Mental toughness in adolescents: bridging family relationships and depression across personality traits.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a pivotal stage vulnerable to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. While family relationships, mental toughness, and personality traits are known to impact adolescent mental health, their interactive and moderating roles are not fully understood. AIM: This study aims to investigate the mediating role of mental toughness in the relationship between family relationships and depression among high school students, and to examine the varying impacts of personality traits on this mediation. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 734 adolescents. Participants completed measures assessing family relationships, mental toughness, personality traits, and mental health outcomes (depression). Latent Profile Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling, to investigate these relationships. RESULTS: The study found that mental toughness significantly mediates the relationship between family relationships and depression. Notably, this mediating effect varied between personality type; it was more pronounced in the moderate-reserved type compared to the proactive-engaged type. LPA identified two distinct personality types of students based on their personality traits, with differential patterns of family relationships, mental toughness, and depression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that character and adaptability, components of mental toughness, were significant negative predictors of depression. CONCLUSION: The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of adolescent mental health, particularly in the context of Chinese high school students. It underscores the importance of considering family dynamics, personality traits, and mental toughness in developing effective mental health interventions for adolescents.

Development of Pd/In2O3 hybrid nanoclusters to optimize ethanol vapor sensing.

In this study, we successfully synthesize palladium-decorated indium trioxide (Pd/In2O3) hybrid nanoclusters (NCs) using an advanced dual-target cluster beam deposition (CBD) method, a significant stride in developing high-performance ethanol sensors. The prepared Pd/In2O3 hybrid NCs exhibit exceptional sensitivity, stability, and selectivity to low concentrations of ethanol vapor, with a maximum response value of 101.2 at an optimal operating temperature of 260 °C for 6 at% Pd loading. The dynamic response of the Pd/In2O3-based sensor shows an increase in response with increasing ethanol vapor concentrations within the range of 50 to 1000 ppm. The limit of detection is as low as 24 ppb. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 28.24 ppm-1/2, with response and recovery times of 2.7 and 4.4 seconds, respectively, for 100 ppm ethanol vapor. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent repeatability and stability, with only a minor decrease in response observed over 30 days and notable selectivity for ethanol compared to other common volatile organic compounds. The study highlights the potential of Pd/In2O3 NCs as promising materials for ethanol gas sensors, leveraging the unique capabilities of CBD for controlled synthesis and the catalytic properties of Pd for enhanced gas-sensing performance.

Surface functionalization of exosomes for chondrocyte-targeted siRNA delivery and cartilage regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative cartilage disease, but no effective treatment is currently available to ameliorate the dysregulation of cartilage catabolism. Cartilage degeneration is closely related to the change in the physiology of chondrocytes: for example, chondrocytes of the OA patients overexpress matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP13), a.k.a. collagenase 3, which damages the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cartilage and deteriorate the disease progression. Inhibiting MMP13 has shown to be beneficial for OA treatments, but delivering therapeutics to the chondrocytes embedded in the dense cartilage is a challenge. Here, we engineered the exosome surface with the cartilage affinity peptide (CAP) through lipid insertion to give chondrocyte-targeting exosomes, CAP-Exo, which was then loaded with siRNA against MMP13 (siMMP13) in the interior to give CAP-Exo/siMMP13. Intra-articular administration of CAP-Exo/siMMP13 reduced the MMP13 level and increased collagen COL2A1 and proteoglycan in cartilage in a rat model of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA. Proteomic analysis showed that CAP-Exo/siMMP13 treatment restored the altered protein levels in the IL-1ß-treated chondrocytes. Taken together, a facile exosome engineering method enabled targeted delivery of siRNA to chondrocytes and chondrocyte-specific silencing of MMP13 to attenuate cartilage degeneration.

PHD finger protein 10 promotes cell proliferation by regulating CD44 transcription in gastric cancer.

