Enhancing anatomy education through cooperative learning: harnessing virtual reality for effective gross anatomy learning.

The advent of virtual reality (VR) in education offers unique possibilities for facilitating cooperative learning strategies, particularly in fields demanding intricate spatial understanding, such as gross anatomy. This study investigates the impact of integrating cooperative learning strategies within a VR-based gross anatomy curriculum, focusing on enhancing students' anatomy knowledge and skills. We analyzed the performance of two cohorts of first-year nursing students across five semesters (2016-2020), where traditional learning methods were used in the first three semesters (2016-2018), and a VR-based cooperative learning approach was adopted in the last two semesters (2019-2020). Our findings suggest that the VR-based cooperative learning group achieved significantly higher scores in their gross anatomy laboratory courses compared to their counterparts learning through traditional methods. This research provides valuable insights into how the integration of VR technology and cooperative learning strategies can not only enhance learning outcomes but also improve the VR learning experience by reducing motion sickness. It accentuates the potential of VR-based cooperative learning as an impactful educational tool in anatomy education. Future research should further explore the optimal integration of VR and cooperative learning strategies in diverse course types and their potential to enhance educational outcomes and the learning experience.

Elizabethkingia anophelis outer membrane vesicles as a novel vaccine candidate against infection: insights into immune response and potential for passive immunity.

IMPORTANCE: Elizabethkingia anophelis, a Gram-negative pathogen, causes infections such as bacteraemia, pneumonia, and neonatal meningitis. The pathogen resists most antimicrobial classes, making novel approaches urgently needed. In natural settings, Gram-negative bacteria secrete outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that carry important molecules in the bacterial life cycle. These OMVs are enriched with proteins involved in virulence, survival, and carbohydrate metabolism, making them a promising source for vaccine development against the pathogen. This study investigated the efficacy of imipenem-induced OMVs (iOMVs) as a vaccine candidate against E. anophelis infection in a mouse pneumonia model. Mice immunized with iOMVs were completely protected during lethal-dose challenges. Passive immunization with hyperimmune sera and splenocytes conferred protection against lethal pneumonia. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of iOMV-induced passive immunity, such as the action on specific antibody subclasses or T cell subsets.

Investigation of the Clinical Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Disorders Related to Ventilators.

Objective: To observe the comprehensive treatment effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on ventilator-related diseases. Methods: From January 2021 to August 2022, a total of 80 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were selected and divided into a test group and a matched control group based on the random number table, with 40 cases in each group. The control group received traditional Western medical care, and all patients were given tigecycline intravenously. The patients in the test group were treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and all patients were given tigecycline for injection by intravenous drip combined with Qingfei Huatan decoction orally. The two groups' therapeutic outcomes were contrasted, namely: procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), blood oxygen saturation (PaO2), and white blood cell (WBC) count. Acute physiology and persistent health scores, clinical lung infection score, mechanical ventilation time, body temperature recovery time, and hospitalization time were recorded. Results: The effective Of cure in the test group was 37/40 (92.50%) and in the control group it was 30/40 (75.00%). The test group outperformed the control group by a considerable margin (P < .05). The levels of PCT, TNF-α, and hs-CRP were lower in the two groups, and the levels of TNF-α, PCT, and hs-CRP reduced with treatment (P < .05). The white blood cell and PaO2 levels were lower in the experimental group. APACHE II and CPIS scores decreased (P < .05). two groups,Postoperative body temperature recovery time, mechanical ventilation time, and hospital stay were all shortened (P < .05). Conclusion: The combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine has a positive clinical impact on ventilator-related diseases.

Sarcopenia in Patients With Spinal Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Cohort Studies.

Background: As a metastasis cancer that happens up to 70% of the cancer patients, spinal metastasis is drawing attention for its significant impairment to health. There exist several predictive models designed to estimate mortality in spinal metastasis patients but they are reported with limited accuracy. In recent years, some retrospective cohort studies have been carried out to associate sarcopenia with mortality in spinal metastasis. Introduction: As a risk factor leading to adverse events in many diseases, sarcopenia was considered to significantly impact on patients with spinal metastasis in mortality by some scientists. We aimed to look through the current evidence and use statistic measures to value the role of sarcopenia in spinal metastasis. In this study, we are going to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of available retrospective cohort studies where sarcopenia is assessed for outcomes in spinal metastasis patients. Methods: On October 7, 2021, we performed a search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. We set no restrictions on language, date or areas. Results were expressed as hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI by random effects model. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity and stability of results. Results: Of the 4,196 papers screened, 10 retrospective cohort studies were included, with a total of 1,674 patients. Results showed that sarcopenia was associated with higher overall mortality (OR, 1.60; 95% CI 1.35-1.90) and lower overall survival (HR, 2.08; 95% CI 1.55-2.80). The sensitivity analysis proved the stability of results in terms of publication years, region, time of diagnosis, sample size, female rate, measurement and follow up period. Conclusions: Sarcopenia is a robust indicator of mortality in spinal metastasis patients and it might be applied to decision-making tools to assess survival probability and adjust the extent of treatment, while a lack of higher level of evidence is existing. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021283348.

