Features of event-related potentials during retrieval of episodic memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease

Objective

To provide a rigorous comparison between patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD) and healthy elderly, as well as to assess the value of electroencephalography (EEG) in terms of early diagnosis, we conducted a neutral image recognition memory task involving individuals with positive biomarkers including β amyloid deposition, pathologic tau or neurodegeneration.

Methods

The task involving study and test blocks was designed to evaluate participants' recognition memory. Electroencephalogram was recorded synchronously to elicit event-related potentials in patients with MCI-AD and healthy control subjects. We further analyzed differences between groups or conditions in terms of behavioral performance, time domain, and time-frequency domain.

Results

The MCI-AD cohort showed a slower response time to old/new images and had low accuracy regarding behavioral performance. The amplitude of the late positive complex for the old/new effects was significantly suppressed in the MCI-AD cohort when compared with that in the HC cohort. The amplitude of the late old/new effects was correlated with the Auditory Verbal Learning Test recognition score in all participants. The time-frequency domain analysis revealed that correct recognition of old items elicited a decrease in beta power, mainly limited to the HC cohort. Moreover, the combination of behavioral (processing speed and accuracy) and electrophysiological (average amplitude and relative power of delta band) measures contributes to classifying patients with MCI-AD from healthy elderly people.

Conclusion

Changes of old/new effects, accuracy and response time are sensitive to the impairment of recognition memory in patients with MCI-AD and have moderate value in predicting the incipient stage of AD.

Does pollinator dependence decrease along elevational gradients?

Plants have long been thought to be less dependent on pollinators for seed production at higher elevations due to adverse pollination environments. However, recent research has yet to consistently support the generality of this expectation. In this study, we asked whether pollinator dependence decreases along an elevational gradient and how it varies with various reproductive traits. To answer these questions, we quantified pollinator-plant associations and various reproductive traits for 112 flowering plants spanning a large elevational gradient (990-4260 m a.s.l.) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We found that flowering plants in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region are highly dependent on pollinators for seed production (76.2% of seed production was contributed by animal pollinators and 44.6% of plants would produce no seed without pollinator visitation). Contrary to our expectation, there was no significant elevational gradient in pollinator dependence index. Although the pollinator dependence index was not significantly correlated with pollen limitation, flower size, floral longevity, or reward type, it was correlated with compatibility status and flowering time. These findings indicate that pollinator dependence does not decrease along an elevational gradient in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our study also highlights the severe vulnerability of flowering plant seed production to pollinator declines under global change in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, particularly for early-flowering or self-incompatible plants growing at higher elevations (e.g., subnival belt).

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Solidified Shell Conductivity and Billet Sizes on the Magnetic Field with Final Electromagnetic Stirring in Continuous Casting

Coupled with the results of a 2D heat transfer model, a 3D electromagnetic stirring round billet model is developed, which is considered for the difference in the conductivity of solidified shell and molten steel. The electromagnetic field distribution features of the billet and the effect of round billet sizes on the electromagnetic field are investigated. It is found that as the solidified shell conductivity of the Φ600 mm round billet increases from 7.14 × 10⁵ S·m^-1 to 1.0 × 10⁶ S·m^-1, the magnetic induction intensity decreases and the maximum value of electromagnetic force drops from 7976.26 N·m^-3 to 5745.32 N·m^-3. The magnetic induction intensity on the center axis of the stirrer rarely changes in the range of Φ100-Φ200 mm. With the increase in the round billet from Φ300 mm to Φ600 mm, the magnetic induction intensity and the electromagnetic force on the center axis of the stirrer decrease slowly and then significantly. In the range of 2-8 Hz, as the current strength reaches its maximum, the electromagnetic force can be increased by increasing the current frequency for round billets of Φ100-Φ500 mm, while there is an optimal current frequency for round billets larger than Φ600 mm.

