PHASTEST: faster than PHASTER, better than PHAST.

PHASTEST (PHAge Search Tool with Enhanced Sequence Translation) is the successor to the PHAST and PHASTER prophage finding web servers. PHASTEST is designed to support the rapid identification, annotation and visualization of prophage sequences within bacterial genomes and plasmids. PHASTEST also supports rapid annotation and interactive visualization of all other genes (protein coding regions, tRNA/tmRNA/rRNA sequences) in bacterial genomes. Given that bacterial genome sequencing has become so routine, the need for fast tools to comprehensively annotate bacterial genomes has become progressively more important. PHASTEST not only offers faster and more accurate prophage annotations than its predecessors, it also provides more complete whole genome annotations and much improved genome visualization capabilities. In standardized tests, we found that PHASTEST is 31% faster and 2-3% more accurate in prophage identification than PHASTER. Specifically, PHASTEST can process a typical bacterial genome in 3.2 min (raw sequence) or in 1.3 min when given a pre-annotated GenBank file. Improvements in PHASTEST's ability to annotate bacterial genomes now make it a particularly powerful tool for whole genome annotation. In addition, PHASTEST now offers a much more modern and responsive visualization interface that allows users to generate, edit, annotate and interactively visualize (via zooming, rotating, dragging, panning, resetting), colourful, publication quality genome maps. PHASTEST continues to offer popular options such as an API for programmatic queries, a Docker image for local installations, support for multiple (metagenomic) queries and the ability to perform automated look-ups against thousands of previously PHAST-annotated bacterial genomes. PHASTEST is available online at https://phastest.ca.

PlasMapper 3.0-a web server for generating, editing, annotating and visualizing publication quality plasmid maps.

PlasMapper 3.0 is a web server that allows users to generate, edit, annotate and interactively visualize publication quality plasmid maps. Plasmid maps are used to plan, design, share and publish critical information about gene cloning experiments. PlasMapper 3.0 is the successor to PlasMapper 2.0 and offers many features found only in commercial plasmid mapping/editing packages. PlasMapper 3.0 allows users to paste or upload plasmid sequences as input or to upload existing plasmid maps from its large database of >2000 pre-annotated plasmids (PlasMapDB). This database can be searched by plasmid names, sequence features, restriction sites, preferred host organisms, and sequence length. PlasMapper 3.0 also supports the annotation of new or never-before-seen plasmids using its own feature database that contains common promoters, terminators, regulatory sequences, replication origins, selectable markers and other features found in most cloning plasmids. PlasMapper 3.0 has several interactive sequence editors/viewers that allow users to select and view plasmid regions, insert genes, modify restriction sites or perform codon optimization. The graphics for PlasMapper 3.0 have also been substantially upgraded. It now offers an interactive, full-color plasmid viewer/editor that allows users to zoom, rotate, re-color, linearize, circularize, edit annotated features and modify plasmid images or labels to improve the esthetic qualities of their plasmid map and textual displays. All the plasmid images and textual displays are downloadable in multiple formats. PlasMapper 3.0 is available online at https://plasmapper.ca.

MiMeDB: the Human Microbial Metabolome Database.

The Human Microbial Metabolome Database (MiMeDB) (https://mimedb.org) is a comprehensive, multi-omic, microbiome resource that connects: (i) microbes to microbial genomes; (ii) microbial genomes to microbial metabolites; (iii) microbial metabolites to the human exposome and (iv) all of these 'omes' to human health. MiMeDB was established to consolidate the growing body of data connecting the human microbiome and the chemicals it produces to both health and disease. MiMeDB contains detailed taxonomic, microbiological and body-site location data on most known human microbes (bacteria and fungi). This microbial data is linked to extensive genomic and proteomic sequence data that is closely coupled to colourful interactive chromosomal maps. The database also houses detailed information about all the known metabolites generated by these microbes, their structural, chemical and spectral properties, the reactions and enzymes responsible for these metabolites and the primary exposome sources (food, drug, cosmetic, pollutant, etc.) that ultimately lead to the observed microbial metabolites in humans. Additional, extensively referenced data about the known or presumptive health effects, measured biosample concentrations and human protein targets for these compounds is provided. All of this information is housed in richly annotated, highly interactive, visually pleasing database that has been designed to be easy to search, easy to browse and easy to navigate. Currently MiMeDB contains data on 626 health effects or bioactivities, 1904 microbes, 3112 references, 22 054 reactions, 24 254 metabolites or exposure chemicals, 648 861 MS and NMR spectra, 6.4 million genes and 7.6 billion DNA bases. We believe that MiMeDB represents the kind of integrated, multi-omic or systems biology database that is needed to enable comprehensive multi-omic integration.

