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The present study sought to propose Ganoderma guixiense sp. nov. as a new species based on phenotypic and genotypic evidence. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) sequence data. G. guixiense has been characterized by pileate basidiomata, long stipe, in addition to reddish-black zonate pileal surface. Basidiospores are broadly ellipsoid with one end tapering at maturity, and measuring 9-12.8 × 6.5-9.3 μm. Basidia are oval to subglobose. This study marks the first exploration of the biological characteristics of G. guixiense . The result indicated that the optimal medium of mycelial growth was observed on malt extract agar (MEA) and yeast extract peptone dextrose agar (YPD) while the optimal temperature was found to be 25-30 °C with pH range of 6-7., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.)

Transition metal oxide (TMO) anodes show inferior sodium ion storage performance compared with that of lithium ion storage owing to the larger radium size and heavier elemental mass of Na+ than Li+. Effective strategies are highly desired to improve the Na+ storage performance of TMOs for applications. In this work, using ZnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites as model materials for investigation, we found that by manipulating the particle sizes of the inner TMOs core and the features of outer carbon coating, the Na+ storage performance can be significantly improved. The ZnFe2O4@1C with a diameter of the inner ZnFe2O4 core of around 200 nm coated by a thin carbon layer of around 3 nm shows a specific capacity of only 120 mA h g-1. The ZnFe2O4@6.5C with a diameter of the inner ZnFe2O4 core of around 110 nm embedding in a porous interconnected carbon matrix displays a significantly improved specific capacity of 420 mA h g-1 at the same specific current. Furthermore, the latter shows an excellent cycling stability of 1000 cycles with a capacity retention of 90% of the initial 220 mA h g-1 specific capacity at 1.0 A g-1. TEM, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and kinetic analysis show that the inner ZnFe2O4 core with reduced particle size and the outer thicker and interconnected carbon matrix synergistically improve the active reaction sites, integrity, electric conductivity, and pseudocapacitive-controlled contribution of ZnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites, thus leading to an overall enhanced Na+ storage performance. Our findings create a universal, facile, and effective method to enhance the Na+ storage performance of the TMO@C nanomaterials., (© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

What Is Known and Objectives: The initial tacrolimus dose regimen in paediatric lung transplant recipients is unknown. The present study optimized the initial tacrolimus dose regimen for paediatric lung transplant recipients., Methods: This study was based on a published population pharmacokinetic model of tacrolimus in lung transplant recipients and used Monte Carlo simulations to recommend an initial dose regimen of tacrolimus in paediatric lung transplant recipients., Results: Without voriconazole, the tacrolimus doses recommended for paediatric lung transplant recipients who were not CYP3A5*1 carriers were 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, for weights of 10-16, 16-30, and 30-40 kg, respectively. For paediatric lung transplant recipients who were CYP3A5*1 carriers, the tacrolimus doses of 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.06 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, were recommended for weights of 10-16, 16-25, 25-30, and 30-40 kg, respectively. With voriconazole, the tacrolimus dose recommended for paediatric lung transplant recipients who were not CYP3A5*1 carriers was 0.02 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, for weights of 10-40 kg. For paediatric lung transplant recipients who were CYP3A5*1 carriers, tacrolimus doses of 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg/day, split and two doses, were recommended for weights of 10-24 and 24-40 kg, respectively., What Is New and Conclusions: This study developed tacrolimus dose regimens for the first time for paediatric lung transplant recipients using Monte Carlo simulation and optimized initial dosage in paediatric lung transplant recipients., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The present study aimed to explore the effect of carnitine supplementation on body weight in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and predict an appropriate dosage schedule using a machine-learning approach. Data were obtained from literature mining and the rates of body weight change from the initial values were selected as the therapeutic index. The maximal effect (E max ) model was built up as the machine-learning model. A total of 242 patients with PCOS were included for analysis. In the machine-learning model, the E max of carnitine supplementation on body weight was -3.92%, the ET 50 was 3.6 weeks, and the treatment times to realize 25%, 50%, 75%, and 80% (plateau) E max of carnitine supplementation on body weight were 1.2, 3.6, 10.8, and 14.4 weeks, respectively. In addition, no significant relationship of dose-response was found in the dosage range of carnitine supplementation used in the present study, indicating the lower limit of carnitine supplementation dosage, 250 mg/day, could be used as a suitable dosage. The present study first explored the effect of carnitine supplementation on body weight in patients with PCOS, and in order to realize the optimal therapeutic effect, carnitine supplementation needs 250 mg/day for at least 14.4 weeks., 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 Wang, Li, Mao, He, Zhu and Wei.)

