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Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and oxidative stress play pivotal roles in the development of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We postulated that kainic acid (KA)-Induced status epilepticus triggers microglia-dependent inflammation, leading to neuronal damage, a lowered seizure threshold, and the emergence of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Extensive evidence from our laboratory suggests that dextromethorphan (DM), even in ultra-low doses, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in many animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Our results showed that administration of DM (10 ng/kg per day; subcutaneously via osmotic minipump for 4 weeks) significantly mitigated the residual effects of KA, including the frequency of SRS and seizure susceptibility. In addition, DM-treated rats showed improved cognitive function and reduced hippocampal neuronal loss. We found suppressed microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation and decreased expression of hippocampal gp91phox and p47phox proteins in KA-induced chronic TLE rats. Notably, even after discontinuation of DM treatment, ultra-low doses of DM continued to confer long-term anti-seizure and neuroprotective effects, which were attributed to the inhibition of microglial NADPH oxidase 2 as revealed by mechanistic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable electrocatalytic hydrogen production is a vital method for producing clean energy. However, the current platinum catalysts are costly and complicated to prepare with low catalytic activity. To obtain efficient catalysts, a facile method with a rational electrode design is essential to improve platinum activity and stability, facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we fabricated a self-supported HER composite electrode with abundant platinum activity sites by a simple metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, and nanostructured pine-like platinum was supported on carbon cloth (Pt/CC). Benefiting from the nanostructured pine-like platinum geometry, fast charge transfer, and good structure stability, this Pt/CC composite electrode exhibited excellent HER electrocatalytic activity. For HER, this electrode achieved a low overpotential of only 17.6 mV at 10 mA cm–2 in 1 M KOH. Moreover, Pt/CC exhibits long-term electrochemical durability, maintaining its catalytic activity for more than 30 h. What is more, this strategy can also be used on other self-supported substrates, e.g., nickel foam, to achieve high electrocatalytic activity. Thus, this work provides a simple and versatile method for the preparation of efficient HER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous solution absorptions are widely used as an effective way for the treatment of noxious gases discharged from various industrial processes. However, this technology may encounter problems in removing gaseous pollutants with low Henry constants, such as styrene from contaminated air. In this study, a novel electrochemical absorption reactor was devised to remove these air pollutants. The reactor consists of five pairs of stacked mesh electrodes. Each pair of mesh electrodes consists of a Ti/RuO2 anode and a Ti cathode. The dimension of mesh electrode is 100 mm × 100 mm with 3 mm × 5 mm rhombic holes evenly distributed. The distance between two neighbouring electrodes is 25 mm. The simulated gas was introduced into the reactor from the bottom of the reactor by a gas distributor. The experimental result shows that styrene in the air was effectively removed by the electrochemical absorption reactor, and the removal increased with the increase of current density applied to the reactor. It was found that almost 100% styrene removal was achieved in 1% NaCl solution with 1 pH value and a current density of 0.04 A/cm2 applied to the reactor. The major liquid phase products from styrene oxidation were confirmed to be 1-Phenyl-1, 2-ethanediol and benzaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the breast cancer incidence, so as to making contribution to breast cancer screening in high-risk groups, to adjustment from passive medical treatment to active treatment Methods: BMI status of 206 breast cancer patients and that of 210 healthy subjects at different ages were compared and analyzed., Results: The mean BMI was significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in healthy subjects 24.45±3.50 vs. 23.80±3.10 kg/m(2), t=-2.189, P=0.001. When stratified by age, BMI were significantly higher in ≥60 age for breast cancer than that of control group (Z=-3.408, P=0.001) and no significant difference in <60 years old .Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was a risk factor of breast cancer (OR=1.886, 95% CI: 1.122-3.009)., Conclusion: BMI have a relationship with the occurrence of breast cancer, especially for ≥60 years old.