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Abstract Background Anxious depression (AD) is a common subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD). Neuroimaging studies of AD have revealed inconsistent and heterogeneous brain alterations with the use of single-model methods. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the pathogenesis of AD using multi-model imaging analyses to obtain more homogeneous and robust results. Methods One hundred and eighty-two patients with MDD and 64 matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to estimate the gray matter volume (GMV) of all subjects. The GMV differences between the AD and non-anxious depression (NAD) participants were used as regions of interest (ROIs) for subsequent resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analyses. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the associations between clinical symptoms and abnormal function in specific brain areas. Results Decreased GMV in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) was observed in the AD group compared to the NAD group. Taking the MFG and SFG as ROIs, the rs-FC analysis revealed decreased FC between the left SFG and left temporal pole and between the left SFG and right MFG in the AD group compared to the NAD group. Finally, the FC between the left SFG and left temporal pole was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 scores in the AD group. Conclusion By combining the GMV and rs-FC models, this study revealed that structural and functional disruption of the affective network may be an important pathophysiology underlying AD. The structural impairment may serve as the foundation of the functional impairment.

Human activities are the main factors threatening ecosystems, and ecological management should place a strong emphasis on guiding their positive development. More targeted and differentiated ecological preservation strategies can be proposed with research on the regional variability of the interaction between ecosystems and human activities. Utilizing the Vigor-Organization-Resilience-Services (VORS) model and the land surface human activity intensity model, the ecosystem health index (EHI) and human activity intensity (HAI) of the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone (PLEEZ) were evaluated, respectively. Furthermore, their spatial association was investigated using spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the effect of HAI on EHI was analyzed using Geographic Detector and Geographic Weighted Regress. The results revealed that in the PLEEZ, (1) The zones of intensified human activity were highly consistent with the expansion of built-up land, and the EHI here has always been the lowest; (2) The HAI and EHI showed a significant and increasing spatial negative correlation, manifested as high HAI with low EHI clustering in the central plains and the adverse in the peripheral mountainous areas. (3) The HAI has the highest explanatory power on the spatial pattern of EHI, and its influence was greatest at the lower EHI. (4) Natural ecosystems with high EHI were highly sensitive to HAI, while areas with low EHI were less sensitive. The research can offer theoretical guidance for ecological construction in the future. The adverse effects of human activities in PLEEZ can be reduced through strict regulation of natural ecological sources, intensive utilization of human gathering areas, and promotion of green production and lifestyle.

Objective·To investigate the correlation between intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) content and glucose metabolism in male patients with obesity.Methods·Eighty male patients with obesity were recruited from the Endocrinology Department of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from December 2019 to December 2020. According to the results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), they were divided into normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) group. General data and laboratory test indicators of the two groups were collected and compared. mDixon-Quant technique was used to measure the IMAT content in each skeletal muscle of the thigh in the two groups, and the proton density fat fractions (PDFF) of skeletal muscle in the two groups were compared. The multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of IGR occurrence.Results·Compared with the NGT group, patients in the IGR group had a larger waist circumference (P=0.017), higher glutamic-pyruvic transaminase level, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase level, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level, triacylglycerol (TAG) level, nonestesterified fatty acid (NEFA) level and sartorius PDFF (all P

