A Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Strategy for Constructing Synergistic N-Doped Carbon-Encapsulated NiCoP@N-C-Based Anodes toward High-Efficient Lithium Storage.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have been regarded as the prospective anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their poor intrinsic conductivity and inevitable large volume variation result in sluggish redox kinetics and the collapse of electrode structure during cycling, which substantially hinders their practical use. Herein, an effective composite electrodes design strategy of "assembly and phosphorization" is proposed to construct synergistic N-doped carbon-encapsulated NiCoP@N-C-based composites, employing a metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as sacrificial hosts. Serving as the anodes for LIBs, one representative P-NCP-NC-600 electrode exhibits high reversible capacity (858.5 mAh g-1, 120 cycles at 0.1 A g-1) and superior long-cycle stability (608.7 mAh g-1, 500 cycles at 1 A g-1). The impressive performances are credited to the synergistic effect between its unique composite structure, electronic properties and ideal composition, which achieve plentiful lithium storage sites and reinforce the structural architecture. By accompanying experimental investigations with theoretical calculations, a deep understanding in the lithium storage mechanism is achieved. Furthermore, it is revealed that a more ideal synergistic effect between NiCoP components and N-doped carbon frameworks is fundamentally responsible for the realization of superb lithium storage properties. This strategy proposes certain instructive significance toward designable high-performance TMP-based anodes for high-energy density LIBs.

Strategy for the Preparation of ZnS/ZnO Composites Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks toward Lithium Storage.

The synergistic effect between multicomponent electrode materials often makes them have better lithium storage performance than single-component electrode materials. Therefore, to enhance surface reaction kinetics and encourage electron transfer, using multicomponent anode materials is a useful tactic for achieving high lithium-ion battery performance. In this article, ZnS/ZnO composites were synthesized by solvothermal sulfidation and calcination, with the utilization of metal-organic frameworks acting as sacrificial templates. From the point of material design, both ZnS and ZnO have high theoretical specific capacities, and the synergistic effect of ZnS and ZnO can promote charge transport. From the perspective of electrode engineering, the loose porous carbon skeleton that results from the calcination of metal-organic frameworks can enhance composite material conductivity as well as full electrolyte penetration and the area of contact between the electrolyte and active material, all of which are beneficial to enhancing lithium storage performance. As expected, ZnS/ZnO anode materials displayed remarkably high specific capacities and outstanding performance at different rates. Combining material design and electrode engineering, this paper provides another idea for preparing anode materials with excellent lithium storage properties.

Borderline personality traits mediate the relationship between negative life events and nonsuicidal self-injury in a clinical sample with youth depression.

BACKGROUND: Borderline personality traits play a significant role in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), particularly in depressed youths. NSSI is also highly correlated with negative life events. This research aimed to explore the connections between negative life events, borderline personality traits, and NSSI. METHODS: The study included 338 depressed youth aged 13 to 25 years. Self-reported measures and clinical interviews were utilized to evaluate the depressive symptoms, borderline personality traits, negative life events, and NSSI behaviours of these participants. Identifying variables linked to NSSI was the aim of our analysis, and we also conducted a mediation analysis to look into the influence of borderline traits on the connection between negative life events and NSSI. RESULTS: Of the 338 depressed youth, approximately 59.47% (201/338) displayed NSSI, which was associated with greater clinical severity. Borderline traits had an independent influence on NSSI and it partially explained the connection between negative life events and NSSI, even when accounting for depression symptoms. Depressed youth who were more vulnerable to NSSI behaviours often experienced negative life events such as interpersonal relationships, academic pressure, being punished, and loss. CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggests that depressed youth who experience more negative life events are more likely to experience NSSI, and negative life events indirectly influence nonsuicidal self-injury through borderline personality traits. Implementing interventions focused on mitigating borderline symptoms could be a promising therapeutic approach for addressing NSSI in young people.

