Design and Performance of Small-Molecule Donors with Donor-π-Acceptor Architecture Toward Vacuum-Deposited Organic Photovoltaics Having Heretofore Highest Short-Circuit Current Density.

The development of high-performance organic photovoltaic materials is of crucial importance for the commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, two structurally simple donor-π-conjugated linker-acceptor (D-π-A)-configured small-molecule donors with methyl-substituted triphenylamine as D unit, 1,1-dicyanomethylene-3-indanone as A unit, and thiophene or furan as π-conjugated linker, named DTICPT and DTICPF, are developed. DTICPT and DTICPF are facilely prepared via a two-step synthetic process with simple procedures. DTICPF with a furan π-conjugated linker exhibits stronger and broader optical absorption, deeper highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, and better charge transport, compared to its thiophene analog DTICPT. As a result, vacuum-deposited OSCs based on DTICPF: C70 show an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.36% (certified 9.15%) with short-circuit current density (Jsc) up to 17.49 mA cm-2 (certified 17.56 mA cm-2), which is the highest Jsc reported so far for vacuum-deposited OSCs. Besides, devices based on DTICPT: C70 and DTICPF: C70 exhibit excellent long-term stability under different aging conditions. This work offers important insights into the rational design of D-π-A configured small-molecule donors for high efficient and stable vacuum-deposited OSCs.

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among students aged 12 to 24 after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China: prevalence and associated factors.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescent and young adults in China from December 14, 2022 to February 28, 2023, when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Methods: Students in middle and high schools and colleges and universities in the province of Sichuan, China were asked to complete on-line cross-sectional surveys. Information was collected about sociodemographics, experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Participants also filled out the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Social Support Rate Scale surveys. Factors associated with suicidal ideation or suicide attempts were explored using logistic regression. Results: Of the 82,873 respondents (aged 12 to 24 years), 21,292 (25.7%) reported having thought of suicide at least once in their lifetime, 10,382 (12.5%) reported having thought about suicide within the previous 12 months, and 1,123 (1.4%) reported having attempted it within the previous 12 months. Risk of lifetime suicidal ideation was higher among middle school students than among older students. Risk of suicidal ideation and risk of suicide attempts correlated directly with severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety, and inversely with level of social support. Greater risk of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts was associated with: being female, living in an urban environment, attending a boarding school, currently being in love, having parents who divorced or remarried, having parents who exhibit non-authoritative parenting behavior, having higher family income, having been COVID-19 infected, having been quarantined for a long time, and being dissatisfied with one's education. Conclusions: Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts remain prevalent among young people in China. The potential associated factors identified in our study may be useful for targeting appropriate psychosocial interventions and developing mental health policies.

[Endothelial-mesenchymal transition, ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction, and research progress of Chinese medicine intervention].

Ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction(VRAMI) is a pathological phenomenon triggered by the abrupt occlusion of coronary arteries, leading to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. This intricate process encompasses alterations in the dimensions, composition, and elasticity of the ventricular tissue and reflects pathophysiological reactions and self-repair after cardiomyocytes are damaged. The characteristic pathological manifestation of VRAMI is the presence of myocardial fibrosis(MF), wherein fibrotic cardiac tissue undergoes a loss of contractile and relaxation capacity, ultimately culminating in heart failure(HF) and significantly impacting the patient's prognosis. Endothelial-mesenchymal transition(EndMT) is a biological process in which endothelial cells, in response to diverse pathological stimuli such as ischemia and hypoxia in the embryonic development period, undergo morphological alterations and functional impairment, progressively acquiring mesenchymal cell properties and ultimately differentiating into mesenchymal cells. The ongoing advancement of the EndMT process will result in an excessive buildup of collagen, thereby inducing structural harm to the myocardium and exacerbating the processes of VRAMI and MF. Recent investigations have demonstrated the pivotal involvement of EndMT in the pathological advancement of VRAMI. Consequently, a targeted intervention aimed at effectively impeding VRAMI, safeguarding cardiac function, and potentially serving as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of VRAMI. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent Chinese and international literature, focusing on the role and pathophysiological mechanisms of EndMT in VRAMI. Additionally, it discusses the research progress of innovative targeted interventions using both traditional Chinese and Western medicine, so as to offer new insights and a theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of the disease.

Predictors of early colorectal cancer metastasis to lymph nodes: providing rationale for therapy decisions.

