A qualitative study on inner experience of self-management behavior among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas.

BACKGROUND: As a chronic metabolic disease, diabetes poses a serious threat to human health and has become a major public health problem in China and worldwide. In 2020, 30% of Chinese people (aged ≥ 60 years) reported having diabetes mellitus. Moreover, individuals with diabetes living in rural areas face a significantly higher mortality risk compared to those in urban areas. In this study, we explored the inner experience of self-management behaviors in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas to inform targeted interventions. METHODS: A phenomenological research design was used to explore the inner experience of self-management in rural elderly diabetes. Ten elderly diabetic patients were sampled from December 2022 to March 2023 in rural areas of Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, ShanXi Province, China. The seven-step Colaizzi phenomenological was used to analyze the interview data and generate themes. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: "Insufficient self-management cognition", "Negative self-management attitude", "Slack self-management behavior", and "No time for self-management". CONCLUSION: The level of self-management among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas is low. Healthcare professionals should develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing their cognitive levels, modifying their coping styles, and improving their self-management abilities to improve their quality of life.

Greenhouse gas fluxes at different growth stages of biological soil crusts in eastern Hobq desert, China.

We analyzed greenhouse gas fluxes at the different growth stages of algae and lichen crusts in fixed sand with mobile dune as control in the eastern Hobq Desert, China, using the spatio-temporal substitution method. We explored the correlation of these fluxes with environmental factors and with biological soil crust growth. The results showed that variation of CO2 fluxes followed the order: lichen crust (128.5 mg·m-2·h-1) > algae crust (70.2 mg·m-2·h-1) > mobile dune (48.2 mg·m-2·h-1). CH4 absorption rates were in the following order: lichen crust (30.4 µg·m-2·h-1) > algae crust (21.2 µg·m-2·h-1) > mobile dune (18.2 µg·m-2·h-1). The N2O fluxes were in the following order: lichen crust (6.6 µg·m-2·h-1) > algae crust (5.4 µg·m-2·h-1) > mobile dune (2.5 µg·m-2·h-1). CO2 emission had obvious seasonal variation, with higher emission in the growing season. CH4 and N2O fluxes had no seaonal variation. CH4 absorption mainly occurred in the growing season and N2O emission mainly occurred in non-growing season. Contents of soil total nitrogen and organic carbon and the abundance of microorganisms were important factors affecting greenhouse gas fluxes. Hydrothermic factors were important for soil CO2 emission, but not for CH4 and N2O fluxes. The cumulative greenhouse gas emissions were gradually increased with vegetation restoration and the development of biological soil crust. The global warming potential increased following an order: lichen crust (1135.7 g CO2-e·m-2·a-1) > algae crust (626.5 g CO2-e·m-2·a-1) > mobile dune (422.7 g CO2-e·m-2·a-1).

OsDCL3b affects grain yield and quality in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: We reported that knockdown of OsDCL3b decreased grain yield but increased grain quality in rice, which is helpful for molecular breeding in crops. Multiple DICER-LIKE (DCL) genes usually exist and show diverse biochemical and phenotypic functions in land plants. In rice, the biochemical function of OsDCL3b is known to process 24-nucleotide panicle phased small RNAs, however, its phenotypic functions are unclear. Here we reported that knockdown of OsDCL3b led to reduced pollen fertility, seed setting rate, and decreased grain yield but increased grain quality in rice. To reveal the molecular mechanism of the above phenomena, extracted RNAs from rice panicles of the wild type (WT) and OsDCL3b-RNAi line S6-1 were analyzed by deep sequencing. It showed that knockdown of OsDCL3b affected the biogenesis of both 21- and 24-nucleotide small RNAs including miRNAs and phased small RNAs. Using RNA-seq, 644 up- and 530 down-regulated mRNA genes were identified in panicles of line S6-1, and 550 and 273 differentially spliced genes with various alternative splicing (AS) events were observed in panicles of line S6-1 and WT, respectively, suggesting that OsDCL3b involved in influencing the transcript levels of mRNA genes and the AS events in rice panicles. Thus, our results show that knockdown of OsDCL3b will affect the biogenesis of small RNAs, which is involved in regulating the transcription of mRNA genes, and consequently influence the grain yield and quality in rice.

