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Objectives: Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) is a prevalent oral mucosal disease, affecting around 20% of the global population. It can greatly impair the quality of life for affected individuals. However, the exact etiology of RAU remains unknown. Subjects and Methods: 16S rRNA sequencing (16S rRNA‐seq) and non‐targeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC–MS) were employed to investigate the salivary microbiota and metabolic phenotype between RAU patients (N = 61) and healthy controls (HCs) (N = 105). Results: Findings from 16S rRNA ‐seq indicated reduced oral microbial diversity in RAU patients compared to HCs, but increased interactions. Clinical variables did not show any significant association with the overall diversity of oral microbiota in RAU patients. However, significant correlations were observed between specific microorganisms and clinical variables. LC–MS results revealed dysregulation of amino acid, lipid, nucleotide, and caffeine metabolism in RAU patients. Furthermore, correlation analysis of 16S rRNA‐seq and LC–MS data revealed a significant association between salivary microbiota and metabolites in RAU patients. Conclusions: Our study revealed notable differences in salivary microbiota and metabolic profiles between RAU patients and HCs, indicating a strong link between oral microbiota dysbiosis, metabolic disturbances, and the onset and progression of RAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) plays important roles in cholinergic neurotransmission and has been widely recognized as a biomarker for monitoring pollution by organophosphate (OP) and carbamate pesticides. Dioxin is an emerging environmental AChE disruptor and is a typical persistent organic pollutant with multiple toxic effects on the nervous system. Growing evidence has shown that there is a significant link between dioxin exposure and neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, most of which involve AChE and cholinergic dysfunctions. Therefore, an in‐depth understanding of the effects of dioxin on AChE and the related mechanisms of action might help to shed light on the molecular bases of dioxin impacts on the nervous system. In the past decade, the effects of dioxins on AChE have been revealed in cultured cells of different origins and in rodent animal models. Unlike OP and carbamate pesticides, dioxin‐induced AChE disturbance is not due to direct inhibition of enzymatic activity; instead, dioxin causes alterations of AChE expression in certain models. As a widely accepted mechanism for most dioxin effects, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)‐dependent pathway has become a research focus in studies on the mechanism of action of dioxin‐induced AChE dysregulation. In this mini‐review, the effects of dioxin on AChE and the diverse roles of the AhR pathway in AChE regulation are summarized. Additionally, the involvement of AhR in AChE regulation during different neurodevelopmental processes is discussed. These AhR‐related findings might also provide new insight into AChE regulation triggered by diverse xenobiotics capable of interacting with AhR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic metal–support interactions (EMSI) describe the electron flow between metal sites and a metal oxide support. It is generally used to follow the mechanism of redox reactions. In this study of CuO‐CeO2 redox, an additional flow of electrons from metallic Cu to surface carbon species is observed via a combination of operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction, near ambient pressure near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. An electronic metal–support–carbon interaction (EMSCI) is proposed to explain the reaction pathway of CO oxidation. The EMSCI provides a complete picture of the mass and electron flow, which will help predict and improve the catalytic performance in the selective activation of CO2, carbonate, or carbonyl species in C1 chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious psychiatric disorder. Metabolite disturbance is an important pathogenic factor in schizophrenic patients. In this study, we aim to identify plasma lipid and amino acid biomarkers for SCZ using targeted metabolomics. Methods: Plasma from 76 SCZ patients and 50 matched controls were analyzed using the LC/MS‐based multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) metabolomics approach. A total of 182 targeted metabolites, including 22 amino acids and 160 lipids or lipid‐related metabolites were observed. We used binary logistic regression analysis to determine whether the lipid and amino acid biomarkers could discriminate SCZ patients from controls. The area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the biomarkers panel. Results: We identified 19 significantly differentially expressed metabolites between the SCZ patients and the controls (false discovery rate < 0.05), including one amino acid and 18 lipids or lipid‐related metabolites. The binary logistic regression‐selected panel showed good diagnostic performance in the drug‐naïve group (AUC = 0.936) and all SCZ patients (AUC = 0.948), especially in the drug‐treated group (AUC = 0.963). Conclusions: Plasma lipids and amino acids showed significant dysregulation in SCZ, which could effectively discriminate SCZ patients from controls. The LC/MS/MS‐based approach provides reliable data for the objective diagnosis of SCZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcomes and patient satisfaction with angle kappa‐customized implantation of SBL‐3 (Lenstec, Inc.; +3 D), a rotationally asymmetric multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL). Methods: This was a prospective randomized control study. Data from consecutive patients, who underwent bilateral implantation of SBL‐3 MIOL from June 2017 to August 2018, were enrolled in the study. One eye of each patient was randomly chosen to receive a horizontal IOL placement (control group), while the other eye received angle kappa‐customized placement (design group). The outcomes include uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, quality of vision and patient satisfaction. The follow‐up was 3 months. Results: The study enrolled 80 eyes of 40 patients. There was no significant difference in mean UDVA, UIVA and UNVA between the two groups. The design group showed significantly better visual acuity at −1.50 D of defocus, based on the defocus curve (p = 0.022), and less vertical coma (p = 0.002) than the control group. No significant differences in contrast sensitivity, modulation transfer function, Strehl ratio and patient satisfaction were found between the two groups. Conclusion: Angle kappa‐customized implantation of SBL‐3 had little impact on visual outcomes and patient satisfaction, except for a moderate impact on intermediate visual acuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the use of pindolol augmentation in depressed patients resistant to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and PsychINFO databases from 1970 through December 2013 was conducted. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studied on unipolar SSRI-resistant depressed adults were included. The primary outcome was mean change scores of depressive symptom on the depression rating scales, assessed with standardized mean differences. Results Five RCTs consisting of 154 patients met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall pooled effect size in the primary and secondary efficacy analysis showed no significant effects of pindolol plus SSRI therapy (standardized mean difference = −0.43, p = 0.24; OR = 1.92, p = 0.39, respectively). In terms of acceptability, there was no statistical difference in either tolerability or safety between the two groups (OR = 0.46, p = 0.40; OR = 0.90, p = 0.94, respectively). These estimates remained robust through several sensitivity and subgroup analyses, except 7.5 mg-qd pindolol augmentation did show a significant benefit over 2.5-mg tid pindolol augmentation. Conclusions Pindolol augmentation may not be suitable for treatment-resistant depression patients with SSRI-resistant depression. However, once-daily high-dose pindolol (7.5 mg qd) appears to show a promising benefit in these patients. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To measure the effectiveness of antidepressants for adolescents and young adults with co-occurring depression and substance use disorder. Design, Setting and Participants Meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. A comprehensive literature search of Pub Med, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science and PsychINFO was conducted (from 1970 to 2013). Prospective, parallel groups, double-blind, controlled trials with random assignment to an antidepressant or placebo on young patients (age ≤ 25 years) who met diagnostic criteria of both substance use and unipolar depressive disorder were included. Five trials were selected for this analysis and included 290 patients. Measurements Our efficacy outcome measures were depression outcomes (dichotomous and continuous measures) and substance-use outcomes (change of frequency or quantity of substance-use). Secondary analysis was conducted to access the tolerability of antidepressant treatment. Findings For dichotomous depression outcome, antidepressants group was significantly more effective than placebo group [risk ratio ( RR) = 1.21; 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.01-1.45], with low heterogeneity ( I2 = 0%). Although no statistically significant effects for continuous depression outcome [standardized mean differences ( SMD) = −0.13; 95% CI, −0.55 to 0.30] were found with moderate heterogeneity ( I2 = 63%), subgroup analysis showed that the medicine group with a sample size of more than 50 showed statistically significant efficacy compared with the placebo group ( SMD −0.53, 95% CI −0.82 to −0.25). Moreover, there was no significant difference for substance-use outcomes and tolerability outcomes between the medication and placebo groups. Conclusions Antidepressant medication has a small overall effect in reducing depression in young patients with combined depressive and substance-use disorders, but does not appear to improve substance use outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mental disorder with obvious sex differences.[1] Numerous metabolomics studies have investigated the differential expressed metabolic signatures in MDD; however, few studies have investigated the sex differences at the large-scale molecular level other than transcriptome.[[2]] Here, we investigated the sex differences of plasma metabolome signatures in antidepressant-naive patients with MDD. GLO:82I/01nov19:pcn12925-sup-0001-FigureS1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): Figure S1 Metabolomic analysis of plasma samples from male and female major depressive disorder (MDD) patients versus healthy controls (HC). GLO:82I/01nov19:pcn12925-sup-0004-FigureS4.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): Figure S4 Weighted gene correlation network analysis of metabolic profiles of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). For the rank-rank hypergeometric overlap test plot, a hot spot in the bottom left corner indicates overlap in metabolites upregulated in male and female patients. gl. [Extracted from the article]