Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Concept Analysis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when an individual experiences a traumatic event that exceeds the limits of psychological endurance. Many veterans experience PTSD. PTSD can negatively impact veterans' quality of life, functioning, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. It is important to analyze the concept of PTSD in the veteran population. This concept analysis aimed to investigate the defining attributes, a model case, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents related to the concept of PTSD among veterans. Walker and Avant's method was used to guide this concept analysis of PTSD. The results showed that three attributes were determined from the analysis: intrusive memories of traumatic events, feelings of isolation and estrangement, and negative cognitions. PTSD is conceptualized as a collection of symptoms that arise from highly traumatic experiences. The military environment predisposes veterans to traumatic events that should be identified or acknowledged. A better understanding of the concept of PTSD can facilitate the development of effective interventions for the veteran population and enhance their mental health.

Effect of Ephestia kuehniella Eggs on Development and Transcriptome of the Ladybird Beetle Propylea japonica.

The eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella, are frequently utilized as alternative diets and have demonstrated promising outcomes when consumed by various insects. Nonetheless, the specific reasons for their effectiveness remain unclear. In our study, we assessed the developmental performance of the ladybird Propylea japonica when fed E. kuehniella eggs, alongside 12 factitious prey or artificial diets. Our findings revealed that ladybirds fed E. kuehniella eggs displayed a performance comparable to those fed the natural prey Megoura crassicauda. Transcriptome profiling of larvae raised on E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda revealed that genes upregulated in the former group were enriched in metabolic pathways associated with carbohydrates, lipids, and other essential nutrients. This suggests that E. kuehniella eggs may have a higher nutrient content compared to natural prey. Furthermore, a notable downregulation in the expression of immune effector genes, such as Attacin and Coleoptericin, was observed, which might be attributed to the lower microbial content in E. kuehniella eggs compared to M. crassicauda. We suggest that the difference between E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda as food sources for P. japonica lies in their nutrient and microbial contents. These findings provide valuable insights for the advancement of innovative artificial breeding systems for natural enemies.

ApoE ε4-dependent alteration of CXCR3 + CD127 + CD4 + T cells is associated with elevated plasma neurofilament light chain in Alzheimer's disease.

Recent findings indicate a correlation between the peripheral adaptive immune system and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To characterize the composition of adaptive immune cells in the peripheral blood of AD patients, we utilized single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) to profile peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Concurrently, we assessed the concentration of proteins associated with AD and neuroinflammation in the plasma of the same subjects. We found that the abundance of proinflammatory CXCR3 + CD127 + Type 1 T helper (Th1) cells in AD patients was negatively correlated with the abundance of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein. This correlation is apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4-dependent. Analyzing public single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, we found that, contrary to the scenario in the peripheral blood, the cell frequency of CXCR3 + CD127 + Th1 cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients was increased compared to healthy controls (HCs). Moreover, the proinflammatory capacity of CXCR3 + CD127 + Th1 cells in the CSF of AD patients was further increased compared to HCs. These results reveal an association of a peripheral T-cell change with neuroinflammation in AD and suggest that dysregulation of peripheral adaptive immune responses, particularly involving CXCR3 + CD127 + Th1 cells, may potentially be mediated by factors such as ApoE ε4 genotype. One sentence summary: An apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4-dependent alteration of CD4 T cell subpopulation in peripheral blood is associated with neuroinflammation in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Regulation of Glandular Size and Phytoalexin Biosynthesis by a Negative Feedback Loop in Cotton.

Plants have evolved diverse defense mechanisms encompassing physical and chemical barriers. Cotton pigment glands are known for containing various defense metabolites, but the precise regulation of gland size to modulate defense compound levels remains enigmatic. Here, it is discovered that the VQ domain-containing protein JAVL negatively regulates pigment gland size and the biosynthesis of defense compounds, while the MYC2-like transcription factor GoPGF has the opposite effect. Notably, GoPGF directly activates the expression of JAVL, whereas JAVL suppresses GoPGF transcription, establishing a negative feedback loop that maintains the expression homeostasis between GoPGF and JAVL. Furthermore, it is observed that JAVL negatively regulates jasmonate levels by inhibiting the expression of jasmonate biosynthetic genes and interacting with GoPGF to attenuate its activation effects, thereby maintaining homeostatic regulation of jasmonate levels. The increased expression ratio of GoPGF to JAVL leads to enlarged pigment glands and elevated jasmonates and defense compounds, enhancing insect and pathogen resistance in cotton. These findings unveil a new mechanism for regulating gland size and secondary metabolites biosynthesis, providing innovative strategies for strengthening plant defense.

