Neurotransmitter system gene variants as biomarkers for the therapeutic efficacy of rTMS and SSRIs in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the potential influence of RS4680 (COMT), RS16965628 (SLC6A4), and RS1019385 (GRIN2B) polymorphisms on the therapeutic response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Patients and methods: Thirty-six untreated outpatients diagnosed with OCD were recruited and allocated to active or sham rTMS groups for two weeks. The mean age of the participants was 31.61, with 17 males (47.22%) and 19 females (52.78%). Peripheral blood samples (5 mL) were collected from each participant using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vacuum tubes for genotyping purposes, clinical evaluation was taken place at baseline and second week. Results: The A allele of RS4680, C allele of RS16965628, and GG allele of RS1019385 were identified as potential bio-markers for predicting treatment response to OCD treatments (rTMS & SSRIs). Conclusion: Those genes may serve as bio-markers for the combined treatment of rTMS and SSRIs in OCD. The finding hold promise for further research and the potential implementation of precision treatment of OCD. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR1900023641.

More prevalent and more severe: gender differences of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

Background: Adolescent depression has become a leading problem around the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has remained prevalent and heavily influenced people's mental health. While gender difference has always been a topic in the field of psychiatry, there are cultural differences across the world that must be taken into account. The current study is examining gender differences in symptoms of Chinese adolescents with depression. Methods: The sample was obtained from a total of 574 adolescent patients (172 males and 402 females) diagnosed with depression following the DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnostic criteria; patients who also had other severe mental or physical illnesses were excluded. The ages of participants ranged from 10 to 19 years. Additionally, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine differences in symptoms between different gender and age groups. The LPA was used to examine whether females and males were having different patterns of symptoms. Results: Our analysis showed that compared to males, females exhibited higher rates of depression and more severe depressive symptoms across age groups. Likewise, the analysis also revealed an earlier onset of depression among Chinese adolescents compared to that in Western countries in previous studies. Finally, the LPA showed that mild to moderate depression was predominant in male patients, while severe depression was predominant in female patients. Conclusion: This study highlights the gender differences in the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The current study highlighted the importance of gender equality and developing gender-friendly interventions in maintaining the overall mental health of adolescents in China.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates EEG Microstates in Low-Functioning Autism: A Pilot Study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder that affects several behavioral domains of neurodevelopment. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a new method that modulates motor and cognitive function and may have potential applications in ASD treatment. To identify its potential effects on ASD, differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates were compared between children with typical development (n = 26) and those with ASD (n = 26). Furthermore, children with ASD were divided into a tDCS (experimental) and sham stimulation (control) group, and EEG microstates and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores before and after tDCS were compared. Microstates A, B, and D differed significantly between children with TD and those with ASD. In the experimental group, the scores of microstates A and C and ABC before tDCS differed from those after tDCS. Conversely, in the control group, neither the EEG microstates nor the ABC scores before the treatment period (sham stimulation) differed from those after the treatment period. This study indicates that tDCS may become a viable treatment for ASD.

Abnormalities of EEG Functional Connectivity and Effective Connectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with normal brain development. Brain connectivity may serve as a biomarker for ASD in this respect. This study enrolled a total of 179 children aged 3-10 years (90 typically developed (TD) and 89 with ASD). We used a weighted phase lag index and a directed transfer function to investigate the functional and effective connectivity in children with ASD and TD. Our findings indicated that patients with ASD had local hyper-connectivity of brain regions in functional connectivity and simultaneous significant decrease in effective connectivity across hemispheres. These connectivity abnormalities may help to find biomarkers of ASD.

Driving factors of urban community epidemic prevention and control capability: QCA analysis based on typical cases of 20 anti-epidemic communities in China.