Does eco-friendly tourism necessary for entrepreneurship? The role of tourism and innovation in sustainable development

Recent years have seen a surge in international interest in the connections between tourism, technological development, and climate change. This research looks at how increased innovation and tourism might help the economies of the Group of Seven to grow sustainably. Multiple panel unit root tests confirmed the unit root properties of the variables, and the cross-sectional dependency of the panel data from 2000 to 2020 was analyzed. Pedroni and Kao's tests reveal a co-integration link between the variables. Full-modified OLS and dynamic OLS studies show that innovation, as measured by patents and scholarly papers, is associated with economic growth and reduced pollution. In order to estimate the variables, this research makes use of the augmented mean group (AMG) and CCEMG. These findings demonstrate tourism's enormous positive effect on lowering pollution levels and growing economies, two key indicators of sustainable progress. According to the study's findings, asylum seekers did not help boost national economies or participate in national environmental improvement initiatives. Evidence suggests that primary enrollment levels promote sustainable development by reducing environmental degradation and fostering economic growth. The findings suggest that the G7 economies would benefit from increased investment in innovation, tourism infrastructure, and technical higher education. These results provide valuable input for businesses, politicians, and the G7 economies' sustainable development goals.

Genome analyses reveal population structure and a purple stigma color gene candidate in finger millet

Finger millet is a key food security crop widely grown in eastern Africa, India and Nepal. Long considered a 'poor man's crop', finger millet has regained attention over the past decade for its climate resilience and the nutritional qualities of its grain. To bring finger millet breeding into the 21^st century, here we present the assembly and annotation of a chromosome-scale reference genome. We show that this ~1.3 million years old allotetraploid has a high level of homoeologous gene retention and lacks subgenome dominance. Population structure is mainly driven by the differential presence of large wild segments in the pericentromeric regions of several chromosomes. Trait mapping, followed by variant analysis of gene candidates, reveals that loss of purple coloration of anthers and stigma is associated with loss-of-function mutations in the finger millet orthologs of the maize R1/B1 and Arabidopsis GL3/EGL3 anthocyanin regulatory genes. Proanthocyanidin production in seed is not affected by these gene knockouts.

Ratiometric Lysosome-targeting Luminescent Probe Based on a Coumarin-Ruthenium(II) Complex for Formaldehyde Detection and Imaging in Living Cells and Mouse Brain Tissues

Ratiometric luminescence probes have attracted widespread attention because of their self-calibration capability. However, some defects, such as small emission shift, severe spectral overlap and poor water solubility, limit their application in the field of biological imaging. In this study, a unique luminescence probe, Ru-COU, has been developed by combining tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex with coumarin derivative through a formaldehyde-responsive linker. The probe exhibited a large emission shift (Δλ>100 nm) and good water solubility, achieving ratiometric emission responses at 505 nm and 610 nm toward formaldehyde under acidic conditions. Besides, ratiometric luminescence imaging of formaldehyde in living cells and Alzheimer disease mouse's brain slices demonstrates the potential value of Ru-COU for the diagnosis and treatment of formaldehyde related diseases.

The combined effect of commercial tilapia collagen peptides and antioxidants against UV-induced skin photoaging in mice

Chronic over-exposure to UV radiation leads to the damage of skin tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of collagen peptide (CP) and antioxidant (astaxanthin, vitamin C (Vc), and vitamin E (Ve)) combinations on skin photoaging. Forty male UV-induced BALB/c mice were randomized and fed saline or CP and antioxidants for 7 weeks using gavage feeding. The results showed that oral administration of CP, CP combined with Vc and Ve (VCE) or Haematococcus pluvialis extract (HPE) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced a* of mouse skin and increased the content of Hyp and type I collagen to varying degrees, thereby improving skin integrity. Furthermore, the combination of CP, HPE, and VCE showed increased upregulation of antioxidant enzyme expression, reduced serum ROS, and decreased inhibition of metalloproteinase expression compared to the other treatment groups. Thus, this combination showed better effects in inhibiting collagen degradation and maintaining the redox balance. The Nrf2/ARE and TGF-β/Smad transcription systems are likely involved in these effects. Therefore, the results suggest that a diet containing CP, astaxanthin, and vitamins might be recommended to improve skin health and appearance.

