scMMT: a multi-use deep learning approach for cell annotation, protein prediction and embedding in single-cell RNA-seq data.

Accurate cell type annotation in single-cell RNA-sequencing data is essential for advancing biological and medical research, particularly in understanding disease progression and tumor microenvironments. However, existing methods are constrained by single feature extraction approaches, lack of adaptability to immune cell types with similar molecular profiles but distinct functions and a failure to account for the impact of cell label noise on model accuracy, all of which compromise the precision of annotation. To address these challenges, we developed a supervised approach called scMMT. We proposed a novel feature extraction technique to uncover more valuable information. Additionally, we constructed a multi-task learning framework based on the GradNorm method to enhance the recognition of challenging immune cells and reduce the impact of label noise by facilitating mutual reinforcement between cell type annotation and protein prediction tasks. Furthermore, we introduced logarithmic weighting and label smoothing mechanisms to enhance the recognition ability of rare cell types and prevent model overconfidence. Through comprehensive evaluations on multiple public datasets, scMMT has demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in various aspects including cell type annotation, rare cell identification, dropout and label noise resistance, protein expression prediction and low-dimensional embedding representation.

Genome-wide identification of phasiRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana, and insights into biogenesis, temperature sensitivity, and organ specificity.

The knowledge of biogenesis and target regulation of the phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) needs continuous update, since the phasiRNA loci are dynamically evolved in plants. Here, hundreds of phasiRNA loci of Arabidopsis thaliana were identified in distinct tissues and under different temperature. In flowers, most of the 24-nt loci are RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2)-dependent, while the 21-nt loci are RDR6-dependent. Among the RDR-dependent loci, a significant portion is Dicer-like 1-dependent, indicating the involvement of microRNAs in their expression. Besides, two TAS candidates were discovered. Some interesting features of the phasiRNA loci were observed, such as the strong strand bias of phasiRNA generation, and the capacity of one locus for producing phasiRNAs by different increments. Both organ specificity and temperature sensitivity were observed for phasiRNA expression. In leaves, the TAS genes are highly activated under low temperature. Several trans-acting siRNA-target pairs are also temperature-sensitive. In many cases, the phasiRNA expression patterns correlate well with those of the processing signals. Analysis of the rRNA-depleted degradome uncovered several phasiRNA loci to be RNA polymerase II-independent. Our results should advance the understanding on phasiRNA biogenesis and regulation in plants.

Study on the mechanism of Na2CO3-roasting decomposition for water leach residue.

In the process of treating cerium fluorocarbon-cerium lanthanide mixed rare earth concentrates by sulfuric acid roasting method, a large amount of waste leach residue containing iron, rare earths and phosphorus produced by flood neutralization needs to be solved urgently. In this paper, sodium carbonate roasting decomposition was used to treat the water leach residue, in which iron and rare earths were transformed into oxides, and the phosphorus was transformed into sodium phosphate. The main reactions and thermodynamic mechanisms of the roasting decomposition process were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, phase analysis and chemical analysis. When the mass ratio of sodium carbonate to water leach residue is 1.5:1, the roasting temperature is 700 °C, and the roasting time is 1.5 h, the leaching rate of phosphorus with the roasted product reaches more than 98%. Meanwhile, the phase of the roasted product after washing mainly consists of iron oxide and rare earth oxides. The combination of sodium carbonate roasting decomposition and water leaching is effective for the treatment of water leach residue, which provides an experimental and theoretical basis for solving the problem of environmental and resource waste caused by the accumulation of a large amount of water leach residue. In addition, because sodium carbonate can achieve the separation of iron and phosphorus, this method also has certain reference value for the recovery and utilization of iron phosphate in lithium iron phosphate battery waste.

Real-time nearfield acoustic holography using particle velocity.

