New aspects of improving the performance of WO3 thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting by tuning the ultrathin depletion region

In this work, we explored a facile, scalable and effective method for substantially enhancing photocurrent and incident-photon-to-current efficiency of WO₃ thin-film photoanodes by a mild reduction treatment under low oxygen pressure. Experimental data from photoelectrochemical and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies have shown that such treatment can increase the charge carrier density on WO₃ photoanode surfaces resulting in improvements in hole collection efficiency and reduction in charge recombination. Despite a much thinner layer of WO₃ (about 500 nm) compared to those in other published studies, the electrodes exhibited an ultra-high photocurrent density of 1.81 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE. This current density is one of the highest ones among WO₃-based photoanodes described in literature. The proposed surface modulation approach offers an effective and scalable method to prepare high-performance thin film photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Surface modulation approach offers an effective and scalable method for high-performance WO₃ photoanodes.     

Impact of different annuloplasty rings on geometry of the mitral annulus with fibroelastic deficiency: the significance of aorto–mitral angle

We sought to investigate the impact of full annuloplasty rings versus C-shape bands on mitral annular geometry in the presence of fibroelastic deficiency (FED), as assessed by intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE). We retrospectively selected 65 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation caused by FED using full rings (the Ring group, n?=?30) and C-shape bands (the Band group, n?=?35). 71 controls without valvular heart disease were also included. Thorough 3DTEE inspections were performed for the entire cohort to measure morphological parameters of mitral annulus before and after surgery. Mid-term repair durability and left atrial diameter were followed up. The preoperative 3DTEE parameters, including annular diameters, area, height and aorto–mitral angle, were significantly larger in the FED groups than normal, and were comparable between two groups using different annuloplasty devices. After repair, the anterior–posterior diameter, annulus circumference and area were significantly larger in the Band group than in the Ring group. The aorto–mitral angle became comparable with normal value in the Ring group (p?=?0.728), but not in the Band group (p?=?0.011). Follow-up echocardiographic data showed a significant correlation between postoperative aorto–mitral angle and reduced left atrial diameter at 50.3 months after surgery (r?=?0.63; p?<?0.001). In conclusion, compared with C-shape bands, full rings may impose less narrowing on aorto–mitral angle, which correlates well with mid-term left atrial reverse remodeling.     

粪菌移植与慢性肝脏疾病

<正>成人胃肠道粘膜表面积达到300 m2,是人体与外界环境发生相互作用最大的区域。在成人胃肠道中定殖着超过1×10~(14)个微生物。各种不同的环境信号和不同的饮食习惯使肠道微生物群产生大量的代谢产物以及脂多糖/内毒素、胆汁酸、短链脂肪酸、三甲胺等物质。肝脏作为肠道营养物质、细菌产物、毒素以及其他各种代谢产物的接受者和过滤者,经受着这些物质的作用,可能造成许多肝脏疾     

Development of an evaluation indicator system for the rational use of proton pump inhibitors in pediatric intensive care units: An application of Delphi method

Proton pump inhibitors are frequently used to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients. But there is little information in the instructions about the usages for children. It is important to monitor the appropriate use of proton pump inhibitors, especially in pediatrics. Therefore, we developed an evaluation indicator system for the rational use of proton pump inhibitors in pediatric intensive care units.First, a systematic review was conducted to developed the initial indicators. Then 2 rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted to collecting opinions from a panel of independent experts, and the indicator system was modified to form the final indicators according to the opinions. Finally, the analytic hierarchy procedure was used to determine the weight of each indicator.A total of 6 guidelines and 2 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on literature and discussion among experts, an initial indicator system including 4 first-rank indicators and 12 second-rank indicators was formed. After 2 rounds of Delphi surveys, 2 indicators were added, 5 indicators were deleted, and 1 indicator was revised, so the final indicator system contained a total of 13 indicators including 3 first-rank indicators (drug selection, drug usage and dosage, duration of drug therapy) and 10 second-rank indicators (the proportion of PPIs used in children, children under 1 year old, children who is using glucocorticoids, children with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, children with gastroesophageal reflux disease, children with sepsis, children with ventilators in PICU; the strength of PPIs’ use, the proportion of omeprazole in children using PPIs during the same period; the average days of PPIs used in children). By analyzing scores, all coefficients met the standard, indicating the indicators were scientific and credible.Through a two-round Delphi survey, 3 first-rank indicators and ten second-rank indicators were developed, which will help drug administrative departments to promote the rational use of PPIs for children in PICUs. What is more, our study can constitute a methodological reference for the development of other indicator systems.     

Molecular mechanisms of cardiomyopathy phenotypes associated with myosin light chain mutations

We discuss here the potential mechanisms of action associated with hypertrophic (HCM) or dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy causing mutations in the myosin regulatory (RLC) and essential (ELC) light chains. Specifically, we focus on four HCM mutations: RLC-A13T, RLC-K104E, ELC-A57G and ELC-M173V, and one DCM RLC-D94A mutation shown by population studies to cause different cardiomyopathy phenotypes in humans. Our studies indicate that RLC and ELC mutations lead to heart disease through different mechanisms with RLC mutations triggering alterations of the secondary structure of the RLC which further affect the structure and function of the lever arm domain and impose changes in the cross bridge cycling rates and myosin force generation ability. The ELC mutations exert their detrimental effects through changes in the interaction of the N-terminus of ELC with actin altering the cross talk between the thick and thin filaments and ultimately resulting in an altered force-pCa relationship. We also discuss the effect of mutations on myosin light chain phosphorylation. Exogenous myosin light chain phosphorylation and/or pseudo-phosphorylation were explored as potential rescue tools to treat hypertrophy-related cardiac phenotypes.     

