Reliability and validity study of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale in patients with cerebellar injury.

PURPOSE: To preliminarily investigate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale (CCAS scale) in the cerebellar injury population. METHODS: In this study, 40 patients with cerebellar injury and 39 normal individuals hospitalized in a stroke center were assessed using the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A, MMSE, and PHQ2, and the results were analyzed using content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, inter- rater agreement, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients of semantic fluency, phonemic fluency, category switching, digit span forward, digit span backward, cube, verbal recall, similarities and Go No-Go subscores in the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A were 0.586-0.831 (P ≤ 0.05) with the total score, but there was no significant correlation between the affect and the total score (P = 0.110). The total cognitive score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A was correlated with the (r = 0.807, P ≤ 0.01), and the total score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A affect was correlated with the total score of PHQ2 (r = 0.884, P ≤ 0.01). The 2 factors were extracted using principal component analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 59.633%. The factor loadings of each of the corresponding factors were > 0.5, indicating good structural validity of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A. Cronbach α = 0.827 indicated good internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability (ICC > 0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.717-0.895)indicated that the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A had good inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the CCAS scale A has good reliability and validity in the cerebellar injury population and is useful for screening cerebellar cognitive-emotional syndrome.

Structural and Electronic Evolution of Ethanolamine upon Microhydration: Insights from Hyperfine Resolved Rotational Spectroscopy.

Ethanolamine hydrates containing from one to seven water molecules were identified via rotational spectroscopy with the aid of accurate quantum chemical methods considering anharmonic vibrational corrections. Ethanolamine undergoes significant conformational changes upon hydration to form energetically favorable hydrogen bond networks. The final structures strongly resemble the pure (H2O)3-9 complexes reported before when replacing two water molecules by ethanolamine. The 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of all the ethanolamine hydrates have been determined and show a remarkable correlation with the strength of hydrogen bonds involving the amino group. After addition of the seventh water molecule, both hydrogen atoms of the amino group actively contribute to hydrogen bond formation, reinforcing the network and introducing approximately 21-27% ionicity towards the formation of protonated amine. The findings highlight the critical role of microhydration in altering the electronic environment of ethanolamine, enhancing our understanding of amine hydration dynamics.

Electric nuclear quadrupole coupling reveals dissociation of HCl with a few water molecules.

Investigating the dissociation of acids in the presence of a limited number of water molecules is crucial for understanding various elementary chemical processes. In our study, focusing on HCl(H2O)n clusters (where HCl is hydrogen chloride and H2O is water) formed in a cold and isolated jet expansion, we used the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor obtained through rotational spectroscopy to decipher the nature of the hydrogen-chlorine (H-Cl) chemical bond in a microaqueous environment. For n = 1 to 4, the H-Cl bond is covalent. At n = 5 and 7, the contact ion pair of H3O+Cl- is spontaneously formed within the hydrogen bond networks of book and cube acid-water clusters, respectively.

Building RNA-Mediated Artificial Signaling Pathways between Endogenous Genes.