In this paper, a series of impulse response functions between acoustic quantities on the source plane and particle velocity on the hologram plane are derived. In virtue of these functions, real-time nearfield acoustic holography (RT-NAH) is extended from pressure-based to particle velocity. Pressure, normal velocity, acceleration, and displacement radiated from planar sources can be reconstructed by measuring time-dependent particle velocity signals on the hologram plane. A simulation of an excited aluminum plate is performed to evaluate the difference in accuracy between RT-NAHs based on pressure and based on particle velocity. This study also examines the impact of impulse response functions on the reconstruction results, allowing for detailed analysis of the reconstruction accuracy based on these functions. The simulation results demonstrate that using RT-NAH based on particle velocity obtains significantly higher-accuracy reconstruction results when reconstructing normal velocity and displacement and slightly more accurate reconstructed pressure and normal acceleration.

Influence of l-NAME -induced hypertension on spermatogenesis and sperm tsRNA profile in mice.

Sperm is the key media between the father's aberrant exposure and the offspring's phenotype. Whether paternal hypertension affects offspring through sperm epigenetics remains to be explored. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we constructed a hypertensive mice model induced by drinking l-NAME and found that spermatocytes and spermatids in the testis were increased significantly after l-NAME treatment. The sequencing of sperm showed that tsRNA profiles changed with 315 tsRNAs (195 up-regulated and 120 down-regulated) altered. Meanwhile, KEGG pathway analysis showed that the target genes of these altered tsRNAs were involved in influencing some important signaling pathways, such as the cAMP signaling path, the mTOR signaling path, the Hippo signaling path, and the Ras signaling path. Bioinformatics of tsRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathway interactions revealed several ceRNA mechanisms, such as tsRNA-00051, the ceRNA of miR-128-1-5p, co-targeting Agap1. This study provides evidence for enriching and further understanding the pathophysiology and paternal epigenetic mechanisms of testicular reproduction, as well as contributing to a rethinking of the transgenerational reprogramming mechanisms of paternal exposure in hypertension.

Hippocampal subfield morphology in regular hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampal alterations have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients. The hippocampus consists of several distinct subfields, and the molecular mechanisms underlying cognition might be associated with specific hippocampal subfield volume changes. However, this has not yet been investigated in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to explore volumetric abnormalities in hippocampal subfields in regular hemodialysis patients. METHODS: High-resolution T1-weighted structural images were collected in 61 subjects including 36 hemodialysis patients and 25 healthy controls. A state-of-the-art hippocampal segmentation approach was adopted to segment the hippocampal subfields. Group differences in hippocampal subfield volumes were assessed in Python with a statsmodels module using an ordinary least squares regression with age and sex as nuisance effects. RESULTS: Hemodialysis patients had significantly smaller volumes in the bilateral hippocampus (P < .05/2, Bonferroni corrected), cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), CA4, granule cell and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, hippocampus-amygdala transition area and molecular layer of the hippocampus than healthy controls (P < .05/24, Bonferroni corrected). Hemodialysis patients also had lower volumes in the left hippocampal tail and right fimbria than healthy controls (P < .05/24, Bonferroni corrected). Hippocampal subfield volumes were associated with neuropsychological test scores, the duration of disease and hemoglobin levels. CONCLUSIONS: We found smaller hippocampal subfield volumes in hemodialysis patients, which were associated with impaired cognition, supporting their role in memory disturbance in the hemodialysis population. However, multiple clinical factors may have confounded the results, and therefore, the interpretation of these results needs to be cautious.

Sex differences in residual somatic symptoms in patients with first-episode depression after acute-phase treatment.

