Molybdate-based inorganic-organic hybrid disks with a highly ordered layered structure were synthesized via an acid-base reaction of white molybdic acid (MoO 3 $H 2 O) with n-octylamine (C 8 H 17 NH 2 ) in ethanol at room temperature. The thermal treatment of the as-obtained molybdatebased inorganic-organic hybrid disks at 550 C in air led to formation of orthorhombic a-MoO 3 nanoplates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, Raman spectra, and a laser-diffraction grain-size analyzer were used to characterize the starting materials, the intermediate hybrid precursors and the final a-MoO 3 nanoplates. The XRD, FT-IR and TG-DTA results suggested that the molybdate-based inorganic-organic hybrid compound, with a possible composition of (C 8 H 17 NH 3 ) 2 MoO 4 , was of a highly ordered lamellar structure with an interlayer distance of 2.306(1) nm, and the n-alkyl chains in the interlayer places took a double-layer arrangement with a tilt angle of 51 against the inorganic MoO 6 octahedra layers. The SEM images indicated that the molybdate-based inorganic-organic hybrids took on a well-dispersed disk-like morphology, which differed distinctly from the severely aggregated morphology of their starting MoO 3 $H 2 O powders. During the calcining process, the disk-like morphology of the hybrid compounds was well inherited into the orthorhombic a-MoO 3 nanocrystals, showing a definite plate-like shape. The a-MoO 3 nanoplates obtained were of a single-crystalline structure, with a side-length of 1-2 mm and a thickness of several nanometres, along a thickness direction of [010]. The above a-MoO 3 nanoplates were of a loose aggregating texture and high dispersibility. The chemical sensors derived from the as-obtained a-MoO 3 nanoplates showed an enhanced and selective gas-sensing performance towards ethanol vapors. The a-MoO 3 nanoplate sensors reached a high sensitivity of 44-58 for an 800 ppm ethanol vapor operating at 260-400 C, and their response times were less than 15 s.

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Monoterpenes present in the essential oils exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of alpha-pinene (AP), a monoterpene, against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction and inflammation in Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with AP (50 mg/kg body weight (bw)) administration for 21 days and ISO (85 mg/kg bw) was administered subcutaneously for last two consecutive days (20th day and 21st day). We noticed that there was an increased activity of cardiac marker enzymes in ISO-treated rats. We also observed that elevated levels of lipid peroxidative indices decreased activities of antioxidant status in plasma, erythrocyte, and heart tissue in ISO-induced rats. Furthermore, ISO-treated rats showed an increase in the levels of inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum. Besides, we confirmed the upregulated expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells in ISO-induced rat heart tissue. Conversely, we found that AP pretreatment significantly decreased levels of cardiac markers like serum cardiac troponin T and cardiac troponin I, lipid peroxidative markers, and restored antioxidants status in ISO-treated rats. Besides, AP administration attenuated ISO-induced inflammatory marker expression. The present findings demonstrated that AP significantly protects the myocardium and exerts cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental rats.

Background: Many efforts have been made to investigate the role played by cytokines in the development of hypertension. But few reports exist on the association between cytokines and hypertensive renal damage. This study was to observe the changes of the serum levels of cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with hypertensive renal damage, whereby to study the correlation of TNF-a and IL-6 with the hypertensive renal damage. Methods: According to their urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), 102 patients with essential hypertension were divided into three groups: normoalbuminuria hypertensive group (n = 37), microalbuminuria hypertensive group (n = 36), and proteinuric hypertensive group (n = 29). Serum TNF-a and IL-6 of all subjects were measured with radioimmune assay. Thirty age-and gendermatched normotensive persons were selected as normotensive control group. Results: Serum levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with essential hypertension than those in normotensive control group (p < 0.5). Serum levels of TNF-a and IL-6 increased in proportion to UAER. The statistical significance was present among groups (p < 0.05). Both TNF-a and IL-6 were found to have a positive correlation with UAER (r = 0.79, p < 0.01; r = 0.75, p < 0.01), but not with the levels of blood pressure (BP). Conclusions: TNF-a and IL-6 are remarkably increased in hypertensive patients and may play an important role in the pathogenesis and the development of hypertensive renal damage.

Background Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, acute and fatal disease of the central nervous system caused by infection with Naegleria fowleri (Heggie, in Travel Med Infect Dis 8:201–6, 2010). Presently, the majority of reported cases in the literature have been diagnosed through pathogen detection pathogens in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This report highlights the first case of pediatric PAM diagnosed with amoeba infiltration within CSF and bloodstream of an 8-year-old male child, validated through meta-genomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Case presentation An 8-year-old male child was admitted to hospital following 24 h of fever, headache and vomiting and rapidly entered into a coma. CSF examination was consistent with typical bacterial meningitis. However, since targeted treatment for this condition proved to be futile, the patient rapidly progressed to brain death. Finally, the patient was referred to our hospital where he was confirmed with brain death. CSF and blood samples were consequently analyzed through mNGS. N. fowleri was detected in both samples, although the sequence copy number in the blood was lower than for CSF. The pathogen diagnosis was further verified by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Conclusions This is the first reported case of pediatric PAM found in mainland China. The results indicate that N. fowleri may spread outside the central nervous system through a damaged blood–brain barrier.

epigallocatechin-3-gallate (eGcG) is beneficial for inhibiting dyslipidemia and reducing hyperlipidemic risk. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the glycolipid regulatory effects and potential mechanisms of eGcG in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2dM) mouse model. The results demonstrated that eGcG can decrease blood glucose levels and increase insulin resistance in T2dM mice. in addition, eGcG can regulate serum lipid levels, including those of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein receptor (ldl-r), and reduce lipid deposition in vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. in addition, the gene and protein expression of related scavenger receptors, including cluster of differentiation 36, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SreBP), SreBP cleavage-activating protein and ldl-r, were downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. The present study noted that eGcG possesses potential as a natural product for preventing and treating metabolic hyperlipidemia syndrome, probably by reducing the blood lipid levels, alleviating vascular endothelial cell damage, maintaining normal lipid metabolism in blood vessels and ameliorating glycolipid disorders.

Background The efficacy and safety of PCSK-9 inhibitors were confirmed by several clinical trials, but its effectiveness in routine clinical practice in China is unknown. Objective To describe the real world effectiveness of initiated with PCSK-9 inhibitors combined with statins compared with statins among patients with very high risk of ASCVD and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This is a prospective study, enrolled patients from 32 hospitals between January to June 2019. The lipid control rate and incidence of cardiovascular events over 6 months were compared between two groups. A propensity score-matched analysis was used to balance two groups on confounding factors. Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier methods was applied for cardiovascular events. Results In a total of 3063 patients, 89.91% had received moderate or high-intensity statin therapy before PCI, but only 9.47% had LDL levels below 1.4mmol/L at baseline. In the PSM selected patients, LDL level was reduced by 42.57% in PCSK-9 inhibitor group and 30.81% (P<0.001) in statins group after 6 months. The proportion of LDL[?]1.0mmol/L increased from 5.29% to 29.26% in PCSK-9 inhibitor group and 0.23% to 6.11% in statins group, and the proportion of LDL[?]1.4mmol/L increased from 10.36% to 47.69% and 2.99% to 18.43% (P<0.001 for both). PCSK-9 inhibitor significantly reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events versus statins treatment (2.07% vs 8.29%, HR, 0.24, 95% CI, 0.12-0.51). Conclusion In the real world, PCSK-9 inhibitors combined with statins could significantly reduce LDL levels and risk of cardiovascular events among patients with very high risk of ASCVD.

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