Orbit topology analyzed from π phase shift of magnetic quantum oscillations in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal.

With the emergence of Dirac fermion physics in the field of condensed matter, magnetic quantum oscillations (MQOs) have been used to discern the topology of orbits in Dirac materials. However, many previous researchers have relied on the single-orbit Lifshitz-Kosevich (LK) formula, which overlooks the significant effect of degenerate orbits on MQOs. Since the single-orbit LK formula is valid for massless Dirac semimetals with small cyclotron masses, it is imperative to generalize the method applicable to a wide range of Dirac semimetals, whether massless or massive. This report demonstrates how spin-degenerate orbits affect the phases in MQOs of three-dimensional massive Dirac semimetal, NbSb2 With varying the direction of the magnetic field, an abrupt π phase shift is observed due to the interference between the spin-degenerate orbits. We investigate the effect of cyclotron mass on the π phase shift and verify its close relation to the phase from the Zeeman coupling. We find that the π phase shift occurs when the cyclotron mass is half of the electron mass, indicating the effective spin gyromagnetic ratio as g s = 2. Our approach is not only useful for analyzing MQOs of massless Dirac semimetals with a small cyclotron mass but also can be used for MQOs in massive Dirac materials with degenerate orbits, especially in topological materials with a sufficiently large cyclotron mass. Furthermore, this method provides a useful way to estimate the precise g s value of the material.

Comprehensive lifestyle modification interventions for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have mainly focused on improvements in the number of metabolic syndrome risk factors and individual changes in each risk factor, making it challenging to examine the impact of comprehensive lifestyle modification interventions on adherence to recommended health behaviors. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic and meta-analysis aimed at identifying clinical parameter levels associated with lifestyle modification outcomes and adherence to recommended health behaviors for individuals with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of seven studies retrieved from four databases (CINAHL, Medline via PubMed, American Psychological Association PsycINFO, and Embase) were included in the review. The selected studies, which demonstrated improvements in health behaviors, all included diet and exercise as main factors of comprehensive lifestyle modification in home settings. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that a 6-month comprehensive intervention including diet and exercise can be effective in decreasing glucose levels and systolic blood pressure. However, given the limited available data, further studies investigating the efficacy of interventions of varying durations are needed. DISCUSSION: Although our review included a small number of studies, comprehensive lifestyle modifications consisting of at least two components (primarily diet and exercise) can improve health behaviors and some clinical parameters among individuals with metabolic syndrome. Future studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of lifestyle modifications on health behavior adherence and explore effective interventions to address certain clinical parameters, such as high-density lipoprotein levels. Also, we recommend using objective and quantifiable measure to compare adherence to recommended lifestyle modifications across studies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This research provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of comprehensive lifestyle modification and emphasizes the need to develop long-term nursing strategies in public health that can be used to effectively manage metabolic syndrome.

TRPC6 promotes daunorubicin-induced mitochondrial fission and cell death in rat cardiomyocytes with the involvement of ERK1/2-DRP1 activation.

Daunorubicin (DNR-) induced cardiotoxicity seriously restricts its clinical application. Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member 6 (TRPC6) is involved in multiple cardiovascular physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the role of TRPC6 anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) remains unclear. Mitochondrial fragmentation greatly promotes AIC. TRPC6-mediated ERK1/2 activation has been shown to favor mitochondrial fission in dentate granule cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of TRPC6 on daunorubicin- induced cardiotoxicity and identify the mechanisms associated with mitochondrial dynamics. The sparkling results showed that TRPC6 was upregulated in models in vitro and in vivo. TRPC6 knockdown protected cardiomyocytes from DNR-induced cell apoptosis and death. DNR largely facilitated mitochondrial fission, boosted mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and damaged debilitated mitochondrial respiratory function in H9c2 cells，these effects were accompanied by TRPC6 upregulation. siTRPC6 effectively inhibited these mitochondrial adverse aspects showing a positive unexposed effect on mitochondrial morphology and function. Concomitantly, ERK1/2-DRP1 which is related to mitochondrial fission was significantly activated with amplified phosphorylated forms in DNR-treated H9c2 cells. siTRPC6 effectively suppressed ERK1/2-DPR1 over activation, hinting at a potential correlation between TRPC6 and ERK1/2-DRP1 by which mitochondrial dynamics are possibly modulated in AIC. TRPC6 knockdown also raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, which may help to block mitochondrial fragmentation-related functional impairment and apoptotic signaling. These findings suggested an essential role of TRPC6 in AIC by intensifying mitochondrial fission and cell death via ERK1/2-DPR1, which could be a potential therapeutic target for AIC.

