Lithium Bromide-Induced Organic-Rich Cathode/Electrolyte Interphase for High-Voltage and Flame-Retardant All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid electrolyte suffers from limited anodic stability and an intrinsic flammable issue, hindering the achievement of high energy density and safe all-solid-state lithium batteries. Herein, we surprisingly found out that a bromine-rich additive, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), could be preferably oxidized at an elevated voltage and decompose to lithium bromide at an elevated potential followed by inducing an organic-rich cathode/electrolyte interphase (CEI) on NCM811 surface, enabling both high-voltage resistance (up to 4.5 V) and flame-retardancy for the PEO-based electrolyte. On the basis of this novel solid electrolyte, all-solid-state Li/NCM811 batteries deliver an average reversible capacity of 151.4 mAh g^-1 over the first 150 cycles with high capacity retention (83.0%) and high average Coulombic efficiency (99.7%) even at a 4.5 V cutoff voltage with a unprecedented flame-retardant properties. In view of these exploration, our studies revealed the critical role of LiBr in inducing an organic-rich thin and uniform CEI passivating layer with enhanced lithium ion surface diffusion and high-voltage resistant properties, which provides a new protocol for the further design of a high-voltage PEO-based all-solid-state electrolyte.

Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action and insensitivity in airways disease

Glucocorticoids are the mainstay for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it has been recognized that glucocorticoids do not work well in certain patient populations suggesting reduced sensitivity. The ultimate biologic responses to glucocorticoids are determined by not only the concentration of glucocorticoids but also the differences between individuals in glucocorticoid sensitivity, which is influenced by multiple factors. Studies are emerging to understand these mechanisms in detail, which would help in increasing glucocorticoid sensitivity in patients with chronic airways disease. This review aims to highlight both classical and emerging concepts of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of glucocorticoids and also review some novel strategies to overcome steroid insensitivity in airways disease.

Plasminogen-stimulated airway smooth muscle cell proliferation is mediated by urokinase and annexin A2, involving plasmin-activated cell signalling

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The conversion of plasminogen into plasmin by interstitial urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is potentially important in asthma pathophysiology. In this study, the effect of uPA-mediated plasminogen activation on airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation was investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Human ASM cells were incubated with plasminogen (0.5-50 μg·mL(-1) ) or plasmin (0.5-50 mU·mL(-1) ) in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors, including UK122, an inhibitor of uPA. Proliferation was assessed by increases in cell number or MTT reduction after 48 h incubation with plasmin(ogen), and by earlier increases in [(3) H]-thymidine incorporation and cyclin D1 expression.

KEY RESULTS

Plasminogen (5 μg·mL(-1) )-stimulated increases in cell proliferation were attenuated by UK122 (10 μM) or by transfection with uPA gene-specific siRNA. Exogenous plasmin (5 mU·mL(-1) ) also stimulated increases in cell proliferation. Inhibition of plasmin-stimulated ERK1/2 or PI3K/Akt signalling attenuated plasmin-stimulated increases in ASM proliferation. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of cell signalling mediated by the EGF receptor, a receptor trans-activated by plasmin, also reduced plasmin(ogen)-stimulated cell proliferation. Knock down of annexin A2, which has dual roles in both plasminogen activation and plasmin-signal transduction, also attenuated ASM cell proliferation following incubation with either plasminogen or plasmin.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Plasminogen stimulates ASM cell proliferation in a manner mediated by uPA and involving multiple signalling pathways downstream of plasmin. Targeting mediators of plasminogen-evoked ASM responses, such as uPA or annexin A2, may be useful in the treatment of asthma.

Secreted factors from human mast cells trigger inflammatory cytokine production by human airway smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND

A notable feature of allergic asthma is the infiltration of mast cells into smooth muscle in the human airway. Thus, mast cells and human airway smooth muscle (hASM) cells are likely to exhibit mutual functional modulation via direct cell-cell contact or through released factors. This study examined mast cell modulation of hASM cell cytokine release.

METHODS

The mast cell line HMCα was used to model mast cell function. hASM cells were either co-cultured directly with resting or IgE/antigen-stimulated HMCα cells or treated with HMCα-conditioned media to examine the impact on cytokine release. The activation pathways triggered in hASM cells by the mast cell-derived factors were examined through the use of selective inhibitors and by Western blotting.

RESULTS

HMCα cells, or their conditioned media, induced the expression of cytokines (IL-8 and IL-6) by hASM cells at both the mRNA and the protein level. Cytokine expression in hASM cells was greatly amplified when HMCα cells were IgE/antigen-activated. The effects of the conditioned media were not mediated by the chemokines MCP-1 and MIP-1α or by exosomes. While the mast cell-derived factor(s) increased p38(MAPK) phosphorylation in hASM cells, cytokine production was not inhibited by the p38(MAPK) inhibitor SB203580. hASM cell production of IL-8 induced by HMCα condition media but not IL-6 was, however, attenuated by the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the release of soluble mediators by activated mast cells can stimulate hASM cells to elicit production of proinflammatory cytokines that may then exacerbate airway inflammation in asthma.

[Urinary RBP and glucocorticoid hormone therapy sensibility in adult primary nephrotic syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the relationship between the renal tubular function and the efficacy of glucocorticoid, in adult patients with primary nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS

Pro- and post-therapy urinary RBP and NAG were determined double antibodies sandwich ELISA and color comparimetry with p-nitrate reductase, respectively, in eighty adult patients with primary nephritic syndrome, according to the concentrations of urinary protein, these patients were divided into three no remission group, partial remission group and fully remission group, fifty-one normal persons as control group. Renal tubular function parameters among groups were compared before and after therapy, and the results were analysed when those parameters were used to predict the sensibility of glucocorticoid therapy.

RESULTS

1. There were no significant differences in urinary RBP, NAG and protein levels before treatment among patient groups (P > 0.05); 2. There were significant decreases in urinary RBP and NAG following glucocorticoid therapy in those response to glucocorticoid (P < 0.01); 3. There were significant differences in urinary protein, RBP and NAG among three groups of patients with primary nephrotic syndrome after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Determination of urinary RBP may predict the sensibility of the therapy in the adult patients with primary nephrotic syndrome and its diagnostic efficiency is better than urinary NAG.

[Effects on ang II receptor antagonist on experimental glomerulosclerosis]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan in experimental glomerulosclerosis.

METHODS

The 5/6 nephrectomized rats were randomly divided into losartan treatment group and control group, the rats with sham operation served as normal control. Urine proteins were measured in the 2nd, 4th and 6th week after operation, and serum BUN, creatinine, total protein and albumin were measured in the 6th week following operation. Renal pathologic changes were evaluated in the 6th week.

RESULTS

Losartan not only reduced urine protein, serum creatinine and BUN(P < 0.01), but also significantly ameliorated glomerular mesangial proliferation and glomerular sclerosis.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that losartan can retard progression of glomerulosclerosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.

[Therapeutic effects of Chinese drugs on early renal damage of rats caused by fish bile]

The therapeutic effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae, Typha angustifolia, Rheum palmatum preparations on early renal damage of rats caused by fish bile were observed. These drugs were effective in reducing serum creatinine, urinary NAGase, count of necrosed epithelial cells of proximal tubule and that of glomerular filled with RBC in Bowman's space (P < 0.05), and also effective in increasing creatinine clearance (P < 0.05).