ABSTRACT
In primates, mixed species associations are not common occurrences, and have been linked to both ecological and anthropogenic factors. We present camera-trapping records of a mixed association between two primates, the Hatinh langur (Trachypithecus hatinhensis) and red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) and discuss possible hypotheses for this occurrence. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of such an association in the wild of these two threatened primates, and thus contributes to our limited ecological knowledge of the species.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Augmentation rhinoplasty is one of five aesthetic surgeries in the world. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) has been reported as a rational choice to augment the nasal dorsum and tip. However, its application for nasal tip augmentation has some debates. This study presented a technique using ePTFE grafts combined with human acellular dermis matrix (HADM) to reconstruct a deformed nose caused by previous rhinoplasties. METHODS: 50 female patients who came to the hospital from 08/2022 to 09/2022 for surgical revision of their nasal deformity. ePTFE was applied to reconstruct the nasal dorsum, tip, and columella strut. HADM grafts were utilized to reinforce the reconstructed framework. Patients were evaluated for at least 12 months for both aesthetic and functional results. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the nasal dorsal length increased from 38.9 ± 1.32 to 43.4 ± 1.22 mm; while, the projection of the nasal tip also raised from 19.8 ± 1.16 to 23.9 ± 1.05 mm. 38 patients (76%) reported that their breathing and smelling were improved compared to preoperatively. No cases had implant reactions, extrusion, or warping columella strut. Most of the patients (84%) were satisfied with the surgical outcomes. Three patients (6%) had redness at the nasal tip. The nasal tip of ten patients (20%) was hardened for 3 months postoperatively. There were 6% of patients who developed an infection and 2% of patients had asymmetric soft tissues of the tip 3 postoperative months. CONCLUSION: This technique brought satisfactory aesthetic and functional results to patients, with no extrusion or rejection observed 12 months postoperatively. Infection was a prominent complication that should be considered and strictly monitored. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: 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 Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Studies have reported conflicting findings on the relationship between smoking and surgical site infection (SSI) post fixation for ankle and calcaneal fractures. This meta-analysis explored the effect of smoking on SSI incidence following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of these fractures. Methods: Full-text studies on smoking's influence on post-ORIF SSI rates for closed ankle and calcaneal fractures were sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, with no consideration given to language or publication date. Study quality was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% CIs were determined using random-effects models. This meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023429372). Results: The analysis incorporated data from 16 cohort and case-control studies, totaling 41 944 subjects, 9984 of whom were smokers, with 956 SSI cases. Results indicated smokers faced a higher SSI risk (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.32-1.97, P < 0.0001) post ORIF, with low heterogeneity (I 2 = 26%). Smoking was identified as a significant deep SSI risk factor (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.42-3.09; P = 0.0002; I 2 = 31%). However, the subgroup analysis revealed no association between smoking and superficial SSI (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.82-1.33; P = 0.70; I 2 = 0%). Conclusion: Smoking is associated with increased SSI risk after ORIF for closed ankle and calcaneus fractures. Although no clear link was found between superficial SSI and smoking, the data underscore the negative influence of smoking on deep SSI incidence.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) has usually an indolent course. However, some patients develop a more aggressive disease and few prognostic parameters have been identified. Isolated cases of pustular MF (pMF) suggest an unfavourable prognosis. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe the clinico-pathological characteristics and prognostic value of pMF. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of all cases of MF with histological pustules diagnosed from 2009 to 2020. The outcomes and clinico-pathological characteristics of pMF at diagnosis (pMFD) were compared to those of a cohort of non-pustular MF (NpMF). RESULTS: 33 pMF (including 22 pMFD) and 86 NpMF cases were included. The median age at diagnosis of pMF was 61 years [IQR=50-75]. The median follow-up of pMFD was 32 months [IQR=14-49]. Clinically, 33% of pMF had pustules. Large-cell transformation (LCT) occurred in 17 cases. pMFD were at a significantly more advanced-stage and more showed LCT at diagnosis than NpMF (50% vs 7%, p<0.001 and 23% vs 0%, p<0.001, respectively). In multivariate Cox analysis, the presence of histological pustule at diagnostic was associated with shorter OS in all patients (HR=13.90, CI95%[2.43-79]; p=0.003), and in early-stage patients (HR=11.09, CI95%[1.56-78.82]; p=0.02). In multivariate Fine and Gray model analysis, pMFD was associated with a higher cumulative incidence of LCT (SHR=13.90, CI95% [2.43-79]; p=0.003) in all patients. Median OS after the occurrence of histological pustules during follow-up of all pMF patients was 37 months, with a five-year OS of 25% (CI95% [0.06-0.5]). CONCLUSION: pMF often follows an aggressive course, with a high risk of LCT and shorter survival, even for early-stage patients. Histological pustules at diagnostic of MF might represent an independent poor prognostic factor, to be confirmed by further studies. Because pustules are not always clinically identified, histological pustules should be mentioned in pathology reports of MF and prompt discussion of a closer follow-up.