Objective: To observe the effects of penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture on emotion, sleep and function development in children of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)., Methods: A total of 60 SAD children aged 3 to 6 years were randomized in a control group (music education rehabilitation, n =30) and an observation group (penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture + music education rehabilitation, n =30). In the two groups, the treatment for 3 months was as 1 course, and 2 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the changes were observed in childhood autism rating scale (CARS), emotion regulation subscale (ER), children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) and children autism and psycho-educational profile for autistic and developmentally disabled children (C-PEP-3), separately., Results: Compared with the scores before treatment, CARS score, the score of each subscale of CSHQ, e.g. bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, irregular sleep duration, sleep anxiety, parasomnias and daytime sleepiness as well as the total score of CSHQ were all reduced in children of two groups ( P <0.05); and the score of ER and C-PEP-3 were all increased ( P <0.05) after 6 months' treatment. Compared with the control group, ER score was increased in 3 and 6 months after treatment ( P <0.05), CARS score was reduced ( P <0.05) and C-PEP-3 score was increased obviously ( P <0.05) 6 months after treatment in the observation group; but the scores of the subscale for night waking and sleep disordered breathing did not changed noticeably (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture improves the emotion and sleep disorder and promotes the function development in ASD children.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between resilience and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Fifty-nine patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 86 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients with schizophrenia were enrolled from the psychiatric outpatient and inpatient Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from September 2017 to January 2020, while healthy controls were recruited through advertising. The levels of resilience and cognitive function were compared between the two groups.Meanwhile, the partial correlation analysis of resilience and cognitive function of the two groups was performed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in gender, marriage and age between the two groups (all P >0.05), and there were 39 males and 20 females with an average age of (23.8±7.4) years in the schizophrenia group, while 47 males and 39 females with an average age of (22.9±4.7) years in the healthy control group. However, there was a significant difference inyears of education between the two groups ( P <0.05). The total score of resilience [(56.9±16.7) vs(68.0±14.4)] and scores ofthree factorsin patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than that in healthy controls(all P <0.05). The total score of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)[(23±12) vs (42±11)] and each subscale score in patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than that in healthy controls(all P <0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that the total score of resilience and tenacity were correlated with symbol coding of schizophrenia(partial correlation coefficients were 0.286, 0.289, respectively, both P <0.05). The total score of resilience and the scores of tenacity, strength and optimism were all correlated with emotion management ability of schizophrenia(partial correlation coefficients were 0.334, 0.271, 0.382, 0.308, respectively, all P <0.05). In the healthy controls, the total score of resilience, tenacity and optimism were correlated with symbol coding(partial correlation coefficients were 0.268, 0.225, 0.291, respectively, all P <0.05). Strength and optimism were correlated with Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT)(partial correlation coefficients were 0.268, 0.225, respectively, both P <0.05). Strength was correlated with spatial span, continuous performance test(partial correlation coefficients were 0.244, 0.217, respectively, both P <0.05). The total scores of resilience and tenacity, strength and optimism were correlated with emotional management ability(partial correlation coefficients were 0.306, 0.230, 0.286, 0.289, respectively, all P <0.05), while the total scores of resilience, strength and optimism were correlated with the total score of MCCB(partial correlation coefficients were 0.291, 0.359, 0.287, respectively, all P <0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that resilience and cognitive function of patients with first-episode schizophrenia areimpaired significantly. Resilience in patients with schizophrenia isrelated to partial neurocognitive function and emotion management ability in social cognitive function.

Through first-principles calculations, we report the thermoelectric properties of two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal group-IV tellurides XTe (X = Ge, Sn and Pb), with quadruple layers (QL) in the Te-X-X-Te stacking sequence, as promising candidates for mid-temperature thermoelectric (TE) materials. The results show that 2D PbTe exhibits a high Seebeck coefficient (∼1996 μV K -1 ) and a high power factor (6.10 × 10 11 W K -2 m -1 s -1 ) at 700 K. The lattice thermal conductivities of QL GeTe, SnTe and PbTe are calculated to be 2.29, 0.29 and 0.15 W m -1 K -1 at 700 K, respectively. Using our calculated transport parameters, large values of the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.67, 1.90, and 2.44 can be obtained at 700 K under n-type doping for 2D GeTe, SnTe, and PbTe, respectively. Among the three compounds, 2D PbTe exhibits low average values of sound velocity (0.42 km s -1 ), large Grüneisen parameters (∼2.03), and strong phonon scattering. Thus, 2D PbTe shows remarkable mid-temperature TE performance with a high ZT value under both p-type (2.39) and n-type (2.44) doping. The present results may motivate further experimental efforts to verify our predictions.

