The associations of daytime napping and motoric cognitive risk syndrome: Findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

INTRODUCTION: Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), characterized by subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait in older populations, is associated with sleep duration. However, the association between MCR and daytime nap duration has not been thoroughly explored. METHODS: Baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used in this study. MCR was defined as the coexistence of subjective cognitive complaints and objective slow gait speed without a history of dementia or mobility disability. Daytime nap duration was categorized into four groups: no napping, short napping (<30 min), moderate napping (30-89 min) and extended napping (≥90 min). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association of daytime napping duration and MCR. RESULTS: A total of 4230 individuals aged ≥60 were included in the current analysis, of which 463 were diagnosed with MCR. Moderate napping of 30-89 min per day was found to be significantly associated with lower odds of MCR compared with the reference group of no napping. In subgroup analysis, individuals with sleep durations of <7 h per night had lower odds of MCR in the model that adjusted for all potential confounders with ≥30 min daytime nap duration compared with no napping. Interestingly, for people with a night sleep duration of 7-8 h, only those with a moderate nap of 30-89 min had lower odds of MCR than non-nappers after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: A moderate nap of 30-89 min could lower the odds of MCR, especially for older adults with a night sleep duration of ≤8 h.

Gene expression prognostic of early relapse risk in low-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children.

ETV6::RUNX1 is the most common fusion gene in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and is associated with favorable outcomes, especially in low-risk children. However, as many as 10% of children relapse within 3 years, and such early relapses have poor survival. Identifying children at risk for early relapse is an important challenge. We interrogated data from 87 children with low-risk ETV6::RUNX1-positive B-cell ALL and with available preserved bone marrow samples (discovery cohort). We profiled somatic point mutations in a panel of 559 genes and genome-wide transcriptome and single-nucleotide variants. We found high TIMD4 expression (> 85th-percentile value) at diagnosis was the most important independent prognostic factor of early relapse (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.07 [1.76, 14.62]; p = 0.03). In an independent validation cohort of low-risk ETV6::RUNX1-positive B-cell ALL (N = 68) high TIMD4 expression at diagnosis had an HR = 4.78 [1.07, 21.36] (p = 0.04) for early relapse. In another validation cohort including 78 children with low-risk ETV6::RUNX1-negative B-cell ALL, high TIMD4 expression at diagnosis had an HR = 3.93 [1.31, 11.79] (p = 0.01). Our results suggest high TIMD4 expression at diagnosis in low-risk B-cell ALL in children might be associated with high risk for early relapse.

Repetition Suppression Reveals Cue-Specific Spatial Representations for Landmarks and Self-Motion Cues in the Human Retrosplenial Cortex.

The efficient use of various spatial cues within a setting is crucial for successful navigation. Two fundamental forms of spatial navigation, landmark-based and self-motion-based, engage distinct cognitive mechanisms. The question of whether these modes invoke shared or separate spatial representations in the brain remains unresolved. While nonhuman animal studies have yielded inconsistent results, human investigation is limited. In our previous work (Chen et al., 2019), we introduced a novel spatial navigation paradigm utilizing ultra-high field fMRI to explore neural coding of positional information. We found that different entorhinal subregions in the right hemisphere encode positional information for landmarks and self-motion cues. The present study tested the generalizability of our previous finding with a modified navigation paradigm. Although we did not replicate our previous finding in the entorhinal cortex, we identified adaptation-based allocentric positional codes for both cue types in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), which were not confounded by the path to the spatial location. Crucially, the multi-voxel patterns of these spatial codes differed between the cue types, suggesting cue-specific positional coding. The parahippocampal cortex exhibited positional coding for self-motion cues, which was not dissociable from path length. Finally, the brain regions involved in successful navigation differed from our previous study, indicating overall distinct neural mechanisms recruited in our two studies. Taken together, the current findings demonstrate cue-specific allocentric positional coding in the human RSC in the same navigation task for the first time and that spatial representations in the brain are contingent on specific experimental conditions.

Photodynamic therapy combined with antifungal drugs against kerion: A report of six cases and literature review.