Highly Stable Self-Regenerating Organic Multi-Redox Systems derived from Bicyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbenes (BICAACs).

An extended class of organic multi-redox systems was derived from bicyclic(alkyl)amino carbenes (BICAACs). The highly-conjugated system undergoes a total of 4 redox events spanning a 1.8 V redox range. These organic compounds exhibited four different stable redox states (dication, radical cation, neutral and radical anion), and all of them were characterized either by single crystal X-ray study and/or various spectroscopic studies. Three of the four redox states are stable to air and moisture. The availability of stable multiple redox states demonstrated promise towards their efficacy in the symmetric H-cell charge/discharge cycling. Among various redox states, the dication/neutral state works efficiently and continuously for 1500 cycles in 2e- charge/discharge process outside glovebox in commercially available DMF with minimum capacity loss (retaining nearly 90 % Coulombic efficiency). Surprisingly, the efficiency of the redox cycle was retained even if the system was exposed to air for 30 days when it slowly regenerated to the initial deep blue radical cation, and it exhibited another 100 charge/discharge cycles with a minimal capacity loss. Such a stable H-cell cycling ability is not well known among organic molecule-based systems.

Green Light-Triggered Photocatalytic Anticancer Activity of Terpyridine-Based Ru(II) Photocatalysts.

The relentless increase in drug resistance of platinum-based chemotherapeutics has opened the scope for other new cancer therapies with novel mechanisms of action (MoA). Recently, photocatalytic cancer therapy, an intrusive catalytic treatment, is receiving significant interest due to its multitargeting cell death mechanism with high selectivity. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of three photoresponsive Ru(II) complexes, viz., [Ru(ph-tpy)(bpy)Cl]PF6 (Ru1), [Ru(ph-tpy)(phen)Cl]PF6 (Ru2), and [Ru(ph-tpy)(aip)Cl]PF6 (Ru3), where, ph-tpy = 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and aip = 2-(anthracen-9-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline, showing photocatalytic anticancer activity. The X-ray crystal structures of Ru1 and Ru2 revealed a distorted octahedral geometry with a RuN5Cl core. The complexes showed an intense absorption band in the 440-600 nm range corresponding to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) that was further used to achieve the green light-induced photocatalytic anticancer effect. The mitochondria-targeting photostable complex Ru3 induced phototoxicity with IC50 and PI values of ca. 0.7 µM and 88, respectively, under white light irradiation and ca. 1.9 µM and 35 under green light irradiation against HeLa cells. The complexes (Ru1-Ru3) showed negligible dark cytotoxicity toward normal splenocytes (IC50s > 50 µM). The cell death mechanistic study revealed that Ru3 induced ROS-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells via mitochondrial depolarization under white or green light exposure. Interestingly, Ru3 also acted as a highly potent catalyst for NADH photo-oxidation under green light. This NADH photo-oxidation process also contributed to the photocytotoxicity of the complexes. Overall, Ru3 presented multitargeting synergistic type I and type II photochemotherapeutic effects.

Association between Mental Disorders and Subsequent Medical Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Persons with mental disorders are at a higher risk than the general population for the subsequent development of certain medical conditions. METHODS: We used a population-based cohort from Danish national registries that included data on more than 5.9 million persons born in Denmark from 1900 through 2015 and followed them from 2000 through 2016, for a total of 83.9 million person-years. We assessed 10 broad types of mental disorders and 9 broad categories of medical conditions (which encompassed 31 specific conditions). We used Cox regression models to calculate overall hazard ratios and time-dependent hazard ratios for pairs of mental disorders and medical conditions, after adjustment for age, sex, calendar time, and previous mental disorders. Absolute risks were estimated with the use of competing-risks survival analyses. RESULTS: A total of 698,874 of 5,940,299 persons (11.8%) were identified as having a mental disorder. The median age of the total population was 32.1 years at entry into the cohort and 48.7 years at the time of the last follow-up. Persons with a mental disorder had a higher risk than those without such disorders with respect to 76 of 90 pairs of mental disorders and medical conditions. The median hazard ratio for an association between a mental disorder and a medical condition was 1.37. The lowest hazard ratio was 0.82 for organic mental disorders and the broad category of cancer (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 0.84), and the highest was 3.62 for eating disorders and urogenital conditions (95% CI, 3.11 to 4.22). Several specific pairs showed a reduced risk (e.g., schizophrenia and musculoskeletal conditions). Risks varied according to the time since the diagnosis of a mental disorder. The absolute risk of a medical condition within 15 years after a mental disorder was diagnosed varied from 0.6% for a urogenital condition among persons with a developmental disorder to 54.1% for a circulatory disorder among those with an organic mental disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Most mental disorders were associated with an increased risk of a subsequent medical condition; hazard ratios ranged from 0.82 to 3.62 and varied according to the time since the diagnosis of the mental disorder. (Funded by the Danish National Research Foundation and others; COMO-GMC ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03847753.).