Solvent Tolerance Improvement of Lipases Enhanced Their Applications: State of the Art.

Lipases, crucial catalysts in biochemical synthesis, find extensive applications across industries such as food, medicine, and cosmetics. The efficiency of lipase-catalyzed reactions is significantly influenced by the choice of solvents. Polar organic solvents often result in a decrease, or even loss, of lipase activity. Conversely, nonpolar organic solvents induce excessive rigidity in lipases, thereby affecting their activity. While the advent of new solvents like ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents has somewhat improved the activity and stability of lipases, it fails to address the fundamental issue of lipases' poor solvent tolerance. Hence, the rational design of lipases for enhanced solvent tolerance can significantly boost their industrial performance. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the structural characteristics and properties of lipases in various solvent systems and emphasizes various strategies of protein engineering for non-aqueous media to improve lipases' solvent tolerance. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further enhancing the solvent tolerance and industrial properties of lipases.

Discriminating atypical parotid carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma utilizing extracellular volume fraction and arterial enhancement fraction derived from contrast-enhanced CT imaging: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the added value of extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) derived from enhanced CT to conventional image and clinical features for differentiating between pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and atypical parotid adenocarcinoma (PCA) pre-operation. METHODS: From January 2010 to October 2023, a total of 187 cases of parotid tumors were recruited, and divided into training cohort (102 PAs and 51 PCAs) and testing cohort (24 PAs and 10 atypical PCAs). Clinical and CT image features of tumor were assessed. Both enhanced CT-derived ECV and AEF were calculated. Univariate analysis identified variables with statistically significant differences between the two subgroups in the training cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with the forward variable selection method was used to build four models (clinical model, clinical model+ECV, clinical model+AEF, and combined model). Diagnostic performances were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Delong's test compared model differences, and calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) assessed calibration and clinical application. RESULTS: Age and boundary were chosen to build clinical model, and to construct its ROC curve. Amalgamating the clinical model, ECV, and AEF to establish a combined model demonstrated superior diagnostic effectiveness compared to the clinical model in both the training and test cohorts (AUC = 0.888, 0.867). There was a significant statistical difference between the combined model and the clinical model in the training cohort (p = 0.0145). CONCLUSIONS: ECV and AEF are helpful in differentiating PA and atypical PCA, and integrating clinical and CT image features can further improve the diagnostic performance.

Access to cyclohexadiene and benzofuran derivatives via catalytic arene cyclopropanation of α-cyanodiazocarbonyl compounds.

The arene cyclopropanation between diazo compounds and benzene is well known to produce a tautomeric mixture of norcaradiene and cycloheptatriene in favour of the latter species. Nevertheless, previous studies have suggested that the initially formed norcaradiene can be stabilized by a C-7 cyano group with prevention of its 6π-electrocyclic ring opening. According to this feature, a synthetic route to functionalized cyclohexadienes has been designed using α-cyanodiazoacetates and α-diazo-ß-ketonitriles as the starting materials, respectively. The Rh2(esp)2-catalyzed arene cyclopropanation of α-cyanodiazoacetates in benzene afforded the expected 7-alkoxycarbonyl-7-cyanonorcaradienes as isolable compounds, which then served as templates for the second cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate or α-cyanodiazocarbonyls to enable the formation of bis(cyclopropanated) adducts. Their subsequent treatment with SmI2 triggered a double ring-opening process, allowing for the generation of 1,4- and/or 1,3-cyclohexadienes as either regio- or diastereomeric mixtures. On the other hand, the norcaradienes generated from phenyl- or methyl-substituted α-diazo-ß-ketonitriles were found to undergo an in situ rearrangement to yield dihydrobenzofurans that could be converted to benzofuran derivatives by DDQ oxidation.

