Controllable defects in monolayer graphene induced by hydrogen and argon plasma.

Graphene has attracted wide attentions since its successfully exfoliation. Honeycombsp2carbon lattice and Dirac semi-metal band structure make graphene a promising material with excellent mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and carrier mobility. However, the absence of intrinsic bandgap limits its application in semiconductor. Defects in graphene is supposed to modify its band structure and lead to an opened bandgap. Many methods have been demonstrated to introduce defects into graphene, such as chemical reaction, plasma, electron beam, and laser. However, the species of defects are mostly uncontrollable in most treatment processes. In this study, we report three kinds of defects can be controllably induced in graphene via hydrogen (H2) and argon (Ar) plasma. With different parameter and feeding gas, hydrogenated graphene, graphene nanomesh and graphene with vacancies can be well obtained. The defect density can be precisely controlled by tuning plasma power and irradiation time. Morphological, spectroscopic, and electrical characterizations are performed to systematically investigate the defect evolution. Graphene nanomesh and graphene with vacancies show obvious difference for roughness and coverage, whereas the morphology of hydrogenated graphene remains similar with that of as-prepared graphene. For hydrogenated graphene, an opened bandgap of ∼20 meV is detected. For graphene nanomesh and graphene with vacancies, the semiconductive on/off behaviors are observed. We believe this work can provide more details of plasma-induced defects and assist the application of graphene in semiconductor industry.

Heterostructure Engineering of NiCo-LDHs for Enhanced Energy Storage Performance in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered a promising device for next-generation energy storage due to their high safety and low cost. However, developing high-performance cathodes that can be matched with zinc metal anodes remains a challenge in unlocking the full potential of AZIBs. In this study, a typical transition metal layered double hydroxides (NiCo-LDHs) can be in situ reconstructed to NiCo-LDHs/Ni(Co)OOH heterostructure using an electrochemical cycling activation (ECA) method, serving as a novel cathode material for AZIBs. The optimized ECA-NiCo-LDHs cathode demonstrates a high capacity of 181.5 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and retains 75% of initial capacity after 700 cycles at 5 A g-1. The abundant heterointerfaces of the NiCo-LDHs/Ni(Co)OOH material can activate additional active sites for zinc-ion storage and accelerate ion diffusion. Theoretical calculations also suggest the heterostructure can boost charge transfer and regulate ion-adsorption capability, thereby improving the electrochemical performance. Additionally, the flexible AZIBs device exhibits good service performance. This study on interface engineering introduces a new possibility for utilizing LDHs in AZIBs and offers a novel strategy for designing electrode materials.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at different sites for peripheral facial paralysis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: There are very few studies on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for facial paralysis and no studies comparing the efficacy of central and peripheral TMS in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). Purpose: To observe the therapeutic effect and security of central and peripheral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on PFP. Methods: Patients with unilateral onset of peripheral facial paralysis within 1 month were prospectively recruited, 97 patients with PFP were divided into the peripheral group, central group, and control group. The control group was given common treatment (drug therapy and acupuncture), and the peripheral and central groups received rTMS in addition to conventional treatment. After 2 weeks of treatment, the House-Brackmann (HB) grading scale, Sunnybrook facial grading system (SFGS), and modified Portmann scale (MPS) were used to evaluate the facial muscle function of patients in the three groups. Result: After 2 weeks of rTMS treatment, the HBGS/SFGS/MPS scores of the three groups were significantly better than before (p < 0.05), and the mean change values of HBGS, SFGS, and MPS scores were significantly higher in participants in Peripheral Group (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.003; respectively) and Central Group (p = 0.004; p = 0.003; p = 0.009; respectively) than in Control Group. But the mean change values of HBGS, SFGS, and MPS scores showed no significant differences in participants in the Peripheral Group than in the Central Group (p = 0.254; p = 0.139; p = 0.736; respectively) after 2 weeks of treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that rTMS can be a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for patients with PFP. Preliminary studies have shown that both peripheral and central stimulation can effectively improve facial nerve function, but there is no significant difference in the efficacy of the two sites.

Metabolic and senescence characteristics associated with the immune microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer: insights from single-cell RNA sequencing.

