Morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses indicate that cell wall properties and antioxidant processes are potential targets for improving the aluminium tolerance of broad beans.

Aluminium (Al) stress is the second-leading abiotic stress on crops. An improved understanding of the response mechanisms of plants to Al stress will provide scientific guidance for enhancing the crops' tolerance to Al stress. In this study, Al stress (50-200 µM AlCl3) caused visible damage to broad bean (Vicia faba L.) roots rather than shoots, which was attributed to Al accumulation and distribution in different tissues. Root transcriptomic analysis revealed that Al stress altered cell wall properties by downregulating lignin synthesis and several xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase-, expansin- and peroxidase (POD)-encoding genes, which likely weakened cell extensibility to inhibit root growth. Additionally, Al stress impeded reactive oxygen species scavenging pathways involving POD activity and flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to oxidative damage characterised by malondialdehyde accumulation. These results indicate that optimising cell wall properties and/or enhancing antioxidant processes are crucial for alleviating Al toxicity to broad beans. Interestingly, exogenous application (500 and 1000 µM) of the flavonoid apigenin effectively alleviated Al toxicity in broad bean roots by partially improving the total antioxidant capacity of the roots. This study contributes to understanding the interaction between plants and Al and provides new strategies to alleviate Al toxicity in crops.

Individual variability in the use of tonal and non-tonal cues in intonationa).

Greek uses H*, L + H*, and H* + L, all followed by L-L% edge tones, as nuclear pitch accents in statements. A previous analysis demonstrated that these accents are distinguished by F0 scaling and contour shape. This study expands the earlier investigation by exploring additional cues, namely, voice quality, amplitude, and duration, in distinguishing the pitch accents, and investigating individual variability in the selection of both F0 and non-F0 cues. Bayesian multivariate analysis and hierarchical clustering demonstrate that the accents are distinguished not only by F0 but also by additional cues at the group level, with individual variability in cue selection.

Characterization of larval gut microbiota of two endoparasitoid wasps associated with their common host, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

Insect gut microbes play important roles in digestion, metabolism, development, and environmental adaptation. Parasitoid wasps are one of the most important biological control agents in pest control, while the gut microbial species compositions and the associated functions have been poorly investigated. Two endoparasitoid wasps, Cotesia vestalis and Diadromus collaris, parasitize the larval stage and pupal stage of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, respectively. Using whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the gut microbial composition, diversity, and potential functional roles associated with the two parasitoid wasp larvae. The results reveal that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the dominant phyla in the gut of C. vestalis and D. collaris larvae, with Rhizobium and Enterococcus being the dominant genera. The putative microbial functions associated with the two parasitoid wasps might play a virtual role in assisting in consuming the host's nutritional composition. The enriched CAZymes family genes are primarily involved in the degradation and synthesis of chitin. Despite the richness of microbial species and communities, the microbes species and the microbial community structure exhibit significant similarity between the two parasitoid wasps and between the parasitoid wasp and the host P. xylostella. Notably, the prevalence of the genus Enterococcus shared among them suggests a possible link of gut microbes between the host and their associated parasitoids. Our study offers insights into the gut microbe-based interactions between the host and parasitoid wasps for the first time, potentially paving the way for the development of an ecologically friendly biocontrol strategy against the pest P. xylostella.IMPORTANCEEndoparasitoid wasps spend the majority of their lifespan within their host and heavily rely on the host's nutrition for survival. There is limited understanding regarding the composition and physiological impacts of gut microbial communities in parasitoid wasps, particularly during the larval stage, which is directly linked to the host. Based on a thorough characterization of the gut microbe and comprehensive comparative analysis, we found the microbial species of the larval parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis and the pupal parasitoid wasp Diadromus collaris were similar, sharing 159 genera and 277 species, as were the microbial community structure. Certain of the dominant microbial strains of the two parasitoid wasps were similar to that of their host Plutella xylostella larvae, revealing host insect may affect the microbial community of the parasitoid wasps. The putative microbial functions associated with the parasitoid wasp larvae play an important role in dietary consumption.

