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We examined the blood of 94 North American Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients using forensic polymerase chain reaction and found that a subset (10.6%) of CFS patients show evidence of Brucella spp. infections compared to one of 70 control subjects (Odds Ratio = 8.2; 95% Confidence Limits (CL) 1-66; P < .01). Rural patients showed a higher incidence of Brucella spp. infections over urban patients (OR = 5.5, 95% CL 1.3-23.5, P < .02). Since CFS patients also have a high prevalence of one of four Mycoplasma species and sometimes show evidence of infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae, we examined Brucella-positive patients for other bacterial infections. Previously we found that 8% of the CFS patients showed evidence of C. pneumoniae and about 50% show evidence of Mycoplasma spp. infections. Since the presence of one or more chronic systemic infections may predispose patients to other infections, we examined the prevalence of C. pneumoniae and Mycoplasma spp. infections in Brucella-positive patients. We found only one Brucella-positive patient with C. pneumoniae and four other patients with evidence of Mycoplasma spp., suggesting that such bacterial infections occur independently in CFS patients. Control subjects (N = 70) had low rates of Brucella spp. (1.4%), Mycoplasma spp. (7.2%) or C. pneumoniae (1.4%) infections, and there were no co-infections in control subjects. The results indicate that a subset of CFS patients show evidence of infection with Brucella spp., and some of these patients also have other bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mononuclear nickel title complex (acetonitrile-κN){N-benzyl-N,N′,N′-tris[(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]ethane-1,2-diamine}nickel(II) bis(tetrafluoridoborate), [Ni(C30H35N5)(CH3CN)](BF4)2, was prepared from the reaction of Ni(BF4)2·6H2O with N-benzyl-N,N′,N′-tris[(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]ethane-1,2-diamine (bztmpen) in acetonitrile at room temperature. With an open site occupied by the acetonitrile molecule, the nickel(II) atom is chelated by five N-atom sites from the ligand and one N atom from the ligand, showing an overall octahedral coordination environment. Compared with analogues where the 6–methyl substituent is absent, the bond length around the Ni2+ cation are evidently longer. Upon reductive dissociation of the acetronitrile molecule, the title complex has an open site for a catalytic reaction. The title complex has two redox couples at −1.50 and −1.80 V (versus Fc+/0) based on nickel. The F atoms of the two BF4− counter-anions are split into two groups and the occupancy ratios refined to 0.611 (18):0.389 (18) and 0.71 (2):0.29 (2).

The mononuclear copper title complex {N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis[(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]ethane-1,2-diamine-κ6N}copper(II) bis(tetrafluoridoborate), [Cu(C30H36N6)](BF4)2, is conveniently prepared from the reaction of Cu(BF4)2·6H2O with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis[(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]ethane-1,2-diamine (tmpen) in acetonitrile at room temperature in air. The complex shows a distorted octahedral environment around the CuII cation (site symmetry 2) and adopts the centrosymmetric space group C2/c. The presence of the 6-methyl substituent hinders the approach of the pyridine group to the CuII core. The bond lengths about the CuII atom are significantly longer than those of analogues without the 6-methyl substituents.

