Multi-stage optimization strategy based on contextual analysis to create M-health components for case management model in breast cancer transitional care: the CMBM study as an example.

BACKGROUND: None of the early M-Health applications are designed for case management care services. This study aims to describe the process of developing a M-health component for the case management model in breast cancer transitional care and to highlight methods for solving the common obstacles faced during the application of M-health nursing service. METHODS: We followed a four-step process: (a) Forming a cross-functional interdisciplinary development team containing two sub-teams, one for content development and the other for software development. (b) Applying self-management theory as the theoretical framework to develop the M-health application, using contextual analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the case management needs of oncology nursing specialists and the supportive care needs of out-of-hospital breast cancer patients. We validated the preliminary concepts of the framework and functionality of the M-health application through multiple interdisciplinary team discussions. (c) Adopting a multi-stage optimization strategy consisting of three progressive stages: screening, refining, and confirmation to develop and continually improve the WeChat mini-programs. (d) Following the user-centered principle throughout the development process and involving oncology nursing specialists and breast cancer patients at every stage. RESULTS: Through a continuous, iterative development process and rigorous testing, we have developed patient-end and nurse-end program for breast cancer case management. The patient-end program contains four functional modules: "Information", "Interaction", "Management", and "My", while the nurse-end program includes three functional modules: "Consultation", "Management", and "My". The patient-end program scored 78.75 on the System Usability Scale and showed a 100% task passing rate, indicating that the programs were easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the contextual analysis, multi-stage optimization strategy, and interdisciplinary team work, a WeChat mini-program has been developed tailored to the requirements of the nurses and patients. This approach leverages the expertise of professionals from multiple disciplines to create effective and evidence-based solutions that can improve patient outcomes and quality of care.

Novel Gas Sensor Based on ZnO Nanorod Circular Arrays for C2H5OH Gas Detection.

Novel side-heating gas sensor based on ZnO nanorod circular arrays was firstly fabricated by hydrothermal treatment assisted with a kind of simple dip-coating technique. The structure and morphologies of ZnO nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), respectively. XRD result indicates that the obtained ZnO nanorods have good crystalline with the hexagonal wurtzite structure. SEM result indicates that ZnO nanorod arrays are vertically growth on the surface of ceramic tube of side-heating sensor with controlled diameter and length, narrow size distribution and high orientation. The gas sensing properties of ZnO nanorod circular arrays are also evaluated. Comparative to the sensor based on scattered ZnO nanorods responding to 25 ppm H2, CO, C6H5CH3 and C2H5OH gas, respectively, the sensing values of high orientation gas sensor are generally increased by 5%. This novel sensor has good application promising for the fabrication of cost effective and high performance gas sensors.

Prediction of chlorophyll-a in the Daning River of Three Gorges Reservoir by principal component scores in multiple linear regression models.

After the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) since 2003, eutrophication has occurred and has become severe in Daning River. To predict chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) levels, the relationships between Chl-a and 11/13 routine monitoring data on water quality and hydrodynamics in Daning River were studied by principal component scores in the multiple linear regression model (principal component regression (PCR) model). In order to determine the hydrodynamic effect on simulated accuracy, two 0-day ahead prediction models were established: model A without hydrodynamic factors as variables, and model B with hydrodynamic factors (surface water velocity and water residence time) as variables. Based on the results of correlation analysis, score 1 and 2 with significant loads of phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients were omitted in developing model A (R(2) = 0.355); while score 2 with significant loads of nitrogen was omitted in developing model B (R(2) = 0.777). The results of validation using a new dataset showed that model B achieved a better fitted relationship between the predicted and observed values of Chl-a. It indicated hydrodynamics play an important role in limiting algal growth. The results suggested that a PCR model incorporating hydrodynamics processes has been suitable for the Chl-a concentration simulation and algal blooming prediction in Daning River of TGR.

In vitro biofilm forming potential of Streptococcus suis isolated from human and swine in China.

Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen and also a zoonotic agent. The formation of biofilms allows S. suis to become persistent colonizers and resist clearance by the host immune system and antibiotics. In this study, biofilm forming potentials of various S. suis strains were characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tissue culture plates stained with crystal violet. In addition, the effects of five antimicrobial agents on biofilm formation were assayed in this study. S. suis produced biofilms on smooth and rough surface. The nutritional contents including glucose and NaCl in the growth medium modulated biofilm formation. There was a significant difference in their biofilm-forming ability among all 46 S. suis strains. The biofilm-forming potential of S. suis serotype 9 was stronger than type 2 and all other types. However, biofilm formation was inhibited by five commonly used antimicrobial agents, penicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin at subinhibitory concentrations, among which inhibition of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin was stronger than that of other three antimicrobial agents.Our study provides a detailed analysis of biofilm formation potential in S. suis, which is a step towards understanding its role in pathogenesis, and eventually lead to a better understanding of how to eradicate S. suis growing as biofilms with antibiotic therapy.

