Application of online to offline teaching mode in the training of non-anesthesiology residents in the department of anesthesiology: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: To explore the effect of applying the online to offline teaching mode in the training of non-anesthesiology residents in department of anesthesiology. Trial design: The randomized controlled trial was performed on non-anesthesiology residents from Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Methods: All selected residents were randomly divided into the traditional teaching group (Group T) and the online to offline teaching group (Group O) by the random number table method. Traditional teaching mode was used in Group T, while the online to offline teaching mode was used in Group O. The training period lasted for two months. At the end of the training, theoretical and clinical skills were assessed for all residents, and students' satisfaction scores on teaching were investigated from the aspects of teaching mode, stimulating learning interest, improving learning process and teaching satisfaction. The teaching efficiency was compared and analyzed in the two groups. Results: In total, 39 cases in Group O and 38 cases in Group T were included in the statistical analysis. Compared with Group T, theory test scores, clinical skills test scores, and overall scores improved significantly in Group O (82.2 ± 8.1 vs. 91.3 ± 7.6; 85.1 ± 4.7 vs. 93.3 ± 5.4 and 83.4 ± 6.4 vs. 92.1 ± 6.7, respectively, p < 0.01). Compared with Group T, scores on teaching mode, stimulating learning interest, improving learning process and teaching satisfaction were higher in Group O (81.1 ± 6.9 vs. 93.7 ± 5.2; 83.6 ± 5.8 vs. 91.6 ± 6.4; 82.4 ± 5.3 vs. 90.9 ± 4.8 and 82.1 ± 5.9 vs. 92.1 ± 5.5, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The online to offline teaching mode can improve the level of professional theory and clinical skill operation, and teaching satisfaction of the non-anesthesiology residents in department of anesthesiology, thus improving the teaching effectiveness.

Human epididymis protein 4, a novel potential biomarker for diagnostic and prognosis monitoring of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the application value of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in diagnosing and monitoring the prognosis of lung cancer. METHODS: First, TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) databases were used to analyze whey-acidic-protein 4-disulfide bond core domain 2 (WFDC2) gene expression levels in lung cancer tissues. Then, a total of 160 individuals were enrolled, categorized into three groups: the lung cancer group (n = 80), the benign lesions group (n = 40), and the healthy controls group (n = 40). Serum HE4 levels and other biomarkers were quantified using an electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay. Additionally, the expression of HE4 in tissues was analyzed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). In vitro cultures of human airway epithelial (human bronchial epithelial [HBE]) cells and various lung cancer cell lines (SPC/PC9/A594/H520) were utilized to detect HE4 levels via western blot (WB). RESULTS: Analysis of the TCGA and UALCAN (The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Data Analysis Portal) databases showed that WFDC2 gene expression levels were upregulated in lung cancer tissues (p < 0.01). Compared with the control group and the benign group, HE4 was significantly higher in the serum of patients with lung cancer (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis confirmed that HE4 had better diagnostic efficacy than classical markers in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and benign lesions and had the highest diagnostic value in lung adenocarcinoma (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.826). HE4 increased in early lung cancer and positively correlated with poor prognosis (p < 0.001). Moreover, the results of WB and IHC revealed that the expression of HE4 was increased in lung cancer cells (SPC/A549/H520) and lung cancer tissues but decreased in PC9 cells with a lack of exon EGFR19 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum HE4 emerges as a promising novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of lung cancer.

Association between a metabolic score for insulin resistance and hypertension: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016 analyses.

Background: The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) offers a promising and reliable non-insulin-based approach to assess insulin resistance and evaluate cardiometabolic risk. However, evidence for the association between METS-IR and hypertension was still limited. Methods: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2007-2016 were selected for weighted multivariable regression analyses, subgroup analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling to assess the association between the METS-IR and hypertension, as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results: This study enrolled 7,721 adults aged ≥20 years, 2,926 (34.03%) of whom was diagnosed as hypertension. After adjusting for all potential covariates, an increased METS-IR (log2 conversion, denoted as log2METS-IR) was independently associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension (odd ratio [OR] 3.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.19~5.01). The OR for hypertension in subjects with the highest quartile of METS-IR was 3.89-fold (OR 3.89, 95% CI 3.06~4.94) higher than that in those with the lowest quartile of METS-IR. This positive correlation became more significant as METS-IR increased (p for trend < 0.001). Log2METS-IR was significantly correlated with increase in SBP (ß 6.75, 95% CI 5.65~7.85) and DBP (ß 5.59, 95% CI 4.75~6.43) in a fully adjusted model. Consistent results were obtained in subgroup analyses. Hypertension, SBP and DBP all exhibited a non-linear increase with the rise in METS-IR. The minimal threshold for the beneficial association of METS-IR with hypertension, SBP and DBP were all identified to be 46.88. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed a significant positive association between METS-IR and hypertension among US adults, suggesting METS-IR as a potential tool for assessing hypertension risk.

Complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) at pH 3-4 supports stable production of ammonium nitrate from urine.

This study developed a new process that stably produced ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), an important and commonly used fertilizer, from the source-separated urine by comammox Nitrospira. In the first stage, the complete conversion of ammonium to nitrate was achieved by comammox Nitrospira. In this scenario, the pH was maintained at 6 by adding external alkali, which also provided sufficient alkalinity for full nitrification. In the second stage, the NH4NO3 was produced directly by comammox Nitropsira by converting half of the ammonium in urine into nitrate. In this case, no alkali was added and pH automatically dropped and self-maintained at an extremely acidic level (pH 3-4). In both scenarios, negligible nitrite accumulation was observed, while the final product of the second stage contained ammonium and nitrate at the molar ratio of 1:1. The dominance of comammox Nitrospira over canonical ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was systematically proved by the combination of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and metagenomics. Notably, metagenomic sequencing suggested that the relative abundance of comammox Nitrospira was over 20 % under the acidic condition at pH 3-4, while canonical AOB and NOB were undetectable. Batch experiments showed that the optimal pH for the enriched comammox Nitrospira was ∼7, which could sustain their activity in a wider pH range from 4 to 8 surprisingly but lost activity at pH 3 and 9. The findings not only present an application potential of comammox Nitrospira in nitrogen recovery from urine wastewater but also report the survivability of comammox bacteria in acidic environments.

HDAC Inhibition Increases CXCL12 Secretion to Recruit Natural Killer Cells in Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma.

Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous and aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have shown inhibitory effects on PTCL. A better understanding of the therapeutic mechanism underlying the effects of HDAC inhibitors could help improve treatment strategies. Here, we found that high expression of HDAC3 is associated with poor prognosis in PTCL. HDAC3 inhibition suppressed lymphoma growth in immunocompetent mice but not in immunodeficient mice. HDAC3 deletion delayed the progression of lymphoma, reduced the lymphoma burden in the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, and prolonged the survival of mice bearing MNU-induced lymphoma. Furthermore, inhibiting HDAC3 promoted the infiltration and enhanced the function of natural killer (NK) cells. Mechanistically, HDAC3 mediated ATF3 deacetylation, enhancing its transcriptional inhibitory activity. Targeting HDAC3 enhanced CXCL12 secretion through an ATF3-dependent pathway to stimulate NK cell recruitment and activation. Finally, HDAC3 suppression improved the response of PTCL to conventional chemotherapy. Collectively, this study provides insights into the mechanism by which HDAC3 regulates ATF3 activity and CXCL12 secretion, leading to immune infiltration and lymphoma suppression. Combining HDAC3 inhibitors with chemotherapy may be a promising strategy for treating PTCL. Key words: Histone deacetylases (HDACs), Natural killer (NK) cells, Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Meta-omics assisted microbial gene and strain resources mining in contaminant environment.

Human activities have led to the release of various environmental pollutants, triggering ecological challenges. In situ, microbial communities in these contaminated environments are usually assumed to possess the potential capacity of pollutant degradation. However, the majority of genes and microorganisms in these environments remain uncharacterized and uncultured. The advent of meta-omics provided culture-independent solutions for exploring the functional genes and microorganisms within complex microbial communities. In this review, we highlight the applications and methodologies of meta-omics in uncovering of genes and microbes from contaminated environments. These findings may assist in future bioremediation research.

Development of an mRNA-based therapeutic vaccine mHTV-03E2 for high-risk HPV-related malignancies.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 infections are related to many human cancers. Despite several preventative vaccines for high-risk (hr) HPVs, there is still an urgent need to develop therapeutic HPV vaccines for targeting pre-existing hrHPV infections and lesions. In this study, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated mRNA-based HPV therapeutic vaccine (mHTV)-03E2, simultaneously targeting the E2/E6/E7 of both HPV16 and HPV18. mHTV-03E2 dramatically induced antigen-specific cellular immune responses, leading to significant CD8+ T cell infiltration and cytotoxicity in TC-1 tumors derived from primary lung epithelial cells of C57BL/6 mice expressing HPV E6/E7 antigens, mediated significant tumor regression, and prolonged animal survival, in a dose-dependent manner. We further demonstrated significant T cell immunity against HPV16/18 E6/E7 antigens for up to 4 months post-vaccination in immunological and distant tumor rechallenging experiments, suggesting robust memory T cell immunity against relapse. Finally, mHTV-03E2 synergized with immune checkpoint blockade to inhibit tumor growth and extend animal survival, indicating the potential in combination therapy. We conclude that mHTV-03E2 is an excellent candidate therapeutic mRNA vaccine for treating malignancies caused by HPV16 or HPV18 infections.

Effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without Endostar on the regression of retropharyngeal lymph node and prognosis of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of combining Endostar with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ECCRT) compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on the regression rate of retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) and the relationship between regression rate of RLNs and prognosis of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). METHODS: A total of 122 LANPC patients with RLNs metastasis were included. Metastatic RLNs were delineated both before and after treatment slice by slice on the magnetic resonance images cross-section. The regression rate of RLNs, adverse effects (AE) were evaluated. The median regression rate of RLNs was taken as the cut-off value, and the patients were furtherly divided into high regression rate (HRR) group and low regression rate (LRR) group, then survival times were evaluated. RESULTS: The median regression rates of RLNs in the ECCRT and CCRT groups were 81% and 50%, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 AEs between the two groups, except for oral mucositis (ECCRT 26.23% vs. CCRT 44.26%, P = 0.037). The 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) rates in the HRR and LRR groups were 85.48% and 86.67% (P = 0.983), 80.65% and 68.33% (P = 0.037), 83.87% and 85% (P = 0.704), 93.55% and 81.67% (P = 0.033), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the ECCRT group had higher regression rates of RLNs and lower incidence of severe oral mucositis. Furthermore, patients in the HRR group had a better 3-year PFS and LRFFS rate than those in the LRR group.

Active Oxygenated Structure-Intensified CO2 Capture Enables Efficient Electrochemical Ethylene Production Over Carbon Nanofibers.

The pursuit of high efficacy C-C coupling during the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction remains a tremendous challenge owing to the high energy barrier of CO2 activation and insufficient coverage of the desired intermediates on catalytic sites. Inspired by the concept of capture-coupled CO2 activation, we fabricated quinone-grafted carbon nanofibers via an in situ oxidative carbonylation strategy. The quinone functionality of carbon nanofibers promotes the capture of CO2 followed by activation. At a current density of 400 mA cm-2, the Faradaic efficiency of ethylene reached 62.9%, and a partial current density of 295 mA cm-2 was achieved on the quinone-rich carbon nanofibers. The results of in situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculations indicated that the remarkable selectivity enhancement in ethylene originates from the quinone structure, rather than the electronic properties of Cu particles. The interaction of quinone with CO2 increases the local *CO coverage and simultaneously hinders the co-adsorption of *H on Cu sites, which greatly reduces the energy barrier for C-C coupling and restrains subsequent *CO protonation. The modulation strategy involving specific oxygenated structure, as an independent degree of freedom, guides the design of functionalized carbon materials for tailoring the selectivity of desired products during the CO2 capture and reduction.

Chemometric analysis illuminates the relationship among browning, polyphenol degradation, Maillard reaction and flavor variation of 5 jujube fruits during air-impingement jet drying.

This study was designed to reveal the relationship among browning, polyphenol degradation, Maillard reaction (MR) and flavor variation in jujube fruit (JF) during air-impingement jet drying (AIJD). Five kinds of JFs were dried by AIJD at 60 °C and vacuum freeze drying. Colorimeter and chemometric analysis found that AIJD induced color changes of JF pulp and peel. AIJD also reduced the total polyphenols content and total flavonoids levels in JF. The Fe3+ reducing capacity and 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) cationic radical scavenging capacity of JF were reduced by 31.6% and 8.2%, respectively. Seven polyphenols were identified in JF, and epicatechin was found related to change of JF pulp color by sparse partial least square (sPLS). sPLS revealed that 3-deoxy glucosone, N-ε-carboxymethyl-l-lysine and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural associated with JF color. sPLS found that MR generated 3-methyl-butanoic acid and cyclobutanone during AIJD of JF. Chemometrics is an effective tool to disclose mechanism of color changes in food.

Preparation of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata polysaccharide iron(III) complex and evaluation of its biological activity.

This study extracted and purified a polysaccharide from Rehmanniae radix praeparata (RGP) with an average molecular weight. The structural characteristics of RGP and its iron(III) complex, RGP-Fe(III), were examined for their antioxidant properties and potential in treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Analysis revealed that RGP comprised Man, Rha, Gal, and Xyl, with a sugar residue skeleton featuring 1→3; 1→2, 3; and 1→2, 3, 4 linkages, among others. RGP-Fe(III) had a molecular weight of 4.39×104 Da. Notably, RGP-Fe(III) exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to RGP alone. In IDA rat models, treatment with RGP-Fe(III) led to increased weight gain, restoration of key blood parameters including hemoglobin, red blood cells, and mean hemoglobin content, elevated serum iron levels, and decreased total iron-binding capacity. Histological examination revealed no observable toxic effects of RGP-Fe(III) on the liver and spleen. These findings suggest the potential of RGP-Fe(III) as a therapeutic agent for managing IDA and highlight its promising antioxidant properties.