Objective: To explore the role of peripheral serum complement protein in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment by analyzing the correlation between peripheral serum levels of complement protein and cognitive function in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 66 first-episode drug-naive schizophrenics (schizophrenia group) from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and 88 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled. Peripheral serum levels of complements (C3, C4 and CH50) were separately examined by liposome immunoassay and turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to assess the cognitive function. Results: Peripheral serum levels of C4, but not C3 and CH50, were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia [0.20(0.16, 0.25) g/L] than those in the control group [0.23 (0.19, 0.27) g/L] ( P< 0.05). Moreover the peripheral serum levels of C3, C4 and CH50 were positively correlated with MCCB verbal fluency ( r= 0.258, r= 0.283 and r= 0.330, all P< 0.05), and the peripheral serum levels of CH50 were negatively correlated with attention and alertness ( r= -0.257, P< 0.05). Conclusion: The decrease of peripheral serum complement C4 protein levels may be involved in the mechamism of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

The thermoelectric property of the monolayer MAs 2 (M = Ni, Pd and Pt) is predicted based on first principles calculations, while combining with the Boltzmann transport theory to confirm the influence of phonon and electricity transport property on the thermoelectric performance. More specifically, on the basis of stable geometry structure, the lower lattice thermal conductivity of the monolayer NiAs 2 , PdAs 2 and PtAs 2 is obtained corresponding to 5.9, 2.9 and 3.6 W/mK. Furthermore, the results indicate that the monolayer MAs 2 have moderate direct bang-gap, in which the monolayer PdAs 2 can reach 0.8 eV. The Seebeck coefficient, power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) were calculated at 300, 500 and 700 K by performing the Boltzmann transport equation and the relaxation time approximation. Among them, we can affirm that the monolayer PdAs 2 possesses the maximum ZT of about 2.1, which is derived from a very large power factor of 3.9 × 10 11 W/K 2 ms and lower thermal conductivity of 1.4 W/mK at 700 K. The monolayer MAs 2 can be a promising candidate for application at thermoelectric materials.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) causes huge economic losses to the poultry industry. Probiotics are used as potential alternatives to antibiotics to prevent NE. It is known that Clostridium butyricum can act as a probiotic that can prevent infection. However, whether or not it exerts a beneficial effect on NE in chickens remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated the impact of C. butyricum on immune response and intestinal microbiota during the development of NE in chickens, including experimental stages with basal diets, high-fishmeal-supplementation diets, and Clostridium perfringens challenge. Chickens were divided into two groups from day 1 to day 20: one group had its diet supplemented with C. butyricum supplementation and one did not. At day 20, the chickens were divided into four groups: C. perfringens challenged and unchallenged chickens with and without C. butyricum supplementation. All groups were fed a basal diet for 13 days and thereafter a basal diet with 50% fishmeal from day 14 to 24. Chickens were infected with C. perfringens from day 21 to 23. At days 13, 20 and 24, samples were collected for analysis of the relative expression of immune response and intestinal mucosa barrier-related genes and intestinal microbes. The results show that C. butyricum can inhibit the increase in IL-17A gene expression and the reduction in Claudin-1 gene induced-expression caused by C. perfringens challenge. Moreover, C. butyricum was found to increase the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in infected chickens. Although C. butyricum was found to have a significant beneficial effect on the structure of intestinal bacteria in the basal diet groups and decrease the abundance of C. perfringens in the gut, it did not significantly affect the occurrence of intestinal lesions and did not significantly correct the shift in gut bacterial composition post C. perfringens infection. In conclusion, although C. butyricum promotes the expression of anti-inflammatory and tight junction protein genes and inhibits pro-inflammatory genes in C. perfringens- challenged chickens, it is not adequate to improve the structure of intestinal microbiota in NE chickens. Therefore, more effective schemes of C. butyricum supplementation to prevent and treat NE in chickens need to be identified., (Copyright © 2019 Huang, Peng, Gao, Wei, Xiang, Yuan and Xu.)

