Selenium Treatment Ameliorates the Adverse Effects Caused by Dynamin Gene Knockdown in Bombyx mori.

Our previous research reported the influence of 50 µM selenium (Se) on the cytosolization (endocytosis) pathway, which in turn stimulates the growth and development of Bombyx mori. Lately, dynamin is recognized as one of the key proteins in endocytosis. To explore the underlying mechanisms of Se impact, the dynamin gene was knocked down by injecting siRNAs (Dynamin-1, Dynamin-2, and Dynamin-3). This was followed by an analysis of the target gene and levels of silk protein genes, as well as growth and developmental indices, Se-enrichment capacity, degree of oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity of B. mori. Our findings showed a considerable decrease in the relative expression of the dynamin gene in all tissues 24 h after the interference and a dramatic decrease in the silkworm body after 48 h. RNAi dynamin gene decreased the silkworm body weight, cocoon shell weight, and the ratio of cocoon. In the meantime, malondialdehyde level increased and glutathione level and superoxide dismutase/catalase activities decreased. 50 µM Se markedly ameliorated these growth and physiological deficits as well as decreases in dynamin gene expression. On the other hand, there were no significant effects on fertility (including produced eggs and laid eggs) between the interference and Se treatments. Additionally, the Se content in the B. mori increased after the dynamin gene interference. The dynamin gene was highly expressed in the silk gland and declined significantly after interference. Among the three siRNAs (Dynamin-1, Dynamin-2, and Dynamin-3), the dynamin-2 displayed the highest interference effects to target gene expression. Our results demonstrated that 50 µM Se was effective to prevent any adverse effects caused by dynamin knockdown in silkworms. This provides practical implications for B. mori breeding industry.

COVID-19 impacted the suicidal ideation among health care workers and medical students: An interrupted time-series analysis of data from 30 countries.

AIM: To investigate the impact of public health emergencies on the prevalence of suicidal ideation among healthcare workers (HCWs) and medical students. METHODS: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among HCWs and medical students was searched for analysis. The platforms included PubMed, medRVix, bioRvix, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science. Interrupted time-series analysis was employed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the prevalence and trends of suicidal ideation. To account for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity, Newey-West standard errors were utilized with a lag of order one. RESULTS: Seventy studies with 145,641 HCWs and medical students from 30 countries were included in the final analysis, with 30 studies before COVID-19 and 40 studies during the pandemic. Before the pandemic outbreak (April 2020), the monthly increasing rate was 0.063 % (95 % CI: -0.009 %, 0.135 %, z = 1.73, P = 0.084). The tendency of suicidal ideation prevalence increased by 1.116 % (95%CI: 0.888 %, 1.344 %, z = 9.60, P < 0.001). In other words, the calculated monthly growth rate of suicidal ideation after the pandemic outbreak is 1.179 % (95%CI: 0.968 %, 1.391 %, z = 10.93, P < 0.001) per month. The overall growing trend of prevalence of suicidal ideation during the pandemic is 1.896 % per month in America; 1.590 % in Europe; 0.443 % (95%CI: 0.213 %, 0.673 %, z = 3.77, P < 0.001) in Asia; 1.055 % in HCWs; and 0.645 % in medical students. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly impact the prevalence of suicidal ideation among HCWs and medical students, and the prevalence showed an upward trend.

Improvement of plant quality by amino acid transporters: A comprehensive review.

Amino acids serve as the primary means of transport and organic nitrogen carrier in plants, playing an essential role in plant growth and development. Amino acid transporters (AATs) facilitate the movement of amino acids within plants and have been identified and characterised in a number of species. It has been demonstrated that these amino acid transporters exert an influence on the quality attributes of plants, in addition to their primary function of transporting amino acid transport. This paper presents a summary of the role of AATs in plant quality improvement. This encompasses the enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency, root development, tiller number and fruit yield. Concurrently, AATs can bolster the resilience of plants to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses, thereby further enhancing the yield and quality of fruit. AATs exhibit a wide range of substrate specificity, which greatly optimizes the use of pesticides and significantly reduces pesticide residues, and reduces the risk of environmental pollution while increasing the safety of fruit. The discovery of AATs function provides new ideas and ways to cultivate high-quality crop and promote changes in agricultural development, and has great potential in the application of plant quality improvement.

Lycium barbarum pulp addition improves the dough properties and gluten protein structure.

