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1.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 81(1): 321, 2024 Jul 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39078462

ABSTRACT

Allergic asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder predominantly orchestrated by T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes. The anti-inflammatory protein Clara Cell 10-kDa (CC10), also known as secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (SCGB1A1), shows promise in modulating respiratory diseases. However, its precise role in asthma remains unclear. This study examines the potential of CC10 to suppress allergic asthma inflammation, specifically assessing its regulatory effects on Th2 cell responses and dendritic cells (DCs). Lower CC10 levels in asthma were observed and correlated with increased IgE and lymphocytes. Cc10-/- mice exhibited exacerbated allergic airway inflammation marked by increased inflammatory cell infiltration, Th2 cytokines, serum antigen-specific IgE levels, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in house dust mite (HDM)-induced models. Conversely, recombinant CC10 significantly attenuated these inflammatory responses. Intriguingly, CC10 did not directly inhibit Th cell activation but significantly downregulated the population of CD11b+CD103- DCs subsets in lungs of asthmatic mice and modulated the immune activation functions of DCs through NF-κB signaling pathway. The mixed lymphocyte response assay revealed that DCs mediated the suppressive effect of CC10 on Th2 cell responses. Collectively, CC10 profoundly mitigates Th2-type allergic inflammation in asthma by modulating lung DC phenotype and functions, highlighting its therapeutic potential for inflammatory airway conditions and other related immunological disorders.


Subject(s)
Asthma , Dendritic Cells , Lung , Th2 Cells , Uteroglobin , Animals , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Asthma/immunology , Asthma/pathology , Th2 Cells/immunology , Th2 Cells/metabolism , Uteroglobin/genetics , Uteroglobin/metabolism , Mice , Lung/pathology , Lung/immunology , Lung/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Inflammation/pathology , Inflammation/immunology , Inflammation/metabolism , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Pyroglyphidae/immunology , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Female , Mice, Inbred BALB C
2.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1708, 2024 Jun 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38926713

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Extensive research has been conducted treating burnout as an independent variable and performance as a dependent variable to proffer possible solutions to burnout and job performance among academics. Despite this, the burnout crises persist and are exacerbated by the ongoing global proliferation of higher education. Acknowledging this, the current study explored whether performance may contribute to the emergence of burnout. METHODS: The study's sample population comprised 689 academics from Jiangsu province, China. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results served to measure performance. Psychological counselling and Burnout were calculated using mental health results garnered from the universities. Data was collected on respondents' demographic characteristics and work situations. The mean scores were 0.517 (SD = 0.5) for gender and 1.586 (SD = 1.103) for age. The relationship among performance, job burnout, and psychological counselling was analysed via a cross-sectional survey deploying grouped regression. RESULTS: Academics' job performance was found to regulate their burnout (ß = -0.058, P < 0.01). Higher performance of academics was significantly associated with lower job burnout and psychological counselling. Furthermore, psychological counselling significantly moderated job burnout (ß = -0.012, P < 0.05) among academics without regulating their job performance. CONCLUSION: The paper supplements the discourse on job burnout and academic performance by suggesting a pre-counselling measure as a strategy to address the crises of burnout. The paper argued that the continued competence of employees should prevent burnout in Higher education and ensure better job performance.


Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional , Counseling , Work Performance , Humans , Female , Male , Burnout, Professional/psychology , Adult , China , Cross-Sectional Studies , Counseling/statistics & numerical data , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Academic Performance/psychology , Academic Performance/statistics & numerical data , Universities , Young Adult
3.
BMC Med Educ ; 24(1): 916, 2024 Aug 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39180035

