Comparing the efficacy of 308-nm light-emitting diode and 308-nm excimer lamp for treating vitiligo: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the 308-nm light-emitting diode (LED) has been proven safe and effective for treating vitiligo. However, direct comparisons between the 308-nm LED and 308-nm excimer lamp (308-nm MEL) for the treatment of vitiligo are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the 308-nm LED and 308-nm MEL for treating nonsegmental stable vitiligo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted between January 2018 and August 2023. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to either the 308-nm LED or the 308-nm MEL groups, both receiving 16 treatment sessions. Adverse events that occurred during the treatment were documented. RESULTS: In total, 269 stable vitiligo patches from 174 patients completed the study. A total of 131 lesions were included in the 308-nm LED group, and 138 lesions were included in the 308-nm MEL group. After 16 treatment sessions, 38.17% of the vitiligo patches in the 308-nm LED group achieved repigmentation of at least 50% versus 38.41% in the 308-nm MEL group. The two devices exhibited similar results in terms of efficacy for a repigmentation of at least 50% (p = .968). The incidence of adverse effects with the two phototherapy devices was comparable (p = .522). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of vitiligo with the 308-nm LED had a similar efficacy rate to the 308-nm MEL, and the incidence of adverse effects was comparable between the two devices.

Measurement of the distance between tumor micro-foci and gross tumor in rectal cancer pathological specimens: implication on margin distance of clinical target volume treated with high-dose radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To measure the micro-foci distance away from gross tumor and to provide reference to create the clinical target volume (CTV) margin for boost radiotherapy in rectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-eight rectal cancer surgical specimens of only total mesorectal excision were collected. The pathological specimens were retrospectively measured, and the nearest distance between the tumor micro-foci and gross tumor was microscopically measured. The "in vivo-in vitro" retraction factor was calculated as the ratio of the deepest thickness laterally and the vertical height superior/inferiorly of the rectal tumor measured in MRI and those measured in immediate pathological specimens. The retraction factor during pathological specimen processing was calculated as the distance ratio before and after dehydration in the lateral, superior, and inferior sides by the "knot marking method." The distances of tumor micro-foci were individually corrected with these two retraction factors. RESULTS: The mean "in vivo-in vitro" tumor retraction factors were 0.913 peripherally and 0.920 superior/inferiorly. The mean tumor specimen processing retraction factors were 0.804 peripherally, 0.815 inferiorly, and 0.789 superiorly. Of 28 patients, 14 cases (50.0%) had 24 lateral micro-foci, 8 cases (28.6%) had 13 inferior micro-foci, and 7 cases (25.0%) had 19 superior micro-foci. The 95th percentiles of the micro-foci distance for 28 patients were 6.44 mm (peripheral), 5.54 mm (inferior), and 5.42 mm (superior) after retraction correction. CONCLUSION: The micro-foci distances of 95% of rectal adenocarcinoma patients examined were within 6.44 mm peripherally, 5.54 mm inferiorly, and 5.42 mm superiorly. These findings provide reference to set the boost radiotherapy CTV margin for rectal cancer.

Metabolomic profiling between vitiligo patients and healthy subjects in plateau exhibited significant differences with those in plain.

Vitiligo is the most common disorder of depigmentation, which is caused by multiple factors like metabolic abnormality, oxidative stress and the disorders of immune. In recent years, several studies have used untargeted metabolomics to analyze differential metabolites in patients with vitiligo, however, the subjects in these studies were all in plain area. In our study, multivariate analysis indicated a distinct separation between the healthy subjects from plateau and plain areas in electrospray positive and negative ions modes, respectively. Similarly, a distinct separation between vitiligo patients and healthy controls from plateau and plain areas was detected in the two ions modes. Among the identified metabolites, the serum levels of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) were markedly higher in vitiligo patients compare to healthy subjects in plain and markedly higher in healthy subjects in plateau compare to those in plain. There are significant differences in serum metabolome between vitiligo patients and healthy subjects in both plateau and plain areas, as well as in healthy subjects from plateau and plain areas. S1P metabolism alteration may be involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

