In Situ Observation of Solvent-Mediated Cyclic Intermediates during the Alkene Epoxidation/Hydration over a Ti-Beta/H2O2 System

Solvent effects in catalytic reactions have received widespread attention as they can promote reaction rates and product selectivities by orders of magnitude. It is well accepted that the stable five-membered cyclic intermediates formed between the solvent molecules and Ti species are crucial to the alkene epoxidation in a heterogeneous Ti(IV)-H2O2 system. However, the direct spectroscopic evidence of these intermediates is still missing and the corresponding reaction pathway for the alkene epoxidation remains unclear. By combining in situ 13C MAS NMR, two-dimensional (2D) 1H-13C heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, the five-membered ring structures, where the protic solvents (ROH), and aprotic solvent (acetone), coordinate and stabilize the active Ti species, are identified for the first time over Ti-Beta/H2O2 system. Moreover, the role of these cyclic intermediates in the alkene epoxidation/hydration conversion is clarified. These results provide new insights into the solvent effect in liquid-phase epoxidation/hydration reactions over Ti(IV)-H2O2 system.

Insight into the Alkali Resistance Mechanism of FeMoTiOx Catalysts for NH3 Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO: Self-Defense Effects of MoOx for Alkali Capture

The deactivation of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts caused by alkali metal poisoning remains an insurmountable challenge. In this study, we examined the impact of Na poisoning on the performance of Fe and Mo co-doped TiO2 (FeaMobTiOx) catalysts in the SCR reaction and revealed the related alkali resistance mechanism. On the obtained Fe1Mo2.6TiOx catalyst, the synergistic catalytic effect of uniformly dispersed FeOx and MoOx species leads to remarkable catalytic activity, with over 90% NO conversion achieved in a wide temperature range of 210-410 °C. During the Na poisoning process, Na ions predominantly adsorb on the MoOx species, which exhibit stronger alkali resistance, effectively safeguarding the FeOx species. This preferential adsorption minimizes the negative effect of Na poisoning on Fe1Mo2.6TiOx. Moreover, Na poisoning has little influence on the Eley-Rideal reaction pathway involving adsorbed NHx reacting with gaseous NOx. After Na poisoning, the Lewis acid sites were deteriorated, while the abundant Brønsted acid sites ensured sufficient NHx adsorption. As a benefit from the self-defense effects of active MoOx species for alkali capture, FeaMobTiOx exhibits exceptional alkali resistance in the SCR reaction. This research provides valuable insights for the design of highly efficient and alkali-resistant SCR catalysts.

Zeolite-encaged mononuclear copper centers catalyze CO2 selective hydrogenation to methanol

The selective hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol by renewable hydrogen source represents an attractive route for CO2 recycling and is carbon neutral. Stable catalysts with high activity and methanol selectivity are being vigorously pursued, and current debates on the active site and reaction pathway need to be clarified. Here, we report a design of faujasite-encaged mononuclear Cu centers, namely Cu@FAU, for this challenging reaction. Stable methanol space-time-yield (STY) of 12.8 mmol gcat-1 h-1 and methanol selectivity of 89.5% are simultaneously achieved at a relatively low reaction temperature of 513 K, making Cu@FAU a potential methanol synthesis catalyst from CO2 hydrogenation. With zeolite-encaged mononuclear Cu centers as the destined active sites, the unique reaction pathway of stepwise CO2 hydrogenation over Cu@FAU is illustrated. This work provides a clear example of catalytic reaction with explicit structure-activity relationship and highlights the power of zeolite catalysis in complex chemical transformations.

Co engineered CoP catalyst for photochemical CO2 reduction with accelerated electron transfer endowed by the space-charge region

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction has been regarded as an ideal method to simulate photosynthesis for achieving carbon neutralization. However, poor charge transfer efficiency limits its development. Herein, an efficient Co/CoP@C catalyst was prepared with compact contact of Co and CoP layer by using MOF as precursor. At the interface of Co/CoP, the difference in functionality between the two phases may result in uneven distribution of electrons, thus forming a self-driven space-chare region. In this region, spontaneous electron transfer is guaranteed, thus facilitating the effective separation of photogenerated carriers as well as boosting the utilization of solar energy. Furthermore, the electron density of active site Co in CoP is increased and more active sites are exposed, which promotes the adsorption and activation of CO₂ molecules. Together with suitable redox potential, low energy barrier for *COOH formation and easy desorption of CO, the reduction rate of CO₂ catalyzed by Co/CoP@C is 4 times higher than that of CoP@C.