Expression and function analysis of a rice OsHSP40 gene under salt stress.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play essential roles in both plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance. In rice, OsHSP40 was recently reported to regulate programmed cell death (PCD) of suspension cells under high temperature. However, the expression and functions of OsHSP40 under normal growth or other abiotic stress conditions is still unknown. We reported the expression and function of a rice OsHSP40 gene under salt stress. Homologous proteins of OsHSP40 were collected from the NCBI database and constructed the neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree. The expression pattern of OsHSP40 was detected by qRT-PCR under NaCl (150 mM) treatment. Then, identified a rice T-DNA insertion mutant oshsp40. At last, we compared and analyzed the phenotypes of oshsp40 and wild type under salt stress. OsHSP40 was a constitutively expressed small HSP (sHSP) gene and was close related to other plant sHSPs. Moreover, the expression of OsHSP40 was regulated by salt, varying across time points and tissues. Furthermore, the growth of T-DNA insertion mutant of OsHSP40 (designated as oshsp40) was suppressed by NaCl (150 mM) compared with that of the WT at seedling stage. Detailed measurement showed root and shoot length of the oshsp40 seedlings were significantly shorter than those of the WT seedlings under NaCl stress. In addition, the pot experiment results revealed that seedlings of oshsp40 withered more seriously compared with those of WT after NaCl treatment and recovery, and that survival rate and fresh weight of oshsp40 seedlings were significantly reduced. Taken together, these data suggested that OsHSP40 had multiple functions in rice normal growth and abiotic stress tolerance.

Effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties in a spruce-fir forest.

To reveal the effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties, the differences in soil physicochemical properties (bulk density, capillary porosity, total porosity, capillary water holding capacity, saturated moisture capacity, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, available phosphorous, available potassium, and pH) and stoichiometry (C/N, N/P, and C/P) among different decay levels of treefalls and between different microsite types in the formed gaps by fallen trees were analyzed in a spruce-fir fore-st in a valley of Liangshui National Nature Reserve in Xiaoxing' an Mountains. The results showed that the effects of the decay levels of fallen trees on soil physical properties was not significant. In contrast, we found significant effects of the formed microsite types in soil physical properties. Except for saturated soil water holding capacity, the other soil physical properties were the best under the fallen trees and the worst in the pit bottom. Except of available phosphorus, the contents of the other soil nutrients exhibited a significant increase trend with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees. Among three microsites, the contents of soil nutrients were the lowest and pH were highest in the pit. As for the shallow soil layer, C/N, N/P and C/P of three microsites decreased with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, while C/N in mound top and in pit bottom increased, N/P and C/P decreased, and the variation of C/P was consistent with that of available phosphorus. In conclusion, with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, the contents of soil nutrients were signifi-cantly increased. There are significant differences of soil nutrients among different microsites, with the lowest values in the pit.

Expression of CPEB4 in invasive ductal breast carcinoma and its prognostic significance.

AIMS: Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins (CPEBs) are RNA-binding proteins that regulate translation by inducing cytoplasmic polyadenylation. CPEB4 has been reported in association with tumor growth, vascularization, and invasion in several cancers. To date, the expression of CPEB4 with clinical prognosis of breast cancer was never reported before. We aim to investigate the expression of CPEB4 and its prognostic significance in invasive ductal breast carcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of CPEB4 and estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor was performed in 107 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) samples, and prognostic significance was evaluated. RESULTS: High expression of CPEB4 was observed in 48.6% of IDC samples. Elevated CPEB4 expression was possibly related to increased histological grading (P=0.037) and N stage (P<0.001). Patients with high expression of CPEB4 showed shorter overall survival (P=0.001). High CPEB4 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P=0.022, hazard ratio =4.344, 95% confidence interval =1.235-15.283). CONCLUSION: High CPEB4 expression is associated with increased histological grading and N stage, and it can serve as an independent prognostic factor in IDC.