This study investigated the effects of Lycium barbarum pulp (LBP) on the properties of mixed dough and gluten protein. The results showed that appropriate addition of LBP (5 %) significantly improved the performance of the dough, promoted the aggregation of gluten protein, enhanced the water binding ability, and delayed the gelatinization of starch during cooking. Compared with the control group, the peak temperature (Tp) of the LBP sample gradually increased from 63.23 °C to 65.56 °C, the expansion force reduced by about 21.56 %, the absolute Zeta potential lowered by about 18.4 %, and the α -helix content and ß -folding increased by 32.36 % and 10.23 %, respectively, indicating the more orderly and stable overall structure. However, LBP did not change the crystal configuration of starch and still showed typical type A line diffraction. Moreover, the addition of LBP increased the polyphenol content, which further improved the antioxidant properties and provided the possibility to improve the health potential of the flour.

The Utilization and Potential of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy in Individuals Diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) poses a significant threat to health and well-being, although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an effective treatment method. However, many patients undergoing PCI for coronary heart disease often experience negative emotions such as depression and anxiety, as well as sleep disturbances, poor adherence to medications, and somatic symptoms. These adverse psychological effects can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a highly effective mind-body therapy, has been increasingly utilized in the recovery process of patients with coronary heart disease. Several scholars have conducted mindfulness interventions for post-PCI patients with coronary heart disease and achieved promising outcomes. This article primarily focuses on applying mindfulness-based stress reduction in PCI patients with coronary heart disease and its future prospects.

Ommaya Reservoir-Assisted Treatment for Giant Cystic Solid Craniopharyngioma in Children.

OBJECTIVE: In children with giant cystic solid craniopharyngioma (CP), the Ommaya reservoir was implanted in the CP cavity, and the cystic fluid was continuously drained for 5 days before the tumor resection. METHODS: An 11-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to vision loss for 1 year, intermittent headache, vomiting for 6 months, and frequent urination for 2 months. Besides, magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed cystic solid lesions in the sellar region, suprasellar, and bilateral frontal lobes, with a size of 96.0×82.6×76.0 mm. Before the surgical resection, an Ommaya reservoir was implanted within the tumor cavity. The drainage was continued for 5 days and was 39 to 50 mL (43.80 ± 4.67 mL). Following the tumor shrank, a craniotomy was performed. RESULTS: Following surgical treatment, the CP was entirely removed. The child subsequently developed hypothyroidism and hypocortisolism, for which hormone replacement therapy was administered. No tumor recurrence was observed after 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The treatment of giant cystic solid CP in children is challenging. Preoperative implantation of the Ommaya reservoir, continuous drainage of cystic fluid, shrinkage of the tumor, and reduction of tumor tension are beneficial for tumor resection.

Frailty, polypharmacy, malnutrition, chronic conditions, and quality of life in the elderly: Large population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Aging, a significant public health issue, is associated with multiple concurrent chronic diseases and aging-related conditions (geriatric syndromes). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of age and chronic conditions on geriatric syndromes and the intercorrelations between multiple geriatric syndromes and quality of life (QoL) in the elderly (≥65 years) at the population level. METHODS: A large representative sample was randomly selected from a county with 17 towns and 811,867 residents, with multiple chronic conditions, geriatric syndromes (frailty, polypharmacy, and malnutrition), and QoL assesses and compared between geriatric and nongeriatric populations and among subgroups of the elderly. Associations of demographic information and chronic conditions with geriatric conditions and QoL in the elderly were assessed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Intercorrelations between age, multiple geriatric syndromes, and QoL were investigated using both correlation analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS)-based multivariable-adjusted dose-response analysis. RESULTS: Elderly people comprised 43.4% of the whole population, and prevalence of frailty, (pre-)malnutrition, polypharmacy, and impaired QoL among the elderly (median age, 73 years; male proportion, 51.0%) was 8.3%, 15.6%, 3.2%, and 10.8%, respectively. Prevalence of geriatric syndromes mostly did not significantly differ among different age subgroups of the elderly (except that frailty occurred more often with older age) or by gender. (Pre-)malnutrition was significantly associated with less often obesity and more frequent constipation, polypharmacy with more often diabetes and constipation, frailty with more frequent constipation and hernia, and impaired QoL with more often hypertension, diabetes, physical disability, and constipation. MNA-SF, GFI, and EQ-5D-5L scores and number of drugs used mostly significantly predicted the other geriatric syndromes and QoL. Impaired QoL was significantly associated with more often frailty, (pre-)malnutrition, and polypharmacy, and frailty with more frequent (pre-)malnutrition and polypharmacy. At 1.5-year follow-up, impaired QoL was significantly linked to polypharmacy and frailty at baseline; (pre-)malnutrition was significantly associated with frailty at baseline; polypharmacy was significantly linked to frailty at baseline; frailty was significantly linked to both (pre-)malnutrition and polypharmacy at baseline. Causal mediation analyses showed that frailty mediated the linkage between polypharmacy and worse QoL, and also that polypharmacy mediated the linkage between frailty and worse QoL. CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based study of the elderly with prospective follow-up, multiple chronic conditions were associated with one or more of the investigated geriatric syndromes. Geriatric syndromes were mostly significantly intercorrelated with and well predictive of each other and QoL, and there existed causal relationships between geriatric syndromes and QoL with other geriatric syndromes being mediators. The findings might be subject to some bias due to residual confounding factors not available in the dataset. It would be important to perform personalized geriatric syndromes stratified by chronic conditions, and active prevention or intervention of any syndrome might help to reduce the others and improve QoL.

