Anlotinib induces neuronal-like differentiation of neuroblastoma by downregulating CRMP5.

The therapeutic effect of anlotinib on neuroblastoma is still not fully understood. This study aims to explore the differentiation therapeutic effects of anlotinib on neuroblastoma and its potential association with the neural development regulatory protein collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5), both in vivo and in vitro. A patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was established to observe the therapeutic effect of anlotinib. Neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-SH and SK-N-AS were cultured to observe the morphological impact of anlotinib. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the cell invasion, and Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the expressions of neuronal differentiation-related proteins. Results indicate that anlotinib effectively inhibited tumor growth in the PDX model, modulated the expressions of neuronal differentiation markers. In vitro, anlotinib treatment induced neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells and inhibited their invasive ability, reflecting a change in neuronal marker expression patterns consistent with the PDX model. Similarly, in the SK-N-AS mouse xenograft model, anlotinib demonstrated comparable tumor-suppressing effects and promoted neuronal-like differentiation. Additionally, anlotinib significantly downregulated CRMP5 expression in neuroblastoma both in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of CRMP5 significantly reversed the differentiation therapy effect of anlotinib, exacerbating the aggressiveness and reducing the differentiation level of neuroblastoma. These findings highlight the potential of anlotinib as an anti-neuroblastoma agent. It may suppress tumor proliferation and invasion by promoting the differentiation of tumor cells towards a neuronal-like state, and this differentiation therapy effect involves the inhibition of CRMP5 signaling.

Tunable schiff-based networks with different bonding sites for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation: The effects of steric hindrance.

Organic polymers hold great potential in photocatalysis considering their low cost, structural tailorability, and well-controlled degree of conjugation for efficient electron transfer. Among the polymers, Schiff base networks (SNWs) with high nitrogen content have been noticed. Herein, a series of SNWs is synthesized based on the melamine units and dialdehydes with different bonding sites. The chemical and structural variation caused by steric hindrance as well as the related photoelectric properties of the SNW samples are investigated, along with the application exploration on photocatalytic degradation and energy production. The results demonstrate that only SNW-o based on o-phthalaldehyde responds to visible light, which extends to over 550 nm. SNW-o shows the highest tetracycline degradation rate of 0.02516 min-1, under 60-min visible light irradiation. Moreover, the H2O2 production of SNW-o is 2.14 times higher than that of g-C3N4. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to the enlarged visible light adsorption and intramolecular electron transfer. This study indicates the possibility to regulate the optical and electrical properties of organic photocatalysts on a molecular level, providing an effective strategy for rational supramolecular engineering to the applications of organic materials in photocatalysis.

Dietary supplementation of Sida rhombifolia enhances the plasma antioxidation and modulates gut microbiota in Anyi tile-like grey chickens.

Sida rhombifolia (S. rhombifolia) is a widely used herbal plant for humans because of its antioxidant and antibacterial effects, but its potential use as a feed additive for livestock has not been investigated. Twenty 350 days-old Anyi tile-like grey chickens were randomly divided into a control group (fed basal diet) and a treatment group (fed basal diet + 3% of S. rhombifolia), and these chickens were feed for 31 days. Dietary S. rhombifolia remarkably enhanced plasma antioxidants, including the significantly increased total antioxidant capability (p < 0.01), catalase (p = 0.04), and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01) in the treatment group. Furthermore, dietary S. rhombifolia also modulated chicken cecal microbiota, including an increased microbial diversity (Shannon, p = 0.03; Chao1, p = 0.03) in the treatment group. Regarding taxonomic analysis, 34 microbial taxa showed significant differences between the two groups. Meanwhile, the dominant phylum Actinobacteriota (p = 0.04), and dominant genera Desulfovibrio (p = 0.04) and Olsenella (p = 0.02) were significantly increased after treatment, whereas the pathogenic genus Escherichia-Shigella (p = 0.04) was significantly decreased after feeding S. rhombifolia. The results indicating that S. rhombifolia has potential for use as a natural plant feed additive for chickens.