Introduction: In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, urban communities have emerged as the frontline defenders in epidemic prevention and control, providing the most effective means of curbing the spread of virus both inward and outward. This study attempts to explain the underlying factors and mechanisms that shape the community epidemic prevention and control capacity (CEPCC). Methods: We adopted a resilience-based perspective and drew on a sample of 20 exemplary anti-epidemic communities in China. By constructing an analytical framework and employing the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method (fsQCA), we explored how four conditional variables-infrastructure completeness, community self-organizing ability, redundancy of community resources, and stability of regional economic development-and their various configurations impact the CEPCC. Results: Our findings reveal that the four conditional variables, when considered in isolation, cannot effectively enhance the CEPCC. Instead, four configuration pathways with mixed conditional variables exist. Notably, community self-organizing ability emerges as a vital condition for effectively strengthening the CEPCC. Discussion: This study identifies four pathways to improve the CEPCC and confirms the validity of the data results through case studies. Conclusions of this research contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the factors influencing the CEPCC, which can help communities to better plan and prepare for future epidemics and ensure better response and adaptation to the impacts of future emergencies.

Bibliometric analysis of fibroblast growth factor 21 research over the period 2000 to 2021.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that plays multiple roles in metabolic regulation. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have deepened our understanding of its various functions and its pharmacological value. Nevertheless, most clinical trials have not achieved the desired results, which raises issues regarding its clinical value. In this bibliometric analysis, we evaluated the state of FGF-21 research over the last 20 years and identified important topics, achievements, and potential future directions. Methods: Publications related to FGF-21 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection-Science Citation Index Expanded. HistCite, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization, including the analysis of annual publications, leading countries, active institutions and authors, core journals, co-cited references, and keywords. Results: Altogether, 2,490 publications related to FGF-21 were obtained. A total of 12,872 authors from 2,628 institutions in 77 countries or regions reported studies on FGF-21. The United States of America was the most influential country in FGF-21 research. Alexei Kharitonenkov, Steven A. Kliewer, and David J. Mangelsdorf were the most influential scholars, and endocrinology journals had a core status in the field. The physiological roles, clinical translation, and FGF-21-based drug development were the main topics of research, and future studies may concentrate on the central effects of FGF-21, FGF-21-based drug development, and the effects of FGF-21 on non-metabolic diseases. Conclusion: The peripheral metabolic effects of FGF-21, FGF-21-based drug development, and translational research on metabolic diseases are the three major topics in FGF-21 research, whereas the central metabolic effects of FGF-21 and the effects of FGF-21 on metabolic diseases are the emerging trends and may become the following hot topics in FGF-21 research.

Fibroblast growth factor 21: A "rheostat" for metabolic regulation?

Fibroblast growth factor 21 is an evolutionarily conserved factor that plays multiple important roles in metabolic homeostasis. During the past two decades, extensive investigations have improved our understanding of its delicate metabolic roles and identified its pharmacological potential to mitigate metabolic disorders. However, most clinical trials have failed to obtain the desired results, which raises issues regarding its clinical value. Fibroblast growth factor 21 is dynamically regulated by nutrients derived from food intake and hepatic/adipose release, which in turn act on the central nervous system, liver, and adipose tissues to influence food preference, hepatic glucose, and adipose fatty acid output. Based on this information, we propose that fibroblast growth factor 21 should not be considered merely an anti-hyperglycemia or anti-obesity factor, but rather a means of balancing of nutrient fluctuations to maintain an appropriate energy supply. Hence, the specific functions of fibroblast growth factor 21 in glycometabolism and lipometabolism depend on specific metabolic states, indicating that its pharmacological effects require further consideration.

When and why do people act on flawed science? Effects of anecdotes and prior beliefs on evidence-based decision-making.

Today's citizens are expected to use evidence, frequently presented in the media, to inform decisions about health, behavior, and public policy. However, science misinformation is ubiquitous in the media, making it difficult to apply research appropriately. Across two experiments, we addressed how anecdotes and prior beliefs impact readers' ability to both identify flawed science and make appropriate decisions based on flawed science in media articles. Each article described the results of flawed research on one of four educational interventions to improve learning (Experiment 1 included articles about having a tidy classroom and exercising while learning; Experiment 2 included articles about using virtual/augmented reality and napping at school). Experiment 1 tested the impact of a single anecdote and found no significant effect on either participants' evidence evaluations or decisions to implement the learning interventions. However, participants were more likely to adopt the more plausible intervention (tidy classroom) despite identifying that it was unsupported by the evidence, suggesting effects of prior beliefs. In Experiment 2, we tested whether this intervention effect was driven by differences in beliefs about intervention plausibility and included two additional interventions (virtual reality = high plausible, napping = low plausible). We again found that participants were more likely to implement high plausible than low plausible interventions, and that evidence quality was underweighed as a factor in these decisions. Together, these studies suggest that evidence-based decisions are more strongly determined by prior beliefs than beliefs about the quality of evidence itself.

Simultaneous Determination of Ten Bioactive Components from Shenling Baizhu San in Rat Plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS: Application to a Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study in Normal and Two Models of Ulcerative Colitis Rats.

Shenling Baizhu San, a traditional formula, has a long history of treating spleen asthenic diarrhea by invigorating the spleen and dispelling dampness in China. A rapid and accurate UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous determination of ten active constituents in rat plasma: panaxadiol, ginsenoside Rg1, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide III, pachymic acid, neferine, nuciferine, diosgenin, platycodin D, and isoliquiritigenin. The plasma samples were pretreated by the protein precipitation method with acetonitrile. The analytes and puerarin (internal standard) were determined with high selectivity and sensitivity (LLOQ, 0.31-0.68 ng·mL-1) within 10 minutes. The validation parameters, including intra-/interday precisions, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, and stability, were within acceptable ranges. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics study of ten components in normal and two rat models of ulcerative colitis (i.e., spleen deficiency with dampness retention-ulcerative colitis (SDDR-UC) rats and pure-ulcerative colitis (P-UC) rats). The pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly different among the three groups of rats. Overall, the absorption of the components was shown as follows: normal group > SDDR-UC group > P-UC group. The study could provide a scientific basis for further studies on pharmacokinetics and clinical differential application of SDDR-UC and P-UC patients.

Effects of high fat diet on lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and autophagy in the liver of Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

The present study was performed to determine the effect of high fat diet in lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and autophagy, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of high fat diet induced hepatic oxidative damage in Chinese softshell turtle. To this end, the control group were fed a normal fat diet (NFD, 6.38% lipid) and the experimental group were bred high fat diet (HFD, 13.89% lipid) for eight weeks. Lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and autophagy, as well as the mRNA expression of genes related to the antioxidant system were determined in the liver. Results showed that high fat diet not only exacerbated lipid accumulation in the liver and serum through increasing contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein and decreasing content of high-density lipoprotein, but also induced liver injury through increasing activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum. In addition, the experimental subject induced oxidative injury for the increase of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl contents and the reduction of glutathione contents, anti-superoxide anion capacity and catalase, total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S transferase activities. Meanwhile, antioxidant-related signaling molecule expression were also decreased, which might attribute to regulate antioxidant-related signaling molecule. On top of that, it indicated promote the occurrence of liver autophagy via up-regulating expressions of AMP activated protein kinase, UNC-51-like kinase 1, Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 and down-regulating gene expression of mammalian target of rapamycin. In conclusion, high fat diet could enhance lipid accumulation in the liver and serum, lead to liver injury and oxidative damage, impair liver antioxidant capacity, regulate antioxidant-related signaling molecule expression and activate hepatic autophagy.

List-Based Simulated Annealing Algorithm for Traveling Salesman Problem.

Simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is a popular intelligent optimization algorithm which has been successfully applied in many fields. Parameters' setting is a key factor for its performance, but it is also a tedious work. To simplify parameters setting, we present a list-based simulated annealing (LBSA) algorithm to solve traveling salesman problem (TSP). LBSA algorithm uses a novel list-based cooling schedule to control the decrease of temperature. Specifically, a list of temperatures is created first, and then the maximum temperature in list is used by Metropolis acceptance criterion to decide whether to accept a candidate solution. The temperature list is adapted iteratively according to the topology of the solution space of the problem. The effectiveness and the parameter sensitivity of the list-based cooling schedule are illustrated through benchmark TSP problems. The LBSA algorithm, whose performance is robust on a wide range of parameter values, shows competitive performance compared with some other state-of-the-art algorithms.