Prognostic significance of peripheral neutrophils and lymphocytes in early untreated Parkinson's disease: an 8-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: To explore whether peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes are associated with longitudinal motor and cognitive decline in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD) and, to uncover the disease-specific mechanisms underlying these associations. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative cohort. We included 376 patients with recently diagnosed, drug-naïve PD and 178 matched healthy controls. The patients underwent annual assessments, including the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part 3 test to measure motor function and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to measure cognitive function, for up to 8 years of follow-up. Dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging was performed at baseline and the 1-year, 2-year and 4-year follow-up visits. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with PD showed higher neutrophil and lower lymphocyte counts, resulting in a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) than that in healthy controls. Higher neutrophil counts were associated with a greater increase in MDS-UPDRS part 3 scores in patients with PD (estimate: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.37, p<0.001). Correspondingly, higher neutrophil levels were related to a greater reduction in DAT activity in the caudate (estimate: -0.007, 95% CI: -0.014 to -0.001, p=0.046) and putamen (estimate: -0.0039, 95% CI: -0.0077 to -0.0002, p=0.042). However, there were no significant effects of lymphocyte count and NLR on changes in the MDS-UPDRS part 3 and MoCA scores and striatal DAT uptake over time. CONCLUSION: Among the blood biomarkers, only a higher neutrophil count was associated with faster motor progression along with accelerated nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration in patients with PD. The impact of neutrophils and lymphocytes on longitudinal cognitive changes remains unclear. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01141023.

Impact of dietary piperine on growth performance, immune response, antioxidant status, and immune-related gene expression in pathogen-aggravated Cyprinus carpio.

This study investigated the effects of dietary piperine (PIP) on growth performance, digestive enzymes, serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant and immune responses, and gene expression in Cyprinus carpio challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Six diets were prepared with PIP doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 g/kg, corresponding with the control, PR50, PR100, PR200, PR300, and PR400, respectively. Fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila after 8 weeks of feeding with the respective diets. Weight gain (PWG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly enhanced, whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lowered in PR200. The cumulative post-challenge survival was improved to 68.43% in the PR200 group compared with 28.08% in the control. Serum total protein and albumin levels were significantly enhanced in the PR200 group compared to the control. However, dietary PIP up to 3 g/kg had no significant effect on serum glucose, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase, or alkaline phosphatase activities; however, the alanine aminotransferase level was lower (P < 0.05) in the PR200 group than in the control. Intestinal amylase, lipase, and protease activities increased in PR300, and intestinal amylase and lipase increased in the PR100 group (P < 0.05). The serum immunological indices (lysozyme, alternative complement pathway, phagocytic activity, and respiratory burst activity) were higher (P < 0.05) in the PR200 group than in the control group. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly intensified in PR200-PR300 than in the control group, with the highest activity observed in the PR200 group. Malondialdehyde was significantly lower in the PR200 group than in the control group. Furthermore, SOD, CAT, and Nrf2 expression was strongly upregulated in the liver tissue of the PR200 and PR300 groups compared to that in the control. The transcript levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines viz. IL-1ß and TNF-α were significantly upregulated in the kidneys of the PR100 and PR200 post-challenged. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly downregulated in the kidneys of PR200. The expression of HSP70 was upregulated only in the PR400. Quadratic regression analysis showed that the optimal dietary PIP level was estimated as 2.07-2.13 g/kg to maximize growth performance. Overall, these results indicate that dietary PIP at an appropriate level can improve immunity, cytokine gene expression, and disease resistance in C. carpio.