With the improvement of national health awareness and the popularization of a series of screening methods, the number of patients with early colorectal cancer is gradually increasing, and accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis of T1 colorectal cancer is the key to determining the optimal therapeutic solutions. Whether patients with T1 colorectal cancer undergoing endoscopic resection require additional surgery and regional lymph node dissection is inconclusive in current guidelines. However, we can be sure that in early colorectal cancer without lymph node metastasis, endoscopic resection alone does not affect the prognosis, and it greatly improves the quality of life and reduces the incidence of surgical complications while preserving organ integrity. Therefore, it is vital to discriminate patients without lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer, and this requires accurate predictors. This paper briefly explains the significance and shortcomings of traditional pathological factors, then extends and states the new pathological factors, clinical test factors, molecular biomarkers, and the risk assessment models of lymph node metastasis based on artificial intelligence.

Survey of physicians' knowledge about pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in China.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate physicians' awareness and knowledge towards pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their attitude toward change in nomenclature from NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in China. METHODS: The questionnaire survey contained five parts (characteristics of the participants, epidemiology, diagnosis, management of NAFLD, and attitudes toward the nomenclature of MAFLD/MASLD). The participants included 53 hepatologists, 88 gastroenterologists (GEs), 74 endocrinologists (ENDOs), 61 primary care physicians (PCPs), and 157 pediatricians across 31 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions of China's mainland. RESULTS: Hepatologists saw the largest number of pediatric NAFLD patients annually (median 9 [range 1-20]), with the lowest number by PCPs (even notwithstanding one patient annually). The primary sources of pediatric NAFLD knowledge were acquired via guidelines. Hepatologists had the highest total knowledge score among all five types of physicians. Approximately one-third of nonspecialists (ENDOs and PCPs) considered liver biopsy necessary for pediatric NAFLD patients, and this percentage increased to half in specialists (hepatologists and GEs). For nonspecialists, the major barriers to the management of pediatric NAFLD were poor patient adherence to lifestyle modifications and lacking confidence in managing NAFLD. Above 90% physicians agreed to change the nomenclature NAFLD to MAFLD; however, they were not sure whether it could reduce the economic burden. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the epidemic of pediatric NAFLD in China, a significant knowledge gap remains in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric NAFLD, particularly among frontline workers such as pediatricians and PCPs. More education programs should be carried out in the future.

Pharmacological actions of the bioactive compounds of Epimedium on the male reproductive system: current status and future perspective.

ABSTRACT: Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium, icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium, its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.

Microbiological profile of diabetic foot infections in China and worldwide: a 20-year systematic review.

Introduction: Pathogens causing diabetic foot infections (DFIs) vary by region globally; however, knowledge of the causative organism is essential for effective empirical treatment. We aimed to determine the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility of DFI pathogens worldwide, focusing on Asia and China. Methods: Through a comprehensive literature search, we identified published studies on organisms isolated from DFI wounds from January 2000 to December 2020. Results: Based on our inclusion criteria, we analyzed 245 studies that cumulatively reported 38,744 patients and 41,427 isolated microorganisms. DFI pathogens varied according to time and region. Over time, the incidence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria have decreased and increased, respectively. America and Asia have the highest (62.74%) and lowest (44.82%) incidence of Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Africa has the highest incidence (26.90%) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Asia has the highest incidence (49.36%) of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria with species infection rates as follows: Escherichia coli, 10.77%; Enterobacter spp., 3.95%; and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 11.08%, with higher local rates in China and Southeast Asia. Linezolid, vancomycin, and teicoplanin were the most active agents against Gram-positive aerobes, while imipenem and cefoperazone-sulbactam were the most active agents against Gram-negative aerobes. Discussion: This systematic review showed that over 20 years, the pathogens causing DFIs varied considerably over time and region. This data may inform local clinical guidelines on empirical antibiotic therapy for DFI in China and globally. Regular large-scale epidemiological studies are necessary to identify trends in DFI pathogenic bacteria. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023447645.

Overall clinical course of indeterminate dendritic cell tumor patients without skin lesions: A rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Indeterminate dendritic cell tumor (IDCT) is a rare tumor of immune cells, and IDCT patients without skin lesions are rarely reported. Therefore, the clinical course in this type of patient is unclear, and further research on the underlying pathological mechanisms and appropriate treatments is needed. CASE SUMMARY: This study describes a female IDCT patient with bile duct lesions. The strong mimicry of IDCT lesions confused doctors, and consequently, this patient, who had no skin lesions, was first diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Then, she presented with persistent abdominal distension without jaundice. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes along with massive ascites were observed in the subsequent imaging examination. However, no tumor cells or pathogens were found in the three subsequent ascites analyses. It took 2 years to reach the correct diagnosis, which was eventually obtained by performing surgery for biopsy of the patient's abdominal lymph nodes. However, by then, she was already in a cachexic state. Finally, she received a cycle of cyclophosphamide therapy and was advised to visit a hospital specializing in rare diseases. CONCLUSION: For IDCT patients without skin lesions, early biopsy is the key to obtaining a correct diagnosis. Moreover, the collective management of IDCT patients is important. Further histological and molecular biology studies based on human specimens are critical for understanding the pathological mechanism of dendritic cell tumors in the future.

