Effects of White Noise on Pain Scores and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Surgical Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Neonates experience varying intensities of pain after surgery. While white noise has been used for postoperative pain relief in infants, its effects on neonates after surgery need further exploration. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of white noise on pain scores and salivary cortisol levels in surgical neonates. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 64 neonates scheduled for surgery were recruited and assigned by block randomization into 2 groups. The intervention group listened to white noise at 50 dB, while the control group listened to white noise at 0 dB, for 30 minutes 6 times for 48 hours postoperatively. Pain scores, measured by the COMFORTneo Scale, and salivary cortisol levels were compared. RESULTS: Although pain scores decreased after surgery in all subjects, no statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups (P = .937). There was a significant difference between pre- and postintervention pain scores in the intervention group only (P = .006). Salivary cortisol levels decreased after intervention in the intervention group, but there was no significant difference between pre- and postintervention levels in the 2 groups (P = .716). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Given the reduction in pain scores and salivary cortisol concentrations after white noise intervention, white noise shows potential as an adjunctive soothing measure for neonates after surgery. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and utility of white noise intervention in clinical settings.

Synthesis of Sequence-specific Poly(ester-carbonate) Copolymers via Chemoselective Terpolymerization Controlled by the Stoichiometric Ratio of Phosphazene/Triethylborane.

Chemoselective terpolymerization can produce polymer materials with diverse compositions and sequential structures, and thus have attracted considerable attention in the field of polymer synthesis. However, the intrinsic complexity of three-component system also brings great chanllenge, in regard to the reactivity and selectivity of different monomers. Herein, we report the terpolymerization of CO2 /epoxide/anhydride by a binary organocatalytic C3 N3 -Py-P3 /TEB (triethylborane) system. Both the activity and chemoselectivity were highly dependent upon the molar ratio of C3 N3 -Py-P3 to TEB, and sequence-controlled poly(ester-carbonate) copolymers were readily synthesized through one-pot/one-step methodology by tuning the stoichiometric ratio of phosphazene/TEB. In particular, C3 N3 -Py-P3 /TEB with a molar ratio of 1/0.5 exhibited an unprecedentedly high chemoselectivity for ring-opening alternating copolymerization (ROAC) of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and phthalic anhydride (PA) first and then ROAC of CO2 /CHO. Thus, well-defined triblock polycarbonate-b-polyester-b-polycarbonate copolymers can be produced from the mixture of CO2 , CHO and PA using a bifunctional initiator. With C3 N3 -Py-P3 /TEB=1/1, tapered copolymers were obtained, while random copolymers with high content of polycarbonate (PC) were synthesized with further increasing the amount of TEB. The mechanism of the unexpected chemoselectivity was further investigated by DFT calculations.

Lysobacter chinensis sp. nov., a cellulose-degrading strain isolated from cow dung compost.

A novel bacterial strain, TLK-CK17T, was isolated from cow dung compost sample. The strain was Gram-staining negative, non-gliding rods, aerobic, and displayed growth at 15-40 °C (optimally, 35 °C), with 0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimally, 0.5) and at pH 6.5-8.5 (optimally, 7.0-7.5). The assembled genome of strain TLK-CK17T has a total length of 4.3 Mb with a G + C content of 68.2%. According to the genome analysis, strain TLK-CK17T encodes quite a few glycoside hydrolases that may play a role in the degradation of accumulated plant biomass in compost. On the basis 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain TLK-CK17T showed the highest sequence similarity (98.9%) with L. penaei GDMCC 1.1817 T, followed by L. maris KCTC 42381 T (98.3%). Cells contained iso-C16:0, iso-C15:0, and summed feature 9 (comprising C17:1 ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16:0), as its major cellular fatty acids (> 10.0%) and ubiquinone-8 as the exclusively respiratory quinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol prevailed among phospholipids. Based on the phenotypic, genomic and phylogenetic data, strain TLK-CK17T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter chinensis sp. nov. is proposed, and the type strain is TLK-CK17T (= CCTCC AB2021257T = KCTC 92122 T).

Effects of the C/N ratio on the microbial community and lignocellulose degradation, during branch waste composting.

Aerobic composting is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of converting organic waste into nontoxic fertilizers or soil quality enhancers. The quality of the resultant compost depends greatly upon the composition of the substrate used. The initial carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the substrate is an important factor affecting the composting process. This study elucidated how initial C/N ratios affect the biodegradation of lignocellulose, due to changes in microbial community structure. Four different C/N ratios (20:1, 25:1, 30:1, and 35:1) were examined during a 35-day composting process. The degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin was highest (35.7%, 30.6%, and 19.1% respectively) at a 30:1 C/N ratio; after 30 days, the 25:1 C/N ratio ranked second in terms of lignocellulosic degradation rate. The 30:1 C/N ratio further promoted the growth of functional microorganisms responsible for lignocellulose degradation (Luteimonas, Sphingobium, Trichoderma, Chaetomium, and Rosellinia), while the growth of dominant pathogenic microbes (Erwinia and Ulocladium) decreased significantly. These results confirm that the initial C/N ratio of the substrate has a significant effect on the microbial community and degradation of organic matter, during walnut branch composting. This process could therefore offer an alternative means of efficient recycling and recovery of waste branches.

[Targeting VEGF siRNA transfection by new polymeric liposomes to inhibit retinal neovascularization].

