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Chemical Science Jun 2024Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is one of the most valuable clean energy sources with a rapidly growing requirement in industry and daily life. The direct synthesis of HO from...
Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is one of the most valuable clean energy sources with a rapidly growing requirement in industry and daily life. The direct synthesis of HO from hydrogen and oxygen is considered to be an economical and environmentally friendly manufacturing route to replace the traditional anthraquinone method, although it remains a formidable challenge owing to low HO selectivity and production. Here, we report a catalyst consisting of Pd(111) nanocrystals on TiO modified with single Pt atoms (PtPd(111)/TiO), which displays outstanding reactivity, producing 1921.3 μmol of HO, a H conversion of 62.2% and HO selectivity of 80.3% over 30 min. Kinetic and isotope experiments confirm that the extraordinary catalytic properties are due to stronger H activation (the rate-determining step). DFT calculations confirm that PtPd(111) exhibits lower energy barriers for H dissociation and two-step O hydrogenation, but higher energy barriers for side reactions than PtPd(100), demonstrating clear facet dependence and resulting in greater selectivity and amount of HO produced.
PubMed: 38939129
DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01560f -
Chemical Science Jun 2024[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4SC00142G.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4SC00142G.].
PubMed: 38939127
DOI: 10.1039/d4sc90112f -
IScience Jun 2024The hemoglobinless Antarctic icefish develop large hearts to compensate for reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, which serves as a naturally occurred model to explore the...
The hemoglobinless Antarctic icefish develop large hearts to compensate for reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, which serves as a naturally occurred model to explore the factors regulating cardiogenesis. Through miRNAome and microRNAome comparisons between an icefish () and two red-blooded notothenioids, we discovered significant upregulation of factors in the BMP signaling pathways and altered expression of many miRNAs, including downregulation of 14 miRNAs in the icefish heart. Through knocking down of these miRNAs, we identified two of them, miR-458-3p and miR-144-5p, involved in enlarged heart development. The two miRNAs were found to regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation by targeting bone morphogenetic protein-2 (). We further validated that activation of the miRNA- signaling in the fish heart could be triggered by hypoxic exposure. Our study suggested that a few miRNAs play important roles in the hypoxia-induced cardiac remodeling of the icefish which shed new light on the mechanisms regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation in heart.
PubMed: 38939105
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110128 -
Journal of Extracellular Biology Dec 2023Pathological reprogramming of cardiomyocyte and fibroblast proteome landscapes drive the initiation and progression of cardiac fibrosis. Although the secretome of...
Pathological reprogramming of cardiomyocyte and fibroblast proteome landscapes drive the initiation and progression of cardiac fibrosis. Although the secretome of dysfunctional cardiomyocytes is emerging as an important driver of pathological fibroblast reprogramming, our understanding of the downstream molecular players remains limited. Here, we show that cardiac fibroblast activation (αSMA) and oxidative stress mediated by the secretome of TGFβ-stimulated cardiomyocytes is associated with a profound reprogramming of their proteome and phosphoproteome landscape. Within the fibroblast global proteome there was a striking dysregulation of proteins implicated in extracellular matrix, protein localisation/metabolism, KEAP1-NFE2L2 pathway, lysosomes, carbohydrate metabolism, and transcriptional regulation. Kinase substrate enrichment analysis of phosphopeptides revealed potential role of kinases (CK2, CDK2, PKC, GSK3B) during this remodelling. We verified upregulated activity of casein kinase 2 (CK2) in secretome-treated fibroblasts, and pharmacological CK2 inhibitor TBB (4,5,6,7-Tetrabromobenzotriazole) significantly abrogated fibroblast activation and oxidative stress. Our data provides molecular insights into cardiomyocyte to cardiac fibroblast crosstalk, and the potential role of CK2 in regulating cardiac fibroblast activation and oxidative stress.
PubMed: 38938901
DOI: 10.1002/jex2.125 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Recent studies have demonstrated a positive role of hyaluronic acid (HA) on periodontal clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of four different...
INTRODUCTION
Recent studies have demonstrated a positive role of hyaluronic acid (HA) on periodontal clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of four different HAs on interactions between periodontal biofilm and immune cells.
METHODS
The four HAs included: high-molecular-weight HA (HHA, non-cross-linked), low-molecular-weight HA (LHA), oligomers HA (OHA), and cross-linked high-molecular-weight HA (CHA). Serial experiments were conducted to verify the influence of HAs on: (i) 12-species periodontal biofilm (formation and pre-existing); (ii) expression of inflammatory cytokines and HA receptors in monocytic (MONO-MAC-6) cells and periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) with or without exposure to periodontal biofilms; (iii) generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MONO-MAC-6 cells and PDLF with presence of biofilm and HA.
RESULTS
The results indicated that HHA and CHA reduced the bacterial counts in a newly formed (4-h) biofilm and in a pre-existing five-day-old biofilm. Without biofilm challenge, OHA triggered inflammatory reaction by increasing IL-1β and IL-10 levels in MONO-MAC cells and IL-8 in PDLF in a time-dependent manner, whereas CHA suppressed this response by inhibiting the expression of IL-10 in MONO-MAC cells and IL-8 in PDLF. Under biofilm challenge, HA decreased the expression of IL-1β (most decreasing HHA) and increased IL-10 levels in MONO-MAC-6 cells in a molecular weight dependent manner (most increasing CHA). The interaction between HA and both cells may occur via ICAM-1 receptor. Biofilm stimulus increased ROS levels in MONO-MAC-6 cells and PDLF, but only HHA slightly suppressed the high generation of ROS induced by biofilm stimulation in both cells.
CONCLUSION
Overall, these results indicate that OHA induces inflammation, while HHA and CHA exhibit anti-biofilm, primarily anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in the periodontal environment.
Topics: Biofilms; Hyaluronic Acid; Humans; Reactive Oxygen Species; Fibroblasts; Cytokines; Monocytes; Periodontal Ligament; Cell Line; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-10
PubMed: 38938883
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1414861 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2024Although compartmentalization of the eye seems to promote its experimental manipulation, drug penetration to its posterior part is severely limited by hard barriers thus... (Review)
Review
Although compartmentalization of the eye seems to promote its experimental manipulation, drug penetration to its posterior part is severely limited by hard barriers thus hindering drug development for eye diseases. In particular, angiogenesis-related retinal diseases share common mechanisms and are responsible for the majority of cases of blindness. Their prevalence is globally increasing mostly because of the increased incidence of systemic pathologies in the adult. Despite the number of preclinical findings demonstrating the efficacy of novel treatments, therapy of retinal neovascular diseases still remains confined to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments with some extension to anti-inflammatory therapy. In the of preclinical findings aimed to develop novel avenues for future therapies, most compounds, despite their efficacy in experimental models, do not seem to meet the criteria for their therapeutic application. In particular, the groove between preclinical findings and their clinical application increases instead of decreasing and the attempt to bridging the gap between them creates intense frustration and a sense of defeat. In this complex scenario, we will discuss here the role that overactivation of the sympathetic system plays in retinal vessel proliferation in response to hypoxia using the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. The potential application of the beta-adrenoceptor (β-AR) blockade with propranolol to the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity will be also discussed in light of preclinical findings in the OIR model and clinical trials using propranolol in preterm infants either or as eye drops.
PubMed: 38938747
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1408605 -
IET Nanobiotechnology 2024The desire to reduce reliance on oil resources arises from the concerns about carbon footprint and nonrenewability. Conversely, the global presence of over 100 million...
The desire to reduce reliance on oil resources arises from the concerns about carbon footprint and nonrenewability. Conversely, the global presence of over 100 million palm trees poses a significant challenge due to the substantial amount of biowaste generated annually. Additionally, the use of nanocellulose (NC) as a cost-effective material is steadily gaining recognition for its growing adaptability over time. The main goal of this study is to biosynthesized NC from Iraqi date palm leaves waste with low-concentration acid-alkali treatment. The date palm leaves waste yields 20 g of NC from 100 g of leaves before acid hydrolysis treatment. The chemical components of biosynthesized NC were 47.90%, 26.78%, and 24.67% for -cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, respectively. In order to study their properties, NC from raw date palm leaves was studied by microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscope (AFM). SEM results revealed rod-like structured NC as well as combined long-fine fibrous structures rather than compacted bundles with sizes ranging between 31 and 74 nm. With EDX, all spectra exhibit the peaks of carbon and oxygen as the main elements with 63.8% and 10.44%, respectively, in their compositions, which relate to the typical composition of cellulose. The 3D image of AFM NC with a tapping mode presented a highly uniform distribution of NC with a size of ∼15 nm. The statistical roughness analysis shows that the obtained roughness average is 7.20 nm with the root-mean-square roughness value of 21.56 nm, which corresponded relatively with the micrographs of SEM. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of using date palm waste as raw material to produce NC as green nanocomposite from biodegradable nanomaterials for water purification and sustained drug delivery for biomedical applications. In this regard and because of the insufficient reports about the extraction of NC from palm tree leaves waste, the objective of this study was designed to fabricate NC biologically from fibers sourced from the waste of Iraqi date palm leaves that left in agricultural lands or burned, which can be an ecological and health problem as a bionanocomposites in the medical and industrial field and as alternative resources of wood materials.
