Constructing Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Based on Carbon Nitride Nanosheets and Graphene Quantum Dots for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Although graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (CNs) with atomic thickness are considered as promising materials for hydrogen production, the wide band gap (3.06 eV) and rapid recombination of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs impede their applications. To address the above challenges, we synergized atomically thin CNs and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which were fabricated as 2D/0D Van der Waals heterojunctions, for H₂ generation in this study. The experimental characterizations indicated that the addition of GQDs to the π-conjugated system of CNs can expand the visible light absorption band. Additionally, the surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPV) confirmed that introducing GQDs into CNs can facilitate the transport of photoinduced carriers in the melon chain, thus suppressing the recombination of charge carriers in body. As a result, the H₂ production activity of the Van der Waals heterojunctions was 9.62 times higher than CNs. This study provides an effective strategy for designing metal-free Van der Waals hetero-structured photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity.     

Multi-Response Optimisation of Automotive Door Using Grey Relational Analysis with Entropy Weights

Tail-welded blanks (TWBs) are widely used in automotive bodies to improve the structural performance and reduce weight. The stiffness and modal lightweight design optimisation of TWBs for automotive doors was performed in this study. The finite element model was validated through physical experiments. An L27 (3¹²) Taguchi orthogonal array was used to collect the sample points. The multi-objective optimisation problem was transformed into a single-objective optimisation problem based on the grey relational degree. The optimal combination of structural design parameters was obtained for a tail-welded door using the proposed method, and the weight of the door structure was reduced by 2.83 kg. The proposed optimisation method has fewer iterations and a lower computational cost, enabling the design of lightweight TWBs.     

蜗神经发育不良患者的人工耳蜗植入

目的:观察蜗神经发育不良的患儿人工耳蜗植入术后的效果,探讨术前HRCT和MRI对蜗神经发育不良的诊断及评估价值。方法:回顾性分析10例蜗神经发育不良患儿的术前影像学资料及人工耳蜗植入术后对声音的反应和语训效果。结果:3例(6耳)HRCT提示双侧内耳道狭窄,耳蜗、前庭和半规管发育正常,MRI提示蜗神经发育不良。7例(14耳)HRCT提示双侧内耳道正常,其中1例IP-Ⅰ型,伴前庭半规管发育不良,6例双侧耳蜗、前庭和半规管发育正常;7例MRI提示蜗神经发育异常。10例患儿均行人工耳蜗植入,经过12～32个月的随访,3例学会简单语言,MAIS量表、CAP分数及SIR分级较前提高;1例虽能讲话,但口齿含糊;4例对声音有反应,仅能说"爸爸"、"妈妈"等单音节词;2例无反应(1例取出)。10例蜗神经发育不良患儿同其他蜗神经发育正常儿童相比,术后康复情况明显落后。结论:对蜗神经缺陷患儿,术前仅做颞骨HRCT检查易漏诊,结合内耳道MRI(含内耳道斜矢状位重建)已成必须。若发现疑似病例,应慎重筛选,告知行人工耳蜗植入效果不佳的巨大可能性,严格掌握手术指征。     

Cornuside Is a Potential Agent against Alzheimer’s Disease via Orchestration of Reactive Astrocytes

Cornuside is an iridoid glycoside from Cornus officinalis, with the activities of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroprotection. In the present research, a triple-transgenic mice model of AD (3 × Tg-AD) was used to explore the beneficial actions and potential mechanism of cornuside on the memory deficits. We found that cornuside prominently alleviated neuronal injuries, reduced amyloid plaque pathology, inhibited Tau phosphorylation, and repaired synaptic damage. Additionally, cornuside lowered the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO), lowered the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Cornuside also significantly reduced the activation of astrocytes and modulated A1/A2 phenotypes by the AKT/Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway. We further confirmed that LY294002 and Nrf2 silencing could block the cornuside-mediated phenotypic switch of C6 cells induced by microglia conditioned medium (MCM) in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which indicated that the effects of cornuside in astrocyte activation are dependent on AKT/Nrf2/NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, cornuside may regulate the phenotypic conversion of astrocytes, inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, improve synaptic plasticity, and alleviate cognitive impairment in mice through the AKT/Nrf2/NF-κB axis. Our present work provides an experimental foundation for further research and development of cornuside as a candidate drug for AD management.     

新疆维吾尔药成药研究进展——基于专利申请与学术文献分析

通过对新疆维吾尔药成药专利申请及研究学术文献发表情况进行系统性分析,旨在研究目前维药成药研究的现代化进展。研究发现目前维药成药专利申请多为组方类专利,学术研究文献则主要集中在临床观察等方面,而这两方面涉及到的维药都主要集中在皮肤病,风湿病等少数几个治疗领域。     

Evaluation of protective effects of Chi-Zhi-Huang decoction on Phase I drug metabolism of liver injured rats by cocktail probe drugs

AIM OF THE STUDY: Chi-Zhi-Huang decoction (PGR) is one of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations with unique effect on withdrawing jaundice and has been used to treat icteric patients in China for many years. In this research, we aim at to evaluate the potential activity of PGR in restoring hepatic drug metabolism in a damaged liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cocktail approach with caffeine (10mg/kg), dapsone (10mg/kg) and chlorzoxazone (20mg/kg) respectively as probe drug of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform of CYP 1A2, 3A4 and 2E1 was used to evaluate its possible effects on Phase I oxidative metabolism. Pretreated with three dosages of PGR water extract (0.75, 1.5 and 3g/kg, po) for 5 days, male Wistar rats (220-240 g) were intoxicated by phenylisothiocyanate (PITC, 100mg/kg, po) 24h before probes intravenous injection. The pharmacokinetics of the probes in the blood was determined simultaneously by HPLC, and their non-compartmental parameters were used to evaluate the metabolic difference among the groups. Moreover, the levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubins were also measured for insight of liver function. RESULTS: The findings in this study suggest that PGR induces CYP 3A4, does not have much effect on CYP 2E1, and inhibits CYP 1A2 at high dosage. CONCLUSION: The current pharmacokinetic approach allowed the protective effects of PGR on oxidative drug metabolism in damaged liver to be systemically examined and will certainly help in the explanation of synergistic effect of the composites formula.     

