Midline structures and cortical development in fetuses with late growth restriction according to Doppler status: prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Fetuses with late growth restriction (FGR) have a higher risk of sub-optimal neurocognitive performance after birth. Previous studies have reported that impaired brain and cortical development can start in utero. The primary aim of this study was to report midline structures and cortical development in fetuses with late growth restriction according to its severity; the secondary aim was to elucidate whether the severity of FGR, as defined by the presence of abnormal Doppler findings, plays a role in affecting brain growth and maturation. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study including fetuses with late FGR undergoing neurosonography between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation. Midline structures (corpus callosum (CC) and cerebellar vermis (CV) length) and cortical development, including the depth of Sylvian (SF), parieto-occipital (POF) and calcarine (CF) were compared between FGR, small (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, defined upon the Delphi criteria. Sub-group analysis according to the severity of FGR (normal vs abnormal fetal Dopplers) was also performed. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: 52 FGR with normal, 60 with abnormal Dopplers, 64 SGA and 100 AGA fetuses were included in the analysis. SGA and FGR fetuses showed significant differences in absolute values of CC (median (interquartile range) control 43.47 (28.9-56.05), vs SGA 41.85 (27.82-51.79), vs FGR ND 38.54 (29.12-50.53), vs FGR AD 31.72 (23.8-40.19) K= 26.68; p<0.0001), CV (control 24.85 (17.55-29.21), SGA K=16.71; p=0.0008), SF (control 14.52 (10.65-16.76) vs SGA 12.71 (9.8-15.10) vs FGR ND 11.93 (9.12-13.43) VS FGR A 8.30 (6.72-10.33) K=75.82; p<0.0001), POF (control 8.56 (6.31-11.09) vs SGA 8.11 (5.58-10.43) vs FGR ND 7.81 (6.14-9.29) vs FGR AD 6.56 (4.22-7.99), K=45.06; p<0.0001) and CF ( control 9.27 (6.70-11.45) vs SGA 8.23 (5.67-10.65) vs FGR ND 7.68 (5.22-9.41) vs FGR AD 6.26 (4.48-7.19) K=46.14; p<0.0001) when compared to AGA controls with a progressive reduction across groups. When neurosonographic variables were corrected for fetal HC values, significant difference in the length of CC, SF, POF and CF but CV were observed only in FGR fetuses with abnormal Doppler when compared to AGA controls. CONCLUSIONS: Late onset small fetuses showed shorter CC length and a delayed cortical development when compared to control. After controlling for HC size these differences remain significant only in FGR fetuses with abnormal Dopplers. These findings support the existence of a link between brain development and impaired placental function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Role of fetal head-circumference-to-maternal-height ratio in predicting Cesarean section for labor dystocia: prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the fetal head-circumference-to-maternal-height (HC/MH) ratio measured shortly before delivery and the occurrence of Cesarean section (CS) for labor dystocia. METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study involving four tertiary maternity hospitals. An unselected cohort of women with a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation, at a gestational age beyond 36 + 0 weeks and without any contraindication for vaginal delivery, was enrolled between September 2020 and November 2021. The MH and fetal HC were measured on admission of the patient to the labor ward. The primary outcome of the study was the performance of the HC/MH ratio in the prediction of CS for labor dystocia. Women who underwent CS for any indication other than failed labor progression, including fetal distress, were excluded from the final analysis. RESULTS: A total of 783 women were included in the study. Vaginal delivery occurred in 744 (95.0%) women and CS for labor dystocia in 39 (5.0%). CS for labor dystocia was associated with shorter MH (mean ± SD, 160.4 ± 6.6 vs 164.5 ± 6.3 cm; P < 0.001), larger fetal HC (339.6 ± 9.5 vs 330.7 ± 13.0 mm; P < 0.001) and a higher HC/MH ratio (2.12 ± 0.11 vs 2.01 ± 0.10; P < 0.001) compared with vaginal delivery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the HC/MH ratio was associated independently with CS for labor dystocia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.65 (95% CI, 1.85-3.79); P < 0.001). The HC/MH ratio had an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve of 0.77 and an optimal cut-off value for discriminating between vaginal delivery and CS for labor dystocia of 2.09, which was associated with a sensitivity of 0.62 (95% CI, 0.45-0.77), specificity of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76-0.82), positive predictive value of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.09-0.19) and negative predictive value of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of unselected pregnancies, the HC/MH ratio performed better than did fetal HC and MH alone in identifying those cases that will undergo CS for labor dystocia, albeit with moderate predictive value. The HC/MH ratio could assist in the evaluation of women at risk for CS for labor dystocia. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The Predictive Values of Five Sarcopenia Screening Tools on Clinical Outcomes Following Surgery in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The association between strength, assistance with walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs and falls (SARC-F), strength, assistance with walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls and calf circumference (SARC-CalF), Ishii score chart, the short version of mini sarcopenia risk assessment (MSRA-5), the full version of mini sarcopenia risk assessment (MSRA-7) and clinical outcomes in patients with gastric cancer were unclear. We aimed to investigate the predictive values of the above five sarcopenia screening tools on clinical outcomes following surgery in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: The clinical data of consecutive patients who would undergo gastrectomy from May 2020 to October 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were prospectively collected. On the first admission day, patients' characteristics, Nutrition risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002), the above five sarcopenia screening tools and anthropometric measurements were preoperatively collected. Within 24 hours after discharge, operation information, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and clinical outcomes in hospital (postoperative complications, hospitalization expenditures and postoperative hospital stay) were collected. Three months after discharge, clinical outcomes out of hospital (hospital readmissions and mortality) were collected. Multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the independent predictors for clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 263 patients were finally included in the study, with the average age being 62.44 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia risk ranged from 3.42% to 73.76%. For the above five sarcopenia screening tools, multivariate analyses showed that sarcopenia risk indicated by SARC-CalF was an independent predictor for postoperative complications (OR=3.145 [95%CI: 0.594, 16.665], P=0.037), prolonged postoperative hospital stay (B=2.383 [95%CI: 0.377, 4.388], P=0.020), increased hospitalization expenditures (B=1.305 [95%CI: 0.402, 2.208], P=0.005) and 3-month hospital readmissions (HR=3.626 [95%CI: 1.126, 11.676], P=0.031). Sarcopenia risk indicated by Ishii score chart was an independent predictor for postoperative complications (OR=6.491 [95%CI: 1.514, 27.840], P=0.012) and hospitalization expenditures (B=0.767 [95%CI: 0.065, 1.469], P=0.032). Sarcopenia risk indicated by MSRA-7 was an independent predictor for prolonged postoperative hospital stay (B=1.636 [95%CI: 0.119, 3.153], P=0.035)and increased hospitalization expenditures (B=0.831 [95%CI: 0.146, 1.516], P=0.018). CONCLUSION: Among the above five sarcopenia screening tools, SARC-CalF seemed to have better predictive values on clinical outcomes. Preoperative gastric cancer patients with sarcopenia risk indicated by SARC-CalF could have a higher risk of postoperative complications, prolonged postoperative hospital stay, increased hospitalization expenditures and 3-month hospital readmissions.

