Protocol for evaluating the effects of the Reducing Cardiometabolic Diseases Risk dietary pattern in the Chinese population with dyslipidaemia: a single-centre, open-label, dietary intervention study.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is the leading cause of mortality in China. A healthy diet plays an essential role in the occurrence and development of CMD. Although the Chinese heart-healthy diet is the first diet with cardiovascular benefits, a healthy dietary pattern that fits Chinese food culture that can effectively reduce the risk of CMD has not been found. METHODS/DESIGN: The study is a single-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effect of the Reducing Cardiometabolic Diseases Risk (RCMDR) dietary pattern in reducing the risk of CMDs in people with dyslipidaemia and providing a reference basis for constructing a dietary pattern suitable for the prevention of CMDs in the Chinese population. Participants are men and women aged 35-45 years with dyslipidaemia in Tianjin. The target sample size is 100. After the run-in period, the participants will be randomised to the RCMDR dietary pattern intervention group or the general health education control group with a 1:1 ratio. The intervention phases will last 12 weeks, with a dietary intervention of 5 working days per week for participants in the intervention group. The primary outcome variable is the cardiometabolic risk score. The secondary outcome variables are blood lipid, blood pressure, blood glucose, body composition indices, insulin resistance and 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study complies with the Measures for Ethical Review of Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Human Beings and the Declaration of Helsinki. Signed informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University (approval number: KY2023020). The results from the study will be disseminated through publications in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300072472).

Analysis of acupoint massage combined with touch on relieving anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant surgery.

BACKGROUND: Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia. Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure, compared with general anesthesia-related operations, they are more likely to experience negative emotions, such as anxiety and tension. These emotional reactions result in shivering and chills in the limbs, leading to poor doctor-patient cooperation and even avoidance of treatment. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that acupoint massage regulates blood and Qi, dredge menstruation, and relieve pain, which is beneficial for patients' emotional adjustment; however, there are few related clinical studies. AIM: To observe the changes in anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant after acupoint massage combined with touch therapy. METHODS: One hundred patients undergoing oral implantation in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023 were randomly divided into control and study groups, according to a random number table, with 50 patients in each group. The control group received routine intervention, and the study group received acupoint massage combined with touch on the basis of the control group. Anxiety [assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS)], pain severity, blood pressure, heart rate, and satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Before intervention, the difference in MDAS score between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05), while after the intervention, the MDAS scores decreased in both groups compared with those before the intervention (P < 0.05); the MDAS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The degree of pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or heart rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate in the intervention group, during and after the intervention, were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The total degree of satisfaction in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint massage combined with touch better relieves anxiety and pain in patients undergoing dental implant surgery, improving the perioperative comfort of these patients and ensuring safety and a smooth operation.

Newly formed dust within the circumstellar environment of SN Ia-CSM 2018evt.

Dust associated with various stellar sources in galaxies at all cosmic epochs remains a controversial topic, particularly whether supernovae play an important role in dust production. We report evidence of dust formation in the cold, dense shell behind the ejecta-circumstellar medium (CSM) interaction in the Type Ia-CSM supernova (SN) 2018evt three years after the explosion, characterized by a rise in mid-infrared emission accompanied by an accelerated decline in the optical radiation of the SN. Such a dust-formation picture is also corroborated by the concurrent evolution of the profiles of the Hα emission line. Our model suggests enhanced CSM dust concentration at increasing distances from the SN as compared to what can be expected from the density profile of the mass loss from a steady stellar wind. By the time of the last mid-infrared observations at day +1,041, a total amount of 1.2 ± 0.2 × 10-2 M⊙ of new dust has been formed by SN 2018evt, making SN 2018evt one of the most prolific dust factories among supernovae with evidence of dust formation. The unprecedented witness of the intense production procedure of dust may shed light on the perceptions of dust formation in cosmic history.

