Myricetin mitigates motor disturbance and decreases neuronal ferroptosis in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death form characterized by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overgeneration and lipid peroxidation. Myricetin, a flavonoid that exists in numerous plants, exhibits potent antioxidant capacity. Given that iron accumulation and ROS-provoked dopaminergic neuron death are the two main pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD), we aimed to investigate whether myricetin decreases neuronal death through suppressing ferroptosis. The PD models were established by intraperitoneally injecting 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) into rats and by treating SH-SY5Y cells with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), respectively. Ferroptosis was identified by assessing the levels of Fe2+, ROS, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). The results demonstrated that myricetin treatment effectively mitigated MPTP-triggered motor impairment, dopamine neuronal death, and α-synuclein (α-Syn) accumulation in PD models. Myricetin also alleviated MPTP-induced ferroptosis, as evidenced by decreased levels of Fe2+, ROS, and MDA and increased levels of GSH in the substantia nigra (SN) and serum in PD models. All these changes were reversed by erastin, a ferroptosis activator. In vitro, myricetin treatment restored SH-SY5Y cell viability and alleviated MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cell ferroptosis. Mechanistically, myricetin accelerated nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and subsequent glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) expression in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells, two critical inhibitors of ferroptosis. Collectively, these data demonstrate that myricetin may be a potential agent for decreasing dopaminergic neuron death by inhibiting ferroptosis in PD.

Nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 versus nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a multicenter, randomized, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Encouraging antitumor activity of nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 (AS) has been shown in several small-scale studies. This study compared the efficacy and safety of AS versus standard-of-care nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) as a first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, phase II trial, eligible patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic PC were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive AS (nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; S-1 twice daily on days 1 through 14) or AG (nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) for 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Between July 16, 2019, and September 9, 2022, 62 patients (AS, n = 32; AG, n = 30) were treated and evaluated. With a median follow-up of 8.36 months at preplanned interim analysis (data cutoff, March 24, 2023), the median PFS (8.48 vs 4.47 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.402; P = .002) and overall survival (OS; 13.73 vs 9.59 months; HR, 0.226; P < .001) in the AS group were significantly longer compared to the AG group. More patients had objective response in the AS group than AG group (37.50% vs 6.67%; P = .005). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia and leucopenia in both groups, and gamma glutamyl transferase increase was observed only in the AG group. CONCLUSION: The first-line AS regimen significantly extended both PFS and OS of Chinese patients with advanced PC when compared with the AG regimen, with a comparable safety profile. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03636308).

Charge Generation Dynamics in Organic Photovoltaic Blends under One-Sun-Equivalent Illumination Detected by Highly Sensitive Terahertz Spectroscopy.

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices attain high performance with nonfullerene acceptors by utilizing the synergistic dual channels of charge generation that originate from excitations in both the donor and acceptor materials. However, the specific intermediate states that facilitate both channels are subject to debate. To address this issue, we employ time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy with improved sensitivity (ΔE/E < 10-6), enabling direct probing of charge generation dynamics in a prototypical PM6:Y6 bulk heterojunction system under one-sun-equivalent excitation density. Charge generation arising from donor excitations is characterized with a rise time of ∼9 ps, while that from acceptor excitations shows a rise time of ∼18 ps. Temperature-dependent measurements further reveal notably distinct activation energies for these two charge generation pathways. Additionally, the two channels of charge generation can be substantially manipulated by altering the ratio of bulk to interfaces. These findings strongly suggest the presence of two distinct intermediate states: interfacial and intramoiety excitations. These states are crucial in mediating the transfer of electrons and holes, driving charge generation within OPV devices.

Photoelectrochemical Solution Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Functionalized by Enzymatic Cascade Reaction for Organophosphate Detection.

Solution Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistors (SGGT) are eagerly anticipated as an amplification platform for fabricating advanced ultra-sensitive sensors, allowing significant modulation of the drain current with minimal gate voltage. However, few studies have focused on light-matter interplay gating control for SGGT. Herein, this challenge is addressed by creating an innovative photoelectrochemical solution-gated graphene field-effect transistor (PEC-SGGT) functionalized with enzyme cascade reactions (ECR) for Organophosphorus (OPs) detection. The ECR system, consisting of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and CuBTC nanomimetic enzymes, selectively recognizes OPs and forms o-phenylenediamine (oPD) oligomers sediment on the PEC electrode, with layer thickness related to the OPs concentration, demonstrating time-integrated amplification. Under light stimulation, the additional photovoltage generated on the PEC gate electrode is influenced by the oPD oligomers sediment layer, creating a differentiated voltage distribution along the gate path. PEC-SGGT, inherently equipped with built-in amplification circuits, sensitively captures gate voltage changes and delivers output with an impressive thousandfold current gain. The seamless integration of these three amplification modes in this advanced sensor allows a good linear range and highly sensitive detection of OPs, with a detection limit as low as 0.05 pm. This work provides a proof-of-concept for the feasibility of light-assisted functionalized gate-controlled PEC-SGGT for small molecule detection.

Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalysis：Design, Applications, and Perspectives.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an innovative class of crystalline porous polymers composed of light elements such as C, N, O, etc., linked by covalent bonds. The distinctive properties of COFs, including designable building blocks, large specific surface area, tunable pore size, abundant active sites, and remarkable stability, have led their widespread applications in electrocatalysis. In recent years, COF-based electrocatalysts have made remarkable progress in various electrocatalytic fields, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, nitrate reduction reaction, and carbon dioxide reduction reaction. This review begins with an introduction to the design and synthesis strategies employed for COF-based electrocatalysts. These strategies include heteroatom doping, metalation of COF and building monomers, encapsulation of active sites within COF pores, and the development of COF-based derived materials. Subsequently, a systematic overview of the recent advancements in the application of COF-based catalysts in electrocatalysis is presented. Finally, the review discusses the main challenges and outlines possible avenues for the future development of COF-based electrocatalysts.

Heyingwuzi formulation alleviates diabetic retinopathy by promoting mitophagy via the HIF-1α/BNIP3/NIX axis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the primary cause of visual problems in patients with diabetes. The Heyingwuzi formulation (HYWZF) is effective against DR. AIM: To determine the HYWZF prevention mechanisms, especially those underlying mitophagy. METHODS: Human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCECs) were treated with high glucose (hg), HYWZF serum, PX-478, or Mdivi-1 in vitro. Then, cell counting kit-8, transwell, and tube formation assays were used to evaluate HRCEC proliferation, invasion, and tube formation, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess mitochondrial morphology, and Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, C57BL/6 mice were established in vivo using streptozotocin and treated with HYWZF for four weeks. Blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored continuously. Changes in retinal characteristics were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin, tar violet, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Protein levels in retinal tissues were determined via Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunostaining. RESULTS: HYWZF inhibited excessive ROS production, apoptosis, tube formation, and invasion in hg-induced HRCECs via mitochondrial autophagy in vitro. It increased the mRNA expression levels of BCL2-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), FUN14 domain-containing 1, BNIP3-like (BNIP3L, also known as NIX), PARKIN, PTEN-induced kinase 1, and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Moreover, it downregulated the protein levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and increased the light chain 3-II/I ratio. However, PX-478 and Mdivi-1 reversed these effects. Additionally, PX-478 and Mdivi-1 rescued the effects of HYWZF by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis and increasing mitophagy. HYWZF intervention improved the symptoms of diabetes, tissue damage, number of acellular capillaries, and oxidative stress in vivo. Furthermore, in vivo experiments confirmed the results of in vitro experiments. CONCLUSION: HYWZF alleviated DR and associated damage by promoting mitophagy via the HIF-1α/BNIP3/NIX axis.

Development and validation of a prognostic immunoinflammatory index for patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated the influence of immunity and inflammation on the development of tumors. Although single biomarkers of immunity and inflammation have been shown to be clinically predictive, the use of biomarkers integrating both to predict prognosis in patients with gastric cancer remains to be investigated. AIM: To investigate the prognostic and clinical significance of inflammatory biomarkers and lymphocytes in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gastric cancer. METHODS: Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to identify potential prognostic factors for patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical treatment. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-COX (LASSO-COX) regression analysis was performed to integrate these factors and formulate a new prognostic immunoinflammatory index (PII). The correlation between PII and clinical characteristics was statistically analyzed. Nomograms incorporating the PII score were devised and validated based on the time-dependent area under the curve and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Patients exhibiting elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic immune inflammatory index displayed inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Conversely, low levels of CD3(+), CD3(+) CD8(+), CD4(+)CD8(+), and CD3(+)CD16(+)CD56(+) T lymphocytes were associated with improved PFS and OS, while high CD19(+) T lymphocyte levels were linked to worse PFS and OS. The PII score demonstrated associations with tumor characteristics (primary tumor site and tumor size), establishing itself as an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Time-dependent area under the curve and decision curve analysis affirmed the effectiveness of the PII-based nomogram as a robust prognostic predictive model. CONCLUSION: PII may be a reliable predictor of prognosis in patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical treatment, and it offers insights into cancer-related immune-inflammatory responses, with potential significance in clinical practice.

