Correlation Between Cortical Thickness Abnormalities of the Olfactory Sulcus and Olfactory Identification Disorder and Persistent Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Chinese Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (pAVHs) and olfactory identification impairment are common in schizophrenia (SCZ), but the neuroimaging mechanisms underlying both pAVHs and olfactory identification impairment are unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether pAVHs and olfactory identification impairment in SCZ patients are associated with changes in cortical thickness. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, cortical thickness was investigated in 78 SCZ patients with pAVHs (pAVH group), 58 SCZ patients without AVHs (non-AVH group), and 83 healthy controls (HC group) using 3T magnetic resonance imaging. The severity of pAVHs was assessed by the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale. Olfactory identification deficits were assessed using the Odor Stick Identification Test for Japanese (OSIT-J). In addition, the relationship between the severity of pAVHs and olfactory identification disorder and cortical thickness abnormalities was determined. STUDY RESULTS: Significant reductions in cortical thickness were observed in the right medial orbital sulcus (olfactory sulcus) and right orbital sulcus (H-shaped sulcus) in the pAVH group compared to both the non-AVH and HC groups (P < .003, Bonferroni correction). Furthermore, the severity of pAVHs was found to be negatively correlated with the reduction in cortical thickness in the olfactory sulcus and H-shaped sulcus. Additionally, a decrease in cortical thickness in the olfactory sulcus showed a positive correlation with the OSIT-J scores (P < .05, false discovery rate correction). CONCLUSIONS: Cortical thickness abnormalities in the olfactory sulcus may be a common neuroimaging mechanism for pAVHs and olfactory identification deficits in SCZ patients.

Multiple serum anti-glutamate receptor antibody levels in clozapine-treated/naïve patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Glutamatergic function abnormalities have been implicated in the etiology of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), and the efficacy of clozapine may be attributed to its impact on the glutamate system. Recently, evidence has emerged suggesting the involvement of immune processes and increased prevalence of antineuronal antibodies in TRS. This current study aimed to investigate the levels of multiple anti-glutamate receptor antibodies in TRS and explore the effects of clozapine on these antibody levels. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure and compare the levels of anti-glutamate receptor antibodies (NMDAR, AMPAR, mGlur3, mGluR5) in clozapine-treated TRS patients (TRS-C, n = 37), clozapine-naïve TRS patients (TRS-NC, n = 39), and non-TRS patients (nTRS, n = 35). Clinical symptom severity was assessed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), while cognitive function was evaluated using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). RESULT: The levels of all four glutamate receptor antibodies in TRS-NC were significantly higher than those in nTRS (p < 0.001) and in TRS-C (p < 0.001), and the antibody levels in TRS-C were comparable to those in nTRS. However, no significant associations were observed between antibody levels and symptom severity or cognitive function across all three groups after FDR correction. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that TRS may related to increased anti-glutamate receptor antibody levels and provide further evidence that glutamatergic dysfunction and immune processes may contribute to the pathogenesis of TRS. The impact of clozapine on anti-glutamate receptor antibody levels may be a pharmacological mechanism underlying its therapeutic effects.

Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface Controlled Soft Robotic Glove for Stroke Rehabilitation.

Soft robotic glove controlled by a brain-computer interface (BCI) have demonstrated effectiveness in hand rehabilitation for stroke patients. Current systems mostly rely on static visual representations for patients to perform motor imagination (MI) tasks, resulting in lower BCI performance. Therefore, this study innovatively used MI and high-frequency steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) to construct a friendly and natural hybrid BCI paradigm. Specifically, the stimulation interface sequentially presented decomposed action pictures of the left and right hands gripping a ball, with the pictures flashing at specific stimulation frequencies (left: 34 Hz, right: 35 Hz). Integrating soft robotic glove as feedback, we established a comprehensive "peripheral - central - peripheral" hand rehabilitation system to facilitate the hand rehabilitation of patients. Filter bank common spatial pattern (FBCSP) and filter bank canonical correlation analysis (FBCCA) algorithms were used to identify MI and SSVEP signals, respectively. Additionally, to fuse the features of these two signals, we proposed a novel fusion algorithm for improving the recognition accuracy of the system. The feasibility of the proposed system was validated through online experiments involving 12 healthy subjects and 9 stroke patients, achieving accuracy rates of 95.83 ± 6.83% and 63.33 ± 10.38%, respectively. The accuracy of MI and SSVEP in 12 healthy subjects reached 81.67 ± 15.63% and 95.14 ± 7.47%, both lower than the accuracy after fusion, these results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The accuracy rate was more than 50% in both healthy subjects and patients, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Hemodynamics and arrhythmia disorder caused by lithium poisoning: A case report. / 锂中毒导致心律失常、血流动力学障碍1例.

