Genome-wide enhancer RNA profiling adds molecular links between genetic variation and human cancers.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of enhancer transcription occurs in multiple cancers. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are transcribed products from enhancers that play critical roles in transcriptional control. Characterizing the genetic basis of eRNA expression may elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancers. METHODS: Initially, a comprehensive analysis of eRNA quantitative trait loci (eRNAQTLs) was performed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and functional features were characterized using multi-omics data. To establish the first eRNAQTL profiles for colorectal cancer (CRC) in China, epigenomic data were used to define active enhancers, which were subsequently integrated with transcription and genotyping data from 154 paired CRC samples. Finally, large-scale case-control studies (34,585 cases and 69,544 controls) were conducted along with multipronged experiments to investigate the potential mechanisms by which candidate eRNAQTLs affect CRC risk. RESULTS: A total of 300,112 eRNAQTLs were identified across 30 different cancer types, which exert their influence on eRNA transcription by modulating chromatin status, binding affinity to transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins. These eRNAQTLs were found to be significantly enriched in cancer risk loci, explaining a substantial proportion of cancer heritability. Additionally, tumor-specific eRNAQTLs exhibited high responsiveness to the development of cancer. Moreover, the target genes of these eRNAs were associated with dysregulated signaling pathways and immune cell infiltration in cancer, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Furthermore, multiple ethnic population studies have confirmed that an eRNAQTL rs3094296-T variant decreases the risk of CRC in populations from China (OR = 0.91, 95%CI 0.88-0.95, P = 2.92 × 10-7) and Europe (OR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.88-0.95, P = 4.61 × 10-6). Mechanistically, rs3094296 had an allele-specific effect on the transcription of the eRNA ENSR00000155786, which functioned as a transcriptional activator promoting the expression of its target gene SENP7. These two genes synergistically suppressed tumor cell proliferation. Our curated list of variants, genes, and drugs has been made available in CancereRNAQTL ( http://canernaqtl.whu.edu.cn/#/ ) to serve as an informative resource for advancing this field. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the significance of eRNAQTLs in transcriptional regulation and disease heritability, pinpointing the potential of eRNA-based therapeutic strategies in cancers.

Thriving at work as a mediator of the relationship between psychological resilience and the work performance of clinical nurses.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological resilience, thriving at work, and work performance among nurses, as well as analyse the mediating role of thriving at work in the relationship between psychological resilience and the work performance of nurses. The findings are intended to serve as a reference for nursing managers to design tailored work performance intervention programs. METHOD: Using convenience sampling, 308 clinical nurses were selected from a tertiary hospital in Changsha City, Hunan Province, China, from February to April 2023. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Thriving at Work Scale, and the Work Performance Scale were employed for the questionnaire survey. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between psychological resilience, thriving at work and work performance. The SPSS 26.0 software's 'Process' plugin was utilised for mediation effect analysis. RESULTS: Significantly positive correlations were found between psychological resilience and thriving at work (r = 0.806, P < 0.01), thriving at work and work performance (r = 0.571, P < 0.01) as well as psychological resilience and work performance (r = 0.572, P < 0.01). Psychological resilience significantly predicted work performance positively (ß = 0.558, t = 11.165, P < 0.01), and this prediction remained significant when thriving at work (the mediating variable), was introduced (ß = 0.371, t = 4.772, P < 0.01). Psychological resilience significantly predicted thriving at work positively (ß = 0.731, t = 20.779, P < 0.01), and thriving at work significantly predicted work performance positively (ß = 0.256, t = 3.105, P < 0.05). The mediating effect size of thriving at work between psychological resilience and work performance was 33.49% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thriving at work plays a partial mediating role between psychological resilience and work performance. The level of work performance among clinical nurses was relatively high. Nursing managers can enhance thriving at work by fostering psychological resilience among clinical nurses, thereby further improving their work performance to ensure high-quality and efficient nursing care.

Advancements in heparosan production through metabolic engineering and improved fermentation.

