HBV infection, liver enzymes and their association with adverse liver disease and all-cause death: a matched retrospective cohort study in Eastern China.

Background: China has historically been a high-prevalence area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, leading to a high incidence of adverse liver diseases and significant disease burden. However, comprehensive data on HBV infection and associated adverse liver diseases in the Chinese population remain limited. This study aimed to analyse the risk factors for adverse liver outcomes in patients who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Dimeric sesquiterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activities from Inula britannica.

In continuation of research aimed at identifying anti-inflammatory agents from natural sesquiterpenoids, an activity-guided fractionation approach utilizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated RAW264.7 cells was employed to investigate chemical constituents from Inula Britannica (I. britannica).

Deciphering the assembly process of PQQ dependent methanol dehydrogenase.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs), the periplasmic metalloenzymes in Gram-negative methylotrophic bacteria, play a pivotal role in methane and methanol bio-utilization. Although the structures of many PQQ-dependent MDHs have been resolved, including the canonical heterotetrameric enzymes composed of two MxaF and two MxaI subunits with a molecule of PQQ and a calcium ion in the active site in MxaF, the biogenesis of these enzymes remains elusive. Here, we characterize a chaperone, MxaJ, responsible for PQQ incorporation by reconstructing a PQQ-dependent MDH assembly system in Escherichia coli.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of Yuping Tongqiao tablets in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Yuping Tongqiao Tablets is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula commonly employed in China for managing various ailments, especially allergic conditions. Clinical reports indicate its potential as an effective treatment for persistent allergic rhinitis. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of placebo-controlled studies to definitively establish its safety and efficacy.

Itraconazole promotes melanoma cells apoptosis via inhibiting hedgehog signaling pathway-mediated autophagy.

Background: Itraconazole, a widely used antifungal medication, has shown potential in inhibiting tumor growth and reducing angiogenesis. However, its role in melanoma tumor growth remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the inductive effect of itraconazole on autophagy-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells.

Fabrication and Mechanism Insight of Multidimensional Coupled Metal-Free van der Waals Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

It is an arduous issue to significantly improve the charge separation efficiency of polymer photocatalysts due to their inherently high exciton binding energy. Herein, based on an interfacial coupling and atom diffusion strategy, a metal-free 3D/2D van der Waals (VdW) heterojunction is fabricated through the modification of rich-vacancy wrinkle-like S (Vs-S) microspheres on the surface of S-doped polymeric carbon nitride (S-PCN) nanosheets. The insight into the mechanism reveals that the interfacial coupling effect induces a strong built-in electric field from S-PCN to Vs-S, and the carrier transfer behavior abides by the type-II charge transfer pathway, thereby dramatically improving the separation efficiency and transport kinetics of photogenerated carriers.

Fabrication of a Partial Encapsulation Architecture on S-Scheme Heterojunctions toward Durable Selective Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

It remains a challenging issue to achieve durably stable photocatalytic CO reduction over heterojunctions owing to their inherent structural assembly features. Herein, a unique partial encapsulation architecture is fabricated on the 3D/2D CoWO/CN heterojunction by embedding CoWO microspheres on CN nanosheets, which achieves efficient, durable, stable, and selective photocatalytic CO reduction. For the optimal 5%-CoWO/CN heterojunction, the yield of selective CO reduction to CO is 7.

Control interfacial charge transfer behavior by creating surface defects on structure unit of heterojunction to drive carrier separation for enhancing photocatalytic CO reduction.

Controlling interfacial charge transfer behavior of heterojunction is an arduous issue to efficiently drive separation of photogenerated carriers for improving the photocatalytic activity. Herein, the interface charge transfer behavior is effectively controlled by fabricating an unparalleled V-NiWO/PCN heterojunction that is prepared by encapsulating NiWO nanoparticles rich in surface oxygen vacancies (V-NiWO) in the mesoporous polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets. Experimental and theoretical investigations show that, differing with the traditional p-n junction, the direction of built-in electric field between p-type NiWO and n-type PCN is reversed interestingly.

Serum lipid metabolism characteristics and potential biomarkers in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Glycerophospholipids (GPLs) are essential for cell membrane structure and function. Sphingomyelin and its metabolites regulate cell growth, apoptosis, and stress responses. This study aimed to investigate lipid metabolism in patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss across all frequencies (AF-SSNHL).

Therapeutic and fluorescence evaluation of 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy in actinic keratosis.

Background: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous lesion that occurs in areas that are chronically exposed to sunlight and has the potential to develop into invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). We investigated the efficacy of 20 % 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) with LED red light for the treatment of AK in Chinese patients by examining changes in dermoscopic features, histopathology and fluorescence after treatment.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with fourty-six AK lesions from March 2022 to September 2023 were treated with 20 % ALA, and 3 h later, they were irradiated with LED red light (80-100 mW/cm) for 20 min.

Cocreation of photogenerated electron and hole collectors on polymeric carbon nitride synergistically promotes carrier separation and reaction kinetics towards propelling photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

It is a challenging issue for the creation of photogenerated carrier collectors on the photocatalyst to drive charge separation and promote reaction kinetics in the photocatalytic reaction. Herein, based on one-step dual-modulation strategy, IrO nanodots are modified at the edge of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets and atomically dispersed Ir atoms are implanted in the skeleton of PCN to obtain a unique Ir-PCN/IrO photocatalyst. IrO nanodots and atomically dispersed Ir atoms act as hole and electron collectors to synergistically promote the carrier separation and reaction kinetics, respectively, thereby greatly improving the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) performance.

In Situ Creation of Surface Defects on Pd@NiPd with Core-shell Hierarchical Structure Toward Boosting Electrocatalytic Activity.

A deep insight into surface structural evolution of the catalyst is a challenging issue to reveal the structure-activity relationship. In this contribution, based on a surface alloying strategy, the dual-functional Pd@NiPd catalyst with a unique core-shell hierarchical structure is developed through selective crystal growth, surface cocrystallization, directional self-assembly, and reduction process. The surface defects are created in situ on the outer NiPd alloy layer in the electrochemical redox processes, which endow the Pd@NiPd catalyst with excellent electrocatalytic activity of hydrogen generation reaction (HER) and oxygen generation reaction (OER) in alkaline media.

A novel immobilized horseradish peroxidase platform driven by visible light for the complete mineralization of sulfadiazine in water.

A novel immobilized enzyme driven by visible light was prepared and used for complete mineralization of antibiotics in water bodies. The immobilized enzyme was composed of carbon nitride modified by biochar (C/CN) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), establishing the photo-enzyme coupling system with synergistic effect. Among them, the introduction of biochar not only improves the stability and loading capacity of the enzyme, but also improves the light absorption capacity and carrier separation efficiency of the photocatalyst.

Adjusting Surface Oxidized Layer of CoTe on PCN via In Situ N-Doping Strategy to Promote Charge Separation of Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Propelling Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

It has been a challenging issue to profoundly actuate the transfer and separation of photoinduced charge carriers by controlling the interface structure inside the heterojunction, owing to the molecular/subnanometric level interface region. Herein, a unique one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) CoTe/PCN Z-scheme heterojunction is fabricated through the self-assembly of CoTe nanorods on the surface of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets. Significantly, in situ N-doping in the molecular/subnanometric surface oxidized layer of CoTe nanorods is achieved, effectively adjusting its chemical structure and element chemical states.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards allergic rhinitis in patients with allergic rhinitis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Chinese patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) on AR is poorly known. This study investigated the KAP towards AR in patients with this disease and explored the factors associated with KAP.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with AR in Zhangjiagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October 2022 and March 2023.