BACKGROUND: Residual somatic symptoms (RSS) are common in depressed patients, predicting treatment effectiveness. However, sex differences in RSS have received little systematic study. This study was conducted to compare sex differences of RSS in patients with first-episode depression (FED). METHODS: Nine hundred eighty-two patients with FED were selected and treated for 8 to 12 weeks. We evaluated the subjects' socio-demographic characteristics and residual depressive symptoms. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) scale to assess residual somatic symptoms, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) for the assessment of patients' function, the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) for quality of life. RESULTS: The incidence of RSS with FED was 46.4%. For patients with residual symptoms, the age and age of onset in females were higher than males, but males had more years of education than females. The degree of "stomach pain" in females was more severe than in males, while "trouble sleeping" in males was more severe than that in females. Multiple regression analysis showed that the total Q-LES-Q-SF score was an independent influencing factor of RSS in both males and females, while the total SDS score only affected female RSS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of RSS in FED after acute-phase treatment is high. The symptom of "stomachache" is more pronounced in females, while "trouble sleeping" is more severe in males. Quality of life plays an essential role in RSS in both genders. Thus, sex needs to be considered when assessing the relationship between RSS and therapeutic effect in depression.

Death Anxiety During COVID-19 and its Related Factors among Chinese Elderly People.

This study aimed at investigating death anxiety and its related factors in Chinese elderly people during COVID-19. This study totally interviewed 264 participants from four cities in different regions of China. Death anxiety scale (DAS), NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (Neo-FFI) and Brief COPE were scored on the basis of one-on-one interviews. Quarantine experience didn't make significant difference in death anxiety among the elderly; Elderly people with high death anxiety had higher scores of neuroticism, and were more likely to use a Behavior Disengagement coping strategy; Multiple linear regression analysis showed that neuroticism, openness and COVID impact predicted 44.6% of the variance in the death anxiety among elderly people. The results support both theories of vulnerability-stress model and terror management theory (TMT). In the post-epidemic era, we suggest to pay attention to the mental health status of elderly people with personality susceptibility to handling the stress of infection badly.

Opposing actions of CRF-R1 and CB1 receptor on facial stimulation-induced MLI-PC plasticity in mouse cerebellar cortex.

BACKGROUND: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the major neuromodulator orchestrating the stress response, and is secreted by neurons in various regions of the brain. Cerebellar CRF is released by afferents from inferior olivary neurons and other brainstem nuclei in response to stressful challenges, and contributes to modulation of synaptic plasticity and motor learning behavior via its receptors. We recently found that CRF modulates facial stimulation-evoked molecular layer interneuron-Purkinje cell (MLI-PC) synaptic transmission via CRF type 1 receptor (CRF-R1) in vivo in mice, suggesting that CRF modulates sensory stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic plasticity. However, the mechanism of how CRF modulates MLI-PC synaptic plasticity is unclear. We investigated the effect of CRF on facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC long-term depression (LTD) in urethane-anesthetized mice by cell-attached recording technique and pharmacological methods. RESULTS: Facial stimulation at 1 Hz induced LTD of MLI-PC synaptic transmission under control conditions, but not in the presence of CRF (100 nM). The CRF-abolished MLI-PC LTD was restored by application of a selective CRF-R1 antagonist, BMS-763,534 (200 nM), but it was not restored by application of a selective CRF-R2 antagonist, antisauvagine-30 (200 nM). Blocking cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor abolished the facial stimulation-induced MLI-PC LTD, and revealed a CRF-triggered MLI-PC long-term potentiation (LTP) via CRF-R1. Notably, either inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with chelerythrine (5 µM) or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ with cyclopiazonic acid (100 µM), completely prevented CRF-triggered MLI-PC LTP in mouse cerebellar cortex in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicated that CRF blocked sensory stimulation-induced opioid-dependent MLI-PC LTD by triggering MLI-PC LTP through CRF-R1/PKC and intracellular Ca2+ signaling pathway in mouse cerebellar cortex. These results suggest that activation of CRF-R1 opposes opioid-mediated cerebellar MLI-PC plasticity in vivo in mice.