Advances in Structure Pharmaceutics from Discovery to Evaluation and Design.

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) play an important role in delivering active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to targeted sites with a predesigned release pattern. The chemical and biological properties of APIs and excipients have been extensively studied for their contribution to DDS quality and effectiveness; however, the structural characteristics of DDSs have not been adequately explored. Structure pharmaceutics involves the study of the structure of DDSs, especially the three-dimensional (3D) structures, and its interaction with the physiological and pathological structure of organisms, possibly influencing their release kinetics and targeting abilities. A systematic overview of the structures of a variety of dosage forms, such as tablets, granules, pellets, microspheres, powders, and nanoparticles, is presented. Moreover, the influence of structures on the release and targeting capability of DDSs has also been discussed, especially the in vitro and in vivo release correlation and the structure-based organ- and tumor-targeting capabilities of particles with different structures. Additionally, an in-depth discussion is provided regarding the application of structural strategies in the DDSs design and evaluation. Furthermore, some of the most frequently used characterization techniques in structure pharmaceutics are briefly described along with their potential future applications.

Vitamin D supplementation and lower respiratory tract infection in infants: a nested case-control study.

PURPOSE: To assess the association between vitamin D (VD) supplementation and the risk of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) among infants. METHODS: This is a nested case-control study from an ongoing prospective birth cohort in Wuhan from 2013. Cases were subjects free of neonatal pneumonia but later developed LRTI during infancy, who were matched with five randomly selected controls by infant sex, birth year, and birth season. We included 190 cases and 950 controls in the final analysis. The primary outcome was the first LRTI incident and the exposure was VD supplementation from birth to the index endpoint. The association between VD supplementation and LRTI risk was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. RESULTS: Infants taking supplements had a 59% relative reduction in the hazard ratio of LRTI (HR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.26, 0.64) compared to those not supplemented. There was a linear relationship between LRTI risk and VD supplementation within range of 0-603 IU/day: for each 100 IU per day increment in VD supplementation, infants experienced a 21% lower risk of developing LRTI (adjusted HR: 0.79; 95% CI 0.71, 0.89). The linear relationship was stably observed in the sensitivity analyses as well. CONCLUSIONS: VD supplementation was associated with the reduced risk of LRTI throughout infancy, and the optimal supplementation dose for infants may be beyond the current recommendation.

Statins for women with polycystic ovary syndrome not actively trying to conceive.

