A machine learning and experimental-based model for prediction of soil sorption capacity toward phenanthrene

Sorption by soil is the fundamental basis for environment fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs), which varies significantly depending on diverse properties of soils. Therefore, a generalized approach to predict HOC sorption by soils is required. In this study, 488 data points were extracted from references and adopted to develop models for estimating the sorption capacities of phenanthrene in soils using six different machine learning (ML) approaches. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBT) model demonstrated the most favorable performance, achieving a coefficient of determination of 0.91 and root-mean-square errors of 0.24 for the testing dataset. The XGBT model's performance was further demonstrated by comparing with experimental data from batch sorption tests conducted on 20 soil samples collected from 17 provinces of China. The differences between the predicted values and the experimental values were statistically equal to zero (p = 0.14). Leveraging the XBGT model together with soil properties from the Harmonized World Soil Database, the distribution of sorption capacities in Chinese soils was successfully depicted on a national scale. This research is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the migration of persistent organic pollutants in terrestrial system. Furthermore, the established model holds implications for more precise and scientific soil environmental management.

The effects of self-esteem and parental phubbing on adolescent internet addiction and the moderating role of the classroom environment: a hierarchical linear model analysis

BACKGROUND

With the advent of the new media era, the understanding of adolescent internet addiction needs to be enriched. It is also necessary to distinguish the related factors of adolescent internet addiction at different levels to clarify the mechanisms of this phenomenon.

METHODS

This study used hierarchical linear model analysis to explore the effects of student-level factors and school-level factors on adolescent internet addiction, along with cross-level moderating effects. A total of 1,912 students between the 4th and 8th grades in China participated in the study. Participants completed the Self-Esteem Scale, Parents Phubbing Scale, Classroom Environment Scale, and the Diagnostic Questionnaire of Internet Addiction.

RESULTS

Correlational analyses revealed that internet addiction was found to be negatively correlated with both self-esteem and the teacher-student relationship (p < 0.01), while father phubbing, mother phubbing, and learning burden were shown to positively correlate with internet addiction (p < 0.01). Hierarchical linear model analysis suggested that student-level variables, including self-esteem, and mother phubbing, were significant predictors of internet addiction (β = -0.077, p < 0.001 and β = 0.028, p < 0.01, respectively). At the school level, learning burden significantly and negatively predicted internet addiction (β = 0.073, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the relationship between self-esteem and internet addiction was significantly moderated by learning burden (β = -0.007, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the teacher-student relationship also had a significant moderating effect on the association between mother phubbing and internet addiction (β = -0.005, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the relationships between self-esteem, parental phubbing, and classroom environment with adolescent internet addiction, and these findings could provide insights into reducing adolescent internet addiction from the perspective of individuals, families, and schools.

Anionic Anchoring Enhanced Quasi Solid Composite Polymer Electrolytes for High Performance Lithium Metal Battery

Herein, ZIF-8 inorganic particles with different sized reinforced poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) solid composite polymer electrolytes (PVDF-HFP/10%ZIF-8) were prepared via a facile blade-coating approach, and free-standing quasi solid-state composite electrolytes (PVDF-HFP/10%ZIF-8(0.6)/Plasticizer, abbreviated as PH/10%ZIF-8(0.6)/P), were further obtained through the introduction of plasticizer. Optimized PH/10%ZIF-8(0.6)/P exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 2.8 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 30 °C, and superior Li+ transfer number of 0.89 with an ultrathin thickness (26 µm). Therefore, PH/10%ZIF-8(0.6)/P could effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites, and the assembled Li/LiFePO4 cell delivered good cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 89.1% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Esophageal Atresia - Performance and Consequences

BACKGROUND

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital malformations is considered favorable. Esophageal atresia (EA) is prenatally detected in 10-40% of patients. The aims of our study were to assess factors influencing the prenatal detection rate and to study the outcome in EA patients with and without prenatal diagnosis.

METHOD

We included 136 patients in two time periods, group 1 (1996-2002, n = 68) and group 2 (2014-2020, n = 68). We registered clinical variables; prenatal signs, perinatal and postnatal outcome from the electronic patient record.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients (18%) had a prenatal diagnosis of EA, significantly more during 2014-2020 (28%), than during 1996-2002 (9%). Patients with EA type A or B and with associated anomalies had increased likelihood of prenatal diagnosis, odds ratio (OR) 9.00 (1.99-40.69) and 3.53 (1.24-10.06), respectively. Among the 25 patients with prenatal diagnosis all had polyhydramnios and 16 had small/absent stomach. Prenatally diagnosed patients arrived significantly earlier at the surgical unit (median 2 h (2 h-1 days) vs 21 h (2 h-1275 days)), had more delayed primary anastomosis (OR 8.80 (2.68-28.92)) and anastomotic stricture (OR 3.11 (1.20-8.04)), longer length of stay (median 62 days (11-212 days) vs 20 days (2-270 days)) and longer time on ventilator (median 5 days (1-25 days) vs 1.5 days (0.5-33 days)) compared to patients without prenatal diagnosis. In multivariate analysis prenatal diagnosis predicts length of stay.

CONCLUSION

Prenatally diagnosed EA patients have more; type A and B malformations, associated anomalies and neonatal morbidity. Consequences of the assumed benefits of prenatal diagnosis; opportunity of early arrival to surgical care and prenatal counselling, must be further studied.

Risk and Protective Factors Associated With Smartphone Addiction and Phubbing Behavior Among College Students in China

Both smartphone addiction and phubbing are emerging behavioral problems. The present study investigates potential risk and protective factors of smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior, including demographic factors, personal factors, and interpersonal factors among Chinese college students. A total of 866 college students (Mage = 21.01, SD = 1.60) completed self-reported questionnaires in classroom settings. Collected data were analyzed by using Pearson's correlation and hierarchical linear regression analyses. The risk factors for smartphone addiction were phubbing behavior, depression, and social anxiety, while the protective factors were self-control and sense of security. In addition, the risk factors for phubbing behavior included female sex and smartphone addiction, while the protective factors included sense of security and interpersonal adaptability. Our findings help to enhance understanding of the general and specific risks and protective factors for smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior, which can benefit intervention development for related behavior prevention and reduction.

