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Background: Application of hepatoprotectants, such as drugs or cytokines, can reduce drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH). Due to species-specific differences and abnormal cell polarity and drug-metab...

Aim: Malnutrition is one of the most common complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. Abnormal energy substrate metabolism may contribute to aggravation of malnutrition. Late evening snack (LESs) supplementation has been recommended as an intervention to reduce starvation time and improve nutritional status. Published studies have analyzed the effect of LESs on the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)/tyrosine ratio (BTR) and oxidation rate of fat and carbohydrate in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase for relevant research from January 2000 to October 2018. The primary outcome for this analysis was changes in BTR and fat and carbohydrate oxidation in patients with liver cirrhosis. Results: A total of 9 articles, containing 211 patients, were included in this analysis. The results supported that supplementation with BCAA-enriched LESs improved BTR, and long-term supplementation with BCAAs (>1 month) may be more beneficial than short-term supplementation (

Classical contact lithography involves patterning of surfaces by embossing or by transfer of ink. We report direct lithographic transfer of parts of sacrificial stamps onto counterpart surfaces. Using sacrificial stamps consisting of the block copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(2-pyridine) (PS-b-P2VP), we deposited arrays of nanostructured submicron PS-b-P2VP dots with heights of about 100 nm onto silicon wafers and glass slides. The sacrificial PS-b-P2VP stamps were topographically patterned with truncated-pyramidal contact elements and penetrated by spongy-continuous nanopore systems. The spongy nature of the sacrificial PS-b-P2VP stamps supported formation of adhesive contact to the counterpart surfaces and the rupture of the contact elements during stamp retraction. The submicron PS-b-P2VP dots generated by sacrificial stamping can be further functionalized, examples include loading submicron PS-b-P2VP dots with dyes and attachment of gold nanoparticles to their outer surfaces. The arrays of submicron PS-b-P2VP dots can be integrated into setups for advanced optical microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or Raman microscopy. Arrays of nanostructured submicron block copolymer dots may represent a preconcentration platform for locally resolved sensing and locally resolved monitoring of cellular interactions or might be used as microreactor arrays in lab-on-chip configurations., ACS Applied Nano Materials 2018

Background. The prevalence of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is an autoimmune liver disease, has increased over time. PBC often leads to severe consequences, such as liver failure and death. Stratification tools using biochemical liver tests are needed to assess and predict the progression of this disease at the time of PBC diagnosis. Methods. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase for studies focused on the relationship between positive rates of Gp210 antibodies and poor prognosis of PBC. The primary end point was the number of PBC patients with poor outcome in the Gp210 antibody (+) and Gp210 antibody (−) groups. The secondary end point was the basic serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and IgM in the two groups. The age and number of female patients were also measured. Results. A total of 5 studies, comprising 737 patients, were included in this analysis. A positive rate of Gp210 antibodies was positively correlated with poor outcomes and with many types of progression in PBC, especially liver failure. Mortality was also higher in the Gp210 antibody (+) group. Furthermore, the serum levels of ALP and IgM were associated with the positive rate of Gp210 antibodies, while the serum levels of ALT and TBIL were not. The age and number of female patients were also not associated with the positive rate of Gp210 antibodies. Conclusion. PBC-specific Gp120 antibodies are optimal predictors of PBC prognosis at the time of diagnosis. Some other liver function indicators, such as ALP and IgM, can be used as predictors to complement Gp210 antibodies to establish a stratification tool to predict the prognosis of PBC at the time of diagnosis.

A titanium sulfonate ligand is synthesized for surface coordination of black phosphorus (BP). In contrast to serious degradation observed from the bare BP, the BP after surface coordination exhibits excellent stability during dispersion in water and exposure to air for a long period of time, thereby significantly extending the lifetime and spurring broader application of BP.

