Structural Regulation Enables High Interfacial Functionality for Ni-Rich Single-Crystalline Cathodes.

Ni-rich single-crystalline layered cathodes have garnered significant attention due to their high energy density and thermal stability. However, they experience severe capacity degradation caused by lattice strain and interfacial side reactions during practical applications. In this study, an effective yttrium modification method is employed to stabilize the structure of Ni-rich single-crystalline LiNi0.83Mn0.05Co0.12O2 (SC-NMC83) to solve these issues. This innovative approach successfully immobilizes oxygen within the material, preventing crack formation while simultaneously broadening the diffusion path of Li+. The yttrium-modified sample (SC-NMC83-Y) exhibits a superior capacity retention compared to the SC-NMC83 sample, with values of 90% and 76.1% after 100 cycles, respectively. This work demonstrates the promising potential of a doping strategy for Ni-rich single-crystalline cathodes and paves a pathway for its practical implementation, such as all-solid-state batteries.

Interaction of the gut microbiota and brain functional connectivity in late-life depression.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests an important role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, including depression, along the microbiota-gut-brain axis. We sought to explore the interactions between gut microbe composition and neural circuits in late-life depression (LLD). METHODS: We performed fecal 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in a case-control cohort of older adults with LLD and healthy controls to characterize the association between gut microbiota and brain functional connectivity (FC). We used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) to assess depressive symptoms. RESULTS: We included 32 adults with LLD and 16 healthy controls. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Enterobacter, Akkermansiaceae, Hemophilus, Burkholderia, and Rothia was significantly higher among patients with LDD than controls. Reduced FC within mood regulation circuits was mainly found in the frontal cortex (e.g., the right superior and inferior frontal gyrus, right lateral occipital cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, and left caudate) among patients with MDD. Group-characterized gut microbes among controls and patients showed opposite correlations with seed-based FC, which may account for the aberrant emotion regulation among patients with LDD. The abundance of Enterobacter (dominant genus among patients with LLD) was positively correlated with both HAMD scores (r = 0.49, p = 0.0004) and group-characterized FC (r = -0.37, p < 0.05), while Odoribacter (dominant genus among controls) was negatively correlated with both HAMD scores (r = -0.30, p = 0.04) and group-characterized FC. LIMITATIONS: The study's cross-sectional design and small sample size limit causal inferences; larger longitudinal studies are required for detailed subgroup analyses. CONCLUSION: We identified significant correlations between LDD-characterized gut microbes and brain FC, as well as depression severity, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression development among patients with LLD. Specific microbes were linked to altered brain connectivity, suggesting potential targets for treating LLD.

Catalyst-Free [4+1] Annulation of α-Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides and Diazo Compounds Enabling the Modular Synthesis of 2-Indanones and 3(2H)-Furanones.

A novel substrate-regulated [4+1] annulation of α-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides with diazoketones under catalyst-free conditions is described. The reaction proceeds through a coupling of sulfoxonium ylides and in situ-generated ketenes to form the key reactive zwitterionic intermediates, followed by selective formation of C-C or C-O bonds to achieve five-membered ring systems. The cascade reaction permits the direct synthesis of synthetically useful 2-indanones and 3(2H)-furanones, which expands the reaction pattern of sulfoxonium ylides in annulation transformation.

Clarifying new molecular subtyping and precise treatment of melanoma based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature.

Disulfidptosis, the newest form of programmed cell death, is closely associated with the immune microenvironment of cancer cells. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has also been found to play a crucial role in melanoma. However, the role of disulfidptosis-related lncRNA in melanoma remains unclear. Through bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptional, clinical, and pathological data from the TCGA-SKCM (The Cancer Genome Atlas-Skin cutaneous melanoma) database, we established a 2-Disulfidptosis-related lncRNA (DRL) prognostic model and a novel molecular subtype for melanoma. The survival and ROC curves of the 2-DRL prognostic model demonstrated its strong efficacy in predicting the prognosis of melanoma. The high-risk group of melanoma exhibited a significant decrease in ESTIMATEScore, ImmuneScore, and StromalScore, indicative of pronounced immune suppression and exhaustion. Subgroup C2 of melanoma displayed an immune-activated state, while subgroups C1 and C3 showed immune suppression and exhaustion, potentially leading to poorer prognosis. Subgroup C1 demonstrated better sensitivity to Zoledronate, UMI-77, Nilotinib, and Cytarabine. Subgroup C2 exhibited greater sensitivity to Ribociclib, XAV939, Topotecan, and Ruxolitinib. Subgroup C3 showed higher sensitivity to VX-11e, Ulixertinib, Trametinib, and Afatinib. This study revealed the immune microenvironment status and targeted drug sensitivity in melanoma patients with different risk scores and molecular subtypes, offering valuable guidance for clinical treatment and identifying significant DRL targets for future in-depth research.

