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Emerging studies indicate that infusion of HIV-resistant cells could be an effective strategy to achieve a sterilizing or functional cure. We recently reported that glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored nanobody or a fusion inhibitory peptide can render modified cells resistant to HIV-1 infection. In this study, we comprehensively characterized a panel of newly isolated HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies as GPI-anchored inhibitors. Fusion genes encoding the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of 3BNC117, N6, PGT126, PGT128, 10E8, or 35O22 were constructed with a self-inactivating lentiviral vector, and they were efficiently expressed in the lipid raft sites of target cell membrane without affecting the expression of HIV-1 receptors (CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4). Significantly, transduced cells exhibited various degrees of resistance to cell-free HIV-1 infection and cell-associated HIV-1 transmission, as well as viral Env-mediated cell–cell fusion, with the cells modified by GPI-10E8 showing the most potent and broad anti-HIV activity. In mechanism, GPI-10E8 also interfered with the processing of viral Env in transduced cells and attenuated the infectivity of progeny viruses. By genetically linking 10E8 with a fusion inhibitor peptide, we subsequently designed a group of eight bifunctional constructs as cell membrane-based inhibitors, designated CMI01∼CMI08, which rendered cells completely resistant to HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). In human CD4+ T cells, GPI-10E8 and its bifunctional derivatives blocked both CCR5- and CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 isolates efficiently, and the modified cells displayed robust survival selection under HIV-1 infection. Therefore, our studies provide new strategies for generating HIV-resistant cells, which can be used alone or with other gene therapy approaches.

Indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (pCS) are two important gut microbiota-generated protein-bound uremic toxins. The present study aims to explore the alterations of serum IS and pCS concentrations, their production, and daily removal in end-stage renal disease (ESRD).A case-controlled study was conducted based on 11 patients with ESRD and 11 healthy volunteers. The metabolic processes for IS and pCS were compared in these two groups, including gut microbiome, fecal indole and p-cresol, indole-producing bacteria and p-cresol-producing bacteria, serum total IS and pCS concentrations, and their daily removal by urine and spent dialyzate.Compared with healthy controls, patients with ESRD exhibited higher relative abundance of the indole-producing bacteria Escherichia coli (P .001) and Bacteroides fragilis (P = .010) and p-cresol-producing bacteria Bacteroides fragilis (P = .010) and Bacteroides caccae (P = .047). The predicted functional profiles of gut microbiome based on 16S rRNA gene PhyloChip analysis showed that the microbial tryptophan metabolism pathway (map00380, P = .0006) was significantly enriched in patients with ESRD. However, the fecal precursors indole (P = .332) and p-cresol concentrations (P = .699) were comparable between the two groups. The serum IS (P .001) and pCS (P .001) concentrations were far higher in patients with ESRD than those in healthy controls, whereas the daily total removal by urine and dialyzate was much lower for the former than that for the latter (P = .019 for IS, P = .016 for pCS).The present study showed serious IS and pCS accumulation in patients with ESRD, with significant expansion of indole-producing bacteria and p-cresol-producing bacteria, upregulation of the bacterial tryptophan metabolism pathway, and greatly increased serum IS and pCS concentrations, whereas significant decline of daily IS and pCS removal.

Enantiopure vicinal diols are important building blocks used in the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds. Diol dehydrogenase (DDH) mediated stereoselective oxidation of racemic vicinal is an efficient way to prepare enantiopure vicinal diols. In this study, four new bacterial DDHs (AnDDH from Anoxybacillus sp. P3H1B, HcDDH from Hazenella coriacea, GzDDH from Geobacillus zalihae and LwDDH from Leptotrichia wadei) were mined from the GenBank database and expressed in E. coli T7. The four DDHs were purified and biochemically characterized for oxidation activity toward (R)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol, with the optimal reaction condition of pH9.0 (AnDDH), 10.0 (HcDDH) and 11.0 (GzDDH and LwDDH) and the temperatures at 40°C (AnDDH), 50°C (HcDDH) and 60°C (GzDDH and LwDDH), respectively. The four enzymes were stable at the pH from 7.0 to 9.0 and below 40°C. Kinetic parameters of four DDHs showed that the HcDDH from Hazenella coriacea had high activity toward a broad range of vicinal diols. A series of racemic vicinal diols were successfully resolved by recombinant E. coli (HcDDH-NOX) resting cells co-expression of an NADH oxidase (NOX), affording (S)-diols and (1S, 2S)-trans-diols in ≥99% ee. The synthetic potential of HcDDH was proved by E. coli (HcDDH-NOX) via kinetic resolution of racemic trans-1,2-indandiol on a 100 ml scale reaction, (S, S)- trans-1,2-indandiol was prepared in 46.7% yield and >99% ee. In addition, asymmetric reduction of four α-hydroxy ketones (10-300 mmol•L-1) by E. coli (HcDDH-GDH) resting cells resulted in >99% ee and 69-98% yields of (R)-vicinal diols. The current research expands the toolbox of DDHs to synthesize chiral vicinal diols and demonstrated that the mined HcDDH is a potential enzyme in the synthesis of a broad range of chiral vicinal diols.

