Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by early-onset neurodevelopmental anomalies, yet the temporal dynamics of genetic contributions to these processes remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to elucidate the role of the Shank3 gene, known to be associated with monogenic causes of autism, in early developmental processes to inform the timing and mechanisms for potential interventions for ASD. Utilizing the Shank3B knockout (KO) mouse model, we examined Shank3 expression and its impact on neuronal maturation through Golgi staining for dendritic morphology and electrophysiological recordings to measure synaptic function in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) across different postnatal stages. Our longitudinal analysis revealed that, while Shank3B KO mice displayed normal neuronal morphology at one week postnatal, significant impairments in dendritic growth and synaptic activity emerged by two to three weeks. These findings highlight the critical developmental window during which Shank3 is essential for neuronal and synaptic maturation in the ACC.
Animals ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Dendrites/metabolism* ; Mice ; Synapses/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Microfilament Proteins

Bacterial infection is a major threat to global public health, and can cause serious diseases such as bacterial skin infection and foodborne diseases. It is essential to develop a new method to rapidly diagnose clinical multiple bacterial infections and monitor food microbial contamination in production sites in real-time. In this work, we developed a 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid gold nanoparticles (4-MPBA-AuNPs)-functionalized hydrogel microneedle (MPBA-H-MN) for bacteria detection in skin interstitial fluid. MPBA-H-MN could conveniently capture and enrich a variety of bacteria within 5 min. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection was then performed and combined with machine learning technology to distinguish and identify a variety of bacteria. Overall, the capture efficiency of this method exceeded 50%. In the concentration range of 1 × 10⁷ to 1 × 10¹⁰ colony-forming units/mL (CFU/mL), the corresponding SERS intensity showed a certain linear relationship with the bacterial concentration. Using random forest (RF)-based machine learning, bacteria were effectively distinguished with an accuracy of 97.87%. In addition, the harmless disposal of used MNs by photothermal ablation was convenient, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive. This technique provided a potential method for rapid and real-time diagnosis of multiple clinical bacterial infections and for monitoring microbial contamination of food in production sites.

Chlorobenzene contaminants (CBs) pose a threat to the eco-environment, and functional strains hold considerable potential for the remediation of CB-contaminated sites. To deeply explore the application potential of functional bacteria in the in-situ bioremediation of CBs, this study focused on the biodegradation characteristics and degradation kinetics of CB and 1, 2-dichlorobenzene (1, 2-DCB) in soil by the isolated strain Serratia marcescens TF-1. Additionally, an in-situ remediation trial was conducted with this strain at a chemical industrial site. Batch serum bottle experiments showed that the degradation rate of CB at the concentrations ranging from 20 to 200 mg/L by TF-1 was 0.22-0.66 mol/(g_cell·h), following the Haldane model, with the optimal concentration at 23.12 mg/L. The results from simulated soil degradation experiments indicated that the combined use of TF-1 and sodium succinate (SS) significantly enhanced the degradation of CBs, with the maximum degradation rate of CB reaching 0.104 d^-1 and a half-life of 6.66 d. For 1, 2-DCB, the maximum degradation rate constant was 0.068 7 d^-1, with a half-life of 10.087 d. The in-situ remediation results at the chemically contaminated site demonstrated that the introduction of bacterial inoculant and SS significantly improved the removal of CBs, achieving the removal rates of 84.2%-100% after 10 d. CB, 1, 4-dichlorobenzene (1, 4-DCB), and benzo[a]pyrene were completely removed. Microbial diversity analysis revealed that the in-situ remediation facilitated the colonization of TF-1 and the enrichment of indigenous nitrogen-fixing Azoarcus, which may have played a key role in the degradation process. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical experience for the in situ bioremediation of CBs-contaminated sites.
