Christensenella strain resources, genomic/metabolomic profiling, and association with host at species level.

The gut commensal bacteria Christensenellaceae species are negatively associated with many metabolic diseases, and have been seen as promising next-generation probiotics. However, the cultured Christensenellaceae strain resources were limited, and their beneficial mechanisms for improving metabolic diseases have yet to be explored. In this study, we developed a method that enabled the enrichment and cultivation of Christensenellaceae strains from fecal samples. Using this method, a collection of Christensenellaceae Gut Microbial Biobank (ChrisGMB) was established, composed of 87 strains and genomes that represent 14 species of 8 genera. Seven species were first described and the cultured Christensenellaceae resources have been significantly expanded at species and strain levels. Christensenella strains exerted different abilities in utilization of various complex polysaccharides and other carbon sources, exhibited host-adaptation capabilities such as acid tolerance and bile tolerance, produced a wide range of volatile probiotic metabolites and secondary bile acids. Cohort analyses demonstrated that Christensenellaceae and Christensenella were prevalent in various cohorts and the abundances were significantly reduced in T2D and OB cohorts. At species level, Christensenellaceae showed different changes among healthy and disease cohorts. C. faecalis, F. tenuis, L. tenuis, and Guo. tenuis significantly reduced in all the metabolic disease cohorts. The relative abundances of C. minuta, C. hongkongensis and C. massiliensis showed no significant change in NAFLD and ACVD. and C. tenuis and C. acetigenes showed no significant change in ACVD, and Q. tenuis and Geh. tenuis showed no significant change in NAFLD, when compared with the HC cohort. So far as we know, this is the largest collection of cultured resource and first exploration of Christensenellaceae prevalences and abundances at species level.

Activation of heme oxygenase-1 by laminar shear stress ameliorates high glucose-induced endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell dysfunction.

High glucose (HG)-induced endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction is critical in diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. However, the roles of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress-response protein, in hemodynamic force-generated shear stress and HG-induced metabolic stress remain unclear. This investigation examined the cellular effects and mechanisms of HO-1 under physiologically high shear stress (HSS) in HG-treated ECs and adjacent SMCs. We found that exposure of human aortic ECs to HSS significantly increased HO-1 expression; however, this upregulation appeared to be independent of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, a regulator of HO-1. Furthermore, HSS inhibited the expression of HG-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ECs. In an EC/SMC co-culture, compared with static conditions, subjecting ECs close to SMCs to HSS and HG significantly suppressed SMC proliferation while increasing the expression of physiological contractile phenotype markers, such as α-smooth muscle actin and serum response factor. Moreover, HSS and HG decreased the expression of vimentin, an atherogenic synthetic phenotypic marker, in SMCs. Transfecting ECs with HO-1-specific small interfering (si)RNA reversed HSS inhibition on HG-induced inflammation and ROS production in ECs. Similarly, reversed HSS inhibition on HG-induced proliferation and synthetic phenotype formation were observed in co-cultured SMCs. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying EC-SMC interplay during HG-induced metabolic stress. Strategies to promote HSS in the vessel wall, such as continuous exercise, or the development of HO-1 analogs and mimics of the HSS effect, could provide an effective approach for preventing and treating diabetes-related atherosclerotic vascular complications.

Christensenella minuta interacts with multiple gut bacteria.

Introduction: Gut microbes form complex networks that significantly influence host health and disease treatment. Interventions with the probiotic bacteria on the gut microbiota have been demonstrated to improve host well-being. As a representative of next-generation probiotics, Christensenella minuta (C. minuta) plays a critical role in regulating energy balance and metabolic homeostasis in human bodies, showing potential in treating metabolic disorders and reducing inflammation. However, interactions of C. minuta with the members of the networked gut microbiota have rarely been explored. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of C. minuta on fecal microbiota via metagenomic sequencing, focusing on retrieving bacterial strains and coculture assays of C. minuta with associated microbial partners. Results: Our results showed that C. minuta intervention significantly reduced the diversity of fecal microorganisms, but specifically enhanced some groups of bacteria, such as Lactobacillaceae. C. minuta selectively enriched bacterial pathways that compensated for its metabolic defects on vitamin B1, B12, serine, and glutamate synthesis. Meanwhile, C. minuta cross-feeds Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other bacteria via the production of arginine, branched-chain amino acids, fumaric acids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetic. Both metagenomic data analysis and culture experiments revealed that C. minuta negatively correlated with Klebsiella pneumoniae and 14 other bacterial taxa, while positively correlated with F. prausnitzii. Our results advance our comprehension of C. minuta's in modulating the gut microbial network. Conclusions: C. minuta disrupts the composition of the fecal microbiota. This disturbance is manifested through cross-feeding, nutritional competition, and supplementation of its own metabolic deficiencies, resulting in the specific enrichment or inhibition of the growth of certain bacteria. This study will shed light on the application of C. minuta as a probiotic for effective interventions on gut microbiomes and improvement of host health.