ABSTRACT
Mitosis in early embryos often proceeds at a rapid pace, but how this pace is achieved is not understood. Here, we show that cyclin B3 is the dominant driver of rapid embryonic mitoses in the C. elegans embryo. Cyclins B1 and B2 support slow mitosis (NEBD to anaphase â¼600 s), but the presence of cyclin B3 dominantly drives the approximately threefold faster mitosis observed in wildtype. Multiple mitotic events are slowed down in cyclin B1 and B2-driven mitosis, and cyclin B3-associated Cdk1 H1 kinase activity is â¼25-fold more active than cyclin B1-associated Cdk1. Addition of cyclin B1 to fast cyclin B3-only mitosis introduces an â¼60-s delay between completion of chromosome alignment and anaphase onset; this delay, which is important for segregation fidelity, is dependent on inhibitory phosphorylation of the anaphase activator Cdc20. Thus, cyclin B3 dominance, coupled to a cyclin B1-dependent delay that acts via Cdc20 phosphorylation, sets the rapid pace and ensures mitotic fidelity in the early C. elegans embryo.
Subject(s)
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins , Caenorhabditis elegans , Cyclin B1 , Embryo, Nonmammalian , Mitosis , Animals , Caenorhabditis elegans/embryology , Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism , Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics , Cyclin B1/metabolism , Cyclin B1/genetics , Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism , Phosphorylation , CDC2 Protein Kinase/metabolism , CDC2 Protein Kinase/genetics , Cyclin B/metabolism , Cyclin B/genetics , Cdc20 Proteins/metabolism , Cdc20 Proteins/genetics , Cyclin B2/metabolism , Cyclin B2/geneticsABSTRACT
Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) is indicated after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to reduce the risk of atherothrombotic events. Approximately 30% of the US population has a CYP2C19 no-function allele that reduces the effectiveness of clopidogrel, but not prasugrel or ticagrelor, after PCI. We have shown improved outcomes with the integration of CYP2C19 genotyping into clinical care to guide the selection of prasugrel or ticagrelor in CYP2C19 no-function allele carriers. However, the influence of patient-specific demographic, clinical, and other genetic factors on outcomes with genotype-guided DAPT has not been defined. In addition, the impact of genotype-guided de-escalation from prasugrel or ticagrelor to clopidogrel in patients without a CYP2C19 no-function allele has not been investigated in a diverse, real-world clinical setting. The Precision Antiplatelet Therapy after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (Precision PCI) Registry is a multicenter US registry of patients who underwent PCI and clinical CYP2C19 testing. The registry is enrolling a diverse population, assessing atherothrombotic and bleeding events over 12 months, collecting DNA samples, and conducting platelet function testing in a subset of patients. The registry aims to define the influence of African ancestry and other patient-specific factors on clinical outcomes with CYP2C19-guided DAPT, evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CYP2C19-guided DAPT de-escalation following PCI in a real-world setting, and identify additional genetic influences of clopidogrel response after PCI, with the ultimate goal of establishing optimal strategies for individualized antiplatelet therapy that improves outcomes in a diverse, real-world population.
