Academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice: A theory-guided scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Academic-practice partnerships have the potential to solve many challenges in evidence-based nursing practice which is crucial for high-quality care. AIMS: To identify the existing knowledge on academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice. METHODS: We conducted this review following the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. We performed a comprehensive literature search of nine databases as well as five websites for gray literature. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction and analysis. A third researcher was involved when needed. RESULTS: Dedicated time, dedicated resources, and compatible goals were found to be the top three inputs in academic-practice partnerships for evidence-based nursing practice. Meeting and discussion were the most popular forms of activities. Sufficient resources were the most important facilitators. Insufficient resources, insufficient time, and communication issues were the top three barriers. CONCLUSIONS: The assumption proposed in the practice-academic partnership logic model (i.e., inputs plus activities can lead to outputs and outcomes) was preliminarily verified by the results of this review in the context of evidence-based nursing practice. Academic-practice partnerships can leverage the advantages of both sides to overcome barriers and promote evidence-based nursing practice. However, it is essential to conduct a broader range of high-quality studies. Such endeavors could offer more comprehensive evidence for refining the framework of academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION, PRACTICE, POLICY AND RESEARCH: The "theoretical framework of academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice" could theoretically guide academic and clinical nursing staff to collaborate on evidence-based nursing practice and related research and education programs. The academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice could lead to a win-win situation for both the academic and the clinical sides. Furthermore, the results of this study provide an evidence-based foundation for policymakers to develop supportive policies for academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice.

Difference in muscle metabolism caused by metabolism disorder of rainbow trout liver exposed to ammonia stress.

Ammonia pollution is an important environmental stress factors in water eutrophication. The intrinsic effects of ammonia stress on liver toxicity and muscle quality of rainbow trout were still unclear. In this study, we focused on investigating difference in muscle metabolism caused by metabolism disorder of rainbow trout liver at exposure times of 0, 3, 6, 9 h at 30 mg/L concentrations. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that short-term (3 h) ammonia stress inhibited carbohydrate metabolism and glycerophospholipid production but long-term (9 h) ammonia stress inhibited the biosynthesis and degradation of fatty acids, activated pyrimidine metabolism and mismatch repair, lead to DNA strand breakage and cell death, and ultimately caused liver damage. Metabolomic analysis of muscle revealed that ammonia stress promoted the reaction of glutamic acid and ammonia to synthesize glutamine to alleviate ammonia toxicity, and long-term (9 h) ammonia stress inhibited urea cycle, hindering the alleviation of ammonia toxicity. Moreover, it accelerated the consumption of flavor amino acids such as arginine and aspartic acid, and increased the accumulation of bitter substances (xanthine) and odorous substances (histamine). These findings provide valuable insights into the potential risks and hazards of ammonia in eutrophic water bodies subject to rainbow trout.

Microneedle-assisted percutaneous delivery of methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles enabling sustained anti-inflammatory effects in psoriasis therapy.

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the first-line drugs used for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. However, low bioavailability and systemic side effects of traditional oral and injectable MTX greatly limit its clinical application. Delivering MTX using dissolving microneedles (MNs) into psoriasis-like skin lesion could improve the in situ therapeutic effects with higher bioavailability and less side effects. Here, we propose a novel therapeutic approach for psoriasis involving MN-assisted percutaneous delivery of chitosan-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles containing MTX (MTX@HMSN/CS). The MTX@HMSN/CS-loaded MNs were strong enough to successfully penetrate the psoriasiform thickened epidermis, allowing MTX@HMSN/CS to be accurately delivered to the site of skin lesion following the rapid dissolution of MNs. MTX was then released continuously from HMSN/CS for at least one week to maintain effective therapeutic drug concentration for skin lesion with long-term anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. Incubation with MTX@HMSN/CS not only inhibited the proliferation of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), but also significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, MTX@HMSN/CS-loaded MNs showed better efficacy in alleviating psoriasis-like skin inflammation than MTX-loaded MNs at the same dose. Compared to psoriasiform mice treated with 15.8 µg MTX-loaded MNs every day, 47.4 µg MTX@HMSN/CS-loaded MNs reduce the frequency of treatment to once every 3 days and achieve comparable amelioration. Therefore, MTX@HMSN/CS loaded MNs are a promising treatment strategy for psoriasis due to their durability, efficacy, convenience, and safety in relieving psoriasis-like skin inflammation.