Non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) has been defined as a highly life-threatening heterogeneous disease, with high mortality and occurrence. Recent research has indicated that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes play a key determinant role in cancer progression. Emerging single-cell RNA sequencing (also termed scRNA-seq) has been extensively applied to depict the baseline landscape of the cell composition and function phenotype in the tumor environment (TME). Herein, we dissected the cell types in NSCLC samples (including tissue and blood) and identified three types of cell marker genes including cancer cells, T cells, and macrophages by integrating two NSCLC-associated scRNA-seq datasets in GEO. Survival analysis indicated that 17 marker genes were related to tumor prognosis. Function annotation was used to scrutinize the molecular mechanism of these marker genes in different cells. Besides, we investigated the developmental trajectory and T cell receptor repertoire diversity of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Our analysis will help further understand the complexity of cell components and the heterogeneity of TME in NSCLC.

Stacking transfer of wafer-scale graphene-based van der Waals superlattices.

High-quality graphene-based van der Waals superlattices are crucial for investigating physical properties and developing functional devices. However, achieving homogeneous wafer-scale graphene-based superlattices with controlled twist angles is challenging. Here, we present a flat-to-flat transfer method for fabricating wafer-scale graphene and graphene-based superlattices. The aqueous solution between graphene and substrate is removed by a two-step spinning-assisted dehydration procedure with the optimal wetting angle. Proton-assisted treatment is further used to clean graphene surfaces and interfaces, which also decouples graphene and neutralizes the doping levels. Twist angles between different layers are accurately controlled by adjusting the macroscopic stacking angle through their wafer flats. Transferred films exhibit minimal defects, homogeneous morphology, and uniform electrical properties over wafer scale. Even at room temperature, robust quantum Hall effects are observed in graphene films with centimetre-scale linewidth. Our stacking transfer method can facilitate the fabrication of graphene-based van der Waals superlattices and accelerate functional device applications.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the effectiveness of cytokine priming irrespective of heterogeneity in mesenchymal stromal cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are recognized as a potential cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine. Short-term inflammatory cytokine pre-stimulation (cytokine priming) is a promising approach to enhance regenerative efficacy of MSCs. However, it is unclear whether their intrinsic heterogenic nature causes an unequal response to cytokine priming, which might blunt the accessibility of clinical applications. METHODS: In this study, by analyzing the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of human bone marrow MSCs from a naïve to cytokine-primed state, we elucidated the potential mechanism of superior therapeutic potential in cytokine-primed MSCs. RESULTS: We found that cytokine-primed MSCs had a distinct transcriptome landscape. Although substantial heterogeneity was identified within the population in both naïve and primed states, cytokine priming enhanced the several characteristics of MSCs associated with therapeutic efficacy irrespective of heterogeneity. After cytokine-priming, all sub-clusters of MSCs possessed high levels of immunoregulatory molecules, trophic factors, stemness-related genes, anti-apoptosis markers and low levels of multi-lineage and senescence signatures, which are critical for their therapeutic potency. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results provide new insights into MSC heterogeneity under cytokine stimulation and suggest that cytokine priming reprogrammed MSCs independent of heterogeneity.

LncRNA ITGB2-AS1 promotes cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting ferroptosis via activating the FOSL2/NAMPT axis.

Cisplatin resistance is a major therapeutic challenge in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, the regulatory role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ITGB2-AS1 in regulating NSCLC cisplatin resistance was investigated. NSCLC cisplatin resistance cells were constructed using A549 and H1975 cells. Cell viability and proliferation were detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay, respectively. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry. GSH, MDA, ROS, and Fe2+ levels were measured by the corresponding kits. The expressions of ferroptosis-negative regulation genes (GPX4 and SLC7A11) were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. Molecular interactions were analyzed by RNA pull-down, RIP, ChIP, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The effects of ITGB2-AS1 silencing on NSCLC cisplatin resistance in vivo were elevated by the tumor xenograft experiment. ITGB2-AS1 expression was increased in NSCLC patients and cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells, which was positively correlated with ferroptosis-negative regulation genes. ITGB2-AS1 knockdown suppressed resistant cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis and ferroptosis. ITGB2-AS1 increased NAMPT expression by binding to FOSL2, thereby repressing p53 expression. The ITGB2-AS1 knockdown also inhibited NSCLC cisplatin resistance in vivo. ITGB2-AS1 promoted NSCLC cisplatin resistance by inhibiting p53-mediated ferroptosis via activating the FOSL2/NAMPT axis.