Overexpression of zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 is associated with poor prognosis and cancer cell growth and metastasis in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

The zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 (ZDHHC1) gene is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various malignant tumors, but its precise involvement in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains unknown. Thus, this study investigated ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC using publicly available TCGA and Xena databases and elucidated the functions and mechanisms of the ZDHHC1 gene in UCEC progression using bioinformatics and in vitro experiments. The correlation between ZDHHC1 expression and prognosis, clinical features, immune cells, and RNA modifications of UCEC was evaluated using nomograms, correlation, ROC, and survival analyses. The impacts of ZDHHC1 overexpression on UCEC progression and mechanisms were explored with bioinformatics and in vitro experiments. Our study revealed that ZDHHC1 expression was significantly downregulated in UCEC and correlated with poor prognosis, cancer diagnosis, clinical stage, age, weight, body mass index, histological subtypes, residual tumor, tumor grade, and tumor invasion. Notably, Cox regression analysis and constructed nomograms showed that downregulated ZDHHC1 expression was a prognostic factor associated with poor prognosis in patients with UCEC. Conversely, above-normal ZDHHC1 expression inhibited the cell growth, cell cycle transition, migration, and invasion of UCEC cells, which may be related to the cell cycle, DNA replication, PI3K-AKT, and other pathways that promote tumor progression. Altered ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC was significantly associated with RNA modifications and the changes in cancer immune cell populations, such as CD56 bright NK cells, eosinophils, Th2 cells, and cell markers. In conclusion, considerably reduced ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC is associated with cancer cell growth, metastasis, poor prognosis, immune infiltration, and RNA modifications, revealing the promising potential of ZDHHC1 as a prognostic marker for UCEC.

A Chinese Multi-Specialty Delphi Consensus to Optimize RAASi Usage and Hyperkalaemia Management in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Heart Failure.

Objective: Variations are present in common clinical practices regarding best practice in managing hyperkalaemia (HK), there is therefore a need to establish a multi-specialty approach to optimal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) usage and HK management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) & heart failure (HF).This study aimed to establish a multi-speciality approach to the optimal use of RAASi and how to manage HK in patients with CKD and HF.Methods: A steering expert group of cardiology and nephrology experts from across China convened to discuss challenges to HK management through a nominal group technique (NGT). The group then created a list of 41 statements for a consensus questionnaire, which was distributed for a further survey of in extended panel group of cardiologists and nephrologists across China. Consensus was assessed using a modified Delphi technique, with agreement defined as "strong" (≥75% and <90%) and "very strong" (≥90%). The steering group, data collection, and analysis were aided by an independent facilitator. Results: A total of 150 responses from 21 provinces across China were recruited in the survey. Respondents were comprised of an even split (n=75, 50%) between cardiologists and nephrologists. All 41 statements achieved the 75% consensus agreement threshold, of which 27 statements attained very strong consensus (≥90% agreement) and 14 attained strong consensus (agreement between 75% and 90%). Conclusions: Based on the agreement levels from respondents, the steering group agreed a set of recommendations intended to improve patient outcomes in the use of RAASi therapy and HK management in China.

Intravenous tenecteplase for acute ischemic stroke between 4.5 and 6 h of onset (EXIT-BT2): Rationale and Design.

RATIONALE: To date, the benefit of intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients without advanced neuroimaging selection is confined to within 4.5 h of onset. Our phase II EXIT-BT (Extending the tIme window of Thrombolysis by ButylphThalide up to 6 h after onset) trial suggested the safety, feasibility, and potential benefit of intravenous tenecteplase (TNK) in AIS between 4.5 and 6 h of onset. The EXIT-BT2 trial is a pivotal study undertaken to confirm or refute this signal. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of TNK for AIS between 4.5 and 6 h of onset with or without endovascular treatment. SAMPLE SIZE ESTIMATES: A maximum of 1440 patients are required to test the superiority hypothesis with 80% power according to a two-sided 0.05 level of significance, stratified by age, sex, history of diabetes, location of vessel occlusion, baseline National Institute of Health stroke scale score, stroke etiology, and plan for endovascular treatment. DESIGN: EXIT-BT2 is a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded assessment of endpoint (PROBE), and multi-center study. Eligible AIS patients between 4.5 and 6 h of onset are randomly assigned 1:1 into a TNK group or control group. The TNK group will receive TNK (0.25 mg/kg, a single bolus over 5-10 s, maximum 25 mg). The control group will receive standard medical care in compliance with national guidelines for acute ischemic stroke. Both groups will receive standard stroke care from randomization to 90 days after stroke onset according to national guidelines. OUTCOME: The primary efficacy endpoint is excellent functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score 0-1 at 90 days after randomization, while the primary safety endpoint is symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score increase ⩾4 caused by intracranial hemorrhage within 24 (-6/+12) h after randomization. CONCLUSIONS: The results of EXIT-BT2 may determine whether intravenous TNK has a favorable risk/benefit profile in AIS between 4.5 and 6 h of onset.

