Interactions between nonfullerene acceptors lead to unstable ternary organic photovoltaic cells.

For organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices to achieve consistent performance and long operational lifetimes, organic semiconductors must be processed with precise control over their purity, composition, and structure. This is particularly important for high volume solar cell manufacturing where control of materials quality has a direct impact on yield and cost. Ternary-blend OPVs containing two acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A)-type nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) and a donor have proven to be an effective strategy to improve solar spectral coverage and reduce energy losses beyond that of binary-blend OPVs. Here, we show that the purity of such a ternary is compromised during blending to form a homogeneously mixed bulk heterojunction thin film. We find that the impurities originate from end-capping C=C/C=C exchange reactions of A-D-A-type NFAs, and that their presence influences both device reproducibility and long-term reliability. The end-capping exchange results in generation of up to four impurity constituents with strong dipolar character that interfere with the photoinduced charge transfer process, leading to reduced charge generation efficiency, morphological instabilities, and an increased vulnerability to photodegradation. As a consequence, the OPV efficiency falls to less than 65% of its initial value within 265 h when exposed to up to 10 suns intensity illumination. We propose potential molecular design strategies critical to enhancing the reproducibility as well as reliability of ternary OPVs by avoiding end-capping reactions.

GFPBW1, a ß-glucan from Grifola frondosa as vaccine adjuvant: APCs activation and maturation.

Adjuvants for vaccines with characteristics of improving adaptive immunity particularly via leverage of antigen presenting cells (APCs) are currently lacking. In a previous work we obtained a new soluble 300 kDa homogeneous ß-glucan named GFPBW1 from the fruit bodies of Granola frondosa. GFPBW1 could activate macrophages by targeting dendritic cell associated C-type lectin 1 (Dectin-1)/Syk/NF-κB signaling to achieve antitumour effects. In this study the adjuvant effects of GFPBW1 were explored with OVA-antigen and B16-OVA tumor model. We showed that GFPBW1 (5, 50, 500 µg/mL) dose-dependently promoted activation and maturation of APCs in vitro by increasing CD80, CD86 and MHC II expression. We immunized female mice with OVA in combination with GFPBW1 (50 or 300 µg) twice with an interval of two weeks. GFPBW1 markedly and dose-dependently increased OVA-specific antibody titers of different subtypes including IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3, suggesting that it could serve as an adjuvant for both Th1 and Th2 type immune responses. Furthermore, GFPBW1 in combination with aluminum significantly increased the titers of OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG2b, but not those of IgG1, suggesting that GFPBW1 could be used as a co-adjuvant of aluminum to compensate for Th1 deficiency. For mice immunized with OVA plus GFPBW1, no obvious pathological injury was observed in either major organs or injection sites, and no abnormalities were noted for any of the hematological parameters. When GFPBW1 served as an adjuvant in the B16-OVA cancer vaccine models, it could accomplish entire tumor suppression with preventive vaccines, and enhance antitumour efficacy with therapeutic vaccines. Differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched in antigen processing process, specifically increased tumor infiltration of DCs, B1 cells and plasma cells in the OVA plus GFPBW1 group, in accordance with its activation and maturation function of APCs. Collectively, this study systematically describes the properties of GFPBW1 as a novel potent and safe adjuvant and highlights its great potential in vaccine development.

Age-related smartphone use patterns among individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: With mobile health technologies serving as an alternative means of providing healthcare, evaluating patients' abilities to navigate digital infrastructures is becoming increasingly relevant. The goal of this study is to investigate smartphone use patterns among individuals with history of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: An anonymous survey was delivered via e-mail or text message to eligible participants who had a history of moderate-to-severe TBI and were prospectively followed at one of the eight participating Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centers for at least 1-year post-injury. The survey captured demographic data and included a questionnaire to evaluate smartphone use (calling, texting, web browsing, etc.). RESULTS: A total of 2665 eligible individuals were contacted to complete the survey, 472 of which responded. 441 of them reported smartphone use. Individuals ages 45 and older were significantly less likely to use their phones for functions other than calling and texting when compared to individuals ages 18-44 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI in this cohort demonstrated intentional smartphone use, suggesting that mobile health technologies may be feasible as a cost-effective healthcare alternative. However, doing so will require additional interventions to provide further technological education especially in older individuals with TBI.