Metagenomic characterization of biomethane transformation by lipid-catalyzed anaerobic fermentation of lignite

The present study aims at using lipid in a novel way to improve the efficiency of methane production from lignite anaerobic digestion. The obtained results showed an increase by 3.13 times of the cumulative biomethane content of lignite anaerobic fermentation, when 1.8 g lipid was added. The gene expression of functional metabolic enzymes was also found to be enhanced during the anaerobic fermentation. Moreover, the enzymes related to fatty acid degradation such as long-chain Acyl-CoA synthetase and Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase were increased by 1.72 and 10.48 times, respectively, which consequently, accelerated the conversion of fatty acid. Furthermore, the addition of lipid enhanced the carbon dioxide trophic and acetic acid trophic metabolic pathways. Hence, the addition of lipids was argued to promote the production of methane from lignite anaerobic fermentation, which provided a new insight for the conversion and utilization of lipid waste.

Complete Genome Sequence of Erwinia amylovora Strain 99east-3-1, Isolated from Pyrus sinkiangensis in China

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Erwinia amylovora strain 99east-3-1, which was isolated from Pyrus sinkiangensis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Facile conversion of water to functional molecules and cross-linked polymeric films with efficient clusteroluminescence

Exploring approaches to utilize abundant water to synthesize functional molecules and polymers with efficient clusteroluminescence properties is highly significant but has yet to be reported. Herein, a chemistry of water and alkyne is developed. The synthesized products are proven as nonaromatic clusteroluminogens that could emit visible light. Their emission colors and luminescent efficiency could be adjusted by manipulating through-space interaction using different starting materials. Besides, the free-standing polymeric films with much high photoluminescence quantum yields (up to 45.7%) are in situ generated via a water-involved interfacial polymerization. The interfacial polymerization-enhanced emission of the polymeric films is observed, where the emission red-shifts and efficiency increases when the polymerization time is prolonged. The synthesized polymeric film is also verified as a Janus film. It exhibits a vapor-triggered reversible mechanical response which could be applied as a smart actuator. Thus, this work develops a method to synthesize clusteroluminogens using water, builds a clear structure-property relationship of clusteroluminogens, and provides a strategy to in situ construct functional water-based polymeric films.

Effect of prior anticoagulation therapy on stroke severity and in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess the prevalence of prior anticoagulation therapy (warfarin or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants [NOACs]) among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in China and investigate the associations between prior anticoagulation therapy and initial stroke severity and in-hospital outcomes.

METHODS

We included consecutive patients with AIS and known history of AF admitted to hospitals in the China Stroke Center Alliance (CSCA) program from January 2019 to July 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between prior anticoagulation therapy and initial stroke severity and in-hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 7181 patients (median [IQR] age, 75.0 [68.0-81.0] years; 48.7% men), 700 (9.7%), 129 (1.8%), and 255 (3.6%) patients received prior subtherapeutic warfarin (international normalized ratio [INR] <2.0), therapeutic warfarin (INR ≥2.0), and NOACs therapy, respectively. A total of 6499 patients had a preadmission CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥ 2, among whom 94.6% were not adequately anticoagulated. Compared with no prior anticoagulation therapy, prior NOACs therapy was associated with reduced risk of moderate or severe stroke at admission (odds ratio [95% CI], 0.64 [0.43-0.94], P = 0.023) and in-hospital mortality or discharge against medical advice (DAMA) (0.46 [0.24-0.86], P = 0.015). However, no significant association was observed between prior therapeutic warfarin therapy and stroke severity or in-hospital mortality or DAMA.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with AIS and AF in China, the proportion of patients with inadequate anticoagulation prior to stroke remained substantially high. Prior NOACs therapy was associated with reduced stroke severity and less in-hospital mortality or DAMA.

