Altered Metabolomics in Bipolar Depression With Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

Objective: Although gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are very common in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), Few studies have researched the pathomechanism behind these symptoms. In the present study, we aim at elucidate the pathomechanism of GI symptoms in BD through metabolomic analysis. Method: BD patients were recruited from Shanxi Bethune Hospital that divided into two groups, each group assessed with the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) according to the presence or absence of GI symptoms. Healthy controls were recruited from the medical examination center of the same hospital. Differential metabolites were identified and further analyzed using Metabo Analyst 3.0 to identify associated metabolic pathways. Results: There were significantly higher HAMD-24 scores in the GI symptoms group than that of non-GI symptoms group (p = 0.007). Based on metabolomic analysis results, we found that the common disturbances metabolic pathway of both two patients groups was ketone body metabolism, and the unique disturbances metabolic pathways of BD with GI symptoms were fatty acid biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism, and these changes were independent of dietary habits. Conclusion: BD patients with GI symptoms exhibited disturbances in fatty acid and tyrosine metabolism, perhaps suggesting that the GI symptoms in BD patients are related to disturbances of the gut microbiome. Both groups of patients jointly exhibit disturbances of ketone body metabolism, which may serve as a biomarker for the pathogenesis of BD patients.

Pre- and Post-treatment Levels of Plasma Metabolites in Patients With Bipolar Depression.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mental disease with complex clinical manifestations and high recurrence rate. The purpose of this study was to detect metabolites related to the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of bipolar depression in plasma samples by metabolomics. Methods: Thirty-one bipolar depression patients were recruited and completed 8 weeks medication and a matched group of 47 healthy controls (HCs) was recruited. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to profile plasma samples of bipolar depression patients at baseline and after 8 weeks medication, and HCs. Then Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences of plasma metabolites among the three groups. Results: We detected seven specific differential metabolites in bipolar depression. Six of the metabolites were returned to the normal levels in different degrees after 8 weeks medication, only Glycine continuously decreased in the acute and significant improvement stages of bipolar depression (VIP > 1 and p < 0.05). These differential metabolites involved several metabolic pathways. Limitations: The small sample size was one of the most prominent limitations. Each BD patient was given an individualized medication regimen according to the clinical guidelines. Conclusion: There were metabolites changes before and after 8 weeks medication. Glycine may be a characteristic marker of bipolar depression and does not change with the improvement of bipolar depression, while other 6 differential metabolites may be biomarkers associated with the pathological development or the improvement of bipolar depression. And, these differential metabolites mainly related to energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and gut microbiota metabolism.

Annexin A2 promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis via the immune microenvironment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2 (ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. However, the underlining mechanisms of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC remain poorly understood up to now. Herein, we summarized the molecular function of ANXA2 in HCC and its relationship with prognosis. Furthermore, we tentatively elucidated the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 immune escape of HCC by upregulating the proportion of regulatory T cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules, and by downregulating the proportion of natural killer cells and dendritic cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules or effector molecules. We expect a lot of in-depth studies to further reveal the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC in the future.

Relationship Between Type 2 Diabetes and White Matter Hyperintensity: A Systematic Review.

White matter (WM) disease is recognized as an important cause of cognitive decline and dementia. White matter lesions (WMLs) appear as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. Previous studies have shown that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with WMH. In this review, we reviewed the literature on the relationship between T2DM and WMH in PubMed and Cochrane over the past five years and explored the possible links among the presence of T2DM, the course or complications of diabetes, and WMH. We found that: (1) Both from a macro- and micro-scopic point of view, most studies support the relationship of a larger WMH and a decrease in the integrity of WMH in T2DM; (2) From the relationship between brain structural changes and cognition in T2DM, the poor performance in memory, attention, and executive function tests associated with abnormal brain structure is consistent; (3) Diabetic microangiopathy or peripheral neuropathy may be associated with WMH, suggesting that the brain may be a target organ for T2DM microangiopathy; (4) Laboratory markers such as insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels were significantly associated with WMH. High HbA1c and high glucose variability were associated with WMH but not glycemic control.