BACKGROUND: Statins are lipid-lowering agents with pleiotropic actions. Experts have proposed that in addition to improving the dyslipidaemia associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), statins may also exert other beneficial metabolic and endocrine effects, such as reducing testosterone levels. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2011. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of statin therapy in women with PCOS who are not actively trying to conceive. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHLs, and four ongoing trials registers on 7 November 2022. We also handsearched relevant conference proceedings and the reference lists of relevant trials for any additional studies, and we contacted experts in the field for any further ongoing studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of statin therapy in women with PCOS not actively trying to conceive. Eligible comparisons were statin versus placebo or no treatment, statin plus another agent versus the other agent alone, and statin versus another agent. We performed statistical analysis using Review Manager 5, and we assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE methods. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methodology. Our primary outcomes were resumption of menstrual regularity and resumption of spontaneous ovulation. Our secondary outcomes were clinical and physiological measures including hirsutism, acne severity, testosterone levels, and adverse events. MAIN RESULTS: Six RCTs fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. They included 396 women with PCOS who received six weeks, three months, or six months of treatment; 374 women completed the studies. Three studies evaluated the effects of simvastatin and three studies evaluated the effects of atorvastatin. We summarised the results of the studies under the following comparisons. Statins versus placebo (3 RCTs) One trial measured resumption of menstrual regularity as menstrual cycle length in days. We are uncertain if statins compared with placebo shorten the mean length of the menstrual cycle (mean difference (MD) -2.00 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -24.86 to 20.86; 37 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No studies reported resumption of spontaneous ovulation, improvement in hirsutism, or improvement in acne. We are uncertain if statins compared with placebo reduce testosterone levels after six weeks (MD 0.06, 95% CI -0.72 to 0.84; 1 RCT, 20 participants; very low-certainty evidence), after 3 months (MD -0.53, 95% CI -1.61 to 0.54; 2 RCTs, 64 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or after 6 months (MD 0.10, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.63; 1 RCT, 28 participants; very low-certainty evidence) Two studies recorded adverse events, and neither reported significant differences between the groups. Statins plus metformin versus metformin alone (1 RCT) The single RCT included in this comparison measured resumption of menstrual regularity as the number of spontaneous menses per six months. We are uncertain if statins plus metformin compared with metformin improves resumption of menstrual regularity (MD 0.60 menses, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.12; 69 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The study did not report resumption of spontaneous ovulation. We are uncertain if statins plus metformin compared with metformin alone improves hirsutism measured using the Ferriman-Gallwey score (MD -0.16, 95% CI -0.91 to 0.59; 69 participants; very low-certainty evidence), acne severity measured on a scale of 0 to 3 (MD -0.31, 95% CI -0.67 to 0.05; 69 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or testosterone levels (MD -0.03, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.31; 69 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The study reported that no significant adverse events occurred. Statins plus oral contraceptive pill versus oral contraceptive pill alone (1 RCT) The single RCT included in this comparison did not report resumption of menstrual regularity or spontaneous ovulation. We are uncertain if statins plus the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) improves hirsutism compared with OCP alone (MD -0.12, 95% CI -0.41 to 0.17; 48 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The study did not report improvement in acne severity. We are also uncertain if statins plus OCP compared with OCP alone reduces testosterone levels, because the certainty of the evidence was very low (MD -0.82, 95% CI -1.38 to -0.26; 48 participants). The study reported that no participants experienced significant side effects. Statins versus metformin (2 RCTs) We are uncertain if statins improve menstrual regularity compared with metformin (number of spontaneous menses per six months) compared to metformin (MD 0.50 menses, 95% CI -0.05 to 1.05; 1 RCT, 61 participants, very low-certainty evidence). No studies reported resumption of spontaneous ovulation. We are uncertain if statins compared with metformin reduce hirsutism measured using the Ferriman-Gallwey score (MD -0.26, 95% CI -0.97 to 0.45; 1 RCT, 61 participants; very low-certainty evidence), acne severity measured on a scale of 0 to 3 (MD -0.18, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.17; 1 RCT, 61 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or testosterone levels (MD -0.24, 95% CI -0.58 to 0.10; 1 RCT, 61 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Both trials reported that no significant adverse events had occurred. Statins versus oral contraceptive pill plus flutamide (1 RCT) According to the study report, no participants experienced any significant side effects. There were no available data for any other main outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for all main outcomes of this review was of very low certainty. Due to the limited evidence, we are uncertain if statins compared with placebo, or statins plus metformin compared with metformin alone, improve resumption of menstrual regularity. The trial evaluating statin plus OCP versus OCP alone reported neither of our primary outcomes. No other studies reported resumption of spontaneous ovulation. We are uncertain if statins improve hirsutism, acne severity, or testosterone. All trials that measured adverse events reported no significant differences between the groups.

Anterior knee pain as a potential risk factor for falls in older adults: insights from the osteoarthritis initiative data.