Using the blood of 100 CFS patients and forensic polymerase chain reaction we have found that a majority of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients show evidence of multiple, systemic bacterial and viral infections (OR = 18.0, 95%CI 8.5-37.9, P < 0.001) that could play an important role in CFS morbidity. CFS patients had a high prevalence (51%) of one of four Mycoplasma species (OR = 13.8, 95%CI 5.8-32.9, P < 0.001) and often showed evidence of co-infections with different Mycoplasma species, Chlamydia pneumoniae (OR = 8.6, 95%CI 1.0-71.1, P < 0.01) and/or active Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) (OR = 4.5, 95% CI 2.0-10.2, P < 0.001). We found that 8% of the CFS patients showed evidence of C. pneumoniae and 31% of active HHV-6 infections. Since the presence of one or more chronic systemic infections may predispose patients to other infections, we examined the prevalence of C. pneumoniae and active HHV-6 infections in mycoplasma-positive and -negative patients. The incidence of C. pneumoniae or HHV-6 was similar in mycoplasma-positive and -negative patients, suggesting that such infections occur independently in CFS patients. Also, the incidence of C. pneumoniae in active HHV-6-positive and -negative patients was similar. Control subjects (N = 100) had low rates of mycoplasma (6%), active HHV-6 (9%) or chlamydia (1%) infections, and there were no co-infections in control subjects. Differences in bacterial and/or viral infections in CFS patients compared to control subjects were significant. The results indicate that a relatively large subset of CFS patients show evidence of bacterial and viral co-infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke mortality is reported to be greater in blacks than in whites, but stroke incidence data for blacks and Hispanics are sparse. The aim of this study was to determine and compare stroke incidence rates among whites, blacks, and Hispanics living in the same urban community. A population-based incidence study was conducted to identify all cases of first stroke occurring in northern Manhattan, New York City, between July 1, 1993, and June 30, 1996. The population of this area was approximately 210,000 at that time, based on 1990 US Census data. Surveillance for hospitalized and nonhospitalized stroke consisted of daily screening of all admissions, discharges, and computed tomography logs at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, the only hospital in the region, and review of discharge lists from outside hospitals, telephone surveys of random households, and contacts with community physicians, Visiting Nurses' Services, and community agencies. Stroke incidence increased with age and was greater in men than in women. The average annual age-adjusted stroke incidence rate at age > or =20 years, per 100,000 population, was 223 for blacks, 196 for Hispanics, and 93 for whites. Blacks had a 2.4-fold and Hispanics a twofold increase in stroke incidence compared with whites. Cerebral infarct accounted for 77 percent of all strokes, intracerebral hemorrhage for 17 percent, and subarachnoid hemorrhage for 6 percent. These data from the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study suggest that part of the reported excess stroke mortality among blacks in the United States may be a reflection of racial/ethnic differences in stroke incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation mechanism of pentazolate anion (PZA) is not yet clear. In order to present the possible formation pathways of PZA, the potential energy surfaces of phenylpentazole (PPZ), phenylpentazole radical (PPZ-R), phenylpentazole radical anion (PPZ-RA), PPZ and m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA), p-pentazolylphenolate anion (p-PZPolA) and m-CPBA, and p-pentazolylphenol (p-PZPol) and m-CPBA were calculated by the computational electronic structure methods including the hybrid density functional, the double hybrid density functional and the coupled-cluster theories. At the thermodynamic point of view, the cleavages of C–N bonds of PPZ and PPZ-R need to absorb large amounts of heat. Thus, they are not feasible entrance for PZA formation at ambient condition. But excitation of PPZ and deprotonation of PPZ-RA probably happen before cleavage of C–N bond of PPZ at high-energy condition. As to the radical anion mechanism, the high accuracy calculations surveyed that the barrier of PZA formation is probably lower than that of dinitrogen evolution, but the small ionization potential of PPZ-RA gives rise to the unstable ionic pair of sodium PPZ at high temperature. In respect of oxidation mechanism, except for PPZ, the reactions of p-PZPolA and p-PZPol with m-CPBA can form PZA and quinone. The PZA formations have the barriers of about 20 kcal mol−1 which compete with the dinitrogen evolutions. The stabilities of PZA in both solid and gas phases were also studied herein. The proton prefers to transfer to pentazolyl group in the (N5)6(H3O)3(NH4)4Cl system which leads to the dissociation of pentazole ring. The ground states of M(N5)2(H2O)4 (M = Co, Fe and Mn) are high-spin states. The pentazolyl groups confined by the crystal waters in the coordinate compounds can improve the kinetic stability. As to the reactivity of PZA, it can be persistently oxidized by m-CPBA to oxo-PZA and 1,3-oxo-PZA with the barriers of about 20 kcal mol−1.

Cardioprotection of dexrazoxane (DZR) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity is contentious and the indicator is controversial. A pairwise comparative metabolomics approach was used to delineate the potential metabolic processes in the present study. Ninety-six BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two supergroups: tumor and control groups. Each supergroup was divided into control, DOX, DZR, and DOX plus DZR treatment groups. DOX treatment resulted in a steady increase in 5-hydroxylysine, 2-hydroxybutyrate, 2-oxoglutarate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and decrease in glucose, glutamate, cysteine, acetone, methionine, asparate, isoleucine, and glycylproline.DZR treatment led to increase in lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glutamate, alanine, and decrease in glucose, trimethylamine N-oxide and carnosine levels. These metabolites represent potential biomarkers for early prediction of cardiotoxicity of DOX and the cardioprotective evaluation of DZR.