A Three-Year Longitudinal Study of Risk Factors for Suicidality in North Korean Defectors.

BACKGROUND: This longitudinal study examined risk factors for future suicidality among North Korean defectors (NKDs) living in South Korea. METHODS: The subjects were 300 NKDs registered with a regional adaptation center (the Hana Center) in South Korea. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using the North Korean version of the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview to diagnose mental disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Subjects were also asked about sociodemographic and clinical factors at baseline. At follow-up after three years, the NKDs (n = 172 respondents) were asked to participate in an online survey, responding to self-questionnaires about suicidality. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between baseline variables and future suicidality among NKDs. RESULTS: Thirty (17.4%) of the 172 survey respondents reported suicidality at follow-up. The presence of health problems over the past year, any prior suicidality at baseline, a higher score on a trauma-related scale, and a lower score on a resilience scale at baseline were associated with greater odds of suicidality at follow-up after adjusting for age, sex, and educational level. Of all mental disorder categories, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, agoraphobia, and social phobia were also associated with significantly increased odds of suicidality at follow-up after adjusting for age, sex, educational level, and prior suicidality at baseline. CONCLUSION: Resilience, a previous history of suicidality, and the presence of lifetime depressive disorder and anxiety disorder should be given consideration in mental health support and suicide prevention in NKDs.

Influence of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Preoccupation With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among Frontline Nursing Professionals: Mediating Role of Reassurance-Seeking Behavior and Adherence to Physical Distancing.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between preoccupation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and adherence to physical distancing among frontline nursing professionals working in COVID-19 inpatient wards. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether the commitment to physical distancing mediates the influence of intolerance of uncertainty on viral anxiety. METHODS: Frontline healthcare professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatient wards at three tertiary-level affiliated hospitals in Korea were surveyed between April 7 and 26, 2022. The survey included scales-such as the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale, Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 and a questionnaire on adherence to physical distancing. A total of 256 responses were analyzed after excluding inappropriate or incomplete responses. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analysis found that age was significantly associated with the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (r = -0.12, P < 0.05) and adherence to physical distancing (r = 0.27, P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis ascertained that age (ß = -0.07, P = 0.002), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (ß = 0.35, P < 0.001), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (ß = 0.24, P < 0.001) were predictors of obsession with COVID-19 (Adjusted R² = 0.60, F = 78.1, P < 0.001). The indirect pathway by mediation analysis showed that reassurance-seeking and viral anxiety mediated the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the preoccupation with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: During the pandemic, there may be a strong association between reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, and a heightened preoccupation with COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers. Thus, from the early stages of infectious disease, a psychological support team for medical staff responding to the disease should be established, and periodic evaluations should be conducted to identify high-risk groups.

The effect of COVID-19 on workplace violence in California's hospitals: An interrupted time series analysis.

AIM: This study used California's unique Workplace Violent Incident Reporting System (WVIRS) to describe changes in workplace violence (WV) exposure for hospital-based healthcare workers during the pandemic. DESIGN: Interrupted time series analysis. METHODS: We compared the linear trends in weekly WV incidents reported during the period before the COVID-19 pandemic (7/1/2017-3/20/2020) to the period following California's shutdown (3/21/2020-6/30/2021). We created mixed effects models for incidents reported in emergency departments (EDs) and in other hospital units. We used hospital volume data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. RESULTS: A total of 418 hospitals reported 37,561 incidents during the study period. For EDs, the number of reported incidents remained essentially constant, despite a 26% drop in outpatient visits between the first and second quarters of 2020. For other hospital units, weekly incidents initially dropped-parallel to a 13% decrease in inpatient days between the first and second quarters of 2020-but then continued parallel to the trend seen in the pre-COVID period. CONCLUSION: WV persists steadily in California's hospitals. Despite major reductions in patient volume due to COVID-19, weekly reported ED incidents remained essentially unchanged. IMPACT: Surveys and media reported that WV increased during the pandemic, but it has been difficult to measure these changes using a large-scale database. The absolute number of WV incidents did not increase during the pandemic; however, the trend in reported incidents remained constant in the context of dramatic decreases in patient volume. New federal WV prevention legislation is being considered in the U.S. California's experience of implementation should be considered to improve WV reporting and prevention. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There was no public contribution to this study. The goal of this analysis was to summarize findings from administrative data. The findings presented can inform future discussion of public policy and action.