Effect of stress on the rehabilitation performance of rats with repetitive mild fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injuries.

Animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have shown that impaired motor and cognitive function can be improved by physical exercise. However, not each animal with TBI can be well rehabilitated at the same training intensity due to a high inter-subject variability. Hence, this paper presents a two-stage wheel-based mixed-mode rehabilitation mechanism by which the effect of stress on the rehabilitation performance was investigated. The mixed-mode rehabilitation mechanism consists of a two-week adaptive and a one-week voluntary rehabilitation program as Stages 1 and 2, respectively. In Stage 1, the common over and undertraining problem were completely resolved due to the adaptive design, and rats ran voluntarily over a 30-min duration in Stage 2. The training intensity adapted to the physical condition of all the TBI rats at all times in Stage 1, and then the self-motivated running rats were further rehabilitated under the lowest level of stress in Stage 2. For comparison purposes, another group of rats took a 3-week adaptive rehabilitation program. During the 3-week program, the rehabilitation performance of the rats were assessed using modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) and an 8-arm radial maze. Surprisingly, the group taking the mixed mode program turned out to outperform its counterpart in terms of mNSS. The mixed-mode rehabilitation mechanism was validated as an effective and efficient way to help rats restore motor, neurological and cognitive function after TBI. It was validated that the rehabilitation performance can be optimized under the lowest level of stress.

Comparing verum and sham acupoint catgut embedding for adults with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical trials have reported that acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a useful modality for weight loss. However, no study has specifically investigated the effectiveness and safety of comparing verum and sham ACE in adults with obesity. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of comparing verum and sham ACE in obese adults. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the electronic databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biomedical Literature Service System from inception to April 1, 2022. Randomized clinical trials that focused on evaluating the effectiveness of comparing verum and sham ACE in adults with obesity were included. The primary outcomes included reduction in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, and waist circumference. The secondary outcomes consisted of a decrease in body fat percentage and the occurrence rate of adverse events. The methodological quality of the included randomized clinical trials was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk-of-bias tool. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: Six trials involving 679 adults with obesity were included in this study and entered in the data analysis of systematic review and meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis revealed significant reduction in body weight (mean difference [MD] = -1.68, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [-2.34, -1.01], I2 = 51%, P < .001), body mass index (MD = -0.51, 95% CI [-0.81, -0.21], I2 = 74%, P < .001), hip circumference (MD = -1.11, 95% CI [-1.67, -0.55], I2 = 0%, P < .001), waist circumference (MD = -2.42, 95% CI [-3.38, -1.45], I2 = 68%, P < .001), and decrease in body fat percentage (MD = -0.83, 95% CI [-1.30, -0.36], I2 = 16%, P < .001) in comparing verum and sham ACE. However, no significant difference was identified in AEs (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [0.80, 2.95], I2 = 0%, P = .20) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: ACE is effective in the treatment of obesity in adults with safety profile. Further studies with higher quality and larger sample size are warranted to confirm the current findings.

Association between serum complements and kidney function in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Objective: We aimed to explore the association between serum complements and kidney function of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in Chinese patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 2,441 participants. DKD was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) categories. Participants were classified as stages G1-G5 by KDIGO glomerular filtration rate (GFR) categories. Effect sizes are expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: After balancing age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), serum triglyceride (TG), and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) between the G2-G5 and control groups, per 0.1 g/L increment in serum complement C3 was significantly associated with a 27.8% reduced risk of DKD at G5 stage (OR, 95% CI, P: 0.722, 0.616-0.847, <0.001) relative to the G1 stage. Conversely, per 0.1 g/L increment in serum complement C4 was associated with an 83.0-177.6% increased risk of G2-G5 stage (P<0.001). Serum complement C1q was not statistically significant compared to controls at all stages prior to or after propensity score matching. Conclusions: Our results indicate that high concentrations of serum C4 were associated with the significantly elevated risk of kidney function deterioration across all stages, and reduced serum C3 levels with an increased risk of DKD stage G5.

