Construction of an Ohmic Contact Cathode by Two Metal Sulfides for efficient Capture and Catalysis of Polysulfide.

The slow reaction kinetics and severe shuttle effect of lithium polysulfide make Li-S battery electrochemical performance difficult to meet the demands of large electronic devices such as electric vehicles. Based on this, an electrocatalyst constructed by metal phase material (MoS2) and semiconductor phase material (SnS2) with ohmic contact is designed for inhibiting the dissolution of lithium polysulfide with improving the reaction kinetics. According to the density-functional theory calculations, it is found that the heterostructured samples with ohmic contacts can effectively reduce the reaction-free energy of lithium polysulfide to accelerate the sulfur redox reaction, in addition to the excellent electron conduction to reduce the overall activation energy. The metallic sulfide can add more sulfophilic sites to promote the capture of polysulfide. Thanks to the ohmic contact design, the carbon nanotube-MoS2-SnS2 achieved a specific capacity of 1437.2 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C current density and 805.5 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 C current density and is also tested as a pouch cell, which proves to be valuable for practical applications. This work provides a new idea for designing an advanced and efficient polysulfide catalyst based on ohmic contact.

Temperature-Tolerant Versatile Conductive Zwitterionic Nanocomposite Organohydrogel toward Multisensory Applications.

Conductive hydrogels (CHs) are emerging materials for next generation sensing systems in flexible electronics. However, the fabrication of competent CHs with excellent stretchability, adhesion, self-healing, photothermal conversion, multisensing, and environmental stability remains a huge challenge. Herein, a nanocomposite organohydrogel with the above features is constructed by in situ copolymerization of zwitterionic monomer and acrylamide in the existence of carboxylic cellulose nanofiber-carrying reduced graphene oxide (rGO) plus a solvent displacement strategy. The synergy of abundant dipole-dipole interactions and intermolecular hydrogen bonds enables the organohydrogel to exhibit high stretchability, strong adhesion, and good self-healing. The presence of glycerol weakens the formation of hydrogen bonds between water molecules, endowing the organohydrogel with excellent environmental stability (-40 to 60 °C) to adapt to different application scenarios. Importantly, the multimodal organohydrogel presents excellent sensing behavior, including a high gauge factor of 16.3 at strains of 400-1440% and a reliable thermal coefficient of resistance (-4.2 °C-1) over a wide temperature widow (-40 to 60 °C). Moreover, the organohydrogel displays a highly efficient and reliable photothermal conversion ability due to the favorable optical absorbing behavior of rGO. Notably, the organohydrogel can detect accurate human activities at ambient temperature, demonstrating potential applications in flexible intelligent electronics.

KLF12 interacts with TRIM27 to affect cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating L1CAM expression.

Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) has been characterized as a transcriptional repressor, and previous studies have unveiled its roles in angiogenesis, neural tube defect, and natural killer (NK) cell proliferation. However, the contribution of KLF12 to cancer treatment remains undefined. Here, we show that KLF12 is downregulated in various cancer types, and KLF12 downregulation promotes cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Mechanistically, KLF12 binds to the promoters of L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule (L1CAM) and represses its expression. Depletion of L1CAM abrogates cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis caused by KLF12 loss. Moreover, the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) binds to the N-terminal region of KLF12 and ubiquitinates KLF12 at K326 via K33-linked polyubiquitination. Notably, TRIM27 depletion enhances the transcriptional activity of KLF12 and consequently inhibits L1CAM expression. Overall, our study elucidated a novel regulatory mechanism involving TRIM27, KLF12 and L1CAM, which plays a substantial role in cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in ESCC. Targeting these genes could be a promising approach for ESCC treatment.