ConspectusSophisticated genetic networks play a pivotal role in orchestrating cellular responses through intricate signaling pathways across diverse environmental conditions. Beyond the inherent complexity of natural cellular signaling networks, the construction of artificial signaling pathways (ASPs) introduces a vast array of possibilities for reshaping cellular responses, enabling programmable control of living organisms. ASPs can be integrated with existing cellular networks and redirect output responses as desired, allowing seamless communication and coordination with other cellular processes, thereby achieving designable transduction within cells. Among diversified ASPs, establishing connections between originally independent endogenous genes is of particular significance in modifying the genetic networks, so that cells can be endowed with new capabilities to sense and deal with abnormal factors related to differentiated gene expression (i.e., solve the issues of the aberrant gene expression induced by either external or internal stimuli). In a typical scenario, the two genes X and Y in the cell are originally expressed independently. After the introduction of an ASP, changes in the expression of gene X may exert a designed impact on gene Y, subsequently inducing the cellular response related to gene Y. If X represents a disease signal and Y serves as a therapeutic module, the introduction of the ASP empowers cells with a new spontaneous defense system to handle potential risks, which holds great potential for both fundamental and translational studies.In this Account, we primarily review our endeavors in the construction of RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes that can respond to differentiated RNA expression. In contrast to other molecules that may be restricted to specific pathways, synthetic RNA circuits can be easily utilized and expanded as a general platform for constructing ASPs with a high degree of programmability and tunability for diversified functionalities through predictable Watson-Crick base pairing. We first provide an overview of recent advancements in RNA-based genetic circuits, encompassing but not limited to utilization of RNA toehold switches, siRNA and CRISPR systems. Despite notable progress, most reported RNA circuits have to contain at least one exogenous RNA X as input or one engineered RNA Y as a target, which is not suitable for establishing endogenous gene connections. While exogenous RNAs can be engineered and controlled as desired, constructing a general and efficient platform for manipulation of naturally occurring RNAs poses a formidable challenge, especially for the mammalian system. With a focus on this goal, we are devoted to developing efficient strategies to manipulate cell responses by establishing RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes, particularly in mammalian cells. Our step-by-step progress in engineering customized cell signaling circuits, from bacterial cells to mammalian cells, from gene expression regulation to phenotype control, and from small RNA to long mRNA of low abundance and more complex secondary structures, is systematically described. Finally, future perspectives and potential applications of these RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes are also discussed.

Inhibitory activities and mechanisms of free and bound phenolics on α-glucosidase in fresh fruits of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. using spectroscopy and molecular docking.

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (PE) fresh fruits contain high concentrations of polyphenolics, of which free and bound phenolics are rich in biological activities. In this study, the inhibitory activity and mechanism of PEFP and PEBP on α-glucosidase (α-GLU) were investigated using spectroscopic techniques, kinetic analysis, and molecular docking. The results showed that 13 PEFP and 12 PEBP were identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis, and Bis-HHDP-hexose and castalagin (vesgalagin) were found for the first time in PE fresh fruits. Kinetic analysis of enzyme inhibition showed that a mixture of free and bound phenolics inhibited α-GLU, and the effect of the conformational relationship of PEFP and PEBP with α-GLU on hypoglycemia was further explored by fluorescence quenching, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and molecular docking analysis. The findings demonstrated the inhibitory activity and mechanism of free and bound phenolics on α-GLU and provided a theoretical basis for PE polyphenolics as α-GLU inhibitors for hypoglycemia.

Clinical study on the difference in intestinal microecology between patients with preeclampsia and pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy.

Objective: To explore the difference in intestinal microecology between patients with preeclampsia and pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy. Methods: From January 2020 to January 2022, clinical data, including blood routine, lipid profile, and renal function indicators, were gathered from a cohort consisting of 5 cases of preeclampsia and 34 cases of non-preeclampsia. The non-preeclampsia group was further categorized into 6 cases in the First trimester, 13 cases in the Second trimester, and 15 cases in the Third trimester. The data collection took place at the Obstetrics Department of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province. Additionally, fecal samples were obtained from each subject for 16S rDNA gene sequencing and subsequent analysis. The clinical data and composition characteristics of the gut microbiota in each group were analyzed, and the correlation between gut microbiota and clinical data was analyzed by the Spearman correlation analysis method. Results: In comparison to pregnant women without preeclampsia, preeclampsia patients exhibited a statistically significant elevation in blood routine parameters (WBC, N, L, and PLT count), a rise in lipid-related indicators (TC, TG, and LDL-C levels), a reduction in HDL-C levels, and an increase in renal function-related indicators (Cr, BUN, UA and Pro levels). Compared with non-preeclampsia pregnant women, preeclampsia women exhibited an augmented diversity of gut microbiota. Differences in gut microbiota composition between the two groups were observed at the gate and genus levels. Moreover, there are significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota between the preeclampsia group and the third-trimester group in terms of genus and species, and this difference is mainly caused by Prevotella and s_ Bacteroides_ Uniformis and Ruminococcus_ bromii. In addition, actinobacteria, bifidobacterium at the genus level, and Ruminococcus_bromii at the species level are positively correlated with clinically relevant indicators (excluding HDL-C). Conclusion: There are significant differences in gut microbiota between preeclampsia pregnant women and late pregnancy pregnant without preeclampsia, including Prevotella and Bacteroides_ Uniformis, and Ruminococcus_ bromii. In addition, these differential bacteria are correlated with most clinical indicators. However, additional comprehensive analysis is required to ascertain the functional correlation between these bacteria and clinical indicators.

