Identification of multiple nonphotochemical quenching processes in the extremophilic red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

Nonphotochemical quenching acts as a frontline response to prevent excitation energy from reaching the photochemical reaction center of photosystem II before photodamage occurs. Strong fluorescence quenching after merely one multi-turnover saturating light pulse characterizes a unique feature of nonphotochemical quenching in red algae. Several mechanisms underlying red algal nonphotochemical quenching have been proposed, yet which process(es) dominantly account for the strong fluorescence quenching is still under discussion. Here we assessed multiple nonphotochemical quenching processes in the extremophilic red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae under light pulse and continuous illumination conditions. To assess the nonphotochemical quenching processes that might display different kinetics, fluorescence emission spectra at 77 K were measured after different periods of light treatments, and external fluorophores were added for normalization of the fluorescence level. The phycobilisome- and photosystem II-related nonphotochemical quenching processes were distinguished by light preferentially absorbed by phycobilisomes and photosystems, respectively. Multiple nonphotochemical quenching processes, including the energetic decoupling of phycobilisomes from photosystem II, the energy spillover from phycobilisomes to photosystem I and from photosystem II to photosystem I, were identified along with the previously identified intrinsic quenching within photosystem II. The ability to use multiple nonphotochemical quenching processes appears to maximize the light harvesting efficiency for photochemistry and to provide the flexibility of the energy redistribution between photosystem II and photosystem I. The effect of the various ionophores on the nonphotochemical quenching level suggests that nonphotochemical quenching is modulated by transmembrane gradients of protons and other cations.

Anshen-Buxin-Liuwei pill, a Mongolian medicinal formula could alleviate cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via mitochondrion pathway.

BACKGROUND: Anshen Buxin Liuwei pill (ABLP) is a Mongolian medicinal formula that is composed of six medicinal materials: the Mongolian medicine Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin, Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb.) Burtt et Hill, Myristica fragrans Houtt., Eugenia caryophµllata Thunb., Aucklandia lappa Decne., and Liqui dambar formosana Hance. ABLP is considered to have a therapeutic effect on symptoms such as coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, depression and irritability, palpitation, and shortness of breath. METHODS: H9c2 cardiomyocytes were used to construct a hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) injury model. CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC cell apoptosis assays were used for cell viability and cell apoptosis determination. The LDH, SOD, MDA, CAT, CK, GSH-Px, Na+-K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase activities in cells were determined to assess the protective effects of ABLP. The mRNA levels of Sirtuin3 (Sirt3) and Cytochrome C (Cytc) in H9c2 cells were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The results indicate that HR-treated cells began to shrink from the spindle in an irregular shape with some floated in the medium. By increasing the therapeutic dose of ABLP (5, 25, and 50 µg/mL), the cells gradually reconverted in a concentration-dependent manner. The release of CK in HR-treated cells was significantly increased, indicating that ABLP exerts a protective effect in H9c2 cells against HR injury and can improve mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitochondrial function integrity. The present study scrutinized the cardioprotective effects of ABLP against HR-induced H9c2 cell injury through antioxidant and mitochondrial pathways. CONCLUSIONS: ABLP could be a promising therapeutic drug for the treatment of myocardial ischemic cardiovascular disease. The results will provide reasonable information for the clinical use of ABLP.

A pooled analysis of adding olanzapine to guideline-recommended antiemetic therapy for breast cancer patients treated with an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide in prospective and retrospective studies.

PURPOSE: As an antipsychotic agent that targets multiple neurotransmitter receptors, olanzapine has been added to antiemetic therapies. For better understanding the application of olanzapine in antiemetic strategies for breast cancer patients who suffered anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide-induced nausea and vomiting, we comprehensively reviewed the antiemetic researches related to olanzapine and pooled-analyzed the results to confirm the efficacy and safety of olanzapine in breast cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception through Sep 15, 2021. Both prospective and retrospective studies were eligible. The primary outcomes were complete response (defined as no vomiting and no use of rescue medications) and no nausea rate, and the secondary outcome was treatment-related adverse events. RESULTS: Four studies with 466 breast cancer patients were identified in the pooled analysis. In the acute period (0-24 h), the olanzapine group had significantly higher rates of complete response (71.3% vs 48.1%, odds ratio [OR]: 2.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-5.11, p = 0.003) and no nausea (70.0% vs 43.0%, OR: 3.55, 95% CI 1.76-7.18, p = 0.04) than the placebo group, while in the delayed period, the olanzapine group was also superior to the placebo group in terms of the complete response (82.5% vs 63.3%, OR: 3.81, 95% CI 1.58-9.15, p = 0.003) and no nausea (66.3% vs 51.9%, OR: 2.08, 95% CI 1.03-4.21, p = 0.04) rates. During the overall period in prospective studies, the proportions of complete response (50.0% vs 34.2%, OR: 1.93, p = 0.04) and no nausea (51.3% vs 25.3%, OR: 3.40, p = 0.0006) in the olanzapine group were higher than those in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Highly emetogenic chemotherapy breast patients could benefit from olanzapine-contained antiemetic therapy. Furthermore, since the cost is low, olanzapine is worth further clinical application and promotion.

