Burns on human skin often leads to slow recovery because of continuous wound infections caused by the loss of skin protection. In this study, a seed-free soaking method is put forward to prepare ...PCL@ZIF-8/εPL nanofibers as a dressing for burn wounds. This ZIF-8-coated polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber exhibits increased specific surface area, significantly increasing the polypeptide loading of epsilon polylysine (εPL) from 12 to 20 wt.%. The antibacterial experiment found that ZIF-8 and εPL exhibited dual antibacterial properties, and after εPL was loaded to ZIF-8, the nanofiber demonstrated stronger antibacterial properties that can better kill the remaining tenacious bacteria. This high-efficiency bactericidal property, combined with the ability to protect wounds from common infections by bacteria in the air, would promote wound healing, shortening the healing time period from 24 to 17 days. Further tissue sections confirm that the shielding effect and dual antibacterial properties of the composite fiber membrane are the reasons behind the acceleration of the healing of burns and scalds. Shielding and antibacterial material are helpful for the treatment of burns and scalds, and it may also guide the treatment of other types of wounds.
The battery is composed of a negative Zn disc electrode and a positive La0.7Ce0.3CoO3 catalyst as air electrode assembled together in 6 M KOH with 0.2 M Zn(Ac)2. The La0.7Ce0.3CoO3 catalyst shows a ...peak power density of ~160 mW cm−2, superior to that of LaCoO3 catalyst.
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•Tailoring charge density distribution can enhance oxygen electrode performance.•Lattice contraction is an optimal way to modulate charge density distribution.•Lattice contraction can decrease reaction free energy of rate-determined step.
Tailoring the charge density of active metal center is one effective approach to improve the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance by accelerating the rate-determining step. Herein, we propose a novel strategy, that is, lattice contraction tailoring to modulate the charge density of active Co atom in LaCoO3 by doping Ce ions into the host lattice. The introduction of Ce can boost the bifunctional oxygen electrode activity (0.81 V) with better durability, surpassing the pure LaCoO3 (1.00 V) catalyst. Due to the improved catalysis performance, the Zn-air battery based on lattice constrain tailoring strategy has demonstrated the 1.2- and 2.0-fold enhancement for current and power densities, respectively. The theoretical calculation reveals that the lattice contraction tailoring in LaCoO3 can effectively increase the electrical conductivity, decrease the reaction free energy and enhance the rate-determining step rate, which causes the accelerated ORR and OER rates. This study provides a novel insight into designing high-performance oxygen electrocatalyst through engineering the crystal parameters of catalysts.
In this study, we design a heating electrospray during electrospinning to prepare photo-stimulus response composite nanofibers consisting of MXene@Hydrogel. This heating electrospray could maintain ...the fluid state of MXene@Hydrogel, and spray it during the electrospinning process, so that hydrogel is uniformly distributed which cannot be achieved by the traditional soaking method. Due to the photothermal properties of composite nanofibers, the fluidity of hydrogel can be controlled by light, thus controlling the release rate of drugs. The “on” and “off” state of drug release could be controlled by light.
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The photo-stimulus response has the advantage of non-invasiveness, which could be used to control the “on” and “off” of drug release achieving on-demand release. Herein, we design a heating electrospray during electrospinning to prepare photo-stimulus response composite nanofibers consisting of MXene@Hydrogel. This heating electrospray enables to spray MXene@Hydrogel during the electrospinning process, and the hydrogel is uniformly distributed which cannot be achieved by the traditional soaking method. In addition, this heating electrospray can also overcome the difficulty that hydrogels are hard to be uniformly distributed in the inner fiber membrane.The “on” and “off” state of drug release could be controlled by light. Not only near infrared (NIR) light but also sunlight could trigger the drug release, which could benefit outdoor use when cannot find NIR light. Evidence by hydrogen bond has been formed between MXene and Hydrogel, the mechanical property of MXene@Hydrogel composite nanofibers is significantly enhanced, which is conducive to the application of human joints and other parts that need to move. These nanofibers also possess fluorescence property, which is further used to real-time monitor the in-vivo drug release. No matter the fast or slow release, this nanofiber can achieve sensitive detection, which is superior to the current absorbance spectrum method.
Fisetin, a natural flavonoid found in plants, fruits and vegetables, exerts anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-mitotic effects. The current study instigates the protective effect ...of fisetin against lead-induced synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in mice, and explores its underlying mechanisms. The results indicated fisetin can significantly ameliorated behavioral impairments in Pb-treated mice. Fisetin inhibited Pb-induced the apoptotic neurodegeneration, as indicated by the decreased levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Fisetin suppressed activations of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), NF-κB and subsequently inactivate pro-inflammatory factor including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). It can also decrease the accumulation of p-tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) and increased the expression of the Aβ remover neprilysin (NEP) in brains of mice. Fisetin also reversed Pb-induced synaptic dysfunction by increasing the levels of synaptosomal associated protein-25 (SNAP-25), postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), cyclic-AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylation. Fisetin promoted Pb-induced autophagy in the brains of mice. Moreover, fisetin can increase levels of the denosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and SIRT1. Fisetin may be developed as a potential nutritional target for the prevention of Pb-induced neurotoxicity.