Trastuzumab Inhibits Growth of HER2-Negative Gastric Cancer Cells Through Gastrin-Initialized CCKBR Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Administration of trastuzumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeted to the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, p185), has improved outcomes for patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC), but some relevant issues remain to be investigated and will emerge with new anti-GC drugs. Gastrin is a major gastrointestinal hormone proven to have an inhibitory effect on GC in vitro and in vivo. AIM: To explore the sympathetic role of trastuzumab and gastrin on inhibition of GC. METHODS: The HER2-positive and HER2-negative GC cell lines were treated with trastuzumab, gastrin, or their combination in vitro and in xenograft model. The synergistical role of trastuzumab and gastrin and related mechanisms were investigated. RESULTS: We found the synergistic inhibitory effects of trastuzumab and gastrin on HER2-negative GC cells through the gastrin/cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR) pathway. Trastuzumab upregulated CCKBR protein levels but could not initiate its signal transduction, whereas gastrin increased the levels and activation of CCKBR. Molecular experiments indicated that trastuzumab and gastrin co-treatment synergistically enhanced the stability of CCKBR. Moreover, their combined treatment synergistically arrested GC cells at G0/G1 phase, down-regulated levels of GC-related proteins, including anion exchanger 1 (AE1), cyclin D1, ß-catenin, and cytoplasmic p16, and promoted nuclear translocation of p16. In addition, combination treatment upregulated AE2 levels, which are reduced in GC tissues. The in vivo synergistic anti-GC effect of combined treatment was confirmed in xenograft experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Trastuzumab plus gastrin inhibit growth of Her2-negative GC by targeting cytoplasmic AE1 and p16.

Lack of association of EPHX1 gene polymorphisms with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies have focused on the association of a gene (EPHX1) encoding microsomal epoxide hydrolase with the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically summarize the possible association between EPHX1 genetic polymorphisms and the risk for HCC. We conducted a search of case-control studies on the associations of EPHX1 genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to HCC in PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Wanfang database in China, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Data from eligible studies were extracted for meta-analysis. HCC risk associated with EPHX1 genetic polymorphism was estimated by pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Thirteen studies were included in the present meta-analysis. Our results showed that, for the two polymorphisms (337 T > C and 416A > G) of EPHX1 gene, neither allele frequency nor genotype distributions were associated with risk for HCC in all genetic models (all P > 0.05). This meta-analysis suggests that EPHX1 genetic polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of HCC.

Allelic polymorphic investigation of 21 autosomal short tandem repeat loci in a Chinese Bai ethnic group.

Population genetic data of 21 autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) were obtained in a sample of 106 unrelated healthy individuals of Bai ethnic minority born in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. We observed 138 alleles with corresponding allelic frequencies ranging from 0.005 to 0.575. The genotypic frequency distributions at those STR loci were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Bonferroni's correction was used for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium tests). The combined probability of exclusion, power of discrimination, probability of matching value for all 21 STR loci were 0.9999975729, 0.999999999999999999872 and 1.28×10(-19), respectively. The population data in this study showed significant differences from the previously published population data of Tibetan and Salar groups in some loci.

[Determination of trace amounts of mercury in sediments by sequential injection cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with microwave-assisted digestion].

A novel method for the determination of trace amounts of mercury in sediments by sequential injection cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with microwave assisted digestion was developed in this paper. Satisfactory results were found when the digestion was carried out at 140 degrees C for 5 min by using 10% HCl-50% HNO3- 40% H2O or 30% HCl-20% HNO3- 50% H2O media. The linear range was 0.02-30 ng x mL(-1) with detection limit of 0.5 ng x g(-1). Relative standard deviation for the complete procedure of the analysis of 10 digested sediment samples was 3.7%. Recoveries of the spiked samples were between (91.2 +/- 4.3)% and (96.5 +/- 4.6)%. The analytical results for three certified reference materials GSD-2, GSD-9 and GSD-10 were consistent with the certified values. The method has been successfully applied to six natural sediment samples. The results indicated that the method was rapid, highly sensitive and precision, and suitable for the determination of trace amounts of mercury in sediment samples.

Predicting protein fold types by the general form of Chou's pseudo amino acid composition: approached from optimal feature extractions.

Identification on protein folding types is always based on the 27-class folds dataset, which was provided by Ding & Dubchak in 2001. But with the avalanche of protein sequences, fold data is also expanding, so it will be the inevitable trend to improve the existing dataset and expand more folding types. In this paper, we construct a multi-class protein fold dataset, which contains 3,457 protein chains with sequence identity below 35% and could be classified into 76 fold types. It was 4 times larger than Ding & Dubchak's dataset. Furthermore, our work proposes a novel approach of support vector machine based on optimal features. By combining motif frequency, low-frequency power spectral density, amino acid composition, the predicted secondary structure and the values of auto-correlation function as feature parameters set, the method adopts criterion of the maximum correlation and the minimum redundancy to filter these features and obtain a 95-dimensions optimal feature subset. Based on the ensemble classification strategy, with 95-dimensions optimal feature as input parameters of support vector machine, we identify the 76-class protein folds and overall accuracy measures up to 44.92% by independent test. In addition, this method has been further used to identify upgraded 27-class protein folds, overall accuracy achieves 66.56%. At last, we also test our method on Ding & Dubchak's 27-class folds dataset and obtained better identification results than most of the previous reported results.

