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Polymer-in-ceramic composite solid electrolytes (PIC-CSEs) provide important advantages over individual organic or inorganic solid electrolytes. In conventional PIC-CSEs, the ion conduction pathway is primarily confined to the ceramics, while the faster routes associated with the ceramic-polymer interface remain blocked. This challenge is associated with two key factors: (i) the difficulty in establishing extensive and uninterrupted ceramic-polymer interfaces due to ceramic aggregation; (ii) the ceramic-polymer interfaces are unresponsive to conducting ions because of their inherent incompatibility. Here, we propose a strategy by introducing polymer-compatible ionic liquids (PCILs) to mediate between ceramics and the polymer matrix. This mediation involves the polar groups of PCILs interacting with Li+ ions on the ceramic surfaces as well as the interactions between the polar components of PCILs and the polymer chains. This strategy addresses the ceramic aggregation issue, resulting in uniform PIC-CSEs. Simultaneously, it activates the ceramic-polymer interfaces by establishing interpenetrating channels that promote the efficient transport of Li+ ions across the ceramic phase, the ceramic-polymer interfaces, and the intervening pathways. Consequently, the obtained PIC-CSEs exhibit high ionic conductivity, exceptional flexibility, and robust mechanical strength. A PIC-CSE comprising poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and 60 wt % PCIL-coated Li3Zr2Si2PO12 (LZSP) fillers showcasing an ionic conductivity of 0.83 mS cm-1, a superior Li+ ion transference number of 0.81, and an elongation of â¼300% at 25 °C could be produced on meter-scale. Its lithium metal pouch cells show high energy densities of 424.9 Wh kg-1 (excluding packing films) and puncture safety. This work paves the way for designing PIC-CSEs with commercial viability.
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Intestinal inflammation and compromised barrier function are critical factors in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-192-5p in modulating intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) integrity and its association with autophagy. A DSS-induced colitis model was used to assess the effects of miR-192-5p on intestinal inflammation. In vitro experiments involved cell culture and transient transfection techniques. Various assays, including dual-luciferase reporter gene assays, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance, were performed to evaluate changes in miR-192-5p expression, Rictor levels, and autophagy flux. Immunofluorescence staining, H&E staining, TEER measurements, and FITC-dextran analysis were also used. Our findings revealed a reduced expression of miR-192-5p in inflamed intestinal tissues, correlating with impaired IEB function. Overexpression of miR-192-5p alleviated TNF-induced IEB dysfunction by targeting Rictor, resulting in enhanced autophagy flux in enterocytes (ECs). Moreover, the therapeutic potential of miR-192-5p was substantiated in colitis mice, wherein increased miR-192-5p expression ameliorated intestinal inflammatory injury by enhancing autophagy flux in ECs through the modulation of Rictor. Our study highlights the therapeutic potential of miR-192-5p in enteritis by demonstrating its role in regulating autophagy and preserving IEB function. Targeting the miR-192-5p/Rictor axis is a promising approach for mitigating gut inflammatory injury and improving barrier integrity in patients with enteritis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We uncover the pivotal role of miR-192-5p in fortifying intestinal barriers amidst inflammation. Reduced miR-192-5p levels correlated with compromised gut integrity during inflammation. Notably, boosting miR-192-5p reversed gut damage by enhancing autophagy via suppressing Rictor, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for fortifying the intestinal barrier and alleviating inflammation in patients with enteritis.
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Autofagia , Enterite , Mucosa Intestinal , MicroRNAs , Proteína Companheira de mTOR Insensível à Rapamicina , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , MicroRNAs/genética , Animais , Proteína Companheira de mTOR Insensível à Rapamicina/metabolismo , Proteína Companheira de mTOR Insensível à Rapamicina/genética , Camundongos , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Humanos , Enterite/metabolismo , Enterite/genética , Enterite/patologia , Colite/metabolismo , Colite/induzido quimicamente , Colite/patologia , Colite/genética , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Modelos Animais de Doenças , MasculinoRESUMO
Little is known about the role of negative regulators in controlling natural killer (NK) cell development and effector functions. Foxo1 is a multifunctional transcription factor of the forkhead family. Using a mouse model of conditional deletion in NK cells, we found that Foxo1 negatively controlled NK cell differentiation and function. Immature NK cells expressed abundant Foxo1 and little Tbx21 relative to mature NK cells, but these two transcription factors reversed their expression as NK cells proceeded through development. Foxo1 promoted NK cell homing to lymph nodes by upregulating CD62L expression and inhibited late-stage maturation and effector functions by repressing Tbx21 expression. Loss of Foxo1 rescued the defect in late-stage NK cell maturation in heterozygous Tbx21(+/-) mice. Collectively, our data reveal a regulatory pathway by which the negative regulator Foxo1 and the positive regulator Tbx21 play opposing roles in controlling NK cell development and effector functions.
