Unveiling the Role of Sulfur Vacancies in Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hybrids Photocatalysts.

Photocatalysis represents a sustainable strategy for addressing energy shortages and global warming. The main challenges in the photocatalytic process include limited light absorption, rapid recombination of photo-induced carriers, and poor surface catalytic activity for reactant molecules. Defect engineering in photocatalysts has been proven to be an efficient approach for improving solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Sulfur vacancies can adjust the electron structure, act as electron reservoirs, and provide abundant adsorption and activate sites, leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity. In this work, we aim to elucidate the role of sulfur vacancies in photocatalytic reactions and provide valuable insights for engineering high-efficiency photocatalysts with abundant sulfur vacancies in the future. First, we delve into the fundamental understanding of photocatalysis. Subsequently, various strategies for fabricating sulfur vacancies in photocatalysts are summarized, along with the corresponding characterization techniques. More importantly, the enhanced photocatalytic mechanism, focusing on three key factors, including electron structure, charge transfer, and the surface catalytic reaction, is discussed in detail. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges in sulfur vacancy engineering for photocatalysis are identified.

TACE combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab versus TACE alone in efficacy and safety for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matching study.

BACKGROUNDS: To compare the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab (TLC) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) with those of TACE alone . METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 222 patients with uHCC who were treated between September 2013 and Jun 2023. One group received TACE + lenvatinib + camrelizumab (TLC) (n = 97) and another group received TACE alone (n = 151). Efficacy and safety were compared after propensity score matching between the TLC and TACE groups. RESULTS: After propensity matching, the TLC group had higher objective response rate (ORR) (88.6% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.001), disease control rate (DCR) (94.3%% vs. 72.9%, P < 0.001), and conversion rates before and after propensity matching were 44.1% and 41.4%, respectively, compared with the TACE group. The median progression free survival (PFS) was longer in the TLC group than in the TACE group (12.7 vs. 6.1 months, P = 0.005). The median overall survival (OS) was longer in the TLC group than in the TACE group (19.4 vs. 13.0 months, P = 0.023). Cox multivariate analysis with different modes of adjustment showed that treatment was an independent influencing factor of PFS and OS. The interaction analysis showed that cirrhosis and Child-Pugh stage an interactive role in the PFS of different treatment. Decreased AFP after treatment portends higher ORR and DCR. CONCLUSION: TACE combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab regimen was safe and superior to TACE alone in improving PFS, OS, and tumor response rates for unresectable recurrent HCC patients.

CdS-based Schottky junctions for efficient visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Heterojunctions photocatalysts play a crucial role in achieving high solar-hydrogen conversion efficiency. In this work, we mainly focus on the charge transfer dynamics and pathways for sulfides-based Schottky junctions in the photocatalytic water splitting process to clarify the mechanism of heterostructures photocatalysis. Sulfides-based Schottky junctions (CdS/CoP and CdS/1T-MoS2) were successfully constructed for photocatalytic water splitting. Because of the higher work function of CdS than that of CoP and 1T-MoS2, the direction of the built-in electric field is from CoP or 1T-MoS2 to semiconductor. Therefore, CoP and 1T-MoS2 can act as electrons acceptors to accelerate the transfer of photo-generated electron on the surface of CdS, thus improving the charge utilization efficiency. Meanwhile, CoP and 1T-MoS2 as active sites can also promote the water dissociation and lower the H+ reduction overpotential, thus contributing to the excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production activity (23.59 mmol·h-1·g-1 and 1195.8 mol·h-1·g-1 for CdS/CoP and CdS/1T-MoS2).

