Effects of probiotics on neurocognitive outcomes in infants and young children: a meta-analysis.

Background: Therapeutic efficacies of probiotics in improving neurocognitive functions in infants and young children remained unclear. This meta-analysis focused on different cognitive outcomes in this population. Methods: Major databases were searched electronically from inception to October 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics in enhancing cognitive functions assessed by standardized tasks. The overall effect size was calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) based on a random effects model. Results: Nine RCTs with 3,026 participants were identified. Both our primary and secondary results demonstrated no significant difference in neurocognitive outcomes between infants/children treated with probiotics and those receiving placebos. However, our subgroup analysis of studies that offered a probiotics treatment course of over six months demonstrated a significantly better neurocognitive outcome than placebos (SMD = 0.21, p = 0.03, two studies with 451 participants), but this finding was based on only two RCTs. Conclusion: Despite lack of significant therapeutic effects of probiotics on neurocognitive outcomes, our finding of a positive impact of probiotics on neurocognitive development in those undergoing treatment for over six months may provide an important direction for further investigations into the enhancement of therapeutic effects of probiotics on neurocognitive development in infants and young children. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023463412.

On the Asymmetric Relationship Between Physician Mental Health Disorders on Quality of Healthcare Under the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: Quantile on Quantile Regression Analyses.

Purpose: When examining the nexus of physician mental health disorders and healthcare quality from the empirical perspective, mental health disorders are frequently associated with cyclical patterns corresponding to cyclic seasonality, mood swings, emission of air pollution and business cycles, the potential asymmetric effects of physician mental health disorders on healthcare quality have not received adequate attention from researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the asymmetric relationship between physician mental health disorders and healthcare quality during the pandemic outbreak in Taiwan. Methods: Daily data for care quality indicators and physician mental health disorders were collected from the National Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, and the quantile-on-quantile regression model was applied to proceed with our analyses. Results: Our results indicated that the overall aggregate effects of each quantile of physician mental health disorders on the cumulative quantiles of healthcare quality are negative (positive) for the 14-day readmission rate (preventable hospitalization rate and non-urgent ED-visit rate). Positively (negatively) cumulative effects of each quantile of physician mental health disorders were detected in the middle (low and high) quantiles of the preventable hospitalization rate. The cumulative effects of each quantile of physician mental health disorders on the high (low and middle) quantiles of the 14-day readmission rate are negative (positive), but the cumulative effects on various quantiles of the non-urgent ED-visit rate exhibit the opposite pattern. Conclusion: The observed variation in the relationship between physician mental health disorders and different quantiles of healthcare quality suggests the need for tailored strategic interventions based on distinct levels of healthcare quality when addressing the higher risk of physician mental health disorders during the pandemic outbreak conditions.

Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition from neural network flows.

We adopt the neural network (NN) flow method to study the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transitions of the two-dimensional q-state clock model with q≥4. The NN flow consists of a sequence of the same units that proceed with the flow. This unit is a variational autoencoder trained by the data of Monte Carlo configurations in unsupervised learning. To gauge the difference among the ensembles of Monte Carlo configurations at different temperatures and the uniqueness of the ensemble of NN-flow states, we adopt the Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) as the information-distance measure "thermometer." This JSD thermometer compares the probability distribution functions of the mean spin value of two ensembles of states. Our results show that the NN flow will flow an arbitrary spin state to some state in a fixed-point ensemble of states. The corresponding JSD of the fixed-point ensemble takes a unique profile with peculiar features, which can help to identify the critical temperatures of BKT phase transitions of the underlying Monte Carlo configurations.

Efficacy and tolerability of psychostimulants for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There was no previous meta-analysis investigating the efficacy/tolerability of psychostimulants for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children. METHODS: Databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to March 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on therapeutic efficacy of psychostimulants against ADHD symptoms in preschool children (age ≤6 years) compared with placebos. Primary outcomes were (a) changes in ADHD symptoms evaluated by validated rating scales from parents'/teacher's observation, or (b) post-intervention improvements in neuropsychological performance. Secondary outcomes were risks of adverse events. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of nine eligible trials including 544 preschool children (mean age=4.86 years, female=11.98%, median treatment duration=4.33 weeks) supported the efficacy of psychostimulants against global symptoms from observations of parents (Hedges' g=0.6152, p<0.0001) and teachers (Hedges' g=0.6563, p=0.0039). Efficacy of psychostimulants was also noted against symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, especially the latter (i.e., main symptoms in preschool children). Moreover, male gender, older age, and longer treatment duration were associated with better efficacy. Regarding adverse events, only the risk of poor appetite was higher in the psychostimulant group (odds ratio [OR]=2.39). However, the qualities of evidence were low to very low, indicating potential discrepancy between the true and estimated effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that psychostimulants might be beneficial for preschool children with ADHD, especially hyperactivity/impulsivity from teachers' observation, with tolerable side effects. Nevertheless, the true magnitude of the effect needs to be confirmed with more research due to low to very low certainty of the evidence.