[Study on related factors and characteristics of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province]

From January 2019 to December 2021, overweight and obese children who visited in health outpatient Center of Hunan Children's Hospital were studied to explore and analyze the rate, related factors and patterns of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. Association rules (apriori algorithm) were used to explore the multimorbidity patterns of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. A total of 725 overweight and obese children were included in this study. The multimorbidity rate of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children was 46.07% (334/725). Age, waist circumference, the frequency of food consumption such as hamburgers and fries and adding meals before bedtime were multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. The multimorbidity associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was relatively common. The patterns with the top three support degrees were "NAFLD+dyslipidemia","NAFLD+hypertension" and "NAFLD+hyperuricemia". The patterns with the top three confidence and elevation degrees were "Hypertension+dyslipidemia => NAFLD","Hyperuricemia => NAFLD" and "NAFLD+hypertension => dyslipidemia".

The myo-inositol biosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme ISYNA1 suppresses the stemness of ovarian cancer via Notch1 pathway

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a central role in ovarian cancer (OC), understanding regulatory mechanisms governing their stemness is critical. Here, we report ISYNA1, the rate-limiting enzyme in myo-inositol biosynthesis, as a suppressor of OC regulating cancer stemness. We identified ISYNA1 as a differentially expressed gene in normal ovary and ovarian cancer tissues, as well as OC cells and OCSCs. Low ISYNA1 expression correlated with poor prognosis in OC patients. In addition, ISYNA1 was negatively correlated with CSC markers, and ISYNA1-related pathways were enriched in Wnt, Notch, and other critical cancer pathways. ISYNA1 deficiency promoted OC cell growth, migration, and invasion ability in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of ISYNA1 increased stemness of OC cells, including self-renewal, CSC markers expression, ALDH activity, and proportion of CD44⁺/CD117⁺ CSCs. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of ISYNA1 suppresses cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness of OC cells. Mechanistically, ISYNA1 inhibits OC stemness by regulating myo-inositol to suppress Notch1 signaling. In summary, these data provide evidence that ISYNA1 act as a tumor suppressor in OC and a regulator of stemness, providing insight into potentially targetable pathways for ovarian cancer therapy.

The association between glucose fluctuation with sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence shows that sarcopenia is more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in the normal population. However, currently, data on the relationship between blood glucose fluctuation and sarcopenia in elderly patients with T2DM are still limited.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, 280 patients ≥ 60 years with T2DM were divided into sarcopenic group and non-sarcopenic group, according to the diagnostic criteria of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. They wore MeiQi to acquire the indexes including time in range (TIR), time above range (TAR), time below range (TBR), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), coefficient of Variation (CV), blood glucose standard deviation (SD), largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE) and mean glucose (MG). The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was statistically analyzed and the different indicators of glucose fluctuation between the two groups were compared. We analyzed the indexes of glucose fluctuation and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), handgrip strength, the time of five times sit to stand test (FTSST) with Spearman's correlation analysis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence factors for sarcopenia.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.36%. TIR, MG and TAR were correlated with ASMI, handgrip strength, the time of FTSST. MG and TAR were risk factors for sarcopenia, while TIR was the protective factor of sarcopenia. After adjusting mixing factors, logistic regression analysis showed that TIR was an independent protective factor. The result of the Chi-square test showed that the incidence of sarcopenia in different TIR ranges was different: the proportion of patients with sarcopenia was 40.48% (TIR ≤50%), 20.41% (50%<TIR≤70%) and 8.47% (TIR >70%).

CONCLUSIONS

TIR is associated with sarcopenia in elderly T2DM patients. Furtherly, the incidence rate of sarcopenia decreases with the increase of TIR.

JDHY3 inhibits hypopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND

Jieduhuayu No.3 (JDHY3) is a modified Chinese herbal formula beneficial for treating hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HC), but its pharmacological mechanism is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the herbal formula JDHY3 in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in HC in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

In this study, HC cells were treated with cisplatin and different concentrations of JDHY3. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the proteins related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. Afterward, the xenograft mouse model was established and treated with cisplatin and JDHY3. Mouse tumour volume was measured, and the tumour tissues were assessed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

JDHY3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of FaDu and Detroit-562 cells. In addition, JDHY3 significantly increased the apoptosis rate of HC cells and downregulated p-PI3K and p-Akt. In addition, JDHY3 upregulated the expression of the apoptosis-promoting proteins Bax, P53, and cleaved caspase-3. In addition, the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was downregulated. Coincubation with SC79 attenuated the decrease in cell proliferation induced by JDHY3, further confirming that the proapoptotic effect of JDHY3 is associated with the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway activation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of in vivo experiments showed that JDHY3 could effectively inhibit the proliferation of HC cells, and HE staining showed that JDHY3 reduced the invasion of HC cells. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of P53 and cleaved caspase-3 was significantly increased in the tissues of the JDHY3-treated group.