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The transition from nursing students to working as new nurses can be a challenging process. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a pedagogical approach amalgamating the think-aloud approach and case-based learning in the instructional rounds for new nurses. METHODS: Utilizing convenience sampling, new nurses were selected between 2020 and 2021 in China cancer hospital. A total of 98 participants agreed to participate, with 50 enrolled in 2020 as the control group and 48 in 2021 as the observation group. Across a span of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, each clinical department conducted six teaching rounds. The observation group engaged in teaching rounds combining the think-aloud approach with case-based learning, whereas the control group solely utilized case-based learning. Disparities in case analysis scores and critical thinking ability between the two groups were scrutinized, alongside an analysis of learning strategies and the observation group feedback. RESULTS: The observation group exhibited superior case analysis scores (91.92 ± 6.33) and overall critical thinking ability scores (308.39 ± 35.88) in comparison to the control group, which scored (85.27 ± 5.39) and (275.11 ± 31.32) respectively, reflecting statistically significant variances (t = 1.868 ~ 6.361, P < 0.05). Predominant learning strategies employed in the observation group ranged from cognitive to meta-cognitive, followed by psychosocial strategies. During interviews focused on nurses' feedback on the learning process, themes emerged surrounding the enhancement of learning proficiency, invigoration of learning enthusiasm, and bolstering psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: The combination of think-aloud approach and case-based learning in nursing teaching rounds greatly improves the efficiency of training and the critical thinking acuity of new nurses. Concurrently, it facilitated an evaluation of learning strategies, thereby offering valuable insights for the nursing teaching rounds of new nurse.


Subject(s)
Problem-Based Learning , Teaching Rounds , Humans , China , Female , Cancer Care Facilities , Thinking , Nursing Staff, Hospital/education , Adult , Male , Education, Nursing
4.
Trends Biochem Sci ; 44(10): 885-896, 2019 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31256982

ABSTRACT

Transgelin-2 has been regarded as an actin-binding protein that induces actin gelation and regulates actin cytoskeleton. However, transgelin-2 has recently been shown to relax the myosin cytoskeleton of the airway smooth muscle cells by acting as a receptor for extracellular metallothionein-2. From a clinical perspective, these results support transgelin-2 as a promising therapeutic target for diseases such as cancer and asthma. The inhibition of transgelin-2 prevents actin gelation and thereby cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Conversely, the activation of transgelin-2 with specific agonists relaxes airway smooth muscles and reduces pulmonary resistance in asthma. Here, we review new studies on the biochemical properties of transgelin-2 and discuss their clinical implications for the treatment of immune, oncogenic, and respiratory disorders.


Subject(s)
Asthma/metabolism , Microfilament Proteins/metabolism , Muscle Proteins/metabolism , Neoplasms/metabolism , Actins/metabolism , Animals , Asthma/drug therapy , Asthma/pathology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Humans , Microfilament Proteins/agonists , Microfilament Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Muscle Proteins/agonists , Muscle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasms/pathology
5.
Biomacromolecules ; 24(6): 2409-2432, 2023 06 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37155361

ABSTRACT

Twenty years ago, this journal published a review entitled "Biofabrication with Chitosan" based on the observations that (i) chitosan could be electrodeposited using low voltage electrical inputs (typically less than 5 V) and (ii) the enzyme tyrosinase could be used to graft proteins (via accessible tyrosine residues) to chitosan. Here, we provide a progress report on the coupling of electronic inputs with advanced biological methods for the fabrication of biopolymer-based hydrogel films. In many cases, the initial observations of chitosan's electrodeposition have been extended and generalized: mechanisms have been established for the electrodeposition of various other biological polymers (proteins and polysaccharides), and electrodeposition has been shown to allow the precise control of the hydrogel's emergent microstructure. In addition, the use of biotechnological methods to confer function has been extended from tyrosinase conjugation to the use of protein engineering to create genetically fused assembly tags (short sequences of accessible amino acid residues) that facilitate the attachment of function-conferring proteins to electrodeposited films using alternative enzymes (e.g., transglutaminase), metal chelation, and electrochemically induced oxidative mechanisms. Over these 20 years, the contributions from numerous groups have also identified exciting opportunities. First, electrochemistry provides unique capabilities to impose chemical and electrical cues that can induce assembly while controlling the emergent microstructure. Second, it is clear that the detailed mechanisms of biopolymer self-assembly (i.e., chitosan gel formation) are far more complex than anticipated, and this provides a rich opportunity both for fundamental inquiry and for the creation of high performance and sustainable material systems. Third, the mild conditions used for electrodeposition allow cells to be co-deposited for the fabrication of living materials. Finally, the applications have been expanded from biosensing and lab-on-a-chip systems to bioelectronic and medical materials. We suggest that electro-biofabrication is poised to emerge as an enabling additive manufacturing method especially suited for life science applications and to bridge communication between our biological and technological worlds.


