Bimetallic AgNi nanoparticles anchored onto MOF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon nanostrips for efficient hydrogen evolution

Hydrogen energy has long been recognized as a clean alternative to conventional fossil fuels,which can be applied in a wide range of transportation and power generation applications.The rational design and engineering of high-performance and robust catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)shows not a great significance but a challenge for efficient electrochemical water splitting.Herein,a new type of Nibased Ni-ABDC precursor has been obtained,which leads to the formation of N-doped porous carbon nanomaterials uniformly coated with wellproportioned bimetallic AgNi alloys via a stepwise strategy.To their credit,all samples of AgNi/NC-X are structurally calcined from the pristine AgNi-ABDC-X by tuning the different concentration of AgNO3,which means all of them maintain the vermicelli-like morphology compared with Ni-ABDC.The series of AgNi/NC-X materials can be regarded as effective electrocatalysts for HER both in acidic and alkaline media,but an acid-leaching phenomenon is observed.Among them,the as-prepared AgNi/NC-2 exhibits a low overpotential of 103 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and decent durability with a high retention rate of 90.9%after 10 h in 1.0 mol L^(-1)KOH electrolyte.The compelling HER properties of AgNi/NC-2 can be attributed to the synergistic effect between the hierarchical carbon materials,partial N-doping and abundant AgNi alloys.Meanwhile,this study provides a practicable method for the development of efficient HER electrocatalysts for energy applications,which can be conveniently prepared through the reasonable introduction of active components in the crystalline inorganic-organic precursors.©2021 Institute of Process Engineering,Chinese Academy of Sciences.Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.on behalf of KeAi Communications Co.,Ltd.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Type 2 diabetes mellitus characteristics affect hepatocellular carcinoma development in chronic hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)has been shown to be correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development.However,further investigation is needed to understand how T2DM characteristics affect the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients.AIM To assess the effect of T2DM on CHB patients with cirrhosis and to determine the risk factors for HCC development.METHODS Among the 412 CHB patients with cirrhosis enrolled in this study,there were 196with T2DM.The patients in the T2DM group were compared to the remaining 216patients without T2DM(non-T2DM group).Clinical characteristics and outcomes of the two groups were reviewed and compared.RESULTS T2DM was significantly related to hepatocarcinogenesis in this study(P=0.002).The presence of T2DM,being male,alcohol abuse status,alpha-fetoprotein>20ng/mL,and hepatitis B surface antigen>2.0 log IU/mL were identified to be risk factors for HCC development in the multivariate analysis.T2DM duration of more than 5 years and treatment with diet control or insulin±sulfonylurea significantly increased the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis.CONCLUSION T2DM and its characteristics increase the risk of HCC in CHB patients with cirrhosis.The importance of diabetic control should be emphasized for these patients.

Cardioprotective Potential of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil against Isoproterenol-induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy:Possible Involvement of NLRP3 Inflammasome and Oxidative Phosphorylation Complex Subunits

Objective:Cymbopogon citratus(DC.)Stapf is a medicinal and edible herb that is widely used for the treatment of gastric,nervous and hypertensive disorders.In this study,we investigated the cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of the essential oil,the main active ingredient of Cymbopogon citratus,on isoproterenol(ISO)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.Methods:The compositions of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil(CCEO)were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Cardiomyocytes were pretreated with 16.9µg/L CCEO for 1 h followed by 10µmol/L ISO for 24 h.Cardiac hypertrophy-related indicators and NLRP3 inflammasome expression were evaluated.Subsequently,transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq)and target verification were used to further explore the underlying mechanism.Results:Our results showed that the CCEO mainly included citronellal(45.66%),geraniol(23.32%),and citronellol(10.37%).CCEO inhibited ISO-induced increases in cell surface area and protein content,as well as the upregulation of fetal gene expression.Moreover,CCEO inhibited ISO-induced NLRP3 inflammasome expression,as evidenced by decreased lactate dehydrogenase content and downregulated mRNA levels of NLRP3,ASC,CASP1,GSDMD,and IL-1β,as well as reduced protein levels of NLRP3,ASC,pro-caspase-1,caspase-1(p20),GSDMD-FL,GSDMD-N,and pro-IL-1β.The RNA-seq results showed that CCEO inhibited the increase in the mRNA levels of 26 oxidative phosphorylation complex subunits in ISO-treated cardiomyocytes.Our further experiments confirmed that CCEO suppressed ISO-induced upregulation of mt-Nd1,Sdhd,mt-Cytb,Uqcrq,and mt-Atp6 but had no obvious effects on mt-Col expression.Conclusion:CCEO inhibits ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome expression and the regulation of several oxidative phosphorylation complex subunits.

