Curcuminoids: Implication for inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases.

It has been extensively verified that inflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Curcuminoids, from the plant Curcuma longa, have three major active ingredients, which include curcumin (curcumin I), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcuminoids have been used in traditional medicine for CVDs' management and other comorbidities for centuries.

High-Energy Rechargeable Metallic Lithium Battery at -70 °C Enabled by a Cosolvent Electrolyte.

Lithium metal is an ideal anode for high-energy rechargeable batteries at low temperature, yet hindered by the electrochemical instability with the electrolyte. Concentrated electrolytes can improve the oxidative/reductive stability, but encounter high viscosity. Herein, a co-solvent formulation was designed to resolve the dilemma.

Optical Nonlinearity of ZrS₂ and Applications in Fiber Laser.

Group VIB transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been successfully demonstrated as saturable absorbers (SAs) for pulsed fiber lasers. For the group comprising IVB TMDs, applications in this field remain unexplored. In this work, ZrS₂-based SA is prepared by depositing a ZrS₂ nanostructured film onto the side surface of a D-shaped fiber.

Dual Lithiophilic Structure for Uniform Li Deposition.

The development of Li metal anodes is hindered by the Li dendrites arising from the random deposition of Li metal during cycles. Hence, uniform deposition of Li during repeated cycles is crucial for the development of Li metal batteries. However, it is difficult to regulate Li deposition because of convection in the electrolyte.

A few-layered MoS nanosheets/nitrogen-doped graphene 3D aerogel as a high performance and long-term stability supercapacitor electrode.

Typical advanced transition-metal dichalcogenides, in particular molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have recently attracted intense interest owing to their unique properties and tremendous application prospects in electrochemical energy storage. However, the limited re-stacking of atomic layers by van der Waals forces restrictedly affects their electrochemical characteristics. Herein, the construction of three-dimensional (3D) architectures via 2D mono- or few-layered MoS2 nanosheets and nitrogen-doped graphene aerogels has been employed to obtain and retain conductive networks; as a result, large surface areas and high electrical conductivities were achieved.

Mode-Locked Er-Doped Fiber Laser by Using MoS/SiO Saturable Absorber.

The two-dimensional (2D) layered material MoS has attracted numerous attentions for electronics and optoelectronics applications. In this work, a novel type of MoS-doped sol-gel glass composite material is prepared. The nonlinear optical properties of prepared MoS/SiO composite material are measured with modulation depth (ΔT) of 3.

Outcome and prognostic factors for atypical meningiomas after first recurrence.

Atypical meningioma (AM) tends to be tumor with high rates of recurrence and mortality. In this retrospective study, 131 recurrent AM patients underwent AM surgery in Beijing Tiantan Hospital between January 2008 and December 2015. Of the 131 cases collected, 61 were male (46.

Organic Proton-Buffer Electrode to Separate Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution in Acid Water Electrolysis.

Hydrogen production from water via electrolysis in acid is attracting extensive attention as an attractive alternative approach to replacing fossil fuels. However, the simultaneous evolution of H and O requires a fluorine-containing proton exchange membrane to prevent the gases from mixing while using the same space to concentrate the gases, which significantly increases the cost and reduces the flexibility of this approach. Here, a battery electrode based on the highly reversible enolization reaction of pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone is first introduced as a solid-state proton buffer to separate the O and H evolution of acidic water electrolysis in space and time, through which the gas mixing issue can be avoided without using any membrane.

Comparative evaluation of neuroendocrine dysfunction in children with craniopharyngiomas before and after mass effects are removed.

Objective To compare the effects of mass effects in situ (MEIS) and after neurosurgery (ANS) on neuroendocrine function in children with craniopharyngioma. Methods We retrospectively investigated 185 cases of children with craniopharyngioma who underwent neurosurgical treatment at the Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2011 to 2016. The neuroendocrine function of patients was compared before and after tumor removal.

Low levels of vitamin D and the relationship between vitamin D and Th2 axis-related cytokines in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Objective: The impact of vitamin D have been studied in neuroinflammation disorders, and as the newly discovered Th2-related cytokines, IL-25, IL-31 and IL-33 may also play important roles in the lesions of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). This study sought to investigate the clinical profiles of vitamin D and Th2 axis-related cytokines and their relationships in patients with NMOSD.

Methods: Eighty-four NMOSD patients and 84 healthy controls (HC) were evaluated for serum levels of the total vitamin D [25(OH)D], 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 [25(OH)D2] and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] by means of high performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Kinetic modeling of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharide from Nostoc commune and physicochemical properties analysis.

Based on the theory of extraction and diffusion of Chinese herbal medicine, the dynamic model of ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of polysaccharide from Nostoc commune Vauch. was established according to the second law of Fick, and further verified at different solid-liquid ratio (1/40-1/80 g/mL), temperature (313.15-353.

Comparison of neuroendocrine dysfunction in patients with adamantinomatous and papillary craniopharyngiomas.

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare epithelial tumors mainly located in the sellar/parasellar region. They may be classified into two major histological subtypes, which exhibit clinical and pathological differences: Adamantinomatous CP (ACP) and papillary CP (PCP). The aim of the present study was to compare the neuroendocrine dysfunction between ACP and PCP prior to and after surgical resection.

CDK4/6 inhibitor protects against myocardial cells apoptosis by inhibiting RB phosphorylation in H9c2 cells.

Cell cycle dysregulation is typical in human cancers, and CDK4/6 inhibitors targeting cell cycle have potential antiapoptosis effect. The aim of this work is to identify the regulatory effect of Palbociclib on apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by high glucose (HG) and to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms. It was observed that Palbociclib decreased intracellular ROS production, augmented mitochondrial membrane potential and hindered apoptosis of H9c2 cells.