This study was designed to investigate local reactions after the intracutaneous (i.c.) administration of two human menopausal gonadotrophin preparations. For this purpose, 20 healthy female volunteers received six i.c. injections simultaneously, viz. three different batches of both Humegon (Organon, Oss, The Netherlands) and Pergonal (Serono, Geneva, Switzerland) at six different sites on their bodies. Local pain, induration and erythema were registered at 2, 4 and 24 h after administration. No pain was observed. At 4 h after administration, Pergonal-treated sites showed more induration (P = 0.008) and greater surfaces of erythema (P < 0.001) than Humegon-treated sites. Batches of Pergonal showed variation in the surface of erythema induced (P < 0.001), indicating heterogeneity of the batches tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Epstain-Barr virus (EBV) can transform human B lymphocytes making them immortalized and inducing tumorigenic ability in vitro, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to detect and analyze differentially expressed genes in two types of host cells, normal human lymphocytes and coupled EBV-transformed lymphoblasts in vitro using gene chips, and to screen the key regulatory genes of lymphocyte transformation induced by EB virus. Methods Fresh peripheral blood samples from seven healthy donors were collected. EBV was used to transform lymphocytes in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from 7 cases of the normal lymphocytes and transformed lymphoblasts respectively, marked with dihydroxyfluorane after reverse transcription, then hybridized with 4 × 44 K Agilent human whole genome microarray. LIMMA, String, Cytoscape and other softwares were used to screen and analyze differentially expressed genes. Real-time PCR was applied to verify the result of gene expression microarrays. Results There were 1745 differentially expressed genes that had been screened, including 917 up-regulated genes and 828 down-regulated genes. According to the results of Generank, String and Cytoscape analyses, 38 genes may be key controlled genes related to EBV-transformed lymphocytes, including 22 up-regulated genes(PLK1, E2F1, AURKB, CDK2, PLCG2, CD80, PIK3R3, CDC20, CDC6, AURKA, CENPA, BUB1B, NUP37, MAD2L1, BIRC5, CDC25A, CCNB1, RPA3, HJURP, KIF2C, CDK1, CDCA8) and 16 down-regulated genes(FYN, CD3D, CD4, CD3G, ZAP70, FOS, HCK, CD247, PRKCQ, ITK, LCP2, CXCL1, CD8A, ITGB5, VAV3, CXCR4), which primarily control biological processes such as cell cycle, mitosis, cytokine-cytokine pathway, immunity response and so on. Conclusions Human lymphocyte transformation induced by EB virus is a complicated process, involving multiple-genes and –pathways in virus-host interactions. Global gene expression profile analysis showed that EBV may transform human B lymphocytes by promoting cell cycle and mitosis, inhibiting cell apoptosis, hindering host immune function and secretion of cytokines.

Abstract Background Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has a close association with various types of human lymphomas. Animal models are essential to elucidate the pathogenesis of human EBV-associated lymphomas. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association between human IgG concentration and EBV-associated lymphoma development in huPBL/SCID mice. Methods Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hu-PBL) from EBV-seropositive donors were inoculated intraperitoneally into SCID mouse. Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine differentiated antigens of tumor cells. EBV infection of the induced tumors was detected by in situ hybridization. IgG concentrations in the serums of 12 SCID mice were measured by unidirectional immunodiffusion assay. Results 21 out of 29 mice developed tumors in their body. Immunohistochemical staining showed that all induced tumors were LCA (leukocyte common antigen) positive, B-cell markers (CD20, CD79a) positive, and T-cell markers (both CD3 and CD45RO) negative. The tumors can be diagnosed as human B-cell lymphomas by these morphological and immunohistochemical features. In situ hybridization exhibited resultant tumor cells had EBV encoded small RNA-1 (EBER-1). Human-derived IgG could be found in the serum from SCID mice on the 15th day following hu-PBL transplantation, and IgG levels increased with the tumor development in 6 hu-PBL/SCID chimeras. Conclusions Intraperitoneal transfer of hu-PBLs from EBV+ donors to SCID mice leads to high human IgG levels in mouse serum and B cell lymphomas. Our findings suggest that increasing levels of human-derived IgG in peripheral blood from hu-PBL/SCID mice could be used to monitor EBV-related human B-cell lymphoma development in experimental animals.

