Electrocatalytic CO_(2)reduction to syngas

While carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is a major greenhouse gas,it is also an important C1 resource.In the trend of energy conservation and emission reduction,electrocatalytic reduction has become a very promising strategy for CO_(2)utilization because it can convert CO_(2)directly to high-valued chemicals and fuels under mild conditions.In particular,the product CO and by-product H_(2)can be combined into syngas by an electrocatalytic CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)in an aqueous medium.Different molar ratios of CO and H_(2)may be used to produce essential bulk chemicals or liquid fuels such as methanol,alkanes,and olefins through thermochemical catalysis,Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,microbial fermentation,and other techniques.This work discusses the latest strategies in controlling the molar ratio of CO/H_(2)and improving the yield of CO_(2)RR-to-syngas.The challenges of electrocatalytic syngas production are analyzed from an industrial application perspective,and the possible measures to overcome them are proposed in terms of new catalyst design,electrolyte innovation,flow reactor optimization,anodic reaction coupling,and operando technique application.

Gastric microbiota transplantation as a potential treatment for immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated gastritis

Immune-related adverse events(irAEs)are complications of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).ICI-associated gastritis is one of the main irAEs.The gastric microbiota is often related to the occurrence and development of many gastric diseases.Gastric microbiota adjustment may be used to treat gastric disorders in the future.Faecal microbiota transplantation can alter the gut microbiota of patients and has been used for treating ICI-associated colitis.Therefore,we propose gastric microbiota transplantation as a supplementary treatment for patients with ICI-associated gastritis who do not respond well to conventional therapy.

Elafibranor:A promising treatment for alcohol-associated liver disease?

We comment on an article by Koizumi et al.Elafibranor(EFN)is a dual pero-xisome proliferator-activated receptorα/δagonist.The experimental results from Koizumi et al demonstrated that EFN significantly increases intestinal barrier function and ameliorates liver fibrosis.These positive outcomes suggest that EFN could be a promising therapeutic option for alcohol-associated liver disease(ALD).However,this study has limitations that necessitate further research to evaluate the efficacy of EFN.Future studies should consider the use of more appropriate animal models and cell types,optimize the administration routes and dosages of the drug,and conduct an in-depth investigation into the underlying mechanisms of action to determine the therapeutic effects of EFN in humans.With sustained and in-depth research,EFN has the potential to emerge as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ALD.

Use of curcumin and its nanopreparations in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a nonspecific inflammatory disease of the intestine that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Because IBD is difficult to heal and easily relapses,it could worsen patient quality of life and increase economic burdens.Curcumin(CUR)is a bioactive component derived from the rhizome of turmeric(Curcuma longa).Many basic and clinical studies have shown that CUR can efficiently treat IBD by decreasing the activity of proinflammatory cytokines by communicating with transcription factors and signaling molecules.However,due to the limitations of being almost insoluble in aqueous solutions and having low oral bioavailability,it is important to select appropriate pharmaceutical preparations.

Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome and liver changes:From clinical features to mechanisms

Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome(PSIS)is a rare congenital abnormality characterized by thinning or disappearance of the pituitary stalk,hypoplasia of the anterior pituitary and an ectopic posterior pituitary.Although the etiology of PSIS is still unclear,gene changes and perinatal adverse events such as breech delivery may play important roles in the pathogenesis of PSIS.PSIS can cause multiple hormone deficiencies,such as growth hormone,which then cause a series of changes in the human body.On the one hand,hormone changes affect growth and development,and on the other hand,they could affect human metabolism and subsequently the liver resulting in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Under the synergistic effect of multiple mechanisms,the progression of NAFLD caused by PSIS is faster than that due to other causes.Therefore,in addition to early identification of PSIS,timely hormone replacement therapy and monitoring of relevant hormone levels,clinicians should routinely assess the liver function while managing PSIS.