Additive effects of EEG neurofeedback on medications for ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To elucidate possible additive effects of electroencephalogram-based neurofeedback (EEG-NF) on medications against the core symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved from electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalKey, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to March 2022. The primary outcomes were changes in ADHD symptoms (i.e., global, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity) assessed with validated rating scales, while secondary outcome was all-cause discontinuation rate. Meta-analysis of five RCTs involving 305 participants [Median age = 9.285 years (range 8.6-11.05)] with a median follow-up of 12 weeks showed additive effects of EEG-NF on medications from parents' observations against ADHD global symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.2898, 95%CI [0.0238; 0.5557]) and inattention symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.3274, 95%CI [0.0493; 0.6055]). However, additive effects failed to sustain six months after EEG-NF intervention. Besides, there was no difference in improvement of hyperactivity/impulsivity from parents' observation, attentional performance, and all-cause discontinuation rate between the two groups. Our results supported additional benefits of combining EEG-NF with medications compared to medication alone in treating global symptoms and symptoms of inattention in ADHD patients. Nevertheless, given a lack of evidence showing a correlation between underlying physiological changes and small effect sizes in our preliminary results, further studies are warranted to support our findings.

Erratum: Constraints on Low-Energy Effective Theories from Weak Cosmic Censorship [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 031102 (2021)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.031102.

Constraints on Low-Energy Effective Theories from Weak Cosmic Censorship.

We examine the weak cosmic censorship conjecture (WCCC) for the extremal charged black hole in possible generalizations of Einstein-Maxwell theory due to the high-order corrections, up to fourth-derivative terms. Our derivation is based on Wald's gedanken experiment to destroy an extremal black hole. We find that the WCCC no longer holds for all possible generalizations. Thus, the WCCC can serve as a new constraint to the high-order effective field theories. However, our constraint is independent of photon's self-interactions so that precision measurement of quantum electrodynamics cannot constrain the WCCC. For higher-dimension operators induced by the one-loop correction for the minimally coupled spinor and scalar to gravity, our constraint is satisfied.

Research Progress on Molecular Markers Related to Unexplained Sudden Cardiac Death and Its Forensic Application / 法医学杂志

Routine pathological examination of unexplained sudden cardiac death (USCD) lacks significant morphological characteristics. In the field of forensic medicine, molecular biology methods have been used to find the cause of death by detecting genes and research related to the mechanism of sudden cardiac death has been carried out. From the molecular pathology point of view, the application of multiple levels of biomarkers to resolve the causes of USCD has already shown potential and provides an important path for forensic identification of USCD. This article reviews the latest research progress on USCD-related genes, RNA, proteins and USCD, and summarizes forensic application.

Longevity and Economic Growth in China and India Using a Newly Developed Bootstrap ARDL Model.

In this study, we use a recently developed Bootstrap ARDL model to examine the influence of longevity (life expectancy after giving birth) and alcohol consumption on economic progression (GDP) in both China and India during the years between 1992 and 2015. Empirical results have shown an extended link across economic development, longevity, and alcohol use in both China and India. The Granger causality test, derived from the Bootstrap ARDL model, demonstrates a unidirectional relationship between economic growth and longevity in China. However, a bidirectional causality exists between longevity and alcohol use in India. Results have important implications for Indian and Chinese governments' public health policies, focused on alcohol consumption reduction specifically, and population health generally.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acquired perforating dermatosis: A case report.

