The development of low-cost yet highly efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for large-scale clean and sustainable hydrogen production from water splitting. Tuning the ...interfacial structure of catalyst has emerged as an effective strategy to optimize the intrinsic catalytic activity. In this study, we demonstrated the deposition of Ru nanoparticles by freshly prepared strong reductive Ti(III) oxide, resulting in Ru/reduced TiO2 interface with oxygen vacancies. The as-prepared Ru/r-TiO2 exhibited a superior HER performance over commercial Pt/C in alkaline media, with only a small overpotential of 15 mV required to deliver the benchmark current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a high turnover frequency of 8.74 s−1 achieved at an overpotential of 100 mV. Density functional theory calculation indicates that high electrocatalytic activity of Ru/r-TiO2 is originated from the promotion of water dissociation and weakening OH adsorption by reduced TiO2, which facilitate the conversion of water to H2. This work provides an efficient strategy for the design of high-performance HER catalysts.
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•Reduced TiO2-supported Ru nanocatalyst with negatively charged Ru and oxygen vacancies was prepared.•Ru/r-TiO2 exhibited a superior hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline media.•Only an overpotential of 15 mV is need to deliver a benchmark current density of 10 mA cm−2.•High HER activity was attributed to the synergy of promoting water dissociation and weakening OH* adsorption.
Highlights • Water electrolysis-derived hydrogen is effective in cerebral I/R injury. • Water electrolysis-derived hydrogen prevents oxidative stress and inflammation. • Water electrolysis-derived ...hydrogen is safe for inhalation. • Water electrolysis-derived hydrogen is a new hydrogen resource for clinical use.
Poly(amic acid)s (PAAs) alignment agents have been prepared from the alicyclic dianhydrides, including 1,2,3,4‐cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CBDA, I), ...1,3‐dimethyl‐1,2,3,4‐cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DMCBDA, II), and ester‐linked aromatic diamines, including 4‐aminophenyl‐4′‐aminobenzoate (APAB, a) and bis(4‐aminophenyl)terephthalate (BPTP, b), respectively. The derived PAAs, including PAA‐Ia (CBDA‐APAB), PAA‐Ib (CBDA‐BPTP), and PAA‐IIa (DMCBDA‐APAB) exhibited the preferable molecular weights, while the PAA‐IIb (DMCBDA‐BPTP) showed the low one due to the low polymerization reactivity both for the DMCBDA dianhydride and the BPTP diamine. All the PAA solutions except PAA‐IIb were adopted as the alignment components to fabricate liquid crystal (LC) minicells with a mode of in‐plane switching (IPS). The polyimides (PI) alignment layers derived from the thermal dehydration reaction of the PAA precursors at 230°C for 30 min showed good alignments effects to the LC molecules, which exhibited the pretilt angles (θp) from 0.09 to 0.15° after being exposed by the linear polarized ultraviolet light sources with the wavelength of 254 nm. In addition, the PI alignment layers afforded good optoelectronic features to the minicells, including the voltage holding ratio values over 97% at room temperature, and the residual direct circuit voltages lower than 1.0 V. The anchoring energy results indicated that the PI‐IIa (DMCBDA‐APAB) alignment layer showed the highest interaction with the LC molecules, and thus exhibited the highest threshold voltage (Vth) in the voltage‐transmittance (V‐T) measurements for the minicells.
The prognostic significance of preoperative serum CA125, CA19-9 and CEA in gastric carcinoma (GC) has been widely reported and is still under debate. Here, we evaluated the prognostic significance of ...preoperative serum CA125, CA19-9 and CEA in patients with GC. 1692 patients with GC who underwent gastrectomy were divided into the training (from January 2005 to December 2011, n = 1024) and the validation (from January 2012 to December 2013, n = 668) cohorts. Positive groups of CA125 (> 13.72 U/ml), CA19-9 (> 23.36 U/ml) and CEA (> 4.28 ng/ml) were significantly associated with more advanced clinicopathological traits and worse outcomes than that of negative groups (all P < 0.01). In Cox regression analysis, tumor size (P < 0.001, P = 0.005), pTNM stage (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) and CA125 (P = 0.026, P = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors both in two cohorts. Nomograms of these two cohorts based on the number of positive serum tumor markers (NPTM) were more accurate in prognostic prediction than TNM stage alone. Our findings suggested that elevated preoperative serum CA125, CA19-9 and CEA were associated with more advanced clinicopathological traits and less favorable outcomes. In addition, CA125 as an independent prognostic factor should be further investigated. Nomogram based on NPTM could accurately predict the prognosis of GC patients.