Cardiopulmonary functional capacity in Taiwanese children with atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: Most existing studies measure atrial septal defect (ASD) outcomes based on morbidity rate such as atrial arrhythmias and heart failure rather than the functional assessment of physical capacity post-procedure. Few studies have evaluated cardiopulmonary function in ASD children. This study represents the largest sample population in the current research, encompassing a total of 122 Taiwanese children with ASD who had undergone treatment, to evaluate cardiopulmonary functional capacity through the implementation of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and to investigate whether variations in treatment may impact their cardiopulmonary function. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study with the data collected from January 2010 to December 2021. All patients and controls (age-, sex-, and body mass index -matched) underwent CPET and pulmonary function testing. RESULTS: In total, 122 ASD patients (surgically closed ASDs 27, transcatheter closed ASDs 48, and follow-up unrepaired ASD 47) and 244 healthy controls were recruited. The ASD group exhibited lower peak metabolic equivalent (MET), peak oxygen consumption (VO2, p <0.001), peak minute ventilation (p = 0.028) along with MET and VO2 at the anaerobic threshold (AT) (p =0.012) compared to the control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the pulmonary function test. Among surgically closed, transcatheter closed and unrepaired ASD sub-groups, no significant variances were seen in CPET and pulmonary function tests. CONCLUSION: Taiwanese ASD children exhibited diminished exercise capacity and cardiopulmonary performance compared to their healthy counterparts. Differences among specific ASD treatments in cardiopulmonary tests were non-significant.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Sheep and Goats in Jiangsu, China.

Sheep and goats serve as crucial hosts for Cryptosporidium spp. and are primarily responsible for its transmission via the fecal-oral route. This can result in symptoms such as lamb weight loss, diarrhea, and even fatalities, leading to significant economic losses. Currently, there is a lack of scholarly research investigating the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in sheep and goats specifically within Jiangsu province. This study collected fecal samples from sheep and goats, extracted their DNA, amplified target bands using nested PCR, sequenced the DNA, constructed a phylogenetic tree, and identified the genetic genotype. In total, 3 positive samples were identified out of 398 samples. Furthermore, the gene sequences of these samples exhibited significant homology with C. xiaoi in GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Cryptosporidium spp. parasites under investigation are phylogenetically related to C. xiaoi. Conducting epidemiological investigations and accurately identifying the species of Cryptosporidium spp. is of utmost importance not only for the mutton sheep farming industry in Jiangsu but also for the proactive safeguarding of human health.

Foliar Application of Nanoparticles Reduced Cadmium Content in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grains via Long-Distance "Leaf-Root-Microorganism" Regulation.

Foliar application of beneficial nanoparticles (NPs) exhibits potential in reducing cadmium (Cd) uptake in crops, necessitating a systematic understanding of their leaf-root-microorganism process for sustainable development of efficient nano-enabled agrochemicals. Herein, wheat grown in Cd-contaminated soil (5.23 mg/kg) was sprayed with different rates of four commonly used NPs, including nano selenium (SeNPs)/silica (SiO2NPs)/zinc oxide/manganese dioxide. SeNPs and SiO2NPs most effectively reduced the Cd concentration in wheat grains. Compared to the control, Cd concentration in grains was significantly decreased by 35.0 and 33.3% by applying 0.96 mg/plant SeNPs and 2.4 mg/plant SiO2NPs, and the grain yield was significantly increased by 33.9% with SeNPs application. Down-regulated gene expression of Cd transport proteins (TaNramp5 and TaLCT1) and up-regulated gene expression of vacuolar Cd fixation proteins (TaHMA3 and TaTM20) were observed with foliar SeNPs and SiO2NPs use. SeNPs increased the levels of leaf antioxidant metabolites. Additionally, foliar spray of SeNPs resulted in lower abundances of rhizosphere organic acids and reduced Cd bioavailability in rhizosphere soil, and soil microorganisms related to carbon and nitrogen (Solirubrobacter and Pedomicrobium) were promoted. Our findings underscore the potential of the foliar application of SeNPs and SiO2NPs as a plant and rhizosphere soil metabolism-regulating approach to reduce Cd accumulation in wheat grains.

[Multi-index evaluation of different parts of Amomum villosum].

