Kinetic nitrogen isotope effects of 18 amino acids degradation during burning processes.

Understanding the nitrogen isotopic variations of individual amino acids (AAs) is essential for utilizing the nitrogen isotope values of individual amino acids (δ15N-AA) as source indicators to identify proteinaceous matter originating from biomass combustion processes. However, the nitrogen isotope effects (ε) associated with the degradation of individual amino acids during combustion processes have not been previously explored. In this study, we measured the nitrogen isotope values of residual free amino acids -following a series of controlled combustion experiments at temperatures of 160-240 °C and durations of 2 min to 8 h, as described in Part 1. δ15N values of proline, aspartate, alanine, valine, glycine, leucine, and isoleucine are more positive than their initial δ15N values after prolonged combustion. Variations in δ15N values of the most AAs conform to the Rayleigh fractionation during combustion and their nitrogen isotope effects (ε) are greatly impacted by their respective combustion degradation pathways. This is the first time the ε values associated with the degradation pathways of AAs during combustion have been characterized. Only the ε values associated with Pathway 1 (dehydration to form dipeptide) and 2 (simultaneous deamination and decarboxylation) are found to be significant and temperature-dependent, ranging from + 2.9 to 6.4‰ and + 0.9‰ to + 3.8‰, respectively. Conversely, ε values associated with other pathways are minor. This improves the current understanding on the degradation mechanisms of protein nitrogen during biomass burning.

In vivo non-contact regions of proximal scaphoid in six extreme wrist positions.

INTRODUCTION: Fractures of the scaphoid are the most common carpal injuries, account for 80-90% of all carpal fractures. 5-15% nonunion of scaphoid fractures were reported even with adequate primary treatment, which probably progresses to osteoarthritic changes several decades later. Researches regarding to scaphoid physiological characteristic in vitro and in vivo and kinds of trials in clinical practice are being kept on going, which contribute much to our clinical practice. With the advancing wrist arthroscopy, 3D-print patient-specific drill guide, and intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance, dorsal approach (mini-invasive and percutaneous technique) is being popular, through which we can implant the screw in good coincidence with biomechanics and with less disturbing tenuous blood supply of the scaphoid. Investigating the noncontact area of the dorsal proximal scaphoid in different wrist positions can facilitate preoperatively estimating insert point of the screw. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight volunteers were recruited to accept CT scans in six extreme wrist positions. The images of DICOM mode were imput into the Mimics analytical system, the segmented scaphoid, lunate and radius were exported in mode of ASCII STL and were opened in the software of Geomagic studio. We created four planes based on anatomic markers on the surface of the radius and scaphoid to confine the proximal scaphoid to form the so-called non-contact regions. We measured and compared the areas in six targeted positions. RESULTS: Amidst six extreme wrist positions, area of the non-contact region in extreme dorsal extension (59.81 ± 26.46 mm2) was significantly the smallest, and it in extreme palmar flexion significantly was largest (170.51 ± 30.44 mm2). The non-contact regions increased in order of dorsal extension, supination, ulnar deviation, radial deviation, pronation and palmar flexion. As for two-group comparison, the non-contact region showed significantly larger (p < 0.05) in palmar flexion than the others except for in pronation individually, and in radial deviation (p < 0.05) than in dorsal extension. CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient space was available for the screw started from the dorsal approach despite the wrist positions.