Effect of momethasone furoate combined with loratadine and montelukast sodium on inflammatory factors and pulmonary function in children with allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of mometasone furoate in combination with loratadine and montelukast sodium on inflammatory factors and pulmonary function in children with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 89 children with AR admitted to our hospital from March 2020 to October 2021 were enrolled. Among them, 47 children who received mometasone furoate combined with loratadine were designated group A, while the other 42 with mometasone furoate combined with montelukast sodium were group B. The clinical efficacy of both groups was compared, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α as well as the changes of pulmonary function levels were tested during the treatment. Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded. Finally, children were followed up for 3 months to record rhinitis recurrence after discontinuation of the treatment.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference in clinical treatment efficacy between both groups (P>0.05), while the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IgE were lower in children in group A than in group B at 2 weeks of treatment. Group A's lung function indexes, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%), forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF), were higher than in group B (all P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions was dramatically lower in group A than group B (P<0.05). Follow-up demonstrated no difference in the recurrence rate of rhinitis between both groups of children (P>0.05). Higher TNF-α after treatment, history of allergy, family history of rhinitis, combined asthma, and parental history of smoking were independent risk factors for relapse after discontinuation of the drug in children.

CONCLUSION

Both mometasone furoate combined with either loratadine or montelukast sodium had good effects in AR, while the first option had a faster inhibitory effect on inflammatory factors and a better protection of lung function in children.

In2S3 nanoflakes grounded in Bi2WO6 nanoplates: A novel hierarchical heterojunction catalyst anchored on W mesh for efficient elimination of toluene

Toxic toluene can be completely oxidized in CO₂ and H₂O with novel three-dimensional (3D) In₂S₃@Bi₂WO₆ hierarchical crystals under visible light. Dense and uniform In₂S₃ nanoflakes are rooted in Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates which intercross with each other and are anchored on a pliable tungsten mesh. This leads to the construction of a stable and porous interface for adsorbing and decomposing target gaseous toluene. The firm contact between In₂S₃ and Bi₂WO₆ initiates the formation of a built-in electric field that helps in channeling the photogenerated electrons in Bi₂WO₆ CB to quench the holes in₂S₃ VB. This results in highly capable electrons and holes, as well as notable increase in the yields of •O₂^- and •OH. 99.7% of toluene is removed and 93.4% is converted to CO₂ when it is degraded in simulated air. This validates its remarkable efficacy in detoxifying toluene.

Imaging Findings and Clinical Analysis of Primary Intracranial Pure Yolk Sac Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Study from China

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumor is very rare. Our aim was to summarize the characteristics of primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumors from the clinical and imaging aspects in a retrospective study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 5 patients with primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumors in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2015 to June 2021. A comprehensive literature search was performed on the electronic database of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (1990 to June 2021). Clinical data based on age, sex, treatment, CT, and MR imaging findings were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were included in the study, 21 boys and 4 girls. Twenty-one patients underwent plain MR imaging and an enhanced examination, 9 patients underwent DWI, and 12 patients underwent plain CT and/or an enhanced examination. The tumors were posterior fossa in 9 cases and supratentorial in 16 cases. All tumors showed marked enhancement after enhanced scanning by MR imaging or CT. The signal on DWI was similar to that of the cerebral cortex, and the ADC map was similar to or slightly higher than that of the cerebral cortex. Among the cases, 13 were followed up from 2 months to 5 years. There was no recurrence or metastasis in 9 patients with postoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed up for 1.5-5 years. Four patients died 2 months to 1.5 years after only an operation, or chemoradiotherapy but no operation.

CONCLUSIONS

There are some relatively specific imaging findings of primary intracranial yolk sac tumors that could assist in their diagnosis. Surgery combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy can achieve a better prognosis.

