Local Charge Transfer Unveils Antideactivation of Ru at High Potentials for the Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction.

The activity of Ru-based alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) electrocatalysts usually decreases rapidly at potentials higher than 0.1 V (vs a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), which significantly limits the lifetime of fuel cells. It is found that this phenomenon is caused by the overadsorption of the O species due to the overcharging of Ru nanoparticles at high potentials. Here, Mn1Ox(OH)y clusters-modified Ru nanoparticles (Mn1Ox(OH)y@Ru/C) were prepared to promote charge transfer from overcharged Ru nanoparticles to Mn1Ox(OH)y clusters. Mn1Ox(OH)y@Ru/C exhibits high HOR activity and stability over a wide potential range of 0-1.0 V. Moreover, a hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cell with a Mn1Ox(OH)y@Ru/C anode delivers a high peak power density of 1.731 W cm-2, much superior to that of a Pt/C anode. In situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Mn in Mn1Ox(OH)y clusters could receive more electrons from overcharged Ru at higher potentials and significantly decrease the overadsorption of the O species on Ru, thus permitting the HOR on Ru to proceed at high potentials. This study provides guidance for the design of alkaline HOR catalysts without activity decay at high potentials.

Ultralow-Loading Ruthenium-Iridium Fuel Cell Catalysts Dispersed on Zn-N Species-Doped Carbon.

Developing low-loading platinum-group-metal (PGM) catalysts is one of the key challenges in commercializing anion-exchange-membrane-fuel-cells (AEMFCs), especially for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Here, ruthenium-iridium nanoparticles being deposited on a Zn-N species-doped carbon carrier (Ru6Ir/Zn-N-C) are synthesized and used as an anodic catalyst for AEMFCs. Ru6Ir/Zn-N-C shows extremely high mass activity (5.87 A mgPGM -1) and exchange current density (0.92 mA cm-2), which is 15.1 and 3.9 times that of commercial Pt/C, respectively. Based on the Ru6Ir/Zn-N-C AEMFCs achieve a peak power density of 1.50 W cm-2, surpassing the state-of-the-art commercial PtRu catalysts and the power ratio of the normalized loading is 14.01 W mgPGM anode -1 or 5.89 W mgPGM -1 after decreasing the anode loading (87.49 µg cm-2) or the total PGM loading (0.111 mg cm-2), satisfying the US Department of Energy's PGM loading target. Moreover, the solvent and solute isotope separation method is used for the first time to reveal the kinetic process of HOR, which shows the reaction is influenced by the adsorption of H2O and OH-. The improvement of the hydrogen bond network connectivity of the electric double layer by adjusting the interfacial H2O structure together with the optimized HBE and OHBE is proposed to be responsible for the high HOR activity of Ru6Ir/Zn-N-C.

Degeneration of the Olfactory System in a Murid Rodent that Evolved Diurnalism.

In mammalian research, it has been debated what can initiate an evolutionary tradeoff between different senses, and the phenomenon of sensory tradeoff in rodents, the most abundant mammalian clade, is not evident. The Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus), a murid rodent, recently adapted to a diurnal niche through an evolutionary acquisition of daylight vision with enhanced visual acuity. As such, this model provides an opportunity for a cross-species investigation where comparative morphological and multi-omic analyses of the Nile rat are made with its closely related nocturnal species, e.g. the mouse (Mus musculus) and the rat (Rattus norvegicus). Thus, morphological examinations were performed, and evolutionary reductions in relative sizes of turbinal bone surfaces, the cribriform plate, and the olfactory bulb were discovered in Nile rats. Subsequently, we compared multiple murid genomes, and profiled olfactory epithelium transcriptomes of mice and Nile rats at various ages with RNA sequencing. The results further demonstrate that, in comparison with mouse olfactory receptor (OR) genes, Nile rat OR genes have experienced less frequent gain, more frequent loss, and more frequent expression reduction during their evolution. Furthermore, functional degeneration of coding sequences in the Nile rat lineage was found in OR genes, yet not in other genes. Taken together, these results suggest that acquisition of improved vision in the Nile rat has been accompanied by degeneration of both olfaction-related anatomical structures and OR gene repertoires, consistent with the hypothesis of an olfaction-vision tradeoff initiated by the switch from a nocturnal to a diurnal lifestyle in mammals.