IL-33-mediated activation of mast cells is involved in the progression of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with an unclear pathogenesis. Mast cells (MCs) can serve as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity and are involved in the regulation of the inflammatory state and immune homeostasis in diseases. MCs constitutively express interleukin-33 receptor T1/ST2 (IL-33R). IL-33 is a potent MCs activator that is actively secreted by keratinocytes in psoriasis. However, the regulatory role of MCs in psoriasis remains uncertain. Therefore, we hypothesised that IL-33 could promote MC activation to regulate psoriasis development. METHODS: We performed experiments on wild-type (WT) and MC-deficient (Kit Wsh/Wsh) mice, established psoriasis-like mouse models using imiquimod (IMQ), and performed RNA sequencing and transcriptomic analysis of skin lesions. Exogenous administration was performed using recombinant IL-33. Validation and evaluation were performed using PSI scoring, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR. RESULTS: We observed an upregulation in the number and activation of MCs in patients with psoriasis and in IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis. Deficiency of MCs ameliorates IMQ-induced psoriatic dermatitis at an early stage. IL-33 is increased and co-localized with MCs in the dermis of psoriasis-like lesions using immunofluorescence. Compared to WT mice, IMQ-induced KitWsh/Wsh mice demonstrated a delayed response to exogenous IL-33. CONCLUSIONS: MCs are activated by IL-33 in the early stages of psoriasis and exacerbate psoriasis-associated skin inflammation. The regulation of MC homeostasis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for psoriasis. Video Abstract.

Comprehensive analysis of lncRNA-mRNAs co-expression network identifies potential lncRNA biomarkers in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, the prognosis for patients with metastatic cSCC remains relatively poor. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets and pathways in cSCC. RESULTS: It detected a total of 37,507 lncRNA probes and 32,825 mRNA probes and found 3593 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 3236 differentially expressed mRNAs. It has been found that mRNAs ACY3, NR1D1, MZB1 has co-expression relationship with six lncRNAs, GXYLT1P3, LINC00348, LOC101928131, A-33-p3340852, A-21-p0003442 and LOC644838. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of this study is to identify cSCC-specific lncRNAs and indicated that six unstudied lncRNAs may serve an important role in endoplasmic reticulum stress apoptosis, autophagy and the progression of cSCC by modulating ACY3, NR1D1 and MZB1.

Quantum Dots Tracking Endocytosis and Transport of Proteins Displayed by Mammalian Cells.

Mammalian cell display technology uses eukaryotic protein expression system to display proteins on cell surfaces and has become an important method in biological research. Although mammalian cell display technology has many advantages and development potential, certain attributes of the displayed protein remain uncharacterized, such as whether the displayed proteins re-enter the cell and how displayed proteins move into the cell. Here, we present the endocytosis mechanism, motility behavior, and transport kinetics of displayed proteins determined using HaloTag as the displayed protein and quantum dot-based single-particle tracking. The displayed protein enters the cell through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and is transported through the cell in three stages, which is dependent on microfilaments and microtubules. The dynamic information obtained in this study provides answers to questions about endocytosis and postendocytosis transport of displayed proteins and, therefore, is expected to facilitate the development of surface display technology.

Mediastinal Masses, Anesthetic Interventions, and Airway Compression in Adults: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Central airway occlusion is a feared complication of general anesthesia in patients with mediastinal masses. Maintenance of spontaneous ventilation and avoiding neuromuscular blockade are recommended to reduce this risk. Physiologic arguments supporting these recommendations are controversial and direct evidence is lacking. The authors hypothesized that, in adult patients with moderate to severe mediastinal mass-mediated tracheobronchial compression, anesthetic interventions including positive pressure ventilation and neuromuscular blockade could be instituted without compromising central airway patency. METHODS: Seventeen adult patients with large mediastinal masses requiring general anesthesia underwent awake intubation followed by continuous video bronchoscopy recordings of the compromised portion of the airway during staged induction. Assessments of changes in anterior-posterior airway diameter relative to baseline (awake, spontaneous ventilation) were performed using the following patency scores: unchanged = 0; 25 to 50% larger = +1; more than 50% larger = +2; 25 to 50% smaller = -1; more than 50% smaller = -2. Assessments were made by seven experienced bronchoscopists in side-by-side blinded and scrambled comparisons between (1) baseline awake, spontaneous breathing; (2) anesthetized with spontaneous ventilation; (3) anesthetized with positive pressure ventilation; and (4) anesthetized with positive pressure ventilation and neuromuscular blockade. Tidal volumes, respiratory rate, and inspiratory/expiratory ratio were similar between phases. RESULTS: No significant change from baseline was observed in the mean airway patency scores after the induction of general anesthesia (0 [95% CI, 0 to 0]; P = 0.953). The mean airway patency score increased with the addition of positive pressure ventilation (0 [95% CI, 0 to 1]; P = 0.024) and neuromuscular blockade (1 [95% CI, 0 to 1]; P < 0.001). No patient suffered airway collapse or difficult ventilation during any anesthetic phase. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest a need to reassess prevailing assumptions regarding positive pressure ventilation and/or paralysis and mediastinal mass-mediated airway collapse, but do not prove that conventional (nonstaged) inductions are safe for such patients.