The often-overlooked anions in raw materials have been less explored in terms of their promotion of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) from the perspective of interfacial microenvironment regulation. In this study, we obtained the catalyst (CoOOH-NO 3 - ) by a one-step electrochemical reconstruction method, in which anion adsorption onto the active catalyst can optimize the interfacial microenvironment to promote OER under alkaline conditions. This is because the issue of excessive OH - adsorption within the inner compact layer of CoOOH can be ameliorated by the adsorption of anions, making it easier for active sites to branch OH - , thereby regulating the interfacial microenvironment. It was validated through a series of experiments that after tuning the interfacial microenvironment, reduction in the contact angle on the electrode surface facilitates the release of O 2 , promotes Co transformation to a higher oxidation state (Co(IV)) and lowers the onset potential for the reaction. Furthermore, the one-step synthesis method, along with the strategy of microenvironment regulation, applies to various metal salts (chlorides, acetates). Our research introduces a non-chemical synthesis method for the direct use of metal salts, providing a rational approach and insight for understanding how anion adsorption regulates interfacial microenvironment to enhance catalytic activity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression is a significant global public health issue, and in China, access to mental health services remains limited despite high demand. Research has shown that mindfulness can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms and that telehealth solutions offer a promising avenue for addressing this service gap. Despite this potential, there are currently few studies in China focusing on short-term online mindfulness training. Most existing online mindfulness studies relied on traditional 8-week programs, which can be challenging for participant adherence due to limited accessibility and high dropout rates. Additionally, limited research exists on short-term online mindfulness interventions, and findings remain inconsistent., Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate an internet-based, self-guided, short-term mindfulness training (ISSMT) program based on the Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) to reduce depression symptoms., Methods: The ISSMT program was delivered via an online platform, "Hi Emotion," and was accessible to the general public. Interested individuals aged 18 years and older were randomized into either the ISSMT group or a wait-list control group. Participants in the ISSMT group received daily reminders to participate in a 15- to 20-minute session over a 14-day training period. Measurements, including mindfulness and depressive symptoms, were collected at baseline and weekly for the subsequent 3 weeks., Results: A total of 205 adults participated in the 14-day online intervention. Linear mixed models were used to analyze both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) samples. Compared with the wait-list control group, participants in the ISSMT group showed significant improvements in mindfulness (Cohen d=0.44 for ITT; Cohen d=0.55 for PP) and reductions in depressive symptoms (Cohen d=0.50 for ITT; Cohen d=0.53 for PP). Furthermore, participants expressed high acceptance of this training format with a relatively low dropout rate (<40%)., Conclusions: The ISSMT program based on the MAT effectively enhanced mindfulness and alleviated depressive symptoms. This intervention could be considered for integration into psychosocial service systems to improve mental health outcomes and help bridge the gap between limited resources and the high demand for services in China. Future research should focus on personalizing these programs and incorporating advanced technologies to enhance their effectiveness and user engagement., Trial Registration: Open Science Framework; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8P4V6., (©Tingfei Zhu, Liuyi Zhang, Wenqi Weng, Ruochen Gan, Limin Sun, Yanping Wei, Yueping Zhu, Hongyan Yu, Jiang Xue, Shulin Chen. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 13.02.2025.)

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are a class of catalysts with low dosage, low cost, and the presence of metal atom-carrier interactions with high catalytic activity, which are considered to possess significant potential in the field of electrocatalysis. The most important aspect in the synthesis of SACs is the selection of suitable carriers. Metal carbides, nitrides, or carbon-nitrides (MXenes) are widely used as a new type of 2D materials with good electrical conductivity and tunable surface properties. The abundance of surface functional groups and vacancy defects on MXenes is an ideal anchoring site for metal single atoms and is therefore regarded as a good carrier for single-atom loading. In this work, the preparation method of MXenes, the loading mode of SACs, the characterization of the catalysts, and the electrochemical catalytic performance are described in detail, and some of the hot issues of the current research and future research directions are also summarized. The aim of this work is to promote the development of MXene-based SACs within the realm of electrocatalysis. With ongoing research and innovation, these materials are expected to be crucial in the future of energy conversion and storage solutions., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Hybrid platforms of organic semiconductors and plasmonic metal nanostructures have the potential to form effective optical detection substrates. Here, we report the use of an organic p-type conducting polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) combined with plasmon-active silver nanostructures to enhance both Raman and fluorescence signal intensities. This enhancement occurs when optically excited charge from the polymer is transferred to silver, causing an enhancement of the electromagnetic field and leading to an increase in both the Raman and fluorescence signal intensities. This study demonstrates the potential of the organic semiconducting polymer-plasmonic metal nanostructure platform in spectroscopy detection technology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Neuroinflammation has been identified as an important pathological component of cognitive impairment, and translocator protein imaging has become a valuable tool for assessing its patterns. We aimed to obtain the exact distribution of neuroinflammation in cognitive impairment and its underlying mechanisms with amyloid-beta. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, two investigators searched literature databases for studies that measured translocator protein binding levels. This measurement was performed between healthy controls and subjects with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease via voxel-based positron emission tomography image analysis at the whole-brain level. This meta-analysis was performed with the anisotropic effect-size based algorithm. Neuroinflammation in patients with mild cognitive impairment was mainly concentrated in the left middle temporal gyrus and left amygdala. In Alzheimer's disease patients, the brain regions involved were the left inferior temporal gyrus, left calcarine fissure/surrounding cortex, left parahippocampal gyrus, right lingual gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus. In addition, neuroinflammation in patients with cognitive impairment was highly correlated with amyloid-beta deposition in the cortex. This study deepens our understanding of the patterns of neuroinflammation in patients with cognitive impairment and its interaction with amyloid-beta, providing potential insights for therapeutic approaches targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease., (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permission@oup.com.)

