The Analysis of Transition Readiness of Adolescent Epilepsy Patients from Childhood to Adult from the Perspective of Disease Self-management: A Cross-sectional Study in Southwest China.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the transition readiness of juvenile epilepsy patients during the transition period from childhood to adulthood and analyze the impact of patients' basic characteristics and self-management on their transition readiness. Methods: A total of 376 adolescent epileptic patients were selected as research objects from 3A general hospitals located in Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan respectively, and a 3A children's specialist hospital in Chongqing, Jiangxi from May 2021 to February 2022. The readiness for transition was assessed using a transition readiness questionnaire, and patients' self-management skills were evaluated using the Self-Management Scale for Epilepsy Patients. Data analysis was conducted to determine the readiness for transition and examine the factors influencing it. Results: The mean overall transition readiness score in adolescent epilepsy patients was (56.60±12.51). Among the six dimensions, drug management, disease understanding, doctor-patient interaction, health responsibility, medical involvement, and resource utilization were ranked highest to lowest. The examination identified age, epilepsy duration, medication types, and primary caregivers as the primary factors influencing transition readiness in adolescent epilepsy patients (P < .001). Additionally, there was a favorable correlation between the total disease self-management score and transition readiness (r=0.487, P < .01), signifying the positive predictive impact of self-management skills on transition readiness. Conclusion: Adolescent epilepsy patients exhibited moderate readiness for the transition from childhood to adulthood. Older patients with longer disease duration and stronger self-management skills displayed a higher level of readiness. Targeted clinical interventions that prioritize self-management skills are essential for facilitating a smoother transition into adulthood for patients.

Granular bacterial inoculant alters the rhizosphere microbiome and soil aggregate fractionation to affect phosphorus fractions and maize growth.

The constraint of phosphorus (P) fixation on crop production in alkaline calcareous soils can be alleviated by applying bioinoculants. However, the impact of bacterial inoculants on this process remains inadequately understood. Here, a field study was conducted to investigate the effect of a high-concentration, cost-effective, and slow-release granular bacterial inoculant (GBI) on maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth. Additionally, we explored the effects of GBI on rhizosphere soil aggregate physicochemical properties, rhizosphere soil P fraction, and microbial communities within aggregates. The outcomes showed a considerable improvement in plant growth and P uptake upon application of the GBI. The application of GBI significantly enhanced the AP, phoD gene abundance, alkaline phosphatase activity, inorganic P fractions, and organic P fractions in large macroaggregates. Furthermore, GBI impacted soil aggregate fractionation, leading to substantial alterations in the composition of fungal and bacterial communities. Notably, key microbial taxa involved in P-cycling, such as Saccharimonadales and Mortierella, exhibited enrichment in the rhizosphere soil of plants treated with GBI. Overall, our study provides valuable insight into the impact of GBI application on microbial distributions and P fractions within aggregates of alkaline calcareous soils, crucial for fostering healthy root development and optimal crop growth potential. Subsequent research endeavors should delve into exploring the effects of diverse GBIs and specific aggregate types on P fraction and community composition across various soil profiles.

Reactive oxygen species induce cyanide-resistant respiration in potato infected by Erwinia carotovora subsp. Carotovora.

Studies have shown that pathogenic bacteria infections induce the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. Cyanide-resistant respiration, an energy-dissipating pathway in plants, has also been induced by a pathogenic bacteria infection. However, it is unknown whether the induction of cyanide-resistant respiration under the pathogenic bacteria infection was caused by ROS. In this study, two pathogenic Erwinia strains were used to infect potato tuber, and membrane lipid peroxidation levels and the cyanide-resistant respiration capacity were determined. In addition, StAOX expression and regulation by ROS in potato tuber were analyzed. Moreover, the role of the Ca2+ pathway in regulating cyanide-resistant respiration was determined. The results showed that ROS induced cyanide-resistant respiration in potato tuber infected by Erwinia. Cyanide-resistant respiration inhibited the production of H2O2. Intracellular Ca2+ regulated the expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase (StCDPK1, StCDPK4, and StCDPK5) in potato, which indirectly controlled intracellular ROS levels. These results indicate that Ca2+ metabolism is involved in ROS-induced cyanide-resistant respiration.

Dual sensing reporter system of assembled gold nanoparticles toward the sequential colorimetric detection of adenosine and Cr(III).