Subject(s)
Clopidogrel , Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors , Prasugrel Hydrochloride , Precision Medicine , Registries , Ticagrelor , Humans , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects , Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19/genetics , Precision Medicine/methods , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/adverse effects , Clopidogrel/administration & dosage , Clopidogrel/adverse effects , Ticagrelor/administration & dosage , Ticagrelor/therapeutic use , Prasugrel Hydrochloride/administration & dosage , Prasugrel Hydrochloride/therapeutic use , Prasugrel Hydrochloride/adverse effects , Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy/methods , Aspirin/administration & dosage , Aspirin/adverse effects , Aspirin/therapeutic use , Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/administration & dosage , Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/adverse effects , Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/prevention & controlSubject(s)
Cholesterol , Liver X Receptors , Prediabetic State , Signal Transduction , Humans , Prediabetic State/metabolism , Liver X Receptors/metabolism , Liver X Receptors/genetics , Cholesterol/metabolism , Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism , Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics , Animals , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Risk Factors , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism , MiceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Smoking has long been recognized as a risk factor for impaired wound and bone healing, particularly in the context of ankle and foot surgery. Despite numerous studies exploring the association between smoking and complications following ankle replacement, there remains significant inconsistency in their findings. Therefore, this meta-analysis study aims to elucidate whether smoking increases the rate of complications after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), providing valuable insights for clinical management. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, and Wiley databases to identify relevant English studies on the influence of smoking on postoperative complications following ankle replacement without any restrictions on publication dates. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effect models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). This study adhered to PRISMA guidelines for transparent reporting and was registered with PROSPERO. RESULTS: The analysis incorporated data from 12 retrospective cohort studies, totaling 17331 subjects, 2580 of whom were smokers and 791 complications following TAA. The findings revealed a statistically significant disparity in wound-related complications (OR: 2.26; 95 % CI: 1.13-4.50; P = .02), particularly evident in current smokers with an OR of 3.30 (95 % CI: 2.12-5.14; P < .00001). However, we lacked sufficient evidence to substantiate an association between smoking and complications related to the prosthesis (OR: 1.09; 95 % CI: 0.77-1.53; P = .64) or systemic complications (OR: 1.18; 95 % CI: 0.10-14.13; P = .90) following TAA. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, especially current smoking, is associated with increased wound complication risk post-operation for total ankle arthroplasty. Despite a lack of definitive evidence on the optimal timeframe for smoking cessation before surgery, discontinuing smoking appears to be a prudent measure to mitigate these complications.
ABSTRACT
This study underscores the significance of identifying the clinical manifestations of pachyonychia congenita (PC) and emphasizes the patterns of genetic inheritance. A 12-month-old boy presented with a "white hairy tongue" and, following a comprehensive evaluation, was diagnosed with PC. His father exhibited similar symptoms. Genetic testing revealed a KRT16 pathogenic variant (c.616 T > G) in both the patient and his father, marking it as a novel variant in the PC literature. This case contributes to a broader understanding of PC's genetic diversity and its clinical presentations.
ABSTRACT
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a mitochondrial lipid disorder caused by mutations in TAFAZZIN (TAZ), required for cardiolipin (CL) remodeling. Cardiomyopathy is a major clinical feature, with no curative therapy. Linoleic acid (LA) supplementation is proposed to ameliorate BTHS cardiomyopathy by enhancing linoleoyl group incorporation into CL. While the beneficial effect of dietary LA supplementation in delaying the development of BTHS cardiomyopathy has been recently tested, its potential to reverse established BTHS cardiomyopathy remains unclear. Our study revealed that LA supplementation cannot rescue established BTHS cardiomyopathy in mice, highlighting the importance of early initiation of LA supplementation for maximum benefits.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine if the use of telerehabilitation among rehabilitation therapists during the first 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic increased, if therapists' identified plans to continue use after the pandemic, and to understand challenges that therapists face in using telerehabilitation, and to evaluate viable use-cases for telerehabilitation. Design: A survey was conducted among clinicians containing questions about tools being used before, during, and after (planned) COVID-19. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the increase in actual usage of telerehabilitation during the pandemic and planned usage after the pandemic. Setting: The study was survey-based and conducted remotely via online distribution. Participants: 387 participants (90.2% women) with an average age of 40.1 years participated in the survey and satisfied selection criteria. On average, they practiced for 14.8 years. Main Outcome Measures: No interventions were made. Survey item results were used for analysis. Results: Therapists used telerehabilitation more frequently during COVID-19 as compared with before COVID-19. Therapist use of video calls more than tripled (288.89% increase) during COVID-19. Speech therapists were far more likely to adopt telerehabilitation than physical therapists or occupational therapists. 18.9% of therapists planned to use video-based remote communication with patients after COVID-19. 31% of therapists who had not previously used telerehabilitation prior to the pandemic anticipated using it post-pandemic. Most therapists (88%) believed that discussion-based activities could be done remotely. Conclusions: COVID-19 has affected the way therapists interact with patients. These changes may have lasting effect on patient interactions and a perceived potential for future use of telerehabilitation is evident. Therapists who had already made use of remote communication had more optimistic outlooks on the future utility of these mediums, indicating that exposure favors future use. Therapists anticipate a potential increase in utilization of Video-Based Telerehabilitation post-pandemic but have faced and expect to face challenges in use of telerehabilitation. While disparities and obstacles to access pose challenges, the progress made during COVID-19 is promising.
