Effects of 6-week olanzapine treatment on serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α levels in drug-naive individuals with first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder. Growing evidence indicates that the activation of the inflammatory response system with interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia,. However, clinical data on cytokine levels in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics are inconsistent or inconclusive. In this study, we have examined inflammatory factors' alterations and their relationship to changes in clinical symptoms before and after olanzapine treatment of drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia. METHODS: We recruited 142 hospitalized patients with first-episode schizophrenia as a study group; blood samples were collected, and the patients were assessed for clinical symptoms at baseline and after 6 weeks of olanzapine treatment. One hundred individuals with no history of mental illness were also recruited as healthy controls. Blood samples were collected, and the serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined using an enzyme cycling assay. The severity of clinical symptoms was assessed according to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: Individuals with schizophrenia had lower IL-8 levels and higher IL-10 levels than healthy controls (P < 0.001). Positive correlations were detected between serum IL-2 and IL-10 concentrations and each subscale of the PANSS (all P < 0.05). Moreover, a negative correlation existed between the serum IL-8 concentration and the PANSS negative score (r = - 0.172, P = 0.040). After 6 weeks of treatment, serum IL-8 levels in the patient group were lower than at baseline (P < 0.001), whereas serum IL-10 and TNF-α levels were higher than at baseline (all P < 0.05). Therefore, serum IL-10 can be determined as an independent risk factor for outcome in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (P = 0.02, OR = 2.327). Furthermore, serum IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α levels were significantly lower, whereas the serum IL-8 level was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the healthy control group than in the "response" and "no-response" treatment groups respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that serum IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α levels may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia and correlate with the effects of olanzapine.

Factors influencing food-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: People diagnosed with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have severe dietary restrictions and avoidance due to the uncertainty of intestinal symptoms. Inadequate dietary intake may increase the risk of malnutrition and result in impaired food-related quality of life (FRQoL). Few studies investigated factors influencing FRQoL in patients with IBD. This study aimed to synthesize the existing evidence regarding FRQoL among patients with IBD, including the current situation, measurement instruments, and related influencing factors. METHOD: The comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, as well as the most commonly used Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang and CBM). Studies published between January 2015 and December 2023 on FRQoL in patients with IBD were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was utilized to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected studies. RESULTS: Finally, only five studies met the inclusion criteria were reviewed, including three cross-sectional studies and two case-control studies. The Food-related quality of life-29 Scale (FR-QoL-29) with a total core of 145 was the most used instrument measuring FRQoL in patients with IBD. The mean scores of FRQoL ranged from 69.9 to 102.3 in adult patients with IBD and 94.3 in children. A diverse range of factors were associated with FRQoL, including socio-demographic, clinical, psychological, diet-related, and nutrient intake factors. CONCLUSIONS: The main influencing factors of FRQoL among patients with IBD included disease activity status, severe symptoms, history of IBD surgery, negative emotion reaction, and restrictive eating behaviour. Clinicians should work in concert with dietitians, keeping an eye on the disease status, nutrition intake, and restrictive eating habits, assessing FRQoL and providing personalized dietary recommendation for the patients with IBD.

Soluble sugar, organic acid and phenolic composition and flavor evaluation of plum fruits.

Plums (Prunus salicina and Prunus domestica) are prevalent in southwestern China, and have attracted interest owing to their delectable taste and exceptional nutritional properties. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the nutritional and flavor properties of plum to improve its nutritional utilization. Specifically, we determined the soluble sugars, organic acids, and phenolic components in 86 accessions using high-performance liquid chromatography. Notably, glucose, fructose, malic, and quinic acids were the predominant sweetness and acidity in plums, with sucrose contributing more to the sweetness of the flesh than the peel. Moreover, The peel contains 5.5 fold more phenolics than flesh, epicatechin, gallic acid, and proanthocyanidins C1 and B2 were the primary sources of astringency. Correlation and principal component analyses showed eight core factors for plum flavor rating, and a specific rating criterion was established. Conclusively, these findings provide information on the integrated flavor evaluation criteria and for enhancing optimal breeding of plums.

Association between 5-HT1A receptor C-1019G, 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and panic disorder: a meta-analysis.

