Photoswitchable dynamics and RNAi synergist with tailored interface and controlled release reprogramming tumor immunosuppressive niche.

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) severely limited the efficacy of immunotherapy against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Herein, Apt-LPR, a light-activatable photodynamic therapy (PDT)/RNAi immune synergy-enhancer was constructed by co-loading miR-34a and photosensitizers in cationic liposomes (in phase III clinical trial). Interestingly, the introduction of tumor-specific aptamers creates a special "Liposome-Aptamer-Target" interface, where the aptamers are initially in a "lying down" state but transform to "standing up" after target binding. The interfacing mechanism was elaborately revealed by computational and practical experiments. This unique interface endowed Apt-LPR with neutralized surface potential of cationic liposomes to reduce non-specific cytotoxicity, enhanced DNase resistance to protect aptamers, and preserved target-binding ability for selective drug delivery. Upon near-infrared irradiation, the generated reactive oxygen species would oxidize unsaturated phospholipids to destabilize both liposomes and lysosomes, realizing stepwise lysosomal escape of miR-34a for tumor cell apoptosis and downregulation of PD-L1 to suppress immune escape. Together, tumor-associated antigens released from PDT-damaged mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum could activate the suppressive immune cells to establish an "immune hot" milieu. The collaborative immune-enhancing strategy effectively aroused systemic antitumor immunity and inhibited primary and distal tumor progression as well as lung metastasis in 4T1 xenografted mouse models. The photo-controlled drug release and specific tumor-targeting capabilities of Apt-LPR were also visualized in MDA-MB-231 xenografted zebrafish models. Therefore, this photoswitchable PDT/RNAi immune stimulator offered a powerful approach to reprogramming ITM and reinforcing cancer immunotherapy efficacy.

Development and Characterization of a New TILLING Population for Forward and Reverse Genetics in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Mutagenesis is an important tool in crop improvement and free of the regulatory restrictions imposed on genetically modified organisms. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a diploid species with a genome smaller than those of other members of the Triticeae crops, making it an attractive model for genetic studies in Triticeae crops. In this study, we report an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized population in the Chinese barley landrace TX9425, which is tolerant to both abiotic and biotic stress. A TILLING (Targeting Induced Locus Lesion in Genomes) population consisting of 2000 M2 lines was also constructed based on the CEL I enzyme with subsequent polyacrylamide electrophoresis, which decreased the cost and labor investment. The mutant phenotypes of the M2 and M3 generations were scored and revealed the presence of a wide spectrum of morphological diversity. The population was evaluated by screening for induced mutations in five genes of interest. A detailed analysis was performed for the HvGLR3.5 gene and three mutations were identified by screening in 2000 M2 lines. Two of three mutations displayed tuft and yellow striped leaves compared to the wild type. Altogether, our study shows the efficiency of screening and the great potential of the new TILLING population for genetic studies in the barley crop model system.

Assessing the Hypertension Risk: A Deep Dive into Cereal Consumption and Cooking Methods-Insights from China.

BACKGROUND: Cereal grains are rich in carbohydrates and could trigger a hyperglycemic response which is closely linked to blood pressure status. We aim to examine the associations between the consumption of cereals with different cooking methods and hypertension risk. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis utilizing the nationwide data of 11,080 adult participants who were free of hypertension at baseline. Cereal intake was assessed using 3-day 24 h dietary recalls with a weighing technique. Hypertension incidence was identified in adherence with the Seventh Joint National Commission guidelines during the follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to extrapolate hazard ratios associated with hypertension risk. RESULTS: Over an average follow-up span of 7 years (77,560 person-years), we identified 3643 new hypertension cases. The intake of total, fried, and baked cereals was associated with 15%, 20%, and 20% higher risk of hypertension, respectively. Whole grain consumers had an 8% lower risk of hypertension compared with non-consumers, while total refined grain consumers showed no significant association. Replacing one daily serving of fried or baked cereals with an equivalent serving of boiled cereals was related to a 28% or 14% lower risk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Total, fried, and baked cereal consumption was positively associated with hypertension risk, while consuming whole grains was related to a lower risk. Modifying cooking methods from frying or baking to boiling for cereals may be beneficial to lower risk. The current study underscores the significance of considering both the degree of processing and cooking methods applied to cereals in addressing hypertension prevention and management.

