Hollow structured CdS@ZnIn2S4 Z-scheme heterojunction for bifunctional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and selective benzylamine oxidation

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) is frequently constrained by inadequate light utilization and the rapid combination rate of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Additionally, conventional PHE processes are often facilitated by the addition of sacrificial reagents to consume photo-induced holes, which makes this approach economically unfavorable. Herein, we designed a spatially separated bifunctional cocatalyst decorated Z-scheme heterojunction of hollow structured CdS (HCdS) @ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), which was prepared by a sacrificial hard template method followed by photo-deposition. Consequently, PdOx@HCdS@ZIS@Pt exhibited efficient PHE (86.38 mmol·g-1·h-1) and benzylamine (BA) oxidation coupling (164.75 mmol·g-1·h-1) with high selectivity (97.34 %). The unique hollow core-shelled morphology and bifunctional cocatalyst loading in this work hold great potential for the design and synthesis of bifunctional Z-scheme photocatalysts.

Photocatalytic antibacterial agents based on inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials: a review

Microbial contamination and antibiotic pollution have threatened public health and it is important to develop a rapid and safe sterilization strategy. Among various disinfection strategies, photocatalytic antibacterial methods have drawn increasing attention due to their efficient disinfection performances and environment-friendly properties. Although there are some reviews about bacterial disinfection, specific reviews on photocatalysis focused on inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials are rarely reported. Herein, we present a systematic summary of recent disinfection developments based on inorganic nanomaterials (including metal oxides, sulfides, phosphides, carbon materials, and corresponding heterostructures) over the past five years. Moreover, key factors and challenges for inorganic nanomaterial-based photocatalytic disinfection are outlined, which holds great potential for future photocatalytic antibacterial applications.

Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Carbon Dioxide Reduction using a Bioinspired Nickel Molecular Catalyst

Inspired by natural enzymes, this study presents a nickel-based molecular catalyst, [Ni‖ (N2 S2 )]Cl2 (NiN2 S2 , N2 S2 =2,11-dithia[3,3](2,6)pyridinophane), for the photochemical catalytic reduction of CO2 under visible light. The catalyst was synthesized and characterized using various techniques, including liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic analysis revealed a slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometry with a mononuclear Ni2+ cation, two nitrogen atoms and two sulfur atoms. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction experiments were performed in homogeneous conditions using the catalyst in combination with [Ru(bpy)3 ]Cl2 (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) as a photosensitizer and 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (BIH) as a sacrificial electron donor. The catalyst achieved a high selectivity of 89 % towards CO and a remarkable turnover number (TON) of 7991 during 8 h of visible light irradiation under CO2 in the presence of phenol as a co-substrate. The turnover frequency (TOF) in the initial 6 h was 1079 h-1 , with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 1.08 %. Controlled experiments confirmed the dependency on the catalyst, light, and sacrificial electron donor for the CO2 reduction process. These findings demonstrate this bioinspired nickel molecular catalyst could be effective for fast and efficient photochemical catalytic reduction of CO2 to CO.

Dual-Functional Photocatalysis for Cooperative Hydrogen Evolution and Benzylamine Oxidation Coupling over Sandwiched-Like Pd@TiO2 @ZnIn2 S4 Nanobox

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) over semiconductor photocatalysts is usually constrained by the limited light-harvesting and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Most of the reported systems focusing on PHE are facilitated by consuming the photoinduced holes with organic sacrificial electron donors (SEDs). The introduction of the SEDs not only causes the environmental problem, but also increases the cost of the reaction. Herein, a dual-functional photocatalyst is developed with the morphology of sandwiched-like hollowed Pd@TiO₂ @ZnIn₂ S₄ nanobox, which is synthesized by choosing microporous zeolites with sub-nanometer-sized Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) embedded as the sacrificial templates. The ternary Pd@TiO₂ @ZnIn₂ S₄ photocatalyst exhibits a superior PHE rate (5.35 mmol g^-1 h^-1 ) and benzylamine oxidation conversion rate (>99%) simultaneously without adding any other SEDs. The PHE performance is superior to the reported composites of TiO₂ and ZnIn₂ S₄ , which is attributed to the elevated light capture ability induced by the hollow structure, and the enhanced charge separation efficiency facilitated by the ultrasmall sized Pd NPs. The unique design presented here holds great potential for other highly efficient cooperative dual-functional photocatalytic reactions.