Hemodynamic signal changes and functional connectivity in acute stroke patients with dysphagia during volitional swallowing: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is one of the major post-stroke complications, understanding post-stroke changes in cortical excitability and promoting early remodeling of swallowing-related cortical areas to enable accurate treatment is essential for recovery of patients. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate hemodynamic signal changes and functional connectivity in acute stroke patients with dysphagia compared to age-matched healthy participants in response to volitional swallowing using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in this pilot study. METHODS: Patients with first-ever post-stroke dysphagia having an onset of 1-4 weeks and age-matched right-handed healthy subjects were recruited in our study. fNIRS with 47 channels was utilized to detect the oxyhemoglobin (HbO2 ) and reduced hemoglobin (HbR) concentration changes when volitional swallowing. Cohort analysis was performed by a one-sample t-test. Two-sample t-test was utilized to compare the difference in cortical activation between patients with post-stroke dysphagia and healthy subjects. Furthermore, the relative changes in the concentration of the HbO2 throughout the experimental procedure were extracted for the functional connectivity analysis. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the HbO2 concentration of each channel were analyzed on a time series, and then a Fisher Z transformation was then performed, and the transformed values were defined as the functional connection strengths between the channels. RESULTS: In this present study, a total of nine patients with acute post-stroke dysphagia were enrolled in the patient group and nine age-matched healthy participants in the healthy control group. Our study observed that the extensive regions of the cerebral cortex were activated in the healthy control group, while the activation area of patient group's cortical regions was quite limited. The mean functional connectivity strength of participants was 0.485 ± 0.105 in the healthy control group, and 0.252 ± 0.146 in the patient group, with a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared to the healthy individuals, cerebral cortex regions of acute stroke patients were only marginally activated during volitional swallowing task, and the average functional connectivity strength of cortical network in patients was relatively weaker.

Investigating causal relationships between the gut microbiota and allergic diseases: A mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies revealed altered gut microbial composition in patients with allergic diseases, which illustrated a strong association between the gut microbiome and the risk of allergies. However, whether such associations reflect causality remains to be well-documented. Two-sample mendelian randomization (2SMR) was performed to estimate the potential causal effect between the gut microbiota and the risk of allergic diseases. 3, 12, and 16 SNPs at the species, genus, and family levels respectively of 15 microbiome features were obtained as the genetic instruments of the exposure dataset from a previous study. GWAS summary data of a total of 17 independent studies related to allergic diseases were collected from the IEU GWAS database for the outcome dataset. Significant causal relationships were obtained between gut microbiome features including Ruminococcaceae, Eggerthella, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Bacteroides and the risk of allergic diseases. Furthermore, our results also pointed out a number of putative associations between the gut microbiome and allergic diseases. Taken together, this study was the first study using the approach of 2SMR to elucidate the association between gut microbiome and allergic diseases.

Noble-Metal-Free FeMn-N-C catalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction in both alkaline and acidic media.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is important cathodic reaction running in several electrochemical energy conversion devices. It is still difficult to develop non-precious nanocatalysts for ORR that have high activity and increased durability for practical application. Herein, bimetallic FeMn(mIm)-N-C composite incorporated with Fe and Mn via an encapsulation-ligand exchange technique is prepared and established as an efficient ORR catalyst. The results reveal that FeMn(mIm)-N-C shows outstanding ORR performance with E1/2 of 0.861 V and 0.778 V in alkaline and acid solutions, along with robust durability. Additionally, the assembled Zn-Air batteries (ZAB) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) both have exceptional power densities and show promise for long-term stability compared to 20% Pt/C. The present work provides a useful strategy for designing and synthesizing a reliable low-cost and high-efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage.

The Effects of Rf4 and the Genetic Mechanism Behind Fertility Restoration of Wild Abortive Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (WA-CMS) in Japonica Rice (Oryza sativa ssp. Japonica).

