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Electrochromic materials were discovered in the 1960s when scientists observed reversible changes between the light and dark states in WO 3 thin films under different voltages. Since then, researchers have identified various electrochromic material systems, including transition metal oxides, polymer materials, and small molecules. However, the electrochromic phenomenon has rarely been observed in non-metallic elemental substances. Herein, we propose the development of non-metallic iodine electrodeposition-based electrochromic dynamic windows using a water-in-salt electrolyte containing iodine ions. The unique electrolyte environment and solvation structure of the water-in-salt electrolyte suppress the dissolution and shuttle effect of iodine, thereby achieving a different reaction pathway compared to traditional electrolytes. This pathway involves a reversible solid-liquid transition between solid iodine and solvated iodide ions. The iodine electrodeposition-based electrochromic dynamic window demonstrates a high optical contrast of 76.0% with near colour neutrality and excellent cycling stability. A practical 400 cm 2 complementary dynamic window is fabricated to demonstrate good electrochromic performance, including high optical contrast, a near colour-neutral opaque state, fast response time, uniform modulation, and polarity-switchable functionality. Several electrochromic material systems have been described but the electrochromic phenomenon has rarely been observed in non-metallic elemental substances. Here, the authors describe iodine electrodeposition-based electrochromic windows using a water-in-salt electrolyte containing iodine ions, achieving optical contrast, near colour neutrality, and excellent cycling stability.

Irrespective of the specific see-through device, obtaining optimal transparency remains the primary goal. In this work, we introduce a general strategy to enhance the transparency of various see-through devices. We achieve this by structuring the colored functional materials into imperceptible three-dimensional mesh lines, addressing a common challenge in multi-layer structures where each layer causes a reduction in transparency due to their color or opacity. To overcome this limitation, we selectively integrate functional materials into micron-wide groove structures transforming functional layers to functional meshes. Regardless of the initial color of the functional material, the resulting functional mesh can exhibit a high transmittance of 88% (vs. air) under any operating state while maintaining its intended function within the device. We apply this strategy to fabricate proof-of-concept of devices such as electrochromic devices, supercapacitors, and zinc batteries, all of which exhibit remarkable overall transparency when compared to the multi-layer device. Colored functional layers are transformed into imperceptible functional meshes. In doing so, various see-through devices are no longer susceptible to the color or opacity of the functional materials and have enhanced transparency.

Several studies have reported that tacrolimus (TAC) significantly reduced proteinuria in lupus nephritis (LN) patients and mouse models. However, the mechanism for this effect remains undetermined. This study explored the mechanism of how TAC protects podocytes from injury to identify new targets for protecting renal function. MRL/lpr mice were given TAC at a dosage of 0.1 mg/kg per day by intragastric administration for 8 weeks. Urine and blood samples were collected. Kidney sections (2 μm) were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff base (PAS) and Masson's trichrome stain. Mouse podocyte cells (MPC5) were treated with TAC and/or TGF-β1 for 48 h. The mRNA levels and protein expression of synaptopodin and Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) were determined by real-time PCR, Western blotting and/or immunofluorescence, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis with annexin V. Podocyte foot processes were observed under transmission electron microscopy. IgG and C3 deposition were assessed with immunofluorescence assays and confocal microscopy. Synaptopodin expression significantly decreased in MRL/lpr disease control mice, accompanied by increases in 24-h proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine. TAC, however, reduced proteinuria, improved renal function, attenuated renal pathology, restored synaptopodin expression and preserved podocyte numbers. In MPC5 cells, TGF-β1 enhanced F-actin damage in podocytes and TAC stabilized it. TAC also decreased TGF-β1-induced podocyte apoptosis in vitro and inhibited foot process fusion in MRL/lpr mice. In addition, our results also showed TAC inhibited glomerular deposition of IgG and C3. This study demonstrated that TAC reduced proteinuria and preserved renal function in LN through protecting podocytes from injury partly by stabilizing podocyte actin cytoskeleton and inhibiting podocyte apoptosis.

With the increasing interest in the application of electrochromism to flexible and wearable electronics in recent years, flexible electrochromic devices (ECDs) that can function at extreme temperatures are required. However, the functionalities of flexible ECDs are severely hampered by the inadequate choice of electrolytes, which might ultimately result in performance fading during low‐ and high‐temperature operations. Here, we develop a deep eutectic solvent (DES)‐based gel electrolyte that can maintain its optical, electrical, and mechanical properties over a wide range of temperatures (−40 to 150°C), exhibiting an extremely high visible‐range transmittance over 90%, ion conductivity of 0.63 mS cm−1, and fracture strain exceeding 2000%. Owing to the excellent processability of the DES‐based electrolytes, provided by dynamic interactions such as the lithium and hydrogen bonding between the DES and polymer matrix, a directly written patterning in ECDs is realized for the first time. The fabricated ECDs exhibit an excellent electrochromic behavior superior to the behavior of the ECDs fabricated with traditional gel electrolytes. The introduction of such DES‐based electrolytes is expected to pave the way for a widespread application of electrochromic products. The gel electrolyte constructed with deep eutectic solvent (DES) and acrylate‐based copolymer enables a direct writing electrolyte layer for patterning in flexible electrochromic devices (ECDs), which can maintain its excellent optical transparency, electrical, and mechanical properties over a wide span of temperature ranging from −40 to 150°C.