Objectives
To evaluate retrospectively the feasibility and safety of simultaneous multiple microcoil localizations of multiple pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
...Methods
This retrospective cohort study enrolled 288 consecutive patients, who underwent computed tomography (CT)–guided microcoil localization and subsequent VATS at our academic hospital between July 2017 and June 2018. Of these patients, 36 with 79 pulmonary nodules undergoing simultaneous multiple microcoil localizations in the ipsilateral lung were designated the multiple localization group; the remaining 252 with 252 pulmonary nodules undergoing single microcoil localization were designated the single localization group. The main outcomes were the technical success and complication rates of the localization procedures. The Student
t
test and Mann-Whitney
U
test were used for continuous variables. The chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess dichotomous variables.
Results
The localization technical success rates of the multiple and single localization groups were 96.2% (76/79) and 98.0% (247/252), respectively (
p
= 0.326). The rate of any complication (pneumothorax or pulmonary hemorrhage) was significantly higher in the multiple localization than in the single localization group (55.6% vs 21.8%, respectively;
p
< 0.001). The incidence of pneumothorax was significantly higher in the multiple localization than in the single localization group (
p
< 0.001). The difference between the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage in the 2 groups was not significant (
p
= 0.385).
Conclusions
Although preoperative CT-guided simultaneous microcoil localizations of multiple pulmonary nodules produced a significantly higher incidence of pneumothorax, the localizations were clinically feasible and safe.
Key Points
• Simultaneous preoperative CT-guided microcoil localizations of multiple pulmonary nodules are clinically feasible and safe.
• Simultaneous microcoil localizations of multiple pulmonary nodules produced a significantly higher incidence of pneumothorax.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. However, how the role of peripheral organ changes in response to environmental stimuli during ...aging in AD pathogenesis remains unknown. Hepatic soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) activity increases with age. Hepatic sEH manipulation bidirectionally attenuates brain amyloid-β (Aβ) burden, tauopathy, and cognitive deficits in AD mouse models. Moreover, hepatic sEH manipulation bidirectionally regulates the plasma level of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (-EET), which rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and modulates brain Aβ metabolism through multiple pathways. A balance between the brain levels of 14,15-EET and Aβ is essential for preventing Aβ deposition. In AD models, 14,15-EET infusion mimicked the neuroprotective effects of hepatic sEH ablation at biological and behavioral levels. These results highlight the liver’s key role in AD pathology, and targeting the liver-brain axis in response to environmental stimuli may constitute a promising therapeutic approach for AD prevention.
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•Hepatic sEH activity increased with aging and modulates plasma levels of 14,15-EET•Hepatic sEH manipulation bidirectionally attenuated AD pathogenesis in mice•A balance between brain levels of 14,15-EET and Aβ is essential for Aβ metabolism•Downregulation of hepatic sEH via gene therapy ameliorated the pathology of AD
How changes in peripheral organs during aging contribute to AD pathogenesis remains unclear. Using genetic approaches, Wu et al. demonstrate that the liver plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. They show that hepatic sEH manipulation bidirectionally attenuated brain Aβ burden, tauopathy, and behavioral performances in AD models.
We explored the effect of 3 mg/kg of caffeine supplementation on the cognitive ability and shooting performance of elite e-sports players. Nine e-sports players who had received professional training ...in e-sports and had won at least eighth place in national-level e-sports shooting competitions. After performing three to five familiarization tests, we employed a single blind, randomized crossover design to divide participants into caffeine trial (CAF) and placebo trial (PL). The CAF trial took capsules with 3 mg/kg of caffeine, whereas the PL trial took a placebo capsule. After a one-hour rest, the Stroop task, the visual search ability test, and the shooting ability test were conducted. The CAF trial's performance in the Stroop task in terms of congruent condition (P = 0.023) and visual search reaction time with 20 items (P = 0.004) was significantly superior to those of the PL trial. In the shooting test, the CAF trial's kill ratio (P = 0.020) and hit accuracy (P = 0.008) were significantly higher, and the average time to target (P = 0.001) was significantly shorter than those of the PL trial. Caffeine supplementation significantly improves e-sports players' reaction times and shooting performance.
