Exosomes: potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The field of neuropsychiatry is considered a middle ground between neurological and psychiatric disorders, thereby bridging the conventional boundaries between matter and mind, consciousness, and function. Neuropsychiatry aims to evaluate and treat cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disorders in individuals with neurological conditions. However, the pathophysiology of these disorders is not yet fully understood, and objective biological indicators for these conditions are currently lacking. Treatment options are also limited due to the blood-brain barrier, which results in poor treatment effects. Additionally, many drugs, particularly antipsychotic drugs, have adverse reactions, which make them difficult to tolerate for patients. As a result, patients often abandon treatment owing to these adverse reactions. Since the discovery of exosomes in 1983, they have been extensively studied in various diseases owing to their potential as nanocellulators for information exchange between cells. Because exosomes can freely travel between the center and periphery, brain-derived exosomes can reflect the state of the brain, which has considerable advantages in diagnosis and treatment. In addition, administration of engineered exosomes can improve therapeutic efficacy, allow lesion targeting, ensure drug stability, and prevent systemic adverse effects. Therefore, this article reviews the source and biological function of exosomes, relationship between exosomes and the blood-brain barrier, relationship between exosomes and the pathological mechanism of neuropsychiatric disorders, exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, and application of engineered exosomes in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion in patients with pT1b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a crucial predictor of lymph node metastasis (LNM). However, few studies have investigated the LVI positivity rate and its clinical significance in pT1b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using immunohistochemistry and elastin staining. METHODS: We collected data from158 patients with pT1b ESCC who had undergone radical esophagectomy. All paraffin blocks of invasive carcinoma from each patient were subjected to HE staining, elastin staining + CK (AE1/AE3) immunohistochemistry (E&IHC), and CD31/D2-40 + CK (AE1/AE3) double immunohistochemistry (D-IHC). The LVI was classified into types, i.e., vascular invasion (VI) and lymphatic vessel invasion (LI), and its location, quantity, and clinical significance were explored. RESULTS: The positivity rates of VI by E&IHC (E-VI), VI by CD31D-IHC (CD31-VI), and LI by D2-40 D-IHC (D2-40-LI) were significantly higher than those obtained by HE staining (P < 0.001, respectively). CD31-VI and E-VI were independent adverse prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS), and they were significantly associated with poor distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival in pT1b ESCC. Intratumoral LVI was also crucial in pT1b ESCC, and L2 (the count of D2-40-LI was 5 or more) was the strongest predictor for LNM and RFS in pT1b ESCC. CONCLUSION: E&IHC and D-IHC can dramatically improve the detection rate of LVI in pT1b ESCC, and the classification and grading of LVI can help to improve the prediction of LNM and prognosis.

Association between season of conception, month of conception with preterm birth in China: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal patterns of preterm birth were identified in previous studies, but the effect of conception season on preterm birth has not been extensively studied. Based on the notion that the etiological roots of preterm birth lie in the beginning of pregnancy, we did a population-based retrospective cohort study in Southwest China to examine the effects of season of conception and month of conception on preterm birth. METHODS: We did a population-based retrospective cohort study in women (aged 18-49) who participated in the NFPHEP from 2010 to 2018, and had a singleton livebirth in southwest China. According to the time of the last menstruation reported by the participants, month of conception and season of conception were then ascertained. We used multivariate log-binomial model to adjust the potential risk factors for preterm birth and obtained adjusted risk ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for conception season, conception month and preterm birth. RESULTS: Among 194 028 participants, 15 034 women had preterm birth. Compared with pregnancies that were conceived in the summer, pregnancies that were conceived in the spring, autumn and winter had the higher risk of preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15; Autumn: aRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20; Winter: aRR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.22-1.34) and also had a higher risk of early preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18; Autumn: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19; Winter: aRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25). Pregnancies in December, and January had a higher risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth than pregnancies that were conceived in July. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that preterm birth was significantly related to season of conception. Preterm and early preterm birth rates were the highest among pregnancies that were conceived in winter, and the lowest among pregnancies in summer.

