Effects and Mechanisms of the Xianhecao-Huanglian Drug Pair on Autophagy-Mediated Intervention in Acute Inflammatory Bowel Disease via the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway.

To explore the effects and mechanisms of the Xianhecao-Huanglian drug pair on autophagy-mediated intervention in acute inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. The study examined the underlying mechanisms of action of Xianhecao (APL) and Huanglian (CR) using a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in an in vitro model of IBD induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of the Xianhecao-Huanglian drug combination in a mouse model of IBD caused by DSS included the following parameters: Assessment of weight loss or gain. Measurement of the disease activity index (DAI). Assessment of histological damage. Determination of organ index. Measurement of colon length. Ascertain the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the intestinal tissues and serum of mice. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the measurement of tight junction protein concentrations in the colon mucosa, including ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin. Measurement of mucin levels, specifically Mucin 2 (Muc2). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for the observation of histopathological alterations in colonic tissues. Examining the effect on goblet cells using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) labeling. Application of Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques for the detection of autophagy-related markers in colonic tissues and proteins associated with the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. A cell inflammation model of IBD was induced through LPS stimulation, and a serum containing the Xianhecao-Huanglian drug pair (referred to as ACHP-DS) was formulated. Cell viability, anti-proinflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins, mucins, autophagy-related markers, and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were assessed. The Xianhecao-Huanglian drug pair significantly ameliorated the symptoms and survival quality of acute IBD mice, reducing the disease activity index score, raising MUC2 secretion and tight junction protein expression to improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and preserving goblet cell function; thus, protecting the intestines. It effectively restrained triggering the signaling pathway that involves JAK2 and STAT3, leading to the suppression of inflammation and amelioration of colonic inflammation damage. Additionally, it induced autophagy in mouse colonic tissues.The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the Xianhecao-Huanglian drug combination enhanced the viability of LOVO and NCM460 cells when exposed to LPS stimulation. Furthermore, it suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1ß, as well as TNF-α, whilst increasing the production of IL-10, ZO-1, along with MUC2. These effects collectively led to the alleviation of inflammation and the restoration of mucosal integrity. The results were consistent with what was shown in the in vivo trial. Moreover, the medication demonstrated effectiveness in reducing JAK2 along with STAT3 phosphorylation levels in the LPS-induced inflammatory model of IBD cells. The intervention with either the Xianhecao-Huanglian drug combination-containing serum or the JAK2/STAT3 pathway inhibitor AG490 reversed the pro-inflammatory effects and increased autophagy levels in the LPS-stimulated cells. The Xianhecao-Huanglian drug combination modulates the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, leading to the induction of autophagy, which serves as an intervention for IBD.

Epitope delimitation: A new method for defining epitopes of human IgG-reactive antigenic peptides based on rabbit-recognized epitope motifs.

The use of precise epitope peptides as antigens is essential for accurate serological diagnosis of viral-infected individuals, but now it remains an unsolvable problem for mapping precise B cell epitopes (BCEs) recognized by human serum. To address this challenge, we propose a novel epitope delimitation (ED) method to uncover BCEs in the delineated human IgG-reactive (HR) antigenic peptides (APs). Specifically, the method based on the rationale of similarities in humoral immune responses between mammalian species consists of a pair of elements: experimentally delineated HR-AP and rabbit-recognized (RR) BCE motif and corresponding pair of sequence alignment analysis. As a result of using the ED approach, after decoding four RR-epitomes of human papillomavirus types 16/18-E6 and E7 proteins utilizing rabbit serum against each recombinant protein and sequence alignment analysis of HR-APs and RR-BCEs, 19 fine BCEs in 17 of 22 known HR-APs were defined based on each corresponding RR-BCE motifs, including the type-specificity of each delimited BCE in homologous proteins. The test with 22 known 16/20mer HR-APs demonstrated that the ED method is effective and efficient, indicating that it can be used as an alternative method to the conventional identification of fine BCEs using overlapping 8mer peptides.