MOFs-Based Materials with Confined Space: Opportunities and Challenges for Energy and Catalytic Conversion.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a very promising material in the fields of energy and catalysis due to their rich active sites, tunable pore size, structural adaptability, and high specific surface area. The concepts of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" have opened up huge development opportunities in the fields of energy storage, energy conversion, and catalysis, and have made significant progress and breakthroughs. In recent years, people have shown great interest in the development of MOFs materials and their applications in the above research fields. This review introduces the design strategies and latest progress of MOFs are included based on their structures such as core-shell, yolk-shell, multi-shelled, sandwich structures, unique crystal surface exposures, and MOF-derived nanomaterials in detail. This work comprehensively and systematically reviews the applications of MOF-based materials in energy and catalysis and reviews the research progress of MOF materials for atmospheric water harvesting, seawater uranium extraction, and triboelectric nanogenerators. Finally, this review looks forward to the challenges and opportunities of controlling the synthesis of MOFs through low-cost, improved conductivity, high-temperature heat resistance, and integration with machine learning. This review provides useful references for promoting the application of MOFs-based materials in the aforementioned fields.

The subcommissural organ regulates brain development via secreted peptides.

The subcommissural organ (SCO) is a gland located at the entrance of the aqueduct of Sylvius in the brain. It exists in species as distantly related as amphioxus and humans, but its function is largely unknown. Here, to explore its function, we compared transcriptomes of SCO and non-SCO brain regions and found three genes, Sspo, Car3 and Spdef, that are highly expressed in the SCO. Mouse strains expressing Cre recombinase from endogenous promoter/enhancer elements of these genes were used to genetically ablate SCO cells during embryonic development, resulting in severe hydrocephalus and defects in neuronal migration and development of neuronal axons and dendrites. Unbiased peptidomic analysis revealed enrichment of three SCO-derived peptides, namely, thymosin beta 4, thymosin beta 10 and NP24, and their reintroduction into SCO-ablated brain ventricles substantially rescued developmental defects. Together, these data identify a critical role for the SCO in brain development.

Multiple exposure pathways and health risk assessment of PAHs in Lanzhou city, a semi-arid region in northwest China.

In the sparse studies for multiple pathway exposure, attention has predominantly been directed towards developed regions, thereby overlooking the exposure level and health outcome for the inhabitants of the semi-arid regions in northwest China. However, cities within these regions grapple with myriad challenges, encompassing insufficient sanitation infrastructure and outdated heating. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in PM2.5, water, diet, and dust during different periods in Lanzhou, and estimated corresponding carcinogenic health risk through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Our observations revealed the concentrations of PAHs in PM2.5, food, soil, and water are 200.11 ng m-3, 8.67 mg kg-1, 3.91 mg kg-1, and 14.5 ng L-1, respectively, indicating that the Lanzhou area was seriously polluted. Lifetime incremental cancer risk (ILCR) showed a heightened cancer risk to men compared to women, to the younger than the elderly, and during heating period as opposed to non-heating period. Notably, the inhalation was the primary route of PAHs exposure and the risk of exposure by inhalation cannot be ignored. The total environmental exposure assessment of PAHs can achieve accurate prevention and control of PAHs environmental exposure according to local conditions and targets.

Prevalence and correlates of mental health problems among different occupations of medical workers during COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Background: Health workers involved in the fight to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak were exposed to hazards. Detailed information on mental health problems in different medical occupations is crucial. To examined the prevalence of mental health issues in three medical occupations as well as the relationships between mental health problems and correlates in each occupation. Methods: This study utilizing the Questionnaire Star program was conducted among medical workers working at medical institutions in China from February 17 to 24, 2020. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess mental health problems. Results: The prevalence of any mental health problems in the three occupations was 43.6, 34.6, and 32.9% for nurses, paramedical workers (PMWs), and doctors, respectively. Three occupations shared some correlates, such as being overworked, not having enough time to rest, support from colleagues, and previous mental health status. There were specific factors for each occupation. For doctors, age, educational level, living status, support from family, and previous physical status were related factors in mental health problems. Working in a designated hospital for treating COVID-19, having COVID-19 event exposures, and receiving support from family were associated with the mental health problems of the nurses. PMWs' mental health problems was linked to educational level and care from supervisors or heads of department. Conclusion: Different medical occupations have distinct impacts on mental health issues. Policy makers and mental health professionals working to prepare for potential disease outbreaks should be aware of multiple factors in different occupations.

