Adapting the serious illness conversation guide for unhoused older adults: a rapid qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults experiencing homelessness (OAEH) age quickly and die earlier than their housed counterparts. Illness-related decisions are best guided by patients' values, but healthcare and homelessness service providers need support in facilitating these discussions. The Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) is a communication tool to guide discussions but has not yet been adapted for OAEH. METHODS: We aimed to adapt the SICG for use with OAEH by nurses, social workers, and other homelessness service providers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with homelessness service providers and cognitive interviews with OAEH using the SICG. Service providers included nurses, social workers, or others working in homeless settings. OAEH were at least 50 years old and diagnosed with a serious illness. Interviews were conducted and audio recorded in shelters, transitional housing, a hospital, public spaces, and over Zoom. The research team reviewed transcripts, identifying common themes across transcripts and applying analytic notetaking. We summarized transcripts from each participant group, applying rapid qualitative analysis. For OAEH, data that referenced proposed adaptations or feedback about the SICG tool were grouped into two domains: "SICG interpretation" and "SICG feedback". For providers, we used domains from the Toolkit of Adaptation Approaches: "collaborative working", "team", "endorsement", "materials", "messages", and "delivery". Summaries were grouped into matrices to help visualize themes to inform adaptations. The adapted guide was then reviewed by expert palliative care clinicians for further refinement. RESULTS: The final sample included 11 OAEH (45% Black, 61 ± 7 years old) and 10 providers (80% White, 8.9 ± years practice). Adaptation themes included changing words and phrases to (1) increase transparency about the purpose of the conversation, (2) promote OAEH autonomy and empowerment, (3) align with nurses' and social workers' scope of practice regarding facilitating diagnostic and prognostic awareness, and (4) be sensitive to the realities of fragmented healthcare. Responses also revealed training and implementation considerations. CONCLUSIONS: The adapted SICG is a promising clinical tool to aid in the delivery of serious illness conversations with OAEH. Future research should use this updated guide for implementation planning. Additional adaptations may be dependent on specific settings where the SICG will be delivered.

The relationship of health activation with risk of future cardiovascular disease among rural family caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers are at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than non-caregivers. This risk is worse for those who live in rural compared to urban areas. Health activation, an indicator of engagement in self-care, is predictive of health outcomes and CVD risk in several populations. However, it is not known whether health activation is associated with CVD risk in rural caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses nor is it clear whether sex moderates any association. OBJECTIVES: Our aims were to determine (1) whether health activation independently predicts 10-year CVD risk; and (2) whether sex interacts with health activation in the prediction of 10-year CVD risk among rural family caregivers (N = 247) of patients with chronic illnesses. METHODS: Health activation was measured using the Patient Activation Measure. The predicted 10-year risk of CVD was assessed using the Framingham Risk Score. Data were analyzed using nonlinear regression analysis. RESULTS: Higher levels of health activation were significantly associated with decreased risk of developing CVD (p < 0.028). There was no interaction of sex with health activation on future CVD risk. However, male caregivers had greater risk of developing CVD in the next 10 years than female caregivers (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the importance of health activation to future CVD risk in rural family caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses. We also demonstrated that despite the higher risk of future CVD among male, the degree of association between health activation and CVD risk did not differ by sex.

The associates of anxiety among lung cancer patients: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a potential biomarker.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is a prevalent comorbidity in lung cancer (LC) patients associated with a decline in quality of life. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroactive steroid, levels rise in response to stress. Prior research on the association between DHEA and anxiety has yielded contradictory results and no study has investigated this association in LC patients. METHODS: A total of 213 patients with LC were recruited from a general hospital. Data on demographic and cancer-related variables were collected. Using the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the degree of anxiety was determined. Cortisol, DHEA, and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in saliva were measured. Adjusting for confounding variables, a multivariate regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: 147 men and 66 women comprised our group with an average age of 63.75 years. After accounting for demographic and treatment-related factors, anxiety levels were significantly correlated with, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) (ß = 0.332, p < 0.001) and fatigue (ß = 0.247, p = 0.02). Association between anxiety and three factors, including DHEA, PTSSs, and fatigue, was observed in patients with advanced cancer stages (III and IV) (DHEA ß = 0.319, p = 0.004; PTSS ß = 0.396, p = 0.001; fatigue ß = 0.289, p = 0.027) and those undergoing chemotherapy (DHEA ß = 0.346, p = 0.001; PTSS ß = 0.407, p = 0.001; fatigue ß = 0.326, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The association between anxiety and DHEA remained positive in advanced cancer stages and chemotherapy patients. Further study is necessary to determine whether DHEA is a potential biomarker of anxiety in LC patients.