An activatable nanoprobe based on nanocomposites of visible-light-excitable europium(III) complex-anchored MnO2 nanosheets for bimodal time-gated luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging of tumor cells

Bimodal imaging probes that combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photoluminescence imaging are quite appealing since they can supply both anatomical and molecular information to effectively ameliorate the accuracy of detection. In this study, an activatable nanoprobe, [Eu(BTD)₃(DPBT)]@MnO₂, for bimodal time-gated luminescence imaging (TGLI) and MRI has been constructed by anchoring visible-light-excitable Eu³⁺ complexes on lamellar MnO₂ nanosheets. Due to the luminescence quenching effect and non-magnetic resonance (MR) activity of MnO₂ nanosheets, the developed nanoprobe presents quite weak TGL and MR signals. After exposure to H₂O₂ or GSH, accompanied by the transformation from MnO₂ to Mn²⁺, the nanoprobe exhibits rapid, sensitive, and selective "turn-on" responses towards GSH and H₂O₂ in TGL and MR detection modes. Furthermore, the nanoprobe displays high stability, low cytotoxicity, good biocompatibility and water dispersion. Given the high contents of GSH and H₂O₂ in cancer cells, the nanoprobe was used for the identification of cancer cells by TGLI of intracellular GSH and H₂O₂, as well as for the tracing of tumor cells in tumor-bearing mice by tumor-targeting in vivo MRI and TGLI of tumor tissues. The research outcomes proved the potential of [Eu(BTD)₃(DPBT)]@MnO₂ as a useful nanoprobe for the tracing and accurate detection of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via bimodal TGLI and MRI.

Effect of Imaging Selection Paradigms on Endovascular Thrombectomy Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

The effect of imaging selection paradigms on endovascular thrombectomy outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion remains uncertain. The study aimed to assess the effect of basic imaging (noncontrast computed tomography with or without computed tomographic angiography) versus advanced imaging (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography perfusion) on clinical outcomes following thrombectomy in patients with stroke with large vessel occlusion in the early and extended windows using a pooled analysis of patient-level data from 2 pivotal randomized clinical trials done in China.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis used data from 1182 patients included in 2 multicenter, randomized controlled trials in China that evaluated adjunct therapies to endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke (Direct Endovascular Treatment for Large Artery Anterior Circulation Stroke performed from May 20, 2018, through May 2, 2020, and Intravenous Tirofiban Before Endovascular Treatment in Stroke from October 10, 2018, through October 31, 2021). Patients with occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery or proximal middle cerebral artery (M1/M2 segments) were categorized according to baseline imaging modality (basic versus advanced) as well as treatment time window (early, 0-6 hours versus extended, 6-24 hours from last known well to puncture). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2) at 90 days. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine the association between imaging selection modality and outcomes after endovascular treatment at each time windows.

RESULTS

A total of 1182 patients were included in this cohort analysis, with 648 in the early (471 with basic imaging versus 177 advanced imaging) and 534 in the extended (222 basic imaging versus 312 advanced imaging) time window. There were no differences in 90-day functional independence between the advanced and basic imaging groups in either time windows (early window: adjusted relative risk, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.84-1.16]; P=0.91; extended window: adjusted relative risk, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.84-1.20]; P=0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

In this post hoc analysis of 2 randomized clinical trial pooled data involving patients with large vessel occlusion stroke, an association between imaging selection modality and clinical or safety outcomes for patients undergoing thrombectomy in either the early or extended windows was not detected. Our study adds to the growing body of literature on simpler imaging paradigms to assess thrombectomy eligibility across both the early and extended time windows.

REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifiers: ChiCTR-IOR-17013568 and ChiCTR-INR-17014167.

Automatic identification of schizophrenia based on EEG signals using dynamic functional connectivity analysis and 3D convolutional neural network

Schizophrenia (ScZ) is a devastating mental disorder of the human brain that causes a serious impact of emotional inclinations, quality of personal and social life and healthcare systems. In recent years, deep learning methods with connectivity analysis only very recently focused into fMRI data. To explore this kind of research into electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, this paper investigates the identification of ScZ EEG signals using dynamic functional connectivity analysis and deep learning methods. A time-frequency domain functional connectivity analysis through cross mutual information algorithm is proposed to extract the features in alpha band (8-12 Hz) of each subject. A 3D convolutional neural network technique was applied to classify the ScZ subjects and health control (HC) subjects. The LMSU public ScZ EEG dataset is employed to evaluate the proposed method, and a 97.74 ± 1.15% accuracy, 96.91 ± 2.76% sensitivity and 98.53 ± 1.97% specificity results were achieved in this study. In addition, we also found not only the default mode network region but also the connectivity between temporal lobe and posterior temporal lobe in both right and left side have significant difference between the ScZ and HC subjects.

