Emerging insights into pulmonary hypertension: the potential role of mitochondrial dysfunction and redox homeostasis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is heterogeneous diseases that can lead to death due to progressive right heart failure. Emerging evidence suggests that, in addition to its role in ATP production, changes in mitochondrial play a central role in their pathogenesis, regulating integrated metabolic and signal transduction pathways. This review focuses on the basic principles of mitochondrial redox status in pulmonary vascular and right ventricular disorders, a series of dysfunctional processes including mitochondrial quality control (mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial unfolded protein response) and mitochondrial redox homeostasis. In addition, we will summarize how mitochondrial renewal and dynamic changes provide innovative insights for studying and evaluating PH. This will provide us with a clearer understanding of the initial signal transmission of mitochondria in PH, which would further improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of PH.

Highly reversible Zn anodes enabled by in-situ construction of zincophilic zinc polyacrylate interphase for aqueous Zn-ion batteries.

The irreversibility and low utilization of Zn anode stemming from the corrosion and dendrite growth have largely limited the commercialization of aqueous zinc batteries. Here, a carbonyl-rich polymer interphase of zinc polyacrylate (ZPAA) is spontaneously in-situ constructed on Zn anode to address the above-mentioned dilemmas. The ZPAA interlayer enables fast transport kinetics of Zn2+ and tailors the interfacial electric field for realizing the uniform Zn deposition due to superior zincophilicity, high Zn2+ transference number and inherent ion-diffusion channel. Importantly, acting as a buffer interphase with strong adhesion and isolation of electrolytes, this functional layer effectively protects the Zn electrode against the water-induced erosion and passivation. Remarkably, the ZPAA@Zn electrode realizes an enhanced Coulombic efficiency of 99.71 % within 2200 cycles, delivers an ultra-long cycling stability over 7660 h (>319 days, 1 mA cm-2) and 2460 h (5 mA cm-2) with lower voltage hysteresis. Also, the ZPAA@Zn/MnO2 full cell maintains a high capacity of 114 mAh/g after 2000 cycles, much better that of untreated Zn/MnO2 cell (25 mAh/g). This concept of in-situ fabricating ion-sieve-like polymer interphase provides a facile approach to stabilize Zn anode and further paves a way for high-performance aqueous batteries.

Arctiin Mitigates Neuronal Injury by Modulating the P2X7R/NLPR3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway.

Depression, recognized globally as a primary cause of disability, has its pathogenesis closely related to neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. Arctiin (ARC), the major bioactive component of Fructus arctii, has various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Building on previous findings that highlighted ARC's capability to mitigate depression by dampening microglial hyperactivation and thereby reducing neuroinflammatory responses and cortical neuronal damage in mice, the current study delves deeper into ARC's therapeutic potential by examining its impact on hippocampal neuronal damage in depression. Utilizing both chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression model in mice and corticosterone (CORT)-stimulated PC12 cell model of neuronal damage, the techniques including Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, ELISA, lactate dehydrogenase assays, colony formation assays, immunofluorescence staining and molecular docking were employed to unravel the mechanisms behind ARC's neuroprotective effects. The findings revealed that ARC not only mitigates hippocampal neuropathological damage and reduces serum CORT levels in CUMS-exposed mice but also enhances cell activity while reducing lactate dehydrogenase release in CORT-stimulated PC12 cells. ARC attenuated neuroinflammatory responses and neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the overactivation of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R)/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway, similar to the effect of A438079 (P2X7R antagonist). Interestingly, pretreatment with A438079 blocked the neuroprotective effect of ARC. Computer modeling predicted that both ARC and A438079 have strong binding with P2X7R and they have the same binding site. These results suggested that ARC may exert a neuroprotective role by binding to P2X7R, thereby inhibiting the P2X7R/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Ionic liquid-integrated aqueous electrolyte regulation on solvation chemistry and electrode interface for reversible dendrite-free zinc anodes.