Geniposide Attenuates Oxygen-glucose Deprivation/Recovery-induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Injury via Akt/Nrf-2 Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is an eye disease. Its pathological process involves retinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), which causes irreversible blindness in patients. Geniposide (Gen), a bioactive iridoid glycoside extracted from the fruit of gardenia, exhibits many biological effects, such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, anti-endoplasmic reticulum stress, and anti-thrombotic effects. However, its therapeutic potential for the retinal I/R injury remains unclear. This study investigated the protective effect of Gen against I/R injury by inhibiting abnormal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and retinal neuron apoptosis. METHODS: We used oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to induce R28 cells to mimic the pathological process of I/R in glaucoma. We conducted CCK-8 analysis and TUNEL staining to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis in glaucoma. Western blotting was used to assay the expressions of apoptosis and Akt/Nrf-2 pathway-related proteins. RESULTS: The production of ROS was detected by using the corresponding kit. Cell viability decreased, whereas TUNEL staining-positive cells and ROS production increased after the OGD/R injury. The contents of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 increased after the OGD/R injury. Treatment with 200 µM of Gen effectively improved the cell viability and suppressed cell apoptosis and ROS production. In addition, Gen could significantly promote the activation of the Akt/Nrf-2 signaling pathway in R28 cells, which was blocked by the inhibition of Akt/Nrf-2. We in vivo verified the neuroprotective effect of Gen by establishing an acute high intraocular pressure (aHIOP) model and obtained similar results to those of the in vitro experimental results. CONCLUSION: Hence, it can be suggested that Gen provides neuroprotection against the OGD/R-induced injury of R28 cells by activating the Akt/Nrf-2 signaling pathway, which is beneficial for the clinical treatment of glaucoma.

The adult, pupa, and larva of a new species of Gnaptorina Reitter, 1887 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini) from the Tibetan Plateau, with molecular phylogenetic inferences.

The adult, pupa and larva of a new species, Gnaptorina (Gnaptorina) lhorongica Li, sp. nov., from northeastern Xizang, China are described and illustrated. The species was identified using molecular phylogenetic analyses based on three mitochondrial fragments and one nuclear gene fragment (COI, Cytb, 16S, and 28S-D2). The taxonomic status of the new species is confirmed using a combination of molecular and morphological datasets. This study provides valuable molecular and morphological data for phylogenetic studies of the tribe Blaptini.

Cucurbit[8]uril-Based Supramolecular Probe for the Detection of 3-Nitrotyrosine in Human Serum and Plasma.

The biomarker 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) is widely recognized as an indicator of renal oxidative stress injury, making its detection crucial for the early identification of renal insufficiency. This study presents the design and synthesis of a tetraphenylstyrene imidazole derivative (TIPE-MI), which is utilized to create a supramolecular probe in conjunction with cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) through host-guest interactions. The resulting supramolecular self-assembly exhibits excellent optical properties and has been employed for the specific detection of 3-NT through fluorescence quenching. The introduction of 3-NT resulted in a decreased fluorescence intensity of the yellow fluorescent probe, which gradually transitioned from bright yellow to light yellow and then became colorless as the 3-NT concentration was increased. A portable detection platform was devised to augment the efficiency of detection. In order to facilitate biological applications, we have substantiated the probe's exceptional precision in detecting 3-NT in biological samples, encompassing human serum and plasma. The probe also exhibited negligible cytotoxicity. The accumulation of the probe in renal cells elicited a fluorescence signal, thereby indicating the prospective viability of this system for visual detection with renal cytocompatibility.

Association between Obesity and Periodontitis in US Adults: NHANES 2011-2014.

INTRODUCTION: It is controversial whether obesity and periodontitis are related. A representative US population was examined for the relationship between obesity and periodontitis. METHODS: In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014, participants (n = 6,662) aged 30 years or older and who underwent periodontal examinations were chosen for analysis. An assessment of obesity was based on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Estimates of obesity and periodontal disease were made using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: According to an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for periodontitis, BMI (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01∼1.02) and WC (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1∼1.01) were significantly associated with periodontitis, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for patients with high WC with periodontitis was 1.18 (1.04∼1.33) compared to normal WC. BMI and WC subgroups showed no significant interaction (p for interaction >0.05), except for the age interaction in BMI. Among young adults aged 30-44 years, obesity was significantly associated with periodontitis in subgroups; the adjusted OR for having periodontal disease was 1.02 (1∼1.03) and 1.01 (1∼1.02) for subjects with BMI and WC, respectively. When all covariates were adjusted, BMI ≥30 kg/m2 was statistically significantly associated with prevalence of periodontal disease among people aged 30-44 years (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and WC are significantly associated with periodontitis, even after adjusting for many variables, and were equally significant in obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) young people (30-44 years).

