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The application of Li-rich layered oxides is hindered by their dramatic capacity and voltage decay on cycling. This work comprehensively studies the mechanistic behaviour of cobalt-free Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 and demonstrates the positive impact of two-phase Ru doping. A mechanistic transition from the monoclinic to the hexagonal behaviour is found for the structural evolution of Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2, and the improvement mechanism of Ru doping is understood using the combination of in operando and post-mortem synchrotron analyses. The two-phase Ru doping improves the structural reversibility in the first cycle and restrains structural degradation during cycling by stabilizing oxygen (O2−) redox and reducing Mn reduction, thus enabling high structural stability, an extraordinarily stable voltage (decay rate 1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 sheds light on the selective doping strategy and rational materials design for better-performance Li-rich layered oxides.

Background Diet, as a modifiable factor, plays an important role in cognitive function. However, the association between adherence to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, and cognitive function remains unclear. This study aims to explore whether HEI-2015 is associated with various cognitive domains and whether such association is modified by age, gender, or ethnicity in the US adults aged 60 years or older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. Methods HEI-2015 scores were calculated from 24-h dietary recall interviews. Cognitive function was evaluated by Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST, a measure of processing speed), Animal Fluency Test (AFT, a measure of executive function), a subtest from Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease (CERAD, a measure of memory), and a composite-z score calculated by summing z scores of individual tests. The associations between HEI-2015 scores and cognitive performance were explored using multiple linear regression models. Results A total of 2450 participants aged 60 years or older were included. Participants with higher HEI-2015 scores were more likely to have higher DSST, AFT as well as composite-z scores (PPinteractionP Conclusion Higher adherence to DGA is associated with better cognitive performance, especially regarding processing speed and executive function among the US adults aged 60 years or older.

Lithium-rich oxides have been considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to the competitively high specific capacity contributed by both anionic and cationic redox reactions. Recent years have witnessed the successful achievements of lithium-rich oxides with layered structure due to their high capacity. More recently, another new class of lithium-rich oxides with disordered-rocksalt structure has been demonstrated to possess high capacity and high energy density with moderate structural changes during cycling. A comprehensive comparison and greater fundamental understanding of these two classes of lithium-rich oxides have not been achieved, however, which has greatly hindered the further application of these lithium-rich materials. Herein, an overview of the lithium-rich oxide cathode materials, including the conventional layered and the emerging disordered structure, is provided. Their structural characteristics, mechanisms of anionic redox reactions, and lithium diffusion pathways are systematically summarized. The key challenges to practical application and related strategies to enhance the electrochemical performance of the lithium-rich oxide cathodes are also discussed. At the end, the possible directions for the future development of the lithium-rich oxide cathodes are outlined.

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Diet plays an important role in the development of age-related chronic diseases. However, the association between diet quality assessed by Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, the latest version of HEI, and physical frailty among the general United States (US) elderly adults remains unclear. The present study aims to explore the association between HEI-2015 and physical frailty in elderly adults using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. HEI-2015 scores were calculated from 2 days 24-h recall interviews. Physical frailty status was assessed by four criteria developed by Fried et al.: exhaustion, weakness, low body mass, and low physical activity, and then categorized into robust (0 criteria), pre-frail (1–2 criteria), or frail (3–4 criteria). The binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the odds of frailty status. A total of 2345 participants aged 60 years or older were included. According to the 4-items frailty criteria, 51.1% participants were robust, 42.1% were pre-frail, and 6.8% were frail. Compared to the lowest HEI-2015 quartile, the elderly adults in the higher quartile had a lower odds of physical frailty (P