Radiotherapy is superior to transarterial chemoembolization as adjuvant therapy after narrow-margin hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: This study was recruited to compare the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy (RT) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as postoperative adjuvant therapy after narrow-margin hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: This single-center prospective randomized study was conducted in the Cancer Hospital, Guang Xi Medical University, Nanning. A total of 72 patients who received treatment in this hospital between August 2017 and July 2019 were included and randomly allocated to TACE group (n = 48) and RT group (n = 24). Next, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, recurrence patterns, financial burden, and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference between the RT and TACE groups was not significant in one-, three-, and five-year OS (87.5%, 79.0%, and 62.5% vs. 93.8%, 75.9%, and 63.4%, respectively, P = 0.071) and PFS rates (79.0%, 54.2%, and 22.6% vs. 75.0%, 47.9%, and 32.6%, respectively, P = 0.071). Compared to the TACE group, the RT group had significantly lower intrahepatic recurrence rate (20.8% vs. 52.1%, P = 0.011), higher extrahepatic recurrence rate (37.5% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.034), and no marginal and diffuse recurrences (0% vs. 16.7%, P < 0.05). The mean overall treatment cost was higher (¥62,550.59 ± 4397.27 vs. ¥40,732.56 ± 9210.54, P < 0.01), the hospital stay (15.1 ± 3.7 vs. 11.8 ± 4.1 days, P < 0.01) was longer, and the overall treatment stay (13.3 ± 5.3 vs. 41.29 ± 12.4 days, P < 0.01) was shorter in the TACE group than in the RT group. Besides, both groups did not exhibit significant differences in the frequency and severity of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Both adjuvant TACE and RT can better the OS and PFS of patients with HCC. However, RT has a significantly better performance than TACE in terms of improving intrahepatic recurrence rate, treatment cost and hospital stay.

Conversion surgery for initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using lenvatinib combined with TACE plus PD-1 inhibitor: A real-world observational study.

BACKGROUND: Conversion therapy for initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (iuHCC) using lenvatinib combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus a PD-1 inhibitor (LTP) has achieved promising results. However, further comparative research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of conversion surgery (CS) for iuHCC. METHODS: Data for 32 consecutive patients with iuHCC receiving CS and 419 consecutive patients with resectable HCC receiving initial surgery (IS) between November 2019 and September 2022 were collected retrospectively. After propensity score matching (PSM), 65 patients were selected. RESULTS: Before matching, the CS group had longer EFS (not reached vs. 12.9 months, P < 0.001) and similar OS (not reached vs. not reached, P = 0.510) compared with the IS group. Similar results for EFS (P = 0.001) and OS (P = 0.190) were obtained after matching. The multivariable Cox model (HR = 0.231, 95% CI: 0.105-0.504; P < 0.001) and subgroup analyses confirmed that CS could improve EFS. The CS group had significantly lower incidence of microvascular invasion (MVI) than the IS group (3.1% vs. 50.4%, P < 0.001). Moreover, the two groups had similar safety profiles. CONCLUSIONS: CS is effective and safe for patients with iuHCC receiving LTP. LTP has the potential to reduce risk factors for postoperative recurrence, especially MVI, which may influence surgical decision-making.

Size Effect of Graphene Oxide on Graphene-Aerogel-Supported Au Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction.

The lateral size of graphene nanosheets plays a critical role in the properties and microstructure of 3D graphene as well as their application as supports of electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction reactions (CRRs). Here, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets with different lateral sizes (1.5, 5, and 14 µm) were utilized as building blocks for 3D graphene aerogel (GA) to research the size effects of GO on the CRR performances of 3D Au/GA catalysts. It was found that GO-L (14 µm) led to the formation of GA with large pores and a low surface area and that GO-S (1.5 µm) induced the formation of GA with a thicker wall and isolated pores, which were not conducive to the mass transfer of CO2 or its interaction with catalysts. Au/GA constructed with a suitable-sized GO (5 µm) exhibited a hierarchical porous network and the highest surface area and conductivity. As a result, Au/GA-M exhibited the highest Faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO (FECO = 81%) and CO/H2 ratio at -0.82 V (vs. a Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE)). This study indicates that for 3D GA-supported catalysts, there is a balance between the improvement of conductivity, the adsorption capacity of CO2, and the inhibition of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) during the CRR, which is related to the lateral size of GO.

Arthroscopic vs. open Broström-Gould for repairing anterior talofibular ligament: mid-term outcomes comparison.

Introduction: There have been few mid-term follow-up studies comparing arthroscopic and open Broström-Gould repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mid-term therapeutic effectiveness of arthroscopic ATFL repair with open Broström-Gould repair for chronic lateral ankle instability. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of patients with chronic lateral ankle instability undergoing repair of the ATFL from June 2014 to June 2018. The choice of surgical approach will depend on computer-generated randomization. In total, 49 patients underwent the arthroscopic Brostrom-Gould technique (group AB), while the other 50 patients underwent the open Broström-Gould technique (group OB). The surgery duration, hospitalization time, postoperative complications, the preoperative/postoperative manual anterior drawer test (ADT), Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Karlsson-Peterson (K-P) scores, and Tegner activity scores were collected for comparative analysis during the follow-up period of 48 months. Results: At the final follow-up, the clinical outcomes, including ADT, VAS, AOFAS, K-P, and Tegner activity scores, were significantly improved after either arthroscopic or open treatment. Specifically, the AOFAS and K-P scores in the group AB were significantly higher than those in the group OB at 6 months post-surgery (P < 0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in other clinical outcomes and postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusions: Arthroscopic has predictable and good mid-term results after ATFL and may be a secure and effective alternative to open Broström-Gould repair.