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Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/imunologia , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Melanoma Experimental/genética , Neoplasias Cutâneas/genética , Proteínas com Domínio T/imunologia , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Proteína Forkhead Box O1 , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Heterozigoto , Células Matadoras Naturais/patologia , Selectina L/genética , Selectina L/imunologia , Pulmão/imunologia , Pulmão/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/secundário , Linfonodos/imunologia , Linfonodos/patologia , Depleção Linfocítica , Melanoma Experimental/imunologia , Melanoma Experimental/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Transplante de Neoplasias , Transdução de Sinais , Neoplasias Cutâneas/imunologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/secundário , Proteínas com Domínio T/genéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the impact of pension on depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults. Additional effort is made to test the mediating effect of multidimensional downward intergenerational support and the moderating effect of age on this relationship. METHODS: A total of 1828 Chinese older community-dwellers who met our inclusion criteria are drawn from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Multivariate regression modeling is applied to analyze the effect of pensions on depressive symptoms of older adults. Additionally, bootstrap method with resampling strategies is used to estimate the mediating effect of three dimensions of downward intergenerational support (instrumental, emotional, and financial support). Further, Johnson-Neyman technique is employed to analysis and visualize the moderating effect of age. RESULTS: The findings reveal a significant inverse relationship between pension levels and depressive symptoms (B = -6.664, SE = 2.826, p < 0.05). The analysis shows that downward intergenerational emotional support (B = -0.195, Boot SE = 0.103, 95% Boot CI [-0.404, -0.003]) serves as a partial mediator in this relationship. Furthermore, the results highlight the moderating role of age in the linkage between pension and depressive symptoms (B = 0.065, SE = 0.039, p < 0.1). DISCUSSION: This investigation is pioneering in simultaneously assessing the mediating role of multidimensional downward intergenerational support and the moderating effect of age in the context of pension and depressive symptoms. The study underscores the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach in devising comprehensive intervention strategies. These should encompass pension policy consultation, respite services, and other crucial elements aimed at mitigating the severity or reducing the risk of depressive symptoms among the older adults.
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Depressão , Pensões , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Idoso , Pensões/estatística & dados numéricos , China/epidemiologia , Depressão/psicologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Relação entre Gerações , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Apoio Social , População do Leste AsiáticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study aimed investigate the impact of intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults in urban China. It also sought to evaluate the chain mediation effect of attitudes toward younger people and willingness to interact with younger people within a non-familial context between intergenerational support and mental health. METHODS: Data were derived from a community survey that adopted quota sampling in mainland China in 2022 (N = 780). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and the bootstrap technique was used to test the mediation effect. RESULTS: A significant positive association was found between intergenerational support and the mental health of older adults in urban China (B = 0.852, 95% confidence interval CI [0.157,1.617]). Intergenerational support had a specific indirect effect on mental health through older adults' attitudes toward younger people within a non-familial context (B = 0.665, 95% CI [0.443,1.046]). There was a chain mediation effect (B = 0.126, 95% CI [0.069,0.224]) in relation to attitudes toward younger people and the willingness to interact with younger people between intergenerational support and mental health. Mediation accounted for 44.44% of the total effects in the model. CONCLUSION: These findings help identify modifiable factors that can improve the mental health of older adults. In line with the proposed serial multiple mediation model, this study provides theoretical and practical insights concerning the synergistic effect of intergenerational support at the family level and intergenerational interaction at the community level. Policy and social service implications are also discussed.
