Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Chinese standardized outcomes in nephrology-hemodialysis fatigue (C-SONG-HD fatigue) scale: a study of Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the standardized outcomes in nephrology-hemodialysis fatigue (SONG-HD fatigue) scale and to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SONG-HD fatigue (C-SONG-HD fatigue) scale. METHODS: Forward and back translations were used to translate the SONG-HD fatigue scale into Chinese. We used the C-SONG-HD fatigue scale to survey Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. We examined the distribution of responses and floor and ceiling effects. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient, intraclass coefficients, and Spearman correlations were used to assess internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity, respectively. Responsiveness was also evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 489 participants across southeast China, northwest China, and central China completed the study. The C-SONG-HD fatigue scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.861, omega coefficient 0.916), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.695), and convergent validity (Spearman correlation 0.691). The analysis of all first-time HD patients did not show notable responsiveness, and only patients with temporary vascular access had good responsiveness with an effect size (ES) of 0.54, a standardized response mean (SRM) of 0.85, and a standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.77. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the SONG-HD fatigue scale showed satisfactory reliability and validity in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. It could be used as a tool to measure the fatigue of Chinese HD patients.

Anterior chamber and angle characteristics in Chinese children (6-11 years old) with different refractive status using swept-source optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: The anatomic structure of the anterior chamber (AC) helps to explain differences in refractive status in school-aged children and is closely associated with primary angle closure (PAC). The aim of this study was to quantify and analyze the anterior chamber and angle (ACA) characteristics in Chinese children with different refractive status by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). METHODS: In a cross-sectional observational study, 383 children from two primary schools in Shandong Province, China, underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. First, the anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber width (ACW), angle-opening distance (AOD), and trabecular-iris space area (TISA) were evaluated automatically using a CASIA2 imaging device. AOD and TISA were measured at 500, 750 µm nasal (N1 and N2, respectively), and temporal (T1 and T2, respectively) to the scleral spur (SS). Cycloplegic refraction and axial length (AL) were then measured. According to spherical equivalent refraction (SER), the children were assigned to hyperopic (SER > 0.50D), emmetropic (-0.50D < SER ≤ 0.50D), and myopic groups (SER ≤ -0.50D). RESULTS: Out of the 383 children, 349 healthy children (160 girls) with a mean age of 8.23 ± 1.06 years (range: 6-11 years) were included. The mean SER and AL were - 0.10 ± 1.57D and 23.44 ± 0.95 mm, respectively. The mean ACD and ACW were 3.17 ± 0.24 mm and 11.69 ± 0.43 mm. The mean AOD were 0.72 ± 0.25, 0.63 ± 0.22 mm at N1, T1, and 0.98 ± 0.30, 0.84 ± 0.27 mm at N2, T2. The mean TISA were 0.24 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.09mm2 at N1, T1, and 0.46 ± 0.16, 0.40 ± 0.14mm2 at N2, T2. The myopic group had the deepest AC and the widest angle. Compared with boys, girls had shorter AL, shallower ACD, narrower ACW, and ACA (all p < 0.05). By Pearson's correlation analysis, SER was negatively associated with ACD, AOD, and TISA. AL was positively associated with ACD, ACW, AOD, and TISA. In the multiple regression analysis, AOD and TISA were associated with deeper ACD, narrower ACW, and longer AL. CONCLUSION: In primary school students, the myopic eyes have deeper AC and wider angle. ACD, ACW, AOD, and TISA all increase with axial elongation. ACA is highly correlated with deeper ACD.

mTORC2 acts as a gatekeeper for mTORC1 deficiency-mediated impairments in ILC3 development.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are mediators of intestinal immunity and barrier function. Recent studies have investigated the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) in ILC3s, whereas the mTORC1-related mechanisms and crosstalk between mTORC1 and mTORC2 involved in regulating ILC3 homeostasis remain unknown. In this study, we found that mTORC1 but not mTORC2 was critical in ILC3 development, IL-22 production, and ILC3-mediated intestinal homeostasis. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that mTORC1 deficiency led to disruption of ILC3 heterogeneity, showing an increase in differentiation into ILC1-like phenotypes. Mechanistically, mTORC1 deficiency decreased the expression of NFIL3, which is a critical transcription factor responsible for ILC3 development. The activities of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 were increased in wild-type ILC3s after activation by IL-23, whereas inhibition of mTORC1 by Raptor deletion or rapamycin treatment resulted in increased mTORC2 activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that S6K, the main downstream target of mTORC1, can directly phosphorylate Rictor to dampen mTORC2 activity. Our data found that inhibition of mTORC1 activity by rapamycin reduced Rictor phosphorylation in ILC3s. Reversing the increased mTORC2 activity via heterozygous or homozygous knockout of Rictor in Raptor-deleted ILC3s resulted in severe ILC3 loss and complete susceptibility to intestinal infection in mice with mTORC1 deficiency (100% mortality). Thus, mTORC1 acts as a rheostat of ILC3 heterogeneity, and mTORC2 protects ILC3s from severe loss of cells and immune activity against intestinal infection when mTORC1 activity is diminished.