Global research status and trends of enteric glia: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Enteric glia are essential components of the enteric nervous system. Previously believed to have a passive structural function, mounting evidence now suggests that these cells are indispensable for maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis and exert pivotal influences on both wellbeing and pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the global status, research hotspots, and future directions of enteric glia. Methods: The literature on enteric glia research was acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer software (v1.6.19) was employed to visually represent co-operation networks among countries, institutions, and authors. The co-occurrence analysis of keywords and co-citation analysis of references were conducted using CiteSpace (v6.1.R6). Simultaneously, cluster analysis and burst detection of keywords and references were performed. Results: A total of 514 publications from 36 countries were reviewed. The United States was identified as the most influential country. The top-ranked institutions were University of Nantes and Michigan State University. Michel Neunlist was the most cited author. "Purinergic signaling" was the largest co-cited reference cluster, while "enteric glial cells (EGCs)" was the cluster with the highest number of co-occurring keywords. As the keyword with the highest burst strength, Crohns disease was a hot topic in the early research on enteric glia. The burst detection of keywords revealed that inflammation, intestinal motility, and gut microbiota may be the research frontiers. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of enteric glia research. EGCs have emerged as a crucial link between neurons and immune cells, attracting significant research attention in neurogastroenterology. Their fundamental and translational studies on inflammation, intestinal motility, and gut microbiota may promote the treatment of some gastrointestinal and parenteral disorders.

Foreign body-intestinal canal angle guides management of ingested foreign bodies in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Determining whether prompt surgery is required for patient with ingested foreign bodies is clinically important. PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential value of computed tomography (CT) in guiding the selection of surgical treatment for patients with ingested foreign bodies in the lower gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2023, we analyzed the data of 58 patients (median age: 65.4 years; range, 31-96 years) with ingested foreign bodies in the lower gastrointestinal tract who underwent CT examinations. Patients were treated either conservatively (35 cases) or surgically (23 cases). The angle between the long axis of the foreign body and the intestinal canal (FB-IC angle) was measured. CT findings and clinical variables were evaluated to identify potential indicators for surgical treatment through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed the FB-IC angle (P = 0.002), presence of free peritoneal gas (P = 0.002), white blood cell count (P = 0.018), and neutrophil count (P = 0.007) as significant factors associated with surgical treatment. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the FB-IC angle (odds ratio, 1.033; P = 0.045) and the presence of free peritoneal gas (odds ratio, 41.335; P = 0.002) are independent indicators for surgical management. The FB-IC angle showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.755, with a cutoff value of 51.25 degrees. CONCLUSION: The FB-IC angle and presence of free peritoneal gas serve as potential predictive imaging markers for surgical intervention.

Photosensitizing metal covalent organic framework with fast charge transfer dynamics for efficient CO2 photoreduction.

Designing artificial photocatalysts for CO2 reduction is challenging, mainly due to the intrinsic difficulty of making multiple functional units cooperate efficiently. Herein, three-dimensional metal covalent organic frameworks (3D MCOFs) were employed as an innovative platform to integrate a strong Ru(ii) light-harvesting unit, an active Re(i) catalytic center, and an efficient charge separation configuration for photocatalysis. The photosensitive moiety was precisely stabilized into the covalent skeleton by using a rational-designed Ru(ii) complex as one of the building units, while the Re(i) center was linked via a shared bridging ligand with an Ru(ii) center, opening an effective pathway for their electronic interaction. Remarkably, the as-synthesized MCOF exhibited impressive CO2 photoreduction activity with a CO generation rate as high as 1840 µmol g-1 h-1 and 97.7% selectivity. The femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculations uncovered the fast charge-transfer dynamics occurring between the photoactive and catalytic centers, providing a comprehensive understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism. This work offers in-depth insight into the design of MCOF-based photocatalysts for solar energy utilization.