Facilitating Lung Collapse for Thoracoscopic Surgery Utilizing Endobronchial Airway Occlusion Preceded by Pleurotomy and One-minute Suspension of Two-lung Ventilation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess when and whether clamping the double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) limb of the non-ventilated lung is more conducive to a rapid and effective lung deflation than simply allowing the open limb of the DLT to communicate with the atmosphere. DESIGN: This was a single-center, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: The trial was performed in a single institutional setting. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 60 patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to the open-clamp airway technique (OCAT group) or control group. Patients in the control group had one-lung ventilation initiated upon being placed in the lateral decubitus position. The OCAT group had two-lung ventilation maintained until the pleural cavity was opened with the introduction of a planned thoracoscopic access port to allow the operated lung to fall away from the chest wall. Thereafter, ventilation was suspended (temporarily ceased) for 1 minute before the DLT lumen of the isolated lung was clamped. The primary outcome of the trial was the time to complete lung collapse scored as determined from video clips taken during surgery. The secondary outcomes were (1) lung collapse score at 30 minutes after pleural incision, (2) surgeon satisfaction with surgery, and (3) intraoperative hypoxemia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median time to reach complete lung collapse in the OCAT group was 10 minutes (odds ratio 10.0, 95% CI 6.3-13.7), which was much shorter than that of the control group (25 minutes [odds ratio 25.0, 95% CI 13.6-36.4]). The difference in complete lung collapse at 30 minutes between the 2 groups was significant (p < 0.001). The surgeon's satisfaction with surgery was higher in the OCAT group than in the control group (8.5 ± 0.2 vs 6.8 ± 0.2; p < 0.001). There was no difference regarding intraoperative hypoxemia. CONCLUSIONS: Suspending ventilation of both DLT limbs for 1 minute after pleural cavity opening and then clamping the DLT lumen of the isolated lung resulted in a more rapid deflation of the surgical lung. This open-clamp airway technique is an effective technique for rapid surgical lung collapse during thoracoscopic surgery.

Efficacy and Safety of RelabotulinumtoxinA, a New Ready-to-Use Liquid Formulation Botulinum Toxin: Results From the READY-1 Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial in Glabellar Lines.

BACKGROUND: RelabotulinumtoxinA (RelaBoNT-A, Galderma, Uppsala, Sweden) is an innovative, ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin A, produced using PEARLTM manufacturing technology that yields a potent, complex-free formulation. OBJECTIVES: The READY-1 study examined efficacy and safety outcomes following a single RelaBoNT-A treatment for glabellar line correction. METHODS: Adults with moderate-to-severe glabellar lines received RelaBoNT-A (50 U) or placebo in a 3:1 randomized, 6-month, Phase 3, multicenter, double-blind study. Primary endpoints (examined at Month 1, maximum frown) comprised the composite ≥2-grade response, defined as ≥2-grades' improvement from baseline on concurrent investigator (GL-ILA) and subject (GL-SLA) severity scales (US endpoint), and the investigator-reported responder rate for subjects scored as 0 (none) or 1 (mild) (GL-ILA scale only; EU endpoint). Subject satisfaction and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported. RESULTS: Overall, 297 adults were randomized and treated. Month 1 composite ≥2-grade responder rate was 82.9% (RelaBoNT-A, N=199) versus 0% (placebo, N=67; p<0.001). Month 1 investigator-reported none-or-mild responder rate was 96.3% (RelaBoNT-A) versus 4.5% (placebo; p<0.001). GL-ILA scores (none-or-mild; ≥1-grade improvement) remained higher with RelaBoNT-A (23.6%; 58.1%) versus placebo (1.5%; 10.4%) through Month 6 (p<0.001). In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, 75% still showed GL-ILA and GL-SLA improvements from baseline at 169 days (end-of-study). Subjects reported onset of effect from Day 1 (39%) and satisfaction with natural-looking results (96.8%; Month 1). RelaBoNT-A-related TEAEs were low (3.6%) and typically mild. CONCLUSIONS: A single RelaBoNT-A treatment was effective and demonstrated a favorable safety profile. RelaBoNT-A provided significant improvements in glabellar line severity, high satisfaction, rapid onset, and enduring effectiveness throughout the 6-month study period.

