Vacancy healing for stable perovskite solar cells via bifunctional potassium tartrate

Perovskite solar cell has gained widespread attention as a promising technology for renewable energy.However, their commercial viability has been hampered by their long-term stability and potential Pb leakage. Herein, we demonstrate a bifunctional passivator of the potassium tartrate(PT) to address both challenges. PT minimizes the Pb leakage in perovskites and also heals cationic vacancy defects, resulting in improved device performance and stability. Benefiting from PT modification, the power conversion efficiency(PCE) is improved to 23.26% and the Pb leakage in unencapsulated films is significantly reduced to 9.79 ppm. Furthermore, the corresponding device exhibits no significant decay in PCE after tracking at the maximum power point(MPP) for 2000 h under illumination(LED source, 100 mW cm^(-2)).

Effects of L-carnitine on treatment outcomes of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units:A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Objective:To assess the effects of L-carnitine on the outcomes of patients with moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods:This double-blind clinical trial was carried out in 2022-2023.64 Patients with COVID-19 were selected from Amiralmomenin and Khansari hospitals in Arak,Iran.They were randomly assigned to the control and the L-carnitine treatment group via block randomization.Venous blood gases,disease severity,and levels of D-dimer,lactate dehydrogenase,ferritin,and C-reactive protein were daily assessed during the seven days of the intervention,and the length of ICU stay,the need for endotracheal intubation,and mortality rate were documented.Results:There were significant differences in length of ICU stay,the need for endotracheal intubation,and levels of D-dimer,lactate dehydrogenase,ferritin,APACHE栻score,and C-reactive protein between the two groups(P<0.05).However,the groups did not significantly differ in mortality rate and venous blood gas indexes(P>0.05).Conclusions:L-carnitine can improve outcomes of patients with COVID-19.Therefore,it can be used as an adjuvant therapy for these patients.

L-Carnitine拮抗培养心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤

目的 探讨L Carnitine对心肌细胞缺氧 /复氧损伤的防护作用及其可能的机制。方法 以原代培养新生鼠心肌细胞建立缺氧 /复氧损伤模型 ,观察不同剂量L Carnitine处理后细胞增殖活性、凋亡细胞百分率及DNA断片化率 ,作为反映L Carnitine对心肌细胞缺氧 /复氧损伤防护作用及其机制的指标。结果 在 5～ 5 0 0 0nmol/L范围内 ,L Carnitine预处理对培养心肌细胞缺氧 /复氧损伤均显示保护效应 ;在 5、5 0及 5 0 0nmol/L时均显著降低DNA断片化率 ;L Carnitine在 5 0nmol/L时与单纯缺氧 /复氧组比较可显著降低凋亡细胞百分率。结论 缺氧 /复氧对心肌细胞的影响之一是可诱导心肌细胞凋亡 ;L Carnitine对培养心肌细胞培养缺氧/复氧损伤具有防护作用 ,其机制可能与抑制缺氧 /复氧诱导细胞凋亡有关。

Double-blinded, Controlled, Randomized Study of Dihydrocodeine Tartrate vs Codeine Phosphate in Treating Cancer Pain

To compare the effects and adverse reactions of dihydrocodeine tartrate andcodeine phosphate in treating moderate cancer pain. Methods: Sixty-nine cases of cancer patientswith moderate pain were treated with dihydrocodeine tartrate or codeine phosphate respectively bydouble-blind, controlled randomized methods and the effects and adverse reactions were observed.Results: After administration of dihydrocodeine tartrate or codeine phosphate, in treatment group orcontrol group, the total effective rate was 86.6% and 93.6%, and common adverse symptoms includedconstipation (31.3%/12.9%), nausea (18.8%/19.7%), gastric trouble (18.8%/19.7%), skin pruritus(12.5%/10%), vomit (9.3% and 6.5%) with the difference being not significant. Conclusion: Theeffects of dihydrocodeine tartrate in treating moderate cancer pain are similar to codeinephosphate. Both them can be used to treat moderate cancer pain.

Effects of L-carnitine on Population Growth of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetrahymena sp.