Heparin is one of the most widely used natural drugs, and has been the preferred anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent in the clinical setting for nearly a century. Heparin also shows increasing therapeutic potential for treating inflammation, cancer, and microbial and viral diseases, including COVID-19. With advancements in synthetic biology, heparin production through microbial engineering of heparosan offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional extraction from animal tissues. Heparosan serves as the starting carbon backbone for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of bioengineered heparin, possessing a chain length that is critically important for the production of heparin-based therapeutics with specific molecular weight (MW) distributions. Recent advancements in metabolic engineering of microbial cell factories have resulted in high-yield heparosan production. This review systematically analyzes the key modules involved in microbial heparosan biosynthesis and the latest metabolic engineering strategies for enhancing production, regulating MW, and optimizing the fermentation scale-up of heparosan. It also discusses future studies, remaining challenges, and prospects in the field.

[Characterization of Microplastic Leachate from Different Polymers and Its Effect on Seed Germination of Lettuce].

Accumulation of microplastics in soil could interfere with the germination and growth of plants. However, the chemical risks raised by leachate of microplastics remain unknown. Here, we prepared microplastic leachate at different extraction temperatures (25 and 50℃) using microplastic fibers derived from polyamide (PA) and polyethylene (PE) and conducted the seed germination test of microplastic leachates to investigate the toxic effects of microplastic leachates on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Furthermore, characteristics of the microplastic leachate, such as DOC and DON concentrations and parameters of UV-vis, were measured. The results revealed that the concentration of DOC and DON in the leachate of PA was significantly higher than that of PE. DOC and DON concentration in the leachate of PA increased with extraction temperature. Additionally, the aromaticity, hydrophobic component content, and molecular weight of leachates were significantly affected by the polymers of microplastic, whereas the extraction temperature had no effect. Compared to those in CK, the microplastic leachates reduced the indicators such as germination vigor, germination index, and vigor index of lettuce seeds; however, it had no impact on agronomic traits, such as plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight. Meanwhile, some seeds had abnormal developments of radicles and cotyledons under the microplastic leachate treatments. This demonstrates that the substances leached from microplastics could interfere with the germination process of lettuce seeds. Therefore, the chemical risks exerted by the microplastics to the soil and plant system require further attention.

Evaluation of career planning group counseling and its effectiveness for intern male nursing students.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of group counselling on the career planning and career maturity of male nursing students. METHOD: Sixty male nursing students were randomly selected from a specific-level first-class hospital in Hunan Province from July to August 2020 by using the convenience sampling method and were subsequently divided into the control group and the experimental group using the random number table method. The control group received routine pre-job training, including aspects concerning the hospital profile, nurse etiquette, nursing core systems, professional ethics, nursing emergency treatment and career prospects and planning. In the experimental group, career planning group counselling was added after the regular pre-service training (once a week) with each session lasting 2 h for a total of six training sessions. At six weeks and three months after the intervention, the career status evaluation scale and the college students' career maturity scale were used to compare the career planning and career maturity status of the two groups of male nursing students. RESULTS: After six weeks and three months of intervention, all the dimensions and total scores of both the career status evaluation scale and the career maturity scale in the experimental group were superior to those in the control group with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). The repeated measures of variance analysis indicated that the differences in the total score for career planning and the four dimensions in terms of intergroup effect, time effect and interaction effect between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The intergroup effect, time effect and interaction effect of the total score for vocational maturity, career goal, career confidence, career value, career freedom and career reference of the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05), while the time effect of the relative dependency dimension was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Group counselling can significantly improve the career planning and career maturity status of male nursing students and has a certain long-term effect.

Study on the sleep quality of women pregnant with a second child and the influencing factors.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the sleep quality of women pregnant with a second child and the influencing factors and provide a scientific basis for health care guidance to clinically improve the sleep quality of pregnant women. METHODS: A total of 162 women pregnant with a second child at a first-class tertiary hospital in Changsha from January to August 2018 were selected as the research subjects. General demographic characteristics were collected, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale was used to assess their sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of the sleep quality of women pregnant with a second child. RESULTS: The PSQI score (except hypnotic drugs) and total score of pregnant women with second birth were higher than those of normal female population, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in sleep quality among women pregnant with a second child of different ages, marital relationships, gender expectations, education levels, monthly family incomes, planned or unplanned pregnancy, and gestational weeks (P < 0.05). The results of the multi-factor analysis showed that the low education level (OR = 0.224, P = 0.001), low family monthly income (OR = 3.035, P = 0.014), expectation of gender (OR = 0.065, P = 0.038), and dissatisfaction with marital relationship (OR = 0.275, P = 0.001) were the primary risk factors of poor sleep quality of in women with second pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: The overall sleep quality of women pregnant with a second child is poor, and 37.65% have sleep quality problems. Low education levels, low family monthly incomes, fetal gender expectations, and poor relationship between husband and wife are the main factors affecting the sleep quality of women pregnant with a second child. Pregnant women with the above factors should pay attention to their sleep quality and take necessary measures for intervention and guidance to improve the level of health care during pregnancy.

