AIEE-active dichlorobenzene and chlorobenzene ratiometric fluorescent probe based on [2.2]paracyclophane.

Two AIEE-active [2.2]paracyclophanyl-based diester and monoester (1a and 1b) were facilely synthesized by one-pot method and applied as ratiometric fluorescent probe to detect dichlorobenzene (DCB) and chlorobenzene (CB). Compared with compound 1b, 1a exhibits high sensitivity and low detection limits for DCB and CB in dichloromethane (DCM), particularly, the detection sensitivities for ortho-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB), meta-dichlorobenzene (m-DCB) and chlorobenzene can be modulated by AIEE behavior with lower detection limits of 23.64, 56.27, and 5.92 ppm, respectively in THF/H2O mixed solutions with water fraction (fw) of 70 % due to the formation of aggregation-state. The X-ray structure analysis, theoretical calculations and photophysical properties in different solvents were investigated to reveal the distinctive photophysical behaviors of 1a and 1b. The facile synthesis, X-ray structure, AIEE modulated sensing properties for o-DCB, m-DCB, and CB in DCM and THF/H2O mixed solutions make 1a potential application as fluorescent probe for trace DCB and CB detection in drinking water.

Amide-Directed, Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Unactivated Internal Alkenes.

Despite the recent advances made in the area of asymmetric hydrosilylation, metal-catalyzed enantioselective hydrosilylation of unactivated internal alkenes remains a challenge. Here, we report a rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrosilylation of unactivated internal alkenes bearing a polar group. The coordination assistance by an amide group enables the hydrosilylation to occur with high regio- and enantioselectivity.

Association Between Immunoglobulin G N-glycosylation and Vascular Cognitive Impairment in a Sample With Atherosclerosis: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is considered a crucial component in the pathogenesis of decreased cognitive function, as occurs in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Inflammation and the immune response play a significant role in the development of many chronic diseases. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation has been implicated in the development of a variety of diseases by affecting the anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory responses of IgG. This study aimed to investigate the association between IgG N-glycosylation and VCI in a sample of patients with atherosclerosis through a case-control study. METHOD: We recruited a total of 330 patients with atherosclerosis to participate in this case-control study, including 165 VCI patients and 165 sex- and age-matched participants with normal cognitive function. The plasma IgG N-glycans of participants were separated by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to determine the corresponding serum inflammatory factors. Atherosclerosis was diagnosed by carotid ultrasound, and the diagnosis of VCI was based on the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Cognitive Impairment in China (2019)". A multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the association between IgG N-glycans and VCI. We also analyzed the relationship between IgG N-glycans and the inflammatory state of VCI through canonical correlation analysis (CCA). RESULTS: Through the multivariate logistic regression analysis, 8 glycans and 13 derived traits reflecting decreased sialylation and galactosylation and increased bisecting GlcNAc significantly differed between the case and control groups after adjusting for confounding factors (P < 0.05, q < 0.05). Similarly, the differences in TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were statistically significant between the case and control groups after adjusting for the effects of confounding factors (P < 0.05, q < 0.05). The CCA results showed that VCI-related initial N-glycans were significantly correlated with VCI-related inflammatory factors (r = 0.272, P = 0.004). The combined AUC value (AUC combined = 0.885) of 7 initial glycans and inflammatory factors was higher than their respective values (AUC initial glycans = 0.818, AUC inflammatory factors = 0.773). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that decreased sialylation and galactosylation and increased bisecting GlcNAc reflected by IgG N-glycans might affect the occurrence of VCI in patients with atherosclerosis though promoting the proinflammatory function of IgG. IgG N-glycans may serve as potential biomarkers to distinguish VCI in individuals with atherosclerosis.

Feasibility of Indirect Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-test Kits via WeChat Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: National Cross-sectional Study in China.

BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits are common in key sexually active populations. Direct secondary distribution of HIVST kits (DSDHK) is effective in improving the uptake of HIVST. However, there are concerns about the various limitations of DSDHK, including limited geographic reach, payment problems, and need for face-to-face interactions. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and characteristics of indirect secondary distribution of HIVST kits (ISDHK) via WeChat (distributing HIVST application links and follow-up HIVST kits to partners) among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: From October 2017 to September 2019, an HIVST recruitment advertisement was disseminated on the WeChat social media platform to invite MSM to apply for the HIVST kits (referred to as index participants [IPs]). All MSM participants were encouraged to distribute the HIVST application link to their friends and sexual partners (referred to as alters) through their social networks. All the alters were further encouraged to continue distributing the HIVST application link. All participants paid a deposit (US $7), which was refundable upon completion of the questionnaire, and uploaded the test results via a web-based survey system. RESULTS: A total of 2263 MSM met the criteria and successfully applied for HIVST. Of these, 1816 participants returned their HIVST results, including 1422 (88.3%) IPs and 394 (21.7%) alters. More alters had condomless anal intercourse, a higher proportion of them had never previously tested for HIV, and they showed a greater willingness to distribute HIVST kits to their sexual partners (P=.002) than the IPs. After controlling for age, education, and income, the alters had a greater proportion of MSM who had never tested for HIV before (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.29, 95% CI 1.00-1.68), were more willing to distribute the HIVST application link (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.21-2.40), had a lower number of sexual partners (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.90), and were less likely to search for sexual partners on the web (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.60-1.02) than IPs. In comparison, the rates of reactive HIVST results, conducting HIV confirmatory tests, HIV seropositivity, and initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy were similar for IPs and alters. CONCLUSIONS: The ISDHK model of distributing HIVST application links among the MSM population via social media is feasible. The ISDHK model should be used to supplement the DSDHK model to enable a greater proportion of the MSM population to know their HIV infection status.

Association Between Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase, Total Bilirubin and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Chinese Women.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects many organs and systems of the human organism, at present, its specific pathogenesis is not completely clear, but inflammation is considered to be an important factor involved in the pathogenesis and progression of SLE. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) have different effects on inflammation: GGT has pro-inflammatory effects, on the contrary, TBIL has anti-inflammatory effects. Study has found that GGT and TBIL play opposite roles in metabolic diseases. However, the roles of them in SLE are unknown. Meanwhile, the relationship between GGT and SLE also remains unexplored. Method: We recruited 341 SLE patients and 332 healthy individuals in Liaocheng People's Hospital from August 2018 to May 2019. We diagnosed SLE using 2019 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) SLE criteria, and modeled the study outcomes using logistic regression to explore the respective relationship between GGT, TBIL and SLE. We also analyzed the interaction of GGT and TBIL in the progression of SLE. Results: We found that the levels of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in the aggravated group were significantly higher than those in the unaggravated group, the levels of C3 and C4 in the aggravated group were significantly lower than those in the unaggravated group. According to Spearman correlation analysis, GGT is proportional to CRP (rs=0.417) and IL-6 (rs=0.412), inversely proportional to C3 (rs=-0.177) and C4 (rs=0.-132). TBIL was inversely proportional to CRP (rs=-0.328) and TNF(rs=-0.360), and positively proportional to C3 (rs=0.174) and C4 (rs=0.172). In the fully adjusted model, compared to the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of GGT exhibited a positive association with the risk of SLE aggravation (OR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.42-6.31, P<0.001). At the same time, compared to the highest quartile, the quartile lowest of TBIL exhibited a positive association with the risk of SLE aggravation (OR=2.66, 95% CI: 1.27-5.59, P<0.001) in the fully adjusted model. Through interaction analysis, we found that women with high GGT levels had an increased risk of SLE aggravation when they had a low level of TBIL (OR=3.68, 95% CI: 1.51-9.01, for women with Q1 TBIL and Q4 GGT compared to women with Q2-Q4 TBIL and Q1-Q3 GGT, P for interaction <0.001), the combined AUC value (AUCCOMBINED=0.711) of high GGT level and TBIL were higher than their respective values (AUCGGT=0.612, AUCTBIL=0.614). Conclusion: We found that the effects of GGT and TBIL in the progression of SLE are opposite. High GGT level might be a risk factor for SLE aggravation, as GGT levels increased, so did the risk of SLE aggravation. At the same time, we found that low TBIL level might be a risk factor for SLE aggravation. Moreover, high GGT level and low TBIL level had a subadditive effect on the increased risk of SLE aggravation.

Association Between Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Women.

Background: Dementia, as a global public health problem, is becoming increasingly serious. As a precursor of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) plays an important role in the diagnosis and prevention of dementia. Recent studies have found a correlation between gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and cognitive function in men. The relationship between GGT levels and cognitive function in women remains unclear because GGT activity and expression differ between the sexes. Method: We recruited a total of 2,943 Chinese women from Jidong and Taian in 2019. We grouped the participants according to GGT levels, diagnosed MCI using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale, and modeled the study outcomes using logistic regression to explore the relationship between GGT level and MCI. We also analyzed the interaction of obesity, sleep duration, and hyperuricemia with GGT in the development of MCI. Results: The prevalence of MCI increased with increasing GGT level, from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile of GGT: 8.4% (66/786), 14.2% (119/840), 17.6% (108/613), and 21.4% (151/704), respectively. At the same time, as GGT levels increased, so did the risk of MCI. In the fully adjusted model, compared with those for participants in the lowest GGT quartiles, the odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MCI for participants in the second, third, and fourth GGT quartiles were 1.49 (1.04-2.12), 1.53(1.06-2.21), and 1.88 (1.33-2.65), respectively. The risk of developing MCI was further increased in people with high GGT levels who were obese (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.39-2.76, P < 0.001), slept less (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.35-2.71, P < 0.001), had high levels of uric acid (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.32, P < 0.001), or after menopause (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 2.07-4.12, P < 0.001). Conclusion: We found that MCI is more common in women with elevated GGT levels, so GGT could be a potential diagnostic marker for MCI. Meanwhile, our findings indicated that women with high GGT levels had an increased risk of MCI when they were obese, sleep deprived, had high serum uric acid (SUA) levels or underwent menopause.