Corrosion and Interfacial Contact Resistance of NiTi Alloy as a Promising Bipolar Plate for PEMFC.

Titanium (Ti) is generally considered as an ideal bipolar plate (BPP) material because of its excellent corrosion resistance, good machinability and lightweight nature. However, the easy-passivation property, which leads to increased interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and subsequently decreased cell performance, limits its large-scale commercial application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this paper, we proposed a NiTi alloy prepared by suction casting as a promising bipolar plate for PEMFCs. This NiTi alloy exhibits significantly decreased ICR values (16.8 mΩ cm2 at 1.4 MPa) compared with pure Ti (88.6 mΩ cm2 at 1.4 MPa), along with enhanced corrosion resistance compared with pure nickel (Ni). The superior corrosion resistance of NiTi alloy is accredited to the nobler open circuit potential and corrosion potential, coupled with low corrosion current densities and passive current densities. The improved ICR can be interpreted by the existence of high-proportioned metallic Ni in the passive film, which contributes to the reduced capacitance characteristic of the passive film (compared with Ti) and enhances charge conduction. This work provides a feasible option to ameliorate BPP material that may have desirable corrosion resistance and ICR.

A chondroitin sulphate hydrogel with sustained release of SDF-1α for extensive cartilage defect repair through induction of cell homing and promotion of chondrogenesis.

Articular cartilage damage represents a prevalent clinical disease in orthopedics, with its regeneration and repair constituting a central focus in ongoing research endeavors. While hydrogel technology has achieved notable progress in the field of cartilage regeneration, addressing the repair of larger cartilage defects remains a significant and formidable challenge. In pursuit of achieving the repair of extensive cartilage defects, this study designed a polydopamine-modified chondroitin sulfate hydrogel loaded with SDF-1α (P-SCMA). This hydrogel, capable of directly providing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), served as a platform for carrying growth factors and attracting mesenchymal stem cells for the in situ reconstruction of extensive cartilage defects. The results indicate that the P-SCMA hydrogel is capable of not only directly providing GAGs but also sustainably releasing SDF-1α. In the early stages, it promotes cell adhesion and proliferation and induces cell homing, while in the later stages, it further induces chondrogenesis by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. This bioactive hydrogel, which possesses the functions of providing GAGs, promoting cell proliferation, inducing cell homing and chondrogenesis, is capable of promoting cartilage repair in multiple ways, providing new perspectives for the repair of extensive cartilage defects.

Photomechanical responses of coordination polymers regulated by precise organization of the photoactive centers.

Three photoactive Cd(II) coordination polymers (CPs), [Cd (Fsbpe)(DBBA)2]·2DMF (CP1), [Cd(Fepbpe)(DBBA)2]·2DMF (CP2) and [Cd(Fsbpeb)(DBBA)2] (CP3) (DBBA = 3,5-dibromobenzoic acid, DMF = dimethyl formamide) with similar 1D chain motifs exhibited completely different photosalient behaviors (PS) in response to UV light. Mechanical motion was triggered by [2+2] photocycloaddition and regulated by positioning of the photoactive alkene centers relative to the crystal axis. This solid-state reaction was reversed by heating and photomechanical behaviour was repeated over several cycles. A simple photoactuating device was prepared using a CP3-PVA composite.