[Objective] The aim was to study the effects of L-carnitine on population growth of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetrahymena sp..[Method] When the concentration of L-carnitine was 0,50,100 and 1 000 mg/L,population densities of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetrahymena were determined respectively.[Result] Adding high-dose L-carnitine had a significant inhibition effect on the population growth of Nannochloropsis oculata （P0.05）.Adding L-carnitine had a significant proliferation promoting effect on the population growth of Tetrahymena （P0.05）.[Conclusion] The research provides theoretical basis for the application of L-carnitine as feed additive in aquaculture.

Advancing USP compendial methods for fixed dose combinations: A case study of metoprolol tartrate and hydrochlorothiazide tablets

The current United States Pharmacopeia–National Formulary(USP–NF) includes more than 250 monographs of fixed dose combinations(FDCs), and some of them need to be updated due to incompleteness of impurity profiles and obsolescence of analytical methodologies. A case study of metoprolol tartrate and hydrochlorothiazide tablets is presented to summarize challenges encountered during the USP monograph modernization initiative of FDCs and to highlight an "adoption and adaptation" approach employed for method development. To this end, a single stability-indicating HPLC method was developed to separate the two drug substances and eight related compounds with resolution 2.0 or higher between all critical pairs. Chromatographic separations were achieved on a Symmetry column(C18,100 mm*4.6 mm, 3.5 mm) using sodium phosphate buffer(pH 3.0; 34 mM) and acetonitrile as mobile phase in a gradient elution mode. The stability-indicating capability of this method has been demonstrated by analyzing stressed samples of the two drug substances. The developed HPLC method was validated for simultaneous determination of metoprolol tartrate and hydrochlorothiazide and relevant impurities in the tablets. Moreover, the developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablet dosage forms and proved to be suitable for routine quality control use. The case study could be used to streamline USP's monograph modernization process of FDCs and strengthen compendial procedures.

Modulation of Tartrates with Various Counterions on the Phases of Calcium Oxalate in Gelatinous Systems

Effect of various counterions of tartrate on the crystallization of calcium oxalate in gel system was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Various tartrates with hydrogen (H2tart), sodium (Na2tart), potassium (K2tart), ammonium ((NH4)2tart), and a mixture of sodium and potassium cations (NaKtart) were considered. For H2tart, Na2tart, and (NH4)2tart, calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) was induced. However, for K2tart and NaKtart, calcium oxalate trihydrate (COT) was obtained.

The Protective Effect of L-carnitine on Ischemia-reperfusion Heart

To investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat heart,all harvested isolated hearts were perfused on Langendorff apparatus with oxygenized K-H solution for 20 min. The hearts were then exposed to ischemia for 30 min. Following the ischemia the hearts were re-perfused with K-H solution for 120 min to serve as the control group A. Either 5 or 10 mmol/L of L-carnitine was added into the K-H solution for 20 min at the beginning of reperfusion to generate group B and group C, respectively. The derivatives of the intraventricular pressure curve （DP/DT）, left ventricular developed pressure （LVDP）, and coronary flux were monitored during the entire experiment. The levels of ATP, hepatin, malondialdehyde （MDA）, and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in tissue, and lactic dehydrogenase （LDH）, creatine phosphate kinase （CPK）, malondialdehyde （MDA）, and superoxide dismutase （SOD） concentration in the coronary efflux were all measured. Compared with the control group, the treatment with L-carnitine resulted in better results, i. e. , higher DP/DTmax and LVDP. At the same time, ventricular fibrillation was reduced, and the levels of ATP, hepatin and SOD were all elevated. However, the concentrations of MDA, CPK and LDH were all reduced. In conclusion, L-carnitine has a protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is partly due to its prevention of energy loss and its antioxidant activity.

L-carnitine supplementation improves hematological pattern in patients affected by HCV treated with Peg interferon-α 2b plus ribavirin

