Caregiving risk perception characteristics and associated factors among informal caregivers of functionally dependent elderly individuals at home: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: This study explored risk perception characteristics and influencing factors among informal caregivers of functionally dependent elderly individuals at home, aiming to improve caregivers' caregiving risk perception and coping abilities and ultimately enhance the quality of life for these individuals. METHODS: We used purposive sampling to select 22 informal caregivers from a community in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China, between March and September 2023 and conducted face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method. RESULTS: We extracted two themes, caregiving risk perception characteristics and caregiving risk perception associated factors, and eight sub-themes, perceived risk possibility, perceived risk anticipation, perceived severity of consequences, past caregiving experiences, health literacy, psychological status, caregiving burden, and family social support. CONCLUSION: There were differences in how informal caregivers perceived the risks associated with caring for functionally dependent elderly individuals at home, which various factors could influence. It was essential to provide training that covered the knowledge and skills needed for caregiving, improve caregivers' awareness of safety risks, and establish a correct perception of caregiving risks. The government must construct and refine a comprehensive framework for caregiver respite services. Simultaneously, healthcare professionals should proactively undertake health education endeavors to augment the recognition of care safety risks among informal caregivers, thereby cultivating an accurate awareness of care risk perception.

Operation Status of the Mutual Aid Human Milk Bank for Preterm Infants and Data Analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the matching degree between the donated supply and demand, clinical characteristics of both donors and recipients, along with the operation cost. Methods: From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, the data on human milk donation and usage, the clinical characteristics of donors and recipients, and the cost of each operating center were collected from the Manual Donation Registration Form and Information Management System of the selected human milk bank. Results: During the four years that the human milk bank was in operation, the volume of donated milk was slightly greater than the volume of consumed milk. A total of 1364 donors donated 2434.63 liters of qualified human milk, for RMB 1,791,000 (USD 257, 202), ie, RMB 385.3 (USD 55.3)/L; 97.8% of the donors were preterm puerperae, and 59% of the donors donated between 1 week and 1 month after delivery. All recipients were preterm infants and received donated human milk for a duration of 9.4 days on average. During the four years of operation, the proportion of donors who had previously received donated milk among all donors showed an overall increasing trend, while the incidence of NEC in preterm infants gradually decreased. Conclusions: The increasingly optimized structure of donors, the more economical operation, and the fact that the use of donated milk may not affect breastfeeding of the recipients have made it a human milk bank operation mode worthy of promotion.

Effects of sublingual colostrum application on oral and intestinal flora of extremely low birth weight infants.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of colostrum application on the establishment of normal flora in the intestinal tracts and oral cavities of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI). METHODS: A prospective cohort study design was adopted following the STROBE guidelines (Supplementary File 1). Colostrum was administered immediately after obtaining maternal breast milk using a special sterile cotton swab. There were no specific treatments for infants who did not receive colostrum. This experiment was completed on day 5 post-birth and the patients were divided into the colostrum and control groups, corresponding to whether or not colostrum was administered. Throat swabs and stool samples were collected on days 1 and 5 post-birth. RESULTS: Using the conventional bacteria cultivation technique, the detection rate of bacteria in 98 cases of meconium at birth was 15.31%. On day 5, the detection rates of Staphylococcus in the colostrum and control groups were 36.54% and 34.78%, with no significant difference between them (P = 0.856), and that of Enterococcus was 26.92% and 13.04%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.089). Likewise, at birth, the detection rate of bacteria in 98 cases of throat swabs was 27.55%. On day 5, the detection rate of Streptococcus in the colostrum and control groups was 78.85% and 50.00%, respectively, recording a statistically significant difference this time (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Colostrum application had limited effects on intestinal flora colonization but contributes to physiological oral flora colonization.