The association between mammographic density and breast cancer molecular subtypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the whether high mammographic density (MD) is differentially associated with all subtypes of breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched systematically in October 2022 to include all studies that investigated the association between MD and breast cancer subtype. Aggregate data of 17,193 breast cancer cases from 23 studies were selected, including five cohort/case-control and 18 case-only studies. The relative risk (RR) of MD were combined using random/fixed effects models for case-control studies, and for case-only studies, relative risk ratios (RRRs) were a combination of luminal A, luminal B, and HER2-positive versus triple-negative tumours.

RESULTS

Women in the highest density category in case-control/cohort studies had a 2.24-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53, 3.28), 1.81-fold (95% CI 1.15, 2.85), 1.44-fold (95% CI 1.14, 1.81), and 1.59-fold (95% CI 0.89, 2.85) higher risk of triple-negative, HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) positive, luminal A, and luminal B breast cancer compared to women in the lowest density category. RRRs for breast tumours being luminal A, luminal B, and HER-2 positive versus triple-negative in case-only studies were 1.62 (95% CI 1.14, 2.31), 1.81 (95% CI 1.22, 2.71) and 2.58 (95% CI 1.63, 4.08), respectively, for BIRADS 4 versus BIRADS 1.

CONCLUSION

The evidence indicates MD is a potent risk factor for the majority of breast cancer subtypes to different degrees. Increased MD is more strongly linked to HER-2-positive cancers compared to other breast cancer subtypes. The application of MD as a subtype-specific risk marker may facilitate the creation of personalised risk prediction models and screening procedures.

Aqueous Supramolecular Binder for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Developing an advanced electrode structure is highly important for obtaining lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries with long life, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Some bottlenecks, such as large volume deformation and environmental pollution caused by the electrode preparation process, are still hindering the practical application of Li-S batteries. In this work, a new water-soluble, green, and environmentally friendly supramolecular binder (HUG) is successfully synthesized by modifying natural biopolymer (guar gum, GG) with HDI-UPy (cyanate containing pyrimidine groups). HUG can effectively resist electrode bulk deformation through a the unique three-dimensional nanonet-structure formed via covalent bonds and multiple hydrogen bonds. In addition, abundant polar groups of HUG have good adsorption properties for polysulfide and can inhibit the shuttle movement of polysulfide ions. Therefore, Li-S cell with HUG exhibits a high reversible capacity of 640 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles at 1C with a Coulombic efficiency of 99%.

Low temperature synthesis of carbon dots in microfluidic chip and their application for sensing cefquinome residues in milk

In this study, the N-doped carbon dots were continuously synthesized by a facile microfluidic strategy at 90 °C, and their quantum yields reached 19.2%. The characteristics of the obtained carbon dots could be real-time monitored in order to synthesize carbon dots with specific properties. By incorporating the carbon dots into a well-established enzymatic cascade amplification system, an inner filter effect-based fluorescence immunoassay was set up for ultrasensitive detection of cefquinome residues in milk samples. The developed fluorescence immunoassay provided a low detection limit of 0.78 ng/mL, which satisfied the maximum residue limit set by authorities. The fluorescence immunoassay had an 50% inhibition concentration of 0.19 ng/mL against cefquinome and showed a good linear relationship from 0.013 ng/mL to 1.52 ng/mL. While, the average recovery values ranged from 77.8% to 107.8% in spiked milk samples, with relative standard deviations ranging from 6.8% to 10.9%. Compared with conventional methods, the microfluidic chip was more flexible on carbon dots synthesis and the developed fluorescence immunoassay was more sensitive and eco-friendlier for ultra-trace cefquinome residue analysis.

Improvement in Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture rates by bedside inoculation and incubation at a clinic for sexually transmitted infections

BACKGROUND

Culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is essential for surveillance of complete antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. In 2014, the culture success rate of N. gonorrhoeae from samples taken at the clinic for sexually transmitted infections (STI clinic), Oslo University Hospital, Norway, was only 20%. The present study aimed to improve gonococcal culture rates using bedside inoculation of patient samples on gonococcal agar plates and incubation at the STI clinic.

METHODS

This prospective quality improvement study was conducted by the STI clinic and the Department of Microbiology at Oslo University Hospital from May 2016 - October 2017. When culture of N. gonorrhoeae was clinically indicated, we introduced a parallel 'bedside culture' at the STI clinic and compared results with the standard culture at the microbiology department. Samples were taken from urethra, anorectum, pharynx and cervix. Culture rates were compared across symptomatic and asymptomatic anatomical sites.

RESULTS

From 596 gonococcal-positive PCR samples, bedside culture had a significantly higher success rate of 57% compared to 41% with standard culture (p < 0.05). Overall, culture rate from symptomatic sites was 91% v. 45% from asymptomatic sites. The culture rates from different anatomical sites were as follows: urethra 93%, anorectum 64%, pharynx 28% and cervix 70%. Bedside culture significantly (p < 0.05) improved the culture rates for symptomatic urethral and asymptomatic pharyngeal samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Where feasible, bedside inoculation on gonococcal agar plates and incubation of samples from patients with gonorrhoea is recommended. This will improve the culture diagnostics and provide additional gonococcal isolates for antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Development of alginate-based hydrogels: Crosslinking strategies and biomedical applications

Natural polysaccharide-based hydrogels have drawn much concern in the biomedical fields. Among them, alginate, a natural polyanionic polysaccharide, has become one of the research hotspots, because of its abundant source, biodegradability, biocompatibility, solubility, modification flexibility, and other characteristics or physiological functions. Recently, through adopting various physical or chemical crosslinking strategies, selecting suitable crosslinking or modification reagents, precisely controlling the reaction conditions, or introducing organic or inorganic functional materials, a variety of alginate-based hydrogels with excellent performance have been continuously developed, considerably expanding the breadth and depth of their applications. Here, various crosslinking strategies in the preparation of alginate-based hydrogels are comprehensively introduced. The representative application progress of alginate-based hydrogels in drug carrier, wound dressing and tissue engineering is also summarized. Meanwhile, the application prospects, challenges and development trends of alginate-based hydrogels are discussed. It is expected to provide guidance and reference for the further development of alginate-based hydrogels.

