Water and Air Stable Copper(I) Complexes of Tetracationic Catenane Ligands for Oxidative C-C Cross-Coupling.

Aqueous soluble and stable Cu(I) molecular catalysts featuring a catenane ligand composed of two dicationic, mutually repelling but mechanically interlocked macrocycles are reported. The ligand interlocking not only fine-tunes the coordination sphere and kinetically stabilizes the Cu(I) against air oxidation and disproportionation, but also buries the hydrophobic portions of the ligands and prevents their dissociation which are necessary for their good water solubility and a sustained activity. These catenane Cu(I) complexes can catalyze the oxidative C-C coupling of indoles and tetrahydroisoquinolines in water, using H2O2 as a green oxidant with a good substrate scope. The successful use of catenane ligands in exploiting aqueous Cu(I) catalysis thus highlights the many unexplored potential of mechanical bond as a design element for exploring transition metal catalysis under challenging conditions.

Influencing factors of knowledge, attitude and behavior in children's palliative care among pediatric healthcare workers: a cross-sectional survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care has become a key medical field worldwide. Although research relating to adult palliative care is well-established, less is known about children's palliative care (CPC). Therefore, this study investigated the knowledge, attitude and behavior of pediatric healthcare workers (PHWs) regarding CPC and analyzed the influencing factors for the implementation and development of CPC. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 407 PHWs was carried out in a Chinese province from November 2021 to April 2022. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: a general information form and questions on the knowledge, attitude and behavior of PHWs about CPC. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The total score of the PHWs' knowledge, attitude and behavior about CPC was 69.98, which was at a moderate level. PHWs' CPC knowledge, attitude, and behavior are positively correlated.The most important influencing factors were working years, highest education, professional title, job position, marital status, religion, grade of hospital (I, II or III), type of medical institution, experience of caring for a terminally ill child/kinsfolk and total hours of CPC education and training received. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PHWs in a Chinese province had the lowest scores on the knowledge dimension of CPC, with moderate attitude and behavior and various influencing factors. In addition to professional title, highest education and working years, it is also worth noting that the type of medical institution and marital status also affected the score. Continuing education and training of PHWs in CPC should be emphasized by the administrators of relevant colleges and medical institutions. Future research should start with the above-mentioned influencing factors and focus on setting up targeted training courses and evaluating the post-training effects.

Clinical Analysis of Pyocele of Tunica Vaginalis in 56 Newborns.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of neonatal pyocele of tunica vaginalis and to provide a reference for the clinical treatment. METHODS: A total of 56 newborns with pyocele of tunica vaginalis were admitted to our hospital due to the scrotal emergency from January 2015 to January 2020. Our study retrospectively analyzed these 56 cases. Of the 56 cases, including 32 full-term infants and 24 premature infants, age ranged from 1 to 27 days. Initially, conservative treatment (intravenous antibiotic treatment) was applied to 42 cases, and surgery to 14 cases. Then, 7 underwent surgical exploration during the conservative treatment, and 2 cases with initial surgical treatment experienced orchiectomy because of complete necrosis. For 56 cases, the average follow-up time was 18 months. RESULTS: The clinical recovery time of cases with conservative treatment ranged from 8 to 17 days, with an average of 11.02 ± 2.31 days. The clinical recovery time of cases with surgery ranged from 6 to 15 days, with an average of 9.28 ± 2.78 days. During the follow-up, for 56 cases, except for the 2 cases with orchiectomy, the testicular position and Doppler flow both went back to normal, of the 42 cases with initial conservative treatment, 1 case experienced testicular retardation, of the 14 cases with initial surgical treatment, 2 cases experienced testicular retardation, and hydrocele of 42 cases were self-healed. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal pyocele of tunica vaginalis is mostly secondary to intra-abdominal infection. Color Doppler ultrasound is helpful for the diagnosis. The percutaneous aspiration is a way of collecting pathogenic bacteria during the conservative treatment. If the color Doppler suggests testicular involvement, surgical exploration should be performed.