Enzyme Activity and Lipogenesis Inhibition by Fermented Grain Using Natural Enzymes.

This study aims to compare the effects of three enzyme-rich foods, including one fermented (grain enzyme) and two non-fermented foods (enzyme foods 1 and 2), by investigating their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-adipogenic properties. Grain enzyme exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity and was rich in antioxidant components, including total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents. Grain enzyme and enzyme foods 1 and 2 inhibited nitric oxide production by 27, 34, and 17%, respectively, at a concentration of 200 µg/mL in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Among the tested enzymes, grain enzyme demonstrated the strongest inhibition on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin (IL)-1ß, while Enzyme Food 2 exhibited the most significant suppression of IL-6 mRNA levels. Furthermore, Grain Enzyme demonstrated a stronger inhibitory effect compared to Enzyme Food 1 and 2. Grain Enzyme decreased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP)4 by 28, 21, and 30%, respectively, at a concentration of 400 µg/mL. In summary, fermented grain enzymes outperformed non-fermented enzymes in suppressing inflammation and adipogenesis. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic effects of grain enzyme, suggesting its potential as a valuable dietary supplement for managing metabolic disorders.

Individual and Work-Related Characteristics Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Status among Ohio Nurses.

Uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine by nurses lags behind that of other health care professionals with minimal empirical evidence to understand this phenomenon. In this secondary analysis, we examined nurses' individual and work-related characteristics and their association with COVID-19 vaccination status. Alumni of three Ohio nursing colleges and members of a professional organization were invited to complete questionnaires from June through August 2021. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between nurse characteristics and vaccination status. Among 844 respondents, 754 (80.30%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. Older age, having a bachelor's degree or higher, and working in critical care were associated with vaccination. Providing direct care for COVID-19 patients in the last 7 days and a higher perception of one's work being affected by COVID-19 were significantly associated with being vaccinated, whereas prior COVID-19 infection was inversely associated with vaccination status. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccine uptake among nurses is influenced by a host of factors related to virus knowledge, beliefs, and risk perceptions. Awareness of these factors can aid the development of interventions to increase nurses' acceptance of vaccines.

A Conformational Restriction Strategy for the Control of CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing with Photoactivatable Guide RNAs.

The CRISPR/Cas system is one of the most powerful tools for gene editing. However, approaches for precise control of genome editing and regulatory events are still desirable. Here, we report the spatiotemporal and efficient control of CRISPR/Cas9- and Cas12a-mediated editing with conformationally restricted guide RNAs (gRNAs). This approach relied on only two or three pre-installed photo-labile substituents followed by an intramolecular cyclization, representing a robust synthetic method in comparison to the heavily modified linear gRNAs that often require extensive screening and time-consuming optimization. This tactic could direct the precise cleavage of the genes encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) protein within a predefined cutting region without notable editing leakage in live cells. We also achieved light-mediated myostatin (MSTN) gene editing in embryos, wherein a new bow-knot-type gRNA was constructed with excellent OFF/ON switch efficiency. Overall, our work provides a significant new strategy in CRISPR/Cas editing with modified circular gRNAs to precisely manipulate where and when genes are edited.