Potential therapeutic targets for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Glucagon-like peptide 1

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most rapidly growing contributor to liver mortality and morbidity.Hepatocellular injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is caused by an increase in metabolic substrates(glucose,fructose,and fatty acids),leading fatty acids to participate in pathways that cause cellular injury and a poor response to injury.The pathogenesis of this disease is largely associated with obesity,type 2 diabetes,and increasing age.To date,there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for NAFLD/NASH or its associated fibrosis.Since one of the pathogenic drivers of NASH is insulin resistance,therapies approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are being evaluated in patients with NASH.Currently,the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist(GLP-1RA)semaglutide is a safe,well-studied therapeutic for NAFLD/NASH patients.Existing research demonstrates that semaglutide can increase the resolution of NASH but not improve fibrosis.However,improving the fibrosis of NAFLD is the only way to improve the long-term prognosis of NAFLD.Given the complex pathophysiology of NASH,combining therapies with complementary mechanisms may be beneficial.Researchers have conducted trials of semaglutide in combination with antifibrotic drugs.However,the results have not fully met expectations,and it cannot be ruled out that the reason is the short trial time.We should continue to pay increasing attention to GLP-1RAs.

Intercalation assisted liquid phase production of disulfide zirconium nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic dinitrogen reduction to ammonia

Disulfide zirconium(ZrS_(2)) is a two-dimensional(2D) transition metal disulfide and has given rise to extensive attention because of its distinctive electronic structure and properties.However,mass production of high quality of ZrS_(2)nanosheets to realize their practical application remains a challenge.Here,we have successfully exfoliated the bulk ZrS_(2)powder with the thickness of micron into single and few-layer nanosheets through liquid-phase exfoliation in N-methylpyrrolidone(NMP) assisted via aliphatic amines as intercalators.It is found that the exfoliation yield is as high as 27.3%,which is the record value for the exfoliation of ZrS_(2)nanosheets from bulk ZrS_(2)powder,and 77.1% of ZrS_(2)nanosheets are 2-3 layers.The molecular geometric size and aliphatic amine basicity have important impact on the exfoliation.Furthermore,the ZrS_(2)nanosheets have been used as catalyst in the electrocatalytic dinitrogen reduction with the NH3yield of 57.75 μg h^(-1)mg_(cat.)^(-1),which is twice that by ZrS_(2)nanofibers reported in literature and three times that by the bulk ZrS_(2)powder.Therefore,the liquid phase exfoliation strategy reported here has great potential in mass production of ZrS_(2)nanosheets for high activity electrocatalysis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation as potential first-line treatment for patients with Clostridioides difficile infection and prior appendectomy

Clostridioides difficile infection(CDI)is a global health problem.The association of appendectomy on the severity and prognosis of CDI has been reported in many literatures,but there are still contradictions.In a retrospective study entitled“Patients with Closterium diffuse infection and prior appendectomy may be prone to word outcomes”published in World J Gastrointest Surg 2021,the author found that prior appendectomy affects the severity of CDI.Appendectomy may be a risk factor for increasing the severity of CDI.Therefore,it is necessary to seek alternative treatment for patients with prior appendectomy when they are more likely to have severe or fulminant CDI.

Probiotic mixture VSL#3:An overview of basic and clinical studies in chronic diseases

Probiotics are known as“live microorganisms”and have been proven to have a health effect on hosts at the proper dose.Recently,a kind of probiotic mixture including eight live bacterial strains,VSL#3,has attracted considerable attention for its combined effect.VSL#3 is the only probiotic considered as a kind of medical food;it mainly participates in the regulation of the intestinal barrier function,including improving tight junction protein function,balancing intestinal microbial composition,regulating immune-related cytokine expression and so on.The objective of this review is to discuss the treatment action and mechanism for the administration of VSL#3 in chronic diseases of animals and humans(including children).We found that VSL#3 has a therapeutic or preventive effect in various systemic diseases per a large number of studies,including digestive systemic diseases(gastrointestinal diseases and hepatic diseases),obesity and diabetes,allergic diseases,nervous systemic diseases,atherosclerosis,bone diseases,and female reproductive systemic diseases.

