Novel biocompatible and sensitive visual sensor based on aggregation-induced emission for on-site detection of radioactive uranium in water and live cell imaging.

In consideration of the severe hazards of radioactive uranium pollution, the rapid assessment of uranium in field and in vivo are urgently needed. In this work a novel biocompatible and sensitive visual fluorescent sensor based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was designed for onsite detection of UO22+ in complex environmental samples, including wastewater from Uranium Plant, river water and living cell. The AIE-active sensor (named as TPA-SP) was prepared with a "bottom-up" strategy by introducing a trianiline group (TPA) with a single-bond rotatable helix structure into the salicylaldehyde Schiff-base molecule. The photophysical properties, cytotoxicity test, recognition mechanism and the analytical performance for the detection of UO22+ in actual water samples and cell imaging were systematically investigated. TPA-SP exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity toward UO22+ as well as outstanding anti-interference ability against large equivalent of different ions in a wide effective pH range. A good linear relationship in the UO22+ concentration range of 0.05-1 µM was obtained with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 39.4 nM (9.38 ppb) for uranium detection. The prepared visual sensor showed great potential for fast risk assessment of uranium pollution in environmental systems. In addition, our results also indicated that the TPA-SP exhibited very low cytotoxicity in cells and demonstrated great potential for uranium detection in vivo.

The function of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in response to cadmium exposure.

Throughout history, pollution has become a part of our daily life with the improvement of life quality and the advancement of industry and heavy industry. In recent years, the adverse effects of heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), on human health have been widely discussed, particularly on the immune system. Here, this review summarizes the available evidence on how Cd exposure may affect health. By analyzing the general manifestations of inflammation caused by Cd exposure, we find that the role of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in vivo can counteract Cd-induced harm. Additionally, we elucidate the effects of n-3 PUFAs on the immune system, and analyze their prophylactic and therapeutic effects on Cd exposure. Overall, this review highlights the role of n-3 PUFAs in the pathological changes induced by Cd exposure. Although n-3 PUFAs remain to be verified whether they can be used as therapeutic agents, as rehabilitation therapy, supplementation with n-3 PUFAs is reliable and effective.

Lactoferrin: A glycoprotein that plays an active role in human health.

Lactoferrin (Lf), existing widely in human and mammalian milk, is a multifunctional glycoprotein with many functions, such as immune regulation, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant. These extensive functions largely attribute to its ability to chelate iron and interfere with the cellular receptors of pathogenic microorganisms and their hosts. Moreover, it is non-toxic and has good compatibility with other supplements. Thus, Lf has been widely used in food nutrition, drug carriers, biotechnology, and feed development. Although Lf has been continuously explored and studied, a more comprehensive and systematic compendium is still required. This review presents the recent advances in the structure and physicochemical properties of Lf as well as clinical studies on human diseases, with the aim of providing a reference for further research of Lf and the development of its related functional products.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema patient and healthcare professional experiences in lymphedema self-management: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) self-management plays an important role in the lymphedema therapy. However, clinical knowledge of BCRL self-management remains minimal. This study aims to explore the experience surrounding lymphedema self-management from the perspectives of BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were implemented with BCRL patients and healthcare professionals. Audio-recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken to analyze the interview data. RESULTS: Thirteen BCRL patients (aged 34-65 years) and nine healthcare professionals (2 physicians, 4 nurses, and 3 lymphedema therapists) were interviewed. Five themes emerged from interviews with participants: knowledge-attitude-practice surrounding lymphedema self-management, emotional reactions towards lymphedema self-management, factors influencing lymphedema self-management, support needs for lymphedema self-management, healthcare professional support of BCRL self-management. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed knowledge-attitude-practice, feelings, influencing factors, roles, dilemmas, and support needs regarding BCRL self-management. Greater effort is required for healthcare professionals to strengthen the lymphedema self-management. Providing more educational program and holistic support, and strengthening the facilitators and controlling the barriers might benefit promoting lymphedema self-management. Likewise, healthcare professionals need adequate training to be able to meet patients' self-management support needs.

Implementation of strategies to improve nutritional intervention for patients with cancer treatment-related oral mucositis: a best practice implementation project.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common complication after radiotherapy or chemotherapy in cancer patients. Oral mucositis can affect the patient's food intake and their confidence in treatment as patients are more likely to suffer severe pain, experience weight loss, encounter an interruption or change of cancer treatment plan, and are reported to have a reduced survival from the disease. Nutritional intervention is the primary nursing focus in patients with oral mucositis treated by chemoradiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: The current best practice implementation project aimed to establish best practice principles in nutritional interventions for patients with cancer treatment-related oral mucositis. METHODS: This was an evidence-based audit and feedback project that used a three-phase approach at a public hospital in China. Phase 1 involved developing five evidence-based audit criteria informed by current best available evidence, and undertaking a clinical audit of current practice on 50 patients in the Department of Radiation Oncology of Nanfang Hospital using the JBI's Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System. Phase 2 utilized the Getting Research into Practice component of the Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System to identify barriers to compliance with best practice principles and developed strategies and resources to improve compliance. Phase 3 involved conducting a postaudit using the same sample size and audit criteria to re-evaluate compliance with best practice. RESULTS: Baseline results showed that compliance rates were 0% for criteria 1 and 2, 76% for criteria 3 and 5, and 82% for criterion 4. The implementation of strategies, including establishing a multidisciplinary team with a dietitian, creating training and education programs for all staff and patients, utilizing a scale regarding diet to assess patients' current diet, and establishing a nutrition intervention nursing procedure to supervise implementation of the nutritional intervention for patients with cancer treatment-related oral mucositis, increased compliance with best practice, achieving compliance rates of at least 82% for all five audit criteria. CONCLUSION: The implementation of context-specific strategies improved compliance with evidence-based practice in the nutritional intervention for patients with cancer treatment-related oral mucositis. Sustainability of best practice is important, with further audits planned to evaluate the sustainability of these practice changes.