The long-term outcomes of vaginoplasty using acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa grafts in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term outcomes for Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) patients undergoing vaginoplasty using acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa grafts (SIS). DESIGN: A case series. POPULATION: Seventy-eight MRKH syndrome patients and a post-SIS patient who delivered a baby following the world's first robot-assisted uterus transplantation. METHODS: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome patients were grouped based on the postoperative time and the diagnosis-surgery interval. Outcomes of sexual function and psychological status were assessed using the female sexual function index (FSFI), self-rating scale of body image (SSBI) and self-acceptance questionnaire (SAQ). Anatomical outcomes were measured by clinicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was restoration of sexual function, defined by an FSFI score in the 'good' range. Anatomical and psychological outcomes were also analysed. RESULTS: Sexual function was restored in 42.3% (33/78) of patients and the total FSFI score was 23.44 ± 4.43. Three factors (body defect, recognition of physical appearance and willingness to change physical appearance scores) in the SSBI and two in the SAQ decreased as the postoperative time increased. Based on the interval between diagnosis and surgery, the total SSBI score was lower in the short-interval group than in the long-interval group (7.25 ± 5.55 versus 12.04 ± 10.21, p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of MRKH patients in our study had good long-term sexual function after SIS vaginoplasty. Sexual function and psychological status improved as postoperative time increased. In addition, reducing the diagnosis to surgery interval was associated with improved psychological function.

Impact of educational videos on maternal anxiety caused by children's heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Mothers of children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease experience significant stress. Therefore, finding a strategy to decrease this is vital. AIMS: To examine whether adding educational digital video discs to routine education can reduce maternal anxiety and depression when their children undergo heart surgery and when surgical or post-surgical complications occur. STUDY DESIGN: In a teaching hospital, 120 mothers whose children underwent elective heart surgery were randomly and equally divided into two groups: mothers receiving routine education plus a digital video disc before surgery and mothers receiving only routine education. Mothers' anxiety and depression levels were compared before education, after education (before surgery), and on discharge day. The effect of watching the digital video disc on maternal anxiety and depression on discharge day was evaluated for the participants whose children had surgical or post-surgical complications. RESULTS: Compared with only routine education, mothers' anxiety after education and on the discharge day decreased more if digital video disc was added. Depression decreased more after education, but no difference was found on the discharge day. Anxiety levels of mothers whose children had surgical or post-surgical complications on the discharge day decreased more if they watched the digital video disc, compared with those receiving only routine education (Beck anxiety inventory score 3.4 ± 1.9 and 6.1 ± 2.4 respectively; p-value .001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with only routine education, adding digital video disc could decrease mothers' anxiety, and until the day of discharge. Compared with only routine education, adding digital video disc could decrease mothers' anxiety on the discharge day if their child had surgical or post-surgical complications. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Adding educational digital video disc to routine education could decrease mothers' anxiety until the day of discharge. It could also decrease mothers' anxiety if their child had surgical or post-surgical complications.

Exercise training ameliorates early diabetic kidney injury by regulating the H2 S/SIRT1/p53 pathway.

Exercise training exerts protective effects against diabetic nephropathy. This study aimed to investigate whether exercise training could attenuate diabetic renal injury via regulating endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) production. First, C57BL/6 mice were allocated into the control, diabetes, exercise, and diabetes + exercise groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Treadmill exercise continued for four weeks. Second, mice was allocated into the control, diabetes, H2 S and diabetes + H2 S groups. H2 S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) was intraperitoneally injected once daily for four weeks. STZ-induced diabetic mice exhibited glomerular hypertrophy, tissue fibrosis and increased urine albumin levels, urine protein- and albumin-to-creatinine ratios, which were relieved by exercise training. Diabetic renal injury was associated with apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the enhanced caspase-3 activity, the increased TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling -positive cells and the reduced expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, all of which were attenuated by exercise training. Exercise training enhanced renal sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in diabetic mice, accompanied by an inhibition of the p53-#ediated pro-apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, exercise training restored the STZ-mediated downregulation of cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and the reduced renal H2 S production. NaHS treatment restored SIRT1 expression, inhibited the p53-mediated pro-apoptotic pathway and attenuated diabetes-associated apoptosis and renal injury. In high glucose-treated MPC5 podocytes, NaHS treatment inhibited the p53-mediated pro-apoptotic pathway and podocyte apoptosis in a SIRT1-dependent manner. Collectively, exercise training upregulated CBS/CSE expression and enhanced the endogenous H2 S production in renal tissues, thereby contributing to the modulation of the SIRT1/p53 apoptosis pathway and improvement of diabetic nephropathy.