Globally, fine particulate matter has been associated with several health problems including cancer. However, most studies focused mainly on lung cancer. Stomach and colorectal cancers play significant roles in increasing public health's cancer globally. This study focused on investigating a possible significant association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and mortality due to stomach and colorectal cancer in Xi'an from 2014 to 2016. Using time-series analysis, the study applied both single and multi-pollutant(s) approaches for investigations; PM2.5 was the pollutant of interest. Generalized additive model (GAM) was the core statistical method used with the addition of distributed lag model (DLM) to observe delayed effects. As a single pollutant, PM2.5 was significantly associated with stomach cancer mortality only RR (95%CI): 1.0003 (1.0001, 1.002). For the multi-pollutant analysis, PM2.5 combinations with NO2 were significantly associated with both stomach and colorectal cancer mortality RR (95%CI): 1.0103 (1.009, 1.021) and 1.054 (1.0324, 1.0667), respectively. Also, PM2.5 combination with O3 was significantly associated with colorectal cancer mortality, RR (95%CI): 1.0151 (1.0091, 1.0172), but no association was noted for combination with SO2. Though this study has reported significant associations, it will be beneficial for the public's health if more studies further investigate the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 and other cancer mortality.

Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) composites modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon coating (LTO@C/CNTs) were synthesized by a simple solid-state reaction. The carbon-coated layers reduce the growth of the primary particles, inhibit interface side reactions and increase electron conductivity, so CNTs-modified LTO can form a conductive network and improve the diffusion path of lithium ions. The LTO@C/CNTs composites show a high-rate capability (150 mAh g−1 at 10 C, 145 mAh g−1 at 20 C) with good cycling performance (90.1% and 82.8% capacity retentions after 1000 cycles at 10 C and 20 C, respectively). In addition, superior electrochemical performance is also demonstrated in a full cell with a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode and LTO@C/CNTs anode (97.1% capacity retentions after 200 cycles at 1 C). The carbon coating and CNTs-modified in LTO can reduce the polarization of potential difference and charge-transfer resistance, improve the diffusion coefficient of lithium ions, and lead to high rate performance and cycle stability.

Nickel-rich LiNixCoyAl1−x−yO2 (x ≥ 0.5) cathode materials suffer from poor cycle stability and rate capability. Herein, based on a spray drying and a high-temperature calcination process, the LiNi0.815Co0.15Al0.035O2 (NCA) cathode material is synthesized successfully. Besides, the reasons for good rate capability of the material are analyzed in detail. The results show that the loose and porous morphology of NCA could facilitate Li+ diffusion and electron transportation. Thus, it can keep a good electrochemical performance under high current density. As a cathode material, it generates a capacity of 200 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, good capacity retention of 94% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C and 90.6% after 150 cycles at 1 C. More impressively, it exhibits a capacity of 169 mAh g−1 at 5 C. In addition, integrating cathode NCA and anode graphite into a full cell, it generates a capacity of 185 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C with the capacity retention of 100% after 100 cycles.