Moral Injury, Nurse Well-being, and Resilience Among Nurses Practicing During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine relationships between moral injury (MI), well-being, and resilience among staff nurses and nurse leaders practicing during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. BACKGROUND: Attention to MI among health professionals, including nurses, increased in 2021, particularly related to the pandemic. Few studies examined MI, well-being, and resilience; even fewer provided implications for leadership/management. METHODS: The sample included 676 RNs practicing in Ohio. The electronic survey included assessments of MI, well-being, and resilience distributed via the Ohio Nurses Association and the schools of nursing alumni Listservs. RESULTS: There was a significant association between MI and negative well-being and negative association between MI and resilience. Differences were observed between staff nurses and leaders. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study relating MI, resilience, and well-bring among nurses and nurse leaders during the pandemic. There is a need for additional research to further our understanding about nurses' health and well-being during the pandemic and beyond.

Evaluation of nurses' experiences with digital storytelling workshop: New way to engage, connect, and empower.

AIM: The aim of this work is to evaluate nurses' experiences, barriers, and facilitators in participating in digital storytelling workshops BACKGROUND: Nurses face ever-increasing demands and work time spent in isolation, leading to burnout. Storytelling-narrative skills of listening and creativity-may encourage meaningful connections with others, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, evaluation of the user experiences of storytelling among nurses has been limited. METHOD: The methods used are semistructured individual interviews with 13 nurses from a public health nursing organization who participated in a 3-day digital storytelling workshop in 2019. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed using NVivo12. RESULTS: All participants were women and half were white. Healing, human connection, and nursing pedagogy were the three main themes. Participants highlighted the organizational support in providing a safe and dedicated "space" for nurses' well-being. They also expressed desire and willingness to participate in additional workshops outside of work hours. CONCLUSION: Further studies using a larger sample are needed to examine the scalability and efficacy of storytelling at work. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurses rated storytelling positively and suggested a brief version to be incorporated into nursing practice. Establishing the culture of organizational support and psychological safety was identified as the necessary antecedents.

Associations Among Nurses' Mental/Physical Health, Lifestyle Behaviors, Shift Length, and Workplace Wellness Support During COVID-19: Important Implications for Health Care Systems.

Work cultures supportive of wellness and shorter shift length have been associated with better mental/physical health outcomes in nurses, but how the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted such outcomes is not known. This study's aims were to (1) describe the mental/physical health, well-being, and healthy lifestyle behaviors of nurses during the pandemic; (2) explore the pandemic's impact on their health and healthy lifestyle behaviors; and (3) determine the associations of perceived workplace wellness support and shift length with nurses' health, well-being, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with 264 nurses associated with Trusted Health. Nurses completed a survey containing valid and reliable scales measuring depression, anxiety, burnout and quality of life, perceived wellness culture, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Results indicated that more than 50% of nurses had worsening mental/physical health relating to the pandemic. Compared with nurses whose workplaces provided little/no wellness support, nurses with workplaces that supported their wellness were 3 to 9 times as likely to have better mental/physical health, no/little stress, no burnout, and high quality of life. Nurses who worked longer shifts had poorer health outcomes. These findings indicate that workplace wellness support and shorter shifts positively impacted nurse mental/physical health and professional quality of life amidst the pandemic.

I Am a Nurse, Not a Martyr: Qualitative Investigation of Nurses' Experiences During Onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Nurses have always played an essential role during epidemics, risking their lives caring for sick and dying patients. However, the unprecedented nature of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has left organizations and healthcare professionals ill-prepared and under-equipped to manage the severity, manifestations, and acute and long-term implications. While COVID-19 has presented profound physical and mental health implications for nurses, we know little about nurses' professional experiences within their organizational context. Thus, this qualitative descriptive study fills that gap through in-depth exploration of nurses' shared professional experiences working in hospitals during the first surge of COVID-19 in the United States. Twenty-two nurses were interviewed via telephone during April and May 2020. Through thematic analysis four main themes emerged: (1) fear, (2) collective resilience through shared trauma, (3) uncharted territory, and (4) perceived disposability. Nurses felt ill-praepared for the rapid changes wrought by COVID-19; yet they also felt proud with a renewed sense of meaning in their work. While unit colleagues were a great source of strength, nurses still reported disappointment, even feeling abandoned by their organizations. Our study indicates that nurses relied on one another to cope and find meaning. These findings are invaluable for policy development and the establishment of preventive and early intervention strategies. Done right, such efforts could better support nurses by encouraging team building, protection, and rewards to maintain nurses' wellbeing during such outbreaks and in their aftermath. Organizations also ought to make nurses' health and wellbeing a priority by streamlining communication, transparency, and leadership visibility.