Bioinspired spike-like double yolk–shell structured TiO2@ZnIn2S4 for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

A spike-like double yolk–shell structured TiO2@ZnIn2S4 (D-Y-TiO2@ZnIn2S4) photocatalyst was designed, which possesses superior photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency.

Perovskite Quantum Dots Encapsulated in a Mesoporous Metal-Organic Framework as Synergistic Photocathode Materials

Metal halide perovskite quantum dots, with high light-absorption coefficients and tunable electronic properties, have been widely studied as optoelectronic materials, but their applications in photocatalysis are hindered by their insufficient stability because of the oxidation and agglomeration under light, heat, and atmospheric conditions. To address this challenge, herein, we encapsulated CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals into a stable iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) with mesoporous cages (∼5.5 and 4.2 nm) via a sequential deposition route to obtain a perovskite-MOF composite material, CsPbBr₃@PCN-333(Fe), in which CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals were stabilized from aggregation or leaching by the confinement effect of MOF cages. The monodispersed CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (4-5 nm) within the MOF lattice were directly observed by transmission electron microscopy and corresponding mapping analysis and further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and N₂ adsorption characterizations. Density functional theory calculations further suggested a significant interfacial charge transfer from CsPbBr₃ quantum dots to PCN-333(Fe), which is ideal for photocatalysis. The CsPbBr₃@PCN-333(Fe) composite exhibited excellent and stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activities in aprotic systems. Furthermore, CsPbBr₃@PCN-333(Fe) composite worked as the synergistic photocathode in the photoassisted Li-O₂ battery, where CsPbBr₃ and PCN-333(Fe) acted as optical antennas and ORR/OER catalytic sites, respectively. The CsPbBr₃@PCN-333(Fe) photocathode showed lower overpotential and better cycling stability compared to CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals or PCN-333(Fe), highlighting the synergy between CsPbBr₃ and PCN-333(Fe) in the composite.

Critical Aspects of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Solar-Driven CO2 Reduction into Valuable Fuels

Photoreduction of CO2 into value-added fuels is one of the most promising strategies for tackling the energy crisis and mitigating the "greenhouse effect." Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated in the field of CO2 photoreduction owing to their high CO2 uptake and adjustable functional groups. The fundamental factors and state-of-the-art advancements in MOFs for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are summarized from the critical perspectives of light absorption, carrier dynamics, adsorption/activation, and reaction on the surface of photocatalysts, which are the three main critical aspects for CO2 photoreduction and determine the overall photocatalytic efficiency. In view of the merits of porous materials, recent progress of three other types of porous materials are also briefly summarized, namely zeolite-based, covalent-organic frameworks based (COFs-based), and porous semiconductor or organic polymer based photocatalysts. The remarkable performance of these porous materials for solar-driven CO2 reduction systems is highlighted. Finally, challenges and opportunities of porous materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are presented, aiming to provide a new viewpoint for improving the overall photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency with porous materials.

Platinum- and CuOx -Decorated TiO2 Photocatalyst for Oxidative Coupling of Methane to C2 Hydrocarbons in a Flow Reactor

