Mesoporous metal-organic framework NH2-MIL-101(Cr) as an efficient photocatalyst for the epoxidation of styrene.

Oxidation of styrene is a key reaction in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, and therefore oxidizing styrene with selective, efficient, and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts is significant from an environmental and economic standpoint. In this study, we report the transition Cr-based metal-organic framework [NH2-MIL-101(Cr)] as a heterogeneous photocatalyst, which efficiently promotes styrene epoxidation using H2O2 as a green oxidant, achieving high conversion efficiency (98%) and excellent selectivity (82%) under ambient conditions. Radical detection and quenching experiments reveal that the superoxide radical anion (O2˙-) acts as an active oxygen species, selectively promoting the oxidation of styrene to its oxidized form. This work provides insight into the development of a sustainable and cost-effective method for producing styrene oxide.

Review of the potential value of serum interleukin levels as prognostic biomarkers of liver failure.

Liver failure (LF) is prevalent in China and is characterized by complex pathogenesis, challenging clinical management, poor prognosis, and rising incidence and mortality rates. The immune status is an important factor affecting LF prognosis. Interleukins (Ils) are a type of cytokine that act and interact with multiple cells, including immune cells. These signaling molecules play important roles in intercellular information transmission, including the regulation of immune cells; mediation of the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of T and B cells; and orchestration of the inflammatory response. To date, many studies have explored the correlation between IL expression and liver disease prognosis, but few studies have evaluated Ils as the prognostic biomarkers of LF. This article reviews the potential use of Ils as the prognostic biomarkers of LF. Particularly, it evaluates the predictive values of IL-21, IL-22, and IL-31, the three often overlooked yet promising prognostic biomarkers, in predicting susceptibility to LF. Harnessing biomarkers for early prognostic insights can facilitate tailored treatment strategies and enhance patient survival. Thus, this article focuses on the identification of IL-21, IL-22, and IL-33 as biomarkers in preclinical and clinical studies on LF and reviews their role as biomarkers in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of LF.

Exploring Gua Sha Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Single Case Report and Critical Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant side effect of some chemotherapeutic agents. Effective treatment is limited. OBJECTIVES: This single patient case details gua sha as an intervention to reduce CIPN. METHODS: A 38-year-old female patient received weekly treatment of gua sha in one-hour sessions for 10 weeks. The patient completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NTX) subscale to describe her CIPN throughout and postintervention. A research assistant measured the extent of numbness or tingling along the limb from baseline to 18 months after gua sha. Descriptive data were used to summarize this case. FINDINGS: After gua sha, the total FACT/GOG-NTX subscale score increased from 13 to 36, indicating a sevenfold greater change than the minimum clinically important difference. The range of limb numbness and tingling decreased, and the symptoms remained stable during follow-up. Gua sha showed a positive clinical effect.

A Three-Dimensional Method for Analysis of the Body Mode of Classical Guitars Using a Laser Displacement Sensor.

In classical guitar acoustic spectra, the lowest frequency body mode's amplitude often significantly surpasses that of the string overtones. However, the characteristics of the body mode have not been systematically utilized to quantitatively represent the timbre of classical guitars. In this study, we propose a quantitative method for describing the body mode, which can effectively differentiate the timbre of classical guitars. Our approach involves three key parameters presented in a three-dimensional space, as follows: the frequency and quality factors of the body mode, along with the amplitude ratio of the plucked string note to the body mode in the soundboard's vibration spectrum. This representation allows for the visualization, quantitative comparison, and classification of the body mode note and damping properties across classical guitars. The differences in body mode among guitars can be analyzed quantitatively using Euclidean distance.

The efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The intraocular injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) demonstrates significant efficacy in inhibiting the formation of ocular neovascularization in neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (AGVI) is extensively employed for the management of diverse glaucoma types. Objective: To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF combined with AGVI in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. Methods: A thorough search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted across eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP. The search period was set from the inception of each database until March 2, 2024, to identify RCTs investigating the effectiveness and safety of combining AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy for NVG. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool to evaluate the quality of the literature and performed statistical analysis using Stata 15.0 software. Results: Fourteen RCTs were included in this study. Compared with AGVI alone, the combination of anti-VEGF drugs and AGVI can reduce postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 week [WMD = -4.03, 95% CI (-5.73, -2.34), p < 0.001], 1 month [WMD = -5.39, 95% CI (-7.05, -3.74), p < 0.001], 3 months [WMD = -6.59, 95% CI (-7.85, -5.32), p < 0.001], 6 months [WMD = -4.99, 95% CI (-9.56, -0.43), p = 0.032], and more than 12 months [WMD = -3.86, 95% CI (-6.82, -0.90), p = 0.011], with a higher Effective rate [RR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.18, 1.37), p < 0.001], decreased incidence of postoperative hyphema [RR = 0.24, 95% CI (0.15, 0.39), p < 0.001], reduced use of postoperative antiglaucoma medications [WMD = -0.48, 95% CI (-0.61, -0.35), p < 0.001], and decreased aqueous humor VEGF levels [SMD = -2.84, 95% CI (-4.37, -1.31), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: In comparison to AGVI alone, the combination of AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy has better effects in reducing IOP at various time intervals, diminishing postoperative antiglaucoma medication requirements and reducing aqueous humor VEGF levels. Furthermore, it effectively minimizes the incidence of postoperative hyphema. Nevertheless, due to the variability in the quality of the trials included, further high-quality experiments will be required in the future to substantiate this conclusion. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024519862, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024519862.

Slow sound mode prediction and band structure calculation in 1D phononic crystal nanobeams using an artificial neural network.

Phononic crystals, which are artificial crystals formed by the periodic arrangement of materials with different elastic coefficients in space, can display modulated sound waves propagating within them. Similar to the natural crystals used in semiconductor research with electronic bandgaps, phononic crystals exhibit the characteristics of phononic bandgaps. A gap design can be utilized to create various resonant cavities, confining specific resonance modes within the defects of the structure. In studies on phononic crystals, phononic band structure diagrams are often used to investigate the variations in phononic bandgaps and elastic resonance modes. As the phononic band frequencies vary nonlinearly with the structural parameters, numerous calculations are required to analyze the gap or mode frequency shifts in phononic band structure diagrams. However, traditional calculation methods are time-consuming. Therefore, this study proposes the use of neural networks to replace the time-consuming calculation processes of traditional methods. Numerous band structure diagrams are initially obtained through the finite-element method and serve as the raw dataset, and a certain proportion of the data is randomly extracted from the dataset for neural network training. By treating each mode point in the band structure diagram as an independent data point, the training dataset for neural networks can be expanded from a small number to a large number of band structure diagrams. This study also introduces another network that effectively improves mode prediction accuracy by training neural networks to focus on specific modes. The proposed method effectively reduces the cost of repetitive calculations.

Engineered acetogenic bacteria as microbial cell factory for diversified biochemicals.

Acetogenic bacteria (acetogens) are a class of microorganisms with conserved Wood-Ljungdahl pathway that can utilize CO and CO2/H2 as carbon source for autotrophic growth and convert these substrates to acetate and ethanol. Acetogens have great potential for the sustainable production of biofuels and bulk biochemicals using C1 gases (CO and CO2) from industrial syngas and waste gases, which play an important role in achieving carbon neutrality. In recent years, with the development and improvement of gene editing methods, the metabolic engineering of acetogens is making rapid progress. With introduction of heterogeneous metabolic pathways, acetogens can improve the production capacity of native products or obtain the ability to synthesize non-native products. This paper reviews the recent application of metabolic engineering in acetogens. In addition, the challenges of metabolic engineering in acetogens are indicated, and strategies to address these challenges are also discussed.

Green Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots and Carbon Quantum Dot-Gold Nanoparticles for Applications in Bacterial Imaging and Catalytic Reduction of Aromatic Nitro Compounds.