Zn anodes suffer from poor reversibility and stability owing to nonuniform dendrite growth and self-corrosion. Here, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMImAc) is introduced to reconstruct interfacial electrical double layer with simultaneously manipulating the solvation environment and the adsorption situation on Zn anode. The acetate anions with high nucleophilicity can effectively alter the solvation shell around Zn2+ ions and immobilize the H2O molecules, thus weakening water activity and alleviating water-related parasitic reactions. Concomitantly, both the imidazolium cation and acetate anion are inclined to gather on Zn anode surface for constructing an electrostatic shielding layer, and meanwhile the chemisorbed acetate anions also contribute to accelerate the Zn(H2O)62+ desolvation process. Such a synergistic effect enables uniform electric field distribution and facilitates Zn ion flux, which mitigates the random diffusion of Zn2+ and finally promotes the dendrite-free deposition. As a result, the Zn/Zn symmetric cells with EMImAc-integrated aqueous electrolyte realize an excellent cycling lifespan of 7000 h (0.5 mA cm-2/0.25 mAh cm-2) and high Zn utilization of 61.3 % (15 mA cm-2/20 mAh cm-2). Furthermore, the effective of EMImAc additive is demonstrated in Zn/V2O5 cells. This work offers insights into the ionic liquid-integrated aqueous electrolytes to enhance the interface stability of Zn anode for rechargeable zinc batteries.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the bladder is a rare non-urothelial tumor of the bladder. The treatment of LCNEC of the bladder is different from that of urothelial carcinoma (UC); therefore, early and accurate diagnosis is particularly important. As LCNEC of the bladder is rare and its clinical symptoms and radiographic features are similar to those of urothelial tumors, the clinical diagnosis of the disease remains challenging. CASE SUMMARY: We report a 72-year-old female patient who presented with gross hematuria for 3 mo. A solitary tumor located in the anterior wall of the bladder was found by cystoscopy. Pathological examination after biopsy suggested UC of the bladder in the absence of immunohistochemical assessment. The patient underwent partial cystectomy and was finally diagnosed with LCNEC (pT2bN0M0) based on the results of postoperative immunohistochemical examination. During the 10-mo follow-up, no signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis were found. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical examination is essential for diagnosing LCNEC of the bladder. Accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment in the early stage of the disease are crucial for improving the prognosis.

Impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancer-related fatigue and complications in adults with leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Patients not only experience symptoms caused by cancer but also suffer from the accompanying psychological pain. Therefore, these patients do not have high quality of life. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of leukemia in China in 2020 was 5.1/100000, the mortality rate was 3.3/100000, and the prevalence rate was 16.7/100000. Therefore, it is important to examine the influence of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on leukemia patients. AIM: To determine the impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancer-related fatigue and complications in leukemia patients, thereby providing a basis for early diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among leukemia patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, from August 2022 to December 2023. Patients with a score > 16 on the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD-3) and a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 8-17 were classified as the subthreshold depressive group (n = 95), while 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were classified as the control group. Data were collected using Epidata 3.1 software, and comparisons were made between the two groups regarding general clinical data, the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Numeric Rating Scale for pain assessment, laboratory indicators, and the occurrence of complications. RESULTS: In this survey, 120 leukemia patients with depression were preliminarily screened, 95 patients with subthreshold depression were ultimately selected as the subthreshold depression group, and 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were enrolled as the normal group. Comparison of basic clinical data between the two groups revealed no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, cognitive function, or comorbidity with other chronic diseases. However, there were statistically significant differences in the use of radiotherapy and regular exercise between the two groups (P < 0.05). Comparisons of scales and laboratory indicators revealed no significant differences in albumin or PSQI scores between the two groups, but there were statistically significant differences in pain scores, PSQI scores, PFS scores, hemoglobin levels, and C-reactive protein levels (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that cancer-related fatigue was correlated with age, hemoglobin levels, C-reactive protein levels, pain, and regular exercise among leukemia patients with subthreshold depression. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that advanced age, combined radiotherapy, pain, and low hemoglobin levels were risk factors for cancer-related fatigue in leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depression, while regular exercise was a protective factor against cancer-related fatigue. Follow-up comparisons revealed a significantly lower overall incidence of complications in the control group (4%) than in the depressive group (24.21%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms experience more severe cancer-related fatigue and a higher incidence of complications. These findings may be related to advanced age, combined radiotherapy, pain, and low hemoglobin levels, while regular exercise may effectively alleviate symptoms.

Statistical optimal parameters obtained by using clinical human ocular aberrations for high-precision aberration measurement.