Early life exercise training and inhibition of apoLpp mRNA expression to improve age-related arrhythmias and prolong the average lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) places a heavy burden on older patients and the global healthcare system. A large body of evidence suggests that exercise training is essential in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we used the Drosophila melanogaster animal model to study the effects of early-life exercise training (Exercise) on the aging heart and lifespan. We found in flies that age-induced arrhythmias are conserved across different genetic backgrounds. The fat body is the primary source of circulating lipoproteins in flies. Inhibition of fat body apoLpp (Drosophila apoB homolog) demonstrated that low expression of apoLpp reduced the development of arrhythmias in aged flies but did not affect average lifespan. At the same time, exercise can also reduce the expression of apoLpp mRNA in aged flies and have a protective effect on the heart, which is similar to the inhibition of apoLpp mRNA. Although treatment of UAS-apoLppRNAi and exercise alone had no significant effect on lifespan, the combination of UAS-apoLppRNAi and exercise extended the average lifespan of flies. Therefore, we conclude that UAS-apoLppRNAi and exercise are sufficient to resist age-induced arrhythmias, which may be related to the decreased expression of apoLpp mRNA, and that UAS-apoLppRNAi and exercise have a combined effect on prolonging the average lifespan.

Study on improving collection feeding safety and quality of colostrum for very (extremely) low birth weight infants.

Objective: This study aims to explore the difficulties related to fresh colostrum feeding for very (extremely) low birth weight infants (VLBWI/ELBWI) and optimize the colostrum administration process. Methods: The VLBWI/ELBWI who were admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit from January to December 2021, were enrolled as the experimental group, and an optimized colostrum feeding process was adopted. The VLBWI/ELBWI admitted from January to December 2020 were enrolled as the control group, and a conventional feeding process was adopted. The general situation of colostrum supply, number of adverse feeding events, maternal breastfeeding rate at the critical time points. Results: There were no significant differences between the baseline charatcteristics of the 2 groups. In the experimental group, compared with the control group, the time to first colostrum collection was significantly shorter (64.8% vs. 57.8% p < 0.05), and the rates of colostrum feeding (44.1% vs. 70.5% p < 0.001), and of maternal breastfeeding at 2 weeks after birth (56.1% vs. 46.7%, p < 0.05) and on the day of discharge (46.2% vs. 37.8%, p < 0.05) were significantly higher. Before and after process optimization, the average total time required for the time for nurses to receive the colostrum in the NICU reduced from 7.5 min/time to 2 min/time, and no feeding-related adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Fresh colostrum feeding process optimization for VLBWI/ELBWI, improves the colostrum feeding rate, shortens the time to first colostrum collection, saves the working time of nurses, and improves the maternal breastfeeding rate at key time points.

Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the partners at care transitions measure.

BACKGROUND: The Partners at Care Transitions Measure (PACT-M) is a measure that assesses the quality and safety of care during the transition from hospital to home from the patient's perspective. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PACT-M in Mainland China. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of patients was recruited from three tertiary hospitals affiliated with Zhengzhou University, China. A total of 402 participants were interviewed before discharge, and 306 participants were interviewed one month after discharge from hospital to home using the Chinese version of the PACT-M. The statistical methods used in this study include the critical ratio value, item total correlation, test-retest, Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the PACT-M consists of PACT-M1 and PACT-M2, both of which have two dimensions, the number of items in both parts are consistent with the original English language version. The Cronbach's alpha values of the PACT-M1 and PACT-M2 were 0.802 and 0.741, and the test-retest reliability values were 0.885 and 0.837. The item content validity index and scale content validity index values of the PACT-M1 and PACT-M2 were all 1.0. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the PACT-M shows acceptable validity and reliability and can be used to assess the quality and safety of transitional care from hospital to home from the patient's perspective in mainland China.

Exercise-Training Regulates Apolipoprotein B in Drosophila to Improve HFD-Mediated Cardiac Function Damage and Low Exercise Capacity.