Topics: Cellulose; Phoeniceae; Plant Leaves; Nanostructures
PubMed: 38938743
DOI: 10.1049/2024/7867463 -
JACC. Advances Nov 2023Previous studies have reported racial disparities in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) utilization in pediatric cardiac patients.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported racial disparities in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) utilization in pediatric cardiac patients.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to determine if there was racial/ethnic variation in ECMO utilization and, if so, whether mortality was mediated by differences in ECMO utilization.
METHODS
This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium clinical registry. Analyses were stratified by hospitalization type (medical vs surgical). Logistic regression models were adjusted for confounders and evaluated the association between race/ethnicity with ECMO utilization and mortality. Secondary analyses explored interactions between race/ethnicity, insurance, and socioeconomic status with ECMO utilization and mortality.
RESULTS
A total of 50,552 hospitalizations from 34 hospitals were studied. Across all hospitalizations, 2.9% (N = 1,467) included ECMO. In medical and surgical hospitalizations, Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with severity of illness proxies. In medical hospitalizations, race/ethnicity was not associated with the odds of ECMO utilization. Hospitalizations of other race had higher odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.22-2.12; = 0.001). For surgical hospitalizations, Black (aOR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02-1.50; = 0.03) and other race (aOR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.17-1.93; = 0.001) were associated with higher odds of ECMO utilization. Hospitalizations of Hispanic patients had higher odds of mortality (aOR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.03-1.68; = 0.03). No significant interactions were demonstrated between race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status indicators with ECMO utilization or mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
Black and other races were associated with increased ECMO utilization during surgical hospitalizations. There were racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes not explained by differences in ECMO utilization. Efforts to mitigate these important disparities should include other aspects of care.
PubMed: 38938717
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100634 -
F1000Research 2021
Topics: Humans; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Biomarkers; Adipose Tissue; Cell Survival; Cell Hypoxia; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Ischemic Preconditioning
PubMed: 38938689
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.55351.3 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Dietary choices play a crucial role in influencing systemic inflammation and the eventual development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The Dietary Inflammatory Index...
INTRODUCTION
Dietary choices play a crucial role in influencing systemic inflammation and the eventual development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) is a novel tool designed to assess the inflammatory potential of one's diet. Firefighting, which is characterized by high-stress environments and elevated CVD risk, represents an interesting context for exploring the dietary inflammatory-CVD connection.
AIM
This study aims to investigate the associations between Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) scores and cardiometabolic risk parameters among US firefighters.
METHODS
The study analyzed 413 participants from the Indianapolis Fire Department who took part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-sponsored Mediterranean diet intervention trial. Thorough medical evaluations, encompassing physical examinations, standard laboratory tests, resting electrocardiograms, and submaximal treadmill exercise testing, were carried out. Participants also completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire to evaluate dietary patterns, and E-DII scores were subsequently computed based on the gathered information.
RESULTS
Participants had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 ± 4.5 kg/m and an average body fat percentage of 28.1 ± 6.6%. Regression analyses, adjusted for sex, BMI, maximal oxygen consumption (VO max), max metabolic equivalents (METS), age, and body fat percentage, revealed significant associations between high vs. low E-DII scores and total cholesterol ( = 10.37, = 0.04). When comparing low median E-DII scores there is an increase in glucose ( = 0.91, = 0.72) and total cholesterol ( = 5.51, = 0.26).
CONCLUSION
Our findings support an association between higher E-DII scores and increasing adiposity, as well as worse lipid profiles.
PubMed: 38938668
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1382306