Sedentary behavior is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A generalized propensity score-weighted analysis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth and third leading cause of death worldwide and in China, respectively. Sedentary behavior has been shown to increase the risk of respiratory disease, such as asthma. However, the relationship between sedentary behavior and COPD is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between sedentary behavior and COPD.Data was extracted from the 2018 a large-scale cross-sectional study of Chronic Disease and Lifestyle Population Survey in Sichuan Province of China, in which sedentary behavior and chronic diseases were self-reported according to medical records. The association between sedentary behavior on risk of COPD was estimated using multivariable regression model in non-matching cohorts and generalized propensity score-weighted (GPSW)cohorts, respectively, controlling for potential confounders.Individuals who remained sedentary for more than 7 hours per day were more likely to have COPD than the control group (<3 hours) both in conventional multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR = 2.020, 95%CI: 1.575–2.585, P < .001) and GPSW analysis (OR = 2.381, 95%CI: 1.778–3.188, P < .001). After GPSW and the sensitivity analysis using refined smoking variable further found a dose-effect between sedentary behavior and COPD, with 1.242 (95%CI: 1.006–1.532, P < .05) times risk of COPD in those sedentary behavior of more than 5 hours per day (GPSW) and 1.377 (95%CI: 1.092–1.736, P < .05) times risk in those sedentary behavior above 5 hours per day (sensitivity analysis), comparing with the control group.Sedentary behavior is independently associated with increased risk of COPD, adjusting for other confounders. The findings of this study have important implications for future research and public health guidance. Reducing sedentary time may have a significant role in COPD prevention.     

Surface plasmon mediates the visible light–responsive lithium–oxygen battery with Au nanoparticles on defective carbon nitride

Aprotic lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) batteries have gained extensive interest in the past decade, but are plagued by slow reaction kinetics and induced large-voltage hysteresis. Herein, we use a plasmonic heterojunction of Au nanoparticle (NP)–decorated C₃N₄ with nitrogen vacancies (Au/N_V-C₃N₄) as a bifunctional catalyst to promote oxygen cathode reactions of the visible light–responsive Li-O₂ battery. The nitrogen vacancies on N_V-C₃N₄ can adsorb and activate O₂ molecules, which are subsequently converted to Li₂O₂ as the discharge product by photogenerated hot electrons from plasmonic Au NPs. While charging, the holes on Au NPs drive the reverse decomposition of Li₂O₂ with a reduced applied voltage. The discharge voltage of the Li-O₂ battery with Au/N_V-C₃N₄ is significantly raised to 3.16 V under illumination, exceeding its equilibrium voltage, and the decreased charge voltage of 3.26 V has good rate capability and cycle stability. This is ascribed to the plasmonic hot electrons on Au NPs pumped from the conduction bands of N_V-C₃N₄ and the prolonged carrier life span of Au/N_V-C₃N₄. This work highlights the vital role of plasmonic enhancement and sheds light on the design of semiconductors for visible light–mediated Li-O₂ batteries and beyond.