Perceived Control, Functional Status, Depressive Symptoms, and Anxiety: Mediating and Moderating Influences on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poor in patients with heart failure. Psychological (ie, depressive symptoms [DS], anxiety, and perceived control) and physical (ie, functional status) factors are associated with HRQoL. The dynamic relationships among these variables and their impact on HRQoL remain unclear, limiting the ability to design effective interventions. PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate a moderated mediation model, in which the association between perceived control and HRQoL was hypothesized to be mediated by DS and anxiety in the presence of a moderator, functional status. METHODS: Patients (N = 426) with heart failure completed the Control Attitudes Scale-Revised to measure perceived control, Duke Activity Status Index for functional status, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for DS, Brief Symptom Inventory for anxiety, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire for HRQoL. We performed a moderated parallel mediation analysis. RESULTS: Higher levels of perceived control were associated with better HRQoL through lower levels of anxiety and DS in the presence of functional status (index of moderated mediation for DS, b = 0.029; 95% confidence interval, 0.016-0.045; for anxiety: b = 0.009, 95% confidence interval, 0.002-0.018). The effect of perceived control on psychological symptoms was stronger at low and moderate functional statuses; however, this effect diminished with increasing functional status. CONCLUSION: Functional status moderated the indirect effects of perceived control on HRQoL through DS and anxiety in patients with heart failure. Efforts to improve HRQoL by targeting perceived control may be more effective when considering DS and anxiety in patients with low to moderate levels of functional status.

Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality Mediate the Relationship Between Race and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model.

BACKGROUND: Black patients with heart failure (HF) report worse quality of life (QoL) than White patients. Few investigators have examined mediators of the association between race and QoL, but depressive symptoms and sleep quality are associated with QoL. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms and sleep quality are mediators of the relationship between race and QoL among patients with HF. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. We included 271 outpatients with HF. Self-reported race (White/Black), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and QoL (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire) were collected at baseline. A serial multiple mediator analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (35.4%) were Black. Black participants reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality than White participants. Race was not directly associated with QoL but indirectly associated with QoL through depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality. Because of higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality, Black participants reported poorer QoL than White participants. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms and sleep quality together mediated the relationship between race and QoL. These findings suggest that screening for depressive symptoms and sleep quality could identify patients at risk for poor QoL, especially in Black patients.

Mediators of the Association Between Cognitive Function and Self-care Behaviors in Patients Hospitalized With an Exacerbation of Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) must engage in self-care, yet their self-care is often poor. Cognitive function commonly is impaired in HF and is associated with poor self-care. Heart failure knowledge and self-care confidence also are needed to preform self-care. Few investigators have examined mediators of the association of cognitive function with self-care. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether HF knowledge and self-care confidence mediated the association of cognitive function with self-care maintenance and management among patients with HF. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 164 patients with HF. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Self-care maintenance and self-care management behaviors and self-care confidence were measured using the Self-care of Heart Failure Index. Heart failure knowledge was measured using the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale. We conducted 2 parallel mediation analyses using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, one for self-care maintenance and one for self-care management. RESULTS: Cognitive function was indirectly associated with self-care maintenance through HF knowledge (indirect effect, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-1.02) and self-care confidence (indirect effect, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.54). Those with better cognitive function had more HF knowledge and self-care confidence. Better cognitive function was not directly associated with self-care management but indirectly associated with better self-care management through higher self-care confidence (indirect effect, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both HF knowledge and self-care confidence mediated the association of cognitive function with self-care maintenance, and only self-care confidence mediated the association between cognitive function and self-care management. Interventions targeting HF knowledge and self-care confidence may improve self-care even for those with lower cognitive function and need to be developed and tested.