Objective: This study focuses on in-depth research and development of the utilization of Coreopsis tinctoria resources. Methods: The Coreopsis samples from Hetian, Urumqi, Aba, Luding and Xining were hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid, and the contents of 17 kinds of amino acids were determined by automatic amino acid analyzer. On this basis, the characteristics of amino acid flavor were analyzed and compared with the amino acid pattern spectrum issued by FAO/WHO. RAA, RC and SRC were calculated, and correlation analysis and cluster analysis were performed on 17 kinds of amino acids of chrysanthemum. Thereafter, the nutritional value of Coreopsis protein was comprehensively evaluated. Results: 17 kinds of amino acids were detected in all the 5 species from different habitats. The taste characteristics of Luding and Aba Coreopsis was mainly bitter, while the other three kinds of Coreopsis showed umami, bitter and sweet taste from the highest to the lowest. Compared with the amino acid pattern profile, the Met+Cys in Coreopsis from the five producing areas were lower than the pattern spectrum standard, and the proportions of other essential amino acids in the total amino acids in Luding, Hetian and Urumqi were close to and higher than the pattern spectrum standard. According to the RC value, Met and Cys were identified as as the first limiting amino acids of Coreopsis. The SRC value ranged from 75 to 80, the ratio of essential amino acids to total amino acids (E/T value) ranged from 31% to 36%, and the ratio of essential amino acids to non-essential amino acids (E/N value) ranged from 46% to 55%. The E/N values of Coreopsis in all five regions are slightly lower than the FAO/WHO ideal protein standard. Conclusion: Coreopsis is rich in amino acids and has high nutritional value with certain medicinal value. It has good taste and can be used as a beneficial product resource for human body.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) remains challenging in certain specific clinical situations. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), as a novel diagnostic method, may help in the diagnosis of PCP.Case presentationA 6-month-old male child developed acute pneumonia and sepsis. This child had previously suffered from Escherichia coli septicemia and was cured. However, the fever and dyspnea relapsed. Blood tests revealed a low lymphocyte count (0.69 × 109/L) and acute inflammatory markers such as high-level procalcitonin (8.0 ng/ml) and C-reactive protein (19 mg/dl). Chest imaging showed inflammation and decreased translucency in both lungs but no thymus shadow. Various serology tests, the 1,3-beta-D-glucan test, culture, as well as sputum smear failed to detect any pathogens. mNGS with blood helped identify 133 specific nucleic acid sequences of Pneumocystis jirovecii, suggesting an infection with this pathogen. After treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 5 days, the patient's condition improved, but the child still needed ventilator support. Unfortunately, the child died soon after because of respiratory failure after his parents decided to abandon treatment. The family declined an autopsy on the child, and therefore, an anatomical diagnosis could not be obtained. Whole-exome sequencing suggested X-linked immunodeficiency. A hemizygous mutation of c.865c > t (p.r289*) was detected in the IL2RG gene, which was inherited from the mother (heterozygous state).ConclusionThis case report highlights the value of mNGS in diagnosing PCP when conventional diagnostic methods fail to identify the agent. Early onset of recurrent infectious diseases may indicate the presence of an immunodeficiency disease, for which timely genetic analysis and diagnosis are crucial.

On the basis of single factor experiment,the processing technology of microencapsulated camellia oleifera seed oil was optimized by response surface method.The results showed that the optimized parameters were as follows： solid content 19%,inlet air temperature 180 ℃,and feed flow rate 16 mL/min.The order of the effects of various factors on the embedding rate of microencapsulated camellia oleifera seed oil was：solid content＞feed flow rate＞inlet air temperature.

Statin therapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of systemic vascular diseases. However, statins have failed to translate as therapeutics for pulmonary vascular disease. Early pulmonary vascular disease in the setting of congenital heart disease (CHD) is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, which precedes the more advanced stages of vascular remodeling. These features make CHD an ideal cohort in which to re-evaluate the potential pulmonary vascular benefits of statins, with a focus on endothelial biology. However, it is critical that the full gamut of the pleiotropic effects of statins in the endothelium are uncovered. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of simvastatin for children with CHD and pulmonary over-circulation, and examine mechanisms of simvastatin action on the endothelium. Our data demonstrate that daily simvastatin treatment preserves endothelial function in our shunt lamb model of pulmonary over-circulation. Further, using pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) isolated from Shunt and control lambs, we identified a new mechanism of statin action mediated by increased expression of the endogenous Akt1 inhibitor, C-terminal modifying protein (CTMP). Increases in CTMP were able to decrease the Akt1-mediated mitochondrial redistribution of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which correlated with increased enzymatic coupling, identified by increases in NO generation and decreases in NOS-derived superoxide. Together our data identify a new mechanism by which simvastatin enhances NO signaling in the pulmonary endothelium and identify CTMP as a potential therapeutic target to prevent the endothelial dysfunction that occurs in children born with CHD resulting in pulmonary over-circulation.

Al2O3 ceramic-lined steel pipe was produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis centrifugal thermite process (SHS C-T process) from Fe2O3 and Al as the raw materials. The composition, phase separation and microstructures were investigated. The result showed the ceramic lined pipe is composed of the three main layers of various compositions, which were subsequently determined to be Fe layer, the transition layer and the ceramic layer. Fe layer is composed of austenite and ferrite, the transition layer consisted of Al2O3 ceramic and Fe, the ceramic layer consisted of the dendritic-shaped Al2O3 and the spinel-shaped structured FeAl2O4.