PHD finger protein 10 (PHF10) plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer (GC). However, clinical significance and underlying molecular mechanisms about PHF10 is unclear. In the article, it suggested that PHF10 involved in tumor progression and metastasis based on the analysis of datasets and 190 cases of tumor tissues in GC. And PHF10 provided the diagnostic value with areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.71 ± 0.069. Then we established GC cell lines MKN28 with PHF10 overexpression and SGC7901 with PHF10 knockdown. CCK8 assay and tumor xenograft experiment showed that upregulation of PHF10 could promote MKN28 cell proliferation, while PHF10 knockdown would inhibit the proliferation of SGC7901 in vitro and vivo. Nevertheless, PHF10 could upregulate CD44 mRNA expression by acting on its promoter at the level of transcription. This effect could be associated with BRG, BAF155 and SNF5, which were conserved subunits of switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex. In conclusion, PHF10 targeting CD44 plays an essential part during the modulation of proliferation of GC cell and may offer a new therapeutic direction for GC.

Cognitive control in honesty and dishonesty under different conflict scenarios: insights from reaction time.

This study investigated the role of cognitive control in moral decision-making, focusing on conflicts between financial temptations and the integrity of honesty. We employed a perceptual task by asking participants to identify which side of the diagonal contained more red dots within a square to provoke both honest and dishonest behaviors, tracking their reaction times (RTs). Participants encountered situations with no conflict, ambiguous conflict, and clear conflict. Their behaviors in the clear conflict condition categorized them as either "honest" or "dishonest." Our findings suggested that, in ambiguous conflict situations, honest individuals had significantly longer RTs and fewer self-interest responses than their dishonest counterparts, suggesting a greater need for cognitive control to resolve conflicts and a lesser tendency toward self-interest. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between participants' number of self-interest responses and RTs in ambiguous conflict situations (r = -0.27 in study 1 and r = -0.66 in study 2), and a positive correlation with cheating numbers in clear conflict situations (r = 0.36 in study 1 and r = 0.82 in study 2). This suggests less cognitive control was required for self-interest and cheating responses, bolstering the "Will" hypothesis. We also found that a person's self-interest tendency could predict their dishonest behavior. These insights extend our understanding of the role of cognitive control plays in honesty and dishonesty, with potential applications in education, policy-making, and business ethics.

TLR3 Agonist Amplifies the Anti-Inflammatory Potency of ADSCs via IL-10-Mediated Macrophage Polarization in Acute Pancreatitis.

The immunoregulatory role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in inflammation is heterogeneous and can exhibit anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory properties depending on the microenvironment. We herein observed that the activation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) by polyinosinic : polycytidylic acid (poly(I : C)) stimulation facilitated the transformation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. The enhanced anti-inflammatory properties were assessed in a taurocholate-induced pancreatitis model. The results demonstrated that poly(I : C) pretreated ADSCs exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory properties than untreated ADSCs in taurocholate-induced pancreatitis. Mechanistically, poly(I : C)-treated ADSCs showed increased production and secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10), which demonstrates a potent ability to alleviate inflammatory signaling cascades in acinar cells. Simultaneously, the heightened anti-inflammatory effects of poly(I : C)-treated ADSCs in pancreatitis were associated with the regulation of macrophage classical/alternative transformation, thereby mitigating inflammatory factor-mediated damage to the pancreatic acinar cell. We propose that TLR3 activation by poly(I : C) is an effective strategy to enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of MSCs, which offers a valuable consideration for improving the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs in inflammatory diseases.

Construction of Nanofibrillar Networked Wood Aerogels Derived from Typical Softwood and Hardwood: A Comparative Study on the In Situ Formation Mechanism of Nanofibrillar Networks.