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is an uncommon skin disease characterized by umbilicated hyperkeratotic lesions, and involves the transepidermal elimination of dermal components, including collagen and elastic fibers. The disease can affect patients with systemic disorders, especially those with chronic renal failure or diabetes mellitus. The current paper described four cases of patients with APD and investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of APD, as well as its possible link with systemic disorders. In each of the four cases, the patient had systemic disorders before the onset of APD, three had concomitant renal and thyroid disorders and one had hepatocirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C. The results of the present study showed that APD occurred after the transient worsening of the original systemic disease. Furthermore, it was revealed that dermatosis symptoms were alleviated upon remission of the original systemic disorder, without specific dermatological treatment. Dermatosis symptoms improved in all four patients, indicating that the management of the associated systematic diseases was essential for the successful clinical outcomes of APD.

Revisiting the Relationship Between Suicide and Unemployment in Mexico: Evidence From Linear and Non-linear Co-integration.

This study attempts to investigate if suicide is interlinked with unemployment in Mexico by making use of a recently developed Bootstrap ARDL bound test over the years of 1981-2016. To avoid omitting variable bias, we use economic growth rate as a control variable. The empirical results indicate that no co-integration among these three variables and there is a positively bidirectional causality between suicide rate and the unemployment rate. This study will showcase that the economic growth rate negatively affects unemployment rate and unidirectional Granger causality running from economic growth rate to the unemployment rate in Mexico. The findings presented in this study could provide with valuable information for society and health policy makers to formulate the policies on suicide prevention in Mexico.

Satellite testing of a gravitationally induced quantum decoherence model.

Quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity are two pillars of modern physics. However, a coherent unified framework of the two theories remains an open problem. Attempts to quantize general relativity have led to many rival models of quantum gravity, which, however, generally lack experimental foundations. We report a quantum optical experimental test of event formalism of quantum fields, a theory that attempts to present a coherent description of quantum fields in exotic spacetimes containing closed timelike curves and ordinary spacetime. We experimentally test a prediction of the theory with the quantum satellite Micius that a pair of time-energy-entangled particles probabilistically decorrelate passing through different regions of the gravitational potential of Earth. Our measurement results are consistent with the standard quantum theory and hence do not support the prediction of event formalism.

Metabolomics Changes of Serum in Rats Dying from Untypical Electric Injury / 法医学杂志

Objective To study the differential metabolites of serum in rats dying from untypical electric injury by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance （1 NMR）-based metabolomics methods, in order to provide clues for identification of death from antemortem untypical electric injury and instant postmortem electric injury. Methods Models of rats dying from untypical electric injury, instant postmortem electric injury, mechanical asphyxia, mechanical injury, and high temperature injury were established. The rats in control group were executed without any treatment. The serums of rats from every group were detected by 1H NMR-based metabolomics technology to screen differential metabolites. Results The rats dying from untypical electric injury group was compared with those from mechanical asphyxia group, mechanical injury group, high temperature injury group, and control group, respectively. Four chemical shift points with diagnostic value, and their corresponding metabolites were screened. These chemical shift points contained many small molecules, such as alcohols, phenols, sugars, amino acids, etc. The death from untypical electric injury group was compared with those from instant postmortem electric injury group and control group, and then eight chemical shift points with diagnostic value and their corresponding metabolites were screened. These chemical shift points contained small molecules, such as sugars, amino acids, esters, nucleic acids, etc. Conclusion The 1H NMR-based metabolomics technology can identify differential metabolites of serum in rats dying from untypical electric injury, therefore it may provide a basis for the diagnosis of death from untypical electric injury and the identification of antemortem electric injury and instant postmortem electric injury.

Distinguishing Black Hole Microstates using Holevo Information.

We use Holevo information in the two-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT) with a large central charge c to distinguish microstates from the underlying thermal state. Holographically, the CFT microstates of a thermal state are dual to black hole microstate geometries in anti-de Sitter space. It was found recently that holographic Holevo information shows plateau behaviors at both short and long interval regions. This indicates that the black hole microstates are indistinguishable from the thermal state by measuring over a small region, and perfectly distinguishable over a region with its size comparable to the whole system. In this Letter, we demonstrate that the plateaus are lifted by including the 1/c corrections from both the vacuum and nonvacuum conformal families of CFT in either the canonical ensemble or microcanonical ensemble thermal state. Our results imply that the aforementioned indistinguishability and distinguishability of black hole microstate geometries from the underlying black hole are spoiled by higher order Newton constant G_{N} corrections of quantum gravity.

