General Construction of Asymmetric Amine Ethers via Efficient Transesterification.

A novel method to prepare asymmetric amine ethers is reported. Tertiary amine alcohol hydrogen sulfate intermediates are prepared through a reactive distillation process, followed by the transesterification process to afford eventually asymmetric amine ethers. Experiments and DFT calculations revealed the essential roles the sulfate group plays in the highly selective monoesterification process. This clean method is tolerant towards various functional groups with good yields under mild condition, which is obviously superior compared to the conventional processes.

Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning in Sensors and Applications.

To effectively solve the increasingly complex problems experienced by human beings, the latest development trend is to apply a large number of different types of sensors to collect data in order to establish effective solutions based on deep learning and artificial intelligence [...].

EGF signaling promotes the lineage conversion of astrocytes into oligodendrocytes.

BACKGROUND: The conversion of astrocytes activated by nerve injuries to oligodendrocytes is not only beneficial to axonal remyelination, but also helpful for reversal of glial scar. Recent studies have shown that pathological niche promoted the Sox10-mediated astrocytic transdifferentiation to oligodendrocytes. The extracellular factors underlying the cell fate switching are not known. METHODS: Astrocytes were obtained from mouse spinal cord dissociation culture and purified by differential adherent properties. The lineage conversion of astrocytes into oligodendrocyte lineage cells was carried out by Sox10-expressing virus infection both in vitro and in vivo, meanwhile, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor Gefitinib were adopted to investigate the function of EGF signaling in this fate transition process. Pharmacological inhibition analyses were performed to examine the pathway connecting the EGF with the expression of oligodendrogenic genes and cell fate transdifferentiation. RESULTS: EGF treatment facilitated the Sox10-induced transformation of astrocytes to O4+ induced oligodendrocyte precursor cells (iOPCs) in vitro. The transdifferentiation of astrocytes to iOPCs went through two distinct but interconnected processes: (1) dedifferentiation of astrocytes to astrocyte precursor cells (APCs); (2) transformation of APCs to iOPCs, EGF signaling was involved in both processes. And EGF triggered astrocytes to express oligodendrogenic genes Olig1 and Olig2 by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) pathway. In addition, we discovered that EGF can enhance astrocyte transdifferentiation in injured spinal cord tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide strong evidence that EGF facilitates the transdifferentiation of astrocytes to oligodendrocytes, and suggest that targeting the EGF-EGFR-Erk1/2 signaling axis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for myelin repair in injured central nervous system (CNS) tissues.

Decreased left amygdala functional connectivity by cognitive-coping therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It is of great clinical importance to explore more efficacious treatments for OCD. Recently, cognitive-coping therapy (CCT), mainly focusing on recognizing and coping with a fear of negative events, has been reported as an efficacious psychotherapy. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanism remains unknown. This study of 79 OCD patients collected Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans before and after four weeks of CCT, pharmacotherapy plus CCT (pCCT), or pharmacotherapy. Amygdala seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed. Compared post- to pretreatment, pCCT-treated patients showed decreased left amygdala (LA) FC with the right anterior cingulate gyrus (cluster 1) and with the left paracentral lobule/the parietal lobe (cluster 2), while CCT-treated patients showed decreased LA-FC with the left middle occipital gyrus/the left superior parietal/left inferior parietal (cluster 3). The z-values of LA-FC with the three clusters were significantly lower after pCCT or CCT than pretreatment in comparisons of covert vs. overt and of non-remission vs. remission patients, except the z-value of cluster 2 in covert OCD. CCT and pCCT significantly reduced the Y-BOCS score. The reduction in the Y-BOCS score was positively correlated with the z-value of cluster 1. Our findings demonstrate that both pCCT and CCT with large effect sizes lowered LA-FC, indicating that FCs were involved in OCD. Additionally, decreased LA-FC with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) or paracentral/parietal cortex may be a marker for pCCT response or a marker for distinguishing OCD subtypes. Decreased LA-FC with the parietal region may be a common pathway of pCCT and CCT. Trial registration: ChiCTR-IPC-15005969.

Affective Recommender System for Pet Social Network.

In this new era, it is no longer impossible to create a smart home environment around the household. Moreover, users are not limited to humans but also include pets such as dogs. Dogs need long-term close companionship with their owners; however, owners may occasionally need to be away from home for extended periods of time and can only monitor their dogs' behaviors through home security cameras. Some dogs are sensitive and may develop separation anxiety, which can lead to disruptive behavior. Therefore, a novel smart home solution with an affective recommendation module is proposed by developing: (1) an application to predict the behavior of dogs and, (2) a communication platform using smartphones to connect with dog friends from different households. To predict the dogs' behaviors, the dog emotion recognition and dog barking recognition methods are performed. The ResNet model and the sequential model are implemented to recognize dog emotions and dog barks. The weighted average is proposed to combine the prediction value of dog emotion and dog bark to improve the prediction output. Subsequently, the prediction output is forwarded to a recommendation module to respond to the dogs' conditions. On the other hand, the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) server is implemented as a platform to contact a dog's friends on a list to interact with each other. Various tests were carried out and the proposed weighted average led to an improvement in the prediction accuracy. Additionally, the proposed communication platform using basic smartphones has successfully established the connection between dog friends.