Effect of new nurse-led healthcare collaborative model on self-efficacy, compliance and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of routine management compared to case management on social support and self-efficacy of patients with chronic diseases and assess the new nurse-led healthcare collaborative model. METHODS: This is a prospective study which was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University. A total of 100 patients with chronic diseases who received treatment and care in Hefei First People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects and divided into a control group and an observation group according to the numerical table method, with 50 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional management was implemented, while the observation received a nurse-led healthcare collaborative care, which included community doctors providing treatment services and family doctors contracting to manage care. The patients in the two groups were compared in terms of self-efficacy, self-management ability, social support, and their attendance. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in self-efficacy, compliance and quality of life scores between the two groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, self-efficacy, compliance and quality of life scores were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). A statistical assessment of the transfer of patients from the community to the hospital was also conducted for both groups, and it was found that the proportion of patients transferred from the community to the hospital was significantly higher in the observation group compared to that in the control group after surgery, with statistically significant differences in hospital costs, hospital days and readmission rates between the two groups (P<0.05). The proportion of patients transferred from the hospital to nursing home increased by 72.2% in the observation group compared to only 35.5% in the control group, and the discharge rate (home care) was significantly higher in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides some references for the effective management of patients with chronic diseases. By comparing the data from the conventional and case care management models, it can be found that the use of a nurse-led healthcare collaborative model meets the acute medical and nursing service needs of older people, improves timely access to medical and nursing resources, and effectively improves self-efficacy, compliance and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated using conversion therapy with lenvatinib and TACE plus PD-1 inhibitors.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors for patients using conversion therapy with lenvatinib combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors (LTP) for initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (iuHCC). Methods: Data on 94 consecutive patients with iuHCC who received LTP conversion therapy from November 2019 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Early tumor response was reported when patients showed complete or partial response at the time of their first follow-up (4-6 weeks) after initial treatment, in accordance with mRECIST. The endpoints consisted of conversion surgery rate, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Early tumor response was found in 68 patients (72.3%) and not in the remaining 26 patients (27.7%) in the entire cohort. Early responders had a significantly higher conversion surgery rate than non-early responders (44.1% vs. 7.7%, p=0.001). Early tumor response was the only factor independently associated with successful conversion resection, as indicated by multivariate analysis (OR=10.296; 95% CI: 2.076-51.063; p=0.004). Survival analysis showed that early responders had longer PFS (15.4 vs. 7.8 months, p=0.005) and OS (23.1 vs. 12.5 months, p=0.004) than non-early responders. Early responders who underwent conversion surgery also had significantly longer median PFS and OS (not reached, not reached) than those who did not (11.2 months, p=0.004; 19.4 months, p<0.001). In multivariate analyses, early tumor response was identified as an independent prognostic factor for longer OS (HR=0.404, 95% CI: 0.171-0.954; p=0.039). Successful conversion surgery was also an independent predictive factor for longer PFS (HR=0.248, 95% CI: 0.099-0.622; p=0.003) and OS (HR=0.147, 95% CI: 0.039-0.554; p=0.005). Conclusions: Early tumor response is an important predictive marker for successful conversion surgery and prolonged survival in patients with iuHCC treated using LTP conversion therapy. Conversion surgery is necessary to improve survival during conversion therapy, particularly for early responders.

Prognostic role of serum carcinoembryonic antigen in patients receiving liver resection for colorectal cancer liver metastasis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a broad-spectrum tumor marker for differential diagnosis, monitoring, and response assessment of a variety of malignancies. AIM: To evaluate whether serum CEA could predict the prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM) before and after liver resection (LR). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science were systematically searched to retrieve literature, with a search cut-off date of February 27, 2023. Articles were strictly screened for inclusion according to pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were pooled and analyzed using Stata 16.0. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 36 studies involving a total of 11143 CRCLM patients. The results showed that a high pre-LR serum CEA level was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49-1.75, P < 0.001] and recurrence-free survival (HR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.11-1.45, P < 0.001) in CRCLM patients. A high post-LR serum CEA level predicted poor OS (HR = 2.66, 95%CI: 2.10-3.38, P < 0.001). A comparison by treatment modality, analysis modality, patient source, and cutoff-value showed that overall, high preoperative and postoperative serum CEA levels remained correlated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that high pre-LR and post-LR serum CEA levels were significantly correlated with a poor prognosis in CRCLM patients.

