Polymer Fiber Rigid Network with High Glass Transition Temperature Reinforces Stability of Organic Photovoltaics

Organic photovoltaics(OPVs)need to overcome limitations such as insufficient thermal stability to be commercialized.The reported approaches to improve stability either rely on the development of new materials or on tailoring the donor/acceptor morphology,however,exhibiting limited applicability.Therefore,it is timely to develop an easy method to enhance thermal stability without having to develop new donor/acceptor materials or donor–acceptor compatibilizers,or by introducing another third component.Herein,a unique approach is presented,based on constructing a polymer fiber rigid network with a high glass transition temperature(T_(g))to impede the movement of acceptor and donor molecules,to immobilize the active layer morphology,and thereby to improve thermal stability.A high-T_(g) one-dimensional aramid nanofiber(ANF)is utilized for network construction.Inverted OPVs with ANF network yield superior thermal stability compared to the ANF-free counterpart.The ANF network-incorporated active layer demonstrates significantly more stable morphology than the ANF-free counterpart,thereby leaving fundamental processes such as charge separation,transport,and collection,determining the device efficiency,largely unaltered.This strategy is also successfully applied to other photovoltaic systems.The strategy of incorporating a polymer fiber rigid network with high T_(g) offers a distinct perspective addressing the challenge of thermal instability with simplicity and universality.

Tim4 deficiency reduces CD301b+macrophage and aggravates periodontitis bone loss

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease that causes the periodontal bone destruction and may ultimately result in tooth loss.With the progression of periodontitis,the osteoimmunology microenvironment in periodontitis is damaged and leads to the formation of pathological alveolar bone resorption.CD301b^(+)macrophages are specific to the osteoimmunology microenvironment,and are emerging as vital booster for conducting bone regeneration.However,the key upstream targets of CD301b^(+)macrophages and their potential mechanism in periodontitis remain elusive.In this study,we concentrated on the role of Tim4,a latent upstream regulator of CD301b^(+)macrophages.We first demonstrated that the transcription level of Timd4(gene name of Tim4)in CD301b^(+)macrophages was significantly upregulated compared to CD301b^(-) macrophages via high-throughput RNA sequencing.Moreover,several Tim4-related functions such as apoptotic cell clearance,phagocytosis and engulfment were positively regulated by CD301b^(+)macrophages.The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis subsequently discovered that Cd301b and Timd4 were specifically co-expressed in macrophages.The following flow cytometric analysis indicated that Tim4 positive expression rates in total macrophages shared highly synchronized dynamic changes with the proportions of CD301b^(+)macrophages as periodontitis progressed.Furthermore,the deficiency of Tim4 in mice decreased CD301b^(+)macrophages and eventually magnified alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis.Additionally,Tim4 controlled the p38 MAPK signaling pathway to ultimately mediate CD301b^(+)macrophages phenotype.In a word,Tim4 might regulate CD301b^(+)macrophages through p38 MAPK signaling pathway in periodontitis,which provided new insights into periodontitis immunoregulation as well as help to develop innovative therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for periodontitis.

