Digital SERS immunoassay of Interleukin-6 based on Au@Ag-Au nanotags.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a crucial cytokine involved in inflammation and immune regulation. However, the detection of IL-6 with ultrasensitivity and high specificity remains a significant challenge due to the inherent complexity of biofluids. Herein, we present a digital surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) immunoassay using core-shell Au@Ag-Au nanotags for IL-6 detection with ultrasensitivity and high reliability.

Automated diagnosis of schizophrenia based on spatial-temporal residual graph convolutional network.

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ), a psychiatric disorder for which there is no precise diagnosis, has had a serious impact on the quality of human life and social activities for many years. Therefore, an advanced approach for accurate treatment is required.

New Method: In this study, we provide a classification approach for SZ patients based on a spatial-temporal residual graph convolutional neural network (STRGCN).

Brain network analysis of working memory in schizophrenia based on multi graph attention network.

The cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by significant deficits in working memory task. In order to explore the brain changes of SZ during a working memory task, we performed time-domain and time-frequency analysis of event related potentials (ERP) of SZ during a 0-back task. The P3 wave amplitude was found to be significantly lower in SZ patients than in healthy controls (HC) (p < 0.

Ratiometric SERS quantification of SO vapor based on Au@Ag-Au with Raman reporter as internal standard.

Practical gas sensing application requires sensors to quantify target analytes with high sensitivity and reproducibility. However, conventional surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor lacks reproducibility and quantification arising from variations of "hot spot" distribution and measurement conditions. Here, a ratio-dependent SERS sensor was developed for quantitative label-free gas sensing.

Changes and predictors of mental health of Chinese university students after the COVID-19 pandemic: A two-year study.

Background: Psychological repurcussions of COVID-19 pandemic has received wide attention, but there's limited attention paid to psychological recovery afterwards. This study focuses on the changes and predictive factors of mental health of Chinese university students post-pandemic.

Methods: This study included 1175 Chinese undergraduate students sampled in May 2022 and May-June 2023, right before and after peaks of infections following the end of lockdown policy in China.

Abnormality of Functional Connections in the Resting State Brains of Schizophrenics.

To explore the change of brain connectivity in schizophrenics (SCZ), the resting-state EEG source functional connections of SCZ and healthy control (HC) were investigated in this paper. Different band single-layer networks, multilayer networks, and improved multilayer networks were constructed and their topological attributes were extracted. The topological attributes of SCZ and HC were automatically distinguished using ensemble learning methods called Ensemble Learning based on Trees and Soft voting method, and the effectiveness of different network construction methods was compared based on the classification accuracy.

Kininogen-Nitric Oxide Signaling at Nearby Nonexcited Acupoints after Long-Term Stimulation.

Acupuncture treatment is based on acupoint stimulation; however, the biological basis is not understood. We stimulated one acupoint with catgut embedding for 8 weeks and then used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation to screen proteins with altered expression in adjacent acupoints of Sprague Dawley rats. We found that kininogen expression was significantly upregulated in the stimulated and the nonstimulated adjacent acupoints along the same meridian.

Enhanced Catalytic Activity of Magnetic Bimetallic Ag-Au Nanoparticles Mediated by Surface Plasmon Resonance.

We firstly discover the enhanced catalytic activity of magnetic noble metal nanoparticles mediated by surface plasmon resonance. Under light irradiation with certain wavelength, the catalytic performance of magnetic noble metal nanoparticles shows changes with different degrees and directions that are associated with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the noble metal. Moreover, the coupling of silver and gold allows the catalytic performance of magnetic bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles to show more positive response to surface plasmon resonance.

pH-Mediated Synthesis and Mechanistic Study of Homogeneous Magnetic Ag@Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles.

In this paper, we report a novel kind of pH-mediated homogeneous magnetic Ag@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles prepared by facile one-pot synthesis. The nanostructure and surface element composition along with magnetism of the as-synthesized hybrid nanoparticles can be easily adjusted by pH value in synthetic process. Furthermore, XRD and XPS detections indicated that the two components in the nanoparticles are both independent and certain synergistic.

Osteocalcin Ameliorates Motor Dysfunction in a 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Parkinson's Disease Rat Model Through AKT/GSK3β Signaling.

Osteoblasts derived osteocalcin (OCN) is recently reported to be involved in dopaminergic neuronal development. As dopaminergic neuronal injury in the substantia nigra (SN) is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), we investigated whether OCN could exert protective effects on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD rat model. Our data showed that the OCN level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in PD rat models was significantly lower than that in controls.

Selective Reduction of Nitro Group in Aryl Halides Catalyzed by Silver Nanoparticles Modified with -CD.

In this paper, we first report the selective reduction of nitro group in aryl halides catalyzed by silver nanoparticles modified with β-CD. Taking advantage of hydrophobic lumen and donor-acceptor behavior of β-CD, the halogenated alkyl groups on the aromatic ring can be enveloped in the inner cavity that thereby inhibits the reduction of the halogen. For validating the mechanism proposed by us, different silver nanoparticles were applied in parallel experiments.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide suppresses epileptogenesis at an early stage.