Interoceptive awareness mediated the effects of a 15-minute diaphragmatic breathing on empathy for pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Although empathy for pain plays an important role in positive interpersonal relationships and encourages engagement in prosocial behavior, it remains largely unknown whether empathy for pain could be effectively altered by psychophysiological techniques. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a single session of diaphragmatic breathing practice on empathy for pain and examine the potential mechanism involving interoceptive awareness. A total of 66 healthy participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received a 15-minute diaphragmatic breathing (DB) practice with real-time biofeedback, while the control group was to gaze at a black screen at rest and not engaged in any other activities. Before and after the invention, all participants were instructed to evaluate the intensity and unpleasantness of empathy for pain while watching different pictures with pain or non-pain conditions. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) was then administered to measure interoceptive awareness. The results indicated a significant interaction between group and time with regard to empathy for pain and MAIA. The DB group showed a statistically significant decrease in both pain intensity and unpleasantness during the pain picture condition, as well as a noteworthy increase in MAIA scores. The control group did not demonstrate any substantial changes. More importantly, the regulation of attention, a dimension of MAIA, had a significant mediating effect on the impact of diaphragmatic breathing on reported unpleasantness. Diaphragmatic breathing could serve as a simple, convenient, and practical strategy to optimize human empathy for pain that warrants further investigation, which has important implications not only for individuals with impaired empathy for pain but also for the improvement of interoceptive awareness.

Recent and Local HIV Infections among Newly Diagnosed Cases in Two Districts of Chongqing, China (2019-2021).

Newly diagnosed HIV cases often do not clearly indicate whether they are recent or long-standing infections. We collected the history of HIV antibody testing, sexual behavior and initial CD4 + T cell (CD4) count of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS to determine the time and location of HIV infections. Of the included 612 cases, 17.3% were classified as recent HIV infection. Recent HIV infections were higher in cases aged < 30 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.267, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.856-9.813) and 30-49 (AOR = 2.847, 95%CI 1.356-5.977) vs. ≥50, and the transmission mode was men who have sex with men (MSM) (AOR = 4.130, 95%CI 1.815-9.399) was higher than heterosexual contact. Of the 582 cases, 80.8% were classified as local HIV infection (An infection occurred in the two survey districts). Local HIV infections were higher in cases being single and divorced/widowed (AOR = 2.511, 95% CI 1.271-4.962) vs. being married, residing in the survey districts ≥ 5 years (AOR = 168.962, 95%CI 64.942-439.593) vs. < 1 year, transmission mode was MSM (AOR = 8.669, 95%CI 2.668-28.163) vs. heterosexual contact, and acquired infections through spouses or steady partners (AOR = 11.493, 95%CI 3.236-40.819) vs. commercial partners. Both recent and local HIV infections were higher in cases whose transmission mode was MSM, we recommended using internet platforms and MSM dating apps for HIV education and intervention, promoting internet intervention tools to raise awareness about HIV and facilitate early detection.

Symptom profiles in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and their association with quality of life: a longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: Many patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis experience one or multiple symptoms. Using a latent profile analysis to identify symptom profiles may provide insights for person-centered symptom management strategies. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study based on data from patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis at three hospitals in Shanghai, China. Of the 448 patients who completed the surveys at baseline (T1), 309 completed the 12-month follow-up survey (T2). Symptoms and quality of life were measured by the Chinese version of Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36 Short Form. The optimal classification of symptoms was identified using latent profile analysis. RESULTS: Five symptom profiles were identified: High (9.2%), Fatigue and Gastrointestinal (7.1%), Fatigue and Skin (10.7%), Skin (23.2%), and Low (49.8%). The high-symptom profile and the-fatigue-and-skin-symptom profile were associated with a lower level of physical functioning, a higher burden of kidney disease, and more negative effects of kidney disease than the low symptom profile at T1 and T2. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the high-symptom profile predicted a poorer physical functioning at T2, and the-fatigue-and-skin-symptom profile predicted a poorer physical functioning and higher burden of kidney disease at T2. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis reported unique symptom experiences which could be classified into different profiles. Patients reporting an overall high level of symptoms or a high level of fatigue and skin symptoms were more likely to have a poorer quality of life.