二氧化钛基S型异质结光催化剂的研究进展

近年来,绿色可持续的太阳能转换策略成为了研究热点.迄今,已经有多种光催化剂被研发出来并应用于能源和环境领域.其中,二氧化钛(TiO_(2))基半导体光催化剂因其成本低、生物相容性好、光/热稳定和环境友好等优点,成为了研究最多的光催化材料之一.然而,TiO_(2)基光催化剂存在禁带宽度较大,光生载流子复合严重和表面活性中心不足等问题严重限制了其大规模应用.因此,研究人员探索了多种策略,包括杂原子掺杂、晶面调控、负载金属助催化剂和构建异质结等,以进一步提升TiO_(2)基光催化剂的性能.研究表明,与对单一组分光催化剂进行改性修饰相比,设计构建异质结复合材料是更有效的提升TiO_(2)基光催化剂性能的策略.新兴的梯(S)型异质结机制不仅有效促进光生载流子的空间分离和转移,同时可以使催化剂体系保留较好的氧化还原能力,有利于提高光催化反应性能.目前,有关TiO_(2)基S型异质结光催化剂的研究报道较多,但有关此类光催化材料的系统性、评论性的综述文章不多.因此,有必要对TiO_(2)基S型异质结光催化剂的最新研究成果进行总结.本文首先从异质结光催化剂的理论发展入手,探讨了Ⅱ型异质结、传统Z型体系以及新兴的S型异质结光催化剂的发展历程,相关机理与区别.然后深入阐述了S型异质结在促进电荷载流子分离以及增强光催化体系的氧化还原能力方面的突出优势.并且,重点总结了高效TiO_(2)基S型异质结光催化剂的设计理念,包括TiO_(2)组分的缺陷/晶面工程、多维纳米结构组合、有机-无机材料杂化和界面化学键合.详细介绍了以TiO_(2)基S型异质结为典型例子的电荷转移表征技术的实际应用,包括自由基捕获电子顺磁共振、内建电场评估、原位辐照X射线光电子能谱、开尔文探针力显微镜和飞秒超快吸收光谱.此外,简要列举了TiO_(2)基S型异质结光催化剂在分解水产氢、二氧化碳还原、过氧化氢合成和水处理等领域的最新研究进展.最后,围绕TiO_(2)基S型异质结催化剂的定向设计和制备、构筑界面电荷转移通道、关注催化活性及材料稳定性、发展原位表征技术以及器件设计等方向的研究提出了展望.综上,本文对TiO_(2)基S型异质结光催化剂的研究进展进行了系统性的综述,希望对更深入理解和设计高效的S型异质结光催化剂提供一定的参考.

Recent advances in solar-driven CO_(2) reduction over g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts

The persistent increase of CO_(2) levels in the atmosphere,already exceeding 400 ppm,urges the exploration of CO_(2) emission reduction and recycling technologies.Ideally,photocatalytic conversion of CO_(2) into valuable hydrocarbons realizes solar-to-chemical energy conversion,which is a desirable“kill two birds with one stone”strategy;namely,CO_(2) photoreduction can simultaneously tackle energy shortage and keep global carbon balance.Graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))working on CO_(2) reduction reaction deserves a highlight not only for the metal-free feature that endows it with low cost,tunable electronic structure,and easy fabrication properties but also because of its strong reduction ability.The present review concisely summarizes the latest advances of g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts toward CO_(2) reduction.It starts with the discussion of thermodynamics and dynamics aspects of the CO_(2) reduction process.Then the modification strategies to promote g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts in CO_(2) photoreduction have been discussed in detail,including surface functionalization,molecule structure engineering,crystallization,morphology engineering,loading cocatalyst,and constructing heterojunction.Meanwhile,the intrinsic factors affecting CO_(2) reduction activity and selectivity are analyzed and summarized.In the end,the challenges and prospects for the future development of highly g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts in CO_(2) reduction are also presented.

Recent advances in quantum dot catalysts for hydrogen evolution:Synthesis,characterization,and photocatalytic application

Photocatalytic water splitting is beneficial for the effective mitigation of global energy and environmental crises.Owing to multi-exciton generation,impressive light harvesting,and excellent photochemical properties,the quantum dot(QD)-based catalysts reveal a considerable potential in photocatalytic hydrogen(H_(2))production compared with bulk competitors.In this review,we summarize the recent advances in QDs for photocatalytic H_(2) production by enumerating different synthetic and characterization strategies for QDs.Various QDs-based photocatalysts are introduced and summarized in categories,and the role of different QDs in varied systems,as well as the mechanism and key factors that enhance the photocatalytic H_(2) generation performance,is discussed.Finally,conclusions and future perspectives in the exploration of highly efficient QDs-based photocatalysts for innovative applications are highlighted.

Role of dendritic cells in MYD88-mediated immune recognition and osteoinduction initiated by the implantation of biomaterials

Bone substitute material implantation has become an important treatment strategy for the repair of oral and maxillofacial bone defects.Recent studies have shown that appropriate inflammatory and immune cells are essential factors in the process of osteoinduction of bone substitute materials.Previous studies have mainly focused on innate immune cells such as macrophages.In our previous work,we found that T lymphocytes,as adaptive immune cells,are also essential in the osteoinduction procedure.As the most important antigen-presenting cell,whether dendritic cells(DCs)can recognize non-antigen biomaterials and participate in osteoinduction was still unclear.In this study,we found that surgical trauma associated with materials implantation induces necrocytosis,and this causes the release of high mobility group protein-1(HMGB1),which is adsorbed on the surface of bone substitute materials.Subsequently,HMGB1-adsorbed materials were recognized by the TLR4-MYD88-NFκB signal axis of dendritic cells,and the inflammatory response was activated.Finally,activated DCs release regeneration-related chemokines,recruit mesenchymal stem cells,and initiate the osteoinduction process.This study sheds light on the immune-regeneration process after bone substitute materials implantation,points out a potential direction for the development of bone substitute materials,and provides guidance for the development of clinical surgical methods.