A tumor-targetable probe based on europium(III)/gadolinium(III) complex-conjugated transferrin for dual-modal time-gated luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging of cancerous cells in vitro and in vivo

The synergy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and time-gated luminescence imaging (TGLI) provides a robust platform with extensive spatial resolution (from submicrometer to hundred-micron) and unlimited penetration depth for visual detection of lesion tissues and target biomolecules. In this work, highly stable lanthanide (Eu³⁺ and Gd³⁺) complexes with a terpyridine polyacid ligand, CNSTTA-Ln³⁺, were chosen as signal reporters for TGLI (Ln³⁺ = Eu³⁺) and MRI (Ln³⁺ = Gd³⁺), respectively. After conjugating CNSTTA-Ln³⁺ with a tumor-targetable glycoprotein, transferrin (Tf), the obtained bioconjugate, showed low cytotoxicity and high stability and exhibited strong long-lived luminescence (Tf-CNSTTA-Eu³⁺, ϕ = 10.8%, τ = 1.27 ms), high magnetic resonance relaxivity (Tf-CNSTTA-Gd³⁺, r₁ = 8.70 mM^-1 s^-1, r₂ = 10.90 mM^-1 s^-1), and high binding affinity toward Tf receptor-overexpressed cancerous cells. On the basis of these features, a tumor-targetable probe was constructed by simply mixing Tf-CNSTTA-Eu³⁺ and Tf-CNSTTA-Gd³⁺, and successfully used for the bimodal TGLI and MRI of tumor cells in tumor-bearing mice. The bimodal imaging simultaneously provided the anatomical and molecular information of the tumor, which enabled the accuracy for tumor diagnosis to be mutually verified, and revealed the potential of Tf-CNSTTA-Gd³⁺/Eu³⁺ for the monitoring of cancer cells in vivo.

[Mercury Pollution in Dryland Soil and Evaluation of Maize Safety Production in Guizhou Province]

Guizhou Province is the province with the largest Hg production and reserves in China, and maize is the second largest grain crop in Guizhou Province. It is necessary to identify the status of soil Hg content in Guizhou Province and evaluate the safety of maize production. A total of 990 soil-maize samples and 270 single soil samples were collected in the main maize-producing areas to determine soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter content (SOM), as well as Hg content in soil and maize. The results showed that the pH of dryland soil in Guizhou Province ranged from 3.93 to 9.82, the geometric mean of ω(SOM) was 27.5 g·kg^-1, and the geometric mean of CEC was 11.7 cmol·kg^-1. Soil ω(Hg) ranged from 0.005 to 686 mg·kg^-1, the geometric mean was 0.632 mg·kg^-1, and the over-standard rate was 7.22%. Among them, the soil Hg pollution in Tongren was the most prominent, with the exceedance rate of 21.3%. At the county level, Danzhai County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, and Tongren City Wanshan District and Bijiang District had high exceedance rates of Hg. According to the Limit of Pollutants in Food according to National Standards for Food Safety (GB 2762-2017), the exceedance rate of Hg content in maize grains was 1.11%, and the exceedance points were mainly distributed around industrial and mining activity areas such as Wanshan District in Tongren City and Xixiu District in Anshun City. According to the results, there was serious soil Hg pollution in Guizhou Province. On the whole, maize can be safely planted, but it is necessary to pay close attention to the Hg content in grains and the Hg exposure risk of residents around industrial and mining areas.

