Glutamate levels in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and resting-state functional connectivity within reward circuits in alcohol-dependent patients.

Great progress has been made in understanding the neural mechanisms associated with alcohol-dependent (AD) patients. However, the interactions within the reward circuits of the patients need further exploration. Glutamatergic projections from the prefrontal cortex to some brain regions are present in the reward circuit.

Right arcuate fasciculus and left uncinate fasciculus abnormalities in young smoker.

Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies had investigated the white matter (WM) integrity abnormalities in smokers. Exposure to nicotine disrupts neurodevelopment during adolescence, possibly by disrupting the trophic effects of acetylcholine. However, little is known about the diffusion parameters of specific fibre bundles at multiple locations in young smokers.

Abnormal functional connectivity of the salience network in insomnia.

The salience network plays an important role in detecting stimuli related to behavior and integrating neural processes. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in functional connectivity of the salience network in insomnia patients. Independent component analysis combined with a dual regression approach was used to examine functional connectivity differences in the salience network between patients with insomnia (n = 33) and healthy controls (n = 33).

Dynamic Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Smoking in Young Smokers.

Objective: To examine potential changes in the dynamic characteristics of regional neural activity in young smokers and to detect whether the changes were associated with smoking behavior.

Methods: The dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) and dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dALFF) in 40 young smokers and 42 nonsmokers were compared. Correlation analyses were also performed between dReHo and dALFF in areas showing group differences and smoking behavior [e.

Negative life events and major depressive disorder among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China: A cross-sectional study.

HIV-positive individuals encounter a number of negative life events (NLEs). This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between NLEs and major depressive disorder (MDD) among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China, about which little is known.HIV-positive individuals were recruited from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Yangjiang from September 2007 to September 2008.

Carbene-Catalyzed α-Carbon Amination of Chloroaldehydes for Enantioselective Access to Dihydroquinoxaline Derivatives.

An NHC-catalyzed α-carbon amination of chloroaldehydes was developed. Cyclohexadiene-1,2-diimines are used as amination reagents and four-atom synthons. Our reaction affords optically enriched dihydroquinoxalines that are core structures in natural products and synthetic bioactive molecules.

Prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China.

Background: People living with HIV may suffer from mental disorders. We aimed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China, about which little is known.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit HIV-positive individuals from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Yangjiang from September 2007 to September 2008.

Kinetic Resolution of 1,2-Diols via NHC-Catalyzed Site-Selective Esterification.

A kinetic resolution of 1,2-diols bearing both a secondary and a primary alcohol motif through an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative acylation reaction has been developed. A site- and enantioselective esterification reaction is involved for this process. Both the monoacylated diols obtained and the remaining enantioenriched 1,2-diols are versatile building blocks for the preparation of functional molecules with proven biological activities.

Direct Activation of β-sp-Carbons of Saturated Carboxylic Esters as Electrophilic Carbons via Oxidative Carbene Catalysis.

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative LUMO activation of the β-cabons of saturated carboxylic esters is disclosed. This approach allows for efficient asymmetric access to lactams and lactones by directly installing functional groups to the typically inert β-sp carbons of saturated esters. The use of HOBt as an additive was found to significantly improve both yields and enantioselectivities of the reactions.