Comorbidity between mood and substance-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evidence indicates that mood disorders often co-occur with substance-related disorders. However, pooling comorbidity estimates can be challenging due to heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria and in the overall study design. The aim of this study was to systematically review and, where appropriate, meta-analyse estimates related to the pairwise comorbidity between mood disorders and substance-related disorders, after sorting these estimates by various study designs. METHODS: We searched PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science for publications between 1980 and 2017 regardless of geographical location and language. We meta-analysed estimates from original articles in 4 broadly defined mood and 35 substance-related disorders. RESULTS: After multiple eligibility steps, we included 120 studies for quantitative analysis. In general, regardless of variations in diagnosis type, temporal order or use of adjustments, there was substantial comorbidity between mood and substance-related disorders. We found a sixfold elevated risk between broadly defined mood disorder and drug dependence (odds ratio = 5.7) and fivefold risk between depression and cannabis dependence (odds ratio = 4.9) while the highest pooled estimate, based on period prevalence risk, was found between broadly defined dysthymic disorder and drug dependence (odds ratio = 11.3). Based on 56 separate meta-analyses, all pooled odds ratios were above 1, and 46 were significantly greater than 1 (i.e. the 95% confidence intervals did not include 1). CONCLUSION: This review found robust and consistent evidence of an increased risk of comorbidity between many combinations of mood and substance-related disorders. We also identified a number of under-researched mood and substance-related disorders, suitable for future scrutiny. This review reinforces the need for clinicians to remain vigilant in order to promptly identify and treat these common types of comorbidity.

Co-morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is consistent evidence that mood disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders, however, the strength of the association of these two broad groups of disorders has been challenging to summarize across different studies. The aim was to conduct a meta-analysis of publications reporting on the pairwise comorbidity between mood and anxiety disorders after sorting into comparable study types. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the grey literature for publications between 1980 and 2017 regardless of geographical locations and languages. We meta-analyzed estimates from original articles after sorting by: (a) broad or narrow diagnostic criteria, (b) study time-frame, and (c) estimates with or without covariate adjustments. Over 43 000 unique studies were identified through electronic searches, of which 391 were selected for full-text review. Finally, 171 studies were eligible for inclusion, including 53 articles from additional snowball searching. In general, regardless of variations in diagnosis type, study time-frame, temporal order, or use of adjustments, there was substantial comorbidity between mood and anxiety disorders. Based on the entire 90 separate meta-analyses, the median OR was 6.1 (range 1.5-18.7). Of these estimates, all 90 were above 1, and 87 were significantly greater than 1 (i.e., the 95% confidence intervals did not include 1). Fourteen of the 90 pooled estimates had ORs that were greater than 10. This systematic review found robust and consistent evidence of comorbidity between broadly defined mood and anxiety disorders. Clinicians should be vigilant for the prompt identification and treatment of this common type of comorbidity.

Psychotic experiences and general medical conditions: a cross-national analysis based on 28 002 respondents from 16 countries in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys.

BACKGROUND: Previous work has identified associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and general medical conditions (GMCs), but their temporal direction remains unclear as does the extent to which they are independent of comorbid mental disorders. METHODS: In total, 28 002 adults in 16 countries from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys were assessed for PEs, GMCs and 21 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorders. Discrete-time survival analyses were used to estimate the associations between PEs and GMCs with various adjustments. RESULTS: After adjustment for comorbid mental disorders, temporally prior PEs were significantly associated with subsequent onset of 8/12 GMCs (arthritis, back or neck pain, frequent or severe headache, other chronic pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and peptic ulcer) with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.5] to 1.9 (95% CI 1.4-2.4). In contrast, only three GMCs (frequent or severe headache, other chronic pain and asthma) were significantly associated with subsequent onset of PEs after adjustment for comorbid GMCs and mental disorders, with ORs ranging from 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.9) to 1.7 (95% CI 1.2-2.4). CONCLUSIONS: PEs were associated with the subsequent onset of a wide range of GMCs, independent of comorbid mental disorders. There were also associations between some medical conditions (particularly those involving chronic pain) and subsequent PEs. Although these findings will need to be confirmed in prospective studies, clinicians should be aware that psychotic symptoms may be risk markers for a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Whether PEs are causal risk factors will require further research.