The effectiveness of emergency knowledge training of pediatric medical workers based on the knowledge, skills, simulation model: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Basic life support and advanced life support are essential emergency management skills for medical workers, and pediatricians' first aid skills can be improved through emergency knowledge training. METHODS: A controlled pre-post-intervention quasi-experimental study design was used. The study setting was a tertiary children's hospital in China. In November 2019, a KSS model of emergency knowledge learning was developed and tested, and pediatric medical workers (N = 1448) were trained with it. The outcome measures were based on an emergency knowledge questionnaire devised by the authors that measured the effectiveness of training by comparing the pre-and post-training scores of the particpants. RESULTS: Pediatric medical workers scored significantly higher in total emergency knowledge after the training course than before [75.00 (62.50, 85.00) versus 100.00 (95.00, 100.00); P = 0.00]. Basic life support and advanced life support knowledge score significantly improved after training. Teamwork scores were significantly higher after the training than before [5.00 (5.00, 10.00) versus 10.00 (10.00, 10.00); P = 0.00]. Scores were significantly higher after the training (P < 0.001), especially for case analysis questions (P = 0.00). The attitudes of the medical workers towards the training were all positive and affirmative. CONCLUSION: The KSS model was shown to be effective in improving the emergency knowledge of pediatric medical workers. Future research will be to explore the effectiveness of the model with different participants and at other hospitals or other institutions such as schools, encouraging more people to participate in and evaluate the model to promote its optimization. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Hunan Children's Hospital, HCHLL-2018-03.

Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicle miRNA cargo regulates host macrophage functions facilitating parasitism.

Schistosome infection persists for decades. Parasites are in close contact with host peripheral blood immune cells, yet little is known about the regulatory interactions between parasites and these immune cells. Here, we report that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from Schistosoma japonicum are taken up primarily by macrophages and other host peripheral blood immune cells and their miRNA cargo transferred into recipient cells. Uptake of S. japonicum EV miR-125b and bantam miRNAs into host cells increased macrophage proliferation and TNF-α production by regulating the corresponding targets including Pros1, Fam212b, and Clmp. Mice infected with S. japonicum exhibit an increased population of monocytes and elevated levels of TNF-α. Reduction of host monocytes and TNF-α level in S. japonicum infected mice led to a significant reduction in worm and egg burden and pathology. Overall, we demonstrate that S. japonicum EV miRNAs can regulate host macrophages illustrating parasite modulation of the host immune response to facilitate parasite survival. Our findings provide valuable insights into the schistosome-host interaction which may help to develop novel intervention strategies against schistosomiasis.

Ages of weaning influence the gut microbiota diversity and function in Chongming white goats.

To study the effect of weaning age on the gut microbiota diversity in the lambs of Chongming white goats, fresh feces from the lambs weaned at 30, 45, and 60 days of age were collected 3 days after weaning at 33, 48, and 63 days of age, for microbial composition analysis by 16S rRNA sequencing. The serum concentrations of lipid metabolites were also investigated at the fecal collection dates. Serum and feces from the ewe-reared groups at 33, 48, and 63 days of age were used as controls. The alpha diversity increased significantly after weaning and with the aging of the lambs. Levels of Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcus varied significantly according to the weaning treatment in lambs (P < 0.05). Butyrate-producing gut bacteria such as Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4B4 were identified as significantly increased genera (P < 0.05) in the feces of weaned Chongming white lambs. Additionally, the abundance of fiber degradation-associated bacteria including Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Ruminococcus_1, and Ruminococcus_2 significantly increased with lamb weaning age (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, norank_f__Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_005 were negatively correlated, and Lachnoclostridium was positively correlated with levels of cholesterol, while Blautia showed positive correlation with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum samples from weaned lambs. This study helped to understand the maturing development of gut microbiota in Chongming white goats under weaning stress. KEY POINTS: • Effects of weaning age on the gut microbiota diversity in Chongming white goat lambs were studied. • Some butyrate-producing gut bacteria were significantly increased after weaned. • Correlations of gut microbiota and lipid metabolites were analyzed.

Pyrodextrin enhances intestinal function through changing the intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism in early weaned piglets.