Bisphosphonates and risk of cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether bisphosphonates are associated with risk of cancers. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of bisphosphonates on overall cancers. METHODS: A search in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases was conducted, from the inception date of each resource to September 26, 2019. The summarised effect estimates with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effect model. Heterogeneity and publication bias were explored. RESULTS: Thirty-four articles were included in this study (4,508,261 participants; 403,196 cases). The results revealed that bisphosphonates significantly decreased the risk of colorectal cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98), breast cancer (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82-0.93) and endometrial cancer (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61-0.94), but no significant association was observed in all-cause cancer. Furthermore, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates only had protective effects both on breast cancer (RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99) and endometrial cancer (RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.54-0.92). Non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates tended to increase the risk of liver cancer (RR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.23-3.72) and pancreas cancer (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.32-2.33). CONCLUSION: Bisphosphonates are significantly associated with risk reduction of colorectal, breast and endometrial cancer, especially nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. It should be noted that non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates might increase the risk of liver and pancreas cancer. Large prospective cohort studies are needed to find the causal association between bisphosphonates and risk of cancers.

Heterostyly promotes compatible pollination in buckwheats: Comparisons of intraflower, intraplant, and interplant pollen flow in distylous and homostylous Fagopyrum.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Heterostyly, the reciprocal positioning of stigmas and anthers in different floral morphs, has long been thought to promote intermorph pollination. However, extensive intramorph pollination occurs commonly in heterostylous species, leading to recurrent questions about the functional and evolutionary significance of heterostyly. METHODS: To identify the sources of stigmatic pollen (autogamous [intraflower], geitonogamous [intraplant], vs. interplant), we emasculated either one flower or entire plants in experimental populations of the two closely related buckwheat species, distylous Fagopyrum esculentum and homostylous F. tataricum. Differences in pollen size allowed unambiguous identification of pollen on stigmas. RESULTS: Only 2.4% of F. tataricum pollen and 1.5% of F. esculentum pollen arrived successfully on compatible stigmas of other plants. In the former (homostylous) species, 71.3% of the pollen load on stigmas was autogamous, 10.8% was geitonogamous, and 17.9% was interplant. In the latter (distylous) species, 37.45% of the pollen on stigmas was autogamous, 13.8% was geitonogamous, 17.0% was intramorph, and 31.75% was intermorph. The amount of incompatible pollen arriving on stigmas was greatly decreased by both one-flower and whole-plant emasculations, and thus, the proportion of compatible pollen deposited increased with one-flower emasculation and increased even more with whole-plant emasculation. CONCLUSIONS: Our quantification of pollen-donor sources in these two species indicated that heterostyly in Fagopyrum esculentum provided a nearly 2-fold fitness advantage (in terms of compatible pollination) over expected (random) pollen transfers between morphs. Because of reduced herkogamy, the homostylous F. tataricum was highly autogamous.