Effectiveness of redcore lotion in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Redcore lotion on treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) using a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in five English and three Chinese electronic databases up to October 2019. Randomized controlled trials in the treatment for VVC were included; only studies which compared the effectiveness and safety of Redcore lotion plus miconazole with miconazole alone were included. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used in the Meta-analysis. RESULTS: Seven studies involving 768 patients suffering from VVC were identified; 468 of the patients were pregnant women (60.9%). Combination group (Redcore lotion plus miconazole) was more effective in reduCIng symptomatic episodes of VVC than miconazole alone, with respect to cure rate (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.57; P = 0.01), fungal culture negative rate (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41; P = 0.01), and effective rate (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35; P = 0.01). Subgroup analyses for pregnant women also showed that the combination group had superior outcomes with respect to VVC cure rate (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.16-1.88, P < 0.01), fungal culture negative rate (RR, 1.26; 95% CI; 1.09-1.47; P < 0.01), and effective rate (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10-1.42; P < 0.01). Additionally, the observed risk of adverse events was lower in the combination medication group (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.14-0.65; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Though overall quality of individual studies was low, Redcore lotion plus miconazole can significantly improve clinical effectiveness and safety compared with miconazole alone.

[Association between the dental caries and the human leucocyte antigen DQB1 allele polymorphisms among the Uygur and Han children in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association between human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1 allele polymorphisms and the presence dental caries among the Uygur and Han children in Xinjiang. METHODS: HLA-DQB1 allele in the Uygur and Han children with dental caries and healthy control in Xinjiang was tested (n=40) using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) DNA parting technology. RESULTS: A total of five specific loci were detected in the HLA-DQB1 locus among the Uygur and Han children. The frequency of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele in the Han group with severe caries (12.5%) was significantly lower than in the control group (32.5%) (P<0.05, OR=0.297). Moreover, the frequency of the HLA-DQB1*05 allele in the Uygur group with severe caries (37.5%) was significantly higher than in the control group (17.5%) (P<0.05, OR=2.829). CONCLUSIONS: Caries susceptibility among the Uygur and Han children in Xinjiang is related to the HLA-DQB1 allele. The HLA-DQB1*02 allele may protect against caries among the Han children, whereas the HLA-DQB1*05 allele may be responsible for the susceptibility of the Uygur children to caries.

[Expression and significance of wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5A/receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 in the rat dental follicle].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5A (Wnt5A)/receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2) signal in the dental follicle cells during the normal eruption of the teeth as well as to explore the relationship between the expression of dental follicle cells and the formation of mature osteoclasts and eruption of the teeth. METHODS: The mandibulars of 1-13 d old SD rats were separated to observe the growth and develop-ment of the teeth and alveolar bone through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Ror2 and Wnt5A expressions in rat dental follicle were also observed through immunohistochemistry. Dental follicle cells from the lower first intact molar germs of 5-6-day old SD rats were separated and cultured. RESULTS: On the second day after birth, the dental follicle began to differentiate into periodontal tissues, but no obvious changes were observed in the alveolar bone one to three days after birth. On the fourth day, the number of osteoclasts increased significantly. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that Wnt5A was not significantly expressed in rat dental follicle tissues before the fourth day, but positive expression was expressed in the next day and continued to express to thirteenth days. Ror2 was expressed in the rat dental follicle at postnatal days 1-3, but weak expression was found in days 4-13. CONCLUSIONS: Wnt5A and Ror2 expressions in the process of tooth eruption have specific time distributions, suggesting that these expressions may participate in the regulation of the eruption of the teeth.

Probe binding to host proteins: a cause for false positive signals in viroid detection by tissue hybridization.

Molecular hybridization assay, especially involving the use of tissues directly, has been developed as a rapid, simple and important technique for plant pathogen detection and/or gene expression analysis on a large scale. In theory, this method relies on the specific binding of a labeled probe to a target nucleotide sequence. However, occasional false positive reactions can pose a problem in its application and the cause is often not well understood. Here, we show that in tissue-printing hybridization to detect Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) strong signals could arise by interactions between the viroid probe and plant proteins. Such probe-protein interactions made it difficult to show significant correlations between viroid infection and the level of hybridization signals. These results challenge the traditional view that proteins may hamper PCR reactions but have no influence on molecular hybridization. They further demonstrate that such probe-protein interactions in a plant could compromise the quality of molecular hybridization assays for viroid detection. Our results uncovered an important source of false positive reactions in tissue-printing hybridization and suggest that specificity can be improved by removing proteins.

In vitro biofilm forming potential of Streptococcus suis isolated from human and swine in China

Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen and also a zoonotic agent. The formation of biofilms allows S. suis to become persistent colonizers and resist clearance by the host immune system and antibiotics. In this study, biofilm forming potentials of various S. suis strains were characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tissue culture plates stained with crystal violet. In addition, the effects of five antimicrobial agents on biofilm formation were assayed in this study. S. suis produced biofilms on smooth and rough surface. The nutritional contents including glucose and NaCl in the growth medium modulated biofilm formation. There was a significant difference in their biofilm-forming ability among all 46 S. suis strains. The biofilm-forming potential of S. suis serotype 9 was stronger than type 2 and all other types. However, biofilm formation was inhibited by five commonly used antimicrobial agents, penicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin at subinhibitory concentrations, among which inhibition of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin was stronger than that of other three antimicrobial agents.Our study provides a detailed analysis of biofilm formation potential in S. suis, which is a step towards understanding its role in pathogenesis, and eventually lead to a better understanding of how to eradicate S. suis growing as biofilms with antibiotic therapy.