X-H Bond Insertion Promoted by Heterogeneous Dirhodium Metal-Organic Cage with Alkynes as Safe Carbene Precursors.

A facile and efficient methodology for the generation of the C-X (X = Si, B) bond through a carbene insertion process was demonstrated using a dirhodium metal-organic cage, MOC-Rh-1, as a heterogeneous catalyst. A series of functionalized alkynes were utilized as safe carbene precursors to furnish Si-H and B-H insertion products in moderate to excellent yields. These reactions featured a high atom-economy, a broad substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the as-prepared MOC-Rh-1 catalyst was recovered easily from the reaction system by simple centrifugation and reused for ten runs without a significant loss in activity, which made good use of the valuable precious metal rhodium.

Engineering at Subatomic Scale: Achieving Selective Catalytic Pathways via Tuning of the Oxidation States in Functionalized Single-Atom Quantum Catalysts.

Regulating the catalytic pathways of single-atom sites in single atom catalysts (SACs) is an exciting debate at the moment, which has redirected the research towards understanding and modifying the single-atom catalytic sites through various strategies including altering the coordination environment of single atom for desirable outcomes as well as increasing their number. One useful aspect concerning the tunability of the catalytic pathways of SACs, which has been overlooked, is the oxidation state dynamics of the single atoms. In this study, iron single-atoms (FeSA) with variable oxidation states, dependent on the precursors, are harnessed inside a nitrogen-rich functionalized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) matrix via a facile one-step and low-temperature synthesis process. Dynamic electronic properties are imparted to the FeSAs by the simpler carbon dots matrix of CQDs in order to achieve the desired catalytic pathways of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in different environments, which are explored experimentally and theoretically for an in-depth understanding of the redox chemistry that drives the alternative catalytic pathways in FeSA@CQDs. These alternative and oxidation state-dependent catalytic pathways are employed for specific as well as cascade-like activities simulating natural enzymes as well as biomarkers for the detection of cancerous cells.

Newly developed abnormal head position and secondary esotropia after strabismus surgery for children with intermittent exotropia.

PURPOSE: To review cases of newly developed AHP and secondary esotropia (ET) after surgical correction for IXT. METHODS: Medical records of cases with newly developed AHP and secondary ET after surgical correction for IXT were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were included and the mean pre-operative exodeviation was 31.7 ± 10.6 prism diopters (PD) (range: 16-50) at distance. They received bilateral lateral rectus (LR) recessions (13/15), unilateral LR recession and medial rectus (MR) resection (1/15) or bilateral LR recession plus unilateral MR resection (1/15). Fourteen patients developed chin-down AHP with secondary V-pattern ET and 1 presented chin-up AHP with secondary A-pattern ET. The mean esodeviation in primary gaze was 22.7 ± 10.0 PD (range: 3-40) at distance. Twelve cases underwent a second surgery for correction of AHP and secondary ET, and approximately half (5/11) of the recessed LR muscles explored showed a 3-5 mm downward displacement of the new attachment. Surgical management mainly included advancement of LR to the original insertion with a 3-5 mm upward transposition. The AHP dissipated and ocular alignment returned to normal in all of these cases. Three cases did not require further surgery, and their AHP and secondary ET were no longer present at 2-5 months after the first surgery. CONCLUSION: A downward shift of the recessed LR in IXT may lead to secondary V-pattern ET and development of a chin-down AHP. Advancement of LR with an upward transposition serves as an effective procedure for the correction of this complication.

Theoretical Studies on the Structures of Metal String Complexes Crn(L)4Cl2 (n = 3, 5, 7; L = Oligo-α-Pyridylamide) under the Effect of an Electric Field.

