Education, gender, and frequent pain among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, England, China, and India.

ABSTRACT: Using cross-sectional data from the United States, England, China, and India, we examined the relationship between education and frequent pain, alongside the modification role of gender in this relationship. We further examined patterns of 3 pain dimensions among participants who reported frequent pain, including pain severity, interference with daily activities, and medication use (these pain dimension questions were not administered in all countries). Our analytical sample included 92,204 participants aged 50 years and above. We found a high prevalence of frequent pain across the 4 countries ranging from 28% to 41%. Probit models showed that higher education was associated with lower risk of pain (United States: -0.26, 95% CI: -0.33, -0.19; England: -0.32, 95% CI: -0.39, -0.25; China: -0.33, 95% CI -0.41, -0.26; India: -0.18, 95% CI -0.21, -0.15). Notably, in China and India, the negative association between higher education and frequent pain was less pronounced among women compared with men, which was not observed in the United States or England. Further analysis showed that individuals with higher education experiencing frequent pain reported less severity, fewer daily activity interferences, and less medication use compared with those with lower education. In the United States, these associations were stronger among women. Our findings highlight the prevalent pain among middle-aged and older adults in these 4 countries and emphasize the potentially protective role of higher education on frequent pain, with nuanced gender differences across different settings. This underscores the need for tailored strategies considering educational and gender differences to improve pain management and awareness.

Polyphenol improve the foaming properties of soybean isolate protein: Structural, physicochemical property changes and application in angel cake.

With the increasing demand for food foaming, how to enhance the foaming properties of protein has gradually become the research focus. This work studied the effect of synephrine (SY) on foaming properties, structure properties, and physicochemical properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI). When the mass ratio of SY to SPI was 1:2, compared with SPI alone, the foam capacity and foam stability of the SY-SPI complex were significantly enhanced. Optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope showed that the improvement in foaming performance was mainly due to the reduction of bubble size and uniform protein distribution. Circular dichroism spectrum and fluorescence spectra indicated that the hydrogen bond of SPI was destroyed and blue shifted with the addition of SY. What's more, the absolute value of Zeta potential, solubility, and hydrophobicity all increased, while the particle size decreased. As a result of molecular docking, surface hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals forces and hydrophobic interactions are the main driving forces. The addition of SY and SPI improved the specific volume and texture of angel cake. This study shows that SY has the potential to be developed into a new type of blowing agent.

A new dicyanophenanthrene-based thermally activated delayed fluorophore: Design, synthesis, photophysical study, and electroluminescence application.

A novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitter, DCNP-SCF, is developed based on a dicyanophenanthrene acceptor. DCNP-SCF is prepared by a simple C-N coupling reaction. Its thermal, theoretical, photophysical, and electroluminescent properties are investigated, emphasizing its potential in organic electroluminescence devices. DCNP-SCF demonstrates highly distorted donor-acceptor conformation, facilitating significant TADF for efficient triplet harvesting in electroluminescence devices. Additionally, due to the moderate electron push-pull effect, DCNP-SCF exhibits appropriate intramolecular charge transfer for considerable photoluminescence quantum yield for electroluminescence applications.

Lipopolysaccharide promotes cancer cell migration and invasion through METTL3/PI3K/AKT signaling in human cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: As a major structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been detected in the blood circulation and tissues in patients with chronic diseases and cancers, which plays a critical role in the tumor formation and progression. However, the biological role of LPS in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of LPS in the malignant progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: The cell migration and invasion capacities of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines were evaluated by Boyden chamber assays. Expression levels of the key molecules involved in the PI3K/AKT signaling and METTL3 were detected by qPCR and western blot. The molecular mechanism by which LPS promotes the malignant behaviors was investigated by using siRNAs, plasmids and small molecule inhibitors. Results: In vitro experiments showed that exogenous LPS treatment promoted cell migration and invasion capacities in both QBC939 and HUCCT1 cell lines, while did not affect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mechanistically, exogenous LPS treatment had been proved to induce the increased expression of METTL3 and activate the downstream PI3K/AKTsignaling pathway. In addition, suppression of METTL3 expression reduced cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities in both cell lines. Furthermore, inhibition of METTL3 expression or inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling decreased LPS-induced cell migration and invasion capacities. Moreover, knockdown of METTL3 or inhibition of METTL3 significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling. Conclusion: In general, these results suggest that the LPS-METTL3-PI3K/AKT signal axis promotes cell migration and invasion in ICC, which contributes to a reduced overall survival in patients with ICC. It may broaden the horizon of cancer therapy with potential therapeutic targets.