Pyrodextrin (PD) is prepared from starch by heat treatment and is resistant to amylase. We hypothesized that PD might have prebiotic potential affecting the microbiota composition, because it contains a non-digestible portion that may behave as dietary fiber. This study investigated the effects of PD supplementation on growth performance, gut morphology, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the bacterial community in weaned piglets receiving dietary supplementation of 0.5% PD. The piglets in the PD (treated) groups showed greater antioxidant capacity and feed efficiency (P < 0.05), as well as improved intestinal morphology in comparison with the piglets in the weaned (control) group. Gut microbiota profiles were assessed through 16S rRNA sequencing on the ileum contents and feces of early weaned piglets. Several genus-level enrichments and depletions were observed in response to PD treatment. Of note, PD supplementation decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic organisms, including Defluviicoccus and Gardnerella, while markedly increasing that of commensal bacteria (genera Psychrobacter and Prevotella), which have important roles in nutrient absorption and immune response regulation. The most notable effect in the PD treatment groups was increased production of SCFAs in the feces of PD-treated weaned piglets. Correlation analysis revealed that the improvement in SCFAs was positively correlated with the increase in SCFA-producing bacteria. Overall, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of PD supplementation on the fecal microbial community and the modulation of SCFA production in early weaned piglets, thus indicating that PD can be used to alleviate weaning stress in piglets.

Effectiveness of intracavitary electrocardiogram-guided peripherally inserted central catheter tip placement in premature infants: a multicentre pre-post intervention study.

This pre-post intervention study was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in two Chinese hospitals. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intracavitary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG)-guided peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement and tip positioning in premature infants. A total of 161 premature infants who required a PICC were enrolled and divided into two groups: pre-intervention group (n = 83) from October 2017 to July 2018 and post-intervention IC-ECG group (n = 78) from August 2018 to March 2019. Nurses were trained from May 2018 to July 2018. The reposition rate in the IC-ECG group and pre-interventions group was 3.85% and 19.28%, respectively (OR 5.970; 95% CI 1.666-21.395; p = 0.002). More infants achieved optimal tip position at the first attempt in the IC-ECG group than the pre-intervention group (93.59% vs 73.49%; OR 0.190; 95%CI 0.068-0.531; p = 0.001). The overall catheter-related complications in the pre-intervention group were 14.46% compared to 3.84% in the IC-ECG group (OR 2.962; 95%CI 1.013-8.661; p = 0.040). However, no significant differences were observed between the individual complication leakage, phlebitis and catheter-related blood stream infection.Conclusions: IC-ECG-guided peripherally inserted central catheter placement and tip positioning technology might decrease reposition rates, achieve more accurate tip positioning at the first attempt and might reduce catheter-related complications in premature infants. Further robust RCTs are needed to confirm the effectiveness of IC-ECG-guided PICC placement and tip positioning in neonates.What is Known:• Chest radiography is the gold standard for tip position confirmation of peripherally inserted central catheter placement.• Studies in adult patients have shown that electrocardiogram guidance in the placement of central venous catheters can be beneficial, while evidence in neonates is limited.What is New:• Intracavitary electrocardiogram-guided peripherally inserted central catheter placement might be superior to chest radiography in preterm infants.• Decreasing the repositioning rates and correct tip position of peripherally inserted central catheters might reduce catheter-related complications.

Effect of Personalized Music Intervention in Mechanically Ventilated Children in the PICU: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility of a personalized music intervention with mechanically ventilated patients in the PICU. DESIGN: Pilot study with a quasi-experimental design. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital in China with a 40-bed PICU. PATIENTS: Children, 1 month to 7 years, with mechanical ventilation were recruited and assigned to music group (n = 25) and control group (n = 25). INTERVENTIONS: Children in the music group received their own favorite music and listened for 60 minutes three times a day. The control group receive routine care without music. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome measure was comfort measured with the COMFORT Behavior scale 5 minutes before and after the music. Secondary outcome measures were physiologic variables; heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation. Mechanical ventilation time, length of stay, and sedation medication were also collected. Qualitative analysis revealed that nurses had a positive attitude in delivering the interventions and identified improvements for the main trial. Children in the music group had lower COMFORT Behavior scores (15.7 vs 17.6; p = 0.011). Children in the music group had better physiologic outcomes; heart rate (140 vs 144; p = 0.039), respiration rate (40 vs 43; p = 0.036), systolic blood pressure (93 vs 95 mm Hg; p = 0.031), oxygen saturation (96% vs 95%; p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure was not significantly (52 vs 53 mm Hg; p = 0.11). Children in the music group had a shorter ventilation time (148.7 vs 187.6; p = 0.044) and a shorter length of stay, but not significant (11.2 vs 13.8; p = 0.071). Children in the control group had higher total amount of on-demand midazolam (29 vs 33 mg; p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study indicates that personalized music intervention is feasible and might improve the comfort of children with mechanical ventilation. Further studies are needed to provide conclusive evidence in confirming the effectiveness of music interventions comforting critically ill children in PICUs.