Kerion, a severe manifestation of tinea capitis caused by dermatophytes, is a fungal skin disease primarily affecting children. This report discusses six cases of pediatric kerion that were successfully treated with a combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and antifungal agents. Additionally, we conducted a literature review, identifying and analyzing six published reports on kerion and tinea capitis. The characteristics and efficacies of these cases are summarized. In summary, early combination therapy and proactive pre-treatment interventions proved effective in maximizing therapeutic outcomes, reducing disease duration and minimizing adverse reactions such as cicatricial alopecia. This approach has emerged as a favorable choice for the treatment of kerion.

Assessment of the methodological, recommendation and reporting quality of global guidelines for neck pain and synthesis of evidence and recommendations: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Neck pain is a global health problem that can cause severe disability and a huge medical burden. Clinical practice guideline (CPG) is an important basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. A high-quality CPG plays a significant role in clinical practice. However, the quality of the CPGs for neck pain lacks comprehensive assessment. This protocol aims to evaluate the methodological, recommendation, reporting quality of global CPGs for neck pain and identify key recommendations and gaps that limit evidence-based practice. METHOD: CPGs from January 2013 to November 2023 will be identified through a systematic search on 13 scientific databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, etc) and 7 online guideline repositories. Six reviewers will independently evaluate the quality of CPGs for neck pain by using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-Recommendations Excellence and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare tools. Intraclass correlation coefficient will be used to test the consistency of the assessment. We will identify the distribution of evidence and recommendations in each evidence-based CPGs for neck pain and regrade the level of evidence and strength of recommendations by adopting the commonly used Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system. The key recommendations based on high-quality evidence will be summarised. In addition, we will categorise CPGs by different characteristics and conduct a subgroup analysis of the results of assessment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No subjects will be involved in this systematic review, so there is no need for ethical approval. The finding of this review will be summarised as a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023417717.

The predictive value of confusion assessment method-intensive care unit and intensive care delirium screening checklist for delirium in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 16%-89% of patients developed delirium during hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). Studies on the accuracy and clinical application of ICU delirium screening tools exist, but the results are inconsistent. Moreover, the accuracy of different screening tools varied greatly. AIM: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) for delirium screening in critically ill patients in the ICU. STUDY DESIGN: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, and SciELO databases for relevant studies by combining relevant medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords. Each database was searched from its creation to 30 January 2024. The included literature was screened by title, abstract, and full text. The diagnostic studies were summarized using Stata 14.0 software. SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the diagnostic studies were combined, the SROC analysis was performed, and the area under curve was estimated. RESULTS: Thirty-two articles from the database met the inclusion criteria. The number of studies on CAM-ICU and ICDSC was 28 and 14, respectively. For CAM-ICU, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.81-0.81) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.94-0.94), and the hierarchical SROC curve was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97). Regarding the ICDSC, The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68-0.86) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84-0.93), and the hierarchical SROC curve was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89-0.94). Regarding the likelihood ratio, the CAM-ICU has a high PLR of 14.24 (95% CI: 14.24-14.24) and a low NLR of 0.20 (95% CI: 0.20-0.20). The ICDSC has a low PLR of 7.64 (95% CI: 5.37-10.87) and a high NLR of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.16-0.35). CONCLUSIONS: CAM-ICU showed good performance in terms of screening and diagnostic efficacies for delirium in critically ill patients. In view of the diagnostic accuracy of these two tools in delirium assessment, the strategies on how to increase their implementation in delirium screening among ICU patients are the focus of future research. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: CAM-ICU is recommended as the first choice to evaluate delirium in clinical practice, followed by ICDSC. Future studies can explore the predictive value of CAM-ICU and ICDSC in different special populations and different types of delirium.

Isolated myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated optic neuritis in adults: The importance of age of onset and prognosis-related radiological features.

