Direct Biological Sample Analyses by Laserspray Ionization Miniature Mass Spectrometry

With improved performances, miniature mass spectrometers are becoming suitable for more practical applications. At the same time, the coupling of an approximate ionization source is essential in terms of minimizing sample preparation and broadening the range of samples that could be analyzed. In this study, an atmospheric pressure laserspray ionization (AP-LSI) source was coupled with our home developed miniature ion trap mass spectrometer. The whole system is compact in size, and biological samples could be directly analyzed with minimum sample preparation. Direct detections of peptides, proteins, drugs in whole blood, and urine could be achieved with high sensitivity. The analyses of tissue sections were demonstrated, and different regions in a tissue section could be differentiated based on their lipid profiles. Results suggest that the coupling of AP-LSI with miniature mass spectrometer is a powerful technique, which could potentially benefit target molecule analysis in biological and medical applications

Redox-Neutral Intramolecular Dearomative Spirocyclization of Phenols Induced by Visible Light

Described herein is a redox-neutral intramolecular dearomative spirocyclization induced by visible light. The photochemical cyclization was catalyzed by a phenolate anion-derived photocatalyst and delivered the spirocyclohexadienone. Mechanistic experiments revealed that the aryl halide was reduced to aryl radical via the single-electron transfer (SET) process under visible light irradiation. The electrophilic addition of an aryl radical with the phenolate anion moiety gave a radical anion intermediate, which recycled the photocatalyst by a second SET process

Redox-Neutral Intramolecular Dearomative Spirocyclization of Phenols Induced by Visible Light

Described herein is a redox-neutral intramolecular dearomative spirocyclization induced by visible light. The photochemical cyclization was catalyzed by a phenolate anion-derived photocatalyst and delivered the spirocyclohexadienone. Mechanistic experiments revealed that the aryl halide was reduced to aryl radical via the single-electron transfer (SET) process under visible light irradiation. The electrophilic addition of an aryl radical with the phenolate anion moiety gave a radical anion intermediate, which recycled the photocatalyst by a second SET process

Incidence and prognostic role of pleural effusion in patients with acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis

Pleural effusion (PE) is reported as a common complication in acute pancreatitis (AP), while the incidence of PE in AP varies widely among studies, and the association between PE and mortality is not clear. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the pooled incidence of PE in patients with AP and to evaluate the influence of PE on mortality through a meta-analysis. Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and OVID) were searched thoroughly for relevant studies. Data were extracted, and Stata SE 16.0 software was applied to compute the pooled incidence of PE and assess the association between PE and mortality, taking the risk ratio (RR) as the effect size. Thirty-five articles involving 7,675 patients with AP were eventually included in this meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of PE was 34% (95% CI: 28%-39%), with significant heterogeneity among studies (I2=96.7%). Further analysis revealed that the pooled incidence of unilateral and small PE occupied 49% (95% CI: 21%-77%) and 59% (95% CI: 38%-81%) of AP patients complicated by PE, respectively. The subgroup analysis revealed that “region” and “examination method” may contribute to heterogeneity. PE may be associated with increased mortality in AP patients (RR 3.99, 95% CI: 1.73-9.2). This study suggested that PE is a common complication with high pooled incidence and that PE may be associated with increased mortality in AP patients. More studies should be performed to validate our findings.</p

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems

Configurational Entropy-Enabled Thermostability of Cell Membranes in Extremophiles: From Molecular Mechanism to Bioinspired Design

Understanding physicochemical interactions and mechanisms related to the cell membranes of lives under extreme conditions is of essential importance but remains scarcely explored. Here, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that the structural integrity and controllable permeability of cell membranes at high temperatures are predominantly directed by configurational entropy emerging from distorted intermolecular organization of bipolar tethered lipids peculiar to the extremophiles. Detailed simulations across multiple scalesfrom an all-atom exploration of molecular mechanism to a mesoscale examination of its universal naturesuggest that this configurational entropy effect can be generalized to diverse systems, such as block copolymers. This offers biomimetic inspiration for designing heat-tolerant materials based on entropy, as validated by our experiments of synthetic polymers. The findings provide new insight into the basic nature of the mechanism underlying the adaptation of organisms to extreme conditions and might open paths for designed materials inspired by entropic effects in biological systems