BackgroundAlthough chronic cardio‐metabolic disease is a common comorbidity among patients with COVID‐19, its effects on the clinical characteristics and outcome are not well known.Methods and ResultsThis study aimed to explore the association between underlying cardio‐metabolic disease and mortality with COVID‐19 among hospitalized patients. This multicenter, retrospective, and real‐world study was conducted from January 22, 2020 to March 25, 2020 in China. Data between patients with and without 5 main cardio‐metabolic diseases including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and hyperlipidemia were compared. A total of 1303 hospitalized patients were included in the final analysis. Of them, 520 patients (39.9%) had cardio‐metabolic disease. Compared with patients without cardio‐metabolic disease, more patients with cardio‐metabolic disease had COVID‐related complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome (9.81% versus 3.32%;PP=0.001), secondary infection (13.9% versus 9.8%;P=0.026), hypoproteinemia (12.1% versus 5.75%;PPPP=0.021), and required mechanical ventilation (9.8% versus 4.3%;P2, the mortality was 4.2%, 11.1%, and 19.8%, respectively. The multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio of mortality among patients with cardio‐metabolic disease was 1.80 (95% CI, 1.17–2.77).ConclusionsCardio‐metabolic disease was a common condition among hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, and it was associated with higher risks of in‐hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that diabetes mellitus is a common comorbidity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the effects of diabetes or anti-diabetic medication on the mortality of COVID-19 have not been well described. AIM To investigate the outcome of different statuses (with or without comorbidity) and anti-diabetic medication use before admission of diabetic after COVID-19. METHODS In this multicenter and retrospective study, we enrolled 1422 consecutive hospitalized patients from January 21, 2020, to March 25, 2020, at six hospitals in Hubei Province, China. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Epidemiological material, demographic information, clinical data, laboratory parameters, radiographic characteristics, treatment and outcome were extracted from electronic medical records using a standardized data collection form. Most of the laboratory data except fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were obtained in first hospitalization, and FPG was collected in the next day morning. Major clinical symptoms, vital signs at admission and comorbidities were collected. The treatment data included not only COVID-19 but also diabetes mellitus. The duration from the onset of symptoms to admission, illness severity, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of hospital stay were also recorded. All data were checked by a team of sophisticated physicians. RESULTS Patients with diabetes were 10 years older than non-diabetic patients [(39 - 64) vs (56 - 70), P < 0.001] and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension (55.5% vs 21.4%, P < 0.001), coronary heart disease (CHD) (9.9% vs 3.5%, P < 0.001), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (3% vs 2.2%, P < 0.001), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (4.7% vs 1.5%, P = 0.007). Mortality (13.6% vs 7.2%, P = 0.003) was more prevalent among the diabetes group. Further analysis revealed that patients with diabetes who took acarbose had a lower mortality rate (2.2% vs 26.1, P < 0.01). Multivariable Cox regression showed that male sex [hazard ratio (HR) 2.59 (1.68 - 3.99), P < 0.001], hypertension [HR 1.75 (1.18 - 2.60), P = 0.006), CKD [HR 4.55 (2.52-8.20), P < 0.001], CVD [HR 2.35 (1.27 - 4.33), P = 0.006], and age were risk factors for the COVID-19 mortality. Higher HRs were noted in those aged ≥ 65 (HR 11.8 [4.6 - 30.2], P < 0.001) vs 50-64 years (HR 5.86 [2.27 - 15.12], P < 0.001). The survival curve revealed that, compared with the diabetes only group, the mortality was increased in the diabetes with comorbidities group (P = 0.009) but was not significantly different from the non-comorbidity group (P = 0.59). CONCLUSION Patients with diabetes had worse outcomes when suffering from COVID-19; however, the outcome was not associated with diabetes itself but with comorbidities. Furthermore, acarbose could reduce the mortality in diabetic.

BackgroundDiet quality plays an important role in the development of age-related chronic diseases. However, the association between dietary quality assessed by Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and cognitive function among the United States (US) elderly adults remains unclear. The present study aims to explore the association between HEI-2015 and cognitive function in elderly adults using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012. MethodsHEI-2015 scores were calculated from two days 24-hour recall interviews. The cognitive function was evaluated by Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Animal Fluency Test (AFT) and a global cognition level derived by summing the z scores of individual tests. The associations between HEI-2015 and cognitive function were explored using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression models. ResultsA total of 1278 participants aged 60 years or older were included. Compared to the lowest HEI-2015 tertile, the elderly adults in highest tertile had a higher global cognition, DSST and AFT scores (P＜0.05); with the lowest quartile of global cognition as cognitive impairment, those who were in the highest HEI-2015 tertile had 38% lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 0.62; 95%CI: 0.42-0.91). Among HEI-2015 components, the elderly adults adhering to recommended intake of whole grains and whole fruits components were more likely to have better performance on global cognition (P＜0.05). ConclusionThe higher HEI-2015 was positively associated the better cognitive performance on the global cognition, DSST, and AFT in the US elderly adults.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) serves a key role in several neurological disorders, however, the specific role of PARP in delayed cerebral vasospasm (DCVS) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains unclear. The present study was conducted to clarify the possible mechanism of PARP in DCVS with the treatment of 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a PARP inhibitor. In the preliminary experiment, an internal carotid artery puncture SAH model, a cisterna magna double injection SAH model and prechiasmatic cistern single injection SAH model were compared with respect to mortality and neurobehavioral test results. The prechiasmatic cistern single injection SAH model was chosen to induce DCVS in the formal experiment. In the formal experiment, a total of 96 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the sham group, the SAH group and the SAH+3-AB group and then each group was further subdivided into days 3, 5, 7 and 14 post-SAH subgroups (n=8 for each subgroup). The prechiasmatic cistern single injection SAH model was established to induce DCVS. Neurobehavioral testing and HE staining were conducted to evaluate the degree of cerebral vasospasm. PARP activity was assessed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to detect nuclear factor (NF)-κB DNA-binding activity. The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by western blotting. Cerebral vasospasm occurred following SAH and became most severe on around day 7 post-SAH. NF-κB activity, PARP activity, the expression of MCP-1 and CRP exhibited a similar time course to cerebral vasospasm. Treatment with 3-AB alleviated the degree of cerebral vasospasm. NF-κB activity, PARP activity and the expression of MCP-1 and CRP were also suppressed by 3-AB treatment. In conclusion, PARP may serve an important role in regulating the inflammatory response and ultimately contribute to DCVS. Therefore 3-AB may be a potential therapeutic agent for DCVS.