A cross-lagged study of the associations among problematic smartphone use, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in chinese university students

The present study aimed to investigate the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships among problematic smartphone use (PSU), depressive symptoms (DS), and suicidal ideation (SI) in Chinese university students. Using a cross-lagged design, the Mobile Phone Addiction Inventory Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Self-Rating Idea of Suicide Scale as research instruments, 194 university students completed a questionnaire four consecutive times. June of Year 1, December of Year 2, June of Year 2, and December of Year 3 of their college study. We refer to these as the Time 1 (T1), Time 2 (T2), Time 3 (T3), and Time 4 (T4) assessments, respectively. The levels of PSU and DS fluctuated significantly over time. DS at T1 was significantly predicted to influence SI at T2 (β = 0.17, p < .05); DS at T3 was significantly predicted by PSU and by SI at T2 (respectively, β = 0.30, p < .05; β = 0.21, p < .05); DS at T2 significantly predicted PSU at T3 (β = 0.14, p < .05); and DS at T3 significantly predicted SI at T4 (β = 0.14, p < .05) in the cross-lagged pathway. DS at T3 fully mediated the relationship between PSU at T2 and SI at T4 (indirect effect: β = 0.133, 95% CI = [0.063, 0.213]). The results suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between PSU and DS and, furthermore, that DS plays an important mediating role between PSU and SI. Our results suggest the importance of early identification and treatment of SI. Timely reduction of PSU and improvement of DS among university students may help prevent SI.

Distinct patterns of problematic smartphone use and related factors in Chinese college students

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to categorize different subgroups of problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students. Differences in gender and psychosocial characteristics of the categorized groups were also examined.

METHODS

A total of 1123 participants completed the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Using latent profile analysis, we identified different subgroups of problematic smartphone use in college students. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was implemented to examine the relationship between latent classes and demographic and psychosocial covariates.

RESULTS

The four following latent classes were identified: a low-risk group, a moderate-risk with no evasiveness group, a moderate-risk with evasiveness group, and high-risk group that accounted for 11%, 24.1%, 35.5%, and 29.4% of the total sample, respectively. Further analysis revealed that female participants were more likely to be in the moderate-risk with evasiveness and high-risk groups, and individuals with depressed mood were more likely to be in the moderate-risk and high-risk groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Classifying college students according to the features of problematic smartphone use is potentially useful for understanding risk factors and developing targeted prevention and intervention programs.

Wireless Flexible Magnetic Tactile Sensor with Super-Resolution in Large-Areas

Tactile recognition is among the basic survival skills of human beings, and advances in tactile sensor technology have been adopted in various fields, bringing benefits such as outstanding performance in manipulating objects and general human-robot interactions. However, promoting enhanced perception of the existing tactile sensors is limited by their sensor array arrangement and wire-connected design. Here we present a wireless flexible magnetic tactile sensor (FMTS) consisting of a multidirection magnetized flexible film (perception module) and a contactless Hall sensor (signal receiving module). The flexible magnetic film is composed of NdFeB microparticles and soft silicone elastomer microparticles, and it transfers the unambiguous transduction of external force position and magnitude into magnetic signals. Benefiting from the specific magnetization arrangement and clustering algorithm, only one Hall sensor is needed in FMTS to perceive the magnitude and position of the contact spot simultaneously with super-resolution (2.1 mm average error) on a large area (3600 mm²), and the effective working distance is also greatly extended (∼30 mm), allowing for the full softness and adaptability to diverse conditions. We anticipate that this design will promote the development of soft tactile sensors and their integration into human-robot interaction and humanoid robot perception.

Advances in physiological mechanisms of selenium to improve heavy metal stress tolerance in plants

Selenium (Se) is a metalloid mineral nutrient for human and animal health. Plants are the main foodstuff source of the Se intake of humans. For plants, the addition of an appropriate amount of Se could promotes growth and development, and improves the tolerance to environmental stress, especially stress from some of heavy metals (HM) stress, such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg). This paper mainly reviews and summarizes the physiological mechanism of Se in enhancing HM stress tolerance in plants. The antagonistic effect of Se on HM is a comprehensive effect that includes many physiological mechanisms. Se can promote the removal of excessive reactive oxygen species and reduce the oxidative damage of plant cells under HM elements stress. Se participates in the regulation of the transportation and distribution of HM ions in plants, and alleviates the damage caused by of HM stress. Moreover, Se combine with HM elements to form Se-HM complexes and promote the production of phytochelatins (PCs), thereby reducing the accumulation of HM ions in plants. Overall, Se plays an important role in plant response to HM stress, but current studies mainly focus on physiological mechanism, and further in-depth study on the molecular mechanism is essential to confirm the participation of Se in plant response to environmental stress. This review helps to comprehensively understand the physiological mechanism of Se in plant tolerance against to HM stress of plants, and provides important theoretical support for the practical application of Se in environmental remediation and agricultural development.

CircLIFR Inhibits Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Progression by Acting as a miR-429 Sponge to Enhance CELF2 Expression

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading reason for tumor-related mortality, while non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most usual type of lung cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as vital regulators in the development of human cancers, including NSCLC. We aimed to explore the functions of circRNA leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (circLIFR) in NSCLC progression. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to quantify the expression of circLIFR, microRNA-429 (miR-429), and Elav-like family member 2 (CELF2) in NSCLC tissues and cells. Cell proliferation capability of NSCLC cells was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays. The flow cytometry assay was performed to evaluate cell-cycle distribution and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. The abilities of migration and invasion were measured by transwell assay. In addition, the activities of caspase 3 and caspase 9 were measured by the assay kits. The interaction relationship between miR-429 and circLIFR or CELF2 was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays. The expression levels of related proteins were examined by Western Blot assay. The xenograft experiment was established to explore the role of circLIFR in vivo. CircLIFR, circular, and stable transcript in NSCLC cells, was decreased more than 2 folds in NSCLC tissues and cells than controls (P < 0.0001). Importantly, overexpression of circLIFR impeded cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inactivated protein kinase B (AKT)/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-signaling pathways while enhanced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in NSCLC cells, which was overturned by upregulation of miR-429 or silencing of CELF2. Furthermore, the upregulation of circLIFR inhibited NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Overexpression of circLIFR could suppress NSCLC progress by acting as a sponge of miR-429 to regulate the expression of CELF2 and PTEN/AKT-signaling pathways in NSCLC.