H2S Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Reducing Oxidative/Nitrative Stress and Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), known as the third endogenous gaseous transmitter, has received increasing attention because of its diverse effects, including angiogenesis, vascular relaxation and myocardial protection.We aimed to investigate the role of H2S in oxidative/nitrative stress and inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by endotoxemia. METHODS: Male ICR mice were divided in six groups: (1) Control group; (2) GYY4137treatment group; (3) L-NAME treatment group; (4) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment group; (5) LPS with GYY4137 treatment group; and (6) LPS with L-NAME treatment group. The lungs were analysed by histology, NO production in the mouse lungs determined by modified Griess (Sigma-Aldrich) reaction, cytokine levels utilizing commercialkits, and protein abundance by Western blotting. RESULTS: GYY4137, a slowly-releasing H2S donor, improved the histopathological changes in the lungs of endotoxemic mice. Treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, increased anti-oxidant biomarkers such as thetotal antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and theactivities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) but decreased a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) action and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in endotoxemic lung. L-NAME administration also suppressed inflammation in endotoxemic lung, as evidenced by the decreased pulmonary levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the increased level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. GYY4137 treatment reversed endotoxin-induced oxidative/nitrative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogenperoxide (H2O2) and 3-NT and an increase in the antioxidant biomarker ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione(GSH/GSSG ratio) and T-AOC, CAT and SOD activity. GYY4137 also attenuated endotoxin-induced lung inflammation. Moreover, treatment with GYY4137 inhibited inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in the endotoxemia lung. CONCLUSIONS: GYY4137 conferred protection against acute endotoxemia-associated lung injury, which may have beendue to the anti-oxidant, anti-nitrative and anti-inflammatory properties of GYY4137. The present findings warrant further exploration of the clinical applicability of H2S in the prevention and treatment of ALI.

Hypoxia-induced acute lung injury is aggravated in streptozotocin diabetic mice.

PURPOSE: Hypoxia is an inevitable consequence of many respiratory diseases resulting from inadequate alveolar ventilation. As pulmonary dysfunction is recently recognized as one of the many clinical features associated with diabetes, this study aims to investigate the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on hypoxia-induced lung injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were randomly allocated to four groups (Control, Hypoxia, Diabetes, Diabetes+Hypoxia). Control and type I diabetic (100 mg/kg STZ-treated) mice were followed for 4 weeks and finally exposed to normoxia or hypoxia (8% O2). Twelve hours later, lung tissues were collected for histopathologic examination, and determination of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 expression. RESULTS: STZ-induced diabetes aggravated histopathological changes in the lung exposed to acute hypoxia. Hypoxia increased lung MDA level but decreased T-AOC and SOD activity. STZ-induced diabetic mice presented significant increases in MDA level and SOD activity in the lung. Moreover, no difference was found in the levels of both oxidant index (MDA) and anti-oxidant indexes (T-AOC and SOD) between "Hypoxia" group and "Hypoxia plus Diabetes" group. On the other hand, STZ-induced diabetic mice presented significant increases in pulmonary neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-6) production, as well as TLR4 expression. Although acute hypoxia alone had no significant effect on pulmonary inflammatory markers, it profoundly increased STZ-diabetes-induced neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and TLR4 expression in lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS: STZ-induced diabetes may aggravate acute hypoxia-induced lung injury through enhancing pulmonary inflammatory responses.

Platinum sensitivity and CD133 expression as risk and prognostic predictors of central nervous system metastases in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: To characterize prognostic and risk factors of central nervous system (CNS) metastases in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Xijing Hospital electronic medical records was conducted to identify patients with pathologically confirmed EOC and CNS metastases. In addition to patient demographics, tumor pathology, treatment regimens, and clinical outcomes, we compared putative cancer stem cell marker CD133 expression patterns in primary and metastatic lesions as well as in recurrent EOC with and without CNS metastases. RESULTS: Among 1366 patients with EOC, metastatic CNS lesions were present in 29 (2.1%) cases. CD133 expression in primary tumor was the only independent risk factor for CNS metastases; whilst the extent of surgical resection of primary EOC and platinum resistance were two independent factors significantly associated with time to CNS metastases. Absence of CD133 expression in primary tumors was significantly associated with high platinum sensitivity in both patient groups with and without CNS metastases. Platinum resistance and CD133 cluster formation in CNS metastases were associated with decreased survival, while multimodal therapy including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for CNS metastases was associated with increased survival following the diagnosis of CNS metastases. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that there exist a positive association between CD133 expression in primary EOC, platinum resistance and the increased risk of CNS metastases, as well as a less favorable prognosis of EOC. The absence of CD133 clusters and use of multimodal therapy including SRS could improve the outcome of metastatic lesions. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the true nature of the association between platinum sensitivity, CD133 expression, and the risk and prognosis of CNS metastases from EOC.