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is considered one of the most promising catalytic technologies to upgrade methane. However, C2 products (C2 H6 /C2 H4 ) from conventional methane conversion have not been produced commercially owing to competition from overoxidation and carbon accumulation at high temperatures. Herein, we report the codeposition of Pt nanoparticles and CuOx clusters on TiO2 (PC-50) and use of the resulting photocatalyst for OCM in a flow reactor operated at room temperature under atmospheric pressure for the first time. The optimized Cu0.1 Pt0.5 /PC-50 sample showed a highest yield of C2 product of 6.8 μmol h-1 at a space velocity of 2400 h-1 , more than twice the sum of the activity of Pt/PC-50 (1.07 μmol h-1 ) and Cu/PC-50 (1.9 μmol h-1 ), it might also be the highest among photocatalytic methane conversions reported so far under atmospheric pressure. A high C2 selectivity of 60 % is also comparable to that attainable by conventional high-temperature (>943 K) thermal catalysis. It is proposed that Pt functions as an electron acceptor to facilitate charge separation, while holes could transfer to CuOx to avoid deep dehydrogenation and the overoxidation of C2 products.

Functionalization of Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Layers with Tailored Pore Environments for Heterogeneous Catalysis

Intriguing properties and functions are expected to implant into metal-organic layers (MOLs) to achieve tailored pore environments and multiple functionalities owing to the synergies among multiple components. Herein, we demonstrate a facile one-pot synthetic strategy to incorporate multiple functionalities into stable zirconium MOLs via secondary ligand pillaring. Through the combination of Zr₆ -BTB (BTB=benzene-1,3,5-tribenzoate) layers and diverse secondary ligands (including ditopic and tetratopic linkers), 31 MOFs with multi-functionalities were systematically prepared. Notably, a metal-phthalocyanine fragment was successfully incorporated into this Zr-MOL system, giving rise to an ideal platform for the selective oxidation of anthracene. The organic functionalization of two-dimensional MOLs can generate tunable porous structures and environments, which may facilitate the excellent catalytic performance of as-synthesized materials.

The investigation of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus co-infection in humans and animals in China

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of co-infection of hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus (HAV/HEV) in patients with acute hepatitis as well as in different animal species. A total of 46 serum samples from patients diagnosed as hepatitis A or hepatitis E and 675 fecal samples of 11 animal species were collected. The IgM class antibodies to HEV and HAV, respectively, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HEV and HAV RNAs were extracted from serum and fecal samples for the nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. At least 10.9% (5/46) of the patients were co-infected with both HAV and HEV. Fifteen percent (18/120) of rabbit fecal samples and 17.5% (7/40) of swine fecal samples were positive for HEV RNA, but only 1% (2/200) of ferret fecal samples were positive for HAV RNA. Our study showed that co-infection with both HAV and HEV in patients and animals is infrequent. At least in our study, we showed that ferrets may represent the potential HAV hosts. Keywords: hepatitis A virus; hepatitis E virus; co-infection; zoonosis; prevalence.

0075 Neural Correlates of Cognitive Fatigue in Parkinson Disease

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people world-wide. Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating non-motor symptom in PD. However, the neural correlates underlying cognitive fatigue are poorly understood. Our previous studies suggested that continuous performance of a simple but mentally demanding psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) induced cognitive fatigue, operationalized as subjective exhaustion and time-on-task performance decline. Here we used arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion fMRI to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in PD patients during cognitive fatigue induced by continuous performance of 20-min PVT.

Methods

Twenty-one PD patients completed a 20-min PVT during the ASL scan and two additional 4-min resting-state ASL scans before and after PVT. Reaction times (RTs) and regional CBF changes throughout the PVT as well as during pre- and post-task resting baselines were measured. Cognitive fatigue was analyzed by dividing the entire PVT performance into five quintiles in addition to the immediate measurement of self-rated fatigue before and after PVT.

Results

PD patients demonstrated significantly increased self-reported fatigue ratings after the task (p < 0.05) and progressively slower RTs across quintiles (p < 0.05). Perfusion data showed that the PVT activates the right middle frontal cortex, right inferior parietal lobe, right insula, bilateral occipital cortex, and right cerebellum (FDR corrected). Moreover, the bilateral middle frontal gyri were less active during the post-task rest compared to the pre-task rest.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that cognitive fatigue has an ongoing effect on brain activity after a period of continuous mental effort and supported the critical role of prefrontal cortex in mediating cognitive fatigue in PD. The findings also suggest the utility of continuous PVT as an appropriate paradigm to induce and examine cognitive fatigue in PD.