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Relação entre Gerações , Saúde Mental , Humanos , Idoso , China/epidemiologia , AtitudeRESUMO
The advent of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) has revolutionized neuroscience research. This groundbreaking innovation has facilitated the development of three-dimensional (3D) neural organoids, which closely mimicked the intricate structure and diverse functions of the human brain, providing an unprecedented platform for the in-depth study and understanding of neurological phenomena. However, these organoids lack key components of the neural microenvironment, particularly immune cells like microglia, thereby limiting their applicability in neuroinflammation research. Recent advancements focused on addressing this gap by integrating iPSC-derived microglia into neural organoids, thereby creating an immunized microenvironment that more accurately reflects human central neural tissue. This review explores the latest developments in this field, emphasizing the interaction between microglia and neurons within immunized neural organoids and highlights how this integrated approach not only enhances our understanding of neuroinflammatory processes but also opens new avenues in regenerative medicine.
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Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas , Humanos , Microglia , Encéfalo , Neurônios , OrganoidesRESUMO
Objective: To establish and evaluate a microbial sensitivity test method for Neisseria gonorrhoeae based on resazurin coloration. Methods: Based on the broth microdilution method, resazurin was added as a live bacteria indicator. WHO G, a WHO gonococcal reference strain, was used to optimize the incubation time for resazurin-stained bacteria and the color change was visually observed to obtain the results. Agar dilution method (the gold standard) and resazurin-based microdilution assay were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin for 3 reference strains and 32 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The results were analyzed based on essential agreement (EA), which reflected the consistency of the MIC values, category agreement (CA), which reflected the consistency in the determination of drug resistance, intermediary, and sensitivity, very major error (VME), which reflected false sensitivity, and major error (ME), which reflected pseudo drug resistance, to evaluate the accuracy of resazurin-based microdilution assay as a microbial sensitivity test of of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. CA and EA rates≥90% and VME and ME rates≤3% were found to be the acceptable performance rates. Results: The results obtained 6 hours after resazurin was added were consistent with those of the agar dilution method and the resazurin-based microdilution assay was established accordingly based on this parameter. The EA of resazurin-based microdilution assay for measuring the MIC results of azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin was 97.1%, 91.5%, and 94.3%, respectively, and the CA was 88.6%, 94.3%, and 94.3%, respectively. The VME was 0% for all three antibiotics, while the ME was 11.4%, 5.7%, and 5.7%, respectively. Conclusion: The resazurin-based microdilution assay established in this study showed good agreement with agar dilution method for measuring the MIC of antibiotics against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Moreover, the sensitivity results of this method were highly reliable and could be easily obtained through naked eye observation. Nonetheless, the results of drug resistance should be treated with caution and the optimization of parameters should be continued.
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Azitromicina , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , Oxazinas , Xantenos , Azitromicina/farmacologia , Ceftriaxona/farmacologia , Espectinomicina , Ágar , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Farmacorresistência BacterianaRESUMO
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease associated with CD4+ Th1 and Th17 cell immune responses. Tumour necrosis factor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5) deficiency has been shown to aggravate DSS-induced colitis. However, the potential role of TRAF5 in regulating CD4+ T cell immune responses in the pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear. TRAF5-/- CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells and WT CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells were transferred to Rag2-/- mice via intravenous (i.v.) tail injection, respectively, to establish a chronic colitis model. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene knockout technique was used to knock out runt-associated transcription factor 1 (Runx1) expression in vivo. Specific cytokines of Th1 and Th17 cells were detected by quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and flow cytometry. In T-cell transfer colitis mice, the Rag2-/- mice reconstituted with TRAF5-/- CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells showed more severe intestinal inflammation than the WT control group, which was characterised by increased expression of INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-17a. Furthermore, we found that the INF-γ+ CD4+ , IL17a+ CD4+ , and INF-γ+ IL17a+ CD4+ T cells in the intestinal mucosa of Rag2-/- mice reconstituted with TRAF5-/- CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells were significantly higher than those of the WT control group by flow cytometry. Mechanistically, knockout Runx1 inhibited the differentiation of TRAF5-/- CD4+ T cells into Th1 and Th17 cells in the intestinal mucosa of T-cell transfer colitis mice. TRAF5 regulates Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and immune response through Runx1 to participate in the pathogenesis of colitis. Thus targeting TRAF5 in CD4+ T cells may be a novel treatment for IBD.