Characterization of AMA1-RON2L complex with native gel electrophoresis and capillary isoelectric focusing

Rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) binds to the hydrophobic groove of apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), an interaction essential for invasion of red blood cells (RBCs) by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasites. Vaccination with AMA1 alone has been shown to be immunogenic, but unprotective even against homologous challenge in human trials. However, the AMA1-RON2L (L is referred to as the loop region of RON2 peptide) complex is a promising candidate, as preclinical studies with Freund's adjuvant have indicated complete protection against lethal challenge in mice and superior protection against virulent infection in Aotus monkeys. To prepare for clinical trials of the AMA1-RON2L complex, identity and integrity of the candidate vaccine must be assessed, and characterization methods must be carefully designed to not dissociate the delicate complex during evaluation. In this study, we developed a native Tris-glycine gel method to separate and identify the AMA1-RON2L complex, which was further identified and confirmed by Western blotting using anti-AMA1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs 4G2 and 2C2) and anti-RON2L polyclonal Ab coupled with mass spectrometry. The formation of complex was also confirmed by Capillary Isoelectric Focusing (cIEF). A short-term (48 h and 72 h at 4°C) stability study of AMA1-RON2L complex was also performed. The results indicate that the complex was stable for 72 h at 4°C. Our research demonstrates that the native Tris-glycine gel separation/Western blotting coupled with mass spectrometry and cIEF can fully characterize the identity and integrity of the AMA1-RON2L complex and provide useful quality control data for the subsequent clinical trials.

Zeolite-Encaged Isolated Platinum Ions Enable Heterolytic Dihydrogen Activation and Selective Hydrogenations

Understanding the unique behaviors of atomically dispersed catalysts and the origin thereof is a challenging topic. Herein, we demonstrate a facile strategy to encapsulate Pt^δ+ species within Y zeolite and reveal the nature of selective hydrogenation over a Pt@Y model catalyst. The unique configuration of Pt@Y, namely atomically dispersed Pt^δ+ stabilized by the surrounding oxygen atoms of six-membered rings shared by sodalite cages and supercages, enables the exclusive heterolytic activation of dihydrogen over Pt^δ+···O^2- units, resembling the well-known classical Lewis pairs. The charged hydrogen species, i.e., H⁺ and H^δ-, are active reagents for selective hydrogenations, and therefore, the Pt@Y catalyst exhibits remarkable performance in the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols and of nitroarenes to arylamines.

Gradient Hydrogen Migration Modulated with Self-Adapting S Vacancy in Copper-Doped ZnIn2S4 Nanosheet for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

It is a challenge to regulate charge flow synergistically at the atomic level to modulate gradient hydrogen migration (H migration) for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, a self-adapting S vacancy (Vs) induced with atomic Cu introduction into ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets was fabricated elaborately, which can tune charge separation and construct a gradient channel for H migration. Detailed experimental results and theoretical simulations uncover the behavior mechanism of Vs generation with Cu introduction after substituting a Zn atom tendentiously. Cu-S bond shrinkage and Zn-S bond distortion are presented around Vs areas. Besides, Vs induced by Cu introduction lowers the internal electric field to restrain electron transmission between layers, which are enriched on the Vs area because of the lower surface electrostatic potential. Atomic Cu and Vs show a synergistic effect for regulating regional charge separation due to the Cu dopant being a hole trap and Vs being an electron trap. The channels for H migration with gradient ΔG_H⁰ are constructed by different S atom sites, which are modulated by Vs. Gradient H migration driven by a photothermal effect occurs on an identical surface without striding across a heterogeneous interface, which is a valid pathway with lower resistance for boosting H₂ release. Ultimately, 5 mol % Cu confined in ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets achieves an optimum photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of 9.8647 mmol g^-1 h^-1, which is 14.8 times higher than 0.6640 mmol g^-1 h^-1 for ZnIn₂S₄, and apparent quantum efficiency reaches 37.11% at 420 nm. This work demonstrates the behavior mechanism of atomic substitution and provides cognition for hydrogen evolution mechanism deeply.