Curcumin Inhibits α-Synuclein Aggregation by Acting on Liquid-Liquid Phase Transition.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is linked to α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation. Despite no specific drug being available for its treatment, curcumin, from the spice turmeric, shows promise. However, its application in PD is limited by a lack of understanding of its anti-amyloidogenic mechanisms. In this study, we first reconstructed the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn in vitro under different conditions, which may be an initial step in entraining the pathogenic aggregation. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of curcumin on the formation of droplets, oligomers, and aggregated fibers during the LLPS of α-synuclein, as well as its impact on the toxicity of aggregated α-synuclein to cultured cells. Importantly, we found that curcumin can inhibit amyloid formation by inhibiting the occurrence of LLPS and the subsequent formation of oligomers of α-Syn in the early stages of aggregation. Finally, the molecular dynamic simulations of interactions between α-Syn decamer fibrils and curcumin showed that van der Waal's interactions make the largest contribution to the anti-aggregation effect of curcumin. These results may help to clarify the mechanism by which curcumin inhibits the formation of α-Syn aggregates during the development of PD.

Clinical Efficacy of Percutaneous Osteoplasty Under Fluoroscopy and Cone-Beam CT Guidance for Painful Sternal Metastases: A Case Series.

Background: Although percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) has been widely accepted and is now being performed for the treatment of painful bone metastases outside the spine. It is emerging as one of the most promising procedures for patients with painful bone metastasis who are unsuitable for surgery or who show resistance to radiotherapy and/or analgesic therapies. However, there are only scarce reports regarding osteoplasty in painful sternal metastases. Subjects and Method: We report four patients with sternal metastases suffered with severe pain of anterior chest wall. The original tumors included lung cancer and thyroid cancer. For the initially pain medication failing, all the four patients received POP procedure under fluoroscopic and cone-beam CT (CBCT) guidance, and obtained satisfying resolution of painful symptoms at 6-month postop follow-up. Conclusion: POP is a safe and effective treatment for pain caused by metastatic bone tumors in the sternum. In practice, however, percutaneous puncture of pathologic sternal fractures can be a challenge because of the long flat contour and the defacement by lytic tumor of bony landmarks. We find that the use of fluoroscopic and CBCT can facilitate POP for flat bone fractures with displacing the trajectory planning, needle advancement, and cement delivery in time.

Panchromatic Light-Harvesting Three-Dimensional Metal Covalent Organic Frameworks for Boosting Photocatalysis.

Constructing artificial photocatalysts with panchromatic solar energy utilization remains an appealing challenge. Herein, two complementary photosensitizers, [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and porphyrin dyes, have been cosensitized in metal covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), resulting in the MCOFs with strong light absorption covering the full visible spectrum. Under panchromatic light irradiation, the cosensitized MCOFs exhibited remarkable photocatalytic H2 evolution with an optimum rate of up to 33.02 mmol g-1 h-1. Even when exposed to deep-red light (λ = 700 ± 10 nm), a commendable H2 production (0.79 mmol g-1 h-1) was still obtained. Theoretical calculation demonstrated that the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and porphyrin modules in our MCOFs have a synergistic effect to trigger an interesting dual-channel photosensitization pathway for efficient light-harvesting and energy conversion. This work highlights the potential of combining multiple PSs in MCOFs for panchromatic photocatalysis.

Organic Ligand Engineering for Tailoring Electron-Phonon Coupling in 2D Hybrid Perovskites.

In the emerging two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites, the electronic structures and carrier behaviors are strongly impacted by intrinsic electron-phonon interactions, which have received inadequate attention. In this study, we report an intriguing phenomenon of negative carrier diffusion induced by electron-phonon coupling in (2T)2PbI4. Theoretical calculations reveal that the electron-phonon coupling drives the band alignment in (2T)2PbI4 to alternate between type I and type II heterostructures. As a consequence, photoexcited holes undergo transitions between the organic ligands and inorganic layers, resulting in abnormal carrier transport behavior compared to other two-dimensional hybrid perovskites. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of electron-phonon coupling in shaping the band alignments and carrier behaviors in two-dimensional hybrid perovskites. They also open up exciting avenues for designing and fabricating functional semiconductor heterostructures with tailored properties.

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation effectively prevents Pb2+ migration through the soil profile: Lab experiment and model simulation.