Near-Infrared Light-Mediated Cyclodextrin Metal-Organic Frameworks for Synergistic Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Therapies.

Bacterial infections pose a significant threat to global public health; therefore, the development of novel therapeutics is urgently needed. Herein, a controllable antibacterial nanoplatform utilizing cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) as a template to synthesize ultrafine silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in their porous structure is constructed. Subsequently, polydopamine (PDA) is encapsulated on the CD-MOFs' surface via dopamine polymerization to enhance the water stability and enable hyperthermia capacity. The resulting Ag@MOF@PDA generates localized hyperthermia and gradually releases Ag+ to achieve long-term photothermal-chemical bactericidal capability. The release rate of Ag+ can be accelerated by NIR-mediated heating in a controllable manner, quickly reaching the effective concentration and reducing the frequency of medication to avoid potential toxicity. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the combined antibacterial strategy can not only effectively kill both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, but also directly eradicate mature biofilms. In vivo results confirm that both bacterial- and biofilm-infected wounds treated with a combination of Ag@MOF@PDA and laser exhibit satisfactory recovery with minimal toxicity, displaying a superior therapeutic effect compared to other groups. Together, the results warrant that the Ag@MOF@PDA realizes synergistic antibacterial capacity and controllable release of Ag+ to combat bacterial and biofilm infections, providing a potential antibiotic-free alternative in the "post-antibiotic era."

Walking activity and emotional distress among breast cancer survivors: the parallel mediating effects of posttraumatic growth and body image.

PURPOSE: Although the antidepressant effects of physical activity have been well established, the underlying psychological mechanisms are understudied among cancer survivors. The present study aims to examine the parallel mediating effects of posttraumatic growth and body image on the association between walking activity and emotional distress (anxiety and depression) among Chinese breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Chinese breast cancer survivors (n = 235) completed a cross-sectional questionnaire that assessed walking activity, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic growth, and body image over the past week. Path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized mediation model. RESULTS: The hypothesized model was supported: walking activity was positively associated with posttraumatic growth and body image satisfaction, which were then negatively associated with anxiety and depression. After controlling for the mediators, the direct effect of physical activity on depression was still significant, whereas the direct effect of physical activity on anxiety was no longer significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that posttraumatic growth and body image may be essential psychological pathways underlying the association between walking activity and emotional distress among Chinese breast cancer survivors. Researchers and health practitioners should consider supplementing physical activity interventions with mental health services that facilitate psychological growth and a positive body image to enhance the potential psychological benefits of physical activity.

PD-1 monoclonal antibodies enhance the cryoablation-induced antitumor immune response: a breast cancer murine model research.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that cryoablation (Cryo) causes specific T-cell immune responses in the body; however, it is not sufficient to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. In this report, we evaluated changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in distant tumor tissues after Cryo and investigated the immunosuppressive mechanisms that limit the efficacy of Cryo. METHODS: Bilateral mammary tumor models were established in mice, and we first observed the dynamic changes in immune cells and cytokines at different time points after Cryo. Then, we confirmed that the upregulation of PD-1 and PD-L1 signaling in the contralateral tumor tissue was closely related to the immunosuppressive state in the TIME at the later stage after Cryo. Finally, we also evaluated the synergistic antitumor effects of Cryo combined with PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in the treatment of breast cancer (BC) mouse. RESULTS: We found that Cryo can stimulate the body's immune response, but it also induces immunosuppression. The elevated PD-1/PD-L1 expression in distant tumor tissues at the later stage after Cryo was closely related to the immunosuppressive state in the TIME but also created the conditions for Cryo combined with PD-1 mAb for BC mouse treatment. Cryo + PD-1 mAb could improve the immunosuppressive state of tumors and enhance the Cryo-induced immune response, thus exerting a synergistic antitumor effect. CONCLUSIONS: The PD-1/PD-L1 axis plays an important role in suppressing Cryo-induced antitumor immune responses. This study provides a theoretical basis for Cryo combined with PD-1 mAb therapy in clinical BC patients.

