Selective Extraction of Transition Metals from Spent LiNix Coy Mn1-x-y O2 Cathode via Regulation of Coordination Environment

The complexity of chemical compounds in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) results in great difficulties in the extraction of multiple transition metals, which have similar physicochemical characteristics. Here, we propose a novel strategy for selective extraction of nickel, cobalt, and manganese from spent LiNi_x Co_y Mn_1-x-y O₂ (NCM) cathode through the regulation of coordination environment. Depending on adjusting the composition of ligand in transition metal complexes, a tandem leaching and separation system is designed and finally enables nickel, cobalt, and manganese to enrich in the form of NiO, Co₃ O₄ , and Mn₃ O₄ with high recovery yields of 99.1 %, 95.1 %, and 95.3 %, respectively. We further confirm that the combination of different transition metals with well-designed ligands is the key to good selectivity. Through our work, fine-tuning the coordination environment of metal ions is proved to have great prospects in the battery recycling industry.

Implication of IGF1R signaling in the protective effect of Astragaloside IV on ischemia and reperfusion-induced cardiac microvascular endothelial hyperpermeability

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) causes damage to coronary capillary endothelial barrier and microvascular leakage (MVL), aggravating tissue injury and heart dysfunction. However, the effective strategy for protecting endothelium barrier of cardiac vasculature remains limited.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the effect of Astragaloside IV (ASIV) on coronary MVL after cardiac I/R and the underlying mechanism.

STUDY DESIGN

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used for assessment of the efficacy of Astragaloside IV in protection of myocardial I/R injury, while human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells were applied to gain more insight into the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats with or without pretreatment by ASIV at 10 mg/kg were subjected to occlusion of left coronary anterior descending artery followed by reperfusion. Endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxia and re-oxygenation (H/R). The distribution of junction proteins was detected by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscope, the content of junction proteins was detected by Western blot, the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was detected by ELISA, and the signal pathway related to permeability was detected by siRNA infection. The fluorescence intensity of FITC-albumin and FITC-Dextran was measured to evaluate the permeability of endothelial cells.

RESULTS

ASIV exhibited protective effects on capillary damage, myocardium edema, albumin leakage, leucocyte infiltration, and the downregulated expression of endothelial junction proteins after I/R. Moreover, ASIV displayed ability to protect ATP from depletion after I/R or H/R, and the effect of ASIV on regulating vascular permeability and junction proteins was abolished once ATP synthase was inhibited. Notably, ASIV activated the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and downstream signaling after reoxygenation. Knocking IGF1R down abolished the effect of ASIV on restoration of ATP, junction proteins and endothelial barrier after H/R.

CONCLUSION

ASIV was potential to prevent MVL after I/R in heart. Moreover, the study for the first time demonstrated that the beneficial role of ASIV depended on promoting production of ATP through activating IGF1R signaling pathway. This result provided novel insight for better understanding the mechanism underlying the potential of ASIV to cope with cardiac I/R injury.

Characteristics of disrupted topological organization in white matter functional connectome in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Neuroimaging characteristics have demonstrated disrupted functional organization in schizophrenia (SZ), involving large-scale networks within grey matter (GM). However, previous studies have ignored the role of white matter (WM) in supporting brain function.

METHODS

Using resting-state functional MRI and graph theoretical approaches, we investigated global topological disruptions of large-scale WM and GM networks in 93 SZ patients and 122 controls. Six global properties [clustering coefficient (Cp), shortest path length (Lp), local efficiency (Eloc), small-worldness (σ), hierarchy (β) and synchronization (S) and three nodal metrics [nodal degree (Knodal), nodal efficiency (Enodal) and nodal betweenness (Bnodal)] were utilized to quantify the topological organization in both WM and GM networks.

RESULTS

At the network level, both WM and GM networks exhibited reductions in Eloc, Cp and S in SZ. The SZ group showed reduced σ and β only for the WM network. Furthermore, the Cp, Eloc and S of the WM network were negatively correlated with negative symptoms in SZ. At the nodal level, the SZ showed nodal disturbances in the corpus callosum, optic radiation, posterior corona radiata and tempo-occipital WM tracts. For GM, the SZ manifested increased nodal centralities in frontoparietal regions and decreased nodal centralities in temporal regions.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide the first evidence for abnormal global topological properties in SZ from the perspective of a substantial whole brain, including GM and WM. Nodal centralities enhance GM areas, along with a reduction in adjacent WM, suggest that WM functional alterations may be compensated for adjacent GM impairments in SZ.