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most challenging neoplasm to treat in clinical practice. Ankyrin repeat domain 49 protein (ANKRD49) is highly expressed in several carcinomas; however, its pattern ...of expression and role in LUAD are not known. Tissue microarrays, immunohistochemistry, χ2 test, Spearman correlation analysis, Kaplan–Meier, log‐rank test, and Cox's proportional hazard model were used to analyse the clinical cases. The effect of ANKRD49 on the LUAD was investigated using CCK‐8, clonal formation, would healing, transwell assays, and nude mice experiment. Expressions of ANKRD49 and its associated downstream protein molecules were verified by real‐time PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and/or immunofluorescence analyses. ANKRD49 expression was highly elevated in LUAD. The survival rate and Cox's modelling analysis indicated that there may be an independent prognostic indicator for LUAD patients. We also found that ANKRD49 promoted the invasion and migration in both in in vitro and in vivo assays, through upregulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 activities via the P38/ATF‐2 signalling pathway Our findings suggest that ANKRD49 is a latent biomarker for evaluating LUAD prognosis and promotes the metastasis of A549 cells via upregulation of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in a P38/ATF‐2 pathway‐dependent manner.
Yaks display unique properties of the lung and heart, enabling their adaptation to high‐altitude environments, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. In the present study, ...the proteome differences in lung and heart tissues were compared between yak (Bos grunniens) and three cattle strains (Bos taurus, Holstein, Sanjiang and Tibetan cattle) using the sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra/data‐independent acquisition (SWATH/DIA) proteomic method. In total, 51,755 peptides and 7215 proteins were identified. In the lung tissue, there were 162, 310 and 118 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) in Tibetan, Holstein and Sanjiang cattle compared to yak respectively. In the heart tissue, there were 71, 57 and 78 DAPs in Tibetan, Holstein and Sanjiang cattle compared to yak respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the DAPs were enriched for the retinol metabolism and toll‐like receptor categories in lung tissue. The changes in these two pathways may regulate hypoxia‐induced factor and immune function in yaks. Moreover, DAPs in heart tissues were enriched for cardiac muscle contraction, Huntington's disease, chemical carcinogenesis and drug metabolism‐cytochrome P450. Further exploration indicated that yaks may alter cardiac function through regulation of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and Ca2+‐release channels. The present results are useful to further develop an understanding of the mechanisms underlying adaptation of animals to high‐altitude conditions.
Background:
There is controversy about the characteristics and prognostic implications of signet ring cell gastric cancers and non-signet ring cell gastric cancers.
Objective:
This study aims to ...evaluate clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses of signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) and non-signet ring cell carcinoma (NSRCC) of stomach.
Methods:
Studies compared between SRCC and NSRCC of the stomach after gastrectomy and published before September 1st, 2020, in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases, were identified systematically.
Results:
A total of 2,865 studies were screened, and 36 studies were included, with 19,174 patients in the SRCC group and 55,942 patients in the NSRCC group. SRCC patients were younger in age (
P
< 0.001), less likely to be male patients (
P
< 0.001), more afflicted with upper third lesions (
P
< 0.001), and presenting with more Borrmann type IV tumors (
P
= 0.005) than NSRCC patients. Lymph nodes metastasis was similar between SRCC and NSRCC patients with advanced tumor stage (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.67–1.10,
P
= 0.23), but lower in the SRCC than NSRCC patients with early tumor stage (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56–0.98,
P
= 0.02). SRCC patients had comparable survival outcomes with NSRCC patients for early gastric cancers (HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.65–1.68,
P
< 0.001) but had significantly poor prognosis for patients with advanced tumor stage (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.28–1.76,
P
< 0.001).
Conclusions:
Signet ring cell carcinomas of the stomach are an increasingly common histopathological subtype of gastric cancers. These kinds of patients tend to be younger in age and more often female. Although, signet ring cell gastric cancer is a negative prognostic factor for patients with advanced stage. The difference is that for early stage of signet ring cell gastric cancers, it has low lymph nodes metastasis rate and comparable prognosis with non-signet ring cell cancers.
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