Microglia Polarization: A Novel Target of Exosome for Stroke Treatment.

The vast majority of cells in the human body are capable of secreting exosomes. Exosomes have become an important vehicle for signaling between cells. Exosomes secreted by different cells have some of the structural and functional properties of that cell and thus have different regulatory functions. A large number of recent experimental studies have shown that exosomes from different sources have different regulatory effects on stroke, and the mechanisms still need to be elucidated. Microglia are core members of central intrinsic immune regulatory cells, which play an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis and progression of stroke. M1 microglia cause neuroinflammation and induce neurotoxic effects, while M2 microglia inhibit neuroinflammation and promote neurogenesis, thus exerting a series of neuroprotective effects. It was found that there is a close link between exosomes and microglia polarization, and that exosome inclusions such as microRNAs play a regulatory role in the M1/M2 polarization of microglia. This research reviews the role of exosomes in the regulation of microglia polarization and reveals their potential value in stroke treatment.

Features of ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound in superficial desmoid-type fibromatosis: A series of 19 cases.

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of superficial desmoid fibromatosis (DF) using two-dimensional and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, intending to improve diagnostic accuracy. We retrospectively analyzed 19 cases of superficial DF confirmed by surgery or core-needle biopsy in our hospital from January 2018 to August 2020. All patients underwent two-dimensional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examination. Nineteen patients included 15 women and 4 men, with an average age of 33.37±12.13 years old. The mean size of lesions was 4.78±1.99 cm. On ultrasound, all lesions presented as solitary heterogeneous hypoechoic masses; 13 presented with ill-defined margins. Ten lesions (52.63%) presented with fusiform shapes, and 11 lesions (57.89%) presented with the "fascial tail" sign. CEUS suggested the tumors were hyperenhanced, with an enhanced pattern of rapid wash-in and slow wash-out. Four lesions (21.05%) showed an enlarged scope in the CEUS image compared with the grayscale ultrasound image. In conclusion, an ill-defined heterogeneous hyperechoic appearance with fusiform-shaped and "fascial tail" signs on US and heterogeneous hyperenhancement with an enlarged scope on CEUS are valuable clues in the diagnosis and treatment of superficial DF.

Antidepressant pathways of the Chinese herb jiaweisinisan through genetic ontology analysis.

Active compounds and corresponding targets of the traditional Chinese herb, jiaweisinisan, were obtained from systems pharmacological database and placed into ClueGO for gene ontology analysis. The targets of depression were obtained from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, the Therapeutic Target Database, and the Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base. Compound-target and target-pathway networks were constructed using Cytoscape, and then their topological parameters were analyzed. The targets of jiaweisinisan and depression were mapped to pathways, thereby constructing antidepressant pathways of jiaweisinisan. It was found that jiaweisinisan has 82 different active compounds and 306 relevant potential targets. Also, 107 unrepeatable targets related to depression were found. In all, 26 common targets were found to be the direct anti-depression targets of jiaweisinisan and 9 pathways of jiaweisinisan related to depression were divided into three modules (synaptic transmission, cell apoptosis, and immune-inflammatory). The jiaweisinisan formula was found to have synergistic antidepressant effects due to aspects of its herb composition and the active compounds therein, giving rise to potential targets and signaling pathways related to depression. Its antidepressant mechanisms were found to mainly involve the regulation of synaptic transmission, cell apoptosis, and immune-mediated inflammation.

Paeoniflorin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis negative feedback in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of paeoniflorin (PEF) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis feedback function of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-prolonged stress (SPS) was used to establish a PTSD-like rat model. The contents of plasma corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) were measured by ELISA. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing factor I receptor (CRF1R), and adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing factor II receptor (CRF2R) in the hippocampus and amygdala were measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results showed that on day 8 after SPS, model rats showed enhanced HPA axis negative feedback lasting to day 29. On day 29, plasma CORT levels increased in model rats, while plasma CRH levels had no significant difference on days 8, 22, and 29. The expression of GR and MR of model rats significantly increased in the hippocampus, while the expression of GR, MR, and CRF1R significantly decreased in the amygdala. After 14 days of continuous administration of PEF, the enhanced negative feedback was inhibited, and the plasma CORT level significantly reduced after 21 days of administration. Moreover, PEF could significantly decrease the expression of GR and MR in the hippocampus, and increase the expression of GR, MR, and CRF1R significantly in the amygdala. CONCLUSION: PEF could regulate HPA axis dysfunction in a rat model of PTSD, which may be related to regulating expression of GR and MR in the hippocampus and amygdala and regulating expression of CRF1R in the amygdala.

Dynamic changes of behaviors, dentate gyrus neurogenesis and hippocampal miR-124 expression in rats with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress.