Do Attitudes, Mental Health Status, and Interpersonal Factors Predict COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy at the Early Phase of the Pandemic? A Longitudinal Study in Chinese College Students

Purpose

The present study examined whether and how attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., safety, efficacy, and price), mental health statuses (i.e., perceived stress and depression), and interpersonal factors (i.e., online social support, perceived social support) would predict COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Patients and methods

The two-wave longitudinal surveys were conducted in December 2019 and 2020 in Chinese medical college students (N = 194). Well- validated measures were used, including the Perceived Stress Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Online Social Support Questionnaire, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Perceived safety, efficacy, price of COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, and actual intake were also measured.

Results

Only 2.1% of participants had been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic; 13.4% intended to get vaccinated in the next 3 months, and 66% intended to have it in the next 12 months upon follow-up. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived stress (βm = -0.15, p < 0.05) and depression (βm = -0.15, p < 0.05) were risk factors for positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine; online social support (ORm = 1.41, p < 0.01) and positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine (ORm = 1.83, p < 0.01) were protective factors of intention to get vaccinated in future.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that intervention efforts should be made to reduce negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine among people with poor mental health and enhance online social support to promote COVID-19 vaccination.

[Mapping Regulatory Elements within 5' and 3' UTRs of SIGLEC15 with a Use of Reporter System]

Siglec-15 is an immune suppressor with broad upregulation on various cancer types and has emerged as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. However, it remains unclear how SIGLEC15 expression is controlled in normal or cancer cells. In this work, we utilized reporter assays to evaluate the impact of the 5' UTR and the 3' UTR of SIGLEC15 mRNA on gene expression. We found that the 3' UTR dramatically reduced reporter protein production, whereas the 5' UTR showed modest inhibitory effect. Quantification of steady-state mRNA revealed the good coupling of protein amount and mRNA abundance that was associated with the 3' UTR. In contrast, the 5' UTR had little effect on mRNA abundance compared with the empty control. By measuring mRNA half-life, we showed that the 3' UTR markedly promoted mRNA degradation. Testing shortened 3' UTR fragments demonstrated five out of the six having notable inhibitory effect, with the one spanning 993-1317 had the most robust activity. More interestingly, the 993-1317 region contains a predicted 43-nt stem-loop structure that showed apparent inhibitory activity in four cell lines tested. These results suggested that the 3' UTR inhibited reporter gene expression by accelerating mRNA decay possibly via multiple cis-regulatory elements, but the 5' UTR repressed gene expression by inhibiting translation. Thus, our findings provided a clue to the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of SIGLEC15 expression.

Longitudinal relationships among perceived stress, suicidal ideation and sleep quality in Chinese undergraduates: A cross-lagged model

BACKGROUND

Sleep quality is an important indicator of quality of life. It is of importance to investigate the risk factors and potential consequences of poor sleep quality, such as perceived stress and suicidal ideation. We therefore investigated the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships among perceived stress, suicidal ideation, and sleep quality.

METHODS

A three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted from June 2019 to June 2020 at six-month intervals in undergraduate students (N = 197, 58.9% female) in China. The participants completed self-report questionnaires in classroom settings.

RESULTS

While the levels of perceived stress were stable, levels of suicidal ideation and sleep quality fluctuated significantly over time. There were significant reciprocal relationships between perceived stress and suicidal ideation from T1 to T3. In addition, the reciprocal relationships between suicidal ideation and sleep quality from T1 to T2 were also significant. Suicidal ideation at T2 partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress at T1 and sleep quality at T3 (indirect effect: β=0.06, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.10, p<0.001), and suicidal ideation at T2 fully mediated the relationship between sleep quality at T1 and perceived stress at T3 (indirect effect: β=0.48, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.70, p<0.001).

LIMITATIONS

The subjects' educational background is single, and the measurement method is self-report measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicidal ideation may play a significant role in explaining the longitudinal relationships between perceived stress and sleep quality. And suggest the importance of early identification and treatment of suicidal ideation among Chinese undergraduates.

Longitudinal Effects of Stressful Life Events on Problematic Smartphone Use and the Mediating Roles of Mental Health Problems in Chinese Undergraduate Students

Background and Aims: This three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of stressful life events on problematic smartphone use and the mediating roles of mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) in Chinese undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 197 undergraduate students completed the three-wave surveys. Their severity of stressful life events, mental health problems, and problematic smartphone use were assessed. Results: Regression analyses revealed that stressful life events at T1 was significantly associated with problematic smartphone use at T3. Mediation analyses showed that mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) at T2 fully mediated the association between stressful life events at T1 and problematic smartphone use at T3 (B = 0.042, 0.034, and 0.022, respectively). Conclusions: The present study revealed that stressful life events and mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) are predictors of problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students.

Relationship Between Illness Representations and Symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder Among Young People: Cross-Lagged Model

BACKGROUND

The common-sense model of illness suggests that mental representations of health threats may affect one's behavioral reactions to them and health status. Internet gaming disorder is a newly defined mental disorder. Illness representations of internet gaming disorder may affect one's risk of internet gaming disorder. In turn, symptoms of internet gaming disorder may affect one's perceptions of the disorder.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between illness representations and symptoms of internet gaming disorder in college students.

METHODS

A 1-year longitudinal study was conducted with a convenience sample of Chinese college students (n=591; 342/591, 57.9% female).

RESULTS

Of the participants, 10.1% (60/591) and 9.1% (54/591) were classified as having probable internet gaming disorder at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2), respectively. The correlations between some dimensions of illness representations regarding internet gaming disorder (ie, consequence, timeline, personal control, treatment control, and concern) at T1 and symptoms of internet gaming disorder at T2 and between symptoms of internet gaming disorder at T1 and the dimensions of illness representations at T2 (ie, consequence, timeline, personal control, and emotional response) were statistically significant. The cross-lagged model fit the data well ((χ2/df=2.28, comparative fit index=.95, root mean square error of approximation=.06) and showed that internet gaming disorder at T1 was positively associated with unfavorable illness representations at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with more severe symptoms of internet gaming disorder had more pessimistic perceptions about the disorder. Such cognitive perceptions may affect one's emotional and behavioral reactions towards the disorder (eg, greater levels of depression and low self-control intention) and should be modified by educational programs and psychological interventions.