Compliance with aspirin in paediatric CHD post-percutaneous transcatheter occlusion: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of compliance with aspirin in children following cardiac catheterisation have not been identified. The aim of this study is to identify the caregivers' knowledge, compliance with aspirin medication, and predictors of compliance with aspirin in children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) post-percutaneous transcatheter occlusion. METHODS: A cross-sectional explorative design was adopted using a self-administered questionnaire and conducted between May 2017 and May 2018. Recruited were 220 caregivers of children with CHD post-percutaneous transcatheter occlusion. Questionnaires included child and caregivers' characteristics, a self-designed and tested knowledge about aspirin scale (scoring scale 0-2), and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (scoring scale 0-8). Data were analysed using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of compliance with aspirin. RESULTS: Of the 220 eligible children and caregivers, 210 (95.5%) responded and 209 surveys were included in the analysis. The mean score of knowledge was 7.25 (standard deviation 2.27). The mean score of compliance was 5.65 (standard deviation 1.36). Child's age, length of aspirin use, health insurance policies, relationship to child, monthly income, and knowledge about aspirin of caregivers were independent predictors of compliance with aspirin (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Caregivers of children with CHD had an adequate level of knowledge about aspirin. Compliance to aspirin medication reported by caregivers was low. Predictors of medium to high compliance with aspirin were related to the child's age and socio-economic reasons. Further studies are needed to identify effective strategies to improve knowledge, compliance with medication, and long-term outcomes of children with CHD.

Organocatalysis in Inert C-H Bond Functionalization.

As two coexisting and fast-growing research fields in modern synthetic chemistry, the merging of organocatalysis and C-H bond functionalization is well foreseeable, and the joint force along this line has been demonstrated to be a powerful approach in making inert C-H bond functionalization more viable, predictable, and selective. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of organocatalysis in inert C-H bond functionalization over the past two decades. The review is arranged by types of inert C-H bonds including alkane C-H, arene C-H, and vinyl C-H as well as those activated benzylic C-H, allylic C-H, and C-H bonds alpha to the heteroatom such as nitrogen and oxygen. In each section, the discussion is classified by the explicit organocatalytic mode involved.

Integrating miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in plasma of laying hens associated with heat stress.

High temperature is one of the most common environmental stressors plaguing animal husbandry worldwide. Little is known about the regulatory roles of miRNAs in response to heat stress in laying hens. To systematically identify heat stress-responsive miRNAs and their targets in laying hens, the differential expression of miRNAs and mRNAs was compared under heat stress and normal temperature. We identified 16 miRNAs and 502 genes that were significantly changed in heat-stressed laying hens. By comparing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the putative targets of the altered miRNAs based on bioinformatics prediction, 82 coordinated genes were identified. Gene ontology classification analyses of the 82 putative target genes showed that the biological category 'cellular response to stress' was prominently annotated. Notably, the response-related gene autophagy-related protein 9A was most likely controlled by the upregulated miRNAs gga-miR-92-5p, gga-miR-1618-5p, gga-miR-1737, and gga-miR-6557 in response to heat stress. Analysis of DEGs also revealed an increase in lipid metabolism in heat-stressed laying hens. Some of these genes were negatively correlated with the altered miRNAs, suggesting that they are potential targets of the miRNAs. Taken together, our results advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of heat-stress-induced injury in laying hens, specifically with regard to miRNAs.

Tripartite motif 31 promotes resistance to anoikis of hepatocarcinoma cells through regulation of p53-AMPK axis.

Anoikis-resistance is an essential feature of cancer cells to obtain successful metastasis, whereas the molecular mechanism involved in this process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is not fully understood. Here we demonstrated that tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) 31, a new member of the TRIM family, was significantly upregulated in the anchorage-deprived HCC cells compared with their attached counterpart. When we blocked TRIM31 expression by its specific interference RNAs, the anoikis-resistance of HCC cells was significantly reversed. We further verified that overactivation of AMPK pathway was responsible for TRIM31-mediated resistance to anoikis of HCC cells; and TRIM31 could directly target p53, the upstream suppressor of AMPK pathway, and mediate K48-linked ubiquitous degradation of p53 in a RING-domain-dependent way. Therefore we demonstrated that TRIM31 promoted anoikis-resistance by targeting p53 for degradation and subsequently overactivating AMPK pathway. Thus our study defined for the first time the role of TRIM31 in the anoikis-resistant process of HCC cells， and it may pave a new avenue for manipulation of metastatic cancer by targeting TRIM31.

