Synthesis and Self-Assembly of a Heteroarm Star Amphiphile with 12 Alternating Arms and a Well-Defined Core

We report on a stepwise synthesis of a heteroarm starlike amphiphile containing 12 alternating arms (six polystyrene and six poly(acrylic acid)) connected to a hexabiphenyl aromatic core. The synthesis does not involve polymerization, and only commercially available precursors are used. Most importantly, this amphiphile undergoes self-assembly into spherical and wormlike cylindrical micelles in aqueous and methanol solutions, and forms reverse 1D micellar structures in chloroform. This remarkable morphological diversity of the reported amphiphile 1 is believed to be a direct consequence of its well-defined molecular architecture

DataSheet_1_Assessing the causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and obstructive sleep apnea: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization.docx

BackgroundExtensive observational evidence suggests an association between psychiatric disorders (PDs) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but their causal relationship remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to examine the causal relationship between PDs and OSA.MethodsMendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted with summary genetic data from the FinnGen and Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were employed to ascertain causal influence. Sensitivity analysis employing various methodologies assessed the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) was used to clarify if the exposures independently caused OSA.ResultsMR analysis showed that genetically determined major depressive disorder (MDD) increased the risk of OSA (IVW odds ratio [OR]: 1.377, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.242–1.526, P = 1.05×10-9). Sensitivity analysis showed no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. In MVMR, the significant association persisted after adjusting for BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. No conclusive evidence indicated the causal impact of other psychological characteristics on OSA. In the reverse MR analyses, there was no causal effect of OSA on PDs.ConclusionThis study suggests a causal effect of MDD on OSA risk. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how MDD contributes to OSA development, potentially aiding in reducing OSA incidence.</p

DataSheet_2_Assessing the causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and obstructive sleep apnea: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization.docx

BackgroundExtensive observational evidence suggests an association between psychiatric disorders (PDs) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but their causal relationship remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to examine the causal relationship between PDs and OSA.MethodsMendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted with summary genetic data from the FinnGen and Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were employed to ascertain causal influence. Sensitivity analysis employing various methodologies assessed the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) was used to clarify if the exposures independently caused OSA.ResultsMR analysis showed that genetically determined major depressive disorder (MDD) increased the risk of OSA (IVW odds ratio [OR]: 1.377, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.242–1.526, P = 1.05×10-9). Sensitivity analysis showed no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. In MVMR, the significant association persisted after adjusting for BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. No conclusive evidence indicated the causal impact of other psychological characteristics on OSA. In the reverse MR analyses, there was no causal effect of OSA on PDs.ConclusionThis study suggests a causal effect of MDD on OSA risk. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how MDD contributes to OSA development, potentially aiding in reducing OSA incidence.</p

Preparation and Characterization of Maillard Reaction Products from a Trinary System Composed of the Soy Protein Isolate, Chitosan Oligosaccharide, and Gum Arabic

To extend the application of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) in complex coacervation between the soy protein isolate (SPI) and gum Arabic (GA), Maillard reaction among SPI, COS, and GA was induced under different conditions. High-performance gel permeation chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis illustrated that products with high molecular weights (1.17 × 106 and 2.79 × 106 Da) were generated in the trinary system, and the Maillard reaction promoted the cross-linking of SPI, COS, and GA. The Maillard reaction was observed the most under conditions where SPI, COS, and GA (4:2:4, w/w) were kept at 80 °C for 12 h, and the results of thermogravimetry indicated that Maillard reaction products (MRPs) with the best thermal stability, which were positively charged, were generated. The results revealed that the extent of Maillard reaction was enhanced with the increase of time SPI being involved in the complex rather than GA. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that Maillard reactions between SPI, COS, and GA under different conditions did not impact the crystal particle structures among them. Even though the extent of Maillard reaction among SPI, COS, and GA was lower than that between SPI and COS, MRPs with various viscoelastic properties were obtained under different conditions. Thus, as one kind of difunctional reactant in Maillard reaction, COS could react with either proteins or polysaccharides, and the MRPs have potential utilization in the food industry

Data_Sheet_1_Causal relationship between gut microbiota and myasthenia gravis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.docx

BackgroundPrevious observational studies have provided cumulative data linking gut microbiota to myasthenia gravis (MG). However, the causal link between the two remains unexplored. Hence, the current study was performed to explore the causal link between them.MethodsMendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using the summary statistics of 211 gut microbiota taxa and the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for MG currently available. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were employed to ascertain the causal influence. Sensitivity studies utilizing several methodologies were then used to assess the robustness of the findings. Lastly, to evaluate reverse causality, a reverse MR analysis was performed.ResultsSeven suggestive causal associations between the gastrointestinal microbiota and MG were identified based on the outcomes of the MR analysis. Specifically, phylum Actinobacteria (OR: 0.602, 95% CI: 0.405–0.896, p = 0.012), class Gammaproteobacteria (OR: 0.587, 95% CI: 0.357–0.968, p = 0.037), and families Defluviitaleaceae (OR: 0.695, 95% CI: 0.485–0.996, p = 0.047), Family XIII (OR: 0.614, 95% CI: 0.412–0.916, p = 0.017), and Peptococcaceae (OR: 0.698, 95% CI: 0.505–0.964, p = 0.029) had suggestive protective effects on MG, while order Mollicutes RF9 (OR: 1.424, 95% CI: 1.015–1.998, p = 0.041) and genus Faecalibacterium (OR: 1.763, 95% CI: 1.220–2.547, p = 0.003) were suggestive risk factors for MG. The outcomes indicate that neither heterogeneity nor horizontal pleiotropy had any discernible impact. Nevertheless, this reverse analysis did not reveal any apparent effect of MG on the gut microbiota composition.ConclusionThe MR investigation has substantiated the suggestive causal connection between gut microbiota and MG, which may provide helpful insights for innovative therapeutic and preventative approaches for MG. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the gut microbiota’s precise role and therapeutic potential in the pathogenesis of MG.</p