A facile and sensitive sequential colorimetric detection strategy for adenosine and Cr3+ has been presented by using the aptamer and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid assembled gold nanoparticles. The thiolated DNA and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid was simultaneously assembled to the surface of gold nanoparticles in one step by gold-sulfur interaction. Adenosine aptamer was linked to functionalized gold nanaoparticles based on the strict complementary nature of the DNA base pairs. Conformational change of aptamer will be induced due to its specific binding with targets. As a result, this aptamer tethered aggregated nanoparticles underwent fast disassembly into dispersed nanoparticles upon binding of adenosine, and this distance change between particles induced a distinct solution color changing from blue to red. The dispersed particles were sensitive to Cr3+ due to the chelation effect between the carboxyl group of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and metal ions, and further occurred obvious aggregation accompanying with a color change from red to blue. Depended on this principle, a sensitive and selective sequential colorimetric sensor for detection of adenosine and Cr3+ was developed. The proposed colorimetric sensor exhibited wide linear ranges and low detection limits towards the detection of adenosine and Cr3+. Regarding adenosine, linear range was 1 × 10-7 ∼ 1 × 10-4 M with low detection limit of 1.8 × 10-8 M, and the naked eye detection limit was estimated as 20 µM. With regard to Cr3+, good linear relationship was ranged from 1 × 10-10 to 1 × 10-6 M with low detection limit of 1.7 × 10-11 M，and the naked eye detection limit was as low as 0.1 nM. Meanwhile, bifunctional recognition was successfully used for practical human urine samples with good recoveries from 89.0% to 112.6% for adenosine and 90.2%-113.4% for Cr3+. It also highlights the potential applications of other aptamers and ligands in cascade analysis of other analytes.

YLT-11, a novel PLK4 inhibitor, inhibits human breast cancer growth via inducing maladjusted centriole duplication and mitotic defect.

Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is indispensable for precise control of centriole duplication. Abnormal expression of PLK4 has been reported in many human cancers, and inhibition of PLK4 activity results in their mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, PLK4 may be a valid therapeutic target for antitumor therapy. However, clinically available small-molecule inhibitors targeting PLK4 are deficient and their underlying mechanisms still remain not fully clear. Herein, the effects of YLT-11 on breast cancer cells and the associated mechanism were investigated. In vitro, YLT-11 exhibited significant antiproliferation activities against breast cancer cells. Meanwhile, cells treated with YLT-11 exhibited effects consistent with PLK4 kinase inhibition, including dysregulated centriole duplication and mitotic defects, sequentially making tumor cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy. Furthermore, YLT-11 could strongly regulate downstream factors of PLK4, which was involved in cell cycle regulation, ultimately inducing apoptosis of breast cancer cell. In vivo, oral administration of YLT-11 significantly suppressed the tumor growth in human breast cancer xenograft models at doses that are well tolerated. In summary, the preclinical data show that YLT-11 could be a promising candidate drug for breast tumor therapy.

Hawthorn leaf flavonoids alleviate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by enhancing the adiponectin/AMPK pathway.

Hawthorn (Crataeguspinnatifida) belongs to the genus Rosaceae family of plants. The hawthorn leaf, Crataeguspinnatifida Bunge, is used for both condiment and medicinal purposes to prevent and treat metabolic dysfunctions, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in traditional Chinese medicine. However, its effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain obscure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of hawthorn leaf flavonoids (HLF), the dominant bioactive extracts of hawthorn leaves, on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. HLF supplementation significantly lowered body weight, liver weight, liver/body weight ratio, improved serum parameters and liver dysfunction and markedly decreased hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed rats. In addition, HLF intervention dramatically increased circulating adiponectin levels and up-regulated the expression of adiponectin receptors, particularly adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) in the liver. Moreover, adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was also activated, as well as AMPK-mediated alteration of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and their downstream targets. Taken together, our data suggest that HLF ameliorates hepatic steatosis by enhancing the adiponectin/AMPK pathway in the liver of HFD-induced NAFLD rats.

[An analysis of subhealth status based on partial least squares].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the discrimination model of subhealth with statistical method of partial least squares (PLS). METHODS: This study was based on the Subhealth State Rating Scale (SHSRS). A total of 88 subhealth subjects (scoring less than 85 in SHSRS) and 64 healthy people (scoring over 85 in SHSRS) were enrolled randomly. Information regarding the clinical symptoms was screened by stepwise regression as independent variables. Mathematical models were established by leave-one-out in PLS program for subhealth recognition before and after stepwise regression respectively. Accuracy rates were observed and compared by using the Visual Basic 6.0. RESULTS: The practical accuracy rate of PLS models in subhealth recognition was 89.47%, and increased to 92.10% after stepwise regression for variables. CONCLUSION: PLS has certain reference value in establishing subhealth discrimination models. It can also play an important part in item selection of the scale.