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal the Mechanism of Total Alkaloid Components in Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher in Treating Inflammation and Pain.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism that total alkaloids in Anisodus tanguticus (AT)(Maxim.) Pascher play anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In this paper, the anti-inflammatory effect in the total alkaloids of AT was confirmed via lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model in RAW 264.7 cells and the main components of AT were immediately analyzed by UPLC/MS. Disease targets were obtained in GeneCards and DisGeNET. Targets of major compounds were searched in ETCM, TCMSP and other databases. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database, and Cytoscape was used for core targets screening. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed using Daivid database. Sailvina was used for molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis was performed using the Amber 20 program. The results showed that the main components in AT were anisodamine, atropine, fabiatrin, scopolamine, scopoletin and scopolin, possibly exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects through pathways such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and IL-17 signaling pathway. Fabiatrin and scopolin could be potential drugs with good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

A postmortem high-resolution MRI study of the development of cochlear nerve-related structures in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to determine whether cochlear nerve development is normal in infants and adults, but it has not yet been used to evaluate cochlear nerve development or measure cochlear nerve-related structures in the fetus. This study sought to provide imaging data for clinical evaluations concerning cochlear nerve development in the fetus using MRI. Methods: Postmortem 3.0-Tesla MRI of inner ear was performed in 51 fetuses with normal temporal bones at 25 to 40 weeks of gestation. The continuous scanning protocol incorporated axial three-dimensional (3D) sampling perfection with application-specific contrasts using different flip angle evolution sequences. The images were evaluated to measure the structures of the cochlear aperture (CA), internal auditory canal (IAC), and vestibulocochlear and facial nerves in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA), which have been reported to be associated with cochlear nerve development. We also calculated the ratio between the diameters of the vestibulocochlear and facial nerves. The measurable parameters were compared between the right and left sides. The threshold for statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: The inner ear anatomy was discernible on MRI in all the fetal specimens, and growth of the CA, IAC, vestibulocochlear nerve, and facial nerve in the CPA was observed as fetal age increased. There was no significant difference in the measurements of these structures between the right and left sides (all P>0.05). Conclusions: MRI can be used to help evaluate the anatomy and development of the cochlear nerve in the fetus. These normative measurements could be valuable for clinical evaluations of the cochlear nerve.

Exploring the effect and mechanism of Hippophae rhamnoides L. triterpenoid acids on improving NAFLD based on network pharmacology and experimental validation in vivo and in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a traditional Chinese medicinal and possesses a rich medical history in terms of treating gastric disorders, sputum and cough and liver injuries in oriental medicinal system. By reason of the complicated chemical constituents, the material basis and potential pharmacological mechanism of sea buckthorn acting on Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been clearly elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the pharmacological efficacy and underlying mechanism of sea buckthorn triterpenoid acid enrichment (STE) in the treatment of NAFLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The approaches of Network pharmacology and experiment validation in vitro and in vivo were applied in this study. Firstly, targets of triterpenoid acid compounds and NAFLD were collected from databases. The crucial targets were screened by the construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, the potential signaling pathways and targets affected by STE was predicted by GO together with KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, the experiment validation was carried out through high-fat feeding NAFLD mice and lipid accumulation HepG2 cell model. Lipids and liver related biochemical indicators were determined, Oil Red O and H&E staining were employed to observe fat accumulation. In addition, the expression levels of proteins of key target and signal pathway anticipated in network pharmacology were detected to elaborated its action mechanism. RESULTS: A total of 180 intersecting potential targets for enhancing NAFLD with STE were eventually identified. 6 key targets including AKT1, TNF, IL6, INS, JUN, STAT3 and TP53 were further identified and the AMPK-SREBP1 pathway was enriched. Animal experiment result showed that STE treatment could significantly reduce the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT and AST, increase the levels of HDL-C in serum, and improve lipid accumulation of epididymal fat and liver. The results of the lipid accumulation cell model indicated that STE and key compound oleanolic acid could diminish intracellular lipid levels of TG, TC, LDL-C and number of lipid droplets. Western blot results showed that the above beneficial effects could be achieved by regulating the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK, SREBP1, FAS, ACC, SCD protein. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the effect of STE on improving NAFLD and the potential action mechanism was involved in the regulation of the AMPK-SREBP1 pathway.

A combination model of CT-based radiomics and clinical biomarkers for staging liver fibrosis in the patients with chronic liver disease.