Investigation of the Negative Emotions Exhibited in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease After PCI and Any Influencing Factors.

Purpose: To understand existing negative emotions in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary stent implantation (PCI) and analyse its influencing factors. Methods: Patients with coronary heart disease after PCI in three tertiary hospitals in Changsha City from April to September 2018 were selected as the research subjects. The self-designed general information questionnaire assessed irritability, depression and anxiety (IDA) on a self-rating scale. It was used to examine patients' existing negative emotions with coronary heart disease after PCI and analyse the influencing factors. Results: 203 questionnaires were distributed, and 202 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 99.5%. The IDA score of patients with coronary heart disease after PCI was 17.01±7.60 points, the incidence of negative emotions was 63.8%, and the incidences of depression, anxiety and irritability were 39.6%, 8.4% and 15.8%, respectively. Negative emotion was taken as the dependent variable and a patient's general data, such as lifestyle and disease, as the independent variables. A univariate analysis was conducted to obtain gender, age, educational level, marital status, work status, per capita monthly household income, sleep status, etc. Seven factors were identified as the influencing factors of negative emotions in patients with coronary heart disease after PCI, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Most patients with coronary heart disease after PCI tend to exhibit negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. Medical staff should attach great importance to evaluating any negative feelings in this group and take timely targeted intervention measures to prevent and mitigate the occurrence and development of these adverse emotions in patients with coronary heart disease after PCI.

[Spatial Distribution and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils and Sediments in Shunde Waterway, Southern China].

Environmental quality of soils and sediments around water source area can influence the safety of potable water of rivers. In order to study the pollution characteristics, the sources and ecological risks of heavy metals Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd in water source area, surface soils around the waterway and sediments in the estuary of main tributaries were collected in Shunde, and ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by two methods of potential ecological risk assessment. The mean contents of Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd in the surface soils were 186.80, 65.88, 54.56, 32.47, 22.65 and 0.86 mg · kg⁻¹ respectively, and they were higher than their soil background values except those of Cu and Ni. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd in the sediments were 312.11, 111.41, 97.87, 92.32, 29.89 and 1.72 mg · kg⁻¹ respectively, and they were higher than their soil background values except that of Ni. The results of principal component analysis illustrated that the main source of Cr and Ni in soils was soil parent materials, and Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd in soils mainly came from wastewater discharge of local manufacturing industry. The six heavy metals in sediments mainly originated from industry emissions around the Shunde waterway. The results of potential ecological risk assessment integrating environmental bioavailability of heavy metals showed that Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni had a slight potential ecological risk. Cd had a slight potential ecological risk in surface soils, but a moderate potential ecological risk in surfaces sediments. Because the potential ecological risk assessment integrating environmental bioavailability of heavy metals took the soil properties and heavy metal forms into account, its results of risks were lower than those of Hakanson methods, and it could avoid overestimating the potential risks of heavy metals.

[Land Use Pattern Change and Regional Sustainability Evaluation of Wetland in Jiaogang Lake].

