Highly efficient and recyclable monolithic bioreactor for interfacial enzyme catalysis.

HYPOTHESIS: Biocatalysts are key to the realization of all bioconversions in nature. However, the difficulty of combining the biocatalyst and other chemicals in one system limits their application in artificial reaction systems. Although some effort, such as Pickering interfacial catalysis and enzyme-immobilized microchannel reactors, have addressed this challenge an effective method to combine chemical substrates and biocatalysts in a highly efficient and re-usable monolith system is still to be developed. EXPERIMENTS: A repeated batch-type biphasic interfacial biocatalysis microreactor was developed using enzyme-loaded polymersomes in the void surface of porous monoliths. Polymersomes, loaded with Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB), are fabricated by self-assembly of the copolymer PEO-b-P(St-co-TMI) and used to stabilize oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions as a template to prepare monoliths. By adding monomer and Tween 85 to the continuous phase, controllable open-cell monoliths are prepared to inlay CALB-loaded polymersomes in the pore walls. FINDINGS: The microreactor is proven to be highly effective and recyclable when a substrate flows through it, which offers superior benefits of absolute separation to a pure product and no enzyme loss. The relative enzyme activity is constantly maintained above 93% in 15 cycles. The enzyme is constantly present in the microenvironment of the PBS buffer ensuring its immunity to inactivation and facilitating its recycling.

Fabrication of Macroporous Polymers via Water-in-Water Emulsion-Templating Technique.

Emulsion-templated porous polymers have attracted broad attention due to their great application prospects in many fields. However, scaling up the emulsion-templated technique from the lab to industrial production remains a great challenge, especially for systems involving an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion template that is used normally for preparing hydrophilic porous polymers. These systems require large amounts of organic solvents to be the internal phase (i.e., major phase) of the emulsion templates, which causes a significant environmental impact and cost. Herein, a water-in-water (w/w) emulsion-templated technique is presented to prepare porous hydrophilic polymers. The w/w emulsion is prepared by mixing a PEG aqueous solution and a dextran aqueous solution with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a stabilizer. With varying the mass ratio of dextran/PEG in the range of 1/2 to 8/1, a series of dextran-rich-phase-in-PEG-rich-phase (dextran/PEG) emulsions are obtained. Subsequently, monomers, such as acrylamide, acrylic acid, and/or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, are introduced to the emulsions to fabricate porous hydrophilic polymers. These polymers have an open-cell structure like those of o/w emulsion-templated polymers. The system developed herein is an environmentally friendly, low cost, and universal emulsion-templated method toward porous hydrophilic polymers, which avoids the defects caused by the presence of large amounts of organic solvents in an o/w emulsion-templating method and can be moved from the lab to industrial-scale production.

Sex, executive function, and prospective memory regulate the chain-mediation pathway of alcohol use and impulsivity.

Objective: Evidence from previous studies indicates that impulsive behaviors are closely linked to alcohol use and misuse and that female drinkers are more impulsive than male drinkers. However, studies investigating the psychological mechanisms of alcohol use and impulsivity based on sex differences are relatively limited. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 713 residents from 16 cities in Anhui Province, China. Each subject was evaluated for self-reporting measures using several questionnaires, including the general information questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRM), the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Results: Executive function and prospective memory may serve as intermediary links between alcohol use and impulsivity. Although the female alcohol usage level was significantly lower than that of males, the female drinkers had more severe executive dysfunction, prospective memory impairment, and impulsivity than male drinkers. Sex moderated the relationship between alcohol use and impulsivity. Furthermore, the indirect effect of executive function, and prospective memory between AUDIT and BIS was more significant in males than in females. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption may be associated with impulsivity formation through executive dysfunction and PM impairment, implying that impulsivity in those with AUD or at risk for AUD might be treated by improving EF and PM. Alcohol use may cause more severe executive dysfunction, PM impairment, and impulsive behavior in females than in males, and impulsive behavior in women with AUD was more likely to be due to the direct effects of alcohol consumption, while impulsive behavior in men with AUD was more likely to be due to the indirect effects of executive dysfunction and PM impairment. These findings provide both clinical and theoretical foundations for addressing issues related to alcohol use.

Predictive Role of Executive Function in the Efficacy of Intermittent Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Modalities for Treating Methamphetamine Use Disorder-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has therapeutic effects on craving in methamphetamine (METH) use disorder (MUD). The chronic abuse of METH causes impairments in executive function, and improving executive function reduces relapse and improves treatment outcomes for drug use disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine whether executive function helped predict patients' responses to rTMS treatment. Methods: This study employed intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) rTMS modalities and observed their therapeutic effects on executive function and craving in MUD patients. MUD patients from an isolated Drug Rehabilitation Institute in China were chosen and randomly allocated to the iTBS group and sham-stimulation group. All participants underwent the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult Version Scale (BRIEF-A) and Visual Analog Scales (VAS) measurements. Sixty-five healthy adults matched to the general condition of MUD patients were also recruited as healthy controls. Findings: Patients with MUD had significantly worse executive function. iTBS groups had better treatment effects on the MUD group than the sham-stimulation group. Further Spearman rank correlation and stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed that reduction rates of the total score of the BRIEF-A and subscale scores of the inhibition factor and working memory factor in the iTBS group positively correlated with improvements in craving. ROC curve analysis showed that working memory (AUC = 87.4%; 95% CI = 0.220, 0.631) and GEC (AUC = 0.761%; 95% CI = 0.209, 0.659) had predictive power to iTBS therapeutic efficacy. The cutoff values are 13.393 and 59.804, respectively. Conclusions: The iTBS rTMS had a better therapeutic effect on the executive function of patients with MUD, and the improved executive function had the potential to become a predictor for the efficacy of iTBS modality for MUD treatment. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: ChiCTR2100046954.