BACKGROUND: Knee joint pain has been demonstrated to be a separate risk factor for falling. A common pain site in the knee, anterior knee pain(AKP), is believed to be associated with early knee osteoarthritis (KOA).This study investigated the relationship between falls and AKP in people with or at risk for KOA. METHODS: Four years of follow-up data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort trial, a large-scale, multicenter observational investigation, were analyzed in this study. A patellar quadriceps tenderness/tendinitis knee exam was performed to evaluate AKP. Falls were self-reported. The associations between falls (recurrent falls: ≥2 falls/year; any falls: ≥1 fall(s)/year) and AKP were analyzed using the generalized estimation equation of repeated logistic regression and adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS: The study analyzed data from 3,318 participants, split into two groups: those with AKP (720 participants) and those without AKP (2,598 participants). The primary outcome of the study, which focused on repeated falls, revealed that participants with AKP were 1.27 times more likely to experience repeated falls compared to those without AKP (95% CI: 1.07-1.52, P = 0.007). However, when considering any falls experienced by an individual as an additional outcome, it is important to note that our findings did not indicate a significant predictive effect of AKP on any falls investigated. Sensitivity analyses, which excluded knee arthroplasty cases, yielded consistent results with the aforementioned findings. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with AKP experience a higher frequency of falls compared to those without AKP in individuals diagnosed with KOA or at a high risk of developing KOA.

Circular RNA SPI1 expression before and after induction therapy and its correlation with clinical features, treatment response, and survival of acute myeloid leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNA spi-1 proto-oncogene (circ-SPI1) regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and bone marrow differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aimed to assess the relationship of circ-SPI1 expression with the clinical features, induction therapy response, and survival of AML patients. METHODS: In total, 80 AML patients were included with bone marrow (BM) samples collected at baseline and after induction therapy. Additionally, 20 healthy donors (HDs) and 20 disease controls (DCs) were enrolled with BM samples collected after enrollment. BM circ-SPI1 expression was detected by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: Circ-SPI1 expression was highest in AML patients, moderate in DCs, and lowest in HDs (median (interquartile range): 3.01 [2.02-4.14] versus 1.71 [1.01-2.85] versus 0.98 [0.74-1.71]) (p < 0.001). Moreover, lower circ-SPI1 expression was related to its decreased located gene SPI1 expression (p = 0.029), white blood cells (WBC) < 18.8 × 109 /L (p = 0.010), trisomy 8 (p = 0.025), and more favorable risk stratification (p = 0.014) in AML patients. Additionally, circ-SPI1 expression was reduced in AML patients after induction therapy (p < 0.001), and its low expression after induction therapy was correlated with the achievement of complete remission (p < 0.001). Furthermore, circ-SPI1 decline ≥30% during therapy (versus <30%) was independently related to longer event-free survival (EFS) (hazard ratio (HR): 0.445, p = 0.028) and overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.319, p = 0.025) in AML patients. CONCLUSION: Decreased circ-SPI1 expression is related to lower WBC, favorable risk stratification, and better therapy response; moreover, its decline during therapy is an independent factor to predict longer EFS and OS in AML patients.

Honoring the Care Experiences of Chinese Canadian Survivors of Prostate Cancer to Cultivate Cultural Safety and Relationality in Digital Health: Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed nonskin cancer for Canadian men and has one of the highest 5-year survival rates, straining systems to provide care. Virtual care can be one way to relieve this strain, but survivors' care needs and technology use are influenced by intersecting social and cultural structures. Cultural adaptation has been posited as an effective method to tailor existing interventions to better serve racialized communities, including Chinese men. However, cultural adaptations may inadvertently draw attention away from addressing structural inequities. OBJECTIVE: This study used qualitative methods to (1) explore the perceptions and experiences of Chinese Canadian PCa survivors with follow-up and virtual care, and (2) identify implications for the cultural adaptation of a PCa follow-up care app, the Ned (no evidence of disease) Clinic. METHODS: An axiology of relational accountability and a relational paradigm underpinned our phenomenologically informed exploratory-descriptive qualitative study design. A community-based participatory approach was used, informed by cultural safety and user-centered design principles, to invite Chinese Canadian PCa survivors and their caregivers to share their stories. Data were inductively analyzed to explore their unmet needs, common experiences, and levels of digital literacy. RESULTS: Unmet needs and technology preferences were similar to broader trends within the wider community of PCa survivors. However, participants indicated that they felt uncomfortable, unable to, or ignored when expressing their needs. Responses spoke to a sense of isolation and reflected a reliance on culturally informed coping mechanisms, such as "eating bitterness," and familial assistance to overcome systemic barriers and gaps in care. Moreover, virtual care was viewed as "better than nothing;" it did not change a perceived lack of focus on improving quality of life or care continuity in survivorship care. Systemic changes were identified as likely to be more effective in improving care delivery and well-being rather than the cultural adaptation of Ned for Chinese Canadians. Participants' desires for care reflected accessibility issues that were not culturally specific to Chinese Canadians. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Canadian survivors are seeking to strengthen their connections in a health care system that provides privacy and accessibility, protects relationality, and promotes transparency, accountability, and responsibility. Designing "trickle-up" adaptations that address structural inequities and emphasize accessibility, relationality, and privacy may be more effective and efficient at improving care than creating cultural adaptations of interventions.