Support

Supported in part by Parkinson’s Foundation Translational Research Grant and NIH grants R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981, and P30-NS045839.

1100 Self-Monitoring Of PVT Performance In Healthy Adults And Individuals With MDD

Introduction

Negativity bias in depression has been repeatedly demonstrated in the judgment and decision-making literature. Research investigating the impact of sleep deprivation on self-evaluation of performance in healthy or depressed populations is limited. We examined 1) whether individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit a negativity bias in subjective ratings of performance on the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) as compared with healthy adults, and 2) the impact of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on these ratings.

Methods

N=33 individuals with MDD and n=9 healthy adults completed a 5-day study protocol including two baseline nights (B1-B2, 9h TIB), 36 hours of TSD, and one night of recovery sleep opportunity (Rec). The PVT was administered every 2-4 hours. A brief questionnaire was administered immediately prior to (PRE) and following (POST) the PVT, asking participants to estimate their average reaction time (RT) using a 9-point Likert-type scale. Mixed-effects models examined the impact of group (MDD, Control), protocol day (B1, B2, SD, Rec), and their interaction on objective PVT performance (mean RT) and subjective performance estimates (PRE and POST ratings).

Results

Mean RT was significantly slower during TSD (p<0.001) for all participants. Individuals with MDD and healthy adults did not differ in objective PVT performance (p=0.25) across days. There was no significant interaction between group and protocol day (p=0.96). Both groups predicted slower RTs during TSD as compared with baseline or recovery days (PRE-PVT, p=0.006). Individuals with MDD anticipated slower RTs as compared with healthy adults (p=0.001). On POST-PVT estimates, all participants reported subjective poorer performance during TSD (p<0.008). Individuals with MDD reported slower RTs as compared with healthy adults (p=0.002). Interaction effects between group and protocol day on PRE- and POST- performance ratings were not significant.

Conclusion

This project is the first to investigate subjective estimates of PVT performance in healthy and depressed individuals. Individuals with MDD subjectively reported slower response times as compared with control participants, despite similar objective performance. Depressive symptoms may be a potential confounder of subjective, but not objective, PVT performance.

Support

5R01MH107571

0294 Baseline Response Speed Predicts Locus Coeruleus Integrity Change After Sleep Deprivation

Introduction

Locus coeruleus (LC) is the major source of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain, which plays a key role in maintaining arousal and alertness. Sleep loss significantly impairs arousal and alertness. However, it is unknown whether sleep loss disrupts LC integrity, which can be measured non-invasively by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In the current study, we used DTI to examine the effects of one night of acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) on fractional anisotropy (FA), an index reflecting fiber density, axonal diameter and myelination.

Methods

We analyzed DTI and psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) data from N=54 health adults (23 females, age range 21–50 years) from a well controlled in-laboratory sleep deprivation study. Participants were randomized to either a TSD condition (n=40) without sleep on night 2, or a control condition (n=14) with no sleep loss. Standard DTI scans were conducted on the morning of day 2 and day 3 between 0700h-1000h. The PVT reciprocal response time (RRT) was used to measure individual’s response speed at baseline without sleep loss. LC regions-of-interest (ROI) were defined by standard templates from Keren et al. (2009). Imaging data were analyzed using FSL toolbox.

Results

For the whole TSD group, no differences were found in the LC FA values before and after sleep deprivation (p > .2). However, when dividing the TSD group to a slow group and a fast group based on their baseline PVT response speed, significantly increased LC FA were found in the slow group (p = .007) but not in the fast group (p > .4). The PVT RRT negatively correlated with LC FA value changes after TSD (r = -.44, p = .004). No correlations were found between the PVT RRT and LC FA changes in the control group.

Conclusion

Our results showed that baseline vigilance response speed correlated with LC integrity change after sleep deprivation, with slower response exhibiting greater changes in LC integrity. These findings support the key role of LC-NE system in the regulation of alertness and arousal.