The construction of networks within natural wood (NW) lumens to produce porous wood aerogels (WAs) with fascinating characteristics of being lightweight, flexible, and porous is significant for the high value-added utilization of wood. Nonetheless, how wood species affect the structure and properties of WAs has not been comprehensively investigated. Herein, typical softwood of fir and hardwoods of poplar and balsa are employed to fabricate WAs with abundant nanofibrillar networks using the method of lignin removal and nanofibril's in situ regeneration. Benefiting from the avoidance of xylem ray restriction and the exposure of the cellulose framework, hardwood has a stronger tendency to form nanofibrillar networks compared to softwood. Specifically, a larger and more evenly distributed network structure is displayed in the lumens of balsa WAs (WA-3) with a low density (59 kg m-3), a high porosity (96%), and high compressive properties (strain = 40%; maximum stress = 0.42 MPa; height retention = 100%) because of the unique structure and properties of WA-3. Comparatively, the specific surface area (SSA) exhibits 25-, 27-, and 34-fold increments in the cases of fir WAs (WA-1), poplar WAs (WA-2), and WA-3. The formation of nanofibrillar networks depends on the low-density and thin cell walls of hardwood. This work offers a foundation for investigating the formation mechanisms of nanonetworks and for expanding the potential applications of WAs.

Chondrocyte-Targeted Delivery System of Sortase A-Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Silencing MMP13 for Osteoarthritis Therapy.

Targeted drug delivery and the reduction of off-target effects are crucial for the promising clinical application of nucleic acid drugs. To address this challenge, a new approach for treating osteoarthritis (OA) that accurately delivers antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) targeting matrix metalloproteinase-13 (ASO-MMP13) to chondrocytes, is developed. Small extracellular vesicles (exos) are ligated with chondrocyte affinity peptide (CAP) using Sortase A and subsequently incubated with cholesterol-modified ASO-MMP13 to construct a chondrocyte-targeted drug delivery exo (CAP-exoASO). Compared with exos without CAP (ExoASO), CAP-exoASOs attenuate IL-1ß-induced chondrocyte damage and prolong the retention time of ASO-MMP13 in the joint without distribution in major organs following intra-articular injection. Notably, CAP-exoASOs decrease MMP13 expression (P < 0.001) and upregulate COL2A1 expression (P = 0.006), resulting in reorganization of the cartilage matrix and alleviation of progression in the OA model. Furthermore, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score of articular cartilage tissues treated with CAP-exoASO is comparable with that of healthy rats (P = 0.148). A mechanistic study demonstrates that CAP-exoASO may reduce inflammation by suppressing the IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. Based on the targeted delivery effect, CAP-exoASOs successfully accomplish cartilage repair and have considerable potential for development as a promising therapeutic modality for satisfactory OA therapy.

The influence of lifestyle habits on levels of depression among rural middle school students in Northeastern China.

Background: Depression rates among adolescents have risen dramatically over the past decade. Therefore, preventing depression among adolescents is particularly important. Differences in lifestyle habits may play a role in depression. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the influence of living habits on depression levels among rural middle school students in Northeast China and to provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions to reduce depression levels in middle school students. Methods: A total of 296 middle school students aged 13-15 years from Benxi City, Northeast China completed the anthropometric measurements, Physical Activity Scale-3 (PARS-3), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Their average screen time in the most recent week, parents' education level, and monthly family income were collected through a questionnaire. Results: Females had higher depression scores than males (41.0 ± 6.9 vs. 37.9 ± 8.0). Physical activity (ß = -0.38, t = -7.06, P < 0.01), family income (ß = -0.20, t = -4.07, P < 0.01), screen time (ß = 0.16, t = 3.34, P < 0.01), age (ß = 0.15, t = 3.16, P < 0.01), sex (ß = -0.13, t = -2.74, P < 0.01), and sleep quality (ß = -0.08, t = -1.87, P < 0.01) are important factors related to depression levels. Conclusion: The preliminary analysis results showed that among middle school students in rural Northeast China, the depression level of females was significantly higher than that of males. Poor quality sleep, low levels of physical activity, low household income, and long screen time were positively associated with depression. Therefore, strengthening physical activity, improving sleep quality, and reducing screen time are of clinical relevance in preventing and reducing depression.