Bipolar affective disorder refers to a category of mood disorders characterized clinically by the presence of both manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. Lithium stands out as the primary pharmacological intervention for managing bipolar affective disorder. However, its therapeutic dosage closely approaches toxic levels. Toxic symptoms appear when the blood lithium concentration surpasses 1.4 mmol/L, typically giving rise to gastrointestinal and central nervous system reactions. Cardiac toxicity is rare but serious in cases of lithium poisoning. The study reports a case of a patient with bipolar affective disorder who reached a blood lithium concentration of 6.08 mmol/L after the patient took lithium carbonate sustained-release tablets beyond the prescribed dosage daily and concurrently using other mood stabilizers. This resulted in symptoms such as arrhythmia, shock, impaired consciousness, and coarse tremors. Following symptomatic supportive treatment, including blood dialysis, the patient's physical symptoms gradually improved. It is necessary for clinicians to strengthen the prevention and recognition of lithium poisoning.

Improving SSVEP-BCI Performance Through Repetitive Anodal tDCS-Based Neuromodulation: Insights From Fractal EEG and Brain Functional Connectivity.

This study embarks on a comprehensive investigation of the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-based neuromodulation in augmenting steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), alongside exploring pertinent electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers for assessing brain states and evaluating tDCS efficacy. EEG data were garnered across three distinct task modes (eyes open, eyes closed, and SSVEP stimulation) and two neuromodulation patterns (sham-tDCS and anodal-tDCS). Brain arousal and brain functional connectivity were measured by extracting features of fractal EEG and information flow gain, respectively. Anodal-tDCS led to diminished offsets and enhanced information flow gains, indicating improvements in both brain arousal and brain information transmission capacity. Additionally, anodal-tDCS markedly enhanced SSVEP-BCIs performance as evidenced by increased amplitudes and accuracies, whereas sham-tDCS exhibited lesser efficacy. This study proffers invaluable insights into the application of neuromodulation methods for bolstering BCI performance, and concurrently authenticates two potent electrophysiological markers for multifaceted characterization of brain states.

The Enhanced Thermoelectric and Mechanical Performance of Polythiophene/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites with Polar Ethylene Glycol Branched-Chain Modifications.

In order to develop flexible thermoelectric materials with thermoelectric and mechanical properties, in this study, we designed and synthesized polythiophene derivatives with branched ethylene glycol polar side-chains named P3MBTEMT, which were used in combination with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to prepare composite thin films and flexible thermoelectric devices. A comparison was made with a polymer named P3(TEG)T, which has a polar alkoxy linear chain. The UV-vis results indicated that the larger steric hindrances of the branched ethylene glycol side-chain in P3MBTEMT could inhibit its self-aggregation and had a stronger interaction with the SWCNTs compared to that of P3(TEG)T, which was also confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. When the mass ratio of SWCNTs to P3MBTEMT was 9:1 (represented as P3MBTEMT/SWCNTs-0.9), the composite film exhibited the highest thermoelectric properties with a power factor of 446.98 µW m-1 K-2, which was more than two times higher than that of P3(TEG)T/SWCNTs-0.9 (215.08 µW m-1 K-2). The output power of the thermoelectric device with P3MBTEMT/SWCNTs-0.9 was 2483.92 nW at 50 K, which was 1.66 times higher than that of P3(TEG)T/SWCNTs-0.9 (1492.65 nW). Furthermore, the P3MBTEMT/SWCNTs-0.5 showed superior mechanical properties compared to P3(TEG)T/SWCNTs-0.5. These results indicated that the mechanical and thermoelectric performances of polymer/SWCNT composites could be significantly improved by adding polar branched side-chains to conjugated polymers. This study provided a new strategy for creating high-performing novel flexible thermoelectric materials.

Biodegradable ferroelectric molecular crystal with large piezoelectric response.

Transient implantable piezoelectric materials are desirable for biosensing, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and antimicrobial and tumor therapy. For use in the human body, they must show flexibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These requirements are challenging for conventional inorganic piezoelectric oxides and piezoelectric polymers. We discovered high piezoelectricity in a molecular crystal HOCH2(CF2)3CH2OH [2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoropentane-1,5-diol (HFPD)] with a large piezoelectric coefficient d33 of ~138 picocoulombs per newton and piezoelectric voltage constant g33 of ~2450 × 10-3 volt-meters per newton under no poling conditions, which also exhibits good biocompatibility toward biological cells and desirable biodegradation and biosafety in physiological environments. HFPD can be composite with polyvinyl alcohol to form flexible piezoelectric films with a d33 of 34.3 picocoulombs per newton. Our material demonstrates the ability for molecular crystals to have attractive piezoelectric properties and should be of interest for applications in transient implantable electromechanical devices.

Tracking the Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation on Dynamic Brain States.

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) has been shown to modulate cortical oscillations and induce cortical inhibitory effects. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have shown some immediate effects of cTBS on brain activity. To investigate both immediate effects and short-term effects of cTBS on dynamic brain changes, cTBS was applied to 22 healthy participants over their left motor cortex. We recorded eyes-open, resting-state EEG and performance in the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT) before cTBS, immediately after cTBS, and 80 minutes after cTBS. We identified nine states using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based approach to describe the process of dynamic brain changes. The spatial activation, temporal profiles of HMM states and behavioral performance of NHPT were assessed and compared. cTBS altered the temporal profiles of S1-S5 immediately after cTBS and the temporal profiles of S5, S6 and S7 80 min after cTBS. Moreover, cTBS improved motor function of the left hand. State 1 was characterized as the activation of right occipito-temporal area, and NHPT behavioral performance of the left hand positively correlated with the occurrence of state 1, and negatively correlated with the interval time of state 1 after cTBS. The transitions between S1 or S7 and other states showed dynamic reconfiguration during after-effect sustained time after cTBS. These results suggest that the dynamic characteristics of state 1 are potential biomarkers for characterizing the aftereffect changes of cTBS.

Visual tracking brain-computer interface.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer a way to interact with computers without relying on physical movements. Non-invasive electroencephalography-based visual BCIs, known for efficient speed and calibration ease, face limitations in continuous tasks due to discrete stimulus design and decoding methods. To achieve continuous control, we implemented a novel spatial encoding stimulus paradigm and devised a corresponding projection method to enable continuous modulation of decoded velocity. Subsequently, we conducted experiments involving 17 participants and achieved Fitt's information transfer rate (ITR) of 0.55 bps for the fixed tracking task and 0.37 bps for the random tracking task. The proposed BCI with a high Fitt's ITR was then integrated into two applications, including painting and gaming. In conclusion, this study proposed a visual BCI based-control method to go beyond discrete commands, allowing natural continuous control based on neural activity.

Gender differences in alcohol drinking among adolescents: a school-based survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol drinking among adolescents is associated with their health development. However, the prevalence of alcohol drinking among adolescents in Southwestern China remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking, with a particular focus on gender differences, among primary and middle school students in Zigong, a city in Southwestern China. Additionally, we examined the association between alcohol consumption and demographic and family factors. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a city in Southwestern China, encompassing a total of 89 360 students from 132 different ordinary schools, including both primary and middle schools. Participants were recruited through cluster sampling. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption was employed to assess alcohol consumption. Gender differences in the prevalence of alcohol drinkers across various schools and grades were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with hazardous drinking. RESULTS: Out of the 89 360 participants, 19.0% reported alcohol drinking, with 2.1% classified as hazardous drinkers. There was a higher prevalence of alcohol drinking among boys compared with girls, as well as hazardous drinking. There were significant gender disparities in alcohol drinking observed across various schools and grade levels. A notable divergence between boys and girls was observed starting from grade 10, with a rising prevalence of hazardous drinking among boys and a decline among girls. Additionally, older age, male gender and being left-behind children were identified as risk factors for hazardous drinking, while belonging to a nuclear family and having parents who do not drink were protective factors against hazardous drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption is prevalent among Chinese adolescents, with some even classified as hazardous drinkers. These findings may offer valuable insights for policymakers and caregivers, guiding them in formulating appropriate interventions and support strategies.