Src is a target molecule of mannose against pancreatic cancer cells growth in vitro & in vivo.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant cancer with limited treatment options. Mannose, a common monosaccharide taken up by cells through the same transporters as glucose, has been shown to induce growth retardation and enhance cell death in response to chemotherapy in several cancers, including PDAC. However, the molecular targets and mechanisms underlying mannose's action against PDAC are not well understood. In this study, we used an integrative approach of network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification to investigate the pharmacological targets and mechanisms of mannose against PDAC. Our results showed that the protein Src is a key target of mannose in PDAC. Additionally, computational analysis revealed that mannose is a highly soluble compound that meets Lipinski's rule of five and that the expression of its target molecules is correlated with survival rates and prognosis in PDAC patients. Finally, we validated our findings through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that mannose plays a critical role in inhibiting PDAC growth by targeting Src, suggesting that it may be a promising therapeutic candidate for PDAC.

Hepatic glucuronyl C5-epimerase combats obesity by stabilising GDF15.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Disturbed hepatic metabolism frequently results in excessive lipid accumulation in the adipose tissue. However, the specific role of the liver-adipose axis in maintaining lipid homeostasis, as well as the underlying mechanism, has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of hepatic glucuronyl C5-epimerase (Glce) in the progression of obesity. METHODS: We determined the association between the expression of hepatic Glce and body mass index (BMI) in obese patients. Obesity models were established in hepatic Glce-knockout and wild-type mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to understand the effect of Glce on obesity development. The role of Glce in the progression of disrupted hepatokine secretion was examined via secretome analysis. RESULTS: Hepatic Glce expression was inversely correlated with BMI in obese patients. Moreover, Glce level was found to be decreased in the liver of a HFD murine model. Hepatic Glce deficiency led to impaired thermogenesis in adipose tissue and exacerbated HFD-induced obesity. Interestingly, decreased level of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was observed in the culture medium of Glce-knockout mouse hepatocytes. Treatment with recombinant GDF15 obstructed obesity progression derived from the absence of hepatic Glce, similar to the effect of Glce or its inactive mutant overexpressed both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, liver Glce deficiency led to diminished production and increased degradation of mature GDF15, resulting in reduced hepatic GDF15 secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic Glce deficiency facilitated obesity development, and decreased Glce expression further reduced hepatic secretion of GDF15, thereby perturbing lipid homeostasis in vivo. Therefore, the novel Glce-GDF15 axis plays an important role in maintaining energy balance and may act as a potential target for combating obesity. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Evidence suggests that GDF15 plays a key role in hepatic metabolism; however, the molecular mechanism for regulating its expression and secretion is largely unknown. Our work observes that hepatic Glce, as a key Golgi-localised epimerase, may work on the maturation and post-translational regulation of GDF15. Hepatic Glce deficiency reduces the production of mature GDF15 protein and facilitates its ubiquitination, resulting in the aggravation of obesity development. This study sheds light on the new function and mechanism of the Glce-GDF15 axis in lipid metabolism and provides a potential therapeutic target against obesity.

Quantitative epileptiform burden and electroencephalography background features predict post-traumatic epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a severe complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Electroencephalography aids early post-traumatic seizure diagnosis, but its optimal utility for PTE prediction remains unknown. We aim to evaluate the contribution of quantitative electroencephalograms to predict first-year PTE (PTE1). METHODS: We performed a multicentre, retrospective case-control study of patients with TBI. 63 PTE1 patients were matched with 63 non-PTE1 patients by admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, age and sex. We evaluated the association of quantitative electroencephalography features with PTE1 using logistic regressions and examined their predictive value relative to TBI mechanism and CT abnormalities. RESULTS: In the matched cohort (n=126), greater epileptiform burden, suppression burden and beta variability were associated with 4.6 times higher PTE1 risk based on multivariable logistic regression analysis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC (95% CI) 0.69 (0.60 to 0.78)). Among 116 (92%) patients with available CT reports, adding quantitative electroencephalography features to a combined mechanism and CT model improved performance (AUC (95% CI), 0.71 (0.61 to 0.80) vs 0.61 (0.51 to 0.72)). CONCLUSIONS: Epileptiform and spectral characteristics enhance covariates identified on TBI admission and CT abnormalities in PTE1 prediction. Future trials should incorporate quantitative electroencephalography features to validate this enhancement of PTE risk stratification models.