This study delves into the green synthesis and multifaceted applications of three types of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), namely, CQDs-1, CQDs-2, and CQDs-3. These CQDs were innovatively produced through a gentle pyrolysis process from distinct plant-based precursors: genipin with glucose for CQDs-1, genipin with extracted gardenia seeds for CQDs-2, and genipin with whole gardenia seeds for CQDs-3. Advanced analytical techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), were employed to detail the CQDs' structural and surface characteristics, revealing their unique functional groups and surface chemistries. The study further explores the CQDs' bioimaging potential, where confocal fluorescence microscopy evidenced their swift uptake by Escherichia coli bacteria, indicating their suitability for bacterial imaging. These CQDs were also applied in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), acting as reducing agents and stabilizers. Among these, CQD3-AuNPs were distinguished by their remarkable stability and catalytic efficiency, achieving a 99.7% reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in just 10 min and maintaining near-complete reduction efficiency (99.6%) after 60 days. This performance notably surpasses that of AuNPs synthesized using sodium citrate, underscoring the exceptional capabilities of CQD3-AuNPs. These insights pave the way for leveraging CQDs and CQD-stabilized AuNPs in bacterial imaging and catalysis, presenting valuable directions for future scientific inquiry and practical applications.

Metal-support spin orders: Crucial effect on electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

Magnetic property (e.g. spin order) of support is of great importance in the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we have taken the Ni-supported ferromagnetic (FM) CrBr3 support (Nix/CrBr3) to thoroughly investigate the effect of spin-order on electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via spin-polarized density functional theory calculations. Specifically, Ni loading induces anti-FM coupling in Ni-Cr, leading to a transition from FM-to-ferrimagnetic (FIM) properties, while Ni-Ni metallic bonds create a robust FM direct exchange, benefiting the improvement of the phase transition temperature. Interestingly, with the increase in Ni loading, the easy magnetic axis changes from out-of-plane (2D-Heisenberg) to in-plane (2D-XY). The adsorption properties of Nix/CrBr3, involving O2 adsorption energy and configuration, are not governed by the d-band center but strongly correlate with magnetic anisotropy. It is noteworthy that the applied potential and electrolyte acidity triggers spin-order transition phenomena during the ORR and induces the catalytic pathway change from 4e- ORR to 2e- ORR with the excellent onset potential of 0.93 V/reversible hydrogen electrode, comparable to the existing most excellent noble-metal catalysts. Generally, these findings offer new avenues to understand and design heterogeneous catalysts with magnetic support.

Mechanical Strain Induces and Increases Vesicular Release Monitored by Microfabricated Stretchable Electrodes.

Exocytosis involving the fusion of intracellular vesicles with cell membrane, is thought to be modulated by the mechanical cues in the microenvironment. Single-cell electrochemistry can offer unique information about the quantification and kinetics of exocytotic events; however, the effects of mechanical force on vesicular release have been poorly explored. Herein, we developed a stretchable microelectrode with excellent electrochemical stability under mechanical deformation by microfabrication of functionalized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive ink, which achieved real-time quantitation of strain-induced vesicular exocytosis from a single cell for the first time. We found that mechanical strain could cause calcium influx via the activation of Piezo1 channels in chromaffin cell, initiating the vesicular exocytosis process. Interestingly, mechanical strain increases the amount of catecholamines released by accelerating the opening and prolonging the closing of fusion pore during exocytosis. This work is expected to provide revealing insights into the regulatory effects of mechanical stimuli on vesicular exocytosis.

