume expansion and small sodiation strain of the MoS3 -on-rGO, it displays ultralong cycling performance of 40 000 cycles at 10 A g-1 for sodium-ion batteries. Furthermore, the as-constructed 2D heterostructure also delivers superior electrochemical performance when used in Na+ full batteries, solid-state sodium batteries, K+ batteries, Zn2+ batteries and hybrid supercapacitors, demonstrating its excellent application prospect.

Total IgE Variability Is Associated with Future Asthma Exacerbations: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Few prospective studies have investigated the relationship between IgE variability and risk for asthma exacerbations (AEs). OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between IgE variability and AEs. METHODS: Recruited patients with stable asthma underwent two serum total IgE tests within a month (at screening [baseline IgE] and at 1 month) to obtain the coefficient of variation (CV) of base 10 log-transformed IgE. Patients with IgE CV were divided into IgE CV-high and IgE CV-low cohorts based on the CV median and were observed within 12 months, during which the association between IgE variability and AEs was explored using a negative binomial regression model. RESULTS: The IgE CV levels obtained from 340 patients classified patients into two groups (n = 170 for the IgE CV-high and IgE CV-low groups, respectively) based on the serum total IgE CV median of 2.12% (quartiles 1 and 3: 0.98% and 3.91%, respectively). The IgE CV-high patients exhibited worse asthma control and lung function and more marked airway inflammation, and received more intensive medication use compared with IgE CV-low patients. The IgE CV-high patients exhibited increased rates of moderate-to-severe (adjusted rate ratio = 2.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.65-5.03; P < .001) and severe (adjusted rate ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.32; P = .029) AEs during the follow-up year compared with IgE CV-low patients. Furthermore, sputum IL-6 partially mediated the associations between IgE CV with moderate-to-severe and severe AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in total serum IgE levels is an easily obtained and practical measure for predicting AEs. Future studies are needed to investigate whether IgE variability can be used to guide precision medicine in asthma.

Dual-Functional Template-Induced In Situ Polymerization Process Enables the Hierarchical Carbonaceous Nanotubes with Simultaneous Sn Cluster Incorporation and Nitrogen-Doping for Superior Potassium-Ion Storage.

Potassium ion-based energy storage devices have received extensive attention for grid-level applications due to their abundant natural resources and low cost. However, the large ionic radius of K+ leads to inferior capacities and cyclic stability, which hinders their practical application. Herein, hierarchical carbonaceous nanotubes with simultaneous ultrasmall Sn cluster incorporation and nitrogen doping (denoted as u-Sn@NCNTs) are fabricated using MnO2 nanowires as a dual-functional template (in situ polymerization and shape-directing agents) and subsequent carbonization treatment. The u-Sn@NCNTs exhibit a superior K+ storage capability with a high reversible capacity (220.1 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1) and long cycling stability (149.9 mA h g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 4000 cycles). Besides, the u-Sn@NCNTs exhibit superior cycling stability up to 10000 cycles at 5 A g-1 for Na+ storage. The potassium storage mechanism and kinetics are investigated based on ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectrum, and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. More importantly, u-Sn@NCNTs can be used as the anode for potassium ion hybrid capacitors, achieving a superior energy density of 181.4 W h kg-1 at a power density of 185 W kg-1 with excellent cycling capability. This work could push forward the development and application of carbonaceous-based anode materials for next-generation high-performance rechargeable batteries.

Phosphorus-doping-induced kinetics modulation for nitrogen-doped carbon mesoporous nanotubes as superior alkali metal anode beyond lithium for high-energy potassium-ion hybrid capacitors.

Alkali metal ion beyond lithium based energy storage systems have recently attracted increasing attention due to their unique advantages of high natural abundance and low cost. Herein, we report the fabrication of P,N-codoped carbon mesoporous nanotubes (denoted as PNC-MeNTs) through a facile two-step strategy with MnO2 nanowires as a dual-function sacrificing template, where the in situ oxidative polymerization formation of pyrrole-aniline-phytic acid composite nanotubes and a subsequent carbonization treatment are involved. The PNC-MeNTs exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance for both Na+ and K+ storage, respectively, where high specific capacities of 287.2 mA h g-1 and 219.6 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and remarkable cycling stability over 10 000 cycles at 10 A g-1 and 3000 cycles at 1 A g-1 can be achieved. More importantly, potassium-ion hybrid capacitors with a PNC-MeNT anode and an activated carbon cathode can deliver remarkable energy/power density of 175.1 W h kg-1/160.6 W kg-1, as well as a long cycling life. The possible origins and storage mechanisms are investigated with combined characterization methods including in situ Raman spectroscopy and a galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. This study may introduce a new avenue for designing carbonaceous electrode candidates for future high-performance energy storage devices.

ADP receptor P2y12 prevents excessive primitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish by inhibiting Gata1.

In the past two decades, purinergic signaling has emerged as a key regulator of hematopoiesis in physiological and pathological conditions. ADP receptor P2y12 is a crucial component of this signaling, but whether it is involved in primitive hematopoiesis remains unknown. To elucidate the function of P2y12 and provide new insights for drug development, we established a zebrafish P2y12 mutant by CRISPR/Cas 9-based genetic modification system, and investigated whether P2y12 acted as an important regulator for primitive hematopoiesis. By using mass spectrometry (MS) combined with RNA sequencing, we showed that absence of P2y12 induced excessive erythropoiesis, evidenced by significantly increased expression of mature erythrocytes marker α-globin (Hbae1 and Hbae3), ß-globin (Hbbe1 and Hbbe3). Expression pattern analysis showed that P2y12 was mainly expressed in red blood cells and endothelial cells of early zebrafish embryos. Further studies revealed that primitive erythroid progenitor marker Gata1 was markedly up-regulated. Remarkably, inhibition of Gata1 by injection of Gata1 morpholino could rescue the erythroid abnormality in P2y12 mutants. The present study demonstrates the essential role of purinergic signaling in differentiation of proerythrocytes during primitive hematopoiesis, and provides potential targets for treatment of blood-related disease and drug development.