HTR1A C-1019G polymorphism (rs6295) and serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) have been linked with panic disorder (PD) in different ethnic backgrounds. Both these polymorphisms are in the promoter regions. However, results are inconsistent and contrasting evidence makes reliable conclusions even more challenging. A meta-analysis was conducted to test whether C-1019G polymorphism and 5-HTTLPR were involved in the etiology of PD. Articles researching the link between C-1019G, 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms, and PD were retrieved by database searching and systematically selected on the basis of selected inclusion parameters. 21 studies were included that examined the relationship of rs6295,5-HTTLPR polymorphisms with PD risk susceptibility (rs62957 polymorphism - 7 articles, and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism - 14 articles). A significant association was seen between the rs6295 polymorphism and PD pathogenesis, especially in Caucasian PD patients. No significant genetic linkage was found between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and PD. C-1019G polymorphism was involved in the etiology of PD in Caucasian patients. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was not a susceptibility factor of PD.

Mechanically Robust and Electrically Conductive Hybrid Hydrogel Electrolyte Enabled by Simultaneous Dual In Situ Sol-Gel Technique and Free Radical Copolymerization.

Mechanically robust and ionically conductive hydrogels poly(acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-lithium)/TiO2/SiO2 (P(AM-co-AMPSLi)/TiO2/SiO2) with inorganic hybrid crosslinking are fabricated through dual in situ sol-gel reaction of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT), and in situ radical copolymerization of acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonate-lithium (AMPSLi), and vinyl-SiO2. Due to the introduction of the sulfonic acid groups and Li+ by the reaction of AMPS with Li2CO3, the conductivity of the ionic hydrogel can reach 0.19 S m-1. Vinyl-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 are used in this hybrid hydrogel as both multifunctional hybrid crosslinkers and fillers. The hybrid hydrogels demonstrate high tensile strength (0.11-0.33 MPa) and elongation at break (98-1867%), ultrahigh compression strength (0.28-1.36 MPa), certain fatigue resistance, self-healing, and self-adhesive properties, which are due to covalent bonds between TiO2 and SiO2, as well as P(AM-co-AMPSLi) chains and SiO2, and noncovalent bonds between TiO2 and P(AM-co-AMPSLi) chains, as well as the organic frameworks. Furthermore, the specific capacitance, energy density, and power density of the supercapacitors based on ionic hybrid hydrogel electrolytes are 2.88 F g-1, 0.09 Wh kg-1, and 3.07 kW kg-1 at a current density of 0.05 A g-1, respectively. Consequently, the ionic hybrid hydrogels show great promise as flexible energy storage devices.

Base-Promoted Annulated Aromatization of Aryl Acetylenes with Dimethyl Sulfoxide to Access Symmetrical/Unsymmetric m-Terphenyl.

A protocol for selective and efficient synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical m-terphenyls is presented among aryl acetylene and DMSO in the presence of KOH and methanol. In this reaction, two molecules of aryl acetylene contribute four carbons, and DMSO, as a dual carbon donor, provides two carbons to a new aromatic ring. This protocol can be tolerated for the electron-donating or disubstituted phenylacetylenes as well as the heterocyclic acetylene derivatives.

Association between IGF-1 levels and MDD: a case-control and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has a variety of neurotrophic effects, including neurogenesis, remyelination and synaptogenesis, and is an effective regulator of neuronal plasticity. Although multiple studies have investigated IGF-1 in depression-related disorders, few studies have focused on patients with a first episode of clearly diagnosed depression who had never used antidepressants before. Therefore, this study investigated first-episode and drug-naïve patients with depression to supplement the current evidence around IGF-1 levels in depressive disorders. Patients and methods: This study consisted of two parts. In the first part, 60 patients with first-episode and drug-naïve depression and 60 controls matched for age, sex, and BMI were recruited from the outpatient department of the Fourth Hospital of Wuhu City, and the community. The case-control method was used to compare differences in serum IGF-1 levels between the two groups. In the second part, 13 case-control studies were screened through the database for meta-analysis to verify the reliability of the results. Results: Results of the case-control study demonstrated that serum IGF-1 levels are significantly higher in patients with first-episode and drug-naïve depression compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), although there was no significant difference between men and women with diagnosed MDD, there was no significant correlation between serum IGF-1 level and age in patients with depression and no significant correlation between IGF-1 level and the severity of depression. The meta-analysis corroborates these findings and demonstrated that IGF-1 levels are significantly higher in MDD patients than in healthy controls. Conclusion: Patients with first-episode and drug-naïve depression have higher IGF-1 levels, but the exclusion of confounding factors in studies of IGF-1 as it relates to depressive disorders must be taken into consideration strictly, and additional research is needed to fully understand the critical role of IGF-1 in depression. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023482222.