Tea polyphenols and their chemopreventive and therapeutic effects on colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer(CRC),a multifactorial disease,is usually induced and developed through complex mechanisms,including impact of diet and lifestyle,genomic abnormalities,change of signaling pathways,inflammatory response,oxidation stress,dysbiosis,and so on.As natural polyphenolic phytochemicals that exist primarily in tea,tea polyphenols(TPs)have been shown to have many clinical applications,especially as anticancer agents.Most animal studies and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that TPs can prevent and treat CRC.TPs can inhibit the growth and metastasis of CRC by exerting the antiinflammatory,anti-oxidative or pro-oxidative,and pro-apoptotic effects,which are achieved by modulations at multiple levels.Many experiments have demonstrated that TPs can modulate several signaling pathways in cancer cells,including the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway,phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway,Wnt/β-catenin pathway,and 67 kDa laminin receptor pathway,to inhibit proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.In addition,novel studies have also suggested that TPs can prevent the growth and metastasis of CRC by modulating the composition of gut microbiota to improve immune system and decrease inflammatory responses.Molecular pathological epidemiology,a novel multidisciplinary investigation,has made great progress on CRC,and the further molecular pathological epidemiology research should be developed in the field of TPs and CRC.This review summarizes the existing in vitro and in vivo animal and human studies and potential mechanisms to examine the effects of tea polyphenols on CRC.

Isoflavones and inflammatory bowel disease

Isoflavones constitute a class of plant hormones including genistein,daidzein,glycitein,formononetin,biochanin A,and irilone,and the major source of human intake is soybeans.Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease including ulcerative colitis,Crohn’s disease,and indeterminate colitis,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and has become a global health problem.Although the pathogenesis of IBD is not very clear,many factors are thought to be related to the occurrence and development of IBD such as genes,immunity,and intestinal flora.How to control IBD effectively for a long time is still a problem for gastroenterologists.Diet has an important effect on IBD.Patients with IBD should pay more attention to diet.To date,many studies have reported that isoflavones have both good and bad effects on IBD.Isoflavones have many activities such as regulating the inflammatory signal pathways and affecting intestinal barrier functions and gut flora.They can also act through estrogen receptors,as they have a similar structure to estrogen.Isoflavones are easy to get from diet for human.Whether they are valuable to be applied to the treatment of IBD is worth studying.This review summarizes the relationship between isoflavones and IBD.

CDIO Based Optimization of Urban Planning Personnel Training Courses in Forestry Universities

On the basis of analyzing existing course system of urban planning discipline,this paper came up with a framework for optimization of urban planning personnel training mode and course system,oriented towards training practical engineering personnel and based on CDIO engineering education and teaching platform. Then it made empirical study on setting of the urban planning discipline in Northeast Forestry University. It proposed changing the original "3 + 2" course system,exploring and optimizing the course system,improving teaching effect of urban planning personnel training courses,and raising planning and design ability of students.

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for colorectal cancer after surgery

BACKGROUND A nomogram is a diagram that aggregates various predictive factors through multivariate regression analysis,which can be used to predict patient outcomes intuitively.Lymph node(LN)metastasis and tumor deposit(TD)conditions are two critical factors that affect the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)after surgery.At present,few effective tools have been established to predict the overall survival(OS)of CRC patients after surgery.AIM To screen out suitable risk factors and to develop a nomogram that predicts the postoperative OS of CRC patients.METHODS Data from a total of 3139 patients diagnosed with CRC who underwent surgical removal of tumors and LN resection from 2010 to 2015 were collected from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results program.The data were divided into a training set(n=2092)and a validation set(n=1047)at random.The Harrell concordance index(C-index),Akaike information criterion(AIC),and area under the curve(AUC)were used to assess the predictive performance of the N stage from the American Joint Committee Cancer tumor-node-metastasis classification,LN ratio(LNR),and log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS).Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to screen out the risk factors significantly correlating with OS.The construction of the nomogram was based on Cox regression analysis.The C-index,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,and calibration curve were employed to evaluate the discrimination and prediction abilities of the model.The likelihood ratio test was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the final model to the model with the N stage alone to evaluate LN metastasis.RESULTS The predictive efficacy of the LODDS was better than that of the LNR based on the C-index,AIC values,and AUC values of the ROC curve.Seven independent predictive factors,namely,race,age at diagnosis,T stage,M stage,LODDS,TD condition,and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level,were included in the nomogram.The C-index of the nomogram for OS prediction was 0.8002(95%CI:0.7839-0.8165)in the training set and 0.7864(95%CI:0.7604-0.8124)in the validation set.The AUC values of the ROC curve predicting the 1-,3-,and 5-year OS were 0.846,0.841,and 0.825,respectively,in the training set and 0.823,0.817,and 0.835,respectively,in the validation test.Great consistency between the predicted and actual observed OS for the 1-,3-,and 5-year OS in the training set and validation set was shown in the calibration curves.The final nomogram showed a better sensitivity and specificity than the nomogram with N stage alone for evaluating LN metastasis in both the training set(-4668.0 vs-4688.3,P<0.001)and the validation set(-1919.5 vs-1919.8,P<0.001)through the likelihood ratio test.CONCLUSION The nomogram incorporating LODDS,TD,and other risk factors showed great predictive accuracy and better sensitivity and specificity and represents a potential tool for therapeutic decision-making.