Effects and mechanisms of extremely cold environment on body response after trauma.

With the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, extremely cold environment warfare has once again become the focus of international attention. People exposed to extremely cold environments may suffer from cold damage, further aggravate trauma, trigger high disability and mortality rates, and even cause serious sequelae. To declare the effects and mechanisms of the extremely cold environment on the body after trauma, this paper reviews, firstly, physiological reaction of human body in an extremely cold environment. Then, the post-traumatic body response in an extremely cold environment was introduced, and finally, the sequelae of trauma in extremely cold environment was further summarized in the paper. The results indicated that extremely cold environment can cause a series of damage to the body, especially the body after trauma. The extremely cold factor is a double-edged sword, showing a favorable and unfavorable side in different aspects. Moreover, in addition to the trauma suffered by the body, the subsequent sequelae such as cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder may also be induced. The paper summarizes the human body's physiological response in an extremely cold environment, and declares the effects and mechanisms of the extremely cold environment on the body after trauma, which may provide a theoretical basis for effectively improving the level of combat trauma treatment in extremely cold regions.

Group V Chitin Deacetylases Influence the Structure and Composition of the Midgut of Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua.

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can accelerate the conversion of chitin to chitosan, influencing the mechanical properties and permeability of the cuticle structures and the peritrophic membrane (PM) in insects. Putative Group V CDAs SeCDA6/7/8/9 (SeCDAs) were identified and characterized from beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua larvae. The cDNAs of SeCDAs contained open reading frames of 1164 bp, 1137 bp, 1158 bp and 1152 bp, respectively. The deduced protein sequences showed that SeCDAs are synthesized as preproteins of 387, 378, 385 and 383 amino acid residues, respectively. It was revealed via spatiotemporal expression analysis that SeCDAs were more abundant in the anterior region of the midgut. The SeCDAs were down-regulated after treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). After treatment with a juvenile hormone analog (JHA), the expression of SeCDA6 and SeCDA8 was down-regulated; in contrast, the expression of SeCDA7 and SeCDA9 was up-regulated. After silencing SeCDAV (the conserved sequences of Group V CDAs) via RNA interference (RNAi), the layer of intestinal wall cells in the midgut became more compact and more evenly distributed. The vesicles in the midgut were small and more fragmented or disappeared after SeCDAs were silenced. Additionally, the PM structure was scarce, and the chitin microfilament structure was loose and chaotic. It was indicated in all of the above results that Group V CDAs are essential for the growth and structuring of the intestinal wall cell layer in the midgut of S. exigua. Additionally, the midgut tissue and the PM structure and composition were affected by Group V CDAs.

Longitudinal association of edentulism with cognitive impairment, sarcopenia and all-cause mortality among older Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Tooth loss may be a surrogate for systemic health and aging. However, no previous studies have systematically assessed multiple outcomes relevant to aging trajectory in this area, and many important confounders were not adjusted in most previous studies. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the associations of complete tooth loss (edentulism) with broad markers of sarcopenia, cognitive impairment and mortality. METHODS: Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative household study of the Chinese population aged 45 years and older. Multivariate Weibull proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association between edentulism with sarcopenia and all-cause mortality. Average changes in cognitive function by edentulism was estimated by mixed-effects linear regression models. RESULTS: During the 5-year follow-up, the prevalence of edentulism among adults aged 45 and over was 15.4%. Participants with edentulism had a greater decline in cognitive function compared to those without (ß=-0.70, 95%CI:-1.09, -0.31, P < 0.001). The association of edentulism and all-cause mortality for 45-64 age group (HR = 7.50, 95%CI: 1.99, 28.23, P = 0.003), but not statistically significant for the ≥ 65 age group (HR = 2.37, 95%CI: 0.97, 5.80, P = 0.057). Effects of edentulism on sarcopenia are statistically significant for all age groups (45-64 age group: HR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.27, 3.66, P = 0.005; ≥65 age group: HR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.27, 3.66, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These findings could have important clinical and public health implications, as tooth loss is a quick and reproducible measurement that could be used in clinical practice for identifying persons at risk of accelerated aging and shortened longevity, and who may benefit most from intervention if causality is established.