Wild abortive-type cytoplasmic male sterility (WA-type CMS) has been exclusively used in hybrid seed production in indica rice cultivars, and fertility restoration in WA-type CMS is controlled by two major restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4, through a sporophytic mechanism. However, the genetic mechanism underlying fertility restoration in WA-type CMS in japonica cultivars is poorly understood. In the present study, C418, a leading Chinsurah Boro II- (BT)-type japonica restorer line, showed partial restoration ability in WA-type japonica CMS lines. The 1:1 segregation ratio of partially fertile to sterile plants in a three-cross F1 population indicated that fertility restoration is controlled by one dominant gene. Gene mapping and sequencing results revealed that the target gene should be Rf4. The Rf4 gene restores fertility through a sporophytic mechanism, but the Rf4 pollen grains show a preferential fertilization in the testcross F1 plants. Furthermore, Rf4 was confirmed to have only a minor effect on fertility restoration in WA-type japonica CMS lines, and Rf gene dosage effects influenced the fertility restoration of WA-type CMS in japonica rice. The results of our study not only provide valuable insights into the complex genetic mechanisms underlying fertility restoration of WA-type CMS but will also facilitate the efficient utilization of WA-type CMS in japonica rice lines.

Precise genetic mapping of Rf18(t), a new fertility restorer gene from 'Nipponbare' for wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

KEY MESSAGE: We mapped Rf18(t), a Restorer-of-fertility gene for wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility from the japonica maintainer 'Nipponbare', to chromosome 1. The best candidate gene, LOC_Os01g71320, is predicted to encode hexokinase. Three-line hybrid rice obtained through cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has helped increase the yield of rice globally, and the wild abortive (WA)-type cytoplasm from wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) is used widely in three-line indica hybrids. The identification and mapping of the Restorer-of-fertility (Rf) genes in maintainer lines aided in uncovering the genetic basis of fertility restoration of WA-type CMS and the development of WA-type hybrids. In this study, we identified a new Rf gene, Rf18(t), for WA-type CMS from the japonica maintainer line 'Nipponbare' using a chromosome segment substitution line population derived from a cross between the indica line 9311 and 'Nipponbare.' Using a substitution mapping strategy, Rf18(t) was delimited to a 48-kb chromosomal region flanked by molecular marker loci ID01M28791 and ID01M28845 on chromosome 1. By comparative sequence analyses, we propose that LOC_Os01g71320 is the most likely candidate gene for Rf18(t), and it is predicted to encode hexokinase. Furthermore, Rf18(t) was found to function in fertility restoration probably by a posttranscriptional mechanism and its function is dependent on the genetic background of 9311. These results broaden our knowledge on the mechanism of fertility restoration of WA-type CMS lines and will facilitate the development of WA-type rice hybrids.

Abiotic Synthetic Antibodies to Target a Specific Protein Domain and Inhibit Its Function.

The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry proteins are widely used in insect pest control. Despite their economic benefits, remaining concerns over potential ecological and health risks warrant their ongoing surveillance. Affinity reagents, most often antibodies, protein scaffolds, and aptamers, are the traditional tools used for protein binding and detection. We report a synthetic antibody (SA) alternative to traditional biological affinity reagents for binding Bt Cry proteins. Analysis of hotspots of the Bt Cry protein-insect midgut cadherin-like receptor complexes was used for the design of the SA. The SA was selected from a small focused library of hydrogel copolymers containing functional monomers complementary to key exposed hotspots of Bt Cry proteins. A directed chemical evolution identified a SA, APhe-NP23, with affinity and selectivity for Bt Cry1Ab/Ac proteins. The putative intermolecular polymer-protein interfaces were identified by the SA's uptake of Bt Cry1Ac pepsin hydrolysates, binding epitope mutation studies, and protein-protein inhibition studies of the toxin binding to its native insect receptor binding domains. The SA inhibitor binds to the same protein domains as the insect's cadherin-like receptors, Bt-R1 and SeCad1b. The SA binds rapidly to Bt Cry1Ab/Ac with high capacity, is pH-responsive, and is synthesized reproducibly. We believe that a hotspot-directed approach is general for creation of abiotic protein affinity reagents that target functional protein domains. Affinity ligands are typically high-information content biologicals. Their structure and function are determined from their amino acid or oligo sequence. In contract, the SA described in this work is a statistical copolymer that lacks sequence specificity. These results are an important contribution to the concept that randomness and biospecificity are not mutually exclusive.