ABSTRACT
The swift pace of socioeconomic development and climatic change have put significant strain on the quality of water resources. While, the bulk availability of agro-based materials arising from nature and agricultural practices has paved the way for researchers in eradicating toxic industrial pollutants such as dyes, heavy-metals, phenolic-compounds, pesticides, etc. by using them as adsorbents. In the area of pollution remediation, inventive technologies have been developing. The adsorption technique stands out among the other wastewater-treatment methods as it is simple, easy, efficient, and cost-effective. The agro-based adsorbents their use in this area contributes to minimizing natural waste. They can be employed in their original raw-form or after undergoing simple processes such as drying, grinding, and carbonization. Moreover, these adsorbents are typically modified physically or chemically to change their surface properties and improve their adsorption efficiency. The low-cost agro adsorbents have shown efficient adsorption capacities towards removing various organic and hazardous water pollutants. With a few exceptions, majority of adsorbents have demonstrated heavy metals, dyes and phenol removal efficiencies exceeding 90%. This review summarizes the available information and strategies for using agro-based adsorbents to eliminate hazardous water pollutants. It is a prospective area for research in the field of environmental pollution.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy and safety of first-generation flow diverters (FDs), Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) (Medtronic, Irvine, California), Silk (Balt Extrusion, Montmorency, France), Flow Re-direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) (Microvention, Tustin, California), and Surpass Streamline (Stryker Neurovascular, Fremont, California), is not directly established and largely inferred. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of different FDs in treating sidewall ICA intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases from eighteen academic institutions from 2009-2016, comprising 444 patients treated with one of four devices for sidewall ICA aneurysms. Data on demographics, aneurysm characteristics, treatment outcomes, and complications were analyzed. Angiographic and clinical outcomes were assessed using various imaging modalities and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Propensity score weighting was employed to balance confounding variables. The data analysis used Kaplan-Meier curves, logistic regression, and Cox proportional-hazards regression. RESULTS: While there were no significant differences in retreatment rates, functional outcomes (mRS 0-1), and thromboembolic complications between the four devices, the probability of achieving adequate occlusion at the last follow-up was highest in Surpass device (HR: 4.59; CI: 2.75-7.66, pâ¯< 0.001), followed by FRED (HR: 2.23; CI: 1.44-3.46, pâ¯< 0.001), PED (HR: 1.72; CI: 1.10-2.70, pâ¯= 0.018), and Silk (HR: 1.0 ref. standard). The only hemorrhagic complications were with Surpass (1%). CONCLUSION: All the first-generation devices achieved good clinical outcomes and retreatment rates in treating ICA sidewall aneurysms. Prospective studies are needed to explore the nuanced differences between these devices in the long term.