DJ1 Ameliorates AD-like Pathology in the Hippocampus of APP/PS1 Mice.

Objective: To explore whether the protein Deglycase protein 1 (DJ1) can ameliorate Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice and its possible mechanism to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) of DJ1-overexpression or DJ1-knockdown were injected into the hippocampus of 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice to construct models of overexpression or knockdown. Mice were divided into the AD model control group (MC), AAV vector control group (NC), DJ1-overexpression group (DJ1 +), and DJ1-knockdown group (DJ1 -). After 21 days, the Morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of DJ1 on mice. Results: DJ1 + overexpression decreased the latency and increased the number of platform traversals in the water maze test. DJ1 - cells were cured and atrophied, and the intercellular structure was relaxed; the number of age spots and the expression of AD-related proteins were significantly increased. DJ1 + increased the protein expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), light chain 3 (LC3), phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), and B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), as well as the antioxidant levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), while decreasing the levels of Kelch-like hydrates-associated protein 1 (Keap1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p62/sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1), Caspase3, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Conclusion: DJ1-overexpression can ameliorate learning, memory, and AD-like pathology in APP/PS1 mice, which may be related to the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 and AMPK/mTOR pathways by DJ1.

Long-term survival and risk analysis of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for type B aortic dissection.

To explore the safety and efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in the treatment of patients with type B aortic dissection, and to evaluate the risk factors for long-term mortality. Our study retrospectively evaluated 729 patients with type B aortic dissection, who were divided into the thoracic endovascular aortic repair group and the optimal medical treatment group according to their treatment. In-hospital mortality, death within 30 days, and aortic-related mortality were lower in the thoracic endovascular aortic repair group than in the optimal medical treatment group (p < 0.05). The cumulative overall survival rates for the thoracic endovascular aortic repair group at 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years were 92.5%, 84.1%, and 73.5%, respectively. The Cox analysis found that TEVAR was beneficial in reducing mortality and that a vertical length of the dissection exceeding 150 mm was a risk factor for mortality.

The consumer price index prediction using machine learning approaches: Evidence from the United States.

The consumer price index (CPI) is one of the most important macroeconomic indicators for determining inflation, and accurate predictions of CPI changes are important for a country's economic development. This study uses multivariate linear regression (MLR), support vector regression (SVR), autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to predict the CPI of the United States. Data from January 2017 to February 2022 were randomly selected and divided into two stages: 80 % for training and 20% for testing. The US CPI was modeled for the observed period and relied on a mix of elements, including crude oil price, world gold price, and federal fund effective rate. Evaluation metrics-mean absolute percentage value, mean absolute error, root mean square error, R-squared, and correlation of determination-were employed to estimate forecasted values. The MLR, SVR, ARDL, and MARS models attained high accuracy parameters, while the MARS algorithm generated higher accuracy in US CPI forecasts than the others in the testing phase. These outputs could support the US government in overseeing economic policies, sectors, and social security, thereby boosting national economic development.

Boosting Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy in a Nanosized Zr MOF by the Combination of Ag NP Encapsulation and Porphyrin Doping.

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is regarded as one of the most promising antibacterial therapies due to its nonresistance, noninvasion, and rapid sterilization. However, the development of antibacterial materials with high aPDT efficacy is still a long-standing challenge. Herein, we develop an effective antibacterial photodynamic composite UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP@AgNPs by Ag encapsulation and 4,4',4″,4‴-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzoic acid) (TCPP) dopant. Through a mix-and-match strategy in the self-assembly process, 2,5-dimercaptoterephthalic acid containing -SH groups and TCPP were uniformly decorated into the UiO-66-type framework to form UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP. After Ag(I) impregnation and in situ UV light reduction, Ag NPs were formed and encapsulated into UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP to get UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP@AgNPs. In the resulting composite, both Ag NPs and TCPP can effectively enhance the visible light absorption, largely boosting the generation efficiency of reactive oxygen species. Notably, the nanoscale size enables it to effectively contact and be endocytosed into bacteria. Consequently, UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP@AgNPs show a very high aPDT efficacy against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as drug-resistant bacteria (MRSA). Furthermore, the Ag NPs were firmly anchored at the framework by the high density of -SH moieties, avoiding the cytotoxicity caused by the leakage of Ag NPs. By in vitro experiments, UiO-66-(SH)2@TCPP@AgNPs show a very high antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility as well as the potentiality to promote cell proliferation.