Metformin reduced the alkaline resistance of Enterococcus faecalis against calcium hydroxide via Man-PTS EII: in vitro and in vivo studies.

OBJECTIVES: The mannose phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS) plays crucial roles in the adaptive metabolic activity of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in adverse environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Man-PTS in the alkaline resistance of E. faecalis against calcium hydroxide (CH) and the effect of metformin (Met) on the alkaline resistance of E. faecalis to CH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The regulatory role of Man-PTS EII in the alkaline resistance of E. faecalis was firstly investigated using a wild-type highly alkaline-resistant E. faecalis XS 003, standard ATCC 29212 and Man-PTS EIID gene deficient (△mptD) and overexpressing (+mptD) strains of E. faecalis. RNA sequencing of Met-treated E. faecalis was performed to further validate the effect of Met on Man-PTS. The effect of Met on CH resistance of E. faecalis was verified by evaluating the survival, membrane potential and permeability, intracellular pH and ATP, and the expression of Man-PTS EII and membrane transporter-related genes of E. faecalis. The effect of Met on the ability of CH to remove E. faecalis biofilm on the dentin surface was also tested. The in vivo therapeutic effect of Met plus CH (CHM) was further investigated in a rat apical periodontitis model induced by E. faecalis XS 003. RESULTS: Man-PTS EII significantly promoted the survival ability of E. faecalis in CH and enhanced its resistance to CH. The inhibition of Man-PTS EII by Met resulted in reduced alkaline resistance of E. faecalis in the presence of CH, while also enhancing the antimicrobial properties of CH against E. faecalis biofilm on dentin. Additionally, Met plus CH showed the synergistically promoted intra-canal E. faecalis infection control and healing of periapical lesion in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Met could significantly reduce the alkaline resistance of E. faecalis against CH through the modulation of Man-PTS EII, and improved the antibacterial effect of CH against E. faecalis infection both in vitro and in vivo. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Met could significantly enhance the ability of CH to control E. faecalis infection through reducing the alkaline resistance of E. faecalis.

Arctigenin inhibits the progression of colorectal cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant disease worldwide, with high mortality rates. Conventional treatment methods often lead to metastasis and drug resistance, highlighting the need to explore new drugs and their potential molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of arctigenin on CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and related protein expression, as well as its potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The CCK-8 assay, transwell migration and invasion assays, flow cytometry, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, western blot and an allograft tumor transplantation model was used. RESULTS: Our study revealed that arctigenin effectively inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in a dose-dependent manner, while also inducing apoptosis. At the molecular level, arctigenin significantly downregulated the expressions of PCNA, Bcl2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and upregulated the expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Additionally, arctigenin demonstrated the ability to inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process by upregulating E-cadherin and downregulating mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and Slug. Furthermore, arctigenin could inhibit the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, which has been implicated in cancer progression. In vivo experiments also showed that arctigenin significantly reduced tumor volume and size compared to the control group, with no significant adverse effects on the liver. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to elucidate the mechanism by which arctigenin inhibits colorectal cancer metastasis through the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by suppressing the EMT process at the molecular level.

Unveiling the innovative green synthesis mechanism of selenium nanoparticles by exploiting intracellular protein elongation factor Tu from Bacillus paramycoides. / 利用Bacillus paramycoidesç»†èƒžå† è›‹ç™½å»¶ä¼¸å› å­Tu揭示硒纳米颗粒的创新绿色合成机制.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have garnered extensive research interest and shown promising applications across diverse fields owing to their distinctive properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial activity (Ojeda et al., 2020; Qu et al., 2023; Zambonino et al., 2021, 2023). Among the various approaches employed for SeNP synthesis, green synthesis has emerged as a noteworthy and eco-friendly methodology. Keshtmand et al. (2023) underscored the significance of green-synthesized SeNPs, presenting a compelling avenue in this domain. This innovative strategy harnesses the potential of natural resources, such as plant extracts or microorganisms, to facilitate the production of SeNPs.

[Effects of Altitude on Airborne Bacteria and Potential Pathogenic Bacteria： A Case of Shigatse of Xizang].