BACKGROUND: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) exhibits phenotypic diversity and it varies by age. However, less is known about whether the manifestations of isolated MOG antibody-associated optic neuritis (iMOG-ON) vary across different age groups. We aimed to investigate the clinical and prognostic features of iMOG-ON in young and middle-aged adult patients. METHODS: Patients with iMOG-ON were enrolled in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2018 and October 2021. Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical data and orbital MRI images of adult patients with iMOG-ON. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Based on the age of onset, 70 patients were divided into 2 groups: 38 young (< 46 years; female/male = 0.76:1) and 32 middle-aged (≥ 46 years; female/male = 5.56:1) adults. There were statistical differences in both the female-to-male ratio and frequencies of contrast enhancement of the optic nerve sheaths and surrounding orbital tissues between both groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). The average follow-up periods were 28.04 ± 11.22 months. The median final BCVA was 0 (0 - 0.50) logMAR and 0.5 (0.3 - 1.0) logMAR in the young and middle-aged patients, respectively (p = 0.000). The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated significant positive relationships between final BCVA and age of onset (p = 0.038, 95 % CI: 0.020 - 0.728), sex (p = 0.030, 95 % CI: -0.793 - -0.042), BCVA at nadir (p = 0.000, 95 % CI: 0.164 - 0.386), and numbers of segments of optic nerve lesions (p = 0.009, 95 % CI: 0.068 - 0.450) with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.359 after adjusting for prior attacks of ON, time intervals between sudden-onset vision loss and administration of intravenous methylprednisolone, and corticosteroid dosages. The worst final BCVA was observed in afflicted eyes with lesions extending across three segments of the optic nerve. CONCLUSION: Compared to young adults with iMOG-ON, the middle-aged patients tended to have a female predominance, higher frequencies of perineural enhancement, and worse visual outcomes. In addition to age of onset, visual recovery may also be influenced by patient's sex, BCVA at nadir, and lengths of longitudinally expansive lesions of the optic nerve to a certain extent.

Photodynamic therapy successfully treats refractory onychomycosis caused by Trichosporon asahii: a case report.

Onychomycosis, a fungal infection affecting the nail, is characterized by discoloration and thickening of the nail plate and is the most prevalent nail infection globally. We present a case of onychomycosis caused by Trichosporon asahii, a less common etiology. Notably, the patient was successfully treated with a non-traditional antibacterial approach, photodynamic therapy, which has been infrequently documented in the literature for such infections.

Effects of Dietary Alfalfa Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides).

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a typical omnivore possessing wide dietary adaptability and tolerance to rough feeding, which may be attributed to its intestinal microbiota. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary alfalfa meal levels on the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum parameters, and intestinal microbiota of raccoon dogs. Sixty raccoon dogs were randomly divided into four dietary treatments containing 0% (AM0), 5% (AM5), 10% (AM10), and 15% (AM15) alfalfa meal for a 60-day experiment. The results showed that compared to raccoon dogs fed the AM0 diet, those fed the AM5 and AM10 diets had no significant difference in growth performance, while those fed the AM15 diet experienced a significant decrease. Raccoon dogs fed the AM5 diet had no significant effect on the nutrient apparent digestibility. Dietary supplementation with alfalfa meal significantly decreased serum urea levels and increased the antioxidant capacity of raccoon dogs. The intestinal microbiome analysis showed that the richness and diversity of colonic microbiota significantly increased in the AM15 group. With the increase in dietary alfalfa meal levels, the relative abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria in the colon of raccoon dogs, such as Treponema, Phascolarctobacterium, and Christensenellaceae R-7 group, increased. However, the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, including Anaerobiospirillum, decreased. In conclusion, the inclusion of 5% alfalfa meal in the raccoon dogs' diet had no effect on growth performance, but it exhibited the potential to improve serum antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota. This indicates that raccoon dogs have a certain tolerance to the addition of alfalfa meal in their diet.

Excessive dietary iron exposure increases the susceptibility of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to Aeromonas hydrophila by interfering with immune response, oxidative stress, and intestinal homeostasis.

Iron is an essential cofactor in the fundamental metabolic pathways of organisms. Moderate iron intake can enhance animal growth performance, while iron overload increases the risk of pathogen infection. Although the impact of iron on the pathogen-host relationship has been confirmed in higher vertebrates, research in fish is extremely limited. The effects and mechanisms of different levels of iron exposure on the infection of Aeromonas hydrophila in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) remain unclear. In this study, experimental diets were prepared by adding 0, 800, 1600, and 3200 mg/kg of FeSO4∙7H2O to the basal feed, and the impact of a 56-day feeding period on the mortality rate of largemouth bass infected with A. hydrophila was analyzed. Additionally, the relationships between mortality rate and tissue iron content, immune regulation, oxidative stress, iron homeostasis, gut microbiota, and tissue morphology were investigated. The results showed that the survival rate of largemouth bass infected with A. hydrophila decreased with increasing iron exposure levels. Excessive dietary iron intake significantly increased iron deposition in the tissues of largemouth bass, reduced the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, increased the content of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, and thereby induced oxidative stress. Excessive iron supplementation could influence the immune response of largemouth bass by upregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the intestine and liver, while downregulating the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, excessive iron intake could also affect iron metabolism by inducing the expression of hepcidin, disrupt intestinal homeostasis by interfering with the composition and function of the gut microbiota, and induce damage in the intestinal and hepatic tissues. These research findings provide a partial theoretical basis for deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the influence of excessive iron exposure on the susceptibility of largemouth bass to pathogenic bacteria.