Ubiquitin ligase RNF125 targets PD-L1 for ubiquitination and degradation.

As a critical immune checkpoint molecule, PD-L1 is expressed at significantly higher levels in multiple neoplastic tissues compared to normal ones. PD-L1/PD-1 axis is a critical target for tumor immunotherapy, blocking the PD-L1/PD-1 axis is recognized and has achieved unprecedented success in clinical applications. However, the clinical efficacy of therapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway remains limited, emphasizing the need for the mechanistic elucidation of PD-1/PD-L1 expression. In this study, we found that RNF125 interacted with PD-L1 and regulated PD-L1 protein expression. Mechanistically, RNF125 promoted K48-linked polyubiquitination of PD-L1 and mediated its degradation. Notably, MC-38 and H22 cell lines with RNF125 knockout, transplanted in C57BL/6 mice, exhibited a higher PD-L1 level and faster tumor growth than their parental cell lines. In contrast, overexpression of RNF125 in MC-38 and H22 cells had the opposite effect, resulting in lower PD-L1 levels and delayed tumor growth compared with parental cell lines. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of MC-38 tumors with RNF125 overexpression showed significantly increased infiltration of CD4+, CD8+ T cells and macrophages. Consistent with these findings, analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) public database revealed a positive correlation of RNF125 expression with CD4+, CD8+ T cell and macrophage tumor infiltration. Moreover, RNF125 expression was significantly downregulated in several human cancer tissues, and was negatively correlated with the clinical stage of these tumors, and patients with higher RNF125 expression had better clinical outcomes. Our findings identify a novel mechanism for regulating PD-L1 expression and may provide a new strategy to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Expression Plasticity of Peroxisomal Acyl-Coenzyme A Oxidase Genes Implies Their Involvement in Redox Regulation in Scallops Exposed to PST-Producing Alexandrium.

Filter-feeding bivalves can accumulate paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) produced by toxic microalgae, which may induce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidases (ACOXs) are key enzymes functioning in maintaining redox and lipid homeostasis, but their roles in PST response in bivalves are less understood. Herein, a total of six and six ACOXs were identified in the Chlamys farreri and Patinopecten yessoensis genome, respectively, and the expansion of ACOX1s was observed. Gene expression analysis revealed an organ/tissue-specific expression pattern in both scallops, with all ACOXs being predominantly expressed in the two most toxic organs, digestive glands and kidneys. The regulation patterns of scallop ACOXs after exposure to different PST-producing algaes Alexandrium catenella (ACDH) and A. minutum (AM-1) were revealed. After ACDH exposure, more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in C. farreri digestive glands (three) and kidneys (five) than that in P. yessoensis (two), but the up-regulated DEGs showed similar expression patterns in both species. In C. farreri, three DEGs were found in both digestive glands and kidneys after AM-1 exposure, with two same CfACOX1s being acutely and chronically induced, respectively. Notably, these two CfACOX1s also showed different expression patterns in kidneys between ACDH (acute response) and AM-1 (chronic response) exposure. Moreover, inductive expression of CfACOXs after AM-1 exposure was observed in gills and mantles, and all DEGs in both tissues were up-regulated and their common DEGs exhibited both acute and chronic induction. These results indicate the involvement of scallop ACOXs in PST response, and their plasticity expression patterns between scallop species, among tissues, and between the exposure of different PST analogs.

Bradyrhizobium aeschynomenes sp. nov., a root and stem nodule microsymbiont of Aeschynomene indica.

Aeschynomene indica has a distinctive symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium in which nodulation is Nod factor-independent. In this study, we characterised three Gram-negative and rod-shaped strains (83002T, 81013 and 83012) isolated from root nodules of Aeschynomene indica in Shandong Peninsula. The major cellular fatty acids of isolates were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 ω7c 11-methyl, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), aminolipids (AL) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA locus showed that they belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus, and shared the highest similarity to the type strains Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum S58T and Bradyrhizobium denitrificans LMG 8443T. As expected, analysis of concatenated sequences of six housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, glnII, dnaK, gyrB, and rpoB) and nifH gene proposed that these three strains formed a distinct clade within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The highest average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridization values of the three strains in comparison to the closest Bradyrhizobium species were 87.5% and 65.3%, respectively, which are far below the threshold of species delineation, and thus confirmed the three strains as a new species. The genome size of strain 83002T is 7.52 Mbp, and the DNA G+C content is 65.42 mol%. Strain 83002T (=KCTC 82266T=MCCC 1K04775T) was chosen as the type strain of the new species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium aeschynomenes sp. nov. was proposed.