•Fisetin ameliorated lead-induced behavioral impairments in mice.•Fisetin improved synaptic dysfunction, inflammation and apoptosis in brains.•Fisetin increased autophagy and p-AMPK and SIRT1 activations in brains.•Fisetin increased SNAP-25, PSD-95, CREB and CaMKII activations in brains.
Membrane-embedded pyrophosphatase (M-PPase) hydrolyzes pyrophosphate to drive ion (H+ and/or Na+) translocation. We determined crystal structures and functions of Vigna radiata M-PPase (VrH+-PPase), ...the VrH+-PPase–2Pi complex and mutants at hydrophobic gate (residue L555) and exit channel (residues T228 and E225). Ion pore diameters along the translocation pathway of three VrH+-PPases complexes (Pi-, 2Pi- and imidodiphosphate-bound states) present a unique wave-like profile, with different pore diameters at the hydrophobic gate and exit channel, indicating that the ligands induced pore size alterations. The 2Pi-bound state with the largest pore diameter might mimic the hydrophobic gate open. In mutant structures, ordered waters detected at the hydrophobic gate among VrH+-PPase imply the possibility of solvation, and numerous waters at the exit channel might signify an open channel. A salt-bridge, E225–R562 is at the way out of the exit channel of VrH+-PPase; E225A mutant makes the interaction eliminated and reveals a decreased pumping ability. E225–R562 might act as a latch to regulate proton release. A water wire from the ion gate (R-D-K-E) through the hydrophobic gate and into the exit channel may reflect the path of proton transfer.
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•The pore diameters along the ion translocation pathway of VrH+-PPase of different functional states were determined.•Pyrophosphate hydrolysis and proton pumping coupling efficacies of VrH+-PPase mutants identify the roles of hydrophobic gate and exit channel.•The solvation of the hydrophobic gate of VrH+-PPase was observed during the proton translocation.•Salt-bridge, E225–R562 at the exit channel acts as a latch to regulate ion release of VrH+-PPase.
Simple and rapid tools for screening high-risk patients for perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes. We developed an online tool with ...machine-learning algorithms using routine variables based on multicenter data.
The entire dataset was composed of 49,768 surgical patients from 3 representative academic hospitals in China. Surgical patients older than 45 years, those undergoing general anesthesia, and those without a history of PND were enrolled. When the patient's discharge diagnosis was PND, the patient was in the PND group. Patients in the non-PND group were randomly extracted from the big data platform according to the surgical type, age, and source of data in the PND group with a ratio of 3:1. After data preprocessing and feature selection, general linear model (GLM), artificial neural network (ANN), and naive Bayes (NB) were used for model development and evaluation. Model performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCAUC), the area under the precision-recall curve (PRAUC), the Brier score, the index of prediction accuracy (IPA), sensitivity, specificity, etc. The model was also externally validated on the multiparameter intelligent monitoring in intensive care (MIMIC) Ⅳ database. Afterward, we developed an online visualization tool to preoperatively predict patients' risk of developing PND based on the models with the best performance.
A total of 1051 patients (242 PND and 809 non-PND) and 2884 patients (6.2% patients with PND) were analyzed on multicenter data (model development, test internal validation, external validation-1) and MIMIC Ⅳ dataset (external validation-2). The model performance based on GLM was much better than that based on ANN and NB. The best-performing GLM model on validation-1 dataset achieved ROCAUC (0.874; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.833-0.915), PRAUC (0.685; 95% CI, 0.584-0.786), sensitivity (72.6%; 95% CI, 61.4%-81.5%), specificity (84.4%; 95% CI, 79.3%-88.4%), Brier score (0.131), and IPA (44.7%), and of which the ROCAUC (0.761, 95% CI, 0.712-0.809), the PRAUC (0.475, 95% CI, 0.370-0.581), Brier score (0.053), and IPA (76.8%) on validation-2 dataset. Afterward, we developed an online tool (https://pnd-predictive-model-dynnom.shinyapps.io/ DynNomapp/) with 10 routine variables for preoperatively screening high-risk patients.
We developed a simple and rapid online tool to preoperatively screen patients' risk of PND using GLM based on multicenter data, which may help medical staff's decision-making regarding perioperative management strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Gastrodin (GAS), the main phenolic glycoside extracted from Gastrodia elata Blume, exhibits potential renoprotective properties. Here, we examined the protective effects of GAS on carbon ...tetrachloride (CCl
)-induced kidney inflammation and fibrosis in mice, and explored its underlying mechanisms. Our research findings revealed that GAS improved CCl
-induced renal damage in mice. GAS inhibited kidney fibrosis and the deposition of collagen and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). GAS suppressed CCl
-induced inflammation in kidney tissue, as indicated by the decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The renoprotective effects of GAS were associated with inhibiting oxidative stress by regulating nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant signaling and increasing adenosine 5'-monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Furthermore, GAS supplementation inactivated the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) pathway. GAS inhibited the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Collectively, this study clarified that GAS attenuates CCl
-induced kidney inflammation and fibrosis via the AMPK/Nrf2/HMGB1 pathway.