In the right place at the right time: Parnassia resolves the herkogamy dilemma by accurate repositioning of stamens and stigmas.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Spatial (herkogamy) and temporal (dichogamy) separation of pollen presentation and stigma receptivity have been interpreted as reducing interference between male and female functions in hermaphroditic flowers. However, spatial separation leads to a potential conflict: reduced pollination accuracy, where pollen may be placed in a location on the pollinator different from the point of stigma contact. METHODS: To understand better how herkogamous flowers resolve this conflict, a study was made of a subalpine herb, Parnassia epunctulata, the nectariferous flowers of which exhibit sequential anther dehiscence (staggered pollen presentation) and stamen movements; usually one newly dehisced anther is positioned each day over the central gynoecium, while the older stamens bend away from the central position. KEY RESULTS: The open flowers were visited by a variety of pollinators, most of which were flies. Seed set was pollinator-dependent (bagged flowers set almost no seeds) and pollen-limited (manual pollination increased seed set over open pollination). Analyses of adaptive accuracy showed that coordinated stamen movements and style elongation (movement herkogamy) dramatically increased pollination accuracy. Specifically, dehiscing anthers and receptive stigmas were positioned accurately in the vertical and horizontal planes in relation to the opposite sexual structure and pollinator position. By contrast, the spatial correspondence between anthers and stigma was dramatically lower before the anthers dehisced and after stamens bent outwards, as well as before and after the period of stigmatic receptivity. CONCLUSIONS: It is shown for the first time that a combination of movement herkogamy and dichogamy can maintain high pollination accuracy in flowers with generalized pollination. Staggered pollen and stigma presentation with spatial correspondence can both reduce sexual interference and improve pollination accuracy.

Synthesis, one- and two-photon photophysical and excited-state properties, and sensing application of a new phosphorescent dinuclear cationic iridium(III) complex.

A new phosphorescent dinuclear cationic iridium(III) complex (Ir1) with a donor-acceptor-π-bridge-acceptor-donor (D-A-π-A-D)-conjugated oligomer (L1) as a N^N ligand and a triarylboron compound as a C^N ligand has been synthesized. The photophysical and excited-state properties of Ir1 and L1 were investigated by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and molecular-orbital calculations, and they were compared with those of the mononuclear iridium(III) complex [Ir(Bpq)(2)(bpy)](+)PF(6)(-) (Ir0). Compared with Ir0, complex Ir1 shows a more-intense optical-absorption capability, especially in the visible-light region. For example, complex Ir1 shows an intense absorption band that is centered at λ=448 nm with a molar extinction coefficient (ε) of about 10(4) , which is rarely observed for iridium(III) complexes. Complex Ir1 displays highly efficient orange-red phosphorescent emission with an emission wavelength of 606 nm and a quantum efficiency of 0.13 at room temperature. We also investigated the two-photon-absorption properties of complexes Ir0, Ir1, and L1. The free ligand (L1) has a relatively small two-photon absorption cross-section (δ(max) =195 GM), but, when complexed with iridium(III) to afford dinuclear complex Ir1, it exhibits a higher two-photon-absorption cross-section than ligand L1 in the near-infrared region and an intense two-photon-excited phosphorescent emission. The maximum two-photon-absorption cross-section of Ir1 is 481 GM, which is also significantly larger than that of Ir0. In addition, because the strong B-F interaction between the dimesitylboryl groups and F(-) ions interrupts the extended π-conjugation, complex Ir1 can be used as an excellent one- and two-photon-excited "ON-OFF" phosphorescent probe for F(-) ions.

