Revealing the Fate of Transplanted Stem Cells In Vivo with a Novel Optical Imaging Strategy.

Stem-cell-based regenerative medicine holds great promise in clinical practices. However, the fate of stem cells after transplantation, including the distribution, viability, and the cell clearance, is not fully understood, which is critical to understand the process and the underlying mechanism of regeneration for better therapeutic effects. Herein, we develop a dual-labeling strategy to in situ visualize the fate of transplanted stem cells in vivo by combining the exogenous near-infrared fluorescence imaging in the second window (NIR-II) and endogenous red bioluminescence imaging (BLI). The NIR-II fluorescence of Ag2 S quantum dots is employed to dynamically monitor the trafficking and distribution of all transplanted stem cells in vivo due to its deep tissue penetration and high spatiotemporal resolution, while BLI of red-emitting firefly luciferase (RfLuc) identifies the living stem cells after transplantation in vivo because only the living stem cells express RfLuc. This facile strategy allows for in situ visualization of the dynamic trafficking of stem cells in vivo and the quantitative evaluation of cell translocation and viability with high temporal and spatial resolution, and thus reports the fate of transplanted stem cells and how the living stem cells help, regeneration, for an instance, of a mouse with acute liver failure.

Protein-templated Fe2O3 microspheres for highly sensitive amperometric detection of dopamine.

The authors describe an amperometric sensor for dopamine (DA) by employing olive-like Fe2O3 microspheres (OFMs) as the electrocatalyst for DA oxidization. The OFMs were prepared by using a protein templated method. The structure and properties of the OFMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The OFMs possess excellent catalytic activity towards DA oxidization due to their unique morphology. The sensor responds to DA within less than 5 s. The sensor, best operated at a voltage of +0.2 V (vs. SCE) responds linearly in the 0.2 to 115 µM DA concentration range and has a 30 nM detection limit. The selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability of the sensor are acceptable. It performs well when applied to spiked human urine samples. Graphical abstract Olive-like Fe2O3 microspheres (OFMs), synthesized using egg white as template, display excellent catalytic activity towards dopamine (DA) oxidization due to their unique morphology. They were applied for DA detection using the amperometric technique. The electrochemical sensor exhibited a high sensitivity and a 30 nM detection limit. DAQ: dopaquinone.

S-Doped Sb2O3 Nanocrystal: an Efficient Visible-Light Catalyst for Organic Degradation.

The S-doped Sb2O3 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized using SbCl3 and thioacetamide (TAA) as precursors via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The effects of pH of the precursor reaction solution on the product composition and property were determined. The results indicated that the doping amount of S could be tuned by adjusting the pH of the precursor solution. Furthermore, the S entered into the interstitial site of Sb2O3 crystals as S2-, which broadened the absorption wavelength range of the Sb2O3 nanocrystal. The S-doped Sb2O3 exhibited an excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of methyl orange and 4-phenylazophenol. Last, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of the S-doped Sb2O3 under visible light irradiation was proposed.

De Novo Analysis Reveals Transcriptomic Responses in Eriobotrya japonica Fruits during Postharvest Cold Storage.

Cold storage is the primary preservation method of postharvest loquat fruits. However, cold storage also results in many chilling injury physiological disorders called lignification, which decreases the quality and economic value of the fruits. Few studies to date have focused on the transcriptomic responses associated with lignification except lignin synthesis pathways. This study aimed to explore the changes of loquat transcriptome during long-term cold storage. Our results showed that the gene expression patterns were differed among the five stages. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to cold storage were more intense and complex in earlier stage. The membrane-related genes preferentially responded to low temperature and were followed by intracellular-located genes. The cold-induced pathways were mainly concerned with signal transduction and secondary metabolism (i.e., lignin, pectin, cellulose, terpenoid, carotenoid, steroid) in the first three stages and were chiefly related to primary metabolism in the later two stages, especially energy metabolism. Further investigation suggested that 503 protein kinases, 106 protein phosphatases, and 40 Ca2+ signal components were involved in the cold signal transduction of postharvest loquat fruits. We predicted a pathway including 649 encoding genes of 49 enzymes, which displayed the metabolisms of major sugars and polysaccharides in cold-stored loquat fruits. The coordinated expression patterns of these genes might contribute to the changes of saccharides in the pathway. These results provide new insight into the transcriptomic changes of postharvest loquat fruits in response to cold storage environment, which may be helpful for improving the postharvest life of loquat in the future.

[Strategies for discussing death with child cancer sufferers].

Since a curriculum concerning life and death was established and palliative care began to be promoted, people have gradually awakened to the needs of dying patients. Because of the nature of oriental culture, however, ultimate decisions concerning someone with a terminal disease have traditionally been made by family, so dying patients, especially children with cancer, have usually not been told of their true condition. The purpose of this article was to gain an understanding of the necessity of talking about death with child cancer patients and how to communicate with these children. The results show that helping the family to talk about death and decision making concerning treatment can help them to adapt to the grieving period when the children pass away. The tactics that nurses can use for communication with dying children include: to acknowledge the decision maker in the family, adopt the concept of death appropriate to a person of the child's age, discuss the prognosis for the development of the disease, and opt to use the medium of communication. The findings of this article may serve as a source of reference for nurses caring for dying children, and cause greater attention to be paid to these issues.