Glutamine addiction and therapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide owing to its late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor prognosis. Because current therapeutic options are limited, there is an urgent need to investigate novel targeted treatment strategies. Pancreatic cancer faces significant metabolic challenges, principally hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, due to specific microenvironmental constraints, including an extensive desmoplastic stromal reaction. Pancreatic cancer cells have been shown to rewire their metabolism and energy production networks to support rapid survival and proliferation. Increased glucose uptake and glycolytic pathway activity during this process have been extensively described. However, growing evidence suggests that pancreatic cancer cells are glutamine addicted. As a nitrogen source, glutamine directly (or indirectly via glutamate conversion) contributes to many anabolic processes in pancreatic cancer, including amino acids, nucleobases, and hexosamine biosynthesis. It also plays an important role in redox homeostasis, and when converted to α-ketoglutarate, glutamine serves as an energy and anaplerotic carbon source, replenishing the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of glutamine metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic cancer, focusing on potential therapeutic approaches targeting glutamine metabolism in pancreatic cancer.

V-O Species-Doped Carbon Frameworks Loaded with Ru Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient and CO-Tolerant Catalysts for Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation.

Efficient and CO-tolerant catalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation (HOR) are vital to the commercial application of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Herein, a robust Ru-based catalyst (Ru/VOC) with ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon frameworks with atomically dispersed V-O species is prepared elaborately. The catalyst exhibits a remarkable mass activity of 3.44 mA µgPGM, which is 31.3 times that of Ru/C and even 4.7 times higher than that of Pt/C. Moreover, the Ru/VOC anode can achieve a peak power density (PPD) of 1.194 W cm-2, much superior to that of Ru/C anode and even better than that of Pt/C anode. In addition, the catalyst also exhibits superior stability and exceptional CO tolerance. Experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that V-O species are ideal OH- adsorption sites, which allow Ru to release more sites for hydrogen adsorption. Furthermore, the electron transfer from Ru nanoparticles to the carbon substrate regulates the electronic structure of Ru, reducing the hydrogen binding energy (HBE) and the CO adsorption energy on Ru, thus boosting the alkaline HOR performance and CO tolerance of the catalyst. This is the first report that oxophilic single atoms distributed on carbon frameworks serve as OH- adsorption sites for efficient hydrogen oxidation, opening up new guidance for the elaborate design of high-activity catalysts for the alkaline HOR.

A meta-analysis of the effectiveness and safety of safinamide for levodopa-induced motor complications in Parkinson's disease.

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of safinamide in the treatment of levodopa-induced motor complications of Parkinson's disease (PD). A search strategy was developed and PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang Data were searched to find randomized controlled trials on the treatment of PD motor complications caused by levodopa with safinamide. A manual reference search was conducted for articles published until June 2022 to independently screen references, extract data, and evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies. RevMan 5.3 software was utilized to analyze the data. A total of 5 randomized controlled trials with 2061 PD patients were included, containing 1277 patients in the safinamide group (trial group) and 784 patients in the control group. Meta-analysis results exhibited that regarding effectiveness, the duration of continuous optimal drug effect without dyskinesia (On-time) of the 50 mg trial group was longer than that of the control group. The On-time of the 100 mg trial group was longer than that of the control group.The improvement of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRSIII) score in the 50 mg trial group was better than that in the control group. The improvement of the UPDRSIII score of the 100 mg trial group was better than that of the control group.There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. Safinamide is effective and safe in the treatment of PD motor complications caused by levodopa.

Weak gene-gene interaction facilitates the evolution of gene expression plasticity.