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•The Erdaohezi deposit is a large low-sulfidation epithermal Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit.•Mineralization occurred in the Hauterivian stage of the Early Cretaceous.•Ore-forming fluids ...and materials originated from Early Cretaceous andesitic magma.•The Erdaohezi deposit formed in a back-arc extensional environment.
The Erguna metallogenic belt is a large Erdaohezi epithermal polymetallic sulfide Pb-Zn deposit in the northern Great Xing’an Range that is associated with andesitic porphyry. Mineralization mainly occurs at the edges of andesitic porphyry and adjacent Jurassic quartz porphyry and volcanic strata. Hydrothermal alteration minerals mainly include quartz, sericite, adularia, chlorite and calcite, while ore minerals include pyrite, galena and sphalerite, with minor argentite, chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite. Three hydrothermal-mineralization stages are recognized. Three categories of fluid inclusions (FIs) are distinguished in quartz, fluorite and sphalerite veins: liquid-rich, gas-rich and a few H2O–CO2 inclusions. The stage I FIs include all three inclusion types and present high homogenization temperatures (197–233℃) and salinities (0.7–6.8 wt% NaCl eq.). The stage II FIs mainly comprise liquid-rich inclusions with a few H2O–CO2 types and present higher homogenization temperatures (167–190℃) and slightly higher salinities (0.9–7.6 wt% NaCl eq.) than those of stage I. Stage III only contains liquid-rich inclusions and presents the lowest homogenization temperatures (120–157℃) and salinities (0.5–4.8 wt% NaCl eq.). The ore-forming fluids have low temperatures and salinities in an H2O–NaCl–CO2 ± CH4 system. The O–H isotope data (-2.2 to −5.0‰ and −160.0 to −152.5‰, respectively) suggest that ore-forming fluids gradually evolved from mantle primarywater to meteoric water. Sulfur, strontium and lead isotopes imply a mixed crustal and mantle source for the ore-forming materials. Sulfide Rb–Sr dating yields a well-defined isochron age of 130.5 ± 3.6 Ma from the main mineralization stage, which is similar to the zircon age of 134.9 ± 0.9 Ma for the andesitic porphyry related to mineralization. We therefore proposed that Erdaohezi is a low-sulfidation epithermal Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit, and fluid immiscibility was the dominant mechanism of ore deposition. Mineralization occurred in an Early Cretaceous back-arc extensional setting that was related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.
•Ampelopsin prevented CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.•Ampelopsin attenuates mouse liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation.•Ampelopsin increased autophagy and SIRT1 activations in ...livers and HSCs.•Ampelopsin inhibited the TGF-β1 and Smad3 activations in vivo and in vitro.
Ampelopsin (Amp), a natural flavonoid found in the vine tea of Ampelopsis grossedentata, exhibited anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and hepatoprotective properties. The current study instigates the protective effect of Amp on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis and explores its underlying mechanisms. The results indicated Amp decreased the levels of liver injury markers. Amp inhibited liver fibrosis, as indicated by decreases in hepatic collagen deposition, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Amp blocked the activation of hepaticstellate cells (HSCs) by decreasing the expression of collage I, α-SMA, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) 1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3) and increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 9 and SIRT1 in the model of liver fibrosis and cultured HSCs. The sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) specific inhibitor Sirtinol activated the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway and enhanced ECM accumulation. Attractively, Amp up-regulates the expression of autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein light chain three II (LC3-II) and Beclin-1 in vivo and in vitro. However, depletion of autophagy by specific inhibitor 3-MA obviously abolished the inhibiting effect of Amp on HSC activation and hepatic fibrosis. Conclusively, these results suggest that Amp could decrease CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis through regulating the SIRT1/TGF-β1/Smad3 and autophagy pathway.
Tomato cultivars with contrasting resistance to pathogens regulate root exudates differentially in response to
attacks. However, strategies using innate root exudates against infection remain ...unknown. This study analyzed the innate root exudates of two tomato cultivars and their functions in regulating
infection. The innate root exudates differed between the two cultivars. Astaxanthin released from resistant plants inhibited colonization by
but promoted motility, while neferine released from susceptible plants suppressed motility and colonization. The secretion of astaxanthin in resistant tomatoes promoted the growth of biocontrol fungi in soil and reduced the abundance of pathogenic fungi. Neferine secreted by the susceptible cultivar inhibited the relative abundance of the bacterial-biocontrol-related
genus, indirectly reducing the soil's immune capacity. This study revealed contrasting strategies using root exudates in resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars to cope with
infection, providing a basis for breeding disease-resistant cultivars.
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