The Influence of Online Game Behaviors on the Emotional State and Executive Function of College Students in China.

Background and Objective: Since the classification of gaming disorder (GD) by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "mental disorder caused by addictive behaviors," there has been controversy regarding whether online game behaviors can lead to mental disorder. This study aims to clarify the correlation between the online game behaviors of college students and anxiety, depression, and executive function of college students in China, from a questionnaire-based investigation. Methods: Based on the whole class random sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted among college students in Northern Anhui, China from March 7 to March 27, 2020. The questionnaires included the Internet Game Addiction (IGA) Scale, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (Adult Version, BRIEF-A), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ-9). Results: A total of 850 participants completed the survey, including 353 males (41.53%) and 497 females (58.47%). The primary age group was 18-27 years (91.53%), and the educational background was a bachelor's degree (94.7%). The study found that the online behavior of 17.76% of college students was online game behavior. This study did not identify any students who met the criteria for IGA, and 3% met the criteria for indulgent behavior. A dual role of online games was identified; moderate online game activities can improve the emotional state and executive function of college students, while excessive online game behaviors that may not reach the degree of addiction can also harm emotional state and executive function. Conclusions: This study suggests that although IGA has been regarded as a mental disease, online game behavior should be treated differently. Online game activities should not be entirely denied, but mental disorders caused by excessive gaming activities deserve attention. In particular, the emotional state and executive function of students with excessive online game behaviors should be monitored and intervened in advance to avoid game behaviors turning into indulgent behaviors or addiction. As a cognitive control process, executive function may play a key role in regulating IGA and emotional state.

MicroRNA-181a Is Involved in Methamphetamine Addiction Through the ERAD Pathway.

The regulation of microRNA (miRNA) is closely related to methamphetamine (METH) addiction. Past studies have reported that miR-181a is associated with METH addiction, but the mechanism pathways remain elusive. On the basis of our past studies, which reported the endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) mediated ubiquitin protein degradation of GABAAα1, which was involved in METH addiction. The present study, using qRT-PCR and bioinformatics analysis, further revealed that miR-181a may be indirectly responsible for the METH addiction and downregulation of GABAAα1 through the regulation of ERAD.

Enhancing electrocatalytic performance of Sb-doped SnO 2 electrode by compositing nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets.

An efficient Ti/Sb-SnO2 electrode modified with nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets (NGNS) was successfully fabricated by the sol-gel and dip coating method. Compared with Ti/Sb-SnO2 electrode, the NGNS-modified electrode possesses smaller unite crystalline volume (71.11Å(3) vs. 71.32Å(3)), smaller electrical resistivity (13Ωm vs. 34Ωm), and lower charge transfer resistance (10.91Ω vs. 21.01Ω). The accelerated lifetime of Ti/Sb-SnO2-NGNS electrode is prolonged significantly, which is 4.45 times as long as that of Ti/Sb-SnO2 electrode. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement and voltammetric charge analysis indicate that introducing NGNS into the active coating can increase more reaction active sites to enhance the electrocatalytic efficiency. The electrochemical dye decolorization analysis demonstrates that Ti/Sb-SnO2-NGNS presents efficient electrocatalytic performance for methylene blue and orange II decolorization. And its pseudo-first order kinetic rate constants for methylene blue and orange II decolorization are 36.6 and 44.0 min(-1), respectively, which are 6.0 and 7.1 times as efficient as those of Ti/Sb-SnO2, respectively. Considering the significant electrocatalytic activity and low resistivity of Ti/Sb-SnO2-NGNS electrode, the cost of wastewater treatment can be expected to be reduced obviously and the application prospect is broad.

[Reporter genes transfer into human squamous cell carcinoma of larynx factor receptor mediated non-viral GE7 polypeptide delivery system with a new epidermal growth].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of marker gene and reporter gene transfection into human squamous cell carcinoma of larynx implanted in nude mice with a new EGFR mediated non-viral polypeptide gene delivery system. METHODS: Labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) was applied to examine over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the squamous cell carcinoma of larynx. The complex of marker gene or reporter gene and gene delivery system was prepared and subsequently inoculated with Hep 2 cells or injected into laryngeal carcinoma implanted on nude mice. RESULTS: Over-expression of EGFR was observed on inoculated Hep 2 cells and on 65% of laryngeal carcinoma specimen examined (15/23). Positive staining was located on the surface of the cells and some of them in the cytoplasma. Green fluorescence was observed on Hep 2 cells under fluorescent microscope 48 hrs after PEGFP-C1 gene transfection and became the strongest 72 hrs after transfection. The rate of transfection was 80% (78/97). Blue staining was noticed 12 hrs after beta-gal gene transfer and it became more remarkable 24 hrs after gene transfection with X-gal staining on the implanted human laryngeal carcinoma on nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck over-expressed EGFR and a non-viral GE7 polypeptide gene delivery system could transfer exogenous genes into laryngeal carcinoma cells and tissues with high efficiency and targeting both in vitro and in vivo suggesting that GE7 would be applicable as a new targeted, high efficient gene delivery system to the gene therapy of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.