Modification of Risk for All-cause and Cardiovascular Disease-related Mortality with Changes in the Body Mass Index in Older Individuals: A Population-based Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Existing evidence evaluating the impact of change in body mass index (BMI) on the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in older people is limited and inconsistent. This population-based cohort study evaluated the association of changes in BMI over time with all-cause and CVD-related mortality in older adults. METHODS: We recruited 55,351 adults aged over 65 years between 2006-2011 from Taipei Elderly Health Examination Program who underwent repeated annual health examinations at 3.2 year-intervals and were followed-up for mortality over 5.5 years. Cox proportional hazard and Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard models with death from non-CVD causes as the competing risk were used to determine the impact of changes in BMI status on the risk of all-cause or CVD-related mortality, respectively. RESULTS: Over 227,967 person-years of follow-up, 4,054 participants died, including 940 (23.2%) CVD-related deaths. After adjusting for other covariates, >10% decrease of BMI was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]= 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.74-2.13) and CVD-related mortality (AHR= 1.96; 95%CI: 1.60-2.40), compared with stable BMI. Sensitivity analysis showed that a >10% decrease in BMI was significantly associated with a high risk of all-cause and CVD-related mortality in participants with normal weight, underweight, overweight, or obesity at baseline. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Older adults with >10% decrease in BMI are at high risk of all-cause and CVD-related mortality. Our findings suggest that older individuals experiencing a substantial reduction in BMI should undergo a thorough evaluation to minimize the risks associated with mortality.

Prenatal and childhood neonicotinoid exposure and neurodevelopment: A study in a young Taiwanese cohort.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) dominate the global pesticide market because of their low cost and effectiveness. However, epidemiological studies regarding the potential adverse health effects of exposure to NEOs before birth and in early childhood are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between NEO exposure before birth and during early childhood and neurodevelopment. A total of 273 mother-child pairs were enrolled in this study. Mothers provided urine samples in the third trimester and breast milk during the first and third months of lactation. Their children provided urine samples and were evaluated for neurodevelopment by using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition at 2-3 years (N = 96) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) at 4-6 years (N = 63). The sum of the concentrations of seven NEOs (ΣNEOs) and the relative potency factor of NEOs, based on comparison with imidacloprid (IMIRPF), were used to assess total exposure to NEOs. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between prenatal and childhood exposure to NEOs and neurodevelopment. The results of the analysis revealed that clothianidin (CLO) and thiamethoxam were the most common NEOs to which children in the Taipei metropolitan area were exposed and that exposure concentrations were high in the Taipei metropolitan area. Imidacloprid was the most frequently detected NEO during the postnatal period. Additionally, exposure to NEOs through breast milk was low. Exposure to CLO, ΣNEOs, and IMIRPF in boys aged 4-6 years was negatively correlated with WPPSI-IV Fluid Reasoning Index. The results of this study indicate that exposure during the third trimester to NEOs does not affect neurodevelopment but that childhood exposure to NEOs may, especially for boys. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the sex-specific associations between NEO exposure and neurodevelopment.

Effect of proton pump inhibitors versus histamine-2 receptor antagonists on acute kidney injury in septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers.

BACKGROUND: To compare the effects of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use on the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers. METHODS: Using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database, septic patients with high-risk factors for stress ulcers (i.e., shock, coagulopathy, invasive mechanical ventilation, or chronic liver diseases) were included. Exposures included PPIs and H2RAs within 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or prior to ICU admission. The primary end point was severe sepsis-associated AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria stage 3 (KDIGO-3). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect size. RESULTS: 4731 PPI users and 4903 H2RA users were included. After PSM, there were 1785 pairs exposed to PPIs and H2RAs. In the PSM cohort, the cumulative incident KDIGO-3 rate was higher in the PPI group than in the H2RA group (log-rank test, p = 0.009). Regression analyses showed that PPI exposure [adjusted hazard ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.58, p = 0.002] was associated with incident KDIGO-3 compared with H2RA use. This association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. Additionally, the PPI group had a higher need for kidney replacement therapy compared with the H2RA group (3.6% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Among septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers, PPI exposure was associated with incident KDIGO-3 AKI compared with H2RA use.

Photothermally responsive graphene hybrid dry powders for diabetic wound healing.

The treatment of diabetic wounds remains a significant challenge in the medical field. In this study, we present a novel approach using photothermally responsive graphene hybrid dry powders for the treatment of diabetic wounds. These powders, derived from polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), exhibit rapid water absorption at the interface, leading to thein situformation of physically crosslinked hydrogels due to interactions between polymers. Furthermore, by incorporating graphene into the PAA/PEI powder mixture, we establish a multifunctional platform with capabilities such as photothermal antibacterial effects and drug release. Given the outstanding performance of this hybrid material, we demonstrate its potential in wound healing by incorporating the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor Etanercept into the PAA/PEI powder. This intervention resulted in a significant improvement in the wound healing process in diabetic rats, as evidenced by the downregulation of inflammatory factors, promotion of collagen deposition, and enhanced vascularization. These remarkable attributes underscore the enormous potential value of the presented hydrogel patches in the field of biomedicine.