Introduction: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a principal complication secondary to analgesic therapy for cancer pain patients who suffer moderate to severe pain. In this study, we observe the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous acupoint interferential current (IFC) stimulation in those patients with OIC., Methods: A total of 198 patients were randomly allocated to the IFC group and control group in a 1:1 ratio. Finally, 98 patients in the IFC group received 14 sessions administered over 2 weeks, whereas 100 patients in the control group took lactulose orally during the same period. Observation items were documented at management stage and at follow-up stage according to Cleveland Constipation Scales (CCS), pain Numeric Rating Scales (NRS) and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL)., Results: The total curative effects of the IFC group and the control group were indistinguishable (76.5% vs 70.0%, P = .299). Regarding CCS and PAC-QoL scores, no significant difference was observed between the 2 groups during the management time and at the follow-up stage of week 3 ( P > .05, respectively), but groups were distinguished at the follow-up stage of week 4 ( P < .001 and P = .031, respectively). The pain NRS decreased significantly at management stage week 2 and follow-up stage week 3 and week 4 ( P = .013, P = .041, P = .011, respectively)., Conclusions: Transcutaneous acupoint IFC therapy over acupoints of Tianshu (ST25) and Zhongwan (RN12) may improve constipation and quality of life in cancer patients receiving opiates; further studies are worthwhile.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important causes that leads to end-stage renal disease and the efficacy of strategies currently available for the prevention of DN remains unsatisfactory. Sitagliptin (SIT), which is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, exhibited a modest beneficial effect on glycated hemoglobin levels and is capable of ameliorating renal ischemia reperfusion injury. By determining the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), collagen type IV (ColIV) and fibronectin (FN) levels in high glucose-cultured glomerular mesangial cells (MCs), the present study aimed to assess the anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic effects of SIT on the therapeutic potential for the prevention of DN and its mechanism. Specifically, cell proliferation was determined via cell counting kit-8 assay, and the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF mRNA were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, the secretion of TGF-β1, CTGF, ColIV and FN proteins was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results demonstrated that high glucose induced the proliferation of MCs and enhanced the expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, ColIV and FN. Furthermore, treatment with SIT inhibited cell proliferation and the expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, ColIV and FN induced by high glucose. In conclusion, SIT inhibits cell proliferation and the expression of the major extracellular matrix proteins induced by high glucose, indicating its value for treating or relieving DN.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem. HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-negative strains have become prevalent. Previously, no animal model mimicked the clinical course of HBeAg-negative HBV infection. To establish an HBeAg-negative HBV infection model, the 3.2-kb full-length genome of HBeAg-negative HBV was cloned from a clinical sample and then circularized to form covalently closed circular (cccDNA). The resulting cccDNA was introduced into the liver of C57BL/6J mice through hydrodynamic injection. Persistence of the HBeAg-negative infection was monitored at predetermined time points using HBV-specific markers including HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, and HBV core antigen (HBcAg) as well as DNA copies. Throughout the study, pAAV-HBV1.2 was used as a control. In mice injected with HBeAg-negative cccDNA, the HBV infection rate was 100% at the initial stage. HBsAg levels increased up to 1 week, at which point levels peaked and dropped quickly thereafter. In 60% of injected mice, HBsAg and HBcAg persisted for more than 10 weeks. High numbers of HBV DNA copies were detected in the serum and liver. Moreover, cccDNA persisted in the liver tissue of HBeAg-negative mice. In contrast to the pAAV-HBV 1.2 injected mice, no HBeAg was found in mice injected with HBeAg-negative HBV throughout the study period. These results demonstrate the first successful establishment of a model of HBeAg-negative HBV-persistent infection in immunocompetent mice. Compared to pAAV-HBV1.2-injected mice, the infection persistence and levels of serum virological and biochemical markers were approximately equal in the model mice. This model will be useful for mechanistic studies on HBeAg-negative HBV infection and will facilitate the evaluation of new antiviral drugs.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition. The allopregnanolone biosynthesis has been implicated as one of the possible contributors to PTSD. Inulin-type oligosaccharides of morinda officinalis (IOMO) had been shown to be effective in the therapy of depression. However, few studies concern the anti-PTSD-like effects of IOMO. To evaluate this, the single prolonged stress (SPS) model was used in the present study. It had been shown that the behavioral deficits of SPS-treated rats were reversed by IOMO (25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, i.p.), which reversed the increased freezing time in contextual fear paradigm (CFP) and the decreased time and entries in open arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test without affecting the locomotor activity in the open field (OF) test. In addition, the decreased allopregnanolone in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala was reversed by IOMO (25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. In summary, the present study indicated that the IOMO exert anti-PTSD-like behaviors, which maybe associated with the brain allopregnanolone biosynthesis.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) exhibits a deteriorating course that may lead to end-stage renal failure. Astragalosides have been clinically tested for the treatment of DN, but the mechanism is unclear at present. In this study, the effects of astragalosides were investigated on high glucose-induced proliferation and expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type IV collagen (colIV) and fibronectin (FN) in glomerular mesangial cells (MCs). Cell proliferation was determined by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine assay, and the expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, colIV and FN mRNA and proteins in MCs was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and ELISA assay, respectively. The results showed that high glucose clearly induced the proliferation of MCs and increased the expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, colIV and FN. Treatment with 50, 100, 200 µg/ml astragalosides inhibited cell proliferation and the expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, colIV and FN induced by high glucose. Thus, it is concluded that astragalosides inhibit the increased cell proliferation and expression of major extracellular matrix proteins that are induced by high glucose, indicating their value for the prophylaxis and therapy of DN.

