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Highlights In this work, silicone polymer (PSOL)/glass fiber (GF)/epoxy (EP) composites were prepared by employing PSOL as interfacial modifier into GF/EP composites. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites were investigated to determine the optimal PSOL content. The effect of PSOL on the wettability of EP on GF was investigated. The micromorphology of the GF/EP composites was also examined by scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrate that the interfacial bonding between GF and epoxy resin was improved significantly by the addition of PSOL. Specifically, the interlaminar shear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, and blending strength of the PSOL/GF/EP composites increased by 9.28%, 13.61%, 12.66%, and 19.22%, respectively. Moreover, the original thermal stability of the composites was improved by the incorporation of PSOL. This study highlights the effectiveness of PSOL as an interfacial modifier, enhancing the overall performance of GF/EP composites while improving their thermal stability. Silicone polymer (PSOL)/glass fiber (GF)/epoxy (EP) composite material is made of glass fiber and epoxy resin by hand paste molding. Silicon polymers as interface modifiers can improve the interface between glass fiber and epoxy resin. PSOL/GF/EP composites have good mechanical properties. The glass transition temperature of GF/EP composites was increased by silicon polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Data on the safety and effectiveness of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) plus peginterferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are lacking. The current study aimed to present the characteristics of four pediatric CHB patients who obtained a functional cure by using TAF and Peg-IFN-α. Methods: In this case series study initiated in May 2019, ten children who had no clinical symptoms or signs received response-guided (HBV DNA undetectable, hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg] loss or seroconversion, and hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] loss or seroconversion) and functional cure-targeted (HBsAg loss or seroconversion) TAF (25 mg/d, orally) plus Peg-IFN-α-2b (180 µg/1.73m2, subcutaneously, once weekly) in combination (9/10) or sequential (1/10) therapy. The safety and effectiveness of these treatments were monitored. Results: As of April 2024, four out of ten children obtained a functional cure after a mean of 31.5 months of treatment, and the other six children are still undergoing treatment. These four cured children, aged 2, 4, 8, and 6 years, were all HBeAg-positive and had alanine aminotransferase levels of 80, 47, 114, and 40 U/L; HBV DNA levels of 71200000, 93000000, 8220, and 96700000 IU/mL; and HBsAg levels of 39442.8, 15431.2, 22, and 33013.1 IU/mL, respectively. During treatment, all the children (10/10) experienced mild or moderate adverse events, including flu-like symptoms, anorexia, fatigue, and cytopenia. Notably, growth retardation (8/10) was the most significant adverse event; and it occurred in three cured children (3/4) treated with combination therapy and was present to a low degree in the other cured child (1/4) treated with sequential therapy. Fortunately, all three cured children recovered to or exceeded the normal growth levels at 9 months posttreatment. Conclusions: TAF plus Peg-IFN-α-2b therapy is potentially safe and effective for pediatric CHB patients, which may provide important insights for future clinical practice and study designs targeting functional cures for children with CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, carbon nitride (C3N4) powder was oxidized by the Hummers oxidation method, and oxidized carbon nitride (O‐C3N4) was obtained. Epoxy (EP) was modified with O‐C3N4, and then carbon fiber fabric/epoxy (CF/EP) composites were prepared by hand‐pasting molding. The O‐C3N4 greatly improves the wettability of EP resin, enhances the interface properties of CF/EP composites, and makes the composites have better mechanical properties. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) is increased from 51.75 to 59.68 MPa, the tensile strength is increased from 564.54 to 635.39 MPa, the bending strength is increased from 809.64 to 938.81 MPa, and the impact strength is increased from 73.48 to 84.84 kJ/m2. Meanwhile, the dynamic mechanical properties of composites are also significantly improved. The energy storage modulus is increased from 14.9 to 21.4 GPa, with an increase of 43.6%. Highlights: Developing carbon fiber composites is conducive to industrial applications.O‐C3N4 effectively improves the mechanical properties of the composite.O‐C3N4 has the advantages of simple synthesis, low costs, and light color.O‐C3N4 is rich in oxygen‐containing functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few safety and effectiveness results have been published regarding the administration of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) during pregnancy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods In this multicenter prospective observational study, pregnant women with HBV DNA levels higher than 200 000 IU/mL who received TAF or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) from gestational weeks 24–35 to delivery were 1:1 enrolled and followed until postpartum month 6. Infants received immunoprophylaxis. The primary endpoint was the safety of mothers and infants. The secondary endpoint was the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive rate at 7 months for infants. Results In total, 116 and 116 mothers were