Support

Supported in part by NIH grants R01-HL102119, R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981. CTRC UL1RR024134, and P30-NS045839.

0060 Morning Locus Coeruleus Activation During the PVT Predicts Later-Day Sleepiness

Introduction

The locus coeruleus (LC) plays a key role in the regulation of arousal and autonomic function. Homeostatic sleep pressure refers to the drive for sleep that increases as a saturating exponential when we stay awake and decreases exponentially when we sleep. The current study used arterial spin labeling (ASL) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the relationship between homeostatic sleep pressure (sleepiness) and LC activity during the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT).

Methods

We analyzed sleepiness and ASL imaging data from N=70 health adults (40 males, age range 21–50 years) who participated in a controlled in-laboratory sleep study. All participants were scanned at rest and during the PVT on the morning between 0700h-1000h after 9 hour time-in-bed (TIB) baseline sleep. LC regions-of-interest (ROI) were defined by standard templates from Keren et al. (2009). Sleepiness was assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) every two hours from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Results

Sleepiness scores gradually increased over wakefulness time and reached its peak in the evening at about 10:20pm. PVT-induced CBF changes did not correlate with sleepiness scores on the morning (p > 0.05), but showed significant negative correlations with sleepiness scores on later day when sleep pressure became higher, especially during the night-time (r = -0.41, p < 0.001). Specifically, LC CBF showed significant increases during the PVT scan as compared to the resting scan (p = 0.04) in individuals with less nigh-time sleepiness (KSS < 4), but no differences (p > 0.1) in individuals with greater nigh-time sleepiness (KSS ≥ 5). After controlling for age, gender, and total sleep time, PVT-induced regional CBF difference in the LC still negatively predicted sleepiness (β = -0.325, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Our findings showed that individuals with greater LC CBF increases during the PVT were less sleepy during the night, supporting the key role of LC activity in promoting wakefulness and maintaining sleep homeostasis. PVT-induced LC activation may provide a non-invasive bio-marker of homeostatic sleep pressure in healthy adults.

Support

Supported in part by NIH grants R01-HL102119, R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981. CTRC UL1RR024134, and P30-NS045839.

Spatially Separated Bifunctional Cocatalysts Decorated on Hollow-Structured TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Efficient charge separation can promote photocatalysis of semiconductors. Herein, a hollow-structured TiO₂ sphere decorated with spatially separated bifunctional cocatalysts was designed, which exhibited enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Ultrasmall-sized MO_x (M = Pd, Co, Ni, or Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) were first introduced into a zeolite via confinement synthesis, and then, hollow TiO₂ was fabricated by using the zeolite as a sacrificial template forming MO_x@TiO₂. Finally, Pt NPs were decorated on the outer shell, giving rise to MO_x@TiO₂@Pt, in which the MO_x NPs and Pt NPs acted as hole capturers and electron sinks, respectively. Thanks to the enhanced light harvesting of the hollow structure and improved charge separation induced by the smaller-sized cocatalysts as well as spatially separated bifunctional cocatalysts, the as-prepared PdO_x@TiO₂@Pt catalyst exhibited a superior photocatalytic hydrogen-generation property (0.45 mmol h^-1). This work demonstrates the advantage of the spatially separated bifunctional cocatalysts in enhancing the photocatalytic properties of semiconductors.

Field enhancement in a doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator

Single-resonant and (signal/idler) double-resonant optical parametric oscillators differ fundamentally on the conversion efficiency back to the pump wave. The nonpresent idler in the single-resonant case allows for signal intracavity enhancement well beyond the pump power level. This paper answers the question, how the phase-matched back conversion in a doubly-resonant system can be overcome to reveal substantial power enhancement, and what parameters it depends on. In a degenerate double-resonant OPO (DROPO) pumped by a thin-disk oscillator, an enhancement up to a factor of four is shown experimentally. Support of a semianalytical theory is presented with exceptionally simple relations between enhancement and intracavity losses. Interestingly, our theory predicts no fundamental limit to the maximal field enhancement or conversion efficiency.