Subject(s)
Chitosan , Chitosan/chemistry , Monophenol Monooxygenase/chemistry , Hydrogels , Proteins , Biopolymers
6.
Small ; 18(48): e2204837, 2022 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36207286

ABSTRACT

Janus porous biomaterials are gaining increasing attention and there are considerable efforts to develop simple, rapid, and scalable methods capable of tuning micro- and macro-structures. Here, a single-step electro-fabrication method to create a Janus porous film by the electrodeposition of the amino-polysaccharide chitosan is reported. Specifically, a Janus structure emerges spontaneously when electrodeposition is performed at sub-ambient temperature (0-5 °C). Sub-ambient temperature electrodeposition experiments show that: a Janus microstructure emerges (potentially as the result of a subtle alteration of the intermolecular interactions responsible for self-assembly); important microstructural features (pore size, porosity, and thicknesses) can be tuned by conditions; and this method is readily scalable (vs serial printing) and can yield complex tubular structures with Janus faces. In vitro studies demonstrate anisotropic cell guidance, and in vivo studies using a rat calvarial defect model further confirm the beneficial features of such Janus porous film for guided bone regeneration. In summary, these results further demonstrate that electro-fabrication provides a simple and scalable platform technology for the controlled functional structures of soft matter for applications in regenerative medicine.


Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials , Electroplating , Animals , Rats , Porosity , Temperature , Regenerative Medicine
7.
Small ; 17(12): e2007122, 2021 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33586329

ABSTRACT

Membrane separation is recognized as one of the most effective strategies to treat the complicated wastewater system for economic development. However, serious membrane fouling has restricted its further application. Inspired by sphagnum, a 0D/2D heterojunction composite membrane is engineered by depositing graphitic carbon nitride nano/microspheres (CNMS) with plentiful wrinkles onto the polyacrylic acid functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs-PAA) membrane through hydrogen bond force. Through coupling unique structure and chemistry properties, the CNTs-PAA/CNMS heterojunction membrane presents superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. Furthermore, thanks to the J-type aggregates during the solvothermal process, it is provided with a smaller bandgap (1.77 eV) than the traditional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) sheets-based membranes (2.4-2.8 eV). This feature endows the CNTs-PAA/CNMS membrane with superior visible-light-driven self-cleaning ability, which can maintain its excellent emulsion separation (with a maximum flux of 5557 ± 331 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and an efficiency of 98.5 ± 0.6%), photocatalytic degradation (with an efficiency of 99.7 ± 0.2%), and antibacterial (with an efficiency of ≈100%) ability even after cyclic experimental processes. The excellent self-cleaning performance of this all-in-one membrane represents its potential value for water purification.


Subject(s)
Nanotubes, Carbon , Sphagnopsida , Water Purification , Microspheres , Sunlight
8.
J Mater Sci Mater Med ; 32(12): 143, 2021 Nov 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34817703

ABSTRACT

The contamination of chronic wound with bacteria especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered as the major factor interferencing normal wound healing. There still remain great challenges in developing safe and effective wound dressings with wide-spectrum antibacterial functions. Alginate hydrogel is a common dressing for wound treatment. Copper is one of the trace elements in human body with inherent antibacterial activity. Traditional methods for preparing a structure-controlled copper-alginate antibacterial matrix are difficult however, due to the fast and uncontrolled gelation between alginate and metal ions. In this work, we report an electrodeposition method for rapid fabrication of copper cross-linked alginate antibacterial films (Cu2+-Alg) with controlled structure and copper content, which is relied on an electrical signal controlled release of copper ions from the reaction of insoluble salt Cu2(OH)2CO3 and the generated protons via water electrolysis on anode. The results prove that the physical structure and chemical composition of the electrodeposited Cu2+-Alg films can be continuously modulated by the imposed charges during electrodeposition. In vitro tests demonstrate the film has Cu2+ content-dependent bactericidal activities. Film's cytocompatibility is well controlled by the imposed charges for Cu2+-Alg fabrication. The MRSA infected wound model in vivo also indicates that Cu2+-Alg film can effectively eliminate bacterial infection and suppress host inflammatory responses. We believe this study demonstrates a convenient and controllable strategy to fabricate alginate antibacterial dressings with potential applications for infected wound treatment. More broadly, our work reveals electrodeposition is a general and simple platform to design alginate films with versatile functions.