Screening Accuracy of SARC-F for Sarcopenia in the Elderly: A Diagnostic Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an age-related disease, which is characterized by a decline in muscle mass and function. It is one of the most important health issues in the elderly and often leads to a high rate and variety of adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the screening accuracy of SARC-F for sarcopenia in the elderly. DESIGN: We conducted a meta-analysis using articles available in 6 databases including PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), and Wanfang databases from inception to May 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: Sarcopenia was defined by EWGSOP2, EWGSOP, AWGS, FNIH and IWGS. Two authors independently extracted data based on predefined criteria. Where data were available we calculated pooled summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) based on different criteria using the hierarchical logistic regression modeling including bivariate modeling and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) modeling. RESULTS: We included 20 studies, with the prevalence of sarcopenia ranging from 6.42% to 21.56%. The number of the literatures using EWGSOP, EWGSOP2, AWGS, IWGS and FNIH as diagnostic criteria was 13, 4, 13, 8, 7, respectively. Bivariate analysis yielded a pooled sensitivity of 32% (95%CI:19%-47%), 77% (95%CI: 49%-92%), 27% (95%CI: 16%-42%), 39% (95%CI: 27%-52%), 35% (95%CI: 23%-49%) and a pooled specificity of 86% (95%CI:77%-92%), 63% (95%CI: 43%-79%), 91% (95%CI: 85%-95%), 86% (95%CI: 76%-92%), 89% (95%CI: 81%-93%), respectively. The area under the HSROC curve were 0.68 (95%CI: 0.64-0.72), 0.75 (95%CI: 0.71-0.78), 0.73 (95%CI: 0.69-0.77), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.62-0.71), 0.70 (95%CI: 0.65-0.73), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The screening accuracy of SARC-F was various based on different diagnostic criteria. There were some limitations for SARC-F, however, considering the higher practicability and specificity for screening sarcopenia in practice, SARC-F was still an effective screening tool for sarcopenia in the elderly. And the screening accuracy of SARC-F needs further exploration when EWGSOP2 is applied as diagnostic criteria and geriatric inpatients are the target participants.

