YouTube as a source of information for cryptococcal infection: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Immunocompromised individuals, particularly HIV patients, worldwide are at risk from cryptococcal infection. There are a number of videos of cryptococcal infection and more and more individuals may search these videos, but the quality of videos on YouTube is unclear. This study set out to assess the content and quality of YouTube videos regarding cryptococcal infection. Methods: The keywords "Cryptococcus," "Cryptococcosis" and "Cryptococcal infection" were searched on YouTube. The videos were evaluated and graded by two impartial raters. A 14-point content score was used to categorize videos as bad, good or exceptional. The reliability and quality were evaluated utilizing the DISCERN instrument and a 5-point global quality score. Videos were then divided into groups based on uploading sources and content types. Results: A total of 46 videos were located, and the ratings provided by the two raters were identical. Our scoring algorithm determined that 54.3% (n = 25), 32.6% (n = 15) and 13.0% (n = 6) of the videos were poor, decent and exceptional, respectively. Regarding quality, no difference was identified between the various video categories. The global quality scale, number of views, days posted, content score and DISCERN showed a significant positive relationship. Conclusions: Professional individuals or healthcare organizations should be encouraged to submit high-quality videos for the expanding internet population, as only a small proportion of available videos had exceptional quality.

miR-181a targets PTEN to mediate the neuronal injury caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation.

Evidence suggests that the microRNA-181 (miR-181) family performs various roles in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury (CIRI). MiR-181a has been identified as a critical determinant of neuronal survival. Moreover, the significance of miR-181a in controlling neuronal death after CIRI has received little attention. The objective of this study was to assess the role of miR-181a in neuronal cell injury after CIRI. To mimic the in-vitro and in-vivo CIRI, we developed an oxygen-glucose deficiency/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in SH-SY5Y cells and a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats. MiR-181a expression was significantly higher in both in-vivo and in-vitro CIRI models. The overexpression of miR-181a increased cell damage and oxidative stress caused by OGD/R, whereas inhibition of miR-181a reduced both. PTEN has also been found to be a direct miR-181a target. PTEN overexpression reduced cell apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by miR-181a upregulation under an OGD/R condition. Furthermore, we found that the rs322931 A allele was related to increased miR-181a levels in IS peripheral blood and higher susceptibility to IS. The current results offer new insights into the understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of CIRI, as well as possible new treatment candidates.

Direct targeting of DOCK4 by miRNA-181d in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-mediated neuronal injury.

The miRNA-181 (miR-181) family regulates neuronal persistence during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI). Since the effect of miR-181d on CI/RI has never been studied, the current work sought to determine the involvement of miR-181d in neuronal apoptosis after brain I/R injury. To replicate in vivo and in vitro CI/RI, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in rats and an oxygen-glucose deficiency/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in neuro 2A cells were developed. In both in vivo and in vitro stroke models, the expression of miR-181d was considerably higher. miR-181d suppression reduced apoptosis and oxidative stress in OGD/R-treated neuroblastoma cells, but miR-181d overexpression increased both. Furthermore, it was observed that miR-181d has a direct target in dedicator of cytokinesis 4 (DOCK4). The overexpression of DOCK4 partially overcame cell apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by miR-181d upregulation and OGD/R injury. Furthermore, the DOCK4 rs2074130 mutation was related to lower DOCK4 levels in ischemic stroke (IS) peripheral blood and higher susceptibility to IS. These findings suggest that downregulating miR-181d protects neurons from ischemic damage by targeting DOCK4, implying that the miR-181d/DOCK4 axis might be a novel therapeutic target for IS.

Effect of folic acid supplementation on diminished ovarian reserve: study protocol of a single-centre, open-label, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), a common gynaecological disorder, is approximately 10% across the world. Failure in early diagnosis and treatment may result in continuous decreases in ovarian function and the resultant loss in an opportunity of pregnancy, which greatly affects the happiness of the women's family and women's physical and mental health. Nevertheless, there has been no effective treatment for such a disorder until now. Folic acid, a member of the vitamin B family, is involved in one-carbon cycle and methylation regulation. It has been found that folic acid affects the whole period of pregnancy, and folic acid supplementation has shown effective to remarkably reduce the incidence of fetal neural tube defects and decrease plasma homocysteic acid levels, thereby resulting in a decline in the incidence of abortion. In addition, folic acid is reported to mediate ovarian functions. It is therefore hypothesised that folic acid may improve DOR. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A single-centre, open-label, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial is designed. We plan to recruit 140 women with DOR at ages of 30-35 years. All participants will be randomised into the folic acid group and placebo group, and each subject will be given a tablet with the same appearance daily for 6 months. The primary outcome is antral follicle count, and the secondary outcomes are ovarian reserve markers, ovarian low-dose stimulation responses and safety. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Nanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University on 10 February 2021 (approval number: NPSY202002042). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to randomisation, following a detailed description of the purpose of the study. The results of this clinical trial will be presented at scientific conferences and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100047410.