Symptom burden and emotional distress in advanced lung cancer: the moderating effects of physicians' communication skills and patients' disease understanding.

PURPOSE: The elevated physical symptom burden in advanced lung cancer can disrupt patients' emotional well-being, and current literature suggests that physicians' good communication skills might be a buffer. However, little is known about for which group of patients this buffering effect is most effective. Based on a cross-sectional study in patients with advanced lung cancer, the present study examined whether the moderating effect of physicians' communication skills on the association between physical symptoms and emotional distress would further depend on patients' perceived disease understanding. METHODS: Patients with advanced lung cancer (n = 199) completed a questionnaire including measures of physical symptoms related to lung cancer, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, perceptions of physicians' communication skills, and self-reported understanding of their disease. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses indicated a significant three-way interaction among physical symptoms, perceptions of physicians' communication skills, and perceived disease understanding on both anxiety and depression. Specifically, physicians' good communication skills exerted a buffering effect only for patients with lower levels of disease understanding. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that improving physicians' communication skills may be especially beneficial for reducing the maladaptive emotional reactions to symptom burden for patients with limited disease understanding. When time and resources for communication are restricted, enhanced awareness and focused training may be directed at communicating with patients who possess limited knowledge about their disease.

Candidate gene analysis of watermelon stripe pattern locus ClSP ongoing recombination suppression.

KEY MESSAGE: Using two segregating population, watermelon stripe pattern underlying gene ClSP was delimited to a 611.78 Kb region, consisting of four discrete haploblocks and ongoing recombination suppression. Stripe pattern is an important commodity trait in watermelon, displaying diverse types. In this study, two segregating populations were generated for genetic mapping the single dominant locus ClSP, which was finally delimited to a 611.78 Kb interval with suppression of recombination. According to polymorphism sites detected among genotypes, four discrete haploblocks were characterized in this target region. Based on reference genomes, 81 predicted genes were annotated in the ClSP interval, including seven transcription factors namely as candidate No1-No7. Meanwhile, the ortholog gene of cucumber ist responsible for the irregular stripes was considered as candidate No8. Strikingly, gene structures of No1-No5 completely varied from their reference descriptions and subsequently re-annotated. For instance, the original adjacent distribution candidates No2 and No3 were re-annotated as No2_3, while No4 and No5 were integrated as No4_5. Sequence analysis demonstrated the third polymorphism in CDS of re-annotated No4_5 resulting in truncated proteins in non-stripe plants. Furthermore, only No4_5 was down-regulated in light green stripes relative to dark green stripes. Transcriptome analysis identified 356 DEGs between dark green striped and light green striped peels, with genes involved in photosynthesis and chloroplast development down-regulated in light green stripes but calcium ion binding related genes up-regulated. Additionally, 38 DEGs were annotated as transcription factors, with the majority up-regulated in light green stripes, such as ERFs and WRKYs. This study not only contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying watermelon stripe development, but also provides new insights into the genomic structure of ClSP locus and valuable candidates.

The cross-lagged association between depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: a three-wave longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: To examine the cross-lagged relationship between depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: A longitudinal, observational study was conducted in two public hospitals in Shanghai, China. The sample consisted of 204 patients at baseline (T1). Of these, 144 completed the 12-month follow-up survey (T2), and 135 completed the 24-month follow-up survey (T3). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and HRQoL was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36 short form. Cross-lagged path analysis was used to examine the temporal relationship between depressive symptoms and domains of health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Lower levels of three out of five domains of HRQoL (physical functioning, burden of kidney disease, and symptoms of kidney disease) at T1 were associated with increases in depressive symptoms at T2. Moreover, higher depressive symptoms at T2 were associated with decreases in four domains of HRQoL (mental functioning, burden of kidney disease, symptoms of kidney disease, and effects of kidney disease) at T3. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had poor HRQoL were more likely to report more subsequent depressive symptoms, which in turn predict lower HRQoL over time. It indicates a need to break this cycle in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

MNSFß Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Human Extravillous Trophoblast Cells and the Villus Expression Level of MNSFß Is Decreased in Recurrent Miscarriage Patients.