The determinants of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality across countries

We identify 21 predetermined country-level factors that explain marked variations in weekly COVID-19 morbidity and mortality across 91 countries between January and the end of 2020. Besides factors commonly associated with infectious diseases (e.g., population and tourism activities), we discover a list of country characteristics that shape COVID-19 outcomes. Among demographic–geographic factors, the male-to-female ratio, population density, and urbanization aggravate the severity of COVID-19, while education, temperature, and religious diversity mitigate the impact of the pandemic on morbidity and mortality. For the political-legal dimension, democracy and political corruption are aggravating factors. In contrast, female leadership, the strength of legal systems, and public trust in government significantly reduce infections and deaths. In terms of socio-economic aspects, GDP per capita, income inequality, and happiness (i.e., life satisfaction) lead to worse COVID-19 outcomes. Interestingly, technology advancement increases morbidity but reduces mortality. For healthcare factors, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) experience and healthcare infrastructure help countries perform better in combating the pandemic.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives

The recent promising applications of deuterium-labeled pharmaceutical compounds have led to an urgent need for the efficient synthetic methodologies that site-specifically incorporate a deuterium atom into bioactive molecules. Nevertheless, precisely building a deuterium-containing stereogenic center, which meets the requirement for optimizing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties of chiral drug candidates, remains a significant challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, a catalytic asymmetric strategy combining H/D exchange (H/D-Ex) and azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) was developed for the construction of biologically important enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities and uniformly high levels of deuterium incorporation. Directly converting glycine-derived aldimine esters into the deuterated counterparts with D₂O via Cu(i)-catalyzed H/D-Ex, and the subsequent thermodynamically/kinetically favored cleavage of the α-C-H bond rather than the α-C-D bond to generate the key N-metallated α-deuterated azomethine ylide species for the ensuing 1,3-DC are crucial to the success of α-deuterated chiral pyrrolidine synthesis. The current protocol exhibits remarkable features, such as readily available substrates, inexpensive and safe deuterium source, mild reaction conditions, and easy manipulation. Notably, the synthetic utility of a reversed 1,3-DC/[H/D-Ex] protocol has been demonstrated by catalytic asymmetric synthesis of deuterium-labelled MDM2 antagonist idasanutlin (RG7388) with high deuterium incorporation.

Catalytic Asymmetric Benzylation of Azomethine Ylides Enabled by Synergistic Lewis Acid/Palladium Catalysis

The synergistic chiral Lewis acid/achiral Pd catalyst system was successfully applied in the enantioselective benzylation of various imine esters, giving a range of α-benzyl-substituted α-amino acid derivatives in satisfactory yield with excellent enantioselectivity. It is worth noting that this strategy exhibits good tolerance for bicyclic and monocyclic benzylic electrophiles. Furthermore, the utility of this synthetic protocol was demonstrated by the expedient preparation of enantioenriched antihypertensive drug α-methyl-l-dopa.

[Clinical results of modified medial approach in the treatment of Pilon fracture with medial column compression]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical results of modified medial incision in the treatment o f Pilon fracture with medial column compression and evaluate its safety.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients of Pilon fracture with medial column compressiom accepted surgical treatments in the Department of Foot and Ankle at Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2015 to January 2019. According to the imaging data at admission, 31 cases were diagnosed as closed Pilon fractures, and both preoperative X-ray and 3D CT scan were shown as medial column compressive fractures. All patients underwent modified medial incision with complete data, including 23 males and 8 females;ranging in age from 22 to 65 years old, with an average of (39.5±16.2) years old. All patients underwent modified medial approach combined with other approaches to expose the broken end of fracture. The time from trauma to operation ranging from 7 to 20 days, with a mean of(9.5±5.5) days. The incision and fracture healing were followed up regularly after operation.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up with an average of(15.7±5.5) months(ranged, 13 to 25 months). Preoperative and postoperative routine X-ray and 3D CT examination showed anatomical reduction in 8 cases, and the anatomical reduction rate was 25.81%. Up to the latest follow-up, all 31 fractures had achieved bone healing, and the healing time ranged from 11 to 22 weeks, with a mean of (14.3±4.7) weeks. At the latest follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scores ranged from 75 to 89, with a mean of 80.5±4.9, 24 patients got a good result, 7 fair.