Biomass-inspired fabrication of eco-friendly, durable flame retardant and ultraviolet resistant lyocell fabric.

The pursuit of environmental friendliness, efficiency, and durability is paramount in the realm of flame retardant textile modification. Therefore, an innovative approach was designed to develop a gallic acid-derived intumescent flame retardant (GADPP), which contained reactive (-P(=O)(O-NH4+)2) and (-P(=O)(OCH2CH3)2) groups, facilitating functional modification of lyocell fabric. The GADPP modification effectively improved both flame retardancy and ultraviolet (UV) resistance of lyocell fabric. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy has substantiated the uniform distribution and covalent bond grafting of GADPP onto the fabric. Remarkably, even after 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the limiting oxygen index and UV protection factor values of lyocell fabric modified with 30 wt% GADPP remained at 29.8 % and 117.69, respectively. These results highlighted the synergistic effect of GADPP on enhancing the flame retardancy and UV resistance of lyocell fabric. Furthermore, this multi-functional modification strategy provides a sustainable path for the enduring enhancement of flame retardant and UV protective properties in lyocell fabrics.

Deciphering the role of rodents in grassland degradation; A review.

Grasslands are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in providing numerous services to both humans and the environment. Healthy grasslands are characterized by diverse vegetation, efficient soil, and abundant microbial communities, which enable them to function effectively. However, these ecosystems are at risk of degradation due to various factors, such as overgrazing, land conversion for agriculture, climate change, and rodent activities. Rodents, in particular, are known to have a significant impact on grassland ecosystems. Moderate and low rodent density can be beneficial for grassland dynamics by acting as ecological engineers, and playing a role in the food chain, while heavy rodent density and outbreaks can have detrimental effects. The rodent's activities are associated with and influenced by other driving factors of grassland degradation. Depending on their density and habitat, rodents can have either beneficial or detrimental effects on the dynamics of grasslands by altering the microbial communities, edaphic factors, and vegetation. This review focuses on rodent activities as one of the potential drivers of grassland degradation on vegetation, soil physicochemical dynamics, and microbial communities. This work also deciphers the interplay between rodent activities and other driving factors of grassland degradation. It also discusses potential strategies for mitigating the impact of rodent disturbance on degraded grasslands. Additionally, suggestions for future research directions are provided to explore the role of rodent activities in shaping the structure and functions of grassland ecosystems. The exact influence of rodent activities on grasslands is still not fully understood, and further manipulative research is needed to determine its impact on grassland dynamics.

MFSD7C protects hemolysis-induced lung impairments by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Hemolysis drives susceptibility to lung injury and predicts poor outcomes in diseases, such as malaria and sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the underlying pathological mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that major facilitator superfamily domain containing 7 C (MFSD7C) protects the lung from hemolytic-induced damage by preventing ferroptosis. Mechanistically, MFSD7C deficiency in HuLEC-5A cells leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid remodeling and dysregulation of ACSL4 and GPX4, thereby enhancing lipid peroxidation and promoting ferroptosis. Furthermore, systemic administration of MFSD7C mRNA-loaded nanoparticles effectively prevents lung injury in hemolytic mice, such as HbSS-Townes mice and PHZ-challenged 7 C-/- mice. These findings present the detailed link between hemolytic complications and ferroptosis, providing potential therapeutic targets for patients with hemolytic disorders.

Exposome-Wide Ranking to Uncover Environmental Chemicals Associated with Dyslipidemia: A Panel Study in Healthy Older Chinese Adults from the BAPE Study.

