Predicting Physical Aggression among Schizophrenia Patients in Rural Communities of Southwestern China.

Objective: Physical aggression in schizophrenia patients carries significant societal implications. Previous studies on aggression prediction have primarily focused on hospitalized patients, overlooking specific rural community contexts in China. This study investigated multidimensional predictive factors to develop and validate a predictive model for predicting physical aggression in schizophrenia patients in rural communities in southwestern China.

Elevated O-GlcNAcylation Enhances Metabolic Rate and Reduces the Excitability of Hypothalamic ARC Neurons in 10-month-old Male Mice.

Aging correlates with alterations in metabolism and neuronal function, which affect the overall regulation of energy homeostasis. Recent studies have highlighted that protein O-GlcNAcylation, a common post-translational modification regulating metabolic function, is linked to aging. In particular, elevated O-GlcNAcylation increases energy expenditure, potentially due to alterations in the neuronal function of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), a key brain region for energy balance and metabolic processes.

A dynamic spatiotemporal representation framework for deciphering personal brain function.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) opens a window on observing spontaneous activities of the human brain in vivo. However, the high complexity of fMRI signals makes brain functional representations intractable. Here, we introduce a state decomposition method to reduce this complexity and decipher individual brain functions at multiple levels.

Does unfairness evoke anger or disgust? A quantitative neurofunctional dissection based on 25 years of neuroimaging.

Over the last decades, the traditional 'Homo economicus' model has been increasingly challenged by converging evidence highlighting the critical impact of emotions on decision-making. A classic example is the perception of unfairness in the Ultimatum Game, where humans willingly sacrifice personal gains to punish fairness norm violators. While emotional mechanisms underlying such costly punishment are widely acknowledged, the distinct contributions of moral emotions, particularly anger and disgust, remain debated, partly due to methodological limitations in conventional experiments.

State-dependent alterations in neural activity induced by the personalized ventrolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation during viewing emotional film clips.

Emotion regulation is crucial for maintaining normal social interactions and individual psychological health. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to modulate emotional regulation may be a powerful method for neurological or psychiatric disorders. However, TMS efficacy varies between protocols and individuals, with the brain's state during treatment being an often-overlooked factor.

Pathological tau propagation from the brain to the colon via the vagal efferent pathway in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles, leading to cognitive decline. Recent research has highlighted the involvement of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in AD progression, suggesting that the disease may also affect the gut.

Objective: To investigate the transmission of tau from the brain to the gut via the vagus nerve and its impact on gut function, we aimed to develop a novel in vitro system to simulate the GBA.

Longitudinal non-negative matrix factorization identifies the altered trajectory of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with progressive structural alterations throughout the brain, resulting in motor symptoms that seriously affect patients' daily life. The present study then aimed to explore the progressive co-changes in gray matter patterns in PD and identify the longitudinal neuroimaging biomarkers that could predict the progressive motor symptoms of PD. Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) was first used to decompose gray matter images into 7 latent factors from healthy samples, and then the latent factors were validated on an independent dataset to verify the stability of the structural factors.

The Efficacy and Central Remodeling Mechanism of a Composite TMS Pattern in First-Episode and Recurrent Depressive Disorders.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol incorporating intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and low-frequency TMS in adults diagnosed with first-episode and recurrent depressive disorders. A prospective, double-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted involving 42 participants (21 with first-episode depressive disorder and 21 with recurrent depressive disorder) recruited from Chengdu, China. All subjects received 10 sessions of TMS over two weeks.

Neurodevelopmentally rooted epicenters in schizophrenia: sensorimotor-association spatial axis of cortical thickness alterations.

Pathological disturbances in schizophrenia have been suggested to propagate via the functional and structural connectome across the lifespan. However, how the connectome guides early cortical reorganization of developing schizophrenia remains unknown. Here, we used early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) as a neurodevelopmental disease model to investigate putative early pathologic origins propagating through the functional and structural connectome.

CD99-mediated immunological synapse formation potentiates CAR-T cell function.

Despite the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells in selected hematological malignancies, further improvement on CAR-T designs is still desirable. We hypothesize that modifying the CAR structure to enhance immunological synapse (IS) stabilization and CAR target-binding may be a feasible strategy. Here we show that the membrane protein, CD99, is critical for IS formation in T cells by mediating actin-microtubule interaction.

Executive function predicts academic and social skills in autistic kindergartners based on a multimodal approach.

Background: Executive functions (EF) are cognitive processes that underlie goal-directed abilities and behaviors which have been found to be variable in autistic children. While EFs are well-established predictors of academic and social outcomes in neurotypical children, it is unclear if these same associations are true for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the relation between EF and academic and social skills in cognitively able, verbal kindergarteners with ASD, while using a multimeasurement approach to EF skills.

The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that imposes significant social burdens. Traditional treatmens, however, have limited effectiveness in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Recent studies have indicated interventions promoting sensorimotor integration may offer potential benefits for schizophrenia treatment.

RepliChrom: Interpretable machine learning predicts cancer-associated enhancer-promoter interactions using DNA replication timing.