Due to the inappropriate disposal of waste materials containing lead (Pb) and irrigation with sewage containing Pb, the migration of Pb2+ within the soil profile has been extensively investigated. The conventional Pb2+ block method is challenging to implement due to its complex operational procedures and high construction costs. To address this issue, this study introduces the microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technique as a novel approach to impede the migration of Pb2+ in the soil profile. Soil acclimatization with urea resulted in an increased proportion of urease-producing microorganisms, including Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Planococcaceae, along with heightened expression of urea-hydrolyzing genes (UreA, UreB, UreC, and UreG). This indicates that urea-acclimatized soil (Soil-MICP) possesses the potential to induce carbonate precipitation. Batch Pb2+ fixation experiments confirmed that the fixation efficiency of Soil-MICP on Pb2+ exceeded that of soil without MICP, attributed to the MICP process within the Soil-MICP group. Dynamic migration experiments revealed that the MICP reaction transformed exchangeable lead into carbonate-bound Pb, effectively impeding Pb2+ migration in the soil profile. Additionally, the migration rate of Pb2+ in Soil-MICP was influenced by varying urea amounts, pH levels, and pore flow rates, leading to a slowdown in migration. The Two-site sorption model aptly described the Pb2+ migration process in the Soil-MICP column. This study aims to elucidate the MICP biomineralization process, uncover the in-situ blocking mechanism of MICP on lead in soil, investigate the impact of Pb on key genes involved in urease metabolism, enhance the comprehension of the chemical morphology of lead mineralization products, and provide a theoretical foundation for MICP technology in preventing the migration of Pb2+ in soil profiles.

[Effects of tetramethylpyrazine on pharmacokinetics in plasma and brain dialysate and neuropathic pain in rat model of spared sciatic nerve injury].

This study aims to explore the effects of tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) on pharmacokinetics in plasma and brain dialysate and neuropathic pain in the rat model of partial sciatic nerve injury(SNI), and to investigate the correlation between the analgesic effect of TMP and its concentrations in the plasma and brain dialysate. Male SD rats were randomized into Sham, SNI, and SNI+TMP groups. Mechanical stimulation with von frey filaments and cold spray method were employed to evaluate the mechanical sensitivity and cold sensitivity of rats. Another two groups, Sham+TMP and SNI+TMP, were used to intubate the common jugular vein and implant microdialysis probes into the anterior cingulate gyrus(ACC), respectively.After intraperitoneal injection of TMP at a dose of 80 mg·kg~(-1), automatic blood collection and intracerebral microdialysis(perfusion rate of 1 µL·min~(-1)) systems were used to collect the blood and brain dialysate for 24 h. HSS T3 C_(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 2.5 µm) was used for liquid chromatographic separation. Gradient elution was carried out with the mobile phase of methanol-water(containing 0.005% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL·min~(-1). Electrospray ion source was used for mass spectrometry, and the scanning mode was multi-reaction monitoring under the positive ion mode. The ion pairs for quantitative analysis were TMP m/z 137/122 and aspirin m/z 179/137, respectively. DAS 2.11 was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The optimal time of TMP to exert the analgesia effect and inhibit cold pain sensitivity was 60 min after treatment. The TMP in the plasma and brain dialysate of SNI rats showed the T_(max) of 15 min and 30 min, the C_(max) of(2 866.43±135.39) and(1 462.14±197.38) µg·L~(-1), the AUC_(0-t) of(241 463.30±28 070.31) and(213 115.62±32 570.07) µg·min·L~(-1), the MRT_(0-t) of(353.13±47.73) and(172.16±12.72) min, and the CL_Z of 0.73 and 0.36 L·min·kg~(-1), respectively. The analgesic effect of TMP had a significant correlation with the blood drug concentration in the ACC, which indicated that this method was suitable for the detection of TMP in rat plasma and brain dialysate. The method is accurate, reliable, and sensitive and can realize the important value of the application of correlation analysis theory of "automatic blood collection-microdialysis/PK-PD" in the research on neuropathic pain.

Direct de/carboxylation of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp plant material under supercritical CO2.

Many organic reactions rely on CO2 sources to generate important structural units and valuable chemicals. In this study, we compared the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) on the supercritical CO2 (scCO2)-induced de/carboxylation reaction. The results showed that CBD was directly carboxylated in the ortho-position to form CBDA with up to 62% conversion. Meanwhile, CBDA decarboxylation occurred on hemp plant material via varying composition. Mechanistic studies revealed that CBD carboxylation was influenced not only by the physical properties of scCO2, but also by the vegetable matrix.