Heat stress mediates changes in fecal microbiome and functional pathways of laying hens.

Chicken gastrointestinal microbiota plays important roles in health, productivity, and disease. However, knowledge of the relationship between heat stress and the gut microbial ecosystem of poultry, especially laying hens, is still limited. Here, we aimed to provide important knowledge for heat stress intervention in the egg industry. We performed high-throughput sequencing metagenomics on fecal contents to unravel the microbial taxa and functional capacity of the gut microbiome of caged laying hens under heat stress. Results showed that the fecal microbial communities of laying hens were dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria phyla. The Firmicutes were significantly decreased, and Bacteroidetes were increased in the fecal microbiota under heat stress. Functional prediction of these changes in microbiota revealed that metabolism-related pathways, including cysteine and methionine metabolism and benzoate degradation, were more abundant. Conversely, retinol metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were decreased by heat stress, suggesting differences in metabolism between layers in different temperature environments. Clear contributions were identified between active taxa (genus level) and metabolic pathways, which were associated with the liver and intestinal dysfunction in layers. These data revealed that heat stress induced a significant taxonomic perturbation in the gut microbiome of caged laying hens. This was related to the negative effects of heat stress in poultry and provided important basic knowledge for heat stress intervention.

Rosmarinic Acid, the Main Effective Constituent of Orthosiphon stamineus, Inhibits Intestinal Epithelial Apoptosis Via Regulation of the Nrf2 Pathway in Mice.

Many studies have shown that Orthosiphon stamineus extract (OE) has antioxidant activity, and we previously reported that OE protects the intestine against injury from a high-fat diet. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this protective effect of OE was unclear. Here, OE was separated according to polarity and molecular weight, and the antioxidant activity of each component was compared. The components with the highest antioxidant activity were analyzed by HPLC, which confirmed that rosmarinic acid (RA) was the main effective constituent in OE. OE and RA were then tested in a mouse high-fat diet-induced intestinal injury model. The antioxidant indices and morphological characteristics of the mouse jejunum were measured, and activation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and apoptosis of jejunal epithelial cells were analyzed. Of all the constituents in OE, RA contributed the most. Both RA and OE activated the Nrf2 pathway and increased downstream antioxidant enzyme activity. RA and OE protected the mouse intestine against high-fat diet-induced oxidative stress by preventing intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis via both extracellular and intracellular pathways. Thus, RA, the main effective constituent in OE, inhibits intestinal epithelial apoptosis by regulating the Nrf2 pathway in mice.

Effects of family-centred care interventions on preterm infants and parents in neonatal intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review English and Chinese randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the effects of family-centred care (FCC) interventions on preterm infants' and parental outcomes in the neonatal intensive care units and to conduct a meta-analysis. REVIEW METHOD USED: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, BNI, and AMED and the Chinese databases CNKI and Wanfang Data were searched in April 2017 and updated in August 2018. REVIEW METHODS: Only RCTs were included. Participants were preterm infants ≤37 weeks gestational age and parents. Interventions were related to FCC, and outcome measures were infant and parent clinical outcomes. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias using Cochrane Manual 5.1.0. Meta-analyses used mean differences (MDs), standardised mean differences (SMDs), or odds ratio (OR), followed by 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was tested with Cochran's Q chi-squared test, tau-squared test, and inconsistency index (I2). RESULTS: Nineteen studies (10 from English and 9 from Chinese databases) were included; meta-analysis included 15 studies (7 English and 8 Chinese RCTs). Meta-analysis showed significant improvements in weight gain (7 studies: MD, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.80-6.34; P < 0.001; I2 94%); readmission (3 studies: OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.10-0.52; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%); parent satisfaction (5 studies: OR, 11.20; 95% CI, 4.76-26.34; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%); skills of parents (4 studies: SMD, 2.57; 95% CI, 2.19-2.96; P < 0.001; I2 = 53%); knowledge of parents (4 studies: SMD, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.47-3.00; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%); parental anxiety at follow-up (3 studies: SMD, -0.19; 95% CI, -0.28 to -0.09; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%); parent depression at follow-up (2 studies: SMD, 0.37; 95% CI, -0.63 to -0.12; P = 0.004; I2 = 44%); and parental stress (3 studies: MD, -0.20; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.13; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%). No statistical differences were observed in neurobehavioural development (3 studies) and hospital length of stay (7 studies). CONCLUSIONS: FCC interventions can improve weight gain and readmission in preterm infants as well as parent satisfaction, knowledge, and skills, and possibly long-term anxiety, depression, and stress. Developing standardised outcome sets for testing family-centred care interventions is recommended.