Vaccination is the most effective method for preventing rabies virus (RABV) infection in both humans and animals; however, no satisfactory vaccine has been developed for use worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the immunoadjuvant properties of Salmonella Typhimurium flagellin (FljB, FliC, and FljB'-FliC) to improve immune responses against the rabies vaccine (RV) and the protective efficacy of the whole-killed rabies vaccine (WKRV) with or without flagellins in BALB/c mice. We also compared the differences among the three flagellins in terms of immunoadjuvant properties to RV. FljB can cause the WKRV to induce stronger humoral and cellular immune responses than WKRV alone or WKRV with FliC or FljB'-FliC can. Mice immunized with WKRV and FljB produced higher levels of virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) against RABV than those in the other groups did. Although mice in all treatment groups survived RABV challenge, the body weight loss in the group immunized with WKRV and FljB was lower than in the other groups. These results indicate that FljB is a promising adjuvant for use in the development of effective rabies vaccines.

In the present study, an inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based triple-amplification system, by combination of nicking-displacement, rolling circle amplification (RCA) and bio-bar-code probes, was fabricated for the detection of DNA target. By using this system, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA target down to 3.2×10(-17)M was detected by DNA probes labeled with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes can also be effectively discriminated. In addition, we proved that this strategy is capable of detecting the target in complicated biological samples and holds great potential application in biomedical research., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

On the basis of strong preference for cleaving double-stranded DNA or DNA in DNA:RNA heteroduplexes of duplex-specific nuclease (DSN), a dual-amplified electrochemical detection of mRNA was developed in this article, by coupling the enhancement of DSN and bio-bar-code conjugates. Capture probe was linked with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) at its 5' end and bio-bar-code at its 3' end. In the presence of target surviving mRNA, all hybridized S1 strands were cleaved off the biosensor by the DSN, and the bio-bar-code probe with CdS nanoparticles (CdS NPs) was released into the solution. The metal sulfide nanoparticles were measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) subsequently. This assay exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity with a detection limit of 0.48fM. In addition, we proved that this simple and cost-effective strategy is capable of detecting the target in complicated biological samples and holds great potential application in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To detect the changes of cortical thickness and cortical surface area in untreated patients of first-episode schizophrenia., Methods: Fifty-seven untreated patients of first-episode schizophrenia (SCZ) hospitalized from September 2009 to March 2012 at Department of Psychiatry, Third Affiliated Hospital, SUN Yat-sen University and 57 healthy controls (HC) recruited by advertising during the same period underwent a high resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of brain structures. And cortical-surface based technique was used to analyze the cortical thickness and cortical surface area. The general linear model (GLM) was employed to detect the differences of cortical thickness and cortical surface area between two groups., Results: were corrected for multiple comparisons by the Monte Carlo simulation method., Results: As compared with HC, the cortical thickness of left superior frontal, left caudal middle cingulate, left lateral occipital, right superior frontal, right superior temporal and right fusiform regions in SCZ decreased by 6.0%, 7.2%, 8.2%, 5.2%, 7.1% and 6.0% respectively. And the largest reductions occurred in left lateral occipital regions. Cortical surface area of each brain regions in SCZ had no significant difference with HC., Conclusion: Cortical thickness reductions exist in multiple brain regions in schizophrenia. It may be the neuropathological mechanisms of schizophrenia.