Unraveling the nexus: Microplastics, antibiotics, and ARGs interactions, threats and control in aquaculture - A review.

In recent years, aquaculture has expanded rapidly to address food scarcity and provides high-quality aquatic products. However, this growth has led to the release of significant effluents, containing emerging contaminants like antibiotics, microplastics (MPs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study investigated the occurrence and interactions of these pollutants in aquaculture environment. Combined pollutants, such as MPs and coexisting adsorbents, were widespread and could include antibiotics, heavy metals, resistance genes, and pathogens. Elevated levels of chemical pollutants on MPs could lead to the emergence of resistance genes under selective pressure, facilitated by bacterial communities and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). MPs acted as vectors, transferring pollutants into the food web. Various technologies, including membrane technology, coagulation, and advanced oxidation, have been trialed for pollutants removal, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Future research should focus on ecologically friendly treatment technologies for emerging contaminants in aquaculture wastewater. This review provided insights into understanding and addressing newly developing toxins, aiming to develop integrated systems for effective aquaculture wastewater treatment.

Identification of Hsp20 gene family in Malus domestica and functional characterization of Hsp20 class I gene MdHsp18.2b.

Heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) is a small molecule heat shock protein that plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress resistance. Little is known about the function of Hsp20 family genes in apple (Malus domestica). Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the apple Hsp20 gene family, and a total of 49 Hsp20s genes were identified from the apple genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 49 genes were divided into 11 subfamilies, and MdHsp18.2b, a member located in the CI branch, was selected as a representative member for functional characterization. Treatment with NaCl and Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea), the causal agent of apple ring rot disease, significantly induced MdHsp18.2b transcription level. Further analysis revealed that overexpressing MdHsp18.2b reduced the resistance to salt stress but enhanced the resistance to B. dothidea infection in apple calli. Moreover, MdHsp18.2b positively regulated anthocyanin accumulation in apple calli. Physiology assays revealed that MdHsp18.2b promoted H2O2 production, even in the absence of stress factors, which might contribute to its functions in response to NaCl and B. dothidea infection. Hsps usually function as homo- or heterooligomers, and we found that MdHsp18.2b could form a heterodimer with MdHsp17.9a and MdHsp17.5, two members from the same branch with MdHsp18.2b in the phylogenetic tree. Therefore, we identified 49 Hsp20s genes from the apple genome and found that MdHsp18.2b was involved in regulating plant resistance to salt stress and B. dothidea infection, as well as in regulating anthocyanin accumulation in apple calli.

g-C3N4@TiO2 photoanodes for high-efficiency QDSSCs: improved electron transfer and photochemical stability.

In QDSSCs, a photoanode is an important part of connecting the external circuit, providing support for the transmission of photogenerated carriers to the external circuit, and also providing an attachment site for QDs. In this study, we prepared a g-C3N4@TiO2 composite for the photoanode by a two-step process. The results show that the use of g-C3N4@TiO2 greatly increases the specific surface area of the material, effectively inhibits the "electron-hole" recombination, and optimizes the stability and catalytic performance of the photoanode. Among them, the cell equipped with the g-C3N4@TiO2 photoanode has improved performance: Jsc = 26.5 mA cm-2, PCE = 8.2%, Voc = 0.62 eV, and FF = 0.50. Based on the research in this paper, it can be seen that the g-C3N4@TiO2 composite applied to the photoanode can effectively improve the cell performance and provide a feasible idea for optimizing QDSSCs.

The subcommissural organ regulates brain development via secreted peptides.

The subcommissural organ (SCO) is a gland located at the entrance of the aqueduct of Sylvius in the brain. It exists in species as distantly related as amphioxus and humans, but its function is largely unknown. To explore its function, we compared transcriptomes of SCO and non-SCO brain regions and found three genes, Sspo, Car3, and Spdef, that are highly expressed in the SCO. Mouse strains expressing Cre recombinase from endogenous promoter/enhancer elements of these genes were used to genetically ablate SCO cells during embryonic development, resulting in severe hydrocephalus and defects in neuronal migration and development of neuronal axons and dendrites. Unbiased peptidomic analysis revealed enrichment of three SCO-derived peptides, namely thymosin beta 4, thymosin beta 10, and NP24, and their reintroduction into SCO-ablated brain ventricles substantially rescued developmental defects. Together, these data identify a critical role for the SCO in brain development.