Behavioral problems of pediatric patients recovered from COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is profoundly affecting lives around the globe. Previous studies on COVID-19 mainly focused on epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features of patients with confirmed infection. Little attention has been paid to the follow-up of recovered patients. As a vulnerable population to adverse events, the health status of the COVID-19 recovered pediatric patients is of great concern. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of behavioral problems among pediatric patients recovered from the COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. METHODS: A total of 122 children who were suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalized for treatment were enrolled in the study between April 2020 and May 2020 in Wuhan, China. We collected related information about hospitalization and discharge of the children and emotional symptoms of their parents through electronic medical records and questionnaire. The behavioral problems of children were examined by applying the parent-reported the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: The participant children were discharged from hospital after about two months. Among them, 76 (62%) were boys, and the mean age was 6.71 years old. The highest prevalence of behavioral problems among pediatric children with COVID-19 was for prosocial behavior (15%), followed by total difficulties (13%), emotional symptoms (11%), hyperactivity (10%), conduct problems (9%), and peer problems (1%). With regarding to their parents, 26% reported having symptoms of anxiety and 23% as having symptoms of depression. The scores of SDQ were higher in those children whose parents have emotional problems compared to parents without. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow up studies on the psychological and behavioral problems of COVID-19 recovered children and their parents are warranted.

Problematic Internet Use Was Associated With Psychological Problems Among University Students During COVID-19 Outbreak in China.

Background: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progressed globally, school closures and home quarantine may cause an increase in problematic Internet use among students in universities. Such a traumatic stress event may also contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive, and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms as well as the predictive role of problematic Internet use in the above-mentioned psychological problems in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey of 8,879 students in China between April 20 and April 26, 2020. The presence of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms and problematic Internet use were evaluated using PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression 9-item scale, the generalized anxiety disorder 7-item scale, and the Young diagnostic questionnaire, respectively. Sociodemographic information and the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward COVID-19 data were also collected. Results: A total of 4,834 (54.4%) participants were female, and 7,564 (85.2%) were undergraduate students. A total of 615 students (6.9%) reported PTSD symptoms; 5.2% (465) and 10.1% (896) reported moderate to severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The problematic Internet use was significantly associated with higher risk of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms (odds ratio 2.662 [95% CI, 2.239-3.165], odds ratio 4.582 [95% CI, 3.753-5.611], odds ratio 3.251 [95% CI, 2.814-3.757], respectively; all P < 0.001). Lower attitude and practice scores also contributed to the risk of depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Psychological problems should be paid more attention, and problematic Internet use may be a predictor when screening high-risk students for psychological problems. Our results will aid in timely psychological screening, which is meaningful in the prevention and intervention of psychological problems.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Bone Mineral Density, and Fracture: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

CONTEXT: The associations of circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels with bone mineral density and fracture risk are inconclusive in observational studies. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a mendelian randomization study to assess the associations of serum IGF-1 levels with estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) and fracture. METHODS: Genetic instruments for IGF-1 were selected at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10-8) from a genome-wide association study including 358 072 individuals of European ancestry. Summary-level data for eBMD (426 824 individuals) and fracture (53 184 fracture cases and 373 611 noncases) were obtained from the UK Biobank study. Univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization analyses methods were used to estimate the associations of IGF-1 with eBMD and fracture. The main outcome measure included the change of eBMD and odds ratio of fracture per genetically predicted 1-SD increase of serum IGF-1 levels. RESULTS: For 1-SD increase in IGF-1, the change of eBMD levels was 0.04 g/cm2 (95% CI, 0.01-0.07; P = .011) and the odds ratio of fracture was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98; P = .003). The associations persisted with similar magnitude after adjustment for height. The association was consistent for fracture but not for eBMD after excluding genetic instruments that might directly influence these outcomes. The association between IGF-1 and fracture was somewhat attenuated after adjustment for eBMD (odds ratio 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99; P = .012). CONCLUSION: The present study supports a role for IGF-1 in preventing fracture, possibly and partly mediated by greater bone mineral density.

The prevalence of behavioral problems among school-aged children in home quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic in china.

