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BackgroundUnderstanding the interplay between psychopathology of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients may improve the effectiveness of relapse interventions for AUD. Network theory of mental disorders assumes that mental disorders persist not of a common functional disorder, but from a sustained feedback loop between symptoms, thereby explaining the persistence of AWS and the high relapse rate of AUD. The current study aims to establish a network of AWS, identify its core symptoms and find the bridges between the symptoms which are intervention target to relieve the AWS and break the self-maintaining cycle of AUD.MethodsGraphical lasso network were constructed using psychological symptoms of 553 AUD patients. Global network structure, centrality indices, cluster coefficient, and bridge symptom were used to identify the core symptoms of the AWS network and the transmission pathways between different symptom clusters.ResultsThe results revealed that: (1) AWS constitutes a stable symptom network with a stability coefficient (CS) of 0.21-0.75. (2) Anger (Strength = 1.52) and hostility (Strength = 0.84) emerged as the core symptom in the AWS network with the highest centrality and low clustering coefficient. (3) Hostility mediates aggression and anxiety; anger mediates aggression and impulsivity in AWS network respectively.ConclusionsAnger and hostility may be considered the best intervention targets for researching and treating AWS. Hostility and anxiety, anger and impulsiveness are independent but related dimensions, suggesting that different neurobiological bases may be involved in withdrawal symptoms, which play a similar role in withdrawal syndrome.

Background: The levels of oxidative stress and proinflammatory factors in perimenopausal females increased, and they were also deeply troubled by insomnia. The occurrence of insomnia is related to the changes of oxidative stress and inflammation levels in the body. Perimenopausal insomnia may be related to mild systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress can promote chronic inflammation. However, the underlying mechanism behind the phenomenon is still unclear. Objective: The aim was to investigate whether the occurrence of perimenopausal insomnia disorder is related to higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, and to explore the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in perimenopausal insomnia. Methods: A total of 127 perimenopausal participants were recruited in this study. Participants with global scores of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) >7 were diagnosed with insomnia (n = 54). The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) were evaluated, and sociodemographic data were obtained. The serum concentrations of iNOS, interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were measured using commercial assays. Results: In the insomnia group, IL6 levels were positively correlated with scores of component 5 and component 7 of PSQI, respectively. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were positively correlated with the global score of PSQI component 7 and PSQI, respectively; PHQ-9 was positively correlated with the global score of PSQI component 1. Finally, PHQ-9, iNOS, and IL6 were found to be independent predictors of perimenopausal insomnia using logistic regression. Conclusions: Moderate oxidative stress caused by a certain concentration of iNOS plays a protective role in perimenopausal insomnia, while proinflammation and depression are potential risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the preferred treatments for depression. The most common adverse drug reactions are symptoms involving the digestive system, leading to low compliance in patients with depression. Therefore, it is important to assess the safety of SSRIs with respect to the digestive system. Several meta-analyses have compared the risks of digestive side effects of SSRIs and other antidepressants. We aimed to compare the risks of various SSRIs (fluoxetine, escitalopram, citalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline) for adverse reactions of the digestive system. Methods: Systematic searches returned 30 randomized controlled trials (n = 5004) of five antidepressants and placebos. Results: Fluoxetine had the lowest probability of digestive side effects, ranking fifth at 0.548. Sertraline had the highest probability of digestive side effects, with a probability of 0.611. For gastrointestinal tolerability, escitalopram was better than paroxetine (odds ratio [OR] =0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43– 0.87) and sertraline (OR=0.56, 95% CI 0.32– 0.99). Conclusion: Fluoxetine exhibited distinct advantages compared to other SSRIs, while sertraline had the greatest likelihood of digestive system side effects. These findings will help doctors understand the relative advantages of various antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : Cigarette smoking is associated with postoperative pain perception, which might be mediated by beta-endorphin and substance P. These effects on postoperative pain perception have never been investigated in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which reflects biochemical alterations in the brain. Therefore, we investigated