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Recently, nanoscale thermometry has attracted extensive attention. Here, we present an innovative approach to enhance the sensitivity of upconversion nanoparticles for thermometry through near-field manipulation. This method involves a composite structure consisting of photonic crystals and upconversion nanoparticles, with the near-field of the nanoparticles manipulated by tuning the absorption of the photonic crystals. The fluorescence intensity ratio (540nm/520 nm) of 4H 11/2 and4S 3/2 states of upconversion nanoparticles doped with Er3+ ions is sensitive to temperature change and employed as a temperature indicator that satisfies Boltzmann thermal equilibrium. The composite structure exhibited a relative thermometry sensitivity of 21.9 × 10−3 K−1 at 298 K, representing a significant improvement over pure core-shell upconversion nanoparticles with a 63.43% increase in relative sensitivity and a 675% increase in absolute sensitivity. This finding demonstrates the potential of our approach for advancing nanoscale thermometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological rhythms denote the cyclical patterns of life activities anchored to a 24-hour cycle. Research shows that depression exhibits disturbances in biological rhythms. Yet, the relationship between these biological rhythms and concomitant anxiety symptoms is insufficiently investigated in structured clinical assessments. This multicenter study, carried out in four Chinese hospitals, comprehensively examined the relationship between anxiety and disruptions in biological rhythms among patients with depression. The study encompassed 218 patients diagnosed with depression and 205 matched healthy controls. The Chinese version of the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry was utilized to evaluate the participants' biological rhythms, focusing on four dimensions: sleep, activity, social, and diet. In patients with depression, there is a significant positive correlation between the severity of anxiety symptoms and the disturbances in biological rhythms. The severity of anxiety and depression, along with the quality of life, are independently associated with disruptions in biological rhythms. The mediation model reveals that anxiety symptoms mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and biological rhythms. This research highlights the role of anxiety within the spectrum of depressive disorders and the associated disturbances in biological rhythms. Our findings shed light on potential pathways towards more targeted preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions for individuals battling depression and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Robust evidence has shown that abnormal function networks, particularly the salience network (SN), are observed in depressed patients. Although white matter structural connectivity may predict time-varying functional connectivity, including symptom phenotype, in psychiatric disorders, there is still a gap in elucidating the concurrent dynamic functional and structural connectivity profiles of the SN in depressed patients.Methods: We measured static and dynamic functional connectivity (FC) of the SN using resting-state fMRI BOLD time series in 76 subjects (21 with major depressive disorder (MDD), 27 with bipolar depression (BD), and 28 healthy controls (HC)). Hamilton Depression Scale total score was used to measure depression severity. Furthermore, we investigated the concurrent structural connectivity using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)-based tractography.Results: Our findings suggested that in the presence of MDD, both structural and dynamic (but not static) FC were reduced in the SN, particularly affecting the left prefronto-insular pathways (L.aPFC-L.insula). MDD patients showed decreased connectivity variability within the SN compared with HC. The aberrant dynamic FC in the prefronto-insular pathways of the SN related to severity of depressive symptoms in MDD. Furthermore, compared with BD patients, those with MDD showed significantly decreased dynamic FC in the left prefronto-parietal system (L.aPFC-lateral parietal cortex).Limitations: The generalizability of our findings is, to some extent, constrained by the small sample size.Conclusions: The integrity of SN connectivity, particularly the prefronto-insular pathway, appears to be a crucial signature of MDD. The perturbed dynamic interaction of SN with prefrontal regions may underlie the clinical severity in depressed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological evidence linking type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with air pollution is discrepant and most are restricted to the influences of air-pollutant mass concentration. This study aims to explore the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution and its metal constituents on T2DM prevalence in China. We used data on 10,253 adult residents from the baseline survey of Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort in 2019. Ambient PM 2.5 , PM 10 and NO 2 exposure were estimated at residences based on Chinese Air Quality Reanalysis Dataset. Concentrations of 10 metal constituents were measured by 976 PM 2.5 filter samples collected from four monitoring stations. Logistic regression models were employed to examine associations of T2DM prevalence with 3-year mean concentrations of each air pollutant and PM 2.5 metal constituents prior to the baseline investigation. A total of 673 T2DM cases (6.6%) were identified. The 3-year mean exposures to PM 2.5 , PM 10 and NO 2 were 50.89 μg/m3, 82.86 μg/m3, and 39.79 μg/m3, respectively. And interquartile range (IQR) of 10 metals in PM 2.5 varied from 0.03 ng/m3 to 78.30 ng/m3. For 1 μg/m3 increment in PM 2.5 , PM 10 and NO 2 , the odds of T2DM increased by 7.2% (95%CI: 1.026, 1.136), 3.1% (95%CI: 1.013, 1.050), and 2.1% (95%CI: 1.005, 1.038) after adjusting for potential confounders. Cd and Sb in PM 2.5 were significant risk factors to T2DM with odds ratios of 1.350 (95%CI: 1.089, 1.673) and 1.389 (95%CI: 1.164, 1.658) for per IQR increase, respectively. Stratification analyses indicated that males and those aged ≥45 years were more susceptive to long-term air pollution. Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 10 and NO 2 increased T2DM prevalence in a Wuhan population, especially for men and middle-aged and elderly people. Moreover, T2DM was significantly associated with Cd and Sb in PM 2.5. Further research to validate these results and to clarify the underlying mechanisms is warranted. • Long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 was positively associated with T2DM prevalence. •Cd and Sb in PM2.5 were risk factors to T2DM. •Association of air pollution and T2DM was stronger in males than in females. •Participants aged ≥45 years old were more susceptible to air pollution exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on the associations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants (including particle with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM 10), particle with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM 2.5), ozone (O 3), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2)) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to determine the associations based on a case-control study nested in the Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort study (WCDCS), a population-based study with baseline survey in 2019. A total of 10,253 residents living in Wuhan were recruited. The 3-year average concentrations of main pollutants (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , O 3 , NO 2 , and SO 2) at residences prior to the survey date were estimated to evaluate the long-term exposures. The generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the changes in MetS prevalence by an IQR increases in each air pollutant exposure concentrations. Interaction effects between air pollutants and demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors on MetS were evaluated by including an interactive item in the main model. The prevalence of MetS in Wuhan was 9.8%, and the 3-year exposure concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , O 3 , NO 2 , and SO 2 were 84.1 μg/m3, 50.5 μg/m3, 55.7 μg/m3, 46.0 μg/m3, and 9.4 μg/m3, respectively. Higher PM 10 , PM 2.5 and O 3 exposure concentrations were associated with an elevated MetS prevalence (e.g. an IQR increase in PM 2.5 , OR = 1.193, 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs): 1.028, 1.385; for O 3 , OR = 1.074, 95%CIs: 1.025, 1.124), whereas NO 2 , and SO 2 were negatively or insignificant correlated with odds of Mets (e.g. an IQR increase in NO 2 , OR = 0.865, 95%CIs: 0.795, 0.941). Males, smokers, alcohol drinkers and individuals who intake fruits occasionally exposure to PM 10 and PM 2.5 were found had a higher risk of developing MetS. Long-term exposure to higher concentrations of ambient air pollutants may elevate the prevalence of MetS in populations in Central China. Susceptible individuals especially those with unhealthy lifestyles had a higher risk for MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging risk factor, long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has been linked to glucose homeostasis in numerous epidemiological researches. However, the acute adverse effects of PM 2.5 exposure on glucose homeostasis among healthy population are not well described. The study aims to investigate the short-term association between PM 2.5 exposure and glucose homeostasis among the healthy populations. We scheduled 8 repeated physical examinations with venous blood collection every 1–2 weeks from 9 September 2019 to 7 January 2020 in a panel of 70 healthy adults (aged 18–26) in Wuhan, China. We measured the individual hourly PM 2.5 concentrations, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (FINS) along HOMA-B and HOMA-IR. The linear mixed-effect model was conducted to evaluate the acute effect of PM 2.5 on glucose homeostasis. PM 2.5 concentrations range varied from 7.38 to 115.38 μg/m3, with an average level of 38.34 μg/m3. Each 10 μg/m3 increment in 3-days PM 2.5 moving average was associated with a 4.19% increase in FINS (95% CI: 2.35, 6.05), 5.95% increase in HOMA-B (95% CI: 3.66, 8.26), and 3.77% increase in HOMA-IR (95% CI: 1.41, 4.64), respectively. We found the adverse effect on HOMA-IR was greater in the overweight (%Change = 7.98; 95% CI: 3.54, 12.61) than in the normal-weight (%Change = 3.35; 95% CI: 1.34, 5.38). And the lifestyle factors, such as exercise also showed a modification effect on the short-term association between PM 2.5 and glucose homeostasis. Conclusively, exposure to PM 2.5 for short-term, even within hours, was positively associated with elevated IR status and impaired glucose homeostasis in the healthy population. The result may suggest a plausible biological pathway underlying PM 2.5 and metabolic events. • Short-term exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with elevated FINS, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-B. • Exposure to particulate matter impairs glucose homeostasis. • Physiological and lifestyle factors show a modification of the PM 2.5 -induced adverse health effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]