Table_1_Causal relationship between gut microbiota and myasthenia gravis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.xlsx

BackgroundPrevious observational studies have provided cumulative data linking gut microbiota to myasthenia gravis (MG). However, the causal link between the two remains unexplored. Hence, the current study was performed to explore the causal link between them.MethodsMendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using the summary statistics of 211 gut microbiota taxa and the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for MG currently available. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were employed to ascertain the causal influence. Sensitivity studies utilizing several methodologies were then used to assess the robustness of the findings. Lastly, to evaluate reverse causality, a reverse MR analysis was performed.ResultsSeven suggestive causal associations between the gastrointestinal microbiota and MG were identified based on the outcomes of the MR analysis. Specifically, phylum Actinobacteria (OR: 0.602, 95% CI: 0.405–0.896, p = 0.012), class Gammaproteobacteria (OR: 0.587, 95% CI: 0.357–0.968, p = 0.037), and families Defluviitaleaceae (OR: 0.695, 95% CI: 0.485–0.996, p = 0.047), Family XIII (OR: 0.614, 95% CI: 0.412–0.916, p = 0.017), and Peptococcaceae (OR: 0.698, 95% CI: 0.505–0.964, p = 0.029) had suggestive protective effects on MG, while order Mollicutes RF9 (OR: 1.424, 95% CI: 1.015–1.998, p = 0.041) and genus Faecalibacterium (OR: 1.763, 95% CI: 1.220–2.547, p = 0.003) were suggestive risk factors for MG. The outcomes indicate that neither heterogeneity nor horizontal pleiotropy had any discernible impact. Nevertheless, this reverse analysis did not reveal any apparent effect of MG on the gut microbiota composition.ConclusionThe MR investigation has substantiated the suggestive causal connection between gut microbiota and MG, which may provide helpful insights for innovative therapeutic and preventative approaches for MG. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the gut microbiota’s precise role and therapeutic potential in the pathogenesis of MG.</p

Table_1_Assessing the causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and obstructive sleep apnea: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization.xlsx

BackgroundExtensive observational evidence suggests an association between psychiatric disorders (PDs) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but their causal relationship remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to examine the causal relationship between PDs and OSA.MethodsMendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted with summary genetic data from the FinnGen and Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were employed to ascertain causal influence. Sensitivity analysis employing various methodologies assessed the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) was used to clarify if the exposures independently caused OSA.ResultsMR analysis showed that genetically determined major depressive disorder (MDD) increased the risk of OSA (IVW odds ratio [OR]: 1.377, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.242–1.526, P = 1.05×10-9). Sensitivity analysis showed no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. In MVMR, the significant association persisted after adjusting for BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. No conclusive evidence indicated the causal impact of other psychological characteristics on OSA. In the reverse MR analyses, there was no causal effect of OSA on PDs.ConclusionThis study suggests a causal effect of MDD on OSA risk. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how MDD contributes to OSA development, potentially aiding in reducing OSA incidence.</p

Y-Shaped Amphiphilic Brushes with Switchable Micellar Surface Structures

We observed novel nanoscale surface structures of segregated pinned micelles and craterlike micelles formed by grafted Y-shaped molecules and their reversible reorganization in selective solvents. The Y-shaped molecules have two incompatible polymer chains (polystyrene and poly(tert-butyl acrylate)) attached to a functional stemlike segment capable of covalent grafting to a functionalized silicon surface. Postgrafting hydrolysis of poly(tert-butyl acrylate) arms imparts amphiphilicity to the brush. We demonstrated that spatial constraints induced by a chemical junction of two relatively short (6−10 nm) dissimilar arms in such Y-shaped molecules lead to the formation of segregated micellar surface nanostructures in the grafted layer. We proposed a model of these segregated pinned micelles and the corresponding reverse micelles (craterlike structures) featuring different segregation states of hydrophobic polystyrene and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) arms. The arms undergo conformational rearrangements in selective solvents in a controlled and reversible fashion. These nanoscale structural reorganizations define adaptive macroscopic wetting surface properties of the amphiphilic Y-shaped brushes. This surface structure and switchable behavior can be considered as a promising way toward the patterning of solid substrates with adaptive nanowells, which could be used for trapping of adsorbing nanoscale objects