Polymorphisms of Calgranulin Genes and Ischemic Stroke in a Chinese Population.

Background: The S100/calgranulin gene appears to modulate neuroinflammation following cerebral ischemia and could be a valuable biomarker for stroke prognosis, according to growing research. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between calgranulin gene variants and susceptibility to ischemic stroke (IS) in the Southern Chinese population. Methods: Using an enhanced multi-temperature ligase detection reaction genotyping, 310 IS patients and 324 age-matched healthy controls were genotyped to identify five calgranulin gene variants. Results: According to the obtained results, the S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants were linked to a higher risk of IS, while the S100A9 rs3014866 variant was associated with a lower risk of IS. Moreover, the T-T-C-A-T, T-T-C-G-T, or C-C-C-G-C haplotypes have been linked to a greater risk of developing IS, according to haplotype analysis. The occurrence of the variant C allele there in S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants may impart a greater risk of stroke in the LAA subtype, according to further stratification by IS subtypes, while the T allele of the S100A9 rs3014866 variant may be linked to a reduced risk of stroke of all subtypes. Furthermore, patients with the variant C allele of the S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants presented with increased circulating S100A8 and S100A12 levels and larger infarct volumes relative to those with the major TT genotype. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that calgranulin gene variants are linked to IS susceptibility, implying that the calgranulin gene may be a potential biomarker for IS prevention and personalized treatment.

Application Effects of SBAR Communication Mode in ICU Nursing Physical Restraint Shift.

Context: Correct and effective handovers of patients' information during shift changes can ensure patients' safety and can help an incoming shift of nurses to continuously monitor patients' psychological problems and avoid unnecessary physical restraints. Development of a standard procedure for handover of patients who have been physically restrained has important clinical significance related to the smooth continuation of nursing work and assurance of the quality of care. Objective: The study intended to investigate the clinical effects of the situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR) communication mode on the quality of the information passed during shift changes about patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who had been physically restrained and to compare it to the clinical effects obtained using traditional methods of communication. Design: The study was a retrospective analysis of the process used by nurses who were passing patient's information during shift changes when caring for patients who had been physically restrained. Setting: The study took place in an ICU at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. Participants: Participants were 21 nurses caring for 239 ICU patients under physical restraint at the Second Hospital. Intervention: Of the 239 patients, 118 had been hospitalized between March 1 and March 15, 2018 and were assigned to the control group, and 121 had been hospitalized between June 1 and June 15, 2018 and were assigned to the intervention group. An ICU Physical Restraint Handover Order was established according to the SBAR communication mode. The intervention group used the SBAR communication mode and the control group used the hospital's routine communication mode for the physical restraint of a patient during a nursing shift. Outcome Measures: The study measured the differences between the groups in the nurses' passing rates based on standards for the use of physical restraints, the quality of handover of information during shift changes about patients under physical restraint, the quality of the documentation written by nurses about the physical restraint, and the nurses' satisfaction with the handover of information during a shift change. Results: Among the patient, 112 in the intervention group (92.56%) and 92 in the control group (77.97%) were qualified for physical restraint. A statistically significant difference existed between the two groups in the passing rate for the use of physical restraints (P = .001). The quality score for the handovers during shift changes of patients under physical restraint in the intervention group was 95.46 ± 2.50 and for the control group was 91.08 ± 3.57, with the difference being statistically significant (P = .030). The quality score for the nursing documentation for the intervention group, at 97.21 ± 1.49, was higher than that of the control group, at 90.78 ± 3.42, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .001). The nurses' satisfaction score for the intervention group, at 98.14 ± 1.01 was higher than that of the control group, at 92.57 ± 1.86, and the difference was statistically significant (P = .006). Conclusions: The use of the SBAR communication mode to improve the information passed to nurses about patients under physical restraint during a shift change can improve the quality of the physical restraint and nurses' satisfaction and has a better clinical-application effect than the traditional methods used during shift changes.