BACKGROUND: Individual organisms may exhibit phenotypic plasticity when they acclimate to different conditions. Such plastic responses may facilitate or constrain the adaptation of their descendant populations to new environments, complicating their evolutionary trajectories beyond the genetic blueprint. Intriguingly, phenotypic plasticity itself can evolve in terms of its direction and magnitude during adaptation. However, we know little about what determines the evolution of phenotypic plasticity, including gene expression plasticity. Recent laboratory-based studies suggest dominance of reversing gene expression plasticity-plastic responses that move the levels of gene expression away from the new optima. Nevertheless, evidence from natural populations is still limited. RESULTS: Here, we studied gene expression plasticity and its evolution in the montane and lowland populations of an elevationally widespread songbird-the Rufous-capped Babbler (Cyanoderma ruficeps)-with reciprocal transplant experiments and transcriptomic analyses; we set common gardens at altitudes close to these populations' native ranges. We confirmed the prevalence of reversing plasticity in genes associated with altitudinal adaptation. Interestingly, we found a positive relationship between magnitude and degree of evolution in gene expression plasticity, which was pertinent to not only adaptation-associated genes but also the whole transcriptomes from multiple tissues. Furthermore, we revealed that genes with weaker expressional interactions with other genes tended to exhibit stronger plasticity and higher degree of plasticity evolution, which explains the positive magnitude-evolution relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Our experimental evidence demonstrates that species may initiate their adaptation to new habitats with genes exhibiting strong expression plasticity. We also highlight the role of expression interdependence among genes in regulating the magnitude and evolution of expression plasticity. This study illuminates how the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in gene expression facilitates the adaptation of species to challenging environments in nature.

Effect of Berberine Hydrochloride on the Diversity of Intestinal Flora in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of berberine hydrochloride on the diversity of intestinal flora in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Prospectively selected 68 PD patients, admitted to our hospital from April 2021 to June 2021, were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group (n = 34 per group). Patients in the control group were given conventional treatment in accordance with Parkinson's diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Patients in the observation group were administered berberine hydrochloride besides the treatment in the control group. After continuous treatment for 3 months, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to determine interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to perform DNA sequencing on the 16S rRNA genes of all bacteria in stool samples before and after treatment in the two groups to analyze the distribution of intestinal flora. After treatment, the levels of IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α were lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Regarding intestinal flora, the Chao index, Ace index, and Shannon index were higher in the observation group than those in the control group. The Simpson index was lower in the observation group than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The principal component analysis chart analysis exhibited that the overall structure of the intestinal flora was quite different between the observation and the control groups after treatment. Berberine hydrochloride can improve the disorder of intestinal flora in PD patients and suppress the expression of inflammatory factors.

Efficacy and safety of pramipexole in Parkinson's disease with anxiety or depression: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole in Parkinson's disease with anxiety or depression by analyzing the randomized clinical trials (RCTs). METHODS: National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Cochrane Library of EMBASE, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang database were retrieved to conduct a meta-analysis. We performed sensitivity analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of pramipexole in Parkinson's disease with anxiety or depression. RESULTS: In our study, the results showed that the efficiency was significantly improved in patients with Parkinson's disease of the experimental group (fixed effect model, SMD = 3.45, 95% CI = [2.50, 4.76]). The HAMD score of experimental group was lower than that of control group. Moreover, adverse events of experimental group were lower than that of control group. CONCLUSIONS: The research demonstrated that pramipexole may improve the efficacy and HAMD score of Parkinson's disease with anxiety or depression. Due to the limited number of included studies, more RCTs are needed to investigate the effect of pramipexole in Parkinson's disease with anxiety or depression.

Long non-coding RNA NORAD protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induced brain damage, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation by regulating miR-30a-5p/YWHAG.