ABSTRACT
Background: ChatGPT is an advanced language AI able to generate responses to clinical questions regarding lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly being considered to assist clinicians in decision-making. This study compared ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0 responses to established NASS clinical guidelines and evaluated concordance. Methods: ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0 were prompted with fifteen questions from The 2012 NASS Clinical Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Clinical questions organized into categories were directly entered as unmodified queries into ChatGPT. Language output was assessed by two independent authors on September 26, 2023 based on operationally-defined parameters of accuracy, over-conclusiveness, supplementary, and incompleteness. ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0 performance was compared via chi-square analyses. Results: Among the fifteen responses produced by ChatGPT-3.5, 7 (47%) were accurate, 7 (47%) were over-conclusive, fifteen (100%) were supplementary, and 6 (40%) were incomplete. For ChatGPT-4.0, ten (67%) were accurate, 5 (33%) were over-conclusive, 10 (67%) were supplementary, and 6 (40%) were incomplete. There was a statistically significant difference in supplementary information (100% vs. 67%; p=.014) between ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0. Accuracy (47% vs. 67%; p=.269), over-conclusiveness (47% vs. 33%; p=.456), and incompleteness (40% vs. 40%; p=1.000) did not show significant differences between ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0. ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0 both yielded 100% accuracy for definition and history and physical examination categories. Diagnostic testing yielded 0% accuracy for ChatGPT-3.5 and 100% accuracy for ChatGPT-4.0. Nonsurgical interventions had 50% accuracy for ChatGPT-3.5 and 63% accuracy for ChatGPT-4.0. Surgical interventions resulted in 0% accuracy for ChatGPT-3.5 and 33% accuracy for ChatGPT-4.0. Conclusions: ChatGPT-4.0 provided less supplementary information and overall higher accuracy in question categories than ChatGPT-3.5. ChatGPT showed reasonable concordance to NASS guidelines, but clinicians should caution use of ChatGPT in its current state as it fails to safeguard against misinformation.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Patients experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) frequently do not receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In this study we sought to determine the prevalence of OHCA patients in Vietnam who received bystander CPR and its effects on survival outcomes. Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective observational study of patients (≥18 years) presenting with OHCA at three major hospitals in an LMIC from February 2014-December 2018. We collected data on the hospital and patient characteristics, the cardiac arrest events, the emergency medical services (EMS) system, the therapy methods, and the outcomes and compared these data, before and after pairwise 1:1 propensity score matching, between patients who received bystander CPR and those who did not. Upon admission, we assessed factors associated with good neurological survival at hospital discharge in univariable and multivariable logistic models. Results: Of 521 patients, 388 (74.5%) were men, and the mean age was 56.7 years (SD 17.3). Although most cardiac arrests (68.7%, 358/521) occurred at home and 78.8% (410/520) were witnessed, a low proportion (22.1%, 115/521) of these patients received bystander CPR. Only half of the patients were brought by EMS (8.1%, 42/521) or private ambulance (42.8%, 223/521), 50.8% (133/262) of whom had resuscitation attempts. Before matching, there was a significant difference in good neurological survival between patients who received bystander CPR (12.2%, 14/115) and patients who did not (4.7%, 19/406; P < .001). After matching, good neurological survival was absent in all OHCA patients who did not receive CPR from a bystander. The multivariable analysis showed that bystander CPR (adjusted odds ratio: 3.624; 95% confidence interval 1.629-8.063) was an independent predictor of good neurological survival. Conclusion: In our study, only 22.1% of total OHCA patients received bystander CPR, which contributed significantly to a low rate of good neurological survival in Vietnam. To improve the chances of survival with good neurological functions of OHCA patients, more people should be trained to perform bystander CPR and teach others as well. A standard program for emergency first-aid training is necessary for this purpose.
Subject(s)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest , Humans , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/therapy , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/mortality , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/epidemiology , Vietnam/epidemiology , Male , Female , Retrospective Studies , Middle Aged , Emergency Medical Services , Aged , Adult , Propensity ScoreABSTRACT
The majority of solid tumors have hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, which is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Hypoxia was found to relate to cancer metastases and resistance to therapies, therefore, detection of hypoxia plays an important role in the process of cancer prognosis and treatment. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a non-invasive imaging technique using gamma-emitting radiopharmaceuticals to visualize biological activities within the body. SPECT is also applied for the detection of tumor hypoxia with the development of hypoxia-targeting radiopharmaceuticals. Radiopharmaceuticals containing nitroimidazole moieties have received increasing attention due to their bio-reducible characteristics which make the radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in the hypoxia regions. This review summarizes the recent development of 99mTc-labeled radiopharmaceuticals bearing nitroimidazoles for SPECT imaging of tumor hypoxia including the synthetic methods and results of animal studies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dengue is the most common arboviral illness reported globally, endemic to most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Dengue Shock Syndrome is a rare complication of severe Dengue infection resulting in haemorrhagic complications and refractory hypotension. We report on a case of severe dengue diagnosed in a patient with major trauma and illustrate some of the potential challenges and considerations in the clinical management of such cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old female presented following a road trauma incident with multiple abdominal injuries requiring urgent laparotomy. Her recovery in Intensive Care Unit was complicated by the development of Dengue Shock Syndrome characterised by a falling haemoglobin and platelet count, multiorgan dysfunction and prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue Shock Syndrome may complicate fluid management and bleeding control in major trauma cases. Awareness of Dengue, particularly in endemic areas and returned travellers may help facilitate early diagnosis and management of complications.