BACKGROUND Drug extravasation is a complication of totally implantable access port (TIAP) use and could cause tissue injury and sustained organ dysfunction. Therefore, the clinical management of children with TIAP is challenging. CASE SUMMARY This was a case of extravasation of a chemotherapeutic drug (paclitaxel) from an implantable infusion port in a 23-mo old child. After fully evaluating the skin at the site of extravasation, the nurse continued to use the infusion port to complete the follow-up chemotherapeutic course. The skin around the infusion port was red, and showed no ulceration, swelling, or induration at discharge. CONCLUSION Since children are more active and often noncompliant, it is necessary to appropriately train pediatric nurses caring for individuals with TIAPs, and any abnormal situation should be timely addressed.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high theoretical specific energy of 2600 Wh kg–1 are one of promising candidates for next-generation energy storage devices. However, the severe shuttle effect of intermediate polysulfides leads to rapid capacity decay during battery cycling, especially at high sulfur loading and high current density. Herein, the MnO nanoparticles covered carbon with endoplasmic-reticulum-like structure (MnO@ERC) as separator coating for Li-S batteries is proposed. The MnO@ERC coating can act as upper current collector to enhance electrical conductivity of cathode and decrease the interface impedance of the whole battery. More importantly, both the polar MnO nanoparticles and Mn3O4 formed at the end of the charging process can catalyze the conversion of lithium polysulfides, which is convinced by the high adsorption energy and the elongate S–S bond. As a result, Li-S batteries based on MnO@ERC coating separator showed stable cycle for 350 cycles under 0.5 C, high discharge specific capacity of 783.6 mAh g–1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C, 534.7 mAh g–1 after 100 cycles under the sulfur loading of 5.26 mg cm–2 and low self-discharge rate of 9.1% after resting 48 h.

Morphology-controlled electrocatalysts with the ability of CO2 adsorption/activation, mass transfer, high stability and porosity are much desired in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Here, three kinds of multi-dimensional nanostructures (i.e., hollow sphere, nanosheets and nanofibers) have been successfully produced through the modulation of porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with various modulators. The obtained nanostructures with high-stability, large surface-area, and single metal sites enable efficient CO2RR into CH4. Notably, they all exhibit higher FECH4 (hollow sphere, 68.2%; nanosheet, 64.2% and nanofiber, 71.0%, -0.9 V) than COF-366-Cu (43.0%, -0.9 V) after morphology control. Noteworthy, the FECH4 of COF-366-Cu (HS) keeps higher than 52.4% over a wide potential range from -0.9 V to -1.1 V and the achieved FECH4+C2H4 (82.8%, -0.9 V) is superior to most of reported COFs and copper-based electrocatalysts. This work paves a new way in the exploration of COF-based multi-dimensional nanostructures applicable in efficient CO2RR to CH4.

Background Local immunoglobulin hyperproduction is observed in nasal polyps (NPs) with and without ectopic lymphoid tissues (eLTs). Objective Our aim was to identify the T-cell subsets involved in local immunoglobulin production independent of eLTs in NPs. Methods The localization, abundance, and phenotype of CD4+ T-cell subsets were studied by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing. Purified nasal T-cell subsets were cultured with autologous peripheral naive B cells to explore their function. Programmed death ligand 1 and programmed death ligand 2 expression in NPs was investigated by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Results Accumulation of PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells outside lymphoid aggregates was found in NPs. Nasal PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells were characterized by a unique phenotype that was related to B-cell help and tissue residency and distinct from PD-1–/intCXCR5– and CXCR5+ CD4+ T cells in NPs as well as PD-1highCXCR5highCD4+ follicular helper T cells in tonsils. Compared with the frequencies of PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells and their IFN-γ+, IL-17A+, and IL-21+ subsets in the control inferior turbinate tissues, the frequencies of these cells and their subsets were increased in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic NPs, whereas the frequencies of the IL-4+ and IL-4+IL-21+ subsets were increased only in eosinophilic NPs. Nasal PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells induced immunoglobulin production from B cells in a potency comparable to that induced by tonsillar follicular helper T cells. PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T-cell frequencies were correlated with IgE levels in eosinophilic NPs. PD-L1 and PD-L2 suppressed the function of PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells, and their levels were reduced in NPs. PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T-cell abundance was associated with the postsurgical relapse of NPs. Conclusion PD-1highCXCR5–CD4+ T cells participate in local immunoglobulin production independent of eLTs in NPs.