Plant-derived flavonoids are a potential source of drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is a dynamic pathological process that can be triggered by any chronic liver injury. If left unaddressed, it will inevitably progress to the severe outcomes of liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma. In the past few years, the prevalence and fatality of hepatic fibrosis have been steadily rising on a global scale. As a result of its intricate pathogenesis, the quest for pharmacological interventions targeting liver fibrosis has remained a formidable challenge. Currently, no pharmaceuticals are exhibiting substantial clinical efficacy in the management of hepatic fibrosis. Hence, it is of utmost importance to expedite the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of this condition. Various research studies have revealed the ability of different natural flavonoid compounds to alleviate or reverse hepatic fibrosis through a range of mechanisms, which are related to the regulation of liver inflammation, oxidative stress, synthesis and secretion of fibrosis-related factors, hepatic stellate cells activation, and proliferation, and extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation by these compounds. This review summarizes the progress of research on different sources of natural flavonoids with inhibitory effects on liver fibrosis over the last decades. The anti-fibrotic effects of natural flavonoids have been increasingly studied, making them a potential source of drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis due to their good efficacy and biosafety.

Optimizing Thermoelectric Performance of Hybrid Crystals Bi2O2Se1-xTex in the Bi2O2X System.

In addressing the global need for sustainable energy conversion, this study presents a breakthrough in thermoelectric materials research by optimizing the Bi2O2Se1-xTex system in the Bi2O2Se/Bi2O2Te pseudobinary series. Leveraging the principles of innovative transport mechanisms and defect engineering, we introduce tellurium (Te) doping into Bi2O2Se to enhance its thermoelectric properties synergistically. With the help of various advanced characterization tools such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR, TGA, LFA, and DSC, combined with relevant resistance and density measurement techniques, we conducted an in-depth exploration of the complex interactions between various factors within thermoelectric materials. We recognize that the balance and synergy of these factors in the thermoelectric conversion process are crucial to achieving efficient energy conversion. Through systematic research, we are committed to revealing the mechanisms of these interactions and providing a solid scientific foundation for the optimal design and performance enhancement of thermoelectric materials. Finally, the advantage coefficient (ZT) of the thermoelectric material has been significantly improved. The crystallographic analysis confirms the formation of a continuous series of mixed crystals with varying Te concentrations, adhering to Vegard's law and exhibiting significant improvements in electrical and thermal conductivities. The Bi2O2Se1-xTex crystals, particularly the Bi2O2Se0.6Te0.4 composition, demonstrate a peak ZT of 0.86 at 373 K. This achievement aligns with recent advancements in defect-enabled mechanisms and band convergence and sets a new standard for high-performance thermoelectrics. The study's findings contribute significantly to the ongoing quest for efficient thermal-to-electrical energy conversion, offering a promising avenue for future sustainable energy technologies.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal (FAI) Implant for Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis Affecting the Posterior Segment of the Eye (NIU-PS) in China.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment (NIU-PS), which can be recurrent and persistent for numerous years, mainly affects people of working age and significantly increases the risk of visual impairment. This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal (FAI) implant in the treatment of patients with chronic NIU-PS from the Chinese healthcare perspective. METHODS: A Markov model with a 2-week cycle was constructed from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system over a lifetime time horizon. The model consists of four health states: on-treatment, treatment failure, blindness, and death. The outcomes for effectiveness were based on the Chinese real-world study (RWS). Utilities and mortality rates were derived from published literature and standard sources. Costs were determined from the MENET website, prices of medical service items at local providers, published literature, and expert surveys. Outcomes were measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for the impact of uncertainty. RESULTS: It was estimated that in the base case, the FAI implant provided 0.43 incremental QALYs compared with the limited current practice (LCP) at an additional cost of $7503.72 (¥50,575.05), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $17,373.49 (¥117,097.33) per QALY gained. Parameters related to utility emerged as the primary influencers on the outcomes. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA), considering the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $19,072 (¥128,547) and $38,145 (¥257,094), the FAI implant had 67.70% and 99.50% probability of being cost-effective, respectively. As demonstrated in the scenario analysis, if the FAI implant aligns its price reduction with the average rate from the 2023 negotiation of the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), it would result in lower costs and represent an absolute advantage. CONCLUSIONS: The FAI implant, which can effectively reduce the recurrence rate and maintain the incremental costs within the WTP limit, is likely to be cost-effective in treating chronic NIU-PS in China.

