Development of pH-responsive intelligent films based on κ-carrageenan/straw lignin and anthocyanin from Padus virginiana peel for real-time monitoring of chicken.

A series of intelligent films with pH-responsive properties were prepared using Padus virginiana peel extract (PVE) as a smart response factor, κ-carrageenan (κC) as a matrix, and complexed with rice straw lignin (SL). Following the addition of 5 mL PVE at a concentration of 430.99 mg/L, tensile strength and elongation at break of the films increased to a maximum value of 21.25 ± 0.75 MPa and 24.04 ± 0.69 %, respectively. The water vapour permeability of the films decreased with increasing PVE addition, and the minimum value was 5.85 ± 0.09 × 10-11 g m-1 s-1 Pa-1. All the films had favourable thermal stability, transparency, haze and antioxidant properties. PVE-containing films all exhibited excellent pH and ammonia response properties. The higher the humidity of the environment, the faster the ammonia response, and the films were capable of rapid discoloration at 75 % relative humidity. κC/SL-PVE5 can be used to monitor the freshness of chicken breast meat. When the total volatile basic nitrogen of chicken breast meat was increased to 14.27 mg/100 g, κC/SL-PVE5 changed from pink to greyish-yellow. In conclusion, κC/SL-PVE intelligent films hold great promise for real-time monitoring of meat freshness.

Exploring Schizophrenia Classification Through Multimodal MRI and Deep Graph Neural Networks: Unveiling Brain Region-Specific Weight Discrepancies and Their Association With Cell-Type Specific Transcriptomic Features.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a prevalent mental disorder that imposes significant health burdens. Diagnostic accuracy remains challenging due to clinical subjectivity. To address this issue, we explore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool to enhance SZ diagnosis and provide objective references and biomarkers. Using deep learning with graph convolution, we represent MRI data as graphs, aligning with brain structure, and improving feature extraction, and classification. Integration of multiple modalities is expected to enhance classification. STUDY DESIGN: Our study enrolled 683 SZ patients and 606 healthy controls from 7 hospitals, collecting structural MRI and functional MRI data. Both data types were represented as graphs, processed by 2 graph attention networks, and fused for classification. Grad-CAM with graph convolution ensured interpretability, and partial least squares analyzed gene expression in brain regions. STUDY RESULTS: Our method excelled in the classification task, achieving 83.32% accuracy, 83.41% sensitivity, and 83.20% specificity in 10-fold cross-validation, surpassing traditional methods. And our multimodal approach outperformed unimodal methods. Grad-CAM identified potential brain biomarkers consistent with gene analysis and prior research. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of deep learning with graph attention networks, surpassing previous SZ diagnostic methods. Multimodal MRI's superiority over unimodal MRI confirms our initial hypothesis. Identifying potential brain biomarkers alongside gene biomarkers holds promise for advancing objective SZ diagnosis and research in SZ.

Narrative Review and Consensus Recommendations for the Use of Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange in Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is a safe, effective, and novel technique that is currently being used in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study aimed to summarize the clinical practices of THRIVE use in ECT to aid physicians and institutions in implementing the best practice guidelines for ECT. Thus, we reviewed the current literature and presented our consensus on the application of THRIVE in ECT in daily clinical practice. This consensus provides information regarding THRIVE use in ECT, including its safety, effectiveness, procedures, precautions, special case management, and application in special populations. Moreover, it guides the standardized use of THRIVE in ECT.

Hippocampal region metabolites and cognitive impairment in patients with general paresis: based on 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background: This study utilizes Hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to investigate metabolite concentrations in the bilateral hippocampus of general paresis (GP) patients. Methods: A total of 80 GP patients and 57 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled. Metabolite ratios in the bilateral hippocampus were measured using 1H-MRS. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Based on MMSE scores, participants were categorized into normal control, mild cognitive impairment, and moderate-severe dementia groups. Metabolite ratios (N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/creatine (Cr), N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho), myoinositol (MI)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/N-acetylaspartate (NAA)) were compared between groups, and correlations between metabolite ratios and cognitive performance were examined. Results: MMSE scores progressively decreased in the normal, mild cognitive impairment, and moderate-severe dementia groups (p < 0.001). The moderate-severe dementia group showed significantly lower NAA/Cr ratios in the left hippocampus region (L-NAA/Cr ratios) (p < 0.001) and higher Cho/NAA ratios in the left hippocampus region (L-Cho/NAA ratios) (p < 0.05) compared to the other groups. However, differences in L-NAA/Cr and L-Cho/NAA ratios between the mild cognitive impairment group and the NC group were not significant in the hippocampus region (p > 0.05). NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios in the right hippocampus region (R-NAA/Cho and R-NAA/Cr ratios) in the moderate-severe dementia group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between metabolite ratios and MMSE scores in bilateral hippocampus regions. Conclusion: There are distinctive metabolic characteristics in the hippocampus of GP patients. GP patients exhibited lower NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios in the bilateral hippocampus, indicating neuron loss in these areas, which may become more pronounced as the disease progresses.