ABSTRACT
All-trans retinoic acid (atRA), a metabolite of vitamin A, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation in liver steatosis model animals. Lipophagy, a new lipolysis pathway, degrades a lipid droplet (LD) via autophagy in adipose tissue and the liver. We recently found that atRA induces lipophagy in adipocytes. However, it remains unclear whether atRA induces lipophagy in hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of atRA on lipophagy in Hepa1c1c7 cells and the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Firstly, we confirmed that atRA induced autophagy in Hepa1c1c7 cells by Western blotting and the GFP-LC3-mCherry probe. Next, we evaluated the lipolysis in fatty Hepa1c1c7 cells treated with the knockdown of Atg5, an essential gene in autophagy induction. Atg5-knockdown partly suppressed the atRA-induced lipolysis in fatty Hepa1c1c7 cells. We also found that atRA reduced the protein, but not mRNA, expression of Rubicon, a negative regulator of autophagy, in Hepa1c1c7 cells and the liver of HFD-fed mice. Rubicon-knockdown partly inhibited the atRA-induced lipolysis in fatty Hepa1c1c7 cells. In addition, atRA reduced hepatic Rubicon expression in young mice, but the effect of atRA on it diminished in aged mice. Lastly, we investigated the mechanism underlying reduced Rubicon protein expression by atRA in hepatocytes. A protein synthesis inhibitor, but not proteasome or lysosomal inhibitors, significantly blocked the reduction of Rubicon protein expression by atRA in Hepa1c1c7 cells. These results suggest that atRA may promote lipophagy in fatty hepatocytes by reducing hepatic Rubicon expression via inhibiting protein synthesis. (243/250 words).
ABSTRACT
During developmental processes such as embryogenesis, how a group of cells fold into specific structures, is a central question in biology. However, it remains a major challenge to understand and predict the behavior of every cell within the living tissue over time during such intricate processes. Here we present a geometric deep-learning model that can accurately capture the highly convoluted interactions among cells. We demonstrate that multicellular data can be represented with both granular and foam-like physical pictures through a unified graph data structure, considering both cellular interactions and cell junction networks. Using this model, we achieve interpretable 4-D morphological sequence alignment, and predicting cell rearrangements before they occur at single-cell resolution. Furthermore, using neural activation map and ablation studies, we demonstrate cell geometries and cell junction networks together regulate morphogenesis at single-cell precision. This approach offers a pathway toward a unified dynamic atlas for a variety of developmental processes.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dementia is one of the most pressing health concerns in ageing population, posing significant burdens not only on the well-being and independence of people with dementia (PWD), but also on their families and communities. Building capacity for nursing students is essential for effectively enhancing the quality of life for affected people. However, various studies have highlighted knowledge gaps concerning dementia among nursing students worldwide. This study aimed to examine knowledge and attitude preparedness for dementia care among nursing students in Vietnam and associated factors. Methods: We used cross-sectional study design with four medical schools in northern, central and southern Vietnam which were selected based on convenience. Participants included full-time diploma senior nursing students (N = 600). A self-administered questionnaire consisted of 34 true-false questions evaluating students' knowledge about dementia (ADKS) and 20 items using a 5-point Likert scale assessing their attitudes toward dementia (DAS). The tools were piloted and validated with 60 students with good internal reliability. Results: Nursing students exhibited insufficient knowledge of dementia but displayed positive attitudes towards dementia. Engaging four-year diploma (ß = 0.501), being female (ß = 0.827), and achieving greater academic performance (ß = 0.795) statistically influenced nursing students' knowledge of dementia (p < 0.05). Similarly, being female (ß = 2.179), and possessing better knowledge of dementia (ß = 2.740) statistically effected nursing students' attitude toward dementia (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Students with greater academic achievement and females demonstrated better knowledge and attitudes toward dementia. To better nursing students' preparedness for dementia care, education on dementia care, especially practical training should be paid more attention.