The combined detection of umbilical cord nucleated red blood cells and lactate: early prediction of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple and quick method that could be used to predict the occurrence of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) as early as possible by investigating the variations of nucleated red blood cells per 100 white blood cell (NRBC/100 WBC) counts and lactate levels in cord blood. METHODS: In 46 cases of acute fetal distress (AFD) and 54 cases of chronic fetal distress (CFD) neonates we measured the percentage (NRBCs/100 WBC) and lactate in the umbilical blood. RESULTS: Both lactate levels and NRBC/100WBC counts were higher in CFD and AFD groups than in controls (both P<0.01). The numbers of NRBC/100 WBC and the values of lactate in moderate-severe HIE group were higher than in mild-HIE group (P=0.002 and P=0.042, respectively). The combined sensitivity and specificity was 94% and 96% at 15NRBC/100WBC and 4.25 mmol/L level by combined detecting NRBC and lactate to predict HIE. Three infants (including 1 death and 2 survivors) had the highest levels of NRBC/100WBC and lactate in cord blood, and the 2 survivors had the lowest mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI). CONCLUSIONS: Combined detection with NRBC/100WBC and lactate allows early prediction of development and severity of HIE. The levels of these parameters are related to the neurodevelopment outcome of HIE infants.     

Management of relapsed/refractory epithelial ovarian cancer: current standards and novel approaches

Approximately 60% to 70% of epithelial ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Treatment of advanced disease involves cytoreductive surgery followed by systemic treatment with paclitaxel and platinum. Overall response rates are high, ranging from 70-80%; however, 70-80% of responders will relapse and require further systemic chemotherapy. Patients who experience disease relapse with platinum-free interval of less than 6 months are considered as platinum-refractory/resistant individuals. In this clinical setting, agents with non-cross-resistance to first-line therapy and favorable toxicity profiles are usually chosen. In the management of relapsed patients with platinum-free interval over 6 months, the generally accepted recommendation is retreatment with a platinum plus paclitaxel combination. In general, treatment of recurrent disease is palliative and is initiated with the goals of controlling disease-related symptoms, limiting treatment-related toxicity, maintaining or improving quality of life, delaying time to progression, and prolonging survival. A number of currently available and novel investigating agents in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer will be reviewed in this context.     

Decrease and dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells in umbilical cord blood with maternal pre-eclampsia

BACKGROUND: The pre-eclampsia is characterized by placental defective angiogenesis and maternal vascular/endothelial dysfunction. Recently, the decrease and senescence of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) has been observed in maternal circulation with pre-eclampsia. Given the essential involvement of EPC in neovascularization and reendothelialization, we investigate whether or not the depletion of EPC is existent in placental/fetal circulation with maternal pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Samples of venous cord blood were collected during the labor of preeclamptic mothers (n = 14) and normotensive controls (n = 10). Circulating EPC were enumerated as AC133+/KDR+ cells via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Additionally, EPC were expanded in vitro and identified by DiI-acLDL uptake and lectin staining by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPC proliferation, migration and vasculogenesis activities were determined by MTT, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenensis assay. RESULT: The placental/fetal circulating EPC numbers were significantly decreased in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the control (median, 200; range, 100-440 cells/mL vs 390; 270-440 cells/mL, P < 0.001), and after in vitro cultivation the numbers of EPC also decreased in pre-eclampsia group (19.5; 5.0-32.0 vs 39.5; 31.2-52.0 EPC/x200 field; P < 0.001). Both circulating EPC and cultivated EPC were inversely correlated with cord blood level of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1). In addition, the EPC from patients with pre-eclampsia were significantly impaired in their proliferation, migration and vasculogenesis capacities. CONCLUSION: The present study documented the decrease and dysfunction of placental/fetal circulating EPC in patients with pre-eclampsia. The alteration is probably associated with the increased sFlt-1 levels in the umbilical cord blood.     

Sexual dysfunctions in urban china: a population-based national survey of men and women

IntroductionWhile sexual dysfunctions are closely related to overall well-being, epidemiological data based on population-based surveys remain scant.AimTo investigate the prevalence and correlates for sexual dysfunctions in urban China.MethodsOf the 4,157 urbanites sampled nationally, 3,159 participants completed the interview, giving a response rate of 76%. The focus was on 78% of these participants (2,478 adults aged 20–64) who were sexually active within a stable sexual relationship, typically with the spouse.Main Outcome MeasurePrevalence and correlates for sexual dysfunctions.ResultsFully 35% of women and 21% of men had at least one persistent sexual dysfunction. Prevalence by age was similar to the results from Western developed countries. With sharp differences for men and women, the correlates for distress in China were multiple, with aging and physical issues accounting for only a portion of the total set of mental health, stress, relationship, and values and knowledge issues related to reports of sexual dysfunctions.ConclusionsBoth the prevalence and correlates for sexual dysfunctions in urban China were similar to those in other societies. Mental distress, age, and poor communication (producing the report that “my partner does not understand my sexual needs”) were the correlates shared by both men and women. Other correlates were more distinct by gender. The multiplicity of correlates for men and women suggests a need for a holistic approach to sexual dysfunctions. Parish WL, Laumann EO, Pan S, and Hao Y. Sexual dysfunctions in urban China: A population-based national survey of men and women.