Comparative Analysis of the Ovary Transcriptome among Wanyue Black and Yorkshire Gilts Using RNA-Seq.

Pubertal genetic variations between the indigenous Chinese Wanyue Black pig breed and the imported Yorkshire breed significantly impact their reproductive capacity. In order to identify the differentially expressed genes, gene networks, and metabolic pathways in ovary transcriptome of gilts, the serum hormone levels were analyzed by ELISA, and RNA-seq was performed to analyze ovarian genes. Our results reveal higher estradiol (E2) levels in Wanyue black gilts compared to Yorkshire gilts, while Yorkshire gilts exhibit elevated progesterone (P4) and GnRH levels. We identified a total of 154 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 87 up-regulated and 67 down-regulated genes in the Wanyue black gilts ovaries compared to the Yorkshire gilts. GO enrichment analysis unveiled the participation of DEGs in processes such as "Reproduction", "Reproductive system development", and "Ovarian follicle development". Moreover, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of DEGs in multiple signaling pathways associated with hormone biosynthesis and puberty, encompassing "Steroid hormone biosynthesis", "Estrogen signaling pathway", and "Prolactin signaling pathway". The subsequent bioinformatics analysis identified nine functional genes that potentially contribute to the disparity in ovaries between Wanyue black gilts and Yorkshire gilts. This study offers significant insights into the endocrine and genetic aspects of pubertal development in gilts.

Binary conformers of a flexible, long-chain fluoroalcohol: dispersion controlled selectivity and relative abundances in a jet.

The complex conformational panorama of binary 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-butanol (TFB) aggregates was investigated using chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, aided by conformational searches using CREST (Conformer-Rotamer Ensemble Sampling Tool) and quantum chemistry calculations. From nearly 1500 initial dimer geometries, 16 most stable binary candidates were obtained within a relative energy window of ∼4 kJ mol-1. Rotational spectra of five binary conformers were experimentally observed in supersonic expansion and assigned. Interestingly, three out of the five observed binary conformers are composed solely of monomer conformers, which were not observed in their isolated gas phase forms in jet expansion. In addition, an observed dimer that is made exclusively of the most stable TFB monomer subunits does not correspond to the global minimum. The intricate kinetically and thermodynamically controlled dimer formation mechanisms are discussed, and a modified kinetic-thermodynamic model was developed, providing conformational abundances that are in good agreement with the experiment. Subsequent non-covalent interaction analyses reveal that the observed conformers are held together by one primary O-H⋯O hydrogen bond and secondary intermolecular C-H⋯O, C-H⋯F, and/or O-H⋯F interactions, as well as C-H⋯H-C London dispersion interactions between the methylene groups. Further symmetry-adapted perturbation theory analyses of the TFB dimer conformers and related alcohol dimers reveal a considerable rise in dispersion contributions with increasing n-alkyl carbon chain length and highlight the role of dispersion interactions in preferentially stabilizing the global minimum of the TFB dimer.

Preparation of type 3 rice resistant starch using high-pressure homogenous coenzyme treatment and investigating its potential therapeutic effects on blood glucose and intestinal flora in db/db mice.