Prediction of arsenic adsorption onto metal organic frameworks and adsorption mechanisms interpretation by machine learning.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising adsorbents for the removal of arsenic (As) from wastewater. The As removal efficiency is influenced by several factors, such as the textural properties of MOFs, adsorption conditions, and As species. Examining all of the relevant factors through traditional experiments is challenging. To predict the As adsorption capacities of MOFs toward organic, inorganic, and total As and reveal the adsorption mechanisms, four machine learning-based models were developed, with the adsorption conditions, MOF properties, and characteristics of different As species as inputs. The results demonstrated that the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model exhibited the best predictive performance (test R2 = 0.93-0.96). The validation experiments demonstrated the high accuracy of the inorganic As-based XGBoost model. The feature importance analysis showed that the concentration of As, the surface area of MOFs, and the pH of the solution were the three key factors governing inorganic-As adsorption, while those governing organic-As adsorption were the concentration of As, the pHpzc value of MOFs, and the oxidation state of the metal clusters. The formation of coordination complexes between As and MOFs is possibly the major adsorption mechanism for both inorganic and organic As. However, electrostatic interaction may have a greater effect on organic-As adsorption than on inorganic-As adsorption. Overall, this study provides a new strategy for evaluating As adsorption on MOFs and discovering the underlying decisive factors and adsorption mechanisms, thereby facilitating the investigation of As wastewater treatment.

Effects of Ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation on macular volume and best corrected visual acuity in patients with macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation on macular volume and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion. Methods: The clinical data of 90 patients (90 eyes) with macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion treated in our hospital from June 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into Groups-A, B, and C according to the type of treatment they received. The Group-A was treated with laser photocoagulation, the Group-B was intravitreally injected with ranibizumab, and the Group-C underwent ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation. The efficacy, intraocular pressure, BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) and adverse reactions were compared among the three groups. Results: The total efficacy of the Group-C was higher than that of the Group-A and B, with statistically significant differences (P< 0.05). Three months after treatment, BCVA was higher while CMT was reduced in the Group-C than those in the Group-A and B (P < 0.05). Six months after treatment, BCVA was higher while intraocular pressure was lower and CMT was thinner in the group C compared with the Group-A and B (P< 0.05). Conclusions: Ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation in the treatment of macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion presents significant efficacy, and can effectively reduce macular volume, improve visual acuity and promote the recovery of retinal function.