Alexithymia and peer victimisation: interconnected pathways to adolescent non-suicidal self-injury.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents underscores the importance of understanding the complex factors that drive this behaviour. Framed within broader constructs of emotional regulation theories, alexithymia and peer victimisation are thought to interact to influence NSSI behaviours. AIM: This research addresses whether alexithymia and peer victimisation serve as risk factors for NSSI and, if so, how these factors interact with each other. METHOD: This quantitative study analysed data from 605 adolescents, using a range of validated self-report measures including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Statistical analyses including one-way analysis of variance, multiple regression and structural equation modelling were employed to scrutinise the relationships among the variables. RESULTS: Alexithymia and peer victimisation significantly predicted NSSI behaviours. Specifically, the 'difficulty in identifying feelings' subscale of alexithymia emerged as a noteworthy predictor of NSSI (P < 0.001). Peer victimisation mediated the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI, explaining approximately 24.50% of alexithymia's total effect on NSSI. In addition, age was a significant predictor of NSSI, but gender and education years were not (P > 0.05). These relationships were found to be invariant across genders. CONCLUSIONS: This study enriches our understanding of the interplay between alexithymia, peer victimisation and NSSI, particularly within the Chinese context. Its findings have significant implications for a rethinking of alexithymia's theoretical construct and interventions targeting emotional literacy and peer dynamics among adolescents. Future research could benefit from a longitudinal design to establish causality.

Comprehensive Analysis of the SUMO-related Signature: Implication for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Immune Therapeutic Approaches in Cervical Cancer.

SUMOylation, an important post-translational protein modification, plays a critical role in cancer development and immune processes. This study aimed to construct diagnostic and prognostic models for cervical cancer (CC) using SUMOylation-related genes (SRGs) and explore their implications for novel clinical therapies. We analyzed the expression profiles of SRGs in CC patients and identified 15 SRGs associated with CC occurrence. After the subsequent qPCR verification of 20 cases of cancer and adjacent tissues, 13 of the 15 SRGs were differentially expressed in cancer tissues. Additionally, we identified molecular markers associated with the prognosis and recurrence of CC patients, based on SRGs. Next, a SUMOScore, based on SRG expression patterns, was generated to stratify patients into different subgroups. The SUMOScore showed significant associations with the tumor microenvironment, immune function features, immune checkpoint expression, and immune evasion score in CC patients, highlighting the strong connection between SUMOylation factors and immune processes. In terms of immune therapy, our analysis identified specific chemotherapy drugs with higher sensitivity in the subgroups characterized by high and low SUMOScore, indicating potential treatment options. Furthermore, we conducted drug sensitivity analysis to evaluate the response of different patient subgroups to conventional chemotherapy drugs. Our findings revealed enrichment of immune-related pathways in the low-risk subgroup identified by the prognostic model. In conclusion, this study presents diagnostic and prognostic models based on SRGs, accompanied by a comprehensive index derived from SRGs expression patterns. These findings offer valuable insights for CC diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and immune-related analysis.

LncRNA RPARP-AS1 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma cells through regulating lipid metabolism.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly malignant tumor, and its dysregulated lipid metabolism is associated with tumorigenesis and unfavorable prognosis. Interestingly, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of lipid metabolism, exerting notable impacts on tumor proliferation. Nevertheless, the involvement of RPARP-AS1, a novel lipid metabolism-associated lncRNA, remains unexplored in the context of OS. This study aims to identify functionally relevant lncRNAs impacting OS proliferation and lipid metabolism and seeks to shed light on the upstream regulatory mechanisms governing lipogenic enzyme activity. Based on comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and the establishment of a risk model, we identified seven lncRNAs significantly associated with clinical characteristics and lipid metabolism-related genes in patients with OS. Among these, RPARP-AS1 was selected for in-depth investigation regarding its roles in OS proliferation and lipid metabolism. Experimental techniques including RT-qPCR, Western blot, cell viability assay, assessment, and quantification of free fatty acids (FFAs) and triglycerides (TGs) were utilized to elucidate the functional significance of RPARP-AS1 in OS cells and validate its effects on lipid metabolism. Manipulation of RPARP-AS1 expression via ectopic expression or siRNA-mediated knockdown led to alterations in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, thereby influencing OS cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mechanistically, RPARP-AS1 was found to augment the expression of key lipogenic enzymes (FABP4, MAGL, and SCD1) and potentially modulate the Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby contributing to lipid metabolism (involving alterations in FFA and TG levels) in OS cells. Collectively, our findings establish RPARP-AS1 as a novel oncogene in OS cells and suggest its role in fostering tumor growth through the enhancement of lipid metabolism.