CONCLUSION

The improved medial approach for Pilon fracture can directly expose the posterior medial, medial and anterior medial of the distal tibia. After reduction under direct vision, the medial compressed and collapsed articular surface are fixed. The clinical curative effect is satisfactory and the wound complications are less. It is recommended for Pilon fracture where compression of the medial articular surface is predominant.

Oral delivery of the intracellular domain of the insulinoma-associated protein 2 (IA-2ic) by bacterium-like particles (BLPs) prevents type 1 diabetes mellitus in NOD mice

Antigen-specific immune tolerance, which possesses great potential in preventing or curing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), can be induced by oral vaccination with T1DM-related autoantigens. However, direct administration of autoantigens via oral route exhibits a low tolerance-inducing effect as a result of the digestion of protein antigens in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and therefore, a large dosage of autoantigens may be needed. In this study, bacterium-like particles (BLPs) made from food-grade lactic acid bacteria were used to deliver the intracellular domain of the insulinoma-associated protein 2 (IA-2ic). For this purpose, BLPs-IA-2ic vaccine in which IA-2ic bound to the surface of BLPs was constructed. BLPs enhanced the stability of the delivered IA-2ic based on the stability analysis in vitro. Oral administration of BLPs-IA-2ic significantly reduced T1DM incidence in NOD mice. The mice fed BLPs-IA-2ic exhibited a significant reduction in insulitis and preserved the ability to secrete insulin. Immunologic analysis showed that oral vaccination with BLPs-IA-2ic induced antigen-specific T cell tolerance. The results revealed that the successful induction of immune tolerance was dependent on the immune deviation (in favor of T helper 2 responses) and CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells. Hence, oral vaccination with BLPs-IA-2ic shows potential for application in preventing T1DM.

Sex-Biased Population Admixture Mediated Subsistence Strategy Transition of Heishuiguo People in Han Dynasty Hexi Corridor

The Hexi Corridor was an important arena for culture exchange and human migration between ancient China and Central and Western Asia. During the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE), subsistence strategy along the corridor shifted from pastoralism to a mixed pastoralist-agriculturalist economy. Yet the drivers of this transition remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyze the Y-chromosome and mtDNA of 31 Han Dynasty individuals from the Heishuiguo site, located in the center of the Hexi Corridor. A high-resolution analysis of 485 Y-SNPs and mitogenomes was performed, with the Heishuiguo population classified into Early Han and Late Han groups. It is revealed that (1) when dissecting genetic lineages, the Yellow River Basin origin haplogroups (i.e., Oα-M117, Oβ-F46, Oγ-IMS-JST002611, and O2-P164+, M134-) reached relatively high frequencies for the paternal gene pools, while haplogroups of north East Asian origin (e.g., D4 and D5) dominated on the maternal side; (2) in interpopulation comparison using PCA and Fst heatmap, the Heishuiguo population shifted from Southern-Northern Han cline to Northern-Northwestern Han/Hui cline with time, indicating genetic admixture between Yellow River immigrants and natives. By comparison, in maternal mtDNA views, the Heishuiguo population was closely clustered with certain Mongolic-speaking and Northwestern Han populations and exhibited genetic continuity through the Han Dynasty, which suggests that Heishuiguo females originated from local or neighboring regions. Therefore, a sex-biased admixture pattern is observed in the Heishuiguo population. Additionally, genetic contour maps also reveal the same male-dominated migration from the East to Hexi Corridor during the Han Dynasty. This is also consistent with historical records, especially excavated bamboo slips. Combining historical records, archeological findings, stable isotope analysis, and paleoenvironmental studies, our uniparental genetic investigation on the Heishuiguo population reveals how male-dominated migration accompanied with lifestyle adjustments brought by these eastern groups may be the main factor affecting the subsistence strategy transition along the Han Dynasty Hexi Corridor.

Clinical and laboratory features of primary Sjögren’s syndrome complicated with mild to severe thrombocytopenia

Background

Patients with thrombocytopenia accompanied by positive Ro/SS-A and/or La/SS-B autoantibodies have a possible diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Owing to its low prevalence, large-sample controlled studies on thrombocytopenia in primary SS (pSS) are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of pSS complicated with mild to severe thrombocytopenia, and compared them with pSS patients without thrombocytopenia.