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Colite , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Animais , Camundongos , Células Th17 , Fator 5 Associado a Receptor de TNF/metabolismo , Mucosa Intestinal , Imunidade , Células Th1 , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos , Camundongos Knockout , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Subunidade alfa 2 de Fator de Ligação ao Core/genética , Subunidade alfa 2 de Fator de Ligação ao Core/metabolismoRESUMO
Eukaryotic initiation factor 6 (eIF6) is necessary for ribosome biogenesis and translation, but eIF6 has been poorly elucidated in insects. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that eIF6 originated from one ancestral gene among animals and exhibited specific duplication in Tribolium, yielding three homologues in Tribolium castaneum, eIF6, eIF6-like 1 (eIF6l1), and eIF6-like 2 (eIF6l2). It was found that eIF6 was highly expressed in the embryonic and early adult stages, eIF6l1 had peak expression at the adult stage, and eIF6l2 showed peak expression in late adults of T. castaneum. Tissue-specific analyses in late-stage larvae demonstrated that eIF6 was abundantly expressed in all tissues, while eIF6l1 and eIF6l2 had the highest expression in the gut and the lowest expression in the head of T. castaneum. Knockdown of eIF6 caused precocious pupation and eclosion, impaired ovary and testis development and completely repressed egg production. The expression levels of vitellogenin 1 (Vg1), Vg2 and Vg receptor (VgR) significantly decreased in ds-eIF6 females 5 days post-adult emergence. Silencing eIF6 activated ecdysteroid biosynthesis and juvenile hormone degradation but reduced the activity of insulin signalling in T. castaneum, which might mediate its roles in metamorphosis, reproduction and gene expression regulation. However, silence of eIF6l1 or eIF6l2 had no effects on metamorphosis and reproduction in T. castaneum. This study provides comprehensive information for eIF6 evolution and function in the insect.
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Tribolium , Feminino , Masculino , Animais , Tribolium/genética , Filogenia , Metamorfose Biológica/genética , ReproduçãoRESUMO
Some studies suggest that misuse of androgenic-anabolic steroids may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in males. This study explored the effects of testosterone enanthate (TE) on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as biomarkers of oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue of rats that were treated with TE. Also, we evaluated the levels of collagen deposition as a marker for cardiac fibrosis and the mRNA expression of the Wnt-2 and dickkopf1 (DKK1) as potential factors that may be involved in the increase of collagen deposition. In this study, 21 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=7): CO: controls; T-T: normal rats that were treated with 25 mg/kg/day TE for 2 weeks and served as an androgen abuse model; V-T: these animals were treated with the sesame oil as a solvent of TE. At the end of treatment, the relative mRNA expression of Wnt-2 and DKK1 in the ventricular tissue was determined by q-RT-PCR. The degree of collagen deposition in the myocardial tissue was evaluated by Masson's trichrome staining. Results showed that the mRNA expression of DKK1 was down-regulated following excess androgen exposure (p=0.009) but Wnt-2 mRNA expression wasn't affected (p=0.069). Increased collagen deposition was observed in the T-T group (p=0.000). The levels of MDA and TAC in heart tissue weren't altered significantly (p>0.05). These results suggest that the raised collagen deposition by exogenous testosterone may be mediated, at least in part, by the reduction of expression of DKK1 mRNA. These findings may explain some structural alterations in the heart of some androgens abusers.
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Androgênios , Testosterona , Animais , Masculino , Ratos , Androgênios/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Colágeno/genética , Colágeno/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Ratos Wistar , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Testosterona/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhea has become a growing global public health burden. Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with resistance to ceftriaxone, the last remaining first-line option, represent an emerging threat of untreatable gonorrhea. METHODS: A total of ten ceftriaxone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae FC428 isolates and two isolates harboring a novel mosaic penA-232.001 allele from 160 gonococcal isolates in Chengdu in 2019-2020 was described in the present study. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and N. gonorrhoeae sequence typing for antimicrobial resistance (NG-STAR) were performed to characterize the isolates. Whole genome sequencing and maximum-likelihood method were performed to infer how the genetic phylogenetic tree of these isolates looks like. Recombination analysis was performed using the RDP4 software. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100048771, registration date: 20210716). RESULTS: The genetic phylogeny showed that the ten FC428 isolates sporadically clustered into different phylogenetic clades, suggesting different introductions and local transmission of FC428. Two isolates showed close genetic relatedness to ceftriaxone-resistant clone A8806, which was only reported from Australia in 2013. Homologous recombination events were detected in penA between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and commensal Neisseria species (N. perflava and N. polysaccharea), providing evidence of commensal Neisseria species might serve as reservoirs of ceftriaxone resistance-mediating penA sequences in clinical gonococcal strains. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate further dissemination of FC428 in China and resurgence risks of sporadic ceftriaxone-resistant A8806 to become the next clone to spread.