Resistant starch from rice was prepared using high-pressure homogenization and branched chain amylase treatment. The yield, starch external structure, thermal properties, and crystal structure of rice-resistant starch prepared in different ways were investigated. The results showed that the optimum homogenizing pressure was 90 MPa, the optimum digestion time was 4 h, the optimum concentration of branched-chain amylase was 50 U/g and the yield of resistant starch was 38.58 %. Scanning electron microscopy results showed a rougher surface and more complete debranching of the homogenized coenzyme rice-resistant starch granules. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction results showed that the homogenization treatment exhibited a spiral downward trend on rice starch relative crystallinity and a spiral upward trend on starch debranching and recrystallization. The 4-week dietary intervention in db/db type 2 diabetic mice showed that homogeneous coenzyme rice-resistant starch had a better glycemic modulating effect than normal debranched starch and had a tendency to interfere with the index of liver damage in T2DM mice. Additionally, homogeneous coenzyme rice-resistant starch proved more effective in improving intestinal flora disorders and enhancing the abundance of probiotics in T2DM mice.

Feasibility study on identifying the source of cigarette ash based on infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Crime scene investigation is a key step in collecting and identifying physical evidence that may be closely related to the crime. The size of physical evidence can range from macro to micro. Cigarettes are a type of popular consumables, and their burned ashes are valuable resources of physical evidence since they contain important information such as brand preferences. This work explores the feasibility of using attenuated total reflection mid-infrared (ATR-MIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics to achieve cigarette brand recognition from burned ash. A total of 600 cigarette samples from ten brands were collected for experiments, and the samples were divided into a training set and a testing set in a 2:1 ratio. The Relief-F algorithm was used to sort variables and the forward search was used to further optimize variables to obtain the optimal subset of variables. Based on this, a partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was established, achieving a total accuracy of 97% on the test set. As a reference, the maximum correlation coefficient method was also used for classification, with an accuracy of only 73%. It seems that using the variable selection and modeling scheme proposed in this article is feasible for identifying cigarette brands from burned ash.

Fabrication of zein-tamarind seed polysaccharide-curcumin nanocomplexes: their characterization and impact on alleviating colitis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice.

In this work, a zein-tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) co-delivery system was fabricated using an anti-solvent precipitation method. The formation mechanism, characterization, and effect on alleviating colitis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice of zein-TSP-curcumin (Z/T-Cur) nanocomplexes were investigated. Hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic effect played a key role in the formation of Z/T-Cur nanocomplexes, and the interactions were spontaneous and driven by enthalpy. The encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and bioavailability increased from 60.8% (Zein-Cur) to 91.7% (Z/T-Cur1:1), from 6.1% (Zein-Cur) to 18.3% (Z/T-Cur1:1), and from 4.7% (Zein-Cur) to 20.0% (Z/T-Cur1:1), respectively. The Z/T-Cur significantly alleviated colitis symptoms in DSS-treated mice. Additionally, the prepared nanocomplexes rebalanced the gut microbiota composition of colitis mice by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia. Odoribacter and Monoglobus were rich in the Z-T-Cur treatment group, and Turicibacter and Bifidobacterium were rich in the zein-TSP treatment group. This study demonstrated that the TSP could be helpful in the targeted drug delivery system.

Correlating the Photovoltaic Performance and Stability of the All-Small-Molecule Organic Solar Cells to Their Intermixed Phases Determined by Concentration-Dependent Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption Spectroscopy.