MiR-20a regulates fibroblast-like synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "MiR-20a regulates fibroblast-like synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis, by X.-J. Wei, X.-W. Li, J.-L. Lu, Z.-X. Long, J.-Q. Liang, S.-B. Wei, C.-X. Lu, W.-Z. Lu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (17): 3886-3893-PMID: 28975975" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/13351.

Realizing Magnetoelectric Coupling with Hydrogen Intercalation.

Materials with a coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric order (i.e., multiferroics) provide an efficient route for the control of magnetism by electric fields. Unfortunately, a long-sought room temperature multiferroic with strongly coupled ferroelectric and ferromagnetic (or ferrimagnetic) orderings is still lacking. Here, we propose that hydrogen intercalation in antiferromagnetic transition-metal oxides is a promising way to realize multiferroics with strong magnetoelectric coupling. Taking brownmillerite SrCoO_{2.5} as an example, we show that hydrogen intercalated SrCoO_{2.5} displays strong ferrimagnetism and large electric polarization in which the hydroxide acts as a new knob to simultaneously control the magnetization and polarization at room temperature. We expect that ion intercalation will become a general way to design magnetoelectric and spintronic functional materials.

[Risk factors and sonographic findings associated with the type of placenta accreta spectrum disorders].

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and sonographic findings of pregnancies complicated by placenta increta or placenta percreta. Methods: Totally, 2 219 cases were retrospectively analyzed from 20 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2011 to December 2015. The data were collected based on the original case records. All cases were divided into two groups, the placenta increta (PI) group (79.1%, 1 755/2 219) and the placenta percreta (PP) group (20.9%, 464/2 219) , according to the degree of placental implantation. The risk factors and sonographic findings of placenta increta or percreta were analyzed by uni-factor and logistic regression statistic methods. Results: The risk factors associated with the degree of placental implantation were age, gravida, previous abortion or miscarriage, previous cesarean sections, and placenta previa (all P<0.05), especially, previous cesarean sections (χ(2)=157.961) and placenta previa (χ(2)=91.759). Sonographic findings could be used to predict the degree of placental invasion especially the boundaries between placenta and uterine serosa, the boundary between placenta and myometrium, the disruption of the placental-uterine wall interface and loss of the normal retroplacental hypoechoic zone(all P<0.01). Conclusions: Previous cesarean sections and placenta previa are the main independent risk factors associated with the degree of placenta implantation. Ultrasound could be used to make a prenatal suggestive diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

[Clinical value of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction method in detecting plasma circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients].

Objective: To determine the clinical value of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method to detect plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Methods: One hundred and thirty six patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma diagnosed in the Beijing Chest Hospital were collected from May 2015 to April 2017 for initial treatment. EGFR gene mutation in the plasma ctDNA was detected by both ddPCR and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) assays. EGFR gene mutation in the tumor tissue was detected by ARMS assay. Patients with EGFR sensitive mutations received first-line oral treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) drugs. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compared the progression-free survival (PFS) in EGFR gene mutated patients detected with different methods. Results: Total of 111 samples (81.6%) were detected with EGFR gene mutations in 136 tumor tissue samples. In the 111 samples, 48 samples were found with exon21 L858R mutation (48/111, 43.2%), 59 samples were found with exon19 deletion mutations (59/111, 53.2%), and 4 cases were found with other mutations (4/111, 3.6%). Using tumor specimens as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and concordance rate of ARMS assay were 58.6%, 96.0%, and 65.4%, respectively; and those in ddPCR assay were 79.3%, 100%, and 83.1%, respectively; the coincidence rate was 83.1% (Kappa=0.685, P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with EGFR gene mutation detected by both ddPCR and ARMS methods had shortest PFS when compared with those in patients detected positive with a single method of ddPCR or ARMS assay (11.6 moths vs 14.8 months, χ(2)=2.517, P=0.026). Conclusions: ddPCR is a reliable technology with high sensitivity and high specificity to detect EGFR gene mutations in plasma ctDNA in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Plasma EGFR gene mutation may predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKI drugs.