Chronic Alcohol Exposure Alters the Levels and Assembly of the Actin Cytoskeleton and Microtubules in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse, a prevalent global health issue, is associated with the onset of cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. Actin filaments (F-actin) and microtubules (MTs) polymerized from monomeric globular actin (G-actin) and tubulin form the structural basis of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Precise regulation of the assembly and disassembly of these cytoskeletal proteins, and their dynamic balance, play a pivotal role in regulating neuronal morphology and function. Nevertheless, the effect of prolonged alcohol exposure on cytoskeleton dynamics is not fully understood. This study investigates the chronic effects of alcohol on cognitive ability, neuronal morphology and cytoskeleton dynamics in the mouse hippocampus. METHODS: Mice were provided ad libitum access to 5% (v/v) alcohol in drinking water and were intragastrically administered 30% (v/v, 6.0 g/kg/day) alcohol for six weeks during adulthood. Cognitive functions were then evaluated using the Y maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. Hippocampal histomorphology was assessed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. The polymerized and depolymerized states of actin cytoskeleton and microtubules were separated using two commercial assay kits and quantified by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Mice chronically exposed to alcohol exhibited significant deficits in spatial and recognition memory as evidenced by behavioral tests. Histological analysis revealed notable hippocampal damage and neuronal loss. Decreased ratios of F-actin/G-actin and MT/tubulin, along with reduced levels of polymerized F-actin and MTs, were found in the hippocampus of alcohol-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that chronic alcohol consumption disrupted the assembly of the actin cytoskeleton and MTs in the hippocampus, potentially contributing to the cognitive deficits and pathological injury induced by chronic alcohol intoxication.

One-step solvothermal synthesis of full-color fluorescent carbon dots for information encryption and anti-counterfeiting applications.

Multicolor fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) have received extensive attention due to their excellent fluorescence tunable performance. In this study, multicolor CDs with color tunable and high fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) were successfully prepared under the same conditions by a one-step solvothermal method using 2-aminoterephthalic acid (ATA) and Nile Blue A (NBA) as reaction reagents, achieving a wide color field coverage. Detailed studies on the relevant mechanisms have been carried out for blue, green and red CDs, indicating that the regulating mechanism of multicolor luminescence is determined by the size of the sp2 conjugated domains, which is due to the increase of particle size that causes an increase in the size of the sp2 conjugated domains, resulting in the narrowing of the band gap and the red-shift of the emission wavelength. It was found that the CDs have the advantages of simple preparation, high photostability and high quantum yield. They were used as fluorescent ink and mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form CD/PVA composites, which were successfully applied in the field of information encryption and anti-counterfeiting. This work provides a new strategy for the synthesis of panchromatic tunable fluorescent CDs and their application in the field of information encryption and anti-counterfeiting.

Updated global epidemiology atlas of human prion diseases.

Introduction: Human prion disease (PrD), a group of fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases, consists of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), kuru, fatal familial insomnia (FFI), Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS), and variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr). The emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and variant CJD (vCJD) has greatly threatened public health, both in humans and animals. Since the 1990's, dozens of countries and territories have conducted PrD surveillance programs. Methods: In this study, the case numbers and alternative trends of different types of PrD globally and in various countries or territories from 1993 to 2020 were collected and analyzed based on the data from the websites of the international and national PrD surveillance programs, as well as from relevant publications. Results: The total numbers of the reported PrD and sporadic CJD (sCJD) cases in 34 countries with accessible annual case numbers were 27,872 and 24,623, respectively. The top seven countries in PrD cases were the USA (n = 5,156), France (n = 3,276), Germany (n = 3,212), Italy (n = 2,995), China (n = 2,662), the UK (n = 2,521), Spain (n = 1,657), and Canada (n = 1,311). The annual PrD case numbers and mortalities, either globally or in the countries, showed an increased trend in the past 27 years. Genetic PrD cases accounted for 10.83% of all reported PrD cases; however, the trend varied largely among the different countries and territories. There have been 485 iatrogenic CJD (iCJD) cases and 232 vCJD cases reported worldwide. Discussion: The majority of the countries with PrD surveillance programs were high- and upper-middle-income countries. However, most low- and lower-middle-income countries in the world did not conduct PrD surveillance or even report PrD cases, indicating that the number of human PrD cases worldwide is markedly undervalued. Active international PrD surveillance for both humans and animals is still vital to eliminate the threat of prion disease from a public health perspective.

