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Abstract Objective To investigate the differences in the niacin skin flushing response of adolescent depressed patients and healthy adolescents and its diagnostic value in adolescent depression. Methods Thirty-eight cases of acute episodes of depression in unmedicated adolescents and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included as study subjects, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, all of which were stimulated with six concentration gradients (up to 60 mmol/L, followed by sequential 3-fold gradient dilution to a minimum of 0.25 mmol/L) of niacin solution on the forearm skin, and the skin flushing area was applied as an assessment index. Results The total area of redness of the skin in response to niacin was significantly lower in the adolescent depression group than in the healthy adolescent group (Z=-3.36, p = 0.001) and was able to distinguish the adolescent depression group from the healthy adolescent group (area under curve = 0.713, sensitivity 51.1%, specificity 83.2%). Conclusions Niacin sensitivity is reduced in adolescent depressed patients, and the niacin skin flush response has potential clinical value as a diagnostic biomarker for adolescent depression.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the performance of radionuclide-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04) PET/CT in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) and compare it with fluorine-18 (18F) labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging. Methods: Fifty-eight participants with ARDs were prospectively enrolled from April 2022 to February 2024 and underwent dual-tracer PET/CT imaging. For both 18F-FDG and Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT, imaging findings were interpreted and compared. The clinical significance was compared between18F-FDG PET/CT and Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging. Results: 18F-FDG imaging was positive in 53 out of 58 cases (91.4%) while Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 imaging was positive in 55 out of 58 cases (94.8%). Overall positive rate of Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 imaging was as high as 18F-FDG imaging (P = 0.625). 18F-FDG imaging detected more lesions in lymph node, spleen, and bone marrow. Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 imaging detected more lesions in the lung, muscle, and tendon/ligament. There was no statistical difference of composing ratio of grades of clinical significance between two imaging modalities (χ2 = 2.875, P = 0.238). The superior rate of Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging was higher than 18F-FDG imaging (P = 0.020). In subgroup of adult-onset Still's disease, 18F-FDG imaging showed better performance than Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 imaging. In most of the other subgroup of ARDs, Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging overperformed 18F-FDG imaging. Conclusion: Both 18F-FDG and Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging have excellent sensitivity in ARDs. The detection capabilities of two tracers varied according to the involving organs of ARDs. In most of ARDs except adult-onset Still's disease, Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging overperformed 18F-FDG imaging. Key Points • 18F-FDG and Al18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging have excellent sensitivity in diagnosing of ARDs. • 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging detected more lesions in lymph node, spleen, and bone marrow. • 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging detected more lesions in the lung, muscle, and tendon/ligament. • 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging overperformed18F-FDG in most subgroups of ARDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorous pesticides pose a significant threat to public health, making its detection critical. Herein, a new fluorescent metal–organic framework, Eu-NDC, was synthesized, which possessed a 3D supramolecular structure assembled through π⋯π interactions between the naphthalene rings in its adjacent coordination-bonded layers. Then, four different products of the Eu-NDC MOF (Eu-NDC-1/2/3/4) with different morphologies were further obtained by altering the ratio of the raw materials. Among them, the fluorescence properties and BET surface area of the micro-nanoscale Eu-NDC-3 were significantly enhanced, making it the most favorable for detection. Eu-NDC-3 as a turn-off fluorescence probe for methyl paraoxon (DMNP) exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity, anti-interference and durability. Thus, considering these features, an intelligent logic gate was designed, showing great promise for application in smart sensing. Furthermore, an Eu-NDC-3-loaded electrospun fibrous strip was fabricated as a portable and in situ platform for visual DMNP assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorptive denitrogenation and desulfurization are of great importance owing to their mild operating conditions, no requirement of hydrogen, and high quality of the gasoline distillate. Herein, we report the facile one-pot synthesis of CYCU-3@Al2O3 composites via the reaction of 4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylic acid as a ligand and γ-Al2O3 beads as a support. The synthesized composites were fully characterized using various analytical instruments and applied as an adsorbent for the removal of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds (SCCs and NCCs) from a model oil. The CYCU-3@Al2O3 composite with 12.7% loading of CYCU-3 was observed to be very efficient adsorbent not only for SCCs with the adsorption capacity being 360.2 mg (1.95 mmol) dibenzothiophene per gram of MOF, 163.2 mg (1.22 mmol) benzothiophene per gram of MOF, 134 mg (1.59 mmol) thiophene per gram of MOF, but also for NCCs with the adsorption capacity being 288 mg (3.64 mmol) pyridine per gram of MOF, 315 mg (2.44 