Elevated levels of monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are blood indicators of systemic inflammation. This study aims to compare the levels of inflammatory indicators derived from blood routine tests between adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and those with non-NSSI. METHODS: A total of 201 adolescents with mood or emotional disorders were enrolled in this study, among which 106 had engaged in NSSI and 95 had never engaged in NSSI. NLR, MLR, and PLR were calculated based on the complete blood cell count. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups. The NSSI group exhibited significantly higher MLR (P = 0.001) and PLR (P = 0.007) than the non-NSSI group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that MLR (OR 1.545, 95%CI [1.087-2.281], P = 0.021) and PLR (OR 1.327, 95%CI [1.215-1.450], P < 0.001) were independently associated with NSSI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses demonstrated that for differentiating NSSI from non-NSSI, the optimal cut-off value of MLR was 0.135 and the area under curve was 0.638 ([0.561- 0.715], P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 90.60% and a specificity of 33.70%; the optimal cut-off value of PLR was 127.505 and the area under curve was of 0.611 ([0.533-0.689], P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 39.60% and a specificity of 81.10%. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic inflammation, as indicated by elevated MLR and PLR, was found to be strongly associated with NSSI among adolescents.

Clinical characteristics of cognitive deficits in major depressive disorder: a 6-month prospective study

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with a variety of cognitive deficits, which can persist even in remitted states. Nevertheless, the relationship between the cognitive and affective symptoms in depression remains obscure. The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical characteristics and correlates of the cognitive deficits in patients with MDD. Methods Clinical and neuropsychological assessments were conducted at baseline and 6-month follow-ups. The severity of the disease and the effect of treatment were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale-17. Neuropsychological tests, including the digital symbol substitution test and digit span test, were administered to 67 depressed patients and 56 healthy participants. Results MDD patients showed impairments in memory, attention, and executive function at baseline. After the 6-month treatment phase, patients in remission showed significant alleviation of these cognitive deficits, although impairments in attention and executive function were still present when compared to controls. Discussion Significant cognitive deficits are present in MDD. The speed of remission of cognitive functions seems to be slower than and inconsistent with emotional symptoms, which provides new support for the argument that cognitive deficits are independent factors from the emotional symptoms in MDD.

The Tendency of Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy-Related Working Memory and Subjective Memory Deficits in Depression: A Prospective Follow-up Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the tendency of modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT)-related working memory and subjective memory deficits in depressed patients. METHODS: Sixty patients with unipolar/bipolar depression were prepared and enrolled for MECT and 56 subjects were enrolled as healthy controls (HCs). Their demographics (sex, age, body mass index, years of schooling, etc) and clinical characteristics (dosage and number of MECT, etc) were compared. Depression severity, working memory, and subjective memory were measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 (HAMD17), a Digit Span Backwards (DSB), and self-reported assessments, respectively. Measurements were taken at baseline, within 24 hours after each MECT session, and in every month for a 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: (a) The patients had poorer performance than the HCs on DSB and HAMD17 at baseline, and the DSB score and HAMD17 total scores were negatively correlated. However, after the second MECT session, the patients' HAMD17 score was significantly improved compared with that at the baseline (P < 0.05), whereas the DSB score showed no significant difference compared with the HCs (P > 0.05). (b) After the first MECT session, 62% of the patients reported subjective memory deficits, which were exacerbated over the subsequent sessions and relieved with antidepressant treatment during the follow-up period. (c) The risk factors for prolonged subjective memory deficits were overweight and the maximum MECT dosage/age (dosage/age = the percentage of output part of total dosage × 100/age, unit: 1/year) ≥ 1.5/year (odds ratio [OR] = 15.36 and 7.98). CONCLUSIONS: Depressed patients showed poorer working memory than the HCs. Such memory deficit may be aggravated by MECT, although it may improve with the relief of depression. Although subjective memory deficits can occur after the first MECT session and gradually recover after the treatment, they may last for 6 months or longer. Persistent deficits may be related to being overweight and having a high MECT dosage.

Manipulating thermocapillary migration via superoleophobic surfaces with wedge shaped superoleophilic grooves.

HYPOTHESIS: Thermocapillary migration is a phenomenon that liquid droplets can move from warm to cold regions on a nonuniformly heated surface. We expect to construct functional surfaces to manipulate the migration of liquid lubricants on rubbing surfaces. EXPERIMENTS: Superoleophobic surfaces with wedge shaped superoleophilic grooves of varying geometrical parameters are fabricated, and migration experiments of typical liquid lubricants are performed on the designed surfaces. FINDINGS: Manipulation capacity of the designed surfaces on the migration of liquid lubricants is confirmed, and the mechanism is revealed. An effective method using superoleophobic surfaces with wedge shaped superoleophilic grooves to reconcentrate the migrated lubricants is highlighted. Moreover, a general design philosophy for patterns of wedge shaped groove is proposed.