enrolled, and 117 and 116 infants were born, in the TAF and TDF groups, respectively. TAF was well tolerated during a mean treatment duration of 11.0 weeks. The most common maternal adverse event was nausea (19.0%). One (0.9%), 3 (2.6%), and 9 (7.8%) mothers had abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels at delivery and at postpartum months 3 and 6, respectively. The TDF group had safety profiles that were comparable to those of the TAF group. No infants had birth defects in either group. The infants' physical and neurological development at birth and at 7 months in the TAF group were comparable with those in the TDF group. The HBsAg positive rate was 0% at 7 months in all 233 infants. Conclusions Antiviral prophylaxis with TAF was determined to be generally safe for both mothers and infants and reduced the MTCT rate to 0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Data on the management of patients aged more than 85 years with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequential infections are lacking., Methods: The current study described the management of an older couple aged more than 85 years with these above-mentioned two diseases treated with 12 weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa ® ) and 5 days of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) sequentially. The effectiveness and safety profiles were closely monitored during therapy and till 9 months posttreatment., Results: In late March 2023, the husband with the main complaint of repeated gingival bleeding and asymptomatic wife were 86 and 85 years old, and had HCV RNA levels of 91,800 and 6,630,000 IU/mL, respectively. On the fourth day of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment, the husband had a moderate headache, and the wife had severe headache and moderate fever and dizziness. We then found that their SARS-CoV-2 test results were positive. After careful consideration, the expert panel decided to treat the couple with oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (300 mg/100 mg, twice daily) beginning on the fifth day of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment for 5 days. During the 5 days of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment, the patient's symptoms and signs gradually improved, and the patient was negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on the fifth day of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir therapy. Meanwhile, the husband's HCV RNA was not detectable after one week of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment till posttreatment month 9, and his ALT level was normal beginning at week 1 of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment. Moreover, the wife's HCV RNA was not detectable after week 4 of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment till posttreatment month 9. Notably, no other symptoms or signs occurred during the treatment or follow-up period, and other serum biochemical parameters remained stable until 9 months after the discontinuation of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment., Conclusion: The older couple aged more than 85 years with chronic HCV and SARS-CoV-2 sequential infection were safely cured by the sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir sequential treatment., Discussion: This study suggested that old age should not be a barrier to HCV/SARS-CoV-2 treatment. Given that the proportion of older HCV-infected patients is increasing, clinical trials of direct-acting antiviral agents should include older HCV-infected individuals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zeng, Lv, Chen and Pan.)

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), intercellular communication is crucial for maintaining cardiac homeostasis and patient survival. Exosomes secreted by cardiomyocytes serve as carriers for transporting microRNA(miRNAs), participating in intercellular signaling and the regulation of cardiac function. This study aims to investigate the role of exosomal microRNA-30a(miR-30a) during AMI and its underlying mechanisms. AMI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in C57BL/6 mice. The expression of miR-30a in mice was respectively enhanced and inhibited by administering agomiR-30a and antagomiR-30a. Using HL-1 cardiomyocytes and RAW264.7 macrophages for in vitro experiments, HL-1 cardiomyocytes were cultured under hypoxic conditions to induce ischemic injury. Following isolation and injection of exosomals, a variety of validation methods were utilized to assess the expression of miR-30a, and investigate the effects of enriched exosomal miR-30a on the state of cardiomyocytes. After AMI, the level of exosomal miR-30a in the serum of mice significantly increased and was highly enriched in cardiac tissue. Cardiomyocytes treated with agomiR-30a and miR-30a-enriched exosomes exhibited inhibition of cell autophagy, increased cell apoptosis, mice showed an larger myocardial infarct area and poorer cardiac function. Exosomes released from hypoxic cardiomyocytes transferred miR-30a to cardiac resident macrophages, promoting the polarization into pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages. In conclusion, murine exosomal miR-30a exacerbates cardiac dysfunction post-AMI by disrupting the autophagy-apoptosis balance in cardiomyocytes and polarizing cardiac resident macrophages into pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages. Modulating the expression of miR-30a may reduce cardiac damage following AMI, and targeting exosomal miR-30a could be a potential therapeutic approach for AMI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)