Androgen signaling in adipose tissue, but less likely skeletal muscle, mediates development of metabolic traits in a PCOS mouse model.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, multifactorial disorder characterized by endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic dysfunction. As the etiology of PCOS is unknown, there is no cure and symptom-oriented treatments are suboptimal. Hyperandrogenism is a key diagnostic trait, and evidence suggests that androgen receptor (AR)-mediated actions are critical to PCOS pathogenesis. However, the key AR target sites involved remain to be fully defined. Adipocyte and muscle dysfunction are proposed as important sites involved in the manifestation of PCOS traits. We investigated the role of AR signaling in white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), and skeletal muscle in the development of PCOS in a hyperandrogenic PCOS mouse model. As expected, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) exposure induced key reproductive and metabolic PCOS traits in wild-type (WT) females. Transplantation of AR-insensitive (AR-/-) WAT or BAT from AR knockout females (ARKO) into DHT-treated WT mice ameliorated some metabolic PCOS features, including increased body weight, adiposity, and adipocyte hypertrophy, but not reproductive PCOS traits. In contrast, DHT-treated ARKO female mice transplanted with AR-responsive (AR+/+) WAT or BAT continued to resist developing PCOS traits. DHT-treated skeletal muscle-specific AR knockout females (SkMARKO) displayed a comparable phenotype with that of DHT-treated WT females, with full development of PCOS traits. Taken together, these findings infer that both WAT and BAT, but less likely skeletal muscle, are key sites of AR-mediated actions involved in the experimental pathogenesis of metabolic PCOS traits. These data further support targeting adipocyte AR-driven pathways in future research aimed at developing novel therapeutic interventions for PCOS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hyperandrogenism is a key feature in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, the tissue sites of androgen receptor (AR) signaling are unclear. In this study, AR signaling in white and brown adipose tissue, but less likely in skeletal muscle, was found to be involved in the development of metabolic PCOS traits, highlighting the importance of androgen actions in adipose tissue and obesity in the manifestation of metabolic disturbances.

Frailty and risk of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies found that frailty was associated with prevalent diabetic microvascular complications (DMC). Longitudinal evidence in this regard is inconclusive and insufficient. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the association of pre-frailty and frailty with DMC in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: We included 18,062 adults (mean age 59.4 ± 7.2 years, 37.4% female) with T2D at baseline in the UK Biobank. Frailty was defined using the frailty phenotype according to five components (weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slow gait speed, and low grip strength). DMC, defined as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, or diabetic retinopathy, was identified using hospital inpatient records and death registries. Cox proportional hazard regression models considering competing risks were used to evaluate the associations of frailty phenotype with overall DMC events and subtypes. RESULTS: Among all participants, 6101 (33.8%) were classified as non-frail, 10,073 (55.8%) were classified as pre-frail, and 1888 (10.4%) were classified as frail. During a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 3678 DMC cases were documented, including 2213 diabetic nephropathy, 1520 diabetic retinopathy, and 673 diabetic neuropathy events. In the multivariable-adjusted model, compared with participants with non-frail, both pre-frailty and frailty were significantly associated with increased risk of overall DMC (HR 1.10, 95% CI: [1.02, 1.18] for pre-frailty and HR 1.52 [95% CI: 1.36, 1.69] for frailty). Similar results were observed in the subtypes of DMC. For each one-point increase in frailty phenotype score, the risk of overall DMC, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy event increased by 13%, 16%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both pre-frailty and frailty were associated with an increased risk of DMC in patients with T2D. These findings have important implications for integrating early assessment and surveillance of frailty in diabetes and may favor the identification of at-risk patients.

Dearomative oxyphosphorylation of indoles enables facile access to 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones.

A highly efficient oxidative dearomatization of indoles with H-phosphorus oxides in the presence of TEMPO oxoammonium salt has been demonstrated. Through the intramolecular oxidative dearomatization of indoles and subsequent intermolecular nucleophilic addition with phosphorus nucleophile, a variety of structurally diverse arylphosphoryl and alkylphosphoryl indolin-3-ones were obtained in good yields with a broad substrate scope and high functional-group compatibility.