Stabilizing the framework of SAPO-34 zeolite toward long-term methanol-to-olefins conversion

As a commercial MTO catalyst, SAPO-34 zeolite exhibits excellent recyclability probably due to its intrinsic good hydrothermal stability. However, the structural dynamic changes of SAPO-34 catalyst induced by hydrocarbon pool (HP) species and the water formed during the MTO conversion as well as its long-term stability after continuous regenerations are rarely investigated and poorly understood. Herein, the dynamic changes of SAPO-34 framework during the MTO conversion were identified by 1D ²⁷Al, ³¹P MAS NMR, and 2D ³¹P-²⁷Al HETCOR NMR spectroscopy. The breakage of T-O-T bonds in SAPO-34 catalyst during long-term continuous regenerations in the MTO conversion could be efficiently suppressed by pre-coking. The combination of catalyst pre-coking and water co-feeding is established to be an efficient strategy to promote the catalytic efficiency and long-term stability of SAPO-34 catalysts in the commercial MTO processes, also sheds light on the development of other high stable zeolite catalyst in the commercial catalysis.

Stability of zeolite catalysts is a highly desirable property for commercial methanol to olefins conversion but extremely challenging to achieve. Here, the authors combine the catalyst pre-coking and water co-feeding to develop an efficient strategy to enhance the long-term stability of SAPO-34 catalyst.

Confinement in a Zeolite and Zeolite Catalysis

ConspectusZeolites, accompanied by their initial discovery as natural mines and the subsequent large-scale commercial production, have played indispensable roles in various fields such as petroleum refining and the chemical industry. Understanding the characteristics of zeolites, in contrast to their counterparts with similar chemical compositions and the origin thereof, is always a hot and challenging topic. Zeolites are known as intrinsic confined systems with ordered channels on the molecular scale, and structural confinement has been proposed to explain the unique chemical behaviors of zeolites. Generally, the channels of zeolites can regulate the diffusion of molecules, leading to a visible difference in molecular transportation and the ultimate shape-selective catalysis. On the other hand, the local electric field within the zeolite channels or cages can act on the guest molecules and change their energy levels. Confinement can be simply interpreted from both spatial and electronic issues; however, the nature of zeolite confinement is ambiguous and needs to be clarified.In this Account, we make a concise summary and analysis of the topics of confinement in a zeolite and zeolite catalysis from two specific views of spatial constraint and a local electric field to answer two basic questions of why zeolites and what else can we do with zeolites. First, it is shown how to construct functional sites including Brønsted acid sites, Lewis acid sites, extraframework cation sites, and entrapped metal or oxide aggregates in zeolites via confinement and how to understand the specific role of confinement in their reactivity. Second, the multiple impacts of confinement in zeolite-catalyzed reactions are discussed, which rationally lead to several unique processes, namely, Brønsted acid catalysis confined in zeolites, Lewis acid catalysis confined in zeolites, catalysis by zeolite-confined coordinatively unsaturated cation sites, and a cascade reaction within the confined space of zeolites. Overall, confinement effects do exist in zeolite systems and have already played extremely important roles in adsorption and catalysis. Although confinement might exist in many systems, the confinement by zeolites is more straightforward thanks to their well-ordered and rigid structure, deriving unique chemical behaviors within the confined space of zeolites. A zeolite is a fantastic scaffold for constructing isolated sites spatially and electrostatically confined in its matrix. Furthermore, zeolites containing well-defined transition-metal sites can be treated as inorganometallic complexes (i.e., a zeolite framework as the ligand of transition-metal ions) and can catalyze reactions resembling organometallic complexes or even metalloenzymes. The local electric field within the confined space of zeolites is strong enough to induce or assist the activation of small molecules, following the working fashion of frustrated Lewis pairs. The tactful utilization of structural confinement, both spatially and electronically, becomes the key to robust zeolites for adsorption and catalysis.

Publication trends and hotspots in enhanced recovery after surgery: 20-year bibliometric analysis

We evaluated enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) research and used bibliometric analysis to quantitatively and qualitatively predict research hotspots through extracting relevant publications from the core collection of the Web of Science database.

Experimental and Theoretical Evidence for the Promotional Effect of Acid Sites on the Diffusion of Alkenes through Small-Pore Zeolites

The diffusion of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons is of fundamental importance for many zeolite‐catalyzed processes. Transport of small alkenes in the confined zeolite pores can become hindered, resulting in a significant impact on the ultimate product selectivity and separation. Herein, intracrystalline light olefin/paraffin diffusion through the 8‐ring windows of zeolite SAPO‐34 is characterized by a complementary set of first‐principle molecular dynamics simulations, PFG‐NMR experiments, and pulse‐response temporal analysis of products measurements, yielding information at different length and time scales. Our results clearly show a promotional effect of the presence of Brønsted acid sites on the diffusion rate of ethene and propene, whereas transport of alkanes is found to be insensitive to the presence of acid sites. The enhanced diffusivity of unsaturated hydrocarbons is ascribed to the formation of favorable π–H interactions with acid protons, as confirmed by IR spectroscopy measurements. The acid site distribution is proven to be an important design parameter for optimizing product distributions and separations.