The aprotic lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) battery promises ultrahigh theoretical energy density (∼3,600 Wh·kg⁻¹) and is operated with oxygen reduction to generate the product of Li₂O₂ and its reverse oxidation (2Li⁺ + O₂ + 2e⁻ ↔ Li₂O₂, E⁰ = 2.96 V) (1–5). The sluggish oxygen cathode reactions, including the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), lead to a high discharge/charge overvoltage (∼1.0 V) during cycles and low round-trip efficiency (6–9). Since the pioneering work on the photoinvolved Li-O₂ battery using TiO₂ (10) or C₃N₄ (11) under ultraviolet (UV)-light irradiation, reduction of the charge/discharge overvoltage via a photomediated strategy has been extensively studied and is anticipated to solve the kinetic issues of the Li-O₂ battery (12–18). However, the light absorption of most semiconductors used is confined in the region of UV light, accounting for only ca. 4% of the solar spectrum (14–16). Expanding the light harvesting from UV to visible light is the long-term goal and challenge of photocatalysis (17–20). Simultaneously, high carrier recombination consumes the majority of photoelectrons and holes before catalyzing the targeted reactions, resulting in a mismatch between the carrier lifetime and kinetics of ORR or OER (19–21). This necessitates a structural design of semiconducting materials for visible-light harvesting to accelerate the cathode reactions in Li-O₂ batteries.Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which refers to the collective oscillation of conduction band (CB) electrons in metal nanocrystals under resonant excitation, has recently gained much attention (22–25). The decay of excited LSPR can produce hot electrons and holes, which initiate various chemical reactions (22, 23). Intriguingly, when plasmonic metal (e.g., Au, Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) come into contact with a semiconductor such as MoS₂, TiO₂, etc., an interfacial Schottky barrier forms; this barrier functions as a filter to force the energetic electrons or holes to migrate across the interface while inhibiting their reverse movement, thereby leading to effective electron–hole separation and suppressed charge–carrier recombination (26–30). LSPR systems generally are composed of plasmonic metal and semiconductors and exhibit the benefits of a low electron–hole recombination rate, enhanced light harvesting, and tailored response wavelengths from the visible to the near-infrared region (22). Recently, Au/CdSe (31) and Au/Ni(OH)₂ (32) heterojunctions have been attempted for a photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and OER with the aid of hot electrons and holes under visible light. Coupling the plasmonic metal with suitable semiconductors for broadened light harvesting and a plasmon-enhanced effect is highly desirable for both ORR and OER in the Li-O₂ battery.Herein, we report defective C₃N₄ (Au/N_V-C₃N₄) decorated with plasmonic Au NPs as a bifunctional heterojunction catalyst that promotes cathode reactions of the Li-O₂ battery under visible light. The N_V on N_V-C₃N₄ is prone to adsorb and activate O₂, and the plasmon-excited electrons on Au migrate to the CB of N_V-C₃N₄ and relax to the N_V-induced defect band (DB) for O₂ reduction to LiO₂; then it undergoes electron reduction to Li₂O₂. Reversely, the Li₂O₂ is removed by the holes on the Au NPs driven by the applied voltage. The discharge voltage is raised to 3.16 V, and the charge voltage is lowered to 3.26 V at 0.05 mA·cm⁻² with a good rate capability and cycle stability. This investigation integrates a plasmonic heterojunction into the aprotic Li-O₂ battery and illustrates photoenergy conversion and storage under visible light.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation as a rescue operation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatectomy

AIM： To compare post-orthotopic liver transplantation （OLT） survival between patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） after partial hepatectomy and those who received de novo OLT for HCC and to assess the risk factors associated with post-OLT mortality. METHODS： From July 2003 to August 2005, 77 consecutive HCC patients underwent OLT, including 15 patients with recurrent HCC after partial hepatectomy for tumor resection （the rescue OLT group） and 62 patients with de novo OLT for HCC （the de novo OLT group）. Thirty-three demographic, clinical, histological, laboratory, intra-operative and post-operative variables were analyzed. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan- Meier method. Univariable and multivariable analyses were also performed. RESULTS： The median age of the patients was 49.0 years. The median follow-up was 20 mo. Three patients （20.0%） in the rescue OLT group and 15 patients （24.2%） in the de novo OLT group died during the follow-up period （P = 0.73）. The 30-day mortality of OLT was 6.7% for the rescue OLT group vs 1.6% for the de novo OLT group （P = 0.27）. Cox proportional hazards model showed that pre-OLT hyperbilirubinemia, the requirement of post-OLT transfusion, the size of the tumor, and family history of HCC were significantly associated with a higher hazard for mortality. CONCLUSION： There are no significant differences in survival/mortality rates between OLT as de novo therapy and OLT as a rescue therapy for patients with hcc. Pre-OLT hyperbilirubinemia, post-OLT requirement of transfusion, large tumor size and family history of HCC are associated with a poor survival outcome.     