Subject(s)
Alginates , Anti-Infective Agents/chemical synthesis , Bandages , Copper , Electrochemical Techniques , Wound Infection/therapy , Animals , Cell Survival/drug effects , Escherichia coli , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells , Humans , Mice , Staphylococcus aureus
9.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28702704

ABSTRACT

Ezrin is a critical structural protein that organizes receptor complexes and orchestrates their signal transduction. In this study, we review the ezrin-meditated regulation of critical receptor complexes, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), CD44, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) receptor. We also analyze the ezrin-meditated regulation of critical pathways associated with asthma, such as the RhoA, Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), and protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathways. Mounting evidence suggests that ezrin plays a role in controlling airway cell function and potentially contributes to respiratory diseases. Ezrin can participate in asthma pathogenesis by affecting bronchial epithelium repair, T lymphocyte regulation, and the contraction of the airway smooth muscle cells. These studies provide new insights for the design of novel therapeutic strategies for asthma treatment.


Subject(s)
Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/physiology , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/physiology , Signal Transduction , Asthma , Bronchi/cytology , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/physiology , DCC Receptor/metabolism , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/metabolism , Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism , rho-Associated Kinases/metabolism , rhoA GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism
10.
Molecules ; 25(19)2020 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33019706

ABSTRACT

Two new indole alkaloids, Bufotenidine B (2) and Bufocarboline A (6), along with seven known indole alkaloids (1, 3-5, and 7-9) and three organic acids (10-12), were isolated from the water extract of toad venom. The structures of the new alkaloids were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations of 4, 6, and 8 were determined for the first time by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was tested against human malignant melanoma cells A375 by the MTT method, and no antitumor activity was observed.


Subject(s)
Amphibian Venoms/chemistry , Bufo bufo/metabolism , Indole Alkaloids/isolation & purification , Animals , Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Circular Dichroism , Indole Alkaloids/chemistry , Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Water/chemistry
11.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 484(1): 184-188, 2017 02 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28088518

ABSTRACT

Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a major clinical problem in allergic asthma mainly caused by the hypercontractility of airway smooth muscles (ASM). S100A8 is an important member of the S100 calcium-binding protein family with a potential to regulate cell contractility. Here, we analyze the potential of S100A8 to regulate allergen-induced AHR and ASM contraction. Treatment with recombinant S100A8 (rS100A8) diminished airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-sensitized rats. ASM contraction assays showed that rS100A8 reduced hypercontractility in both isolated tracheal rings and primary ASM cells treated by acetylcholine. rS100A8 markedly rescued the phosphorylation level of myosin light chain induced by acetylcholine in ASM cells. These results show that rS100A8 plays a protective role in regulating AHR in asthma by inhibiting ASM contraction. These results support S100A8 as a novel therapeutic target to control ASM contraction in asthma.


Subject(s)
Calgranulin A/physiology , Muscle, Smooth/physiology , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/prevention & control , Acetylcholine/administration & dosage , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Myosin Light Chains/metabolism , Ovalbumin/administration & dosage , Phosphorylation , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
12.
Biol Res ; 50(1): 23, 2017 Jun 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28637501

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling is a key feature of asthma, characterized by increased proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein with a potential to regulate cell proliferation. Here, the effect of exogenous S100A8 protein on the proliferation of ASMCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. METHODS: Rat ASMCs were cultured with or without a neutralizing antibody to the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), a potential receptor for S100A8 protein. Purified recombinant rat S100A8 protein was then added into the cultured cells, and the proliferation of ASMCs induced by PDGF was detected by colorimetric-based WST-8 assay and ampedance-based xCELLigence proliferation assay. The expression levels of RAGE in ASMCs were analyzed using western blotting assay. RESULTS: Results showed that exogenous S100A8 inhibited the PDGF-induced proliferation of rat ASMCs in a dose-dependent manner with the maximal effect at 1 µg/ml in vitro. Furthermore, when ASMCs was pre-treated with anti-RAGE neutralizing antibody, the inhibitory effect of S100A8 on PDGF-induced proliferation was significantly suppressed. In addition, neither the treatment with S100A8 or PDGF alone nor the pre-treatment with rS100A8 followed by PDGF stimulation affected the expression levels of RAGE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that S100A8 inhibits PDGF-induced ASMCs proliferation in a manner dependent on membrane receptor RAGE.