RepliChrom is an interpretable machine learning model that predicts enhancer-promoter interactions using DNA replication timing across multiple cell types. By integrating replication timing with chromatin interaction data from multiple experimental platforms, it accurately distinguishes true interactions and reveals promoter-region signals as key regulatory drivers. Importantly, the RepliChrom uncovers cancer-specific chromatin patterns in leukemia, offering mechanistic insights into how replication timing shapes long-range gene regulation in both normal and diseased genomes.

Hemoglobin as a pseudoperoxidase and drug target for oxidative stress-related diseases.

Hemoglobin (Hb) is well known for transporting oxygen in the blood, but its role in the brain remains poorly understood. Here, we identified Hb in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nuclei of hippocampal and substantia nigra astrocytes and dopaminergic neurons. As a pseudoperoxidase, Hb decomposes hydrogen peroxide (HO) and mitigates HO-induced oxidative damage.

Proton-activated chloride channel governs phagosome-mediated antibacterial immunity in peritoneal macrophages.

The success of phagosome degradation relies on the ability of phagocytes to regulate the maturation of phagosomes. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel as a key negative regulator of phagosome maturation.

Discovery of Novel β-Arrestin Biased Sphingosine-1-Phosphate-1 Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Fingolimod, the first nonselective S1P modulator for multiple sclerosis (MS), is effective but linked to cardiovascular side effects. To improve the drug safety profile, we developed β-arrestin biased S1P agonists with reduced G-protein activity using a pharmacophore-based approach. Among them, compound showed 4.

Interactions with tau's microtubule-binding repeats modulate amyloid-β aggregation and toxicity.

The complicated pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, primarily composed of tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates, respectively. While substantial efforts have focused on unraveling the individual roles of tau and Aβ in AD development, the intricate interplay between these components remains elusive. Here we report how the microtubule-binding repeats of tau engage with Aβ in a distinct manner.

Neural and behavioral signatures of feedback-based adjustment bias in response to infant cries.

Infant crying is a critical signal that prompts caregiving, yet the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying how individuals adapt to feedback in this context are underexplored. Here, in 34 young adults (18 female; age from 19 to 26 years) with no prior caregiving experience, we used an infant cry feedback paradigm to characterize individual differences in behavioral adjustment and their neural correlates. Participants judged the cause of infant cries while their reaction time changes (ΔRT) and EEG were recorded.

MXene/PEDOT:PSS-based dual-biomarker impedimetric immunosensor for accurate differentiation of prostate cancer from BPH through urinary detection.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for PCa screening, it lacks specificity for distinguishing PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). β-2-microglobulin (β2m) is a sensitive biomarker for malignant tumors and can complement the PSA for improved diagnostic accuracy.

Pathway-Specific Polygenic Scores for Predicting Clinical Lithium Treatment Response in Patients With Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Polygenic scores (PGSs) hold the potential to identify patients who respond favorably to specific psychiatric treatments. However, their biological interpretation remains unclear. In this study, we developed pathway-specific PGSs (PS) for lithium response and assessed their association with clinical lithium response in patients with bipolar disorder.

Directed differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells into functional endothelial cells having IKAROS-mediated immune tolerance properties.

We report an efficient method for the directed differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from embryonic stem cells (EMSCs) into functional endothelial cells (EC), addressing the challenges of direct conversion, such as cellular senescence. We found that transduction of one transcription factor, ER71, was required for the efficient derivation of induced endothelial cells from EMSCs (MiECs). Addition of transforming growth factor-β inhibitor (SB431542), vascular endothelial growth factor, and ascorbic acid to the culture media enhanced the differentiation efficiency.

Gene transcription, neurotransmitter, and neurocognition signatures of brain structural-functional coupling variability.

The relationship between brain structure and function, known as structural-functional coupling (SFC), is highly dynamic. However, the temporal variability of this relationship, referring to the fluctuating extent to which functional profiles interact with anatomy over time, remains poorly elucidated. Here, we propose a framework to quantify SFC temporal variability and determine its neurocognitive map, genetic architecture, and neurochemical basis in 1206 healthy human participants.

Words or appearance? The impact of verbal behaviour and facial attraction on first impression.

In social interactions, verbal and nonverbal information often work together to form an impression of a person. Here, we turn to the interplay between verbal behaviour and facial attractiveness, addressing how these social signals co-act in modulating person judgment and concurrent neural activity. Male and female participants viewed same-sex or opposite-sex faces (attractive and average-looking) randomly paired with verbal evaluations (praise, criticism, and neutral) and rated the likeability of the individuals depicted in the face images.

Astrocyte priming enhances microglial Aβ clearance and is compromised by APOE4.

The innate immune system can develop a form of memory called priming, where prior exposure to a stimulus enhances subsequent responses. While well-characterized in peripheral immunity, its function in brain-resident cells such as astrocytes under non-disease conditions remains unclear. Here we show that human astrocytes derived from the induced pluripotent stem cells of healthy female donors, but not microglia, acquire a primed state following transient immune stimulations.