Cosynthesis of l-homophenylalanine and 2-phenylethanol by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing aspartate aminotransferase from Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).

The Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase gene was introduced into a high 2-phenylethanol (2-PEA) producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae YS58, and the recombinant strain of S. cerevisiae was utilized for the co-production of 2-PEA and l-homophenylalanine (L-HPA) via a fermentation process. The L-HPA productivity of the recombinant S. cerevisiae improved 78.9% in comparison to the wild-type S. cerevisiae. High yields of 43.7 mM L-HPA and 32.4 mM 2-PEA were achieved. As a result, the coupling of the biosynthesis process for these two products in the recombinant strain led to a more complete and efficient utilization of the substrate, l-phenylalanine.

Efficacy of Warm Showers on Postpartum Fatigue Among Vaginal-Birth Taiwanese Women: A Quasi-Experimental Design.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postpartum fatigue is one of the most common complaints among women following childbirth. As a postpartum ritual practice, Taiwanese women refrain from taking showers while "doing the month." However, warm showers are the systemic application of moist heat, and they maintain physical hygiene, stimulate blood circulation, mitigate discomfort, and provide relaxation. As Taiwanese society becomes increasingly receptive to scientific and contemporary health care practice, more and more women choose to take warm showers after childbirth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of warm showers on postpartum fatigue among vaginal-birth women in Taiwan. METHODS: This was a two-group quasi-experimental design. Women took showers in warm water with temperatures ranging between 40 °C and 43 °C for approximately 20 minutes. Postpartum women's fatigue is measured using the 10-item Postpartum Fatigue Scale (PFS). The intervention effect was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 358 vaginal-birth postpartum Taiwanese women aged 20-43 years. Postpartum women who took warm showers showed improvements from their pretest to posttest mean scores of postpartum fatigue compared to postpartum women who did not take warm showers. Warm showers helped to reduce postpartum fatigue among vaginal-birth women during the study period. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses have the unique opportunity to provide the intervention to Taiwanese women who have vaginal birth to help them relieve postpartum fatigue with warm showers while "doing the month" without the taboo of no-showering customary practices in the early postpartum period.

[Screening of special scFv antibody against human p53 protein by yeast two-hybrid system].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a mouse single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody library specific to human P53 by overlapping PCR method and screen the single chain antibodies against human P53 protein with the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system. METHODS: The bait vector pGBKT-p53 expressing P53 protein in yeast AH109 cells was constructed by means of genetic engineering method. The total RNA which was extracted from the P53-immunized mouse spleen tissue was used to synthesize the single chain V(H)-linker-V(L) fragment by reverse transcription-PCR and overlapping PCR. And then the V(H)-linker-V(L) fragment constructed on the vector pGADT7 was transformed into the AH109 cells containing the bait vector. The positive clones were screened on the nutrition auxotrophic media. The characteristics of scFv were verified by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The bait vector pGBKT7-p53 was constructed successfully and transformed into AH109 cells. It had no self-activation in the yeast cells and no toxicity to the host. The library of V(H)-linker-V(L) was successfully obtained. The captured vector harboring V(H)-linker-V(L) fragments was constructed. We screened out the human P53 scFvs by the Y2H system. And scFv1/2/3 was proved to have a good affinity for human P53 protein, so it could be used for the identification of P53 protein in cells and tissues. CONCLUSION: We obtained human P53 scFvs with a good affinity for human P53 protein by Y2H system, which provided a new way for screening scFv.

Factors related to milk supply perception in women who underwent cesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Perceived insufficient milk supply is common among postpartum women and is a major reason for early weaning. Studies indicate a significantly higher incidence of insufficient milk supply in women who undergo cesarean section as compared with women who undergo vaginal delivery. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine perceived milk supply in postpartum women who underwent a planned cesarean section, as well as related factors. METHODS: Authors employed a descriptive correlational study design. Factors associated with milk supply perception in postpartum women (at 3 days postpartum) were collected from 141 postpartum women who planned to undergo cesarean section at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. A demographic data sheet, the Birth Practice Inventory, a visual pain analog scale, and the Hill and Humenick Lactation Scale were used to identify factors affecting the perceived milk supply of participants. RESULTS: The study used multiple linear regression to identify significant predictors of milk supply perception. Four factors, including parity, type of anesthesia, time to initial breastfeeding, and use of formula, explained 23.1% of total variance among participants. Women who experienced epidural patient-controlled analgesia, those with delayed initial breastfeeding or lower breastfeeding frequency, and those who used formula supplementation earned relatively lower perceived milk supply scores. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Study results indicate that medical staff should encourage postpartum women to commence breastfeeding, based on infant need, as early as possible and reduce formula use to increase breastfeeding frequency. Shifting to nonnarcotic analgesic medications from epidural patient-controlled analgesia as early as possible is also recommended to increase breastfeeding success.