Apolipoprotein B plays an essential role in systemic lipid metabolism, and it is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Exercise-training can regulate systemic lipid metabolism, improve heart function, and improve exercise capacity, but the molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We used a Drosophila model to demonstrate that exercise-training regulates the expression of apoLpp (a homolog of apolipoprotein B) in cardiomyocytes, thereby resisting heart insufficiency and low exercise capacity caused by obesity. The apoLpp is an essential lipid carrier produced in the heart and fat body of Drosophila. In a Drosophila genetic screen, low expression of apoLpp reduced obesity and cardiac dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Cardiac-specific inhibition indicated that reducing apoLpp in the heart during HFD reduced the triglyceride content of the whole-body and reduced heart function damage caused by HFD. In exercise-trained flies, the result was similar to the knockdown effect of apoLpp. Therefore, the inhibition of apoLpp plays an important role in HFD-induced cardiac function impairment and low exercise capacity. Although the apoLpp knockdown of cardiomyocytes alleviated damage to heart function, it did not reduce the arrhythmia and low exercise capacity caused by HFD. Exercise-training can improve this condition more effectively, and the possible reason for this difference is that exercise-training regulates climbing ability in ways to promote metabolism. Exercise-training during HFD feeding can down-regulate the expression of apoLpp, reduce the whole-body TG levels, improve cardiac recovery, and improve exercise capacity. Exercise-training can downregulate the expression of apoLpp in cardiomyocytes to resist cardiac function damage and low exercise capacity caused by HFD. The results revealed the relationship between exercise-training and apoLpp and their essential roles in regulating heart function and climbing ability.

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of Amyellow-y gene results in melanization defect of the cuticle in adult Apis mellifera.

Visible genetic markers are critical to gene function studies using genome editing technology in insects. However, there is no report about visible phenotypic markers in Apis mellifera, which extremely influences the application of genomic editing in honey bees. Here, we cloned and characterized the Amyellow-y gene in A. mellifera. Stage expression profiles showed that Amyellow-y gene was highly expressed in 2-, 4-day-old pupae, and newly emerged bees, and a high expression level was detected in the leg, thorax, wing and sting. To understand its functional role in pigmentation, Amyellow-y edited honeybees were created using CRISPR/Cas9, and it was found that the black pigment was decreased in the cuticle of mosaic workers and mutant drones. In particular, mutant drones manifested an overall appearance of yellowish cuticle in the body and appendages, including antennae, wings and legs, indicating that mutagenesis induced by disruption of Amyellow-y with CRISPR/Cas9 are heritable. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes associated with melanin pigmentation was investigated in mutant and wild-type drones using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Transcription levels of Amyellow-y and aaNAT decreased markedly in mutant drones than that in wild-type ones, whereas laccase 2 was significantly up-regulated. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that CRISPR/Cas9 edited G1 mutant drones of A. mellifera have a dramatic body pigmentation defect that can be visualized in adults, suggesting that Amyellow-y may serve as a promising visible phenotypic marker for genome editing in honey bees.

Plasma BDNF and TrkB mRNA in PBMCs Are Correlated With Anti-depressive Effects of 12-Weeks Supervised Exercise During Protracted Methamphetamine Abstinence.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential neurotrophic factors and expression of neurotrophin receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells linked with the antidepressant action of exercise intervention during protracted methamphetamine (METH) abstinence. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 male METH addicts, including 47 individuals with depression and 25 individuals without depression, were recruited in this study. Individuals with depression were divided into the depression control group and the depression exercised group. Consequently, 12 weeks of supervised exercise intervention was applied. Depression and anxiety were analyzed; plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuronal growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), NT-4, and proBDNF levels were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the mRNA expressions of TrkA, TrkB-FL, TrkB-T1, TrkCB, and P75NTR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: NT-4 plasma levels were correlated with depression (r = -0.330, p = 0.005), which remained significant after Bonferroni correction. In addition, the BDNF and NT-3 levels in the plasma were significantly correlated with depression (r = -0.268, p = 0.023; r = -0.259, p = 0.028), but did not reach significance after Bonferroni correction. The BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4 plasma levels were significantly different between the depressive control group and the depressive exercise group using pre-exercise values as the covariate. The fold changes in TrkB-FL and TrkB-T1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between the post-exercise and pre-exercise demonstrated a remarkable decrease (fold change = -11.056 and -39.055). Conclusions: Exercise intervention can alleviate depression and anxiety during protracted METH abstinence. Decrease in BDNF and the expression of TrkB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells occur following the exercise intervention.