Association between rectal douching and HIV acquisition: the mediating role of condom use and rectal bleeding in a national online sample of Chinese men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have demonstrated that rectal douching (RD) is associated with HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, the precise mechanism underlying the association between RD and HIV remains unclear. METHODS: We recruited participants over WeChat from October 2017 to October 2018. Respondents received mailed HIV self-testing kits, uploaded images of HIV self-test results and completed an online electronic questionnaire simultaneously. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, RD practices and sexual risk behaviours. HIV status was measured as the result of the HIV self-testing. The Baron and Kenny statistical method was used to assess the association between RD and HIV, controlling for condomless anal intercourse (CAI) and rectal bleeding. RESULTS: Of 1365 participants, 39.93% (545/1365) reported RD in the past 6 months, 60.07% had multiple male sexual partners and 43.08% had CAI in the past 6 months. The prevalence of HIV, based on self-testing, was 3.37% (46/1365). Multivariable logistic analysis showed RD was significantly associated with bottom sexual role (adjusted OR (aOR) 14.0; 95% CI 9.8 to 20.2), having multiple male sexual partners (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.2), CAI (aOR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.6), rectal bleeding (aOR 2.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.6) and HIV infection (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4). Baron and Kenny analysis found both CAI (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.1) and rectal bleeding (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4) play a mediating role in the association between RD and HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results confirmed the relationship between RD and HIV, and found CAI and rectal bleeding mediated HIV infection in Chinese MSM who douched. Strategies should be encouraged to strengthen health education and reduce high-risk sexual behaviour in order to reduce the risk of HIV in MSM who use enemas. Rectal microbicides may represent an efficient means of providing HIV prophylaxis among MSM.

HIV Self-Testing Programs to Men Who Have Sex With Men Delivered by Social Media Key Opinion Leaders and Community-Based Organizations are Both Effective and Complementary: A National Pragmatic Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Social media key opinion leaders (SMKOLs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are 2 leading delivery strategies for HIV self-testing (HIVST). This study compared respondent characteristics, linkage to care, antiretroviral treatment, and cost of HIVST among men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited via SMKOLs and CBOs in China. METHODS: Between January and December 2018, SMKOLs distributed HIVST advertisements to MSM through WeChat public platforms; simultaneously, CBOs distributed HIVST program messages to local MSM. All participants were required to pay a deposit to apply for the HIVST kit and had their deposit refunded after completing an online survey and uploading HIVST results. Trained staff provided HIV referral services by telephone and WeChat. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred forty-three [63.0% (1743/2766)] and 1023 [37.0% (1023/2766)] individuals met criteria via SMKOLs and CBOs, respectively. MSM reached by SMKOLs had a lower HIV seropositive rate [2.1% (33/1561) vs. 12.5% (100/803)] and higher proportion received antiretroviral treatment [94.4% (31/33) vs. 29.0% (29/100)] compared with CBO-recruited MSM (all P < 0.05). The average number of HIVST respondents recruited by each investigator in SMKOL-strategy was higher than that of CBO-strategy (290 vs. 49). The SMKOLs had lower cost of per person tested (USD 13.18 vs. USD 101.21) and per newly identified HIV infection case (USD 632.66 vs. USD 812.70). CONCLUSIONS: SMKOLs have lower cost of per person tested, whereas CBOs can reach MSM subpopulations with higher HIV seropositive rates. Both recruitment methods are efficient and should be used as complementary HIVST delivery strategies to address low HIV testing coverage among Chinese MSM.

Relationships between menstrual status and obesity phenotypes in women: a cross-sectional study in northern China.