Visible-Light-Driven Conversion of CO2 to CH4 with an Organic Sensitizer and an Iron Porphyrin Catalyst

Using a phenoxazine-based organic photosensitizer and an iron porphyrin molecular catalyst, we demonstrated photochemical reduction of CO₂ to CO and CH₄ with turnover numbers (TONs) of 149 and 29, respectively, under visible-light irradiation (λ > 435 nm) with a tertiary amine as sacrificial electron donor. This work is the first example of a molecular system using an earth-abundant metal catalyst and an organic dye to effect complete 8e^-/8H⁺ reduction of CO₂ to CH₄, as opposed to typical 2e^-/2H⁺ products of CO or formic acid. The catalytic system continuously produced methane even after prolonged irradiation up to 4 days. Using CO as the feedstock, the same reactive system was able to produce CH₄ with 85% selectivity, 80 TON and a quantum yield of 0.47%. The redox properties of the organic photosensitizer and acidity of the proton source were shown to play a key role in driving the 8e^-/8H⁺ processes.

Vinylogous Blaise Reaction: Conceptually New Synthesis of Pyridin-2-ones

A conceptually new synthesis of pyridine rings by a [C4 + CN] assembly has been developed by applying a vinylogous version of the classic Blaise reaction. The zinc-mediated reaction of (het)aryl or alkyl nitriles with ethyl-4-bromocrotonate provided a variety of C(6)-substituted pyridin-2-ones in a single-step.

Non-sensitized selective photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO under visible light with an iron molecular catalyst

A substituted tetraphenyl iron porphyrin, bearing positively charged trimethylammonio groups at the para position of each phenyl ring, demonstrates its ability as a homogeneous molecular catalyst to selectively reduce CO₂ to CO under visible light irradiation in organic media without the assistance of a sensitizer and no competitive hydrogen evolution for several days.

Visible-light Homogeneous Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 into CO in Aqueous Solutions with an Iron Catalyst

An iron-substituted tetraphenyl porphyrin bearing positively charged trimethylammonio groups at the para position of each phenyl ring catalyzes the photoinduced conversion of CO₂ . This complex is water soluble and acts as a molecular catalyst to selectively reduce CO₂ into CO under visible-light irradiation in aqueous solutions (acetonitrile/water=1:9 v/v) with the assistance of purpurin, a simple organic photosensitizer. CO is produced with a catalytic selectivity of 95 % and turnover number up to 120, illustrating the possibility of photocatalyzing the reduction of CO₂ in aqueous solution by using visible light, a simple organic sensitizer coupled to an amine as a sacrificial electron donor, and an earth-abundant metal-based molecular catalyst.

The higher prevalence of truncal obesity and diabetes in American than Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C might contribute to more rapid progression to advanced liver disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States (US) and an emerging cause in China.

AIM

To compare the clinical characteristics of hepatitis C patients in the US and China, and factors influencing disease stage.

METHODS

Prospective study of 2 cohorts of HCV patients recruited at 1 site in the US and 3 sites in China. Standardised questionnaire on risk factors and medical history were used and diagnosis of cirrhosis and HCC was based on pre-defined criteria.

RESULTS

One thousand nine hundred and fifty seven patients (1000 US and 957 China) were enrolled. US patients were more likely to be men (61.4% vs 48.5%), older (median age 57 vs 53 years), obese (38.4% vs 16.8%) and diabetic (21.8% vs 10.8%). A significantly higher per cent of US patients had cirrhosis (38.2% vs 16.0%) and HCC (14.1% vs 2.7%). Investigator estimated time at infection in US was 10 years earlier than in Chinese patients but US patients were more likely to have advanced disease even after stratifying for duration of infection. Study site in the US, older age, truncal obesity, diabetes and prior HCV treatment were significant predictors of advanced disease on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV patients in the US had more advanced liver disease than those in China. We speculate that underlying fatty liver disease may be a major contributor to this difference, and management of glycometabolic abnormalities should occur in parallel with anti-viral therapy to achieve optimal outcomes.

