Nitrogen-Coordinated CoS2@NC Yolk-Shell Polyhedrons Catalysts Derived from a Metal-Organic Framework for a Highly Reversible Li-O2 Battery.

Transition-metal sulfides (TMS) are one of the most promising cathode catalysts for Li-O2 batteries (LOBs) owing to their excellent stabilities and inherent metallicity. In this work, a highly efficient mode has been used to synthesize Co@CNTs [pyrolysis products of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)]-derived CoS2(CoS)@NC. Benefiting from the special yolk-shell hierarchical porous morphology, the existence of Co-N bonds, and dual-function catalytic activity (ORR/OER) of the open metal sites contributed by MOFs, the CoS2@NC-400/AB electrode illustrated excellent charge-discharge cycling for up to nearly 100 times at a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2 under a limited capacity of 500 mA h g-1 (based on the total weight of CoS2@NC and AB) with a high discharge voltage plateau and a low charge cut-off voltage. Meanwhile, the average transferred electron number (n) is around 3.7 per O2 molecule for CoS2@NC-400, which is the chief approach for a four-electron pathway of the ORR under alkaline media. Therefore, we believe that the novel CoS2@NC-400/AB electrode could serve as an excellent catalyst in the LOBs.

[Comparison of clinical effects between anterior cervical discectomy combined with corpectomy and cervical posterior single open-door laminoplasty in treating three-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion(ACDF) combined with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion(ACCF) and cervical posterior single open-door laminoplasty with mini-titanium plate fixation in treating three-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: The clinical data of 63 patients (39 males and 24 females) with three-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgical treatment from March 2014 to March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 43 cases were treated by ACDF combined with ACCF(anterior group), and 20 cases were treated by cervical posterior single open-door laminoplasty with mini-titanium plate fixation(posterior group). Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications were compared between two groups. And according to JOA score to evaluate the clinical effect. RESULTS: All the patients were follow-up from 16 to 40 months with an average of 25.8 months. Operative time of anterior group and posterior group were (123.70±6.21) min and(118.70±5.41) min, respectively, there was no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). Intraoperative blood loss of anterior group and posterior group were (85.23±7.51) ml and (107.18±9.41) ml, respectively, there was significant difference between two groups(P<0.05). In anterior group, axial symptoms occurred in 6 cases, dysphagia in 1 case, and no C5 nerve root palsy, hoarseness and choking cough were found, the incidence rate of complication was 16.3%(7/43); and in posterior group, axial symptoms occurred in 5 cases, C5 nerve root palsy in 1 case, and no dysphagia, hoarseness and choking cough were found, the incidence rate of complication was 30.0%(6/20); there was significant defference in incidence rate of complication between two group(P<0.05). At 1 week after operation and final follow-up, the JOA scores of anterior group were obviously better than that of posterior group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Above-mintioned two surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy can provide instantly stability, the method of ACDF combined with ACCF was obviously better that of the method of cervical posterior single open-door laminoplasty in intraoperative blood loss, the incidence rate of complications, clinical effect.Thus, for the treatment of three-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy, the method of ACDF combined with ACCF would be firstly chosen.

[Clinical observation of dynamic cervical implant (DCI) internal fixation in the surgical treatment of cervical spondylosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early clinical effects and radiological outcome of dynamic cervical implant (DCI) internal fixation in treating cervical spondylosis, and evaluate its safety and efficiency. METHODS: From June 2009 to December 2011, 19 patients with cervical spondylosis correspond to the indication of DCI internal fixation in the study, including 5 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 14 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. There were 8 males and 11 females, aged from 35 to 54 years with a mean of 43.2 years. Pathological segments included C3,4 in 1 case, C4,5 in 6, C5,6 in 6, C6,7 in 4, C3,4 and C5,6, C6,7 in 2. All patients were treated with anterior discectomy and decompression and DCI internal fixation, meanwhile, 2 cases of them with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plate fixation. Clinical evaluation included Modified Japanese orthopedics association (mJOA), neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score and patient satisfaction index (PSI) at pre-operation and final follow-up. Radiographic evaluation included flexion/extension lateral view at operative level and adjacent segment. The adjacent level degeneration was analyzed according to Miyazaki classification on MRI images. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 19.8 months. Preoperative mJOA score was 13.6±1.1 and at final follow-up was 16.3±1.2 with improvement rate of 85.0%. Preoperative VAS,NDI was 6.6± 1.4, 17.1±7.4 and at final follow-up was 1.4±0.8, 6.1±3.9, respectively; there was statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). Preoperative ROM at operation level was (7.6±1.9)° and final follow-up was (7.8+2.1)°; preoperative ROM at C2-C7 was (38.6±7.2)° and final follow-up was (39.9±6.4)°; there was no statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P>0.05). Preoperative DHI at operation level was (6.3±1.1) mm and final follow-up was (7.1±0.8) mm, there was statistical significance in DHI between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). No heterotopic ossification was found. All patients followed up MRI, degeneration of 3 segments aggravated 1 degree in 38 adjacent segments, without clinical symptom. CONCLUSION: Treatment of cervical spondylosis with dynamic cervical implant can got satisfactory outcome in early follow-up. Activity of operative segment obtain reservation in some degree. The incidence of adjacent segment degeneration is lower and no adjacent segment disease occur. Nevertheless a longer follow-up time should be needed to assess the long term functionality of the DCI and the influence on adjacent levels.

Inhibition of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress by sulforaphane through the activation of Nrf2 nuclear translocation.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Sulforaphane (SF) is a natural drug derived from isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables. Although there are reports indicating that SF is a potential candidate for PD treatment, there have been no reports on the effects of SF on ER stress in PD. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effects of SF on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced ER stress in rat PC12 cells. Pre-treatment with SF elicited cytoprotection against 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity. Consistent with its cytoprotective action, SF significantly inhibited subsequent ER stress, including the expression of Bip and the C/EBP homologous protein. We also found that transfection with NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) siRNA reversed the inhibitory effects of SF on 6-OHDA-induced ER stress responses. In conclusion, our results show that SF can prevent ER stress response induced by 6-OHDA through the activation of Nrf2. SF may be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ER stress-associated neural diseases, including PD.

Sulforaphane protects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cytotoxicity by increasing expression of heme oxygenase-1 in a PI3K/Akt-dependent manner.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Sulforaphane (SF), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate, has been shown to protect against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of various NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) responsive genes. Previous studies have shown that SF protects dopaminergic neurons against PD-related neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cytotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanisms by which SF protects against 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity are poorly elucidated. In this study, we found that pretreatment with SF significantly reduced 6-OHDA-induced caspase-3 activation and subsequent cell death. SF also increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, which conferred protection against 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, SF induced the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus and activated PI3K/Akt, a pathway that is involved in SF-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation, HO-1 expression and cytoprotection. These results suggest that SF inhibits 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity through increasing HO-1 expression in a PI3K/Akt-dependent manner.