Anti-inflammatory Polyketides from an Endophytic Fungus Chaetomium sp. UJN-EF006 of Vaccinium bracteatum.

Seven new polyketides including three chromone derivatives (1-3) and four linear ones incorporating a tetrahydrofuran ring (4-7), along with three known compounds (8-10), were obtained from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus (Chaetomium sp. UJN-EF006) isolated from the leaves of Vaccinium bracteatum. The structures of these fungal metabolites have been elucidated by spectroscopic means including MS, NMR and electronic circular dichroism.

The changes of Treg and Th17 cells relate to serum 25(OH)D in patients with initial-onset childhood systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Improving the balance between Treg and Th17 cells can be a promising new therapeutic target in SLE patients. Vitamin D has a significant impact on the immune inflammatory process and the immune cells involved in this process.

[Clinical phenotype characteristics and genetic analysis in children with nephronophthisis and related syndromes caused by different gene mutations].

Objectives: To improve the understanding of the clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics of nephronophthisis (NPHP) and related syndromes in children.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of eight children with NPHP and related syndromes who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from January 2018 to November 2022. The clinical characteristics and genetic testing results were analyzed.

Changes of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets and Immune Function in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephritis.

Background: Purpuric nephritis is the most common secondary glomerular disease in childhood. Its prevalence in children has been steadily rising in recent years.

Objective: To explore the characteristics and pathogenesis of changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and immune function in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis.

Stormorken Syndrome Caused by a Novel STIM1 Mutation: A Case Report.

To identify the gene mutation of Stormorken syndrome and review the published Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) mutation phenotype. We described the clinical and molecular aspects of a Chinese female with Stormorken syndrome by laboratory tests, muscle biopsies, and genetic analysis. We used this information to summarize all the mutation sites reported in the literature.

The relationship between activity level and cognitive function in Chinese community-dwelling elderly.

To study the relationship between daily activity level and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly. We collected demographic features, cognitive function, activity level and self-rating depression scale scores in 53 community-dwelling olderly aged 60 years or above. The activity level and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time were assessed by using the accelerometer for 7 consecutive days.

Targeting JAK-STAT Signaling to Control Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19.

Recent advances in the pathophysiologic understanding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has indicated that patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might experience cytokine release syndrome (CRS), characterized by increased interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, etc. Therefore, the treatment of cytokine storm has been proposed as a critical part of rescuing severe COVID-19. Several of the cytokines involved in COVID-19 employ a distinct intracellular signaling pathway mediated by Janus kinases (JAKs).

Local orbital-angular-momentum dependent surface states with topological protection.

Chiral surface states along the zigzag edge of a valley photonic crystal in the honeycomb lattice are demonstrated. By decomposing the local fields into orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes, we find that the chiral surface states present OAM-dependent unidirectional propagation characteristics. Particularly, the propagation directivities of the surface states are quantified by the local OAM decomposition and are found to depend on the chiralities of both the source and surface states.

Resatorvid protects against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats.

Secondary brain damage caused by hyperactivation of autophagy and inflammatory responses in neurons plays an important role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Although previous studies have implicated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in the neuroinflammatory response elicited by brain injury, the role and mechanisms of the TLR4-mediated autophagy signaling pathway in neonatal HIBD are still unclear. We hypothesized that this pathway can regulate brain damage by modulating neuron autophagy and neuroinflammation in neonatal rats with HIBD.

Analysis of electromagnetic vortex beams using modified dynamic mode decomposition in spatial angular domain.

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes of electromagnetic (EM) beams are utilized for multiplexing in communication systems, where each OAM mode is encoded with data. The OAM index, or the so-called topological charge, identifies each OAM mode. Recently, the amplitude of OAM mode has also been used as another modulation format.

Electrically tunable polarizer based on graphene-loaded plasmonic cross antenna.

The unique gate-voltage dependent optical properties of graphene make it a promising electrically-tunable plasmonic material. In this work, we proposed in situ control of the polarization of nanoantennas by combining plasmonic structures with an electrostatically tunable graphene monolayer. The tunable polarizer is designed based on an asymmetric cross nanoantenna comprising two orthogonal metallic dipoles sharing the same feed gap.

Congenital giant left atrial appendage aneurysm: a case report.

Background: Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac anomaly with potentially serious complications, including life-threatening systemic thromboembolism, atrial tachyarrhythmia, and cardiac dysfunction. Currently, early surgical intervention is generally recommended to prevent these complications.