A plant protein farnesylation system in prokaryotic cells reveals Arabidopsis AtJ3 produced and farnesylated in E. coli maintains its function of protecting proteins from heat inactivation.

BACKGROUND: Protein farnesylation involves the addition of a 15-carbon polyunsaturated farnesyl group to proteins whose C-terminus ends with a CaaX motif. This post-translational protein modification is catalyzed by a heterodimeric protein, i.e., farnesyltransferase (PFT), which is composed of an α and a ß subunit. Protein farnesylation in plants is of great interest because of its important roles in the regulation of plant development, responses to environmental stresses, and defense against pathogens. The methods traditionally used to verify whether a protein is farnesylated often require a specific antibody and involve isotope labeling, a tedious and time-consuming process that poses hazardous risks. RESULTS: Since protein farnesylation does not occur in prokaryotic cells, we co-expressed a known PFT substrate (i.e., AtJ3) and both the α and ß subunits of Arabidopsis PFT in E. coli in this study. Farnesylation of AtJ3 was detected using electrophoretic mobility using SDS-PAGE and confirmed using mass spectrometry. AtJ3 is a member of the heat shock protein 40 family and interacts with Arabidopsis HSP70 to protect plant proteins from heat-stress-induced denaturation. A luciferase-based protein denaturation assay demonstrated that farnesylated AtJ3 isolated from E. coli maintained this ability. Interestingly, farnesylated AtJ3 interacted with E. coli HSP70 as well and enhanced the thermotolerance of E. coli. Meanwhile, AtFP3, another known PFT substrate, was farnesylated when co-expressed with AtPFTα and AtPFTß in E. coli. Moreover, using the same strategy to co-express rice PFT α and ß subunit and a potential PFT target, it was confirmed that OsDjA4, a homolog of AtJ3, was farnesylated. CONCLUSION: We developed a protein farnesylation system for E. coli and demonstrated its applicability and practicality in producing functional farnesylated proteins from both mono- and dicotyledonous plants.

Mediation by Fatalism of the Association Between Symptom Burden and Self-care Management in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians and researchers often assume that symptom burden is associated with self-care management (SCM) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, that association is often not borne out in simple regression analyses and may be because another variable mediates the association. Fatalism is an appropriate candidate for mediation and is the belief that circumstances are predetermined without opportunity for control by individuals. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether fatalism mediated the relationship of symptom burden with SCM among adults with HF. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis (N = 95) from a clinical trial. We used Self-care of HF Index to measure SCM, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-HF for symptom burden, and the Cardiovascular Disease Fatalism Instrument to measure fatalism. We used the PROCESS macro to evaluate mediation. RESULTS: Symptom burden was not directly associated with SCM (effect coefficient [C'] = 0.0805; 95% confidence interval, -0.048 to 0.209; P = .217). There was, however, an indirect pathway between symptom burden and SCM through fatalism (ab = -0.040; 95% confidence interval, -0.097 to -0.002). Those with higher symptom burden were more fatalistic (a = 0.004, P = .015), and greater fatalism was associated with worse SCM (b = -9.132, P = .007). CONCLUSION: Symptom burden, not directly associated with SCM, is associated through the mediator of fatalism. Interventions to improve SCM should include strategies to mitigate fatalistic views. Self-care management interventions should focus on promoting internal locus of control or increasing perceptions of perceived control to decrease fatalism and improve engagement in self-care.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is associated with an increased risk for Parkinson's disease: a population-based longitudinal follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested a positive association between adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ACS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but longitudinal data were lacking. The present population-based longitudinal follow-up study therefore investigated the risk of developing PD in patients with ACS. METHODS: This study utilized data from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID 2005). We defined our ACS group as the 19,920 patients aged between 40 and 79 who had been diagnosed with ACS between 2002 and 2006. The non-ACS group consisted of an age- and sex-matched but otherwise random selection of 19,920 patients without a diagnosis of ACS. The Kaplan-Meier method was then used to examine inter-group differences in PD-free survival rates, and Cox proportional-hazard regression modeling was used to evaluate the impact of ACS on PD risk. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 105 months, 242 subjects in the ACS group and 208 subjects in the non-ACS group developed PD. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.53 (1.26-1.86) indicated that ACS patients had a significantly higher risk of developing PD than their non-ACS counterparts, regardless of sex and age. Landmark analysis that excluded PD cases detected within the first 2 years after an ACS diagnosis showed that the HR was almost unchanged, at 1.56 (1.26-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACS are at a high risk of developing PD. KEY POINTS: • This population-based study showed that adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ACS) is associated with a higher risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). • This study broke new ground by using a longitudinal follow-up design and a nationally representative sample. • Our findings suggest that clinicians who care for ACS patients need to be aware of this increased risk of developing PD.