In addition to the donor-acceptor nano phases, the intermixed phase within the organic blends is crucial for the photovoltaic performance and stability of the bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, the intermixed phase of a representative M-PhS:BTP-eC9 all-small-molecule organic solar cell was investigated by a concentration-dependent ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy method, where a shift of the absorption maximum wavelength was measured for the acceptor component with the increase of the acceptor concentration. The blend ratios of the acceptor to the donor in the intermixed phase, corresponding to the critical concentration for the formation of the acceptor nanophase (CAP), were determined to be 0.35, 0.20, and 0.15 for the as-cast, thermal annealing (TA), and the combined TA and solvent vapor annealing films. These results indicated that M-PhS and BTP-eC9 are kinetically well intermixed during spin coating, whereas TA and the following solvent annealing promote the crystallization of BTP-eC9 molecules out of the intermixed phase. The photovoltaic performance of the M-PhS:BTP-eC9 cells with different blend ratios was investigated. The formation of the BTP-eC9 nano phase in the blend film leads to stable VOC and fast increased JSC, which can be understood by the reduction of bimolecular charge recombination and the formation of electron transporting pathways within the photoactive layer. Similarly, the critical concentration for the formation of the donor phase was estimated to be 0.15 by measuring the stabilized VOC and increased JSC values of the cells with different donor blending ratios. More importantly, after a fast "burn-in" thermal degradation, the M-PhS:BTP-eC9 cell showed excellent thermal stability aging at 85 °C for over 1128 h, which is in good accordance with the unchanged intermixed phases measured by the UV-vis spectra of the annealed films. The current work demonstrates the feasibility of the spectroscopy method to investigate the intermixed phases for organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells and proves that all-small-molecule solar cells can be intrinsically very stable.

Effect of fire needle combined with traditional Chinese medicine on psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of action of fire acupuncture and Chinese medicine in psoriasis is unclear. In this paper, the efficacy of the 2 therapies was compared through a comprehensive analysis of their recurrence rates for clinical reference. METHODS: In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CQVIP, and CBM data from the establishment of the databases to May 2023. The study proposed to use randomized controlled trial research methods, excluding published literature, unpublished literature, literature with incomplete or inadequate information, animal experiments, literature reviews and systematic studies. Data were processed using STATA 15.1 software. RESULTS: Our group previous study found that the clinical efficacy of the fire-acupuncture group was significantly improved compared to that of Chinese herbal medicine alone (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13-1.27). Also, there were significant reductions in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score (SMD = -1.04,95% CI: -1.48 to -0.60), area of skin damage (SMD = -0.40,95% CI: -0.75 to -0.04), and pruritus (SMD = -1.04,95% CI: -1.32 to -0.76). Our previous study found that Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was significantly lower in the fire acupuncture group compared to herbal medicine alone (SMD = -1.61,95% CI: -3.08 to -0.15). The combined analysis found that the recurrence rate was significantly lower in the fire-acupuncture group compared to herbal medicine alone (RR = 0.21,95% CI:0.07-0.60). CONCLUSION: Fire needle can improve the efficacy of TCM in the treatment of psoriasis, including the area, severity and itching of skin lesions, and reduce the recurrence rate, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Reliability and validity of the Cognitive Assessment for Stroke Patients (Chinese version) for patients with nonaphasic stroke.

This study aimed to preliminarily explore the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Cognitive Assessment for Stroke Patients (CASP) in patients with nonaphasic stroke and provide a reliable basis for its clinical application in China. The original French version of the CASP was translated into Mandarin Chinese. The study enrolled 58 patients in the neurological center. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and CASP were used to evaluate cognitive function. Content validity, structural validity, and concurrent validity, internal consistency, interrater consistency, and retesting reliability were used to evaluate the results. The Spearman correlation coefficient of each item and the total CASP score was between 0.320 and 0.905 (p < .05), showing good content validity. Two initial factors were extracted using principal component analysis and the orthogonal rotation method, with a cumulative contribution rate of 70.100%. Except for the subitem reproducing a copy of a cube, the factor loading of all subitems was >0.5, indicating good construct validity. The total CASP score significantly correlated with the total MMSE (r = 0.796, p < .001) and total MoCA (r = 0.816, p < .001) scores, indicating good concurrent validity. Cronbach's α of the CASP was 0.812, showing good internal consistency. The interrater consistency (ICC > 0.85) and retesting reliability (ICC = 0.7-0.951) were good. The Chinese version of the CASP has good reliability and validity and can play a good auxiliary role in evaluating cognitive dysfunction in patients with stroke.