The role of serum sodium in poor prognosis evaluation of pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that hyponatremia was strongly associated with a poor prognosis of type 1 pulmonary hypertension, and our team's antecedent studies found that low serum sodium was associated with the severity and the length of hospitalization of pulmonary hypertension associated with left ventricular disease (PH-LHD). However, the relationship between serum sodium and the prognosis of PH-LHD remains unclear. This study aims to determine the clinical value of serum sodium in evaluating poor prognosis in patients with PH-LHD. METHODS: We successfully followed 716 patients with PH-LHD. Kaplan-Meier was used to plot survival in PH-LHD patients with different serum sodium levels. The effect of serum sodium on poor prognosis was analyzed using a Cox proportional risk model. The trends between patients serum sodium and survival were visualized by restricted cubic spline (RCS). RESULTS: The survival rates at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years were 52%, 41%, 31% and 31% for the patients with hyponatremia associated with PH-LHD and 71%, 71%, 71% and 54% for the patients with hypernatremia, respectively. The observed mortality rate in the hyponatremia and hypernatremia groups surpassed that of the normonatremic group. The adjusted risks of death (risk ratio) for patients with hyponatremia and hypernatremia were found to be 2.044 and 1.877. Furthermore, the restricted cubic spline demonstrated an L-shaped correlation between serum sodium and all-cause mortality in patients with PH-LHD. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal serum sodium level is strongly associated with poor prognosis in PH-LHD. Serum sodium may play an important pathogenic role in PH-LHD occurrence and could be used as a marker to assess the survival in patients.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Annulation Synthesis of Difluorinated Quinazolinone Derivatives Using an Amide Carbonyl as the Directing Group.

The use of amide carbonyl groups of substrates as weakly coordinating directing groups has received a significant amount of attention. Recently, difluoromethylene alkynes have been successfully used in fluorination reactions, resulting in the preparation of various fluorine-containing compounds. This work describes a [4+2] annulation method for creating a range of fluorinated quinolino[2,1-b]quinazolinone derivatives. The derivatives are formed through Rh(III)-catalyzed cascade cyclization of 3-phenylquinazolinones and gem-difluoromethylene alkynes.

Predictive Value of Smoking Index Combined with NT-proBNP for Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Chronic Lung Disease: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Smoking is a major risk factor for the group 3 PH. NT-proBNP is a biomarker for risk stratification in PH. This study aims to investigate the effects of smoking status and smoking index (SI) on group 3 PH and to evaluate the value of SI and SI combined with NT-proBNP in early diagnosis and prediction of disease severity. Patients and Methods: Four hundred patients with group 3 PH at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2020 and December 2021 were enrolled and divided into two groups: mild (30 mmHg ≤ pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)≤50 mmHg) and non-mild (PASP >50 mmHg). The effect of smoking on group 3 PH was analyzed using univariate analysis, and logistic analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk of group 3 PH according to smoking status and SI. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between SI and the index of group 3 PH severity. The predictive value of SI was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Correlation and logistic analyses showed that SI was associated with PH severity. Smoking status (P=0.009) and SI (P=0.039) were independent risk factors for non-mild group 3 PH, and ROC showed that the predictive value of SI (AUC:0.596) for non-mild PH was better than that of the recognized pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (AUC:0.586). SI can be used as a single predictive marker. SI and NT-proBNP can be formulated as prediction models for screening non-mild clinical cases (AUC:0.628). Conclusion: SI is a potentially ideal non-invasive predictive marker for group 3 PH. SI and NT-proBNP could be used to develop a prediction model for screening non-mild PH cases. This can greatly improve the predictive specificity of the established PH marker, NT-proBNP.

Miniaturized leaky-wave antenna with backward-to-forward beam scanning and suppressed open stop-band based on substrate-integrated plasmonic waveguide.

This work presents a theoretical design and experimental demonstration of a novel miniaturized leaky-wave antenna (LWA) using composite waveguide based on substrate-integrated plasmonic waveguide (SIPW). The SIPW is designed by embedding hybrid dual spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) structure into a three-layer substrate integrated waveguide (SIW). Due to the slow-wave effect of SIPW, the proposed miniaturized composite waveguide forms slowed phase velocity and decreased lower cutoff frequency. To excite backward-to-forward beam scanning mode and suppress the open stop-band, an asymmetric sinusoidal modulated structure is introduced to the surface of the composite waveguide. The experimental results indicate that the proposed SIPW-based LWA can achieve continuous beam scanning from the backward to the forward direction within the bandwidth of 10.6-13.7 GHz, passing through the broadside at 11.6 GHz.

CD47, a novel YAP target gene, contributes to hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis induced by high-fat diet.