BACKGROUND: Environmental contaminants (ECs) are increasingly recognized as crucial drivers of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the comprehensive impact spectrum and interlinking mechanisms remain uncertain. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to systematically evaluate the association between exposure to 80 ECs across seven divergent categories and markers of dyslipidemia and investigate their underpinning biomolecular mechanisms via an unbiased integrative approach of internal chemical exposome and multi-omics. METHODS: A longitudinal study involving 76 healthy older adults was conducted in Jinan, China, and participants were followed five times from 10 September 2018 to 19 January 2019 in 1-month intervals. A broad spectrum of seven chemical categories covering the prototypes and metabolites of 102 ECs in serum or urine as well as six serum dyslipidemia markers [total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo)A1, ApoB, and ApoE4] were measured. Multi-omics, including the blood transcriptome, serum/urine metabolome, and serum lipidome, were profiled concurrently. Exposome-wide association study and the deletion/substitution/addition algorithms were applied to explore the associations between 80 EC exposures detection frequency >50% and dyslipidemia markers. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to assess the mixture effects and relative contributions. Multi-omics profiling, causal inference model, and pathway analysis were conducted to interpret the mediating biomolecules and underlying mechanisms. Examination of cytokines and electrocardiograms was further conducted to validate the observed associations and biomolecular pathways. RESULTS: Eight main ECs [1-naphthalene, 1-pyrene, 2-fluorene, dibutyl phosphate, tri-phenyl phosphate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, chromium, and vanadium] were significantly associated with most dyslipidemia markers. Multi-omics indicated that the associations were mediated by endogenous biomolecules and pathways, primarily pertinent to CVD, inflammation, and metabolism. Clinical measures of cytokines and electrocardiograms further cross-validated the association of these exogenous ECs with systemic inflammation and cardiac function, demonstrating their potential mechanisms in driving dyslipidemia pathogenesis. DISCUSSION: It is imperative to prioritize mitigating exposure to these ECs in the primary prevention and control of the dyslipidemia epidemic. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13864.

Development and validation of a CT based radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of ISUP/WHO grading in renal clear cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear grading of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is crucial for its diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a machine learning model for preoperative assessment of ccRCC nuclear grading using CT radiomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 146 ccRCC patients who underwent surgery between June 2016 and January 2022 at two hospitals (the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University with 117 cases and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences with 29 cases). Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative abdominal CT images. Features reduction and selection were carried out using intraclass correlation efficient (ICCs), Spearman rank correlation coefficientsand and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression method. Radiomics and clinical models were developed utilizing Support Vector Machine (SVM), Extremely Randomized Trees (Extra Trees), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Random Forest (RF) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithms. Subsequently, the radiomics nomogramwas developed incorporating independent clinical predictors and Rad_signature. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, with decision curve analysis (DCA) assessing its clinical utility. RESULTS: We extracted 1834 radiomic features from each CT sequence, with 1320 features passing through the ICCs screening process. 480 radiomics features were screened by Spearson correlation coefficient. Then, 15 radiomic features with non-zero coefficient values were determined by Lasso dimensionality reduction technique. The five machine learning methods effectively distinguished nuclear grades. The radiomics nomogram outperformed clinical radiological models and radiomics feature models in predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.936 (95% CI 0.885-0.986) for the training set and 0.896 (95% CI 0.716-1.000) for the external verification set. DCA indicated potential clinical applicability of the nomogram. CONCLUSION: The radiomics nomogram, developed by integrating clinically independent risk factors and and Rad_signature, demonstrated robust performance in preoperative ccRCC grading. It offers a non-invasive tool that aids in ccRCC grading and clinical decision-making, with potential to enhance treatment strategies.

Developing flame retardant, smoke suppression and self-healing polyvinyl alcohol composites by dynamic reversible cross-linked chitosan-based macromolecule.