Simultaneous determination of four constituents in Yangxin Dingji Capsules by HPLC / 中成药

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of four constituents in Yangxin Dingji Capsules (a cardiac tonic for palpitation,containing Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Cinnamomi Ramulus,Rehmanniae Radix,etc.).METHODS The analysis of 50％ methanol extract of Yangxin Dingji Capsules was performed on a 40 ℃ thermostatic Diamonsil C1s column (250 mm × 4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1％ formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 265 nm.RESULTS Liquiritin,glycyrrhizic acid,cinnamic acid and cinnamic aldehyde showed good linear relationships within the ranges of 1.00-80.24 μg/mL (r=0.999 0),2.52-100.70 μg/mL (r--0.999 7),0.50-40.40 μg/mL (r =1.000 0) and 0.66-52.96 μg/mL (r =1.000 0),whose average recoveries were 97.74％,100.97％,101.48％ and 99.49％ with the RSDs of 0.45％,1.11％,1.27％ and 1.66％,respectively.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Yangxin Dingji Capsules.

Clinical Application of the UK Working Party's Criteria for the Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis in the Chinese Population by Age Group / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with an increasingly significant prevalence. The prevalence of AD depends greatly on how its diagnosis is done. The UK Working Party's diagnostic criteria for AD are simple and easy to apply without invasive laboratory tests. This study assessed the clinical utility of these criteria in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data were collected from 6208 patients at 31 tertiary hospitals in 13 Chinese provinces/municipalities from March 2014 to May 2014. . The agreement between the UK diagnostic criteria and the clinical records for AD was assessed by Cohen's kappa.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall agreement between the UK diagnostic criteria and clinical diagnosis was fair (kappa = 0.40). A slightly better agreement was found in patients aged between 4 and 9 years (kappa = 0.48), while fair agreement was found in the group <4 years and the group ≥10 years (kappa = 0.27 and 0.39, respectively). Using the UK party's criteria as the standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the clinical diagnosis of AD were 62.3%, 89.2%, 38.0%, and 95.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our study indicates a modest ability among Chinese dermatologists to apply the UK Working Party's diagnostic criteria for AD, especially in patients aged <4 years and ≥10 years. Since there is no gold standard for AD diagnosis, it is important to determine how AD is identified when evaluating a diagnostic tool.</p>

[Clinical application of blood matching with hemolytic test in vitro for transfusion treatment of crisis puerpera with acute hemolytic anemia].

This study was aimed to establish the matching method of hemolytic test in vitro, and to guide the transfusion treatment for puerpera with acute hemolytic disease. The donor's erythrocytes were sensibilized by all the antibodies in plasma of patient in vitro and were added with complement, after incubation for 6.5 hours at 38 °C, the hemolysis or no hemolysis were observed. It is safe to transfuse if the hemolysis did not occur. The results showed that when the matching difficulty happened to puerpera with acute hemolytic disease, the compatible donor could be screened by hemolytic test in vitro. There were no untoward effects after transfusion of 6 U leukocyte-depleted erythrocyte suspension. The all hemoglobin, total bilirubins, indirect bilirubin, reticulocyte, D-dimex and so on were rapidly improved in patient after transfusion , showing obvious clinical efficacy of treatment. It is concluded that when the matching results can not judge accurately compatible or incompatible through the routine method of cross matching, the agglutinated and no-hemolytic erythrocytes can be screened by hemolytic test in vitro and can be transfused with good efficacy; the hemoglobin level can be promoted rapidly, and no untoward effects occur.

Histopathological findings of primary cutaneous lichenoid and macular amyloidosis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the histopathological findings of primary cutaneous lichenoid amyloidosis (LA) and macular amyloidosis (MA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The pathological features of 82 patients with primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) admitted from 2003 to 2008 were summarized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 52 cases (63%) of LA and 30 cases (37%) of MA, among which 49 cases (60%) presented with pyknotic nucleus of the basal keratinocytes above the amyloid in the upper dermis and 18 cases (22%) presented with pagetoid dyskeratosis (PD) cells among their prickle cells. More amyloid in LA and more severe incontinent of pigment in MA. The deposition level of amyloid protein was significantly higher in patients with LA and the incontinent of pigment was significantly higher in patients with MA (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The amyloid protein may be derived from the apoptotic keratinocytes.</p>