The depression-like behavior phenotype, neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and miR-124 expression in the hippocampus are the focus of current research on the pathogenesis of depression and antidepressant therapy. The present study aimed to clarify the dynamic changes of depression-like behavior, dentate gyrus neurogenesis and hippocampal miR-124 expression during depression induced by chronic stress to reveal pathological features at different stages of depression and to further provide insight into depression treatment. Chronic unpredictable mild stress depression models were established by exposing Sprague-Dawley rats to various mild stressors, including white noise, thermal swimming, stroboscopic illumination, soiled cages, pairing with three other stressed animals, cold swimming, tail pinch, restraint and water and food deprivation. Chronic unpredictable mild stress model rats underwent dynamic observation from 1 to 8 weeks and were compared with a control group (normal feeding without any stressors). To observe changes in the depression-like behavior phenotype during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression, a sucrose preference test was used to evaluate the degree of anhedonia. An open-field test was used to evaluate locomotor activity and anxiety status. Compared with the control group, chronic unpredictable mild stress rats lost weight but did not have a depression-like behavioral phenotype at 1-4 weeks. Chronic unpredictable mild stress rats presented decreased sucrose preference and locomotor activity at 5-8 weeks. In addition, chronic unpredictable mild stress rats did not have significant anxiety-like behavior during 1-8 weeks of modeling. To observe neurogenesis dysfunctions and changes in neuronal number in the dentate gyrus during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression, markers (DCX and DCX/BrdU) of neural proliferation and differentiation and the neuronal marker NeuN were assessed by immunofluorescence. Compared with the control group, neurogenesis and the neuronal number in the dentate gyrus did not change from 2 to 6 weeks; however, neural proliferation and differentiation in the dentate gyrus decreased, and the number of neurons decreased until the eighth week in the chronic unpredictable mild stress group. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to measure the expression of hippocampal miR-124 during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression. The results showed that the expression of hippocampal miR-124 was unchanged during the first 4 weeks but increased from 5 to 6 weeks and decreased from 7 to 8 weeks compared with the control group. These findings indicate that during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression, the behavioral phenotype, miR-124 expression in the hippocampus, neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and neuronal numbers showed dynamic changes, which suggested that various pathological changes occur at different stages of depression. All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine of China in March 2015.

Thermophilic fermentation of acetoin and 2,3-butanediol by a novel Geobacillus strain.

BACKGROUND: Acetoin and 2,3-butanediol are two important biorefinery platform chemicals. They are currently fermented below 40°C using mesophilic strains, but the processes often suffer from bacterial contamination. RESULTS: This work reports the isolation and identification of a novel aerobic Geobacillus strain XT15 capable of producing both of these chemicals under elevated temperatures, thus reducing the risk of bacterial contamination. The optimum growth temperature was found to be between 45 and 55°C and the medium initial pH to be 8.0. In addition to glucose, galactose, mannitol, arabionose, and xylose were all acceptable substrates, enabling the potential use of cellulosic biomass as the feedstock. XT15 preferred organic nitrogen sources including corn steep liquor powder, a cheap by-product from corn wet-milling. At 55°C, 7.7 g/L of acetoin and 14.5 g/L of 2,3-butanediol could be obtained using corn steep liquor powder as a nitrogen source. Thirteen volatile products from the cultivation broth of XT15 were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, and their derivatives including a novel metabolite 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylheptan-4-one, accounted for a total of about 96% of all the volatile products. In contrast, organic acids and other products were minor by-products. α-Acetolactate decarboxylase and acetoin:2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase in XT15, the two key enzymes in acetoin metabolic pathway, were found to be both moderately thermophilic with the identical optimum temperature of 45°C. CONCLUSIONS: Geobacillus sp. XT15 is the first naturally occurring thermophile excreting acetoin and/or 2,3-butanediol. This work has demonstrated the attractive prospect of developing it as an industrial strain in the thermophilic fermentation of acetoin and 2,3-butanediol with improved anti-contamination performance. The novel metabolites and enzymes identified in XT15 also indicated its strong promise as a precious biological resource. Thermophilic fermentation also offers great prospect for improving its yields and efficiencies. This remains a core aim for future work.

A novel 2,3-xylenol-utilizing Pseudomonas isolate capable of degrading multiple phenolic compounds.

This work characterized a novel 2,3-xylenol-utilizing Pseudomonas isolate XQ23. From 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis, XQ23 was found to be a member of the Pseudomonas putida group. Most of its physiological characteristics also shared similarities to P. putida. Phenols were catabolized by the meta-cleavage pathway. The dependence of the specific growth rate on 2,3-xylenol concentration could be well fitted by the Haldane model, with the maximum occurring at the concentration around 180 mg l(-1). Kinetic parameters indicated that XQ23 was sensitive to 2,3-xylenol and had low affinity. Three patterns, i.e. constant, linear decline, and allometric decline, were proposed to describe the biomass yields of phenols during bacterial degradation and XQ23 under 2,3-xylenol culturing conditions followed the allometric pattern. In a mineral-salts medium supplemented with 180 mg l(-1) of 2,3-xylenol as the sole carbon and energy source, over 40% of 2,3-xylenol was turned into CO(2) to provide energy by complete oxidization.