OBJECTIVE: To formulate and evaluate polymeric liposomes (PL) nanoparticles as a novel non-viral gene delivery. To explore its applicability and feasibility as a non-viral vector for gene transportation. METHOD: Experimental study. To construct the orongoxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse (C57BL/6J) model on the basis of improved Smith's methods. Western blot was used to measure VEGF protein expression in retinal tissue at P17 and P22. HE staining and fluorescein-dextran angiography of retinal vascular were performed to observe the morphologic alterations of retinal neovascularization. Frozen-section was used to show the membrane translocation of PL. RESULTS: In fluorescence angiograms, irregular neovascularization and fluoresce leakage were observed in OIR model. The results of Western blot showed that VEGF protein in retinal tissues were significantly different among groups (F = 158.207, P = 0.000) at P17 and P22 (F = 25.695, P = 0.000). The protein level was lower in both PL (0.70 ± 0.03) and Lipo group (0.66 ± 0.04) at P17 (P = 0.092), and the lower level was presented at P22 in PL group (0.50 ± 0.03) than in Lipo group (0.53 ± 0.05) (P < 0.05). HE staining were performed to observe the significantly improvements of retinal neovascularization in PL (28.0 ± 3.44) and Lipo group (24.50 ± 3.06) at P17. Moreover, inhibitory effects maintained at P22 in PL group (11.70 ± 3.09) as HE staining showed. Fluorescein angiography of retinal vascular showed retinal non-perfusion and neovascularization areas were smaller in both PL and Lipo group at P17. Frozen-section examination showed the property of membrane translocation. GFP expression could be seen in vitreous cavity just at first day post-intravitreal administration in PL and Lipo group, which could reach their peaks in external retina nearby RPE layer at P17, remaining at P22 in PL group. CONCLUSION: The PL performed excellent ability of membrane translocation and it was a kind of slow steady released gene vector.

Effects of bacterial inoculation on lignocellulose degradation and microbial properties during cow dung composting.

Inoculation with exogenous microbial agents is a common method to promote organic waste degradation and improve the quality of compost. However, the biotic effects of different microbial agents are often quite different. To evaluate the potential effects of a complex bacterial agent comprised of three strains (belonging to Bacillus and Geobacillus) on lignocellulose degradation and the underlying microbial mechanisms during cow dung composting, two lab-scale composting experiments, a control and a bacterial inoculation treatment, were established. The results suggest that bacterial inoculation accelerated the rate of temperature increase and extended the thermophilic phase. Compared to those in the negative control group, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation rates in the inoculated group increased from 53.3% to 70.0%, 50.2% to 61.3%, and 46.4% to 60.0%, respectively. The microbial community structure and diversity in the compost were clearly changed by the bacterial inoculation. Moreover, stamp analysis showed that inoculation modulated the key compost microbial functional populations linked to the degradation of lignocellulose. Correlation matrix analysis indicated that the expression of bacterial lignocellulolytic enzymes is closely related to key microbial functional populations. Overall, the results confirm the importance of bacterial inoculation, and have important implications for promoting the efficiency and quality of cow dung compost.

The effects of three Bacillus and Geobacillus strains on compost were established.Adding the complex bacterial agent increased the thermophilic phase.Inoculation promoted the abundance of key lignocellulose-degrading microbes.These findings will help promote the efficiency and quality of cow dung compost.

Histatin-1 loaded multifunctional, adhesive and conductive biomolecular hydrogel to treat diabetic wound.

Micro-/macroangiopathy, neuropathy and prolonged inflammation are common in diabetic wound, however, traditional wound dressing cannot treat these problems in the same time. Herein, we developed a multifunctional hydrogel with promoted angiogenesis, cell proliferation and anti-inflammation ability to treat diabetic wound. The hydrogel was composed of natural polymers, including gelatin and chitosan, which have excellent biocompatibility. Histatin-1 (His-1) was added into the hydrogel to improve the cell adhesion, proliferation and angiogenesis. Besides, polypyrrole based conductive nanoparticles (G-Ppy) were introduced in the hydrogel to enhance the electrical signal conduction between skin and promote the mechanical strength of the hydrogel. The polypyrrole nanoparticles were growth in the chain of methacryloyl grafted gelatin (Gel-MA), leading to a better biocompatibility and water dispersibility. In vivo wound healing experiment proved that the hydrogel accelerated the wound healing rate, down regulation the expression of pro-inflammation factor TNF-α and upregulation the expression of CD31 and α-SMA, indicating the prospects in the application of diabetic wound healing.

Lrg participates in lipopolysaccharide preconditioning-induced brain ischemia injury via TLR4 signaling pathway.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preconditioning is a powerful neuroprotective phenomenon by which an injurious stimulus renders the brain resistant to a subsequent damaging ischemic insult. The LPS response gene (Lrg) is a recently identified gene in human dental pulp cells treated with LPS. However, the role and mechanism of Lrg in brain ischemia injury have not yet been demonstrated. Here, we sought to determine whether Lrg participates in LPS preconditioning-induced brain ischemia injury. The Lrg protein accumulates in brain tissue after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Furthermore, knockdown of Lrg by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly increased the infarct size of brain injury. In addition, we investigated the mechanism of Lrg in brain ischemia injury. Lrg-siRNA could regulate inflammatory cytokine expression. Moreover, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1) and nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) p65 protein levels were significantly increased by Lrg-siRNA in mice after MCAO. Conversely, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) protein level was decreased by Lrg-siRNA. Taken together, these results suggest that Lrg regulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines in LPS preconditioning-induced brain ischemia injury via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. Lrg may therefore serve as a novel therapeutic target for brain ischemia injury.