Trauma and psychotic experiences: transnational data from the World Mental Health Survey.

BackgroundTraumatic events are associated with increased risk of psychotic experiences, but it is unclear whether this association is explained by mental disorders prior to psychotic experience onset.AimsTo investigate the associations between traumatic events and subsequent psychotic experience onset after adjusting for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders.MethodWe assessed 29 traumatic event types and psychotic experiences from the World Mental Health surveys and examined the associations of traumatic events with subsequent psychotic experience onset with and without adjustments for mental disorders.ResultsRespondents with any traumatic events had three times the odds of other respondents of subsequently developing psychotic experiences (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.7-3.7), with variability in strength of association across traumatic event types. These associations persisted after adjustment for mental disorders.ConclusionsExposure to traumatic events predicts subsequent onset of psychotic experiences even after adjusting for comorbid mental disorders.

Prevalence and correlates of suboptimal vitamin D status in people living with psychotic disorders: Data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: Having sufficient sera concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is important for a range of health outcomes including cardiometabolic diseases. Clinical studies in people with psychotic disorders suggest that a sizable proportion has suboptimal vitamin D status (i.e. vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency). Individuals with psychosis also have many of the risk factors associated with suboptimal vitamin D status such as smoking, obesity, and reduced physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and socio-demographic and clinical correlates of vitamin D status using a large, population-based sample of adults with psychotic disorders. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Survey of High Impact Psychosis, a population-based survey of Australians aged 18-64 years with a psychotic disorder. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration was measured in 463 participants. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration was dichotomised into optimal (above 50 nmol/L) and suboptimal (below 50 nmol/L). The influence of a range of socio-demographic and clinical variables on vitamin D status was examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Nearly half (43.6%) of the participants had suboptimal vitamin D status. Those with (a) increased physical activity or (b) positive symptoms had significantly reduced odds of having suboptimal vitamin D status. However, there were no significant associations between suboptimal vitamin D status and other psychiatric symptom measures or cardiometabolic risk factors. CONCLUSION: Many people with psychotic disorders have suboptimal vitamin D status. As part of the routine assessment of physical health status, clinicians should remain mindful of vitamin D status in this vulnerable population and encourage the use of appropriate vitamin D supplements.

Common mental disorders and recent physical activity status: findings from a National Community Survey.

PURPOSE: To explore the association between histories of common mental disorders, delusional-like experiences, and recent physical activity using a large nationally representative population-based sample from Australia. We predicted that a past history of a common mental disorder or delusional-like experiences would be associated with insufficient physical activity. METHODS: The study was based on the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007 (n = 8841). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to identify a lifetime and past year history of common mental disorders and delusional-like experiences. Physical activity over the preceding week was estimated using the questions based on the Active Australia survey with respondents classified as (a) insufficiently physically active versus (b) sufficiently physically active based on national recommendations. We examined the relationship between the variables of interest using logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Almost half of the participants (46.0%) were classified as sufficiently physically active. Compared to those with no past mental disorder, those with lifetime or past year history of common mental disorders did not differ on recent physical activity status. Furthermore, we found no significant association between the number of lifetime mental disorders or the presence of delusional-like experience and recent physical activity status. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a diagnosis of common mental disorder, with or without recent symptoms and comorbid diagnoses, or even having self-ascribed perception of poor mental well-being, is not associated with insufficient physical activity.

Highly sensitive dual-mode fluorescence detection of lead ion in water using aggregation-induced emissive polymers.

A series of fluorene-based conjugated polymers containing the aggregation-induced emissive (AIE)-active tetraphenylethene and dicarboxylate pseudocrown as a receptor exhibits a unique dual-mode sensing ability for selective detection of lead ion in water. Fluorescence turn-off and turn-on detections are realized in 80%-90% and 20% water in tetrahydrofuran (THF), respectively, for lead ion with a concentration as low as 10(-8) m.