Ethnopharmacological Significance: The therapeutic efficacy of Ershen Zhenwu Decoction (ESZWD)-a famous formulation from Xin'an for patients with chronic heart failure heart-kidney Yang deficiency (CHF-HKYD)-is well established. Still, the underlying molecular mechanism is not clear., Aim of the Study: This study investigated mechanisms by which ESZWD suppresses cardiac pathology, including myocardial fibrosis, in CHF-HKYD model rats and Ang II-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs)., Materials and Methods: The components in ESZWD were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). CHF-HKYD model was established in the male Sprague-Dawley rats through bilateral thyroidectomy and intraperitoneal administration of 0.02% doxorubicin (DOX), twice weekly for 3 weeks. Subsequently, the CHF-HKYD model rats were randomly categorized into the Model, ESZWD-L (3.96 g/kg/d ESZWD), ESZWD-M (7.92 g/kg/d ESZWD), ESZWD-H (15.84 g/kg/d ESZWD), and Sac/Val (68 mg/kg/d sacubitril/valsartan) groups and treated daily for 4 weeks. As a control, the sham surgery group (Sham) was used. Primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were categorized into Control, Model, ESZWD, and Sac/Val groups. Then, the CFs were stimulated with Ang-II. The ESZWD and Sac/Val groups were incubated with different concentrations of drug-containing sera and their effects on CF viability were assessed via the CCK-8 assay. The ESZWD and Sac/Val groups received drug-containing serum concentrations determined by CCK-8 assay results. The cardioprotective effects of ESZWD were determined using echocardiography, Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining, Masson staining, and Sirius red staining, and the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). ESZWD's effects on the Ras Homolog Gene Family Member A (RhoA)/Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Kinases (ROCKs) signaling pathway and myocardial fibrosis were assessed by Western blotting and Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. Immunofluorescence was used to observe fibrotic markers in CFs., Results: ESZWD treatment improved cardiac function in the CHF-HKYD rats by significantly reducing myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling. ESZWD treatment increased the rats' body temperature (T b ) and 24-h urine volume, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV fractional shortening (LVFS), and decreased LV internal systolic diameter (LVIDs), LV internal diastolic diameter (LVIDd), and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) compared to the Model group. In comparison to the model rats, ESZWD treatment decreased serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-11 (IL-11), and IL-17A. ESZWD treatment significantly down-regulated the protein and mRNA expression levels of collagen I A1, α-SMA, RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the heart tissues of the CHF-HKYD rats and the Ang II-stimulated CFs., Conclusion: ESZWD significantly improved cardiac function and attenuated myocardial fibrosis and inflammation in the CHF-HKYD rats by inhibiting the RhoA/ROCKs signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Engineering the local electronic structure of single atom catalysts (SACs) still remains challenging. In this study, a Ru-NiS 2 single atom catalyst with a controlled S coordination environment, where Ru single atoms are implanted on a NiS 2 nanoflower consisting of plenty of cross-linked nanosheets, has been developed via a facile atom capture strategy. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, it has been revealed that the fine-tuned local S coordination environment can optimize the electronic structure of Ru active sites, and reduce the energy barrier of the rate-determining step for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), thus boosting the electrocatalytic activity, such as a low overpotential of 269 mV at 10 mA cm -2 . This work provides new insights into the rational regulation of the local coordination environment for SACs.