Plasma Manganese Levels and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Manganese (Mn) intake has been found to be linked with risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the role of Mn in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains to be investigated. This prospective study included pregnant women from the Tongji Maternal and Child Health Cohort. A total of 2327 participants with plasma specimens before 20 weeks were included. Among the pregnant women, 9.7% (225/2327) were diagnosed with GDM. After adjustment, pregnant women with the third and highest quartile of plasma Mn levels had 1.31-fold (RR, 2.31 [1.48, 3.61]) and 2.35-fold (RR, 3.35 [2.17, 5.17]) increased risk of GDM compared with those with the lowest quartile. A 1 standard deviation increment of ln-transformed plasma Mn levels (0.53 µg/L) was related to elevated risks of GDM with RRs of 1.28 [1.17, 1.40]. The positive associations between Mn and GDM remained consistent in all the subgroups. The weighted quantile sum index was significantly related to GDM (RR, 1.60 [1.37, 1.86]). The contribution of Mn (58.69%) to the metal mixture index was the highest related to GDM. Higher plasma Mn levels were found to be linked with elevated fasting and 2 h post-load blood glucose. This study revealed relationships of higher plasma Mn levels in early pregnancy and increased risk of GDM, suggesting that though essential, excess Mn in the body might be a potential important risk factor for GDM.

Parenting-related trauma exposure among parents of children with intellectual and developmental disorders: Development and validation of the Parenting Trauma Checklist.

Parents of children with intellectual and developmental disorders (IDDs) often encounter parenting-related traumatic events. Trauma exposure is a risk factor for mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known regarding the types of traumatic events that parents commonly experience and how to best assess parenting-related trauma exposure. To address this gap, we developed the Parenting Trauma Checklist (PTC) and tested its psychometric properties. The PTC was created based on an extensive literature review and consultation with stakeholders, which led to the creation of a 17-item instrument. Participants (N = 424) were Canadian parents of children with IDDs who completed an online test battery that included the PTC and several questionnaires to assess PTSD symptoms, global mental and physical health, lifetime trauma exposure, and functional impairment, which were included to test the validity of the new instrument. The PTC demonstrated good construct validity. Ninety four percent of the sample reported parenting-related trauma exposure. Parents reported having experienced an average of 5.79 parenting-related traumatic events, with seeing their child undergo a medical procedure the most frequently endorsed event (68.6%). Experiencing more parenting-related traumatic events was positively associated with higher PTSD symptom levels, r = .35, p < .001. The PTC is a promising instrument that can be used to examine parenting-related trauma exposure. The measure can be used as a screening tool to detect parents' risk of traumatic stress disorders, evaluate traumatic experiences, and assess whether trauma-focused treatment is warranted.

How to measure barriers in accessing mental healthcare? Psychometric evaluation of a screening tool in parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Caring for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can cause an enormous physical and emotional burden, and therefore these parents have an elevated risk to experience mental health problems. The characteristics of current healthcare systems and parents' responsibilities to care for their children seem to impede their access to mental healthcare. There is so far a lack of instruments to screen for such obstacles. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale for measuring barriers to accessing mental healthcare. The Parental Healthcare Barriers Scale (PHBS) was developed on the basis of an extensive literature research, input and discussion from experts and parents with lived experience. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 456 parents of children with IDD. Physical health, mental health, social support, and parenting were measured for concurrent and discriminant validity of the PHBS. The PHBS scale revealed acceptable to good reliability and validity. It consists of four subscales (i.e., support accessibility, personal belief, emotional readiness, and resource availability). The PHBS found parents prioritized their children's treatments over their own mental health challenges (93.4%), did not have enough time (90.4%), and had financial concerns (85.8%). Parents in rural and remote areas had more limited resources. Findings from our study suggest increasing financial support for the parents seeking mental health services, introducing evidence-based treatments, increasing the availability of healthcare services for parents, and adjusting current services to their needs.

