In this work, the end-capping strategy was adopted in selenized material production for the first time. Methylselenized glucose, as a new-generation selenized glucose product, was designed and ...synthesized under NaBH4-free conditions, avoiding the generation of hydrogen gas. In comparison with the reported works, the new method significantly reduced the production cost and enhanced production safety. The produced methylselenized glucose was an even more stable material and the low-valent Se in it was hardly oxidized by air, resulting in the elevated efficiency of the material serving as a practical Se fertilizer in Se-enriched crop planting.
Background: The expression level of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) increased in peripheral blood and synovialis tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, and it may play an important role in the ...pathological process of RA. We investigated its possibility as a diagnostic marker and the correlation with T helper 17 (Th17) and Treg cells in elder RA patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 38 active RA patients, 38 inactive RA patients, and 40 healthy controls. RNA expression levels of miR-146a were detected from the peripheral blood samples. The proportion of Th17 and Treg cells were analyzed, as well as their cell-specific transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor variant 2 (RORc) and forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3). Furthermore, secretion of pre-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors was detected. Correlations between miR-146a and these factors were also analyzed. Results: Compared with healthy control, expression levels of miR-146a in inactive and active groups were significantly higher, with the highest level in active group. The expression of miR-146a and the RA severity, Th17 cell ratio, RORc expression, IL-17 level showed a significant positive correlation, while it showed a significantly negative correlation with Treg cell ration, FOXP3 expression, and TGF-β1 secretion. Conclusions: These results suggested that miR-146a may be used as a disease progression marker in the peripheral blood of elder RA patients.
Elemental sulfur cathodes for lithium/sulfur batteries are receiving intense interest owing to their high theoretical capacity and energy density. However, they still suffer from severe capacity ...fading and moderate rate capability. Herein, we provide rational design and controllable fabrication of highly uniform flower-like hierarchical carbon nanospheres (FCNS) for sulfur accommodation for lithium/sulfur battery cathodes. The as-prepared three dimension FCNS with a size of around 200 nm seem to be assembled by petal-like carbon nanosheets with a thickness of about 4 nm, forming many mesoporous channels, which lead to their high surface area and large pore volume. With such a tailor-made structure, FCNS/sulfur composite cathodes with high sulfur-loading (81 wt%) deliver high specific capacity, long cycling life and excellent rate capability. Particularly, N-doped flower-like carbon nanospheres (NFCNS) with higher surface area (1223 m2 g-1) and larger pore volume (2.33 cm3 g-1) are also fabricated by treating with NH3 and used to host sulfur in lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, exhibiting more excellent rate capability (829 mA h g-1 at 5C) and cycling stability with a decay of 0.03% per cycle over 200 cycles at 1C. Even though the area density is improved to 2.5 mg sulfur per cm2, the battery still has a decay of 0.056% per cycle over 200 cycles.
Nitrogen-doped porous carbon plates have been prepared by simple and cost-effective pyrolysis carbonization of an easily available biomass-fallen camellia flower and followed by alkali activation. ...As-prepared nitrogen-doped porous carbon (aNPCP3) possesses a high specific surface area of 2318 m
2
g
−1
and abundant micro/meso-pores. As a result, the aNPCP3 samples have been demonstrated to be electrodes for supercapacitors, displaying a high specific capacitance of 354 F g
−1
at a current density of 0.2 A g
−1
and excellent cycling stability. Further, the aNPCP3 samples used as sulfur host materials for lithium-sulfur batteries exhibit a high capacity of 1210 mAh g
−1
and good cycling stability with a small capacity decay of about 0.1 % per cycle. Interestingly, it is found that their electrochemical performances are dependent on their specific surface area, pore structure, and heteroatom-doping content and type of carbon materials to a large extent. Cheapness, convenient resource, and good performance make these electrode materials displaying huge potential in cost-effective high-performance energy storage devices.