Retinal structural thicknesses reflect clinically relevant microstructural white matter abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Thinning of retinal thickness seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is frequent in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). We explored the association between OCT metrics, MRI measurements and clinical outcomes in NMOSD. METHODS: 44 NMOSD and 60 controls underwent OCT and MR imaging. Mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) was used to measure the white matter microstructural integrity. In NMOSD patients, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to quantify disability. Visual acuity (VA) was also performed for all participants. RESULTS: pRNFL thickness was positively associated with mean diffusivity in left posterior thalamic radiation (pp = 0.010) and axial kurtosis in inferior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.023). Similarly, GCC thickness in NMOSD patients was positively associated with fractional anisotropy in right superior longitudinal fascicules (p = 0. 041) and axial kurtosis of left cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In NMOSD, pRNFL and GCC reflect integrity of clinically relevant white matter structures underlying the value of OCT metrics as markers of neuronaxonal loss and disability.

Single-step batch fabrication of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices with a 3D printer and their applications in nanoenzyme-enhanced visual detection of dopamine.

Wax printing is the most widely used method for fabricating microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs), but it still suffers from disadvantages like discontinuation of wax printers and need for additional equipment for heating treatment. To address these issues, this work initially describes a new class of wax printing approach for high-precision, batch fabrication of µPADs using a household 3D printer. It only involves a one patterning step of printing polyethylene wax into rice paper body. Under optimized parameters, a fabrication resolution, namely the minimum hydrophilic channel width, down to ~189 ± 30 µm could be achieved. In addition, the analytical applicability of such polyethylene wax-patterned µPADs was demonstrated well with enhanced colorimetric detection of dopamine as a model analyte by combining metal-organic framework (MOF) based nanoenzymes (ZIF-67) with a smartphone (for portable quantitative readout). The developed nanosensor could linearly detect dopamine over a concentration range from 10 to 1000 µM, with a detection limit of ca. 2.75 µM (3σ). The recovery results for analyzing several real samples (i.e., pig feed, chicken feed, pork and human serum) were between 91.82 and 102.79%, further validating its good detection accuracy for potential practical applications in food safety and medical diagnosis.

Increased cell-free DNA is associated with oxidative damage in patients with schizophrenia.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been found to be elevated in patients with schizophrenia (SZ), potentially derived from activated apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Moreover, whether the concentrations of cfDNA are altered with disease stage has not been investigated, which limits its clinical application as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for SZ. Using an improved fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) method that does not require DNA extraction, we measured the molar concentrations of cfDNA in plasma samples of 191 patients with SZ, 78 patients with mood disorders (MD) and 65 healthy controls (HC). We also analyzed the cfDNA composition from either the nucleus or mitochondria, oxidation markers and biochemical indexes to explore the potential mechanistic associations of the increased cfDNA levels. We found that in SZ patients, the cfDNA levels were significantly increased (P = 0.003) regardless of the different disease stages or antipsychotic medication use. Furthermore, qPCR revealed that cell-free nuclear DNA (cf-nDNA) (P = 0.041) but not cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) was elevated in SZ patients. Moreover, decreased SOD activity in SZ patients (P = 0.005) was negatively correlated with cfDNA levels (P = 0.047), and fasting blood glucose was positively correlated with cfDNA levels in SZ patients (P = 0.013). Our study provides evidence to support that the elevated cfDNA may be a convenient, effective and stable trait indicator of SZ. Further analysis showed that it mainly came from nucleus, suggesting increased apoptosis, and potentially related to oxidative stress and high blood glucose levels in patients.

Individual and family factors correlated with children's fruit consumption.

Background: Fruits are essential for health, yet their consumption in children is inadequate, with unclear influencing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students in grades 3-12 in Beijing, China, from September 2020 to June 2021. Fruit consumption in children was surveyed using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, children's food and nutrition literacy and family food environments were assessed using the "Food and Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese School-age Children" and the "Family Food Environment Questionnaire for Chinese School-age Children," respectively. Results: Out of 10,000 participating children, 62.5% consumed fruit daily, with a lower frequency among boys (59.3%) compared to girls (65.8%), and among senior students (48.6%) compared to junior (63.6%) and primary students (71.2%). Fruit consumption was positively associated with other healthy foods (vegetables, whole grains, etc.) and negatively with unhealthy foods (sugared soft drinks). Children with higher food and nutrition literacy consumed fruits daily more frequently (82.4% vs. 59.9%, ORs = 2.438, 95%CI: 2.072-2.868). A significant positive correlation was found between children's fruit consumption and a healthy family food environment (66.4% vs. 50.2%, OR = 1.507, 95%CI: 1.363-1.667). Conclusion: The results indicate that individual food and nutrition literacy and family food environment are key positive predictors of children's fruit consumption. Future interventions should focus on educating children and encouraging parents to foster supportive family environments.