A combined model was developed using contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics features and clinical characteristics to predict liver fibrosis stages in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We retrospectively analyzed multiphase CT scans and biopsy-confirmed liver fibrosis. 160 CLD patients were randomly divided into 7:3 training/validation ratio. Clinical laboratory indicators associated with liver fibrosis were identified using Spearman's correlation and multivariate logistic regression correlation. Radiomic features were extracted after segmenting the entire liver from multiphase CT images. Feature dimensionality reduction was performed using RF-RFE, LASSO, and mRMR methods. Six radiomics-based models were developed in the training cohort of 112 patients. Internal validation was conducted on 48 randomly assigned patients. Receptor Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and confusion matrices were constructed to evaluate model performance. The radiomics model exhibited robust performance, with AUC values of 0.810 to 1.000 for significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The integrated clinical-radiomics model had superior diagnostic efficacy in the validation cohort, with AUC values of 0.836 to 0.997. Moreover, these models outperformed established biomarkers such as the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and the fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4), as well as the gamma glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR), in predicting the fibrotic stages. The clinical-radiomics model holds considerable promise as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the assessment and staging of liver fibrosis in the patients with CLD, potentially leading to better patient management and outcomes.

Hypoglycaemic activity of the anthocyanin enriched fraction of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. Fruits and its ingredient identification via UPLC-triple-TOF-MS/MS.

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is mainly distributed in the northwest region of China and its berries are rich in anthocyanin. This study evaluated the hypoglycaemic activity of the anthocyanin-enriched fraction (AEF) of L. ruthenicum Murr. on α-glucosidase in vivo and in vitro. Overall, 10 anthocyanins were identified via UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS. The AEF exhibited strong inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with an IC50 value of 4.468 mg/mL. It behaved as a reversible, mixed-type inhibitor. Molecular docking and dynamic results indicated that the compounds in AEF interacted with enzymes primarily through van der Waals and hydrogen bond and the complex system was stable. The postprandial blood glucose and area under the curve of diabetic mice was significantly decreased by AEF in the carbohydrate tolerance experiments. The results indicate that the AEF from L. ruthenicum Murr. berries could be as a promising food supplement for managing blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Optimization of subcritical water extraction, UPLC-triple-TOF-MS/MS analysis, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of anthocyanins from Nitraria sibirica Pall. fruits.

This study aimed to optimize subcritical water extraction process, characterize chemical composition and investigate the biological activities of Nitraria sibirica Pall. (NSP) anthocyanin. Overall, the optimization was achieved under following conditions: extraction temperature 140 °C, extraction time 45 min and flow rate 7 mL/min with the extraction yield of 1.075 mg/g. 3 cyanidin, 3 petunidin, 1 delphinidin and 1 pelargonidin compounds were identified in the anthocyanic extract from NSP via UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS. NSP anthocyanin exhibited better DPPH free-radical scavenging activity than ascorbic acid. It displayed superior α-glucosidase inhibition activity, which was ∼14 times higher than that of acarbose. Moreover, enzyme kinetics results indicated that NSP anthocyanin behaved as a reversible, mixed-type inhibitor. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that NSP anthocyanin interacted with α-glucosidase mainly via van der Waals forces, hydrogen bond and possessed fairly stable configuration. Therefore, NSP anthocyanin is a promising α-glucosidase inhibitor for diabetes mellitus.

Gender differences in major depressive disorder at different ages: a REST-meta-MDD project-based study.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly heterogeneous disease, with differences in clinical manifestations among depression patients based on onset ages and genders. The neural mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear. In this study, we utilized resting state functional imaging data from a large sample database and adopted the ReHo method to investigate gender differences in local brain function in MDD patients across different onset age groups. METHODS: The study included 364 MDD patients and 695 healthy participants who were part of the REST-meta-MDD project. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) assessed gender disparities in MDD and healthy individuals within groups delineated by gender and onset age (young group: 18-29 years; middle-aged group: 30-45 years). RESULTS: Among the young MDD groups, there were significant gender differences in the right superior frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, and right superior parietal lobule, with male MDD patients having higher ReHo values compared to females. When compared to healthy males, male MDD patients exhibited elevated ReHo values in the right superior parietal lobule. In the middle-aged groups, a marked ReHo difference was observed in the bilateral cerebellum posterior lobe, with female MDD patients showing higher ReHo values. CONCLUSIONS: The functional mechanisms of MDD differ between genders and show distinct variations across different onset age groups. These findings underscore the importance of developing personalized interventions that address the unique needs of MDD patients, tailored to their gender and age, and necessitate the development of antidepressant medications targeted at each gender-age subgroup.