The pathophysiologic mechanisms of epileptogenesis are poorly understood, and no effective therapy exists for suppressing epileptogenesis. Numerous reports have shown that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) has neuroprotective effects, suggesting its potential use for treating epileptogenesis. Here we evaluated the effects of NAD on epileptogenesis and the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Extrasynaptic NMDA receptor dependent long-term potentiation of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

In the adult mouse hippocampus, NMDA receptors (NMDARs) of CA1 neurons play an important role in the synaptic plasticity. The location of NMDARs can determine their roles in the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). However, the extrasynaptic NMDARs (ES-NMDARs) dependent LTP haven't been reported.

Effects of Morphology Constraint on Electrophysiological Properties of Cortical Neurons.

There is growing interest in engineering nerve cells in vitro to control architecture and connectivity of cultured neuronal networks or to build neuronal networks with predictable computational function. Pattern technologies, such as micro-contact printing, have been developed to design ordered neuronal networks. However, electrophysiological characteristics of the single patterned neuron haven't been reported.

Contact Toxicity and Repellency of the Main Components From the Essential Oil of Clausena anisum-olens Against Two Stored Product Insects.

The essential oil of Clausena anisum-olens (Blanco) Merr. showed strong contact toxicity and repellency against Lasioderma serricorne and Liposcelis bostrychophila adults. The components of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Nematodes feel a craving--using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study alcohol addiction.

Alcohol is the most frequently-used addictive drug. However, the mechanism by which its consumption leads to addiction remains largely elusive. Given the conservation of behavioral reactions to alcohol, Caenorhabitis elegans (C.

Photopatterning of self-assembled poly (ethylene) glycol monolayer for neuronal network fabrication.

The ability to culture individual neurons and direct their connections on functional interfaces provides a platform for investigating information processing in neuronal networks. Numerous methods have been used to design ordered neuronal networks on microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for neuronal electrical activities recording. However, so far, no method has been implemented, which simultaneously provides high-resolution neuronal patterns and low-impedance microelectrode.

Feeding deterrents against two grain storage insects from Euphorbia fischeriana.

The screening of several Chinese medicinal herbs for insecticidal principles showed that Euphorbia fischeriana roots possessed significant feeding deterrent activity against two stored-product insects (Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus zeamais). From ethanol extract, four feeding deterrents were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compounds were identified as jolkinolide B, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-(9Z)-octadecenoate 20-acetate, 17-hydroxyjolkinolide A and B on the basis of their phytochemical and spectral data.

Transient alterations in slow oscillations of hippocampal networks by low-frequency stimulations on multi-electrode arrays.

Slow oscillations in the hippocampus are correlated with memory consolidation and brain diseases. The characteristic firings of the hippocampal network in vitro are still poorly understood. Here, spontaneous oscillations(~0.

Homeostatically regulated synchronized oscillations induced by short-term tetrodotoxin treatment in cultured neuronal network.

Homeostatic plasticity plays a critical role in the stability of neuronal activities. Here, with high-density hippocampal networks cultured on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs), the transformation of spontaneous neuronal firing patterns induced by 1microM tetrodotoxin was clarified. Once tetrodotoxin was washed out after a 4-h treatment, spontaneous activities rose significantly with spike rate increasing approximately three times, and synchronized burst oscillations appeared throughout the network, with the cross-correlation coefficient between the active sites rising from 0.

Ghrelin stimulates angiogenesis in human microvascular endothelial cells: Implications beyond GH release.

Ghrelin, a peptide hormone isolated from the stomach, releases growth hormone and stimulates appetite. Ghrelin is also expressed in pancreas, kidneys, cardiovascular system and in endothelial cells. The precise role of ghrelin in endothelial cell functions remains unknown.

Expression of the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase in THP-1 monocytes: induction by autocrine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and inhibition by aspirin.

The angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is highly expressed in human monocytes and macrophages, and its expression has been linked to the pathology and progression of solid tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastric ulcers. In this study, TP mRNA and enzyme activity were found to be up-regulated upon the induction of differentiation of the human monocyte cell line THP-1 by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). TP expression in THP-1 cells was similarly increased by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha).

Mechanisms by which tumor cells and monocytes expressing the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase mediate human endothelial cell migration.

The angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is highly expressed in many human solid tumors, and the level of its expression is associated with tumor neovascularization, invasiveness, and metastasis and with shorter patient survival time. TP promotes endothelial cell (EC) migration in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo, and these have been linked to its enzymatic activity. The mechanism by which TP stimulates EC migration was investigated using human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs).

The Sp1 transcription factor contributes to the tumor necrosis factor-induced expression of the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase in human colon carcinoma cells.

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP; also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that is chemotactic for endothelial cells and has been found to induce neovascularization in vivo. TP is frequently overexpressed in human solid tumors, where its expression has been correlated with increased tumor microvessel density, invasion, and metastasis, and shorter patient survival. In this report, TP activity in the WiDr colon carcinoma cell line was found to be induced 100-fold by tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), a secretory product of activated macrophages that has indirect angiogenic activities.