General Bottom-Up Colloidal Synthesis of Nano-Monolayer Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides with High 1T'-Phase Purity.

Phase engineering of nanomaterials provides a promising way to explore the phase-dependent physicochemical properties and various applications of nanomaterials. A general bottom-up synthesis method under mild conditions has always been challenging globally for the preparation of the semimetallic phase-transition-metal dichalcogenide (1T'-TMD) monolayers, which are pursued owing to their unique electrochemical property, unavailable in their semiconducting 2H phases. Here, we report the general scalable colloidal synthesis of nanosized 1T'-TMD monolayers, including 1T'-MoS2, 1T'-MoSe2, 1T'-WS2, and 1T'-WSe2, which are revealed to be of high phase purity. Moreover, the surfactant-reliant stacking-hinderable growth mechanism of 1T'-TMD nano-monolayers was unveiled through systematic experiments and theoretical calculations. As a proof-of-concept application, the 1T'-TMD nano-monolayers are used for electrocatalytic hydrogen production in an acidic medium. The 1T'-MoS2 nano-monolayers possess abundant in-plane electrocatalytic active sites and high conductivity, coupled with the contribution of the lattice strain, thus exhibiting excellent performance. Importantly, the catalyst shows impressive endurability in electroactivity. Our developed general scalable strategy could pave the way to extend the synthesis of other broad metastable semimetallic-phase TMDs, which offer great potential to explore novel crystal phase-dependent properties with wide application development for catalysis and beyond.

Both the serum AFP test and AFP/GPC3/SALL4 immunohistochemistry are beneficial for predicting the prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Both gastric adenocarcinoma with primitive enterocyte phenotype (GAPEP) (including hepatoid adenocarcinoma) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric adenocarcinoma have poor prognoses. However, the value of the serum AFP test and AFP/glypican-3 (GPC3)/spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4) immunohistochemistry is still not clear, and these two methods have not yet been thoroughly compared. METHODS: We collected 421 consecutive non-neoadjuvant surgically or endoscopically resected gastric adenocarcinoma patients with serum AFP results before surgery (group A). We divided these cases into serum AFP-high (sAFP-H) and serum AFP-normal (sAFP-N) by serum AFP levels, and into GAPEP (expressing AFP, GPC3, or SALL4) and non-GAPEP (nGAPEP) by AFP/GPC3/SALL4 immunohistochemistry results. We also collected 12 non-resected gastric adenocarcinoma patients with serum AFP ≥ 7 ng/mL before treatment (group B). We analyzed these patients' clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses. RESULTS: Seventeen (4.04%) patients in group A were sAFP-H. These patients were younger and mainly had tubular adenocarcinoma with later pT (P = 0.014) and pN (P = 0.047) categories and more lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001), perineural spread (P = 0.008), and metastases or recurrence (P < 0.001). For immunohistochemistry, 34 (8.08%) cases were GAPEP, and GAPEP cases also had later pT categories than nGAPEP cases (P = 0.001). Most group B patients with elevated serum AFP (especially > 1000 ng/mL) had simultaneous metastases, mainly liver metastases. Both the serological method and immunohistochemical method were useful for predicting prognosis (AUC sAFP = 0.625, AUC A/G/S-IHC = 0.723, z statistic = 1.726, P = 0.084). The serum AFP level (especially > 1000 ng/mL) is more specific (100%), and immunohistochemistry is more sensitive (50%). CONCLUSION: Both the serum AFP level and immunohistochemical expression of AFP/GPC3/SALL4 can be used to indicate a poor prognosis for gastric adenocarcinoma.