Therapeutic efficacy of methylprednisolone sodium succinate via diverse administration routes for mid-to high-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss

BACKGROUND Sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL),characterized by a rapid and unexplained loss of hearing,particularly at moderate to high frequencies,presents a significant clinical challenge.The therapeutic use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate(MPSS)via different administration routes,in combination with conventional medications,remains a topic of interest.AIM To compare the therapeutic efficacy of MPSS administered via different routes in combination with conventional drugs for the treatment of mid-to high-frequency SSNHL.METHODS The medical records of 109 patients with mid-to high-frequency SSNHL were analyzed.The patients were divided into three groups based on the route of administration:Group A[intratympanic(IT)injection of MPSS combined with mecobalamin and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract injection],Group B(intravenous injection of MPSS combined with mecobalamin and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract injection),and Group C(single IT injection of MPSS).The intervention effects were compared and analyzed.RESULTS The posttreatment auditory thresholds in Group A(21.23±3.34)were significantly lower than those in Groups B(28.52±3.36)and C(30.23±4.21;P<0.05).Group A also exhibited a significantly greater speech recognition rate(92.23±5.34)than Groups B and C.The disappearance time of tinnitus,time to hearing recovery,and disappearance time of vertigo in Group A were significantly shorter than those in Groups B and C(P<0.05).The total effective rate in Group A(97.56%)was significantly greater than that in Groups B and C(77.14%and 78.79%,χ^(2)=7.898,P=0.019).Moreover,the incidence of adverse reactions in Groups A and C was significantly lower than that in Group B(4.88%,3.03%vs 2.57%,χ^(2)=11.443,P=0.003),and the recurrence rate in Group A was significantly lower than that in Groups B and C(2.44%vs 20.00%vs 21.21%,χ^(2)=7.120,P=0.028).CONCLUSION IT injection of MPSS combined with conventional treatment demonstrates superior efficacy and safety compared to systemic administration via intravenous infusion and a single IT injection of MPSS.This approach effectively improves patients'hearing and reduces the risk of disease recurrence.

Evaluation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned circulating tumor cells in patients with resectable gastric cancer: Relevance to therapy response

AIM: To evaluate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT) of circulating tumor cells(CTCs) in gastric cancer patients.METHODS: We detected tumor cells for expression of four epithelial(E^+) transcripts(keratins 8, 18, and 19 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule) and two mesenchymal(M^+) transcripts(Vimentin and Twist) by a quantifiable, dual-colorimetric RNA-in situ hybridization assay. Between July 2014 and October 2014, 44 patients with gastric cancer were recruited for CTC evaluation. Blood samples were obtained from selected patients during the treatment course [before surgery, after surgery and at the 6^(th) cycle of XELOX based chemotherapy(about 6 mo postoperatively)].RESULTS: We found the EMT phenomenon in which there were a few biphenotypic E^+/M^+ cells in primary human gastric cancer specimens. Of the 44 patients, the presence of CTCs was reported in 35(79.5%) patients at baseline. Five types of cells including from exclusively E^+ CTCs to intermediate CTCs and exclusively M^+ CTCs were identified(4 patients with M^+ CTCs and 10 patients with M^+ or M^+ > E^+ CTCs). Further, a chemotherapy patient having progressive disease showed a proportional increase of mesenchymal CTCs in the post-treatment blood specimens. We used NCI-N87 cells to analyze the linearity and sensitivity of Can Patrol^(TM) system and the correlation coefficient(R^2) was 0.999.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the EMT phenomenon was both in a few cells of primary tumors and abundantly in CTCs from the blood of gastric cancer patients, which might be used to monitor therapy response.

Prognostic and predictive blood biomarkers in gastric cancer and the potential application of circulating tumor cells

Gastric cancer(GC), with its high incidence and mortality rates, is a highly fatal cancer that is common in East Asia particularly in China. Its recurrence and metastasis are the main causes of its poor prognosis. Circulating tumor cells(CTCs) or other blood biomarkers that are released into the circulating blood stream by tumors are thought to play a crucial role in the recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer. Therefore, the detection of CTCs and other blood biomarkers has an important clinical significance; in fact, they can help predict the prognosis, assess the staging, monitor the therapeutic effects and determine the drug susceptibility. Recent research has identified many blood biomarkers in GC, such as various serum proteins, autoantibodies against tumor associated antigens, and cell-free DNAs. The analysis of CTCs and circulating cell-free tumor DNA(ctDNA) in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer is called as liquid biopsy. These blood biomarkers provide the disease status for individuals and have clinical meaning. In this review, we focus on the recent scientific advances regarding CTCs and other blood biomarkers, and discuss their origins and clinical meaning.

Classification,clinicopathologic features and treatment of gastric neuroendocrine tumors

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (GNETs) are rare lesions characterized by hypergastrinemia that arise from enterochromaffin-like cells of the stomach. GNETs consist of a heterogeneous group of neoplasms comprising tumor types of varying pathogenesis, histomorphologic characteristics, and biological behavior. A classification system has been proposed that distinguishes four types of GNETs; the clinicopathological features of the tumor, its prognosis, and the patient&#x02019;s survival strictly depend on this classification. Thus, correct management of patients with GNETs can only be proposed when the tumor has been classified by an accurate pathological and clinical evaluation of the patient. Recently developed cancer therapies such as inhibition of angiogenesis or molecular targeting of growth factor receptors have been used to treat GNETs, but the only definitive therapy is the complete resection of the tumor. Here we review the literature on GNETs, and summarize the classification, clinicopathological features (especially prognosis), clinical presentations and current practice of management of GNETs. We also present the latest findings on new gene markers for GNETs, and discuss the effective drugs developed for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of GNETs.

Toll-like receptor signaling in colorectal cancer:carcinogenesis to cancer therapy

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are germ line encoded innate immune sensors that recognize conserved microbial structures and host alarmins, and signal expression of major histocompatibility complex proteins, costimulatory molecules, and inflammatory mediators by macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and other cell types. These protein receptors are characterized by their ability to respond to invading pathogens promptly by recognizing particular TLR ligands, including flagellin and lipopolysaccharide of bacteria, nucleic acids derived from viruses, and zymosan of fungi. There are 2 major TLR pathways; one is mediated by myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88) adaptor proteins, and the other is independent of MYD88. The MYD88-dependent pathway involves early-phase activation of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1 (NF-&#x003ba;B1) and all the TLRs, except TLR3, have been shown to activate this pathway. TLR3 and TLR4 act via MYD88-independent pathways with delayed activation of NF-&#x003ba;B signaling. TLRs play a vital role in activating immune responses. TLRs have been shown to mediate inflammatory responses and maintain epithelial barrier homeostasis, and are highly likely to be involved in the activation of a number of pathways following cancer therapy. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers, and accounts for almost half a million deaths annually worldwide. Inflammation is considered a risk factor for many common malignancies including cancers of the colorectum. The key molecules involved in inflammation-driven carcinogenesis include TLRs. As sensors of cell death and tissue remodeling, TLRs may have a universal role in cancer; stimulation of TLRs to activate the innate immune system has been a legitimate therapeutic strategy for some years. TLRs 3/4/7/8/9 are all validated targets for cancer therapy, and a number of companies are developing agonists and vaccine adjuvants. On the other hand, antagonists may favor inhibition of signaling responsible for autoimmune responses. In this paper, we review TLR signaling in CRC from carcinogenesis to cancer therapy.

