Incorporation of Fe/FeO Nanoparticles into Interlinked -Doped Porous Carbon Nanofiber Networks to Realizing Sequential Catalytic Conversion of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries (LSBs) with energy density (2600 Wh/kg) much higher than typical Li-ion batteries (150-300 Wh/kg) have received considerable attention. However, the insulation nature of solid sulfur species and the high activation barrier of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) lead to slow sulfur redox kinetics. By the introduction of catalytic materials, the effective adsorption of LiPSs, and significantly reduced conversion, energy barriers are expected to be achieved, thereby sharpening electrochemical reaction kinetics and fundamentally addressing these challenges.

Clinical manifestations and spermatogenesis outcomes in Chinese patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by inherited or de novo FGFR1 mutations.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 ( FGFR1 ) mutations are associated with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) through inheritance or spontaneous occurrence. We detected FGFR1 mutations in a Chinese cohort of 210 CHH patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Beijing, China) using next-generation and Sanger sequencing. We assessed missense variant pathogenicity using six bioinformatics tools and compared clinical features and treatment outcomes between inherited and de novo mutation groups.

Tailoring the Growth and Morphology of Lithium Peroxide: Nickel Sulfide/Nickel Phosphate Nanotubes with Optimized Electronic Structure for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

Heterogeneous crystalline-amorphous structures, with tunable electronic structures and morphology, hold immense promise as catalysts for lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs). Herein, a nanotube network constructed by crystalline nickel sulfide/amorphous nickel phosphate (NiS/NiPO) heterostructure is prepared on Ni foam through the sulfurization of the precursor generated hydrothermally. Used as cathodes, the NiS/NiPO nanotubes with optimized electronic structure can induce the deposition of the highly porous and interconnected structure of Li O with rich Li O -electrolyte interfaces.

Restraint stress induced anxiety and sleep in mice.

In humans and animals, exposure to changes in internal or external environments causes acute stress, which changes sleep and enhances neurochemical, neuroendocrine, and sympathetic activities. Repeated stress responses play an essential role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases and sleep disorders. However, the underlying mechanism of sleep changes and anxiety disorders in response to acute stress is not well established.

High-Performance PEO-Based All-Solid-State Battery Achieved by Li-Conducting High Entropy Oxides.

A rock-salt-structured Li-conducting high entropy oxide was prepared and utilized as an active filler in a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid-state composite electrolyte. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were adopted to analyze the crystal structure of the high entropy oxide containing 20% of Li ions (HL20). The HL20 was crystallized in the 3̅ space group with Li ions located at the center of the MO octahedra.

Investigation of stretchable strain sensor based on CNT/AgNW applied in smart wearable devices.

Stretchable strain sensor, an important paradigm of wearable sensor which can be attached onto clothing or even human skin, is widely used in healthcare, human motion monitoring and human-machine interaction. Pattern-available and facile manufacturing process for strain sensor is pursued all the time. A carbon nanotube (CNT)/silver nanowire (AgNW)-based stretchable strain sensor fabricated by a facile process is reported here.

Neonatal myofibrillar myopathy type II associated with biallelic UNC-45B gene novel mutation and perinatal myasthenia as the core phenotype: A case report.

Myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) is characterized by phenotypic heterogeneity; decreased function of the myosin-directed chaperone, UNC-45B protein, leads to MFM II, which is characterized by slow progressive proximal myasthenia. Currently, only two studies have reported 11 cases worldwide. This study aimed to conduct genetic research and etiological analysis of a neonatal case of perinatal myasthenia who eventually died due to autonomic dyspnea.

[SARS-CoV-2 damages male fertility: How and why].

The male reproductive system has a structural basis for being invaded by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Existing evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 can cause substantial damage to testicular tissues, pituitary-testicular axis hormone homeostasis, and production and quality of sperm in male patients. Local inflammation of the testis, cytokine storm and fever are considered to be the potential pathogenic factors for testis injury.

Efficacy and safety of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a multicentre clinical study.

Background: Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy may restore function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis and induce spermatogenesis in male patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). The study sought to test the reliability of a newly developed Innopump hormone pump, and to confirm the efficacy and safety of pulsatile GnRH therapy (by Innopump hormone pump) in CHH patients.

Methods: From November 2017 to November 2018, 28 male patients with CHH were treated with pulsatile GnRH at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, and Shandong Provincial Hospital.

Growth hormone cocktail improves hepatopulmonary syndrome secondary to hypopituitarism: A case report.

Background: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease frequently occurs in patients with hypopituitarism and growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Some patients may develop to hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS has a poor prognosis and liver transplantation is regarded as the only approach to cure it.

Prevalence of gene mutations in a Chinese 46,XY disorders of sex development cohort detected by targeted next-generation sequencing.

