The Default Mode Network Supports Episodic Memory in Cognitively Unimpaired Elderly Individuals: Different Contributions to Immediate Recall and Delayed Recall

While the neural correlates of age-related decline in episodic memory have been the subject of much interest, the spontaneous functional architecture of the brain for various memory processes in elderly adults, such as immediate recall (IR) and delayed recall (DR), remains unclear. The present study thus examined the neural correlates of age-related decline of various memory processes. A total of 66 cognitively normal older adults (aged 60-80 years) participated in this study. Memory processes were measured using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test as well as resting-state brain images, which were analyzed using both regional homogeneity (ReHo) and correlation-based functional connectivity (FC) approaches. We found that both IR and DR were significantly correlated with the ReHo of these critical regions, all within the default mode network (DMN), including the parahippocampal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, and medial prefrontal cortex. In addition, DR was also related to the FC between these DMN regions. These results suggest that the DMN plays different roles in memory retrieval across different retention intervals, and connections between the DMN regions contribute to memory consolidation of past events in healthy older people

Bis{N 2,N 6-bis­[(pyridin-3-yl)meth­yl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide-κN}bis­(methanol-κO)bis­(thio­cyanato-κN)cobalt(II)

In the title compound, [Co(NCS)2(C19H17N5O2)2(CH3OH)2], the CoII atom lies on an inversion center and is coordinated by two isothio­cyanate N atoms, two O atoms of methanol mol­ecules and two pyridine N atoms in a slightly distorted octa­hedral environment. Inter­molecular O—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds join the complex mol­ecules into layers parallel to the bc plane

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 Regimen to Treat Advanced Gastric Cancer Improves Survival without Increasing Adverse Events: A Retrospective Cohort Study from a Chinese Center

Background/Aim. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of FOLFOX4 (5-fluomumcil/leucovorin combined and oxaliplatin) neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Patients and Methods. Fifty-eight AGC patients were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study, 23 in the neoadjuvant group and 35 in the adjuvant group. R0 resection, survival, and adverse events were compared. Results. The two groups were well-matched, with no significant differences in R0 resection rate (82.6% versus 82.0%) and number of lymph nodes dissection (16 (0–49) versus 13 (3–40)) between the two groups (P>0.05). The number of lymph node metastases in the neoadjuvant group (3 (0–14)) was significantly fewer than that in the adjuvant group (6 (0–27)) (P=0.04). The neoadjuvant group had significantly better median overall survival (29.0 versus 22.0 months) and 3-year survival rate (73.9% versus 40.0%) than the adjuvant group (P=0.013). The positive expression rate of Ki-67 in the neoadjuvant group (40.0%, 8/20) was lower than that in the adjuvant group (74.2%, 23/31; P=0.015). Conclusion. The FOLFOX4 neoadjuvant chemotherapy could improve survival without increasing adverse events in patients with AGC

Seroepidemiology and genetic characterization of hepatitis E virus in western Yunnan Province

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the seroepidemiology and genetic characterization of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in western Yunnan Province.MethodsQuestionnaire survey was conducted among 1638 residents in western Yunnan Province using stratified sampling method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum anti-HEV IgG and IgM. HEV RNA was extracted from patients with serum anti-HEV IgM positive. The open reading flame 2 (ORF2) of HEV that was amplified by nested RT-PCR was sequenced and compared with standard HEV genotypes 1-4.ResultsSerum anti-HEV positive was found in 13.92% (228/1638) residents. The HEV infection rate in males was significantly higher than that in females with a ratio of 1.47 (P<0.01). 20-30 and 30-40 years old young men showed the highest incidence, 20.57% and 20.78%, respectively. While 10-20 and 20-30 years old young women exhibited the highest infection rate, 11.85% and 15.60%, respectively. According to occupation, the highest HEV infection rate was observed in farmers (20.35%) and migrants (16.50%). We isolated 10 individual HEV isolates from 31 patients with serum anti-HEV IgM positive. Homology analysis and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these 10 HEV isolates belonged to HEV genotype 4 with the homology of 78.65%-94.71%.ConclusionsThe HEV infection rate is high in western Yunnan Province. HEV genotype 4 is the leading cause of HEV infection and young farmers and migrants are the main infected population

Effect of hydroalcohol extract of lemon (Citrus limon) peel on a rat model of type 2 diabetes

Purpose: To determine the effect of the hydroalcohol extract of lemon peel (LP) on a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2D).Method: The rat model of T2D by injection of streptozotocin was established. The effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of LP was characterised on a rat model of type 2 diabetes based on body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance test, and insulin tolerance test. Antioxidant activity and oxidative stress were analysed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) assays.Results: In acute toxicity studies, administration of LP extract at 2000 mg/kg orally did not cause any symptoms of poisoning or death after 14 days. The body weight of rats increased after treatment with LP extracts. Food intake in diabetic rats decreased with LP extract treatment. Continual treatment with LP extracts for 35 days significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Glucose tolerance improved, and insulin resistance was reduced after treatment with LP extracts. SOD and MDA data indicate that treatment with LP extract alleviated the oxidative stress in diabetic rats as well as enhanced the antioxidant activity of liver in a dosage-dependent manner.Conclusion: LP extract decreased food intake and FBG, but increased body weight in rats. The effect of LP on T2D is likely related to improved antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress. Thus, LP extract has potentials for the treatment of T2D.Keywords: Lemon peel, Type 2 diabetes, Antioxidant activity, Glucose tolerance, Insulin toleranc

On Estimation of Fully Entangled Fraction

We study the fully entangled fraction (FEF) of arbitrary mixed states. New upper bounds of FEF are derived. These upper bounds make complements on the estimation of the value of FEF. For weakly mixed quantum states, an upper bound is shown to be very tight to the exact value of FEF.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure