Monascus-fermented quinoa alleviates hyperlipidemia in mice by regulating the amino acid metabolism pathway.

Monascus has the ability to produce secondary metabolites, such as monacolin K (MK), known for its physiological functions, including lipid-lowering effects. Widely utilized in industries such as health food and medicine, MK is a significant compound derived from Monascus. Quinoa, recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "the only plant food that can meet human basic nutritional needs by itself", possesses dual advantages of high nutritional value and medicinal food homology. This study employed animal experiments to investigate the hypolipidemic activity of Monascus-fermented quinoa (MFQ) and explored the molecular mechanism underlying the lipid-lowering effect of MFQ on hyperlipidemic mice through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. The results demonstrated that high-dose MFQ intervention (1600 mg kg-1 d-1) effectively decreased weight gain in hyperlipidemic mice without significant changes in cardiac index, renal index, or spleen index. Moreover, hepatic steatosis in mice was significantly improved. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly reduced, demonstrating that the lipid-lowering effect of MFQ was comparable to the drug control lovastatin. Conversely, both low-dose MFQ (400 mg kg-1 d-1) and unfermented quinoa exhibited no significant lipid-lowering effect. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome suggested that MFQ may regulate amino acid levels in hyperlipidemic mice by influencing metabolic pathways such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism. This regulation alleviates hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet, resulting in a significant reduction in blood lipid levels in mice.

Global burden of bladder cancer attributable to smoking in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019.

Bladder cancer (BCa) poses a significant medical burden worldwide. However, the epidemiological pattern of the global smoking-induced BCa burden is unclear. Our analysis of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database showed a significant increase in the number of BCa cases worldwide from 1990 to 2019, with a clear upward trend in both age-standardized prevalence and incidence. In contrast, age-standardized rates of mortality (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life-years (ASDR) showed a downward trend, despite an increase in the absolute number of death and disability-adjusted life years. The burden of BCa caused by smoking is greater in males, middle-aged and older adults, and people in countries with high-middle socio-demographic indices (SDI). The study highlights the continuing global health challenge posed by smoking-related BCa. Targeted health policies and interventions are critical, especially in areas with high smoking rates and low socioeconomic status.

A preliminary study of the effectiveness of video visitation on depression and stress in mothers with preterm infants during the pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parents of preterm infants experience anxiety and stress in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Visitation restrictions due to COVID-19 have increased maternal pressure and limited bonding opportunities. Little research exists in Taiwan on using video conferencing as a solution. This study investigates depression and stress levels in mothers of preterm infants and evaluates the effectiveness of video visitation during NICU restrictions. METHODS: This study adopts a cross-sectional design and a qualitative survey. Mothers of premature infants were recruited and they participated in the study. Interventions for video visits were scheduled on the third day of admission to the NICU (T1) and during the second week of the study (T2). After each video visit, participants completed an online survey. The study's online survey used structured questionnaires including demographics, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Parental Stress Scale (PSS): Infant Hospitalization (IH). RESULTS: A total of 51 mothers of preterm infants participated in the study. During the T1 and T2 periods, single mothers with lower educational levels and those aged below 30 experienced depression and high levels of stress. Lower birth weight and gestational age were associated with maternal depression. Video visitation intervention led to a significant decrease in depression scores (EPDS, T1: 11.3 ± 5.5 vs. T2: 10.1 ± 5.2, p = 0.039). Positive correlations were observed between EPDS and PSS: IH scores (p < 0 .005). CONCLUSION: Video visitation intervention can reduce maternal depression in mothers with preterm infants. Since it is practical, video visitation may be applied even after the pandemic.

Clinical features and lymphocyte immunophenotyping analysis in primary immunodeficiency patients with non-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) comprise a heterogeneous group and are originally classified into the "Disease of immune dysregulation" category. Of 96 Taiwanese patients during 2003-2022, 31 (median 66, range 0.03-675 months) developed LPD, mainly including palpable lymphadenopathy (in 10 patients), intestinal lymphadenopathy associated with refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD in 8) and hepatosplenomegaly (in 7) during long-term follow-up (median 144, range 3-252 months). They distributed in the categories of antibody deficiency (2 CVID, 2 TTC37, PIK3CD, PIK3R1 and AICDA each), phagocyte (4 CYBB, 1 STAT1 and 1 IFNRG1), immune dysregulation (2 FOXP3, 2 XIAP and 2 HLH), combined immunodeficiencies (2 IL2RG; CD40L, ZAP70 and unknown each), syndromic features (2 STAT3-LOF, 1 WAS and 1 ATM) and three with anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies. An increased senescent (CD8 + CD57+) and CD21-low, disturbed transitional B (CD38 + IgM++), plasmablast B (CD38++IgM-), memory B (CD19 + CD27+) and TEMRA (CD27-IgD-) components were often observed in cross-sectional immunophenotyping and trended to develop LPD.