Pravastatin improves atherosclerosis in mice with hyperlipidemia by inhibiting TREM-1/DAP12.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of pravastatin on blood vessels in mice with hyperlipemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid (TREM)-/ApoE-/- mice were selected and fed with high-fat food, which were then subdivided into the control group and the pravastatin intervention group. C57BL/6J mice were used as controls. Oil Red O staining was used to stain aortas and sections so as to observe the level and basic composition of plaques. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect inflammatory cells expression in aortic plaques. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the expressions of TREM-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in vascular tissues of mice in different groups, and the expressions of TREM-1, DNAX-activating protein of molecular mass 12 (DAP12), TNF-α, and IL-1 were detected via Western blotting technique. RESULTS: Pravastatin reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and improved the plaque formation by reducing lipid deposits and alleviating plaque inflammatory responses. In the pravastatin group, the expression of TREM-1 in the aorta atherosclerotic plaque of mice was decreased, the expressions of TREM-1 and DAP12 genes and proteins in vascular tissue cells declined, and the expressions of the downstream inflammatory factors, TNF-α, IL-1 were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Pravastatin improves atherosclerosis (AS) in mice by inhibiting TREM-1/DAP12.

MiR-129 is involved in the occurrence of uterine fibroid through inhibiting TET1.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expressions of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-129 and its target gene in uterine fibroid tissues and to investigate the role of miR-129 in the occurrence of uterine fibroid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expressions of miR-129 and its target gene ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) were detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Dual-luciferase reporter gene and Western blotting were used to verify the regulatory relation between miR-129 and target gene. The effects of miR-129 on the proliferation, apoptosis, cycle and extracellular matrix (ECM) of uterine fibroid cells were investigated via transfection with miR-129 mimics and TET1 small-interfering RNA (siRNA). RESULTS: MiR-129 was lowly expressed in uterine fibroid. The expression of miR-129 was regulated by sex hormones. The highly expressed miR-129 promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation through reducing the low expression of TET1. At the same time, miR-129 affected the accumulation of ECM. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of miR-129 in uterine fibroid is lower, and the proliferation capacity of tumor cells is enhanced, thus promoting the occurrence and development of uterine fibroid.

Association of NUDT15 c.415C>T allele and thiopurine-induced leukocytopenia in Asians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thiopurines, commonly used to treat autoimmune conditions and cancer, can be limited by life-threatening leucopenia. However, whether NUDT15 (nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15) is associated with thiopurine-induced leucopenia in Asians is controversial. METHODS: Relevant studies in English that were published until July 10, 2016 were identified through PubMed, EMbase, and other web knowledge databases. Study quality was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) criteria. Summary risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated based on a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model, depending on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seven studies of 1138 patients met our inclusion criteria. Random-effects model meta-analysis provided evidence that T carriers of NUDT15 c.415C>T were significantly correlated with high incidences of thiopurine-induced leukocytopenia [CT + TT vs. CC: RR = 3.79, 95%CI (2.64 ~ 5.44), P < 0.00001]. This correlation was especially strong in TT patients, where it was found to be significantly increased by 6.54-fold compared with CC patients [TT vs. CC: RR = 6.54, 95%CI (3.34 ~ 12.82), P < 0.00001]. We also found that the NUDT15 c.415C>T variant was common in Asians and Hispanics, but rare in Europeans and Africans; the frequency of the NUDT15 c.415C>T distribution varied substantially by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis confirm that NUDT15 c.415C>T may be an important predictor of thiopurine-induced leukocytopenia in Asians. Genotype targeting of NUDT15 c.415C>T before initiating thiopurine treatment may be useful to limit leukocytopenia.

MiR-20a regulates fibroblast-like synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: STAT3 expression is elevated in the synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MiR-20a plays a role in mediating synovial inflammation in RA. Bioinformatics analysis has identified a binding site between miR-20 and the 3'-UTR of STAT3 mRNA. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-20a in the regulation of STAT3 expression and synovial cell proliferation as well as apoptosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Synovial tissues were collected from RA patients and osteoarthritis (OA) patients to measure miR-20a, STAT3, p-STAT3, and Ki-67 expressions. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were treated with IL-17 (10 ng/ml) and then Ki-67 expression and cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry. The targeting relationship between miR-20a and STAT3 was assessed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. FLS cells were divided into five groups: miR-NC, miR-20a mimic, si-NC, si-STAT3, and miR-20a mimic + si-STAT3 groups. RESULTS: In RA patients, significantly lower MiR-20a expression, and substantially higher STAT3, p-STAT3, and Ki-67 expression were found in the synovial tissues compared with those in OA patients. IL-17A treatment markedly promoted FLS cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, reduced miR-20a expression, as well as upregulated levels of STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2. MiR-20a played a regulatory function on the expression of STAT3. MiR-20a mimic and/or si-STAT3 transfection apparently downregulated STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2 expression, attenuated IL-17A-induced cell proliferation promotive and enhanced cell apoptosis in FLS cells. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of miR-20a was reduced in synovial tissue of RA patients with the increased level of STAT3. Downregulation of miR-20a promoted the expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2, facilitated FLS cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis and, thereby, played a critical role in RA.