[Hsa_circ_0006948 regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion in osteosarcoma by regulation of the expression of miR-490-3p target ATG7]

Objective: To investigate the effect of hsa_circ_0006948 (circ_0006948) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods: A total of 120 osteosarcoma tissues and 40 adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu City from 2009 to 2015. Microarray analysis was performed to detect the differential expressions of circRNA in Saos-2 cell. The mRNA expressions of circ_0006948, microRNA (miR)-490-3p and autophagy-related protein 7 (ATG7) in osteosarcoma cells, NHOst cells, osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell clone formation assay was used to detect cell proliferation ability, Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion ability, and cell scratch assay was used to detect cell migration ability. The interactions between circ_0006948 and miR-490-3p, miR-490-3p and ATG7 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The correlation between miR-490-3p and ATG7 was analyzed by TargetScan database, and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in cells were detected by western blot. Results: The mRNA expression levels of circ_0006948, miR-490-3p and ATG7 in SAOS-2 cells were significantly different from NHOst cells (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of circ_0006948, miR-490-3p and ATG7 in osteosarcoma tissues were significantly different from adjacent tissues (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in circ_0006948-siRNA group were (32.78±1.76), (37.58±1.82) and (36.93±1.45)%, respectively, lower than (65.72±1.45), (78.63±1.93) and (65.32±1.74)% in the siRNA NC group (all P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the miR-490-3p mimics group were (20.08±1.54), (30.24±1.78) and (21.15±1.68)%, respectively, lower than (60.36±1.83), (76.93±1.64) and (40.56±1.27)% in the mimics NC group (all P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the miR-490-3p inhibitor+ siRNA NC group were (90.34±1.72), (120.89±2.34) and (70.83±1.93)%, respectively, higher than (61.27±1.73), (75.82±1.82) and (42.38±1.74)% in the inhibitor NC+ siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the circ_0006948 siRNA+ miR-490-3p inhibitor group were (58.74±1.98), (73.46±1.04) and (40.35±1.72)%, respectively, lower than (90.34±1.72), (120.89±2.34) and (70.83±1.93)% in the miR-490-3p inhibitor+ siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the ATG7 siRNA group were (20.56±1.87), (40.36±1.76) and (20.96±1.73)%, lower than (65.46±1.74), (90.87±2.32) and (40.87±2.03)% in the siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The absorbance of miR-490-3p mimics+ pcDNA-ATG7 group was 0.54±0.11, higher than (0.36±0.08) of miR-490-3p mimics group (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 protein in Saos-2 cells of miR-490-3p mimics group were significantly different from mimics NC group (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in Saos-2 cells of miR-490-3p mimics + pcDNA-ATG7 group were significantly different from miR-490-3p mimics group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Circ_0006948 regulates ATG7 expression through miR-490-3p, therefore regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells.

Self-assembly Cu2O nanowire arrays on Cu mesh: A solid-state, highly-efficient, and stable photocatalyst for toluene degradation under sunlight

Sunlight driven photocatalysis offers an effective and eco-friendly technology for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal. Three dimensional (3D) and oriented structure can facilitate efficient photon absorption and rapid diffusion of VOCs, which prevails over the powder-formed catalysts. Herein, free-standing and uniform p-type Cu₂O nanowire (NW) arrays were obtained through heat treatment of Cu(OH)₂ NWs, which were spontaneously grown from Cu mesh in air under room temperature for the first time. The as-prepared Cu₂O NWs show excellent degradation performance in decomposing 30 ppm toluene (99.9 % within 120 min) and high stability (no decline after ten recycles). The toluene degradation was also conducted under the natural sunlight, demonstrating complete removal from 12:00 am to 15:00 pm. During photocatalysis, toluene is attacked by the photogenerated holes (h⁺) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and finally oxidized to nontoxic small molecules. The photocatalytic removing toluene with Cu₂O NWs/Cu mesh has a promising application prospect owing to its low cost, high efficiency, stability, and convenient operation.

