Quality assessment of variable collagen tissues of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) body wall under different heat treatment durations by label-Free proteomics analysis.

The microstructure of the body wall, body wall composition, and collagen fibers of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) under different heating times (1 h, 4 h, 12 h, and 24 h) was investigated based on heat treatment at 80 °C. A Label-Free proteomics technique was applied to study the proteomic changes in the body wall of sea cucumbers under 4 and 12 h of heat treatment. Compared with the fresh group, 981 proteins were found to be differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after heat treatment at 80 °C (4 h), and 1110 DEPs were observed after heat treatment at the same temperature for 12 h. There were 69 DEPs associated with mutable collagenous tissues (MCTs) structures. The results of correlation analysis showed that 55 DEPs were correlated with sensory properties, among which A0A2G8KRV2 was significantly correlated with hardness and SEM image texture features (SEM_Energy, SEM_Correlation, SEM_Homogeneity, and SEM_Contrast). These findings could be conducive to further comprehension of the structural changes and mechanisms of quality loss in the body wall of sea cucumbers at different heat treatment times.

Optimization of initial dose regimen of tacrolimus in paediatric lung transplant recipients based on Monte Carlo simulation.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES: The initial tacrolimus dose regimen in paediatric lung transplant recipients is unknown. The present study optimized the initial tacrolimus dose regimen for paediatric lung transplant recipients. METHODS: This study was based on a published population pharmacokinetic model of tacrolimus in lung transplant recipients and used Monte Carlo simulations to recommend an initial dose regimen of tacrolimus in paediatric lung transplant recipients. RESULTS: Without voriconazole, the tacrolimus doses recommended for paediatric lung transplant recipients who were not CYP3A5*1 carriers were 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, for weights of 10-16, 16-30, and 30-40 kg, respectively. For paediatric lung transplant recipients who were CYP3A5*1 carriers, the tacrolimus doses of 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.06 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, were recommended for weights of 10-16, 16-25, 25-30, and 30-40 kg, respectively. With voriconazole, the tacrolimus dose recommended for paediatric lung transplant recipients who were not CYP3A5*1 carriers was 0.02 mg/kg/day, split into two doses, for weights of 10-40 kg. For paediatric lung transplant recipients who were CYP3A5*1 carriers, tacrolimus doses of 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg/day, split and two doses, were recommended for weights of 10-24 and 24-40 kg, respectively. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS: This study developed tacrolimus dose regimens for the first time for paediatric lung transplant recipients using Monte Carlo simulation and optimized initial dosage in paediatric lung transplant recipients.

Characterization of resistance and fitness cost of Descurainia sophia L. populations from Henan and Xinjiang, China.

Descurainia sophia L. is a notorious weed in winter wheat field and has serious resistance to tribenuron-methyl. Xinjiang is a main wheat production region in China with no information on D. sophia resistance to tribenuron-methyl. Here, resistance levels of D. sophia populations to tribenuron-methyl from Xinjiang and Henan were investigated. In addition, homozygous mutation subpopulations of high resistant D. sophia populations from Xinjiang and Henan were generated and then cross-resistance and fitness cost were determined. Results showed that 5 out of 31 populations from Xinjiang developed resistance to tribenuron-methyl, including two high resistant populations (X30 and X31). While 10 out of 11 populations from Henan showed resistance to tribenuron-methyl, including three high resistant populations (H5, H6 and H7). X30 and X31 shared the same mutation type of Pro197Thr in ALS1, while the mutation type of ALS1 in H5, H6 and H7 were Pro197Ser, Pro197His and Pro197Ala, respectively. The homozygous mutation subpopulations (SX30, SX31, SH5, SH6, SH7) showed cross-resistance to flucarbazone-sodium, bensulfuron methyl and flumetsulam. Under monoculture condition, relative growth rates of SX30, SX31 were higher than susceptible population (SX13), while that in SH5, SH6, SH7 were almost same with SX13. When mix planted with SX13, SX30 and SX31 displayed weaker competitiveness than SX13, while SH5, SH6, SH7 showed stronger competitiveness than SX13. The results suggested that D. sophia from Xinjiang had low resistance frequency to tribenuron-methyl and the high resistant populations had fitness costs.