To study the electronic structures and properties of [Crn(L)4Cl2] (n = 3, L = dpa: di(2-pyridyl)amido; n = 5, L = tpda: tripyridyldiamido; n = 7, L = teptra: tetrapyridyltriamine) metal string complexes, the BP86 method was used by considering the influence of the electric field (EF) applied parallel to the metal axis. As the EF increases, the migration of more positively charged Crodd is more significant than that of Creven, which results in alternating long-short Cr-Cr bonds. This happens because of the natural charges on the Crodd of 1-3, which are more electropositive than those on Creven. The electrons are pulled to the Cr and Cl(r) atoms at the high-potential side from Cl(l) at the low-potential side by the EF, which leads to asymmetrical FMOs. After the critical electric field (Ec), the configuration turns into a remarkably asymmetric one with alternating Cr-Cr quadruple bonds and weak interactions. The electrons are transferred from equatorial ligands (L) to metal chains. In the meantime, the asymmetry of the FMOs increases and the delocalization is further reduced, which affects the conductivity. Especially for [Cr7(teptra)4Cl2], the delocalized electrons of HOMO are completely transformed into a localized model after the critical electric field. It is observed that this supports the electric switching phenomenon ascribed to the conformations of delocalized and localized electrons. In addition, the longer the length of the metal chain, the smaller the Ec and the easier is for the complexes to be polarized by the EF.

ZNF674-AS1 antagonizes miR-423-3p to induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: ZNF674-AS1, a recently characterized long noncoding RNA, shows prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma and glioma. However, the expression and function of ZNF674-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unclear. METHODS: In this work, we investigated the expression of ZNF674-AS1 in 83 pairs of NSCLC specimens and adjacent noncancerous lung tissues. The clinical significance of ZNF674-AS1 in NSCLC was analyzed. The role of ZNF674-AS1 in NSCLC growth and cell cycle progression was explored. RESULTS: Our data show that ZNF674-AS1 expression is decreased in NSCLC compared to normal tissues. ZNF674-AS1 downregulation is significantly correlated with advanced TNM stage and decreased overall survival of NSCLC patients. Overexpression of ZNF674-AS1 inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation, colony formation, and tumorigenesis, which is accompanied by a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Conversely, knockdown of ZNF674-AS1 enhances the proliferation and colony formation of NSCLC cells. Biochemically, ZNF674-AS1 overexpression increases the expression of p21 through downregulation of miR-423-3p. Knockdown of p21 or overexpression of miR-423-3p blocks ZNF674-AS1-mediated growth suppression and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. In addition, ZNF674-AS1 expression is negatively correlated with miR-423-3p in NSCLC specimens. CONCLUSIONS: ZNF674-AS1 suppresses NSCLC growth by downregulating miR-423-3p and inducing p21. This work suggests the therapeutic potential of ZNF674-AS1 in the treatment of NSCLC.

AbobotulinumtoxinA Treatment of Glabellar Lines Using a New Reconstitution and Injection Volume: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Data.

BACKGROUND: Increasing the reconstitution and injection volumes of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) could provide more options for aesthetic healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of aboBoNT-A treatment of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines (GL) versus placebo, using a new reconstitution and injection volume. Methods & Materials: In this 6-month, Phase III, randomized, double-blind study, subjects 18-64 years were administered aboBoNT-A 50 U (N=224) or placebo (N=77), as five 0.1-mL-injections (10 U) in the glabellar region following reconstitution of a 300-U-vial in 3 mL. Assessments included time to onset of effect, investigator- (ILA) and subject- (SSA) assessed GL severity, subject satisfaction, aesthetic improvement and safety. The primary endpoint was composite 2-grade response at month 1 (a GL severity of none-or-mild at maximum frown and ≥2-grade improvement from baseline concurrently on both ILA and SSA). RESULTS: Median time to onset was 2 days, 34% of subjects reporting effect on day 1. At month 1, the composite 2-grade responder rate was 65.8% for aboBoNT-A versus 0% for placebo, P<0.001, 91–92% had none-or-mild GL severity, and 95–100% had a ≥1-grade GL severity improvement. A ≥1-grade improvement was sustained in 46-56% of aboBoNT-A-treated subjects up to 6 months (P<0.001 vs placebo). Aesthetic improvement and subject satisfaction were high throughout 6 months and aboBoNT-A treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Safety and efficacy of GL treatment using 0.1 mL (10 U) aboBoNT-A per injection site were demonstrated, with rapid onset and up to 6 months’ duration of effect. Severity improvement was accompanied by sustained aesthetic improvement and subject satisfaction. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(9):988-995. doi:10.36849/JDD.6130.

