Prohibiting the electron-phonon coupling effect in tungsten trioxide nanosheet colloid with enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial capacity.

The serious combination of abundant electrons/holes in bulk primarily hinders the efficiency in the photocatalytic reaction. It is crucial to control the spatial charge dynamics through delicately designing the crystal configuration of photocatalyst. In this work, a modified tungsten trioxide nanosheet colloid (M-WO) was synthesized by an ion exchange method.

[F]AlF-CBP imaging of type I collagen for non-invasive monitoring of pulmonary fibrosis in preclinical models.

Purpose: Pulmonary fibrosis is an irreversible scar-forming condition for which there is a lack of non-invasive and specific methods for monitoring its progression and therapy efficacy. However, the disease is known to be accompanied by collagen accumulation. Here, we developed a novel positron emission tomography (PET) probe targeting type I collagen to evaluate its utility for the non-invasive assessment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Effect of Physical Activity on the Association Between Diet and Constipation: Evidence From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010.

Background/aims: Previous studies have shown that diet and physical activity can influence constipation. However, the combined effect of diet and physical activity on constipation remains unclear.

Methods: Constipation was defined based on stool consistency and frequency, while overall diet quality was assessed using Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores.

Cerebral [F]AIF-FAPI-42-Based PET Imaging of Fibroblast Activation Protein for Non-invasive Quantification of Fibrosis After Ischemic Stroke.

The development of fibrosis after injury to the brain or spinal cord limits the regeneration of the central nervous system in adult mammals. However, the extent of fibrosis in the injured brain has not been systematically investigated in mammals in vivo. This study aimed to assess whether [F]AlF-FAPI-42-based cerebral positron emission tomography (PET) can be utilized to assess the extent of fibrosis in ischemic regions of the brain in vivo.

[18F]AlF-ND-bisFAPI PET imaging of fibroblast activation protein as a biomarker to monitor the progression of liver fibrosis.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is a progressive disease, which is reversible in the early stages. The current monitoring methods have notable limitations that pose a challenge to early detection. In this study, we evaluated the utility of [18F]AlF-ND-bisFAPI positron emission tomography imaging of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) to monitor the progression of liver fibrosis.

Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a heterodimeric radioligand targeting fibroblast activation protein and integrin-αβ.

Tumor progression is accompanied by intrinsic heterogeneity and different phenotypes, which implies a different expression of cell surface receptors. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and integrin αβ are highly expressed in the cell surface of cancer-associated cells or cancer cells compared with normal cells. Therefore, a FAP/integrin αβ bispecific heterodimer was developed for positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy.

Self-assembly of NiP/γ-GaO nanosheets for efficient photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production.

The development of photocatalysts enabling stable and highly efficient water splitting hydrogen production remains an open challenge in the field of energy photocatalysis. Herein, NiP/γ-GaO nanosheets have been reported as excellent water splitting photocatalysts. NiP particles and γ-GaO nanosheets were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process.

A home-made sampling system coupled to hectowatt-MPT mass spectrometry in positive ion mode to confirm target ions of copper and zinc from Poyang Lake, China.

A novel home-made HSO-Nafion (HN) tube sampling system coupled to a line ion trap mass spectrometer (LTQ-MS) with a versatile ambient ionization source, hectowatt microwave plasma torch (HMPT), has manifested unique advantages for picking directly metal elements in aqueous samples and acquiring the fully characteristic MPT mass spectra of copper and zinc composite ions. Here, we report the development of a novel HN-HMPT-LTQ-MS for metal elements assay based on environmental water to analyze samples of Poyang Lake, China. Detailed multi-stage tandem mass spectra show that the general structural form of target ions is [M(NO)(HO)(OH)] for the positive ion mode.

Radiosynthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Bispecific PSMA/FAP Heterodimers for Tumor Imaging.

Due to tumor heterogeneity and complex tumor-stromal interactions in multicellular systems, the efficiency of monospecific tracers for tumor diagnosis and therapy is currently limited. In light of the evidence of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) overexpression in tumor cells and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) upregulation in the tumor stroma, heterodimer dual targeting PSMA and FAP may have the potential to improve tumor diagnosis. Herein, we described the radiosynthesis, in vitro characterization, and micro-PET/CT imaging of two novel F-labeled bispecific PSMA/FAP heterodimers.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves consciousness in some patients with disorders of consciousness.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with disorders of consciousness.

Design And Setting: We performed a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial.

Participants: Patients (N = 40) with disorders of consciousness.

F- or Lu-labeled bivalent ligand of fibroblast activation protein with high tumor uptake and retention.

Purpose: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has become a promising cancer-related target for diagnosis and therapy. The aim of this study was to develop a bivalent FAP ligand for both diagnostic PET imaging and endoradiotherapy.

Methods: We synthesized a bivalent FAP ligand (ND-bisFAP) and labeled it with F or Lu.

Simultaneously stimulating both brain hemispheres by rTMS in patients with unilateral brain lesions decreases interhemispheric asymmetry.