AIM：To evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine on alleviating anemia,thrombocytopenia and leukopenia,and minimizing dose reductions in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus（HCV）in treatment with Interferonα（IFN-α）plus ribavirin.METHODS：Sixty-nine patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups.group A（n=35）received Peg-IFN-α2b plus ribavirin plus L-carnitine,and group B（n=34）received Peg-IFN-αand ribavirin for 12 mo.All patients underwent laboratory investigations including：red cell count,he-moglobin,white cell count,platelets,bilirubin,alanineaminotransferase（ALT）,aspartate aminotransferase（AST）,and viremia.RESULTS：After 12 mo in group A compared to group B we observed significant differences in AST 108.8 vs 76.8（IU/L;P0.001）,ALT 137.vs 112.3（IU/L;P 0.001）,viremia 4.04 vs 2.36（106 copies/mL;P 0.001）,Hb 1 vs 3.5（g/dL;P0.05）,red blood cells 0.3 vs 1.1（1012/L;P0.001）,white blood cells 1.5 vs 3（10/L;P0.001）and platelets 86 vs 85（×10/L;P0.001）.The end treatment responders were 18 vs 12（60%vs 44%）and the non responders were 12 vs 15（40%vs 50%）[odds ratio（OR）1.65,5%CI =0.65-5.37,P0.05.In group A compared to group B there was a significant improvement of sustained vi-rological response in 15 vs 7 patients（50%vs25%）,while the relapsers were 3 vs 5（10%vs 18%）（OR 3.57,5%CI=0.65-1.3,P0.001）.CONCLUSION：L-carnitine supplementations modulate erythropoiesis,leucopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis,and may be useful in patients treated for HCV.L-carni-tine treatment offers the possibility of achieving a sus-tained virological response while preventing overtreat-ment.

Beneficial effect of butyrate, Lactobacillus casei and L-carnitine combination in preference to each in experimental colitis

AIM: To investigate the beneficial effect of the combination of butyrate, Lactobacillus casei, and L-carnitine in a rat colitis model.

Conductivity Prediction of Sodium and Potassium Hydrogen Tartrates in Aqueous Solution at Low Concentration

An ionic conductivity prediction equation at low concentration for two acid salts is proposed taking into account the dissociation and association equilibria among ions. The salts considered are sodium and potassium hydrogen tartrates. There is no additional parameter of high order terms except for the Onsager's coefficient of limited term in the new equation. Results show a complex conductance of acidic tartrates in aqueous solution. The molar conductivities of metal ions are nearly constant such that the contributions from hydrogen and tartrate ions decrease with concentration, while the molar conductivity of bitartrate ion increases with concentration.

Development and validation of a UPLC–MS/MS assay for the determination of gemcitabine and its L-carnitine ester derivative in rat plasma and its application in oral pharmacokinetics

A simple and rapid UPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously determine gemcitabine and its L-carnitine ester derivative(2’-deoxy-2’, 2’-difluoro-N-((4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl) oxy)-4-(trimethyl amm-onio) butanoate-cytidine, JDR) in rat plasma was developed and validated.The conventional plasma sample preparation method of nucleoside analogues is solidphase extraction(SPE) which is time-consuming and cost-expensive. In this study, gradient elution with small particles size solid phase was applied to effectively separate gemcitabine and JDR, and protein precipitation pretreatment was adopted to remove plasma protein and extract the analytes with high recovery(>81%). Method validation was performed as per the FDA guidelines, and the standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 5–4000 ng/ml for JDR and 4–4000 ng/ml for gemcitabine, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation(LLOQ)of gemcitabine and JDR was 4 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limits. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic studies of JDR and gemcitabine after oral administration to rats.

Enantiomeric Resolution on L-Carnitine Selective Polymers Prepared by Molecular Imprinting

L-carnitine selective polymers were prepared by molecular imprinting using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer. The acid function of the monomer is expected to form hydrogen bond and ionic interactions with the amine function of the target molecule L-carnitine. The imprinted polymers were used as stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was shown that L-carnitine imprinted polymer exhibited a higher affinity to its template molecule, while the non-imprinted polymer had no affinity to the compounds tested. Racemic carnitine hydrochloride was efficiently resolved on the L-carnitine imprinted polymer, and the separation factor is 1.9.

L-carnitine alleviates sciatic nerve crush injury in rats:functional and electron microscopy assessments

Several studies have demonstrated that L-carnitine exhibits neuroprotective effects on injured sciatic nerve of rats with diabetes mellitus. It is hypothesized that L-carnitine exhibits neuro-protective effects on injured sciatic nerve of rats. Rat sciatic nerve was crush injured by a forceps and exhibited degenerative changes. After intragastric administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine for 30 days, axon area, myelin sheath area, axon diameter, myelin sheath diameter, and numerical density of the myelinated axons of injured sciatic nerve were similar to normal, and the function of injured sciatic nerve also improved signiifcantly. These ifndings suggest that L-carnitine exhibits neuroprotective effects on sciatic nerve crush injury in rats.