Objective: To observe the efficacy of moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) on intractable facial paraly sis and the impacts on immune globulin IgA, IgG and IgM., Methods: One hundred and twenty cases of intractable facial paralysis that was in compliance with the inclusive criteria were randomized into a moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 60 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was applied at Baihui (GV 20). In the acupuncture group, the patients were treated with acupuncture, once a day, the treatment of 15 days made one session in two groups. Before treatment and after 2 sessions treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were detected respectively for the patients in two groups and compared., Results: The difference in the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM was not significant for the patients between two groups (all P > 0.05) before treatment, but the levels of all three indices were increased significantly as compared with the normal reference values (all P < 0.05). Componed before the treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were reduced significantly in two groups after treatment, indicating the significant difference (all P < 0.05). In comparison between two groups after the treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM in the moxibustion group were lower significantly than those in the acupuncture group, presenting the significant difference after treatment (all P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The ottack of intractable facial paralysis is relevant with the abnormal increase of immunoglobulin. Moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) reduces significantly the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM for the patients with intractable facial paraly sis, which is probably one of the mechanisms in the treatment of intractable facial paralysis.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on supplementary analgesia and improvement of adverse reactions induced by dolantin in oocyte retrieval, and to provide scientific and effective evidence for application of electroacupuncture in oocyte retrieval., Methods: One hundred and thirty-four patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly divied into an observation group and a a control group, 67 cases in each group. They were all received intramuscular injection of 50 mg dolantin at 30 mn before the operation, and then the observation group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), pain point (Extra, right), Sanyangluo (TE 8, right), Zusanli (ST 36, right) and ear uterus point (right ear). Pain point and Sanyangluo (TE 8) were received electroacupuncture stimulation after Deqi until the oocyte retrieval operation was finished, and the oocyte retrieval operation was performed in the control group after 30 min of injection of dolantin. The pain grade and score were observed and the adverse reactions during operation or 1 h and 2 h after the operation were recorded., Results: The excellent analgesia rate was 97.0% (65/ 67) in the observation group and 92.5% (62/67) in the control group, with significant difference in the analgesia effect (P < 0.05). The pain grade and pain score in the observation group were both superior to those in the control group (both P < 0.05). There were fewer cases with the adverse reactions i.e. vertigo, sweating, nausea in the observation group than that in the control group during operation or 1 h and 2 h after the operation (all P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In the oocyte retrieval operation, under the guidance of vaginal B ultrasound, electroacupuncture has a good intraoperative supplementary analgesia effect without intraoperative and postoperative adverse reactions induced by dolantin.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) is a major sheddase for over 30 different membrane proteins and gets involved in such physiological processes and pathogenesis as embryonic development, cell adhesion, signal transduction, immune reaction, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Both ADAM10 knock-out mice and the neural progenitor cell-specific ADAM10 knock-out mice having been reported so far died in the embryonic or perinatal stage, respectively, thus resulting in the failure to investigate ADAM10 function in the adult mouse brain. Through a series of tests, we have succeeded in generating and characterizing the CaMKIIα-Cre/ADAM10(loxP/loxP) mice surviving until adulthood by means of crossing ADAM10(loxP/loxP) mice with newly generated CaMKIIα-Cre transgenic mice. PCR analysis of genomic DNAs from different regions of the ADAM10 cKO mouse brain shows that the deleted ADAM10 alleles are mainly found in the cortex and hippocampus. Real-time RT-PCR findings further confirm that ADAM10 mRNAs decrease in the cortex and hippocampus by 55.7% and 60.8%, respectively. Western-blotting analysis demonstrates 63% and 84.8% loss of mature ADAM10 proteins from the cortex and hippocampus. Immunohistochemical tests show that there is significantly less ADAM10- positive staining in the cortical and hippocampal neurons but not gliocytes of ADAM10 cKO mice compared with control mice. In summary, we established the adult neuron-specific ADAM10 knock-out (cKO) mice for the first time, which prevented ADAM10(-/-) mice from the embryonic and perinatal mortality and laid a firm foundation for the further study of ADAM10 function in the brain of adult mice in vivo.