Value of bedside echocardiography in predicting persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus during the early postnatal period in very low birth weight infants. / ç”ŸåŽæ—©æœŸåºŠæ—å¿ƒè„è¶ å£°é¢„æµ‹æžä½Žå‡ºç”Ÿä½“é‡å„¿åŠ¨è„‰å¯¼ç®¡æŒç»­å¼€æ”¾çš„ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the value of bedside echocardiography in predicting persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus during the early postnatal period in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 51 VLBW infants who were admitted from March 2020 to June 2021, with an age of ≤3 days and a length of hospital stay of ≥14 days. According to the diameter of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on days 14 and 28 after birth, the infants were divided into three groups: large PDA group (PDA diameter ≥2 mm), small PDA group (PDA diameter <2 mm), and PDA closure group (PDA diameter =0 mm). The echocardiographic parameters measured at 72 hours after birth were compared among the three groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of the echocardiographic parameters in predicting persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus (PDA≥2 mm) at the ages of 14 and 28 days. RESULTS: On day 14 after birth, there were 17 infants in the large PDA group, 11 in the small PDA group, and 23 in the PDA closure group. On day 28 after birth, there were 14 infants in the large PDA group, 9 in the small PDA group, and 26 in the PDA closure group. There were significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, rate of pulmonary surfactant use, and incidence rate of hypotension among the three groups (P<0.05). PDA diameter, end-diastolic velocity of the left pulmonary artery, left ventricular output, and left ventricular output/superior vena cava flow ratio measured at 72 hours after birth were associated with persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus at the ages of 14 and 28 days (P<0.05), and the ratio of the left atrium to aorta diameter was associated with persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus at the age of 28 days (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve that the PDA diameter measured at 72 hours after birth predicting the persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus at the ages of 14 and 28 days was the largest (0.841 and 0.927 respectively), followed by end-diastolic velocity of the left pulmonary artery, with the area under the curve of 0.793 and 0.833 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The indicators obtained by beside echocardiography at 72 hours after birth, especially PDA diameter and end-diastolic velocity of the left pulmonary artery, can predict persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus at the ages of 14 and 28 days in VLBW infants, which provides a basis for the implementation of early targeted treatment strategy for PDA.

Effects of perampanel on cognition and quantitative electroencephalography in patients with epilepsy.

Antiepileptic drugs are well known for their effects on cognition and electrophysiologic changes. However, perampanel is yet to be evaluated for its effects on cognitive function and electroencephalography (EEG). The purpose of the present study was to identify the effect of perampanel on neuropsychological (NP) tests and quantitative EEG (QEEG) and their relationship with the level of the drug in blood. Seventeen patients with epilepsy were enrolled in the study. Electroencephalographic recordings were obtained, and NP tests were conducted before perampanel intake and 6 months after treatment. The relative frequency band power, peak alpha frequency, and NP test scores were compared before and after drug administration. The serum concentration of perampanel was correlated with the QEEG changes. Delayed recall of the Rey Complex Figure showed significant improvement (20.03 vs. 22.94; P = 0.004) following perampanel administration. Other cognitive function tests showed no significant differences before and after drug administration. Theta frequency band power increased in all brain regions (P = 0.001-0.01), and alpha frequency power decreased in all brain regions (P = 0.006-0.03). The theta/alpha ratio, which represents background EEG slowing, increased in all brain areas (P = 0.003-0.02). The peak frequency of the alpha rhythm decreased after perampanel intake (t = 2.45, P = 0.03). Difference of relative alpha power in the central region positively correlated with the blood level of perampanel (r = 0.53, P = 0.03). Perampanel induced electrophysiological slowing, but cognitive decline was not observed. Because the controls were not compared in the study, the results of cognitive function tests should be interpreted conservatively. Background EEG slowing correlated with the serum concentration of perampanel. Our results show the effect of perampanel on cognitive function and background EEG in adult patients with epilepsy.