[Value of complement component 3 in predicting the prognosis of children with sepsis]. / 补体C3å¯¹å„¿ç«¥è„“æ¯’ç—‡æ‚£è€ é¢„åŽçš„é¢„æµ‹ä»·å€¼.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes in complement component 3 (C3) levels in children with sepsis and its correlation with the severity of sepsis and to explore the significance of C3 in predicting mortality in children with sepsis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 529 children with sepsis who were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Hunan Children's Hospital between November 2019 and September 2021. The children were categorized into two groups based on their prognosis at day 28 after sepsis diagnosis: the survival group (n=471) and the death group (n=58). Additionally, the children were divided into normal C3 group (n=273) and reduced C3 group (n=256) based on the median C3 level (0.77 g/L) within 24 hours of admission. Clinical data and laboratory markers were compared between the groups, and assess the predictive value of C3 levels in relation to sepsis-related mortality. RESULTS: The death group exhibited significantly lower C3 levels compared to the survival group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (p-SOFA) scores and lower C3 levels were closely associated with sepsis-related mortality (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated that combination of p-SOFA scores and C3 levels yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.852, which was higher than that of each indicator alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: C3 can serve as an indicator to assess the severity and prognosis of sepsis in children. The combination of p-SOFA scores and C3 levels holds good predictive value for mortality in children with sepsis.

[Drug treatment efficacy in 32 children with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome]. / 32ä¾‹å„¿ç«¥é“¾çƒèŒä¸­æ¯’æ€§ä¼‘å ‹ç»¼åˆå¾è¯ç‰©æ²»ç–—ç–—æ•ˆåˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of different drug treatment regimens in children with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). METHODS: Clinical data of children diagnosed with STSS confirmed by bacterial culture and treated in Hunan Children's Hospital and Chenzhou First People's Hospital from January 2009 to April 2023 were retrospectively collected. The efficacy of different drug treatment regimens was analyzed. The children were divided into four groups based on the treatment regimens: standard group (regimens containing penicillin), Group A (carbapenem + glycopeptides/linezolid), Group B (carbapenems, broad-spectrum antibiotics, glycopeptides/linezolid used alone or in combination, excluding the regimens in Group A), and Group C (macrolides/not receiving antimicrobial drugs). RESULTS: A total of 32 cases of STSS were included. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all strains were sensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin and vancomycin, while resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. There was a statistically significant difference in the efficacy rate among the four groups (P<0.05). The standard group exhibited the highest efficacy rate (100%), while the efficacy rates for Group A, Group B, and Group C were 40%, 40%, and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of antimicrobial regimens containing penicillin can improve the therapeutic efficacy of STSS in children.

[Clinical application of plasma exchange combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration dialysis in children with refractory Kawasaki disease shock syndrome]. / 血浆置换联合连续性静脉-é™è„‰è¡€æ¶²æ»¤è¿‡é€æžæ²»ç–—åœ¨å„¿ç«¥å·å´Žç— ä¼‘å ‹ç»¼åˆå¾ä¸­çš„ä¸´åºŠåº”ç”¨.

OBJECTIVES: To study the role of plasma exchange combined with continuous blood purification in the treatment of refractory Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS). METHODS: A total of 35 children with KDSS who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hunan Children's Hospital, from January 2019 to August 2022 were included as subjects. According to whether plasma exchange combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration dialysis was performed, they were divided into a purification group with 12 patients and a conventional group with 23 patients. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical data, laboratory markers, and prognosis. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional group, the purification group had significantly shorter time to recovery from shock and length of hospital stay in the pediatric intensive care unit, as well as a significantly lower number of organs involved during the course of the disease (P<0.05). After treatment, the purification group had significant reductions in the levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, heparin-binding protein, and brain natriuretic peptide (P<0.05), while the conventional group had significant increases in these indices after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the children in the purification group tended to have reductions in stroke volume variation, thoracic fluid content, and systemic vascular resistance and an increase in cardiac output over the time of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma exchange combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration dialysis for the treatment of KDSS can alleviate inflammation, maintain fluid balance inside and outside blood vessels, and shorten the course of disease, the duration of shock and the length of hospital stay in the pediatric intensive care unit.