Novel hexameric tin carboxylate clusters as efficient negative-tone EUV photoresists: high resolution with well-defined patterns under low energy doses.

Synthesis of two novel tin carboxylate clusters (RSn)6(R'CO2)8O4Cl2 is described, and their structures have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. These clusters have irregular ladder geometry to form very smooth films with small surface roughness (RMS <0.7 nm) over a large domain. EUV lithography can be used to resolve half pitches (HPs) in the order of 15-16 nm with line width roughness (LWR = 4.5-6.0 nm) using small doses (20-90 mJ cm-2). Cluster 1 (R = n-butyl; R'CO2 = 2-methyl-3-butenoate) contains only a radical precursor and cluster 2 (R = vinyl, R'CO2 = 2-methylbutyrate) bears both a radical precursor and an acceptor; the latter is much better than the former in EUV and e-beam photosensitivity. For these clusters, the mechanisms of EUV irradiation have been elucidated with high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS) and reflective Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). At low EUV doses, two clusters undergo a Sn-Cl bond cleavage together with a typical decarboxylation to generate carbon radicals. The n-butyl groups of cluster 1 are prone to cleavage whereas the vinyl-Sn bonds of species 2 are inert toward EUV irradiation; participation of radical polymerization is evident for the latter.

Dietary Antioxidant Insufficiency Is Associated With Increased Inflammatory Markers and Poorer Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidant insufficiency, elevated inflammatory markers, and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the associations among dietary antioxidant intake, inflammatory markers, and HRQOL in patients with HF. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of 265 patients with HF who completed a 4-day food diary. We assessed intake of 10 antioxidants: alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, vitamins C and E, zinc, and selenium. Antioxidant insufficiency was reflected by a measured level for each antioxidant that was below the estimate average requirement or lower than median for antioxidants without an estimate average requirement. Inflammatory markers including serum C-reactive protein, cytokines (interleukins 6 and 10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and soluble receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) were assessed with enzyme immunoassay. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure at 12 months. RESULTS: Dietary antioxidant insufficiency predicted C-reactive protein (ß = 0.135, P = .032) and interleukin 10 (ß = -.155, P = .027). Patients with higher antioxidant insufficiency had higher C-reactive protein and lower interleukin 10. Both antioxidant insufficiency (ß = 0.13, P = .049) and higher C-reactive protein (ß = 0.16, P = .019) were independently associated with poorer HRQOL while adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary antioxidant insufficiency was associated with increased markers of inflammation and poorer HRQOL. Improvement of diet quality among patients with HF may be a fruitful area of research for enhancing HRQOL.

