Vapor-Liquid-Solid Growth of Site-Controlled Monolayer MoS2 Films Via Pressure-Induc ed Supercritical Phase Nucleation.

In this study, a novel pressure-induced supercritical phase nucleation method is proposed to synthesize monolayer MoS2 films, which is promoter free and can avoid contamination of films derived from these heterogeneous promoters in most of the existing techniques. The low-crystallinity and size-controlled MoO2(acac)2 particles are recrystallized on the substrate via the pressure-sensitive solvent capacity of supercritical CO2 and these particles are used as growth sites. The size of single-crystal MoS2 on the substrate is found to be dependent on the wetting area of the pyrolyzed precursor droplets (MoO2) on the surface, and the formation of continuous films with high coverage is mainly controlled by the coalescence of MoO2 droplets. It is enhanced by the increase of the nucleation site density, which can be adjusted by the supersaturation of the supercritical fluid solution. Our findings pave a new way for the controllable growth of MoS2 and other two-dimensional materials and provide sufficient and valuable evidence for vapor-liquid-solid growth.

Association of plasma VEGF levels and the antidepressant effects of ketamine in patients with depression.

AIMS: Growing evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may be involved in the neuronal mechanisms underlying both depression aetiology and the response to ketamine treatments. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in plasma VEGF levels are associated with the antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in patients with depression. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with depression were enrolled and received six ketamine infusions during a 12-day period. Depressive symptom severity and plasma VEGF levels were measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively, at baseline, 13 days and 26 days. RESULTS: Despite a significant improvement in MADRS scores after patients received six ketamine infusions (p < 0.001), no changes in plasma VEGF levels were observed at 13 days when compared with baseline. Moreover, no significant difference in plasma VEGF levels at baseline and 13 days was found between ketamine responders and nonresponders. No association was found between the antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine treatments and plasma VEGF levels. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that VEGF may not be a potential predictor of antidepressant response to repeated intravenous administration of ketamine in patients with depression.

Association between plasma levels of BDNF and the antisuicidal effects of repeated ketamine infusions in depression with suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: This study is the first to examine the association between plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the antisuicidal effects of repeated ketamine infusions in depressed patients with suicidal ideation. METHODS: Fifty-seven depressed patients with suicidal ideation received six ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) during a 12 days period. Suicidality was measured with the Scale for Suicidal Ideations (SSI-part 1), item 10 of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and item 3 of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) at baseline, 1 day after the first infusion (1 day), 1 day after the sixth infusion (13 days), and at 2 weeks after the last infusion (26 days). Plasma levels of BDNF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, 13 days, and 26 days. RESULTS: Overall, 46 (80.7%) depressed patients with suicidal ideation had an antisuicidal response at 13 days. Despite a significant reduction in suicidal symptoms over time, no changes in plasma levels of BDNF were found after ketamine treatment when compared with baseline. Correlation analysis showed that no significant association was observed between the plasma levels of BDNF and the changes in the severity of suicidal symptoms as measured by SSI-part 1, item 10 of the MADRS, or item 3 of the HAMD at 1 day, 13 days, and 26 days (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that plasma levels of BDNF may not serve as a biomarker for determining the antisuicidal effects of six ketamine infusions in depressed patients with suicidal ideation.

Neurocognitive effects of six ketamine infusions and the association with antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: The N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid antidepressant and antisuicidal effects in treating treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). The neurocognitive effects of repeated ketamine infusions in TRBD are not known. METHODS: Six intravenous infusions of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) were administered on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule during a 12-day period on 16 patients with TRBD followed by a 2-week observational period. The assessment of neurocognitive function was conducted using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery at baseline, 13 and 26 days. Tasks were designed to test speed of processing, working memory, visual learning and verbal learning. RESULTS: A significant improvement was found only in scores of speed of processing (F = 9.9, p = 0.001) after a 2-week observational period, which was accounted for by the improvement of depression symptoms. There were no significant changes over time in terms of working memory, visual learning and verbal learning. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the improvement of depression symptoms through six ketamine infusions was greater among TRBD patients with lower working memory at baseline (r = 0.54, p = 0.03). In multiple regression analysis, the significant correlation was still maintained (beta = 0.67, t = 2.2, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This preliminary study indicated that six ketamine infusions were not harmful but were slightly beneficial for speed of processing in TRBD. However, this change was mainly accounted for the improvement of depression symptoms over time. Lower baseline working memory appears to be associated with greater antidepressant response after completion of six ketamine infusions in patients with TRBD.

High protein intake along with paternal part-time employment is associated with higher body fat mass among girls from South China.