Background: Psychosis is a complex brain disorder with diverse biological subtypes influenced by various pathogenic mechanisms, which can affect treatment efficacy. The ANR(Attenuated Niacin Response) subtype is characterized by pronounced negative symptoms and functional impairments, suggesting a distinct clinical profile. However, research on the cognitive characteristics associated with the ANR subtype in drug-naïve first-episode psychosis(FEP) patients remains limited., Methods: This observational study involved 54 FEP patients and 52 healthy controls(HC). Clinical psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), while cognitive performance was evaluated through the Chinese version of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB). Additionally, niacin response was measured using aqueous methylnicotinate patches, with responses quantified to classify participants into ANR or normal niacin response (NNR) groups., Results: Among the FEP patients, 25.9 % were classified as having ANR, significantly higher than the 7.7 % in the HC group ( χ 2  = 6.247, p  = 0.012). The ANR group exhibited more severe negative symptoms and higher total PANSS scores compared to the NNR group, with significant differences in cognitive performance on the Trail Making test and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised. Correlation analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between overall symptom severity and niacin response, as well as between cognitive performance and niacin response, particularly for the Trail Making and Symbol coding tests., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the ANR subtype in first-episode psychosis is linked to more severe negative symptoms and cognitive impairments. Targeted assessments and interventions for patients with ANR may improve treatment outcomes and enhance understanding of cognitive dysfunction in psychotic disorders., Competing Interests: The authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest., (© 2025 The Authors.)

Liposomal nanocarriers are able to carry peptides for efficient and selective delivery of radioactive tracer and drugs into the tumors. Angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2) is an excellent biomarker for precise diagnosis and therapy of glioma. The present study aimed to design ANGPT2-specific peptides to modify the surface of nanoliposomes containing doxorubicin (Dox) for integrative imaging and targeting therapy of glioma. The targeted ANGPT2 peptides were designed using the molecular operating environment. Peptide-conjugated PEGlated liposomes containing Dox (peptide-Lipo@Dox) were prepared for radionuclide and drug delivery. Glioma cell functions were determined based on cell cycle and viability, apoptosis, cell invasion and migration, and colony-formation assays. The anti-tumor effect of peptide-Lipo@Dox was validated in intracranial U87-MG cell glioma-bearing mice in vivo . The peptides GSFIHSVPRH (GSF) and HSVPRHEV (HSV) showed specific affinity for ANGPT2 and a better cellular uptake in U87-MG cells. Micro-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging was used to visualize the orthotopic transplantation of glioma in the brain 1 h after injection of radionuclide 68 Ga-labeled peptide-Lipo@Dox. Lipo@Dox with peptide modification demonstrated stable Dox loading, small sizes (<40 nm), and enrichment in the tumor region of the mouse brain. Peptide-Lipo@Dox treatment inhibited the Tie-2/Akt/Foxo-1 pathway, thereby inhibiting cell invasion and migration, cell viability, and colony-forming ability of U87-MG cells. Lipo@Dox peptide modification showed a better suppression of glioma development than Lipo@Dox. Thus, the ANGPT2-specific peptides were successfully designed, and the PEGylated liposome modified with ANGPT2-specific peptide served as part of a potent delivery method for integrative glioma-targeted imaging and therapy., Competing Interests: We declare that we have no conflict of interest. We declare that the content of the manuscript is original and that it has not been published or accepted for publication, either in whole or in part, in any form (other than as an abstract or other preliminary publication). We declare that no part of the manuscript is currently under consideration for publication elsewhere., (© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Histone deacetylase HDAC4/5 cooperates with cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the transcriptional regulation of daily sleep amount downstream of LKB1-SIK3 kinase cascade in mice. Here, we report a significant enrichment of the E-box motifs for the basic loop-helix-loop (bHLH) proteins near the CREB- and HDAC4-binding sites in the mouse genome. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression of class I bHLH transcription factors, such as TCF4, TCF3, or TCF12, across the mouse brain neurons reduces the duration of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and non-REMS (NREMS). TCF4 requires its bHLH domain to regulate REMS or NREMS amount, of which the latter is mostly independent of the E-box-binding activity. Consistent with that TCF4 interacts with CREB and HDAC4 via the bHLH domain, TCF4 relies on CREB and partly on HDAC4 to regulate NREMS/REMS amount. Conversely, the ability of CREB to regulate sleep duration also requires its binding to TCF4 and HDAC4. Together, these results indicate that TCF4, HDAC4, and CREB could function cooperatively in the transcriptional regulation of daily sleep amount in mice., (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Adenotonsillectomy procedures can provide effective relief to children affected by sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but the post-adenotonsillectomy pain management remains challenging, and the most effective approach to managing postoperative pain in these cases remains uncertain. The use of electronic media as a form of distraction therapy aimed at mitigating postoperative pain in children, it is unknown whether increases in screen time can effectively reduce persistent postoperative pain intensity or the incidence of negatively biased pain memories. A total of 107 SDB children undergoing adenotonsillectomy were enrolled and divided into two groups. Children in the intervention group were allowed to increase their screen time, while screen time was restricted for children in the control group. Child-reported pain intensity and negatively biased pain memories, pain-related fear were analyzed. The results indicated that no significant differences in initial postoperative pain intensity or fear were observed among groups. However, children in the intervention group did exhibit significantly reduced remembered Day 1 postoperative pain intensity (ηp 2  = 0.043, p = 0.035), memory of worst pain intensity (ηp 2  = 0.047, p = 0.027), and memory of worst pain-related fear (ηp 2  = 0.042, p = 0.036) as compared to controls. Subgroup analyses based on age and gender indicated that males and school-aged children presented with lower scores for negatively biased pain memories. Our study exhibited the association between screen time and post-surgical pain intensity and negatively biased pain memories, These findings suggest that increasing screen time represents an effective approach to the postoperative management of negatively biased pain memories in certain subsets of children with SDB., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Apple pectin (AP), a well-established dietary fiber, offers significant health benefits, particularly in immunomodulation. However, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) in this context remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of varying degrees of esterification (DE) on AP's SAR in immunomodulatory activity. AP-Es (AP-E1, AP-E2, AP-E3) with different DE were prepared using mild ultrasound-assisted alkali de-esterification, followed by SAR analysis. Results revealed that AP-E3, with the lowest DE (5.08 ± 0.22 %), demonstrated a significant reduction in homogalacturonan (HG) domains and a corresponding increase in rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) domains, which coincided with enhanced immunomodulatory effects. The molecular weights of AP-E1, AP-E2, and AP-E3 were determined to be 30.94 ± 0.83 kDa, 27.61 ± 0.65 kDa, and 22.17 ± 0.57 kDa, respectively. To further explore the underlying mechanism, transgenic zebrafish with fluorescent macrophages were utilized. A positive correlation was observed between AP-E3 concentration and the number of fluorescent microspheres engulfed by macrophages. Additionally, AP-E3 significantly upregulated the expression of key immune response genes (tnf-α, il-1β, il-6, cox-2, inos, and nf-κb) and restored the gut microbiota composition and abundance in chloramphenicol-induced immunocompromised zebrafish. Metabolomics analysis revealed that AP-E3 effectively restored metabolic homeostasis by activating multiple signaling pathways associated with signal transduction, immune regulation, and metabolism. These findings highlight the potential of low-esterified AP enriched with RG-I domains as a promising candidate for applications in immune modulation and gut health management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Neuroimaging studies have identified brain structural and functional alterations in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD); however, the results are inconsistent, and whether patients exhibit spatially convergent structural and functional brain abnormalities remains unclear., Methods: We conducted voxel-wise meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional studies, respectively, to identify regional gray matter volume (GMV) and brain activity alterations in adolescent MDD patients. Multimodal analysis was performed to examine the overlap of regional GMV and brain activity alterations. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of clinical variables., Results: Ten whole-brain VBM studies (403 patients and 319 controls) and 14 resting-state functional studies (510 patients and 474 controls) were included. Adolescent MDD patients showed conjoint structural and functional alterations in the left medial/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, lateral temporal cortex and sensorimotor regions, and left insula. Adolescent MDD patients showed structural-specific abnormalities in the subcortical and prefrontal-limbic regions and functional-specific abnormalities in the right insula, right superior occipital gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus and left precuneus. Meta-regression analyses revealed that the mean age of adolescents with MDD was positively associated with GMV in the right superior temporal gyrus and negatively associated with brain activity in the right insula, and the symptom severity of adolescents with MDD was positively associated with brain activity in the right superior occipital gyrus., Conclusions: This meta-analysis identified complicated patterns of conjoint and dissociated brain alterations in adolescent MDD patients, which may advance our understanding of the neurobiology of adolescent MDD., (© 2024 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by significant morbidity and mortality rates, poses a substantial threat to