[Retracted] miR­206 inhibits cancer initiating cells by targeting EHF in gastric cancer.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the colony formation assay data shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8 were strikingly similar to data that had already appeared in another article written by different authors at different research institutes [Chen W, Wang J, Liu S, Wang S, Cheng Y, Zhou W, Duan C and Zhang C: MicroRNA­361­3p suppresses tumor cell proliferation and metastasis by directly targeting SH2B1 in NSCLC. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 35: 76, 732516, 2016]. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 38: 1688­1694, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5794].

Revision of the genus Colasia Koch, 1965 (= Belousovia Medvedev, 2007, syn. nov.) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini).

The relationship between the genera Colasia Koch, 1965 and Belousovia Medvedev, 2007 within the tribe Blaptini is discussed, and a new synonymy is proposed: Belousovia Medvedev, 2007, syn. nov. of Colasia Koch, 1965. As a result, three new combinations are established: Colasiahelenae (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov., C.kabakiintermedia (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov., and C.kabakikabaki (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov.Colasiaakisoides Koch, 1965 is redescribed, and a lectotype is designated. Three new species of the genus Colasia are described and illustrated from China: C.bijicasp. nov. (Guizhou), C.medvedevisp. nov. (Yunnan), and C.pilosasp. nov. (Yunnan). A distribution map and a key to species of the revised genus Colasia are presented.

The Adult and Larva of a New Species of the Genus Dila (Coleoptera, Blaptinae, Blaptini) from Himalayas, with Molecular Phylogenetic Inferences of Related Genera of the Blaptini.

In this study, a new species of the genus Dila Fischer von Waldheim, 1844, D. ngaria Li and Ren sp. n., was described from the southwestern Himalayas. The adult and larva were associated using molecular phylogenetic analyses based on fragments of three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene fragment (COI, Cytb, 16S and 28S-D2). Additionally, a preliminary phylogenetic tree was reconstructed and discussed based on a molecular dataset with seven related genera and 24 species of the tribe Blaptini. Meanwhile, the monophyly of the subtribe Dilina and the taxonomic status of D. bomina Ren and Li, 2001 are discussed. This work provides new molecular data for phylogenetic studies on the tribe Blaptini in the future.

Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in urban road dust of Shanghai, China: concentrations, source apportionment and human exposure assessment.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants that have been found in various environmental media. The objective of this study was to determine concentrations, spatial distribution, possible sources and potential health risk of SCCPs and MCCPs in urban road dust collected from Shanghai, China. The concentrations ranged from 9.74 to 11,400 ng g-1 for ΣSCCPs, 44.1 to 49,900 ng g-1 for ΣMCCPs and 53.9 to 61,400 ng g-1 for total CPs, respectively. MCCPs were the dominant component in all road dust, averagely accounting for 82.8% of total CPs. The concentrations of CPs in dust collected from traffic and commercial areas were significantly higher than those from campus, industrial, park and residential areas (p < 0.01), which could be attributed to tire wear in heavy traffic. All dust samples were divided into two groups by hierarchical cluster analysis for both SCCPs and MCCPs, and the most abundant homologue groups in most samples were C10Cl7-10 and C13Cl7-9 for SCCPs, and C14Cl7-9 and C15Cl8-9 for MCCPs. Correlation analysis showed that all carbon homologues in road dusts were highly correlated each other, suggesting SCCPs and MCCPs in dust maybe came from similar sources. Three sources for CPs in dust samples were apportioned by the PMF model; their relative contributions to the total CPs burden in dust were 25.6% for factor 1 (commercial CP mixture), 13.7% for factor 2 (long-distance transport) and 60.7% for factor 3 (commercial CP mixture). The median estimated daily intakes of total CPs via road dust were 1.78 × 10-5 for children and 3.0 × 10-6 mg kg-1 day-1 for adults, respectively. Quantitative risk assessment using non-cancer hazard index and total margin of exposure of total CPs indicated that total CPs at the present level in road dust pose no significant risk for both children and adults in Shanghai.