[Regulative mechanism of budesonide on endogenous hydrogen sulfide, cystathionine-gamma-lyase and cystathionine-beta-synthase system in asthmatic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate plasma hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels and cystathionine-gamma- lyase (CSE) and cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) mRNA expression in the lung tissues in asthmatic rats and to explore the roles of endogenous H2S, CSE and CBS system in the pathogenesis of asthma. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 5 to 7 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups: control, asthma and budesonide treatment (n = 10 each). The asthma model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. The budesonide treatment group received inhaled budesonide before challenge. The contents of plasma H2S were measured by spectrophotometry. The levels of CSE and CBS mRNA in the lung tissues were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The contents of plasma H2S in the asthma group (61 ± 16 µmol/L) were significantly lower than those in the control group (84 ± 15 µmol/L) (P<0.01). The contents of plasma H2S in the budesonide treatment group (71 ± 14 µmol/L) were not statistically different from those in the control and asthma groups. CSE mRNA and CBE mRNA expression in the asthma group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The budesonide treatment group had a decreased CSE mRNA expression and CBE mRNA expression compared with the control group, but had significantly increased CSE and CBE mRNA expression compared with the asthma group (P < 0.01). There was a significantly negative correlation between H2S contents in plasma and total inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 30, r = -0.549, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma H2S levels and CSE and CBS expression in the lung decrease in asthmatic rats, which possibly promotes inflammatory cell aggregation to the airway. Budesonide may alleviate airway inflammation in asthmatic rats possibly through the system of endogenous H2S, CSE and CBS.

[Primary culture and identification of olfactory ensheathing cells from adult rat].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a simple and inexpensive method or procedure for establishing primary culture and purification of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) from the adult rat olfactory bulbs. METHODS: The OECs were dissociated from the first two outer layers of the olfactory bulbs of the adult Sprague-Dawley rat (2.5 months old), cultured in DMEM/F12 nutrient with 20% foetal calf serum, and purified by the method of combining the different rates of cell attachment with the Arabinosylcytosine (AraC) inhibition of cell. The morphological changes of cultured OECs were observed. On 14th culture day, the OECs in culture were identified by the immunocytochemistry technique to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nerve growth factor receptor p75 (NGFRp75), and the purity of the positive cells was calculated. RESULTS: The cultured OECs presented three main morphological types: multipolar, bipolar and flat cells. For GFAP positive cells, the plasma and processes were stained while the nuclei were not, but for NGFRp75 cells the nuclei were stained more deeply than the plasma and processes. More than 9000 cultured cells were identified to be OECs. CONCLUSION: The high purity OECs can be cultured successfully in vitro by the combined purification method. This method is simple and inexpensive.

Detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen for early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in plasma donor in China.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a new hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen assay developed in China. METHODS: After the determination of HCV infection, 49 serial samples were selected from 11 regular plasma donors in 5 different plasma stations. To compare the performance of HCV core antigen detection and HCV PCR, these samples were genotyped, and each specimen was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of HCV core antigen and by qualitative HCV PCR. RESULTS: Among all of the sequential samples, the original 13 specimens were HCV RNA-negative, and 36 samples were HCV RNA-positive. Twenty-seven samples (75%) were HCV core antigen-positive from these HCV RNA-positive specimens. Conversely, 27 samples (93.1%) were found HCV RNA-positive in HCV core antigen-positive samples. Intervals between HCV RNA and HCV core antigen-positive, as well as between HCV core antigen-positive and HCV antibody-positive were 36.0 and 32.8 d, respectively. CONCLUSION: This HCV core antigen assay, developed in China, is able to detect much of anti-HCV-negative, HCV RNA-positive preseroconversion window period (PWP) plasma donations.

[Expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 in rat asthma model and the modulatory effect of dexamethasone].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 and its mRNA in rat asthma model and the modulatory effect of dexamethasone (DXM). METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, asthma group and DXM group. The rats in each group were sacrificed 24 h after the last challenge. In the experiment, the rat model of asthma was established by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge method. The lung tissue was taken from the left lung, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from the right lung. The total cell numbers, eosinophils (EOS) count and differentiated cell counts in BALF were performed on different count fluids. The concentrations of IL-4 in serum and BALF were measured by using sandwich ELISA. The protein expressions of STAT6 were detected with immunohistochemical techniques. The mRNA expressions of STAT6 were detected with in situ hybridization. RESULTS: (1) The total cell counts in BALF, the absolute counts of EOS, and the ratios of eosinophils to the total cell numbers (EOS%) of asthma group were all significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01). The total cell counts in BALF, the absolute counts of EOS, and EOS% of DXM group were all significantly lower than those of asthma group (P < 0.01). (2) The concentrations of IL-4 in BALF and serum of asthma group [(25.7 +/- 7.4) ng/L, (34.2 +/- 10.5) ng/L] were significantly higher than those of control group [(8.6 +/- 3.0) ng/L, (12.1 +/- 2.9) ng/L] (P < 0.01). The concentrations of IL-4 in BALF and serum of DXM group were significantly lower than those of asthma group. (3) Immunohistochemistry showed that the protein content of STAT6 around the bronchus of asthma group (0.171 +/- 0.025) was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.082 +/- 0.022) (P < 0.01), while that of DXM group (0.114 +/- 0.013) was significantly lower than that of asthma group. The epithelial cells were the cells. In situ hybridization showed that the mRNA expression of STAT6 around the bronchus of asthma group (0.180 +/- 0.013) was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.091 +/- 0.012) (P < 0.01), while that of DXM group (0.114 +/- 0.010) was significantly lower than that of asthma group. (4) There was a significant correlation between the concentration of IL-4 in BALF, the content of STAT6 and STAT6 mRNA, respectively, in the epithelial cells of bronchus. There was a significant correlation between the absolute numbers of EOS and EOS% in BALF, the content of STAT6 and STAT6 mRNA, respectively, in the epithelial cells of bronchus. CONCLUSIONS: STAT6 protein and STAT6 mRNA were found strongly expressed in rat asthma model and the epithelial cells were the chief expressing cells. Dexamethasone had an inhibitory effect on airway inflammatory cells infiltration. It significantly depressed STAT6 and mRNA expression. Which may be a key process in modulatory mechanism of asthma.

[Influential factors to therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization in the treatment of uterine fibroids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization in the treatment of uterine fibroids and to analyse the influential factors to the therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with symptomatic uterine myomas were treated by superselective catheterization and embolization of bilateral uterine arteries using PVA particles. Patients were followed for 6 months after uterine artery embolization. Baseline symptoms and the volume of the fibroids were used as parameters to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy. Influential factors to therapeutic efficacy were analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical symptoms, especially heavy menstrual bleeding, were improved markedly. An average of 55.6% volume reduction of the fibroids was achieved during the 6 month follow-up. The submucosal and intramural location of the myomas reduced more in the volume compared with that of the subserosal location. CONCLUSION: Selective uterine artery embolization is effective for uterine myoma. Influential factors to the therapeutic efficacy may include: postprocedural vascular reconstruction in the fibroid, location of the fibroid, hemodynamic status of the fibroid, and the mode of embolization (unilateral or bilateral).

[Interventional therapy in the treatment of hysteromyoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of bilateral super-selective arterial embolism therapy in the treatment of fibroids. METHODS: Twenty-eight cases of symptomatic uterine myoma were treated by Seldinger's bilateral super-selective uterine artery embolization. The changes of the clinical symptoms and volume of the uterus and myoma were observed with a mean follow-up of 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Arteriography showed that hysteromyomas were bloody tumor, supplied by bilateral uterine arteries. The blood supply of uterine myoma could be occluded and pathological vessel signs of myoma disappeared after bilateral uterine artery embolization. With a mean follow-up of 3 and 6 months, the menorrhagia and menstrual cycles returned to normal and anemia was improved. The volume of the uterus and myoma was obviously smaller. CONCLUSION: Bilateral super-selective uterine artery embolization is a new, safe and effective method for the treatment of uterine myoma.