Topoisomerase IIIß Deficiency Induces Neuro-Behavioral Changes and Brain Connectivity Alterations in Mice.

Topoisomerase IIIß (Top3ß), the only dual-activity topoisomerase in mammals that can change topology of both DNA and RNA, is known to be associated with neurodevelopment and mental dysfunction in humans. However, there is no report showing clear associations of Top3ß with neuropsychiatric phenotypes in mice. Here, we investigated the effect of Top3ß on neuro-behavior using newly generated Top3ß deficient (Top3ß-/-) mice. We found that Top3ß-/- mice showed decreased anxiety and depression-like behaviors. The lack of Top3ß was also associated with changes in circadian rhythm. In addition, a clear expression of Top3ß was demonstrated in the central nervous system of mice. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) analysis revealed significantly altered connectivity between many brain regions in Top3ß-/- mice, including the connectivity between the olfactory bulb and the cerebellum, the connectivity between the amygdala and the olfactory bulb, and the connectivity between the globus pallidus and the optic nerve. These connectivity alterations in brain regions are known to be linked to neurodevelopmental as well as psychiatric and behavioral disorders in humans. Therefore, we conclude that Top3ß is essential for normal brain function and behavior in mice and that Top3ß could be an interesting target to study neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.

Importin-11 is Essential for Normal Embryonic Development in Mice.

Importin-11 (Ipo11) is a novel member of the human importin family of transport receptors (karyopherins), which are known to mediate the nucleocytoplasmic transport of protein and RNA cargos. Despite its role in the transport of protein, we found that knockout of Ipo11 nuclear import factor affects normal embryonic development and govern embryo-lethal phenotypes in mice. In this study, we for the first time produced a mouse line containing null mutation in Ipo11 gene utilized by gene trapping. The Ipo11-/- embryos showed an embryonic lethal phenotype. The Ipo11-/- embryos showed a reduced size at embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) when compared with Ipo11+/+ or Ipo11+/- embryos and died by E11.5. Whereas Ipo11+/- mice were healthy and fertile, and there was no detectable changes in embryonic lethality and phenotype when reviewed. In the X-gal staining with the Ipo11-/- or Ipo11+/- embryos, strong X-gal staining positivity was detected systematically in the whole mount embryos at E10.5, although almost no X-gal positivity was detected at E9.5, indicating that the embryos die soon after the process of Ipo11 expression started. These results indicate that Ipo11 is essential for the normal embryonic development in mice.

Critical Roles of E2F3 in Growth and Musculo-skeletal Phenotype in Mice.

E2F3, a member of the E2F family, plays a critical role in cell cycle and proliferation by targeting downstream, retinoblastoma (RB) a tumor suppressor family protein. The purpose of this study, was to investigate the role and function of E2F3 in vivo. We examined phenotypic abnormalities, by deletion of the E2f3 gene in mice. Complete ablation of the E2F3 was fully penetrant, in the pure C57BL/6N background. The E2f3+/ - mouse embryo developed normally without fatal disorder. However, they exhibited reduced body weight, growth retardation, skeletal imperfection, and poor grip strength ability. Findings suggest that E2F3 has a pivotal role in muscle and bone development, and affect normal mouse growth.

Teaching efficacy of nurses in clinical practice education: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical nurses play a vital role in clinical practice education; thus, it is necessary to help clinical nurses have teaching efficacy through the development and application of systematic education programs. OBJECTIVES: To identify nurses' teaching efficacy for clinical education and analyze the influencing factors of teaching efficacy. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design. We used a convenience sample of 263 nurses from two hospitals. Teaching efficacy, general characteristics, and perception of clinical practice education were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Teaching efficacy was measured using Hwang's (2006) questionnaire, while perception of clinical practice education was measured using the Clinical Nurse Teacher Survey developed by Nishioka et al. (2014). Participants completed the questionnaire directly. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVAs, and multiple regression analysis with PASW Statistics 18.0. RESULTS: The mean total score of teaching efficacy was 72.5 (range 21-105). The leadership for students subscale had the highest score (3.56±0.59). The factors influencing teaching efficacy were length of clinical career (ß=0.26, p<0.001) and perceptions of work satisfaction (ß=0.20, p=.005), clinical supervisory relationship (ß=0.18, p=.010), and nursing at the hospital ward (ß=0.13, p=.029). Altogether, these variables explained 28% of the variance in teaching efficacy in nurses. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, nursing educators might need to develop greater confidence in their knowledge and enhance control of their teaching strategies. Nursing schools and hospitals might need to provide greater support and educational opportunities to nurse clinical practice instructors. Furthermore, constructing a system of cooperation between these colleges and educational hospitals, developing programs to enhance teaching efficacy, and identifying the clinical instructor's role are all necessary to promote clinical practice education.

[Factors influencing on the compliance of breast self-examination of nurses in a local area].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors on the compliance of breast self-examination (BSE) among nurses who work at three general hospitals in Kyung-Nam areas. METHOD: 258 hospital nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, chi(2) test and logistic regression analysis. RESULT: Nurses reported medium levels of knowledge, self efficacy and health believes about breast cancer and BSE, and 26% of the nurses performed the BSE at least once during the last 6 months. Compliers of BSE perceived significantly higher levels of self-efficacy, susceptability and health motivation, and lower level of barrier compared to non-compliers. Significant influencing factors on BSE compliance were 'experience of getting recommendation for breast self-examination', 'susceptibility', 'barrier', and 'self-efficacy' and those variables explained 22.5% of variance in compliance of BSE. CONCLUSION: Nurses, who must play as a role model for health promoting behaviors, did not have enough knowledge of breast cancer and BSE. Also, their performance rate of BSE was quite low. Thus, it is essential to provide an educational program for breast cancer and BSE to nurses in order to enhance nurses' performance rate of BSE.