The association between periconceptional folic acid supplementation and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based retrospective cohort study of 200,000 women in China.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation and risk of preterm birth. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in women aged 18-49 who participated in the NFPHEP from 2010 to 2018, and had a singleton livebirth in 129 counties in southwest China. Participants were divided into four groups according to the time period starting FA use: no use, after the last menstrual period, at least 1-2 months before the last menstrual period, at least 3 months before the last menstrual period. The outcomes were preterm birth (gestation < 37 weeks) and early preterm birth (gestation < 34 weeks). RESULTS: 201,477 women were included and 191,809 (95.2%) had taken FA during periconception. Compared with women who did not take FA, women who started taking FA 1-2 months before their last menstrual period had a 15% lower risk of preterm birth (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.92), and women who started taking FA at least 3 months before their last menstrual period had a 20% lower risk of preterm birth (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.87), but women who started taking FA after their last menstrual period did not appear to reduce the risk of preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of 200,000 Chinese women, periconceptional supplementation with FA was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth. Women who started taking FA at least 3 months before their last menstrual period were more likely to reduce the risk of preterm birth.

Prevalence of anemia and sociodemographic characteristics among pregnant and non-pregnant women in southwest China: a longitudinal observational study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age is about 29.4%, and anemia impacts about 40% of pregnant women and more than 20% of non-pregnant women. We conducted a longitudinal observational study of anemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and analyzed the association between the prevalence of anemia and sociodemographic characteristics of women in southwest China. METHODS: This study was a longitudinal observational study which involved 640,672 women aged 18-49 years from 129 counties in southwest China. Data were from databases of National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) and electronic medical records of local hospitals. We adjusted the diagnostic thresholds of anemia for altitude. The prevalence of anemia was expressed in percentages and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The association between the prevalence of anemia and sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression method, expressed in crude odds ratio (cOR), adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95%CI. RESULTS: Of the 640,672 participants, 121,254 women suffered from anemia, with the prevalence of 18.9% (95%CI: 18.8-19.0%). From 2014 to 2018, the prevalence of anemia declines from 23.0-16.4%.The prevalence was 21.6% in the first trimester, higher than women in non-pregnancy (17.4%) and women in the third trimester (10.5%). Results from the multivariable logistic regression showed that women aged 18-20 (aOR = 1.28) or over 35 years old (aOR = 1.07), being farmers (aOR = 1.42), being ethnic minorities (aOR: 1.19 ~ 1.73), during the first trimester (aOR = 1.32) were more likely to be anemic. CONCLUSIONS: Although the anemia prevalence of women of reproductive age has been decreasing in recent years, the prevalence of anemia is still high in pregnant and non-pregnant women in southwest China, especially during the first trimester. Women who were older or younger, being farmers, being ethnic minorities were at high risk of anemia. Anemia in women of reproductive age cannot be neglected.

Relationship between human oral microbiome dysbiosis and neuropsychiatric diseases: An updated overview.

The role of the gut-brain axis in mental health disorders has been extensively studied. As the oral cavity is the starting point of the digestive tract, the role that the oral microbiota plays in mental health disorders has gained recent attention. Oral microbiota can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses or translocate to the brain through the trigeminal nerve or olfactory system. Hence, the concept of the oral microbiota-brain axis has emerged. Several hypotheses have been suggested that the oral microbiota can enter the gastrointestinal tract and affect the gut-brain axis; however, literature describing oral-brain communication remains limited. This review summarizes the characteristics of oral microbiota and its mechanisms associated with mental health disorders. Through a comprehensive examination of the relationship between oral microbiota and various neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, this review seeks to identify promising avenues of future research.

Case report: Sustained remission after combined sintilimab, anti-VEGF therapy, and chemotherapy in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer harboring acquired EGFR 19Del/T790M/cis-C797S mutation resistance.

Third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are highly effective against tumors harboring the T790M mutation. However, patients treated with these inhibitors ultimately develop resistance, and the most common mechanism is the emergence of the EGFR C797S mutation. Few treatment regimens have been reported for this condition. In this report, we present a successful combination treatment with the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor sintilimab, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, and chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who developed acquired resistance with EGFR 19 exon deletion (19Del)/T790M/cis-C797S mutation following progression with ametinib therapy. This regimen was well tolerated, and the patient has remained progression-free for 15 months. Our case provides clinical evidence that the combination of PD-1 inhibitor, anti-VEGF therapy, and chemotherapy may be an efficacious therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with acquired EGFR 19Del/T790M/cis-C797S mutation resistance following progression with EGFR TKI therapy.