BACKGROUND: To prevent spreading of the COVID-19 infection, many countries have implemented a nationwide school closure. We aimed to assess the prevalence of behavioral problems in school-aged children during home confinement. METHODS: We conducted an internet-based survey involving 1264 children (grades 2-6) and their parents from two primary schools between February 25 and March 8, 2020, in Hubei province, China. Behavioral problems were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: The prevalence of prosocial behaviors among children was 10.3%, followed by total difficulty (8.2%), conduct problems (7.0%), peer problems (6.6%), hyperactivity-inattention (6.3%) and emotional problems (4.7%). Compared with children who did not exercise, children with psychical activity had a lower hyperactivity-inattention risk (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.44 for 1-2 days/week; OR: 0.56 for more than 2 days/week) and less prosocial behaviors problems (OR: 0.65 for 1-2 days/week; OR: 0.55 for more than 2 days/week). Children of parents with anxious symptoms were associated with increased risks of emotional symptoms and total difficulty (OR: 5.64 and 3.78, respectively). LIMITATIONS: We adopted self-report questionnaires and did not collect baseline information before COVID-19 outbreak. The potential self-selection bias inherent in the study should be noted. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of behavioral problems among school-aged children varied from 4.7% to 10.3% in home quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak. Taking physical exercise may be an efficient measure to reduce behavioral problems for school-aged children in home confinement.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among primary school students in Hubei Province, China.

This study was aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among school-aged children in the Hubei province when children were being confined to their homes. The questionnaire included questions of KAP about COVID-19, depressive and anxiety symptoms scales. Multivariable generalized linear regressions models were applied to estimate the unstandardized regression coefficients (ß) of KAP. The awareness rates about COVID-19 were 70.1%-99.5% for all 1650 valid questionnaires. 37.2% of the participants quite worried about being infected with COVID-19. Approximately 96% of them washed hands in certain situations, while 85.6% of them washed hands after coughing or sneezing. Compared to the students without depressive symptoms, those who had depressive symptoms scored lower of total KAP, knowledge, attitudes, and practice. The findings suggest that primary students had a relatively good awareness of COVID-19 during the epidemic, as well as optimistic attitudes and appropriate practices. However, some items of appropriate practices still needed to be enhanced.

The Role of Paracrine Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Crosstalk With Macrophages in Musculoskeletal Diseases: A Systematic Review.

The phenotypic change of macrophages (Mφs) plays a crucial role in the musculoskeletal homeostasis and repair process. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown as a novel approach in tissue regeneration, the therapeutic potential of MSCs mediated by the interaction between MSC-derived paracrine mediators and Mφs remains elusive. This review focused on the elucidation of paracrine crosstalk between MSCs and Mφs during musculoskeletal diseases and injury. The search method was based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and Cochrane Guidelines. The search strategies included MeSH terms and other related terms of MSC-derived mediators and Mφs. Ten studies formed the basis of this review. The current finding suggested that MSC administration promoted proliferation and activation of CD163+ or CD206+ M2 Mφs in parallel with reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. During such period, Mφs also induced MSCs into a motile and active phenotype via the influence of proinflammatory cytokines. Such crosstalk between Mφs and MSCs further strengthens the effect of paracrine mediators from MSCs to regulate Mφs phenotypic alteration. In conclusion, MSCs in musculoskeletal system, mediated by the interaction between MSC paracrine and Mφs, have therapeutic potential in musculoskeletal diseases.

Role of skeletal macrophages in fracture repair: A systematic review.

In the field of bone research, the importance of the function of skeletal macrophages (sMΦ) and their crucial role in immune homeostasis and bone regeneration has been extensively studied. The aim of the present systematic review was to summarize the role of sMΦ in bone fracture healing and to evaluate their potential for immunoregulatory therapy in bone regeneration. A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase® was performed to retrieve studies on the role of sMΦ in bone injury repair. The Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation tool was used to assess the risk of bias of the studies included. A total of four articles were included in the present review. A relatively high risk of bias was identified in the included articles as none of the assessors in these studies were blinded. sMΦ were defined by the surface markers F4/80+, Mac-2- / low, TRAP-, CD169+, Ly6G- and CD115low. All of the studies provided support for the essential role of sMΦ in intramembranous ossification or endochondral ossification during fracture healing. F4/80+Mac-2-CD169+ sMΦ are a promising therapeutic target for immunoregulatory therapy of bone repair due to their essential role in bone formation and homeostasis. Future studies aimed at profiling and modulating sMΦ to promote bone regeneration are required.