Characteristics and prognosis of patients with cryptogenic stroke and suggestive of patent foramen ovale.

AIMS: The purpose of this study were to identify the usefulness of screening for PFO using agitated saline echocardiography (ASE) and characteristics and prognosis of patients with suggestive of patent foramen ovale (PFO). METHODS: Three hundred three patients (mean age, 53 ± 9 years; 199 [66%] men) admitted with acute stroke or suspicion of stroke were included. Patients were classified into those with and without right-to-left shunt (RLS) according to the ASE results (positive ASE [n = 92] vs. negative ASE [n = 211]). Fifty-one out of ninety-two patients with positive ASE and twenty-one out of two hundred eleven patients with negative ASE underwent TEE with ASE to confirm PFO. RESULTS: Ninety-two were positive for ASE and thirty-six of the fifty-one patients who underwent TEE were confirmed as having PFO. Of the patients with RLS grade 1, 50% were diagnosed with PFO and all patients with RLS grade ≥ 2 were diagnosed with PFO. All patients with negative ASE had no PFO (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 58%). Patients with positive ASE were younger, had a lower body mass, and a lower prevalence of hypertension. The positive ASE patients had a higher mean S' velocity and better diastolic function. Four of ninety-one patients with positive ASE and thirteen of one hundred seventy-seven showed recurrence of stroke and suspicion of stroke. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic ASE is a good method to screen for PFO. Patients with suggestive of PFO had lower risk factors, less atherosclerosis, and better cardiac performance.

Associations between defense mechanisms and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated associations between defense mechanisms and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea. METHODS: A total of 178 North Korean refugees completed the Korean version of the Defense Style Questionnaire, a revised version of the Ways of Thinking of North Korean Defectors scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to investigate the defense mechanisms associated with North Korean refugees' life satisfaction in South Korea. RESULTS: Among defense mechanisms, denial most strongly predicted higher overall and economic satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea (ß = 0.145, p < 0.01; ß = 0.137, p = 0.03, respectively) after controlling for age, gender, anxiety, depression, and number of traumatic events experienced. Furthermore, resignation predicted lower overall (ß = -0.206, p < 0.001) and economic satisfaction (ß = -0.134, p = 0.02). However, the association between resignation and life satisfaction was not significant after controlling for depression, anxiety, and number of traumatic events experienced. CONCLUSIONS: Specific defense mechanisms such as high denial and low resignation were associated with life satisfaction in South Korea among North Korean refugees. Our findings suggest that refugees' psychological defense mechanisms may affect their satisfactory resettlement.

Extracellular Vesicles From a Three-Dimensional Culture of Perivascular Cells Accelerate Skin Wound Healing in a Rat.

BACKGROUND: Soluble proteins and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial wound repair mediators in cell-based therapy. Previous studies reported that EVs of perivascular cells stimulated migration and proliferation of cell types involved in the dermatological wound healing process. However, these studies only show effects of EVs from perivascular cells (PVCs) for in vitro models. METHODS: EVs were collected from 3D-cultured PVC (PVC-3D-EV) and compared with EVs from 2D-culture PVC (PVC-2D-EV) to investigate effects on wound contraction, angiogenesis, activation of myofibroblast, and collagen deposition. RESULTS: PVC-3D-EV was significantly improved in terms of wound contraction compared with PVC-2D-EV and the control. Activation of myofibroblast and collagen deposition in a rat skin wound model was significantly stimulated by PVC-3D-EV. In addition, angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression were also highly stimulated by PVC-3D-EV. These results suggest that PVC-3D-EV was regulated in granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and wound contraction in healing of a rat skin wound. These results indicate a pivotal role of PVC-3D-EV in wound healing through multiple mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-culture using a polystyrene scaffold is demonstrated to be a better system for providing better physiological conditions than the 2D-culture system, and EVs from 3D-cultured PVC could be a promising option for healing skin wound. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .