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Whether metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) could benefit patients with suspected severe central nervous system (CNS) infection in terms of diagnosis and antibiotic treatment remains unknown. We retrospectively analyzed 79 patients with suspected CNS infection and undertook mNGS. The value of mNGS was investigated in terms of identification of pathogen and guidance for the adjustment of antibiotic treatment. The relationship between the time of initiating mNGS since onset and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score after 90-day follow-up were analyzed. Fifty out of 79 cases with suspicious severe CNS infection were finally diagnosed. Despite previous routine laboratory tests, mNGS further promoted the accurate identification of pathogens in 23 cases (47.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of mNGS test in this study were 84.0, 79.3, and 82.3%, respectively. Furthermore, mNGS facilitated the adjustment of empirical antibiotic treatments in 38 cases (48.1%). The time of taking mNGS since onset had an insignificant weak positive correlation with GOS after 90-day follow-up (r = −0.73, P = 0.08). mNGS facilitated the accurate identification of pathogens in suspicious severe CNS infections and promoted the accurate antibiotic therapy even empirical antibiotics were administrated. It should be taken as early as possible to improve the clinical outcome of patients with suspicious severe CNS infection.

One iron compound {[Fe(bipy)3]2(SO3)(OH)4}·14H2O (1) (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) has been obtained from a hydrothermal reaction and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 is characterized by an isolated (0D) structure and the iron center is coordinated by six nitrogen atoms of three bipy molecules to yield an octahedron. Photoluminescence investigation shows that compound 1 displays an emission in the green region. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculation reveals that the photoluminescent emission can be assigned to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) (from the HOMO of the bipy to the LUMO of the iron). Solid-state diffuse reflectance spectra discover that compound 1 features a narrow optical band gap of 1.82 eV, indicating that it is a potential narrow band gap semiconductor. One iron compound has been obtained from a hydrothermal reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It features an isolated structure. It displays a photoluminescence emission in the green region which can be assigned to LMCT. It features a narrow optical band gap of 1.82 eV, indicating that it is a potential narrow band gap semiconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently observed in patients with bipolar affective disorder, but the causal relationship between these conditions remains unclear. To establish causality, this study utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) with data from large-scale genomic research. The investigation aimed to elucidate the relationship between emotional states, bipolar disorder, and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs)., Methods: Summary statistics from GWAS were utilized for mood swings (UK biobank, N = 451,619), irritable mood (UK biobank, N = 373,733), bipolar disorder (UK biobank, N = 352,006),functional dyspepsia (FinnGen biobank, N = 194,071), and irritable bowel syndrome (UK biobank, N = 486,601). All GWAS summary statistics were derived from individuals of European ancestry. The primary analysis employed the inverse variance-weighted method for Mendelian randomization (MR). Additionally, we conducted tests for heterogeneity and pleiotropy to ensure the robustness of our results., Results: A suggestive positive causal relationship was identified between mood swings-related conditions and IBS using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method [mood swings-IBS: OR/95%CI: 3.221(2.417,4.294), P(1.42E-15); irritable mood-IBS: OR/95%CI: 1.881(1.615,2.191), P(4.56E-16); bipolar disorder-IBS: OR/95%CI: 1.003(1.001,1.006), P(0.009)]. For functional dyspepsia, a suggestive positive causal relationship was observed with mood swings [mood swings-FD: OR/95%CI: 2.827(1.124,7.109), P(0.027)]. In the reverse analysis, causal relationship was observed between IBS and emotional states [IBS and mood swings: OR/95%CI: 1.030(1.021,1.040), P(1.10E-10); IBS and irritable mood: OR/95%CI: 1.064(1.041,1.087), P(2.58E-08)]., Conclusions: Mood swings, irritable mood, and bipolar disorder were associated with an increased risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Additionally, reverse analysis revealed a causal relationship between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and both mood swings and irritable mood. These findings suggest that targeted emotional interventions may be beneficial for patients with FGIDs. Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between mood instability-related disorders and FGIDs, particularly IBS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All the authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a disease with numerous genetic and environmental factors that affect it. The results of previous studies indicated that immune phenotypes are associated with HF, but there have been inconclusive studies regarding a causal relationship. Therefore, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were undertaken to confirm the causal connections between immune phenotypes and HF, providing genetic evidence supporting the association of immune cell factors with HF risk., Methods: We selected instrumental variables that met the criteria based on data from the results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of immune phenotype and all-cause HF. An evaluation of the causal association between 731 immune cell factors and HF risk was carried out using the inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression (MR-Egger), and weighted median (WM) analysis methods. To determine the horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity, and stability of the genetic variants, the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test, MR-PRESSO, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis were performed., Results: MR principal method (IVW) analysis showed that a total of 38 immune cell-related factors were significantly causally associated with HF. Further analyses combining three methods (IVW, MR-Egger and WME) showed that six exposure factors significantly associated with heart failure, as shown below. The effect of Dendritic cell Absolute Count, CD62l- CD86+ myeloid Dendritic cell Absolute Count, CD62l- CD86+ myeloid Dendritic cell% Dendritic cell, CD39+ CD8+ T cell% CD8+ T cell, CD3 on Central Memory CD4+ T cell on heart failure was positive. Whereas, a reverse effect was observed for CD14+ CD16+ monocyte% monocyte., Conclusion: We investigated the causal relationship between immune phenotypes and all-cause HF. According to the results, Dendritic cell Absolute Count, CD62l- CD86+ myeloid Dendritic cell Absolute Count, CD62l- CD86+ myeloid Dendritic cell% Dendritic cell, CD39+ CD8+ T cell% CD8+ T cell, CD3 on Central Memory CD4+ T cell aggravate HF, and the risk of HF is decreased by CD14+ CD16+ monocyte% monocyte. These phenotypes may serve as new biomarkers, providing new therapeutic insights for the prevention and treatment of all-cause HF., 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., (© 2024 Li, Liu, Luo, Zhou, Zhu and Jiang.)

