Hope experiences in parents of children with cancer: A qualitative meta-synthesis.

PURPOSE: To synthesise qualitative research on the parental hope experiences for children with cancer and identify the levels of parental hope experiences and psychosocial adjustment during cancer events. METHODS: Five electronic databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP) were used to retrieve qualitative studies on the hope experiences of parents of children with cancer from inception to February 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were synthesised using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four analytical themes were identified: the process and way hope exists, sources of hope, positive effects of hope, and obstacles to hope maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining hope is crucial for parents who are caring for their children with cancer. There are different sources of hope, and targeted interventions can enhance the experience of hope for parents of children with cancer. Families, healthcare providers, and society should pay more attention to the parents of children with cancer and provide them with psychological, social, and financial support to improve their level of hope and quality of care.

Nucleic acid-extracted torula yeast from the paper industry as a protein feed for ruminants: A comparison with soybean meal.

We compared nucleic acid-extracted torula yeast (NTY) with soybean meal (SBM) to evaluate NTY as a potential protein feed for ruminants in a metabolic trial using four castrated male goats. NTY was replaced isonitrogenously with SBM at a 25% crude protein (CP) level on a dry matter (DM) basis. NTY has 55% CP and 74% total digestive nutrients on DM. Absorbed N was lower on the NTY diet, but since the urinary N excretion was lower on the NTY diet, no significant between-diet difference in retained N was observed. The efficiency of N utilization (retained N/absorbed N) was significantly higher on the NTY diet. The Lys and Met contents (presumed limiting amino acids for dairy cattle) were higher in NTY than SBM, which may be why N utilization efficiency was higher for the NTY diet. Ruminal ammonia-N and blood serum N were lower on the NTY diet, suggesting that NTY has more rumen undegradable protein than SBM. There was no significant between-diet difference in the visceral disorder indicators or antioxidant activities. Our results indicate that NTY is a safe protein feed with a high CP ratio and high-quality amino acid profile for ruminants that is equivalent to SBM.

Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Characterization of a Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism Controlling the Seed Weight in Soybean.

Soybean is the major global source of edible oils and vegetable proteins. Seed size and weight are crucial traits determining the soybean yield. Understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying the seed weight and size is helpful for improving soybean genetic breeding. The molecular regulatory pathways controlling the seed weight and size were investigated in this study. The 100-seed weight, seed length, seed width, and seed weight per plant of a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) R217 increased compared with those of its recurrent parent 'Suinong14' (SN14). Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of R217 and SN14 were performed at the seed developmental stages S15 and S20. In total, 2643 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 208 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were detected at S15, and 1943 DEGs and 1248 DAPs were detected at S20. Furthermore, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and cell wall biosynthesis and modification were potential pathways associated with seed weight and size control. Finally, 59 candidate genes that might control seed weight and size were identified. Among them, 25 genes were located on the substituted segments of R217. Two critical pathways controlling seed weight were uncovered in our work. These findings provided new insights into the seed weight-related regulatory network in soybean.

Electrochemical Formation of Ionic Porous Organic Polymers Based on Viologen for Electrochromic Applications.

The systematic study of two ionic porous organic polymers (iPOPs) based on viologens and their first applications in the electrochromic field are reported. The viologen-based iPOPs are synthesized by electrochemical polymerization with cyano groups, providing a simple and controllable method for iPOPs that solves the film preparation problems common to viologens. After the characterization of these iPOPs, a detailed study of their electrochromic properties is conducted. The iPOP films based on viologens structure exhibit excellent electrochromic properties. In addition, the resulting iPOP films show high sensitivity to electrolyte ions of different sizes in the redox process. Electrochemical and electrochromic data of the iPOPs explain this phenomenon in detail. These results demonstrate that iPOPs of this type are ideal candidates as electrochromic materials due to their inherent porous structures and ion-rich properties.

NIR-II Fluorescence Sensor Based on Steric Hindrance Regulated Molecular Packing for In Vivo Epilepsy Visualization.