Utilizing metagenomic next-generation sequencing for pathogen detection and diagnosis in lower respiratory tract infections in real-world clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Infectious etiologies of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) by the conventional microbiology tests (CMTs) can be challenging. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has great potential in clinical use for its comprehensiveness in identifying pathogens, particularly those difficult-to-culture organisms. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 205 clinical samples from 201 patients with suspected LRTIs using mNGS in parallel with CMTs. mNGS results were used to guide treatment adjustments for patients who had negative CMT results. The efficacy of treatment was subsequently evaluated in these patients. RESULTS: mNGS-detected microorganisms in 91.7% (188/205) of the clinical samples, whereas CMTs demonstrated a lower detection rate, identifying microorganisms in only 37.6% (77/205) of samples. Compared to CMT results, mNGS exhibited a detection sensitivity of 93.5% and 95.4% in all 205 clinical samples and 180 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, respectively. A total of 114 patients (114/201; 56.7%) showed negative CMT results, among which 92 received treatment adjustments guided by their positive mNGS results. Notably, 67.4% (62/92) of patients demonstrated effective treatment, while 25% (23/92) experienced a stabilized condition. Subgroup analysis of cancer patients revealed that 41.9% (13/31) exhibited an effective response to treatment, and 35.5% (11/31) maintained a stable condition following medication adjustments guided by mNGS. CONCLUSION: mNGS demonstrated great potential in identifying microorganisms of clinical significance in LRTIs. The rapid turnaround time and reduced susceptibility to the impact of antimicrobial administration make mNGS a valuable supplementary tool for diagnosis and treatment decision-making for suspected LRTIs in clinical practice.

Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm.

Wnt signaling is a critical determinant of cell lineage development. This study used Wnt dose-dependent induction programs to gain insights into molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of hiPSCs responding to a dose escalation protocol with Wnt agonist CHIR-99021 during the exit from pluripotency to identify cell types and genetic activity driven by Wnt stimulation. Results of activated gene sets and cell types were used to build a multiple regression model that predicts the efficiency of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cross-referencing Wnt-associated gene expression profiles to the Connectivity Map database, we identified the small-molecule drug, tranilast. We found that tranilast synergistically activates Wnt signaling to promote cardiac lineage differentiation, which we validate by in vitro analysis of hiPSC differentiation and in vivo analysis of developing quail embryos. Our study provides an integrated workflow that links experimental datasets, prediction models, and small-molecule databases to identify drug-like compounds that control cell differentiation.

The prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy efficacy of the SUMOylation pathway signature and the role of UBA2 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)-ylation plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. However, the SUMOylation pathway landscape and its clinical implications in LUAD remain unclear. Here, we analyzed genes involved in the SUMOylation pathway in LUAD and constructed a SUMOylation pathway signature (SUMOPS) using the LASSO-Cox regression model, validated in independent cohorts. Our analysis revealed significant dysregulation of SUMOylation-related genes in LUAD, comprising of favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors. The SUMOPS model was associated with established molecular and histological subtypes of LUAD, highlighting its clinical relevance. The SUMOPS stratified LUAD patients into SUMOPS-high and SUMOPS-low subtypes with distinct survival outcomes and adjuvant chemotherapy responses. The SUMOPS-low subtype showed favorable responses to adjuvant chemotherapy. The correlations between SUMOPS scores and immune cell infiltration suggested that patients with the SUMOPS-high subtype exhibited favorable immune profiles for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. Additionally, we identified UBA2 as a key SUMOylation-related gene with an increased expression and a poor prognosis in LUAD. Cell function experiment confirmed the role of UBA2 in promoting LUAD cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. These findings provide valuable insights into the SUMOylation pathway and its prognostic implications in LUAD, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies and the development of novel therapeutic targets.

