Genetic correlation between circulating cytokines and risk of three ophthalmic diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

PURPOSE: Pathogenesis and the associated risk factors of cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate causal relationships between circulating cytokine levels and the development of these diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genetic instrumental variables for circulating cytokines were derived from a genome-wide association study of 8293 European participants. Summary-level data for AMD, glaucoma, and senile cataract were obtained from the FinnGen database. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the main Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method. The Cochran's Q, MR-Egger regression, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test were used for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Based on the IVW method, MR analysis demonstrated five circulating cytokines suggestively associated with AMD (SCGF-ß, 1.099 [95%CI, 1.037-1.166], P = 0.002; SCF, 1.155 [95%CI, 1.015-1.315], P = 0.029; MCP-1, 1.103 [95%CI, 1.012-1.202], P = 0.026; IL-10, 1.102 [95%CI, 1.012-1.200], P = 0.025; eotaxin, 1.086 [95%CI, 1.002-1.176], P = 0.044), five suggestively linked with glaucoma (MCP-1, 0.945 [95%CI, 0.894-0.999], P = 0.047; IL1ra, 0.886 [95%CI, 0.809-0.969], P = 0.008; IL-1ß, 0.866 [95%CI, 0.762-0.983], P = 0.027; IL-9, 0.908 [95%CI, 0.841-0.980], P = 0.014; IL2ra, 1.065 [95%CI, 1.004-1.130], P = 0.035), and four suggestively associated with senile cataract (TRAIL, 1.043 [95%CI, 1.009-1.077], P = 0.011; IL-16, 1.032 [95%CI, 1.001-1.064], P = 0.046; IL1ra, 0.942 [95%CI, 0.887-0.999], P = 0.047; FGF-basic, 1.144 [95%CI, 1.052-1.244], P = 0.002). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis results supported the above associations. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the involvement of several circulating cytokines in the development ophthalmic diseases and holds potential as viable pharmacological targets for these diseases.

Development of a high sensitivity quantum dot-based fluorescent quenching lateral flow assay for the detection of zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a common carcinogenic toxin related to cereal contamination. In this study, we developed a high sensitivity quantum dot (QD)-based fluorescent quenching lateral flow assay (LFA) for sensitive ZEN detection. The linear detection range of the fluorescent quenching LFA for ZEN was 0.78-25 ng/mL, and the limit of detection was 0.58 ng/mL. In addition, the fluorescent quenching LFA showed high recovery (83.1-93.6%) for detection of ZEN concentrations spiked into corn samples. These results indicate that the QD-based fluorescent quenching LFA may be a valuable tool for preliminary screening of ZEN contamination.

Quantitative assessment of disease markers using the naked eye: point-of-care testing with gas generation-based biosensor immunochromatographic strips.

BACKGROUND: Immunochromatographic strips (ICSs) are a practical tool commonly used in point-of-care testing (POCT) applications. However, ICSs that are currently available have low sensitivity and require expensive equipment for quantitative analysis. These limitations prohibit their extensive use in areas where medical resources are scarce. METHODS: We developed a novel POCT platform by integrating a gas generation biosensor with Au@Pt Core/Shell nanoparticle (Au@PtNPs)-based ICSs (G-ICSs). The resulting G-ICSs enabled the convenient and quantitative assessment of a target protein using the naked eye, without the need for auxiliary equipment or complicated computation. To assess this platform, C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker commonly used for the diagnosis of acute, infectious diseases was chosen as a proof-of-concept test. RESULTS: The linear detection range (LDR) of the G-ICSs for CRP was 0.05-6.25 µg/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.041 µg/L. The G-ICSs had higher sensitivity and wider LDR when compared with commonly used AuNPs and fluorescent-based ICSs. When compared with results from a chemiluminescent immunoassay, G-ICS concordance rates for CRP detection in serum samples ranged from 93.72 to 110.99%. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that G-ICSs have wide applicability in family diagnosis and community medical institutions, especially in areas with poor medical resources.

A Nanozyme- and Ambient Light-Based Smartphone Platform for Simultaneous Detection of Dual Biomarkers from Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides.

