Sodium‐ion batteries capable of operating at rate and temperature extremes are highly desirable, but elusive due to the dynamics and thermodynamics limitations. Herein, a strategy of ...electrode–electrolyte interfacial chemistry modulation is proposed. The commercial hard carbon demonstrates superior rate performance with 212 mAh g−1 at an ultra‐high current density of 5 A g−1 in the electrolyte with weak ion solvation/desolvation, which is much higher than those in common electrolytes (nearly no capacity in carbonate‐based electrolytes). Even at −20 °C, a high capacity of 175 mAh g−1 (74 % of its room‐temperature capacity) can be maintained at 2 A g−1. Such an electrode retains 90 % of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles. As proven, weak ion solvation/desolvation of tetrahydrofuran greatly facilitates fast‐ion diffusion at the SEI/electrolyte interface and homogeneous SEI with well‐distributed NaF and organic components ensures fast Na+ diffusion through the SEI layer and a stable interface.
In a THF‐based electrolyte with a weak solvation structure, Na+ desolvation is fast and a uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with abundant NaF and organic compounds is generated on the commercial hard carbon anode. This greatly enhances the interface stability and enables the rapid migration of Na+ in the SEI, thus realizing the high rate capability, long‐term stability and good low‐temperature performance for the hard carbon anode.
AbstractObjectiveTo examine the protective effects of appropriate personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare professionals who provided care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 ...(covid-19).DesignCross sectional study.SettingFour hospitals in Wuhan, China.Participants420 healthcare professionals (116 doctors and 304 nurses) who were deployed to Wuhan by two affiliated hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University for 6-8 weeks from 24 January to 7 April 2020. These study participants were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment to deliver healthcare to patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 and were involved in aerosol generating procedures. 77 healthcare professionals with no exposure history to covid-19 and 80 patients who had recovered from covid-19 were recruited to verify the accuracy of antibody testing.Main outcome measuresCovid-19 related symptoms (fever, cough, and dyspnoea) and evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, defined as a positive test for virus specific nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swabs, or a positive test for IgM or IgG antibodies in the serum samples.ResultsThe average age of study participants was 35.8 years and 68.1% (286/420) were women. These study participants worked 4-6 hour shifts for an average of 5.4 days a week; they worked an average of 16.2 hours each week in intensive care units. All 420 study participants had direct contact with patients with covid-19 and performed at least one aerosol generating procedure. During the deployment period in Wuhan, none of the study participants reported covid-19 related symptoms. When the participants returned home, they all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 specific nucleic acids and IgM or IgG antibodies (95% confidence interval 0.0 to 0.7%).ConclusionBefore a safe and effective vaccine becomes available, healthcare professionals remain susceptible to covid-19. Despite being at high risk of exposure, study participants were appropriately protected and did not contract infection or develop protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Healthcare systems must give priority to the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, and provide adequate training to healthcare professionals in its use.
Background & Aims
Oral antiviral therapy may reduce the disease progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We aimed to further investigate the efficacy of long‐term entecavir therapy in ...reduction of the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhotic events and mortality in a large group of CHB‐related cirrhosis patients.
Methods
The C‐TEAM (Cirrhosis‐Taiwanese EntecAvir Multicenter) study was a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective–prospective cohort study in Taiwan. We enrolled treatment‐naïve patients with CHB‐related cirrhosis and baseline HBV‐DNA≥2000 IU/mL receiving long‐term entecavir therapy and compared the development of HCC, cirrhotic events and mortality with that of a historical untreated cohort.
Results
In total, 1315 entecavir‐treated and 503 untreated patients with cirrhosis were enrolled, with median treatment and follow‐up durations of 4 and 6 years respectively. Compared with the untreated cohort, entecavir therapy was associated with a 60% HCC risk reduction hazard ratio (HR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28‐0.57. Additionally, an older age, the male gender, HBeAg positivity, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP)≥7 ng/mL before therapy were independent predictors of HCC development. Further analysis showed that entecavir therapy significantly reduced risks of variceal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and liver‐related and all‐cause mortality. These findings were confirmed by propensity score‐matched cohorts in sensitivity analysis. In patients under entecavir therapy, an older age, the male gender, HBeAg positivity, AFP level ≥7 ng/mL before therapy, and 1‐year virological response were predictive of HCC development.
Conclusions
Four‐year entecavir therapy significantly reduces the risk of HCC, cirrhotic events and mortality in patients with CHB‐related cirrhosis.
See Editorial on Page 1752
Metastasis is a major challenge in cervical cancer treatment. Previous studies have shown that the dual functional protein apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) promotes tumor metastasis and is ...overexpressed in cervical cancer. However, the biological role and mechanism of APE1 in cervical cancer metastasis have rarely been studied.
