Facile and controllable synthesis of nitrogen self-doped chitosan-derived carbon for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Xia Wentao,Cheng Miao,Hu Jing,Liu Qianqian,Wei Tao,Wang Ruirui,Li Wanfei,Liu Bo 한국탄소학회 2024 Carbon Letters Vol.34 No.1

N-doping content and configurations have a significant effect on the electrochemical performance of carbon anodes. Herein, we proposed a simple method to synthesize highly N self-doped chitosan-derived carbon with controllable N-doping types by introducing 2ZnCO3·3Zn(OH)2 into the precursor. The as-synthesized NC-CS/2ZnCO3·3Zn(OH)2 electrode exhibited more than twice the reversible capacity (518 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1) compared to the NC-CS electrode, superior rate performance and outstanding cycling stability. The remarkable improvement should be mainly attributed to the increase of N-doping content (particularly the pyrrolic-N content), which provided more active sites and favored Li+ diffusion kinetics. This study develops a cost-effective and facile synthesis route to fabricate high-performance N self-doped carbon with tunable doping sites for rechargeable battery applications.

Evidence for the medicinal value of Squama Manitis (pangolin scale): A systematic review

Xinyao Jin,Hui Zi Chua,Keyi Wang,Nan Li,Wenke Zheng,Wentai Pang,Fengwen Yang,Bo Pang,Mingyan Zhang,Junhua Zhang 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.1

Background: Squama Manitis (pangolin scale) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, its efficacy has not been systematically reviewed. This review aims to fill the gap. Methods: We searched six electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), WanFang Database and SinoMed from inception to May 1, 2020. Search terms included “pangolin”, “Squama Manitis”, “Manis crassicaudata”, “Manis javanica”, “Malayan pangolins”, “Manis pentadactyla”, “Ling Li”, “Chuan Shan Jia”, “Shan Jia”, “Pao Jia Zhu”, “Jia Pian” and “Pao Shan Jia”. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case control studies (CCSs). Results: After screening, 15 articles that met the inclusion criteria were finally included. There were 4 randomized controlled trials, 1 case control study, 3 case series and 7 case reports. A total of 15 different diseases were reported in these studies, thus the data could not be merged to generate powerful results. Two RCTs suggested that Squama Manitis combined with herbal decoction or antibiotics could bring additional benifit for treating postpartum hypogalactia and mesenteric lymphadenitis. However, this result was not reliable due to low methodological quality and irrational outcomes. The other two RCTs generated negative results. All the non-RCTs did not add any valuable evidence to the efficacy of Squama Manitis beacause of small samples, incomplete records, non-standardized outcome detection. In general, currently available evidence cannot support the clinical use of Squama Manitis. Conclusion: There is no reliable evidence that Squama Manitis has special medicinal value. The removal of Squama Manitis from Pharmacopoeia is rational.

lncRNA Epigenetic Landscape Analysis Identifies <i>EPIC1</i> as an Oncogenic lncRNA that Interacts with MYC and Promotes Cell-Cycle Progression in Cancer

Wang, Zehua,Yang, Bo,Zhang, Min,Guo, Weiwei,Wu, Zhiyuan,Wang, Yue,Jia, Lin,Li, Song,Caesar-Johnson, Samantha J.,Demchok, John A.,Felau, Ina,Kasapi, Melpomeni,Ferguson, Martin L.,Hutter, Carolyn M.,Sof Cell Press 2018 Cancer Cell Vol. No.

<P><B>Summary</B></P> <P>We characterized the epigenetic landscape of genes encoding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) across 6,475 tumors and 455 cancer cell lines. In stark contrast to the CpG island hypermethylation phenotype in cancer, we observed a recurrent hypomethylation of 1,006 lncRNA genes in cancer, including <I>EPIC1</I> (epigenetically-induced lncRNA1). Overexpression of <I>EPIC1</I> is associated with poor prognosis in luminal B breast cancer patients and enhances tumor growth <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo.</I> Mechanistically, <I>EPIC1</I> promotes cell-cycle progression by interacting with MYC through <I>EPIC1</I>'s 129–283 nt region. <I>EPIC1</I> knockdown reduces the occupancy of MYC to its target genes (e.g., <I>CDKN1A</I>, <I>CCNA2</I>, <I>CDC20</I>, and <I>CDC45</I>). MYC depletion abolishes <I>EPIC1</I>'s regulation of MYC target and luminal breast cancer tumorigenesis <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I>.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> LncRNAs show a hypomethylation phenotype, in contrast to a CIMP phenotype in cancer </LI> <LI> <I>EPIC1</I> promotes breast tumorigenesis through regulating cancer cell-cycle progression </LI> <LI> <I>EPIC1</I> directly interacts with MYC protein through <I>EPIC1</I>'s 129–283 nt region </LI> <LI> <I>EPIC1</I> regulates MYC targets by enhancing MYC occupancy on its target promoters </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Heterologous Expression and Characterization of a Laccase from Laccaria bicolor in Pichia pastoris and Arabidopsis thaliana

( Bo Wang ),( Ying Yan ),( Jing Xu ),( Xiaoyan Fu ),( Hongjuan Han ),( Jianjie Gao ),( Zhenjun Li ),( Lijuan Wang ),( Yongsheng Tian ),( Rihe Peng ),( Quanhong Yao ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2018 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.28 No.12

Laccases can oxidize a variety of phenolic and non-phenolic substrates including synthetic dyes. In this research, a laccase gene Lcc9 from Laccaria bicolor was chemically synthesized and optimized to heterogeneous expression in Pichia pastoris and Arabidopsis thaliana. The properties of recombinant laccase expressed by P. pastoris were investigated. The laccase activity was optimal at 3.6 pH and 40°C. It exhibited K_m and V_max values of 0.565 mmol l^-1 and 1.51 μmol l^-1 min^-1 for ABTS respectively. As compared with untransformed control plants, the laccase activity in crude extracts of transgenic lines exhibited a 5.4 to 12.4-fold increase. Both laccases expressed in transgenic P. pastoris or A. thaliana could decolorize crystal violet. These results indicated that L. bicolor laccase gene may be transgenically exploited in fungi or plants for dye decolorization.

Implantation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Small Intestinal Submucosa Improves Bile Duct Injury in Rabbits

Li Ying,Wang Piao,Hu Xiao-dong,Zeng Jing-da,Fang Cheng,Gan Yu,Peng Fang-yi,Yang Xiao-li,Luo De,Li Bo,Su Song 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2021 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.18 No.5

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injury (BDI), which may occur during cholecystectomy procedures and living-donor liver transplantation, leads to life-altering complications and significantly increased mortality and morbidity. Tissue engineering, as an emerging method, has shown great potential to treat BDI. Here, we aimed to explore the application of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) matrix composites with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to treat BDI in a rabbit model. METHODS: Rabbit-derived BMSCs were used as seed cells. Porcine SIS was used as the support material. Five centimetres of the common bile duct was dissected, and 1/3–1/2 of the anterior wall diameter was transversely incised to construct the rabbit BDI model. Then, SIS materials without/with BMSCs were inserted into the common bile duct of the BDI rabbits. After 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of implantation, the common bile duct was removed. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess pathological alterations in the common bile duct, while immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were used to detect expression of the epithelial cell markers CK19 and E-cadherin. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate BMSC growth. RESULTS: Compared with BMSCs alone, SIS-attached BMSCs had increased growth. HE staining showed that the injured bile duct healed well and that the complex gradually degraded as the time from implantation increased. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting showed that compared with the control group, the in vivo complex group had significantly elevated expression levels of CK19 and E-cadherin. CONCLUSION: BMSC implantation into SIS could improve BDI in rabbits, which might have clinical value for BDI treatment. BACKGROUND: Bile duct injury (BDI), which may occur during cholecystectomy procedures and living-donor liver transplantation, leads to life-altering complications and significantly increased mortality and morbidity. Tissue engineering, as an emerging method, has shown great potential to treat BDI. Here, we aimed to explore the application of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) matrix composites with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to treat BDI in a rabbit model. METHODS: Rabbit-derived BMSCs were used as seed cells. Porcine SIS was used as the support material. Five centimetres of the common bile duct was dissected, and 1/3–1/2 of the anterior wall diameter was transversely incised to construct the rabbit BDI model. Then, SIS materials without/with BMSCs were inserted into the common bile duct of the BDI rabbits. After 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of implantation, the common bile duct was removed. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess pathological alterations in the common bile duct, while immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were used to detect expression of the epithelial cell markers CK19 and E-cadherin. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate BMSC growth. RESULTS: Compared with BMSCs alone, SIS-attached BMSCs had increased growth. HE staining showed that the injured bile duct healed well and that the complex gradually degraded as the time from implantation increased. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting showed that compared with the control group, the in vivo complex group had significantly elevated expression levels of CK19 and E-cadherin. CONCLUSION: BMSC implantation into SIS could improve BDI in rabbits, which might have clinical value for BDI treatment.

Identification of MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for detecting ischemic stroke

Li Kexin,Shen Li,Zheng Pingping,Wang Yanjun,Wang Lijuan,Meng Xiaoli,Lv Yaogai,Xue Zhiqiang,Guo Xin,Zhang Anning,Pan Pan,Bi Chunli,Chen Yang,Feng Tianyu,Li Bo,Jin Lina,Yao Yan 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.1

Background: Increasing epidemic of ischemic stroke (IS) makes it urgent to understand the pathogenesis and regulatory mechanism, previous studies have described microRNAs (miRNAs) is part of the brain's response to ischemia. Objective: The aim of this study was to screen potential biomarkers for the prediction and novel treatment of IS. Methods: Differentially expressed miRNAs were screened from three newly diagnosed IS patients and three controls by RNA sequencing technology. Furthermore, target prediction databases were then used to analysis the target genes of different expressed miRNAs, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database were used to identify the functions and the main biochemical and signal pathways of differentially expressed target genes. Results: Our results revealed that 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed in IS, among which, hsa-miR-659-5p was the most highly increased and was first found to be associated with IS. In addition, KEGG pathway analyses showed that differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly significantly enriched in lysosome pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, spliceosome pathway, base excision repair pathway. Conclusions: miRNAs were involved in IS pathogenesis, and hsa-miR-659-5p, hsa-miR-151a-3p and hsa-miR-29c-5p as the three highest |log2FoldChange| regulation in this study, which may be the biomarkers of IS and need further study.

Value of PAX1 Methylation Analysis by MS-HRM in the Triage of Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance

Li, Shi-Rong,Wang, Zhen-Ming,Wang, Yu-Hui,Wang, Xi-Bo,Zhao, Jian-Qiang,Xue, Hai-Bin,Jiang, Fu-Guo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.14

Background: Detection of cervical high grade lesions in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) is still a challenge. Our study tested the efficacy of the paired boxed gene 1 (PAX1) methylation analysis by methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) in the detection of high grade lesions in ASCUS and compared performance with the hybrid capture 2 (HC2) human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Materials and Methods: A total of 463 consecutive ASCUS women from primary screening were selected. Their cervical scrapings were collected and assessed by PAX1 methylation analysis (MS-HRM) and high-risk HPV-DNA test (HC2). All patients with ASCUS were admitted to colposcopy and cervical biopsies. The Chisquare test was used to test the differences of PAX1 methylation or HPV infection between groups. Results: The specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for detecting CIN2 + lesions were: 95.6%, 82.4%, and 94.6%, respectively, for the PAX1 MS-HRM test; and 59.7%, 64.7%, and 60.0% for the HC2 HPV test. Conclusions: The PAX1 methylation analysis by MS-HRM demonstrated a better performance than the high-risk HPV-DNA test for the detection of high grade lesions (CIN2 +) in ASCUS cases. This approach could screen out the majority of low grade cases of ASCUS, and thus reduce the referral rate to colposcopy.

MicroRNA-497 Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells

Wang, Li,Li, Bo,Li, Lei,Wang, Te Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenously expressed small, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression, mainly by binding to 3'- untranslated regions (3'UTR) of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which cause blocks of translation and/or mRNA cleavage. Recently, miRNAprofiling studies demonstrated the microRNA-497 (miR-497) level to be down-regulated in all prostate carcinomas compared with BPH samples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of miR-497 in human prostate cancer. Proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis assays were conducted to explore the potential function of miR-497 in human prostate cancer cells. Results showed that miR-497 suppressed cellular growth and initiated G0/G1 phase arrest of LNCaP and PC-3 cells. We also observed that miR-497 increased the percentage of apoptotic cells by increasing caspase-3/7 activity. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-497 can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis by caspase-3 activation in prostate cancer cells, which suggest its use as a potential therapeutic target in the future.

Identification and Molecular Analysis of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Domestic Animals and Tick-Borne Pathogens at the Tarim Basin of Southern Xinjiang, China

Li Zhao,Jizhou Lv,Fei Li,Kairui Li,Bo He,Luyao Zhang,Xueqing Han,Huiyu Wang,Nicholas Johnson,Xiangmei Lin,Shaoqiang Wu,Yonghong Liu 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2020 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.58 No.1

Livestock husbandry is vital to economy of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. However, there have been few surveys of the distribution of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens affecting domestic animals at these locations. In this study, 3,916 adult ixodid ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from 23 sampling sites during 2012-2016. Ticks were identified to species based on morphology, and the identification was confirmed based on mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA sequences. Ten tick species belonging to 4 genera were identified, including Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rh. bursa, H. asiaticum asiaticum, and Rh. sanguineus. DNA sequences of Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever group) and Anaplasma spp. were detected in these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed possible existence of undescribed Babesia spp. and Borrelia spp. This study illustrates potential threat to domestic animals and humans from tick-borne pathogens.

An Improved Generalized Finite Element Method for Electrical Resistance Tomography Forward Model

Bo Li,Jian Ming Wang,Qi Wang,Xiaojie Duan,Xiuyan Li 대한전기학회 2019 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.14 No.6

Electrical resistance tomography is a noninvasive imaging modality, where imperceptible currents are applied to the skin and the resulting surface voltages are measured. It has the potential to be of great value in industrial applications. One of the major problem of forward problem is its low efciency of fnite element computation in electrical resistance tomography and high demand in computational cost for industrial application. An advanced approach is proposed by generalizing the fnite element method frstly and then using PSO-SA algorithm to optimize the topology of FE model. Compared with conventional FEM or normal GFEM, a smaller number of nodes and elements with the proposed approach are required to achieve the same accuracy. The novelty of this paper relies on the frst to generalize the fnite mesh and optimize its topology in accordance with dissection results. Experiments from both simulation and prototype results demonstrate that it is capable of achieving better accuracy using less computational cost with the proposed approach