Adverse effects of non-intubated airway suctioning: a clinical data-based study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of non-intubated suctioning. BACKGROUND: Airway hygiene aims to maintain a patent airway to ensure adequate ventilation. Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal or nasotracheal suctioning may be used in patients who require airway suctioning but do not have an artificial airway. However, no studies till date provide insight into the adverse effects of non-intubated airway suctioning. DESIGN: A clinical data-based retrospective design. METHOD: Using institutional and clinical databases of three university hospitals in 2008-2016, we conducted a study with a propensity score matching method of 3,326 hospitalised patients who had undergone suction therapy with or without a tracheotomy. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the link between suctioning and the probabilities of adverse effects. STROBE checklist was used to report the current study. RESULTS: Patients who required nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal or nasotracheal suctioning had a higher risk of gastrointestinal ulcers than tracheotomised patients (adjusted OR 1.99; 95% CI, 1.24-3.20). Patients who received non-intubated suction had a higher risk of developing pneumonia (adjusted OR 1.59; 95% CI, 1.26-2.00), and the risk of aspiration pneumonia was three times higher than tracheotomised patients (adjusted OR 3.04; 95% CI, 1.40-6.60). CONCLUSIONS: Non-intubated patients who require suctioning for airway clearing are more susceptible to gastrointestinal ulcers, pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia. The findings would facilitate in alerting healthcare professionals to this group of patients. However, more clinical research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of adverse effects in non-intubated patients who require suctioning. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The adverse effects of suctioning can easily be overlooked in debilitated patients with no intubation. Professionals must be aware of the discomfort and risks that patients may experience.

Lineage switch of KMT2A-rearranged adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia following bispecific T-cell engager and monoclonal antibody therapy.

Adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with t(4;11)(q21;q23) is very rare. It is characterized by mixed-lineage leukemia and has the potential for lineage switching during the treatment course. We report the disease course of a patient with B-ALL with t(4;11)(q21;q23) to demonstrate that close monitoring of cell morphology and immunophenotyping is necessary to capture the lineage switch at an early stage. Cell morphology, immunophenotyping, and cytogenetics were used to evaluate the patient's disease status. A 36-year-old woman was diagnosed with B-ALL with t(4;11)(q21;q23), which encodes the KMT2A::AFF1 fusion. After the initial induction chemotherapy, her disease remained refractory, and the patient received salvage immunotherapy with blinatumomab and inotuzumab ozogamicin. However, the ALL did not respond. Repeated bone marrow examinations unexpectedly revealed the emergence of a major population of monoblasts, in addition to a minor population of the original B lymphoblasts. The patient was diagnosed with disease evolution from B-ALL to mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL, B/myeloid). We present this case to highlight the potential of KMT2A-rearranged B-ALL to undergo lineage switch following B-cell targeted therapy. Patients with this kind of B-ALL should therefore be closely monitored to capture potential changes in the nature of the disease and prompt appropriate treatment.

Heart Failure Knowledge, Symptom Perception, and Symptom Management in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of heart failure (HF) exacerbations requires that patients carefully self-manage their condition. Symptom perception is a key component in self-care for patients with HF that involves monitoring for HF symptoms and recognizing symptom changes. Heart failure knowledge is a prerequisite for better symptom perception and symptom management. However, the relationships among HF knowledge, symptom perception, and symptom management remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the inter-relationships among HF knowledge, symptom monitoring, symptom recognition, and symptom response in patients with HF. METHOD: We included 185 patients with HF in this study. Heart failure knowledge was measured using the Dutch HF Knowledge Scale. Symptom monitoring, symptom recognition, and symptom response were measured using the Self-care of HF Index. Structural equation modeling was used for data analyses. RESULTS: Heart failure knowledge was associated with symptom monitoring (ß = .357, P < .001). Symptom monitoring was directly associated with both symptom recognition (ß = .371, P < .001) and symptom response (ß = .499, P < .001). Symptom recognition was directly associated with symptom response (ß = .274, P < .001). Heart failure knowledge was not directly associated with symptom recognition, nor with symptom response. Heart failure knowledge was indirectly associated with symptom recognition and symptom response through symptom monitoring. CONCLUSION: Symptom monitoring is associated with both symptom recognition and symptom response and is a mediator between HF knowledge and symptom recognition and between HF knowledge and symptom response. This finding suggests that it is important for clinicians not just to increase patients' HF knowledge but also to enhance their skills of symptom monitoring and symptom recognition and promote symptom monitoring among patients to improve symptom response in self-care.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Two Formulations of Rosuvastatin Following Single-dose Administration in Healthy Chinese Subjects Under Fasted and Fed Conditions.

