For more and purer hydrogen-the progress and challenges in water gas shift reaction

The water gas shift(WGS) reaction is a standard reaction that is widely used in industrial hydrogen production and removal of carbon monoxide. The improved catalytic performance of WGS reaction also contributes to ammonia synthesis and other reactions. Advanced catalysts have been developed for both high and low-temperature reactions and are widely used in industry. In recent years, supported metal nanoparticle catalysts have been researched due to their high metal utilization. Low-temperature catalysts have shown promising results, including high selectivity, high shift rates, and higher activity potential. Additionally, significant progress has been made in removing trace CO through the redox reaction in electrolytic cell. This paper reviews the development of WGS reaction catalysts, including the reaction mechanism, catalyst design, and innovative research methods. The catalyst plays a crucial role in the WGS reaction, and this paper provides an instant of catalyst design under different conditions. The progress of catalysts is closely related to the development of advanced characterization techniques.Furthermore, modifying the catalyst surface to enhance activity and significantly increase reaction kinetics is a current research direction. This review goals to stimulate a better understanding of catalyst design, performance optimization, and driving mechanisms, leading to further progress in this field.

Qinzhi Zhudan formula improves memory and alleviates neuroinflammation in vascular dementia rats partly by inhibiting the TNFR1-mediated TNF pathway

Objective: The Qinzhi Zhudan formula(QZZD) exhibits a prominent therapeutic effect in the treatment of vascular dementia(VaD). This study combined a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation to identify the underlying biological mechanism of QZZD against VaD.Methods: Male Wistar rats received bilateral common carotid artery occlusion(BCCAO) surgery, and after4 weeks of intragastric administration of QZZD, the therapeutic effect was assessed using the Morris water maze test and cerebral blood flow(CBF) assessment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, and electron microscopy were used to measure the histopathological changes in the neurons of rats. The effect of QZZD treatment on hippocampal neurotransmitters was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.Immunofluorescence was used to observe VaD-induced microglia activation. The inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was used to examine the TNFR1-mediated TNF pathway, which was screened out by network pharmacology analysis.Results: QZZD treatment alleviated pathological changes and neuronal damage in VaD rats and attenuated their cognitive impairment. In addition, QZZD increased CBF and the expression of acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the hippocampal region. Notably, QZZD inhibited microglial activation and the expression of IL-6 and TNF-a. Network pharmacology and western blot indicated that QZZD inhibited the levels of TNFR1, NF-κBp65, p-ERK, TNF-a, and IL-6, which are related to the TNFR1-mediated TNF signaling pathway.Conclusion: QZZD clearly improved learning and memory function, reduced brain pathological damage,elevated CBF and hippocampal neurotransmitter levels, and alleviated neuroinflammation of VaD rats partly by inhibiting the TNFR1-mediated TNF pathway, indicating its potential value in the clinical therapy of VaD.

Liangxue Xiaoban decoction and its disassembled prescriptions ameliorate psoriasis-like skin lesions induced by imiquimod in mice via T cell regulation

Objective:To explore the therapeutic capacity of the Liangxue Xiaoban(LXXB)decoction and its disassembled prescriptions in the modulation of T cell subsets and recurrence-related indexes of psoriasis using a psoriasis-like mouse model.Methods:The psoriasis model was generated by the treatment of BALB/c mice(n=48)with imiquimod.Mice were divided into six groups:control,psoriasis model,tripterygium glycosides,LXXB decoction,Liangxue decoction,and Qingqi decoction.After the intervention period,the interleukin(IL)-17A,IL-22,and interferon-γ levels in mice were examined and hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to determine pathological changes in the skin tissues.T cell subset changes in the skin-draining lymph nodes were analyzed using flow cytometry,and the expression levels of the associated transcription factors and recurrence-related indexes in the skin tissues were determined using a polymerase chain reaction.Results:LXXB decoction attenuated the levels of CD8^(+)T,Th17,and Th1 cells and induced an increase in the Th2 and Treg cell levels.The disassembled prescriptions promoted or inhibited specific subsets of T cells to improve the symptoms of psoriasis.Notably,the LXXB and Liangxue decoctions suppressed the expression of IL-22 at both the gene and protein levels and restored the CD103 and IL-15 expressions in the skin tissue to the normal range.Conclusion:LXXB decoction exerted significant immunoregulatory effects on T cell subsets and improved the recurrence-related indexes.Interestingly,the Liangxue prescription appeared to have a therapeutic advantage in terms of Th17 modulation and psoriasis recurrence,while the Qingqi prescription performed better in Treg immunoregulation.