Modelling the incidence and mortality of psychotic disorders: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to model estimates related to (a) the incidence of psychotic disorders and (b) the mortality associated with these disorders based on a large, population-based prevalence study. METHODS: Data were drawn from the second national survey of adults with psychotic disorders conducted in seven Australian catchment areas during March to December 2010. To generate incidence rate estimates, we identified recent onset cases recruited as part of the prevalence study and then imputed population-based incidence rates using a set of conservative assumptions. Similarly, for mortality rates, we identified individuals who had died after being identified as 'screen-positive' for psychosis, but prior to full clinical assessment. Using a set of conservative assumptions, we then used these estimates to infer population-based mortality rates. RESULTS: Based on our models, we estimated that the incidence rate for psychotic disorders was 28 cases per 100,000 population. The rate estimates were significantly higher in males than females, with an overall male:female ratio of 1.57:1. Incidence rate estimates peaked in the youngest age group (18-24 years). The adjusted mortality rate estimated during the whole period of observation was 12.5 per 1000 persons, with a standardised mortality ratio of 5.5. CONCLUSIONS: Using treated prevalence data and observed deaths with appropriate algorithms, we were able to impute incidence and mortality rates for psychotic disorders consistent with the published literature. While the second national survey of psychotic disorders was not designed to identify mortality, our estimates provide a stark reminder of the increased mortality associated with these disorders.

A multi-site randomised controlled trial of evidence-based supported employment for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach is an evidence-based form of supported employment for people with severe and persistent mental illness. This approach is not yet widely available in Australia even though there is mounting evidence of its generalisability outside the USA. One previous Australian randomised controlled trial found that IPS is effective for young people with first episode psychosis. The aim of the current trial was to assess the effectiveness of evidence-based supported employment when implemented for Australian adult consumers of public mental health services by utilising existing service systems. METHODS: A four-site randomised control trial design (n = 208) was conducted in Brisbane (two sites), Townsville and Cairns. The intervention consisted of an IPS supported employment service hosted by a community mental health team. The control condition was delivered at each site by mental health teams referring consumers to other disability employment services in the local area. RESULTS: At 12 months, those in the IPS condition had 2.4 times greater odds of commencing employment than those in the control condition (42.5% vs. 23.5%). The conditions did not differ on secondary employment outcomes including job duration, hours worked, or job diversity. Attrition was higher than expected in both conditions with 28.4% completing the baseline interview but taking no further part in the study. CONCLUSION: The results support previous international findings that IPS-supported employment is more effective than non-integrated supported employment. IPS can be successfully implemented this way in Australia, but with a loss of effect strength compared to previous USA trials.

The co-occurrence of common mental and physical disorders within Australian families: a national population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Because comorbidity between mental and physical disorders is commonly found in patients, it would be expected that this pattern would also be reflected at the family level. During a recent population-based survey of common mental disorders, respondents were asked about the presence of selected mental and physical disorders in their relatives. The aim of this research was to describe the within-family co-occurrence of selected common physical and mental disorders in a population-based sample. METHODS: Subjects were drawn from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007. A modified version of the World Mental Health Survey Initiative of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI 3.0, henceforth CIDI) was used to identify lifetime-ever common psychiatric disorders (anxiety disorders, depression, drug or alcohol disorders). The respondents were asked if any of their relatives had one of a list of psychiatric (anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, drug or alcohol problem, schizophrenia) or general physical disorders (cancer, heart problems, intellectual disability, memory problems). We examined the relationship between the variables of interest using logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Compared to otherwise-well respondents, those who had a CIDI diagnosis of major depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse/dependence were significantly more likely to have first-degree relatives with (a) the same diagnosis as the respondent, (b) other mental disorders not identified in the respondent, and (c) a broad range of general physical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with common mental disorders report greater familial co-occurrence for a range of mental and physical disorders. When eliciting family histories, clinicians should remain mindful that both mental and physical disorders can co-occur within families.

Efficacy of risperidone in children with disruptive behavioural disorders.

This study aims to review the evidence for the efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of disruptive behavioural disorders (DBDs) in children and adolescents. Established databases were searched using the terms 'Risperidone and efficacy and children' and 'Risperidone and efficacy and adolescents'. Randomised, double-blind controlled studies were retained for analysis. Janseen-Cilag was contacted to identify any unpublished studies. Quality of studies was measured using Jadad scores. Seven studies of 657 subjects with a mean age of 9.9 years (SD= 2.0) (range 4-18 years) were identified. Only one study was judged to use the highest quality of methodology according to the Jadad score. Patients with DBD who were treated with risperidone showed clinical improvement compared with placebo. Weight gain, somnolence and gastrointestinal complaints were common. Risperidone was found to be efficacious in reducing symptoms in children and adolescents with DBD. However, studies were mostly of short duration and had deficiencies in the descriptions of blinding and randomisation. Research using rigorous methodology examining the long-term outcomes of efficacy and safety are required to inform clinicians and families of the therapeutic benefits and risks of risperidone in this clinical population.

