Stigma among parents of children with autism: A literature review.

Objective: This literature review aims to summarize current findings from studies examined experiences of stigma among parents of children with autism.

Method: A systematic literature search was carried out to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened each records based on the selection criteria.

3D Printing of Silk Protein Structures by Aqueous Solvent-Directed Molecular Assembly.

Hierarchical molecular assembly is a fundamental strategy for manufacturing protein structures in nature. However, to translate this natural strategy into advanced digital manufacturing like three-dimensional (3D) printing remains a technical challenge. This work presents a 3D printing technique with silk fibroin to address this challenge, by rationally designing an aqueous salt bath capable of directing the hierarchical assembly of the protein molecules.

Sustained Release Strategy Designed for Lixisenatide Delivery to Synchronously Treat Diabetes and Associated Complications.

Diabetes and its complications have become a global challenge of public health. Herein, we aimed to develop a long-acting delivery system of lixisenatide (Lixi), a glucose-dependent antidiabetic peptide, based on an injectable hydrogel for the synchronous treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications. Two triblock copolymers, poly(ε-caprolactone--glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone--glycolic acid) and poly(d,l-lactic acid--glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactic acid--glycolic acid) possessing temperature-induced sol-gel transitions, were synthesized by us.

New compounds from the seeds of with their protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity.

Two new flavonoids, 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,7-furanbavachalcone (), 1″-methoxy-6,7-furanflavanone (), together with five known compounds (-), were isolated from the seeds of Their structures were elucidated by IR, UV, NMR, HRESMS experiments, and comparison of their NMR data with previously reported data. All compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against PTP1B. Additionally, the isolated compounds (-) displayed moderate inhibitory effects against PTP1B with IC values ranging from 10.

Protective properties of glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition against doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage to mouse ovarian reserve.

Chemotherapy induces ovarian failure in female children and young female cancer survivors. It has been shown that doxorubicin (DOX), an antitumor drug of the anthracycline group, causes gonadotoxicity via the stimulation of oxidative stress. The inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was reported to be able to regulate oxidative stress.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Radical Addition to Aldimines with Hantzsch Ester as a Two-Hydrogen Atom Donor.

The first Fe(OTf)-catalyzed radical addition to aldimines with Hantzsch ester as a two-hydrogen atom donor is reported. The tin-free reaction works well for electron-deficient substrates and provides a potentially useful approach to α-branched amines and α-amino acids.

Combinatorial Library of Light-Cleavable Lipidoid Nanoparticles for Intracellular Drug Delivery.

Synthetic lipid-like molecules (lipidoids) are superior for intracellular delivery of various bioactive cargos. Through incorporating stimuli-responsive linkers, lipidoid nanoparticle-based delivery systems with triggered-release features can be constructed. Enhanced delivery performances have been achieved using disulfide bond-containing bioreducible lipidoids.

Two Penta-RE Encapsulated Tetravacant Dawson Selenotungstates and Nanoscale Derivatives and Their Luminescence Properties.

Two penta-RE encapsulated tetravacant Dawson selenotungstates [HN(CH)]H[SeORE(HO)(SeWO)]·40HO (RE = Dy (1), Gd (2)) were prepared by a one-step assembly strategy under bench conditions. Notably, the penta-RE-substituted [SeORE(HO)(SeWO)] polyoxoanion consists of two equivalent tetravacant Dawson [SeWO] fragments linked by a central penta-RE {SeORE(HO)} cluster through 16 lacunary oxygen atoms and four bridging oxygen atoms from two [SeWO] fragments. Furthermore, a series of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) encapsulated 1@CTA nanomaterials were prepared by the microwave method by controlling different reaction times and temperatures.

Ambient air pollution exposure and risk of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Recent studies have reported an association between air pollution exposure and depression, with inconsistent results. To address this controversy, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies that investigated outdoor air pollution and depression. Five electronic databases were searched, and fifteen articles were finally identified.

Three novel polyoxometalate-based inorganic-organic hybrid materials based on 2,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridine.

Three novel inorganic-organic hybrid materials [Co(btp)(WO)(HO)] (1), [Cd(btp)(PWO)(HO)·6HO] (2), and [Ag(btp)(PMoO)·1.5HO] (3) (btp = 2,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridine) have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The most striking structure feature of compound 1 is a 3D polycatenation framework, interpenetrated by a 2D 4-connected topology layer and a 3D 6-connected topology framework.

