The recent advances in cell delivery approaches, biochemical and engineering procedures of cell therapy applied to coronary heart disease.

Cell therapy is an important topic in the field of regeneration medicine that is gaining attention within the scientific community. However, its potential for treatment in coronary heart disease (CHD) has yet to be established. Several various strategies, types of cells, routes of distribution, and supporting procedures have been tried and refined to trigger heart rejuvenation in CHD. However, only a few of them result in a real considerable promise for clinical usage. In this review, we give an update on techniques and clinical studies of cell treatment as used to cure CHD that are now ongoing or have been completed in the previous five years. We also highlight the emerging efficacy of stem cell treatment for CHD. We specifically examine and comment on current breakthroughs in cell treatment applied to CHD, including the most effective types of cells, transport modalities, engineering, and biochemical approaches used in this context. We believe the current review will be helpful for the researcher to distill this information and design future studies to overcome the challenges faced by this revolutionary approach for CHD.

[Genetic analysis of a child with atypical Hemolytic uremic syndrome and nephrotic-range proteinuria].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology for a child with atypical Hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in conjunct with nephrotic level proteinuria. METHODS: A child patient who had visited the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University on June 25, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the patient was collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the child, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of the child and his parents. RESULTS: The child, an 8-month-old male, had presented mainly with edema, oliguria, hematuria, nephrotic level proteinuria, anemia, thrombocytopenia, increased creatinine and urea, hypercholesterolemia but normal complement levels. Genetic testing revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the DGKE gene, namely c.12_18dupGAGGCGG (p.P7fs*37) and c.1042G>T (p.D348Y), which were respectively inherited from his father and mother. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variants were classified as likely pathogenic and variant of uncertain significance, respectively. By combining his clinical manifestations and results of genetic testing, the child was diagnosed with aHUS with nephrotic level proteinuria. CONCLUSION: For infants and young children with aHUS in conjunct with nephrotic level proteinuria, variants of the DGKE gene should be screened. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the DGKE gene.

Evaluation of belimumab in treatment of Chinese childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective analysis from multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify whether low lupus disease activity status (LLDAS) and clinical remission (CR) of belimumab plus standard of care (SoC) therapy are achievable goals in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE). METHODS: This multicentre, one arm pre-post intervention study was conducted at 15 centers in China. The primary end point was to describe the proportion of patients who achieved LLDAS and CR after 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment with belimumab plus SoC therapy. A multiple regression model was used to impute missing data. A Poisson regression model was used to calculate the effect of belimumab treatment on the reduced risk of serious diseases and the incidence of new damage. RESULT: 193 (92.2% female) with active cSLE from 15 centers were included. At 3, 6 and 12 months, the proportion of LLDAS (CR) was 12.4% (1.0%), 25.6% (4.5%) and 70.3% (29.7%), respectively. The mean SELENA-SLEDAI score decreased from 11.0 at baseline to 3.7, 2.9 and 1.7 at 3, 6, and 12 months. At baseline, all patients received steroids at a mean (SD) prednisone equivalent dose of 31.0 (18.2) mg/day, which decreased to 19.4 (10.8) mg/day at month 3, 12.6 (7.2) mg/day at month 6 and 6.7 (5.3) mg/day at month 12. The symptoms and immunological indicators were also significantly improved. CONCLUSION: This is the first and largest sample size prospective clinical intervention study of cSLE patients treated with belimumab in China. LLDAS and CR were attainable treat-to-target of belimumab plus SoC therapy in cSLE.

RUNX1 mutations mitigate quiescence to promote transformation of hematopoietic progenitors in Fanconi anemia.

Many inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) present a high risk of transformation to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). During transformation of IBMFSs, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with poor fitness gain ectopic, dysregulated self-renewal secondary to somatic mutations via undefined mechanisms. Here, in the context of the prototypical IBMFS Fanconi anemia (FA), we performed multiplexed gene editing of mutational hotspots in MDS-associated genes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) followed by hematopoietic differentiation. We observed aberrant self-renewal and impaired differentiation of HSPCs with enrichment of RUNX1 insertions and deletions (indels), generating a model of IBMFS-associated MDS. We observed that compared to the failure state, FA MDS cells show mutant RUNX1-mediated blunting of the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint that is normally activated in FA in response to DNA damage. RUNX1 indels also lead to activation of innate immune signaling, which stabilizes the homologous recombination (HR) effector BRCA1, and this pathway can be targeted to abrogate viability and restore sensitivity to genotoxins in FA MDS. Together, these studies develop a paradigm for modeling clonal evolution in IBMFSs, provide basic understanding of the pathogenesis of MDS, and uncover a therapeutic target in FA-associated MDS.