Mechanism of Brevibacillus brevis strain TR-4 against leaf disease of Photinia×fraseri Dress.

Background: Colletotrichum species are among the most common pathogens in agriculture and forestry, and their control is urgently needed. Methods: In this study, a total of 68 strains of biocontrol bacteria were isolated and identified from Photinia × fraseri rhizosphere soil. Results: The isolates were identified as Brevibacillus brevis by 16S rRNA. The inhibitory effect of TR-4 on Colletotrichum was confirmed by an in vitro antagonistic experiment. The inhibitory effect of TR-4 was 98% at a concentration of 10 µl/ml bacterial solution, protection of the plant and inhibition of C. siamense was evident. Moreover, the secretion of cellulase and chitosan enzymes in the TR-4 fermentation liquid cultured for three days was 9.07 mol/L and 2.15 µl/mol, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that TR-4 destroyed the cell wall of C. siamense, resulting in leakage of the cell contents, thus weakening the pathogenicity of the bacteria.

Ecotoxicity of hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] in soil presents predominate threats to agricultural production with the increase of soil Cr contamination.

The relative severity between chromium (Cr)-mediated ecotoxicity and its bioaccumulation has rarely been compared and evaluated. This study employed pot incubation experiments to simulate the soil environment with increased Cr pollution and study their effects on the growth of crops, including pepper, lettuce, wheat, and rice. Results showed that increasing total Cr presented ascendant ecotoxicity in upland soils when pH > 7.5, and significantly reduced the yield of pepper, lettuce and wheat grain by 0.3-100 %, whereas, this effect was weakened even reversed as the pH decreased. Surprisingly, a series of soils with Cr concentration of 22.7-623.5 mg kg-1 did not cause Cr accumulation in four crops over the Chinese permissible limit. The toxicity of Cr was highly associated with extractable Cr, where Cr (VI) made the greater contributions than Cr (III). Conclusively, the ecotoxicity of Cr poses a greater environmental issue as compared to the bioaccumulation of Cr in crops in upland soils, while extractable Cr (VI) makes the predominant contributions to the ecotoxicity of Cr as the total Cr increased. Our study proposes a synchronous consideration involving total Cr and Cr (VI) as the theoretical basis to establish a more reliable soil quality standard for safe production in China.

Improvement in Measures of Quality of Life and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Severe Alopecia Areata Achieving Sustained Scalp Hair Regrowth with Baricitinib.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease associated with high rates of emotional and psychosocial distress. The analysis reported here describes the evolution of measures assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of anxiety and depression up to week 104 in patients who achieved sustained scalp hair regrowth during treatment with baricitinib in the BRAVE-AA phase III trials. METHODS: This post-hoc analysis included data from the double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trials BRAVE-AA1 (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03570749) and BRAVE-AA2 (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03899259). Adults with severe AA (defined as a Severity of Alopecia Tool [SALT] score ≥ 50) randomized to baricitinib 4 mg or baricitinib 2 mg at baseline who achieved SALT score ≤ 20 by week 36 and maintained SALT score ≤ 20 through week 104 on the same dose of baricitinib were included in this analysis of integrated data. Scalp hair regrowth (SALT score) and improvements in Skindex-16 AA Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) domain scores were analyzed over the 104-week period using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: In total, 131 patients (88 on baricitinib 4 mg and 43 on baricitinib 2 mg) were included in this analysis. Across the two groups, the mean age (standard deviation) was 37.2 years (12.7), and 84 (64.1%) patients were female. The interquartile range) for time to achieve a SALT score ≤ 20 for patients treated with baricitinib 4 mg and baricitinib 2 mg was 13.1 and 19.6 weeks, respectively. By week 104, 91% (baricitinib 2 mg) and 96% (baricitinib 4 mg) of patients had achieved a SALT score ≤ 10 on baricitinib treatment. In both groups, progressive improvements in the Skindex-16 AA and HADS domain scores were observed up to week 104. CONCLUSION: This analysis of adults with severe AA treated with baricitinib revealed that achievement of sustained clinically meaningful scalp hair regrowth (SALT score ≤ 20) was associated with improvements in both measures of HRQoL and symptoms of anxiety and depression up to week 104.