Paeoniflorin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in LO2 cells by regulating RhoA/NLRP3 pathway

Background:Inflammation is an essential component of liver diseases.Paeoniflorin(PF),a monoterpenoid component derived from peony root(Paeonia lactiflora Pall.),has anti-inflammatory,immunoregulatory,and hepatoprotective activities.However,whether PF affects liver inflammation and its underlying mechanisms is unclear.In this study,we investigated the effects of PF on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation in LO2 cells and the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods:LPS was used to induce inflammation.After PF pretreatment for 2 h,the cells were treated with PF and LPS.Cell counting kit-8 was used to measure cell viability.Tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)and interleukin(IL)-6 were tested by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Western blot was used to evaluate TNF-a,Ras homolog family member A(RhoA),NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC),caspase-1,and IL-1b proteins expression.Results:In LPS-induced LO2 cells,PF reduced TNF-a and IL-6 inflammatory cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner.LPS-induced TNF-a expression was also suppressed by PF.In addition,PF significantly inhibited LPS-induced RhoA activation(P=.0014).Finally,PF suppressed LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by downregulating NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,and IL-1b expression.Conclusion:These findings suggest that PF alleviates inflammation induced by LPS and further suggest the anti-inflammatory effect of PF may follow via reduced RhoA and NLRP3 inflammasome activity.

Trends in hospital readmissions and emergency room visits 60 days after robotic-assisted and laparoscopic hysterectomy

Objective:Hospital readmission after surgery is one of the major contributors to the increased healthcare cost.Robotic-assisted hysterectomy(RAH)is an innovative surgical procedure most commonly performed within the last decade.The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects on hospital readmission patterns and emergency room(ER)visits within 60 days of discharge for women who had RAH versus laparoscopic hysterectomy(LH)in an academic community hospital in Texas.Method:We performed a retrospective study of women with RAH or LH.We used the univariate and multivariate logistic regression to examine the impact of patients'risk factors,the type of surgery,age,number of comorbidities,and duration of surgery on the 60-day hospital readmissions and ER visits.Results:A total of 291 cases with RAH or LH for benign and malignant indications were examined.The number of comorbidities and duration of surgery were similar between the two treatment groups(p>0.05).Patients in the RAH group were younger than the LH group(RAH:45.4±9.9 y,LH:49.8±11.5 y,p<0.05).No significant difference neither in hospital readmission or ER visits between the two groupswas observed(p?0.544 and p=0.109,respectively).Younger age and longer duration of surgery were significantly associated with a higher risk of ER visits(p<0.05).Conclusion:RAH is comparable with LH in hospital readmissions and ER visits.The younger age and longer operation time could lead to ER visits.

High-performance violet phosphorus photodetectors with van der Waals-assisted contacts

Black phosphorus(BP) as a narrow-bandgap two-dimensional semiconductor material has been extensively studied. And the allotrope violet phosphorus(VP) exhibits wide bandgap properties extending the application in the visible light band. However,due to the Schottky barrier of metal/semiconductor contacts(M/S), further device application of VP is limited. Here, VP-based photodetectors with van der Waals-assisted contact were demonstrated, achieving quasi-Ohmic M/S contacts. The output characteristics in dark conditions show ultralow current at the pA level. And the device exhibits a high current on-off ratio of 10~5and a fast response speed of 8.4 ms. Furthermore, we constructed the first allotropic photodetector based on BP and VP heterojunction. The device maintains ultralow dark current(~ pA) while exhibiting faster carrier transport, with 945 μs response time and polarization detection capability. These results offer an effective way to study the optoelectronic properties of VP and promote the study of allotropic heterojunction devices.

LIFU-responsive nanomedicine enables acoustic droplet vaporization-induced apoptosis of macrophages for stabilizing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques

Due to the high risk of tearing and rupture,vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques would induce serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Despite the available clinical methods can evaluate the vulnerability of plaques and specifically treat vulnerable plaques before a cardiovascular event,but the efficiency is still low and undesirable.Herein,we rationally design and engineer the low-intensity focused ultrasound(LIFU)-responsive FPD@CD nanomedicine for the highly efficient treatment of vulnerable plaques by facilely loading phase transition agent perfluorohexane(PFH)into biocompatible PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles(PPP NPs)and then attaching dextran sulphate(DS)onto the surface of PPP NPs for targeting delivery.DS,as a typical macrophages-targeted molecule,can achieve the precise vaporization of NPs and subsequently controllable apoptosis of RAW 264.7 macrophages as induced by acoustic droplet vaporization(ADV)effect.In addition,the introduction of DiR and Fe3O4 endows nanomedicine with near-infrared fluorescence(NIRF)and magnetic resonance(MR)imaging capabilities.The engineered FPD@CD nanomedicine that uses macrophages as therapeutic targets achieve the conspicuous therapeutic effect of shrinking vulnerable plaques based on in vivo and in vitro evaluation outcomes.A reduction of 49.4%of vascular stenosis degree in gross pathology specimens were achieved throughout the treatment period.This specific,efficient and biosafe treatment modality potentiates the biomedical application in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases based on the relief of the plaque rupture concerns.