Preparation and study of the flame retardant properties of C60/PMMA microspheres

In this paper, highly flame retardant C₆₀/PMMA composites were prepared using an in situ polymerization method by introducing fullerene (C₆₀) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to improve its combustion characteristics. The apparent morphologies of PMMA and C₆₀/PMMA microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the structure was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal stability and flame retardancy were characterized using a synchronous thermal analyzer, a cone calorimeter and an oxygen index tester. The results show that the maximum initial decomposition temperature of C₆₀/PMMA-2 (prepared using C₆₀ with a concentration of 2 mg mL⁻¹) is 234.89 °C, which is about 59.89 °C higher than that of PMMA, and the thermal stability is the best. The limiting oxygen index of the C₆₀/PMMA-2 composite is 21.8, which is 28.2% higher than that of pure PMMA. In addition, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of C₆₀/PMMA is reduced by 630.4 kW m⁻² when compared with pure PMMA, which means that the flame retardant property is improved. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of the PMMA are also improved by adding C₆₀.

In this paper, highly flame retardant C₆₀/PMMA composites were prepared using an in situ polymerization method by introducing fullerene (C₆₀) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to improve its combustion characteristics.     

Prevalence and risk factors for postinfectious cough in discharged patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

BackgroundCough is one of the most common symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the prevalence of persistent cough in recovered patients with COVID-19 during a longer follow-up remained unknown. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, and risk factors for postinfectious cough in COVID-19 patients after discharge.MethodsWe conducted a follow-up study for 129 discharged patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in two large hospitals located in Hubei Province, China from January 2020 to December 2020. Baseline demographics, comorbidities and smoking history were extracted from the medical record. Current symptoms and severity were recorded by a uniform questionnaire. Spirometry, diffuse function and chest computed tomography (CT) were performed on part of patients who were able to return to the outpatient department at follow-up.ResultsThe median (interquartile range) follow-up time was 8.1 (7.9–8.5) months after discharge. The mean (standard deviation) age was 51.5 (14.9) years and 57 (44.2%) were male. A total of 27 (20.9%) patients had postinfectious cough (>3 weeks), 6 patients (4.7%) had persistent cough by the end of follow-up, including 3 patients with previous chronic respiratory diseases or current smoking. Other symptoms included dyspnea (6, 4.7%), sputum (4, 3.1%), fatigue (4, 3.1%), and anorexia (4, 3.1%) by the end of follow-up. Thirty-six of 41 (87.8%) patients showed impaired lung function or diffuse function, and 39 of 50 (78.0%) patients showed abnormal CT imaging. Patients with postinfectious cough demonstrated more severe and more frequent cough during hospitalization (P<0.001), and more chronic respiratory diseases (P=0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, digestive symptoms during hospitalization [odds ratio (OR) 2.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–7.92] and current smoking (OR 6.95, 95% CI: 1.46–33.14) were significantly associated with postinfectious cough of COVID-19.ConclusionsA small part of patients developed postinfectious cough after recovery from COVID-19, few patients developed chronic cough in spite of a higher proportion of impaired lung function and abnormal lung CT image. Current smoking and digestive symptoms during hospitalization were risk factors for postinfectious cough in COVID-19.     

4-氨甲酰基-4′-叠氮-1,2,3-三氮唑核苷的合成研究

目的 合成4-氨甲酰基-4′-叠氮-1,2,3-三氮唑核苷,以期发现具有高抗病毒活性的核苷类药物。方法 以商业易得的二丙酮叉-D-葡萄糖为起始原料,经9步反应得到重要糖基叠氮化合物,再与炔丙酸甲酯进行[3+2]偶极环加成反应以构建三氮唑环以及自由基脱羧叠氮化反应和脱保护得到4-氨甲酰基-4′-叠氮-1,2,3-三氮唑核苷。结果　以最长线性步骤5步反应,30%的总收率合成了4-氨甲酰基-4′-叠氮-1,2,3-三氮唑,这为后期的抗病毒活性测试奠定了基础。     

