Water splitting, which encompasses the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is a promising approach for large-scale and sustainable production of hydrogen (H2) ...and oxygen (O2). However, the water splitting kinetics is slow, and noble metal catalysts such as platinum (Pt), ruthenium (IV) oxide (RuO2)/ iridium (IV) oxide (IrO2) are typically required to improve water splitting efficiency. Therefore, non-noble metals such as cobalt (Co)-based catalysts with a lower cost, natural abundance, catalytic performance comparable to that of noble metal catalysts, and good structural stability are highly desirable as substitutes for the expensive and environmentally scarce noble metals in energy applications. In this review, recent progress pertaining to the advance and development of different types of Co-based catalysts is reviewed. In addition, the fundamental mechanisms of water electrolysis and ways to improve the HER/OER activity are discussed. Finally, the present challenge and prospective for the future development of water splitting electrocatalysts are discussed.
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•Overview of Co-based catalysts and prospective.•Factors affecting the water splitting performance.•Mechanisms of Co-based catalysts in water splitting.•Status of Co-based catalysts in water splitting.
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common and devastating complication in diabetic patients, which is recognized as a large and growing problem leading to end-stage kidney disease. As ...dietary-mediated therapies are gradually becoming more acceptable to patients with DKD, we planned to find active compounds on preventing DKD progression from dietary material. The present paper reports the renoprotective properties and underlying mechanisms of ginsenoside compound K (CK), a major metabolite in serum after oral administration of ginseng. CK supplementation for 16 weeks could improve urine microalbumin, the ratio of urinary albumin/creatinine and renal morphological abnormal changes in db/db mice. In addition, CK supplementation reshaped the gut microbiota by decreasing the contents of
and
and increasing the contents of
and
at the genus level, as well as reduced histidine-derived microbial metabolite imidazole propionate (IMP) in the serum. We first found that IMP played a significant role in the progression of DKD through activating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). We also confirmed CK supplementation can down-regulate IMP-induced protein expression of the TLR4 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. This study suggests that dietary CK could offer a better health benefit in the early intervention of DKD. From a nutrition perspective, CK or dietary material containing CK can possibly be developed as new adjuvant therapy products for DKD.
Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease. We have previously showed the uric-acid-lowering effect of
Eurycoma longifolia
Jack, yet the renal protective effect and ...mechanism of
E. longifolia
remain obscure. The mouse model of hyperuricemic nephropathy was induced by adenine combined with potassium oxonate in male C57BL/6 J mice.
E. Longifolia
alkaloid components could reduce the level of serum uric acid by regulating the expression of hepatic phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthase (PRPS), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT), and renal urate transporter organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and ATP-binding box subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in HN mice. Additionally,
E. Longifolia
alkaloid components alleviated renal injury and function caused by hyperuricemia, which was characterized by improving renal histopathology, reducing urea nitrogen and creatinine levels.
E. Longifolia
alkaloid components treatment could reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammatory signaling pathways, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), and regulated activated normal T cell expression and secretion proteins (RANTES). Meanwhile,
E. longifolia
alkaloid components improved renal fibrosis, inhibited the transformation of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule E (E-cadherin) to α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) transformation, and decreased collagen 1 expression in HN mice.