LncRNAs are identified as critical regulators in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). In this current work, SH-SY5Y cells suffered from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) were applied to analyze the biological role of lncRNA NORAD and underlying molecular mechanism in CIRI in vitro. Levels of lncRNA NORAD, miR-30a-5p and YWHAG were measured using RT-qPCR. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the binding sites of lncRNA NORAD to miR-30a-5p and miR-30a-5p to YWHAG. Luciferase reporter assay verified the binding relationships among lncRNA NORAD, miR-30a-5p and YWHAG. Additionally, cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL staining and western blot analysis. Moreover, the levels of ROS, MDA, LDH and SOD as well as IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 were assessed via application of the corresponding assay kits. Decreased cell viability and temporarily increased lncRNA NORAD level were observed in SH-SY5Y cells after OGD/R. It was demonstrated that lncRNA NORAD regulated YWHAG expression by sponging miR-30a-5p. Upregulation of lncRNA NORAD contributed to the enhancement of cell viability, the inhibition of cell apoptosis as well as the alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation in OGD/R-injured SH-SY5Y cells, which were reversed upon elevation of miR-30a-5p. In contrast, downregulation of lncRNA NORAD reduced cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis as well as aggravated oxidative stress and inflammation under OGD/R challenge, and the functions of lncRNA NORAD knockdown in OGD/R injury were abolished by upregulation of YWHAG. Taken together, lncRNA NORAD exerted protective effects against OGD/R-induced neural injury by sponging miR-30a-5p to upregulate YWHAG expression.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG1 protects brain microvascular endothelial cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced injury by sponging miR-298 and upregulating SIK1 expression.

OBJECTIVES: Growing evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in the progression of multiple diseases, including ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to explore the function and underlying mechanism of lncRNAs small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in ischemic stroke. RESULTS: SNHG1 and salt-induced kinase 1 (SIK1) were upregulated in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced bEnd3 cells. SNHG1 downregulation promoted OGD/R-induced injury through decreasing cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis, which was reversed by upregulating SIK1 or downregulating miR-298. Moreover, SIK1 interference had similar functions with SNHG1 knockdown in OGD/R-treated bEnd3 cells. In addition, miR-298 was a direct target of SNHG1 and could specifically bind to SIK1. Furthermore, SNHG1 functioned as a molecular sponge of miR-298 to regulate SIK1 expression. CONCLUSION: SNHG1 knockdown enhanced OGD/R-induced injury in bEnd3 cells by regulating miR-298/SIK1 axis, which might provide promising therapeutic target for treatment of ischemic stroke.

The role of carotid stenosis ultrasound scale in the prediction of ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTION: To improve the accuracy of ultrasound techniques for the assessment of carotid stenosis, we designed a novel carotid artery stenosis ultrasound scale (CASUS), and evaluated its accuracy, reliability, and its value in predicting the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in a prospective study. METHODS: A total of 750 patients with first-time ischemic stroke and hospitalized within 24 h were enrolled in the study. Using color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), the degree of stenosis and blood flow (BF) in bilateral internal carotid arteries (ICA) and the V1-V3 segment of vertebral arteries (VA) was assessed. Cubic simulation curves for BF and global blood flow (GBF) over the stenosis score (SS), total stenosis score (TSS), and radiological imaging- total stenosis score (RI-TSS) were fitted and compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using TSS, RI-TSS, or GBF to predict various ischemic stroke endpoints were also analyzed and compared. RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between SS and BF both ICA and VA (R2 were 0.734 and 0.783, respectively, both P < 0.05). Both TSS and RI-TSS with GBF showed an inverse "S" curve relationship (R2 was 0.839 and 0.843, all P < 0.05). The AUC values of TSS-based and RI-TSS-based predictions of each endpoint were all greater than 0.7 (all P < 0.05), but the differences of the AUC values between TSS, RI-TSS, and GBF were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The novel CASUS can better reflect the level of cerebral reperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke and can better predict the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Antihypertensive Therapy in the Acute Phase of Lacunar Infarcts.

BACKGROUND The optimal medical regimen for managing hypertension during acute phase of lacunar infarcts has not yet been clarified in real world setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood pressure lowering regimens on neurological progression and clinical outcomes during the acute phase of lacunar infarcts. MATERIAL AND METHODS For this study, 411 patients with first-episode lacunar infarcts and hypertension within 24 hours of symptom onset were included. All patients received antihypertension therapies, with different regimens, as well as routine medication during first 7 days after onset. There were 6 proposed antihypertensive treatments: calcium channel blockers (CCB), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), ß-blocker (ß-B), and diuretic drug (DD) alone or in combination. Neurological progression was defined as worsening by ≥1 point in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for motor function. The outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS): favorable outcome (mRS of 0-1) or unfavorable outcome (mRS 2-5). RESULTS Logistic regression analysis showed that combination therapy with CCB, ACEI/ARB, and ß-B exhibited the lowest risk of deterioration (OR=0.48, P=0.019) and unfavorable outcomes (OR=0.50, P=0.022). Similarly, combination therapy with CCB, ACEI/ARB, and DD exhibited lower risk of deterioration (OR=0.63, P=0.033) and unfavorable outcome (OR=0.77, P=0.042) at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS Rational blood pressure lowering was beneficial to the functional outcomes of patients during acute phase of lacunar infarcts, and combination therapy was better than mono-drug therapy.