Underlying Mechanisms of Reductive Amination on Pd-Catalysts: The Unique Role of Hydroxyl Group in Generating Sterically Hindered Amine.

Pd nanospecies supported on porous g-C3N4 nanosheets were prepared for efficient reductive amination reactions. The structures of the catalysts were characterized via FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, and TG analysis, and the mechanisms were investigated using in situ ATR−FTIR spectroscopic analysis complemented by theoretical calculation. It transpired that the valence state of the Pd is not the dominating factor; rather, the hydroxyl group of the Pd(OH)2 cluster is crucial. Thus, by passing protons between different molecules, the hydroxyl group facilitates both the generation of the imine intermediate and the reduction of the C=N unit. As a result, the sterically hindered amines can be obtained at high selectivity (>90%) at room temperature.

[Bladder wall neourethra technique improves early urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the bladder wall neourethra (BWN) technique on early urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). METHODS: We prospectively selected 40 cases of LRP performed in our hospital from August 2020 to August 2021 and randomly divided them into a BWN group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). We recorded the urinary continence rate of the two groups of patients at 7, 30, 90 and 180 days, and measured the maximum urethral pressure (MUP), functional urethral length (FUL) and functional urethral area (UFA) and observed the shape of the neourethra closure by MRI at 1 month after catheter removal. RESULTS: The urinary continence rates were significantly higher in the BWN than in the control group at 7 days (90.0% vs 25.0%, P < 0.001), 30 days (95.0% vs 35.0%, P < 0.001), 90 days (100% vs 60.0%, P < 0.05) and 180 days (100% vs 90.0%, P > 0.05) after catheter removal. No statistically significant difference was observed in MUP between the two groups (P > 0.05). FUL and FUA were remarkably higher in the BWN than in the control group (P < 0.01). MRI showed tight closure of the neourethra in the BWN group in the urine storage period. CONCLUSION: The BWN technique can significantly prolong FUL and improve early urinary continence after LRP.

Limb remote ischemia per-conditioning protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury through the opioid system in rats.

Remote ischemia per-conditioning (RPerC) has been demonstrated to have cardiac protection, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying cardiac protection of RPerC. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) was induced by 30 min of occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. RPerC were performed by 5 min of occlusion of the right femoral artery followed by 5 min of reperfusion for three times during cardiac ischemia. The hemodynamics, left ventricular function, arrhythmia, and infarct area were measured. Protein expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), protein kinase C-ε (PKCε), and PKCδ in the myocardium were assayed. During I/R, systolic artery pressure and left ventricular function were decreased, infarct area was increased, and arrhythmia score was increased (P < 0.05). However, changes of the above parameters were significantly attenuated in RPerC-treated rats compared with control rats (P < 0.05). The cardiac protective effects of RPerC were prevented by naloxone or glibenclamide. Also, RPerC increased the protein expression levels of eNOS, iNOS, PKCε, and PKCδ in the myocardium compared with control rats. These effects were blocked by naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, and glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker (KATP). In summary, this study suggests that RPerC protects the heart against I/R injury through activation of opioid receptors and the NO-PKC-KATP channel signaling pathways.

Neuroprotective effects of a chromatin modifier on ischemia/reperfusion neurons: implication of its regulation of BCL2 transactivation by ERα signaling.

An understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-mediated neuroprotective effects is valuable for the development of therapeutic strategy against neuronal ischemic injury. Here, we report the upregulated expression of metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), a master chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator, in the murine middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Inhibition of MTA1 expression by in vivo short interfering RNA treatment potentiated neuronal apoptosis in a caspase-3-dependent manner and thereafter aggravated MCAO-induced neuronal damage. Mechanistically, the pro-survival effects of MTA1 required the participation of ERα signaling. We also provide in vitro evidence that MTA1 enhances the binding of ERα with the BCL2 promoter upon ischemic insults via recruitment of HDAC2 together with other unidentified coregulators, thus promoting the ERα-mediated transactivation of the BCL2 gene. Collectively, our results suggest that the augmentation of endogenous MTA1 expression during neuronal ischemic injury acts additionally to an endocrinous cascade orchestrating intimate interactions between ERα and BCL2 pathways and operates as an indispensable defensive mechanism in response to neuronal ischemia/reperfusion stress. Future studies in this field will shed light on the modulation of the complicated neuroprotective effects by estrogen signaling.

Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, White Matter, and Cognitive Function in Diabetes Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine level (CML) with microstructure changes of white matter (WM), and cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to discuss the potential mechanism underlying T2DM-associated cognitive impairment. METHODS: The study was performed in T2DM patients (n=22) with disease course ≥5 years and age ranging from 65 to 75 years old. A control group consisted of 25 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of several WM regions was analyzed by diffusion tensor imaging scan. Plasma CML levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: The total Mini-Mental State Examination score in the patient group (25.72±3.13) was significantly lower than the control group (28.16±2.45) (p<0.05). In addition, the total MoCA score in the patient group (22.15±3.56) was significantly lower than the control group 25.63±4.12) (p<0.01). In the patient group, FA values were significantly decreased in the corpus callosum, cingulate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, parietal WM, hippocampus, and temporal lobes relative to corresponding regions of healthy controls (p<0.05). Plasma CML level was negatively correlated with average FA values in the global brain (r=-0.58, p<0.01) and MoCA scores (r=-0.47, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In T2DM, WM microstructure changes occur in older patients, and elevations in CML may play a role in the development of cognitive impairment.

Correction to "On the Origin of the Promoting Effect Exerted by Magnesium in the ZnCl2-Catalyzed Synthesis of N,N-Diisopropylethylamine".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04188.].

Effects of short-term cognitive-coping therapy on resting-state brain function in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tends to be treatment refractory. Recently, cognitive-coping therapy (CCT) for OCD is reported to be an efficacious psychotherapy. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanism remains unknown. Here, the effects of CCT on OCD and the resting-state brain function were investigated. METHODS: Fifty-nine OCD patients underwent CCT, pharmacotherapy plus CCT (pCCT), or pharmacotherapy. Before and after a 4-week treatment, Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) was evaluated and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was scanned. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, significant reduction of Y-BOCS scores was found after four-week treatment (p < .001) in groups of CCT and pCCT, not in pharmacotherapy. Post-treatment Y-BOCS scores of CCT group and pCCT group were not different, but significantly lower than that of pharmacotherapy group (p < .001). Compared with pretreatment, two clusters of brain regions with significant change in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were obtained in those who treated with CCT and pCCT, but not in those who received pharmacotherapy. The ALFF in cluster 1 (insula, putamen, and postcentral gyrus in left cerebrum) was decreased, while the ALFF in cluster 2 (occipital medial gyrus, occipital inferior gyrus, and lingual gyrus in right hemisphere) was increased after treatment (corrected p < .05). The changes of ALFF were correlated with the reduction of Y-BOCS score and were greater in remission than in nonremission. The reduction of the fear of negative events was correlated to the changes of ALFF of clusters and the reduction of Y-BOCS score. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of CCT for OCD was related to the alteration of resting-state brain function-the brain plasticity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-IPC-15005969.

On the Origin of the Promoting Effect Exerted by Magnesium in the ZnCl2-Catalyzed Synthesis of N,N-Diisopropylethylamine.

The reaction of magnesium or zinc amides with alkyl or benzyl halides is an attractive approach to make C-N bonds, especially for electron-poor organic halides. The magnesium-promoted preparation of hindered non-nucleophilic amine (N,N-diisopropylethylamine) from ethyl chloride and zinc diisopropylamide has been studied. In this paper, instead of the application scope of this method, we focused on the mechanisms of the catalytic processes and the associated electronic origins. According to the calculations, the C-N coupling process in all selected systems proceed preferably in an ethylium-transfer mode. Further, rather than undergoing the Grignard reaction route, the more pronounced electronic interactions within the transition structure as induced by the "innocent" magnesium atom should be responsible for the observed high catalytic activity of the Mg/ZnCl2 combination.

Oxidative Stress in Radiation-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

There is a distinct increase in the risk of heart disease in people exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is one of the adverse side effects when people are exposed to ionizing radiation. IR may come from various forms, such as diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy for cancer treatment, nuclear disasters, and accidents. However, RIHD was mainly observed after radiotherapy for chest malignant tumors, especially left breast cancer. Radiation therapy (RT) has become one of the main ways to treat all kinds of cancer, which is used to reduce the recurrence of cancer and improve the survival rate of patients. The potential cause of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity is unclear, but it may be relevant to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupts intracellular homeostasis through chemical modification and damages proteins, lipids, and DNA; therefore, it results in a series of related pathophysiological changes. The purpose of this review was to summarise the studies of oxidative stress in radiotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and provide prevention and treatment methods to reduce cardiac damage.