CD301b^(+) macrophage: the new booster for activating bone regeneration in periodontitis treatment

Periodontal bone regeneration is a major challenge in the treatment of periodontitis.Currently the main obstacle is the difficulty of restoring the regenerative vitality of periodontal osteoblast lineages suppressed by inflammation,via conventional treatment.CD301b^(+)macrophages were recently identified as a subpopulation that is characteristic of a regenerative environment,but their role in periodontal bone repair has not been reported.

Common susceptibility variants of KDR and IGF-1R are associated with poststroke depression in the Chinese population

Background Depression,one of the most frequent complications after stroke,increases the disease’s burden and physical disability.Poststroke depression(PSD)is a multifactorial disease with genetic,environmental and biological factors involved in its occurrence.Genetic studies on PSD to date have mainly focused on the monoamine system and brain-derived neurotrophic factors.However,understanding is still limited about the influence of the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)of other neurotrophic factors on PSD.Aims The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between seven vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)family gene variants that occur with PSD.Methods A multicentre candidate gene study from five hospitals in Jiangsu Province from June 2013 to December 2014 involved 121 patients with PSD and 131 patients with non-PSD.Demographic characteristics and neuropsychological assessments were collected.Theχ^(2)test was used to evaluate categorical variables,while the independent t-test was applied to continuous variables.SNPs in seven genes(VEGFA,VEGFB,KDR,FLT-1,IGF-1,IGF-1R and PlGF)were genotyped.Single-marker association for PSD was analysed byχ^(2)tests and logistic regression using SPSS and PLINK software.Results Patients with PSD included more women and those with lower education levels,lower body mass indexes,lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores,and higher scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale than non-PSD patients.Ninety-two SNPs with seven genes were genotyped and passed quality control.The rs7692791 CC genotypes,the C allele of KDR and the rs9282715 T allele of IGF-1R increased the risk for PSD(χ^(2)=7.881,p=0.019;χ^(2)=4.259,p=0.039;χ^(2)=4.222,p=0.040,respectively).In addition,the SNP rs7692791 of KDR was significantly associated with PSD by the logistic regression of an additive model(p=0.015,OR=9.584,95%CI:1.549 to 59.31).Conclusions Patients with rs7692791 C allele carriers or the CC genotype of KDR and the rs9282715 T allele of IGF-1R may have PSD susceptibility.Findings such as these may help clinicians to identify the high-risk population for PSD earlier and,thus,enable them to provide more timely interventions.

头皮脂溢性皮炎臭氧水疗的临床观察

目的探讨臭氧水疗对头皮脂溢性皮炎治疗的临床疗效。方法选取头皮脂溢性皮炎患者120例,随机分为治疗组(60例)使用臭氧水疗和对照组(60例)外用2%酮康唑洗剂。比较两组治疗前后临床疗效、复发率和皮脂水平。结果两组各临床症状评分比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),治疗组下降趋势较对照组更明显;两组在2、4周时疗效总有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),治疗组均高于对照组;两组皮脂水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),治疗组较对照组下降更明显;两组复发率比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),治疗组低于对照组。结论臭氧水疗能提高头皮脂溢性皮炎的临床治疗效果,降低复发率。

再论采用双重投影法的椭球面日晷投影

为减小椭球面日晷投影的变形,讨论了椭球面日晷投影的特性,分析了3种球面下双重投影法的变形大小,结果表明采用高斯等角球面,投影长度变形最小,适合于各种比例尺的地图海图制图,可以使船只沿着拟大地线方向航行,迅速到达目的地。