Ulcerative colitis, an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, places a significant financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. Recently, reviews of the ...pomegranate and the abundant medicinal applications of its ellagitannins, as well as its pharmacological action, phytochemicals, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics, have been completed. However, summaries on their anti-ulcerative colitis effects are lacking. Numerous preclinical animal investigations and clinical human trial reports demonstrated the specific therapeutic effects of pomegranate and the effect of its ellagitannins against ulcerative colitis. According to the literature collected by Sci-finder and PubMed databases over the past 20 years, this is the first review that has compiled references regarding how the rich ellagitannins found in pomegranate have altered the ulcerative colitis. It was suggested that the various parts of pomegranates and their rich ellagitannins (especially their primary components, punicalagin, and ellagic acid) can inhibit oxidant and inflammatory processes, regulate the intestinal barrier and flora, and provide an anti-ulcerative colitis resource through dietary management.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a desirable alternative to conventional biomedical metals for orthopedic implants due to the excellent mechanical properties. However, the inherent bioinertness of PEEK ...contributes to inferior osseointegration of PEEK implants, especially under pathological conditions of osteoporosis. Herein, a programmed surface is designed and fabricated on PEEK to dictate osteoimmunomodulation and bone regeneration sequentially. A degradable hybrid coating consisting of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and alendronate (ALN) loaded nano-hydroxyapatite is deposited on PEEK and then interleukin-4 (IL-4) is grafted onto the outer surface of the hybrid coating with the aid of N2 plasma immersion ion implantation and subsequent immersion in IL-4 solution. Dominant release of IL-4 together with ALN and Ca2+ during the first few days synergistically mitigates the early acute inflammatory reactions and creates an osteoimmunomodulatory microenvironment that facilitates bone regeneration. Afterwards, slow and sustained delivery of ALN and Ca2+ in the following weeks boosts osteogenesis and suppresses osteoclastogenesis simultaneously, consequently ameliorating bone-implant osseointegration even under osteoporotic conditions. By taking into account the different phases in bone repair, this strategy of constructing advanced bone implants with sequential functions provides customizable and clinically viable therapy to osteoporotic patients.
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•A programmed surface is designed and fabricated on PEEK to dictate osteoimmunomodulation and bone regeneration sequentially.•A degradable coating consisting ALN loaded nano-HA is deposited on PEEK, with IL-4 being grafted onto the outmost surface.•Dominant release of IL-4 together with ALN and Ca2+ synergistically mitigates the early acute inflammatory reactions.•Slow and sustained delivery of ALN and Ca2+ boosts osteogenesis and suppresses osteoclastogenesis simultaneously.•Sequential regulation of peri-implant biological responses is achieved to match the dynamic process of bone regeneration.
The immune responses are involved in every stage after implantation but the reported immune-regulated materials only work at the beginning without fully considering the different phases of bone ...healing. Here, poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) is coated with a programmed surface, which rapidly releases interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the first week and slowly delivers dexamethasone (DEX) up to 4 weeks. Owing to the synergistic effects of IL-10 and DEX, an aptly weak inflammation is triggered within the first week, followed by significant M2 polarization of macrophages and upregulation of the autophagy-related factors. The suitable immunomodulatory activities pave the way for osteogenesis and the steady release of DEX facilitates bone regeneration thereafter. The sequential immune-mediated process is also validated by an 8-week implementation on a rat model. This is the first attempt to construct implants by taking advantage of both immune-mediated modulation and sequential regulation spanning all bone regeneration phases, which provides insights into the fabrication of advanced biomaterials for tissue engineering and immunological therapeutics.
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•A programed surface is designed and fabricated for immune-mediated osteogenesis•The degradation of PTMC coating enables a sequential release of IL-10 and DEX•Initially, osteoimmunomodulation is achieved by IL-10 and a small amount of DEX•Afterwards, sustained release of DEX fosters the peri-implant bone regeneration
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) occurs in 25-40% of patients with diabetes. Individuals with DKD are at a significant risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease morbidity and mortality. At ...present, although renal function-decline can be retarded by intensive glucose lowering and strict blood pressure control, these current treatments have shown no beneficial impact on preventing progression to kidney failure. Recently, in addition to control of blood sugar and pressure, a dietary approach has been recommended for management of DKD. Amino acids (AAs) are both biomarkers and causal factors of DKD progression. AA homeostasis contributes to renal hemodynamic response and glomerular hyperfiltration alteration in diabetic patients. This review discusses the links between progressive kidney dysfunction and the metabolic homeostasis of histidine, tryptophan, methionine, glutamine, tyrosine, and branched-chain AAs. In addition, we emphasize the regulation effects of special metabolites on DKD progression, with a focus on causality and potential mechanisms. This paper may offer an optimized protein diet strategy with concomitant management of AA homeostasis to reduce the risks of DKD in a setting of hyperglycemia.