Status of the midwifery workforce and childbirth services and the impact of midwife staffing on birth outcomes in China: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of the midwifery workforce and childbirth services in China and to identify the association between midwife staffing and childbirth outcomes. DESIGN: A descriptive, multicentre cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Maternity hospitals from the eastern, central and western regions of China. PARTICIPANTS: Stratified sampling of maternity hospitals between 1 July and 31 December 2021.The sample hospitals received a package of questionnaires, and the head midwives from the participating hospitals were invited to fill in the questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 180 hospitals were selected and investigated, staffed with 4159 midwives, 412 obstetric nurses and 1007 obstetricians at the labour and delivery units. The average efficiency index of annual midwifery services was 272 deliveries per midwife. In the sample hospitals, 44.9% of women had a caesarean delivery and 21.4% had an episiotomy. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery (adjusted ß -0.032, 95% CI -0.115 to -0.012, p<0.05) and episiotomy (adjusted ß -0.171, 95% CI -0.190 to -0.056, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The rates of childbirth interventions including the overall caesarean section in China and the episiotomy rate, especially in the central region, remain relatively high. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery and episiotomy, indicating that further investments in the midwifery workforce could produce better childbirth outcomes.

BET inhibition induces synthetic lethality in PTEN deficient colorectal cancers via dual action on p21CIP1/WAF1.

Loss of PTEN tumor suppressor is an important event during colorectal cancer (CRC) development and is a target for therapeutic exploitation. This study reports that bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) is a synthetic lethal partner of PTEN in CRC. BET inhibition (BETi) selectively induced G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PTEN-/- CRC. Further, BETi selectively and dose-dependently suppressed the growth of PTEN-/- CRC tumor xenografts in mice and patient-derived organoids. Mechanistically, PTEN-deficient CRC cells elevated the level of cytoplasmic p21CIP1/WAF1 that is hyper-phosphorylated at Thr145 by AKT. BETi suppressed AKT activation in PTEN-deficient CRC cells, followed by the reduction in p21 phosphorylation at Thr145, thereby promoting its nuclear translocation. In addition, BETi suppressed MYC level and this in turn increased the total p21 level in the nuclei. Over-expression of a phospho-mimetic p21 mutant (T145D) significantly rescued the BETi effect on PTEN-deficient CRC. These results suggest that BETi has a dual action on p21: elevating the level of p21 by inhibiting MYC and converting the oncogenic (cytoplasmic) p21 into the tumor-suppressive (nuclear) p21 by inhibiting AKT. Taken together, this study identified the synthetic lethal interaction between PTEN and BET, and provides a potential actionable target for CRC with PTEN loss.

Biology of Callistethus plagiicollis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelinae) and comparative morphology of its larvae.

Larvae of the beetle subfamily Rutelinae are poorly described in the literature. Notably, the morphology of the larvae of Callistethus plagiicollis Fairmaire has not previously been analyzed. Here, we report for the first time that these larvae feed on the tubers and roots of Gastrodia elata Blume, an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which causes a reduction in the yield and economic value of G. elata. We employed scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to investigate the morphology and occurrence regularity of egg, larvae, pupae, and adult specimens of C. plagiicollis collected from the G. elata planting base in Guizhou Province, China, with a focus on the ultrastructure of mature larvae. The results revealed one generation of C. plagiicollis per year in the study area and three instar stages of larvae. Mature larvae were identified by the following characteristics: raster without palidia with a large number of hamate setae, antennal apex containing seven sensilla basiconica, larval haptomerum containing eight sensilla styloconica and four enlarged heli, and seven longitudinally arranged stridulatory teeth on the stipes of the maxilla. The combination of scanning electron and light microscopy effectively revealed the difference between membranous and sclerotized structures, ensuring accurate identification of C. plagiicollis larvae. By determining the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, this study has implications for improved pest management in G. elata crops. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We identified C. plagiicollis as a new pest of G. elata, a traditional Chinese medicine Scanning electron and light microscopy were combined to analyze the morphology of the mature larvae of C. plagiicollis for the first time We determined the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, which can be used to develop effective pest management strategies.

