Design and synthesis of TiO/C nanosheets with a directional cascade carrier transfer.

Directed transfer of carriers, akin to excited charges in photosynthesis, in semiconductors by structural design is challenging. Here, TiO nanosheets with interlayered sp carbon and titanium vacancies are obtained by low-temperature controlled oxidation calcination. The directed transfer of carriers from the excited position to Ti-vacancies to interlayered carbon is investigated and proven to greatly increase the charge transport efficiency.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Xiao-Yu Yang and co-workers at Wuhan University of Technology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, University of the Witwatersrand, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The image depicts Ti vacancies in TiO as powerful drivers of photo- and photo-electrocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen production. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Photodriven seawater splitting is considered to be one of the most promising techniques for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the high salinity of seawater would deactivate catalysts and consume the photogenerated carriers. Metal vacancies in metal oxide semiconductors are critical to directed electron transfer and high salinity resistance; they are thus desirable but remain a challenge.

Inhibition of the P53/P21 Pathway Attenuates the Effects of Senescent Nucleus Pulposus Cell-Derived Exosomes on the Senescence of Nucleus Pulposus Cells.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of senescent nucleus pulposus cell (NPC)-derived exosomes (SNPC-Exo) and the roles of the P53/P21 pathway on the senescence of NPC.

Methods: The senescent phenotypes of NPC were induced by interleukin-1β treatment. SNPC-Exo was extracted from the culture medium of senescent NPC and purified by differential centrifugation.

Sodium butyrate alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice via inhibiting HMGB1 release.

Sodium butyrate (SB) is a short chain 4-carbon fatty acid salt naturally exists in animal fats. Previous studies have proven that sodium butyrate has many beneficial functions such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory actions. In the current study we investigated the effect and possible mechanism of sodium butyrate in LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

Identified molecular mechanism of interaction between environmental risk factors and differential expression genes in cartilage of Kashin-Beck disease.

As environmental risk factors (ERFs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), it is important to identify the interaction between ERFs and differentially expression genes (DEGs) in KBD. The environmental response genes (ERGs) were analyzed in cartilage of KBD in comparison to normal controls.We searched 5 English and 3 Chinese databases from inception to September 2015, to identify case-control studies that examined ERFs for KBD using integrative meta-analysis and systematic review.

Naringenin protects against isoniazid- and rifampicin-induced apoptosis in hepatic injury.

Aim: To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of naringenin (NRG) on hepatic injury induced by isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF).

Methods: Male mice were randomly divided into four groups and treated for 14 d as follows: normal control group was administered intragastrically with normal saline solution alone; model group was administered intragastrically with INH (100 mg/kg) and RIF (100 mg/kg); low- and high-dosage NRG pretreatment groups were administered intragastrically with different doses of NRG (50 or 100 mg/kg) 2 h before INH and RIF challenge. Mice were killed 16 h after the last dose of drug treatment to determine activity of serum transaminases.

Hesperidin ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting HMGB1 release.

Hesperidin (HDN), a flavanone glycoside, possesses anti-inflammatory properties and has been suggested to be able to modulate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) serves as an inflammatory cytokine when released extracellularly and is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory disorders. The current study aimed to investigate the involvement of HMGB1 in HDN-induced immunoregulation of ALI.

[Sodium butyrate inhibits HMGB1 expression and release and attenuates concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury in mice].

The purpose of the present study is to explore the protective effects of sodium butyrate (SB) pretreatment on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury in mice. The model animals were first administered intraperitoneally with SB. Half an hour later, acute liver injury mouse model was established by caudal vein injection with Con A (15 mg/kg).

Lymphocyte subsets in primary immune thrombocytopenia.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance of T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in an active phase. T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of 90 ITP patients in the active phase and 59 normal controls were detected by flow cytometry. ITP patients were treated with a conventional dose of corticosteroids, and therapeutic response was evaluated after 3 months.

[Protective effect of baicalin solid dispersion on D-galactosamine induced acute hepatic injury in mice].

Objective: To study the protective effect of baicalin solid dispersion (BSD) on D-galactosamine (D-GalN) induced acute hepatic injury in mice, and to compare it with baicalin alone.

Methods: Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups, i.e.

Curcumin inhibits HMGB1 releasing and attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice.

Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from the plant curcuma longa, exhibits a number of pharmacological properties and has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, the potential protective effects of curcumin in inflammatory liver diseases have not been clearly elucidated. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of curcumin on hepatic injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A), and its possible molecular mechanisms in mice.

[Multi-gene methylation detection increases positive methylation rate in colorectal cancer].

Objective: To study whether combined detection of the methylation status of vimentin, sFRP1, and HPP1 gene can increase the positive methylation rate in colorectal cancer.

Methods: Tissue samples were collected from 90 patients with colorectal cancer, 60 patients with adenomatous polyp, and 20 healthy controls. DNA was extracted and the methylation status of vimentin, sFRP1, and HPP1 gene was detected by Methylation-specific PCR (MSP).

[Expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in lymphoblastic cells and its relationship with glucocorticoid sensitivity].

This study was aimed to explore the expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) in 3 different lymphoblastic cell lines with relation to their glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity. The 11β-HSD2 expressions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells, lymphoma Daudi and Raji cells, and peripheral blood T cells of a healthy volunteer were analyzed by real time PCR and Western blot. Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis in 3 different cell lines was detected by flow cytometry.

Immunosuppressive effect of ethanol extract of Artemisia annua on specific antibody and cellular responses of mice against ovalbumin.

Artemisia annua has been widely used to treat autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the ethanol extract of A. annua (EEAA) was evaluated for the immunosuppressive potentials on mice splenocyte proliferation in vitro, and the specific antibody and cellular immune responses in the ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mice.

[Abnormal expression of transcription factors LYL1 and LMO2 and interaction between them in myeloid leukemia].

Objective: To explore the expression of the transcription factors LMO2 and LYL1 and the interaction between these 2 factors in myeloid leukemia cells and to analyze the significance thereof in leukemogenesis.

Methods: Samples of peripheral blood and bone marrow were collected form 51 AML patties, and 5 normal bone marrow donors to isolate mononuclear cells (MNCs) with high percentage of CD34(+) cells. Western blotting (WB) was used to detect the protein expression of LMO2 and LYL1 in the cells.

[Expression of transcription factor LYL1 in leukemia and its possible role in leukemogenesis].

Objective: To study the expression of transcription factor LYL1 in leukemia and its possible role in leukemogenesis.

Methods: Fluorescence real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression levels of LYL1 in leukemias. Specific siRNA was used to silence the expression of LYL1 in K562 cells.

[Epigenetic regulation of expression of retinoic acid receptor beta gene in leukemia cell].

Objective: To study the reactivation of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) expression in myeloid leukemia cells by a combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with a DNA demethylating agent, decitabine (DAC), and valproic acid (VPA, a histone deacetylase inhibitor),and their effects on cell differentiation and proliferation.

Methods: Human myeloid leukemia cells of the line U937 were cultured and treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), DAC, and VPA. 72 h later cell differentiation test, cloning formation test, and chromatin immunoprecipitation test were performed.

[Effect of earthworm decoction on airway inflammation of bronchial asthma in guinea pigs].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Earthworm decoction on the airway inflammation of experimental bronchial asthma in guinea pigs and inquire into the mechanism in the decoction.

Method: Forty-eight guinea pigs were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the dexamethasone group, the Xiaoqinglong decoction group, the earthworm decoction large dosage group and the Earthworm decoction low dosage group, 8 guinea pigs in each group. Except the control group, the other groups were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) by a combination of intraperitional injection and repeated intranasal challenges to establish the guinea pigs asthma model.