Three-dimensional (3D) frameworks have received much attention as an effective modification strategy for next-generation high-energy–density lithium metal batteries. However, the top-growth mode of lithium (Li) on the 3D framework remains a tough challenge. To achieve a uniform bottom-up Li growth, a scheme involving Ag concentration gradient in 3D PVDF framework (C-Ag/PVDF) is proposed. Ag nanoparticles with a concentration gradient induce an interface activity gradient in the 3D framework, and this gradient feature is still maintained during the cycle. As a result, the C-Ag/PVDF framework delivers a long lifespan over 1800 h at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 1 mAh cm−2, and shows an ultra-long life (>1300 h) even at a high current density of 4 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 4 mAh cm−2. The advantage of concentration gradient provides further insights into the optimal design of the 3D framework for stable Li metal anode.

Metal oxides are prospective alternative anode materials to the commercial graphite for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), while their practical application is seriously hampered by their poor conductivities and large volume changes. Herein, we report the controllable synthesis of amorphous/crystalline MnCo2Ox nanoparticles within porous carbon nanofibers (marked as MCO@CNFs) through a facile electrospinning strategy and subsequent annealing reactions. The phase structures from Co/MnOX to amorphous MnCo2Ox and crystalline MnCo2O4.5 can be readily tuned by thermal reduction/oxidation under controlled atmosphere and temperature. When examined as anode for LIBs, the optimized MCO@CNFs delivers a high stable capacity of 780.3 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 250 cycles, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of the distinctive amorphous structure and defective carbon nanofiber matrices. Specifically, the amorphous structure with rich defects offers more reactive sites and multiple pathways for the Li+ diffusion, while carbon hybridization sufficiently improves the electrode conductivities as well as buffers the volume changes. More importantly, we demonstrate a convenient synthesis strategy to control the metal-to-oxide structure evolution within carbon matrices, which is of great importance in exploring high-performance electrodes for next generation LIBs.

The controllable construction of light-emitting organometallic supramolecular materials integrating stimulus responses and biological applications is still a major challenge today. In this work, em...

In this work, an edible cellulose-based antibacterial material was prepared by cross-linking α-cellulose and kanamycin sulfate via glutaraldehyde to form kanamycin sulfate-glutaraldehyde-cellulose. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicated that the kanamycin sulfate molecule was cross-linked with the molecular chain of cellulose. The optimal mass ratio of kanamycin sulfate to α-cellulose was 1:100 and the degree of substitution reached 1.11%. The optimal kanamycin sulfate-glutaraldehyde-cellulose material showed an excellent inhabitation against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Meantime, the optimal kanamycin sulfate-glutaraldehyde-cellulose had a marked resistance to gastric acid and had low cell cytotoxicity. To promote the application of the kanamycin sulfate-glutaraldehyde-cellulose material, the porous microspheres were prepared via the sol-gel method. The particle size of the homogeneous porous microspheres is mainly distributed between 1.5 and 2.0 μm. Therefore, the kanamycin sulfate-glutaraldehyde-cellulose described herein is a potential edible, eco-friendly, potent, stable, inexpensive, and antibacterial carrier material for delivering drugs, proteins, or vaccines.

As a newly developed cadmium-free quantum dot (QD), CuInS2/ZnS has great application potential in many fields, but its biological safety has not been fully understood. In this study, the in vitro toxicity of CuInS2/ZnS QDs on U87 human glioma cell line was explored. The cells were treated with different concentrations of QDs (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL), and the uptake of QDs by the U87 cells was detected by fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry. The cell viability was observed by MTT assay, and the gene expression profile was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. These results showed that QDs could enter the cells and mainly located in the cytoplasm. The uptake rate was over 90 % when the concentration of QDs reached 25 μg/mL. The cell viability (50 and 100 μg/mL) increased at 24 h (P < 0.05), but no significant difference after 48 h and 72 h treatment. The results of differential transcription showed that coding RNA accounted for the largest proportion (62.15 %), followed by long non-coding RNA (18.65 %). Total 220 genes were up-regulated and 1515 genes were down-regulated, and significantly altered gene functions included nucleosome, chromosome-DNA binding, and chromosome assembly. In conclusion, CuInS2/ZnS QDs could enter U87 cells, did not reduce the cell viability, but would obviously alter the gene expression profile. These findings provide valuable information for a proper understanding of the toxicity risk of CuInS2/ZnS QD and promote the rational utilization of QDs in the future.