Aspirin suppresses NFκB1 expression and inactivates cAMP signaling pathway to treat atherosclerosis.

Aspirin showed both favorable efficacy and safety in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS). This study aimed to explore the effects of Aspirin on AS treatment. Differentially expressed mRNAs in AS were screened out and visualized by R project.

Novel Curcumin C66 That Protects Diabetes-Induced Aortic Damage Was Associated with Suppressing JNK2 and Upregulating Nrf2 Expression and Function.

Diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of the mortality worldwide. Our previous study has explored the protective effect of curcumin analogue C66 on diabetes-induced pathogenic changes of the aorta. In the present study, we sought to reveal the underlying protective mechanisms of C66.

Anchoring an Artificial Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer on a 3D Current Collector for High-Performance Lithium Anodes.

The application of Li anodes is hindered by dendrite growth and side reactions between Li and electrolyte, despite its high capacity and low potential. A simple approach for this challenge is now demonstrated. In our strategy, the garnet-type Li La Zr Ta O (LLZTO)-based artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is anchored on Cu foam by sintering the Cu foam coated with LLZTO particles.

RagA, an mTORC1 activator, interacts with a hedgehog signaling protein, WDR35/IFT121.

Small Ras-like GTPases act as molecular switches for various signal transduction pathways. RagA, RagB/RagC and RagD are small Ras-like GTPases that play regulatory roles in mTORC1. Lack of proper activation of mTORC1 can lead to diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.

Robust Negative Electrode Materials Derived from Carbon Dots and Porous Hydrogels for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors.

Hybrid supercapacitors generally show high power and long life spans but inferior energy densities, which are mainly caused by carbon negative electrodes with low specific capacitances. To improve the energy densities, the traditional methods include optimizing pore structures and modifying pseudocapacitive groups on the carbon materials. Here, another promising way is suggested, which has no adverse effects to the carbon materials, that is, constructing electron-rich regions on the electrode surfaces for absorbing cations as much as possible.

miR-155-5p is Negatively Associated with Acute Pancreatitis and Inversely Regulates Pancreatic Acinar Cell Progression by Targeting Rela and Traf3.

Background/aims: Acute pancreatitis contributes to high mortality in pancreatitis patients, and miRNAs play a vital role in the development of acute pancreatitis (AP), however, its precise biological role remains largely elusive.

Methods: To clarify the potential mechanisms of miRNAs in AP, we built mouse models of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and moderate/ severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MiRNA microarray analysis and Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to analyze the expression of miRNA in MAP/SAP.

Pressure-Driven Reversible Switching between n- and p-Type Conduction in Chalcopyrite CuFeS.

Temperature-dependent switching between p- and n-type conduction is a newly observed phenomenon in very few Ag-based semiconductors, which may promote fascinating applications in modern electronics. Pressure, as an efficient external stimulus that has driven collective phenomena such as spin-crossover and Mott transition, is also expected to initialize a conduction-type switching in transition metal-based semiconductors. Herein, we report the observation of a pressure-driven dramatic switching between p- and n-type conduction in chalcopyrite CuFeS associated with a structural phase transition.

Efficient solar-driven electrocatalytic CO reduction in a redox-medium-assisted system.

Solar-driven electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO) reduction is capable of producing value-added chemicals and represents a potential route to alleviate carbon footprint in the global environment. However, the ever-changing sunlight illumination presents a substantial impediment of maintaining high electrocatalytic efficiency and stability for practical applications. Inspired by green plant photosynthesis with separate light reaction and (dark) carbon fixation steps, herein, we developed a redox-medium-assisted system that proceeds water oxidation with a nickel-iron hydroxide electrode under light illumination and stores the reduction energy using a zinc/zincate redox, which can be controllably released to spontaneously reduce CO into carbon monoxide (CO) with a gold nanocatalyst in dark condition.

Orthogonal array design for optimization of phenyllactic acid-sodium alginate blend coating and its effect on the browning and quality of minimally processed lily bulbs.

Background: In order to develop active packaging of lily products, we for the first time investigated the effects of phenyllactic acid (PLA) incorporated into a sodium alginate (SA)-based coating on the quality of minimally processed lily bulbs stored at 4 °C for 15 days.

Results: L9 (3 ) orthogonal array design showed that the optimal concentrations of PLA, SA and glycerinum were 0.03, 0.

PKM2 Inhibitor Shikonin Overcomes the Cisplatin Resistance in Bladder Cancer by Inducing Necroptosis.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy often results in the development of chemo-resistance when used to treat bladder cancer (BC), which is difficult to overcome. Recent data indicate that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a glycolytic enzyme for Warburg effect, is strongly upregulated in BC, and contributes to the cisplatin resistance in BC. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Redox-Mediator-Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitors: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.

Supercapacitors deliver exceptional power densities, high cycling stability, and inherent safety but suffer from low energy densities. Many methods to enhance the energy density are based on exploring electrode materials with well-developed structures and designing asymmetric systems with wide voltage windows. The energy density is substantially enhanced at the compromise of power density by utilizing the sluggish kinetics of pseudocapacitive materials.

Study on the kinetic model, thermodynamic and physicochemical properties of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide by ultrasonic assisted extraction.

The extraction process of crude polysaccharides from Glycyrrhiza (GP) by ultrasonic assisted hot water method was established according to the optimized kinetic model based on Fick's second law of diffusion, and thermodynamic action was analyzed. Physicochemical properties of GP including the apparent viscosity, thermostability and antioxidant activities etc. were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).