Role of Vehicular Catalytic Converter Temperature in Emission of Pollutants: An Assessment Based on Isotopic Analysis of CO2 and N2O.

Vehicular catalytic converters are used to regulate, reduce, and convert toxic and environmentally unfriendly compounds in exhaust gases into relatively inert and less harmful chemical species. The efficiency, however, is largely affected by the operating temperature of the converter which is set by the hot exhaust gas released from the combustion chamber. A major gas released during combustion is CO2, and its multiply substituted isotopocule, namely, 13C16O18O, provides a window of opportunity to probe directly the effective temperature of the converter in operation. Here, we report multiple isotopic measurements in exhaust CO2 (δ13C, δ17O, δ18O, and Δ47) of diesel (trucks and buses) and gasoline (sedans, trucks, and two-wheel motorcycles)-powered vehicles. For investigating the efficiency of a converter in reducing toxic compounds, we studied NOx processes through isotopic analysis of the exhaust N2O. We found that the degree of N2O reduction to N2 in gasoline-powered vehicles is high when the temperature is above 200 °C (inferred by Δ47). In contrast, diesel-powered vehicles produce N2O in abundance, probably a consequence of selective catalytic reduction of NOx, and the reduction efficiency depends on the converter temperature. In other words, the catalytic converters act as sinks and sources of N2O to the atmosphere in gasoline- and diesel-operated vehicles, respectively. We also report a new set of field data by measuring the isotopic compositions of CO2 and N2O in the Hsuehshan tunnel, a ∼13 km long highway tunnel in Taiwan. Elevated N2O concentrations inside the tunnel indicate that the emission of N2O by heavy-duty diesel vehicles is much higher compared to the reduction by gasoline-operated passenger cars, making the vehicular exhausts a net source of N2O to the atmosphere. The combined study of clumped isotopes and N2O concentration in exhaust gases suggests that it is useful to probe the operational temperature of catalytic converters and monitor the pollution level in operation, thus providing an opportunity for manufacturers to optimize the catalytic efficiency to reduce the level of toxic pollutants to the environment.

Process Optimization of Electrochemical Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen for Actual Dyeing Wastewater Treatment.

To mitigate the potential environmental risks caused by nitrogen compounds from industrial wastewater, residual ammonia after conventional wastewater treatment should be further eliminated. In this work, an electrochemical oxidation process for converting ammonia to nitrogen in actual dyeing wastewater was investigated. The effects of the main operating parameters, including initial pH value, applied current density, NaCl concentration, and flow, were investigated on ammonia removal and products distribution. Experimental results indicated that, under optimal conditions of an initial pH value of 8.3, applied current density of 20 mA cm-2, NaCl concentration of 1.0 g L-1, and flow of 300 mL min-1, the ammonia could be completely removed with N2 selectivity of 88.3% in 60 min electrolysis. A kinetics investigation using a pseudo-first-order model provided a precise description of ammonia removal during the electro-oxidation process. Experimental functions for describing the relationships between kinetic constants of ammonia removal and main operating parameters were also discussed. Additionally, the mechanisms and economic evaluation of ammonia oxidation were conducted. All these results clearly proved that this electro-oxidation process could efficiently remove ammonia and achieve high N2 selectivity.

Diffusion tensor imaging for assessment of microstructural changes associate with treatment outcome at one-year after radiofrequency Rhizotomy in trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by facial pain that may be sudden, intense, and recurrent. Neurosurgical interventions, such as radiofrequency rhizotomy, can relieve TN pain, but their mechanisms and effects are unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microstructural tissue changes of the trigeminal nerve (TGN) in patients with TN after they underwent radiofrequency rhizotomy. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with TN were recruited, and diffusion tensor imaging was obtained before and two weeks after radiofrequency rhizotomy. By manually selecting the cisternal segment of the TGN, we measured the volume of the TGN, fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). The TGN volume and mean value of the DTI metrics of the post-rhizotomy lesion side were compared with those of the normal side and those of the pre-rhizotomy lesion side, and they were correlated to the post-rhizotomy visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores after a one-year follow-up. RESULTS: The alterations before and after rhizotomy showed a significantly increased TGN volume and FA, and a decreased ADC, AD, and RD. The post-rhizotomy lesion side showed a significantly decreased TGN volume, FA, and AD compared with the normal side; however, no significant difference in the ADC and RD were found between the groups. The TGN volume was significantly higher in the non-responders than in the responders (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Our results may reflect that the effects of radiofrequency rhizotomy in TN patients include axonal damage with perineural edema and that prolonged swelling associated with recurrence might be predicted by MRI images. Further studies are necessary to understand how DTI metrics can quantitatively represent the pathophysiology of TN and to examine the application of DTI in the treatment of TN.