AIMS: The invasion of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells into maternal decidua is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Derangement of EVT cell invasion might cause pregnancy complications including recurrent miscarriage (RM). We previously reported that deficiency of monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor beta (MNSFß) led to the early pregnancy failure in mice and the decidual MNSFß expression level in RM patients was significantly decreased, but the underlying molecular mechanism of the role that MNSFß played at the maternal-fetal interface remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, we determined effects of downregulated MNSFß expression on human EVT cell activities. METHODS: The MNSFß expression in first-trimester human decidual and placental villus tissues was detected, respectively, by immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical analyses. The MNSFß expression level in the immortalized first-trimester human EVT cell line HTR8/SVneo was downregulated by transfecting the small interfering RNA against MNSFß and upregulated by transfecting the recombinant pDsRed-MNSFß plasmids. The proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis activities of HTR8/SVneo cells were, respectively, determined by cytometry assay, scratch test, transwell assay, and FITC/PI staining. The expression levels of P53, RhoA, Bcl-2, Bax, and MMP-9 in HTR8/SVneo cells, as well as the expression levels of MNSFß and RhoA in placental villi of RM patients and physically normal pregnant women (NP), were examined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: MNSFß protein signals were observed in first-trimester human villus and extravillous trophoblast cells. The downregulated MNSFß expression significantly attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HTR8/SVneo cells, accompanied with the obviously decreased expression levels of P53, RhoA, Bcl-2, Bax, and MMP-9, whereas the upregulated MNSFß expression in HTR8/SVneo cells represented the inverse effects. Furthermore, expression levels of MNSFß and RhoA in first-trimester human placental villus tissues of RM patients were significantly decreased compared to that of NP women. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that MNSFß promotes proliferation and migration of human EVT cells, probably via the P53 signaling pathway, and the deficiency of MNSFß in placental villi might lead to early pregnancy loss by reducing proliferation and invasion activities of EVTs.

Gene UCHL1 expresses specifically in mouse uterine decidual cells in response to estrogen.

UCHL1 is expressed specifically in the brain and gonads of almost all studied model organisms including Drosophila, zebrafish, amphibians, and mammals, suggesting a high degree of evolutionary conservation in its structure and function. Although UCHL1 has been involved in spermatogenesis in mice, its specific expression in mammal placenta remains elusive. Our previous work has revealed that UCHL1 is highly expressed in oocytes, and has been involved in mouse ovarian follicular development. Here, we further examined UCHL1 expression change in endometria during early natural pregnancy, with different stages of the estrous cycle and pseudopregnancy as control. The UCHL1 gene deletion model showed that UCHL1 protein is associated with endometrial development, and its deletion leads to infertility. Notably, we demonstrate evidence showing the distinct expression pattern of UCHL1: weak expression over the uterine endometria, strong expression in decidualized stromal cells at the implantation site with a peak at pregnancy D6, and a shift with primary decidualization to secondary decidualized zones. Using the delayed implantation, the delayed implantation activation, and the artificial decidualization models, we have demonstrated that strong expression of UCHL1 occurred in response to decidualization and estrogen stimulation. These observations suggest that during the early proliferation and differentiation of mouse uterine decidua, UCHL1 expression is up-regulated, and formed an unique intracellular distribution mode. Therefore, we proposed that UCHL1 is involved in decidualization, and possibly in response to estrogen regulation.