Identification of Factors in Moderate-Severe TBI Related to a Functional Decline in Cognition Decades After Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a functional decline in cognitive activities decades after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (m-sTBI) might relate to injury features and/or lifetime health factors, some of which may emerge as consequences of the injury. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the TBI Model Systems National Database, a prospective, multi-center, longitudinal study of patients with m-sTBI. SETTING: TBI Model Systems Centers. PARTICIPANTS: Included were 732 participants rated on the cognitive subscale of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM Cognitive), a metric for everyday cognitive skills, across 3 time points out to 20 years (visits at 2-, 10-, and 20-year follow-ups; N=732). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): FIM Cognitive Scale. Injury characteristics such as timing and features pertaining to severity and health-related factors (eg, alcohol use, socioeconomic status) were examined to discriminate stable from declining participants on the FIM Cognitive Scale using logistic regression. RESULTS: At 20 years post-injury, there was a low base rate of FIM Cognitive decline (11%, n=78), with most being stable or having meaningful improvement (89%, n=654). Older age at injury, longer duration of post-traumatic amnesia, and presence of repetitive seizures were significant predictors of FIM Cognitive decline in the final model (area under the curve=0.75), while multiple health-related factors that can represent independent co-morbidities or possible consequences of injury were not. CONCLUSION(S): The strongest contributors to reported functional decline in cognitive activities later-in-life were related to acute characteristics of m-sTBI and experiencing post-traumatic seizures. Future studies are needed integrating functional with performance-based cognitive assessments to affirm conclusions and identify the timeline and trajectory of cognitive decline.

A homogalacturonan from Lonicera japonica Thunb. disrupts angiogenesis via epidermal growth factor receptor and Delta-like 4 associated signaling.

A homogeneous polysaccharide named as LJW2F2 was extracted and purified from the flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Structural characteristic indicated that LJW2F2 was a homogalacturonan composed of α-1,4-D-galacturonic acid with a molecular weight of 7.2 kDa. Previous investigation suggested that homogalacturonan might impede angiogenesis, however the mechanism is still vague. Here we reported that LJW2F2 significantly disrupted capillary-like tube formation of human microvascular endothelia cells (HMEC-1) on matrigel as well as the cells migration. Mechanism study revealed that LJW2F2 might inactivate phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), subsequently suppress Raf, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) and extracellular-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Moreover, LJW2F2 markedly decreased the expression of Notch1 and Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4). Therefore, our results suggested that LJW2F2 might be a potential angiogenesis inhibitor via disturbing multiple signaling pathways.

A galacturonan from Dioscorea opposita Thunb. regulates fecal and impairs IL-1 and IL-6 expression in diarrhea mice.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side-effect of antibiotic treatment resulting from an imbalance in the colonic bacteria. The hypothesis of this study is to ask whether polysaccharide from the rhizome of Dioscorea opposita which is recorded as conventional herbs and food for diarrhea treatment in Southeast Asia, may be an active compound against diarrhea induced by antibiotics. To address, firstly, a homogenous polysaccharide, DOP0.2-S-3 was characterized as a homogalacturonan containing linear repeating units of → 4)-α-D-GalAp(1 → 4)-α-D-GalAp(1 → with the average molecular weight of 14 kDa. DOP0.2-S-3 significantly reduced the water content and defecation times caused by AAD in mice, while it also remarkably attenuated the cytokines of IL-1ß and IL-6 expression in mice colon tissues. DOP0.2-S-3 decreased potential pathogen and increased Bacteroidetes in the mice gut. These results suggested DOP0.2-S-3 might be a new leading compound for the functional foods or drug candidate development against AAD partially through regulating gut flora.

Effects of psychiatric comorbidities in persons with epilepsy on recurrent emergency department visits.