Altered gray matter volumes and plasma IL-6 level in major depressive disorder patients with suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUNDS: Suicidal ideation (SI) is one of the most serious consequences of major depressive disorder (MDD). Understanding the unique mechanism of MDD with SI (MDD + S) is crucial for treatment development. While abundant research has studied MDD, past studies have not reached a consensus on the mechanism of MDD + S. The study aimed to investigate the abnormalities of the gray matter volumes (GMVs) and plasma IL-6 level in MDD + S to further reveal the mechanism of MDD + S. METHODS: We tested the plasma IL-6 level using Luminex multifactor assays and collected the Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SMRI) data from 34 healthy controls (HCs), 36 MDD patients without SI (MDD - S) and 34 MDD + S patients. We performed a partial correlation between the GMVs of the brain regions with significant differences and plasma IL-6 level with age, sex, medication, scores of HAMD-17 and HAMA as the covariates. RESULTS: Compared with HCs and MDD - S, MDD + S had significantly decreased GMVs in the left cerebellum Crus I/II and significantly increased plasma IL-6 level; compared with HCs, both the MDD + S and MDD - S had significantly decreased GMVs in right precentral and postcentral gyri. No significant correlation was found between the GMVs and the plasma IL-6 level in the MDD + S and MDD - S, respectively. While the GMVs of the right precentral and postcentral gyri negatively correlated with the level of IL-6 in the whole MDD (r = -0.28, P = 0.03). The GMVs of the left cerebellum Crus I/II (r = -0.47, P = 0.02), and the right precentral and postcentral gyri (r = -0.42, P = 0.04) negatively correlated with the level of IL-6 in HCs. CONCLUSION: The altered GMVs and the plasma IL-6 level may provide a scientific basis to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of MDD + S.

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the mitochondrial form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase cause peripheral neuropathy.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) plays a critical role in cytosolic gluconeogenesis, and defects in PCK1 cause a fasting-aggravated metabolic disease with hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis. However, there are two genes encoding PCK, and the role of the mitochondrial resident PCK (encoded by PCK2) is unclear, since gluconeogenesis is cytosolic. We identified three patients in two families with biallelic variants in PCK2. One has compound heterozygous variants (p.Ser23Ter/p.Pro170Leu), and the other two (siblings) have homozygous p.Arg193Ter variation. All three patients have weakness and abnormal gait, an absence of PCK2 protein, and profound reduction in PCK2 activity in fibroblasts, but no obvious metabolic phenotype. Nerve conduction studies showed reduced conduction velocities with temporal dispersion and conduction block compatible with a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. To validate the association between PCK2 variants and clinical disease, we generated a mouse knockout model of PCK2 deficiency. The animals present abnormal nerve conduction studies and peripheral nerve pathology, corroborating the human phenotype. In total, we conclude that biallelic variants in PCK2 cause a neurogenetic disorder featuring abnormal gait and peripheral neuropathy.

Elucidating the role of circNFIB in myocardial fibrosis alleviation by endogenous sulfur dioxide.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of circNFIB in the alleviation of myocardial fibrosis by endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2). METHODS: We stimulated cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts with transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and developed an in vitro myocardial fibrosis model. Lentivirus vectors containing aspartate aminotransferase 1 (AAT1) cDNA were used to overexpress AAT1, and siRNA was used to silence circNFIB. The SO2, collagen, circNFIB, Wnt/ß-catenin, and p38 MAPK pathways were examined in each group. RESULTS: In the in vitro TGF-ß1-induced myocardial fibrosis model, endogenous SO2/AAT1 expression was significantly decreased, and collagen levels in the cell supernatant and type I and III collagen expression, as well as α-SMA expression, were all significantly increased. TGF-ß1 also significantly reduced circNFIB expression. AAT1 overexpression significantly reduced myocardial fibrosis while significantly increasing circNFIB expression. Endogenous SO2 alleviated myocardial fibrosis after circNFIB expression was blocked. We discovered that circNFIB plays an important role in the alleviation of myocardial fibrosis by endogenous SO2 by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin and p38 MAPK pathways. CONCLUSION: Endogenous SO2 promotes circNFIB expression, which inhibits the Wnt/ß-catenin and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, consequently alleviating myocardial fibrosis.