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that diabetes mellitus is a common comorbidity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the effects of diabetes or antidiabetic medication on the mortality of COVID-19 have not been well described. To investigate the outcome of different statuses (with or without comorbidity) and antidiabetic medication use before admission of patients with diabetes after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we collected clinical data of patients with COVID-19 and compared those with diabetes versus nondiabetics.MethodsIn this multicenter and retrospective study, we enrolled 1,422 consecutive hospitalized patients from January 21 to March 25, 2020, at six hospitals in Hubei Province, China. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality.ResultsPatients with diabetes were 10 years older than nondiabetic patients (ppppp=0.007). Mortality (p=0.003) was more prevalent among the diabetes group. Further analysis revealed that patients with diabetes who took acarbose had a lower mortality rate (pp=0.009) but had was not significantly different from the noncomorbidity group (p=0.59).ConclusionPatients with diabetes had worse outcomes when suffering from COVID-19; however, the outcome was not associated with diabetes itself but with comorbidities. Furthermore, the administration of acarbose could reduce the risk of death in patients with diabetes.

Background: Previous studies showed that diabetes was a common comorbidity of COVID-19, but the effects of diabetes or anti-diabetic drugs on the mortality of COVID-19 have not been well described. To investigate the outcome of different status (with or without comorbidity) and anti-diabetic medication before admission of diabetic patients after SARS-CoV-2 infected, we collected clinical data of COVID-19 patients from Hubei Province and compared between diabetes and non-diabetes.Methods: In this multicenter and retrospective study, we enrolled 1,422 cases of consecutive hospitalized patients from January 21, 2020 to March 25, 2020 at six hospitals in Hubei Province, China. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality.Results: Diabetes patients were 10-years older than non-diabetes (ppppp=0.007). The incidence of mortality (p=0.003) were more prevalent among the diabetes group. Further analysis revealed that diabetes patients who took alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) had lower mortality rate(pp=0.009), but had no significant difference in the non-comorbidity group, p=0.59).Conclusions: Patients with diabetes had worse outcome when suffered with COVID-19, however, it was not associated with diabetes itself but the comorbidities. Furthermore, the administration of AGI could reduce the risk of death in patients with diabetes.

Early identification of severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is very important for individual treatment. We included 203 patients with COVID-19 by propensity score matching in this retrospective, case-control study. The effects of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at admission on patients with COVID-19 were evaluated. We found that serum LDH levels had a 58.7% sensitivity and 82.0% specificity, based on a best cut-off of 277.00 U/L, for predicting severe COVID-19. And a cut-off of 359.50 U/L of the serum LDH levels resulted in a 93.8% sensitivity, 88.2% specificity for predicting death of COVID-19. Additionally, logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model respectively indicated that elevated LDH level was an independent risk factor for the severity (HR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.25-5.97; P=0.012) and mortality (HR: 40.50, 95% CI: 3.65-449.28; P=0.003) of COVID-19. Therefore, elevated LDH level at admission is an independent risk factor for the severity and mortality of COVID-19. LDH can assist in the early evaluating of COVID-19. Clinicians should pay attention to the serum LDH level at admission for patients with COVID-19.

Objective:To explore the association between dietary Na intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a nationally representative sample of the US population.Design:In this cross-sectional study, the associations between Na intake and NAFLD, defined by the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and the fatty liver index (FLI), were assessed through multivariable logistic regression models.Setting:Communities in the USA from 2007 to 2014.Participants:Men and women aged 20 years and older.Results:A total of 11 022 participants were included in the HSI-defined NAFLD analysis, and a subsample of 5320 participants was included in the FLI-defined NAFLD analysis. Compared with the lowest quartile of Na intake, the highest quartile had a multivariate-adjusted OR and 95 % CI of 1·46 (1·29, 1·65) for NAFLD as defined by HSI, and 1·41 (1·18, 1·69) for NAFLD as defined by FLI. This association was, to some degree, attenuated but remained significant after adjusting for several related metabolic parameters, including BMI, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and diabetes.Conclusions:Findings from the current study indicate that dietary Na intake is positively associated with NAFLD in US adults.

Resveratrol (RSV) has been reported to exhibit cytotoxic activity in multiple types of malignant cells; however, the mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of RSV in non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells remain undetermined. Combining bioinformatics analysis with experimental validation, the present study aimed to examine the effects of RSV on the apoptosis and autophagy of A549 NSCLC cells, and to determine the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis was used to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and identify the enriched biological functions and pathways associated with these DEGs following RSV treatment. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Monodansylcadaverine staining combined with a transmission electron microscope were used to evaluate the extent of autophagy. The expression levels of apoptosis‑, autophagy‑, or pathway‑associated molecular markers were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and/or western blot analysis. By bioinformatics analysis, a total of 1,031 DEGs were identified in the RSV‑treated A549 cells, which were enriched in apoptosis‑, or autophagy‑related biological functions and the p53 signaling pathway. In validation experiments, RSV significantly reduced cell viability and initiated apoptosis, with an increase in the number of apoptotic cells; it also upregulated cleaved caspase‑3 expression and Bax expression, and downregulated the Bcl‑2 expression levels. Additionally, there was an increase in the accumulation of green dot‑like structures, indicative of autophagic vesicles, observed under a fluorescence microscope, and an increase in the presence of autophagic vacuoles observed using a transmission electron microscope following RSV treatment. Furthermore, the expression levels of the autophagy‑related proteins, LC3‑II/LC3‑I and Beclin‑1, were increased and p62 expression was decreased. 3‑methyladenine (3‑MA), an inhibitor of autophagy, partially reversed the RSV‑induced cytotoxic effects, but did not significantly alter the number of apoptotic cells. RSV elevated the p53 levels and decreased the phosphorylated (p‑)Mdm2 and p‑Akt levels. Pifithrin‑α, an inhibitor of p53, partially reduced RSV‑induced apoptosis and autophagy. On the whole, the results of the present study demonstrated that RSV initiates the apoptosis and autophagic death of A549 cells via the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, further highlighting the potential of RSV for the treatment of NSCLC.