果酸联合调q激光治疗中波紫外线诱导黄褐斑鼠模型的实验研究

目的研究果酸联合调q激光治疗中波紫外线诱导的黄褐斑鼠模型的疗效及可能机制。方法选取健康雌性豚鼠30只,分为正常组(6只)和实验组(24只)。实验组予中波紫外线联合黄体酮注射液复制黄褐斑鼠模型,从中随机选取6只与正常组豚鼠一起处死,观察血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)的表达水平,局部皮损行HE及免疫组织化学染色。实验组余18只为模型组,随机分为A、B、C组,每组6只。A组予以果酸联合调q激光治疗,B组予以氢醌治疗,C组不做任何处理。4个月后分别检测各组豚鼠血清、肝脏、皮肤SOD活力、MDA表达水平及皮肤组织病理改变。结果模型组黄褐斑鼠模型复制区可见深褐色斑形成;模型组与正常组比较,血清SOD水平下降,MDA水平上升(P<0.05);模型组皮损HE及免疫组织化学染色显示病理表现符合黄褐斑病理改变;A、B组与C组比较,A组、B组皮损肉眼观及组织病理表现明显改善;治疗后血清、肝脏、皮肤中SOD水平上升,MDA水平下降(P<0.05),A组与B组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论果酸联合调q激光治疗黄褐斑鼠疗效显著,可能与果酸的剥脱作用、抗氧化作用,以及调q激光选择性破坏黑素细胞、减少黑色素生成有关。

Construction of LSPR-enhanced 0D/2D CdS/MoO3‒x S-scheme heterojunctions for visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution

Plasmonic nonmetal semiconductors with localized surface plasmon resonance(LSPR)effects possess extended light-response ranges and can act as highly efficient H2 generation photocatalysts.Herein,an LSPR-enhanced 0D/2D CdS/MoO3‒x heterojunction has been synthesized by the growth of 0D CdS nanoparticles on 2D plasmonic MoO3‒x elliptical nanosheets via a simple coprecipitation method.Taking advantage of the LSPR effect of the MoO3‒x elliptical nanosheets,the light absorption of the CdS/MoO3‒x heterojunction was extended from 600 nm to the near-infrared region(1400 nm).Furthermore,the introduction of 2D plasmonic MoO3‒x elliptical nanosheets not only provided a platform for the growth of CdS nanoparticles,but also contributed to the construction of an LSPR-enhanced S-scheme structure due to the interface between the MoO3‒x and CdS,accelerating the separation of light-induced electrons and holes.Therefore,the CdS/MoO3‒x heterojunction exhibited higher photocatalytic H2 generation activity than pristine CdS under visible light irradiation,including under 420,450,550,and 650 nm monochromic light,as well as improved photo-corrosion performance.

Hot‐electron‐assisted S‐scheme heterojunction of tungsten oxide/graphitic carbon nitride for broad‐spectrum photocatalytic H_(2)generation

Extended light absorption and dynamic charge separation are vital factors that determine the effectivenessof photocatalysts.In this study,a nonmetallic plasmonic S‐scheme photocatalyst was fabricatedby loading 1D plasmonic W_(18)O_(49)nanowires onto 2D g‐C_(3)N_(4)nanosheets.W_(18)O_(49)nanowiresplay the dual role of a light absorption antenna—that extends light adsorption—and a hot electrondonor—that assists the water reduction reaction in a wider light spectrum range.Moreover,S‐scheme charge transfer resulting from the matching bandgaps of W_(18)O_(49)and g‐C_(3)N_(4)can lead tostrong redox capability and high migration speed of the photoinduced charges.Consequently,in thisstudy,W_(18)O_(49)/g‐C_(3)N_(4)hybrids exhibited higher photocatalytic H2 generation than that of pristineg‐C_(3)N_(4)under light irradiation of 420–550 nm.Furthermore,the H2 production rate of thebest‐performing W_(18)O_(49)/g‐C_(3)N_(4)hybrid was 41.5μmol·g^(−1)·h^(−1)upon exposure to monochromaticlight at 550 nm,whereas pure g‐C_(3)N_(4)showed negligible activity.This study promotes novel andenvironmentally friendly hot‐electron‐assisted S‐scheme photocatalysts for the broad‐spectrumutilization of solar light.