[Research progress on the effects of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on cognition and brain functions].

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a prevalent sleep disorder in children, is characterized by recurring upper airway obstruction during sleep. OSAS in children can cause intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, ultimately affect brain development and further lead to cognitive impairment if lack of timely effective intervention. In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) have been employed to investigate brain structure and function abnormalities in children with OSAS. Previous studies have indicated that children with OSAS showed extensive gray and white matter damage, abnormal brain function in regions such as the frontal lobe and hippocampus, as well as a significant decline in general cognitive function and executive function. However, the existing studies mainly focused on the regional activity, and the mechanism of pediatric OSAS affecting brain networks remains unknown. Moreover, it's unclear whether the alterations in brain structure and function are associated with their cognitive impairment. In this review article, we proposed two future research directions: 1) future studies should utilize the multimodal neuroimaging techniques to reveal the alterations of brain networks organization underlying pediatric OSAS; 2) further investigation is necessary to explore the relationship between brain network alteration and cognitive dysfunction in children with OSAS. With these efforts, it will be promising to identify the neuroimaging biomarkers for monitoring the brain development of children with OSAS as well as aiding its clinical diagnosis, and ultimately develop more effective strategies for intervention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Factors affecting distal false lumen enlargement after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for type B aortic dissection.

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing distal false lumen enlargement after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection. Materials and methods: Data were collected on patients with type B aortic dissection who underwent TEVAR from January 2008 to August 2022. Patients were divided into a distal aortic segmental enlargement (DSAE) group and a non-DSAE group based on whether the distal false lumen was dilated more than 5 mm on computed tomographic angiography (CTA) images. To analyze the independent influences on distal false lumen dilatation after TEVAR, the variables with a P value < 0.05 during univariate analysis were included in the binary logistic regression analysis model. Results: A total of 335 patients were included in this study, with 85 in the DSAE group and 250 in the non-DSAE group. The mean age was 52.40 ± 11.34 years, 289 (86.27%) were male patients, and the median follow-up time was 6.41 (11.99-29.99) months. There were significant differences in Marfan syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and follow-up time between the two groups. In terms of morphology, there were statistically significant differences in the number of tears, the size of the primary tear, and the length of dissection between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that Marfan syndrome, COPD, and the primary tear size were associated with distal false lumen dilatation. Conclusions: Marfan syndrome, COPD, and the primary tear size influence distal aortic segmental enlargement after TEVAR in type B aortic dissection patients.

Research progress on central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for a long time and doesn't alleviate with rest. The number of the cases has been increasing during the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Acupuncture may have some effect on chronic fatigue syndrome, but its mechanism remains unclear. This article was to summarize the specific manifestations of abnormal central mechanism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome through laboratory tests and neuroimaging. It was found from the laboratory evaluation that there were changes in the structure of the frontal cortex, thalamus and other brain tissues; factors, including IFN-α and IL-10 in cerebrospinal fluid were found abnormal; results of oxidative and nitrosative stress and changes in neurobiochemical substances, e.g. hypothalamus hormone levels and neurotransmitter concentrations, were observed. With magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, it was shown that the partial brain of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome had morphological changes with diminished grey matter and white; changes in cerebral blood flow velocity caused by decreased perfusion and functional activity with abnormal connectivity in brain were detected. In addition, there was significant decrease in glucose metabolism accompanied with neuroinflammatory response; metabolic disorders of serotonergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid energy neurotransmitters were also discovered. The regulatory effect of acupuncture on the above central neurological abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome model animals was elaborated, and the direction for further research was analyzed in order to provide ideas for further research on the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rapid Escherichia coli Cloned DNA Detection in Serum Using an Electrical Double Layer-Gated Field-Effect Transistor-Based DNA Sensor.