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been widely recognized as a primary source of pathological myofibroblasts, leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix and liver fibrosis. CD47, a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of various cell types, has been implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the precise role of CD47 in HSC activation and the underlying regulatory mechanisms governing CD47 expression remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to investigate CD47 expression in HSCs from mice subjected to a high-fat diet. CD47 silencing in HSCs markedly inhibited the expression of fibrotic genes and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that Yes-associated protein (YAP) collaborates with TEAD4 to augment the transcriptional activation of CD47 by binding to its promoter region. Notably, disruption of the interaction between YAP and TEAD4 caused a substantial decrease in CD47 expression in HSCs and reduced the development of high-fat diet-induced liver fibrosis. Our findings highlight CD47 as a critical transcriptional target of YAP in promoting HSC activation in response to a high-fat diet. Targeting the YAP/TEAD4/CD47 signaling axis may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.

Regulate the Solvation Structure and Interface by Nitrate in Phosphate-Based Electrolytes for 4.5 V-Class Ni-Rich Batteries.

Phosphate-based electrolyte propels the advanced battery system with high safety. Unfortunately, restricted by poor electrochemical stability, it is difficult to be compatible with advanced lithium metal anodes and Ni-rich cathodes. To alleviate these issues, the study has developed a phosphate-based localized high-concentration electrolyte with a nitrate-driven solvation structure, and the nitrate-derived N-rich inorganic interface shows excellent performance in stabilizing the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode interface and modulating the lithium deposition morphology on the anode. The results show that the Li|| NCM811 cell has exceptional long-cycle stability of >80% capacity retention after 800 cycles at 4.3 V, 1 C. A more prominent capacity retention rate of 93.3% after 200 cycles can be reached with the high voltage of 4.5 V. While being compatible with the phosphate-based electrolyte with good flame retardancy and the good electrochemical stability of Ni-rich lithium metal battery (LMBs) systems, the present work expands the construction of anion-rich solvation structures, which is expected to promote the development of the high-performance LMBs with safety.

Synthesis of Nitrones and Nitroalkanes via Chiral Cyclic Imines.

A series of structurally chiral cyclic imines efficiently yields chiral nitrones and nitroalkanes. This is the first report of the synthesis of nitro groups by C═N bond cleavage of imines through a nitrone intermediate.

Efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel as first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in patients previously treated with adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab therapy: The stage 1 results of a single-arm, phase 2 prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: It has been observed that the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer has improved significantly with HER2-targeted agents. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding first-line anti-HER2 treatment options for patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Besides, there are no reliable markers that can predict the efficacy of anti-HER2 treatment in these patients. METHODS: Patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were enrolled. Pyrotinib plus albumin-bound paclitaxel were used as first-line treatment. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The safety profile was also assessed. In order to explore predictive biomarkers using Olink technology, blood samples were collected dynamically. RESULTS: From December 2019 to August 2023, the first stage of the study involved 27 eligible patients. It has not yet reached the median PFS despite the median follow-up being 17.8 months. Efficacy evaluation showed that the ORR was 92.6%, and the DCR was 100%. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher included diarrhoea (29.6%), leukopenia (11.1%), neutropenia (25.9%), oral mucositis (3.7%), and hand-foot syndrome (3.7%). Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (RET) were proteins with significant relevance to PFS in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pyrotinib plus albumin-bound paclitaxel as a first-line treatment regimen shows good efficacy and manageable safety for patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Besides, a significant association was identified between the expression levels of TLR3 and RET and the PFS in patients.

[Study on mechanism of inhibiting proliferation of head and neck cancer cells by citral, active ingredient of lemon essential oil].