A transparent, lateral-flow test strip coupled with a smartphone-based ambient light sensor was first proposed for detecting enzymatic inhibition and phosphorylation. The principle of the platform is based on the simultaneous measurement of the total amount of the enzyme and enzyme activity to biomonitor exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. In this study, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was adopted as the model enzyme and ethyl paraoxon was chosen as an analyte representing OP pesticides. The total amount of BChE was quantified by a sensitive colorimetric signal originating from a sandwich immunochromatographic assay utilizing PtPd nanoparticles as a colorimetric probe, which exhibited excellent catalytic activity for phenols. In the sandwich immunoassay, only one antibody against BChE was simultaneously utilized as the recognition antibody and the labeling antibody due to the tetrameric structure of native BChE. The BChE activity was estimated by another colorimetric signal using the Ellman assay. Both colorimetric signals on two separated test strips were detected by the smartphone-based ambient light sensor. The proposed sensor operated with an LED in a 3D-printed substrate, which emitted excitation light and transmitted it through a transparent, lateral-flow test strip. With the increase in the colorimetric signal in the test line of the test strip, the intensity of the transmitted light decreased. The smartphone-based sensor showed excellent linear responses for assaying the total amount of BChE and active BChE ranging from 0.05 to 6.4 nM and from 0.1 to 6.4 nM, respectively. A high portability and low detection limit were simultaneously realized in the common smartphone-based device. This low-cost, portable, easy-operation, and sensitive immunoassay strategy shows great potential for online detection of OP exposure and monitoring other disease biomarkers.

Practical immune-barometer sensor for trivalent chromium ion detection using gold core platinum shell nanoparticle probes.

The technology progress of biosensors has markedly improved healthcare, disease diagnosis, environment monitoring, and food safety control over the past few decades. However, development of sensitive, robust, low-cost and portable assays for on-site bioanalysis is still a great challenge. In this study, we described a portable, feasible and miniaturized immune-barometer sensor (IBS), which can be used to sensitively measure the changes in a pressure signal, and we applied this IBS in the detection of Cr(iii). In this system, a competitive immunoassay was incorporated as a signaling technique for Cr(iii) detection. To generate a signal of pressure changes (ΔP), Au@PtNPs (gold core platinum shell nanoparticles) were prepared for decomposing H2O2 to generate O2 in a sealed chamber. The expansion of gas volume was accurately detected using a sensitive barometer in the sealed reaction chamber. The ΔP correlated well with Cr(iii) concentrations ranging from 0.39 to 25 ng mL-1. The limit of detection (LOD) of the IBS was estimated to be as low as 0.35 ng mL-1. Furthermore, the IBS has high specificity and high recovery for Cr(iii) detection in tap water samples (97.5%-108.7%) and in the Pearl River water samples (95.6%-110.2%). Compared with the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the IBS was observed to be more sensitive, of low-cost and portable for the on-site detection of Cr(iii). Therefore, the IBS is a promising potential method for the detection of heavy metals in aqueous solutions and many other fields.

A simple and compact smartphone-based device for the quantitative readout of colloidal gold lateral flow immunoassay strips.

Colloidal gold lateral flow immunoassay strips (AuNPs-LFIS) have been widely applied as qualitative diagnostic tools for point-of-care tests (POCT). If strip readers were incorporated, their use could be extended to quantitative analysis. However, their cost and non-portability render commercial strip readers unavailable for use in either home testing, community or rural hospital diagnosis. This is particularly true for on-site testing. Here, a smartphone-based reader was designed and 3D-printed for quantitatively assess AuNPs-LFIS. The basic principle of the devise was relying on a smartphone's ambient light sensor (SPALS). This sensor was harnessed to measure the transmitted light intensities originating from the T-lines on the strips, the transmitted light intensities vary with concentration of AuNP on the T-lines. To validate this approach, our newly developed smartphone's ambient light sensor-based reader (SPALS-reader) was used to readout AuNPs-LFIS of three analytical targets: cadmium ion (Cd2+; limit of detection (LOD) was 0.16 ng/mL), clenbuterol (CL; LOD was 0.046 ng/mL), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV; LOD was 0.055 µg/mL). The result showed good consistency with the results of conventional image analysis approaches, indicating that the smartphone-based device is appropriate for use in AuNPs-LFIS readouts. Compared with the traditional analysis method, the developed AuNPs-LFIS reader is easier operated, lower cost and more portable, which provided an on-site quantitative analysis tool for AuNPs-LFIS and enhances the applied range of AuNPs-LFIS.