Introduction 131I therapy is a choice for Graves’ hyperthyroidism. Several factors that affect the success of 131I treatment in Graves’ disease (GD) patients have been put forward. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the factors influencing the success of 131I therapy and the occurrence of hypothyroidism after 131I therapy. Patients and methods We reviewed 325 GD patients, who were well documented out of 779 cases, treated with 131I in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between 2010 and 2016. We collected the potential influencing factors, including demographic data (age, sex, family history), iodine intake state, antithyroid drugs (ATD) taking, thyroid texture, complications of hyperthyroidism, physical and laboratory examinations [thyroid weight, effective 131I half-life time (Teff), 24-h iodine uptake rate, tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroglobulin antibody, thyroid microsome antibody, thyrotropin receptor antibody], and final administered dosages according to Quimby formula. The correlations between the prognosis of GD patients and these factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results Out of 325 patients, 247 (76.00%) were treated successfully with radioiodine. GD patients who were cured by 131I therapy were more likely to have smaller thyroid [odds ratio (OR)=0.988, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.980–0.996, P=0.002], lower FT4 levels (OR=0.993, 95% CI=0.988–0.997, P=0.002), and shorter time of ATD withdrawal before 131I treatment (OR=0.985, 95% CI=0.975–0.996, P=0.002). Hypothyroidism occurred in 132 (41.00%) out of 325 patients. There was an increased risk of early hypothyroidism in patients with lower 24-h iodine uptake (OR=0.964, 95% CI=0.941–0.988, P=0.004), and treated with a lower total dose of iodine (OR=0.892, 95% CI=0.824–0.965, P=0.005) and a higher iodine dose per garm of thyroid tissue (OR=5.414E+14, 95% CI=45.495–6.444E+27, P=0.027). Conclusion Our results showed that 131I treatment was more successful in patients with lower weight of the thyroid, lower free thyroxine level, and shorter ATD taking period. Furthermore, early hypothyroidism after radioiodine treatment was more likely to occur in patients with lower 24-h iodine uptake, lower total dose of iodine, and higher iodine dose per garm of thyroid tissue.

To investigate the anticancer effects of curcumin-induced autophagy and its effects on the human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line, inverted phase contrast microscopy was used to observe alterations to the cytomorphology of cells. An MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Autophagy was detected using acridine orange (AO) staining and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used as an autophagy-specific inhibitor. Dose- and time-dependent A549 cell viability inhibition was observed following curcumin treatment. A dose-dependent increase in the red fluorescent structures in A549 cells was identified following curcumin treatment for 48 h through AO staining. In addition, the activation of autophagy was determined through changes in the number of autophagic vesicles (AVs; fluorescent particles) infected with monodansylcadaverine (MDC). The fluorescence intensity and density of AVs in the curcumin-treated groups were higher at 48 h compared with the control group. Finally, the MTT assay demonstrated that the survival rates of the curcumin-treated cells were increased when pretreated with 3-MA for 3 h, indicating that the inhibitory effect of curcumin on A549 cells is reduced following the inhibition of autophagy. Furthermore, AO and MDC staining confirmed that 3-MA does inhibit the induction of autophagy. Thus, it was hypothesized that the induction of autophagy is partially involved in the reduction of cell viability observed following curcumin treatment. The anticancer effects of curcumin on A549 cells can be reduced using autophagy inhibitors. This suggests a possible cancer therapeutic application of curcumin through the activation of autophagy. These findings have improved the understanding of the mechanism underlying the anticancer property of curcumin.

Globally, fine particulate matter has been associated with several health problems including cancer. However, most studies focused mainly on lung cancer. Stomach and colorectal cancers play significant roles in increasing public health's cancer globally. This study focused on investigating a possible significant association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major men’s malignancies with high mortality worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to serve as essential regulators in human cancers. CircRNA can exert their functions by cooperating with their host genes. In the present study, microarray analysis revealed an upregulated mRNA in PCa samples. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a key regulator in the progression of human cancers. Through bioinformatics analysis, we determined that XIAP is a host gene for circRNA0005276. Therefore, this study focused on the interaction between circ0005276 and XIAP as well as their functions in PCa progression. The upregulation of XIAP and circ0005276 was determined in PCa tissues and cell lines. Moreover, we confirmed the positive regulation of circ0005276 on XIAP expression. Functionally, we validated that circ0005276 and XIAP promoted cell proliferation, migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Mechanistically, we verified that circ0005276 interacted with FUS binding protein (FUS) so as to activate the transcription of XIAP. Rescue assays were conducted to determine the crucial role of XIAP in circ0005276 and FUS-mediated PCa cellular processes. Collectively, our study revealed the mechanism and function of circ0005276 and its host gene XIAP in PCa progression.