46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) is characterized by incomplete masculinization genitalia, with gonadal dysplasia and with/without the presence of Müllerian structures. At least 30 genes related to 46,XY DSD have been found. However, the clinical phenotypes of patients with different gene mutations overlap, and accurate diagnosis relies on gene sequencing technology.

Multistaged discharge constructing heterostructure with enhanced solid-solution behavior for long-life lithium-oxygen batteries.

Inferior charge transport in insulating and bulk discharge products is one of the main factors resulting in poor cycling stability of lithium-oxygen batteries with high overpotential and large capacity decay. Here we report a two-step oxygen reduction approach by pre-depositing a potassium carbonate layer on the cathode surface in a potassium-oxygen battery to direct the growth of defective film-like discharge products in the successive cycling of lithium-oxygen batteries. The formation of defective film with improved charge transport and large contact area with a catalyst plays a critical role in the facile decomposition of discharge products and the sustained stability of the battery.

Core-shell anatase anode materials for sodium-ion batteries: the impact of oxygen vacancies and nitrogen-doped carbon coating.

In this work, the impact of oxygen vacancies and nitrogen-doped carbon coating on the sodium-ion storage properties of anatase TiO2 has been demonstrated. Oxygen vacancies and nitrogen-doped carbon coating were introduced simultaneously by the calcination of core-shell structured TiO2 spheres in a reducing atmosphere. Compared to the anatase TiO2 with and without oxygen vacancies, TiO2-x@NC exhibits much better electrochemical performance in the storage of sodium ions.

Gonadotropin treatment for male partial congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in Chinese patients.

Partial congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (PCHH) is caused by an insufficiency in, but not a complete lack of, gonadotropin secretion. This leads to reduced testosterone production, mild testicular enlargement, and partial pubertal development. No studies have shown the productivity of spermatogenesis in patients with PCHH.

Association between Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Composition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether coronary atherosclerotic plaque composition is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Chinese adults.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 549 subjects without previous diagnosis or clinical symptoms of CVD in a community cohort of middle-aged Chinese adults. The participants underwent coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography for the evaluation of the presence and composition of coronary plaques.

Top-down fabrication of hierarchical nanocubes on nanosheets composite for high-rate lithium storage.

A top-down method was developed to synthesize hierarchical composites consisting of NiCo2O4 nanocubes and graphene nanosheets through the electrostatic interaction of negatively charged graphene oxide nanosheets and positively charged NiCo2O4 spheres. Employed as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the hierarchical composites exhibit remarkably high electrochemical performance, including large reversible capacity, superior rate capability, and excellent cycling performance. Large reversible capacities of 1024 and 648 mA h g-1 are maintained at a current density of 500 and 3000 mA g-1, respectively, for over 200 cycles.

[Association of Serum Vitamin D with Hand-grip Strength and Balance Ability: a Cross-sectional Study on Community-dwelling Women in Sichuan, China].

Objective: To determine the relationship between serum levels of 25(OH)D and 1, 25(OH) D and the hand-grip strength and balance ability of women in Sichuan, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of 1 095 women aged 29-95 yr. in Sichuan Province was undertaken.

Sex hormones affect acute and chronic stress responses in sexually dimorphic patterns: Consequences for depression models.

Background: Alterations in peripheral sex hormones may play an important role in sex differences in terms of stress responses and mood disorders. It is not yet known whether and how stress-related brain systems and brain sex steroid levels fluctuate in relation to changes in peripheral sex hormone levels, or whether the different sexes show different patterns. We aimed to investigate systematically, in male and female rats, the effect of decreased circulating sex hormone levels following gonadectomy on acute and chronic stress responses, manifested as changes in plasma and hypothalamic sex steroids and hypothalamic stress-related molecules.

Serum Uric Acid is Associated with the Predicted Risk of Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease in a Community-dwelling Population without Diabetes.

Objective: To examine the association between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular disease risk among individuals without diabetes.

Methods: We investigated the association between serum uric acid levels and the risk of prevalent cardiometabolic diseases, 10-year Framingham risk for coronary heart disease, and 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) among 8,252 participants aged ⪖ 40 years without diabetes from Jiading district, Shanghai, China.

Results: Body mass index, waist circumference, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and serum lipids increased progressively across the sex-specific quartiles of uric acid (all P trend < 0.

Predictive factors for pituitary response to pulsatile GnRH therapy in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) may induce spermatogenesis in most patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) by stimulating gonadotropin production, while the predictors for a pituitary response to pulsatile GnRH therapy were rarely investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study is to investigate predictors of the pituitary response to pulsatile GnRH therapy. This retrospective cohort study included 82 CHH patients who received subcutaneous pulsatile GnRH therapy for at least 1 month.