In this study, a rapid diagnosis platform was developed for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. An electrical double layer (EDL)-gated field-effect transistor-based biosensor (BioFET) as a point-of-care testing device is demonstrated with its high sensitivity, portability, high selectivity, quick response, and ease of use. The specially designed ssDNA probe was immobilized on the extended gate electrode to bind the target complementary DNA segment of E. coli, resulting in a sharp drain current change within minutes. The limit of detection for target DNA is validated to a concentration of 1 fM in buffer solution and serum. Meanwhile, the results of a Kelvin probe force microscope were shown to have reduced surface potential of the DNA immobilized sensors before and after the cDNA detection, which is consistent with the decreased drain current of the BioFET. A 1.2 kb E. coli duplex DNA synthesized in plasmid was sonicated and detected in serum samples with the sensor array. Gel electrophoresis was used to confirm the efficiency of sonication by elucidating the length of DNA. Those results show that the EDL-gated BioFET system is a promising platform for rapid identification of pathogens for future clinical needs.

Early neonatal hypoglycemia in term and late preterm small for gestational age newborns.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common metabolic occurrence among small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. This study aims to determine the incidence of early neonatal hypoglycemia and confirms the potential risk factors among term and late preterm SGA neonates in a well-baby newborn nursery of a tertiary medical center in Southern Taiwan. METHODS: We performed a retrospective medical record review of term and late preterm SGA (birth weight <10 percentile) neonates, born between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2020, in the well-baby newborn nursery, of a tertiary medical center in Southern Taiwan. Blood glucose monitoring was routinely performed at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h of life. Antenatal and postnatal risk factors were recorded. Mean blood glucose level, age of occurrence, symptomatic hypoglycemia, and need for intravenous glucose treatment of early hypoglycemia in SGA neonates were documented. RESULTS: 690 SGA neonates in the nursery met the criteria and were retrospectively enrolled in the study, 358 of whom (51.80%) were male and 332 (48.10%) female. Of 690 enrolled SGA neonates, 134(19.42%) SGA neonates developed hypoglycemia during a well-baby nursery stay. Among these neonates, 97% of early hypoglycemic episodes occur during the first 2 h of life. The lowest blood glucose level was 46.78 ± 11.13 mg/dL, recorded in the first hour of life. Among the hypoglycemic 134 neonates, 26 (19.40%) neonates had to be transferred from the nursery to the neonatal ward and they required intravenous glucose treatment to achieve euglycemia. 14 (10.40%) neonates had symptomatic hypoglycemia. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cesarean delivery, small head circumference, small chest circumference, and low 1-min Apgar score were significant risk factors for early hypoglycemia in these neonates. CONCLUSION: Periodic routine blood glucose level monitoring within the first 4 h of life in term and late preterm SGA neonates is required, especially those with cesarean delivery and low Apgar score.

Emergence of Non-photoresponsive Catalytic Techniques for Environmental Remediation and Energy Generation.

Catalysis plays a crucial role in all the major applications and challenges in the environment, including energy generation and environmental remediation. Although photocatalysts and electrocatalysts are useful in addressing energy and environmental issues, they have some major drawbacks, such as low efficiency and easy charge recombination which limits their applications. Hence, it is imperative to design and explore new catalytic techniques that include non-photoresponsive catalysts. In this review, the detailed possibilities, characteristics and prospects of non-photoresponsive catalysts, such as piezocatalysts, thermocatalysts, pyrocatalysts, and tribocatalysts along with hybrid catalysts are described. The overall mechanism of each catalytic technique and its applications in different fields such as energy generation, environmental remediation, and carbon dioxide reduction are discussed.

A Pilot Study of Biliary Atresia Newborn Screening Using Dried Blood Spot Matrix Metalloproteinase-7.

