MicroRNA-155-enhanced autophagy in human gastric epithelial cell in response to Helicobacter pylori

Background/Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs acting as posttranscriptional gene expression regulators in many physiological and pathological conditions. MiR-155 is one kind of miRNAs that plays an important role in causing various diseases. However, the precise molecular mechanism of the ectopic expression of miR-155 in Helicobacter pylori infection remains poorly understood. Autophagy has recently been identified as an effective way to control the intracellular bacterium survival. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel role of miR-155 in regulating the autophagy-mediated anti-H. pylori response. Patients and Methods: Totally 86 H. pylori-positive patients together with 10 H. pylori-negative, healthy control subjects were included in the study. Correlation between immunohistochemical grades and miR-155 expression were determined. Molecular mechanism of miR-155 on regulation of autophagy and elimination of intracellular H. pylori were determined using the GES-1 cell model. Results: We found that overexpression of miR-155 by transfecting miR-155 mimics could significantly decrease the survival of intracellular H. pylori, and this process was through induction of autophagy. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between miR-155 and immunohistochemical grades in H. pylori-positive patients, and miR-155 expression were decreased in the intestinal metaplasia group. Conclusions: The results have indicated that the miR-155 expression level plays a key role in immunity response against H. pylori and this might provide potential targets for the future treatment of H. pylori-related diseases

Structural insights into the extraction mechanism of cobalt(II) with dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid and 2-ethylhexyl 4-pyridinecarboxylate ester

<p>In this work, to elucidate the synergistic extraction mechanism of cobalt(II) with dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (HDNNS) and 2-ethylhexyl 4-pyridinecarboxylate ester (L), hexaaquacobalt(II) naphthalene-2-sulfonate (compound <b>1</b>) was prepared using naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid (HNS, the short chain analog of HDNNS) and di-methyl isonicotinate tetraaquacobalt(II) naphthalene-2-sulfonate (compound <b>2</b>) was prepared using methyl isonicotinate (L^I, a short chain analog of 2-ethylhexyl 4-pyridinecarboxylate ester) and HNS; the compounds were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Moreover, <b>2</b> and the actual extracted cobalt(II) complex were further investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results indicated that the actual extracted cobalt(II) complex possesses a similar coordination structure as <b>2</b>. Combined with the results obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, FT-IR and ESI-MS of <b>2</b> and the actual extracted cobalt(II) complex, it is reasonable to conclude that the extracted cobalt(II) complex with the actual synergistic mixture is much more stable than the cobalt(II) complex with HDNNS alone. Therefore, the extraction selectivity cobalt(II) is effectively enhanced with the addition of 2-ethylhexyl 4-pyridinecarboxylate ester to HDNNS.</p

Built-in anionic equilibrium for atom-economic recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries

Recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial to address environmental and global sustainability issues. Wet chemical extraction of valuable metals is currently the most practical disposal technology, but it is challenging due to excessive chemical consumption and concomitant secondary pollution. In this study, a built-in anionic equilibrium strategy was proposed to recycle spent LiFePO4 (sLFP) cathodes with high atom economy. The selective extraction of lithium and phosphorus was successfully achieved in deionized water under oxygen pressure by the anionic equilibrium between OH− produced by oxygen reduction and PO43− released from sLFP. The formed LiFePO4OH phase limited the lithium leaching efficiency to 65.6%, so the trapped lithium was further extracted by rebuilding the anionic equilibrium after adding phosphoric acid with a low H3PO4/Li molar ratio. The degraded LiFePO4 evolved into a fusiform Fe5(PO4)4(OH)3·2H2O crystal, and 90.19% of lithium and 19.88% of phosphorus in sLFP can be recovered as Li3PO4 products. This built-in anionic equilibrium mechanism contributes to reduce chemical consumption and high-saline wastewater, thus providing a sustainable hydrometallurgical recycling route for spent lithium-ion batteries

Redox-Mediated Recycling of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Coupled with Low-Energy Consumption Hydrogen Production

Electrochemical recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (sLIBs) is potentially cost-effective and consumes fewer chemicals than traditional metallurgical processes. However, severe side reactions and low system durability limit its practical applications. Herein, a redox-mediated electrochemical recycling strategy was developed for continuous Li extraction from spent LiFePO4 (sLFP), coupled with low-energy-consumption hydrogen production. Phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) was employed as a green redox mediator to achieve fast and selective Li extraction from sLFP, and the reduced PMA was instantaneously electro-regenerated for subsequent extractions. In the assembled electrochemical flow cell, the Li recovery efficiency reached 97.8%, and the Faradaic efficiency of the hydrogen evolution reaction was approximately 100%. Furthermore, the redox-mediated sLFP-hydrogen coupling system required only 0.5 V of cell voltage to produce hydrogen, significantly lower than that of ∼1.65 V in the traditional water splitting process. This work presents a promising and sustainable route for the simultaneous recycling of sLIB and production of clean hydrogen fuels

Redox-Mediated Recycling of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Coupled with Low-Energy Consumption Hydrogen Production

Electrochemical recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (sLIBs) is potentially cost-effective and consumes fewer chemicals than traditional metallurgical processes. However, severe side reactions and low system durability limit its practical applications. Herein, a redox-mediated electrochemical recycling strategy was developed for continuous Li extraction from spent LiFePO4 (sLFP), coupled with low-energy-consumption hydrogen production. Phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) was employed as a green redox mediator to achieve fast and selective Li extraction from sLFP, and the reduced PMA was instantaneously electro-regenerated for subsequent extractions. In the assembled electrochemical flow cell, the Li recovery efficiency reached 97.8%, and the Faradaic efficiency of the hydrogen evolution reaction was approximately 100%. Furthermore, the redox-mediated sLFP-hydrogen coupling system required only 0.5 V of cell voltage to produce hydrogen, significantly lower than that of ∼1.65 V in the traditional water splitting process. This work presents a promising and sustainable route for the simultaneous recycling of sLIB and production of clean hydrogen fuels