Key Factor Study for Generic Long-Acting PLGA Microspheres Based on a Reverse Engineering of Vivitrol®.

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has approved only a negligible number of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based microsphere formulations, indicating the difficulty in developing a PLGA microsphere. A thorough understanding of microsphere formulations is essential to meet the challenge of developing innovative or generic microspheres. In this study, the key factors, especially the key process factors of the marketed PLGA microspheres, were revealed for the first time via a reverse engineering study on Vivitrol® and verified by the development of a generic naltrexone-loaded microsphere (GNM). Qualitative and quantitative similarity with Vivitrol®, in terms of inactive ingredients, was accomplished by the determination of PLGA. Physicochemical characterization of Vivitrol® helped to identify the critical process parameters in each manufacturing step. After being prepared according to the process parameters revealed by reverse engineering, the GNM demonstrated similarity to Vivitrol® in terms of quality attributes and in vitro release (f2 = 65.3). The research on the development of bioequivalent microspheres based on the similar technology of Vivitrol® will benefit the development of other generic or innovative microspheres.

Structural Diversity of Zinc(II), Manganese(II), and Gadolinium(III) Coordination Polymers Based on Two Isomeric N-Heteroaromatic Polycarboxylate Ligands: Structures and Their Derived Mn2O3 for Lithium Storage Applications.

Tuning the coordination sites of two isomeric semirigid ligands, 5-(4-pyridin-3-yl-benzoylamino)isophthalic acid (3-H2PBI) and 5-(4-pyridin-4-yl-benzoylamino)isophthalic acid (4-H2PBI), afforded six new coordination polymers (CPs), [Zn(3-PBI)(H2O)]n (1), {[Mn2(3-PBI)2(H2O)]·DMF·2H2O}n (2), {[Gd2(3-PBI)3(H2O)3]·DMF·3H2O}n (3), {[Zn2(4-PBI)2]·H2O}n (4), {[Mn2(4-PBI)2(H2O)2]·4H2O}n (5), and {(Me2NH2)[Gd(4-PBI)2]·H2O}n (6). Structural analysis shows that 1 consists of 2D honeycomb (6,3) net, three sets of networks interlace mutually, generating an unexpected 2D + 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenating interesting system. 2 exhibits a 3D pcu topology. 3 presents a unique 3D with 3,3,6T13 network topology. 4 possesses 3D 2-fold interpenetrated structure with rutile topology. 5 presents an alluring 2D architecture comprising two distinct topologies (kgd and hcb), stacked arrangement in an unexpected ABBABB mode. 6 displays 2D (4,4)-grid network. A differentiation of these structural features indicate that coordination connectivity of metals, together with binding modes of two ligands are accountable for the fascinating structural contrast. In addition, 2 and 5 were then transformed into Mn2O3 via a simple heat treatment. Electrochemical test results show that both of the obtained Mn2O3 moieties exhibit stable lithium storage properties and excellent rate capabilities.

Nanostructured Iron Fluoride Derived from Fe-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes.

A comprehensive strategy for the morphological control of octahedral and spindle Fe-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) via microwave-assisted adjustment is proposed in this research. Afterward, in situ copyrolysis under N2 atmosphere contributes to the fabrication of two shape-maintained FeF3·0.33H2O nanostructures (named O-FeF3·0.33H2O and S-FeF3·0.33H2O, respectively) with confined hierarchical porosity and graphitized carbon skeleton. The lithium storage performances for the MOF-derived octahedral O-FeF3·0.33H2O and spindle S-FeF3·0.33H2O composites are investigated, and the prospective lithium storage mechanism is discussed. As a result, the main product of the porous O-FeF3·0.33H2O structure is found to be a promising cathode material for lithium ion batteries owing to its advantageous electrochemical capability. Even after being cycled over 1000 times at 2 C (1 C = 237 mAh g-1), the capacity attenuation rate of the as-prepared O-FeF3·0.33H2O electrode is as low as 0.039% per cycle. The combination of proper octahedral morphology and highly graphitized carbon modification can not only enhance the conductivity of the cathode but also promote the diffusion of Li+ effectively. The remarkable performance of octahedral O-FeF3·0.33H2O can be confirmed by the Li-ion diffusion coefficient (DLi+) calculation analysis and kinetics analysis of lithium storage behavior.

Validation of Photonumeric Assessment Scales for Temple Volume Deficit, Infraorbital Hollows, and Chin Retrusion.

BACKGROUND: Assessment scales are valuable tools in aesthetic clinical research and practice. OBJECTIVE: To validate 3 photonumeric scales covering temple volume deficit, infraorbital hollows, and chin retrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects reflecting the whole range of the scales were assessed independently by 3 evaluators at 2 separate occasions. Intraobserver agreement (the ability of each evaluator to assess the same grade for a specific subject at both evaluation occasions) and interobserver agreement (the degree to which evaluators independently provided identical grades for the same subject) were measured by weighted kappa statistics and percent exact agreement. RESULTS: Approximately 70 subjects were included in each scale validation. The predefined success criteria of an intraobserver weighted kappa coefficient of ≥0.6 and an interobserver median pairwise weighted kappa coefficient of ≥0.6 were met for each scale. These results indicate substantial agreement, both between the 2 evaluations, and between the 3 evaluators. CONCLUSION: These scales covering temple volume deficit, infraorbital hollows, and chin retrusion are validated assessment tools, based on live evaluations. Intraobserver agreement (between the 2 evaluations) and interobserver agreement (between the 3 evaluators) were both substantial.

MicroRNA-488-3p inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting ZBTB2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the eighth most prevalent cancer and the sixth leading cause for cancer-associated mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly reported to exert important regulatory functions in human cancers by regulating certain gene expression. miR-488-3p has been identified to be a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers, but its role in ESCC is yet to be investigated. The present study aimed to uncover the biological role and modulatory mechanism of miR-488-3p in ESCC. We first revealed the downregulation of miR-488-3p in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Gain-of-function assays confirmed that miR-488-3p overexpression abrogated proliferation and accelerated apoptosis. Mechanistically, we identified via bioinformatics tool and confirmed that zinc finger and BTB domain containing 2 (ZBTB2) was a target for miR-488-3p. Moreover, miR-488-3p activated the p53 pathway through suppressing ZBTB2. Finally, rescue assays proved that ZBTB2 was involved in the regulation of miR-488-3p on proliferation and apoptosis in ESCC. Additionally, we verified that miR-488-3p had alternate targets in ESCC by confirming the involvement of protein kinase, DNA-activated, catalytic subunit (PRKDC), a known target for miR-488-3p, in miR-488-3p-mediated regulation on ESCC. In sum, this study revealed that miR-488-3p inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis by targeting ZBTB2 and activating p53 pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, providing a novel biological target for ESCC.

Method for Synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Derived LiCoO2/CNTs@AlF3 with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capacity.

Metal-organic framework-derived lithium cobaltate nanoparticles were fabricated by annealing of the ZIF-67 precursor with Li2CO3 under air, followed by homogeneous AlF3 coating and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wrapping. The as-prepared AlF3-coated LiCoO2/CNTs electrode can act as a potential cathode for enhanced lithium storage at both room temperature and an elevated temperature of 50 °C.