mmol) quinoline per gram of MOF, 340 mg (1.89 mmol) acridine per gram of MOF, 175 mg (1.49 mmol) indole per gram of MOF. Furthermore, about 98–99% of the desulfurization and denitrogenation capacities were recovered after the regeneration of the composites. The main factors responsible for the excellent adsorption performance of the adsorbent include its high surface area and porosity, specific pore size and presence of bridged hydroxide groups and aromatic rings in the organic ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Ni-4PyC was selected as the material for the separation of hydrogen isotopes H2/D2, and the mechanism of hydrogen isotope H2/D2 separation was investigated by molecular simulation. The results showed that the adsorption selectivity of Ni-4PyC for D2/H2 increased from 1.26 to 1.46 when the temperature was decreased from 77 K to 20 K, indicating that Ni-4PyC effected chemical affinity quantum sieving on D2/H2. Also, the diffusion rates of H2/D2 were different at different temperatures. At 20 K, the kinetic selectivity of D2/H2 reached 1.30, indicating that Ni-4PyC had a kinetic quantum sieving effect on D2/H2 at low temperatures. However, when the temperature was higher than 30 K, the diffusion rate of H2 was faster than that of D2, and when the temperature was 77 K, Ni-4PyC exhibited the kinetic sieving effect with a kinetic selectivity of 1.59 for H2/D2. Due to the chemical affinity quantum sieving and kinetic sieving effects of Ni-4PyC on H2/D2, the adsorption capacity of Ni-4PyC for D2 was better than that for H2 and the diffusion rate of H2 was faster than that of D2 at 77 K. Therefore, Ni-4PyC was expected to achieve the separation of H2/D2. In order to verify the accuracy of the theoretical calculation results, an Ni-4PyC@γ-Al2O3 composite material was synthesized by a liquid phase epitaxy method and was used to separate H2/D2 at 77 K in a 0.6 m × 2 mm chromatographic column. Under optimal separation conditions, the resolution R reached 1.84 with a separation time t = 7.47 min. In addition, Ni-4PyC@γ-Al2O3 showed excellent separation performances for different ratios of H2/D2 mixtures. The stationary phase was repeatable and reproducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of porous γ-Al2O3 particles acting as both a sacrificial template and an aluminum source with 1,4-naphthalene diacid (H2NDC) resulted in the formation of γ-AlOOH@Al(OH)(1,4-NDC) composites, in which ZIF-67 was then loaded by the in situ crystallization method, leading to the formation of γ-AlOOH@Al(OH)(1,4-NDC)@ZIF-67 composites. The deliberately designed composite was used to separate H2/D2 at 77 K in a 1 m chromatographic column. The results demonstrated that the optimized composite can achieve the effective separation of H2/D2 in gas chromatography due to the additive effects of kinetic sieving and chemical affinity quantum sieving of Al(OH)(1,4-NDC) and ZIF-67. By optimizing chromatographic separation conditions, the resolution R reached 2.02 with the separation time t = 7.72 min. The composite also showed satisfactory repeatability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MOF Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 was selected as the hydrogen isotope separation material in this paper and the separation mechanism of this material was investigated by molecular simulation. Theoretical calculations proved that Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 had chemical affinity quantum sieving (CAQS) effect and kinetic quantum sieving (KQS) effect. Because the adsorption capacity of D2 in Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 was larger than H2 and the diffusion rate was smaller than H2 at 77 K, Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 could realize the separation of hydrogen and deuterium in gas chromatography. Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5@γ‐Al2O3 composite was prepared by liquid phase epitaxy method as gas chromatographic packings (column type: 0.6 m×2.0 mm I.D.) to investigate the separation performance of H2/D2 at 77 K. Under the optimal chromatographic conditions, the retention time of H2 and D2 were 1.95 and 3.48 min respectively and the resolution (R) was 2.12, indicating that the separation of H2 and D2 could be realized efficiently and quickly by using Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5@γ‐Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this observational cohort study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of the IL-6-receptor inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ) in Behçet's syndrome (BS) with refractory arterial involvement. Methods Ten patients admitted to the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of Peking University People's Hospital between January 2014 and December 2019 were enrolled. The enrolled patients met the BS international criteria and exhibited severe arterial impairments. Refractory arterio-BS was diagnosed based on objective vascular symptoms unexplainable by other known illnesses, and resistance to traditional immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids after 12 weeks. Patients received 8 mg/kg TCZ infusions every 4 weeks for ≥24 weeks, with simultaneous continuation of immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids. Clinical and imaging data were assessed before and after TCZ treatment. Results The enrolled patients were men aged 44.3 (10.5) years; the median disease duration was 186.5 (45.7) months, and the average age of arterial impairment onset was 38.7 (12.9) years. The following trends were observed: improvement and maintenance of symptoms after the 26.8 (7.2)-month follow-up, n  = 9; complete remission, n  = 6; partial response, n  = 3; immunosuppressant dose reduction, n  = 4; radiologic improvement of arterial lesions, n  = 4; and TCZ discontinuation owing to enlarged abdominal aortic aneurysm relapse, n  = 1. The average daily glucocorticoid dose reduced from 54.5 (20.6) to 8.3 (3.6) mg/d (P  < 0.001), while the median ESR and CRP values reduced from 50 (2–82) mm/h and 32.9 (2.1–62.3) mg/dl to 4 (1–10) mm/h and 2.9 (0.2–12.1) mg/dl, respectively (P  < 0.001). No TCZ-associated side effects were noted. Conclusion TCZ proved to be safe and effective for refractory arterial lesions in BS, with a steroid- and immunosuppressant-sparing benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three zinc porphyrins bearing carboxyl, amino or hydroxyl groups on the porphyrin ring, namely, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) zinc porphyrin (ZnTCPP), 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxyphenyl) zinc porphyrin (ZnTHPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-aminophenyl) zinc porphyrin (ZnTAPP), reacted with the doughnut-like molybdenum crown cluster [(MoO3)176(H2O)63(CH3OH)17H16]16− (denoted as {Mo176}), resulting in the formation of three porphyrin–polyoxometalate hybrids (denoted as hybrids 1–3), respectively, with the ratio of {Mo176} to the porphyrin molecules in each compound being 1 : 3. Compared with the corresponding parent porphyrins, the fluorescence quenching efficiency of hybrid 1, hybrid 2 and hybrid 3 was found to be 51%, 58% and 66%, respectively, indicating electron/energy transfer occurring from the porphyrin moiety to the POM moiety. Z-Scan experimental results showed that the three porphyrins and hybrids 1–3 exhibited nonlinear reverse saturated absorption and self-defocusing properties. The molecular second hyperpolarizability (γ) values of hybrids 1–3 (7.38 × 10−27, 7.26 × 10−27 and 4.26 × 10−27 (esu)) are higher than those of the corresponding porphyrins (1.18 × 10−27, 1.34 × 10−27 and 1.36 × 10−27 (esu)), indicating that the doughnut-like molybdenum crown cluster in the hybrids 1–3 improved the third-order optical nonlinearities of the accommodated H-aggregate of the zinc porphyrin molecules, wherein the optical nonlinearities of the porphyrin with the electron-withdrawing functional group of –COOH (γ = 7.38 × 10−27 for hybrid 1vs. γ = 1.18 × 10−27 for ZnTCPP) were enhanced the most. In addition, studies on the optical limiting properties of hybrid 1 and hybrid 2 showed that the nonlinear attenuation factor (NAF) of both hybrid 1 and hybrid 2 was larger than that of their corresponding porphyrins (NAF = 5.65 for hybrid 1vs. 1.82 for ZnTCPP) and the limiting threshold of hybrid 1 and hybrid 2 can reach 0.3 J cm−2 and 0.32 J cm−2, which proved that hybrids 1 and 2 are potential optical limiting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) image features in different types of systemic vasculitis and explore its classification and diagnostic significance for systemic vasculitis. Methods: Clinical and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging data of 71 consecutive patients (34 males, 37 females, mean age 53.4 ± 20.5 years) who were examined at Peking University People's Hospital and diagnosed with active systemic vasculitis were analyzed retrospectively, and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging features of different types of systemic vasculitis were analyzed in patients with positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings. Results: The proportions of large-, medium-, small-, and variable-vessel vasculitis were 36.6%, 15.5%, 29.6%, and 18.3%, respectively, and 93.0% of patients had positive findings on PET/CT, of which 63.6% had vascular involvement and 53.0% had extravascular involvement. Different types of vasculitis had different lesion sites, distribution patterns, and morphological changes. Large-vessel vasculitis mainly affected the aorta and its branches to the head and neck. Takayasu arteritis showed segmental involvement of the vascular and morphological changes of the vessel wall. Giant cell arteritis manifested as diffuse vascular involvement, which usually involved the temporal artery and the abdominal aorta and its branches. Medium-vessel vasculitis polyarteritis nodosa manifested as diffuse vascular involvement of both lower extremities. Small-vessel vasculitis anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis manifested as granulomatous inflammation of extravascular regions. Variable-vessel vasculitis Behcet's disease involved both blood vessels and extravascular regions. Conclusion: Different types of systemic vasculitis show characteristic manifestations in 18F-FDG PET/CT images, which may be useful for the diagnosis and classification of systemic vasculitis. Key points: • Determining an early diagnosis of systemic vasculitis may be challenging. • Different types of systemic vasculitis show characteristic manifestations in 18F-FDG PET/CT images. • 18F-FDG PET/CT may be useful for the diagnosis and classification of systemic vasculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MOF Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 was selected as the hydrogen isotope separation material in this paper and the separation mechanism of this material was investigated by molecular simulation. Theoretical calculations proved that Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 had chemical affinity quantum sieving (CAQS) effect and kinetic quantum sieving (KQS) effect. Because the adsorption capacity of D2 in Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 was larger than H2 and the diffusion rate was smaller than H2 at 77 K, Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 could realize the separation of hydrogen and deuterium in gas chromatography. Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5@γ‐Al2O3 composite was prepared by liquid phase epitaxy method as gas chromatographic packings (column type: 0.6 m×2.0 mm I.D.) to investigate the separation performance of H2/D2 at 77 K. Under the optimal chromatographic conditions, the retention time of H2 and D2 were 1.95 and 3.48 min respectively and the resolution (R) was 2.12, indicating that the separation of H2 and D2 could be realized efficiently and quickly by using Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5@γ‐Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]