Effects of Modest Hypoxia and Exercise on Cardiac Function, Sleep-Activity, Negative Geotaxis Behavior of Aged Female Drosophila.

Mild normobaric hypoxia (NH) and modest exercise have multiple beneficial effects on health, but the changes in physiological function induced by NH and/or exercise remain unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the specific effects of NH and/or exercise on cardiac function and myocardial structure and behavior including sleep-activity and negative geotaxis in aged Drosophila. We also assessed the survival rate of flies after hypoxia and/or exercise. One-thousand wild-type w1118 virgin female flies were randomly divided into four groups and treated with NH and/or exercise from ages 3-6 weeks. We found that exercise remarkably delayed the decline of actin and myosin and the age-related changes in cardiac structure, improved abnormal cardiac contraction, and enhanced the cardiac pumping force by inducing cardiac hypertrophy and delaying deterioration of cardiac contractility and diastolic compliance, and improved abnormal heart contraction. NH also increased the content of actin and myosin, but induced a decrease in heart diameter and heart rate, as well as an increase in the number of mitochondria and deeper sleep, which may be the manifestation of energy saving under long-term hypoxia. Both NH and exercise improved sleep quality and climbing ability of aged flies, as well as extended the maximum life span, which shows the benefits of hypoxia and exercise. Finally, the superposition of NH and exercise did not impart any obvious physiological and behavior improvement. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the appropriate combination of hypoxia and exercise.

Impact of relocation and environmental cleaning on reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infection in NICU.

BACKGROUND: Hospital environment remains a risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This was a prospective study to evaluate the comprehensive impact of relocating a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to a new facility and improved environmental cleaning practice on the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on inanimate surfaces and the incident rate of HAIs. METHODS: New environmental cleaning measures were adopted after the NICU was moved to a new and better-designed location. The effect of moving and the new environmental cleaning practice was investigated by comparing the positive number of MRSA on ward surfaces and the incidence density of HAIs between the baseline and intervention periods. RESULTS: Only 2.5% of environmental surfaces were positive for MRSA in the intervention period compared to 44.0% in the baseline period (P<0.001). Likewise, the total incident rate of HAIs declined from 16.8 per 1000 cot-days to 10.0 per 1000 cot-days (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The comprehensive measures of relocating the NICU to a new facility design with improved environmental cleaning practice are effective and significantly reduce the incidence of HAIs.

Lifetime regular exercise affects the incident of different arrhythmias and improves organismal health in aging female Drosophila melanogaster.

We used Drosophila melanogaster as an animal model system to study the impact of exercise training initiated early in life on cardiac function using a well-established model of inherent myogenic properties of the heart and discussed the changes on myosin, a myocardial contractile protein. We also explored the effect of early physical exercise on organismal aging by analyzing the wake-sleep pattern using a Drosophila activity monitor system. We found that a variety of arrhythmias are part of the heart spectrum in old flies after a lifetime of physical exercise as evidenced by reducing the incidence of fibrillations and increasing the occurrence of bradycardias. Maintenance of myocardial myosin levels may be an underlying contributor to these exercise-induced improvements in cardiac function at an advanced age. Moreover, we found that exercise training resulted in improved sleep quality by ameliorating age-related sleep inefficiency, fragmentation and sleep consolidation.

Molecular characterization of the hippeastrum chlorotic ringspot virus L segment and its protein.

Hippeastrum chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRV) is a novel tospovirus that was identified in Yunnan Province, China, in 2013. We have sequenced the HCRV L gene, which is 8909 nt long and encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (2873 amino acids, 330.8 kDa). The HCRV L protein shared highest similarity (89.4 %) with that of tomato yellow ring virus. The L protein contains a negative-sense RNA virus RNA-directed RNA polymerase motif and an endonuclease domain at the N-terminus. Combined with our previous reports of the S and M RNAs, the genome sequence of HCRV is now completed.