Cat Ownership and Schizophrenia-Related Disorders and Psychotic-Like Experiences: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that cat ownership may be a risk-modifying factor for schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences (PLE). This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze publications that reported the relationship between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related outcomes. METHODOLOGY: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and gray literature for publications between January 1, 1980, and May 30, 2023, regardless of geographical location and language. Backward citation search methods were used to locate additional articles. We included studies that reported original data on cat ownership and schizophrenia-related outcomes. We meta-analyzed estimates based on broad definitions (cat ownership, cat bites, and cat contact) with estimates with or without covariate adjustments. We pooled comparable estimates using random-effects models and assessed the risk of bias, heterogeneity, and study quality. RESULTS: We identified 1915 studies, of which 106 were chosen for full-text review, ultimately resulting in the inclusion of 17 studies. We found an association between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders. The unadjusted pooled odds ratio (OR) was 2.35 (95% CI: 1.38-4.01), while the adjusted pooled estimate was 2.24 (95% CI: 1.61-3.12). We were unable to aggregate the estimates for the PLE outcomes because of the broad range of measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders; however, the findings related to PLE as an outcome are mixed. There is a need for more high-quality studies in this field. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023426974. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023426974.

Density Functional Theory-Guided Photo-Triggered Anticancer Activity of Curcumin-Based Zinc(II) Complexes.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has evolved as a new therapeutic modality for cancer treatment with fewer side effects and drug resistance. Curcumin exhibits PDT activity, but its low bioavailability restricts its clinical application. Here, the bioavailability of curcumin was increased by its complex formation with the Zn(II) center. For a structure-activity relationship study, Zn(II)-based complexes (1-3) comprising N^N-based ligands (2,2'-bipyridine in 1 and 2 or 1,10-phenanthroline in 3) and O^O-based ligands (acetylacetone in 1, monoanionic curcumin in 2 and 3) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The X-ray structure of the control complex, 1, indicated a square pyramidal shape of the molecules. Photophysical and TD-DFT studies indicated the potential of 2 and 3 as good visible light type-II photosensitizers for PDT. Guided by the TD-DFT studies, the low-energy visible light-triggered singlet oxygen (1O2) generation efficacy of 2 and 3 was explored in solution and in cancer cells. As predicted by the TD-DFT calculations, these complexes produced 1O2 efficiently in the cytosol of MCF-7 cancer cells and ultimately displayed excellent apoptotic anticancer activity in the presence of light. Moreover, the molecular docking investigation showed that complexes 2 and 3 have very good binding affinities with caspase-9 and p-53 proteins and could activate them for cellular apoptosis. Further molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of 3 in the caspase-9 protein binding site.

Polypyridyl-based Co(III) complexes of vitamin B6 Schiff base for photoactivated antibacterial therapy.

Herein, five novel polypyridyl-based Co(III) complexes of Schiff bases, viz., [Co(dpa)(L1)]Cl (1), [Co(dpa)(L2)]Cl (2), [Co(L3)(L2)]Cl (3), [Co(L3)(L1)]Cl (4), and [Co(L4)(L1)]Cl (5), where dpa (dipicolylamine) = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; H2L1 = (E)-2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenol; H2L2 = (E)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(((2-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol; L3 = 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (ph-tpy); and L4 = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (Fc-tpy), were synthesized and characterized. Complexes 1, 3, and 4 were structurally characterized by single-crystal XRD, indicating an octahedral CoIIIN4O2 coordination core. The absorption bands of these complexes were observed in the visible range with a λmax at ∼430-485 nm. Complex 5 displayed an extra absorption band near 545 nm because of a ferrocene moiety. These absorptions in the visible region reflect the potential of the complexes to act as visible-light antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) agents. All of these complexes showed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated antibacterial effects against S. aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative bacteria) upon low-energy visible light (0.5 J cm-2, 400-700 nm) exposure. Additionally, 1-5 did not show any toxicity toward A549 (Human Lung adenocarcinoma) cells, reflecting their selective bacteria-killing abilities.