Fluorescence sensing is crucial to study biological processes and diagnose diseases, especially in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window with reduces background signals. However, it's still a great challenge to construct "off-on" sensors when the sensing wavelength extends into the second near-infrared (NIR-II) region to obtain higher imaging contrast, mainly due to the difficult synthesis of spectral overlapped quencher. Here, we present a new fluorescence quenching strategy, which utilizes steric hindrance quenchers (SHQ) to tune the molecular packing state of fluorophores and suppress the emission signal. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal that large SHQ can competitively packing with fluorophores and prevent their self-aggregation. Based on this quenching mechanism, a novel activatable "off-on" sensing method is achieved via bio-analyte responsive invalidation of SHQ, namely Steric Hindrance Invalidation geNerated Emission (SHINE) strategy. As a proof of concept, the ClO- sensitive SHQ lead to the bright NIR-II signal release in epileptic mouse hippocampus under the skull and high photon scattering brain tissue, providing the real-time visualization of ClO- generation process in living epileptic mice.

Quantitative Pattern of hPTMs by Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics with Implications for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known for its aggressive nature, and TNBC management is currently challenging due to the lack of effective targets. Despite the importance of histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs) in breast cancer, their associations with molecular subtypes of breast cancer, especially TNBC, are poorly understood. In this study, a combination of untargeted and targeted proteomics approaches, supplemented by a derivatization method, was applied to breast cancer cells and tissue samples. Untargeted proteomics of eight breast cancer cell lines belonging to different molecular subtypes revealed 36 modified peptides with 12 lysine modification sites in histone H3, and the most frequently reported top 5 histone H3 methylation and acetylation sites were covered. Then, targeted proteomics was carried out to quantify the total 20 target hPTMs at the covered modification sites (i.e., mono-, di-, trimethylation, and acetylation for each site), indicating the difficulty in distinguishing TNBC cells from normal cells. Subsequently, the analysis in TNBC patients revealed significant expression differences in 4 specific hPTMs (H3K14ac, H3K27me1, H3K36me2, and H3K36me3) between TNBC and adjacent normal tissue samples. These unique hPTM patterns allowed for the differentiation of TNBC from normal cases. This finding provides promising implications for advancing targeted treatment strategies for TNBC in the future.

Interleukin-10: a novel metabolic inducer of macrophage differentiation and subsequently contributing to improved pregnancy outcomes of mice by orchestrating oxidative phosphorylation metabolism.

Metabolism regulates the phenotype and function of macrophages. After recruitment to local tissues, monocytes are influenced by the local microenvironment and differentiate into various macrophages depending on different metabolic pathways. However, the metabolic mechanisms underlying decidual macrophage differentiation remain unknown. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important decidual macrophage inducer and promotes oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of bone marrow-derived macrophages. In this study, we mainly investigate the metabolic changes involved in IL-10 generated macrophages from monocytes using in vitro models. We demonstrate that exposure of monocytes (either peripheral or THP-1) to IL-10 altered the phenotype and function of resultant macrophages that is linked with OXPHOS changes. IL-10 enhanced the mitochondrial complex I and III activity of THP-1 cell-differentiated macrophages and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular adenosine triphosphate, and reactive oxygen species levels. OXPHOS blockage with oligomycin changed the cell morphology of IL-10-generated macrophages and the expression levels of cytokines, such as transforming growth factor beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon gamma, and IL-10, apart from changes in the expression level of the surface markers CD206, CD209, and CD163. Moreover, in vivo IL-10 administration reduced the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced embryo resorption rate, and this effect was diminished when OXPHOS was inhibited, demonstrating that OXPHOS is important for the improved pregnancy outcomes of IL-10 in LPS-induced abortion-prone mice. Our findings provide deep insights into the roles of IL-10 in macrophage biology and pregnancy maintenance. Nevertheless, the direct evidence that OXPHOS is involved in decidual macrophage differentiation or not needs further investigations.

Molecular mechanism of ATF6 in unfolded protein response and its role in disease.

Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), an important signaling molecule in unfolded protein response (UPR), plays a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including diseases such as congenital retinal disease, liver fibrosis and ankylosing spondylitis. After endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), ATF6 is activated after separation from binding immunoglobulin protein (GRP78/BiP) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi apparatus to be hydrolyzed by site 1 and site 2 proteases into ATF6 fragments, which localize to the nucleus and regulate the transcription and expression of ERS-related genes. In these diseases, ERS leads to the activation of UPR, which ultimately lead to the occurrence and development of diseases by regulating the physiological state of cells through the ATF6 signaling pathway. Here, we discuss the evidence for the pathogenic importance of ATF6 signaling in different diseases and discuss preclinical results.

QTL Mapping and Data Mining to Identify Genes Associated with Soybean Epicotyl Length Using Cultivated Soybean and Wild Soybean.

Soybean (Glycine max) plants first emerged in China, and they have since been established as an economically important oil crop and a major source of daily protein for individuals throughout the world. Seed emergence height is the first factor that ensures seedling adaptability to field management practices, and it is closely related to epicotyl length. In the present study, the Suinong 14 and ZYD00006 soybean lines were used as parents to construct chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) for quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification. Seven QTLs were identified using two years of epicotyl length measurement data. The insertion region of the ZYD00006 fragment was identified through whole genome resequencing, with candidate gene screening and validation being performed through RNA-Seq and qPCR, and Glyma.08G142400 was ultimately selected as an epicotyl length-related gene. Through combined analyses of phenotypic data from the study population, Glyma.08G142400 expression was found to be elevated in those varieties exhibiting longer epicotyl length. Haplotype data analyses revealed that epicotyl data were consistent with haplotype typing. In summary, the QTLs found to be associated with the epicotyl length identified herein provide a valuable foundation for future molecular marker-assisted breeding efforts aimed at improving soybean emergence height in the field, with the Glyma.08G142400 gene serving as a regulator of epicotyl length, offering new insight into the mechanisms that govern epicotyl development.

Research progress in photodynamic therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a pathogenic microorganism that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and can lead to various gastric disorders, including gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer. However, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in H. pylori has prompted the search for alternative treatment options. Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a potential alternative therapy, thus offering the advantage of avoiding some of the side effects associated with antibiotics and effectively targeting drug-resistant strains. In the postantibiotic era, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown promise as a novel treatment for H. pylori infection. This review focused on elucidating the mechanism of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of H. pylori. Additionally, we present an overview of the current research on photodynamic therapy by examining both standalone photodynamic therapy and combination therapies for H. pylori infection treatment. Furthermore, the safety profile of photodynamic therapy was also evaluated. Finally, we discuss the challenges and prospects associated with this innovative technology, with an aim to provide new insights and methodologies for the treatment of H. pylori infection.

Investigating the ERG a-wave and Retinal Diseases with Rod Equivalent Circuit Model Based on the APD.

Most empirically supported mathematical models of rod cells lack theoretical support from actual physical devices. Therefore, this paper proposes an equivalent circuit model for the rod is proposed based on the photoconductive properties of the avalanche photodetector (APD) and combined with the electrical properties of the rod. The model employs the photodetector to simulate the source of the photocurrent in outer segments of rod cells and takes into account the electrical properties of the inner and outer segments, the nucleus, and the synaptic terminals. It successfully simulates the trans-retinal voltage generated by the intracellular and extracellular flow of photocurrent in the outer segment of dark-adapted rods. Moreover, the typical waveform characteristics of two retinal diseases, the enhanced short wavelength sensitivity (SWS) cone syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), are investigated on the basis of electroretinogram (ERG) a-wave. This will further elucidate the function of the visual system and the ERG a-wave characteristics of the related diseases. Comparison with published experimental results validates the reliability of the model presented. Our study provides new ideas and strategies for the diagnosis of retinal diseases and provides some theoretical support for the application of photodetectors in the fabrication of artificial retinal devices.

Rare Earth-Carbon Dots Nanocomposite-Modified Glass Nanopipettes: Electro-Optical Detection of Bacterial ppGpp.