Changes in land use and sustainability evaluation of wetland in Jiaogang Lake from 1995 to 2013 were analyzed, based on the land use change models and an index system, supported by RS, GIS, and social statistical data. The results showed: (1) dry land, paddy field, and building land were the predominant landscape in the study area. The arable land was mainly converted during 1995-2000, which was driven by the extension of agriculture, and the building land increased significantly during 2010-2013, which was driven by the tourism development. (2) Compared to the beginning research area, the building land increased by 123.3%, and the wetland decreased by 23.15%. The land system was at risk for a low proportion of wetland, scarcity of unused land, and the fragmented landscape. (3) The regional sustainability results were bad level, bad level, poor level, good level, and poor level during the different periods, with some room for improvement. (4) The fitness of regional sustainability in study area yielded satisfactory results in 2010, owing to the rapid growth of regional productivity and the regional stability. Since 2010, with the increasing environmental load, the regional sustainability fell down to the poor level. The obstruction of sustainable development is necessary to be addressed in the study area.

[Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals Based on Monte Carlo Simulation and Case Study].

Based on the stochastic. theory, the Monte Carlo simulation was introduced in ecological risk assessment and health risk assessment. Together with the multi-statistical technique, the proposed models were used for risk analysis in the Bin-Chang Coal Chemical industry park. The results showed that high levels of Cd, Co, and Cr were found in the area with long time mining. The comprehensive single index and comprehensive risk index showed that the ecological risk of soil metals fell into the poor level, with probabilities of 53.2% and 55.6%, respectively. The health risk caused by hand to mouth ingestion was significantly greater than that by dermal exposure, and Cr was of prime concern for pollution control. Children were taking a major health risk. Their non-cancer risks were maintained at a high level, and 5.0-fold higher than adults under hand to mouth ingestion, and 8.2-fold higher than adults under dermal exposure. The cancer risk for children under these two exposure ways were both above the safety standard suggested by USEPA.

Relationships between the addition rates of cellulase or glucose and silage fermentation at different temperatures.

The influence of the application rates of cellulase preparation and glucose on silage fermentation at different temperatures was studied with the straw of naked barley (Hordeum vulgare L. emand Lam) and guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). Addition rate of cellulase and glucose, temperature and their interaction had significant effects on pH value, lactic acid content, butyric acid content and propionic acid content of naked barley straw silage and significant effects on all the parameters of guineagrass silage (P < 0.01). Temperature and interaction had significant effect on acetic acid content (P < 0.05) and no significant effect on NH(3)-N content of naked barley straw silage (P > 0.05). Under all the temperatures, the pH values of barley straw and guineagrass silages were reduced by cellulase and glucose addition even at the lowest rate (P < 0.05), compared with their corresponding control. Lactic acid contents of silages were the highest within the same temperature and same additive when glucose and cellulase were added at the highest rates, whereas the effect of cellulase and glucose addition on butyric acid production varied with their application rates and silage storage temperature. The addition rate of restricting butyric acid fermentation was lower at 20 degrees C than that at 30 degrees C, and it was the lowest at 40 degrees C where cellulase and glucose addition restricted butyric acid fermentation even at 0.1 g/kg and 10 g/kg, respectively, when compared to the control. While the addition rate was lower than the above level, cellulase and glucose addition also promoted butyric acid fermentation.

[Correlation of snoring with attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity in school age children from Changsha City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of snoring in school age children from Changsha City, and study the correlation of snoring with attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity. METHODS: A total of 1 736 children aged 6 to 12 years were randomly sampled from five districts in Changsha City. Their parents completed the questionnaires about children's sleep conditions and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnostic Scale-Parent Version. RESULTS: The total incidence rate of frequent snoring was 5.7%. Boys had higher incidence of frequent snoring than girls (7.5% vs 3.8%; x2=18.782, p<0.01). The incidence of snoring in the 6-to 9-year-old group was higher than that of the 10-to 12-year-old group (x2=9.666, P<0.01). The incidence of daytime sleepiness in the snoring group was higher than that in the non-snoring group (31.5% vs 25.9%; x2=6.678, p<0.01). The incidences of larynx choking, sleep apnea, mouth breathing, hyperhidrosis, and awaking for unknown reasons or awaking by choke in the frequent snoring group were significantly higher than in the occasional snoring and the non-snoring groups (x2=37.035, 27.745, 51.341, 30.975, 45.972 respectively; all P<0.01). The incidences of attention deficit (31.3%) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (18.2%) in the frequent snoring group were the highest, followed by the occasional snoring (16.2% and 9.9% respectively) and the non-snoring groups (13.9% and 8.8% respectively). There were significant differences in the incidence of both attention deficit (x2=20.592, p<0.01) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (x2=9.067, p<0.05) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of snoring in school age children from Changsha City. Snoring is correlated to attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity. It is essential to pay attention to the mental growth and behavioral problems in children with sleep snoring.