Insect-inspired capillary submicron stamping and subsequent surface-limited metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) with ammonium bifluoride as HF source is employed for high-throughput production of ordered topographically patterned silicon (tpSi). Insect feet often possess hairy contact elements through which adhesive secretion is deployed. Thus, arrays of adhesive secretion drops remain as footprints on contact surfaces. Stamps for insect-inspired capillary submicron stamping having surfaces topographically patterned with contact elements mimic the functional principles of such insect feet. They contain spongy continuous nanopore networks penetrating the entire stamps. Any ink (organic, aqueous) may be supplied from the backside of the nanoporous stamps to the contact elements. We generated ordered arrays of AgNO3 dots extending mm^2 on Si by manual stamping with cycle times of a few seconds under ambient conditions; at higher load ordered holey AgNO3 films were obtained. Surface-limited MACE correspondingly yielded either macroporous tpSi or Si pillar arrays. Inkjet printing of polymer solutions onto tpSi yielded patterns of polymer blots conformally covering the tpSi. Such blot patterns could potentially represent a starting point for the development of persistent and scratch-resistant identity labels or QR codes on silicon surfaces.

Three-dimensional (3D) interconnected graphene network embedded with uniformly distributed tin disulfide (SnS 2 ) nanoplates was prepared by a facile two-step method. The microstructures and morphologies of the SnS 2 /graphene nanocomposite (SSG) are experimentally confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using the as-prepared SSG as an anode material for lithium batteries, its electrochemical performances were investigated by cyclic voltammograms (CV), charge/discharge tests, galvanostatic cycling performance and AC impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the as-prepared SSG exhibits excellent cycling performance with a capacity of 1060 mAh g −1 retained after 200 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 100 mA g −1 , also a superior rate capability of 670 mAh g −1 even at such a high current density of 2000 mA g −1 . This favorable performance can be attributed to the unique 3D interconnected architecture with great electro-conductivity and its intimate contact with SnS 2 . Our results indicate a potential application of this novel 3D SnS 2 /graphene nanocomposite in lithium-ion battery.

Here, novel graphene/TiO 2 nanocomposite has been successfully prepared by loading flocculent-like titanate nanostructure in graphene sheets via hydrothermal method plus a subsequent annealing process. The as-obtained hybrid was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), Raman, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, respectively. The photoelectrochemical activities and photocatalytic degradation performance of methyl orange under the illumination of ultraviolet light were investigated, and the flocculent-like TiO 2 /graphene composites was found to have a superior photocatalytic activity compared to flocculent-like titanate nanostructure and commercial anatase TiO 2 powder, which can be attributed to the improved light absorption and extremely efficient charge separation of the hybrid structure. The results suggest that the as-prepared flocculent-like TiO 2 /graphene composite is a promising photocatalyst for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and pollution removal.

A simple one-pot green electrodeposition route is presented for the synthesis of ZnO/graphene nanosheets composite. During a electrochemical deposition process, the graphene oxide nanosheets loose oxygen-containing functional group to become graphene nanosheets (GNS), and zinc oxide (ZnO) is also electrochemically deposited on the electrode. Such hybrid microstructure facilitates the charge and ion transport in the electrode, which has been observed by scanning electron microscopy. Besides, the as-prepared ZnO/GNS sample also has been characterized with X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectra. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the obtained composite used as supercapacitor electrode is investigated by cyclic voltammerty, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectra tests. At the current density of 3 Ag−1, the resulting ZnO/GNS composite exhibits an enhanced specific capacitance of 291 Fg−1, much larger than that of pure ZnO (118.8 Fg−1).

A novel oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst (3D S235-P steel) based on steel S235 substrate has been successfully prepared via a facile one-step surface modification. The standard Carbon Manganese steel was phosphorizated superficially leading to the formation of a unique 3D interconnected nanoporous surface with high specific area which facilitates the electrocatalytically initiated oxygen evolution reaction. The prepared 3D S235-P steel exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic OER activities in alkaline regime confirmed by a low overpotential ({\eta}=326 mV at j=10 mA cm-2) and a small Tafel slope of 68.7 mV dec-1. Moreover, the catalyst was found to be stable under long-term usage conditions functioning as oxygen evolving electrode at pH 13 as evidenced by the sufficient charge to oxygen conversion rate (Faradaic efficiency: 82.11% and 88.34% at 10 mA cm-2 and 5 mA cm-2, respectively). In addition, it turned out that the chosen surface modification renders steel S235 into an OER electrocatalyst sufficiently and stable to work in neutral pH condition. Our investigation revealed that the high catalytic activities are likely to stem from the generated Fe/(Mn) hydroxide/oxo-hydroxides generated during the OER process. The phosphorization treatment is therefore not only an efficient way to optimize the electrocatalytic performance of standard Carbon-Manganese steel, but also enables for the development of low cost and abundant steels in the field of energy conversion., Comment: ChemSusChem, 2018, published online

