High-frequency stimulation of nucleus accumbens changes in dopaminergic reward circuit

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a potential remedial therapy for drug craving and relapse, but the mechanism is poorly understood. We investigated changes in neurotransmitter levels during high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the unilateral NAc on morphine-induced rats. Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: the control group (administration of saline), the morphine-only group (systematic administration of morphine without electrode implantation), the morphine-sham-stimulation group (systematic administration of morphine with electrode implantation but not given stimulation), the morphine-stimulation group (systematic administration of morphine with electrode implantation and stimulation) and the saline-stimulation group (administration of saline with electrode implantation and stimulation). The stimulation electrode was stereotaxically implanted into the core of unilateral NAc and microdialysis probes were unilaterally lowered into the ipsilateral ventral tegmental area (VTA), NAc, and ventral pallidum (VP). Samples from microdialysis probes in the ipsilateral VTA, NAc, and VP were analyzed for glutamate (Glu) and caminobutyric acid (GABA) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The levels of Glu were increased in the ipsilateral NAc and VP of morphine-only group versus control group, whereas Glu levels were not significantly changed in the ipsilateral VTA. Furthermore, the levels of GABA decreased significantly in the ipsilateral NAc, VP, and VTA of morphineonly group when compared with control group. The profiles of increased Glu and reduced GABA in morphine-induced rats suggest that the presence of increased excitatory neurotransmission in these brain regions. The concentrations of the Glu significantly decreased while the levels of GABA increased in ipsilateral VTA, NAc, and VP in the morphine-stimulation group compared with the morphine-only group. No significant changes were seen in the morphine-sham stimulation group compared with the morphine-only group. These findings indicated that unilateral NAc stimulation inhibits the morphineinduced rats associated hyperactivation of excitatory neurotransmission in the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit

ZIF-67 In Situ Grown on Attapulgite: A Flame Retardant Synergist for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Magnesium Hydroxide Composites.

ZIF-67@ATP was prepared by the in situ growth of the zeolite imidazole frame (ZIF-67) on the surface of attapulgite (ATP). The structure and surface morphology of ZIF-67@ATP were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Different mass fractions of ATP and ZIF-67@ATP were added to ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites as flame retardant synergists. The flame retardancy of EVA composites was evaluated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, UL-94 test and cone calorimeter test. Composites containing 3 wt% of ZIF-67@ATP reached an LOI value of 43% and a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test, and the ignition time of the composite increased from 38 s to 56 s. The tensile strength and impact strength of the composites did not change significantly, but the elongation at break increased greatly. Typically, for composites containing 4 wt% of ZIF-67@ATP, the elongation at break of the composites increased from 69.5% to 522.2% compared to the samples without the synergist. This study provides novel insights into the application of attapulgite in the field of flame retardant polymer materials.post-print3999 K

苏州市三甲医院医患关系现状及其影响因素分析*

Objective: To investigate the relationship between doctors and patients in Suzhou, we focused on exploring the factors of doctor-patient communication, and strived to deepen the doctor-patient communication skills and knowledge. Method: Questionnaire survey was carried out in comprehensive tertiary-class hospitals in Suzhou , adopting the method of random sampling, respectively on patients and doctors. Results: 593 valid questionnaires were from both doctors and patients. The doctors thought that the current doctor-patient relationship  "good" and above accounted for 32% (31/98).At the meanwhile, in the patients, this proportion was 45% (223/495).There was statistically significance between the difference(P ＜0.05).Only 6% doctors thought that the communication between doctors and patients is not important; in the patients, the ratio was 10%. Among the doctors, the top three factors of doctor-patient communication were: lack of communication skills, too much tasks and not enough time and energy, not good attitude. Among patients, the top three factors were: incomprehension and distrust of the doctors, the poor understanding for medical knowledge and the low cultural level. Conclusion: In the first-class hospitals of Suzhou, the relationship between doctors and patients had a relatively good development trend. There were some problems in the communication between doctors and patients. We should enhance the doctor-patient communication, and build a harmonious doctor-patient relationship.目的  了解苏州市三甲医院的医患关系现状，探寻医患沟通的影响因素，以增进医患沟通的知识及技能。方法  在苏州市综合性“三甲”医院进行问卷调查，采用单纯随机抽样方法，分别就患方和医方进行调研。结果  收回医患双方有效问卷593份，有效率为94.6%。医方认为当前医患关系“比较好”及以上者占32%(31/98)，患方认为当前医患关系“比较好”及以上者占45%(223/495)，两者比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。医方有6%的人认为医患沟通不重要；在患方，这一比率为10%。就医方责任方面来说，影响医患沟通的前三位因素依次为：缺乏沟通技巧、工作任务繁重没有时间和精力、服务态度不好；就患者方面责任来说，影响医患沟通的前三位因素依次为：不理解不信任医护人员、对医疗知识不了解、文化层次相对较低。结论  苏州市3家三甲医院医患关系总体较好，医患沟通方面存在一定不足，应当切实增进医患沟通，构建和谐医患关系