Sodium selenite ameliorates dextran sulfate sodiuminduced chronic colitis in mice by decreasing Th1, Th17, and γδT and increasing CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cell responses

AIM To assess the effect of sodium selenite on the severity of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice.METHODS Mice were randomly divided into four groups(n = 10/group): normal group, selenium(Se) group, chronic colitis group, and Se + chronic colitis group. The mice were sacrificed on day 26. Survival rates, clinical symptoms, colon length, and histological changes were determined. The percentages and absolute numbers of immune system cells in the lamina propria lymphocytes(LPL) of the colon, the expression of m RNA in colon tissue, and the concentrations of Th1, Th17, and Treg cytokines in LPL from the large intestine, were measured.RESULTS Se significantly ameliorated the symptoms of colitis and histological injury(P < 0.05 each), increasing the proportions of neutrophils and CD4+ CD25+ T cells(P < 0.05 each) and decreasing the proportions of γδT cells, CD4+, CD4+CD44+, and CD4+ CD69+ T cells in LPL(P < 0.05 each). Moreover, Se reduced the expression of IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-17 A, IL-21, T-bet, and RORγt(P < 0.05 each), but enhanced the expression of IL-10 and Foxp3(P < 0.05 each). CONCLUSION These results suggest that Se protects against DSSinduced chronic colitis perhaps by increasing the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs that suppress the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and populations of Th1, Th17, and γδT cells.

Beta-carotene and its protective effect on gastric cancer

Beta-carotene is an important natural pigment that is very beneficial to human health.It is widely found in vegetables and fruits.The three main functions are antioxidant effects,cell gap junction-related functions and immune-related functions.Because of its diverse functions,beta-carotene is believed to prevent and treat many chronic diseases.Gastric cancer is one of the most important diseases it can treat.Gastric cancer is a type of cancer with a high incidence.Its etiology varies,and the pathogenesis is complex.Gastric cancer seriously affects human health.The role of beta-carotene,a natural nutrient,in gastric cancer has been explored by many researchers,including molecular mechanisms and epidemiological studies.Molecular studies have mainly focused on oxidative stress,cell cycle,signal transduction pathways and immune-related mechanisms of beta-carotene in gastric cancer.Many epidemiological surveys and cohort studies of patients with gastric cancer have been conducted,and the results of these epidemiological studies vary due to the use of different research methods and analysis of different regions.This paper will summarize the results of these studies,mainly in terms of molecular mechanisms and epidemiological research results,which will provide a systematic basis for future studies of the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer.This paper will help researchers identify new research directions.