Accelerating photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and pollutant degradation by coupling organic co-catalysts with TiO_2

Accelerating the separation efficiency of photoexcited electron-hole pairs with the help of highly active co-catalysts has proven to be a promising approach for improving photocatalytic activity. Thus far, the most developed co-catalysts for semiconductor-based photocatalysis are inorganic materials;the employment of a specific organic molecule as a co-catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and pollutant photodegradation is rare and still remains a challenging task. Herein, we report on the use of an organic molecule, oxamide (OA), as a novel co-catalyst to enhance electron- hole separation, photocatalytic H2 evolution, and dye degradation over TiO2 nanosheets. OA-modified TiO2 samples were prepared by a wet chemical route and demonstrated improved light absorption in the visible-light region and more efficient charge transport. The photocatalytic performance of H2 evolution from water splitting and rhodamine B (RhB) degradation for an optimal OA-modified TiO2 photocatalyst reached 2.37 mmol g^–1 h^–1 and 1.43 × 10^-2 min^-1, respectively, which were 2.4 and 3.8 times higher than those of pristine TiO2, respectively. A possible mechanism is proposed, in which the specific π-conjugated structure of OA is suggested to play a key role in the enhancement of the charge transfer and catalytic capability of TiO2. This work may provide advanced insight into the development of a variety of metal-free organic molecules as functional co-catalysts for improved solar-to-fuel conversion and environmental remediation.

Complex interactions between microRNAs and hepatitis B/C viruses

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of many target genes via mRNA degradation or translation inhibition. Many studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in the modulation of gene expression and replication of hepatitis B virus(HBV) and hepatitis C virus(HCV) and play a pivotal role in host-virus interactions. Increasing evidence also demonstrates that viral infection leads to alteration of the miRNA expression profile in hepatic tissues or circulation. The deregulated miRNAs participate in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)initiation and progression by functioning as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes by targeting various genes involved in cancer-related signaling pathways. The distinct expression pattern of miRNAs may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of virus-related diseases considering the limitation of currently used biomarkers. Moreover, the role of deregulated miRNA in host-virus interactions and HCC development suggested that miRNAs may serve as therapeutic targets or astools. In this review, we summarize the recent findings about the deregulation and the role of miRNAs during HBV/HCV infection and HCC development, and we discuss the possible mechanism of action of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of virus-related diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of using miRNAs as markers for diagnosis and prognosis as well as therapeutic targets and drugs.

Dual transfer channels of photo-carriers in 2D/2D/2D sandwich-like ZnIn2S4/g-C_(3)N_(4)/Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene S-scheme/Schottky heterojunction for boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution

Construction of multi-channels of photo-carrier migration in photocatalysts is favor to boost conversion efficiency of solar energy by promoting the charge separation and transfer.Herein,a ternary ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/g-C_(3)N_(4)/Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene hybrid composed of S-scheme junction integrated Schottky-junction was fabricated using a simple hydrothermal approach.All the components(g-C_(3)N_(4),ZnIn_(2)S_(4) and Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene)demonstrated two-dimensional(2D)nanosheets structure,leading to the formation of a 2D/2D/2D sandwich-like structure with intimate large interface for carrier migration.Furthermore,the photogenerated carriers on the g-C_(3)N_(4) possessed dual transfer channels,including one route in S-scheme transfer mode between the g-C_(3)N_(4) and ZnIn_(2)S_(4) and the other route in Schottky-junction between g-C_(3)N_(4) and Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene.Consequently,a highly efficient carrier separation and transport was realized in the ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/g-C_(3)N_(4)/Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene heterojunction.This ternary sample exhibited wide light response from 200 to 1400 nm and excellent photocatalytic H_(2) evolution of 2452.1μmol∙g^(–1)∙h^(–1),which was 200,3,1.5 and 1.6 times of g-C_(3)N_(4),ZnIn_(2)S_(4),ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene and g-C_(3)N_(4)/ZnIn_(2)S_(4) binary composites.This work offers a paradigm for the rational construction of multi-electron pathways to regulate the charge separation and migration via the introduction of dual-junctions in catalytic system.