Nonpharmacological interventions aimed at modifying health and behavioural outcomes for adults with asthma: a critical review

Evidence suggests that living with asthma is linked with psychological and behavioural factors including self-management and treatment adherence, and therefore, there is a reasonable hypothesis that nonpharmacological treatments may improve health outcomes in people living with this condition. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of nonpharmacological interventions for adults with asthma was designed. Databases searched included The Cochrane Airways Group Register of trials, CENTRAL and Psychinfo. The literature search was conducted until May 2014. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were organized into four groups: relaxation-based therapies (n = 9); mindfulness (n = 1), biofeedback techniques (n = 3); cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) (n = 5); and multicomponent interventions (n = 5). A variety of outcome measures were used, even when trials belonged to the same grouping, which limited the ability to conduct meaningful meta-analyses. Deficiencies in the current evidence base, notably trial heterogeneity, means that application to clinical practice is limited and clear guidelines regarding the use of nonpharmacological therapies in asthma is limited. Relaxation and CBT, however, appear to have a consistent positive effect on asthma-related quality of life and some psychological outcomes, and lung function (relaxation only). Future trials should be informed by previous work to harmonize the interventions under study and outcome measures used to determine their effectiveness; only then will meaningful meta-analyses inform clinical practice.

Oxidative stress-induced C/EBPβ inhibits β-catenin signaling molecule involving in the pathology of preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

Oxidative stress-induced trophoblast cell dysfunction is a major pathology in preeclampsia (PE). Recently, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) has been investigated as a tumor suppressor that participates in tumor invasion. However, the function of C/EBPβ in trophoblast cells remains unknown. Our study was designed to detect the expression of C/EBPβ in the preeclamptic placenta and to identify the underlying mechanisms of oxidative stress.

METHODS

Human placental tissues with PE were collected. The expression of C/EBPβ and β-catenin were detected. Human first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell (HTR8/SVneo) line exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was employed as an oxidative stress model in vitro to investigate the effects of C/EBPβ on invasion and the expression of β-catenin. Moreover, first trimester-derived placental villous explants were used to verify the effects of C/EBPβ and β-catenin in placentation.

RESULTS

In preeclamptic placentas, C/EBPβ was overexpressed and β-catenin was decreased. In addition, C/EBPβ was found to have increased expression in H/R-treated HTR8/SVneo cells and villous explants. C/EBPβ knockdown and β-catenin activation could significantly promote the invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells, enhance the outgrowth and migration in villous explants and inhibit the excessive generation of intracellular ROS. These findings might be related to the increased activities of MMP-2/9 and the decreased expression of TIMP-1/2. Meanwhile, C/EBPβ knockdown remarkably increased the expression of β-catenin.

DISCUSSION

We hypothesize that the oxidative stress-induced overexpression of C/EBPβ might influence the activity of MMPs by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to affect the invasion of trophoblast cells, which then participate in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Zinc and Trimethylsilyl Chloride Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrrole Diesters from Nitriles and Ethyl Bromoacetate

An efficient, zinc-mediated, single-pot and CN+3C type pseudo-four-component synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole diesters was achieved from readily available aromatic/benzylic/aliphatic nitriles and ethyl bromoacetate under trimethylsilyl chloride catalysis.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from a cobalt/nickel complex with dithiolene ligands under irradiation with visible light

Novel cobalt/nickel dithiolene complexes displayed efficient hydrogen evolution in a noble-metal-free photocatalytic system under visible light.