Genetic modifications in Bacillus subtilis have allowed the conversion of myo-inositol into scyllo-inositol, which is proposed as a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. This conversion ...comprises two reactions catalyzed by two distinct inositol dehydrogenases, IolG and IolW. The IolW-mediated reaction requires the intracellular regeneration of NADPH, and there appears to be a limit to the endogenous supply of NADPH, which may be one of the rate-determining factors for the conversion of inositol. The primary mechanism of NADPH regeneration in this bacterium remains unclear.
The gdh gene of B. subtilis encodes a sporulation-specific glucose dehydrogenase that can use NADP
as a cofactor. When gdh was modified to be constitutively expressed, the intracellular NADPH level was elevated, increasing the conversion of inositol. In addition, the bacterial luciferase derived from Photorhabdus luminescens became more luminescent in cells in liquid culture and colonies on culture plates.
The results indicated that the luminescence of luciferase was representative of intracellular NADPH levels. Luciferase can therefore be employed to screen for mutations in genes involved in NADPH regeneration in B. subtilis, and artificial manipulation to enhance NADPH regeneration can promote the production of substances such as scyllo-inositol.
Pesticide exposure, heavy metal pollution, and biological stressors drive a worldwide, ongoing, and rapid population decline of the crucial pollinator honeybee. Drastic colony loss of honeybees may ...well precipitate a food security crisis. Here a systematic review was conducted, examining reports on a global scale to propose a bench line for common pesticides and potentially toxic element (PTE) residue levels in plant rewards and honeybees and to assess the health risk of chemical residues via oral exposure to honeybees. Relevant articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Embase. Recent findings on how chemical and biological stressors cripple honeybee health, and conservation techniques were also summarized. We identified a number of chemical residues at lethal or sublethal risk to honeybees based on their average concentrations, as well as primary evidence pertaining to the bio-accumulative propensity of certain substances. Moreover, combinations of pesticide stressors (“pesticide cocktails”), which are frequently encountered in agricultural landscapes, often interact synergistically with honeybee health via detoxification suppression. Finally, we discuss and describe the relevance of novel, biotechnology-based, approaches to counteract agrochemical and PTE poisoning.
The synthetic liver X receptor ligand (LXR) T0901317 (T0) has been reported to attenuate atherosclerosis (AS) without hyperglyceridemia due to innovative drug combination or nano-sized drug delivery. ...Given the key roles of mangiferin (MGF) in lipid metabolism and atherogenesis, it is critical to investigate progression of atherosclerotic lesion after combined treatment of MGF and T0.
Atherosclerotic plaque formation and hepatic lipid accumulation were compared in Apoe
mice among T0 and/or MGF treatment. The in vitro functions of MGF and T0 were analyzed by Oil-red O staining, cholesterol efflux assay, transmission electron microscopy and western blot analyses with or without acetylated low density lipoprotein.
The combination therapy are effective regulators for atherosclerotic plaque formation in Apoe
mice, due to upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 induced by LXR activation. Subsequently, we identified autophagy promoted by MGF and T0 treatment establishes a positive feedback loop that increases cholesterol efflux, resulted from LXRα activation. Under atherogenic conditions, the autophagy inhibitor CQ abolished the enhancement effect on cholesterol outflow of MGF and T0. Mechanically, MGF and T0 promotes LXRα and mTOR/AMPK signaling cascade in macrophage, and promotes AMPK signaling cascade in hepatocyte, leading to lipid metabolic homeostasis.
Altogether, our findings reveal that MGF and T0 engages in AS therapy without side effects by activating AMPK-dependent autophagy to promote macrophage cholesterol efflux, and MGF might serve as a natural compound to assist T0 in AS via targeting autophagy.
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