Effect of Combining Sound Therapy with Pharmacotherapy on the Recovery of Hearing Abilities in the Case of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: This study investigated the effect of sound therapy combined with drug therapy (SDT) on gap detection threshold and speech recognition scores in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Methods: Patients with SSNHL were grouped randomly into SDT and drug therapy (DT) groups. All patients received standard drug treatment and patients in the SDT group additionally received sound stimulation for the affected ears for 6 days.

3D/2D Heterojunction Fabricated from RuS Nanospheres Encapsulated in Polymeric Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Selective Photocatalytic CO Reduction to CO.

Micro/nanostructure control of heterostructures is still a challenge for achieving high efficiency and selectivity of photocatalytic CO conversion. In this work, a new three-dimensiona/two-dimensional (3D/2D) heterostructure is fabricated by encapsulating RuS nanospheres in the interlayer of mesoporous polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets based on an in situ growth and polymerization strategy. The unique microstructure of the obtained 3D/2D RuS/PCN heterojunction can effectively improve the transfer and separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers, reduce the mass transfer resistance of CO toward active sites, and provide a confined reaction space, thus propelling the photocatalytic CO reduction to CO with high selectivity.

Bone-turnover biomarkers as potential prognostic factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the relationship between bone-turnover biomarkers and the recovery of SSNHL to provide clues for further improvements in etiological research and predictors.

Methods: The medical history, hearing thresholds, biomarkers of bone-turnover, and related hormones of 117 SSNHL patients were collected prospectively between August 2018 and December 2021. Linear correlation and logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between bone-turnover biomarkers and the prognosis of SSNHL.

Synergies of Adjacent Sites in Atomically Dispersed Ruthenium toward Achieving Stable Hydrogen Evolution.

It is a challenge to fabricate atomically dispersed metal clusters in polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) for durable photocatalytic reactions owing to the thermodynamic stability limitation. Herein, atomically dispersed Ru clusters are implanted into the PCN skeleton matrix based on an ionic diffusion and coordination (IDC) strategy, the stability of which is improved owing to the robust Ru-N bonds in the formed RuN and RuN configurations. Additionally, RuN and RuN as charge transport bridges between two adjacent melon strands efficaciously conquer hydrogen bond restriction in the skeleton to facilitate the in-plane mobility and separation of charge carriers.

Engineering site-selective incorporation of fluorine into polyketides.

Although natural products and synthetic small molecules both serve important medicinal functions, their structures and chemical properties are relatively distinct. To expand the molecular diversity available for drug discovery, one strategy is to blend the effective attributes of synthetic and natural molecules. A key feature found in synthetic compounds that is rare in nature is the use of fluorine to tune drug behavior.

A reduced form of nicotinamide riboside protects the cochlea against aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity by SIRT1 activation.

Background: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a coenzyme that plays crucial roles in many cellular processes, is a potential therapeutic target for various diseases. Dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH), a novel reduced form of nicotinamide riboside, has emerged as a potent NAD precursor. Here, we studied the protective effects and underlying mechanism of NRH on aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity.

Investigation of anti-aging of SBS modified bitumen containing surface organic layered double hydroxide.

To improve the anti-aging ability of SBS modified bitumen (SMB), layered double hydroxide (LDH) organically modified by hexadecyltrimethoxysilane was prepared and utilized for the modification of SMB. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hexadecyltrimethoxysilane has been grafted into LDH through chemical bonding. Compared with LDH, the hydrophilicity of organic LDH (OLDH) was obviously reduced, and OLDH possessed better dispersibility and stability in SMB, because of the decrease of hydroxyl and the introduced organo-functional groups on the surface of LDH.

Nitrogen-doped biomass carbon fibers with surface encapsulated Co nanoparticles for electrocatalytic overall water-splitting.

N-Doped biomass carbon fibers with surface encapsulated Co nanoparticles (Co/N-BCFs) are prepared by the structure-directing effect of the Co-complex formed with 2,2-bipyridine. An electrolyzer equipped with a Co/N-BCFs electrode couple only needs a voltage of 1.31 V at 10 mA cm for overall water-splitting, which is better than that of an integrated RuO and Pt/C couple.