A new lateral-flow immunochromatographic strip combined with quantum dot nanobeads and gold nanoflowers for rapid detection of tetrodotoxin.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent, low molecular weight analyte that can lead to fatal poisoning and requires a sensitive, rapid detection method. Here, we have developed a competitive, lateral-flow immunochromatographic strip combined with quantum dot nanobeads (QDNBs) and gold nanoflowers (AuNFs). This approach is called turn-on C-LFICS and it meets all testing requirements. Subsequent analysis revealed that this turn-on C-LFICS was rapid (8 min), sensitive (LOD = 0.2 ng mL-1), and quantitative (DLR = 1.56-100 ng mL-1), and had a positive signal readout (based on fluorescence quenching effects) for TTX detection. Moreover, it had superior signal brightness and a low background interference signal when compared with previous methods. Finally, it can function free of interference from the sample matrix and has a demonstrated recovery range of 85.5% to 119.7% in spiked samples. Taken together, these results show that our turn-on C-LFICS is an effective detection tool for TTX or other small molecules.

A smartphone colorimetric reader integrated with an ambient light sensor and a 3D printed attachment for on-site detection of zearalenone.

Smartphone biosensors could be cost-effective, portable instruments to be used for the readout of liquid colorimetric assays. However, current reported smartphone colorimetric readers have relied on photos of liquid assays captured using a camera, and then analyzed using software programs. This approach results in a relatively low accuracy and low generality. In this work, we reported a novel smartphone colorimetric reader that has been integrated with an ambient light sensor and a 3D printed attachment for the readout of liquid colorimetric assays. The portable and low-cost ($0.15) reader utilized a simplified electronic and light path design. Furthermore, our reported smartphone colorimetric reader can be compatible with different smartphones. As a proof of principle, the utility of this device was demonstrated using it in conjunction with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect zearalenone. Results were consistent with those obtained using a professional microplate reader. The developed smartphone colorimetric reader was capable of providing scalable, cost-effective, and accurate results for liquid colorimetric assays that related to clinical diagnoses, environment pollution, and food testing. Graphical abstract A novel smartphone colorimetric reader that has been integrated with an ambient light sensor and a 3D printed attachment for the readout of liquid colorimetric assays.

Aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching lateral flow strip for rapid detection of mercury (II) ion in water samples.

Divalent mercury ion (Hg2+) is one of the most common and stable forms of mercury pollution. In this study, a skillfully designed lateral flow strip (LFS) was developed for sensitive detection of Hg2+ in river water samples. Aptamer, a specific oligonucleotide probe, was used to selectively identify and target Hg2+ instead of antibody in traditional immunechromatographic strips; and the fluorescence-quenching system was used to generate positive and low background florescence signals in the competitive-likely LFS. The linear detection range of the LFS for Hg2+ was 0.13 ng mL-1 to 4 ng mL-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.13 ng mL-1. This test provided results in 15 min and demonstrated high specificity. For detection of Hg2+ in river water, the results were consistent with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry measurements. The aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching LFS was shown to provide a reliable, accurate method for rapid detection of mercury contamination. Graphical Abstract The principle of the aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching LFS.

A plasmonic ELISA for the naked-eye detection of chromium ions in water samples.

Here, we describe the development of a triangular silver nanoprism (AgNPR) etching-based plasmonic ELISA for the colorimetric determination of Cr(III) levels in environmental water samples. This involved the creation of a novel signal generation system (substrate reaction solution) for a competitive ELISA in which hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used to etch triangular AgNPRs, inducing a change in color. This is achieved by controlling the H2O2 concentration that remains after degradation by catalase, which is conjugated to the secondary antibody of the ELISA. Because the degree of color change and the shift in the absorption spectrum of the substrate reaction solution are closely correlated with the Cr(III) concentration, this plasmonic ELISA can be used not only for the quantification of Cr(III) concentrations ranging from 3.13 to 50 ng/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.13 ng/mL, but also for the visual detection (indicated by a color change from blue to mauve) of Cr(III) with a sensitivity of 6.25 ng/mL by the naked eye. Therefore, the plasmonic ELISA developed in this work represents a new strategy for heavy metal ion detection and has high potential applicability in resource-constrained areas. Graphical Abstract Schematic diagram of triangular silver nanoprism etching-based signal generation system.

A Portable Smart-Phone Readout Device for the Detection of Mercury Contamination Based on an Aptamer-Assay Nanosensor.