Overview of organic anion transporters and organic anion transporter polypeptides and their roles in the liver

Organic anion transporters(OATs)and organic anion transporter polypeptides(OATPs)are classified within two SLC superfamilies,namely,the SLC22A superfamily and the SLCO superfamily(formerly the SLC21A family),respectively.They are expressed in many tissues,such as the liver and kidney,and mediate the absorption and excretion of many endogenous and exogenous substances,including various drugs.Most are composed of 12 transmembrane polypeptide chains with the C-terminus and the N-terminus located in the cell cytoplasm.OATs and OATPs are abundantly expressed in the liver,where they mainly promote the uptake of various endogenous substrates such as bile acids and various exogenous drugs such as antifibrotic and anticancer drugs.However,differences in the locations of glycosylation sites,phosphorylation sites,and amino acids in the OAT and OATP structures lead to different substrates being transported to the liver,which ultimately results in their different roles in the liver.To date,few articles have addressed these aspects of OAT and OATP structures,and we study further the similarities and differences in their structures,tissue distribution,substrates,and roles in liver diseases.

Population-based survey of prevalence,causes,and risk factors for blindness and visual impairment in an aging Chinese metropolitan population

AIM： To assess the prevalence, causes, and risk factors for blindness and visual impairment among elderly （〉60 years of age） Chinese people in a metropolitan area of Shanghai, China. METHODS： Random cluster sampling was conducted to identify participants among residents ≥60 years of age living in the Xietu Block, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. Presenting visual acuity （PVA） and best-corrected visual acuity （BCVA） were checked by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study （ETDRS） visual chart. All eligible participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination. Blindness and visual impairment were defined according to World Health Organization （WHO） criteria. RESULTS： A total of 4190 persons （1688 men and 2502 women） participated in the study, and the response rate was 91.1%. Based on PVA, the prevalence of blindness was 1.1% and that of visual impairment was 7.6%. Based on BCVA, the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment decreased to 0.9% and 3.9%, respectively. Older （〉80 years of age） women, with low educational levels and smoking habits, exhibited a significantly greater chance for blindness and visual impairment than did those with high educational levels and no smoking habits （P〈0.05）. Based on PVA and BCVA, the main causes of blindness were cataract, myopic maculopathy, and age-related macular degeneration （AMD）. CONCLUSION： Our findings help to identify the population in need of intervention, to highlight the need for additional eye healthcare services in urban China.

Antioxidant axis Nrf2-keap1-ARE in inhibition of alcoholic liver fibrosis by IL-22

AIM To explore the effect of interleukin(IL)-22 on in vitro model of alcoholic liver fibrosis hepatic stellate cells(HSCs), and whether this is related to regulation of Nrf2-keap1-ARE.METHODS HSC-T6 cells were incubated with 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μmol/L acetaldehyde. After 24 and 48 h, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay was used to detect proliferation of HSCs to choose the best concentration and action time. We used the optimal concentration of acetaldehyde(200 μmol/L) to stimulate HSCs for 24 h, and treated the cells with a final concentration of 10, 20 or 50 ng/m L IL-22. The cell proliferation rate was detected by MTT assay. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of nuclear factor-related factor(Nrf)2 and α-smooth muscle antigen was detected by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione(GSH) were measured by spectrophotometry. RESULTS In the MTT assay, when HSCs were incubated with acetaldehyde, activity and proliferation were higher than in the control group, and were most obvious after 48 h treatment with 200 μmol/L acetaldehyde. The number of cells in G0/G1 phases was decreased and the number in S phase was increased in comparison with the control group. When treated with different concentrations of IL-22, HSC-T6 cell activity and proliferation rate were markedly decreased in a dosedependent manner, and cell cycle progression was arrested from G1 to S phase. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that expression of Nrf2 total protein was not significantly affected. Expression of Nrf2 nuclear protein was low in thecontrol group, increased slightly in the model group(or acetaldehyde-stimulated group), and increased more obviously in the IL-22 intervention groups. The levels of MDA and GSH in the model group were significantly enhanced in comparison with those in the control group. In cells treated with IL-22, the MDA level was attenuated but the GSH level was further increased. These changes were dose-dependent. CONCLUSION IL-22 inhibits acetaldehyde-induced HSC activation and proliferation, which may be related to nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and increased activity of the antioxidant axis Nrf2-keap1-ARE.