PRP19 transforms into a sensor of RPA-ssDNA after DNA damage and drives ATR activation via a ubiquitin-mediated circuitry.

PRP19 is a ubiquitin ligase involved in pre-mRNA splicing and the DNA damage response (DDR). Although the role for PRP19 in splicing is well characterized, its role in the DDR remains elusive. Through a proteomic screen for proteins that interact with RPA-coated single-stranded DNA (RPA-ssDNA), we identified PRP19 as a sensor of DNA damage. PRP19 directly binds RPA and localizes to DNA damage sites via RPA, promoting RPA ubiquitylation in a DNA-damage-induced manner. PRP19 facilitates the accumulation of ATRIP, the regulatory partner of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, at DNA damage sites. Depletion of PRP19 compromised the phosphorylation of ATR substrates, recovery of stalled replication forks, and progression of replication forks on damaged DNA. Importantly, PRP19 mutants that cannot bind RPA or function as an E3 ligase failed to support the ATR response, revealing that PRP19 drives ATR activation by acting as an RPA-ssDNA-sensing ubiquitin ligase during the DDR.

Treatment of vitiligo with 308-nm light emitting diode: Our experience from a two-year follow-up of Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: A light emitting diode (LED), with a wavelength of 308 nm, has been utilized in the dermatologic treatment of vitiligo. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the efficacy and safety of 308-nm LED for use in the treatment of vitiligo. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 70 stable-stage vitiligo patients (with a total of 99 lesions) who received 308-nm LED treatment at the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from June 2018 to June 2020. Treatment efficacy was evaluated after 8 treatment sessions, 16 treatment sessions, and the final treatment session, to estimate the percentage of re-pigmentation in the treated area. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Based on the final treatment session analysis of all 99 lesions, 0 lesions showed no response, 21 lesions showed poor response, 29 lesions showed moderate response, 23 lesions showed good response, and 26 lesions showed excellent response. The efficacy rate was 49.49%, and there was a significant correlation between the six distinct anatomical regions treated and re-pigmentation grade (χ2  = 13.419, p = .009). Among these regions, facial lesions showed the best response to treatment, while the hands and feet lesions showed the poorest response. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of 308-nm LED treatment is limited based on the treatment area. It demonstrated significant practical application in the treatment of vitiligo.

Comparison of mitochondrial genetic variation of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci from China and Mongolia.

Parasitic infection is one of the many challenges facing livestock production globally. Cysticercosis tenuicollis is a common parasitic disease in domestic and wild ruminants (intermediate host) caused by the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena that primarily infects dogs (definitive host). Although genetic studies on this parasite exist, only a few describe the genetic variation of this parasite in Mongolia. Our aim was thus, to identify the mitochondrial differences in ovine isolates of Cysticercus tenuicollis entering China from Mongolia and comparison with existing Chinese isolates from sheep and goats based on the recently described PCR-RFLP method and mitochondrial genes of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (nad4) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5). Sixty-nine isolates were collected during routine veterinary meat inspections from sheep that originated from Mongolia, at the modern slaughterhouses in Erenhot City, Inner Mongolia. Additional 114 cysticerci were also retrieved from sheep and goats from northern (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Gansu Province), western (Tibet Autonomous Region), and southern (Jiangxi Province and Guangxi Province) China. The PCR-RFLP approach of the nad5 showed nine mitochondrial subclusters A1, A2, A3, A5, A8, A9, A10, A11, and B of T. hydatigena isolates from sheep and goats from Mongolia and China. Meanwhile, haplogroup A1 RFLP profile was more widespread than other variants. These data supplements existing information on the molecular epidemiology of T. hydatigena in China and Mongolia and demonstrate the occurrence of similar genetic population structures in both countries.

MEOX1 suppresses the progression of lung cancer cells by inhibiting the cell-cycle checkpoint gene CCNB1.