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Anti-Infecciosos , Gonorreia , Humanos , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/genética , Ceftriaxona/farmacologia , Tipagem de Sequências Multilocus , Filogenia , SoftwareRESUMO
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and is still the second leading cause of death for women in the world. Early detection and treatment of breast cancer can reduce mortality rates. Breast ultrasound is always used to detect and diagnose breast cancer. The accurate breast segmentation and diagnosis as benign or malignant is still a challenging task in the ultrasound image. In this paper, we proposed a classification model as short-ResNet with DC-UNet to solve the segmentation and diagnosis challenge to find the tumor and classify benign or malignant with breast ultrasonic images. The proposed model has a dice coefficient of 83% for segmentation and achieves an accuracy of 90% for classification with breast tumors. In the experiment, we have compared with segmentation task and classification result in different datasets to prove that the proposed model is more general and demonstrates better results. The deep learning model using short-ResNet to classify tumor whether benign or malignant, that combine DC-UNet of segmentation task to assist in improving the classification results.
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Neoplasias da Mama , Redes Neurais de Computação , Feminino , Humanos , Mama/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Mama/diagnóstico por imagem , Ultrassonografia , Ultrassonografia Mamária , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador/métodosRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes that display a critical role in various liver diseases. However, the role of MAIT cells in cholestatic liver fibrogenesis remains obscure. Our study aims to assess the contribution of MAIT cells and underlying mechanisms during this process. METHODS: Cholestatic murine models using MAIT cell-deficient (MR1- /- ) and wild-type (WT) mice were established by feeding a 0.1% 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-enriched diet or bile duct ligation (BDL). Liver samples were collected to determine the severity of fibrosis. Lymphocytes of the liver were isolated for analysing the phenotype and function of MAIT cells. Cell co-culture experiments were performed to investigate the cross-talk between MAIT and NK cells. RESULTS: Liver MAIT cells were more activated with increased cytokines in cholestatic mice models than in control mice, although their frequency was decreased. MAIT cell deficiency led to severe liver inflammation and fibrosis with more activated HSCs in cholestatic mice. In addition, MR1- /- mice had an increased frequency of NK cells with higher expression of stimulatory receptors relative to WT mice. Paradoxically, activated MAIT cells significantly promoted the anti-fibrotic ability of NK cells by enhancing their cytotoxicity against HSCs in co-culture experiments. Importantly, this effect depended on direct cell-cell contact and TNF-α produced by MAIT cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that MAIT cells ameliorate cholestatic liver fibrosis by enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells against HSCs. An in-depth understanding of the MAIT cell-mediated regulatory effect will provide more valuable immunotherapy strategies to treat liver fibrosis.
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Colestase , Células T Invariantes Associadas à Mucosa , Camundongos , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Cirrose Hepática/genética , Células Matadoras NaturaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study explored the association between oral health and depression occurs via daily dietary satisfaction as a mediator, and that body mass index could moderate the path between daily dietary satisfaction and depression. METHODS: Data for this research were derived from a community survey adopting quota sampling in the cities of Tianjin and Shijiazhuang in mainland China in 2020 (N = 781). The moderated mediation model was tested by using bootstrapping with resampling strategies, and the Johnson-Neyman technique was used to visualize the moderating effect of body mass index. RESULTS: A significant negative association between oral health and depression has been indicated (B = -0.22, SE = 0.11, 95%CI [- 0.44, - 0.01]), and dietary satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between oral health and depression (B = -0.04, SE = 0.02, 95%CI [- 0.09, - 0.002]). The path was moderated by body mass index, and the effect of dietary satisfaction on depression was much greater in people with relatively low body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: This study present evidence for policymakers and researchers that strategies to enhance oral health and daily dietary satisfaction could be important for preventing depression in Chinese older adults, and especially for the relatively fitter older groups with lower body mass index.
