Prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density in Chinese Han male patients with alcohol dependence.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) along with its possible risk factors in male Han Chinese patients with alcohol dependence (AD).

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included male patients with AD, classified into normal and low BMD groups according to bone densitometry T scores. Demographic and alcohol-related data, and routine laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups.

Sex-specific alterations in visual properties induced by single prolonged stress model.

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit sex differences in symptomology, with women more likely to report higher rates of intrusive and avoidance symptoms than men, underscoring the need for sex-informed approaches to research and treatment. Our study delved into the sex-specific aspects of stress-induced visual impairments using the single prolonged stress (SPS) model, a partially validated rodent model for PTSD. Male SPS mice exhibit heightened optimal spatial frequency (SF) of primary visual cortex (V1) neurons, while female counterparts exhibit decreased optimal temporal frequency (TF) of V1 neurons.

Corticotropin releasing factor neurons in the visual cortex mediate long-term changes in visual function induced by early adversity.

Early adversity can cause malfunction of the visual system in adulthood. Adult female but not male mice undergoing early chronic mild stress (ECMS) maintain ocular dominance (OD) plasticity after the critical period. How early stressful experiences have a long-term impact on it is largely unknown.

Identification of potential SLA-I-restricted CTL epitopes within the M protein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), are essential for clearance of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection and regulation of host immune responses. Identification of SLA I-restricted CD8+ CTL epitopes would facilitate PRRSV vaccine development. Here, cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PRRSV-immunized Large White pigs (JXA1-R strain) were screened for immunodominant PRRSV-2 M protein T cell epitopes via ELISPOT assay.

Stretchy and strong polyurethane-urea supramolecular (PUUS) hydrogels with various stimulus-responsive behaviours: the effect of chain-extenders.

The development of an easy synthetic strategy combined with straightforward tailoring of physical properties and functionalities, such that optimal performance can be targeted for various applications, still remains challenging. Previously, we reported the construction of thermo- and water-responsive strong and tough supramolecular hydrogels based on the cooperatively enhancing effect between H-bonding and hydrophobic forces. Recently, the strategy was greatly simplified to a one-pot two-step approach.

MicroRNA-Based Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Therapeutic Response in Patients with Depression.

Depression is a debilitating mental illness that affects up to 120 million people worldwide; it is currently determined based on subjective diagnostic schemes that are limited by high uncertainty. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective and reliable biomarkers to increase diagnostic accuracy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a recently discovered class of non-coding RNAs that play a key role in the regulation of gene expression by modulating translation, messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation, or stability of mRNA targets.

Factors related to lithium blood concentrations in Chinese Han patients with bipolar disorder.

The goal of this study was to identify the physiological factors related to the blood concentration of lithium in Chinese Han patients with bipolar disorder (BD). A total of 186 Chinese Han patients with BD were assessed. Patients were recruited from the Anhui Mental Health Center.