Spatial heterogeneity of soil available medium- and micro-elements in evergreen-deciduous broadleaved forest in karst.

Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of soil available medium- and micro-elements in karst area can provide a valuable theoretical guideline for soil nutrient management of karst ecosystem. We collected soil samples at a soil depth of 0-10 cm using grid sampling (20 m×20 m) in a 25 hm2 (500 m×500 m) dynamic monitoring plot. We further analyzed the spatial variability of soil medium- and micro-elements and their drivers, with classic statistics analysis and geo-statistics analysis. The results showed that the average contents of exchangeable Ca and Mg and available Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B were 7870, 1490, 30.24, 149.12, 1.77, 13.54, and 0.65 mg·kg-1, respectively. The coefficient of variation of the nutrients ranged from 34.5% to 68.8%, showing a medium degree of their spatial variation. The coefficient of determination of the best-fit semi-variogram models of each nutrient was higher than 0.90, except for available Zn (0.78), indicating a strong predictive power for the spatial variation of the nutrients. The nugget coefficients for all the nutrients were less than 50%, showing a moderate spatial correlation, and the structural factors played a pivotal role. The spatially autocorrelated variation was within the range of 60.3-485.1 m, among which available Zn showed the lowest range and the deepest fragmentation degree. The spatial distribution of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and available B were consistent, with contents in the depression being significantly lower than that in other habitats. The contents of available Fe, Mn, and Cu declined with the increases of altitude and were significantly lower on the hilltop than in other habitats. The spatial variation of soil medium- and micro-elements was closely related to topographic factors in karst forest. Elevation, slope, soil thickness, and rock exposure rate were the primary drivers of spatial variation of soil elements and need to be considered in soil nutrient management of karst forestlands.

Prevalence of past-year mental disorders and its correlates among Chinese international students in US higher education.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of past-year mental disorders and its correlates among Chinese international students in US higher education. Participants: A total of 222 Chinese international students participated in the study. Methods: Participants were recruited via a social marketing campaign and participated in an online survey. Results: The majority of the participants were female (65.3%) and graduate students (84.7%) with a mean age of 23.75 years. Of the sample, 77.9 and 74.3% reported having experienced depression and anxiety symptoms in the past year, respectively. Predictors of a higher past-year global mental health status were: not having a steady partner; being more likely to return China after graduation; a higher level of stress about the returning plan; and, a lower rating of cultural humility of key college/university personnel. Conclusions: These results suggest that mental health is a pressing issue facing Chinese international students and correlated with other psychosocial factors.

Imbalance of a KLF4-miR-7 auto-regulatory feedback loop promotes prostate cancer cell growth by impairing microRNA processing.

The microRNA-transcription factor auto-regulatory feedback loop is a pivotal mechanism for homeostatic regulation of gene expression, and dysregulation of the feedback loop is tightly associated with tumorigenesis and progression. However, the mechanism underlying such dysregulation is still not well-understood. Here we reported that Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a stemness-associated transcription factor, promotes the transcription of miR-7 to repress its own translation so that a KLF4-miR-7 auto-regulatory feedback loop is established for mutual regulation of their expression. Interestingly, this feedback loop is unbalanced in prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and patient samples due to an impaired miR-7-processing, leading to decreased mature miR-7 production and attenuated inhibition of KLF4 translation. Mechanistically, enhanced oncogenic Yes associated protein (YAP) nuclear translocation mediates sequestration of p72, a co-factor of the Drosha/DGCR8 complex for pri-miR-7s processing, leading to attenuation of microprocessors' efficiency. Knockdown of YAP or transfection with a mature miR-7 mimic can significantly recover miR-7 expression to restore this feedback loop, and in turn to inhibit cancer cell growth by repressing KLF4 expression in vitro. Thus, our findings indicate that targeting the KLF4-miR-7 feedback loop might be a potential strategy for PCa therapy.