On the Thermocapillary Migration on Radially Microgrooved Surfaces.

Thermocapillary migration describes the phenomenon in which a droplet placed on a nonuniformly heated surface can migrate from warm to cold regions. Herein, we report an experimental investigation of the migration of silicone oil droplets on radially microgrooved surfaces subjected to a thermal gradient; the effects of the initial divergence angle and divergent direction on the migration behavior are highlighted. A theoretical model is established to predict the migration velocity considering the thermocapillary, viscous resistance, and radial structure-induced forces; furthermore, the proposed theoretical derivation is validated. This study advances the understanding of this interfacial phenomenon, which has great potential for regulating and controlling liquid motion in lubrication systems, condensation and heat-transfer devices, and open microfluidics.

Nanoscale chemical imaging of the additive effects on the interfaces of high-voltage LiCoO2 composite electrodes.

X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) of cycled LiCoO2 composite electrodes has revealed the interfaces of various components within the composite electrodes and their dependence on additives in the electrolyte and the interplay of multiple components in the electrodes. This study visualizes CoF2 distribution and Co-O bonding variation along with local component agglomeration and degradation. The obtained new insights will assist further development of long-life high-voltage LiCoO2/C batteries.

Effects of U0126 on growth and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in Aspergillus fumigatus.

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis (IA), which is mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Despite considerable progress in currently available antifungals the mortality still remains high in critically ill patients. U0126 which is a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2 in the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in mammalian cells has been demonstrated to have an anti-proliferative role in cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of U0126 on growth inhibition and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in A. fumigatus. METHODS: Germination percentage and hyphae growth in A. fumigatus treated with U0126 were observed and compared with untreated controls. Western blotting analysis was used to detect changes in activation of SakA, MpkA and MpkB. RESULTS: U0126 inhibited germination and hyphae growth in A. fumigatus and enhanced the phosphorylation of SakA and MpkA under oxidative stress. U0126 at 10 µmol/L did not block the activation of MpkB during nitrogen starvation stress. CONCLUSION: U0126 shows promise as an antifungal candidate and the MAPK pathway may be a possible antifungal drug target for A. fumigatus.

HOG-MAPK signaling regulates the adaptive responses of Aspergillus fumigatus to thermal stress and other related stress.

Aspergillus fumigatus is naturally exposed to a highly variable environment and subjected to various kinds of stresses. High-osmolarity glycerol mitogen-activated protein kinase (HOG-MAPK) pathway plays a crucial role in regulating cellular homeostasis in response to environmental changes. Here, we explored the contribution of HOG-MAPK pathway to the adaptive responses to thermal stress and other related stresses in A. fumigatus. We observed the phenotype features of wild-type strains and their derived mutants at 37 and 48 °C, and the results suggested that tcsB participates in response to high temperature. Furthermore, susceptibility test for antifungal drugs showed that SHO1 branch is probably involved in the susceptibility of A. fumigatus to itraconazole at high temperature. Although sakA expression at mRNA level appeared unchanged in wild-type AF293 subjected to thermal stress, phosphorylated SakAp level increased significantly in the strains exposed to cold stress, 250 mmol/L nystatin or 10 % dimethyl sulfoxide in a manner dependent on the SLN1 branch and independent on the SHO1 branch. Taken together, these results indicate that HOG-MAPK pathway, especially the SLN1 branch, plays an important role in the adaptations of A. fumigatus to thermal stress and other related stresses.

The role of sho1 in polarized growth of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen that may cause severe invasive disease in immunocompromised patients. The filamentous fungi undergo polarized growth, searching for nutrients in the environment and causing invasive growth in tissue. Sho1 is a sensor of the high osmolarity glycerol pathway, and the sho1 mutant showed a decrease in growth rate. We found that sho1 is involved in the polarized growth of A. fumigatus. The sho1 mutation resulted in extended isotropic growth of germinating conidia followed by multiple germ tubes and wide hyphae with short intercalary cells by calcofluor white staining. The mechanism by which sho1 gene affected polarized growth is investigated. A reduced number of apical vesicles with greater dispersion were observed by transmission electron microscopy in the Spitzenkörper body of the sho1 mutant. Actin patches were distributed randomly at low density at early stages of mutant strain fungal development and reaggregated to the hyphal tip of later stages when long filamentous fungi formed. Actin patches located at the tip of polarized wild-type cells. RNA levels of polarized growth-related genes Rho GTPases were detected by real-time PCR. The sho1 gene did not affect the RNA expression when strains were cultured at 37°C for 6 h. At 17 h, the RNA expression of rho1, rho3 and CDC42 in the sho1 mutant were 0.18-, 0.18- and 0.33-fold of that in the wild type. The sho1 gene affected the polarized growth through affecting the expression of Rho GTPases, the distribution of actin cytoskeleton, vesicle quantity and distribution.