Airborne microbes are affected by natural environmental factors and have become a global issue due to their potential threat to human health. To explore the effects of altitude on the communities of microbes and potential pathogenic bacteria, we sampled airborne microbes and soils at sites with different altitudes in Shigatse of Xizang. The results showed a significant difference in bacterial communities between air and soil and a decrease in the contribution of soil to airborne bacteria from the sites with a lower altitude to the sites with a higher altitude. The Chao1 indexes of airborne bacteria were significantly higher in the sites with a lower altitude compared to those with a higher altitude, and the bacterial Bray-Curtis distances between sites with a lower altitude were significantly lower than those between sites with a lower altitude and high altitude. These results indicated that altitude would affect the community patterns of airborne bacteria, and the transport of air would decrease the variations in airborne microbial communities between different sites. Proteobacteria, with 84%-91% of average abundance, predominated in the airborne bacterial communities, but different taxa were enriched in sites with different altitudes. For example, the genera of Flavobacterium and Lactobacillus were enriched in sites with a lower altitude and a higher altitude, respectively. A total of 78 potential bacterial pathogens were detected across all samples, and the relative abundance of them in bacterial communities ranged from 2.69% to 38.19%. These findings indicated that altitude would affect the community compositions of airborne bacteria and potential pathogenic bacteria and suggested the potential threat of airborne bacteria to human health. This study provided a scientific basis for better understanding the distributions of airborne microbes and for air quality improvement and disease prevention in China.

[Effect of Trichosanthis Pericarpium extract on bile acid metabolism in coronary heart disease model rats].

This study aims to explore the potential mechanism of action of Trichosanthis Pericarpium(TP) in improving coronary heart disease(CHD) based on a CHD rat model and metabolomics. The rat model of CHD was built by subcutaneous injection of high-fat diet combined with isoprenaline hydrochloride(ISO). To compare the expression level of lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTnⅠ), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), creatine kinase(CK), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß),interleukin-6(IL-16), hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) in serum and cardiac pathological changes of model animals after administration of TP, LTQ-Orbitrap-MS analysis was combined with principal component analysis. The effect of TP on endogenous metabolites in the feces of CHD rats was studied. In addition, biomarkers were identified using the HMDB database and metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed using the MetaboAnalyst online pathway enrichment tool. The content of bile acid was further determined in the feces and serum of different groups of rats. Compared with blank group, the myocardial injury markers(CK,LDH, cTnⅠ, CK-MB) and inflammatory factors(TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, hs-CRP) in serum of CHD rats were significantly increased.Myocardial injury and inflammatory infiltration in CHD rats were significantly improved by TP extract. The primary bile acid biosynthetic metabolism pathway was enriched by non-targeted metabolome analysis. The levels of total bile acid, primary bile acid,secondary bile acid, and unconjugated bile acids in the feces of CHD rats were significantly lower than those of control rats. Fecal excretion of total bile acid, primary bile acid, and unconjugated bile acid was significantly improved by TP extract. The levels of total bile acid, primary bile acid, secondary bile acid, and unconjugated bile acids in the serum of CHD rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. Circulating blood levels of total bile acids, primary bile acids, secondary bile acids, and unconjugated bile acids were significantly reduced by TP extract. Increasing fecal excretion of bile acid and decreasing the level of bile acid in blood circulation can improve CHD, and maintaining proper bile acid metabolism is one of the mechanisms of TP to improve CHD.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the factor XIa-inhibiting antibody osocimab in healthy male East Asian volunteers: Results from two phase 1 studies.

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and safety of osocimab single doses in healthy Chinese and Japanese volunteers over 149 days were evaluated. Two phase 1 single-blinded, placebo-controlled studies with 27 Japanese and 50 Chinese participants were conducted. Osocimab was investigated with IV doses of 0.3, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg (Chinese study) and 0.3, 1.25, and 5.0 mg/kg (Japanese study), as well as SC doses of 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg (Chinese study) and 6.0 mg/kg (Japanese study). The maximum plasma concentration was reached 1-3 h and 4-6 days after IV and SC administration, respectively. Osocimab exhibited a deviation from dose-proportional pharmacokinetics for AUC but not Cmax; higher doses had higher apparent clearance and disproportionately lower total exposure. A slightly lower exposure was observed in Japanese compared with Chinese volunteers after IV administration; conversely, relatively higher exposure in Japanese volunteers with SC dosing was identified. Osocimab was associated with a dose-dependent increase in activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Maximal aPTT prolongations were observed 1-4 h and 2-6 days after IV and SC administration, respectively. Anti-drug antibodies of low titer were detected in 1/9 (11.1%) Japanese volunteers administered placebo and 26/40 (65.0%) Chinese volunteers administered osocimab. Adverse events were reported in 8/18 (44.4%) Japanese and 28/40 (70.0%) Chinese volunteers who received osocimab, as well as in 1/9 (11.1%) Japanese and 6/10 (60.0%) Chinese volunteers who received placebo. In conclusion, data did not suggest a clear dose-proportionality for osocimab within the investigated dose range. The effect of osocimab on aPTT was expected per its mechanism of action. Osocimab was generally well tolerated.