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Depressão , Saúde Bucal , Humanos , Idoso , Depressão/diagnóstico , Depressão/epidemiologia , China/epidemiologia , Satisfação Pessoal , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: While depressive symptoms are recognized as major mental health problems in later life, there is a lack of study in examining potential moderators in the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms, especially in social contexts with low socioeconomic status and inadequate formal public support. This study set out to examine the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural Northeast China, and the potential moderating roles of age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases on this link. METHODS: A quota sampling approach was used to recruit 448 respondents aged 60 and above from rural Chinese communities. Depressive symptoms were the dependent variable. Intergenerational emotional, instrumental, and financial support were the main independent variables. Age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases were the moderators. Multiple linear regression models with interaction terms were conducted to test the proposed model. RESULTS: The results showed that intergenerational emotional support was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in older adults when instrumental and financial support and covariates were controlled (ß = -0.196, p < .001). Age was found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between intergenerational instrumental support and depressive symptoms (ß = -0.118, p < .05). Among older respondents aged 74.51 years and older, instrumental support was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but this association was not significant for younger respondents. Furthermore, living alone and number of chronic diseases suffered moderated the association between intergenerational financial support and depressive symptoms, which was statistically significant only for those living alone and with more chronic diseases (interaction term between living alone and intergenerational financial support: ß = -0.082, p < .05; interaction term between number of chronic diseases and intergenerational financial support: ß = -0.088, p < .05. CONCLUSIONS: The findings not only highlight the important role of intergenerational support in promoting mental health in later life in rural Chinese contexts, but also identify within-population heterogeneity in the identified associations. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.
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Depressão , Relação entre Gerações , População Rural , Apoio Social , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , China/epidemiologia , Doença Crônica/epidemiologia , Depressão/epidemiologia , Ambiente Domiciliar , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , População Rural/estatística & dados numéricos , Apoio Social/psicologia , Apoio Social/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Moxidectin (MXD) is an antiparasitic drug used extensively in veterinary clinics. In this study, to develop a new formulation of MXD, a thermosensitive gel of MXD (MXD-TG) was prepared based on poloxamer 407/188. Furthermore, the gelation temperature, the stability, in vitro release kinetics and in vivo pharmacokinetics of MXD-TG were evaluated. The results showed that the gelation temperature was approximately 27 °C. MXD-TG was physically stable and can be released continuously for more than 96 h in vitro. The Korsmeyer−Peppas model provided the best fit to the release kinetics, and the release mechanism followed a diffusive erosion style. MXD-TG was released persistently for over 70 days in sheep. Part of pharmacokinetic parameters had a difference in female and male sheep (p < 0.05). It was concluded that MXD-TG had a good stability, and its release followed the characteristics of a diffusive erosion style in vitro and a sustained release pattern in vivo.
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Macrolídeos , Poloxâmero , Animais , Antiparasitários , Feminino , Macrolídeos/farmacocinética , Masculino , Ovinos , TemperaturaRESUMO
To explore the wetting behavior of nanofluid under high voltage, a contact angle measurement system under electric field is designed and set up. The effects of mass concentration, the type of nanoparticles and the temperature of dielectric layer are considered. The experimental results manifest that the contact angle reduction rate of SiO2-water nanofluid is gradually increased with the increase of nanofluid concentrations from 0 to 0.05 wt%. While, it is decreased when the concentration is varied from 0.05 to 0.25 wt%. On the other hand, the contact angle reduction rate of Al2O3-water nanofluid is generally greater than SiO2-water nanofluid with the same volume concentration. In addition, the reduction rate of the contact angle of the SiO2-water nanofluid would be gradually increased with the increase of the surface temperature of the dielectric layer. Moreover, the experimental values are greatly deviated from the results calculated by Young-Lippmann equation and its modified form of nanofluid. Hence, the present study proposes a dimensionless surface tension correct factor to obtain the modified equation which is based on the Young-Lippmann equation. The influence of electric charge, electric field force, drag force and Brownian force on nanoparticles under high voltage are considered in the modified equation. The results show that the modified equation can predict the trend of the nanofluid contact angle under higher voltage.