Estimating and approaching the maximum information rate of noninvasive visual brain-computer interface.

An essential priority of visual brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is to enhance the information transfer rate (ITR) to achieve high-speed communication. Despite notable progress, noninvasive visual BCIs have encountered a plateau in ITRs, leaving it uncertain whether higher ITRs are achievable. In this study, we used information theory to study the characteristics and capacity of the visual-evoked channel, which leads us to investigate whether and how we can decode higher information rates in a visual BCI system. Using information theory, we estimate the upper and lower bounds of the information rate with the white noise (WN) stimulus. Consequently, we found out that the information rate is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the frequency domain, which reflects the spectrum resources of the channel. Based on this discovery, we propose a broadband WN BCI by implementing stimuli on a broader frequency band than the steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs)-based BCI. Through validation, the broadband BCI outperforms the SSVEP BCI by an impressive 7 bps, setting a record of 50 bps. The integration of information theory and the decoding analysis presented in this study offers valuable insights applicable to general sensory-evoked BCIs, providing a potential direction of next-generation human-machine interaction systems.

Using brain structural neuroimaging measures to predict psychosis onset for individuals at clinical high-risk.

Machine learning approaches using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) can be informative for disease classification, although their ability to predict psychosis is largely unknown. We created a model with individuals at CHR who developed psychosis later (CHR-PS+) from healthy controls (HCs) that can differentiate each other. We also evaluated whether we could distinguish CHR-PS+ individuals from those who did not develop psychosis later (CHR-PS-) and those with uncertain follow-up status (CHR-UNK). T1-weighted structural brain MRI scans from 1165 individuals at CHR (CHR-PS+, n = 144; CHR-PS-, n = 793; and CHR-UNK, n = 228), and 1029 HCs, were obtained from 21 sites. We used ComBat to harmonize measures of subcortical volume, cortical thickness and surface area data and corrected for non-linear effects of age and sex using a general additive model. CHR-PS+ (n = 120) and HC (n = 799) data from 20 sites served as a training dataset, which we used to build a classifier. The remaining samples were used external validation datasets to evaluate classifier performance (test, independent confirmatory, and independent group [CHR-PS- and CHR-UNK] datasets). The accuracy of the classifier on the training and independent confirmatory datasets was 85% and 73% respectively. Regional cortical surface area measures-including those from the right superior frontal, right superior temporal, and bilateral insular cortices strongly contributed to classifying CHR-PS+ from HC. CHR-PS- and CHR-UNK individuals were more likely to be classified as HC compared to CHR-PS+ (classification rate to HC: CHR-PS+, 30%; CHR-PS-, 73%; CHR-UNK, 80%). We used multisite sMRI to train a classifier to predict psychosis onset in CHR individuals, and it showed promise predicting CHR-PS+ in an independent sample. The results suggest that when considering adolescent brain development, baseline MRI scans for CHR individuals may be helpful to identify their prognosis. Future prospective studies are required about whether the classifier could be actually helpful in the clinical settings.

Fresh and saline groundwater nutrient inputs and their impacts on the nutrient budgets in a human-effected bay.

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) can be highly enriched in nutrients, especially in bays with strong human activity, but has often been overlooked in coastal nutrient budgets. This study investigated the impact of both fresh and saline SGD on nutrient budgets in Sanmen Bay, China, a region heavily influenced by human activities. Based on the 224Ra mass balance model, the total SGD flux was estimated to be (1.1 ± 0.1) × 108 m3 d-1 (13.9 ± 0.5 cm d-1). Additionally, a water-salt mass balance model revealed that fresh SGD flux accounted for ~9.0 % of the total SGD flux. The results highlight the significance of fresh SGD as a freshwater source, contributing to 35.9 % of the total dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) flux via SGD. Considering all nutrient sources and sinks in the Sanmen Bay, SGD was identified as the primary source of nutrients in Sanmen Bay, contributing 53.9 % and 11.9 % of the total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and DIP input, respectively. Furthermore, the discharge of industrial/domestic sewage and mariculture wastewater also posed a potential threat to nutrient levels in the bay. Thus, initiatives such as reasonable control of culture species and scale, strengthening wastewater discharge and SGD management are crucial for maintaining the ecological environment of the Sanmen Bay.