Rational design of an "OFF-ON" phosphorescent chemodosimeter based on an iridium(III) complex and its application for time-resolved luminescent detection and bioimaging of cysteine and homocysteine.

Biothiols, such as cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy), play very crucial roles in biological systems. Abnormal levels of these biothiols are often associated with many types of diseases. Therefore, the detection of Cys (or Hcy) is of great importance. In this work, we have synthesized an excellent "OFF-ON" phosphorescent chemodosimeter 1 for sensing Cys and Hcy with high selectivity and naked-eye detection based on an Ir(III) complex containing a 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNBS) group within its ligand. The "OFF-ON" phosphorescent response can be assigned to the electron-transfer process from Ir(III) center and C^N ligands to the DNBS group as the strong electron-acceptor, which can quench the phosphorescence of probe 1 completely. The DNBS group can be cleaved by thiols of Cys or Hcy, and both the (3)MLCT and (3)LC states are responsible for the excited-state properties of the reaction product of probe 1 and Cys (or Hcy). Thus, the phosphorescence is switched on. Based on these results, a general principle for designing "OFF-ON" phosphorescent chemodosimeters based on heavy-metal complexes has been provided. Importantly, utilizing the long emission-lifetime of phosphorescence signal, the time-resolved luminescent assay of 1 in sensing Cys was realized successfully, which can eliminate the interference from the short-lived background fluorescence and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. As far as we know, this is the first report about the time-resolved luminescent detection of biothiols. Finally, probe 1 has been used successfully for bioimaging the changes of Cys/Hcy concentration in living cells.

Syntheses, Characterization, Crystal Structures and Antimicrobial Activity of Copper(II), Nickel(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes Derived from 5-Bromo-2-((cychlopentylimino)methyl)phenol.

Four new complexes of copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II), [CuL2] (1), [Ni3L2(4-BrSal)2(CH3COO)2(CH3OH)2]·2CH3OH (2), [ZnBr2(HL)2] (3) and [ZnL(dca)]n (4), where L is 5-bromo-2-((cychlopentylimino)methyl)phenolate, HL is the zwitterionic form of 5-bromo-2-((cychlopentylimino)methyl)phenol, 4-BrSal is the monoanionic form of 4-bromosalicylaldehyde, dca is dicyanamide anion, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The structures of the complexes were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray structure determination. Complex 1 is a mononuclear copper(II) compound, with a crystallographic two-fold rotation axis symmetry. The Cu atom is in distorted square planar coordination. Complex 2 is a trinuclear nickel(II) compound, with an inversion center symmetry. The Ni atoms are in octahedral coordination. Complex 3 is a mononuclear zinc(II) compound, while complex 4 is a dca bridged polymeric zinc(II) compound. The Zn atoms are in tetrahedral coordination. The compounds were assayed for their antimicrobial activities.

Effects of massage intervention on discharged premature infants' weight, parental stress, and parent-child attachment: A randomized controlled trial.

Infant massage enhances the growth and development of premature infants and promotes parent-child bonding. However, its effects on parental stress and parent-child attachment in premature infants, as well as gender differences thereof, remain unclear. In this randomized controlled trial, we used a repeated-measures design and included 61 premature infants (mean gestational age: 35.1 ± 1.5 weeks). Weight, parental stress, and parent-child attachment were measured at multiple time points: before massage and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after commencing infant massage. The results revealed that the massage group infants had significantly higher weight gain than the control (no massage) group infants at all four time points. Moreover, parents in the massage group reported notably lower levels of stress than those in the control group, particularly in the parental distress and difficult children subscales. No significant between-group differences were observed in parent-child attachment. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between fathers and mothers in parental stress and parent-child attachment. However, fathers reported higher levels of distress than mothers at 4 and 12 weeks. In conclusion, infant massage led to increased infant weight and reduced parental stress over time, and differences between fathers and mothers were not significant, except fathers exhibiting higher levels of distress than mothers over time. Healthcare professionals should educate and support parents on infant massage before discharge of premature infants.