High immigration rates critical for establishing emigration-driven diversity in microbial communities.

Unraveling the mechanisms governing the diversity of ecological communities is a central goal in ecology. Although microbial dispersal constitutes an important ecological process, the effect of dispersal on microbial diversity is poorly understood. Here, we sought to fill this gap by combining a generalized Lotka-Volterra model with experimental investigations. Our model showed that emigration increases the diversity of the community when the immigration rate crosses a defined threshold, which we identified as Ineutral. We also found that at high immigration rates, emigration weakens the relative abundance of fast-growing species and thus enhances the mass effect and increases the diversity. We experimentally confirmed this finding using co-cultures of 20 bacterial strains isolated from the soil. Our model further showed that Ineutral decreases with the increase of species pool size, growth rate, and interspecies interaction. Our work deepens the understanding of the effects of dispersal on the diversity of natural communities.

Maize/peanut rotation intercropping improves ecosystem carbon budget and economic benefits in the dry farming regions of China.

Monoculture is widely practiced to increase crop productivity, but long-term adaptation has drawbacks as it increases the depletion of soil nutrients and reduces soil quality, especially in dryland areas. Conversion from traditional maize monoculture to intercropping improves sustainable production. However, maize/peanut intercropping, especially rotation of planting strips impacts of maize/peanut intercropping in dryland on carbon (C) budgets and economic benefits remain unclear. In this study, a 5-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of maize/peanut intercropping with rotation of planting strips on soil health, indirect CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem C inputs. Four intercropping treatments viz. maize monoculture, peanut monoculture, maize/peanut intercropping, and maize/peanut rotation-intercropping were tested from 2018 to 2022. Maize/peanut rotation intercropping significantly improved the land equivalent ratio followed by intercropping and monoculture. Rotation-intercropping also improved economic benefits over intercropping and monoculture which were mainly associated with increased peanut yield where the border rows contributed the maximum, followed by the middle rows. Moreover, rotation-intercropping significantly increased the soil organic C and nitrogen (N) content. Rotation-intercropping decreased indirect CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem C inputs by 3.11% and 18.04%, whereas increased ecosystem C outputs and net ecosystem C budget by 10.38% and 29.14%, respectively, over the average of monoculture. On average for intercropping and monoculture, rotation-intercropping increased ecosystem C emission efficiency for economic benefits by 51.94% and 227.27% in 2021 and 2022, respectively, showing the highest C utilization efficiency than other treatments. In the long run, maize/peanut rotation-intercropping can be practiced in dryland agriculture to achieve sustainable agriculture goals.

Mediating effect of social support between caregiver burden and quality of life among family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care units.

PURPOSE: To identify factors influencing the quality of life of family caregivers with terminal cancer in Chinese palliative wards and to test whether social support mediates the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used. Sociodemographic data were collected and the Quality of Life Scale, the Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale were administered to Chinese family caregivers from December 2021 to December 2022. The factors influencing quality of life and caregiver burden were examined using the Mann‒Whitney U test and the Kruskal‒Wallis H test. The mediating role of social support was assessed using the bootstrap method. RESULTS: Family caregivers' quality of life in Chinese terminal cancer palliative units was related to caregivers' daily care time, the caregiver-patient relationship, and patient age. Caregiver quality of life was negatively associated with caregiver burden and positively associated with social support. In addition, social support mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver quality of life. CONCLUSION: Social support mediated the impact of caregiver burden on caregiver quality of life. Family, society, and palliative care institutions should be integrated to take actions to reduce family caregiver burden, increase social support, and transfer the positive aspects of specific cultural contexts to the culture of palliative care in general to collaboratively cope with various problems related to end-stage cancer.

Brain-Type Glycogen Phosphorylase (PYGB) in the Pathologies of Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Glycogen metabolism is a form of crucial metabolic reprogramming in cells. PYGB, the brain-type glycogen phosphorylase (GP), serves as the rate-limiting enzyme of glycogen catabolism. Evidence is mounting for the association of PYGB with diverse human diseases. This review covers the advancements in PYGB research across a range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, nervous system diseases, and other diseases, providing a succinct overview of how PYGB functions as a critical factor in both physiological and pathological processes. We present the latest progress in PYGB in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and discuss the current limitations and future prospects of this novel and promising target.

Behaviors and influencing factors of Chinese oncology nurses towards hospice care: a cross-sectional study based on social cognitive theory in 2022.

BACKGROUND: Although there is growing demand for hospice care in China due to its aging population and increasing cancer rates, the sector remains slow to expand. Oncology nurses are the primary providers of hospice care, but little is known about their behaviors towards hospice care and related factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conveniently sampled 933 oncology nurses from six grade A tertiary hospitals in Hubei Province between January to March 2022. The questionnaire was composed of seven parts: general information (including sociodemographic and work-related information), hospice care behaviors, hospice care knowledge, hospice care attitudes, hospice care self-efficacy, hospice care outcome expectancy, and hospice care environment. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression, random forest regression, and BP neural network model analysis. RESULTS: A total of 852 questionnaires were valid. The mean score of hospice care behaviors was 50.47 ± 10.56, with a mean item score of 3.61 ± 0.75. The three highest scoring behaviors were "pain assessment of patients (4.21 ± 0.91)", "satisfying the physical and mental needs of dying patients (4.04 ± 0.92)", and "creating good relationships between the medical staff and family members (4.02 ± 0.87)". The two lowest-scoring behaviors were "proactively recommending medical institutions for hospice care to terminally ill patients and their families (2.55 ± 1.10)" and "proactively talking to patients and families about death-related topics for patients who are critically ill and cannot be reversed (2.87 ± 1.03)." Multiple linear regression, random forest regression, and BP neural network models all showed that the frequency of sharing hospice care experiences with colleagues, hospice care attitudes, hospice care self-efficacy, and hospice care environments were positively associated with hospice care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of hospice care behaviors among Chinese oncology nurses is generally at a moderate to high level. The results provide a basis for promoting hospice care behaviors among oncology nurses in order to improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients.

Aedes aegypti Beta-1,3-Glucan-Binding Protein Inhibits Dengue and ZIKA Virus Replication.

GNBPB6, a beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein, was identified in the transcriptome of Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti) with dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya viruses (CHIKV). In this study, we not only clarified that DENV2 and ZIKV regulate the changes in GNBPB6 expression but also identified the relationship of this gene with viral infections. The changes in GNBPB6 expression were quantified and showed a decrease in A. aegypti cells (Aag2 cells) at 2 dpi and 3 dpi and an increase at 4 dpi and 5 dpi (p < 0.05). A significant increase was observed only at 5 dpi after DENV2 infection. Subsequently, a GNBPB6 knockout (KO) cell line was constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and the DENV2 and ZIKV RNA copies, along with cell densities, were quantified and compared between the KO and wild type (WT) cells at different dpi. The result showed that DENV2 and ZIKV RNA copies were significantly increased in the KO cell line with no significant change in cell growth. Finally, DENV2 copies decreased after GNBPB6 was complemented in the KO. In conclusion, GNBPB6 knockout and complementation in Aag2 cells revealed that GNBPB6 can inhibit the replication of both DENV2 and ZIKV. These results contribute to subsequent research on mosquito-virus interactions.

Composite dietary antioxidant index associated with delayed biological aging: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the potential correlation between the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and biological aging, addressing the insufficient epidemiological evidence in this area. METHODS: Participants meeting eligibility criteria were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2018. CDAI was determined based on dietary antioxidants obtained from 24-hour dietary recalls. Biological age was determined using PhenoAge algorithms incorporating various clinical features. Weighted multiple models were employed to investigate and assess the association between CDAI and biological age. RESULTS: Analysis of the CDAI quartile revealed disparities in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status, poverty, dietary calories intakes, smoking, drinking status, BMI, physical activity, and PhenoAge. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a significant inverse relationship was found between CDAI and Phenotypic Age, with each standard deviation increase in CDAI score correlating with a 0.18-year decrease in Phenotypic Age. These negative correlations between CDAI and PhenoAge advancement were observed regardless of age, gender, physical activity status, smoking status, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a positive relationship between higher CDAI scores and delayed biological aging. These results have significant implications for public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging through dietary interventions.