[Application of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children]. / è½¬è¿å‘¼å¸æœºåœ¨å±é‡æ‚£å„¿é™¢é™ è½¬è¿ä¸­çš„åº”ç”¨ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the application value of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children. METHODS: The critically ill children in Hunan Children's Hospital who were transported with or without a transport ventilator were included as the observation group (from January 2019 to January 2020; n=122) and the control group (from January 2018 to January 2019; n=120), respectively. The two groups were compared in terms of general data, the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation during transport, the incidence rates of adverse events, and outcomes. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age, oxygenation index, pediatric critical illness score, course of disease, primary disease, heart rate, respiratory rate, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation before transport (P>0.05). During transport, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (P>0.05). The incidence rates of tracheal catheter detachment, indwelling needle detachment, and sudden cardiac arrest in the observation group were lower than those in the control group during transport, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit and significantly higher transport success rate and cure/improvement rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport can improve the success rate of inter-hospital transport and the prognosis in critically ill children, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children.

Exploring Low Power and Ultrafast Memristor on p-Type van der Waals SnS.

Memristor devices that exhibit high integration density, fast speed, and low power consumption are candidates for neuromorphic devices. Here, we demonstrate a filament-based memristor using p-type SnS as the resistive switching material, exhibiting superlative metrics such as a switching voltage ∼0.2 V, a switching speed faster than 1.5 ns, high endurance switching cycles, and an ultralarge on/off ratio of 108. The device exhibits a power consumption as low as ∼100 fJ per switch. Chip-level simulations of the memristor based on 32 × 32 high-density crossbar arrays with 50 nm feature size reveal on-chip learning accuracy of 87.76% (close to the ideal software accuracy 90%) for CIFAR-10 image classifications. The ultrafast and low energy switching of p-type SnS compared to n-type transition metal dichalcogenides is attributed to the presence of cation vacancies and van der Waals gap that lower the activation barrier for Ag ion migration.

Efficacy of plasma exchange in children with severe hemophagocytic syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial. / è¡€æµ†ç½®æ¢åœ¨å„¿ç«¥é‡ç—‡å™¬è¡€ç»†èƒžç»¼åˆå¾ä¸­åº”ç”¨çš„ç–—æ•ˆåˆ†æžï¼šå‰çž»æ€§éšæœºå¯¹ç §ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and application value of plasma exchange as an adjuvant therapy in children with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed. Forty children with severe HPS were enrolled, who were treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Hunan Children's Hospital from October 2018 to October 2020. The children were randomly divided into a plasma exchange group and a conventional treatment group using a random number table, with 20 children in each group. The children in the conventional treatment group received etiological treatment and conventional symptomatic supportive treatment, and those in the plasma exchange group received plasma exchange in addition to the treatment in the conventional treatment group. The two groups were compared in terms of general information, clinical symptoms and signs before and after treatment, main laboratory markers, treatment outcome, and prognosis. RESULTS: Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in gender, age, course of the disease before admission, etiological composition, pediatric critical illness score, involvement of organ or system functions, and laboratory markers (P>0.05). After 7 days of treatment, both groups had remission and improvement in clinical symptoms and signs. After treatment, the plasma exchange group had significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and serum protein levels than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The plasma exchange group also had significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The length of stay in the PICU in the plasma exchange group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The plasma exchange group had a significantly higher treatment response rate than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the total length of hospital stay and 3-month mortality rate (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma exchange as an adjuvant therapy is effective for children with severe HPS. It can improve clinical symptoms and signs and some laboratory markers and shorten the length of stay in the PICU, and therefore, it may become an optional adjuvant therapy for children with severe HPS.

Potential of thrombospondin-1 in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome rat model: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disease in reproductive women, and the endocrine levels are also affected by diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) on PCOS rat model. METHODS: We established the PCOS rat model, the serum hormones including TSP-1 expression were determined and morphological characteristics were investigated to evaluate the model. These above endocrine and morphological features were investigated again to evaluate the effect of TSP-1 treatment. RESULTS: In the PCOS model group, the serum hormones change (higher luteinizing hormone, testosterone and estrogen) and decreased TSP-1 expression levels were found compared with the control group. Besides, the morphological characteristics of PCOS were also observed in the model group. After TSP-1 treatment, the higher TSP-1, ANGPT2, PDGFB and PDGFD expression levels, the lower LH and T levels, decreased vessel density as well as VEGFA and ANGPT1 expression levels were found compared with the control group, and the ovary morphological changes were also observed in the TSP-1 experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: TSP-1 delivery system might be an alternative therapy for PCOS treatment.

RNA interference-mediated functional characterization of Group I chitin deacetylases in Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky.

Chitin deacetylases (CDAs, EC 3.5.1.41) catalyze the N-deacetylation of chitin to produce chitosan, which is essential for insect survival. Hence, CDAs are promising targets for the development of novel insecticidal drugs. In this study, the putative Group I chitin deacetylase genes HpCDA1, HpCDA2-1 and HpCDA2-2 were identified from Holotrichia parallela. Conserved domain database search identified a chitin-binding peritrophin-A domain (ChBD), a low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domain (LDLa), and a putative CDA-like catalytic domain. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the Group I HpCDAs were expressed in various tissues and predominant in the integument. The developmental expression patterns from the first-instar to third-instar larvae showed that HpCDAs were highly expressed on the first day and gradually declined after molting. The functional characteristics of the Group I CDAs in cuticle organization were examined using RNA interference (RNAi) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Administration of double-stranded HpCDA (dsHpCDA) through larval injection could suppress the expression levels of HpCDA1 and HpCDA2, thus resulting in abnormal or lethal phenotypes. TEM analysis revealed that RNAi of either HpCDA1 or HpCDA2 remarkably affected the cuticle integrity, as evidenced by cuticle disorganization and chitin laminae disruption, suggesting the crucial role of CDAs in chitin modification. These experimental results demonstrate the important contribution of putative key genes involved in chitin metabolism, and provide a foundation for developing new strategies to control H. parallela.

Reversed Charge Transfer and Enhanced Hydrogen Spillover in Platinum Nanoclusters Anchored on Titanium Oxide with Rich Oxygen Vacancies Boost Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The catalytic activity of metal clusters is closely related with the support; however, knowledge on the influence of the support on the catalytic activity is scarce. We demonstrate that Pt nanoclusters (NCs) anchored on porous TiO2 nanosheets with rich oxygen vacancies (VO -rich Pt/TiO2 ) and deficient oxygen vacancies (VO -deficient Pt/TiO2 ), display significantly different catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), in which VO -rich Pt/TiO2 shows a mass activity of 45.28 A mgPt -1 at -0.1 V vs. RHE, which is 16.7 and 58.8 times higher than those of VO -deficient Pt/TiO2 and commercial Pt/C, respectively. DFT calculations and in situ Raman spectra suggest that porous TiO2 with rich oxygen vacancies can simultaneously achieve reversed charge transfer (electrons transfer from TiO2 to Pt NCs) and enhanced hydrogen spillover from Pt NCs to the TiO2 support, which leads to electron-rich Pt NCs being amenable to proton reduction of absorbed H*, as well as the acceleration of hydrogen desorption at Pt catalytic sites-both promoting the HER. Our work provides a new strategy for rational design of highly efficient HER catalysts.

Design, synthesis and identification of N, N-dibenzylcinnamamide (DBC) derivatives as novel ligands for α-synuclein fibrils by SPR evaluation system.

PET imaging of α-synuclein (α-syn) deposition in the brain will be an effective tool for earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) due to α-syn aggregation is the widely accepted biomarker for PD. However, the necessary PET radiotracer for imaging is clinically unavailable until now. The lead compound discovery is the first key step for the study. Herein, we initially established an efficient biologically evaluation system well in highthroughput based on SPR technology, and identified a novel class of N, N-dibenzylcinnamamide (DBC) compounds as α-syn ligands through the assay. These compounds were proved to have high affinities against α-syn aggregates (KD < 10 nM), which well met the requirement of binding activity for the PET probe. These DBC compounds were firstly reported as α-syn ligands herein and the preliminary obtained structure has been further modified into F-labeled ones. Among them, a high-affinity tracer (5-41) with 1.03 nM (KD) has been acquired, indicating its potential as a new lead compound for developing PET radiotracer.

[Anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability for optimal compatibility ratio of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Paeoniae Radix Alba].