the associations among cigarette smoking, postoperative pain, and levels of beta-endorphin and substance P in human CSF. Methods : We recruited 160 Chinese men (80 active smokers and 80 nonsmokers) who underwent lumbar puncture before anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and 5-ml CSF samples were collected. Pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, post-anesthetic recovery duration (PARD), and smoking variables were obtained. CSF levels of beta-endorphin and substance P were measured. Results : Compared to non-smokers, active smokers had significantly higher pain VAS (2.40 ± 0.67 vs. 1.70 ± 0.86, p < 0.001) and PARD scores (9.13 ± 2.11 vs. 7.27 ± 1.35, p = 0.001), lower CSF beta-endorphin (33.76 ± 1.77 vs. 35.66 ± 2.20, p = 0.001) and higher CSF substance P (2,124.46 ± 217.34 vs. 1,817.65 ± 302.14, p < 0.001) levels. Pain VAS scores correlated with PARD in active smokers (r = 0.443, p = 0.001). Conclusions : Cigarette smoking is associated with increased postoperative pain intensity, shown by delayed pain perception, higher pain VAS scores, and lower beta-endorphin and higher substance P levels in the CSF of active smokers. The more extended postoperative pain perception is delayed, the more pain intensity increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of depression was related with a state of mild hypoxia for a long time. Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) modulates the process from acute to chronic hypoxia, consequently regulating changes in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Increasing levels of iNOS combined with major depressive disorder (MDD) have been associated with the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which increase the severity of depression. Objective: The aim was to investigate whether depressive symptoms might be improved by regulating HIF-2α levels to decrease the degree of oxidative stress and inflammation using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Methods: In this observational study, 49 MDD patients were divided into the ECT group (n=32) and control group (n=17). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms of patients at enrollment and after 2 weeks of treatment. The levels of HIF-2α, NOS, IL-6, and TNF-α in plasma were analyzed accordingly. Results: The total score in each dimension of HAMD decreased more efficiently in the ECT group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of IL-6 in the ECT group were notably decreased after the 2-week treatment (t = 3.596, p = 0.001). The decreased trend to statistical significance of HIF-2α was observed after treatment in the ECT group (p = 0.091). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of long-term ECT therapy for MDD may further benefit from and contribute to the improvement of MDD-associated chronic hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of cigarette smoking on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) calcium levels in Chinese heavy smokers. Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven male subjects were divided into non-smokers (95) and heavy smokers (72). Serum and CSF calcium concentrations were assayed. Smoking status was recorded and the degree of nicotine dependence (FNTD) was assessed by questionnaire. Analysis of variance was performed to assess the differences among dichotomous groups. Partial correlations between calcium level and FNTD scores were calculated. Results: In this population-based study, heavy smokers had significantly lower serum calcium levels than did non-smokers (p <.01). There was no difference in CSF calcium levels between heavy smokers and non-smokers. The average number of cigarettes smoked per day contributed to the decreased serum calcium levels in heavy smokers, while the age of smoking onset and smoking years did not affect serum levels within the smoker group. Furthermore, serum calcium levels negatively correlated with FNTD items 1, 4, 5, 6 and total scores; however, no correlation between CSF calcium levels and FNTD scores was found. Conclusions: Serum calcium levels decreased significantly in Chinese heavy smokers and were associated with the average number of cigarettes smoked per day and the degree of nicotine dependence in heavy smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to determine the multiplication gain at punch-through for an avalanche photodiode with separate absorption and multiplication regions from excess noise measurement is discussed. Correctly determining the gain at punch-through is crucial for characterizing performance parameters of this type of avalanche photodiode. In order to illustrate the viability of this technique, in this work, a Ge on Si avalanche photodiode is analyzed. At a punch-through bias of 15 V, the multiplication gain was determined to be ∼1.54 while a simulation based on the device structure yielded a punch-through gain of 1.65. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmon-induced hot-electron generation provides an efficient way to convert light into electric current. The investigation of the optoelectronic response in two-dimensional materials and metallic hybrid nanostructure attracts increasing research interest. Here, we present a tunneling effect of plasmonic hot electrons that is generated from Au nanoparticles, which can vertically tunnel through graphene monolayers. A strong photocurrent induced by the hot electrons was measured in this graphene-based vertical photodetector with its intensity maximum reached at the plasmon resonance wavelength. The tunneling effect of plasmonic hot electrons was investigated by gradually increasing the incident laser power and bias voltage between the top and bottom electrodes. The dynamic attenuation of plasmonic hot electrons in an excited state was further investigated with multilayered graphene sheets. These results show that our vertical hybrid structure can function as an effective design for the tunneling photodetector, and enable the realization of complex nanophotonic devices that are based on graphene and other 2D materials, such as optical transistors and plasmonic hot-electron sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D transition metal dichalcogenides are becoming attractive materials for novel photoelectric and photovoltaic applications due to their excellent optoelectric properties and accessible optical bandgap in the near-infrared to visible range. Devices utilizing 2D materials integrated with metal nanostructures have recently emerged as efficient schemes for hot electron-based photodetection. Metal-semiconductor heterostructures with low cost, simple procedure, and fast response time are crucial for the practical applications of optoelectric devices. In this paper, template-based sputtering method is used first to fabricate Au nanoantenna (NA)/MoS2 heterostructures with low cost, simple preparation, broad spectral response, and fast response time. Through the measurement of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that plasmon-induced hot electron transfer takes place in the Au NA/MoS2 heterostructure on the order of 200 fs with an injected electron density of about 5.6 × 1012 cm−2. Moreover, the pump-power-dependent photoluminescence spectra confirm that the exciton energy of MoS2 can be enhanced, coupled, and reradiated by the Au NA. Such ultrafast plasmon-induced hot electron transfer in the metal-semiconductor heterostructure can enable novel 2D devices for light harvesting and photoelectric conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of celecoxib on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy (CH), cardiac dysfunction and explore the possible protective mechanisms. We surgically created abdominal aortic constrictions (AAC) in rats to induce CH. Rats with CH symptoms at 4 weeks after surgery were treated with celecoxib [2 mg/100 g body-weight(BW)] daily for either 2 or 4 weeks. Survival rate, blood pressure and cardiac function were evaluated after celecoxib treatment. Animals were killed, and cardiac tissue was examined for morphological changes, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. Four weeks after AAC, rats had significantly higher systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, greater heart weight and enlarged cardiomyocytes, which were associated with cardiac dysfunction. Thus, the CH model was successfully established. Two weeks later, animals had impaired cardiac function and histopathological abnormalities including enlarged cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibrosis, which were exacerbated 2 weeks later. However, these pathological changes were remarkably prevented by the treatment of celecoxib, independent of preventing hypertension. Mechanistic studies revealed that celecoxib-induced cardiac protection against CH and cardiac dysfunction was due to inhibition of apoptosis via the murine double mimute 2/P53 pathway, inhibition of inflammation via the AKT/mTOR/NF-κB pathway and inhibition of oxidative stress via increases in nuclear factor E2-related factor-2-mediated gene expression of multiple antioxidants. Celecoxib suppresses pressure overload-induced CH by reducing apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-photon detection is reported for Ge-on-Si separate-absorption-charge-multiplication avalanche photodiodes. Single-photon detection efficiency of 14%, dark count rate of 10^8~s^-1, and timing resolution of 117 ps were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A small signal analysis for a separate-absorption-charge-multiplication (SACM) avalanche photodetector (APD) is presented for the general case when the electrons and the holes have different ionization coefficients and different velocities. The analytic expressions for the impedance and frequency response are given and a simplified equivalent circuit (including an inductance with a series resistance in parallel with a capacitance) for the APD is obtained. The calculation and experimental results show that the impedance of the APD operated at high bias voltages has a maximal value at a certain frequency due to the resonance of the LC-circuit, and this is the origin for a peak-enhancement of the frequency response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