Based on three pairs of 2D homochiral Ag(i) enantiomers, we demonstrate that both the symmetry and degree of π-conjugation of the ligands have a significant effect on the type and intensity of their NLO responses.

Facile fabrication of low cost photocatalyst with enhanced activity and high atomic utilization has been in increasing demand for solar energy usage and/or conversion. In this work, a series of mesoporous carbon nitride nanosheets with enlarged specific surface area were synthesized via an inorganic acid-assisted exfoliation method without any soft or hard templates. Ultralow loading of downsized noble metal Pt was anchored on these porous nanosheets and warranted enhanced photocatalytic activity. The formation of mesoporous nanosheets in carbon nitride was expected to boost mass transfer and shorten charge carrier transfer route during photocatalytic reaction. Characterizations revealed that the enlarged conductivity and photocurrent of carbon nitride nanosheets also contributed to the enhanced H2 evolution. The maximum H2 production rates of 172.92 μmol/h and 321 μmol/h could be achieved over these nanosheets derived from melamine and urea under visible light irradiation, which are 10.92 and 2.22 folds as high as that of corresponding bulk carbon nitride, respectively. This exfoliation method was demonstrated to be an efficient and universal method for the preparation of carbon nitride nanosheets with mesoporous structure and high atomic utilization of co-catalyst for H2 evolution from water.

The limb-bud and heart (LBH) gene was reported to suppress nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression in our previous study. Distant metastasis predominantly accounts for the unsatisfactory prognosis of NPC treatment, in which epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor angiogenesis are of great significance. The roles of exosomes in mediating NPC progression have been highlighted in recent researches, and attempts have been made to explore the clinical application of NPC exosomes. Here we investigated the function of the LBH gene in NPC exosomes, and its potential mechanism. NPC xenografts were constructed, showing that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression and neovascularity were attenuated by LBH overexpression, together with diminished EMT progression. NPC-derived exosomes were isolated, identified and applied for in vitro/in vivo experiments, and the exosomal distribution of LBH was elevated in exosomes derived from LBH-upregulated cells. Ectopic LBH, αB-crystallin (CRYAB) and VEGFA expression was induced by lentiviral infection or plasmid transfection to explore their functions in modulating EMT and angiogenesis in NPC. The addition of LBH+ NPC exosomes during a Matrigel plug assay in mice suppressed in vivo angiogenesis, and the treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with LBH+ NPC exosomes inhibited cellular proliferation, migration and tube formation. The interactions among LBH, CRYAB and VEGFA were confirmed by colocalization and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays, and extracellular VEGFA secretion from both HUVECs and NPC cells under the treatment with LBH+ NPC exosomes was diminished according to ELISA results. We concluded that exosomal LBH inhibits EMT progression and angiogenesis in the NPC microenvironment, and that its effects are partially implemented by modulation of VEGFA expression, secretion and related signaling. Thus, LBH could serve as a promising therapeutic target in VEGFA-focused NPC treatment.

Blast furnace slag (BFS), as a byproduct from manufacturing iron, served as a cost-effective raw material for preparation of hydroxyapatite-zeolite composite material (HAP-ZE); this research introduces a way of synthesizing hydroxyapatite-zeolite composite material (HAP-ZE) using BFS with alkaline fusion and hydrothermal treatment. According to analysis with XRD, FT-IR, BET, ICP, FE-SEM, EDX and elemental mapping, the major phases in the HAP-ZE composite material synthesized under the most desirable conditions (at aging time of 6 h and at Ca/P ratio (starting gel) = 1.67) were identified to be zeolite and HAP with molar ratio of Ca/P = 1.61, Si/Al = 1.31, Na/Al = 1.75 and with a mean surface area of 44.22 m2.g−1. Moreover, the research found that the minor metals (Mg, Fe, K, etc.) generated from BFS have little influence on the synthesis of HAP-ZE. The thus obtained HAP-ZE material has a great adsorption performance in removing Mn2+, NH4+ and phosphate ions mixed in water, on grounds of the higher ion-exchange capacities and abundantly existing Ca2+ ions in HAP-ZE structure. This novel process makes synthesizing HAP-ZE composite material from BFS possible and lays a great foundation for effective application of BFS.