With the increasing threat of white pollution to the public health and ecosystem, functional materials driven by green and sustainable biological macromolecule are attracting considerable attention. Inspired by the double-helix structure of DNA, a P-B-N ternary synergistic chitosan-based macromolecule (PBCS) was constructed to prepare flame retardant, smoke suppression and self-healing polyvinyl alcohol composite (PVA@PBCS) via dynamic reversible interactions. The limiting oxygen index value of PVA@PBCS increased from 19.6 % to 28.7 %, whereas the peak heat release rate and total heat release decreased by 47.04 % and 43.37 %, respectively. Besides, the peak smoke production rate and total smoke production of PVA@PBCS also decreased by 45.31 % and 54.98 %. With the presence of borate ester-based covalent and multiple hydrogen bonds, the tensile strength and elongation at break of PVA@PBCS increased by 19.50 % and 16.85 % compared to the control sample, and the healing efficiency for tensile strength and elongation at break was as high as 93.86 % and 90.57 %, respectively. This work developed an eco-friendly and effective scenario for fabricating flame retardant and smoke suppression PVA materials, stimulating the substantial potential of chitosan-based biomacromolecule and dynamic reversible cross-linked tactics in self-healing field.

Fever, convulsions, and rash: a case report of neonatal lupus erythematosus with macrophage activation syndrome.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare acquired autoimmune disease associated with the entry of maternal antibodies into the fetal circulation via the placenta during pregnancy. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a severe hyperinflammatory disease. Herein, we present a case of NLE with MAS accompanied by fever, convulsions, and rash. High-dose gamma globulin and non-shock doses of steroids can be used as a first-line treatment for NLE with MAS. Fever can be a clinical manifestation of NLE, especially cutaneous lupus. Rash recession could be used to judge whether the disease is effectively controlled by treatment.

Efficient photocatalytic oxidative coupling of amines under visible light using a trioporphyrins-based covalent triazine framework.

Porphyrins-based porous organic polymers were widely used in photocatalytic oxidation under visible light owing to their superiority in the activation of oxygen. In contrast, the efficiency is usually limited due to the fast recombination and slow electron transfer. Herein, we report the use of a trioporphyrins-based covalent triazine framework (Por-CTF) as visible-light-active photocatalyst for the coupling oxidative of amines to imines at room temperature. By incorporating the π-conjugated porphyrin building block led to the enhanced electron transport between molecules, and the extended recombination time of excited electrons. The photocatalytic efficiency of Por-CTF is superior to that of polymer in absence of triazine framework (POP-TSP), which was prepared by radical polymerization using tetra-(4-vinylphenyl) porphyrin as monomer. Por-CTF catalyst presented excellent efficiency for various primary amines and stability. This work provides a reasonable guidance of catalyst molecular structure design for enhancing efficiency in the photocatalytic oxidation.

Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells with Preferred Crystal Orientation by Buried Interface Approach.

Mixed tin-lead perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered much attention for their ideal bandgap and high environmental research value. However, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), widely used as a hole transport layer (HTL) for Sn-Pb PSCs, results in unsatisfactory power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term stability of PSCs due to its acidity and moisture absorption. A synergistic strategy by incorporating histidine (HIS) into the PEDOT: PSS HTL is applied to simultaneously regulate the nucleation and crystallization of perovskite (PVK). HIS neutralizes the acidity of PEDOT: PSS and enhances conductivity. Especially, the coordination of the C═N and -COO- functional groups in the HIS molecule with Sn2+ and Pb2+ induces vertical growth of PVK film, resulting in the release of residual surface stress. Additionally, this strategy also optimizes the energy level alignment between the perovskite layer and the HTL, which improves charge extraction and transport. With these cooperative effects, the PCE of Sn-Pb PSCs reaches 21.46% (1 sun, AM1.5), maintaining excellent stability under a nitrogen atmosphere. Hence, the buried interface approach exhibits the potential for achieving high-performance and stable Sn-Pb PSCs.

Association of serum calcium with carotid atherosclerosis: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Current studies on the association between serum calcium levels and carotid atherosclerosis have yielded inconsistent results. This study aims to elucidate this relationship through a comprehensive meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Scopus, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Weipu (VIP), and Wanfang databases was conducted, supplemented by manual retrieval, from their inception to October 2023. Two independent researchers conducted literature searches, data extraction, and quality assessment. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software on studies that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The analysis included 9 cross-sectional studies, encompassing a total sample size of 9720 participants. The meta-analysis revealed a significant statistical difference in serum calcium levels between the carotid atherosclerosis group and the control group(P = 0.03). The standardized mean difference between the two groups was 0.21 (95% CI: 0.02,0.41) using the control group as a reference. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic analysis indicates a significant positive correlation between serum calcium levels and carotid atherosclerosis.