Combining Blood-Based Biomarkers to Predict Mortality of Sepsis at Arrival at the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND Our aim was to determine a useful combination of blood biomarkers that can predict 28-day mortality of sepsis upon arrival at the Emergency Department (ED). MATERIAL AND METHODS Based on Sepsis-3.0, 90 sepsis patients were enrolled and divided into survivor and nonsurvivor groups with day 28 as the study end point. After comparing the demographic data and clinical characteristics of patients, we evaluated the predictive validity of a combination of markers including interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate at arrival at the ED. Independent risk factors were found by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and the prognostic value of markers was determined by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS There were 67 (74.4%) survivors and 23 (25.6%) nonsurvivors. The levels of IL-6 (survivors vs nonsurvivors: median 205.30 vs 3499.00 pg/mL, P=0.012) and lactate (survivors vs. nonsurvivors: median 2.37 vs 5.77 mmol/L, P=0.003) were significantly lower in survivor group compared with the nonsurvivor group. Markers including IL-6, PCT, lactate, and neutrophil-to-white blood cell ratio (NWR) were independent risk factors in predicting 28-day mortality due to sepsis. The combination of these 4 markers provided the best predictive performance for 28-day mortality of patients with sepsis, on arrival at the ED (AUC of 0.823, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.723-0.924), and its accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were 74.4% (95% CI 64.0-82.8%), 91% (95% CI 80.9-96.3%), and 65% (95% CI 42.8-82.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of IL-6, PCT, lactate, and NWR measurements is a potential predictor of 28-day mortality for patients with sepsis, at arrival at the ED. Further research is needed to confirm our findings.

Polydatin inhibits ZEB1-invoked epithelial-mesenchymal transition in fructose-induced liver fibrosis.

High fructose intake is a risk factor for liver fibrosis. Polydatin is a main constituent of the rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of fructose-driven liver fibrosis as well as the actions of polydatin are not fully understood. In this study, fructose was found to promote zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) nuclear translocation, decrease microRNA-203 (miR-203) expression, increase survivin, activate transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1)/Smad signalling, down-regulate E-cadherin, and up-regulate fibroblast specific protein 1 (FSP1), vimentin, N-cadherin and collagen I (COL1A1) in rat livers and BRL-3A cells, in parallel with fructose-induced liver fibrosis. Furthermore, ZEB1 nuclear translocation-mediated miR-203 low-expression was found to target survivin to activate TGF-ß1/Smad signalling, causing the EMT in fructose-exposed BRL-3A cells. Polydatin antagonized ZEB1 nuclear translocation to up-regulate miR-203, subsequently blocked survivin-activated TGF-ß1/Smad signalling, which were consistent with its protection against fructose-induced EMT and liver fibrosis. These results suggest that ZEB1 nuclear translocation may play an essential role in fructose-induced EMT in liver fibrosis by targeting survivin to activate TGF-ß1/Smad signalling. The suppression of ZEB1 nuclear translocation by polydatin may be a novel strategy for attenuating the EMT in liver fibrosis associated with high fructose diet.

Association between residual symptoms and social functioning in patients with depression.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of data about residual symptoms in Chinese patients with depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of residual symptoms with social functional impairment in these patients. METHODS: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in 11 hospitals in eight cities of China from September 2014 to April 2015. Residual symptoms and social functioning were assessed using the SDS, QIDS-SR16, Q-LES-Q-SF, and PHQ-15 scales. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with social functional impairment. RESULTS: Among the 1503 patients, 915 (60.9%) had no functional impairment (SDS ≤6) and 588 (39.1%) showed functional impairment (SDS >6). Those with impairment had higher PHQ-15 scores (7.4 ± 4.8 vs. 4.0 ± 3.4, P < 0.0001), lower Q-LES-Q-SF scores (all items P < 0.0001), higher SDS scores (13.9 ± 5.7 vs. 2.8 ± 2.2, P < 0.0001), and higher scores for all QIDS dimensions (all P < .0001). The factors related to functional impairment included QIDS dimension 7 (loss of interest) (OR = 2.137, 95%CI 1.600-2.853, P < 0.0001), QIDS dimension 9 (mental anxiety) (OR = 1.627, 95%CI 1.215-2.180, P = 0.0011), QIDS dimension 3 (appetite) (OR = 1.502, 95%CI 1.141-1.977, P = 0.0037), QIDS dimension 8 (energy) (OR = 1.468, 95%CI 1.092-1.973, P = 0.0110), age (OR = 0.982, 95%CI 0.971-0.993, P = 0.0013), disease course (OR = -1.004, 95%CI 1.002-1.006, P = 0.0004), and QIDS dimension 1 (sleep disorders) (OR = 1.622, 95%CI 1.068-2.463, P = 0.0232). CONCLUSION: Compared with patients with normal social function, cases with impaired social function have more physical symptoms, more residual symptoms of depression, and less satisfaction with the quality of life. Residual symptoms are associated with social functional impairment in patients with depression.