Electrochemical cytosensor utilizing tetrahedral DNA/bimetallic AuPd holothurian-shaped nanoparticles for ultrasensitive non-destructive detection of circulating tumor cells.

As a real-time fluid biopsy method, the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provides important information for the early diagnosis, precise treatment, and prognosis of cancer. However, the low density of CTCs in the peripheral blood hampers their capture and detection with high sensitivity and selectivity using currently available methods. Hence, we designed a sandwich-type electrochemical aptasensor that utilizes holothurian-shaped AuPd nanoparticles (AuPd HSs), tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs), and CuPdPt nanowire networks (NWs) interwoven with a graphdiyne (GDY) sheet for ultrasensitive non-destructive detection of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. CuPdPt NW-GDY effectively enhanced the electron transfer rate and coupled with the loaded TDNs. The TDNs could capture MCF-7 cells with precision and firmness, and the resulting composite complex was combined with AuPd HSs to form a sandwich-type structure. This novel aptasensor showed a linear range between 10 and 106 cells mL-1 and an ultralow detection limit of 7 cells mL-1. The specificity, stability, and repeatability of the measurements were successfully verified. Moreover, we used benzonase nuclease to achieve non-destructive recovery of cells for further clinical studies. According to the results, our aptasensor was more sensitive measuring the number of CTCs than other approaches because of the employment of TDNs, CuPdPt NW-GDY, and AuPd HSs. We designed a reliable sensor system for the detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood, which could serve as a new approach for cancer diagnosis at an early stage.

Endogenous Enzyme-Driven Amplified DNA Nanocage Probe for Selective and Sensitive Imaging of Mature MicroRNAs in Living Cancer Cells.

Selective and sensitive imaging of intracellular mature microRNAs (miRNAs) is of great importance for biological process study and medical diagnostics. However, this goal remains challenging because of the interference of precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) and the low abundance of mature miRNAs. Herein, we develop an endogenous enzyme-driven amplified DNA nanocage probe (Acage) for the selective and sensitive imaging of mature miRNAs in living cells. The Acage consists of a microRNA-responsive probe, an endogenous enzyme-driven fuel strand, and a DNA nanocage framework with an inner cavity. Benefiting from the size selectivity of DNA nanocage, smaller mature miRNAs rather than larger pre-miRNAs are allowed to enter the cavity of DNA nanocage for molecular recognition; thus, Acage can significantly reduce the signal interference of pre-miRNAs. Moreover, with the driving force of an endogenous enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) for efficient signal amplification, Acage enables sensitive intracellular miRNA imaging without an additional external intervention. With these features, Acage was successfully applied for intracellular imaging of mature miRNAs during drug treatment. We believe that this strategy provides a promising pathway for better understanding the functions of mature microRNAs in biological processes and medical diagnostics.

Design, Synthesis, and Antibacterial Evaluation of Novel Isoindolin-1-ones Derivatives Containing Piperidine Fragments.

A series of novel isoindoline-1-one derivatives containing piperidine moiety were designed and synthesized using natural compounds as raw materials, and their biological activities were tested for three bacterial and three fungal pathogens. These derivatives exhibited good against phytopathogenic bacteria activities against Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri (Xac). Some compounds exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo). The dose of Y8 against Xoo (the maximum half lethal effective concentration (EC50) = 21.3 µg/mL) was better than that of the thiediazole copper dose (EC50 = 53.3 µg/mL). Excitingly, further studies have shown that the molecular docking of Y8 with 2FBW indicates that it can fully locate the interior of the binding pocket through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, thereby enhancing its anti-Xoo activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that Y8 induced the Xoo cell membrane collapse. Moreover, the proteomic results also indicate that Y8 may be a multifunctional candidate as it affects the formation of bacterial Xoo biofilms, thereby exerting antibacterial effects.

Association between parabens exposure and neurodevelopment in children.