Observation of Ferroelectric Lithography on Biodegradable PLA Films.

Ferroelectric lithography, which can purposefully control and pattern ferroelectric domains in the micro-/nanometer scale, has extensive applications in data memories, field-effect transistors, race-track memory, tunneling barriers, and integrated biochemical sensors. In pursuit of mechanical flexibility and light weight, organic ferroelectric polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) are developed; however, they still suffer from complicated stretching processes of film fabrication and poor degradability. These poor features severely hinder their applications. Here, the ferroelectric lithography on the biocompatible and biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) thin films at room temperature is demonstrated. The semicrystalline PLA thin film can be easily fabricated through the melt-casting method, and the desired domain structures can be precisely written according to the predefined patterns. Most importantly, the coercive voltage (Vc ) of PLA thin film is relatively low (lower than 30 V) and can be further reduced with the decrease of the film thickness. These intriguing behaviors combined with satisfying biodegradability make PLA thin film a desirable candidate for ferroelectric lithography and enable its future application in the field of bioelectronics and biomedicine. This work sheds light on further exploration of ferroelectric lithography on other polymer ferroelectrics as well as their application as nanostructured devices.

Nitrogen and phosphorus eutrophication enhance biofilm-related drug resistance in Enterococcus faecalis isolated from Water Sources.

Antibiotic resistance is a critical topic worldwide with important consequences for public health. So considering the rising issue of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria, we explored the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus eutrophication on drug resistance mechanisms in Enterococcus faecalis, especially ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and ampicillin. For this purpose we examined the antibiotic-resistance genes and biofilm formation of Enterococcus faecalis under different concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus along with mentioned antibiotics. Mesocosms were designed to evaluate the impact of influence of eutrophication on the underlying mechanism of drugn resistence in Enterococcus faecalis. For this purpose, we explored the potential relation to biofilm formation, adhesion ability, and the expression levels of the regulatory gene fsrA and the downstream gene gelEI. Our results demonstrated that the isolates of all treatments displayed high biofilm forming potential, and fsrA and gelE genes expression. Additionally, the experimental group demonstrated substantially elevated Enterococcus faecalis gelE expression. Crystal violet staining was applied to observe biofilm formation during bacterial development phase and found higher biofilm formation. In conclusion, our data suggest that E. faecalis resistance to ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and ampicillin is related to biofilm development. Also, the high level of resistance in Enterococcus faecalis is linked to the expression of the fsrA and gelE genes. Understanding these pathways is vital in tackling the rising problem of bacterial resistance and its potential effect on human health.

Carbonate chemistry and carbon sequestration driven by inorganic carbon outwelling from mangroves and saltmarshes.

Mangroves and saltmarshes are biogeochemical hotspots storing carbon in sediments and in the ocean following lateral carbon export (outwelling). Coastal seawater pH is modified by both uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide and natural biogeochemical processes, e.g., wetland inputs. Here, we investigate how mangroves and saltmarshes influence coastal carbonate chemistry and quantify the contribution of alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) outwelling to blue carbon budgets. Observations from 45 mangroves and 16 saltmarshes worldwide revealed that >70% of intertidal wetlands export more DIC than alkalinity, potentially decreasing the pH of coastal waters. Porewater-derived DIC outwelling (81 ± 47 mmol m-2 d-1 in mangroves and 57 ± 104 mmol m-2 d-1 in saltmarshes) was the major term in blue carbon budgets. However, substantial amounts of fixed carbon remain unaccounted for. Concurrently, alkalinity outwelling was similar or higher than sediment carbon burial and is therefore a significant but often overlooked carbon sequestration mechanism.