Postoperative Adjuvant Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy With FOLFOX in Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Microvascular Invasion: A Multicenter, Phase III, Randomized Study.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with microvascular invasion (MVI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter trial, histologically confirmed HCC patients with MVI were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive adjuvant FOLFOX-HAIC (treatment group) or routine follow-up (control group). The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS) by intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis while secondary end points were overall survival, recurrence rate, and safety. RESULTS: Between June 2016 and August 2021, a total of 315 patients (ITT population) at five centers were randomly assigned to the treatment group (n = 157) or the control group (n = 158). In the ITT population, the median DFS was 20.3 months (95% CI, 10.4 to 30.3) in the treatment group versus 10.0 months (95% CI, 6.8 to 13.2) in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.81; P = .001). The overall survival rates at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 93.8% (95% CI, 89.8 to 98.1), 86.4% (95% CI, 80.0 to 93.2), and 80.4% (95% CI, 71.9 to 89.9) for the treatment group and 92.0% (95% CI, 87.6 to 96.7), 86.0% (95% CI, 79.9 to 92.6), and 74.9% (95% CI, 65.5 to 85.7) for the control group (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.14; P = .130), respectively. The recurrence rates were 40.1% (63/157) in the treatment group and 55.7% (88/158) in the control group. Majority of the adverse events were grade 0-1 (83.8%), with no treatment-related death in both groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adjuvant HAIC with FOLFOX significantly improved the DFS benefits with acceptable toxicities in HCC patients with MVI.

Effect of Atglistatin on PA-induced VSMCs proliferation and ATGL expression / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: With building a proliferation model of PA-induced VSMC, the effect of ATGL, a key fat metabolism enzyme, on the phenotype transformation of VSMC was preliminarily explored. METHODS: 40 μmol/L Atglistatin was added to the proliferation model of VSMC induced by PA (50 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L, and 200 μmol/L, respectively) at separately administered concentrations, and cell viability and cell proliferation were detected by CCK-8 and EDU; cell migration ability was detected by scratch assay; oil red staining was used to detect the accumulation of lipid droplets in VSMC was detected by oil red staining; the effects of PA on ATGL as well as the effects of smooth muscle contraction phenotype proteins were examined by Western blot. RESULTS: PA at a concentration of 100 μmol/L could significantly induce VSMC proliferation, promote lipophagy and increase lipid droplet accumulation in VSMC; meanwhile, Atglistatin could exacerbate these changes caused by PA and increase lipid droplet accumulation in VSMC. CONCLUSION: Atglistatin exacerbates PA-induced VSMC proliferation and increases VSMC lipid droplet accumulation, and exacerbates transformation of proliferative phenotype of VSMC.

Transdermal Delivery of Metformin Utilizing Ionic Liquid Technology: Insight Into the Relationship Between Counterion Structures and Properties.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to explore the feasibility of transdermal delivery of metformin, a commonly used oral antidiabetic drug, by ionic liquid (IL) technology. METHODS: Metformin hydrochloride (MetHCl) was first transformed into three kinds of ILs with different counterions. The physicochemical properties of the obtained ILs were characterized in depth. The simulation of stable configuration and calculation of interaction energies were conducted based on density functional theory (DFT). Skin-PAMPA was used to evaluate the intrinsic transdermal permeation properties. The cytotoxicity assay of these ILs was conducted using HaCaT cells to evaluate the toxicity to skin. These metformin ILs were then formulated into transdermal patch, and the transdermal potential was further evaluated using in vitro dissolution test and skin permeation assay. Finally, the pharmacokinetic profiles of these metformin IL-containing patches were determined. RESULTS: Among all the three Met ILs, metformin dihexyl sulfosuccinate (MetDH) with proper overall physiochemical and biological properties demonstrated the highest relative bioavailability. Metformin docusate (MetD) with the highest lipophilicity and intrinsic transdermal permeability exhibited the most significant sustained release profile in vivo. Both MetDH and MetD were the promising candidates for further clinical investigations. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the properties of ILs were closely related to the structures of counterion. IL technology provided the opportunities to finely tune the solid-state and biological properties of Metformin and facilitated the successful delivery by transdermal route.