OBJECTIVE: Parabens are a group of substances commonly employed as antimicrobial preservatives. The effect of parabens on the development of neurotoxicity in children is still controversial. This study aimed to explore the associations between parabens exposure and children's neurodevelopmental performance, emphasizing potential sex differences and the combined effects of parabens. METHODS: We used the long-term follow-up study of Taiwanese generation, Taiwan Birth Panel Study II (TBPS II). We recruited the group of children at 6-8 years old. And, we measured parabens in children urine, including methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP) and butylparaben (BP). Children's attention-related performance was evaluated using the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test 2nd Edition (K-CPT 2). The study employed both linear regression and mixture analysis quantile g-computation (QGC) methods to discern associations. A stratified analysis by sex and QGC was implemented to delve deeper into the cumulative effects of parabens. RESULTS: A total of 446 subjects completed both the parabens analysis and the K-CPT 2 survey. The overall association between parabens and neurodevelopmental performance was not pronounced, but discernible sex differences emerged. In the single pollutant analysis, elevated PP concentrations were associated with higher K-CPT 2 scores particularly in detectability (d') (ß = 0.92 [95 % CI = 0.15 to 1.69]) and commissions (ß = 0.95 [95 % CI = 0.12 to 1.78]), among girls. Further, in the mixture analysis, a significant association between PP and detectability (d') was observed in girls (ß = 1.68 [95 % CI = 0.11 to 3.26]). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified sex-specific associations between parabens and attention performance. Consistent outcomes across single and mixture analysis methods. Further research is crucial to clarify these causal associations.

Shifting to machine supervision: annotation-efficient semi and self-supervised learning for automatic medical image segmentation and classification.

Advancements in clinical treatment are increasingly constrained by the limitations of supervised learning techniques, which depend heavily on large volumes of annotated data. The annotation process is not only costly but also demands substantial time from clinical specialists. Addressing this issue, we introduce the S4MI (Self-Supervision and Semi-Supervision for Medical Imaging) pipeline, a novel approach that leverages advancements in self-supervised and semi-supervised learning. These techniques engage in auxiliary tasks that do not require labeling, thus simplifying the scaling of machine supervision compared to fully-supervised methods. Our study benchmarks these techniques on three distinct medical imaging datasets to evaluate their effectiveness in classification and segmentation tasks. Notably, we observed that self-supervised learning significantly surpassed the performance of supervised methods in the classification of all evaluated datasets. Remarkably, the semi-supervised approach demonstrated superior outcomes in segmentation, outperforming fully-supervised methods while using 50% fewer labels across all datasets. In line with our commitment to contributing to the scientific community, we have made the S4MI code openly accessible, allowing for broader application and further development of these methods. The code can be accessed at https://github.com/pranavsinghps1/S4MI .

Corrigendum to "Assessing pripherally inserted central catheter tip location in multiple postures: A case report" [Asia-Pacific J Oncol Nurs 10 (2023) 100238].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100238.].

Diagnostic ability of macular nerve fiber layer thickness measured by swept-source OCT in preperimetric glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the diagnostic ability of macula retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) thickness in preperimetric glaucoma (PPG) patients. METHODS: This prospective study included 83 patients with PPG and 83 age- and refractive error-matched normal control subjects. PPG was defined as a localized RNFL defect corresponding to glaucomatous optic disc changes with a normal visual field test. We used spectral-domain (SD) OCT to measure the circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Swept-source (SS) OCT was used to measure cpRNFL thickness, macular ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness (GCL+), and macular ganglion cell layer + IPL+ mRNFL thickness (GCL++). The mRNFL thickness was defined as GCL++ minus GCL+. To evaluate the diagnostic power of each parameter, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) was analyzed to differentiate PPG from the normal groups. RESULTS: Using SD-OCT, all GCIPL parameters and most cpRNFL parameters, except at the nasal and temporal quadrant, were significantly lower in PPG versus normal controls. PPG eyes had significantly smaller values than normal controls for all cpRNFL and GCL parameters measured by SS-OCT, except mRNFL at the superonasal area. The inferotemporal GCL++ had the largest AUROC value (0.904), followed by inferotemporal GCL+ (0.882), inferotemporal GCIPL thickness (0.871), inferior GCL++ (0.866), inferior cpRNFL thickness by SS-OCT (0.846), inferior cpRNFL thickness by SD-OCT (0.841), and inferotemporal mRNFL thickness (0.840). The diagnostic performance was comparable between inferotemporal mRNFL thickness and the best measures of GCL (inferotemporal GCL++, p = 0.098) and cpRNFL (inferior cpRNFL thickness by SS-OCT, p = 0.546). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic ability of mRNFL thickness was comparable to that of the best measures of cpRNFL and GCL analysis for eyes with PPG. Therefore, mRNFL thickness could be a new parameter to detect early structural changes in PPG.