A novel risk variant block across introns 36-45 of CACNA1C for schizophrenia: a cohort-wise replication and cerebral region-wide validation study.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous genome-wide association studies have identified CACNA1C as one of the top risk genes for schizophrenia. As a necessary post-genome-wide association study (GWAS) follow-up, here, we focused on this risk gene, carefully investigated its novel risk variants for schizophrenia, and explored their potential functions. METHODS: We analyzed four independent samples (including three European and one African-American) comprising 5648 cases and 6936 healthy subjects to identify replicable single nucleotide polymorphism-schizophrenia associations. The potential regulatory effects of schizophrenia-risk alleles on CACNA1C mRNA expression in 16 brain regions (n = 348), gray matter volumes (GMVs) of five subcortical structures (n = 34 431), and surface areas and thickness of 34 cortical regions (n = 36 936) were also examined. RESULTS: A novel 17-variant block across introns 36-45 of CACNA1C was significantly associated with schizophrenia in the same effect direction across at least two independent samples (1.8 × 10-4 ≤ P ≤ 0.049). Most risk variants within this block showed significant associations with CACNA1C mRNA expression (1.6 × 10-3 ≤ P ≤ 0.050), GMVs of subcortical structures (0.016 ≤ P ≤ 0.048), cortical surface areas (0.010 ≤ P ≤ 0.050), and thickness (0.004 ≤ P ≤ 0.050) in multiple brain regions. CONCLUSION: We have identified a novel and functional risk variant block at CACNA1C for schizophrenia, providing further evidence for the important role of this gene in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Superwettable cellulose acetate-based nanofiber membrane with spider-web structure for highly efficient oily water purification.

Electrospinning nanofibers membrane has received much attention to remove the insoluble oil from the sewage, while the poor mechanical strength and low oil/water separation efficiency of membranes limit their practical application. Here, we prepared a superwettable deacetylated cellulose acetate (d-CA)-based electrospinning nanofibers membrane simply dipped by bacterial cellulose (BC) and cross-linked with citric acid (CCA) to construct the spider-web structure spontaneously. Compared with the pristine d-CA membrane, the obtained d-CA/BC@CCA membrane exhibits the remarkable oil/water separation performance. The flux and separation efficiency of n-hexane/water emulsion without (SFE) and with (SSE) emulsifier for d-CA/BC@CCA membrane are 9364 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, 98.34 % and 5479 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, 99.39 %, respectively, which are mainly attributed to the improved hydrophilicity of its surface and the decreased pore sizes caused by the unique spider-web structure. In addition, d-CA/BC@CCA membrane also possesses the outstanding mechanical properties, the better cycle stability, as well as the excellent durability. This study provides a novel strategy for the construction of the high-performance oil/water separation membrane.

Self-assembly of tamarind seed polysaccharide via enzymatic depolymerization and degalactosylation enhanced ice recrystallization inhibition activity.

Polysaccharides are becoming potential candidates for developing food-grade cryoprotectants due to their extensive accessibility and health-promoting effects. However, unremarkable ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity and high viscosity limit their practical applications in some systems. Our previous study found a galactoxyloglucan polysaccharide from tamarind seed (TSP) showing moderate IRI activity. Herein, the enhancement of the IRI performance of TSP via enzymatic depolymerization and degalactosylation-induced self-assembly was reported. TSP was depolymerized and subsequently removed ∼40 % Gal, which induced the formation of supramolecular rod-like fiber self-assembles and exhibited a severalfold enhancement of IRI. Ice shaping assay did not show obvious faceting of ice crystals, indicating that both depolymerized and self-assembled TSP showed very weak binding to ice. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the absence of molecular complementarity with ice. Further, it highlighted that degalactosylation did not cause significant changes in local hydration properties of TSP from the view of a single oligomer. The inconsistency between molecular simulation and macroscopic IRI effect proposed that the formation of unique supramolecular self-assemblies may be a key requirement for enhancing IRI activity. The findings of this study provided a new opportunity to enhance the applied potential of natural polysaccharides in food cryoprotection.