Insulin resistance, diabetes and many kinds of cancers are common in overweight and obese individuals. The tumor suppressor p53 is important in securing genetic stability, but its role in the ...regulation of metabolic processes and cell differentiation remains unclear. We have investigated the role of p53 in adipocyte differentiation. Using 3T3-L1 cells, a mouse embryonic fibroblast preadipocyte model and DIO rat model, p53 expression and function during adipocyte differentiation were investigated. p53 expression increased on the second and fourth day of adipocyte differentiation and decreased thereafter. Its overexpression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes markedly reduced adipogenesis and marker gene expression. p53 activity was weakened in DIO rat abdominal adipose tissue because of an decreased expression of its activated phosphorylated form. In contrast, p53 knockout enhanced adipogenesis and the expression of marker genes, but significantly reduced insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. These results indicate that p53 partly suppresses preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by regulating adipocyte gene expression and Akt signaling.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Bone marrow adipogenesis exerts an inhibitory effect on osteogenesis, which ...leads to osteoporosis. S100A16, a novel member of the S100 family, is ubiquitously expressed, and markedly enhances adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to demonstrate, in the mouse BM-MSC model, whether S100A16 significantly stimulates adipogenic, rather than osteogenic differentiation. The overexpression of S100A16 led to a significant increase in Oil Red O staining (a marker of adipocyte differentiation) but a decrease in Alizarin Red S staining (a marker of osteoblast differentiation). In contrast, reducing the expression of S100A16 resulted in minimal Oil Red O staining but increased Alizarin Red S staining. During differentiation into osteoblasts, RUNX2 expression increased fourfold in the S100A16
KO+/−
BM-MSCs, but only increased by approximately 1.5-fold in the S100A16
TG+/+
BM-MSCs. And BMP2 occurred in the same changes. Upon induction of BM-MSC differentiation into adipocytes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α expression were significantly higher in the cells overexpressing S100A16 protein but lower in the cells with reduced expression of S100A16 protein, compared with the control cells, which were BM-MSCs derived from C57/BL6. S100A16 increased PPARγ promoter luciferase activity and decreased RUNX2 promoter luciferase activity. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was stimulated during osteogenesis, whereas p-JNK phosphorylation was increased by stimulation of adipogenesis. Our results suggest that S100A16 inhibits osteogenesis but stimulates adipogenesis by increasing the transcription of PPARγ and decreasing the transcription of RUNX2. The ERK1/2 pathway is involved in the regulation of osteogenesis whereas the JNK pathway is involved in adipogenesis.
Ghrelin receptor agonists have been established to be important in ameliorating the nutritional conditions in patients with malnutrition. However, some studies have reported inconsistent results. We ...aimed to coalesce the available evidence on the efficacy of ghrelin receptor agonists for the treatment of malnutrition.
We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE for relevant articles published through March 2016. Studies comparing the efficacy of ghrelin receptor agonists versus placebo in malnourished patients were eligible for inclusion.
A total of 12 studies involving 1377 patients were included. Compared with placebo, ghrelin receptor agonists could increase the energy intake (standard mean difference SMD 2.67, 95% confidence interval CI 1.48 to 3.85, P < 0.001), lean body mass (weighted mean difference WMD 0.25 kg, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.42, P = 0.006), fat mass (WMD 0.92 kg, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.8, P = 0.038), and grip strength (WMD 0.31 kg, 95% CI 0.207 to 0.414, P < 0.001) of patients with malnutrition.
Our analysis indicated that ghrelin receptor agonists could improve the poor nutritional state of malnourished patients by increasing their energy intake, ameliorating their irregular body composition and improving their grip strength. However, these results might be less conclusive due to the limited sample sizes and one potential publication that has not been released.
Elemental sulfur cathodes for lithium/sulfur batteries are receiving intense interest owing to their high theoretical capacity and energy density. However, they still suffer from severe capacity ...fading and moderate rate capability. Herein, we provide rational design and controllable fabrication of highly uniform flower-like hierarchical carbon nanospheres (FCNS) for sulfur accommodation for lithium/sulfur battery cathodes. The as-prepared three dimension FCNS with a size of around 200 nm seem to be assembled by petal-like carbon nanosheets with a thickness of about 4 nm, forming many mesoporous channels, which lead to their high surface area and large pore volume. With such a tailor-made structure, FCNS/sulfur composite cathodes with high sulfur-loading (81 wt%) deliver high specific capacity, long cycling life and excellent rate capability. Particularly, N-doped flower-like carbon nanospheres (NFCNS) with higher surface area (1223 m
2
g
−1
) and larger pore volume (2.33 cm
3
g
−1
) are also fabricated by treating with NH
3
and used to host sulfur in lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, exhibiting more excellent rate capability (829 mA h g
−1
at 5C) and cycling stability with a decay of 0.03% per cycle over 200 cycles at 1C. Even though the area density is improved to 2.5 mg sulfur per cm
2
, the battery still has a decay of 0.056% per cycle over 200 cycles.
Highly uniform flower-like carbon nanospheres/sulfur cathode for Li-S battery delivers excellent performance.
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