Selective attention in cross-situational statistical learning: evidence from eye tracking.

A growing set of data show that adults are quite good at accumulating statistical evidence across individually ambiguous learning contexts with multiple novel words and multiple novel objects (Yu and Smith, 2007; Fitneva and Christiansen, 2011; Kachergis et al., 2012; Yurovsky et al., under resubmission); experimental studies also indicate that infants and young children do this kind of learning as well (Smith and Yu, 2008; Vouloumanos and Werker, 2009). The present study provides evidence for the operation of selective attention in the course of cross-situational learning with two main goals. The first was to show that selective attention is critical for the underlying mechanisms that support successful cross-situational learning. The second one was to test whether an associative mechanism with selective attention can explain momentary gaze data in cross-situational learning. Toward these goals, we collected eye movement data from participants when they engaged in a cross-situational statistical learning task. Various gaze patterns were extracted, analyzed and compared between strong learners who acquired more word-referent pairs through training, and average and weak learners who learned fewer pairs. Fine-grained behavioral patterns from gaze data reveal how learners control their attention after hearing a word, how they selectively attend to individual objects which compete for attention within a learning trial, and how statistical evidence is accumulated trial by trial, and integrated across words, across objects, and across word-object mappings. Taken together, those findings from eye movements provide new evidence on the real-time statistical learning mechanisms operating in the human cognitive system.

[Correlation between HIV antibody and sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men in Guangzhou in 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou in 2010. METHODS: Anti-HIV antibody was detected in the volunteers undergoing HIV tests in the year 2010, and the differences in the sexual role, education, use of condom and complicated infection of syphilis were analyzed among these subjects. RESULTS: A total of 1526 MSM volunteered to participate in the investigation, among whom 87 (5.70%) were confirmed to have HIV infection. The positivity rate of HIV infection was 3.54%, 7.14% and 6.70% in subjects reporting active anal copulation, passive anal copulation, and both, respectively, showing a significant difference in respect of the sexual role (χ(2)=6.450, P=0.040). The positivity rate also differed significantly among married, unmarried and divorced subjects (9.45%, 4.92%, and 4.17%, respectively; χ(2)=7.184, P=0.028). The positivity rate was 21.31% among those with syphilis, significantly higher than the rate in those without syphilis (5.06%, χ(2)=25.770, P<0.001). Use of condom was not associated with a significant reduction of HIV positivity rate (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The high anti-HIV positivity rate among MSM in Guangzhou indicates a high risk of unsafe sexual behaviors, especially anal copulations. The anal copulation receivers, often young and have a lower rate of condom use, constitute a high-risk group of HIV transmission.

KnotPad: Visualizing and Exploring Knot Theory with Fluid Reidemeister Moves.

We present KnotPad, an interactive paper-like system for visualizing and exploring mathematical knots; we exploit topological drawing and math-aware deformation methods in particular to enable and enrich our interactions with knot diagrams. Whereas most previous efforts typically employ physically based modeling to simulate the 3D dynamics of knots and ropes, our tool offers a Reidemeister move based interactive environment that is much closer to the topological problems being solved in knot theory, yet without interfering with the traditional advantages of paper-based analysis and manipulation of knot diagrams. Drawing knot diagrams with many crossings and producing their equivalent is quite challenging and error-prone. KnotPad can restrict user manipulations to the three types of Reidemeister moves, resulting in a more fluid yet mathematically correct user experience with knots. For our principal test case of mathematical knots, KnotPad permits us to draw and edit their diagrams empowered by a family of interactive techniques. Furthermore, we exploit supplementary interface elements to enrich the user experiences. For example, KnotPad allows one to pull and drag on knot diagrams to produce mathematically valid moves. Navigation enhancements in KnotPad provide still further improvement: by remembering and displaying the sequence of valid moves applied during the entire interaction, KnotPad allows a much cleaner exploratory interface for the user to analyze and study knot equivalence. All these methods combine to reveal the complex spatial relationships of knot diagrams with a mathematically true and rich user experience.