The fertility willingness and acceptability of preimplantation genetic testing in Chinese patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: With the development and progression of genetic technology, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) has made it possible to block the inheritance of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) as early as possible. However, we need to know the patients' fertility intentions and their acceptance of PGT. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on the basic demographic data, quality of life, social support, fertility willingness, and level of understanding of genetic testing for blocking the inheritance of ADPKD among patients aged 18-45 years in seven hospitals from January 2018 to December 2018. After verification, statistics were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 260 patients with ADPKD were interviewed, including 137males (52.7%) and 123 females (47.3%). The overall fertility willingness rate was low (n = 117, 45.0%). The proportion of married patients aged 25-34 years that were at the optimal reproductive age but did not yet have children was relatively high (n = 77, 67.0%). The fertility intentions of ADPKD patients were significantly influenced by age (OR: 0.101, 95% CI 0.045-0.225, P < 0.001) and education level (OR: 2.134, 95% CI 1.162-3.917, P = 0.014). Among patients who are willing to have children, 207 (79.6%) of them would choose PGT technology. Among those who were not sure whether they would choose PGT technology, the first major concern was technical safety (49.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The reproductive desire of childbearing ADPKD patients in China was low. Strengthening the health education of ADPKD genetic knowledge and reducing the cost of related technologies may improve the fertility intentions and reduce the barriers to acceptance of PGT.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 promotes liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by activating PTEN/p65 signaling pathway.

Obesity is a major contributor to the development of steatohepatitis and fibrosis from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hypoxia aggravates progression of NAFLD. In mice on high-fat diet (HFD), hepatic steatosis leads to liver tissue hypoxia, evidenced by accumulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF-1α), which is a central regulator of the global response to hypoxia. Hepatocyte cell signaling is an important factor in hepatic fibrogenesis. We here hypothesize that HIF-1α knockout in hepatocyte may protect against liver fibrosis. We first found that HFD led to 80% more hepatic collagen deposition than Hif1a-/- hep mice, which was confirmed by a-SMA staining of liver tissue. Body weight and liver weight were similar between groups. We then found the increasing HIF1a expression and decreasing PTEN expression in the mice on HFD and in PA-treated HepG2 cells. Finally, we found that HIF1 mediated PTEN/nfkb-p65 pathway plays an important role in the development of NAFLD to liver fibrosis. Collectively, these results identify a novel HIF1a/PTEN/NF-κ Bp65 signaling pathway in NAFLD, which could be targeted for the therapy.

Ultrafine Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Cyclodextrin Metal-Organic Frameworks with GRGDS Functionalization to Promote Antibacterial and Wound Healing Application.

The challenge of bacterial infection increases the risk of mortality and morbidity in acute and chronic wound healing. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are a promising new version of conventional antibacterial nanosystem to fight against the bacterial resistance in concern of the drug discovery void. However, there are several challenges in controlling the size and colloidal stability of Ag NPs, which readily aggregate or coalesce in both solid and aqueous state. In this study, a template-guided synthesis of ultrafine Ag NPs of around 2 nm using water-soluble and biocompatible γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) is reported. The CD-MOF based synthetic strategy integrates AgNO3 reduction and Ag NPs immobilization in one pot achieving dual functions of reduced particle size and enhanced stability. Meanwhile, the synthesized Ag NPs are easily dispersible in aqueous media and exhibit effective bacterial inhibition. The surface modification of cross-linked CD-MOF particles with GRGDS peptide boosts the hemostatic effect that further enhances wound healing in synergy with the antibacterial effect. Hence, the strategy of ultrafine Ag NPs synthesis and immobilization in CD-MOFs together with GRGDS modification holds promising potential for the rational design of effective wound healing devices.

Decreased NDRG1 expression is associated with pregnancy loss in mice and attenuates the in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells.