Objective: To explore the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) features of white matter in healthy siblings of schizophrenics., Methods: Twenty healthy siblings of schizophrenics and 45 healthy controls without a family history of mental disorder. They responded to advertised recruitment during December 2009 and March 2012. All participants underwent diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images with a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence aligned to straight axial plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) images of two groups underwent two-sample t-test with SPM5 software., Results: The healthy siblings of schizophrenics demonstrated a significant decrease of regional white matter FA values in right anterior cingulated (MNI: x = 9, y = 43, z = 4; cluster = 106)., Conclusion: Reduced white matter integrity in right anterior cingulated may be a risk actor of schizophrenia.

Objective: To explore the roles of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of white matter at an early stage of schizophrenia., Methods: The participants were 20 first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenics at an early stage (1 - 6 months) and 20 healthy controls adjusted in gender and age during December 2009 and October 2010. They underwent diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging with a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence aligned to straight axial plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) images of two groups underwent two-sample paired t-test with SPM5 software., Results: The schizophrenics at an early stage demonstrated a significant decrease of regional white matter FA values in right anterior cingulated (MNI: x = 12, y = 24, z = -10; cluster = 145) and right middle occipital lobe (MNI: x = 36, y = -76, z = -2; cluster = 135)., Conclusion: The altered white matter DTI in right anterior cingulated and middle occipital lobe may contribute to an early detection of schizophrenia.

Objective: To compare the regional white matter integrity of schizophrenics with impulsive behaviors versus those without., Methods: Seventeen patients with first-episode-schizophrenia impulsive behaviors and 24 patients with first-episode-schizophrenia non-impulsive behaviors underwent diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging with a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence aligned to straight axial plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) images of two groups received two-sample t-test with SPM5 software., Results: The patients with impulsive behaviors demonstrated a significant decrement of white matter FA values in left precentral gyrus (MNI: x = -28.00, y = -28.72, z = -54.71; cluster = 79 voxels), left cerebellum anterior lobe (MNI: x = -22, y = -56, z = -28; cluster = 130 voxels) and left occipital lobe (MNI: x = -6, y = -72, z = 6; cluster = 54 voxels)., Conclusion: The altered white matter integrity of left precentral gyrus, cerebellum anterior lobe and occipital lobe may be involved in the neural mechanism of impulsive behaviors in schizophrenia.

Objective: To investigate the integrity of white matters in first-episode and chronic schizophrenics., Methods: For this study, 39 first-episode and 38 chronic schizophrenics, 69 healthy controls (age, gender and years of received education no significantly different from those of the patients) underwent diffusion weighted images with a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence aligned to the straight axial plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) images of three groups underwent one-way ANOVA with the methods of voxel-based morphometric (VBM) analysis., Results: (1) There were three brain regions where the FA values of white matter were different among three groups: right caudate nucleus (MNI: 20, 12, 14; cluster = 432 voxels; FA value: 0.36 ± 0.18 vs 0.35 ± 0.24 vs 0.38 ± 0.17), left insula (MNI: -32, 18, 2; cluster = 204 voxels; FA value: 0.35 ± 0.31 vs 0.33 ± 0.24 vs 0.36 ± 0.21) and right anterior cingulate (MNI: 16, 36, 12; cluster = 132 voxels; FA value: 0.35 ± 0.29 vs 0.34 ± 0.31 vs 0.37 ± 0.25). (2) The mean FA values of the three brain regions of two patients groups decreased versus those of healthy controls (P < 0.05). (3) The mean FA values of left insular region in chronic patients decreased versus those of the first-episode patients (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The reduced integrity of white matter may play an etiological role in schizophrenia and the changes are probably progressive.