Correlation Between Angiotensin Receptor Type 1 Polymorphisms and Atherosclerotic Cerebral Infarction Risk.

Background: Emerging evidences suggest that the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R) contributes heavily to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). Herein, we examined a potential link between AT1R gene polymorphisms and ACI risk among a Southern Han Chinese population. Methods: The rs3772616, rs275645, and rs377262 AT1R polymorphisms were genotyped in 689 ACI patients and 712 healthy controls, using the iMLDR-TM assay. Results: The genotypic and allelic frequencies of AT1R rs3772616 differed tremendously between ACI patients and healthy controls, and the rs3772616 T allele is a risk allele for ACI. However, the rs275645 and rs377262 allelic and genotypic frequency distributions were comparable between ACI patients and controls. In addition, the G-T-T haplotype was linked to an enhanced risk of ACI. We, next, classified our study subjects based on environmental factors and revealed that the rs3772616 T allele was strongly associated with an elevated ACI risk in males, hypertensive individuals, and those over 65 years old. In addition, we observed a marked link between the rs3772616 T allele and enhanced AT1R levels. Conclusion: Based on our research, there is a strong correlation between the AT1R rs3772616 polymorphism and enhanced ACI risk. Hence, the AT1R rs3772616 polymorphism can serve as a potential therapeutic target and bioindicator for ACI development.

Genetic Variants of lncRNA GAS5 Contribute to Susceptibility of Ischemic Stroke among Southern Chinese Population.

Emerging evidence suggests that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest special 5 (GAS5) plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). The current research is aimed at assessing the correlation between two functional GAS5 variants (rs145204276 and rs55829688) and susceptibility to IS in a Han Chinese population. This study genotyped the two GAS5 variants in 1086 IS patients as well as 1045 age-matched healthy controls by using an improved multitemperature ligase detection reaction (iMLDR-TM) genotyping technology. We observed a considerable change in the frequencies of the rs145204276 allele and genotype among the IS patients and healthy control group. The del-T haplotype was substantially more prevalent in the IS cases compared to the control individuals. When study participants were stratified according to environmental factors, we found that the rs145204276 del allele was correlated with a higher risk of IS in male, smokers, hypertensive, and those ≥65 years old. Additional stratification conforming to IS subtypes exhibited that individuals carrying the rs145204276 del allele conferred a higher risk of expanding a larger artery atherosclerosis stroke subset. Moreover, there was a significant association between the rs145204276 del allele and elevated expression of GAS5 in IS patients. In contrast, the frequency of the allele related to rs55829688 was not statistically correlated with IS in all analysis. Our study supports a model wherein the rs145204276 variant in the GAS5 lncRNA is associated with IS risk, thus representing a potentially viable biomarker for IS prevention and treatment.

Synthesis of carbon black/carbon nitride intercalation compound composite for efficient hydrogen production.

The photoactivity of g-C3N4 is greatly limited by its high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. Coupling g-C3N4 with other materials has been demonstrated to be an effective way to facilitate the separation and transport of charge carriers. Herein we report a composite of conductive carbon black and carbon nitride intercalation compound synthesized through facile one-step molten salt method. The as-prepared carbon black/carbon nitride intercalation compound composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The carbon black nanoparticles, homogeneously dispersed on the surface of carbon nitride intercalation compound, efficiently enhanced separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, thus improving the visible-light photocatalytic activity. The composite of 0.5 wt% carbon black and carbon nitride intercalation compound exhibited a H2 production rate of 68.9 µmol h(-1), which is about 3.2 times higher than hydrogen production on pristine carbon nitride intercalation compound.

Regulation of enzyme activity through interactions with nanoparticles.

The structure and function of an enzyme can be altered by nanoparticles (NPs). The interaction between enzyme and NPs is governed by the key properties of NPs, such as structure, size, surface chemistry, charge and surface shape. Recent representative studies on the NP-enzyme interactions and the regulation of enzyme activity by NPs with different size, composition and surface modification are reviewed.