PURPOSE: Protein intake has been suggested to be associated with body composition among western children. Our aim was to determine whether protein intake is associated with body composition among Chinese children and to investigate whether parental socioeconomic status modifies these associations. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from the baseline survey of an ongoing population-based prospective open cohort study conducted in 2013. In this survey, 2039 children in South China were recruited using cluster random sampling. Information of 1704 children (47% girls), aged 7-12 years from three primary schools (42 classes), on diet and anthropometry was included finally. Their daily protein intake was obtained by 3-day 24-h dietary recalls. Skinfold thickness, body height, and weight were measured to calculate percent body fat (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Parental characteristics were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS: Among girls, protein intake was positively associated with %BF and FMI [estimate (SE) for %BF: 0.007 (0.003), p = 0.04; for FMI: 0.092 (0.002), p = 0.03], adjusted for pubertal stage, breast-feeding, maternal overweight, carbohydrate intake, energy intake, and physical activity level. Furthermore, there was interaction between paternal occupation and the relations of dietary protein with %BF and FMI (p for interaction ≤ 0.04). None of the associations between protein intake and %BF, FMI, or FFMI was found among boys. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that school-aged girls, but not boys, living in South China with higher dietary protein intake might have higher body fat mass, which could be modified by paternal occupation.

[Consumptions of Meat, Dietary Fat, and Fatty-acids and Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity in Children and Adolescents-a Cross-sectional Survey in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 7-15 years in Longquanyi District of Chengdu and its association with consumptions of meat, dietary fat and fatty-acids. METHODS: A total of 1 811 children and adolescents aged 7-15 years in Longquanyi District were selected using stratified cluster sampling strategy. Their body mass, height and waist circumference were measured. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was estimated based on body mass index (BMI), body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Daily consumptions of meat, dietary fat and fatty-acids were calculated using data collected through a food frequency questionnaire and 3-d 24 h dietary recall. The children with overweight/obesity were compared with those with normal body mass in food/nutrient consumptions using Wilcoxon tests. The BMI SDS, WHtR, and prevalence of overweight and obesity were also compared between those having low, moderate and high food/nutrient consumptions using Chi-square tests or Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: About 10.34% and 6.59% of participants were found to be overweight and obese, respectively. Boys had higher prevalence of overweight (12.05%) and overweight/obesity (18.97%) than girls (8.55%, 14.80%) ( P<0.05). Girls consumed more meat (including red meat and white meat), saturated fatty-acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty-acid (MUFA) than boys ( P<0.05). The consumptions of meat (both red meat and white meat), SFA and MUFA increased with age ( P<0.05). Overweight/obese girls consumed more SFA, MUFA and fat (%EN) than those of normal weight. The BMI SDS and WHtR of girls increased with fat (%EN) consumptions ( P<0.05). The BMI SDS of girls also increased with MUFA consumptions ( P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Consumptions of red meat, dietary fat, SFA, and MUFA are associated with overweight/obesity of girls aged 7-15 years in Chengdu. Further studies are needed to understand the gender differences.

[Dietary Fiber and Pubertal Development among Children and Adolescents--a Cross-sectional Study in Chengdu, Sichuan].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between intake of dietary fiber and pubertal development among children and adolescents in Chengdu. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 1 340 children and adolescents aged 9-15 years. Data about dietary intake were collected through 24-h dietary self-recall. Pubertal development was measured by trained investigators using Tanner criteria. Consumptions of total fiber and fiber from different sources were compared among the participants with different stages of pubertal development. RESULTS: Data from 1 328 children and adolescents were analyzed. Boys (n = 667) at a later stage of pubertal development consumed less total fiber and fruit fiber than those at an earlier stage (P < 0.05). Similarly, girls (n = 651) at a later stage of pubertal development consumed less fruit fiber than those at an earlier stage (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dietary fiber intake, especially fruit fiber, is lower in children and adolescents with early commencement of puberty development. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between dietary fiber and pubertal development.

[Consumptions of Meat and Dairy Products, Zinc Intake and Pubertal Development in Adolescents in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associations between meat, dairy and zinc intake and pubertal development in adolescents in Chengdu. METHODS: A total of 1320 children and adolescents aged 9-15 years in Chengdu were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling strategy. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 3-day 24-hour dietary recall. Pubertal development was evaluated through physical examinations. Consumptions of meat and dairy, and zinc intake were compared between groups with different levels of pubertal development according to the Tanner criteria. RESULTS: The median age of spermarche was 13. 00 years. The boys who had had spermarche consumed more meat (including red meat) and dairy products than those who had not yet (P<0. 05). Daily consumption of total meat was positively correlated with the level of pubertal development (P<0. 05). The median age of menarche was 12. 11 years. The girls who had had menarche consumed more meat and less diiry products than those who had not yet (P<0. 05). Daily consumption of dairy products was negatively associated with breast development and the level of pubertal development (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Consumptions of meat, red meat and dairy products are associated with pubertal development in adolescents in Chengdu. However, the differences between boys and girls warrant further studies.