To investigate the quality differences between the seeds and husks of Amomum villosum and explore the rationality of using the seeds without husks, this study determined the content of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, epicatechin, quercitrin, volatile oil, water extract, and ethanol extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activities of seeds and husks. The quality differences between the seeds and husks were assessed through orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) combined with the entropy weight method(EWM). Significant differences(P<0.05) were observed in all 10 indicators between the seeds and husks. The levels of epicatechin, quercetin, and volatile oil were higher in the seeds, whereas those of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, water extract, and ethanol extract were higher in the husks. The seeds showed stronger scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals, while the husks showed a stronger scavenging effect on hydroxyl radicals. OPLS-DA significantly discriminated between the seeds and husks. Furthermore, volatile oil, water extract, DPPH radical scavenging rate, quercitrin, ABTS radical scavenging rate, hydroxyl radical scavenging rate, and vanillic acid were selected as the main differential indicators by variable importance in projection(VIP). Comprehensive scores calculated by AHP combined with EWM indicated that the seeds were superior to husks in terms of overall quality. However, there are still some dominant components and a certain antioxidant effect in the husks. Therefore, it is suggested to using Amomi Fructus with a certain amount of husks or utilizing the husks for other purposes.

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution (SNAr) as an Approach to Challenging Nitrogen-Bridged BODIPY Oligomers.

A series of nitrogen-bridged BODIPY oligomers were synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) as a convenient approach. Further transformations achieved novel α,α-aryl BODIPY dimers as well as a BODIPY hexamer efficiently. These BODIPY oligomers showed good photophysical properties, such as apparent absorption and emission both in visible and near-infrared regions. Interestingly, the high air and photothermal stability, strong NIR absorption, and high photothermal conversion rates of hexamer B6 suggest potential applications in photothermal therapy.

ZNF554 Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Progression via Regulating RBM5 and Inactivating WNT/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), a kind of gynecologic malignancy, poses a significant risk to women's health. The precise mechanism underlying the development of UCEC remains elusive. Zinc finger protein 554 (ZNF554), a member of the Krüppel-associated box domain zinc finger protein superfamily, was reported to be dysregulated in various illnesses, including malignant tumors. This study aimed to examine the involvement of ZNF554 in the development of UCEC. METHODS: The expression of ZNF554 in UCEC tissues and cell lines were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. Cells with stably overexpressed or knocked-down ZNF554 were established through lentivirus infection. CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays were employed to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Propidium iodide (PI) staining combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) flow cytometer was utilized to detect cell cycle distribution. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were conducted to examine relative mRNA and protein levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase reporter assay were used to explore the regulatory role of ZNF554 in RNA binding motif 5 (RBM5). RESULTS: The expression of ZNF554 was found to be reduced in both UCEC samples and cell lines. Decreased expression of ZNF554 was associated with higher tumor stage, decreased overall survival, and reduced disease-free survival in UCEC. ZNF554 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while also inducing cell cycle arrest. In contrast, a decrease in ZNF554 expression resulted in the opposite effect. Mechanistically, ZNF554 transcriptionally regulated RBM5, leading to the deactivation of the Wingless (WNT)/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, the findings from rescue studies demonstrated that the inhibition of RBM5 negated the impact of ZNF554 overexpression on ß-catenin and p-glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (p-GSK-3ß). Similarly, the deliberate activation of RBM5 reduced the increase in ß-catenin and p-GSK-3ß caused by the suppression of ZNF554. In vitro experiments showed that ZNF554 overexpression-induced decreases in cell proliferation and migration were counteracted by RBM5 knockdown. Additionally, when RBM5 was overexpressed, it hindered the improvements in cell proliferation and migration caused by reducing the ZNF554 levels. CONCLUSION: ZNF554 functions as a tumor suppressor in UCEC. Furthermore, ZNF554 regulates UCEC progression through the RBM5/WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway. ZNF554 shows a promise as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for UCEC.

Hollow Layered Iron-Based Prussian Blue Cathode with Reduced Defects for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Fe-based Prussian blue (Fe-PB) analogues have emerged as promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries, owing to their cost-effectiveness, high theoretical capacity, and environmental friendliness. However, their practical application is hindered by [Fe(CN)6] defects, negatively impacting capacity and cycle stability. This work reports a hollow layered Fe-PB composite material using 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTA) as a chelating and etching agent by the hydrothermal method. Compared to benzoic acid, our approach significantly reduces defects and enhances the yield of Fe-PB. Notably, the hollow layered structure shortens the diffusion path of sodium ions, enhances the activity of low-spin Fe in the Fe-PB lattice, and mitigates volume changes during Na-ion insertion/extraction into/from Fe-PB. As a sodium-ion battery cathode, this hollow layered Fe-PB exhibits an impressive initial capacity of 95.9 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 1 A g-1. Even after 500 cycles, it still maintains a considerable discharge capacity of 73.1 mAh g-1, showing a significantly lower capacity decay rate (0.048%) compared to the control sample (0.089%). Moreover, the full cell with BTA-PB-1.6 as the cathode and HC as the anode provides a considerable energy density of 312.2 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 291.0 W kg-1. This research not only enhances the Na storage performance of Fe-PB but also increases the yield of products obtained by hydrothermal methods, providing some technical reference for the production of PB materials using the low-yield hydrothermal method.