Expression levels and clinical significance of serum miR-19a/CCL20 in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is a lethal disease whose early diagnosis is critical for treatment. microRNA (miR)-19a targets CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) in myocardial infarction. We investigated the expression patterns of serum miR-19a and CCL20 of ACI patients and assessed their clinical values. Serum samples of 50 healthy subjects and110 ACI patients were collected. Serum levels of miR-19a, CCL20 mRNA, and biochemical indexes were assessed. miR-19a downstream target gene and the binding relationship between miR-19a and CCL20 were predicted and verified. miR-19a and CCL20 mRNA were subjected to correlation and diagnostic efficiency analysis. miR-19a was poorly expressed in the serum of ACI patients, especially in patients with unstable plaque and large infarction. tumor necrosis factor-α, low-density lipoprotein, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio negatively correlated with serum miR-19a level and positively correlated with CCL20. Dual-luciferase assay revealed that miR-19a could negatively regulate CCL20 expression. CCL20 was highly expressed in the serum of ACI patients. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve of miR-19a combined with CCL20 was 0.9741 (98.00% specificity, 90.91% sensitivity), higher than their single diagnosis. Collectively, miR-19a had high diagnostic value for ACI and could target to restrain CCL20. The combination of miR-19a and CCL20 improved diagnostic value for ACI.

The knowledge, attitude and behavior on the palliative care among neonatal nurses: what can we do.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal nurses should provide timely and high-quality palliative care whenever necessary. It's necessary to investigate the knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care among neonatal nurses, to provide references and evidences for clinical palliative care. METHODS: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in a tertiary hospital of China were selected from December 1 to 16, 2022. The palliative care knowledge, attitude and behavior questionnaire was used to evaluate the current situation of palliative nursing knowledge, attitude and behavior of NICU nurses. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors. RESULTS: 122 nurses were finally included. The average score of knowledge in neonatal nurses was 7.68 ± 2.93, the average score of attitude was 26.24 ± 7.11, the score of behavior was 40.55 ± 8.98, the average total score was 74.03 ± 10.17. Spearman correlation indicated that score of knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care in neonatal nurses were correlated with the age(r = 0.541), year of work experience(r = 0.622) and professional ranks and titles(r = 0.576) (all P < 0.05). Age (OR = 1.515, 95%CI: 1.204 ~ 1.796), year of work experience (OR = 2.488, 95%CI: 2.003 ~ 2.865) and professional ranks and titles (OR = 2.801, 95%CI: 2.434 ~ 3.155) were the influencing factors of score of knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care (all P < 0.05). PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: NICU nurses have a positive attitude towards palliative care, but the practical behavior of palliative care is less and lack of relevant knowledge. Targeted training should be carried out combined with the current situation of knowledge, attitude and practice of NICU nurses to improve the palliative care ability and quality of NICU nurses.

IGF-1 inhibits inflammation and accelerates angiogenesis via Ras/PI3K/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways to promote wound healing.

Exogenous insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been reported to promote wound healing through regulation of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Despite the existing studies of IGF-1 on VEC and its role in angiogenesis, the mechanisms regarding anti-inflammatory and angiogenetic effects of IGF-1 remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the wound-healing process and the related signaling pathway of IGF-1 using an inflammation model induced by IFN-γ. The results demonstrated that IGF-1 can increase cell proliferation, suppress inflammation in VECs, and promote angiogenesis. In vivo studies further confirmed that IGF-1 can reduce inflammation, enhance vascular regeneration, and improve re-epithelialization and collagen deposition in acute wounds. Importantly, the Ras/PI3K/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways was identified as the mechanisms through which IGF-1 exerts its anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects. These findings contribute to the understanding of IGF-1's role in wound healing and may have implications for the development of new wound treatment approaches.

Frailty and all-cause and cancer-related mortality in cancer patients: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between frailty and all-cause and cancer-related mortality. Additionally, the objective is to compare the magnitude of these associations between older adults and younger adults. METHODS: We gathered baseline data from NHANES (1999-2018) and developed a cumulative index consisting of 39 items to evaluate frailty. The National Death Index database was utilized to track the survival status of individuals. The Cox regression model was employed to estimate the associations between frailty status and all-cause and cancer-related mortality. RESULTS: Ultimately, 3398 cancer patients were included in the analysis, comprising 910 younger adults and 2488 older adults. Compared to non-frail patients, the elevated all-cause and cancer-related mortality among pre-frail patients was not statistically significant (HRs = 1.312, 95%CI: 0.956-1.800, P = 0.092; HRs = 1.462, 0.811-2.635, P = 0.207). However, a significant elevation of both all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk was observed among frail patients (HRs = 2.213, 1.617-3.030, P < 0.001; HRs = 2.463, 95%CI = 1.370-4.429, P = 0.003). Frailty individuals demonstrated a more pronounced association with the prediction of all-cause mortality in younger (HRs = 2.230, 1.073-4.634, P = 0.032) than in older adults (HRs = 2.090, 1.475-2.960, P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis consistently revealed robust results. RCS plots suggested a progressively escalating dose-response correlation between frailty and both all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-frailty did not result in an increase in mortality risks compared to non-frailty. However, frailty caused a higher all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk than non-frailty. Identifying those at risk and implementing targeted interventions may contribute to extending healthy life expectancy, regardless of age.