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INTRODUCTION: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-inherited disease characterized by extensive gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis and ectodermal dysplasia. So far, most of CCS related literatures are published as single case report or reviewed with limited case numbers. Our study was to update the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of Chinese CCS patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in 103 Chinese CCS patients (102 cases from literatures and 1 case from our department). Their clinical and endoscopic data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: (1) In Chinese population, people aged 50-70 years (62.62%) had a high incidence of CCS, and the ratio of male-to-female was 2.68:1. (2) The diverse range of GI manifestations was observed in all the patients, and almost all the patients had at least 1 symptom of ectodermal dysplasias. (3) All CCS patients presented multiple polyps in the GI tract except esophagus, and the size and appearance of polyps were diverse. Congestion, edema, and erosion were very common on the surface of polyps (96.83%) and the surrounding mucosa (85.71%). (4) The common pathological features of polyps were hyperplastic polyps (49.25%) and tubular adenomatous polyps (44.78%). The prevalence of cancer was 5.97% in Chinese CCS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged and elderly people are the high-risk group. Various GI symptoms are observed in Chinese patients; the typical endoscopic finding is multiple small sessile polyps. These GI polyps have a chance of malignant potential. Long-term endoscopic surveillance and follow-up are recommended for the Chinese CCS patients.
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Polipose Intestinal , Idoso , China/epidemiologia , Endoscopia , Feminino , Humanos , Polipose Intestinal/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In addition to nerve conduction studies (NCSs), ultrasonography has been widely used as an alternative tool for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Although the results of NCSs are influenced by local skin temperature, few studies have explored the effects of skin temperature on ultrasonography of the median nerve. Since swelling and intraneural blood flow of the median nerve might be influenced by local temperature changes, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional area (CSA) and intraneural blood flow of the median nerve under three skin temperatures (30 °C, 32 °C, 34 °C). METHODS: Fifty patients with CTS and 50 healthy volunteers were consecutively recruited from a community hospital. Each participant received physical examinations and NCSs and underwent ultrasonography, including power Doppler, to evaluate intraneural vascularity. RESULTS: The CSA of the median nerve in the CTS patients was significantly larger than that in the healthy controls at all three temperatures. However, significant differences in the power Doppler signals of the median nerve between the two studied groups were observed only at 30 and 32 °C, not at 34 °C. CONCLUSION: The significant difference in the intraneural vascularity of the median nerve between the patients with CTS and the healthy subjects was lost at higher temperatures (34 °C). Therefore, the results of power Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing CTS should be cautiously interpreted in patients with a high skin temperature or those who reside in warm environments.
Assuntos
Síndrome do Túnel Carpal/diagnóstico por imagem , Nervo Mediano/irrigação sanguínea , Nervo Mediano/diagnóstico por imagem , Temperatura Cutânea , Ultrassonografia/métodos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Condução Nervosa , Ultrassonografia DopplerRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Reduced gliding ability of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel has been observed in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gliding abilities of the median nerve and flexor tendon in patients with CTS and healthy participants in the neutral and 30° extended positions of the wrist and to compare the gliding between the finger flexion and extension phases. METHODS: Patients with CTS and healthy participants were consecutively recruited in a community hospital. All the subjects received the Boston CTS questionnaire, physical examinations, nerve conduction study (NCS), and ultrasonography of the upper extremities. Duplex Doppler ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the gliding abilities of the median nerve and flexor tendon when the subjects continuously moved their index finger in the neutral and 30° extension positions of the wrist. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients with CTS and 48 healthy volunteers were consecutively recruited. Significant differences in the Boston CTS questionnaire, physical examination and NCS results and the cross-sectional area of the median nerve were found between the patients and the healthy controls. The degree of median nerve gliding and the ratio of median nerve excursion to flexor tendon excursion in the CTS group were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group in both the neutral and 30° wrist extension positions. Significantly increased excursion of both the median nerve and flexor tendon from the neutral to the extended positions were found in the CTS group. The ratio of median nerve excursion to flexor tendon excursion was significantly higher in the finger flexion phase than in the extended phase in both groups, and this ratio had mild to moderate correlations with answers on the Boston CTS Questionnaire and with the NCS results. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced excursion of the median nerve was found in the patients with CTS. The ratio of median nerve excursion to flexor tendon excursion was significantly lower in the patients with CTS than in the healthy volunteers. The median nerve excursion was increased while the wrist joint was extended to 30° in the patients with CTS. Wrist extension may be applied as part of the gliding exercise regimen for patients with CTS to improve median nerve mobilization.