Mechanisms of Etomidate-Mediated Decrease of Spontaneous Spike Activity of Mouse Cerebellar Purkinje Cells in vivo.

Etomidate is an imidazole, nonbarbiturate hypnotic agent that is increasingly used in procedural sedation. However, the effects of etomidate on the spontaneous activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) in living mouse have not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of etomidate on the spontaneous simple spike (SS) activity of PCs in urethane-anesthetized mice by cell-attached recording and pharmacological methods. Cerebellar surface application of etomidate (50 µmol\L) reduced the SS firing rate in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 43.4 µmol\L). Application of either a γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor antagonist, SR95531 (20 µmol\L) or a glycine receptor antagonist strychnine (10 µmol\L) significantly attenuated but not abolished the etomidate-induced decrease in PC SS firing rate. However, co-application of SR95531 (20 µmol\L) and strychnine (10 µmol\L) abolished the etomidate-induced decrease in PC SS firing rate. Moreover, intraperitoneal injection of etomidate (3 mg/kg body weight) also induced a significant depression in PC SS firing rate, which was blocked by the co-application of SR95531 and strychnine on the cerebellar surface. These results indicate that both GABAA and glycine receptors are involved in the etomidate-induced decrease in PC SS firing rate in vivo in mice.

A novel combination of quick response code and microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for rapid and quantitative detection.

Nowadays, there is great interest in the use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) for low-cost diagnostics. In most cases, the test equipment is needed. Here we report a new type of device-independent detection method based on timer-paper-based analytical devices, which can be tested by smartphone, and its application for cholesterol detection. The Quick Response code was designed as the timer component of this device. Wax printing method was employed to print the pattern on filter paper. The color and enzyme reagents have been immobilized in the hydrophilic channel to complete the colorimetric detection for cholesterol. Under laminar flow conditions of the cellulose network, the liquid volume of detection zone has been quantified by monitoring the fluid residence time on different area of the timer-paper-based devices. The precise monitoring of detection time can promote the accuracy of colorimetric detection. This is very important for the quantitative detection of paper-based analytical devices. One significant outcome of this report is that simple and accurate timer can be used for detection process self-clocking. The factors of total detection time have been investigated. The linear range of the calibration curve was 3.0 ~ 6.0 mmol L-1, with correlation coefficient of 0.9956. With the characteristic of easy to use, low cost and accurate monitoring of detection time, this kind of timer-paper-based devices can be applied to cholesterol or other substances rapid detection.

Curcumin and allopurinol ameliorate fructose-induced hepatic inflammation in rats via miR-200a-mediated TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition.