Coordination Site Selective Occupation Strategy for Tuning the Photosalient Effects of Photoactive Cd Complexes.

The application of photo responsive crystals to useful actuation demands a rational design to elicit controllable movement. The [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction triggers mechanical motion using associated photosalient (PS) effects. We herein report a coordination site selective occupation strategy to modulate the arrangement of C=C bonds and thereby tune the PS effect. Replacing or repositioning the donor atom at one end of the linear ligand allowed for a greater level of molecular structural flexibility, facilitating [2+2] photocycloaddition. The distance between photoreactive centres and coordination sites was adjusted by ligand design to regulate PS behaviour. This work suggests new avenues for modulating PS movement to achieve useful motion.

Interactive data exploration websites for large-scale electrophysiology.

Methodological advances in neuroscience have enabled the collection of massive datasets which demand innovative approaches for scientific communication. Existing platforms for data storage lack intuitive tools for data exploration, limiting our ability to interact effectively with these brain-wide datasets. We introduce two public websites: (Data and Atlas) developed for the International Brain Laboratory which provide access to millions of behavioral trials and hundreds of thousands of individual neurons. These interfaces allow users to discover both the raw and processed brain-wide data released by the IBL at the scale of the whole brain, individual sessions, trials, and neurons. By hosting these data interfaces as websites they are available cross-platform with no installation. By releasing each site's code as a modular open-source framework, other researchers can easily develop their own web interfaces and explore their own data. As neuroscience datasets continue to expand, customizable web interfaces offer a glimpse into a future of streamlined data exploration and act as blueprints for future tools.

Body mass index and pressure injuries risk in hospitalized adult patients: A dose-response analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between underweight and pressure injuries (PIs) has been established in several studies. However, there is a lack of well-designed research investigating the connection between overweight and obesity with these injuries. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to investigate the dose-response relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of PIs in adult hospitalized patients. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE Databases were searched from inception to May 2024. Observational articles with at least three BMI categories were included in the study. BMI was defined as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and morbid obesity for the meta-analysis. The non-linear relationship between BMI and the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults was investigated using restricted cubic spline models. Fractional polynomial modeling was used. RESULTS: Eleven articles reporting at least 3 categories of BMI met the inclusion criteria, including 31,389 participants. Compared to patients with normal weight, those with underweight, obesity, and morbid obesity exhibited an increased risk of PIs, with odds ratios of 1.70 (95%CI:1.50-1.91), 1.12 (95%CI:1.02-1.24), 1.70 (95%CI:1.13-2.55), respectively. A J-shaped dose-response model was established for the relationship between PI risk and BMI (Pnon-linearity < 0.001, Plinearity = 0.745). CONCLUSION: The J-shaped dose-response pattern revealed that underweight, obesity and morbid obesity heightened the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults. Lower and higher BMI values may signify an increased risk for PIs, particularly among the elderly with lower BMI, providing valuable guidance for medical staff.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling and stimulating autophagy.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive pulmonary disease with an unclear pathogenesis and no available specific drug treatment. The principal etiological factors are lung inflammation caused by environmental factors, damage to alveolar epithelial cells, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts. Here, we have demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) ameliorates IPF via the autophagy pathway. We administered FGF21 to bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice, which ameliorated their defects in lung function, reduced the accumulation of collagen, restored tissue structure, reduced the deposition of hydroxyproline, reduced the expression of collagen I and α-SMA and increased the expression of E-cadherin. The expression of LC3BII and the number of autophagosomes were significantly higher in the lungs. The expression of AKT and mTOR was significantly reduced by FGF21 treatment. We also determined the effects of FGF21 in A549 cells treated with TGF-ß, and found that FGF21 significantly inhibits activation of the AKT signaling pathway, thereby reducing TGF-ß-induced EMT and preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of fibroblasts. We conclude that FGF21 ameliorates IPF by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and activating autophagy, which provides a theoretical basis for FGF21 to be used for the treatment of IPF.