Selective Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Photocatalytic Oxidation by Tuning Porphyrin-Based COFs' Dimensionality.

Regulating the selective generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a significant challenge in the field of photocatalytic oxidation, with successful approaches still being limited. Herein, we present a strategy to selectively generate singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radicals (O2•-) by tuning the dimensionality of porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The transformation of COFs from three-dimensional (3D) solids to two-dimensional (2D) sheets was achieved through the reversible protonation of the imine bond. Upon irradiation, both bulk and thin-layer COF-367 can transfer energy to O2 to generate 1O2. However, thin-layer COF-367 exhibited a superior performance compared to its bulk counterpart in activating O2 to form the O2•- radicals via electron transfer. After excluding the influences of the band structure, O2 adsorption energy, and frontier orbital composition attributed to the dimensionality of the COFs, it is reasonably speculated that the variance in ROS generation arises from the differential exposure ratios of the active surfaces, leading to distinct reaction pathways between the carrier and O2. This study is the first to explore the modulation mechanism of COF dimensionality on the activation of the O2 pathway, underscoring the importance of considering COF dimensionality in photocatalytic reactions.

Polysaccharide Conjugates' contribution to mellow and thick taste of Pu-erh ripe tea, besides Theabrownin.

Mellow and thick taste (MTT) is considered to be a typical taste characteristic of high-quality Pu-erh ripe tea. However, the role of polysaccharide conjugates remains unclear. In this study, the infusion of different grades of Pu-erh ripe tea was isolated to fractions by sensory-guided ultrafiltration technology and the key taste substances of MTT in Pu-erh ripe tea were identified and confirmed in the sensory reconstruction experiment. Further separation, purification and structural identification of the polysaccharide conjugates were carried out. Involving in aggregation morphology, the ultrafiltration fraction exhibited obvious MTT than other fractions. The main MTT compound (PRTPS-5), mainly composed of the rhamnose, galactose, arabinose and mannose, had a molecular weight of 22.93 kDa. The main chain of PRTPS-5 comprised α-L-Araf-(1→, →2,4)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, α-D-Galp-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1→, →4)-α-D-Manp-(1→, →3,6)-ß-D-Galp-(1 â†’ and →5)-α-L-Araf-(1 â†’ and contained multiple pectic characteristic peaks. This result had scientific guiding significance for the quality enhancement of Pu-erh ripe tea.

Fracture Behavior of a 2D Imine-Based Polymer.

2D polymers have emerged as a highly promising category of nanomaterials, owing to their exceptional properties. However, the understanding of their fracture behavior and failure mechanisms remains still limited, posing challenges to their durability in practical applications. This work presents an in-depth study of the fracture kinetics of a 2D polyimine film, utilizing in situ tensile testing within a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Employing meticulously optimized transferring and patterning techniques, an elastic strain of ≈6.5% is achieved, corresponding to an elastic modulus of (8.6 ± 2.5) GPa of polycrystalline 2D polyimine thin films. In step-by-step fractures, multiple cracking events uncover the initiation and development of side crack near the main crack tip which toughens the 2D film. Simultaneously captured strain evolution through digital image correlation (DIC) analysis and observation on the crack edge confirm the occurrence of transgranular fracture patterns apart from intergranular fracture. A preferred cleavage orientation in transgranular fracture is attributed to the difference in directional flexibility along distinct orientations, which is substantiated by density functional-based tight binding (DFTB) calculations. These findings construct a comprehensive understanding of intrinsic mechanical properties and fracture behavior of an imine-linked polymer and provide insights and implications for the rational design of 2D polymers.

Multiple biological characteristics and functions of intestinal biofilm extracellular polymers: friend or foe?