Optimization of differentiation conditions for porcine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and analysis of fatty acids in cultured fat.

Cultured fat is an important part of cultured meat, and the ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) to differentiate into mature adipose tissue affects the quality of cultured fat. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to screen for combinations of differentiation-inducing factors (DIF) using single-factor experiment and orthogonal experimental design under two-dimensional culture conditions for ADSCs. The results showed that a combination of DIF consisting of 1 µmol/L dexamethasone, 0.1 mmol/L 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 10 µg/mL insulin, 0.1 mmol/L indomethacin, and 2 µmol/L rosiglitazone was a good choice for the differentiation of ADSCs. An combination of DIF was applied to the preparation of cultured fat with collagen as scaffolds. Forty-eight fatty acids were detected in cultured fat by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Among them, the content of twenty-one fatty acids in cultured fat was significantly higher than that of conventional porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.05), and the content of 14 fatty acids was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The ratio of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids content to ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content was 1.23:1, which meant cultured fat was beneficial for human health. This study provides a method to improve the differentiation ability of ADSCs while also providing a reference for indicating the nutritional value of cultured fat.

Study on the effect factors of discharge readiness of total hip arthroplasty patients.

Introduction: In order to explore the correlation between discharge readiness and Harris score or self-care ability of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept. We carried out this single center retrospective study. Methods: We enrolled 331 patients who underwent THA. These patients were divided into the higher score group and the lower score group according to median discharge readiness score. After the baseline data of these patients were compared, the effect factors of discharge readiness of these patients was analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses and mixed effects models. Results: The results demonstrated that there was a correlation between discharge readiness and changes in Harris score 30 days after discharge (compared with that before surgery) in these patients. Besides, the Harris score and self-care ability 30 days after discharge were higher than those at the time of discharge. In addition, patients in the higher score group exhibited a higher Harris score compared with those in the lower score group. From the evaluation at different time points after discharge, there was a significant difference in the Harris score between both groups. Discussion: It can be inferred that the discharge readiness of patients undergoing THA was correlated with the Harris score but not with the self-care ability. These results are expected to provide guidance for the physical and mental recovery of patients undergoing total hip replacement under the ERAS concept. Furthermore, these findings may contribute to higher diagnosis, treatment, and nursing levels of orthopedic medical staff.

Reshaped commensal wound microbiome via topical application of Calvatia gigantea extract contributes to faster diabetic wound healing.

Background: Calvatia gigantea (CG) is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for wound treatment. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of CG extract (CGE) on diabetic wound healing and the commensal wound microbiome. Method: A wound model was established using leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice, with untreated mice as the control group and CGE-treated mice as the treatment group. The wound healing rate, inflammation and histology were analyzed. Additionally, wound microbiome was evaluated via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Results: CGE significantly accelerated the healing of diabetic ulcer wounds, facilitated re-epithelialization, and downregulated the transcription levels of the inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, CGE treatment positively affected the wound microbiome, promoting diversity of the microbial community and enrichment of Escherichia-Shigella bacteria in the CGE-treated group. Conclusions: Overall, CGE enhanced diabetic wound healing by modulating the wound microbiome and facilitating macrophage polarization during inflammation. These findings suggest modulation of the commensal wound microbiome using medicinal plants as a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds.

Target-specific affinity separation of the bioactive compounds from herbal extract using the spin column packed with the immobilized protein microspheres prior to LC-MS analysis.