[Effect of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin on Platelet Reconstitution after Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on platelet (PLT) reconstitution after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: The clinical data of 147 MM patients who were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and received APBSCT as the first-line therapy were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether rhTPO was used during APBSCT, the patients were divided into rhTPO group (80 cases) and control group (67 cases). The time of PLT engraftment, blood product infusion requirements, the proportion of patients with PLT recovery to≥50×109/L and≥100×109/L at +14 days and +100 days after transplantation, and adverse reactions including the incidence of bleeding were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age, M protein type, PLT count at the initial diagnosis, median duration of induction therapy before APBSCT, and number of CD34+ cells reinfused (all P >0.05). The median time of PLT engraftment in the rhTPO group was 10 (6-14) days, which was shorter than 11 (8-23) days in the control group (P < 0.001). The median PLT transfusion requirement in the rhTPO group during APBSCT was 15(0-50)U, which was less than 20 (0-80)U in the control group (P =0.001). At +14 days after transplantation, the proportions of patients with PLT≥50×109/L in the rhTPO group and the control group were 66.3% and 52.2%, while the proportions of patients with PLT≥100×109/L were 23.8% and 11.9%, respectively, with no significant differences (all P >0.05). At +100 days after transplantation, the proportion of patients with PLT≥50×109/L in rhTPO group and control group was 96.3% and 89.6%, respectively (P >0.05), but the proportion of patients with PLT≥100×109/L in rhTPO group was higher than that in control group (75.0% vs 55.2%, P =0.012). There was no difference in the overall incidence of bleeding events in different locations during period of low PLT level of patients between the two groups. In rhTPO group, the rhTPO administration was well tolerated, and the incidences of abnormal liver and kidney function and infection were similar to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: When MM patients undergo first-line APBSCT, subcutaneous injection of rhTPO can shorten the time of platelet engraftment, reduce the transfusion volume of blood products, and be well tolerated, moreover, more patients have achieve a high level of PLT recovery after transplantation, which is very important for ensuring the safety of APBSCT and maintenance therapy.

Alleviating Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator-induced Hemorrhagic Transformation in Ischemic Stroke via Targeted Delivery of a Ferroptosis Inhibitor.

Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the primary treatment for ischemic stroke. However, rtPA treatment can substantially increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and susceptibility to hemorrhagic transformation. Herein, the mechanism underlying the side effects of rtPA treatment is investigated and demonstrated that ferroptosis plays an important role. The ferroptosis inhibitor, liproxstatin-1 (Lip) is proposed to alleviate the side effects. A well-designed macrocyclic carrier, glucose-modified azocalix[4]arene (GluAC4A), is prepared to deliver Lip to the ischemic site. GluAC4A bound tightly to Lip and markedly improved its solubility. Glucose, modified at the upper rim of GluAC4A, imparts BBB targeting to the drug delivery system owing to the presence of glucose transporter 1 on the BBB surface. The responsiveness of GluAC4A to hypoxia due to the presence of azo groups enabled the targeted release of Lip at the ischemic site. GluAC4A successfully improved drug accumulation in the brain, and Lip@GluAC4A significantly reduced ferroptosis, BBB leakage, and neurological deficits induced by rtPA in vivo. These findings deepen the understanding of the side effects of rtPA treatment and provide a novel strategy for their effective mitigation, which is of great significance for the treatment and prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia contributes to smoking-related emphysema through IRF1-triggered PANoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells.