Hirsutella sinensis polysaccharides and Parabacteroides goldsteinii reduce lupus severity in imiquimod-treated mice.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing in developed countries, possibly due to the modern Western diet and lifestyle. We showed earlier that polysaccharides derived from the medicinal fungus Hirsutella sinensis produced anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects by modulating the gut microbiota and increasing the abundance of the commensal Parabacteroides goldsteinii in mice fed with a high-fat diet. METHODS: We examined the effects of the prebiotics, H. sinensis polysaccharides, and probiotic, P. goldsteinii, in a mouse model of imiquimod-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS: The fungal polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii reduced markers of lupus severity, including the increase of spleen weight, proteinuria, and serum levels of anti-DNA auto-antibodies and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). Moreover, the polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii improved markers of kidney and liver functions such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glomerulus damage and fibrosis, and serum liver enzymes. However, the prebiotics and probiotics did not influence gut microbiota composition, colonic histology, or expression of tight junction proteins in colon tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that H. sinensis polysaccharides and the probiotic P. goldsteinii can reduce lupus markers in imiquimod-treated mice. These prebiotics and probiotics may therefore be added to other interventions conducive of a healthy lifestyle in order to counter autoimmune diseases.

Global distribution of zoonotic digenetic trematodes: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Digenetic trematodes, including blood flukes, intestinal flukes, liver flukes, lung flukes, and pancreatic flukes, are highly diverse and distributed widely. They affect at least 200 million people worldwide, so better understanding of their global distribution and prevalence are crucial for controlling and preventing human trematodiosis. Hence, this scoping review aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the spatio-temporal distribution and epidemiology of some important zoonotic digenetic trematodes. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases for articles, reviews, and case reports of zoonotic digenetic trematodes, without any restrictions on the year of publication. We followed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. And relevant information of the identified studies were collected and summarized. RESULTS: We identified a total of 470 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review finally. Our analysis revealed the prevalence and global distribution of species in Schistosoma, Echinostoma, Isthmiophora, Echinochasmus, Paragonimus, Opisthorchiidae, Fasciolidae, Heterophyidae, and Eurytrema. Although some flukes are distributed worldwide, developing countries in Asia and Africa are still the most prevalent areas. Furthermore, there were some overlaps between the distribution of zoonotic digenetic trematodes from the same genus, and the prevalence of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes was not entirely consistent with their global distribution. The temporal disparities in zoonotic digenetic trematodes may attribute to the environmental changes. The gaps in our knowledge of the epidemiology and control of zoonotic digenetic trematodes indicate the need for large cohort studies in most countries. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides important insights into the prevalence and global distribution of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes, firstly reveals spatio-temporal disparities in these digenetic trematodes. Countries with higher prevalence rate could be potential sources of transmitting diseases to other areas and are threat for possible outbreaks in the future. Therefore, continued global efforts to control and prevent human trematodiosis, and more international collaborations are necessary in the future.

Comparison of proximal and distal laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy for complete duplex kidneys in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of proximal and distal laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy (UU) for complete duplex kidneys in children. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic UU for complete duplex kidneys between December 2016 and July 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. 71 patients who had normal lower pole moiety without vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) were recruited. All of them underwent ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), renal scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance urography preoperatively. Proximal laparoscopic UU was performed in 35 patients and distal laparoscopic UU in 36 patients. Double J stents were placed in normal lower pole moieties. Clinical data, including general information, diagnosis, surgical management, imaging characteristics, clinical symptoms and postoperative complications (classified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification), and length of stay were recorded. Measurement date comparisons between groups were performed by t test, counting date were analyzed by chi-square test. RESULTS: The study consisted of 71 patients (56 females and 15 males) with complete duplex kidneys (41 in left kidney and 30 in right kidney). The patients' mean age was 34 m (range 3-161 m) and follow-up ranged from 25 to 81 m. No significant difference was found in age and follow-up time between the two groups. Laparoscopic UU was performed in all patients successfully. The operation time of the two groups was 108.42 ± 26.95 min for distal UU vs 121.46 ± 35.15 min for proximal UU(p = 0.14). No significant difference in postoperative complications was seen between the two groups (22.2% vs 31.4%, p = 0.345). However, in terms of the grading of postoperative complications, the proximal UU group had a higher grade (3 of them had a grade of IV) and more serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of complications between distal and proximal UU. Compared with proximal laparoscopic UU, distal laparoscopic UU is easier to perform with less injury to the peripheral tissues. Postoperative complications of proximal UU are more serious and more difficult to manage. We recommend complete duplex kidney ureteral reconstruction with distal UU.