Excellent pretreatments before instrumental analysis are critical for separation and determination of target compounds for discovery of new drugs from herb medicines. We developed a rapid and highly-selective method to separate the bioactive compounds from herbal extract using protein affinity-selection spin column, which was packed with the new sorbent materials from integrating the recombinant ß2-adrenoceptor (ß2-AR) directly out of cell lysates onto the surface of microspheres. Protein affinity-selection spin column was placed in a centrifugal tube, where after the non-specific binders were released to the filtrate under the operational centrifugation, the specific binders on the spin column were cleaned with a washing solvent for LC-MS analysis. The known agonists of ß2-AR were retained/released on protein affinity-selection spin column but not on control column, demonstrating the method with good recovery (79.4∼95.7 %) and high repeatability (RSD < 3.5 %). The adsorption features of three ligands on the spin column were described best by Prism saturation binding model, and the high-affinity binding and the large binding capacity of the spin column make it feasible to trap the trace analytes effectively. It was applied in separating bioactive compounds from Alstoniae Scholaris extract, two of which were identified as picrinine and oleanolic acid in combination with LC-MS and verified as the potential agonists towards ß2-AR though molecular docking and cell experiments. Our study demonstrated that, the spin column with the immobilized protein sorbents in the centrifugal filter device represents a promising tool, enabling rapid and target-specific affinity separation of the bioactive compounds from herbal extract.

Effect of Parenting Style, attachment to parents and self-compassion on the occurrence and recovery motivation for non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a worldwide mental health problem that deserves thorough investigation. This study aims to explore the effect of parenting styles, attachment to parents, and self-compassion on the occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior in adolescents and whether these factors influence their recovery motivation. Methods: A total of 132 adolescents who had engaged in NSSI within the last year and 72 adolescents who had never engaged in NSSI were recruited from the Shenzhen Kangning Hospital and from primary and secondary schools and communities. Differences in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), Egma Minn av. Bardndosnauppforstran (EMBU), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) of participants were compared. A binary logistic model was established to measure the odds ratios of these variables on the occurrence of NSSI. In the NSSI adolescent sample, separate binary logistic models were created with NSSI impulse inhibition, NSSI resistance activity, and NSSI recovery motivation as dependent variables and with parenting styles, attachment to parents, and self-compassion as independent variables. Results: Compared with adolescents with no NSSI behavior, those who had engaged in NSSI within the past year had higher scores on the HAMD, as well as higher EMBU-negative father parental behavior (punishment, excessive interference, rejection, and overprotection), EMBU-negative mother parental behavior (excessive interference, rejection, and punishment), and SCS negative self-compassion scores. Moreover, adolescents with NSSI had lower EMBU-father emotional warmth, EMBU-mother emotional warmth, IPPA-attachment to father, IPPA-attachment to mother, and SCS positive self-compassion scores. Current depressive symptoms and maternal punishment are risk factors for NSSI in adolescents, while positive self-compassion was a protective factor. Positive self-compassion can positively predict NSSI impulse inhibition, NSSI resistance activity, and NSSI recovery motivation. However, we unexpectedly found that the father's emotional warmth negatively predicts NSSI resistance activity. Conclusion: This study found that positive self-compassion has a significant impact on the prevention of and recovery from NSSI behavior in adolescents.

Ameliorative effect of poly-γ-glutamic acid biopreparation on coastal saline soil.

To investigate the effect of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) biopreparation on ameliorating coastal saline soil, three treatments were established: soil salt washed treatment (CK), soil salt washed with added γ-PGA (PGA), soil salt washed with added γ-PGA biopreparation (PGAB). This study determined the effects of γ-PGA on coastal saline soil by analyzing soil aggregate, soil evaporation, soil vertical water and salt distribution, and soil cation content, soil pH, soil nutrient content and soil microorganism quantity. Results showed that γ-PGA had an ameliorative effect on saline soil, with the PGAB treatment exhibiting the most pronounced ameliorative effect compared to CK. Adding PGAB reduced soil evaporation by 30.45 %, soil salt content by 27.91 %, meanwhile increasing plant height by 33.86 %, plant fresh weight by 98.54 %, soil aggregate diameter by 6.68 times, soil water content by 26.47 % (P < 0.05). Additionally, soil total nitrogen was increased by 50.0 % in PGAB treatment, and available nitrogen and phosphorus contents were increased by 1.68 times and 85.83 % (P < 0.05), respectively. Populations of soil-culturable bacteria and fungi of PGAB treatment increased by 65.96 % and 1.23 times, respectively (P < 0.05). After salt-washing process, adding PGAB improved soil physicochemical properties, which altered the ecological environment of rhizosphere soil and promoted plant growth. The results can provide a practical approach for ameliorating coastal saline soils.