The previous study has shown that transcriptional factor MEOX1 could promote proliferation and sphere formation ability of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, however, we found that MEOX1 mRNA was lowly expressed in lung cancer tissues compared to that in normal adjacent tissues, and MEOX1 mRNA expression was positively correlated with the survival of lung cancer patients, especially in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Functional experiments using in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that stable overexpression of MEOX1 significantly suppressed the proliferation ability, promoted cell cycle arrest in G2 phase, and apoptotic ability of NSCLC cells. Additionally, it was identified that MEOX1 and CCNB1 mRNA expression exhibited a negative correlation in different lung cancer tissues. Mechanistically, we indicated that MEOX1 bound to the transcriptional initiation site of CCNB1 and thus suppressed CCNB1 expression. Notably, CCNB1 overexpression rescued the inhibition of MEOX1 overexpression on NSCLC progression. This study deciphers a novel MEOX1/CCNB1 axis suppressing NSCLC progression.

[Establishment of a nomogram model for the early diagnosis of childhood sepsis]. / 基于列线图的儿童脓毒症早期诊断模型的建立.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a nomogram model for the early diagnosis of sepsis in children. METHODS: A total of 76 children with sepsis who were admitted to Sichuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected as the sepsis group. After matching for sex and age (±2 years) at a ratio of 1:1:1, 76 children with local infection who were hospitalized during the same period were enrolled as the local infection group, and 76 children with non-infectious diseases were enrolled as the control group. The three groups were compared in terms of laboratory markers and the results of quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between the above indicators and sepsis. R4.1.3 software was used to establish and validate the nomogram model for the early diagnosis of sepsis based on the results of the multivariate analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the value of the nomogram model, and the Bootstrap method was used to perform the internal validation of the model. RESULTS: The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, qSOFA score, PCIS score, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 were independently associated with childhood sepsis (P<0.05). The above indicators were used to establish a nomogram for the early diagnosis of sepsis, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.837 (95%CI: 0.760-0.914), and the calibration curve results showed a mean absolute error of 0.024, suggesting that the performance of this model was basically consistent with that of the ideal model. CONCLUSIONS: The indicators soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, qSOFA score, PCIS score, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 are independently associated with childhood sepsis, and the nomogram model established based on these indicators has high discriminatory ability and accuracy in the early diagnosis of sepsis in children.

The Impact of Gamification-Induced Users' Feelings on the Continued Use of mHealth Apps: A Structural Equation Model With the Self-Determination Theory Approach.

BACKGROUND: Continued use of mHealth apps can achieve better effects in health management. Gamification is an important factor in promoting users' intention to continue using mHealth apps. Past research has rarely explored the factors underlying the continued use of mobile health (mHealth) apps and gamification's impact mechanism or path on continued use. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the factors influencing mHealth app users' intention to continue using mHealth apps and the impact mechanism and path of users' feelings induced by gamification on continued mHealth app use. METHODS: First, based on the expectation confirmation model of information system continuance, we built a theoretical model for continued use of mHealth apps based on users' feelings toward gamification. We used self-determination theory to analyze gamification's impact on user perceptions and set the resulting feelings (competence, autonomy, and relatedness) as constructs in the model. Second, we used the survey method to validate the research model, and we used partial least squares to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 2988 responses were collected from mHealth app users, and 307 responses were included in the structural equation model after passing the acceptance criteria. The intrinsic motivation for using mHealth apps is significantly affected by autonomy (ß=.312; P<.001), competence (ß=.346; P<.001), and relatedness (ß=.165; P=.004) induced by gamification. The intrinsic motivation for using mHealth apps has a significant impact on satisfaction (ß=.311, P<.001) and continuance intention (ß=.142; P=.045); furthermore, satisfaction impacts continuance intention significantly (ß=.415; P<.001). Confirmation has a significant impact on perceived usefulness (ß=.859; P<.001) and satisfaction (ß=.391; P<.001), and perceived usefulness has a significant impact on satisfaction (ß=.269; P<.001) and continuance intention (ß=.273; P=.001). The mediating effect analysis showed that in the impact path of the intrinsic motivation for using the mHealth apps on continuance intention, satisfaction plays a partial mediating role (ß=.129; P<.001), with a variance accounted for of 0.466. CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the impact path of users' feelings induced by gamification on the intention of continued mHealth app use. We confirmed that perceived usefulness, confirmation, and satisfaction in the classical continued use theory for nonmedical information systems positively affect continuance intention. We also found that the path and mechanism of users' feelings regarding autonomy, competence, and relatedness generated during interactions with different gamification elements promote the continued use of mHealth apps.