Associative stigma experienced by mental health professionals in China and the United States.

PURPOSE: "Associative stigma" is the negative stereotyping of mental health service providers who treat people with serious mental illness. The Clinician Associative Stigma Scale (CASS) has been validated in a US sample but not in other nations, e.g., in China which has been found to have substantially higher levels of stigma towards people with mental illness than the US. METHODS: The 19-item CASS was translated into Chinese and administrated to 665 mental health professionals working in psychiatric hospitals in Southern China. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare the factor structure with that found in the US sample. Socio-demographic correlates of CASS scores and comparison with US data were conducted using regression models and t test. RESULTS: CFA showed a good model fit (GFI = 0.911 and RMSEA = 0.068) for the four factors found in the US study: (1) discomfort with disclosing about working with serious mental illness, (2) stereotypes about professionals' own poor mental health, (3) stereotypes about unpleasantness of working with people with serious mental illness, and (4) stereotypes about lack of treatment effectiveness. Total CASS score and subscales concerning stereotypes about providers' mental health and about unpleasantness of working with such patients were significantly lower in China than in the US (both P < 0.001), but stereotypes concerning professional ineffectiveness were higher in China. CONCLUSION: Associative stigma was lower in China than in the US, possibly reflecting the cultural dominance of respect for educated professionals over stigma towards people with serious mental illness.

Genetic variants at 9p21.3 are associated with risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Genome-wide association studies have linked genetic variants at 9p21.3 to the risk of multiple cancers. However, the roles of genetic variants at 9p21.3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development are largely unknown. We evaluated the genetic variants at 9p21.3 reported in cancer genome-wide association studies with a case-control study including 2139 ESCC cases and 2273 controls in a Chinese population, and measured the mRNA expression levels of MTAP, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and CDKN2B-AS1 in paired ESCC tumor and adjacent normal tissues. We found that the G allele of rs7023329 was significantly associated with a decreased risk of ESCC with a per-allele odds ratio of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.91; P = 2.95 × 10-5 ). The rs7023329-G allele was related to a high expression of MTAP (P = 0.020). The rs1679013-C allele was independently associated with an increased risk of ESCC with a per-allele odds ratio of 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.24; P = 0.039). We also found that the carriers of the risk allele rs1679013-C had lower expression of CDKN2B than non-carriers (P = 0.035). CDKN2B was also significantly downregulated in ESCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P = 3.50×10-5 ). Therefore, our findings indicate that genetic variants at 9p21.3 may modulate the expression of MTAP and CDKN2B and contribute to ESCC susceptibility. This may further advance our understanding of the 9p21.3 locus in cancer development.

Formation of N-Doped Carbon-Coated ZnO/ZnCo2 O4 /CuCo2 O4 Derived from a Polymetallic Metal-Organic Framework: Toward High-Rate and Long-Cycle-Life Lithium Storage.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are very promising self-sacrificing templates for the large-scale fabrication of new functional materials owing to their versatile functionalities and tunable porosities. Most conventional metal oxide electrodes derived from MOFs are limited by the low abundance of incorporated metal elements. This study reports a new strategy for the synthesis of multicomponent active metal oxides by the pyrolysis of polymetallic MOF precursors. A hollow N-doped carbon-coated ZnO/ZnCo2 O4 /CuCo2 O4 nanohybrid is prepared by the thermal annealing of a polymetallic MOF with ammonium bicarbonate as a pore-forming agent. This is the first report on the rational design and preparation of a hybrid composed of three active metal oxide components originating from MOF precursors. Interestingly, as a lithium-ion battery anode, the developed electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 1742 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at a current density of 0.3 mA g-1 . Furthermore, the material shows large storage capacities (1009 and 667 mAh g-1 ), even at high current flow (3 and 10 A g-1 ). The remarkable high-rate capability and outstanding long-life cycling stability of the multidoped metal oxide benefits from the carbon-coated integrated nanostructure with a hollow interior and the three active metal oxide components.