Atomic-Level and Modulated Interfaces of Photocatalyst Heterostructure Constructed by External Defect-Induced Strategy: A Critical Review

Despite the existence of numerous photocatalyst heterostructures, their separation efficiency and charge flow precision remain low due to the poor study on interfacial properties. The photocatalysts with confined defects can effectively control the photogenerated carrier migration, but the metastability of such defects considerably decreases the photocatalyst stability. Meanwhile, the introduction of defective region can increase the coordinative unsaturation and delocalize local electrons to promote their interactions with the molecules/ions in that region. The selective growth of modulated heterogeneous interface by defect-induced strategy may not only increase the stability of defective structures, but also enhance the migration of interfacial charges. Using this method, photocatalytic heterostructures with low contact resistances and intimate interfaces are constructed to achieve the optimal charge migration in terms of efficiency and accuracy. In this work, the point, linear, and planar heterogeneous interfaces and related defect engineering techniques are discussed. Particularly, it is focused on the external, defect-induced interfacial heterogeneities with various spatial and dimensional configurations, which exhibit modulated and controllable interfacial properties. Furthermore, the main aspects of fabricating photocatalyst heterostructures by the defect-induced strategy, including the i) controllable generation of defects, ii) advanced characterization methods, and iii) elaborate construction of the minimal interface, are described.

Hierarchical Ag3PO4@ZnIn2S4 nanoscoparium: An innovative Z-scheme photocatalyst for highly efficient and predictable tetracycline degradation

Z-scheme photocatalyst preserved with superior oxidicability is an innovative photocatalyst system that can be used for efficient photocatalytic detoxification of antibiotics. In this study, Z-scheme Ag₃PO₄@ZnIn₂S₄ photocatalyst was constructed by decorating Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles on ZnIn₂S₄ nanoscopariums. ZnIn₂S₄ nanoscopariums were prepared by self-templated strategy and given hierarchical structures. The hierarchical Ag₃PO₄@ZnIn₂S₄ provides more active sites for generating photogenerated carriers and large surface area for capturing tetracycline. The study results show that Ag₃PO₄@ZnIn₂S₄ performed excellently well in the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and also in protecting Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles from photo-corrosion. The highest removal efficiency (up to 92.3%) was achieved from the optimal composites of Ag₃PO₄ and ZnIn₂S₄. In stability tests, Ag₃PO₄@ZnIn₂S₄ did not reduce the photocatalytic activity of degrading tetracycline after five successive runs. Active radical identification proves that the transfer behavior of electron and hole over Ag₃PO₄@ZnIn₂S₄ follows a direct Z-scheme mechanism. Furthermore, the transformation pathway for degrading tetracycline was proposed by combining the Fukui index prediction with Mass Spectra identification of intermediates. This work presents in-depth sights into a regulated degradation pathway from theoretical prediction and practical identification based on innovative Z-scheme photocatalyst.

Value of serum collagen triple helix repeat containing-1(CTHRC1) and 14-3-3η protein compared to anti-CCP antibodies and anti-MCV antibodies in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Serological markers are important in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other connective tissues diseases This study explored the clinical value of collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) and 14-3-3η protein, compared to routine markers, in the diagnosis of RA.

METHODS

We recruited 103 RA patients, 105 non-RA patients (osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus) and 59 healthy controls. CTHRC1, 14-3-3η, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibody (anti-MCV), rheumatoid factor and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were measured, and their diagnostic value for RA evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

All laboratory indices were elevated in RA (P < 0.05). Of these, anti-MCV had the highest sensitivity (86.4%) and anti-CCP the highest specificity (94.5%). The areas under the curve (AUC) of CTHRC1, 14-3-3η, anti-CCP, anti-MCV, rheumatoid factor and ESR were 0.84, 0.81, 0.89, 0.91, 0.85 and 0.77 respectively (all P < 0.01). Anti-CCP and anti-MCV were the most valuable in the diagnosis of RA. The combination of anti-CCP and anti-MCV had the maximum Youden index, followed by the combination of anti-CCP and 14-3-3η. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that 14-3-3η had the largest odds ratio value (95% CI) at 5.1 (2.1-12.5) for RA.

CONCLUSION

CTHRC1 and 14-3-3η are promising serological indicators of RA, and when combined with anti-CCP, anti-MCV and ESR, can improve the diagnosis of this disease.