Exploring novel lead scaffolds for SGLT2 inhibitors: Insights from machine learning and molecular dynamics simulations.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) plays a pivotal role in mediating glucose reabsorption within the renal filtrate, representing a well-known target in type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Recent emphasis has been directed toward designing SGLT2 inhibitors, with C-glycoside inhibitors emerging as front-runners. The architecture of SGLT2 has been successfully resolved using cryo-electron microscopy. However, comprehension of the pharmacophores within the binding site of SGLT2 remains unclear. Here, we use machine learning and molecular dynamics simulations on SGLT2 bound with its inhibitors in preclinical or clinical development to shed light on this issue. Our dataset comprises 1240 SGLT2 inhibitors amalgamated from diverse sources, forming the basis for constructing machine learning models. SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) elucidates the crucial fragments that contribute to inhibitor activity, specifically Morgan_3, 162, 310, 325, 366, 470, 597, 714, 926, and 975. Furthermore, the computed binding free energies and per-residue contributions for SGLT2-inhibitor complexes unveil crucial fragments of inhibitors that interact with residues Asn-75, His-80, Val-95, Phe-98, Val-157, Leu-274, and Phe-453 in the binding site of SGLT2. This comprehensive investigation enhances understanding of the binding mechanism for SGLT2 inhibitors, providing a robust framework for evaluating and discovering novel lead scaffolds within this domain.

Do redundant graphical attributes reduce decision-making efficiency?

Multiple time-series graphs are commonly used for data visualisation, but few scholars have investigated the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency. This study explores the effects of graphical attributes of varying redundancy conditions on decision-making efficiency. Two experimental conditions were developed for the experiment: non-redundant (independent graphical attributes: colour, linear and marker) and redundant (combinations of two and more graphical attributes: colour and linear, colour and marker, etc.). A total of 60 people took part in both experiments and performed two tasks: maximisation and discrimination. The experiments revealed that the addition of attributes, such as colour, marker or linear, decreased response time (RT), but the combination of colour & linear & marker increased RT. This is more significant in discrimination tasks. We provide empirical evidence for the design of time-series data visualisations and encourage the combination of two of these graphical attributes, such as colour & linear, colour & marker or linear & marker, when conditions allow, to improve decision-making efficiency.

Few scholars have studied the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency in data visualisation. This study explores the effect of graphical attributes with different redundancy levels on decision-making efficiency through behavioural experiments. It has been found that moderately redundant graphical attributes in difficult tasks can significantly improve decision-making efficiency.

The impact of environmental noise on drivers' cognitive abilities: A case study on in-vehicle voice interaction interfaces.

To investigate the impact of environmental noise on the cognitive abilities of drivers, this study, using in-vehicle voice interaction as an example, conducted laboratory experiments to assess the effects of road traffic noise, entertainment noise, and white noise stimuli on drivers' attention and short-term memory. The noise levels simulated to mimic acoustic conditions during car driving ranged from 35 dB(A) to 65 dB(A). The conclusions drawn were as follows: (1) Noise levels directly influenced subjective annoyance levels, with annoyance linearly increasing as noise levels escalated; (2) Both attention and short-term memory task reaction times of drivers were significantly influenced by noise types. Compared to traffic noise and white noise, drivers' cognitive efficiency was lower under entertainment noise. (3) Performance in complex cognitive tasks was more susceptible to noise levels compared to simple cognitive tasks; (4) Experimentally, it was found that drivers exhibited the highest cognitive efficiency in cognitive tasks when the environmental noise level was 55 dB(A), as opposed to noise levels of 35 dB(A), 45 dB(A), and 65 dB(A).

Blockage of VEGF function by bevacizumab alleviates early-stage cerebrovascular dysfunction and improves cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the predominant type of dementia worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive and irreversible decline of cognitive functions. In addition to the pathological beta-amyloid (Aß) deposition, glial activation, and neuronal injury in the postmortem brains of AD patients, increasing evidence suggests that the often overlooked vascular dysfunction is an important early event in AD pathophysiology. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in regulating physiological functions and pathological changes in blood vessels, but whether VEGF is involved in the early stage of vascular pathology in AD remains unclear. METHODS: We used an antiangiogenic agent for clinical cancer treatment, the humanized monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab, to block VEGF binding to its receptors in the 5×FAD mouse model at an early age. After treatment, memory performance was evaluated by a novel object recognition test, and cerebral vascular permeability and perfusion were examined by an Evans blue assay and blood flow scanning imaging analysis. Immunofluorescence staining was used to measure glial activation and Aß deposits. VEGF and its receptors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate bevacizumab-associated transcriptional signatures in the hippocampus of 5×FAD mice. RESULTS: Bevacizumab treatment administered from 4 months of age dramatically improved cerebrovascular functions, reduced glial activation, and restored long-term memory in both sexes of 5×FAD mice. Notably, a sex-specific change in different VEGF receptors was identified in the cortex and hippocampus of 5×FAD mice. Soluble VEGFR1 was decreased in female mice, while full-length VEGFR2 was increased in male mice. Bevacizumab treatment reversed the altered expression of receptors to be comparable to the level in the wild-type mice. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of transcriptomic changes revealed that bevacizumab effectively reversed the changes in the gene sets associated with blood-brain barrier integrity and vascular smooth muscle contraction in 5×FAD mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the mechanistic roles of VEGF at the early stage of amyloidopathy and the protective effects of bevacizumab on cerebrovascular function and memory performance in 5×FAD mice. These findings also suggest the therapeutic potential of bevacizumab for the early intervention of AD.