On page 6394, Z. Y. Fang and co‐workers apply a femtosecond pumping‐probe technique to measure electron transfer of synthesized AU nanoantenna (NA)/MoS2 heterostructures. The results indicate an ultrafast optical response time and a high cutoff frequency for devices based on this heterostructure. Combining the optoelectric properties of MoS2 with the plasmonic properties of Au NAs holds great promise for photodetectors and photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Alcohol dependence (AD) is a common chronic brain disorder precipitated by complex interactions between biological, genetic, and environmental risk factors. Aggression often occurs in the context of AD. Previous studies have shown that Oxytocin (OXT) and OXT receptor (OXTR) are involved in the regulation of aggression. The present study investigated whether variations and interactions of OXT and OXTR genes were associated with AD-related aggression in a genetically homogeneous northern Chinese Han population. Methods Three hundred and twenty-four male AD patients and 510 male healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. A Chinese version of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire was used as a subjective measurement of aggressive behavior. Three variations, rs2254298, rs53576, and rs6133010 were genotyped using TaqMan and ligase detection reaction for all subjects. Generalized Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction was used to detect interactions between genetic attributes and environmental attributes. Results The frequencies of alleles and genotypes of rs6133010 were significantly different between AD patients and HCs ( p < 0.001). In HCs, the effect of genotype GG of rs53576 on hostility aggression was significantly stronger than that of genotype AA and AG ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively), and the subjects with the interaction combination of rs6133010AA × rs2254298GG × rs53576AG exhibited significant effect on physical aggression ( p = 0.0107). Conclusion The present study found that rs6133010 in the OXT gene is associated with AD in the northern Chinese Han population. The polymorphisms of OXT/R may play a key role in the susceptibility of AD-related aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) often suffer from sleep disorders, adversely affecting their prognosis. Active non-pharmacological therapies are considered the mainstay of treatment for FM, but the optimal treatment choice remains contentious. We aimed to compare and rank community-based non-pharmacological interventions for FM with sleep disorder by quantifying information from randomised controlled trials (RCTs)., Methods: Two authors independently selected studies and extracted data. We searched Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, CNKI, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from the database inception to June 2022. Network meta-analyses were conducted using a frequency-based method. The study protocol is registered with the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD 42022373704). Eleven RCTs (n=729) were included in the analysis., Results: Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) (SMD=-0.84 (95% CI: -1.49 to -0.20)) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (SMD=-0.54 (95% CI: -1.04 to -0.04)) were associated with significantly improved sleep symptoms in a patient with FM compared with usual care., Conclusions: MBT exhibited the highest probability (91.14%) of being the most effective intervention in sleep improvement, followed by CBT (72.39%). MBT exhibited marked advantages over other interventions and is likely to have optimal efficacy in ameliorating sleep disorders.

Objective: Previous research indicates associations between cigarette smoking, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1), and sleep disturbances. This study aimed to examine the association between smoking and sleep quality and investigate the moderating role of IGF1., Methods: This case-control study involved 146 Chinese adult males (53 active smokers and 93 non-smokers) from September 2014 to January 2016. Sleep quality and disturbances were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which includes seven scales. Pearson correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis were utilized to examine the link between IGF1 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and PSQI scores. The effect of IGF1 was assessed using the moderation effect and simple slope analysis, with adjustments made for potential confounders., Results: Active smokers exhibited significantly higher global PSQI scores and lower IGF1 levels in CSF compared to non-smokers. A significant negative correlation was observed between IGF1 and PSQI scores (â = -0.28, P < 0.001), with a stronger association in non-smokers (Pearson r = -0.30) compared to smokers (Pearson r = -0.01). Smoking was associated with higher global PSQI scores (â = 0.282, P < 0.001), and this association was moderated by IGF1 levels in CSF (â = 0.145, P < 0.05), with a stronger effect at high IGF1 levels (Bsimple = 0.402, p < 0.001) compared to low IGF1 levels (Bsimple = 0.112, p = 0.268). Four subgroup analysis revealed similar results for sleep disturbances (Bsimple = 0.628, P < 0.001), with a marginal moderation effect observed on subjective sleep quality (Bsimple = 0.150, P = 0.070). However, independent associations rather than moderating effects were observed between IGF1 and sleep efficiency and daytime disturbance., Conclusion: We provided evidence to demonstrate the moderation effect of IGF1 on the relationship between smoking and sleep in CSF among Chinese adult males., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shan, Wu, Lao, Ma, Luo, Zheng, Hu, Kang, Wang, Liu, Xu and Jin.)