Comparing percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in elderly patients for common bile duct stones: a 3-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of PTPBD for CBD stones in the elderly population. METHODS: Patients aged 60 years or older, who underwent PTPBD or ERCP for CBD stones between January 2021 and December 2023, were included in this study and divided into either the PTPBD group or the ERCP group based on the procedure they underwent. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were collected and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: A total of 145 cases were enrolled in the study. In terms of intraoperative complications, one patient in the ERCP group experienced hemorrhaging, while one patient in the PTPBD group experienced acute pain. However, neither of these patients were in a serious condition and only required observation. Stone removal procedures were successfully conducted in approximately 95% of cases in both the PTPBD and ERCP groups (95.8 and 94.8%, respectively; P > 0.999). ERCP failures were observed in one patient with a previous Billroth II anastomosis and two patients with unconventional anatomy of the esophagus and stomach. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications between the PTPBD group and the ERCP group (P > 0.05). The length of hospital stays did not differ between the PTPBD group and the ERCP group (P = 0.537 > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PTPBD can be used in patients who have complicated anatomical issues that make the ERCP procedure difficult. In comparison, PTPBD is a similarly safe, effective, and minimally invasive technique for extracting CBD stones in elderly patients.

Magnon-Skyrmion Hybrid Quantum Systems: Tailoring Interactions via Magnons.

Coherent and dissipative interactions between different quantum systems are essential for the construction of hybrid quantum systems and the investigation of novel quantum phenomena. Here, we propose and analyze a magnon-skyrmion hybrid quantum system, consisting of a micromagnet and nearby magnetic skyrmions. We predict a strong-coupling mechanism between the magnonic mode of the micromagnet and the quantized helicity degree of freedom of the skyrmion. We show that with this hybrid setup it is possible to induce magnon-mediated nonreciprocal interactions and responses between distant skyrmion qubits or between skyrmion qubits and other quantum systems like superconducting qubits. This work provides a quantum platform for the investigation of diverse quantum effects and quantum information processing with magnetic microstructures.

Nanoelectrochemistry reveals how presynaptic neurons regulate vesicle release to sustain synaptic plasticity under repetitive stimuli.

Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to modulate synaptic strength in response to dynamic changes within, as well as environmental changes. Although there is a considerable body of knowledge on protein expression and receptor migration in different categories of synaptic plasticity, the contribution and impact of presynaptic vesicle release and neurotransmitter levels towards plasticity remain largely unclear. Herein, nanoelectrochemistry using carbon fiber nanoelectrodes with excellent spatio-temporal resolution was applied for real-time monitoring of presynaptic vesicle release of dopamine inside single synapses of dopaminergic neurons, and exocytotic variations in quantity and kinetics under repetitive electrical stimuli. We found that the presynaptic terminal tends to maintain synaptic strength by rapidly recruiting vesicles, changing the dynamics of exocytosis, and maintaining sufficient neurotransmitter release in following stimuli. Except for small clear synaptic vesicles, dense core vesicles are involved in exocytosis to sustain the neurotransmitter level in later periods of repetitive stimuli. These data indicate that vesicles use a potential regulatory mechanism to establish short-term plasticity, and provide new directions for exploring the synaptic mechanisms in connection and plasticity.

In Situ Electrochemical Rapid Induction of Highly Active γ-NiOOH Species for Industrial Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer.

Limited by the strong oxidation environment and sluggish reconstruction process in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), designing rapid self-reconstruction with high activity and stability electrocatalysts is crucial to promoting anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzer. Herein, trace Fe/S-modified Ni oxyhydroxide (Fe/S-NiOOH/NF) nanowires are constructed via a simple in situ electrochemical oxidation strategy based on precipitation-dissolution equilibrium. In situ characterization techniques reveal that the successful introduction of Fe and S leads to lattice disorder and boosts favorable hydroxyl capture, accelerating the formation of highly active γ-NiOOH. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations have also verified that the incorporation of Fe and S optimizes the electrons redistribution and the d-band center, decreasing the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*O→*OOH). Benefited from the unique electronic structure and intermediate adsorption, the Fe/S-NiOOH/NF catalyst only requires the overpotential of 345 mV to reach the industrial current density of 1000 mA cm-2 for 120 h. Meanwhile, assembled AEM water electrolyzer (Fe/S-NiOOH//Pt/C-60 °C) can deliver 1000 mA cm-2 at a cell voltage of 2.24 V, operating at the average energy efficiency of 71% for 100 h. In summary, this work presents a rapid self-reconstruction strategy for high-performance AEM electrocatalysts for future hydrogen economy.