Evaluating Childhood Overweight- and Obesity-Related Food Marketing Policies in China Using the Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI).

OBJECTIVE: Addressing the increasing global health issue of childhood obesity, exacerbated by pervasive food marketing, this study critically evaluated China's food marketing policies in comparison with international best practices, aiming to uncover policy content and implementation gaps and inform policy enhancement strategies. METHOD: Three key indicators were utilized from the Healthy Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)'s food promotion domain. A panel of experts (n = 13) from academic institutions, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the food industry assessed the Chinese government's policy scores and implementation levels concerning food marketing. Benchmarked against international best practices using the Food-EPI process, this evaluation encompassed context analysis, data collection, evidence-based policy action, government validation, policy rating, scoring, and results translation for government and stakeholders. The three chosen indicators specifically addressed childhood overweight- and obesity-related food marketing in broadcast media (Indicator 1), non-broadcast media (Indicator 2), and child gathering settings (Indicator 3). RESULTS: Specifically, Indicator 1, the Single Food Marketing Indicator Score was measured at 2.31 ± 0.38, with an accompanying Food Marketing Policy Implementation Percentage of 46.2%, and Low Implementation Level. For non-broadcast mediums (Indicator 2), these metrics were gauged at 1.77 ± 0.27, 35.4%, and Low Implementation Level, respectively. In child gathering settings (Indicator 3), for efforts curbing unhealthy food promotion, a score of 2.77 ± 0.27, an implementation percentage of 55.4%, and Medium Implementation Level was obtained. Cumulatively, the overarching efficacy of food marketing policy enforcement was determined to be suboptimal, with the consolidated figures being Total Food Marketing Score as 2.28 ± 0.97, Total Food Marketing Policy Implementation Percentage as 45.6%, and Total Food Marketing Policy Implementation Level as Low. CONCLUSION: Like many countries, China's food marketing policies and implementation have room for improvement when compared to international best practices. Recommendations include emphasizing nutritional legislation, fostering stakeholder collaboration, bolstering public health campaigns, and leveraging technology for stringent enforcement.

Assessment of blood one-carbon metabolism indexes during mid-to-late pregnancy in 397 Chinese pregnant women.

Objectives: One-carbon metabolism (OCM) significantly influences fetal growth and neurodevelopment through transferring methyl group to biomolecules, during which folate, methionine, choline and betaine function as methyl donor nutrients, while vitamin B2, B6, B12 function as enzyme cofactors, and homocysteine (Hcy) and S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) are functional metabolites. This study aimed to assess blood OCM index levels and explore their relationships among Chinese pregnant women. Methods: Data were obtained from the baseline of the Mother-Child Nutrition and Health Cohort Study. Pregnant women, voluntarily recruited from September 2020 to June 2022 during antenatal examinations in five Chinese cities at 24-32 gestational weeks, provided fasting venous blood samples. Measurements included RBC and serum folate, serum vitamin B2, B6, B12, choline, betaine, methionine, total Hcy (tHcy), and plasma SAM. Sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy-related conditions were collected via a self-designed questionnaire. Results: Of 397 participants, 82.6% were in mid-pregnancy (24-27 gestational weeks) and 17.4% were in late-pregnancy (28-32 gestational weeks). Serum folate, vitamin B6, and B12 deficiencies were 2.5, 1.3, and 8.3%, respectively. Elevated tHcy (≥10 µmol/L) was observed in 1.8% of pregnant women. Elderly pregnant women (aged 35 and above) exhibited significantly lower serum methionine levels (p < 0.05), while multiparous women had lower RBC folate levels (p < 0.05), and lower serum methionine and vitamin B12 levels (p < 0.10, not statistically significant). Partial correlation analysis revealed positive associations between RBC folate and cofactor vitamin B12 (r = 0.244, p < 0.05) in the folate cycle, as well as significant correlations between two methyl donor paths [serum folate was significantly related to serum choline (r = 0.172) and betaine (r = 0.193)]. As functional biomarkers of OCM, serum tHcy exhibited negative associations with RBC folate (ß = -0.330, p < 0.05) and vitamin B6 (ß = -0.317, p < 0.05), and plasma SAM displayed a positive association with serum betaine (ß = 0.610, p < 0.05), while negatively associated with serum vitamin B6 (ß = -0.181, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The blood OCM exhibited imbalances during mid-to-late pregnancy, characterized by lower levels of folate, vitamin B6, and B12, alongside elevated tHcy levels. Adequate folate and vitamin B6 emerged as significant predictors of lower tHcy levels. Additionally, serum betaine showed a positive correlation with plasma SAM. This suggests the importance of not only ensuring sufficient folate but also optimizing other OCM-related nutrients throughout pregnancy.