The PKM2 activator TEPP-46 attenuates MCD feeding-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting the activation of Kupffer cells

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of the PKM2 small molecule agonist TEPP-46 on the development of methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, C57BL/6 mice were fed an MCD diet for 15 days to establish a NASH model. The protein expression levels of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), PKM1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and NLRP3 in liver Kupffer cells (KCs) were measured by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence analysis was used to analyze the nuclear translocation of PKM2 in KCs, and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in mouse serum and the cell polarization indexes were determined. The MCD diet-fed mice were injected with 30 mg/kg of TEPP-46 intraperitoneally every 5 days. After 15 days, the liver tissue and peripheral blood were collected for analysis.

RESULTS

We found the NASH model was successfully established after the mice were fed an MCD diet for 15 days. MCD feeding promoted the expression of the PKM2 monomer/dimer and inhibited the expression of the PKM2 tetramer in KCs. Immunofluorescence analysis further confirmed that MCD feeding inhibited the nuclear translocation of PKM2. Besides, MCD feeding promoted the expression of HIF-1α and NLRP3 in KCs, promoted M1 KCs polarization and inhibited M2 KCs polarization. Intraperitoneal injection 30 mg/kg of TEPP-46 significantly inhibited the development of MCD diet-induced NASH, alleviated the pathological changes in the liver, improved liver function, promoted the expression of the PKM2 tetramer in KCs, and inhibited the expression of HIF-1α and NLRP3.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that TEPP-46, a small molecule agonist of PKM2, may inhibit the nuclear translocation of PKM2 and the activation of KCs by promoting the expression of PKM2 tetramers in KCs, thus inhibiting the development of MCD diet-induced NASH in mice.

Effects of Online Social Support and Perceived Social Support on the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Problematic Smartphone Usage Among Chinese Undergraduates

PURPOSE

Recent research has identified a relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage. However, little is known about the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms. The present study aimed to test the relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage as well as the mediating role of online social support and the moderating role of perceived social support among Chinese undergraduates.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A sample of 1123 college students participated in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Online Social Support Questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support Scale were used.

RESULTS

Perceived stress was significantly and positively associated with problematic smartphone usage, and online social support partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage. Moderated mediation analysis suggested that perceived social support moderated the association between perceived stress and online social support. This relationship became stronger for college students with lower levels of perceived social support.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of how perceived stress increases the risk of problematic smartphone usage. The importance of reducing online social support and enhancing perceived social support in preventing undergraduates' problematic smartphone usage is highlighted. The findings should be taken with caution given the convenience sampling and cross-sectional study design.

Evaluating Inoculation Methods to Infect Sugar Beet with Fusarium oxysporum f. betae and F. secorum

Minnesota and North Dakota combined contain 55% of the sugar beet production area in the United States, contributing to 49% of the nation's sugar beet production in 2018. Fusarium diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. betae and F. secorum on sugar beet can cause significant reduction in both root yield and sucrose concentration and purity. The objective of this research was to identify an alternative artificial inoculation method to induce Fusarium diseases on sugar beet leaves and roots caused by both Fusarium spp. in greenhouse conditions to better aid in research efforts. We tested four inoculation methods, including barley to seed, barley to root, drenching, and cutting. and compared them with the conventional root-dipping inoculation method. The inoculation method of placing Fusarium-colonized barley seed close to sugar beet seed (barley to seed) caused levels of symptom severities on both leaves and roots similar to the root-dipping method. Because the traditional root-dipping method involves a laborious transplant process, use of infected barley seed as inoculum may serve as an alternative method in the evaluation of host resistance and pathogen virulence among Fusarium diseases by Fusarium spp. on sugar beet at the seed or seedling stage.

Tadpole-like Unimolecular Nanomotor with Sub-100 nm Size Swims in a Tumor Microenvironment Model

Inspired by the natural motors capable of performing multiple tasks in complex living environments, synthetic nanomotors emerge as a potential vehicle for revolutionizing biomedical processes. Yet current motors suffer from decreased and even completely hindered motion in a complex physiological environment, shadowing the future of this booming field. To address this problem, a unimolecular nanomotor based on molecular bottlebrush (MBB) of sub-100 nm size is reported. This motor is constructed precisely via controlled radical polymerization and click chemistry and propelled with biocompatible catalase. Such a molecular nanomotor possesses tadpole-like asymmetry and is able to overcome Brownian motion, and demonstrates strong directional propulsion (linear and coiled cyclic trajectories) in a viscous tumor microenvironment gel model at an ultralow hydrogen peroxide level of 2 mM (0.006%). In addition, the molecular nanomotor exhibits superior stability in serum containing cell medium and good biocompatibility in blood. Such molecular bottlebrush based nanomotors may represent a unique platform for overcoming the tissue penetration barrier.

Drug Loaded Nanoparticles of Metal-Organic Frameworks with High Colloidal Stability for Anticancer Application

Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks are considered for drug delivery due to their ultrahigh porosity and intrinsic biodegradability. However, the poor colloidal dispersity of these nanocarriers in aqueous media has limited the further applications. In this study, a novel dextran-coated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8/Dex) nanoparticle was synthesized. The hydrated dextran shell, which was linked to frameworks through coordination bonds, improved the dispersity of particle and reduced the side effects caused by rapid disintegration. Furthermore, this nanosystem with pH-sensitive property may serve as a vehicle of doxorubicin hydrochloride with high loading efficiency and controlling release behavior. Interestingly, the drug-loaded nanocomposite (DOX@ZIF-8/Dex) exhibited synergistic anticancer activity against human breast carcinoma multidrug resistant cells, effectively avoided the efflux effect and reduced P-glycoprotein expression. The successful preparation of such therapeutic platforms promotes the clinical application for anti-tumor therapy.

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Myocardial Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition in a Rat Dilated Cardiomyopathy Model

BACKGROUND

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) have been shown to suppress cardiac fibrosis; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a crucial part in myocardial fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated the suppressive role of HuMSCs in cardiac fibrosis and related mechanisms in a rat dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) model.

METHODS

Male Lewis rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Rats without any treatment served as a negative control group, while the DCM rats, which were generated by immunization with porcine myosin, were divided into 2 groups: a HuMSC group, in which HuMSCs (1 × 10⁶ cells/rat) were injected intravenously, and a vehicle group, in which rats were injected with volume-matched solution containing no HuMSCs. Histologic and immunofluorescent measurements were used to evaluate the effects of HuMSCs on cardiac fibrosis and EndMT.

