Phase-Amplitude Coupling Brain Networks in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

In cognitive neuroscience, there is an increasing interest in identifying and understanding the synchronization of distinct neural oscillations with different frequencies that might support dynamic communication within the brain. This study explored the cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling brain network characteristics of resting-state electroencephalograms between 30 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 30 age-matched typically developing children. Compared with control group, children with ADHD show increased coupling intensity and altered distribution patterns of dominant paired channels, especially in the δ-γH, θ-γH, α-γH, ßL-γH, and ßH-γH coupling networks. Regarding graph theory properties, the characteristic path length, the mean clustering coefficient, the global efficiency, and the mean local efficiency significant difference in many cross-frequency coupling networks, especially in the δ-γH, θ-γH, α-γH, ßL-γH, and ßH-γH coupling networks. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in low-frequency coupling with a high-gamma frequency was larger than that in coupling with low-gamma frequency (AUC values of δ-γL, θ-γL, α-γL, ßL-γL, ßH-γL, δ-γH, θ-γH, α-γH, ßL-γH, and ßH-γH were 0.794, 0.722, 0.666, 0.570, 0.881, 0.992, 0.998, 0.998, 0.989, and 0.974, respectively). These findings demonstrate altered coupling intensity and disrupted topological organization of coupling networks, support the altered brain network theory in children with ADHD. The coupling intensity and graph theory properties of low-frequency coupling with high-gamma frequency were promising resting-state electroencephalogram biomarkers of ADHD in children.

Association of Hepatic Global DNA Methylation and Serum One-Carbon Metabolites with Histological Severity in Patients with NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical relevance of global DNA methylation and one-carbon metabolite levels with histological severity remains uncertain in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to evaluate hepatic global DNA methylation and serum one-carbon metabolite concentrations in patients with NAFLD and the possible associations of these parameters with liver histology. METHODS: Liver biopsies from 18 control participants and 47 patients with NAFLD were evaluated. RESULTS: The hepatic global DNA methylation level was significantly lower in the NAFLD group than in the control group among participants with overweight. Participants with moderate inflammation and mild fibrosis had significantly lower levels of global DNA methylation than those without these characteristics. Participants with borderline nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had significantly lower global DNA methylation levels than controls. The hepatic global DNA methylation level tended to decrease with the increasing hepatic inflammation grade and disease progression. The NAFLD group had a significantly higher serum homocysteine concentration than the control group among participants with overweight. This level tended to increase with increasing hepatic steatosis grade and disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NAFLD exhibited lower hepatic levels of global DNA methylation and elevated serum homocysteine concentrations, which are associated with the histological severity of NAFLD.

Magnetic fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for detection and separation of transferrin in human serum.

Transferrin (TrF) is an important glycoprotein and disease biomarker that controls iron ion balance in the human body. Isolation and detection of TrF have important implication for the early detection of disease. Thus, a magnetic fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (FMINPs) was prepared for extraction and fluorescence detection of TrF. The FMINPs was prepared with two steps, the first step was the synthesis of magnetic TrF imprinted nanoparticle and the second step was introducing a near-infrared fluorescent compound (CyA) on the imprinted nanoparticles, which has a strong near infrared fluorescence emission at 730 nm while excitation at 690 nm and a large fluorescence signal quenching after adsorption of TrF. The concentration of TrF can be determined by the change of the fluorescence signal. FT-IR, TEM and fluorescence spectrophotometer were used to verify the successful preparation and the fluorescence performance of the FMINPs. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the prepared FMINPs had a great fluorescence performance, offering the lower relative standard deviation (7.7%), good analytical range (0.025-0.175 mg/mL, R2 =0.998) and lower detection limit (0.0075 mg/mL) for TrF. This method provides a new solution for the direct detection and separation of TrF in human serum samples.

Isolation of transferrin by imprinted nanoparticles with magnetic deep eutectic solvents as monomer.

Transferrin (TrF) is a very important human body glycoprotein and a clinical biomarker which controls the body's iron ion channels and iron ion balance. Any change in TrF concentration and isoform also reflects the emergence of some diseases. In this work, we prepared magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (deep eutectic solvent-molecular imprinting polymers [DES-MIPs]) with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a functional monomer to separate TrF in human serum. The DES dosage for MIP, pH value, and time for adsorption have been optimized, and these materials show special adsorption properties for TrF. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) and dissociation constant KL of the MIP by the Langmuir adsorption curve (R2 = 0.9949) were 37.5 mg/g and 0.015 g/L, respectively. The imprinting factor of the MIP is 3.50 with relative standard deviation (5.63%). In summary, the use of DES as a functional monomer in molecular imprinting technology provides a novel, efficient, and biocompatible method for the isolation and purification of proteins. Graphical abstract ᅟ.