Alginate oligosaccharide assimilation by gut microorganisms and the potential role in gut inflammation alleviation.

Dietary fiber metabolism by gut microorganisms plays important roles in host physiology and health. Alginate, the major dietary fiber of daily diet seaweeds, is drawing more attention because of multiple biological activities. To advance the understanding of alginate assimilation mechanism in the gut, we show the presence of unsaturated alginate oligosaccharides (uAOS)-specific alginate utilization loci (AUL) in human gut microbiome. As a representative example, a working model of the AUL from the gut microorganism Bacteroides clarus was reconstructed from biochemistry and transcriptome data. The fermentation of resulting monosaccharides through Entner-Doudoroff pathway tunes the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. Furthermore, we show that uAOS feeding protects the mice against dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis probably by remodeling gut microbiota and metabolome. IMPORTANCE: Alginate has been included in traditional Chinese medicine and daily diet for centuries. Recently discovered biological activities suggested that alginate-derived alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) might be an active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, but how these AOS are metabolized in the gut and how it affects health need more information. The study on the working mechanism of alginate utilization loci (AUL) by the gut microorganism uncovers the role of unsaturated alginate oligosaccharides (uAOS) assimilation in tuning short-chain fatty acids and amino acids metabolism and demonstrates that uAOS metabolism by gut microorganisms results in a variation of cell metabolites, which potentially contributes to the physiology and health of gut.

NUS1 Variants Cause Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Related to Unfolded Protein Reaction Activation.

NUS1 encodes the Nogo-B receptor, a critical regulator for unfolded protein reaction (UPR) signaling. Although several loss-of-function variants of NUS1 have been identified in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), the role of the NUS1 variant in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe child-onset DEE, remains unknown. In this study, we identified two de novo variants of NUS1, a missense variant (c.868 C > T/p.R290C) and a splice site variant (c.792-2 A > G), in two unrelated LGS patients using trio-based whole-exome sequencing performed in a cohort of 165 LGS patients. Both variants were absent in the gnomAD population and showed a significantly higher observed number of variants than expected genome-wide. The R290C variant was predicted to damage NUS1 and decrease its protein stability. The c.792-2 A > G variant caused premature termination of the protein. Knockdown of NUS1 activated the UPR pathway, resulting in apoptosis of HEK293T cells. Supplementing cells with expression of wild-type NUS1, but not the mutant (R290C), rescued UPR activation and apoptosis in NUS1 knockdown cells. Compared to wild-type Drosophila, seizure-like behaviors and excitability in projection neurons were significantly increased in Tango14 (homolog of human NUS1) knockdown and Tango14R290C/+ knock-in Drosophila. Additionally, abnormal development and a small body size were observed in both mutants. Activated UPR signaling was also detected in both mutants. Thus, NUS1 is a causative gene for LGS with dominant inheritance. The pathogenicity of these variants is related to the UPR signaling activation, which may be a common pathogenic mechanism of DEE.

Tuning Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation Activity: Insights from the Active-Site Distance in LnCu6 Clusters.

Atomically precise metal clusters serve as a unique model for unraveling the intricate mechanism of the catalytic reaction and exploring the complex relationship between structure and activity. Herein, three series of water-soluble heterometallic clusters LnCu6, abbreviated as LnCu6-AC (Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb; HAC = acetic acid), LnCu6-IM (Ln = La and Nd; IM = Imidazole), and LnCu6-IDA (Ln = Nd; H2IDA = Iminodiacetic acid) are presented, each featuring a uniform metallic core stabilized by distinct protected ligands. Crystal structure analysis reveals a triangular prism topology formed by six Cu2+ ions around one Ln3+ ion in LnCu6, with variations in Cu···Cu distances attributed to different ligands. Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows that these different LnCu6 clusters exhibit different OER activities with remarkable turnover frequency of 135 s-1 for NdCu6-AC, 79 s-1 for NdCu6-IM and 32 s-1 for NdCu6-IDA. Structural analysis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations underscore the correlation between shorter Cu···Cu distances and improves OER catalytic activity, emphasizing the pivotal role of active-site distance in regulating electrocatalytic OER activities. These results provide valuable insights into the OER mechanism and contribute to the design of efficient homogeneous OER electrocatalysts.

Taurine Regulates the Expression of Interleukin -17/10 and Intestinal Flora and Protects the Liver and Intestinal Mucosa in a Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rat Model.

Purpose: To investigate the intestinal inflammatory response and the abundance of intestinal bacteria in rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and assess the intervention effects of taurine (TAU). Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: group I, normal diet and normal saline gavage; group II, normal diet and TAU gavage; group III, HFD and normal saline gavage; group IV, HFD and TAU gavage (from the 1st week); group V, HFD and TAU gavage (from the 10th week). At the end of the 16th week, all the animals were sacrificed. Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and serum lipid levels were measured. The histopathologies of the liver and ileum were observed. The mRNA and protein expression levels of interleukin 17 (IL-17) and IL-10 in the ileum were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Three types of bacteria were detected in intestinal feces using the 16S rDNA qPCR method. Results: The ileal IL-17 level in group III was significantly higher than those in the other four groups (P < 0.01). The ileal IL-10 mRNA levels in group IV was significantly higher than those in groups III and V (P < 0.05), and IL-10 protein MOD levels in group III was significantly lower than those in the other four groups (P < 0.01). The numbers of Lactobacillus in group III were significantly lower than those in the other four groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The numbers of Bifidobacteria in groups IV and V were significantly increased compared with that in group III (P < 0.05). Conclusion: TAU may down-regulate the expression of IL-17, up-regulate the expression of IL-10 and regulate the intestinal flora, and alleviate the liver and intestinal damage in rats with HFD-induced NAFLD.

Nanosensor detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leakage in frustrated phagocytosis of nanofibres.

Exposure to widely used inert fibrous nanomaterials (for example, glass fibres or carbon nanotubes) may result in asbestos-like lung pathologies, becoming an important environmental and health concern. However, the origin of the pathogenesis of such fibres has not yet been clearly established. Here we report an electrochemical nanosensor that is used to monitor and quantitatively characterize the flux and dynamics of reactive species release during the frustrated phagocytosis of glass nanofibres by single macrophages. We show the existence of an intense prolonged release of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species by single macrophages near their phagocytic cups. This continued massive leakage of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species damages peripheral cells and eventually translates into chronic inflammation and lung injury, as seen during in vitro co-culture and in vivo experiments.

Effectiveness of the lay health advisor program on oral function and quality of life in aboriginal older adults: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal older adults residing in remote areas have poor oral function due to inadequate access to healthcare services. Lay health advisor (LHA) strategies can fill capacity shortages of healthcare professionals in rural communities and increase population acceptance of health care or healthy behaviours. OBJECTIVE(S): To evaluate the effectiveness the LHA program on oral function and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among older adults in aboriginal community. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n = 122) and a control group (CG; n = 118). All participants performed oral exercises, and the EG received additional one-on-one 30-min lessons by an LHA over 4 weeks. Data were collected through face-to-face interview and oral examination. The generalized estimating equation model was used to analyse changes in outcomes over time. RESULTS: The EG exhibited significantly greater improvement in swallowing (ß = .63) at the 6-month follow-up and in masticatory performance (ß = .52) and pronunciation of the syllable/pa/ (ß = 2.65) at the 2-week follow-up than the CG did. The EG had a significantly lower plaque control record (ß = -.14) and plaque index (ß = -.30) at the 3-month follow-up than the CG did. Moreover, the OHRQoL was significantly increased at 6-months follow-up in the EG (p = .010). CONCLUSION: The LHA program had positive effects on chewing, swallowing and plaque control in aboriginal older adults. LHA group also experienced positive long-term effect on OHRQoL after intervention.