唐氏综合征合并桥本毒症、反复脑梗死1例并文献复习

目的通过1例唐氏综合征(DS)合并桥本毒症、反复脑梗死的报道,探讨DS合并脑梗死可能的机制。方法详细介绍1例10岁DS患儿合并桥本氏甲状腺炎、甲状腺毒症(HTT)和反复脑梗死的诊断治疗过程,系统检索文献并复习已报道的类似病例,汇总DS合并脑梗死病例的临床特征。结果 10岁女童,以"消瘦,无力,多汗4月余"主诉入院,既往曾检查染色体核型47,XX,+21,诊断DS。入院后查甲状腺功能提示TPOAb明显升高、TRAb正常,TSH降低,抗双链DNA抗体1∶101(+),抗组蛋白抗体1∶101(+),MPO 1∶101弱(+),PR3 1∶101弱(+),诊断为HTT。予抗甲状腺等治疗后好转出院。2月余后无明显诱因2次发生肢体无力、行走困难,MRI分别提示左侧和右侧脑梗死。予康复、抗凝、抗炎和抑制免疫治疗后,肌力恢复正常,随访1年患儿病情稳定。从Web of science、Pub Med数据库、中国知网和万方数据库系统检索DS合并脑梗死的相关文献共19篇,汇总17例DS合并脑梗死病例,41.2%合并感染,52.9%合并Moyamoya病,23.5%合并甲状腺功能异常,47.1%伴有自身抗体阳性,DS合并脑梗死总体预后较好。结论 DS合并桥本毒症、反复的脑梗死少见,但对生存时间较长的DS患者需要关注自身免疫性疾病发生的可能。     

A selective role of calcineurin aalpha in synaptic depotentiation in hippocampus

Pharmacological studies have suggested that long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) and depotentiation, three forms of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, require the activity of the phosphatase calcineurin. At least two different isoforms of calcineurin are found in the central nervous system. To investigate whether all of these forms of synaptic plasticity require the same isoforms of calcineurin, we have examined LTD, depotentiation, and LTP in mice lacking the predominant calcineurin isoform in the central nervous system, Aalpha-/- mice. Depotentiation was abolished completely whereas neither LTD nor LTP were affected. These studies provide genetic evidence that the Aalpha isoform of calcineurin is important for the reversal of LTP in the hippocampus and indicate that depotentiation and LTD operate through somewhat different molecular mechanisms.     

Aromatic alkyne insertion into six-membered cyclometalated pyridine complexes of iridium: different insertion modes and structurally novel products

Reactions of 2-benzoylpyridine or 2-benzylpyridine with [Cp*MCl₂]₂ (M = Ir, Rh) have been carried out in the presence of NaOAc in refluxing methanol, which form the corresponding six-membered cyclometalated products (1–3) except for the reaction of 2-benzylpyridine with [Cp*RhCl₂]₂. Insertion reactions of two six-membered cyclometalated pyridine iridium complexes (1 and 2) with terminal or internal aromatic alkynes were studied. Terminal alkynes p-XC₆H₄C CH (X = H, MeO, and F) with 1 give the corresponding five- and seven-membered doubly cycloiridated complexes 4a–c, internal alkynes p-XC₆H₄C CC₆H₄X-p (X = H, MeO, and Br) form the similar five- and seven-membered doubly cycloiridated complexes (5a,b) and/or di-insertion products (6a,c), whereas the acyl alkyne PhC CCOPh affords the novel spiro-metalated complex 7. For complex 2, internal alkynes p-XC₆H₄C CC₆H₄X-p (X = H, MeO, and Br) form similar five- and seven-membered doubly cycloiridated complexes (8a–c). However, in the case of PhC CCOPh, the reaction gives the novel four-membered cyclometalated complex 9. These results suggest that the products formed by alkyne insertion reactions of the six-membered cycloiridated pyridine complexes are very diverse. Plausible pathways for the formation of these novel insertion products were proposed. Molecular structures of seven cyclometalated complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction.

Insertion reactions of aromatic alkynes into the Ir–C bond of six-membered cycloiridated complexes formed various novel products via different insertion modes.     