Case Presentation: We present a case of congenital giant LAAA in a female patient who successfully completed pregnancy and underwent caesarean section with no obvious complications.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of a newly designed onplant miniplate anchorage system.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the structural stress and deformation of a newly designed onplant miniplate anchorage system compared to a standard anchorage system. A bone block integrated with a novel miniplate and fixation screw system was simulated in a three-dimensional model and subjected to force at different directions. The stress distribution and deformation of the miniplate system and cortical bone were evaluated using the three-dimensional finite element method.

Effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To explore the changes of X-box binding protein 1 splicing (XBP1s) and inflammatory cytokine expression in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).

Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect the forms of XBP1s and the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-17α. Differences between patients with UC and normal subjects were then determined.

Compact Nonlinear Yagi-Uda Nanoantennas.

Nanoantennas have demonstrated unprecedented capabilities for manipulating the intensity and direction of light emission over a broad frequency range. The directional beam steering offered by nanoantennas has important applications in areas including microscopy, spectroscopy, quantum computing, and on-chip optical communication. Although both the physical principles and experimental realizations of directional linear nanoantennas has become increasingly mature, angular control of nonlinear radiation using nanoantennas has not been explored yet.

A juvenile hormone transcription factor Bmdimm-fibroin H chain pathway is involved in the synthesis of silk protein in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The genes responsible for silk biosynthesis are switched on and off at particular times in the silk glands of Bombyx mori. This switch appears to be under the control of endogenous and exogenous hormones. However, the molecular mechanisms by which silk protein synthesis is regulated by the juvenile hormone (JH) are largely unknown.

Cortical surface area correlates with STON2 gene Ser307Pro polymorphism in first-episode treatment-naïve patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Evidence shows that STON2 gene is associated with synaptic function and schizophrenia. This study aims to explore the relationship between two functional polymorphisms (Ser307Pro and Ala851Ser) of STON2 gene and the cortical surface area in first-episode treatment-naïve patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Methodology/principal Findings: Magnetic resonance imaging of the whole cortical surface area, which was computed by an automated surface-based technique (FreeSurfer), was obtained from 74 first-episode treatment-naïve patients with schizophrenia and 55 healthy controls.

Surface waves in three-dimensional electromagnetic composites and their effect on homogenization.

Reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves at the boundaries of periodic composites (electromagnetic/optical metamaterials) depends in general on both bulk and surface waves. We investigate the interplay of these two contributions using three-dimensional full-wave numerical simulations and a recently developed non-asymptotic homogenization theory.

[Genome-wide association study with memory measures as a quantitative trait locus for schizophrenia].

Objective: To assess the association between gene polymorphisms and memory function through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of schizophrenia and control group. Memory cognition was used as a quantitative trait (QT).

Methods: Ninty-eight subjects with chronic schizophrenia and 60 matched controls were genotyped with HumanHap660 Bead Array.

Potential application of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations as prognostic indicators in non-promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis.

Recurrent mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase isoforms 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) have recently been studied in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A meta-analysis was performed to demonstrate their controversial prognostic impacts. The associations of IDH1 or IDH2 mutations with other molecular abnormalities were also investigated.

[A comparative study of voxel-based morphometry in patients with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar mania].

Objective: To assess volumetric abnormalities of grey matter in the brains of patients with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (mania).

Methods: 3D T1 weighted images were acquired by magnetic resonance imaging from 20 patients with paranoid schizophrenia, 20 patients with bipolar disorder (mania) and 20 control subjects. Regional deviation in gray matter volume was assessed using optimized volumetric voxel-based morphometry.

Localization of cerebral functional deficits in treatment-naive, first-episode schizophrenia using resting-state fMRI.

Background: Spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations (LFF) in the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal have been shown to reflect cerebral spontaneous neural activity, and the present study attempts to explore the functional changes in the regional brain in patients with schizophrenia using the amplitude of the BOLD signals.

Methods: A total of 66 treatment-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and 66 normal age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. Resting-state fMRIs were obtained using a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence.

[Brain structure abnormality as genetic endophenotype of schizophrenia].

Objective: To explore the role of genetic factors in the brain structural variation by using magnetic resonance imaging scan in schizophrenic patients and their unaffected siblings, and to provide experimental evidence for identifying endophenotype of schizophrenia.

Methods: The optimized voxel-based morphometry (OVBM) was used to process the brain magnetic resonance images in 15 first episode drug-naive schizophrenic patients, 19 unaffected siblings of the patients and 38 normal control subjects. The data were analyzed by using general linear model.

Enhanced cellulase production of the Trichoderma viride mutated by microwave and ultraviolet.

Cellulase-producing fungi Trichoderma viride were cultured and fermented on the solid-state wheat bran fermentation medium. The characteristics of its carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) in the condition of this solid-state fermentation were evaluated, and the optimum culture time, optimum pH and optimum temperature for CMCase activity of T. viride fermented in this solid state were 60h, 5.