[Prevalence and trends of anemia among pregnant women in eight provinces of China from 2016 to 2020]

This study analyzed the anemia status and change trend of 219 835 pregnant women in eight provinces from 2016 to 2020 in the Maternal and Newborn Health Monitoring Program(MNHMP). The results showed that from 2016 to 2020, the anemia rate of pregnant women in eight provinces was 41.27%, and the rates of mild, moderate and severe anemia were 28.56%, 12.59% and 0.12% respectively; the anemia rates in eastern, central and western regions were 41.87%, 36.09% and 44.63% respectively, and the anemia rates in urban and rural areas were 39.87% and 42.23%. From 2016 to 2020, the anemia rate of pregnant women decreased from 44.93% to 38.22%, with an average annual decline of 3.86% (95%CI:-5.84%, -1.85%). The anemia rate among pregnant women of the eastern region (AAPC=-6.16%, 95%CI:-9.79%, -2.38%) fell faster than that among pregnant women of the central region (AAPC=0.71%, 95%CI:-6.59%, 8.57%) and western region (AAPC=-1.53%, 95%CI:-5.19%, 2.28%). From 2016 to 2020, the moderate anemia rate in pregnant women decreased from 14.98% to 10.74%, with an average annual decline of 8.72% (95%CI:-12.90%, -4.34%), with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05); AAPC for mild and severe anemia in pregnant women was 1.56% (95%CI: 3.44%, 0.36%) and 18.86% (95%CI: 39.88%, 9.52%), respectively, without statistically significant difference (P>0.05).

Study on the Utilization of Waste Thermoset Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer in Normal Strength Concrete and Controlled Low Strength Material

Thermoset glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP) have been widely used in manufacturing and construction for nearly half a century, but the large amount of waste produced by this material is difficult to dispose of. In an effort to address this issue, this research investigates the reuse of thermoset GFRP waste in normal strength concrete (NSC) and controlled low-strength materials (CLSM). The mechanical performance and workability of the resulting concrete were also evaluated. To prepare the concrete specimens, the thermoset GFRP waste was first pulverized into granular pieces, which were then mixed with cement, fly ash, and water to form cylindrical concrete specimens. The results showed that when the proportion of thermoset GFRP waste aggregate in the concrete increased, the compressive strengths of NSC and CLSM would decrease. However, when incorporating 5% GFRP waste into CLSM, the compressive strength was 7% higher than concrete without GFRP. However, the workability of CLSM could be improved to meet engineering standards by adding an appropriate amount of superplasticizer. This finding suggests that the use of various combinations of proportions in the mixture during production could allow for the production of CLSM with different compressive strength needs. In addition, the use of recycled thermoset GFRP waste as a new aggregate replacement for traditional aggregates in CLSM was found to be a more sustainable alternative to the current CLSM combinations used in the market.

In Situ Enhanced Yields of Microbial Nanowires: The Key Role of Environmental Stress

The conductive microbial nanowires of Geobacter sulfurreducens serve as a model for long-range extracellular electron transfer (EET), which is considered a revolutionary "green" nanomaterial in the fields of bioelectronics, renewable energy, and bioremediation. However, there is no efficient pathway to induce microorganisms to express a large amount of microbial nanowires. Here, several strategies have been used to successfully induce the expression of microbial nanowires. Microbial nanowire expression was closely related to the concentration of electron acceptors. The microbial nanowire was around 17.02 μm in length, more than 3 times compared to its own length. The graphite electrode was used as an alternative electron acceptor by G. sulfurreducens, which obtained a fast start-up time of 44 h in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Meanwhile, Fe(III) citrate-coated sugarcane carbon and biochar were prepared to test the applicability of these strategies in the actual microbial community. The unsatisfied EET efficiency between c-type cytochrome and extracellular insoluble electron receptors promoted the expression of microbial nanowires. Hence, microbial nanowires were proposed to be an effective survival strategy for G. sulfurreducens to cope with various environmental stresses. Based on this top-down strategy of artificially constructed microbial environmental stress, this study is of great significance for exploring more efficient methods to induce microbial nanowires expression.

