Search

Monodispersed tetragonal barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanopowders were synthesized by a convenient hydrothermal route at a low temperature of 200°C in only 24 h. The key point of this method is to promote the generation of ultrafine titanium hydroxide precipitation precursors with the help of absolute ethyl alcohol and ammonia solution during the hydrolysis of Ti(OC4H9)4. The results of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra show that the as-prepared BaTiO3 nanopowders possess tetragonal-dominant structure. The synthesized tetragonal BaTiO3 nanopowders exhibit relatively uniform size and good dispersity, with the average particle size of 96.1 nm and a tetragonality of 1.0073, which enable broad application prospects in the field of multilayer ceramic capacitors.

Background. Homocysteine (Hcy) levels were higher in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This could be partially explained by levodopa treatment. Whether untreated PD patients have higher Hcy levels is contradictory. Methods. A community-based study was conducted using a two-stage approach for subjects ≥ 55 years to find PD patients in 3 towns of Lüliang City. Blood samples were collected. Serum Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12 concentrations were measured. For each untreated PD patient, 5 controls were selected matched with age and sex to evaluate the relationship between Hcy levels and PD. Results. Of 6338 eligible residents, 72.7% participated in the study. 31 PD cases were identified. The crude prevalence of PD for people ≥ 55 years was 0.67%. Blood samples were collected from 1845 subjects, including 17 untreated PD patients. There was no difference for concentrations of serum Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12 between cases and controls (P>0.05). In univariate and multivariate analysis, there was significant inverse relation between PD and current smoking (P

rhEPO has previously been shown to exert neuroprotective action in focal cerebral ischemia. However, its mechanism is not clear. We established the model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. rhEPO was administered (5000 IU/kg i.p.) 2 h later after the successful ischemia model in rhEPO group and increased translation of Nrf2 and HO-1 and decreased the H2O2 concentration in the brain confirming activation of the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway. The results show that rhEPO activate Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway after ischemia to protect the brain tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term aluminum (Al) exposure increases the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the neural mechanisms of Al-induced MCI. In our study, a total of 52 individuals with occupational Al exposure >10 years were enrolled and divided into two groups: MCI (Al-MCI) and healthy controls (Al-HC). Plasma Al concentrations and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score were collected for all participants. And diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were used to examine changes of white matter (WM) and functional connectivity (FC). There was a negative correlation between MoCA score and plasma Al concentration. Compared with the Al-HC, fractional anisotropy value for the right fornix (cres)/stria terminalis (FX/ST) was higher in the Al-MCI. Furthermore, there was a difference in FC between participants with and without MCI under Al exposure. We defined the regions with differing FC as a "pathway," specifically the connectivity from the right temporal pole to the right FX/ST, then to the right sagittal stratum, and further to the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri and right inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part. In summary, we believe that the observed differences in WM integrity and FC in the right FX/ST between participants with and without MCI under long-term Al exposure may represent the neural mechanisms underlying MCI induced by Al exposure., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang (张菲菲) et al.)

Background and Objectives: To identify predictors for relapse in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and to develop and validate a simple risk score for predicting relapse., Methods: In China National Registry of Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases (CNRID), we identified patients with MOGAD from March 2023 and followed up prospectively to September 2023. The primary endpoint was MOGAD relapse, confirmed by an independent panel. Patients were randomly divided into model development (75%) and internal validation (25%) cohorts. Prediction models were constructed and internally validated using Andersen-Gill models. Nomogram and relapse risk score were generated based on the final prediction models., Results: A total of 188 patients (comprising 612 treatment episodes) were included in cohorts. Female (HR: 0.687, 95% CI 0.524-0.899, p = 0.006), onset age 45 years or older (HR: 1.621, 95% CI 1.242-2.116, p < 0.001), immunosuppressive therapy (HR: 0.338, 95% CI 0.239-0.479, p < 0.001), oral corticosteroids >3 months (HR 0.449, 95% CI 0.326-0.620, p < 0.001), and onset phenotype ( p < 0.001) were identified as factors associated with MOGAD relapse. A predictive score, termed MOG-AR (Immunosuppressive therapy, oral Corticosteroids, Onset Age, Sex, Attack phenotype), derived in prediction model, demonstrated strong predictive ability for MOGAD relapse. MOG-AR score of 13-16 indicates a higher risk of relapse (HR: 3.285, 95% CI 1.473-7.327, p = 0.004)., Discussion: The risk of MOGAD relapse seems to be predictable. Further validation of MOG-AR score developed from this cohort to determine appropriate treatment and monitoring frequency is warranted., Trial Registration Information: CNRID, NCT05154370, registered December 13, 2021, first enrolled December 15, 2021.