精神运动康复对住院青壮年精神分裂症患者康复的效果

背景 精神分裂症患者的康复主要依靠药物治疗,然而,单纯药物治疗对患者社会功能和生活质量的改善难以达到预期效果。近年来,非药物康复措施越来越多地应用于精神障碍的治疗中,但关于精神运动康复对住院青壮年精神分裂症患者康复效果影响的研究有限。目的 探讨精神运动康复对住院青壮年精神分裂症患者康复效果的影响,以期为住院青壮年精神分裂症患者的康复治疗提供参考。方法 选取2021年6月—2022年6月在芜湖市第四人民医院住院治疗的、符合《国际疾病分类（第10版）》（ICD-10）精神分裂症诊断标准的104例青壮年患者为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为研究组和对照组各52例。研究组和对照组均接受利培酮（2~4 mg/d）治疗及常规护理,研究组此基础上接受为期12周、每周2~3次、每次45~55 min的精神运动康复,对照组在研究结束后接受相同干预。于干预前、干预第4、8、12周接受阳性和阴性症状量表（PANSS）、 住院精神病人社会功能评定量表（SSPI）和自知力与治疗态度问卷（ITAQ）评定。结果 PANSS阳性症状分量表评分、阴性症状分量表评分、一般精神病理分量表评分、总评分、SSPI评分以及ITAQ评分的时间效应均有统计学意义（F=33.989、204.245、82.817、279.596、26.144、7.463,P均<0.01）;PANSS阴性症状分量表评分、一般精神病理分量表评分、总评分和SSPI评分以及ITAQ评分的组间效应均有统计学意义（F=30.053、5.306、33.417、33.013、18.608,P<0.05或0.01）;PANSS阳性症状分量表评分、阴性症状分量表评分、一般精神病理分量表评分、总评分和SSPI评分的时间与组间交互效应均有统计学意义（F=3.472、9.798、3.843、14.390、20.661,P<0.05或0.01）。干预第12周,研究组PANSS总评分及各分量表评分均低于干预前,SSPI评分高于干预前,差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.01）,且研究组PANSS总评分及各分量表评分均低于对照组,SSPI评分高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.01）。结论 精神运动康复可能有助于改善住院青壮年精神分裂症患者的精神病性症状和社会功能,提高康复效果。     

脂联素在骨代谢中的研究进展

脂联素是由脂肪组织分泌的一种内源性细胞因子,与受体结合后,参与机体的代谢调节.因此脂联素及脂联素受体也成为治疗代谢性疾病的重要分子靶标.脂联素信号传导的研究对指导临床上骨代谢相关疾病的治疗有着积极的作用.本文就脂联素的生物学特性及其信号传导、脂联素对骨代谢的影响作一综述,为脂联素在骨代谢疾病中的治疗提供参考.     

顶空气相色谱-质谱法结合相对气味活度值法分析谷糠、麦麸、蜜糠、蜜麸4种辅料的风味成分

目的 探究谷糠、麦麸、蜜糠和蜜麸特征风味成分及差异性风味成分。方法 利用顶空-气相色谱-质谱法（headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,HS-GC-MS）对谷糠、麦麸、蜜糠和蜜麸样品进行检测,运用相对气味活度值（relative odor activity value,ROAV）分析其关键香气成分,并结合多元统计分析及关键风味成分（ROAV＞1）,对4种不同辅料挥发性成分中的差异性风味成分进行比较分析。结果 从谷糠、麦麸、蜜糠和蜜麸中分别鉴定出19种、12种、24种、26种挥发性成分。ROAV法确定了谷糠、麦麸、蜜糠、蜜麸风味贡献最大的成分分别为癸醛（柑橘香、青草味）、2-正戊基呋喃（青草味、熟谷味）、癸醛、5-甲基呋喃醛（甜香、焦糖气味）。差异性风味成分分析结果显示,庚醛、正辛醛、癸醛、壬醛、γ-松油烯可作为区分糠类辅料和麸类辅料的风味成分。谷糠、麦麸经蜜制为蜜糠、蜜麸后其原有的清香、果香、花香减弱,增加了引发食欲的焦糖香、烘烤香。结论 “蜜香气”“焦香味”可能与美拉德反应及糖降解反应生成的5-甲基呋喃醛、γ-丁内酯等醛类产物有关,“焦麸气”的香气来源与美拉德反应生成的2,5-二甲基吡嗪等吡嗪类成分密切相关。研究客观地评价4种不同辅料的风味成分,为糠类、麸类辅料炮制饮片提供科学内涵的理论依据。     

Effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia for mild neonatal encephalopathy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Neonates with moderate to severe encephalopathy benefit significantly from therapeutic hypothermia, with reduced risk of death or disability. However, the need for therapeutic hypothermia for mild neonatal encephalopathy (NE) remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to provide evidence supporting therapeutic hypothermia for term or near term neonates with mild NE, including findings of recent long-term outcome studies, as well as novel adjunctive therapies to augment neurodevelopmental outcomes for neonates with NE who receive therapeutic hypothermia.Methods:Two independent researchers performed a systematic literature search in different electronic databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Center Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, Medline, Ovid, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang Database without any restrictions of languages and date. Two reviewers will screen the records and include quality studies according to inclusion criteria independently. Two reviewers will assess the risk of bias of the included studies by the “Risk of Bias Assessment Tool” of the Cochrane Handbook for randomized controlled trials. Statistical analysis will be performed with Review Manager software 5.3.Results:A synthesis of current evidence of therapeutic hypothermia for treating mild NE will be provided in this protocol.Conclusion:The results of this study will provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of therapeutic hypothermia in mild NE.     