Effects of Blood Pressure in the Early Phase of Ischemic Stroke and Stroke Subtype on Poststroke Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Blood pressure (BP) control in the early phase of stroke is controversial to reduce the risk of poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). This study was to investigate the impact of BP levels in the early phase of ischemic stroke and stroke subtype on PSCI. METHODS: Seven hundred and ninety-six patients with acute ischemic stroke were included. Cognitive function was assessed after stroke onset using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Patients were divided into quintiles according to systolic BP and diastolic BP levels in the early phase. Subtype analyses were according to Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification (infarct cause) and Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification (infarct location). RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple variables, the quintiles with the lowest systolic BP (Q1, 102-127 mm Hg) and with the highest systolic BP (Q5, 171-215 mm Hg) were associated with increased PSCI risk (odds ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-2.28; P=0.007 in Q1; odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-2.90; P<0.001 in Q5) at 3 months as compared with the middle quintile (Q3, 143-158 mm Hg). Similar association was found in diastolic BP quintiles. The analysis of cerebral infarction subtype demonstrated that both large artery atherosclerosis and total anterior circulation infarct were associated with increased risk of PSCI at 3 months after adjusting for multiple variables (large artery atherosclerosis: odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.90; P=0.031; total anterior circulation infarct: odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.15; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lower or higher BP in the early phase of ischemic stroke was correlated with increased PSCI risk at 3 months. Maintaining systolic/diastolic BP in the levels of 143 to 158/93 to 102 mm Hg might be beneficial to reduce the occurrence of PSCI. Moreover, large artery atherosclerosis subtype and total anterior circulation infarct subtype were correlated with increased PSCI risk at 3 months. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.chictr.org. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-14004804.

Blood pressures immediately following ischemic strokes are associated with cerebral perfusion and neurologic function.

The optimal range of blood pressure levels in the early phase of ischemic stroke with hypertension is still controversial. Based on our stroke registry database, we explored the relationship between blood pressure levels and cerebral perfusion in the early phase of ischemic stroke with hypertension and neurofunctional recovery at 3 months after stroke. Total 732 stroke patients with hypertension were finally analyzed. Patients were divided into quintiles according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) to perform multivariable logistic regression to analyze their relation with neurofunctional recovery, respectively. The cerebral perfusion levels displayed a reverse "U" shape curve with the change of blood pressure levels. Sufficient estimated cerebral blood flow (ECBF) in the early phase of ischemic stroke was associated with good neurofunctional recovery at 3 months after stroke. The best neurofunctional recovery was observed in the middle quintiles with SBP at 161 to 177 mm Hg and DBP at 103 to 114 mm Hg, respectively. So maintaining appropriate blood pressure levels in the early phase of ischemic stroke might be beneficial to cerebral perfusion and neurofunctional recovery.

Community-based stroke system of care improves patient outcomes in Chinese rural areas.