Baseline gut microbiota profiles affect treatment response in patients with depression.

The role of the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression has been explored in numerous studies, which have confirmed that the baseline gut microbial profiles of patients with depression differ from those of healthy individuals. The gut microbiome affects metabolic activity in the immune and central nervous systems and regulates intestinal ecology through the neuroendocrine system. Additionally, baseline changes in the gut microbiota differed among patients with depression who demonstrated varying treatment response. Currently, probiotics are an emerging treatment for depression; however, the efficacy of modulating the gut microbiota in the treatment of depression remains uncertain. Additionally, the mechanisms by which changes in the gut microbiota affect treatment response in patients with depression remain unclear. In this review, we aimed to summarize the differences in the baseline gut microbiota between the remission and non-remission groups after antidepressant therapy. Additionally, we summarized the possible mechanisms that may contribute to antidepressant resistance through the effects of the gut microbiome on the immune and nervous systems, various enzymes, bioaccumulation, and blood-brain barrier, and provide a basis for treating depression by targeting the gut microbiota.

Muscular toxicity of colchicine combined with statins: a real-world study based on the FDA adverse event reporting system database from 2004-2023.

Background: Through an analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), we explored the signal strength of adverse reactions (ADRs) related to myopathy caused by the combination of colchicine and statins and gained insight into the characteristics of these myopathy related ADRs. Methods: We extracted data from the FAERS database about ADRs in individuals with myopathy resulting from the combination of colchicine and statins. The analysis was conducted for the period spanning from January 2004 to December 2023 using the reported odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) methods to assess muscle-related ADR signals. Results: A total of 18,386 reports of statin myopathy-associated adverse reactions, 348 colchicine myopathy-associated adverse reactions, and 461 muscle-associated adverse reactions due to the combination of the two were collected; the strongest signals of statin myotoxicity events were for necrotizing myositis (ROR 50.47, 95% CL 41.74-61.01; IC 3.70 95% CL 3.25-4.08); the strongest signal for colchicine myotoxicity events was toxic myopathy (ROR 32.50, 95% CL 19.74-53.51; IC 4.97 95% CL 1.89-5.10), and the strongest signal for statins combined with colchicine was toxic myopathy (ROR 159.85, 95% CL 111.60-228.98; IC 7.22 95% CL 3.59-5.9); muscle-related adverse reactions signals were meaningful when the two drugs were combined in the order of colchicine combined with fluvastatin (ROR 187.38, 95% CL 96.68-363.17; IC 6.99 95% CL 1.65-5.68); colchicine combined with simvastatin in 135 cases (ROR 30.08. 95% CL 25.25-35.85; IC 4.80 95% CL 3.96-5.12); and colchicine combined with rosuvastatin (ROR 25.73, 95% CL 20.16-32.83; IC 4.59 95% CL 3.38-4.98) versus colchicine combined with atorvastatin (ROR 25.73, 95% CL 22.33-29.66; IC 4.59 95% CL 3.97-4.91) with almost identical signal intensity, followed by colchicine combined with pravastatin (ROR 13.67, 95% CL 9.17-20.37; IC 3.73 95% CL 1.87-4.47), whereas no signals were generated for lovastatin or pitavastatin. Conclusion: Similar ADRs can occur when colchicine and statins are used individually or in combination; however, the strength of these reactions may differ. To minimize the risk of drug interactions, statins with less potential interactions, such as lovastatin, pitavastatin, and pravastatin, should be chosen, and myopathy-related indices and symptoms should be closely monitored during use.

Ultrathin heteroatom-doped CeO2 nanosheet assemblies for durable oxygen evolution: Oxygen vacancy engineering to trigger deprotonation.