Introduction: Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) often experience repeated withdrawal. Impulsivity is the most relevant factor influencing successful withdrawal. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are associated with impulsivity. Previous studies on the differential effects of BDNF or FGF21 on impulsivity have focused on single-gene effects and have inconsistent results. We aim to investigate the effects of BDNF rs6265 and FGF21 rs11665896, individually and together, on impulsivity during alcohol withdrawal in patients with AUD., Methods: We recruited 482 adult Han Chinese males with AUD and assessed their impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped from peripheral blood samples. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data., Results: The T-test and 2 × 2 analysis of variance were used to investigate the effects of the genes on impulsivity. There was a significant BDNF × FGF21 interaction on no-planning impulsiveness ( F = 9.15, p = 0.003, η 2 p = 0.03). Simple main effects analyses and planned comparisons showed that BDNF rs6265 A allele × FGF21 rs11665896 T allele was associated with higher no-planning impulsiveness. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that only the interaction of BDNF and FGF21 accounted for a significant portion of the variance in no-planning impulsiveness., Conclusion and Significance: The combination of BDNF rs6265 A allele and FGF21 rs11665896 T allele may increase impulsivity and discourage alcohol withdrawal. Our study provides a possible genetic explanation for the effects of associated impulsivity in patients with AUD from the perspective of gene-gene interactions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Wang, Sun, Liu, Li, Chen, Chen, Pan, Kang, Chen, Wang, Chen, Li, Tang and Liu.)

Objective: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the second most prevalent mental disorder and might be related to depression. Major vault protein (MVP) is a cytoplasmic protein related to vesicle transport. The present study aimed to investigate the interaction between a genetic variant (MVP rs4788186) and depression in adult male Han Chinese with AUD during withdrawal., Methods: All participants ( N  = 435) were diagnosed with AUD. Alcohol dependence level was measured using the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, and depression was measured using the self-rating depression scale. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped., Results: Hierarchical regression analysis identified an interaction between MVP rs4788186 and alcohol dependence level for depression ( β  = -0.17, p  < 0.05). Then, a region of significance test was performed to interpret the interaction effect. Re-parameterized regression models revealed that the interaction between MVP rs4788186 and alcohol problem severity fit the strong differential susceptibility model ( R 2  = 0.08, p  < 0.001), suggesting that the AA homozygotes would be more likely subjects with the G allele to experience major depression symptoms., Conclusion: Carriers of the AA homozygote of MVP rs4788186 may be more susceptible to severe alcohol problems and higher levels of depression during withdrawal., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wu, Zhao, Chen, Wu, Qiu, Yuan, Shen, Wang, Kang, Jiang, Wang, Chen, Liu, Pan, Wang and Xie.)

Purpose: To investigate the association between fatigue and sleep habits of pregnant women to further explore the effect of sleep duration and bedtime on fatigue during the third trimester., Materials and Methods: A total of 465 Chinese Han pregnant women in the third trimester (after 28 weeks) with a singleton gestation were recruited. Sleep habits (such as bedtime, sleep onset latency, and night sleep duration) and the 14-item Fatigue Scale scores (FS-14, used to assess fatigue) were collected., Results: The effects of sleep duration and bedtime on FS-14 physical and total scores were significant. FS-14 physical scores and total scores of the participants in the group of sleep before 23 o'clock (SBC) of short sleep duration (<7 h) were significantly higher as compared to the participants in the group of SBC of normal sleep duration, and those of the participants in the group of SBC of normal sleep duration were significantly lower than the participants in the group of sleep after 23 o'clock of normal sleep duration. There were negative correlations of sleep duration with FS-14 physical score and total score in the SBC of short sleep duration group., Conclusion: Sleep less than 7 h or bedtime after 23 o'clock was associated with increased fatigue levels of pregnant women in the third trimester. Therefore, it is necessary to develop good sleep habits (enough sleep duration and early bedtime) to keep fatigue at a low level for pregnant women in the third trimester., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ma, Kang, Wang, Chen, Shan, Song, Liu, Wang and Li.)

