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Abstract: The widely utilization of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in the pharmaceutical therapies and agricultural husbandry has led to the worldwide pollution in the environment. In this study, the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) behaviors of typical PPCPs, tetracycline (TC), were performed via a highly effective TiO2 nanopore arrays (TNPs) electrode, comparing with electrochemical (EC) and photocatalytic (PC) process. A significant photoelectrochemical synergetic effect in TC degradation was observed on the TNPs electrode and the rate constant for the PEC process of TNPs electrode was ∼6.7 times as high as its PC process. The TC removal rate achieved ∼80% within 3h PEC reaction by TNPs electrode, which is ∼25% higher than that obtained for a conventional coated TiO2 nanofilm electrode fabricated by sol–gel method. The possible mechanism involved in the PEC degradation of TC by TNPs electrode was discussed. Furthermore, the TNPs electrode also shows enhanced photocurrent response compared with that for the coated TiO2 nanofilm electrode. Such kind of TiO2 nanopores will have many potential applications in various areas as an outstanding photoelectrochemical material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The short, robust and highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) electrode was prepared by sonoelectrochemical anodization of titanium in HF–H2O electrolyte solution (referred as short TNAs, STNAs). The self-organized arrays of titania nanotubes of approximately 12–65nm in diameter and 75–280nm in length can be synthesized at anodic voltage of 5–20V. The electron transport process within the STNAs electrode was much favorable in comparison with that for the long TNAs electrode synthesized by conventional magnetic agitation technique (referred as long TNAs, LTNAs), as confirmed by the obviously enhanced photocurrent response of STNAs electrode either in 0.02M Na2SO4 electrolyte solution or in different concentrations of glucose solution or under different intensities of UV illumination. To investigate their photoelectrochemical applications, degradation of tetracycline, a typical pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), was carried out using photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) means, comparing with electrochemical (EC) and photocatalytic (PC) processes. The kinetic constant of the PEC process of STNAs electrode was ∼3.17 times as high as its PC process. The color removal rate of tetracycline by STNAs electrode achieved 81% within 3h, which was 21% higher than that for LTNAs electrode. In degrading tetracycline, 41% of TOC was mineralized using the STNAs electrode against 23% using LTNAs electrode under similar conditions. Such kind of titania nanotubes will have many potential applications in various areas as an outstanding photoelectrochemical material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stroma that are critically involved in HCC cancer chemoresistance, but the mechanism has not been elucidated. Previous studies have reported CD73 exerted an immunosuppressive function in cancer. Here, we explored the mechanism by which CAFs regulates CD73 + HCC cells and clarified whether CAFs promote chemoresistance of CD73 + cells., Methods: We used the co-culture method to study the relationship between CAFs and HCC cells. Immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate the correlation between α-smooth-muscle actin (α-SMA) and CD73. CD73 mRNA and protein were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to explore the regulated pathway of CD73 + HCC. We then knocked down CD73 in cells, and then assessed the effect of CD73 on the apoptosis by flow cytometry. Finally, a sphere formation assay was applied to investigate the stemness of cancer cells, and xenograft tumors in nude mice were built to investigate the tumorigenicity., Results: We found that the proportion of CAFs was positively correlated with CD73 expression in HCC cells. Mechanistically, c-Met and the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway were activated by HGF from CAFs which upregulated CD73 expression in HCC cells. Also, we found that CD73 promote sorafenib and cisplatin resistance in HCC, and CD73 + HCC cells indicated the higher capability of tumorigenicity compared to CD73 - HCC cells in vivo . Furthermore, HGF further enhanced the chemoresistant characteristics of CD73 + tumor cells., Conclusions: Our findings collectively suggest that CD73 is a vital HCC-chemoresistance force controlled by cross-talking between CAFs and HCC cells, thereby establishing CD73 as a potential new therapeutic target for HCC., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-20-1038). LL serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Annals of Translational Medicine from Jun 2019 to May 2024. Xuehao W serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Annals of Translational Medicine from Aug 2019 to Jul 2024. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a medical complication which may result in significant morbidity and mortality after transplantation. The aim of this study investigated the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) in the treatment of aGVHD., Method: An aGVHD model was built by transferring splenocytes of B6 mice into B6D2F1 mice. 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 was added to evaluate the protective function to aGVHD; the phenotype and cytokine expression profile of spleen cells from the aGVHD model were determined using flow cytometry 2 weeks after the model is established., Result: Administration of 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 significantly slowed aGVHD progression and improved survival of B6D2F1 recipients of grafted B6 splenocytes. 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatment also resulted in an increased number of CD4 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) but decreased the number of CD4 + IL-4 + cells. In vitro analysis demonstrated that 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 directly increased forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and IL-10 expression and enhanced the function of induced Tregs (iTregs)., Conclusions: This analysis indicated that the effect of 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 is mediated in part by improving the number of Tregs. 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 administration thus represents a viable approach for treating aGVHD., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2019 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)