Nursing allocation in isolation wards of COVID-19 designated hospitals: a nationwide study in China.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate allocation of nursing staff is key to ensuring efficient nursing in hospitals, and is significantly correlated with patient safety, nursing quality, and nurse job satisfaction. However, there are few studies on nursing workforce allocation in the isolation wards of COVID-19 designated hospitals globally. This study aims to better understand the nursing workforce allocation in the isolation wards of COVID-19 designated hospitals in China, and provide a theoretical basis for efficiently deploying first-line nurses in China and across the world in the future. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among the head nurses (n = 229) and nurses (n = 1378) in the isolation wards of 117 hospitals (selected by stratified sampling), using a self-reported human resource allocation questionnaire. RESULTS: The average bed-to-nurse ratios of different isolation wards were different (Z = 36.742, P = 0.000). The bed-to-nurse ratios of the ICU, suspected COVID-19 cases ward, and confirmed COVID-19 cases ward, were 1:1.88, 1:0.56, and 1:0.45, respectively. The nurse work hours per shift in different isolation wards were also different (Z = 8.468, P = 0.014), with the specific values of the ICU, suspected COVID-19 cases ward, and confirmed COVID-19 cases ward, being 5, 6, and 6 h, respectively. A correlation analysis showed that the average work hours per shift was proportional to the overtime work of nurses (rs = 0.146), the proportion of nurse practitioners was proportional to the overall utilization rate of nursing human resources in the wards (rs = 0.136), and the proportion of nurses with college degrees was proportional to teamwork (rs = 0.142). The proportion of nurses above grade 10 was inversely proportional to teamwork and psychological problems (rs = 0.135, rs = 0.203). The results of multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that the work hours of nurses per shift was the main factor affecting nurse satisfaction and that the proportion of nurses and the work hours of nurses per shift were both independent factors affecting the length of stay (LOS) of patients. CONCLUSION: Hospitals in China have made good nursing workforce allocations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are certain shortcomings. Therefore, scientific and efficient nursing workforce allocation practice plans should be established to improve the ability of hospitals to deal with public health emergencies and are urgent problems that need to be addressed soon.

[Effect of cultivation substrate on growth and active component contents of Anoectochilus roburghii from three different origins].

Three different origins of Anoectochilus roburghii were used as experimental materials to study the effect of three different substrate( peat soil-river sand-peanut shell) radio on survival rate,plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,root number,the longest root length,root diameter,and the contents of polysaccharide,flavonoids,and polyphenol. The results showed that when the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,the survival rate of A. roburghii from different origins was the highest,and the plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,the longest root length and root diameter were also the largest. The cultivation substrate had no significant effect on the polysaccharide content of A. roxburghii and A. formosanus. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶ 2 ∶ 2,the polysaccharide content of A.chapaensis was significantly lower than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶1,the flavonoid content of A. formosanus was higher than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,A. formosanus and A. chapaensis had higher polyphenol content.

Anshen Buxin Liuwei Pill, a Mongolian Medicinal Formula, Could Protect H2O2-Induced H9c2 Myocardial Cell Injury by Suppressing Apoptosis, Calcium Channel Activation, and Oxidative Stress.

BACKGROUND: Anshen Buxin Liuwei pill (ABLP) is a Mongolian medicinal formula which has a therapeutic effect on the symptoms such as coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, depression and irritability, palpitation, and short breath. However, its bioactivity against cardiac injury remains unclear. METHODS: The protective effect of ABLP was evaluated using H9c2 cells. Cell viability, intracellular Ca2+, reactive oxidative indices, and mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψ) were assessed, respectively. The mRNA levels of Ca2+ channel-related genes (DHPR, RyR2, and SCN5A) and oxidative stress-related genes (Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1) were measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: 0.5-50 µg/mL ABLP could significantly decrease H2O2-induced cell injury by suppressing cell necrosis/apoptosis and excess oxidative stress, ameliorating the collapse of ∆ψ, and reducing intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, 0.5-50 µg/mL ABLP reversed H2O2-induced imbalance in the mRNA levels of DHPR, RyR2, SCN5A, Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 gene in H9c2 cells, which further illustrate the mechanism. CONCLUSION: ABLP provided protective and therapeutic benefits against H2O2-induced H9c2 cell injury, indicating that this formula can effectively treat coronary disease. In addition, the present study also provides an in-depth understanding of the pharmacological functions of ABLP, which may lead to further successful applications of Mongolian medicine.

The significance of plasma D-dimer level in predicting high risk factors of endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Activated clotting-fibrinolytic system is associated with poor outcome of cancer patients. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the significance of plasma D-dimer level in predicting high risk factors of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. METHODS: Total 176 EC patients who underwent radiotherapy between January 2018 and June 2019 at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Their preoperative and postoperative plasma D-dimer levels were measured as routine assessment in our hospital, and analyzed for their association with clinicopathological data retrieved from medical records of the patients. RESULTS: High risk group had significantly higher 1st day postoperative D-dimer levels. The 1st day postoperative D-dimer predicted higher grade EC with the specificity of 63.7% and the sensitivity of 63.4%; predicted late stage EC with the specificity of 83.7% and the sensitivity of 58.6%; predicted deeper myoinvasion of EC with the specificity of 84.9% and the sensitivity of 43.3%; predicted lymphovascular space invasion positive EC with the specificity of 84.0% and the sensitivity of 50.0%; predicted lymph node metastasis of EC with the specificity of 50.9% and the sensitivity of 100%; and predicted cervical invasion of EC with the specificity of 82.1% and the sensitivity of 65.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Increased postoperative plasma D-dimer levels accurately predicted high risk factors in patients with EC.

General Self-Efficacy Mediates the Effect of Family Socioeconomic Status on Critical Thinking in Chinese Medical Students.

Background: Critical thinking (CT) is an essential competence for medical students. Family socioeconomic status (family SES) and general self-efficacy (GSE) play crucial roles in the development of CT. However, the association among family SES, GSE, and CT in Chinese medical students has yet to be fully investigated. Objectives: To investigate the role of family SES and GSE in the development of CT in Chinese medical students. Methods: 1,338 medical students were recruited using multistage stratified cluster sampling from three institutions in China. The Chinese critical thinking disposition inventory (CTDI-CV), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and a self-made inventory assessing family SES were administered to collect data. The relationship between CT and family SES as well as GSE was evaluated by structural equation modeling. Results: Students of higher family SES obtained higher CTDI-CV and GSES scores. A positive correlation was found between family SES and CT (r = 0.101-0.141, p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), as well as between family SES and GSE (r = 0.111-0.129, p < 0.01). Moreover, GSE was moderately correlated with CT (r = 0.418, p < 0.01). The model of partial mediate effect of GSE showed the best fit index with X 2 = 29.698, df = 9 and X2/df = 3.300, NFI = 0.990, IFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.984, CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.041. Conclusion: Family SES has a positive albeit limited influence on GSE and CT in Chinese medical students. GSE mediates the effect of family SES on CT and plays a larger role. Enhancing medical student' GSE maybe an efficacious way to improve medical students' CT.

[Correlation of cyclooxygenase 2 expression with microlymphatic density and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in esophageal carcinoma and its correlation with microlymphatic density (MLD), and to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of COX-2 and MLD in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: COX-2 expression and MLD were detected by immunohistochemistry in 100 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Follow up was available in 76 patients. Multivariable Cox regression was used to analyze the association between the laboratory indices and overall survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma. RESULTS: COX-2 expression was present in 73% of patients. MLD in patients with high COX-2 expression (99.71±39.62) was significantly higher than that in those with low or no COX-2 expression (80.22±30.36) (P<0.05). No correlations were observed between the over expression of COX-2 and clinicopathologic parameters including tumor size and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). However, MLD was associated with lymphatic metastasis and the depth of invasion (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the 76 patients with followed up, the median survival was 25.5 months. Cox regression showed that the COX-2 expression, histological grade of the tumor and MLD were risk factors of overall survival of esophageal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 may contribute to the lymphangiogenesis in the tumor. COX-2 may be a new target point for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. COX-2 expression and microlymphatic vessel density are of significant prognostic value for esophageal carcinoma.