BACKGROUND: Coexisting mental health disorders in persons with epilepsy present as substantial burdens to patients and healthcare systems. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 160 patients presenting to a safety net hospital Emergency Department (ED) with seizures to investigate whether differences in clinical workup, follow-ups, and ED visit recurrence existed between epilepsy patients with epilepsy with and without a coexisting psychiatric disorder. RESULTS: Patients with epilepsy with a psychiatric comorbidity had more subsequent ED visits (45 % vs 26 %, p = 0.01) and fewer outpatient follow-up opportunities (74 % vs 87 %, p = 0.042) compared to patients with epilepsy without psychiatric comorbidities, highlighting a healthcare gap that needs to be addressed. INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest a need for ED providers to shift their clinical practice in favor of offering more outpatient follow-up opportunities, to ensure long-term management of seizures in patients with epilepsy with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Carotid Arterial Compliance and Aerobic Exercise Training in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Decreased carotid arterial compliance (CAC) is associated with cerebral microvascular damage, cerebral blood flow (CBF) dysregulation, and increased risk for stroke and dementia, which are reported to be prevalent after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the effect of TBI on CAC has not been reported. The purposes of this pilot study were to (1) compare CAC between participants with chronic traumatic brain injury (cTBI) and age-matched healthy control (HC) subjects and (2) to examine whether CAC changed after 3 months of exercise training in those with cTBI. SETTING: Community based. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen participants with cTBI (6-72 months postinjury) and 19 HC matched for age and sex were tested at baseline. The same cTBI cohort was enrolled in a proof-of-concept randomized controlled exercise training program to investigate the effects of 3 months of aerobic exercise training (AET) or nonaerobic stretching and toning (SAT) on cerebrovascular parameters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study and randomized controlled trial. MAIN MEASURES: CAC was measured by tonometry and ultrasonography at the common carotid artery; CBF was measured by ultrasonography at the bilateral internal carotid and vertebral arteries, and pulsatile CBF was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography at the middle cerebral arteries. Cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) was calculated as mean arterial pressure divided by total CBF. RESULTS: Relative to HC, the participants with cTBI had lower CAC (0.10 ± 0.03 vs 0.12 ± 0.03 mm 2 /mm Hg, P = .046) and higher CVR (0.17 ± 0.03 vs 0.15 ± 0.03 mm Hg/mL/min, P = .028). CAC tended to increase after AET compared with SAT ( P = .080). Increases in CAC were associated with decreased pulsatile CBF ( r = -0.689, P = .003). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the individuals with cTBI have decreased CAC, which may potentially be improved by AET.

Usability of a two-way personalized mobile trainer system in a community-based exercise program for adults with chronic traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the usability of an Apple Watch-based, two-way Personalized Mobile Trainer (PMT) in community-based exercise programs for individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury (cTBI). METHODS: This is a prospective pilot study. Twenty participants with cTBI aged 46-73 were enrolled in a 3-month individualized exercise program. After one in-person training session on PMT and exercise program, participants were prescribed either aerobic exercise training (AET) or stretching and toning (SAT) performed at home. The PMT was used to remotely deliver updated exercise prescription, track exercise progress, and communicate with the participants. The primary outcome was compliance with the exercise programs. RESULTS: All the participants completed the assigned exercise program with an average compliance of 76%. Nineteen (95%) participants were able to use the PMT properly during exercise sessions. After 3 months of training, the AET trended toward maintaining exercise endurance when compared with the SAT group (0.3% vs -4%, p = 0.14) with a medium effect size of 0.43. CONCLUSION: Using the PMT system to support and track exercise in community-based exercise programs is feasible. The PMT may promote compliance with the training program but testing its effectiveness with larger trials is warranted.

Convergent Synthesis and Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth Activity of a Highly Branched Heptadecasaccharide from Carthamus tinctorius.

Bioactive polysaccharides from natural resources target various biological processes and are increasingly used as potential target molecules for drug development. However, the accessibility of branched and long complex polysaccharide active domains with well-defined structures remains a major challenge. Herein we describe an efficient first total synthesis of a highly branched heptadecasaccharide moiety of the native bioactive galectin-3-targeting polysaccharide from Carthamus tinctorius L. as well as shorter fragments of the heptadecasaccharide. The key feature of the approach is that a photo-assisted convergent [6+4+7] one-pot coupling strategy enables rapid assembly of the heptadecasaccharide, whereby a photoremovable o-nitrobenzyl protecting group is used to generate the corresponding acceptor for glycosylation in situ upon ultraviolet radiation. Biological activity tests suggest that the heptadecasaccharide can target galectin-3 and inhibit pancreatic cancer cell growth.

Conformation-Controlled Hydrogen-Bond-Mediated Aglycone Delivery Method for α-Xylosylation.

α-Xylosylated glycans and xylosyl derivatives are biomedically important molecules which show numerous bioactivities against infection, cancer, inflammation, and so on. Lacking an efficient α-xylosylation method, the synthesis of α-xyloside-containing molecules was full of challenges. Herein, a robust method is presented for selective α-xylosylation via combination of a rare conformation-controlled strategy and the hydrogen-bond-mediated aglycone delivery method. Various native branched α-xyloside structures necessitate an orthogonally protected xyloside, and a three-pot preparation method of the xylosyl donor was developed for this novel α-xylosylation method, which was further applied in the first synthesis of the side chain N of xyloglucan. This work provides an efficient α-xylosylation method which would make various α-xyloside structures achievable. The conformation-controlled strategy also has important reference to the chemistry of five-carbon pyranose.