As an important alarmone nucleotide, guanosine 3'-diphosphate-5'-diphosphate (ppGpp) can regulate the survival of bacteria under strict environmental conditions. Direct detection of ppGpp in bacteria with high sensitivity and selectivity is crucial for elucidating the role of ppGpp in bacterial stringent response. Herein, the terbium-carbon dots nanocomposite (CDs-Tb) modified glass nanopipet was developed for the recognition of ppGpp. The CDs-Tb in glass nanopipette preserved their fluorescence properties as well as the coordination capacity of Tb3+ toward ppGpp. The addition of ppGpp not only led to the fluorescence response of CDs-Tb but also triggered variations of surface charge inside the glass nanopipet, resulting in the ionic current response. Compared with nucleotides with similar structures, this method displayed good selectivity toward ppGpp. Moreover, the dual signals (fluorescence and ionic current) offered a built-in correction for potential interference. Apart from the high selectivity, the proposed method can determine the concentration of ppGpp from 10-13 to 10-7 M. Taking advantage of the significant analytical performance, we monitored ppGpp in Escherichia coli under different nutritional conditions and studied the relationship between ppGpp and DNA repair, which is helpful for overcoming antibiotic resistance and promoting the development of potential drugs for antibacterial treatment.

The role of TIM3+ NK and TIM3- NK cells in the immune pathogenesis of severe aplastic anemia.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells play important immunoregulatory roles in the immune pathogenesis of severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Our previous research showed that SAA caused a decrease in T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM3) expression on NK cells. Here we investigated the expression of surface receptors, and the cytotoxicity of peripheral TIM3+ NK and TIM3- NK cells in patients with SAA. Methods: The expressions of surface receptors and cytoplasmic protein of TIM3+ NK and TIM3- NK cells from peripheral blood were detected by FCM. The functions of mDCs, and apoptosis rate of K562 cells after co-culture with TIM3+ NK and TIM3- NK cells were maesured by FCM. Westren-blot was used to detect the changes of TIM3+ NK and TIM3- NK signaling pathway proteins (AKT, P-AKT) and compare the functional activity of the two groups. Results: Activating receptors NKG2D and Granzyme B were higher, while inhibiting receptors NKG2A, CD158a and CD158b were lower on TIM3- NK cells compared with TIM3+ NK cells in patients with SAA. In SAA, the expression of CD80 and CD86 on mDCs (Myeloid dendritic cells) was significantly decreased after incubation with TIM3- NK cells. The apoptosis rate (AR) of K562 cells was significantly increased after being incubated with TIM3- NK cells in SAA. The level of signal pathway protein AKT of TIM3- NK cells in SAA was similar to that of TIM3+ NK cells, and the levels of P-AKT and P-AKT/AKT ratio of TIM3- NK cells were significantly higher than those of TIM3+ NK cells. Conclusions: Therefore, TIM3 exerts its inhibitory effect on NK cells and participates in the immune pathogenesis of SAA. Low expression of TIM3 contributes to the enhancement of NK cell activity which in turn inhibits the immune activation state of SAA and improves the disease state. Our research may aid the development of new therapeutic strategies based on TIM3-NK cells infusion for the treatment of SAA.

The Role of Cells and Cytokines in Male Infertility Induced by Orchitis.

Recent studies on male infertility reveal a growing worry: more infertile men are dealing with inflammation in the testis. Analyzing testicular biopsies from infertile men highlights a significant presence of inflammation. This connection, supported by clinical and pathological evidence, emphasizes that testicular inflammation hampers sperm production, leading to lasting declines in sperm count and quality. However, the exact reasons behind male infertility due to orchitis, a type of testicular inflammation, are still uncertain. Understanding these fundamental aspects of molecular signals and cellular mechanisms in testicular inflammation is crucial. Our review delves into recent literature with a dual objective: elucidating potential mechanisms involving immune cells, non-immune cells, and cytokines that link orchitis to male infertility, while also paving the way for precise interventions and solutions to address the challenges of male infertility.

