The major problems for photocatalysts are the poor visible light-driven activity, separation process for the recycling of photocatalysts, and fast recombination of photoexcited carriers. We tried to ...solve these problems by the growth of Bi2WO6 flower nanostructures on the conductive wire mesh substrates, and the deposition of Ag nanoparticles on Bi2WO6 using a double-potentiostatic electrodeposition method to make the visible-light driven metal wire mesh/Ag-Bi2WO6 as an immobilized photocatalyst. Close contact among Bi2WO6 with Ag nanoparticle and metal wire mesh facilitated effective separation of photoexcited charges, leading to improved photocatalytic activities. The results of diffuse reflection spectra, electrochemical impedance spectra, and photocurrent response confirmed the enhanced charge separation and increased optical absorption by the decoration of Ag nanoparticles. The optimized wire mesh/Ag-Bi2WO6 photocatalyst exhibited a high visible-light driven activity. Rhodamine B was completely degraded within 60 min of irradiation. Three-dimensional flower-like Bi2WO6 nanostructure and wire-mesh structure of the substrate maximize the contact area between photocatalyst and the dye molecules. Decorated Ag nanoparticle extended the range of absorption wavelength from UV light to visible light region. The immobilized photocatalyst can be easily recycled and reused without centrifugation and filtration process.
Display omitted
•‧3D metal wire mesh/Ag-Bi2WO6 was prepared as an immobilized photocatalyst.•‧Wire mesh/Ag-flower-like Bi2WO6 shows enhanced photocatalytic activity.•‧Introducing Ag nanoparticle and metal wire mesh facilitated separation of photoexcited charges.•‧The major active species generated in the photocatalyst are .•O2− and h+.•‧Immobilized photocatalysts can be easily reused without centrifugation or filtration.
Display omitted
•High H2 production activity of dendritic PbS and PbS@CuS was reported for the first time.•Interfacial charge transfer of PbS@CuS were monitored by in-situ X-ray absorption.•Cu ...L3-edge NEXAFS spectra revealed the transfer of photogenerated electrons from CuS to PbS.•Amounts of CuS are optimized to achieve a max H2 production rate of 1736 μmol h−1 g−1.
Dendritic PbS@CuS core-shell photocatalysts were synthesized with a two-step method: a dendritic PbS core was formed with an ionic liquid/surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method; a CuS shell was grown with an ion-exchange method. Highly active production of H2 with these dendritic PbS@CuS photocatalysts is reported for the first time. The surface chemistry, morphology, and properties of the crystal lattice of these core-shell nanomaterials were investigated. The effects of the content of the copper (II) nitrate precursor in the nanomaterials on the charge separation, optical properties, and activity for the production of H2 were investigated. The interfacial charge-transfer behaviors of the composite nanomaterials were studied with Cu L3-edge near-edge X-ray-absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) spectra in situ. A mechanism is proposed based on the results ofNEXAFS spectra monitored in situbefore and after exposure to solar light. The photoelectron was transferred from CuS to PbS. The proportions of the CuS shells in these dendritic PbS@CuS photocatalysts were optimized to achieve a maximum activity 1736 μmol h−1 g−1 of hydrogen production.
ZnO@ZnS nanorod-decorated Ni foam was prepared as a self-supported photocatalyst for hydrogen generation through a two-step method, including the formation of the ZnO nanorod core by a hydrothermal ...method, and the fabrication of the ZnS shell by a sulfidation method. The impact of the ZnS shell thickness was studied, including the influence on the optical properties, surface wettability, separation of photoexcited charge carriers, and photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance. Formation of the core-shell ZnO@ZnS structure and the incorporation of the conductive Ni foam substrate can enhance the separation of photoexcited carriers of the immobilized photocatalyst. The formation of ZnO@ZnS nanorods on the Ni foam resulted in a change in the surface from hydrophobic to superhydrophilic. The porous texture of the Ni foam facilitates the effective contact between the sacrificial agent and the immobilized photocatalyst. The ZnO@ZnS/Ni foam photocatalyst that was synthesized using a sulfidation time of 4 h, (namely, NZS4), exhibited H2 generation activity of 5860 μmol g−1 h−1, which is approximately three-fold that of the ZnO/Ni foam photocatalyst (named NZ). After being reused for three cycles, with a simple washing between cycles, the NZS4 photocatalyst retained 90% of its hydrogen generation activity.
Display omitted
•ZnO@ZnS nanorods decorated Ni foam is elaborately designed for H2 production.•ZnO@ZnS heterojunction and conductive Ni foam facilitate charge separation.•The surface becomes superhydrophilic by growing ZnO@ZnS nanorods.•Porous texture facilitates the contact between sacrificing agent and photocatalyst.•Synergistic effect of ZnO@ZnS heterojunction and Ni foam can improve the activity.
Abstract
Background
Long noncoding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LncRNA MALAT1) has been proven to promote osteogenesis in different health conditions. However, the role ...of plasma MALAT1 in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) has not been investigated.
Objective
To investigate whether plasma MALAT1 expressions are associated with severity of PMOP.
Methods
A total of 126 patients with PMOP and 126 healthy female control individuals were drafted into study participation. Plasma MALAT1 was detected using RT-PCR. Bone formation marker bone-specific alkaline phosphatase plasma concentration was determined using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Levels of bone absorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptidases of type I collagen were measured in duplicate using enzyme immunoassay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in the total hips, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1–L4) spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. We used Genant semiquantitative (GSQ) criteria to assess the degree of vertebral deformity and fracture. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the potential diagnostic value of MALAT1 with regard to the GSQ grading. We used the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to evaluate the symptomatic severity in and functional ability of the study participants.
Results
Plasma MALAT1 expressions were significantly lower in patients with PMOP, compared with healthy controls. Plasma MALAT1 expressions in patients with PMOP were positively associated with total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1–L4) spine BMD. In total, 95 patients experienced vertebral deformity or fracture (VF), and 31 had no fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were markedly decreased in patients with VF, compared with patients without fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were negatively related to GSQ grading in patients with VF. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that decreased plasma MALAT1 expression exhibits decent diagnostic value with regard to GSQ grading. Finally, we discovered that plasma MALAT1 expression was also negatively associated with VAS and ODI.
Conclusion
Plasma MALAT1 expressions are negatively associated with severity of PMOP.
Background: YKL-40, which is also known as Chitiniase 3-like 1, has been found to be up-regulated in many autoimmune diseases including asthma, systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus, etc. However, ...the relationship between serum levels of YKL-40 and one another common autoinmmue thyroid disease - Graves' disease (GD) has not yet been investigated.
Objective: The current study was performed to investigate the correlation of serum YKL-40 levels with disease severity of initially diagnosed GD.
Methods: A total of 142 newly diagnosed active GD and 137 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Methimazole was given to 55 GD patients and then 2-month study of follow-up was performed. A commercial ELISA kit was applied for the detection of YKL-40 in serum. Degree of goiter was assessed according to Pérez's Grade. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to detect the diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 with regard to goiter degree. The velocity of the peak systolic blood-flow and the thyroid tissue blood flow (TBF) were examined using Color Flow Doppler ultrasonography (CFDU).
Results: The patients with GD exhibited dramatically higher YKL-40 in serum compared to those of healthy controls (606.1 ± 149.8 pg/mL vs. 397.4 ± 95.1 pg/mL, P < 0.001). Positive associations of YKL-40 with free T3 (FT3) and T4 (FT4), as well as the negative correlation of YKL-40 with TSH in serum, were observed. Additionally, the YKL-40 in serum was dramatically reduced after methimazole intervention, and the correlation of the decline with the reduced FT3 and FT4 was also found (all P < 0.001). Serum YKL-40 levels were positively correlated with goiter degree. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that serum YKL-40 concentration may act as a decent marker for goiter degree. The positive correlations of YKL-40 in serum with the average superior thyroid artery velocity (STV) and thyroid tissue blood flow (TBF) were also observed.
Conclusion: Our findings implicated that YKL-40 may be closely connected to the pathogenesis of GD. Increased YKL-40 levels are linked with disease severity of initially diagnosed GD.
The pro-inflammatory protein chemokine cytokine ligand 3 is well established as a vital regulator of bone resorption and osteoclast stimulation.
To investigate if serum cytokine ligand 3 levels ...correlated with disease severity in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.
Cross-sectional study.
Eighty-two postmenopausal osteoporotic women, 76 postmenopausal non-osteoporotic women, and 80 healthy women of childbearing age were recruited. The total hip, femoral neck, and L1-L4 spine bone mineral density were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum cytokine ligand 3 concentrations were examined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Serum inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and the bone metabolic markers, carboxy-terminal crosslinked and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b were also examined. Scores on both the visual analogue scale and the Oswestry Disability Index were utilized to assess clinical severity.
Patients in the postmenopausal osteoporotic group had significantly increased serum cytokine ligand 3 levels compared with those in both the postmenopausal non-osteoporotic group (40.9±15.1 pg/mL vs 24.2±8.7 pg/mL, p<0.001) and control group (40.9±15.1 pg/mL vs 23.9±9.1 pg/mL, p<0.001). Serum cytokine ligand 3 levels negatively correlated with bone mineral density at the total hip (r=-0.345, p=0.002), femoral neck (r=-0.329, p=0.003), and L1-L4 lumbar spine (r=-0.354, p=0.001) and positively correlated with visual analogue scale scores (r=0.413, p<0.001) and the Oswestry Disability Index (r=0.360, p<0.001). Moreover, serum cytokine ligand 3 levels were correlated with increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (r=0.305, p=0.005), interleukin-6 (r=0.288, p=0.008), terminal crosslinked and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (r=0.371, p<0.001), and carboxy-terminal crosslinked (r=0.317, p=0.004) levels. All correlations were still significant after adjusting for both body mass index and age.
Chemokine cytokine ligand 3 may be a useful biomarker that can be used to predict disease severity of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Therapies targeting cytokine ligand 3 and its related signaling pathways to inhibit and delay the osteoclastogenesis process deserve further investigation.
The neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been identified as inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and suppressing inflammation.
This study was conducted to examine serum VIP levels in ...postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients and explore the correlation of serum VIP levels with disease severity of PMOP.
A total of 106 postmenopausal women diagnosed as osteoporotic were enrolled in the study and 102 postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density (BMD) were enrolled as controls. BMD at the femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine 1-4, and total hip were examined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Genant semiquantitative grading was used for vertebral morphometry and fracture. Serum VIP levels were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β), osteoclastic activity marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), and estrogen-2 (E2) were also examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses was performed to determine the diagnostic values of serum VIP, IL-1β, TRCAP-5, and E2 with regard to Genant grade.
Our findings demonstrated a reduction in the serum level of VIP expressed in PMOP patients compared with controls. In the PMOP group, patients with lumbar fracture had significantly lower serum VIP concentrations in comparison with healthy controls. Serum VIP concentrations were positively associated with BMD at the FN, lumbar spine 1-4, and total hip. We also observed that serum VIP levels were positively correlated with E2 levels but negatively correlated with IL-1β and TRCAP-5 levels. In addition, ROC analysis found that reduction of serum VIP in combination with elevation of TRACP-5b may serve as an indicator of a severe Genant grade.
Attenuated serum VIP levels were linked to disease severity of PMOP and may act as a protective marker for PMOP.
The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been identified to facilitate osteogenic differentiation and bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, whether ...lack of PACAP is associated with osteoporosis (OP) still remains unknown. The scope of the current study was to examine the potential relationship between serum PACAP concentrations and disease severity in female patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). 123 PMOP females were enrolled in our study. During the same period, BMI and age-matched 120 postmenopausal non-osteoporotic (PMNOP) patients were also recruited as control. Serum PACAP concentrations were determined by Sandwich ELISA. Bone mineral density was examined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the total hip, lumbar 1–4 vertebrae and left femoral neck. Genant grade was utilized for evaluating the degree of vertebral fracture and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to examine the diagnostic value of PACAP with regard to Genant grade. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was applied for test pain and 6-min walking as well as sit-to-stand test was used for functional status. The bone turnover markers including N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) (marker of bone formation) and C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (marker of bone resorption) were also examined. The PMOP women had significantly decreased mean serum PACAP levels in comparison with the PMNOP females. Serum levels of PACAP in vertebrae fracture patients were significantly lower than that in non-fracture patients Serum PACAP concentrations were negatively and significantly related to Genant grade as well as BMD at total hip, lumbar 1–4 vertebrae and left femoral neck. Further ROC analysis indicated that PACAP may act as a decent marker for Genant grade. In addition, serum PACAP levels were negatively associated with NRS and positively related to 6-min walking as well as sit-to-stand test scores. Last, we found PACAP were negatively correlated with increased CTX-I levels and positively related to PINP levels. Attenuated PACAP concentrations were related to disease severity of PMOP, PACAP may act as a protective role during PMOP.
The chemokine C-C motif ligand 11, also known as eotaxin-1, has been identified as a novel mediator of inflammatory bone resorption. However, little is known regarding a potential role for ...CCL11/Eotaxin-1 in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
The scope of this study was to explore the relationship between serum CCL11/Eotaxin-1 concentrations and disease progression of postmenopausal females with osteoporosis.
A total of 83 postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis were enrolled. Meanwhile, 82 postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density (BMD) and 85 healthy controls inner child-bearing age were enrolled as control. The Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to examine the BMDs at the femoral neck, lumbar spine 1-4 and total hip of all participants. Serum CCL11/Eotaxin-1 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also included inflammation marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as a serum marker of bone resorption C-telopeptide cross-linked collagen type 1 (CTX-1). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were recorded to evaluate the clinical severity in POMP females.
Serum CCL11/Eotaxin-1 levels were significantly elevated in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients PMOP patients compared with PMNOP and healthy controls. We observed a significant negative correlation of serum CCL11/Eotaxin-1 levels with lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip BMD. Furthermore, serum CCL11/ Eotaxin-1 concentrations were also positively related to the VAS and ODI scores. Last, serum CCL11/ Eotaxin-1 concentrations were positively associated with IL-6 and CTX-1 levels. These correlations remain significant after adjusting for age and BMI. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that CCL11/Eotaxin-1 could serve as an independent marker.
Serum CCL 11/Eotaxin-1 may serve as a candidate biomarker for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Therapeutics targeting CCL11/Eotaxin-1 and its related signalling way to prevent and slow progression of PMOP deserve further study.
PDF