The association between school bullying and executive functions in children and adolescents: A three-level meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Even though existing amounts of results have shown that school bullying could be related to the main components of executive functions (EFs) (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), research focused on this association yields inconsistent results. METHOD: To address this research gap, the current study conducted a three-level meta-analysis approach and simultaneously considered the two perspectives of the bully and victim to clarify the relationship between school bullying experienced by children and EFs. It also explored the moderating variables that affect the relationship between school bullying and EFs. RESULTS: Based on 18 studies reporting 73 effect sizes (N = 21,725), the results revealed that the overall effect size for the association between both the bullies and victims of school bullying incidents with EFs (rbullies = -0.154, p < .05; rvictims = -0.187, p < .001). Moderator analyses revealed that the negative correlation between bullies of school bullying and EFs was moderated by EF components, but it was not affected by gender, age, and the EF measurement method. Moreover, the negative correlation between victims of school bullying and EFs was not affected by the form of bullying, source of report, facet of EFs, EF measurement, gender, age, and culture. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis revealed a relationship between school bullying and EFs. Both bullies and victims appear to have lower EF levels. The results also emphasized that lower inhibitory control was more likely to be a crucial risk factor for bullying behavior.

CircKat6b Mediates the Antidepressant Effect of Esketamine by Regulating Astrocyte Function.

The abundant expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the central nervous system and their contribution to the pathogenesis of depression suggest that circRNAs are promising therapeutic targets for depression. This study explored the role and mechanism of circKat6b in esketamine's antidepressant effect. We found that intravenous administration of esketamine (5 mg/kg) treatment decreased the circKat6b expression in the astrocytes of hippocampus induced by a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model, while the overexpression of circKat6b in the hippocampus significantly attenuated the antidepressant effects of esketamine in depressed mice. RNA-sequencing, RT-PCR, and western blot experiments showed that the stat1 and p-stat1 expression were significantly upregulated in mouse astrocytes overexpressing circKat6b. In the CUMS mouse model, overexpression of circKat6b in the hippocampus significantly reversed the downregulation of p-stat1 protein expression caused by esketamine. Our findings demonstrated that a novel mechanism of the antidepressant like effect of esketamine may be achieved by reducing the expression of circKat6b in the astrocyte of the hippocampus of depressed mice.

Associations between Unsociability and Peer Problems in Chinese Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis.

Research has shown that unsociability, reflected as a personal choice, is not necessarily associated with socio-emotional problems in Western countries. However, the associations between unsociability and peer problems are consistently evident in Chinese culture, yet the strength and direction in these associations are mixed. The present study aimed to examine whether unsociability is associated with peer problems and explored the potential moderators among the associations. A meta-analysis was conducted using publications that measured unsociability and peer problems. A total of 21 articles involving 43 effect sizes from 12,696 Chinese children and adolescents were included. The results revealed that (1) unsociability was positively associated with peer problems (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) among children and adolescents. (2) Informants (i.e., self-reports, peer nominations, teacher ratings, and parent ratings) and living areas (i.e., urban, suburban, and rural areas) significantly moderated the associations between unsociability and peer problems. Specifically, the associations were stronger for peer-nominated unsociability, self-reported peer problems, and samples in suburban areas. These findings shed light on unsociability linked to higher levels of peer problems among Chinese children and adolescents. Still, the influences are unique to peer problems and moderated by both data sources and environmental factors.

Activation of non-classical Wnt signaling pathway effectively enhances HLA-A presentation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: The escape from T cell-mediated immune surveillance is an important cause of death for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aims to identify clonal heterogeneity in leukemia progenitor cells and explore molecular or signaling pathways associated with AML immune escape. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to identified AML-related cellular subsets, and intercellular communication was analyzed to investigate molecular mechanisms associated with AML immune escape. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to hematopoietic stem cell progenitors (HSC-Prog) in AML, and critical ore signaling pathways and hub genes were found by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The mRNA level of the hub gene was verified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and the protein level of human leukocyte antigen A (HLA-A) using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: scRNA-seq analysis revealed a large heterogeneity of HSC-Prog across samples, and the intercellular communication analysis indicated a strong association between HSC-Prog and CD8+-T cells, and HSC-Prog also had an association with HLA-A. Transcriptome analysis identified 1748 DEGs, enrichment analysis results showed that non-classical wnt signaling pathway was associated with AML, and 4 pathway-related genes (RHOA, RYK, CSNK1D, NLK) were obtained. After qRT-PCR and ELISA validation, hub genes and HLA-A were found to be down-regulated in AML and up-regulated after activation of the non-classical Wnt signaling pathway. Conclusion: In this study, clonal heterogeneity of HSC-Prog cells in AML was identified, non-classical wnt signaling pathways associated with AML were identified, and it was verified that HLA-A could be upregulated by activation of non-classical wnt signaling, thereby increasing antigen presentation.