Photocatalytic H2 generation based on noble-metal-free binuclear cobalt complexes using visible-light

Two new binuclear cobalt complexes, namely {[Co(dmgH)(dmgH2)]2L1} (I) and {[Co(dmgH)(dmgH2)]2L2} (II) (dmgH = dimethylglyoximate monoanion; dmgH2 = dimethylglyoxime, L1 = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane), L2 = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene), have been synthesized by the self-assembly of [Co(dmgH)(dmgH2)] and L1 or L2, respectively. An efficient photocatalytic system was constructed by combining a noble-metal-free cobalt complex as the catalyst with Eosin Y dye (EY(2-)) as the photosensitizer to give an efficient H2 generating system under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) using triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial electron donor. The maximum amount of H2 generated was 1013 TON for I and 1134 TON for II over a 2 h irradiation period (λ > 420 nm) under the conditions of pH 8.0, 5% TEOA (v/v), an EY(2-) concentration of 4.0 × 10(-4) M and a catalyst concentration of 4.0 × 10(-4) M in the mixed solvent system of CH3CN-H2O (3 : 1, v/v). In addition, the mechanism of H2 generation in the photolysis system was briefly discussed.

Genetic association study of GABRA2 single nucleotide polymorphisms and electroencephalography in alcohol dependence

The gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) system has been implicated in the susceptibility to develop alcohol dependence and in determining electroencephalogram (EEG) beta activity. The role of the GABA receptor alpha-2 gene (GABRA2) in human alcohol dependence was determined in a genetic and electrophysiological study. The study population comprised 586 white UK individuals with alcohol dependence but a very low prevalence of co-morbid drug dependence, and 603 ancestrally matched healthy controls. Genotyping for seven GABRA2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified from the literature as positively associated with alcohol dependence, was performed with success rates of 90% or greater. EEGs were available in 32 selected patients who had been abstinent from alcohol for a minimum of 24 months and in 138 ancestrally matched healthy controls. None of the SNPs showed allelic or haplotypic association with alcohol dependence. All markers were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in the controls. HWE for marker rs279841 in the alcohol dependent sample was p=0.0199 and combined p=0.0166. Linkage disequilibrium patterns appear to be very similar to that observed in the HapMap CEU data. A significantly higher prevalence of excess EEG fast activity was found in the patients (31 vs. 14%, p=0.018). A significant relationship was found between the presence of excess EEG fast activity and GABRA2 SNPs rs548583, rs279871 and rs279841. This allelic association study provides no evidence for an association between GABRA2 polymorphisms and alcohol dependence. However, a significant relationship was identified between GABRA2 and excess EEG fast activity. This dissociation of effect may reflect the fact that the EEG is a more direct marker of phenotypic GABRA2 expression than the more heterogeneous alcohol dependence phenotype.

RNAi-mediated knockdown of AURKB and EGFR shows enhanced therapeutic efficacy in prostate tumor regression

Aurora B kinase (AURKB) and epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) belong to serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase family of proteins. Both these kinases are found to overexpress in a large number of epithelial cancers, including hormonal refractory prostate cancer. In this communication, we present evidence for down-regulated expression of AURKB and EGFR, either alone or in combination, in prostate cancer cells. The results show that AURKB and EGFR were efficiently down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. AURKB and EGFR siRNA in combination have shown enhanced therapeutic effect by inhibiting PC3 cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in vitro, whereas androgen-dependent cancer cells LNCaP remain unaffected correlating the endogenous expression levels. Knockdown of AURKB and EGFR individually resulted in inhibition of prostate tumor growth in athymic nude mice and their combined knockdown resulted in tumor regression in which 40% of the treated mice were found to be tumor free, implicating the potential therapeutic benefits of AURKB-EGFR combination therapy.

A study of stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental health problems among health professionals

The project aimed to assess stigmatized attitudes among health professionals directed towards patients with mental health problems. The Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire was used to assess participants' attitudes towards fictitious patients from a secure forensic hospital and patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders. Participants were health professionals from acute and mental health settings. In total, 108 completed questionnaires were received. Participants had highly stigmatized attitudes towards patients from a forensic hospital and those with active substance use disorders. Attitudes were less stigmatized to people with substance use disorders who were recovering in remission. This suggested that health professionals have stigmatized attitudes towards an illness such as schizophrenia and this is worse towards patients from a secure hospital. The manner in which patients with substance use disorder are presented can have a significant effect on stigmatized attitudes by health professionals.