Subject(s)
Calgranulin A/administration & dosage , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects , Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/agonists , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/drug effects , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Rats
13.
J Mater Sci Mater Med ; 28(10): 146, 2017 Aug 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28823088

ABSTRACT

Wound dressings play important roles in the management of wounds, and calcium cross-linked alginate (Ca2+-Alg) is a commonly used hydrogel that is adapted for wound treatment. However, conventional methods for fabricating Ca2+-Alg hydrogels can be tedious and difficult to control because of the rapid Ca2+-induced gelation of alginate. In this study, An electrodeposition method was used to rapidly and controllably fabricate Ca2+-Alg films for wound treatment. Several measures of film growth (e.g., thickness and mass) are shown to linearly correlate to the imposed charge transfer at the electrode. Similarly, this charge transfer was also observed to control important physicochemical wound healing properties such as water uptake and retention capacity. Furthermore, a wound healing animal test was performed to evaluate the performance of this electro-fabricated calcium alginate film for wound treatment. This in vivo study demonstrated that wounds dressed with an electro-fabricated Ca2+-Alg film closed faster than that of untreated wounds. Further, the new dermis tissue that formed was composed of reorganized and stratified epithelial layer, with fully developed connective tissue, hair follicle, sebaceous glands as well as aligned collagen. Therefore, our study indicates that this electrofabrication method for the rapid and controlled preparation of alginate film could provide exciting opportunities for wound treatment. More broadly, this study demonstrates the potential of electrochemistry for the fabrication of high performance polymeric materials. Here we report a rapid and controllable fabrication of free-standing alginate films by coupling anodic electrodeposition with subsequent peeling of deposited materials for wound dressing.


Subject(s)
Alginates/chemistry , Bandages , Calcium/chemistry , Electricity , Membranes, Artificial , Wounds and Injuries/therapy , Animals , Glucuronic Acid/chemistry , Hexuronic Acids/chemistry , Male , Materials Testing , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Water , Wound Healing
14.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 472(1): 243-9, 2016 Mar 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26920052

ABSTRACT

S100A8 is an important member of the S100 protein family, which is involved in intracellular and extracellular regulatory activities. We previously reported that the S100A8 protein was differentially expressed in the asthmatic respiratory tracts. To understand the potential role of S100A8 in asthma, we investigated the effect of recombinant S100A8 protein on the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and the underlying molecular mechanism by using multiple methods, such as impedance-based xCELLigence migration assay, transwell migration assays and wound-healing assays. We found that exogenous S100A8 protein significantly inhibited PDGF-induced ASMC migration. Furthermore, the migration inhibition effect of S100A8 was blocked by neutralizing antibody against the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), a potential receptor for the S100A8 protein. These findings provide direct evidence that exogenous S100A8 protein inhibits the PDGF-induced migration of ASMCs through the membrane receptor RAGE. Our study highlights a novel role of S100A8 as a potential means of counteracting airway remodeling in chronic airway diseases.


Subject(s)
Calgranulin A/physiology , Cell Movement/physiology , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/physiology , Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/physiology , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/physiology , Trachea/pathology , Trachea/physiology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Asthma/pathology , Asthma/physiopathology , Calgranulin A/administration & dosage , Calgranulin A/genetics , Cells, Cultured , Disease Models, Animal , Rats , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/immunology , Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Wound Healing
15.
Biol Res ; 47: 75, 2014 Dec 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25723317

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: BrdU is a commonly used reagent in cell proliferation assays, and WST-1 measurement is widely used to detect cell viability. However, no previous study has formally reported the combination of the two assays, which may be used to detect the proliferation and viability simultaneously. In this study, we examined the effect of adding BrdU 2 h prior to the WST-1 assay and tried to test the possibility of the combined detection using rat airway smooth muscle cells. RESULTS: The WST-1 measurements obtained from the combined detection were consistent with those obtained from the separate detection, which suggested that the addition of BrdU 2 h prior to the WST-1 analysis did not affect the WST-1 results. The BrdU measurements obtained from the combined detection also demonstrated the same trend as that obtained from the separate detection, and dosages of 200, 400 and 800 ng/ml testing reagent significantly inhibited the proliferation of rat airway smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the BrdU and WST-1 measurements can be applied simultaneously without mutual interference, which may increase the efficacy and consistency of these measurements to a certain extent.