Acidic Environment Induces Pyroptosis of NLRP3 Inflammatory Vesicle-Mediated Nucleus Pulposus Cells Through Up-Regulation of POSTN Expression

SUMMARY: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is induced by nucleus pulposus (NP) dysfunction as a result of massive loss of NP cells. It has been reported that the acidic microenvironment of the intervertebral disc (IVD) can induce NP cell pyroptosis, and that up-regulation of periostin (POSTN) expression has a negative effect on NP cell survival. However, the relationship between the acidic environment, POSTN expression level and NP cell pyroptosis is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between acidic environment and POSTN expression level in NP cells, as well as the effect of POSTN in acidic environment on NP cell pyroptosis. NP cells were obtained from the lumbar vertebrae of Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats. These cells were divided into normal and acidic groups according to whether they were exposed to 6 mM lactic acid solution. And NP cells in the acidic group were additionally divided into three groups: (1) Blank group: no transfection; (2) NC group: cells transfected with empty vector plasmid; (3) sh-POSTN group: cells transfected with sh-POSTN plasmid to knock down the expression level of POSTN. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot was performed to assess the expression of POSTN at the mRNAand protein levels. CCK8 was used to evaluate cell survival. Western blot, in addition, was performed to examine acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC)-related proteins. And pyroptosis was detected by ELISA and western blot. The expression level of POSTN was significantly increased in NP cells in acidic environment. Knockdown of POSTN expression promoted the survival of NP cells in acidic environment and reduced the protein levels of ASIC3 and ASIC1a in NP cells. Moreover, knockdown of POSTN expression decreased the pyroptosis proportion of NP cells and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. The levels of pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, ASC, cleaved-Caspase-1, and cleaved-GSDMD were also affected by the decreased POSTN expression. The extracellular acidic environment created by lactic acid solution activated NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle-induced caspase-1 to get involved in NP cell pyroptosis by up-regulating POSTN expression.

La degeneración del disco intervertebral (DDIV) es inducida por una disfunción del núcleo pulposo (NP) como resultado de una pérdida masiva de células NP. Se ha informado que el microambiente ácido del disco intervertebral (DIV) puede inducir la piroptosis de las células NP y que la regulación positiva de la expresión de periostina (POSTN) tiene un efecto negativo en la supervivencia de las células NP. Sin embargo, la relación entre el ambiente ácido, el nivel de expresión de POSTN y la piroptosis de las células NP es poco clara. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la relación entre el ambiente ácido y el nivel de expresión de POSTN en células NP, así como el efecto de POSTN en ambiente ácido sobre la piroptosis de las células NP. Las células NP se obtuvieron de las vertebras lumbares de ratas macho Sprague Dawley (SD). Estas células se dividieron en grupos normales y ácidos según se expusieron a una solución de ácido láctico 6 mM. Las células NP en el grupo ácido se dividieron adicionalmente en tres grupos: (1) Grupo en blanco: sin transfección; (2) grupo NC: células transfectadas con plásmido vector vacío; (3) grupo sh-POSTN: células transfectadas con plásmido sh-POSTN para reducir el nivel de expresión de POSTN. Se realizó una PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real (qRT-PCR) y una transferencia Western para evaluar la expresión de POSTN en los niveles de ARNm y proteína. Se utilizó CCK8 para evaluar la supervivencia celular. Además, se realizó una transferencia Western para examinar las proteínas relacionadas con los canales iónicos sensibles al ácido (ASIC). La piroptosis se detectó mediante ELISA y Western blot. El nivel de expresión de POSTN aumentó significativamente en células NP en ambiente ácido. La eliminación de la expresión de POSTN promovió la supervivencia de las células NP en un ambiente ácido y redujo los niveles de proteína de ASIC3 y ASIC1a en las células NP. Además, la eliminación de la expresión de POSTN disminuyó la proporción de piroptosis de las células NP y los niveles de citocinas proinflamatorias interleucina (IL) - 1β e IL-18. Los niveles de proteínas relacionadas con la piroptosis NLRP3, ASC, Caspasa-1 escindida y GSDMD escindida también se vieron afectados por la disminución de la expresión de POSTN. El ambiente ácido extracelular creado por la solución de ácido láctico activó la caspasa-1 inducida por vesículas inflamatorias NLRP3 para involucrarse en la piroptosis de las células NP mediante la regulación positiva de la expresión de POSTN.

A Homochiral Fulgide Organic Ferroelectric Crystal with Photoinduced Molecular Orbital Breaking.