New insights into the treatment of real N,N-dimethylacetamide contaminated wastewater using a membrane bioreactor and its membrane fouling implications

Treatment of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) wastewater is an important step in achieving the sustainable industrial application of DMAC as an organic solvent. This is the first time that treatment of a high concentration of DMAC in real wastewater has been assessed using membrane bioreactor technology. In this study, an anoxic–oxic membrane bioreactor (MBR) was operated over a month to mineralize concentrated DMAC wastewater. Severe membrane fouling occurred during the short-term operation of the MBR as the membrane flux decreased from 11.52 to 5.28 L (m² h)⁻¹. The membrane fouling was aggravated by the increased amount of protein fractions present in the MBR mixed liquor. Moreover, results from the excitation–emission matrix analysis identified tryptophan and other protein-like related substances as the major membrane-fouling components. Furthermore, analysis of the DMAC degradation mechanism via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ion chromatography (IC) revealed that the major degradation products were ammonium and dimethylamine (DMA). Although the MBR system achieved the steady removal of DMAC and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by up to 98% and 80%, respectively at DMAC₀ ≤ 7548 mg L⁻¹, DMA was found to have accumulated in the treated effluent. Our investigation provides insight into the prospect and challenges of using MBR systems for DMAC wastewater degradation.

Treatment of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) wastewater is an important step in achieving the sustainable industrial application of DMAC as an organic solvent.     

An environmentally sustainable plasticizer toughened polylactide

Cardanol (CD), derived from renewable natural cashew nutshell liquid, has been used as a new plasticizer for polylactide (PLA), to create blends which retain the environmentally friendly features of PLA. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results all reveal that PLA and CD show good miscibility at low CD content. CD significantly decreased the glass transition temperature and enhanced the crystallization ability of PLA, demonstrating good plasticizing efficiency with PLA. At 10 wt% CD, ultimate elongation and impact toughness increased to 472% and 9.4 kJ m⁻², respectively, which represented improvements of 31-fold and 2.6-fold over the corresponding measurements for neat PLA. The plasticization effect of CD was also demonstrated by the decreased melt complex viscosity and shear storage modulus at lower CD content for the blends when compared with neat PLA. Thus, the investigated CD presents an interesting candidate for a PLA plasticizer, meeting “double green” criteria. No cytotoxicity was found for the blends and hence they may be suitable for biomedical applications.

Cardanol, derived from renewable resources, exhibits good plasticizing efficiency for PLA, meeting “double green” criteria.     

Shunaoxin dropping pill,a Chinese herb compound preparation,attenuates memory impairment in d-galactose-induced aging mice

The Shunaoxin dropping pill (SNX) is derived from a traditional recipe. It has been used to treat cerebrovascular diseases in China since 2005 (approval number Z20050041). In this study, we used an in vitro H₂O₂-induced PC12 cell oxidative damage model and an in vivod-gal-induced mouse memory impairment model to investigate whether SNX had neuroprotective effects. In vitro, prior to exposure to 100 μM H₂O₂ for 2 h, PC12 cells were pre-treated with SNX 50 μg mL⁻¹ for 24 h. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to confirm the effect of SNX on apoptosis in the PC12 cells. Our results demonstrate that H₂O₂ suppresses the proliferation of PC12 cells and induces cell death. Pretreatment with SNX attenuates H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. In vivo, d-gal was administered (100 mg kg⁻¹, subcutaneously (s.c.)) once daily for 8 weeks to induce memory deficit and neurotoxicity in the brain of an aging mouse. Then, SNX (320 mg kg⁻¹) was simultaneously administered orally. The present study demonstrates that SNX can alleviate aging in the mouse brain induced by d-gal via improving behavioral performance, alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting neuroinflammation, and reducing brain cell damage in the hippocampus. Overall, these data clearly demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of SNX from the in vitro and in vivo results. SNX may be considered a novel agent for easing aging and/or age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

The Shunaoxin dropping pill (SNX) is derived from a traditional recipe.