Sequential use of midazolam and dexmedetomidine for long-term sedation may reduce weaning time in selected critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Current sedatives have different side effects in long-term sedation. The sequential use of midazolam and dexmedetomidine for prolonged sedation may have distinct advantages. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the sequential use of midazolam and either dexmedetomidine or propofol, and the use of midazolam alone in selected critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: This single-center, randomized controlled study was conducted in medical and surgical ICUs in a tertiary, academic medical center. Patients enrolled in this study were critically ill, mechanically ventilated adult patients receiving midazolam, with anticipated mechanical ventilation for ≥ 72 h. They passed the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) safety screen, underwent a 30-min-SBT without indication for extubation and continued to require sedation. Patients were randomized into group M-D (midazolam was switched to dexmedetomidine), group M-P (midazolam was switched to propofol), and group M (sedation with midazolam alone), and sedatives were titrated to achieve the targeted sedation range (RASS - 2 to 0). RESULTS: Total 252 patients were enrolled. Patients in group M-D had an earlier recovery, faster extubation, and more percentage of time at the target sedation level than those in group M-P and group M (all P < 0.001). They also experienced less weaning time (25.0 h vs. 49.0 h; HR1.47, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.06; P = 0.025), and a lower incidence of delirium (19.5% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.002) than patients in group M. Recovery (P < 0.001), extubation (P < 0.001), and weaning time (P = 0.048) in group M-P were shorter than in group M, while the acquisition cost of sedative drug was more expensive than other groups (both P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in adverse events among these groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The sequential use of midazolam and dexmedetomidine was an effective and safe sedation strategy for long-term sedation and could provide clinically relevant benefits for selected critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02528513 . Registered August 19, 2015.

SorCS3 promotes the internalization of p75NTR to inhibit GBM progression.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal malignancy caused by dysregulation of cellular signal transduction. Internalization plays a key role in maintaining signalling balance. Previous reports showed that Sortilin related VPS10 domain containing receptor 3 (SorCS3) has the ability to regulate internalization. However, the impacts of SorCS3 on the biological processes involved in GBM have not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the bio-function of SorCS3 in GBM. We found that SorCS3 was significantly downregulated in GBM. In addition, low expression level of SorCS3 predicted poor prognoses in patients with GBM. Here, we proved that SorCS3 suppressed cell invasion and proliferation mainly via NGF/p75NTR pathway in GBM. We found that SorCS3 co-localized with p75NTR in GBM cells and regulated the p75NTR protein level by promoting trafficking of the endosomal to the lysosome. Immunofluorescence (IF) and Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) detection confirmed that SorCS3 bound to p75NTR, which subsequently increased the internalization of p75NTR, and then transported p75NTR to the lysosome for degradation, ultimately contributing to inhibit of glioma progression. Taken together, our work suggests that SorCS3 is a marker of promising prognosis in GBM patients and suggests that SorCS3 regulates internalization, which plays a pivotal role in inhibiting glioma progression.

Polyethylene Oxide Assisted Fish Collagen-Poly-ε-Caprolactone Nanofiber Membranes by Electrospinning.

Fish collagen has higher biocompatibility and lower immunogenicity than terrestrial collagen, and is currently one of the important raw materials for preparing biological materials. In this study, PEO was used as a spinning aid to prepare fish skin collagen-PCL nanofiber membranes by electrospinning, and the process was optimized to get smooth nanofibers. The morphological and mechanical properties of collagen-PCL nanofiber membranes were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The changes in chemical composition due to the incorporation of collagen into PCL and PEO were determined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The biocompatibility of the collagen-PCL nanofiber membranes was evaluated in vitro in cultures of mouse fibroblasts and in vivo by subcutaneous implantation studies in rats. It was found that the diameter of the spun fibers became fine and smooth when the ratio of the collagen/PCL increased. The finally obtained nanofiber had good mechanical strength, porosity, and hydrophilicity, and could promote cell adhesion and proliferation. The FC-PCL nanofiber membrane prepared by this route opens a new way to prepare fish collagen biomaterials with electrospinning.