IL‐27 improves adoptive CD8+ T cells’ antitumor activity via enhancing cell survival and memory T cell differentiation

IL‐27 is an anti‐inflammatory cytokine that triggers enhanced antitumor immunity, particularly cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. In the present study, we sought to develop IL‐27 into a therapeutic adjutant for adoptive T cell therapy using our well‐established models. We have found that IL‐27 directly improved the survival status and cytotoxicity of adoptive OT‐1 CD8⁺ T cells in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, IL‐27 treatment programs memory T cell differentiation in CD8⁺ T cells, characterized by upregulation of genes associated with T cell memory differentiation (T‐bet, Eomes, Blimp1, and Ly6C). Additionally, we engineered the adoptive OT‐1 CD8⁺ T cells to deliver IL‐27. In mice, the established tumors treated with OT‐1 CD8⁺ T‐IL‐27 were completely rejected, which demonstrated that IL‐27 delivered via tumor antigen–specific T cells enhances adoptive T cells’ cancer immunity. To our knowledge, this is the first application of CD8⁺ T cells as a vehicle to deliver IL‐27 to treat tumors. Thus, this study demonstrates IL‐27 is a feasible approach for enhancing CD8⁺ T cells’ antitumor immunity and can be used as a therapeutic adjutant for T cell adoptive transfer to treat cancer.     

Decreased expression of claudin-18.2 in alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer compared to conventional gastric cancer

BackgroundAlpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) is a subtype of gastric cancer (GC) with more aggressive biological behavior. As a highly specific tight junction component exclusively present in gastric mucosa and gastric adenocarcinomas, claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2) has become an emerging target in GC. In this study, we aimed to provide insight into AFPGC and investigate the expression and the clinical implications of CLDN18.2 in AFPGC.MethodsWe retrospectively collected 98 cases of AFPGC and reviewed their clinical, morphological, and immunohistochemical features. Another 356 patients with stage-matched conventional GC (cGC) were enrolled as a control group. We further surveyed CLDN18.2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 51 AFPGC tissues and explained its association with the clinicopathological parameters of AFPGC.ResultsOur results showed that AFPGC was a unique GC type with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which was a predictor of a worse prognosis. AFPGC showed typical morphological features and positive staining of at least 1 hepatocytic or enteroblastic marker. The expression rate of CLDN18.2 was low, with a positivity rate of 21.6%, which was much lower than that observed in cGC tissues (38.5%). A significant correlation was found between CLDN18.2 expression and the differentiation of AFPGC. CLDN18.2 expression was negatively correlated with the serum AFP level of AFPGC. We also found that AFPGC with a hepatoid type (HPT) component showed a significantly lower CLDN18.2 expression than those without.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that CLDN18.2 was significantly decreased in AFPGC and was negatively correlated with the patient’s preoperative serum AFP level. The negative correlation between AFP and CLDN18.2 could be explained by retro-differentiation of AFPGC. Special treatment strategies might be needed for this unique tumor type.     

UBE2C promotes the progression of pancreatic cancer and glycolytic activity via EGFR stabilization-mediated PI3K-Akt pathway activation

BackgroundPancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most prevalent and deadliest endocrine tumors, yet the mechanisms governing its pathogenesis remain to be fully clarified. While ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) has been identified as an important oncogene in several cancers, its importance in PC has yet to be established.MethodsUBE2C expression in PC tumor samples and cell lines was examined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while appropriate commercial kits were used to assess lactate production, ATP generation, and the uptake of glucose.ResultsUBE2C was found to be upregulated in PC patient tumors and correlated with poorer survival outcomes. In PC cell lines, the silencing of this gene suppressed the malignant activity of cells, thus supporting its identification as an oncogene in this cancer type. Mechanistically, UBE2C was found to promote enhanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) protein expression via activating the PI3K-Akt pathway. Moreover, it was found to bind to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), stabilizing it and driving additional PI3K-Akt pathway activation. UBE2C knockdown in PC cells impaired their uptake of glucose and their ability to produce lactate and ATP.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the results of this study support a role for UBE2C as a driver of metastatic PC progression owing to its ability to bind to EGFR and to induce signaling via the PI3K-Akt pathway.