Two New Tartrate Derivative Glucosides from Coeloglossum viride ( L.) Hartm. var. bracteatum ( Willd.) Richter

Two new tartrate derivative glucosides, coelovirin C (1) and D (2), were isolated from rhizomes of Coeloglossum viride ( L.) Hartm. var. bracteatum ( Willd.) Richter (Orchidaceae). Their structures were elucidated as (2R, 3S)-2-b-D-glucopyranosyl-2-isobutyltartrate1-(4-b-D- glucopyranosyloxybenzyl) ester 1 and (2R, 3S)-2-b-D-glucopyranosyl-2-isobutyltartrate-4-(4-b-D- glucopyranosyloxybenzyl) ester 2 by means of chemical and spectroscopic methods.

Effect of L-carnitine on Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis and Cardiac Function in Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Replacement Operation

Summary： The effects of L-carnitine, as an ingredient of cardioplegia solution, on cardiac function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in patients undergoing heart valve replacement operation were investigated. Twenty-three cases undergoing heart valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） were randomly allocated into two groups： L-carnitine group （n=12, 12 g/L L-carnitine was put in the ST. Thomas cardioplegia） and control group （n=11, identical to the L-carnitine group except that normal saline was administered instead of L-carnitine）. Serum cardial troponin I （cTnI） levels, the left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）, and cardiac index （CI） were measured perioperatively. A bit of myocardial tissue obtained from right atria was taken before CPB and by the end of intracardiac procedure to undergo electron microscopy examination and estimate apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling （TUNEL）. From the end of CPB to 3 days after operation, the serum levels of cTnI in the L-carnitine group was significantly lower than that in the control group （P〈0.05）. Heart color ultrasonogram showed that the CI index and LVEF at 7th day postoperatively in the L-carnitine group were significantly higher than in the control group （P〈0.05）. Compared to the control group, L-carnitine significantly alleviated the morphologic changes of cardiac muscle cells （electron microscopy examination） and decreased the amounts of apoptotic cardiac muscle cells （TUNEL）. Furthermore, the dosage of vasoactive drugs used after operation was significantly less in the L-carnitine group （P〈0.01）. It was concluded that L-carnitine cardioplegia solution could improve cardiac function in patients undergoing heart valve replacement operation and alleviate CPB-mediated apoptosis of cardiac muscle cells.

Tumor shrinkage by cyclopamine tartrate through inhibiting hedgehog signaling

The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyclopamine (Cyc), an alkaloid from the Veratrum plant, is a specific natural product inhibitor of the Hh pathway that acts by targeting smoothened (SMO) protein. However, its poor solubility, acid sensitivity, and weak potency relative to other Hh antagonists prevent the clinical development of Cyc as a therapeutic agent. Here, we report properties of cyclopamine tartrate salt (CycT) and its activities in Hh signaling-mediated cancer in vitro and in vivo. Unlike Cyc, CycT is water soluble (5-10 mg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of CycT was 62.5 mg/kg body weight compared to 43.5 mg/kg for Cyc, and the plasma half-life (T1/2) of CycT was not significantly different from that of Cyc. We showed that CycT had a higher inhibitory activity for Hh signaling-dependent motor neuron differentiation than did Cyc (IC50 = 50 nmol/L for CycT vs. 300 nmol/L for Cyc). We also tested the antitumor effectiveness of these Hh inhibitors using two mouse models of basal cell carcinomas (K14cre:Ptch1neo/neo and K14cre:SmoM2YFP). After topical application of CycT or Cyc daily for 21 days, we found that all CycT-treated mice had tumor shrinkage and decreased expression of Hh target genes. Taken together, we found that CycT is an effective inhibitor of Hh signaling-mediated carcinogenesis.

