Molecular Engineering of Copper Phthalocyanine for CO Electroreduction to Methane.

Efficient electrochemical CO reduction reaction (ECORR) to multi-electron reductive products remains a great challenge. Herein, molecular engineering of copper phthalocyanines (CuPc) was explored by modifying electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) (cyano, sulfonate anion) and electron-donating groups (EDGs) (methoxy, amino) to CuPc, then supporting onto carbon paper or carbon cloth by means of droplet coating, loading with carbon nanotubes and coating in polypyrrole (PPy). The results showed that the PPy-coated CuPc effectively catalysed ECORR to CH.

Cobalt Phthalocyanine Cross-Linked Polypyrrole for Efficient Electroreduction of Low Concentration CO To CO.

Immobilizing cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) onto the electrode surface is a significant approach to performing efficient electrochemical CO reduction reaction (ECO RR). Herein, sulfylphenoxy decorated CoPc cross-linked polypyrrole is prepared by in situ polymerization on the surface of carbon cloth. The synthesized N-rich catalyst exhibits above 95 % Faradaic efficiency toward CO (FE ) at -0.

Molecular Engineering of Metal Complexes for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction: From Adjustment of Intrinsic Activity to Molecular Immobilization.

The electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (ECO RR) is one promising method for storing intermittent clean energy in chemical bonds and producing fuels. Among various kinds of catalysts for ECO RR, molecular metal complexes with well-defined structures are convenient for studies of their rational design, structure-reactivity relationships, and mechanisms. In this Review, we summarize the molecular engineering of several N-based metal complexes including Re/Mn bipyridine compounds and metal macrocycles, concluding with general modification strategies to devise novel molecular catalysts with high intrinsic activity.

Amphiphilic Polycarbonate Micellar Rhenium Catalysts for Efficient Photocatalytic CO Reduction in Aqueous Media.

A triblock amphiphilic polymer derived from the copolymerization of CO and epoxides containing a bipyridine rhenium complex in its backbone is shown to effectively catalyze the visible-light-driven reduction of CO to CO. This polymer provides uniformly spherical micelles in aqueous solution, where the metal catalyst is sequestered in the hydrophobic portion of the nanostructured micelle. CO to CO reduction occurs in an efficient visible-light-driven process in aqueous media with turnover numbers up to 110 (>99 % selectivity) in the absence of a photosensitizer, which is a 37-fold enhancement over the corresponding molecular rhenium catalyst in organic solvent.

Astragalus polysaccharide alleviated hepatocyte senescence via autophagy pathway.

Aging is characterized by inevitable organ function decline over time, with consequent body deterioration and increased susceptibility to death. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the potential protective effects of APS on hydrogen peroxide (H O ) induced hepatocyte senescence and identified related mechanisms in L02, Huh7, and LM3 cell lines.

[Effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive Mothers Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy to Prevent Mother-to-child Transmission on the Growth and Development of 18-month-old Children in Lingshan County of Guangxi].

Objective To evaluate the effects of antiretroviral therapy(ART)for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission(PMTCT)of acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)on the growth and development of 18-month-old children born by human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-positive pregnant women in Lingshan County,Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,and provide scientific evidence for improving the ART medication plan for PMTCT.Methods Lingshan County,ranking the first in the HIV-epidemic counties of Guangxi,was selected as the research site.According to the design of retrospective case-control study,we assigned all the subjects into the case group and the control group:(1)The case group included the HIV-positive pregnant women who had received ART for PMTCT and their HIV-negative infants in Lingshan County from 2010 to 2017.

Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Deep Brain Ablation via Near-Infrared Irradiation.

Local resection or ablation remains an important approach to treat drug-resistant central neurological disease. Conventional surgical approaches are designed to resect the diseased tissues. The emergence of photothermal therapy (PTT) offers a minimally invasive alternative.

IL-18 induced IL-23/IL-17 expression impairs Aβ clearance in cultured THP-1 and BV2 cells.

Recent studies have provided overwhelming evidence of the involvement of microglia-related molecular networks in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's diseases (AD). The potential involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-18, IL-23 and IL-17 on amyloid (Aβ) clearance is still unclear. In this study, we addressed that there might be a net relationship among IL-18, IL-23, and IL-17 and they can affect Aβ clearance in cultured macrophage/microglia cells.

TRPC6 mRNA levels in peripheral leucocytes of patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A case-control study.

Background: Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 6 inhibits Aβ in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse brain and improves the behavioral performance.

Aims: To evaluate the association of TRPC6 expression in peripheral leucocytes from AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and to explore its potential value in early diagnosis of AD.

Methods: TRPC6 mRNA levels in peripheral leucocytes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR.

Association of neck circumference and cognitive impairment among Chinese elderly.

Objectives: To investigate the association between neck circumference (NC) and cognitive impairment and interactions between relevant variables to the risk of cognitive impairment.

Methods: A population-based survey was conducted among elderly inhabitants aged 60 years and over from a community in Shanghai suburb. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations and log likelihood ratio tests to examine interactions.

Serum haptoglobin in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A case-control study.

Background: Serum level of Haptoglobin (Hp) maybe associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective: To investigate associations between serum Hp and AD, as well as between Hp and MCI.

Methods: Serum levels of Hp were measured and analyzed for 51 patients with AD, 139 patients with MCI and their healthy controls matched with sex and age.

Metabolic Syndrome and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Case-Control Study among Elderly in a Shanghai Suburb.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) maybe associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective: To investigate the relationship between MetS, with its individual or combined components, and MCI among elderly.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among the elderly aged 65 years and over in a community located in the southwestern suburb of Shanghai, China.

[HPLC Fingerprints of Clerodendrum lindleyi].