Emergency department visits and readmissions in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) at a safety net hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits after an index admission have been become a quality measure due to associations with poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Readmissions and ED encounters have been studied in a variety of conditions including epilepsy but have not been examined exclusively in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). In this study we examined the rate of readmissions and ED visits after a discharge from an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) in a safety net hospital. We also determined patient phenotypes that are associated with readmissions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review study with index admission being a discharge from an EMU between January 1 and December 31 2016 with follow-up until August 31 2020. We obtained data regarding demographics, medical and psychiatric history, and social history and treatment interventions. Our outcome variables were both all-cause and seizure-related hospital readmissions and ED visits 30 days following the index discharge and readmissions and ED visits 30 days thereafter. RESULTS: Eleven of 122 patients (9%) had a non-seizure-related ED visit and/or hospitalization within 30 days of index discharge while 45 (37%) had re-contact with the health system thereafter for non-seizure-related issues. Seven of 122 patients (6%) had a seizure-related ED visit or hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. Twenty-eight (23%) had a seizure-related readmission or ED visit after 30 days. Of these 28, 4 patients had been to an ER within 7 days of EMU discharge. The majority of subsequent encounters with the healthcare system were through the ED (n = 38) as compared to hospital (n = 10) and EMU readmissions (n = 9). On bivariate statistical analysis, charity or self-pay insurance status (p < 0.01), homelessness (p < 0.01), emergent EMU admission on index admission (p < 0.01), history of a psychiatric diagnosis (p < 0.02), and ED encounters 12 months prior to admission (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with readmission; however, on multivariate analysis only charity insurance status was a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of readmissions and ED visits after discharge with a diagnosis of PNES at a safety net hospital, we found a seizure-related readmission rate of approximately 6% in 30 days and 23% thereafter with the majority of re-contact with the hospital being in the ED. On multi-variate analysis insurance status was a significant factor associated with readmission and ED visits. Our future research directions include examining referrals and treatment completion at the hospital's PNES clinic as well as creating a risk score to better identify patients with PNES at risk of readmission.

A proof-of-concept trial of a community-based aerobic exercise program for individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of conducting an aerobic exercise training study in a community setting for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI)Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Nine participants (three moderate-to-severe and six mild TBI) were randomized to a community-based 3-month individualized aerobic exercise training program (AET). Seven participants (four moderate-to-severe, three mild TBI) were randomized to a stretching and toning program (SAT). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level was assessed with peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) testing.Results: After 3 months of training, the AET trended toward improved VO2peak when compared with the SAT group (8% vs - 4%, p = .059) with a large effect size of 1.27. Only 50% of participants in the AET group completed more than 70% of the assigned exercise sessions. No adverse events were reported. Both the AET and SAT groups reported small improvements in self-reported mood symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and anger.Conclusions: It is feasible to conduct an exercise training study and improve CRF for persons with TBI in community settings with structured exercise protocols. However, exploring methods to enhance adherence is crucial for future exercise clinical trials to improve brain health in this population.

[Methods and key points of literature collation and mining of classic prescriptions in ethnic medicine].

The systematic collation and mining of ethnic medicine literature is the key to the screening and textual research of classic prescriptions. This study focused on the textual research of such key issues as the source of prescriptions, the translation of minority languages into Chinese characters and their corresponding medical terms, the original plants of drugs, and the standard dosage. It is believed that the methods and experience of textual research of classic prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can be utilized by the ethnic medicine. At the same time, the prominent problems unique to ethnic medicine cannot be neglected.(1)Attention should be paid to extraterritorial traditional medical literature in the textual research of the source of prescriptions. For instance, Indian medical literature is the source of many classic prescriptions in Tibetan medicine, Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine the source of those in Uygur and Hui medicine, and ancient Indian Buddhist classics the source of those in Dai medicine.(2)The translation and comparison of medical terms in different language systems requires the cooperation of linguists, historians, and medical experts, the combination of historical research, historical linguistics and clinical research methods, and the use of cross-language comparison. In recent years, the related research achievements like multiple translated and annotated versions of classical literature in ethnic medicine and their respective terminology standards have been constantly emerging.(3)In textual research of the original plants of drugs, the following two points deserve attention: one is that the same drug is used in different ethnic medical systems, but there are differences in the understanding of drug properties and active parts; the other is that the original plants of the same drug vary in different ethnic medical systems.(4)The derivation of some classic prescriptions in ethnic medicine from foreign classics results in the difference among measurement systems. In addition, the detailed dosage fails to be covered in some ethnic literature, so the dosage standard should be determined depending on clinical practice and expert consensus.