Trace metals deficiency or excess are associated with the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Aconiti Radix Cocta(A) and Paeoniae Radix Alba(B) are commonly used together for the treatment of RA. In this study, we aim to determine anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability in the compatibility of herb A and B for avoiding metal deficiency or excess, and optimize the combination ratio of herb A and B, accordingly. Anti-arthritic-related metal bioaccessibility were evaluated by in vitro simulator of all gastrointestinal tract(including mouth, stomach, small and large intestines), and the roles of gastrointestinal digestive enzymes and intestinal microflora were investigated. Anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability was assessed by the affinity adsorption with liposomes. The results indicated that compatibility proportion of corresponding herbal plants, gastrointestinal digestion and microbial metabolic, which could affect metal digestion and absorption. The optimal compatibility proportion of 1 A∶1 B is recommended, according to the dose of anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability, which is often chosen for clinical practice of RA therapy. Thus, anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability might be the key active substances for RA treatment.

Controlled Synthesis of a Vacancy-Defect Single-Atom Catalyst for Boosting CO2 Electroreduction.

The reaction of precursors containing both nitrogen and oxygen atoms with NiII under 500 °C can generate a N/O mixing coordinated Ni-N3 O single-atom catalyst (SAC) in which the oxygen atom can be gradually removed under high temperature due to the weaker Ni-O interaction, resulting in a vacancy-defect Ni-N3 -V SAC at Ni site under 800 °C. For the reaction of NiII with the precursor simply containing nitrogen atoms, only a no-vacancy-defect Ni-N4 SAC was obtained. Experimental and DFT calculations reveal that the presence of a vacancy-defect in Ni-N3 -V SAC can dramatically boost the electrocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction, with extremely high CO2 reduction current density of 65 mA cm-2 and high Faradaic efficiency over 90 % at -0.9 V vs. RHE, as well as a record high turnover frequency of 1.35×105  h-1 , much higher than those of Ni-N4 SAC, and being one of the best reported electrocatalysts for CO2 -to-CO conversion to date.

Influence of impaired right ventricular contractile reserve on exercise capacity in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension: A study with exercise stress echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular (RV) contractile reserve reflects the ability of RV to accommodate the increased afterload and may play an essential role in the evaluation of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study aimed to assess RV contractile reserve based on exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) and to determine the echocardiographic determinants of exercise capacity in patients with precapillary PH. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with precapillary PH and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were prospectively recruited. All subjects underwent ESE to assess RV function at rest and under peak exercise. Changes in these parameters during exercise were calculated to quantify the RV contractile reserve. Patients with precapillary PH also underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and data pertaining to peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2 ) and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 ) were collected. RESULTS: Right ventricular contractile reserve including change in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (∆TAPSE), change in RV fractional area change (∆RVFAC), and change in Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular peak systolic velocity (∆S') was significantly depressed in precapillary PH patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Parameters of RV function and RV contractile reserve were markedly associated with maximal exercise capacity (P < 0.05). ∆RVFAC was an independent predictor of peak VO2 (r2  = 0.601, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of RV contractile reserve facilitates identification of subclinical dysfunction and evaluation of clinical status and severity of precapillary PH. ESE as a noninvasive method may provide a comprehensive clinical assessment and facilitate therapeutic decision-making for these patients.

Impaired left ventricular mechanics and functional reserve are associated with reduced exercise capacity in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Reduced metabolic equivalents (METs) are an indicator of exercise intolerance, which predicts poor prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. We sought to evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics and functional reserves, as well as their association with functional capacity in HCM patients. METHODS: Seventy HCM patients and thirty controls were included in this study. LV mechanics were evaluated at rest and during exercise by echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging to obtain parameters of functional reserve, LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), strain rate (SR), and circumferential strain. RESULTS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients had lower LVGLS, systolic SR, early and late diastolic SR at rest and during exercise, and reduced absolute and relative systolic and diastolic reserve compared to controls. LV circumferential strain was significantly higher at rest but lower during exercise in HCM patients. Exercise capacity was markedly reduced in HCM patients, and peak exercise LVGLS (LVGLS-exe) significantly correlated with exercise capacity. Multivariate regression analyses showed that LVGLS-exe, LV filling pressure during exercise (E/e'-exe), and LV mass index (LVMI) were independent predictors of exercise capacity. Moreover, LVGLS-exe displayed incremental predictive value over E/e'-exe and LVMI for exercise intolerance. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed LVGLS-exe had optimal accuracy for predicting exercise intolerance in HCM patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients have reduced LV mechanics at rest and during exercise and impaired mechanical reserve. LVGLS-exe is associated with exercise capacity and is an optimal predictive value for reduced exercise capacity in HCM patients.