Value of sonoelastography for diagnosis of breast non-mass lesions and comparison with BI-RADS: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Not all the breast lesions were mass-like, some were non-mass-like at ultrasonography. In these lesions, conventional ultrasonography had a high sensitivity but a low specificity. Sonoelastography can evaluate tissue stiffness to differentiate malignant masses from benign ones. Then what about the non-mass lesions? The aim of this study was to evaluate the current accuracy of sonoelastography in the breast non-mass lesions and compare the results with those of the American College of Radiology breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). METHODS: An independent literature search of English medical databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase & MEDLINE (Embase.com) and Cochrane Library, was performed by 2 researchers. The accuracy of sonoelastography was calculated and compared with those of BI-RADS. RESULTS: Fourteen relevant studies including 1058 breast non-mass lesions were included. Sonoelastography showed a pooled sensitivity of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.70-0.78), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 25.22 (95% CI: 17.71-35.92), and an area under the curve of 0.9042. Eight articles included both sonoelastography and BI-RADS. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC were 0.69 versus 0.91 (P < .01), 0.90 versus 0.68 (P < .01), 19.65 versus 29.34 (P > .05), and 0.8685 versus 0.9327 (P > .05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sonoelastography has a higher specificity and a lower sensitivity for differential diagnosis between malignant and benign breast non-mass lesions compared with BI-RADS, although there were no differences in AUC between them.

Case report: Ultrasound misdiagnoses atypical parathyroid adenoma as malignant thyroid tumor.

Atypical Parathyroid Adenoma (APA) is a type of tumor that lies somewhere between parathyroid adenoma and parathyroid carcinoma. It often affects adults over the age of 60, and the clinical symptoms are consistent with those of hyperparathyroidism. This condition has a low occurrence, and its ultrasonographic signs are strikingly similar to thyroid malignant tumors, making it easily misdiagnosed. As a result, a case of APA ultrasonography misdiagnosis admitted to our hospital was recorded in order to serve as a reference point for APA diagnosis.

Precisely targeted drug delivery by mesenchymal stem cells-based biomimetic liposomes to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injured hemisphere.

The precise and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the lesion sites remains a major challenge in treating brain diseases represented by ischemic stroke. Herein, we modified liposomes with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) membrane to construct biomimetic liposomes, termed MSCsome. MSCsome (115.99 ± 4.03 nm) exhibited concentrated accumulation in the cerebral infarcted hemisphere of mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, while showing uniform distribution in the two cerebral hemispheres of normal mice. Moreover, MSCsome exhibited high colocalization with damaged nerve cells in the infarcted hemisphere, highlighting its advantageous precise targeting capabilities over liposomes at both the tissue and cellular levels. Leveraging its superior targeting properties, MSCsome effectively delivered Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) to the injured hemisphere, making a single-dose (15 mg/kg) intravenous injection of NBP-encapsulated MSCsome facilitate the recovery of motor functions in model mice by improving the damaged microenvironment and suppressing neuroinflammation. This study underscores that the modification of the MSC membrane notably enhances the capacity of liposomes for precisely targeting the injured hemisphere, which is particularly crucial in treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Adolescent administration of ketamine impairs excitatory synapse formation onto parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in mouse prefrontal cortex.

Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, induces deficits in cognition and information processing following chronic abuse. Adolescent ketamine misuse represents a significant global public health issue; however, the neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely elusive. This study investigated the long-term effects of sub-chronic ketamine (Ket) administration on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and associated behaviors. In this study, Ket administration during early adolescence displayed a reduced density of excitatory synapses on parvalbumin (PV) neurons persisting into adulthood. However, the synaptic development of excitatory pyramidal neurons was not affected by ketamine administration. Furthermore, the adult Ket group exhibited hyperexcitability and impaired socialization and working memory compared to the saline (Sal) administration group. These results strongly suggest that sub-chronic ketamine administration during adolescence results in functional deficits that persist into adulthood. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the gene co-expression module1 (M1) decreased expression after ketamine exposure, which is crucial for synapse development in inhibitory neurons during adolescence. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sub-chronic ketamine administration irreversibly impairs synaptic development, offering insights into potential new therapeutic strategies.