The hidden curves of risk: a nonlinear model of cumulative risk and school bullying victimization among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: School bullying victimization (SBV) occurs more frequently in students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general education than in special classes, and there is a cumulative risk effect on SBV exposure among young people with ASD reported by their parents and teachers. However, SBV is a personal experience, the predictive patterns of cumulative risk on SBV reported by themselves and its psychological mechanism remain unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between cumulative risk and SBV based on self-report, and to test whether internalizing problems mediates this relationship among adolescents with ASD placed in regular classes. METHODS: This study used data from the Taiwan Special Needs Education Longitudinal Study (SNELS) in 2011. The analysis included 508 adolescents with ASD who were in regular classes across Taiwan. The primary variables under study were the quality of friendship interactions, teacher-student relationship, school connection, perceived stigma, the impact caused by the disabilities, internalizing problem, and whether the participants had experienced SBV over the past semester, while control variables were adaptability and social-emotional skills. Established risk factors were summed to form a cumulative risk score. RESULTS: The cumulative risk was positively associated with SBV. The relationship was characterized by the nonlinear pattern of the quadratic function (negative acceleration model) between cumulative risk and SBV. Internalizing problem played a partial mediating role in the effect of cumulative risk on SBV. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention measures to reduce SBV should include the strategies to reduce the number of risks to which adolescents with ASD in regular classes are exposed, comprehensive prevention targeting each risk factor is needed specially when the number of risks is one or two, and more attention needs to be given to their internalizing problem in various ways.

Strain-restricted transfer of ferromagnetic electrodes for constructing reproducibly superior-quality spintronic devices.

Spintronic device is the fundamental platform for spin-related academic and practical studies. However, conventional techniques with energetic deposition or boorish transfer of ferromagnetic metal inevitably introduce uncontrollable damage and undesired contamination in various spin-transport-channel materials, leading to partially attenuated and widely distributed spintronic device performances. These issues will eventually confuse the conclusions of academic studies and limit the practical applications of spintronics. Here we propose a polymer-assistant strain-restricted transfer technique that allows perfectly transferring the pre-patterned ferromagnetic electrodes onto channel materials without any damage and change on the properties of magnetism, interface, and channel. This technique is found productive for pursuing superior-quality spintronic devices with high controllability and reproducibility. It can also apply to various-kind (organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrid, or carbon-based) and diverse-morphology (smooth, rough, even discontinuous) channel materials. This technique can be very useful for reliable device construction and will facilitate the technological transition of spintronic study.

Inactivation mechanism of cold plasma combined with 222 nm ultraviolet for spike protein and its application in disinfecting of SARS-CoV-2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible virus that has precipitated a worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease since 2019. Developing an effective disinfection strategy is crucial to prevent the risk of surface cross-contamination by SARS-CoV-2. This study employed pseudovirus and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein of SARS-CoV-2 as models to investigate the spike protein inactivation process and its underlying mechanisms using a novel nonthermal technology. Cold plasma combined with 222 nm ultraviolet (CP+UV) treatment was applied to accelerate the generation of reactive species and enhance sterilization efficiency. The results indicated that the binding activity of RBD protein was completely inhibited at specific concentrations (0.01-0.05 mg/cm2) with corresponding treatment times of 15-30 s. The mechanism potentially involves the reactive species generated by CP+UV, which react with the spike protein RBD of SARS-CoV-2, leading to the loss of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by causing damage to the ß-sheet structure and chemical bonds in the RBD protein. Validated by a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory, the CP+UV treatment for 30 s could completely inactivate SARS-CoV-2 with a concentration of 19054 ± 1112 TCID50/cm2. Therefore, this study potentially provides a novel disinfection strategy for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on surface cross-contamination.