Strong Localization of Surface Plasmon Polaritons with Engineered Disorder.

In this work, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time strong localization of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at visible regime in metallic nanogratings with short-range correlated disorder. By increasing the degree of disorder, the confinement of SPPs is significantly enhanced, and the effective SPP propagation length dramatically shrinks. Strong localization of SPPs eventually emerges at visible regime, which is verified by the exponentially decayed fields and the vanishing autocorrelation function of the SPPs. Physically, the short-range correlated disorder induces strong interference among multiple scattered SPPs and provides an adequate fluctuation to effective permittivity, which leads to the localization effect. Our study demonstrates a unique opportunity for disorder engineering to manipulate light on nanoscale and may achieve various applications in random nanolasing, solar energy, and strong light-matter interactions.

Fatalistic Cancer Beliefs and Information Seeking in Formerly Incarcerated African-American and Hispanic Men: Implications for Cancer Health Communication and Research.

African-American and Hispanic men are disproportionately affected by cancer experiencing higher rates of cancer-related morbidity and mortality for many cancers (but not all). These challenges may be magnified for a subpopulation of African-American and Hispanic men who have been incarcerated. A survey assessing demographics, incarceration experience, psychosocial, behavioral, and cancer health information seeking was administered to 230 previously incarcerated men aged 35 years and older. Data analysis was performed to assess the association between fatalism, perceived susceptibility, and health information seeking in this population. This study revealed the following: the majority of the participants (68.7%) held the fatalistic belief: "When I think of cancer, I automatically think of death." Second, the fatalistic belief, "There's not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer," is more prevalent among those who perceived a higher risk of developing cancer. Third, older participants (those between 55 and 70 years old) and widowed are less likely to think of death when they think of cancer. In addition, those who use the Internet to look for health or medical information (i.e., engaging in health information seeking) are less likely to agree with the fatalistic belief: "It seems like everything causes cancer." Given the high incidence of certain cancers among African-American and Hispanic men and the vulnerability of those involved in the criminal justice system, our findings highlight the importance of understanding perceived susceptibility to cancer, fatalistic beliefs about cancer, and information seeking in formerly incarcerated men.

[Renal artery embolization with exploratory laparotomy for management of massive colonic hemorrhage after renal biopsy: a case report].

We report a case of massive colonic hemorrhage after renal biopsy managed by renal artery embolization combined with exploratory laparotomy. Clinicians must be alert for such rare anatomical abnormalities as ectopic colon behind the kidney and the risk of colonic hemorrhage following renal biopsy. In this case, artery embolization combined with exploratory laparotomy successfully and quickly stopped the bleeding and avoided possible organ resection.

HIV risk inside U.S. prisons: a systematic review of risk reduction interventions conducted in U.S. prisons.

HIV prevalence in correctional populations is approximately five times that of the general adult population. This systematic review examines the broad question of HIV prevention and interventions to reduce inmate HIV-related risk behaviors in U.S. federal and state prisons. We conducted a systematic review of multiple databases and Google Scholar to identify behavioral, biomedical, social, and policy studies related to HIV among U.S. prison populations from 1980-2014. Studies were excluded if they did not focus on HIV, prison inmates, if they were conducted outside of the U.S., if they involved juvenile offenders, or if they included post-release outcomes. Twenty-seven articles met the study criteria. Evidence suggests that research related to the HIV care continuum, risk behaviors, gender, prevention (e.g., peer education), and policy are key topics to enhance HIV prevention interventions in the criminal justice system. This review provides a prison-specific overview of HIV in U.S. correctional populations and highlight effective interventions, including inmate peer education. There is an urgent need to continue to implement HIV prevention interventions across all prisons and improve the quality of life among those at heightened risk of HIV infection.