A novel graphene/MoS 2 hybrid structure composed of reduced graphene oxide and MoS 2 nanosheets has been successfully prepared via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Under the hydrothermal treatment, pristine graphene oxide is reduced and tightly covered with liquid-exfoliated MoS 2 nanosheets. The microstructures and properties have been examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectra. It is found that ultrathin MoS 2 nanosheets with high crystallinity are located on the reduced graphene oxide. The obtained MoS 2 /graphene hybrid structure exhibits preferable photoresponse activity under the illumination of ultraviolet light compared to hybrid materials of MoS 2 bulk and reduced graphene oxide. The improved photoresponse can be attributed to the extremely efficient charge separation, as well as MoS 2 nanostructures of the hybrid structure.

// Hongbo Shi 1,2 , Weijia Han 1 , Honglin Shi 1,2 , Feng Ren 1,2 , Dexi Chen 1,2 , Yu Chen 1 and Zhongping Duan 1,2 1 Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China 2 Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China Correspondence to: Zhongping Duan, email: // Yu Chen, email: // Keywords : augmenter of liver regeneration, autophagy, liver injury, apoptosis, proliferation, Pathology Section Received : August 24, 2016 Accepted : December 15, 2016 Published : January 03, 2017 Abstract Background: Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) exerts strong hepatoprotective properties in various animal models of liver injury, but its protective mechanisms have not yet been explored. Autophagy is a recently recognized rudimentary cellular response to inflammation and injury. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that ALR may protect against acute liver injury through the autophagic pathway. Methods: The level and role of ALR in liver injury were studied in a mouse model of acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). The effect of ALR on autophagy was analyzed in vitro and in vivo . After autophagy was inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3-MA), apoptosis and proliferation were detected in the mouse model with acute liver injury. The ALR and autophagic levels were measured in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and acute liver failure (ALF), respectively. Results: During the progression of acute liver injury, the ALR levels increased slightly in early stage and significantly decreased in late stage in mice . Treatment with an ALR plasmid via tail vein injection protected mice against acute liver injury. The protective effect of ALR relied on the induction of autophagy, which was supported by the following evidence: (1) ALR overexpression directly induced autophagy flux in vitro and in vivo; and (2) ALR treatment suppressed apoptosis and promoted proliferation in mice exposed to CCl 4 , but the inhibition of autophagy reversed these effects. More importantly, the ALR levels decreased in patients with LC and ALF compared with normal controls. Conclusion: We demonstrated that ALR ameliorated liver injury via an autophagic mechanism, which indicates a potential therapeutic application for liver injury.

Components of technical systems and devices often require self-lubricating properties, which are implemented by means of dry lubricants. However, continuous lubricant coatings on the components' surfaces often suffer from poor adhesion, delamination and crack propagation. The replacement of continuous coatings with dense ordered arrays of microparticles consisting of dry lubricants may overcome these drawbacks. Using the well-established solid lubricant MoS2 as model system, we demonstrate that the sliding capability of polymeric monoliths can be significantly enhanced by integration of arrays of micron-sized dry lubricant microparticles into their contact surfaces. To synthesize the MoS2 microparticle arrays, we first prepared ordered hexagonal arrays of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) microparticles on Si wafers by molding against poly(dimethylsiloxane) templates followed by high-temperature conversion of the ATM microparticles into MoS2 microparticles under Ar/H2 atmosphere in the presence of elemental sulfur. Finally, the obtained large-scale hexagonal MoS2 microparticle arrays were transferred to the surfaces of polymer monoliths under conservation of the array ordering. Self-lubrication of components of technical systems by incorporation of dry lubricant microparticle arrays into their contact surfaces is an example for overcoming the drawbacks of continuous functional coatings by replacing them with microparticle arrays., In press