Study on community Tai Chi Chuan participants' leisure benefits and well-being: Using Taoyuan City as an example.

The aim of this study was to discuss the Research of Community Tai Chi Chuan Participants' Leisure Benefits and Well-being. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the community Tai Chi Chuan participants in Taoyuan city. A total of 500 valid questionnaires were retrieved, and the data were analyzed with SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 7.0 structural equation model analysis (SEM). The findings were as followed: 1) The background variables of the community Tai Chi Chuan participants in Taoyuan City: Gender had no difference in the factor of ``psychological benefit'' of leisure benefits. Occupation, age, education, the number of times a week to participate community Tai Chi Chuan and participation in seniority reached significant difference in leisure benefits. 2) The background variables of the community Tai Chi Chuan participants in Taoyuan City: gender, occupation, age, education, the number of times a week to participate community Tai Chi Chuan, participation in seniority reached significant difference in well-being. 3) The study showed community Tai Chi Chuan participants' leisure benefits had a significant positive correlation in well-being. Based on the findings, suggestions were proposed to related Taiwan Tai Chi Chuan promotion for reference.

Toxic Assessment of Triclosan and Triclocarban on Artemia salina.

In this study, we investigated the possible acute toxic and genotoxic effects of triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) on Artemia salina. Genotoxicity was evaluated using single-cell gel electrophoresis and apoptotic frequency assays (Annexin V-FITC/PI assay). Acute toxicity test results showed that TCC (LC50-24 h = 17.8 µg/L) was more toxic than TCS (LC50-24 h = 171.1 µg/L). Significant increases in both genotoxic biomarkers were observed at 24 h after initial exposure, indicating that these two chemicals are potentially dangerous for this aquatic biological model. Although further studies are required, a comparison of data both in vitro and in vivo allowed us to suggest possible mechanisms of action for TCS and TCC in this sentinel organism.

Virtual non-contrast computer tomography (CT) with spectral CT as an alternative to conventional unenhanced CT in the assessment of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) virtual non-contrast (VNC) spectral imaging for gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with histologically proven gastric carcinomas underwent gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) including non-contrast and contrast-enhanced hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase acquisitions prior to surgery. VNC arterial phase (VNCa), VNC venous phase (VNCv), and VNC equilibrium phase (VNCe) images were obtained by subtracting iodine from iodine/water images. Images were analyzed with respect to image quality, gastric carcinoma-intragastric water contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), gastric carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR, serosal invasion, and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesions. RESULTS: Carcinoma-water CNR values were significantly higher in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (2.72, 2.60, 2.61, respectively, vs 2.35, p≤0.008). Carcinoma- perigastric fat CNR values were significantly lower in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (7.63, 7.49, 7.32, respectively, vs 8.48, p<0.001). There were no significant differences of carcinoma-water CNR and carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR among VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images. There was no difference in the determination of invasion or enlarged lymph nodes between normal CT and VNCa images. CONCLUSIONS: VNC arterial phase images may be a surrogate for conventional non-contrast CT images in gastric carcinoma evaluation.