The manipulation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) in metal oxides has progressively emerged as a versatile strategy for improving their catalytic performance. In this study, we aim to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of cerium oxide (CeO2) by doping heteroatoms (Fe, Co, Ni) to generate additional OVs. We systematically analyzed both the morphology and electronic structure of the obtained CeO2 catalysts. The experimental results revealed the self-assembly of two-dimensional (2D) CeO2 nanosheets, with an approximate thickness of ∼1.7 nm, into 2D nanosheet assemblies (NSAs). Moreover, the incorporation of heteroatoms into the CeO2 matrix promoted the formation of OVs, resulting in a significant enhancement of the OER performance of CeO2. Among them, the Co-doped CeO2 NSAs sample displayed the highest activity and durability, with almost negligible activity loss during extended operating periods. The roles of heteroatom doping in improving OER activity were explored by DFT calculations. The produced OVs improve the adsorption of hydroxyl groups (OH-), promote the deprotonation process, and increase more active sites. These findings suggest that doping CeO2 with heteroatoms is a promising strategy for improving electrocatalytic OER activity, with great potential for the development of clean energy technologies, including but not limited to water splitting and fuel cells.

A pharmacovigilance study of the association between antipsychotic drugs and venous thromboembolism based on Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System data.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to measure and present a comprehensive overview of the association of antipsychotic drugs and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Method: All VTE cases treated with antipsychotic drugs as primary suspected medicines were extracted from the FAERS database from 2004 to 2021. Disproportionality analyses were conducted by estimating the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the information component (IC). RESULTS: In the FAERS system, 4,455 VTE cases associated with antipsychotics were identified. The VTE signal was detected with olanzapine, haloperidol, paliperidone, and quetiapine. The RORs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of olanzapine, haloperidol, paliperidone, and quetiapine were (ROR = 2.53 95% Cl 2.38-2.69 IC = 1.31 95% Cl 1.11-1.52), (ROR = 2.17 95% Cl 1.91-2.46 IC = 1.1 95% Cl 0.66-1.52), (ROR = 1.6 95% Cl 1.4-1.83 IC = 0.67 95% Cl 0.22-1.11), and (ROR = 1.37 95% Cl 1.28-1.47 IC = 0.45 95% Cl 0.23-0.67). Pulmonary embolism occurred in more than 50% of VTE events (2760 cases, 52.84%). CONCLUSION: The data mining of FAERS suggested an association between VTE and antipsychotic drugs, which reminds medical workers to pay attention to the serious adverse drug effects of antipsychotic drugs leading to venous thromboembolism.

Strain-level structure of gut microbiome showed potential association with cognitive function in major depressive disorder: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Although the association between gut microbiota and the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has been well studied, it is unclear whether gut microbiota affects cognitive function in patients with MDD. In this study, we explored the association between gut microbiota and cognitive function in MDD and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: We enrolled 57 patients with MDD and 30 healthy controls (HCs) and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis to determine gut microbial composition. RESULTS: The richness and diversity of gut microbiota in patients with MDD were the same as those in HCs, but there were differences in the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Blautia. Compared with HCs, two strains (bin_32 and bin_55) were significantly increased, and one strain (bin_31) was significantly decreased in patients with MDD based on the strain-level meta-analysis. Time to complete the Stroop-C had significant negative correlations with bin_31 and bin_32. Bin_55 had significant negative correlations with time to complete the Stroop-C, time to complete the Stroop-CW, and repeated animal words in 60 s but significant positive correlations with correct answers in 120 s on the Stroop-CW. LIMITATIONS: This study only tested the cognitive function of MDD in a small sample, which may have caused some bias. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our strain-level analysis, we found that gut microbiota may be associated with the pathogenesis of MDD and may have potential effects on cognitive function.

Effects of ambient temperature and relative humidity on preterm birth during early pregnancy and before parturition in China from 2010 to 2018: a population-based large-sample cohort study.