Search for serum biomarkers in patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder using metabolome analysis

ObjectiveBipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are two common psychiatric disorders. Due to the overlapping clinical symptoms and the lack of objective diagnostic biomarkers, bipolar disorder (BD) is easily misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), which in turn affects treatment decisions and prognosis. This study aimed to investigate biomarkers that could be used to differentiate BD from MDD.MethodsNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was performed to assess serum metabolic profiles in depressed patients with BD (n = 59), patients with MDD (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 10). Data was analyzed using partial least squares discriminant analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and t-tests. Different metabolites (VIP > 1 and p < 0.05) were identified and further analyzed using Metabo Analyst 5.0 to identify relevant metabolic pathways.ResultsThe metabolic phenotypes of the BD and MDD groups were significantly different from those of the healthy controls, and there were different metabolite differences between them. In the BD group, the levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, n-acetyl glycoprotein, β-glucose, pantothenic acid, mannose, glycerol, and lipids were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group, and the levels of lactate and acetoacetate were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group. In the MDD group, the levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, n-acetyl glycoprotein, pyruvate, choline, acetoacetic acid, and lipids were significantly higher than those of healthy controls, and the levels of acetic acid and glycerol were significantly lower than those of healthy controls.ConclusionGlycerolipid metabolism is significantly involved in BD and MDD. Pyruvate metabolism is significantly involved in MDD. Pyruvate, choline, and acetate may be potential biomarkers for MDD to distinguish from BD, and pantothenic acid may be a potential biomarker for BD to distinguish from MDD

苏州大学中、外医学生对控烟KAP的比较研究

Objective: Based on the survey of the knowledge-attitude-belief and practice to tobacco control between Chinese and foreign medical students in Soochow University, the authors intended to explore the current situation, differences and influencing factors of Chinese and foreign medical students, in order to provide a reference for tobacco control policies and measures set by the Medical College of Soochow University. Methods: By stratified sampling, we selected 200 Chinese medical students and 200 foreign medical students of Medical College in different grades and different majors, and adopted anonymous questionnaires to investigate. Results: The smoking rates of Chinese and foreign male medical students were 7.4%, 15.5% respectively , while female medical students' smoking rates were 0.0, 8.1% respectively. Foreign medical students’ daily smoking was mostly 4~10, which was significantly greater than the Chinese medical students （P<0.05）; besides, the identification degree to the responsibilities and duties for smoking control of the professional medical staff were both higher. The influence of the different smoking rates between Chinese and foreign medical students was mainly ethnic background, and the influences of the different smoking behavior mainly depended on their knowledge and attitude towards tobacco control. Conclusion: There is a need for schools to adopt health education measure to promote the school tobacco control based on the differences of the knowledge-attitude-belief and practice to tobacco control between Chinese and Foreign Medical students. Help medical students to translate knowledge of tobacco control they have already mastered into belief, and further affect their behavior.目的  通过对苏州大学中、外医学生关于控烟知信行的调查，探讨中、外医学生控烟知信行的现状、差异及影响因素，为苏州大学医学部制定控烟政策和措施提供参考依据。方法  采用分层随机抽样的方法抽取医学部不同年级不同专业中国与外国医学生各200人，采用自填式匿名问卷进行调查。结果  中、外男性医学生现在吸烟率分别为7.4%、15.5%，女性医学生吸烟率分别为0.0%、8.1%。外国医学生吸烟者的日均吸烟量多为4~10支，显著大于中国医学生的2~3支（P<0.05）；中、外医学生对职业医务人员控烟责任与义务的认同度都比较高。影响中、外医学生吸烟率的主要因素是民族背景，影响吸烟行为的主要因素是对控烟知识的了解以及态度。结论  学校应针对中、外医学生的知、信、行差异综合采取健康教育策略，促进校园控烟工作。帮助医学生将所掌握的控烟知识内化为信念，进而改变不良行为

On a taxonomic feature that has been overestimated in classification practice: an integrative taxonomic revision of Stephoblemmus Saussure, 1877 based on morphology and molecular phylogeny (Orthoptera: Grylloidea; Gryllidae; Gryllinae)

The hemispherical head is prevalent in Gryllinae crickets, so the rare crickets that have a unique form of head will be extremely unusual. In previous studies, this special feature can be one of the important features to distinguish and identify these crickets. But does this particular head shape truly reflect a clear-cut taxonomic relationship? The species of the genus Loxoblemmus have a typical truncate head; species of the genus Stephoblemmus have a more exaggerated truncate head, with the frontal end even extending into a lamellar. The genus Mitius is relatively unusual in that species of this genus have both globose or truncate heads. How are these species related? Does the cephalic shape perfectly reflect the natural classification of these species? Based on these questions, the study applied species definition and morphological classification to explore the intergeneric and intrageneric species relationships of the genera Mitius, Stephoblemmus, and Loxoblemmus, and derived the following main conclusions: (1) Mitius and Stephoblemmus are related and distinct from Loxoblemmus; (2) Mitius species bear two types of frons (truncated and rounded), but this feature disallows them to be classified as natural groups; (3) one genus synonym and three species synonyms are raised (Mitius Gorochov, 1985 syn. n., Mitius splendens (Shiraki, 1930) syn. n., Mitius eryuanensis Yuan, Xie & Liu, 2021 syn. n. and Mitius brevipennis Yuan, Ma & Gu, 2022 syn. n.), and seven new status combinations are proposed (Stephoblemmus blennus (Saussure, 1877) comb. n., Stephoblemmus castaneus (Chopard, 1937) comb. n., Stephoblemmus enatus Gorochov, 1994 comb. n., Stephoblemmus flavipes (Chopard, 1928) comb. n., Stephoblemmus minor (Shiraki, 1911) comb. n., Stephoblemmus minutulus (Yang & Yang, 1995) comb. n. and Stephoblemmus vaturu (Otte & Cowper, 2007) comb. n.). The studies indicated that frons shapes that appear to be significantly different might not always reflect the correct Gryllinae species relationships and a combination of more taxonomic features and taxonomic techniques is needed often to reveal the true taxonomic relationships

A 3-Year Longitudinal Study of Effects of Parental Feeding Practices on Child Weight Status: The Childhood Obesity Study in China Mega-Cities

This study examined the longitudinal associations between parental feeding practices and child weight status, and their potential modification effects by child sex, age, and maternal and paternal educations among children. Data were collected from 2015 to 2017 of 2139 children aged 6–17 years and their parents in five Chinese mega-cities. Parental feeding practices were assessed using 11-items from Child Feeding Questionnaire. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), and general and central obesity were measured and analyzed using a mixed-effects model. Three parental feeding patterns were identified by factor analysis including “concern”, “pressure to eat”, and “control”. Concern was associated with higher BMI z-score, WHtR (βs ranged from 0.01 to 0.16), and general obesity (ORs ranged from 1.29 to 6.41) among children aged ≤12 years and >12 years, regardless of child sex and parental educations. Pressure to eat was associated with lower BMI z-score (β = −0.08, p < 0.001), WHtR (β = −0.004, p < 0.01), and general (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.66) and central obesity (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58, 0.90) among children aged ≤12 years. Further analyses showed that significant associations were found for children with maternal or paternal education of college and above. Control was associated with increased risk of general and central obesity among children with maternal education of college and above, regardless of age. Our study indicates that higher concern and lower pressure to eat were associated with increased risk of obesity among children. Control was associated with increased risk of obesity among children with maternal education of college and above. Future childhood obesity preventions may optimize parental feeding practices.This work was supported by China Medical Board (grant number: 16-262), National Institutes of Health (grant number: U54 HD070725), United Nations Children’s Fund (grant number: UNICEF 2018-Nutrition-2.1.2.3), the Chinese National Key Research and Development Program (grant number: 2017YFC0907200 and 2017YFC0907201), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (8210120946), Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (2020JQ-094), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M653669), Young Talent Fund of Association for Science and Technology in Shaanxi, China (20220301)