Developmental maturation of the hematopoietic system controlled by a Lin28b-let-7-Cbx2 axis.

Hematopoiesis changes over life to meet the demands of maturation and aging. Here, we find that the definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) compartment is remodeled from gestation into adulthood, a process regulated by the heterochronic Lin28b/let-7 axis. Native fetal and neonatal HSPCs distribute with a pro-lymphoid/erythroid bias with a shift toward myeloid output in adulthood. By mining transcriptomic data comparing juvenile and adult HSPCs and reconstructing coordinately activated gene regulatory networks, we uncover the Polycomb repressor complex 1 (PRC1) component Cbx2 as an effector of Lin28b/let-7's control of hematopoietic maturation. We find that juvenile Cbx2-/- hematopoietic tissues show impairment of B-lymphopoiesis, a precocious adult-like myeloid bias, and that Cbx2/PRC1 regulates developmental timing of expression of key hematopoietic transcription factors. These findings define a mechanism of regulation of HSPC output via chromatin modification as a function of age with potential impact on age-biased pediatric and adult blood disorders.

Blood transthyretin for predicting immunoglobulin A vasculitis nephritis outcome in children.

BACKGROUND: IgA vasculitis is characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, which can result in microvascular destruction and consequently renal damage. Transthyretin is a newly discovered angiogenesis regulator in promoting microvascular regeneration. This indicates that transthyretin may act as a potential predictor of IgAV as well as IgAVN. METHODS: This retrospective study included 125 patients newly diagnosed as IgAV with demographic and laboratory parameters. Of these, 78 patients had demonstrated internal organ damage and 47 patients with only skin and joint injury. Of 78 patients with organ impairment, 27 were diagnosed of renal involvement. Then we evaluated the relationship between NLR, total protein, albumin, globulin, transthyretin, B lymphocyte counts and the severity of IgAV. RESULTS: For patients with internal organ or renal involvement, the level of transthyretin were lower than non-internal organ damage group (p < 0.001 for both group). Remarkably, the NLR was only higher in patients with internal organ damage group (p = 0.019). Logistic regression analysis showed that NLR and transthyretin both were risk factors for internal organ involvement (OR = 1.768, 0.973 separately), and only transthyretin is the independent risk for renal involvement (OR = 0.981, p < 0.05). The ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.626 for NLR, 0.815 for transthyretin in predicting organ damage, 0.755 for transthyretin in patients with renal involvement (p < 0.05, to all parameters). CONCLUSIONS: Transthyretin is a better predictor in predicting internal organ or renal involvement than NLR, and low plasma transthyretin concentration can increase the risk of renal involvement in IgAV patients.

Direct Bonding Method for Completely Cured Polyimide by Surface Activation and Wetting.

Polymer adhesives have emerged as a promising dielectric passivation layer in hybrid bonding for 3D integration, but they raise misalignment problems during curing. In this work, the synergistic effect of oxygen plasma surface activation and wetting is utilized to achieve bonding between completed cured polyimides. The optimized process achieves a void-less bonding with a maximum shear strength of 35.3 MPa at a low temperature of 250 °C in merely 2 min, significantly shortening the bonding period and decreasing thermal stress. It is found that the plasma activation generates hydrophilic groups on the polyimide surface, and the wetting process further introduces more -OH groups and water molecules on the activated polyimide surface. The synergistic process of plasma activation and wetting facilitates the bridging of polyimide interfaces to achieve bonding, providing an alternative path for adhesive bonding in 3D integration.

Hypoxic, glycolytic metabolism is a vulnerability of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia-initiating cells.

High-risk forms of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) remain a therapeutic challenge. Leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) self-renew and spark relapse and therefore have been the subject of intensive investigation; however, the properties of LICs in high-risk B-ALL are not well understood. Here, we use single-cell transcriptomics and quantitative xenotransplantation to understand LICs in MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) B-ALL. Compared with reported LIC frequencies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), engraftable LICs in MLL-r B-ALL are abundant. Although we find that multipotent, self-renewing LICs are enriched among phenotypically undifferentiated B-ALL cells, LICs with the capacity to replenish the leukemic cellular diversity can emerge from more mature fractions. While inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation blunts blast proliferation, this intervention promotes LIC emergence. Conversely, inhibiting hypoxia and glycolysis impairs MLL-r B-ALL LICs, providing a therapeutic benefit in xenotransplantation systems. These findings provide insight into the aggressive nature of MLL-r B-ALL and provide a rationale for therapeutic targeting of hypoxia and glycolysis.