Background: The progression of global warming and increase in instances of extreme weather have received considerable attention. We conducted a cohort study on women of childbearing age in Yunnan Province, examined the association between ambient temperature and humidity on preterm birth and evaluated the effects of extreme weather during early pregnancy and before parturition on preterm birth. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study on women of childbearing age 18-49 years who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) in Yunnan Province from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2018. Meteorological data, namely daily average temperature (°C) and daily average relative humidity (%), were obtained from China National Meteorological Information Center. Four exposure windows were explored: 1 week of pregnancy, 4 weeks of pregnancy, 4 weeks before delivery, and 1 week before delivery. We used a Cox proportional hazards model and adjusted the potential risk factors for preterm birth to obtain the effects of exposure to temperature and humidity on preterm birth among the stages of pregnancy. Results: At 1 week of pregnancy and at 4 weeks of pregnancy, the association between temperature and preterm birth was U-shaped. The correlation between relative humidity and the risk of preterm birth was n-type at 1 week of pregnancy. The correlation between preterm birth and temperature and relative humidity at 4 weeks before delivery and at 1 week before delivery is J-shaped. Low temperature and low humidity were protective factors against preterm birth, whereas high temperature and high humidity were risk factors for preterm birth.The effects of high temperature and extremely high temperature were the strongest at 4 weeks before delivery, with HRs of 1.417 (95% CI: 1.362-1.474) and 1.627 (95% CI: 1.537-1.722), respectively. The effects of extremely low humidity and low humidity were strongest at 1 week before delivery, with HRs of 0.681 (95% CI: 0.609-0.761) and 0.696 (95% CI: 0.627-0.771), respectively. Conclusion: Temperature and relative humidity affect preterm birth differently for each pregnancy stage. The effects of meteorological factors on pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth should not be ignored.

Recent Advances in Engineering of 2D Materials-Based Heterostructures for Electrochemical Energy Conversion.

2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, layered double hydroxides, and MXene, have exhibited broad application prospects in electrochemical energy conversion due to their unique structures and electronic properties. Recently, the engineering of heterostructures based on 2D materials, including 2D/0D, 2D/1D, 2D/2D, and 2D/3D, has shown the potential to produce synergistic and heterointerface effects, overcoming the inherent restrictions of 2D materials and thus elevating the electrocatalytic performance to the next level. In this review, recent studies are systematically summarized on heterostructures based on 2D materials for advanced electrochemical energy conversion, including water splitting, CO2 reduction reaction, N2 reduction reaction, etc. Additionally, preparation methods are introduced and novel properties of various types of heterostructures based on 2D materials are discussed. Furthermore, the reaction principles and intrinsic mechanisms behind the excellent performance of these heterostructures are evaluated. Finally, insights are provided into the challenges and perspectives regarding the future engineering of heterostructures based on 2D materials for further advancements in electrochemical energy conversion.

Engineering Single-Layer Hollow Structure of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides with High 1T-Phase Purity for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Rational design and controllable synthesis of hollow structures based on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have gained tremendous attention in the field of clean energy. However, the general synthetic strategies to fabricate single-layer hollow structures of TMDs, especially with unconventional phases (e.g., 1T or 1T'), still pose significant challenges. Herein, a scalable method is reported for the synthesis of single-layer hollow spheres (SLHS) of TMDs with high 1T-phase purity by etching bismuth (Bi) cores from pre-synthesized Bi@TMDs core-shell heterostructures including SLHS-1T-MoS2 , SLHS-1T-MoSe2 , SLHS-1T-WS2 , and SLHS-1T-WSe2 . Additionally, the etched Bi ions can be adsorbed on the single-layer TMDs shells in the form of single atoms (SAs) via the Bi─S bond. Due to the benefits of the single-layer hollow structure, high conductivity of 1T phase, and synergistic effect of Bi SAs and TMDs supports, the fabricated SLHS-1T-MoS2 exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen production. This work provides a way to manufacture advanced functional materials based on the single-layer hollow structures of 1T-TMDs and to expand their applications.

Bottom Electrode Effects on Piezoelectricity of Pb(Zr0.52,Ti0.48)O3 Thin Film in Flexible Sensor Applications.