Leaching kinetics of scheelite concentrate with sodium hydroxide in the presence of phosphate

The reaction kinetics for the leaching of low-grade scheelite concentrate was investigated in an autoclave with sodium hydroxide in the presence of phosphate. The effects of stirring speed (300-600 r/min), reaction temperature (353-383 K), sodium hydroxide concentration (1.69-6.76 mol/L) and phosphate concentration (0.68-1.69 mol/L) on the WO3 dissolution ratio were studied. The results showed that the WO3 dissolution ratio was practically independent of stirring speed, while it increased with increasing the reaction temperature, and the concentrations of sodium hydroxide and phosphate. The experimental data were consistent with the shrinking core model, with a surface chemical reaction as the leaching rate-determining step. The apparent activation energy was calculated as 49.56 kJ/mol, and the reaction orders with respect to the concentrations of sodium hydroxide and phosphate were determined as 0.27 and 0.67, respectively. The kinetics equation of the leaching process was established.

Stellate ganglion block reduces inflammation and improves neurological function in diabetic rats during ischemic stroke

Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke.Both diabetes mellitus and stroke are linked to systemic inflammation that aggravates patient outcomes.Stellate ganglion block can effectively regulate the inflammatory response.Therefore,it is hypothesized that stellate ganglion block could be a potential therapy for ischemic stroke in diabetic subjects.In this study,we induced diabetes mellitus in rats by feeding them a high-fat diet for 4 successive weeks.The left middle cerebral artery was occluded to establish models of ischemic stroke in diabetic rats.Subsequently,we performed left stellate ganglion block with 1%lidocaine using the percutaneous posterior approach 15 minutes before reperfusion and again 20 and 44 hours after reperfusion.Our results showed that stellate ganglion block did not decrease the blood glucose level in diabetic rats with diabetes mellitus but did reduce the cerebral infarct volume and the cerebral water content.It also improved the recovery of neurological function,increased 28-day survival rate,inhibited Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway and reduced inflammatory response in the plasma of rats.However,injection of Toll like receptor 4 agonist lipopolysaccharide 5 minutes before stellate ganglion block inhibited the effect of stellate ganglion block,whereas injection of Toll like receptor 4 inhibitor TAK242 had no such effect.We also found that stellate ganglion block performed at night had no positive effect on diabetic ischemic stroke.These findings suggest that stellate ganglion block is a potential therapy for diabetic ischemic stroke and that it may be mediated through the Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.We also found that the therapeutic effect of stellate ganglion block is affected by circadian rhythm.