Background The exact optimal timing of dialysis for ESKD patients remains unknown. This study systematically reviewed the available evidence with regard to the optimal initiation of maintenance dialysis in ESKD patients. Methods An electronic search was performed in Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Library in order to find studies investigating associations between variables reference to “start of dialysis” and outcomes. Quality assessment and bias assessment were performed by the Newcastle–Ottawa scale and the ROBINSI tool. Due to the heterogeneity of studies, a meta-analysis could not be performed. Results Thirteen studies were included; four studies included only haemodialysis patients, three peritoneal dialysis, six both; study outcomes included mortality, cardiovascular events, technique failure, quality of life and others. Nine studies mainly focused on the optimal GFR of maintenance dialysis initiation; five studies showed none association between GFR and mortality or other adverse outcomes, two studies showed dialysis initiation at higher GFR levels were with poor prognosis, and 2 studies showed higher GFR levels with better prognosis. Three studies paid attention to comprehensive assessment of uremic signs and/or symptoms for optimal dialysis initiation; uremic burden based on 7 uremic indicators (hemoglobin, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, potassium, phosphorus, and bicarbonate) were not associated with mortality; another equation (combination of sex, age, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum albumin, haemoglobin, serum phosphorus, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure) based on fuzzy mathematics to assess the timing of haemodialysis initiation was accuracy to prognose 3-year survival; the third study found that volume overload or hypertension was associated with the highest risk for subsequent mortality. Two studies compared urgent or optimal start in dialysis, a study reported increased survival in optimal start patients, another reported no differences between Urgent-Start-PD and Early-Start-PD regarding 6-month outcomes. Limitations: Heterogeneity among the studies was quite high, with differences in sample size, variable and group characteristics; no RCT studies were included, which weakened the strength of evidences. Conclusions The criteria for dialysis initiation were varied. Most studies proved that GFR at dialysis initiation was not associated with mortality, timing of dialysis initiation should not be based on GFR, assessments of volume load and patient’s tolerance to volume overload are prospective approaches.

Background We studied patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and compared those with and without renal vasculitic lesions (RVLs). Methods From January 2006 to December 2011, patients with biopsy-proven primary IgAN at our institution were retrospectively examined and assigned to an RVL group or a no-RVL group. RVLs were defined as thromboses in arteries and/or arterioles, necrosis of capillary loops, crescent formation, and fibrinoid necrosis of small blood vessels. The association of RVLs with clinical outcomes was analyzed using multivariate models. The primary composite endpoint was end-stage renal disease or doubling of serum creatinine. Results There were 1570 patients, 50.2% (788) with RVLs and 49.8% (782) without RVLs. The RVL group was younger; had shorter disease course, more severe proteinuria and hematuria, worse renal function; and were prescribed more steroids and/or immunosuppressants. The RVL group had a greater prevalence of global glomerular sclerosis, more crescents, and a higher Oxford classification grade. A total of 501 patients in the RVL group (50.7%) and 487 in the no-RVL group (49.3%) completed follow-up. The RVL group was more likely to reach the composite endpoint after 1, 3, and 5 years (all P  < 0.001). Proteinuria, anemia, low eGFR, and global and segmental sclerosis were independent predictors of progression to the composite endpoint in patients with RVLs. Conclusions Almost half of our IgAN patients had RVLs, and these patients were younger and had worse renal function, with more severe proteinuria, hematuria, and severe pathologic lesions. IgAN patients with RVLs had worse renal outcomes than those without RVLs.

Background Atherosclerosis is driven by synergistic interactions between pathological biomechanical and lipid metabolic factors. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been implicated in atherogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of lncRNA AI662270 on macrophage cholesterol transport in atherosclerosis. Methods Apolipoprotein E deficiency ( ApoE −/− ) mice were fed a high fat diet for 16 weeks to construct atherosclerotic model, and the mice were injected with recombinant lentivirus carrying AI662270 gene to overexpress AI662270. Macrophages were cleared by liposomal clondronate in vivo. Fundamental experiments and functional assays, hematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining and others, were performed to evaluate the function of AI662270 on atherogenesis. Peritoneal macrophages were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate in vitro model. Mechanism assays, RNA-interacting protein immunoprecipitation, RNA–protein pulldown and others, were performed to study the regulatory mechanism of AI662270 in macrophages. Results The novel AI662270 was mainly enriched in macrophages, but not in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts of mouse atherosclerotic lesions and was upregulated by ox-LDL. Overexpression of AI662270 resulted in lipid accumulation, larger atherosclerotic plaques and cardiac dysfunction in vivo. After macrophages were removed, the pro-atherogenic effect of AI662270 disappeared. Downregulation of AI662270 in macrophages protected against foam cell formation by potentiating cholesterol efflux and reducing intracellular total cholesterol. The opposite effect was observed in macrophage-specific AI662270-overexpressed cells in vitro. AI662270 bound to adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (Abca1) responsible for regulating cholesterol efflux in macrophages. Forced expression of AI662270 in macrophages decreased Abca1 expression. The reverse occurred when expression of AI662270 was repressed. Conclusion These findings reveal an essential role for AI662270 in atherosclerosis progression by regulating cholesterol efflux from macrophages.

The chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder（CKD-MBD) is known to be associated with increased mortality in dialysis patients, but whether current global guidelines for CKD-MBD, which were primarily developed from hemodialysis, are suitable for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients practice require further investigation. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. In total 491 prevalent PD patients (median follow-ups: 34 months) from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 2004 to December 2017 were included and followed until 30 June 2018. In the first dialysis year, the average levels of serum calcium, albumin-corrected calcium (CorCa), phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were the interested predictors in Cox proportional regression model. Of these PD patients (age 58 ± 17 years), 52% were male and 36% had diabetic nephropathy. In Cox regression over first-year mean parameters, PTH <100 pg/mL (HR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.94, p < 0.001) and ≥300 pg/mL (HR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.32 to 3.81, p = 0.003) were associated with increased all-cause mortality than that of PTH 100-200 pg/mL. Patients with albumin-corrected serum calcium level < 2.13 mmol/L also had higher risk of death than patients with level of 2.13 to 2.38 mmol/L (HR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.01, p = 0.02). Serum phosphorus ≥1.45 mmol/L were associated with increased all-cause mortality. However, lacking of data on 25-hydroxy vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and activated vitamin-D are limitations of our analysis. As one of the largest PD cohort study focusing on CKD-MBD, we demonstrated that the level of CKD-MBD markers in the first PD year are independent predictors of all-cause mortality. PTH 100-300 pg/mL might be the best target for Chinese PD patients.

: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is widely recognized as an autoimmune kidney disease that is accompanied by the discovery of several autoantibodies, and the antibody subclass in the circulation of patients with iMN is mainly IgG. However, the direct pathogenic effect of the containing anti-PLA2R IgG antibody on podocytes is not clear. A protein G affinity chromatography column was used to purify serum IgG antibodies. Containing anti-PLA2R IgG antibodies from iMN patients and IgG from healthy controls were also obtained. Based on the established podocyte culture system, purified IgG antibodies from the two groups were used to stimulate podocytes, and the expression of essential podocyte proteins (podocin), the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the cell supernatant, cytoskeletal disorders, and podocyte apoptosis were analyzed. Compared with that in the normal IgG group, the expression of podocin and podocin mRNA was reduced (  = 0.016 and  = 0.005, respectively), the fluorescence intensity of podocin on the surface of podocytes was reduced, the cytoskeleton of podocytes was disordered and reorganized, and the ratio of podocyte apoptosis was increased in the iMN group (  = 0.008). The containing anti-PLA2R IgG antibody might have a direct damaging effect on podocytes in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Objective: Co-deposition of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and IgG4 anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) autoantibodies under subepithelial cells has been observed in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN), but the relationships of MBL deposition to iMN severity and progression remain unclear. Methods: Patients diagnosed with iMN who underwent renal puncture were enrolled and followed up for a median of 17 months (interquartile range [IQR], 9–25 months). Serum anti-PLA2R and anti-thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A antibodies and MBL were detected by ELISA. Glomerular MBL and anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence. Proteinuria remission, including complete remission (CR), was defined as a clinical event. Clinicopathological characteristics and kidney outcomes were compared between patients with and without MBL deposition. Results: In 67 prevalent patients with biopsy-proven iMN, serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and anti-THSD7A antibodies were present in 37 (55.3%) and 1 (1.4%) patient with iMN. The positivity of glomerular MBL deposition and tissue anti-PLA2R antibody was 53 (79.1%) and 49 (73.1%), respectively. No significant difference was found between the MBL-positive and negative groups in the albumin level (26.5 ± 6.6 and 28.6 ± 6.1 g/L), eGFR (104.8 ± 17.4 and 114.6 ± 16.1 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), 24-h proteinuria (5.35 and 4.25 g/day), or serum MBL level corrected by serum Cr 4.92 (IQR, 0.86, 8.90) and 2.28 (IQR, 0.4, 5.62). In a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for sex, age, systolic blood pressure, eGFR, immunosuppressive agent use, 24-h proteinuria, and anti-PLA2R antibody concentration, glomerular MBL deposition was independently associated with ICR of proteinuria (HR, 6.31; 95% CI, 1.1–36.1; p = 0.039). Conclusions: The MBL pathway of complement activation is commonly initiated in patients with iMN, and patients with MBL deposition reach ICR faster than patients without MBL deposition.