Research progress on and molecular mechanism of vacuum sealing drainage in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are common chronic wounds and a common complication of diabetes. The foot is the main site of diabetic ulcers, which involve small and medium-sized arteries, peripheral nerves, and microcirculation, among others. DFUs are prone to coinfections and affect many diabetic patients. In recent years, interdisciplinary research combining medicine and material science has been increasing and has achieved significant clinical therapeutic effects, and the application of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in the treatment of DFUs is a typical representative of this progress, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. In this review, we integrated bioinformatics and literature and found that ferroptosis is an important signaling pathway through which VSD promotes the healing of DFUs and that System Xc-GSH-GPX4 and NAD(P)H-CoQ10-FSP1 are important axes in this signaling pathway, and we speculate that VSD is most likely to inhibit ferroptosis to promote DFU healing through the above axes. In addition, we found that some classical pathways, such as the TNF, NF-κB, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways, are also involved in the VSD-mediated promotion of DFU healing. We also compiled and reviewed the progress from clinical studies on VSD, and this information provides a reference for the study of VSD in the treatment of DFUs.

Acyl carrier protein OsMTACP2 confers rice cold tolerance at the booting stage.

Low temperatures occurring at the booting stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) often result in yield loss by impeding male reproductive development. However, the underlying mechanisms by which rice responds to cold at this stage remain largely unknown. Here, we identified MITOCHONDRIAL ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN 2 (OsMTACP2), the encoded protein of which mediates lipid metabolism involved in the cold response at the booting stage. Loss of OsMTACP2 function compromised cold tolerance, hindering anther cuticle and pollen wall development, resulting in abnormal anther morphology, lower pollen fertility and seed setting. OsMTACP2 was highly expressed in tapetal cells and microspores during anther development, with the encoded protein localizing to both mitochondria and the cytoplasm. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to lipid metabolism between the wild type and the Osmtacp2-1 mutant in response to cold. Through a lipidomic analysis, we demonstrated that wax esters, which are the primary lipid components of the anther cuticle and pollen walls, function as cold-responsive lipids. Their levels increased dramatically in the wild type but not in Osmtacp2-1 when exposed to cold. Additionally, mutants of two cold induced genes of wax ester biosynthesis, ECERIFERUM1 and WAX CRYSTAL-SPARSE LEAF2, showed decreased cold tolerance. These results suggest that OsMTACP2-mediated wax ester biosynthesis is essential for cold tolerance in rice at the booting stage.

Neurobehavioral problems at age 2 years in children with prenatal opioid exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with borderline/clinical range Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores in opioid-exposed children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 94 children with prenatal opioid exposure evaluated with the CBCL at age 2 years. RESULTS: Twenty-eight children (30%) had borderline/clinical findings on the CBCL, with 27% scoring borderline/clinical for Externalizing Problems. In the multivariable model, lower Bayley-III motor scores and discharge home with mother with safety plan were associated with borderline/clinical Externalizing Problems. Medication treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) was associated with normal Externalizing Problems scores. Treatment with clonidine or phenobarbital was associated with scores in the normal range in all broadband CBCL measures. CONCLUSION: Specific factors are associated with behavioral and emotional challenges measured by borderline/clinical CBCL scores among opioid-exposed children.

Cadmium negatively affects the growth and physiological status and the alleviation effects by exogenous selenium in silage maize (Zea mays L.).

Increasing soil cadmium (Cd) contamination is a serious threat to human food health and safety. In order to reduce Cd uptake and Cd toxicity in silage maize, hydroponic tests were conducted to investigate the effect of exogenous Cd on the toxicity of silage maize in this study. In the study, a combination of Cd (5, 20, 50, 80, and 10 µM) treatments was applied in a hydroponic system. With increasing Cd concentration, Cd significantly inhibited the total root length (RL), root surface area (SA), root volume (RV), root tip number (RT), and branching number (RF) of maize seedlings, which were reduced by 28.1 to 71.3%, 20.2 to 64.9%, 11.2 to 56.5%, 43.7 to 63.4%, and 38.2 to 72.6%, respectively. The excessive Cd accumulation inhibited biomass accumulation and reduced silage maize growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content and activated the antioxidant systems, including increasing lipid peroxidation and stimulating catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), but reduced the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the root. Besides, selenium (Se) significantly decreased the Cd concentration of the shoot and root by 27.1% and 35.1% under Cd50, respectively. Our results reveal that exogenously applied Cd reduced silage maize growth and impaired photosynthesis. Whereas silage maize can tolerate Cd by increasing the concentration of ascorbate and glutathione and activating the antioxidant defense system, the application of exogenous selenium significantly reduced the content of Cd in silage maize.