Intermittent Fasting Alleviates Risk Markers in a Murine Model of Ulcerative Colitis by Modulating the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome

Clinical trials have demonstrated the health benefits of intermittent fasting (IF). However, the potential mechanism of IF in alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is not fully understood. The present study was mainly designed to explore the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota and metabolome after short-term (2 weeks) or long-term (20 weeks) IF and therefore clarify the potential mechanisms by which IF ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in a murine model. Thirty-two C57BL/6 male mice were equally divided into four groups and underwent IF intervention for 2 weeks (SIF group, n = 8), 20 weeks (LIF group, n = 8), or were allowed free access to food for 2 weeks (SAL group, n = 8) or 20 weeks (LAL group, n = 8). The thirty-two C57BL/6 male mice were accepted for the diet intervention of 2 weeks of IF or fed ad libitum. Colitis was induced by drinking 2% DSS for 7 days. Our findings showed that short-term IF prominently elevates the abundance of Bacteroides, Muibaculum and Akkermansia (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), and decreased the abundance of Ruminiclostridium (p < 0.05). Long-term IF, however, decreased the abundance of Akkermansia and obviously increased the abundance of Lactobacillus (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). Metabolites mainly associated with nucleoside, carbohydrate, amino acid, bile acid, fatty acid, polyol, steroid and amine metabolism were identified in the faeces using untargeted GC/MS. In particular, inosine was extremely enriched after short-term IF and long-term IF (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively); butyrate, 2-methyl butyric acid and valeric acid were significantly decreased after short-term IF (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively); and 2-methyl butyric acid was significantly increased after long-term IF (p < 0.001). The abundance of lithocholic acid (LCA), one of the secondary bile acids, increased significantly after short-term and long-term IF based on UPLC–MS/MS (p < 0.001, p < 0.5, respectively). Of note, IF markedly mitigated DSS-induced acute colitis symptoms and down-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) and G-CSF levels in the serum (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, a correlation analysis indicated that the disease activity index (DAI) score and serum levels of IL-1α, IL-6, KC, and G-CSF were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Akkermansia and the faecal metabolites LCA and inosine. This study confirmed that IF altered microbiota and reprogramed metabolism, which was a promising development in the attempt to prevent DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, our findings provide new insights regarding the correlations among the mucosal barrier dysfunction, metabolome, and microbiome.     

Synthesis of silver nanoclusters by irradiation reduction and detection of Cr3+ ions

In our work, a simple and fast synthesis method is provided to synthesize silver nanoclusters (AgNCs). In this method, with using polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a template, the silver ions were reduced to silver nanoclusters by irradiation reduction at room temperature. The prepared silver nanoclusters (PAA–AgNCs) with average particle size of 1.98 ± 0.79 nm have a fluorescence property, and their physical and chemical properties can be controlled by absorbed dose, PAA/Ag⁺ mole ratio and other factors. The fluorescence stability of the PAA–AgNCs is good, and it is unique in that the fluorescence emission of the s PAA–AgNCs depends on the excitation wavelength. In addition, based on the fluorescence quenching phenomenon of PAA–AgNCs in the presence of Cr³⁺ ion, we established a simple and efficient method for the detection of Cr³⁺ ion by using PAA–AgNCs as fluorescent probes.

Using irradiation technology, the synthesis of silver nanoclusters can be achieved efficiently and green without relying on reducing agents and high energy consumption equipment.     

^99mTc甲状腺功能显像定量分析诊断甲亢价值的探讨

目的：探讨９９ｍＴｃ甲状腺功能显像对诊断甲亢的临床价值。材料和方法：以５ｍｉｎ摄锝曲线形态，２０ｍｉｎ摄锝率及Ｔ３抑制试验等标准评定５７例甲亢患者和４９例非甲亢患者的９９ｍＴｃ甲状腺显像，并与１１９例健康者的结果对照。结果：诊断甲亢的准确率为９６．２％；灵敏度为１００％；特异性为９１．８％。结论：９９ｍＴｃ甲状腺功能显像是诊断甲亢的一种快速，受干扰少，准确性高的方法。     

中国早期胃癌筛查流程专家共识意见 在广东地区的应用

目的探讨“中国早期胃癌筛查流程专家共识意见”在广东地区胃癌风险人群中的应用价值。方法纳入2018年3月—2019年3月在广东地区进行早期胃癌筛查的居民,采用量化的新型胃癌筛查评分系统进行胃癌初筛,根据初筛结果将患者分为高危组、中危组和低危组,比较各组精查胃镜下早期胃癌、癌前疾病、癌前病变的检出率,统计学分析采用卡方检验。结果完成精查胃镜检查共545例,其中高危组32例,中危组184例,低危组329例。精查胃镜结果显示,早期胃癌检出率方面,高危组(12.5%)>中危组(1.1%)>低危组(0),差异有统计学意义（χ2＝41.85,P<0.01）;癌前疾病检出率方面,高危组(60.9%)>中危组(52.4%)>低危组(34.3%),差异有统计学意义（χ2＝18.00,P<0.01）;癌前病变检出率分别为17.9%、8.8%及8.8%,差异无统计学意义（χ2＝2.58,P＝0.28）。内镜病变检出阳性率组间比较,高危组(71.9%)>中危组(57.1%)>低危组(40.1%),差异有统计学意义（χ2＝21.54,P<0.01）。结论“中国早期胃癌筛查流程专家共识意见”在广东地区胃癌风险人群的早期胃癌及癌前疾病筛查中具有较好的应用价值。