Cigarette smoke (CS), the main source of indoor air pollution and the primary risk factor for respiratory diseases, contains chemicals that can perturb microbiota through antibiotic effects. Although smoking induces a disturbance of microbiota in the lower respiratory tract, whether and how it contributes to initiation or promotion of emphysema are not well clarified. Here, we demonstrated an aberrant microbiome in lung tissue of patients with smoking-related COPD. We found that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) was expanded in lung tissue of patients with smoking-related COPD. We revealed that S. maltophilia drives PANoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells and represses formation of alveolar organoids through IRF1 (interferon regulatory factor 1). Mechanistically, IRF1 accelerated transcription of ZBP1 (Z-DNA Binding Protein 1) in S. maltophilia-infected alveolar epithelial cells. Elevated ZBP1 served as a component of the PANoptosome, which triggered PANoptosis in these cells. By using of alveolar organoids infected by S. maltophilia, we found that targeting of IRF1 mitigated S. maltophilia-induced injury of these organoids. Moreover, the expansion of S. maltophilia and the expression of IRF1 negatively correlated with the progression of emphysema. Thus, the present study provides insights into the mechanism of lung dysbiosis in smoking-related COPD, and presents a potential target for mitigation of COPD progression.

NIR-absorbing and emitting α,α-nitrogen-bridged BODIPY dimers with strong excitonic coupling.

Three new distinct NIR α,α-NH-bridged BODIPY dimers were prepared by a direct nucleophilic substitution reaction. The synergistic effects of the nitrogen bridges and strong excitonic coupling between each BODIPY unit play major roles in enhancing the delocalization of an electron spin over the entire BODIPY dimers. The in situ formed aminyl radical dimer showed an absorption maximum at 1040 nm.

Dual Nonradical Catalytic Pathways Mediated by Nanodiamond-Derived sp2/sp3 Hybrids for Sustainable Peracetic Acid Activation and Water Decontamination.

Peracetic acid (PAA) oxidation catalyzed by metal-free carbons is promising for advanced water decontamination. Nevertheless, developing reaction-oriented and high-performance carbocatalysts has been limited by the ambiguous understanding of the intrinsic relationship between carbon chemical/molecular structure and PAA transformation behavior. Herein, we comprehensively investigated the PAA activation using a family of well-defined sp2/sp3 carbon hybrids from annealed nanodiamonds (ANDs). The activity of ANDs displays a volcano-type trend, with respect to the sp2/sp3 ratio. Intriguingly, sp3-C-enriched AND exhibits the best catalytic activity for PAA activation and phenolic oxidation, which is different from persulfate chemistry in which the sp2 network normally outperforms sp3 hybridization. At the electron-rich sp2-C site, PAA undergoes a reduction reaction to generate a reactive complex (AND-PAA*) and induces an electron-transfer oxidation pathway. At the sp3-C site adjacent to C═O, PAA is oxidized to surface-confined OH* and O* successively, which ultimately evolves into singlet oxygen (1O2) as the primary reactive species. Benefiting from the dual nonradical regimes on sp2/sp3 hybrids, AND mediates a sustainable redox recycle with PAA to continuously generate reactive species to attack water contaminants, meanwhile maintaining structural/chemical integrity and exceptional reusability in cyclic runs.

Deletion of Luzp2 Does Not Cause Hearing Loss in Mice.

Deafness is the prevailing sensory impairment among humans, impacting every aspect of one's existence. Half of congenital deafness cases are attributed to genetic factors. Studies have shown that Luzp2 is expressed in hair cells (HCs) and supporting cells of the inner ear, but its specific role in hearing remains unclear. To determine the importance of Luzp2 in auditory function, we generated mice deficient in Luzp2. Our results revealed that Luzp2 has predominant expression within the HCs and pillar cells. However, the loss of Luzp2 did not result in any changes in auditory threshold. HCs or synapse number and HC stereocilia morphology in Luzp2 knockout mice did not show any notable distinctions. This was the first study of the role of Luzp2 in hearing in mice, and our results provide important guidance for the screening of deafness genes.

Effectiveness of Histopathological Examination of Ultrasound-guided Puncture Biopsy Samples for Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Methods: This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. A total of 115 patients underwent ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy, followed by MGIT 960 culture (culture), smear, GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), and histopathological examination. These assays were performed to evaluate their effectiveness in diagnosing EPTB in comparison to two different diagnostic criteria: liquid culture and composite reference standard (CRS). Results: When CRS was used as the reference standard, the sensitivity and specificity of culture, smear, Xpert, and histopathological examination were (44.83%, 89.29%), (51.72%, 89.29%), (70.11%, 96.43%), and (85.06%, 82.14%), respectively. Based on liquid culture tests, the sensitivity and specificity of smear, Xpert, and pathological examination were (66.67%, 72.60%), (83.33%, 63.01%), and (92.86%, 45.21%), respectively. Histopathological examination showed the highest sensitivity but lowest specificity. Further, we found that the combination of Xpert and histopathological examination showed a sensitivity of 90.80% and a specificity of 89.29%. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided puncture sampling is safe and effective for the diagnosis of EPTB. Compared with culture, smear, and Xpert, histopathological examination showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity. The combination of histopathology with Xpert showed the best performance characteristics.

Nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to Fe(III) reduction as a source of ammonium and nitrous oxide.

'Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens' is an archaeal methanotroph with global importance that links carbon and nitrogen cycles and great potential for sustainable operation of wastewater treatment. It has been reported to mediate the anaerobic oxidation of methane through a reverse methanogenesis pathway while reducing nitrate to nitrite. Here, we demonstrate that 'Ca. M. nitroreducens' reduces ferric iron forming ammonium (23.1 %) and nitrous oxide (N2O, 46.5 %) from nitrate. These results are supported with the upregulation of genes coding for proteins responsible for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (nrfA), N2O formation (norV, cyt P460), and multiple multiheme c-type cytochromes for ferric iron reduction. Concomitantly, an increase in the N2O-reducing SJA-28 lineage and a decrease in the nitrite-reducing 'Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera' are consistent with the changes in 'Ca. M. nitroreducens' end products. These findings demonstrate the highly flexible physiology of 'Ca. M. nitroreducens' in anaerobic ecosystems with diverse electron acceptor conditions, and further reveals its roles in linking methane oxidation to global biogeochemical cycles. 'Ca. M. nitroreducens' could significantly affect the bioavailability of nitrogen sources as well as the emission of greenhouse gas in natural ecosystems and wastewater treatment plants.

Dextromethorphan moderates reward deficiency associated with central serotonin transporter availability in 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine-treated animals.

BACKGROUND: The neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) to the serotonergic system is well-documented. Dextromethorphan (DM), an antitussive drug, decreased morphine- or methamphetamine (MA)-induced reward in rats and may prevent MDMA-induced serotonergic deficiency in primates, as indicated by increased serotonin transporter (SERT) availability. We aimed to investigate the effects of DM on reward, behavioral sensitization, and neurotoxicity associated with loss of SERT induced by chronic MDMA administration in rats. METHODS: Conditioned place preference (CPP) and locomotor activity tests were used to evaluate drug-induced reward and behavioral sensitization; 4-[18F]-ADAM/animal-PET and immunohistochemistry were used to explore the effects of DM on MDMA-induced loss of SERT. RESULTS: MDMA significantly reduced SERT binding in the rat brain; however, co-administration of DM significantly restored SERT, enhancing the recovery rate at day 14 by an average of ~23% compared to the MDMA group. In confirmation of the PET findings, immunochemistry revealed MDMA reduced SERT immunoactivity in all brain regions, whereas DM markedly increased the serotonergic fiber density after MDMA induction. CONCLUSION: Behavioral tests and in vivo longitudinal PET imaging demonstrated the CPP indexes and locomotor activities of the reward system correlate negatively with PET 4-[18F]ADAM SERT activity in the reward system. Our findings suggest MDMA induces functional abnormalities in a network of brain regions important to decision-making processes and the motivation circuit. DM may exert neuroprotective effects to reverse MDMA-induced neurotoxicity.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral α,α-Dialkyl Aminonitriles via Reaction of Cyanoketimines.

Chiral aminonitriles not only are broadly useful building blocks but also increasingly appear as structural motifs in bioactive molecules and pharmaceuticals. The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral aminonitriles, therefore, has been intensively investigated, as reflected in numerous reports of catalytic asymmetric Strecker reactions. Despite such great progress, the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral α,α-dialkyl aminonitriles in a highly selective and efficient manner is still a formidable challenge. Here, we report a new approach for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral α,α-dialkyl aminonitriles via reaction of cyanoketimines with enals. We demonstrate that this reaction could be carried out with as low as 20 ppm catalyst loading.