CHCHD2 p.Thr61Ile knock-in mice exhibit motor defects and neuropathological features of Parkinson's disease

The p.Thr61Ile (p.T61I) mutation in coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 2 (CHCHD2) was deemed a causative factor in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the pathomechanism of the CHCHD2 p.T61I mutation in PD remains unclear. Few existing mouse models of CHCHD2-related PD completely reproduce the features of PD, and no transgenic or knock-in (KI) mouse models of CHCHD2 mutations have been reported. In the present study, we generated a novel CHCHD2 p.T61I KI mouse model, which exhibited accelerated mortality, progressive motor deficits, and dopaminergic (DA) neurons loss with age, accompanied by the accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein and p-α-synuclein in the brains of the mutant mice. The mitochondria of mouse brains and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived DA neurons carrying the CHCHD2 p.T61I mutation exhibited aberrant morphology and impaired function. Mechanistically, proteomic and RNA sequencing analysis revealed that p.T61I mutation induced mitochondrial dysfunction in aged mice likely through repressed insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) expression, resulting in the degeneration of the nervous system. Overall, this CHCHD2 p.T61I KI mouse model recapitulated the crucial clinical and neuropathological aspects of patients with PD and provided a novel tool for understanding the pathogenic mechanism and therapeutic interventions of CHCHD2-related PD.

Comparative study of pathological response evaluation systems after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: developing predictive models of multimodal ultrasound features including shear wave elastography combined with puncture pathology

Background

This study created a predictive preoperative nomogram dependent on multimodal ultrasound characteristics and primary lesion biopsy results for various pathologic response assessment systems following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

This retrospective study included 145 breast cancer patients treated at Gansu Cancer Hospital between January 2021 and June 2022 who underwent shear wave elastography (SWE) prior to completing NAC. Intra- and peritumoral SWE features, including maximum (Emax), mean (Emean), minimum (Emin), and standard deviation (Esd) elasticity, were measured individually and linked with the Miller-Payne grading system and residual cancer burden (RCB) class. Univariate analysis was used for conventional ultrasound and puncture pathology. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to screen for independent risk factors and to develop a prediction model.

Results

Intratumor Emean and peritumoral Esd differed significantly from the Miller-Payne grade [intratumor Emean: r=0.129, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.002 to 0.260; P=0.042; peritumoral Esd: r=0.126, 95% CI: -0.010 to 0.254; P=0.047], RCB class (intratumor Emean: r=-0.184, 95% CI: -0.318 to -0.047; P=0.004; peritumoral Esd: r=-0.139, 95% CI: -0.265 to 0.000; P=0.029) and RCB score components (r=-0.277 to -0.139; P=0.001-0.041). Two prediction model nomograms-pathologic complete response (pCR)/non-pCR and good responder/nonresponder-for the RCB class were developed using binary logistic regression analysis for all significant variables in SWE, conventional ultrasound, and puncture results. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the pCR/non-pCR and good responder/nonresponder models was 0.855 (95% CI: 0.787-0.922) and 0.845 (95% CI: 0.780-0.910), respectively. According to the calibration curve, the nomogram had excellent internal consistency between estimated and actual values.

Conclusions

The preoperative nomogram can effectively guide clinicians to predict pathological response of breast cancer after NAC and has the potential to guide individualized treatment.

[Expert consensus on late stage of critical care management]