The associations of peripheral interleukin alterations and hippocampal subfield volume deficits in schizophrenia.

The hippocampus is one of the brain regions most vulnerable to inflammatory insults, and the relationships between peripheral inflammation and hippocampal subfields in patients with schizophrenia remain unclear. In this study, forty-six stably medicated patients with schizophrenia and 48 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The serum levels of IL - 1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12p70 were measured, and 3D high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed. The IL levels and hippocampal subfield volumes were both compared between patients and HCs. The associations of altered IL levels with hippocampal subfield volumes were assessed in patients. Patients with schizophrenia demonstrated higher serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 but lower levels of IL-12p70 than HCs. In patients, the levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with the volumes of the left granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus (GCL) and cornu Ammonis (CA) 4, while the levels of IL-10 were negatively correlated with the volumes of those subfields. IL-6 and IL-10 might have antagonistic roles in atrophy of the left GCL and CA4. This suggests a complexity of peripheral cytokine dysregulation and the potential for its selective effects on hippocampal substructures, which might be related to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Advancing Central Nervous System Drug Delivery with Microtubule-Dependent Transcytosis of Novel Aqueous Compounds.

The challenge of delivering therapeutics to the central nervous system due to the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a substantial hurdle in neuropharmacology. Our research introduces a breakthrough approach using microtubule-dependent transcytosis facilitated by novel aqueous compounds. We synthesized a series of red-emitting pyran nitrile derivatives. The molecular structure of compounds, photophysical properties, and water solubility were characterized. BBB permeability of BN1 was assessed in an in vitro BBB model. The transmembrane transport mechanism was next analyzed. The derivative was injected in the wild-type mouse for evaluation of brain penetration and biodistribution in the brain. We further investigated the potential of BN1-functionalized BBB-nonpenetrated silica nanoparticles for brain targeting. This compound demonstrated an ability to form endosomes within the phospholipid layer, thus enabling efficient penetration of the BBB via microtubule-mediated transcytosis, as evidenced in vitro model. This was further confirmed by in vivo experiments that BN1 displays the excellent BBB penetration and retained in brain parenchyma. Furthermore, BBB-impermeable mesoporous silica nanoparticle codelivery system markedly enhanced the transport efficiency to the brain in vivo by BN1-functionalized. These findings indicate that our designed aqueous molecules not only are capable of traversing the BBB but also serve as a viable new strategy for central-nervous-system-targeted drug delivery.

Observation of conflict triggers conflict adaptation.

The conflict monitoring theory posits that the simultaneous activation of incompatible responses in the current trial leads to response conflict. Conflict occurrence signals to enhance attention to the target stimulus, reduce attention to distracting stimuli, and ultimately lead to conflict adaptation (i.e., reduced interference effect after conflict trials compared to nonconflict trials). However, this theory does not explicitly assume whether the involvement of response execution is necessary in the process of conflict occurrence. Research on the negative emotion theory suggests that even in the absence of response execution, incompatible response representations can induce conflict. Our present study aimed to provide direct behavioural evidence regarding whether conflict activated without response execution is sufficient to trigger conflict adaptation. In a word-colour Stroop task, this study employed the LOOK-to-DO transition design, in which participants refrained from responding in half of the trials (LOOK trials) and responded with key presses in the other half (DO trials). Across three experiments, we controlled for feature integration and contingency learning and manipulated the stimulus presentation duration in the previous trial. The results indicated a significant conflict adaptation effect in reaction time when the stimulus presentation duration was shorter in the previous trial. This finding suggested that in a confounding-minimal design with no response execution in the previous trial, conflict triggers control adjustments and leads to conflict adaptation. This finding aligns with and further elaborates on the original conflict monitoring theory by demonstrating that response execution is not a necessary condition for the generation of response conflict. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Case report: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma demonstrating rapid growth on follow-up CT.