Objective: Cigarette smoking might accelerate cognitive impairment; however, this has never been investigated using human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We conducted this study to investigate the association between cigarette smoking and cognitive impairment through metal ions in CSF. Methods: We obtained 5-ml CSF samples from routine lumbar puncture procedures in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction before surgery in China. A total of 180 Chinese males were recruited (80 active smokers and 100 non-smokers). We measured specific cigarette-related neurotoxic metal ions in CSF, including iron, copper, zinc, lead, aluminum, and manganese. Sociodemographic data and history of smoking were obtained. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was applied. Results: Active smokers had fewer years of education (11.83 ± 3.13 vs. 13.17 ± 2.60, p = 0.01), and higher age (33.70 ± 10.20 vs. 29.76 ± 9.58, p = 0.01) and body mass index (25.84 ± 3.52 vs. 24.98 ± 4.06, p =0.03) than non-smokers. Compared to non-smokers, active smokers had significantly higher CSF levels of iron, zinc, lead, and aluminum and lower MoCA scores (all p < 0.05). Average daily numbers of cigarettes smoked negatively correlated with the MoCA scores ( r = -0.244, p = 0.048). In young smokers, CSF manganese levels negatively correlated with MoCA scores ( r = -0.373, p = 0.009). Conclusions and Relevance: Cigarette smoking might be associated with male cognitive impairment, as shown by lower MoCA scores and higher levels of CSF iron, zinc, lead, and aluminum in active smokers. This might be early evidence of cigarette smoking accelerating male cognitive impairment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Li, Mu, Kang, Yang, Shan, Wang, Li, Liu and Wang.)

A multifocal metalens, which focuses incident light at multiple foci, has many applications in imaging systems and optical communications. However, the traditional design strategy of a multifocal metalens combines several lenses that have different focal points into a planar integrated unit, resulting in low imaging quality because of the high background noise. Here we show that the defects of the traditional method can be overcome by designing a metalens with conic shapes (the ellipse and the hyperbola); this approach could improve the imaging performance and substantially decrease the background noise of multifocal metalenses. These benefits arise from the intrinsic properties of the two conic curves, which can focus incident light constructively at all of the foci of the metalens. We further demonstrate that the proposed conic-shaped metalens can function well within a broadband operation wavelength that ranges from 600 to 900 nm with the dual polarity actively controlled by the incident circular polarized light. The great agreement between the experimental and simulation results demonstrates that our proposed metalens has significant potential for use in future integrated nanophotonic devices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an important metabolic regulator that has multiple beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Although circulating levels of FGF21 are mainly derived from liver, FGF21 is also found in other tissues and fluids including the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships of CSF and/or plasma FGF21 levels with metabolic parameters in a normal-weight Chinese population., Methods: Forty-five subjects (22 males and 23 females) were recruited from a patient population undergoing surgery for lower extremity injuries due to ligament damage or bone fractures below the knee in the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. The levels of FGF21 in CSF and plasma were determined by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively., Results: No significant differences were detected in the levels of FGF21 in CSF and plasma between males (CSF: 158.01 ± 12.10 pg/mL; plasma: 206.19 ± 7.22 pg/mL) and females (CSF: 159.27 ± 17.85 pg/mL; plasma: 203.10 ± 7.53 pg/mL). The level of FGF21 in CSF was about 75% of that in plasma. The FGF21 level in CSF was positively correlated with triglyceride level, whereas plasma FGF21 level was negatively correlated with alanine aminotransferase in women but not in men. The CSF/plasma FGF21 ratio was positively correlated with CSF FGF21 in both genders and with peripheral glucose, triglyceride, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels in female Chinese patients., Conclusions: These results have important implications regarding the potential central actions of FGF21.

Objective: Oxytocin (OT) is primarily synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus in the central nervous system and exhibits a wide spectrum of central and peripheral activities. OT is involved in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis and plays a protective role against liver damage., Methods: In this study, we investigated whether CSF OT levels correlates with peripheral glucose, lipid profiles, and/or liver enzymes in Chinese subjects. Sixty-nine subjects (n=36 males; n=33 females) who were recruited from Beijing Jishuitan Hospital participated in the study. Their levels of CSF OT and peripheral parameters were assayed by radioimmunoassay and continuous monitoring assay, respectively., Results: There was no significant difference in CSF OT levels between males (53.09±6.88 nmol/mL) and females (52.34±6.87 nmol/mL), and no correlation found between CSF OT levels and peripheral glucose and lipid profiles. Significant negative correlation was observed between CSF OT levels and peripheral ALT and AST concentration in females but not in males., Conclusion: Our results support the physiological role of neuropeptides acting on brain sites to regulate liver enzymes, and shed new light on the brain-liver interaction.