Interplay between spin density wave and π\pi phase shifted superconductivity in the Fe pnictide superconductors

We explore if the phase separation or coexistence of the spin density wave (SDW) and superconductivity (SC) states has any relation to the incommensurability of the SDW in the Fe pnictide superconductors. A systematic method of determining the phase separation or coexistence was employed by computing the anisotropy coefficient $\beta$ from the the 4th order terms of the Ginzburg--Landau (GL) expansion of the free energy close to the tricritical/tetracritical point. It was complemented by the self-consistent numerical iterations of the gap equations to map out the boundaries between the phase separation and coexistence of the SDW and SC phases, and between commensurate (C) and incommensurate (IC) SDW in the temperature--doping plane. Our principal results for the sign reversed $s$-wave pairing SC, in terms of the multicritical temperature, $T_c$, the phase separation/coexistence boundary between the SDW and SC, $T^*$, and the boundary between C/IC SDW, $T_M^*$, are: (a) IC-SDW and SC coexist for $T_c < T^*$ and phase separate otherwise, (b) SDW takes the C form for $T_c>T_M^*$ and IC form for $T_c<T_M^*$, and (c) the thermodynamic first order phase transition intervenes in between the C-SDW and IC-SDW boundary for large $T_M^0$, where $T_M^0$ is the SDW transition temperature at zero doping, $T^*=0.35 ~T_M^0$ and $T_M^*=0.56\ T_M^0$. The intervention makes the phase diagram more complicated than previously reported. By contrast no coexistence was found for the equal sign pairing SC. These results will be compared with the experimental reports in the Fe pnictide superconductors.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Phys.Rev.

Structure-mechanism-based engineering of chemical regulators targeting distinct pathological factors in Alzheimer???s disease

The absence of effective therapeutics against Alzheimer???s disease (AD) is a result of the limited understanding of its multifaceted aetiology. Because of the lack of chemical tools to identify pathological factors, investigations into AD pathogenesis have also been insubstantial. Here we report chemical regulators that demonstrate distinct specificity towards targets linked to AD pathology, including metals, amyloid-?? (A??), metal-A??, reactive oxygen species, and free organic radicals. We obtained these chemical regulators through a rational structure-mechanism-based design strategy. We performed structural variations of small molecules for fine-tuning their electronic properties, such as ionization potentials and mechanistic pathways for reactivity towards different targets. We established in vitro and/or in vivo efficacies of the regulators for modulating their targets??? reactivities, ameliorating toxicity, reducing amyloid pathology, and improving cognitive deficits. Our chemical tools show promise for deciphering AD pathogenesis and discovering effective drugs.ope

Helicobacter pylori infection induces STAT3 phosphorylation on Ser727 and autophagy in human gastric epithelial cells and mouse stomach

© 2020, The Author(s).Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is considered as one of the principal risk factors of gastric cancer. Constitutive activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays an important role in inflammation-associated gastric carcinogenesis. In the canonical STAT3 pathway, phosphorylation of STAT3 on Tyr705 is a major event of STAT3 activation. However, recent studies have demonstrated that STAT3 phosphorylated on Ser727 has an independent function in mitochondria. In the present study, we found that human gastric epithelial AGS cells infected with H. pylori resulted in localization of STAT3 phosphorylated on Ser727 (P-STAT3Ser727), predominantly in the mitochondria. Notably, H. pylori-infected AGS cells exhibited the loss of mitochondrial integrity and increased expression of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), the autophagosomal membrane-associated protein. Treatment of AGS cells with a mitophagy inducer, carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), resulted in accumulation of P-STAT3Ser727 in mitochondria. In addition, the elevated expression and mitochondrial localization of LC3 induced by H. pylori infection were attenuated in AGS cells harboring STAT3 mutation defective in Ser727 phosphorylation (S727A). We also observed that both P-STAT3Ser727 expression and LC3 accumulation were increased in the mitochondria of H. pylori-inoculated mouse stomach.

Early statin use in ischemic stroke patients treated with recanalization therapy: retrospective observational study

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.Abstract Background We aimed to determine whether early statin use following recanalization therapy improves the functional outcome of ischemic stroke. Methods Using a prospective stroke registry database, we identified a consecutive 337 patients within 6 h of onset who had symptomatic stenosis or occlusion of major cerebral arteries and received recanalization therapy. Based on commencement of statin therapy, patients were categorized into administration on the first (D1, 13.4 %), second (D2, 20.8 %) and third day or later (D ≥ 3, 15.4 %) after recanalization therapy, and no use (NU, 50.4 %). The primary efficacy outcome was a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1, and the secondary outcomes were neurologic improvement, neurologic deterioration and symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation during hospitalization. Results Earlier use of statin was associated with a better primary outcome in a dose-response relationship (P for trend = 0.01) independent of premorbid statin use, stroke history, atrial fibrillation, stroke subtype, calendar year, and methods of recanalization therapy. The odds of a better primary outcome increased in D1 compared to NU (adjusted odds ratio, 2.96; 95 % confidence interval, 1.19–7.37). Earlier statin use was significantly associated with less neurologic deterioration and symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation in bivariate analyses but not in multivariable analyses. Interaction analysis revealed that the effect of early statin use was not altered by stroke subtype and recanalization modality (P for interaction = 0.97 and 0.26, respectively). Conclusion Early statin use after recanalization therapy in ischemic stroke may improve the likelihood of a better functional outcome without increasing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage

Clinical features and outcomes in spontaneous intramural small bowel hematoma: cohort study and literature review

Background/Aims Spontaneous intramural small bowel hematoma (SISBH) is an extremely rare complication of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. We assessed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SISBH according to the anatomical location of the hematoma. Methods From January 2003 to February 2016, medical records for all patients hospitalized for SISBH at 2 tertiary referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was requirement for surgery. Results A total of 37 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 74.1 years. Among them, 33 patients (89.2%) were taking anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents. Duodenal intramural hematoma was detected in 4 patients (10.8%), jejunal in 16 (43.2%), and ileal in 17 (45.9%). Compared to jejunal and ileal involvement, duodenal intramural hematoma was significantly associated with high Charlson comorbidity index and low levels of white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets in the blood. SISBH in the duodenum was related to thrombocytopenia in 3 patients following systemic chemotherapy for malignancy. All patients with SISBH showed clinical improvement with conservative therapy. Mean length of hospital stay was 9.35 days. Independent predictors of a hospital stay of more than 7 days were body weight less than 60 kg (odds ratio [OR], 12.213; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.755–84.998; P=0.011) and a history of cerebrovascular accidents (OR, 6.667; 95% CI, 1.121–39.650; P=0.037). Conclusions Compared to jejunal and ileal involvement, thrombocytopenia may result in spontaneous duodenal intramural hematoma among patients who are treated with systemic chemotherapy for malignancies. Patients with SISBH have excellent clinical outcomes with conservative therapy regardless of the anatomical location of the hematoma

Mentoring Doctoral Students in Counselor Education for Research Competence: A Developmental Perspective

Doctoral students in counselor education should develop varying competencies in the degree program including research capabilities. However, there is a dearth of research addressing different characteristics of the students based on their research competence development. This article aims to provide a detailed guideline using a developmental approach that counselor educators may use in research mentorship and doctoral students can refer to in understanding their development and validating their struggles. Specifically, the authors used three themes including (a) tasks, (b) self-efficacy, and (c) researcher identity in the comprehensive framework for counselor educators-in-training researcher development (CFCRD). Implications for counselor educators and counselor education programs are discussed