Thermally triggered spatial symmetry breaking in traditional ferroelectrics has been extensively studied for manipulation of the ferroelectricity. However, photoinduced molecular orbital breaking, which is promising for optical control of ferroelectric polarization, has been rarely explored. Herein, for the first time, we synthesized a homochiral fulgide organic ferroelectric crystal (E)-(R)-3-methyl-3-cyclohexylidene-4-(diphenylmethylene)dihydro-2,5-furandione (1), which exhibits both ferroelectricity and photoisomerization. Significantly, 1 shows a photoinduced reversible change in its molecular orbitals from the 3 π molecular orbitals in the open-ring isomer to 2 π and 1 σ molecular orbitals in the closed-ring isomer, which enables reversible ferroelectric domain switching by optical manipulation. To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing the manipulation of ferroelectric polarization in homochiral ferroelectric crystal by photoinduced breaking of molecular orbitals. This finding sheds light on the exploration of molecular orbital breaking in ferroelectrics for optical manipulation of ferroelectricity.

Using 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing technology to analyze the fecal microbiome of children with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

To investigate the gut microbiota distribution and its functions in children with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). A total of 135 children were enrolled in the study, including 102 children with ARFID and 33 healthy children. Fecal samples were analyzed to explore differences in gut microbiota composition and diversity and functional differences between the ARFID and healthy control (HC) groups via 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing. The gut microbiota composition and diversity in children with ARFID were different from those in heathy children, but there is no difference in the composition and diversity of gut microbiota between children at the age of 3-6 and 7-12 with ARFID. At the phylum level, the most abundant microbes in the two groups identified by 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing were the same. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides was higher in the ARFID group (P > 0.05); however, different from the result of 16SrDNA sequencing, metagenomic sequencing showed that the abundance of Bacteroides in the ARFID group was significantly higher than that in the HC group (P = 0.041). At the species level, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lachnospira eligens were the most abundant taxa in the ARFID group, and Prevotella copri, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, and Ruminococcus gnavus were the top three microbial taxa in the HC group; there were no statistically significant differences between the abundance of these microbial taxa in the two groups. LefSe analysis indicated a greater abundance of the order Enterobacterales and its corresponding family Enterobacteriaceae, the family Bacteroidaceae and corresponding genus Bacteroides, the species Bacteroides vulgatus in ARFID group, while the abundance of the phylum Actinobacteriota and its corresponding class Actinobacteria , the order Bifidobacteriales and corresponding family Bifidobacteriaceae, the genus Bifidobacterium were enriched in the HC group. There were no statistically significant differences in the Chao1, Shannon and Simpson indices between the Y1 and Y2 groups (P = 0.1, P = 0.06, P = 0.06). At the phylum level, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota were the most abundant taxa in both groups, but there were no statistically significant differences among the abundance of these bacteria (P = 0.958, P = 0.456, P = 0.473, P = 0.065). At the genus level, Faecalibacterium was more abundant in the Y2 group than in the Y1 group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.037). The KEGG annotation results showed no significant difference in gut microbiota function between children with ARFID and healthy children; however, GT26 was significantly enriched in children with ARFID based on the CAZy database. The most abundant antibiotic resistance genes in the ARFID group were the vanT, tetQ, adeF, ermF genes, and the abundance of macrolide resistance genes in the ARFID group was significantly higher than that in the HC group (P = 0.041). Compared with healthy children, children with ARFID have a different distribution of the gut microbiota and functional genes. This indicates that the gut microbiome might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARFID.Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2300074759.

Anthropogenic As pollution mediated by submarine groundwater discharge in a marine ranch.

Arsenic (As) pollution, is a global problem, threatening human health and ecological security, especially in the bay environment with dense population and human activities. Among potential pathways of As into the bay, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has not received adequate attention due to its invisibility. We determined As and 222Rn activity concentrations in different water mass. Spatial variation of dissolved As concentration in the groundwater was large and attributed to the adjacent local industries. By combining 222Rn mass balance modeling with As concentrations measured, the SGD-derived As fluxes was conservatively estimated to be 1310 kg As d-1 and 5880 kg As d-1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The migration of arsenic may be enhanced by rainfall and dissolved carbon. The amount of SGD derived As input to the bay was greater than the total combined As input from river discharge, atmosphere, sewage drainage, and diffusion from sediment.