Novel mechanism of hepatobiliary system damage and immunoglobulin G4 elevation caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection

Clonorchis sinensis infection is still a major public health problem.It is estimated that more than 15 million people worldwide are infected,especially in Northeast China,Taiwan,South Korea,and North Vietnam.The detection of Clonorchis sinensis eggs in feces and bile is still the only gold standard for the diagnosis of Clonorchis sinensis infection,and new detection methods are needed to improve the detection rate.After Clonorchis sinensis invades the human body,it mainly parasitizes the hepatobiliary tract.Therefore,it is closely related to hepatobiliary diseases such as cholangitis,bile duct stones,liver fibrosis,and cholangiocarcinoma.The increase in immunoglobulin G4(IgG4)caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection is rare and there are few reports about the relevant mechanism.It may be related to the inflammatory factors interleukin(IL)-4,IL-10,and IL-13 produced by human phagocytes,T cells,B cells,and other immune cells in the process of resisting the invasion of Clonorchis sinensis.However,this finding still needs further clarification and confirmation.This article reviews the epidemiology,clinical manifestations,serology,imaging,pathogenic mechanism,and control measures of Clonorchis sinensis infection to help establish the diagnostic process for Clonorchis sinensis.We report novel mechanisms of IgG4 elevation due to Clonorchis sinensis infection to provide more experience and a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of this infection.

Intestinal virome:An important research direction for alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases

In recent years,the interaction between the gut microflora and liver diseases has attracted much attention.The intestinal microflora is composed of bacteria,archaea,fungi and viruses.There are few studies on the intestinal virome,and whether it has a causal relationship with bacterial changes in the gut is still unclear.However,it is undeniable that the intestinal virome is also a very important portion of the blueprint for the development of liver diseases and the diagnosis and therapeutic modalities in the future.

Primary localized gastric amyloidosis:A scoping review of the literature from clinical presentations to prognosis

Localized gastric amyloidosis(LGA)is a rare disease characterized by abnormal extracellular deposition of amyloid protein restricted to the stomach and it is confirmed by positive results of Congo red staining.Over decades,only a few cases have been reported and studies or research focusing on it are few.Although LGA has a low incidence,patients may suffer a lot from it and require proper diagnosis and management.However,the pathology of LGA remains unknown and no overall review of LGA from its presentations to its prognosis has been published.Patients with LGA are often asymptomatic or manifest atypical symptoms,making it difficult to differentiate from other gastrointestinal diseases.Here,we report the case of a 70-year-old woman with LGA and provide an overview of case reports of LGA available to us.Based on that,we conclude current concepts of clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of LGA,aiming at providing a detailed diagnostic procedure for clinicians and promoting the guidelines of LGA.In addition,a few advanced technologies applied in amyloidosis are also discussed in this review,aiming at providing clinicians with a reference of diagnostic process.With this review,we hope to raise awareness of LGA among the public and clinicians.

Coherent Optical Frequency Combs:From Principles to Applications

A coherent optical frequency comb is a kind of broad-spectrum light sources delivering equidistant frequencies, and correspondingly its temporal waveform appears as a sequence of ultrashort pulses. Being the cornerstone technology of today’s laser and time-frequency disciplines, it effectively links the optical frequency and the microwave frequency, and has promoted the development of diverse applications, such as precision spectroscopy, optical measurement, coherent optical communications, and optical clocks in the past two decades. In this review, we comprehensively introduce the development path, physical principle, generation/tuning methods, and advanced applications of optical frequency combs.

Caffeine and its main targets of colorectal cancer

Caffeine is a purine alkaloid and is widely consumed in coffee,soda,tea,chocolate and energy drinks.To date,a growing number of studies have indicated that caffeine is associated with many diseases including colorectal cancer.Caffeine exerts its biological activity through binding to adenosine receptors,inhibiting phosphodiesterases,sensitizing calcium channels,antagonizing gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and stimulating adrenal hormones.Some studies have indicated that caffeine can interact with signaling pathways such as transforming growth factorβ,phosphoinositide-3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways through which caffeine can play an important role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis,metastasis and prognosis.Moreover,caffeine can act as a general antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress and also as a regulatory factor of the cell cycle that modulates the DNA repair system.Additionally,as for intestinal homeostasis,through the interaction with receptors and cytokines,caffeine can modulate the immune system mediating its effects on T lymphocytes,B lymphocytes,natural killer cells and macrophages.Furthermore,caffeine can not only directly inhibit species in the gut microbiome,such as Escherichia coli and Candida albicans but also can indirectly exert inhibition by increasing the effects of other antimicrobial drugs.This review summarizes the association between colorectal cancer and caffeine that is being currently studied.