Background: Interhemispheric asymmetry caused by brain lesions is an adverse factor in the recovery of patients with neurological deficits. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to modulate cortical oscillation and proposed as an approach to rebalance the symmetry, which has not been documented well.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the influence of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on EEG power in patients with unilateral brain lesions by simultaneously stimulating both brain hemispheres and to elucidate asymmetrical changes in rTMS-induced neurophysiological activity.

Effectiveness of motor control exercise on non-specific chronic low back pain, disability and core muscle morphological characteristics: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) has been recognized as the leading cause of disability. Up to 90% of patients with CLBP are classified as having non-specific CLBP (NSCLBP). Motor control exercise (MCE) is one of the most popular and widespread treatment options, and has many advantages in alleviating pain and disability.

Novel F-Labeled Isonicotinamide-Based Radioligands for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a cytoplasmic serine/threonine protein kinase, is involved in several human pathologies including Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, diabetes, and cancer. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of GSK-3β could aid in investigating GSK-3β levels under normal and pathological conditions. In this study, we designed and synthesized fluorinated PET radioligands starting with recently identified isonicotinamide derivatives that showed potent affinity to GSK-3β.

Differentiating Responders and Non-responders to rTMS Treatment for Disorder of Consciousness Using EEG After-Effects.

It is controversial whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has potential benefits in improving the awareness of patients with disorder of consciousness (DOC). We hypothesized that rTMS could improve consciousness only in DOC patients who have measurable brain responses to rTMS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the EEG after-effects induced by rTMS in DOC patients and attempted to propose a prediction algorithm to discriminate between DOC patients who would respond to rTMS treatment from those who would not.

Antioxidant status of uric acid, bilirubin, albumin and creatinine during the acute phase after traumatic brain injury: sex-specific features.

Background: It is known that the alteration of antioxidants can been seen in early phase after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in order to block oxidative damage, but little is known about the influence of sex on antioxidant system in patients with TBI. This study investigates whether there are sex differences in these endogenous antioxidant agents during the acute phase after TBI and their association with the disease.

Methods: Serum levels of uric acid (UA), bilirubin, albumin and creatinine were measured in 421 individuals included 157 female TBI patients, 156 male TBI patients and 108 age- and sex-matched controls.

Upregulation of microRNA-205 is a potential biomarker for intracranial aneurysms.

Inhibition of microRNA-205 is considered to be a therapeutic target for abdominal aortic aneurysm in animal model. Hepatocyte growth factor also plays pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms, and its expression can be regulated by different miRNAs in different processes. We investigated the involvement of microRNA-205 in intracranial aneurysms and explored is potential interaction with hepatocyte growth factor.

Effect of blood pressure on reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a critical maternal complication in some pre-eclampsia (PE) and nearly all eclampsia patients; RPLS is associated with high blood pressure (BP). However, the effect of BP on RPLS and the different characteristics of RPLS in PE or eclampsia are largely unknown. We consecutively collected data from 69 patients who were diagnosed with RPLS in PE or eclampsia between 2013 and 2017.

Poisoning: A Case with 8 Months of Follow-up and Review of the Literature.

Background: () is a toxic plant indigenous to Southeast Asia. It is highly poisonous due to its strong respiratory depressive effect. However, poisoning cases have not been summarized comprehensively and are rarely reported in English journals.

TGF-β1 activates the canonical NF-κB signaling to promote cell survival and proliferation in dystrophic muscle fibroblasts in vitro.

Activated fibroblasts continue to proliferate at injury sites, leading to progressive muscular fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). TGF-β1 is a dominant profibrotic mediator thought to play a critical role in muscle fibrosis; however, the implicated mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we showed that TGF-β1 increased the resistance to apoptosis and stimulated cell cycle progression in dystrophic muscle fibroblasts under serum deprivation conditions in vitro.

Cryptococcal meningitis in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic immunologic disorder that can affect multiple organ systems and makes the patient susceptible to infection. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a rare but often fatal complication of SLE.

Design: In this study, 6 patients with CM were identified among 631 patients with SLE.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with the risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer from the published reports are still conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between VDR TaqI (rs731236), BsmI (rs1544410) and ApaI (rs7975232) gene polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer using meta-analysis method. The association studies were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library on 1 December 2013, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method.

Comparisons of presentations and outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis between patients with and without hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: The clinical characteristics and outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis (CM) have been shown to vary depending on the underlying condition. The purpose of this study was to investigate these differences in patients with and without hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2006 to June 2012.

Distinct serum apolipoprotein A-I levels in neuromyelitis optica and acute transverse myelitis.

Objective: NMO and ATM are intertwined both clinically and pathologically. Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, the main apolipoprotein of HDL, plays an important role in lipid metabolism in the cerebrospinal fluid and is known to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines generated by activated T cells in some autoimmune diseases as an immune regulator. However, the differences in the levels of serum apoA-I between NMO and ATM patients are unclear.