Assessment of the kinetic trajectory of the median nerve in the wrist by high-frequency ultrasound.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is typically diagnosed by physical examination or nerve conduction measurements. With these diagnostics however it is difficult to obtain anatomical information in the carpal tunnel. To further improve the diagnosis of CTS, an attempt using 30 MHz high-frequency ultrasound to noninvasively detect the local anatomical structures and the kinetic trajectory of the median nerve (MN) in the wrist was explored. Measurements were performed on the right wrist of 14 asymptomatic volunteers. The kinetic trajectory of the MN corresponding to flexion (from 0° to 90°) and extension (from 90° to 0°) movements of the fingers were detected by a cross correlation-based motion tracking technique. The average displacements of the MN according to finger movements were measured to be 3.74 and 2.04 mm for male and female subjects, respectively. Moreover, the kinetic trajectory of the MN in both the ulnar-palmar and total directions generally follows a sigmoidal curve tendency. This study has verified that the use of high-frequency ultrasound imaging and a motion tracking technique to sensitively detect the displacement and kinetic trajectory of the MN for the assessment of CTS patients is feasible.

[Challenges and strategies for nursing education in Taiwan from a public health needs perspective].

An increasingly elderly population and prevalence of chronic health problems have transformed the healthcare landscape in Taiwan and necessitated a shift in the focus of healthcare toward chronic rather than acute illnesses. This is a challenge to the domestic healthcare system, which was initially designed to address and cure primarily acute illness. Traditional nursing education and training programs are no longer adequate to meet current population healthcare needs. The first part of this article highlights the challenges posed by changing healthcare needs, e.g., the rise in prevalence of age-related chronic conditions and the increased acuity of hospitalized patients. Such developments are making new demands and expectations of nurses in terms of education, skills and roles. The second part of this article explores the weaknesses of current nursing education. Recommendations for the future include: making high school graduation a minimum requirement for entering nursing college and university programs, restructuring the nursing master's education program to prepare advanced nurse practitioners, redesigning curriculum content, and teaching approaches based on public healthcare needs. Upgrading clinical competencies and increasing nursing school faculty numbers are issues of the most immediate priority.

Symptom burden and quality of life in patients with malignant fungating wounds.

AIM: This study describes the relationship between symptoms and quality of life in patients with malignant fungating wounds. BACKGROUND: Malignant fungating wounds are complex wounds that can bleed, become malodorous due to infection and are painful causing physical and psychological distress. However, there is a lack of literature on the impact that such wounds can have on quality of life. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional multi-centre study of patients with malignant fungating wounds. Participants were recruited from the palliative care, hospice, outpatient clinic and oncology units of three medical centres in Taiwan. Data were collected from February 2008 to August 2009. A structured questionnaire obtained socio-demographic information, medical details, wound assessment information and the Taiwanese version of the McGill quality of life questionnaire was administered by interview. RESULTS: McGill quality of life scores indicated that the participants had the lowest quality of life. The participant's age, dressing change frequency, pain, wound dressing comfort, wound symptom, bleeding and malodour had statistically significant negative correlations with quality of life. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, malodour, pain issues and psychological issues explained 87% of the total variance in quality of life. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of malignant fungating wounds and how correct assessment and management is necessary to improve quality of life. Educational intervention research is needed for patients and caregivers in countries where this has not yet been performed. Further research should also identify whether nursing competence has a direct impact on quality of life.

Establishment of platform for screening insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitors and evaluation of novel inhibitors.

AIM: The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) is over-expressed in a wide variety of tumors and contributes to tumor cell proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to establish a sensitive screening platform to identify novel IGF1R inhibitors. METHODS: The catalytic domain of IGF1R was expressed using the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. The screening platform for IGF1R inhibitors was established based on ELISA. The binding profile of IGF1R with the inhibitors was predicted with molecular docking and then subjected to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) approach. The growth inhibition of cancer cells by the inhibitors was assessed with MTT assay. Apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry and Western blotting. RESULTS: A naturally occurring small molecule compound hematoxylin was identified as the most potent inhibitor (IC50 value=1.8±0.1 µmol/L) within a library of more than 200 compounds tested. Molecular simulation predicted the possible binding mode of hematoxylin with IGF1R. An SPR assay further confirmed that hematoxylin bound directly to IGF1R with high binding affinity (Kd=4.2 × 10⁻6 mol/L). In HL-60 cancer cells, hematoxylin inactivated the phosphorylation of IGF1R and downstream signaling and therefore suppressed cell proliferation. Mechanistic studies revealed that hematoxylin induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells via both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. CONCLUSION: A simple, sensitive ELISA-based screening platform for identifying IGF1R inhibitors was established. Hematoxylin was identified as a promising IGF1R inhibitor with effective antitumor activity that deserves further investigation.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of a multimedia learning education program for stoma patients.

