Search

Aimin Luo,3 Shunkai Lai,1 Tingting He,4 Yuchong Luo,2 Ying Wang,5 Yiliang Zhang,1 Shiyi Shen,4 Hui Huang,4 Shenglin Wen,2 Yanbin Jia11Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; 3Department of Psychology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; 4School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; 5Medical Imaging Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yanbin JiaDepartment of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaTel +86 13392489168Fax +86 020-38688888Email [email protected] Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of working memory (WM) impairment in drug-naive obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by using neuropsychological tests and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Patients and Methods: A total of 55 patients with drug-naive OCD and 55 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. The working memory (WM) was evaluated using the digit span test (DST), visual space memory test (VSMT), and the 2-back task and stroop color word test (SCWT). The bilateral metabolite levels of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were evaluated by 1H-MRS, then determined the ratios of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and myo-inositol (MI) to creatine (Cr). The independent sample t-test was used to analyse the differences in WM performance and neurometabolite ratios. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to screen the influential factors of WM, with an introduction level of 0.05 and a rejection level of 0.10. Results: 1) Patients with OCD performed significantly worse on DST (score), VSMT (score), 2-back task (accuracy rate), SCWT (execution time) when compared with HCs. 2) NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the left PFC (lPFC) and MI/Cr ratios in the bilateral PFC of OCD patients were significantly lower when compared to HCs. 3) For OCD patients, the NAA/Cr ratio in the lPFC was negatively correlated with the score of DST (forwards), the Cho/Cr ratio in the lPFC was positively correlated with the accuracy rate of 2-back task, and the MI/Cr ratio in the right PFC (rPFC) was positively correlated with the score of DST (forwards) and the accuracy rate of VSMT. We also found that the compulsive symptoms showed a positive correlation with MI/Cr ratio of the rPFC. Conclusion: Drug-naive OCD patients have demonstrated WM impairments, including phonological loop, visual-spatial sketchpad and central executive system, and the WM impairments might be associated with hypometabolism in the PFC, especially the lPFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser shock hole-clinching is a high–strain rate mechanical joining process in which the metal foils are joined together based on plastic deformation generated by a laser-induced shock wave. In the process, fracture is a typical defect and seriously influences the clinching quality and production efficiency of joints. However, the classification and variation of fracture modes in laser shock hole-clinching are of less concern. In this study, the fracture mode of Cu-Fe joints in laser shock hole-clinching was experimentally investigated. Both optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were adopted to analyze the fracture surface morphology of clinched joints. The influence of laser power density, laser spot diameter, the initial grain size and thickness of metal foil, and spacer height on the fracture mode of joints was evaluated. It is revealed that the temperature increase caused by high–strain rate plastic deformation has no impact on the fracture behavior of the joining partners. Fracture always occurs on joining partner I, and it can be divided into four modes, including bottom surface fracture, bottom corner fracture, neck fracture, and mixed fracture. It is found that fracture on the bottom surface is seldom seen but mixed fracture accounts for most of the cracked specimens. Neck tensile fracture rarely appears alone, and it usually exists accompanied by fracture on the bottom corner. The fracture mode varies from a tensile fracture mode on the bottom corner to a mixed fracture mode and then to a shear fracture mode on the neck with the enhancement of laser power density. In addition, the initial grain size of joining partner I has a significant impact on the fracture mode of clinched joints. The fracture mode varies from bottom corner fracture to mixed fracture in relation to the change of mechanical properties of metal foil with an enlarged grain size. However, the mixed fracture mode always appears with the enlargement of both laser spot diameter and spacer height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying mechanism of cognitive impairment in bipolar II depression (BD II) remains unclear. Studies show disturbances of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis are suspected of correlating to brain neurometabolic alterations and cognitive deficits in psychiatric disorders. While, the nature of their inter-relationships in BD II depression remain enigmatic. 