Bi2MoO6 Quantum Dots In Situ Grown on Reduced Graphene Oxide Layers: A Novel Electron-Rich Interface for Efficient CO2 Reduction

Bi₂MoO₆ quantum dots (BM QDs, 5 nm in diameter) are evenly in situ grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers, sensitizing the graphene with high visible light response and activity for efficient solar light-driven CO₂ reduction. Under irradiation, small-sized BM QDs generate active electrons and donate them to the rGO layers. Since the formation of BM QDs and the reduction of GO are undergone simultaneously, a close connection between BM QDs and rGO enables the electron injection from excited Bi₂MoO₆ QDs to graphene scaffolds, and abundant electrons accommodated by the rGO layers offer an electron-rich interface for CO₂ reduction. With the benefit of the improved electron extraction and transport over the BM QDs/rGO interface, 84.8 μmol g^-1 of methanol and 57.5 μmol g^-1 of ethanol are achieved on BM QDs/rGO in 4 h with optimal composition. The total output of alcohols over BM/rGO (142.3 μmol g^-1) is 2.2 and 4.4 times that achieved on unmodified Bi₂MoO₆ QDs (64.0 μmol g^-1) and flower-like Bi₂MoO₆ (32.2 μmol g^-1), respectively.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression in an Immune Microenvironment

Increasing evidence has revealed a significant association between microorganisms and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, is considered an important potential etiologic agent of OSCC, but the underlying immune mechanisms through which P. gingivalis mediates tumor progression of the oral cancer remain poorly understood. Our cohort study showed that the localization of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues was related to poor survival of patients with OSCC. Moreover, P. gingivalis infection increased oral lesion multiplicity and size and promoted tumor progression in a 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide (4NQO)–induced carcinogenesis mouse model by invading the oral lesions. In addition, CD11b+ myeloid cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) showed increased infiltration of oral lesions. Furthermore, in vitro observations showed that MDSCs accumulated when human-derived dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs) were exposed to P. gingivalis, and CXCL2, CCL2, interleukin (IL)–6, and IL-8 may be potential candidate genes that facilitate the recruitment of MDSCs. Taken together, our findings suggest that P. gingivalis promotes tumor progression by generating a cancer-promoting microenvironment, indicating a close relationship among P. gingivalis, tumor progression of the oral cancer, and immune responses.

Demonstration of Controlled-Phase Gates between Two Error-Correctable Photonic Qubits

To realize fault-tolerant quantum computing, it is necessary to store quantum information in logical qubits with error correction functions, realized by distributing a logical state among multiple physical qubits or by encoding it in the Hilbert space of a high-dimensional system. Quantum gate operations between these error-correctable logical qubits, which are essential for implementation of any practical quantum computational task, have not been experimentally demonstrated yet. Here we demonstrate a geometric method for realizing controlled-phase gates between two logical qubits encoded in photonic fields stored in cavities. The gates are realized by dispersively coupling an ancillary superconducting qubit to these cavities and driving it to make a cyclic evolution depending on the joint photonic state of the cavities, which produces a conditional geometric phase. We first realize phase gates for photonic qubits with the logical basis states encoded in two quasiorthogonal coherent states, which have important implications for continuous-variable-based quantum computation. Then we use this geometric method to implement a controlled-phase gate between two binomially encoded logical qubits, which have an error-correctable function.

Multifunctional nanocomposites MGO/FU-MI inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and enhance the effect of chemoradiotherapy in vivo and in vitro

PURPOSE

The limitation of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer and the rise of the application of nanomaterials in the field of biomedicine have promoted the application of various nanomaterials in the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. To improve the efficiency of cancer treatment, the multifunctional nanocomposites MGO/FU-MI (MGO/FU-MI NCs) were used for combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy to verify its effectiveness in treating tumors.

METHODS

The proliferation activity of MGO/FU-MI NCs on MC-38 and B16 cells was detected by CCK-8, and the level of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species were detected by flow cytometry. To verify its efficacy in the combination of chemoradiotherapy, different treatment regimens were developed for several groups of tumor-bearing mice.

RESULTS

The MGO/FU-MI NCs can induce apoptosis, stimulate ROS production, and inhibit cell proliferation. In vivo experiments, when MGO/FU-MI NCs are used alone for chemotherapy, have a certain therapeutic effect on mouse tumors. When MGO/FU-MI NCs are combined with radiation, the tumor volume can be significantly reduced and the survival time of mice is significantly prolonged.

CONCLUSION

The MGO/FU-MI NCs are very effective in the treatment of tumors when combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and have the potential to be a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.