RESULTS

We observed a significant increase in myocardial fibrosis, and elevated EndMT in rats of the vehicle group were observed compared with those in the negative control group along with the increased activity of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 signaling. Treatment with HuMSCs repressed the increase in myocardial fibrosis and EndMT observed in DCM rats, which correlated with decreased activity of TGF-β1/ERK1/2 signaling.

CONCLUSION

The HuMSCs attenuated cardiac fibrosis at least partly through the inhibition of TGF-β/ERK-induced EndMT.

Differential expression profile of hepatic circular RNAs in chronic hepatitis B

CircRNAs exert gene regulatory effects by sequestering target microRNAs (miRNAs) and play a vital role in the onset and development of disease. Until recently, little has been known about the expression, regulation and biological function of circRNAs in both health and chronic hepatitis B (CHB).To identify hepatic circRNAs associated with CHB, we performed RNA sequencing using liver biopsies from untreated CHB patients and controls. We then established a bioinformatics pipeline for identification of CHB-associated circRNAs and in silico analysis of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways. We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm these results. The profiles of hepatic circRNA expression were significantly different in CHB compared with controls, with a total of 99 dysregulated circRNAs identified to be correlated with CHB. Computational analysis of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways revealed a large number of miRNAs (665), which were putatively targeted by the differentially expressed hepatic circRNAs. Interestingly, four of the predicted CHB-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways were found to be involved in the pathogenesis of HBV infection and progression of HBV-associated liver disease. Among these pathways, regression analysis of gene expression revealed a strong positive correlation between hsa_circ_0000650 and TGFβ2 and a negative correlation between hsa_circ_0000650 and miR-6873-3p, which hinted that hsa_circ_0000650 interacted with TGFβ2 mediated by miR-6873-3p. This study firstly demonstrates that patients with CHB present different profiles of hepatic circRNAs and circRNA/miRNA interactions. Thus, circRNAs have promise as novel mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and progression of CHB.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: Development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis e antigen seroconversion

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is considered to have significantly favourable clinical outcomes for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, inconsistent study results suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still occurs in patients with HBeAg seroconversion. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the incidence of HCC in patients with CHB after HBeAg seroconversion. Web of Science, PubMed and Embase databases were searched through January 2017. The incidence of HCC in CHB patients after HBeAg seroconversion was pooled using a random-effects model or fix-effects model. Sixteen studies were finally included, involving 4910 patients with HBeAg seroconversion. The overall pooled proportion suggested that 3.33% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.28%-4.58%) of patients with CHB develop HCC despite HBeAg seroconversion. In patients with HBeAg seroconversion without cirrhosis, the pooled proportion of HCC development was 0.94% (95% CI: 0.15%-2.4%). Moreover, patients with cirrhosis, active hepatitis, or aged greater than 40 years at the time of HBeAg seroconversion were at significantly higher risk for HCC development. HBeAg seroconversion was significantly associated with a reduced risk of HCC compared with persistently positive HBeAg (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.97, P = .04). Despite the reduced risk with HBeAg seroconversion, HCC can still occur in a proportion of patients with CHB after HBeAg seroconversion. Long-term monitoring is needed for patients with established cirrhosis, active hepatitis or those older than 40 years at the time of HBeAg seroconversion.

Joint reconstruction of rest/stress myocardial perfusion SPECT

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using rest/stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allows non-invasive assessment of reversible cardiac perfusion defects. Conventionally, reversible defects are identified using a difference image, called reversible map, obtained by subtracting the stress image from the rest image after registration and normalization of the two images. The identification of reversible defects using the conventional subtraction method is however limited by noise. We propose to jointly reconstruct rest and stress projection data to directly obtain the reversible map in a single reconstruction framework to improve the detectability of reversible defects. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we performed phantom studies to mimic reversible defects with different levels of severity and doses. As compared to the conventional subtraction method, the joint method yielded reversible maps with much lower noise and improved defect detectability. At a normal clinical dose level, the joint method improved the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of defect contrast in reversible maps from 13.2 to 66.4, 9.7 to 35.0, 6.1 to 13.2, and 3.1 to 6.5, for defect to normal myocardium concentration ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%, respectively. The SNRs obtained using the joint method were improved from 6.1 to 13.2, 3.9 to 9.4, 3.0 to 8.0, and 2.1 to 7.1, for 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of the normal clinical dose as compared to the conventional subtraction method. To access clinical feasibility, we applied the joint method to a rest/stress SPECT MPI patient study. The joint method yielded a reversible map with much lower noise, translating into a much higher defect detectability as compared to the conventional subtraction method. Our results indicate that the joint method has the potential to improve radiologists' performance for assessing defects in rest/stress SPECT MPI. In addition, the joint method can be used to reduce dose or imaging time.

Tim-3 exacerbates kidney ischaemia/reperfusion injury through the TLR-4/NF-κB signalling pathway and an NLR-C4 inflammasome activation

T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, has been shown to play a crucial role in host adaptive immunity and tolerance. However, its role in kidney ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of Tim-3 signalling after kidney IRI. In an established murine model of kidney IRI, we found that Tim-3 expression is enhanced on monocytes/macrophages. Anti-Tim-3 antibody RMT3-23 ameliorates biochemical and histological kidney injury, reduces apoptosis and decreases macrophage infiltration and cytokine production in ischaemic kidneys. Cell culture experiments also demonstrated that the role of Tim-3 in IRI-induced macrophage activation leads to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and Nod-like receptor (NLR) family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLR-C4) expression were enhanced after kidney IRI and decreased significantly by RMT3-23. Tim-3 not only promotes TLR-mediated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and cytokine and chemokine release, but also participates in NLR-C4 inflammasome activation. Taken together, our data confirm that Tim-3 signalling enhances injury after kidney IRI and demonstrated that Tim-3 is involved in regulating TLR-4/NF-κB signalling and NLR-C4 inflammasome activation, which provide evidence that Tim-3 signalling is critical for kidney IRI and may provide a new means to ameliorate kidney tissue immune responses in the clinics.