BACKGROUND: One of most important concerns of postmenopausal women is obesity. The relationships between menstruation status and obesity phenotypes are unclear. This study aimed to assess the associations between menstrual status and different obesity phenotypes in women. METHODS: In total, 5373 women aged ≥40 years were recruited from the Jidong and Kailuan communities. Basic information was collected via clinical examination, laboratory testing and standardized questionnaires. The women were stratified into the following three groups: menstrual period, menopausal transition period and postmenopausal period. General obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥28 kg/m2. Central obesity was defined as a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of > 0.85. Visceral obesity was defined as the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and increased pericardial fat volume (PFV). RESULTS: The numbers of women in the menstrual, menopausal transition, and postmenopausal periods were 2807 (52.2%), 675 (12.6%) and 1891 (35.2%), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for central obesity among women in the menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods compared with women in the menstrual period were 0.99 (0.82-1.19) and 1.52 (1.26-1.84), respectively. The OR for NAFLD among postmenopausal women was 1.78 (1.44-2.20). The adjusted ß-coefficient (standard error, SE) for PFV among postmenopausal women was 41.25 (7.49). The adjusted OR for general obesity among postmenopausal women was 1.01 (0.77-1.34). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that menopause is an independent risk factor for central and visceral obesity but not general obesity.

MentalSquares: a generic bipolar Support Vector Machine for psychiatric disorder classification, diagnostic analysis and neurobiological data mining.

MentalSquares (MSQs)--an equilibrium-based dimensional approach is presented for the classification and diagnostic analysis of psychological conditions with Bipolar Disorders (BPDs) as an example. While a Support Vector Machine (SVM) is defined in Hilbert space. A MSQ can be considered as a generic SVM for improved classification. Different from the traditional categorical model of BPDs, the generic approach focuses on the balance of two poles of mental equilibrium. Preliminary results show that this new approach has a number of advantages over existing models. The generic model is analytically illustrated with public domain clinical examples and well-known empirical clinical knowledge. Its clinical and computerised operability is illustrated. Its potential of being a practical method for the classification and analysis of neurobiological patterns and drug effects is discussed.

Yin Yang dynamic neurobiological modeling and diagnostic analysis of major depressive and bipolar disorders.

Since millions suffer from major depressive and bipolar disorders, the modeling, characterization, classification, and diagnostic analysis of such mental disorders bear great significance in medical and pharmaceutical research. YinYang bipolar sets are introduced for neurobiological modeling and diagnostic analysis of such disorders. It is shown that bipolar sets and a bipolar dynamic modus ponens (BDMP) build a technological bridge from a linear, static, and closed world to a nonlinear, dynamic, and open world of equilibria, quasi-equilibria, or nonequilibria and provide a novel model for bipolar neurobiological diagnostic analysis with added rigor to the current standard. It is shown that bipolar inference can help in understanding both the classic manifestations and the counterintuitive symptoms of bipolar disorders with applications in clinical psychopharmacology. Mathematical and visual characterizations of core features of such disorders are presented. A unified diagnosis and outcome model of different treatments are presented for different types of bipolar disorders. The significance and novelty of this work is twofold: (1) it introduces YinYang into biomedicine for the understanding of certain neurobiological disorders and fosters a new standard model for clinical, therapeutic, and pharmacological research and applications; (2) it presents a mathematical basis for the characterization of mood regulation in individuals and/or a cohort of patients with applications in biomedical engineering and potential applications in nanotechnologies for integrated care of major depressive and bipolar disorders.

Equilibrium-based bipolar neurological modeling.

This work introduces an equilibrium-based dynamic model for the characterization, classification, and diagnostic analysis of bipolar disorder, a psychiatric syndrome with manic and depressive phases. The new model extends the traditional spectrum model of mood states from a static and closed world to a dynamic open-world of equilibria with a bipolar universal modus ponens (BUMP). The utility of the new model is illustrated in diagnostic analysis of depression and clinical psychopharmacology of different phases of this disorder.

Equilibrium relations and bipolar cognitive mapping for online analytical processing with applications in international relations and strategic decision support.

Bipolar logic, bipolar sets, and equilibrium relations are proposed for bipolar cognitive mapping and visualization in online analytical processing (OLAP) and online analytical mining (OLAM). As cognitive models, cognitive maps (CMs) hold great potential for clustering and visualization. Due to the lack of a formal mathematical basis, however, CM-based OLAP and OLAM have not gained popularity. Compared with existing approaches, bipolar cognitive mapping has a number of advantages. First, bipolar CMs are formal logical models as well as cognitive models. Second, equilibrium relations (with polarized reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity), as bipolar generalizations and fusions of equivalence relations, provide a theoretical basis for bipolar visualization and coordination. Third, an equilibrium relation or CM induces bipolar partitions that distinguish disjoint coalition subsets not involved in any conflict, disjoint coalition subsets involved in a conflict, disjoint conflict subsets, and disjoint harmony subsets. Finally, equilibrium energy analysis leads to harmony and stability measures for strategic decision and multiagent coordination. Thus, this work bridges a gap for CM-based clustering and visualization in OLAP and OLAM. Basic ideas are illustrated with example CMs in international relations.