Chlorobenzenes/isolation & purification* ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Soil Pollutants/isolation & purification* ; Serratia marcescens/metabolism* ; Industrial Waste ; Soil Microbiology

Bacterial infection is a major threat to global public health,and can cause serious diseases such as bacterial skin infection and foodborne diseases.It is essential to develop a new method to rapidly di-agnose clinical multiple bacterial infections and monitor food microbial contamination in production sites in real-time.In this work,we developed a 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid gold nanoparticles(4-MPBA-AuNPs)-functionalized hydrogel microneedle(MPBA-H-MN)for bacteria detection in skin inter-stitial fluid.MPBA-H-MN could conveniently capture and enrich a variety of bacteria within 5 min.Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS)detection was then performed and combined with ma-chine learning technology to distinguish and identify a variety of bacteria.Overall,the capture efficiency of this method exceeded 50％.In the concentration range of 1 × 10 7 to 1 × 10 10 colony-forming units/mL(CFU/mL),the corresponding SERS intensity showed a certain linear relationship with the bacterial concentration.Using random forest(RF)-based machine learning,bacteria were effectively distinguished with an accuracy of 97.87％.In addition,the harmless disposal of used MNs by photothermal ablation was convenient,environmentally friendly,and inexpensive.This technique provided a potential method for rapid and real-time diagnosis of multiple clinical bacterial infections and for monitoring microbial contamination of food in production sites.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of combination of peginterferon α-2b（Peg-IFN α-2b）with nucleos（t）ide analogues（NAs）on antiviral therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B（CHB）and to provide an optimized clinical treatment strategies for CHB children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 CHB children treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University（Southwest Hospital）from January 2022 to January 2025 with treatment duration at least 48 weeks. The enrolled children were aged between 2 and 17 years and divided into the NAs combined with Peg-IFN α-2b（NPI）group（n=13）and NAs group（n=17）by their therapy regimens. The characteristics of baseline，week 12，week 24，week 48 and week 96 were compared between groups，as well as the differences in response to biochemical，immune and viral indicators at each observation point. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curve analysis were performed to identify factors influencing the HBsAg seroclearance. Results:At baseline of treatment，the proportion of HBeAg positivity in the NPI group and the NAs group was high（76.9% vs 86.6%， χ2=0.679， P=0.628），and the alanine aminotransferase（ALT）and aspartate aminotransferase（AST）in the NPI group were significantly lower than those in the NAs group（ P<0.001）. At 24 weeks，the decrease in HBsAg in the NPI group was also significantly higher than that in the NAs group（ Z=-3.161， P=0.002）. Finally，the cumulative seroclearance rate of HBsAg at 96 weeks in the NPI group was significantly higher than that in the NAs group（46.15% vs 5.88%， χ2=0.679， P=0.025）. Mulitivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that treatment regimen and gender were risk factors affecting the outcome of HBsAg（ P<0.05）. ROC curve analysis showed that the increase in ALT at 12 weeks compared with baseline（AUC=0.857，Cutoff value=3.615 IU/L），the decrease in ALT at 24 weeks（AUC=0.870，Cutoff value=47.85 IU/L），and the decrease in HBsAg at 12 weeks and especially at 24 weeks（AUC=0.885，Cutoff value=0.97log IU/ml）were effective predictors of HBsAg prognosis at 96 weeks. Conclusion:In CHB children，antiviral regimen Peg-IFN α-2b combined with NAs was more effective than NAs alone in improving the HBsAg seroclearance rate of CHB，and the effects in female were better than in male. The decline of HBsAg and the fluctuation of ALT in the early treatment period are valid predictors of HBsAg clearance.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of lightroom therapy on depressive mood and sleep problems in patients with depression, and the potential effects on physiological indices related to circadian rhythms.Methods:From October 2021 to July 2023, 54 patients with acute-phase depression hospitalized in the Mental Health Center of the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University were recruited. The participants were randomly assigned to either medication combined with the bright light therapy group (bright light group, n=36) or medication combined with the dim light therapy group (dim light group, n=18). Both groups received light therapy for 2 weeks, at 10 000 lx in the bright light group and 300 lx in the dim light group. Both groups received 30 minutes of light therapy from 7:30-8:00 a.m daily over two weeks, followed up for 1 week post-treatment. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD 17) was used to assess patients′ depressive symptoms, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess patients′ sleep quality at baseline, at the end of every week. The 32-Item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) was used at the end of week 2 to assess the risk of manic switching after treatment. Daily measurements of body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure were taken before and after light therapy, along with recording adverse events related to the therapy. Paired t- tests were used to compare changes in physiological indicators before and after treatment, and repeated measures ANOVA was applied to compare clinical symptom changes between the two groups. Results:Thirty-one and fifteen patients completed this study in the bright light and dim light groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference in dropout rates( P>0.05). There were significant interaction effects between the time and group for HAMD 17 and PSQI score( F=5.51,4.11, both P<0.05). Both groups showed significant reductions in HAMD 17 and PSQI scores at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 3 ( P<0.001). In the bright light group, body temperature increased significantly post-treatment on days 1-4, day 7, and day 12 (all P<0.05). Heart rate elevated on day 5 ( P<0.05).Systolic blood pressure decreased on days 4, 5, 11, and 12 compared to the pre-treatment baseline(all P<0.05). In the dim light group, systolic blood pressure increased on day 11 ( P<0.05). Diastolic blood pressure in the bright light group decreased on days 1, 5, and 6( P<0.05). No serious adverse events, vision loss, ocular structural changes occurred in either group. No hypomania or mania episodes were observed. The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Medication combined with indoor bright light is more effective than the combination of dim light for depressive symptoms and sleep problems in patients with depression. Patients receiving bright light also may exhibit a higher body temperature, accelerated heart rate, and reduced blood pressure.

Objective:To explore the influence of Stat1 on Foxp3 expression and production of Treg.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were used and separated into normal control group and Stat1 specific inhibitor Fludarabine(Flud)treatment group.Ratio of CD4+Foxp3+Treg and expression of Foxp3 in spleen,lymph nodes and peripheral blood of mice in each group were detected by flow cy-tometry.Human Stat1 overexpression plasmid was constructed and transfected into human breast cancer MCF-7 cells,and expression changes of Foxp3 was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.Results:Compared with mice in normal control group,proportion of Treg and expression of Foxp3 in lymph nodes and peripheral blood of mice in Flud treatment group were increased,while Stat1 overex-pression resulted in decreased Foxp3 mRNA and protein expression in MCF-7 cells.Conclusion:Stat1 inhibits expression of Foxp3 and production of Tregs.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum cytokeratin 18 (CK18)-M30, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), apelin-13 and the severity of early-onset preeclampsia, as well as their impact on perinatal outcomes.Methods:A prospective study method was adopted. A total of 125 patients with early-onset preeclampsia (early-onset preeclampsia group) and 125 healthy pregnant women (healthy control group) from April 2022 to June 2024 in Xi′an International Medical Center Hospital were selected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13. All subjects of both groups were followed up until delivery, and the perinatal outcomes were recorded, including the delivery gestational week, fetal asphyxia, fetal growth restriction, fetal death and small for gestational age infant. Point-biserial correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of serum CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13 on the illness severity in patients with early-onset preeclampsia.Results:The serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α in early-onset preeclampsia group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group: (282.55 ± 37.07) U/L vs. (117.18 ± 18.76) U/L and (478.79 ± 51.24) ng/L vs. (246.05 ± 33.73) ng/L, the serum apelin-13 was significantly lower than that in healthy control group: (337.29 ± 42.42) ng/L vs. (810.86 ± 91.47) ng/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Among the 125 patients with early-onset preeclampsia, 68 cases were mild and 57 cases were severe. The serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α in severe patients were significantly higher than those in mild patients: (316.95 ± 40.22) U/L vs. (253.72 ± 31.08) U/L and (527.22 ± 56.44) ng/L vs. (438.19 ± 49.27) ng/L, the serum apelin-13 was significantly lower than that in mild patients: (291.72 ± 36.41) ng/L vs. (375.49 ± 47.08) ng/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The point-biserial correlation analysis results showed that the serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α were positively correlated with the illness severity in patients with early-onset preeclampsia ( r = 0.536 and 0.521, P<0.01), the serum apelin-13 was negatively correlated with the illness severity ( r = - 0.540, P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that high CK18-M30, high 8-iso-PGF2α and low apelin-13 were the independent risk factors of disease progression in patients with early-onset preeclampsia ( OR = 2.984, 2.855 and 0.873; 95% CI 1.670 to 5.330, 1.561 to 5.221 and 0.781 to 0.976; P<0.01 or <0.05). Taking the mean values of serum CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13 in patients with early-onset preeclampsia (282.55 U/L, 478.79 ng/L and 337.29 ng/L) as the cut-off values, the patients were divided into high (≥mean value) and low (

Objective:To explore the lived experiences of family members of terminal ICU patients regarding their humanistic care needs and provide theoretical foundations for developing nursing care plans tailored to their needs.Methods:This study was a descriptive qualitative study. From April to December 2023, 16 family members of terminally ill ICU patients in Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University were selected for semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling method, and the interview data were qualitatively analyzed using Colaizzi 7-step analysis.Results:The humanistic care needs of family members of terminally ill ICU patients can be categorized into five themes, namely, the need to know the condition at the first time; the need to participate in treatment and decision-making; the need to respect the wishes of terminally ill patients; the need for psychological care; and the need for social support.Conclusions:The humanistic care needs of family members of terminal ICU patients remain largely unmet. Nursing professionals should consider these needs and preferences and provide family members with professional guidance to help them establish positive coping mechanisms.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum cytokeratin 18 (CK18)-M30, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), apelin-13 and the severity of early-onset preeclampsia, as well as their impact on perinatal outcomes.Methods:A prospective study method was adopted. A total of 125 patients with early-onset preeclampsia (early-onset preeclampsia group) and 125 healthy pregnant women (healthy control group) from April 2022 to June 2024 in Xi′an International Medical Center Hospital were selected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13. All subjects of both groups were followed up until delivery, and the perinatal outcomes were recorded, including the delivery gestational week, fetal asphyxia, fetal growth restriction, fetal death and small for gestational age infant. Point-biserial correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of serum CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13 on the illness severity in patients with early-onset preeclampsia.Results:The serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α in early-onset preeclampsia group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group: (282.55 ± 37.07) U/L vs. (117.18 ± 18.76) U/L and (478.79 ± 51.24) ng/L vs. (246.05 ± 33.73) ng/L, the serum apelin-13 was significantly lower than that in healthy control group: (337.29 ± 42.42) ng/L vs. (810.86 ± 91.47) ng/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Among the 125 patients with early-onset preeclampsia, 68 cases were mild and 57 cases were severe. The serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α in severe patients were significantly higher than those in mild patients: (316.95 ± 40.22) U/L vs. (253.72 ± 31.08) U/L and (527.22 ± 56.44) ng/L vs. (438.19 ± 49.27) ng/L, the serum apelin-13 was significantly lower than that in mild patients: (291.72 ± 36.41) ng/L vs. (375.49 ± 47.08) ng/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The point-biserial correlation analysis results showed that the serum CK18-M30 and 8-iso-PGF2α were positively correlated with the illness severity in patients with early-onset preeclampsia ( r = 0.536 and 0.521, P<0.01), the serum apelin-13 was negatively correlated with the illness severity ( r = - 0.540, P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that high CK18-M30, high 8-iso-PGF2α and low apelin-13 were the independent risk factors of disease progression in patients with early-onset preeclampsia ( OR = 2.984, 2.855 and 0.873; 95% CI 1.670 to 5.330, 1.561 to 5.221 and 0.781 to 0.976; P<0.01 or <0.05). Taking the mean values of serum CK18-M30, 8-iso-PGF2α and apelin-13 in patients with early-onset preeclampsia (282.55 U/L, 478.79 ng/L and 337.29 ng/L) as the cut-off values, the patients were divided into high (≥mean value) and low (