The stability and electronic properties of Pt-modified Cu(1 1 0) and Cu(1 1 1) in the absence/presence of small molecules: a density-functional theory modeling.

Pt-Cu bimetallic alloys, as a key component in many heterogeneous catalysts, have the potential to be used in a range of industrially important reactions. The stability of platinum-modified Cu(1 1 0) and Cu(1 1 1) surfaces in the absence/presence of CO, NO and O has been investigated based on density-functional theory. We find that Pt alloyed in the second layer of the Cu (1 1 0) surface, rather than in the bulk, is the most favorable configuration. To relieve the strain, platinum tends to stay in the surface layer of close-packed Cu(1 1 1). Adsorbates can affect the stability of Pt-modified surfaces. Upon the adsorption of CO and NO, Pt segregation to the (1 1 0) surface becomes favorable, while on oxygen adsorption, no segregation occurs. Platinum only prefers to segregate on the Cu (1 1 1) surface when it is exposed to carbon monoxide, it tends to locate in the second layer for the other two adsorbates. Combining the position of d-band center, the d-bandwidth, and the separation between the bonding and antibonding states of the adsorbates, we interpret the results and correlate the relationship between the electronic properties of the substrate and the adsorption energy of the adsorbates, which could shed light on the prediction of bimetallic structures with desirable chemical properties.

[Coupling liquid phase electrochemistry with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its applications].

The combination of liquid nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and electrochemistry (EC) is a new technique with promising prospect which provides novel, exciting, and crucial insights into the processes near or on the electrode surface at a molecular or atomic level. The development of in situ EC-NMR spectroscopy with flow or static electrolysis was summarized, the structures of the electrolysis cell and the characteristics of the NMR spectra were analyzed, and the feature of the in situ EC-NMR spectroscopy in practice was described in detail. The electrolysis electrode located at radio-frequency detection area of the NMR spectrometer reduced homogeneity of the magnetic field. Furthermore, the electrolysis current results in broadened spectral lines and loss of resolution. The working electrode consisting of a thin metal film and the electrolysis current parallel to the static magnetic field can overcome such shortcomings. Besides, several high-resolution methods in inhomogeneous fields were discussed and compared, such as intramolecular multiple quantum coherences, nutation echos, intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects, and intermolecular multiple quantum coherences.

1H NMR study on pre-micellization of quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants.

Two quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactant series, 12-s-12, ([C(12)H(25)N+ (CH(3))(2)](2)(CH(2))(s).(2)Br(-)) and 14-s-14 ([C(14)H(29)N(+)(CH(3))(2)](2)(CH(2))(s).(2)Br(-)), where s = 2, 3, and 4, have been studied by the use of (1)H NMR in aqueous solution at concentrations below their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) at 25 degrees C. The appearance of a second set of peaks for the 14-s-14 series and the changes in chemical shifts, line widths, and line shapes of the 12-s-12 series with increasing concentration below the CMC are interpreted as evidence for the formation of premicelle aggregates (oligomers) that appear at approximately one-half their CMC values. Self-diffusion coefficients (D) and transverse relaxation times (T(2)) have also been detected and support the results obtained by (1)H NMR.

The array and interfacial activity of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and sodium oleate at the oil/water interface.

There is a close correlation between the interfacial activity and the adsorption of the surfactant at the interface, but the detailed molecular standard information was scarce. The interfacial activity of two traditional anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium oleate (OAS) were studied by experimental and computer simulation methods. With the spinning drop method and the suspension drop method, the interfacial tension of oil/aqueous surfactant systems was measured, and the influence of surfactant concentration and salinity on the interfacial tension was investigated. The dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method was used to simulate the adsorption of SDBS and OAS at the oil/water interface. It was shown that it is beneficial to decrease interfacial tension if the hydrophobic chains of the surfactant and the oil have similar structure. The accession of inorganic salts causes surfactant molecules to form more compact and ordered arrangements and helps to decrease the interfacial tension. There is an osculation relation between interfacial density and interfacial activity. The interfacial density calculated by molecular simulation is an effective parameter to exhibit the interfacial activity.