Subject(s)
Bromodeoxyuridine/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/physiology , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/physiology , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/methods , Tetrazolium Salts/pharmacology , Trachea/cytology , Animals , Calgranulin B/administration & dosage , Cell Survival/physiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Primary Cell Culture , Rats , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Trachea/growth & development
16.
BMC Complement Altern Med ; 14: 375, 2014 Oct 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25282142

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The total effects of adequate real acupuncture treatment consist of pathologic-specific and non-specific physiological effects. The latter may be the fundamental component of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. This study investigated the physiological background effects of acupuncture in normal rats treated with acupuncture. METHODS: Manual acupuncture was performed on normal rats at experienced acupoints, GV14 (Dazhui), BL12 (Fengmen) and BL13 (Feishu), once every other day for two weeks. The proteomic profile of rat lung tissue was examined using 2-DE/MS-based proteomic techniques. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were analyzed for differentially expressed proteins using the WebGestalt toolkit. RESULTS: In total, 25 differentially expressed protein spots were detected in the 2-DE gels. Among these spots, 24 corresponded to 20 unique proteins that were successfully identified using mass spectrometry. Subsequent GO and KEGG pathway analyses demonstrated that these altered proteins were mainly involved in biological processes, such as 'protein stabilization', 'glycolysis/gluconeogenesis' and 'response to stimulus'. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated the non-specific background effects of acupuncture at acupoints GV14, BL12 and BL13 likely maintained internal homeostasis via regulation of the local stimulus response, energy metabolism, and biomolecule function balance, which may be important contributors to the therapeutic effects of acupuncture.


Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Lung/metabolism , Proteome/analysis , Proteome/physiology , Acupuncture Points , Animals , Male , Proteins/analysis , Proteins/classification , Proteomics , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley
17.
PLoS One ; 19(6): e0305493, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38875262

ABSTRACT

Treating burnout as an independent variable while performance is the dependent variable, earlier studies revealed that job burnout experienced by academics adversely affects how well they perform. Whether performance may contribute to the emergence of burnout is yet to be analyzed-it is an issue investigated in this paper. Readjusting the nature of the variables, this quantitative study adopted group regression and it discovered that the performance of academics instead regulates their burnout without making performance a consequence of burnout-a new dynamic that challenges the earlier assumption. Following this earlier belief, counselling strategy to boost the employees' psyche was deemed to be the main post-measurement tool to deal with the burnout crisis. With respect to both tenets (current and earlier), psychological counselling was treated as a moderating variable to check whether it is important enough in removing the burnout felt by employees so that they subsequently could function better. It is further discovered that although psychological counselling removes employees' burnout to some extent, it failed to transform them into better-functioning people. This study suggests a pre-measurement counselling strategy will ensure academics are competently engaged since ensuring competency is a fundamental aspect of eliminating a job burnout crisis. The sustained competency of employees will eventually prevent burnout and may halt the transmission of a burnout crisis at large-it adds to this study's theoretical contribution to the topic.


Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional , Counseling , Work Performance , Humans , Burnout, Professional/psychology , Female , Male , Adult , Job Satisfaction
18.
J Hazard Mater ; 469: 134002, 2024 May 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38503213

ABSTRACT

More than 4.5 billion tons of unconventional uranium resources [UO2(CO3)3]4- are uniformly dissolved in seawater, providing a sustainable and abundant fuel source for the development of nuclear energy. Herein, we presented a rational design and development of Ti3C2Tx nanocontainer inspired by the exceptional selectivity and affinity exhibited by superb-uranyl proteins through amino acid intercalation. The amino acid intercalation of Ti3C2Tx demonstrated exceptional UO22+ capture capacity (Arg-Ti3C2Tx, His-Ti3C2Tx, and Lys-Ti3C2Tx with qmax values of 594.46, 846.04, and 1030.17 mg/g). Furthermore, these intercalated materials exhibited remarkable sequestration efficiency and selectivity (Uinitial = ∼45.2 ∼7636 µg/L; ∼84.45% ∼98.08%; and ∼2.72 ×104 ∼1.28 ×105 KdU value), despite the presence of an overwhelming surplus of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Co2+ ions. Significantly, even in the 0.3 M NaHCO3 solution and surpassing 103-fold of the Na3VO4 system, the adsorption efficiency of Lys-Ti3C2Tx still achieved a remarkable 63.73% and 65.05%. Moreover, the Lys-Ti3C2Tx can extract ∼30.23 ∼8664.03 µg/g uranium after 24 h contact in ∼13.3 ∼5000 µg/L concentration from uranium-spiked natural seawater. The mechanism analysis revealed that the high binding capability can be attributed to the chelation of carboxyl and amino groups with uranyl ions. This innovative state-of-the-art approach in regulating uranium harvesting capability through intercalation of amino acid molecules provides novel insights for extracting uranium from seawater.