106 patients with unmedicated BD II depression and 100 healthy controls underwent cognitive function assessment using Trail Making Test, Part-A (TMT-A), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Semantic Verbal Fluency testing (SVF). Of those, 69 patients and 53 healthy controls had serum thyroid hormone levels measured including free tri-iodothyronine (FT3), total tri-iodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxin (FT4), total thyroxin (TT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Additionally, 79 of the patients and 76 of the healthy controls underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) to obtain ratios of N -acetyl aspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr) and choline-containing compounds to creatine (Cho/Cr) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus. Finally, association and multiple regression analysis were conducted to investigate their inter-relationships. Patients with BD II depression showed significantly lower DSST and verbal fluency scores and longer completion time of TMT-A than did healthy controls. The FT3, TT3, and TSH levels of the BD cohort significantly decreased, while their FT4 levels increased. We also found significantly lower NAA/Cr ratios in the PFC and higher NAA/Cr ratios in the left thalamus of patients with BD II depression than in healthy controls. Furthermore, association analysis showed that increased FT4 negatively correlated to DSST and SVF, while increased FT4 correlation significantly with increasing TSH and DSST. Multiple regression analyses revealed relationships between TSH and NAA in the left PFC and the left thalamus, while correlating to SVF testing within the BD II depression cohort. Our results demonstrate coinciding thyroid hormone abnormalities, cognitive dysfunction, and neurometabolic alterations of the PFC-thalamic circuitry occur in an early course of BD II depression. Further understanding of the interaction between thyroid-stimulating hormone and NAA/Cr of PFC-thalamic circuitry may shed light on the etiology of associated cognitive impairment. • A significantly negative correlation of FT4 to DSST and to SVF, along with a significantly positive correlation of TSH to DSST in patients with BD II depression. • The FT4 levels had a significantly inverse association with NAA/Cr ratios in the left PWM and a significantly positive correlation of TSH levels to NAA/Cr ratios in the left PWM and left thalamus of BD II depression. • The interaction of abnormal thyroid hormones levels and NAA/Cr neurometabolic disruption of the PWM and the thalamus may impact cognitive function in patients with BD II depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence of the relationship between neurometabolic changes in the cortico-striato-cerebellar (CSC) circuit and bipolar disorder (BD) is still limited. To elucidate the pathogenesis of BD, we investigated the underlying neurometabolic changes and their effect on CSC lateralization circuits in unmedicated patients with bipolar II depression.Methods: Forty unmedicated participants with bipolar II depression and forty healthy controls underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We obtained bilateral metabolic ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho)/Cr in the prefrontal white matter (PWM), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), basal ganglia (BG) and the cerebellum. Metabolic ratios were characterized using a laterality index (LI) for left-right asymmetry.Results: Overall, aberrant lateralization in the CSC circuit was characteristic in patients with bipolar II depression. Patients with bipolar II depression showed significantly lower NAA/Cr ratios in the left PWM, right ACC, left BG and left cerebellum when compared with the healthy controls. For bipolar II depression, we found lower NAA/Cr LI in the PWM, BG, and cerebellum, higher NAA/Cr LI in the ACC, and higher Cho/Cr LI in the BG and cerebellum when compared to the standard value (1.0). For healthy controls, we found lower NAA/Cr LI only in the BG and higher Cho/Cr LI in the cerebellum when compared to 1.0.Limitations: As a cross-sectional study with a small sample size, progressive changes and complex metabolic interactions with treatment were not observed.