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Exploring MoS2-based sulfur hosts with high performance is an effective strategy for promoting the extensive application of Li–S batteries. Hence, one-dimensional (1D) Co3S4/MoS2 nanorods (n-Co3S4/p-MoS2 NR) have been prepared via a self-sacrificial template method to solve these issues by forming a p–n junction interface. Characterization reveals that the 1D MoO3 templates effectively confine the growth and stacking of MoS2 nanosheets and the p–n junction Co3S4/MoS2 interface increases electron transfer ability in the battery reaction. Furthermore, DFT calculations suggest that the interfaces can reduce the energy barriers of the rate-determining step (RDS) in lithium polysulfide (LiPS) transformation. Consequently, the S@n-Co3S4/p-MoS2 NR cathode exhibits high specific capacity, remarkable rate capability, and outstanding cycling stability with capacity fading of 0.01% per cycle over 1000 cycles. Additionally, under ultrahigh sulfur loading (14.8 mg cm−2) and lean electrolyte conditions (E/S = 5 μL g−1), a brilliant areal capacity of 11.3 mA h cm−2 is retained after 100 cycles at 0.1C. This work provides a new way to prepare complicated MoS2-based nanocomposites for long-life LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive jaundice caused by malignant distal biliary obstruction is a common clinical symptom in patients with inoperable biliary–pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided stent implantation is an effective treatment for obstructive jaundice. Internal stent drainage is more physiologic and associated with a better quality of life than external stent drainage methods such as percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage. Self-expanding metallic stents, which may be covered and uncovered, are commonly used. However, some uncertainties remain regarding the selection of metallic stents, including drainage patency time, clinical effect, stent migration, and post-operative complications such as pancreatitis, bleeding, and cholecystitis. This review aims to summarize the current progress and controversies surrounding the use of covered or uncovered metallic stents in inoperable common biliary obstruction via ERCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived natural compounds are desired for their anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the chemical composition and the anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil obtained from leaves of the Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. Artemisia annua L. essential oil (AO) was obtained by hydrodistillation; the extraction yield was approximately 1.2%. Gas chromatography--mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of 13 compounds in AO; the major compounds were caryophyllene (32.16%), eucalyptol (28.62%), α-pinene (19.08%), and β-pinene (14.72%). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay revealed that AO did not show in vitro cytotoxicity toward RAW264.7 cells and suppressed the expression of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Pretreatment with AO significantly reduced xylene-induced inflammation in the ears of Kunming mice. AO inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased epidermis thickness in the ear, and suppressed expression of TNF-α in the serum. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of AO was similar to that of the positive control compound Di Song Zhang Bo Cream. Overall, AO was observed to be an effective antiinflammatory agent. These results provide an experimental basis for commercializing AO-derived external preparations for pharmacological and cosmetic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal bath (CHB) shows promise in treating eczema, but high-grade clinical evidence is lacking. This review aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHB in the treatment of eczema. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform, and Wan Fang Database were searched for Randomised controlled trials comparing CHB with non-CHB interventions for eczema. RevMan5.4 software was used to calculate the 95% confidence interval (CI) risk ratio (RR) and perform meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis incorporated data from 39 randomised controlled trials, demonstrating CHB's enhanced efficacy over conventional therapy (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11–1.20; P < 0.00001) and improved outcomes when used in conjunction with conventional therapy (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09–1.19; P < 0.00001). Significant improvements were observed in Eczema Area Severity Index scores (mean difference [MD], −1.04; 95% CI, −1.50 to −0.59; P < 0.00001), visual analogue scale scores (MD, −0.61; 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.58; P < 0.00001), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (MD, −1.15; 95% CI, −1.68 to −0.61; P < 0.00001), alongside a lower recurrence rate (RR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.14–0.41; P < 0.00001) without an increased risk of adverse events. Additionally, immunological marker analysis revealed significant modulatory effects on the immune response. Chinese herbal bath represents a safe and effective alternative for eczema treatment, offering significant clinical improvements and potential immunological benefits. Future research should focus on larger, high-quality randomised controlled trials and detailed biochemical analyses of CHB formulations to further validate these findings and explore the mechanisms of action. • Chinese herbal bath improves eczema symptoms with fewer side effects. • Chinese herbal bath can reduce eczema area severity index score, visual analogue scale score, and recurrence rate. • Chinese herbal bath modulates key immune markers and reduces inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile oil is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine owing to its unique hydrophobic and lipophilic properties and rapid skin absorption. Artemisia annua L. (A.annua) essential oil (AAEO), a volatile oil extracted from A. annua , exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. However, few studies have investigated its effects on skin inflammation. To investigate and elucidate the mechanisms of action of AAEO in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Network pharmacology was used to predict the targets and pathways of AAEO for the treatment of AD. The AD mouse model was established by topical application of 2,4-dintrochlorobenzene (DNCB), AAEO, and the positive control drug hydrocortisone butyrate cream (HBC). We evaluated the symptoms of AD, SCORAD scores, histological analysis, and serum IgE and TNF-α levels in mice. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, and qPCR were used to investigate the signaling pathways. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that AAEO may exert its effects via the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Animal experiments demonstrated that topical application of AAEO and HBC significantly ameliorated skin lesions, reduced dermatitis score, and decreased spleen weight compared to DNCB treatment. AAEO reduced skin epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration. DNCB markedly reduced the protein levels of filaggrin (FLG) and loricrin (LOR), whereas AAEO reversed these changes. Notably, the 5% concentration of AAEO demonstrated substantial improvement in skin barrier function. Compared to the DNCB group, the levels of FLG and LOR remained almost unchanged following HBC treatment. DNCB markedly elevated IgE and TNF-α levels, which were reversed by AAEO and HBC treatment. Among the inflammatory cytokines, DNCB increased mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, however, it reduced IL-10, with AAEO and HBC reversing these changes to various degrees. Additionally, DNCB-induced ERK, JNK, and P38 phosphorylation, associated with the upregulation of phosphorylation of NF-κB, whereas, AAEO and HBC exhibited potent inhibition of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. This study systematically demonstrated the possible therapeutic effects and mechanisms of AAEO in AD via network pharmacological analysis and experimental confirmation. These results revealed that topical application of AAEO can suppress skin inflammation and restore skin barrier function. These findings provide the potential application of AAEO in synthesizing external preparations for both pharmacological and cosmetic industries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapters 5 and 6 investigate how aspects of patient identity, such as age and gender, exert an influence on their experience of NHS service and, thus, their feedback. Although the methodological value of corpus linguistics for health communication research has been outlined long ago (Thomas and Wilson [2]), the synergy between both has been relatively under-explored until now. For instance, some of the male patients maintained that they should not acknowledge pain, while some female patients shared the concern that they would be patronized by NHS staff. [Extracted from the article]

Photobiomodulation (PBM) refers to the beneficial effect produced from low-energy light irradiation on target cells or tissues. Increasing evidence in the literature suggests that PBM plays a positive role in the treatment of retinal diseases. However, there is great variation in the light sources and illumination parameters used in different studies, resulting in significantly different conclusions regarding PBM's therapeutic effects. In addition, the mechanism by which PBM improves retinal function has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a narrative review of the published literature on PBM for treating retinal diseases and summarized the key illumination parameters used in PBM. Furthermore, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms of PBM at the retinal cellular level with the goal of providing evidence for the improved utilization of PBM in the treatment of retinal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clinically elucidated, leading to an increased mortality rate in patients with HCC. HCC is a systemic disease related to disorders of blood homeostasis, and the association between red blood cells (RBCs) and HCC tumorigenesis remains elusive. We performed data-independent acquisition proteomic analyses of 72 clinical RBC samples, including HCC (n = 30), liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 25), and characterized the clinical relevance of RBCs and tumorigenesis in HCC. We observed dynamic changes in RBCs during HCC tumorigenesis, and our findings indicate that, based on the protein expression profiles of RBCs, LC is a developmental stage closely approaching HCC. The expression of hemoglobin (HbA and HbF) in peripheral blood dynamically changed during HCC tumorigenesis, suggesting that immature erythroid cells exist in peripheral blood of HCC patients and that erythropoiesis is influenced by the onset of LC. We also identified the disrupted autophagy pathway in RBCs at the onset of LC, which persisted during HCC tumorigenesis. The oxytocin and GnRH pathways were disrupted and first identified during the development of LC into HCC. Significantly differentially expressed SMIM1, ANXA7, HBA1, and HBE1 during tumorigenesis were verified as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC using parallel reaction monitoring technology. This study may enhance the understanding of HCC tumorigenesis from a different point of view and aid the early diagnosis of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]