GRP78 Downregulation in Keratinocytes Promotes Skin Inflammation through the Recruitment and Activation of CCR6+ IL-17A-Producing γδ T Cells.

The migration of γδ T lymphocytes toward skin lesions and their concomitant pathogenic IL-17A production play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of IL-17A production by γδ T cells and their migration remain to be fully explored. Intracellular GRP78 is a molecular chaperone that regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress, whereas secretory GRP78, as a member of the resolution-associated molecular patterns, exerts immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we reported that both the intracellular GRP78 in skin lesions and secretory GRP78 in the serum were significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis. A GRP78 knockdown exacerbated imiquimod-induced skin inflammation, whereas the application of recombinant GRP78 protein or BIP inducer X (a GRP78 inducer) attenuated the dermatitis. Mechanistically, the GRP78 knockdown in keratinocytes enhanced the production of chemokines, specifically CCL20, which regulates γδ T-cell migration. Moreover, recombinant GRP78 was found to directly bind to γδ T cells to suppress its migration ability and proinflammatory capacities by downregulating the CCR6 and IL-17A expression. Collectively, our results uncovered a pivotal role of GRP78 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, which was mainly exerted by regulating the interaction between keratinocytes and γδ T cells, and might provide a promising target for psoriasis therapy.

Polarizable Additive with Intermediate Chelation Strength for Stable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising due to inherent safety, low cost, low toxicity, and high volumetric capacity. However, issues of dendrites and side reactions between zinc metal anode and the electrolyte need to be solved for extended storage and cycle life. Here, we proposed that an electrolyte additive with an intermediate chelation strength of zinc ion-strong enough to exclude water molecules from the zinc metal-electrolyte interface and not too strong to cause a significant energy barrier for zinc ion dissociation-can benefit the electrochemical stability by suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction, overpotential growth, and dendrite formation. Penta-sodium diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid salt was selected for such a purpose. It has a suitable chelating ability in aqueous solutions to adjust solvation sheath and can be readily polarized under electrical loading conditions to further improve the passivation. Zn||Zn symmetric cells can be stably operated over 3500 h at 1 mA cm-2. Zn||NH4V4O10 full cells with the additive show great cycling stability with 84.6% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1. Since the additive not only reduces H2 evolution and corrosion but also modifies Zn2+ diffusion and deposition, highlyreversible Zn electrodes can be achieved as verified by the experimental results. Our work offers a practical approach to the logical design of reliable electrolytes for high-performance aqueous batteries.

Transition shock among nursing interns and its relationship with patient safety attitudes, professional identity and climate of caring: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing interns often experience lots of challenges during their clinical nursing internships, which can adversely affect career decisions and result in a squandering of nursing education resources. Patient safety attitudes, professional identity and climate of caring may affect nursing interns' clinical experience. However, more evidence is requested to validate these relationships for nursing educators to develop effective education programs and facilitate interns' successful transition. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, which used a convenience sampling method to recruit 387 nursing interns during December 2022 to April 2023 in university affiliated hospital in Hunan province, China. Data were collected using standardized scales. Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship between transition shock, patient safety attitudes, professional identity, and climate of caring. RESULTS: Nursing interns experienced transition shock at a moderate level and the highest levels of transition shock in response to overwhelming practicum workloads, with the second being related to the conflict between theory and practice. Transition shock was negatively correlated with patient safety attitudes, professional identity and climate of caring among nursing interns. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing managers and educators need to value the transition shock experienced by nursing interns. Our study suggests that developing a strong sense of professional identity and a positive attitude toward patient safety can be effective in reducing the level of transition shock among nursing interns. In addition, a caring climate within the nursing unit can significantly enhance the overall experience of nursing interns. This can be achieved by enhancing the support of clinical mentors, providing patient safety-focused education, and facilitating team communication among nurses.