Multiple factors influence bacterial community diversity and composition in soils with rare earth element and heavy metal co-contamination.

The effects of long-term rare earth element (REE) and heavy metal (HM) contamination on soil bacterial communities remains poorly understood. In this study, soil samples co-contaminated with REEs and HMs were collected from a rare-earth tailing dam. The bacterial community composition and diversity were analyzed through Illumina high-throughput sequencing with 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Bacterial community richness and diversity were lower in the co-contaminated soils than in the uncontaminated soils, with clearly different bacterial community compositions. The results showed that total organic carbon and available potassium were the most important factors affecting bacterial community richness and diversity, followed by the REE and HM contents. Although the canonical correspondence analysis results showed that an REE alone had no obvious effects on bacterial community structures, we found that the combined effects of soil physicochemical properties and REE and HM contents regulated bacterial community structure and composition. The effects of REEs and HMs on bacterial communities were similar, whereas their combined contributions were greater than the individual effects of REEs or HMs. Some bacterial taxa were worth noting. These specifically included the plant growth-promoting bacteria Exiguobacterium (sensitive to REEs and HMs) and oligotrophic microorganisms with metal tolerance (prevalent in contaminated soil); moreover, relative abundance of JTB255-Marine Benthic Group, Rhodobacteraceae, Erythrobacter, and Truepera may be correlated with REEs. This study was the first to investigate the responses of bacterial communities to REE and HM co-contamination. The current results have major implications for the ecological risk assessment of environments co-contaminated with REEs and HMs.

Skp2 E3 ligase integrates ATM activation and homologous recombination repair by ubiquitinating NBS1.

The Mre11/Rad50/NBS1 (MRN) complex is thought to be a critical sensor that detects damaged DNA and recruits ATM to DNA foci for activation. However, it remains to be established how the MRN complex regulates ATM recruitment to the DNA foci during DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we show that Skp2 E3 ligase is a key component for the MRN complex-mediated ATM activation in response to DSBs. Skp2 interacts with NBS1 and triggers K63-linked ubiquitination of NBS1 upon DSBs, which is critical for the interaction of NBS1 with ATM, thereby facilitating ATM recruitment to the DNA foci for activation. Finally, we show that Skp2 deficiency exhibits a defect in homologous recombination (HR) repair, thereby increasing IR sensitivity. Our results provide molecular insights into how Skp2 and the MRN complex coordinate to activate ATM, and identify Skp2-mediatetd NBS1 ubiquitination as a vital event for ATM activation in response to DNA damage.

LncRNA WWC2-AS1 functions AS a novel competing endogenous RNA in the regulation of FGF2 expression by sponging miR-16 in radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were considered as important gene expression regulators involving various biological processes. In this study, we explored the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis (RIF). METHODS: LncRNAs were screened by microarray (Human LncRNA Array v3.0, Arraystar, Inc.) and the differentially expressed lncRNAs in RIF and non-RIF were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The expression of WWC2-AS1/miR-16/FGF2 axis was compared on mRNA and protein level between human intestinal CCD-18Co fibroblasts cell lines and subepithelial SEMFs in response to radiation treatment. The significance of WWC2-AS1 in regulating FGF2 associated proliferation, migration, invasion and fibrosis of CCD-18Co and SEMFs by exposure to radiation was analyzed by shRNA (WWC2-AS1 shRNA) knock-down of endogenous WWC2-AS1. RESULTS: WWC2-AS1 and FGF2 level was significantly higher while miR-16 was down-regulated in radiation-treated intestinal tissues. WWC2-AS1 more potently boosted FGF2 expression via reducing miR-16, and WWC2-AS1 shRNA remarkably inhibited FGF2 associated proliferation, migration, invasion and fibrosis of radiation treatment in vitro, further demonstrating physical interaction between miR-16 and WWC2-AS1 in radiation-induced fibrosis progress. CONCLUSIONS: WWC2-AS1 was highly expressed in RIF, may function as a ceRNA in the regulation of FGF2 by binding miR-16. Targeting WWC2-AS1 thus may benefit radiation-induced fibrosis treatment.