We used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to determine the APE1-related signaling pathways in cervical cancer. To investigate the role and mechanism of APE1 in cervical cancer metastasis and invasion, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting, secondary structure prediction, coimmunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed. The inhibitory effects of the APE1 redox function inhibitor APX3330 on cervical cancer metastasis were evaluated using animal models.
Clinical data showed that high expression of APE1 was associated with lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer patients. GSEA results showed that APE1 was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cervical cancer. Ectopic expression of APE1 promoted EMT and invasion of cervical cancer cells, whereas inhibition of APE1 suppressed EMT and invasion of cervical cancer cells in a redox function-dependent manner. Notably, APE1 redox function inhibitor APX3330 treatment dramatically suppressed cervical cancer cell lymph node and distant metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, we found that APE1 enhanced the interaction between ZEB1 and the E-cadherin promoter by binding to ZEB1, thereby suppressing the expression of E-cadherin, a negative regulator of EMT.
Our findings help to elucidate the role played by APE1 in cervical cancer metastasis and targeting APE1 redox function may be a novel strategy for inhibiting cervical cancer metastasis.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) refers to a type of arthritis manifested with chronic inflammation of spine joints. microRNAs (MiRNAs) have been identified as new therapeutic targets for inflammatory ...diseases. In this study, we evaluated the influence of microRNA‐96 (miR‐96) on osteoblast differentiation together with bone formation in a murine model of AS. The speculated relationship that miR‐96 could bind to sclerostin (SOST) was verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. After successful model establishment, the mice with AS and osteoblasts isolated from mice with AS were treated with mimics or inhibitors of miR‐96, or DKK‐1 (a Wnt signaling inhibitor). The effects of gain‐ or loss‐of‐function of miR‐96 on the inflammatory cytokine release (IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium nodule formation, along with the viability of osteoblasts were determined. It was observed that miR‐96 might target and regulate SOST. Besides, miR‐96 was expressed at a high level in AS mice while SOST expressed at a low level. TOP/FOP‐Flash luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR‐96 activated the Wnt signaling pathway. Moreover, AS mice overexpressing miR‐96 exhibited increased contents of IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α, ALP activity, calcium nodule numbers, and viability of osteoblasts. In contrast, inhibition of miR‐96 resulted in suppression of the osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. In conclusion, the study implicates that overexpressing miR‐96 could improve osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in AS mice via Wnt signaling pathway activation, highlighting a potential new target for AS treatment.
The influence of interfaces represents a critical factor affecting the use of solid-state batteries (SSBs) in a wide range of practical industrial applications. However, our current understanding of ...this key issue remains somewhat limited. Therefore, this review presents the mechanisms and advanced characterization techniques associated with interfaces in SSBs. First, we compare liquid- and solid-state batteries and emphasize the challenges in solid-solid interfaces. Second, we discuss different aspects of interfaces including interphase formation, cathode-electrolyte interface, anode-electrolyte interface, and interparticle interface, which contain a detailed description of the formation mechanisms and current research. Third, the characterization strategies for effective interfacial observation and analysis are summarized and discussed. In particular, two unique characterization techniques, vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy and on-chip single-nanowire battery characterization, are highlighted. Lastly, we summarize the scientific issues associated with solid-solid interfaces and provide our perspectives to better understand the fundamental issues and improve the performance of SSBs.
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Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the promising power sources for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and smart grids. The recent LIBs with organic liquid electrolytes still suffer from safety issues and insufficient lifetime. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are expected to address these issues. In principle, the nonflammable solid electrolytes could prevent battery combustion and explosion, and only Li ions are mobile in solid electrolytes, which could suppress side reactions. Some solid electrolytes, such as sulfides, have sufficiently high ionic conductivity, which is comparable to that of with organic liquid electrolytes. Thus, solid-solid interfaces appear to be the key to push SSBs toward practical applications. In this review, we start by introducing the challenges in solid-solid interfaces versus liquid-solid interfaces. We then discuss different interfaces in SSBs, including cathode-electrolyte interface, anode-electrolyte interface, and interparticle interface. Lastly, we present the advanced characterization techniques to help deepen understanding of the composition and structure evolution at the interfaces during battery cycling. The on-chip single-nanowire electrochemical devices developed by our group are highlighted as a unique platform for in situ characterization.
We suggest and emphasize some future directions for SSBs. First, different in situ or operando characterization techniques should be developed and combined to track the real-time composition and structure changes at the interfaces in SSBs. Second, in addition to metal ions, metal-air and metal-sulfur systems with much higher energy density should also receive sufficient attention for SSBs. Lastly, a unique advantage of SSBs over liquid-electrolyte batteries is that SSBs could be flexible, stretchable, and shrunk on a chip. Thus, SSBs are promising for integration with microelectronic circuits to fabricate self-powered wearable or implantable micro-/nanoscale devices.