Instruments for measuring nursing research competence: a COSMIN-based scoping review.

AIM: The aim of this scoping review was to evaluate and summarise the measurement properties of nursing research competence instruments and provide a summary overview of the use of nursing research competence instruments. BACKGROUND: Increasing nursing research competence instruments have been developed. However, a systematic review and evaluation of nursing research competence instruments is lacking. METHOD: This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute updated methodology for scoping reviews and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Reviewers searched articles in Eight English databases and two Chinese databases between April 1st, 2022, and April 30th, 2022. An updated literature search was conducted between March 1st and March 4th, 2023. The literature screening and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers, independently. A third reviewer was involved when consensus was needed. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments methodology was used to evaluate the methodological quality and measurement properties of the nursing research competence instruments. RESULTS: Ten studies involving eight nursing research competence instruments were included. None of the existing instruments have assessed all measurement properties. A total of 177 empirical studies have utilized a nursing research competence instrument with tested measurement properties. CONCLUSION: 'Self-evaluated Nursing Research Capacity of Questionnaire (refined)' was identified as the most appropriate nursing research competence instrument in existing instruments. However, reviewers need to conduct further measurement properties studies on the existing nursing research competence instruments. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NURSING POLICY: This study could guide the selection of appropriate nursing research competence instruments which could help to evaluate the nursing research competence of nurses and inform the development of intervention plans to enhance nursing research competence.

Insight into the Interaction Mechanism of Vitamin D against Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and In Silico Study.

As a dietary supplement or functional food additive, vitamin D (VD) deficiency may impact extra-skeletal functions associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. However, the precise effects and mechanisms of VD supplementation on dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in MetS subjects remain controversial. Here, we investigate potential therapeutic targets, pathways and mechanisms of VD against MetS through a comprehensive strategy including meta-analysis, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and quantum chemical calculations. Our results reveal that VD supplementation significantly reduces triglyceride levels, fasting glucose, and insulin concentrations in subjects, thereby improving insulin homeostasis to some extent. We theoretically identify 14 core MetS-associated targets. Notably, VD exhibits substantial interactions with three targets (PPARγ, FABP4, and HMGCR) in the PPAR signaling pathway, indicating that VD can modulate this pathway. Van der Waals forces predominantly stabilize the complexes formed between VD and the three targets. Nonetheless, to provide valuable insights for personalized MetS management, further research is necessary to confirm our findings, emphasizing the importance of exploring genetic variability in VD response. In conclusion, our study contributes insights into the mechanisms of VD in preventing and treating MetS through dietary supplementation, promoting the development of VD-based functional foods or nutritious diets.

Academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing education: A theory-guided scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a scoping review of the existing literature regarding academic-practice partnership in evidence-based nursing education, with the goal of gathering evidence to support the establishment of such partnerships. BACKGROUND: Academic-practice partnerships play a crucial role in overcoming separation of theory and practice in evidence-based nursing education and promoting the adoption of evidence-based nursing practice. However, there is a lack of scoping review of related literature. DESIGN: This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute updated methodology for scoping reviews and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, Educational Resource Information Centre (ERIC) and five gray websites between November and December, 2022. A total of 10515 articles were retrieved, 26 articles were included in the scoping review. Two reviewers reviewed the articles, screened literature, and extracted data, independently. A third researcher was involved when consensus is needed. Practice-academic partnership logic model was used to analysis and synthesis the results. RESULTS: Main themes included inputs (time, instructional resources, partnership agreement, key stakeholder commitment, shared mission, leadership support, common vision, instructional design, mutual respect, and instructional objectives), activities (ongoing communication and shared decision-making), outputs (action plan: evidence-based nursing project plans and educational resources), outcomes (improved evidence-based nursing competency, enhanced quality of nursing care, career advancement and personal development, increased evidence-based nursing projects, improve evidence-based nursing education, heightened academic achievement, increased engagement in evidence-based nursing, increased networking opportunities, and improved staff satisfaction), facilitators (sufficient inputs, effective activities, and clear partnership structure, ongoing feedback, and positive outcomes), and barriers (insufficient inputs). CONCLUSIONS: Inputs and activities could lead to outputs and outcomes. Facilitators and barriers could influence the degree of outputs and outcomes. Academic-practice partnerships can overcome the barriers of disconnection between theory and practice in evidence-based nursing education, and further promote education and research by leveraging the strengths of both parties, resulting in a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Mediating effects of transition shock and professional identity on the perception of a caring climate in hospitals and patient safety attitudes of nursing interns: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To determine the association between the perception of a caring climate in hospitals and patient safety attitudes of nursing interns, and the multiple mediating effects of professional identity and transition shock on this relationship. BACKGROUND: Limited research has been conducted on the involvement of nursing interns in patient safety management and the direct relationship between the perception of a caring climate in hospitals and patient safety attitudes of nursing interns. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether professional identity and transition shock play significant roles as mediating factors in this relationship. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study employed a convenience sampling to recruit 356 nursing interns from 30 nursing schools in a comprehensive hospital in Hunan Province, China, between December 2022 and April 2023. Data on general information, the perception of a caring climate in hospitals, professional identity, transition shock, and patient safety attitudes was collected from nursing interns using a general information questionnaire and reliable scales. This study utilized a structural equation model with AMOS 24.0 to examine the relationship between variables. RESULTS: The perception of a caring climate in hospitals directly impacted patient safety attitudes of nursing interns (Effect = 0.253, 95% confidence interval: 0.218-0.542). Meanwhile, the perception of a caring climate in hospitals indirectly influenced patient safety attitudes of nursing interns through multiple mediating factors, including professional identity and transition shock (Effect = 0.037, 95% confidence interval: 0.017-0.073). CONCLUSION: To ensure patient safety, it is crucial to enhance patient safety attitudes of nursing interns. Our findings suggest that nursing educators and managers can enhance patient safety attitudes of nursing interns by establishing a caring climate. Professional identity and transition shock are important mediators of the patient safety attitudes. Additionally, nursing educators can implement measures to foster a positive work environment, including providing care and support to nursing interns and reducing their workload, to increase professional identity, alleviate transition shock, and ultimately enhance patient safety attitudes of nursing interns. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The relationship between the perception of caring climate in hospitals and patient safety attitudes of nursing interns. Professional identity and transition shock play multiple mediating roles in the relationship. #PatientSafetyAttitudes #NursingInterns #CaringClimate.

RGMb expression in goat uterine tissues: possible role of RGMb in the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial epithelial cells.

Context Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in the uteri. Repulsive guidance molecule b (RGMb; a.k.a. Dragon) has been confirmed as the coreceptor of BMPs to function through drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein (Smads) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways. We hypothesise that RGMb regulates the uterine function through the Smads and MAPK pathways. Aims This study aimed to investigate the expression of RGMb in goat uteri and the potential role of RGMb in the endometrial epithelial cells (EECs). Methods The localisation of RGMb in goat uterine tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), EECs were isolated and transfected with siRNA to investigate the role of RGMb in proliferation, and apoptosis. The expression levels of Smads and MAPK members was measured by western blot (WB) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Key results IHC showed that RGMb was localised in goat endometrial luminal cells, glandular epithelial cells, and circular muscle fibres, but not in stromal cells. RT-PCR results showed that treatment with RGMb siRNA suppressed the expressions of proliferation-related genes cyclin D1 (CCND1 , P =0.0291), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2 P =0.0107), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, P =0.0508), leading to the reduced viability of EECs (P =0.0010). WB results showed that the expression ratio of cleaved-caspase 3/caspase 3 (P =0.0013) was markedly increased after RGMb siRNA transfection. Likewise, the level of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2, P =0.0068) and p-Smad1/5/8 (P =0.0011) decreased significantly, while there were no appreciable differences in the level of p-P38 MAPK expression (P >0.05). Conclusions RGMb might participate in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis through Smads and ERK signalling pathways in goat EECs. Implications RGMb is involved in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis in goat endometrial epithelial cells.

Comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of endemic disease prevention and control in Jiangsu Province, China, 2013-2022.

As a strong economic and populous province in China, Jiangsu is home to four endemic diseases. Despite efforts in the past decade, the prevention and control of these four endemic diseases are not uniform because of the different etiological chains and influencing factors of these diseases. Among the evaluation methodologies for endemic disease control, only one method is currently available for each disease. In this study, we selected 14 indicators to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of endemic disease control in Jiangsu between 2013 and 2022. We improved the method for calculating the weights of the indicators and established a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on the weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution model and a weighted grey relational analysis model. The results of the comprehensive evaluation showed that the progress of endemic disease control in Jiangsu was not always in line with our expectations of improvement, with the top five years of better control occurring in 2015, 2013, 2021, 2022, and 2014. The results of the sensitivity analysis confirm the reliability and accuracy of these findings. We discovered that measures such as the reform of the salt industry, use of thyroid ultrasound, and new water supply projects for residents in Jiangsu affected the progress of endemic disease prevention and control. The tracking of endemic disease status should consider the potential effects of changes in policies implemented in other industries on endemic disease prevention and control. Additionally, the results of this study provide a theoretical basis for enhancing prevention and control practices in other regions of China.