Emotion Recognition Algorithm Application Financial Development and Economic Growth Status and Development Trend.

Financial market and economic growth and development trends can be regarded as an extremely complex system, and the in-depth study and prediction of this complex system has always been the focus of attention of economists and other scholars. Emotion recognition algorithm is a pattern recognition technology that integrates a number of emerging science and technology, and has good non-linear system fitting capabilities. However, using emotion recognition algorithm models to analyze and predict financial market and economic growth and development trends can yield more accurate prediction results. This article first gives a detailed introduction to the existing financial development and economic growth status and development trend forecasting problems, and then gives a brief overview of the concept of emotion recognition algorithms. Then, it describes the emotion recognition methods, including statistical emotion recognition methods, mixed emotion recognition methods, and emotion recognition methods based on knowledge technology, and conducts in-depth research on the three algorithm models of statistical emotion recognition methods, they are the support vector machine algorithm model, the artificial neural network algorithm model, and the long and short-term memory network algorithm model. Finally, these three algorithm models are applied to the financial market and economic growth and development trend prediction experiments. Experimental results show that the average absolute error of the three algorithms is below 25, which verifies that the emotion recognition algorithm has good operability and feasibility for the prediction of financial market and economic growth and development trends.

Efficacy and safety of belimumab for the treatment of refractory childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A single-center, real-world, retrospective study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of belimumab for treating children with refractory childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Methods: Twenty-six cSLE patients who received belimumab treatment in our hospital from January 2020 to September 2021 (23 of them for more than 52 weeks) were enrolled in this study. Their clinical and laboratory data, assessment of disease activity, glucocorticoid dosage, and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were retrieved for analysis. The paired samples t-test and the nonparametric test were used to compare the baseline and post-treatment data. Results: The mean age of onset was 10.3 ± 2.4 years old; the mean disease duration was 41.6 ± 37.4 months; the median Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score was 10 (P 25, P 75: 3, 17); and the mean Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) score at baseline was 1.9 ± 1.0. Compared with the baseline values, there was a significant decrease in the 24-h urine protein quantifications at 24 and 52 weeks of treatment (P<0.05) as well as an elevated complement (C) 3 and C4 levels at 4, 12, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment. In addition, the SLEDAI-2K and PGA scores as well as the percentage of CD19+ B cells were significantly decreased at 12, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment compared with the baseline values (P<0.05). The dosage of glucocorticoid at 4, 12, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment was significantly less than that at baseline or the previous follow-up (P<0.05). At 52 weeks, 14 subjects (53.8%) achieved Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS), and 4 subjects (15.4%) reached clinical remission (CR). At the last follow-up, 16 subjects (61.5%) achieved LLDAS, and 10 subjects (38.5%) reached CR. Conclusions: Belimumab treatment can significantly improve laboratory indicators, reduce disease activity, and decrease the dosage of glucocorticoid required in children with cSLE. Moreover, it has a good safety profile.

Clinical Features and Familial Mutations in an Autosomal-Inherited Alport Syndrome Patient With the Presentation of Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to report the clinical features and mutations in a patient with autosomal-inherited Alport syndrome (AS). Methods: We examined the clinical data, mutation analysis results, and family tree of a patient with autosomal-inherited AS, who had nephrotic syndrome as her first manifestation. Results: The proband was a girl of 11 months who presented with nephritic and nephrotic syndromes including gross hematuria but had a normal renal function. Her treatment course was complicated by steroid resistance and a poor response to cyclosporine A and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Renal biopsy was performed 2 years after disease onset; light microscopy showed glomerular segmental mesangio-proliferative lesions, and type IV collagen staining showed the loss of the α3 chain in the glomerular and tubular basement membrane (GBM and TBM) and α5 chain loss in the GBM. Electron microscopy showed uneven GBM thickness, with the dense basement membrane (BM) layer obviously delaminated and torn, showing a typical "lace-like" change. The segmental BM was loosened and widened. Her father did not develop microscopic hematuria until 10 years later, while her grandmother had asymptomatic hematuria and proteinuria when the proband was diagnosed. We detected a new COL4A4 mutation in the proband, namely c.1715delG (p.G572Vfs * 81) in exon 24. Her father and grandmother carried the same mutation, but her mother and sister did not. Conclusions: We found a new potentially pathogenic mutation of COL4A4 in a patient with autosomal-inherited AS, which presented as nephrotic syndrome in infancy.