Cell sheet technology (CST) is based on the use of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide, PNIPAAm), which can be exhibit reversible hydration and dehydration of its polymer chains in response to temperature changes across the lower critical solution temperature(LCST)of 32°C. By reducing the incubation temperature to 20°C, all cultured cells are harvested as intact sheets along with their deposited extracellular matrix (ECM) due to the conversion of the grafted PIPAAm from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, as ECM remains present on the basal surface of the cell sheets, they can maintain cell viability and function as well as directly transplanted to tissue beds or even layered to create three-dimensional (3D) tissue-like structures without any scaffolds or sutures. The temperature-sensitive surfaces' preparation approaches, density, thickness, membrane additive ingredients and so on, all affect cell adhesion and proliferation. It can maintain cell viability and improve function by accelerating cell sheet detachment through changing the membrane compositions, density as well as types of graft substrate. With CST, cultured autologous/allogeneic corneal seed cells in vitro used as transplant sources can overcome the problems of immunorejection of transplanted tissues as well as donor organ shortages. So far, the cell sheet of limbal epithelium and autologous oral mucosal epithelium obtained by the CST have been successfully used in clinical graft for ocular surface reconstruction. Finally, There is an overview of preparations of temperature-responsive surfaces, impacts of various factors that influenced cultured cells in vitro and clinical applications or clinically relevant animal experimentations of CST in corneal tissue engineering.

Doctor Li Wen-Rong, who has been practicing acupuncture for five decades by combination of the meridian theory of TCM and related modern medical science, has still been active in acupuncture clinic, especially in acupuncture manipulation based on the method of acupuncture at painful locality taken as acupoint, Jiaji (EX-B 2) being selected as the main acupoints and Back-shu acupoints of the Bladder Meridian as adjuvant acupoints, except the acupoints on the limbs, and the selected acupoints being relatively concentrated and the needles being inserted in tender points for treatment of relevant nervous system diseases and complicated chronic cases, which has formed her own academic style. In this article, the authors introduce some of her medical records by using acupuncture manipulation based on the method of acupuncture at painful locality taken as acupoint for treatment of facial paralysis, renal colic and rheumatoid arthritis, and the main idea of this article is to summarize and analyze her academic thoughts.

Background and Purpose: A comparative treatment planning study was undertaken between proton beam therapy (PBT) and intensity-modulated x-ray therapy (IMXT) for patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), to assess the potential benefits and limitations of the two treatment modalities., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed seven patients with recurrent NPC treated at our proton center with PBT from 2004 to 2007. Eclipse proton treatment planning system and Eclipse inverse treatment planning system for IMXT were employed. For each patient, the IMXT plan was optimized with nine evenly spaced coplanar fields. Three coplanar beams and passive scattering mode were used for PBT. The dose prescription in cobalt Gray equivalent (CGE) for gross tumor volume (GTV) was 66CGE and for planning target volume (PTV), 62.7CGE. Dose-volume histograms (DVH) were used to evaluate the difference in dosimetric distributions for the target volume and the organs at risk (OARs)., Results: Optimal target volume coverage and similar target conformation were achieved in both PBT and IMXT. Median conformity index was 0.72 and 0.75 (p=0.15) and median inhomogeneity coefficient was 0.14 and 0.10 (p=0.08) for PBT and IMXT, respectively. Dose to OARs was significantly lower in PBT plans than IMXT. Median maximal dose to the brainstem was 27.89CGE(cobalt Gray equivalent) and 42.45Gy (p< 0.01), and the dose to 5% of the brainstem(D5) was 12.83CGE and 19.47Gy (p< 0.001 ), for PBT and IMXT, respectively. Median maximal dose to the spinal cord was 8.38CGE and 22.91Gy (p< 0.004), and the dose to 5% of the spinal cord was 2.18CGE and 13.62Gy (p< 0.001), for PBT and IMXT, respectively., Conclusions: The use of PBT, when compared with IMXT, resulted in similar levels of tumor conformation. PBT, however, exposed the OARs to a significantly lower dose, effectively sparing the brainstem, spinal cord, optic nerve and chiasm, temporal lobes and parotid glands. The superior dose distributions possible with PBT should translate into reduced morbidity and improved quality of life.

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, C(11)H(15)N(5)OS(2), the thia-diazole and triazole rings are not coplanar, the dihedral angle formed by their mean planes being 59.9 (2)°. The exocyclic S atom, and the methyl-ene, carbonyl, tert-butyl and one methyl carbon form an approximately planar zigzag chain, which makes a dihedral angle of 74.6 (1)° with the thia-diazole ring.

Eighteen novel triazole compounds containing thioamide were designed and synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, IR, and MS. The title compounds exhibited certain antifungal activity. And the geometry structures of the title compounds were optimized by means of the density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP/6-31G( *) level. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of the title compounds was systematically investigated. A correlative equation between FA and DELH, V was well established by using the multiple linear regression (MLR).