human health. The expression of ligands and receptors within the classical and non-classical Wnt signaling pathways plays an important role in HCC. The Wnt signaling pathway is essential for regulating multiple biological processes in HCC, including proliferation, invasion, migration, tumor microenvironment modulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stem cell characteristics, and autophagy. Molecular agents that specifically target the Wnt signaling pathway have demonstrated significant potential for the treatment of HCC. However, the precise mechanism by which the Wnt signaling pathway interacts with HCC remains unclear. In this paper, we review the alteration of the Wnt signaling pathway in HCC, the mechanism of Wnt pathway action in HCC, and molecular agents targeting the Wnt pathway. This paper provides a theoretical foundation for identifying molecular agents targeting the Wnt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Theory of mind (ToM) involves understanding others' mental states and relies on brain regions like the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). This meta-analytic review categorizes ToM studies into six sub-components across three pairs: (1) Theory of collective mind (ToCM) and individualized theory of mind (iToM), (2) Social intention ToM and private intention ToM, and (3) ToM in adults and ToM in children. We conducted coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analyses and meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) for each sub-component. We found that the ToM components utilized in social or group situations were associated with both the dorsomedial PFC (dmPFC) and right superior temporal sulcus (STS), whereas the ToM components focused on personal concentration were associated with both the lateral PFC and the left STS. The coactivation patterns for the group and age sub-component pairs showed significant spatial overlap with the language networks. These findings indicate that ToM is a multidimensional construct that is related to distinct functional networks for processing each of the ToM sub-components., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The large-scale application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) necessitates the development of high-efficiency and cost-effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, the density functional theory calculations were performed to reveal the charge redistribution induced by the Co/CoO heterojunction integrating with N-doped carbon, which could optimize the d-band center, thereby accelerating O 2 transformed into OOH* in the ORR and the conversion of O* into OOH* in OER. Guided by theoretical calculations, Co/CoO hetero-nanoparticles-decorated lignin-derived N-doped porous carbon nanofibers (Co-LCFs-800) were synthesized to use as an advanced self-supported bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst. Consequently, Co-LCFs-800 shows a half-wave potential of 0.834 V in ORR and an overpotential of 354 mV at 10 mA cm -2 in OER. The Co-LCFs-800-based liquid ZABs afford an admirable performance with a large specific capacity of 780.8 mAh g -1 , and the Co-LCFs-800-based solid-state ZABs exhibit satisfactory mechanical flexibility and cycling stability. The results suggest that the integration of hetero-nanoparticles into carbon nanofibers holds promise for oxygen cathode in ZABs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is recognized as the sixth most prevalent cancer globally, with around 900,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The management of HNSC poses significant challenges due to its rising incidence and suboptimal treatment outcomes in many patients. Thus, understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive the onset and advancement of HNSC is crucial in order to steer the creation of novel treatment strategies. Previous researches have suggested that Cathepsin G (CTSG), a serine protease, may play a role in tumorigenesis, but its exact function in HNSC is still unknown., Methods: The TCGA and GTEx datasets were utilized to examine the expression and potential role of CTSG in pancancer. CTSG expression in HNSC tissues and normal tissues was analyzed using qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry techniques. The effects of altering CTSG expression on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HNSC cells were evaluated using various tests such as MTT assays, colony formation assays, wound-healing assays, transwell assays, flow cytometry, and xenograft tumor growth models. The functionality of CTSG on the JAK2/STAT3 pathway was validated using activators and inhibitors of this pathway after comfirming that CTSG could regulate this pathway., Results: In our study, we indicated that CTSG expression in HNSC tumor tissues was significantly lower than in adjacent normal tissues and CTSG gene level was positively correlated with patient prognosis. Additionally, we observed a decrease in tumor proliferation and migration, as well as an increase in apoptosis, following CTSG overexpression. Conversely, opposite effects were noted upon CTSG knockdown. Mechanistically, CTSG overexpression inhibited JAK2/STAT3 signaling, while CTSG knockdown activated it. This was confirmed by using IL-6 and JAK2 inhibitor., Conclusion: CTSG impedes the proliferation and metastasis of HNSC in vivo and in vitro. CTSG is potential to act as a cancer suppressor in HNSC by focusing on the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, indicating its possible use as a diagnostic marker and treatment target for HNSC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)