[Application of cut needle biopsy in the diagnosis of submucosal type of nasopharyngeal neoplasms].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cut needle biopsy in the diagnosis of submucosal nasopharyngeal neoplasms. Methods: Cut needle biopsy performed with automatic biopsy gun was applied in 17 cases with submucosal type of nasopharyngeal neoplasms.The bleeding quantity was recorded and the pain was measured by score. Results: Adequate biopsy sample for hispathological diagnosis was received from each of the 17 patients. And the hispathological diagnosis were consistent with the follow-up visit. The bleeding quantity ranged from 1 to 5 ml ((1.9±0.3)ml). The scores of numerical rating scale were between 2-7 (4.0±0.4). There were no serious complications such as hemorrhea. There were 3 patients of inflammation in pathological diagnosis. And These 3 patients had no tumor during the follow-up( from 6 to 33 months). There were 12 patients of undifferentiated cancer. Among the 12 patients, there were five newly diagnosed patients and seven recurrent patients. There were 2 patients of lymphoma. Conclusion: Cut needle biopsy has the advantages of minimal trauma, shorter operative time, less bleeding, light pain, and no serious complications. It is simple, safe, and worth of application clinically.

Associations of depression with impaired glucose regulation, newly diagnosed diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes in Chinese adults.

AIM: To examine the association between depression and impaired glucose regulation, newly diagnosed diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, and whether depression was associated with different treatment regimens or durations of diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among 229,047 adults living in the community aged ≥ 40 years from 25 centres in China. The self-reported depression rating scale Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used to diagnose probable and sub-threshold depression. Glucose metabolism status was determined according to World Health Organization 1999 diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The numbers of participants with normal glucose regulation, impaired glucose regulation, newly diagnosed diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes were 120,458, 59,512, 24,826 and 24,251, respectively. The prevalence of sub-threshold depression in the total sample of participants was 4.8% (4.8%, 4.8%, 4.4% and 5.6% from normal glucose regulation to previously diagnosed diabetes, respectively), and the prevalence of probable depression was 1.1% (1.1%, 1.0%, 0.9% and 1.8% from normal glucose regulation to previously diagnosed diabetes, respectively). Compared with participants with normal glucose regulation, those with previously diagnosed diabetes had increased odds of probable depression [odds ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-1.87] and sub-threshold depression (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.24), after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. Newly diagnosed diabetes or impaired glucose regulation was not associated with depression. Among those with previously diagnosed diabetes, insulin treatment was associated with greater odds of depression compared with no treatment or oral anti-diabetic medicine. CONCLUSION: Previously diagnosed diabetes, but not newly diagnosed diabetes or impaired glucose regulation, was associated with a higher prevalence of depression. Patients receiving insulin were more likely to have depression than those not receiving treatment or being treated with oral anti-diabetic medicine.

Using tea stalk lignocellulose as an adsorbent for separating decaffeinated tea catechins.

Lignocelluloses prepared from woody tea stalk, pine sawdust and sugarcane bagasse were used as adsorbents to isolate decaffeinated catechins from tea extracts and compared with synthetic macroporous resin HPD 600. HPD 600 had the highest adsorption capacity to catechins, followed by tea stalk lignocellulose while lignocelluloses of pine sawdust and bagasse the least. Tea stalk lignocellulose absorbed preferentially tea catechins and showed a good selectivity. HPD 600 absorbed caffeine and tea catechins simultaneously. The kinetics data of tea stalk lignocellulose showed a good fit with the Langmuir isotherm model. It is considered that tea stalk lignocellulose is an alternative low-cost adsorbent for preparing decaffeinated tea catechins.

Selective analysis of molecular states by functionalized scanning tunneling microscopy tips.

Selective analysis of molecular states in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has so far been achieved in a few cases by tuning the bias range of the STM in high-resolution measurements. Correspondingly, perylene adsorbed in a close-packed monolayer on Ag(110) is imaged mainly through the pi states of the molecule. By contrast, functionalizing the STM tip with a perylene molecule leads to a mismatch between the energy levels of the STM tip and the molecule adsorbates and, instead, images only the metal states of the underlying silver surface. The observation opens a route for better energy selectivity in electron transport measurements through organic interfaces.

