Causal mapping of human brain function.

Mapping human brain function is a long-standing goal of neuroscience that promises to inform the development of new treatments for brain disorders. Early maps of human brain function were based on locations of brain damage or brain stimulation that caused a functional change. Over time, this approach was largely replaced by technologies such as functional neuroimaging, which identify brain regions in which activity is correlated with behaviours or symptoms. Despite their advantages, these technologies reveal correlations, not causation. This creates challenges for interpreting the data generated from these tools and using them to develop treatments for brain disorders. A return to causal mapping of human brain function based on brain lesions and brain stimulation is underway. New approaches can combine these causal sources of information with modern neuroimaging and electrophysiology techniques to gain new insights into the functions of specific brain areas. In this Review, we provide a definition of causality for translational research, propose a continuum along which to assess the relative strength of causal information from human brain mapping studies and discuss recent advances in causal brain mapping and their relevance for developing treatments.

Specific Association of Worry With Amyloid-ß But Not Tau in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety disorders and subsyndromal anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent in late life. Recent studies support that anxiety may be a neuropsychiatric symptom during preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) and that higher anxiety is associated with more rapid cognitive decline and progression to cognitive impairment. However, the associations of specific anxiety symptoms with AD pathologies and with co-occurring subjective and objective cognitive changes have not yet been established. METHODS: Baseline data from the A4 and Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration studies were analyzed. Older adult participants (n = 4,486) underwent assessments of anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 item version [STAI]), and cerebral amyloid-beta (Aß; 18F-florbetapir) PET and a subset underwent tau (18F-flortaucipir) PET. Linear regressions estimated associations of Aß in a cortical composite and tau in the amygdala, entorhinal, and inferior temporal regions with STAI-Total and individual STAI item scores. Models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, depression, Apolipoprotein ε4 genotype, and subjective and objective cognition (Cognitive Function Index-participant; Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite). RESULTS: Greater Aß deposition was significantly associated with higher STAI-Worry, adjusting for all covariates, but not with other STAI items or STAI-Total scores. In mediation analyses, the association of Aß with STAI-Worry was partially mediated by subjective cognition with a stronger direct effect. No associations were found for regional tau deposition with STAI-Total or STAI-Worry score. CONCLUSION: Greater worry was associated with Aß but not tau deposition, independent of subjective and objective cognition in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults. These findings implicate worry as an early, specific behavioral marker and a possible therapeutic target in preclinical AD.

The Neuropsychiatric Approach to the Assessment of Patients in Neurology.

Neuropsychiatry is a clinical neuroscience specialty focused on the evaluation and treatment of patients who present with symptoms at the intersection of neurology and psychiatry. Neuropsychiatrists assess and manage the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and perceptual manifestations of disorders of the central nervous system. Although fellowship training in behavioral neurology-neuropsychiatry exists in the United States and several other countries internationally, the need for neuropsychiatric expertise greatly outweighs the number of specialists in practice or training. This article serves as a primer for both neurologists and psychiatrists seeking to improve or refresh their knowledge of the neuropsychiatric assessment, including detailing aspects of the history-taking, physical exam, psychometric testing, and associated diagnostic work-up. In doing so, we urge the next generation of neurologists and psychiatrists to take on both the opportunity and challenge to work at the intersection of both clinical neuroscience specialties using an integrated neuropsychiatric perspective.

Neuromodulation Treatments for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-concussive Symptoms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can result in prolonged post-concussive symptoms (e.g., depression, headaches, cognitive impairment) that are debilitating and difficult to treat. This article reviews recent research on neuromodulation for mTBI. RECENT FINDINGS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is the most studied neuromodulation approach for mTBI (four studies for depression, four for headache, one for cognitive impairment, and two for global post-concussive symptoms) with promising results for post-concussive depression and headache. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has also been evaluated (one study for post-traumatic headache, and three for cognitive impairment), with more mixed results overall. TMS appears to be a potentially promising neuromodulation treatment strategy for post-concussive symptoms; however, integration into clinical practice will require larger sham-controlled randomized trials with longer and more consistent follow-up periods. Future studies should also explore new stimulation protocols, personalized approaches, and the role of placebo effects.