Unraveling the Complex Interactions of Psychological Factors Contributing to Cyber Reactive Aggression Among College Students: Network and Mediation Analyses.

Cyber reactive aggression (CRA) among college students is a prevalent and harmful phenomenon. Psychological characteristics, such as trait anger (TA), hostile attribution bias (HAB), and revenge motivation (RM), are known to contribute to reactive aggression. However, the interactions between these factors in the context of cyberspace and their contribution to CRA among college students have not been extensively studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the associations among psychological characteristics, demographic factors, and CRA among Chinese college students through Mixed Graphical Model (MGM) network and mediation effect analyses. A total of 926 participants completed questionnaires assessing TA, HAB, RM, and CRA. The study found both direct and indirect relationships between TA and CRA, with HAB and RM serving as mediating factors. Comparisons indicated that HAB had a more significant impact on the three indirect effects than RM. Furthermore, gender was found to be associated with TA and CRA, while the left-behind experience strongly influenced HAB but had no association with other variables. This study highlights the importance of considering psychological characteristics and demographic factors in understanding CRA among college students, suggesting that effective psychological interventions, such as anger management, and promoting positive attribution training, may help reduce CRA among college students and inform the development of targeted interventions to reduce cyber aggression.

Andrographolide anti-proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through LncRNA MIR22HG regulation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment is a major challenge. Although andrographolide (Andro) has an anti-proliferation effect on HCC, its underlying mechanism is not yet elucidated, and whether Andro can inhibit HCC metastasis has not been reported. The present study aimed to clarify whether Andro inhibits SK-Hep-1 cell proliferation and HCC metastasis, and the mechanisms. The results showed that Andro significantly reduced the survival of HCC cells and tumor weight and volume in tumor-bearing nude mice. Andro also triggered apoptosis of HCC cells and upregulated MIR22HG, Cleaved Caspase 9/7/3 expression levels, and downregulated BCL-2 mRNA, BCL-2 expression levels. Knockdown of MIR22HG or overexpression of HuR attenuated the effects of Andro on the signal transduction of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and proliferation ability in HCC cells. Moreover, Andro significantly reduced the invasive ability of the cells and the level of HCC cell lung metastasis, upregulated miR-22-3p expression level and downregulated HMGB1 and MMP-9 expression levels. MIR22HG or miR-22-3p knockdown attenuated the effects of Andro on the signaling of HMGB1/MMP-9 pathway and invasive ability in HCC cells, while the overexpression of HMGB1 attenuated the inhibitory effects of Andro on the MMP-9 expression level and invasive ability in HCC cells. Thus, the regulation of MIR22HG-HuR/BCL-2 and MIR22HG/HMGB1 signaling pathways is involved in the anti-HCC proliferation and metastasis effects of Andro. This study provided a new pharmacological basis for Andro in HCC treatment and, for the first time, identified a natural product molecule capable of positively regulating MIR22HG, which has a robust biological function.