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two rosuvastatin calcium tablets in healthy Chinese subjects under fasted and fed conditions. The study was carried out using a randomized, open-label, two-formulation, two-sequence, two-period, single-dose crossover design, with a washout period of 7 days. Both the fasted study and fed study enrolled 28 subjects. In each study period, the subjects were administrated a single oral dose of the test product or reference product of rosuvastatin 10 mg. Blood samples were collected from pre-dose to 72 hours after administration with 16 time points in total. Bioequivalence evaluation was performed using ln-transformed pharmacokinetic parameters of rosuvastatin, including Cmax , AUC0-t , and AUC0-∞ . In the present study, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of test/reference geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Cmax , AUC0-t , and AUC0-∞ under the fasted and fed conditions were all within the acceptance range of 80%-125%. Additionally, only one subject experienced one adverse event (AE). High-fat meals reduced the Cmax , AUC0-t , and AUC0-∞ , but had no significant effects on the λz, t1/2 , or Tmax of rosuvastatin. In the current study, the test product was bioequivalent to the reference product, and a single dose of rosuvastatin (10 mg) was well-tolerated. Food decreased the systemic exposure of rosuvastatin without the effects on the Tmax or elimination rate.

Systematic identification of the interventional mechanism of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan (QFXYW) in treatment of the cytokine storm in acute lung injury using transcriptomics-based system pharmacological analyses.

CONTEXT: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a complex, severe inflammation disease with high mortality, and there is no specific and effective treatment for ALI. Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan (QFXYW) has been widely used to treat lung-related diseases for centuries. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the potential effects and elucidates the therapeutic mechanism of QFXYW against LPS induced ALI in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c Mice in each group were first orally administered medicines (0.9% saline solution for the control group, 0.5 mg/kg Dexamethasone, or 1.3, 2.6, 5.2 g/kg QFXYW), after 4 h, the groups were injected LPS (1.0 mg/kg) to induce ALI, then the same medicines were administered repeatedly. The transcriptomics-based system pharmacological analyses were applied to screen the hub genes, RT-PCR, ELISA, and protein array assay was applied to verify the predicted hub genes and key pathways. RESULTS: QFXYW significantly decreased the number of leukocytes from (6.34 ± 0.51) × 105/mL to (4.01 ± 0.11) × 105/mL, accompanied by the neutrophil from (1.41 ± 0.19) × 105/mL to (0.77 ± 0.10) × 105/mL in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Based on Degree of node connection (Degree) and BottleNeck (BN), important parameters of network topology, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network screened hub genes, including IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, TLR2, CXCL1, and MMP-9. The results of RT-PCR, ELISA, and protein chip assay revealed that QFXYW could effectively inhibit ALI via multiple key targets and the cytokine-cytokine signalling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that QFXYW decreased the number of leukocytes and neutrophils by attenuating inflammatory response, which provides an important basis for the use of QFXYW in the treatment of ALI.

Mind Your Heart: Exploring Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of Phone-Delivered Mindfulness Training on Medication Adherence in Outpatients With Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness training (MT) may promote medication adherence in outpatients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine the feasibility and acceptability of MT (primary outcomes) and explore effects on medication adherence, functional capacity, cognitive function, depression, and mindfulness skills (secondary outcomes). METHODS: In this pre/post-design study, participants received a 30-minute phone-delivered MT session weekly for 8 weeks. RESULTS: We enrolled 33 outpatients (32% women; 69.7 White; mean age, 60.3 years). Retention was 100%, and session attendance was 91%. Overall, participants (97%) rated MT as enjoyable. Objectively assessed ( P < .05) adherence decreased post intervention, whereas improvements were noted in functional capacity ( P = .05), mindfulness ( P < .05), and cognitive function (reaching significance for Flanker scores). CONCLUSIONS: Phone-delivered MT was feasible and acceptable. Whereas no improvements were noted in medication adherence and depression, cognitive function, functional capacity, and mindfulness levels increased post intervention, suggesting MT may have beneficial effects in outpatients with heart failure.

Acculturation Strategies and Pap Screening Uptake among Sub-Saharan African Immigrants (SAIs).

Although regular cervical cancer screening can prevent cervical cancer, screening utilization remains low among immigrant population including sub-Saharan African immigrants (SAIs). Acculturation is a complex process, which can lead to adoption of positive or negative health behaviors from the dominant culture. Acculturation strategies are the varying ways in which individuals seek to go about their acculturation by either maintaining or rejecting their own cultural values ip or accepting or rejecting the host culture's cultural values. Cervical cancer screening behaviors among SAI women may be influenced by their acculturation strategies. We conducted a secondary analysis of data to examine the relationship between acculturation strategies and Pap screening among 99 SAI women recruited from community settings. Data were collected on Pap screening behavior and acculturation strategy. Traditionalists and Integrationists were the dominant acculturation strategies; 32.3% women were Traditionalists and 67.7% Integrationists. From the logistic regression models, Integrationists had seven times the odds of having ever been screened compared to Traditionalists (OR = 7.08, 95% CI = 1.54-28.91). Cervical cancer screening interventions should prioritize Traditionalists for cancer screening. Acculturation strategies may be used to tailor cancer prevention and control for SAIs. More research among a larger SAI women sample is warranted to further our understanding of Pap screening patterns and acculturation strategies.

Dysregulation of the miR-30a/BiP axis by cigarette smoking accelerates oral cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is the most significant cause of oral cancer progression. Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) has been shown to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) being as an ER stress regulator, has been reported to be implicated in malignant behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of the ER stress-responsive protein, BiP, in CSC-induced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) malignancy. METHODS: The biological role of BiP in CSC-induced tumor progression was investigated in OSCC cells (YD38 and SCC25) and in a tumor xenograft mouse model. The expressions of related genes were investigated using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell migration and invasion were assessed using scratch wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. The effects of conditioned media from OSCC cells on the angiogenic activities of endothelial cells were analyzed using a tube formation assay. The interaction between miR-30a and BiP mRNA was detected using a luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that CSC increased the expression of BiP in time- and dose-dependent manners in YD38 and SCC25 cells, and that silencing BiP abrogated CSC-induced cell invasion and tumor-associated angiogenesis. Notably, the putative miR-30a binding site was observed in the 3'untranslated region (UTR) of BiP mRNA, and miR-30a suppressed BiP expression by targeting 3'UTR of BiP transcript. In addition, CSC increased the expression of BiP in OSCC cells by downregulating miR-30a. We also showed that BiP promoted invasion and tumor-associated angiogenesis by increasing the production and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in CSC-exposed OSCC cells. Moreover, BiP inhibition suppressed OSCC growth and reduced tumor vessel density in tumor-bearing mice administered with CSC. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that epigenetic regulation of BiP via miR-30a downregulation is involved in CSC-induced OSCC progression.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence study of two ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions: A randomized, open-label, two-formulation, two-sequence, two-period, single-dose crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: The study mainly aimed to determine the bioequivalence of two branded ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets (250 mg) under fasting and fed conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 48 healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions with a randomized, open-label, two-formulation, two-sequence, two-period, single-dose crossover design. In each period of the study, the subjects were assigned to receive a single oral dose of 250 mg ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. Blood samples were collected from 1 hour before dosing to 36 hours after administration with 16 timepoints in total. The bioequivalence analysis was performed after ln-transformation of the ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetic parameters including Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞. RESULTS: A total of 48 subjects were enrolled in the fasting and fed studies, and 1 of the subjects was excluded before drug administration. In the fasting study, the 90% CIs for the test/reference geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of the ln-transformed data for Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were 85.41 - 100.97%, 95.40 - 100.27%, and 95.48 - 100.30%, respectively. For the fed study, the 90% CIs for the test/reference GMRs of the ln-transformed data for Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were 90.15 - 113.75%, 99.10 - 103.77%, and 99.11 - 103.80%, respectively. These values all fell within the standard acceptance range of 80 - 125%. CONCLUSION: In the study, the generic (test) product of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 250 mg was bioequivalent to the innovator (reference) product after single-, oral-dose administration under fasting and fed conditions.