Atomic structure of a thin silica film on a Mo(112) substrate: a two-dimensional network of SiO4 tetrahedra.

The structure of a thin single crystalline SiO(2) film grown on Mo(112) has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In excellent agreement with the experimental results, density functional theory calculations show that the film consists of a two-dimensional network of corner sharing [SiO(4)] tetrahedra, with one oxygen of each tetrahedron binding to the protruding Mo atoms of the Mo(112) surface.

Toxoplasma gondii infection: relationship between seroprevalence and risk factors among inhabitants in two offshore islands from Taiwan.

A seroepidemiological study of toxoplasmosis among inhabitants of Penghu Island and Kinmen Island offshore of Taiwan was performed using the latex agglutination test from July 1999 to June 2000. In order to determine risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection, the effects of a history of eating raw/undercooked meats and raising pets were focused on using a self-administrated questionnaire. The seroprevalence (28.2%; 190/673) in Kinmen Island was significantly higher than that (2.71%; 8/293) in Penghu Island (P < 0.001). A significant difference in seroprevalence between both sexes was found in Kinmen Island (P < 0.05), but not in Penghu Island. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the older the age, the higher the OR in both Islands, yet a significant difference in seroprevalence between children and adults or the elderly was observed in Kinmen Island (P < 0.001). Moreover, those who had histories of raising cats or eating raw/undercooked meats seemed to have greater opportunities to become infected with T. gondii (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.9-4.5, P < 0.001; OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.1, P < 0.05). In Penghu Island, a significant association between seroprevalence and a history of raising cats was also observed (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.1-20.1, P < 0.05). Furthermore, workers, farmers, and fishermen seemed to be more susceptible to T. gondii infection than students in Kinmen Island.

The cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate and nerolidyl diphosphate by a purified recombinant delta-cadinene synthase.

The first step in the conversion of the isoprenoid intermediate, farnesyl diphosphate (FDP), to sesquiterpene phytoalexins in cotton (Gossypium barbadense) plants is catalyzed by delta-cadinene (CDN) synthase. CDN is the precursor of desoxyhemigossypol and hemigossypol defense sesquiterpenes. In this paper we have studied the mechanism for the cyclization of FDP and the putative intermediate, nerolidyl diphosphate, to CDN. A purified recombinant CDN synthase (CDN1-C1) expressed in Escherichia coli from CDN1-C1 cDNA isolated from Gossypium arboreum cyclizes (1RS)-[1-2H](E, E)-FDP to >98% [5-2H]and [11-2H]CDN. Enzyme reaction mixtures cyclize (3RS)-[4,4,13,13,13-2H5]-nerolidyl diphosphate to 62.1% [8,8,15,15,15-2H5]-CDN, 15.8% [6,6,15,15,15-2H5]-alpha-bisabolol, 8.1% [6,6,15,15,15-2H5]-(beta)-bisabolene, 9.8% [4,4,13,13-2H4]-(E)-beta-farnesene, and 4.2% unknowns. Competitive studies show that (3R)-nerolidyl diphosphate is the active enantiomer of (3RS)-nerolidyl diphosphate that cyclized to CDN. The kcat/Km values demonstrate that the synthase uses (E,E)-FDP as effectively as (3R)-nerolidyl diphosphate in the formation of CDN. Cyclization studies with (3R)-nerolidyl diphosphate show that the formation of CDN, (E)-beta-farnesene, and beta-bisabolene are enzyme dependent, but the formation of alpha-bisabolol in the reaction mixtures was a Mg2+-dependent solvolysis of nerolidyl diphosphate. Enzyme mechanisms are proposed for the formation of CDN from (E,E)-FDP and for the formation of CDN, (E)-beta-farnesene, and beta-bisabolene from (3RS)-nerolidyl diphosphate. The primary structures of cotton CDN synthase and tobacco epi-aristolochene synthase show 48% identity, suggesting similar three-dimensional structures. We used the SWISS-MODEL to test this. The two enzymes have the same overall structure consisting of two alpha-helical domains and epi-aristolochene synthase is a good model for the structure of CDN synthase. Several amino acids in the primary structures of both synthases superimpose. The amino acids having catalytic roles in epi-aristochene synthase are substituted in the CDN synthase and may be related to differences in catalytic properties.