OBJECTIVES: Timely diagnosis is a critical challenge and is associated with improved survival of biliary atresia (BA) patients. We aimed to measure matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) levels in BA patients within 3 days of birth using the dried blood spot (DBS) method and evaluate its potential as a screening tool. METHODS: The study enrolled 132 patients, including 25 patients diagnosed with BA and 107 non-BA patients with other congenital or perinatal conditions from the National Taiwan University Children Hospital. The stored DBS samples collected from 48 to 72 hours of life were retrieved from newborn screening centers. MMP-7 on the DBS was quantified using a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The MMP-7 levels of BA patients on the DBS were significantly higher than those of non-BA patients (19.2 ± 10.4 vs 5.6 ± 2.7 ng/mL, P value < 0.0001). MMP-7 levels in non-BA patients, including 5 patients with hepatobiliary structural anomaly, 9 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis, and 93 patients with other perinatal diseases, were 11.6 ± 4.2 ng/mL, 6.9 ± 3.0 ng/mL, and 5.2 ± 2.1 ng/mL, respectively. The DBS MMP-7 level showed good accuracy for identifying BA, with an area under the curve of 93.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 87.7%-99.7%]. The MMP-7 cutoff at 8.0 ng/mL showed a sensitivity of 92.0% (95% CI: 75.0%-98.6%) and specificity of 92.5% (95% CI: 85.9%-96.1%) for detecting BA from other congenital or perinatal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-7 DBS analysis can be used to distinguish BA from other conditions as early as 3 days of age.

Behavior of medial gastrocnemius muscle beneath kinesio taping during isometric contraction and badminton lunge performance after fatigue induction.

Kinesio taping (KT) is widely used in sports for performance improvement and injury prevention. However, little is known of the behavior of the muscle region beneath the KT with movement, particularly when the muscle is fatigued. Accordingly, this study investigated the changes in the medial gastrocnemius muscle architecture and fascia thickness when using KT during maximum isometric plantar flexion (MVIC) and badminton lunges following heel rise exercises performed to exhaustion. Eleven healthy collegiate badminton players (4 males and 7 females) were recruited. All of the participants performed two tasks (MVIC and badminton lunge) with a randomized sequence of no taping, KT and sham taping and repeated following exhaustive repetitive heel rise exercise. In the MVIC task, the fascia thickness with the medial gastrocnemius muscle at rest significantly decreased following fatigue induction both without taping and with KT and sham taping (p = 0.036, p = 0.028 and p = 0.025, respectively). In the lunge task, the fascia thickness reduced after fatigue induction in the no taping and sham taping trials; however, no significant change in the fascia thickness occurred in the KT trials. Overall, the results indicate that KT provides a better effect during dynamic movement than in isometric contraction.

Application of aminobenzoic acid electrodeposited screen-printed carbon electrode in the beta-amyloid electrochemical impedance spectroscopy immunoassay.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the important neurodegenerative diseases, in the modern aging society, it has become an issue people need to work on. Of the pathogenic factor which leads to AD, beta-amyloid (Aß) is the most important one. It can form the senile plaque which aggregates in the neuron and interrupts the signal transmission. This research is based on the electrochemical system and screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) incorporated with pretreatment, electrodeposition, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), antibody, and blocking agent. This immunosensor is applied to detect the different concentrations of Aß. The standard curve between electrical impedance and concentration of Aß is calculated. The specificity of the immunosensor is tested. This survey optimizes the electrodeposition condition for 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) and the parameter for antibody and blocking agents. This study fabricates a more dense, uniform, and stable film of 4-ABA. This sensor presents a range of detection from 1 fg/ml to 100 pg/ml and a limit of detection to 3.84 fg/ml. This sensor can identify the isoform of Aß. This research shortens the fabricating time to 3.5 h. This study fabricates a label-free and low-cost immunosensor for Aß with a short fabricating time, high stability, wide range of detection, low limit of detection, and good specificity. The impedance of the carbon printed electrodes is very high and is always measured by its current but this study provides a fabrication technique for high-efficiency carbon printed electrodes for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy sensing.

Ab Initio Calculation of Ground- and Low-Excited-State Spectroscopic Data and Transition Properties of SBr.

In this paper, potential energy curves of Λ-S and Ω states of SBr+ are reported for the first time, and the spectrum data of some low excited bound states are obtained. The differences in the spectrum properties of main-group molecules and SBr+ were compared and analyzed, providing a sufficient theoretical basis for the subsequent study of main-group molecules. The avoided crossing that occurs in the Ω state is analyzed, and finally it is concluded that this phenomenon mainly occurs in the energy region between 20,000 and 40,000 cm-1 that is relative to the minimum energy value. Potential transitions in the Ω state capable of achieving laser cooling of SBr+ are explored. The Franck-Condon factor, radiation lifetime, and Einstein coefficient between X3Σ0+- and b1Σ0++ are calculated. From the calculation results, we concluded that direct laser cooling of SBr+ is not feasible. What we have studied in this paper provides a theoretical basis for subsequent computational exploration of the spectrum properties of SBr+.