Preparation and characterization of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective trace extraction of dienestrol in seawater.

Highly selective and efficient magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were prepared using Fe3O4@SiO2 as a magnetic supporter, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy-silane (MPS) as a silane coupling agent, DIS as a template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linker for the extraction of trace residuals of the synthetic estrogen dienestrol (DIS) in seawater, which is a concern worldwide for its endocrine disruption and carcinogenic danger to human health. The obtained MMIPs were demonstrated to have spherical morphologies, core-shell structures, large binding capacities, high efficiency and selectivity. These were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and adsorption experiments. Owing to the specific binding sites, the MMIPs exhibited an almost three times higher adsorption capacity towards DIS (Qmax=4.68mgg-1) than magnetic molecularly non-imprinted polymers (MNIPs) (Qmax=1.72mgg-1). DIS in spiked seawater samples from the Weihai Bay of China was extracted and enriched by MMIPs, and satisfactory recoveries (87.3%-96.4%) with low relative standard deviation (RSD) values (2.03%-5.18%, n=5) were obtained. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method obtained was 0.16µgL-1, and the limit of quantitation was 0.52µgL-1 after MMIPs. No significant deterioration of the adsorption capacity of the MMIPs was observed after six rounds of regeneration. The results further demonstrated the applicability of the MMIPs method, a simple and straightforward method for the extraction and enrichment of DIS in seawater without any time-consuming procedures.

Cytompatibility assessment of the surface of titanium after phosphorylation.

In this study, orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) in the treatment of porous titanium (Ti) is investigated and the ability of rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is assessed to proliferate and differentiate on these modified surfaces in vitro. To improve the cytocompatibility of Ti surfaces, pure Ti was activated commercially by simple chemical pretreatment in H3PO4 with different densities. Next, the phosphorylated specimens were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) to study the effect of biomineralization. The3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1]-2, 5-diphenytetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity utilized to assess proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs on exposure to modified Ti surfaces. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images showed that the surfaces of the pre-treated samples were characterized by a complex structure which consisted of a mesh-like morphological matrix and an uniform surface with different morphic crystals of titanium dihydrogen orthophosphate (Ti(H2PO4)3). These crystals contained hydroxyl with phosphate residues that resulted in biomineralization of cells. Therefore, BMSCs reveales a well-dispersed morphology on these modified and functionalized Ti surfaces. The viability and ALP activity of BMSCs on these altered biomimetic surfaces are found to be greater than those of the controls. It is concluded that the treatment of Ti by acid etching in orthophosphoric acid is a suitable method to enhance the in vitro proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs.

Study of molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction of gonyautoxins 2,3 in the cultured dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A highly selective sample cleanup procedure combined with molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) was developed for the isolation of gonyautoxins 2,3 (GTX2,3) from Alexandrium tamarense sample. The molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres (MIPMs) were prepared by suspension polymerization using caffeine as the dummy template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker and polyvinyl alcohol as the dispersive reagent. The polymer microspheres were used as a selective sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of gonyautoxins 2,3. An off-line MISPE method followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection for the analysis of gonyautoxins 2,3 was established. Finally, the extract samples from Alexandrium tamarense were analyzed. The results showed the imprinted polymer microspheres exhibited high affinity and selectivity for gonyautoxins 2,3. The interference matrix in the extract were obviously cleaned by MISPE and the extraction efficiency of gonyautoxins 2,3 in the sample ranged from 81.74% to 85.86%.

[A study on the effect of biomineralization and phosphorylation performed on the titanium implant surfaces].