Methods

This medical records review study analyzed the demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, and other results of 88 patients diagnosed with pSS between March 2007 and March 2018 in the Department of Rheumatology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. A platelet (PLT) count of peripheral blood below 50×10⁹/L (≤50×10⁹/L) was regarded as mild to severe thrombocytopenia.

Results

Of the 88 pSS patients, 43 developed mild to severe thrombocytopenia (thrombocytopenia group) and 45 had no thrombocytopenia (control group). No significant difference was found in the levels of autoantibodies and inflammatory markers between the thrombocytopenia group and the control group. Dry mouth (P<0.01) and dry eyes (P<0.01) were not frequently observed in the thrombocytopenia group, but the level of complement C4 dropped significantly (P<0.05). In contrast, the control group was more likely to have leukopenia (P=0.01) and interstitial lung disease (P<0.01).

Conclusions

In pSS patients with mild to severe thrombocytopenia, the incidence of xerostomia, xerophthalmia, and lung involvement was markedly reduced. Knowledge about the features of pSS associated with thrombocytopenia will lead to earlier and better diagnosis and treatment.

Mesoporous Silica Carrier-Based Composites for Taste-Masking of Bitter Drug: Fabrication and Palatability Evaluation

Palatability is one of the most critical characteristics of oral preparations. Therefore, the exploration of new techniques to mask the aversive taste of drugs is in continuous demand. In this study, we fabricated and characterized composites based on mesoporous silica (MPS) that consisted of MPS, a bitter drug, and release regulators. We conducted a palatability evaluation to assess the taste-masking efficacy of the composites. The composites were prepared using the dry impregnation method combined with hot-melt extrusion. Morphology and components distribution in composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder flow properties evaluation, and nitrogen-sorption measurement. The results demonstrated that drugs mainly existed in the inner pore of composites, and release regulators existed in the inner pore and covered the composites' surface. Interactions among the composite components were studied using powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The drug loaded into the composites was amorphous, and an intermolecular interaction occurred between the drug and the MPS. Taste-masked composites significantly reduced drug release levels under mouth conditions; thus, they prevented the interaction of the dissolved drug with taste receptors and improved palatability. An electronic tongue evaluation and a human taste panel assessment confirmed the better palatability of taste-masked composites. Moreover, the desired drug release behavior can be adjusted by choosing an appropriate release regulator, with stronger hydrophobicity of release regulators resulting in slower drug release. This work has provided new insights into taste-masking strategies for drugs with unpleasant tastes.

Impact of 9-Minute Withdrawal Time on the Adenoma Detection Rate: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although current quality indicators of colonoscopy recommend 6 minutes as the minimum standard for withdrawal time (WT), the impact of a WT longer than 6 minutes on neoplasia detection is unclear.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 1027 patients was conducted from January 2018 to July 2019. Participants were randomly divided into a 9-minute (n = 514) and 6-minute (n = 513) WT group, and a timer was used to adjust the withdrawal speed. The primary outcome was the adenoma detection rate (ADR).

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analysis showed a significantly higher ADR in the 9-minute versus 6-minute WT group (36.6% vs. 27.1%, P = .001). Prolonging WT from 6 to 9 minutes significantly increased ADR of the proximal colon (21.4% vs. 11.9%, P < .001) as well as of the less experienced colonoscopists (36.8% vs. 23.5%, P = .001). Improvements were also observed in the polyp detection rate (58.0% vs. 47.8%, P < .001), and mean number of polyps and adenomas detected per colonoscopy (1.1 vs. 0.9, P = .002; 0.5 vs. 0.4, P = .008, respectively). The higher ADRs in 9-minute WT were also confirmed by the per-protocol (PP) analysis and subgroup analyses, with an increased rate of sessile serrated lesion detection in the 9-minute WT by PP analysis (4.0% vs. 1.3%, P = .04). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that the 9-minute WT was independently associated with increased ADR (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonging WT from 6 to 9 minutes significantly improved ADR, especially in the proximal colon and for less experienced colonoscopists. A 9-minute WT benchmark should be considered as one of the quality indicators of colonoscopy. ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier, NCT03399045).

QiShenYiQi Pills Attenuates Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Cardiac Microvascular Hyperpermeability Implicating Src/Caveolin-1 and RhoA/ROCK/MLC Signaling

Aims: Coronary microvascular hyperpermeability is an important contributor to ischemia or reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the effective strategy for this insult remains limited. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of the compound Chinese medicine QiShenYiQi Pills (QSYQ) against coronary microvascular hyperpermeability after cardiac I/R with focusing on the underlying mechanism.

Methods and Results: Male Sprague-Dawley rats under anesthesia were subjected to occlusion of left coronary anterior descending artery followed by reperfusion. QSYQ was administrated 90 min before ischemia initiation. Human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) underwent hypoxia or reoxygenation (H/R) challenge with QSYQ administrated 1 h prior to hypoxia. QSYQ exhibited effects on attenuating microvascular damage and albumin leakage after I/R injury, showing a role in maintaining endothelial junctions, caveolae, and collagen in basement membrane (BM) of microvessels. Study using HCMECs disclosed that QSYQ protected endothelial barrier from impairment by H/R, attenuating the decline of respiratory chain complex I and ATP synthase, activation of Src/caveolin-1 and increase of RhoA/ROCK/p-MLC, MMP-9, and CTSS. PP2, a Src inhibitor, partially imitated the effect of QSYQ.

Conclusions: The QSYQ was able to prevent I/R-induced cardiac microvascular hyperpermeability via a mechanism involving Src/caveolin-1 and RhoA/ROCK/MLC signaling.

Application of ultrasonography in neonatal lung disease: An updated review

Lung disease is often life-threatening for both preterm and term newborns. Therefore, an accurate and rapid diagnosis of lung diseases in newborns is crucial, as management strategies differ with different etiologies. To reduce the risk of radiation exposure derived from the conventionally used chest x-ray as well as computed tomography scans, lung ultrasonography (LUS) has been introduced in clinical practice to identify and differentiate neonatal lung diseases because of its radiation-free characteristic, convenience, high accuracy, and low cost. In recent years, it has been proved that LUS exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for identifying various neonatal lung diseases. Here, we offer an updated review of the applications of LUS in neonatal lung diseases based on the reports published in recent years (2017 to present).

Enhanced C–H bond activation by tuning the local environment of surface lattice oxygen of MoO3

The lattice oxygen on transition metal oxides serves as a critical active site in the dehydrogenation of alkanes, whose activity is determined by electronic properties and environmental structures. Hydrogen affinity has been used as a universal descriptor to predict C–H bond activation, while the understanding of the environmental structure is ambiguous due to its complexity. This paper describes a combined theoretical and experimental study to reveal the activity of lattice oxygen species with different local structures, taking Mo-based oxides and C–H bond activation of low-carbon alkanes as model catalytic systems. Our theoretical work suggests that oxygen species with convex curvature are more active than those with concave curvature. Theoretically, we propose an interpretative descriptor, the activation deformation energy, to quantify the surface reconstruction induced by adsorbates with various environmental structures. Experimentally, a Mo-based polyoxometalate with the convex curvature structure shows nearly five times the initial activity than single-crystal molybdenum oxide with the concave one. This work provides theoretical guidance for designing metal oxide catalysts with high activity.

Tuning of the environmental structure near the lattice oxygen of molybdenum oxides can form a favorable spatial structure to enhance the intrinsic activity for C–H bond activation.

Corticotropin releasing hormone promotes inflammatory bowel disease via inducing intestinal macrophage autophagy

Psychosocial stress is a vital factor contributing to the pathogenesis and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The contribution of intestinal macrophage autophagy to the onset and development of IBD has been widely studied. Herein, we investigated the underlying mechanism of psychosocial stress in an IBD mouse model pertaining to macrophage autophagy. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) was peripherally administrated to induce psychosocial stress. For in vivo studies, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used for the creation of our IBD mouse model. For in vitro studies, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was applied on murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) as a cellular IBD-related challenge. Chloroquine was applied to inhibit autophagy. We found that CRH aggravated the severity of DSS-induced IBD, increasing overall and local inflammatory reactions and infiltration. The levels of autophagy in intestinal macrophages and murine BMDMs were increased under these IBD-related inflammatory challenges and CRH further enhanced these effects. Subsequent administration of chloroquine markedly attenuated the detrimental effects of CRH on IBD severity and inflammatory reactions via inhibition of autophagy. These findings illustrate the effects of peripheral administration of CRH on DSS-induced IBD via the enhancement of intestinal macrophage autophagy, thus providing a novel understanding as well as therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD.