Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70-80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal ...microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.
Direct ink writing technology is capable of using 2D MXene to construct 3D architectures for electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices that are normally difficult to achieve using conventional ...techniques. However, to meet specific rheological requirements for 3D printing, a large amount of MXene is needed in the ink, resulting in a severe self‐restacking structure after drying. Herein, a series of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with different morphologies and surface chemistries are applied to enhance the rheology of the MXene‐based inks with exceptional 3D printability. Various 3D architectures with superior shape fidelity and geometric accuracy are successfully printed using the optimized hybrid ink at a low solid content, generating self‐standing, hierarchically porous structures after being freeze‐dried, which improves surface area accessibility, ion transport efficiency, and ultimately, capacitive performance. A solid‐state interdigitated symmetrical supercapacitor is further 3D printed, which delivers an areal capacitance of 2.02 F cm−2 and an energy density of 101 μWh cm−2 at a power density of 0.299 mW cm−2, and maintains a capacitance retention rate of 85% after 5000 cycles. This work demonstrates the integration of 1D CNFs and 2D MXene in 3D printing technology to prepare customized, multiscale, and multidimensional architectures for the next generation of EES devices.
By rationally controlling the dimension and surface chemistry of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), CNFs are successfully applied as rheology modifiers to formulate viscoelastic, 3D printable MXene‐based ink at a low solid concentration of 8 wt%. The freestanding, hierarchically porous MXene‐based electrode architectures can be achieved by 3D printing and freeze‐drying, which holds great potential in electrochemical energy storage devices.
In a cluster-randomized trial, villages were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to use a salt substitute (75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride by mass) or regular salt. Among persons who had a history ...of stroke or were 60 years of age or older and had hypertension, rates of stroke, major cardiovascular events, and death were lower with the salt substitute, which had no apparent serious adverse effects.
Exfoliating montmorillonite (Mt) to nanolayers is a crucial step during producing clay/polymer nanocomposites(CPN). Only well-exfoliated and well-dispersed Mt. nanolayers in the polymer matrix can ...significantly improve the properties of the nanocomposites. This review examines the latest scientific advances in the exfoliation methods of Mt., the insights into the exfoliation mechanisms, and the peculiar functionalities of the resultant CPN. The direct exfoliation of Mt. dispersed in water or organic solvents is often intensified by ultrasonication. Grinding of Mt. in the form of solid in a high-energy ball mill can directly exfoliate Mt. to some extent. Exfoliating Mt. for producing CPN is mainly achieved through so-called in situ exfoliation, solution exfoliation and melt exfoliation. The Mt./polymer nanocomposites exhibit typically improved barrier properties, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and fire retardancy. The literature survey suggests that future work should place emphases on developing green and effective exfoliation methods, and deepening understanding of exfoliation mechanisms and the interfacial interactions between the inorganic Mt. nanolayers and organic monomers/polymers. Future research is suggested to assembling exfoliated Mt. nanolayers with functional polymeric molecules or other nano-scale building blocks to produce functional hierarchical nanomaterials with practical applications.
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•Literature survey and opinions on exfoliating montmorillonite (Mt) into nanolayers.•Organic modification of Mt for exfoliating Mt in polymer matrix.•Exfoliation of Mt by in situ polymerization, in polymer solution, and melt exfoliation•Exfoliated Mt for improving barrier, mechanical and thermal properties, and flame retardancy.•Remarks on challenges and opportunities in exfoliation of Mt for nanocomposites.
Flexible transparent supercapacitors (FTSs) have aroused considerable attention. Nonetheless, balancing energy storage capability and transparency remains challenging. Herein, a new type of FTSs with ...both excellent energy storage and superior transparency is developed based on PEDOT:PSS/MXene/Ag grid ternary hybrid electrodes. The hybrid electrodes can synergistically utilize the high optoelectronic properties of Ag grids, the excellent capacitive performance of MXenes, and the superior chemical stability of PEDOT:PSS, thus, simultaneously demonstrating excellent optoelectronic properties (T: ≈89%, Rs: ≈39 Ω sq−1), high areal specific capacitance, superior mechanical softness, and excellent anti‐oxidation capability. Due to the excellent comprehensive performances of the hybrid electrodes, the resulting FTSs exhibit both high optical transparency (≈71% and ≈60%) and large areal specific capacitance (≈3.7 and ≈12 mF cm−2) besides superior energy storage capacity (P: 200.93, E: 0.24 µWh cm−2). Notably, the FTSs show not only excellent energy storage but also exceptional sensing capability, viable for human activity recognition. This is the first time to achieve FTSs that combine high transparency, excellent energy storage and good sensing all‐in‐one, which make them stand out from conventional flexible supercapacitors and promising for next‐generation smart flexible energy storage devices.
A new type of flexible transparent supercapacitors (FTSs) combining high optical transparency, excellent energy storage, and good sensing capability all‐in‐one is developed based on inkjet printed ternary hybrid electrodes of PEDOT:PSS/MXene/Ag grid. The multifunction of the resulting FTSs make them stand out from conventional flexible supercapacitors and feasible for next‐generation smart flexible energy storage devices.
A ratiometric fluorescent probe Cy-NEt2 for detecting ONOO- is designed and prepared by de novo synthesis, which is a reliable, cheap and flexible route. The probe is applied for monitoring the level ...of mitochondrial ONOO- and assessing the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress status in living cells and in vivo successfully.
To systematically review the epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Four electronic databases were searched up until December 2018. The manual search ...included the reference lists of the included studies and relevant journals. Observational studies evaluating the relationship between T2DM and periodontitis were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA.
A total of 53 observational studies were included. The Adjusted T2DM prevalence was significantly higher in periodontitis patients (OR = 4.04, p = 0.000), and vice versa (OR = 1.58, p = 0.000). T2DM patients had significantly worse periodontal status, as reflected in a 0.61 mm deeper periodontal pocket, a 0.89 mm higher attachment loss and approximately 2 more lost teeth (all p = 0.000), than those without T2DM. The results of the cohort studies found that T2DM could elevate the risk of developing periodontitis by 34% (p = 0.002). The glycemic control of T2DM patients might result in different periodontitis outcomes. Severe periodontitis increased the incidence of T2DM by 53% (p = 0.000), and this result was stable. In contrast, the impact of mild periodontitis on T2DM incidence (RR = 1.28, p = 0.007) was less robust.
There is an evident bidirectional relationship between T2DM and periodontitis. Further well-designed cohort studies are needed to confirm this finding. Our results suggest that both dentists and physicians need to be aware of the strong connection between periodontitis and T2DM. Controlling these two diseases might help prevent each other's incidence.
Finding thin, light and high-capacity electrode materials is an urgent need for the application of rechargeable metal-ion batteries. The performance of MXenes as anode materials are largely ...determined by the surface terminal groups, and surface modification strategies are often used to improve their energy storage performance. Here S-functionalized Ti2C is designed and the properties of it as anode materials for rechargeable metal-ion batteries is studied by first-principles calculations, including Li-, Na-, K-, Mg-, Ca-, and Al-ion batteries. The metallic nature, high structural stability of Ti2CS2 monolayer, as well as the small diffusion barriers and low OCV values of these metal cations make the Ti2CS2 monolayer a promising anode material for rechargeable metal-ion batteries. Most importantly, the stable multilayer adsorption (up to three layers) of Na and Mg ensure the excellent capacity of Ti2CS2 monolayer in Na-ion (935.57 mA h g−1) and Mg-ion (1871.13 mA h g−1) batteries. The findings in our work may encourage further experimental and theoretical research on the designation of MXenes-based, even other two-dimensional anode materials for high-capacity rechargeable metal-ion batteries.
•Ti2CS2 monolayer is designed as anode materials for rechargeable metal-ion batteries.•The properties of Ti2CS2 as anode is fully investigated by first-principles calculations.•Ti2CS2 monolayer has ultrahigh theoretical capacity for Na-ion and Mg-ion batteries.
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•Freez-thaw cycles increase lipid and protein oxidation, reduce colour stability and pH of chicken breast meat.•SDS–PAGE and DSC profile shows that multiple freez-thaw cause ...structural changes in muscle protein.•Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometery profile indicate the reduce myowater in chicken breast meat.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of repeated freeze–thaw cycles (0–6) on any physico-chemical changes and lipid and protein oxidation in chicken breast. The results showed that meat colour, a∗ (redness) and b∗ (yellowness) values decreased while L∗ values (lightness) increased with increasing cycle numbers. Increasing freeze–thaw cycles resulted in a greater degree of lipid and protein oxidation, as evidenced by higher contents of malondialdehyde and carbonyl compounds, and lower contents of sulfhydryl groups. Differential scanning calorimetry profiles and SDS–PAGE banding patterns of myofibrillar proteins indicated slight denaturation of myosin and actin with repeated freeze–thaw cycles. The structural changes occurring in proteins caused by oxidation directly affected the ability of muscles to retain water, as confirmed by the nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometery profile. In conclusion, multiple freeze–thaw cycles increased lipid and protein oxidation and decreased water holding capacity and colour stability of broiler chicken breast.
Background:
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely integrated into cancer care in China. An overview in 2011 identified 2384 randomized and non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs, non-RCTs) on ...TCM for cancer published in the Chinese literature. This article summarizes updated evidence of RCTs on TCM for cancer care.
Methods:
We searched 4 main Chinese databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, SinoMed, and Wanfang. RCTs on TCM used in cancer care were analyzed in this bibliometric study.
Results:
Of 5834 RCTs (477 157 cancer patients), only 62 RCTs were indexed in MEDLINE. The top 3 cancers treated were lung, stomach, and breast cancer. About 4752 RCTs (81.45%) tested TCM combined with conventional treatment, and 1082 RCTs (18.55%) used TCM alone for treating symptoms and side-effects. Herbal medicine was the most frequently used TCM modality (5087 RCTs; 87.20%). The most frequently reported outcome was symptom improvement (3712 RCTs; 63.63%) followed by quality of life (2725 RCTs; 46.71%), and biomarkers (2384 RCTs; 40.86%). The majority of RCTs (4051; 69.44%) concluded there were beneficial effects using either TCM alone or TCM plus conventional treatment compared with conventional treatment.
Conclusion:
Substantial randomized trials demonstrated different types/stages of cancer were treated by various TCM modalities, alone or in combination with conventional medicine. Further evaluation on the effects and safety of TCM modalities focusing on outcomes such as quality of life is required.
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