Coordination configurations of cupric tartrate in electronic industry wastewater

The coordination structure of cupric tartrate(Cu−TA)complex was investigated by ultraviolet−visible(UV-Vis)and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer(LC-MS)firstly;furthermore,effective coordination configurations and electronic properties of Cu−TA in aqueous solution were systematically revealed by density functional theory(DFT)calculations.Consistently,Job plots show the possible existence of[Cu(TA)]and[Cu(TA)_(2)]^(2-)at 230 and 255 nm based on UV-Vis results.LC-MS results confirm the existence of the single and high coordination complexes[Cu_(2)(TA)_(2)]^(+),[Cu(TA)_(2)]^(+)and[Cu_(2)(TA)_(3)(H_(2)O)_(2)(OH)_(2)]^(2+).DFT calculation results show that carboxylic oxygen and hydroxyl oxygen of tartaric acid(TA)are preferred sites for Cu(Ⅱ)coordination.[Cu(TA)](1H,3H sites O of TA coordinated with Cu(Ⅱ)),[Cu(TA)_(2)]^(2-)(two 1^(C),2^(H) sites O of TA coordinated with Cu(Ⅱ)),and[Cu(TA)_(3)]^(4-)(three 2H,3H sites O of TA coordinated with Cu(Ⅱ))should be dominant coordination configurations of Cu−TA.The corresponding Gibbs reaction energies are-170.1,-136.2,and-90.2 kJ/mol,respectively.

L-carnitine supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)dominates the landscape of modern hepatology.Affecting 25%of the general population,there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available,safe and cost-effective treatments.Cumulative evidence in animal and human models suggests that intrahepatic and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation is impaired in NAFLD,such that lipid accretion is not matched by efficient utilisation.L-carnitine is a crucial mediator of fatty acid metabolism in vivo,promoting mitochondrial lipidβ-oxidation and enhancing tissue metabolic flexibility.These physiological properties have generated research interest in L-carnitine as a potentially effective adjunctive therapy in NAFLD.AIM To systematically review randomised trials reporting effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on liver biochemistry,liver fat and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD.METHODS Search strategies,eligibility criteria and analytic methods were specified a priori(PROSPERO reference:CRD42018107063).Ovid MEDLINE,Ovid EMBASE,PubMed,Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until April 2019.Outcome measures included serum concentrations of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase(ALT and AST),liver fat and insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).A random effects meta-analysis was performed for,ALT,AST and HOMA-IR measures separately.Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I2 statistics.RESULTS Five eligible randomised trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis(n=338).All of the 5 included trials assessed the effect of L-carnitine on serum ALT,identified from Italy,South Korea and Iran.Weighted mean difference(WMD)for ALT between L-carnitine and control groups after intervention was-25.34 IU/L[95%CI:-41.74-(-8.94);P=0.002].WMD for AST between L-carnitine and control groups was-13.68 IU/L(95%CI:-28.26-0.89;P=0.066).In three studies(n=204),HOMA-IR was evaluated.WMD for HOMA-IR between L-carnitine and control groups was-0.74 units[95%CI:-1.02-(-0.46);P<0.001].Two studies using validated outcome measures reported a significant reduction in liver fat in L-carnitine vs control groups post-intervention(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Pooled results indicate that L-carnitine supplementation attenuates ALT,liver fat and insulin resistance in NAFLD cohorts,confirming a beneficial effect of Lcarnitine for a highly prevalent condition with a growing economic burden.

Inhibition Behaviour of 2-butinel,4diol and Tartrate Salt,and Their Synergistic Effects on Corrosion of AA3003 Aluminium Alloy in 0.5% NaCl Solution

This work intends to investigate the inhibition behaviour of 2-butine 1, 4diol and potassium sodium tartrate and their synergistic effects on 3003 aluminium alloy corrosion in 0.5% NaCl solution. Experiments were carried out by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） and Tafel polarization method in a three-electrode cell. It was concluded that the inhibition efficiencies increased with an increase in the concentrations of inhibitors. For 2-butinel, 4diol and tartrate salt, the optimum in the inhibition efficiency, at room temperature and neutral pH, was observed for concentrations close to 10-3 mol/L and 1.5×10^-3mol/L, respectively. The electrochemical results illustrated that 2-butinel, 4diol and tartrate salt, have significant synergistic inhibition effects on corrosion of 3003 aluminium alloy in 0.5% NaCl solution. The optimum ratio of concentrations for tartrate to alcohol was 2：1.