Search

ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assays in detecting tuberculous meningitis (TBM).MethodsA systematic review search was conducted in PubMed and five other databases up to April 2023. Studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CSF LAM assays were included with either definitive or composite reference standard used as the preferred reference standard. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. We performed a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis and calculated the summary diagnostic statistics.ResultsA total of six studies, including a sample size of 999, were included in the final analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of CSF LAM for diagnosing TBM were determined to be 0.44 (95% CI: 0.31–0.58), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81–0.93), and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.73–0.80), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed in both sensitivity (Q = 73.82, p

Lipid is an important component except starch and protein in rice, which not only has unique nutritional value but also has a great impact on the functional properties of starch. In this paper, the species, structure, distribution, and content of lipids in rice were summarized, and the mechanism, structure characteristics and influencing factors of starch-lipid interaction were discussed. The interaction effects on the properties of starch, including swelling, gelatinization, rheology, retrogradation and digestive ability were reviewed. This paper provided useful information on understanding the interaction between starch and endogenous lipids in rice as well as its influence on the starch properties, which could promote the improvement of rice quality and the development of functional rice.

Abstract Aim To explore whether sense of mastery can mediate the relationship between social support and illness perception in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were at the “Blanking Period.” Design A cross‐sectional design. Methods 405 patients with AF who were at the “Blanking Period” in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were recruited; they completed a set of questionnaires, including the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Personal Mastery Scale and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Results Social support and sense of mastery were both adversely connected to illness perception. The indirect effect of social support on illness perception through sense of mastery was negative, accounting for 86.04% of the total effect. Conclusion During the “Blanking Period,” better social support and sense of mastery contribute to a positive illness perception of AF patients. Social support also can influence patients' illness perception indirectly via the mediator of sense of mastery.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) in young adults and to explore the influence of OAB on mental health. Methods Between October 2019 and January 2020, 14,010 anonymous questionnaires were distributed to freshmen at 2 universities in Henan, China. The students came from all over the country. The questionnaire included general items and information necessary to calculate the overactive bladder symptom score, the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Self-Esteem Scale (SES) score, and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score. The relationships between the prevalence of OAB and its risk factors were evaluated. Results The overall prevalence of OAB was 6.0%, with 4.3% of participants characterized as having dry OAB and 1.7% as having wet OAB. The prevalence of mild OAB was 5.5%, and that of moderate OAB was 0.5%; no severe OAB was observed. Higher prevalence rates of OAB were found among women, respondents with constipation, and respondents with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) (P

Growth inhibition of Streptococcus mutans (SM), Streptococcus salivarius (SS1), and Streptococcus sanguinis (SS2) were determined at different Sparassis latifolia polysaccharides (SLPs) concentrations (2%, 4%, 8%, 16%) mixed with artificial saliva (AS). Metabolomics was determined by the action of 4% SLPs and AS on each bacterium to obtain the bacteriostatic activity of SLPs on oral processing. The results showed that the 16% mixture could inhibit the growth of the oral bacteria S. mutans, S. salivarius, and S. sanguinis. The inhibitory effect on oral bacteria decreased with decreasing polysaccharide concentration. The metabolic pathways and metabolites analyses screened for active inhibitory substances against oral bacteria. These results implied that SLPs are potential new material for developing oral functional products.

BackgroundPrevious cohort studies have found an association between Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) administration and incident dementia. In the systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize the current evidence of the effect of BCG use on the risk of developing dementia.MethodsWe searched six databases until 20 May 2023 for studies investigating the risk of dementia and BCG administration. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled in the meta-analysis. Meta-regression, subgroup, and sensitivity analysis were conducted as well.ResultsOf the 4,043 records initially evaluated, five articles were included for final analysis, with a total of 45,407 bladder cancer (BC) patients. All five studies were evaluated and rated as with high quality, and a low possibility of publication bias was indicated. A significant association between BCG and the incidence of dementia in BC patients was found in all five studies. Although a high heterogeneity (I2 = 84.5%, p < 0.001) was observed, the pooled HR was 0.55 (0.42–0.73), indicating that BCG exposure or treatment reduced the risk of incident dementia by 45%. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis showed good robustness of the overall effect with no serious publication bias.ConclusionBCG administration is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. However, an epidemiological cohort is needed to establish a relationship between BCG use and incident dementia in the normal population. Once the relationship is confirmed, more people may benefit from the association.Systematic review registrationidentifier: CRD42023428317.

A number of studies found that serotonin plays a vital role in the development of depression and irritable bowel syndrome. Recent studies showed that vitamin D was associated with regulating the synthesis of serotonin. This review focuses on the recent progress in the relationship between vitamin D and serotonin synthesis.

The mono-base-stabilized 1,2-diboranylidenehydrazine derivatives featuring a 1,3-dipolar BNN skeleton are obtained by dehydrobromination of [ArB(Br)NH]2 (Ar = 2,6-diphenylphenyl (Dpp), Ar = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl (Dmp) or Ar = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl (Mes*)) with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Depending on the Ar substituents, such species can be isolated as a crystalline solid (Ar = Mes*) or generated as reactive intermediates undergoing spontaneous intramolecular aminoboration of the proximal arene rings via [3 + 2] cycloaddition (Ar = Dpp or Dmp). The latter reactions showcase the 1,3-dipolar reactivity toward unactivated arenes at ambient temperature. In addition, double cycloaddition of the isolable BNN species with two CO2 molecules affords a bicyclic species consisting of two fused five-membered BN2CO rings. The electronic structures of these BNN species and the mechanisms of these cascade reactions are interrogated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Abstract Brain calcification is a critical aging-associated pathology and can cause multifaceted neurological symptoms. Cerebral phosphate homeostasis dysregulation, blood-brain barrier defects, and immune dysregulation have been implicated as major pathological processes in familial brain calcification (FBC). Here, we analyzed two brain calcification families and identified calcification co-segregated biallelic variants in the CMPK2 gene that disrupt mitochondrial functions. Transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from these patients showed impaired mitochondria-associated metabolism pathways. In situ hybridization and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed robust Cmpk2 expression in neurons and vascular endothelial cells (vECs), two cell types with high energy expenditure in the brain. The neurons in Cmpk2-knockout (KO) mice have fewer mitochondrial DNA copies, down-regulated mitochondrial proteins, reduced ATP production, and elevated intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi) level, recapitulating the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in the PBMCs isolated from the FBC patients. Morphologically, the cristae architecture of the Cmpk2-KO murine neurons was also impaired. Notably, calcification developed in a progressive manner in the homozygous Cmpk2-KO mice thalamus region as well as in the Cmpk2-knock-in mice bearing the patient mutation, thus phenocopying the calcification pathology observed in the patients. Together, our study identifies biallelic variants of CMPK2 as novel genetic factors for FBC; and demonstrates how CMPK2 deficiency alters mitochondrial structures and functions, thereby highlighting the mitochondria dysregulation as a critical pathogenic mechanism underlying brain calcification.