Network-Based Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Study on the Mechanism of Action of Gujiansan in the Treatment of Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head.

Objective: To investigate the main pharmacological basis and mechanism of action of Gujiansan in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH). Methods: The active constituents and targets of Gujiansan were screened by using TCMSP and other databases, and relevant disease targets were obtained by analyzing the microarray of SANFH in the GEO database. The intersection of the two was taken to obtain the potential targets of Gujiansan for the treatment of SANFH, and key active constituents were screened with the "active constituent-target" network constructed by the Cytoscape software; then, the STRING database was used to construct the protein interaction network to screen the key targets. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses of key targets were performed by the DAVID database, and the relationship between the "key active constituent-key target-key signaling pathway" was explored. Finally, the molecular docking between key active constituents and key targets was verified. In addition, qPCR detection technology was used to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of key active constituents of Gujiansan in a rat osteoblast model of SANFH to verify the possible mechanism of the effect of Gujiansan in the treatment of SANFH. Results: (1) 106 active constituents and 55 targets were obtained for the treatment of SANFH. (2) Quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, cryptotanshinone, and naringenin were the key active constituents for the treatment of SANFH. (3) IL1B, STAT3, CAT, PTGS2, and MAPK3 were the key targets for the treatment of SANFH. (4) IL1B, STAT3, CAT, PTGS2, MAPK3, and HMOX1 are key targets in the protein interaction network. (5) DAVID enrichment analysis mainly covers the regulation of DNA-binding transcription factor activity, positive regulation of cytokine production, and response to oxidative stress and other biological processes, involving IL-17, AGE-RAGE, C-type lectin receptor, and other signaling pathways. (6) Gujiansan is a multitarget and multisignaling pathway for the treatment of SANFH. (7) Good binding activity exists between key active constituents and key targets. Conclusion: This study analyzes the potential mechanism of action of Gujiansan in the treatment of SANFH with network pharmacology, which can provide a reference for the further study of its pharmacological basis and targets.

Systematic Review of the Genus Nalepa Reitter, 1887 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Blaptini) from the Tibetan Plateau, with Description of Six New Species and Two Larvae.

Nalepa Reitter, 1887 is a monotypic genus of the tenebrionid tribe Blaptini and is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, the genus Nalepa was reviewed using a combination of molecular and morphological datasets. Based on the results, six new species were described: N.acuminata sp. n., N. ovalifolia sp. n., N.polita sp. n., N. quadrata sp. n., N.xinlongensis sp. n., and N.yushuensis sp. n. In addition, the larvae of N. cylindracea Reitter, 1887 and N. quadrata sp. n. were described and associated with related adults using molecular approaches. This study provides valuable molecular and morphological data for phylogenetic studies.

High-Performance Poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene)-Based Composite Electrolytes with Excellent Interfacial Compatibility for Room-Temperature All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Composite solid-state electrolytes (CSEs) have been developed rapidly in recent years owing to their high electrochemical stability, low cost, and easy processing characteristics. Most CSEs, however, require high temperatures or flammable liquid solvents to exhibit their acceptable electrochemical performance. Room-temperature all-solid-state batteries without liquid electrolytes are still unsatisfactory and under development. Herein, we have prepared a composite solid electrolyte with excellent performance using a polymer electrolyte poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) and an inorganic electrolyte Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12. With the assistance of lithium salts and plasticizers, the prepared CSE achieves a high ionic conductivity of 4.05 × 10-4 S·cm-1 at room temperature. The Li/CSE/Li symmetric cell can be stably cycled for more than 1000 h at 0.1 mA/cm2 without short circuits. The all-solid-state lithium metal battery using a LiFePO4 cathode displays a high discharge capacity of 148.1 mAh·g-1 and a capacity retention of 90.21% after 100 cycles. Moreover, the high electrochemical window up to 4.7 V of the CSE makes it suitable for high-voltage service environments. The all-solid-state battery using a lithium nickel-manganate cathode shows a high discharge specific capacity of 197.85 mAh·g-1 with good cycle performance. This work might guide the improvement of future CSEs and the exploration of flexible all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Settleability and dewaterability of sewage sludge with modified diatomite.

