Protecting effects of smoking against COVID-19: a community-based retrospective cohort study in middle- and older-aged adults.

On December 7, 2022, China switched from dynamic zeroing strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to reopening. A nationwide SARS-CoV-2 epidemic emerged rapidly. The effect of smoking on SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the relationship between smoking and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using a community-based cohort of smokers and non-smokers. We included participants from a pre-pandemic cohort with a prolonged follow-up period. Data on smoking status, body mass index, and history of other diseases were collected from health examination and consultation clinic records. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the relationship between groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection over time. We analysed 218 male patients with varied smoking statuses (46.3% current or ex-smokers; average age 68.63 ± 9.81 years). Two peaks in the epidemic were observed following the December 2022 outbreak. At the end of the second peak, non-smokers, current smokers, and ex-smokers had primary infection rates increase to 88.0%, 65.1%, and 81.0%, respectively, with a significant difference between the groups. Current smoking significantly protected against SARS-CoV-2 infection (HR 0.625, 95% CI 0.402-0.970, p = 0.036). Further analyses showed that the prevalence of pneumonia in the unvaccinated, older, diabetic, and non-smoking groups was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p < 0.05). Our study suggests a potential association between smoking and a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pneumonia. This indicates that nicotine and ACE2 play important roles in preventing COVID-19 and its progression. We suggest smokers use nicotine replacement therapy during hospitalization for COVID-19.

Surfactant-Free Monodispersed Pd Nanoparticles Template for Core-Shell Pd@PdPt Nanoparticles as Electrocatalyst towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction (MOR).

An eco-friendly two-step synthetic method for synthesizing Pd@PdPt/CNTs nanoparticles was introduced and studied for the methanol oxidation reaction. The Pd@PdPt alloy core-shell structure was synthesized by preparing a surfactant-free monodispersed Pd/CNTs precursor through the hydrolysis of tetrachloropalladate (II) ion ([PdCl4]2-) in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the subsequent hydrogen reduction and followed by a galvanic replacement reaction. This method opens up an eco-friendly, practical, and straightforward route for synthesizing monometallic or bimetallic nanoparticles with a clean surfactant-free electrocatalytic surface. It is quite promising for large-scale preparation. The Pd@PdPt/CNTs electrocatalyst demonstrated a high specific mass activity for methanol oxidation (400.2 mAmgPt-1) and excellent stability towards direct methanol oxidation compared to its monometallic counterparts.

Correction: Super-large dendrites composed of trigonal PbO2 nanoplates with enhanced performances for electrochemical devices.

Correction for 'Super-large dendrites composed of trigonal PbO2 nanoplates with enhanced performances for electrochemical devices' by Liang-Xin Ding et al., Chem. Commun., 2012, 1275-1277, DOI: 10.1039/C2CC15271A.

Super-large dendrites composed of trigonal PbO2 nanoplates with enhanced performances for electrochemical devices.

Super-large dendrites composed of trigonal PbO(2) nanoplates were successfully synthesized by electrodeposition and tested as potential materials for electrochemical device applications.

Effects and mechanisms of Cryptotanshinone on rats with adjuvant arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Cryptotanshinone (CT) is the major active constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of CT on rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). METHODS: AA was induced by the metatarsal footpad injection with complete Freund's adjuvant in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The secondary inflammatory reaction was evaluated by hind paw swelling and the polyarthritis index. Activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was detected by the concanavalin A-induced thymocytes proliferation assay. The lymphocytes proliferation and IL-2 production were assayed by 3-(4,5-2dimethylthiazal-2yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and activated mouse splenocytes proliferation, respectively. RESULTS: Intragastric administration of CT (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased secondary inflammatory reactions and increased the spleen and thymus index. There was a marked immunologic and inflammatory response in the AA model, which was accompanied by the decrease of thymocyte proliferation and IL-2 production as well as the increase of IL-1 production. CT apparently enhanced thymocyte proliferation and decreased IL-1 production in AA rats. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that CT may exert its anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects through inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Synthesis of hierarchical rippled Bi(2)O(3) nanobelts for supercapacitor applications.

Hierarchical rippled Bi(2)O(3) nanobelts were successfully synthesized by an electrodeposition route and tested as promising materials for supercapacitor applications.

Effects of cryptotanshinone on immune functions in rats with adjuvant arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Cryptotanshinone (CT) was originally isolated from the dried roots of Salvia militorrhiza, an herb that is used extensively in Asian medicine and the extracts of this herb have been used in the treatment of several pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, hematological abnormalities, hepatitis, and hyperlipidemia, but no studies had been carried on the treatment for rheumatic diseases with it. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cryptotanshinone on immune functions in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). METHODS: Complete Freund's adjuvant was used to induce AA in rats. Thymus and spleen was aseptically taken from normal rats and the AA rats. Then a thymus lymphoid cell suspension, splenic lymphoid cell suspension and peritoneal macrophage cell suspension were prepared. After adding CT (0.1 microg/ml, 1.0 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml, 100 microg/ml, 1000 microg/ml) into the suspension, T and B lymphocytes proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-2 dimethylthiazal-2yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. And the activities of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-2 were measured by the mouse lymphocytes proliferation assay. RESULTS: Thymic T and splenic B lymphocyte proliferation of the AA rat was significantly lower, and could be stored through using CT in vitro. CT (100 microg/ml and 1000 microg/ml) increased T or B lymphocytes proliferation in vitro (P < 0.01). In AA rats, the levels of IL-1 released by abdominal PMPhi significantly increased whereas the level of IL-2 released by T cells decreased in vitro. CT (1000 microg/ml) decreased the production of IL-1 and promoted production of IL-2 in vitro (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CT can ameliorate the abnormal immunological functions in AA rats.