[Status of HVPG clinical application in China in 2021].

Objective: The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China. Methods: This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems. Results: According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%). Conclusion: Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Efficacy of annual zoledronic acid in initial percutaneous kyphoplasty patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a 3-year follow-up study.

This study investigated the efficacy of annual zoledronic acid (ZOL) administration against previously treated recompression vertebral fractures (RVF) and new vertebral fractures (NVF) in initial percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) over a 3-year follow-up period. INTRODUCTION: Although PKP achieves a satisfactory outcome, previously treated RVF and NVF can limit its effectiveness. The annual infusion of ZOL over 3 years can improve fracture protection, particularly in the vertebrae. We hypothesized that ZOL can reduce the incidence of RVFs and/or NVFs, and improve the clinical outcomes of PKP. METHODS: This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind prospective trial of 154 PKP patients (mean age: 70 years) with OVCFs. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a single infusion of ZOL (5 mg) or placebo (78 ZOL vs. 76 placebo) at 1 week, 12 months, and 24 months after surgery. Patients were followed-up for 36 months. RESULTS: ZOL treatment lowered the risk of RVF by ~ 65% over the 36-month period when compared to placebo controls (6.41% in ZOL vs. 18.42% in placebo groups; relative risk, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.92). ZOL also reduced the risk of NVF by ~ 73% (3.85% in ZOL vs. 14.47% in placebo groups; relative risk, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.92). ZOL also significantly reduced the vertebral height lost rate (HLR) at 12, 24, and 36 months. ZOL also improved the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and bone mineral density (BMD). CONCLUSION: Annual ZOL administration significantly lowers the risk of RVFs and NVFs, improving the clinical outcome of initial PKP in patients with OVCFs over a 3-year follow-up period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000029307.

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus from 1,668 Individuals of Sichuan Area in China.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of liver fibrosis, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HCV, age-dependent prevalence and genotypes distribution in a large number of clinical samples in Sichuan area of China. METHODS: In the past five years from 2014 to 2018, a total number of 4,508 individuals received the serum HCV-RNA analysis in the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. Viral nucleic acid was extracted from the serum samples and amplified using COBAS AmpliPre/COBAS TaqMan Detection Platform. Five HCV genotypes (1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, and 6a) of serum samples from 469 HCV positive individuals collected from 2016 to 2018 were analyzed using the PCR-fluorescence probe technique. RESULTS: A total of 1,668 individuals had positive results by high precision HCV-RNA quantitative technique, corresponding to a crude prevalence of 37.0% (95% confidence interval: 33.6 - 40.3%). The majority of HCV positive individuals were aged over 41 years, accounting for 80.7% (1,346/1,668, CI: 72.3 - 87.1%). Among the nine age groups, the 41 - 50-year age group had the highest HCV prevalence of 29.8% (497/1,668, CI: 25.6 - 32.3%). Of the 469 HCV-RNA positive serum samples collected in 2016 - 2018, genotype 1b was the most frequent type found in 357 individuals, corresponding to a prevalence of 76.1% (CI: 72.3 - 80.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Positive rates of HCV in the years of 2014 to 2018 showed a downward trend year by year, of which a majority of positive cases were aged over 41 years. HCV was distributed with multi-genotype features while genotype 1b yielded a very high prevalence in the Sichuan area. The results have potential for prevention and treatment of HCV infection, as well as epidemiological research.

Liprin-α3 controls vesicle docking and exocytosis at the active zone of hippocampal synapses.

The presynaptic active zone provides sites for vesicle docking and release at central nervous synapses and is essential for speed and accuracy of synaptic transmission. Liprin-α binds to several active zone proteins, and loss-of-function studies in invertebrates established important roles for Liprin-α in neurodevelopment and active zone assembly. However, Liprin-α localization and functions in vertebrates have remained unclear. We used stimulated emission depletion superresolution microscopy to systematically determine the localization of Liprin-α2 and Liprin-α3, the two predominant Liprin-α proteins in the vertebrate brain, relative to other active-zone proteins. Both proteins were widely distributed in hippocampal nerve terminals, and Liprin-α3, but not Liprin-α2, had a prominent component that colocalized with the active-zone proteins Bassoon, RIM, Munc13, RIM-BP, and ELKS. To assess Liprin-α3 functions, we generated Liprin-α3-KO mice by using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. We found reduced synaptic vesicle tethering and docking in hippocampal neurons of Liprin-α3-KO mice, and synaptic vesicle exocytosis was impaired. Liprin-α3 KO also led to mild alterations in active zone structure, accompanied by translocation of Liprin-α2 to active zones. These findings establish important roles for Liprin-α3 in active-zone assembly and function, and suggest that interplay between various Liprin-α proteins controls their active-zone localization.

Use of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric and Neurocognitive Symptoms Associated With Concussion in Military Populations.

BACKGROUND: Since the year 2000, over 342 000 military service members have experienced a concussion, often associated with chronic neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocols have been developed for many of these symptoms in the general population. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a scoping review of the literature on rTMS for neuropsychological and neurocognitive symptoms following concussion. METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar search engines identified 9 articles, written in English, corresponding to the search terms TBI or concussion; and TMS or rTMS; and depression, PTSD, or cognition. Studies that were not therapeutic trials or case reports, did not have neuropsychiatric or neurocognitive primary outcome measures, or described samples where 80% or more of the cohort did not have a TBI were excluded. RESULTS: There were no reports of seizures nor difference in the frequency or quality of other adverse events as compared with the broader rTMS literature, supporting the safety of rTMS in this population. Support for the efficacy of rTMS for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms, in this population, is limited. CONCLUSIONS: Large-scale, innovative, neuroscience-informed protocols are recommended to elucidate the potential utility of rTMS for the complex neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms associated with military concussions.

Customizing TMS Applications in Traumatic Brain Injury Using Neuroimaging.

Optimizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and co-occurring conditions may benefit from neuroimaging-based customization. PARTICIPANTS: Our total sample (N = 97) included 58 individuals with TBI (49 mild, 8 moderate, and 1 severe in a state of disordered consciousness), of which 24 had co-occurring conditions (depression in 14 and alcohol use disorder in 10). Of those without TBI, 6 individuals had alcohol use disorder and 33 were healthy controls. Of our total sample, 54 were veterans and 43 were civilians. DESIGN: Proof-of-concept study incorporating data from 5 analyses/studies that used multimodal approaches to integrate neuroimaging with TMS. MAIN MEASURES: Multimodal neuroimaging methods including structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MRI-guided TMS navigation, functional MRI, diffusion MRI, and TMS-induced electric fields. Outcomes included symptom scales, neuropsychological tests, and physiological measures. RESULTS: It is feasible to use multimodal neuroimaging data to customize TMS targets and understand brain-based changes in targeted networks among people with TBI. CONCLUSIONS: TBI is an anatomically heterogeneous disorder. Preliminary evidence from the 5 studies suggests that using multimodal neuroimaging approaches to customize TMS treatment is feasible. To test whether this will lead to increased clinical efficacy, studies that integrate neuroimaging and TMS targeting data with outcomes are needed.

Two genetically similar H9N2 influenza viruses isolated from different species show similar virulence in minks but different virulence in mice.

The H9N2 influenza virus has been frequently endemic in poultry, infected mammals and humans and has threatened public health. It is therefore imperative to understand the molecular mechanism enabling this virus to jump from avian to mammalian species. In this study, two H9N2 influenza viruses were isolated from the same region in eastern China but from different hosts; one was isolated from mink and named A/Mink/Shandong/WM01/2014(H9N2)(WM01), while the other was isolated from chicken and named A/Chicken/Shandong/LX830/2014(H9N2)(LX830). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that both H9N2 influenza viruses had similar genetic backgrounds. The results of infection in minks suggested that both viruses caused significant weight loss and pathological changes in the lungs. Mouse infection showed that LX830 was nonpathogenic in mice, but WM01 resulted in 25% mortality and pathological changes in the lungs, such as severe edema and diffused inflammation of the interalveolar septa. Comparison of the full genomes of both H9N2 influenza viruses showed 52-nucleotide-synonym mutations in 8 gene segments and 7-nucleotide-antonym mutations, resulting in 7 amino acid (AA) substitutions distributed in the PB1, PA, NA and M gene segments. None of these mutations did affect splicing of the M and NS gene segments at the nucleotide level or minor open reading frames (ORFs), such as PB1-F2 and PA-X. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both H9N2 influenza viruses belong to the prevalent epidemic genotype in Asia. Keywords: H9N2 influenza virus; chicken; minks; pathogenicity; phylogenetic.

Individualized Connectome-Targeted Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury in a Retired NFL Player.

OBJECTIVE: The recent advent of individualized resting-state network mapping (RSNM) has revealed substantial interindividual variability in anatomical localization of brain networks identified by using resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI). RSNM enables personalized targeting of focal neuromodulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS is believed to exert antidepressant efficacy by modulating connectivity between the stimulation site, the default mode network (DMN), and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). Personalized rTMS may be particularly useful after repetitive traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is associated with neurodegenerative tauopathy in medial temporal limbic structures. These degenerative changes are believed to be related to treatment-resistant neurobehavioral disturbances observed in many retired athletes. METHODS: The authors describe a case in which RSNM was successfully used to target rTMS to treat these neuropsychiatric disturbances in a retired NFL defensive lineman whose symptoms were not responsive to conventional treatments. RSNM was used to identify left-right dorsolateral prefrontal rTMS targets with maximal difference between dorsal attention network and DMN correlations. These targets were spatially distinct from those identified by prior methods. Twenty sessions of left-sided excitatory and right-sided inhibitory rTMS were administered at these targets. RESULTS: Treatment led to improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (72%), cognitive testing, and headache scales scores. Compared with healthy individuals and subjects with TBI-associated depression, baseline rsfMRI revealed substantially elevated DMN connectivity with the medial temporal lobe (MTL). Serial rsfMRI scans revealed gradual improvement in MTL-DMN connectivity and stimulation site connectivity with sgACC. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the possibility of individualized neuromodulation and biomarker-based monitoring for neuropsychiatric sequelae of repetitive TBI.

Responses of hemocyanin and energy metabolism to acute nitrite stress in juveniles of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

Nitrite is a common toxic substance in culture systems of Litopenaeus vannamei, and the stress may disturb hemocyanin synthesis and energy metabolism and result in shrimp death. In the present study, nitrite at concentrations of 0 (control), 3.3 (46.2 NO2-N mg/L), 6.6 (92.4) and 9.9 mM (138.6) was used to evaluate the responses of hemocyanin level and energy metabolism in L. vannamei (5.80 ±â€¯0.44 cm, 1.88 ±â€¯0.38 g) for 96 h. The mortality rate at 96 h increased with nitrite concentration (50% at 9.9 mM, 40% at 6.6 mM, 30% at 3.3 mM, and 10% at 0 mM). In general, HIF-1α and hemocyanin mRNA expression in the nitrite stress groups was upregulated from 6 to 12 h and downregulated from 24 to 96 h. In the hemolymph, nitrite levels were significantly elevated in a dose-dependent manner, and exposure to nitrite stress significantly decreased the oxyhemocyanin content from 24 to 96 h. The glucose and lactate levels in the hemolymph in the nitrite stress groups were higher than those in the control group from 12 to 96 h. Compared with the control group, the shrimp in the nitrite stress groups exhibited decreased glycogen concentrations in the hepatopancreas. The triglyceride (TG) levels in the nitrite stress groups were all higher than those in the control group from 48 to 96 h. The hexokinase (HK) activity in the hepatopancreas and muscle increased in the nitrite stress groups from 48 to 96 h. In general, nitrite stress enhanced the activities of pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in muscle from 24 to 96 h. In addition, nitrite stress decreased the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) from 24 to 96 h in the hepatopancreas and muscle. This study indicates that exposure to nitrite stress can enhance the accumulation of nitrite in the hemolymph and then reduce oxygenation and hemocyanin synthesis, leading to tissue hypoxia and thereby resulting in accelerated anaerobic metabolism and the inhibition of aerobic metabolism. The effects of nitrite stress on hemocyanin synthesis and energy metabolism may be one of the reasons for the mortality of L. vannamei in culture systems.

Osteoprotegerin mediate RANK/RANKL signaling inhibition eases asthma inflammatory reaction by affecting the survival and function of dendritic cells.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory, heterogeneous airway disease affecting millions of people around the world. Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the most important antigen-presenting cell in asthma airway inflammatory reaction. But whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) mediate RANK/RANKL signaling inhibition influences asthma development by affecting the survival and function of DCs remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the effects of OPG on DCs and asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BALB/c mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) were challenged thrice with an aerosol of OVA every second day for eight days. Dexamethasone (1.0mg/kg) or OPG (50µg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to OVA-immunized BALB/c mice on day 24 once a day for nine days. Mice were analyzed for effects of OPG on asthma, inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine levels in lung tissue. The expression of RANK and ß-actin was detected by Western Blot. DCs were isolated from mouse bone morrow. Cell survival was assessed by cell counting. The content of IL-12 was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Results showed that OVA increased the number of inflammatory factors in BALF, elevated lung inflammation scores in mice. OPG reversed the alterations induced by OVA in the asthmatic mice. OPG inhibited the survival and function of DC via inhibition of RANK/RANKL signaling. CONCLUSIONS: This research proved inhibition of RANK/RANKL signaling by OPG could ease the inflammatory reaction in asthma, providing new evidence for the application of OPG on asthma.

Crossover to Bilateral Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Potential Strategy When Patients Are Not Responding to Unilateral Left-Sided High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Clinical trials using left-sided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) report remission rates of 14% to 32.6%. A large percentage of patients would not achieve remission with standard rTMS treatment. The question of what clinicians should do when a patient is not responding to standard high-frequency (HF) left-sided rTMS remains unanswered. This prospective case series examines whether crossover to bilateral stimulation enhances antidepressant outcomes in patients not responding to unilateral rTMS. Patients in a major depressive episode received an rTMS clinical protocol of 4 to 6 weeks' duration. Stimulation began with HF rTMS (10 Hz) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (range, 3000-5000 pulses per session). A total of 17 patients without sufficient clinical improvement early in their rTMS course received 1-Hz rTMS (range, 600-1200 pps) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (added to the HF left-sided stimulation). Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores decreased from 13.9 ± 3.9 (mean ± SD) from the start of augmentation to 12.2 ± 5.8 at the end of acute treatment, a 1.7-point change, Cohen d effect size = -0.35, 95% confidence interval, -1.01 to - 0.34, suggesting improvement. Remission rate in this sample was 24% (4/17). This case series indicates that crossover to bilateral stimulation is a feasible and potentially effective strategy when patients are not improving with standard rTMS. A randomized controlled trial comparing crossover versus standard rTMS is needed to determine the efficacy of this paradigm.

A pilot serosurvey of Babesia microti in Chinese blood donors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Babesia spp. are tick-borne, intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites, several of which are transfusion-transmissible. Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis poses serious risk to a diverse patient population, including neonates, patients aged >50 years, the asplenic and the immunocompromised that are over-represented among transfusion recipients. Despite reports of B. microti and B. venatorum in People's Republic of China (PRC), no surveillance of blood donors for Babesia has previously been undertaken. We sought to determine the rates of B. microti seroreactivity in a sample of blood donors in the PRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pilot serosurvey was conducted of community blood donors (n = 1000) who donated July-August 2016 at Mudanjiang Blood Center (Heilongjiang Province) using indirect fluorescent antibody testing for antibodies against B. microti. The slides were prepared using B. microti-infected hamster blood. Samples that were initially positive to a titre of 64 were subjected to repeat IFA testing. Final seroreactivity was based on repeat reactivity to ≥64. RESULTS: A total of 1000 individual donor samples were evaluated, comprising 888 whole blood and 112 platelet donations. Thirteen of 1000 (1·3%) donors were seroreactive for B. microti [8 (0·8%) and five (0·05%) at titres of 64 and 128, respectively]. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings support the need for expanded Babesia surveillance in Chinese blood donors, replete with molecular evaluation, to evaluate the risk to the blood supply.

Loss of cane and sugar yield resulting from Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner damage in cane-growing regions in China.

Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner is a major leaf pest of sugarcane. Widely distributed, it affects both the yield and quality of sugarcane in China. This study aimed to assess real yield and sugar yield losses, and the effect of C. lanigera damage on emergence of newly planted and ratoon cane under current production levels. Field experiments were carried out from 2014 to 2016 in Yunnan Province China. At maturity, plants were harvested and weighed to determine yield, and the effect on sugarcane quality and sucrose content analyzed. Real yield decreased by average of 46,185 kg hm-2 (range: 37,545-61,845 kg hm-2) in damaged versus undamaged areas, with an average yield loss rate of 35.9% (28.5-45.7%). Juice yield decreased by an average of 3.01% (2.4-4.13%) and sucrose content by 6.38% (5.48-8.16%). Juice brix decreased by an average of 7.66°BX (6.95-9.05°BX) and juice gravity purity by 12.35% (8.43-19.97%). In contrast, the reducing sugar content increased by an average of 1.21% (1.01-1.3%). Emergence rates of newly planted cane decreased by an average of 26.0% (24.7-27.3%). The emergence number of ratoon cane decreased by 66,834 hm2 (57,429-76,238 hm-2) and relative emergence loss rates of ratoon cane decreased by an average of 57.8% (57.6-58.0%). These findings confirm that C. lanigera damage severely affects sugarcane yield and quality in Yunnan Province. The results will help the implementation of effective control measures, thereby supporting sustainable development of the Chinese sugar industry.

Rapid Sequential in Situ Multiplexing with DNA Exchange Imaging in Neuronal Cells and Tissues.

To decipher the molecular mechanisms of biological function, it is critical to map the molecular composition of individual cells or even more importantly tissue samples in the context of their biological environment in situ. Immunofluorescence (IF) provides specific labeling for molecular profiling. However, conventional IF methods have finite multiplexing capabilities due to spectral overlap of the fluorophores. Various sequential imaging methods have been developed to circumvent this spectral limit but are not widely adopted due to the common limitation of requiring multirounds of slow (typically over 2 h at room temperature to overnight at 4 °C in practice) immunostaining. We present here a practical and robust method, which we call DNA Exchange Imaging (DEI), for rapid in situ spectrally unlimited multiplexing. This technique overcomes speed restrictions by allowing for single-round immunostaining with DNA-barcoded antibodies, followed by rapid (less than 10 min) buffer exchange of fluorophore-bearing DNA imager strands. The programmability of DEI allows us to apply it to diverse microscopy platforms (with Exchange Confocal, Exchange-SIM, Exchange-STED, and Exchange-PAINT demonstrated here) at multiple desired resolution scales (from ∼300 nm down to sub-20 nm). We optimized and validated the use of DEI in complex biological samples, including primary neuron cultures and tissue sections. These results collectively suggest DNA exchange as a versatile, practical platform for rapid, highly multiplexed in situ imaging, potentially enabling new applications ranging from basic science, to drug discovery, and to clinical pathology.

Total magnetic resonance imaging burden of cerebral small-vessel disease is associated with post-stroke depression in patients with acute lacunar stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite extensive studies on post-stroke depression (PSD), the role of the total burden of cerebral small-vessel disease (cSVD) in its pathogenesis remains unclear. METHODS: We conducted a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based cohort study to investigate the relationship between total MRI burden of cSVD and PSD among patients with first-ever lacunar stroke. From June 2013 to January 2016, 374 patients were consecutively recruited. PSD was identified using the Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Brain MRI presence of silent lacunar infarcts, white-matter lesions, cerebral microbleeds and enlarged perivascular spaces was summed to an ordinal score between 0 and 4. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the contribution of total MRI cSVD burden in the prediction of PSD. RESULTS: Ninety patients (24.1%) were diagnosed with PSD at 3 months after stroke. Only two MRI markers of cSVD, asymptomatic lacunar infarcts and white-matter lesions, were related to PSD [odds ratio (OR), 3.167; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.879-5.338; P = 0.001 and OR, 2.284; 95% CI, 1.403-3.713; P = 0.001, respectively]. Moreover, higher total MRI cSVD burden was an independent predictor for PSD (high tertile OR, 4.577; 95% CI, 2.400-8.728; P = 0.001) after adjusting for individual cSVD MRI marker and other potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that greater total MRI burden of cSVD may predict the presence of PSD in patients with acute lacunar stroke.