Assessment of consistency between peer-reviewed publications and clinical trial registrations in nursing journals.

BACKGROUND: The inconsistencies between randomized clinical trials (RCTs) registrations and peer-reviewed publications may distort trial results and threaten the validity of evidence-based medicine. Previous studies have found many inconsistencies between RCTs registrations and peer-reviewed publications, and outcome reporting bias is prevalent. AIMS: The aims of this review were to assess whether the primary outcomes and other data reported in publications and registered records in RCTs of nursing journals were consistent and whether discrepancies in the reporting of primary outcomes favored statistically significant results. Moreover, we reviewed the proportion of RCTs for prospective registration. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed for RCTs published in the top 10 nursing journals between March 5, 2020, and March 5, 2022. Registration numbers were extracted from the publications, and registered records were identified from the registration platforms. The publications and registered records were compared to identify consistency. Inconsistencies were subdivided into discrepancies and omissions. RESULTS: A total of 70 RCTs published in seven journals were included. The inconsistencies involved sample size estimation (71.4%), random sequence generation (75.7%), allocation concealment (97.1%), blinding (82.9%), primary outcomes (60.0%) and secondary outcomes (84.3%). Among the inconsistencies in the primary outcomes, 21.4% were due to discrepancies and 38.6% resulted from omissions. Fifty-three percent (8/15) presented discrepancies in the primary outcomes that favored statistically significant results. Additionally, although only 40.0% of the studies were prospective registrations, the number of prospectively registered trials has trended upward over time. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: While not including all RCTs in the nursing field, our sample reflected a general trend: inconsistencies between publications and trial registrations were prevalent in the included nursing journals. Our research helps to provide a way to improve the transparency of research reports. Ensuring that clinical practice has access to transparent and reliable research results are essential to achieve the best possible evidence-based medicine.

WSL6 encoding an Era-type GTP-binding protein is essential for chloroplast development in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: Rice WSL6 is involved in chloroplast ribosome biogenesis and is essential for early chloroplast development. Construction of the genetic translation system is a prerequisite for chloroplast development in plants. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this process is largely unknown. Here, we isolated a white stripe leaf6 (wsl6) mutant in rice. The mutant seedlings displayed white-striped leaves that were more severe under low-temperature conditions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the wsl6 mutant was defective in early chloroplast development. Map-based cloning revealed that WSL6 encodes an Era-type guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein located in chloroplasts. Immunoblotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses demonstrated an absence of 70S ribosomes in wsl6 chloroplasts. Further research showed that WSL6 binds to the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) subunit of chloroplast ribosome 30S. In summary, these results show that WSL6 is essential for chloroplast ribosome biogenesis during early chloroplast development in rice.

Advancements in Biosensors for Point-of-Care Testing of Nucleic Acid.

Rapid, low-cost and high-specific diagnosis based on nucleic acid detection is pivotal in both detecting and controlling various infectious diseases, effectively curbing their spread. Moreover, the analysis of circulating DNA in whole blood has emerged as a promising noninvasive strategy for cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Although traditional nucleic acid detection methods are reliable, their time-consuming and intricate processes restrict their application in rapid field assays. Consequently, an urgent emphasis on point-of-care testing (POCT) of nucleic acids has arisen. POCT enables timely and efficient detection of specific sequences, acting as a deterrent against infection sources and potential tumor threats. To address this imperative need, it is essential to consolidate key aspects and chart future directions in POCT biosensors development. This review aims to provide an exhaustive and meticulous analysis of recent advancements in POCT devices for nucleic acid diagnosis. It will comprehensively compare these devices across crucial dimensions, encompassing their integrated structures, the synthesized nanomaterials harnessed, and the sophisticated detection principles employed. By conducting a rigorous evaluation of the current research landscape, this review will not only spotlight achievements but also identify limitations, offering valuable insights into the future trajectory of nucleic acid POCT biosensors. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review aspires to serve as an indispensable guide for fostering the development of more potent biosensors, consequently fostering precise and efficient POCT applications for nucleic acids.

Self-assembled hyaluronic acid-coated nanocomplexes for targeted delivery of curcumin alleviate acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a pathological process with high morbidity, and drug resistance is easy to occur due to untargeted drug therapy. Curcumin can repair acute kidney injury. The expression of the CD44 receptor in renal tubular epithelial cells is abnormally elevated during AKI, and hyaluronic acid (HA) has the ability to bind specifically to the CD44 receptor. In this study, we developed a hyaluronic acid-coated liposome (HALP) nanocomplexes that targeted renal epithelial cells and its effect of relieving AKI was investigated. HALP was formed by self-assembly through the electrostatic interaction of curcumin-loaded cationic liposomes (LP) with hyaluronic acid and responds to the release of curcumin in the acidic microenvironment of lesions to treat AKI. HALP had good stability and biocompatibility. The in vitro results showed that compared to LP, HALP exhibited higher antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic capacities. The AKI model suggested that HALP could not only target and accumulate in the injured kidney but also had an excellent ability to reduce the inflammatory response, which decreased tubular necrosis and restored kidney function.

Levitation Characteristics Analysis of a Diamagnetically Stabilized Levitation Structure.

A diamagnetically stabilized levitation structure is composed of a floating magnet, diamagnetic material, and a lifting magnet. The floating magnet is freely levitated between two diamagnetic plates without any external energy input. In this paper, the levitation characteristics of a floating magnet were firstly studied through simulation. Three different levitation states were found by adjusting the gap between the two diamagnetic plates, namely symmetric monostable levitation, bistable levitation, and asymmetric monostable levitation. Then, according to experimental comparison, it was found that the stability of the symmetric monostable levitation system is better than that of the other two. Lastly, the maximum moving space that allows the symmetric monostable levitation state is investigated by Taguchi method. The key factors affecting the maximum gap were determined as the structure parameters of the floating magnet and the thickness of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) sheets. According to the optimal parameters, work performance was obtained by an experiment with an energy harvester based on the diamagnetic levitation structure. The effective value of voltage is 250.69 mV and the power is 86.8 µW. An LED light is successfully lit on when the output voltage is boosted with a Cockcroft-Walton cascade voltage doubler circuit. This work offers an effective method to choose appropriate parameters for a diamagnetically stabilized levitation structure.

Time course of expression of chalcone synthase gene in Ginkgo biloba.

Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyses the first and key regulatory step of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. A chalcone synthase gene was isolated from Ginkgo biloba leaves using the method of rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA, designated as GbCHS2, is 1,608 bp in length (GenBank accession No. DQ054841) and contains an open reading frame of 1,173 bp encoding a protein of 391 amino acids. Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequence of GbCHS2 has been shown to have high sequence similarity with GbCHS1. All the active sites and active site motifs in GbCHS1 protein were also found in GbCHS2. Correlation analysis between CHS activity and flavonoid accumulation during ginkgo leaf growth indicated that CHS might be the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids in ginkgo leaves. Results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that flavonoid accumulation paralleled the transcription level of change in chs gene, suggesting chs gene as the specific key gene regulating flavonoid accumulation in ginkgo leaves.