In this study, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM)-modified diatomite and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified diatomite were synthesized and used as conditioners for sewage sludge dewatering. The effects of these two types of modified diatomite on the dewaterability and settling performance of the activated sludge were studied. The mechanisms of the two modified diatomite types in the activated sludge system were elucidated. The efficiency of the CPAM-modified diatomite was better than that of the CTAB-modified diatomite in improving the settleability and dewaterability of sludge. The results indicated that specific resistance to filtration (SRF) was decreased from 8.52 × 1012 to 0.92 × 1012 m/Kg, and the water content in the remaining sludge cake after pumping filtration was decreased from 92.2 to 68.1% by adding 0.4% of CPAM-modified diatomite and pH = 3.5, which resulted in excellent sludge settling of activated sludge. Further studies showed that the polymer/surfactant adsorbed in diatomite increased sludge dewaterability and improved the sedimentation rate owing to stripping extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and damaging the internal structure of the sludge, leading to sludge conduce bound water release. According to scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, the two types of modified diatomite powder maintained the porous structure and showed a more complete and uniform structure compared to natural diatomite.

Uloma (Uloma) metogana Ren, 2004: redescription of the adult and descriptions of the larva and pupa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae, Ulomini).

The adult of Uloma (Uloma) metogana Ren, 2004, an endemic species to the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau of China, is redescribed and illustrated. The male of this species is newly discovered, its larva and pupa are described and illustrated for the first time. Meanwhile, sequences of three gene fragments (COI, Cytb and 16S rDNA) are obtained for the larva, pupa and adult to further confirm their identity.

Dihydropyrimidinone imidazoles as unique structural antibacterial agents for drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens.

The health crisis caused by severe multidrug resistance increasingly compels the exploitation of new alternative antibacterial drugs. A library of structurally unique dihydropyrimidinone imidazoles as novel potential antibacterial agents was developed with the aim to confront drug resistance. Some target compounds exhibited strong antibacterial activities, especially, sulfamethoxazole hybridized dihydropyrimidinone imidazole 8b was found to be extremely active against multidrug-resistant K. pneumonia and A. baumanii at a low concentration of 0.5 µg/mL, which outperformed norfloxacin even clinafloxacin. This active compound not only exhibited low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells (human red blood cells, HepG2 and ECs), but also possessed rapid bactericidal property, good biofilm inhibition ability, and a low propensity to induce K. pneumonia and A. baumanii resistance. Further studies revealed that the inhibitory effect of the active compound 8b might be achieved by disrupting membrane integrity, increasing ROS generation, reducing GSH activity and interacting with DNA. These findings provided a bright hope for developing dihydropyrimidinone imidazoles to combat emergent drug resistance.

Anionic Redox Regulated via Metal-Ligand Combinations in Layered Sulfides.

The increasing demand for energy storage is calling for improvements in cathode performance. In traditional layered cathodes, the higher energy of the metal 3d over the O 2p orbital results in one-band cationic redox; capacity solely from cations cannot meet the needs for higher energy density. Emerging anionic redox chemistry is promising to access higher capacity. In recent studies, the low-lying O nonbonding 2p orbital was designed to activate one-band oxygen redox, but they are still accompanied by reversibility problems like oxygen loss, irreversible cation migration, and voltage decay. Herein, by regulating the metal-ligand energy level, both extra capacities provided by anionic redox and highly reversible anionic redox process are realized in NaCr1- y Vy S2 system. The simultaneous cationic and anionic redox of Cr/V and S is observed by in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). Under high d-p hybridization, the strong covalent interaction stabilizes the holes on the anions, prevents irreversible dimerization and cation migration, and restrains voltage hysteresis and voltage decay. The work provides a fundamental understanding of highly reversible anionic redox in layered compounds, and demonstrates the feasibility of anionic redox chemistry based on hybridized bands with d-p covalence.