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that abnormal biochemical metabolism with aberrant lateralization in the CSC circuit may be an underlying pathophysiology of bipolar II depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochromic materials that undergo reversibility and nondestructive readout are of imperious demands in optoelectronics and functional biomaterials. The development of these materials showing high performance of photochromism and fluorescent switching in larger polar solvents or solid state still remains huge challenge. In this contribution, we rationally designed and prepared two novel cyanostilbene-functionalized dithienylethenes with aggregation-induced emission, whose chemical structures were well confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS (ESI), and XRD. Preliminary evaluation of their photoswitching behavior revealed good photochromism and fluorescent switching behaviors in different solvents, aggregated and solid states. Moreover, the water-soluble nanoparticles were fabricated by using an amphiphilic Pluronic F127 as the encapsulating matrix. Remarkably, excellent photoswitching behavior was also observed in the water-soluble nanosystem. It was interesting that they could be applied in recording and erasing information storage. Accordingly, they may be applied in the field of smart optoelectronics and functional biomaterials as novel multi-media photochromic materials. [Display omitted] • Two novel cyanostilbene-functionalized DTEs with AIE were developed. • They showed efficient photoswitching behavior in various solvents, aggregated and solid states. • Excellent photoswitching behavior was observed in the water-soluble nanosystem. • Various images can be reversibly patterned and erased with masks upon alternating irradiation with UV and red light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olefinic substrates bearing different N-heterocyclic ring systems are subjected to a triflic acid mediated title reaction to produce the addition products shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared (NIR) photochromic materials, especially with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features, have lately aroused great research interest for their wide application potential in the fields of functional biomaterials and optical electronics. In this contribution, a new donor-acceptor-type (D-A-type) dithienylethene (TDC) appended by triphenylethene and dicyanovinyl fragments at both ends of dithienylethene was rationally constructed and prepared. The chemical structure of TDC has been well analyzed by HRMS (ESI), 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and XRD. TDC displayed NIR-like photochromic properties with strong fatigue resistance in toluene, THF and 1,4-dioxane when exposed to UV/NIR light. The ring-open isomer TDC (o) showed typical luminescent and AIE-like behaviors in the solid state before illumination with UV light. Furthermore, effective photochromic properties and fluorescent switching behavior was observed in the solid and aggregated states. Interestingly, TDC displayed unexpected aggregation-controlled photochromism in the mixtures of H 2 O/DMSO. Accordingly, TDC represents a new multi-state NIR photochromic dithienylethene and can be further applied in smart optoelectronics and functional biomaterials. [Display omitted] • A novel donor-acceptor type dithienylethene was successfully developed. • It displayed NIR photochromic properties in toluene, THF and 1,4-dioxane. • The ring-open isomer showed typical aggregation-induced emission. • Effective photoswitching behavior was observed in the aggregated and solid states. • It showed aggregation-controlled photochromism in the mixtures of H 2 O/DMSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To have a comprehensive investigation of the clinicopathologic, histologic and cytologic features of fusion-positive lung adenocarcinomas. Methods: Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) were simultaneously performed to screen ALK, ROS1 and RET fusions in resected tumor samples from 1139 Chinese lung adenocarcinoma patients, with validation of positive results using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Clinicopathologic characteristics, predominant histologic subtype and cytomorphology were assessed in fusion-positive lung adenocarcinomas and compared to those harboring EGFR, KRAS, HER2 or BRAF mutations. Results: There were 58 (5.1%) ALK fusions, 11 (1.0%) ROS1 fusions and 15 (1.3%) RET fusions. Tumors with ROS1 fusions had significantly larger diameter than ROS1 fusion-negative tumors (P =0.007), whereas all the 15 tumors harboring RET fusions were ≤3cm in diameter (P =0.001). The three fusion genes were all more prevalent in solid-predominant adenocarcinoma. Compared to fusion-negative lung adenocarcinomas, tumors harboring a fusion gene had significantly higher prevalence of extracellular mucin (P <0.001), cribriform pattern (P <0.001), signet ring cells (P <0.001) and hepatoid cytology (P <0.001). No significant difference in relapse-free survival (P =0.147) and overall survival (P =0.444) was observed between fusion-positive and fusion-negative patients. Conclusions: This study showed fusion-positive lung adenocarcinomas had identifiable common and fusion-pattern specific clinicopathologic, histologic and cytologic features, offering implications for fusion genes screening. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Some heterogeneous catalysts, cupric oxide supported on different supports, were prepared and employed to catalyze the cyclopropanation of styrene and 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA). The catalytic performance for cyclopropanation strongly depends on the nature of the support. A novel catalyst, CuO/TiO2-Al2O3, in which Al2O3 is modified with a monolayer TiO2, is found to be most active and selective for the cyclopropanation reaction. The yields of 93 and 94% cyclopropanes are obtained for styrene and 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene at 40 °C as the substrates, respectively. The activity and selectivity in cyclopropanes are optimized with a monolayer dispersion of cupric oxide on the corresponding supports. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Patients with esophageal cancer can benefit from extended lymphadenectomy. However, the role of 3-field lymphadenectomy is unclear, and the extent of lymphadenectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer is still under discussion. Methods From June 2013 to November 2016, 400 patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to receive 3-field (3FL, n = 200) or the 2-field (2FL, n = 200) lymphadenectomy. The postoperative complications, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, and lymph node metastasis were compared on the basis of intention-to-treat principle. Results Baseline characteristics were balanced between the 2 arms. There were 187 patients (93.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma in 3FL arm, and 192 (96.0%) in the 2FL arm, P = 0262. According to the pathological reports, T staging in the 2 arms were comparable, however more N3 patients in the 3FL arm (10.5%, 21/200) than that in the 2FL arm (10%, 5/200), P = 0040. Consequently, less TNM staging I patients in the 3FL arm (16.0%, 32/200) than that in the 2FL arm (25.5%, 51/200), P = 0.019. Operating time was significantly longer in the 3FL arm (median, 183 vs. 168 [2FL] minutes, P  < 0.001). Six patients in the 3FL arm (3%, 6/200) had reintubation, whereas no reintubation in the 2 FL arm (0%, 0/200), P = 0.030. Other postoperative complications were comparable in the 2 arms. One patient in the 2-field arm died of chyloperitoneum. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, the distribution of severity were similar between the 2 arms, P = 0.416. More lymph nodes were resected in the 3FL arm (Median, 37 vs. 24 [2FL], P  < 0.001). Lymph nodes resected in the mediastinum and upper abdomen were comparable between the 2 arms. 44 patients (22%) in the 3FL arm had positive lymph nodes. Conclusion Compared with 2-field lymphadenectomy, 3-field lymphadenectomy doesn't increase the surgical risks for patients with thoracic esophageal cancer. 3-field lymphadenectomy can be performed safely, removing unforeseen cervical positive lymph node, and offering more accurate tumor staging. Long-term survival analysis under protocol will clarify the role of 3-field lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing new visible light-triggered fluorescent molecular photoswitches is highly desirable for potential application in the fields of photoresponsive optoelectronics and photopharmacology. In this contribution, two novel tetra-/triphenylethene-dithienylethene-BF 2 bdk triads (TDB1 and TDB2) have been designed and prepared by appending tetra-/triphenylethene and BF 2 bdk moieties at the termini of dithienylethene unit. Before irradiation with blue light at 460–470 nm, they showed an intense emission in solution and in the PMMA film state, suggesting that the AIE effect of tetra-/triphenylethene was inhibited, and functioned only as electron-donating groups. Moreover, upon alternating irradiation with blue/NIR light, TDB1 and TDB2 displayed effective fluorescent switching behaviors and NIR photochromism in toluene and the PMMA film. Therefore, they would be utilized as novel visible light-triggered switches integrated in smart optoelectronic materials. The DFT calculations further validate the differences for their optical properties in the experiments. Image 1 • Two novel tetra-/triphenylethene-dithienylethene-BF 2 bdk triads were developed. • They showed an intense emission in solution and the PMMA film state before irradiation. • AIE effect of tetra-/triphenylethene was inhibited, and functioned only as electron-donating groups. • They displayed visible light-triggered optical switching behaviors in toluene and the PMMA film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]