Objectives: This study focused on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and aimed at investigating the effect of terbutaline plus doxofylline on their pulmonary function and quality of life., Methods: Ninety COPD patients were divided by using a random number table into a control group (administration of doxofylline) and experimental group (administration of terbutaline combined with doxofylline), with 45 patients in each group. The therapeutic efficacy, pre- and post-treatment pulmonary function and the quality of life were compared between the control and experimental groups., Results: After treatment, patients in the experimental group had lower levels of interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor α and C-reactive protein (all P<0.001), higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEVl/FVC (all P<0.001), and lower total score of COPD assessment test (P<0.05) compared with the control group., Conclusion: Terbutaline combined with doxofylline for the treatment of COPD patients can efficiently decrease inflammatory factor levels, and bring them better pulmonary function and quality of life., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2021.)

Objective: To explore the impacts on the cognitive level of the children with mental retardation (MR) treated with JIN's three scalp needling therapy and the training for cognitive and perceptual disturbance so as to seek the more effective therapeutic method for the treatment of MR in children. Methods Sixty-six MR children were randomized into a head-point needle-retaining therapy + training group (group A) and a training after acupuncture group (group B). Seven cases and 12 cases were dropped in the two groups respectively. Twenty-six cases accomplished the treatment in the group A and 21 cases in the group B. In the group A, the points on the head were stimulated and the needles were retained (30 min after the general acupuncture, the needles on the body points were removed; and those on the head points were retained for 1 h, including Sishenzhen, Naosanzhen, Zhisanzhen and Niesanzhen). Simultaneously, the training for the cognitive perceptual disturbance was combined. In the group B, 1 h after needle retaining at the body points and head points, all the needles were removed; the training for the cognitive perceptual disturbance was followed. The treatment was given once a day, and the treatment for 3 months was required. Before and after treatment, the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC) was used for evaluation and observation of verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) , performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and full-scale intelligence quotient (TFIQ) and score changes of 11 items such as information, picture vocabu; lary, arithmetic, picture generalization, comprehension, etc., Results: After treatment, FIQ, VIQ and PIQ scores were different significantly as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01). In the group A, the results of picture vocabulary, animal egg laying, maze, block design and geometric figure were all improved significantly (all P<0. 05). In the group B, the results of information, comprehension, block design and geometric figure were all improved significantly (all P<0. 05). After treatment, concerning the value difference in FIQ and PIQ of the two groups; the changes in the group A were more significant (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the results of picture vocabulary and maze were improved significantly in the group A as compared with the group B (both P<. 01). The IQ categories changed apparently after treatment in the two groups, toward the higher level in tendency generally, but without significant difference (both P>0. 05)., Conclusion: The simultaneous treatment with head point retaining of JIN's three needling therapy and the training for cognitive and perceptual disturbance obviously improves children patients' verbal comprehension, expression ability, hand-eye coordination ability, attention, logical reasoning ability and visual perception. The efficacy is better than that in the treatment of the training after acupuncture.