Aqueous Organic Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors Prepared by 3D Vertically Aligned Graphene-Polydopamine Composite Electrode.

A three-dimensional vertical-aligned graphene-polydopamine electrode (PDA@3DVAG) composite with vertical channels and conductive network is prepared by a method of unidirectional freezing and subsequent self-polymerization. When the prepared PDA@3DVAG is constructed as the positive electrode of zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs), excellent electrochemical performances are obtained. Compared with the conventional electrolyte, PDA@3DVAG composite electrode in highly concentrated salt electrolyte exhibits better multiplicity performance (48.92% at a current density of 3 A g-1), wider voltage window (-0.8~0.8 V), better cycle performance with specific capacitance from 96.7 to 59.8 F g-1, and higher energy density (46.14 Wh kg-1).

Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Three-Dimensional Vertically Aligned Graphene by Unidirectional Freezing Method.

Three-dimensional vertically aligned graphene (3DVAG) was prepared by a unidirectional freezing method, and its electrochemical performances were evaluated as electrode materials for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs). The prepared 3DVAG has a vertically ordered channel structure with a diameter of about 20-30 µm and a length stretching about hundreds of microns. Compared with the random structure of reduced graphene oxide (3DrGO), the vertical structure of 3DVAG in a three-electrode system showed higher specific capacitance, faster ion diffusion, and better rate performance. The specific capacitance of 3DVAG reached 66.6 F·g-1 and the rate performance reached 92.2%. The constructed 3DVAG zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor also showed excellent electrochemical performance. It showed good capacitance retention up to 94.6% after 3000 cycles at the current density of 2 A·g-1.

Comparison of different insulin resistance surrogates to predict hyperuricemia among U.S. non-diabetic adults.

Purpose: Although it has been well-acknowledged that insulin resistance (IR) plays a critical role in the development of hyperuricemia (HU), specific relationship between IR and HU in non-diabetic patients remains rarely studied, and there is still no large-scale research regarding this issue. This study aims to explore the association between triglyceride glucose (TyG), TyG with body mass index (TyG-BMI), the ratio of triglycerides divided by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), and the risk of HU in non-diabetic patients in The United States of America. Patients and methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) enrolling a representative population aged ≥18-year-old were included to calculate these four indexes. Logistic regression analysis was applied to describe their associations and calculate odds ratios (OR) while the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was utilized to assess the prediction ability of these four indexes. Results: A total of 7,743 people (3,806 males and 3,937 females, mean age: 45.17 ± 17.10 years old) were included in this study, among whom 32.18% suffered from HU. After adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, education background, smoking status, drinking status, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), metabolic equivalent values (METs), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, it showed that all four indexes were closely related to HU. Compared with the lowest quartile, OR of the highest quartile of these four indicators for HU were as following respectively: TyG: 5.61 (95% CI: 4.29-7.32); TyG-BMI: 7.15 (95% CI: 5.56-9.20); TG/HDL-C: 4.42 (95% CI: 3.49-5.60); METS-IR: 7.84 (95% CI: 6.07-10.13). TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR had moderate discrimination ability for HU, with an AUC value of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.65-0.68), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.65-0.68), 0.68 (95% CI: 0.67-0.69) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.66-0.69) respectively. Each index showed better prediction ability for HU risk in females than in males. Conclusion: It was found that the risk of HU was positively associated with the elevation of TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR in a large-scale population of U.S., and TyG-BMI and METS-IR have a better ability to identify HU in both genders.

Mesenchymal stem cells prevent ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis formation in mice through intraosseous vascular remodeling.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote osteogenesis and are a promising therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, the relationship between improved intraosseous microcirculation and increased bone mass induced by MSCs in postmenopausal osteoporosis remains unclear. After the primary MSCs were characterized, they were transplanted into ovariectomized mice. MSCs transplantation enhanced the trabecular number, trabecular bone volume/total volume, and trabecular bone mineral density in ovariectomized mice. To determine the role of MSCs in vascular repair, mice were subjected to femoral artery ligation. Through laser speckle flowmetry, vascular perfusion and femoral trabecular bone and cortical bone analyses, we determined the effects of MSCs in promoting intraosseous angiogenesis and preventing osteoporosis in mice. MSCs effectively prevented postmenopausal osteoporosis development, which is associated with the involvement of MSCs in reestablishment of microcirculation within the skeleton.