Synthesis of α/ß-Aromatic Peroxy Thiols Mediated by Iodine Source.

Peroxygenated compounds have wide applications in various fields, including chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, medicine, and materials science. However, there is still a need for more efficient and environmentally friendly synthesis methods for such compounds. Herein, we investigated the two-step, one-pot, regioselective synthesis of α/ß-aromatic peroxy thiols. We explored various substrates and solvents for the reaction and identified the optimal reaction conditions. We successfully obtained several peroxy thiols in moderate to good yields via the selective generation of effective intermediates of iodoalkyl peroxides at room temperature without the need for metal catalysts.

First report of the complete mitochondrial genome of 3 beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) harming Gastrodia elata (Asparagales: Orchidaceae).

Gastrodia elata Blume, a valuable traditional Chinese medicine with significant clinical and nutritional importance, is a fungal heterotrophic orchid. We present the first report of the mitochondrial genome structure and characteristics of 3 Scarabaeidae pests affecting G. elata: Sophrops peronosporus Gu & Zhang, Anomala rufiventris Kollar & Redtenbacher, and Callistethus plagiicollis Fairmaire. Each mitogenome contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region, with no gene rearrangements observed. All 21 tRNAs, except trnS1 that lacks a dihydrouridine, had a stable cloverleaf secondary structure. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses based on the 13 PCGs produced 2 topologically similar phylogenetic trees, both of with high nodal support. Larvae of these Scarabaeidae pests cause substantial damage by gnawing on the tubers and roots of G. elata, leading to reduced yield and compromised quality. These findings contribute to phylogenetic studies of Scarabaeidae, expand knowledge of G. elata pests, and offer valuable reference materials for their identification and control.

Transition metal-free C(sp3)-H selenation of ß-ketosulfones.

The installation of selenium groups has become an essential step across a number of industries such as agrochemicals, drug discovery, and materials. However, direct C(sp3)-H selenation, which is most atom economical, remains a formidable challenge, and only a few examples have been reported to date. In this article, we introduce the transition metal-free C(sp3)-H selenation with the easily available ß-ketosulfones and diselenides as the material source. This benign protocol permits access to a broad spectrum of α-aryl(alkyl) seleno-ß-ketosulfones in high yields with outstanding functional group compatibility. Distinct advantages of this protocol over all previous methods encompass the utilization of base and air as an oxidant, room temperature, and enhanced green chemistry matrices.

Simple, sensitive, colorimetric detection of pyrophosphate via the analyte-triggered decomposition of metal-organic frameworks regulating their adaptive multi-color Tyndall effect.

This paper describes initially the application of the Tyndall effect (TE) of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials as a colorimetric signaling strategy for the sensitive detection of pyrophosphate ion (PPi). The used MOF NH2-MIL-101(Fe) was prepared with Fe3+ ions and fluorescent ligands of 2-amino terephthalic acid (NH2-BDC). The fluorescence of NH2-BDC in MOF is quenched due to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer effect, while the NH2-MIL-101(Fe) suspension shows a strong TE. In the presence of PPi analyte, the MOFs will undergo decomposition because of the competitive binding of Fe3+ by PPi over NH2-BDC, resulting in a significant decrease in the TE signal and fluorescence restoration from the released ligands. The results demonstrate that the new method only requires a laser pointer pen (for TE creation) and a smartphone (for portable quantitative readout) to detect PPi in a linear concentration range of 1.25-800 µM, with a detection limit of ~210 nM (3σ) which is ~38 times lower than that obtained from traditional fluorescence with a spectrophotometer (linear concentration range, 50-800 µM; detection limit, 8.15 µM). Moreover, the acceptable recovery of PPi in several real samples (i.e., pond water, black tea, and human serum and urine) ranges from 97.66 to 119.15%.