Embryo implantation is an essential step for a successful pregnancy, and any defect in this process can lead to a range of pregnancy pathologies. The objective of this study was to explore the role of N-myc downregulated gene 1 (NDRG1) in embryo implantation. It was found that uterine NDRG1 expression has a dynamic pattern during the estrous cycle in nonpregnant mice and that uterine NDRG1 expression was elevated during the implantation process in pregnant mice. The distinct accumulation of NDRG1 protein signals was observed in the primary decidual zone adjacent to the implanting embryo during early pregnancy. Furthermore, uterine NDRG1 expression could be induced by activated implantation or artificial decidualization in mice. Decreased uterine NDRG1 expression was associated with pregnancy loss in mice and was associated with recurrent miscarriages in humans. The in vitro decidualization of both mouse and human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) was accompanied by increased NDRG1 expression and downregulated NDRG1 expression in ESCs effectively inhibited decidualization. Collectively, these data suggest that NDRG1 plays an important role in decidualization during the implantation process, and the abnormal expression of NDRG1 may be involved in pregnancy loss.

Sleep disturbance, negative affect and health-related quality of life in patients with maintenance hemodialysis.

The study was designed to examine the relationships between sleep disturbance, negative affect and quality of life among patients with maintenance hemodialysis. A total of 118 patients in Shanghai, China, with maintenance hemodialysis (>40 years old) participated in the study. They completed three questionnaires: the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the European Quality of 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L). Results showed that male participants' negative affect scored significantly higher than female participants'.The mean global PSQI score was 8.64 (poor sleepers score 6 or more); sleep disturbance affected 63.6% of the patients, which indicated that in general the participants' sleep quality was relatively poor.The patients with worse sleep quality and negative affect were more likely to have a lower quality of life. In addition, the effect of the sleep disturbance on quality of life was mediated by negative affect (The Z value of Sobel test was -3.18, p< .01).These findings suggest sleep disturbance and negative affect were common among patients with maintenance hemodialysis and had a negative impact on their quality of life; negative affect may mediate the relationship between sleep disturbance and quality of life.

Physical Activity Intensity and Biopsychosocial Correlates in Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to characterize physical activity (PA) participation by intensity and examine the biopsychosocial correlates among middle-aged and older adults with CKD in China. METHOD: Data are examined from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. RESULTS: The percentages of participation in vigorous, moderate, and light activity among participants with CKD were 22.7%, 42.1%, and 76.3%, respectively. Participants were less likely to engage in vigorous and moderate PA if they were 70 years of age or older, not married/partnered, unemployed, lived in urban areas, had advanced disease stage, had heart disease, and/or experienced mobility limitations. The magnitude of associations between biophysical factors and PA participation was small for light PA. CONCLUSION: The higher the intensity of regular PA, the less likely older adults with CKD were to participate; Practitioners could consider the psychosocial characteristics of the older adults with CKD and facilitate their participation in PA.

Objective and subjective financial burden and its associations with health-related quality of life among lung cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of financial burden, using objective and subjective indicators, on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in lung cancer patients. METHOD: A total of 227 patients diagnosed with lung cancer (from the inpatient unit of the department of internal medicine-chest oncology, in Shanghai Chest Hospital, China) participated in the study. Financial information was measured by direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, healthcare-cost-to-income ratio, and perceived financial difficulty. HRQOL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale. FINDINGS: Catastrophic health spending, defined as a healthcare-cost-to-income ratio of more than 40%, was reported in 72.7% of the participants, whereas 37.0% reported that healthcare costs exceeded annual household income. Financial difficulty was perceived in 83.7% of the participants. Patients whose healthcare costs exceeded their annual household income and who perceived financial difficulty reported a clinically meaningful difference in overall HRQOL (> 6 points on the FACT-L) compared with participants without catastrophic health spending or perceived financial difficulty. Healthcare costs did not show a significant effect on HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Healthcare costs exceeding total annual household income and perceived financial difficulty are associated with poorer HRQOL in lung cancer patients. Subjective indicator of financial burden has a stronger effect on quality of life than objective indicators. IMPLICATION: Health-cost-to-income ratio and perceived financial difficulty can be implied as objective and subjective indicators of financial burden to identify the patients who may need additional assistance. Communication on deciding on cost-effective treatments can be facilitated.