Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark T+cc

Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar T+cc tetraquark with a quark content of ccu⎯⎯⎯d⎯⎯⎯ and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector T+cc state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the T+cc state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed

Expert Consensus on the Core Competency Framework of Chinese Clinical Pharmacist (2023)

In the new era of hospital pharmaceutical service transformation, higher standards and requirements are constantly put forward for clinical pharmacists to participate in patient-centered pharmaceutical professional technical services. The formulation of competency standards has become an international trend. However, research on pharmacist competency is still limited in China, and there is a lack of core competency framework for clinical pharmacists. In order to facilitate the construction of pharmacist competency, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China Medical Board and Chinese Hospital Association Pharmaceutical Specialized Committee organized multidisciplinary experts in pharmacy, clinical medicine, education and administration to formulate Expert Consensus on the Core Competency Framework of Chinese Clinical Pharmacist (2023), which is based on domestic and foreign research results and clinical pharmacy practice in China. This specialist consensus, adopting the modified Delphi method to formulate the core competency framework of Chinese clinical pharmacist, determines six first-level item of core competencies that clinical pharmacists should have, including professionalism, knowledge and skill, patient care, communication and collaboration, teaching and lifelong learning. The six first-level items have twenty-two second-level items, which are explained in detail. This consensus can provide an important basis and exploration direction for the training and ability enhancement of clinical pharmacists in China

Iron Dyshomeostasis and Ferroptosis: A New Alzheimer\u27s Disease Hypothesis?

Iron plays a crucial role in many physiological processes of the human body, but iron is continuously deposited in the brain as we age. Early studies found iron overload is directly proportional to cognitive decline in Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein, both of which are related to the AD pathogenesis, are associated with brain iron metabolism. A variety of iron metabolism-related proteins have been found to be abnormally expressed in the brains of AD patients and mouse models, resulting in iron deposition and promoting AD progression. Amyloid β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau, two pathological hallmarks of AD, can also promote iron deposition in the brain, forming a vicious cycle of AD development-iron deposition. Iron deposition and the subsequent ferroptosis has been found to be a potential mechanism underlying neuronal loss in many neurodegenerative diseases. Iron chelators, antioxidants and hepcidin were found useful for treating AD, which represents an important direction for AD treatment research and drug development in the future. The review explored the deep connection between iron dysregulation and AD pathogenesis, discussed the potential of new hypothesis related to iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis, and summarized the therapeutics capable of targeting iron, with the expectation to draw more attention of iron dysregulation and corresponding drug development

Additional file 1 of The hepato-ovarian axis: genetic evidence for a causal association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome

Additional file 1: Table S1. Key characteristics of participating studies. Table S2. GWAS significant SNPs used as genetic instruments for fasting insulin and fasting glucose. Table S3. GWAS significant SNPs used as genetic instruments for serum SHBG levels and bioavailable testosterone levels in women. Table S4. Direct causal effects of NAFLD, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, serum SHBG levels, and serum bioavailable testosterone levels on PCOS risk via multivariable MR analysis. Table S5. Direct causal effects of NAFLD, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and serum SHBG levels on serum bioavailable testosterone levels via multivariable MR analysis. Table S6. Direct causal effects of NAFLD, fasting insulin, and fasting glucose on serum SHBG levels via multivariable MR analysis. Table S7. Obesity-related genome-wide significant genetic variants. Table S8. Directional pleiotropy test using MR-Egger intercepts. Table S9. Horizontal pleiotropy test using MR-PRESSO. Table S10. Linkage disequilibrium score regression results on genetic correlations between NAFLD, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, SHBG, BT, and PCOS. Table S11. Indirect causal effects between NAFLD and PCOS via fasting insulin, serum SHBG levels, and serum bioavailable testosterone levels through step-wise MR analysis