Adult-onset idiopathic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome / Síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia idiopática de início adulto

ABSTRACT Purpose: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is extremely uncommon in adults with an autoimmune pathophysiology. Because of the rarity of the syndrome, international recognition of opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome needs to be improved urgently. Therefore, the goal of this study was to raise the awareness of the opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome and help doctors in better diagnosing and using immunotherapy. Methods: We present a case study of an adult-onset case of idiopathic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome characterized by spontaneous arrhythmic multidirectional conjugate eye movements, myoclonus, ataxia, sleep disorders, and intense fear. Additionally, we conduct a literature search and summarize the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome. Results: Immunotherapies successfully treated the patient's opsoclonus, myoclonus, and ataxia. Further, the article also includes an update summary of the opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of residual sequela in adults with opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome is low. Early diagnosis and treatment may result in a better prognosis. Furthermore, combined immunotherapy is expected to reduce the incidence of refractory and reoccurring opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome.

RESUMO Objetivo: A síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia é extremamente rara em adultos e tem uma fisiopatologia autoimune. Devido à raridade dessa síndrome, o reconhecimento da síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia precisa melhorar urgentemente em todo o mundo. Assim sendo, este estudo visou aumentar a conscientização sobre a síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia e ajudar os médicos para um melhor diagnóstico e o uso correto da imunoterapia. Métodos: Este é o relato de um caso adulto de síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia idiopática com movimentos oculares conjugados, multidirecionais, arrítmicos e espontâneos, mioclonia, ataxia, distúrbios do sono e medo intenso. Além disso, foram pesquisadas as publicações recentes relevantes e resumiu-se a fisiopatologia, a apresentação clínica, o diagnóstico e o tratamento da síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia. Resultados: A paciente recuperou-se totalmente da opsoclonia, da mioclonia e da ataxia através de imunoterapia. O artigo também fornece um resumo atualizado sobre a síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia. Conclusão: Adultos com síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia têm uma baixa frequência de sequelas residuais. O diagnóstico e o tratamento precoces podem levar a melhores prognósticos. Espera-se que a imunoterapia combinada reduza a incidência da síndrome de opsoclonia-mioclonia-ataxia refratária e recorrente.

Weakened Contractile Performance and Mitochondrial Respiratory Complex Activity in Skeletal Muscle Improve during Interbout Arousal in Hibernating Daurian Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus dauricus.

Mammalian hibernation is composed of multiple episodes of torpor bout, separated by phases of interbout arousal. During torpor, the skeletal muscles of mammals are undoubtedly inactive, but it has been proven to mitigate disuse atrophy. While interbout arousal has been implicated in the prevention of muscle atrophy, the underlying mechanisms sustaining muscle contraction remain to be explored. In the present study, Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) were divided into four groups: pre-hibernation (PRE), torpor (TOR), interbout arousal (IBA), and post-hibernation (POST). The contractile performance of slow-twitch soleus muscle (SOL) and fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) was detected both in situ and in vitro. Concurrently, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity in these muscles was quantified. Our findings revealed that in situ contractile properties of both muscles, including force, power output, time duration, and force development/relaxation rates of twitch contraction, and force and power output of tetanic contraction declined in the TOR group compared to the PRE group, but improved in the IBA and POST groups. Fatigue resistance of muscles, determined by the power output of repetitive tetanic contractions in situ, decreased in the TOR group but recovered in the IBA and POST groups. In vitro studies demonstrated that tetanic contraction power output in isolated muscles increased with muscle temperature in both TOR and IBA groups. However, at the same temperature, power output was consistently lower in the TOR group compared to the IBA group. Moreover, the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, especially Complexes I and II, decreased in the TOR group but showed recovery in the IBA and POST groups. These findings suggest that both the contractile performance and fatigue resistance of mammalian skeletal muscle are compromised during torpor but can be improved during interbout arousal and post-hibernation. The rebound in body temperature and rise in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity in skeletal muscle are involved in enhancing contractile performance and fatigue resistance. This study suggests that interbout arousal functions as a vital temporal interval during which skeletal muscles can transition from the inactivity induced by torpor to a state of restored contractile functionality. Thus, interbout arousal serves as a behavioral safeguard against disuse-induced damage to skeletal muscles during hibernation.