STUDY AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare the costs and effectiveness of enterostomal education using a multimedia learning education program (MLEP) and a conventional education service program (CESP). BACKGROUND: Multimedia health education programs not only provide patients with useful information in the absence of health professionals, but can also augment information provided in traditional clinical practice. However, the literature on the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to stoma education is limited. DESIGN: This study used a randomised experimental design. METHODS: A total of 54 stoma patients were randomly assigned to MLEP or CESP nursing care with a follow-up of one week. Effectiveness measures were knowledge of self-care (KSC), attitude of self-care (ASC) and behavior of self-care (BSC). The costs measures for each patient were: health care costs, MLEP cost and family costs. RESULTS: Subjects in the MLEP group demonstrated significantly better outcomes in the effectiveness measures of KSC, ASC and BSC. Additionally, the total social costs for each MLEP patient and CESP patient were US$7396·90 and US$8570·54, respectively. The cost-effectiveness ratios in these two groups showed that the MLEP model was better than the CESP model after one intervention cycle. In addition, the Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio was -20·99. CONCLUSION: This research provides useful information for those who would like to improve the self-care capacity of stoma patients. Due to the better cost-effectiveness ratio of MLEP, hospital policy-makers may consider these results when choosing to allocate resources and develop care and educational interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides a cost effective way of addressing stoma care in the post-operative period that could be usefully transferred to stoma care settings internationally.

Cultural affiliation and mammography screening of Chinese women in an urban county of Michigan.

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship of culturally based attitudes on breast cancer screening behavior of Chinese women currently residing in the United States. This cross-sectional study used a survey instrument that was administered to a consecutive nonprobability sample of 202 Chinese women residing in an urban Michigan county. Mood's strength of cultural affiliation scale (SCAS) was modified for cultural appropriateness prior to being translated into Chinese, back-translated, and pretested prior to use for this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and multivariate analysis techniques. Statistical analyses revealed that cultural diversity within the Chinese sample was associated with differing health behaviors and that the SCAS had indirect effects, through access to health care, on women's mammography screening use (R2 = 28.3%). These study's findings reveal that cultural affiliation and beliefs are related to the breast cancer screening behavior of immigrant Chinese women.

Communication channels to help build an international community of education and practice.

Two-way communication is required if nurses are to build knowledge networks of international communities of nursing education and practice. Are expensive new technologies feasible or preferred for effective communication and productive outcomes? In this report from a longstanding partnership between schools of nursing at Peking University and the University of Michigan, case study methodology is used to evaluate more than a decade of experience with communication modalities: in person, postal mail, express mail, e-mail, fax, telephone, hand delivery by other travelers, and Web sites. Although each education and practice community develops unique ways to build its shared knowledge, a communications plan is suggested, with use of multiple communication techniques, especially those that are low cost and the most dependable. High-cost technologies are not always feasible or preferred. For the project described, they were not necessary to the major outcome, a nursing education and practice network that resulted in the first nurse-managed community-based clinic in China.

Reliability and validity of the mammography screening beliefs questionnaire among Chinese American women.

Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian American women, and the breast is a primary site of cancer in Chinese women. Although a number of studies have used constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM) to examine their relation to mammogram screening, the validity and reliability of the instruments on HBM constructs among Chinese women have not been consistently examined. The purpose of this study was to describe the psychometric properties of a culturally sensitive questionnaire for measuring Chinese women's beliefs (susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, and barriers) related to breast cancer and mammogram screening. The items developed for the questionnaire were drawn from a comprehensive literature review and focus groups. The instrument was translated using back translation technique and evaluated by a panel of professional experts and lay experts. A total of 220 Chinese American women ages 40 to 85 years residing in a suburban Midwestern community were included in the sample. Psychometric testing demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and validity of the instrument for this group of women. The Cronbach alpha for the subscales ranged from.77 to.90. Construct validity was supported by exploring the factor structure of the instrument using confirmatory factor analysis and testing correlations with mammography compliance.