DNA methylation regulates biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids during growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine commonly used to treat cardiovascular diseases; its active ingredients are tanshinones and phenolic acids, which primarily accumulate in roots. Here, we conducted a targeted metabolic analysis of S. miltiorrhiza roots at three distinct growth stages: 40 days old (r40), 60 days old (r60), and 90 days old (r90). The contents of tanshinones (cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and rosmariquinone) and phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B) gradually increased during plant development. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of roots at the three growth stages revealed an increased level of DNA methylation in the CHH context at r90 compared with r40 and r60. Increased DNA methylation levels were associated with elevated expression of various genes linked to epigenetic regulations, including CHROMOMETHYLASE2(SmCMT2), Decrease in DNA Methylation 1 (SmDDM1), Argonaute 4 (SmAGO4), and DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (SmDRM1). Moreover, expression levels of many genes involved in tanshinone and salvianolic acid biosynthesis, such as copalyldiphosphate synthase 5 (SmCPS5), cytochrome P450-related enzyme (SmCYP71D464), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGGPPS1), geranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGPPS), hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (SmHPPR), and hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (SmHPPD), were altered owing to hyper-methylation, indicating that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating tanshinone and phenolic acid accumulation. Our data sheds light on the epigenetic regulation of root growth and the biosynthesis of active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza, providing crucial clues for further improvement of active compound production via molecular breeding in S. miltiorrhiza.

Insight into covalent conjugates of ß-lactoglobulin with rutin: Characterizing allergenicity, digestibility, and antioxidant properties in vitro.

ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) is an essential nutrient in milk, but it is the primary allergen causing dairy allergy in humans. Currently, researchers are focusing on using flavonoids to covalently modify ß-LG for improving its functionality. However, the impact and underlying mechanisms of rutin covalent modification on the functional properties and allergenicity of ß-LG remain unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the changes in allergenicity, digestive characteristics, and antioxidant properties of ß-LG after covalent modification using a combination of spectroscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), simulated digestion, and antioxidant assays. The results indicate that rutin forms covalent bonds with the free amino group, sulfhydryl group, and tryptophan of ß-LG, leading to alterations in the secondary structure of ß-LG. Furthermore, the modified ß-LG exhibits improved antioxidant capacity and decreased allergenicity, along with reduced resistance to pancreatin digestion in vitro. This study provides novel insights and strategies to expand the functional application of ß-LG.

Metabolomic and antioxidant analyses of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Salvia prattii Hemsl. seeds.

Salvia miltiorrhiza and Salvia prattii seeds are rich in metabolites that are beneficial to human health and can be utilised as nutritional supplements. In this study, UPLC-MS and GC-MS based on extensively focused metabolomics were used to compare the seed metabolomics of the two species. LC-MS detected 118 metabolites, primarily Lipids and phenylpropanoids. GC- MS detected a total of 188 metabolites, mainly organic acids and their derivatives, of which Salvia prattii seeds contain high levels of nutrients. In addition, we experimentally determined antioxidant activity of two Salvia species, and the results showed that the antioxidant activity of Salvia prattii seeds was about twice as high as that of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds. We used WGCNA to group the metabolites, and found the central metabolites in the focal modules including flavonoids and terpenoids. Our study contributes valuable knowledge for future research on the chemical makeup of Salvia prattii seeds.

Suppression of migration and invasion by taraxerol in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 via the ERK/Slug axis.

As one of the triterpene extracts of Taraxacum, a traditional Chinese plant, taraxerol (TRX) exhibits antitumor activity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of TRX on the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, analyzed the molecular mechanism through network pharmacology and molecular docking, and finally verified it by in vitro experiments. The results showed that TRX could inhibit the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, while MAPK3 was the most promising target and could stably combine with TRX. In addition, the relative protein expression levels were detected by Western blot, and we observed that TRX could inhibit the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells via the ERK/Slug axis. Moreover, an ERK activator (tert-butylhydroquinone, tBHQ) partially reversed the suppressive effect of TRX on MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, TRX inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells via the ERK/Slug axis.