The gut microbiota is vital to human health, and their biofilms significantly impact intestinal immunity and the maintenance of microbial balance. Certain pathogens, however, can employ biofilms to elude identification by the immune system and medical therapy, resulting in intestinal diseases. The biofilm is formed by extracellular polymorphic substances (EPS), which shield microbial pathogens from the host immune system and enhance its antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, investigating the impact of extracellular polysaccharides released by pathogens that form biofilms on virulence and defence mechanisms is crucial. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of current pathogenic biofilm research, deal with the role of extracellular polymers in the formation and maintenance of pathogenic biofilm, and elaborate different prevention and treatment strategies to provide an innovative approach to the treatment of intestinal pathogen-based diseases.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for short-term progression of carotid atherosclerosis among early middle age adults.

AIM: We aimed at creating and validating a prognostic model incorporating easily accessible clinical and laboratory parameters to forecast the likelihood of short-term progression of carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: A prediction model was developed and validated for carotid plaque progression within 2 years in an early middle-age population in China. Progression was defined as the new appearance of carotid plaque or stenosis among participants who had normal carotid status at baseline. Leveraging data from a health check-up chain, predictors were identified using statistical methods including stepwise logistic regression, Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation, random forest analysis and least absolute shrinkage selection operator (Lasso). Model performance was assessed. Bootstrap internal validation, validation on another check-up population and subgroup analysis were also conducted. RESULTS: Among 7765 participants, predictors including age, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were identified for carotid plaque progression in 2 years. The developed prediction model demonstrated good discrimination (AUC = 0.755, 95%CI:0.736-0.774) and calibration ability (slope = 0.922 and interception = 0.007) among development data, as well as among validation data (AUC = 0.759, 95%CI:0.674-0.770; slope = 1.076 and intercept = -0.014). Internal validation using bootstrap method yielded an adjusted AUC of 0.753. The model's performance remained consistent across different subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents a validated risk prediction model for carotid plaque progression in an early middle age population, offering a valuable tool for early identification and monitoring of cardiovascular risks. The model's robustness and applicability across different subgroups highlight its potential utility in preemptive cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease management.

Brain glycogen: A key to revealing the pathology of mental diseases.

Brain glycogen, which is distinct from muscle glycogen and liver glycogen, has become a crucial node linking metabolism, epigenetics, and autophagy. Recent studies have suggested that brain glycogen governs multiple neurobehavioral processes, such as memory formation and consolidation. However, the changes in brain glycogen levels in mental diseases and the associations of these changes with the disease prognosis are unknown. Here, we review the psychological functions of brain glycogen and the different characteristics of astrocytic glycogen and neuronal glycogen. In addition, we summarize the alterations in brain glycogen levels in depression, schizophrenia and sleep disorders, highlighting that brain glycogen functions as an important metabolite responsible for the development of mental diseases. In summary, brain glycogen is a key to understanding the pathology of mental diseases and deserves more attention in future research.

Mental health and meaning in life in Chinese military personnel: a cross-lagged analysis.

BACKGROUND: The burgeoning field of research on the dual-factor model of mental health (DFM) has highlighted its significance, yet the applicability of the DFM in military personnel and its longitudinal relationships with different dimensions of meaning in life remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the applicability of the DFM for military personnel and to investigate longitudinal relationships between the dual factors of mental health (negative factor, positive factor) and the two dimensions of meaning in life (presence of meaning, search for meaning) in military personnel. METHODS: In this study, data were collected in two waves (April and August 2023) from 227 Chinese military personnel. We constructed a dual-factor model with depression as the negative factor and subjective well-being as the positive factor, and we compared it with a single-factor model to determine if DFM could be applied to military personnel. We also constructed a cross-lagged model to investigate longitudinal relationships between depression, subjective well-being, presence of meaning, and search for meaning. RESULTS: According to the findings, military personnel fit better with the DFM than with the single-factor model. Cross-lagged analysis results revealed that both the presence of meaning and the search for meaning negatively predicted depression and positively predicted subjective well-being. CONCLUSIONS: The DFM had good applicability among military personnel. Both the presence of meaning and the search for meaning could improve military mental health, suggesting that both dimensions of meaning in life may be potential targets for improving military mental health.