Objective: To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Clerodendrum lindleyi in order to provide the basis for its quality standard.

Methods: The chromatographic fingerprint was obtained with Angilent Zorbax C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column and gradiently eluted with acetonitrile-0.

Neuroprotective effect of N-acyl 5-hydroxytryptamines on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT-22 cells.

Some endocannabinoids have been known to express anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions independent of cannabinoid receptors. In this respect, we investigated whether N-acyl 5-hydroxytryptamines (5-HTs) might prevent against glutamate-induced oxidative cytotoxicity in HT-22 cells, and attempted to elucidate the mechanism for their cytoprotective action. N-acyl 5-HTs with palmitoyl, stearoyl, arachidonoyl or docosahexaenoyl chain expressed a remarkable protective effect on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity.

Increased serum levels of interleukin-18, -23 and -17 in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Aims: To evaluate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-18, IL-23 and IL-17 in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and explore correlations between the three cytokines and relevant parameters.

Methods: Serum concentrations of IL-18, IL-23 and IL-17 were measured by ELISA for 53 AD patients and 53 sex- and age-matched healthy controls in a community of elderly individuals in a Shanghai suburb.

Results: Serum concentrations of IL-18, IL-23 and IL-17 were significantly higher in AD patients than controls.

Correlation between the glycan variations and defibrinogenating activities of acutobin and its recombinant glycoforms.

Acutobin isolated from Deinagkistrodon acutus venom has been used to prevent or treat stroke in patients. This defibrinogenating serine protease is a 39 kDa glycoprotein containing terminal disialyl-capped N-glycans. After sialidase treatment, the enzyme showed similar catalytic activities toward chromogenic substrate, and cleaved the Aα chain of fibrinogen as efficiently as the native acutobin did.

Cognitive impairment among elderly individuals in Shanghai suburb, China: association of C-reactive protein and its interactions with other relevant factors.

Objectives: To investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment as well as interactions between CRP and other relevant factors.

Methods: Patients with cognitive impairment and 1 to 2 age- and sex-matched controls nested from a population-based study among residents aged 60 years and older in Shanghai suburb. The associations of serum CRP concentration and other relevant factors were examined with logistic regression analysis.

GSK-3β may be involved in hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting in the pentylenetetrazole-kindling model.

Mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) is a pathological phenomenon that is commonly observed in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MFS remain unclear. It has been demonstrated that the tau protein is important in the progression of MFS by the regulation of microtubule dynamics and axonal transport, with all of these functions of tau modulated by its site-specific phosphorylation.

Glycan structures and intrageneric variations of venom acidic phospholipases A(2) from Tropidolaemus pitvipers.

Most of the phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2) ; EC3.1.1.

(E)-3,3'-(Diazene-1,2-di-yl)bis-(1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetra-hydro-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrazol-5-ium) dinitrate dihydrate.

The title compound, C(12)H(18)N(8) (2+)·2NO(3) (-)·2H(2)O, was synthesized unexpectedly from 3-amino-1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetra-hydro-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrazol-5-ium chloride and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. The cation has a crystallographically imposed centre of symmetry. In the crystal, the ions and water mol-ecules are linked via O-H⋯N, N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network.

Changes in glycosphingolipid composition during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to ectodermal or endodermal lineages.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of cell membranes that can act as mediators of cell adhesion and signal transduction and can possibly be used as cell type-specific markers. Our previous study indicated that there was a striking switch in the core structures of GSLs during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into embryoid body (EB), suggesting a close association of GSLs with cell differentiation. In this study, to further clarify if alterations in GSL patterns are correlated with lineage-specific differentiation of hESCs, we analyzed changes in GSLs as hESCs were differentiated into neural progenitors or endodermal cells by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analyses.

[Involvement of Cdk5/p35 and tau protein in the hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting in the PTZ kindling model].

Objective: To observe the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), p35, tau protein and the activity of Cdk5 in rat hippocampus during pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling process and their correlation with mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) so as to investigate the role of Cdk5/p35 in epileptogenesis.

Methods: A total of 240 healthy male SD rats were divided randomly into normal controls and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) treatment groups. The epileptic models were established by injection of PTZ intraperitoneally.

Terminal disialylated multiantennary complex-type N-glycans carried on acutobin define the glycosylation characteristics of the Deinagkistrodon acutus venom.

Glycosylation analysis of nonmammalian sources often springs surprises and conjures up intriguing views of evolutionary adaptation. Many of the constituents of snake venoms are known to be glycosylated and yet very few were fully characterized and accorded specific functions. In the process of glycomic screening through the venoms from Asian pit vipers, a partially O-acetylated NeuAcα2-8NeuAcα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-terminal epitope was found to be the predominant glycosylation characteristic of the snake venom produced by the monotypic Deinagkistrodon acutus, with acutobin, a highly specific fibrinogenase, being identified as a primary protein carrier.

A novel electrochemiluminescence sensor based on bis(2,2'-bipyridine)-5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline ruthenium(II) covalently combined with graphite oxide.

This communication reports a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on covalently linking bis(2,2'-bipyridine)-5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline ruthenium(II) (Ru(II)-NH2) with graphite oxide (GO) on a glassy carbon electrode. 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxy-succinimide were applied to activate the carboxyl groups on the GO surface and catalyze the formation of amido link between Ru(II)-NH2 and carboxyl groups on GO. The composite film was characterized using atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy.

Potential roles of Cdk5/p35 and tau protein in hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting in the PTZ kindling model.

Background: The most well-documented synaptic reorganization associated with temporal lobe epilepsy is mossy fiber sprouting (MFS), which is believed to play a critical role in epileptogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase which is found to be crucial in axon growth and synaptic plasticity.