Upregulation of kazrin F by miR-186 suppresses apoptosis but promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition to contribute to malignancy in human cervical cancer cells

Objective：Previous studies have identified that kazrin is a constituent of desmosome and influences intercellular adhesion,growing development and morphology.We previously cloned another new isoform,kazrin F and found that it has anti-apoptotic effects on human glioma cell line.To further explore whether kazrin F is involved in tumorigenesis,we investigated its expression and role in cervical cancer（CC） cells.Methods：The role of kazrin F and miR-186 in CC was determined by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide（MTT） assay,colony formation,transwell,and apoptosis assays.Using enhanced green fluorescent protein（EGFP） reporter assays,reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction（RT-qPCR） and western blot analysis,we identified kazrin F post-transcriptional regulation by miR-186.Results：We demonstrate that kazrin F is highly expressed in CC tissues compared with the adjacent noncancerous tissues and promotes cell proliferation,colony formation,migration and invasion in HeLa and C33 A cells by suppressing apoptosis and facilitating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition（EMT）.Furthermore,miR-186 was confirmed as a regulator of kazrin F dysregulation.An EGFP reporter assay proved that miR-186 directly targets the 3＇-untranslated region（3＇UTR） of kazrin F and downregulates its expression,and miR-186 expression showed an inverse correlation with kazrin F levels in CC tissues.In addition,overexpression of miR-186 suppressed the malignant behaviors of CC cells.The ectopic expression of kazrin F rescued the inhibitory effects of miR-186.Conclusions：Our findings indicate that the upregulation of kazrin F due to downregulated miR-186 levels contributes to malignancy,and highlight the significance of kazrin F in CC tumorigenesis.

地方政府竞争压力、行业同质性与商会的政策参与空间--基于昆山与厦门的比较分析

为什么不同地方相同外资商会的政策参与会有重大差异?为什么外资商会在相同地方不同时期的政策参与也存在显著区别?通过对昆山与厦门的控制性比较,基于田野调查、地方志、回忆录、统计年鉴等资料数据,研究发现:地方政府的竞争压力与商会内中小企业的行业同质性是两个重要的解释变量。这两个自变量的不同取值组合形塑了四种商会的政策参与空间:开放型、封闭型、政府主导的有限开放型和商会主导的有限开放型。论文主要贡献包括:第一,尝试提供一个关于地域与行业特征的视角;第二,以往研究多以民营企业商会为研究对象,少有针对外资商会的研究;第三,既有文献主要采用的是统计研究与跨案例比较研究,而少有将跨案例与案例内比较相结合的研究设计。通过以上的比较研究,论文为理解当代中国地方政商关系的形成路径以及地方营商环境的变迁与改善均提供了有益启示。

No association between low-dose reserpine use and depression in older hypertensive patient: result of a multicenter, cross-sectional study

Background Reserpine is currently used by millions of Chinese hypertensive patients, in spite of the continued concern of its depressogenic effect, even when used in low dose. This study aimed to investigate the association between low-dose reserpine use and depression in older Chinese hypertensive patient. Methods In this cross-sectional, case-control study, we recruited patient aged 60 years or over who had regularly taken one or two tables of “compound reserpine and triamterene tablets (CRTTs)” for more than one year (reserpine user) from 26 community health centers located in 10 provinces in China. For each patient who took CRTTs, we selected an age (within five years) and sex matched hypertensive patient who had never taken any drugs containing reserpine (non-reserpine user) as control. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using a Chinese depression scale adapted from the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Demographic, clinical data and laboratory examination results within six months were collected. Results From August 2018 to December 2018, 787 reserpine user and 787 non-reserpine user were recruited. The mean age of all study subjects was 70.3 years, with about equal numbers of males and females. The mean depression score was 40.4 in reserpine users and 40.6 in non-reserpine users (P = 0.7). The majority of study subject had a depression score < 53 (87.6% in reserpine users and 88.2% in non-reserpine users, respectively). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of mild, moderate or severe depression in reserpine users and non-reserpine users. Conclusions There is no association between low-dose reserpine use and depression in older hypertensive patient. The role of reserpine in the treatment and control of hypertension should be reconsidered;and further studies, especially randomized, controlled clinical trials to compare efficacy and safety of reserpine and other widely recommended anti-hypertensive agents are needed.

Paroxysmal drastic abdominal pain with tardive cutaneous lesions presenting in Henoch-Schnlein purpura

Henoch-Schnlein purpura(HSP) is a small-vessel vasculitis mediated by IgA-immune complex deposition.It is characterized by the clinical tetrad of non-thrombocytopenic palpable purpura,abdominal pain,arthritis and renal involvement.The diagnosis of HSP is difficult,especially when abdominal symptoms precede cutaneous lesions.We report a rare case of paroxysmal drastic abdominal pain with gastrointestinal bleeding presented in HSP.The diagnosis was verified by renal damage and the occurrence of purpura.