Excess fructose consumption causes high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and inflammatory liver diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of curcumin and allopurinol in high fructose-induced hepatic inflammation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were supplied with standard rat chow and drinking water containing 10% (w/v) fructose for consecutive 12 weeks. Curcumin (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) and allopurinol (5 mg/kg) were administered to rats via oral gavage daily from Week 7 to 12. For in vitro experiments, curcumin (2.5 µM) and allopurinol (100 µM) were treated to 5 mM fructose-exposed Buffalo rat liver cell line (BRL-3 A) and human hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2), respectively. The data from these animal and hepatocyte models showed that curcumin and allopurinol ameliorated fructose-induced metabolic symptom, especially hepatic inflammation in rats. Interestingly, down-regulation of microRNA-200a (miR-200a) was screened out in livers of fructose-fed rats and then validated in fructose-exposed BRL-3 A and HepG2 cells. Fructose-induced miR-200a low-expression was identified as a negative mediator of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) by direct targeting of 3'UTR-rTXNIP, subsequently activating the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in BRL-3 A cells. Curcumin, as well as allopurinol, notably up-regulated miR-200a expression, accordingly, down-regulated TXNIP and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in fructose-fed rat livers and fructose-exposed BRL-3 A and HepG2 cells. Taken together, this study firstly identified miR-200a as a biomarker of fructose-induced hepatic inflammation, and revealed the hepatoprotection of curcumin and allopurinol via up-regulating miR-200a-mediated TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Synthesis of core-shell structured FAU/SBA-15 composite molecular sieves and their performance in catalytic cracking of polystyrene.

Composite molecular sieves, FAU/SBA-15, having core-shell structure were synthesized. The synthesized composite sieves were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), pyrolysis fourier transform infrared (Py-FTIR) spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption spectra (NH3-TPD), UV Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other techniques. XRD, SEM, TEM, N2 adsorption-desorption, mass spectrometry, NMR and EDS results showed that the composite molecular sieve contained two pore channels. Py-FTIR results showed that the addition of HY molecular sieves improved the acidity of the composite zeolite. The crystallization mechanism during the growth of FAU/SBA-15 shell was deduced from the influence of crystallization time on the synthesis of FAU/SBA-15 core-shell structured composite molecular sieve. HY dissociated partially in H2SO4 solution, and consisted of secondary structural units. This framework structure was more stable than its presence in the isolated form on the same ring or in the absence of Al. Thus it played a guiding role and connected with SBA-15 closely through the Si-O bond. This resulted in the gradual covering of the exterior surface of FAU phase by SBA-15 molecular sieves. The presence of SBA-15 restricted the formation of the other high mass components and increased the selectivity towards ethylbenzene.

Up-regulated fractalkine (FKN) and its receptor CX3CR1 are involved in fructose-induced neuroinflammation: Suppression by curcumin.

Recent studies suggest that diet-induced fractalkine (FKN) stimulates neuroinflammation in animal models of obesity, yet how it occurs is unclear. This study investigated the role of FKN and it receptor, CX3CR1, in fructose-induced neuroinflammation, and examined curcumin's beneficial effect. Fructose feeding was found to induce hippocampal microglia activation with neuroinflammation through the activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling, resulting in the reduction of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of mice. Serum FKN levels, as well as hypothalamic FKN and CX3CR1 gene expression, were significantly increased in fructose-fed mice with hypothalamic microglia activation. Hippocampal gene expression of FKN and CX3CR1 was also up-regulated at 14d and normalized at 56d in mice fed with fructose, which were consistent with the change of GFAP. Furthermore, immunostaining showed that GFAP and FKN expression was increased in cornu amonis 1, but decreased in DG in fructose-fed mice. In vitro studies showed that GFAP and FKN expression was stimulated in astrocytes, and suppressed in mixed glial cells exposed to 48h-fructose, with the continual increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, increased FKN and CX3CR1 may cause a cross-talk between activated glial cells and neurons, playing an important role in the development of neuroinflammation in fructose-fed mice. Curcumin protected against neuronal damage in hippocampal DG of fructose-fed mice by inhibiting microglia activation and suppressed FKN/CX3CR1 up-regulation in the neuronal network. These results suggest a new therapeutic approach to protect against neuronal damage associated with dietary obesity-associated neuroinflammation.

Cognitive training can reduce the rate of cognitive aging: a neuroimaging cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The neural mechanisms underlying the restorative effects of cognitive training on aging brains remain unclear. To address this issue, we examined the relationship between changes in spontaneous brain activity and cognitive performance that occur after cognitive training. METHODS: Participants were older adults who were part of a randomized control trial within a larger longitudinal cognitive training study. We conducted single-domain and multi-domain cognitive training in two respective intervention groups. Participants were trained for 1 h, twice a week, for 12 weeks. Cognition was assessed in all participants and magnetic resonance images were obtained at baseline and 1 year after training. To assess spontaneous fluctuations in brain activity, we acquired resting-state fMRI data. Two indices-functional entropy and time-domain entropy-were used to measure the effects of training. Functional entropy increases with aging, and indicates disruptions in functional conectivity. Time-domain entropy decreases with aging, and indicates structural alterations in the brain and blood-flow reduction. RESULTS: Seventy participants completed the study: 26 in the multi-domain cognitive training group (70.38 ± 3.30 yrs), 27 in single-domain group (70.48 ± 3.93 yrs), and 17 in a control group (68.59 ± 3.24 yrs). Functional entropy increased significantly less in the multi-domain (p = 0.047) and single-domain groups (p = 9.51 × 10(-4)) compared with the control group. In the multi-domain group, this was true in the paracentral lobule (p = 0.004, Bonferroni corrected p < 0.05). Time-domain entropy also improved with training. Compared with controls, time-domain entropy in the multi-domain group decreased less in the inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis (p = 3.59 × 10(-4)), the medial part of superior frontal gyrus (p = 1.17 × 10(-5)), and the thalamus (p = 4.72 × 10(-5)), while that in the single-domain group decreased less in the cuneus (p = 2.58 × 10(-4), Bonferroni corrected p < 0.05). Additionally, changes in regional entropy for some regions such as hippocampus significantly correlated with improvements in cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive training can induce plastic changes in neural functional connectivity of healthy older people, and these changes may underlie the positive effect of cognitive training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-TRC-08000732 (Date of registration: 5th November, 2008).

Altered Neural Correlates of Emotion Associated Pain Processing in Persistent Somatoform Pain Disorder: An fMRI Study.

Patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder (PSPD) suffer from long-term pain and emotional conflicts. Recently, accumulating evidence indicated that emotion has a significant role in pain perception of somatoform pain disorder. To further understand the association between emotion and pain-related brain activities, functional activities of patients with PSPD fulfilling ICD-10 criteria and healthy controls were assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging technology, while participants viewed a series of positive, neutral, or negative pictures with or without pinprick pain stimulation. Results showed that patients with PSPD had altered brain activities in the parietal gyrus, temporal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and parahippocampus in response to pinprick pain stimuli during different emotions compared with the healthy control group. Moreover, patients with PSPD consistently showed hyperactivities in the prefrontal, the fusiform gyrus and the insula in response to negative stimuli under pinprick pain vs. non-pain condition. The current findings provide some insights into the underlying relationship between emotion and pain-related brain activity in patients with PSPD, which is of both theoretical and clinical importance.

Peripheral Templation Generates an M(II) 6 L4 Guest-Binding Capsule.

Pseudo-octahedral M(II) 6 L4 capsules result from the subcomponent self-assembly of 2-formylphenanthroline, threefold-symmetric triamines, and octahedral metal ions. Whereas neutral tetrahedral guests and most of the anions investigated were observed to bind within the central cavity, tetraphenylborate anions bound on the outside, with one phenyl ring pointing into the cavity. This binding configuration is promoted by the complementary arrangement of the phenyl rings of the intercalated guest between the phenanthroline units of the host. The peripherally bound, rapidly exchanging tetraphenylborate anions were found to template an otherwise inaccessible capsular structure in a manner usually associated with slow-exchanging, centrally bound agents. Once formed, this cage was able to bind guests in its central cavity.