11 research outputs found
Higher Risk of Stroke Is Correlated With Increased Opportunistic Pathogen Load and Reduced Levels of Butyrate-Producing Bacteria in the Gut
Objective: Gut microbiota is a newly identified risk factor for stroke, and there are no large prospective studies linking the baseline gut microbiome to long-term risk of stroke. We present here the correlation between the gut microbiota and stroke risk in people with no prior stroke history.Methods: A total of 141 participants aged â„60 years without prior history of stroke were recruited and divided into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups based on known risk factors and whether they were suffering from chronic diseases. The composition of their gut microbiomes was compared using 16S rRNA gene amplicon next-generation-sequencing and Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) analysis. Levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids were measured using gas chromatography.Results: We found that opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae and Veillonellaceae) and lactate-producing bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) were enriched, while butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae) were depleted, in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. Butyrate concentrations were also lower in the fecal samples obtained from the high-risk group than from the low-risk group. The concentrations of other short-chain fatty acids (e.g., acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate) in the gut were comparable among the three groups.Conclusion: Participants at high risk of stroke were characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogens, low abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, and reduced concentrations of fecal butyrate. More researches into the gut microbiota as a risk factor in stroke should be carried out in the near future
pH-Responsive Hollow Polymeric Microspheres from Irradiated Cyclic Ether Aqueous Solution
Smart hollow polymeric microspheres have been widely applied in various fields such as controlled release, drug delivery, catalysis, and so on. Herein, a facile, green and one-step template-free method is introduced for preparing pH-responsive hollow polymeric microspheres via gamma irradiation of cyclic ether aqueous solution. The hollow polymeric microspheres are synthesized by radiation-induced polymerization and following the self-assembly and self-organization of amphiphilic polymer with cyclic ethers as monomers in water. SEM, TEM, micro-FTIR, and NMR confirmed the morphology and structures of the resultant microspheres. The confocal laser scanning microscope was used to investigate the stimuli-responsiveness and release behavior of hollow microspheres using 1-pyrene carboxaldehyde as a hydrophobic molecule model. The well-defined hollow polymeric microspheres with an average diameter of ca. 2.6 ÎŒm or 1.6 ÎŒm were prepared directly from dicyclohexal-18-crown-6 or tetraphydropyrane aqueous solution, respectively. The prepared hollow microspheres exhibit obvious pH stimuli-responsiveness and can release the encapsulated hydrophobic molecules when pH is higher than 5.0. Moreover, the reversible morphology transition between hollow microspheres and micelles makes the prepared hollow polymeric microspheres potentially suitable for a wide range of applications, including removal of dyes, oil field engineering, and biomedical fields
Clinicopathological characteristics of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms: A comprehensive analysis
Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic implications of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (gâNENs). Methods A retrospective enrollment of 142 patients diagnosed with gâNENs was conducted at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2021. The study compared essential clinicopathological features and survival rates. Additionally, the prognosis of gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas/mixed neuroendocrineânonâneuroendocrine neoplasms (gâNEC/MiNEN) were contrasted with those of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Results The study comprised a total of 142âgâNENs cases, with a maleâtoâfemale ratio of approximately 2:1. The 5âyear survival rates for gâNEC and gâMiNEN were 26.7% and 35.2%, respectively. Corresponding 5âyear survival rates for G1 and G2 were observed at 100% and 80.0%, respectively. gâNEC/MiNEN showed a significantly worse prognosis compared to gâNET (pâ<â0.001). gâNEC/MiNEN exhibited a poor prognosis compared to GAC (pâ<â0.001), and within poorly differentiated GAC, gâNEC/MiNEN demonstrated a worse prognosis (pâ=â0.007). Additionally, patients receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy exhibited notably prolonged overall survival (OS) in the case of gâNEC/MiNEN (pâ=â0.010). Conclusion In short, the prognosis of gâNEC/MiNEN was worse than that of gâNET, GAC and poorly differentiated GAC, but this group benefit from postoperative adjuvant therapy
Optimization of Extraction Conditions and Characterization of Pepsin-Solubilised Collagen from Skin of Giant Croaker (Nibea japonica)
In the present study, response surface methodology was performed to investigate the effects of extraction parameters on pepsin-solubilised collagen (PSC) from the skin of the giant croaker Nibea japonica. The optimum extraction conditions of PSC were as follows: concentration of pepsin was 1389 U/g, solid-liquid ratio was 1:57 and hydrolysis time was 8.67 h. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of PSC was up to 84.85%, which is well agreement with the predict value of 85.03%. The PSC from Nibea japonica skin was then characterized as type I collagen by using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The fourier transforms infrared spetroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that PSC maintains its triple-helical structure by the hydrogen bond. All PSCs were soluble in the pH range of 1.0â4.0 and decreases in solubility were observed at neutral or alkaline conditions. All PSCs had a decrease in solubility in the presence of sodium chloride, especially with a concentration above 2%. So, the Nibea japonica skin could serve as another potential source of collagen
Graphene Oxide Transparent Hybrid Film and Its Ultraviolet Shielding Property
Herein,
we first reported a facile strategy to prepare functional PolyÂ(vinyl
alcohol) (PVA) hybrid film with well ultraviolet (UV) shielding property
and visible light transmittance using graphene oxide nanosheets as
UV-absorber. The absorbance of ultraviolet light at 300 nm can be
up to 97.5%, while the transmittance of visible light at 500 nm keeps
40% plus. This hybrid film can protect protein from UVA light induced
photosensitive damage, remarkably
Effect of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor on Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Seeded Electrospinning Biomaterial for Treating Ischemic Diabetic Ulcers via Milieu-Dependent Differentiation Mechanism
Superior Low-Temperature All-Solid-State Battery Enabled by High-Ionic-Conductivity and Low-Energy-Barrier Interface
All-solid-state
batteries (ASSBs) working at room and mild temperature
have demonstrated inspiring performances over recent years. However,
the kinetic attributes of the interface applicable to the subzero
temperatures are still unidentified, restricting the low-temperature
interface design and operation. Herein, a host of cathode interfaces
are constructed and investigated to unlock the critical interface
features required for cryogenic temperatures. The unstable interface
between LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (Ni90) and Li6PS5Cl (LPSC) sulfide
solid electrolyte (SE) results in unfavorable cathodeâelectrolyte
interphase (CEI) and sluggish lithium-ion transport across the CEI.
After inserting a Li2ZrO3 (LZO) coating layer,
the activation energy of the Ni90@LZO/sulfide SE interface can be
reduced from 60.19 kJ molâ1 to 41.39 kJ molâ1 owing to the suppressed interfacial reactions. Through
replacing the LPSC SE and LZO coating layer by the Li3InCl6 (LIC) halide SE, both a highly stable interface and low activation
energy (25.79 kJ molâ1) can be achieved, thus realizing
an improved capacity retention (26.9%) at â30 °C for the
Ni90/LIC/LPSC/Li-In ASSB. Moreover, theoretical evaluation clarifies
that cathode/SE interfaces with high ionic conductivity and low energy
barrier are favorable to the Li+ conduction through the
interphase and the Li+ transfer across the cathode/interphase
interface. These critical understandings may provide guidance for
low-temperature interface design in ASSBs