PURPOSE: Compared to Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS), the parameters of virtual SHWS (vSHWS) can be easily adjusted to obtain the optimal performance of aberration measurement. Its current optimal parameters are obtained with only a set of statistical aberrations and not statistically significant. Whether the above parameters are consistent with the statistical results of the optimal parameters corresponding to each set of aberrations, and which performance is better if not? The purpose of this study was to answer these questions. METHODS: The optimal parameters to reconstruct 624 sets of clinical ocular aberrations in the highest accuracy, including the numbers of sub-apertures (NSAs) and the expansion ratios (ERs) of electric field zero-padding, were determined sequentially in this work. By using wavefront-reconstruction accuracy as an evaluation index, the statistical optimal parameter configuration was selected from some possible configurations determined by the optimal NSAs and ERs. RESULTS: The statistical optimal parameters are consistent for normal and abnormal eyes. They are different from the optimal parameters obtained with a set of statistical aberrations from the same 624 sets of aberrations, and the performance using the former is better than that using the latter. The performance using a fixed set of statistical optimal parameters is even close to that using the respective optimal parameters corresponding to each set of aberrations. CONCLUSION: The vSHWS configured with a fixed set of statistical optimal parameters can be used for high-precision aberration measurement of both normal and abnormal eyes. The statistical optimal parameters are more suitable for vSHWS than the parameters obtained with a set of statistical aberrations. These conclusions are significant for the designs of vSHWS and also SHWS.

N-P covalent bond regulation of mesoporous carbon-based catalyst for lowered oxygen reduction overpotential and enhanced zinc-air battery performance.

Developing sustainable metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts is essential for the deployment of metal-air batteries such as zinc-air batteries (ZABs), among which doping of heteroatoms has attracted tremendous interest over the past decade. However, the effect of the heteroatom covalent bonds in carbon matrix on catalysis was neglected in most studies. Here, an efficient metal-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst is demonstrated by the N-P bonds anchored carbon (termed N,P-C-1000). The N,P-C-1000 catalyst exhibits superior specific surface area of 1362 m2 g-1 and ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.83 V, close to that of 20 wt% Pt/C. Theoretical computations reveal that the p-band center for C-2p orbit in N,P-C-1000 has higher interaction strength with the intermediates, thus reducing the overall reaction energy barrier. The N,P-C-1000 assembled primary ZAB can attain a large peak power density of 121.9 mW cm-2 and a steady discharge platform of ∼1.20 V throughout 120 h. Besides, when served as the cathodic catalyst in a solid-state ZAB, the battery shows flexibility, conspicuous open circuit potential (1.423 V), and high peak power density (85.8 mW cm-2). Our findings offer a strategy to tune the intrinsic structure of carbon-based catalysts for improved electrocatalytic performance and shed light on future catalysts design for energy storage technologies beyond batteries.

Dual-functional ionic liquids additive enables dendrite-free Zn anode with ultra-long cycle life over one year.

Zn anodes suffer from the formation of uncontrolled dendrites aggravated by the uneven electric field and the insulating by-product accumulation in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Here, an effective strategy implemented by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIHSO4) additive is proposed to synergistically tune the crystallographic orientation of zinc deposition and suppress the formation of zinc hydroxide sulfate for enhancing the reversibility on Zn anode surface. As a competing cation, BMI+ is proved to preferably adsorb on Zn-electrode compared with H2O molecules, which shields the "tip effect" and inhibits the Zn-deposition agglomerations to inducing the horizontal growth along Zn (002) crystallographic texture. Simultaneously, the protonated BMIHSO4 additives could remove the detrimental OH- in real-time to fundamentally eliminate the accumulation of 6Zn(OH)2·ZnSO4·4H2O and Zn4SO4(OH)6·H2O on Zn anode surface. Consequently, Zn anode exhibits an ultra-long cycling stability of one year (8762 h) at 0.2 mA cm-2/0.2 mAh cm-2, 3600 h at 2 mA cm-2/2 mAh cm-2 with a high plating cumulative capacity of 3.6 Ah cm-2, and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6 % throughout 1000 cycles. This work of regulating Zn deposition texture combined with eliminating notorious by-products could offer a desirable way for stabilizing the Zn-anode/electrolyte interface in AZIBs.

Macroscale preparation of CoS2 nanoparticles for ultra-high fast-charging performance in sodium-ion batteries.

Improving the fast-charging capabilities and energy storage capacity of electric vehicles presents a feasible strategy for mitigating the prevalent concern of range anxiety in the market. Nanostructure electrode materials play a crucial role in this process. However, the current method of preparation is arduous and yields restricted quantities. In view of this, we have devised an innovative approach that provides convenience and efficacy, facilitating the large-scale synthesis of CoS2 nanoparticles, which exhibited exceptional performance. When the current density was 1000 mA g-1, the discharging capacity reached 760 mAh g-1 after 400 cycles. Remarkably, even at an increased current density of 5000 mA g-1, the discharging capacity of CoS2 remained at 685.5 mAh g-1. The ultra-high performance could be attributed to the specific surface area, which minimized the diffusion distance of sodium-ions during the charging and discharging processes and mitigated the extent of structural damage. Our straightforward preparation techniques facilitate the mass production and present a novel approach for the development of cost-effective and high-performing anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Valuation of the cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the hidden curriculum evaluation scale in nursing education.