SSB with a nonflammable solid electrolyte is a promising approach to address the safety issues of rechargeable batteries with flammable liquid organic electrolyte. However, the high impedance and/or instability of the solid-solid interfaces limit the practical applications of SSBs. This review focuses on the mechanisms and advanced characterization techniques associated with interfaces in SSBs, as well as provides our perspectives on future directions to better understand the fundamental issues and improve the performance of SSBs.
Establishment of B-lineage-specific gene expression requires the binding of transcription factors to inaccessible chromatin of progenitors. The transcription factor EBF1 can bind genomic regions ...prior to the detection of chromatin accessibility in a manner dependent on EBF1’s C-terminal domain (CTD) and independent of cooperating transcription factors. Here, we studied the mechanism whereby the CTD enables this pioneering function. The CTD of EBF1 was dispensable for initial chromatin targeting but stabilized occupancy via recruitment of the chromatin remodeler Brg1. We found that the CTD harbors a prion-like domain (PLD) with an ability of liquid-liquid phase separation, which was enhanced by interaction of EBF1 with the RNA-binding protein FUS. Brg1 also partitioned into phase-separated FUS condensates and coincided with EBF1 and FUS foci in pro-B cells. Heterologous PLDs conferred pioneering function on EBF1ΔCTD. Thus, the phase separation ability of EBF1 facilitates Brg1-mediated chromatin opening and the transition of naive progenitor chromatin to B-lineage-committed chromatin.
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•B lineage chromatin pioneering by EBF1 requires a prion-like domain (PLD)•PLD stabilizes chromatin binding of EBF1 via Brg1 recruitment•EBF1 undergoes phase separation enhanced by interaction with FUS•Brg1 partitions into phase-separated FUS condensates
Lineage-specific programming of chromatin requires transcription factors to bind inaccessible chromatin. Wang et al. find that “pioneering” by the transcription factor EBF1 involves a prion-like domain that enables recruitment of chromatin remodelers and formation of phase-separated condensates. Partitioning of EBF1-bound sites into condensates may coordinate expression of B lineage genes.
Cell-based therapy is an attractive approach for the treatment of chronic nonhealing wounds. This study investigated whether adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can accelerate diabetic wound healing ...and traffic in the engraftment of ASCs. Dorsal full-thickness skin wound defects (6 × 5 cm) were created in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rodent model. Group I served as a nondiabetic normal control, group II served as a diabetic control without ASCs, and group III included rats that were injected subcutaneously in the wound margin twice with nondiabetic ASCs (1 × 107 ASCs/dose). The wound healing was assessed clinically. Histological examination and immunohistochemical analyses of periwound tissue were performed. Green fluorescence protein (GFP)+-ASCs were used to examine the engraftment of these cells after injection. XenoLight DiR-labeled ASCs were implanted to detect migration ability using an IVIS imaging system. Results revealed that complete wound healing time statistically decreased in the ASC-treated group compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Histological examination revealed the ASC-treated group showed a significant reduction in the proinflammatory reaction, with significantly increased levels of EGF, VEGF, rPH, and Ki-67 expression compared to the controls. The populations of GFP+-ASCs in circulating blood significantly increased after ASC injection compared to those of controls. Immunofluorescence staining showed GFP+-ASCs significantly accumulated in the subdermal layer of the wound margin and increased angiogenesis via vWF and VEGF expression after injection. IVIS analysis revealed ASCs could exist and home into the periwound area up to 8 weeks postimplantation. In conclusion, ASCs significantly enhanced diabetic wound healing, engrafted into the local wound tissue, and implanted into circulating blood. ASC treatment stimulated neoangiogenesis and increased tissue regeneration through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms.
Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the brain is a pivotal event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its clearance from the brain is impaired in sporadic AD. Previous studies suggest that ...approximately half of the Aβ produced in the brain is cleared by transport into the periphery. However, the mechanism and pathophysiological significance of peripheral Aβ clearance remain largely unknown. The kidney is thought to be responsible for Aβ clearance, but direct evidence is lacking. In this study, we investigated the impact of unilateral nephrectomy on the dynamic changes in Aβ in the blood and brain in both humans and animals and on behavioural deficits and AD pathologies in animals. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of the diuretic furosemide on Aβ clearance via the kidney were assessed. We detected Aβ in the kidneys and urine of both humans and animals and found that the Aβ level in the blood of the renal artery was higher than that in the blood of the renal vein. Unilateral nephrectomy increased brain Aβ deposition; aggravated AD pathologies, including Tau hyperphosphorylation, glial activation, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss; and aggravated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. In addition, chronic furosemide treatment reduced blood and brain Aβ levels and attenuated AD pathologies and cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. Our findings demonstrate that the kidney physiologically clears Aβ from the blood, suggesting that facilitation of Aβ clearance via the kidney represents a novel potential therapeutic approach for AD.
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