[Relationship between impulsivity and sleep disorders in children aged 6 to 12 years].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between impulsivity and sleep disorders in children. METHODS: A total of 1 736 children at ages of 6 to 12 years were randomly sampled from five districts of Changsha. Their parents completed the questionnaires about children's sleep conditions and behaviors (using Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11th version). RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty-four children (31.9%) had sleep disorders. The incidence of sleep disorders in boys was significantly higher than that in girls (35.4% vs 28.3%; P<0.01). The scores of attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness factors as well as the total score of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in children with sleep disorders were significantly higher than those in children without (P<0.01). The incidence of daytime sleepiness (35.9%) in children with sleep disorders was significantly higher than that in children without (24.7%; P<0.01). The scores of attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness factors increased with the grade of sleep disorders, and reached a peak at the fifth grade. The children with frequent sleep snoring showed higher scores of above three impulsiveness factors than children without sleep snoring or having rare snoring (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders are associated with impulsivity in children. It is thus essential to pay close attentions to children's sleep for children with relatively high impulsiveness.

[Investigation and analysis on correlative factors of sleeping time in 2k12 year-old children in Changsha].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sleeping time and its correlative factors in 2k12 year-old children in Changsha. METHODS: A cluster sample with 3 756 children was randomly selected from Changsha, whose parents or care persons were interviewed with questionnaires about children's sleeping status from June 2006 to April 2007 by trained medical staff. One person was responsible for a questionnaire for one child. RESULTS: Two to twelve year-old children slept 10.60 hours a day. The average sleeping time every day was 12.26, 11.57, 11.33, 11.26, 10.95, 10.64, 10.62, 10.45, 10.28, 9.83, and 9.61 hours from 2 to 12 year-old children. The sleeping time in one day in each age group was different obviously but the same for boys and girls. The main factors that affected the sleeping time of children were: child's age, having pets or not, child's fixed pattern of sleeping time, methods of falling asleep, diet regulation, asthma, the mother's age, number of child delivery of mother, and mother's sleeping time. CONCLUSION: Sleeping time in a day decreases with the age increase in 2k12 year-old children. Many factors affected sleeping time of children, including the child's age, habits and environmental factors, diets, diseases, and mothers' conditions.

[Epidemiological investigation of sleep disorders for children at ages of 2-12 years in Changsha City].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sleep time and the prevalence of sleep disorders in children at ages of 2-12 years in Changsha City. METHODS: A total of 3756 children at ages of 2-12 years were randomly sampled from five districts of Changsha City from June 2006 to April 2007. A questionnaire survey was performed on their parents. RESULTS: The average daily sleep time in the subjects was 10.60 hrs. The average daily sleep time among different age groups (1 year as a group separation) was different. It was 12.26, 11.57, 11.33, 11.26, 10.95, 10.64, 10.62, 10.45, 10.28, 9.83 and 9.61 hrs respectively in the 11 age groups of 2 to 12 years of age. The prevalence of sleep disorders in children at ages of 2-12 years was 40.9%, including frequent sleep snoring (8.2%), choke/gargling (1.5%), sleep apnea (0.8 %), sleep inquietude (7.6%), mouth breathing (4.9%), hyperhidrosis (22.6%), limbs spasm (3.2 %), sleep teeth grinding (9.5 %), sleep talking (5.5 %), sleep walking (0.9 %), nocturnal enuresis (2.5%), waking up by choke (1.9%), remaining wakefulness in the night due to too much daytime sleep time (1.5%), going to sleep too early (2.1%), night awakenings (1.6%), and screeching or crying during sleep (1.8%). The prevalence of different sleep disorders was different in children between boys and girls and among different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The average sleep time in children at ages of 2-5 years is less than the reference value recommended by the domestic child health care textbook. There is a higher prevalence rate of sleep disorders in children at ages of 2-12 years in Changsha City than the reported data in other cities.