Dynamic effective connectivity in the cerebellar dorsal dentate nucleus and the cerebrum, cognitive impairment, and clinical correlates in patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by disconnected cerebral networks. Recent studies have shown that functional connectivity between the cerebellar dorsal dentate nucleus (dDN) and cerebrum is correlated with psychotic symptoms, and processing speed in SZ patients. Dynamic effective connectivity (dEC) is a reliable indicator of brain functional status. However, the dEC between the dDN and cerebrum in patients with SZ remains largely unknown. METHODS: Resting-state functional MRI data, symptom severity, and cognitive performance were collected from 74 SZ patients and 53 healthy controls (HC). Granger causality analysis and sliding time window methods were used to calculate dDN-based dEC maps for all subjects, and k-means clustering was performed to obtain several dEC states. Finally, between-group differences in dynamic effective connectivity variability (dECV) and clinical correlations were obtained using two-sample t-tests and correlation analysis. RESULTS: We detected four dEC states from the cerebrum to the right dDN (IN states) and three dEC states from the right dDN to the cerebrum (OUT states), with SZ group having fewer transitions in the OUT states. SZ group had increased dECV from the right dDN to the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and left lingual gyrus (LG). Correlations were found between the dECV from the right dDN to the right MFG and symptom severity and between the dECV from the right dDN to the left LG and working memory performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a dynamic causal relationship between cerebellar dDN and the cerebrum in SZ and provides new evidence for the involvement of cerebellar neural circuits in neurocognitive functions in SZ.

Functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions and the antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Amygdala subregion-based network dysfunction has been determined to be centrally implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Little is known about whether ketamine modulates amygdala subarea-related networks. We aimed to investigate the relationships between changes in the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of amygdala subregions and ketamine treatment and to identify important neuroimaging predictors of treatment outcomes. METHODS: Thirty-nine MDD patients received six doses of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg). Depressive symptoms were assessed, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed before and after treatment. Forty-five healthy controls underwent one MRI scan. Seed-to-voxel RSFC analyses were performed on the amygdala subregions, including the centromedial amygdala (CMA), laterobasal amygdala (LBA), and superficial amygdala subregions. RESULTS: Abnormal RSFC between the left LBA and the left precuneus in MDD patients is related to the therapeutic efficacy of ketamine. There were significant differences in changes in bilateral CMA RSFC with the left orbital part superior frontal gyrus and in changes in the left LBA with the right middle frontal gyrus between responders and nonresponders following ketamine treatment. Moreover, there was a difference in the RSFC of left LBA and the right superior temporal gyrus/middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG) between responders and nonresponders at baseline, which could predict the antidepressant effect of ketamine on Day 13. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism by which ketamine improves depressive symptoms may be related to its regulation of RSFC in the amygdala subregion. The RSFC between the left LBA and right STG/MTG may predict the response to the antidepressant effect of ketamine.

Cassia Seed Gum Films Incorporated with Partridge Tea Extract as an Edible Antioxidant Food Packaging Film for Preservation of Chicken Jerky.

The use of edible packaging films to delay food spoilage has attracted widespread attention. In this study, partridge tea extract (PTE) was added to cassia gum (CG) to prepare CG/PTE films. The microstructure, optical, mechanical, barrier, and antioxidant properties of CG/PTE films were investigated, and the effect of PTE on CG films was shown. The films had high transparency and smooth surface structure. Additionally, PTE significantly improved the elongation at break and antioxidant activity of films. At 2.5% of PTE, the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate of the film was 46.88% after diluting 50 times, indicating excellent antioxidant property, which could be applied to food preservation. After 9 days of storage, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values (TBARS) of chicken jerk packaged with films containing 0% and 2.5% PTE increased from 0.12% to 1.04% and 0.11% to 0.40%, respectively. This study suggests that CG/PTE films can be used to preserve cooked meat.

Static and dynamic functional connectivity of the habenula in late-life depression patient with suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is one of the most lethal complications of late-life depression (LLD), and habenular dysfunction may be involved in depression-related suicidality and may serve as a potential target for alleviating suicidal ideation. This study aimed to investigate abnormal functional connectivity of the habenula in LLD patients with suicidal ideation. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients with LLD (51 with suicidal ideation (LLD-S) and 76 without suicidal ideation (LLD-NS)) and 75 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The static functional connectivity (sFC) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) between the habenula and the whole brain were compared among the three groups, and correlation and moderation analyses were applied to investigate whether suicidal ideation moderated the relationships of habenular FC with depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The dFC between the right habenula and the left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) increased in the following order: LLD-S > LLD-NS > control. No significant difference in the habenular sFC was found among the LLD-S, LLD-NS and control groups. The dFC between the right habenula and the left OFC was positively associated with global cognitive function and visuospatial skills, and the association between this dFC and visuospatial skills was moderated by suicidal ideation in patients with LLD. CONCLUSION: The increased variability in dFC between the right habenula and left OFC was more pronounced in the LLD-S group than in the LLD-NS group, and the association between habenular-OFC dFC and visuospatial skills was moderated by suicidal ideation in patients with LLD.

Sex-specific associations between sex hormones and clinical symptoms in late-life schizophrenia.

The prevalence of late-life schizophrenia is increasing with high burden. It is well-documented that schizophrenia affects men and women differently in terms of symptoms. Sex hormones, which play a role in the pathology and symptoms of schizophrenia, are greatly affected by aging. To the best of our knowledge, this is a study to examine the sex differences in psychiatric symptoms and their correlation with sex hormones in participants with late-life schizophrenia. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) factors were evaluated. Testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin were measured. Male participants with late-life schizophrenia had more severe negative symptoms than female participants (z = -2.56, P = 0.010), while female participants had more severe anxiety/depression compared to male participants (z = 2.64, P = 0.008). Testosterone levels in male participants were positively associated with negative symptoms (ß = 0.23, t = 2.27, P = 0.025), while there was no significant association between sex hormones and symptoms in female participants. In conclusion, higher testosterone levels were associated with more severe negative symptoms in male participants with late-life schizophrenia, suggesting that attention should be paid to the sex differences in late-life schizophrenia in clinical practice.

Association between degree centrality and neurocognitive impairments in patients with Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal rs-fMRI Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that patients with schizophrenia (SZ) experience significant changes in their functional connectivity during antipsychotic treatment. Despite previous reports of changes in brain network degree centrality (DC) in patients with schizophrenia, the relationship between brain DC changes and neurocognitive improvement in patients with SZ after antipsychotic treatment remains elusive. METHODS: A total of 74 patients with acute episodes of chronic SZ and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test, digital span test (DST), and verbal fluency test were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms and cognitive performance of the patients with SZ. Patients with SZ were treated with antipsychotics for six weeks starting at baseline and underwent MRI and clinical interviews at baseline and after six weeks, respectively. We then divided the patients with SZ into responding (RS) and non-responding (NRS) groups based on the PANSS scores (reduction rate of PANSS ≥50%). DC was calculated and analyzed to determine its correlation with clinical symptoms and cognitive performance. RESULTS: After antipsychotic treatment, the patients with SZ showed significant improvements in clinical symptoms, semantic fluency performance. Correlation analysis revealed that the degree of DC increase in the left anterior inferior parietal lobe (aIPL) after treatment was negatively correlated with changes in the excitement score (r = -0.256, p = 0.048, adjusted p = 0.080), but this correlation failed the multiple test correction. Patients with SZ showed a significant negative correlation between DC values in the left aIPL and DST scores after treatment, which was not observed at the baseline (r = -0.359, p = 0.005, adjusted p = 0.047). In addition, we did not find a significant difference in DC between the RS and NRS groups, neither at baseline nor after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that DC changes in patients with SZ after antipsychotic treatment are correlated with neurocognitive performance. Our findings provide new insights into the neuropathological mechanisms underlying antipsychotic treatment of SZ.

NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in the medial amygdala controls mating motivation in adult male mice.

Motivation-driven mating is a basic affair for the maintenance of species. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that control mating motivation are not fully understood. Here, we report that NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in the medial amygdala (MeA) is pivotal in regulating mating motivation. NRG1 expression in the MeA negatively correlates with the mating motivation levels in adult male mice. Local injection and knockdown of MeA NRG1 reduce and promote mating motivation, respectively. Consistently, knockdown of MeA ErbB4, a major receptor for NRG1, and genetic inactivation of its kinase both promote mating motivation. ErbB4 deletion decreases neuronal excitability, whereas chemogenetic manipulations of ErbB4-positive neuronal activities bidirectionally modulate mating motivation. We also identify that the effects of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling on neuronal excitability and mating motivation rely on hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 3. This study reveals a critical molecular mechanism for regulating mating motivation in adult male mice.

NEFA can serve as good biological markers for the diagnosis of depression in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adolescent depression has markedly risen in recent years, with a high recurrence rate into adulthood. Diagnosis in adolescents is challenging due to subjective factors, highlighting the crucial need for objective diagnostic markers. METHODS: Our study enrolled 204 participants, including healthy controls (n = 88) and first-episode adolescent depression patients (n = 116). Serum samples underwent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to assess non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) expression. Machine learning and ROC analysis were employed to identify potential biomarkers, followed by bioinformatics analysis to explore underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Nearly all differentially expressed NEFA exhibited significant downregulation. Notably, nonanoic acid, cis-10-pentadecenoic acid, cis-10-carboenoic acid, and cis-11-eicosenoic acid demonstrated excellent performance in distinguishing adolescent depression patients. Metabolite-gene interaction analysis revealed these NEFAs interacted with multiple genes. KEGG pathway analysis on these genes suggested that differentially expressed NEFA may impact PPAR and cAMP signaling pathways. LIMITATIONS: Inclusion of diverse populations for evaluation is warranted. Biomarkers identified in this study require samples that are more in line with the experimental design for external validation, and further basic research is necessary to validate the potential depressive mechanisms of NEFA. CONCLUSIONS: The overall reduction in NEFA expression in first-episode adolescent depression patients suggests a potential mediation of depression symptoms through cAMP and PPAR signaling pathways. NEFA levels show promise as a diagnostic tool for identifying first-episode adolescent depression patients.

Mediating effect of inflammation on the relationship between sleep disruption and suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disruption, particularly insomnia, is a notable characteristic of depression and is associated with an increased risk of suicide in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). Moreover, the pathophysiology of depression and suicide has been linked to inflammation, specifically proinflammatory cytokines. However, the complex interplay among these factors in individuals with MDD remains poorly understood. This study investigated the mediating role of inflammatory cytokines in the relationship between sleep disruption and suicidal ideation (SI), with a particular emphasis on gender differences. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design in which 281 individuals diagnosed with MDD were recruited from psychiatric clinics. The main assessments included the evaluation of sleep disruption, inflammatory markers, and SI. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) scores was employed to quantify SI, whereas HAMD-SLD, a component of the Hamilton Rating Scale (HAMD-17), was used to evaluate sleep disruption. Blood analysis was performed to measure inflammatory markers. RESULT: For females diagnosed with MDD, significant associations between sleep disruption and the levels of IL-6 (B = 0.994, p = 0.013) and TNF-α (B = 1.986, p = 0.016) were found when IL-6 or TNF-α were considered as mediators in the regression model. In addition, IL-6 (B = 5.689, p < 0.001) and TNF-α (B = 9.916, p = 0.006) exhibited strong correlation with SSI scores. CONCLUSIONS: The primary results of this study indicate that IL-6 and TNF-α could function as potential mediators in the relationship between sleep disruption and SI among female patients diagnosed with MDD. CLINICAL TRIAL: Name of the registry: Zhejiang University Trial registration number: ChiCTR1800017626 Date of registration: 2018-08-07, 'Retrospectively registered' URL of trial registry record: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=27321.

Increasing variance of rich-club nodes distribution in early onset depression according to dynamic network.

Early onset depression (EOD) and late onset depression (LOD) are thought to have different pathogeneses, but lack of pathological evidence. In the current study we describe the dynamic rich-club properties of patients with EOD and LOD to address this question indirectly. We recruited 82 patients with late life depression (EOD 40, LOD 42) and 90 healthy controls. Memory, executive function and processing speed were measured, and resting-stage functional MRI was performed with all participants. We constructed a dynamic functional connectivity network and carried out rich-club and modularity analyses. Normalized mutual information (NMI) was applied to describe the variance in rich-club nodes distribution and partitioning. The NMI coefficient of rich club nodes distribution among the three groups was the lowest in the EOD patients (F = 4.298; P = 0.0151, FDR = 0.0231), which was positively correlated with rich-club connectivity (R = 0.886, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with memory (R = -0.347, P = 0.038) in the EOD group. In the LOD patients, non-rich-club connectivity was positively correlated with memory (R = 0.353, P = 0.030 and R = 0.420, P = 0.009). Furthermore, local connectivity was positively correlated with processing speed in the LOD patients (R = 0.374, P = 0.021). The modular partition was different between the EOD patients and the HCs (P = 0.0013 < 0.05/3). The temporal instability of rich-club nodes was found in the EOD patients, but not the LOD patients, supporting the hypothesis that EOD and LOD result from different pathogenesis, and showing that the instability of the rich-club nodes across time might disrupt rich-club connectivity.

Relationships among the gut microbiome, brain networks, and symptom severity in schizophrenia patients: A mediation analysis.

The microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA) plays a critical role in schizophrenia (SZ). However, the underlying mechanisms of the interactions among the gut microbiome, brain networks, and symptom severity in SZ patients remain largely unknown. Fecal samples, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were collected from 38 SZ patients and 38 normal controls, respectively. The data of 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to analyze the abundance of gut microbiome and the analysis of human brain networks was applied to compute the nodal properties of 90 brain regions. A total of 1,691,280 mediation models were constructed based on 261 gut bacterial, 810 nodal properties, and 4 PANSS scores in SZ patients. A strong correlation between the gut microbiome and brain networks (r = 0.89, false discovery rate (FDR) -corrected p < 0.05) was identified. Importantly, the PANSS scores were linearly correlated with both the gut microbiome (r = 0.5, FDR-corrected p < 0.05) and brain networks (r = 0.59, FDR-corrected p < 0.05). The abundance of genus Sellimonas significantly affected the PANSS negative scores of SZ patients via the betweenness centrality of white matter networks in the inferior frontal gyrus and amygdala. Moreover, 19 significant mediation models demonstrated that the nodal properties of 7 brain regions, predominately from the systems of visual, language, and control of action, showed significant mediating effects on the PANSS scores with the gut microbiome as mediators. Together, our findings indicated the tripartite relationships among the gut microbiome, brain networks, and PANSS scores and suggested their potential role in the neuropathology of SZ.

Influenza A virus selectively elevates prostaglandin E2 formation in pro-resolving macrophages.

Respiratory influenza A virus (IAV) infections are major health concerns worldwide, where bacterial superinfections substantially increase morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanisms of how IAV impairs host defense remain elusive. Macrophages are pivotal for the innate immune response and crucially regulate the entire inflammatory process, occurring as inflammatory M1- or pro-resolving M2-like phenotypes. Lipid mediators (LM), produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids by macrophages, are potent immune regulators and impact all stages of inflammation. Using LM metabololipidomics, we show that human pro-resolving M2-macrophages respond to IAV infections with specific and robust production of prostaglandin (PG)E2 along with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which persists after co-infection with Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, cytokine/interferon production in macrophages was essentially unaffected by IAV infection, and the functionality of M1-macrophages was not influenced. Conclusively, IAV infection of M2-macrophages selectively elevates PGE2 formation, suggesting inhibition of the COX-2/PGE2 axis as strategy to limit IAV exacerbation.

Sex differences in the effects of repeated ketamine infusions on bone markers in patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.

BACKGROUND: Patients with depression, especially women, are associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Traditional antidepressants are associated with negative effects on BMD. Few studies have examined the effect of ketamine on BMD, and it remains unclear whether there are sex differences in the effects of ketamine on BMD in patients with depression. METHODS: A total of 102 patients with unipolar and bipolar depression were administered six infusions of intravenous ketamine over a 12-day period. Plasma levels of eight bone markers were examined at baseline, 24 h after the sixth infusion and again 2 weeks (Days 13 and 26). RESULTS: Linear mixed models showed all bone markers had significant time main effect (all p < 0.05). Compared with baseline, the whole sample showed increased levels of leptin and osteoprotegerin at Days 13 and 26, as well as Dickkopf-related protein 1 at Day 13, and decreased levels of osteocalcin, sclerostin, osteopontin, parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23 at Days 13 and 26 (all p < 0.05). Females had a higher level of leptin at Days 13 and 26, and lower levels of osteocalcin and sclerostin at Day 13 than males (all p < 0.05). Increases of leptin were associated with depressive symptom improvements at Day 13 and Day 26 in females (both p < 0.05). In males, higher baseline osteocalcin levels were associated with greater depressive symptom improvement at Day 26 (ß = 0.414, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that repeated ketamine infusions may be associated with modulation of bone markers in patients with depression and present sex differences. Baseline osteocalcin level may be served as a predictor for the antidepressant effects of ketamine in males. Trial registration Data were derived from an open label clinical trial, which was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-OOC-17012239). Registered 26 May 2017. http://www.chictr.org.cn.

Depression and low bone mineral density (BMD) are epidemiologically linked and traditional antidepressants may act as a risk factor for BMD. However, it is unclear whether the novel antidepressant, ketamine, has effects on bone markers in patients with depression and whether there are sex differences on these effects. Ketamine infusions may be associated with modulation of bone markers and may exert a positive effect on BMD in patients with depression, which present sex differences. The study results may inform potential strategies for prevention of low BMD during the treatment of depression. Clinicians should be aware of the bone markers because some of them may be associated antidepressant response.

A chitosan derivative/phytic acid polyelectrolyte complex endowing polyvinyl alcohol film with high barrier, flame-retardant, and antibacterial effects.

Films with high barrier, flame-retardant, and antibacterial properties are beneficial in terms of food and logistics safety. Herein, a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of N-(2-hydroxyl)-propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC, chitosan derivative) and phytic acid (PA) was successfully prepared and then incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to fabricate a composite film with satisfactory barrier, fire-retardant, and antibacterial properties. The influence of HTCC/PA (HTPA) on the structural, physical and functional properties of the PVA matrix was investigated. Compared with the PVA film, PVA-HTPA6 film exhibited 3.38 times of flexibility and 83.33 % and 80.64 % of water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability, respectively. Benefiting from HTPA, the PVA-HTPA6 film exhibited outstanding flame-retardant capacity, with a high LOI value (33.30 %) and immediate self-extinguishing behaviour. Furthermore, the HTPA endowed the films with excellent antibacterial properties. Compared with other films, the PVA-HTPA6 film effectively maintained the quality of pork during storage at 4 °C for 9 days. Our findings indicate that the films are promising for packaging and logistics safety with oil-containing foods.

Efficacy and safety of intermittent theta burst stimulation on adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double blinded, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a newer form of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for depression. However, its efficacy and safety in adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder (AYA-MDD) have not been well studied, especially when applied with a strategy that combines neuronavigation targeting and accelerated iTBS. METHODS: In this study, ninety patients were randomly assigned to twice-daily (two 600-pulse sessions spaced out by 10 min, n = 31), once-daily (one 600-pulse session, n = 29) or sham iTBS (no pulses, n = 30) groups for 10 treatment days. The primary outcome measure was the change in depression scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Other clinical symptoms, such as anxiety, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Linear mixed model analysis found that scores on the HAMD-17 and its factors improved in all three groups, but these improvements did not significantly differ among groups. Other clinical symptoms such as anxiety also improved. Response and remission rates were relatively low and did not differ among groups at any time point. The most common adverse event was headache, and the proportion of participants who reported headache in the twice-daily and once-daily groups was significantly higher than that in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: The current results indicated that twice-daily and once-daily iTBS under neuronavigation are safe and well tolerated in AYA-MDD, but the overall efficacy was not superior to that of sham treatment. We speculated several possible reasons such as the high placebo response of the young population, inadequate iTBS pulses and so on.

Long-term quality of life after repeated ketamine infusions in anxious and nonanxious patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: There have been many studies on the benefits of repeated ketamine infusions on patients' depression but few on the impact of ketamine on patients' long-term quality of life (QoL). This study investigated long-term QoL in individuals with depression, both anxious and nonanxious. METHODS: A total of 107 individuals with a diagnosis of depression were included in the study. The patients were evaluated on Days 0, 13 and 26 and Months 6 and 9, and they received six ketamine infusions over the course of two weeks. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Scale were used to measure depressive symptoms and QoL. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate depressive symptoms and QoL during ketamine treatment. RESULTS: A total of 67.2 % of patients were diagnosed with anxious depression. In the long term, there were no significant differences in the time-by-group interactions for general QoL (F = 0.510; P = 0.676), physical QoL (F = 2.092; P = 0.102), psychological QoL (F = 0.102; P = 0.959), social QoL (F = 2.180; P = 0.091), or environmental QoL (F = 1.849; P = 0.139) between the two groups. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation of this study is its open-label design. CONCLUSION: The improvement in depression symptoms and QoL following ketamine treatment was not impacted by the presence or absence of anxiety in patients who were depressed prior to treatment. Only occasionally did depressed individuals with anxiety experience a worsening of their quality of life compared to those without anxiety.