Plasma-catalytic synthesis of ammonia over Ru/BaTiO3-based bimetallic catalysts: Synergistic effect from dual-metal active sites

Plasma-catalytic synthesis of ammonia (NH3) was carried out using BaTiO3 supported Ru-M bimetallic catalysts (Ru-M/BaTiO3, M = Fe, Co and Ni) in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The NH3 synthesis performance followed the order of Ru-Ni/BaTiO3 > Ru/BaTiO3 > Ru-Co/BaTiO3 > Ru-Fe/BaTiO3, with the highest NH3 concentration (3895 ppm) and energy yield (0.39 g kWh−1) achieved over Ru-Ni/BaTiO3 at 25 W and 10 W, respectively. To gain insights into the physio-chemical properties of the Ru-M/BaTiO3 catalysts, comprehensive catalyst characterizations were performed, including X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and temperature-programmed desorption of CO2 and N2 (CO2 and N2-TPD). The results indicated that the loading of Ni enhanced the basicity and N2 adsorption capacity of the catalyst, as well as the density of oxygen vacancy (OV) on the BaTiO3 surface, which facilitated the adsorption and activation of N2 on catalyst surface. These effects led to the enhanced NH3 synthesis, as excited N2 could be adsorbed on Ru-Ni/BaTiO3 from plasma region and stepwise hydrogenated to form NHx species and ultimately NH3

Incidence and risk factors of anti-tuberculosis drug induced liver injury (DILI): Large cohort study involving 4652 Chinese adult tuberculosis patients

Background and Aims: Anti-tuberculosis drugs remain as an important cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) worldwide. Adverse drug reactions reduce the effectiveness of treatment. We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with anti-tuberculosis DILI (ATDILI). Methods: Using established criteria and causality assessment methods, risk factors for ATDILI were identified in a contemporary cohort and validated in another cohort prospectively. Independent determinants of ATDILI were identified using Cox regression analysis. Results: In the derivation cohort (n=3155), 170 (5.4%) developed ATDILI of which 27 (15.9%) developed jaundice; 9(5.3%) developed acute liver failure (ALF) and 3 died. Among HBsAg positive patients, 11/27 (40.7%) of ATDILI developed after 3months of starting treatment. In addition, of 218 (6.9%) who developed raised alanine transferase (ALT) levels ≥3 times upper limit normal, 193 (88.5%) resolved and 25 (11.4%) progressed to DILI. Age (HR=1.014, 95% CI: 1.005-1.023), baseline ALT (HR=1.014, 95% CI: 1.003-1.024), haemoglobin (HR=1.011, 95% CI: 1.002-1.020) and HBsAg positivity (HR=1.516, 95% CI: 1.004-2.290) were independent risk factors for DILI. In the second cohort (n=1497) of which 85 (5.7%) developed ATDILI. Age (HR=1.029, 95% CI: 1.003-1.056), baseline AST (HR=1.036, 95% CI: 1.010-1.062), previous TB treatment (HR=3.894, 95% CI: 1.304-11.625) and active drinking (HR=3.624, 95% CI: 1.147-11.454) were risk factors for developing jaundice. Conclusion: Elevation of ALT of ≥3×ULN during anti-TB treatment resolves in the vast majority without developing serious consequences. In two cohorts involving 4652 patients, incidence of ALF and death because of ATDILI are low. Age, baseline ALT, haemoglobin and HBsAg positivity are risk factors for the development of DILI and these inform monitoring and management of these patients

Role of drugs used for chronic disease management on susceptibility and severity of COVID-19: A large case-control study

The study aimed to investigate whether specific medications used in the treatment chronic diseases affected either the development and/ or severity of COVID-19 in a cohort of 610 COVID-19 cases and 48,667 population-based controls from Zheijang, China. Using a cohort of 578 COVID-19 cases and 48,667 population-based controls from Zheijang, China we tested the role of usage of cardiovascular, antidiabetic and other medications on risk and severity of COVID 19. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex and BMI and for presence of relevant comorbidities. Individuals with hypertension taking calcium channel blockers had significantly increased risk [odds ratio (OR)= 1.73 (95% CI 1.2-2.3)] of manifesting symptoms of COVID-19 whereas those taking angiotensin receptor blockers and diuretics had significantly lower disease risk (OR=0.22; 95%CI 0.15-0.30 and OR=0.30; 95%CI 0.19-0.58 respectively). Among those with type 2 diabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (OR= 6.02; 95% CI 2.3- 15.5) and insulin (OR= 2.71; 95% CI 1.6-5.5) were more and glucosidase inhibitors were less prevalent (OR= 0.11; 95% CI 0.1-0.3) among with COVID-19 patients. Drugs used in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes influence the risk of development of COVID-19, but, not its severity

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

SIRT6 Acts as a Negative Regulator in Dengue Virus-Induced Inflammatory Response by Targeting the DNA Binding Domain of NF-κB p65

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne single-stranded RNA virus causing human disease with variable severity. The production of massive inflammatory cytokines in dengue patients has been associated with dengue disease severity. However, the regulation of these inflammatory responses remains unclear. In this study, we report that SIRT6 is a negative regulator of innate immune responses during DENV infection. Silencing of Sirt6 enhances DENV-induced proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. Overexpression of SIRT6 inhibits RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) and Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) mediated NF-κB activation. The sirtuin core domain of SIRT6 is required for the inhibition of NF-κB p65 function. SIRT6 interacts with the DNA binding domain of p65 and competes with p65 to occupy the Il6 promoter during DENV infection. Collectively, our study demonstrates that SIRT6 negatively regulates DENV-induced inflammatory response via RLR and TLR3 signaling pathways

Additional file 1: Figures S1–S5. of miR-17-92 facilitates neuronal differentiation of transplanted neural stem/precursor cells under neuroinflammatory conditions

Figure S1. Characterization of the NSCs. Figure S2. Effect of LIF and CNTF on differentiation of NSCs. Figure S3. miR-17-92 members directly target the 3′UTR of CNTFR or GP130. Figure S4. Bioinformatics analysis of miR-17-92 cluster members binding sites within CNTFR, GP130, JAK2, and STAT3. Figure S5. Traumatic brain injury. (PDF 558 kb