Sunitinib is one of the first-line multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and resistance to sunitinib continues to be a limiting factor for the successful treatment. As interleukin-6 (IL-6) is overexpressed in sunitinib-resistant cells, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential of IL-6 inhibition with tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor inhibitor, to overcome resistance. In vitro, two sunitinib-resistant renal cell carcinoma cell lines (Caki-1 and SN12K1) were treated with tocilizumab. A mouse subcutaneous xenograft model was also used. Cell viability was studied by MTT assay, and apoptosis by morphology and ApopTag. Expression of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Bcl-2 was analyzed by qPCR. In vitro, tocilizumab induced significant cell death, and reduced the expression of IL-6, VEGF, and Bcl-2 in sunitinib-resistant cells. However, the in vitro findings could not be successfully translated in vivo, as tocilizumab did not decrease the growth of the tumors.

The forensic analysis of stable isotopes is a valuable tool to geo-source natural or semisynthetic drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The present study describes a novel methodology to isolate morphine from opium for isotopic analysis. Furthermore, this isotopic data from regional sources is corroborated with morphine data obtained from seized heroin (deacetylated to morphine) from the same regions. All five primary alkaloids of opium, namely, morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine, and papaverine, were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (PDA) detector before the preparative experiment to gather a complete major alkaloidal profile. Morphine fractions of authentic opium submissions from Mexico, South America, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia were isolated and collected using preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and the collected morphine samples were subsequently analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Carbon and nitrogen isotope data are presented. The data demonstrate that nitrogen ratios are capable of differentiating samples from Mexico and South America while carbon ratios are able to distinguish Southwest Asian samples from other source regions. Analogous results have routinely been observed (as part of Heroin Signature Program analysis) for morphine obtained from deacetylated authentic heroin samples from the same source regions. The results suggest that the poppy growing region has a greater influence on the carbon and nitrogen isotope values than the heroin manufacturing processes employed. When utilized in conjunction with existing signature methodologies, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio data can enhance the ability to geo-source heroin.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Increasing evidence suggests that circular RNA (circRNA) exerts critical functions in BC progression. However, the roles of circRNA septin 9 (circSEPT9) in BC development and the underneath mechanism remain largely unclear so far. In this work, the RNA levels of circSEPT9, microRNA-149-5p (miR-149-5p) and solute carrier family 1 member 5 (SLC1A5) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to check protein expression. Glutamine uptake, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were investigated by glutamine uptake, cell counting kit-8, cell colony formation, 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry analysis or DNA content quantitation assay. The interactions of miR-149-5p with circSEPT9 and SLC1A5 were identified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Mouse model assay was carried out to analyze the effect of circSEPT9 on tumor formation in vivo. Results showed that circSEPT9 and SLC1A5 expression were significantly upregulated, while miR-149-5p was downregulated in BC tissues and cells as compared with paracancerous normal breast tissues and human normal breast cells. Knockdown of circSEPT9 or SLC1A5 inhibited glutamine uptake and cell proliferation, but induced cell apoptosis in BC cells. SLC1A5 overexpression relieved circSEPT9 silencing-induced repression of BC cell malignancy. In mechanism, circSEPT9 regulated SLC1A5 expression by sponging miR-149-5p. In support, circSEPT9 knockdown led to delayed tumor tumorigenesis in vivo. In summary, these results indicates that circSEPT9 may act an oncogenic role in BC malignant progression by regulating miR-149-5p/SLC1A5 pathway, providing a novel mechanism responsible for BC development.

Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have shown tremendous prospects as highly efficient adsorbents against toxic chemicals under ambient conditions. Here, we report for the first time the enhanced toxic chemical adsorption and mass transfer properties of hierarchically porous Zr-MOF nanoarchitectures. A general and scalable sol-gel-based strategy combined with facile ambient pressure drying (APD) was utilized to construct MOF-808, MOF-808-NH2, and UiO-66-NH2 xerogel monoliths, denoted as G808, G808-NH2, and G66-NH2, respectively. The resulting Zr-MOF xerogels demonstrated 3D porous networks assembled by nanocrystal aggregates, with substantially higher mesoporosities than the precipitate analogues. Microbreakthrough tests on powders and tube breakthrough experiments on engineered granules were conducted at different relative humidities to comprehensively evaluate the NO2 adsorption capabilities. The Zr-MOF xerogels showed considerably better NO2 removal abilities than the precipitates, whether intrinsically or under simulated respirator canister/protection filter environment conditions. Multiple physicochemical characterizations were conducted to illuminate the NO2 filtration mechanisms. Analysis on adsorption kinetics and mass transfer patterns in Zr-MOF xerogels was further performed to visualize the underlying structure-activity relationship using the gravimetric uptake and zero length column methods with cyclohexane and acetaldehyde as probes. The results revealed that the synergy of hierarchical porosities and nanosized crystals could effectively expedite the intracrystalline diffusion for the G66-NH2 xerogel as well as alleviate the surface resistance for the G808-NH2 xerogel, which led to accelerated overall adsorption uptake and thus enhanced performance toward toxic chemical removal.

A type of strontium and amorphous calcium phosphate dipped premixed injectable tricalcium silicate-based dental root canal sealer was developed as the following protocols. A powder mixture containing tricalcium silicate, strontium carbonate (6, 8, 10, and 12 wt%), zirconia (20 wt%), calcium chloride (6 wt%), and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) (5 wt%) was mixed with liquid polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) at a liquid-to-powder ratio of 0.5 mL/g and mechanically ground using a planetary ball to obtain the premixed injectable calcium silicate-based sealer. The sealer’s physicochemical property and cytocompatibility were evaluated in vitro. Quantitative data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and Student's t-test or a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were carried out at significant differences with P

Introduction Pterostilbene (Pts) may be used for allergic asthma treatment. The AMPK/Sirt1 and Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways are potential targets for asthma treatement. However, the relationship between Pts and AMPK/Sirt1 and Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways in asthma is unclear. Herein, we aim to explore the pharmacological effects of Pts on oxidative stress and allergic inflammatory response as well as the mechanism involving AMPK/Sirt1 and Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways. Methods Asthma model was established in mice with ovalbumin (OVA). The model mice were treated by different concentrations of Pts. Lung pathological changes were observed through histological staining. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated 16HBE cells were treated with Pts. The siAMPKα2, siSirt1 and siNrf2 knockdown, and treatment with compound C, EX‐527 or ML385 were also performed in 16HBE cells. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), IL‐13, IL‐5, total and OVA specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and interferon γ (IFN‐γ). Pneumonography was used to measure the airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also detected. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to measure protein levels. Results Pts significantly attenuated lung inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell proliferation. Meanwhile, Pts treatment could reduce IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐5, and IgE (total and OVA specific) levels in the asthma model mice. However, IFN‐γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was elevated. In addition, Pts reduced AHR. We also found that Pts treatment promoted serum SOD and CAT, and reduced MDA. In vitro results showed that Pts treatment promoted iNOS, TNF‐α, COX‐2, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 expressions in 16HBE cells, prolonged G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, and resulted in a shortened G2M phase. Moreover, we found that Pts promoted the phosphorylation of AMPK in 16HBE, and meanwhile inhibited the increase of ROS induced by LPS. Additionally, Pts treatment inhibited p‐AMPK, Sirt1, Nrf2 and HO‐1, which in turn leads to the alleviation of AMPK/Sirt1 and Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways. Conclusion Pts alleviated oxidative stress and allergic airway inflammation via regulation of AMPK/Sirt1and Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathways., Pts can relieve asthma by suppressing oxidative stress through the AMPK/Sirt1 and Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathways. Thus, Pts might be a potential anti‐inflammatory drug for the treatment of asthma.

The increasing demand for high-purity rare earths and their compounds induced the separation technology of rare earths promotion. In this work, the mixtures of sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid (CA100) and alkylated phosphine oxides (Cyanex923 and Cyanex925) were used as extractants instead of single CA100 for high-efficiency extraction of rare earths from chloride medium. Compared with single CA100 system, the mixtures of CA100 and Cyanex923/Cyanex925 could improve the extraction selectivity of Yttrium (Y) from the lanthanoids based on their separation factors. The evident synergistic effects on lanthanum (III) with CA100 and Cyanex923 were investigated by using the methods of slope analysis and constant mole to determine the extraction reaction. The reaction product, equilibrium constants, formation constants, and the thermodynamic functions were determined. The synergistic extraction of lanthanum (III) with CA100 and Cyanex923 was proved to be endothermically driven.