Rare case of Helicobacter pylori -related gastric ulcer: Malignancy or pseudomorphism?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) is a pathogen and the most frequent cause of gastric ulcers. There is also a close correlation between the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the incidence of gastric cancer. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman referred by her primary care physician for screening positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), which showed a nodular strong accumulation point with standardized uptake value 5.6 in the gastric fundus. Gastroscopy was then performed, and a single arched ulcer, 12 mm in size, was found in the gastric fundus. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed chronic mucosal inflammation with acute inflammation and H. pylori infection. There was an obvious mitotic phase with widespread lymphoma. Formal anti-H. pylori treatment was carried out. One month later, a gastroscopy showed a single arched ulcer, measuring 10 mm in size in the gastric fundus. Histopathological examination revealed chronic mucosal inflammation with acute inflammation and a very small amount of H. pylori infection. The mitotic phase was 4/10 high power field, with some heterotypes and an obvious nucleolus. Follow-up gastroscopy 2 mo later showed the gastric ulcer in stage S2. The mucosal swelling had markedly improved. The patient remained asymptomatic, and a follow-up PET-CT was performed 6 mo later. The nodular strong accumulation point had disappeared. Follow-up gastroscopy showed no evidence of malignant cancer. H. pylori-associated severe inflammation can lead to neoplastic changes in histiocytes. This underscores the importance of eradicating H. pylori , especially in those with mucosal lesions, and ensuring proper follow-up to prevent or even reverse early gastric cancer.

The delivery of miR-21a-5p by extracellular vesicles induces microglial polarization via the STAT3 pathway following hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal mice

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)from mesenchymal stromal cells(MSCs)have previously been shown to protect against brain injury caused by hypoxia-ischemia(HI).The neuroprotective effects have been found to relate to the anti-inflammatory effects of EVs.However,the underlying mechanisms have not previously been determined.In this study,we induced oxygen-glucose deprivation in BV-2 cells(a microglia cell line),which mimics HI in vitro,and found that treatment with MSCs-EVs increased the cell viability.The treatment was also found to reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines,induce the polarization of microglia towards the M2 phenotype,and suppress the phosphorylation of selective signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)in the microglia.These results were also obtained in vivo using neonatal mice with induced HI.We investigated the potential role of miR-21a-5p in mediating these effects,as it is the most highly expressed miRNA in MSCs-EVs and interacts with the STAT3 pathway.We found that treatment with MSCs-EVs increased the levels of miR-21a-5p in BV-2 cells,which had been lowered following oxygen-glucose deprivation.When the level of miR-21a-5p in the MSCs-EVs was reduced,the effects on microglial polarization and STAT3 phosphorylation were reduced,for both the in vitro and in vivo HI models.These results indicate that MSCs-EVs attenuate HI brain injury in neonatal mice by shuttling miR-21a-5p,which induces microglial M2 polarization by targeting STAT3.

Application of LC-MS based glutathione-trapped reactive metabolites in the discovery of toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine

We summarized the discovery of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry （LC-MS） based glutathione （GSH） capture of reactive metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, which provides scientific basis for further research and clinical application of Chinese medicine toxicity discovery. This dissertation overviews relevant literatures of GSH capture of reactive metabolites in recent years. And then we review the principles and methods of LC-MS based GSH capture of reactive metabolites, as well as the research progress in the discovery of toxicity of TCM including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, furans and quinoid species. The review shows that the representative compounds of TCM includes adonifoline, lasiocarpine, diosbulbin B and safrol are well dctected by LC-MS based GSH capture technique. And the main analytic systems of LC-MS are triple quadrupole and Q-Trap mass spectrometer. Constant neutral loss scan （CNLS）, precursor ion scan （PIS） and multiple reaction monitor （MRM） are main detection methods to monitor the characteristic GSH conjugate fragmentations. The approach of LC-MS based GSH-trapped metabolites has a good application prospect in the discovery of toxic components of TCM.