HPV Infection Downregulates the Expression of Autophagy-Related Genes in Condylomata Acuminata.

BACKGROUND: Condylomata acuminata are benign anogenital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with a high recurrence rate. Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining internal environmental stability. However, the role of autophagy regulation in the anogenital warts caused by HPV infection remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: A multigroup case-control study was designed to identify the autophagy gene fingerprint involved in anogenital warts arising from infections with different HPV genotypes. METHODS: Human autophagy PCR arrays were performed on the initial 18 participants grouped by their different HPV genotypes for gene expression-profiling analysis. The negative control was skin samples collected during plastic surgery on the chest from a group of individuals who showed none of the clinical symptoms or evidence of HPV infection. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to validate the microarray results in another 24 individuals. RESULTS: Out of 84 genes involved in autophagy, different autophagic responses were found among the 29 genes that encode autophagy machinery components, and expression levels of 13 of these genes were downregulated. Finally, we verified that the expression levels of 2 key genes that participate in the formation of autophagosomes, ATG3 and -BECLIN1, were downregulated in the HPV infection groups independently of genotype compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that HPV infection downregulated the expression of ATGs in CA. Additionally, there were no differences in the expression of ATGs between the different HPV genotype infection groups. This study provided new insights into the autophagic response to HPV infection.

Construction of an index system for qualitative evaluation of undergraduate nursing students innovative ability: A Delphi study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To establish an index system for the evaluation of undergraduate nursing student innovation ability. BACKGROUND: An index system for evaluation of undergraduate nursing student innovation ability has not been established. DESIGN: A three-round Delphi survey sought opinions from experts about the index system for evaluation of undergraduate nursing student innovation ability. METHODS: A Delphi survey was used for the study of 19 experts from nursing education, clinical nursing and health management. The consistency of consultation results formed the basis for determining the rounds of consultation. With the importance of consulting experts in the last round, we established the judgement matrix using yaahp7.5 software and the analytic hierarchy process and determined the weight coefficient of each index. A modified recommendation for the Conducting and Reporting of Delphi studies (CREDES) was used to guide this study. RESULTS: Nineteen experts from 10 nursing colleges and nine third-level first-class hospitals in seven domestic provinces/municipalities were included in this study. The index system was divided into primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Consensus was reached on three primary indicators ('spirit', 'ability' and 'achievement'), nine secondary indicators and 28 tertiary indicators. CONCLUSIONS: A unified and hierarchical quality assessment index framework for nursing undergraduate creative ability was established. The framework should be further tested and improved in practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nursing students are the main force behind clinical nursing in the future. An innovative approach to skill acquisition and application could enhance the student nurse experience. The innovative ability of nursing students is important for identification of education strategies that be implemented to better support those individuals. Furthermore, the construction of the index system is helpful for evaluation of the innovation ability of nursing students that are required to better meet the needs of clinical nursing work in the future.

CRL4(Cdt2)-mediated destruction of the histone methyltransferase Set8 prevents premature chromatin compaction in S phase.

The proper coordination between DNA replication and mitosis during cell-cycle progression is crucial for genomic stability. During G2 and mitosis, Set8 catalyzes monomethylation of histone H4 on lysine 20 (H4K20me1), which promotes chromatin compaction. Set8 levels decline in S phase, but why and how this occurs is unclear. Here, we show that Set8 is targeted for proteolysis in S phase and in response to DNA damage by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, CRL4(Cdt2). Set8 ubiquitylation occurs on chromatin and is coupled to DNA replication via a specific degron in Set8 that binds PCNA. Inactivation of CRL4(Cdt2) leads to Set8 stabilization and aberrant H4K20me1 accumulation in replicating cells. Transient S phase expression of a Set8 mutant lacking the degron promotes premature H4K20me1 accumulation and chromatin compaction, and triggers a checkpoint-mediated G2 arrest. Thus, CRL4(Cdt2)-dependent destruction of Set8 in S phase preserves genome stability by preventing aberrant chromatin compaction during DNA synthesis.

Anaerobic Process.

A review of the literatures published in 2017 on topics relating to anaerobic process issues in the improvement of biogas production and fermentation efficiency of various kinds of organic waste. New process methodology and technology of digestion is also presented. This review is divided into the following sections: pretreatment, organic waste and co-digestion, multiple-stage process, process methodology and technology.