We wished to establish an expert consensus on late stage of critical care (CC) management. The panel comprised 13 experts in CC medicine. Each statement was assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) principle. Then, the Delphi method was adopted by 17 experts to reassess the following 28 statements. (1) ESCAPE has evolved from a strategy of delirium management to a strategy of late stage of CC management. (2) The new version of ESCAPE is a strategy for optimizing treatment and comprehensive care of critically ill patients (CIPs) after the rescue period, including early mobilization, early rehabilitation, nutritional support, sleep management, mental assessment, cognitive-function training, emotional support, and optimizing sedation and analgesia. (3) Disease assessment to determine the starting point of early mobilization, early rehabilitation, and early enteral nutrition. (4) Early mobilization has synergistic effects upon the recovery of organ function. (5) Early functional exercise and rehabilitation are important means to promote CIP recovery, and gives them a sense of future prospects. (6) Timely start of enteral nutrition is conducive to early mobilization and early rehabilitation. (7) The spontaneous breathing test should be started as soon as possible, and a weaning plan should be selected step-by-step. (8) The waking process of CIPs should be realized in a planned and purposeful way. (9) Establishment of a sleep-wake rhythm is the key to sleep management in post-CC management. (10) The spontaneous awakening trial, spontaneous breathing trial, and sleep management should be carried out together. (11) The depth of sedation should be adjusted dynamically in the late stage of CC period. (12) Standardized sedation assessment is the premise of rational sedation. (13) Appropriate sedative drugs should be selected according to the objectives of sedation and drug characteristics. (14) A goal-directed minimization strategy for sedation should be implemented. (15) The principle of analgesia must be mastered first. (16) Subjective assessment is preferred for analgesia assessment. (17) Opioid-based analgesic strategies should be selected step-by-step according to the characteristics of different drugs. (18) There must be rational use of non-opioid analgesics and non-drug-based analgesic measures. (19) Pay attention to evaluation of the psychological status of CIPs. (20) Cognitive function in CIPs cannot be ignored. (21) Delirium management should be based on non-drug-based measures and rational use of drugs. (22) Reset treatment can be considered for severe delirium. (23) Psychological assessment should be conducted as early as possible to screen-out high-risk groups with post-traumatic stress disorder. (24) Emotional support, flexible visiting, and environment management are important components of humanistic management in the intensive care unit (ICU). (25) Emotional support from medical teams and families should be promoted through"ICU diaries"and other forms. (26) Environmental management should be carried out by enriching environmental content, limiting environmental interference, and optimizing the environmental atmosphere. (27) Reasonable promotion of flexible visitation should be done on the basis of prevention of nosocomial infection. (28) ESCAPE is an excellent project for late stage of CC management.

Stress hyperglycemia predicts early neurological deterioration and poor outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarct

AIM

The goal of this study was to determine whether the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is associated with early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarct (SSI).

METHODS

For this study, we prospectively enrolled patients with SSI admitted between 2015 and 2021. SHR was distributed in quartiles according to the size of each subgroup. END was defined as an increase of ≥ 2 total points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or ≥ 1 point in the motor items of the NIHSS within 7 days of hospital admission. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate patient prognosis. Good and poor outcomes were defined as mRS scores ≤ 2 and > 2, respectively. The relationships between SHR and risk of END as well as outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 1049 patients with SSI with an average age of 59.49 years met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The incidence of END markedly increased with increasing SHR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the highest SHR quartile was independently associated with an increased risk of both END (OR 4.04, 95% CI, 2.43-6.69, P < 0.001) and 3-month poor outcomes (OR 2.34, 95% CI, 1.44-3.82, P = 0.001), compared to the lowest quartile. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the SHR based on the area under the curve showed a diagnostic accuracy equal or greater than fasting plasma glucose .

CONCLUSION

SHR is a reliable predictor of END and poor outcomes in patients with SSI.

Water State-Driven Catalytic Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane on Cu3P-Carbon Dot-Cu Composite

Hydrogen production from ammonia borane (AB) is usually governed by water activation, which is not only energy-intensive but also requires expensive and complicated catalysts. We here propose an integrated photocatalytic-photothermal system that dramatically improves water activation and lowers the transport resistance of H₂ by means of intermediate state water evaporation. This system is constructed by covering nanocomposites (Cu₃P-carbon dots-Cu) upon vertically aligned acetate fibers (VAAFs). As a result of superior hydration effect of VAAFs and local photothermal heating for rapid water evaporation, its hydrogen production efficiency from AB hydrolysis reaches over 10 times the particulate suspension system under solar irradiation. Mechanism analysis reveals that the rapid vaporization of intermediate water promotes the cleavages of O-H bonds in bound water and the adsorption reaction of AB and water molecules at active sites. Therefore, this work provides a novel approach to optimize catalytic reaction in thermodynamics and kinetics for the hydrolysis of AB.