BACKGROUND: The hidden curriculum in baccalaureate nursing programs is a means of moral education. Evaluation of the curriculum by students and faculty can increase awareness of its characteristics, which could be useful for planning and further development. OBJECTIVES: This study's aim was to translate the Hidden Curriculum Evaluation Scale in Nursing Education (HCES-N) to Chinese, adapt the scale to the Chinese culture and evaluate its validity and reliability in a sample of undergraduate nursing students. DESIGN: Psychometric assessment of a tool using two cross-sectional surveys. SETTINGS: University-based schools of nursing in seven provinces and cities of China. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate nursing students in a baccalaureate program. METHODS: The English version of the HCES-N was translated to Chinese using the Brislin translation model. The test-retest, internal consistency and split-half reliabilities of the HCES-N were examined in a sample of 1016 undergraduate nursing students. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to examine the scale's content validity. RESULTS: The exploratory factor analysis of the final 44-item HCES-N revealed three common factors and a cumulative variance contribution rate of 73.535%. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the final 44-item, 3-factor model was adequate for the s cale's structure (Chi-square/df = 6.59, RMSEA = 0.074, SRMR = 0.040, CFI = 0.911 and TLI = 0.905). The results confirmed that the Chinese version of HCES-N had good internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.945); the scale's split-half-reliability was 0.794 and its test-retest reliability after two weeks was 0.894. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the HCES-N has good reliability and validity and it can be used to assess the hidden curriculum in baccalaureate nursing programs.

Decoupling Activation and Transport by Electron-Regulated Atomic-Bi Harnessed Surface-to-Pore Interface for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery.

Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) promises a route to low-cost and grid-scale electricity storage using renewable energy resources. However, the interplay of mass transport and activation processes of high-loading catalysts makes it challenging to drive high-performance density VRFB. Herein, a surface-to-pore interface design that unlocks the potential of atomic-Bi-exposed catalytic surface via decoupling activation and transport is reported. The functional interface accommodates electron-regulated atomic-Bi catalyst in an asymmetric Bi─O─Mn structure that expedites the V3+ /V2+ conversion, and a mesoporous Mn3 O4 sub-scaffold for rapid shuttling of redox-active species, whereby the site accessibility is maximized, contrary to conventional transport-limited catalysts. By in situ grafting this interface onto micron-porous carbon felt (Bi1 -sMn3 O4 -CF), a high-performance flow battery is achieved, yielding a record high energy efficiency of 76.72% even at a high current density of 400 mA cm-2 and a peak power density of 1.503 W cm-2 , outdoing the battery with sMn3 O4 -CF (62.60%, 0.978 W cm-2 ) without Bi catalyst. Moreover, this battery renders extraordinary durability of over 1500 cycles, bespeaking a crucial breakthrough toward sustainable redox flow batteries (RFBs).

Circulating Biomarkers and Risk of Hypertension: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study systematically assessed circulating proteins to identify new serum biomarkers and risk of hypertension using Mendelian randomisation. METHODS: The associations between 4,782 human circulating proteins and the risk of hypertension were evaluated using two-sample Mendelian randomisation. The FinnGen study demonstrated a link between genetic predisposition and hypertension in 85,438 cases and 223,663 controls. RESULTS: Inverse variance weighted and sensitivity analysis revealed nine proteins in circulation that have a causative effect on hypertension. SMOC1 and TIE1 were determined to be causative factors in the decreased likelihood of developing hypertension, with odds ratios of 0.86 (95% CI 0.81-0.91; p=1.06e-06) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98; p=9.39e-05), respectively. NDUFB4, ETHE1, POFUT2, TRIL, ADAM23, GXYLT1, OXT, TPST2, and TMCC3 showed a possible connection to hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: This two-sample Mendelian randomisation study found that SMOC1 and TIE1 are causally linked to hypertension, making them a promising target for therapy.

The Application of Computer Technology to Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation: A Scoping Review.

Implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) is a complex and challenging task. Computer technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), has been explored to promote the CPG implementation. This study has reviewed the main domains where computer technology and AI has been applied to CPG implementation. PubMed, Embase, Web of science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, WanFang DATA, VIP database, and China Biology Medicine disc database were searched from inception to December 2021. Studies involving the utilization of computer technology and AI to promote the implementation of CPGs were eligible for review. A total of 10429 published articles were identified, 117 met the inclusion criteria. 21 (17.9%) focused on the utilization of AI techniques to classify or extract the relative content of CPGs, such as recommendation sentence, condition-action sentences. 47 (40.2%) focused on the utilization of computer technology to represent guideline knowledge to make it understandable by computer. 15 (12.8%) focused on the utilization of AI techniques to verify the relative content of CPGs, such as conciliation of multiple single-disease guidelines for comorbid patients. 34 (29.1%) focused on the utilization of AI techniques to integrate guideline knowledge into different resources, such as clinical decision support systems. We conclude that the application of computer technology and AI to CPG implementation mainly concentrated on the guideline content classification and extraction, guideline knowledge representation, guideline knowledge verification, and guideline knowledge integration. The AI methods used for guideline content classification and extraction were pattern-based algorithm and machine learning. In guideline knowledge representation, guideline knowledge verification, and guideline knowledge integration, computer techniques of knowledge representation were the most used.

[A Health Education Program for Home Emergency Management of Acute Complications of Diabetes in the Elderly].

Objective To establish a health education program for home emergency management of acute complications of diabetes in the elderly.Methods The program was drafted by literature review and panel discussion.The final draft was formed after two rounds of correspondence from 13 experts.Results The recovery rate of the two rounds of expert correspondence was 100%,and the expert authority coefficient was 0.98.The Kendall's harmony coefficients of the two rounds of correspondence were 0.263 and 0.212 respectively(both P<0.001).The established health education program included indicators of three categories:early stage of acute complications of diabetes at home(understanding the inducing factors),emergency warning(quick and early identification in case of emergency),and emergency treatment at home.Conclusion The contents of the health education program are systematic and reliable and meet the needs of health education for home emergency management of the elderly with diabetes.

Asymmetric Chemical Potential Activated Nanointerfacial Electric Field for Efficient Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

Constructing active sites with enhanced intrinsic activity and accessibility in a confined microenvironment is critical for simultaneously upgrading the round-trip efficiency and lifespan of all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) yet remains under-explored. Here, we present nanointerfacial electric fields (E-fields) featuring outstanding intrinsic activity embodied by binary Mo2C-Mo2N sublattice. The asymmetric chemical potential on both sides of the reconstructed heterogeneous interface imposes the charge movement and accumulation near the atomic-scale N-Mo-C binding region, eliciting the configuration of an accelerator-like E-field from Mo2N to Mo2C sublattice. Supported with theoretical calculations and intrinsic activity tests, the improved vanadium ion adsorption behavior and charge-transfer process at the nanointerfacial sites were further substantiated, hence expediting the electrochemical kinetics. Accordingly, the pronounced promotion is achieved in the resultant flow battery, yielding an energy efficiency of 77.7% and an extended lifespan of 1000 cycles at 300 mA cm-2, outperforming flow cells with conventional single catalysts in most previous reports.

Surface-immobilized cross-linked cationic polyelectrolyte enables CO2 reduction with metal cation-free acidic electrolyte.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction in acidic electrolytes is a promising strategy to achieve high utilization efficiency of CO2. Although alkali cations in acidic electrolytes play a vital role in suppressing hydrogen evolution and promoting CO2 reduction, they also cause precipitation of bicarbonate on the gas diffusion electrode (GDE), flooding of electrolyte through the GDE, and drift of the electrolyte pH. In this work, we realize the electroreduction of CO2 in a metal cation-free acidic electrolyte by covering the catalyst with cross-linked poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride. This polyelectrolyte provides a high density of cationic sites immobilized on the surface of the catalyst, which suppresses the mass transport of H+ and modulates the interfacial field strength. By adopting this strategy, the Faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO reaches 95 ± 3% with the Ag catalyst and the FE of formic acid reaches 76 ± 3% with the In catalyst in a 1.0 pH electrolyte in a flow cell. More importantly, with the metal cation-free acidic electrolyte the amount of electrolyte flooding through the GDE is decreased to 2.5 ± 0.6% of that with alkali cation-containing acidic electrolyte, and the FE of CO maintains above 80% over 36 h of operation at -200 mA·cm-2.