Piezoelectric thin films grown on a mechanical, flexible mica substrate have gained significant attention for their ability to convert mechanical deformation into electrical energy though a curved surface. To extract the generated charge from the PZT thin films, bottom electrodes are typically grown on mica substrates. However, this bottom electrode also serves as a buffering layer for the growth of PZT films, and its impact on the piezoelectric properties of PZT thin films remains understudied. In this work, the effect of Pt and LaNiO3 bottom electrodes on the piezoelectric effect of a Pb(Zr0.52,Ti0.48)O3 thin film was investigated. It was observed that the PZT thin films on LNO/Mica substrate possessed weaker stress, stronger (100) preferred orientation, and higher remanent polarization, which is beneficial for a higher piezoelectric response theoretically. However, due to insufficient grain growth resulting in more inactive grain boundaries and lattice imperfections, the piezoelectric coefficient of the PZT thin film on LNO/Mica was smaller than that of the PZT thin film on a Pt/Mica substrate. Therefore, it is concluded that, under the current experimental conditions, PZT films grown with Pt as the bottom electrode are better suited for applications in flexible piezoelectric sensor devices. However, when using LNO as the bottom electrode, it is possible to optimize the grain size of PZT films by adjusting the sample preparation process to achieve piezoelectric performance exceeding that of the PZT/Pt/Mica samples.

Association between alexithymia and non-suicidal self-injury in psychiatric patients: the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of emotional intelligence.

BACKGROUND: Raffagnato's theory claims that if people have no words to express their emotions (alexithymia), they express themselves by venting or through non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, these associations have not been confirmed in psychiatric patients. This study explored the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI in psychiatric patients and the potential underlying psychological mechanisms. METHODS: This retrospective study involved face-to-face interviews with 449 outpatients consecutively recruited from West China Hospital. Alexithymia, self-esteem, NSSI, and emotional intelligence (EI) were measured. The moderating role of EI and the mediating role of self-esteem between alexithymia and NSSI were also explored. Logistic regressions were used to examine whether sociodemographic, clinical variables and alexithymia were independently associated with NSSI. RESULTS: The DSM-5 NSSI disorder and alexithymia prevalences were found to be 32.5% and 45.2%. When the other covariables were controlled for, the alexithymic patients were found to be at increased odds (OR 2.76) of engaging in NSSI behaviors. These results confirmed the strong associations between alexithymia, low self-esteem, and NSSI risk. Lower EI was found to be related to the connections between alexithymia and NSSI. Except for the lower risk in anxiety patients, the risk of NSSI was similar for patients with other mental disorders, CONCLUSION: This study revealed the psychological mechanisms through which alexithymia increases the risk of NSSI. Therefore, to reduce NSSI risk, screening for alexithymia should be emphasized. Self-esteem as a targeted psychological intervention could also assist in mitigating the process from alexithymia to NSSI behaviors, and EI training for psychiatric patients could weaken the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI.

Fiber surface modification technology for fiber-optic localized surface plasmon resonance biosensors.

Considerable studies have been performed on the development of optical fiber sensors modified by gold nanoparticles based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) technique. The current paper presents a new approach in fiber surface modification technology for biosensors. Star-shaped gold nanoparticles obtained through the seed-mediated solution growth method were found to self-assemble on the surface of tapered optical fibers via amino- and mercapto-silane coupling agents. Transmitted power spectra of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane (APTMS)-modified fiber were obtained, which can verify that the silane coupling agent surface modification method is successful. Transmission spectra are characterized in different concentrations of ethanol and gentian violet solutions to validate the sensitivity of the modified fiber. Assembly using star-shaped gold nanoparticles and amino/mercapto silane coupling agent are analyzed and compared. The transmission spectra of the gold nanoparticles show that the nanoparticles are sensitive to the dielectric properties of the surrounding medium. After the fibers are treated in t-dodecylmercaptan to obtain their transmission spectra, APTMS-modified fiber becomes less sensitive to different media, except that modified by 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxy silane (MPTMS). Experimental results of the transmission spectra show that the surface modified by the gold nanoparticles using MPTMS is firmer compared to that obtained using APTMS.