Clinical application of the endometrial microbiota test combined with personalized treatment in patients with repeated implantation failure

Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical value of the endometrial microbiota test(EMT)combined with personalized treatment in patients with repeated implantation failure(RIF).Methods:From March 2019 to August 2022,the clinical data of patients with RIF at the Reproductive Medicine Research Center of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 356 patients underwent the EMT using 16S rRNA sequencing and were included in the EMT group.The SPSS statistical software propensity score was set at 1:1 to match the age,anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),antral follicle count(AFC),years of infertility,and body mass index(BMI)of the women who had not undergone the EMT;subsequently,354 patients were classified in the non-EMT group.We compared the clinical characteristics of the two groups and analyzed the clinical pregnancy outcomes after personalized treatment.Results:The clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)of the EMT group was significantly higher than that of the non-EMT group(47.81%vs.13.38%,P<0.05).Among 356 patients who underwent the EMT,55 patients(15.45%)in group A with normal endometrial microbiota composition did not test positive for the pathogenic bacteria causing chronic endometritis,34 patients(9.55%)in group B with abnormal endometrial microbiota composition did not test positive for the pathogenic bacteria causing chronic endometritis,35 patients(9.83%)in group C with normal endometrial microbiota composition tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria causing chronic endometritis,and 232 patients(65.17%)in group D with abnormal endometrial microbiota composition tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria causing chronic endometritis.After administration of probiotics or antibiotic plus probiotics treatment,the pregnancy rates of groups C and D were higher than those of group A(44.00%vs.20.00%and 55.03%vs.20.00%,respectively;bothP<0.05).Conclusion:The EMT combined with personalized treatment in patients with RIF has solid clinical value as a new treatment strategy.

One-step preparation of modified photothermal-driven melamine foam with gradient wettability for oil-waterseparation

The absorption of high-viscosity oil by traditional oil absorbing materials has always been a challenge.So there is an urgent need to solve the problem of slow absorption of high-viscosity oil.In this work,an emulsion composed of polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS),carbon black(CB)and waterborne polyurethane(solid content 40%)was sprayed on the melamine foam(MF).After volatilization of organic solvents,the photothermal material CB was fixed on the MF framework,making it photothermal.By raising the temperature of the modified foam to accelerate the internal thermal movement of high-viscosity oil molecules around the foam,intermolecular forces are reduced,thereby accelerating the separation process.The absorption capacity of this modified MF towards organic solvents and oil is up to 79 times its own weight.In addition,the mechanical properties of the modified foam are improved to a certain extent,more conducive to the continuous oil-water separation.This photothermal absorption material provides ideas for the rapid removal of high-viscosity oil,heavy oil,etc.

食管癌组织中VEGF-C表达量与淋巴管新生及肿瘤组织生长的相关性

目的研究食管癌组织中血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)表达量与淋巴管新生、肿瘤组织生长的相关性。方法选取2012年4月-2015年10月在河北大学附属医院手术切除的食管癌组织作为临床标本,采用免疫组织化学试剂盒对食管癌组织中VEGF-C、D2-40进行染色,判读VEGF-C的阳性表达率以及D2-40阳性表达的淋巴管密度(LVD);采用荧光定量聚合酶联反应试剂盒测定Ki-67、Cyclin B1的mRNA含量。结果低未分化、TNMⅢ、Ⅳ、有淋巴结转移的食管癌组织中VEGF-C阳性率、LVD以及Ki-67、Cyclin B1的mRNA含量均高于中高分化、TNMⅠ、Ⅱ期、无淋巴结转移的食管癌组织;VEGF-C阳性表达的食管癌组织中LVD以及Ki-67、Cyclin B1的mRNA含量均高于VEGF-C阴性表达的食管癌组织。结论食管癌组织中高表达的VEGF-C与淋巴管新生以及肿瘤组织生长密切相关。

有机聚合物新材料在眼部疾病治疗中的应用

随着材料工程学和组织工程学的快速发展,越来越多的有机聚合物结构的新材料被开发和应用,其中纳米材料在生物医药领域的应用引起人们高度重视。这些新材料自身具备特定的材质、尺寸、表面的可修饰性,使其具备了良好的生物相容性和安全性,在药物递送、控释、疾病检测等方面发挥独特的优势,为疾病治疗提供新的方式。本文主要对有机聚合物新材料在眼部疾病治疗方面的应用进行综述。