Contributions of insertion sequences conferring colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: Increasing colistin consumption is leading to expanding colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae worldwide, but particularly in Asia. Epidemiological studies indicate a link between specific insertion sequences (ISs) and colistin resistance; however, proof of a colistin-IS correlation is lacking. OBJECTIVES: Colistin-resistant mechanisms, and in vitro and in vivo efficacies of colistin against K. pneumoniae with ISs were investigated. METHODS: Colistin-resistant genes, including mcr-1 gene, were detected in 49 colistin- and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates. crrCAB genetic environments were analysed using whole-genome sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mapping. Identified ISs were cloned into pRK415 vectors and investigated for potential contributions to colistin resistance. A Caenorhabditis elegans model was employed for in vivo analysis. RESULTS: mgrB gene alterations (32/49, 65.3%) were identified as the major colistin-resistant mechanism, followed by variations in crrB (57.1%), pmrB (32.7%), phoQ (20.9%), pmrA (16.3%) and phoP (8.2%) genes. Furthermore, 21 of the 49 tested isolates (42.9%) contained the IS elements, ISKpn26, ISEcp1, IS10R, IS903B or ISKpn14 in mgrB or in the surrounding region of crrCAB, indicating an association between these ISs and colistin resistance. The frequencies of colistin resistance significantly increased in colistin-susceptible K. pneumoniae laboratory strains, with plasmids carrying different ISs from clinical strains. In vivo analysis revealed that K. pneumoniae harboring ISKpn26 was associated with decreased lifespan during colistin treatment, leading to an increased risk for colistin treatment failure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a correlation between diverse ISs and colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae and confirm a role for ISs in colistin treatment.

Clinical remission of a treatment-refractory individual with severe repetitive rituals and rumination.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe chronic mental disorder and tends to be refractory to pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy. For treatment-refractory patients, neurosurgical interventions are options. 64 % of OCD patients who undergo neurosurgery still have greater than 16 in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) after a long-term follow-up. Here, we reported a patient living with long-term OCD (20 years) who was refractory to pharmacotherapy, mindfulness-based psychotherapy, and neurosurgery that injured his bilateral anterior cingulates (AC) and caudate nucleus. METHODS: The patient accepted a novel psychotherapy named cognitive-coping therapy (CCT) and completed Y-BOCS, Hamilton depression rating scale, the Hamilton anxiety rating scale, social and occupational function assessment, and resting-state function magnetic resonance imaging scans (rs-fMRI) before and after 4-week CCT. RESULTS: His Y-BOCS score was reduced from 25 to 4. His depression score and anxiety score were reduced from 19 to 3 and from 12 to 3, respectively. The global assessment of functioning score increased from 32 to 88. CONCLUSIONS: The remission of the patient suggested that CCT could be an alternative intervention for treatment-refractory OCD and those with severe OCD could be cured in short-term.

Myelin-basic protein-reactive specific CD4+ and CD8+ NK lymphocytes induce morphological changes in neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheaths: implications for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by loss of myelin. However, data indicate that autoimmune cells could directly impair neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheath is lacking. The aim of the present study was to determine morphological evidence of the direct impairment of neurons by autoreactive lymphocytes and to further identify the subtypes of these lymphocytes. METHODS: Lymphocytes activated by myelin basic protein (MBP) 83-99 and neurons of human brain were co-cultured for 24 h. RESULTS: Observations through scanning electron microscope showed that MBP-specific lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+ cells, and NK cells) aggregated in the vicinity of the neuronal cell bodies and the myelin sheaths and attacked them directly, resulting in the degeneration of both neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies provide morphological evidences of the direct impairment of neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheaths by MBP-specific lymphocytes. Our studies also suggest that MBP-specific CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells might be involved in this process. These processes may play a role in the direct impairment of neurons and myelin sheaths in early stages of MS and provide evidences for the application of immunosuppressant therapy of MS.

Online activities, prevalence of Internet addiction and risk factors related to family and school among adolescents in China.

AIMS: To investigate the online activities, prevalence of Internet Addiction in relation to demographic characteristics and risk factors related to family and school among adolescents. METHODS: A total of 6468 10-18 year old adolescents recruited from local schools in Guangzhou, China were selected by adopting multi-stage stratified random sampling (female/male: 2886/3582; mean age:13.78 ± 2.43). Participants completed a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of Internet Addiction was 26.50%, with severe addiction being 0.96%. Internet Addiction was higher among males than females (30.6% versus 21.2%). Older grade students reported more Internet addiction rate (χ2 = 431.25, P < 0.001). The five highest-ranked online activities were social networking (94.73%), school work (86.53%), entertainment (82.44%), Internet gaming (73.42%) and shopping online (33.67%). A negative relationship with teachers (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.20-1.53), a negative relationship between two parents (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18-1.37), and poor academic performance (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.17-1.35), showed the highest relative risks for Internet addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Severe Internet Addiction is not common, but mild Internet addiction was reported by more than one fourth of all participants. The rates of Internet Addiction varied by gender, grade, the quality of family relationships and school situation, suggesting these factors should be considered when designing and implementing interventions.