miR-378-3p Knockdown Recapitulates Many of the Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal neoplasms of the hematopoietic stem cell that result in aberrant differentiation of hematopoietic lineages caused by a wide range of underlying genetic, epigenetic, and other causes. Despite the myriad origins, a recognizable MDS phenotype has been associated with miRNA aberrant expression. A model of aberrant myeloid maturation that mimics MDS was generated using a stable knockdown of miR-378-3p. This model exhibited a transcriptional profile indicating aberrant maturation and function, immunophenotypic and morphologic dysplasia, and aberrant growth that characterizes MDS. Moreover, aberrant signal transduction in response to stimulation specific to the stage of myeloid maturation as indicated by CyTOF mass cytometry was similar to that found in samples from patients with MDS. The aberrant signaling, immunophenotypic changes, cellular growth, and colony formation ability seen in this myeloid model could be reversed with azacytidine, albeit without significant improvement of neutrophil function.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mental Health Problems Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize the prevalence and risk factors of mental health problems among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We applied an optimized search strategy across the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, PsycINFO, and four Chinese databases, with hand searching supplemented to identify relevant surveys. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in peer-reviewed literature and used a validated method to assess the prevalence and risk factors of mental health problems among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heterogeneity was quantified using Q statistics and the I 2 statistics. The potential causes of heterogeneity were investigated using subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the robustness of the results. Results: We pooled and analyzed data from 20 studies comprising 10,886 healthcare workers. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress symptoms, phobia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and somatization symptoms was 24.1, 28.6, 44.1, 25.6, 35.0, 16.2, and 10.7%, respectively. Female and nurses had a high prevalence of depression and anxiety. Frontline healthcare workers had a higher prevalence of anxiety and a lower prevalence of depression than the those in the second-line. Furthermore, the proportion of moderate-severe depression and anxiety is higher in the frontline. Additionally, four studies reported on risk factors of mental health problems. Conclusions: In this systematic review, healthcare workers have a relatively high prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress symptoms, phobia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and somatization symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and focus should be on the healthcare workers at high risk of mental problems. Mental health problems in healthcare workers should be taken seriously, and timely screening and appropriate intervention for the high-risk group are highly recommended. Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020179189.

[Determination of silanol group content on the surface of fumed silica by chemical reaction-headspace gas chromatography].

Fumed silica is prepared by flame pyrolysis, where silicon halide is combusted in an oxygen-hydrogen flame, resulting in finely dispersed and thermally stable silicon dioxide. Because of its unique physical and chemical properties, including high porosity, large pore volumes, large specific area, and high chemical activity, fumed silica is widely used in rubbers, plastics, adhesives, paints, and printing inks for reinforcement, as well as in thixotropy, anti-setting, and anti-sagging applications. These functional properties of fumed silica are related to the silanol group on its surface. However, there is no accurate and convenient test method to determine the silanol group content on the surface of fumed silica. This work explores a novel method to determine the silanol group content on the surface of fumed silica by chemical reaction-headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC). Theoretically, by this method, the silanol group can rapidly react with the Grignard reagent and generate methane, the amount of which can be determined accurately by GC analysis. GC analysis was conducted using a headspace flask as a closed reactor to transform the silanol group into a volatile component through a chemical reaction, so as to realize the accurate determination of silica hydroxyl. The amount of methane produced in the reaction was directly proportional to the content of silanol groups on the surface of fumed silica. Therefore, the silanol group content was calculated using the chemical reaction equation. Before the experiment, fumed silica was dried for 2 h in an oven at 105 ℃ to remove adsorbed moisture. The dried fumed silica sample was then reacted with the Grignard reagent dispersed in toluene in an airtight reaction bottle. Toluene was used as a dispersion agent to promote contact and reaction between the fumed silica sample and Grignard reagent. The methane produced by the reaction was injected into a gas chromatograph for separation and further detected using a flame ionization detector (FID). Methane was quantified from the peak areas of the GC signals using the external standard method, and the silanol content in the sample was obtained. Simultaneously, factors influencing the outcome of the method, such as the dosage of the Grignard reagent and reaction time with it, were optimized by a comparison test. Accordingly, 2.0 mL of 0.3 mol/L Grignard reagent and a reaction time of 15 min were found to be optimal for testing. The test results showed that there was good linear correlation between the content of the silanol group and the GC signals, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The limit of detection was 0.30 mg/g, and the limit of quantification was 1.00 mg/g. The relative standard deviation of reproducibility was less than 3%. Based on an interlaboratory test conducted by four laboratories on five samples with different silanol group contents, the repeatability limit (r) was less than 2.5%, and the reproducibility limit (R) was less than 6.5%. Compared with the traditional chemical method, the method involving HS-GC presents distinct advantages in terms of lower reagent consumption, high sensitivity, good stability, and reliability. It is suitable for the rapid detection of the silanol group content on the surface of fumed silica, and can aid in the quality control of fumed silica during its production and application. This method has important theoretical and practical significance for developing accurate methods to determine silica hydroxyl in the silicon industry for standards and the optimization of industrial technology. This study serves as a foundation to standardize and promote the rapid development of silicon material-related industries.