A novel xenograft mouse model for testing approaches targeting human kappa light-chain diseases.

Patients with immunoglobulin (Ig) light-chain (LC) diseases such as LC light-chain amyloidosis die with organ failure and need new therapies. We sought a model to test anti-LC siRNA delivery to human plasma cells, requiring circulating LC, in vivo indicators of tumor presence, and capacity for multiple injections of delivery vehicle. The JJN-3 human myeloma reporter cell line expressing firefly luciferase (FFL) implanted intraperitoneally (IP) in the NOD scid γ (NSG) mouse has a 90% prompt tumor-take, rapid LC production, and in vivo indicators of tumor measurable on day 5 post-implant (κ LC, bioluminescent signal, and soluble B-cell maturation antigen [sBCMA]) with median day 5 serum levels of κ LC of 1482 ng/mL (range, 255-4831) and robust correlations with all in vivo indicators.

Use of cognitive correction training improves learning for children with mathematics learning disability.

Children with normal intelligence may experience varying degrees of mathematics learning disabilities (MD). This study aims to conduct training to improve the brain's cognitive ability for mathematics learning by focusing on two important mathematical cognitive abilities. This was a prospective study of 70 children in grades 2-5 from two primary schools in Changzhou and with MD enrolled from June 2015 to February 2017.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Oxyalkylation of Alkynyl Carboxylic Acids: Synthesis of γ-Diketones and γ-Ketonitriles.

A novel copper-catalyzed decarboxylative oxyalkylation of alkynyl carboxylic acids with ketones and alkylnitriles via direct C(sp)-H bond functionalization to construct new C-C bonds and C-O double bonds was developed. This transformation is featured by wide functional group compatibility and the use of readily available reagents, thus affording a general approach to γ-diketones and γ-ketonitriles. A possible mechanism is proposed.

Access to Multisubstituted 2(5 H)-Furanones Using Hydrogen Bonding-Promoted Ring-Closing Metathesis and Polyamine Workup.

Structurally complex 2(5 H)-furanones are potentially challenging targets for ring-closing metathesis (RCM). A hydrogen bonding-guided RCM strategy was developed in this study to provide 3-substituted and 3,4-disubstituted 2(5 H)-furanones in moderate to high yields with broad functional group tolerance. A workup procedure using ethylenediamine-derived polyamines such as tetraethylenepentylamine was also established to effectively remove Ru residues in products.

Organic-inorganic hybrids assembled from plenary Keggin-type germanotungstate units and 3d-4f heterometal clusters.

Two kinds of organic-inorganic 3d-4f heterometal hybrids based on plenary α-Keggin-type germanotungstates [Cu2(H2O)3(PA)3] [Ln0.5Na0.5Cu2(H2O)12(PA)3][α-GeW12O40]·5H2O [Ln = La3+ (1), Ce3+ (2)] and [Cu2(H2O)2(PA)3][Cu(PA)2][Ln(H2O)7][α-GeW12O40]·7H2O [Ln = Tb3+ (3), Dy3+ (4), HPA = 2-picolinic acid] were prepared via the strategy of combining an in situ assembly reaction and stepwise synthesis in the aqueous solution.

Three Types of Distinguishing l-Alanine-Decorated and Rare-Earth-Incorporated Arsenotungstate Hybrids Prepared in a Facile One-Step Assembly Strategy.

Three kinds of distinguishing ala-decorated RE-incorporated (ala = l-alanine, RE = rare-earth) polytungstoarsenate hybrids containing {AsWO} building blocks [HN(CH)]NaH[EuW(HO)(ala)O(AsWO)]·35HO (1), [HN(CH)]NaH[REW(HO)(ala)O(OH)(AsWO)]·36HO [RE = Gd (2), Tb (3)], and [HN(CH)]Na[REW(HO)(ala)O(OH)(AsWO)]·40HO [RE = Dy (4), Ho (5), Er (6), Yb (7), Lu (8)] were made in a facile one-step assembly strategy. The polyoxoanion skeletons of 1-8 are very similar, and all can be described as two [AsWO] moieties encapsulating an ala-decorated W-O-RE heterometallic cluster ([EuW(HO)(ala)O] for 1, [REW(HO)(ala)O(OH)] for 2-3, and [REW(HO)(ala)O(OH)] for 4-8, resulting in a four-leaf--clover-shaped tetrameric structure; however, the major discrepancy in the ala-decorated W-O-RE heterometallic clusters lies in the number of ala molecules equaling to three, four, and two, which may result from the various coordination geometries of RE ions and the different construction modes of W-O-RE heterometallic clusters. It should be emphasized that the carboxyl groups of ala ligands only coordinate to the W centers in 4-8, while they not only bridge the W centers together but also combine RE ions together in 1-3.