Educational Videos to Reduce Parental Rejection of Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people voluntarily reduced their necessary healthcare. We examined whether supplying educational digital versatile discs (DVDs) before admission can reduce parental rejection of pediatric cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease (CHD). Parents of 70 children with CHD selected for cardiac catheterization were randomly allocated to the DVD (received pre-admission DVDs in the outpatient department; 70 parents of 35 children) or non-DVD groups (did not receive the DVDs; 70 parents of 35 children). The parents could reject the admission of their children within 7 days. Cardiac catheterization was rejected by 14 (20.0%) and 26 (37.1%) parents in the DVD and non-DVD groups, respectively (p = 0.025). Parent Perceptions of Uncertainty Scale scores were lower in the DVD (128.3 ± 8.9 points) than in the non-DVD group (134.1 ± 7.3 points; p < 0.001). Decreased uncertainty due to pre-admission DVD watching could have contributed to the increased parental willingness for cardiac catheterization. The effects of pre-admission educational DVDs were more significant among parents with a lower education, rural residence, with only one child, female child, or younger child. Offering educational DVDs to parents of children selected for cardiac catheterization for CHD may decrease the parental rejection rate of the treatment.

Monodisperse mesocrystals of YF3 and Ce3+/Ln3+ (Ln=Tb, Eu) co-activated YF3: shape control synthesis, luminescent properties, and biocompatibility.

A family of monodisperse YF(3), YF(3):Ce(3+) and YF(3):Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) (Ln=Tb, Eu) mesocrystals with a morphology of a hollow spindle can be synthesized by a solvothermal process using yttrium nitrate and NH(4) F as precursors. The effects of reaction time, fluorine source, solvents, and reaction temperature on the synthesis of these mesocrystals have been studied in detail. The results demonstrate that the formation of a hollow spindle-like YF(3) can be ascribed to a nonclassical crystallization process by means of a particle-based reaction route in ethanol. It has been shown that the fluorine sources selected have a remarkable effect on the morphologies and crystalline phases of the final products. Moreover, the luminescent properties of Ln(3+)-doped and Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) -co-doped spindle-like YF(3) mesocrystals were also investigated. It turns out that Ce(3+) is an efficient sensitizer for Ln(3+) in the spindle-like YF(3) mesocrystals. Remarkable fluorescence enhancement was observed in Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) -co-doped YF(3) mesocrystals. The mechanism of the energy transfer and electronic transition between Ce(3+) and Ln(3+) in the host material of YF(3) mesocrystals was also explored. The cytotoxicity study revealed that these YF(3) -based nanocrystals are biocompatible for applications, such as cellular imaging.

New trends in the optical and electronic applications of polymers containing transition-metal complexes.

Polymers containing transition-metal complexes exhibit excellent optical and electronic properties, which are different from those of polymers with a pure organic skeleton and combine the advantages of both polymers and metal complexes. Hence, research about this class of polymers has attracted more and more interest in recent years. Up to now, a number of novel polymers containing transition-metal complexes have been exploited, and significant advances in their optical and electronic applications have been achieved. In this article, we summarize some new research trends in the applications of this important class of optoelectronic polymers, such as chemo/biosensors, electronic memory devices and photovoltaic devices.

[Improving comprehensiveness of information given to pediatric cardiac surgery patients prior to surgery].