Abstract P2-08-03: An essential role of GRB7 in promoting the growth of therapy resistant HER-2 positive human breast cancer cells in culture and animal models

Background- GRB7 gene encodes a multi-domain signal transduction molecule and is part of the core of the HER-2 amplicon. GRB7 is commonly co-amplified and over-expressed with HER-2 in human breast cancer. Earlier studies found a functional role of GRB7 in breast cancer. The role of GRB7 in HER-2 positive human breast cancer resistant to HER-2 targeted therapy remains unexplored however.

Materials and Methods- HCC-1954, 21MT1 and JimT1 are human HER-2 positive breast cancer cell lines that are resistant to trastuzumab and lapatinib treatment. Transient knock down of GRB7 protein expression was achieved with siRNA transfection and stable knock down with lentiviral vector mediated shRNA over-expression. Cell lines transfected with non-targeting siRNA or shRNA serve as negative controls. Knock down of GRB7 protein expression is verified by Western blotting. The growth of human breast cancer cell lines after GRB7 knock down in vitro is measured with the CellTiter Glo assay as well as the Incucyte live cell imaging. Activation status of specific signaling pathways was examined with phospho-specific antibody by immune-blotting and immune-precipitation. To assess the growth promoting function of GRB7 in human breast cancer cell lines in vivo, polyclonal HCC-1954, 21MT1 and JimT1 cells, with GRB7 knock down or their corresponding negative control, were orthotopically injected into the mammary fat pads of female immune-deficient NSG mice. The growth rates of these tumors, measured serially with caliper, and final tumor weights were compared between GRB7 knock down and the negative control. The proliferation rate and apoptosis of these tumors were studied with ki-67 staining and Tunel assay.The effects of GRB7 knock down on signaling were investigated with a proteome profiler receptor tyrosine kinase kit (R&D). The role of signaling molecules differentially activated in the growth of breast cancer cells by GRB7 knock down was examined utilizing siRNA mediated knock down, and antibody and small molecule inhibitors.

Results- GRB7 knock down decreased the growth of HCC-1954, 21MT1 and JimT1 cells in vitro and the growth of tumor xenograft these cells formed in animal models. When assayed by ki67 staining and Tunel assay, the mechanism of reduced tumor xenograft growth appeared to be distinct. Reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis were seen in 21MT1 cells, while reduced proliferation was seen in HCC-1954 cells and increased apoptosis in JimT1 cells. Protein profiling found that tyrosine phosphorylation of candidate signaling molecules was reduced with GRB7 knock down in JimT1 cells. Immuno-blotting and immuno-precipitation experiments were performed to evaluate these effects in other cell lines. The effect of targeting these molecules in breast cancer cell growth by siRNA and inhibitors is being examined.

Discussion- GRB7 has essential growth promoting function in therapy resistant HER-2 positive human breast cancer cells. GRB7 knock down has pleiotropic effects on signaling in various cellular contexts. The potential of targeting GRB7 signaling in treating therapy resistant HER-2 positive breast cancer merits further study.

Citation Format: Luoh S-W, Wagoner W, Lai X, Hu Z, Chin K, Ramsey B. An essential role of GRB7 in promoting the growth of therapy resistant HER-2 positive human breast cancer cells in culture and animal models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-03.

Characterization and transplantation of enteric neural crest cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is recognized as a second brain because of its complexity and its largely autonomic control of bowel function. Recent progress in studying the interactions between the ENS and the central nervous system (CNS) has implicated alterations of the gut/brain axis as a possible mechanism in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), Parkinson's disease (PD) and other human CNS disorders, whereas the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown because of the lack of good model systems. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have the ability to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into cells of all three germ layers, thus making iPSCs an ideal source of cells for disease modelling and cell therapy. Here, hiPSCs were induced to differentiate into neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) efficiently. When co-cultured with smooth muscle layers of ganglionic gut tissue, the NCSCs differentiated into different subtypes of mature enteric-like neurons expressing nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or calretinin with typical electrophysiological characteristics of functional neurons. Furthermore, when they were transplanted into aneural or aganglionic chick, mouse or human gut tissues in ovo, in vitro or in vivo, hiPSC-derived NCSCs showed extensive migration and neural differentiation capacity, generating neurons and glial cells that expressed phenotypic markers characteristic of the enteric nervous system. Our results indicate that enteric NCSCs derived from hiPSCs supply a powerful tool for studying the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders and brain/gut dysfunction and represent a potentially ideal cell source for enteric neural transplantation treatments.

Biocompatible surface modification of nano-scale zeolitic imidazolate frameworks for enhanced drug delivery

Recently, nanoscale metal organic frameworks have attracted considerable attention as a novel drug delivery system platform owing to their highly efficient drug loading and delivery capacities. However, their low dispersity in aqueous media, poor biocompatibility, and non-active targeting ability seriously limit their further clinical application. To address these issues, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated ZIF-8 nanocomposite (CCM@ZIF-8/HA) was successfully developed for use in anti-cancer treatment through efficient curcumin (CCM) delivery. The resultant CCM@ZIF-8/HA showed a long-term pH-dependent controlled drug release based on the core–shell structure of the encapsulation by HA. Moreover, compared to bare CCM@ZIF-8, the obtained ternary assembly showed enhanced dispersity in PBS, promoted cellular uptake, and greater growth inhibition against HeLa cells. Thus, CCM@ZIF-8/HA can not only serve as an ideal drug carrier, but it can also provide a general surface modification strategy to promote the performance of metal organic frameworks for efficient drug delivery.

In this study, we present a general approach for harnessing the surface of ZIF-8 with hyaluronic acid (HA) for enhanced anti-cancer treatment by efficient curcumin (CCM) delivery.

A protective role for FADD dominant negative (FADD-DN) mutant in trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB)-induced murine contact hypersensitivity reactions

BACKGROUND

Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) is a classic adaptor protein in apoptosis. Increasing evidence has shown that FADD is also implicated in T-cell development, activation and proliferation. The role of FADD in inflammatory disorders remains largely unexplored.

AIM

To assess the role of FADD in inflammatory disorders.

METHODS

We established an experimental model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) by using 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) on transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative mutant of FADD (FADD-DN), RESULTS: CHS responses were clearly attenuated in FADD-DN mice compared with control mice. In the retroauricular lymph nodes, the ratio of CD8+ T cells was also decreased.

CONCLUSION

FADD-DN appears to play a protective role in TNCB-induced CHS reactions.

