Excitatory neurotransmitter signaling through glutamate receptors modulates cognitive functions such as memory and learning, which are usually impaired in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of plasma glutamate levels in ASD. Fifty-one children diagnosed with ASD, 51 typically developing children, and 51 children with intellectual disability matched for sex and age were assessed for plasma glutamate at admission. Plasma levels of glutamate were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and the severity of ASD was evaluated using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale Score. We found that the mean plasma glutamate levels were significantly (P<0.0001) higher in children with ASD compared with healthy controls and intellectual disability controls [36.1 (SD: 8.3) vs. 23.4 (4.2) vs. 24.7 (4.6) µM; P<0.001, respectively]. Levels of glutamate increased with increasing severity of ASD as defined by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale score. Receiver operating characteristics to diagnose ASD showed areas under the curve of glutamate of 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87-0.96], which was superior to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [0.64 (95% CI, 0.55-0.75), P<0.001] and homocysteine (area under the curve, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.64-0.81; P<0.000). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, glutamate was an independent diagnosis indicator of ASD with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.362 (95% CI, 1.164-1.512; P<0.0001). The present study shows that autistic children had higher plasma levels of glutamate and elevated plasma glutamate levels may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autism. Further larger studies are required to support our findings.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors, characterized by excessive release of catecholamines (CAs), and manifested as the classic triad of headaches, palpitations, profuse sweating, and a variety of other signs and symptoms. The diagnosis of PPGL requires both evidence of excessive release of CAs and anatomical localization of CA-secreting tumor. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for all patients with PPGL unless contraindicated. However, without proper preparation, the release of excessive CAs, especially during surgery, can result in lethal cardiovascular complications. Herein, we briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of this disease, discussed the current approaches and evidence available for preoperative management, summarizing the results of the latest studies which compared the efficacies of preoperative management with or without a adrenergic-receptor antagonists, aiming to facilitate better understanding of the preoperative management of PPGL for the physicians.

Suppression of the screening effect and thus the enhancement of piezo-phototronic modulation were achieved in monolayer MoS2 through defect engineering.

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To evaluate the association between dyslipidemia and nephrolithiasis risk in a Chinese population. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Fasting plasma lipid profiles were measured in a case-control study of 540 nephrolithiasis cases and 656 kidney stone-free controls. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Triglycerides (TG) levels were significantly higher, but total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly lower in nephrolithiasis patients than those in the control group (each <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). Similar associations were found in both primary and recurrent nephrolithiasis patients except for TC levels. Significantly lower TC and LDL-C levels were found in all patients except those with uric acid stones. Patients with calcium oxalate (CaOx) and uric acid stones had significantly higher TG levels. Individuals with hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterolemia were associated with increased risk of nephrolithiasis (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01–1.71 and OR 7.57, 95% CI 5.64–10.17, respectively). Conversely, those with hypercholesterolemia and high LDL-cholesterolemia were associated with decreased nephrolithiasis risk (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46–0.79 and OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42–0.90, respectively). The risk remained in patients with CaOx stones. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our results suggest that dyslipidemia was associated with nephrolithiasis risk in a Chinese population, especially in patients with CaOx stones.

There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/inadequacy among Tianjin residents, especially among female participants, rural young adults, and elderly individuals. Vitamin D supplementation is imperative for these high-risk vitamin D-deficient residents.

The drift-tearing instability due to diamagnetic drift effects is verified using the Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC). First, the classical (2,1) resistive tearing mode is verified in a cylindrical geometry with a fluid model. The dependence of the growth rate of the resistive tearing mode on the beta value of the plasma is obtained and is found to qualitatively agree with the theoretical prediction. A drift-tearing mode is subsequently generated when the equilibrium pressure gradient is significant. In this mode, diamagnetic drift effects result in a reduced growth rate and a real frequency equal to the electron diamagnetic frequency. The scaling relation between the diamagnetic frequency and the growth rate of the drift-tearing mode has been calculated. This relation shows good agreement with the theoretical prediction for a relatively small resistivity; however, an obvious deviation arises when the resistivity is large.

No abstract

No abstract