Unveiling the gut microbiota blueprint of schizophrenia: a multilevel omics approach.

Background: Schizophrenia is a persistent incurable mental disorder and is characterized by the manifestation of negative emotions and behaviors with anxiety and depression, fear and insecurity, self-harm and social withdrawal. The intricate molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely elusive. Accumulating evidence points towards the gut microbiota exerting an influence on brain function via the gut-brain axis, potentially contributing to the development of schizophrenia.

Perturbations in gut microbiota composition in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe, complex and long-term psychiatric disorder with unclear etiology. Gut microbes influence the central nervous system via the gut-brain axis. Consequently, investigations of the relationship between gut microbes and schizophrenia are warranted.

Perioperative remedial antiviral therapy in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma resection: How to achieve a better outcome.

Background: Although the benefits of antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been proven, researchers have not confirmed the differences in patient outcomes between patients who received preoperative antiviral therapy for a period of time (at least 24 wk) and patients who received remedial antiviral therapy just before radical resection for HBV-related HCC.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of perioperative remedial antiviral therapy in patients with HBV-related HCC.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent radical resection for HBV-related HCC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to June 2019 was conducted.

Chitosan-Delivered Chlorantraniliprole for Pest Control: Preparation Optimization, Deposition Behavior, and Application Potential.

Chitosan has emerged as a promising biopolymer carrier for the sustained release of pesticides owing to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. In this work, a controlled-release formulation of insecticide chlorantraniliprole was fabricated through coprecipitation-based synchronous encapsulation with chitosan, where the optimum preparation conditions, storage stability, deposition behavior, and application potential were investigated. Preparation of optimization data from response surface methodology showed high correlation coefficient () of 0.

Unity of heaven and humanity: Mediating role of the relational-interdependent self in the relationship between Confucian values and holistic thinking.

As the primary value system in Chinese culture for almost 2,000 years, Confucianism has profoundly influenced the mindset of Chinese people. Cultural psychology studies have highlighted that individuals with different cultural backgrounds vary in their preferences for certain personality traits, such as self-construal, and their metacognitive characteristics, such as thinking modes. Compared with Western cultures, Chinese culture shows a preference for the interdependent self and holistic thinking.

Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of OABL, a sesquiterpene lactone in 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease mice model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which oxidative stress and neuroinflammation were demonstrated to be associated with neuronal loss and cognitive deficits. However, there are still no specific treatments that can prevent the progression of AD. In this study, a screening of anti-inflammatory hits from 4207 natural compounds of two different molecular libraries indicated 1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone (OABL), a 1,10-seco-eudesmane sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the herb Inula britannica L.

Alkylated Salicylaldehydes and Prenylated Indole Alkaloids from the Endolichenic Fungus and Their Bioactivities.

Sixteen metabolites, including seven C-alkylated salicylaldehyde derivatives (-) and nine prenylated indole alkaloids (-), three of which are new, namely, asperglaucins A and B ( and ) and neoechinulin F (), were separated from the endolichenic fungus SQ-8. Asperglaucin A () represents an unusual phthalide-like derivative with a benzo[]thiophen-1(3)-one scaffold. All compounds were assessed for antibacterial, antineuroinflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Regulation of RDN on Th1/ILC1 cell imbalance in HFMD patients caused by EV71 infection.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection is more likely to cause hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children, which can lead to neurogenic complications and higher mortality. As a commonly used clinical medicine, Reduning injection (RDN) helps to shorten the symptoms of patients with HFMD and facilitate the early recovery of children. However, the regulatory mechanism of RDN on the HFMD immune system disorder caused by EV71 remains to be discussed.

The comparison of the wisdom view in Chinese and Western cultures.

Wisdom views in different cultural contexts are closely connected with the corresponding culture's worldview. Some results are found by comparing the wisdom concepts in Chinese and Western cultures: Firstly, the early wisdom concepts, both in China and the West, contain the elements of intelligence and virtue. Whereas, from the Enlightenment to the Piagetian school, the western concept of wisdom has then shifted to the role of cognition and knowledge; By contrast, the traditional Chinese wisdom concept has been treating wisdom as a virtue.

Minimally Invasive Pedicle Screw Fixation Combined with Percutaneous Kyphoplasty Under O-Arm Navigation for the Treatment of Metastatic Spinal Tumors with Posterior Wall Destruction.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of O-arm-guided minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty for metastatic spinal tumors with posterior wall destruction.

Methods: Patients who underwent minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty for pathological vertebral fractures with posterior wall defects from January 2015 to December 2017 were followed up for 1 year. Visual analogue scale (VAS), SF-36 scores, middle vertebral height, posterior vertebral height, and the accuracy of pedicle screws were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and 1 year after surgery.

Role and mechanism of matrine alone and combined with acitretin for HaCaT cells and psoriasis-like murine models.

Background: Acitretin and matrine have been used in the treatment of psoriasis in China. This study was designed to investigate the role and related mechanisms of matrine alone and in combination with acitretin in the treatment of psoriasis in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: HaCaT cells were treated with matrine at different concentrations of 0 (blank control), 0.

Defining the short-term effects of pharmacological 5'-AMP activated kinase modulators on mitochondrial polarization, morphology and heterogeneity.

Background: Under aerobic growth conditions, mitochondria are the major producers of cellular ATP and crucial for the proper performance of organs and tissues. This applies especially to cells with high energy demand, such as the renal proximal tubule epithelium. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathology of human health conditions, including various kidney diseases.

MicroR-760 suppresses cancer stem cell subpopulation and breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis: By down-regulating NANOG.

Background And Objective: Emerging evidences suggest that cancer stem cells are responsible for tumor aggressive, metastasis and therapeutic resistance. To data, the mechanism underlying breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) population within tumor metastasis remains to be fully elucidated. The current study was to investigate the potential role of microRNA-760 (miR-760) and its associated target gene in population and metastasis of BCSC.

N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC)-mediated reinforcement of alpha-tricalcium phosphate/silk fibroin (α-TCP/SF) cement.

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are popular bone filling materials and drug carriers. However poor mechanical properties and lack of osteoinduction restrict their clinical applications. Recent studies suggested the osteogenic properties of NAC.

Cripto-1 modulates macrophage cytokine secretion and phagocytic activity via NF-κB signaling.

Cripto-1 is an oncogenic protein belonging to the epidermal growth factor–Cripto-1/FRL-1/Cryptic family. It has important roles in tumor formation and metastasis, but its effects on the immune system are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Cripto-1 overexpression on macrophage activities and examined the underlying mechanisms.

Off to the organelles - killing cancer cells with targeted gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are excellent tools for cancer cell imaging and basic research. However, they have yet to reach their full potential in the clinic. At present, we are only beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the biological effects of AuNPs, including the structural and functional changes of cancer cells.

Shape selectivity extending to ordered supermicroporous aluminosilicates.

In the synthesis of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (PODEn) catalyzed by ordered supermicroporous aluminosilicates, shape selectivity was observed and the high selectivity for target products (PODE3-8) was attributed to the particular pore diameter.

Asymmetric epoxidation of cis/trans-β-methylstyrene catalysed by immobilised Mn(salen) with different linkages: heterogenisation of homogeneous asymmetric catalysis.

Immobilised Mn(salen) catalysts with two different linkages were studied in the asymmetric epoxidation of cis/trans-β-methylstyrene using NaClO as oxidant. The immobilised Mn(salen) complexes inside nanopores can lead to different catalytic behaviour compared with that of homogeneous Jacobsen catalyst. The rigidity of the linkage was found to be a key factor affecting the catalytic performance of immobilised catalysts.

Pharmacological AMP kinase activators target the nucleolar organization and control cell proliferation.

Aims: Phenformin, resveratrol and AICAR stimulate the energy sensor 5'-AMP activated kinase (AMPK) and inhibit the first step of ribosome biogenesis, de novo RNA synthesis in nucleoli. Nucleolar activities are relevant to human health, because ribosome production is crucial to the development of diabetic complications. Although the function of nucleoli relies on their organization, the impact of AMPK activators on nucleolar structures is not known.

Antitumor and scavenging radicals activities of some polyphenols related to dehydroabietylamine derivatives.

A novel series of polyphenols 4-9 were synthesized by the reaction of catechol with dehydroabietylamine derivatives. The antitumor activities of these compounds against L02 and HepG2 cells were investigated. Among them, compounds 4, 5, and 9 can inhibit HepG2 cells viability, but have lower inhibitory effect on L02 cells in the same concentration, indicating their potential for further development.