To explore the active substances exerting anti-tumour effect in lemon essential oil and the molecular mechanism inhibiting the proliferation of head and neck cancer cells SCC15 and CAL33, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay(MTT) was utilized to identify the active component inhibiting the proliferation of head and neck cancer cells, namely citral. The IC_(50) of citral inhibiting the proliferation of head and neck cancer cells and normal cells were also determined. In addition, a 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU) staining assay was used to detect the effect of citral on the proliferation rate of head and neck cancer cells, and a colony formation assay was used to detect the effect of citral on tumor sphere formation of head and neck cancer cells in vitro. The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction of head and neck cancer cells by citral were evaluated by flow cytometry, and Western blot was used to detect the effect of citral on the expression levels of cell cycle-and apoptosis-related proteins in head and neck cancer cells. The findings indicated that citral could effectively inhibit the proliferation and growth of head and neck cancer cells, with anti-tumor activity, and its half inhibitory concentrations for CAL33 and SCC15 were 54.78 and 25.23 µg·mL~(-1), respectively. Furthermore, citral arrested cell cycle at G_2/M phase by down-regulating cell cycle-related proteins such as S-phase kinase associated protein 2(SKP2), C-MYC, cyclin dependent kinase 1(CDK1), and cyclin B. Moreover, citral increased the cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(caspase-3), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9(caspase-9), and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP). It up-regulated the level of autophagy-related proteins including microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3B(LC3B), sequestosome 1(P62/SQSTM1), autophagy effector protein Beclin1(Beclin1), and lysosome-associate membrane protein 1(LAMP1), suggesting that citral could effectively trigger cell apoptosis and cell autophagy in head and neck cancer cells. Furthermore, the dual-tagged plasmid system mCherry-GFP-LC3 was used, and it was found that citral impeded the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, leading to autophagic flux blockage. Collectively, our findings reveal that the main active anti-proliferation component of lemon essential oil is citral, and this component has a significant inhibitory effect on head and neck cancer cells. Its underlying molecular mechanism is that citral induces apoptosis and autophagy by cell cycle arrest and ultimately inhibits cell proliferation.

Targeting STAT3 potentiates CDK4/6 inhibitors therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Anti-CDK4/6 therapy has been employed for the treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with CDK4/6 hyperactivation, but the response rate is relatively low. In this study, we first showed that CDK4 and CDK6 was over-expressed and conferred poor prognosis in HNSCC. Moreover, in RB-positive HNSCC, STAT3 signaling was activated induced by CDK4/6 inhibition and STAT3 promotes RB deficiency by upregulation of MYC. Thirdly, the combination of Stattic and CDK4/6 inhibitor results in striking anti-tumor effect in vitro and in Cal27 derived animal models. Additionally, phospho-STAT3 level negatively correlates with RB expression and predicts poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC. Taken together, our findings suggest an unrecognized function of STAT3 confers to CDK4/6 inhibitors resistance and presenting a promising combination strategy for patients with HNSCC.

Synthesis of acridones via Ir(III)-catalyzed amination annulation of oxazoles with anthranils.

An unprecedented Ir(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/amination/annulation of 2-phenyloxazoles with anthranils for the highly selective preparation of acridone derivatives in one-pot under controlled conditions is reported. This protocol is characterized by atom economy and high regioselectivity. A wide range of anthranils with 2-phenyloxazoles were well tolerated and afforded the desired products in moderate to good yields, in which the anthranil serves as a convenient amination reagent.

A Rare Case of a Primary Cutaneous Collision Tumor Comprising Malignant Melanoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma.

This case reports a 35-year-old man who presented with a painful erythematous nodule on his right posterior calf. He first noticed this nodule several years ago and it often bled upon contact with clothing. An excisional biopsy of the skin lesion revealed two distinct populations of cells. One population of epithelioid cells stained positive for Mart-1, HMB45, and SOX-10, confirming the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. The second population of cells stained positive for desmin and calponin, confirming the diagnosis of sarcoma with muscular differentiation. Subsequently, these unusual findings led to the diagnosis of a collision tumor comprising malignant melanoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Follow-up PET/CT and brain MRI revealed no metastasis from the primary skin lesion. This case highlights a rare combination of cell types found within a collision tumor in addition to providing details on how to diagnose this skin lesion.

Localized High-Concentration Sulfone Electrolytes with High-Voltage Stability and Flame Retardancy for Ni-Rich Lithium Metal Batteries.

The localized high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) propels the advanced high-voltage battery system. Sulfone-based LHCE is a transformative direction compatible with high energy density and high safety. In this work, the application of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in the LHCE system constructed from sulfolane and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE) is investigated. The addition of diluent causes an increase of contact ion pairs and ionic aggregates in the solvation cluster and an acceptable quantity of free solvent molecules. A small amount of LiFSI as an additive can synergistically decompose with TTE on the cathode and participate in the construction of both electrode interfaces. The designed electrolyte helps the Ni-rich system to cycle firmly at a high voltage of 4.5 V. Even with high mass load and lean electrolyte, it can keep a reversible specific capacity of 91.5% after 50 cycles. The constructed sulfone-based electrolyte system exhibits excellent thermal stability far beyond the commercial electrolytes. Further exploration of in-situ gelation has led to a quick conversion of the designed liquid electrolyte to the gel state, accompanied by preserved stability, which provides a direction for the synergistic development of LHCE with gel electrolytes.