Comparison of psychiatric comorbidities and impact on quality of life in patients with epilepsy or psychogenic nonepileptic spells.

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatric comorbidity is common in people with epilepsy (PWE) and psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES). These comorbidities can be detrimental to quality of life (QOL) and are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Some types of epilepsy, such as focal temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), have been associated with higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity. This study examined the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on QOL in patients admitted to two level 4 epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs). METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 200 patients admitted to two level 4 EMUs completed standardized surveys including the Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31-P), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Hierarchal multiple regression was performed to assess impact on QOL. RESULTS: Of the 200 participants, 113 had a diagnosis of epilepsy, 36 had a diagnosis of PNES, and 51 were excluded for nondiagnostic evaluation or dual diagnosis. Of those with epilepsy, 65 had TLE, 28 had focal extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE), and 20 had nonfocal epilepsy. Patients with PNES had higher self-reported anxiety and depression levels (GAD-7: p = 0.04, PHQ-9: p < 0.01; BDI-II: p < 0.01) but similar QOL to PWE (p = 0.78). Using hierarchal multiple regression, symptoms of anxiety and depression were significant predictors of lower QOL in PWE but not in patients with PNES. There was no difference in QOL in those with ETLE and TLE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms are common in patients admitted to level 4 EMUs regardless of diagnosis and play an important role in predicting QOL in PWE. Our findings emphasize the importance of routinely screening all EMU patients for psychiatric comorbidity.

Characterization of anti-BCG benz[α]anthraquinones and new siderophores from a Xinjiang desert-isolated rare actinomycete Nocardia sp. XJ31.

The current global demand for novel anti-TB drugs has drawn urgent attention on the discovery of natural product compounds with anti-TB activity. Lots of efforts have emphasized on environmental samples from unexplored or underexplored natural habits and identified numerous rare actinomycete taxa producing structurally diverse bioactive natural products. Herein, we report a survey of the rare actinobacteria diversity in Xinjiang region together with the discovery of anti-TB active natural products from these strains. We have collected 17 soil samples at different sites with different environmental conditions, from which 39 rare actinobacteria were identified by using a selective isolation strategy with 5 media variations. Among those isolated strains, XJ31 was identified as a new Nocardia sp. based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Through one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) strategy combined with anti-Bacillus Calmette-Guérin bioassay-guided isolation, two groups of compounds were identified. They were twelve siderophores (nocardimicins, 1-12) and two anthraquinones (brasiliquinones, 13 and 14) and ten of them were identified as new compounds. The structures of the purified compounds were elucidated using HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR techniques. The anti-TB bioassays revealed that the two benz[α]anthraquinones have potent activity against BCG (MICs = 25 µM), which can be used as a promising start point for further anti-TB drug development. KEY POINTS: • Ten new natural products were identified from Nocardia sp. XJ31. • Brasiliquinones 13 and 14 showed moderate anti-BCG activity.

Vacuum-Deposited Biternary Organic Photovoltaics.

Ternary blend organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have been introduced to improve solar spectral absorption and reduce energy losses beyond that of binary blend OPVs, but the difficulties in simultaneously optimizing the morphology of three molecular components result in devices that have generally exhibited performance inferior to that of analogous binary OPVs. Here, we introduce a small molecule-based biternary OPV comprising two individual, vacuum-deposited binary bulk heterojunctions fused at a planar junction without component intermixing. In contrast to previous reports where the open circuit voltage (VOC) of a conventional, blended ternary cell lies between those of the individual binaries, the VOC of the biternary OPV corresponds to one of the constituent binaries, depending on the order in which they are stacked relative to the anode. Additionally, dipole-induced energy-level realignment between the two binary segments necessary to achieve maximum efficiency is observed only when using donor-acceptor-acceptor' dipolar donors in the photoactive heterojunctions. The optimized biternary OPV shows improved performance as compared to its two constituent binary OPVs, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 10.6 ± 0.3% under AM 1.5G 1 sun (100 mW/cm2) simulated illumination with VOC = 0.94 ± 0.01 V, a short circuit current density of 16.0 ± 0.5 mA cm-2, and a fill factor of 0.70 ± 0.01.