BACKGROUND: Building effective and efficient stroke care systems is a key step in improving prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this stroke system of care on stroke management during a 2-year follow-up. METHODS: A stroke system of care was developed from November 2009 to November 2010 in three townships in Ganyu County. Additional three matched townships were invited as controls. We first investigated the stroke incidence of these populations. Subsequently, this stroke system of care and an educational campaign in the three intervention townships were implemented and the effectiveness of the system was evaluated in the next 2 years. RESULTS: At postintervention, more patients in the intervention communities obtained stroke knowledge and then the proportion of patients with stroke who were admitted within 3 hours of onset markedly increased in 2012 (12.0% vs 8.1%, p=0.044) and in 2013 (15.2% vs 9.7%, p=0.008) compared with those in the control communities. In the intervention communities, this proportion of patients with acute ischaemic stroke who received thrombolytic treatment was markedly raised from 2.1% in 2012 to 3.0% in 2013. More importantly, the fatality rate substantially decreased in 2013 in the intervention communities compared with that in the control communities (6.1% vs 9.7%, p=0.032). Similarly, the disability rate significantly decreased in 2013 (45.3% vs 51.5%, p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The community-based stroke system of care was effective and practical for optimising stroke treatments and improving patient outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-RCH-13003408, Post-results.

Midterm Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated with Poststroke Cognitive Impairment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). METHODS: Seven-hundred ninety-six patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in this study. Midterm BPV was evaluated by calculating the SD and coefficient of variation (CV, 100 × SD/mean) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure during the 7 days after stroke onset. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at admission and at all follow-up visits. Patients with MoCA scores <26 were considered to have PSCI. RESULTS: The incidence of PSCI reached its peak (72%) 3 months after stroke onset and decreased to 30.3% at 12 months poststroke. After adjusting for covariables, the increase in the prevalence of PSCI at 3 months was independently associated with increases in the CV of blood pressure during the 7 days after stroke [odds ratios and 95% CI for patients in the second to fifth quintiles of SBP CV were 2.28 (1.18, 4.39), 2.33 (1.18, 4.62), 2.69 (1.31, 5.53), and 4.76 (1.95, 11.67), respectively]. Sub-analysis of the MoCA scores revealed that the patients had impairments in visuoperceptual abilities and executive functions, as well as in naming and delayed recall (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Midterm BPV during the early phase of acute ischemic stroke is independently associated with PSCI, especially in the visuoperceptual, executive, and delayed recall domains. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR-TRC-14004804.

modPhEA: model organism Phenotype Enrichment Analysis of eukaryotic gene sets.

MOTIVATION: Genome-scale phenotypic data are available for many model organisms, yet existing tools to functionally interpret gene sets from these phenotypic data are largely based on mutagenesis-derived phenotypes observed in mouse or human. RESULTS: Data from both mutagenesis and knockdown experiments are incorporated into modPhEA to allow users to perform enrichment analyses based on phenotypes observed in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans), fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), zebrafish (Danio rerio), mouse (Mus musculus) and humans (Homo sapiens). The phenotypes analysed can be customized to investigate complex traits and gene sets from any fully sequenced animal or fungal genome are also supported by modPhEA. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Freely available on the web at http://evol.nhri.org.tw/modPhEA/. CONTACT: liaoby@nhri.org.tw. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Mid-Term Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated With Clinical Outcome After Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between mid-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) within 7 days of onset and the prognosis in acute stroke patients. METHODS: Total 873 acute ischemic stroke patients were included in this study. Mid-term BPV was evaluated through the calculations of coefficient of variation (CV) of the systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) within 7 days of onset. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the recovery situations of neurological function at 3 months, the primary outcome (symptomatic recurrent stroke) and the secondary outcomes (recurrent stroke, all-cause mortality, and the composite of cardiovascular events) within 12 months. RESULTS: Among 873 patients with ischemic stroke, 83 died, 125 developed recurrent stroke, and 212 developed cardiovascular events during 12 months' follow-up. At 3 months, systolic or diastolic BPV (within 7 days of onset) was associated with the recovery situations of neurological function in three models (all P < 0.05). Both higher CV of SBP and CV of DBP were significantly correlated with the increased risk of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-4.18, P = 0.005 for CV of SBP; HR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.29-4.19, P = 0.005 for CV of DBP) and composite cardiovascular events (HR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.41-3.48, P = 0.001 for CV of SBP; HR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.41-3.47, P = 0.001 for CV of DBP) during 12 months' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: After acute ischemic stroke, high systolic or diastolic BPV within 7 days of onset was associated with the recovery situations of neurological function at 3 months, and recurrent stroke and composite cardiovascular events within 12 months. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-14004804.