Background: The tumor growth rate and tumor volume doubling time are crucial parameters in diagnosing and managing lung lesions. Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a unique and highly malignant subtype of lung cancer, with limited documentation on its growth feature. This article aims to address the gap in knowledge regarding a PSC's growth patterns by describing the characteristics of a confirmed case using computed tomography, thereby enhancing the understanding of this rare disease. Case presentation: A 79-year-old man was transferred to our center presenting with a mild cough, blood-tinged sputum, and a malignant nodule in the left upper lobe. Chest CT revealed a solid nodule in the left upper lobe. A follow-up CT ten days later showed a significant increase in the size of the nodule, accompanied by ground-glass opacity in the surrounding lung. The rapid preoperative growth of the nodule suggested a non-neoplastic lesion, and intraoperative frozen pathology also considered the possibility of tuberculosis. Subsequently, a left upper apical-posterior segment (S1 + 2) resection was performed. Postoperative tumor pathology confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma with extensive giant cell carcinoma and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry indicated approximately 60% PD-L1 positive and genetic testing revealed a MET mutation. The patient was discharged with oral crizotinib targeted therapy, and his condition remained stable postoperatively. The patient is currently undergoing regular follow-up at our hospital, with no evidence of distant metastasis or recurrence. Conclusion: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma can exhibit rapid tumor growth on imaging, and PSC should be considered in the differential diagnosis for lesions that present with a fast growth rate. Timely and appropriate treatment for PSC may lead to a good prognosis.

Multivariate associations between neuroanatomy and cognition in unmedicated and medicated individuals with schizophrenia.

Previous studies that focused on univariate correlations between neuroanatomy and cognition in schizophrenia identified some inconsistent findings. Moreover, antipsychotic medication may impact the brain-behavior profiles in affected individuals. It remains unclear whether unmedicated and medicated individuals with schizophrenia would share common neuroanatomy-cognition associations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate multivariate neuroanatomy-cognition relationships in both groups. A sample of 59 drug-naïve individuals with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and a sample of 115 antipsychotic-treated individuals with schizophrenia were finally included. Multivariate modeling was conducted in the two patient samples between multiple cognitive domains and neuroanatomic features, such as cortical thickness (CT), cortical surface area (CSA), and subcortical volume (SV). We observed distinct multivariate correlational patterns between the two samples of individuals with schizophrenia. In the FES sample, better performance in token motor, symbol coding, and verbal fluency tests was associated with greater thalamic volumes but lower CT in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices. Two significant multivariate correlations were identified in antipsychotic-treated individuals: 1) worse verbal memory performance was related to smaller volumes for the most subcortical structures and smaller CSA mainly in the temporal regions and inferior parietal lobule; 2) a lower symbol coding test score was correlated with smaller CSA in the right parahippocampal gyrus but greater volume in the right caudate. These multivariate patterns were sample-specific and not confounded by imaging quality, illness duration, antipsychotic dose, or psychopathological symptoms. Our findings may help to understand the neurobiological basis of cognitive impairments and the development of cognition-targeted interventions.

The efficacy of social skills training (SST) and social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) for negative symptoms: A meta-analysis

Background and objectives The efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in improving negative symptoms of schizophrenia remains controversial. Psychological interventions, such as Social Skills Training (SST) and Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT), have been developed and applied in clinical practice. The current meta-analysis was therefore conducted to evaluate the efficacy of controlled clinical trials using SST and SCIT on treating negative symptoms. Methods Systematical searches were carried out on PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated to assess the effect size of SST/SCIT on negative symptoms. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity and identify potential factors that may influence their efficacy. Results A total of 23 studies including 1441 individuals with schizophrenia were included. The SST group included 8 studies with 635 individuals, and the SCIT group included 15 studies with 806 individuals. The effect size for the efficacy of SST on negative symptoms was -0.44 (95% CI: -0.60 to -0.28; p < 0.01), while SCIT was -0.16 (95% CI: -0.30 to -0.02; p < 0.01). Conclusions Our findings suggest that while both SST and SCIT can alleviate negative symptoms, the former appears to be more effective. Our results provide evidence-based guidance for the application of these interventions in both hospitalized and community individuals and can help inform the treatment and intervention of individuals with schizophrenia. (AU)