19.
Adv Sci (Weinh) ; 11(12): e2307606, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38225697

ABSTRACT

Biology remains the envy of flexible soft matter fabrication because it can satisfy multiple functional needs by organizing a small set of proteins and polysaccharides into hierarchical systems with controlled heterogeneity in composition and microstructure. Here, it is reported that controlled, mild electronic inputs (<10 V; <20 min) induce a homogeneous gelatin-chitosan mixture to undergo sorting and bottom-up self-assembly into a Janus film with compositional gradient (i.e., from chitosan-enriched layer to chitosan/gelatin-contained layer) and tunable dense-porous gradient microstructures (e.g., porosity, pore size, and ratio of dense to porous layers). This Janus film performs is shown multiple functions for guided bone regeneration: the integration of compositional and microstructural features confers flexible mechanics, asymmetric properties for interfacial wettability, molecular transport (directional growth factor release), and cellular responses (prevents fibroblast infiltration but promotes osteoblast growth and differentiation). Overall, this work demonstrates the versatility of electrofabrication for the customized manufacturing of functional gradient soft matter.


Subject(s)
Chitosan , Chitosan/pharmacology , Gelatin/chemistry , Bone Regeneration , Cell Movement , Osteoblasts
20.
Int J Surg ; 110(4): 2122-2133, 2024 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38215261

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been utilized in spinal surgery to effectively reduce intraoperative blood loss (IBL) and allogeneic blood transfusion rates. However, the traditional TXA regimen might last the entire duration of hyperfibrinolysis caused by surgical trauma, resulting in its limited ability to reduce postoperative blood loss (PBL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of perioperative sequential administration of multiple doses of TXA in reducing PBL in patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). METHODS: From October 2022 to June 2023, 231 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disease and scheduled to undergo PLIF were prospectively enrolled in the present study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. Moreover, all patients received an intravenous injection of TXA at a dose of 15 mg/kg 15 min before the surgical skin incision. Patients in Group A received a placebo of normal saline after surgery, while patients in Group B received three additional intravenous injections of TXA at a dose of 15 mg/kg every 24 h. Patients in Group C received three additional intravenous injections of TXA at a dose of 15 mg/kg every 5 h. The primary outcome measure was PBL. In addition, this study assessed total blood loss (TBL), IBL, routine blood parameters, liver and kidney function, coagulation parameters, fibrinolysis indexes, inflammatory indicators, drainage tube removal time (DRT), length of hospital stay (LOS), blood transfusion rate, and incidence of complications for all subjects. RESULTS: The PBL, TBL, DRT, and LOS of Group B and Group C were significantly lower than those of Group A ( P <0.05). The level of D-dimer (D-D) in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group A on the first day after the operation ( P =0.002), and that in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A on the third day after the operation ( P =0.003). The interleukin-6 levels between the three groups from 1 to 5 days after the operation were in the order of Group A > Group B > Group C. No serious complications were observed in any patient. The results of multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that PBL was positively correlated with incision length, IBL, smoking history, history of hypertension, preoperative fibrinogen degradation product level, and blood transfusion. It was negatively correlated with preoperative levels of fibrinogen, red blood cells, blood urea nitrogen, and age. Compared to female patients, male patients had an increased risk of PBL. Finally, the incidence of PBL was predicted. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential application of multiple doses of TXA during the perioperative period could safely and effectively reduce PBL and TBL, shorten DRT and LOS, reduce postoperative D-D generation, and reduce the postoperative inflammatory response. In addition, this study provided a novel prediction model for PBL in patients undergoing PLIF.


Subject(s)
Antifibrinolytic Agents , Postoperative Hemorrhage , Spinal Fusion , Tranexamic Acid , Humans , Tranexamic Acid/administration & dosage , Male , Female , Antifibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Postoperative Hemorrhage/prevention & control , Spinal Fusion/adverse effects , Aged , Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery , Adult , Double-Blind Method
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