The Role of Indigenous Yeasts in Shaping the Chemical and Sensory Profiles of Wine: Effects of Different Strains and Varieties.

The microbial terroir is an indispensable part of the terroir panorama, and can improve wine quality with special characteristics. In this study, eight autochthonous yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), selected in Huailai country, China, were trailed in small-scale and pilot fermentations for both white (Riesling and Sémillon) and red (Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) wines and evaluated by GC-MS analysis and the rate-all-that-apply (RATA) method. Compared to commercial yeast strains, the indigenous yeasts were able to produce higher concentrations of ethyl esters and fatty acid ethyl esters, and higher alcohol, resulting in higher odor activity values of fruity, floral attributes. Marked varietal effects were observed in the pilot fermentation, but yeast strains exerted a noticeable impact in modulating wine aroma and sensory profile. Overall, indigenous yeast could produce more preferred aroma compounds and sensory characteristics for both white and red wines, demonstrating the potential for improving wine quality and regional characteristics.

Lectin YKL-40 Level and Telomere Length are Indicators of Insomnia Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between YKL-40 level, telomere length, and different subtypes of insomnia disorder. METHODS: A total of 145 individuals suffering from insomnia were enrolled and divided into four groups according to the insomniac subtypes: difficulty initiating sleep, early morning awakening, difficulty maintaining sleep, and mixed symptoms. Eighty healthy controls were also collected at the same time. Peripheral leukocyte genomic DNA was extracted, relative telomere lengths were measured using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method, and YKL-40 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze the correlation between different insomnia subtypes, YKL-40 level, and telomere length. RESULTS: People with telomere lengths in the lowest tertile were more likely to have trouble falling asleep (odds ratio (OR) 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-3.63; p = 0.03) and had a higher frequency of mixed symptoms (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.30-2.81; p = 0.04). People in the highest tertile of YKL-40 level had an increased chance of waking up early (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.54-5.33; p = 0.01) and more mixed symptoms (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22-2.79; p = 0.02). Furthermore, using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve of YKL-40 level and telomere length was 0.806 and 0.746, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Telomere length in patients with difficulty initiating sleep and mixed symptoms was significantly shortened and the level of YKL-40 in people who have early morning awakening and mixed symptoms was significantly increased. Our findings provide the first evidence that leukocyte telomere length and YKL-40 level are individually linked to mixed symptoms.

A Case of Psoriasis and Pseudohernia of the Abdominal Wall at the Site of Herpes Zoster-Wolf's Isotopic Response.

The patient, a 77-year-old Asian male presented with herpes zoster in the left lumbar and abdominal regions 9 weeks before presentation. The infection dried up after 2 weeks but was followed by an erythematous scaly rash in the same region with left-sided abdominal elevation. Pathological examination revealed continuous parakeratosis and Munro microabscesses. Abdominal computer tomography revealed no abnormalities, suggesting psoriasis with herpes zoster and Wolf's isotopic response to the pseudohernia of the abdominal wall.

The ability of different diffusing enhancers to deliver chlorhexidine into dentinal tubules: An in vitro evaluation.

Background/purpose: Root canal irrigants are difficult to diffuse deep into the dentinal tubules for root canal disinfection. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of different diffusing enhancers to deliver chlorhexidine (CHX) into dentinal tubules. Materials and methods: The diffusing property of five diffusing enhancers (acetone, DMSO, Triton X-100, JFC-E and azone) into dentinal tubules was firstly assessed using the Rhodamine B. The ability of the diffusing enhancers to deliver CHX into dentinal tubules was then evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. A deep dentinal tubule Enterococcus faecalis infection model was further established to test the bactericidal effect of CHX delivered by different diffusing enhancers. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these diffusing enhancers was tested using the CCK-8 method. Results: Azone, Triton X-100 and JFC-E exhibited the largest maximum diffusing depths at all root canal parts (P < 0.05). Azone group also showed the highest percentage of diffusing depths for all root canal parts, followed by Triton X-100 (P < 0.05). The percentage of dead bacteria in dentinal tubules close to cementum layer was significantly higher in the CHX + azone group than in the other groups (P < 0.05), followed by CHX + Triton X-100 and CHX + JFC-E groups. The concentration of CHX diffusing onto the exterior surface of root was significantly higher in CHX + azone group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). All the diffusing enhancers showed relatively low cytotoxicity. Conclusion: Azone showed the highest diffusing ability with low cytotoxicity and might be employed as a carrier agent for either intracanal irrigants or medications to achieve more thorough root canal disinfection.