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery for critical pediatric patients places significant demands on hospital equipment and facilities. Parents of these patients are often under enormous stress due to insufficient knowledge regarding cardiac surgery and postoperative care procedures. This project used appropriate preoperative consultation given by nursing staffs to decrease stress and anxiety in parents of pediatric cardiac surgery patients. PURPOSE: This project worked to enhance the completion rate of preoperative instructions for pediatric cardiac surgery patients and ensure their parents received comprehensive information and knowledge. RESOLUTION: The authors developed a standardized procedure for patient instruction and evaluation. Participants received instructions in the forms of a video presentation and printed handouts. Also, an educational training program was held and the implementation of preoperative patient instructions was made a routine task during nursing handover to enhance the completion rate. RESULTS: The completion rate of patient preoperative instructions to pediatric cardiac surgery rose from 78% to 98%; The cognitive degree of participating parents rose from 52% to 96%. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention effectively increased the completion rate of preoperative instructions for pediatric patients scheduled for cardiac surgery and improved clinical pediatric nursing care practicability and efficiency.

Nightmare distress as a mediator between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Frequent nightmares are related to depressive symptoms in adolescents. Little is known about pathways from frequent nightmares to depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the mediation effect of nightmare distress in the association between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 11,831 adolescents who participated in the baseline survey of Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort were included in the analysis. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, depressive symptoms, sleep duration, insomnia, and demographic characteristics. Linear regressions and mediation analyses were performed to examine the associations between frequent nightmares, nightmare distress and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Of 11,831 participates, 50.9% were males and the mean age was 14.97 ± 1.45. Adolescents with frequent nightmares scored significantly higher on nightmare distress (t = 29.87, P <  0.001) and depressive symptoms (t = 20.05, P < 0.001) than those adolescents without frequent nightmares. Frequent nightmares (ß = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.48-1.60) and nightmare distress (ß = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.28-0.32) were associated with depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses showed that nightmare distress accounted for 63.76% of the total effects in the entire sample, 51.17% in males and 80.00% in females, respectively. LIMITATION: No causality could be made from the cross-sectional data and possible information bias due to self-report. CONCLUSIONS: The association between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms appears to be substantially mediated by nightmare distress. Assessing and intervening distress associated with frequent nightmares may have important clinical implications for reducing the risk of depression in adolescents.

Syntheses, Structures and Insulin-Like Activity of Two Oxidovanadium(V) Complexes with Similar Nicotinohydrazone Ligands.

Two new oxidovanadium(V) complexes, [VOL1(HQ)] (1) and [VOL2(SAH)] (2), were prepared by the reaction of [VO(acac)2] (where acac = acetylacetonate) with N'-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide (H2L1) and 8-hydroxyquinoline (HHQ), and N'-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide (H2L2) and salicylhydroxamic acid (HSAH), respectively, in methanol. Crystal and molecular structures of the complexes were determined by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The V atoms in both complexes are in octahedral coordination. Thermal stability of the complexes was studied. Both complexes can decrease the blood glucose level in alloxan-diabetic mice, but the blood glucose level in the treated normal mice was not altered.

A large perturbation on geometry structures, excited state properties, charge-injection and -transporting abilities of Ir(III) complexes by different substituents on ligands: a DFT/TDDFT study.

The molecular geometries, electronic structures, photophysical properties, charge-injection and -transporting abilities of a series of Ir(III) complexes with different carrier-transporting substituents, such as carbazole, oxadiazole and dimesitylboryl groups, are investigated theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations to understand the influence of these substituents on the optical and electronic properties of Ir(III) complexes and to explore how to improve the optoelectronic properties of the complexes. It is found that the introduction of substituents can stabilize both HOMOs and LUMOs and induce variations in the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO. The introduction of hole-transporting carbazole substituent induces the blue-shift of absorption spectrum and improves the hole-injection and -transporting performances of complex. The introduction of electron-transporting oxadiazole substituent and electron-accepting dimesitylboryl substituent induces the red-shift in absorption spectra of complexes, improves their charge transfer abilities and leads to the better balance between the hole- and electron-transporting abilities. Through Lewis acid/base interactions between B atom and F(-), the electronic properties of 4 show dramatic changes in the presence of F(-) and thus 4 can also be used as selective phosphorescent F(-) probe.