Various studies have illustrated that exposure to ambient air pollution has negative impacts on health. However, little evidence exists on the effects of ambient air pollution on circulatory mortality in Xi’an, China. This study aims to investigate and ascertain the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and circulatory mortality in Xi’an, China. Daily average concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, and O3, meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and daily counts of circulatory mortality were obtained between January 2014 and June 2016. Mortality was stratified by gender and age group (≤ 64 years and ≥ 65 years). A generalized additive model (GAM) with natural splines (NS) was constructed to analyze the relationship between ambient air pollutants and daily circulatory mortality. There were 57,570 cases of circulatory mortality, with cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases accounting for 48.5% and 43.5%, respectively. All ambient air pollutants displayed different seasonal patterns. In the single pollutant model, 10 μg/m3 increase in 2-day moving average concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, and O3 was associated with relative risk of 1.288(1.198, 1.388), 1.360(0.877, 2.331), and 1.324(1.059, 1.705) in circulatory mortality, respectively. After adjusting for collinearity in the multi-pollutant model, the effects remained statistically significant. The ≥ 65 years and female sub-groups were associated with a higher risk of circulatory mortality. Short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants plays a pivotal role in the genesis of circulatory mortality in Xi’an. Responses to ambient air pollutants exposure in relation to circulatory mortality are different when analyzed by sub-groups.

In this work, a biocompatible monolithic column based micro-solid-phase extraction (µ-SPE) method was developed for biological fluid analysis. A novel nanoparticle-based polyacrylonitrile monolithic column (C30 NP-PMC) was fabricated by incorporating triacontyl (C30) modified silica nanoparticles (NPs) into the polyacrylonitrile monolithic matrix through thermally induced phase separation. With efficient mass transfer and sorption capacity, C30 NP-PMC exhibited outstanding performance for the extraction of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) from human serum samples, superior to commercial C18 cartridges as well as liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method. Under optimal conditions, the proposed µ-SPE method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) achieved satisfactory limits of detection (LODs) (1.5-75.0 ng/mL) and good recoveries (85.0-106.5 %) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 12.1% by consuming lower sorbent (35.0 mg) and organic solvent (0.8 mL). Successful application of the developed method demonstrated the great potential of such monolithic sorbents for efficient isolation and preconcentration of trace analytes from blood samples.

The demand for cost-effective, easy-handling, and recyclable adsorbents with high performance for removal of organic dyes is gaining prominence. Although polypyrrole (PPy) has proven to be promising for adsorption of anionic azo dyes (AADs), the use of PPy-based particles and fibers still faces limitations such as challenging separation and undesirable mass transfer. In this work, a superhydrophilic polypyrrole nanofiber mat (PPy NFM) with a 3D fluffy porous structure was developed via in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomers with electrospun PAN@PVP NFM as the substrate and followed by freeze-drying. The 3D PPy NFM exhibited a fast adsorption rate (within 3 h) and high adsorption capacity (up to 234.62 mg g−1) towards AADs, remarkably superior to those of 2D lamellar PPy NFM. After five times of reuse, the reduction of adsorption capacities for AADs was less than 10%. Another striking advantage of the 3D PPy NFM lies in the integration of dispersibility and integrity, making it easy to use and recycle without centrifugation or filtration. Moreover, the adsorption behaviors of three dye models, Metanil Yellow (MY), Acid Orange 7 (AO7), and Acid Yellow 9 (AY9), were thoroughly discussed, suggesting that the adsorption of AADs by the PPy NFM involves multiple mechanisms, including electrostatic attraction, π–π interaction and hydrogen bonding, thus ensuring high adsorption efficiency. These attractive characteristics make 3D PPy NFM be a potential eco-friendly adsorbent in dye wastewater treatment.