Insecticidal and P450 mediate metabolism of fluralaner against red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), a worldwide invasive and polyphagous pest, and often nests in residential areas. Finding an alternative pesticide that is both effective on S. invicta and environmentally friendly is urgent and crucial. Fluralaner, a novel isoxazoline insecticide, has been proven to possess selective toxicity for insects versus mammals and has been safe for mammals and non-target organisms, suggesting its potential in pest management. However, little toxicity information is available for the controlment of S. invicta. In this article, we studied the toxicity of fluralaner against S. invicta systematically, and the roles of metabolism-related enzymes in the metabolism process of fluralaner. The toxicity results showed that the topical application and feeding application were all effective for S. invicta. Moreover, fluralaner can be transmitted among workers by contacting and feeding which leads to a toxic reaction among nestmates. By exploring the biochemistry change, we found cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) may be involved in the detoxification of fluralaner as well as carboxylesterase (CarE), but not glutathione S-transferase (GST). Synergism assays gave solid evidence in which piperonyl butoxide, an activity inhibitor of P450, increased the toxicity of fluralaner to S. invicta. Importantly, with the RNAi treatment, four of S.invicta P450 genes were significantly inhibited and showed more sensitivity to fluralaner at LC50 concentration. Our result indicated that fluralaner could be a potential alternative pesticide in S. invicta control. And CYP9AS16, CYP6AS161, CYP6SQ20, and CYP336A45 genes were closely associated with the metabolism process of fluralaner.

Insight into disinfection byproduct formation potential of aged biochar and its effects during chlorination.

Biochar can achieve multiple benefits including solid waste management, polluted water remediation, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction. However, various environmental factors (such as temperature variations and dry-wet alternation) and microbial activity may lead to the fragmentation, dissolution, and oxidation of biochar. These accelerate the dissolution of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) and then influence disinfection byproducts formation potential (DBPFP) throughout the water treatment process. In this paper, biochars from six biomass feedstocks with five aging processes were prepared, and the DBPFP of biochar and its derived DOM were first studied systematically. Different aging processes might increase the DBPFP of biochar by increasing DOM content and changing the fraction distribution of DOM derived from biochar. Especially, the DBPFP of biochar increased apparently with the chemical aging process. Coexisting with the environmental concentration of humic acid, even aged biochar showed the potential to reduce DBPFP and integrated toxic risk value of the mixed system. In this study, the DBPFP of biochar-derived DOM during the disinfection process is confirmed, and the results can give information to the selection of biomass feedstocks of biochar and its service life in the water treatment process.

Particle Design and Inhalation Delivery of Iodine for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Therapy.

Diseases caused by upper respiratory tract (URT) and pulmonary infections have been a serious threat to human health for millennia and lack of targeted effective therapeutic techniques. In this study, two kinds of cyclodextrin particles with typical particle shapes of nanocubes and microbars were synthesized through a facile process. Subsequently, the particles were used as carriers for loading and stabilizing iodine and characterizations were performed to demonstrate the loading mechanism. Next-generation impactor (NGI) experiments showed that iodine-loaded microbars (I2@microbars) had a deposition rate of 79.75% in URT, while iodine-loaded nanocubes (I2@nanocubes) were delivered to the deep lungs with a fine particle fraction (FPF) of 46.30%. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) indicated that the iodine-loaded nanocubes and microbars had similar bactericidal effect to povidone iodine solution. Cell viability studies and extracellular pro-inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6) evaluations demonstrate noncytotoxic effects of the blank carriers and anti-inflammatory effects of iodine-loaded samples. The irritation of the rat pharynx by I2@microbars was evaluated for the behavioral observations, body weight changes, histopathological studies, and TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels in pharyngeal tissues. The results showed that I2@microbars had no irritation to rat pharyngeal tissues at therapeutic doses. In conclusion, the present study provides novel treatment of URT infections via supramolecular cyclodextrin carriers for URT local therapy with iodine loading by a solvent-free method, which enhances the stability and reduces the inherent irritation without inhibiting their antimicrobial effects. Two kinds of cyclodextrin particles with typical shapes of microbars and nanocubes were synthesized by a facile process. Subsequently, iodine was successfully loaded into the particles by gas-solid interaction. The iodine-loaded microbars showed air dynamics characteristics for inhalation delivery to the upper respiratory tract with little alveolar deposition in the lungs.