The detection of environmental mercury (Hg) contamination requires complex and expensive instruments and professional technicians. We present a simple, sensitive, and portable Hg2+ detection system based on a smartphone and colorimetric aptamer nanosensor. A smartphone equipped with a light meter app was used to detect, record, and process signals from a smartphone-based microwell reader (MR S-phone), which is composed of a simple light source and a miniaturized assay platform. The colorimetric readout of the aptamer nanosensor is based on a specific interaction between the selected aptamer and Hg2+, which leads to a color change in the reaction solution due to an aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The MR S-phone-based AuNPs-aptamer colorimetric sensor system could reliably detect Hg2+ in both tap water and Pearl River water samples and produced a linear colorimetric readout of Hg2+ concentration in the range of 1 ng/mL-32 ng/mL with a correlation of 0.991, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.28 ng/mL for Hg2+. The detection could be quickly completed in only 20 min. Our novel mercury detection assay is simple, rapid, and sensitive, and it provides new strategies for the on-site detection of mercury contamination in any environment.

Aggregated silver nanoparticles based surface-enhanced Raman scattering enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for ultrasensitive detection of protein biomarkers and small molecules.

Lowering the detection limit is critical to the design of bioassays required for medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety regulations. The current sensitivity of standard color-based analyte detection limits the further use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in research and clinical diagnoses. Here, we demonstrate a novel method that uses the Raman signal as the signal-generating system of an ELISA and combines surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with silver nanoparticles aggregation for ultrasensitive analyte detection. The enzyme label of the ELISA controls the dissolution of Raman reporter-labeled silver nanoparticles through hydrogen peroxide and generates a strong Raman signal when the analyte is present. Using this assay, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the adrenal stimulant ractopamine (Rac) were detected in whole serum and urine at the ultralow concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-6) ng/mL, respectively. The methodology proposed here could potentially be applied to other molecules detection as well as PSA and Rac.

Rough surface Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles to fabricating high sensitivity SERS immunochromatographic sensors.

Immunochromatographic sensors (ICSs) are inexpensive, simple, portable, and robust, thus making ICSs commonplace in clinical diagnoses, food testing, and environmental monitoring. However, commonly used gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) ICSs have low sensitivity. Therefore, we developed highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) ICSs. To enhance the sensitivity of SERS ICSs, rough surface core-shell Au@Ag nanoparticles (RSAu@AgNPs) were prepared by coating silver on the surface of gold nanoflowers (AuNFs). Then these nanoparticles were used as SERS substrate in the SERS ICSs, after which the SERS ICSs were implemented to detect haemoglobin and heavy metal cadmium ion (Cd(2+)). The limit of detection (LOD) of the SERS ICSs for detecting haemoglobin was 8 ng/mL, and the linear range of the SERS ICSs was from 31.3 to 2000 ng/mL. The LOD of the SERS ICSs for detecting Cd(2+) was 0.05 ng/mL and the linear analysis range was from 0.05 to 25 ng/mL. The cross reactivity of the SERS ICSs was studied and results showed that the SERS ICSs exhibited highly specific for detection of haemoglobin and Cd(2+), respectively. The SERS ICSs were then used to detect haemoglobin (spiked in serum and in stool) and Cd(2+) (spiked in tap water, river water, and soil leaching water), and the results showed high recovery. These characteristics indicated that SERS ICSs were ideal tools for clinical diagnosis and environmental pollution monitoring.

Silver nanoparticle enhanced Raman scattering-based lateral flow immunoassays for ultra-sensitive detection of the heavy metal chromium.

We report a simple and ultra-sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) strip sensor based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). LFIAs are inexpensive, simple, portable and robust, thus making them commonplace in medicine, agriculture and food safety. However, their applications are limited due to the low signal intensity of the color-formation reaction based on the label accumulation. SERS is a powerful molecular spectroscopy technique for ultra-detection, which is based on the enhancement of the inelastic scattering from molecules located near nanostructured metallic surfaces when the molecules are illuminated and the surface plasmons are excited. Because of the rapidity and robustness of LFIAs and the high sensitivity of SERS, we introduce SERS into LFIAs (SERS-LFIA). Our SERS-LFIA demonstrates fast, excellent performance and is suitable for the semiquantitative examination of ultratrace analytes (Cr(3+)), with the limit of the detection (LOD) as low as 10(-5) ng mL(-1), which is 10(5)-fold more highly sensitive than those previously used to detect Cr(3+) within 15 min.

Fluorescence-Quenching Lateral Flow Immunoassay for "Turn-On" and Sensitive Detection of Anti-SARS-Cov-2 Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Serum.

The titer of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in the human body is an essential reference for evaluating the acquired protective immunity and resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, a fluorescence-quenching lateral flow immunoassay (FQ-LFIA) is established for quantitative detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAbs in the sera of individuals who are vaccinated or infected within 10 min. The ultrabright aggregation-induced emission properties encapsulated in nanoparticles, AIE490 NP, are applied in the established FQ-LFIA with gold nanoparticles to achieve a fluorescence "turn-on" competitive immunoassay. Under optimized conditions, the FQ-LFIA quantitatively detected 103 positive and 50 negative human serum samples with a limit of detection (LoD) of 1.29 IU mL-1 . A strong correlation is present with the conventional pseudovirus-based virus neutralization test (R2  = 0.9796, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the traditional LFIA with a "turn-off" mode can only achieve a LoD of 11.06 IU mL-1 . The FQ-LFIA showed excellent sensitivity to anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAbs. The intra- and inter-assay precisions of the established method are below 15%. The established FQ-LFIA has promising potential as a rapid and quantitative method for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAbs. FQ-LFIA can also be used to detect various biomarkers.

Genetic correlation between circulating metabolites and chalazion: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Lipid metabolism disorders were observationally associated with chalazion, but the causality of the related circulating metabolites on chalazion remained unknown. Here, we investigated the potential causal relationship between circulating metabolites and chalazion using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: For the primary analysis, 249 metabolic biomarkers were obtained from the UK Biobank, and 123 circulating metabolites were obtained from the publication by Kuttunen et al. for the secondary analysis. Chalazion summary data were obtained from the FinnGen database. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) is the main MR analysis method, and the MR assumptions were evaluated in sensitivity and colocalization analyses. Results: Two MR analyses results showed that the common metabolite, alanine, exhibited a genetic protective effect against chalazion (primary analysis: odds ratio [OR] = 0.680; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.507-0.912; p = 0.010; secondary analysis: OR = 0.578; 95% CI, 0.439-0.759; p = 0.00008). The robustness of the findings was supported by heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy analysis. Two colocalization analyses showed that alanine did not share a region of genetic variation with chalazion (primary analysis: PPH4 = 1.95%; secondary analysis: PPH4 = 25.3%). Moreover, previous studies have suggested that an increase in the degree of unsaturation is associated with an elevated risk of chalazion (OR = 1.216; 95% CI, 1.055-1.401; p = 0.007), with omega-3 fatty acids (OR = 1.204; 95% CI, 1.054-1.377; p = 0.006) appearing to be the major contributing factor, as opposed to omega-6 fatty acids (OR = 0.850; 95% CI, 0.735-0.982; p = 0.027). Conclusion: This study suggests that alanine and several unsaturated fatty acids are candidate molecules for mechanistic exploration and drug target selection in chalazion.

Commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation Zao Ren An Shen prescription for primary insomnia: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: Natural products are widely used for primary insomnia (PI). This systematic review with trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to summarize evidence pertaining to the effectiveness and safety of Zao Ren An Shen (ZRAS) prescription, a commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation, for treating PI. Methods: Controlled clinical trials appraising ZRAS compared to controls or as an add-on treatment were systematically searched across seven databases until January 2024. Cochrane ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools were adopted to determine risk of bias. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework. Results: We analyzed 22 studies, involving 2,142 participants. The effect of ZRAS in reducing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores was found to be comparable to benzodiazepines [MD = 0.39, 95%CI (-0.12, 0.91), p = 0.13] and superior to Z-drugs [MD = -1.31, 95%CI (-2.37, -0.24), p = 0.02]. The addition of ZRAS to hypnotics more significantly reduced polysomnographically-recorded sleep onset latency [MD = -4.44 min, 95%CI (-7.98, -0.91), p = 0.01] and number of awakenings [MD = -0.89 times, 95%CI (-1.67, -0.10), p = 0.03], and increased total sleep time [MD = 40.72 min, 95%CI (25.14, 56.30), p < 0.01], with fewer adverse events than hypnotics alone. TSA validated the robustness of these quantitative synthesis results. However, the quality of evidence ranged from very low to low. The limited data available for follow-up did not support meta-synthesis. Conclusion: While ZRAS prescription shows promising effectiveness in treating PI, the overall quality of evidence is limited. Rigorously-designed randomized control trials are warranted to confirm the short-term efficacy of ZRAS and explore its medium-to-long-term efficacy. Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=471497), identifier (CRD42023471497).

Career Considerations in Nurse-Led Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinics: a Two-Center Qualitative Study.

Background: Growing demand exists for high-quality Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) care, particularly through Nurse-led TCM clinics (TCM-NLCs). Nurses with extensive experience in TCM departments represent a potential workforce for this healthcare model. This qualitative study aims to investigate the willingness of these candidates to engage in TCM-NLCs, with a specific focus on their main concerns and apprehensions when facing new challenges. Methods: Individual semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted with senior nurses from two TCM hospitals in Shanghai. Each participant had a minimum of three years of work experience in a TCM related department. Conventional qualitative content analysis was utilized. Results: Fourteen participants were interviewed and data saturation was achieved. Nurses exhibited strong interest in practicing in TCM-NLCs. They believed that such innovative TCM nursing service model not only extends nursing role, provides greater empowerment and opportunities for professional development but also meets patients' diverse healthcare needs, reduces reliance on other healthcare providers such as doctors, and increases hospital revenue. However, challenges such as deficiencies in evidence-based TCM nursing education, the absence of standardized practice guidelines, and limited prescriptive privileges were identified as primary obstacles to engaging in TCM-NLCs practice, potentially undermining the specialization of this advanced nursing practice model. Conclusion: Although the nurses interviewed were highly motivated, they generally lacked confidence to practice independently in TCM-NLCs. A pressing priority is to address their concerns by providing appropriate resources as well as education and policy support to enhance their competency and ensure their practice autonomy, therefore building a more qualified pool of professionals for advanced TCM nursing practice.

Acupuncture for primary insomnia: Effectiveness, safety, mechanisms and recommendations for clinical practice.

Primary insomnia (PI) is an increasing concern in modern society. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is the first-line recommendation, yet limited availability and cost impede its widespread use. While hypnotics are frequently used, balancing their benefits against the risk of adverse events poses challenges. This review summarizes the clinical and preclinical evidence of acupuncture as a treatment for PI, discussing its potential mechanisms and role in reliving insomnia. Clinical trials show that acupuncture improves subjective sleep quality, fatigue, cognitive impairments, and emotional symptoms with minimal adverse events. It also positively impacts objective sleep processes, including prolonging total sleep time, improving sleep efficiency, reducing sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset, and enhancing sleep architecture/structure, including increasing N3% and REM%, and decreasing N1%. However, methodological shortcomings in some trials diminish the overall quality of evidence. Animal studies suggest that acupuncture restores circadian rhythms in sleep-deprived rodents and improves their performance in behavioral tests, possibly mediated by various clinical variables and pathways. These may involve neurotransmitters, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, inflammatory cytokines, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, gut microbiota, and other cellular events. While the existing findings support acupuncture as a promising therapeutic strategy for PI, additional high-quality trials are required to validate its benefits.

Epigenetics research in eye diseases: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2023.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A bibliometric analysis is a quantitative study that utilises methods such as citation analysis to evaluate research performance. A bibliometric analysis could provide a valuable reference for ophthalmic researchers to understand the trends in epigenetics research. BACKGROUND: The number of studies on epigenetics in eye diseases has exceeded 5,000, but the progress and scope of epigenetic research on eye diseases remain unclear. The study aimed to bibliometrically analyse epigenetic research conducted in eye diseases. METHODS: Studies concerning epigenetic research on eye diseases from 2000-2023 were searched using the Web of Science Core Collection. Following this, the included studies were analysed for citations, journals, keywords, authors, and countries, using the Bibliometrix package in R Studio. RESULTS: In total, 3758 studies were included in the analysis, including 3099 original articles, 599 reviews, 11 editorials, and 49 early access articles. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science was the most published journal with 185 articles, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America was the most cited journal, with 8727 citations. The journal with the highest h-index was Oncogene (h-index = 38).Renu A Kowluru from the Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA, had the most citations with 1,690 and the highest h-index (h-index = 23). China and the USA were the countries with the highest number of publications (1739) and total citations (40533), respectively. Furthermore, from 2000-2023, the top five frequent research topics were diabetic retinopathy, 522; microribonucleic acid, 469; retinoblastoma, 370; apoptosis, 268; and epigenetics, 206. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this bibliometric study provide the current status and trends of epigenetic research in eye diseases and will help researchers identify areas of current interest in the field, which should help highlight new research directions.