[Research progress in AMP-activated protein kinase and sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction].

Sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction is a serious complication of sepsis with no effective treatment. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a regulator for energy metabolism in cells and plays a key role in the energy balance. Recent studies have shown that AMPK exerted a protective effect on sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction, which was related to the regulation of inflammation, endothelial cells injury, energy metabolism, myocardial cells apoptosis and autophagy.

Maternal dietary patterns, supplements intake and autism spectrum disorders: A preliminary case-control study.

The aim of this study was first to investigate associations between maternal dietary patterns and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and second to investigate association between maternal supplement intake and ASD.We used a case-control study design to enroll typically developing (TD) children and children with ASD, and data were derived from the Autism Clinical and Environmental Database (ACED).Three seventy four children with AUTISM and 354 age matched TD children were included.

Metal-Free Radical [2 + 2 + 1] Cyclization of ortho-Cyanoarylacrylamides with Alkyl Nitriles: Synthesis of Pyrrolo[3,2- c]quinolines.

A novel radical [2 + 2 + 1] cyclization of ortho-cyanoarylacrylamides with dual α-C-H bonds in alkyl nitriles has been developed. The reaction provides new facile and straightforward access to cyano-substituted pyrrolo[3,2- c]quinolines, which are important nitrogen-containing polyheterocycles. A possible mechanism for the transformation is proposed.

Intracellular Delivery of His-Tagged Genome-Editing Proteins Enabled by Nitrilotriacetic Acid-Containing Lipidoid Nanoparticles.

Protein- and peptide-based therapeutics with high tolerance and specificity along with low off-target effects and genetic risks have attracted tremendous attention over the last three decades. Herein, a new type of noncationic lipidoid nanoparticle (LNP) is reported for His-tagged protein delivery. Active lipidoids are synthesized by conjugating a nitrilotriacetic acid group with hydrophobic tails (EC16, O16B, and O17O) and nanoparticles are formulated in the presence of nickel ions and helper lipids (cholesterol, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000]).

Open versus closed vitrification system of human oocytes and embryos: a systematic review and meta-analysis of embryologic and clinical outcomes.

Background: The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of embryologic and clinical outcomes following open versus closed vitrification of human oocytes and embryos.

Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted in main electronic databases up to June 30, 2018 using the following key terms: 'oocyte', 'embryo', 'blastocyst', 'vitrification', 'cryopreservation', 'device', 'survival rate', 'pregnancy rate', etc. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effect model to estimate the value of risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Pyrolysis of Furfural.

The thermal decomposition of furfural is investigated in a flow tube reactor at 30 Torr by synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (SVUV-PIMS) at temperatures from 1023 to 1273 K. Over 20 kinds of pyrolysis products, including short-lived radicals, stable oxygen-containing compounds, and hydrocarbons, are identified from the scanning photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra. Vinylketene (CH═CH-CH═C═O), which has been shown to be an important primary product, is also directly observed.

Circular RNA involvement in aging: An emerging player with great potential.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of newly discovered noncoding RNA (ncRNA), presenting as a special covalent loop without a 5' cap or 3' tail. Multiple biological properties of circRNA have been revealed during the past decades, such as widespread expression, high conservation, cell-specificity, tissue-specificity and developmental stage-specific expression patterns, as well as resistance to RNase R digestion. CircRNA also exhibits diverse biological functions, including regulation of host genes, alternative splicing, miRNA sponges, protein traps and even protein synthesis.

Association between parental body mass index and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Studies have examined the association between parental body mass index (BMI) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring, with inconsistent results, especially regarding maternal obesity, overweight and underweight. Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched up to March 2018 for relevant observational studies with no language restriction. Our literature search identified 13 eligible studies for meta-analysis (involving 943,293 children and 30,337 cases).