MicroRNAs Are Involved in the Regulation of Ovary Development in the Pathogenic Blood Fluke Schistosoma japonicum.

Schistosomes, blood flukes, are an important global public health concern. Paired adult female schistosomes produce large numbers of eggs that are primarily responsible for the disease pathology and critical for dissemination. Consequently, understanding schistosome sexual maturation and egg production may open novel perspectives for intervening with these processes to prevent clinical symptoms and to interrupt the life-cycle of these blood-flukes. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many biological processes including development, cell proliferation, metabolism, and signal transduction. Here, we report on the identification of Schistosoma japonicum miRNAs using small RNA deep sequencing in the key stages of male-female pairing, gametogenesis, and egg production. We identified 38 miRNAs, including 10 previously unknown miRNAs. Eighteen of the miRNAs were differentially expressed between male and female schistosomes and during different stages of sexual maturation. We identified 30 potential target genes for 16 of the S. japonicum miRNAs using antibody-based pull-down assays and bioinformatic analyses. We further validated some of these target genes using either in vitro luciferase assays or in vivo miRNA suppression experiments. Notably, suppression of the female enriched miRNAs bantam and miR-31 led to morphological alteration of ovaries in female schistosomes. These findings uncover key roles for specific miRNAs in schistosome sexual maturation and egg production.

Molecular pathways involved in microRNA-mediated regulation of multidrug resistance.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is still a major reason for therapeutic failure in cancers. The mechanisms underlying MDR are multifactorial and are not fully understood. miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved non-coding RNAs that function as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Emerging evidence indicates a vital role of miRNAs in the resistance to cancer treatments and suggests their potential for cancer therapy, as they can modulate multiple mechanisms link to the development of MDR. This review summarizes the recent findings on the role of miRNAs in MDR, and highlights the molecular targets and mechanisms of miRNA regulated pathways in MDR. Finally, the challenges and prospects of miRNA-targeted therapies for reversing drug resistance are reviewed.

Involvement of Parents in the Care of Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study Evaluating a Family-Centered Care Intervention in a Chinese Neonatal ICU.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a family-centered care intervention in a Chinese neonatal ICU. DESIGN: Pilot study using a randomized controlled trial design to inform a main randomized controlled trial study. SETTING: Stand-alone tertiary children's hospital in China with a 60-bed neonatal ICU serving as a regional neonatal ICU center. PATIENTS: Premature infants (n = 61) and their parents (n = 110). INTERVENTIONS: Parent education program followed by parents' participation in care as primary caregiver until discharge for a minimum of 4 hours per day. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcomes were infants' weight gain at discharge, length of stay, and readmission. Parental outcomes were stress, anxiety, satisfaction, and clinical knowledge. Infants in family-centered care group (n = 31) had higher weight gain (886g vs 542g; p = 0.013), less neonatal ICU length of stay in days (43 vs 46; p = 0.937), and decreased readmission rate at 1 week (41.9 vs 70.0; p = 0.045) and at 1 month (6.5% vs 50%; p < 0.001) compared with the control group (n = 30). Total Mean Parental Stress and Anxiety scores were lower in the family-centered care group (42 vs 59; p ≤ 0.007), mean satisfaction rates in family-centered care group were higher compared with control group (96 vs 90; p < 0.001), and parents in the family-centered care group had better educational outcomes related to neonatal specialized care skills (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Involving parents in the care of their infant improved clinical outcomes of infants. Family-centered care also contributed to a better understanding of parent's clinical education, decrease stress levels, and increased parental satisfaction. Our study suggests that involving parents in the daily care of their infants is feasible and should be promoted by neonatal ICU clinicians.

Catalytic Desymmetrizing Dehydrogenation of 4-Substituted Cyclohexanones through Enamine Oxidation.

A desymmetrizing dehydrogenation process catalyzed by a chiral primary amine is described herein. The reaction proceeds through the oxidation of a ketone enamine by IBX and enables the highly enantioselective desymmetrization of 4-substituted cyclohexanones with the generation of chiral 4-substituted cyclohexenones containing a remote γ-stereocenter.