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The Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ) are employed across countries to assess empathizing and systemizing abilities, however limited research on EQ and SQ has been conducted in China. To this end, the current study investigated psychometric properties of these two questionnaires in Chinese university students (n = 1564). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that previous structures of EQ and SQ did not fit this sample adequately. Exploratory Factor Analysis and CFA were then conducted to produce a 22-item three-factor EQ and a shortened 12-item one-factor SQ; both questionnaires were reliable and valid. In comparison to previous research, gender differences of the EQ were small in effect size, whereas that of the SQ were medium in effect size. Moreover, EQ scores were negatively correlated with traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), consistent with the hypothesis of Extreme Male Brain of ASD, but SQ scores were negatively correlated with traits of ASD, inconsistent with the Extreme Male Brain hypothesis., Author(s): Ningning Zhou [sup.1] , Danni Wang [sup.1] , Gregory S. Chasson [sup.2] , Xin Xu [sup.1] , Jianping Wang [sup.1] [sup.3] , Maria Izabel Lockwood [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) [...]

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is mediated by two major exotoxins, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB), that damage the colonic epithelial barrier and induce inflammatory responses. The function of the colonic vascular barrier during CDI has been relatively understudied. Here we report increased colonic vascular permeability in CDI mice and elevated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), which was induced in vivo by infection with TcdA- and/or TcdB-producing C. difficile strains but not with a TcdA-TcdB- isogenic mutant. TcdA or TcdB also induced the expression of VEGF-A in human colonic mucosal biopsies. Hypoxia-inducible factor signalling appeared to mediate toxin-induced VEGF production in colonocytes, which can further stimulate human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells. Both neutralization of VEGF-A and inhibition of its signalling pathway attenuated CDI in vivo. Compared to healthy controls, CDI patients had significantly higher serum VEGF-A that subsequently decreased after treatment. Our findings indicate critical roles for toxin-induced VEGF-A and colonic vascular permeability in CDI pathogenesis and may also point to the pathophysiological significance of the gut vascular barrier in response to virulence factors of enteric pathogens. As an alternative to pathogen-targeted therapy, this study may enable new host-directed therapeutic approaches for severe, refractory CDI.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common obstetric disease among pregnant women. This study aimed to explore the effect of dietary pattern management to reduce the incidence of GDM. Here, we, retrospectively, analyzed the influence of dietary patterns on the occurrence of GDM and the correlation between dietary patterns and intestinal microbiome distribution and inflammation in pregnant women. Moreover, patients were assigned to the dietary pattern management group and the nondietary pattern management group, and the effects of dietary patterns on the intestinal microbiome distribution and inflammatory factors were investigated. We found that the intestinal microbiome was changed in GDM patients compared with the healthy controls. The relative abundance of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium significantly decreased in patients with GDM. Moreover, compared with the control group, the expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly increased. Furthermore, dietary pattern management led to intestinal microbiome changes in patients with GDM. In conclusion, dietary pattern management could alleviate GDM via affecting the intestinal microbiome as well as inflammatory conditions in patients.