Gut Microbiota Changes in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Treated With Vortioxetine.

Vortioxetine hydrobromide is a common clinical medication for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it remains unclear whether vortioxetine hydrobromide acts by affecting the structure and composition of gut microbiota. Here, we analyzed fecal samples from 28 healthy controls (HCs) and 26 patients with MDD before treatment with vortioxetine hydrobromide, at 4 weeks after treatment, and at 8 weeks after treatment. High-throughput pyrosequencing showed that, according to the Chao1 and Shannon indices, fecal bacterial α-diversity was higher in the patients with MDD than in the HCs (p < 0.05), but no significant differences were observed after vortioxetine hydrobromide treatment (p > 0.05). PCoA results revealed that the gut microbiota composition was significantly different between the MDD groups and HCs. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were strongly increased, whereas Firmicutes were significantly reduced in the MDD group compared with the HCs. After treatment with vortioxetine hydrobromide, Firmicutes were significantly increased, and the proportion of Bacteroidetes decreased. Most notably, Lachnospira, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium were negatively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Taken together, our data indicate changes in the fecal microbiota composition in MDD patients compared with HCs, and vortioxetine hydrobromide may treat MDD through regulation of the gut microflora.

Aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein regulates vascular adventitial progenitor and fibroblast differentiation through myocardin related transcription factor A.

The vascular adventitia contains numerous cell types including fibroblasts, adipocytes, inflammatory cells, and progenitors embedded within a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) network. In response to vascular injury, adventitial progenitors and fibroblasts become activated and exhibit increased proliferative capacity and differentiate into contractile cells that remodel the ECM. These processes can lead to vascular fibrosis and disease progression. Our previous work established that the ECM protein aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) promotes fibrotic remodeling in the lung and is activated by vascular injury. It is currently unknown what controls vascular adventitial cell differentiation and if ACLP has a role in this process. Using purified mouse aortic adventitia Sca1+ progenitors, ACLP repressed stem cell markers (CD34, KLF4) and upregulated smooth muscle actin (SMA) and collagen I expression. ACLP enhanced myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA) activity in adventitial cells by promoting MRTFA nuclear translocation. Sca1 cells from MRTFA-null mice exhibited reduced SMA and collagen expression induced by ACLP, indicating Sca1 cell differentiation is regulated in part by the ACLP-MRTFA axis. We determined that ACLP induced vessel contraction and increased adventitial collagen in an explant model. Collectively these studies identified ACLP as a mediator of adventitial cellular differentiation, which may result in pathological vessel remodeling.

Hermeticity Analysis on SiC Cavity Structure for All-SiC Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor.

The hermeticity performance of the cavity structure has an impact on the long-term stability of absolute pressure sensors for high temperature applications. In this paper, a bare silicon carbide (SiC) wafer was bonded to a patterned SiC substrate with shallow grooves based on a room temperature direct bonding process to achieve a sealed cavity structure. Then the hermeticity analysis on the SiC cavity structure was performed. The microstructure observation demonstrates that the SiC wafers are tightly bonded and the cavities remain intact. Moreover, the tensile testing indicates that the tensile strength of bonding interface is ~8.01 MPa. Moreover, the quantitative analysis on the airtightness of cavity structure through leakage detection shows a helium leak rate of ~1.3 × 10-10 Pa⋅m3/s, which satisfies the requirement of the specification in the MIL-STD-883H. The cavity structure can also avoid an undesirable deep etching process and the problem caused by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients, which can be potentially further developed into an all-SiC piezoresistive pressure sensor employable for high temperature applications.