[Improving the Rate of Palliative Care Completion in NICU Nurses].

BACKGROUND: Critically ill neonates receive care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unfortunately, some neonates pass away in the NICU. Providing comprehensive neonatal palliative care and hospice services is crucial in supporting parents through the loss of their offspring. In our NICU, we identified that only 74.5% of nurses are able to properly recognize the need for palliative care and only 55% are able to implement the necessary procedures. PURPOSE: A project was designed and implemented to enhance the ability of nursing staff to recognize the need for and properly implement palliative care to improve the quality of this care in the NICU. RESOLUTIONS: We organized an on-the-job education and training program within our NICU with the goals of heightening awareness among nursing staff. In addition, a specialist palliative care operation flow chart, process preparation checklist, and palliative-care-related tools were created to facilitate the care process. RESULTS: After program implementation, among nursing staff in our NICU, the palliative care recognition accuracy rate rose to 100% (from 74.5%) and the implementation rate rose to 94.8% (from 55%). The quality of provided neonatal palliative care and hospice services was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: The developed program was shown to significantly improve nursing staff recognition and implementation of neonatal palliative care in our NICU. This experience provides a reference for improving palliative care quality and for helping families effectively manage end-of-life challenges.

Gypenoside XIII regulates lipid metabolism in HepG2 hepatocytes and ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

Gypenoside XIII is isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino. In mice, G. pentaphyllum extract and gypenoside LXXV have been shown to improve non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study investigated whether gypenoside XIII can regulate lipid accumulation in fatty liver cells or attenuate NASH in mice. We used HepG2 hepatocytes to establish a fatty liver cell model using 0.5 mM oleic acid. Fatty liver cells were treated with different concentrations of gypenoside XIII to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism. In addition, a methionine/choline-deficient diet induced NASH in C57BL/6 mice, which were given 10 mg/kg gypenoside XIII by intraperitoneal injection. In fatty liver cells, gypenoside XIII effectively suppressed lipid accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, gypenoside XIII significantly increased SIRT1 and AMPK phosphorylation to decrease acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation, reducing fatty acid synthesis activity. Gypenoside XIII also decreased lipogenesis by suppressing sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthase production. Gypenoside XIII also increased lipolysis and fatty acid ß-oxidation by promoting adipose triglyceride lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, respectively. In an animal model of NASH, gypenoside XIII effectively decreased the lipid vacuole size and number and reduced liver fibrosis and inflammation. These findings suggest that gypenoside XIII can regulate lipid metabolism in fatty liver cells and improve liver fibrosis in NASH mice. Therefore, gypenoside XIII has potential as a novel agent for the treatment of NASH.

Enhancing nurses' perceptions of having a place to reduce turnover intentions.

AIM: To investigate whether education, tenure, being an advanced practice nurse, skill level, and time pressure impact perceptions of "having a place" and, further, turnover intentions. BACKGROUND: Nursing shortages persist worldwide. Nurses' turnover intentions are negatively related to their perceptions of "having a place" (i.e., the feeling that the nursing workplace is their territory). However, the sources of nurses' perceptions of the perception of "having a place" remain unknown. METHODS: Our research employed a cross-sectional and correlational design. This research was conducted at a large-scale hospital in northern Taiwan from December 2021 to January 2022. We used personnel data pertaining to 430 nurses as well as scales for time pressure, "having a place" and turnover intentions to assess nurses' intention to leave their place of employment. The inclusion criteria focused on full-time nurses who worked for the hospital under investigation. Most of our participants were women. The STROBE statement was used as the EQUATOR checklist (supplemental file). RESULTS: "Having a place" was positively related to educational level, tenure, and skill level, while being an advanced practice nurse was negatively associated with perceptions of "having a place," which in turn were negatively related to turnover intention among nurses. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to examine the antecedents of nurses' perceptions of "having a place," which include education, tenure, and skill level. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Nursing policymakers could encourage nurses to pursue higher degrees and update their nursing skills while instilling perceptions of "having a place" in nurses with a brief tenure and advanced practice nurses.