OBJECTIVE: To suggest a chemical surface treatment for titanium and to initiate the formation of hydroxycarbonated apatite (HCA) on titanium surface during in vitro bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid (SBF). METHODS: To improve the bone-bonding ability of Ti implants, commercially pure titanium (cpTi) by a simple chemical pre-treatment in orthophosphoric acid (H(3)PO(4)) with different density was activated, and then the phosphorylation specimens were soaked in SBF to investigate the function of biomineralization. RESULTS: The scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs showed that the surfaces of the pre-treated samples were characterized by a complex construction, which consisted of a mesh-like morphology matrix (a micro-roughened surface) and an uniform surface with different morphous of titanium dihydrogen orthophosphate [Ti(H(2)PO(4))(3)] crystal. After 14 days in SBF a homogeneous biomimetic apatite layer precipitated. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the treatment of titanium by acid etching in orthophosphoric acid is a suitable method to provide the titanium implant with bone-bonding ability.

[Concentrations and distribution characteristic of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in the surface sediments of Qingtao coastal area].

PAHs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the surface sediments collected from the southern Shandong Peninsula coastal area. Contents and distribution characterizations of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in the area were discussed. The concentration of PAHs in the surface sediments decreased gradually from the inshore area to the offshore area. According to the ratio of P/A and Fl/Py, the release from combustion of fuel was one of the most major sources of PAHs in this area. The level of PCBs in the surface sediments was higher in the Jiaozhou Bay and southwest coast of Qingtao, and lower in the other area. The distribution of PCBs decreased gradually from the inshore to the offshore area. OCPs in surface sediments also decreased from the inshore to the offshore area. The HCHs data showed the area was polluted by agriculture and industry at the same time. There were only a few DDTs imported into the area in the recent years, and DDTs were decomposed by aerobic microbial degradation in surface sediment. The concentration of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs suggested that the potential risk of environmental pollution was low in the area.

[Experimental study on the effects of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Chinese herbs qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on osteoblast culture in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimum phase and dose of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast (OB). METHODS (OB) was isolated from the skull of 10 newly born SD rats aged 1 to 2 days by means of Trypsin-collagenase digestion. After the OB was identified, different kinds of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with inactive Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) of different phase (rats were fed with medicine three days or five days after last fed with medicine one hour or three hours) and concentration (5%, 10%, 20%) were added to the OB and incubated. After 7 days and 18 days of culture,the effects of the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast were detected. RESULTS: The secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast in the different doses of pharmaco-serum groups were almost the same as that of normal control group, but were superior to that in the model control group. And the group with concentration of 20% pharmaco-serum was the best in the secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast. As to the phases of pharmaco-serum, the best one on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast was the serums from diabetic rat-model fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days or five days, after one hour of last fed with medicine. CONCLUSION: The pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) can promote the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast. Allow for time and the cost of experiment,we presume that pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days, after one hour of last fed, with concentration of 20% and not-inactivation is the optimum on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast.

[Experimental study on the effects of inactivated and un-inactivated pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Chinese herbs Qianggubao decoction on the proliferation of osteoblast cultured in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of inactivated and un-inactivated pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Chinese herbs Qianggubao decoction on the proliferation of osteoblast cells (OB)cultured in vitro. METHODS: OB was isolated from the skull of newly born SD rats aged 1 to 2 days by means of Trypsin-collagenase digestion and identified by image analysis under inverted microscope, V-G collagen staining, ALP staining, calcification nod staining etc. After the OB was identified, in activated and un-inactivated pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction of ferent phase (rats were fed with medicine 3 days or 5 days after last fed with medicine 1 hour or 3 hours) and concentration (5%, 10%, 20%) were added to the OB and incubated. After determined times, the effects of the proliferation of osteoblasts were detected by MTT analysis. RESULTS: There was significant difference between un-inactivated pharmaco-serum and inactivated pharmaco-serum on the proliferation of osteoblasts, and un-inactivated serum had stronger effects to improve the proliferation of osteoblasts (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Un-inactivated and inactivation pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Chinese herbs Qianggubao decoction can influence the proliferation of, and the un-inactivated pharmaco-serum has stronger effects.