Background: 24-h urine collection is regarded as the “gold standard” for monitoring sodium intake at the population level, but ensuring high quality urine samples is difficult to achieve. The Kawasaki, International Study of Sodium, Potassium, and Blood Pressure (INTERSALT) and Tanaka methods have been used to estimate 24-h urinary sodium excretion from spot urine samples in some countries, but few studies have been performed to compare and validate these methods in the Chinese population. Objective: To compare and validate the Kawasaki, INTERSALT and Tanaka formulas in predicting 24-h urinary sodium excretion using spot urine samples in 365 high-risk elder patients of strokefrom the rural areas of Shaanxi province. Methods: Data were collected from a sub-sample of theSalt Substitute and Stroke Study. 365 high-risk elder patients of stroke from the rural areas of Shaanxi province participated and their spot and 24-h urine specimens were collected. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and creatinine in spot and 24-h urine samples wereanalysed. Estimated 24-h sodium excretion was predicted from spot urine concentration using the Kawasaki, INTERSALT, and Tanaka formulas. Pearson correlation coefficients and agreement by Bland-Altman method were computed for estimated and measured 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Results: The average 24-h urinary sodium excretion was 162.0 mmol/day, which representing a salt intake of 9.5 g/day. Three predictive equations had low correlation with the measured 24-h sodium excretion (r = 0.38, p < 0.01; ICC = 0.38, p < 0.01 for the Kawasaki; r = 0.35, p < 0.01; ICC = 0.31, p < 0.01 for the INTERSALT; r = 0.37, p < 0.01; ICC = 0.34, p < 0.01 for the Tanaka). Significant biases between estimated and measured 24-h sodium excretion were observed (all p < 0.01 for three methods). Among the three methods, the Kawasaki method was the least biased compared with the other two methods (mean bias: 31.90, 95% Cl: 23.84, 39.97). Overestimation occurred when the Kawasaki and Tanaka methods were used while the INTERSALT method underestimated 24-h sodium excretion. Conclusion: The Kawasaki, INTERSALT and Tanaka methods for estimation of 24-h urinary sodium excretion from spot urine specimens were inadequate for the assessment of sodium intake at the population level in high-risk elder patients of stroke from the rural areas of Shaanxi province, although the Kawasaki method was the least biased compared with the other two methods.

Curcumin is known to exhibit anticancer effects on various cancers with selective cytotoxicity in tumor cells. In the present study, the effects of curcumin‑induced multiple PCDs on human non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and the potential molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy triggered by curcumin via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway were explored, further confirmed by co‑culture of curcumin with mTOR blocker rapamycin and PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002. The anti‑proliferation effect of different stimulus was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Autophagy induction was detected by MDC labeling and western blotting of Beclin1, LC3, and p62 expression. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Akt and mTOR were assayed by real‑time fluorescence quantitative (qRT‑PCR) technique and western blotting. Our results showed that curcumin inhibited the viability of A549 cells time‑ and dose‑dependently. In addition, a dosage-dependent A549 cell apoptosis‑induction phenomena was observed by the curcumin intervention. Moreover, obvious autophagy was induced after curcumin‑treatment, characterized by the formation of fluorescent particles [autophagic vesicles (AVs)] and significant increase in ratio of LC3‑Ⅱ/LC3‑Ⅰ and Beclin1 as well as decreased p62 expression. Furthermore, the effect of curcumin on a substantial downregulation of phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway was observed. It is worth noting that the inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin or of PI3K/Akt by LY294002 augmented curcumin‑induced apoptosis and autophagy, leading to significant inhibition of cell proliferation. From these findings, it can be speculated that curcumin potently inhibit the cell growth of NSCLC A549 cells through inducing both apoptosis and autophagy by inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. These results support the potential use of curcumin as a novel candidate in treatment of human lung cancer.

When molecules are irradiated by intense femtosecond laser pulses, multiple ionization occurs and multiply charged molecular ions are generated. Due to the Coulomb repulsive force, multiply charged molecular ions will quickly dissociate into fragmental ions with high kinetic energy through the process of so-called Coulomb explosion. In this review article, we introduce the important achievements, potential applications and future development of laser-driven Coulomb explosion of molecules based on the study of Coulomb explosion of molecules by intense femtosecond laser pulses at Peking University.