[Association between behavioral problems and gastrointestinal disorders among children with autism spectrum disorder]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal disorders (GID) and core symptoms or behavioral problems among the children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) . Method: Totally 328 children with ASD and 202 normal controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from August 2013 to October 2016. The information about the gastrointestinal disorders, behavioral and emotional problems was collected by using questionnaires. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used to assess the core symptoms of the children with ASD. Neurodevelopmental status was evaluated with Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS). These variables were analyzed by using student's t-test and chi-square test. Result: The prevalence of GID was significantly higher in the children with ASD than in the normally developing children (49.4% (162/328) vs.25.7% (52/202), χ(2)=29.039, P=0.000), especially the symptoms of constipation (33.2% (109/328) vs. 13.9% (28/202)), diarrhea (9.5%(31/328) vs. 1.5% (3/202)), nausea and vomiting (9.5% (31/328) vs. 3.5% (7/202)), and foul defecation (16.5% (54/328) vs. 5.0% (10/202)) (all P<0.05). Among the ASD children, the prevalence of GID was similar between male and female (46.7% (133/285) vs. 46.5%(20/43), χ(2)=0.006, P=0.938), as well as among all age groups (χ(2)=1.907, P=0.862). There was no significant difference in scores of GDS in the ASD children with or without GID (all P>0.05). Compared with ASD children without GID (n=166), the ASD children with GID (n=162) got higher scores in the "Body and Object Use" of ABC scale ( (16.4±9.3) vs. (12.3±6.7) scores, t=2.258, P=0.028), and had more emotional problems (63.6% (103/162) vs. 49.4% (82/166), χ(2)=6.707, P=0.010). Moreover, the score of behavior problems questionnaire was higher in the ASD children with GID ( (35.3±16.8) vs. (16.1±13.6) scores, t=5.748, P=0.000). Conclusion: Children with ASD have higher risk of GID than the normal developing children. While the stereotyped behaviors, problem behaviors and emotional problems are severer in the ASD children with GID. Hence, it is important to provide comprehensive treatment and management for these groups of children.

Scarless Wound Closure by a Mussel-Inspired Poly(amidoamine) Tissue Adhesive with Tunable Degradability

Burn, trauma, and various medical conditions including bacterial infection, diabetes complication, and surgery could lead to an acute cutaneous wound and scar formation. Application of tissue glues instead of sutures could minimize the additional trauma and scar formation. Despite the countless efforts devoted to the development of high-strength tissue glues, little attention has been paid to their influence on the scar formation. Here, we report the development of a new tissue glue with excellent biocompatibility and tunable degradability for scarless wound closure. A series of catechol-containing poly(amidoamine) (CPAA) polymers were synthesized via the one-step Michael addition of dopamine and bisacrylamide. The tertiary amino group in the polymer backbone was used to introduce a zwitterionic sulfobetaine group by one-step ring-opening polymerization. The introduction of the zwitterionic sulfobetaine group could easily tune the hydrophilicity and the degradability of CPAA without influencing the density of the catechol group in the polymer. Lap-shear tests on the porcine skin demonstrated a high adhesion strength of 7 kPa at 1 h, rising to 24 kPa by 12 h. Addition of silica nanoparticles could further enhance the adhesion strength by 50%. In vivo studies further confirmed that the CPAA tissue glue could effectively accelerate the healing process of incisional wounds on the back of Sprague Dawley rats compared with suture and reduce the scar formation.

Study of response of Swiss Webster mice to light subunit of mushroom tyrosinase

The light subunit of mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, tyrosinase (LSMT), has been identified as an extrinsic component of the enzyme. Its function is unknown, but it can cross an epithelial cell layer, which suggests that it can be absorbed by the intestine. A similar capability has been demonstrated for the HA-33 component of the progenitor toxin from Clostridium botulinum, which is the closest structural homolog of LSMT. Unlike HA-33, LSMT appears to be non-immunogenic as shown by preliminary tests in Swiss Webster mice. We investigated the immunogenicity and histopathology of LSMT in mice to determine its safety in vivo. LSMT did not evoke generation of antibodies after prolonged periods of intraperitoneal administration. Histopathological observations confirmed the absence of responses in organs after twelve weekly administrations of LSMT. We found that LSMT is not toxic and is less immunogenic than the C. botulinum HA-33 protein, which supports further research and development for pharmaceutical application.

NOVEL GENETIC FINDINGS IN A CHINESE FAMILY WITH EARLY-ONSET FEMALE-RELATED TYPE 2 DIABETES

No inheritance of early-onset female-related type 2 diabetes was reported within Chinese families. In this study, we aim to describe the inheritance pattern of type 2 diabetes in a 3-generation family and identify the gene responsible for type 2 diabetes. Genome-wide multipoint parametric linkage analysis revealed a maximum multipoint logarithm of odds (lod) score of 2.1 for a locus being associated with type 2 diabetes in this family on chromosome 20p11.2-12 between 23.5~30.8cM. Type 2 diabetes may be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with a high female-related penetrance in this family. Here we describe the first genetic locus for type 2 diabetes at chromosome 20p11.2-12. This region contains 8 known or predicted genes (PLCB1, PLCB4, LAMP5, PAK7, ANKEF1, SNAP25, SLX4IP, and JAG1). Gene SNAP25 which linked to energy or glucose homeostasis associated phenotypes may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes in this family.

Edible bird's nest enhances antioxidant capacity and increases lifespan in Drosophila Melanogaster

In this study, we aims to investigate the effects of edible bird's nest (EBN) on anti-aging efficacy. In order to investigate lifespan and mortality rate of flies, we treated flies with various doses of EBN. Besides, fecundity, water content and food are determined and heat-stress test is conducted after flies treating with different medium. Effects of EBN on total antioxidant activity (T-AOC), super-oxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined in drosophila melanogaster. Results indicated that flies in EBN treated group illustrated significantly lower mortality rates and longer median and maximum lifespan compared to control group (P<0.05). The fecundity in EBN-treated group was increased compared to control group. SOD levels and CAT activity were significantly increased, and MDA levels decreased in EBN-treated group compared to control group (P<0.01). In conclusion, EBN can extend lifespan, decrease mortality rate and increase survival rate in heat-stress test, and which can also promote SOD and CAT activity and reduce MDA levels. EBN is able to delay drosophila melanogaster aging, attributing to the increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing content of lipid peroxidation products in drosophila melanogaster.