Synergistic Reduction of Arsenic Uptake and Alleviation of Leaf Arsenic Toxicity in Maize (Zea mays L.) by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Exogenous Iron through Antioxidant Activity.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play key roles in enhancing plant tolerance to heavy metals, and iron (Fe) compounds can reduce the bioavailability of arsenic (As) in soil, thereby alleviating As toxicity. However, there have been limited studies of the synergistic antioxidant mechanisms of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) and Fe compounds in the alleviation of As toxicity on leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) with low and moderate As contamination. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted with different concentrations of As (0, 25, 50 mgꞏkg-1) and Fe (0, 50 mgꞏkg-1) and AMF treatments. Results showed that under low and moderate As concentrations (As25 and As50), the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound significantly increased the biomass of maize stems and roots, phosphorus (P) concentration, and P-to-As uptake ratio. Moreover, the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound addition significantly reduced the As concentration in stem and root, malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaf, and soluble protein and non-protein thiol (NPT) contents in leaf of maize under As25 and As50 treatments. In addition, co-inoculation with AMF and Fe compound addition significantly increased the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the leaves of maize under As25 treatment. Correlation analysis showed that stem biomass and leaf MDA content were very significantly negatively correlated with stem As content, respectively. In conclusion, the results indicated that the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound addition can inhibit As uptake and promote P uptake by maize under low and moderate As contamination, thereby mitigating the lipid peroxidation on maize leaves and reducing As toxicity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes under low As contamination. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of AMF and Fe compounds in the restoration of cropland soil contaminated with low and moderate As.

Intern nursing students' perceived barriers to providing end-of-life care for dying cancer patients in a death taboo cultural context: A qualitative study.

Objective: Internationally, intern nursing students' experiences with dying patients and death are an area of great concern. However, barriers to providing end-of-life care for dying cancer patients have not been extensively investigated in mainland China, where death remains a taboo issue. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate intern nursing students' perceived barriers to their performance in providing end-of-life cancer care in the Chinese cultural context. Methods: This was a descriptive, qualitative study. Twenty-one intern nursing students from three cancer centers in mainland China were interviewed between January 2021 and June 2022. A thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data. The theory of planned behavior was adopted to design the study and identify themes. Results: A range of barriers related to attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control that hindered intern nursing students from acquiring abilities to deal with patient dying and death were identified in the Chinese cultural context. Conclusions: Chinese intern nursing students encountered many barriers that affected their provision of end-of-life care to dying cancer patients. Strategies to improve their ability to provide appropriate end-of-life care should focus on helping them develop appropriate attitudes toward dying and death and how to overcome subjective norms and behavioral control barriers.

Resveratrol Improves Paclitaxel-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Mice by Activating SIRT1/PGC-1α Pathway to Regulate Neuronal State and Microglia Cell Polarization.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol (Res) on paclitaxel (PTX)-induced cognitive impairment and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Morris Water Maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the mice's spatial learning and memory abilities. Western blotting was applied to detect protein expression of receptor-interacting protein (RIP3), mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor coactivator-1 (PGC-1α), NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), NOX4, postsynaptic density zone 95 (PSD95), arginase-1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Immunofluorescence of RIP3, MLKL, Arg-1, Iba-1 and iNOS was conducted to observe the apoptosis of hippocampal cells and the polarization of microglia. qRT-PCR was performed to detect BDNF mRNA expressions. DHE staining was used to assess the level of oxidative stress response. Golgi-Cox staining and dendritic spine counting were applied to visualize synaptic structural plasticity. Postsynaptic density was performed by transmission electron microscope. ELISA was used to detect the contents of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-1ß, IL-4, and IL-10. Results: PTX-induced cognitive impairment model was constructed after the application of PTX, represented as longer latency to platform and less platform crossing times over the whole period in PTX group. After Res treatment, the above indicators were reversed, indicating that cognitive function was improved. Moreover, Res reduced neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress through SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway in mice, manifesting as down-regulated expression of RIP3, MLKL, NOX2 and NOX4. Meanwhile, Res increased the density of dendritic spines and the expression of PSD95 and BDNF, thereby ameliorating the PTX induced synaptic damage. Besides, M2 microglia was in the majority, eliciting the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 after Res treatment in PTX+Res group, while immunofluorescence images results demonstrated an decrease in the proportion of M2 microglia a following SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527. Conclusion: Res improves PTX-induced cognitive impairment in mice by activating SIRT1/PGC-1α pathways to regulate neuronal state and microglia cell polarization.